Christina reads even more series in 2024: Part 3

2024 Category Challenge, Part 3


Camille Corot, "A Woman Reading"

Hi, I’m Christina, and welcome to the third thread of my 2024 category challenge! This year I’m doing 6 categories (2 + 4 = 6) with at least 24 book per category, for a total of 144 books. Here are my categories:

1. Series from My Shelves: For the past couple years, I’ve been focusing on series I own (in whole or in part). I have a bad habit of reading book #1, liking it enough to buy the rest of the series, but then letting the remaining books languish unread on my shelves. So I’ve chosen a bunch of specific series to fill this category, some of which I’ve owned for more than a decade!

2. Owned but Unread Books: This category will cover physical books I’ve owned since before January 1, 2024, but haven’t read yet (not including the series books from category #1). Gotta keep chipping away at that TBR!

3. Rereads: Last year I didn’t have a designated category for rereads, and I found that I didn’t make much space for them in my challenge. I really like rereading books; if they’re favorites, it’s always a pleasure to revisit them. And if it turns out I don’t love a book as much as I did the first time around, I can rehome it and make some room on my shelves.

4. Bought in 2024: Pretty self-explanatory — this category is for physical books I purchase in 2024. Another bad habit of mine is buying new books and not reading them right away; sometimes they sit around unread for years or even decades! This category will incentivize me, and give me permission, to read those shiny new books right away.

5. Borrowed in 2024: I've already filled up this category but will definitely still be adding to it as the year continues!

6. Nook Books: I’ve accumulated a lot of e-books over the years — I get sucked in by the discounts — but I don’t always remember to read them! So this is basically the digital equivalent of category #2, although I’ll also count e-books I acquire in 2024 in this category.

In 2023 I also instituted my first book-buying challenge, limiting myself to just 50 new physical books. This year, instead of capping it at a specific number, I’m aiming for a one-in, one-out system (credit to psutto for the idea!). For every new physical book I purchase, I have to remove one from my shelves. So far I'm doing terribly with this goal, though -- I have a net gain of 20 books for the year!

And finally, in an attempt to actually read some nonfiction in 2024, I've set myself a goal of 12 nonfiction books for the year, or one per month on average. Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading!

1. Series from My Shelves


Dante Gabriel Rossetti, "Jane Morris (The Blue Silk Dress)"

Nancy Campbell Allen, Steampunk Proper Romance
1. *Beauty and the Clockwork Beast - COMPLETED Jan. 2
2. Kiss of the Spindle - COMPLETED Feb. 6
3. The Lady in the Coppergate Tower - COMPLETED Mar. 4
4. Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts - COMPLETED Apr. 6

Martha Wells, Fall of Ile-Rien
5. The Wizard Hunters - COMPLETED Jan. 18
6. The Ships of Air - COMPLETED Feb. 12
7. The Gate of Gods - COMPLETED Mar. 10

Carol Berg, Collegia Magica
8. The Spirit Lens - COMPLETED May 9
9. The Soul Mirror - COMPLETED Jun. 10
10. The Daemon Prism - COMPLETED Jul. 1

India Holton, Dangerous Damsels
11. *The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels - COMPLETED Apr. 18
12. The League of Gentlewomen Witches - COMPLETED May 12
13. The Secret Service of Tea and Treason - COMPLETED Jun. 2

Elizabeth C. Bunce, StarCrossed
14. StarCrossed - COMPLETED Aug. 5
15. Liar’s Moon - COMPLETED Sep. 9

V.E. Schwab, Shades of Magic
16. *A Darker Shade of Magic - COMPLETED Jul. 9
17. *A Gathering of Shadows - COMPLETED Aug. 27
18. A Conjuring of Light - COMPLETED Sep. 19

Kristen Britain, Green Rider
19. *Green Rider - COMPLETED Oct. 3
20. First Rider’s Call - COMPLETED Nov. 7
21. The High King’s Tomb… - COMPLETED Dec. 13

Genevieve Cogman, Invisible Library
22. *The Invisible Library - COMPLETED Oct. 8
23. The Masked City - COMPLETED Nov. 25
24. The Burning Page… - COMPLETED Dec. 20

* = reread
... = the series continues, but I may or may not keep reading

2. Owned but Unread Books


Pierre-Auguste Renoir, "Femme Lisant"

1. Delano Ames, She Shall Have Murder
2. Sharon Shinn, The Truth-Teller's Tale
3. Martin Edwards, The Golden Age of Murder
4. Paula Byrne, The Genius of Jane Austen: Her Love of Theatre and Why She Works in Hollywood
5. Richard Hull, The Murder of My Aunt
6. Emma Thompson, The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen's Novel to Film
7. D.E. Stevenson, Listening Valley
8. Sheila Simonson, Lady Elizabeth's Comet
9. Christianna Brand, Green for Danger
10. Ben Macintyre, Agent Sonya: The Spy Next Door
11. Mignon G. Eberhart, Murder by an Aristocrat
12. Helene Hanff, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street
13. John Julius Norwich, A Short History of Byzantium
14. Aja Gabel, The Ensemble
15. John Curran, Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making
16. Maryrose Wood, The Mysterious Howling
17. P.G. Wodehouse, Doctor Sally
18. J. Jefferson Farjeon, Thirteen Guests
19. Connie Willis and Cynthia Felice, Promised Land
20. Nancy Butler, The Rake's Retreat
21. Sinéad Murphy, The Jane Austen Rules: A Classic Guide to Modern Love
22-23. Mary Balogh, A Christmas Bride / Christmas Beau
24. Matthew Kelly, Life Is Messy

3. Rereads


Luke Fildes, "A Schoolgirl"

1. Georgette Heyer, Faro's Daughter
2. Beth O'Leary, The Flatshare
3. Robin McKinley, Rose Daughter
4. Georgette Heyer, A Blunt Instrument
5. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
6. Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many
7. Connie Willis, Impossible Things
8. Georgette Heyer, Frederica
9. Poul Anderson, The High Crusade
10. Eva Ibbotson, The Reluctant Heiress
11. Naomi Novik, Uprooted
12. Helene Hanff, 84, Charing Cross Road
13. Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm
14. Georgette Heyer, Charity Girl
15. Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None
16. Mary Balogh, The Plumed Bonnet
17. Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Perilous Gard
18. Mhairi McFarlane, If I Never Met You
19. Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond
20. Jude Morgan, A Little Folly
21. Mimi Matthews, A Convenient Fiction
22. Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl
23. Robin McKinley, Deerskin
24.

4. Bought in 2024


William Orpen, "Grace Reading at Howth Bay"

1. Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly
2. Theresa Romain, It Takes Two to Tangle
3. Erle Stanley Gardner, The Bigger They Come
4. Anne Gracie, Marry in Scandal
5. Mary Balogh, Heartless
6. Anne Gracie, Marry in Secret
7. Anne Gracie, Marry in Scarlet
8. Kaliane Bradley, The Ministry of Time
9. Lizzy Dent, The Summer Job
10. Noelle Adams, Counted
11. Katie Cotugno, Meet the Benedettos
12. Megan Bannen, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank
13. Lillian Marek, Home Is the Sailor
14. Rainbow Rowell, Slow Dance
15. Tara Isabella Burton, Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World
16. Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like
17. Madeline Martin, The Last Bookshop in London
18. Kirsty Greenwood, The Love of My Afterlife
19. Sheila Simonson, Love and Folly
20. Cornell Woolrich, The Bride Wore Black
21. Katherine Arden, The Warm Hands of Ghosts
22. Amanda Quain, Accomplished
23. Julie Tieu, Circling Back to You
24. Mia Page, Bookishly Ever After

5. Borrowed in 2024


Gyula Benczúr, "Woman Reading in a Forest"

1. Julia Heaberlin, Night Will Find You
2. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Fair
3. Mimi Matthews, The Lily of Ludgate Hill
4. Mary Balogh, Always Remember
5. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the School
6. Devon Daniels, The Rom Con
7. Sally Nicholls, Yours from the Tower
8. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Bath
9. Mariana Zapata, From Lukov with Love
10. Lynn Painter, Happily Never After
11. Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Assistant to the Villain
12. Charlotte Stein, When Grumpy Met Sunshine
13. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Nursery
14. Kate Clayborn, The Other Side of Disappearing
15. Tatsuya Endo, Spy x Family, vol. 1
16. Catherine Walsh, Snowed In
17. Emily Henry, Funny Story
18. Chloe Angyal, Pointe of Pride
19. Ashley Weaver, Locked in Pursuit
20. Ngaio Marsh, Overture to Death
21. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Rectory
22. Lia Louis, Better Left Unsent
23. Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect
24. Sylvie Cathrall, A Letter to the Luminous Deep

***

25. Jackie Lau, Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie
26. Katherine Center, The Rom-Commers
27. Claudia Gray, The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh
28. T. Kingfisher, A Sorceress Comes to Call
29. Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Apprentice to the Villain
30. Alan Bradley, What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust
31. Ally Carter, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
32. Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret
33. Sarah Adams, The Rule Book
34. Mimi Matthews, The Muse of Maiden Lane

6. Nook Books


Torajiro Kojima, "Woman Reading"

1. Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
2. T. Kingfisher, Swordheart
3. Elizabeth Harmon, Pairing Off
4. Stella Riley, A Trick of Fate
5. Chloe Angyal, Pas de Don't
6. Louise Allen, His Convenient Duchess
7. Stella Riley, Under a Dark Moon
8. Stella Riley, The Montesoro Legacy
9. Alyssa Everett, A Tryst with Trouble
10. Priscilla Pearce, My Enemy, My Prince
11. Hannah Ledford, Elephant and Castle
12. Mimi Matthews, The Work of Art
13. Mimi Matthews, Gentleman Jim
14. Lindsey Kelk, Love Me Do
15. Mimi Matthews, Return to Satterthwaite Court
16. Jenna Levine, My Roommate Is a Vampire
17. Mimi Matthews, Appointment in Bath
18. Lish McBride, Rough around the Hedges
19. Jill Bearup, Just Stab Me Now
20. C.J. Archer, The Librarian of Crooked Lane
21. Mimi Matthews, A Lady of Conscience
22. Jenny L. Howe, On the Plus Side
23. Louise Allen, The Viscount's Betrothal
24. Julianna Keyes, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

CATs and KITs

As usual, I'll dip in and out of these as the mood takes me. I will try to complete the entire AlphaKIT, plus or minus an X book. :)

January
CalendarCAT (Jan): Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird; Martha Wells, The Wizard Hunters
HistoryCAT (American wars & conflicts):
PrizeCAT (long-running prizes):
AlphaKIT (A, Y): Nancy Campbell Allen, Beauty and the Clockwork Beast; Delano Ames, She Shall Have Murder; Julia Heaberlin, Night Will Find You; Mary Balogh, Always Remember
MysteryKIT (short stories):
RandomKIT (early birds): Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird; T. Kingfisher, Swordheart
*SFFKIT (epic fantasy): T. Kingfisher, Swordheart; Martha Wells, The Wizard Hunters

February
CalendarCAT (Feb): Elizabeth Harmon, Pairing Off; Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiss of the Spindle; Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly; Devon Daniels, The Rom Con; Theresa Romain, It Takes Two to Tangle; Beth O'Leary, The Flatshare
HistoryCAT (Georgian & Regency Britain): Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly; Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the School; Theresa Romain, It Takes Two to Tangle; Paula Byrne, The Genius of Jane Austen: Her Love of Theatre and Why She Works in Hollywood
PrizeCAT (from your own country):
AlphaKIT (F, E): Martin Edwards, The Golden Age of Murder; Elizabeth Harmon, Pairing Off; Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly; Beth O'Leary, The Flatshare
MysteryKIT (true unsolved mysteries): Martin Edwards, The Golden Age of Murder
RandomKIT (escape or rescue): Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiss of the Spindle
SFFKIT (critters & creatures): Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiss of the Spindle

March
CalendarCAT (Mar): C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
HistoryCAT (science & medicine): Nancy Campbell Allen, The Lady in the Coppergate Tower
PrizeCAT (new to you):
AlphaKIT (H, R): Richard Hull, The Murder of My Aunt; Stella Riley, A Trick of Fate; Robin McKinley, Rose Daughter; Mary Balogh, Heartless; Georgette Heyer, A Blunt Instrument; Lynn Painter, Happily Never After; Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Assistant to the Villain; Louise Allen, His Convenient Duchess
MysteryKIT (historical): Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Bath
RandomKIT (World Wildlife Day):
SFFKIT (space opera):

April
CalendarCAT (Apr):
HistoryCAT (riots, revolution & mayhem): Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many
PrizeCAT (women’s writing):
AlphaKIT (U, O): Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many; Kate Clayborn, The Other Side of Disappearing; Stella Riley, Under a Dark Moon
MysteryKIT (series): Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many; Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Nursery
RandomKIT (garden visitors):
SFFKIT (time travel):

May
CalendarCAT (May):
HistoryCAT (Middle Ages):
PrizeCAT (doubling up): Connie Willis, Impossible Things
AlphaKIT (N, P): Emma Thompson, The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen's Novel to Film; Chloe Angyal, Pointe of Pride; Ashley Weaver, Locked in Pursuit; Ngaio Marsh, Overture to Death
MysteryKIT (Golden Age): Ngaio Marsh, Overture to Death
RandomKIT (art and architecture):
SFFKIT (archaeology):

June
CalendarCAT (Jun): Lizzy Dent, The Summer Job
HistoryCAT (historians):
PrizeCAT (book lists): Christianna Brand, Green for Danger
AlphaKIT (J, B): Carol Berg, The Soul Mirror; Lia Louis, Better Left Unsent; Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect; Jackie Lau, Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie; Christianna Brand, Green for Danger; Lizzy Dent, The Summer Job
MysteryKIT (author new to you): Christianna Brand, Green for Danger
RandomKIT (initials): Carol Berg, The Soul Mirror; Christianna Brand, Green for Danger
SFFKIT (monsters):

July
CalendarCAT (Jul):
*HistoryCAT (spies): Ben Macintyre, Agent Sonya: The Spy Next Door
PrizeCAT (from a country other than your own):
AlphaKIT (I, S): Ben Macintyre, Agent Sonya: The Spy Next Door; V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic; Eva Ibbotson, The Reluctant Heiress; Lillian Marek, Home Is the Sailor
MysteryKIT (cross-genre): Claudia Gray, The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh
RandomKIT (favorites): Katie Cotugno, Meet the Benedettos; Georgette Heyer, Frederica; Eva Ibbotson, The Reluctant Heiress; Naomi Novik, Uprooted
SFFKIT (first contact): Poul Anderson, The High Crusade

August
CalendarCAT (Aug): T. Kingfisher, A Sorceress Comes to Call
HistoryCAT (Byzantine Empire): John Julius Norwich, A Short History of Byzantium
PrizeCAT (genre):
AlphaKIT (M, G): Tara Isabella Burton, Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World; Mimi Matthews, Gentleman Jim; Mignon G. Eberhart, Murder by an Aristocrat; V.E. Schwab, A Gathering of Shadows; Lindsey Kelk, Love Me Do; Aja Gabel, The Ensemble
*MysteryKIT (amateur sleuths): Mignon G. Eberhart, Murder by an Aristocrat
RandomKIT (titles):
SFFKIT (paranormal/space detectives):

September
CalendarCAT (Sep): John Curran, Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making
HistoryCAT (World War I & II): Madeline Martin, The Last Bookshop in London
PrizeCAT (also fits another CAT/KIT): John Curran, Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making
AlphaKIT (V, C): Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Apprentice to the Villain; Elizabeth C. Bunce, Liar's Moon; Mimi Matthews, Return to Satterthwaite Court; V.E. Schwab, A Conjuring of Light; John Curran, Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making; Jenna Levine, My Roommate Is a Vampire; Georgette Heyer, Charity Girl
MysteryKIT (upstairs/downstairs): Alan Bradley, What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust
RandomKIT (weather): Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm
SFFKIT (gods/mythology): Elizabeth C. Bunce, Liar's Moon; V.E. Schwab, A Conjuring of Light

October
CalendarCAT (Oct): P.G. Wodehouse, Doctor Sally; Lish McBride, Rough around the Hedges; Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Perilous Gard
HistoryCAT (disasters):
PrizeCAT (missed out):
AlphaKIT (D, T): P.G. Wodehouse, Doctor Sally; J. Jefferson Farjeon, Thirteen Guests; Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None
MysteryKIT (not too scary): J. Jefferson Farjeon, Thirteen Guests; Ally Carter, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
RandomKIT (spooky season): Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None
SFFKIT (women authors): Kristen Britain, Green Rider; Genevieve Cogman, The Invisible Library; Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Perilous Gard; C.J. Archer, The Librarian of Crooked Lane

November
CalendarCAT (Nov): Katherine Arden, The Warm Hands of Ghosts
HistoryCAT (ancient & classical):
PrizeCAT (children’s): Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond
AlphaKIT (L, W): Mimi Matthews, A Lady of Conscience; Sinéad Murphy, The Jane Austen Rules: A Classic Guide to Modern Love; Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond; Cornell Woolrich, The Bride Wore Black; Katherine Arden, The Warm Hands of Ghosts; Jude Morgan, A Little Folly
MysteryKIT (noir): Cornell Woolrich, The Bride Wore Black
RandomKIT (first person): Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret
SFFKIT (recommended by a human):

December
CalendarCAT (Dec): Mary Balogh, A Christmas Bride / Christmas Beau; Amanda Quain, Accomplished; Julianna Keyes, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
HistoryCAT (religions & religious festivals):
PrizeCAT (your choice):
AlphaKIT (K, Q): Kristen Britain, The High King's Tomb; Amanda Quain, Accomplished; Matthew Kelly, Life Is Messy; Julianna Keyes, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
MysteryKIT (culinary):
RandomKIT (roll a die!):
SFFKIT (bookish fantasy): Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

Year-Long
AlphaKIT (X, Z): Mariana Zapata, From Lukov with Love

* = I'm hosting the challenge

BingoDOG

I completed my Bingo card in the first half of the year, and while I considered starting a second one, I decided to focus on other aspects of my challenge instead. So here is my one and only 2024 Bingo card:



1. Something themed around food or cooking: Lizzy Dent, The Summer Job (main characters work in a restaurant)
2. A book with an ugly cover: Martin Edwards, The Golden Age of Murder
3. A book with nothing on the cover but the title and author: C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
4. A book featuring twins: Sharon Shinn, The Truth-Teller's Tale (narrator is a twin)
5. A book about a topic about which you have specific knowledge or expertise: Paula Byrne, The Genius of Jane Austen: Her Love of Theatre and Why She Works in Hollywood
6. First published in a year ending in -24: Mimi Matthews, The Lily of Ludgate Hill (2024)
7. Epistolary or diary format: Richard Hull, The Murder of My Aunt (diary)
8. The words "Big" or "Little" in the title: Erle Stanley Gardner, The Bigger They Come
9. A book from one of the "Similar Libraries" featured on your LT profile page: Robin McKinley, Rose Daughter (shared with barefootsong)
10. A book about friendship: Sally Nicholls, Yours from the Tower
11. A three-word title: Martha Wells, The Wizard Hunters
12. Features a paper-based item in the plot: Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly (letters between hero and heroine kick off the plot)
13. Read a CAT: Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiss of the Spindle (Feb CalendarCAT, RandomKIT, SFFKIT)
14. A short story collection/anthology: Connie Willis, Impossible Things
15. Title contains a person's name: Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
16. Set in the city: Delano Ames, She Shall Have Murder (London)
17. A book with fewer than 100 copies on LT: Julia Heaberlin, Night Will Find You (91 as of Jan. 9)
18. Something written by a person of color: Jackie Lau, Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie (author is Chinese Canadian)
19. Written by an author 65 or older: Mary Balogh, Always Remember (age 79)
20. A book featuring water: Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Bath
21. Involves warriors or mercenaries: T. Kingfisher, Swordheart
22. Reread a favorite book: Georgette Heyer, Faro's Daughter
23. A book written in another cultural tradition: Tatsuya Endo, Spy x Family, vol. 1 (Japanese author, manga format)
24. Something that takes place in multiple countries: Elizabeth Harmon, Pairing Off (Russia, USA, Netherlands, Canada)
25. Read a current/recent bestseller: Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Assistant to the Villain

And...I think that's it. Welcome to my new thread!

Happy new thread! I'm in awe of the sheer number of books you've read already this year!

Happy new thread! Looking forward to continuing to follow your reading.

>11 Jackie_K: Thank you! I'm still struggling to balance out my uneven categories though. :)

>12 RidgewayGirl: Thanks, Kay!

Happy new thread.

Happy new thread! I love to see those ladies reading.

Happy new thread Christina!

>14 lowelibrary: >15 MissWatson: >16 lsh63: Thanks for stopping by, everyone!

Happy New Thread! I'm looking forward to seeing what you read in the months to come.

Happy New Thread! Your thread always provides so many BBs!

>18 MissBrangwen: >19 VivienneR: Thank you both!

Book #88: Rainbow Rowell, Slow Dance
CATs: none

In high school, Shiloh and Cary were inseparable—best friends who knew they were destined to be in each other’s lives forever. But 14 years later, they’ve completely lost touch. Shiloh has been married and divorced, and now she and her two young children live in her childhood home with her mother. Meanwhile, Cary joined the Navy and hardly ever comes home. But when they both attend their good friend Mikey’s wedding, they get a chance to figure out what went wrong between them and possibly build a future together. I’ve long been a Rainbow Rowell fan and was delighted to discover she’d come out with another adult romance, so I snapped up the hardcover immediately. Overall I liked it a lot; she’s such a good writer, and she does a great job of depicting complex emotions in a relatable, realistic way. There’s not much of a plot, nor is there as much humor and joy as in my favorite of her books (Attachments), but I’d still highly recommend this one to fans of contemporary romance.

Happy new thread
That's a lot of reading! Looking forward to seeing what's in the 3rd thread.

Happy new thread!

>22 Helenliz: >23 mstrust: Thank you! Hoping to add some more good reads in part 3.

Book #89: Elizabeth C. Bunce, StarCrossed
CATs: none

Digger is a street thief in a country that’s being unjustly oppressed by both the king and his fanatical Inquisition/secret police. She has no particular interest in politics – she’s just trying to stay alive and not get caught – but after a job gone wrong, she falls in with a group of young nobles and becomes a lady-in-waiting to one of them. At her employer’s mountain castle, Digger is blackmailed into spying on the castle’s owners and their guests, who are concealing many secrets that could have ramifications throughout the kingdom. I enjoyed this YA fantasy novel, which combines a streetwise, fish-out-of-water heroine with some solid political intrigue. It’s well written, with several twists and turns of the plot to keep things interesting. While the book has a reasonably firm ending, there’s plenty of room for a sequel, which I’m excited to read next month!

Book #90: Tara Isabella Burton, Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World
CATs: Alpha (G = Godless)

The decline in traditional religiosity in America over the past several decades is well known, but along with this decline has come a surge in Americans who describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious” or as religiously unaffiliated. Burton’s thesis is that many contemporary Americans do still acknowledge a spiritual component to their lives; they just look for it in places other than traditional religious institutions. She discusses several ways in which contemporary Americans pursue spiritual fulfillment, including fandom, wellness culture, witchcraft, and political activism. I find Burton’s central thesis compelling and her examples incredibly entertaining – once you start to look for the oddly spiritual language in modern marketing, you can’t unsee it! The book does feel a bit dated now; it was published in 2020, and much of the data is from the mid-2010s. Still, I’d recommend the book to those interested in the subject, and I plan to read Burton’s next book, Self Made, at some point.

Book #91: Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like
CATs: none

Jewelry store owner Eliza is dismayed when she sees on social media that her ex-boyfriend has just gotten engaged. To console herself, she tries on the store’s most extravagant ring and takes a photo – then accidentally posts it to Instagram. When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers thousands of new social media followers, as well as several big online orders from the store. Since her fake engagement is good for business, she decides to keep up the charade. But as her little white lie spirals out of control, she risks losing both her business and a chance at love. I thought this book sounded cute, but Eliza’s behavior made me so mad! Basically, she starts dating a guy in the hope that he’ll actually become her fiancé (and thus make the lie true)…but she 100% leads him on and manipulates him into falling in love with her, not telling him the truth until after he proposes. I thought it was irredeemably awful of her, and her subsequent happy ending felt undeserved. Not recommended.

Book #92: Mimi Matthews, Gentleman Jim
CATs: Alpha (M = Mimi, Matthews; G = Gentleman)

Ten years ago, stableboy Nicholas Seaton and young lady Margaret Honeywell fell in love, but the cruel interference of a rival suitor forced Nicholas to run away, and Maggie hasn’t heard from him since. Now, visiting a friend in London, she encounters Lord St. Clare, an enigmatic viscount who has recently come to England after years spent abroad. Maggie is convinced that St. Clare is Nicholas, but he staunchly denies it, while at the same time determinedly pursuing a relationship with her. Who is St. Clare, and what’s his purpose in coming to London? I haven’t hit a bad Matthews book yet, and this one is just as well written and entertaining as her others. It’s explicitly inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, so if you know that story, the plot is pretty predictable. I also found the central romance a bit farfetched, given that Maggie and Nicholas were so young when they initially fell in love. But then, second-chance romance really just isn’t my trope. I did like the book and plan to continue with the series, though this installment can 100% stand alone.

>28 christina_reads: I have also been enjoying the Somerset Stories series, and am waiting for the library to acquire the most recent book, A Lady of Conscience.

No problem with the second-chance romance trope. It's the guardian-ward trope and the forty-year-old rake reforming for the sake of the exceptional seventeen-year-old virgin that I dislike.

>29 pamelad: I concur with your distaste for those tropes! They're not an automatic "no" from me, depending on how they're handled, but I definitely approach those stories with extreme caution. (For example, I overall enjoyed Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster, but found some trope-adjacent elements of the plot troubling.)

Reading Gentleman Jim, I was surprised that there's literally NO connection with The Work of Art. Usually in a romance series, you at least get a cameo appearance from the previous couple! It looks like subsequent books in the series will tie the first two books together, though.

>28 christina_reads: I really liked that one, also.

Happy new thread Christina!

>26 christina_reads: Ooooh, this one sounds fascinating. Despite growing up in the Presbyterian church, I always found solace and spirituality outside of a formal church setting. Glad to know I'm not the only one in that has struggled with religion/spirituality at this time.

>26 christina_reads: I've just added this one to my wishlist. Partly because I no longer attend church, but still have faith, and partly because I've long felt that things like wellness and self-help in particular have quite creepy underpinnings and are taking the place of religion for many people.

>31 Tess_W: I've been liking this series a lot so far -- and really haven't hit a bad Matthews book yet!

>32 threadnsong: >33 Jackie_K: I'd definitely recommend the Burton and would be interested to see what you both think of it! Jackie, I totally agree about some of the creepy rhetoric surrounding wellness culture and "self care."

Book #93: Mignon G. Eberhart, Murder by an Aristocrat
CATs: Alpha (M = Mignon, Murder; G = G.); Mystery (amateur sleuths = nurse)

Nurse Sarah Keate is called to the home of the wealthy and prominent Thatcher family when one of its members, Bayard, is shot in the arm. The family claims the shot was an accident that occurred while Bayard was cleaning his gun, but Bayard tells Nurse Keate that someone in the household tried to kill him. His claim seems to be proved true when he’s later found dead in the library. The family then coerces Nurse Keate into staying at the house, where more sinister things occur, including another death. This was my first book by Mignon G. Eberhart, and I quite liked it! The sensible Nurse Keate is a great narrator, and I appreciated the way the mystery unfolded; new evidence came to light at a good pace and so forth. The suspense aspects of the plot (lots of “had I but known” moments) aren’t really my thing, but they’re not too intrusive here. I’ll certainly read more by Eberhart, especially if I can get my hands on some other Nurse Keate books.

Book #94: T. Kingfisher, A Sorceress Comes to Call
CATs: Calendar (August = bird of the month is kingfisher)

Cordelia has always feared her mother, Evangeline, who has the power to take over Cordelia’s body and manipulate it like a puppet. They live an isolated life in a small village, but Evangeline wants to marry a wealthy man and soon sets her sights on a nearby squire. When they move into the squire’s home, his sister, Hester, immediately senses something wrong about Evangeline and tries to help the terrified Cordelia. But Evangeline’s dark powers soon threaten Hester and everyone she holds dear. This is another absolutely outstanding novel by Kingfisher – sort of her take on a Regency romance, but with a dark fantasy edge. Evangeline’s abuse of Cordelia is terrible to read, and there are a few scenes that veer into straight-up horror. But Hester and Cordelia, the two viewpoint characters, are wonderful, and I also adored Hester’s friends and love interest. So for me, there was enough light and humor to balance out the dark stuff, and I can’t recommend this novel highly enough!

Books #95-96: Helene Hanff, 84, Charing Cross Road and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street
CATs: none

American writer Helene Hanff first writes to the British bookstore Marks & Co. in 1949, sending a wishlist of books she can’t find closer to home. Frank Doel, one of the store’s employees, promises to hunt for her requests. The ensuing correspondence, collected in 84, Charing Cross Road, reflects a friendship spanning two decades, as Helene and Frank discuss their work lives, their families and friends, and the books they love. In 1971, Helene finally travels to England and meets Frank’s wife (Frank himself had sadly died by that time), recounting her adventures in The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street. These books are perfect little gems for literature lovers, funny and bighearted and brimming with goodwill. They also provide a snapshot of the late 20th century, from postwar rationing (Helene has meat and eggs sent to her British friends) to the popularity of the Beatles (Frank “rather likes” them – “if only their fans didn’t scream so”). I will definitely revisit these books whenever I need to feel some joy or restore my faith in humanity!

>37 christina_reads: I'm glad you've read these, I think they are "lifetime" books too. I don't know how many times I've gone back to them but I don't think I'm finished with them yet!

>35 christina_reads: I will have to make sure to add a Mignon G. Eberhart or two to my reading list as soon as I can fit them in!

>38 clue: Definitely "lifetime" books for me!

>39 DeltaQueen50: I hope to find some more books by her...not sure if my library will have any.

>37 christina_reads: Wonderful stories! If you haven't seen the movie version, it's great too, with Anthony Hopkins as Frank.
>35 christina_reads: The corpse on the cover looks like he's planking :-D

>41 mstrust: I've been hearing great things about the movie -- definitely added to the watchlist! And lol about the planking, I can see that!

>41 mstrust: Hahaha it totally does!

Right? 😄

>35 christina_reads:, >39 DeltaQueen50: There are a few Mignon G Eberhart books in Kindle Unlimited including Wolf in Man's Clothing, which is another Sarah Keate book.

>13 christina_reads: Happy new thread, Christina! One of my categories is still empty, so don't feel bad that yours have different amounts of books in them :-)

>46 susanj67: The great thing about this challenge is that it doesn't really matter if you "fail" -- there are no Category Challenge police!

>37 christina_reads: Two of my favs! Glad you enjoyed them.

>48 Tess_W: They really are lovely books.

>26 christina_reads: I just picked this up today from the library - and then my husband snagged it right away. I'm looking forward to it even though I am a committed atheist.

>50 VivienneR: LOL at your husband "stealing" it from you! Hope you both enjoy it.

Book #97: V.E. Schwab, A Gathering of Shadows
CATs: Alpha (G = Gathering)

***Warning: SPOILERS for A Darker Shade of Magic***

Four months after Red London was nearly destroyed, Kell is angry and restless. To save Rhy’s life, he tied it to his own, but now anytime Kell is hurt, Rhy feels it in his body – and vice versa. Rhy also resents this bond and feels guilty for living on borrowed time. Meanwhile, Lila has achieved her ambition of sailing on a pirate ship but doesn’t trust her newfound happiness. When her ship returns to Red London for a magical tournament, the stage is set for dramatic meetings – and an unexpected threat from White London. I must confess, I found this book something of a slog. Nothing actually happens to move the plot forward until well over halfway through. I still like the main characters, including Lila’s captain, Alucard Emery, and I appreciated Rhy’s development. But I wanted more of Kell and Lila actually interacting with each other! Unfortunately, I think this book makes the common “book 2 of a trilogy” mistake – it’s basically just a setup for book 3. Not sure I’ll be keeping this series on my shelves, honestly.

>51 christina_reads: He's already telling me about bits or reading them out to me so maybe I won't need to read it. :)

>53 VivienneR: Haha, sounds very efficient!

Book #98: Lindsey Kelk, Love Me Do
CATs: Alpha (M = Me)

UK native Phoebe Chapman is excited to spend a couple weeks visiting her sister in Los Angeles. Sure, her sister has to leave pretty much immediately for an emergency work trip, but Phoebe is happy enough to stay at her luxurious house and explore the city, with the help of handsome neighbor Ren and bubbly personal trainer Bel. Phoebe soon learns that Bel has a crush on Ren but is painfully awkward around him, so she decides to help the couple get together. But a little well-meaning advice soon spirals out of control, with Phoebe writing love letters to Ren on Bel’s behalf – while falling for Ren herself. I’m a sucker for a Cyrano de Bergerac storyline, and I enjoyed this book even though Phoebe’s plan was obviously doomed from the start. Yes, Ren is a little too good to be true, and the conflicts are all resolved pretty quickly. But I liked Phoebe’s humorous voice and her enthusiastic descriptions of LA from an outside perspective. Overall, it’s a fun read if the premise interests you.

Just stopping by to catch up. So many good books here! Thanks for your efforts in making this thread a fulsome read. I'll be back to pick up some BBs when I am ready and I will thoroughly enjoy seeing the ladies that read collection that you've assembled here.

>56 beebeereads: Thanks for stopping by! I just bought a bookmark that says "Never underestimate a woman with a book," which I think is going to be my new motto. :)

>57 christina_reads: I need that one!! LOL

>58 beebeereads: https://www.strandbooks.com/bookmark-never-underestimate-canvas-9789112244229.ht...

>59 christina_reads: That is gorgeous!

>59 christina_reads: Beautiful! Thank you.

Book #99 John Julius Norwich, A Short History of Byzantium
CATs: History (Byzantine Empire) – I read this in August

In the late ’80s and early ’90s, English popular historian John Julius Norwich wrote a three-volume history of the Byzantine Empire. This book condenses that longer work into a single tome of 500-ish pages, giving a broad-strokes overview of the history of Byzantium from the reign of Constantine the Great in the fourth century to the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It’s a lot of ground to cover, so Norwich mostly sticks to the emperors and other powerful figures (popes, patriarchs, rival monarchs, etc.) who show up in the historical record. As someone who’s only mildly interested in the Byzantine Empire, I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book, which would probably be more enjoyable to someone with more background knowledge. But Norwich is an entertaining writer, and I think I will retain at least some of what I read, so I’d recommend it to people who are enthusiastic about the period.

Book #100: Aja Gabel, The Ensemble
CATs: Alpha (G = Gabel) – I read this in August

This novel closely follows four characters, members of a professional string quartet whose careers and lives are intertwined in various complicated ways. There’s first violinist Jana, the ambitious and emotionally ruthless leader of the group; Brit, the calm and kind second violinist; Henry, the viola prodigy to whom everything seems to come easily; and Daniel, the cellist with a monumental chip on his shoulder. As time passes, each character comes to terms with what he or she really wants from the quartet and from life in general. Literary fiction doesn’t always appeal to me; I find “literary” is often synonymous with “depressing.” But in this case, I found enough to like about these (sometimes quite unlikable) characters, and enough outcomes to root for, that I liked the book more than I expected to. I also thought the descriptions of music and life as a musician rang true. Overall, I think I’d like to read this book again someday, so I’m keeping it on my shelves for now.

August recap

August was a busy month but a good one for me! It started with a week in Florida to see my parents and my two oldest nephews, ages 8 and 6, who were spending the week with them. It was a great visit, and the boys were a lot of fun and (mostly) very well behaved. It’s amazing to see them growing up and developing their own personalities – the 8-year-old looks like he might be a reader! :) I also just got back from a trip to New York with a friend. We saw a show (“Once upon a Mattress” with Sutton Foster), toured the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, went to the MoMA, and generally had a great time being tourists. Of course, we had to visit the famous Strand bookstore (that's me in the foreground)!



I had a good reading month too, so without further ado, on to the books:

Books read in August:
1. Rainbow Rowell, Slow Dance
2. Elizabeth C. Bunce, StarCrossed
3. Tara Isabella Burton, Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World
4. Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like
5. Mimi Matthews, Gentleman Jim
6. Mignon G. Eberhart, Murder by an Aristocrat
7. T. Kingfisher, A Sorceress Comes to Call
8. Helene Hanff, 84, Charing Cross Road
9. Helene Hanff, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street
10. V.E. Schwab, A Gathering of Shadows
11. Lindsey Kelk, Love Me Do
12. John Julius Norwich, A Short History of Byzantium
13. Aja Gabel, The Ensemble

Favorite book of the month:
A Sorceress Comes to Call is the second T. Kingfisher book I’ve read this year, and the second one I’ve absolutely adored!

Dishonorable mention:
Love at First Like genuinely irritated me – the heroine does some pretty awful things with no negative consequences, and her happy ending feels entirely unearned.

CATs completed:
- CalendarCAT (Aug): August’s bird of the month is the kingfisher, so T. Kingfisher’s A Sorceress Comes to Call qualifies.
- HistoryCAT (Byzantine Empire): A Short History of Byzantium pretty much covers it!
- AlphaKIT (M, G): Tara Isabella Burton, Strange Rites: New Religions for a *Godless World; *Mimi *Matthews, *Gentleman Jim; *Mignon *G. Eberhart, *Murder by an Aristocrat; V.E. Schwab, A *Gathering of Shadows; Lindsey Kelk, Love *Me Do; Aja *Gabel, The Ensemble
- MysteryKIT (amateur sleuths): In Murder by an Aristocrat, the sleuth is a nurse who has to solve the murder of her patient.

Books acquired in August:
1. Rachel Khong, Goodbye, Vitamin
2. Cornell Woolrich, Waltz into Darkness
3. Mary Jo Putney, The Rake
4. Katie Cotugno, Heavy Hitter

Physical books in/out:
Cumulatively, I’m at 53 in and 32 out, so + 21. I am definitely going to fail my “one in, one out” goal this year – but at least I’m only one up from July!

>64 christina_reads: Your trip to New York sounds fantastic! And also the visit to Florida.
The Strand Bookstore is one I really wish to visit one day!

>65 MissBrangwen: I wish I'd spent more time at the Strand! We left it to the end of the day, and we were so tired at that point that we didn't do it justice. Next time, I will go there in the morning on day 1 of my trip and stay for hours!

Book #101: Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Apprentice to the Villain
CATs: Alpha (V = Villain)

This book picks up shortly after Assistant to the Villain left off: Trystan has been captured by the nefarious King Benedict, and Evie & co. must find a way to rescue him. They then learn that the magic in their kingdom is fading, and it seems the solution is to fulfill the Rennedawn Prophecy, an ancient piece of lore that most people view as a myth. As Trystan and Evie seek the elements they need to fulfill the prophecy – and avoid capture by Benedict’s army – they continue to fight their mutual attraction. I’m not entirely sure why I decided to read this book, since I thought the previous one was just okay. The main characters still feel like they belong in teen fanfiction, and their waffling over whether they can give into their feelings gave me constant emotional whiplash. I still found myself entertained enough that I will probably read the third book when it comes out…but I’m really hoping that will be the end of the series!

>64 christina_reads: Good to see you in your natural habitat, Christina.

>68 pamelad: Ha, thank you!

Book #102: Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm
CATs: Random (weather = storm)

Christian Langland, the duke of Jervaulks, is a well-known rake and libertine—and also a mathematical prodigy writing a paper on non-Euclidean geometry with Quaker mathematician John Timms. John’s daughter, Maddy, despises Christian’s worldly ways; but when he suffers a brain injury and is confined to a lunatic asylum, she’s aghast at his treatment and becomes convinced of his sanity, despite his near inability to communicate. Maddy feels called to help Christian and is forced to take drastic measures when his family tries to have him declared legally incompetent. I read this book years ago but didn’t remember much about it, so I’m very happy to say I loved it this time around! Both Christian and Maddy are flawed yet appealing characters: He’s often stubborn and autocratic but slowly learning to be more patient, and she’s judgmental but also principled and courageous. The angst quotient is pretty high, which isn’t usually my preference in a romance novel, but in this case it genuinely worked for me. I definitely need to seek out more of Kinsale’s backlist!

Book #103: Elizabeth C. Bunce, Liar’s Moon
CATs: Alpha (C = C.), SFF (gods/mythology)

This sequel to StarCrossed sees Digger back in her hometown of Gerse, where tensions are high due to civil war: King Bardolph and his anti-magic Inquisition on the one side, Prince Wierolf and a group of refugee magicians on the other. But Digger is concerned with a more personal problem: Her friend Durrell Decath has been arrested for the murder of his wife, but Digger knows he’s innocent. As she investigates to learn who really killed the woman, Digger also finds evidence of organized crime and human trafficking. This is an odd sequel in that book #1 was largely about the buildup to the civil war, but in this book the war is really just a backdrop for the murder mystery. I did enjoy the plot and the writing style, but I wanted more continuity between the books. Frustratingly, the author clearly intended to write more in the series – this book ends on a pretty big cliffhanger – but more than 10 years later, she hasn’t come out with book #3, so I think this is all we get. Overall, the series had a lot of potential but never really fulfilled it, for me.

>70 christina_reads: Laura Kinsale is a class above. Happy reading.

>72 pamelad: I agree! Flowers from the Storm is so fascinating -- not only is it a wonderful romance, but there are so many elements that make you feel really grounded in the history (details about lunatic asylums, dissenting religions, etc.). I'm eager to try more of her work.

New York and Florida! Glad to hear you had a great summer.

>74 VivienneR: Thanks -- I was lucky to be able to take those trips!

Book #104: Alan Bradley, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust
CATs: Mystery (upstairs/downstairs = a servant is a murder suspect)

Passionate chemist and adolescent sleuth Flavia de Luce is back on the case when Buckshaw’s cook, Mrs. Mullet, is accused of killing a Bishop’s Lacey resident with poisoned mushrooms. Flavia knows Mrs. Mullet is innocent and decides to clear her name. The dead man, Major Greyleigh, seemed reasonably well liked, so who had a motive to kill him? As Flavia digs deeper, she uncovers a shocking secret that will upend her whole life. I’ve read every book in this series, which I enjoy for Flavia’s breezy, often hilarious narration (though I’m not convinced she’s a realistic or even a coherent character). But the mysteries tend to be weak, and that’s certainly the case here. I also don’t love the direction in which this book seems to be taking the series; it doubles down on some of my least favorite plot elements from previous books. Overall, it’s mid, as the kids say. But if another Flavia book comes out, I’ll most likely read it!

Book #105: Mimi Matthews, Return to Satterthwaite Court
CATs: Alpha (C = Court)

This Victorian romance centers around Lieutenant Charles Heywood, son of the couple from The Work of Art, and Lady Katherine Beresford, daughter of the couple from Gentleman Jim. They meet in passing and are instantly smitten, and their relationship develops as they investigate an anonymous letter that hints at a past wrongdoing involving Charles’s mother. Much as I love Mimi Matthews, this is not one of my favorites by her. The central romance just seemed a bit bland to me; Charles and Kate didn’t feel like fully fleshed out characters, though I did like that Kate knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Still, I found myself much more interested in the hints of romance among the secondary characters—two of Kate’s brothers are the heroes of the next two books in the series. It’s a perfectly good (and steamless!) historical romance, and I did enjoy reading it, but it didn’t blow me away.

Book #106: V.E. Schwab, A Conjuring of Light
CATs: Alpha (V = V., C = Conjuring); SFF (gods/mythology = antagonist claims to be a god)

Immediately after the events of A Gathering of Shadows, Kell finds himself in White London being confronted by Osaron, a god (or demon) whose magic threatens to ruin everything in its path. Kell defies Osaron, but the latter still manages to get to Red London, where he promptly enslaves or murders most of its residents. It’s up to Kell, Lila, Rhy, Alucard et al. to stop Osaron before he destroys their entire world—and perhaps the neighboring worlds as well. This conclusion to the Shades of Magic trilogy is huge—my hardcover is more than 600 pages long, and the margins are small—but it’s also a page-turner. That said, I would have preferred a shorter book; we didn’t really need all the flashbacks, nor the chapters from non-protagonist POVs. I did enjoy the story and think this book gives a satisfying ending to the series (though I believe the author has since written more books in this world). Overall, I’m glad I finally read this whole trilogy, but it’s not a keeper for me.

Book #107: Madeline Martin, The Last Bookshop in London
CATs: History (World War I and II = set in London during WWII)

Grace and her best friend Viv are excited to move to London from the countryside, both of them dreaming of working in a fashionable clothing shop. But the only job Grace can get is as an assistant at the disorganized and overcrowded Primrose Hill Books. At first she just wants to work there long enough to get a good reference, but gradually she comes to find fulfillment in her job, as well as a new love of literature. However, her joy in her work is tempered by the onset of World War II, in which she experiences the horrors of the Blitz firsthand. I have to say, much as I enjoy a book set during the Blitz, this one did nothing for me. The writing style felt awkward and unpolished, and while the author obviously did some research, it intruded on the narrative rather than being subtly incorporated. I wasn’t impressed with this one and won’t seek out more by this author.

>79 christina_reads: I've been reading a lot about bookshops and books and this one was on my radar. Think I'll pass for now as I have about a dozen others.

>80 Tess_W: I feel safe in saying it's fine to skip! I'm sure there are plenty of much better-written books with a similar premise.

Book #108: John Curran, Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making
CATs: Calendar (Christie’s birthday is September 15); Prize (2011 Anthony Award for Best Critical Nonfiction); Alpha (C = Curran, Christie’s)

This book is based on a collection of Agatha Christie’s notebooks, in which she jotted down the ideas and worked out the plots that would eventually become her published novels, stories, and plays. Curran, obviously a huge fan, compares Christie’s notes with her finished works and thereby paints a picture of her creative process. I think Christie aficionados would enjoy this book, but it’s definitely not for the casual fan as it assumes in-depth knowledge of her work (though Curran does provide spoiler warnings). Many of the notes aren’t particularly detailed or interesting, though they do shed a fun light on Christie’s somewhat haphazard process. The book also feels disorganized, with photos of the notebooks and little informational boxes interrupting the main narrative, sometimes for several pages. Basically, I’d only recommend this one to the true die-hard fans, but it did make me want to go back and reread some of my favorite Christie novels!

>82 christina_reads: The thing I really liked about the format of that book was how he'd list the books discussed at the beginning of each chapter so that you could go read them before encountering spoilers (or skip the chapter). It was fun to pick up and put down. And I agree, it definitely makes you want to re-read Christie!

>82 christina_reads: I sent this to a friend. Thanks for the information.

Hi Christina! Enjoying catching up with your reads for the month of September (so far), and I've been meaning to re-read the first 2 Flavia de Luce that I have so that I can catch up on her escapades. I really like her spirit.

And loved the pic of you in front of The Strand! Must have been so hard to leave such a great place, and I hope you get to go back and browse soon.

>82 christina_reads: Thank you for the heads up on this book. I always love reading how an author/artist/musician comes up with their ideas or finished products, and I do love me some Agatha Christie. >83 rabbitprincess: The way the book is organized sounds like it might be doable, and a great way to re-read her mysteries.

>83 rabbitprincess: That does sound like a good way to use the book -- as a sort of companion for a Christie reread.

>84 mnleona: I hope your friend enjoys the book!

>85 threadnsong: Flavia is a lot of fun -- I hope you continue to enjoy the series. And yes, I'd love to get back to the Strand sometime soon!

>86 threadnsong: Sounds like you may be the target audience for Curran's book -- would be interested to see what you think of it!

Book #109: Jenna Levine, My Roommate Is a Vampire
CATs: Alpha (V = Vampire)

Struggling artist Cassie is about to be evicted, so when she sees a “roommate wanted” ad on Craigslist for a great apartment with a suspiciously low rent, she’s desperate enough to check it out. Her would-be roommate, Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, seems strange and old-fashioned but harmless – that is, until she discovers the bags of human blood in the refrigerator. Yes, Frederick is a vampire, and he needs Cassie’s help to navigate the modern world. A romance soon develops between them, but people from Frederick’s past seek to keep them apart. I liked the premise of this book and found it a fun read, but I was unable to suspend my disbelief about Frederick’s situation. There are too many inconsistencies in what he knows about the modern world vs. what he doesn’t, and very little time is spent on what vampire life is like, whether Cassie will be “turned” and what that will mean for her, etc. Those hoping for a modern vampire story that makes sense will be disappointed, but if you’re just looking for a cute contemporary romance with paranormal trappings, you might like this one.

Book #110: Maryrose Wood, The Mysterious Howling
CATs: none

Miss Penelope Lumley has just graduated from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females and is about to take up her first position as a governess. When she arrives at the vast estate of Ashton Place, she soon learns that the three children under her care aren’t the biological children of Lord and Lady Ashton. Rather, they were found in the forest surrounding the estate, apparently having been raised by wolves. As Penelope teaches Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia how to speak and behave like human children, she notices several sinister aspects of her new life, such as Lord Frederick’s obsession with hunting and an apparently deliberate plot to make the children regress into wolflike behavior. This is a fun, cheeky read with more than a few nods to Victorian gothic novels. I liked Penelope and the children and enjoyed reading about their shenanigans. My only complaint is that the larger questions about the children’s identity and background are unanswered; I may just have to continue with the series to find out more!

September recap

September always seems to be a tough month for me; work is busy, “extracurriculars” kick into high gear, and it feels like the mad rush to Christmas has begun! I also had some big expenses this month, from holiday flights to pricey car repairs. Perhaps as a result, I had a slower reading month…not that 11 books is a “bad” total for me! But in order to complete all my challenge categories, I’ll have to speed up for the remainder of the year. So without further ado, on to the books!

Books read in September:
1. Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Apprentice to the Villain
2. Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm
3. Elizabeth C. Bunce, Liar’s Moon
4. Alan Bradley, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust
5. Mimi Matthews, Return to Satterthwaite Court
6. V.E. Schwab, A Conjuring of Light
7. Madeline Martin, The Last Bookshop in London
8. John Curran, Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making
9. Jenna Levine, My Roommate Is a Vampire
10. Maryrose Wood, The Mysterious Howling
11. Georgette Heyer, Charity Girl

Favorite book of the month:
Honestly, nothing really stands out to me this month! I guess I’ll pick Return to Satterthwaite Court; even a less-good Mimi Matthews is still a good book.

Dishonorable mention:
Again, nothing really stands out…everything I read this month was varying degrees of “meh.” Maybe The Last Bookshop in London, just because it felt so paint-by-numbers.

CATs completed:
- CalendarCAT (Sep): Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks qualifies, as Dame Agatha was born on September 15, 1890.
- HistoryCAT (World War I & II): The Last Bookshop in London is set during World War II.
- PrizeCAT (also fits another CAT/KIT): Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks won the Anthony Award for Best Critical Nonfiction in 2011, and it also fits this month’s CalendarCAT and AlphaKIT.
- AlphaKIT (V, C): Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Apprentice to the *Villain; Elizabeth *C. Bunce, Liar’s Moon; Mimi Matthews, Return to Satterthwaite *Court; *V.E. Schwab, A *Conjuring of Light; John *Curran, Agatha *Christie’s Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making; Jenna Levine, My Roommate Is a *Vampire; Georgette Heyer, *Charity Girl
- MysteryKIT (upstairs/downstairs): In What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust, the chief murder suspect is a servant.
- RandomKIT (weather): Flowers from the Storm has a weather word in the title.
- SFFKIT (gods/mythology): Liar’s Moon has a detailed mythology, and the villain of A Conjuring of Light is frequently called a god or demon.

Books acquired in September:
1. Jason Travis Ott, Grandiloquent Words: A Pictoric Lexicon of Ostrobogulous Locutions (gift)
2. Charlotte Stein, When Grumpy Met Sunshine (e-book, previously read)
3. Stephanie Burgis, A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience (e-book)
4. Stella Riley, Masque of Deceptions (e-book)
5. Cornell Woolrich, The Bride Wore Black
6. Keiichirō Hirano, At the End of the Matinee
7. Andrey Kurkov, Grey Bees
8. Mimi Matthews, The Lily of Ludgate Hill (e-book)

Physical books in/out:
I’m currently at 57 in, 40 out, for a net total of +17. An improvement from last month, but I highly doubt I’ll reach my “one in, one out” goal for the year!

ETA: I ended up finishing one more book this evening, Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer. Updating this post accordingly!

Book #111: Georgette Heyer, Charity Girl
CATs: Alpha (C = Charity) – I read this in September

The young, rich, and handsome Viscount Desford gets into a scrape when he meets Charity “Cherry” Steane, the poor relation of a family he happens to be visiting. The day after their meeting, he discovers her running away from her family’s cruel treatment, and he feels honor-bound to help her reach her grandfather in London. But of course, when they reach London, her grandfather is nowhere to be found; so Desford leaves Cherry with his old friend, Lady Henrietta, and sets off to discover the grandfather’s whereabouts. In the midst of these events, romance blooms in an unexpected place. Much as I adore Heyer, this novel isn’t one I frequently revisit, and now I remember why. Too much of the book is spent on Desford’s solo adventures and on introducing characters who appear in just one or two scenes. As a result, the romance gets short shrift and almost feels like an afterthought. The book is still a pleasant read with a lot of funny moments, but it’s not one of Heyer’s best, in my opinion.

Book #112: Kristen Britain, Green Rider
CATs: SFF (women authors)

Karigan G’ladheon is a university student who’s on her way home after being unfairly suspended. She unexpectedly crosses paths with a Green Rider, one of the king’s messengers, who is dying with two black arrows in his back. He urges her to complete his mission and take the message he’s carrying to the king. Karigan somewhat reluctantly agrees and is immediately plunged into a series of dangerous adventures. Meanwhile, King Zachary faces many threats, including the ambition of his disgruntled brother and the dark powers of a supernatural being known only as the Gray One. I first read this book back in 2010 and liked it enough to pick up the next two in the series. Rereading it now, I still enjoyed it, though it’s pretty standard sword and sorcery. Karigan definitely seems to be some kind of “chosen one,” though I liked that she wasn’t amazing at everything and often needed help to complete her mission. All in all, I’m interested in continuing with the series to see what’s next for Karigan and her new friends and allies.

>76 christina_reads: I was delighted to see What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust on the new books list from the library. I put a hold on it right away but so did many others. Your assessment of Flavia is spot on.

>79 christina_reads: Tempted by 'bookshop' in the title, I started Madeline Martin's book and discarded it after a short time.

It was a good reading month for you despite the busy season.

>64 christina_reads: How fun to visit the Strand bookstore and it's fun to be able to put a face to your name. Glad it was a good trip.

>70 christina_reads: Laura Kinsale remains my favorite romance author.

>93 VivienneR: I hope you get the new Flavia soon! And regarding the Martin book, you're not missing out. :)

>94 RidgewayGirl: Thank you! And I have been very impressed by Kinsale so far...I definitely want to keep exploring her backlist.

Book #113: Mimi Matthews, Appointment in Bath
CATs: none

Meg Burton-Smythe is a shy wallflower with unfashionable red hair, freckles, and a stammer. Her neighbor Ivo Beresford, by contrast, is handsome, well off, and worldly. He’d never look at her twice—especially because their parents have been enemies since before she was born (as detailed in Gentleman Jim). So when Ivo goes out of his way to befriend her, Meg is suspicious at first but soon comes to hope that he might actually be interested in her. But will their parents’ feud quash their budding romance? Mimi Matthews continues to be one of my go-to authors for steamless historical romance, and I really enjoyed this book! I love a wallflower heroine, and Meg’s loneliness is especially poignant when contrasted with Ivo’s boisterous, loving family. I was rooting for her happily-ever-after and liked seeing her gain confidence throughout the book. Now I’m even more excited for the next installment of the series!

Book #114: P.G. Wodehouse, Doctor Sally
CATs: Calendar (author born October 15, 1881); Alpha (D = Doctor)

This short comic novel features Sally Smith, a doctor whom no one takes seriously because she’s a young and attractive woman. “Doctor Sally” has no interest in falling in love, but her resolve is tested when Bill Bannister is instantly smitten with her. Unfortunately, he’s trying to extract himself from a previous romantic entanglement with a lower-class woman who isn’t willing to let him go. Luckily, Bill’s affable but dimwitted friend, Lord Tidmouth, is on hand to come to the rescue. This little book is pure delight—Wodehouse is an absolute master of comic farce, and Lord Tidmouth is a lovable idiot worthy of Bertie Wooster. If you’re looking for a nice quick read that will make you laugh out loud, I highly recommend this one!

Book #115: Genevieve Cogman, The Invisible Library
CATs: SFF (women authors)

Irene works for the Library, a secret organization that collects rare and unique books throughout the multiverse. Her latest mission is to retrieve a particular Grimm manuscript from an alternate Victorian world, and her partner will be a student assistant, Kai, who hasn’t been on a mission yet. What should be a fairly routine retrieval immediately goes awry: The manuscript has been stolen, and they’re not the only ones trying to find it. Not to mention, a rogue Librarian seems bent on destroying both this world and the Library itself—unless Irene and Kai can stop him first. This is a fun read with a lot of action and interesting world-building. The writing style is confident and made me feel like the author knows what she’s doing. I do think this book barely scratches the surface of the possibilities of this world, but fortunately there are several more books in the series! I’m excited to continue with book #2 next month.

Book #116: Kirsty Greenwood, The Love of My Afterlife
CATs: none

When twentysomething Delphie chokes on a microwavable hamburger and dies, she finds herself in a strange version of the afterlife. She’s greeted by Merritt, a quirky and enthusiastic “afterlife coach,” and also meets a handsome man named Jonah who isn’t dead, just unconscious during a dental surgery. Merritt, a lover of romance novels, decides to give Delphie a second chance: She claims that Delphie and Jonah are soulmates, and if she can find him on Earth and get him to kiss her within 10 days, she’ll get her life back. Finding Jonah is more difficult than Delphie expected, but as she looks for him, she also starts to see her life and the people around her in a new light. I stayed up way too late to read this book in a single sitting, and I’d definitely recommend it to romantic comedy fans! But it’s a surprisingly emotional book, too; Delphie’s initial loneliness is heart-wrenching, and it’s satisfying to see her slowly open up to the people in her life. Overall, I liked this one a lot and will look out for more by Greenwood.

Last weekend was my public library's semi-annual sale, and I picked up the following books for $20. I'm pleased with my haul, especially the BLCC and the romance!

>100 christina_reads: A bargain. Three good historical romance writers there, and an E. C. R. Lorac as well!

Nice! I should have a haul of my own to share soon, I love library book sales!

>101 pamelad: They had a pretty good selection this year!

>102 NinieB: Ooh, hope you enjoy your book sale, and I look forward to seeing your haul!

>100 christina_reads: Nice selection of books

>100 christina_reads: Excellent find of a BLCC!

Nice haul. I like Lorac, but not read that one yet.

>104 lowelibrary: Thanks!

>105 rabbitprincess: It's always exciting to find a BLCC for a low price!

>106 Helenliz: I've only read one Lorac before, so I'm eager to try more!

I've never heard of that Wodehouse, thanks for pointing it out!

>108 mstrust: I must have snagged it at a used bookstore or library sale at some point, and I'm glad I did!

>97 christina_reads: I've not read a Wodehouse yet. Perhaps this is the "one."

>98 christina_reads: and >99 christina_reads: These look like great books. Both quite different but well-written and thought-provoking.

>100 christina_reads: Oooh, a library sale! Great haul you brought home with you.

>110 Tess_W: If you can find it easily, I say go for it! Though Wodehouse is most famous for his Jeeves & Wooster stories, so I'd suggest looking out for those too.

>111 threadnsong: Thanks! Yes, The Invisible Library and The Love of My Afterlife both did provide some good food for thought.

Book #117: J. Jefferson Farjeon, Thirteen Guests
CATs: Alpha (T = Thirteen); Mystery (not too scary)

Lord Aveling has invited 12 guests to his country house for a hunting party. They’re a strange assortment that includes a politician, an actress, a painter, a journalist, and a rich tradesman’s family. A last-minute 13th guest observes various tensions among the group—tensions that come to a head with vandalism, a dead dog, and finally murder. I liked a lot of things about this book: The plot is twisty without being overly complicated, and several of the characters are three-dimensional and interesting. However, it’s hard to know whom to care about or root for because there’s no clear protagonist. At first it seems like the 13th guest, John Foss, and his love interest are the main characters, but they’re largely abandoned in the middle for the police inspector and a few sleuths among the guests. I found the shifts in focus distracting and frustrating, and I also didn’t love the ultimate solution of the mystery. Overall, a decent read, but I’m not eager to read more by Farjeon.

Book #118: Ally Carter, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
CATs: Mystery (not too scary)

Maggie Chase is a successful writer of cozy mysteries. Ethan Wyatt writes blockbuster thrillers for the same publisher. She’s hated him for years, viewing him as a golden boy who’s able to coast through life, while he continually calls her Marcie. But the two find themselves unlikely allies when they’re both invited to the estate of Eleanor Ashley, the world’s greatest living mystery writer, for Christmas. When Eleanor disappears from a locked room—and many of her guests have a motive for wanting her gone—Maggie and Ethan team up to solve the mystery, and perhaps to find love in the process. I enjoyed this book, but it didn’t give me the same sense of pure, unadulterated glee as The Blonde Identity. There was just a little too much going on between Eleanor’s disappearance, Maggie’s and Ethan’s individual pasts, and their budding romance. It’s definitely heavier than the fun Christmas caper I was expecting. I did like the book overall, but sadly not quite as much as I was hoping to.

Book #119: Sheila Simonson, Love and Folly
CATs: none

Twins Jean and Maggie Conway are about to start their first London Season, but the death of King George III and the subsequent political unrest delay their come-out. However, the girls don’t need a Season to find romance: Jean is smitten with Owen Davies, a radical poet, while Maggie falls for Johnny Dyott, her cousin’s private secretary. But when Owen’s poetry runs afoul of the sedition laws, the whole Conway family must band together to protect both him and themselves. This book is a sequel to Lady Elizabeth’s Comet, which I loved, but it also features characters from The Bar Sinister, which I haven’t read. And while Simonson gives enough background that readers won’t be totally confused, I don’t think they will care much about these characters unless they’ve read the previous two books. Also, if you’re expecting a romance, you’ll be disappointed; the love story between Maggie and Johnny is brief and barely developed. This novel is well written and well researched, but for me it was disappointing, especially compared with Lady Elizabeth’s Comet.

>115 christina_reads: I read them in order and liked this one more than The Bar Sinister, but not as much as Lady Elizabeth's Comet. Well-written and well-researched make up for a lot, and I'm not too bothered by a perfunctory romance as long as the characters are likeable and there's a happy ending.

>116 pamelad: "Well-written and well-researched make up for a lot" -- no argument there!

Book #120: Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None
CATs: Alpha (T = Then, There); Random (spooky season)

Ten people of different ages, genders, and walks of life are summoned to an island off the coast of Devon. They’ve been invited under various pretexts, but the real reason becomes clear after dinner on their first night, when a recorded voice accuses them all of murder. Then the guests start dying one by one, in ways that echo a sinister nursery rhyme displayed in each of their bedrooms. Who is behind these deaths, and will anyone make it off the island alive? This is one of Christie’s most famous mysteries, and also in my opinion one of her creepiest! The setup—a mysterious murderer on the rampage in an isolated location—is straight out of a horror novel, and the tension builds wonderfully as the guests each face their inevitable fate. To be honest, it’s so dark that it isn’t one of my favorites by Christie, but it’s masterfully done and I admire the way she pulled it off!

Side note: Newer versions of this book have understandably used this title rather than the far more problematic Ten Little Indians (and, before that, Ten Little N-----s). I don’t fault the publisher for that, but I do wish this edition had acknowledged that changes were made, not only to the title but to the rhyme itself and several lines of dialogue. If I’m reading something different from the originally published version, I want to know about it!

>118 christina_reads: I started watching a movie on YouTube (free channel) and thinking it is familiar. "Walter Huston Classic Noir Mystery Movie/1945/English Cult Movie". No name of movie or actor's names but quite a cast. The theme is Ten Little Indians. McCult Hollywood Movies. I am only 20 minutes into the film.

>119 mnleona: I would not be surprised at all if that were And Then There Were None! There was a 1945 adaptation that is now in the public domain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_Then_There_Were_None_(1945_film). Let me know what you think of it!

>120 christina_reads: I have watched some of the movies and read the book. I like her movies and have read her books. I was surprised no title at the beginning of the movie or no actors named.

And Then There Were None does draw some strange combinations of actors in its multiple film versions. The 1965 movie includes Hugh O'Brian, Stanley Holloway, and Fabian; the 1974 has Charles Aznavour, Elke Sommer, and Oliver Reed; the 1989 offers Donald Pleasance, Brenda Vaccaro, and Frank Stallone. Herbert Lom pops up in both the '74 and the '89, playing different roles in each.

>121 mnleona: It's strange that they would leave out the opening credits!

>122 KeithChaffee: I haven't seen a single film version, sadly...at some point I'd love to marathon them all and do some comparing/contrasting. I was thinking there had been a very "recent" version -- then realized it came out in 2015!

Book #121: Lish McBride, Rough around the Hedges
CATs: Calendar (October = Halloween)

Will and Vanessa have been best friends for years, and he’s been in love with her the entire time. Van has only ever seen him as a friend—until their mutual friend group unintentionally spills the beans. Now she’s seeing him in a whole new light, but because of her cold, manipulative father and horrible upbringing, she’s scared to take a chance on love. Meanwhile, Van wants to enroll in courses to become a hedge witch, but her father, an esteemed professor, may throw a wrench in her plans. This book is a sequel to A Little Too Familiar, which I remember liking, but this one didn’t work as well for me. The world is so black and white—the good characters are all perfectly understanding and emotionally fluent, while the bad characters are irredeemably awful. Will in particular is flawless (unless you count the fact that he’s been lying to his supposed best friend for their entire relationship) and just doesn’t feel believable as a person to me. Overall, a very “meh” read.

>100 christina_reads: What a great haul! Such pretty spines!

>113 christina_reads: This really sounds like an Agatha Christie plot at first.

>118 christina_reads: I still have to read that one, but somehow it doesn't catch my interest as much as many other Christie novels do - maybe because it is so dark?

>125 MissBrangwen: Thanks for stopping by! I do think And Then There Were None is worth reading, but if you've got other options I'd go to those first. :)

Book #122: Connie Willis and Cynthia Felice, Promised Land
CATs: none

Delanna’s mother has just died, so she’s returned from her fancy education in the big city to her home planet to claim her inheritance. To her dismay, she learns that under the planet’s laws, she has to live on her property for one year before she’s allowed to sell. Moreover, she’s legally married to Sonny Tanner, the man who owns the neighboring property. Delanna is furious to be stuck in what she considers a backwater full of ignorant yokels, but the longer she remains on this planet, the more she grows to like her surroundings—and Sonny. Though there are some sci-fi trappings, this novel reads more like a Western, as the main characters rough it on a frontier planet with few luxuries. Delanna is quite a spoiled brat initially but changes for the better as she gets to know Sonny and the other locals better. This book isn’t as unique or interesting as Willis’s solo work, but I did enjoy it and would recommend it to fans of the premise.

Book #123: Jill Bearup, Just Stab Me Now
CATs: none

Caroline is writing a novel, which she imagines as a tropey, enemies-to-lovers romantasy complete with smoldering glances and flirty banter. Unfortunately, her characters have other ideas. The heroine, Rosamund, is a widow still grieving for her dead husband, and she’s laser-focused on the diplomatic mission she’s supposed to carry out. The hero, Leo, is quiet and kind, not the cocky charmer Caroline had envisioned. As Rosamund and Leo navigate the complicated politics of their world together, Caroline occasionally pops in with questions and advice—all while navigating her own real-life romance with her persnickety editor.

This book apparently started as a YouTube series called The Fantasy Heroine, and I’m glad I didn’t know that beforehand, because I might never have read this book, which would have been a real shame. The fantasy book-within-a-book is genuinely entertaining, and I liked how the narrative gleefully skewers a lot of romance tropes (“Only one bed? No problem, I’ll sleep on the floor!”). The contemporary story is pretty thin—I didn’t care about Caroline’s work woes at all—but otherwise, I really liked this one! I may even go back and watch the web series now…

Book #124: Mary Balogh, The Plumed Bonnet
CATs: none

Alistair Munro, the duke of Bridgwater, is handsome, rich, and bored out of his mind. So when he spots a bedraggled young woman while traveling, he impulsively offers her a ride. She’s dressed in gaudy attire that leads him to believe she’s a prostitute. But Stephanie Gray is actually a respectable young woman who worked as a governess until inheriting an unexpected fortune, which she’s on her way to claim. Alistair doesn’t believe her farfetched story, but when he learns the truth, he realizes he’s compromised a lady and promptly offers to marry her. Stephanie accepts, but she’s horrified to discover that he’s a duke and she’ll need to learn how to act like a duchess. Can they build a workable marriage, and perhaps even find love, after such a bad beginning? I was in the mood for a Balogh novel and decided to revisit this one, which I first read about five years ago. It’s not a top-tier Balogh for me, but I liked that both of the characters truly grow and change throughout the story. Overall, a pleasant read that I finished in a single day.

Book #125: Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Perilous Gard
CATs: Calendar (October = Halloween); SFF (women authors)

Plain and practical Kate Sutton, a lady-in-waiting to Princess Elizabeth Tudor, is banished (after a misunderstanding) to a remote estate known as the Perilous Gard. There are strange rumors about the estate, and locals whisper that it’s a sacred place for the Fairy Folk, who grant pilgrims relief from their suffering but also kidnap the occasional human to be a slave in their realm. At first Kate scoffs at these superstitions, but as she spends more time with the “young lord,” Christopher Heron, and hears the tragic tale at the heart of the estate, she becomes a believer. But will she be able to stop the Fairy Folk from claiming Christopher as their own? I adore this Tam Lin retelling, which I’ve only read a couple times before, so I’m still surprised by just how good it is! It’s dark, meaty historical fantasy with a wonderful heroine, and while it’s marketed as children’s/YA, I think it’s an excellent book to read at any age. Highly recommended!

>130 christina_reads: That sounds very good, I've added it to the WL!

>131 MissBrangwen: I hope you enjoy it!

Book #126: Nancy Butler, The Rake’s Retreat
CATs: none

When beautiful young actress Lovelace Wellesley witnesses a murder, she needs protection. Fortunately, she encounters local landowner Beecham Bryce, who invites her to stay at his estate until the investigation is concluded. Less fortunately, Bryce is a notorious rake and libertine, so Lovelace may not be safe in his house. Fortunately again, they meet Lady Jemima Vale, a “spinster” nearing 30 who is available to act as Lovelace’s chaperone. But when sparks start to fly between Bryce and Jemima, it’s the latter’s reputation that may be in danger. I read a positive review of this book somewhere and picked up a used copy, but I found it pretty disappointing. Yes, there’s some fun banter between Bryce and Jemima, but there’s also a lot of inconsistent character behavior and anachronistic dialogue. The murder mystery felt undercooked as well, so all in all, it’s not a book I’d recommend.

Book #127: Mhairi McFarlane, If I Never Met You
CATs: none

Laurie and Dan have been together since their freshman year at university. Now they’re in their late 30s, living together and working at the same prestigious law firm. So when Dan dumps Laurie out of the blue, she’s shocked, angry, and grief-stricken – especially because she still sees him all the time at the office. Meanwhile, Jamie Carter is an ambitious new attorney at their firm whose reputation as a womanizer may harm his chances of making partner. He proposes a fake relationship to Laurie: He’ll appear to be “settling down,” which will help his career prospects, and Laurie will be able to demonstrate she’s moved on – and perhaps make Dan jealous. I’m a big fan of McFarlane’s but have read most of her books only once. Upon rereading, I devoured this one in a day and absolutely loved it! Though the novel doesn’t shy away from some heavy emotions and hard situations, watching Laurie and Jamie slowly discover each other is a delight. If you like your romance/chick lit with some emotional weight to it, I highly recommend this book and author!

>133 christina_reads: Spelling Beauchamp as Beecham puts this in blaggard territory.

>135 pamelad: I wasn't aware of that particular faux pas, but I will add it to my list of grievances. :) She mostly calls him Bryce in the book, which felt jarring to me because Bryce is such a '90s/'00s boy name, at least in the US. ... And I just looked up the publication date, which is 1999, so that tracks!

Book #128: C.J. Archer, The Librarian of Crooked Lane
CATs: SFF (women authors) - I read this in October

In a fantasy version of post-World War I England, Sylvia Ashe supports herself by working as a librarian. Her path crosses with that of Gabriel Glass, a nobleman and the son of a famous magician, as he investigates the theft of a possibly magical painting. When he inadvertently gets Sylvia fired, he finds her a new job at a library specializing in magical tomes. He also draws her into both his investigation and his circle of friends. As Sylvia gets closer to Gabe, she also resaerches whether her family might possess silver magic, as her brother (who died in the war) believed. In terms of genre, this book is right up my alley—it’s essentially a historical mystery, with a few magical trappings and a hint of romance. The trouble is that I’ve read a lot of books in this genre, and after a while they all tend to feel pretty similar, unless there’s something truly remarkable about them. This book isn’t remarkable, but it’s a perfectly decent read. I certainly wouldn’t mind continuing with the series, but it’s not a high priority for me.

October recap

This has been a challenging month for me. Nothing particularly terrible happened, thankfully, but work and life have both been very busy and stressful. Yet somehow I’ve managed to read a lot of books this month—possibly because the stress has caused me to flee to fiction for escape! I’ve also bought a lot of books (again, probably due to stress!), but in my defense, all the physical books were from either a used bookstore or a library sale. So without further ado, on to the books!

Books read in October:
1. Kristen Britain, Green Rider
2. Mimi Matthews, Appointment in Bath
3. P.G. Wodehouse, Doctor Sally
4. Genevieve Cogman, The Invisible Library
5. Kirsty Greenwood, The Love of My Afterlife
6. J. Jefferson Farjeon, Thirteen Guests
7. Ally Carter, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
8. Sheila Simonson, Love and Folly
9. Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None
10. Lish McBride, Rough around the Hedges
11. Connie Willis and Cynthia Felice, Promised Land
12. Jill Bearup, Just Stab Me Now
13. Mary Balogh, The Plumed Bonnet
14. Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Perilous Gard
15. Nancy Butler, The Rake’s Retreat
16. Mhairi McFarlane, If I Never Met You
17. C.J. Archer, The Librarian of Crooked Lane

Favorite book of the month:
I’m torn between Doctor Sally, which is pure Wodehousian perfection, and Just Stab Me Now, a surprisingly enjoyable fantasy romance that gleefully subverts the genre’s usual tropes.

Dishonorable mention:
The Rake’s Retreat was just disappointing and blah.

CATs completed:
- CalendarCAT (Oct): P.G. Wodehouse, author of Doctor Sally, was born on October 15, 1881. Both Rough around the Hedges and The Perilous Gard are Halloween-related reads.
- AlphaKIT (D, T): P.G. Wodehouse, *Doctor Sally; J. Jefferson Farjeon, *Thirteen Guests; Agatha Christie, And *Then *There Were None
- MysteryKIT (not too scary): Thirteen Guests is a Golden Age mystery with a bit of suspense, and The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year occasionally puts its protagonists in danger, but both are decidedly non-scary!
- RandomKIT (spooky season): I recall being quite spooked the first time I read And Then There Were None – and even upon rereading, I found some parts pretty creepy!
- SFFKIT (women authors): The authors of Green Rider (Kristen Britain), The Invisible Library (Genevieve Cogman), The Perilous Gard (Elizabeth Marie Pope), and The Librarian of Crooked Lane (C.J. Archer) are all women.

Books acquired in October:
1. Julia Brannan, Mask of Duplicity (e-book)
2. Jill Bearup, Just Stab Me Now (e-book) (already read)
3. Anne Gracie, Bride by Mistake
4. Patricia Briggs, The Hob’s Bargain
5. Carolly Erickson, Our Tempestuous Day: A History of Regency England
6. Amanda Quain, Accomplished
7. Mary Balogh, First Comes Marriage
8. E.C.R. Lorac, These Names Make Clues
9. Leo J. Trese, The Faith Explained
10. Betty Neels, No Need to Say Goodbye
11. Louise Allen, The Earl’s Intended Wife
12. Rachael Johns, The Other Bridget (e-book)
13. C.J. Archer, The Librarian of Crooked Lane (e-book) (already read)
14. Beth O’Leary, The Wake-Up Call (e-book) (previously read)
15. Margot Livesey, The Road from Belhaven
16. Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding, Emma of 83rd Street
17. Rupert Latimer, Murder after Christmas
18. Sherry Thomas, Ravishing the Heiress

Physical books in/out:
Right now I’m at…*gulp*…70 in and 43 out, for a net total of + 27. I blame those darn library sales!

Book #129: Mimi Matthews, A Lady of Conscience
CATs: Alpha (L = Lady)

This fifth (and final?) book in the Somerset series features the oldest Beresford brother, James, who is the heir to an earldom and is determined to rehabilitate the family name by making an advantageous marriage. His plans don’t include falling in love with Hannah Heywood, the shy daughter of an untitled naval officer, yet he finds himself struggling with unexpected feelings. Meanwhile, Hannah is attracted to James but doesn’t think they will be compatible in the long term. Can James convince her to give him a chance? I really enjoyed this book, which is somewhat in the Pride and Prejudice vein – James is a Darcy-esque, starchy, uptight hero who is slowly transformed by love. I liked Hannah too; she’s shy and quiet but still has a spine. Some aspects of the plot felt a bit rushed, but otherwise this is a strong installment of an entertaining series. Recommended if you enjoy steamless historical romance!

>139 christina_reads: Matthews is one of my fav romance authors.

>140 Tess_W: She's becoming one of mine too -- I haven't hit a bad book by her yet!

Book #130: Kristen Britain, First Rider’s Call
CATs: none

Karigan G’ladheon tried to fight her destiny as a Green Rider and return to her former life as a rich merchant’s daughter. But she ultimately couldn’t resist the Riders’ call, though she’s now experiencing odd glitches in her magic and seeing visions of the long-dead First Rider, who seems to be desperately trying to tell her something. Meanwhile, an ancient evil is stirring in Blackveil Forest, and Karigan must dig deep into her country’s history to figure out how to stop it. This second book in the Green Rider series is a worthy sequel: It’s a solid fantasy novel with interesting world-building and a likable (if perhaps a little too special) heroine. The setting in particular is thoughtfully done; though the menace of Blackveil drives the main plot, the characters also have to deal with the problems of their everyday lives, such as court politics and romantic turmoil. I’m fairly invested in this series now and am looking forward to reading book #3 next month.

Book #131: Sinéad Murphy, The Jane Austen Rules: A Classic Guide to Modern Love
CATs: Alpha (L = Love)

This short book positions itself as a dating guide based on the timeless wisdom of Jane Austen. As a diehard Austen fan, I loved the premise, but I have mixed feelings on the execution. I do think the advice, both about dating and how to be a woman in the modern world, is largely good. The Austen analysis is also interesting; it’s not super deep literary criticism, but some of Murphy’s interpretations are ideas I hadn’t considered before. However, I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, which is trying—and mostly failing—to imitate Austen. Plus, Murphy misquotes the first sentence of Pride and Prejudice, which is frankly inexcusable! So, while I didn’t hate the book, I wouldn’t recommend it either, even for Austen fanatics.

Book #132: Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond
CATs: Prize (children’s = Newbery Medal winner 1959); Alpha (W = Witch)

In 1687, orphan Kit Tyler experiences severe culture shock when she leaves her life of luxury on a Barbados plantation and moves in with her aunt’s family in Connecticut Colony. At first Kit hates her new life: Her uncle is strict, she’s forced to help with the unending household chores, and the broader Puritan community is suspicious and unwelcoming. Gradually she comes to appreciate her new situation, particularly after she befriends an old woman widely reputed to be a witch. But when the town’s hostility toward the “witch” turns ugly, Kit’s own safety is threatened. This was my favorite book for a while growing up, and upon rereading, I was surprised by just how many scenes I remembered. I found it a very enjoyable read that paints a vivid picture of colonial New England, both good and bad. I also loved Kit’s character development, as well as the multiple satisfying love stories. I’m glad I decided to revisit this one!

>144 christina_reads: This was one of my favorites when I was young also. I'm glad to hear it stood up to a rereading!

>145 japaul22: There were a couple details that probably wouldn't have been included if the book were written today. Specifically, Kit's home in Barbados was a plantation worked by slaves, but the book doesn't portray that as being a particularly bad thing. So, some contemporary readers might find that jarring or off-putting, but it's pretty much the only example.

>144 christina_reads: I loved that book so much. I should reread it.

>144 christina_reads: I re-read that book earlier this year and enjoyed it just as much as I did as a kid.

>147 RidgewayGirl: You should! I was really happy to discover that it holds up so well.

>148 lowelibrary: It may have been your review that put The Witch of Blackbird Pond back on my radar, so thanks! :)

Book #133: Cornell Woolrich, The Bride Wore Black
CATs: Alpha (W = Woolrich); Mystery (noir)

This thriller features a mysterious woman who is systematically murdering men throughout New York City. Her motive is unclear, as she doesn’t seem to know any of the men personally. Beautiful and clever, she’s easily able to gain access to her victims, and she always vanishes directly after the murder without a trace. Eventually, a policeman notices a pattern among the killings and makes it his mission to bring this femme fatale to justice. This is a fascinating, suspenseful novel with a clever structure, following the woman and each of her male victims in turn. As a result, I felt some measure of empathy for every character and was eager to discover the woman’s motive. The ending is both satisfying and heartbreaking—everything is resolved, but none of the characters get what they want. I’d definitely recommend this one to fans of suspense and noir, and I’m interested in reading more by Woolrich.

>150 christina_reads: I liked The Bride Wore Black as well. I really liked Phantom Lady and highly recommend it. I didn't care as much for I Married a Dead Man, but that may have been me; as I recall it got off to a strong start but then sagged somewhere in the middle.

>151 NinieB: I will have to check out Phantom Lady! But my next Woolrich will most likely be Waltz into Darkness, as I already have it on my shelves.

Book #134: Katherine Arden, The Warm Hands of Ghosts
CATs: Calendar (Nov = Remembrance Day); Alpha (W = Warm)

The Great War has left Laura Iven an orphan. Her parents were recently killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, and now she’s received word that her only sibling, Freddie, is missing presumed dead after the Battle of Passchendaele. But if he’s missing, how could she have received his uniform and identification tags? Something doesn’t add up, so Laura goes to Europe looking for answers. This novel alternates between Laura’s story and Freddie’s, which takes place a few months earlier and reveals how he escaped the war’s horrors only to fall prey to something even worse. This book is beautifully written and emotionally harrowing; Arden’s depiction of the war and its all-consuming effects is relentlessly grim and graphically vivid. I found it a very hard read at times, but I’m glad I persevered and came to a whisper of hope in the end. I also loved how the story engages with literature and legends about the devil, who is very much present in the book. Highly recommended if you’re in the mood for something dark!

Book #135: Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret
CATs: Random (first person)

Ernie Cunningham gets involved in a “holiday special” murder when his ex-wife, Erin, calls on him for help: Her current boyfriend, Lyle, was killed in their home, and she’s been arrested for the murder. Ernie’s investigation centers around Lyle’s philanthropic work at a theater in the Blue Mountains, which is currently staging a famous magic act. This means Ernie is surrounded by people familiar with stage magic and skilled in the art of misdirection—in other words, the perfect set of suspects. Can he clear Erin’s name and find the real murderer in time for Christmas? This novella is a fun installment of the series that makes good use of the time-honored detective novel trappings of theater, magic, and of course Christmas. I was able to guess the murderer but didn’t unravel the whole plan, and I enjoyed Ernie’s conviction that there are rules for holiday specials as well as for mysteries. Recommended if you’ve enjoyed previous books in the series.

>150 christina_reads: A BB for me!

>155 Tess_W: Hope you like it, Tess! I'm definitely excited to try more Woolrich.

>130 christina_reads: Oh wow! What a great premise for the Tam Lin re-telling. I really enjoyed Ellen Kushner's re-telling Thomas the Rhymer so I'll have to look this one up.

>142 christina_reads: And thanks for the good recommendation for a good fantasy series. It's hard to decide with all that is out there.

>153 christina_reads: Oooh, a new Katherine Arden??? Must add to Wishlist!

And I get you about turning to books to escape the stress that life heaps upon us. I hope things are easing up for you (except for your reading, that is).

>157 threadnsong: I've never read Thomas the Rhymer, so I'll have to check that one out! And yeah, when I saw The Warm Hands of Ghosts on the new arrivals table earlier this year, I snapped up the hardcover without a qualm!

Book #136: Genevieve Cogman, The Masked City
CATs: none

***Warning: SPOILERS for The Invisible Library***

Irene is happy with her new job as the Librarian-in-Residence in a steampunk version of Victorian London. But when her apprentice, Kai—the youngest son of a noble dragon family—is kidnapped, she must leave her (relatively) comfortable new position to rescue him and prevent an all-out war between dragons and Fae. To do so, she travels to an unfamiliar, extremely chaotic world that’s dominated by the Fae: a fairytale version of Venice where it’s always Carnival. This book is a pretty good follow-up to The Invisible Library, with exciting action scenes and some fun snark about the Fae’s addiction to storytelling tropes. I enjoyed Irene’s cleverness and practicality, though I missed Kai and Vale, who didn’t get a lot of page time in this installment. But overall, it’s a fun read, and I’m looking forward to book #3 next month.

Book #137: Jude Morgan, A Little Folly
CATs: Alpha (L = Little)

Louisa and Valentine Carnell have grown up under the thumb of their cruel, controlling father. So after his death, they are determined to make the most of their newfound freedom. First they invite their lively, worldly young cousins (whom their father never allowed them to see) to stay with them in the country; later, they accompany those cousins to London and finally get a glimpse of the wider world. But troubles arise when Valentine becomes infatuated with a married woman and Louisa finds herself torn between several suitors. I read this book years ago, and it was an absolute delight to revisit! Jude Morgan’s historical romances are well-written, lively, and steamless; my only complaint is that he didn’t write more of them. There are definite shades of Austen and Heyer here, especially Emma, but with enough differences that this book succeeds on its own merits. I particularly enjoyed the character development of one of Louisa’s suitors, as well as the eventual resolution of her love story. Highly recommended to historical romance fans!

>160 christina_reads: I've added this one to the wish list because "well-written, lively, and steamless" are hard to find.

>161 pamelad: I hope you enjoy it! I also really liked the author's Indiscretion and An Accomplished Woman.

>162 christina_reads: The only Jude Morgan books available in Victorian libraries are audio CDs, but I've found An Accomplished Woman in the Open Library and have borrowed it.

>153 christina_reads: I'm adding this one to my WL.

>160 christina_reads: This sounds great, and I love the cover!

I’ve just pre-ordered My Inconvenient Duke by Loretta Chase. 21st of January.

>163 pamelad: I hope you enjoy An Accomplished Woman. And I'm so excited for My Inconvenient Duke -- I've placed my library hold, but I probably won't get it till sometime in February. I may end up being too impatient and buying the book instead! :)

>164 MissBrangwen: I enjoyed both books, but The Warm Hands of Ghosts is particularly exceptional. Hope you like it as much as I did!

Book #138: Sarah Adams, The Rule Book
CATs: none

Nora Mackenzie is a talented sports agent who’s constantly fighting to be taken seriously by her male peers. So when she gets the opportunity to take on NFL star Derek Pender as a client, she jumps at the chance – even though they used to date in college, and it ended badly. When Derek learns that Nora wants to be his new agent, he decides it’ll be a good opportunity for him to get a little revenge on the woman who broke his heart. But their working relationship ignites old feelings, which may put both their careers at risk. I don’t particularly care about football, and second-chance romance isn’t one of my favorite tropes. That said, this is a pleasant, entertaining contemporary romance, and the connection between Nora and Derek feels genuine. It was also fun to get a few cameos from Nathan and Bree from The Cheat Sheet. Overall, it’s fine but not a book I’m super enthusiastic about.

Book #139: Mimi Matthews, A Convenient Fiction
CATs: none

Alex Archer came from nothing; he was raised in an orphanage and ran away as soon as he could. Due to his skill at cards, he’s amassed a comfortable fortune through gambling over the years, but now he’s set on acquiring an estate through marriage. He has his sights set on a local heiress, Henrietta Talbot, but finds himself drawn to her friend Laura Hayes instead. Laura has neither property nor fortune – in fact, she’s barely making ends meet – but their mutual attraction threatens to overthrow all Alex’s plans. There’s nothing particularly unique about this Victorian romance, but for some reason it really works for me. What can I say? I love emotionally repressed heroes and practical heroines, and despite the fact that this book is steamless, the chemistry between Alex and Laura is palpable. I love Mimi Matthews in general, and this is one of my favorites by her. I’m now even more excited for The Muse of Maiden Lane, which features Laura’s brother, Teddy, as the hero.

November recap

How is it December already?! November really flew by, culminating in a fun Thanksgiving in Texas with my brother’s family and my parents. I loved spending time with my nephews (five of them, ages 1-8), who are incredibly sweet and adorable when they’re not being agents of chaos! I also did a fair bit of holiday shopping in November, and I’m hoping to mail out some packages this coming weekend – the Christmas craziness has definitely set in! Meanwhile, here’s what I read last month:

Books read in November:
1. Mimi Matthews, A Lady of Conscience
2. Kristen Britain, First Rider’s Call
3. Sinéad Murphy, The Jane Austen Rules: A Classic Guide to Modern Love
4. Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond
5. Cornell Woolrich, The Bride Wore Black
6. Katherine Arden, The Warm Hands of Ghosts
7. Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret
8. Genevieve Cogman, The Masked City
9. Jude Morgan, A Little Folly
10. Sarah Adams, The Rule Book
11. Mimi Matthews, A Convenient Fiction

Favorite book of the month:
I loved The Warm Hands of Ghosts, which was emotionally harrowing but gorgeously written, with just enough hope to balance out the darkness.

Dishonorable mention:
Nothing truly terrible this month, fortunately, but I wasn’t too enthused about The Jane Austen Rules.

CATs completed:
- CalendarCAT (Nov): The Warm Hands of Ghosts, set during World War I, is a great read for Remembrance Day (November 11).
- PrizeCAT (children’s): The Witch of Blackbird Pond won the Newbery Medal in 1959.
- AlphaKIT (L, W): Mimi Matthews, A *Lady of Conscience; Sinéad Murphy, The Jane Austen Rules: A Classic Guide to Modern *Love; Elizabeth George Speare, The *Witch of Blackbird Pond; Cornell *Woolrich, The Bride *Wore Black; Katherine Arden, The *Warm Hands of Ghosts; Jude Morgan, A *Little Folly
- MysteryKIT (noir): The Bride Wore Black contains many classic noir elements, such as vigilantism, a femme fatale, and an ending in which no one gets what he or she wants.
- RandomKIT (first person): Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is narrated by sleuth Ernie Cunningham.

Books acquired in November:
1. Jenny L. Howe, On the Plus Side (e-book) (already read)
2. Loretta Chase, The Mad Earl’s Bride (e-book)
3. Kelley Armstrong, Finding Mr. Write (e-book)
4. Julianna Keyes, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (e-book)
5. Mia Page, Bookishly Ever After

Physical books in/out:
Currently I’m at 71 in, 45 out, for a net total of +26. So yeah, that “one in, one out” goal is definitely not going to happen! Perhaps I’ll shoot for “two in, one out” in 2025.

>168 christina_reads: I really enjoyed this installment when I read it last year! I couldn't agree more with your review, and I'm happy to learn that we will meet Teddy again.

>170 MissBrangwen: I expect to get The Muse of Maiden Lane from the library soon, so I will definitely report back on Teddy's story!

Book #140: Jenny L. Howe, On the Plus Side
CATs: none

Everly is a plus-size young woman who feels she’s “too much” and tends to hide herself, both physically and in terms of her opinions, desires, and talents. When she’s nominated for a makeover show geared toward plus-size individuals, she is excited for the chance to reinvent herself, and she soon finds herself drawn to grumpy cameraman Logan. But when the show starts taking some narrative liberties with Everly’s story, both her romance and her newfound confidence are threatened. I wanted to love this book, and as a plus-size woman myself, I could relate to many of Everly’s experiences and struggles. But in the end, everything works out for her pretty quickly and effortlessly. She attracts Logan’s admiration immediately, accepts her body wholeheartedly, and even mends her complicated relationship with her mother. It all just feels too easy and idealized. Overall, I’d consider trying more by Howe, but this book fell a little flat for me.

Books #141-142: Mary Balogh, A Christmas Bride / Christmas Beau
CATs: Calendar (December = Christmas)

In A Christmas Bride, Edgar Downes (brother of Cora from The Famous Heroine) is seeking a wife, but instead of proposing to one of society’s eligible young debutantes, he’s attracted to the scandalous widow Lady Helena Stapleton. Helena is drawn to Edgar as well, but because of certain events in her past (described in A Precious Jewel), she’s full of self-loathing and believes herself unworthy of love. Can Edgar change her mind? Then, in Christmas Beau, Max, the Marquess of Denbigh, is pursuing revenge against Judith Easton, the woman who jilted him eight years ago. He plans to seduce her, then break her heart as she broke his. But as he woos her, he begins to have second thoughts about his scheme.

One thing I admire about Balogh is her willingness to write unusual or unlikable protagonists. Helena and Max both do some objectively terrible things, and while I didn’t fully buy into their redemption arcs (especially Helena’s), I did appreciate their moral complexity. Christmas Beau is the more enjoyable book, in my opinion – A Christmas Bride has too many callbacks to previous novels – but both are pretty good reads. Be warned, both books are also overflowing with sappy depictions of a picture-perfect English country Christmas, complete with adorable children and unreasonably kind and accepting secondary characters. But ’tis the season for that sort of thing, and if you have a high sugar tolerance, you’ll probably enjoy these novels.

>150 christina_reads: >151 NinieB: I liked The Bride Wore Black too. I did like I Married a Dead Man too but not as much as Rendezvous in Black. I've been wanting to read more Cornell Woolrich and will try Phantom Lady as my next one.

>174 mathgirl40: Glad to see all the Cornell Woolrich love...looks like I will be adding a few more of his books to my TBR!

Book #143: Kristen Britain, The High King’s Tomb
CATs: Alpha (K = Kristen, King’s)

After the events of First Rider’s Call, the magical wall that protects the kingdom of Sacoridia from the dark magic of Blackveil is beginning to crumble. To fix it, King Zachary needs an ancient book that will explain the magic necessary to repair the wall, so he sends Karigan along with a rookie Rider to find it. But the acolytes of the evil sorcerer Mornhavon the Black are also after the book, hoping to destroy the wall for good. This continuation of the Green Rider series is, like its predecessors, a solid “classic” fantasy novel. I found it a bit too sprawling—there are a lot of POV characters and at least four different plots going at any one time, and it takes a while for everything to come together. That said, I appreciate the continuity between books and the realism of these characters having lives and problems in addition to the main “defeat the evil sorcerer” plot. My library has the rest of this series, so I’ll most likely continue with it in the new year.

Book #144: Mimi Matthews, The Muse of Maiden Lane
CATs: none

This final book in the Belles of London series features Stella Hobhouse, who’s bold by nature but has been stifled by her strict brother and by self-consciousness about her unusual silver hair. Meanwhile, Teddy Hayes is a passionate artist who struggles to be independent despite having to use a wheelchair for mobility. When the two meet by chance in an art gallery, Teddy is struck by Stella’s unique beauty and wants to paint her. She resists at first, but as the two grow closer, they both find the courage to take a chance on art and love. I’ve been waiting for Teddy’s book since he appeared as a supporting character in A Convenient Fiction, and overall I was not disappointed. I liked that the book doesn’t shy away from either his flaws or his vulnerability, and Stella is a great match for him, as she understands and shares his struggle for freedom. The novel is a little too overpopulated with characters from previous books, but otherwise I really enjoyed this one. The first book in a new series by Matthews is slated to come out in 2025, and I will definitely be checking it out!

>177 christina_reads: Love Mimi Matthews, but have not read this series, yet.

>178 Tess_W: I'd definitely recommend it since you're a Matthews fan! The first book is The Siren of Sussex.

Book #145: Amanda Quain, Accomplished
CATs: Calendar (Dec = Austen’s birthday); Alpha (Q = Quain)

Georgie Darcy has been in a dark place ever since her boyfriend, Wickham Foster, betrayed her and almost got her expelled. Her classmates at Pemberley High all hate her, and her overprotective older brother, Fitz, seems to view her as nothing but a problem for him to solve. Georgie is determined to fix everything, but all her plans go spectacularly awry. I’m of two minds about this YA take on Pride and Prejudice from Georgiana’s POV. It’s a clever idea, and I actually really liked the book’s portrayal of Fitz Darcy (and Charlie Bingley, who is an utter delight). The novel also highlights just how horrible Wickham was to Georgiana in P&P; here, he’s clearly emotionally abusive and has left Georgie with some serious trauma. I honestly just wanted all the Darcys to go to therapy! I also found Georgie pretty frustrating, as she consistently makes the worst possible decisions. Overall, I think the pros of the book outweigh the cons, but I haven’t decided whether I want to keep it or not.

Book #146: Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page
CATs: SFF (bookish fantasy)

After the events of The Masked City, Irene is on probation with the Library and is being sent on a lot of low-interest but high-danger jobs. But she’s back in action when her old enemy, Alberich, threatens both her specifically and the Library in general. Meanwhile, someone else also seems to be trying to kill her – could it be her Fae nemesis, Lady Guantes? As Irene pursues her dual goals of serving the Library and staying alive, she also gets some insight into Library politics and learns a bit more about whom she can really trust. I’m continuing to enjoy this series, and I was happy to see Irene, Kai, and Vale all working together in this installment. Irene’s growth is compelling: She’s always been emotionally detached and totally committed to the Library, but now she’s forging close relationships that may be changing her priorities. I’m interested to see how things develop, so I’ll most likely continue with the series into next year.

>181 christina_reads: I'm looking forward to reading book 3 and like you, I don't mind the romance (I saw your comment on the SFFKIT thread). In fact I rather like it!

Book #147: Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl
CATs: none

When Cather and her twin sister, Wren, head off for college, Cath is overwhelmed by all the changes in her life. Her roommate, Reagan, is curt and intimidating; she doesn’t know where the dining hall is and she’s afraid to ask; and worst of all, Wren doesn’t seem to have time for her anymore. At least she has Simon Snow, a Harry Potter-esque series she’s always loved—and the fanfic she’s writing about Simon and his vampire roommate, Baz. But as Cath slowly acclimates to college life, she discovers that sometimes real life is better than fanfiction. Rowell is a wonderful writer, and in this book I think she does a great job of capturing the anxieties of entering college and the changes people experience during that formative time. I also think there’s way too much Simon Snow (both “canon” and fanfic)—Rowell was clearly working out the beginnings of the Simon Snow series she would later write, but it detracts from Cath’s own narrative. Still, I’m glad I revisited this one.

Book #148: Matthew Kelly, Life Is Messy
CATs: Alpha (K = Kelly)

I’m familiar with Matthew Kelly as the founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute, which puts out educational videos and other materials for Catholics to grow in their faith. This book is sort of a memoir, based on his journals from a particularly tough time in his life—he doesn’t give specifics of the problems he was dealing with, but it’s clear he was extremely depressed and questioning a lot of things in his life. In the book, he ruminates on how he got through his hard time and shares his thoughts on how to move forward despite the problems and obstacles we encounter in life. Honestly, most of the book felt a bit trite to me, but he does pose a few insightful questions that will likely stay with me (“Do you like the person you’re becoming?”). Not sure I would recommend this one widely, but if the title or premise speaks to you, it might be worth picking up.

Book #149: Julie Tieu, Circling Back to You
CATs: none

Cadence and Matt work at the same real estate firm, she as an analyst and he as a broker. They’ve always been friendly—and several coworkers have speculated on whether there’s a romantic element to their relationship—but they both insist they’re just friends, while secretly harboring a desire for more. When a work-related trip sends them both from their San Francisco office to L.A. (and in the same hotel suite, no less), the boundaries of their relationship get blurry; but conflicting career opportunities might end their romance before it ever gets started. I liked the premise of this workplace romance, but the execution felt meh. I never fully understood the work stuff (to be fair, maybe I just tuned it out because it was boring), and I didn’t feel much chemistry between Matt and Cadence. Overall, an okay read, but not one I’d recommend.

Book #150: Louise Allen, The Viscount’s Betrothal
CATs: none

Decima Ross, a spinster at age 27, is sure no man could ever fall in love with her because of her exceptional height. After her brother’s latest insensitive attempt to push her into the arms of an unwilling bachelor, Decima flees, but a snowstorm forces her to seek shelter with Adam, Viscount Grantham. Snowed in with only two servants, Decima and Adam soon grow close; but when they meet again in London, Adam is betrothed to another (beautiful and petite) lady. I’ve really enjoyed some of Allen’s other Regency historicals, but this one was disappointing: anachronistic behavior and dialogue, and characters behaving stupidly for the sake of the plot. I’ll continue to read more by Allen, but this is not one of her best.

Book #151: Julianna Keyes, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
CATs: Calendar (Dec = Christmas); Alpha (K = Keyes)

Eve and Will are rival writers at the same travel blog, and they’ve both been assigned to cover Noelville, Vermont, during the run-up to Christmas. The problem is, neither one of them is a fan of the holiday season. But as they experience the marvels of the Christmas-themed town—including a nutcracker museum, cookie decorating classes, a moonlit sleigh ride, and more—they’re slowly won over despite themselves, and they also discover a surprising mutual attraction. I enjoyed this little Christmas novella, which feels like a self-aware Hallmark movie. Eve and Will’s snarking about the over-the-top Noelville traditions is the best part of the book, and they have a lot of fun banter. I felt like the romance was missing a scene or two; there’s never really a point at which they express their feelings for each other. But I’d recommend this one if you’re looking for a fun, bite-sized holiday treat.

Book #152: Robin McKinley, Deerskin
CATs: none

Lissar, the daughter of a beloved king and queen of a prosperous kingdom, has a seemingly charmed life. But apart from her fleethound, Ash, she doesn’t have many friends and tends to be isolated and overlooked. When Lissar is 17, a traumatic event forces her to run away from home, and after a long period of healing, she finds herself in a new kingdom with a job in the royal kennels. As she slowly wins respect and love from those around her, she starts to hope for a better life—until the ghosts of her past trauma come back to haunt her. This book is a retelling of the Perrault fairytale “Donkeyskin,” which I’m not familiar with. But the dark thing that happens to Lissar is truly dark, so proceed with caution. Otherwise, McKinley’s books always seem to have weird pacing—lots of setup and a very short climax—but I don’t mind because she’s such a great writer that she just carries you along. This isn’t one of my top favorites by her, but it’s still well worth reading.

Wishing you a happy, healthy New Year with many good books!

>189 VivienneR: Thanks, and the same to you!

Book #153: Mia Page, Bookishly Ever After
CATs: none

Lexi Austen loves her job as the owner of Pemberley Books in Washington, DC. But lately it’s been harder and harder to make ends meet, thanks in part to a rival bookstore that’s begun encroaching on her turf. She concocts a scheme to distract the other bookstore’s owner, Sam Dickens, by making him fall in love with her, using techniques inspired by Jane Austen novels. But as Lexi gets closer to Sam, she soon finds it’s her own heart that’s in danger. I’ve been on kind of a disappointing streak with contemporary romances lately; this one was just okay. Lexi’s plan is obviously ridiculous, but I almost wish she’d gone a bit farther with it; that would have at least made the story a bit more unique. I did enjoy the DC setting, as I live pretty close, and the book mentions several real businesses and neighborhoods. But overall, I was underwhelmed by this one.