Christina reads even more series in 2024: Part 2

2024 Category Challenge, Part 2


Camille Corot, "A Woman Reading"

Hi, I’m Christina, and welcome to the second 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 use my public library a lot, so this category shouldn’t be too hard to fill. It’ll also remind me that I don’t have to buy all the shiny new books; I can borrow them instead!

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 at a net gain of 9 books, which isn't ideal, but it could be worse!

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
15. Liar’s Moon

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

Kristen Britain, Green Rider
19. *Green Rider
20. First Rider’s Call
21. The High King’s Tomb…

Genevieve Cogman, Invisible Library
22. *The Invisible Library
23. The Masked City
24. The Burning Page…

* = 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
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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
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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
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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

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
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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
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
SFFKIT (first contact): Poul Anderson, The High Crusade

August
CalendarCAT (Aug):
HistoryCAT (Byzantine Empire):
PrizeCAT (genre):
AlphaKIT (M, G):
*MysteryKIT (amateur sleuths):
RandomKIT (titles):
SFFKIT (paranormal/space detectives):

September
CalendarCAT (Sep):
HistoryCAT (World War I & II):
PrizeCAT (also fits another CAT/KIT):
AlphaKIT (V, C):
MysteryKIT (upstairs/downstairs):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (gods/mythology):

October
CalendarCAT (Oct):
HistoryCAT (disasters):
PrizeCAT (missed out):
AlphaKIT (D, T):
MysteryKIT (not too scary):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (women authors):

November
CalendarCAT (Nov):
HistoryCAT (ancient & classical):
PrizeCAT (children’s):
AlphaKIT (L, W):
MysteryKIT (noir):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (recommended by a human):

December
CalendarCAT (Dec):
HistoryCAT (religions & religious festivals):
PrizeCAT (your choice):
AlphaKIT (K, Q):
MysteryKIT (culinary):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (bookish fantasy):

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

* = I'm hosting the challenge

BingoDOG

As usual, I'll aim for a blackout Bingo and see how far I get!



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

March recap

March was a pretty good month for me, though I wish we’d gotten more warmth and sunshine! I got a little of both by spending a week in Florida with my family. My brother, his wife, and their five boys were there, which made for a very fun but very chaotic vacation! I also made it through Lent without breaking my no-buy, but I did make multiple purchases yesterday on Easter, including a book. :) So without further ado, on to my March stats!

Books read in March:
1. Richard Hull, The Murder of My Aunt
2. Nancy Campbell Allen, The Lady in the Coppergate Tower
3. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Bath
4. Martha Wells, The Gate of Gods
5. Stella Riley, A Trick of Fate
6. Erle Stanley Gardner, The Bigger They Come
7. Chloe Angyal, Pas de Don’t
8. Robin McKinley, Rose Daughter
9. Anne Gracie, Marry in Scandal
10. Mariana Zapata, From Lukov with Love
11. Mary Balogh, Heartless
12. Georgette Heyer, A Blunt Instrument
13. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
14. Lynn Painter, Happily Never After
15. Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Assistant to the Villain
16. Louise Allen, His Convenient Duchess

Favorite book of the month:
Happily Never After was a fun, frothy delight of a romantic comedy.

Dishonorable mention:
No true duds this month, but I suppose Assistant to the Villain made me roll my eyes the most.

CATs completed:
- CalendarCAT (Mar): Mere Christianity was a timely read for Lent and Easter, both of which took place in March this year.
- HistoryCAT (science & medicine): In The Lady in the Coppergate Tower, the hero is a doctor and the heroine is his assistant.
- 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): Death Comes to Bath is part of a historical mystery series set in the 1820s.

Bingo squares completed:
- Epistolary or diary: The Murder of My Aunt is told in diary format.
- Featuring water: In Death Comes to Bath, the principal murder is death by drowning, and multiple characters “take the waters” for their health.
- “Big” or “little” in the title: The Bigger They Come contains the word “big.”
- From a LibraryThing “similar library”: I share Rose Daughter with one of my similar libraries, barefootsong.
- Nothing but the title and the author on the cover: I’m counting Mere Christianity, though my copy also has some abstract shapes on the cover.
- Current or recent bestseller: Assistant to the Villain made it to #2 on the New York Times Best Sellers list in September 2023.

Books acquired in March:
1. Katherine Arden, The Warm Hands of Ghosts

Physical books in/out:
Cumulatively for the year, I’m at 20 in and 11 out, so +9. Still not ideal, but getting better!

Happy new thread, Christina! You are getting close to a complete black out on your Bingo card.

Happy new thread, and belated Happy Easter!

>11 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for stopping by, Judy! I don't think I've ever been this close to completing the Bingo card this early. Maybe I'll do a second card later in the year!

>12 Jackie_K: Thanks, Jackie, and happy Easter to you as well!

Happy new thread!

Wow! for your Bingo card!

Happy new thread

>14 VivienneR: >15 lowelibrary: Thank you both for stopping by!

Book #39: Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many
CATs: History (riots, revolution, and mayhem = 12th-century English civil war); Alpha (O = One); Mystery (series = Cadfael #2)
Bingo: none

This second installment of the Cadfael series is based on a real event: King Stephen’s siege of Shrewsbury Castle in A.D. 1138 and his subsequent killing of all the castle’s defenders. In the novel, 94 men are supposed to be hanged, but Brother Cadfael finds a 95th body. The extra man wasn’t hanged but strangled, and Cadfael is determined to see his murderer brought to justice. As Cadfael investigates, he navigates treacherous politics, discovers a hidden treasure, and helps two pairs of young lovers. I love the Cadfael series, and this book in particular has always been a favorite. It’s a wonderful slice of medieval life that feels cozy despite the murder plot and wartime setting. I love the mixture of political intrigue, mystery, and romance, and the book introduces one of my favorite characters in the entire series (and one of my first fictional crushes, honestly!). I thoroughly enjoyed this reread and would highly recommend both the book and the series.

Happy New Thread! And great review of the Cadfael series. I really should try it one day.

>18 MissBrangwen: Yes, definitely try the series sometime! I don't think you necessarily have to read the books in order; each individual story is pretty self-contained.

>17 christina_reads: Cadfael is great and I've been thinking about rereading a book or three from the series. Love the TV series as well.

>17 christina_reads: That is a good series. I discovered it because his books were always shelved next to Elizabeth Peters in the library.

>20 hailelib: Sadly, I've only seen one episode of the show...I'd definitely like to watch more when I get a chance!

>21 RidgewayGirl: I love the serendipity! Some kind librarian recommended the series to me when I was a teenager, and I wish I could remember her name, but I will be forever grateful to her!

>21 RidgewayGirl: Her books, actually. Edith Pargeter writing as "Ellis Peters." I read the books as a teenager, lo these many years ago. I picked up The Brothers of Gwynedd Quartet (tsundoku'd as yet) when I made the connection.

Recently, possibly thanks to LT, I heard about & ILL'd her WWII book She Goes To War, written during the war. Found it a very interesting read.

>23 ReneeMarie: I also have one of her non-Cadfael books, A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

>24 christina_reads: That describes most of my apartment...

I read the first two in the Cadfael series 4 years ago and really liked them. I don't known what happened after that, but I've added the next one to my this year list!

Excellent review. I discovered Cadfael as a teen and read them all. I like that he is on the side of right, if not the law in all cases. He always feels very human to me.
And I might be the exception here, I disliked the TV series; I thought Derek Jacobi far too prissy to be Cadfael.

>25 ReneeMarie: Haha, too true.

>26 clue: I hope you enjoy Cadfael's continuing adventures!

>27 Helenliz: I haven't heard many people say they dislike the TV series, so I'm glad to have your perspective!

Happy new thread!

>29 mstrust: Thank you!

Book #40: Nancy Campbell Allen, Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Emmeline O’Shea is an outspoken activist for shapeshifters’ rights, and she’s been asked to give the closing speech at an international summit that could produce a decisive victory in the struggle. But when Emme receives a nasty death threat, she’s forced to accept the protection of Detective-Inspector Oliver Reed of Scotland Yard. Emme and Oliver have clashed frequently in the past, but now that they’re spending more time together, their hostility is turning into something else. I love a good antagonists-to-lovers romance, and Emme and Oliver are both appealing characters (and yes, I especially loved buttoned-up, rule-abiding Oliver). That said, I think the first half of the book is more interesting than the second. They’re obviously in love with each other by that point, and the rest is just the plot playing itself out rather abruptly; I wanted more resolution with some of the secondary characters. Overall, this series is not a keeper for me, but I did enjoy the books and would recommend them if you like the idea of steamless historical romance with paranormal/steampunk elements.

Book #41: Charlotte Stein, When Grumpy Met Sunshine
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Retired footballer Alfie Harding needs a ghostwriter for his new memoir, but he’s notoriously gruff, taciturn, and hard to work with. Said ghostwriter, Mabel Willicker, is the opposite, cheerful and chatty to a fault. Their first few meetings are disastrous—pepper spray is involved—but as they work together, Mabel learns there’s much more to Alfie than meets the eye. When a paparazzi photo forces them into a fake-dating scenario, Mabel realizes she’s developed genuine feelings for Alfie, but she’s convinced he could never be interested in a plus-sized non-celebrity like her. I was a little worried this book was going to be cringey Roy Kent fanfic, but Alfie is very much his own person, and he’s an utter delight! He’s so weird and kind and awkward and vulnerable, and it’s obvious that he and Mabel are perfectly matched. I also loved Mabel and related to her insecurities as a plus-sized woman, but Alfie is definitely the star of the book. My one quibble, apart from the off-putting title, is the author’s irritating overuse of one-sentence paragraphs, which I found distracting. But I was frankly charmed by this book and would highly recommend it to contemporary romance fans!

I'm going to have to give Brother Cadfael another "chance!"

>33 Tess_W: I hope you like it if you do! Though I must say, if you've read one of the books before and didn't like it, the series probably just isn't for you -- all the books have a very similar feel.

>34 christina_reads: I would agree that most are similar. But I think the first one in the series, A Morbid Taste for Bones, reads differently from those that follow. I've always wondered whether it was meant to be a one off, was popular, and the author adjusted the voice a bit to make a series.

>35 ReneeMarie: Hmm, it's been a while since I've read it, but that does make sense to me! I definitely think newcomers to the series could start with One Corpse Too Many, no problem -- you don't need to know anything from A Morbid Taste for Bones.

Book #42: Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Nursery
CATs: Mystery (series = Kurland St. Mary #7)
Bingo: none

Robert and Lucy Kurland are finally parents to a two-year-old son, Ned, and they’re thrilled that Lucy is now pregnant with their second child. Lucy decides to hire additional help in the nursery, but the new maid, Polly, soon causes disruption in both the manor and the village. Her beauty attracts many suitors, some of them employed by Robert, and conflict is the inevitable result. When Polly is murdered, Robert and Lucy investigate and make some surprising discoveries about the girl’s past. This book is, like the rest of the series, a pleasant but not groundbreaking historical mystery. I found the mystery component a bit weak; I was able to guess the culprit in advance, so it was frustrating to wait for the characters to catch up – especially when one suspect insists that he knows the truth but won’t tell Robert and Lucy anything! I’ll definitely continue with the next (and so far final) book in the series, but I think I’m running out of steam.

>37 christina_reads: I'd run out of steam by that one too, and only read the last book because it was on Overdrive. But they're nice and short and undemanding.

Congratulations on the Bingo. You're nearly there!

>38 pamelad: Thanks re: Bingo! And yes, I don't think I would have continued with the series if they weren't readily available from my library.

Book #43: India Holton, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
CATs: none
Bingo: none

I first read this book in 2021, and my opinion hasn’t changed upon rereading. It’s still a silly, fun romp, I’m definitely the target audience for it, and I’m looking forward to continuing with the series! Here’s my 2021 review:

Miss Cecilia Bassingthwaite is a proper young Victorian lady, and also a pirate. In fact, she’s a junior member of the Wisteria Society, England’s most prestigious and fearsome league of piratical ladies. When another Society member hires an assassin to kill her, Cecilia thinks she’s finally made it: now the Society will have to take her seriously and promote her to senior membership. But things start to go wrong when the assassin, Ned Lightbourne, turns out to be dangerously attractive and charming. Then the villainous Captain Morvath, an evil pirate and even worse poet, kidnaps the rest of the Society, leaving only Cecilia to save the day. Hijinks ensue, complete with flying houses, literary allusions, ghosts, thievery, and a touch of romance. This book won’t be for everyone; it’s a ridiculous romp in which the rules don’t make sense, there’s very little character development, and the tone is gleefully ahistorical. To enjoy it, you have to let the silliness wash over you — and be someone who appreciates Brontë references and dick jokes in equal measure.

My local public library had its semi-annual sale this weekend. I feel the sale has declined a bit in recent years...there's less inventory overall than there used to be, especially in the fiction section. So I actually wasn't tempted to buy a huge number of books, but I did come away with these:



Betty Neels, An Unlikely Romance -- I've read some reviews of Neels's work over at Dear Author, and they sound like sweet, light reads, so I picked up this one for $0.50.

Edith Layton, To Wed a Stranger -- pamelad mentioned Layton as a steamless, or at least closed-door, Regency romance author.

Charles Lamb, Essays of Elia -- This has been on my radar ever since it was mentioned in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Plus I'm a Regency-phile, and Lamb wrote these essays in the 1820s, so they should be interesting!

Rachel Barenbaum, A Bend in the Stars -- I swear I saw a positive review of this book somewhere recently, but now I can't find it. Anyway, the book is supposed to be gripping historical fiction with an "epic love story," so here's hoping it lives up to the hype!

Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like -- This one just sounded cute when I read the back cover. It's about a woman who needs a fake fiancé when a photo of her wearing an engagement ring goes viral on social media. I do love a fake-dating situation!

>41 christina_reads: I hope you like To Wed a Stranger. It follows on from The Chance.

>42 pamelad: Ack, a sequel! But most romance novels can be read as stand-alones even when they're part of a series, so hopefully I'll be able to follow with no issues.

>41 christina_reads: That's a nice haul from the library sale! I've noticed too that recent library sales offer fewer books that appeal - and often because so many are donations from my own shelves.

>44 VivienneR: Haha yes, it's tough when most of the offerings are castoffs from your own shelves!

Book #44: Kate Clayborn, The Other Side of Disappearing
CATs: Alpha (O = Other)
Bingo: none

Jess Greene has dedicated her life to protecting her young half-sister, Tegan, after their mother ran off with famous con man Lynton Baltimore. Baltimore was the subject of a popular podcast several years ago, and now the podcast creators want to interview Jess and Tegan to see if they can track him down. Jess hates the idea but reluctantly agrees because Tegan is eager to participate in hopes of seeing her mother again. As they follow Baltimore’s trail across the country, Jess is attracted to the podcast’s producer, Adam Hawkins, but their mutual baggage hinders their romance. Clayborn is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, and I really enjoyed this book, even though I’m not into podcasts or true crime. There’s not much lightness or humor in the book – the emotions are intense – but I loved both the romance and Jess’s development as a character. I do wish we’d learned more about Baltimore, but he remains an enigma throughout. Overall, though, I’d definitely recommend this book if the premise interests you!

Book #45: Tatsuya Endo, Spy x Family, vol. 1
CATs: none
Bingo: Written in another cultural tradition (Japanese author, manga format)

Twilight is a master spy, but his latest mission brings unique challenges: He has to infiltrate an elite private school, which means he needs a wife and child. But he gets much more than he bargained for when it turns out that his hastily adopted daughter, Anya, is a telepath and his brand-new wife, Yor, is an assassin. Will they be able to foil a dastardly seditious plot and, more importantly, come together as a family? I’m not much of a manga reader, but this one caught my eye with its spy-thriller-plus-found-family vibes, and I found it a very cute read! There’s a nice mixture of action and comedy with a bit of heart, and I like the art as well. This being volume 1, it only tells the beginning of the story – the installment ends with the entrance interview to the school – so I’ll have to read more if I want to know what happens next! Fortunately, my library seems to have several installments, so I probably will continue with the series at some point.

Book #46: Stella Riley, Under a Dark Moon
CATs: Alpha (U = Under)
Bingo: none

Book #2 of the Brandon Brothers trilogy focuses on expert swordsman Adam Brandon, who at the start of the book is recruited to M Section, a shadowy intelligence-esque organization affiliated with the British government. His first mission is to escort the boss’s niece, Camilla Edgerton-Foxe, from London to her home on the Kentish coast—and, while there, investigate a smuggling ring that’s engaging in espionage. Adam’s mission is highly dangerous, but as he and Camilla get to know one another, the greatest peril may be to his own heart. A Stella Riley book is always enjoyable, and I liked the secret agent/smuggling plot, though I felt it dragged on a bit too long. The romance is sweet and satisfying, and I loved that Adam doesn’t “protect” Camilla by excluding her from the investigation; rather, he acknowledges her talents and puts them to good use. Overall, another winner from Riley, though I’m not loving this trilogy quite as much as her Rockliffe series.

>48 christina_reads: Same. I prefer the Rockliffe series, but the Brandons are the next best thing.

>49 pamelad: I'm thinking of trying her Roundheads and Cavaliers series next! And I already have The Shadow Earl on my e-reader...

>50 christina_reads: I liked The Shadow Earl and have also considered the Roundheads and Cavaliers series, but have stuck to the 18th and 19th centuries so far. I look forward to your report.

Book #47: Catherine Walsh, Snowed In
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Five years ago, Megan was a runaway bride, and because her would-be groom was the town’s golden boy, she hasn’t gone home since—but her mother is pressuring her to come back for Christmas this year. Meanwhile, Christian (who’s from the same small town) is feeling lonely and isn’t looking forward to another holiday as the “black sheep” single son. When he and Megan bump into each other, he proposes a fake-dating scheme: He’ll be able to forestall his family’s pity, and she can use him as a buffer when she encounters her ex. I love a Christmas rom-com and a fake-dating plot, so I was predisposed to like this book, and I did! Megan and Christian are both relatable characters with great banter, and I also liked the nuanced portrayal of their family relationships, which are generally functional and loving but still have areas of conflict. I’d definitely recommend this book and author to fans of contemporary romance.

April recap

April was a tough month, not because anything particularly awful happened, but just in terms of sheer busy-ness! I was hired to play piano for a local high school’s production of “Anastasia: The Musical,” which was a lot of fun but also a lot of work. I’m glad I did it—I love the show (based on the animated ’90s movie), and the kids were so talented! But between individual practice, rehearsals, and performances, the show ate up a lot of my reading time. Nevertheless, here's what I did manage to read this month!

Books read in April:
1. Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many
2. Nancy Campbell Allen, Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts
3. Charlotte Stein, When Grumpy Met Sunshine
4. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Nursery
5. India Holton, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
6. Kate Clayborn, The Other Side of Disappearing
7. Tatsuya Endo, Spy x Family, vol. 1
8. Stella Riley, Under a Dark Moon
9. Catherine Walsh, Snowed In

Favorite book of the month:
When Grumpy Met Sunshine was such a pleasant surprise, with delightful main characters and dialogue.

Dishonorable mention:
Honestly, no duds this month! I might go with Death Comes to the Nursery, just because I’m losing interest in the series.

CATs completed:
- HistoryCAT (riots, revolution & mayhem): One Corpse Too Many involves a murder and takes place in 12th-century England during the Anarchy.
- AlphaKIT (U, O): Ellis Peters, *One Corpse Too Many; Kate Clayborn, The *Other Side of Disappearing; Stella Riley, *Under a Dark Moon
- MysteryKIT (series): One Corpse Too Many is book #2 in the Cadfael mystery series, and Death Comes to the Nursery is book #7 in the Kurland St. Mary series.

Bingo squares completed:
- Written in another cultural tradition: Spy x Family, vol. 1 is written by a Japanese author, and the book is the first installment of a manga series, which is a culturally specific genre with foreign (to me) conventions.

Book acquired in April:
1. Taylor Caldwell, Melissa (e-book)
2. Ellie Marney, The Killing Code (e-book)
3. Louise Allen, The Viscount’s Betrothal (e-book)
4. Molly Clavering, Dear Hugo (e-book)
5. Molly Clavering, Love Comes Home (e-book)
6. Freya Sampson, The Lost Ticket
7. Nap Lombard, Murder’s a Swine
8. Catherine Walsh, The Rebound
9. Pamela Morsi, Simple Jess
10. Edith Layton, To Wed a Stranger
11. Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like
12. Charles Lamb, Essays of Elia
13. Betty Neels, An Unlikely Romance
14. Rachel Barenbaum, A Bend in the Stars
15. Maria Grace, Pemberley: Mr. Darcy’s Dragon (free e-book)
16. Jeannie Lin, My Fair Concubine

I'll take a BB for Snowed In; and that's really cool that you got to support the musical - do you get to do that sort of thing often?

>54 LisaMorr: I hope you like Snowed In! It's sort of a sequel to another Walsh book, Holiday Romance, in which Christian's brother is the hero. But it can definitely be read as a stand-alone!

This was my first high school production, but I've played in many community theater orchestra pits over the years, both piano and trombone (though not at the same time, lol). It's always time-consuming but tons of fun!

>53 christina_reads: The musical sounds fun! I used to love being in the orchestra pit (mainly clarinet, but I also managed to sneak a go on the triangle too when we did Oliver at school!).

>56 Jackie_K: Glad I'm not the only one who has fond memories of the orchestra pit. :)

Book #48: Anne Gracie, Marry in Secret
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Lady Rose Rutherford has always been unconventional and uninterested in being a social success or making an advantageous marriage. She agrees to wed a wealthy duke for purely pragmatic reasons, but on the day of the wedding, a bedraggled man shows up at the church, claiming to be Rose’s husband. Rose is shocked to recognize Thomas Beresford, the man she impetuously (and secretly) married at age 16, who she thought had died in a shipwreck. Now Rose and Thomas must decide whether, after four years apart, they can make their marriage work. I’ve generally enjoyed Anne Gracie’s books, and this one was another solid historical romance, but I must admit it didn’t do anything special for me. After the first few chapters, Rose and Thomas’s relationship is pretty smooth sailing, and the bit of mystery isn’t compelling enough to sustain the rest of the book. However, I am looking forward to the next book in the series, in which Rose’s jilted duke is the hero!

>53 christina_reads: I'd say you read a lot considering musical practice. You are very talented!

>59 Tess_W: Thank you! The music stuff ebbs and flows, but this spring has been a busier season than most!

>53 christina_reads: Congrats on this accomplishment! I can only imagine the amount of time that you spent preparing for this musical, and I'm sure everyone will remember it for always. And you're not kidding about how music cuts into one's reading time - I thought I would spend a half hour or so working on a new class tune for Irish music class, but by the time I had edited, then realized I had incorrectly edited, then found the original version, of the tune I had recorded from the instructor, then uploaded it to my tune player program, a full 90 minutes had been eaten up!

And Happy New Thread! Congratulations on your nearly full BINGO card as well.

>61 threadnsong: Irish music class sounds fun! What instrument(s) do you play for that?

Book #49: Emily Henry, Funny Story
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Daphne moves to the small lakeside town of Waning Bay, Michigan, to be with her fiancé, Peter. So when Peter dumps her for his longtime best friend, Petra, Daphne feels rootless and doesn’t know what to do. In the meantime, she’s living in the spare room of Miles, Petra’s ex, and plotting her escape from Waning Bay. Daphne and Miles have nothing in common—aside from being treated badly by their exes—but as they spend more time together, they forge a surprising connection. I’m a fan of Emily Henry’s writing and enjoyed this book, though Miles wasn’t particularly appealing to me in the beginning. He’s a chaotic free spirit, while Daphne is more structured and buttoned-up, so they had a fun opposites-attract dynamic. Overall, though, I find myself a bit lukewarm on this one; I did enjoy it, but I’m not particularly enthusiastic about it. Glad I got it from the library instead of purchasing.

>41 christina_reads: Nice haul! I hope you enjoy the Betty Neels. She used to be one of my escape reading authors. I think I had every book she wrote, but I discarded most of them (or maybe all of them) in my last move.

It's nice to see all the love for the Cadfael series! It's one of my favorites. I'm currently listening to A Morbid Taste for Bones!

>64 cbl_tn: I'm sure I will enjoy the Betty Neels -- it looks like the perfect quick escape for me! And yes, Cadfael is wonderful...I still haven't read the last couple books in the series, because I'm not ready to live in a world with no more new-to-me Cadfael stories!

Book #50: Carol Berg, The Spirit Lens
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Portier de Savin-Duplais has always longed to become a sorcerer, but despite several years of study at the Collegia Magica, he can’t actually do any magic and is living a vaguely dissatisfied life as the Collegia’s librarian. Opportunity knocks, however, when his distant cousin, the king of Sabria, entrusts him with a special mission. Someone recently tried to assassinate the king using very dark (and very illegal) magic, and Portier—along with foppish courtier Ilario and mysterious mage Dante—must discover who’s responsible before the would-be assassin strikes again. This book is an interesting mixture of fantasy and mystery with a hint of buddy comedy, but I think it focuses a little too much on the mystery; Portier’s investigation moves slowly and feels like a dull police procedural at times. By contrast, the fantasy world gets short shrift (though I enjoyed the quasi-Renaissance vibes), and I found some magical aspects of the plot confusing. I do really like the main characters, though, and will certainly continue with the trilogy since I own the remaining books.

Book #51: India Holton, The League of Gentlewomen Witches
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Charlotte Pettifer is an exceedingly proper young Victorian lady, and also a witch who’s destined to become the head of the Wickan League. So when an amulet belonging to Black Beryl, the league’s founder, is discovered, Charlotte knows she must steal it. Unfortunately, those vulgar pirates of the Wisteria Society are also after the amulet—not to mention the infuriatingly handsome Captain Alex O’Riley. When circumstances throw Charlotte and Alex together in their quest for the amulet, they quickly give in to their mutual attraction; but since pirates and witches are mortal enemies, obviously they can’t fall in love. Like its predecessor, this book is a fun pseudo-historical romp, and the plentiful Austen references are a fun bonus. This installment focuses a lot on the romance, which I’d have been fine with except that it feels very similar to the romance in the first book. Still, if you liked book #1, you’ll like this one too—and the peek at the hero and heroine of book #3 has me intrigued to complete the series!

Book #52: Emma Thompson, The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen’s Novel to Film
CATs: Alpha (N = Novel)
Bingo: none

I recently rewatched Emma Thompson’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and loved it—I hadn’t seen it in a while and had almost forgotten how great it is! I enjoyed it so much that I watched it again with the DVD commentary featuring Thompson and producer Lindsay Doran. And then I remembered that I own this book, which (as the title suggests) includes the shooting script of the film and Thompson’s diary entries that covered the filming process. There’s also an introduction by Doran explaining how she got the idea for the movie and how Thompson was chosen to be the screenwriter. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a peek behind the scenes of your favorite movies, this book is for you. The script is maybe the least interesting part, since most of it does appear in the final film, but it’s fun to see the stage directions and think about how the actors interpreted the printed words. Thompson’s diary entries are hilarious—I laughed out loud several times—but she’s very kind and respectful about everyone she worked with. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book for fans of the movie!

>68 christina_reads: Oh that does sound fun - I really loved this film!

>69 Jackie_K: I think you will like the book, then! I will say, the script probably accounts for 75% of the book's length...the diaries are a pretty brief segment.

>68 christina_reads: I haven't watched that film so far (can you believe it???), but I took note of this book for when I finally have.

>71 MissBrangwen: Oh, it's a lovely film! Sense and Sensibility isn't my favorite Austen novel, but the Emma Thompson film is one of the very best Austen adaptations, I think.

>72 christina_reads: I liked the film, but Emma Thompson was too old to play Elinor and I couldn't get over it! Elinor is about 19, but Emma Thompson was in her mid-thirties and seemed too knowing and sophisticated.

Another example is David Lean's 1946 film of Great Expectations where John Mills, who was pushing forty and looked every minute, played Pip, which was off-putting. Otherwise it's a really good film.

>73 pamelad: I remember reading somewhere that Thompson didn't want to play Elinor for precisely that reason.

>73 pamelad: >74 RidgewayGirl: I mean, it's true that in the book Elinor is 19 and Marianne 16, but I understand why they "aged up" the actors for the film version! And Emma Thompson is only about a year older than Hugh Grant -- I think our eyes are just used to seeing men with much younger women onscreen, and it's warped our perception of what "old" looks like.

Book #53: Stella Riley, The Montesoro Legacy
CATs: none
Bingo: none

This final book in the Brandon Brothers trilogy focuses on the youngest brother, Leo, one of London’s most fashionable painters. When he is invited to a house party to paint a young debutante, he meets Mariella Talbot, who is trying to escape from her cruel, inheritance-stealing stepbrother. A society scandal forces Leo and Mariella into a fake engagement, so they team up to thwart the wicked stepbrother and secure Mariella’s rightful legacy. Stella Riley’s historical romances are always a treat, and this one is no exception. But I do wish the book had focused more on the central couple; instead, much of the plot deals with catching and punishing the villain. Further, Adam and Camilla, the couple from the previous book, play a big role in this story, and much as I like them, I felt they already had their book and I didn’t need to see quite so much of them here. Leo and Mariella feel underdeveloped by comparison, and their love story is basically resolved about halfway through the novel. Overall, it’s still an enjoyable read, but it's not as romance-centric as I’d expected.

>75 christina_reads: I was just having a whine about changing the characters. No problem with a romance between Hugh and Emma, if only it had been in a different film. A film is a separate entity from a book, I suppose, and a director might interpret a book differently from a die-hard Jane Austen fan who will brook no interference in a sacred text!

>77 pamelad: Haha, I can relate to the die-hard Jane Austen fandom...it's why the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie makes me grind my teeth! But I do understand that film is a different medium, and it's hard to fit a whole novel into 100 minutes of screen time. Yet I still grumble!

Book #54: D.E. Stevenson, Listening Valley
CATs: none
Bingo: none

I was in need of a cozy, quiet read, so naturally I turned to D.E. Stevenson. This particular novel follows Tonia, a quiet, dreamy girl who’s always been somewhat overshadowed by her bright, vivacious sister, Lou. But when Lou marries and moves away, Tonia comes into her own a bit, and she slowly begins to learn what she truly wants out of life. I really enjoyed this book, which is a quiet slice-of-life story with a bit of romance that also contains some heartbreaking elements. It was published in 1944, so World War II is a presence throughout the story, and there’s one very memorable scene where Tonia experiences an air raid in London. I feel the novel is a quintessential example of Britain’s “keep calm and carry on” mentality, and it’s fascinating to read books that were actually written during this period, when the outcome of the war was still uncertain. Definitely recommended if you like this kind of thing!

Book #55: Anne Gracie, Marry in Scarlet
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Lady Georgiana “George” Rutherford isn’t a typical society lady: She rides astride, prefers dogs and horses to people, and has no interest in marriage. Hart, the duke of Everingham, doesn’t particularly want a wife either, though he knows he must marry to secure an heir. And after being jilted by Lady Rose Rutherford, he certainly isn’t looking to her family for a bride. But as George and Hart encounter each other at various society events, they’re reluctantly attracted to one another and are forced to wed when they’re caught in a scandalous embrace. I enjoyed this book more than I expected to…while the seemingly cold and closed-off Hart is my kind of hero, I don’t generally enjoy “feisty,” anachronistic heroines like George. But she won me over with her honesty and firm loyalty to her family. I actually wish the book were a bit longer—I felt like the transition from grudging attraction to feelings happened too quickly, and I wanted to really see them falling in love. That said, this is definitely my favorite book in the series, and I may be keeping it on my shelves for a while.

Book #56: Chloe Angyal, Pointe of Pride
CATs: Alpha (P = Pointe, Pride)
Bingo: none

Chaotic, hot-tempered Carly and pedantic, uptight Nick seemingly have nothing in common. But in fact, both are floundering in their careers: Carly is a ballerina who desperately wants to be promoted to soloist, while Nick's post-dancing photography career hasn't taken off. Nick agrees to take photos of Carly that will boost her Instagram following, making her a more attractive candidate for promotion, and get his work into the public eye. As they work together, their hostility transforms into attraction. Like its predecessor, Pas de Don’t, this is a well-written contemporary romance with a beautifully depicted Australian setting. There’s not a lot about ballet in it, which I found disappointing, and the reason for the third-act breakup felt a little flimsy to me. But I did like the inclusion of Carly’s medical condition that makes penetrative sex extremely painful; there aren't many romance novels where the sex is anything less than perfect and magical. Overall, I liked this book fine but am not particularly excited about it.

Book #57: Ashley Weaver, Locked in Pursuit
CATs: Alpha (P = Pursuit)
Bingo: none

In this fourth installment of the Electra McDonnell series, Ellie hasn’t seen her military handler, Major Ramsey, in months. They were both almost killed in their last mission, in which they also shared a passionate kiss that they agreed never to repeat. But when Ellie suspects that a high-profile London robbery might be a cover for espionage activity, she and Ramsey must work together once more. As their investigation leads them to a murdered woman and a valuable map, Ellie also pursues answers about her father, who might have been a spy for the Germans in the last war. I’m still really enjoying this historical mystery series; it’s an entertaining mix of WWII atmosphere, plot, and romance. The series-long stories make some real progress, as Ellie becomes more proactive in investigating her parents and examines her feelings about both Ramsey and longtime friend Felix. If the premise sounds interesting to you, I’d definitely recommend this series, though it’s best to start with book #1, A Peculiar Combination.

You've had some fun books recently! The D.E. Stevenson book is especially appealing to me. A BB for sure.

>62 christina_reads: I play hammered dulcimer because I just fell in love with the sound of it when I first heard it. There are some who would quibble that it is not exactly "traditional," but given how many Irish traditional musicians play either penny whistle or fiddle, I'll proudly push the limits of Irish music.

>67 christina_reads: This sounds fantastic! Is it YA or does it appeal to adults as well? Not that I mind YA as a genre, but I do want to know ahead of time when I start to read it.

>83 VivienneR: I hope you enjoy Listening Valley! It does share some characters with another Stevenson book, Celia's House, but it's not necessary to read that one in order to understand Listening Valley.

>84 threadnsong: I'd definitely characterize the India Holton books as adult rather than YA. There are some open-door sex scenes. I'd also recommend starting with the first book in the series, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, if the premise interests you!

Book #58: Kaliane Bradley, The Ministry of Time
CATs: none
Bingo: none

In the near future, a secret branch of the UK government called the Ministry of Time has discovered time travel, but they’re still figuring out its rules and limits. As an experiment, they’ve extracted five “expats,” people from earlier periods of history who would have died in their own eras, and brought them into the present. The book’s narrator works for the ministry; her job is to live with one of the expats—Commander Graham Gore, a naval officer lost in an Arctic expedition in the 1840s—and help him acclimate to the 21st century. As the narrator gets closer to Gore and learns more about the ministry’s project, she discovers some sinister secrets and must decide where her loyalties truly lie. I’m still processing this book, to be honest, but I think I might love it. Bradley writes beautifully, and her characters are complex and interesting (especially Gore, whom I adored!). The only thing I didn’t like was the denouement, which felt a bit rushed and obvious. But the novel manages to be thought-provoking about power, narratives, and identity, while still being an excellent story. I’ll definitely be reading this again at some point!

I think I'll have to put that one on my WL!

>87 mstrust: I suspect it may end up on my "best of 2024" list. Though again, I'm still processing it...I might love it with my head more than my heart, if that makes sense. I'll be interested to see what you think of it!

Book #59: Sheila Simonson, Lady Elizabeth’s Comet
CATs: none
Bingo: none

The titular Lady Elizabeth is a would-be astronomer tracking a comet across the night sky. At age 28, she’s also been the de facto head of her family since her father’s death more than a year ago. So when the heir to her father’s earldom, distant cousin Thomas Conway, finally takes possession of the family home, Elizabeth is wary and defensive toward the newcomer. But when she helps nurse him after a battlefield injury catches up with him, she finds her feelings changing. Complicating matters is her quasi-engagement to Tom’s friend Lord Bevis and her need to care for her twin 15-year-old sisters. While I don’t mind the occasional “wallpaper historical,” it is refreshing to read a Regency romance that actually feels authentic to the period! While Elizabeth has a unique-for-her-time interest, she’s not a 21st-century heroine in costume. I also enjoyed her witty first-person narration, which is unusual for this genre. The romance is quite lovely with some funny moments (and steamless, which is a bonus for me). I’d definitely recommend this one to fans of historical romance and will be seeking out more by the author! Thanks to pamelad for the book bullet!

>89 christina_reads: Glad you liked it. It's the pick of the series, but the others are pleasant reads, particularly Love and Folly.

Good news about Loretta Chase's latest in the Difficult Dukes series. My Inconvenient Duke will be on sale next January.

>90 pamelad: I'll have to track down Love and Folly next, then. And YES, I saw that about the new Loretta Chase...I've got a note on my phone for upcoming book release dates, and that's on the list for sure!

Book #60: Ngaio Marsh, Overture to Death
CATs: Alpha (N = Ngaio); Mystery (Golden Age = published in 1939)
Bingo: none

This Golden Age mystery, book #8 in the Roderick Alleyn series, has a classic setup: Seven people in a small English village decide to put on a play. One of the actors, a universally disliked spinster, is murdered in a shocking fashion on opening night – shot via a booby trap hidden in a piano. Complicating matters is that Miss Eleanor Prentice, the victim’s equally unpopular friend/rival, may have been the intended target. Suspects include the local squire, a pair of young lovers, the vicar, the village doctor, and a femme fatale. Fortunately, Inspector Alleyn is on hand to uncover adultery, blackmail, and murder. I generally enjoy Marsh’s mysteries, although I think her books get less interesting after the murder occurs. This one is true to form: The setup and character introductions are great, but once Alleyn arrives on the scene, the “plot” is basically just a bunch of suspect interviews. That said, I still enjoyed the book, and I’m pleased that I managed to solve the mystery before the culprit was revealed.

Book #61: Connie Willis, Impossible Things
CATs: PrizeCAT (doubling up = two stories won both the Hugo and the Nebula)
Bingo: Short story collection

I’m not a huge fan of short stories, but I do love Connie Willis, so I decided to revisit this collection of her early stories and novellas, which were all originally published in the ’80s and early ’90s. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are really no duds in the collection, though of course some stories resonated with me more than others. I particularly enjoyed “Spice Pogrom,” an homage to the screwball comedy; “Chance,” a heartbreaker about a woman who’s consumed with regret over a bad choice she made years ago; and “Winter’s Tale,” a compelling, contemplative take on a Shakespeare conspiracy theory. The collection contains both tragic and comic stories, but even the tragic ones generally have a hint of hope or humor, and even the comic ones have surprisingly sharp edges. I still prefer Willis’s full-length novels, but if you like the author (or sci-fi stories in general), these stories are well worth reading also.

May recap

May is one of those months that felt extremely busy, but when I look back on it, I’m not sure I actually remember what I was so busy doing! Work has been stressful, for sure, and I’ve also had a lot of choir and band events this month. Nevertheless, I’ve had a good reading month, probably because I tend to read as a method of dealing with stress. :) So without further ado, on to the books!

Books read in May:
1. Anne Gracie, Marry in Secret
2. Emily Henry, Funny Story
3. Carol Berg, The Spirit Lens
4. India Holton, The League of Gentlewomen Witches
5. Emma Thompson, The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen’s Novel to Film
6. Stella Riley, The Montesoro Legacy
7. D.E. Stevenson, Listening Valley
8. Anne Gracie, Marry in Scarlet
9. Chloe Angyal, Pointe of Pride
10. Ashley Weaver, Locked in Pursuit
11. Kaliane Bradley, The Ministry of Time
12. Sheila Simonson, Lady Elizabeth’s Comet
13. Ngaio Marsh, Overture to Death
14. Connie Willis, Impossible Things

Favorite book of the month:
I really enjoyed The Ministry of Time for its ambition and its wonderful characters, and I'm still thinking about it a lot.

Dishonorable mention:
No true duds this month, but Marry in Secret was a bit pedestrian and lost its romantic tension too soon.

CATs completed:
- PrizeCAT (doubling up): Two of the stories in Impossible Things, “The Last of the Winnebagos” and “Even the Queen,” won both Hugo and Nebula awards.
- 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): Overture to Death was originally published in 1939.

Bingo squares completed:
- Short story collection or anthology: Impossible Things is a collection of stories and novellas by Connie Willis.

Books acquired in May:
1. Kaliane Bradley, The Ministry of Time (read)
2. Sherwood Smith, Danse de la Folie (e-book)
3. Fiona Hill, The Country Gentleman (e-book)
4. Louise Allen, His Housekeeper’s Christmas Wish (e-book)
5. Sulari Gentill, The Woman in the Library (e-book)
6. Megan Whalen Turner, Moira’s Pen
7. Madeline Martin, The Last Bookshop in London
8. Cecilia Grant, A Lady Awakened (previously read)
9. Anne Gracie, The Perfect Rake
10. Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Mexican Gothic (e-book)
11. Priscilla Pearce, My Enemy, My Prince (Early Reviewers e-book)
12. Hannah Ledford, Elephant and Castle (Early Reviewers e-book)

Physical books in/out:
Cumulatively for the year, I’m at 35 in and 19 out, so +16 overall -- yikes! In my defense, of those 35 books I’ve purchased, only 5 were new; the rest came from used bookstores and library sales. But I suppose that doesn't really have anything to do with the effect on my TBR...

Hi Christina, just checking in to see what you're reading. I keep meaning to get back to Ngaio Marsh, I accumulated all of them I think. Maybe I'll pick one up to read in June.

>95 lsh63: I've been slowly reading the Marsh books in order and enjoying them. A nice bonus is that they're short, fast reads!

It surely looks like you had a great reading month although you had so much to do! The books you acquired look interesting and I am looking forward to your reviews when you read them.

>97 MissBrangwen: Thank you! I'm hoping to get to some of these brand-new books soon!

You've done really well in May, and I fully accept your defense for book buying. Sometimes you just gotta.
I had fun with Overture To Death because I really liked the two crabby ladies.

>99 mstrust: "Sometimes you just gotta" will probably be carved on my tombstone! :)

I honestly felt a bit sorry for the two crabby ladies. They're portrayed as completely horrible and nasty...but if you* weren't married at a time when "spinsters" were sneered at, and you were viewed as ancient and irrelevant once you hit 40, and everybody saw you as an annoyance at best, maybe you'd be nasty too!

*Edited to clarify that of course I mean the generic "you" here!

My next Ngaio Marsh is only #5, so I have a bit to go before I meet the crabbiy ladies.

>101 dudes22: They are definitely an experience!

>86 christina_reads: Definitely a BB for me! The library has it on order and I've placed a hold but it might be a long time before it arrives in my hands. I'm not usually a fan of time travel, but your review is intriguing.

>103 VivienneR: I'm not sure if this will make it more or less appealing to you, but time travel is a very small part of the book. It's basically just the device necessary to get the "expats" into the present, and it pops up briefly later to move the plot along. But the book's position is basically, "Just accept that time travel exists; don't worry about the whys and hows."

Book #62: India Holton, The Secret Service of Tea and Treason
CATs: none
Bingo: none

This final book in the Dangerous Damsels trilogy focuses on Alice Dearlove and Daniel Bixby, both of whom appeared in the previous book as a lady’s maid and butler, respectively. In fact, they’re two of the best spies in England’s shadow government, and now they’re tasked with working on a mission together. The Wisteria Society is allegedly plotting to assassinate Queen Victoria using a mysterious new weapon. Alice and Daniel must pose as a married couple, infiltrate the Society, and steal the weapon; naturally, complications ensue when the ruse starts feeling all too real. This book shares with its predecessors a light tone, copious literary references, silly piratical hijinks, and a central romance. But I think this is my favorite of the trilogy because I loved Alice and (especially) Daniel. Both are dealing with childhood trauma and neurodivergent brains that make them feel like outsiders, and it’s lovely to watch them slowly realize that they understand each other. That said, this series is a fun read, but I’m not sure I’ll ever feel the need to reread it.

>100 christina_reads: All true! It seems that unmarried women of the past were to be pitied.
Although currently, unmarried women in their late 20s and older in China are called "leftover women". The stigma is still there.

>106 mstrust: I definitely think the stigma is still there, even in the US. It's not so overt now, but I do think unmarried women of a "certain age" get judged. I'm almost 40 and have never been married, so perhaps the book hit a little close to home for me!

>86 christina_reads: I've added this to my library list although there will be a long wait for it. The Ministry of Time sounds like one I would really like. Also added the Connie Willis book to that list.

>107 christina_reads: I agree. But I won't judge you, do your own thang.

>108 hailelib: Ooh, yes, hope you enjoy both The Ministry of Time and the Willis!

>109 mstrust: Haha thanks! :)

Book #63: Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Rectory
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Lucy and Robert Kurland are excited for the christening of their baby daughter, Elizabeth. But as they welcome their family and friends for the event, they’re also surprised by some unwanted guests: Harriet and Basil Northam, the daughter and son-in-law of Robert’s Aunt Rose, who recently married Lucy’s father. The obnoxious Northams have long sponged off of Aunt Rose and aren’t pleased that her remarriage may now disinherit them. When Basil Northam is found stabbed to death in the rectory study, Lucy’s father becomes the chief suspect, which causes tension between Robert and Lucy as they investigate the crime. This book is the last of the Kurland St. Mary mysteries, and while it doesn’t really feel like a series finale, it fits right in with the rest of the series: pleasant but bland, and not particularly remarkable as a mystery. I did like the brief observations on inequities in the justice system, but they’re not treated with much depth. Overall, these books are quick, undemanding reads, but I wouldn’t enthusiastically recommend the series. It’s fine, but I feel pretty tepid about it.

Book #64: Carol Berg, The Soul Mirror
CATs: Alpha (B = Berg); Random (initials = CB)
Bingo: none

***Warning: SPOILERS for The Spirit Lens***

Four years ago, Anne de Vernase lost everything when her father was convicted of evil sorcery and treason. Her mother is mad, her brother is in prison, and her younger sister has just died in a magical “accident” that might not be so accidental. Now Anne has been summoned to the royal court, where she is immediately plunged into various intrigues, including the murder of a noblewoman. She ultimately learns some shocking truths about both her own gifts and the magical conspiracy threatening the kingdom. This book really builds on the events of The Spirit Lens and sheds new light on its mysteries. I particularly enjoyed seeing the main characters from the first book through Anne’s eyes—understandably, she neither likes nor trusts Portier at first! This book thankfully doesn’t suffer from the “second-book slump” that is common with trilogies; rather, it moves the plot along nicely and actually resolves a lot of loose ends from book 1. I’m excited to read book 3 and see how things develop from here.

Book #65: Lia Louis, Better Left Unsent
CATs: Alpha (B = Better)
Bingo: none

Millie enjoys her peaceful, low-drama, conflict-avoidant life. But when she’s feeling angry or frustrated, she vents by writing emails; she’ll never send them, of course, just consign them to the purgatory of her drafts folder. That is, until a server glitch sends out all her emails—the angry rants to rude coworkers, the hurt feelings about a friend’s behavior, the heartbreak over the ex who dumped her and is now engaged to someone else. Horrified, Millie just wants to apologize and pretend like it never happened, but eventually she learns that sometimes it’s OK to speak up about her needs and feelings. I’ll be honest, it took me a while to get past the fact that she was drafting all these emails from her work account! It’s such a monumentally stupid move! But once I got beyond that, I did enjoy the book. I could relate to Millie’s people-pleasing tendencies, and I was glad when she started to see herself and others in a new light. There’s also a nice, low-conflict romance, although the love interest is a bit too bland and perfect. Overall, this is enjoyable women’s fiction, but it’s not destined to be a favorite.

>111 christina_reads: I have Lloyd's first book in that series on my TBR....tepid, heh?

It looks like your June reading is going well as your book reviews are showing. And thanks to your suggestion, India Holt's first book is now on my wishlist. The name Connie Willis brought back how she was such a staple of the 80's and 90's sci-fi/fantasy genre.

>88 christina_reads: Is the Commander mentioned in this book one of the lost explorer's from Franklin's failed expedition to find the Northwest Passage? I like how you are honest about having to process this book. Speaks very highly to its story/message.

>113 christina_reads: I'm in HR, and like you I have to wonder why someone would write all those emails from one's work email account!

>114 Tess_W: Hmm, hard to say! I was a little more positive on the first few books in the series, but they're all quite same-y, so I'd gotten tired of the formula by the time I reached the end. They are pleasant reads, and you could certainly do worse! But in hindsight, I'm not super excited about the series either. Not sure this was a helpful response, lol, sorry!

>115 threadnsong: Yes, the commander from The Ministry of Time was part of the lost Franklin expedition. He's a real historical figure, with a Wikipedia page and everything! :) And YES, that email gaffe was unbelievable!

Book #66: Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect
CATs: Alpha (B = Benjamin)
Bingo: none

After the success of his “memoir,” Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, Ernest Cunningham has been invited to an Australian mystery writers’ festival, which is taking place on a luxury train called the Ghan. Ernest is struggling to find inspiration for his second book, but fortunately, there are plentiful tensions among the train passengers that soon result in a murder. Ernest is excited to have another mystery to solve, but he soon realizes that with several other mystery writers on board, he’s not the only would-be detective on the case. This book has a very similar flavor to its predecessor but is even more metatextual, as Ernest talks about the aftermath of his first book, how it’s been received by the public, Goodreads reviews, and so on. I liked the twists and turns of the plot, and I liked that Ernest is still devoted to the Golden Age “rules” for mysteries – even as he learns that the rules don’t always cover every situation. All in all, this is a good sequel that should appeal to fans of the first book, though the series should definitely be read in order.

Book #67: Sylvie Cathrall, A Letter to the Luminous Deep
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Set in a fantastical underwater universe, this epistolary novel centers around the correspondence between E., a reclusive but curious young woman, and Henery Clel, a scientist who answers her letter about a potentially undiscovered species. As E. and Henery write to each other, they forge a deep connection and fall in love. But one year later, something bad has happened and they’ve both disappeared. So E.’s sister, Sophy, and Henery’s brother, Vyerin, begin their own correspondence to figure out what happened to their missing siblings. I liked the premise of this novel but was disappointed by the execution. There seems to be a trend these days for books that are “no plot, just vibes,” and this book definitely falls into that category…in fact, it’s apparently just the setup for a sequel, complete with cliffhanger ending! The writing style is stilted and overly formal, and the four main characters all have the same voice – and essentially the same blandly pleasant personality. Honestly, I found this book a bit of a slog, and I won’t be continuing with the series.

>118 christina_reads: What a pity, the cover looks beautiful and the premise sounds interesting! But it definitely sounds like a slog, especially if the voices are not distinct.

>119 MissBrangwen: I looked at some of the Amazon and Goodreads reviews, and a lot of people really loved the book! So you may like it more than I did. But I did find it slow going, especially since the plot doesn't really kick in until the last 70 pages or so!

Book #68: Jackie Lau, Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie
CATs: Alpha (J = Jackie)
Bingo: Author is a person of color (Chinese Canadian)

Emily Hung hasn’t figured out her life yet and feels vaguely ashamed of it. Her writing career seems to be stalling, she doesn’t own a home or a car, and she’s “still” single at age 33. Her meddling mother is determined to “help” by setting Emily up with Mark Chan, the perfect-on-paper son of family friends. Emily is sure she won’t like Mark and immediately writes him off as too boring. But to get her mom off her back, she proposes a fake-dating arrangement, to which Mark surprisingly agrees. As they spend more time together to keep up the charade, they grow closer until Emily begins to see Mark with new eyes. This was a cute contemporary rom-com; Emily is a relatable character, and I enjoyed the development of her relationship with Mark, though he’s not quite as nuanced a character as she is. There were a couple steamy scenes that felt superfluous, and the third-act “breakup” was a bit forced, though thankfully it didn’t last long. Overall, a fun but forgettable summer read.

Book #69: Christianna Brand, Green for Danger
CATs: Prize (book list = H.R.F. Keating’s 100 best mystery books); Alpha (B = Brand); Mystery (author new to me); Random (initials = CB)
Bingo: none

This classic mystery novel takes place during World War II at a military hospital in Kent. Joseph Higgins, an elderly postman, is injured in an air raid and brought to the hospital for treatment. It’s supposed to be a simple surgery, but Higgins unexpectedly dies on the operating table. Was it natural causes or murder? A second death confirms the latter, and there are only six people who could possibly be the killer – six doctors and nurses who’ve worked and socialized together for months, and whose relationships are slowly poisoned by mutual suspicion. I love a Golden Age mystery, and this one has all the classic elements: a closed circle of suspects, an ingenious murder method, and an abundance of hidden motives. But what elevates this novel is the strong characterization of the six suspects, who feel like real people with realistic emotions and reactions to the book’s events. When the guilty party was identified, I was both surprised and a bit heartbroken, as I’d come to care about all the characters. Highly recommended for fans of this genre, and I will definitely seek out more by Brand!

>122 christina_reads: Christianna Brand is one of my favourites. Not only does she write well-plotted mysteries with believable characters, she's witty and sophisticated.

>123 pamelad: I'm looking forward to trying more by her!

Book #70: Lizzy Dent, The Summer Job
CATs: Calendar (June = summer solstice); Alpha (J = Job)
Bingo: Themed around food or cooking (main characters work in a hotel restaurant)

Birdy’s best friend, Heather, is a master sommelier who’s accepted a position at a hotel restaurant in Scotland for the summer. But when Heather bails on the job without notifying the hotel, Birdy, who’s between jobs, decides to take her place – despite knowing nothing about wine. Of course, she soon realizes she’s in way over her head, but she becomes genuinely interested in the work – and in the restaurant’s chef, James. But what will happen when the truth comes out? This book, while entertaining on a micro level, actually stressed me out because Birdy made so many terrible, thoughtless decisions! Not only was she horrifically incompetent while (initially) making no effort to improve, but she also lied to her employer and her best friend and didn’t ’fess up even when she realized how badly she could damage said friend’s professional reputation. The book does its best to make Birdy likable despite this awful start, but I never quite came around. The Scottish setting is lovely, and James is a dreamy romantic interest, but honestly, he deserves better!

Book #71: Alyssa Everett, A Tryst with Trouble
CATs: none

Lord Beningbrough, “Ben” to his friends, prides himself on being emotionally detached and is in no hurry to marry. Strong-minded Lady Barbara Jeffords has a low opinion of men in general and, after their first meeting, of Ben in particular. But they’re forced to work together when Ben’s cousin and Barbara’s sister, who are recently engaged, are both implicated in the murder of a footman. Ben and Barbara know neither of their relatives can be the killer, but as they team up to find the true culprit, their mutual annoyance/attraction evolves into something quite different. I’ve enjoyed a couple of this author’s other Regency romances and am happy to say I liked this one as well! Ben and Barbara are an enjoyable pair, whether they’re trading insults or slowly letting their guard down with one another. And they take turns narrating the book, so it’s fun to get a peek inside their heads and see how they view the same events differently. The mystery itself is slight and utterly predictable; it’s really just a device to get these two crazy kids together. But I’d still recommend this book (and author) to fans of lively, well-written historical romance.

Book #72: Priscilla Pearce, My Enemy, My Prince
CATs: none

This “romantasy” centers around Ro, a farm girl plucked from obscurity because of her psychic abilities to become the wife of Prince Corrado. Ro and Corrado don’t get along at first, and they’re awkward and shy with one another, but mutual feelings soon develop. Meanwhile, Corrado’s kingdom is under threat by his odious cousin, who will inherit the throne unless he and Ro can produce an heir. And as Ro adjusts to being a princess, she begins to consider how to use her power for good in the world. If you’re expecting a fantasy novel with strong worldbuilding and a well-thought-out magical system, this book is not for you. It’s 100% a romance, and probably the first half of the book is just Ro and Corrado enthusiastically, ahem, “getting to know” one another. There’s not much plot to go along with the sex scenes, and the book’s editing leaves a lot to be desired. I did like the main characters, especially their early awkwardness, and I feel like there’s the kernel of a good book here. But it’s not one that I’d enthusiastically recommend, unfortunately.

Book #73: Noelle Adams, Counted
CATs: none

Jude has just learned that he has an inoperable brain tumor and has about three months left to live. He’s determined to achieve a few of his bucket-list goals before dying, and the most important one is to get married. So he decides to propose to Eve, a family friend who’s known him for years, though they’ve never been close. Eve has some misgivings but wants to help Jude, so she accepts. But they’re both caught by surprise as their marriage of convenience slowly turns into something real. I saw this book mentioned online as a gender-swapped retelling of The Blue Castle, so of course I had to try it! Really, it’s not very similar except for the premise – it’s much racier, for one thing! – but I still did enjoy this book. Both Jude and Eve are introverted, emotionally reserved people, so it’s nice to watch them slowly open up, and the development of their relationship feels realistic. It’s a quiet book with not much happening, and it might be a tough read for those who’ve been seriously ill or cared for someone who was. But despite the book not being quite what I expected, I’m glad I read it.

June recap

Despite the hideously hot weather these past few weeks, I’ve had an enjoyable June. My usual extracurriculars—band, choir, and so on—are on hiatus for the summer, which means I’ve actually had some time to myself in the evenings! I was able to go “down the shore” and visit my grandmother in New Jersey for a long weekend, along with my mom and my aunt. I did a 7-day free trial of Hallmark’s streaming service and watched far too many cheesy movies. And I just finished a rewatch of the criminally underrated “Galavant,” a cheeky fantasy musical that’s currently streaming on Hulu. But without further ado, on to the books!

Books read in June:
1. India Holton, The Secret Service of Tea and Treason
2. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Rectory
3. Carol Berg, The Soul Mirror
4. Lia Louis, Better Left Unsent
5. Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect
6. Sylvie Cathrall, A Letter to the Luminous Deep
7. Jackie Lau, Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie
8. Christianna Brand, Green for Danger
9. Lizzy Dent, The Summer Job
10. Alyssa Everett, A Tryst with Trouble
11. Priscilla Pearce, My Enemy, My Prince
12. Noelle Adams, Counted

Favorite book of the month:
Green for Danger is an excellent Golden Age mystery that’s elevated by complex, nuanced characters and a wonderfully depicted wartime setting.

Dishonorable mention:
A Letter to the Luminous Deep was a slog, with literally no plot and boring characters who all sounded the same.

CATs completed:
- CalendarCAT (Jun): June is the official start of summer in the northern hemisphere, so The Summer Job qualifies.
- PrizeCAT (book lists): Green for Danger is on H.R.F. Keating’s list of the 100 best crime and mystery novels.
- 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): Green for Danger is my first book by Christianna Brand – but it won’t be my last!
- RandomKIT (initials): Carol Berg (The Soul Mirror) and Christianna Brand (Green for Danger) both share my first and last initials of C.B.

Bingo squares completed:
- Author is a person of color: Jackie Lau, who wrote Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie, is Chinese Canadian.
- Themed around food or cooking: The main character of The Summer Job goes to work in a hotel restaurant, where she takes cooking lessons and falls in love with the chef.

Books acquired in June:
1. Sheila Simonson, A Cousinly Connexion
2. Kate Spencer, In a New York Minute (e-book)
3. Jackie Lau, Grumpy Fake Boyfriend (free e-book)
4. Sheila Simonson, Love and Folly
5. S.K. Dunstall, Linesman
6. Noelle Adams, Counted (already read)
7. Megan Bannen, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank

Physical books in/out:
Cumulatively, I’m at 40 in, 24 out, so + 16 on net. Not great, but at least it’s no worse than last month!

>129 christina_reads: I don't count physical books in/out, but am counting unread books finished vs new books acquired. Turns out this year to date I've bought or otherwise acquired 57 more new books than unread ones I've finished (29 read/86 acquired). I'm beginning to think I'm a lost cause! (at least it's not drugs)

>130 Jackie_K: Haha yup, as vices go, books aren't a bad one to have!

FIRST HALF RECAP

We’re officially halfway through 2024, so I thought I’d take stock of my challenge. The results are definitely mixed, haha. On the plus side, I’m just over halfway to my goal of 144 books for the year. I’m on track to complete my series category, and I’ve actually completed my entire Bingo card! (I thought about doing another one for the second half of the year, but I’d rather focus on the other aspects of my challenge.)

On the minus side, my categories are wildly unbalanced – I’ve already overfilled my library category, while my rereads category is lagging significantly. I’ve read only 4 nonfiction books, so I’ll have to pick up the pace if I want to reach my goal of 12. And I’m nowhere near fulfilling my “one in, one out” plan for physical books – so far this year, I’ve taken in 16 more than I’ve let go. So, definitely lots of room for improvement in the second half of the year! :)

Books read: 73 (2023 = 88, 2022 = 71, 2021 = 58, 2020 = 71, 2019 = 50, 2018 = 32)

Average books read per month: 12.17 (2023 = 14.67, 2022 = 11.83, 2021 = 9.67, 2020 = 11.83, 2019 = 8.33, 2018 = 5.33)

Bingo squares completed: 25 (2023 = 23, 2022 = 23, 2021 = 24, 2020 = 21, 2019 = 18, 2018 = 17)

Books acquired: 61 total/40 physical (2023 = 43 total/29 physical, 2022 = 52, 2021 = 43, 2020 = 29, 2019 = 43, 2018 = 39)

Top 10 books of the year so far:
In the order in which I read them…

1. Delano Ames, She Shall Have Murder: I loved the witty narrative voice of this Golden Age mystery and am eager to experience more of Ames’s comedic style.

2. T. Kingfisher, Swordheart: A hilarious, lighthearted fantasy novel about kind people being kind to each other, with a delightful romance at its center!

3. Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly: Despite the high levels of angst and melodrama in this historical romance, I loved it for the cheerful, pragmatic heroine.

4. Sally Nicholls, Yours from the Tower: This epistolary novel is on the YA end of the spectrum, but I found it wholesome and charming, with a strong emphasis on female friendship.

5. Lynn Painter, Happily Never After: This is Painter’s best rom-com yet, with fabulous banter and characters who, in addition to having mutual attraction and chemistry, genuinely like one another.

6. Charlotte Stein, When Grumpy Met Sunshine: If you a love a grumpy hero, you must read this book! Alfie Harding is hilariously blunt and weird and awkward and kind, and I was utterly charmed by both him and the novel as a whole.

7. Kate Clayborn, The Other Side of Disappearing: This intense contemporary romance deals with true crime and podcasting, neither of which I particularly care about. But I still loved the book for the compelling female protagonist and the development of the romance. Clayborn has yet to disappoint me!

8. Kaliane Bradley, The Ministry of Time: This combined romance/time travel thriller has excellent humor and beautiful writing. Commander Gore is a particular delight, as are the other time travelers from various historical periods.

9. Sheila Simonson, Lady Elizabeth’s Comet: This Regency romance actually feels authentic to the period, despite the heroine’s unusual interest in astronomy, and I loved both the romance itself and the book’s first-person narration from the heroine’s point of view.

10. Christianna Brand, Green for Danger: A vintage mystery with all the classic elements – an intricate plot, a closed circle of suspects, and so on – but elevated by the nuanced, realistic characters.

Book #74: Carol Berg, The Daemon Prism
CATs: none

Two years after the events of The Soul Mirror, Dante is visited by a solider suffering from a magic-induced dream, in which a beautiful woman offers him a jewel that will give him his heart’s desire—but once obtained, the desire is then corrupted. When Dante removes the dream from the soldier’s mind, it enters Dante’s consciousness instead, tempting him with ever-greater magical knowledge. His quest to find the woman and discover the secrets of the jewel soon becomes part of a much bigger magical journey involving an ancient prophecy and the souls of the dead. This is a very satisfying conclusion to the Collegia Magica trilogy; after seeing Dante through the eyes of other characters in the previous books, it was fascinating to get his own perspective here. The plot itself is convoluted, and parts of the story drag a bit, but I loved Dante’s character development and the way things were resolved with the other main characters in the series. Overall, I’m glad I finally read these books, and fans of thick fantasy sagas should definitely check out Carol Berg.

>132 christina_reads: I really enjoyed your #1, 3, 9 and 10, so will check out some others from your Top Ten List.

>134 pamelad: I hope you enjoy any that you decide to read! I definitely got the book bullet for #9 from you and have already bought a couple more Simonson titles.

Book #75: Hannah Ledford, Elephant and Castle
CATs: none

Years ago, American student Nora spent a summer in London, where she fell in love with up-and-coming musician Hugh, though their relationship ended when she went back to the US. Now Nora’s job has brought her back to London, and when she encounters Hugh again, she finds herself wondering what might have been. Complicating matters is Hugh’s best friend, Julian, who liked Nora before and whose feelings come rushing back when he sees her again. But how can he pursue a relationship with her when she and Hugh might have unfinished business? This was a cute little contemporary romance that I read in a day. I like a hero who pines for the heroine, and the obstacles to Nora and Julian’s relationship felt legitimate – in fact, perhaps a little too legitimate given how easily they were ultimately brushed aside. The book ultimately felt light and superficial; I never really got emotionally invested in the story. Still, it’s a pleasant read with an enjoyable London setting, so it’s potentially worth a read if you like the premise.

>126 christina_reads: BB taken!

>137 Tess_W: I hope you enjoy the book!

Book #76: Ben Macintyre, Agent Sonya: The Spy Next Door
CATs: History (spies); Alpha (S = Sonya, Spy)

Born to German Jewish parents in Berlin in 1906, Ursula Kuczynski grew up sympathetic to left-wing politics and joined the German Communist Party in her teens. After her marriage, she and her husband moved to Shanghai, where she was approached by a Soviet intelligence officer and recruited as a spy. She accepted the work eagerly, her ardent communist beliefs intensifying as the Nazis rose to power in Germany. Using the code name Sonya, Ursula engaged in espionage for the USSR for decades, her missions taking her all over the world and eventually leading her to the UK. I don’t generally gravitate toward nonfiction, but Ursula’s life is so fascinating that this biography reads like a novel. Macintyre weaves in plenty of history to give context to Ursula’s actions and also paints a vivid picture of her personal life, using her own writings and those of her family, friends, and associates as sources. This is definitely another winner from Macintyre!

Book #77: Katie Cotugno, Meet the Benedettos
CATs: Random (favorites = retelling of my favorite book)

A few years ago, the five Benedetto sisters were living the high life in LA as stars of a successful reality TV show. Now, their fame and status are fading, and they’re even in danger of losing their house. Lilly, the sisters’ de facto leader, is determined to hold her family together but doesn’t quite know how. And things get even more complicated when movie star Charlie Bingley and his friend Will Darcy move into their neighborhood – especially when Charlie seems interested in Lilly’s sister June, and Lilly herself is simultaneously attracted to and repulsed by the snobbish Will. I couldn’t resist this Pride and Prejudice retelling and devoured it in a day. I like how this novel centers the relationships among all five Benedetto sisters; they’re very different people, but it’s obvious how much they love each other. I also loved the chemistry between Lilly and Will and especially loved getting inside Will’s head. Some things didn’t quite work for me – the ending was a bit anticlimactic – but overall I enjoyed this one, and it’s reminded me that I really want to read P&P again soon!

>117 christina_reads: That's an interesting mystery style. I've had it on my library list but it was the title that intrigued me, I didn't know anything about the plot. Looking forward to it.

>141 VivienneR: It's a fun read! Technically the first book in the series is Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, and I'd recommend starting with that one.

Book #78: V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic
CATs: Alpha (S = Schwab, Shade)

This novel is set in a universe in which there are four different Londons: Grey London, in the ordinary world; Red London, in a prosperous world with abundant magic; White London, where magic is scarce and used as a weapon; and Black London, which devoured itself long ago. Kell lives in Red London but has a unique ability to travel between the worlds. Lila, a Grey Londoner, is a thief with ambitions to become a pirate. They meet when Lila picks Kell’s pocket, but the item she steals turns out to be an extremely powerful and dangerous artifact from Black London. Together, they must return it to its proper world before it falls into the wrong hands. I really love the creative world-building of this novel, and Kell and Lila are both compelling characters. Once they meet up, the book becomes a page-turner after a somewhat slow start. I first read this novel eight years ago and wondered whether it would hold up, but I still enjoyed it this time around and am excited to continue with the trilogy.

Book #79: Katherine Center, The Rom-Commers
CATs: none

Aspiring screenwriter Emma has put her career on hold to care for her disabled father and younger sister. So when she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work with her screenwriting idol, Charlie Yates, she can’t believe her good luck – that is, until she reads his script. Charlie has won fame and fortune for his gritty, dramatic screenplays, but this latest project is a rom-com, and it’s terrible. Charlie is terrible too, at first, but as he and Emma work on rewriting the script, they also grow closer to one another. This book requires a lot of suspension of disbelief – Charlie seems implausibly famous, he’s an abysmal romance writer but somehow genius in every other genre, and the reason for him writing the rom-com doesn’t really make sense. But the relationship between Emma and Charlie is charming, and I liked their back-and-forth, which is indeed reminiscent of classic rom-com banter. I also loved that, contrary to many characters in this genre, Emma is actually great at communicating her needs and feelings. So despite a few quibbles, I really liked this one and would recommend it if you’re interested in the premise.

Hello Christina! My goodness, so many BBs on this thread! I've reserved The Ministry of Time (248 holds - might be a while) and Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone. The library doesn't have some of the others, which is the only thing stopping me adding them too.

>145 susanj67: Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy The Ministry of Time when you finally get the library hold in two years. :)

Book #80: Mimi Matthews, The Work of Art
CATs: none

Phyllida Satterthwaite isn’t a conventional beauty, but in her first London Season, her unique appearance attracts the attention of a duke known for his relentless pursuit of one-of-a-kind possessions. Now he’s determined to possess Philly as well, but she fears and dislikes him. In desperation she appeals to her new friend, Captain Arthur Heywood, for help. Arthur proposes a marriage of convenience, which will give her the protection of his name, but it’s not long before he and Philly develop real feelings for each other. But when Philly is the victim of some suspicious “accidents,” Arthur worries that the duke is out for revenge. I’m a fan of Matthews’s historical romances, and this one is no exception. The romance is sweet and develops naturally, and the steam is minimal (mostly fade-to-black). I also liked the resolution to the suspense plot, which nicely subverts reader expectations. I’m definitely planning to continue with the series this year!

>143 christina_reads: Tempted enough to place a reserve on that one.

>148 Helenliz: I hope you like it! I enjoyed it on rereading more than I expected to.

Book #81: Megan Bannen, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank
CATs: none

Twyla Banneker enjoys her job as a Tanrian Marshal, especially working with her longtime neighbor and friend, Frank Ellis. The job has been a little boring lately, but things pick up when one of their fellow marshals is found dead and covered in a thick, glittery mucus. Shockingly, the glitter seems to have originated from a dragon, though dragons are supposed to be extinct. Twyla and Frank investigate, with the help of a renowned dracologist who soon shows an interest in Twyla—which Frank doesn’t like one bit. I loved The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy and snapped up this sequel as soon as I could. Maybe my expectations were a little too high, because this book was a slight letdown for me. Don’t get me wrong; it’s still a good read, with charming characters and adorable dragons. But the love story, which is by far the biggest part of the plot, wasn’t compelling for me. We don’t get Frank’s point of view, and Twyla sees him as a platonic friend for most of the book, so the pacing feels slow. That said, I still liked this one overall and am definitely on board for book #3 when it comes out next year!

Book #82: Georgette Heyer, Frederica
CATs: Random (favorites = favorite author)

The Marquis of Alverstoke is rich, influential, and sought-after in London society, but he’s also jaded and quickly grows bored with most people. That changes, however, when he meets the Merrivilles, distant family connections who have just moved to London. Frederica, the eldest, wants her beautiful younger sister to have a Season so that she can make an advantageous marriage, and she asks Alverstoke for help. Somewhat to his own surprise, he agrees – and soon finds himself invested in the welfare of all the Merrivilles, but perhaps Frederica most of all. This is such an enjoyable Heyer novel, with schoolboys Jessamy and (especially) Felix Merriville stealing every scene they’re in! I also love how the romance between Frederica and Alverstoke develops; they become good friends first, and they often find common ground as the only two rational adults in the room. I’m glad I revisited this one – it’s always a treat to immerse myself in Heyer’s Regency world!

Hello Christina and congratulations on your new thread! I still congratulate you for having only 16 new books, and salute your winnowing out of your shelves.

>143 christina_reads: This sounds very interesting. I like the idea of parallel universes and this book seems to have expanded the idea fourfold (I think - math was not always a strong subject for me!).

>150 christina_reads: Before I read this one, I had re-read The Undertaking of Mercy and Hart and it still blew me away (yes, I cried a little again!)— so I think my expectations were also a bit high. Pink & purple glitter-spewing dragons, the slower pace of the romance, the older ages of the protagonists— it all felt less edgier than drudges and Old Gods. That said, The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam looks promising and I have already pre-ordered it! 🙂

>152 threadnsong: Well, 16 new books on net...I was hoping I'd shrink my book collection this year, not grow it! But I suppose it could be a lot worse. :) If you like parallel universes, the Shades of Magic series might be worth checking out!

>153 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I must admit, I liked the glitter-spewing dragons! But it felt like much lower stakes than The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, and I just wasn't as invested. But I'm with you -- definitely looking forward to The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam next year!

Book #83: Poul Anderson, The High Crusade
CATs: SFF (first contact = aliens invade Earth in 1345)

This is a “first contact” story with an unexpected twist: The aliens come to Earth, expecting to conquer it with minimal trouble, as they’ve done with many other planets. But it’s the Year of Our Lord 1345, and when the spaceship opens, it’s immediately stormed and overrun by Sir Roger de Tourneville and his band of merry Englishmen. They plan to use the ship to invade France, and then perhaps take it on crusade to the Holy Land. But a treacherous alien survivor takes them into outer space instead, where they encounter strange planets, hostile aliens, and baffling new technologies. I really enjoyed this book, which is written in the style of a medieval chronicle. The narrator, Brother Parvus, is earnest, religious, and sincere in his belief that despite the aliens’ superior knowledge and technology, they’re no match for true God-fearing Englishmen. The book is full of adventure and humor, with creative battle sequences and even a love story. I’d definitely recommend this one if the premise appeals to you!

>151 christina_reads: that is on my TBR shelf. I have now moved it forward!

>156 Tess_W: Great, I hope you like it!

>151 christina_reads: Frederica is one of my Georgette Heyer favourites.

>158 pamelad: It's definitely among my faves as well!