Tag: reading

A very busy week, and increasing numbers of Christmas books on the list, despite the fact that I still have a couple of states still to go. Two more ticked off this week though. Nearly there.

Read:

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

The Odd Flamingo by Nina Barden

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas

A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander*

My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows

How My Ex Stole New Year’s by Kate Callaghan*

A Reconstructed Corpse by Simon Brett

Snow Place Like Home by Laura Pavlov

Started:

Death in Ambush by Susan Gilruth

Still reading:

Ritual of Fire by D V Bishop

Pet Shop Boys, Literally by Chris Heath

Two e-books bought

Bonus picture: My Christmas flowers!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

The start of December was cold and sometimes wet, but the Christmas lights are making everything a bit more cheerful, so that’s good. On the reading front, I’m another state down and two more started. But almost more importantly, I got one book off the long runners list. So I’m proud of me, even if I didn’t stick to my goal of finishing off the 50 states before I bought the first in the Last Ditch series and not only have I bought it bt I’ve already read it. I will try and do better this week…

Read:

Renewing Forever by Kelly Jensen*

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage*

Arabella by Georgette Heyer

Scot Free by Catriona MacPherson

Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade

You Had to Be There by Jodie Harsh*

Thrones, Dominations by Jill Paton Walsh and Dorothy L Sayers

Started:

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows

Still reading:

Ritual of Fire by D V Bishop

Pet Shop Boys, Literally by Chris Heath

Two e-books bought.

Bonus picture: Commitment to the Christmas bit at Euston on Friday afternoon.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

Happy Monday everyone – it’s December and the end of the year is hurtling towards us in a blur of festive events and things to get done before The Big Day. It’s definitely feeling pretty wet and wintery now too, so curling up with a good book feels ever more appealing, even as the to-do lists continue to grow. This week I have plenty of train journeys to do, which usually means for solid reading time, although it does always depend on whether I get a seat or not…

Read:

Busman’s Honeymoon by Dorothy L Sayers

Halloween Hijinks by Kathi Daley

The Trouble with Turkeys by Kathi Daley

The Christmas Clue by Nicola Upson

Rockin’ Around the Chickadee by Donna Andrews

What Bloody Man is This by Simon Brett

The Murder at The Murder at the Mimosa Inn by Joan Hess

Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry

Started:

Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage*

Still reading:

You Had to Be There by Jodie Harsh*

Ritual of Fire by D V Bishop

Pet Shop Boys, Literally by Chris Heath

Two books (from Riverside Bookshop) and five ebooks as I continue to pick up things to help tick off those missing states…

Bonus picture: a Sunday night fire (and a glimpse of that Olivia Dade paperback I mentioned on Thursday!)

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

Another week, another four states ticked of the 50 states list. It’s almost looking doable now, but I’m not relaxing too fast because that’s what gets me into trouble. That’s especially true as it’s starting to get proper busy in the run-up to Christmas now, which usually means less free time for reading because I’m out and about having fun – or doing Christmas shopping!

Read:

Savage Run by C J Box

Calling All Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Stranger Danger by Patti Benning

Strawberried Alive by Jenn McKinlay

Death in High Heels by Christianna Brand

Started:

Halloween Hijinks by Kathi Daley

Still reading:

You Had to Be There by Jodie Harsh*

Ritual of Fire by D V Bishop

Pet Shop Boys, Literally by Chris Heath

One ebook and two book-books bought. Restrained… ish.

Bonus picture: last week’s theatre trip was out to Wembley to see Starlight Express which is a whole experience!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

I said last week that I have started my panic for the Fifty States Challenge early this year – and everything I finished this week except Gaudy Night is ticking off one of my missing states! If I can keep this rate up, I’ll be finished before Christmas, but my record on keeping this up is not great so I could still be in a panic on New Year’s Eve like every previous year!

Read:

Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes

Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca

New Uses for Old Boyfriends by Beth Kendrick

A Killer Edition by Lorna Barrett

Gaudy Night by Dorothy L Sayers

Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy

The George Eliot Murders by Edith Skom

Started:

Calling All Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

Still reading:

You Had to Be There by Jodie Harsh*

Ritual of Fire by D V Bishop

Pet Shop Boys, Literally by Chris Heath

One paperback in Waterstones Piccadilly and two ebooks.

Bonus picture: the new Legends and Lattes in the wild!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

I was going to say it’s that time of year again where I start to panic about the missing states on my 50 states challenge, except that I actually panicked about three weeks earlier than I usually do which makes me both optimistic about my chances of not ending in a panic, but cautious because I could get complacent. Anyway, four of the seven on the finished list this week

Read:

Death and the Final Cut by G M Malliet*

The Murder in the Cathedral by Kerry Greenwood

Innconvenient Murder by Patti Benning

Double Knot by Gretchen Archer

The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy by J Michael Orenduff

Word to the Wise by Jenn McKinlay

Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge by Helen Ellis

Started:

How Can I Resist You by Jeevani Charika

Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes

Still reading:

You Had to Be There by Jodie Harsh*

Ritual of Fire by D V Bishop

Pet Shop Boys, Literally by Chris Heath

About six – some missing states but also writing the offers post..

Bonus picture: I ransacked the tbr shelves to look for books that would tick off missing states – here they are, in a nice pile to catch my eye and remind me to read them!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

It’s definitely heading into winter now. The mornings might be a bit lighter but it’s only temporary and the weather is colder and wetter. And so I’m deep into mystery books because it feels like they suit the season. Last week was fairly calm (especially compared to the week before) and I’m hoping for similar this week. I’ve actually made a proper plan of what I want to read this month, so we will see if I manage to stick to that in any way!

Read:

The Will of the Standing Stones by A G Barnett

The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery*

Dark Horse by Patti Benning

The Case of the Purloined Poodle by Magda Alexander

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Taylor’s Version by Stephanie Burt*

The Body in the Kitchen Garden by Paula Sutton*

Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch

Started:

Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge by Helen Ellis

Still reading:

You Had to Be There by Jodie Harsh*

Ritual of Fire by D V Bishop

Pet Shop Boys, Literally by Chris Heath

Well. A couple of impulse purchases because the Helen Ellis was on offer as were some Georgette Heyer detective books, although I only bought one of them. I did manage to resist the Foyles double stamps though, but only because I own most of the paperbacks I might have bought already and I had that preordering spree on Waterstones just a few weeks ago!

Bonus picture: autumnal colours in Bloomsbury.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

Another incredibly busy week, where I went down to Essex and then up to Carlisle as well as work and a trip to the theatre. The list is looking pretty good though, even if the still reading list doesn’t seem to be coming down much. But I can work on that!

Read:

The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog by Elizabeth Peters

Nightfall in New York by Katherine Woodfine

A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Solving a Murder by F H Petford*

Soyangri Book Kitchen by Kim Jee Hye*

From Russia With Love by Ian Fleming

Murder at the Grand Hotel by Isabella Bassett

War and Peas by Jill Churchill

Started:

The Will of the Standing Stones by A G Barnett

The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery*

Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch

Still reading:

You Had to Be There by Jodie Harsh*

Ritual of Fire by D V Bishop

Pet Shop Boys, Literally by Chris Heath

Two secondhand books acquired and I think that’s it.

Bonus picture: thank you flowers from my trip to Essex, and a glimpse of the to-read overflow pile…

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

Well, I think the thing that should be noted here is that Abdication is more than 500 pages long and quite dense as well as full of lots of people to keep track of. And I finished my craft project (hurrah!) and went out one evening, and went to the cinema as well and so, well yes, the still reading pile has got bigger. But I will work on that this week, even if I am on the move from one end of the country to the other, and going to the theatre again tonight…

Read:

A Quiche Before Dying by Jill Churchill

The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett

Abdication by Brian Inglis

Jandy Mac Comes Back by Elsie J Oxenham

Bone Cold by Patti Benning

What you are looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama

Started:

A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Solving a Murder by F H Petford*

Still reading:

Nightfall in New York by Katherine Woodfine

From Russia With Love by Ian Fleming

You Had to Be There by Jodie Harsh*

Ritual of Fire by D V Bishop

Pet Shop Boys, Literally by Chris Heath

On the bright side, I didn’t buy any books that arrived this week, but I did take full advantage of the Waterstones 25% off pre-sale books offer… I got my basket down from over £200 to a much more sensible £60 or so!

Bonus picture: a sign that made me smile at the book stall at the market (and Diwali fair) on Saturday.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.