Welcome to Litsy!

Found one word in Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe.

The Exorcist▪️
Season of the Witch🔸
Asylum🔻
The Woman In Black▫️
Night Things🔺
My Best Friend‘s Exorcism 🍬
Ring 👁
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe 🥧

#HauntedShelf #WordSearch

+16 points #FrightClub

Anna Kate returns to her hometown to settle her grandmother‘s estate and temporarily run her cafe. Will she decide to stay or will she go?

This was a really nice blend of small town charm and magical realism. Reading this makes me want to go to a cafe for pie.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#SupernaturalBookBingo #Pie
#Witchathon #31by31 #SpookOWeen
#ReadAway2024 #HauntedShelf #TBR +25

+26 points #FrightClub

Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView @Yuki_Onna

1. Yes. I always buy a few bags to fill the candy bowls in my living room.

2. Southern, magical, pie.

#Two4Tuesday

And now for something not so creepy for bedtime reading. Starting next on Kindle.

#TBR #HauntedShelf #Witchathon #SpookOWeen
#31by31 #CozyReads #BodyDoubleReadathon
#ReadAway2024 #SupernaturalBookBingo #Pie

+1 point #FrightClub

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sweet as pie and filled with Southern charm, but also a bit predictable and trite; I know I won‘t remember the details. 🎧

#HumbleHarvest

Read this one a couple years ago & had to pick it for the #Berries theme because there are blueberries on the cover, the titular cafe is famous for its blackberry pies & those blackberry pies have another (secret 🤫) berry ingredient.

1. Loved this book!
2. Coffee and iced in the summer please! Did you say chocolate? Lol. I'm not picky!
Thanks @RaeLovesToRead @Eggs #wondrouswednesday @peaknit @Kshakal

Thanks for the tag @peanutnine #WondrousWednesday @Eggs
1 - Read the tagged earlier this year. Delicious pie on the cover and in the story 😋

2 - I‘m not sure I have an all-time favorite, but I had some chocolate cake with chocolate frosting at work yesterday (retirement party for my boss) and am hoping there is still some leftovers today. Would be good with some coffee ☕️ 🎂

Want to play? @Leftcoastzen @RaeLovesToRead @Tamra

4.6⭐️ A super cute, lighthearted magical, realism story that had touches of romance and southern charm. This was an easy read that allowed me to reconnect with reading after a three month hiatus, but it kept me intrigued with the secrets, the romance, and just a touch of magic. I will say that there wasn‘t enough room to really connect the two main characters but that was truly the only flaw that kept it from being a five star book for me.

Very Hallmark-y
I liked the characters, the magic of the blackbirds &the setting. But the pace was incredibly slow & no surprises. A decent story of grief & moving on with elements of magical realism.

I couldn‘t sleep so I read for a few hours toward #20in4 & this book made me so hungry that I baked a mango/pear cobbler which is 1 of those necessity is the mother of invention things because I have minimal food 😂 but it‘s pretty flocking good

This was such a cute story. It wasn‘t deep. It was just a story of family, friends, love, forgiveness, and a little bit of magic. It wasn‘t one of the best books I‘ve ever read, but it kept me interested. I wish I could find some blackbird pie! It sounds absolutely delicious. The town where the story takes place (Wicklow) sounds perfect.

#AuldLangSpine wrap up
- I finished and loved the tagged book, which was not on my radar before this list from @peanutnine
- Started the Murderbot series. Liked book one enough that I‘ve put a hold on book two at my library (just need to pick it up!)
- Currently reading The Charm Offensive, which is adorable and will be perfect to continue with into February

I will definitely be reading others from Sara‘s list! Thanks @monalyisha for organizing

It‘s always a good day when your library hold comes in! And such perfect timing for the snowstorm we‘re expected to get tomorrow ❄️

Thank you @peanutnine for putting this on your #ALSpine list! I may never have heard of it otherwise, but now I understand why anytime I post this book, someone says “I love this book!”

A gentle, sweet story about second chances and forgiveness with a delightful cast of characters- flawed humans, but all ultimately just trying to do their best. The magical realism never overpowers the story, but creates a unique sense of place. A joy to read.

While it doesn‘t have magical pie that allows you to hear messages from dead loved ones as you dream, the Bluebird Cafe has the same sort of good home cooked food the Blackbird has in this book (though more Midwestern- this is Iowa!). A good stop for some eggs before going to my iron infusion (and both the stop for food and the infusion are good for me to have time to read my #ALSpine book!)

“It had been about me.”

“But as I walked home in the bright sunshine and thick humidity, I noticed my steps were just a little bit lighter.”

“I didn‘t want to think too hard about the answer to those questions. But my voice gave away my emotions, nearly breaking flat open as I said, ‘What is happiness, Mr. Pavegeau, really?‘”

“‘Why don‘t you start at the beginning?‘” #FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Starting my first #AuldLangSpine book a couple days early while having tea and lunch before my haircut. I‘ve only read the first chapter, but I‘m already intrigued by the magic in the small town and the secrets of Anna Kate‘s past.
@peanutnine @monalyisha

Audiobook pick:
This was the equivalent of listening to a Hallmark movie, so it was just okay. The plot was pretty much laid out in the beginning and all the connections were predictable. It got a bit grating hearing the narrator speak for the little girl, so I might have enjoyed reading it more due to that.
Also...I love the cover art!

This was on my on my want to reads list for quite a while. What a sweet, feel-good type book. Just what I needed

Finished one Libby read (Things in Jars) & now onto Midnight at the Blackbird Café. It's been on my want to reads list for ages.
I do wish, sometimes, that my Kindle was colour... if only for the book cover photos 😔

Ready for November! There‘s more nonfiction than usual on my list. Hoping to read a few for #NonfictionNovember. #BookSpinBingo

#BookMoods

I have so many foodie books with #FoodOnTheCover but here are a few of my favorite images that draw me in & make me hungry. 😋

I loved this one! Small town cozy vibes with a sprinkle of magic and a good dose of family drama
#roaringwolf mother @Roary47 @Littlewolf1

I feel like I should give this more of a chance since it‘s for book club, but I can just tell I‘m not going to enjoy it. The characters don‘t compel me and I feel like it‘s already told me everything that‘s going to happen, so I don‘t even want to check the ending. There‘s nothing wrong with this book at all—it‘s just not my thing.

I went to the grocery store for one object and the library for one hold. The grocery store didn‘t have what I needed, so it‘s totally OK that I actually got three books, right? #libraryhaul

Okay first of all, I LOVE all the double names! I‘ve been going by Jamie Lynn for 22 years now. There‘s just enough of a touch of magical realism, one of my newfound favorite genres. This was a warm story about family, forgiveness, and finding peace. Set in a small, whimsical Alabama mountain town where there aren‘t many secrets, there are many misguided opinions, and enemy lines are slowly erased. Book #19 in 2022

#savvysettings #cafe

I choose this because of the title and the cover, but nothing else stirred my soul.

Love

With it's captivating blend of magical realism, romance, small-town charm and true-to-life characters, this story is nothing short of enchanting, endearing, and compelling, and one which captured me from the very moment I began reading.

Author, Heather Webber has created a memorable narrative that will bring you joy and tears. You will fall in love with the town, its characters, and all that is... Wicklow. A must read!

I listened to this on audio and delighted in the narration. It‘s just good storytelling with a Southern twist and a small-town tale that you can‘t help but enjoy.

Sweet story, no big surprises. A nice, easy read that doesn't require a ton of focus. A little magic, a little romance, some family drama, a small town with quirky residents who give the place some flavor. It was a good book to curl up with at night after a few long stressful days of work. It gave me the urge to want to learn how to bake pies, a perfect activity for the winter.

Thanks for the tag @wanderinglynn !

1. 📕 The Bone Shard Emperor, 📗 Second Hand Curses, 🎧 Wintersmith
2. Fresh bread! Any kind! 🥖
3. I really liked this book!

#WeekendReads @rachelsbrittain

Finished this last week for my virtual foodie bookclub & enjoyed it. There‘s nothing new but the comfort of second chances, family drama, small southern towns with quirky citizens, a little magic, some romance & lots of food—especially zucchini & the famed magical blackbird pie. It made me smile & made me tear up.

My book-inspired dish is Easy Weeknight Comfort Red Beans & Rice—nothing new or fancy but good. Review & recipe are linked below:

I am hosting this round of my blogger virtual foodie book club & I have barely started my book pick & it‘s due on 9/30. 😱 Trying to get some reading in over my earlier brunch-in-bed of tomato pesto focaccia & an egg in puff pastry (I‘m sure it has a name but I forget). The cute avocado toast squishable is from my friend as a cheer-up from a tough few weeks gift. Isn‘t he adorable?! 🤗 #mellowsunday

❤️: This is a sweet book. It‘s a combination of magical realism, romance, and idealistic, small-town charm.

📣: I recommend this book for fans of Fannie Flag blogs, such as Fried Green Tomatoes. If you‘re looking for a cozy, easy read, you‘ll likely enjoy this book. Don‘t expect it to be the work od a literary genius. Accept it for what it is - a lovely read to accompany a cuppa while wearing a big, fuzzy sweater.

Happy Day 3 #LitsySummerCamp -Craft Day hosted by @ImperfectCJ. I am not sure canning is considered a “craft,” but it definitely is a skill. For the past two summers, I have been picking produce on a family friend‘s farm. He gets 1/2 of it for the Farmer‘s Market and I get 1/2 of it for canning. I love the entire process!

Chuckled aloud reading this passage. Growing up in Arkansas, I can relate. Complaining & sweet tea plus a side of Bless My Heart is the surefire remedy. 😂

After the last book‘s heaviness, I need something a bit whimsical and magical without being too precious. Hoping this book from my TBR shelf meets the criteria. What are you reading this week? #reading

Practical Magic meets Cold Sassy Tree 😊

Geez, it's been forever since my last post--reading slumps are the worst 😓 But nothing like a nice light read to ease back into my summer book goals!

I tried this last year and put it down. So glad I gave it another go! It's very light on the magical realism (I almost wish it leaned more into the fantastical elements) but overall this was a breezy and heartfelt read that anyone could enjoy. 3.5⭐

#JulyJourneys #ListeningDay
I really enjoyed the audiobook of this one! 🎧
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Good story

Good for a little magical realism and on sale today!

A good choice when you want a book that is light and cozy. After her grandmother passes according to the will Anna Kate must run her cafe for a couple months before heading off into her planned future. However the town of Wicklow has a way of making people want to stay. A charming cast of characters, magical realism, and lots of pie make this a book that is easy to sink into.
#booked2021 #bakedgoodsoncover

Two things that I adore: pie & birds! But still, without #booked2021 #bakedgoodsoncover I probably never would have picked this one up. Magical realism is a genre that is pretty out of the ordinary for me. But it was a light, airy, and fun read too, so I quite enjoyed it!

Southern novel, blackbirds come out at midnight and if you eat the blackbird pie you will have dreams of past relatives. Two families that have heard gossip about each other come together. I read the entire book and it was cute but I truly don‘t get the bird part!😜🧐