Welcome to Litsy!

My favourite reads for the year. All wonderful books. A combination of classics, crime, Australian fiction, Irish literature and Booker shortlisters. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and find a book under your tree.
May you have a peaceful 2026 ❤️

I‘m not a fan of historical fiction generally, but this book is excellent! I was hooked from the start and enthralled all the way to the end. It‘s an intimate look at the state of being female in the 1700‘s in America. Powerful and well written.

This story held me in its grip the whole time!!!! I guessed a few of the twists and turns but not the whys, what a rollercoaster ( Santa bag #2 is done)

The Botanical Garden is finished so now it‘s time for Santa

Almost done the Botanical Gardens 🎉 Frozen River is soooo good! Thank god for feisty women!

Just thinking about this book makes me cold! #sundayfunday

#AuldLangSpine Match is @kspenmoll

Kudos to @monalyisha as I have not read anything on the list but the top book is high on my TBR. Guess this is my sign to finally read it!

@bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

I liked this, not as much as I have seen others here but it was a well paced, keep you reading ride. I have a fear of pregnancy and birth so midwife takes are not my go to but I liked how the story really revolves around the community and centers on a murder.
I thought it was fascinating that our MC has an adult son she doesn't really seem to like,in a time of raise them correctly they will molded the way you intend.👇

Good reading month ;)
I just put on hold a very high number of books at my local library... So my November reading should also be interesting!
Definitely recommend the three books 📚 pictured.

Wish you all a lovely reading month 💟

November #BookspinBingo

#Bookspin = The Frozen River
#DoubleSpin = Classic (Doctor Zhivago)

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚
#boleybooks #TheFrozenRiver #ariellawhon #frostbuddy #bookbrew #bookbeast #bookbuds #bookclub #letsread
🎉🙌There‘s a Frostbuddy discount portal available for you in my linktree.

Been waiting to read this book for awhile. It‘s set in 1789, and the book I‘m writing is set in 1775. One book is set in Maine, the other on an island in Helsinki. Books ❤️ writing ❤️

Martha Ballard was a woman ahead of her times as the town midwife who has a penchant for justice, especially against men who have committed crime that she has experience with. Her loving husband and children become intertwined in the storyline and each character brings their own impact to the story. When the local judge is the person of interest in a rape charge from a woman, how will it play out? Well-written but a bit drawn out in my opinions.

Yikes taking this many liberties with the life story of a real historical figure makes me uneasy. Might‘ve been better to change names and just fictionalize it completely? But a zippy plot and a strong sense of place. I suppose if I take it in the spirit of “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” I‘m good. But despite obvious research, just too much that didn‘t feel plausible. Strong characterizations by reader Jane Oppenheimer kept me listening. 2023

4/5 - Really enjoyed this historical fiction, very well written. Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, this book is set in Hallowell, a small town in Maine, in 1789, during a long cold winter. Through Martha, midwife and healer, we get to know the inhabitants, their secrets, the hidden politics of the town. The book begins with a body discovered in the icy river, a man allegedly accused of the brutal rape of a woman.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ an absolute page turner of historical fiction and the lives of women during the 1700s. Riveting!

4.75⭐️ I can see why so many readers love this book. I really, really liked this book and I really connected with Martha and her family, especially her husband. Loved the strong sense of history that the book places the reader in and Martha‘s story really helps with that. It was my favourite book for July. #2025 #fiction #biographical #historicalfiction

4 Stars • The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is a historical mystery set in 1789 Maine, following midwife Martha Ballard. When a man‘s body is found frozen in the river, Martha investigates, uncovering a scandal involving rape and betrayal. Balancing her role as a healer and truth-seeker, she challenges powerful men in her town. The novel blends suspense, historical detail, and Martha‘s fierce resilience.

#TheFrozenRiver #ArielLawhon #Bookish

Right away we‘re in the midst of watching midwife, Martha Ballard, help deliver a baby in the late 1700s and then told she is needed to see to the dead body just pulled from the river. She declares it was murder. Its slice of life, lotsa midwifing, community. There is also a sexual assault and gender inequality that still reads in a “yeah, that‘s what would happen today” 200 years later. Depressing. I really liked Martha and her wit. Pick!

This is not a novel I might have picked up for myself, but when a colleague/friend recommended it, I was all in. It's definitely intriguing as you follow along through this journey with Martha Ballard. Everything about her and her family leads to questions and a good amount of satisfying answers at the end. #32-2025

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It‘s a compelling and beautifully written story. I‘d never heard of Martha Ballard before reading The Frozen River, but all I can say is what a woman! There are some great peripheral characters and it has an atmospheric setting. It‘s very much a page turner and I can highly recommend it.

This was hand sold to me by a bookseller when I told her I like good historical fiction but am tired of WWII and dual timelines. While this post Revolutionary War story centers around a midwife, it's the story of a family, a town, sexual assault, power, and home. Great characters, a compelling plot, and a beautifully written setting made this book a 5-star read for me. June #Bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

We are in the twilight years of a long love affair, and it has recently occurred to me that a day will come when one of us buries the other. But, I remind myself, that is the happy ending to a story like ours. It is a vow made and kept. It is the only acceptable outcome to a long and happy marriage, and I am determined not to fear that day, whenever it arrives. I am equally determined to soak up all the days between 📔❄️

I‘m reading this with my online book club, https://thereadingloft.groups.io/g/main. The theme was a story set near water.

This story is set in Maine and was inspired by the diary of an actual midwife (Martha Ballard) who practiced in the late 1700's. I thought it did a wonderful job illustrating the lives of women at the time and their lack of autonomy, as well as how the local midwife knew everyone's secrets. The book deals with rape and murder and is about love, loss and one woman's fight for justice. I really enjoyed it, and it will stick with me. 5/5 stars

I know it was loosely based on Martha Ballard's life and diaries, but I still think it was refreshing to read about a strong woman capable of standing up to hateful men and her husband who is strong enough to love her. Especially in the late 1700s. Trigger Warning: rape is all through the book

I enjoyed this story of the life of a midwife in the 1700‘s. It definitely held my attention. The story includes details of experiences of delivering babies but primarily focuses on Martha Ballard‘s pursuit of justice through the newly created legal system for a woman who was raped as well as working to hold a murderer (and all around bad guy) accountable for his deeds. This story was inspired by the journal written by Martha during that time.

Was on my way with plants in hand to start my gardening when suddenly my ankle collapsed on me. I‘ve broken my ankles and wrists so many times. Thankfully, this is a bad sprain, not a break. So on this bright sunny day when I‘d rather be outside I‘m lying on the couch, leg elevated, starting this book. This event could have been so much worse so I‘m trying to be mature about it and not grumble too much.

I loved the strong sense of time and place in this novel - small town Maine in the late 1700s. The main character is a midwife - a strong woman with influence in her community, which she uses for good. Based on a real midwife, Martha Ballard, who kept a diary that has survived. Superb storytelling!

#Pantone2025 #SecretSpaces @Lauredhel @BarbaraBB

:(

Visiting family always results in new books for me! 💖

This is one of those historical novels I‘m glad exists because it brought a historical figure to my notice. And I finished it because it‘s for book club. But there were no sentences than sang to me, and the characters didn‘t quite come to life as of their time. Not many anachronisms I could be sure of (notable exception- a counter in a kitchen, which would have had a table and perhaps other furniture, but nothing built in.) 👇🏻

#CoverStories #River
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#Read2025

Finished this one yesterday, it‘s the 2nd of my March #Roll100 picks (#51 Any Library Book) & the 5th book from my #AuldLangSpine list from @JacqMac & I loved it! A historical mystery centered around a real-life midwife, Martha Ballard. I found the mystery gripping in how it unfolded & the look at midwifery in 1779 in Maine was interesting. The author‘s notes in the back about the choices she made in telling Martha‘s story were also ⬇️

I‘m getting a jump start on next week‘s book club book since Ozzie currently has me trapped on the couch.

My #ChatterDay started late as it was hard to get going this morning because I left my house at 4:15 AM to get to the airport & got back home from Hilo at 10 PM.😵‍💫

So, breakfast, coffee, finishing this book (I‘m at 84%) which is SO GOOD & then finishing my #SpringCardSwap before running errands. (Yes, they‘ll probably be a little late).

How‘s your Saturday/weekend going?

Thanks for the #ChatterDay tag @TheSpineView 🤗 I‘m back at the coffee shop to try to finish up my work project after getting a little reading in while I have breakfast.

I hope to get to addressing my #SpringCardSwap envelopes & catching up on some #LitsyLove mail before I run my errands.

My March #Roll100 picks:

# 9 Any Series or #90 Any Back List: Nettle and Bone (T. Kingfisher backlist)

#51 Any Library Book: The Frozen River (also on my #AuldLangSpine list from @JacqMac )

# 74 Any BOTM: Leather & Lark #SeriesLove2025

Keeps you guessing as the puzzle unfolds.

A mix of history, romance and life lessons during a time when women were expected to be seen and not heard. Really enjoyed it.

This lives up to the hype. Push it to the top of your TBR. Martha Ballard is a strong female character/historical figure who you'll want to meet. This will make me look to read Lawhon's other books. DO NOT skip the author's note at the end!

Based on the actual diary of Martha Ballard, the novel blends historical fiction with mystery, offering a glimpse into the daily life of a midwife in post-Revolutionary America. The historical insight into the justice system—particularly its treatment of women—is fascinating. I didn‘t want the story to end. Don‘t skip the author‘s note at the end—it adds even more depth to an already immersive read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️📚 This was my #bookspin for February.

An appropriate read for this 2degF snowy Kansas day!! ❄️🩵 ❄️
All the schools are closed, but unfortunately, I still have to go to work. I suspect a quiet day, so I‘ll bring my book just in case!! So far, this is a wonderfully written book with a lovely midwife and a mystery. 🩵 ❄️🩵

So good!

11/100📖🎧
#thefrozenriver #ariellawhon #goodreads #goodreadsreadingchallenge #readinggoal #ebook #audiobook

A rather one-dimensional character study based on the real life of healer/midwife, Martha Ballard, in the late 1700s. This story is packaged as a murder mystery but is mostly focused on salivating over how shrewd and steadfast Martha was for a woman of her time. It was fascinating to think about the justice system (or lack thereof) in the 1700s and to examine women‘s lives at the time (we haven‘t come that far…).