#Read2025 January 2025 #LiteraryCrew There is some powerful story telling in this book. I look forward to discussing it with the group on the 20th. If you care about civil rights, if you care about human beings, I urge you to read this book!

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 The Rivers of London is such a wonderful series and this novella is no exception. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is an excellent narrator, and he reads the many diverse characters so that the listener has no doubt who is speaking. Highly recommended!

#Read2025 I enjoyed this story of family, friendship, and taking care of each other. Recommended.

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 This features a short story about Violet‘s romance with the twins‘ father and his departure after she tells him she‘s pregnant. There is a short story from the author‘s vault that isn‘t related to the Deadwood mysteries-yet. And the author conducts an interview with Violet. If you‘re enjoying the series, I recommend this book.

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 Way of the Witch is the sixth and, I believe, final book in the Witches of New York series. I enjoy the feisty, smart-ass heroine, her spicy romance, and the friendships she has with her people. Recommended.

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 This fifth book in the Witches of New York series reminds me that I haven‘t mentioned my favorite thing about the series. It‘s not the humor or the confidence of the main character, although those things are great. It‘s about the friendships between the characters. They always are there to support each other emotionally and physically. If one is in danger, they back each other up. If one needs a shoulder to cry (cont)⬇️

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 This second book in the Deadwood Mysteries was fun. Like the first book it‘s an odd combination of genres: mystery, spicy romance, and the supernatural. It leaned a little more into the supernatural than the first book, but not too far. There was a slight sophomore slump here but it‘s still a pick and I look forward to the next book in the series. Recommended.

#Read2025 I‘ve been under the impression that Katherine Center is a writer of rom-coms. Of course, I‘ve only read one other book by her and, while it was promoted as a rom-com, it still touched on some very serious topics. This book is not a rom-com. It begins with some sad things, some sad things happen in the middle, and the ending leaves questions about what will happen next. It ends on a hopeful note and I enjoyed this book. Recommended.

#2025 So far, I‘ve enjoyed every book I‘ve read by Robin Sloan. This book was no exception. Sloan‘s books seem to have happy endings but the type of happy ending is always a surprise. Nothing is ever predictable. Recommended.

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025 This is the final book in Mercedes Lackey‘s Hunter Trilogy. I like the idea of a trilogy that stays a trilogy. I enjoyed this series quite a bit. It had action, danger, friendship, mysteries, tears. It‘s a post-apocalyptic series which ends with plenty of hope and the knowledge that the work isn‘t over yet. There are enough loose ends for a reader to speculate about what‘s next. Recommended.

This was fun. Light-hearted, the way a holiday rom com should be. #Read2025 I don‘t know if y‘all are even hosting this year, so just in case, I tagged the three of you, and added the hashtag.

Happy New Year, Littens! I have a question for my bibliophile friends. I‘ve been using Goodreads to track my reading progress. But I listen to many, many audiobooks and Goodreads only tracks pages read. Also in Goodreads, there is no way to record DNF books. I‘m looking for a single app that tracks both. If y‘all have any suggestions, please share them with me. Happy New Year!!🎉🍾🥳

Final Goodreads 2024 tally.

My goal for this year was 100 books.💯 I passed that mid-year. And the year isn‘t over yet!🎉🐾

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This is a fun new-to-me series, and the book is free on Audible through the end of the year. I have listened to lots of good books this year but haven‘t written any reviews in the last couple of months. I won‘t get caught up but starting January you‘ll be hearing more. I get some Stephanie Plum vibes from Violet, the single mother of twins real estate agent. But only a little. These mysteries have a paranormal aspect

@dabbe Thank you so much for the cool ecard! It‘s perfect for a December birthday. #LitsyLove

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Misty, thank you for the birthday and Christmas cards. The headphones are cool because of my penchant for audiobooks. And I looove tigers, so the tiger bookmark is especially wonderful. #LitsyLove

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 Robyn Peterman turns the religiosity of our world on its head. I love the way she creates such excellent characters and beautiful families and friendships while putting them through such difficult and ridiculous situations. Lots of love and laughter in the Good to the Last Death series and this first book in the Good to the Last Demon series. I listened to both in audio format and the only quibble I have is (cont)⬇️

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 November 2024 #AuthorAMonth At first I wasn‘t sure I liked this. I recognized the narrator as the same woman who narrates the Eve Dallas series, a buddy read from which I withdrew after the fourth book in the series. I had to work to get the Eve Dallas narration out of my head so I could enjoy the Garden Spells narration. I read a description of this book as “magical realism,” a genre I‘ve read that many (cont)⬇️

#RandomClassics I listened to more than half of this, which is the longest I‘ve ever given a book before bailing. At first I thought it was humorous. But then I realized there wasn‘t much difference between Richelieu, Milady, and the rest of the “villains” and D‘Artagnon, the three and all of the Musketeers. D‘Artagnon and his compatriots didn‘t pay for rent, meals, or inns. They seduced women by fair play or by foul, whether the women (cont)⬇️

#RandomClassics I‘ve seen “teh” all over the internet, and lately with the undereducated news reporters working these days, in print media. But “hte” is a new one to me.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 October #TBRTarot (“Choose a book… that is less than 200 pages”) Murderbot is one of the best characters ever created. I think this series is excellent.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 (another) October #TBRTarot “Choose a Book… that is less than 200 pages.” I‘m really enjoying this series. And I can sooo identify with Murderbot. He wants to have as little to do with humans as possible and all he wants to do is watch his soap operas. I just want to hang out with my kitties and listen to audiobooks. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This was my choice for October #TBRTarot, “Choose a book that is less than… 200 pages.” (audiobook run time is 3 hours 21 minutes, a novella) This second book in The Murderbot Diaries was as enjoyable as the first. Recommended.

@JenReadsAlot My cousin said to pick one and he would order it for me. If there‘s a Tarot deck or Oracle deck that‘s cat-centric that I don‘t have, I‘ll find it and add it to my collection. In the meantime, I choose this t-shirt. The other three were: 1) Wonder Woman riding a tiger, 2) Rosie the Riveter with a cat sitting on her bicep, and 3) a cat knocking an elephant off a table.

I have listened to 27% of this library book and I feel like something‘s missing. Maybe I‘m in the wrong frame of mind or maybe it‘s not for me. This was for #AuthorAMonth. I hope that others enjoy Tana French.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I‘ve really enjoyed this trilogy. I liked the characters and the constant surprises. And I look forward to Spectacular, an illustrated holiday novella that‘s being released soon. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 An English female private investigator not located in London, not in some country village with a high death toll, but mostly in Liverpool. And with magic! There are humans with magic and magical creatures who can take human form. Which is where it gets so tricky, because magical creatures are sentient beings but they‘re not human. Lots of prejudice involved, which is sad but not surprising. Humans. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 Wow. I read my comments about trying this in audio format six years ago. I don‘t remember that at all. This time around I was so interested and entertained. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I enjoyed seeing Mr. Penumbra as a young man and learning how he became the sprightly senior citizen he became in Mr. Penumbra‘s 24-Hour Bookstore. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I‘ve enjoyed the first two books in the Kinsey Milhone series and I will continue to read them. They‘re not cozy mysteries but they‘re not particularly graphic. Just easygoing. I don‘t want to invest money in any more though. I‘m definitely appreciative of having a library card and access to LIBBY.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 There are things about this series that I like and things that leave me cold. If you‘re squeamish, this is not the series for you. I was surprised at the way the relationships changed and evolved. Some new characters were introduced and new places. 4.5 🌟

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you so much for all the lovely gifts. I‘d Rather Be Reading (while snuggling with my kitties) is pretty much my personal philosophy. I‘ve never read either of these authors so that‘s exciting too. My friend who‘s staying with me while she‘s dealing with some health issues also loves to read! We might have to flip a coin to see who gets which sleep mask and pillow spray set. So much love for #LitsyLove!

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you so much for the #LitsyLove. The suspense is killing me about the bee-wrapped packages, but that won‘t last much longer. Other goodies include awesome magnets, tea, animal print (I love animal prints) emery boards, seasonal bookmarks, and fun stickers. There‘ll be another post with the package reveal.

September #AuthorAMonth #ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I loved this book! I couldn‘t stop listening. The first couple of chapters were a bit rough because it felt like 1984 with kids. But I fell in love with the characters and their story. I can‘t wait for the second book to come out in just a few days. And TJ Klune has become a new “must” buy.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I‘m still enjoying my re-listen of stories set in the world of Mercy Thompson. A lot has happened in Mercy‘s life during the events of these books and Patricia Briggs is just getting started putting everyone through the wringer. I highly recommend this series.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 A sweet romantasy. Summer is a large animal veterinarian who also runs a sanctuary for abused animals. The animals in the sanctuary are known to escape and visit the ranch next door. The enemies to lovers trope is strong with this one, but I still enjoyed it.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I really enjoyed this. I don‘t know what genre it is. Fantasy? Magical Realism? And I don‘t care about labeling it. I just know I‘m glad I read it.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I‘ve enjoyed Nell‘s spinoff series from the Jane Yellowrock series and I‘m sorry that both series have had their finales. But I believe that a finite series is a good thing. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove In the World of Kate Daniels, Roman finally gets his own series! I‘ve always liked Roman and it‘s wonderful to finally get to know him better. And Roman may have finally met someone to take home to meet his family. Recommended.

#LiteraryCrew #ReadAway2024 Gruoch was fierce and strong enough to do whatever she had to do to protect herself and those she loved. In a world in which women had no rights or legal power she did things that she might have preferred not to do but her options were limited. Recommended.

This was my choice for August #TBRTarot - Choose a book… that is based on a true story/real person. This Pulitzer Prize winning novel is written by an author from my home state of West Virginia. It takes place during and after the War Between the States. West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863. The story mostly takes place at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia, a real place constructed from 1858 and 1881. It (cont)⬇️

#WeirdWordsWednesday

August #SundayBuddyRead #ReadAway2024 This was an excellent book filled with villains, no heroes, victims, and many people whose descriptions lie in the gray areas. Alice is a human being with conflicting emotions and behaviors. Those with whom she allies sometimes turn on her but she manages turn the tables every time. Others are fiercely loyal and Alice returns that loyalty. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This was another one of Amelia Peabody‘s fun archaeological adventures in Egypt which, of course, turned into a murder mystery. Amelia also is again hot on the trail of the Master Criminal. The last couple of chapters didn‘t verge on the edge of the ridiculous, the author took a cheerful leap in with both feet. I teetered back and forth between laughter and embarrassment at the silliness of it all.

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs Thanks for the tag, @Cuilin 1) Read 2) Laundry 3) Listen 4) Chocolate 5) Pen 6) Ask 7) Meet 8) Fowl 9) Online 10) Snowy @Andrew65 @RamsFan1963 @DieAReader Care to play?

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I still enjoy the humor. I love the friendships/family of choice between so many diverse people. I thought this was going to be the series finale with everyone getting their HEA. And then the author pulled the rug out from under me. So it isn‘t the series finale. I don‘t know the author‘s motives for handling things the way she did. Maybe she‘s milking the series down to the last penny. Maybe she‘s got some (cont)⬇️

#SheSaid I HAD to stop reading this book. The history of the millennias of women‘s lack of rights, especially when it comes to her body and health is extremely important. It‘s also extremely depressing and anxiety provoking. I was willing to read the entire book IF, at the end, actionable changes were proposed. So I skipped to the end to see if there were any such proposals made, and there weren‘t. Of course, we have to take charge of (cont) ⬇️

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This is another great entry in the Mercy Thompson series. But I‘d like to comment on the covers. In the books, Mercy has the coyote paw print tattoo below her navel and a few tattoos on her arms. The Mercy on the covers is “over-tatted.” But it‘s a minor quibble and doesn‘t stop me from loving the series.