Loved this book and also this morning‘s sunrise in the Irish Hills of Michigan—also known as out my front door. So happy to have found a new series to read, set in Provence to boot. The characters are terrific. No, Verlaque does not annoy me; he‘s complicated and real, as is Marine. The setting, food, wine: 😘 Five stars! I bought the next two from Thrift Books already and have two more on order. Highly recommend Thrift Books too, btw.

Loved this book, my very first Maeve. It was absolute comfort food, but wonderful stories and characters and TALES. I‘m headed back to the beginning of her canon now; don‘t know what took me so long,

Loved this book. Loved, loved, loved. Read in a state of suspended animation. Gorgeous writing, wonderful characters. And the plot! Had to read the final third really fast then twice slowly. Highly recommend. Literary Thriller, but so much more.

Eddy Charcoal says we all need deep breaths today. Keep on trudgin‘.

My library holds (left) came in the same day my BOMC order (bottom right) arrived. Next day: thrift books order. Reading has commenced! I enjoy the tagged series a lot. It‘s unusual in that our protagonist is a 50ish woman. Mother/daughter relationships, families and their secrets, all filtered through an Irish perspective. Really important to read the books in order though, and it‘s not romance per se. Tagged is book four.

Happy New Year, dear Litsy friends. May the road ahead travel well for all of us.

I like this series, and I‘m happy to say I finished book # 2 two years after starting it. In one night. Books are like that though, eh? The mix of supernatural + police procedural + solid characters and writing really works. Definitely recommend. And yes, it‘s set at Christmas.

I got this book last year in a Yule swap, and it was a terrific read. Victorian London, Christmas, the human spirit, and a good yarn. Solid pick, perfect holiday tale. Hope it was a good day for all, no matter how you celebrate.

What a lovely, lovely #jolabokaflod swap, @bookish_wookish ! The chocolates are open because I hit them last night. I love that they‘re local, and the book is perfect to sink into on these cold winter days. Here‘s to a wonderful bookmas indeed! @MaleficentBookDragon

Your #jolabokaflod package will arrive Friday via Amazon, @Kitta ! @MaleficentBookDragon

My Christmas window is ready for Christmas.

This book has been on my Christmas reading list for a couple of years. I just have a soft spot for Jenny, and Christmas by the book is the perfect companion. And shortbread: my mum made her own (she died a British subject, and was very proud of that to the end), and I‘m so pleased you included it. And coffee and a fabulous stocking: a truly lovely swap indeed. Thanks so much, @BookwormAHN ! @Avanders

Your #SSS swap packages have mailed @Laughterhp ! One was shipped from Amazon and one from me. Amazon should be there Friday and mine Saturday. @Avanders

Doing my swap cleanup today! This came a bit ago; it‘s my #SSS! I‘m not sure who to tag, but it‘s here safely and I can‘t wait to open it! @Avanders

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate. We had sunshine earlier this morning in Michigan! I‘m enjoying the tagged series a lot; I‘m on book number five. Great setting and characters, with tons of history and folklore about Brittany thrown in.

I‘ve had this Mary C Jane for a few years (I collect her books) but hadn‘t read it yet. It‘s near the top of my collection; fun story, terrific characters, evocative writing. Very comforting read, as are all her books.

Eddy Characula says Happy Halloween!

I‘m late opening my box of #FallingIntoFall goodies, but it‘s been a great Fall day filled with baseball, including a win by our beloved Detroit Tigers. That win had a heartpounding 9th inning, ye Gods. Suddenly I remembered my box! It‘s terrific! I LOVE biscotti, and the coffee and snacks are perfect. Seven year slip has been on my list and I can‘t wait to read both books. Thanks again, @Kshakal & happy Fall!

I‘m in! Getting my October list ready now! #SpookOWeen @TheSpineView

My #FallingIntoFall swap package has mailed! ETA is Thursday. @Chrissyreadit @Avanders #fffs

Where to start? My #staycation is starting out fantastic. I‘m watching the Olympics and enjoying my box of wonderment. The brooches are just an amazing touch; I collect them, and I don‘t have anything similar! The bag is perfection, I haven‘t read either book and can‘t wait to do so, and the towels! I‘ll use the swim towel soon, and the tea towels are so special. I use a new one weekly on my bedside table. @DinoMom @Chrissyreadit 🔽

I‘m just now opening my package, @DinoMom , and I so love the way you packaged it! WOW. I‘m on no. 3, and I‘m loving it all. @Chrissyreadit #StaycationSwap

It‘s shipped, @DinoMom ! Whew. The first item I ordered was the last to arrive. I had a ridiculously good time assembling this swap. I do hope you like it and it gets there in time (🤞). I‘ll track it and keep you posted. #StaycationSwap @Chrissyreadit

A wonderful summer read! I‘m immersed in books set in France at the moment, so it was perfect timing. Such a fun confection of a book. Bittersweet, with sadness (eg childhood abuse) at the beginning, but a feast for the senses overall and a love letter to Paris. Wonderful characters and history. 🧡🧡🧡🧡

-7 here in Michigan today, but we‘re warm from the glow of our first playoff win in 32 years! I‘m planning a day of reading and tea. I need to post challenge pics and my bingo card too. Stay warm, MittenLittens, and all who are in the track of blizzards and frigid temps!

I‘m in! My goal is to finish my “library shelf.” Some of the books I‘ve had for, uh, more than a year. I‘ll post a picture shortly!

“I might want something, you know. Are you going to read all day?”

My #FridayNightShare #MidWinterSolace read. It was a gift in a swap last year from @Chrissyreadit and I saved it for, you, guessed it, winter! I also included some of the goodies from @wanderinglynn that I received in today‘s swap because they didn‘t all fit in the other picture and I forgot the potion! #naturalitsyswap

Oh my, what a haul, @wanderinglynn !!! It must have taken me 10 minutes to open it all! The books are absolutely perfect. I‘m so happy to have them both. Everything is so well chosen: the dried apples, tea, chocolates, and coffee are all favorites. I was thinking earlier this week that I didn‘t have a “winter” mug per se, and just like that, I do. How cool is that! The midwinter wellness potion is great timing, and I love the candle.

My packages have arrived, and so have yours, @wanderinglynn ! 😉 Two of yours were delivered yesterday, and one today. I think I have all of yours? There are four here. I just looked at the note on the Amazon box, and that‘s so kind! I‘ll wait and open them all later once you have a chance to retrieve yours. #naturalitsyswap

It‘s shipped, @wanderinglynn ! And I had one more item directly shipped as well, so you‘ll be getting three packages. The first one should arrive tomorrow. I couldn‘t resist it; I had a wee theme going. #NaturalitsyWinterSolsticeSwap @jenniferw88

Both 1,000 pages plus. #SuperChunkster alert!!! 🚨 #ChunksterChallenge

I‘m in for the #ChunksterChallenge! The tagged book cones in at 832 pages. And there are many more in my library. Let‘s do this! @Amiable

Another dreary day in Michigan, but it‘s a new year and, well, I‘m trying to be hopeful. Hopeful and kind are my mantras this year. We both got sick before Christmas, which meant, among other things, that I lost the plot on my #NaturalLitsyWinterSolsticeSwap shopping, but I‘m getting it back! Two items have dropshipped to you, @wanderinglynn , and I‘ll get the rest out today. (The items are coming from Amazon and the ETA is Thursday).

I hope it was a lovely Christmas, Monday, and/or holiday for all. For us, it was happy NFC North Champions Day, even though it was grey and dreary. Enjoy your Christmas evening, littens.

I‘ve always loved winter cooking so much, and I also love Martha‘s cookbooks. This is my favorite. Not too fussy, but fancy enough for having friends over. Comfort food yet unique. #NaturalLitsy @Chrissyreadit @TheBookHippie #MidWinterSolace @jenniferw88 #FridayNightShare

What a fabulous package, @kspenmoll ! The candleholder is so perfect! I‘m going to cozy up with books tonight. As you can see, Eddy Charcoal is keeping me company. @wanderinglynn #YuleSwap @BookwormAHN

Well, we made it to the Solstice, littens. And it appears @vonnie862 ‘s package did too. After sitting (apparently?) in Brooklyn, Michigan for three days it started moving and last night it arrived at it‘s destination—delivery is predicted for today. As you can see, it‘s a green Solstice in Michigan. 55F predicted for the weekend. Happy Yule! #YuleSwap @wanderinglynn @BookwormAHN

Your #YuleSwap package shipped this week, @vonnie862 ! ETA is Tuesday. I‘ll track it to be sure it arrives safely. @wanderinglynn @Chrissyreadit @BookwormAHN

I have my Yule package! My packages should all arrive by Friday, then I‘ll ship mine around Monday. #YuleSwap

All signed up! Looking forward to the festive season and some fun swaps. Happy Sunday, all. @wanderinglynn @BookwormAHN #YuleSwap

Happy Halloween, dear littens! Amelia CatHeart ready for takeoff.

The tagged book is the first published work of Jane, whose editions I collect. I had never read it until this year. It‘s sweet as always, but the end was a surprise to me, given the years and attitudes during which Jane wrote. I shouldn‘t have been surprised though; I fell in love with her independent heroines and themes as a child, and her progressive attitudes. Lovely books.

What a terrific box, @Deblovestoread ! You nailed it. You found a beautiful tea towel I‘d never seen before; so lovely. The candle (reading & rain!), mug, and treats are perfect, and the book choices are splendid. I haven‘t read any of them, and the two not on my list sound particularly delightful. How did I miss The Reader? Can‘t wait to read them all. Thanks again, and what a wonderful swap, @wanderinglynn ! I love Litsy. 🧡 #HHS

I‘ve shipped my #HauntedHollowSwap package, @wanderinglynn ! Expected arrival is Friday. Above pic is on the way to our bffs for euchre yesterday. A gorgeous day. #HHS

1. Gotta be a cat. I‘ve had black cats over the years although ours right now is a torby.
2. The tagged book! Sweet and a favorite since childhood. I read it every year.
3. A little girl dressed as QEII walking the family corgis. Adorbs.
4. I love themed socks! Size 6.5.
5. I‘m just not a film person, but I do own Young Frankenstein.
6. Caramel corn! (with peanuts)

#HauntedHollowSwap

1. Friendly but maybe a little scary too
2. Witches
3. Hot chocolate
4. Classics with a dash of bestsellers
5. The great pumpkin
6. Chocolate all day!
7. Love Both!
8. Vampires
9. Hmm. A bit of both
10. Same as 9

#HHS #HHS23 #HauntedHollowSwap

I‘m in! I was mostly crap at my summer readathons, although I did read a fair amount. My big goal is to finish all the books set in the summer on my BookSpin list as well as both my BookSpin & DoubleSpin. #SummerEndReadathon @TheSpineView

Here‘s my September BookSpin list! I‘ve been doing it every month but I‘ve been a laggard about posting it. And I haven‘t done a stellar job of reading the BookSpin or the DoubleSpin either, but it‘s a new month and a new list!

Sunrise this morning, Day 1 of my favorite two weeks of the year! A tennis slam in my time zone. My overall favorite on the women‘s side is Iga, for so many reasons, including the fact that she‘s a huge reader. Nice piece that I thought I‘d share: https://www.vogue.com/article/iga-swiatek-tennis-interview-us-open-2023

I reread this book and it‘s sequel most summers, but I missed last year. Soooo sweet. Like my Eddy Charcoal. She‘s happy we got power back tonight after two days too. Even with the big generator it‘s a pain. And it‘s happening more; the planet is convulsing. But enough of that, look at that sweet face! And read a good book. 🧡

I‘m all signed up! So happy you‘re doing this again, @wanderinglynn !

What a perfect London WWII staycation, @BethM ! I was hoping you would choose that. And you chose one of the books I really wanted and one that sounds absolutely wonderful that wasn‘t on my radar—and the tote is fabulous. Another really fun swap, @Chrissyreadit and @DinoMom ! Litsy is the best. #staycation

What a night last night in Michigan! Hope all mitten littens are doing well. Our back forty is a little messy and we don‘t have power, but we *do* have the big generator running so it‘s all good. I‘m rereading the final Ruth Galloway since I read it in such a state of suspense last week. (Would I like the ending?) And I‘m ready to open my #staycation package tomorrow! It arrived Wednesday, and mine was delivered yesterday.

A Michigan August sunrise pic for your morning. I finished the Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway series last week and now I‘m rereading the final two books because I read them in a state of suspense, afraid of how it would end. But they ended perfectly inmho, and now I‘m going to savor them. The penultimate book is set during the pandemic and it‘s terrific. The mystery, the setting, but most of all the characters. ☕️ and a book for my morning.