karenmarie's reading in 2023 - part IX

Welcome to my ninth thread of Two Thousand and Twenty-Three!

Bibliomaniac, bibliophile, lectiophiliac, bookworm. Four ways to describe me and books.

The Good: Family, friends, kitties, books, in constantly-rotating order. Jenna being home is wonderful although I know living at home chaffs her and she’d rather have her own apartment and a kitty or two. Almost 7 months post left knee replacement surgery. The Friends of the Library book sale is over, so I can relax a bit.

The Bad and the Sad: Covid seems to be on the uptick again. Ukraine is still fighting for its survival as an independent country. I’m distraught that there are so many state-sanctioned evil things going on in so many countries in the world, including ours. Women’s rights in the US are under continuing and escalating attack. Where do men come off trying to control women’s bodies? Racism is alive and well and able to easily organize on the Internet. Why has this poison not yet been eradicated? The haves keep wanting more and more and the have nots keep getting shafted more and more. Why don’t people here in the US vote with their pocketbooks instead of extreme religious beliefs? We’re currently in a (fortunately so far) inactive hurricane season. I’m still pretty much avoiding the news these days, frankly.

The Ugly: The Gang of Psychos is the ugliest thing going on in this country right now.

Like everybody else who gets to 70, I think “How did I get to be old?” Still trying to figure out if I want to visit Montana, and/or northern California to visit my aunt/uncle, or just forget it for this year.

Here’s what I still feel about being retired after almost 8 years:

It’s Killer Diller! It’s the humdinger. It’s also dilly! It’s the Lollapalooza. It’s the lobster’s dress shirt! It's the snail's ankles. It’s bonaroo! It’s the berries! It’s aces, snazzy, hot, smooth, sweet, swell, keen, and cool. It’s also the fox’s socks, the cat’s pajamas, the bee’s knees, the eel’s hips, the monkey’s eyebrows, the sardine’s whiskers, the gnat’s whistle. It's the razzmatazz and the chipmunk's cheeks. It’s jake, and it’s hotsy-totsy.

I read and am a charter member of the Redbud and Beyond Book Club, started in 1997. Here’s the schedule for 2023-2024:

Aug 23 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Sep 23 - Indigo Field by Marjorie Hudson
Oct 23 - Shy by Max Porter
Nov 23 - An Immense World by Ed Yong
Dec 23 - Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Jan 24 - The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
Feb 24 - Solito by Javier Zamora
Mar 24 - The Scapegoat by Daphne DuMaurier
Apr 24 - The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash
May 24 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

I happily turned over the reins of the Presidency of the Friends in July and am Immediate Past President. I’ll stay on the Board for however long the next President serves, then completely leave the Board and just stay on the Book Sale Team. The Book Sale Team meets on Tuesdays to sort donations for the spring and fall book sales.

I have been married to Bill for 32 years and am mother to Jenna, who turned 30 in early August. The three of us live in our own little corner of paradise on 8 acres in central North Carolina USA. We have someone who's got her horses here, but it may not work out. There are electrical problems at the barn that may be prohibitive to fix at this time and some real weirdness from her and her boyfriend.

We have three kitties. Inara – 16, Zoe – 5, Wash – 4.
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Jenna, 2011.
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My goal last year was 75 books, based on what I thought would be a tough reading year because of my health. Ha. I read over 300 books, mostly on my Kindle, mostly using Kindle Unlimited. They were, as my daughter calls them, smut, and my friend Karen in Montana calls porn. *shrugs* I really, really enjoy reading this subgenre of contemporary fiction/romance and will continue until it no longer interests me. This coming year’s goal is back to 100, but I’ve already read 285 books, am still enthralled with contemporary fiction/romance – smut - with no end in sight. I’m going to leave the 100 book goal as is.

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New Year’s Resolutions – 2023 – I think I’ll just posting this all year and make sure I read and update it!

Health:

Lose a minimum of 20 pounds.
Work out for cardio health 3 times a week when appropriate given potential knee surgeries. Have restarted 3x per week treadmill.
Get knee replacement surgery (ies?) and assiduously follow through with all PT and other requirements. First one, left knee, done.
Reduce red meat consumption and increase salmon and other healthy fish consumption. More chicken more frequently, salmon about every week and a half.
Continue low-sodium lifestyle and gradually work to reduce sugared items to 2-3 times a week.

Reading:

Read 5% nonfiction this year if continuing with startling numbers of contemporary fiction - i.e., romances, otherwise 10% if the romance trend tapers off.
Inventory all book shelves in house, ruthlessly cull that which I won’t read/re-read and which Jenna won’t want when I’m gone. ~123 shelves = 10/month.
Finish The Federalist Papers, Pilgrim, re-start and finish Run With the Horsemen, a gift from Peggy.
Read A Brief Introduction to the New Testament by Bart D. Ehrman with friend Karen in Montana. Read The Making of Biblical Womanhood with friend Karen and streamsong, both in Montana.

Maybe read Don Juan by George Gordon, Lord Byron, with Peggy.

House:

Get the Parlour back under control by making a decision about each thing in the room and immediately following through properly: keep and store, toss, donate.

Inter-personal:

Be in better touch with family and friends. I tend to isolate when stressed.

General:

As Judy says, pay attention.
Express gratitude for what I have - family, friends, intangibles and tangibles - every day.

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2023. I have high hopes for familial stability with Jenna living at home and socking money away for the eventual move to an apartment of her own. The new normal for Covid will, I hope, be continued vigilance and an eventual regimen of yearly vaccines as we do with flu. With politics, who knows, but I hope the Democrats continue to keep the Gang of Psychos in check as much as possible and the world does not implode via Putin/nuclear/Ukraine, Kim Jung Un in North Korea ditto nuclear, and the Middle East with Israel and Iran ditto nuclear. See a potentially devastating theme here?

Books Read - last year was 324

January
1. Glamorous by Romeo Alexander 12/31/22 1/1/23 202 pages Kindle
2. Commitment Issues by Ali Ryecart 1/1/23 1/2/23 372 pages Kindle
3. Take My Breath Away by Ali Ryecart 1/2/23 1/3/23 395 pages Kindle
4. Out of the Shadows by Ali Ryecart 1/3/23 1/4/23 364 pages Kindle
5. Loose Connection by Ali Ryecart 1/4/23 1/5/23 354 pages Kindle
6. Corporate Bodies by Ali Ryecart 1/5/23 1/6/23 318 pages Kindle
**abandoned Release by Ali Ryecart** 106 pages
**abandoned Time for Love by Laura N. Andrews** 84 pages
**abandoned Imperfect by Ali Ryecart** 52 pages
7. Hotline by Quinn Anderson 1/6/23 1/6/23 276 pages Kindle
8. Alaska by Cate Ashwood 1/6/23 1/7/23 182 pages Kindle
9. Bishop Ridge by Cate Ashwood 1/7/23 1/8/23 187 pages Kindle
10. Copper Creek by Cate Ashwood 1/8/23 1/8/23 198 pages Kindle
11. Bet on Love by A.F. Zoelle and Ariella Zoelle 1/9/23 1/10/23 178 pages 2020
**abandoned First Comes Marriage by Shira Anthony** 145 pages
12. Ex-Factor by CJ Bishop 1/10/23 1/10/23 22 pages Kindle 2022
13. Hot Boss by Scarlet Blackwell 1/10/23 1/11/23 110 pages Kindle 2021
14. The Mechanic and the Surgeon by Steve Milton 1/11/23 1/11/23 115 pages Kindle 2015
**abandoned Captured by Scarlet Blackwell** 82 pages
**abandoned Ironhearted by Cate Ashwood** 156 pages
15. The Best Man Problem by Jace Hadley 1/11/23 1/12/23 248 pages Kindle
16. Show Me Wonders by Riley Nash 1/13/23 1/14/23 327 pages Kindle
17. Hold me Under by Riley Nash 1/14/23 1/15/23 336 pages Kindle
18. Christmas Special by Riley Nash 1/15/23 1/16/23 261 pages Kindle
19. Gruff Touch by R. Cayden 1/16/23 1/17/23 170 pages Kindle
20. Off Limits by Riley Hart 1/18/23 1/18/23 265 pages Kindle
21. Trusting Tanner by Nicky James 1/19/23 1/20/23 197 pages Kindle
22. Not So Nice by Emma Lyon 1/20/23 1/21/23 215 pages Kindle
23. Reunion by Lynn Van Dorn 1/21/23 1/22/23 312 pages Kindle
24. Rebound by Lynn Van Dorn 1/23/23 1/23/23 381 pages Kindle
25. Be My Mistake by Lynn Van Dorn 1/23/23 1/23/23 92 pages Kindle
26. Wild By Nature by Lynn Van Dorn 1/23/23 1/23/23 134 pages Kindle
27. Damage Control by Lynn Van Dorn 1/24/23 1/24/23 426 pages Kindle
28. Delicious by Stella Starling 1/25/23 1/26/23 249 pages Kindle
**abandoned, 8 books** 693 pages
29. Sem by Cora Rose 1/27/23 1/28/23 276 pages Kindle
30. Whit by Cora Rose 1/28/23 1/29/23 290 pages Kindle
31. Emery by Cora Rose 1/29/23 1/29/23 294 pages Kindle
32. Luke by Cora Rose 1/30/23 1/30/23 276 pages Kindle
33. Lex by Cora Rose 1/30/23 1/31/23 233 pages Kindle
**abandoned Save Me by Beck Grey** 86 pages

February
34. Hard Target by Kelly Fox 2/1/23 2/1/23 246 pages Kindle
35. Full Contact by Kelly Fox 2/1/23 2/2/23 206 pages Kindle
36. Most Wanted by Kelly Fox 2/2/23 2/4/23 220 pages Kindle
37. Goodnight by Kelly Fox 2/4/23 2/5/23 264 pages Kindle
38. Heart of the Steal by Roan Parrish and Avon Gale 2/5/23 2/5/23 296 pages Kindle
39. In The Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish 2/5/23 2/6/22 428 pages Kindle
40. Out of Nowhere by Roan Parrish 2/6/23 2/7/23 316 pages Kindle
41. Straight to the Heart by Lynn van Dorn 2/8/23 2/8/23 302 pages Kindle
42. The Loner by Riley Hart 2/8/23 2/9/23 253 pages Kindle
43. The Husband Hoax by Saxon James 2/9/23 2/10/23 278 pages Kindle
44. The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith 11/1/22 2/11/23 audiobook 32.75 hours
45. Pretty Obsessed by J.R. Gray 2/10/23 2/11/23 350 pages Kindle
46. Pretty Toxic by J.R. Gray 2/11/23 2/12/23 228 pages Kindle
**abandoned May the Best Man Win by J.R. Gray, Kate Hawthorne** 116 pages
47. Just Want More by Evelyn Jeannie Hall 2/13/23 2/13/23 203 pages Kindle
48. The New Hire by A.W. Scott 2/14/23 2/14/23 116 pages Kindle
**abandoned Ben's Boss by K.C. Wells** 231 pages
**abandoned Powder and Pavlova by Jay Hogan** 99 pages
**abandoned The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde** 18 pages
**abandoned Sawyer by J.J. Harper
49. Gus by J.J. Harper 2/15/23 2/15/23 120 pages Kindle
50. Pushing the Limits by Riley Hart 2/16/23 2/16/23 322 pages Kindle
51. Giving Chase by Riley Hart 2/17/23 2/17/23 355 pages Kindle
52. Murphy's Law by Riley Hart 2/17/23 2/18/23 343 pages Kindle
53. Hard Knox by Riley Hart 2/18/23 2/18/23 358 pages Kindle
54. Griff's Place by Riley Hart 2/18/23 2/19/23 353 pages Kindle
55. Beautiful and Terrible Things by Riley Hart 2/19/23 2/19/23 386 pages Kindle
56. Snowed in With Benefits by Misha Horne 2/20/23 2/20/23 422 pages Kindle
57. Working Out the Kinks by Misha Horne 2/20/23 2/21/23 362 pages Kindle
58. Just a Bit Bossy by Alessandra Hazard 2/21/23 2/22/23 251 pages Kindle
59. So Into You by S.E. Harmon 2/22/23 2/23/23 312 pages Kindle
60. Stay With Me by S.E. Harmon 2/23/23 2/24/23 272 pages Kindle
61. Chrysalis by S.E. Harmon 2/24/23 2/24/23 238 pages Kindle
**abandoned Texas King by A.R King** 150 pages ugh. got weirdly kinky. I like kink, but not this kink.
62. Charming Him by Louisa Masters 2/25/23 2/26/23 183 pages Kindle
**abandoned The Last Favor by Meg Harding** 15 pages
**abandoned Until You Say Otherwise by Kate Hawthorne** 120 pages
63. Fake It 'Til You Make It by Louisa Masters 2/25/23 2/26/23 39 pages Kindle
64. Eurotour by Jaberona BL 2/26/23 2/26/23 95 pages Kindle
65. Proud by Tatum West 2/26/23 2/27/23 231 pages Kindle
**abandoned Not Used to Cute by Becca Seymour** 40
66. The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths 2/27/23 2/28/23 357 pages hardcover
67. 1066 by Professor Jennifer Paxton 2/14/23 2/28/23 audiobook 3 hours

March
68. Business As Usual by Alison Hendricks 2/28/23 3/1/23 219 pages Kindle
69. A Kind of Romance 3/1/23 3/2/23 by Lane Hayes 270 pages Kindle
70. Honeytrap by Aster Glenn Gray 3/2/23 3/3/23 336 pages Kindle
71. Honestly Yours by Jaime Reese 3/3/23 3/4/23 364 pages Kindle
72. The Marriage Contract by Aja Foxx 3/4/23 3/4/23 254 pages Kindle
**abandoned Out by Tatum West** 167 pages
**abandoned Forgotten:Luca by Sloan Kennedy** 116
73. Rare by Briar Prescott 3/5/23 3/5/23 302 pages Kindle
74. The Happy List by Briar Prescott 3/5/23 3/6/23 278 pages Kindle
75. The Dating Experiment by Briar Prescott 3/6/23 3/6/23 268 pages Kindle
**abandoned The Terror of History: Mystics, Heretics, and Witches in the Western Tradition** by Professor Teofilo F. Ruiz** .45 hours
**abandoned The Underdog by Briar Prescott** 22 pages
**abandoned Heal My Heart by HQ Kingsley** 24 pages
**abandoned The Long Game by Samantha Wayland** 14 pages
**abandoned Forgotten: Luca by Sloane Kennedy** 100 pages
76. The Inconvenient Love by Briar Prescott 3/7/23 258 pages Kindle
77. Dirty Forty by Mia Monroe 3/8/23 3/9/23 236 pages Kindle
78. His Touch by Elena London 3/18/23 3/18/23 55 pages Kindle
79. Redeem by Christina Lee 3/18/23 3/21/23 238 pages Kindle
80. Undone by Christina Lee 3/21/23 3/23/23 255 pages Kindle
81. Beautiful Chaos by Riley Hart and Devon McCormack 3/24/23 3/25/23 241 pages Kindle
82. Love Me Louder by Christina Lee 3/25/23 3/25/23 236 pages Kindle 2018
83. The Romantic by Riley Hart 3/26/23 3/27/23 270 pages Kindle
84. Destructive Relations by Hayden Hall 3/27/23 3/27/23 244 pages Kindle
85. Pretty Wreck by J.R. Gray 3/28/23 3/31/23 282 pages Kindle

April
86. Colin by Cora Rose 3/31/23 4/1/23 242 pages Kindle
87. Hard for Tristan by Brady Fox 4/1/23 4/2/23 86 pages Kindle
88. Roommate by Sarina Bowen 4/2/23 4/3/23 297 pages Kindle
89. Reaching Reed by Cora Rose and Nicole Dykes 4/3/23 4/4/23 264 pages Kindle
90. Filthy Sweet by R. Cayden 4/4/23 4/5/23 216 pages Kindle
91. Givers by Casey Cox 4/5/23 4/6/23 281 pages Kindle
92. The Unmasking of Kelly James by Belle Chapin 4/6/23 4/7/23 224 pages Kindle
**abandoned The Faker Rulebook by Baylin Crow** 77 pages
**abandoned Family Rules by Jacki James** 78 pages
**abandoned Moving On by Felice Stevens** 210 pages
**abandoned Filthy and the Beast by R. Cayden** 100 pages
**abandoned Thief of Hearts by K. Evan Coles** 17 pages
**abandoned Hired: Hadley by Nora Phoenix** 112 pages
93. Pretty Things by Devon McCormack 4/7/23 4/8/23 342 pages Kindle
94. The Night Screams by Devon McCormack 4/8/23 4/9/23 203 pages Kindle
95. #ROYAL by Devon McCormack 4/9/23 4/10/23 263 pages Kindle
96. Snowblind by Eli Easton 4/10/23 4/11/23 114 pages Kindle
97. The Trouble with Tony by Eli Easton 4/11/23 4/11/23 111 pages Kindle
98. Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews 4/11/23 4/12/23 263 pages Kindle 2016
99. Honeymoon for One by Keira Andrews 4/12/13 4/13/2023 269 pages Kindle 2018
100. In Case of Emergency by Keira Andrews 4/13/23 4/13/23 155 pages Kindle 2017
101. Dearest Milton James by N.R. Walker 4/13/23 4/14/23 218 pages Kindle 2021
102. 2 Dead Fish Named Kevin by L.A. Witt 4/14/23 4/14/23 84 pages Kindle 2023
103. Surprise Groom by D.J. Jamison 4/14/23 4/15/23 312 pages Kindle 2019
104. To The Moon and Back by N.R. Walker 4/15/23 4/16/23 209 pages Kindle 2023
105. Prince of Lies by Lucy Lennox 4/16/23 4/16/23 298 pages Kindle 2023
106. IRL: In Real Life by Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox 4/16/23 4/17/23 267 pages Kindle 2019
107. Say You'll Be Nine by Lucy Lennox 4/17/23 4/17/23 265 pages Kindle 2020
108. Virgin Flyer by Lucy Lennox 4/17/23 4/18/23 254 pages Kindle 2020
109. Facing West by 4/18/23 4/18/23 4/19/23 271 pages Kindle 2017
110. Hearts Colliding by Ali Ryecart 4/19/23 4/19/23 310 pages Kindle 2023
111. Gideon by RJ Scott and Meredith Russell 4/20/23 4/21/23 190 pages Kindle 2020
112. Cover Me by L.A. Witt 4/21/23 4/22/23 386 pages Kindle 2014
113. Hitman vs Hitman by Cari Z 4/22/23 4/22/23 272 pages Kindle 2020
**abandoned Attraction by Kelly Fox** 120 pages
114. Takeover by Anna Zabo 4/23/23 4/24/23 230 pages Kindle 2021
**abandoned Just Business by Anna Zabo** 130 pages
115. Hard for my Boss by Daryl Banner 4/24/23 4/24/23 380 pages Kindle 2017
**abandoned Jerk: An ABCs of Love by Daryl Banner** 140 pages
116. The Intern by Serena Akeroyd 4/25/23 4/25/23 270 pages Kindle 2020
117. Revenge is Sweet by Felice Stevens 4/25/23 4/26/23 273 pages Kindle 2023
118. Make Me Fall by Riley Nash 4/26/23 4/28/23 296 pages Kindle 2022
119. Deadly Lover: Special Edition by Jocelynn Drake 4/28/23 4/29/23 338 pages Kindle 2021
**abandoned The Marriage Runaway by Aja Foxx** 120 pages
120. And the Best Man Ran Away with the Groom by Isla Olsen 4/29/23 4/30/23 185 pages Kindle

May
121. List Me With Your Best Shot by Isla Olsen 4/30/23 5/1/23 205 pages Kindle 2023
122. Friendly Fire by Cari Z 5/1/23 5/2/23 228 pages Kindle
123. The Art of Possession by Cari Z 5/2/23 5/3/23 171 pages Kindle
124. The Intern by Ally Porter 5/3/23 5/3/23 59 pages Kindle 2021
125. Tate by D Alex 5/3/23 5/4/23 138 pages Kindle 2021
126. Soul to Keep by Garrett Leigh 5/4/23 5/5/23 238 pages Kindle 2018 Jamie and Marc
127. Christmas on Firefly Hill by Garrett Leigh 5/5/23 5/5/23 188 pages Kindle 2022
128. Angels in the City by Garrett Leigh 5/5/23 5/6/23 254 pages Kindle 2020
129. How to Catch a Prince by Ana Ashley 5/7/23 5/8/23 230 pages Kindle 2019
**abandoned No Good Mitchell by Riley Hart and Devon McCormack** 203 pages
130. Checking Him Out by Debbie McGowan 5/9/23 5/10/23 208 pages Kindle 2014
131. Up for the Challenge by Riley Hart and Devon McCormack 5/10/23 5/12/23 358 pages Kindle 2017
**abandoned Felix and the Prince by Lucy Lennox** 148 pages Why, oh why, did I think another Prince of a small European Country and an American would work?
132. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith 3/1/23 5/12/23 16 hours audio book
133. Addicted to Ellis D by S.E. Harmon 5/12/23 5/13/23 320 pages Kindle 2023
134. Misconduct by Lynn Van Dorn 5/13/23 5/14/23 198 pages Kindle 2023
135. Not That Complicated by Isabel Murray 5/14/23 5/15/23 283 pages Kindle 2022
136. The Trouble With Trying to Date a Murderer 5/15/23 5/16/23 167 pages Kindle 2022
137. Not So Fake by Emma Lyon 5/17/23 5/18/23 Kindle 187 pages 2021
**abandoned Midnight Ash by Ana Ashley** 183 pages
**abandoned Sugar and Sawdust by Debbie McGowan** 33 pages
138. Picking Up the Pieces by Frey Ortega 5/18/23 5/19/23 118 pages Kindle
139. The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey 5/16/23 5/20/23 254 pages Kindle
140. The Realist by Riley Hart 5/19/23 5/19/23 235 pages Kindle 2023 Marcus and Kai
**abandoned His Personal Assistant by LJ Harris** 120 pages
141. Edge of Living by HL Day 5/20/23 5/21/23 250 pages Kindle 2018
142. Five Night Stand by HL Day 5/21/23 5/22/23 151 pages Kindle 2022
143. Taking Love's Lead by HL Day 5/22/23 5/22/23 248 pages Kindle 2018 Zack and Edgar
144. Gaycation in Paradise by Ariella Zoelle 5/23/23 5/24/23 236 pages Kindle 2021 Rook and Aldo
145. Cinderella in the Sheets by Reece Pine 5/24/23 5/24/23 131 pages Kindle Presley and Louis 2018
146. Always MJ by SJD Peterson 5/24/23 5/24/23 49 pages Kindle Matty and Jared 2012
**The Gift of Strength by M.A. Innes** 126 pages
147. Kept in the Dark by HL Day 5/25/23 5/26/23 202 pages Kindle Dean Justin 2018
148. A Temporary Situation by HL Day 5/26/23 5/26/23 249 pages Kindle 2018 Tristan and Dominic
149. Time for a Change by HL Day 5/26/23 5/27/23 249 pages Kindle Michael and Sam 2018
150. Temporary Insanity by HL Day 5/27/23 5/28/23 258 pages Kindle 2019 Paul and Indy
151. Christmas Riches by HL Day 5/28/23 5/28/23 156 pages Kindle 2019
**abandoned Shai by HL Night** 146 pages
152. Not So Silent Night by HL Day 5/29/23 5/29/23 222 pages Kindle Ferris and Xander 2021
153. Exposed by HL Day 5/29/23 5/30/23 370 pages Kindle Tate and X 2020

June
154. A Flighty Fake Boyfriend by Z.A. Maxfield 5/31/23 6/1/23 250 pages Kindle
155. A Much Younger Man by Z.A. Maxfield 6/1/23 6/1/23 254 pages Kindle 2020 Beck and Lindy
**abandoned The Office Nemesis Calamity by Hayden Hall** 186 pages
156. Trick Play by Eden Finley 6/2/23 6/3/23 316 pages Kindle Matt and Noah 2018
157. Beautifully Stolen by Charity Parkerson 6/3/23 6/4/23 146 pages Kindle Brett and Roman 2020
158. Sometimes You Just Know by Bill VanPatten 6/4/23 6/4/23 258 pages Kindle Arnie and Peter 2022
159. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith 5/13/23 6/5/23 17.5 hours audiobook 2014
160. Forrest's #Win by Jennifer Cody 6/4/23 6/6/23 221 pages Kindle Forrest and Blake 2021
161. Poison Hearts by Jennifer Cody 6/6/23 6/7/23 85 pages Kindle Orlando and Shannon 2023
162. The Best Men by Lauren Blakely and Sarina Bowen 6/7/23 6/8/23 326 pages Kindle Asher and Mark 2022
**abandoned A Guy Walks Into My Bar by Lauren Blakely** 138 pages
163. Reckless Roulette by Alice Winters 6/8/23 6/9/23 147 pages Kindle Kade and Len 2023
164. Dealer of Secrets by Davidson King 6/9/23 6/10/23 143 pages Kindle Zaire and Carter 2023
165. Leave No Trace by Michelle Frost and Sammi Cee 6/10/23 6/10/23 79 pages Kindle Trace and Kol 2023
166. Atlas by Eden Finley 6/10/23 6/11/23 257 pages Kindle Atlas and Lemon 2023
167. Snow Falling by Davidson King 6/11/23 6/11/23 236 pages Kindle Snow and Christopher 2017
168. Bullets & Butterflies by Maz Maddox 6/11/23 6/12/23 147 pages Kindle Liam and Cisco 2023
169. Smash & Grab by Maz Maddox 6/12/23 6/13/23 180 pages Kindle Dalton and Simon 2020
170. Sink or Swim by Maz Maddox 6/13/23 6/14/23 220 pages Kindle Jackson and Baha 2021
171. King & Queen by Maz Maddox 6/14/23 6/15/23 219 Kindle Royal and Blaise 2021
172. Lost in Amber by Maz Maddox 6/15/23 6/16/23 219 pages Kindle Yu and Lance 2022
173. Love for the Reaper by Charlie Cochet 6/16/23 6/16/23 80 pages Kindle Dev and Remy 2023
174. Heart Thief by Skylar Sweeney 6/16/23 6/17/23 282 pages Kindle Mason and Rex Blood Brothers 1 2022
175. Power Plays by Tricia Owens 5/28/23 6/17/23 6/17/23 117 pages Kindle Max and Ethan 2018
176. The Bucket List by Tricia Owens 6/18/23 6/18/23 110 pages Kindle Gabriel and Quinn 2016
177. Not So Innocent by Emma Lyon 6/18/23 6/18/23 201 pages Kindle Ethan and Holden 2021 The Real Thing 2
178. Not So Perfect by Emma Lyon 6/18/23 6/19/23 192 pages Kindle Shane and Quinn 2021 The Real Thing 4
179. The Guardian by Tricia Owens 6/19/23 6/20/23 332 pages Kindle Hayden/Dorian and Thomas 2017
180. The Holiday Hookup by Baylin Crow 6/20/23 6/20/23 57 pages Kindle Finn and Hunter 2021
181. Sweetest Hate by Baylin Crow 6/21/23 6/21/23 216 pages Kindle Arsen and Kellan 2021 Guys Next Door 2
182. Booklover by J.E. Birk 6/21/23 6/21/23 240 pages Kindle Jamie and Briar Vino and Veritas 7 2021
183. Mastering the Muse by Peter Styles 6/22/23 6/23/23 137 pages Kindle Arlo and Walter The Billionaire's Consort 1 2019
184. The Date Mistake by Joelle Lynne 6/24/23 6/25/23 296 pages Kindle Trevor and Aaron 2023 standalone
185. Nerdy Talk by Joelle Lynne 6/25/23 6/25/23 236 pages Kindle Micah and Lucas 2022 standalone
186. Wish Me Home by Joelle Lynne 6/25/23 6/25/23 167 pages Kindle Emmett and Cody 2022 Home for the Holidays 2
187. Hired for the Holidays by Raquel Riley 6/25/23 6/26/23 134 pages Kindle Jones and Adam Hearts for Hire 5
188. Faking It by Ali Ryecart 6/26/23 6/26/23 288 pages Kindle Toby and Ben Rent Boys 2
**abandoned Love, Me by Quinn Ward** 57 pages
**abandoned Shared Custody by J.P. Oliver and Peter Styles** 45 pages
189. Ace in the Hole by J.P. Oliver and Peter Styles 6/28/23 6/28/23 178 pages Kindle Oliver and Leo 2018
190. Before You Go by S.J. Conner 6/28/23 6/29/23 139 pages Kindle Leo and Anthony 2022 Holiday MM Romance 1
191. Adam by Reese Winters 6/29/23 6/29/23 69 pages Kindle Adam and Ronin Cockpit Club 1 2020
192. The Billionaire's Proposal by Reese Winters 6/29/23 6/29/23 75 pages Kindle Sebastian and Jude 2020
193. Corporate Merger by Lance Abrusco 6/29/23 6/29/23 41 pages Kindle Jack and Cameron 2015
**abandoned Into the North by Amber Huxley** 200 pages
**abandoned Fighting For You by J.P. Oliver** 60 pages
**abandoned Paladin by Onley James** 262 pages

July
194. Captive Hearts by Ali Ryecart 6/30/23 7/1/23 296 pages Kindle Dashiell and Billy Deviant Hearts 1 2018
195. LOL by Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox 7/1/23 7/2/23 277 pages Kindle Scotty and Roman After Oscar 2 2019
196. The Step Bro Situation by Jesse H Reign 7/2/23 7/3/23 321 pages Kindle Luke and Jessie The Situationship Series 1 2023
197. How to Say I Do by Tal Bauer 7/3/23 7/5/23 401 pages Kindle Noël and Wyatt 2023
198. Sainted by Jesse H Reign 7/5/23 7/6/23 277 pages Kindle Saint and Damon (Demon) 2023
199. The List by Felice Stevens 7/6/23 7/8/23 267 pages Kindle Win and Eliot Second Chances 1 2021
200. Stick to the Script by Lane Hayes 7/8/23 7/8/23 88 pages Kindle Wyatt and Jamie Ace's Wild 13 2019
201. The Real Baxter by Lane Hayes 7/8/23 7/9/23 344 pages Kindle Sebastian and Trent The Baxter Chronicles 1 2022
202. Spreadsheets by Jaclyn Quinn 7/9/23 7/9/23 88 pages Kindle Griffin and Jeremy Ace's Wild 8 2019
203. Baxter's Right Hand Man by Lane Hayes 7/9/23 7/10/23 269 pages Kindle Pierce and Lorenzo The Baxter Chronicles 2 2023
204. Up to No Good by Annabella Michaels 7/10/23 7/10/23 60 pages Kindle Miles and Cole Ace's Wild 11 2019
205. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith 6/6/23 7/11/2023 18 hours audiobook 2015
206. Explicit Transactions by Hayden Hall 7/10/23 7/11/23 215 pages Kindle Luca and Austin Destined to Fail 3 2023
207. Rent Boy by Peter Styles and J.P. Oliver 7/11/23 7/12/23 126 pages Kindle Evan and Jacob 2018
208. The Right Wrong Number by Katie Warren 7/12/23 7/12/23 240 pages Kindle Julian and Liam 2023
**abandoned Up In Flames by Eden Finley and Saxon James ** 240 pages
209. The Jerk Next Door by Mia Monroe 7/13/23 7/14/23 190 pages Kindle Reign and Ace 2021
210. The Easy Way by May Archer 7/14/23 7/15/23 266 pages Kindle Cort and Cam 2017 The Way Home 1
211. I Do (Not) Anni Lee 7/15/23 7/15/23 244 pages Kindle Jake and Trevor 2023
212. See Me by CeCe Bennett 7/16/23 7/17/23 84 pages Kindle Ben and Oliver Requited 1 2023
213. Trained by the Boss by Charlotte Storm 7/17/23 7/18/23 184 pages Kindle Aiden and Griffin 2018
**abandoned Unfortunate by Nicole Dykes** 164 pages
214. Marry Me by Mia Monroe 7/18/23 7/19/23 230 pages Kindle Briar and Jude Tattoos and Temptation 1 2020
215. Not So Sincerely, Yours by A.M. Johnson 7/19/23 7/20/23 442 pages Kindle Ethan and Anders 2021
216. Laws of Attraction by Peter Styles 7/20/23 721 137 pages Kindle Tom and Jay 2016
217. Until You by Briar Prescott 7/20/23 7/22/23 320 pages Kindle Jude and Blake 2023
**abandoned Mr. Big Shot by Isla Olsen** 88 pages
218. My Boss With Benefits by Casey Cox 7/22/23 7/23/23 Kindle Miles and Kyler Elysian Escapades 2
219. The Long Way by May Archer 7/15/23 7/23/23 Kindle Damon and Cain 2017 The Way Home 2
220. Wrong Message, Right Valentine by Romeo Alexander 7/23/23 7/23/23 Kindle Sebastian and Trevor
221. Right-Hand Man by T.S. Ankney 7/23/23 7/23/23 Kindle Eli and Dante 2022 Hot Takes 1
222. Asking for a Friend by JJ Harper 7/23/23 7/24/23 Kindle Lando and Hesketh 2023
**abandoned Beau Pair by Rhys Everly** 128 pages
**abandoned The Unravelling of Julian Gray by Belle Chapin** 134 pages
223. The Kiss of His Blade by Romeo Alexander 7/25/23 7/27/23 387 pages Kindle Dane and Tristan 2022
224. Always the Groomsman by Raleigh Ruebins 7/27/23 7/27/23 253 pages Kindle Zane and Sebastian 2018
225. To Love and Protect by Romeo Alexander 7/27/23 7/28/23 330 pages Kindle Marcus and Adrian 2022
226. Help Me Remember by Romeo Alexander 7/28/23 7/29/23 277 pages Kindle Eric and Dylan 2022
227. Cupid Hates Me by Romeo Alexander 7/29/23 7/29/23 111 pages Kindle Brendan and Ryan 2020
228. Escort by Romeo Alexander 7/29/23 7/30/23 189 pages Kindle Jacob and Max 2021 Greenford 1
229. The Case of the Disappearing Hero by Romeo Alexander 7/30/23 7/30/23 118 pages Kindle Trevor and Cole 2019
**abandoned Stubbed Toes and Dating Woes by Dahlia Donovan** 38 pages

August
230. Distraction by Kelly Fox 7/31/23 8/1/23 248 pages Kindle Hopper and Liam Mobsters and Billionaires 4 2022
231. An Unexpected Kind of Love by Hayden Stone 8/2/23 8/2/23 277 pages Kindle Aubrey and Blake When Snow Falls 1 2021
**abandoned Romantic Rescue by Blake Allwood** 99 pages
232. Curious by R.G. Alexander 8/3/23 8/3/23 232 pages Kindle Jeremy and Owen The Finn Factor 1 2015
233. Liar's Gambit by KellyFox 8/3/23 8/4/23 90 pages Kindle Nigel and Wilhelm The Elite 5 2023
234. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall 8/4/23 8/6/23 425 pages Kindle Luc and Oliver London Calling 1 2020
235. Obsession by Beth Laycock 8/6/23 8/6/23 269 pages Kindle Eli and Dominic 2019
236. How to Bang a Billionaire by Alexis Hall 8/6/23 8/7/23 350 pages Kindle Arden and Caspian Arden St. Ives 1 2017
237. How to Blow It With a Billionaire by Alexis Hall 8/7/23 8/8/23 355 pages Kindle Arden and Caspian Arden St. Ives 2 2017
238. How to Belong With a Billionaire by Alexis Hall 8/8/23 8/10/23 452 pages Kindle Arden and Caspian Arden St. Ives 3 2019
239. Love Always, Wild by A.M. Johnson 8/10/23 8/11/23 386 pages Kindle Wilder and Jax For Him, 1 2020
240. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 8/6/23 8/12/23 386 pages Hardcover
241. Glitterland by Alexis Hall 8/12/23 8/13/23 286 pages Kindle Darian and Ash Spires 1 2013
242. The London Chance by Lane Hayes 8/12/23 8/12/23 77 pages Kindle Chance and Roman 2023
**abandoned The Boss by M.D. Gregory** 48 pages
243. Waiting For the Flood by Alexis Hall 8/13/23 8/24/23 98 pages Kindle Adam and Edwin Spires 2 2018
244. For Real by Alexis Hall 8/14/23 8/16/23 427 pages Kindle Laurie and Toby Spires 3 2018
245. Pansies by Alexis Hall 8/16/23 8/18/23 438 pages Kindle Alfie and Fen Spires 4 2018
**abandoned Yours to be Forgiven by Hayden Hall** 115 pages
246. Reese Holt: The Dark Side by Laura Baumbach 8/18/23 8/19/23 236 pages Kindle Reese and Alex Reese Holt 1 2016
**abandoned A Bit of Rough by Laura Baumbach** 100 pages
247. Dear Mr. Brody by A.M. Johnson 8/19/23 8/20/23 402 pages Kindle Van and Parker For Him 3 2021
**abandoned Forever, Con Amor, by A.M. Johnson** 233 pages
248. The Endless Road to Sunshine by Nicky James 8/21/23 8/22/23 351 pages Kindle Jason and Skylar 2021
249. The Christmas I Know by Nicky James 8/22/23 8/23/23 145 pages Kindle Xavier and Andrew 2018
250. Adrenaline Jake by Louise Collins 8/23/23 8/23/23 93 pages Kindle Jake and Maddox Jake & Maddox 1 2017
251. Mad Dog Maddox by Louise Collins 8/23/23 8/23/23 117 pages Kindle Jake and Maddox Jake & Maddox 2 2017
252. Bye Baby by Louise Collins 8/23/23 8/24/23 157 pages Kindle Eliot and Donnie 2020 Flowershop Assassins 1 2020
253. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith 7/12/23 8/28/23 audiobook 22.5 hours 2020
254. So Pathetic by Louise Collins 8/25/23 8/26/23 249 pages Kindle Yates and Dylan Flowershop Assassins 2 2022
255. Raging Ranger by Louise Collins 8/26/23 8/26/23 243 pages Kindle Ranger and Troy Flowershop Assassins 3 2022
256. Rocked to Death by Louise Collins 8/26/23 8/28/23 307 pages Kindle Stone and Robin The Bakery Brothers 1 2023
257. My Cowlick Cop by Louise Collins 8/28/23 8/29/23 320 pages Kindle Jude and Luck The Bakery Brothers 2
**abandoned About Last Night by Aimee Nicole Walker** 93 pages
258. Halo by E.M. Lindsey 8/30/23 8/31/23 239 pages Kindle Victor and Oliver 2023

September
259. Rapture by E.M. Lindsey 8/31/23 9/1/23 239 pages Kindle Poe and Alonso 2023
260. Not Dating Material by Saxon James 9/1/23 9/2/23 281 pages Kindle Seven and Molly Accidental Love 2 2023
261. Aisle Be There by Charlie Cochet 9/2/23 9/3/23 246 pages Gage and Jett Kindle Runaway Grooms 1 2023
262. The Reprobate by Silvia Violet 9/3/23 9/4/23 284 pages Kindle Fox and Darren Texas Safehouse 5 2023
263. Takers by Casey Cox 9/4/23 9/4/23 246 pages Kindle Bremmer and Kelsey Upper Echelons 2 2023
264. My Fake Boyfrenemy by Casey Cox 9/4/23 9/4/23 Kindle Marnus and Pierce Elysian Escapades 3 2023
265. His Model Lover by Brendol James 9/4/23 9/5/23 200 pages Kindle Mika and Leo 2023
266. Taming the Tattooist by Brendol James 9/5/23 9/6/23 222 pages Kindle Isaac and Sean Sweet Ink 1 2022
267. Checking Out Love by R. Cooper 9/6/23 9/7/23 41 pages Kindle Jeremy and Benj 2015
**abandoned The Billionaire's Assistant by Silvia Violet ** 157 pages
**abandoned The Brat and the Bossman by Rebecca James** 9/8/23 9/9/23 Blaze and Lake
268. The Charmer by Riley Hart 9/9/23 9/10/23 249 pages Kindle Corbin and Spencer The Vers Podcast 4 2023
**abandoned Scandal by T. Ashleigh** 145 pages**
269. Heatwave by A.D. Ellis 9/11/23 9/11/23 173 pages Kindle Grant and Avery 2023
270. Return of the Chauffeur's Son by Tara Lain 9/11/23 9/12/23 223 pages Kindle Luca and Dylan Movie Magic Romances 1 2020
**abandoned Imperfect by Ali Ryecart** 160 pages
271. His Brutal Heart by Leighton Greene 9/13/23 9/15/23 400 pages Kindle Alessandro and Teddy West Coast Mobsters 2 2023
272. His Fatal Love by Leighton Greene 9/15/23 9/17/23 410 pages Kindle Leo and Julian West Coast Mobsters 2 2023
273. Will & Patrick Wake Up Married by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/17/23 9/18/23 128 pages Kindle Wake Up Married 1 2016
274. Will & Patrick Meet the Family 9/18/23 9/18/23 121 pages Kindle Wake Up Married 2 2016
275. Will & Patrick Do the Holidays by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/18/23 9/19/23 117 pages Kindle Wake Up Married 3 2016
276. Will & Patrick Fight Their Feelings by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/19/23 9/20/23 141 pages Kindle Wake Up Married 4 2016
277. Will & Patrick Meet the Mob by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/20/23 9/20/23 153 pages Kindle Wake Up Married 5 2016
278. Will & Patrick's Happy Ending by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/20/23 9/21/23 140 pages Kindle Wake Up Married 6 2016
279. Mr. Naughty List by Leta Blake 9/21/23 9/23/23 312 pages Kindle RJ and Aaron Mr. Christmas 2 2019
**abandoned Husband Material by Alexis Hall** 97 pages
**abandoned Pretty F*cked by J.R. Gray** 173 pages
280. Mr. Jingle Bells by Leta Blake 9/23/23 9/26/23 421 pages Kindle Ashton and Walker Mr. Christmas 3 2021
281. A Little Bit Like Love by Brooke Blaine 9/26/23 9/26/23 314 pages Kindle Jackson and Lucas South Haven 1 2017
282. Bedhead by Brooke Blaine 9/26/23 9/27/23 238 pages Kindle Hudson and Drew Hate to Love You 1 2023
**abandoned Bring on Forever by Leta Blake** 60 pages
283.Falling for the Florist by Brendol James 9/27/23 9/29/29/23 157 pages Kindle Henry and Dylan Sweet Ink 2 2023
**abandoned His Argentinian Billionaire by Avery Mist** 71 pages

October
**abandoned Made to Order by Brigham Vaughn** 171 pages
284. The Anonymous Hookup by Jax Calder 10/1/23 10/2/23 121 pages Kindle Sam and Lane 2022
285. The Roommate Proposal by Jace Hadley 10/2/23 10/2/23 287 pages Kindle Alexsei and Logan Perfect Opposites 2 2022
286. EWB (Enemies with Benefits) by N.R. Walker 10/2/23 10/2/23 353 pages Kindle Valentine and Marshall 2023
**abandoned Private Charter by N.R. Walker** 34 pages
287. Outrun the Rain by N.R. Walker 10/4/23 10/5/23 177 pages Kindle Tully and Jeremiah The Storm Boys Series 1 2023
**abandoned Tic-Tac Mistletoe by N.R. Walker** 130 pages
**abandoned Sinner's Gin by Rhys Ford** 83 pages
288. Into the Tempest by N.R. Walker 10/5/23 10/6/23 185 pages Kindle Tully and Jeremiah The Storm Boys Series 2 2023
289. Touch the Lightning by N.R. Walker 10/6/23 10/7/23 195 pages Kindle Tully and Jeremiah The Storm Boys series 3 2023
290. The Kite by N.R. Walker 10/7/23 10/8/23 272 pages Kindle Harry and Asher 2022
291. The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith 9/27/23 10/10/23 Hardcover and Kindle 2023 944 pages
**abandoned The Hate You Drink by N.R. Walker** 112 pages
292. Love and Sunshine by Killian Ford 10/9/23 10/10/23 230 pages Kindle Levi and Cameron 2022
293. I Hear You by Casey Morales 10/10/23 10/11/23 310 pages Kindle Gabe and Tyler Nashville Spicy Book 3 2023
**abandoned Oral Persuasion by Ian Finn** 52 pages
294. Body Count by L. Eveland 10/12/23 10/13/23 349 pages Kindle Theo and River Wayward Sons 2023
**abandoned Real Trouble by Elle Keaton** 60 pages
295. Captured by by Remi Kingsley 10/13/23 10/14/23 54 pages Kindle Leo and Maddox 2022
296. The Fixer by Charity Parkerson 10/14/23 10/14/23 243 pages Kindle Chad and Journey Damaged Devils 1 2023
297. Blood Sports by Daniel May 10/14/23 10/15/23 289 pages Kindle Jove and Tobias Hanged Men 1 2021
298. War Games by Daniel May 10/15/23 10/16/23 420 pages Kindle Nerva and Pascal Hanged Men 2 2022
**abandoned Claiming the Cleanfreak by Daniel May** 134 pages Atticus and Isaac 2021
299. Man Hunt by Daniel May 10/16/23 10/18/23 280 pages Kindle Mars and Diomedes Hanged Men 3 2023

Currently Reading:

Pilgrim by Timothy Findley 6/20/22 486 pages hardcover 1999
Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith 8/28/23 audio book 2020
The Moon Also Rises by Frances M. Thompson 10/18/23 Kindle Jake and Rami Sun, Moon & Stars 2 2022
The Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr 6/2/23 trade paperback 218 pages 2021
The Federalist edited by Jacob E. Cooke 5/28/22 656 pages hardcover 1961

adds - last year was 371, with way too many Kindle books. Kindle Unlimited will reduce that number significantly this year. I hope. We'll see.

1. Kindle - Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels Explained by Maya Rodale
2. Kindle - The Mechanic and the Surgeon by Steve Milton
3. Kindle - Hot Boss by Scarlet Blackwell
4. Amazon - Livid by Cai Emmons
5. re-added - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
6. Amazon - The Dead Sea Scrolls by Betsy Bennett
7. found - New Testament by
8. FoCCL - The New Testament: Greek and English by Kurt Aland
9. Amazon - Everything You Need to Know When I'm Gone: After Death Planner by
10. Amazon - Gun, with Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem
11. Amazon - What Is Left the Daughter by Howard Norman
12. Amazon - Desperation in Death by J.D. Robb
13. Amazon - No Plan B by Lee Child and Andrew Child
14. FoCCL - Oldtown Folks by Harriet Beecher Stowe Quality Issue
15. Amazon - Call for the Dead by John le Carré
16. Stasia Doster - The War Against the Jews, 1933-1945 by Lucy S. Dawidowicz
17. Kindle - Fake It 'Til You Make It by Louisa Masters
18. Kindle - Eurotour: Age Gap MM Romance by Jaberona BL
19. Kindle - Powder & Pavlova by Jay Hogan
20. Kindle - The Golden Asse by Lucius Apuleius, translated by William Adlington
21. Kindle - Baby Shark by Robert Fate
22. Kindle - Adrenaline Jake: Jake & Maddox by Louise Collins
23. Kindle - The Fresco by Sheri S. Tepper
24. Kindle - Remember Him by Steve Milton
25. Amazon - The Fresco by Sheri S Tepper
26. FoCCL - The Golden Age by Kenneth Grahame
27. Karen - Writers and Their Cats by Alison Nastasi
28. Karen - Call of the Cats: What I Learned About Life and Love from a Feral Colony by Andrew Bloomfield
29. FoCCL - Moby Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville
30. found - Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
31. Amazon - The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
32. Rhoda - Whoever I Am by Eileen Dewhurst
33. Rhoda - 1222 by Anne Holt
34. Rhoda - Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
35. FoCCL - Halley's Bible Handbook: An Abbreviated Bible Commentary by Henry H. Halley
36. FoCCL - Resurrecting Jesus: Embodying the Spirit of a Revolutionary Mystic by Adyashanti
37. FoCCL - Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Don't Know About Them) by Bart D. Ehrman
38. FoCCL - Abraham Lincoln The War Years by Carl Sandburg
39. FoCCL - The Word Bible Handbook by Lawrence O. Richards
40. FoCCL - The Complete Idiot's Guide to American History by Ph. D. Alan Axelrod
41. Jenna - Le Petit Prince: Avec Dessins Par L'auteur , Antoine de Saint Exupery by Antoine de Saint Exupery
42. FoCCL - Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
43. Amazon - The Red Sea Scrolls: How Ancient Papyri Reveal the Secrets of the Pyramids by Mark Lehner
44. Rhoda - Bill Slider Omnibus by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
45. Amazon - The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr
46. Karen - Thrust: A Spasmodic Pictorial History of the Codpiece in Art by Michael Glover
47. FoCCL - The Tao of Zen by Ray Grigg
48. FoCCL - God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens
49. FoCCL - Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why by Bart D. Ehrman
50. FoCCL - A Treasury of American Folklore: Stories, Ballads, and Traditions of the People by B.A. Botkin
51. FoCCL - Jewish Participants in the Civil War by Harry Simonhoff
52. FoCCL - The Bible in Pictures by Rev Ralph Kirby
53. Kindle - Sugar and Sawdust by Debbie McGowan
54. Kindle - Checking Him Out by Debbie McGowan
55. FoCCL - Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie
56. FoCCL - The Monks Of War. The Military Orders by Desmond Seward
57. Kindle - Say It by Sky McCoy
58. Kindle - Los Nefilim by T. Frohock
59. FoCCL - The Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
60. FoCCL - Still Life with Crows by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
61. Amazon - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
62. Amazon - Slow Horses by Mick Herron
63. Amazon - Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths
64. Kindle - The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey
65. Kindle - Cinderella in the Sheets by Reece Pine
66. Amazon - Salmon Fishing In The Yemen by Paul Torday
67. Kindle - Power Plays: MM Stories of Sin City by Tricia Owens
68. Amazon - Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
69. Kindle - Ruth by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
70. Amazon - Fatal Shadows by Josh Lanyon
71. FoCCL - Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
72. FoCCL - Slaughter-House Five or The Children's Crusade A Duty-Dance with Death by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
73. FoCCL - Back Home by Bill Mauldin
74. FoCCL - The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo
75. FoCCL - Sapho by Alphonse Daudet
76. Amazon - The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji
77. Amazon - Encore in Death by J. D. Robb
78. Amazon - Armageddon: What the Bible Really Says about the End by Bart D. Ehrman
79. McIntyre's - Metropolis by B. A. Shapiro
80. McIntyre's - Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen
81. McIntyre's - Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen
82. McIntyre's - Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World by Malcolm Harris
83. Karen - Yellowstone View by Thomas Lee
84. Amazon - My Search for Warren Harding by Robert Plunket
85. Amazon - The Bigger They Come by Erle Stanley Gardner
86. Karen - The Kingdom New Testament: A Contemporary Translation by N. T. Wright
87. Karen - The Beauty of Living: E. E. Cummings in the Great War by J. Alison Rosenblitt
88. Karen - The Journey to the Mayflower: God's Outlaws and the Invention of Freedom by Stephen Tomkins
89. Karen - Dinosaur Lives: Unearthing an Evolutionary Saga by John R. Horner
90. Karen - Librarian Tales: Funny, Strange, and Inspiring Dispatches from the Stacks by William Ottens
91. Karen - Scribe by Alyson Hagy
92. Karen - The Zen of Home Water: True Tales of Adventure, Travel, and Fly Fishing by Jerry Hamza
93. Karen - David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell
94. Karen - Melted Cheese: Gloriously gooey recipes, from fondue to grilled cheese & pasta bake to potato gratin by Ryland Peters & Small
95. Laura - Exiles by Jane Harper
96. Louise - A Field Guide to Western Birds by Tory Peterson Institute Roger
97. Laura - An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
98. Jenna - The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes
99. Jenna - Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Live of the Stars by Scotty Bowers
100. Kindle - Our Secret Wedding by H J Perry
101. Jenna - The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves
102. Jenna - Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves
103. Jenna - Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves
104. Jenna - Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves
105. Jenna - The Glass Room by Ann Cleeves
106. Jenna - Harbour Street by Ann Cleeves
107. Jenna - The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves
108. Jenna - The Seagull by Ann Cleeves
109. Kindle - Off Plan by May Archer - thank you Richard, for sending me the $0.00 link
110. Kindle - Moving Maverick by Lucy Lennox - thank you Richard, for sending me the $0.00 link
111. Kindle - The List by Felice Stevens
112. Kindle - Why Love Matters by Jay Northcote
113. Kindle - Masked Ball at Broxley Manor by Rhys Bowen
114. FoCCL - Donald Has a Difficulty by Peter Neumeyer and Edward Gorey
115. FoCCL - The Dinosaur Hunter by Homer Hickham
116. FoCCL - Regeneration, The Eye in the Door, The Ghost Road by Pat Barker
117. FoCCL - The Library Book by Susan Orlean
118. Amazon - Birnham Wood by Eleanor Catton
119. Kindle - Mission:X by Alan Kim
120. FoCCL - Once Again to Zelda: The Stories Behind Literature's Most Intriguing Dedications by Marlene Wagman-Geller
121. FoCCL - Simon the Coldheart by Georgette Heyer
122. Amazon - Ascending Peculiarity: Edward Gorey on Edward Gorey
123. FoCCL - Letty by Clare Darcy
124. FoCCL - The American Duchess by Joan Wolf
125. Kindle - Husband Material by Alexis Hall
126. Kindle - Glitterland by Alexis Hall
127. Kindle - Farthing by Jo Walton
128. Kindle - Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall
129. Kindle - For Real by Alexis Hall
130. Kindle - The Shattered Gates by Ginn Hale
131. Kindle - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
132. FoCCL - Gandhi's Religious Thought by Margaret Chatterjee Quality issue
133. FoCCL - When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
134. FoCCL - Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck - mass market paperback
135. FoCCL - The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck - mass market paperback
136. FoCCL - Giant by Edna Ferber Quality issue
137. FoCCL - Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis Quality issue
138. FoCCL - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
139. Kindle - Queer Ducks by Eliot Schrefer
140. Kindle - Pansies by Alexis Hall
141. FoCCL - Simon the Cold Heart by Georgette Heyer
142. Kindle - Artifacts by Mary Anna Evans
143. Amazon - The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels
144. Amazon Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
145. FoCCL - My Religion by M.K. Gandhi
146. FoCCL - The Mind of the South by W.J. Cash
147. FoCCL - A History of Britain Vol 1 by Simon Schama
148. FoCCL - A History of Britain Vol 2 by Simon Schama
149. FoCCL - A History of Britain Vol 3 by Simon Schama
150. Amazon - Secret Power Wikileaks and Its Enemies by Stefania Maurizi
151. Kindle - Indigo Field by Marjorie Hudson
152. Thrift Shop - Writers & Lovers by Lily King
153. Thrift Shop - Hussein by Patrick O'Brian
154. FoCCL - Village Creek by Gordon Baxter
155. Amazon - Feminist Interpretation of the Bible edited by Letty M. Russell
156. Amazon - The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer - trade paperback
157. Kindle - Checking Out Love by R. Cooper
158. FoCCL - The Abduction Of A Limerick Heiress by Toby Barnard
159. Amazon - Payback in Death by J.D. Robb
160. Amazon - Shy by Max Porter
161. FoCCL - The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
162. Amazon - Baking Yesteryear: The Best Recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s by Dylan Hollis
163. Dutch & Kay - Collier's World Atlas and Gazetteer by Son Corporation
164. Dutch & Kay - Japanese in Thirty Hours by Eiichi Kiyooka
165. Dutch & Kay - Stirrin the Pots on Daufuskie by Billie Burn
166. Dutch & Kay - The Birds of America by James Audubon
167. Dutch & Kay - The Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier by Greenleaf Whittier
168. Dutch & Kay - What If There's a Rainbow? by Johnston-Hale
169. FoCCL - A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao
170. FoCCL - A New History of the American South by Fitzhugh Brundage
171. FoCCL - Afternoons with Harper Lee by Wayne Flynt
172. FoCCL - Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) by Alexandra Petri
173. FoCCL - An Honest Man by Michael Koryta
174. FoCCL - Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane
175. FoCCL - Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America's Most Notorious Pirates by Jay Dolin
176. FoCCL - Born to Be Hanged: The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates Who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess, and Stole a Fortune by Keith Thomson
177. FoCCL - Deliberate Cruelty: Truman Capote, the Millionaire's Wife, and the Murder of the Century by Roseanne Montillo
178. FoCCL - Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers by McDowell
179. FoCCL - Hitchcock's Blondes: The Unforgettable Women Behind the Legendary Director's Dark Obsession by Laurence Leamer
180. FoCCL - Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism by Jeffrey Toobin
181. FoCCL - I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
182. FoCCL - In the Act by Rachel Ingalls
183. FoCCL - Jerusalem: The Biography by Sebag Montefiore
184. FoCCL - Kappa by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
185. FoCCL - Most Delicious Poison: The Story of Nature's Toxins―From Spices to Vices by Noah Whiteman
186. FoCCL - Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past by M. Kruse
187. FoCCL - Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout
188. FoCCL - Peaces by Helen Oyeyemi
189. FoCCL - Rich White Men: What It Takes to Uproot the Old Boys' Club and Transform America by Garrett Neiman
190. FoCCL - Roadwork by Stephen King
191. FoCCL - Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies: How Doubting the Bard Became the Biggest Taboo in Literature by Elizabeth Winkler
192. FoCCL - Soldiers Don't Go Mad: A Story of Brotherhood, Poetry, and Mental Illness During the First World War by Charles Glass
193. FoCCL - Speak of the Devil by Rose Wilding
194. FoCCL - The Book of Longings by Monk Kidd
195. FoCCL - The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight by Andrew Leland
196. FoCCL - The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
197. FoCCL - The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
198. FoCCL - The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, a Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice by Benjamin Gilmer
199. FoCCL - The Paris Mystery by Kirsty Manning
200. FoCCL - The Reality Meltdown by Dan Cray
201. FoCCL - The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Callahan Henry
202. FoCCL - U.S. Official Pictures of the World War by William E. Moore Late Captain USA and James C. Russell Late Captain USA
203. FoCCL - Zero Days by Ruth Ware
204. FoCCL - Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World by Ella Frances Sanders
205. FoCCL - The Last Enchantment by Mary Stewart
206. FoCCL - The Devil's Company by David Liss
207. FoCCL - Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d'Art by Christopher Moore
208. FoCCL - Do Penguins Have Knees? by David Feldman
209. FoCCL - I'm Too Young To Be Seventy: And Other Delusions by Judith Viorst
210. FoCCL - My Friends by Hisham Matar
211. FoCCL - The B.S. of A.: A Primer in Politics for the Incredibly Disenchanted by Brian Sack
212. FoCCL - Absalom, Absalom by William Faulkner
213. FoCCL - Did Jesus Exist?: The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth by Bart D. Ehrman
214. FoCCL - The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot: A New Look at Betrayer and Betrayed by Bart D. Ehrman
215. FoCCL - The Great Courses: Introduction to Judaism by Shai Cherry
216. FoCCL - Dear Brutus by J.M. Barry
217. FoCCL - North Carolina Archaeology, Volume 71, 2022 by David J. Cranford
218. FoCCL - North Carolina Archaeology, Volume 65, 2016 by R.P. Stephen Davis Jr.
219. FoCCL - The Work of Purcell and Elmslie, Architects by David Gebhard
220. FoCCL - Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas And the Shaping of Christianity by Elaine H. Pagels
221. FoCCL - A Vanished World by Roman Vishniac
222. FoCCL - The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles by Anne Savage
223. FoCCL - Complete Idiot's Guide to British Royalty by Richard Buskin
224. FoCCL - Ancient Egyptian Art: Systematic Catalogue of the Collection, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh by North Carolina Museum of Art
225. FoCCL - Art and History of Egypt by Alberto Carpiceci
226. FoCCL - Amedeo Modigliani by Jacques Lipchitz and Alfred Werner
227. FoCCL - What Life Was Like in Europe's Golden Age: Northern Europe, Ad 1500-1675 by Steven E. Ozment
228. FoCCL - The Hours of Henry VIII: A Renaissance Masterpiece by Jean Poyet by Roger S. Wieck
229. FoCCL - Teotihuacan: Art from the City of the Gods by Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
230. FoCCL - Bloodline of the Holy Grail: the Hidden Lineage of Jesus Revealed by Laurence Gardner
231. FoCCL - Australian Family Circle Heritage Cookbook by Joy Hayes
232. FoCCL - Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep
233. FoCCL - Nothin' but Good Times Ahead by Molly Ivins
234. FoCCL - TILT : A Skewed History of the Tower of Pisa by Nicholas Shrady
235. FoCCL - Crowned Masterpieces of Literature That Have Advanced Civilization - Vol. X. by David J. Brewer
236. FoCCL - Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
237. FoCCL - The Best Liberal Quotes Ever: Why the Left Is Right by William Martin
238. FoCCL - The Drifters by James A. Michener
239. FoCCL - The Source by James A. Michener
240. FoCCL - Caravans by James A. Michener
241. Amazon - The Letters of Dorothy L. Sayers: 1899-1936: The Making of a Detective Novelist by Dorothy L. Sayers
242. Dutch & Kay - 'Tis Sixty Years Since: A Story of the University of North Carolina in the 1880s by James Lee Love
243. Kindle - City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong - bought it in June, just discovered I hadn't added it to my catalog
244. Amazon - The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
245. Kindle - The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
246. Kindle - The Complete Harvard Classics - ALL 71 Volumes: The Five Foot Shelf & The Shelf of Fiction: The Famous Anthology of the Greatest Works of World Literature

culls - only 88 last year. I hope for more this year with my resolution to completely inventory my catalog yielding books that need to be rehomed.

1. The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
2. American Sphinx by Joseph J. Ellis
3. The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay
4. The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay
5. The Darkest Road by Guy Gavriel Kay
6. The Chameleon's Shadow by Minette Walters - duplicate
7. Montana 1948 by Larry Watson - trade paperback - duplicate
8. The Bishop's Secret by T.C. Fairley
9. The Billionaire's Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace
10. Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks
11. Sons by Evan Hunter
12. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
13. The Player by Brad Parks
14. The Fraud by Brad Parks
15. Say Nothing by Brad Parks
16. Eyes of the Innocent by Brad Parks
17. Faces of the Gone by Brad Parks
18. The Politics of Rich and Poor by Kevin Phillips
19. The Forgotten War: America in Korea, 1950-1953 by Clay Blair
20. A History of the Twentieth Century by Martin Gilbert
21. Waking Raphael by Leslie Forbes
22. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - mass market paperback, 50th anniv edition, duplicate
23. The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George
24. Complete Works of Lewis Carroll - yellowed
25. Fowler's Modern English Usage - everything I'd ever need is online
26. Lily White by Susan Isaacs - will never read again, Jenna will never want or read
27. The Winner Stands Alone by Paul Coelho
28. Four Spirits by Sena Jeter Naslund
29. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
30. The Fever Tree and Other Stories of Suspense by Ruth Rendell
31. The Killing Doll by Ruth Rendell
32. The Secret Mistress by Mary Balogh
33. All Florence In Colours by Edouardo Bonechi
34. The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey - trade paperback, given to a friend
35. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz - references to LotR? Seriously?
36. Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof
37. The Melaleuca Wellness Guide 2005
38. The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
39. Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves - dup of new one given to me by Jenna
40. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves - dup of new one given to me by Jenna
41. Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje
42. Half Broken Things by Morag Joss
43. Bridget Jones the Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding
44. Cause Celeb by Helen Fielding
45. In The Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje
46. Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson
47. Royal Escape by Georgette Heyer - duplicate
48. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak - I will never, ever read this
49. A History of Britain : At the Edge of the World, 3500 B.C.-1603 A.D by Simon Schama
50. The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato
51. A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute - awful copy, marked in ink
52. Transcription by Kate Atkinson - just don't want it
53. The Whites by Richard Price writing as Harry Brandt
54. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
55. Passing On by Penelope Lively
56. Natchez Burning by Greg Iles
57. Denali's Howl by Andy Hall
58. The Only Story by Julian Barnes

YTD Statistics through September

283 books read
2 of them on my shelves before 1/1/23 and not rereads
77 books abandoned, 8484 pages abandoned, 1 audiobook, .45 hours abandoned

109.75 audiobook hours
Avg pages read per day, YTD = 269
Avg pages read per book, YTD = 259

Book of the Month: The Will and Patrick series by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths

Books by Month
January - 33 e-books, 19 books abandoned for 1711 pages
February 34 e-books, 1 paper book, 1 audiobook, 6 books abandoned for 718 pages
March 18 e-books, 7 books abandoned for 443 pages, 1 audiobook abandoned for .45 hours
April 35 e-books, 9 books abandoned for 974 pages
May 32 e-books, 1 audiobook for 16 hours, 8 books abandoned for 1,112 pages
June 39 e-books, 1 audiobook for 17.5 hours, 7 books abandoned for 948 pages
July 36 e-books, 1 audiobook for 18 hours, 8 books abandoned for 849 pages
August 29 ebooks, 1 audiobook for 22.5 hours, 6 books abandoned for 688 pages
September 25 ebooks, 8 books abandoned for 1,041 pages

Author
Male 12%
Female 80%
Undeclared * 5%
Non-Binary 3%
* - can't find any info anywhere

Living 100%
Dead 0%

US Born 47%
Foreign Born 30%
Undeclared * 23%
* - can't find any info anywhere

Platform
Hardcover 1%
Trade Pback 0%
Mass Market 0%
Audiobook 2%
e-Book 97%

Source
My Library 7%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 91%
Borrowed from a friend 1%

Misc
ARC/ER 0%
Re-read 1%
Series 67%

Fiction 99%
NonFiction 1%

Author Birth Country
Australia 8%
Canada 4%
Cuba 1%
England 14%
Ireland 1%
Philippines 1%
Portugal 1%
Scotland 1%
UK 2%
Undeclared * 21%
US 46%
* - can't find any info anywhere

Original Decade Published
2010-2019 35%
2020-2029 65%

Category
Contemporary Fiction 97%
Crime Fiction 2%
Informational Nonfiction 1%

Acquisition/Source Date
Kindle Unlimited 265
2012 0
2013 0
2014 1
2015 1
2017 0
2018 2
2019 1
2020 0
2021 0
2022 12
Borrowed 1

Average Rating
1.5 - Very Bad 2
2.0 - Bad 4
2.5 - Average 12
3.0 - Good 27
3.5 - Very Good 54
4.0 - Excellent 133
4.5 - Outstanding 50
5 - Masterpiece 1

Average Rating 3.79
Books acquired YTD 242
Books culled YTD 49

September Lightning Round

Rapture by E.M. Lindsey 8/30/23 9/1/23 Kindle

Kitchen sink time – Alonso is working on getting out of the Mafia, age/Silver Fox trope, Poe kicked out of family home as a teenager because he’s gay, greedy family, and hmm. Oh yes, Poe’s best friend is now gay-curious with one of Alonso’s friends, Lorenzo. Poe inherits his gay uncle’s run down/closed pub and is viciously beaten. Alonso rescues him, instantly falls in love, protects Poe, puts money into the pub, and basically, in a supposedly good way, takes over Poe’s up-‘til-now-unsuccessful life. I loved the kitten rescue, but some of the emoting was over the top. Caveat emptor re sex.

Not Dating Material by Saxon James 9/1/23 9/2/23 Kindle

Molly moves to Seattle to get away from an unfortunate old boyfriend situation, moving into a house with 5 men, next door to the woman who owns the house. He meets Seven, Seven offers dating advice – funny, actually, since Seven vows never to date – and there’s eventual sparkage and HEA. Seven was in foster care with Xander and they’re a platonic package deal, which Molly accepts. Some funny scenes, one particularly steamy scene where Seven body paints Molly ‘cuz he’s a tattoo artist and it’s not ink time yet, and it goes from there… Caveat emptor re sex.

Aisle Be There by Charlie Cochet 9/2/23 9/3/23 Gage and Jett Kindle

Gage runs away from his wedding to an influencer because of crustaceans (very funny and way over the top) and stumbles into an event with his former lover who abandoned him when a family situation got in the way 12 years earlier. He sticks with Jett and the band. Sparkage again, the requisite horrible manager trying to control members of the band’s lives, HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Reprobate by Silvia Violet 9/3/23 9/4/23 Kindle

Fifth and least satisfying of the Texas Safehouse series has Fox and Darren thinking their protecting the other as they go off grid. Darren is the billionaire, Fox is the security guy. Their sexual tension is off the charts, caveat emptor re the sex. The story itself is rather ridiculous, and even giving it 3 stars is generous.

Takers by Casey Cox 9/4/23 9/4/23 Kindle

I don’t understand why billionaire
Bremmer agrees to a group tantric masturbation, self-awareness weekend with Kelsey, but he does, and then Bremmer asks him to be in a fake boyfriend situation to help with Bremmer’s appearing to be in a stable romantic relationship to help entice an investor to pour millions into Bremmer and family’s business. I ended up liking it enough for 3.5 stars but even from 2 days ago I couldn’t really tell you why. Caveat emptor re the sex.

My Fake Boyfrenemy by Casey Cox 9/4/23 9/4/23 Kindle

Sweet proximity novella about Marnus and Pierce not understanding each other’s sexual orientation (bi and/or gay) but Marnus pretending to be Pierce’s boyfriend when the man who broke Pierce’s heart comes to spend his honeymoon weekend at the hotel they work at. Sparkage turns into HFN/HEA (?) and caveat emptor re sex. Novellas are harder to make work, and Casey Cox nailed it here.

His Model Lover by Brendol James 9/4/23 9/5/23 Kindle

Mike and Leo both attend the same college and both are models. Mika is a billionaire and part of a billionaire/power family, Leo has a single mom who was seduced and abandoned by her married lover. This informs Leo’s entire life, to be successful financially, to get an advanced degree, and to buy his mom a home of her own. Mika creates a situation where Leo’s apartment’s lease ends and Leo is offered a room with Mika. I do love the sexual tension and how Leo’s feelings for Mika change and grow. Mika’s been in love with Leo forever. Family opposition from Mika’s parents and an incomprehensible attack on Leo by a professor, plus very sensually described scenes of photo shoots with Leo and Mika make for a satisfying read. The language is lush and romantic, but caveat emptor re sex.

Taming the Tattooist by Brendol James 9/5/23 9/6/23 Kindle

Isaac is an artist and owns a tattoo parlor, comes from money but hates his parents’ expectations, and never dates, only has one night stands. He likes it this way. Sean is a former band member, owns a bakery, and doesn’t do one night stands, wants dating and romance. When each’s best friend starts dating the other, they band together to make things go smoothly, there’s a one night stand to get each other out of their systems. I do not understand Sean’s motivation in this one. However, Isaac begins to want a relationship and after a few miscommunications, we get our HEA. Caveat emptor re very explicit sex.

Checking Out Love by R. Cooper 9/6/23 9/7/23 Kindle

Hmmm. Short story or small novella? Either way, R. Cooper creates vivid characters in Jeremy and Benj. The library environment is lovingly described and Jeremy’s infatuation with Benj starts right away. There is the specter of the Beast – the Librarian who kicks people out and is a rigid enforcer of the rules. A few vignettes in, both Benj and Jeremy are interested in the other, and then there’s a sweet breaking of the rules. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Billionaire’s Assistant by Silvia Violet** 157 pages

Almost noncon, not quite, but still not my cup of tea. Instant attraction, control by billionaire Miles, Ben got the job because his criminal family wanted him to steal confidential information. Caveat emptor re sex and strange CEO behavior by Miles.

**abandoned the Brat and the Bossman by Silvia Violet ** 177 pages

I didn’t realize this was MC – motorcycle club – until I got a bit in and decided to ride it out, as it were, to see if I could stand the whole thing. I couldn’t – bossman owns a porn company, which is okay in and of itself, but MC gangs and illegal activities make it unattractive, regardless of the attraction between Blaze and Lake. God. The names these authors choose sometimes. Caveat emptor re sex, caveat emptor re Mafia-like stuff without the Mafia-like whatever-it-is that I like.

The Charmer by Riley Hart 9/9/23 9/10/23 249 pages Kindle

Somewhat disappointing to the end of what started off as a brilliant series. Corbin is the last un-relationshipped Vers Podcast friend, body and social media obsessed as a result of being overweight as a youngster/teenager and liked but told he was going to hell by his family because he is gay. An incident from his teen years, being ghosted by Spencer, who overheard cruel remarks by Corbin and the Vers boys in an unthinking moment, has Spencer disliking grown up Corbin. However, they attend a charity event together, and, amazingly, and irritatingly, are next door neighbors in their apartment complex. Corbin’s a cuddle slut, as he puts it, so they become CBs – cuddle buddies, and then there’s sparkage, apologies, and things go from there. Pretty schmaltzy by the end, to tell the truth. Spencer is a bear of a guy who does NOT have a six pack, which keeps being brought up to show how Corbin’s grown past obsession with his body and we can all love folks who aren’t 0% body fat. *eye roll* Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Scandal by T. Ashleigh** 145 pages**

Improbable tale of a twin, Austin, with port-wine birthmarks, whose brother Aaron sets up a scandal and Austin is sent off to a rehab center/island spa for 6 weeks by his father. Mind you, this is a 24-year old man. So, no control over his personal life. Beck is a reporter sent to the same island because Austin’s there but to report on the island itself? Not clear, and the attraction/sparkage of this one just doesn’t do it for me.

Heatwave by A.D. Ellis 9/11/23 9/11/23 Kindle

Small town retirement community dietician Avery meets Grant, aging rock and roller, when Grant comes to meet his unknown-until-now grandfather. Sparkage and romance. Rather ho-hum, actually, and includes the author’s relatively unsuccessful attempt at including magic via dog – a mysterious dog shows up whenever there are significant emotions between Grant and Avery when they’re out in public. Caveat emptor re sex.

Return of the Chauffeur's Son by Tara Lain 9/11/23 9/12/23 Kindle

Chef Luca returns to his hometown and chauffeur father’s apartment and starts looking for an apartment when he takes a job as a sous chef. He’s always been in love with James, son of the wealthy man his father works for. James is straight but seems to be wanting to try the gay-for-you experiment, which Luca sort of buys into but not really (?). Meanwhile, older brother Dylan realizes little gay boy Luca is all grown up but wants to give James whatever James wants. Meanwhile, there’s a restaurant competition, a potential business merger that might include James marrying a woman, and culinary espionage. Lightweight and mostly fun, but I won’t continue with this author. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Imperfect by Ali Ryecart** 160 pages

Could have been a sweet novella, with Josh, a lawyer, being instantly attracted to Alex, a barista and student. Josh is in a relationship without a future, as he sees it, but I really had a hard time with Josh not breaking up with Dan before getting emotionally – but not physically – involved with Alex. By page 161 no need for caveat emptor re sex.

His Brutal Heart by Leighton Greene 9/13/23 9/15/23 Kindle

Violence, and crime, passion, and power plays. Yum. Alessandro is his father’s first born son, and inherits the Family when his father is murdered. Teddy witnesses crimes he commits, and Alessandro has to bring Teddy back to the mansion. Teddy’s more complex than he lets on – runs a Mafia fanboy website, and has a parentage that is not conducive to being involved with the Mafia. Sparkage, potential betrayal, solving the murder of Alessandro’s father, and power plays/etc. round out a fun book that’s probably not for hardly anyone who reads this Lightning Round. And, I’m already reading #3 in the series, with his half-brother and an Enforcer for another family, that’s even more bizarre than this one. I love it! Caveat emptor re sex, violence, murder, torture, and etc.

His Fatal Love by Leighton Greene 9/15/23 9/17/23 Kindle

More violence, and crime, and power plays. Yum. This time it’s Alessandro’s half-brother Julian, self-described as a psychopath but undiagnosed. He butts heads with Leo, Enforcer for another crime family, and there’s immediate sparkage. Julian wants to prove his mother was murdered 20 years earlier, Leo wants to win his father’s respect by controlling Julian for the benefit of their Family. Lots of Mafia politics, betrayals, and etc. Julian suffers from face blindness – prosopagnosia – and keeps it a secret. He has to identify individuals by scent, body type, voice, and etc. Interesting twist, and it does move the plot forward. Caveat emptor re sex, violence, murder, torture, and tec.

Will & Patrick Wake Up Married by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/17/23 9/18/23 128 pages Kindle

Frequently used trope of two men waking up in Las Vegas married after a drunken night of wild sex. Will is the grandson of a Mafia don whose money is tied to him being married, Patrick is a world-class neurosurgeon whose life is his work. Will’s money is being used for a world-class hospital in his hometown, surprise, surprise. They both want to annul/divorce, but the terms of the will are fun and lots of obstacles are present. In the meantime, they both start caring for each other and there’s lots of snark and emotions and this first bit of the series is a joy to read.

Will & Patrick Meet the Family 9/18/23 9/18/23 122 pages Kindle

Will and Patrick hook up in Las Vegas, both in town. They have a night of wild passion and … you guessed it… wake up married. Will is in a bind because of a will that leaves his money conditional upon a successful marriage. No divorce. And, oh, by the way, his father is in the mob. Will talks Patrick, a brilliant neurosurgeon who is indiscreet in talking with his boss about the situation and gets fired, to come to Will’s home town to figure things out. Patrick is on the spectrum, has no real ties to Georgia, so closes his apartment and moves in with Will at the fancy hotel in Caveat emptor re sex.

Will & Patrick Do the Holidays by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/18/23 9/19/23 Kindle

Will and Patrick continue their story in trying to figure out how to successfully end their marriage. Will happens to have a charity that he’s funneled his inheritance into and is in the process of building a world-class neurosurgery unit – surprise!. He talks Patrick into working there and helping to make it world class. They spend the holidays with Will’s family, dealing with Will’s family’s overprotectiveness, Will’s ex and his current boyfriend, and Will’s father, comes to town. Caveat emptor re sex.

Will & Patrick Fight Their Feelings by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/19/23 9/20/23 Kindle

Patrick becomes friends with a young mother in town, is joyously operating on people and spending the charity’s money to build a world-class neurosurgery unit at the local hospital, all the while pretending to be wildly in love with Will. Will keeps running into the ex who dumped him just prior to the Los Vegas trip, who flaunts his new boyfriend. Will’s family keeps trying to manipulate both of them. Each is falling in love with the other, but realizes that if they don’t get the divorce, things will change, and not for the better, job-wise and finances wise.

Will & Patrick Meet the Mob by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/20/23 9/20/23 Kindle

Installment 4 has Will’s father, who’s never been a real father to Will, interfering, threatening Patrick, and generally causing havoc and upset. Feelings continue to grow, living in the fancy hotel works for Will and Patrick, as does the wild sex without commitment, all the while pretending to be in love. Town politics, family politics, family interference. Caveat emptor re sex.

Will & Patrick's Happy Ending by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/20/23 9/21/23 Kindle

And finally, Patrick flees to his former foster parents in Georgia. He has loved them forever, has helped them financially as soon as he was able, and needs their comfort as he thinks the relationship is over. Will realizes as soon as he leaves that he wants and loves and needs Patrick, so follows him to Georgia. Lots of great scenes with Patrick and his foster parents, their house full of foster kids, and Will’s visit, which, of course, culminates in their reunion, commitment, and return to Will’s home town to start their lives together. Marriage, and etc. Caveat emptor re sex.

This series really worked for me, because each came to a shockingly abrupt, drunken marriage with baggage, needs, and attraction into a valid, strong marriage, against the wishes of almost every person of Will’s family. Patrick’s being on the spectrum is treated wonderfully, positively, and with a wealth of information. Their attraction and care for each other is apparent from the beginning.

Mr. Naughty List by Leta Blake 9/21/23 9/23/23 Kindle

Aaron is a middle-school teacher, sees RJ, a member of a band playing at a local bar. He recognizes him as a former student. RJ recognizes Aaron, the teacher he had in his senior year of high school. He had fantasies about him then, and fantasies about him now. The attraction is immediately and powerful. Aaron’s closeted but all the kids in his classes know he’s gay. His mother is the principal in the school he teaches in, is divorced from his father, and holds a first-year-teaching indiscretion between Aaron and a sports coach (and of course the coach doesn’t get fired or have it follow him) over his head. She’s disgusted with his being gay, and he’s never had a reason to fight her until he starts standing up to her because of RJ. RJ is a dom, Aaron is a sub, and so there’s lots of kinky sex, so REALLY beware. Aaron’s father and family are wonderful, RJ’s family is wonderful too, and as Aaron and RJ think that this might be more than a holiday fling, they start opening up to each other emotionally. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Husband Material by Alexis Hall** 97 pages

I waited too long to continue with this one, and I may come back to it. For now, as I recall, it seemed anticlimactic to Luc and Oliver’s romance.

**abandoned Pretty F*cked by J.R. Gray**

Another one where I waited too long to continue with this one. This one was a rehash of the previous book as I recall, from another angle, and it was just way too much angst, psycho-babble, and drugs, sex, and rock and roll.

Mr. Jingle Bells by Leta Blake 9/23/23 9/26/23 Kindle

Partners in a marketing firm, there is always tension between conservative-appearing Walker and flamboyant Ashton. Ashton’s apartment is being fumigated for bedbugs, and Walker, at the instigation of their third partner Casey, invites Ashton to stay with him for 3 days. They surprise each other by seeing beyond the tension at work and are attracted. There’s a fake boyfriend situation for Walker’s sister’s wedding, sparkage gets satisfied, Ashton learns something about Walker that is supposedly a deal breaker, yet we get our HEA. Lots of backstory for Ashton – abuse, homophobic and drug using relatives, abandonment – and all of it was fascinating. Caveat emptor re sex.

A Little Bit Like Love by Brooke Blaine 9/26/23 9/26/23 Kindle

Jackson ghosted Lucas just before high school graduation 8 years previously. He’s back in South Haven to make a business deal and sees metal work that interests him, is sent to Lucas’s house/workshop unknowingly. A hurricane brews up, he’s forced to spend the night, and etc. They gradually discover that they were manipulated and their attraction and never-stopped love for each other gets their HEA and Jackson’s comeuppance against the person who broke them up. Caveat emptor re sex.

Bedhead by Brooke Blaine 9/26/23 9/27/23 Kindle

Hudson and Drew broke up years ago, are both in publishing, both want the tell-all book by a rock star. Both invited to a weekend away during a bad storm, Hudson’s car breaks down, Drew conveniently drives up behind him. Only one hotel room, only one bed… it had a few moments, mostly the sexy times, but HEA too. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Bring on Forever by Leta Blake**

Gray and Blaine were serious 10 years previously. Gray didn’t want to follow Blaine when he went to California to pursue his dream, and made sure the breakup hurt Blaine enough to not want to try anymore. Blaine’s in a serious but non-monogamous relationship but reconnects with Gray. I didn’t like the characters, didn’t like how Blaine broke up with his lover over the phone from Chicago to LA, just didn’t like the vibe. Caveat emptor re predictable sex.

Falling for the Florist by Brendol James 9/27/23 9/29/29/23 Kindle

Henry’s a lawyer, rich, possibly aromantic, possibly asexual. He makes wedding flower arrangements for his sister at Dylan’s flower shop and is smitten. Very sweet, with a bit of nastiness with Henry’s family manipulating and controlling him, his siblings, and his cousins. HEA and caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned His Argentinian Billionaire by Avery Mist**

A novella, harder to successfully pull off, and this one was not a success. Too many short cuts. The writing was not vivid, and it needs to be either vivid or subtle in a novella, IMO, and this one just didn’t make the grade. Instant sparkage, the supposedly traumatized child because his nanny left unexpectedly immediately falling in love with Warren the new nanny. Details that tried to anchor it but just seemed jarring. Caveat emptor re sex?

324 books read

1 Masterpiece
51 Stunning
181 Excellent
48 Very Good
30 Good
9 Average
4 Bad
0 Very Bad
0 Don't Bother
0 Anathema

Best Fiction
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
The Adults by Caroline Hulse
Should We Stay or Should We Go by Lionel Shriver
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Hopelessly Bromantic and Here Comes My Man by Blake Lively

Best (only) Nonfiction
Woke Racism by Dr. John McWhorter
The Book of General Ignorance by John Mitchinson
The Story of Human Language by Dr. John McWhorter
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow

Top five overall for the LT Top Five Books of 2022 list:
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Woke Racism by Dr. John McWhorter
The Adults by Caroline Hulse
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

…...

Welcome!

Hi Karen my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend.

New 🧵 orisons, Horrible... now you're on MY lucky number of thread.

*smooch*

Hi Karen. Stopping by to make sure I starred the latest thread ~ à toi !

Happy new one, Karen.
285 books and almost at 4x75 (wowzer!!).

Happy new thread, Karen! I didn't know Jenna plays trombone. That's what my DH plays. He has a gig with his jazz band Saturday night.

>4 karenmarie: So you culled Doctor Zhivago. I finally read it this summer, and I was rather disappointed. I was expecting more from such a famous book.

Happy Wednesday, Karen. Happy New Thread. I am glad you got to see a red-shouldered hawk yesterday. They are not as common in our area. I enjoyed my solo walk. A beautiful morning. Lots of bird activity but mostly common birds. I did hear and see 3 Carolina Wrens. They have been nesting in this certain area for a few years now, which is a treat since they are not all that common here.

>10 johnsimpson: Hi John! Thank you. Our boys both lost yesterday. Here’s to a win next time for Man U AND Arsenal.

>11 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear, and thank you. 9 is a good number too – it’s been part of my street address 3 of my last 4. 491 now, 995 just before here, skip Bill’s little house in North Chatham, then 9419 for my last address in CA.

>12 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy, and thank you.

>13 PaulCranswick: Hello Paul. I know – I’m on fire this year again, almost all MM romances. *shrug* They’re what’s making me happy, so I’ll go with it until it doesn’t work any more. Wowzer indeed.

>14 atozgrl: Hi Irene, and thank you. Jenna played trombone from 5th grade through her sophomore year of college. She’s not in any organized groups now, but we have her straight trombone (Marching Band) and her Stradivarius Trigger Trombone (Jazz band and marching band) here at the house. I think she probably plays them when neither of us is around. I just found these videos on YouTube – Jenna was a freshman and had been invited into Jazz Band and passed the audition for the first, was a senior in the second. Not like her at all, she stood up with her best friend Justin for In the Mood. Four years, 3 practices a week at 7 a.m. Brutal schedule, but worth it. In the first video Jenna's the only female trombone player, on the end, and in the second video she did something she NEVER does - act extroverted and out there.

St. Thomas, Northwood HS Jazz Band Pittsboro NC 2008

In The Mood, Northwood HS Jazz Band Pittsboro NC 2011

Yay for your husband, yay for Trombone. We have a friend our age who plays bass in a local jazz band.

Yes, I did cull Doctor Zhivago, probably based on your review of it. I remember watching part of the movie and abandoning it, so don’t figure a book would make me much happier. I don’t feel much affinity for Russian authors. I've still got some Tolstoi, Dostoevsky, and Turgenev on my shelves, either for sentimental or Easton Press reasons.

>15 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you, too. Thanks. The hawk was thrilling. Today I’ve seen one of the last of the male hummingbirds and will take the feeder down over the weekend most likely. Yay for the Chickadees, especially since they’re not common up there compared with Black-Capped.

Wordle 837 5/6* adieu, mouth, blunt, trust, spurt

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My cleaning ladies came yesterday, yay. I also worked out, mailed a book to an LTer, and got my flu shot.

Coming from LA 32.5 years ago where you rarely if EVER see people you know out, I'm still stunned when I see people I know. Yesterday it was Jenna's first grade teacher's assistant Cathy at the Senior Center. It was her first day there. I also know her from her son owning Virlie's where the book sort team goes each Tuesday after sorting and seeing her coming out of my PT's office in the spring because she'd gotten knee replacement surgery about a month before I did.

And then at the pharmacy getting my flu shot I saw a neighbor of mine - she lives across and down one house. I never see her anymore, and although it was rather brief, it was nice to say hi.

...
Jenna and I are going to make a Mock Apple Pie this morning, from Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis. I mentioned it to Louise just now, and she remembers her mother making it during the Depression. No apples, just Ritz crackers, Cream of Tartar, sugar, water, cinnamon, butter in a double pie crust, egg wash over the top.

Other than that, reading, puttering, and etc.

Happy new thread!

Love the photo of Jenna and her trombone! Does she still play?

>16 karenmarie: You wrote: Yes, I did cull Doctor Zhivago... I don’t feel much affinity for Russian authors. I've still got some Tolstoi, Dostoevsky, and Turgenev on my shelves, either for sentimental or Easton Press reasons.

I've gotten onto a Russia/Soviet track, having read Voices from Chernobyl, The Unquiet Ghost: Russians Remember Stalin, and A Gentleman in Moscow. I scoured my TBRs for more such, and Pasternak's epic is among the books I collected. (Details on my newish thread,) It would be swell if you could stop by.

Happy new thread, Karen!!

>17 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita, and thank you. Jenna probably plays when we’re not around – rare if both of us are gone, though. The trombones are under a table in the Retreat, along with the tenor sax and her 6-string guitar. I also think the Casio 88-key keyboard is under there, too…

>18 weird_O: Bill! I’m remiss in not visiting, thank you for the nudge.

>19 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia.

…
Mock Apple Pie prep and Cook’s Reward (pie crust, butter, cinnamon sugar).

>20 karenmarie: Nummers!

Just out of the oven - Mock Apple Pie and Cook's Reward

Oh wow you've made a Ritz Cracker mock apple pie?! I remember seeing that recipe on the cracker box in my youth and wondering what the heck?! Have you made it before? Does it actually taste like the real thing, or just have similar flavors, like cinnamon-sugar?

Hi Laura!

It tastes like apple-pie adjacent. Mostly cinnamon and sugar, and it's VERY sweet, almost too sweet. It will probably taste good with a cup of black, no sugar coffee tomorrow morning.

Bill liked it more than Jenna and I did. Live and learn, right?

Happy new thread!

New Thread!!!! Does Wash really have his rear paw on his head?????

I adore that bass brass line, especially In the Mood! My DH was just humming along as I watched it. Jenna was/is super cool!!!!!!

Happy New Thread!

Amazing reading!

I was really disappointed in the movie Dr Zhivago and never tried the book.

We're in apple country, so I've never tried the Ritz pie. This weekend is Bitterroot Apple Days with homemade cider, pies and apple butter at the farmer's market.

Happy new thread Karen!

>6 karenmarie: I think I've found what for me is an equivalent to your romances - the fan fiction in the Hands of the Emperor server on A03, some is tame, some raunchy, some screamingly funny - and all of it about characters I've become attached to even if I really can't see them doing that, it's clear others are so much more imaginative.

I've been spending some less time sitting in front of my MAC because my back is all issues so I'm quite behind myself on LT.

Happy New Thread, Karen! Way back when I was in my early teens, I made the mock apple pie from the Ritz Cracker Box. I recall it being good, and tasting like apple pie, though that was a long time ago.

>25 ArlieS: Thank you, Arlie!

>26 LizzieD: Yes – Jenna was coming into the bedroom to show me a YouTube Short one night last week and she was able to catch him in that pose. We love it.

So glad you liked the videos, especially In the Mood. Jenna was so out of her comfort zone, but Justin and she always rocked together. He’s married to a woman named Laura and only lives about 20 minutes away these days. Jenna rarely sees him – he’s a nurse and has crazy hours.

>27 streamsong: Hi Janet! Thanks re my MM romance reading. I’d discount it except that in some, not all, of the books, there are Life Situations in addition to the sparkage and sex. Here’s one from this morning’s reading. Australia, Tully, hired to take Jeremiah into the wilds near Darwin so that Jeremiah could study storms and after some sparkage and showing him some of his own photos of storms:

He smiled and took my hand, bringing my palm to his cheek, and he closed his eyes. “That’s who I am,” he murmured. His brown eyes met mine. “Out there, where I have no expectations or obligations. Here?” he said, looking around the room. “You think this is all glamour, but it’s not really. I mean, it is. I know I’m privileged to have this. I know that. So yeah, this is also me, but this me is where real life takes the shine off who I am.”

Zingers galore in this book.

So we’re in agreement about Doctor Zhivago, one thing among many.

Apples. I remember my first autumn in New London CT in 1977, stopping at a roadside stand and buying a bag of local apples. Stunned this LA girl, who up to then had only had yucky Red Delicious and marvelous Granny Smiths. Here, even at the local chain grocery store, we’ll get cider and local apples. Sigh. I may want to make a true apple pie here soon, just because making a pie with Jenna was so much fun yesterday.

I told Karen about the pie making adventure on a phone call last night, and after I told her that Jenna did all the prep dishes/measuring cups/spoons/pans she said “The Caesarean was worth it.” I want that on a T-shirt.

>28 quondame: Hello Susan, and thank you. I’m glad you’ve got something that really trips your trigger reading-wise. Jenna reads a lot of fan fiction on her cell phone. I’m sorry about your back issues and hope you get some relief sooner rather than later.

>29 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, thanks. I just didn’t taste apples, frankly, but it was good. Super sweet as I wrote above, and God help me re the sodium from the crackers. I stayed within ~2,000 mg sodium yesterday, though. I didn’t realize the recipe was on the Ritz Cracker Box.

Wordle 838 3/6* adieu, trout, bunch

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Today will be somewhat busy outside the house - treadmill, lunch with Rita the Librarian, then a medium-ish grocery store run. Dinner will be bone in, skin on chicken in the air fryer, along with baked potatoes and either sauteed zucchini or some broccoli. Pie will feature at least once today.

>24 karenmarie: Thanks for reporting back on the pie, Karen. I've always wondered, but have never gotten around to trying the recipe. Enjoy your pie!

Nice job on today's Wordle. Enjoy your day.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. Ooh, the pie looks fantastic. Yes, please! Waking up to a spot of rain. It will be cooler today too. I will be helping with Jack today and tomorrow. As usual, I miss the little guy. It is still dark and gloomy out there but I did spot a cardinal on the main feeder. Always our first visitor.

>30 karenmarie: I remember the Ritz-cracker box's recipe for mock apple pie...could never really get why you'd need a mock version when I was a kid but fully get it now. If I were to make it now, I'd add some apple-cider vinegar instead of the water. Waaay too sweet for me now I'm old.

Have a lovely pleasantly busy day! *smooch*

Duplicate post. How did that happen?

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/354158

>16 karenmarie: Those videos were fun! Jenna certainly looked like she was having a good time there. I was playing the first video and my DH came in from the next room, asking who was playing St. Thomas.

I didn't care for the movie version of Dr. Zhivago either. It was such a hit at the time it came out, I thought it was just me. But it looks like I'm not the only one.

I did enjoy Dostoevsky when I read him, and I loved War and Peace. I haven't read any Turgenev.

>15 msf59: We see red-shouldered hawks in our neighborhood fairly often; or maybe I should say we hear them. We hear them probably more than we see them. Their call is certainly distinctive. Interesting that you're seeing Carolina Chickadees. I didn't realize they got that far north. Although I guess with climate change I shouldn't be surprised. I don't remember seeing any while I was growing up in Illinois. But I did see the black-capped chickadees. There were a couple of years when I saw a pair of black-capped chickadees nesting in the eaves of our house, outside my bedroom window.

>36 atozgrl: I am jealous that you get to see red-shouldered hawks, Irene. I goofed up in my post to Karen- I saw Carolina Wrens not Carolina Chickadees. Duh!! Of course, we get black-capped here.

>31 lauralkeet: You’re welcome, Laura. I did have a teensy sliver last night – I’m talking ½” wide – and it tastes better after being in the refrigerator. In fact I’m having a piece now, along with some fresh blackberries, and coffee. Thanks re Wordle – today’s didn’t go quite as well. I hope you had a good day, too.

>32 msf59: ‘Morning Mark next morning. Double-crust pies with an egg wash always look impressive. I hope your Jackson time was good yesterday and will also be good today. I’ve got a few finches fighting over the sunflower seed feeder but that’s all.

>33 richardderus: Hiya, RD. Apple-cider vinegar would definitely cut a bit of the sweetness. My day was a good and busy one. *smooch*

>34 streamsong: Hi Janet.

>35 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver!

>36 atozgrl: Hi Irene, and thanks. St. Thomas, Birdland, In the Mood, others I can’t remember offhand, all recognizable to jazz fans or jazz-adjacent fans like me.

>37 msf59: Ah, Carolina wrens instead. I don’t see them frequently, but I do recognize them easily when I do.

Wordle 839 5/6* Alphabet soup. adieu, spite, knife, exile, chime

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Treadmill, lunch with Rita, grocery shopping. Back home by 3:30 or so, then a bit of a nap before starting dinner. We had the above-mentioned air fryer chicken, baked potatoes (Jenna and I always split one), and cooked carrots instead of greenery.

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I need to use the treadmill today, and depending on Louise's schedule might visit her. I also need to either find in the house or buy a birthday card for an 80-year old for a party that I agreed to go to tomorrow.

>38 karenmarie: The kind of card you need for an 80-year-old isn't likely to be just sitting around, is it? Or do you think that far ahead when card-shopping? I haven't bought a paper card in a decade, but the absolute right one never seemed to be in my hands when needed.

Enjoy the day. *smooch*

>38 karenmarie: >39 richardderus: I’ve got tons of cards inherited from my dear mama, and there are specific-decade cards for “80th” and “90th” ( I sent the “100th” to my little (he’s 63 now) brother as a kinda-lame joke one year. I wish I lived closer so that you could use the “80th,” Karen!

Have a great weekend, Karen (and Richard)!

Karen O

Good morning, Karen. I'm happy to think of you with blackberries, pie, and COFFEE!!!!!!! Friday mornings mean ¾ everything bagel and grapes for me, ½ grapefruit and a couple of mini-muffins for Mama. After telling me for years that she didn't like prune juice, I gave her some this week (necessitated by her refusal to eat even one prune - her technique being to bite it in half and hide the evidence in two different places on her plate of rejects --- TMI) in a pretty little sherry glass. It has been a hit, and prune juice is suddenly tasty!

(((((Karen))))) not only found a 100th birthday card for my mother but also 101st!

I trust your day leaves you a good amount of time for yourself, my friend.

>39 richardderus: Hiya, RD! I never think ahead about card shopping, except for the birthday cards I bought for Peggy's mama, see below. I'll get an 80th one today when I go out. Treadmill, pharmacy, visit Louise - we've spoken and I'll stop in after. *smooch*

>40 klobrien2: I have a drawer full of cards from various charities I've donated to over the years, all generic, all useful on occasion, Karen. What a hoot that you gave your brother a 100th birthday card.

>41 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Brekkie was a special treat - the tartness of the berries offset the sweetness of the pie, and of course black coffee no sugar was the perfect complement.

My usual breakfast is 1 oz of pepper jack cheese with 6 low-sodium triscuits and some red grapes, so yay grapes. I can't do grapefruit because of some of my meds, more's the pity. I love the story of your mama hiding the prune evidence - Bill's step grandmother Pat would always put her napkin over her dinner plate when done and ask for dessert - Kay always just took it to the kitchen, knowing that half or more of dinner wouldn't be eaten in favor of dessert. Yay for the prune juice.

Yes, I was particularly pleased with myself for the cards for your dear mama, and will get her another one for this year's birthday. Although - I'm getting ready for YOUR birthday next week. *smile*

Today is busy. Treadmill, pharmacy, Louise, although Jenna's leaving for 2 days to visit friends near Lake Norman about 2 p.m. today, so I'll do the first two errands, visit with Jenna before she leaves, then visit with Louise after.

>30 karenmarie: Great T-shirt! Worth it cesarean or not!

>42 karenmarie: It does sound like a busy day! I hope it was a good one!

>37 msf59: Oh, Carolina wrens. We've got them here. They live right around us, and we hear them singing every day in the spring. They're cute to look at, but it amazes me that a bird that small can be so loud. I'm glad you're getting to see a few of them in your area!

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. I had a good time with Jack. Yesterday, we dressed a little warmer and hit the park and then hit the trails. He got to throw rocks in the water. One of his favorite things. Only 42F at the moment. Kinda glad I skipped the camping trip. I am attending a volunteer lunch for my birding club today. We will do some birding first.

Enjoy your day!

Zipping through and delurking so you know I *do* visit.
I am also in the camp of not reading or keeping the Russian heavies. So depressing... though I did think Omar Sharif, Geraldine Chapman and Julie Christie were excellent in the movie. And Alec Guinness has always been a fave in our house.

Saturday *smooch*

Have a lovely time today.

>43 quondame: *smile*

>44 atozgrl: It was a good day, thank you, Irene.

>45 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you, too. 42F. Brrrr. Actually, that’s what our low will be tonight. It’s 63F now, will get to a high of 75F. Enjoy the lunch and birding.

>46 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy. Glad you delurked.

>47 richardderus: Saturday *smooch* back at'cha, RD. Thanks re today.

Wordle 840 4/6* adieu, plait, final, viola. Viola is my maternal grandmother's name, so there's that.

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Got all the errands done yesterday, and had a lovely 2-hour visit with Louise. Jenna headed off to visit her friends and will probably return sometime tomorrow.

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Why oh why did I RSVP to go to the party today? I'd rather stay in, but I bought a lovely card and promised to go. I know I'll have a good time once I get there, and her house is less than 10 minutes from here.

In the meantime, reading and etc.

Ah, our social urges act up. I hope that the party is worthwhile to you and the honoree. (I had a student who wrote "worthwild* and who was quite confused when I corrected him. I'm still not sure what he though worthwild meant.)

Enjoy the rest of the day!!!!

Hi Peggy!

I need to contain my social urges to my bio family, the Friends, you, my friend Jan, Irene, the small bit of local by-marriage family I have here, and Louise. Admittedly Judy's my RL book club and has been a member for 21 years, so there's that.

So far today I've cleaned a cat box, drunk coffee, taken meds, eaten, and reading more of The Running Grave. Small spoiler: I'm liking the chapters that are not Robin undercover - they're very painful to read, although so far she's safe. Here's the Amazon blurb:

In the seventh installment in the "outrageously entertaining" Strike series, detective duo Cormoran and Robin must rescue a man ensnared in the trap of a dangerous cult. (Financial Times)

Private Detective Cormoran Strike is contacted by a worried father whose son, Will, has gone to join a religious cult in the depths of the Norfolk countryside.

The Universal Humanitarian Church is, on the surface, a peaceable organization that campaigns for a better world. Yet Strike discovers that beneath the surface there are deeply sinister undertones, and unexplained deaths.

In order to try to rescue Will, Strike's business partner, Robin Ellacott, decides to infiltrate the cult, and she travels to Norfolk to live incognito among its members. But in doing so, she is unprepared for the dangers that await her there or for the toll it will take on her. . .

Utterly page-turning, The Running Grave moves Strike's and Robin's story forward in this epic, unforgettable seventh installment of the series.

And I'm reading the 3rd in an Australian MM romance series and lovin' it.

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I think I posted this sometime earlier this year, but saw it again just now and love it:

>50 karenmarie: epic, unforgettable seventh installment of the series. And here I am, still yet to read the first one!

BTW - I have always spelled it grEy and I have never lived in England. Maybe because I learned to read when we lived in Iran? Who knows.

Have a wonderful weekend, Karen!

>46 SandyAMcPherson: I agree with you about Alec Guinness!

>48 karenmarie: I hope you have fun at the party, in spite of last minute reluctance to go. I understand the feeling.

>50 karenmarie: Well now it's my turn to blush! I'm honored to be included in that group!

Yes on rather staying in. Whatever the possibilities of enjoyment in venturing out, well they're possibilities rather than the controlled probabilities of staying in.

Happy new thread, Karen!

Wash is the star in your topper pictures this time, a really great (and lucky?) shot!
Of course it is also nice to see a young Jenna :-)

From your previous thread: I hope Inara is still okay.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. How did the party go? I hope you had a good time. I had a dandy time with my birding group yesterday and we saw a great variety of migrating birds. An impressive lunch too. I am having a kick back day today. Books and some football.

GLORIOUS Good Morning, Karen! I hope you get to enjoy this perfect weather!

Judy’s 80th Birthday Party. Judy lives in the original slave kitchen which was renovated as a cottage in the 1970s at the same time Judy and her husband renovated the 1810 Plantation House.

I ended up spending 3 1/2 hours at the party. I saw 4 people besides Judy that I knew - a lawyer we used in the late 1990s now the County Registrar, 2 friends in my book club, one of which is on the Friends Board and book sort team, and her husband, also on the book sort team.

The big, fun question, was "How do you know Judy?" Lots of great answers. The food was marvelous, and I met a very interesting woman who gave me her email address so we can go out for a coffee or something. We chatted for about half an hour, until she had to leave just after the food and before the cakes and etc.

Judy, looking marvelous.



That is a Peacock Sculpture, 4-5’ tall.



The party set up. Food and drink are off to the right.



Facing toward the Plantation House.



>51 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. I hope you can get to this series, starting with The Cuckoo’s Calling. Grey, got it. Iran? Do tell. Thanks re my weekend, same to you.

>52 atozgrl: I did have fun at the party, Irene. See above. You are in the group!

>53 quondame: I had promised to go so I went, Susan. It was a formal RSVP, so they included me in their food/drink plans. Turns out that one of the women I know hadn’t RSVPd but was there. I used my manners and adulted.

>54 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita, and thank you. It was a lucky shot that Jenna took as she came into the bedroom. I cropped it but love it. In fact, I just made the top shot my profile picture.

Inara is very skinny, but eats, drinks, grooms, and has healthy bathroom habits. We give her Meloxicam every 3 days and Cosequin every day. Thank you for asking.

>55 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday, too. Party details above, and I did have a good time. Yay for your birding group. Kick back day is what I’ve got going today. Heh – I’ve got books and football planned today, although my football is soccer. *smile*

Wordle 841 3/6* With more than the usual help from my handy-dandy spreadsheets: adieu, rifle, binge

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Today will be Arsenal - Manchester City at 11:30 a.m. Huge game, last year's Champions vs our guys.

Jenna will be home in about an hour or so, so between her being home, Arsenal, books, and no other obligations today, I'm happy.

Have a lovely time boosting your team, Horrible. I'm glad you enjoyed Judy's party.

Sunday *smooch*

Sunday *smooch* back at'cha, RD. I just posted on your thread, too.

>57 karenmarie: What's with the postage-stamp-sized photos???? I clicked on a couple to embiggen them, thinking they were thumbnails. Zzzt! Well, anyway, nice you could be there and that you did enjoy yourself.

Jealous that you are hugely, bigly engaged with your reading. Don't let go of that engagement.

Enjoy your football this afternoon; may your team prevail. I've been following granddaughter Gracie's field hockey via streaming. Although she's a first year player, she's getting a goodly amount of playing time. She and the whole team are improving. And I am finally seeing the miscues the referees call (well, occasionally I see the infraction).

Hiya, Bill! Thanks for stopping by.

Half time - Arsenal 0 Man City 0.

Okay, I made the pics bigger for you.

Jenna's home, upstairs relaxing.

I'm still seriously enjoying MM romance and luckily are able to keep finding books/authors/series that engage me.

Yay for Grace getting a goodly amount of playing time.

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edited to add:

Male hummingbird at the feeder, had a good long drink.

Hi Karen my dear, we got a very lucky win yesterday with two goals in added time, hopefully this is a turning point for the club and some of the players show the commitment that McTominay showed, this harks back to the days when Sir Alex was manager. He always said that the match was never over until the final whistle and that they should play to that.

It was very sad to find out that Sir Alex's dear wife, Lady Cathy had passed away, she was the rock that enabled him to go on for as long as he did. She made sure that everything was tickety-boo at home and with the children and therefore Sir Alex could just get on with his job, 57 years married and 59 together.

I watched the Jacksonville Jaguars V Buffalo Bills game held at White Hart Lane, sadly the Bills just couldn't get the win but it was nice to see my team play.

Sending love and hugs to you, Bill, Jenna, Inara, Zoe and Wash from both of us and Felix.

>57 karenmarie: I like Judy's style! That was some celebration, but I guess 80 warrants going big. It does sound as if it was well spent time for you.

Stopping by to say hello before we head out of town tomorrow. I'll be offline for about two weeks. I hope you have a great couple of weeks while we're gone!

>57 karenmarie: Yesterday was the perfect day to have an outdoor party. It certainly sounds like everyone had a great time!

>62 johnsimpson: Hi John! Congrats on Man U beating Brentford. You’re right – it ain’t over ‘til it’s over. Nice info about Sir Alex and his wife, sorry for her passing.

The Bills are Your Team? Well, color me confused. I didn't know you had a US football team. I do not have a team yet this year, having not watched the Kansas City Chief play. Bill and his friend Ronnie officially gave up on the Panthers, are considering pulling for the 49ers although Bill still has a serious soft spot for the Cowboys.

Love and hugs to you, Karen and Felix from me, Bill, and Jenna.

>63 quondame: It was a nice party, for sure, Susan. Low key but with lots of interesting people, good feelings, and good food. Judy is one of the most easy-going people I know.

>64 atozgrl: Have a safe time, Irene, and see you in a couple of weeks. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, for sure.

...
Arsenal beat Man City 1-0, with Martinelli (back after a month away with a hamstring injury) scoring the winning and only goal at the 86th minute. They shut down Haaland completely. Made me happy.

...
Brrr. Tonight's getting down to 39. My Sunroom's 66 but I don't want to put the propane on for even a little bit - if I get chilled enough, even wearing winter jammies, I'll head upstairs.

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Tomorrow's a chiropractic appointment at 11:15, so if I get organized enough I'll use the treadmill first. If not, it'll be Wed - Fri because I have a book sale follow up meeting on Tuesday.

I was thinking of you yesterday, Karen, as we were watching the Arsenal match. We enjoy Premier League football but don't manage to watch it often. I was pretty sure you were out there in the virtual stands!

Hi Laura, and yes, I was in the virtual stands. I was thinking that maybe one time in my life I might get to go to a game. Glad you enjoy Premier League, too.

Wordle 842 3/6* adieu, mouth, truth

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Up early, but got a solid 5 hours of sleep last night. The Sunroom was 61F this morning, so I have the propane heater on for the first time this season. It's 37F out, colder than the 39F predicted.

Morning, Karen. Happy Birthday to Judy! Glad you had a nice time. Looks like it was a lovely day too. I have Trail Watch duties this AM and books & Juno in the PM. I spotted my first backyard dark-eyed juncos yesterday. Winter is coming, but it is nice to have these cute little guys hang around for the next several months.

'Morning, Mark! It was a lovely time for sure. The weather cooperated, too. Enjoy your Trail Watch duties, Juno, and the books. Yay for juncos. Winter is coming, but first - my favorite season, autumn.

Inara decided to hang out in the LL Bean kitty bed this morning, and I scooched it closer to the propane stove.

Happy Indigenous People's Day, Horrible. *smooch*

The Judy party looks like quite the affair, and I'm glad you were a part of it.

Enjoy this lovely, lovely weather! Happy chiropractor, cooking, and reading!!!!!

(As to anticipation, the UPS truck pulled up in front of Mama's house just a bit ago. The driver rummaged in the back for about 3 minutes - or was it hours - and took an envelope to the next-door neighbor. Boo. Also Hiss.)

3 Sisters Wordle again!

>67 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, while you are having it cool, we have had 70F in our unseasonal spell and the same is expected tomorrow before tempertures wander down to more normal October temperatures of around 59F and then it is said that they may go back up to 70F next week before finally settling down to normal temperatures for October, very confusing for us.

As if we are confused with the weather, Madeira has issued an Orange warning for continued temperatures above 33C/91F, they hit an October record of 34.7C/94F yesterday.

>57 karenmarie: We went to Iran when I was about 2 years old and we left when I was 5 or so. My father worked for the CIA. My sister was born there.

Judy's party sounds like it was fun!

Morning, Karen. Waking up to 38F. Brrrrr...I am meeting my birding buddies and it will be a chilly start. We going to the Arboretum, so all the beautiful trees will keep us warm. Enjoy your day.

>70 richardderus: Honestly, I’d lost track of the fact that it was Indigenous People’s Day and also still Columbus Day. Bill was pissed because the bank was closed. *smooch*

>71 LizzieD: It was a nice time, Peggy, and I’m very glad I went. The weather is glorious, although I’m feeling the cold. No cooking, but much reading – I’m on page 841/945 of The Running Grave.

Another 3 for me for Wordle today.

And, I’m sorry the UPS truck didn’t deliver like it should, but things are under control now, for sure. *smile*

>72 johnsimpson: Hi John. It’s 43F/6.1C out now, going to a high of 77F/25C today. That’s crazy about Madeira.

>73 alcottacre: Wow, I did not know that about your father working for the CIA.

>74 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you. 38F. Brrr. Bust out the winter jacket! Enjoy your time with your birding buddies at the Arboretum.

Wordle 843 3/6* adieu, trail, snail

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I didn't cook last night, watched the part one episode of Silent Witness but we abandoned the second one. We do not like the 2-episode stories that take place outside of England, and this one was really, REALLY preachy. We'll continue with a new one tonight and hope it's back in England.

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This morning will be book sorting for 45 minutes or so then the book sale follow-up meeting. Probably out to lunch at Virlie's but I most likely won't go, but we'll see. I should use the treadmill instead.

Oh, I'd forgotten that you're ramping down the book-fondling since the sale is done. *there there, pat pat* It won't be for too long.

Virlie's will trump treadmilling, I predict. You're far and away too sensible to waste a chance at good nosh. Have a lovely, sweetiedarling.

Did a bit of book fondling, RDear, then had a 2-hour post-sale meeting, and you're right - Virlie's trumped treadmilling. I also picked up a prescription and filled my gas tank.

Talked with my sister, talked with my dear Peggy, and now it's time to read either the last 70 pages of The Running Grave or start a new MM romance. Or both.

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. We had a very good time at the Arb yesterday. Lovely fall AM. I am doing a solo bird stroll today. Rain arrives later and will be sticking around for several days. I was hoping to take Jack out again tomorrow.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you, too. Glad you had a good day yesterday, and I hope the solo bird stroll is fun. Sorry about the rain coming. We've got wispy clouds floating by, 50F getting to a high of 73F.

Wordle 844 4/6* adieu, south, skulk, skunk

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I finished a MM romance early yesterday (like 1:51 a.m. early), The Running Grave last night at 8:54 p.m., and started another MM romance last night.

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Today is oil change, treadmill, email to the woman who was going to keep her horses here but now it's not going to happen which makes us happy, quick grocery store for potatoes and sweet potatoes, PO run, and then making beef stew for dinner. Oh, and writing The Running Grave review and updating 2023 Books Read and Smut spreadsheets, and October Lightning Round Word doc.

Morning, Horrible. I'm completely shocked, shocked! that Virlie's beat the treadmill. Not. I'm sorry you're not sleeping a bit more...it was a smooth night for me. But then again, most are. Beef stew's the perfect food for this time of year, innit? So deeply satisfying to get the fully melded flavors of the simple ingredients.

Enjoy, my dear lady,

'Morning, RDear, and happy mid-work-week-that-we-don't-worry-about-any-longer hump day.

I literally decided on my way out of the Library to go to Virlie's instead of the treadmill, and am glad that I did. I spoke with book sale team member and Publicity Chair Jayne for most of the time, getting to know her better.

Gonna use The Southern Living Cookbook Beef Stew with Dumplings recipe. Beef, onions, garlic, spices/herbs, potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, and quick dumplings. I've made it before, just not in a long time. It takes roughly an hour.

*smooch*

The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
9/27/23 to 10/10/23





From Amazon.com:

In the seventh installment in the "outrageously entertaining" Strike series, detective duo Cormoran and Robin must rescue a man ensnared in the trap of a dangerous cult. (Financial Times)

Private Detective Cormoran Strike is contacted by a worried father whose son, Will, has gone to join a religious cult in the depths of the Norfolk countryside.

The Universal Humanitarian Church is, on the surface, a peaceable organization that campaigns for a better world. Yet Strike discovers that beneath the surface there are deeply sinister undertones, and unexplained deaths.

In order to try to rescue Will, Strike's business partner, Robin Ellacott, decides to infiltrate the cult, and she travels to Norfolk to live incognito among its members. But in doing so, she is unprepared for the dangers that await her there or for the toll it will take on her. . .

Utterly page-turning, The Running Grave moves Strike's and Robin's story forward in this epic, unforgettable seventh installment of the series.

Why I wanted to read it: Strike and Robin – I can’t NOT read this series.

The absolute menace of the UHC from the very first page of the prologue, when Will’s parents are frantically trying to get in touch with him through nearly the end of the book, is palpable. Frankly, every chapter with Robin undercover is stressful and filled me with a yes, it’s only a fictional character BUT… dread.

Papa J is the head of the church, his second wife Mazu is a power-hungry and controlling force at the farm. We gradually learn about the ‘religion’ of the church, and how the church goes about dehumanizing and breaking people who do not tow the line. Strike and Robin start honing in on the death of Daiyu, Papa J and Mazu’s biological child, with its inconsistencies. Daiyu has become the Drowned Prophet, a religious icon and who manifests at church services and public meetings to recruit new members. There are other Prophets, but only the Drowning Prophet is used to scare people into staying in the church. If you leave, she will come to you and you will kill yourself out of remorse...

Robin leaves a note every Thursday night in a fake rock at the perimeter of the farm where there is a place the cameras don’t cover. Strike and Robin’s cop boyfriend Ryan… yes, Robin is dating Ryan Murphy… leave notes and Strike leaves candy or other sweets. Robin loses weight, grows weaker and loses her mental acuity. She walks a tight line between detecting and staying safe within the walls.

There are things with Charlotte, things with Strike’s Uncle Ted and sister Lucy, and even things with another of Strike’s half-siblings, Prudence, that are vivid and help us understand Strike better. We even learn that Strike and his half-sister Lucy were at the farm with their free spirit mother Leda when it was a commune and still a very dangerous place for children. More and more layers about Strike, the agency, and their other cases make for a satisfying read.

And Robin and Strike? *smile*

Six word review: Atmospheric mystery, vivid characters, Strike, Robin.

Wooo Hooo! I did read your review, and you didn't spoil, and I'm all over *RG*! I'm dipping into a few other things too, most often the next Rockton novel in which Casey and Eric find a Danish woman tourist (they can tell by her clothes) (they know she's Danish because one Rockton resident speaks a little) with a stomach wound wandering in the early spring Yukon wilderness. Good stuff!

Our talk was such a treat! We will do it again!!!!!!!

Enjoy your day!

Happy Thursday, Karen!

>82 karenmarie: Like you I can't NOT read the Cormoran Strike books. I am looking forward to this one!
I will have to wait a while. The Dutch translation will be published in December, and then it will take several months before I can get it from the library...

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. A steady rain falling and it will not let up for awhile. It turns out Sue is helping with Jack today and my turn comes tomorrow, so I will have a rare AM with the books.

Even with the rain, the birds are active- cardinals, house finch and chickadees at the moment.

>83 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I’m so glad you’re reading The Running Grave. Could it have been shorter? Possibly. However, by the time you’re done, you realize every single thing in it is necessary to know before you reach the last page.

So, I just went to Amazon to check out the Casey Duncan series, opened up the first book, City of the Lost, and realize that I bought it on June 19th. I paid good money for it, too. *blinks* It’s now added to my list of 2023 adds and my catalog and I might just pop into it to see if I want to read it. I like the premise.

You’re such a pleasure to speak with, in person (soon…) and on the phone. I’m glad you were able to take the time.

>84 FAMeulstee: Hello Anita, and thank you! Happy Thursday to you, too. You’ll love it, I think, when you can get it. Knowing you, you’ll read it in a day or two. It took me almost two weeks, unusual for me, but Life and etc. got in the way.

>85 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you. Enjoy your rare time with a.m. books. It’s damp out here so must have rained or at least drizzled overnight. A few showers are still expected this morning. Yay for the feeder report. My feeders are completely quiet and I don’t even see anybody in the Crepe Myrtle.

Wordle 845 5/6* adieu, stone, entry, inept, knelt

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The only thing I didn't get done that was on my list yesterday was actually making the beef stew - I didn't check the clock in time and we would not have been able to eat by 6, the latest Bill likes to eat dinner. We'll make it tonight for sure.

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Today's the treadmill, possibly the pharmacy (again... seems like I'm always there...) the above-mentioned stew, reading and etc.

Ummm. Beef stew........maybe next week here. Enjoy your day and read a lot!!!!!

We are finally, finally getting a little measurable rain. It has been mighty dry.

You will not be surprised that I am reading *TRG* every time I have 5 minutes. I don't have Robin undercover yet, but she has been to a meeting in London. Oh boy!
I hope that you do try the Casey Duncan and like it. I think you will. We agree about so much as we find when we talk.

>84 FAMeulstee: Anita, would your library let you put your name on the list now so that you'll be near the top when the book comes in?

>75 karenmarie: Wow, I did not know that about your father working for the CIA. I never knew until I was well into my teens and accidentally ran across a copy of his resume. He never told my sister and me.

I hope you have a lovely day!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/354324

>82 karenmarie: Glad to know that this is a good instalment. The last one was just ok for me. I have this on hold and am looking forward to reading it as I do enjoy the series.

Happy Friday!

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Looking forward to my time with Jackson. It is supposed to rain, so we may be stuck inside. Maybe, I can get him to read a book or 2. Ooh, beef stew sounds good.

>87 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I did 4read a lot, and the stew got made, see below. It’s been dry here, and we got no more yesterday than what I saw on the concrete first thing.

Well, I found City of the Lost on my Kindle and opened it up so that when I sort by Recent, which is the default, I see it at the top.

>88 alcottacre: Wow, that must have been a shocker for you, Stasia. I had a busy and productive day. I hope you had a lovely day yesterday, too.

>89 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver!

>90 figsfromthistle: It’s long, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

>91 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday/Jackson day. Reading sounds good.

Wordle 846 4/6* adieu, plume, tulle, uncle

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The beef stew came out well, although next time I'd probably add either a bit of Tabasco or Texas Pete or even hot pepper flakes, just enough to punch it a little bit. I won't add more salt, though.

Leftovers for tonight, so yeah!

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Today will just be the treadmill plus reading and puttering.

I was still sleeping when Larry from the landscape company started mowing this morning, but I was dazed and kept thinking there were low-flying airplanes or helicopters. I finally remembered it was Friday and that it had to be Larry.

Good Gorgeous morning, (((((Karen)))))! I'm off to grind my morning coffee!!!!!!!

Top of the Morning (so to speak) to you!

'Morning, Peggy! Yay for morning coffee. I just poured my last cup.

Zoe was missing first thing - normally as soon as I step into the kitchen she's there telling me All About It, whatever It is at that particular moment. Usually food, first thing. Well, no Zoe, didn't think too much about it. We saw her last night after the kitty door was locked. I looked for her in the media room stairwell that leads to the garage, which I also checked. We checked various and sundry, upstairs and down, no Zoe. But just now, as I checked the media room stairwell and garage yet again and was yelling out the hallway window for her, there she was behind me. I only knew because I heard the bell on her collar. She's not talking much right now, perhaps has laryngitis from yelling at us from behind a closed door. But, she's found, and that's the important thing.

>94 karenmarie: ugh. That's scary.

>75 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, the temperature here has now dropped to what is expected at this time of year and we are warned that we are going to have the first cold spell of the season.

The temperatures are still high in Madeira and Orange warnings have been issued until Sunday, all this has led to the countryside getting very dry and then some idiot around the Municipality of Calheta decided to make a fire, this has spread and they have had to call in firefighters from mainland Portugal to help fight the fires, there are some idiots about. The only good thing at the moment is that they have arrested a couple of men for the fires.

>96 johnsimpson: That's maddening. We deal with it all the time in California and it's horrendous.

>95 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel! We thought she was okay, but I must admit that we all three had visions of her collapsed behind a piece of furniture somewhere - she's young and healthy, but you just never know. She ended up chatty again by the mid-afternoon.

>96 johnsimpson: Hi John. I'm glad temperatures are normal for you. We've already had a cold spell but not a freeze, so still have many bugs.

Idiots starting fires during dry spells - intentional or not - is horrible. They're fortunate that they've caught the men.

I remember the Bel Air Fire in Southern California. I was 8.

It was

... a disaster that began as a brush fire on November 6, 1961, in the Bel Air community of Los Angeles. The fire destroyed 484 homes and burned 6,090 acres (24.6 km2) At least 200 firemen were injured, with mostly eye injuries due to the smoke and flying embers. The fire was fueled by strong Santa Ana winds.

We lived south of LAX, and ash rained down for a week or more after the fire was out. Another, separate time, I vaguely remember driving home from a vacation, on a freeway, and we drove through fire on both sides of the road.

>97 quondame: SoCal is such a hotbed 🙄 for brush and arsonist fires, isn't it, Susan?

Wordle 847 4/6* adieu, awoke, alert, agent

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We've lost power. It's raining. Bill and Jenna are asleep. I can't turn on the generator by myself, so used my cell phone's flashlight to safely navigate downstairs, made coffee quickly to take advantage of the Bunn coffeemaker's hot water reservoir since the power had just gone out. Kitties fed, kitty door open, I'm sitting here with only the light from my laptop and 18" monitors lighting the room. Beeping from my UPS...

We have a smart monitor on our electricity monitor, so Duke Power already knows about the problem and I've gotten two texts to my cell phone. There are about 1278 customers affected, with power estimated to be back on around 10 a.m.

Normal Saturday plans otherwise - Bill going out to the dump and bringing back take out. The power outage isn't affecting downtown Pittsboro.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. I had a good time with Jack yesterday, although we were stuck inside for most of it. Not much planned for today, just meeting friends for dinner later. Lots of rain in our area and may stick around for the next few days. The birdies will have to wait.

>99 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you. Yay for your Jackson time. Enjoy your rainy day.

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The UPS is complaining, so I may be off LT for a while.

Power's back. Way too exciting a morning so far.

>96 johnsimpson: Glad to hear those (I hope merely) bl**dy fools have been arrested.

Whew, I'm glad Zoe was found.

I'm glad to read that you found Zoe alive and well. I, too, am both alive and well at last. I hope we all stay that way ❤️

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. Any more problems with the power? Our rain is finally moving out and it should be dry for the next few days. I am making a Costco run this AM and then books and football for the rest of the day. Let's see if my Bears can get back-to-back wins. Sadly, they have not done it, in a couple of years. Sighs...

>101 ArlieS: Hi Arlie!

>102 EBT1002: Hello Ellen. She still hasn’t told us where she was imprisoned or hiding, little wretch. She’s already had brekkie and will go outside as soon as she figures out the kitty door is open.

>103 richardderus: Thank you, RDear. I am glad you’re alive and WELL, given your recent challenges.

And so say we all. ❤

*smooch*

>104 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you. No problems with the power, thank you for asking. Glad you’ll be rain-free for a few days. Ah, Costco. I always loved going to Costo, but during Covid we had to source everything we were getting from there other places, and now just don’t bother. It’s 60 miles round trip, and costs more, no doubt, than the $55 we were paying per year to only go 2-3 times per year.

Sorry about your Bears. I haven’t watched a single minute of Panthers football, don’t even know who’s on the team any more. Bill and his friend Ronnie have given up on them this season, and I think are going to follow the 49ers because McCaffrey went there several years ago. Bill, as always, is a Cowboys fan.

I’m an Arsenal fan.



Wordle 848 5/6* adieu, bleat, scale, learn, leaky

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Yesterday was not busy. I read, cleaned out the physical inbox on my desk, and etc.

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I woke up with the gingers on the bed, and at one point had stereo purring. *happy dance*

Plans for today include either grocery shopping or cleaning out more of the garage with Jenna - the workbench, HVAC closet, and freezer area still need to be cleaned up/out.

Reading, of course, will feature heavily.

Ummm. Stereo purring is a GOOD THING!

Enjoy your day. I so respect your cleaning gene. My aunt Jean got all of hers and mine too. I don't have even one.

Hi Peggy!

Jenna and I cleaned/kept/tossed/put aside to donate for about an hour. At a certain point I get twitchy when things aren't clean and organized. I've been twitchy about the garage for a while, and between the major work Jenna and I did about a month or so ago and today, I'm feeling pretty good about it. Another hour with the workbench, an hour or two with the closet, an hour or so with the freezer area, an hour with the shelving, and then it will be in pretty good condition.

We'll be having fresh salmon for dinner, probably with cooked carrots, possibly with baked potatoes.

In the meantime, reading.

Morning, Karen. Glad to hear you got to work a bit in the garage yesterday. It was beautiful here in Chicagoland. Bree dropped off Jack in the afternoon, so we got to hang out with him for a few hours. Sue took him to the park while I watched more football and then played with him for awhile.

Not much going on for this week but I plan to get out and do some birding.

>107 karenmarie: I'm totally twitchy about my wardrobe these days. Since I have to take out the cool weather stuff, I'll have a chance to triage as you did, but it's hard for me to give away anything that still fits and is in good shape. However, there is a call out for clothing for Venezuelan refugees, and I can keep that in mind.

>108 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Sounds like a wonderful Sunday, even if your Bears lost. Enjoy the weather, enjoy the birding.

>109 ffortsa: Hi Judy! I went through my closet earlier this year and got rid of almost everything that didn't fit that was too big. I still have a few might-be-able-to-eventually-wear items. I understand wanting to keep things that fit and are in good shape. I already brought out my mock-Ts to wear with a down vest since I get cold more easily these days.

Wordle 849 5/6* adieu, roast, apart, prank, graph

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Last night was salmon, but I got lazy and made garlic toast instead.

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I've got the Friends of the Library Board meeting at 10 a.m. Possibly treadmill, possibly grocery shopping, but I'm not feeling either yet.

You're meeting even as I type. I hope that it's a good one, and that the friends are thoughtful. Another GORGEOUS day!! Enjoy!!!!!

Horrible, you might enjoy this lecture, 46min, on "How Cozy is Your Crime?" given by Jordan Welsh, on the YT channel Romacing the Gothic. It was really very interesting for the series-mystery lovin' me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60bX9Efn5EQ&ab_channel=RomancingtheGothic

*smooch*

>111 LizzieD: 'Morning, Peggy! The meeting was very good. I took on a homework assignment regarding the layout for pavers which will involve - ready? - a spreadsheet. *happy dance* Nobody's ever cross referenced paver purchasers with the actual location of their paver(s).

We also decided that the Friends will purchase a paver in honor of Linda Clarke, the county Librarian, who is retiring at the end of the year and who just lost her husband.

>112 richardderus: Hiya, RDear. Thank you. I created a new YT playlist and saved it to it. Right now I'm waking up and recovering from dropping my full coffee cup onto the floor, setting off the Very Loud Alarm (which did not wake up either Bill or Jenna). I had to disable it in a heartbeat so moved much more quickly than I'm used to moving, wipe up the coffee, including moving the floor mat. Sigh.

Wordle 850 2/6* I love my first word! adieu, adult

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Today's 2 is a rarity at 4.26% of my Wordle results.



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Today's another busy one. Book sort team at 9, lunch at Virlie's after. Lunch instead of breakfast because I went into the book sort room yesterday after the Board meeting and we have two full racks of bags, boxes, and books stacked on it, plus books/AV on the sorting tables. After, I need to get some cash and might go see if I can get a Covid booster.

Morning, Karen. Waking up to chilly temps. Only 36F at the moment. I have Trail Watch duties, so I will add an extra layer or two. I took Juno birding with me yesterday and we saw some good birds, included red-headed woodpeckers and bluebirds. She was a good girl. Very patient. 😁

Hi Karen, I was unable to sleep past 6 am (CST) today, so catching up on threads that grow like 'weeds overnight'.
I see your love of the Robert Galbraith novels continues. I read the first two or maybe three and for some reason never added them to my "Read but unowned" catalogue. I found them too long and too grim. But for me, that's just a case of the ol' YMMV.

Sorry about the dropped coffee. I knocked over a 12-oz glass of water beside my breakfast this morning. At least it missed the laptop key board!

>113 karenmarie: The donations keep a-comin' don't they! Your library catchment area is full of generous souls, thank goodness. Enjoy your book-fondling time and Virlie's lunch.

*smooch*

I'm happy to hear that your meeting was good. Locating pavers seems a logical and necessary thing to do. Good for you!

Sorry on two counts to hear about the dropped coffee. At least the mug didn't break. I double punched the first digit disabling Mama's house alarm this morning with my fidgety finger. I had to take time to get my glasses to see the keyboard, but I avoided the siren.

Yikes! Power outage for 20 minutes or so, maybe from rebuilding the overpass on I-95? I'm amazed to find my post still here. I'm not finished, but I need to come back later!

I don't know what else I meant to say except that after a weekend of not reading, I'm back with Robin and Strike. I have her through her first week at the farm and him having interviewed Daiyu's grandparents. I don't know whether I can stand not knowing how Robin gets out for another 600 pp or so. Very twitchy!

>113 karenmarie: A loud alarm? If I dropped the cup on Gizmo I could expect an alarming noise (and as Mike and Becky were sleeping of a dissipated day at Disneyland I would have been in trouble for that) but just having it hit the floor? Did the mug survive?

‘Next day’s ‘morning to you, Mark! Happy Wednesday. 36F is pretty cold. We’re at 52F, going to 72F. I hope your trail Watch duties went well, glad you and Juno hit the trails the previous day.

>115 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy. There are just some times we get up after giving up on getting more sleep, right? I’m past behind on threads myself.

There are some authors whose wordiness and grimness just don’t appeal, but Galbraith/Rowling’s writing style has always spoken to me. Once I got past the shock of seeing obscene words come out of the mouths of her characters, it was smooth sailing. For me the love story of Robin and Strike and the mind-bending complexity of the crimes, subplots, characters, and subjects tackled continues to please me. Like any series, I’ll read it until I don’t want to any more. I have quite a few series I’ve abandoned, the most prominent the Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny.

Glad you missed the keyboard, glad it was only water.

>117 LizzieD: Yesterday’s donations were of mostly high and genre-rich quality. I need to start tackling the paver spreadsheet today – I got the necessary pdfs from the Librarian yesterday but between being busy and wiped out from busyness and the Covid vaccine, I didn’t do anything more than print them out. I’ve had no luck converting PDFs back to Excel, but may try again today.

Book fondling went well, lunch at Virlie’s was with a total of 5 of the 10 who sorted, 5 of the 14 on the team.

>117 LizzieD: I figured my unsophisticated but detail-oriented spreadsheet skills could make it easier for Paige to continue with the project. Once it’s done, we can put it or its Google-docs equivalent out in the Google Suites docs portion for Board Members only on the Friends website.

I don’t understand how the mug didn’t break, frankly, but it’s one of my favorite mugs, so there’s that.

Sorry about the brief power outage, glad you’re back on The Running Grave. I found it very twitchy, too, very stressed about Robin’s time at the farm.

>118 quondame: The mug survived, Susan. It was this one, although without the yummy sweetness.



We have a whole-house ADT security system. All doors and windows have sensors, and some of the rooms have glass breakage/impact sensors. The Sunroom is the easiest room to break into, so has the most security. That siren is LOUD. It turns out that Jenna woke up with it, but since it went off so quickly realized that I had taken care of it. Bill slept through it. To be fair, he was a wall, a door, and two more walls away from it. Jenna was upstairs and at the other end of the house, but sound goes up the stairs pretty easily.

Wordle 851 5/6* adieu, slope, tweet, jerky, mercy

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Yesterday's book sorting, lunch, Covid vaccine booster, and fetching of takeout for Bill and Jenna wiped me out. Naps, dozing, reading, etc.

My arm's slightly sore from the Moderna vaccine, so far that's all.

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Today I'm taking Louise to lunch at Longhorn Steak House in Apex for lunch to help celebrate her 89th birthday, which is on Friday, then she wants to go to Target. Spreadsheet-ing and reading will figure in to the day, too.

That vaccine's efficacy is a little hard to endure as it revs up one's immune system, innit? Keep resting until you've acclimated to the new normal and you won't go wrong, dear lady. *smooch* and *schnerkle*

'Morning, RDear! I just posted on your thread. I don't think I'm feeling more puny today than usual as my pain meds kick in. *smooch* and *schnerkle" back at'cha

Happy Wednesday, Karen. Enjoy your lunch with Louise. My feeders were hopping first thing this morning- 5 juncos, 5 doves, house finch and a cardinal. Quiet now.

>119 karenmarie: I hope the arm soreness is gone by now. What a great cup, so it's good it survived. I spilled a huge glass of milky rooibos tea in front of my computer yesterday and my MAC keyboard did not survive. I'm making do with a spare non-Apple one and it sucks.

>113 karenmarie: Everyone I know says their Wordle stats are pretty much a regular curve.

I really need to suck it up and get both my flu shot and my next covid shot. I keep thinking I want to do them on a Friday in case I feel crummy the next day. But then my Fridays and weekends are busy, too!