Lori (thornton37814) Watches Birds with Her Fur Boys in 2021 - Thread 3

Napping Cats. Sherlock, Mr. B, Barney

My cats love napping, but they love bird watching almost as much. This year's theme receives its inspiration from their pastime.

The topics for my categories remain similar to last year's. I split mysteries into multiple categories so I don't have 80+ books in one category again! I took out cats and replaced it with "Older than 50 years" so I would force myself to read more older and classic works. I expanded my "food" category to include other things associated with the old home economics class and called it "domestic arts." I anticipate developing a new genealogical lecture or two that will involve some works that fit here.

My main goal for 2021 is to read more history and social history books. I recently joined an online book club with other genealogists reading a title a month. In addition to the main monthly discussion, they also hold "Bring Your Own Book" nights where we get to share a few minutes about a book we read or are reading. I own many unread books that fit this category and just ordered several more with the end-of-the-year university press sales.

I'll address inspiration for individual category names under the first post for them.

My 2021 Categories:

1. Bald Eagle - Mysteries with a United States setting
2. Puffin - Mysteries set in the United Kingdom or Ireland
3. Peacock - Mysteries set in the Rest of the World
4. Bluebird - Children's & Young Adult Literature
5. Flamingo - Poetry
6. Goldfinch - Historical Fiction
7. Cardinal - History & Genealogy
8. Hummingbird - Domestic Arts (Food, Drink, Needlework, etc.)
9. Sparrow - Religion & Spirituality
10. Penguin - First published more than 50 Years
11. Lorikeet - Other Fiction and Literature
12. Owl - Other non-fiction

Abandoned Reads will go in the category - "The Raven."

Image Credit: Paul Friel, "“Helga” – A Bald Eagle," 2005, Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/34157260@N00/46140365);
CC BY 2.0

The United States national bird!

Category 1: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with a United States setting)

1. Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day - completed 9 January 2021
2. A Death Long Overdue by Eva Gates - completed 23 January 2021
3. Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay - completed 9 February 2021
4. Lavender Blue Murder by Laura Childs - completed 14 February 2021
5. Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates - completed 26 February 2021
6. Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert - completed 13 March 2021
7. Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams - completed 15 March 2021
8. Deadly Anniversaries edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini - completed 14 May 2021
9. Bowled Over by Victoria Hamilton - completed 28 May 2021
10. Fishing for Trouble by Elizabeth Logan - completed 3 July 2021
11. Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delany - completed 6 July 2021
12. Outsider by Linda Castillo - completed 16 July 2021
13. A Specter of Justice by Mark DeCastrique - completed 21 July 2021
14. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly - completed 1 August 2021
15. Murphy's Slaw by Elizabeth Logan - completed 2 August 2021
16. Lethal Licorice by Amanda Flower - completed 7 August 2021
17. Silence of the Lamb's Wool by Betty Hechtmann - completed 13 August 2021
18. Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches by Karen Rose Smith - completed 29 August 2021
19. An Appetite for Murder by Lucy Burdette - completed 18 September 2021
20. Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger - completed 21 September 2021
21. The Thunder Keeper by Margaret Coel - completed 29 September 2021
22. The Cure for What Ales You by Ellie Alexander - completed 4 October 2021
23. The Wolfe Widow by Victoria Abbott - completed 18 October 2021

Image Credit: Henrik Thorburn, "Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) spreading its wings, Iceland," 2010, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Puffin_Latrabjarg_Iceland.jpg); CC BY 3.0

I often read books set in northern parts of Scotland or the Shetland Islands which mention puffins.

Category 2: Puffin (Mysteries set in the United Kingdom or Ireland)

1. Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters - completed 4 January 2021
2. Murder on the Lake by Bruce Beckham - completed 20 January 2021
3. Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 28 January 2021
4. In the Teeth of the Evidence by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 7 February 2021
5. The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler - completed 14 Februrary 2014
6. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz - completed 23 February 2021
7. Striding Folly by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 1 March 2021
8. The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton - completed 27 March 2021
9. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie - completed 20 April 2021
10. Murder by Milk Bottle by Lynne Truss - completed 9 May 2021
11. Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd - completed 31 May 2021
12. Death Walks in Eastrepps by Francis Beeding - completed 2 June 2021
13. The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves - completed 11 July 2021
14. The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley - completed 19 August 2021
15. Flowers and Foul Play by Amanda Flower - completed 22 August 2021
16. The Irish Inheritance by M. J. Lee - completed 30 September 2021
17. Unnatural Causes by P. D. James - completed 11 October 2021
18. A Killer's Christmas in Wales by Elizabeth J. Duncan - completed 17 October 2021

Image Credit: BS Thurner Hof, "Peacock (Pavo cristatus), displaying his tail, Duisburg Zoo," 2005, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Pfau_imponierend.jpg); CC BY-SA 3.0; GFDL

Inspired because peacocks seem to be more populous in other parts of the world such as Africa.

Category 3: Peacock (Mysteries set in the rest of the world)

1. The Golden Egg by Donna Leon - completed 13 January 2021
2. Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker - completed 2 February 2021
3. In the Shadow of Power by Viveca Sten - completed 12 February 2021
4. The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan - completed 7 March 2021
5. By Its Cover by Donna Leon - completed 8 March 2021
6. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker - completed 10 April 2021
7. In the Name of Truth by Viveca Sten - completed 17 April 2021
8. Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer - completed 7 May 2021
9. Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri - completed 21 May 2021
10. Falling in Love by Donna Leon - completed 22 May 2021
11. Mist by Ragnar Jonasson - completed 26 May 2021
12. All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny - completed 14 June 2021
13. Black Diamond by Martin Walker - completed 18 June 2021
14. In Bad Company by Viveca Sten - completed 27 June 2021
15. The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon - completed 16 July 2021
16. The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker - completed 3 August 2021
17. Earthly Remains by Donna Leon - completed 8 September 2021
18. Negative Image by Vicki Delany - completed 29 September 2021
19. The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker - completed 9 October 2021

Image Credit: Blalonde, "Male western bluebird in December on the UBC Okanagan campus," 2014, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Western.male.jpg); CC BY-SA 4.0

Inspired by the nursery rhyme "Bluebird, Bluebird."

Category 4: Bluebird (Children's & Young Adult Literature)

1. Child Whispers by Enid Blyton - completed 26 January 2021
2. I Escaped the Donner Party: Pioneers on the Oregon Trail, 1846 by Ellie Crowe and Scott Peters - completed sometime in January 2021 but I forgot to record it so I'm putting down yesterday 1 February 2021
3. The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha; illustrated by Yuko Shimizu - completed 4 February 2021
4. Snap: A Happy Book of Colors by Patricia Hegarty - completed 14 March 2021
5. The Cookcamp by Gary Paulsen - completed 18 April 2021
6. Alida's Song by Gary Paulsen - completed 19 April 2021
7. The Quilt by Gary Paulsen - completed 20 April 2021
8. McTavish Takes the Cake by Meg Rosoff; illustrated by Grace Easton - completed 22 June 2021
9. We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorrell - completed 24 June 2021
10. Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned from a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow - completed 17 September 2021
11. Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan; illustrated by Taeeun Yoo - completed 1 October 2021
12. The Bookstore Cat by Cylin Busby; illustrated by Charles Santoso - completed 1 October 2021
13. A Traveling Cat by George Ella Lyon; illustrated by Paul Brett Johnson - completed 1 October 2021
14. Lila Lou's Little Library by Nikki Bergstresser; illustrated by Sejung Kim - completed 2 October 2021

Image Credit: Adrian Pingstone, "Caribbean Flamingo, also known as the American Flamingo, at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, England," 2004, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Caribbean_Flamingo.jpg); Public Domain.

Flamingoes seem to be a bird made for poetry.

Category 5: Flamingo (Poetry)

1. The Space Child's Mother Goose by Frederick Winsor; illustrated by Marian Perry - completed 14 January 2021
2. What Though the Field Be Lost: Poems by Christopher Kempf - completed 15 January 2021
3. Good Poems, American Places compiled by Garrison Keillor - completed 23 September 2021
4. Make Me Rain: Poems & Prose by Nikki Giovanni - completed 21 October 2021

Image Credit: Rhododendrites, "American goldfinch at a feeder in Green-Wood Cemetery," 2020, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Goldfinch_%2833612%292.jpg); CC BY-SA 4.0

Goldfinches remind me of "gold" which reminds me of kings. A lot of kings play roles in historical fiction set in the Renaissance or earlier.

Category 6: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

1. Dear Miss Kopp by Amy Stewart - completed 1 January 2021
2. A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel - completed 7 February 2021
3. The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict - completed 10 March 2021
4. The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate - completed 20 Mar 2021
5. The Taste of Sugar by Marisel Vera - completed 9 June 2021
6. Where the Heart Takes You by Virginia Wise - completed 20 June 2021
7. The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen - completed 1 July 2021
8. The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis - completed 26 July 2021
9. Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart - completed 27 August 2021

Image Credit: Torindkflt, "Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis Cardinalis) perched on a bird feeder," 2008, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Male_Northern_Cardinal_At_Feeder.jpg); CC BY 3.0; GFDL

I'm not really sure why I chose this one for this category. It just seemed to fit, and I went with it. Maybe red is associated with royalty?

Category 7: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

1. The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask - completed 2 January 2021
2. The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer - completed 5 January 2021
3. The Conquering Family by Thomas B. Costain - completed 17 January 2021
4. Gone to the Grave: Burial Customs of the Arkansas Ozarks, 1850-1950 by Abby Burnett - completed 31 January 2021
5. They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers - completed 12 February 2021
6. The Passion of Anne Hutchinson: An Extraordinary Woman, the Puritan Patriarchs, and the World They Made and Lost by Marilyn Westerkamp - completed 18 February 2021
7. The Tombigbee River Steamboats: Rolladores, Dead Heads and Side-Wheelers by Rufus Ward - completed 18 February 2021
8. Colonial Mississippi: A Borrowed Land by Christian Pinnen and Charles A. Weeks - completed 24 March 2021
9. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick - completed 26 March 2021
10. D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II by Sarah Rose - completed 1 April 2021
11. The Glass Universe: How the Women of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars by Dava Sobel - completed 1 May 2021
12. The Soul of the Family Tree: Ancestors, Stories, and the Spirits We Inherit by Lori Erickson - completed 15 May 2021
13. The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany by Gwen Strauss - completed 29 May 2021
14. Journeys Home: Inspiring Stories, Plus Tips & Strategies to Find Your Family History featuring Andrew McCarthy, Joyce Maynard, Pico Iyer, Diane Johnson, & the National Geographic Travel Teams - completed 1 June 2021
15. The Family Tree: A Lynching in Georgia, A Legacy of Secrets, and My Search for the Truth by Karen Branan - completed 7 June 2021
16. Women on the Civil War Battlefront by Richard H. Hall - completed 19 June 2021
17. Marcel's Letters: A Font and the Search for One Man's Fate by Carolyn Porter - completed 8 August 2021
18. Brabbling Women: Disorderly Speech and the Law in Early Virginia by Terri L. Snyder - completed 3 September 2021
19. The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore - completed 5 September 2021
20. The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes - completed 14 September 2021

Image Credit: Torindkflt, "Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis Cardinalis) perched on a bird feeder," 2008, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Male_Northern_Cardinal_At_Feeder.jpg); CC BY 3.0; GFDL

I'm not really sure why I chose this one for this category. It just seemed to fit, and I went with it. Maybe red is associated with royalty?

Category 7: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

21. Christ in Camp and Combat: Religious Work in the Confederate Armies by Dennis L. Peterson - completed 30 September 2021
22. Historic Photos of Cincinnati by Linda Bailey - completed 11 October 2021
23. A Nation of Descendants: Politics and the Practice of Genealogy in U.S. History by Francesca Morgan - completed 18 October 2021

Image Credit: Pslawinski, "Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)," 2014, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Male_Ruby-Throated_Hummingbird_Hovering.jpg); CC BY-SA 4.0

As people look out their kitchen windows, they often see the ruby-throated hummingbird at a feeder.

Category 8: Hummingbird (Domestic arts--food, drink, needlework, etc.)

1. A Real Southern Cook: In Her Savannah Kitchen by Dora Charles - completed 29 January 2021
2. Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years by Elizabeth Wayland Barber - completed 1 May 2021
3. The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook: More than 100 Recipes from the Best Little Bakery in the South by Cheryl Day and Griffith Day with Amy Paige Condon - completed 13 May 2021
4. Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet: A Culinary Journey through Southeast Asia by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid - completed 31 May 2021
5. See You on Sunday : A Cookbook for Family and Friends by Sam Sifton - completed 1 July 2021
6. The Secret History of Home Economics: How Trailblazing Women Harnessed the Power of Home and Changed the Way We Live by Danielle Dreilinger - completed 8 July 2021
7. The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor by Matt Lee and Ted Lee - completed 18 September 2021
8. At Home on the Range by Margaret Yardley Potter; presented by Elizabeth Gilbert - completed 5 October 2021

Image credit: Simon Pierre Barrette, "Song Sparrow, Refuge d'oiseaux de Nicolet, Quebec, Canada," 2010, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Song_Sparrow.jpg); CC BY-SA 3.0

"His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

Category 9: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

1. Anchored in Jesus: Holding on to Truth in a Drifting World by Johnny Hunt - completed 10 January 2021
2. Bathed in Prayer by Jan Karon - completed 17 January 2021
3. The Gospel at Work: How the Gospel Gives New Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert - completed 29 January 2021
4. Uncommon Church: Community Transformation for the Common Good by Alvin Sanders - completed 9 February 2021
5. Magnify His Name by Ed White - completed 27 February 2021
6. Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life by Lois Tverberg - completed 13 March 2021
7. Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message by Ravi Zacharias - completed 24 March 2021
8. The Walk: The Life-Changing Journey of Two Friends by Michael Card - completed 29 March 2021
9. Old Testament Words for Today: 100 Devotional Reflections by Warren Wiersbe - completed 10 April 2021
10. 50 Women Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Heroines of the Faith by Michelle Derusha - completed 25 April 2021
11. Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion by Anne Graham Lotz - completed 9 May 2021
12. All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment by Hannah Anderson - completed 21 May 2021
13. The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ by Lee Strobel - completed 6 July 2021
14. Jesus Over Everything: Uncomplicating the Daily Struggle to Put Jesus First by Lisa Whittle - completed 17 July 2021
15. Is God Speaking to Me?: How to Discern His Voice and Direction by Lisa TerKeurst - completed 21 July 2021
16. Be Heroic: Demonstrating Bravery by Your Walk: OT Commentary Minor Prophets by Warren W. Wiersbe - completed 3 August 2021
17. Paul: A Biography by N. T. Wright - completed 20 August 2021
18. God Has Not Forgotten You: He Is with You, Even in Uncertain Times by David Jeremiah - completed 11 September 2021
19. Agents of the Apocalypse: A Riveting Look at the Key Players of the End Times by David Jeremiah - completed 25 September 2021

Image credit: Gary Bembridge, "Gentoo Penguin Orne Harbour Antarctica," 2019, Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tipsfortravellers/33460794478/); CC BY 2.0

Penguin publishes classics.

Category 10: Penguin (First published more than 50 years ago)

1. Good-bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton - completed 16 January 2021
2. The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Roy DeCarava and Langston Hughes - completed 26 January 2021
3. Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope - completed 27 February 2021

Image source: Andrew Mercer, "Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) in Brisbane, Queensland," 2013, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Rainbow_Lorikeet_-_AndrewMercer_IMG08212.jpg); CC BY-SA 4.0

I needed to use the colorful bird that bears my name, so I chose it for the fiction catch-all category since reading genres will vary. Other literary forms such as drama or essays will also fit here.

Category 11: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

1. The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James - completed 14 January 2021
2. An Amish Surprise by Shelley Shepard Gray - completed 13 February 2021
3. The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury - completed 3 March 2021
4. Portobello by Ruth Rendell - completed 15 April 2021
5. The Penguin Book of Ghost Stories: From Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce edited by Michael Newton - completed 21 April 2021
6. At Lighthouse Point by Suzanne Woods Fisher - completed 24 April 2021
7. The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn - completed 2 May 2021
8. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy - completed 10 May 2021
9. An Amish Husband for Tillie by Amy Lillard - completed 16 May 2021
10. The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman - completed 12 August 2021
11. A Season on the Wind by Suzanne Woods Fisher - completed 3 September 2021
12. The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson - completed 3 October 2021
13. The Robin's Greeting by Wanda E. Brunstetter - completed 11 October 2021

Image source: William H. Majoros, "Megascops asio (Eastern screech owl, captive)," 2011, Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Screech-owl-101.jpg); CC BY-SA 4.0

Reading non-fiction makes us wiser.

Category 12: Owl (Other non-fiction)

1. Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can't Live Without Them by Adrienne Raphel - completed 1 March 2021
2. Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World by Simon Winchester - completed 14 April 2021
3. Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper - completed 16 September 2021
4. If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska by Heather Lende - completed 23 September 2021

Image source: Marcin Klapczynski, "A raven spotted on the roof," 2005, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Raven.JPG); CC BY-SA 3.0

"Quoth the raven . . . Nevermore."

Abandoned Reads: Raven

1. Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner - abandoned 27 April 2021
2. Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen - abandoned 3 June 2021
3. Summerwater by Sarah Moss - abandoned 27 July 2021
4. A Portion of Paradise by Eva Zarley - abandoned 4 October 2021
5. Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae - abandoned 12 October 2021

BINGO CAT


1. Portobello by Ruth Rendell
2. The Taste of Sugar by Marisel Vera
3. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker
4. Bathed in Prayer by Jan Karon
5. Falling in Love by Donna Leon
6. The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson
7. A Death Long Overdue by Eva Gates
8.
9. The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon
10. The Gospel at Work: How the Gospel Gives New Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert
11. The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Roy DeCarava and Langston Hughes
12. A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel
13. Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters
14. The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes
15. The Space Child's Mother Goose by Frederick Winsor; illustrated by Marian Parry
16.
17. Murder on the Lake by Bruce Beckham
18. The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James
19. The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
20. Anchored in Jesus by Johnny Hunt
21. What Though the Field Be Lost: Poems by Christopher Kempf
22. Good-bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton
23. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
24. The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook by Cheryl & Griffith Day
25. Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams

Reserved 14

Reserved 15

I hope that's it. LT is not cooperating correctly this morning.

ETA: It looks like I created more than enough.

Book 91. The Taste of Sugar by Marisel Vera

Date Completed: 9 June 2021

Category: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Beginning on the eve of the Spanish American war and continuing into the early years of the twentieth century, this work follows the story of Vicente Vega and Valentina Sanchez and Vicente's brother Raulito. The political situation and a hurricane in Puerto Rico makes it impossible for them to stay afloat with their small coffee plantation. After the war, many Puerto Ricans are promised a better outlook if they will go to Hawaii to work on the sugar cane plantations. Suffering many hardships along the way, the group lands in Hawaii where families are split apart by uncaring plantation management. Vicente and Valentina end up on the big island while Raulito lands in Oahu. They are treated little better than slaves. While promised payment in dollars, they are paid in scrip. The lunas whip the men even for any infraction including the need to pee. Unable to communicate with non-Spanish speaking plantation management, the situation sometimes seems hopeless. The shanties in which they live are poor excuses for homes. The description reminds me of Sugar Ditch, a poverty-stricken Mississippi area which gained national attention in the 1980s. Both Vicente and Raulito are jailed and sentenced to labor camps or chain gangs when they attempt to do something about their situation. The Japanese are in a similar situation as the Puerto Ricans, and Vicente and Valentina attempt to find a way to bridge the communication gap so the two groups can band together to obtain improvements. I didn't know much about the situations in Puerto Rico and Hawaii at this time prior to reading this novel. I wish the novel included a little more resolution in the story line, but not everything has a storybook ending.

Happy new thread!

Starred! And I was able to ID most of the birds without cheating. I'm not good at identifying sparrows, though. Members of a local bird club refer to all sparrows as LBJ's..."Little Brown Jobs" 😁

Happy new thread, Lori. Love the pictures of birds, especially the cute screech owl (that looks very like the saw whet owl my favourite bird).

Your Bingo card is looking great!

Happy new thread! I loved revisiting the birds - you've chosen some stunning photos.

Happy New Thread! I'd really like a little owl of my own. He's so cute.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Lori.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Lori. And thanks for the review of The taste of sugar.

Hi Lori! Happy new thread. I love the bird photos. (Our new address will be on Bluebird Lane!)

Catching up with your thread Lori.
Hope you’re doing well. 😊

>21 spiralsheep: Thanks

>22 fuzzi: LOL about the sparrows! I'm better at bird identification than some things.

>23 VivienneR: I've been stuck on the card. I really can't believe I haven't read a book with an element in the title. I probably should double-check that one!

>24 Jackie_K: I like seeing them at the beginning of each new thread!

>25 dudes22: Owls are quite popular!

>26 rabbitprincess: Thanks!

>27 DeltaQueen50: Thank you!

>28 Tess_W: Thanks!

>29 MissWatson: If you decide to try The Taste of Sugar, I hope you enjoy it.

>30 LadyoftheLodge: I think I'll enjoy your new address!

>31 VictoriaPL: I've missed seeing you all coming to campus! Hope you all will make it this fall.

Book 92. All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny

Date Completed: 14 June 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside US and British Isles)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: When Armand's daughter Annie's baby is almost due, he and Reine-Marie travel to France to visit not only Annie and Jean-Guy, but also son Daniel and godfather Stephen Horowitz. Stephen is a wealthy and influential man. When Stephen joins the Gamache family at a cafe, tragedy strikes when a van deliberately plows into him. Gamache saw the incident and knows it is deliberate. Gamache notices unusual behavior on Stephen's part. For example, Stephen rented an expensive hotel suite even though he owned his own apartment. When he left Quebec, Jean-Guy went to work for a private firm in France, and it becomes a focus in the search for the killer. Gamache does not even trust his old friend Dussault whose department investigates the incident. He trusts only his own family which includes son-in-law Jean-Guy. I enjoyed seeing even Reine-Marie getting involved in the sleuthing. Penny's title, borrowed from Shakespeare, fits the story well. She pulls off a masterpiece filled with red herrings and suspense.

>35 thornton37814: I liked this one a lot too and was relieved because I thought Gamache was getting too predictable. From what I've read he's coming back to Three Pines for the next book, I hope she can keep the the momentum going.

>36 clue: It was the best installment in a long time!

Just saying Hi!

>38 hailelib: Thanks! I'm overdue on going by to say "Hi" to many of my LT friends.

Hi Lori! We closed on our house sale and are moving into our apartment. Thankfully the mess is over now. I am looking forward to getting back to some semblance of normal for a few weeks until we move to Bluebird Lane. I always like keeping up with your threads and comments.

>40 LadyoftheLodge: So excited you have a place to stay until you can get into the new house. Hope the apartment isn't too noisy.

Book 93. Black Diamond by Martin Walker

Date Completed: 18 June 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside U.S. or British Isles)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Bruno plans to go truffle hunting with his friend and expert truffle hunter Hercule. Instead of finding truffles, he and the baron accompanying him find Hercule's body. Asked to help determine how contamination is introduced into the region's high quality truffle market, Bruno goes to the plant to investigate. It appears the region's undocumented Chinese target Vietnamese settlers in several incidents. The mayor faces opposition from a father and son. Bruno, while not in danger of losing a job if the mayor loses, could be reassigned. Then there are the women: his English woman friend, a woman with children he helps find better employment as a science teacher, and his ex-lover Isabel who is working on the immigrant issue. All threads come together for a very satisfying mystery.

Book 94. Women on the Civil War Battlefront by Richard H. Hall

Date Completed: 19 June 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: An interesting account of women, mostly disguised as men, who served during the Civil War. When they were found out, most were sent home. Some became nurses in field hospitals. It is clear the author did extensive research on the subject. One appendix lists the women he could identify by name as well as a few he cannot.

Book 95. Where the Heart Takes You by Virginia Wise

Date Completed: 20 June 2021

Category: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Greta lost her father aboard the Charming Nancy on her way to the new world. Now she must find her place in her 18th-century frontier Amish community. Her neighbor Jacob always seems to be there when something goes awry--like when she fell into a mud puddle or sprained her ankle. Jacob lost his wife and infant son and blames himself for bringing them to the frontier where no midwife was present to potentially save them. Both deny feelings for one another. Both are being pressured by the Amish leaders to marry for the good of the community. As Greta finds a mission in teaching the children, a new family moves in--grandparents who converted late in life and their non-Amish granddaughter Catrina who seeks to find purpose to her life beyond what she found in her parents Philadelphia store. When Jacob begins to heal, will he choose the outwardly beautiful Catrina or the inwardly beautiful Greta?

Book 96. McTavish Takes the Cake by Meg Rosoff; illustrated by Grace Easton

Date Completed: 22 June 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: When Papa Peachey decides to tackle the family baking, his family wishes he'd find another hobby. He's horrible at it. When he decides to enter the town's baking contest by entering a gingerbread Palace of Versailles, they are certain the entire family will suffer embarrassment. Dog McTavish comes to the rescue. While younger readers, particularly those who follow the McTavish series, will enjoy this installment, others may find it a bit simplistic. With the exception of the cover illustration, all others are black and white/grayscale. The illustrations are well-done, but there are fewer than one per chapter. I received a copy through LibraryThing Early Reviewers with the expectation of an honest review.

>43 thornton37814:

This is one of those bits of history that is not well known.

Also, I should give the Bruno series a try.

>46 hailelib: Those of us reading a Bruno every other month are really enjoying him.

Book 97. We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorrell

Date Completed: 24 June 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's/YA Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: I feel a little cheated. My library only had this book available as an audiobook, and while that was wonderful for hearing the spoken Cherokee, I missed out on the illustrations. The book comes from the perspective of the Cherokee people and takes them through each season to discuss things for which they are thankful. It also talks about things from their heritage for which they are thankful. The glossary goes into more depth to discuss the concepts than most glossaries. I appreciated the general information about the Cherokee people included after the glossary and before the note about the sources and information on the Cherokee language and pronunciation. The audio version would work wonderfully when paired with the print book.

>48 thornton37814: I like the sound of that as an audio book but I too would feel I'd missed out on the illustrations.

>49 spiralsheep: It is a weakness. It went on my radar after it won the ALA awards, and this was the only format at the time in which it was available from my library. I put myself on the wait list. I'm hoping one of the libraries get a print copy.

Book 98. In Bad Company by Viveca Sten

Date Completed: 27 June 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries outside US and British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Nora's newest case focuses on a money laundering scheme. The defense attorney for the primary suspect Andreis is sharp so she knows she needs solid evidence to put him away. Andreis physically abuses his wife Mina. She knows leaving him will put her life and her child's life at risk if he finds her. Even her parents are in danger. Nora helps Mina move to Freya's Haven, a safe house. Thomas, of course, warns Nora of the danger she might be in and investigates tips she finds which help solidify the case. Every so often, a few pages focusing on a story of Andreis' family's past before they came to Sweden appears. These pages felt completely unnecessary, and I found them uninteresting. They seemed to lengthen the story without adding to it. As in previous installments, the author creates too many chapters which interrupt the flow. I think having Thomas, a police detective, and Nora, an economic crimes attorney, both as the principal characters weakens the series. The series becomes less believable with each installment. Both characters carry a lot of baggage.

Our kitties made the trip to the apartment with a little bit of adventure! One of them who rode with my husband in his car moaned pitifully most of the way here. Two of them rode with me, and our magical cat managed to let himself out of the carrier by manipulating the zippers. He pranced over the arm rest and into my lap as we were driving over the bridge into Kentucky! He was quite the little rider and enjoyed being held in a death grip while purring as the sun shone onto his head and he observed all the cars rushing past. They are loving the apartment, since it is so small and mostly carpeted, plus they get to sleep on the bed with us. Lots of cool hiding places too.

>52 LadyoftheLodge: Delightful story! Manipulating the zippers sounds like my mom's cat, who is able to open cupboard doors. I lost my kitty this year, so I'm enjoying others' cat stories.

>52 LadyoftheLodge: Glad you and kitties made it safely to your temporary abode.

>52 LadyoftheLodge: While my cats did not manipulate the zippers on the soft-sided types of carriers, they did manage to shred the netting. I had to replace them with the harder cases. I'm glad the kitties are adjusting well.

>53 NinieB: I'm sorry about your kitty.

>54 Tess_W: Thanks for stopping by!

Book 99. The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen

Date Completed: 1 July 2021

Category: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Jane Bell inherited her husband's inn upon her death. A year later, she discovers the inn owes a large amount to a local bank and must come up with a plan to repay it and make the inn profitable so the bank does not foreclose upon it. Jane is uncertain whom she may trust and must rely upon her own instincts to avoid disastrous results. The author presented a cast of village characters that are memorable and unique and certain to provide readers with some additional interesting stories in the future. I will look forward to future installments in this historical fiction series and hope the author's writing improves, making the series more appealing and captivating.

Book 100. See You on Sunday : A Cookbook for Family and Friends by Sam Sifton

Date Completed: 1 July 2021

Category: Hummingbird (Domestic Arts)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This recipe collection focuses on foods one finds on Sunday menus around the country. While the illustrated recipes are nicely done, far too many of the recipes lack photos. The recipes which interested me were ones from my own heritage, and I'm unlikely to exchange my family favorite recipe for another. The book is probably best for younger or less-experienced cooks than for the more seasoned cook.

>52 LadyoftheLodge: I know that probably scared you when he climbed up in the front with you! I would be so afraid of one getting under my feet. You should rename him Houdini.
I have a polydactyl cat and she can do so much more with her “thumbs” than my other cat. One evening I was putting away dishes and she was watching me. She walked over to the cabinet that I just closed and yanked on it. She got it a good bit open before I chastised her. No cat hair on the dishes, thank you! :)

>58 VictoriaPL: A Hemingway cat! Sherlock is not a polydactyl cat, but he certainly knows how to open cabinets when he wants to do so.

>59 thornton37814: ha! Yes, her name is Margot after Hemingway's grand-daughter. We did not like her spelling (Margaux) so we changed it.

>60 VictoriaPL: It's funny you should mention name changes. For the NGSQ study group, we read an article from 2002 where the author found some Germans who came to Louisiana back during the "colonial period." Of course, you end up with a mix of names and naming customs from Spanish, French, and the British, and with translated forms of some of the names, names in the other language of the day and place close to the original language's word, etc. He'd found more than other researchers up to that point by knowing languages. I think the article is one of our favorite of the year.

>61 thornton37814: that is interesting! One of my families is Lankford but due to whatever reasons - language, illiteracy, etc it's often written down as Langford. I'm sure there are countless examples of similar….

>62 VictoriaPL: Where I grew up, we had families with that name spelled both ways in the community. I always had to think about how their names were spelled.

Interesting discussion of names! When we were in Ireland, our tour guide passed around a book on genealogy and name origins. We found out that our name Owen is also related to Owens, Eowain, McEwen, and even Hines/Hyndes. We can wear the McEwen tartan.

>58 VictoriaPL: Yes, it was frightening! I held him in my lap for fear he would get under my feet while I was driving. This cat is bursting with personality, and turned into a good little rider, thankfully, since I was driving with one hand! My husband was driving in his car ahead of me, with the howler cat Ernie (Hemingway) riding in the carrier on his front seat. I could probably have pulled off at an exit to try putting my cat back into the carrier, but that seemed even more troublesome than death gripping him in my lap.

>65 LadyoftheLodge: aw, we both have Hemingways :)
I was going to name Margot “Ernestina” originally but the other half was not having it, LOL

>66 VictoriaPL: My Ernest Hemingway cat and his brother Charlie (Dickens) were both shelter cats, and had their names when we got them. They are both black, but look different in their fur and body shape, and their voices are very distinctive. My husband and I have visited the Hemingway home in Key West and loved seeing the cats there.

>67 LadyoftheLodge: yes, the Key West home is on my bucket list!

>64 LadyoftheLodge: You'd need to look at all those variations (and probably some others).

>65 LadyoftheLodge: After my previous cat Brumley got used to riding, I used to leave the door to his carrier open so he could get out to use the litter box whenever he wanted. He actually preferred the safety of the carrier most of the time, and I'd reach over and scratch his head occasionally if he was close enough I could do so. With three cats, I dare not leave the doors of the carriers open. One would end up under my feet, and they'd probably be chasing each other all over the car.

>66 VictoriaPL: Polydactyls--the literary cat!

>67 LadyoftheLodge: I love visiting the Hemingway home in Key West and seeing all the cats there and around town.

>68 VictoriaPL: You should definitely go some time. I'd like to go back sometime.

Book 101. Fishing for Trouble by Elizabeth Logan

Date Completed: 3 July 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Diner owner Charlie (female) and newspaper reporter Chris (male) once again find themselves assisting Trooper in his investigations when a college age boy who came to help at an area fishery for the summer dies before ever getting his food at the diner. The local doctor/medical examiner discovers he died by gradual mercury poisoning. One college intern (a friend of the deceased) has not been seen for a few days, and his mother flies in from Wisconsin to track him down. I found it implausible Trooper would leave the area in the midst of a murder investigation, leaving much of the work to his unofficial deputies, rather than to his real one. In spite of that, I really enjoyed this installment. Charlie's parents are visiting friends in San Diego in this installment, and Charlie worries they'll move there. Charlie's extremely spoiled cat Benny shows his intelligence by drawing attention to things. I feel the characters are beginning to gel a little better, and Elkview makes a great mystery setting.

>70 thornton37814: I read this novel and agree with your assessment. I like the setting and hope we can get back to Alaska again (which is part of the interest I have in the novels.) I am ready to read the third installment, which is on my Kindle waiting for me.

>71 LadyoftheLodge: I recommended the series to a friend who has really taken to "cat mysteries." It's really fun though.

Book 102. The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ by Lee Strobel

Date Completed: 6 July 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Journalist Lee Strobel sets out to examine many of the attacks against the historicity and deity of Jesus Christ. He approaches scholars respected by both liberal and conservative scholars as he attempts to verify that Jesus was Whom He claimed to be. He looks at the Biblical narratives and other contemporary sources as he examines allegations involving the text, the resurrection, Christianity's origins, Messianic prophecies, and postmodern interpretations. This book is written in such a way that laypersons will understand it.

Book 103. Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delany

Date Completed: 6 July 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Lily runs an English tea room on her grandmother Rose's Cape Cod bed and breakfast property. When a sleazy property developer falls to his death on the inn's property, a veteran police detective wants to place the blame on Rose. A newer female detective with Boston roots realizes his laziness and sometimes works behind his back to help achieve a successful outcome. Many people wanted the man dead, and more suspects continue to be unearthed throughout the course of the book. Delany writes with a sophistication that satisfies older cozy lovers but with enough modernity to attract younger cozy fans. The romantic angle exists in this one as it does in many newer cozies, but the mystery is still the star of the book. I began the book in print, but a headache forced me to switch to the audio book after a few chapters. The narrator did a good job with it. I look forward to future installments.

>73 thornton37814: I've read Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith, both of which I thought were good, not heavy-handed. He was an investigative journalist and it shows in his writing style.

>73 thornton37814: Have read that book and liked it--it was my Sunday School's study for about 6 weeks.

>75 fuzzi: He offers an approach that works well. A friend from Florida went to the Gaither event in Gatlinburg at the end of May. She raved about the author who spoke to them. Within days Kindle offered a sale on that book so I purchased it.

>76 Tess_W: I'm certain it would make for an interesting Sunday school discussion. I read it during my own personal devotion time. I took it more slowly than I normally take things because I didn't want to miss a single nugget. I split most chapters into 4 or 5 readings each. That's why it took so long to get through it.

Book 104. The Secret History of Home Economics: How Trailblazing Women Harnessed the Power of Home and Changed the Way We Live by Danielle Dreilinger

Date Completed: 8 July 2021

Category: Hummingbird (Domestic Arts)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Birthed in the late nineteenth century, home economics originally encompassed far more than cooking and sewing. The field's pioneering women such as Annie Dewey, the wife of Dewey Decimal system founder Melvil Dewey, Ellen Swallow Richards, and Margaret Murray Washington, wife of renowned Booker T. Washington, brought science to women through the new discipline. The field encompassed family life, consumer economics, and much more. The book covers the origins of the field up to World War II fairly well. Its spotty coverage after World War II is a weakness. Think of this as macro home economics. It looks more at the field as a whole than it does as the field was lived out in the experiences of those living in specific states and counties or taking a course at a specific school. It would be interesting to see how experiences differed for a person taking a home economics course in rural Mississippi from those of one taking a similar course in New York City or Boston. I suspect the courses were tailored very much toward the climate in the area. The women pioneers of the field saw home economics as a means of elevating the position of women. That began to turn on them as they encompassed disciplines men though kept women at home and out of the workforce. The field is now called Family and Consumer Science. The author outlines her ideas for bringing back home economics education--and she wants it to take back its old moniker. While the book was interesting, I was disappointed in its coverage of the last half of the twentieth century to the present.

>79 thornton37814:
Too bad the last part was disappointing as it sounded like an interesting topic for a book.

>79 thornton37814: my sister was a Home Ec major in college, planned on teaching after graduating in 1977. She married a submariner (officer) and raised four children, mostly on her own. She once commented to me that what she learned in college was not applicable in real life 😁

>80 hailelib: I realize they were talking about the pioneering women, but they kind of glossed over the 50s to 70s when they began talking about a little more modern stuff. I guess I was just more interested in reading about what it was like when I was in school.

>81 fuzzi: That's interesting because the original vision for the field would have been useful. I really think that in my home town, we mainly did cooking and sewing/needlework in home ec in middle school. (I remember sewing an apron and doing latch hook for a small rug. We had to do our own designs on that, and I did a checkerboard of sorts to make it easy.) I always preferred the cooking. I remember making baked goods and pizzas, but not much else. The ones who took it in high school, mainly learned how to sew garments as they would in a factory, I think. That was the main industry in our town, and many women went to work there. The garment industry, of course, began to shift overseas within a couple of decades, but a couple of the factories continued to operate--mostly for jeans and men's clothing.

Book 105. The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves

Date Completed: 11 July 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in British Isles)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: On a snowy evening, Vera Stanhope finds an abandoned car with a baby inside it. She suspects the mother may have gone in search of help. She leaves a note on the dashboard along with her business card saying she took the baby. She realizes she's not far from the estate where distant family members lived and wondered if the mother may have gone there in search of help. As she is about to leave, a neighbor who went to pick up his daughters finds the body and alerts the household. Since Vera is present, she calls out her team and begins to investigate. Eventually another person goes missing. While I have not read all the books in the series, this one is my favorite of the ones read. I felt I got to know Vera and her team members Holly and Joe as well as most of the families and people linked together by the unfortunate circumstances. While I had my suspicions about the person who committed the deed, I had just enough doubt to keep it interesting to the end.

>83 thornton37814: I love the Vera series on TV, but have never read a Stanhope book. Perhaps I should.....

>82 thornton37814: I think the main portion she found unhelpful was the child development part.

We had Home Ec classes in 7th grade, and I knew I already could sew, cook, etc. so I requested to switch to "IA" (Industrial Arts) so I could learn about wood working, tools, simple electric and motor stuff. I was told NO, as I was a GIRL, and GIRLS had to take Home Ec. I didn't learn a thing in that class, and found I actually knew more than my teacher did.

Yes, that did happen in 1972. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

>82 thornton37814: At my high school you either had to choose a general or a college prep course. If you chose college prep, you could not take home ec. I lived in a rural area, though, where 4-H was very popular and in which I participated--great fun and learning.

>84 Tess_W: I really enjoyed the last one. I'd read the first three previously. I have a copy of 8.5 (the short story) on my Kindle. I think number 4 is on my next in series TBR list so I'll get around to it soon.

>85 fuzzi: In the 6th grade, we all did 2 six weeks each of home ec, fine arts, and industrial arts. In 7th and 8th grades, we took one semester of two of the three. I picked fine arts and industrial arts both years. The home ec teacher was my 2nd cousin. All of my Dad's first cousins were "close," so I knew her pretty well.

>86 Tess_W: That was how it was in high school for us. I was on college preparatory track so band was the only non-academic thing I took. They did offer vocational education. They had home economics, but I think it really mainly prepared the ones taking it to work in the area's garment industry. Almost all of those taking it ended up taking jobs in the garment industry. They also had Intensive Business Training, Welding, Auto Mechanics, Agriculture, and Building Trades (I think).

Book 106. Outsider by Linda Castillo

Date Completed: 16 July 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries set in U.S.)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Fleeing Columbus in a blizzard, Kate's former roommate and now corrupt vice squad policewoman Gina Colorosa finds herself taking refuge on an Amish farm near Painters Mill. A warrant exists for her arrest. Kate distrusts Gina but knows the possibility exists Gina's account could be true so she calls upon Tomasetti with the BCI to help investigate Gina's claims. Gina insists the men want her dead. Will Tomasetti be able to resolve it before the men find Gina endangering the lives of Kate, the Amish man hosting her, and his two children? I am not a huge fan of the thriller genre, and this definitely leans toward it, but this is an interesting case. The blizzard creates an edgy atmosphere.

Book 107. The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon

Date Completed: 16 July 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside U.S. and British Isles)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: A thirty-year-old woman remains trapped in the body of a seven-year-old girl following a tragic water incident some fifteen years earlier. Her grandmother asks Brunetti to investigate. Since things are slow at the Questura, he receive permission to look into the case from a magistrate. He and Griffoni meet barriers at almost every turn until a man linked to the case turns up dead. I loved this installment. We got to learn a lot more about Griffoni and Signorina Elettra's character is always wonderful.

Book 108. Jesus Over Everything: Uncomplicating the Daily Struggle to Put Jesus First by Lisa Whittle

Date Completed: 17 July 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Author Lisa Whittle shows the importance of giving Jesus first place in your life while showing it isn't an easy thing to do using examples from her own life. While many women will gain much from the book, I think women younger than baby boomers (such as myself) would appreciate its writing style more.

Book 109. A Specter of Justice by Mark DeCastrique

Date Completed: 21 July 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: A fund-raising event turns into a murder investigation when two of the actors meet their deaths. Taking place at Helen's Bridge, a ghost was supposed to appear under the bridge, but instead, it dangles from the top. Although a group of Japanese tourists was present and their photos were taken as evidence, only a local photo journalist frames the shot perfectly. Against his better judgment, he framed it that way because a woman in his company asked him to do so. A second corpse appears soon afterwards. Asheville attorney Hewitt Donaldson becomes the chief suspect, and he asks Sam and Nakayla to help gather evidence to exonerate him. Sam and Nakayla attend a church service and hob nob with the pastor and a few members to gain insights. A local bar plays a key role as well. While one police investigator is ready to let Hewitt go to jail for the murders, another thinks things are stacking up a little too conveniently and suspects someone is framing the attorney. Will Sam and Nakayla find the killer(s) and exonerate Hewitt? They determine it may be linked to an old case, so they begin seeking connections from the various persons involved to that case. This book provides plenty of red herrings to make it enjoyable, even though I suspected the solution fairly early. There's just enough humor thrown in to make it fun. With a location about an hour and half's drive from my home, I really enjoy this series for the atmosphere. The strong character development adds to the enjoyability. I listened to the audio version and found it enjoyable.

Book 110. Is God Speaking to Me?: How to Discern His Voice and Direction by Lysa TerKeurst

Date Completed: 21 July 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion and Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: I enjoyed this short Christian book that provided some great encouragement for Christians. I placed her daily prayer on a card so I too may pray this prayer: "God, I want to see You. God, I want to hear You. God, I want to know You. God, I want to follow You. And even before I know what I will face today, I say yes to You."

>74 thornton37814: Late posting on this title, sorry. This is on my list! Your review is the third time I came across this title in one way or another. Must be a sign to read it.

>93 LadyoftheLodge: I like most of Vicki Delany's series (and her Eva Gates ones too).

Book 111. The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

Date Completed: 26 July 2021

Category: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: In the 1910s, Jack Lyon and his family reside in an apartment in the newly built New York Public Library as a benefit to his position as building superintendent. His wife Laura dreams of becoming a journalist and finds a way to attend Columbia's journalism school. When valuable books go missing, suspicion falls to Jack since he is one of a handful of persons with access to the rare books. In 1993, their granddaughter Sadie becomes the temporary curator of the valuable Berg Collection. Once again valuable books go missing, and suspicion falls to Sadie. Sadie must learn the truth behind the thefts of the past and present and find a connection if there is one. While I enjoyed the book overall, I felt some nonessential elements were added to the plot to fit what seems to be a current publishing agenda.

Abandoned Book 3. Summerwater by Sarah Moss

Date Abandoned: 27 July 2021 (or close to it)

Category: Raven (Abandoned Books)

Comments: I'm not sure where I got the book bullet for this book set on a single rainy day in Scotland, but it did not work for me. I read about 1/3 of it before giving up.

Book 112. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly

Date Completed: 1 August 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Date Completed: 1 August 2021

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Escaping a failed relationship, Kathleen Paulson takes a job as library director at a small town in Minnesota. A couple of cats adopt her, but they have some uncanny abilities. They possibly came from an abandoned home where feral cats live. Both cats (Owen and Hercules) can turn up in places impossible for them to do so, and she finally catches Hercules walking right through the door as if it wasn't there. Kathleen's first task as director is to supervise a library renovation but the contractor is slow and appears to be botching the job and avoiding Kathleen. The local music festival's guest conductor turns up dead, and Kathleen finds him. While she becomes a suspect, it's clear the detective in charge of the case doesn't regard her as a serious suspect for long. This book is fun because of the cats! It's a perfect book for a cat-lover to listen to on a long drive.

Book 113. Murphy's Slaw by Elizabeth Logan

Date Completed: 2 August 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Alaskan diner owner Charlie Cookie and a couple of her friends, deputized by "Trooper," the town's own law enforcement official, gets another chance to investigate when a vendor and former childhood friend is murdered at the fairgrounds. This one doesn't work quite as well as the previous installment, and we see that Trooper is able to call in back-up from other places so it makes their deputization seem unnecessary although no one ever suggests it as such. There's not enough diner or cat in this installment and too much imagination to stretch when it comes to believing Charlie and her friends are serving as official deputies.

Book 114. The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker

Date Completed: 3 August 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set in countries other than U.S. and British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: PETA activists target a couple of local farms participating in the foie gras business. Bruno decides the activists may be among students participating in an archaeological dig. They make an important discovery but they also uncover some newer remains. Bruno knows the remains must be before his time because he knows of no one missing. The new magistrate agrees with the activists, and there are some comic elements as the locals teach her the ins and outs of working with them. Pamela's mom suffers serious illness resulting in her being in Scotland. Isabelle, recovering from her injury and adjusting to her prosthetics, finds herself in St. Denis to assist with a political summit. All these threads work together to yield a mostly satisfying installment. Why did the dog have to die? I look forward to the next in series to catch up with everyone in St. Denis. I listened to the audiobook.

Book 115. Be Heroic: Demonstrating Bravery by Your Walk: OT Commentary Minor Prophets by Warren W. Wiersbe

Date Completed: 3 August 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: The title of this one is a bit misleading. When I think of Old Testament minor prophets, I think of Hosea through Malachi. Wiersbe included Ezra which is normally counted among the historical books and Haggai and Zechariah which are minor prophets. I expected this to cover the twelve minor prophets, but it covered only two of the twelve plus one other Old Testament book. I always enjoy Wiersbe's insights, but I felt this installment was not quite as strong as some of his devotional commentaries. It's still worth reading.

This is my last day in the Richmond area as I will return home tomorrow. I spent Monday at Colonial Williamsburg. I went out to the "Short Pump" area to eat and do a little shopping that evening. (I didn't purchase anything other than a few groceries.)

I made a trip to DC on Tuesday to renew my Library of Congress card and get a little research done. (As they only found 40% of what I requested, it was only a little research.) I ate lunch at a little French bistro near the Library of Congress with mostly outdoor seating. On the way back to the hotel, I stopped at an exit that looked like it had more dining options. I found a large chain restaurant with outdoor seating that wasn't one of those listed on the sign and chose it. On Wednesday I spent the day at the Library of Virginia. I did a little shopping in the evening. (I found one pair of pants I liked. They retailed for $74 and were marked down to $17.)

I spent yesterday taking it a bit easy. I worked on the slides for my NGSQ study group in the afternoon and then led it when the time came. I found time to visit two restaurants Guy Fieri visited on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives--Carena's Jamaican Grille and Dot's Back Inn. I got the curry chicken and a side of plantains at the first. Their web site said they were open for carryout only so I placed a to go order. I discovered when I got there they did have some seating available, but I just left it as "to go." I ordered a burger and fries at the second. I loved this little restaurant. The neighborhood it was in reminded me of a village. It was mostly residential with a few little stores and business tucked in. The residences included both apartments and homes, but all seemed to be well-kept, even though it was an older area. It seemed pretty safe. Dot's Back Inn offered both indoor and outdoor seating. Since it was such a nice evening, I picked outdoor.

Today I'm meeting a friend at Historic Jamestowne. I've got about an hour to kill before I need to leave. I plan to refuel here in Richmond and then head on down there. I am ready to go home though. The hotel wifi leaves much to be desired. There is no option to upgrade speed. The air conditioning leaves much to be desired too. At 68, you freeze. At 71 too much humidity remains in the air. Because the bedcovers are not very heavy, you need to sleep with it at a warmer setting because there are no blankets available. The room came with a full kitchen, but I knew I wanted to eat out some while I had a chance to enjoy stuff. I've been lucky to find outdoor dining for the most part. I think the boys have been ready to go home most of the time. The drive won't be too bad, and we should arrive home fairly early Saturday.

>101 thornton37814: you've had an adventure! Safe travels home.

>101 thornton37814: It sounds like your trip was a nice mix of things.

>102 VictoriaPL: Thanks. They seem to have a lot of traffic accidents in the Richmond area. I'm ready to head home. Not so ready to head back to work.

>103 RidgewayGirl: It really was. I must confess I use that LC card to have full access to HathiTrust a lot so this was a good opportunity to go renew it. I drove up to the Franconia metro station and just took the blue line to within a block or two of LC. I knew I needed some "real vacation" before heading back to work so I didn't allow myself to spend all my time in libraries. I think it was a good balance.

Book 116. Lethal Licorice by Amanda Flower

Date Completed: 7 August 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Harvest hosts this year's Amish Confectionary Competition, and Bailey enters to honor her Amish grandfather's memory. Some Amish candy makers express displeasure the non-Amish Bailey can enter the contest, but the event registration took place before her grandfather's death so the judges allowed her to compete. A Berlin confectioner turns up dead inside the organ, and Bailey can't resist doing a little investigation between competition rounds. A missing polka-dotted pig also factors in the plot. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator drove me crazy with her incorrect pronunciation of Berlin. (In Ohio, it is BER-lin, not Ber-LIN.) Bailey is the typical amateur sleuth who takes far too many chances. The budding romance between Bailey and deputy Aiden continues to grow, and his mother definitely pushes it. While more critical of the Amish than most Amish fiction, the author depicts the struggles of an Amish lifestyle.

Book 117. Marcel's Letters: A Font and the Search for One Man's Fate by Carolyn Porter

Date Completed: 8 August 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Carolyn Porter's fascination with typography and fonts began at an early age. She majored in graphic design. After abandoning the corporate graphic design work, she went to work for herself. She wanted to design her own font. Inspired by French letters found in an antique shop in her home state of Minnesota, she began this challenge. She found it was a lot more work than she anticipated. She eventually had the letters translated. She found he worked as a turner for Daimler in Germany during the war, but she knew he missed his family back home in France. She thirsted for more information about the man and his family and became obsessed with finding Marcel's outcome. This compelling story captivated my attention from the beginning to the end.

Have you read the short story Never Shake a Family Tree by Donald E Westlake? I could not stop thinking of how much you would enjoy it as I read it. It's in my Century of Noir that I’m currently reading but doesn't feel hard-boiled at all. If you haven't read it, see if you can find it and if you can't, I'll send you photos.

>107 VictoriaPL: I don't think I have, but I'd probably enjoy it. I'll see if I can track it down.

Hi Lori, I envy you your trip to Richmond! Colonial Williamsburg has long been a place that I have wanted to visit - Jamestown as well. There is so much history in Virginia and in the Washington area as well. Hope you and the boys have a safe trip home.

>110 DeltaQueen50: We made it home safely on Saturday. We had to be back at work yesterday, and there was a faculty meeting today. Fortunately it is one of the most engaging speakers we've ever had--if not the best.

Tuesday was filled with faculty meeting, faculty lunch, and department meetings. Today will be filled by a faculty/staff meeting all morning followed by the distinguished faculty luncheon where retirees also visit. No idea what the late afternoon will include at the moment--probably some of the repetitive project involving clean-up of imported government document records. (I usually hand this off to student workers during the semester if I've got some I can trust to be careful and accurate.) I'm trying not to get too many books ready to be shelved before student workers are back to shelve them.

>112 thornton37814: have a wonderful new term! Hopefully Delta will simmer down and I can visit you for Homecoming
🧡💙🦅

>113 VictoriaPL: That would be nice. I haven't looked at the schedule. I hope it isn't the last weekend of October because I'll be out of town that weekend for a conference.

Book 118. The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman

Date Completed: 12 August 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: What a beautiful book! Taking a new job, Abby moves her family into a cottage owned by an elderly reclusive woman (Iris) who lives next door in a home surrounded by a very tall fence. Abby's husband Cory suffers post-traumatic stress disorder from his service in the Iraq war. The woman next door lost her husband in World War II. His body was never recovered. Her only daughter died a short time later of polio. The woman worked to create the community's Victory Garden that fed many in the area during the War. Her yard is filled with beautiful blooms that Lily, Abby and Cory's daughter, loves. As Cory begins to recover, he finds gardening therapeutic. Abby's family and Iris share many interests and parallels, bonding with one another, and finding a way to healing. I loved this story which will appeal to anyone interested in flowers, colors, or gardening. The ending will appeal to many forensic genealogists.

>115 thornton37814: On my WL it goes!

>115 thornton37814: Just checked and this is on shelf at my local library. This is all the things I like - flowers, gardening, particularly victory gardening, WWII. I am predicting this could be a read in one night book!

>116 Tess_W: So happy to send a book bullet your way!

>117 JayneCM: I think you will love it. It's one of those warm, happy, feel-good books taking you on a healing journey. I just think the author came upon a great metaphor.

>101 thornton37814: Sorry to be late to the conversation. I love Colonial Williamsburg! We visited in the springtime (lovely garden tours) and also at Christmas (lovely wreaths!).

>119 LadyoftheLodge: I'm certain it would be nice at Christmas. The gardens would be lovely in spring.

My local library actually has copies of The Heirloom Garden so I have added it to my list of possible reads. Sounds like a good story for certain moods.

>121 hailelib: I went to work and talked about it. One of the other librarians checked it out so both she and her mom can read it. Then we have a retired cataloger who was in later. I asked her if she'd read it because she loves flowers and believes in their healing power. She wants it after it comes back. I think that one will be in the library a little longer than some of the others. I may even end up keeping it as one out of every five even though we usually retain the literary fiction and non-fiction with curriculum interests.

Book 119. Silence of the Lamb's Wool by Betty Hechtmann

Date Completed: 13 August 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries set in U.S.)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Casey's "Sheep to Shawl" retreat seems doomed before it begins. The hotel decided to rid itself of wifi to provide a more introspective environment. Casey isn't sure this new policy will go over with her retreaters. The hotel manager won't allow the sheep on the grounds so they can get the fleeces. Before the event, her spinning instructor dies from a poisoned cup of coffee. Although police rule it a suicide, Casey doesn't believe it. Another spinner seems overly eager to take over the spinning instruction, and Casey really has no choice but to accept her somewhat pushy offer. One of the elderly sisters owning the hotel plans to marry a man Casey realizes wants to take over hotel operations and place his daughter who is attending the retreat as manager. Casey realizes if this happens she'll no longer have a venue for her retreats. Casey quickly realizes she needs to be more familiar with processes for future retreats so she feels in control of things in the future. On the murder front, with lots of suspects and different motives--and even the possibility the cops are correct that Nicole committed suicide, Casey places herself in danger many times. A secondary plot line ends with a cliff hanger. I missed the interaction in the retreat situation in this installment. We never really got to know many of the new attendees--just a trio of those returning from the first series installment. I hope the author makes the retreat seem a bit more realistic in future installments by introducing us to these persons.

Book 120. The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley

Date Completed: 19 August 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in British Isles)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: A box of poisoned chocolates provides varying solutions by members of a crimes club and by the police. Alternate solutions to the classic case are provided by well-known Golden Age author Christianna Brand and by series editor Martin Edwards. It's written in a narrative style popular at the time but less engaging to today's readers.

>124 thornton37814: Oh, I loved this one! Sorry it didn't work as well for you. I enjoy a Golden Age mystery anyway, but I really liked the cleverness of this one in propounding so many different solutions.

>125 christina_reads: I think it was my mood at the time as much as anything. However, if I'd read this after a genealogical survey I just completed, I would have probably liked it more. I think the person writing the survey must be living on another planet. They promised the survey could be done in 30 minutes or less, but many of the questions pretty much required lots of thought and essays. They were the types of questions one wants to mull and ponder before answering. No one got that opportunity. They also used vocabulary atypical in genealogical circles. The vocabulary was more appropriate to Ph.D. level organizational management courses.

Book 121. Paul: A Biography by N. T. Wright

Date Completed: 20 August 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Respected biblical scholar N. T. Wright offers an insightful look at the life of the Apostle Paul. He correctly bases his insights on first century culture. He examines the Scriptures and looks at recent scholarship, offering his interpretations. He looks at Paul's writings in relation to what was going on in Paul's life at the time. This book will be studied for many years to come.

Book 122. Flowers and Foul Play by Amanda Flower

Date Completed: 22 August 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: When Fiona Knox travels to Scotland to claim her godfather's inheritance, she finds a body in the cottage's magical garden. The body turns out to be Alistair Croft, her grandfather's lawyer. Chief Inspector Neil Craig focuses on her godfather's longtime friend Hamish MacGregor as a suspect. Fiona knows Ian MacCallister would not have trusted Hamish if he'd been capable of murder, so she sets out to assist in the investigation. The more she learns about Alistair Croft, the more she realizes his death must lie in his real estate dealings. Set in a village near the coast south of Aberdeen, most locals don't really welcome an American outsider. An Indian couple is an exception to this. Fiona must question motives of everyone she's met if she's to succeed in keeping Hamish out of jail. I found the magical garden a little odd, but otherwise the mystery was fun. It seemed to come together a bit too quickly in the end, and I felt the author missed out on an opportunity to create a little more tension to make it a bit more satisfying. It's a good beginning to a series.

Book 123. Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart

Date Completed: 27 August 2021

Category: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Author Amy Stewart, inspired by newspaper accounts, created a series featuring the Kopp Sisters. In this first installment, the sisters' buggy was hit by a motor car driven by a wealthy factory owner who hangs around with a less-than-reputable group of mafia-like thugs. Their efforts to recover damages go unheeded. Constance visits the factory where she shows the man she isn't afraid of him. The sheriff aids the sisters in their efforts to recover not only the money for damages but also a woman's kidnapped child, fathered by the man, who went missing. The story fills in much of the back story for me as I began the series with the fifth installment for a book club. I also read the sixth installment when invited to a debut for that installment. While I'm glad to know the back story, I am glad I began with the fifth installment instead of the first. I will continue to play catch-up on the earlier stores while reading the later installments. I listened to the audio book read by Christina Moore. I think she did a good job capturing the essence of each woman's character in her narration.

It often takes a book or two for a mystery series to get interesting. Better to fill in the back story later than decide the series isn't worth bothering with after reading the debut.

I think I found The Poisoned Chocolates Case to be about average but I really liked Girl Waits with Gun.

>129 thornton37814: I have that as an audio book and want to get to it soon!

>130 RidgewayGirl: I think this is a good case for that. While I liked the story, I'm not sure I liked it as well as the later installments. The mystery element to this series is pretty slim. There's a little there, but the life story of the "sisters" is the main line.

>131 hailelib: I struggled with rating The Poisoned Chocolates Case. In some ways it didn't give me the satisfaction of the 3 stars I gave it, but I didn't feel I could give it 2.5 which is probably what I should have given it.

>132 Tess_W: I hope you enjoy it. If you get a chance to hear the author speak somewhere, she gives interesting book talks.

Book 124. Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches by Karen Rose Smith

Date Completed: 29 August 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Derek Schumaker, a food critic who gained fame hosting a television program, visits Daisy's Tea Garden, but before his blog post appears, he dies. The last thing he ate was a cucumber sandwich from Daisy's. Daisy begins investigating to clear her restaurant's reputation. People know what he ate and assume a case of poison when investigators don't release the actual cause. Daisy's employee Foster is hiding something and not being forthcoming in his answers. Her adopted daughter Jazzi needs support when her newly-found birth mother doesn't embrace her as openly as she wishes. Lots of things going on in the installment--perhaps more than needed. The mystery seems lost to the rest of the story, and the solution will likely surprise most readers simply because the mystery's development is lacking.

Book 125. Brabbling Women: Disorderly Speech and the Law in Early Virginia by Terri L. Snyder

Date Completed: 3 September 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Examining records of courts as well as the laws themselves, author Terri Snyder takes a look at women's attempts to stand up for themselves in seventeenth-century Virginia. Most cases focus on York County. Readers will understand women's legal status under a system of coverture. This academic work will not appeal to persons more interested in popular treatments of the subject.

Book 126. A Season on the Wind by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Date Completed: 3 September 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Penny Weaver moved along with her brother Micah from a stricter Amish community to their grandmother's former farmer in Stoney Ridge so Micah could pursue his passion to be a bird guide. Penny visited her grandmother many years ago and remembers Ben Zook from her time there. Ben, who left his father's household after his brother's death, now photographs birds and becomes the first guest in their new guesthouse when he hears about a visit from a rare bird to the community. Penny owns all his books. She secretly creates watercolors of birds. Ben's non-Amish cousin Natalie comes along to the guesthouse. Her husband left her; her business failed; and she needs to find direction. Each chapter ends with an excerpt from Micah's bird-watching log. I wish the author had included "Penny's sketches" of the birds as well. This one is a little "light" on the Amish element, but birders will enjoy it. I received an advance reader's copy through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

Book 127. The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore

Date Completed: 5 September 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 5 stars

Review: Living under a system of coverture, Elizabeth Packard lost her freedom when her husband decided she should be admitted to an asylum in Jacksonville, Illinois. Her clergyman husband's views on religious matters differed from her own. The "unorthodox" views led to her being called insane. Once admitted, the system pretty much assured that a woman who denied her insanity was viewed as insane. Elizabeth saw abusiveness in dealing with patients firsthand and tried to do something about it. Her efforts led to her being sent to less favorable hospital wards or to solitary confinement at times. Hospital staff turnover occurred at a high rate, and those staff members who seemed to side with patients often did not stay long. Elizabeth saw other women in similar predicaments to her own--sane but placed there by domineering husbands. Letters never found their way to inmates, and censorship often prevented outgoing mail from reaching its destination. Elizabeth's determination to be heard achieved results. I don't want to blow the story for those unfamiliar with it. The story kept me spellbound as I wanted to see the reforms Elizabeth's efforts achieved. The book reads like a work of fiction although true. Conversations came from Elizabeth's writings or trial transcripts. The author included modern day politics in her epilogue, and I came close to knocking a half star off the rating because it was a cheap political shot. I detest blind end notes which this book includes, but I understand why they were used when the work read more like a novel. The author's careful research is documented through the bibliography and blind end notes.

>127 thornton37814: Definitely a BB for me!

>138 Tess_W: Hope you enjoy it!

>137 thornton37814: Sounds good to me. Adding it to the wishlist.

>140 charl08: It was a fascinating and spell-binding read.

Book 128. Earthly Remains by Donna Leon

Date Completed: 8 September 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside U.S. and British Isles)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Brunetti needs a break. When he acts impulsively on behalf of a colleague, he ends up at the hospital. The doctor prescribes two weeks off, renewable to a third. Paola knows the perfect place--in a family friend's home on an island in the laguna. Brunetti wants to row, and he discovers the caretaker once rowed with his father to win a championship. The caretaker takes him rowing as he sets out to take care of his bees. Much of the novel focuses on Brunetti's break, but when the caretaker doesn't return on a stormy night, concerns set it. Although ruled an accident, Brunetti automatically begins to investigate with the help of his colleagues. While it's light on mystery, it's strong on atmosphere. Ethical concerns, particularly relating to nature and the environment, are almost always a part of Leon's novels, and this one focuses more on that than the mystery. Fans of the series will enjoy it. Those seeking a stronger mystery element may be disappointed. I loved it, and David Colacci's narration always makes it better!

Book 129. God Has Not Forgotten You: He Is with You, Even in Uncertain Times by David Jeremiah

Date Completed: 11 September 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Dr. Jeremiah offers encouragement to Christians in the midst of suffering. Referencing the current pandemic as well as other incidents in believer's lives, he reminds us of God's omnipresence and of His omnipotence. Some graphics display a little strangely in the Kindle version, but I'm certain they make more sense in the print edition. As a young child, I learned the verse, "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." This is Dr. Jeremiah's point. Those familiar with his writing know he engages his audience as he shares Scripture and applications from Scripture. Christians living in an age of or going through a circumstance creating uncertainty will appreciate the author's words of encouragement.

Book 130. The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes

Date Completed: 14 September 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: When I selected this book to read, I thought it was a more popular treatment of Australia's founding than it turned out to be. Although the book is well-researched, it tends to be slightly to the academic side. Hughes does not spare ugliness from his readers as he describes punishments sometimes received by transported convicts. The convicts were mostly thieves the British legal system thought needed reform. In places the author gets bogged down in uninteresting detail. This book reminds readers of how far Australia has come from its founding to its current respected nation status.

>144 thornton37814: I'm a bit ashamed to say as an Australian that I have not read this. I think when this came out in 1988 it was THE book of Australian history. There have of course been many more written since then. But I should read it one day.

Your last sentence there reminds me of a review I read once on Goodreads on another book about Australia's convict past:

"Britain had some whack ideas. Remember that time they colonized an entire continent with convicts? That was whack."

That always makes me laugh as it was a pretty crazy idea!

>145 JayneCM: I needed something to fit the Southern hemisphere category on the BINGO card. I just typed "Australia" in the Overdrive search. I did look at other countries, but this one held the greatest appeal of all the options I found. I read it a chapter a day (except maybe two the first one). It's pretty long. Each chapter has sections, the chapters tend to be pretty long too. You could potentially break it into about a two month read by just reading a section at a time.

>146 thornton37814: I will have to get to it - one day!

>147 JayneCM: Hopefully you'll enjoy it when you do.

Book 131. Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper

Date Completed: 16 September 2021

Category: Owl (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Anyone who reads mysteries set in the villages of England knows danger lurks everywhere in the charming setting. With illustrations and words about the various settings and people you may encounter, the authors provide readers with the knowledge they need to hopefully come out alive. They even include a couple of quizzes to test your knowledge. The book provided me with some laughs at a time I needed them. The. book would make a great gift for mystery lovers.

>149 thornton37814: That does sound like a good one!

>148 thornton37814: Sounds like a winner! I may not read a lot of murder mysteries, but sure watch a lot of them on Brit Box--Vera, Shetland, Midsommer Murders, and Witness.

>150 christina_reads: It was just what I needed!

>151 Tess_W: You'll still enjoy it!

>149 thornton37814: Looks like a fun read. I've taken a BB and will save it for when I need a light and amusing read.

>144 thornton37814: It's many years since I read this, but the brutality of the convict settlements made a lasting impression. It was a very popular book here.

>145 JayneCM: Definitely worth reading.

>153 DeltaQueen50: Enjoy! It is definitely that!

>154 pamelad: Brutality is almost an understatement!

Book 132. Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned from a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow

Date Completed: 17 September 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: How fun it was to revisit some of my favorite Little Golden Book illustrations from childhood (and from my nieces' and nephews' childhoods) in a different way! With new text to make points about love, the author used illustrations from these books, mostly dating to the last half of the 1940s and from the 1950s era. A few are later illustrations. Credits are made for all illustrations. The back cover indicates there are two others in the series--a general one and a Christmas one. I hope to be able to explore both of these in the future!

Book 133. The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor by Matt Lee and Ted Lee

Date Completed: 18 September 2021

Category: Hummingbird (Domestic Arts)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: When I first saw this book advertised many years ago, the concept intrigued me. I found a copy at my public library. While the recipes are not that difficult and are generally made from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, I didn't find it to be a cookbook that fit the South in which I grew up--the Deep South. Most of the ingredients would not be able to be sourced locally away from the Eastern coastal areas. The flavors are not the ones I crave. Ultimately I found a couple beverages and one other dish I wanted to try. Much of the rest did not even remotely appeal to me. If you grew up near Charleston, Savannah, Wilmington, New Bern, or the Outer Banks, this may appeal to you. If you did not, find a cookbook more oriented to the Deep South.

Book 134. An Appetite for Murder by Lucy Burdette

Date Completed: 18 September 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Hayley Snow moved from New Jersey to Key West because of a man. It's not long until she finds him in bed with another woman. He left most, but not all of her belongings on the sidewalk, and she and her cat moved in with her best friend on a houseboat. Hayley is trying to recover the remainder of her possessions--especially some knives and a box of her grandmother's recipes. When Kristin Faulkner, "the other woman," turns up dead, Hayley becomes one of the leading suspects. Hayley applied for a position as food critic for a new magazine Kristin and another man are launching. For someone unemployed, Hayley spends a lot of money. She spends part of it purchasing food for her food critic writing auditions, but she wastes a lot on tarot readings. I love the cat, and I love that she cares for the neighbor's cat when the need arises. Hayley's character was weaker than that of most cozy sleuths. Although I like some characters and think the series shows promise, I won't be reading more. The frequent tarot readings are more occult than I will tolerate.

>156 thornton37814: I have the Christmas one. It was a gift from my sister, and I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the books from childhood, just as you mentioned.

>158 thornton37814: I am sorry you did not like the book. I have read later ones in the series and enjoyed them. They did not have the plot elements you disliked. However, I started reading later in the series, and maybe the author has improved with experience. I like the Key West setting!

>159 LadyoftheLodge: I should have the other two by midweek.

>160 LadyoftheLodge: It's good to know that the frequent tarot readings don't play into later ones in the series. Maybe I'll give the series another try later. I'll make a note on the series card that you said they were not there. I thought it showed promise, but I have a very low tolerance for anything promoting the Occult.

>161 thornton37814: Your mention of the Little Golden Book series got me into looking for my copy of the Christmas one. I have been working on getting my library room put together in my new home, and remembered shelving it last week. There it was, right on my shelf! Also, I ordered a couple of the others in the series. It seems there are several! Right--like I need more books!

The builder who created my shelves in the library room stopped by yesterday and was impressed with how nice the shelves look with books in them.

>162 LadyoftheLodge: They are fun regardless! Glad you found yours so quickly. I'm glad your bookshelves are a hit with the builder!

Book 135. Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger

Date Completed: 21 September 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: No longer sheriff, Cork O'Connor and his family run Sam's Place. Environmentalists unhappy with tree damage by a logging company show up in town. After a big explosion, searchers uncover a body. John LaPere lost his brother twelve years earlier in an explosion on Lake Superior. He blames the company for the boat's tragedy and his brother's death. He alone survived the disaster. The shipping company executive's wife asks to see Jo professionally, but the meeting results in both women and their sons being kidnapped. Will Cork, the FBI, and the sheriff's department outwit the kidnappers? This strong installment kept me spellbound as I listened to the audio version narrated by David Chandler.

Note: I probably should have given it 4.5 stars because I enjoyed it so much, but I didn't want to rate based on emotion.

>164 thornton37814: I also gave this one 4 stars. I love the Cork books. I was very fortunate to meet William Kent Krueger when he came to town for a lunch and Kay (RidgewayGirl) got tickets. Imagine my surprise to see my name card next to his on the table! We had a nice time speaking with him afterwards.

>164 thornton37814: - This is the next one up for me in the series. Good to know it's enjoyable.

>165 VictoriaPL: - Oooo - how exciting.

>165 VictoriaPL: Weren't you lucky?!!!! I'm glad to know my rating might have been spot-on. I think it was just the best one I've read in a long while. It really probably was more like a 4.25, and I would have left it at 4 instead of bumping up to 4.5.

>166 dudes22: I think you'll enjoy it. I don't know why I waited so long to read this one. I've enjoyed all the books in the series. I've just kept putting it off. I won't wait that long for the next in series--especially if the same guy narrates the rest of the series in audio (and the library has them).

>167 thornton37814: - I put off books in series too. I just have soooo many series to keep up with. I'm just trying my first audio book, but maybe I'll try this as an audio given your enthusiasm.

>168 dudes22: I enjoy listening on my commute to and from work. I kept finding excuses to take a little longer drive so I could listen to more at a time--or I'd play a little more after getting into the library before I needed to open the building.

Book 136. Good Poems, American Places compiled by Garrison Keillor

Date Completed: 23 September 2021

Category: Flamingo (Poetry)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: I wanted to love this book. I love poetry about places, but sometimes the places were more abstract. Sometimes the poetry styles were more prose-like. I expected more poems I recognizes. In the end, the poems I enjoyed most were those I recognized--usually because of familiar song lyrics. There was not a single poem by Carl Sandburg, Mary Oliver, Robert Frost, or Maya Angelou in this collection. I'm sure the author omitted other well-regarded poets. That was a huge oversight. I'm glad I borrowed this from the library rather than purchasing it.

Book 137. If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska by Heather Lende

Date Completed: 23 September 2021

Category: Owl (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Heather Lende provides glimpses of her life and acquaintances from living in Haines, Alaska, a small town on the inside passage best known as a stop for cruise ships. Access to medical care and other conveniences is limited. Death sometimes touches close to home more than one would like. Lende wrote obituaries for the newspaper and the "news" column. The book gives the reader a feel for the area, but it's more of a base hit than a home run.

>170 thornton37814: I am not a Keillor fan at all-of his own writing. It's not surprising that his taste in poetry is "off", also!

>171 thornton37814: I read that last year and for the most part, agree with your assessment. The only difference between it and any other small town is the weather and transportation issue(s).

>171 thornton37814: I have a friend who lives in Haines, and I keep meaning to ask her if she knows this author (I'm very sure she will, if she's still there - it sounds like that kind of a place).

>171 thornton37814: I liked this one a lot when I read it but it's been years ago. I've read others of hers and I didn't like them as much as this one!

And, she does still live in Haines.

>173 Jackie_K: Yes. It does sound like a nice little town. I don't think it would bother me all that much to live in Alaska, but I would not do so because it is too far from family and because of the high cost of living.

>174 clue: This is the only one of her books I've read. It's great to know she still lives in Haines. She did say in the book she didn't see herself moving. They must really like it there.

>175 thornton37814: I occassionally read her blog. It's hard for me to take in that she now has 8 grandchildren!

>171 thornton37814: I also have that book, and I visited Haines, Alaska, which is why I bought it. Haines is indeed a small town and not much there, limited resources, difficult even to find some basic stuff like a hair brush (I broke mine when I was there and had to find a replacement. I could only find a little one at a tourist shop. I needed a belt and found it at the hardware store, which was connected to the grocery/liquor store.)

>176 clue: Wow! I didn't take time to look at her blog.

>177 LadyoftheLodge: Sounds like they really are suffering on the supply end of things. My brother lives in a small town (about 3000 residents) in Mississippi. Their Ace Hardware is located inside Piggly Wiggly. It's about 20 miles to a town of 15,000 where they do have a Lowe's (big chain hardware store). His town also has a Walmart, but it's a 30,000 square foot store back from the old days when 40,000 foot ones were the norm. They are about 45 miles from two major shopping areas. His wife takes advantage of them. (He's pretty content in the small town.)

Book 138. Agents of the Apocalypse: A Riveting Look at the Key Players of the End Times by David Jeremiah

Date Completed: 25 September 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: With an odd mixture of a fictitious story and commentary on biblical passages relating to the end times, this book just didn't work as well for me as Jeremiah's books normally do. I really didn't enjoy the fictitious portion of the book, but I appreciate the author's insights into the Bible. While I realize he was trying to portray the passages in a way they could possibly play out in 21st century America, the book just didn't work. I'm not sure if it's because of the lapse of time between the book's authorship and the present day along with all that transpired in the intervening years or something else that caused the dislike of the fictitious story. I think I'd prefer to read the author's works on end times that do not include a fictitious element.

Book 139. Negative Image by Vicki Delany

Date Completed: 29 September 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside U.S. or British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Constable Molly Smith serves on the Trafalgar police force. She secures the scene when a hotel maid discovers a dead man in his restroom. When the crime scene people take a look, they discover a photo of Detective John Winters' wife Eliza taken years ago. Rather than placing it in evidence, they give the photo to Winters. Outsiders are brought in to lead the investigation but Detective Ray Lopez has a better feel for the case. The investigators just want to arrest Eliza and be done with it. Molly's dad falls from a ladder. He faces hip surgery, and Molly's mom Lucky shows a great deal of nervous concern. Meanwhile, the former inmate with a vendetta against Molly continuously escalates the seriousness of his retaliatory attacks. Off the case where his wife is a suspect, Detective Winters steps up attempts to solve a series of local break-ins. With a little help from Molly, he discovers a pattern and a suspect. That's as much as I can reveal without giving spoilers. I really enjoy this series. While there are a couple of things in the plot I wish had not occurred, I'm still anxious to see what happens. I read the next installment many years ago, but I think I'm going to re-read it (or listen to it) since I remember little of the plot.

Book 140. The Thunder Keeper by Margaret Coel

Date Completed: 29 September 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries set in U.S.)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Vicky moved to Denver to work at a big law firm. She's finishing up a case involving gas rights on a Navajo reservation. Father John's new assistant priest is called on the carpet for sexual harrassment, and Father John hears a confession by a man who was an accessory to murder. Father John tries to find out who is missing. He and Vicky both learn about the death police conclude must be suicide, but they know no Arapaho would do such a thing in a sacred place. They begin working different aspects of the case, arriving at their conclusions about the same time, and both in danger at the same time in different states. I've enjoyed the audiobooks of this series while commuting or traveling until this installment. The audiobook was not available at my library so I had to read the print version of this one. I'm glad I finally did so I can get on with the series. It was a great installment.

Book 141. Christ in Camp and Combat: Religious Work in the Confederate Armies by Dennis L. Peterson

Date Completed: 30 September 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Dennis Peterson used easily accessible sources including many web sites in compiling his work on Confederate chaplains and their work. He devotes chapters to each major Southern denomination and one chapter to some minor ones. Besides presenting biographical sketches of chaplains with comments about their theology in some cases, he shows their influence in converting some key Confederate officers and discusses the attitudes of some figures toward Christianity and its role in the War. Unfortunately the author relies too much on secondary resources when better resources exist. The paucity of archival resources in the notes and bibliography demonstrate the need for more exhaustive research. I received an electronic copy through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

Book 142. The Irish Inheritance by M. J. Lee

Date Completed: 30 September 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in British Isles)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Jayne Sinclair, a former police detective, now accepts genealogical clients. A dying man asks Jayne to discover his father's identity. The birth certificate lists a man who died several years before the birth took place. Jayne leaves her home in Manchester, traveling to Dublin to research the case. From that point, the investigation reads much like a thriller novel, with bad guys out to get her. She's promised her husband to be home in time for an important dinner, but her troubles in Dublin appear to lead to a falling-out in their relationship. It will be interesting to see if they patch things up or divorce in future installments. The book, like so many today, is set in two time periods--the present (2015) and during the Easter Uprising (1916). I'm not a huge fan of the alternating time periods, but at least this one places a date on each chapter. I hope my experiences in genealogical research don't lead to the life-threatening situations in which Jayne finds herself. While most genealogists make discoveries people might prefer to remain hidden, the only ones I know receiving life threats are those working with law enforcement to solve cold cases with DNA evidence. I'd prefer a little less "thriller" action. Still I'll give the next in series a try.

Book 143. Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan; illustrated by Taeeun Yoo

Date Completed: 1 October 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: A night watchman makes his rounds. A cat joins him. He's sad when the cat is scared away, but before his shift concludes, the cat comes back. I'm glad he took the cat home with him that evening. It's a cute story with a lot of darker drawings because of the night setting.

Book 144. The Bookstore Cat by Cylin Busby; illustrated by Charles Santoso

Date Completed: 1 October 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: What an adorable cat resides in the bookstore! The author leads us through the alphabet to describe the cat. I thought a few letters could have had better choices. For example, I would never use "yucky" to describe a cat. The author could have used "yawning" or "young" to describe the cat. Some of the illustrations are exceptionally clever!

Book 145. A Traveling Cat by George Ella Lyon; illustrated by Paul Brett Johnson

Date Completed: 1 October 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: The strength of this book lies in its illustrations rather than in the story line. Well-known author George Ella Lyon wrote the story, and it is one that should resonate with Appalachian children, but I suspect it would lack appeal with most urban and suburban children. The illustrations are beautiful.

>184 thornton37814: argh, stop it!!!

Found a new hardcover copy on eBay...mutter...mutter...

>187 fuzzi: LOL - It's cute!

Book 146. Lila Lou's Little Library by Nikki Bergstresser; illustrated by Sejung Kim

Date Completed: 2 October 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's and YA Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This is a cute picture book about sharing that is certain to resonate with book lovers.

Book 147. The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson

Date Completed: 3 October 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: When her boss fires her for failing to work overtime and she realizes the relationship she's in is headed nowhere, Dillon Michaels moves back to her grandfather's farm in Oregon. She doesn't expect to find her mother occupying her bedroom--and ends up on an uncomfortable couch. En route, she managed to get stuck between a couple of vintage RVs as she exited to find lodging overnight. She discovered the campground rented such RVs and fell in love. She stops at the hardware on her way to her grandfather's and meets Jordan. When she tells her grandfather more about her trip, he gifts her with an RV she can fix up. She discovers she loves the work of fixing up RVs and is good at it! She's surprised when her old boyfriend shows up. It's a pretty predictable Hallmark-type book from there on. As a work of Christian fiction, church-going does play a part in the narrative and Christian witness takes place in forms of prayer and one brief moment with her mom. I enjoyed this book as a change of pace from some of the other things I've been reading.

Book 148. The Cure for What Ales You by Ellie Alexander

Date Completed: 4 October 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with a U.S. setting)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Sloan Krause, Garrett, and others are preparing for a their quaint town's annual Maifest when a woman who seems mentally disturbed shows up, warning her that she is in danger. The woman claims to be an aunt who gave her up to the foster care system to protect Sloan. Sloan's own mother died when she was young, and she was adopted by the Krause family. The woman also says there is a body in her hotel room, and she believes she was the intended victim. Sloan calls the police chief who goes to the hotel room and then listens to the woman. The police chief assigns a tail to Sloan and eventually calls in additional police from Seattle and Spokane to assist as her investigation shows some truths to the woman's claims which might indicate not only Sloan but the entire village could be in danger if the man truly is in the area. This fifth series installment is the first I've read, but I want to go back and read earlier ones. Sloan notifies the police chief when she gets ready to "check something out." Of course, with a tail on her, she's safer than most cozy sleuths. I wasn't sure I'd enjoy a beer-themed mystery, but I found this one worked for me. I loved the local German flavor in the town. I received this through a GoodReads giveaway, and although an honest review is appreciated, it is not required.

I've noticed that many of these mysteries seem to delight in a punny title.

>190 thornton37814: I have read some other books by Melody Carlson and they tend to be fun to read, always with the Christian viewpoint. I enjoyed her Christmas novels too.

>192 fuzzi: Puns do seem to be characteristic of many cozies.

>193 LadyoftheLodge: I've read 3 of her Christmas novels (or perhaps novellas in some cases). I think I enjoyed this one more than those for the most part.

Book 149. At Home on the Range by Margaret Yardley Potter; presented by Elizabeth Gilbert

Date Completed: 5 October 2021

Category: Hummingbird (Domestic Arts)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Elizabeth Gilbert, best known for Eat, Pray, Love, republished her great-grandmother Margaret Yardley Potter's cookbook with a foreward and ten favorite recipes formatted to conform to today's recipe standards. The book includes advice on entertaining, cooking tips, and much more. She intersperses humor along the way. The author seemed to go out of her way to use less popular ingredients such as eel, tripe, kidneys, and such. While I've seen recipes for these in other cookbooks from the era, I usually find more things I consider palatable than in this collection. I think a collection from my own ancestors might look very different. I'm certain regional availability influenced the items in Mrs. Potter's cookbook as the food grown on the farm would have influenced the foods my ancestors prepared and ate. It got old reading the recipes in the original in-line format. I think Ms. Gilbert could have done everyone a favor by updating not just ten recipes but all of them, making it less of a reprint and more of an updated for today's reader edition.

Abandoned Book 4. A Portion of Paradise by Eva Zarley

Date Abandoned: 4 October 2021

Category: The Raven (Nevermore)

Comments: I think I misread this book's description when I requested it in GoodReads giveaway. I thought it was more about missionaries to South America. Instead it's about an American family who takes in a girl orphaned when her South American missionary parents died in a plane crash. The family loves re-enactment and wants to restore a historic home and mill. The vocabulary level is very high for a work of popular fiction. Christian faith is mentioned so much and in ways that it will turn off non-believers. Unfortunately the writing and plot are so bad, I struggled to make it to a point I could Pearl-rule the book. I won an electronic copy through a GoodReads giveaway. No review is required although one is appreciated.

>196 thornton37814: I'm continuously amazed that really poorly-written books continue to be published.

>197 RidgewayGirl: Well - I think this one was self-published. I somehow completely misread the description. I thought it was a missionary biography.

Book 150. The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker

Date Completed: 9 October 2021

Category: Peacock (World mystery)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: When a woman's body floats to St. Denis, her body's signs showing performance of a Satanic ritual prompt further investigation. We become acquainted with the Red Countess, her sister, her nurse, and others as it appears the punt was launched from her property. Many residents oppose a proposed housing development they feel will cause more harm than good. Pamela remains in England caring for her mother. While Isabelle is present during the initial cave exploration, she plays a minor role in this installment. While retaining the charm of the Périgord region, this becomes almost like a thriller near the end, involving multiple law enforcement branches. I enjoyed this installment and fell in love with Bruno's new pup! I listened to the audiobook read by Robert Mackenzie which was great as usual.

Book 151. Historic Photos of Cincinnati by Linda Bailey

Date Completed: 11 October 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: While I enjoyed this glimpse into the past of a city I hold dear, I felt there were too many omissions. Few of the city's educational institutions were included in the pages. None of the famed chili restaurants which had their starts in the decades included were represented. Houses of worship were underrepresented. While I know one work this size cannot contain everything, I felt some things which should be included were not.

Book 152. The Robin's Greeting by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Date Completed: 11 October 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: After the tragic deaths of her husband Vernon, son Abe, and son-in-law Toby, Belinda's daughter Sylvia moves back in with her two children to assist in the greenhouse business. Someone is targeting the family and its business in a series of vandalism incidents. Son Henry is determined to get to the bottom of it. Belinda's daughter Amy is expecting a child. Sylvia plans to wed Dennis soon which will leave Belinda short-handed at the greenhouse. She may be forced to sell, perhaps moving to New York where son Ezekiel and wife Michelle live. Meanwhile two men vie for Belinda's heart. Belinda dated Monroe years ago but chose Vernon over him. Monroe, now a successful businessman, tries to win Belinda, but his bragging attitude annoys everyone. Widower Herschel owns a bulk goods store in a nearby community. He owns the farm Amy and Jared rent, and they help the relationship blossom by inviting all to their home at opportune times. Henry is the only child holding out on giving a blessing to his mother's courting. Both men pursue Belinda, and she knows when it is time to commit to the one God intends to be her second husband. Other story lines involve Maude, a woman living in a run-down home, who stole a couple of chickens from the family and Virginia, the red-haired English woman across the street who spies on the family and hates the smells of the country. Virginia would rather be back in Chicago with her friends, but her husband's job brought them here. I have not read earlier installments in the series, but I enjoyed this. Despite the series declaration this is a "mystery," the mystery elements are far smaller than the romantic ones. The plot bogs down in some places. As in most Christian fiction, several Bible verses are shared as characters share their faith with others. I received this book in a GoodReads giveaway. Reviews are not required but honest ones are appreciated.

Book 153. Unnatural Causes by P. D. James

Date Completed: 11 October 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in British Isles)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Adam Dalgliesh looks forward to ten days relaxation at his Aunt Jane's coastal home in Monksmere, Suffolk. When neighbor Maurice Seton's body turns up in a boat with his hands chopped off, many residents become suspects, including his aunt. Her chopper, stolen months earlier, probably severed the hands. Although the case belongs to Inspector Reckless, it ruins Adam's vacation, and Reckless keeps him somewhat in the loop. The book seemed repetitive in places, and the long drawn-out taped confession rehashed too much of the story. While not James' finest effort, it still rates as an enjoyable one. I listened to the audiobook read by Penelope Dellaporta whose accent gave it the classic British cozy feel.

Abandoned Book 5. Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae

Date Abandoned: 12 October 2021

Category: Raven (Nevermore = Abandoned Reads)

Comments: I wanted to like this book. It was set in East Tennessee and featured needlework. The characters are flat. The narrative fails to engage the reader. The paranormal angle is just too strange--even for an area with a lot of ghost stories. About 30% of the way into the book, I finally gave up.

I am glad to see I am not the only one who gives up on novels sometimes. I just rated one recently with 2 stars, which is really bad for me. I wanted to like the book, but ended up skimming it and reading the last chapter to see how it ended.

>204 LadyoftheLodge: I've given up on two recently. I think my tolerance for really bad stuff is pretty low at the moment.

>205 thornton37814: I agree, I do not want to waste the time on bad reading when there is so much out there that I want to read. BTW, I am slowly re-acquiring some of the books I got rid of when we moved and I "murdered my library." What was I thinking???!!!

Book 154. A Killer's Christmas in Wales by Elizabeth J. Duncan

Date Completed: 17 October 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in British Isles)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: While remodeling the new spa location, a female body was discovered. While the police work on that, a con man scamming gullible women takes Mrs. Lloyd for 20,000 pounds. The man ends up dead at Conwy Castle a few days later, making a couple of Penny's clients the prime suspects. A rash of small thefts hits town, and they seem to be tied to a thrift shop. Gradually pieces fall in place, assisted by the recovery of some stolen items. It even features a guest appearance Dorothy Martin of the Jeanne Dams series. This pleasant cozy makes an enjoyable, although perhaps too coincidental, Christmas read.

Book 155. The Wolfe Widow by Victoria Abbott

Date Completed: 18 October 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. Setting)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Muriel Delgado shows up demanding to see Vera Van Alst. In spite of Jordan's attempts to put her off, she barges in. The next morning Jordan is fired and Muriel moves in. Jordan isn't sure what Muriel wants, but she knows Vera is in danger. When reports from her Uncle Kev and the Senora give her glimpses of what's going on, she knows she is right. As she begins to investigate Muriel's past, she's almost killed in a hit and run accident. Complicating things, most of Jordan's friends are unavailable to help her, and the officer in charge of the case appears to be linked to Muriel. This series differs from most cozies because Jordan's family doesn't always do the lawful thing. In this installment, Jordan follows the manner of Archie Goodwin in the Nero Wolfe novels. One secondary plot element felt only partially resolved at the end. Perhaps it is where the author picks up the next installment, but I felt the resolution needed to be in this book. I listened to the audiobook.

Book 156. A Nation of Descendants: Politics and the Practice of Genealogy in U.S. History by Francesca Morgan

Date Completed: 18 October 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Author Francesca Morgan begins her history of American genealogy by discussing its roots in elevating persons of European ancestry above others. She argues lineage societies favored English ancestry over descent from other populations. While some small gains were made before Alex Haley's Roots captivated audiences both in print and on TV, the work became a turning point in genealogical studies. She discusses the impact of the work on genealogy and the rise in genealogical research among non-white populations. She also discusses the impact of direct-to-consumer DNA testing. The book's academic tone will turn some readers off. Long sentences abound, making it necessary to re-read some sentences multiple times to fully comprehend the author's point. It becomes less tedious to read as the history moves into portions of history witnessed by the reader. Morgan did research her topic thoroughly, and although I may not agree with all points she made due to philosophical differences, it is not because she failed to include certain key points. Her bibliography should provide genealogists plenty of "book bullets" to study as they delve further into the history of American genealogy. She made some interesting points about the disconnect between professional genealogists and recreational ones. She also made some interesting comments regarding genealogy's commercialization in the post-Roots years. I am anxious to see how the book resonates with genealogists active in the 1970s or earlier, especially one genealogist mentioned multiple times whom I consider a mentor. I think Morgan's work will provide fodder for discussion within the genealogical community.

Book 157. Make Me Rain: Poems & Prose by Nikki Giovanni

Date Completed: 21 October 2021

Category: Flamingo (Poetry)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: I enjoyed this collection of poems. So much reminded me of simpler times. Recurring themes involved quilts, soup, and the culture of African-ancestored people. There are a few short prose pieces in the mix, but they are short. The overwhelming majority of the work showcases Giovanni's lovely poetic style.

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