It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - June 22

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. 

Happy Monday! Hope you had a nice week. Ours was busy. In addition to work, we drove to Maine to get the rest of the Lil' Princess' things set up for when she arrives there in July. We did that all in one day, so at least we know that it's a manageable one-day trip. Thankfully, we will get about a week with her in North Carolina before she flies to Maine to start her new job.

Speaking of jobs, real estate broke me last week. Too long to get into, but I am in the process of regrouping and wondering if I really can do this until I retire. Time will tell. 

Hope all the dads and dad figures enjoyed their Father's Day. My heart goes out to anyone who is missing their dad. We went out with the Lil' Diva and her husband for a few hours. Then we hung out at home. The Christmas lights finally came off the front of the house. I am sure my neighbors will be thrilled. Lil' Diva has had our ladder since last year. We finally got it back so we could reach the lights. 

Here are a couple of photos from last week:

Rick's Place had the grand opening of our new space

Theo on the road to Maine

In my reading world, I now have three reviews to write. I finished Digital Detox for Remote Workers: Reclaim Your Focus, Productivity, and Work-Life Balance in the Digital Age by Dr. Guenter H. Schamel.

Then I started listening to Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. This book is probably the only reason I didn't go homicidal last week. 

I picked up The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller again, but I really need to stick to my review schedule, which is a total mess right now. 

I need to finish The Ledger by Steven Manchester, a companion to his novel The Menu. 

I didn't pick up The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles, but it is in my backpack for vacation.

I started Love on the Shelf by Sheila Roberts, which came out in May. This is also in my backpack. 

Staged by Caitlin Rother, which is the sequel to Hooked. Wanted to have it finished this month. Not likely, but will definitely keep reading. 

These are next:

The Ghost and the Key is the first book in Bill Cusano's The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club series. I am reading this series this summer. 

The second book of The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club is The Widow Murderess. 

Book three is The Sparrow and the Crow. All of these are July reviews. 

Massawa by Pam Weber is a book that I will also take on vacation. 

Joyce McCullough sent me a copy of Max and Her Stacks and Look for the Pink Ribbons to review. 

Photo credit: Freepik

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

Thanks to last week's blogging wishes on Tuesday, I received this book in the mail.

Jaime Jo Wright is one of my favorite authors. Thanks to the person who gifted me Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse. I truly appreciate that you thought of me. 

Upcoming Events

The Ledger by Steven Manchester - June (Review)

Staged by Caitlin Rother - June (Review)

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Ghost and the Key by Bill Cusano - July 1 (Review)

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Widow Murderess by Bill Cusano - July 8 (Review)

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Sparrow and the Crow by Bill Cusano - July 10 (Review)

Massawa by Pam Weber - July (Review)

Love on the Shelf by Sheila Roberts - (Review)

Christmas Year Round

Last week's Journey through Christmases Past celebrated TV dads through the decades. You can read it here. 

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

 Nothing new this week, but will be reviewing Joyce's books soon.

Laura's Little Houses

Nothing new this week. Likely won't be until vacation time in July. 

I will be honest and say it will likely be tonight before I visit your blogs. I have appointments starting at 9:00 and ending at 3:30. Then I need to come home and do family stuff. Say a prayer that I last until we leave on vacation Friday evening. 

Book Review and Giveaway: The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright

 

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall is another superb Gothic fiction novel by Jaime Jo Wright. 

In 1890, the bell tolls, signaling death at Traeger Hall. Waverly Pembrooke, her aunt and uncle's ward, is left alone and, with no alternative, is forced to execute the unusual terms of her paranoid uncle's will. 

When Jennie Phillips inherits the long-abandoned property at Traeger Hall, she has no idea how much the past will intrude upon her life. But a modern cold case increases the mystery surrounding the estate, and Jennie's determination to move beyond her family's past puts her in harm's way. 

Wow! Amazing! Oustanding! Loved everything about Wright's latest novel. Wish I could read it all over again. Wright weaves two women's stories together to create a suspenseful story filled with danger, family secrets, and unexpected twists and turns that keep you turning page after page. 

When Leopold and Cornelia Traegar are murdered, they leave behind a will that Waverly Pembrooke has no choice but to abide by. It leaves her with more questions than answers. An awkward friendship with undertaker Titus Fitzgerald unsettles their ward, but with only one housemaid willing to return to the estate, what is Waverly to do? When an unexpected guest arrives to take charge, Waverly can't help but be suspicious of his motives. Waverly soon discovers her uncle and Traeger Hall hold many secrets. 

In the present day, Jennie Phillips isn't quite sure how she will deal with unloading all the properties her father amassed before his death, and now that her mother is gone, she has no choice but to settle the estate. But her mother held a certain interest in Traeger Hall, and Jennie travels to the town of Newton Creek to see what she can find out. Though Leopold Traeger died long ago, Jennie discovers he and his abandoned estate have a legacy that continues to threaten the once thriving town. 

Masterfully written, this Christian Gothic suspense novel with a hint of romance is just the right book to pick up if you want a captivating novel inspired by historical events. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F2PJQD15
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bethany House Publishers
• Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 21, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 2.8 MB
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled 
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled 
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 327 pages 
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1493451364

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

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THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL by Jaime Jo Wright (book + gift card)

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Oct 27

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Hello, everyone. Hope you had a nice week. It is the wee hours of Monday morning, and my mind is rambling. It was an emotional weekend. The Lil' Diva moved into her new house. It's quiet here. No TV show noises coming from across the hallway. No loud conversations as she Facetimes friends. No music. Just quiet. Well, except for Dwight scratching at her bedroom door to be let in. But her bed isn't there. She isn't there. I thought I was ready, but I wasn't. Still, I am thrilled for her as she embarks upon this new chapter in her life.

Here are a few photos from the week:

Moving day

Travis and Boots hanging 

in the Lil' Princess' Room

Dwight waiting by the Lil' Diva's door

Theo keeping me from making the bed

In my reading world, I finished The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright. Amazing book! Look for my review and a giveaway later this week. 

I didn't touch The Curiosities by W.H. Eatons this week, but it archives in twelve days, so I need to get going.  

I started The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts. My review is coming soon. 

Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson will be next. 

I want to read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas during the holiday season. 

Eager to read Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron for a November review. 

Also looking forward to reviewing Charlie Can't Sleep by Rachel Joy Welcher.

Will be posting a First Chapter Review of A Quarterback for Christmas by Linda West in November.

Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein will also be archived in twelve days. 

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

I picked up Thistlewood Manor: A Speakeasy Demise by Fiona Grace as part of Chirp's sale on Friday. 

Upcoming Events

• The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright - Oct 29 (Review)
• One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches by Kayleigh Kavanagh - Oct 30 (Spotlight)
• The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts - Oct 31 (Review)
• The Neighbor and the Gifts by Danielle Grandinetti - Nov 1 (Spotlight)
• A Quarterback for Christmas by Linda West - Nov 13 (First Chapter Review)
• Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson - Nov 25 (Review)
• Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron - Nov 27 (Review)

This week's Christmas... in the news post is up at Christmas Year Round. This week, we are talking about guest artists for the Tabernacle Choir, the Sharing Christmas Store, and Pottery Barn's traditional Christmas decor. You can find that post here.

Check out my interview with Danielle Grandinetti, author of The Neighbor and the Gifts. You can find that here.

Nothing new at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection this week.

Nothing new at Laura's Little Houses either, but I have ideas. 

That is it from my little corner of the blogosphere. Enjoy your Monday!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Oct 20

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday! I'm writing this late on Sunday, so if you come across typos, please give me a bit of grace. I'm exhausted. This last week was filled with appointments, meetings, a play in support of a local nonprofit, and a writers conference. Here are a few photos:

Greenfield Community College, where I attended a writers conference on Saturday

Spent last Monday replenishing my marketing material

Play to support Alianza DV Services

Theo warmed up with his coat on a cold and wet day

The week ahead has two closings, meetings, a training session, and photos for a new listing. All good stuff.

In books. I reviewed Eleanor Roosevelt's Nightly Prayer by Donn Mitchell. You can find it here.

I continued reading The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright this week. Need to pick up the pace if I am to finish both October books. 

I read a bit of The Curiosities by W.H. Eatons, a middle-grade novel that I downloaded from NetGalley. 

The Man Next Door, another romantic comedy by Sheila Roberts, is next.

Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson is still on pause as I read October books. 

I want to read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas during the holiday season. 

Eager to read Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron for a November review. 

Also looking forward to reviewing Charlie Can't Sleep by Rachel Joy Welcher.

Will be posting a First Chapter Review of A Quarterback for Christmas by Linda West in November.

Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein is a middle-grade NetGalley download I need to read. 

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

Proving that I am my own worst enemy, I added two new titles to my review pile and then grabbed a bunch of Kindle freebies. 

Upcoming Events

• The Neighbor and the Gifts by Danielle Grandinetti - Oct 23 (Spotlight)
• The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright - Oct 29 (Review)
• One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches by Kayleigh Kavanagh - Oct 30 (Spotlight)
• The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts - Oct 31 (Review)
• A Quarterback for Christmas by Linda West - Nov 13 (First Chapter Review)
• Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson - Nov 25 (Review)
• Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron - Nov 27 (Review)

This week's Christmas... in the news post is up at Christmas Year Round. We are talking about Netflix Christmas movie premieres, the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll, and Christmas at Wooddale. Check it out here. Also, this week, I posted Three Things to Do in October to Prepare for Christmas. Check out my tips and links to recipes and decorating ideas here.

At The Children's and Teens' Book Connection, I shared a post about the January release of The Moon without Stars by Chanel Miller. You will find that here. 

You will find my Top Five Favorite Episodes from Little House on the Prairie - Season 3 at Laura's Little Houses if you click here. 

Gosh, that was a lot. Are you still reading? Enjoy your Monday!