Showing posts with label mystery novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mystery novel. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books with Red on the Cover



Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  

Welcome back to Tuesday! Here we are heading closer and closer to Independence Day and the 17th blogiversary (or is it blogoversary) of The Book Connection. Little did I know when I embarked upon my writing career that this blog, or any other writing project I undertook, would last so long. It has brought me tremendous joy to express myself here, and I appreciate your loyal readership and all the online friendships blogging has created. 

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about books with our favorite colors on the cover. Red has been my favorite color since childhood. So today, I share with you my...

Top Ten Books with Red on the Cover











Have you read any of these? Are there any you would like to read? What is your favorite color?

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on My Summer 2023 To-Read List



Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.    

Welcome back to Tuesday! I hope you're having a wonderful week so far. This week, Top Ten Tuesday is all about sharing the books on your summer reading list. My reading list is often dictated by review books, but I have a few empty slots I can fill with books I would love to read simply for pleasure or professional development.











What do you think of this list? Have you read any of these? What is one book that is on your list to read this summer?

Monday, June 19, 2023

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - June 19

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.   

 


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 and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.       

Happy Monday! I hope those who celebrate had a nice Father's Day. Thinking of and praying for those who have lost their dads as well.

We took my husband to Tables at the Farm in Palmer. This is a great farm to table restaurant, or as their motto says, "Farm to Fork." This weekend, I also caught up with my sisters, one of my nieces, and the maid of honor from our wedding. I also got a chance to meet the youngest baby in the family. Though my nephew and his wife have a baby on the way in October. 


IHOP with the family on Saturday


Italian Scramble from Tables at the Farm


Check out their goats

I'm preparing for two closings this week, plus one next week. Another closing looks like it might be delayed into July. It would be great to have most things wrapped up before we head to the Outer Banks. Maybe I will take a somewhat peaceful vacation this year; though I have a listing coming on and more potentials on the way. Plus I have five buyers regularly on the hunt for new homes. 

As far as reading go, I posted a First Chapter Review of this historical novel on Friday. You can read it here.


I read this one for a review that will appear at The Children's and Teen's Book Connection on July 19. You can check out my review on GoodReads if you don't want to wait.


I am about half way done with this book. Now, I understand why it is 12 hours. This is a great in-depth look into the world of editing. It talks about different editors, what their roles are, challenges they might face, etc. 


My review of the last Tempe Crabtree novel is up on Goodreads if you want to read it early, but my review will be posted at this blog tomorrow. 


I started this book over the weekend. 


I also read these two poetry collections over the weekend. 




I plan to sneak this one in, probably on the road to North Carolina, between my books slotted for review. As you will notice by my ever-growing upcoming VBT list, I did not heed my own advice about not signing up for a bunch of tours this year. LOL!   



Upcoming virtual book tours:
  • A Final Farwell by Marilyn Meredith - June 20 (review)
  • All That Glitters by Mike Martin - June 29 (review)
  • Becoming Flawesome by Kristina Mand-Lakhiani - July 11
  • Single Parents Rock! by Jaret Martino - July 19 (review TC&TBC)
  • The Unempty Spaces Between by Louis Efron - July 20 (review)
  • An Atomic Love Story: The Extraordinary Women in Robert Oppenheimer's Life by Shirley Streshinsky & Patricia Klaus - July 24 
  • Come to Me by Amy W. Vogel - July 25 (review)
  • The Five Watches: An Accident of Time by John York - August 4 
  • Exits by Stephen C. Pollock - August 7 (review)
  • Blood & Water by Linda Armstrong-Miller - August 9
  • Sammy the Sailing Sea Turtle by Gwendol - August 16 (review TC&TBC)
  • Ravage & Son by Jerome Charyn - August 21 (review)
  • Victoria James: And The Mysterious Case of the Chilly Willies by Elizabeth Burns (review TC&TBC)

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Amazingly, both my physical and digital mailboxes remained empty this week, but I have books on the way. 

Hope you have a blessed day today. I look forward to visiting your blogs. 

Monday, May 29, 2023

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - May 29

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.   

 


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 and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.       

Welcome to the final Monday of May. For those of us in the States, today is Memorial Day, a time to honor and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. We will be joining in the National Moment of Remembrance today. 



The weather has been beautiful for the unofficial start to the summer. Though officially summer will not begin until June 21st, many consider Memorial Day weekend the kick off to summer. 



The United States Honor Flag™, which flew over the rubble of 9/11, made its way to Rick's Place in Wilbraham this month. Rick Thorpe died in the South Tower on September 11th. This non-profit, dedicated to providing free grief support to children, teens, and families, is one whose board I am proud to sit on.

Moving on to lighter happenings, the pets have enjoyed the warmer weather. 



The Lil' Diva and the Lil' Princess had fun at the Taylor Swift concert at Gillette Stadium recently with one of their friends. 


As far as reading goes, I am making good progress. No audio books lately. I might find one to grab before I drive up for inspections at a property on Tuesday.

My review of this book will appear today at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. 


Look for my review of this book on Wednesday, also at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. 



I need to finish this one by June 2. 


I started this one over the weekend on our drive to Worcester to see the nephew's baseball tournament.


I also started this graphic novel that I downloaded from Netgalley.


This book will be next.



Upcoming virtual book tours:
  • A Final Farwell by Marilyn Meredith - June 20 (review)
  • All That Glitters by Mike Martin - June 29 (review)
  • The Unempty Spaces Between by Louis Efron - July 20 (review)
  • Exits by Stephne C. Pollock - August 7 (review)
  • Ravage & Son by Jerome Charyn - August 21 (review)

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Nothing in my physical mailbox this week, but I grabbed this one on sale for my Kindle.



Most books about Abraham Lincoln end on April 14, 1865, the day he was assassinated at Ford's Theatre. But that historic event takes place near the beginning of The Last Lincolns, a singular title in the vast output of Lincolnia and one of the most unusual books ever written on the sixteenth president and his family. Going far beyond that fateful day into uncharted territory, it's a gripping page turner written by a TV producer with proven storytelling skills.

This absorbing American tragedy tells the largely unknown story of the acrimony that consumed the Lincolns in the months and years that followed the president's murder. This was not a family that came together in mourning and mutual sadness; instead, they fell out over the anguished mental condition of the widowed Mary. In 1875, Robert, the handsome but resentful eldest Lincoln child engineered her arrest and forcible commitment to an insane asylum. In each succeeding generation, the Lincolns' misfortunes multiplied, as a litany of alcohol abuse, squandered fortunes, burned family papers, and outright dissipation led to the downfall of this once-great family.

Charles Lachman traces the story right up to the last generation of Lincoln descendants: great-grandson Bob Lincoln Beckwith, his estranged wife, Annemarie, and her son, Timothy Lincoln Beckwith. Bob, who was according to all medical evidence sterile, believes the son who bears the Lincoln name was the product of an adulterous affair. Annemarie, however, wanted the boy to be a Lincoln, putting the child in line for a vast inheritance. There's even evidence uncovered by Lachman for the first time that a scheme to obtain possession of the Lincoln fortune was orchestrated by Bob Beckwith's chauffer, who may have been the notorious outlaw and skyjacker, D.B. Cooper.

Published in advance of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday in February 2009, The Last Lincolns provides an unforgettable glimpse into the personal legacy left by the man who could unite a nation…but not his own family.

I will be in and out today, working on wrapping up that editing project that is overdue. Hope you have a wonderful day.

Monday, March 6, 2023

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Mar 6

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.   

 


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 and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.     

Happy first Monday of March, everyone! It roared in as a lion for us, giving us more of the white stuff. Thankfully, this week will be drier. 

I am thrilled to have the Lil' Princess home on spring break. It makes such a difference in  my mood when both girls are home. 


In my reading world, I finished this one yesterday. Look for my review today. 



In the mornings, I am now reading from this John Maxwell book.



I also pick up these from time to time.




I did something I never do--I returned a book to Audible. Napoleon Hill remains an admired and respected leader, and his Laws of Success preceded his famous Think and Grow Rich book. However, some of the wording in defining The Laws of Success doesn't hold up well to modern audiences. I simply couldn't go further, because I found it distracting. 




Upcoming virtual book tours:
  • Path of Peril by Marlie Parker Wasserman - Mar 13
  • The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jamie Jo Wright - Apr 24 (review)

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.


This book, which I will be reviewing in April, arrived earlier than expected.



In 1865, orphaned Daisy Francois takes a position as housemaid at a midwestern Wisconsin castle and finds that the reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress inside hides more than the harrowing tales in her novels. With women disappearing from the area and a legend that seems to parallel these eerie circumstances, Daisy is thrust into a web that may threaten to steal her sanity, if not her life.

In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of American aristocratic family the Tremblays to help his matriarchal grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman's stashes of collectibles, a century-old mystery of disappearance, insanity, and the dust of the old castle's curse threatens to rise again, and this time, leave no one alive to tell its sordid tale.

Fan-favorite Jaime Jo Wright draws readers into a seamlessly woven dual-time tale of suspense, mystery, romance, and redemption.

That's it from me this week. Hope you are enjoying and sharing some great books.