Off-Topic Winter Reading 2022-2023

[Laura S.]

Recently, I have read:

Nora Roberts' The Choice - I thought the book was pretty good and the ending fell kind of flat.

The Switch by Beth O'Leary - It was a cute story about a granddaughter and grandmother who switch lives for a time and how they improve their lives. It's a light read and better-than-average for that kind of fluffy read.

The Lost Sister by Kathleen McGurl - This one was on the Kindle. It was a good historical fiction book.

[Fonzie]

[QUOTE=DD546;2989292
I just finished Desert Star by Michael Connelly. This is the fourth in the Renee Ballard Harry Bosch series. I enjoyed it. It looks like it may be the last time these two team up, but I think he may continue writing Renee Ballard books.
[/QUOTE]

Ooh, the first one with Renee was very good--need to download the others.


Recent good reads: The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal. First in her "Lady Astronaut" series. Science fiction, but inspired me to add Hidden Figures to my reading list.

Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen by Alison Weir. Part of her Six Tudor Queens series. Love Tudor dynasty historical fiction.

The Doll by Taylor Stevens. Third in her Vanessa Michael Munroe series. I stumbled across these in a thrift store and love them. Reminiscent of the Jack Reacher novels with a bad@$$ female protagonist who has some interesting skills.

Dead to Rights by J.A. Jance, one of her sheriff Joanna Brady books.

The Girl With a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson. I started it, knew I'd read it before, but kept reading as I'd forgotten the ending. It was great again

[sheepla]

Originally Posted by Pat58

Checking in with Fairy Tale. Gosh I hate to give my favorite author three stars. It wasn't all that bad, but it wasn't all that good. Curiously, I enjoyed the first part of the book before Charlie crosses into the fairy tale realm, more than all the adventures and misadventures he had. So much weird stuff coming at you. I'm very curious to read others' thoughts.

I'm am just now to the part where he is unlocking the shed. I've enjoyed the book so far but I'm skeptical that I will like the rest. It's due in a couple days back to the library and I'm undecided about my commitment to finishing.

[toaster]

Originally Posted by sheepla

I'm am just now to the part where he is unlocking the shed. I've enjoyed the book so far but I'm skeptical that I will like the rest. It's due in a couple days back to the library and I'm undecided about my commitment to finishing.

Sheila, I would consider that point as sort of the opening to the next phase of the book (out of about 4); I liked that section.

[Pat58]

Originally Posted by sheepla

I'm am just now to the part where he is unlocking the shed. I've enjoyed the book so far but I'm skeptical that I will like the rest. It's due in a couple days back to the library and I'm undecided about my commitment to finishing.

Does your library let you extend your time?

[difit]

Here are a few new release's for February. Happy reading!


7th
Secretly Yours (Secretly Yours, book 1) - Tessa Bailey
Someone Else's Shoes - Jojo Moyes
Invitation to a Killer (Augusta Hawke Mystery, book 2) - G M Malliet
The House Guest - Hank Phillippi Ryan
A Killing of Innocents (Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James, book 19) - Deborah Crumbie
Every Missing Girl (Kendall Beck, book 2) - Leanne Kale Sparks
Six Sweets Under (True Confections Mystery, book 1) - Sarah Fox
Code Name Sapphire - Pam Jenoff

14th
Death of a Traitor (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, book 35) - M C Beaton
The Devine Doughnut Shop – Carolyn Brown
The Windeby Puzzle - Lois Lowery
The Best Days of our Lives – Lucy Diamond (audible)
Chance (Constance, book 2) – Matthew FitSimmons

21st
Desperate Acts (Pike, Wisconsin, book 4) - Alexandra Ivy
In Farm's Way (Farm to Table Mystery, book 3) -Amanda Flower
The Librarian of Burned Books - Brianna Labuskes
Primer and Punishment (House-Flipper Mystery, book 5) - Diane Kelly
It's One Of Us - J T Ellison
Every Man a King (King Oliver, book 2) - Walter Mosley
Murder at Haven's Rock (Casey Duncan, book 8) Haven's Rock, 1 - Kelley Armstrong
The Betrayed (Dawning of Muirwood, book 3 – Jeff Wheeler (audio & kindle)

28th
Storm Watch (Joe Pickett, book 23) - C J Box
The Last Orphan (Orphan X, book 8) - Gregg Hurwitz
Cold Blooded Liar (McKittrick & Reeves, book 1) - Karen Rose
Beyond the Gray Mountains (Big Sky Amish, book 1) – Tricia Goyer
The Angel Maker – Alex North

[Laura S.]

It's hard to believe it's time for the February list. Thanks for doing it. There are some books I've been waiting for on the list.

I'm reading Eternal by Lisa Scottoline, a really good book. It's a WWII book set in Rome, a setting I haven't read about before in this genre.

[lreidgreen]

Last month I read "The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post" by Allison Pataki.
It was good but I got tired of reading glowing descriptions of her jewelry and clothing. It was interesting from a historical perspective as well as learning about her life, many husbands and houses. Yes Mar-a-Lago makes an appearance.

I have not started it yet but my book group selection this month is Fishbowl by Bradley Somer.

[toaster]

Started reading a new novel, The Women in the Castle. It's interesting, focused on the women who were widows of the men of the attempted Hitler assassination. But on, the time shifts! It starts off just before the war, flips forward to just after the war ends, and from there I see it's all over the place - i.e., jumps backward about a month at a time, then goes forward again, then jumps way back. I don't understand why authors do this; it drives me crazy!!!!

[Carol K]

I started A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley, a murder mystery in the Gold Rush era in Monterey, CA. So far, so good.