For the Love of Reading.....#Shareyourshelf & #WOYBS

Welcome to my What's On Your BookShelf post. The #WOYB link party is hosted by Deb, Jo, Jennifer and Bernie....all gals I follow on a few other link parties. I love their blogs. Go check them out. #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge You can link up on the third Thursday of the month.

I also decided to link this with #shareyourshelf hosted by some great bloggers I follow, like Joanne. I'll link it on the week they post theirs, which is the first Thursday of each month. 

My rating system:

⭐ DNF (which there's a reason), story lacking any depth, grammatical or spelling errors (too many), just did not enjoy it and enough because maybe it wasn't my type of book. If I can't get into it after 1/4 of the way (or less), I don't want to waste my time. Don't bother reading

⭐⭐ Story line is a bit all over the place, struggle to read it but maybe it had some redeeming parts. Characters  or story line weren't believable or too unrealistic. I wouldn't want to read it again. Grammar wasn't "realistic". Too many storylines going on at the same time. Read it or don't read it.

⭐⭐⭐ Solid story line and characters. I liked it but didn't necessarily LOVE it, but I didn't HATE it either. I may have felt that it dragged on, or had parts that weren't necessary to the story. Maybe was a little hard to follow. Probably wouldn't recommend but it wasn't a total disaster.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ A really great read that I enjoyed picking up each time. I enjoyed it from front to back. The characters and storyline were really good.  As someone said "a truly good book, but missing the cherry on top".  Go ahead and read it

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book knocked it out of the park and I couldn't put it down. OR it was a book that really opened my eyes to something or taught me something about someones life. One I have bookmarked and even taken notes. It left me wanting to read more by the author or more in the series. Definitely go read. 

I've probably already said it....I love my rating system, but I'm not always great at following it. I hate leaving low ratings...lol.

May Reads:

The Body in the Bookstore (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #1) by Ellie Alexander ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was my second or maybe third Ellie Alexander book and I'm really enjoying her writing. In April I got to meet her at an author event at our local book store and I just loved her, which I think will give me a new appreciation for her books. I started this book as it's the series before The Novel Detectives series. If you love bookstores, Agatha Christie and detective duos, you'll enjoy this. It was also fun because the protagonist went to college for criminal justice but a tragic event changed her course. In this series, she's grappling with that event and bringing closure to what happened. 

An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good (Elderly Lady #1) by Helene Tursten ⭐⭐

This book was mentioned in the book A Very Novel Murder so I thought, "why not read it". I listened to it. It was short, but it was just really odd. It was somewhat humorous but just really weird. I found myself saying "wait, what just happened, are you kidding me...." etc...

Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere by Savannah Guthrie  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved this book. I have always enjoyed Savannah Guthrie on the Today Show and when I saw this I wanted to read it. This was one I listened to and I highly recommend it. Her voice is awesome. I also went ahead and purchased the book because I did like it so much. She puts such a beautiful perspective to Gods Love toward us, and that mostly what He does is Loves us. 

Still Life by Louise Penny ⭐⭐⭐

I think once I read another one in the series it might catch on. Another reader I follow said this one wasn't their favorite, but others in the series seemed to redeem themselves. I did enjoy the book. It's quirky, both the characters and the town. 

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The Mysterious Visitor by Julie Campbell ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I enjoyed revisiting one of my childhood favorites. It goes without saying that I enjoyed it. This is the one where their old friend Diana (whose family became rich) reconnects with Trixie, her brothers, Honey and Jim. A so-called long lost uncle shows up (anyone else remember this one?) and the kids all set up to prove he's an imposter. It's funny how things come back to your memory. 

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 1 by Beth Brower ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'd seen and heard about this one and wanted to give it a go. I had also been looking for some shorter audio books. This one was about 3ish hours. I really enjoyed it. It is so fun to listen to. I can't wait to listen to a few of the other volumes. 

Murder on Cap Cod (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery #1) by Maddie Day ⭐⭐⭐

There were solid characters, I love that the protagonist owns a bike shop and is a pretty strong character. I enjoyed the family dynamics and the friendships. Of course there's a murder, a bookclub and a cast of characters that will do anything to solve the crime of the murder of a local handyman. This takes place in Cape Cod and throughout the book there is Cape "lingo" that I found interesting. 

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I saw this book recommended on the 52 bookclub FB page. I listened to it on audiobook. It was a fascinating book, chronicling the lives of roughly 6,600 passengers who's planes were diverted to the town of Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11. Stories of their lives, and the community of Gander who came together to help perfect strangers in a distressing time. From the time they landed til they were allowed to finally leave they were taken care of by a town who embraced them and became friends. 

What I'm currently Reading:

The Jane Austen Society (Jane Austen Society #1) by Natalie Jenner

This book is for my in person book club. I just started it but I'm enjoying it. Just a note, I have never actually read any of the Jane Austen books. This book takes place just after the Second World War in the village that was the final home of Jane Austen. Many people travel there to to get a glimpse of the cottage she wrote in, etc.. A group of individuals come together and form the Jane Austen Society dedicated to preserving Janes home and her legacy. 

Philly Barker Investigates (Philly Barker Mysteries Book 1) by Joanne Tracey

I have read a few books by Joanne Tracey and join in with her BKD Cookbook Club. I'm enjoying this book as Philly Barker, antique dealer, tackles her first case when someone attempts to steal some items that she recently purchased at an auction. She joins forces with the local inspector to solve the mystery. Found in some of the items are some documents and photos that bring up a lot of questions and a possible motive for the thefts and attempted thefts. I love antiques and old photographs, so this is a fun read. I mean who hasn't been interested by old photos you've found or gone through.

There is one old photo that we are positive is me as a child but no one knows who the little girl with me is, and my mom isn't around to tell us. 

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild

I'm reading this one for my pass along book club and I'll admit, I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'll share what Amazon says about it because it is a bit confusing. We'll see next month what I rate it. 

From Amazon: Honor seems to have everything: she adores her bright and beautiful daughter, Chloe, and her charming, handsome husband, Tom, even if he works one hundred hours a week. Yet Honor’s longing for another baby threatens to eclipse all of it―until a shocking event changes their lives forever.

Years later, Tom makes a decision that ripples through their families' lives in ways he could never have foreseen. As the consequences of that fateful choice unfold, two women's paths become irrevocably intertwined. But when old love clashes with new, who will be left standing? And what happens when your secrets come back to haunt you?

Blending a page-turning moral dilemma with satisfying emotional poignancy, Finding Grace is a sweeping love story that explores the price of a new beginning, how the ghosts of our past shape our future, and whether redemption can be found in the wreckage of what we've lost.

I'm not sure I'll do the passalong book club again. I enjoyed it a lot the first year, but this year I haven't enjoyed the books as much. I have actually thought of starting my own with friends or family near and far. I think that would be fun to do. 

I also am planning to start reading the book Island Shadows by Bob Adamov. I saw it on the page I follow for the island that my aunt lives on and that I am visiting this week. It takes place both on Kelleys Island and it's neighbor Put-in-Bay. I love finding and reading books that take place where I'm visiting. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin