For the Love of Reading: WOYBS and #shareyourshelf

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. I also realized that I probably rate cozy mysteries a bit different since they are usually very simple. If it was really good and cozy, it'll most likely get a 5, otherwise it's probably a 4. 

What I read in October:

I survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD79 by Lauren Tarshis ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was another of the youth "I survived" stories that I ended up using for two of the 52 book club prompts. This was another great one that I really enjoyed. We follow a young boy who has been separated and then reunited with his father as they navigate the impending eruption of Vesuvius. Informative, and a fun listen. 

A Twist of Trouble (Cafe Crimes Cozy) by Simone Stier ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I read this one for my October prompt for Rosalie Spielman's monthly book challenge. The prompt was a book with non-human characters. While there weren't any actual ghosts, the book took place during Halloween with a tour of a local mansion where a ghost of the woman of the house is rumored to have been seen. It was a fun read. I'd probably read more of the series. 

The Sacrament of Happy: What a Smiling God Brings to a Wounded World by Lisa Harper  ⭐⭐⭐1/2

After listening to one of my favorite podcasts that interviewed the author, I decided to listen to one of her books. It was good, I just didn't love it. I'd like to listen to another by her though. Sometimes I feel like one book isn't quite enough and I feel like she has a lot of great things to say. I think she has a podcast as well so maybe I'll give that a go. 

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved this book. It's not often that a romantic fiction gets a 5 star from me or that I even love it, but this book felt a bit deeper than a typical rom-com. I loved the characters and the storyline and where it all went. Last month I mentioned I had just started and after reading a few reviews, wasn't sure how it would go as far as F-bombs, and how much open door intimacy would be there...it was not over the top like I thought it might be. There are a few scenes, but literally a few and it's not explicit really. The deeper part of the story makes it all worth the read. 

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 4 by Beth Brower ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just love this series. It's so fun, funny and a great light hearted read. I completely recommend audiobook. There are 8 books in the series, and halfway through I kind of find myself rooting for a few potential "suitors" for Emma. 

A Murder at the Movies (A Secret Bookcase Mystery, #2) by Ellie Alexander ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I read the first in this series and loved it. I chose the second to read as part of the Cozy Mystery Road Trip group I joined. I really need to not join so many reading groups and challenges...haha. I've already read a book from Washington and Oregon, and this one is set in California. I'm trying to go in order, but I'm taking a detour and reading one from Arizona too (see below). I love Ellies writing and there was an interesting part at the beginning where one character discusses the history of horror movies talking about Alfred Hitchcock. The characters in this series are very likable. I accidentally readI think I'd enjoy being a researcher for books...can I get paid to do that....haha. 

Booked 4 Murder (Sophie Kimball Mysteries) by J.C. Eaton ⭐⭐

I picked this book for the Cozy Mystery Road Trip and since we were going to Arizona, I detoured from my California book (Murder at the Movies) to pick one that took place in Arizona, and funnily enough (is that a word?) we drove past Sun City where the book takes place. I should've taken a picture. Sophie or Phee as everyone knows her, heads to Sun City West at her moms bidding when several members of her book club die after they started reading a self published mystery book. Convinced the book is cursed, she enlists Phee to solve the mystery. It's okay, but not a favorite. There seem to be some inconsistencies, and no one else (including the police) seem to be doing anything (normally the police are at least involved with the meddling amateur, but not in this case). The ending was rather lackluster. Some characters were likable. As with many 1st in a series, I might read another one just to see if it improves, but I probably wouldn't buy it, I'd try to get it from the library.

Currently Reading:

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander

I'm still plugging away at this one....it's really good, and I'm enjoying it, I just have been focusing on other books. 

Work in Progress by Devon Rodriguez

I somehow saw a reel by this man who does amazing portrait and other art, his story was inspiring and he just came out with this book. I immediately put it on hold at the library and have been listening to it on audiobook. It is heartbreaking and inspiring. Filled with pain and abuse and abandonment, but also love, hope and promise. It shows that just because you grow up in horrendous circumstances, you do not have to become like those circumstances. 

My Friends by Fredrik Backman 

This should be my December read for my Passalong Book Club, but I needed a new audiobook and it was available so I am listening to it. December is busy anyways so probably a good thing to get started on it now. I have read a few of Backman's books and enjoyed them. I'm not far into this but so far, it's good. This is following four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete strangers life twenty five years later. I feel like this is a book that you will continue to "discover new things" the more you read. There are phrases like " you need to know this", etc. 

A History of Murder (Jericho Falls Cozy Mysteries #1) by Brook Peterson 

I'm reading this one for the Cozy Mystery Road Trip. I took a detour to read a book that took place in Arizona, while we were in Arizona, but now I'm back on track. Chloe Martin returns to Jericho Falls at the desperate bidding of her grandma (grandma may have lied to get her to come back), but now there's a murder and she can't leave. So far it's good. It weaves the current mystery, solving the murder of her grandmas "so called boyfriend"...there's a back story there...but also a mystery from Chloes path that involves the death of her best friend and what drove her from Jericho Falls in the first place. There's an old flame that pops up, and a possible new interest. 

Days You Were Mine by Clare Empson, Clare Leslie Hall

This is my November read for my Pass Along Book Club. She is the author of Broken Country (which I haven't read). It is proving to be a quick read. It follows Luke and Hannah who are new parents. Luke was adopted and the arrival of his first child spurs him to find his birth mother whom he reunites with, along with his birth father (though early in the book, I question this). Alice, his birth mom seems to bond with him, his girlfriend and their son and is soon helping care for little Samuel. It is dual timeline and person perspective...Luke in the now, and Alice in the past. It's interesting. I'm not entirely sure where it's going to go. 

Book Challenges:

I think I have decided not to do the passalong book club next year. I had too many books this year that I didn't really enjoy. I considered starting my own for next year, but procrastinated. Maybe I will try for 2028.

I still have 12 empty slots for the 52 book club and I'm not sure I'll get them filled. I may need to go through my read books and see if any fit. We'll see. The mystery challenge is even less filled in. Ha!! that's okay though. 

I have done well on this cozy mystery challenge. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin