Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Sep 29

Making Discoveries (September 29, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It’s always fun to make new discoveries. This week, while reading a blog about economical ways to support a book addiction — let’s just admit that most voracious readers have a problem that we refer to as our “book collection” — I expected to just be encouraged to visit the library frequently and to embrace ebooks. What I actually discovered was a recommendation for a website called Paperback Swap. The premise is actually pretty simple. You list books with which you are willing to part and list them on the website; you are responsible for the postage, but there are no additional fees. For each book you send, you can request another book from a member. It’s been a fun motivation to peruse my bookshelves with a critical eye and re-discover some books I had forgotten about while also selecting a handful to send to a new home. So far, I have sent out two paperbacks and have a biography of soprano Marian Anderson on the way.

While searching my shelves for books to list on the website, I also found a few editions of the classic that I have begun reading this week. While I am enjoying reading primarily from an edition without footnotes and textual interruptions, it is nice to have those resources at hand when I get completely lost along the way. So I’m finally sitting down to read of Ishmael, Queequeg, and Ahab rather than dreading my journey along the open waves with them.

This week features one finish and three current reads. (I know, I know….my “one at a time” approach was very short lived….but it is going to keep me from getting completely overwhelmed by the classic American novel….at least, that’s my hope!)

What I Finished This Week

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover. After a couple of heavy reads last week, I was in the mood for something lighthearted. Something that would make me smile. O’Clover’s funny romance was a great fit for me this week. Louisa (called Lou by her friends) has been dating her musician boyfriend for nearly six years. His hit song “Purple Girl” is all about her and they live in Lou’s dream home outside of Denver. She has everything she could ever hope for….until she learns that the boyfriend has been cheating while on tour. Refusing to leave her home, but unable to pay the rent on her own, she decides to convert it into a bed-and-breakfast. Only problem? She has to convince the handsome veterinarian, Henry, who is now her landlord. Henry’s past begins to trouble him when he learns that Lou plans to target heartsick people who need to heal after a breakup when publicizing the Inn. The Heartbreak Hotel features a lovely cast of characters while exploring issues of self-confidence and family relations. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 81 of 552). I have never read this classic novel. I have started it several times and never found a rhythm to complete it. While planning for this year’s reading challenge, a young man who I respect greatly told me that I was missing out by not reading this novel. He went on to tell me that it was the greatest book ever written in his opinion. I decided that was enough of an endorsement to put Melville’s tale about the great whale on my TBR once again. My plan is to move through the book at a rather slow pace and couple it with contemporary works to see if that helps me find a better rhythm.

Nothing But the Truth by John Lescroart (p. 101 of 439). Since Night Over Water by Ken Follett just wasn’t the right fit for me at the moment, I went on a search through my bookshelves for another novel with a title that begins with the letter N for the reading challenge. I picked up this novel randomly on a trip to Half Price Books in Oklahoma City. Lescroart’s legal thrillers have been recommended to me many times, but I’ve never actually read one of them. This seems like the perfect opportunity to be introduced to the author and his famous character, Dismas Hardy. Here’s what I know about the story so far. Dismas’ wife, Frannie, was having coffee with Ron Beaumont on the morning of his wife’s murder (confusing and convoluted, right?) and is Ron’s alibi in the police investigation. When Frannie is called before the grand jury, she decides to keep a crushing secret that Ron shared with her in confidence rather than answer the court’s inquiries. When Frannie insults the judge, things become explosive and Frannie finds herself in jail for 4 days! That’s when Dismas discovers that Ron has emptied his condo and made a run for it with his two young children. This is a fast-paced, fun legal thriller that keeps the reader constantly on the edge of their seat as they try to decide what really happened and who is in the wrong.

People Watching by Hannah Bond-Young (2:09 of 10:21). I’m including this book in this week’s reading because technically I have started the book. I have some travel coming up later this week and one of my prompts for the reading challenge is an audiobook with multiple narrators. Two narrators and a beautiful cover were all the incentive I needed to download the book. I did a little listening at the end of the week to make sure I would connect with the story, but I plan for this to accompany me while I’m driving this week. This is the story of Milo and Prue. Milo is a down-on-his-luck artist, returning to his childhood hometown to assist his brother in launching his new business. Prue is caring for her mother, a retired art teacher struggling with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. So far, it is the perfect blend of romance, humor, and tenderness. This is definitely a book I am going to enjoy!

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Sep 22

Tired Eyes (September 22, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It seems as though allergens have been in the air all week. Despite taking all the allergy medicines, my eyes have been paying the price. They have felt puffy, itchy, dry, and just plain tired. I know it won’t be an issue always; just for a few weeks as things begin to calm down with the arrival of fall. It can’t get here soon enough.

Combine tired eyes with less than stellar reading selections and you have a perfect formula for a rough reading week. I made progress through both reads this week, but only because I set daily goals for my reading and tried to stay on top of it. This week’s books were not what I had hoped they would be. That makes me second guess my plans for what to read next because I really need to be pulled into a story now to get me back into a healthy reading routine.

What I Finished This Week

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry. I needed to read a book with a celebrity on the cover. This was a free book through Kindle Unlimited, so I decided it would be the selection. I should remember that often there is a reason the book is free. Knowing how Perry’s life tragically ended just a few years after the publication of the book should have been my first red flag. The book centered on Perry’s struggles with addiction throughout his life and how drugs and alcohol impacted his career, relationships, and health. At times, the text read as though it was blaming his addiction on everyone else but himself — a parent’s choice to allow him to fly as an unaccompanied minor or a woman who didn’t love him enough to stay despite his struggles. While I was hopeful to hear about his encounter with God, I found his relationship with a “higher power” unsettling. At times, I almost DNF’d the book because of the way Perry spoke to God; it was almost blasphemous. As you can tell, this was not a good fit for me at all. My rating is based solely on the fact that Perry was a gifted wordsmith. 2.75 stars.

To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage. What began as a very positive reading experience quickly turned to a story of selfishness in the midst of family struggles. Last weekend, I expected this to be a book all about fulfilling one’s goals by overcoming obstacles. While there was an element of that in the conversation, To The Moon and Back was more focused on human sexuality and a person’s willingness to do anything necessary to obtain their dreams — whether that meant fighting a shark or betraying a sister. Truthfully, it felt as though the author lost her way about halfway through the novel when things took a turn in the plot’s construction. Ramage tried too hard to make the text make a political argument that didn’t do the story any favors. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

This has proven to be more complicated that I anticipated. It was late on Sunday evening when I finished reading To the Moon and Back. (I really just wanted to get that book done so I could start something new.) I planned to read Night Over Water by Ken Follett this week because of how much I had enjoyed my experiences with his other works, specifically the Century Trilogy and The Pillars of the Earth. (I must admit that Never left me a bit apathetic after reading it.) While Night Over Water sounds intriguing, as I sat down to begin reading today, the book is just not hitting me at the moment. So, I’ll head home this afternoon and peruse my TBR shelf for something that will captivate my imagination. It will be a surprise to all of us what turns up as the week’s featured book.

2025 Reading Challenge Book of the Month memoir non-fiction The 52 Book Club

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Sep 15

Unexpected Pleasures (September 15, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

In the midst of a really busy week, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had selected a couple of very enjoyable books. One was enjoyable because it stretched my mind and comfort level — even though I didn’t really “enjoy” the story itself. The other was a surprise as I found myself drawn into a world of fantasy — complete with magic and dragons!

What I Finished This Week

The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni. This thriller toed the line between thriller and horror. The thriller was about a woman who was accused of murdering her boyfriend in a historic home. Turns out the two had unlocked a portal for a demon to torment them as they toyed with a possessed porcelain doll. Creepy, right?!? While I found the story of the doll’s creation interesting and was intrigued by the religious implications of the “God Puzzle” at the center of the story, I just didn’t enjoy the horror aspect of the novel. (Truthfully, I’m a wimp when it comes to reading stories about spiritual beings. It’s just not my jam.) Despite thinking about DNFing The Puzzle Master several times, I was just too far into the story to let it lie. I needed to know how it ended. After finishing the novel, I found that there is another novel featuring the puzzle maker at the center of the story. While he was a likable character, I don’t anticipate returning for another adventure into Trussoni’s universe. 3 stars.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I have never been a huge fan of fantasy. (I even had to educate myself on what this genre was really called!) Magic and mythological creatures really are not good plot points for me. However, I did find Fourth Wing to be an exception to the rule for me. Why? I think it really had to do with the focus on the human stories of the characters before introducing the major fantasy aspects. I found myself invested in the stories of Violet, Dain, and Xanos before I even saw the first dragon. Now that I’ve read the first installment in The Empyrean series, I think I’m going to have to see what happens next. (Major cliffhanger, Batman!) I won’t be continuing right away, but I have a feeling I will check out Iron Flame when I finish the 2025 challenge. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage (p. 114 of 427). This novel was a new start on Saturday afternoon after I was done with work for the day. It was a Book of the Month selection for September 2025; I decided to read it to fulfill the prompt that there was a moon on the cover. Despite having read very little of the book so far, here’s what I know. Steph is of Cherokee descent and dreams of leaving rural Oklahoma to pursue a better education and ultimately become an astronaut. The story is filled with issues related to abuse, poverty, embarrassment, and lack of concern for tribal traditions. It has proven to be a powerful read while presenting opposing sides of the tradition versus progress argument that continues to be at play among Indigenous peoples.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (p. 27 of 250). Ever since starting the 2025 reading challenge, I had considered this book as a possible option for one with a celebrity on the cover. There was something about reading the memoir after Perry’s tragic death that kept me from wanting to read the book. However, as I was looking for something else to read digitally this week, I stumbled across the book in my Kindle Unlimited subscription. I guess it was just meant to be. I’ll have a much clearer picture of what I think of the memoir next week.

What’s Up Next?

Although plans can always change based on my reading mood, I think I’m going to dive into Ken Follett’s Night Over Water for my next read. It is close to 450 pages, so I want to make sure that I have some dedicated time to read it without too many distractions. I’ve enjoyed almost everything else I’ve read by Follett, so my expectations are high and I think I will probably need the change of pace after the heaviness of my current reads.

2025 Reading Challenge Book of the Month ebook fantasy memoir The 52 Book Club thriller

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Sep 8

Short Week Challenges (September 8, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Last Monday was Labor Day. Like any good blogger, I decided to delay my weekly post to this site in order to observe the holiday. That was a very good decision and one that I know was correct. What I didn’t realize was the impact that choice would have on this week’s reading.

Monday holidays mean that I have fewer days to get all of the work accomplished. That cuts into my reading time each day. Furthermore, because of the delayed publication of my weekly update, this week only has 6 reading days before I have to make another update on my progress — and that one lost day is going to make the difference in what I was able to accomplish this week.

What I Finished This Week

No finishes this week. That hasn’t happened in quite a while and I don’t like the feeling of not having a finish, but I understand why it happened. Actually, I had to go back to the June 16, 2025 post to find the last week that didn’t have a finish. That week, I was surrounded by noisy pianos at the Texas Music Teachers’ Conference in Houston and could not read as I had hoped. This week, I just ran out of reading days.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (p. 322 of 493). I come to you with my hat in my hand and freely admit that I cannot stop reading this book! Is it sci-fi? Yes. Do I tend to avoid this genre? Yes. But this book is so much more and I cannot get enough of Violet, Xander, Dain, Tairn, and Andarna. (In case you are wondering, I’m team Xander at the moment. I also think Andarna is the cutest little dragon I have ever imagined in my life!) Okay…back to the book review. Violet has come through the selection ceremony and been chosen by two dragons. Now everyone wants her dead….everyone except Xander who is now eternally connected to her because they are both paired with mated dragons. I can hear my friends groaning because of how much I’m enjoying this book — and I really can’t explain it to you myself. The novel is well written and is more about the people than the magic and myth. I think I’ll have a finish here in just a couple of days.

The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni (p. 207 of 361). I sang this novel’s praises last week when I was beginning the read. I’m still all in on the novel, but we had a moment where I thought it was going to be DNF’d. Yes, the novel is about a writer, Jess Price, who has been imprisoned for a crime that she might not have committed. Enter master puzzle maker Mike Brink and Jess’ psychiatrist to try to figure things out. This is the formula for a great read when I’m in the mood for a thriller. As the narrative turns to Jess’ diary entries prior to the murder, we learn that the case involves an ancient riddle known as the God Puzzle that is somehow protected by a possessed porcelain doll. What?!? That was my response, too. When the scenes began to border on horror and not thriller, I wasn’t sure I was going to finish the book. That’s just not a type of reading that I enjoy at all. The creep factor went away as we returned to Mike’s attempt to figure out what was really going on with the God Puzzle, so I’m reading once again…..even if a bit more cautiously. Here’s hoping the Chucky doll doesn’t make another appearance to scare the crap out of me! Just in case, I’m doing this reading during daylight hours…..

My 2025 Reading Challenge Progress

Now that we are into September, it seems like the perfect time to provide a little update on where I am in my pursuit of completing the challenge from The 52 Book Club. Right now, I’m sitting at 67% complete, having fulfilled 35 of the 52 prompts. For those who enjoy the visual representation, here’s the graphic.

As you can see, I have 17 books left to read in the 16 1/2 weeks remaining in 2025. That’s completely doable! There are a couple of prompts that I am struggling to find a book that I think I will enjoy though. If you have suggestions for any of these prompts, I’m all ears.

  • Has a moon on the cover
  • Told in verse
  • A celebrity on the cover

Okay….now back to reading my creepy doll story! LOL

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Sep 2

Vacations Are Too Short (September 2, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

I decided that the Labor Day weekend was the perfect opportunity to escape Plainview and head to the beautiful city of Denver, Colorado. This was my first excursion into the state and I must admit that I was immediately mesmerized. The scenery is breathtaking. The people that I encountered were so kind and welcoming. I slept like a baby. I also enjoyed three really exciting baseball games between the Cubs and Rockies. Somehow, I also managed to get some reading done this week and continue making progress toward my goals.

Rather than pressuring myself to complete a post on Labor Day, I decided to enjoy the holiday and push this week’s post back to Tuesday. Reading for Me will return to its usual schedule next Monday.

What I Finished This Week

Seduction Theory by Emily Adrian. Let’s start with the important information. I absolutely HATED this book! I have rarely read such a piece of trash that has so few redeeming qualities. Why did I finish it? I kept hoping it would get better because I did find the premise intriguing. The story centers around two married college professors who each have extramarital affairs; his is physical in nature while hers is simply emotional. Her student feels the need for revenge and decides to expose her mentor in her debut novel that will also serve as her MFA thesis in Creative Writing. The thesis is supposedly what we are reading. Seduction Theory cannot decide what it wants to be. At times it is the thesis written to expose the illicit acts of all players; at other times, it is a journal of the author’s vengeful fantasies because her mentor decides to stay in her marriage. Adrian gives us a short book (thank Heavens!) that is both confusing and confused. Truthfully, I found myself wondering how an editor let it get through in its present condition. Really not good at all! 2 stars.

The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin. Set in World War II England, Martin takes us back to the universe she first introduced in The Last Bookshop in London (read April, 2025). This time, we meet Emma, a struggling widow, with her young daughter Olivia. Because of the marriage bar, women who are (or have been) married cannot work. Having grown up in a quaint bookstore, Emma loves literature and sharing her passion for reading with others. Miraculously, she is offered a position at an upscale lending library despite her social status. As German bombs begin to descend on the small town, Emma is forced to decide whether it is best to keep Olivia close by or evacuate her along with thousands of other children to a place she has never seen. Much of this historical novel focuses on Olivia’s experiences as an evacuee. Filled with humor, wonderfully researched historical data, and a touch of love, The Booklover’s Library is filled with characters that will melt your heart and cause you to care about their well being and futures. This one was really hard to put down! I’m excited to see what other historical novels Martin has available. 4.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

I didn’t bring any extra books with me on my trip to Denver, so I found myself headed to the airport without any additional selections. Rather than allowing this to hamper my reading style, I decided to go off plan a bit and start two random books for the week. However, I think I can use them for some of the more “general” prompts in the reading challenge if I need to.

The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni (p. 22 of 361). Admittedly, I picked this book on my Kindle on a whim as I was looking for a book related to the word “puzzle.” Even though I am barely into the novel at this point, I am immediately thrilled with this selection. Here’s what I know right now. Mike Brink had it all until he suffered a horrible brain injury during a high school football game that left him with the ability to see things differently — patterns, numbers, complex puzzles are no challenge for him. Now a renown puzzle maker, Brink is rather surprised when he is invited to a women’s prison in upstate New York by Dr. Moses to assist with one of her patients, an inmate named Jess Price who was convicted of a brutal murder years ago. Since her incarceration, Jess has not communicated at all….until she drew a complex puzzle to an ancient secret. On the flip side of the paper were two words: “Mike Brink.” The book’s blurb suggests that the puzzle will lead Mike on an adventure involving an ancient Abrahamic prayer, a la The Da Vinci Code. I’m all in and ready to get some more reading done on my flight back to Amarillo.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (p. 52 of 493). I have never been a super fan of science fiction. So the prompt for a book with a character who can fly was immediately challenging for me. I went to three bookstores in the Denver airport looking for anything that would fit the prompt. I was even ready to read a graphic novel about one of the Marvel characters, but nothing was available. While I was in the largest of the bookstores — Tattered Cover Bookstore — I googled recommended books with characters who could fly. Nothing on the list was on the shelves. As I was walking out the door in defeat, this cover caught my eye and I quickly returned to the list on my phone. I knew I recognized that title! It’s longer than I had hoped for a sci-fi title, but I decided to give it a chance and follow through with my plan to be spontaneous this week. I have to admit that I have really enjoyed what I’ve read so far. Violet finds herself in an academy to become a dragon rider — even though what she really wants to do is become a scribe. That’s truly all I know so far. Why have I gotten pulled into this book? Yarros isn’t focusing on the magic too much yet. She is creating characters with depth that have you pulling for their success. We will just have to see how I do when the magic begins to enter the story, but for now, I’m all in on this human saga.

Another Milestone Achieved!

With the end of August, I reached another milestone in my reading goals for 2025. With the final read of the month, for the first time since I have kept track of the number of books I have read, I am very happy to say that I have read 52 books in a single calendar year!!! Okay, I actually read 52 books in 8 months, but who is being that specific? LOL! That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop reading for the year because I still have The 52 Book Club challenge to complete. I know…..but not everything I read was a good fit for one of the prompts, so I still have a bit of work to do to complete that task. I’m having fun reading and think I have finally fallen into a good routine.

August in Review

I’m a sucker for looking at the numbers each month. Here’s how August shook down….it’s amazing how much reading I got done during COVID isolation! Don’t want to do that again, but at least there was productivity in the process.

  • Books read in August: 11 (up from 5 in July). +6
    • 6 print
    • 4 ebook
    • 1 audio
  • Pages read in August: 4,014 (up from 2, 273 in July). +1,741
  • Highest rated book: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover (5.00)
  • Lowest rated book: Seduction Theory by Emily Adrian (2.00)

2025 Reading Challenge Book of the Month ebook historical Sci-Fi The 52 Book Club thriller update

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