Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Jan 5

Ready or Not (January 5, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

Happy New Year! I hope that 2026 arrived in your corner of the world with the promises of prosperity, love, and lots of great reading ahead. As the calendar turns to January, I find myself coming to the end of a much needed break. After spending just over 3 weeks at home, it is time to begin the journey back to Texas to begin another semester of work. Since I’m not ready to return to reality, I dove deep into my reading this week.

I want to give you fair warning….this post is a bit longer than normal. In addition to this week’s finishes and what I’m currently reading, I have also included a look back at my December reading as well as a review of the year in reading.

What I Finished This Week

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand. My final book of 2025 was finished on Wednesday afternoon. Once again, I returned to the story of the Quinn family. This installment in the story was not as compelling as that in Winter Street. With Patrick in jail and Bart still missing in action, Winter Stroll focuses on how those left behind in Nantucket are dealing with their absences. I thought the story lines that focused on Mitzi, Margaret, Julie, and Barrett were really well written. Ava’s petty love triangle between two men — neither of whom are treating her very well, honestly — as well as the issues between Kevin and Isabelle as they begin their family were trite and lessened the impact of the stories about the suffering of mothers, addiction, and the impact an absent father has on children. 3 stars.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. My first finish of 2026 was a book from My Library Shelf that I thoroughly enjoyed. Written in a dual timeline, the story focuses on the growing relationship between Henry and Keiko. Henry is a 5th grade Chinese-American living in Seattle as the Second World War rages in Europe. His parents are very traditional and see everyone who is not either Chinese or Caucasian as the enemy. While attending a predominately white school, Henry meets Keiko, a Japanese-American student. Their friendship continues to grow until Keiko and her family are resettled into a Japanese internment camp, ultimately ending up in Idaho. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a beautiful story of love, acceptance, and tragedy. This story will definitely stay with me for many years to come. 5 stars.

The Inn at Ocean’s Edge by Colleen Coble. I needed a new audiobook and randomly selected Coble’s novel in my Libby subscription. It wasn’t until completing the book that I learned that Colleen Coble is an author of Christian fiction — a genre I typically don’t enjoy. (I find that Christian fiction tends to hit you over the head with the moral of the story rather than simply letting the characters speak directly to the reader’s heart.) Claire is the daughter of a wealthy businessman who has returned to the coastal village that was the site of her abduction and return when she was four. Haunted by memories of her past that she cannot piece together, she seeks the truth of what happened during her missing year. On the coast, Claire meets Luke, a member of the Coast Guard whose mother disappeared on the same night as Claire’s abduction. Were the two events connected? Coble creates a lovely mystery that is filled with moments of hope and faith. I discovered a new author to enjoy! 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble (2:22 of 8:54). This is the second book in the Sunset Cove series. After enjoying The Inn at Ocean’s Edge so much, I decided that it only made sense to continue the story. When I found the entire series available as a single credit download on Audible, the purchase was a no-brainer since I have several long drives coming up this month. The story returns to the coastal Maine community with many of our favorite characters returning, but this time the focus is on Mallory, a single mother dealing with the guilt of past mistakes and the apparent murder of her father on his boat in the quiet town.

Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser (p. 133 of 446). I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying this read! I understand why the book has gotten so much good press and was selected as the 2025 Barnes and Noble Book of the Year as well as earning Schlesser France’s 2025 Author of the Year award. Mona is a young girl who lost her sight for a horrifying 63 minutes. Doctors are uncertain of the cause, but fear that Mona may lose her sight permanently within the next year. The family is advised to consult a child psychiarist; her beloved grandfather has a different plan for the child’s emotional health. Each week, Mona and her grandfather visit one of Paris’ great museums to intently study a single work of art before launching into a discussion about what they see there. The descriptions Schlesser provides about the masterpieces are as beautiful as the images themselves. Each chapter of the novel focuses on a different artwork, so I am slowing my progress a bit so I can find an image of the piece to examine for myself before entering into Mona’s journey. So far, it is a lovely experience.

The Inferno by Dante Alighieri (p. 250 of 387). I am continuing my descent into Hell with Dante and Virgil. I am now in the final third of the pit and encountering some of the most memorable scenes of the work. I only read a handful of cantos this week, but as the end is coming into sight, I am finding myself drawn back to the journey. I’m about to begin Canto 20 this week; there are only 34 in the entire work.

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (p. 204 of 1304). I hope you are ready to get a lot of updates about this brick of a book for the next few months! Hugo’s novel is the first book of 2026 in The Active Mind Book Club. If I can stay on track with the proposed reading plan, I should finish the novel the week of February 9. This week’s reading (Week 1) has been challenging and extremely slow. Not only was there a lot of detail about minor characters that I know do not play pivotal roles in the work as a whole, but I have found the new translation by Christine Donougher (for the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) to be stodgy at times. I’m hoping that improves as I get more comfortable with her rhythm and style. As I neared the end of this week’s section, things were a bit better as I encountered familiar characters including Valjean, Fantine, and Javert. I have been struck by the novel’s focus on punishment and how it is impossible for a tiger to change its stripes. I’m looking forward to getting into the revolutionary themes in the weeks ahead. Wish me luck as I continue to plow through!

December in Review

  • Books read in December: 13 books (up 4 books from November)
    • 5 physical
    • 5 digital
    • 3 audio
  • Pages read in December: 4,510 (up 2,115 pages from November)
  • Highest rated book: Good Spirits by B.K. Borison – 5 stars
  • Lowest rated book: The Girl from the Garden by Parnaz Foroutan – 3 stars

2025 Reading By the Numbers

2025 was an outstanding reading year for me. It was by far my most productive year. What do I attribute the success to? I think there were a couple of things at play. First, just setting a realistic daily goal of 20 pages was life changing. I found myself making my way into a book most days since I wasn’t making a huge time commitment. Once I started reading, I relaxed into the activity and normally would spend about an hour in the pages of a beloved story. Second, I responded very well to the prompts provided by The 52 Book Club. My reading now had direction rather than just wandering through the stacks in search of my next read. Not every read was a great experience, but because I knew it was only one prompt, I was confident that another exceptional read was just a few days away. It also provided me a regular stack of “next reads” — I was never uncertain of what book was coming next.

Let’s look at the numbers for 2025. I crushed my goal of 52 books for the year and finished the year with 87 books read! Just so there’s no question that I was only reading tiny works, I had a grand total of 31,620 pages read. With 9 books earning 5 stars, I had a year of really good reading. (In fact, I gave 43 of the year’s books 4 stars or higher.) I tended to finish the books I started too….only 4 DNFs for 2025.

Best Book of 2025?

I’ve spent a lot of time this week thinking about the books I have read in the last 12 months. They brought me laughter and tears. They allowed me to explore new ideas and interact with characters that became friends. As I look back at the 9 books that I rated the highest — 5 stars — I have special memories from each of them. However, one book has stayed with me and I constantly find my thoughts returning to it. The best book I read in 2025 was…..

PANCHINKO by MIN JIN LEE!

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Apr 21

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail (April 21, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

I hope you all enjoyed a restful Easter weekend. I escaped Plainview for the a few days and visited Austin. It was a needed time of rest for my body and a chance to reflect on my reading. I made a couple of important discoveries along the way.

What I Finished This Week

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. For such a short book, I thought I was never going to get finished with this one! I suppose it was a mistake to try to read a genre I am not naturally drawn to while dealing with the exhaustion of the opera. It was a stretch on most days to read my self-imposed goal of 20 pages. When Easter break started on Friday, I sat in my reading chair with the determination that I was going to plow through this novel before hitting the road. I got it done, but can’t say that I enjoyed the experience. 0.5 stars.

What I Am Currently Reading

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (1:48 of 13:53) I didn’t make much progress in my audiobook this week. With only one trip to Canyon this week, I was really banking on making some headway here while driving to Austin for Easter. What can I say? There was a Cubs game on the radio and that required I listen…..and it was a GOOD game too! I think once I get to the introduction of the young woman to her boyfriend’s Chinese family that I will be more inclined to listen at other times and not just in the car.

If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy (p. 156 of 292). This is exactly the book I needed to get me out of my current reading slump! Imagine a retelling of Cinderella that includes a plus-size shoe designer who finds her way onto a dating show (a la The Bachelor). It’s funny and the reality TV aspect has me rolling! It’s also nice to see a leading female character who doesn’t look like Barbie! This will do nicely for the prompt of a fairy tale retelling.

What I Removed From My TBR

Once in Austin, it was time to begin my next read. I had brought both books since they were part of my March and April reading plans. As I started to read, I realized that both books had some baggage that I was not equipped to deal with at the moment. Once There Were Wolves was the first book to be chopped. The novel opens with a relatively gruesome scene that I simply could not get past. (Those who know me well know that I have an extremely weak stomach.) This was my second attempt to get this novel going and it was clear that I wasn’t getting through the first chapter. Now, I’m on the look out for another piece of climate fiction.

Then came the realization that Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister was getting connected to my previous reading of Wicked by the same author. As much as I adore the musical, the novel was a real sludge for me to get through. Since I was already in a bit of a reading slump, I wasn’t ready to struggle through another tough read so soon after And Then There Were None. A trip to the bookstore led to the discovery of If The Shoe Fits, making me very comfortable to leave Confessions behind for this year.

2025 Reading Challenge audio mystery romance The 52 Book Club

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Apr 14

A Week in Midland (April 14, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Opera Week 2025 has come to an end. It was a successful production, but I am very glad that it is now in the rear view mirror. With such a busy schedule, I was happy to actually do a little reading each day. My brain and body were generally too tired between performances to focus for very long though. I made progress, but nothing substantial.

What I Finished This Week

Not a thing. I hate it, but it was how the week went. I’m trying not to get discouraged that I am falling behind my schedule a bit. Instead, I’m looking forward to having some free time coming up this weekend to hopefully make some headway and get back onto my reading schedule.

What I Am Currently Reading

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (p. 131 of 247). I learned something else about myself this week. Mysteries require my full attention and energy level to make a dent. This one doesn’t really feel like a mystery. I am just watching character’s mysteriously die off and I’m wondering who will be the next victim instead of who is the killer. I really need to plow through this book this week or I’m afraid I’m going to get lost in the weeds on this one.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (1:12 of 13:53). Since I was traveling with others in my car this week, I didn’t try to listen to my book until returning home. I’m only 6 chapters in, but the new premises are much more entertaining than what I thought I was in for in chapter 1. I’m actually looking forward to continuing this read a bit more this week.

That’s all there is to tell this week. Easter weekend is coming up and I am hoping that I will get some reading done while I’m away enjoying a little R&R.

2025 Reading Challenge audio mystery The 52 Book Club

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Apr 7

Blowing Snow in April (April 7, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Despite a busy week, I found myself with several books that I just couldn’t put down! Then a little snow on Saturday meant that I got to spend a little extra time in my reading chair finishing up a book between watching baseball games.

What I Finished This Week

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin. I absolutely adored this book! As you can tell by my finished reading this week, I am fascinated with the stories surrounding World War II. It’s not so much the war as it is the determination and perseverance of the European people in the face of such challenges. Martin tells a charming story of Grace, a young woman who arrives in the city just ahead of the Blitzkreig. Not having a letter of recommendation for work, the only job she can secure is in a dusty, dilapidated bookshop. While working there, she is introduced to the power of story and her life is transformed. Grace volunteers with the RAF and witnesses some of the worst attacks the German bombers can bring. The Last Bookshop in London is a story of love, endurance, survival, and the power of books to transport our mind. I’m looking forward to reading another of Martin’s historical fictions this summer. 4.75 stars

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey. With the end of opera rehearsals this week, I also finished this audio book. The third book in the Big Shots series, this one was perhaps the most thought provoking. Sieg, a professional hockey player, is scheduled to have dinner with his estranged father to meet the woman he plans to marry. Dreading the meal, Sieg makes a stop where he is charmed by the lovely Chloe. After what can only be described as “love at first sight,” Sieg’s world comes crashing down at dinner when he learns that his father plans to marry Chloe’s mother! How is it possible that the love of his life is about to become his step-sister? Bailey once again provides a story that is engaging and entertaining. Be warned…the spice level is high! 4 stars

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. I have to admit that this novel has caught my eye repeatedly when browsing in the bookstore. I think I steered clear because I expected the text to be simply too dark. I could not put this book down once I started. Yes, the details of life in the camp were disturbing and sorrowful. However, the love and hope that permeates each page lifts the story significantly. 4.5 stars

What I’m Currently Reading

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (00:29 of 13:53). When one audio ends, another begins. I’ve heard good things about the movie, so I decided to take a look at the book finally. It is also a way to knock out another of the Lunar New Year mini challenge books. I’ve only listened to the first chapter. I enjoyed it, but I have to listen very carefully because of the reader’s accent.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (p. 22 of 247). Mysteries are rarely high on my list of reading selections, but I find myself needing to read another for the 2025 Reading Challenge. I’m still meeting all of the characters and appreciate that Christie said of this novel that it was the most challenging to write. I’m looking forward to experiencing some fine writing even though it is not a genre I typically enjoy.

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Jan 13

Tons of Snow! (January 13, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It happens every year, it seems. Mother Nature decides that I should stay in Arkansas a few days longer than planned. This year was no exception as 7 inches of snow fell on the Geriatric Ward on Friday. Thankfully, this was not an ice event so we didn’t have to worry about losing power. Through all the cold temps, I maintained my reading pace. Once classes begin for the term, I anticipate that I’ll have to hit the brakes. Until then, I’m going to continue enjoying all of this “Reading for Me!”

What I Finished This Week

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. Once again, Jeffrey Archer provides an excellent story. Two boys are born on the same day on opposite sides of the world. William Kane is raised in a wealthy Boston family, set to inherit his family’s fortune and position as the chairman of the bank. Abel Rosnovski is the illegitimate son of a Polish baron who finds himself watching his family die at the hands of the Russians, spending years in a work camp, before emigrating to the US. Abel inherits a hotel chain after the horror of the 1929 Crash, causing his path to finally cross with Kane. From this initial meeting, the two men’s hatred for each other grows daily. Archer weaves a powerful story of greed, hatred, misunderstandings, and love set against major events in American history. I used this read for prompt more than a million copies sold in The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge. 4.75 of 5 stars.

Filthy Gods by R. Scarlet. I needed a prompt for A prequel and anticipated needing something short for the beginning of the Spring term of classes this month. (I had no idea that I would have such a productive beginning to my reading experience.) This was supposed to serve as the prequel to the American Gods series (never finished) about four young socialites at Yale University. It was a quick read and that was the best thing this romance had going for it. 3 stars.

The Takeover by T.L. Swan. If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that I read the first book in The Miles High series and really enjoyed it. I decided to continue through the series and found this novel even more enjoyable. This time, Tristan (another of the Miles brothers) develops feelings for a mother of three sons who is still grieving the loss of her husband nearly five years ago in a tragic car accident. Because of her responsibilities to her children and her husband’s memory, the woman has not allowed herself to consider dating. Tristan, however, cannot get her out of his mind. The two have a tryst while attending a conference in Paris. Their paths further entwine when the widow’s oldest son is awarded an internship with Tristan’s company. Full of twists and turns, this very spicy romance is a beautiful exploration of the definition of family, grief, adoption, and love. 4 stars.

D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton. Returning to the 2025 Reading Challenge, I needed to read a book by an author who had received the Edgar Award. I planned this book for my January reads for a couple of reasons. 1) I despise mysteries and wanted to get this prompt off my plate as soon as possible. 2) I purchased a collection of Grafton’s mysteries on a whim during a trip to Half Price Books in Oklahoma City. Since I didn’t have to invest any money and the book was close at hand, it was selected for the read. The plot is pretty much what I expected. A recently released convict engages our P.I. to deliver a sizable cashier’s check to the child of one of his victims. A few days after this meeting, the convict is found dead on the beach. The police have ruled the death accidental; but our heroine knows that something more is going on. She interviews possible suspects, finds herself in danger, and ultimately discovers the identity of the murderer. Meh. 2.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Casanova by T.L. Swan (p. 116 of 507). Book three in The Miles High series has not gotten off to a good start for this reader. I found the characters of Eliot and Kathryn to be annoying and petty. However, with a humorous turn of events, I’m now getting a little more invested in their story. Here’s hoping that it eventually reaches the same level of enjoyable reading as the previous books in the series.

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (p. 19 of 271). I wanted to at least start this book before returning to Texas. It’s another selection for the 2025 Reading Challenge; I need to read a book with a diary entry. I’ve heard great things about the movie, so I wanted to see what the book would be like. I’m not far enough into the book to have formed an opinion.

The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer (4:35 of 9:45). A long drive (and another one ahead later this week) means I need to add an audiobook to my reading. I didn’t really plan in advance, so I simply made a selection quickly — and it turned out to be pretty good. Chris needs protection while members of his family testify against a crime syndicate. After attacks on the safe house, he and his protector find themselves in the small town of Copper County. Their cover story? Newlyweds! It’s a hysterical story of what is the cover story and what are real feelings. I’m anxious to see how this one is going to turn out.

What’s Ahead?

Later this week, I will be traveling to participate in the Oklahoma Music Educators’ Conference. I won’t be attending many of the sessions; instead, I’ll be sitting in a booth to share information about the school. Between the evenings and slow times in the booth, I anticipate having some time to read. My plan is to finish the Fielding book and get started on the last of the 2025 Reading Challenge books that I have selected for January – The Princess Bride. We will all find out how things went next Monday.

Until then, I bid you happy reading!

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Dec 23

Santa Claus is Coming to Town (December 23, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

It’s nearly Christmas, so this week has featured a little shopping, a little baking, and a lot of lazy reading on the couch! It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season. My reading has taken the turn to holiday stories all week.

What I Finished This Week

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore. I decided to return to Dream Harbor since I had enjoyed the story of the Cinnamon Bun Book Store. Gilmore once again did not disappoint. The story centers around Kira, the new owner of the local Christmas tree farm. The residents of Dream Harbor are convinced that there are dead bodies — or buried treasure — hidden on the property, so they send in Bennett to get to the bottom of things. Only problem? Kira despises Bennett from first sight and wants nothing to do with him. Bennett’s past dating history has not done him any favors in his interactions with women. This is a cute rom-com that is sure to please most readers while putting them in the Christmas spirit.

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely. I really enjoyed this read. After being betrayed by her boyfriend at Thanksgiving, Fable enlists the help of her billionaire boss, Wilder, to get them both through the holidays by being each other’s “fake date” for the season. Once their escapades take the couple to a small village for events leading up to Fable’s sister’s wedding, the line between “fake dating” and falling in love become blurred. I found myself laughing and rooting for this unlikely pair as their emotions became real. A little more spicy that what I normally enjoy in a romance, Lauren Blakely once again provides a fascinating story peopled with believable characters that readers are invested in. One of my favorite stories of the month!

The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank. After finishing the other books, I was looking for something short and engaging that wasn’t a romance, but still a holiday story. This short novella fit the bill perfectly! Theodora is a 90-something woman who longs for the Christmases of yesteryear. Largely influenced by the housemaid of her childhood, Pearl, Theodora’s memories are associated with good food, laughter, respect, and worship of the Christ child. Sadly, Pearl passed away many years ago and there is no one who is able to fill her shoes. Now in the present day, the new housekeeper has to leave the home unexpectedly and will not return until after Christmas. She has spoken to her neighbor who has agreed to help the family out. Theodora is shocked when she greets the replacement and discovers it is Pearl! Part Ghost of Christmas Past and part Clarence Odbody from It’s a Wonderful Life, Pearl’s story is filled with warmth, magic, and love. I strongly encourage you to read this short work as a way to celebrate the holiday season.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (p. 56 of 293) This book came to me as part of the December Book of the Month Club. I was drawn to the pun in the title. I have seen people reading it all over social media with good responses. I am not typically a mystery reader, but I decided to take a chance and give this a read. Still early in the book, but I am enjoying the interactions and the writing style so far. Hopefully, I’ll have this finished by the end of the week without too much difficulty.

The Thief who Saved Christmas by Angela Casella (p. 20 of 391). First, let’s address my frustration with this reading. I am reading it as an ebook, but this edition does not have a page count on my Kindle. Therefore, I only know the percentage that I am through the entire book, but I have no way of knowing how much reading I’ve actually accomplished in each sitting. That is a bad recipe for me. Now….as far as the story goes, I’m fascinated and thoroughly engaged in what has been presented. Rather than tell you what I know of the plot thus far, I’ll just say that this is definitely one that you should look into reading if you are searching for a fun read to finish out the holiday season.

What’s Coming Up

As the year is winding down, I wanted to give you a glimpse into what you should expect from the blog next week. I will be back on Monday with my regular weekly update. On Tuesday, I’ll post a special 2024 in review. This post will include stats from the year — books completed, books that I DNF’d, and total pages read. I’ll also include my favorite selections from each month as well as naming my best read for the year. I’ll conclude with my plans and goals for the upcoming year. (I have some lofty goals and should be an entertaining journey in the year ahead. Above all, I plan to have my nose firmly planted in the pages of books.)

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Dec 16

Let Christmas Vacation Begin (Dec 16, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

Grades have been turned in. Holiday road trip is complete. Final performance of the season is behind me. I am officially on vacation! I started the change of pace before leaving Plainview and got quite a bit of reading done along the way.

What I Finished This Week

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore. Even though this wasn’t the Christmas novel that I thought I was going to be reading, I thoroughly enjoyed this trip to the town of Dream Harbor. Hazel manages this cute bookstore in town. She is searching for adventure as she nears her 30th birthday at the end of the summer. Mysteriously, some books are being shelved backwards and have pages earmarked (the horror!). Each book seems to indicate a personal adventure for her to take. What fun are adventures alone? So Hazel enlists the help of Noah, Dream Harbor’s handsome fisherman. As any reader would expect, the adventures turn into romantic outings, our characters fall in love, and the outrageousness ensues. Is this series rather cheesy? Absolutely. Did I still enjoy it? Apparently, because I’m reading the next book in the series as part of the Christmas mini-challenge.

A Christmas Murder by Mary Grand. I’m not sure if this short novel qualifies as a cozy mystery, but it was a book that I struggled to read. The premise is simple enough — father of an eccentric family dies under questionable circumstances — and an amateur sleuth steps in to save the day. I suppose the book was well-written enough. I just didn’t find the plot or characters compelling. I think I need my mysteries to include a little more intrigue and suspense. I made it through because I just wouldn’t let myself pick up anything else until I had attempted to finish this mystery.

JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography by Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio. With large portions of four days spent in my car last week, I was able to devote significant time to finishing this 14 hour audiobook. Truly, the account of the life of John Kennedy, Jr. by those who knew him personally was fascinating. However, I think the book could have been shortened by a few hours without negative impact. After the reports about the plane crash, the public’s response, and John’s funeral, the biography should have ended. While Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s death is clearly linked to John’s story, the lengthy exploration of her memorial service and the family’s blame of John for her death was unnecessarily long. The coda included a final opportunity for each contributor to say one final thing about why JFK Jr. was so important to society. The reader already had a clear understanding about how much each cared for the man based upon their statements throughout the book. The coda simply felt like an unnecessary pissing match — an attempt to say “I knew him best.”

What I’m Currently Reading

I needed new books before heading to Nashville for a quick performance. I wasn’t ready for another mystery and I certainly did not want another biography. I wanted something fast-paced and still in the holiday spirit, so Christmas romances are the order of the day again. The plan is to head to the local library this week to see if I can find another holiday genre to clear my palette after reading these.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore (p. 56 of 342). Another of the Dream Harbor books, I knew exactly what to expect when I started reading this short novel. Like Cinnamon Bun Book Store, I’m finding the book has a very slow start. Since the main characters were briefly introduced in the previous book, I’m not coming into this environment completely blind, but I’m still not invested in their relationship. I’m hoping that the pace will pick up as I get a little further into the book and the romance begins to bloom between our unlikely lovers.

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely (p. 112 of 479). Talk about a cliche premise! Fable, our heroine, walks in on her boyfriend having a little too much fun with the caterer at her boss’ Thanksgiving dinner. When Fable’s sister announces at the same dinner that she is getting married at Christmas at the boss’ Christmas extravaganza and the two-timing ex-boyfriend is also in the wedding party, Fable has to come up with a plan to survive. That’s when she and her handsome billionaire boss concoct a scheme to “fake date” through the end of the holidays. Fable wants to stick it to her ex; her boss wants to show her how a woman should be treated….and maybe fall in love in the process. Blakely’s books are always for mature audiences and are mixed with lots of humor and innuendo. I’m really enjoying this read just because of how outrageous the situation is, but I’m also rooting for Fable to land the man who will treat her as she deserves.

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Dec 22

#32: The Long Call (Ann Cleeves)

by kennithfreeman

This novel wins one of my personal awards for 2022 — THE ABSOLUTE WORST READ OF THE YEAR! If you see it on the bargain table of your favorite bookstore as I did, RUN — don’t walk past it — RUN AWAY! Do not waste your time on this horrible book. It took me 15 days to force myself through the book after a couple of thoughts to just put the book down. I kept hoping that the plot and writing would improve and wanted to give Cleeves the opportunity to change my opinion. It didn’t happen.

The Long Call opens with a murdered man on the beach of a quiet area of the English coast. When you think the novel is going to focus on this mysterious death, the plot takes a turn to focus on the women of a local day center that serves both the general community and adults with special needs, specifically those with Down’s Syndrome. The cast of characters were two-dimensional and challenging to distinguish. The “mystery” is convoluted and confusing. Add to this the role of a religious group that is not adequately explored to give it real significance and you have a recipe for a very bad book.

In case I’ve not made it clear, I absolutely HATED this book — not something I say very often — and don’t plan to read anything else by this author. My reading time is far too valuable to waste on another poorly written book.

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Sep 25

#26: Trunk Music (Michael Connelly)

by kennithfreeman

I am so excited to share with you that I finished a book this week! That really is excellent news for me. I dropped the ball in other areas of my life, but I think I have managed to get back into the groove of reading daily for pleasure.

Trunk Music was another of the Harry Bosch novels that I have discovered as part of My Library Shelf project. In this installment, Harry and his partners find a corpse in the trunk of a white Rolls Royce overlooking the summer finale performance of the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. (I love those kind of details….I can picture the scene clearly in my mind’s eye!) Once the dead man is identified as a second-rate movie mogul who has been laundering money for criminals, everything points to the murder as a mob hit. Harry follows the case to the seedier side of Las Vegas and finds the murderer.

At least, he *thinks* he has found the murderer. Connelly sets up so many twists and turns in this plot that your reading feels like an exciting roller coaster ride. I was never fully certain where I was going to end up, but I knew that I was enjoying the ride! Life-changing things are happening for Bosch on the personal front as well at the close of the novel — he marries Eleanor finally! I’m definitely a fan of the Harry Bosch novels, but I’m ready for something a little different in my reading life for the coming week.

So what’s the next book that I’m diving into? I decided to stick with My Library Shelf and am reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. This is definitely not something I would normally pick up, but I have to admit that I am intrigued by what I have learned about the novel so far. First published in 1868, the novel took London by storm when it first appeared in a serialized form in Charles Dickens’ weekly magazine. It seems to be one of the first versions of the genre we now know as “detective stories.” I’m only a few pages into the book on this chilly Saturday and have found myself struggling to get into the writing. So far, much of the story has been setting the stage about the history of this strange “moonstone” gem and the supposed curse that follows it. As I am beginning the story proper, I’m really hoping that the story will become more engaging. The library card jacket suggests that it is included on Accelerated Reader lists in the city, so I’m anxious to see if I think it can hold the attention of a young reader. It is rather long — 464 pages — so I’m hoping that it grabs my attention and is a rather quick read. I don’t want to spend my time wading through a novel that I’m just not enjoying.

fiction My Library Shelf mystery Series

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May 4

#10: The Last Coyote (Michael Connelly)

by kennithfreeman

With the end of the semester, I found myself ready to dive back into some reading to kick the summer off in the right way. I decided that it was time to return to the world of Harry Bosch and see what was happening with my new favorite detective. Unfortunately, this installment in the Bosch series was challenging for me to read….but I’m not entirely certain why.

The story should have been enthralling to me. Bosch finds himself on administrative leave from the LAPD and takes a look at the archived murder book that contains the details of his mother’s unsolved murder many years ago. Clearly, Bosch is invested in seeing this case closed and is willing to go to any extreme necessary to find out the truth of what really happened. What I did not find as enjoyable was the exploration of Bosch’s inner struggle and the mandated visits to the psychologist to return to the police force. While those are typically themes that would be very interesting to me, in this case, I found them distracting from the case at hand.

The other BIG problem with this reading experience was hard to overlook. The Unger Library did not have a stand-alone copy of The Last Coyote. Instead, I read the novel from a large collection of the Bosch novels. It was impossible to find a way to hold the book at just the right angle without feeling as though I was putting undue pressure on my hands and wrists. Why do publishers think these massive volumes are good ideas for readers? My reading pace slowed significantly simply because I could not hold the book for long stretches of time. I think the physical discomfort put me in a bad mindset that carried over into my reading experience. Yes, I’m sure I could have found a copy of the e-book. I simply don’t enjoy reading on a digital device. Since I spend the majority of my work day with my iPad as an extension of my hand, I don’t find it relaxing to continue using it when I am trying to move into pleasure reading. I will occasionally read an e-book on the device, but it is typically something that I don’t want to admit that I’m reading or something that I don’t really care how long it takes me to work through.

Because of the extreme weight that accompanied The Last Coyote, I next reading adventures are in audio and paperback formats. I’m finding both of them enriching and a joy to read again. I may just have to pick up the digital version of the next Bosch novel to avoid spending any more time with this ENORMOUS book.

fiction My Library Shelf mystery thriller

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