Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

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.)

Book of the Month Christmas family saga mystery romance

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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.

audio Christmas mystery romance

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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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Oct 24

#31: The Black Echo (Michael Connelly)

by kennithfreeman

I get asked on a fairly regular basis why I do the My Library Shelf project. The idea was birthed after reading The Shelf: Adventures in Extreme Reading by Phyllis Rose. The premise is fairly simple. Select a shelf — ideally with at least one classic novel and no more than 5 works by a single author — and read with a sense of adventure. The project is always much easier and more exciting at larger libraries. Unger Library has been a little more challenging. Few classics are mixed in with the contemporary works and there are LOTS of shelves dominated by mass market authors. That has meant that I have to be a little more flexible with the “rules” of the project, but I still get to enjoy the adventure of reading books with which I would not otherwise engage. Sometimes, I find a really enjoyable book like The Black Echo.

The Black Echo is the first of Michael Connelly’s novels featuring Detective Harry Bosch. (The Bosch novels seem to be quite popular. There are currently 21 books in the series as well as a television series based on the character available on Prime Video.) Bosch is a Vietnam vet who has joined the LAPD as a rough-around-the-edges, no-nonsense homicide detective. In the opening novel, Bosch is called to investigate an apparent overdose victim found in a water drainage system above the Hollywood Hills. What should have been an easy case becomes much more personal when Bosch recognizes the victim as a fellow serviceman from his past. Now the case has become personal.

The Black Echo is full of intrigue and excitement. The twists and turns continue until the novel’s closing passage — with an ending that this reader did not see coming at all. I especially enjoyed the southern California setting and the attention to geographic details. I was able to travel the familiar roads with the detective as things were described with stunning clarity. Connelly is a gifted story teller and I am looking forward to returning to more of his works as I continue to make my way through My Library Shelf.

What’s ahead? For now, I am returning to The Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer. My plan is to include the final two books in the saga in the rest of my 2020 reading.

fiction My Library Shelf mystery thriller

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Oct 5

#24: Doomed to Die (Dorothy Simpson)

by kennithfreeman

512bdtn42ba6l-_sy344_bo1204203200_I returned to my Library Shelf project with Dorothy Simpson’s Doomed to Die. This mystery novel featuring Inspector Luke Thanet was another quick read, but definitely had a convoluted plot line. The twists and turns were unexpected and were not adequately prepared; this reader felt as though he was on a constant roller coaster ride through the novel’s pages.

The story centers around a young artist who is found dead in the kitchen of her friend’s cottage after telling her husband that she wants a divorce since she is in love with another man. The woman is bleeding severely from a head wound and has a plastic bag covering her head. What was the cause of death — the head wound or suffocation? To solve the mystery, everyone must be considered a suspect — from her husband and mother-in-law to friends and her illicit lover.

A few things caused me problems while reading Doomed to Die. Simpson, a British novelist, obviously uses British spellings and phrases that are now out-of-date and difficult for the American reader. More importantly, however, was the way the mystery finally gets solved. A minute detail that is barely mentioned in the initial presentation of the murder suddenly becomes the catalyst for the crime’s solution. It felt as though Simpson had reached the pagination requirement set by her publisher and then decided to suddenly wrap up her novel in a tidy package. That type of writing always annoys me.  I would rather have a short book that tells a great story than one that seems to be circling around on itself in an effort to become more substantial.

I’m sad to say that I devoted a few days to reading this novel that I can never get back. This has been the first major let-down on My Library Shelf….and I certainly hope it is not the beginning of a trend.

fiction My Library Shelf mystery

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Sep 10

#21: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore (Matthew Sullivan)

by kennithfreeman

My latest novel took me to a used bookstore that is a home-away-from-home for its quirky employees and eccentric patrons. The book’s opening scene features Joey, one of Bright Ideas’ most regular customers, dangling from a noose. His body has been discovered by Lydia, the lovable and loyal bookseller. As Lydia lower Joey’s body from the rafters, she discovers a photograph in Joey’s pocket. Is this a clue to the reason for Joey’s suicide? No….it actually raises more questions because the picture was taken at Lydia’s 10th birthday party — and was one of the last times she saw her friend Carol before she was tragically killed. Why does Joey have this picture? He and Lydia first met a few years ago…..long after her birthday celebration.

Lydia’s story is not without complication as well. As a young girl, Lydia was having a sleep over at Carol’s home on the night that their world would be turned upside down. While playing in a blanket tent in the living room, Carol and Lydia witnessed a stranger enter the house with a hammer in his hand. As the girls heard the sounds of Carol’s parents being murdered, Carol raced to aid them and lost her life in the process. Lydia found a hiding place under the kitchen sink and escaped the Hammerman’s violent rampage. The criminal’s identity has remained a mystery ever since the murderous night and has crippled Lydia in the process.

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore weaves together the two mysteries of Joey’s tragic suicide and the Hammerman mystery into one story effortlessly. It is an exciting read that will keep the audience glued to its pages until the final revelation is made in the closing chapter. Thankfully, the violent scenes were not explicitly graphic and a welcome change of pace for my reading adventure.

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Feb 6

#2: 2nd Chance (James Patterson)

by kennithfreeman

I’m continuing to work my way through the Women’s Murder Club series and thoroughly enjoying the easy reading. The central characters return, facing personal danger as they search for a serial killer. This time, events spiral as the murders begin with the death of an 11-year-old black girl exiting a church choir rehearsal. What first appears to be a series of hate crimes quickly turn much darker.

This installment also features the return of Lindsey’s long lost father. At times touching, this personal narrative becomes painful to watch. I’m not sure if I want to see Dad return in future episodes or not. I suppose I’ll just have to see what Mr. Patterson has in mind for his readers.

My only complaint about the book involves the ending. I’ll be careful not to include spoilers. When the suspect is finally apprehended, Lindsey dramatically realizes he is the wrong guy. In a head-spinning series of events, the hunt leads back to a minor character briefly appearing earlier in the story. Personally, I felt a little cheated, as though the author was simply looking for a way to stretch things out for another 50 pages.

fiction mystery Series

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Feb 16

#4: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon)

by kennithfreeman

The February selection for the “Reading with Jacqs” project was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The book is basically a mystery narrated by a young English boy, Christopher, who is a highly functioning autistic. The mystery begins with the death of a dog, Wellington, that our narrator finds with a lawn fork stuck in him. His search for the cause of the dog’s death leads to the instruction by his aggressive father to “stop sticking your nose in other people’s business.” Christopher decides to write a book detailing his search for answers. When his father trashes the manuscript as a punishment for Christopher’s persistent search for the dog’s murderer, the search for his prized notebook leads to an unexpected discovery that shapes the course of the rest of Christopher’s adventures.

Mark Haddon eloquently expresses the quirkiness of an autistic boy and takes the reader deep into the inner-workings of the mind. Every detail of the book — including the numbering system used for the book’s chapters — are designed to paint a clearer portrait of our main character. At times difficult to process because of the tangents Haddon’s writing includes, it quickly becomes clear that we are seeing the world through the eyes of the disorder. What I found most intriguing is that the novel is not about the disorder; autism is simply a fact of Christopher’s life that partially defines him. Although I don’t normally read mysteries, I found myself immersed in the tale of Christopher, his family relationships, and the curious incident that links them all together.

What’s next on my reading list? I’ve just begun Trevanian’s The Crazyladies of Pearl Street. I’m hoping to make a nice dent in it during tomorrow’s snow day from school.

fiction mystery Reading with Jacqs

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