Christina reads even more series in 2024: Part 2

2024 Category Challenge, Part 2


Camille Corot, "A Woman Reading"

Hi, I’m Christina, and welcome to the second thread of my 2024 category challenge! This year I’m doing 6 categories (2 + 4 = 6) with at least 24 book per category, for a total of 144 books. Here are my categories:

1. Series from My Shelves: For the past couple years, I’ve been focusing on series I own (in whole or in part). I have a bad habit of reading book #1, liking it enough to buy the rest of the series, but then letting the remaining books languish unread on my shelves. So I’ve chosen a bunch of specific series to fill this category, some of which I’ve owned for more than a decade!

2. Owned but Unread Books: This category will cover physical books I’ve owned since before January 1, 2024, but haven’t read yet (not including the series books from category #1). Gotta keep chipping away at that TBR!

3. Rereads: Last year I didn’t have a designated category for rereads, and I found that I didn’t make much space for them in my challenge. I really like rereading books; if they’re favorites, it’s always a pleasure to revisit them. And if it turns out I don’t love a book as much as I did the first time around, I can rehome it and make some room on my shelves.

4. Bought in 2024: Pretty self-explanatory — this category is for physical books I purchase in 2024. Another bad habit of mine is buying new books and not reading them right away; sometimes they sit around unread for years or even decades! This category will incentivize me, and give me permission, to read those shiny new books right away.

5. Borrowed in 2024: I use my public library a lot, so this category shouldn’t be too hard to fill. It’ll also remind me that I don’t have to buy all the shiny new books; I can borrow them instead!

6. Nook Books: I’ve accumulated a lot of e-books over the years — I get sucked in by the discounts — but I don’t always remember to read them! So this is basically the digital equivalent of category #2, although I’ll also count e-books I acquire in 2024 in this category.

In 2023 I also instituted my first book-buying challenge, limiting myself to just 50 new physical books. This year, instead of capping it at a specific number, I’m aiming for a one-in, one-out system (credit to psutto for the idea!). For every new physical book I purchase, I have to remove one from my shelves. So far I'm at a net gain of 9 books, which isn't ideal, but it could be worse!

And finally, in an attempt to actually read some nonfiction in 2024, I've set myself a goal of 12 nonfiction books for the year, or one per month on average. Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading!

1. Series from My Shelves


Dante Gabriel Rossetti, "Jane Morris (The Blue Silk Dress)"

Nancy Campbell Allen, Steampunk Proper Romance
1. *Beauty and the Clockwork Beast - COMPLETED Jan. 2
2. Kiss of the Spindle - COMPLETED Feb. 6
3. The Lady in the Coppergate Tower - COMPLETED Mar. 4
4. Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts - COMPLETED Apr. 6

Martha Wells, Fall of Ile-Rien
5. The Wizard Hunters - COMPLETED Jan. 18
6. The Ships of Air - COMPLETED Feb. 12
7. The Gate of Gods - COMPLETED Mar. 10

Carol Berg, Collegia Magica
8. The Spirit Lens
9. The Soul Mirror
10. The Daemon Prism

India Holton, Dangerous Damsels
11. *The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels - COMPLETED Apr. 18
12. The League of Gentlewomen Witches
13. The Secret Service of Tea and Treason

Elizabeth C. Bunce, StarCrossed
14. StarCrossed
15. Liar’s Moon

V.E. Schwab, Shades of Magic
16. *A Darker Shade of Magic
17. *A Gathering of Shadows
18. A Conjuring of Light

Kristen Britain, Green Rider
19. *Green Rider
20. First Rider’s Call
21. The High King’s Tomb…

Genevieve Cogman, Invisible Library
22. *The Invisible Library
23. The Masked City
24. The Burning Page…

* = reread
... = the series continues, but I may or may not keep reading

2. Owned but Unread Books


Pierre-Auguste Renoir, "Femme Lisant"

1. Delano Ames, She Shall Have Murder
2. Sharon Shinn, The Truth-Teller's Tale
3. Martin Edwards, The Golden Age of Murder
4. Paula Byrne, The Genius of Jane Austen: Her Love of Theatre and Why She Works in Hollywood
5. Richard Hull, The Murder of My Aunt
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3. Rereads


Luke Fildes, "A Schoolgirl"

1. Georgette Heyer, Faro's Daughter
2. Beth O'Leary, The Flatshare
3. Robin McKinley, Rose Daughter
4. Georgette Heyer, A Blunt Instrument
5. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
6. Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many
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4. Bought in 2024


William Orpen, "Grace Reading at Howth Bay"

1. Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly
2. Theresa Romain, It Takes Two to Tangle
3. Erle Stanley Gardner, The Bigger They Come
4. Anne Gracie, Marry in Scandal
5. Mary Balogh, Heartless
6. Anne Gracie, Marry in Secret
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5. Borrowed in 2024


Gyula Benczúr, "Woman Reading in a Forest"

1. Julia Heaberlin, Night Will Find You
2. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Fair
3. Mimi Matthews, The Lily of Ludgate Hill
4. Mary Balogh, Always Remember
5. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the School
6. Devon Daniels, The Rom Con
7. Sally Nicholls, Yours from the Tower
8. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Bath
9. Mariana Zapata, From Lukov with Love
10. Lynn Painter, Happily Never After
11. Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Assistant to the Villain
12. Charlotte Stein, When Grumpy Met Sunshine
13. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Nursery
14. Kate Clayborn, The Other Side of Disappearing
15. Tatsuya Endo, Spy x Family, vol. 1
16. Catherine Walsh, Snowed In
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6. Nook Books


Torajiro Kojima, "Woman Reading"

1. Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
2. T. Kingfisher, Swordheart
3. Elizabeth Harmon, Pairing Off
4. Stella Riley, A Trick of Fate
5. Chloe Angyal, Pas de Don't
6. Louise Allen, His Convenient Duchess
7. Stella Riley, Under a Dark Moon
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CATs and KITs

As usual, I'll dip in and out of these as the mood takes me. I will try to complete the entire AlphaKIT, plus or minus an X book. :)

January
CalendarCAT (Jan): Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird; Martha Wells, The Wizard Hunters
HistoryCAT (American wars & conflicts):
PrizeCAT (long-running prizes):
AlphaKIT (A, Y): Nancy Campbell Allen, Beauty and the Clockwork Beast; Delano Ames, She Shall Have Murder; Julia Heaberlin, Night Will Find You; Mary Balogh, Always Remember
MysteryKIT (short stories):
RandomKIT (early birds): Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird; T. Kingfisher, Swordheart
*SFFKIT (epic fantasy): T. Kingfisher, Swordheart; Martha Wells, The Wizard Hunters

February
CalendarCAT (Feb): Elizabeth Harmon, Pairing Off; Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiss of the Spindle; Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly; Devon Daniels, The Rom Con; Theresa Romain, It Takes Two to Tangle; Beth O'Leary, The Flatshare
HistoryCAT (Georgian & Regency Britain): Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly; Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the School; Theresa Romain, It Takes Two to Tangle; Paula Byrne, The Genius of Jane Austen: Her Love of Theatre and Why She Works in Hollywood
PrizeCAT (from your own country):
AlphaKIT (F, E): Martin Edwards, The Golden Age of Murder; Elizabeth Harmon, Pairing Off; Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly; Beth O'Leary, The Flatshare
MysteryKIT (true unsolved mysteries): Martin Edwards, The Golden Age of Murder
RandomKIT (escape or rescue): Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiss of the Spindle
SFFKIT (critters & creatures): Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiss of the Spindle

March
CalendarCAT (Mar): C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
HistoryCAT (science & medicine): Nancy Campbell Allen, The Lady in the Coppergate Tower
PrizeCAT (new to you):
AlphaKIT (H, R): Richard Hull, The Murder of My Aunt; Stella Riley, A Trick of Fate; Robin McKinley, Rose Daughter; Mary Balogh, Heartless; Georgette Heyer, A Blunt Instrument; Lynn Painter, Happily Never After; Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Assistant to the Villain; Louise Allen, His Convenient Duchess
MysteryKIT (historical): Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Bath
RandomKIT (World Wildlife Day):
SFFKIT (space opera):

April
CalendarCAT (Apr):
HistoryCAT (riots, revolution & mayhem): Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many
PrizeCAT (women’s writing):
AlphaKIT (U, O): Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many; Kate Clayborn, The Other Side of Disappearing; Stella Riley, Under a Dark Moon
MysteryKIT (series): Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many; Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Nursery
RandomKIT (garden visitors):
SFFKIT (time travel):

May
CalendarCAT (May):
HistoryCAT (Middle Ages):
PrizeCAT (doubling up):
AlphaKIT (N, P):
MysteryKIT (Golden Age):
RandomKIT (art and architecture):
SFFKIT (archaeology):

June
CalendarCAT (Jun):
HistoryCAT (historians):
PrizeCAT (book lists):
AlphaKIT (J, B):
MysteryKIT (author new to you):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (monsters):

July
CalendarCAT (Jul):
*HistoryCAT (spies):
PrizeCAT (from a country other than your own):
AlphaKIT (I, S):
MysteryKIT (cross-genre):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (first contact):

August
CalendarCAT (Aug):
HistoryCAT (Byzantine Empire):
PrizeCAT (genre):
AlphaKIT (M, G):
*MysteryKIT (amateur sleuths):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (paranormal/space detectives):

September
CalendarCAT (Sep):
HistoryCAT (World War I & II):
PrizeCAT (also fits another CAT/KIT):
AlphaKIT (V, C):
MysteryKIT (upstairs/downstairs):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (gods/mythology):

October
CalendarCAT (Oct):
HistoryCAT (disasters):
PrizeCAT (missed out):
AlphaKIT (D, T):
MysteryKIT (not too scary):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (women authors):

November
CalendarCAT (Nov):
HistoryCAT (ancient & classical):
PrizeCAT (children’s):
AlphaKIT (L, W):
MysteryKIT (noir):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (recommended by a human):

December
CalendarCAT (Dec):
HistoryCAT (religions & religious festivals):
PrizeCAT (your choice):
AlphaKIT (K, Q):
MysteryKIT (culinary):
RandomKIT ():
SFFKIT (bookish fantasy):

Year-Long
AlphaKIT (X, Z): Mariana Zapata, From Lukov with Love

* = I'm hosting the challenge

BingoDOG

As usual, I'll aim for a blackout Bingo and see how far I get!



1. Something themed around food or cooking:
2. A book with an ugly cover: Martin Edwards, The Golden Age of Murder
3. A book with nothing on the cover but the title and author: C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
4. A book featuring twins: Sharon Shinn, The Truth-Teller's Tale (narrator is a twin)
5. A book about a topic about which you have specific knowledge or expertise: Paula Byrne, The Genius of Jane Austen: Her Love of Theatre and Why She Works in Hollywood
6. First published in a year ending in -24: Mimi Matthews, The Lily of Ludgate Hill (2024)
7. Epistolary or diary format: Richard Hull, The Murder of My Aunt (diary)
8. The words "Big" or "Little" in the title: Erle Stanley Gardner, The Bigger They Come
9. A book from one of the "Similar Libraries" featured on your LT profile page: Robin McKinley, Rose Daughter (shared with barefootsong)
10. A book about friendship: Sally Nicholls, Yours from the Tower
11. A three-word title: Martha Wells, The Wizard Hunters
12. Features a paper-based item in the plot: Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly (letters between hero and heroine kick off the plot)
13. Read a CAT: Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiss of the Spindle (Feb CalendarCAT, RandomKIT, SFFKIT)
14. A short story collection/anthology:
15. Title contains a person's name: Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
16. Set in the city: Delano Ames, She Shall Have Murder (London)
17. A book with fewer than 100 copies on LT: Julia Heaberlin, Night Will Find You (91 as of Jan. 9)
18. Something written by a person of color:
19. Written by an author 65 or older: Mary Balogh, Always Remember (age 79)
20. A book featuring water: Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Bath
21. Involves warriors or mercenaries: T. Kingfisher, Swordheart
22. Reread a favorite book: Georgette Heyer, Faro's Daughter
23. A book written in another cultural tradition: Tatsuya Endo, Spy x Family, vol. 1 (Japanese author, manga format)
24. Something that takes place in multiple countries: Elizabeth Harmon, Pairing Off (Russia, USA, Netherlands, Canada)
25. Read a current/recent bestseller: Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Assistant to the Villain

March recap

March was a pretty good month for me, though I wish we’d gotten more warmth and sunshine! I got a little of both by spending a week in Florida with my family. My brother, his wife, and their five boys were there, which made for a very fun but very chaotic vacation! I also made it through Lent without breaking my no-buy, but I did make multiple purchases yesterday on Easter, including a book. :) So without further ado, on to my March stats!

Books read in March:
1. Richard Hull, The Murder of My Aunt
2. Nancy Campbell Allen, The Lady in the Coppergate Tower
3. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Bath
4. Martha Wells, The Gate of Gods
5. Stella Riley, A Trick of Fate
6. Erle Stanley Gardner, The Bigger They Come
7. Chloe Angyal, Pas de Don’t
8. Robin McKinley, Rose Daughter
9. Anne Gracie, Marry in Scandal
10. Mariana Zapata, From Lukov with Love
11. Mary Balogh, Heartless
12. Georgette Heyer, A Blunt Instrument
13. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
14. Lynn Painter, Happily Never After
15. Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Assistant to the Villain
16. Louise Allen, His Convenient Duchess

Favorite book of the month:
Happily Never After was a fun, frothy delight of a romantic comedy.

Dishonorable mention:
No true duds this month, but I suppose Assistant to the Villain made me roll my eyes the most.

CATs completed:
- CalendarCAT (Mar): Mere Christianity was a timely read for Lent and Easter, both of which took place in March this year.
- HistoryCAT (science & medicine): In The Lady in the Coppergate Tower, the hero is a doctor and the heroine is his assistant.
- AlphaKIT (H, R): *Richard *Hull, The Murder of My Aunt; Stella *Riley, A Trick of Fate; *Robin McKinley, *Rose Daughter; Mary Balogh, *Heartless; Georgette *Heyer, A Blunt Instrument; Lynn Painter, *Happily Never After; *Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Assistant to the Villain; Louise Allen, *His Convenient Duchess
- MysteryKIT (historical): Death Comes to Bath is part of a historical mystery series set in the 1820s.

Bingo squares completed:
- Epistolary or diary: The Murder of My Aunt is told in diary format.
- Featuring water: In Death Comes to Bath, the principal murder is death by drowning, and multiple characters “take the waters” for their health.
- “Big” or “little” in the title: The Bigger They Come contains the word “big.”
- From a LibraryThing “similar library”: I share Rose Daughter with one of my similar libraries, barefootsong.
- Nothing but the title and the author on the cover: I’m counting Mere Christianity, though my copy also has some abstract shapes on the cover.
- Current or recent bestseller: Assistant to the Villain made it to #2 on the New York Times Best Sellers list in September 2023.

Books acquired in March:
1. Katherine Arden, The Warm Hands of Ghosts

Physical books in/out:
Cumulatively for the year, I’m at 20 in and 11 out, so +9. Still not ideal, but getting better!

Happy new thread, Christina! You are getting close to a complete black out on your Bingo card.

Happy new thread, and belated Happy Easter!

>11 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for stopping by, Judy! I don't think I've ever been this close to completing the Bingo card this early. Maybe I'll do a second card later in the year!

>12 Jackie_K: Thanks, Jackie, and happy Easter to you as well!

Happy new thread!

Wow! for your Bingo card!

Happy new thread

>14 VivienneR: >15 lowelibrary: Thank you both for stopping by!

Book #39: Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many
CATs: History (riots, revolution, and mayhem = 12th-century English civil war); Alpha (O = One); Mystery (series = Cadfael #2)
Bingo: none

This second installment of the Cadfael series is based on a real event: King Stephen’s siege of Shrewsbury Castle in A.D. 1138 and his subsequent killing of all the castle’s defenders. In the novel, 94 men are supposed to be hanged, but Brother Cadfael finds a 95th body. The extra man wasn’t hanged but strangled, and Cadfael is determined to see his murderer brought to justice. As Cadfael investigates, he navigates treacherous politics, discovers a hidden treasure, and helps two pairs of young lovers. I love the Cadfael series, and this book in particular has always been a favorite. It’s a wonderful slice of medieval life that feels cozy despite the murder plot and wartime setting. I love the mixture of political intrigue, mystery, and romance, and the book introduces one of my favorite characters in the entire series (and one of my first fictional crushes, honestly!). I thoroughly enjoyed this reread and would highly recommend both the book and the series.

Happy New Thread! And great review of the Cadfael series. I really should try it one day.

>18 MissBrangwen: Yes, definitely try the series sometime! I don't think you necessarily have to read the books in order; each individual story is pretty self-contained.

>17 christina_reads: Cadfael is great and I've been thinking about rereading a book or three from the series. Love the TV series as well.

>17 christina_reads: That is a good series. I discovered it because his books were always shelved next to Elizabeth Peters in the library.

>20 hailelib: Sadly, I've only seen one episode of the show...I'd definitely like to watch more when I get a chance!

>21 RidgewayGirl: I love the serendipity! Some kind librarian recommended the series to me when I was a teenager, and I wish I could remember her name, but I will be forever grateful to her!

>21 RidgewayGirl: Her books, actually. Edith Pargeter writing as "Ellis Peters." I read the books as a teenager, lo these many years ago. I picked up The Brothers of Gwynedd Quartet (tsundoku'd as yet) when I made the connection.

Recently, possibly thanks to LT, I heard about & ILL'd her WWII book She Goes To War, written during the war. Found it a very interesting read.

>23 ReneeMarie: I also have one of her non-Cadfael books, A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

>24 christina_reads: That describes most of my apartment...

I read the first two in the Cadfael series 4 years ago and really liked them. I don't known what happened after that, but I've added the next one to my this year list!

Excellent review. I discovered Cadfael as a teen and read them all. I like that he is on the side of right, if not the law in all cases. He always feels very human to me.
And I might be the exception here, I disliked the TV series; I thought Derek Jacobi far too prissy to be Cadfael.

>25 ReneeMarie: Haha, too true.

>26 clue: I hope you enjoy Cadfael's continuing adventures!

>27 Helenliz: I haven't heard many people say they dislike the TV series, so I'm glad to have your perspective!

Happy new thread!

>29 mstrust: Thank you!

Book #40: Nancy Campbell Allen, Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Emmeline O’Shea is an outspoken activist for shapeshifters’ rights, and she’s been asked to give the closing speech at an international summit that could produce a decisive victory in the struggle. But when Emme receives a nasty death threat, she’s forced to accept the protection of Detective-Inspector Oliver Reed of Scotland Yard. Emme and Oliver have clashed frequently in the past, but now that they’re spending more time together, their hostility is turning into something else. I love a good antagonists-to-lovers romance, and Emme and Oliver are both appealing characters (and yes, I especially loved buttoned-up, rule-abiding Oliver). That said, I think the first half of the book is more interesting than the second. They’re obviously in love with each other by that point, and the rest is just the plot playing itself out rather abruptly; I wanted more resolution with some of the secondary characters. Overall, this series is not a keeper for me, but I did enjoy the books and would recommend them if you like the idea of steamless historical romance with paranormal/steampunk elements.

Book #41: Charlotte Stein, When Grumpy Met Sunshine
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Retired footballer Alfie Harding needs a ghostwriter for his new memoir, but he’s notoriously gruff, taciturn, and hard to work with. Said ghostwriter, Mabel Willicker, is the opposite, cheerful and chatty to a fault. Their first few meetings are disastrous—pepper spray is involved—but as they work together, Mabel learns there’s much more to Alfie than meets the eye. When a paparazzi photo forces them into a fake-dating scenario, Mabel realizes she’s developed genuine feelings for Alfie, but she’s convinced he could never be interested in a plus-sized non-celebrity like her. I was a little worried this book was going to be cringey Roy Kent fanfic, but Alfie is very much his own person, and he’s an utter delight! He’s so weird and kind and awkward and vulnerable, and it’s obvious that he and Mabel are perfectly matched. I also loved Mabel and related to her insecurities as a plus-sized woman, but Alfie is definitely the star of the book. My one quibble, apart from the off-putting title, is the author’s irritating overuse of one-sentence paragraphs, which I found distracting. But I was frankly charmed by this book and would highly recommend it to contemporary romance fans!

I'm going to have to give Brother Cadfael another "chance!"

>33 Tess_W: I hope you like it if you do! Though I must say, if you've read one of the books before and didn't like it, the series probably just isn't for you -- all the books have a very similar feel.

>34 christina_reads: I would agree that most are similar. But I think the first one in the series, A Morbid Taste for Bones, reads differently from those that follow. I've always wondered whether it was meant to be a one off, was popular, and the author adjusted the voice a bit to make a series.

>35 ReneeMarie: Hmm, it's been a while since I've read it, but that does make sense to me! I definitely think newcomers to the series could start with One Corpse Too Many, no problem -- you don't need to know anything from A Morbid Taste for Bones.

Book #42: Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Nursery
CATs: Mystery (series = Kurland St. Mary #7)
Bingo: none

Robert and Lucy Kurland are finally parents to a two-year-old son, Ned, and they’re thrilled that Lucy is now pregnant with their second child. Lucy decides to hire additional help in the nursery, but the new maid, Polly, soon causes disruption in both the manor and the village. Her beauty attracts many suitors, some of them employed by Robert, and conflict is the inevitable result. When Polly is murdered, Robert and Lucy investigate and make some surprising discoveries about the girl’s past. This book is, like the rest of the series, a pleasant but not groundbreaking historical mystery. I found the mystery component a bit weak; I was able to guess the culprit in advance, so it was frustrating to wait for the characters to catch up – especially when one suspect insists that he knows the truth but won’t tell Robert and Lucy anything! I’ll definitely continue with the next (and so far final) book in the series, but I think I’m running out of steam.

>37 christina_reads: I'd run out of steam by that one too, and only read the last book because it was on Overdrive. But they're nice and short and undemanding.

Congratulations on the Bingo. You're nearly there!

>38 pamelad: Thanks re: Bingo! And yes, I don't think I would have continued with the series if they weren't readily available from my library.

Book #43: India Holton, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
CATs: none
Bingo: none

I first read this book in 2021, and my opinion hasn’t changed upon rereading. It’s still a silly, fun romp, I’m definitely the target audience for it, and I’m looking forward to continuing with the series! Here’s my 2021 review:

Miss Cecilia Bassingthwaite is a proper young Victorian lady, and also a pirate. In fact, she’s a junior member of the Wisteria Society, England’s most prestigious and fearsome league of piratical ladies. When another Society member hires an assassin to kill her, Cecilia thinks she’s finally made it: now the Society will have to take her seriously and promote her to senior membership. But things start to go wrong when the assassin, Ned Lightbourne, turns out to be dangerously attractive and charming. Then the villainous Captain Morvath, an evil pirate and even worse poet, kidnaps the rest of the Society, leaving only Cecilia to save the day. Hijinks ensue, complete with flying houses, literary allusions, ghosts, thievery, and a touch of romance. This book won’t be for everyone; it’s a ridiculous romp in which the rules don’t make sense, there’s very little character development, and the tone is gleefully ahistorical. To enjoy it, you have to let the silliness wash over you — and be someone who appreciates Brontë references and dick jokes in equal measure.

My local public library had its semi-annual sale this weekend. I feel the sale has declined a bit in recent years...there's less inventory overall than there used to be, especially in the fiction section. So I actually wasn't tempted to buy a huge number of books, but I did come away with these:



Betty Neels, An Unlikely Romance -- I've read some reviews of Neels's work over at Dear Author, and they sound like sweet, light reads, so I picked up this one for $0.50.

Edith Layton, To Wed a Stranger -- pamelad mentioned Layton as a steamless, or at least closed-door, Regency romance author.

Charles Lamb, Essays of Elia -- This has been on my radar ever since it was mentioned in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Plus I'm a Regency-phile, and Lamb wrote these essays in the 1820s, so they should be interesting!

Rachel Barenbaum, A Bend in the Stars -- I swear I saw a positive review of this book somewhere recently, but now I can't find it. Anyway, the book is supposed to be gripping historical fiction with an "epic love story," so here's hoping it lives up to the hype!

Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like -- This one just sounded cute when I read the back cover. It's about a woman who needs a fake fiancé when a photo of her wearing an engagement ring goes viral on social media. I do love a fake-dating situation!

>41 christina_reads: I hope you like To Wed a Stranger. It follows on from The Chance.

>42 pamelad: Ack, a sequel! But most romance novels can be read as stand-alones even when they're part of a series, so hopefully I'll be able to follow with no issues.

>41 christina_reads: That's a nice haul from the library sale! I've noticed too that recent library sales offer fewer books that appeal - and often because so many are donations from my own shelves.

>44 VivienneR: Haha yes, it's tough when most of the offerings are castoffs from your own shelves!

Book #44: Kate Clayborn, The Other Side of Disappearing
CATs: Alpha (O = Other)
Bingo: none

Jess Greene has dedicated her life to protecting her young half-sister, Tegan, after their mother ran off with famous con man Lynton Baltimore. Baltimore was the subject of a popular podcast several years ago, and now the podcast creators want to interview Jess and Tegan to see if they can track him down. Jess hates the idea but reluctantly agrees because Tegan is eager to participate in hopes of seeing her mother again. As they follow Baltimore’s trail across the country, Jess is attracted to the podcast’s producer, Adam Hawkins, but their mutual baggage hinders their romance. Clayborn is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, and I really enjoyed this book, even though I’m not into podcasts or true crime. There’s not much lightness or humor in the book – the emotions are intense – but I loved both the romance and Jess’s development as a character. I do wish we’d learned more about Baltimore, but he remains an enigma throughout. Overall, though, I’d definitely recommend this book if the premise interests you!

Book #45: Tatsuya Endo, Spy x Family, vol. 1
CATs: none
Bingo: Written in another cultural tradition (Japanese author, manga format)

Twilight is a master spy, but his latest mission brings unique challenges: He has to infiltrate an elite private school, which means he needs a wife and child. But he gets much more than he bargained for when it turns out that his hastily adopted daughter, Anya, is a telepath and his brand-new wife, Yor, is an assassin. Will they be able to foil a dastardly seditious plot and, more importantly, come together as a family? I’m not much of a manga reader, but this one caught my eye with its spy-thriller-plus-found-family vibes, and I found it a very cute read! There’s a nice mixture of action and comedy with a bit of heart, and I like the art as well. This being volume 1, it only tells the beginning of the story – the installment ends with the entrance interview to the school – so I’ll have to read more if I want to know what happens next! Fortunately, my library seems to have several installments, so I probably will continue with the series at some point.

Book #46: Stella Riley, Under a Dark Moon
CATs: Alpha (U = Under)
Bingo: none

Book #2 of the Brandon Brothers trilogy focuses on expert swordsman Adam Brandon, who at the start of the book is recruited to M Section, a shadowy intelligence-esque organization affiliated with the British government. His first mission is to escort the boss’s niece, Camilla Edgerton-Foxe, from London to her home on the Kentish coast—and, while there, investigate a smuggling ring that’s engaging in espionage. Adam’s mission is highly dangerous, but as he and Camilla get to know one another, the greatest peril may be to his own heart. A Stella Riley book is always enjoyable, and I liked the secret agent/smuggling plot, though I felt it dragged on a bit too long. The romance is sweet and satisfying, and I loved that Adam doesn’t “protect” Camilla by excluding her from the investigation; rather, he acknowledges her talents and puts them to good use. Overall, another winner from Riley, though I’m not loving this trilogy quite as much as her Rockliffe series.

>48 christina_reads: Same. I prefer the Rockliffe series, but the Brandons are the next best thing.

>49 pamelad: I'm thinking of trying her Roundheads and Cavaliers series next! And I already have The Shadow Earl on my e-reader...

>50 christina_reads: I liked The Shadow Earl and have also considered the Roundheads and Cavaliers series, but have stuck to the 18th and 19th centuries so far. I look forward to your report.

Book #47: Catherine Walsh, Snowed In
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Five years ago, Megan was a runaway bride, and because her would-be groom was the town’s golden boy, she hasn’t gone home since—but her mother is pressuring her to come back for Christmas this year. Meanwhile, Christian (who’s from the same small town) is feeling lonely and isn’t looking forward to another holiday as the “black sheep” single son. When he and Megan bump into each other, he proposes a fake-dating scheme: He’ll be able to forestall his family’s pity, and she can use him as a buffer when she encounters her ex. I love a Christmas rom-com and a fake-dating plot, so I was predisposed to like this book, and I did! Megan and Christian are both relatable characters with great banter, and I also liked the nuanced portrayal of their family relationships, which are generally functional and loving but still have areas of conflict. I’d definitely recommend this book and author to fans of contemporary romance.

April recap

April was a tough month, not because anything particularly awful happened, but just in terms of sheer busy-ness! I was hired to play piano for a local high school’s production of “Anastasia: The Musical,” which was a lot of fun but also a lot of work. I’m glad I did it—I love the show (based on the animated ’90s movie), and the kids were so talented! But between individual practice, rehearsals, and performances, the show ate up a lot of my reading time. Nevertheless, here's what I did manage to read this month!

Books read in April:
1. Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many
2. Nancy Campbell Allen, Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts
3. Charlotte Stein, When Grumpy Met Sunshine
4. Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Nursery
5. India Holton, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
6. Kate Clayborn, The Other Side of Disappearing
7. Tatsuya Endo, Spy x Family, vol. 1
8. Stella Riley, Under a Dark Moon
9. Catherine Walsh, Snowed In

Favorite book of the month:
When Grumpy Met Sunshine was such a pleasant surprise, with delightful main characters and dialogue.

Dishonorable mention:
Honestly, no duds this month! I might go with Death Comes to the Nursery, just because I’m losing interest in the series.

CATs completed:
- HistoryCAT (riots, revolution & mayhem): One Corpse Too Many involves a murder and takes place in 12th-century England during the Anarchy.
- AlphaKIT (U, O): Ellis Peters, *One Corpse Too Many; Kate Clayborn, The *Other Side of Disappearing; Stella Riley, *Under a Dark Moon
- MysteryKIT (series): One Corpse Too Many is book #2 in the Cadfael mystery series, and Death Comes to the Nursery is book #7 in the Kurland St. Mary series.

Bingo squares completed:
- Written in another cultural tradition: Spy x Family, vol. 1 is written by a Japanese author, and the book is the first installment of a manga series, which is a culturally specific genre with foreign (to me) conventions.

Book acquired in April:
1. Taylor Caldwell, Melissa (e-book)
2. Ellie Marney, The Killing Code (e-book)
3. Louise Allen, The Viscount’s Betrothal (e-book)
4. Molly Clavering, Dear Hugo (e-book)
5. Molly Clavering, Love Comes Home (e-book)
6. Freya Sampson, The Lost Ticket
7. Nap Lombard, Murder’s a Swine
8. Catherine Walsh, The Rebound
9. Pamela Morsi, Simple Jess
10. Edith Layton, To Wed a Stranger
11. Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like
12. Charles Lamb, Essays of Elia
13. Betty Neels, An Unlikely Romance
14. Rachel Barenbaum, A Bend in the Stars
15. Maria Grace, Pemberley: Mr. Darcy’s Dragon (free e-book)
16. Jeannie Lin, My Fair Concubine

I'll take a BB for Snowed In; and that's really cool that you got to support the musical - do you get to do that sort of thing often?

>54 LisaMorr: I hope you like Snowed In! It's sort of a sequel to another Walsh book, Holiday Romance, in which Christian's brother is the hero. But it can definitely be read as a stand-alone!

This was my first high school production, but I've played in many community theater orchestra pits over the years, both piano and trombone (though not at the same time, lol). It's always time-consuming but tons of fun!

>53 christina_reads: The musical sounds fun! I used to love being in the orchestra pit (mainly clarinet, but I also managed to sneak a go on the triangle too when we did Oliver at school!).

>56 Jackie_K: Glad I'm not the only one who has fond memories of the orchestra pit. :)