Adrienne (fairywings) returns for 2020

Hi my name is Adrienne, I am almost 48, live in Brisbane Australia, have 19 yr old twin boys (Declan and Riley) living at home. Riley is going into his second year of Uni, Declan has spent a lot of last year doing courses to help him get a job. I am a Teacher Aide, I work with special needs kids on the primary school level. Last year was a tough one for me as my small school lost funding and I was transferred to a bigger school. The good thing about that was the school is 5 minutes from home and I was given full time permanency.

I love reading a wide range of books but my favourite is paranormal.

The last term of school last year was very busy for me so I didn't read much in the last couple of months of the year. I did make it to 75 for the first time though so that was a bonus, but didn't quite make my goal of 100.

I will keep my goal from last year to clean up the books on my tablet a bit (I failed miserably last year). I keep downloading free books but never get around to reading them, so my challenge is to not purchase or download before I've read some already there.

BOMS 8
BOMT 3
LIB 17
AUDIBLE 13

Purchases

January
Lots of books purchased at Bookfest. All titles recorded in the thread.

March
The Finisher by David Baldacci
The Keeper by David Baldacci
The Width of the World by David Baldacci
The Boat by Nam Le
The Hunter by Julia Leigh

May
The Slaughter House Five by Kurt Vonnegut

June
Dystopia Utopia short stories
So This is Love: A Twisted Tale by Elizabeth Lim

August
Bronte Sisters: Wuthering Heights and Villette
Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer

September
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
Angel by L. A. Weatherly
If I Die by Rachel Vincent
The Teashop on the Corner by Milly Johnson
Mort by Terry Pratchett
SS-GB by Len Deighton
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan
The Lake House by Kate Morton

January
1 All I Want For Christmas: A Sweet Christmas Romance by Ellie Hall On My Tablet
2 Wicked Fate by Tabitha Vargo On My Tablet
3 Snowed in With The Billionaire by Lila Monroe On My Tablet
4 Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody Library/ Audio
5 Dragonclaw by Kate Forsyth Off My Shelves
6 Love, Honour and O'Brien by Jennifer Rowe aka Emily Rodda Library/ E-book
7 The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton Library/ Audio
8 Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty Library/ Audio

February
9 Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty Library/ Audio
10 Teen Idol by Meg Cabot Library/ Audio
11 Khaki Town by Judy Nunn Library/ Audio
12 The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez Library/ Audio
13 Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco Library/ Audio

March
14 Would Like to Meet by Polly James Library/ Audio
15 Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren Library/ Audio
16 Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco Library/ Audio

April
17 The Apothecary's Poison by C. J. Archer Audible/ Audio
18 The Magician's Diary by C. J. Archer Audible/ Audio
19 Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco Audible/ Audio
20 Capturing The Devil by Kerri Maniscalco Audible/ Audio
21 The Convent's Secret by C. J. Archer Audible/ Audio
22 Boneshaker by Cherie Priest Audible/ Audio
23 Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet by M. C. Beaton Audible/ Audio
24 Clementine by Cherie Priest Audible/ Audio
25 Dreadnought by Cherie Priest Audible/ Audio
26 Funny, You Don't Look Autistic by Michael McCreary Audible/ Audio

August
27 Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer Off My Shelves
28 Life and Death by Stephanie Meyer Off My Shelves
29 The Waitress by Melissa Nathan Audible/ Audio
30 The Nanny by Melissa Nathan Audible/ Audio

September
31 The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett Off My Shelves
32 The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett Off My Shelves
33 Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett Library/ Audio
34 Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener by M. C. Beaton Library/ Audio
35 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer Off My Shelves
36 Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Library/ Audio
37 The Wedding Date Disaster by Avery Flynn Audible/ Audio
38 The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn Library/ Audio
39 First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn Library/ Audio
40 Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Machetta Off My Shelves
41 Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan Off My Shelves

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2020 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

A book that's published in 2020 - Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer
A book by a trans or nonbinary author - Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
A book with a great first line - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A book about a book club - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics - The Magician's Diary by C. J. Archer
A bildungsroman - Looking For Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed
A book with an upside-down image on the cover - Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener by M. C. Beaton
A book with a map -Dragonclaw by Kate Forsyth
A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club - The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
An anthology
A book that passes the Bechdel test - Equal Rights by Terry Pratchett
A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it - The Nanny by Melissa Nathan
A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name - Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A book about or involving social media - Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty
A book that has a book on the cover
A medical thriller
A book with a made-up language
A book set in a country beginning with "C"
A book you picked because the title caught your attention - Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
A book published the month of your birthday - The Apothecary's Poison by C. J. Archer
A book about or by a woman in STEM
A book that won an award in 2019
A book on a subject you know nothing about
A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
A book with a pun in the title
A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins
A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
A book with a bird on the cover
A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
A book by a WOC
A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads - Khaki Town by Judy Nunn
A book you meant to read in 2019 - Life and Death by Stephanie Meyer
A book with a three-word title - The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton
A book with a pink cover- Love, Honour and O'Brien by Jennifer Rowe aka Emily Rodda
A Western
A book by or about a journalist
Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

Advanced

A book written by an author in their 20s - Funny, You Don't Look Autistic by Michael McCreary
A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title
A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
A book set in the 1920s
A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics
A book by an author who has written more than 20 books - Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody
A book with more than 20 letters in its title -Snowed in With The Billionaire by Lila Monroe
A book published in the 20th century - The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
A book from a series with more than 20 books - The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
A book with a main character in their 20s - The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

I will be doing the Australian Women Writers challenge. In this challenge I am doing the Franklin level which is 10 books by Australian female
authors.

1. Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody
2. Dragonclaw by Kate Forsyth
3. Love, Honour and O'Brien by Jennifer Rowe aka Emily Rodda
4. The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton
5. Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty
6. Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty
7. Khaki Town by Judy Nunn
8. Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

I'm going to unofficially do the Aussie author challenge (unofficially because I'm having trouble with the website). I will be doing Kangaroo
level which is 12 titles written by Australian authors, at least 4 of which must be female authors, at least 4 male authors and at least 4 must be
new to me authors, with at least 3 different genres.

1st Female author Kate Forsyth, Dragonclaw - Fantasy
2nd Female author Jennifer Rowe/ Emily Rodda, Love, Honour and O'Brien - Mystery
3rd Female author Liane Moriarty, Truly, Madly, Guilty - Chic Lit ?
4th Female author Judy Nunn, Khaki Town - Drama/ Historical fiction

1st New to me author Isobelle Carmody, Obernewtyn - Sci-Fi, Fantasy
1st New to me author Kate Morton, The Clockmaker's Daughter - Mystery/ Historical Fiction
3rd New to me author Nicola Moriarty, Those Other Women - Chic Lit/ Drama?
4th New to me author Melina Marchetta, Looking for Alibrandi - Coming of age

1. All I Want For Christmas: A Sweet Christmas Romance by Ellie Hall

Quick and easy read, was sweet but not a keeper.

First one to go from the tablet for the year.

Happy New Year, Adrienne!

Welcome back!

>12 alcottacre: Thanks for visiting Stasia, Happy New Year

>13 drneutron: Thanks Jim

Have a great year of reading!

Another resolution is to keep up in 2020 with all my friends on LT. Happy New Year!

>16 thornton37814: Thanks Lori, same to you.

>17 PaulCranswick: Wonderful list Paul, I hope I can follow some of those 2020 goals

Happy reading in 2020, Adrienne!

>20 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita, same to you.

2. Wicked Fate by Tabatha Vargo

Re: filled up tablet, I fill up my audible account with discounted books, and then listen to library books. My goal is to listen to two pre-2020 owned books per month this year.

>23 The_Hibernator: good goal Rachel.

Last year my problem was borrowing audio books from the Library, my stats for last year were severely skewed towards library books, I'm going to try not to do that this year and focus on what I already have.

It doesn't matter what platform I use, I can't seem to get pictures to work on my thread, so frustrating.

3. Snowed in With The Billionaire by Lila Monroe

4. Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody

Book 1 The Obernewtyn Chronicles.

In a world struggling back from the brink of apocalypse, life is harsh. But for Elspeth Gordie, born with enhanced mental abilities that would see her sterilised or burned if discovered, it is also dangerous. There is only survival by secrecy, and so she determines never to use her forbidden powers. But it is as if they have their own imperative, and their use inevitably brings her to the attention of the totalitarian Council that rules the Land.

This is a YA Science Fiction/ Fantasy novel first published in 1987. I quite enjoyed this book but I'm sure I would have loved it if I'd found it as a teen myself. In saying that I will definitely get around to the rest of the series before the end of the year (hopefully).

Hi Adrienne! First-time visitor. Happy New Year and good luck on your reading goals.

Welcome! Thanks Karen, same to you

I'm currently reading Dragonclaw by Kate Forsyth. I have had this series on my bookshelves for a very long time, never seemed to get to it though, always something shiny and new to distract me. I'm really enjoying it so far and wondering why it took a reading challenge to finally push me into starting it.

Dropping off my star to follow you in 2020, Adrienne.

Thanks for stopping by Ellen

>30 fairywings: I also need to read something by Kate Forsyth, Adrienne. I have her Bitter Greens on the shelves.

Hope your weekend is going well.

>33 PaulCranswick: Thanks for stopping by Paul. Bitter Greens looks interesting, I look forward to reading your thoughts on it.

I've had a wonderfully lazy weekend reading.

5. Dragonclaw by Kate Forsyth

Book 1 The Witches of Eileanan

Since the day of Reckoning witches and magic have been outlawed on Eileanan. The penalty for practising witchcraft is death.
Raised in the shadow of the peak of Dragonclaw, Isabeau the Foundling sets out on a perilous quest carrying the last hopes of the persecuted witches. Meanwhile her guardian, the wood witch Meghan, seeks guidance from the most ancient and dangerous wisdom in the land.....

Magic, fairy creatures and an epic quest....what's not to love here?

Currently reading Love, Honour and O'Brien by Jennifer Rowe aka Emily Rodda

Currently listening to The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

6. Love, Honour and O'Brien by Jennifer Rowe aka Emily Rodda

She stared into the speckled mirror, wondering how she had come to this. How could she, Holly Love, apple of her parents' eye, competent manipulator of invoices in Gorgon Office Supplies, have ended up alone and starving in a dead man's flat? How indeed? Most reluctant heroines would throw in the towel at this point. But Holly Love is made of sterner stuff. She's sworn to track down the cheating swine who ripped her life apart, and make him pay. But as she tries to keep her head in the face of a bizarre mystery, a gloomy old house, a hearse-driving Elvis impersonator and a gang of vengeful thugs - not to mention a garrulous and possibly possessed parrot - Holly is forced to come to terms with a great truth. However bad things seem, they can always get worse.

This story was a bit of fun, pretty absurd in some places but still worth the read, leaves me wondering what madness can befall poor Holly Love in the future.

Went to the Library today to pick up my holds. All titles for my AWW challenge

Haul includes;
Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty
Monkey Grip by Helen Garner
Battleaxe by Sara Douglass
My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier
A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty DNF

I also have borrowed on my devices
The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton
Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty
Love, Honour and O'Brien by Jennifer Rowe
The Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan
Khaki Town by Judy Nunn

That should cover the AWW challenge and the first four I read will cover the female author section of the Aussie author challenge.

I've decided the next read will be A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty.

I am still currently listening to The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton.

I need to try and get my library list down before I go back to work next week.

Hi Adrienne, whizzing through quickly.

Have you tried using https instead of just http on your picture addresses? Now that LT is a secure site, it won’t accept links that aren’t also secure. And, of course, .jpg endings. And the straight quotation marks.

>35 fairywings: I’m afraid Dragonclaw wasn’t a favourite of mine; I couldn’t get to grips with the Scottish brogue everyone insisted on using.

>40 humouress: Hi Nina. I've used both http and https and neither makes a difference. Funnily enough I'm using pictures from my profile here so it's a librything address.

I did have some trouble getting used to the Scottish brogue to begin with in Dragonclaw, but I eventually got used to it. I do love the genre though so I can forgive a lot if the plot moves along steadily.

>41 fairywings: From your gallery? Try opening your picture, clicking on it and then copying that second address.

I had issues with the images too but then I remembered to select the image in the gallery, right-click on the image in the LT gallery and select 'Copy Image Address' and use that in the img src tag. It worked fine then.

Today I'm heading into the city to go to the bi-annual Lifline Bookfest. It's going to be a busy day.

Ok so I came home with 6 bags of books, I will list them and then add each bag.

First bag contains
Mr Commitment by Mike Gayle
The Bachelor and Spinster Ball by Janet Gover
Wizard and Glass by Stephen King
Desolation Island by Patrick O'Brian
Treason's Harbour by Patrick O'Brian
The Fourth Protocol by Frederick Forsyth
The Illusion of Murder by Carol McCleary
Those Faraday Girls by Monica McInerney
H.M.S Surprise by Patrick O'Brian

Bag 2.
The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom by Jo Barrett
Death In Holy Orders by P.D. James
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hossenini
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey
Redcoat by Bernard Cornwall
Fatherland by Robert Harris
The Vulture Fund by Stephen Fry
The Night Is For Hunting by John Marsden
Odd One Out by Monica McInerney
Not Meeting Mr Right by Anita Heiss
Orphans of War by Leah Fleming
Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

Bag 3.
Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
Reached by Ally Condie
Crossed by Ally Condie
The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Bartimaeus The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
Winter by Marissa Meyer

Bag 4.
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
Maximum Ride The Final Warning by James Patterson
The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore
A Whole New World by Liz Braswell
Once Upon A Dream by Liz Braswell
Night Study by Maria V Snyder

Bag 5.
The Learning Curve by Melissa Nathan
The Perfect Match by Katie Fforde
Brotherhood of the Wolf by David Farland
Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
Bad Hair Day by Wendy Holden
The Battle of Evernight by Cecilia Dart-Thornton

Bag 5.
The Learning Curve by Melissa Nathan
The Perfect Match by Katie Fforde
Brotherhood of the Wolf by David Farland
Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
Bad Hair Day by Wendy Holden, the touchstone is wrong and I can't find the right one
The Battle of Evernight by Cecilia Dart-Thornton

Last one
The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Eucalyptus by Murray Bail
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
Starman by Sara Douglass
Enchanter by Sara Douglass
Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich
Wild Colonial Boys by Frank Clune
Middlemarch by George Eliot

That’s quite a haul!

>52 humouress: I always come away with loads of books. There are three sections in the event. First section everything is $1 and you can still find decent quality books. Second section is $2.50 and the Third section they call the High Quality section, they start at $5. So as you can see it's easy to walk out with a good haul.

Quite a nice selection of books!

Thanks Anita. I try to come away with a variety of titles and genres.

After my Sunday book-a-holic adventure I went to visit a friend of mine today and she took me to see a lady that has crates of books sitting outside her house waiting to be given away. Well obviously I couldn't walk away with nothing ssoooooo here is the list I walked away with.

The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Rose Revived by Katie Fforde
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Heaven To Wudang by Kylie Chan
Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
Virals by Kathy Reichs
Jane Austen's Guide to Dating by Lauren Henderson
The Importance of Being Kennedy by Laurie Graham
The Traitor's Wife by Kathleen Kent
Molly's Millionsby Victoria Connelly
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Last Ember by Daniel Levin

Ok now on to the reading front.

I've been struggling with A Corner of White, I'm 1/4 of the way through and I just can't do it anymore, it is too disjointed and I'm not really appreciating the story and I have no feelings for any of the characters so I've made the decision to put this one aside.

I'm still listening to The Clockmaker's Daughter and I've decided to pick up Jane Austen's Guide to Dating, since I'm such a fan of anything Jane Austen related I'm hoping this will give me a bit of pep to get back into longer bouts of reading.

Your book hauls are amazing -- some great finds in every list.

I am interested in how you like The Clockmaker's Daughter. I have it in softcover and keep thinking I'd like to get to it. How is the audio?

Thanks Ellen.

I'm enjoying The Clockmaker's Daughter so far, it does switch between the two time lines, it's fairly seamless with the transitions so not confusing. I really like the audio, the narrator has a pleasant, easy to listen to voice that I feel fits well with the characters.

>27 fairywings: That one just did not work for me. Maybe if I had been younger when I read it, I would have enjoyed it more. It took two tries for me to get through it.

>35 fairywings: >37 fairywings: I will have to give those a try! Into the BlackHole they go!

>45 fairywings:-51 What a haul!

>56 fairywings: Ditto!

Congratulations on getting your hands on all those books. I hope you find some treasure among them!

Stasia I listened to >27 fairywings: on audio book so maybe that would have made a difference.

Hope you enjoy >35 fairywings: and >37 fairywings: when you drag them out of the black hole.
Thank you I hope there are a few treasures in there too.

So today was my first day back at work. The kids don't come back till next Tuesday though. I was hoping I would be able to get some resources printed up and maybe set up my cupboard, maybe get a head start on printing for the teacher I work with, but no we had to spend all day in the staff room training. Will need to remember a cushion for tomorrow because those chairs are so hard and uncomfortable.

Fantastic hauls, Adrienne! I especially noticed the Liane Moriarty and Fatherland by Robert Harris - I just picked up his newest last night, The Second Sleep and can already tell it's a good'un.

Good luck with getting set up for the Return of the Kids next Tuesday.

>63 karenmarie: Nice to see you Karen. Thanks for the good luck wishes. Have you read Fatherland? What did you think of it?

7. The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

My real name, no one remembers. The truth about that summer, no one else knows.

In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins.

Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.

Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?

I feel this story was brilliantly executed. Every group of people who come into contact with the house during the 150 years of time woven through this story have some sort of connection to each other. But you don't see the connection immediately. Heartbreakingly beautiful story about moments in time.

8. Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty

An online rivalry between mums and non-mums spills dangerously into the real world. Poppy's world has tipped sideways: the husband who never wanted children has betrayed her with her broody best friend. At least Annalise is on her side. Poppy's new friend is determined to celebrate their freedom from kids so together they create a Facebook group to meet up with like-minded women, and perhaps vent a little about smug mums and their privileges at work. Meanwhile Frankie would love a night out, away from her darlings - she's not had one in years - and she's sick of being judged by women at the office and stay-at-home mums. When Poppy and Annalise's group takes off and frustrated members start confronting mums like Frankie in the real world. Cafes become battlegrounds, playgrounds become warzones and offices have never been so divided. A rivalry that was once harmless fun is spiralling out of control. Because one of their members is a wolf in sheep's clothing. And she has an agenda of her own.

I loved this book, I can see how easily something like this can get out of hand with all the drama that goes with social media and everyone taking things out of context. I wasn't expecting to find it as emotional as I did.

Currently reading Monkey Grip by Helen Garner

About to start listening to Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty

>56 fairywings: That was dangerous, accepting your friend’s offer. But I wouldn’t have been able to say ‘No’ either.

>65 fairywings: Intriguing.

>67 fairywings: Oooh Monkey Grip, Adrienne. I have that one in mind shortly too. Looking forward to your take on it.

>68 humouress: Yes Nina it was pretty dangerous, but I found a couple of books to add to collections and a few that looked like a bit of fun. >65 fairywings: It's worth a read, or a listen.

>69 PaulCranswick: I'm half way through it Paul. So far I'm enjoying it. Will leave you a proper idea of it when I'm finished.

You have had some great book hauls so far this year!

>57 fairywings: I've tried to read A Corner of White a few times, too and also struggled. Glad it's not just me!

>71 curioussquared: Thanks Natalie.

Yeah, I don't know what it was about A Corner of White, I just couldn't get into it.

Well that's the end of my first week back to work, thankfully. This week felt like a month and January felt like it had 100 days in it. I'm so exhausted from all the running around. Hopefully next week we will be able to slide back into a proper routine and February won't feel like it's been six months on the go instead of one.

Finally making my way over for a visit, Adrienne.

So impressed with your various book hauls!

And congrats on surviving the first week back at work :)

>74 katiekrug: Welcome and thanks Katie.

9. Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Six responsible adults. Three cute kids. One small dog. It’s just a normal weekend. What could possibly go wrong?
Sam and Clementine have a wonderful, albeit, busy life: they have two little girls, Sam has just started a new dream job, and Clementine, a cellist, is busy preparing for the audition of a lifetime. If there’s anything they can count on, it’s each other.
Clementine and Erika are each other’s oldest friends. A single look between them can convey an entire conversation. But theirs is a complicated relationship, so when Erika mentions a last minute invitation to a barbecue with her neighbours, Tiffany and Vid, Clementine and Sam don’t hesitate. Having Tiffany and Vid’s larger than life personalities there will be a welcome respite.
Two months later, it won’t stop raining, and Clementine and Sam can’t stop asking themselves the question: What if we hadn’t gone?
In Truly Madly Guilty, Liane Moriarty takes on the foundations of our lives: marriage, sex, parenthood, and friendship. She shows how guilt can expose the fault lines in the most seemingly strong relationships, how what we don’t say can be more powerful than what we do, and how sometimes it is the most innocent of moments that can do the greatest harm.

This story does not read with a single continuous time line. The story jumps between time lines and story lines of the 3 couples involved. We don't find out what actually happened at the barbecue till quite late in the story and I think that was one of the things that kept me hooked, waiting to find out what had happened to cause such upheaval in all their lives.

10. Teen Idol by Meg Cabot

High school junior Jenny Greenley is so good at keeping secrets that she's the school newspaper's anonymous advice columnist. She's so good at it that, when hotter-than-hot Hollywood star Luke Striker comes to her small town to research a role, Jenny is the one in charge of keeping his identity under wraps. But Luke doesn't make it easy, and soon everyone—the town, the paparazzi, and the tabloids alike—know his secret...and Jenny is caught right in the middle of all the chaos

Fun fluffy read to lighten the mood after the last few more emotional reads.

>64 fairywings: I think Fatherland was the first alternate history I ever read, and I was fascinated with the concept. I remember liking it a great deal. I had it on my shelves forever, but seem to have gotten rid of it at some point. It came out in 2006 and it’s not on my spreadsheet of everything read since 2008, so I must have read in 2007.

>65 fairywings: I have The House at Riverton by Morton, have you read it? I might need to try to get to it this year.

>67 fairywings: I love everything I’ve read by Liane Moriarty. I’m hoping to snag a copy of Nine Perfect Strangers at the next Friends of the Library sale.

>76 fairywings: On my shelves, just waiting to be read!

Hi Karen. Hopefully I'll get to Fatherland in the next couple of months.

I'm ashamed to admit (being Australian and all) The Clockmaker's Daughter was the first Morton I've read, but I loved it so much that I will be searching for more of her works in the not to distant future.

I think Nine Perfect Strangers is the next one I marked for Liane Moriarty when it becomes available at my local library.

Bump it up the list Karen, you wont be disappointed.

I am still currently reading Monkey Grip by Helen Garner, having some trouble picking up a physical book right now, my heads not in the game so to speak.

Currently listening to Khaki Town by Judy Nunn. Finding it much easier to listen than read at the moment.

11. Khaki Town by Judy Nunn

Khaki Town is inspired by a wartime true story which the Government kept secret for over seventy years.

'It seems to have happened overnight,' Val thought as she pulled the beers. 'We've become a khaki town.'

It's March 1942. Singapore has fallen. Darwin has been bombed. Australia is on the brink of being invaded by the Imperial Japanese Forces. And Val Callahan, publican of The Brown's Hotel in Townsville, could not be happier as she contemplates the fortune she's making from lonely, thirsty soldiers.

Overnight the small Queensland city is transformed into the transport hub for 70,000 American and Australian soldiers destined for combat in the South Pacific. Barbed wire and gun emplacements cover the beaches. Historic buildings have been commandeered. And the dance halls are in full swing with jitterbug and jive.

The Australian troops, short on rations and equipment, begrudge the confident, well-fed 'Yanks' who have taken over their town (and women). And there's growing conflict, too, within the American ranks. Because black GIs are enjoying the absence of segregation and the white GIs do not like it.

Then one night a massive street fight leaves a black soldier lying dead in the street, and the situation explodes into violent confrontation.

As much as I loved this book some parts were really hard to listen to. Judy Nunn said she was not going to hold back, all the speech patterns and racism is exactly how it was at the time the novel is set in.
It's hard to believe that the events that happened could remain some sort of Government secret for so long.

>81 fairywings: That one is a massive BB, Adrienne. Must go and look for it.

Hope you have had a great weekend.

>82 PaulCranswick: Yeahh for BB. Good luck with your search, it is worth the read.

12. The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

Kristen Petersen doesn't do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don't get her. She's also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.

Planning her best friend's wedding is bittersweet for Kristen—especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He's funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he'd be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it's harder and harder to keep him at arm's length.

So we've gone from fires burning out of control to torrential rain and flooding.

We went to see Queen + Adam Lambert on Thursday night. Stadium concert so basically an outside event, we had seats on the floor (field area) so we were totally outside in the pouring rain. Was so worth it though, was such an amazing concert. Loved every minute of it, even if we felt like drowned rats all night.

Great comments about The Clockmaker's Daughter. And Those Other Women looks intriguing, too.

>85 fairywings: Ugh. What a year you are having. :-(
But I'm glad the concert was so much (soggy) fun!

>86 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, thanks for stopping by. I hope you like both stories when you get to them.

Yes it was so good. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

>85 fairywings: That sounds awesome! I love Queen. I also follow Brian May on Instagram and he's just a delightful human being.

>88 curioussquared: It was awesome. I've been following Brian May on Instagram too, he posts some lovely pics.

13. Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

I enjoyed this and will probably seek out the others soonish.

>85 fairywings: So torrential rain has doused the flames?

Nice to see you so actively posting this year, Adrienne.

>91 PaulCranswick: Yes the rain helped put out the majority of fires that were still burning, I think it was a week later the news was given that all fires were under control.

Thanks, I've been so busy the last few weeks, so I haven't been around the boards much, haven't logged in this week actually.

14. Would Like to Meet by Polly James

I’m glad the rain got the fires under control finally. It was needed.

Hi Adrienne. I hope you are doing well.

>94 humouress: Yes it was definitely needed.

>95 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, I'm doing ok, very busy at work, but the start of the year is always hectic. My computer decided to give up a couple of weeks ago, so I didn't have one for a week or so, but all good now. Looking at how much time I've missed on here has me freaking out about catching up, so many posts on everyone's threads.

Have a wonderful, relaxing weekend :)

Thanks Anita. Hope yours is relaxing too.

Went out to the shops yesterday. Weekly grocery shop was ridiculous, had to go to three different supermarkets just to get tissues, luckily everything else we needed was in stock and I had managed to grab a pack of toilet rolls finally on Friday. There hasn't been any in the supermarkets for at least a week, panic buying is ridiculous people.
While we were at the shops I picked up a few stationary supplies from K-Mart and went to the book store and bought The Finisher, The Keeper and The Width of the World by David Baldacci. The second and third were on sale so of course had to buy them, but then of course you can't read them unless you've already read the first so had to buy The Finisher as well.

15. Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

Book blurb
Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: Her first love. Her first everything. Including her first heartbreak.

During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate—the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars—ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good.

Fourteen years later, Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, only thinks about her first love every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is, the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason… and whether “once in a lifetime” can come around twice.

This was a pretty good book, but I probably would have liked it better if I'd read it and not listened to it, I didn't think much of the reader.

16. Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

Blurb
Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine... and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

In this New York Times bestselling sequel to Kerri Maniscalco's haunting #1 debut Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer...or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

Another thrilling adventure, when my library gets them I will read the next two as well.

We are all well here, not in lockdown yet. There are restrictions in place so no sporting events, no mass gatherings, church services cancelled, schools are cancelling all upcoming events, markets are shut down indefinitely, travel bans in place and as far as I know all states have closed their borders, the Queensland border closed last night and there is an actual checkpoint in place with police stopping everyone and checking weather they have a work permit for those who live in New South Wales but work in Queensland, or are returning home to Queensland, crazy times, but still the schools are not closing. Riley's University has gone online as of Monday so neither of my boys have to leave the house now. Whereas I still have to go to work to basically babysit other peoples kids as they have stopped working on the curriculum since parents are given the option to keep their kids at home and probably two thirds of them are doing just that. The government made the concession today that next week will be a pupil free week so that teachers can work on getting online up and running for next term, since we only have one week left until Easter break. The catch to this is that we are still classed as open so that all essential workers are still able to bring their kids to school so they are still available to work, which ironically includes teaching staff as essential workers. On the news tonight the Premier of Queensland urged people to keep their kids at home, meaning no parks or gatherings, not taking them to the shopping centre (which will be a mute point soon enough anyway as shops are closing down and laying off staff at an alarming rate) and not to send them to visit with their elderly relatives. When my break comes I will be staying at home and avoiding going anywhere for the two weeks.

>102 fairywings: It seems like your area took a while to implement restrictions and closures. I assume that the number of cases are not high? Happy Thursday!

>103 figsfromthistle: We have under 3,000 with 13 deaths. the majority of cases seems to be in and around Sydney, but it's spreading. I think our government has been slow to respond because we didn't have many cases here while it was taking off in Europe and they just expected those with symptoms to self isolate. with all the travel bans and border closures hopefully it helps stall the spread.

>81 fairywings: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Adrienne!

>90 fairywings: I am fairly sure that my daughter owns that one. I am going to have to borrow it.

Stay safe and healthy!

>105 alcottacre: Glad I could help add to the BlackHole. I hope you enjoy that one when you get to it Stasia, I would recommend it all day long.

>105 alcottacre: >90 fairywings: I've now listened to the second one as well, they are really quite fun.

Thanks Stasia you too.

>104 fairywings: Whatever the belated measures are, Adrienne, stay safe. xx

My parents are in the Sydney suburbs and are self-isolating.

All these lay-offs are worrying. My dance teacher here is Australian and she was saying lots of her friends did free work to help raise money for the bush fire relief but now the theatres are closed and the cruise ships aren’t running, they’re left high and dry. Of course, that’s applicable to many professions worldwide and not really anyone’s fault, but it’s sad.

Stay safe.

So I had to order a couple of books for Riley, for his literature class. They arrived on Thursday.

The Boat by Nam Le
The Hunter by Julia Leigh

They look interesting enough and I'll probably have a crack at reading them when he's finished with them.

>107 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul I will, you stay safe as well. xx

>108 humouress: It is most definitely troubling with all the job losses. From the statistics I saw the other day, Sydney has the highest number of cases, I'm guessing a lot of those are from the cruise ships that weren't allowed to dock anywhere else. I hope your staying safe too Nina.

We’re fine at the moment thanks Adrienne. I just saw part of an interview with Australian author Margie Warrel. I gather her husband is in an isolation ward in Singapore until they confirm whether or not he has the virus and she said Singapore is the gold standard for dealing with this. Of course, Singapore has the resources and it’s easier to control the smaller population but it’s good to know that they’ve got things under control. For the moment, anyway - here’s hoping it stays that way.

Have a lovely, peaceful, safe and healthy weekend, Adrienne

17. The Apothecary's Poison by C. J. Archer

Book 3 in The Glass and Steele series.

Blurb.
When a newspaper report of a medical miracle catches Matt's eye, he and India go in search of Dr Hale in the hope he is more magical doctor than miracle worker and can lead them to Chronos. But Hale turns out to be an apothecary magician keen to educate the public about magic.

Their disappointment at not finding Chronos is soon forgotten when Hale is murdered, and Matt becomes a suspect. With Matt's nemesis Sheriff Payne influencing the investigating detective, India and Matt know they must find the real killer, or risk his freedom, and ultimately his life. Time is running out as they hunt for a killer capable of turning medicine into poison with a magic spell, as well as continue the search for Chronos. A search that must end in success before Matt's malfunctioning watch stops altogether.

Finally got to this one in the series, another enjoyable listen.

18. The Magician's Diary by C. J. Archer

Book 4 in The Glass and Steele series.

Blurb.

India and Matt thought all their problems would come to an end once they found Chronos. But the watch magician brings with him as many questions as answers, and a load of trouble. To fix Matt’s magic watch, they must find an old diary that once belonged to a doctor magician murdered decades ago. The hunt drags them into a sordid mystery involving two of London’s craft guilds. With old and new enemies determined to stop them, and long-held secrets unearthed, Matt and India must work together better than ever.

But as the reason for India’s strangely strong magic is revealed, she wants to draw other magicians into the open, while Matt wants to hide magic to keep her safe.

Her plan backfires. His plan shatters. And danger comes to their door.

Another enjoyable listen,

19. Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

Book 3 in Stalking Jack the Ripper series

Blurb
Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea.

It's up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer's horrifying finale?

Another solid listen.

20. Capturing The Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

Book 4 in Stalking Jack the Ripper series

Blurb
In the shocking finale to the bestselling series that began with Stalking Jack the Ripper, Audrey Rose and Thomas are on the hunt for the depraved, elusive killer known as the White City Devil. A deadly game of cat-and-mouse has them fighting to stay one step ahead of the brilliant serial killer---or see their fateful romance cut short by unspeakable tragedy.

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell have landed in America, a bold, brash land unlike the genteel streets of London they knew. But like London, the city of Chicago hides its dark secrets well. When the two attend the spectacular World's Fair, they find the once-in-a-lifetime event tainted with reports of missing people and unsolved murders.

Determined to help, Audrey Rose and Thomas begin their investigations, only to find themselves facing a serial killer unlike any they've heard of before. Identifying him is one thing, but capturing him---and getting dangerously lost in the infamous Murder Hotel he constructed as a terrifying torture device---is another.

Will Audrey Rose and Thomas see their last mystery to the end---together and in love---or will their fortunes finally run out when their most depraved adversary makes one final, devastating kill?

Really strong ending to the series, tied up all the loose ends and finished just how you would expect.

I wanted my message this year to be fairly universal in a time we all should be pulling together, whatever our beliefs. Happy Celebration, Happy Sunday, Adrienne.

>117 PaulCranswick: What a fabulous idea. Same to you Paul.

21. The Convent's Secret by C. J. Archer

Book 5 in The Glass and Steele series

Blurb
To find the one man who can fix the magic in Matt’s watch, he and India are led to a convent where the nuns will do anything to keep their secrets private. Including murder? Matt and India must uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the mother superior and two babies given to her care many years ago. But sometimes, the truth is painful and its exposure can have deadly consequences.

With his magic watch slowing down, Matt needs all the help India and his friends can offer before time runs out. But his nemesis will do anything to bring about his downfall, including rock Matt’s family with a scandal that can ruin them, and Matt and India’s chance of happiness.

I'm really enjoying this series.

22. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Book 1, The Clockwork Century

Blurb
In the early days of the Civil War, rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest. Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska’s ice. Thus was Dr. Blue’s Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.

But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.

Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city. Just beyond it lives Blue’s widow, Briar Wilkes. Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenaged boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing. Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.

His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees. And only Briar can bring him out alive.

I read this several years ago, but couldn't remember much about it so had to do a re-read now that I have access to the rest of the series. I enjoy the steam punk genre and this one is a bit of a thrill ride.

23. Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet by M.C. Beaton

The 2nd book in the Agatha Raisin series, very quick listen, a bit of ridiculous fun and mystery to clear the head.

24. Clementine by Cherie Priest

Book 2, The Clockwork Century series

Blurb
Maria Isabella Boyd’s success as a Confederate spy has made her too famous for further espionage work, and now her employment options are slim. Exiled, widowed, and on the brink of poverty…she reluctantly goes to work for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in Chicago.

Adding insult to injury, her first big assignment is commissioned by the Union Army. In short, a federally sponsored transport dirigible is being violently pursued across the Rockies and Uncle Sam isn’t pleased. The Clementine is carrying a top secret load of military essentials—essentials which must be delivered to Louisville, Kentucky, without delay.

Intelligence suggests that the unrelenting pursuer is a runaway slave who’s been wanted by authorities on both sides of the Mason-Dixon for fifteen years. In that time, Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey has felonied his way back and forth across the continent, leaving a trail of broken banks, stolen war machines, and illegally distributed weaponry from sea to shining sea.

And now it’s Maria’s job to go get him.

He’s dangerous quarry and she’s a dangerous woman, but when forces conspire against them both, they take a chance and form an alliance. She joins his crew, and he uses her connections. She follows his orders. He takes her advice.

And somebody, somewhere, is going to rue the day he crossed either one of them.

>120 fairywings:, >122 fairywings: Those books are really great! I was reading one of her Lizzie Borden books on a plane once when the woman sitting next to me started taking to me about it. Turns out she was Cherie Priest’s aunt! It was quite a nice conversation I had with her.

>123 drneutron: Wow, that would be an interesting conversation for sure.

I read Boneshaker a few years ago, I'm pretty sure I found it on your thread. My local library has never had any of the other books in the series. I finally decided to give Audible a try and found them there. I've loved listening to them. Just finished the third one.

25. Dreadnought by Cherie Priest

Book 3, The Clockwork Century series

Blurb.
Mercy Lynch is working at a war hospital in Richmond, Virginia, when she learns that her husband has died in a POW camp and her estranged father is gravely injured and wishes to see her. With no good reason to stay in Virginia, Mercy sets out to see her father in Seattle.

But crossing the country is no small task; it's a harrowing adventure through war-torn border states by dirigible, rail, and the Mississippi River. And once Mercy finally arrives in St. Louis, the only Tacoma-bound train is pulled by a terrifying Union-operated steam engine called the Dreadnought. Lacking options and running out of money, Mercy buys a ticket and climbs aboard.

What ought to be a quiet trip turns deadly when the train is beset by bushwackers, then vigorously attacked by a band of Rebel soldiers. The train is moving away from battle lines into the vast, unincorporated west, so Mercy can't imagine why it's meeting such resisitance. Perhaps it has something to do with the mysterious cargo in the second and last train cars?

Mercy is just a frustrated nurse who wants to see her father before he dies. But she'll have to survive both Union intrigue and Confederate opposition if she wants to make it off the Dreadnought alive.

I'm really loving this series. Steampunk and Zombies, what more could you ask for. I like how each subsequent story connects back to the first book in some way.

>125 fairywings: etc Looks like a pretty interesting series, Adrienne. I haven't seen it in the shops here but then again they have been closed so long it would be easy for me to forget!

Hope that your weekend has been a peaceful and relaxing one.

You should definitely give them a try!

Hi Adrienne - just a quick return visit from me as you were so kind to drop by my thread. I read Boneshaker a while ago and didn't enjoy it that much - I had some issues with the plot but I can't remember what exactly. I think I expected it to be a fun steampunk romp and it was actually quite gritty. Your reviews make me want to maybe give it a second chance, if the rest of the series is good.

Hope all is well, Adrienne. Haven't seen you around for a few days.

>128 HanGerg: Thanks for stopping by Hannah. Dreadnought is my favourite so far.

>129 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, all is well here, haven't done much reading or listening for that matter until tonight. I'm back at work and struggling with our partially open standing for this term, it's very difficult to keep a distance from the kids when we have to work with them. I just hope we can get back to some form of normal soon.

26. Funny, you don't look autistic by Michael McCreary

This is a really great book written by someone on the spectrum which gives some wonderful insights to the mind of someone on the spectrum. I work with ASD kids everyday and have learnt a lot about them through my job and the many seminars we've had but this added an extra level to my understanding.

Highly recommend for anyone who is interested in ASD or knows someone with ASD that they would like to understand better.

So for mothers day one of the twins bought me The Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut because I wanted it and he needs it for his literature class.

Slightly late but:

>119 fairywings: >120 fairywings: >122 fairywings: >125 fairywings: Those look interesting; I'll put them on the list.

>121 fairywings: I've seen that TV series listed on BBC Player; maybe I'll give it a go.

>133 fairywings: Very altruistic. He thinks like me :0)

At this time of the end of Ramadan I want to give thanks for your friendship in this wonderful group, Adrienne.

Haven't seen you around for a month, Adrienne. Hope all is well.

>137 PaulCranswick: Sorry I haven't been around. Have had a lot of stuff going on with the family and working. And because of my Auto Immune Disorder I suffer from very dry eyes, which is becoming increasingly worse and I've been struggling with reading and looking at computer screens too much.

Now I've spent the last 4 days pushing through my eye problems to finally read my next book. I've been waiting for it to be finished for a very long time so I was not going to let anything stop me.

27. Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer

I read the leaked portion of this when Meyer posted it on her website and have been waiting for her to finally finish it and can I say she did not disappoint. It was great to be able to see the story from the other perspective.

28. Life and Death by Stephanie Meyer

So after reading Midnight Sun I decided to give the reimagined version of Twilight another go. It was a bit different but the ending was all tied up so it wasn't too bad. I still prefer the original of course but it was an ok read.

29. The Waitress by Melissa Nathan

A funny chic lit story with a HEA.

30. The Nanny by Melissa Nathan

My favourite of Nathan's chic lit stories.

Nice to see you back posting, Adrienne. xx

>143 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. Will still be quite random. I'm so busy at the moment I don't have much time to read.

31. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

First in the Discworld series. A re-read to help strike of a prompt for the Pop Suga challenge.

32. The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett

Ooh, Discworld. There’s a thought if I need reading inspiration.

>148 humouress: I'm having fun finally diving in further than the first book.

33. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

34. Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener by M. C. Beaton

35. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

I watched the movie a couple of months ago and loved it. Finally got around to reading the book and of course as expected loved it more.

Had a day out on the Gold Coast today and went to the markets, picked up some books there.

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
Angel by L. A. Weatherly
If I Die by Rachel Vincent
The Teashop on the Corner by Milly Johnson
Mort by Terry Pratchett
SS-GB by Len Deighton
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan
The Lake House by Kate Morton

Nice haul!

>155 drneutron: Thanks Jim

36. Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

37. The Wedding Date Disaster by Avery Flynn

>151 fairywings: Is Agatha Raisin good? There's a series on BBC on demand that keeps waving at me. TV rather than book, but still.

>159 humouress: It"s not bad, I find them a quick bit of fun. I was watching the series, funnily enough I like the TV series better than the books.

38. The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Number 3 in The Rokesby series.

Goodreads book blurb.

She was in the wrong place...

Fiercely independent and adventurous, Poppy Bridgerton will only wed a suitor whose keen intellect and interests match her own. Sadly, none of the fools from her London season qualify. While visiting a friend on the Dorset coast, Poppy is pleasantly surprised to discover a smugglers' hideaway tucked inside a cave. But her delight turns to dismay when two pirates kidnap her and take her aboard a ship, leaving her bound and gagged on the captain's bed…

He found her at the wrong time...

Known to society as a rascal and reckless privateer, Captain Andrew James Rokesby actually transports essential goods and documents for the British government. Setting sail on a time-sensitive voyage to Portugal, he's stunned to find a woman waiting for him in his cabin. Surely, his imagination is getting the better of him. But no, she is very real—and his duty to the Crown means he's stuck with her.

Can two wrongs make the most perfect right?

When Andrew learns that she is a Bridgerton, he knows he will likely have to wed her to avert a scandal—though Poppy has no idea that he is the son of an earl and neighbor to her aristocratic cousins in Kent. On the high seas, their war of words soon gives way to an intoxicating passion. But when Andrew's secret is revealed, will his declaration of love be enough to capture her heart…?

I have enjoyed this series so far and will read the next one for sure but so far the second in the series, The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband, was my favourite.

>160 fairywings: In that case, I'll give it a go. Although programmes that are on demand/ streaming don't get watched by me because they're always there and I can get to them another time ... but I never do. It's a bit like never seeing the tourist attractions in your own neck of the woods because you can go any time ... but you never get around to them. Or that's how it works for me (unless we're taking visitors to see them).

>162 humouress: I know exactly what you mean. I'm forever putting things I'd like to watch off because they are always there, but I've found that our free to air services don't keep all episodes of shows up for viewing for long, so even though I'm paying for a couple of streaming services I tend to watch a lot from the free streaming channels.

39. First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn

Number 4 in the Rokesby series.

40. Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Machetta

For as long as Josephine Alibrandi can remember, it’s just been her, her mom, and her grandmother. Now it’s her final year at a wealthy Catholic high school. The nuns couldn’t be any stricter—but that doesn’t seem to stop all kinds of men from coming into her life.

Caught between the old-world values of her Italian grandmother, the nononsense wisdom of her mom, and the boys who continue to mystify her, Josephine is on the ride of her life. This will be the year she falls in love, the year she discovers the secrets of her family’s past—and the year she sets herself free.

Told with unmatched depth and humor, this novel—which swept the pool of Australian literary awards and became a major motion picture—is one to laugh through and cry with, to cherish and remember.

>165 fairywings: I hadn't heard of that one, Adrienne, but on the hitlist it goes. xx

>166 PaulCranswick: It's the first time I've read it, but I'm a big fan of the movie.

41. Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Wishing you a lovely Sunday, Adrienne.

Missing you over here, Adrienne.

Please come and update us soon.

Just dropping by to wave 'hello'.

I hope you get some of those at least, Adrienne, as we all look forward to a better 2021.

Wishing you and yours the very best of the season.

Adrienne

As the year turns, friendship continues