10 on the 10th – LOVE

I saw this meme at Still Life , with Cracker Crumbs and was so intrigued, I thought I’d participate.

10 on the 10th is hosted by Leslie at Once Upon a Time Happily Ever After and Marsha in the Middle.

This month the theme is LOVE, with 10 questions to answer  – about love.

 

What was something you loved about 2021?

Finally got to see all the grandkids in person, not just through facetime.

Do you have an interesting love story?

Bill and I met online, and corresponded for months before we finally met. Six months later we knew we would marry. And a year later, at age 50, we did just that.

What food do you love and must have on a regular basis? 

I love toasted English muffins with jam, French toast with maple syrup for breakfast. My favourite supper is roast pork with roasted potatoes and carrots, with apple crisp for dessert.

What fashion “trend” do you love?  It doesn’t even have to be a current trend. 

I have never followed trends. I just wear what I am comfortable in.

Which season do you love most?  Why is it your favorite? 

I love Fall. As a teacher fall meant the start of a new year. Fall also means Thanksgiving with turkey and pumpkin pies (in Canada it is in October), brilliant colours, no bugs, cooler weather, Hallowe’en.

If you could be with a loved one who has passed, who would it be and what would you do? 

It would definitely be my mom. She has been gone almost 14 years now and I still miss her every day. We wouldn’t even have to do anything special, except be together, talking and sharing a cup of tea and a treat.

What would you love to accomplish in 2022? 

My goal is to submit a story to Woman’s World magazine and have it published.

Which do you love most:  shoes, handbags, belts, or coats? 

Probably handbags. I have a few although I only use one at a time. But I am particular in what it needs to have.

What love remains with you today? 

Family of course, books, music, learning, nature.

How do you show your love?  What is your love language? 

I try to do things for others, including baking, making things, and looking for small tokens when I shop. Getting together has been a challenge the past two years, but there is facetime, phone calls and emails. Saying “I love you” often is a must!

It’s Monday! What are You Reading?

It’s time once again for Kathryn’s weekly meme, “It’s Monday! What are You Reading?”, hosted at Book Date, where we share what we’re reading and have read over the past week.

We had more snow this week and again help, this time for the sidewalk and then my oldest coming to finish the driveway. And a lovely weekend. Cold (but not too cold), and sunny. And lots of great books.

What I Read Last Week

I read 7 books – 3 romances, a paranormal romance, a memoir, a NN book of essays and a YA novel

         

In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz. Continuing with the present-day Arcane Society series – another enjoyable read.

In an Instant by Suzanne Redfern. I read this for a challenge and was blown away by this gripping YA novel.

Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes (for my book club), Finally finished this memoir this past week. It was funny, inspirational in spots and an interesting read.

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed (for my book club). Loved this book of essays, written as answers to letters sent to Sugar. So many touching responses.

The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis. This is a 2022 release and the first in her new series, Sunshine Cove. So enjoyed it.

       

2 romances by Irene Hannon: Pelican Point and Starfish Pier. Have so enjoyed this series.

 What I’m Reading Now 

Becoming by Michelle Obama (finishing this for my book club)

The Christmas Wedding Guest by Susan Mallery

 

What’s Up Next

The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom

Connect Five Friday – 5 2022 Releases I Want to Read

It’s time once again for Connect Five Friday, hosted at Book Date by Kathryn – the meme where we share five book/reading things that connect in some way.

There are a number of novels I am so looking forward to being published this year. The book I am most looking forward to, is one coming out this year in Canada, although it is already out in the U.S. and the U.K.: The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley (The Vanished Days is a prequel and companion novel to The Winter Sea, with action that overlaps some of the action in that book. The Vanished Days goes back in time to the 1680s and introduces the reader to the Moray and Graeme families.)

Here are 5 other novels I am looking forwar to reading in 2022:

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long. An intriguing title, good reviews and an interesting premise.

“After angering a local gangster, seventeen-year-old Sena Korhosen must flee with her prize fighting wolf, Iska, in tow. A team of scientists offer to pay her way off her frozen planet on one condition: she gets them to the finish line of the planet’s infamous sled race. Though Sena always swore she’d never race after it claimed both her mothers’ lives, it’s now her only option.”

Book Lovers by Emily Henry. I have enjoyed her previous novels. This one looks to be a fun one.

“One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves. “

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas. I so enjoyed the first book in this series. Can’t wait for this one”

“Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal―they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.”

The Maid by Nita Prose. I’ve read so many great reviews of this novel. Looking forward to reading it.

“Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.”

The No-Show by Beth O’Leary. I’ve enjoyed all her books – this one looks like an enjoyable read as well.

“Three women. Three dates. One missing man…
8.52. Siobhan’s been looking forward to her breakfast date with Joseph. She was surprised when he suggested it – she normally sees him late at night in her hotel room. Breakfast with Joseph on Valentine’s Day surely means something … so where is he?”

Which books are you looking forward to reading this year??

January Reading Round-Up

We are already at the end of January. It has seemed to speed by. It began with my hubby in hospital, but he is home now and slowly recovering. The weather has been a crazy mixture – of very cold temps, then large amounts of snow. More snow is on its way Wednesday. We have already had help shoveling from amazing neighbours.

It’s time to share what I have been reading this past month.  I will summarize how I did with each challenge as well.

The total read for January was 34 books with the following breakdown:

Fantasy 2

Paranormal –6

Sci-Fi – 1

Romance – 7

Historical romance – 2

Historical fiction – 1

Pix books – 11

Non-fiction – 2

Memoir – 1

Poetry -1

I continue to record in more detail where the books originated – from the library, on my TBR shelves (bought/gifted or won) or an e-book. Here’s the breakdown

Library reads – 23       TBR/owned books –3        E-books –8 

 

 

Favourite Reads

I had 2 overall favourite reads of the month:

   

Favourite Reread: (and favourite novel!)  The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

Favourite new read: Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

The rest of my top 10 reads are (with 1 series counting as 1 book choice):

The Prescient by J.C. Andrijeski

Arcane series by Jayne Ann Krentz (Sizzle and Burn, White Lies, Running Hot)

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore

Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon

12 Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Second Chance Christmas by Lori Wilde

 

 I am participating in quite a few challenges, but I have a few that are my favourites and have done these for a few years. Here are the books read for these challenges

 

POPSUGAR Ultimate Reading Challenge (Through Goodreads)

I read 12 books for this challenge.

#7 – onomatopoeia in its title – Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz

#8 – Protagonist uses mobility aid – Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz

#9 – about a found family – Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon

#16 – about witches – Midlife Witch Unexpected by Melle Amade

#20 – title begins with last letter of your previous read – Soulless by Gail Carriger

#23 – has recipes – 12 Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

#24 – can read in one sitting – Gratitude by Oliver Sacks

#25 – about a secret – The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

#28 – set during a holiday – Second Chance Christmas by Lori Wilde

#31 – features man-made disaster – Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

#34 – set in Victorian Times – Second Sight by Amanda Quick

Advanced #8 – with 2 POVs – For the Love of the Dame by Miriam Allenson

52 Books in 52

I read 11 books this month for the challenge.

#4 – title starts with “F” – For the Love of the Dame by Miriam Allenson

#5 – chapters have titles – 12 Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

#11 – has less than 2022 Goodreads ratings – Mr. Charming (Not) by Lindsey Hart

#15 – 5 syllable title – Second Chance Christmas by Lori Wilde

#22 – unlikely detective – Second Sight by Amanda Quick

#23 – author has x, y or z in their name – read several: Jayne Ann Krentz (Sizzle and Burn, White Lies, Running Hot); Tracey Alvarez (Love Everlasting)

#25 – wealthy character – Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore

#26 – has author’s note – Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

#34 – author’s photo on back cover – Gratitude by Oliver Sacks

#37 – set in rural area – The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

#45 – illustrated people on cover – Soulless by Gail Carriger

 

Monthly Key Word Challenge   

I used this key word this month: “Last”, and read:

Love Everlasting by Tracey Alvarez

 

 Monthly Motif   

The theme this month was “New to me”. I read several books by new to me authors:

 12 Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

For the Love of the Dame by Miriam Allenson

Must Love babies by Kelly Hunter

Emilie Richards Book Club   

The theme was “Memoir”. I read:

Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes

Diversify Your Reading   

The theme was “Memoir” and I read:

Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes

Uncorked Reading Challenge

The theme was “Time Travel” and I read:

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

Romance Throughout the Year Challenge

The theme was “Time Travel” and I read:

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

 

Friends and Fiction Reading Challenge

The theme was “Debut Author” and I read:

12 Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

For the Love of the Dame by Miriam Allenson

 Looking Ahead to February

 I plan to start reading the Narnia series by C.S. Lewis and then read other books by home and about him. I want to concentrate as well, on reading books from my TBR shelves (almost too many to count.

 

I am linking with the following:

Monthly Wrap-Up (At Feed Your Fiction Addiction)

Best of the Bunch (at A Cocoon of Books)

Inspire Me Monday (at Create with Joy)