Summer Reading Celebration

These novellas should be made into larger stories. Especially water and earth, they are my favorite.

4.75 stars. I’m sad that I’m done with this series. Chestnut Springs will be a dear place in my heart!

By far the best series that takes place in Wonderland.

Pirates of the Caribbean meets Chronicles of Narnia. Privateers, Navy, fauns, minotaurs, humans and elves with plenty of magic oh my! There were parts that were slow or dragged too much for my liking but, for the most part it was well placed. I did not like the MFC but she grew on me. Honor Renn, Navy blue mage, is left adrift until she is picked up by the notorious Ship of Spells. On-board is an eclectic crew of misfits amd a charismatic captain. There battles on land and sea, treachery, loathing, love and a ton of magic. Thoroughly enjoyed all of the tension on board the ship between Honor Renn, the crewand the enigmatic captain Thanavar!

I liked it in general but Olivia wasn't my favorite protagonist so I was just a bit more out of the book than normal

“We all need to do things that take us out of ourselves.” (p. 364) whether it is embroidery, fly fishing, or bell ringing, the activities we do offer purpose and focus, especially in difficult times. This novel is set in England in the 1930s and the thread that binds characters is sometimes physical, such as yarn to embroider with or ropes in a bell tower, and sometimes spiritual as between friends and lovers. The losses of The Great War are keenly felt by the parents, sisters, and girlfriends of boys who died. How they build new lives through service, activities, employment, and especially relationships create the threads that embroider a new life and society.

I liked this book. It’s wasn’t my favorite. Can’t wait to read Jasper and Sloane’s story.

The pictures of the different places in Jamestown NY were really cool to see. I have lived in Jamestown for about 14 years and I learned quite a bit. I recognized a lot of the buildings on Main Street but Brooklyn Square was totally unrecognizable. The Fenton House is one of the few structures from the early days still standing other than churches. There were lots of fires in those days so lots of buildings from the early days of Jamestown were built and rebuilt several times. The James Prendergast Library looks pretty much the same from Washington Street but with the new entry way and with subsequent additions it looks different from other views. The pictures were interesting and fun to look at.

Very compelling. I liked the will they won't they element and the questioning of truth. The book felt much shorter than anticipated. I easily got through half in my first sitting. What a great book to end pride on. Although I did guess the twist pretty early on it didn't really ruin it for me.

I loved this book. Set during WWII in London during the year of the Blitz, this book shares so much more than a ring side seat to the Blitz. This was a fresh take on telling the story of the Blitz. Two friends are forced to set off for London when one is ousted from her place of rest (unfairly). In London they stay with the best friend of the ousted girls deceased mother, Mrs. Weatherford. Mrs. Weatherford is a kind soul and she gets Grace a temporary job in a bookstore with a cratchedy owner. Grace is great in business, but she isn't a reader. Enter a patron who introduces her to reading just before he goes off to eat. Grace falls in love with reading and the bookshop turns around under her able hand, as does the owner. But then begins the Blitz, and we follow this bookshop and the others in London throughout that harrowing experience.