Happy Publication Day!

Happy Publication Day to Catie Murphy, SherryHarris, Nancy Coco, Amanda Flower and Kensington Books.  I enjoyed all of these books and I am grateful to Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review these wonderful cozy mysteries.

You may be wondering....what is a cozy mystery? A cozy mystery is a light and fun mystery.  Usually the series centers around the main character and their place of business (craft store, book store, library, bakery, garage sales, etc.) or their craft (knitting, sewing, baking, etc).  They are great when you want a lighter read. You will get attached to the characters, their family, and their friends.

***I received a free copies of these books from the publisher.  I voluntarily reviewed these books and all opinions are my own.

You will find links below for each review.

*Dead in Dublin, A Dublin Driver Mystery, by Catie Murphy is the first book in a new series.

*Sell Low, Sweet Harriet, A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery, by Sherry Harris is the 8th book in the series.

*Death Bee Comes Her, An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery, by Nancy Coco is the first book is a new series.

*Matchmaking Can Be Murder, An Amish Matchmaker, Amanda Flower is the first book in a new series.

You can find more information about Kensington Books here.

New release today...The Wives

The Wives

By Tarryn Fisher

4⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher is an intriguing suspense read. It was also my first book by this author.  If you enjoy thriller/suspense books then you will want to read this one. 

***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. 

Netgalley Review:

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher is an interesting book that I did not want to put down. 

Thursday thinks she's happy being one of three wives and knowing very little about the other two wives. She only wants Seth to be happy and only asks little questions here and there until she finds a receipt with a name on it. She thinks a little look on the internet wouldn't hurt but then she wants to know more. She falls down a hole of curiosity and jealousy. Eventually she is searching for both of Seth's other wives and wanting to know everything about them. Would you be able to live in the dark and only see your husband 2 days a week?

I enjoyed this book. It is full of twists and turns. Thursday has a rollercoaster of emotions from the beginning to the end. As she finally confides in a coworker about her life she realizes that everyone has secrets. People are not always what they seem to outsiders looking into their lives. 

I read this book in one day and would like to read more from this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

Mystery & Thrillers

Release Date: December 30, 2019

New Release: Sell Low, Sweet Harriet

Sell Low, Sweet Harriet

A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery (book 8)

by Sherry Harris

4⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sell Low, Sweet Harriet is 8th book in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series.  Sarah finds herself helping to investigate the mysterious death of Alicia Arbas.  She doesn't know her very well but she feels connected to her because they have many similarities and they have volunteered togethered a few times.  Alicia's death was at first thought to be accidental but the investigation shows that it was not an accident.  While Sarah is helping the police with the investigation she is also working at her garage sale business.  She is hired to sell everything in a home where the couple had recently passed away.  They were former CIA agents.  Sarah is excited about what she might find while going through house.  She hires Zoey, a stay at home mom, and Harriet, a former FBI hostage negotiator, to help. She finds more than she bargained for when someone breaks into the home while she is preparing for the garage sale. What could the person be looking for?  Is it safe to continue with the garage sale?

Special note.....

I am going to be honest here.  I thought this was the same garage sale mystery series that the Hallmark movie series is based on.  It is not the same series for anyone who is wondering. The good news is I enjoy cozy mysteries that are based around garage sales and antique stores so I did enjoy this book.  It's always fun to see what they turn up in collectibles.

What I liked.....

This is a fun series.  I liked Sarah's personality and found her to be very likable.  She was also intelligent and easy going.  The garage sale aspect is always something that interests me.  There were multiple storylines happening which kept the story interesting.  She goes between the military base and investigating a possible murder to the house preparing for the garage sale with numerous problems there too.  

Will I continue this series....

Yes, I would like to continue the series but I would like to go back to the beginning and read the first seven books (see list below) before the next book in this series is published.  The book titles are great in this series. 

Who would enjoy this cozy mystery series....

This is book is great for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.  This book takes place near and on a military base.  The main character volunteers at the thrift store on base and runs her own garage sale business.  The story takes place in New England. 

A little about the author.....

Sherry Harris is the author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery series and the upcoming Chloe Jackson Sand Dollar Saloon mysteries.  You can find more about Sherry Harris and her books here.

Previous books in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery series.....

*Tagged for Death (book #1)

*The Longest Yard Sale (#2)

*All Murders Final! (#3)

*A Good Day to Buy (#4)

*I Know What You Bid Last Summer (#5)

*The Gun Also Rises (#6)

*Let's Fake a Deal (#7)

Thank you to Kensington Books for the free gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. 

Publication Date: December 31, 2019

New Cozy Mystery Series....Death Bee Comes Her

Death Bee Comes Her

An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery

by Nancy Coco

5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. 

Wren is the owner of Let It Bee honey boutique.  When Agnes Snow is found by Wren and her cat, Everett, facedown on the beach, clutching one of the labels from her lip balms Wren becomes a suspect in her murder.  It doesn't help that Wren's Aunt Eloise and Agnes did not get along.  Wren and her Aunt Eloise try to investigate but keep getting themselves into more trouble.  Who could have killed Ages and who is trying to frame Wren?

What I liked...

The characters were likeable and so much fun in this book.  Aunt Eloise is quite the character.  Everett is adorable and made me want a cat.  Wren is intelligent and a great main character.  The author inclusded numerous tips and recipes. There are tips about raw honey and Havana Browns (Everett is a Havana Brown) throughout the book. There are honey recipes for food and skincare products.

Will I continue this series....

YES...I will definitely be continuing this series.  I absolutely loved this cozy mystery and look forward to book 2 in the series.

Who would enjoy this book...

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.  It takes place on the Oregon coast in a small boutique.  Everett has a very big role in the book and cats are very popular in many cozy mystery series.  He was especially entertaining.

A little about the author...

Nancy Coco is also the author of another cozy mystery series, the Candy-Coated Mysteries, and other books.  You can find more information about Nancy Coco and her books here.

Thank you to Kensington Books for the free gifted copy.

Publication Date: December 31, 2019

Favorites Friday: Little Women & the new movie

I love collecting vintage editions of my favorite books which means I have numerous editions of Little Women. I have 6 Louisa May Alcott books in this set by Nelson Doubleday.

I went to see the new Little Women yesterday. 1949 is my absolute favorite followed by 1994 with Winona Ryder. This new take on Little Women has me disappointed. I can understand putting your own special touch on a movie but changing a classic is not right.  

As a movie it is good...as Little Women I feel there were too many changes for me to enjoy it. I think it will be popular if you are not a huge Little Women fan.

 If you are interested in other adaptations...these are my favorites in order.

*1949 June Allyson, Margaret O'Brian, Jane Leigh, & Elizabeth Taylor

*1994 Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, & Claire Danes

*1933 Katherine Hepburn & Joan Bennett

For a modern day version...

*2017 Lea Thompson as Marmee

SPOILERS BELOW

Stop reading now if you have not seen the 2019 movie or you do not want to see spoilers.

Okay here are some of the changes...

*The story starts in the middle and has a dual timeline.

*Marmee makes the suggestion to take the food to the Hummels...not Beth. This is an important part of seeing Beth's character and how she cared so much for everyone.

*Amy is invited to Europe by Aunt March at Meg's wedding and is one of the reasons that Jo goes to New York.  Previously, Aunt March and Amy visit Jo in New York and that is when she discovers they are going to Europe.

*This one was huge to me...Jo published her own book.  I did not feel much of a relationship or bond between Jo and Professor Bhaer. Previously, Profession Bhaer is the one to publish her book and gives it to her as a gif . 

*Professor Bhaer is young and does not call Jo "my little friend". 

*Maybe I missed it but I did not notice Jo referring to Beth as "my Beth".  I have *always loved the special relationship between Beth and Jo and I didn't feel it in this one.

*Jo calls Professor Bhaer a "pompous blowhard".

*I struggled with the character of Amy in this version. I felt she was center stage a lot instead of Jo.

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve!

I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays.

Books included in the stack...

*The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere

*Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber

*Christmas With Anne by L.M. Montgomery

*The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrick Backman 

*Matchless by Gregory Maguire

*Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe by Melissa De La Cruz

*The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford

*Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

*Mr. Darcy's Night Before Christmas by Julie Peterson 

*A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

How many have I read? 6

How many have you read?

New Cozy Mystery Series....Dead in Dublin

Dead in Dublin

A Dublin Driver Mystery (book 1)

By Catie Murphy

⭐⭐⭐💫

Megan Malone is an American who is living in Dublin.  She works as a limo driver and is quite popular with the American tourists for sightseeing in Dublin.  When one of her clients, a famous restaurant critic, collapses at the base of the Molly Malone statue immediately after eating at her friend's restaurant, Megan feels the need to help her friend to prove it wasn't food poisoning.  The more she investigates, the more it looks like murder.

What I liked....
This cozy mystery takes place in Dublin, Ireland. (Yes, I want to visit Ireland.) The author used a lot of Irish terms and was good about working the definitions into the story. There are so many cozy mystery series but a series a out a limo driver is a new and unique idea for a series.  I was a little slow in warming up to Megan's personality but as the story continued I really ended up liking her.  Who wouldn't like someone willing to take in a stray and her puppies? I also really enjoyed her honesty and the back & forth with the detective on the case. This was a fun read.

Will I continue this series....
I will continue this series to see what happens.  I saw a lot of develop in Megan's character in this book and truly liked her by the end.  It would be fun to read more about her adventures. Death on the Green (book 2) is expected to be released in September 2020.

Who would enjoy this book...
Of course, you will enjoy this book if you like cozy mysteries or books set in Ireland.  You will also enjoy this book if you like the mystery to start immediately, as in the very first sentence of the book.

A little about the author...
I believe this is the first book written as Catie Murphy and her first cozy mystery. Catie Murphy has written numerous books under the pseudonym C.E. Murphy.

Thank you to Kensington Books for the free gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are my own.
Publication Date: December 31, 2019

Penguin Christmas Classics

Penguin Christmas Classics

I love to read Christmas books in December.  This boxed Penguin Christmas Classics set of 6 books is full of classic Christmas stories.  Each book has a beautiful slipcover.  If you want to read classics at Christmas this is a great starter set.  

Books Included...

A Merry Christmas & Other Christmas Stories by Louis May Alcott

The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Christmas at Thompson Hall & Other Christmas Stories by Anthony Trollope

The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman

New Cozy Mystery Series....Matchmaking Can Be Murder

Matchmaking Can Be Murder 

by Amanda Flower

An Amish Matchmaker series Book 1

4⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are my own.

Millie is known in her Amish community for her matchmaking skills. She moves back to Harvest, Ohio after spending 10 years taking care if her sister. When her niece Edy decides to back out of an engagement  Millie knows it is the right thing to do. The problem is that Zeke turns up dead in Edy's greenhouse. Millie must help clear her niece and find the murderer. 

What I liked...

I love a good cozy mystery series and this one did not disappoint.  Millie and Lois have a great friendship even though they are complete opposites.  "Amish Marple" is Millie's code name and Lois is her trusty sidekick....who doesn't love an Agatha Christie reference in a mystery? Most cozy mysteries that I have read have been with a younger main character.  I enjoyed that Millie and Lois are in their 60s and running around town doing their own version of an investigation.  Her goats, Peter and Philip, are hilarious....seriously you will want a pet goat. I really enjoyed this book.

Will I continue this series?
Yes, I will be continuing this series and look forward to reading more from Amanda Flower. This is my first book by this author but I discovered that this is a spinoff of her Amish Candy Shop Mystery series that also takes place Harvest, Ohio.  I have already ordered the first two books in the series.
*Assaulted Caramel (book 1)
*Lethal Licorice (book 2)
*Premeditated Peppermint (book 3)
*Toxic Toffee (book 4)

Who would enjoy this book....
This book is perfect for cozy mystery fans and Amish book fans.  It is also great for someone who wants a light and fun read.

More about the author...
For more information on Amanda Flower and her books please visit her website here.

Thank you to Kensington Books for the free gifted copy.
Publication Date: December 31, 2019

Favorites Friday...Gone With the Wind

Gone With the Wind

by Margaret Mitchell

Do you have a comfort movie?  For me it's Gone with the Wind.  It's one of those movies that you just hear the music and know exactly what is playing on tv.  You know what is going to happen next but you still watch it again.  Before streaming and recording movies I would watch the tv guide to try and catch the entire movie.  Now I have multiple DVDs, Blu Rays, and even digital copies.  I still watch it a few times a year.  

This month is the 80th Anniversary of the movie.  Gone With the Wind premiered in Atlanta on December 15, 1939.  I was fortunate to be able to see it in the theater for the 75th Anniversary showing. The best part was that both of my daughters took me to the movie. I tried to convert them but they are not fans.  

The book, Gone With the Wind, was published in 1936.  It is also a favorite of mine and I would love to reread it soon.  Why did I wait so long to read the book?  *Possible spoilers* There are more characters and more children in the book.

Did you already know?  Gone With the Pages....Gone With the Wind

#janeawesomewednesday on Instagram

(left) Thomas Nelson Seasons Edition-Winter 

(right) Mr. Boddington's Penguin Classic

Todays prompt by @nonsense.and.sensibility  is "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree...a design similar to your favorite decorations...." I have a very traditional tree with sentimental ornaments and a lot of red & green in the ornaments but I have always loved Victorian Christmas tree decorations in soft pastel colors. I chose the Mr. Boddington's Penguin Classic Pride & Prejudice and the Thomas Nelson Seasons Winter Pride & Prejudice to represent the soft colors of a Victorian Christmas tree.

Today it is popular to have everything matching on your tree but I love a mashup of ornaments that have been collected for many years. I am very sentimental which is why I have so many ornaments and cannot bring myself to part with any of them.  I feel the same way with my books.  Why would anyone need multiple copies of the same book? My answer would be.....because they are beautiful and fun to collect.  Many editions of classics have introductions by authors or someone else famous.  It is fun to to read the different introductions for the same book.

Let's talk  about these beautiful books....

Thomas Nelson Seasons Edition-Winter is a set of four beautiful books with a laser cut design on the slipcover.  Each first edition book is limited to 10,000 copies.  This series was launched in October 2019 with the Seasons Edition-Winter being the first set of books.  I have 2 books in the set.  Can you guess which 2 books I had to own?
Books included....
*Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
*Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
*A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
*Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Seasons Edition- Summer will be released in June 2020. For more information on this series please check out the Thomas Nelson site online here.

Mr. Boddington's Penguin Classic is a set of six beautiful books that were available at Anthropologie.  I was fortunate to receive Sense & Sensibility and Little Women as a gift from my daughter, Bethany.  She found them at TJMaxx.  Later I was able to acquire the above Pride & Prejudice at Half Price Books. There are numerous blog posts about these books but I was unable to find a link to the actual book site for Mr. Boddington Penguin Classic books.
Books included....
*Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
*Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
*Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
*Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
*Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
*Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Happy Birthday Jane Austen! (& I won a Jane Austen giveaway)

Penguin Clothbound Classics

& Flipback Books

Happy Birthday Jane Austen!

🎉🎁🎈

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775.  She completed six novels in her lifetime...Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Sense & Sensibility, Emma, and Manfield Park.  She also had two incomplete novels, Love & Friendship and Sanditon, which were completed and published after her death. In 2020, my reading goals will include rereading the six original novels and reading the two incomplete novels for the first time.  At this time, Persuasion is my favorite novel and Pride & Prejudice is a close second.  Emma is probably my least favorite novel.  Pride & Prejudice is the only Jane Austen novel I have read more than once...I have read it twice so far.  I am curious if my opinions will change after a second reading.

Today was the perfect day to win a Jane Austen Giveaway....it's her birthday!  Thank you to @biblioreviews on Instagram for the giveaway and thank you to the publisher for providing the books.  It looks like a paperback movie edition of Sanditon and a companion book, The World of Sanditon, to the movie.

It's snowing...perfect winter series

Winter Street Series

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

by Elin Hilderbrand

The Winter Street series is a perfect winter read...especially during a snowstorm.  Yes...we are getting 2 full days of snow here near St. Louis.  The roads are a mess and the best thing to do is to stay home.  What is the best thing to do at home?  Read of course.  

The books follow the Quinn family who live on Nantucket and own the Winter Street Inn.  It has been a few years since I have read this series but I highly recommend them.  I really enjoy getting a wintery read from Elin Hilderbrand.  I always look forward to June and a new release from her too.  If you have't read this series yet then you are lucky to be able to read all four books because the series is complete.

Photo courtesy of Meagan Weldon Photography

Thank you for letting me use your beautiful photo!

Favorites Friday: Novel Destinations

Novel Destinations

by Shannon McKenna Schmidt & Joni Rendon

Usually Favorites Friday is for longtime favorites but today's book is a new favorite. When we travel I love to visit literary sites, bookstores, and Titanic sites if there are any nearby. I appreciate that my husband goes out of his way to take me to these places because he is not a reader and doesn't understand my fascination with my favorite books and favorite authors.

Novel Destinations: A Travel Guide to Literary Landmarks From Jane Austen's Bath to Ernest Hemingway's Key West by Shannon McKenna Schmidt & Joni Rendon is an amazing book. It is fun to just thumb through and look for random places or find one of your favorite authors. You can find more information on their website Novel Destinations

I live in Missouri so I have been able to visit Laura Ingalls Wilder's last home in Mansfield, Missouri and Mark Twain's home in Hannibal, Missouri. They were both very interesting and a lot of fun.  The town of Hannibal is full of museums, homes, and caves related to Mark Twain.  Mansfield has more than just Rocky Ridge Farm.  We were not able to visit the town or burial site but I would love to return someday to see more.  

Trip Posts.... 

Mark Twain Hannibal, Missouri 

Laura Ingalls Wilder Mansfield, Missouri

There were some places that I wish would have been included in the book but obviously not every literary location will fit into one book. If you like to travel to bookish locations you would love this book. I would love to hear from you about your travels and sites you have enjoyed.

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Home in Mansfield, Missouri

Little House on the Prairie was my favorite tv series when I was growing up. I still love to watch the reruns. A few years ago I read the complete series and loved it as much as the tv series. We live a few hours from Laura and Almonzo's last home in Mansfield, Missouri.  For years I have wanted to visit and I finally got my wish in September 2019.  

Sign next to the main house

View of main house from road

The most amazing part of the house is that after Laura passed away Rose closed the door and left everything exactly how it had been.  When she donated it to be a museum it still looked the same as the day she Laura passed away.  There were only a few pieces in the house that were not original and that was due to things like the flooring needing to be replaced.  They built the house one room at a time as they could afford it.  

Back of main house facing museum

Sign when approaching the Rock House

The Rock House built by their daughter Rose

The Rock House was built based on plans ordered through the Sears catalog.  The ladies working in the houses are full of interesting information about Laura, Almonzo, and Rose and their time at Rocky Ridge Farm. The view from this house is amazing.  It is set back away from the main road.

Sign when leaving the Rock House

Museum & Gift Shop

The museum and gift shop is where you buy the tickets for the house tours.  I highly recommend driving to the museum and then driving back to the main house if you have any difficulty walking.  The museum is amazing.  It is mostly related to her life, family, and books but there are a few pieces from the tv series also.  The gift shop is full of fun things and some books that are harder to find elsewhere.

If you are ever in Missouri, I highly recommend a visit to Mansfield, Missouri for visit Laura Ingalls Wilder's home and museum. 

The book below was a birthday gift from my daughter, Bethany, this year.  It is a very old copy of Little House in the Big Woods.  I think it may be a first edition from the information I can find on the internet.  After a visit to the museum, I'm almost positive it is a first edition because they had one that looked just like this one in a case in the museum.

Early edition of Little House in the Big Woods...possibly a first edition

The quilt was handmade by my Granny

#janeawesomewednesday on Instagram

It's #janeawesomewednesday again.  Wednesdays and Fridays are my favorite for fun pics on Instagram.  I enjoying sharing my love of Jane Austen and some of my all time favorite books. 

Today's prompt from @nonsenseandsensibility for #janeawesomewednesday on Instagram is "The Nutcracker...Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy...A cover reminiscent of a fairytale".  I decided to just go with the The Nutcracker because I have a beautiful copy of The Nutcracker that came in a boxed set and this Jane Austen mystery with a vibrant red cover.

Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas by Stephanie Barron is a mystery.  It is book #12 in the Being a Jane Austen Mystery series.  Jane Austen, Christmas, and a mystery?  Yes, please!  Thanks to another Instagrammer I discovered that the audiobook is available on Hoopla through my library.  I am looking forward to listening to this book and possibly investigating the rest of the series. 

The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman is part of a beautiful boxed I found last year.  The books are rather small and all seem to be shorter stories.  I'm looking forward to enjoying this set for many years.  Look for a post soon about this great little boxed set of Christmas books. 

The small copy of Jane Austen is a clothbound pocket sized edition.  It is the only book of the set in my collection so far.

Currently Reading: Pages & Co Tilly and the Lost Fairy Tales

I am currently reading Pages & Co Tilly and the Lost Fairy Tales by Anna James. This is the sequel to Tilly and the Bookwanderers. Tilly and Oskar travel to France to visit his father. They are not supposed to bookwander on their visit, especially into a fairy tale. Fairy tales are considered more unstable than other books. When they decide to listen to Oskar's grandmere and wander into a fairy tale they promise to keep the book with them, stay together, and be careful. What could go wrong?

Pages & Co is a fun series to read. I love that Anne made another appearance. The reader is also introduced to Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Rapunzel, and more. This is a great series to introduce classics and fairy tales to younger readers. 

I recently acquired the fairy books. It is a set I have wanted to start for quite a while. I'm not sure I will continue this edition of the books. It is my understanding that they do not include all of the original artwork. The same solid yellow spine is also not impressive on a bookshelf.

This UK edition is available at Book Depository.  The US edition will be available in May 2020.  I am looking forward to book #3 in this series.

Favorites Friday: Anne of Green Gables

I discovered Anne of Green Gables as a teenager. I fell in love with the 1985 movie with Megan Follows. This was a time when you had to either get lucky and catch it on tv or watch the tv guide for future airings.  Some time in the 90s my grandmother gave me the VHS boxed set of 3 movies. It was a very special gift. She enjoyed the movie also. Today when I think of Anne I think of my grandmother. 

I did not read the series until almost 10 years ago. Why did I wait so long?  

The series is a beautiful 8 book set that follows a red headed orphan with a big imagination and sometimes a big temper.  They can both get her into trouble.  Anne is adopted by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert quite by accident.  Marilla and Matthew are siblings with a big farm. They needed a boy to help with the farm. Marilla wanted to send her back when the orphanage accidentally sent a girl but Matthew immediately fell in love. They eventually allowed her to stay and Marilla also came to love Anne.  Matthew is my favorite character. He is so soft spoken and gentle. He adores and loves Anne. Every girl should have a Matthew Cuthbert in her life and possibly a Gilbert Blythe too. 

In the US it is difficult to get the full 8 book set due to copyrights. The set that is available includes smaller books with very small print. The first pic shows the 2 sets I purchased in order to read all 8 books. 

The 2nd pic is a small part of my Anne book collection. These books are mostly used and I find them at resale stores, goodwill, and used bookstores.

If you haven't read Anne I highly recommend it. The movie is great to . If you prefer something newer there are 2 versions that have been produced recently.  

Reads I look forward to...

#readsilookforwardto 

We are well into December and I had hoped to finish all of these books in 2019.  It's easy to get sidetracked with library and review deadlines.  I was tagged by @skolbooks for #readsilookforwardto.  It was the perfect opportunity to gather my stack of books I want to read soon.  

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood is the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. Part of me wants to reread the first book before starting this one. 

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda is borrowed from my daughter, Bethany. She read it and loved it. She knows I enjoy a good mystery/suspense. 

Pages & Co Tilly and the Lost Fairy Tales by Anna James is a sequel to Tilly and the Bookwanderers. The first book was adorable. It is middle grade.  Tilly can go into books and the characters can come out to visit her. I would have loved this book as a young reader. The first book includes Anne of Green Gables, Alice in Wonderland, and A Little Princess.

The Simple Art of Flying by 

Cory Leonardo was a gift from my daughter, Bethany. She is a 4th grade teacher and she knows I enjoy middle grade books. I also love birds. This one is supposed to be really good. 

The Paper & Hearts Society by Lucy Powell is a debut book by one of my favorite book youtubers. She does mainly classic books on her youtube and Instagram. You can find her on youtube as Lucy the Reader or on Instagram @lucythereader.  This is YA and about a shy girl who loves books. She is just looking for a place to fit in.  I read a little YA but not a lot. I feel I can definitely relate to the main character in this book. I was the shy girl who hid behind a book. 

#janeawesomewednesday on Instagram

Confession time...... I have a small obsession with Jane Austen. Every Wednesday you will see a post relating to Jane Austen. I follow @nonsense.and.sensibility on Instagram and usually follow her prompts. Today's prompt is "It's a marshmallow world". These beautiful leather bound hardback editions are from Barnes & Noble a few years ago. I wish B&N had completed the set. Pride & Prejudice and Persuasion are my favorite of Austen's novels so I was happy to see them included. 

QOTD: Which Austen novel is your favorite?

Currently reading....The Other Mrs. & Ninth House

Currently I am reading The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica. This is a suspense book that will be released in February 2020. Sadie and her family move to a new town and shortly after they arrive a neighbor is found murdered. They are on an island and the locals are very suspicious of newcomers so she becomes a suspect fairly quickly. I am curious about who did it.  Honestly I have no idea at this point...which is usually how I judge a good suspense. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I'm hoping to start Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo today or tomorrow.  There is so much hype about this book. It is not something I would normally pick up on my own but I am curious and cannot wait to see if it lives up to the hype. This is a library ebook through Libby...8 days and counting. 

Update:  I had to DNF Ninth House. I made it to page 58 but I should have stopped sooner.  I  do not like ghosts...not in movies and not in books. The writing was good and I was curious about what was going to happen next but I had to stop. I do not read the scary Stephen King books for a reason and this book has a feel of being a horror book. If you like secret societies, ghosts, magic, and other scary stuff (gore) this book is for you. This book just is not for me. 

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Childhood Favorite: Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh has been a favorite since childhood. Dutton Children's Books has done a beautiful job recreating the first American editions of Winnie the Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928).