Reading Update: 43%

Here was the problem with demonstrating East End ways in Mayfair: she couldn’t remember any lad who walked like St. Maur did. Nobody in the Green had the time to walk like this—a long, fluid sort of prowl that put her in mind of a hunting cat who’d had his fill to eat and now was just playing about for fun. Still, she’d set herself a task, and she would see it through. Rounding her eyes, she backed up toward the wall. “See? I’m being coy here.”

His mouth quirked. “So you are,” he said, and ran an appreciative look down her body. 

“Very good,” she said warmly. “Now you come on up and I’m going to pretend to ignore you until the very last—” But the words dropped right out of her brain as he stepped up and set a hand on the wall over her head. 

“Go on,” he said, too close for comfort. So close she could make out the strands of green and gold and gray in his eyes.

I'm Buddy Reading this on StoryGraph and I don't include rereads in my end of of year Best list, but know this scene would have made it. They're being playful with her teaching him how they flirt where she comes from and it ends up delivering on those sizzle feels. So good.

Reading Update: Page 1

 

Productivity this week:  reading 

Probably not going to get a lot more out of me

Bee and Clover need a break from their lives, so a la' The Holiday movie, they're switching homes

Bee needs out of the bustling San Francisco and into quiet and standstill countryside and Clover has had a year of losing her mother and leaving her fiance 

Bee's relaxing and getting charmed by an available ex-fiance and Clover can't seem to stop running into Bee's gorgeous sister 

A holiday house-swap with some bonus romance 

I'll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone purchase link

Jalapeño Peach Chicken recipe

Review: Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre

Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre by Aaron Mahnke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

A written British Museum Enlightenment Room, Cabinet of Curiosities would make a great addition to any home library or a fun coffee table book for guests. Numerous little short stories, under such categories as American History, Coincidences, Fantastic Beasts, Bizarre Events, More Than Human, Origin Stories, etc., gave delight and some gasps. Remember when Tennessee was Franklin, a nuke was dropped on a South Carolina playhouse, and a Napoleon officer's idea eventually lead to Braille? You'll learn about all that and more. 

Along with some learned knowledge tidbits, there were also some not so sure I should 100% believe all this, historical anecdotes that you're just going to have to take words for it, like a plumber who encountered ancient Romans. It was all in good fun though and I really enjoyed some of those, it will have you shining on trivia nights, stories, like how Wes Craven might have gotten the idea for Freddy Kruger and Locusta, who might have been one of the earliest hit-women. 

If you're like me, these quick short stories won't be enough and I loved how the back of the book had a Sources section that had me furthering my reading on some topics and going down rabbit holes. Fun and interesting with some more well known and more obscure tidbits.

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TBRChallenge Review: Courting Catherine

Courting Catherine by Nora Roberts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

*This is a #TBRChallenge review, there will be spoilers, I don't spoil everything but enough, because I treat these reviews as a bookclub discussion. 

All he had to do was convince four sentimental women and their aunt to take the money and run. 

This month's TBRChallenge theme was “It came from the '90s!” and as that was the decade I came into reading romance, well, all I had to do was reach into a closet book box and see what I'd be reading. Courting Catherine is first in The Calhoun Women series by Nora Roberts, it's just shy of 200pgs and while, you know me, I have some grumbles about some aspects not being flushed out enough, there is something to be said for short, snappy contemporaries. 

This actually starts off with a Prologue in 1912 Bar Harbor, ME where a Mrs. Fergus Calhoun is out walking the cliffs with her children and comes upon an artist. There's zinging lust but, alas, she's married and with only a lingering glance back, she leaves the soulful eyed painter behind. For now. We then jump to Bar Harbor 1991 (extremely more current than 1912 could ever be, I can't bring myself to tag this historical, leave me alone) and are stranded with our main male character, Trenton St. James III as his BMW has broken down on the way to negotiate with four women and an aunt to convince them to sell their ancestral home so he can turn it into and fold it into his hotel business. The mechanic he tows his car to, C.C., turns out to be the youngest Calhoun sister Catherine, and she Does. Not. Want. To. Sell. 

She strode toward him until they were toe-to-toe and eye-to-eye. “I’m Catherine Colleen Calhoun. And I want you to keep your greedy hands off my house.”

I mentioned it in a reading update, but I love the clash of he's intrigued by her: “Get your butt back in your big, bad BMW and head back to Boston.” 

“A fascinating alliteration.” and she's annoyed by him: There was something arrogant about a maroon tie. Even his tie is getting under her skin! Classic. They're the oil and water big business rich boy and small-town mechanic in debt girl, but with that all important zing of attraction. I'm going to mention the page count again, it didn't lend itself to allowing too much filling out of Trent, we get that he's against marriage because his dad is on his fourth marriage, so he doesn't believe in all that love junk: Women were unstable, fickle creatures, and marriage was a bloodless kind of suicide. The ever present excuse, Daddy Drama. So while, he feels attraction, I mean, our boy was poetic waxing his butt off: He thought, foolishly, that he could feel the starlight on her skin, taste the moondust on her lips. He also gets scaredy pants when they're ready to get it on and C.C. lets it drop that not only is she a virgin, gasp!, she also LOVES him. The Horror. We get more of a complete character from C.C., having her family around, four sisters and aunt who raised them after their parents died, help to give different layers to her and I just felt like I ended up knowing her more.

Inside, Lilah smiled. “Why, he’s in love with her after all, but he’s too stupid to know it.” 

While these two are having some clash-offs, about to give into temptation, and then the running, there's also some of that trademark Roberts' paranormal. Remember 1912 Mrs. Calhoun? Apparently, she just casually haunts a tower in the house. As one does. Trenton St. James III finds himself attending a séance. As one does! During the séance, they feel a presence, specifically C.C. and Trenton, and an emerald and diamond necklace is brought up. They think it's hidden in the house somewhere, if it exists. This could save their money troubles, but, this is a series and we can't have all the answers in book one (there were also more flashbacks to 1912 to show a little more of the Mrs. and painter story progress but lingering questions there too). So with the necklace waiting in the wings somewhere, the sisters come to the conclusion that they are going to be forced to sell. Deciding that they should have a date before he leaves (a little ???), Trenton St. James III leaves himself open to the oldest attack in the book, The Revenge Dress. Our girl C.C. does not disappoint in a tight slinky red number slit up and plunged down to defeat the toughest of foes. Trenton St. James III has trouble breathing but Daddy Drama is also a tough force and he still ends up leaving. 

“You’re throwing away something—no, not throwing,” she corrected. “You’re politely handing back something you’ll never have again. What you’ve turned out of your life, Trent, would have been the best part of it.” 

A jump of three weeks and our waxing poet grows a heart of gold and comes up with a solution to the Calhoun women's woes (I feel like they should have thought this one up themselves?), he's going to front them the money to turn the west wing of the house into a hotel and have them live in the other part of the house. Trenton St. James III also breaks free from Daddy Drama and admits to himself that he loves C.C. and we get our I love yous and engagement. Like I said, there's something to be said for shorter and snappy and this hit the spot. Probably also because I liked the dynamic between the two, you could feel the attraction and ol' Trent was visibly the one struggling/a mess more, while C.C. put down her snarky fight first and accepted she loved him. Plus, we get some layered under the surface talk/scenes like this: 

“It’s warped.” She swallowed, hoping to smother the squeak in her voice.“Everything around here is warped or broken or about to disintegrate. I don’t know why you’d even consider buying it.” 

Her face was pale as water, Trent noted, making her eyes that much deeper. The panicked distress in them seemed more than a warped tower door warranted. “Doors can be repaired or replaced.” 

She's feeling for him but scared she's not good enough, so using the house in place, and he's all I got you. Sucker for such scenes, I tell you.

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#TBRChallenge Reading Update: 5%

I really am a sucker for the main character dynamic of he's intrigued "Get your butt back in your big, bad BMW and head back to Boston."

"A fascinating alliteration."

and he puts her back up, There was something arrogant about a maroon tie. I mean, this guy's tie is annoying her!😂

Reading Update: Page 1

 

Monday and a dreary day, let's get bizarre 

Based on the podcast, tales of astounding and bizarre people, places, and things throughout history. 

Time to learn some new icebreakers and/or have people think wtf after making small talk with me 

Cabinet of Curiosities by Aaron Mahnke purchase link

Coconut Gochujang Chicken Meatballs recipe

Gochujan is a new flavor for my household and my partner is now crazy for it, the only thing he'll dip chickie nuggies in now, lol. Smoky, spicy taste to it

2024 Reading Romance Challenge

I decided to add another challenge to my list this 2024 and  That's What I'm Talking About (Twimom227) posted about this on Mastodon, and I'm going for it! 

As it goes on all year, there is still time to signup (Sign-up Post). 

You all know I can't say no to a bingo game :)  Join us!

8th & 9th Bingo!

Still working towards my blackout!

Clicking on book title takes you to my review

STEM/Bluestocking - Principles of (E)motion by Sara Read

Animal on Cover - The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis

Sports - Undecided by Julianna Keyes

TBR over 1 year - Gold Ring of Betrayal by Michelle Reid

SciFi/Fantasy - Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson

Fake Relationship - Her Adventures in Temptation by Megan Frampton

Celebrity - When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein

Blue Dress on Cover - The Blackest of Hearts by Emma V. Leech

Waterfront on Cover - The Summer Book Club by Susan Mallery

MC name starts with "S" - Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston

Witch/Warlock - Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

Small town - Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer

LGBTQ - Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

Medical Profession - After Hours by Cara McKenna

Necktie on Cover - You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian

Single Parent - Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi

Food on Cover - Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau

Royal MC - A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Non US/UK setting - Don't Look Back by Rachel Grant

Arranged/Marriage of Convenience - Viscount in Love by Eloisa James

Borrowed from Library - A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

Romantic Suspense - Truth Hurts by A.R. O'Brien

XMas Setting - The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

Review: Christmas with the Queen

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

Jack had always been there, and yet, our timing had always been wrong. 

Taking place in 1952 England, Christmas with the Queen was the story of Olive, a single mother aspiring to work her way up to reporter in the BBC and Jack, an American who after WWII, left the Navy and stayed in London. The story starts off with a point-of-view from a young Queen Elizabeth II as she gets ready to spend her first Christmas in charge at Sandringham. There's a handful of povs from the Queen throughout the story and while I can see the attraction of having a real historical figure help ground a historical fiction story in time, it felt a little off to me to read a first person narrative from such a known figure to current generations. 

The two main povs are from Olive and Jack, switching off and on. Readers learn early on that Olive is lying about losing her husband in the war, she was never married but the times call for the lie. She lives at home with her parents helping her care for her daughter Lucy. Jack comes onto the pages happy with getting an opportunity to work in the royal kitchens at Sandringham, an opportunity his wife pushed him to take. Tragedy strikes early though and Jack finds himself a widow and reluctantly still taking the royal chef job. With a little luck and ambition, Olive gets the opportunity to cover the Christmas celebrations at Sandringham for the BBC and there she begins a yearly friendship with the queen and runs into Jack. We then get some flashback povs and learn these two knew each other seven years ago and that Olive is shaken up when she sees him again. 

If you're looking for a story with holiday feels, this has that as most of the story takes place in the month December, jumping to the month, spanning five years as Olive and Jack find themselves separated by circumstance, Olive trying to get promoted at the BBC, Jack busy as a chef and working towards his goal of opening his own restaurant, until they come together by luck each year at Sandringham and a royal Christmas tour. 

Around 35% a secret Olive is hiding (it's pretty obvious what it is) gets revealed to readers and I can see quite a few getting frustrated and irritated with Olive's inability and weakness at telling the person who needs to know. The authors tried to make it understandable why she delays so much, but, especially towards the end, she really had no excuse, and the relationship she tries to get going with a secondary character really did nothing for the story, for me anyway. This was more historical fiction with slice of life, the romance between Olive and Jack doesn't really get going until the last 20% and then we get a, very understandable, third act breakup with Jack having to get over his anger at Olive. 

A softer, there is some grief emotion with Jack learning to live with widowhood and Olive dealing with sexism in society and work, historical fiction that December hops for five years while Olive and Jack's lives bring them apart and together, with appearances by Queen Elizabeth II and some Easter egg characters from the authors' other books.

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Reading Update: Page 1

 

From festive contemporary romance to festive historical fiction 

December 1952 and Olive's an aspiring reporter getting ready to cover the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk and her old friend Jack is going to surprisingly be there too. 

He's a chef and widowed, and I guess the story spans five years?? The synopsis mentions a big secret, so I'm instantly "Secret Baby!" But I'm not sure that makes sense, lol 

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb preorder  (Nov. 19th) link 

Pasta with Sausage and Asparagus recipe

I don't know, this one was a little blah to me

Review: The Christmas Tree Farm

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

Kira North hated Christmas. 

Kira's twin sister has married and left to live overseas, as someone that has always depended on her sister's more level-headed personality, Kira feels extremely adrift. After watching a bunch of homesteading videos, Kira gets it in her mind that what she needs to do is buy a farm and with a trust fund just sitting there, well, a Christmas Tree Farm is purchased. This is third in the Dream Harbour series but each book works as a standalone, the tying thread is the small-town and friend group that flutters in and out of whoever the main characters' book is at the time. I read a paperback copy of this and there was a map of the town, which was fun to see and imagine all the characters going to and fro shops and businesses. Kira gets paired up with Bennett, series readers will remember him as the brother to a past lead, he's in town for vacation and to get his dating life in order, no more fix-it women. So, we have a determined to make it her on her own for the first time in her life and a will explode if he doesn't help, couple. 

When she lifted her eyes to his, he was still looking at her like he had plenty of ideas on how to keep her warm. 

If you couldn't tell by the title, this works super well as a seasonal read, snowball fights, Christmas festivals, stroopwaffles!, you're probably going to want to lean into those feelings as the actual plot was a bit slow going. Kira and Bennett meet and have instant attraction right away but Kira's a grumpy gus who does not want to give into her attraction as she sees that as her going back to her old ways. Bennett has a bit of that as well, he was burned bad by an old girlfriend, he actually moved from the East to West coast for her only to be told, he was too boring for her and then to be used a periodic desperate grab when she got lonely. He's working to shore up his defense for women who only use him. He never builds up too tough of a wall against Kira but he does get his feelings hurt after they have some bedroom scenes (some spice heat to these scenes) and Kira still tells him she doesn't want him, for some later in the book angst. Kira, exhaustively, ping pongs hot for Ben and doesn't want to lean on anyone. 

Lumberjack fantasies that Kira didn't even know she had rushed into her head. 

This was pretty low angst but at over three hundred pages (to me, this easily should have been two-twenty-ish) there wasn't a lot to keep this going, the relationship issues were draaaaaaaaaaaaged out. There was also a little bit of mystery thread, the farm Kira bought is rumored to have treasure or a body!?, buried on the property, it's what first gets Bennett out there continuously, friends/townspeople pressure him to go search for the body so the new gal doesn't find it and get scared away. I don't know, this mystery thread gets brought up and then, just about, completely ignored for the majority of the book, only to be kind of brought in with some found letters and then secrets revealed in the epilogue. 

He wanted to confess that all he wanted for Christmas was her. 

The page count was way too long on this for me, making the story feel dragged out, Kira ping ponged too much, and the mystery thread wasn't invested in enough. It was fun to visit the town again, see past couples, and experience some festive vibes.

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