karenmarie's 17th year in the 75ers - part IV

Welcome to my fourth thread of 2024

Six ways to describe me and books: bibliolater, bibliomaniac, bibliophile, lectiophiliac, bookworm (still a bookworm, because Jenna and Bill got me this bookworm for Christmas one year), and thanks to Janet, Book Dragon!

lizzied, Peggy, recently wrote “If I’m kind, I’ll get the day I deserve.” I’m going to try to implement that. No guarantees, but I may get through an hour or two before snark and unhappiness overcome my desire to be a better person.

I found an old post-it note recently, and love the quote: ‘She is currently lost to her better self.’ – Daniel Mallory Ortberg in Slate’s Dear Prudence column

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The Good: Family, friends, kitties, books, in constantly-rotating order. Jenna has de-facto moved in with her girlfriend. I miss having her here.

The Bad and the Sad: From the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Doomsday Clock. This information was published in January of this year when the clock was set to 90 seconds before midnight, apocalypse. 90 seconds is the shortest time to apocalypse since the clock was created in 1945.

A moment of historic danger: It is still 90 seconds to midnight

Ominous trends continue to point the world toward global catastrophe. The war in Ukraine and the widespread and growing reliance on nuclear weapons increase the risk of nuclear escalation. China, Russia, and the United States are all spending huge sums to expand or modernize their nuclear arsenals, adding to the ever-present danger of nuclear war through mistake or miscalculation.

In 2023, Earth experienced its hottest year on record, and massive floods, wildfires, and other climate-related disasters affected millions of people around the world. Meanwhile, rapid and worrisome developments in the life sciences and other disruptive technologies accelerated, while governments made only feeble efforts to control them.

Covid reared its ugly head in February and my right knee replacement surgery replacement had to be postponed. I’m avoiding crowds and wearing masks in anticipation of actually getting the rescheduled surgery on May 2nd. Pre-op appointments are out of the way - again - since they have to be within 30 days of surgery.

The Ugly: The Gang of Psychos is the ugliest thing going on in this country right now. Vicious, evil people in power with a pseudo-Christian agenda that does not come close to following the Christianity they profess but profane.

I’m almost 71. I think “How did I get to be old?”

I read and am a charter member of the Redbud and Beyond Book Club, started in 1997. Here are the last books of the 2023-2024 book club year. Can’t envision even starting either, although I can see both on the shelf behind me.

Apr 24 - The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash.
May 24 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

I have been married to Bill for almost 33 years and am mother to Jenna, who turned 30 last August. It’s back to the two of us on 8 acres in central NC with 3 kitties and a daughter 40 minutes away.

Inara – 16 3/4. She’s deaf as a post and needy. Zoe – 5. She’s the most agile of our kitties. That's a headboard she's perched on. Wash – 4. Our derp boy. He startles easily, spooks easily, and frequently sees bugs in places where there are no bugs in this dimension, but he’s so sweet.
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Taken in February of 2016, very early spring from down the hill. Our house and barns.
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My goal last year was 75 books, based on what I thought would be a tough reading year because of my health. Ha. I read 393 books, mostly on my Kindle, mostly using Kindle Unlimited. They were, as my daughter calls them, smut, and my friend Karen in Montana calls them, porn. *shrugs* I still really, really enjoy reading this subgenre of contemporary fiction/romance and will continue until it no longer interests me. It’s getting more challenging to find books as I’ve refined my targeted trope(s), but I’ve become a great detective. This coming year’s goal is 150 based on still reading smut. I haven’t made the goal higher because of my knee replacement surgery, and as I recall from last year, the first month following surgery was not much reading. However, I’ve already read 144 books.
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Express gratitude for what I have - family, friends, intangibles and tangibles - every day.
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2024. Most of the rest of the year will be my recovery from right knee replacement surgery, without Jenna living at home but close by. The new normal for Covid will, I hope, be continued vigilance and an eventual regimen of yearly vaccines as we do with flu. With politics, who knows, but I hope the Democrats continue to keep the Gang of Psychos in check as much as possible and the world does not implode. I’m assiduously avoiding the news.

read - 393 last year

1. Just a Bit Wrecked by Alessandra Hazard 12/31/23 1/1/24 205 pages Kindle Logan and Andrew Straight Guys 11 2020
2. Just a Bit Captivated by Alessandra Hazard 1/1/24 1/1/24 239 pages Kindle Aiden and Zain Straight Guys 14 2023
3. Tell No One by Barbara Elsborg 1/1/24 1/2/24 280 pages Kindle Tag and Delaney 2022
4. The Making of Jonty Bloom by Barbara Elsborg 1/2/24 1/3/24 383 pages Kindle Jonty and Devan Unfinished Business 1 2020
5. Reinventing Cato by Barbara Elsborg 1/3/24 1/4/24 327 pages Kindle Cato and Vigge Unfinished Business 3 2021
6. Waiting for Ru by Barbara Elsborg 1/4/24 1/5/24 352 pages Kindle Ru and Jasim Unfinished Business 4 2021
**abandoned Brave for You by Crystal Lacy** 166 pages
7. Fairy Tales for Angry Little Girls by Lela Lee 1/5/24 1/6/24 168 pages Hardcover
8. Falling by Barbara Elsborg 1/5/24 1/6/24 333 pages Kindle Malachi and Harper Fall and Break 1 2017
9. Breaking by Barbara Elsborg 1/6/24 1/7/24 333 pages Kindle Archer and Conrad Fall and Break 2 2017
10. He's the One by Barbara Elsborg 1/7/24 1/8/24 377 pages Kindle Col and Theo Fate We Make 1 2023
11. Hold On by Barbara Elsborg 1/8/24 1/9/24 322 pages Kindle Dominic and Ren Fate We Make 2 2023
12. This is Real by Barbara Elsborg 1/9/24 1/9/24 262 pages Kindle Murdo and Lukas 2022
13. Edge of Forever by Barbara Elsborg 1/10/24 1/11/24 348 pages Kindle Pasha and Levi 2018
14. Zeke's Wood by Barbara Elsborg 1/11/24 1/11/24 68 pages Kindle Zeke and Gideon 2017
15. With Or Without Him by Barbara Elsborg 1/11/24 1/12/24 306 pages Kindle Haris and Tyler 2017
16. Drawn In by Barbara Elsborg 1/12/24 1/13/24 335 pages Kindle Kell and Gethin 2016
17. Cowboys Down by Barbara Elsborg 1/13/24 1/14/24 287 pages Kindle Jasper and Calum 2017
18. Give Yourself Away by Barbara Elsborg 1/14/24 1/15/24 353 pages Kindle March and Caleb 2017
19. Every Move He Makes by Barbara Elsborg 1/15/24 1/16/24 277 pages Kindle Logan and Zak 2017
20. Dirty Games by Barbara Elsborg 1/16/24 1/17/24 346 pages Kindle Linton and Thorne 2017
21. Where Forever Started by Barbara Elsborg 1/17/24 1/18/24 Kindle Barney and Raf 2017
22. The Bastard and the Heir by Eden Finley and Saxon James 1/19/24 /1/19/24 337 pages Kindle Darcy and Wren 2024
**abandoned The Fake Boyfriends Debacle by Hayden Hall** 79 pages
**abandoned In The Gray by Christina Lee** 140 pages
23. A Wedding in a Week by Con Riley 1/19/24 1/20/24 292 pages Kindle Marc and Stef 2023
24. Assassins Are People Too by S. C. Wynne 1/20/24 1/21/24 133 pages Kindle Marc and Dillon Assassins in Love Series 1 2019
25. Assassins Love People Too by S. C. Wynne 1/21/24 1/21/24 131 pages Kindle Marc and Dillon Assassins in Love Series 2 2019
26. Assassins Save People Too by S. C. Wynne 1/21/24 1/21/24 122 pages Kindle Marc and Dillon Assassins in Love Series 3 2019
**abandoned Love Me Again by Max Walker** 70 pages
27. Crashing Upwards by S.C. Wynne 1/21/24 1/22/24 314 pages Kindle Harper and Sam 2018
28. His Death Bringer by Courtney W. Dixon 1/22/24 1/23/24 316 pages Kindle Luca and Dante The District 1 2023
29. Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen read by Arte Johnson 12/31/23 1/23/24 11.5 hours audiobook
30. Keeping It Casual by Jax Calder 1/23/24 1/23/24 140 pages Kindle Dustin and Jeremy 2023
31. The Anonymous Hookup 1/23/24 1/24/24 121 pages Kindle Lane and Sam 2022
**abandoned Love is Blind by S.C. Wynne** 30 pages
**abandoned Head Over Feels by Bix Barrow** 284 pages
32. The Mission by Barbara Elsborg 1/24/24 1/25/24 146 pages Kindle Conrad and Arlo 2023
33. A Spaceman Came Traveling by Barbara Elsborg 1/25/24 1/25/24 62 pages Kindle Seven and Cooper 2023
34. Trapped for the Holidays by Courtney W. Dixon 1/25/24 1/25/24 98 pages Kindle Rhett and Patrick 2023
**abandoned Return by Fire by Tracey Jerald** 34 pages
**abandoned Stix & Stones by Courtney W. Dixon** 191 pages
35. Anticipating Disaster by Silvia Violet 1/26/24 1/26/24 248 pages Kindle David and Oliver Anticipation 1 2019
36. His To Own by Leo Rivers 1/26/24 1/27/24 151 pages Kindle Rowan and Zane Heart of Thornes 1 2023
37. Mine to Claim by E.V. Olsen 1/27/24 1/27/24 Kindle Rex and Devon Wasteland Temptations 1 2023
38. Mine to Protect by E.V. Olsen 1/27/24 1/28/24 62 pages Kindle Rex and Devon Wasteland Temptations 2 2023
39. His to Break by E.V. Olsen 1/28/24 1/28/24 51 pages Kindle Mac and Cal Wasteland Temptations 3 2024
40. Nixon by Laura John 1/28/24 1/28/24 238 pages Kindle Dante and Nixon Hunter Security 1 2023
41. Kissing in the Snow by Laura John 1/29/24 1/29/24 101 pages Kindle Dane and Ryan related to Sentinel Protection Duology 1 2021
42. Damaged Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 1/29/24 1/29/24 399 pages Kindle Maximoff and Farrow Like Us 1 2017
43. The Plus-One Entanglement by Paulina Ian-Kane 1/29/24 1/30/24 127 pages Kindle Asher and Jordan Love After Forty 1 2023
**abandoned One by Paulina Ian-Kane** 197 pages
44. His Mafia Prince by Leo Rivers 1/30/24 1/31/24 133 pages Kindle Angelo and Sebastian Toscano Doms 1 2023
45. The Billionaire's Rival by Silvia Violet 1/31/24 1/31/24 276 pages Kindle Ford and Jay Bad Boy Billionaires 2 2023
46. True North by C.E. Kilgore 1/31/24 1/31/24 57 pages Kindle Chris and Joshua Hearts Compass 1 2015
47. Down South by C.E. Kilgore 1/31/24 1/31/24 61 pages Kindle Gabe and Liam Hearts Compass 3 2015
48. Back East by C.E. Kilgore 1/31/24 2/1/24 57 pages Kindle Eli and David Hearts Compass 2 2015
49. Out West by C.E. Kilgore 2/1/24 2/1/24 62 pages Kindle Alex and Mateo Hearts Compass 4 2015
50. Objectified by C.E. Kilgore 2/1/24 2/1/24 48 pages Kindle Zane and Tyler 2015
51. Shades by Jaime Reese 2/1/24 2/3/24 340 pages Kindle Killian and Nick 2018
52. Grayson Ryder: A Thief's Thrill by M.L. Giles 2/3/24 2/3/24 244 pages Kindle Grayson and Colson Grayson Ryder 1 2018
53. Just Friends by Tina Kove 2/4/24 2/4/24 159 pages Kindle Ben and Tarjei 2020
54. Love and Moonlight by Killian Ford 2/4/24 2/24 177 pages Kindle Jax and Victor 2023
55. The Escape: Soren's Saga by Nicky James 2/4/24 2/25/24 291 pages Kindle Soren and Remy Healing Hearts 3 2017
56. A Day Makes by Mary Calmes 2/5/24 2/6/24 236 pages Kindle Ceaton and Brin The Vault 1 2021
57. Not What It Seems by Nicky James 2/6/24 2/7/24 442 pages Kindle Cyrus and River 2021
58. Cravings of the Heart by Nicky James 2/7/24 2/7/24 298 pages Kindle Arden and Iggy Trials of Fear 6 2019
59. Accidentally August by E.M. Denning 2/7/24 2/7/24 191 pages Kindle August and Crispin Walking Disaster 1 2023
60. As Much As I Try by Erica Montrose 2/8/24 2/9/24 208 pages Kindle Edwin and Liam 2022
61. Oliver by E.M. Denning 2/9/24 2/10/24 195 pages Kindle Oliver and Jordan Walking Disaster 2 2023
62. Last First Kiss by E.M. Denning 2/10/24 2/10/24 201 pages pages Kindle Logan and Ezra 2021
**abandoned Murder Husbands by E.M. Denning** 96 pages
**abandoned Dario: Wicked Legacies by Victoria Sue** 146 pages
63. Mafia Target by Mila Finelli 2/12/24 2/13/24 301 pages Kindle Giulio and Alessio Kings of Italy 4 2023
64. Afogato by E.M. Lindsey 2/13/24 2/13/24 262 pages Kindle Caleb and Bodhi Brew Biz 1 2023
65. Most Of You by E.M. Lindsey 2/13/24 2/16/24 280 pages Kindle Emil and Renzo The Beginning of Always 2 2023
**The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair by Ashlyn Drewek** 131 pages
66. The Dotted Line by Claire Cullen 2/16/24/ 2/16/24 121 pages Kindle Benn and Leo Tangled Gentry 1 2017
67. Branded by Roelle Denning 2/16/24 2/16/24 277 pages Kindle Declan and Remi Allies 1 2023
68. Stepbrother Dearest by Willow Dixon 2/17/24 2/17/24 314 pages Kindle Caleb and Gray Crimson Club 1 2023
69. Fakers With Benefits by Willow Dixon 2/17/24 2/18/24 330 pages Kindle Caleb and Gray Crimson Club 2 2023
70. Surviving the Break by C.P. Harris 2/18/24 2/19/24 289 pages Kindle Max and Ash Chadwick 2 2020
**abandoned Staking His Claim by Ki Brightly and M.D. Gregory** 135 pages
**abandoned The Former Assassin's Guide to Snagging a Reluctant Boyfriend by Alice Winters** 96 pages
71. Reindeer Games by N.R. Walker 2/20/23 2/20/23 157 pages Kindle Leif and Russ Ace's Wild 6 2019
72. Nuts by S.E. Jakes and Stephanie Tyler 2/20/24 2/20/24 90 pages Kindle Preston and Jagger Ace's Wild 2 2019
73. Reunion by Neve Wilder 2/20/24 2/20/24 132 pages Kindle Cole and Dane Ace's Wild 7 2019
74. The Good Liar by C.P. Harris 2/20/24 2/21/24 346 pages Kindle Cole and Jasper Infidelity 1 2023
75. The Boss's Boy by Aja Foxx 2/22/24 2/22/24 379 pages Kindle Dmitri and Eiji Mafia Mayhem 2 2023
76. Love Language by Jax Calder 2/22/24 2/22/24 59 pages Kindle Ash and Dominic 2024
77. The Fishermen by C.P. Harris 2/23/24 2/24/22 474 pages Kindle Leland and Franklin Infidelity 2 2023
78. Want You Still by C.E. Ricci and Marley Valentine 2/24/24 2/25/24 366 pages Kindle Kindle Will and Pierce 2024
**abandoned The Way We Hate by Myka Loren** 196 pages
79. The Truth of Loving You by Heather Leighson 2/25/24 2/26/24 383 pages Kindle Cole and Shane Unframed Art MM Romance 1 2023
80. You Have Arrived At Your Destination by Amor Towles 2/27/24 2/27/24 50 pages Kindle 2019
81. Crankshaft by K.M. Neuhold 2/26/24 2/27/24 245 pages Kindle Porter and Steele Big Bull Mechanics 1 2022
**Fool's Gold by J.V. Speyer** 99 pages
82. Rhythmic Bliss by Leigh Jarrett 2/27/24 2/27/24 140 pages Kindle Lucas and Nick LJ M/M/ romance 7 2023
83. From the Ground Up by Harper Robson 2/27/24 2/27/24 263 pages Kindle Mason and Jackson Hot Dam Homes 1 2022
84. Falling for Raine by Lane Hayes 2/27/24 2/28/24 208 pages Kindle Raine and Graham 2024
**abandoned Dearly & Deviant Daniel by L.A. Kaye** 159 pages
85. Lovers Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 2/28/24 2/29/24 467 pages Kindle Maximoff and Farrow Like Us 2 2017
**abandoned Dearly Deviant Daniel by L.A. Kaye** 159 pages
86. Alphas Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 2/29/24 3/1/24 488 pages Kindle Maximoff and Farrow Like Us 3 2018
87. Tangled Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/1/24 3/1/24 483 pages Kindle Jane and Thatcher Like Us 4 2019
88. Sinful Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/1/24 3/2/24 501 pages Kindle Jane and Thatcher Like Us 5 2019
89. Headstrong Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/2/24 3/3/24 468 pages Kindle Maximoff and Farrow Like Us 6 2019
90. Charming Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/3/24 3/4/24 499 pages Kindle Oscar and Jack Like Us 7 2020
91. Wild Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/5/24 3/5/24 498 pages Kindle Akara, Banks, and Sulli Like Us 8 2020
92. Fearless Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/5/24 3/6/24 587 pages Kindle Akara, Banks, and Sulli Like Us 9 2021
93. Infamous Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/6/24 3/7/24 587 pages Kindle Akara, Banks, and Sulli Like Us 10 2021
94. Misfits Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/7/24 3/8/24 464 pages Kindle Luna and Donnelly Like Us 11 2022
95. Unlucky Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/8/24 3/9/24 588 pages Kindle Luna and Donnelly Like Us 12 2023
96. Nobody Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/9/24 3/10/24 812 pages Kindle Luna and Donnelly Like Us 13 2024
97. Damaged Like Us 3/11/24 3/11/24 399 pages Kindle **reread** Maximoff and Farrow Like Us 1 2017
98. A Bit of Rough by Laura Baumbach 3/13/24 3/13/24 217 pages Kindle Rough Series Book 1 2007
99. Lovers Like Us 3/11/24 3/14/24 466 pages Kindle **reread** Maximoff and Farrow Like Us 2 2017
100. Fire and Sand by Louise Collins 3/14/24 3/14/24 108 pages Kindle Jake & Maddox Adrenaline Jake 3 2018
101. Guns and Shadows by Louise Collins 3/14/24 3/14/24 130 pages Kindle Jake & Maddox Adrenaline Jake 4 2018
102. Diamond in the Rough by Louise Collins 3/14/24 3/14/24 207 pages Kindle Jake & Maddox Adrenaline Jake 5 2019
103. #20DaystoLA by Tanya Chris 3/14/24 3/15/24 252 pages Braxton and Craig 2020
**abandoned Kept in the Dark by Charlie Cochet** 137 pages
104. Stealing the Silver Fox by Daniel May 3/15/24 3/16/24 170 pages Kindle Ezra and Tony Obsessed With Him 3 2023
105. No Angel by Daniel May 3/16/24 3/16/24 194 pages Kindle Enzo and Hill Obsessed With Him 4 2024
106. Christmas With The Billionaire by Amber Ridge 3/16/24 3/16/24 58 pages Kindle Wyatt and Drake Boy Next Door 5 2015
**abandoned My Chaos, His Calm by Romeo Alexander** 65 pages
107. My Brother's Best Friend by Aiden Bates and Ali Lyda 3/16/24 3/17/24 258 pages Kindle Jamie and Nico Caldwell Brothers 1 2020
**abandoned Touch and Go by Aiden Bates** 177 pages
**abandoned Alphas Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 73 pages
108. The Flirty Vet by Casey Cox 3/17/24 3/18/24 401 pages Kindle Col and Wilby Vet Shop Boys Down Under 1 2024
109. Runaway by Casey Cox 3/18/24 3/19/24 260 pages Kindle Conrad and Jedfire Escape 2 2021
110. Conversation Hearts by Avon Gale 3/19/24 3/19/24 28 page short story Kindle Sinjin and Levi 2019
111. Learning to Feel by N.R. Walker 3/19/24 3/19/24 252 pages Kindle Nathan and Trent 2015
112. Old Acquaintance by Avon Gale 3/19/24 3/19/24 31 pages Kindle Andrew and Elias 2019
113. The Revenge Agenda by Saxon James 3/19/24 3/20/24 276 pages Kindle Rush and Hunter Accidental Love 3 2024
114. Alaskan Thunder by Nando Gray 3/20/24 3/21/24 104 pages Calvin and Zayne 2024
115. Without You by Marley Valentine 3/21/24 3/21/24 290 pages Kindle Deacon and Julian 2020
116. In the Eye of the Beholder by Dianna Roman 3/21/24 3/22/24 387 pages Kindle Daniel and Eric 2023
117. The Gentleman by Dianna Roman 3/22/24 3/23/24 257 pages Kindle Cameron and Pete 2024
118. You Again by Dianna Roman 3/23/24 3/24/25 262 pages Kindle Johnny and Aiden Men of Olympus 1 2022
119. A Minute More by Cora Rose 3/25/24 3/25/24 210 pages Kindle Wesley and Simon Timeless 1 2023
**abandoned Say I Do by Brea Alepoú and Skyler Snow** 170 pages
**abandoned Blu, My Protector by RS McKenzie** 156 pages
120. The Geographer's Library by Jon Fasman 1/26/24 3/27/24 15.5 hours audio book 2005
121. Hot Mess by Misha Horne 3/26/24 3/27/24 309 pages Kindle London and Erik 2020
122. Little Demon in the Details by Nordika Night 3/27/24 3/29/24 376 pages Kindle Blake and Mercer 2023
123. The Caretaker by C.P. Harris 3/29/24 3/29/24 265 pages Kindle Noon and Solace Infidelity 3 2024
124. Bad Boy by Emma Alcott 3/29/24 3/30/24 398 pages Kindle Colton and Russ Masters of Romance 1 2021
**abandoned Sweet Thing by Emma Alcott** 121 pages
**abandoned Picture Love by A.F. Zoelle** 149 pages
125. Wedding Bells by Peter Styles and J.P. Oliver 3/31/24 4/2/24 Kindle Sebastian and Matt Finding Shore 3 2018
126. Endless Stretch of Blue by Riley Hart 4/2/24 4/3/24 253 pages Kindle Enzo and Damon 2019
**abandoned Boss of Attraction by Kimberly Knight and Rachel Lyn Adams ** 51 pages
**Losing Control by Riley Hart Ben and Dante Broken Pieces 3 2015**48 pages
127. Monopolize Me by Evie Noir 4/4/24 4/5/24 468 pages Kindle Dakota and Lirio The New York Series 1 2020
128. Monopolize You by Evie Noir 4/5/24 4/6/24 479 pages Kindle Dakota and Lirio The New York Series 2 2021
129. The Secret Lives of CEOs by Joey Mayble 4/6/24 4/6/24 197 pages Kindle Max and Cameron Gay Awakenings 2
130. Monopolize Us by Evie Noir 4/7/24 4/9/24 499 pages Kindle Dakota and Lirio The New York Series 3 2022
131. Unforgettable by Marley Valentine 4/8/24 Kindle Oz and Reeve Vino and Veritas 18 2021
132. Secret Desires by Amber Ridge 4/10/24 4/10/24 34 pages Kindle Nicholas and Daniel Boy Next Door 4 2014
**abandoned White Noise by Lark Taylor ** 168 pages
133. To Have and to Hold: Taken by Abigail Kade 4/10/24 4/11/24 170 pages Kindle Worthy and Crow Criminal Delights 12 2019
134. Brazen Affairs by Ashley James 4/11/24 4/12/24 295 pages Kindle Vaughn and Camden Hidden Affairs 1 2023
135. Eden by Avon Gale and Emily Rossman 4/12/24 4/12/24 224 pages Kindle Rayne and Brandon 2022
136. RPF - When Fiction Gets A Little Too Real by M. Grano and C. Azzo 4/12/24 4/16/24 458 pages Kindle Sam and Levi 2024
**abandoned Drawn In By You by R.M. Neill** 106 pages way too precocious daughter, too angsty Travis, too much
137. Storm Clouds and Devastation by Ashley James 4/16/24 4/17/24 286 pages Kindle Bodhi and Jules Hidden Affairs 2 2023
**abandoned Embracing His Shame by Brigham Vaughn** 212 pages Kink okay, but Forrest's fear of relationships irrational and Jarod starts being interested.
138. Say My Name by Ashley James 4/18/24 4/19/24 308 pages Kindle Travis and Mateo 2023
139. Insatiable Hunger by Ashley James 4/17/24 4/18/24 340 pages Kindle Elias and Zeke Hidden Affairs 3 2023
140. Aftercare by Tanya Chris 4/18/24 4/19/24 211 pages Kindle Garrett and Aayan Ever After 1 2017
141. Aftershock by Tanya Chris 4/19/24 4/20/24 218 pages Kindle Garrett and Aayan Ever After 2 2017
142. Aftermath by Tanya Chris 4/19/24 4/20/24 236 pages Kindle Casey and Brooks Ever After 3 2019
143. Red Flags and Tuesdays by Nordika Night 4/20/24 4/21/24 251 pages Kindle Reid and Atticus Weekday Weirdos 1 2024
144. Professor Platonic by Lucy Lennox 4/21/24 4/21/24 42 pages Kindle Jack and River 2023
**abandoned Hired Hadley by Nora Phoenix** 211 pages To use a phrase seen most recently on Richard's thread: Couldn't be arsed.
**abandoned various and sundry** 50 pages
**abandoned An Immense World by Ed Yong** 144 pages I do not have the mental bandwidth for this and it's been 6 months
145. Out of the Office Romance by Twoony 4/22/24 4/24/24 536 pages Kindle Kade and Nolen AND Louis and Mason 2023
146. The House of Being by Natasha Trethewey 4/12/24 4/24/24 hardcover 77 pages 2024
**abandoned Blue's Boss by Candice Blake** 76 pages Ugh. Poor writing, too many shortcuts, ridiculous situations.
147. Six Feet Apart by 4/24/24 4/24/24 113 pages Alina Popescu and A L Bates Kindle Darius and Aadi 2020
**abandoned No Secrets by Nora Phoenix** 123 pages
148. Gentle Hands by Emily Buckley 4/24/24 4/25/24 159 pages Kindle Matthew and Tom Growing Pains 1 2020
149. Payback by Alexa Land Kindle 4/25/24 4/25/24 182 pages Kindle Malcolm and Daniel Firsts and Forever Stories 10 2023
150. Message Received 4/25/24 4/26/24 by D.K. Sutton 314 pages Kindle Ben and Sean Sloan Brothers Book 2 2023 my library call center, ben sub Sean dom trust fund
151. The Heir's Disgrace by August Jones 4/26/24 4/27/24 426 PAGES Kindle Drew and Ollivier Doormen of the Upper East Side 1 2024
152. Say Yes by Jen Samson 4/27/24 4/28/24 422 pages Kindle Colt and Sebastian 2022
153. For You, Sir by Emily Brandish 4/28/24 4/29/24 306 pages Kindle Jun and Einar 2023
154. Deep Under by Tanya Chris 4/29/24 4/29/24 47 pages Kindle Maddox and Jack Deep Under 1 2016
155. Back Under by Tanya Chris 4/29/24 4/29/24 47 pages Kindle Maddox and Jack Deep Under 1 2021
156. How to Shield an Assassin by AJ Sherwood 4/29/24 4/30/24 254 pages Kindle Ari and Carter Unholy Trifecta Book 1 2019
197. How to Steal a Thief by AJ Sherwood 4/30/24 5/1/24 197 pages Kindle Ivan and Aiden Unholy Trifecta Book 2 2020
**abandoned Finding Him by ** 87 pages
**abandoned A Detached Raider by ** 50 pages
198. Dual Destruction 5/1/24 5/3/24 246 pages Kindle

Currently Reading:

The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin by Gordon S. Wood 4/1/24 audio book 10 1/2 hours
North Woods by Daniel Mason 1/6/24 Hardcover 372 pages 2023
How to Hack a Hacker by AJ Sherwood 5/4/24 Kindle Kyou and Brannigan Unholy Trifecta Book 3 2020
The Federalist edited by Jacob E. Cooke 5/28/22 656 pages hardcover 1961

adds - 337 last year

1. Thrift Shop - How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum
2. Thrift Shop - Worth Dying For by Lee Child - hardcover upgrade for mass market paperback
3. Thrift Shop - Hieroglyphics by Jill McCorcle
4. Thrift Shop - The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni
5. Thrift Shop - Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
6. my catalog - readded so net 0 with cull, below: Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh
7. brought back into my catalog - The Complete Vampire Chronicles: The Tale of the Body Thief, the Queen of the Damned, the Vampire Lestat, Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
8. Kindle - Where Forever Started by Barbara Elsborg
9. Amazon - Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat because I had to have a book by someone with that name
10. Kindle - Assassins Are People Too by S.C. Wynne
11. Kindle - Assassins Love People Too by S.C. Wynne
12. Kindle - Assassins Save People Too by S.C. Wynne
13. Amazon - The Complete Tutankhamun by Nicholas Reeves
14. Kindle - Trapped for the Holidays by Courtney W. Dixon
15. McIntyre's - Sacred Altars by Anne Strand
16. McIntyre's - On Digital Advocacy by Katie Boue
17. McIntyre's - A Line in the Sand by Kevin Powers
18. McIntyre's - Son of the Old West by Nathan Ward
19. McIntyre's - Boundaries and Protection by Pixie Lighthorse
20. McIntyre's - The Plague by Albert Camus
21. McIntyre's - Transient and Strange by Nell Greenfieldboyce
22. McIntyre's - Building a Better Boomer by Neil Offen
23. McIntyre's - Please Unsubscribe, Thanks! by Julio Vincent Bambuto
24. McIntyre's - The Apple in the Dark by Clarice Lispector
25. McIntyre's - Nuts & Bolts by Roma Agrawal
26. McIntyre's - Longstreet by Elizabeth Varon
27. Kindle - Crashing Upwards by S.C. Wynne
28. Kindle - If I Met You First by A.B. Julian
29. Amazon - The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole World by Matt Kracht
30. Amazon - The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023 edited by Amor Towles
31. Amazon - Random in Death by J.D. Robb
32. Amazon - The Secret by Lee Child and Andrew Child
33. Kindle - A Case of Conscience by James Blish
34. Kindle - A Lesson in Thorns by Sierra Simone - rec by elorin/Robyn
35. Louise - Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs by Lang Elliott with Donald and Louise Stokes - audio book
36. FoCCL - The New York Times Complete Civil War edited by Harold Holzer & Craig L. Symonds
37. FoCCL - The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
38. U of Chicago Press - Giza and the Pyramids: The Definitive History by Mrk Lehner and Zahi Hawass
39. Amazon - Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer
40. Kindle - Losing Control by Riley Hart
41. Kindle - Monopolize Me by Evie Noir The New York Series Book 2
42. FoCCL - S24 The Essential Kabbalah by Daniel C. Matt
43. FoCCL - S24 Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography by John Dominic Crossan
44. FoCCL - S24 Just Because They've Left Doesn't Mean They're Gone by Stephen A. Bly
45. Kindle - Monopolize Us by Evie Noir The New York Series book 3
46. Kindle - Monopolize You by Evie Noir The New York Series 2
47. FoCCL - Tenth of December by George Saunders
48. FoCCL - The Holy Bible Containing the Old Testament in The Confraternity - Douay Texts and the Entire New Testament in the Confraternity Translation 1959
49. Amazon - The House of Being by Natasha Trethewey
50. FoCCL - Roman Britain by H.H. Scullard
51. FoCCL - What's a Christian to do with Harry Pottery by Connie Neal
52. FoCCL - Androgynous Judaism by Jacob Neusner
52. FoCCL - Citizens of London by Lynne Olson
53. FoCCL - The United States, a Modern History, 2 volumes. U.S. History To 1865 and U.S. History Since 1865 by Michael Kraus and Foster Rhea Dulles
54. FoCCL - Unlucky for Some by Jill McGown
55. FoCCL - Acid Row by Minette Walters
56. FoCCL - Sanctuary by William Faulkner
57. FoCCL - Light in August by William Faulkner
58 - 100. FoCCL - Great Books of the Western 43 of 54 books, 1952 edition
101. Kindle - The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock and Other Poems by T.S. Eliot
102. The Huguenots or The Early French in New Jersey by Albert F. Koehler
103. Kindle - Finding Him by Chad Lane
104. Kindle - Message Received by D.K. Sutton
105. Kindle - Payback by Avery Mist

culls - 64 last year

1. Grant by Ron Chernow - CDs
2. How to Read and Understand Shakespeare by Professor Marc C. Conner - DVDs
3. The History of the Supreme Court by Professor Peter Irons - DVDs
4. Shakespeare's Tragedies by Professor Clare R. Kinney - DVDs
5. Terror of History by Professor Teofilo F. Ruiz - audio CDs
6. Great Artists of the Italian Renaissance by Professor William Kloss - DVDs
7. The History of Ancient Egypt by Professor Bob Brier DVDs
8. Dreams of My Father by Barack Obama - CDs
9. Fairy Tales for Angry Little Girls by Lela Lee
10. The God Dog Connection by Marti Healy dogs - ugh
11. Nothin' But Good Times Ahead by Molly Ivins - duplicate
12. The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters

***mass market paperbacks - small print, tanned, not interested in any more, etc.***
13. The Age of Innocence by Wharton, Edith
14. False Impression by Archer, Jeffrey
15. Deep Storm by Child, Lincoln
16. Cat O'Nine Tales: And Other Stories by Archer, Jeffrey
17. Atonement by Mcewan, Ian
18. Faithless by Slaughter, Karin
19. Fatal Burn by Jackson, Lisa
20. At The Stroke Of Madness by Kava, Alex
21. Eden Burning by Lowell, Elizabeth
22. Don't Scream by Staub, Wendy Corsi
23. The Rebel Angels by Davies, Robertson
24. Sphere by Crichton, Michael
25. The Making of the President 1960 by White, Theodore H.
26. Beauty and the Beast by Howell, Hannah
27. The Program by White, Stephen
28. Travels by Crichton, Michael
29. Foreigner by Cherryh, C. J.
30. World of Wonders by Davies, Robertson
31. I Know This Much Is True by Lamb, Wally
32. The Four Feathers by Mason, A.E.W.
33. The Next Accident by Gardner, Lisa
34. The Third Victim by Gardner, Lisa
35. The Survivors Club by Gardner, Lisa
36. The Key to Rebecca by Follett, Ken
37. Perdido Street Station by Mieville, China
38. The Broom of the System by Wallace, David Foster
39. Death's Door by Sawyer, Meryl
40. Why Aren't They Screaming? by Smith, Joan
41. Malice Domestic by Hardwick, Mollie
42. The Sculptress by Walters, Minette
43. Cold Allies by Anthony, Patricia
44. The Divide by Evans, Nicholas
45. A Knife to Remember by Churchill, Jill
46. Sullivan's Evidence by Rosenberg, Nancy Taylor
47. The Times We Had : Life with William Randolph Hearst by Davies, Marion
48. Beneath the Skin by French, Nicci
49. The Winter of Our Discontent by Steinbeck, John
50. Travels with Charley by Steinbeck, John
51. Blind Justice by Alexander, Bruce
52. The Daily Jane Austen: A Year of Quotes by Austen, Jane
53. A Regency Christmas 6 by Balogh, Mary
54. Someone Perfect by Balogh, Mary
55. The End of the Road by Barth, John
56. A Seer Out of Season: The Life Of Edgar Cayce by Bro, Harmon H.
57. After the Storm by Castillo, Linda
58. Among the Wicked by Castillo, Linda
59. Down a Dark Road by Castillo, Linda
60. Her Last Breath by Castillo, Linda
61. Shamed by Castillo, Linda
62. Victory by Conrad, Joseph
63. The Last Plantagenets by Costain, Thomas Bertram
64. The Manticore by Davies, Robertson
65. May We Borrow Your Husband?: And Other Comedies of the Sexual Life by Greene, Graham
66. Fever Season by Hambly, Barbara
67. Traveling with the Dead by Hambly, Barbara
68. To Die For by Howard, Linda
69. Mortal Fear by Iles, Greg
70. A Dangerous Man:: A Novel of William Wild Bill Longley by Johnstone, William W.
71. The Ritual Bath by Kellerman, Faye
72. A Grave Talent by King, Laurie R.
73. Night Work by King, Laurie R.
74. O Jerusalem by King, Laurie R.
75. The Miernik Dossier by McCarry, Charles
76. Tularosa by McGarrity, Michael
77. The President's Shadow by Meltzer, Brad
78. Ice Hunt by Rollins, James
79. Bury the Lead by Rosenfelt, David
80. First Degree by Rosenfelt, David
81. Open and Shut by Rosenfelt, David
82. Angle of Repose by Stegner, Wallace
83. Last Breath by Stewart, Mariah
84. The Hellfire Club by Straub, Peter
85. An Autobiography by Trollope, Anthony
86. He Knew He Was Right by Trollope, Anthony
87. Rachel Ray by Trollope, Anthony
88. Why Frau Frohmann Raised Her Prices and Other Stories by Trollope, Anthony
89. Kristin Lavransdatter I: The Bridal Wreath by Undset, Sigrid
90. Kristin Lavransdatter II: The Mistress of Husaby by Undset, Sigrid
91. Kristin Lavransdatter III: The Cross by Undset, Sigrid
92. The Ringer by Wallace, Edgar
93. Back Home by Mauldin, Bill

While looking for a book on shelf L46 to read for the tribute to Julia, I found Proust and Trollope and decided that I'm going to deaccession almost everything I have by each author. None of them are of the quality I want, and if I decide to read these authors, I'll acquire paper copoies or Kindle versions that are easier to read.

Trollope
94. Barchester Towers & the Last Warden
95. The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope
96. The Vicar of Bullhampton
97. The American Senator
98. The Claverings

Proust
99. The Captive
100. Cities of the Plain
101. Within a Budding Grove
102. The Sweet Cheat Gone
103. The Past Recaptured
104. The Guermantes Way

...
105. The book of Unusual Knowledge by Publications International, LTD.
106. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
107. Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris
108. More Letters from Pemberley by Jane Dawkins
109. Five Victorian Ghost Novels edited by E.F. Bleiler
110. The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg
111. What's Bred in the Bone by Robertson Davies
112. Counterparts by Gonzalo Lira
113. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
114. These Three Remain by Pamela Aidan
115. The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
116. Parting the Curtains Interviews by Dannye Romine Powell
117. Into Africa by Martin Dugard
118. Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie
119. Back to Blood by Tom Wolfe
120. The Source by James Michener - copy bought, then decided to give to Irene. I have 2 or three others on my shelves

while looking for two by Alice Hoffman to deccession, I found these I don't want any more:

121. The Moor by Laurie R. King
122. Victorians at Home by Susan Lasdun
123. Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman
124. Thomas Jefferson: A Biography in His Own Words
125. Mr. Jefferson's Lost Cause by Roger G. Kennedy
126. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

and back to our regular programming, although with heightened awareness of what I want to not keep on my shelves
127. Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen - audio book
128. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
129. Norwegian Night by Derek B. Miller
130. Fields for President by W.C. Fields
131. The Longevity Plan by Dr. John D. Day and Jane Ann Day
132. The Love-Girl and the Innocent: Victory Celebrations: Prisoners by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
133. Midnight Rising by Tony Horwitz - yellowed trade paperback - would read better condition copy
134. The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh - will never read
135. The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin - will never read
136. Julie & Julia by Julie Powell - will never read although I loved the movie
137. Are You Somebody by Nuala O'Faolain - will never read, don't know why i bought it
138. Blood, Tears, and Folly by Len Deighton - WWII history that I will never read
139. The Darkest Hour by Tony Scumacher - WWII fiction, not my cuppa
140. The Domino Men by Jonathan Barnes
141. Personal History by Katharine Graham
142. Everyman by Philip Roth
143. The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall
144. No More Words : A Journal of My Mother, Anne Morrow Lindbergh by Reeve Lindbergh
145. A Room With A View and Howards End by E.M. Forster - mass market paperback, yellowed

2024 Inventory
146. S01 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse by JJ Smith
147. S02 The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy
148. S02 The Time of Terror by Seth Hunter
149. S02 The American Spectator's Enemies List by P.J. O'Rourke
150. S02 The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
151. S02 Confessions of an Actor: An Autobiography by Laurence Olivier
152. S03 Musical Stages: An Autobiography by Richard Rodgers
153. S03 The Cunning Man by Robertson Davies
154. S03 Colony Girl by Thomas Rayfiel
155. S04 It's Always the Husband by Michele Campbell
156. S04 Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA by Ellen Meister
157. S04 The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King
158. S04 The Darcy Connection by Elizabeth Aston
159. S04 Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston
160. S04 The Second Mrs. Darcy by Elizabeth Aston
161. S04 The Exploits & Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy by Elizabeth Aston
162. S04 The True Darcy Spirit by Elizabeth Aston
163. S04 The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James

Not Inventory, read, culled
164. The Geographer's Library by Jon Fasman

2024 Inventory
165. S17 Nice Guys Finish Last by Leo Durocher
166. S17 The Lyre of Orpheus
167. S24 The Marx Sisters by Barry Maitland - duplicate
00 Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow - given to Stasia last year (?)
168. S26 No Angel by Penny Vincenzi

Just because
169. L80 The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
170. L86 Killer View by Ridley Pearson

171. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
172. The Racketeer by John Grisham
173. Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
174. Angel Rogue by Mary Jo Putney

175. L24 Third Degree by Greg Iles
176. L33 Writing And Fighting the Civil War: Soldier Correspondence to the New York Sunday Mercury by William B. Styple

YTD Statistics through March

124 books read
2 of them on my shelves before 1/1/24 and not rereads
24 books abandoned, 3148 pages abandoned, 1 audiobook, .45 hours abandoned

27 audiobook hours

Avg pages read per day, YTD = 384
Avg pages read per book, YTD = 282

Book of the Month: Alphas by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie

Books by Month
January - 46 e-books, 1 audio book, 1 Graphic Novel, and 9 books abandoned for 1711 pages
February - 37 e-books
March - 38 e-books, 1 audio book, and 7 books abandoned for 899 pages

Author
Male 7%
Female 84%
Undeclared * 6%
Non-Binary 3%
* - can't find any info anywhere

Living 100%
Dead 0%

US Born 41%
Foreign Born 22%
Undeclared * 37%
* - can't find any info anywhere

Platform
Hardcover 1%
Trade Pback 0%
Mass Market 0%
Audiobook 2%
e-Book 97%

Source
My Library 6%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 94%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
ARC/ER 0%
Re-read 0%
Series 81%

Fiction 100%
NonFiction 0%

Author Birth Country
Australia 7%
Canada 10%
New Zealand 2%
Norway 1%
UK 2%
Undeclared * 37%
US 41%
* - can't find any info anywhere

Original Decade Published

2000-2009 1%
2010-2019 39%
2020-2029 60%

Category
Contemporary Fiction 98%
Crime Fiction 1%
Informational Nonfiction 1%

Acquisition/Source Date
Kindle Unlimited 116
2024 4
culled after reading 4

Average Rating
1.5 - Very Bad 0
2.0 - Bad 0
2.5 - Average 5
3.0 - Good 9
3.5 - Very Good 18
4.0 - Excellent 65
4.5 - Outstanding 27
5 - Masterpiece 0

Average Rating 3.90
Books acquired YTD 39
Books culled YTD 168

March Lightning Round

Those in bold are NOT MM romances, few and far between as they are.

Alphas Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 2/29/24 3/1/24 Kindle

Oh my. Third in the Like Us series. Here’s the beginning of I wrote about the first, Damaged Like Us:

Vivid, eccentric, totally loveable characters. Maximoff is part of a billionaire family of 3 sisters, their husbands, and all the kids. The world is ensorcelled by them and stalk them all the time, so everybody has a bodyguard. Maximoff’s bodyguard Declan retires, and his mother’s bodyguard, Farrow, is assigned to him. Maximoff has had a secret crush on Farrow for 6 years, Farrow ditto, but of course bodyguards aren’t allowed to mess with their clients. Maximoff and Farrow break the rule.

In this book, Farrow and Maximoff continue to be strong in their relationship, go public with their romance, and Farrow decides to return to his interrupted doctor’s residency. It will only be three years. He resigns as Maximoff’s bodyguard. There are many family dramas in this one, all fascinating to me. Three families, linked by the three sisters. Hales have 4 children, Cobalts have 7 children, and Meadows have 2 children. Late to say it, but Maximoff is a Hale. Teenage drama, security team drama, too. There are thirteen books, and we’ll see how I do with MF romances, starting with book 4, Tangled Like Us. Caveat emptor re sex.

Tangled Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/1/24 3/1/24 Kindle

First, this is the 4th in the Like Us series. Second, This is the first MF romance I’ve read since August 2023, and THAT one was MMF. Jane is part of a billionaire family of 3 sisters, their husbands, and all the kids. The world is ensorcelled by them and stalk them all the time, so everybody has a bodyguard. Jane lives in the same townhome as her cousin Maximoff and his lover/bodyguard Farrow, Maximoff’s sister Luna, and their other cousin Sulli – female, Sullivan. Thatcher is Jane’s bodyguard. When a family member betrays Jane’s trust and places an add for a spouse for Jane, the crazies and money-hungry come out of the woodwork. The Security company decides Jane needs a fake boyfriend, and they choose Thatcher. *eye roll* Jane and Thatcher have been secretly attracted to one another, and after the fake boyfriend thing starts, become lovers behind closed doors. Mayhem, family drama, ANOTHER bodyguard sleeping with his client, and just so much fun and love and well-written characters and fun plot twists that I’m still enthralled. Caveat emptor re sex – straight sex. *blinks*

Sinful Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/1/24 3/2/24 Kindle

Maximoff and Farrow have become engaged, and some of the family secretly jet to Scotland to check out a castle as a wedding venue. It’s supposed to be a week, and with Thatcher’s identical twin going on the trip as bodyguard to HIS client and a smarmy bodyguard named Tony having been assigned as Jane’s bodyguard, the twins switch. Some of the family and bodyguards know, but others don’t, which should be fine for just a week, but a blizzard strikes before they can return and they end up being stuck in Scotland for 34 days. Hijinks, trying to keep those who don’t know that it’s Thatcher and not his twin there, danger and well-written dynamics and plot twists kept me compulsively reading all day. All 501 pages in one day. Caveat emptor re sex – more straight sex.

Headstrong Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/2/24 3/3/24 Kindle

Sixth in the Like Us series. Maximoff and Farrow have moved their wedding date up to the summer and Jane’s the wedding planner. There is the additional complication of a baby related to one of the bodyguards. Maximoff cannot NOT take the baby in with Farrow’s approval and blessing. The mother abandoned the baby at the hospital and the father is in jail. Maximoff and Farrow and the baby, Ripley, live in Maximoff’s room at his parents huge house. Jane and Thatcher and Maximoff’s sister Luna have moved back home after their townhome was destroyed in a fire two books ago. Complications from Maximoff’s maternal grandmother and the attempts to keep the wedding venue away from the paparazzi and Maximoff’s and Farrow’s loving being dads, even temporarily, lead up to a memorable wedding. Caveat emptor re sex.

Charming Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/3/24 3/4/24 Kindle

Seventh in the Like Us series has Oscar Oliviera, bodyguard to Charlie, one of the cousins, asking Jack, executive producer of a family docuseries, for a kiss. The words no gay person wants to hear: “I’m straight.” Fast forward to being back home after the wedding, and Charlie constantly puts Jack and Oscar together. Charlie is willing to have Jack do a separate docuseries of just him, too. This one was my least favorite, in that Jack is not only straight, he is also very attracted to Oscar. Oscar’s always been attracted to Jack. Other family drama, drunken weddings, etc. Caveat emptor re sex.

Wild Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/5/24 3/5/24 Kindle

Eighth in the Like Us series has Sulli, 21, retired Olympian, deciding that she wants to replicate her dad’s free-solo climbing when he was in his 20s by going to Yellowstone and free-soloing. Two of her bodyguards go with her, her long-time bodyguard Akara, and a floating bodyguard, Banks. Banks is the twin brother of Thatcher, who had his story with Jane, above. Both are secretly in love with Sulli, and after a cougar attack going back to their tent after Sulli does a free-soling equipment dry run, things get heated. Sulli wants both of them, they agree to sort of date her yet not go too far, with her decision on who she really wants to date coming after they return home for Thatcher and Jane’s wedding. I know… but it really works for me. They have to deal with some obnoxious climbers and get into a revenge war with them with dangerous/hilarious results, and barely make it home in time for the wedding reception, having actually missed the wedding. Steamy times become sexy times, and Sulli makes her choice. Caveat emptor re more straight sex.

Fearless Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/5/24 3/6/24 Kindle

Sulli chooses to be in a closed triad with Akara and Banks. It slowly leaks within the family, to some members only and some of the security team only. Sulli also decides to try to qualify for the Olympics again after retiring after the last Olympics. Family drama, Olympics drama, and lots of discussion of the inner workings of their triad, which includes all their backgrounds and character traits. I’m fascinated with how the Ritchie sisters write, and I devour every word, paragraph, chapter about every family member and every bodyguard. Caveat emptor re poly sex.

Infamous Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/6/24 3/7/24 Kindle

Sulli’s qualified for the Olympics, turns up pregnant just as the games start. This novel is a combination of getting into the mind of a competitive swimmer, feeling all over again the joy and absolute terror at turning up pregnant, and how Akara and Banks deal with the pregnancy and the craziness of living a public life. There’s danger, mending of fences with Banks’s brother Thatcher, and Akara’s trying to balance his security business, his relationship, and his gym ownership. The authors write with joy and fearlessness, insight and humor. Caveat emptor re poly sex.

Misfits Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/7/24 3/8/24 Kindle

Luna Hale is the sister of Maximoff, cousin of Jane, and cousin of Sulli, who all had their love stories in earlier books. Luna is eccentric, insecure, and secret writer of fanfic. Donnelly is her brother’s bodyguard. Two separate triple date scenarios are going on. Add in Luna’s current estrangement from her best friend Beckett, brother of Jane, Donnelly’s being on the outs with Luna’s father Loren because of giving her tats (she was legal at the time), and son of meth addicts and nephew/cousin of the Donelly family – all on the wrong side of the law. Donnelly and Luna’s father agree that they can’t date because she’ll become a target of his family. Another client/bodyguard romance, and the wonderful families with all the stories and dynamics. Luna and Donnelly have one of the sweetest romances, and I’m going to be sad when this series ends. Cavet emptor re straight sex.

Unlucky Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/8/24 3/9/24 588 pages Kindle

Donnelly moves into the 9000 sq foot penthouse because the security apartment 3 floor below is crowded. He’s now the roommate to Luna, Maximoff/Farrow/Ripley, Sulli/Akara/Banks, and Jane/Thatcher. Luna and Donelly are trying to hide their attraction and NOT date. Then, the world implodes when Luna and her mother are chased down and there’s violence. Coming back from those bad events, joy with family pregnancies (NOT Luna…), plans to permanently keep Luna safe, and the relationship between Donnelly and her parents kept me fascinated. Hugely satisfying. Caveat emptor re straight sex.

Nobody Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 3/9/24 3/10/24 Kindle

Last in an absolutely stunning series about the Hale, Cobalt, and Meadows families. Luna and Donnelly are officially dating, other family members have children, and people move but are still family. Epilogues give me what I craved – to see how Luna and Donnelly navigate their future relationship. Caveat emptor re straight sex.

The word that comes to mind about this series is Pure. Pure feelings, pure love, pure goodness and light.

And, I can’t find anything as engrossing, fun, and steamy while being intelligently written, so I’ve gone back and re-read the first two books in the series,

Damaged Like Us 3/11/24 3/11/24 Kindle **reread**

Here’s what I wrote in January:

Oh my. Vivid, eccentric, totally loveable characters. Maximoff is part of a billionaire family of 3 sisters, their husbands, and all the kids. The world is ensorcelled by them and stalk them all the time, so everybody has a bodyguard. Maximoff’s bodyguard Declan retires, and his mother’s bodyguard, Farrow, is assigned to him. Maximoff has had a secret crush on Farrow for 6 years, Farrow ditto, but of course bodyguards aren’t allowed to mess with their clients. Maximoff and Farrow break the rule. Kittens, crazy times teaching a cousin who swims, has won 5 events at the Olympics, and is retired from swimming because doing it once was enough how to safely drink, surrounded by loving cousins and bodyguards. Maximoff is a caregiver and loves beyond measure every single member of his family and tries to fix everything. He cannot, of course. He lives with his cousin Jane platonically, but after he rescues her in front of their house while only in his boxers, and one of the paparazzi takes a photo of him that shows love bites and it goes viral, the family thinks he and Jane are incestuously involved and his romance with Farrow comes out, but only within the family and the 3 intertwined security companies that provide bodyguards. I really, really liked this one for how Maximoff and Farrow suit each other, both strong alpha males but willing to give and take, both romantically and in other aspects of their lives. HFN. Caveat emptor re sex.

If anything, I like it more the second time. There’s attraction, romance, scandal with Jane and Maximoff, and Maximoff and Farrow exchange wonderful words.

A Bit of Rough by Laura Baumbach 3/13/24 3/13/24 Kindle

Sigh. Verbal and situational shortcuts, over-the-top size and power differentials, emotional shortcuts. Adequate and average, sadly. Bram hooks up with James in the alley behind a bar, where James has gone in reaction to a work disappointment. Bram is powerful, aggressive, and James is submissive and it works for them. Bram gives him his business card, telling him to call if he wants to go out on a date the next night. James does, thinking Bram works in construction based on what he’s wearing, the type of bar, and who he’s with. Heh. Turns out Bram owns the construction company. Sex, love declared within a week – not impossible, as I believe in love at first sight, but. Caveat emptor re sex.

Lovers Like Us 3/11/24 3/14/24 466 pages Kindle **reread**

Here’s what I wrote in February, when I continued with the second in the series:

Oh my. Second in the Like Us series. Here’s the beginning of I wrote about the first, Damaged Like Us:

Vivid, eccentric, totally loveable characters. Maximoff is part of a billionaire family of 3 sisters, their husbands, and all the kids. The world is ensorcelled by them and stalk them all the time, so everybody has a bodyguard. Maximoff’s bodyguard Declan retires, and his mother’s bodyguard, Farrow, is assigned to him. Maximoff has had a secret crush on Farrow for 6 years, Farrow ditto, but of course bodyguards aren’t allowed to mess with their clients. Maximoff and Farrow break the rule.

In this book, some of the children and their bodyguards go on a good-will/charity fundraising tour that is supposed to last 4 months. There is danger, a stalker, more info about various members of the family, and Maximoff and Farrow’s love grows stronger and deeper. HFN. These books make me feel good – yes, there’s money and excess. There’s also love, commitment, well-written emotions and plot twists. I’m immediately starting the third about Maximoff and Farrow: Alphas Like Us. There are thirteen books, and we’ll see how I do with MF romances, starting with book 4. Caveat emptor re sex.

It’s just as good as it was the first time. In this one the stalker ups his craziness, Farrow, as Maximoff’s bodyguard has to read all his sexual encounter NDAs. The bus tour ends abruptly. Maximoff realizes that he wants with Farrow what his parents have even though he knows Farrow will come into the spotlight and not in a good way. Very HFN, caveat emptor re sex.

Fire and Sand by Louise Collins 3/14/24 3/14/24 Kindle

3rd in the Adrenaline Jake series. The first was Jake’s take on how he and Maddox met, and the second was Maddox’s take on how he and Jake met. Suffice to say that Maddox is a crime boss and Jake is an adrenaline junky who gets off on stealing things. In this book, they’ve been together for a while, in an undefined … relationship?... GWB – guys with benefits? Maddox has someone after him and has his most trusted lieutenant take Jake to a desert island and leaves him there. Maddox comes for him eventually, and their amorphous dynamic becomes less amorphous but not much. Well written, with vivid characters. The dynamic between Jake and Maddox is fun to read. Caveat emptor re sex.

Guns and Shadows by Louise Collins 3/14/24 3/14/24 Kindle

Fourth in the series has them back in London, Maddox still being set up. Nobody knows about Maddox’s feelings for Jake, but Jake is unhappy with getting less of Maddox’s time as he is searching to find out who’s after him. Jake wants to learn to shoot so Maddox takes him to an old farmstead. Good shooting, good sex, but then someone sets them up. Caveat emptor re sex.

Diamond in the Rough by Louise Collins 3/14/24 3/14/24 Kindle

Final in the Jake & Maddox series has Maddox in a high-security prison and Jake beside himself. More mayhem, more betrayal. There’s a clever break-Maddox-out scenario, bad guy chases of Jake, and a very satisfying HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

#20DaystoLA by Tanya Chris 3/14/24 3/15/24

Former stepbrothers Braxton and Craig are on a road trip from Connecticut to LA so that Braxton can start his new job. Braxton is gay but doesn’t realize that Craig knows this, Craig is bisexual but just hasn’t announced it to the world. They combine falling in love with Craig’s exuberance with life and Braxton’s cautious approach to life, compromising, nearly failing, yet ending up with a HEA. I especially liked how when they had conflicts, they worked them out, especially Craig’s willingness to do anything to make sure Braxton gets to LA in time to start his job. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Kept in the Dark by Charlie Cochet**

One night stand 2 years previously, before each lost their current life, one as a CIA field op and one as a black ops government op, make for hard feelings and a feeling of betrayal. However, the initial wanting to tear each other apart turns into steamy times and romance way too quickly for me, and the tears were just a bit much.

Stealing the Silver Fox by Daniel May 3/15/24 3/16/24 Kindle

Very dark book, by an author I read 2 previous books by but had to abandon the 3rd in that series. This book was a stunner, with 19-year old Tony, from a background of wealth and privilege, working as a mechanic. Ezra is all arrogance when he is getting his car repaired, and in a drunken texting session after his cousin alerts him as to Ezra’s kinks, feeds them and dominates him. Sexting turns into dominance yet caring, and after one particularly steamy scene in a club, things have a … HEA? Caveat emptor re kinky sex.

No Angel by Daniel May 3/16/24 3/16/24 Kindle

Deeply disturbing, Enzo is escaping from very bad men and breaks into an old house in a good district. Turns out that Hill is in the midst of a hallucinogenic state and thinks Enzo is an angel. He makes conditions for Enzo to stay safe. Very weird and kinky, almost sorry I read it except I was interested in some of the plot elements that actually didn’t get explained by the end. Caveat emptor re kinky sex. No more by Daniel May for a while.

Christmas With the Billionaire by Amber Ridge 3/16/24 3/16/24 Kindle

A short story that’s too sweet and with too many coincidences. The CEO of the company and Wyatt, a bakery delivery/setup guy, are caught with when there’s a power outage and he keep running into each other. Then the building is in complete lockdown with just the two of them and a conveniently absent maintenance guy. HEA, caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned My Chaos, His Calm by Romeo Alexander**

I occasionally like being preached at re mental and physical issues, but this book irritated me.

My Brother's Best Friend by Aiden Bates and Ali Lyda 3/16/24 3/17/24 Kindle

Legal intern Jamie is hired for the summer by his brother Saint and his partner Nico for their law firm. Jamie has had a crush on Nico for 16 years, but it’s always been hidden. Jamie is assigned to Nico because Jamie’s interested in Nico’s area of responsibility/interest, family law. Nico is startled that Jamie’s all grown up. Sparkage, but Saint’s family decree of no relationships between brothers and friends keeps both of them on hold until Saint revokes it. Then there’s a bit of drama when Jamie is confronted with Nico’s past conquests, but we get the HEA. Predictable but okay. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Touch and Go by Aiden Bates**

Derek is an ER doctor, Seb comes in with a sprained wrist. Derek’s attracted. Two days later, Seb comes in clinically dead, pulled out of the Potomac River. He’s revived, realizes he’s in trouble, and Derek opens his apartment to him. Derek has 7 foster brothers who live in the same repurposed warehouse. Not interested enough to continue, frankly because it’s very predictable and the chemistry’s just not there. And, the thing that really got to me at page 177 was when Seb put himself back in danger knowing Derek’s 7 other brothers would go with him. I do not really like characters acting stupid for the sake of the plot when their characters have been developed for them to make better choices. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Alphas Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie **

Sigh. I restarted the series and read the first two books about Maximoff and Farrow, but this one has a part that I can hardly bear to read again. And, from above, characters acting stupidly when their characters are not developed that way? Yup. Here, too. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Flirty Vet by Casey Cox 3/17/24 3/18/24 Kindle

I really adore books about Aussies, and this one has a very drunk Wilby singing horribly in an alley below Col’s hotel window. Col’s American, in Australia to help family ranches restructure or refinance in order to save the property/assets. Wilby and Col are immediately attracted. The conversions are funny, clever, and develop the characters nicely. Col’s backstory is immediately apparent, Wilby’s comes a bit later. In the meantime, they each realize that this could be the guy, but Wilby will never leave the family cattle ranch and Col’s American based in the US. Wilby’s family is wonderful, Col’s dad and his husband are wonderful, and the tortuous path for these two to get their HEA was believable, fun, and sexy. Caveat emptor re sex. There is a second book in the series about two of the secondary characters in this one, with a great teaser at the end of this one. It comes out in December, and I’m following the author because I really want to read it.

Runaway by Casey Cox 3/18/24 3/19/24 Kindle

Jedfire is a rich boy mess, traumatized by a family tragedy, bewildered by a strange financial quirk, who is at a gay resort, where he meets Conrad, who won a week’s stay there and also has a huge secret. There is immediate sparkage, with Jed trying to bulldoze Conrad into the sheets, but Conrad resists. They spend time together, secrets come out, there is a wildly irritating coincidence that leads to their HEA. I could see where it was going and wanted to quit, but about 2/3 of the way through I really had tears in my eyes. They dried, and I read to the end. Caveat emptor re sex.

Conversation Hearts by Avon Gale 3/19/24 3/19/24 Kindle

Very short story, beautifully done. Levi is an escort in a high-end hotel, waiting for his appointment. The escort service has a deal with the hotel, but the hotel’s records only indicate the room’s taken when the appointment shows up. Sinjin needs the room because he’s an assassin. It’s really quite funny and serious and steamy. I don’t want you to think the author doesn’t know that Sinjin is the pronunciation for St. John, so we learn that Sinjin’s real name is James St. John. Lots of talk, shared snacks and beverages, shared bed. There’s hope at the end, which makes it sweet and interesting and left me wondering where they took it. Caveat emptor re sex.

Learning to Feel by N.R. Walker 3/19/24 3/19/24 Kindle

This started off with an interesting premise – Nathan, an ER doctor in MA, has never had a satisfying sex life, has never really ever FELT anything. He works, he eats, he sleeps. He realizes he wants a change and takes a locum tenens physician position for one year in Maine. The house they give him for that time is being fixed up and Trent, the painter, and Nathan start something interesting. Things move along nicely, and then, when we get the HEA, the author pretty much beats it to death for the last 100 pages. I admit to skimming the ending. Caveat emptor re sex. Heck, I even skipped the last sex scene. 🙄

Old Acquaintance by Avon Gale 3/19/24 3/19/24 Kindle

Another sweet and steamy short story. Andrew is divorced from a woman, at a New Year’s Eve party near where he has his house on the oceanfront. Elias is a college student who is working the party as a server. Andrew is melancholy and sitting on the beach and Elias gets off work and comes over. They chat, Elias asks if he can give Andrew a peck on the cheek to ring in the New Year. Andrew turns into the kiss, and things get happily hectic from there. Andrew realizes he’s not really straight and probably has never been – but it works in the context of this very short story – and after a wonderful night, Andrew is looking forward to New Year’s Day with the still sleeping Elias. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Revenge Agenda by Saxon James 3/19/24 3/20/24 Kindle

This was a happy surprise – fun plot, interesting and well-written characters. Rush has a boyfriend and he visits him at Christmas dressed in an x-rated costume under his jacket. It’s the wrong night, and Ian is with his fiancé/parents. Rush leaves completely distraught. Hunter, the fiancé, comes outside to make sure Rush is warm and gets him an Uber to get him home. Next, it turns out that Hunter is Rush’s new boss. Things are interesting from there, with Rush and Hunter planning revenge on Ian. Rush lives with 7 roommates and their various lovers/spouses, every one beautifully and laugh-out-loud eccentric. Rush suffers from ADHD, and although I don’t know how it manifests from personal experience, it seems believable and contributes to Hunter’s attraction to Rush and his calming effect on Rush. There’s sparkage of course, and wonderful conversation. They get their HEA, their revenge, and caveat emptor re sex.

Alaskan Thunder by Nando Gray 3/20/24 3/21/24

Very good novella. Calvin is a pilot, hired to take Zayne, a social media influencer, from Skagway Alaska to Fort Huron Alaska in his admittedly ancient plane. Too much luggage, a bad storm, and all of a sudden, they’ve crashed. Each brings qualities to their survival, and they get a very sweet HEA. Caveat emptor re one sex scene.

Without You by Marley Valentine 3/21/24 3/21/24 Kindle

Deacon’s brother Rhett died young, leaving his devastated boyfriend, Julian, behind. Deacon had moved away from Montana because he never felt like he fit in, never felt like his brother was his, jealous of Julian, who moved next door with foster parents but became immediate friends with Rhett. Julian and Rhett fell in love, but there’s tragedy when Rhett dies. Not a spoiler, we learn this early on. Deacon becomes part of the family again, but on the first anniversary of his brother’s death, things change between him and Julian, and knowing it will devastate his family, they start seeing each other. There is guilt, but love, and although there are family troubles, they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

In the Eye of the Beholder by Dianna Roman 3/21/24 Kindle

Stunning story of two damaged men, one because of his family, the other because he lost his wife to cancer 3 years earlier. Daniel is a bartender. He’s been serving a silver fox at the end of the bar once a week for 3 years, always his specialty – a Manhattan. That’s how he thinks of him, as ‘Manhattan’. Later we find out his name is Eric. Daniel’s friend broke up with a guy who’s back from prison. Dallas is threatening Daniel because he knows Daniel has a chunk of change saved to eventually open a club. Dallas has gotten in trouble with the Russian Bratva, and one night after working late Daniel is attacked in the parking garage. ‘Manhattan’ is coming out to go to his bodyguard driven car and is attacked after he diverts Dallas from Daniel. He rescues Daniel and takes him to his home in the country to keep Daniel from getting killed, giving him a job as PA. *eye roll* Daniel has a business degree, of course. Sparkage from Daniel’s side, but Eric is closed off romantically. That changes, of course, along with us learning about who Eric and Daniel really are, and how they get their HEA. I’m a sucker for stories with complex characters and stories where their backstories come out gradually. This is actually the second in a series that I didn’t want to read the first, Until I Saw You. The lovers in that book show up as strong secondary characters in this book. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Gentleman by Dianna Roman 3/22/24 3/23/24 Kindle

Pete is a product manager for the Fairway Companies, and Cameron, son of the owner, comes aboard as an HR clerk. He has been realizing that he needs to come out as a gay man, needs to understand what being a gay man is, and when he sees a rainbow-decorated pot/plant on Pete’s desk, assumes he’s gay. He needs someone experienced and discrete, a gentleman, so he asks Pete. Pete is straight, OCD, never successful with women. You can see where this going, and it gets there happily, if exaggeratedly. Exaggerated families, exaggerated and immediate feelings. However, it was good enough to finish and they got their HEA. And I now have a plant I want – lithops. Caveat emptor re sex.

You Again by Dianna Roman 3/23/24 3/24/25 Kindle

Johnny has moved back home to Wisconsin from SoCal after he was betrayed by his lover of 2 years. He’s damaged and emotionally cut off and only wants the occasional hook up. He’s part of a large Greek family. Aiden is bisexual, more experienced with women, but still. They meet at a carnival when a kid bumps into Johnny and gets mustard on his shirt. Aiden comes over and helps him clean up. Johnny has seen Aiden with a woman, so assumes he’s straight. He’s attracted, but no more straight men for Johnny. The next time they meet is through a gay dating app. Aiden is looking for a permanent relationship, Johnny to scratch an itch. They meet again at a speed dating event. Lots of fun stuff in this one – two men attracted to each other, listening to important things about each other. Johnny keeps pushing Aiden away, and at one point we think it’s permanent. Their feelings are realistically portrayed, the pace is good, the writing humorous and true. All’s well that ends well. Caveat emptor re sex. I had a serious from-Greece Greek boyfriend for 3 years while I lived in Connecticut, and the book eerily reflects lots of what I learned about Greeks in the US. Fun stuff.

A Minute More by Cora Rose 3/25/24 3/25/24 Kindle

Wesley is a college graduate but doesn’t know what he wants to do so he’s working a minimum wage at a coffee shop. Simon works there, too, doesn’t talk with anybody, but occasionally gives Wesley looks. I read it, I liked it as I was reading it, but almost more to find out the mystery of who Simon is than to understand this straight-to-gay story of Wesley being attracted to Simon. HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Say I Do by Brea Alepoú and Skyler Snow**

Mafia boss is forced to marry Yakuza daughter to cement relationship between families, but her twin brother is dragged, drugged and bound to the wedding instead. Honestly. Too much. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Blu, My Protector by RS McKenzie**

Psychopath and serial killer Blu is a psychologist. One of his patients is Alvin, who he immediately recognizes as a serial killer too, although he isn’t worried about it until he meets Alvin’s romantic interest, June, a young man who’s a barista. Instant obsession for Blu, and he kills Alvin when Alvin has lured June to his house in order to kill him. Blu’s there to save June and kill Alvin. Okay, it goes downhill from there. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Geographer's Library by Jon Fasman 1/26/24 3/27/24 audio book

Amazon’s description: "A brainy noir . . . a winningly cryptic tale . . . a cabinet of wonders written by a novelist whose surname and sensibility fit comfortably on the shelf between Umberto Eco and John Fowles." —Los Angeles Times

"One of the year’s most literate and absorbing entertainments." —Kirkus Reviews

Jon Fasman’s dizzyingly plotted intellectual thriller suggests a marriage between Dan Brown and Donna Tartt. When reporter Paul Tomm is assigned to investigate the mysterious death of a reclusive academic, he finds himself pursuing leads that date back to the twelfth century and the theft of alchemical instruments from the geographer of the Sicilian court. Now someone is trying to retrieve them. Interspersed with the present action are the stories of the men and women who came to possess those charmed—and sometimes cursed—artifacts, which have powers that go well beyond the transmutation of lead into gold. Deftly combining history, magic, suspense, and romance—and as handsomely illustrated as an ancient incunabulum—The Geographer’s Library is irresistible.

It took me two months to listen to this audio book, and I admit to losing track of some of the chapters about the alchemical instruments. The story of Paul Tomm and Hannah Rowe, however, is vivid and puzzling and kept me listening to find out what exactly happened to the death of the reclusive academic whose life intersected both of theirs. The ending is a shock, and I won’t say anything about it. The historical aspects seem authentic, written with vividness and apparent historical accuracy. Paul Tomm’s voice is jarring in that he is 24 at the time of his narration – young, unformed, curious without being disciplined. Very good without being stunning memorable, a good way to spend time listening to an audio book in the car.

Hot Mess by Misha Horne 3/26/24 3/27/24 Kindle

London is living a life of rudderless hiding, even from himself, the kink and sexual needs he has. Erik, a neighbor, finds some lace panties when he helps London fix a broken faucet spewing water everywhere, and it goes from there. Erik is a giver, willing to help London realize his needs and help London organize his life, which he desperately wants but has no clue how to make happen. The reason I really liked this one is that London is a product of his upbringing as an Army brat. He was jerked from base to base, away from friends and potential friends, searching for security and stability. Erik is also a product of his traumatic upbringing, but ended up with his grandfather and brother, giving him stability. Erik and London’s kinks work well together. Caveat emptor re kink and sex.

Little Demon in the Details by Nordika Night 3/27/24 3/29/24 Kindle

Over the top, in a wonderful way. The story of Mercer, abused since childhood, although rarely physically. Abandonment, and etc. Blake sees him outside a club and takes him home, simply because. They’re like oil and water, and Blake’s had a few MM experiences but only a few. Eventually the attraction grows to the point where they act upon it. In the meantime, there’s a mystery surrounding Mercer and his family as it relates to Blake and his family. Highly satisfactory, lots of fun dialog and well-written emotional content. Just when you think it’s over, you look down at the % read and number of pages read, calculate roughly how many pages are left, and buckle in again for more of the excellent ride. Caveat emptor re very steamy sex.

The Caretaker 3/29/24 3/29/24 Kindle

Noon was in a terrible accident and has lost the last two years of his memory. He finds a receipt and goes to the bar where he got it in a distant town. He takes photos, and sees someone he thinks he might know. Solace knows Noon. So much to unpack – spousal cheating and abandonment, romance and true love, loss of that love, finally a HEA. It went across three time periods, which was hard to follow, but their feelings for each other rang true. Caveat emptor re sex. I liked the first two of the series better.

Bad Boy by Emma Alcott 3/29/24 3/30/24 Kindle

Lost boy Colton, literally, gets caught in a snow storm in front of a cabin. The door’s open, he goes inside. He’s fearful of so many things in his life, but not Russ. Instant trust, instant sparkage, instant connection. Colton’s dad and the local sheriff are less than pleased that Colton is staying with a former petty criminal gone straight, a romance writer, and the man suspected by the sheriff in the disappearance of his boyfriend 10 years earlier. I really enjoyed this one because of Russ’s on-line gay-romance writer friends and their hilarious banter. I also wanted to find out what happened to the missing boyfriend. Colton grows a backbone and tells his old boyfriend off, Russ is a caregiver, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Sweet Thing by Emma Alcott**

As good as Bad Boy was, Sweet Thing made my teeth hurt. Another gay romance writer, Aaron, has an assistant. He’s in love with Aaron but can’t find the right way to tell him about his feelings. He writes a romance about two men which is really about him and Aaron and gets it published. It becomes a best seller, 🙄, and at that point I just couldn’t take any more. Probably caveat emptor re sex, but I abandoned it before I got that far.

393 books read

1 Masterpiece
51 Stunning
181 Excellent
48 Very Good
30 Good
9 Average
4 Bad

Best Fiction
Show Me Wonders by Riley Hart Review
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith Review
Honeytrap by Aster Glenn Ray Review
The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey Review
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Review
*runner up The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths Review

Best (only) Nonfiction
1066: The Year That Changed Everything by Professsor Jennifer Paxton Review
Lost Christianities by Bart D. Ehrman Review
Introduction to Judaism by Professor (Rabbi) Shai Cherry Review

Top five overall for the LT Top Five Books of 2023 List
Show Me Wonders by Riley Hart Review
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith Review
Honeytrap by Aster Glenn Ray Review
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Review
Introduction to Judaism by Professor (Rabbi) Shai Cherry Review

…...

And, new in 2024, courtesy of Jackie_K, my husband, and Richard:

Wordle 1,040 2/6* Hot damn. trope, overt

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Welcome!

Morning, Karen. Happy New Thread. Once again, I love your dream house. Back to chilly temps today. Ugh. I am still waiting for the goldfinch to arrive. I have been keeping fresh thistle in the feeder. I have seen them on my walks and the males are in a full summer plumage.

I am tending to the "kids" today and then I will head out to pick up the camper and bring it back here.

'Morning, Mark, and thank you. We'll be warmer than you today, getting to 73F. Louise has so many goldfinches at her place, and I have only a few here. She gave me her thistle feeder and I need to get seed for it. Gotta figure out another place to hang a feeder where I can see it.

I'm glad that you're getting the camper today for your FOY trip this weekend.

Here's a treat for being first on my new thread, the yellow-feathered Cardinal in 2018.

Nice shiny new thread you have here, Karen. Congrats on Worlde in 2!

Happy new thread, Karen! Checking in before I lose you again.

>1 karenmarie: Vicious, evil people in power with a pseudo-Christian agenda that does not come close to following the Christianity they profess but profane.

As a Christian, I cannot tell you how the truth of that statement hurts me.

The House of Being (Why I Write) by Natasha Tretheway
4/12/24 4/24/24





From Amazon.com:

An exquisite meditation on the geographies we inherit and the metaphors we inhabit, from Pulitzer Prize winner and nineteenth U.S. poet laureate Natasha Trethewey

“Searching and intimate, this impresses.”—Publishers Weekly

In a shotgun house in Gulfport, Mississippi, at the crossroads of Highway 49, the legendary highway of the Blues, and Jefferson Street, Natasha Trethewey learned to read and write. Before the land was a crossroads, however, it was a pasture: a farming settlement where, after the Civil War, a group of formerly enslaved women, men, and children made a new home.

In this intimate and searching meditation, Trethewey revisits the geography of her childhood to trace the origins of her writing life, born of the need to create new metaphors to inhabit “so that my story would not be determined for me.” She recalls the markers of history and culture that dotted the horizons of her youth: the Confederate flags proudly flown throughout Mississippi; her gradual understanding of her own identity as the child of a Black mother and a white father; and her grandmother’s collages lining the hallway, offering glimpses of the world as it could be. With the clarity of a prophet and the grace of a poet, Trethewey offers up a vision of writing as reclamation: of our own lives and the stories of the vanished, forgotten, and erased.

Why I wanted to read it: An LT recommendation that I knew I had to have, but I can’t remember on whose thread I saw it. (Note to self: Put all books acquired from recommendations or BBs into my kairfa thread – my wish list – otherwise I won’t remember where I learned about a book.)

I wanted to give this 4.5 stars, but finishing another book that was very different and rating it 4.5 stars, realized that this deserved just that much more. I am beyond stingy with 5 stars, but this book absolutely deserves it. It is short and sweet at 77 pages in hardcover, sad and damning, musing on the author’s life as the child of a white father and black mother in the deepest south, Gulfport, Mississippi.

The writing is lyrical and personal, just as if she were sitting with me on my front porch in rocking chairs side by side, speaking into our pastures and the tree line.

Here’s one paragraph that struck me:

What the World Book taught me was only one of many lessons that set me on a path toward becoming a writer. How many times, over the years, would my father remind me – quoting Martin Heidegger – that “Language is the house of being”? It would be decades before I’d read those words myself in a book by the German philosopher – who was also a member of the Nazi Party – and feel again that sharp pang of recognition: the difficult knowledge that some of the most enduring ideas had been written by complicated figures, like Thomas Jefferson, who believed in racial hierarchies, inherent superiority and inferiority. More and more I would come to understand that it was not simply ignorance that I’d need to push back against, but also the stores of received knowledge – philosophy, history, science – that I would encounter in the most learned places. p 44

I was fascinated with poetical forms I’d never heard of. I know about villanelles and sonnets and palindromes, but had never heard of pantoums or ghazals. Facts in addition to memories and feelings, quotes from authors, poets, philosophers. So many things in such a small package.

The place of her birth and the tragedy of her parents’ marriage and divorce and the murder of her mother by her step-father are vivid slashes against the gentle and learned wanderings of her mind.

Six word review: Condemnation and self-awareness, love, heartfelt sharing.

>15 karenmarie: It was recommended to me by Richard, so maybe that is where you got it from?

If I did not already have it in the BlackHole, I would be adding it!

Bravo to Karen. Incredible lists. Impatient to go under the knife. Yowzer!

I saw the hearing aid pitchlady yesterday. She's got a minion evaluating what can be wrung out of my insurance. Oh, and maybe a new cell phone too.

I have a shelving expansion underway. Nothing that's going to be done quickly.

Three books being read, in rotation. I'm still working through "Big Pink", a 500+ page graphic bio of Keith Haring, titled Keith Haring.

             See. It's BIG and it is PINK!

Also reading Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper by Nicholson Baker and The Arrest by Jonathan Lethem.

May 1st, with the weather authorities' cooperation, I shall drive the lawn tractor around the place. With the cutting blades spinning, no less.

Stay as sweet and formidable as you are.

Happy new thread, Karen.

And nice Wordling!

New thread and Wordle in 2 - GOOD for you (((((Karen)))))!

You are treating *Like Us* the way I have treated my Ishmael Wang series for several years. I know I can count on them for what I seem to need. Another GOOD for us!

I do feel the need to try *Damaged*. I'll see.....

Meanwhile, I wish you a lovely day. It looks like one!

Happy new thread! The countdown to a new knee is on!

>15 karenmarie: That does sound interesting. Life is so convoluted, and coming from diverse origins really can force one to deal with it.

Happy new thread, Karen. xx

Happy new thread, Karen!

From your last thread, to LizzieD: I hope to be able to visit you by late summer. Or, you could come up here once things settle down, and visit Bobbie AND me. If Peggy comes up this way, I would love to finally meet her in person!

Happy new thread, Karen, and happy Thursday!

So glad your pre-op appointments went well, I keep fingers and toes crossed until next week.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. The yellow cardinal is jaw-dropping. What a sighting that must have been. You got me with The House of Being. I have read her memoir and some of her poetry. She is a treasure.

Yesterday was a busy one, with all our preparations. I never cracked a print book and I probably won't have a chance today either. Sacrifices need to be made, I guess. We hope to shove off around noon.

>13 lauralkeet: Hi Laura, and thank you.

>14 alcottacre: Hello Stasia. Thanks. There are a few Christians in my life, you among them, who walk the walk instead of just talking the talk. It makes you and them all heart sore over what people do in the name of their religion and beliefs.

>16 alcottacre: Most likely Richard, then. I’m so glad I bought it and have actually read it.

>17 weird_O: Bill! Hi! Lists and knives, two things important to me this year. Yowzer indeed.

I’m glad the nice hearing aid pitchlady is working hard on your behalf. New cell phone, too. Exciting. More shelves for more books, always a good thing, and your reading is impressive. Haring was from rural PA – anywhere near your neck of the woods? Mumble, mumble… I need to read a Lethem this year from the two on my shelves – As She Climbed Across the Table or Gun, With Occasional Music.

Thank you. Sweet and formidable. I don’t think I’ve ever had those two words together in a sentence to describe me.

>18 katiekrug: Hi Katie, and thank you. We’re always happy to get two, aren’t we?

>19 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I’m happily surprised that you wanted to try Damaged Like Us. I liked yesterday, and it was lovely. Today is gorgeous. Blue skies, even the black walnuts have started to leaf out.

>20 quondame: Hello Susan. I know – today’s the first day of stopping and starting various things – no supplements or herbal anythings, soon to start Mupiricin, an ointment to help prevent me getting MRSA in the hospital. Half dose of the blood thinner 3 days before surgery, and etc. Would it surprise you that I have a spreadsheet for this? Nope, didn’t think so. *smile*

>21 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, and thank you.

>22 atozgrl: Hey Irene, and thanks. If we can get Peggy up here this year, I hope it’s enough time to get lots of people and things in. That would be lots of fun.

>23 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita. Happy Thursday to you, too. Thanks re the pre-op appointments. Fingers and toes crossed help.

>24 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you. I remember reading about it at the time and being amazed. Also, every birder in the South went there, plus folks who could afford to fly down. I felt bad at the time for the locals. Glad I got you with The House of Being.

Heh. Sacrifices in order to use your camper for your FOY trip. Enjoy your time away.

Wordle 1,041 4/6* This took a while. trope, worth, orbit, intro

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Yesterday was lots of upstairs puttering, reading, some soccer, and etc.

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Today will be more of the same. I did get up late, but I slept well for 7+ hours so am not whining too much about the late start. First cup of coffee, Wordle, and this message done, off to get brekkie and etc.

>25 karenmarie: How about 13 miles? The distance from my house to Keith Haring's childhood home. Yowzer.

Oh my goodness, Bill. 1+3=4, half of my lucky number, and therefore even more special. Yowzer for sure.

Hooray for 7+ hours!!!! Ditto for the spreadsheet! I confess to having had trouble keeping up with the eye drops for my cataracts. You are not only sweet and formidable but also competent and ORGANIZED! More power to you!

We both fourded alphabet soup (always trying for a pun here) with Wordle today.

Bill inspires me to go back to the local audiologist. I swore I wouldn't, but it doesn't make sense to go out of town for something that may need multiple visits for adjustments. I don't like her, but I guess she can fit hearing aids.

Enjoy your day.

Karen, You are amazing. the amount of books you read is incredible!

>15 karenmarie: That sounds amazing, I've added it to the wishlist (it doesn't come out here until June). Happy new thread!

Hi Karen my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend. At last i have found a new thread with less than 50 posts that i can post on. As you can tell with my lack of posting, my time is limited if i am to get some reading done. What with my chauffering duties, housework and my ongoing issues with my back, neck, hips and thighs, things are not too good although we are seeing quite a bit of Elliott which is always a joy, he is growing up so fast and people see him and think he must be about five when in reality he is approaching his 3rd birthday on the 4th of May.

We are both doing as well as can be expected and looking forward to our holiday in Madeira to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary which tomorrow will be 98 days away. I realised that the day we fly is the day of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

We hope that you, Bill, Jenna, Inara, Zoe and Wash are all OK and send love and hugs and kitty skritches from both of us and of course, Felix.

>25 karenmarie: A spreadsheet!?! I am, in fact, surprised - I don't think about applying spreadsheets to myself. Book, things, money, and I know there are those pesky projects (but isn't that an entirely different branch of SW) but me? or thou? nope. Also, I'm not the best at paying attention, so I may have overlooked some of your darker proclivities.....

>25 karenmarie: It would be lots of fun! But it's up to Peggy.

Wordle in 4 for me today as well.

>33 atozgrl: Peggy is willing but can't think that far ahead!

Happy New Thread!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/360348

Happy New Thread, Karen. Not long until you have your knee surgery. I am sure it will go well, and best wishes. My sister recently had to put her cat to sleep, due to old age and end stage kidney failure. She has a just adopted a new young cat, a beautiful looking calico like your Inara. My sister's cat came with the name " Corrine" but she plans to change it once she knows her better and decides what name suits her. I have been over to visit the cat and I think she is lovely. She is considering quite a few names, but I am partial to one suggestion, Chloe - or Abby or Eliza. She is over 2 years old and was found wandering in a parking lot. I'll let you know her name once I know.

That yellow cardinal is gorgeous. Best wishes on the knee replacement. I had two knee surgeries on my left knee in 2014/2015. It's hard to believe it's been almost 10 years now. I bet you get a big, neat brace for a while.

>28 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Happy next day. I got just under 8 last night. I took the NuQuil Severe Cold & Allergy Liquid GelCaps at 12:30, really late, but slept straight through when I turned the light out at 1:30. I had 3 kitties on the bed at that time. Always a joy. Woke up with the still on the bed.

I alarms set on my cell phone by using a free alarm app, although most people would probably just ust Google Calendar or another calendar app on their phone. Surprisingly, I don’t want Google or other entity knowing my day-to-day appointments/reminders.

Yay for fourded. Today I thirded, to continue the trend.

I’m sorry you don’t like the local audiologist, but having her do mostly mechanical things isn’t the same as a specialist who has to combine knowledge, knowledge of you, and the skill to marry the two. You can figuratively roll your eyes at her when you’re there, although that comes close to the snark that you try to avoid that I revel in.

>29 Whisper1: Hi Linda, and thank you. I am reading a lot, thanks to Kindle Unlimited. My current … ah … passion for MM romances is unabated, but I did read the Trethewey book, so there’s that. *smile*

>30 Jackie_K: Hi Jackie! Yay for your wish list, and thank you. I hope you like this book as much as I did when you get around to it.

>31 johnsimpson: John! Thank you for visiting, and thank you re my new thread. I know – long threads can be daunting, and I’m sorry your ongoing health issues are ‘not too good’. Wow. Elliott is almost 3. I prioritize reading over thread visiting, too. I’m focused on football too - looks like Man U is in 6th right now. Would it surprise you that I have the Arsenal, Premier League, US Soccer, Champions League, and FIFA apps on my cell phone?

I’m happy for you for your Madeira holiday this year, and early early congrats on your 40 years of marriage to the wonderful Karen.

We’re all okay. Sending love and hugs to you and Karen and kitty skritches to the wonderful Felix.

>32 quondame: This darker proclivity you speak of, Susan, started when I got my first home computer in … 1989? … when I still lived in Tujunga. It has ensorcelled me and expanded over the years. I love my spreadsheets and yet do not keep an online calendar – I use ‘Letts Classic Quarto vertical week to view with appointments diary’ in black.

>33 atozgrl: Hi Irene. Yay for Wordle in 4. I got it in 3 today. If we get Peggy up this way sometime down the road, so to speak, I hope we can have a 3-way meetup. The one and only one of those I had was with Peggy and nittnut, Jenn. 2019 perhaps?

>34 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! I know you can’t think that far ahead, too much going on for you!!! But tucking it away in the back of your mind, where it can percolate, isn’t a bad thing. I think you two would get along just fine.

>35 SilverWolf28: and >36 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you. You’re diligent and I appreciate it, with providing the links I still haven’t used. *sigh*

>37 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, and thank you. Thank you, too, for your wishes for my surgery.

I’m sorry about your sister having to put her senior kitty to sleep. Nice that she’s already adopted a kitty. I finally figured out that the shelters just pluck a name out of the ether for kitties unless they’re relinquished by an owner who can’t keep them any more. My two gingers were NOT previously owned, Zoe being semi-feral and her kitten not used to being touched by humans. Their shelter names were Dreamsicle and Sherbet, which we changed within the week, with all three of us having serious input. Zoe Rose and Washburne Ryder are their full names. Your sister’s choice, Chloe, is a good one, IMO, rhyming with our Zoe's.

>38 elorin: Hi Robyn, and thank you. I had heard about the sighting, read all the newspaper articles, saw all the photos, and kept this one here in my Gallery on LT. I knew it would come in handy one of these years, and instead of a crown for Mark for being first on this thread happily thought about it and found it. Thanks for my knee replacement. Wow for two surgeries on your left knee, can’t imagine that. One per knee is my goal. Aqualcel for 5 days, a portable brace with ice for moving around, free of charge to Medicare patients, and the Polar Care unit my daughter bought for me last year otherwise. Walker, then cane. At least time I know the drill.

Wordle 1,042 3/6* trope, spank, vapid

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Yesterday was some reorganization of linens upstairs and putting stuff up in a closet and reading, spreadsheet stuff, soccer, and watching the first two episodes of Ripley, based on The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. I love, love, love it, Bill's not quite sure about it but willing to continue. Alas, my copy of the book seems to be MIA, darn it. I'm going to search around where I think it is, but I'm not sanguine and may break down and buy another copy.

...
Reading, puttering, doing a few things pre-surgery related, and etc. are on the docket for today. Also, replenishing the bird feeders.

Tomorrow is our 33rd wedding anniversary, and we'll just be here at the house watching soccer. I'll inaugurate my new stove (beyond heating things up and making a few small things) with steaks. Potatoes in the toaster oven. I'm planning on making a Chocolate Pound Cake with chocolate glaze, perhaps today, most likely tomorrow morning, and that will also inaugurate the oven in the stove.

>39 karenmarie: Have a cozy and delicious anniversary! Congratulations.

A physical record of calendar events, the process of physically entering the future and noting the past in an attractive, satisfying to the touch and eye book, is hypnotic. Alas, for me, useless.

Happy new thread, Karen

I’m glad you’re enjoying Ridley, Karen. We just finished it last night.

>39 karenmarie: >34 LizzieD: If a meet-up happens, count me in! I am certain we would get along, Peggy was the first one to friend me here on LT.

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary! It sounds like you have a marvelous dinner planned. Good way to inaugurate the new appliances.

>40 quondame: Thank you, Susan. Most people use online calendars of some sort. I’m stubborn in this way, and have desk calendars back to 1985.

>41 ArlieS: Hi Arlie, and thank you.

>42 lauralkeet: We’ll continue with Ridley, just don’t know if it will be tonight or not.

>43 atozgrl: Ah, Irene, you and Peggy are already fast LT friends. Thanks re our anniversary.

Wordle 1,043 4/6* trope, demon, smell, gleam

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Yesterday was really quiet. I did replenish all 4 bird feeders. I read, puttered, and we watched some soccer replays.

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Well, today started off busy, and this is the first chance I've had to sit down except for 15 minutes of soccer. They moving guys showed up without warning, something Bill told Osmar NOT to do. they arrived about 8:15. Scurry to get dressed, call Louise, and go, come, direct, thank, and tip. Gone by about 9:30, so at least there's that. Louise gave us her sofa and love seat, very similar to what we had, just a tad lighter in coler with a different, also small pattern. She also gave me her mother's hope chest from 1906, when her mother was 18. She's stuffed it full of things and just smiled when she told me. I'll open it later.

Bill and I exchanged cards and sweets before the mayhem started - Look Bars for me and 2-cookie packages of Oreos and Chips Ahoy for Bill. We got each other the exact same 'funny' card, believe it or not, which was highly amusing.

Liverpool tied with West Ham, so even though they were already out of contention, now they definitely are. It's Arsenal vs. Man City for Champion of the Premier League this year. Nail biting time.

After things settle down, I'll eat a bit of brekkie then make the pound cake. Might watch a bit more soccer. Arsenal plays the Spurs tomorrow at 9 a.m. The rest of today should be quiet.

Have a wonderful weekend, Karen!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU AND BILL, KAREN!!!! I love that you got each other the same card.

I love that Louise gave you her mother's hope chest. What an adventure unpacking that will be!

Enjoy your day - and your wonderful food!

>25 karenmarie:, >16 alcottacre: Yep, that one's from me. *smooch* for new-threadulatory zhuzhing!

Happy new thread, Karen!

Happy new thread, Karen. The House of Being (Why I Write) by Natasha Tretheway sounds like a compelling read.

Good on you for helping Louise with the movers. Too bad she is moving so far away.

>45 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, and thank you. So far so good.

>46 LizzieD: Thank you so much, Peggy. I opened the ‘funny’ card first and kept a straight face. He was impressed. The hope chest has hand-finished linens, stitched by Louise and her mother, and a brass plaque inside that says, "A Antoinette en Souvenir de sa Grand'Tante Madeline 1902-1922". Antoinette is Louise's mother.

>47 richardderus: You did good with The House of Being, RDear, enticing me to read more than smut. Thanks re the new thread, too. *smooch*

>48 drneutron: Hi Jim, and thank you.

>49 Familyhistorian: It’s a short and sweet read, Meg. If you can get your hands on it, I hope you like it as much as I did.

I’m sad for and happy for her that Louise is moving to Florida. She has bought a 2-bedroom 2-bath house literally across the street and down one from her daughter. It’s a sweet little house in a senior community. She can participate as much or as little as she wants to. Ponds, pools, library, other amenities. She’d rather be here, though, and these last two weeks have been/will be tough – she’s literally moving on the 7th, I think. I’ll be down from my May 2nd surgery, but she said she’d come over after the surgery to say good bye one last time.

Wordle 1,044 3/6* trope, prude, prune

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Yesterday was a good day. We had steak and potatoes and chocolate pound cake for dessert. Soccer, and etc.

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Arsenal plays Tottenham this morning at 9. Other than that, all the usual things.

Happy (belated) Anniversary, Karen. Quiet celebrations are the best. And you picked identical cards. Proof of a good match!

How sweet that your good friend and neighbor Louise gifted you with a family heirloom with some treasures inside. I know you will miss each other.

I will be following along as you have your other knee replaced. Hope all goes smoothly and that Jenna comes home and plays nurse again. X0

>50 karenmarie: Apart from the *shudder* chocolate, it sounds a lovely dinner. Hoping today's a good'un.

*smooch*

Congratulations on your anniversary, Karen and Bill! I love that you bought each other the same card! Last year a friend of mine and her husband bought each other the exact same book for their anniversary. No chance of Pete and I ever doing that, we have such different tastes in reading!

Hello, 3 Sister!

I'm touched again at the treasure of that hope chest. I hope that Louise's daughter will be as good to her as you have been.

Hope you're enjoying your Sunday. I'm home from church, and we're about to walk.

Happy Anniversary! I love that you bought each other the same card ... am I remembering rightly that this has happened before?

I hope Louise's move goes smoothly and that you can stay in touch. Zoom is wonderful for that - if she hasn't used it before, perhaps her daughter can help her.

Happy Anniversary to you and Bill. Same card - a story for the future.

I'm sure you will miss Louise, but the move sounds good for her. I hope the new neighbors are pleasant and friendly.

Morning, Karen. We are back. A bit more details over on my thread. We dodged most of the bad weather predicted but our campsite was flooded. Ugh. It looks like bird migration is in full swing. I saw my FOY Baltimore oriole yesterday, along with a couple of new warblers. Hummers have arrived too but haven't seen 'em yet. Hope to get out more this week.

I hope everything is going well at your homestead.

>51 Donna828: Hi Donna, and thank you. I will definitely miss Louise. Our new neighbors are apparently a couple with an 11-month old daughter. Thanks re my knee. XO to you, too!

>52 richardderus: Hello RD! Yes, it was a good day, and yesterday was good, too. *smooch*

>53 Jackie_K: Hi Jackie, and thanks. Identical cards and books are definitely a sign, aren’t they?

>54 LizzieD: Hi 3 sister. I got it in 3 again today, as you can see below. The hope chest is very special. Daughter Cathy seems to be settling down since her move, husband’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis and death last summer in July. She lives in a seniors community, and it suits her to a T. Louise, of course, will be in the same community, across the road and down one. I’m glad you’re going back to church.

>55 streamsong: Hi Janet and thank you. Hmmm. I can’t remember if we’ve done it before.

>56 ffortsa: ‘Morning, Mark. I’ll visit your thread in a bit, but oh my, flooded campsite? Ugh. Yay for your FOYs, AND lifetime warblers? Everything’s going well here, thank you.

Wordle 1,045 3/6* trope, brunt, craft

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Yesterday was relaxing and nail biting time, too, with Arsenal beating Tottenham 3-2. They were up 3-0 at the half, but a mistake by the goalie Raya that led to a goal and then a penalty kick that led to another goal, made it stressful until the final whistle blew. I had a piece of chocolate pound cake for brekkie. Louise came over to bring me a few things - a flour cannister she'd had since the '50s, a teapot for Jenna, 8 individually wrapped suet cakes for the birds. I sent home a piece of pound cake in a container she didn't have to worry about washing/returning.

...
A bit of adulting, a bit of getting ready for Thursday's surgery, a bit of reading and etc.

Sounds like you will miss Louise a ton. Warmest wishes for the knee replacement surgery. Sounds like you are all set. I hope it relieves the pain.

>58 karenmarie: I'm glad for you that Arsenal pulled it back. Enjoy your *shudder* chocolate, and the prospect of neighbors with a kid. YAY for Thursday! After this it's done and dusted. I'm delighted for you. *smooch*

Good morning, Karen. I'm on my way back to adulthood, I sigh to say. Meanwhile, I continue to read *Like Us*. I think my final verdict is going to be that there's too much explicit sex for my taste. I can enjoy one hot scene per book, but the next ones are tedious. I feel the same way about *In Death*, but I'll keep reading those because you know I'm a mystery addict. I do like the characters, but again, I'll be glad that I read this one and will likely catch up the rest of the series by reading a review or two.

Cheers for Spring! Love to you as the 2nd is nearly here! We should probably talk when we both have a little time.

Thursday! I hope the surgery goes well and your recovery is, shall we say, uneventful. Of course it is a big deal, but you will feel so much better when it's done.

I have been quite behind with threads and missed the beginning or your new one.

Happy new thread!

Best wishes on your knee surgery.

Morning, Karen. I ended up going on a bird walk with my birding buddies yesterday, clocking in over 30 species, including several FOY birds. Congrats on seeing a grosbeak yesterday. We saw a male and female on our walk but I am waiting for one to visit my feeders. I did see a white-crowned sparrow in the yard yesterday. The first time in 2-3 years.

Tomorrow....

>59 elorin: Hi Robyn. Louise was the first neighbor we met, and she was a terror. She asked who Bill was just after we bought the property and he was over here, told Jenna to stay off her property, and ragged at me for my kitties visiting her because they chased/killed the birds. Almost 26 years later, it’s gonna hurt that she won’t be next door. Thanks re my surgery. I’m set in all the important ways, just got some things to arrange.

>60 richardderus: Thanks, RD! They gave us a rough last 25 minutes, for sure. Chocolate works for me, and I’ll always eat your share if we’re stuck on a desert island somewhere together. Thanks re the surgery. *smooch*

>61 LizzieD: Hi Peggy, and happy next day to you. I’m not surprised about the explicit sex in Damaged Like Us. I just loved the huge biological and found family in addition to Maximoff’s and Farrow’s story, which continues in two more books of the thirteen, along with them being characters in the other nine.

Funny that you mention the In Death series, because although I love reading about sexy times, the sexy times between Eve and Rourke has become formulaic to me and I’ve actually pretty much skipped over it in the last 3 or 4 books I’ve read. Having said that, I need to read the 4 on my shelves and have noted that there are two out there, one due to be published in the late summer and one due out next year.

Yes re spring, thank you for the love, and I’d love to talk.

>62 ffortsa: Hi Judy, and thank you, and YES to an uneventful recovery. It is huge. So far the only thing I think I’m going to do differently is work hard at moving to a cane sooner from the walker.

>63 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita, and thank you twice. I can relate to being behind on threads, and apologize to EVERY ONE I haven’t visited in recent days, weeks, months.

>64 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you. Yay for a BBW – birding buddy walk. 30 species and several FOY birds, congrats. Thanks re the Grosbeak. They are soooooo gorgeous, all dramatic white, black, and dark rose. Nice about the White-Crowned Sparrow, too.

Wordle 1,046 5/6* blech. alphabet soup. trope, prong, proof, proud, prowl

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I finally got all the pots and pans back on the hanging rack yesterday - I didn't put any back that weren't thoroughly scrubbed. Gas stoves make for a dirty kitchen, but I wouldn't have it any other way now that the idea of an induction stove came and went with a whimper since I couldn't have the type of exhaust venting over it that it required. Various and sundry bits of puttering, reading, and etc.

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Reading, puttering, working on the grocery list for tomorrow's online/Bill pick up grocery shopping. My cleaning ladies come today.

>66 karenmarie: This isn't Wednesday, is it. I've spent the entire day thinking it's Wednesday. Can you shed light on exactly *why* you've prevented this from being Wednesday? It feels like one, so it ought to be one.

*irritated glare*

>67 richardderus: Please don't make it Wednesday yet, Richard. My DH tried his best to make yesterday Tuesday, and I need all the time I can get!

Good morning, Karen! I have to be out and around in the early afternoon, but then I'll text to see whether we can talk sometime.

>68 LizzieD: I shall have you to know, Peggy, that *I* do not control Time. That is Horrible's purview. Addressing one's pleas to the proper party won't, however, result in her kindness being bestowed since our suffering is her ambrosia.

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. I finally got caught up with some reading yesterday afternoon. Whew! I needed it. Nice sitting out on the front porch too, soaking up some sun. I am going to try my first outdoor pickleball today, after I drop off the kids at school. It looks to be another lovely day. I put out the grape jelly.

>70 msf59: ...wait...yesterday was Wednesday...this is Thursday, isn't it?

*sigh*

Well, whatever day it is, I hope it's a lot calmer than tomorrow will be. *smooch*

>65 richardderus: ??? Oh. NOW it’s tomorrow, RDear. *smile*

>67 richardderus: I’ve done that before – thinking it’s a different day than it really is. I’ve prevented it from being Wednesday because I had one more day’s worth of things I needed to do before today.

>68 LizzieD: All us retired folks get a pass on not knowing which day of the week it is. Good morning the next day, Peggy, and since we’ve texted, let’s make sure to talk today.

>69 richardderus: I control time? News to me. If so, I’d have added 4 or 5 days before I had to cancel my February 29th surgery to get completely over the Covid symptoms. That’s all it would have needed, and I’d already be 9 weeks into my recovery. I must admit to having moments of epicaricacy, but never with fellow LTers.

>70 msf59: Hi Mark, and happy Wednesday to you. Yay for reading catch up. Front porch sun, good vitamin D and warmth. I hope the outdoor pickle ball goes well. The grape jelly’s for the Baltimore Orioles, right?

>71 richardderus: Wise guy. I’m enjoying my first cup of coffee and some time today am expecting a call from my surgeon’s scheduler with the time of my surgery tomorrow. Today’s Wednesday.

Tomorrow won’t be particularly calm, but I’ll have Jenna with me, which will make all the difference.

Wordle 1,047 3/6* trope, girly, diary

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My house got cleaned yesterday, Bill and I watched a bit of a soccer match replay, I read, and etc.

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As mentioned above, waiting for the scheduler's call some time today, reading, getting things out to take to the hospital tomorrow, and etc.

>72 karenmarie: Here's hoping that all goes well with the scheduler's call, getting ready for the hospital visit tomorrow, and the surgery itself!

Hi Stasia, and thank you so much for the visit and well wishes. They're greatly appreciated.

YTD Statistics through April

156 books read
2 of them on my shelves before 1/1/24 and not rereads
35 books abandoned, 4486 pages abandoned, 1 audiobook, .45 hours abandoned

27 audiobook hours

Avg pages read per day, YTD = 368
Avg pages read per book, YTD = 285

Book of the Month: Endless Stretch of Blue by Riley Hart

Books by Month
January - 46 e-books, 1 audio book, 1 Graphic Novel, and 9 books abandoned for 1711 pages
February - 37 e-books
March - 38 e-books, 1 audio book, and 7 books abandoned for 899 pages
April - 31 e-books, 1 hard cover, and 11 books abandoned for 1338 pages

Author
Male 6%
Female 85%
Undeclared * 6%
Non-Binary 3%
* - can't find any info anywhere

Living 100%
Dead 0%

US Born 46%
Foreign Born 19%
Undeclared * 35%
* - can't find any info anywhere

Platform
Hardcover 1%
Trade Pback 0%
Mass Market 0%
Audiobook 1%
e-Book 98%

Source
My Library 6%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 94%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
ARC/ER 0%
Re-read 0%
Series 78%

Fiction 99%
NonFiction 1%

Author Birth Country
Australia 6%
Canada 9%
New Zealand 2%
Norway 1%
UK 1%
Undeclared * 35%
US 46%
* - can't find any info anywhere

Original Decade Published

2000-2009 1%
2010-2019 38%
2020-2029 61%

Genre
Contemporary Fiction 97%
Crime Fiction 1%
Graphic Novel 1%
Informational Nonfiction 1%

Acquisition/Source Date
Kindle Unlimited 147
2024 5
culled after reading 4

Average Rating
1.5 - Very Bad 0
2.0 - Bad 1
2.5 - Average 7
3.0 - Good 18
3.5 - Very Good 18
4.0 - Excellent 76
4.5 - Outstanding 35
5 - Masterpiece 1

Average Rating 3.87
Books acquired YTD 105
Books culled YTD 176

April Lightning Round

Those in bold are NOT MM romances, few and far between as they are. It also occurs to me that quite a few of the smut books have warnings about triggers that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

**abandoned Picture Love by A.F. Zoelle**

Felix gets dumped and goes on the trip to Paris that he and his ex-boyfriend had planned together. A friend’s older brother lives in Paris and has offered to show Felix around. Instant sparkage, instant everything, instant too much. Caveat emptor re sex.

Wedding Bells by Peter Styles and J.P. Oliver 3/31/24 4/2/24 Kindle

Sebastian is a Sheriff’s Deputy in his hometown. Matt has come home for his best friend’s wedding. He’s nervous – he was bullied in high school and the town is pretty rough if you’re gay. Sebastian pulls Matt over because Matt is a terrible driver. They don’t recognize each other, but Sebastian’s mother remembers Matt and how everybody was mean to him in HS. Sebastian was, too, and when he realizes this, although Matt wasn’t out and Sebastian knows he didn’t bully him for being gay, Sebastian is remorseful and wants to be a friend to Matt. A couple of dinners are awkward and go awry, but eventually, within the space of the week that Matt’s home, Sebastian is attracted to a man and Matt is attracted to someone he likes now but didn’t in high school. This is told in the first-person present tense, with separate chapters for each MC, and it worked beautifully for me. It’s a sweet story, with a HEA in the future but pretty much guaranteed. Caveat emptor re one sex scene.

Endless Stretch of Blue by Riley Hart 4/2/24 4/3/24 4/3/24 Kindle

My Book of the Month. Enzo loses his brother in a club fire on the same night that Damon loses his sister in the same fire. Each is eaten up with survivor’s guilt and trauma. One night Enzo rescues Damon from being beaten up and robbed. Damon follows Enzo in a daze to the restaurant Enzo was going to, they eat, and they tentatively start spending time together, and then realize they both lost siblings in the same club fire. They have ups and downs, spending time together more and more, and it turns into romantic feelings and sparkage. Enzo is part of a big Italian family, Damon only has his mother now that his sister is dead. Each has never been with a man before but accept that Enzo is Damon-sexual and Damon’s bisexual – the labels they use for themselves. They get their hard-earned HEA. Very emotional and serious, well worth the read. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Boss of Attraction by Kimberly Knight and Rachel Lyn Adams **

If somebody gave me a buck for every chuckle, wink, twinkling eyes, and smirk in this book, I’d be able to buy lots and lots of GOOD books. Predictable conversations, predictable gay awakening for a 50-year old, just… ugh.

**Losing Control by Riley Hart**

Disjointed start, two characters who I didn’t immediately like.

Monopolize Me by Evie Noir 4/4/24 4/5/24 Kindle

Dakota is blackmailed into coming to New York to take over his father’s billion-dollar banking firm. Lirio owns the largest hedge fund in the US, possibly the world. Dakota’s father and Lirio have a history, and are currently enemies. They meet before they know who each other is and are immediately attracted. Dakota is trying to learn his father’s business as COO, bringing his dairy farming experience and his innocence/baggage. Lirio is trying to take care of something personally that we only learn about in the 2nd book. Dakota’s a natural submissive, abused by a homophobic ‘friend’ for decades. Lirio is a practiced Dom who hasn’t had a sub in years. They start navigating this relationship in private, because the SEC would be very interested in learning that they might be in business cahoots. It ends on a stunning note. Caveat emptor BDSM and sex.

Monopolize You by Evie Noir 4/5/24 4/6/24 Kindle

Book 2 picks up immediately after book 1 ends. Business things occur, personal musings in the form of separate chapters by character POV, and their non-contractual relationship, which drives Lirio crazy, is put to the test when he has to go to Brazil for 3 weeks. Dakota is taken advantage of by his father, he starts falling apart. Lirio starts falling apart in Brazil out of guilt in his mishandling of his relationship with Dakota, lots of business things occur, and the second book also ends up on a shocking note. Caveat emptor serious BDSM and sex. I was not planning on reading book 3. There will be a book 4 this summer or fall. However, I kept thinking about Dakota and Lirio, liking them and understanding them because of the author’s skill in character development.

The Secret Lives of CEOs by Joey Mayble 4/6/24 4/6/24 Kindle

Gads, I thought this would be a palate cleanser after the emotional roller coaster of Evie Noir’s books, but this one has Max forcing Cameron, as his personal assistant, into a submissive roll sexually in order for Cameron to keep his job. HEA? I’m sorry I finished this one. Caveat emptor re sex.

Monopolize Us by Evie Noir 4/7/24 4/9/24 Kindle

Dakota has left New York, returning to his dairy farm in Kentucky, planning to never return. His time away has spoiled him for home although he is stubborn and wants to make it work. His father comes to the farm and they have a discussion in which Dakota realizes he wants to return to new York after setting up a manager, ranch hands, and the proper care for his mother. When he returns to New York, he meets up with Adrien, who he met in Paris. In the meantime, Lirio has pretty much fallen apart and returns to his Dominant and agrees to re-ground himself through submission. Dakota and Adrien attend a private BDSM gathering, and Lirio is there. Another shocking ending, and book 4 will be released this year, I hope. Caveat emptor re BDSM and sex. This series is addictive.

Unforgettable by Marley Valentine 4/8/24 4/10/24 231 pages Kindle

Oz is happy working at Vino and Veritas, a bar/book store in Vermont. He is a constant disappointment to his parents, which wears at him, but not enough to change his life. Reeve comes to Vermont for the summer before he returns to his family home and business to work. He is not happy with this but doesn’t feel he can tell his parents no. They meet for a one night stand, and there’s serious sparkage. Then Reeve gets hired at V&V, they spend time together. Fake boyfriend, real feelings. I had a bit of a hard time with how whiny each of them seemed, frankly, and wanted to meet Reeve’s parents for him to say he’s not going to work for them. Doesn’t happen, but Reeve and Oz get their HEA after a lot of soul searching by both of them. Caveat emptor re sex.

Secret Desires by Amber Ridge 4/10/24 4/10/24 34 pages Kindle

Very short story in which Daniel is with friends waiting to get into a club. He sees Nicholas go by, a boy he tutored in high school, lusted after, yet never let Nicholas know how he felt. Once inside, Nicholas comes up to him on the dance floor but leaves. Daniel follows. Nicholas is a Dom, Daniel is submissive. The story leaves us with the idea that things might work out for them, but it’s too short for that. However, I felt like both of them were well-developed characters, with enough back story to justify the scene. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned White Noise by Lark Taylor **

Journalist stuck in elevator with rock star, a brief encounter. Later, the journalist gets asked to spend 6 weeks with the band in a setup that is the envy of every journalist. Turns out that the rock star is smitten and has made the assignment happen. Too much too fast, too predictable. Caveat emptor re sex.

To Have and to Hold: Taken by Abigail Kade 4/10/24 4/11/24 Kindle

Very kinky, very violent. It worked for me, somehow. *shrug* So sue me. Worthington is married to Terrence, in an abusive relationship. Worthy, as Crow ends up calling him, is a very well-off young man. He escapes to go to his half-sister’s wedding after stripping Terrence of all the assets Terrence has taken from him. Worthy meets Crow, his half-sister’s best friend. Crow is an assassin-for-hire in addition to having a legitimate business. Crow is smitten, but that’s all. Very soon thereafter, he's hired to kill Worthy after getting information Terrence needs to get all the money/assets back that Worthy took back. After realizing that Terrence is the bad guy, not Worthy, Crow and Worthy act on the sparkage. It’s kinky and I don’t understand it, but I’ve read enough books in my Smut-a-thon to have read other books in the genre and be okay with reading it. Terrence hires thugs to kidnap Worthy, Crow enlists other assassins he knows to get Worthy back and end Terrence. Dark and kinky and weird, but except for the extreme way Terrence is killed, I truly liked it. Chapters are from main character POVs and we come to understand their backgrounds. Caveat emptor re violence, kink, and sex.

Brazen Affairs by Ashley James 4/11/24 4/12/24 Kindle

The best thing about this book is how much I learned about making a living from posting content and having followers. Camden is paying for college by posting videos of himself and sometimes himself in MM videos. Vaughn is laid off, finds his wife in their bed with another man when he comes home early that day and temporarily leaves. He’s beside himself, looks online, and finds Camden’s videos. He’s fascinated, views every video and posts comments and eventually gets in touch with Camden about how to get in the biz, although I’m not exactly sure how he gets from straight to MM videos. Camden teaches the ropes, if you will. Vaughn catches feelings first, Camden is totally opposed to them, but after some bizarre plot twists, they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Eden by Avon Gale and Emily Rossman 4/12/24 4/12/24 Kindle

Brandon moved to Eden Alaska after getting dishonorably discharged from the Coast Guard, partly based on his CO Rayne’s testimony. Rayne leaves the Coast Guard and reconnects with his foster sister Eileen in Eden, taking a helicopter pilot and guide job with the same company as Brandon. Instant hate, which camouflaged attraction, becomes sparkage and instant heat and a HEA. Caveat emptor re sex. A bit improbable, a bit too quick for good feelings from several years of bad feelings.

RPF - When Fiction Gets A Little Too Real by M. Grano and C. Azzo 4/12/24 4/16/24 Kindle

Oh my. 19-year old Sam is a Criminal Psychology student at university in London. He is completely emotionally closed off, has a few friends called The C*** Collective, his mother and father are divorced. She’s in Canada, his dad’s a nurse. Sam reacted badly to cruelty to his cat when little, and it’s a recurring theme of punishment. Levi paints abstract art and they meet when a friend of Sam’s from work and he go to an exhibit and see a piece by Levi. Sam is the only one who’s ever seen the secret violence in the painting of a man leaning over someone, holding a knife, with the person on the ground beseeching him. They are immediately attracted to one another and start seeing each other. In the meantime, Sam’s got a stalker. His friends and he Google themselves, and a blog shows up with Sam as the love object. Increasingly unsettling and violent episodes occur. One of Sam’s professors helps him research who it might be, but eliminating anybody from his life who could be the stalker is almost impossible. Eventually someone close to Sam is attacked. All the time Sam thinks it might be Levi, but he met Levi randomly after the blog started yet can’t seem to eliminate him. The writing’s detailed, the characters believable, the info about stalkers informative. Sam and Levi get their admittedly twisted HEA. First in the Hidden Affairs trilogy. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Drawn In By You by R.M. Neill**

Travis puts on a brave front and is only into hookups. Dylan has a young daughter and moves closer to his business associates, bringing him into Travis’s sphere. The daughter is just too cute for words -ugh – the plot predictable, the sparkage, need, and need to care for Travis a bludgeon on my senses. I abandoned it before any sexy times.

Storm Clouds and Devastation by Ashley James 4/16/24 4/17/24 Kindle

Second in the Hidden Affairs trilogy has Bodhi escorting. He’s shocked to see his high school best friend’s father as his client one night. Bodi is hanging on by a thread, traumatized by his birth family but not understanding why. Jules is a NC Supreme Court judge, estranged from his son. They dance around each other and eventually the sparkage overcomes good sense for both of them. Bohdi has an eating disorder, his HS friend comes back into his father’s life, and various and sundry get their comeuppance in addition to Jules and Bodhi getting their happily ever after. Too much, actually. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Embracing His Shame by Brigham Vaughn**

Two men discover that their kink works out perfectly with each other, but halfway through Jarod wants a relationship and Forrest runs screaming into the night, literally speaking. I wasn’t interested in reading about how Jarod overcame Forrest’s fears about a relationship. Caveat emptor re sex.

Say My Name by Ashley James 4/18/24 4/19/24 Kindle

Travis finds his long-term boyfriend and Mateo in their bedroom doing the deed, throws a lamp at Mateo and leaves, breaking up with the boyfriend. He takes an apartment in a different town but wow! Turns out that Mateo is his across-the-hall neighbor and after a snowstorm, Travis being locked out of his apartment and spending 2 days with Mateo, the sparkage ignites. It was okay and fluffy and they got their HEA. Oh, and the ex-boyfriend got his comeuppance. Caveat emptor re kink and sex.

Insatiable Hunger by Ashley James 4/17/24 4/18/24 Kindle

Elias was at a high-end, discrete, rich-guys-dancers/escorts party dancing and lap dancing, and had a memorable and anonymous time with Zeke. Imagine his surprise when he is introduced to his mother’s fiancé and it is Zeke. Attraction, dancing (so to speak) around the elephant in the room, and it was all well and good until Elias said Spank me, stepdaddy., and I was appalled. Kept reading, mind you, because I wanted to find out how the author was going to make this one work out. The plot ground audibly, the age gap was a bit too squicky, and the ending much too sappy. Caveat emptor re sex.

Aftercare by Tanya Chris 4/18/24 4/19/24 Kindle

Stunning book. Garrett is a public defender, not able to continue his high-profile criminal defense career after his husband, lover, and Dom Russell died after a devastating last 6 months of cancer. Garrett is a sub and a masochist, and Russell was everything to him. Aayan comes to his office to hire Garrett to defend his brother Syed, accused of murdering his lover Jamie. Syed and Jamie had the same type of relationship Garrett had with Russell, and Aayan needed Garrett to lead the defense. Garrett does not know that Aayan had seen an art photo of him in a submissive pose at Syed’s and fallen in love with it. Syed hires Garrett and Garrett and Aayan start a relationship. Evidence, court, Dom/sub, sadist/masochist, this book was so very well done. Add in the complications of Islamophobia and prejudice against the BDSM community, and a HEA for Garrett and Aayan, and it definitely deserved the 4.5 stars I gave it for my reaction – stunning. Caveat emptor re sex and Dom-sadist/sub-masochist play.

Aftershock by Tanya Chris 4/19/24 4/20/24 Kindle

Just as good as the first in the series, Aftercare. Dashiell, a lawyer helping Garrett with Syed’s defense in book one of the series, has joined Garrett’s rejuvenated criminal defense practice as a partner. They take on the case of a young man accused of beating a gay man who later died, and Dashiell and Syed start a relationship. Many of the same themes as in the first book, with the interesting twist of seeing Syed learn to be a different kind of Dom to Dashiell than he was to Jamie. More info comes to us regarding Jamie’s murder, and the book ends with Syed and Dashiell’s HEA and a very nice lead in to the final book in the trilogy, Aftermath. Some of the plot twists are a bit too coincidental, but that’s only after finishing it and thinking about it – as I was reading it everything was believable and logically flowed. Caveat emptor re sex and Dom-sadist/sub-masochist play.

Aftermath by Tanya Chris 4/19/24 4/20/24 236 pages Kindle

Final in the Ever After series has Casey out of jail for his role in the death of Jamie. He goes to live with his aunt, starts volunteering at a LGBT+ day facility for teens, and meets Brooks, a Dom who has lost his nerve. Casey finally admits to being gay, starts a relationship with Brooks, and it quickly becomes toxic for both as Casey needs redemption and forgiveness. Garret and Aayan and Syed and Dashiell play parts in this one, and it was a pretty good finale go a very interesting and well-written series. Caveat emptor re sex and Dom-sadist/sub-masochist play.

Red Flags and Tuesdays by Nordika Night 4/20/24 4/21/24 251 pages Kindle

I thought this would be a frivolous romp after the trilogy just finished, and in many ways, it is, with the opening paragraph including the “epic walk of shame” of Atticus out of Reid’s rooms in a … not exactly frat house but close. Wonderful conversations, snarky comebacks, continuing sparkage, and a very unconventional wooing by Reid. Both Reid’s and Atticus’s backstories eventually come out, and all in all this was a combination that is my kryptonite – intelligent writing, well-written emotions, well-written sexy-times, and characters I could believe in plots that weren’t too over-the-top. Reid’s wealth IS over the top, but that’s okay. Caveat emptor re very steamy sex.

Professor Platonic by Lucy Lennox 4/21/24 4/21/24 42 pages Kindle

Meh. Short story has Jack just over a semester in his graduate studies program, knowing one of his professors hates him and will fail him. He needs cuddles, has no one to cuddle him, and posts online. Cuddle hookup turns out to be with his professor. Hate turns to sparkage turns into a HEA. Improbable everything, but at 44 pages I read it to the end. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Hired Hadley by Nora Phoenix**

To use a phrase seen most recently on Richard's thread: “Couldn't be arsed.” 211 pages abandoned. Sometimes the lightbulb goes on over my head and I think “Abandon!” This is clearly one of those books, even with so much time invested.

**abandoned various and sundry**

4 books for a total of 50 pages – sometimes the beginning, or the number of characters presented in too few pages, or the writing just scream “NO” to me. Thank goodness for Kindle Unlimited.

**abandoned An Immense World by Ed Yong**

A lovely book, interesting musings on various natural phenomena, but I just don’t have the wherewithal to finish it at this time.

Out of the Office Romance by Twoony 4/22/24 4/24/24 Kindle

Wonderful tale of a young man who wins a contest and is hired into the marketing department of a large firm. The night before he starts, he finishes up his last shift being a waiter and is called on to train a new employee. He basically throws him to the wolves. They’re fiercely competitive, and the one with the most tips will win. Kade wins, and Nolen suggests 2 out of 3. They meet the next night to run and Nolen wins. Third leg of the competition is an arcade night. In the meantime, Kade starts his job and realizes that the CEO of the company he works for is Nolen. Also in the meantime, we learn that Nolen’s brother Mason is the CFO. They are step-brothers and have been raised to hate each other and compete against one another. Louis is Nolen’s PA. Throw in Kade’s ex-boyfriend who is a stalker and abuser, Nolen and Mason’s family dynamics, Kade’s family’s dynamics, and you get 536 pages of excellent dialog, good plotting and pace, and well-written emotions – book-reading kryptonite for me. Throw in steamy sexy times, and I couldn’t get enough of this book. I do hope Twoony writes more non-YA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Blue's Boss by Candice Blake**

Ugh. Poor writing, too many shortcuts, ridiculous situations. The initial meeting, where Blue is waiting to interview for a job and a man in the coffee shop ties his tie for him is cute, but it goes downhill quickly.

Six Feet Apart by 4/24/24 4/24/24 Alina Popescu and A L Bates Kindle

One of the only books, smut or not, that I’ve read that has direct plot lines related to the Covid pandemic. (Two of the Ruth Galloway books by Elly Griffiths also deal with Covid.) Darius and Aadi are both traveling to Malta. Each thinks the other is hot when they see each other on the airplane, Darius overhears a phone conversation that makes him think Aadi thinks he’s revolting. They are in the same hotel, and in rooms next to each other with balconies separated by a low wall. Once they get over the misunderstanding, they get calls that they’re under quarantine for 14 days and must stay six feet apart. Sound familiar? They learn about each other, are more than attracted to each other. We get their backstories, and when they’re out of quarantine and are able to touch each other in the hall after finding an apartment to ride out the pandemic together, are able to give each other a kiss. Caveat emptor re phone sex.

**abandoned No Secrets by Nora Phoenix**

Not even worth writing more than the sentence “Too cute, too many coincidences, a ridiculous gay-for-you setup, and shortcut writing.

Gentle Hands by Emily Buckley 4/24/24 4/25/24 Kindle

Matthew is an art student in his senior year of college, living with friend Emmett. Matthew has been an escort since freshman year. Tom sets up an appointment but instead of it being sex, it’s a proposal for Matthew to be his fake boyfriend for as long as it takes for Tom to gain control of his parents’ company as they step down. They are very unhappy with his philandering and won’t turn over the reins until he’s in a committed relationship. He offers more money than Matthew can turn down, so Matthew cancels all his clients. One starts stalking, so Tom moves him into his luxurious house. Tom’s closed off, Matthew’s open and warm. Sparkage, acting on sparkage, with the contract still in play and the end coming. However, things change, and there’s a very satisfactory end to the stalker subplot (not murder!), and a very HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Payback by Alexa Land Kindle 4/25/24 4/25/24 Kindle

Good enough to finish, but only worth a ‘good’ with 3 stars. Daniel is devastated when his boyfriend cheats on him and breaks up with him, vowing vengeance by getting his father to take him as his date to Brad’s aunt and Malcolm’s sister’s wedding. Daniel crashes a party for Malcolm and Malcolm is intrigued when he sees a young man get over a fence, fall in a bush, and tear his pants. Said young man, Daniel, is being thrown out by the party’s host, and Malcolm comes to his rescue. Sparkage, sex, and etc., invite to the party. Malcolm finds out through a friend’s hiring a PI, that Daniel and his son were in a relationship, which Daniel hasn’t told Malcolm about. And etc. Happy ever after. Caveat emptor re sex. Very sweet, and the part with the cat chasing the rat at the wedding reception was hilarious.

Message Received 4/25/24 4/26/24 314 pages Kindle

Ben is a supervisor at a call center, Sean, flighty and unable to hold a job down, is hired as a new CSR. Sparkage, elements of D/s. Ben had acrimoniously broken up with another supervisor 6 months before and was still somewhat of an emotional mess. Sean’s a Dom, Ben’s a sub. We learn about their backstories, there’s sparkage, and there’s a HEA and a bit of a comeuppance for the ex. Ben learns to let go of his OCD a bit and Sean learns how to be more responsible. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Heir's Disgrace by August Jones 4/26/24 4/27/24 Kindle

Oh my. Drew’s a doorman at an exclusive Upper East Side building, Ollivier is a spoiled brat who has the entire top floor. Drew’s struggling with depression, his girlfriend, and trying to make it as a model. Ollivier parties too hard and treats Drew and the other doormen with disdain. One day when Drew brings Ollivier a package that Oliver could have brought up himself he snaps, and things get interesting with sexual tension. From there, we have two supposedly straight men trying to figure out ‘how to be gay’ in their intense attraction to each other. Ollivier is a prisoner of his parents’ expectations, Drew has loving parents, 3 sisters who love him but one who berates and demeans him at every phone call. Drew doesn’t think he can stay in NYC, Ollivier realizes how conditional his parents’ love is. As Drew and Ollivier start falling for each other, Ollivier’s parents set up an arranged marriage with a woman for him after he creates a huge scandal. Ollivier and Drew get their HEA. Lots of fascinating character development, vivid characters and a fast-paced yet intricate plot. Caveat emptor re sex and breath play.

Say Yes by Jen Samson 4/27/24 4/28/24 Kindle

Colt and his friend Spencer run a day center for LGBTQ+ kids on a shoestring budget, usually eating ramen when the money runs out. They apply for a grant and meet the CEO, Sebastian. It’s immediate sparkage, with them eventually starting a D/S contract relationship. Colt’s got serious emotional baggage and is a cutter, and Sebastian has serious emotional scars. There are strong plot elements around peripheral characters and I loved Sebastian’s Aunt Joslyn, a witch. We get our HEA after almost too many plot twists, but over all I really liked it. It’s dark, so beware. Caveat emptor re sex and BDSM.

Deep Under by Tanya Chris 4/29/24 4/29/24 Kindle

Maddox pulls Jack over for speeding. When he sees the gun tucked into the back of Jack’s pants, he arrests him, but not before both feel the sparkage. Jack gets the charges dismissed, Maddox is pissed. Maddox reads his rap sheet, sees he’s a petty career criminal. They meet up in a hotel room. Maddox is a Dom, Jack a submissive. Serious D/s and sexy times. The next time they officially meet is at a shootout at the docks. Jack gets shot, there’s an interesting reveal. There’s a HEA. Very short story at 47 pages, but vivid, with strongly written characters. Caveat emptor re sex and D/s.

Back Under by Tanya Chris 4/29/24 4/29/24 Kindle

Sequel to Deep Under, 4 short pieces extending over several years, with more about their lives, their HEA, and their continuing exploration of D/s. Caveat emptor re stuff I’d never even heard of before in addition to sex.

How to Shield an Assassin by AJ Sherwood 4/29/24 4/30/24 Kindle img src="http://static.librarything.com/pics/s8.gif">

I just love assassin stuff – it’s the moral gray areas that intrigue me and Ari is a walking gray area. We first see this when Ari completes an assignment and an 8-year-old girl, in rags and bruises, offers him change to kill the stepfather who beats her. Ari complies, then takes her and adopts her. This harkens back to his time in foster care, which he doesn’t want for her. He incorporates her into his life, getting fake documents from his hacker friend Khou and help with learning how to be a parent from an admittedly dodgy source, his thief friend Ivan. This goes on for 6 months or so, and they settle in to Daddy, Remi, and Uncle Ivan and Uncle Khou. Carter, a retrieval expert usually on the shady side of the law, tracks Ari down to hire him to help retrieve a stolen painting. Sparkage, plotting, and etc., with a happy ending for Carter and Ari. Lots of fun, interesting bits about parenthood from the viewpoint of 4 men who tread on the dark side, and an engaging and clearly thriving smart, sassy, damaged and sweet girl. Caveat emptor re sex.

>76 karenmarie: Wow! Talk about a "lightning round." That really was lightning. Pow!

Oh well. >76 karenmarie: had just two words: lightning round. Hence my response. Ya spoiled it for me, dagonit.

>72 karenmarie: Good morning, Karen. I hope you have a really good day today, and get everything done that you need to get done. Best wishes for tomorrow--I'll be thinking of you and praying for you that everything goes well. And for a quick recovery. I know you already know the drill.

epicaricacy - I consider myself well-read, but that's a word I don't remember ever having seen before. I learned something new today!

ETA: >66 karenmarie: Don't be in too big a rush to go to the cane. When my DH was recovering from his surgery, the home healthcare person had him try a cane and said he was not ready for it yet. He didn't want him to develop a limp. And we just found out that the wife of a couple living down the street also just had a knee replacement. She started on a cane pretty quickly, but when she went to PT, the therapist told her that she wished she hadn't done that. I guess she wasn't really ready for it yet either. Maybe let the PT tell you when it's the right time?

I've been thinking of you as your surgery date approaches, Karen. I hope all goes well both with surgery and recovery.

>75 karenmarie: Congratulations on reaching 2 x 75, Karen!

Still keeping fingers and toes crossed, so all goes well tomorrow and after.

>78 atozgrl: Latin for "schadenfreude"...cool word, no?

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, Karen!

>76 karenmarie: I admit I'm a little surprised about Ed Yong being on the abandon list. You sure as heck had a great April's reads, though!

>81 richardderus: Yes, very!

>77 weird_O: Thunderstorm round, right? Almost everything I read in April was Lightning Round. I took the phrase from Mark a long time ago, and it relieved my mind of needing to write full-blown reviews for books I didn’t have that much to say about. Once I started reading MF and MM romances, it became necessary.

>78 atozgrl: Hi Irene, and thank you. So far today’s gone well. I must admit that when I looked up schadenfreude, one of the links told me about epicaricacy, so I learned about it today, too.

I will go to the cane when my PT tells me to, although I will mention to him that he can push me a bit more than last time. I resisted. I trust him, and will do what he says. Thanks for the concern.

>79 lauralkeet: Hi Laura, and thank you.

>80 FAMeulstee: Thank you re my 2 x 75, Anita. And thank you for keeping your fingers and toes crossed.

>81 richardderus: I love both words, RD.

>82 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie!

>83 richardderus: Only because of bandwidth, RD. It’s a wonderful book full of fascinating things. Yup, lots of good reads. I've had to get more and more creative about finding good authors and books, but am still successful. Different search terms, looking down for recommendations within a book on Amazon, and just looking at an author's output if I liked one or more books by them has worked so far.

…
So my surgeon’s office called a couple of hours ago. I need to check in at the hospital at 9 a.m., and surgery’s scheduled for noon.

Jenna’s got a list of folks to call, and Peggy’s on the list. I’ll asked her to post an update here on my thread sometime tomorrow if she can, like last year.

I hope all goes well with your surgery and your recovery is rapid!

>85 karenmarie: Very good. Letting the PT know he can push you is good. It sounds like a plan!

You bet, you bet I'll post here on your thread tomorrow just as soon as Jenna lets me know. I have an apptmnt with the lawyer sometime in the afternoon, but otherwise, I'll be here and I'll be waiting. I'm relieved to be on the list. I was going to ask!

Best wishes tomorrow, Karen. I'm sure all will go well, and I'm so glad Jenna will be there to keep you calm.

Best wishes for your operation today. I hope you can feel the love and concern from right round the world!

Thank you all for your good wishes. We're leaving in about half an hour, but right now I'm sipping 12 oz of black coffee and just Wordle-d, of course.

Wordle 1,048 3/6* trope, slime, slice

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday, my friend. I hope the procedure goes smoothly. Keep us updated.

FYI- Sue saw a Baltimore oriole at the feeder yesterday. The grape jelly certainly works. 😁

Everything crossed for the best possible outcome today! *smooch*

Prayers going up that all has gone well with your surgery (which should have started about an hour ago if all went well.) Take care of yourself!

YAY! Just in: GOOD NEWS FROM JENNA!!!!!

"- we got here around 8:45 am and were checked in around 9am - she got taken back for the first round of prep about 9:35 and then I got called back for her second round of prep around 10:30 - got through alll of the paperwork, medications, and prep over and done with at about 11:50 which was right in line for her surgery time of 12pm - fun times she met a nurse from LA and they had a delightfultalk about the garbage pastrami in N.C.and how LA had the best - she was wheeled up for surgery at about 12:05 pm and I went to a waiting room - everything seemed to go fast and before I knew it I was talking with Dr. Watters about how it went - she got a glowing report and he is positive about her recovery yay
-she was in recovery for around 2 hours but had been moved to her room where we have ordered dinner for her
-she is talking, moving her legs already, and set to get this second part of the show on the road

All is well. She is good and even humming a little. Has yet to mention reading so tsk tsk but she will return to normal shortly."

What a champ!!!!!!!

>95 LizzieD: Great news! Thanks, Peggy, for letting us know.

Excellent news! I’ve been thinking about Karen all day. Thanks for sharing with all of us Peggy.

Yay!
(NYC reliably has better pastrami, but a couple of places here in LA do have the good stuff)

>95 LizzieD: Thanks for the update on Karen, Peggy!

Way to go, Karen! And thank you, Peggy!

This is so great! I’m so happy for Karen! Thank you, Peggy, for the update.

Karen O

>95 LizzieD: All the YAY!! Thanks to you, Peggy and to Jenna.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/360495

>95 LizzieD: Wonderful news!

>95 LizzieD: Thanks for letting us know! A million wishes and a prayer or two that things continue to go smoothly!

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. I am glad the procedure went well and now hoping for a smooth recovery. 🤞😁

>95 LizzieD: Thanks for Jenna's update, Peggy. We appreciate it.

>95 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy, so happy to know it all went well.

I texted a bit with Karen this morning. She had a pretty good night and expects to go home mid-day. AND she looks great! She is looking forward to a stop at Taco Bell for her usual treat.

>109 LizzieD: Crunchy taco treat was never more justified than it is today. Thank you for the news, Peggy.

Hi all - I hobbled into the Sunroom so I could Wordle, am amazed at all your lovely messages.

I am only staying to do Wordle because Jenna made me promise, so here's Wordle and I'll get caught up when I can, promise. I'll probably have her bring my laptop into the Library tomorrow.

Love,
Karen

Wordle 1,049 2/6* Spreadsheet help with trope, ebony

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It’s great to hear from you so soon, Karen. And Wordle in 2, wow! Surely that’s a good omen.

Wow, it's great to see you here so soon! You're obviously doing well. And Wordle in 2 to boot! I was glad to get it in 3 today. Take your time getting to the threads here, there's no rush. Take care of yourself first!

So good to see you posting! And getting Wordle in 2! Welcome back!

Karen O

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Praying for a speedy recovery. Take it slow, my friend.

>109 LizzieD: That is wonderful news!

I hope all goes well with getting home, Karen!

Congrats, Karen. Keep up the good work!

Back, but only Wordling and Arsenal-ing. Arsenal are up 1-0 against Bournemouth at the start of the second half. 🤞🤞🤞

Back I hobble to Arsenal ... have already used ice and taken pain meds to get me to 2 on the pain scale of 0-10.

I shall return again - more love to you all.

Wordle 1,050 5/6* trope, plane, scale, ladle, value

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Are the medical authorities awarding you a badge or a gold forehead star? For being such an exemplary customer, oop, patient.

>118 karenmarie: Stay cautious with yourself, please. Glad Arsenal isn't stressing you out unduly!

*smooch*

How wonderful to see you back home and recovering already! Take it easy!

Wordle in two the day after surgery!!!!! That should get you into the Wordle Hall of Fame!

I love that you're back and doing your stuff, Karen! As I have said before, "YOU ARE THE WOMAN!"

It's great you're able to give us even a short visit!
We'll be here when you're ready for more.

Congratulations on your smooth surgery. All the best on the recovery phase.

>111 karenmarie: Glad everything went well and that you are back home!

Hi, dear friends. Today's been a bit rough so far, frankly. Wordle, lie down, then Louise is coming over for our last visit before she leaves. I'm going to finish here without visiting threads (sorry!), get the Polar Care going, and take an oxycodone. Still doing much better than my other knee last year, though, so there's that.

Wordle 1,051 4/6* trope, geeky, fecal, decal

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Gonna let Jenna and Bill spoil me today, too. Not that they haven't, but I have to learn to ask for help more often. Bill said this morning that he doesn't ever know when to just do things because I'm so independent. Not feeling the independence right now.

(((((hugs)))))

Karen, it's nice to see you here. I'm glad you're doing better than with your previous knee replacement, but I know it's no picnic. It's great you have both Bill and Jenna there to keep you comfortable and fetch things as needed. Like you, I would have a hard time asking for help even knowing they are more than willing to give it.

Don't even think about apologizing for not visiting threads. You can tippy-toe back in when you feel up to it, and everyone will be fine with that!

>127 karenmarie: Sunday *smooches* and an extra-soft pat for being aware that help is forthcoming without grumbles or grudges. That is a tough, tough lesson and you're a shining example that no one is ever too old to learn it.

Does Liverpool's win over Tottenham affect Arsenal's standing any?

I hope your day improved, dear Karen. I'm counting on tomorrow being better in any case. Take care of you inside and let Jenna and Bill serve you outside! (I'm off to bed, having had an afternoon of not getting the deviled eggs right. I hope they improve somehow before they get to the beach to be eaten by the group. We leave tomorrow! YAY!!!!!)

>127 karenmarie: Gonna let Jenna and Bill spoil me today, too. Good! Keep on doing that as long as you need to!

Morning, Karen. I hope you at least feel a bit better when you get up today. Fingers crossed. No worries about visiting threads. We are a patient bunch.

I got a fleeting look at my first hummer yesterday morning, at the feeder. They seem to be late arriving in our area.

It's nice to come here and see that I've had visitors. Yesterday was a challenge. I think I'm better today, bu have only had half a cup of coffee, meds, and one of the cupcakes mentioned below.

Wordle 1,052 3/6* trope, fluke, shave. Getting from fluke to shave took 10 minutes - checking valid words, checking words used, thinking.

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Lots of resting yesterday, lots of worrying, because that's something I excel at. Louise's visit was sweet and bittersweet. She brought over a box of cupcakes w/white frosting/strawberries, an unopened box of Fig Newtons, an almost full bag of egg noodles, and her Christmas wreath. She's a hoot. She 'owes' me a bag of thistle seed, which she says she'll leave on the steps.

Jenna cooked steak and fries for us, so I got some good protein. She will do some things around here, go to WalMart to get my favorite peanut butter - Smucker's Natural Chunky - then go back to her girlfriend's in Carrboro. It's been wonderful having her here, although I haven't been able to fully appreciate it, what with surgery and drugs and pain.

Read, sleep, use the Polar Care, etc.

>133 karenmarie: Happy-making report, Horrible. Sad as it is for Louise to move away, I'm sure you're glad it's done so its grief can be processed.

Sending heal-fast *smooches*

>129 richardderus: Does Liverpool's win over Tottenham affect Arsenal's standing any?

IF Liverpool wins their last two games and Arsenal loses both of their last two games, and IF Man City only gets one draw out of their last three games, then Liverpool will win the League Championship. So, yes, but under a rare set of circumstances.

Still morning, dear Karen. I'm glad you're doing better today. You and Louise have been dear to each other. I'm sad for you both but wish her well. Maybe you'll be able to visit her if that's something you'd both like.
I'm also sad that Jenna has to leave. I'm sure she's pulled between you and her everyday life.

Peace and Healing!!!! Also LOVE! (((((Karen)))))

Peace and healing to you. Here's hoping every day gets easier.

I'm glad you're recovering well.
Fully appreciating family members comes in many forms. Though the interactions may not have seemed best ever they can't be compared to that, but what it would have been like to deal with a strange care taker who couldn't interpret your wants and needs nearly so well as Jenna.

Hi Karen, I hope each day has you feeling better and better!

Hope you’re healing and feeling 100%, soon! Let’s hear it for modern medicine!

Karen O