Meaghan Elizabeth

That’s a Wrap! The Best and Worst of my 2020 Reading

Published on January 28, 2021January 25, 2021 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Lovely Readers! I hope your week has been treating you well. My day job has been ridiculously busy and stressful this month and I have barely done any reading. Unless something drastic changes this week, my January wrap up is going to be short… unless we can count hours played in Stardew valley?

Now that we are over halfway through January, I figured that I should get around to doing a 2020 reading wrap up. Despite everything negative about 2020, I had a successful reading year. I read over 100 books and, though most of those books were within my comfort genres, I did stretch myself a bit to read outside my comfort zone. I hope to continue stretching myself in 2021.

I wasn’t sure where to focus this wrap up or how to wrap up an entire years worth of books in one post, so I picked just a few categories to discuss. I decided to share my favourite reads, my least favourite reads, and my favourite series’ from this past year. I picked 5 entries for each category, and the lists below are in no particular order. It is hard enough to pick only 5 for each category without also trying to rank them.

5 Least Favourite Reads in 2020

1. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle

I discussed this book in more detail here, and I won’t go into the details of why I didn’t enjoy it in this post. Suffice it to say I was very disappointed with this read. I had memories of reading and enjoying a book or two in this series in the past, and so I had high hopes going into this one that were not realized. I don’t think I’ll be reading any more books in this series.

2. 1st to Die by James Patterson

I debated including this one here because I still think that the series has potential, and I may still give it a second shot. But this book was not high on my list of reads this year. While I didn’t actively dislike this one in the way I did others in this category, it also did not hit the mark. And, considering the high expectations I had for such a high profile author, even a mediocre enjoyment of this one was bound to be disappointing. I may try book 2 in this series if it comes available while I’m in the right reading mood.

3. Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie

If you read my wrap up of this one, you will know that I was incredibly disappointed with this read. As it is written by Agatha Christie, I had a certain level of expectation going into it and those expectations were not met. This book wasn’t terrible by any means, but it also wasn’t to the level I would have expected and there were more many aspects of the story that grated on my nerves. If you are looking to get into Christie I would recommend that you do not start with this one.

4. Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich and Promise of Love by Tamie Dearn

So I am cheating with this entry by listing two books, but I wanted to include both of them without removing any of the others. I started to put this list together early in December, so one book was already given a reprieve after I read these two. I won’t go into details of why I didn’t like these books, because I discussed them both in my last post, but I actively did not enjoy either of these books.

5. He Started it by Samantha Downing

With two books in the previous entry, this book shouldn’t be on this list. And in many ways, this book doesn’t really belong in this category since I didn’t dislike it that much. But I wanted to leave it here because I know that I have an unpopular opinion when it comes to Samantha Downing. I have now read both of her books, and I have not enjoyed either of them. The writing, in my opinion, is just okay and I found myself having to force my way through both of them. It’s never good to be bored while reading, and it’s even worse when the book is supposed to be a thriller. Many people have enjoyed this book, so I think it just may not be the style for me. I don’t think that I’ll be reading any more books by this author.

5 Favourite Series I read in 2020

1. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

I imagine that you are tired of hearing me talk about the Dresden Files series, but if we’re talking about the series’ I read in 2020, this one needs to be on the list. After picking up book early in the year, I made it a good way through the series by the end of December. Though there are aspects of the series that I haven’t loved, I am so glad that I picked it up and I think that there is a lot to love about this paranormal/fantasy mystery series. I particularly enjoy the combination of fantasy with mystery and, despite his numerous faults, I like Harry Dresden. This is a series I will definitely be continuing in 2021.

2. The Paranormal Investigation Bureau by Dionne Lister

I came across this series by accident as a daily deal on Amazon. I had the first three books in the series in a bind up, and since they were short, easy to read, and immensely enjoyable, I quickly found myself hooked. I blew through the first few books in the series in a matter of weeks and then took a break to prolong the enjoyment. I am more than overdue to pick the series back up again. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a fantasy or supernatural twist, then I would highly recommend picking up this series.

3. Band on the Run by Samantha Chase

It is hard to believe I first picked up this series just over a year ago, but January 2020 really does feel like such a long time ago. Over the past year, Samantha Chase has become one of my favourite romance authors. Though this is the only fully series I have read so far, I enjoyed each of them. Chase always leaves me wanting more with her books and I look forward to reading more in the upcoming year.

4. Girl Meets Duke by Tessa Dare

As I mentioned earlier, I never would have expected to enjoy this series so much if I was going solely based on the covers. But I loved the first two books of this series this year, and I can’t wait to read the next books. I think it is amazing how Dare combines humour with romance, and I love that her characters have depth and exhibit growth over the course of the book. This series definitely caused me to reconsider how I view the romance genre.

5. League of Extraordinary Women by Evie Dunmore

When everyone was raving about this series early in 2020, even those who don’t normally read historical fiction, I knew that I had to pick it up. While I didn’t love the first book as much as some, it was a really fun read and I enjoyed it more than enough to know I wanted to read book 2. And book 2 was what landed this series on this list. I loved the characters in book 2 and I found that I resonated more with the story. Dunmore is also able to combine humour and romance in a wonderful way and I look forward to book 3.

I read so many great books in 2020 and I escaped to so many amazing worlds. I wish that I had the space, and the time, to look back on the year in more detail, but I think that these lists do a decent job of summarizing the year’s reading. I had initially intended to include some reading goals in this post, but I think that this post is more than long enough for one week, so the look ahead to 2021 can wait until next week.

Until next time,

December 2020 Reading Wrap Up

Published on January 14, 2021January 12, 2021 by Meaghan Elizabeth1 Comment

Hello Lovely Readers! It has been awhile. I hope, despite everything that was different about this year, that your holidays were good and that you were able to find some bright spots. My Christmas was definitely different, but there were still bright spots and happy memories that will come out of it. In some ways it was also nice to have a more relaxed season and to have a few days that were genuinely “off” time to recuperate a bit from how busy December was for me work wise.

Early in the month my reading got a major kick start when In A Holidaze came available from the library. I was on the wait list since the release date and was certain that it would come available in time for Christmas in July if I was lucky, so I was beyond excited when I got it in perfect time to read for this Christmas. As you will see below, it was exactly what I needed to get me into the reading mood.

If you can think way back to the beginning of December, you might recall that I am testing out the idea of setting myself both seasonal and monthly reading Bingos. We are currently in the middle of the first seasonal Bingo, so I’m not going to talk about that one, but I have completed the first of the monthly Bingos, and I am going to incorporate the results into the wrap ups below and then at the very end we can take a look at the finished product and see how I did with my board.

1. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (3 Stars)
Family and Friends

I originally added this to my TBR back in October with the intention to read it for one of my spooky or atmospheric reads. I didn’t have any trouble getting it from the library, but I had real trouble actually picking it up, and then even when I finally started it, I could not get past the first chapter. I wish that I could say that it was worth pushing through and finishing, but I found it to be an average read. I gave it a 3 stars because I didn’t dislike it in anyway, and there were aspects of the main character that I really enjoyed, but overall I found it just okay. I used this book for the “Family and Friends” prompt, and if you have read this book you will know that it’s a bit tongue in cheek but also very fitting.

2. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren (5 Stars)
A Book Published in 2020

This is the latest Christina Lauren romance, and this time there is a bit of a time travel twist mixed in that I was 100% there for. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and though I have only read 3 Christina Lauren novels so far, this one may have pushed The Unhoneymooners out of it’s place as my favourite, though only time will tell. I loved the groundhog day/time travel aspect and I loved how the romance developed between the main characters. I also really enjoyed seeing the main character’s growth and the way she came into herself over the course of the book. Overall, this was the perfect holiday romance for this year and it was exactly what I needed to get me into the reading mood.

3. Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich (1 Star)
A Christmas Mystery

This is the first Janet Evanovich book I have read and, based on her popularity I expected so much more. I may still give her another try since I have since discovered that Goodreads has very mixed reviews for this particular novella – people either love it or they absolutely hate it as compared to her other works. The only thing I enjoyed about this novella was that there was occasionally a great line of dialogue or thought from the main character that makes me think she may be enjoyable in a different story. Not only was this story too short and underdeveloped, but some of it was borderline, if not outright offensive. I don’t give 1 star ratings very often, because I think that sometimes it is just that a book was not right for me, but in this case I would actively recommend that you do not pick this book up.

4. Americanos, Apple Pies, and Art Thieves by Harper Lin (4 Stars)
Many Happy Returns

Americanos, Apple Pie and Art Thieves by Harper Lin

This is book 5 in the Cape Bay Cafe mystery series, and like the others in this series, I really enjoyed it. I have found this to be a solid cozy mystery series and I don’t know why I’m not making my way through it quicker. I like the main characters and all the secondary characters, and I really like the relationships that the characters have with each other. I am also a sucker for a cozy series set in a cafe, so there is that. The only thing that could have made this better was if I was on the “Christmas” book of the series instead of the Thanksgiving book.

5. The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams (4 Stars)
A Book with Green on the Cover

This book technically could have counted for one of the free spaces, but it felt a bit cheaty to me to count a book as both “free” and something else. So here we are. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this one, but I had a lot of fun with it. I like the concept of a group of guys reading romance novels and banding together to help each other fix their relationships. I also liked the commentary about romance novels that appeared throughout the story. If you enjoy romance novels, this is one that I would recommend, and I look forward to picking up the second book in the series.

6. Snowy Nights at the Loney Hearts by Karen King (3.5 Stars)
A Christmas Romance

Snowy Nights at the Lonely Hearts Hotel by Karen King

This book was a pleasant surprise. It was one that I picked up on a deal on Kindle, and since I have mixed success with those picks, I am always happy when I find a winner. I liked that the Christmas theme was prevalent throughout the story instead of just being a thin backdrop to an otherwise normal romance story. In this case, the main character is tasked with taking over and running an annual Christmas dinner at her sister’s Bed and Breakfast while her sister is unable to get home from her vacation in time. Overall, this was an enjoyable seasonal read and I am glad that I picked it up. I would read more from this author.

7. Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke (3.5 Stars)
A book that includes Baking

After the disaster that was Visions of Sugar Plums, and my mixed enjoyment of the Leslie Meier seasonal mysteries, I was happy to find myself thoroughly enjoying this book. I liked all of the characters, and I liked that the main character has a bakery. I read this as an audiobook, so the recipes included at the end of each chapter were a bit distracting, but once I realized they were always at the end of the chapter, they became easy to skip. Even after discovering that, I found myself listening to them on more than one occasion – who would have thought that listening to someone read a recipe aloud could be so enjoyable. This is book 26 in the Hannah Swensen series, but it is the first one that I read and I had no trouble understanding what was going on. I will be adding more in this series to my TBR over the upcoming year.

8. Promise of Love by Tamie Dearen (2 Stars)
A Book with Red on the cover

After being pleasantly surprised with the last two books on this list, this one was a let down. I wanted another fun Christmas romance, and though this one fit the category, I did not enjoy it. I didn’t like the main character, I didn’t like her love interests, and there was something off about the pacing. I wrote in my Goodreads review that the book felt like it was trying too hard and I stand by that still. I don’t think I will be picking up anything else from this author.

9. Small Favor by Jim Butcher (4 Stars)
A fantasy Read

I don’t really have anything to say about this one other than that it was another solid, and enjoyable entry in the Dresden files series. I am still enjoying this series, though I am starting to get concerned because I know that there is a book coming up shortly that takes the series in a different direction that people either love or hate. I am both looking forward to that book and dreading it.

Other Completed Squares

Read 5 Books
Snuggle up by the Tree or Fire
2 Audiobooks
Hit 100 Books in 2020

Missed Squares

A Book Under 100 pages or a Short Story
Both Free Spaces

I didn’t think it was going to be possible, but I managed to complete all but 3 squares on my Bingo this month – and two of those were free spaces! I am also didn’t need to use any book for more than one square – not counting the “other” category. I would say December Bingo was a success, though honestly I’m not sure how much it shaped my reading. I can’t tell if I picked books to fit the squares or if I got lucky, so I think it’ll take a few more months to determine if this is a good tool to help me meet my reading goals.

And along those lines… you may have already guessed this, but there is not going to be a Bingo for January. It’s only the second month in and I’ve already missed it. I am going to try for February, because I did enjoy the process, but I may end up abandoning the monthly Bingos and focus on the seasonal ones only. I love the idea of Bingo, but I can’t help feeling there has to be some other, more original, game idea that would work for me.

How did your reading go in December? Has your January reading game started out strong or, like me, are you struggling to actually pick up a book and read? Let me know your favourite read from December in the comments.

Until Next Time,

Fall 2020 Reading Wrap Up – How Did I Do?

Published on January 12, 2021 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hi Friends, as I was working on my new post for this week, I discovered that this post somehow got stuck as a scheduled post and never went live. Since I spent the time working on it, I decided to post it even though it’s late. I hope you enjoy this bonus, very late, fall wrap up. I will see you with my December wrap up on Thursday!

Hello Lovely Readers! I am a bit behind with this post (can you believe next week is Christmas?!), but I still wanted to take the time to review my fall reading. For those of you that are new, I am terrible at following reading lists and reading goals, but I still like to set myself seasonal challenges and goals to work towards. I try to keep them broad and include many categories so that I don’t get bored or discouraged.

This Fall, I set myself a number of reading goals that I shared with you all here, and now it is time to see how I did. I decided that the easiest way to review my goals was to list them below alongside the discussion of whether I met the goal or not. I set myself 4 main goals each of which had either specific books listed along with them or sub-goals.

I read a total of 23 books, 9 of which were audiobooks. I DNF’d 2 books and my average rating was 3.5 Stars.

Goal #1: Fantasy

My focus for this goal was to read more fantasy overall and focus on those that were atmospheric or had “fall vibes.” Of the specific books that I listed for this category, I read only one – Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab. Though I didn’t do well with reading the specific books that I chose, I am going to mark this goal as successful. Overall this Fall I read 8 Fantasy novels and 5 or 6 of them were atmospheric. My fantasy game was on point this season.

My favourite book from this goal was probably Dead Beat by Jim butcher, but almost any of the books I read from the Dresden Files would fit.

Goal # 2: Fright

This category included more than just your typical scary books; it also included some mysteries and thrillers and some fantasy. When I first reviewed this goal, I thought that I was unsuccessful, but when I looked a bit further, I did not too bad. I would say that I had mid-level success in this category.

I read Home Before Dark by Riley Sager and The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw, which were both on the list. I did not read We Have Always Lived in the Castle but I started it and, hopefully, I can finish it this month. If I didn’t slip into a bit of a reading slump, I would have finished it since it is short. I also read a couple of miscellaneous thrillers, with mixed success, as I didn’t love any of them.

My favourite book from this goal was definitely Home Before Dark, which I think was also my only 5 Star read this season. If you have not picked this one up yet, and enjoy books that are ghostly and creepy but not too scary, then I would highly recommend this one.

Goal #3: Cozy and Chic

This goal was intended to be a mixture of cozy, and less intense, mysteries as well as chick-lit. It’s an odd combination, but it worked for me. There was one sub-goal in this category that I did not meet (reading a Murder She Wrote novel), but overall I did very well. It was probably the most successful category this season. In addition to the specific sub-goals below, I also read 3 additional books in this category.

I) Read at least 2 Leslie Meier books – I read all 3 of Meier’s Halloween themed mysteries. I still have mixed opinions about this series, but I don’t regret reading any of them, so that is a bonus. I am going to continue reading this series.

II) At least 1 Agatha Christie – Though I successfully met this goal, the book I chose was my most disappointing read this season. I read Hallowe’en Party and I did not enjoy it. You can see more of my thoughts here, but I would not recommend this one if you are looking to get into Agatha Christie.

III) Start a new series by Samantha Chase – I started the Shaugnessy Brothers series this fall, and I am really excited to continue reading it. The book I read, Made for Us, wasn’t my favourite by Chase, but it was a solid read and exactly what I was looking for out of this type of romance novel.

My favourite book from this goal was A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore, which I talked about last week.

Goal #4: Miscellaneous

I had a few more general reading goals for the fall and a few books that didn’t fit into the other categories that I wanted to share as well. When I set these goals, I suspected that they would be the ones I was least likely to accomplish, and I was only partially correct in that prediction.

I) Make some progress on my “Book Lists” – I didn’t do all that well with this category, though I did read one book off my “must reads list” for this year. After putting it off for so long, I finally picked up An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green, and I am so glad that I did.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green — I ended up enjoying this book more than I anticipated. An excellent intro Sci-Fi read in my opinion

II) One or Two Non-fiction books – I actually managed to read one non-fiction book this season. I wasn’t going to count it, because it was a book I had to read as part of a weekly Bible study I joined. But then I decided that I chose to join the study, and I chose to read the book each week, so it should count. Baby steps.

III) Graphic Novels – I read one book for this category, and though I really enjoyed it, I would say that I was not successful in meeting this goal. The primary reason for setting this goal was to read The Lumberjanes and I did not do that. This goal will continue into the winter season.

IV) Something Mermaid – I am so disappointed that I did not accomplish this goal. I had a book for this category out from the e-library for at least a month, maybe two, and I just never picked it up. Perhaps I’ll read it in the next few months.

V) Start a ‘Walking Book’– I did not meet this goal even a little bit. Though I was doing well at walking most days during the week during September, I didn’t manage to keep up with that habit, and when I did walk, I was either with someone or listening to music. I do still want to work towards walking more, so maybe this will be a goal I revisit next year, but we shall see.

Though there were a few sub-goals and books on this list that I did not read or accomplish, I think that overall I had a successful reading season. I met many of my goals, and though I didn’t read as many books as I would have liked in November, I read a lot of books this fall that I really enjoyed. Depending on how you do with goals, you may think that my results are disappointing, but knowing me as I do, I would say this is a resounding success. I am looking forward to seeing how I do with my Winter Reading Goals that I shared last week.

How would you rate your fall reading? Did you accomplish your reading goals or read all the books you hoped to read? What was your favourite book that you read this fall? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Winter Reading Goals Bingo (December to February)

Published on December 10, 2020December 5, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Lovely Readers! Though the calendar doesn’t yet say so, we are now unofficially into the winter season, which means that it is past time for another set of seasonal reading goals. As I teased in last week’s November Reading Wrap up post, I am testing out a seasonal reading Bingo to help me focus on meeting my goals and to direct my reading while still remaining flexible.

You may be wondering how I am going to accomplish working towards both monthly reading Bingos and a seasonal one, and my answer is that the two are not exclusive. If I read a book for the December Bingo, for example, it can also count towards the seasonal Bingo. The monthly Bingos are intended to challenge and direct my reading on a monthly basis, and also move me closer to completing my seasonal goals. Books can count for multiple prompts on a single card or, if I feel the need for a greater challenge, they can be one book per prompt.

Based on how my reading has gone the past couple of months, I need all the help I can get with directing my reading and encouraging me to actually pick up a book. I know that my reading typically slows down at the end of the year, but if possible I would love to turn that around this month and then also get off to a strong start in January. I hope that the below prompts, as well as those in my December Bingo, can help me accomplish that.

A Book with Snow on the Cover
A Book with 500 or more Pages – Even though I love them, I have been having a hard time getting into big books lately. I have so many on my list that my goal is to read at least one of them in the next few months.
Somewhere on a Beach – We may not be able to travel this year, but we can still travel through books. This prompt is to read a book that is either set in the summer or has those vacation/beach vibes.
Blast from the Past – Re-read a Book
Graphic Novel or Comic Bind up
A Seasonal Mystery — This category is open to interpretation. It can be holiday-themed, or winter-themed or even Valentine’s day themed. Whatever you would consider “seasonal” between now and the end of February.
Love, Love, Love – This prompt is inspired by Valentine’s day, but can be any book that features love in any way. For me, this will probably be a romance of some form.
Read 20 Books
Book from your physical bookshelf – I am going to try to read a physical book that I own, but this can also be an e-book that you already own.
Non-Fiction Read – I didn’t do well with reading non-fiction in 2020, but I am carrying that goal over to 2021.
A Book 100 pages or less
Middle-Grade Read
Free! Any book of your choosing
A Book set in the Winter – You can either choose a book that is entirely set in the winter or that is partially set in winter.
A Book that’s been turned into a Movie
Set in Another World – For me, this prompt is to read a Terry Pratchett book, but I wanted to make it more general for people to join in.
A 1920s Read – Since I didn’t make much progress with my 1920’s reading list this past year, I want to continue trying to work my way through it in 2021.
It’s in the Stars – Though I intend to read a science fiction book for this prompt, it could also mean a book with stars on the cover, or in the title.
A Year in the Life – As I continue to try and read a book from each year of my life, this prompt is to help me accomplish that. But this could also be a book that focuses on everyday things, or maybe you choose to read a book published in 2021.
It’s Magical – Read a book that feels magical to you, or includes magic in some way.
A Book out of Your Comfort Zone
A new to you Author
Off to a Good Start… Read Book 1 of a series
May I Suggest… Read a book that was recommended to you, either by someone in your life or by an external source.
A Book with Blue on the Cover

Do you set seasonal reading goals for yourself? What books are high on your list to read in the upcoming months? Let me know in the comments if you are planning to participate in Winter Reading Bingo with me, or if you are going to take a couple of prompts from this list to shape your reading.

Winter Reading Bingo (Download)

Until Next Time,

November Reading Wrap Up & December Reading Bingo

Published on December 3, 2020December 2, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth1 Comment

Hello Lovely Readers! It has been a couple weeks since my last post. Work has been kicking my butt for the last couple weeks, and then I caught a cold that added it’s two cents into the butt kicking. But I am back and ready to jump back in, and what better way than with a look at how my reading went in November.

Despite my best intentions, November was another mediocre reading month for me. It is not uncommon for my reading to slow down at the end of the year, and then when you add in the extra life stress that I experienced this month, it’s not entirely surprising that I didn’t read as much as I wanted. It also didn’t help that the first two books I picked up in November were disappointing.

I finished a total of 6 books in November. I read 2 audiobooks, 2 e-books, and 2 physical books. My favourite read of the month was A Rogue of One’s Own and my least favourite was Hallowe’en Party. While you will see a non-fiction book on this wrap up, I can’t count it for Non-fiction November since I’ve been reading it in weekly portions since September.

1. Slayer by Kiersten White (3 Stars)

I had a really difficult time getting through Slayer. I enjoyed it while I was listening to it, but as soon as I turned it off, I didn’t feel any pull to pick it back up. Many evenings I didn’t listen to anything before bed because I just didn’t care. This book had a lot of potential, and all of the elements of a book that I should have enjoyed. I can also see the potential for the rest of the series (that ending, though!). But unfortunately, overall it fell flat. I will most likely pick up book 2, but if I feel the same way about it that I did about this one, I don’t think I’ll force my way through it.

2. Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie (3 Stars… maybe 2.5?)

I hate to say it, but this book was so disappointing, and I had such high hopes. A Halloween themed Agatha Christie? How was it possible I had never heard of that before. But it did not live up to expectations. It wasn’t terrible by any means, but it was long and it was tedious. I had the motive figured out pretty early, but it was a long process to get to the final reveal and the culprit.

I also had a hard time with the amount of time spent on the possibility that the murder was likely to have been committed by someone who had recently been let out of a psychiatric institution. I don’t know if this was an issue relevant to Christie at the time, but it was overdone and unnecessary. Even as a misdirect for the murder, it was such an obvious misdirect. While I am glad to have read this one, it will not be one that I recommend to those looking to pick up Agatha Christie.

3. The Girls Weekend by Jody Gehrman (3.5 Stars)

I considered giving The Girls Weekend 4 stars, but I settled on 3.5 because I had mixed feelings. I enjoyed it more than I have enjoyed some other thrillers lately, but there was just something about it that didn’t quite hit the spot. I was drawn right into the story at the beginning, but by the time it reached the middle, my interest began to wane, and then the ending was just okay. Based on the build up throughout, I wanted more intrigue and spice from the ending. In the end, it wasn’t my favourite, but I would pick up another book by this author.

4. A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore (4 Stars)

This is the second book in the A League of Extraordinary Women series. I really enjoyed the first book, but I liked this one even more. This series is historical romance with a humorous side, and it completely hit the spot for me. I consistently enjoy all of the characters in this series, and I loved the interactions and the romantic build up between our two main characters. Though I loved the humour in Book one, I liked the relationship better in this one.

5. White Night by Jim Butcher (4 Stars)

I’m not going to say too much about this, other than to say that I am still really enjoying this series. If you are new to this series, it definitely takes a few books before it hits it’s stride, but I have been consistently giving 4 star ratings to the past few books I’ve read in the series. Though the main draw is definitely the fantasy world and the humour, I also love the characters and the way they interact with each other. Looking back, one of my criticisms of the first few books is that I didn’t always believe the relationships, and I am so glad that aspect has improved and settled in.

6. None Like Him: 10 Ways God is Different from Us by Jen Wilkin (4.5 Stars)

This book is different from what you normally see on this blog, and I think this is the first non-fiction that I have completed this year. I read this book over the past couple months as part of a weekly virtual Bible study that I participated in, and I really enjoyed it. The author challenged me, and made me think, and she presented the concepts and attributes of God in ways that I had never considered before while remaining very accessible. If this is something that you are interested in, I would highly recommend this book.

Last month I introduced a new feature where I look at some of the books or goals that I anticipate reading in the upcoming month. Looking back on last month’s preview, I did a mediocre job of predicting my November reading. I predicted I would need to read like it was my full time job in November to meet all my goals, and you already know I didn’t do that.

While I did continue reading some of the spookier, thriller type books, I didn’t read all that many of them. And I certainly didn’t read a big fantasy book. I picked one up and got about 50 pages at the most into it. Suffice it to say, I didn’t do all that well at meeting my November goals.

December Preview

This month’s preview looks a bit different yet again. I am testing out the idea of a monthly Reading Bingo to help guide and direct my reading for the month. I’ve tried to keep the prompts general so that they fit my goals for the month, but aren’t too specific that they won’t work for others, because I would love for you to join in!

In addition to the picture below, I have attached the PDF file. Feel free to download it and join me this month in working towards a BINGO or two! And let me know in the comments if you’re going to participate, or what you think of the prompts, because I’m thinking of continuing these monthly boards in 2021 and would love the feedback. (Spoiler Alert There may also be a seasonal board coming in the next couple weeks.)

Here are the prompts for December, and a bit of explanation where necessary. Depending on how much of a challenge you want, you can either use one book to fulfill multiple prompts, or use only one book per square.

A Christmas Romance
A Fantasy Read
Christmas Cookies – Read a book that includes baking
Family and Friends – Read a book that features family and/or friends. This one is open to your interpretation.
Listen to 2 Audiobooks – If you don’t read audiobooks regularly, feel free to challenge yourself to read one instead of two.
A Book with Red on the Cover
Many Happy Returns – A Book you were meaning to Read this Year. If you’re like me, you have a list of books you intended to read this year, now is the time to pick one and cross it off your list.
Read 5 Books
Snuggle up – Read a Book in front of the Tree or Fire. It is completely acceptable for this to be the fire on your television.
A Book Published in 2020
Free Space! Use this for any book of your choosing.
Hit 100 Books read in 2020. Okay, so this one is specific to me. Whatever your goal is for books read this year, insert that in this prompt.
Presents! This is a bonus free space that you can use for any book of your choosing.
A Christmas or Seasonal Mystery
A Book with Green on the Cover
A Book under 100 Pages or a Short Story

December Reading Bingo

Until Next Time,

10 Features to Consider: Buying a Trailer Part 3

Published on November 17, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Friends! Welcome to part 3 of the Considerations for Buying a Trailer series. If you are new, I would recommend starting at the introduction post here, and be sure to check out parts 1 and 2 where we looked at why you want to purchase a trailer and the size of trailer that would be best suited to your needs.

This week I want you to think about the features that you want, and don’t want, included in your new trailer. Sort the list into non-negotiables, deal breakers, and maybes – both for things that you want and don’t want. For instance, if you can live without a multimedia system, but wouldn’t despise having it, this would go onto a list of maybes, or things that you are on the fence about. It wouldn’t stop you from buying a trailer, but if it wasn’t there you wouldn’t be upset.

The below list of features to consider is in no ways exhaustive, and it is in no particular order. These are the main things that I have come up with in terms of things that are worth considering, but I think that there are most likely things that would be important to you that I have not considered below.

1. Permanent vs non-permanent beds

The bigger the trailer, the less likely you are to have non-permanent beds. Conversely, you are more likely to have non-permanent beds, or convertible beds, in smaller trailers. One type of convertible bed is a gaucho bed.

A gaucho bed is like a sofa bed, but when you put the bed away, the bed itself becomes the couch. I wasn’t sure about this idea until I saw it in action and considered the benefits. If you don’t need the couch, or the extra space, you can easily leave this bed out permanently. But if it is cold or rainy out you can put fold up the bed and have a nice couch and sitting area inside your trailer. This can make a huge difference for smaller trailers without the disadvantage of your primary bed also being your primary table.

Other non-permanent bed options include tables that convert to beds, or cupboards that convert into bunks. Tables that convert into bunks may not be ideal for your regular camping experience if you plan on eating indoors regularly. But if this doesn’t bother you, or if you plan on eating outside of your trailer, they are a great option for adding extra beds to a small trailer, or to accommodate guests.

2. Fridge Size

The first question you should ask is if you want a fridge. While most large trailers will have a fridge by default, some smaller trailers may not, so the fridge question could dictate your trailer size to a certain extent.

In our case, the fridge was something we decided to up size. We’ll lose a small amount of cupboard space, but we’ll get a lot of fridge space, and a good sized freezer. After years of dealing with coolers, and a small fridge, we decided that the large fridge, and the ability to carry frozen foods, was important to us.

3. Storage Space

You may think “the more storage space the better,” but this is not necessarily true. The more storage space you have, the more likely you are to fill it, which adds extra weight to your trailer. You may also pack a lot of extra stuff that you don’t need. So make sure you balance these considerations when you think about how much storage space you need.

That being said, good storage solutions can make all the difference to your camping experience. Look for storage that will meet your needs without being cumbersome. And look for how the available space is used. Some things to consider – do you have at least one outdoor access for tools? Do you have/need somewhere that you can hang clothing or jackets? Do you have a drawer for cutlery, or a cupboard where you can add a pull out cutlery tray?

4. Winterization

This may not be applicable to you, but if you live somewhere with winter weather, it is very important. Not only do you need to make sure that you know how to winterize the plumbing, but you also need to know how many outside access areas or gaps you need to block up. The last thing you want is to open up your trailer in the spring to find that a family of squirrels has made it their winter home. Other things to consider are places where moisture might enter your trailer (you want to avoid mold), and whether you need to cover the trailer in the winter.

5. Indoor Cooking

Do you plan to cook inside your trailer or are you going to exclusively cook outside? I would recommend you think about this with a long term eye. It can be a great advantage to have the ability to cook inside your trailer, even if you rarely use it. Consider those cold, rainy days or weeks and how nice it would be to be able to prepare a warm meal from the comfort of your warm, dry trailer.

You should also think about the type of cooking that you want to do. Do you need a stove only? What about a microwave or an oven? If you have the option to customize though, don’t just go with a bigger stove or oven because it seems like a good idea. If you aren’t going to use it, an oven will just be wasted space.

6. Power and Water

Do you want electricity and/or water in your trailer? If you are just looking for something to get you out of a tent, you may be fine with a trailer that doesn’t include water or hydro, but again, try to think long term. In terms of electricity – even if you don’t go with anything fancy, it can be very useful to have electric lights in your trailer. Your water consideration will be linked with whether you want washroom facilities, and whether you want the added maintenance of plumbing, but the advantages may be worth the extra work.

If you plan on doing off grid camping, it might be worth it to consider a solar panel system to allow you to still have electricity while on non-electric campsites.

7. Bathroom Facilities

If you don’t want to deal with plumbing, then you won’t be able to have bathroom facilities unless you use a porta-potty type situation. For us, a toilet was a non-negotiable in a new trailer. Even if we continue to use the park facilities, there is something to be said for not needing to leave your trailer first thing in the morning or last thing before bed… not to mention the middle of the night! For us, the extra work was worth it.

Also consider whether you want a shower. At first we didn’t want the extra hassle of a shower when we were content with the park showers. But the more we thought about it, not only can park showers be less than enjoyable, but with the current situation, there is a chance that shower facilities could be closed. Even if we rarely use it, opting for a shower gives us greater flexibility.

8. Heating and cooling

If it’s generally hot in the places where you plan to spend your time, then you may not even consider a heater, but you may consider an air conditioner to be essential. Even if you plan to camp in areas that can get cool, heat may not be high on your list if you don’t mind adding extra blankets, and plan to camp exclusively in the summer. Think about what will work best for your type of camping, and what will make you the most comfortable.

In our case, a heater was non-negotiable, but we weren’t fussed on an air conditioner as long as we had good ventilation. It can get cool in the evenings where we camp, and having a heater can make all the difference to our camping enjoyment, especially if it’s a whole week of damp and rain. We also wanted the option to be able to camp in more seasons.

9. Spending time indoors

vintage trailer interior — Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay

How much indoor space and seating do you need? We wanted to ensure that we had sufficient space and seating to be comfortable eating indoors or spending a few days indoors during inclement weather or at colder times of year. During good weather we spend quite a bit of time outdoors or in our dining tent. Because of this, we didn’t need as much indoor living space. If you plan to spend more time in your trailer, make sure that you have enough space to accommodate that.

Our trailer has a gaucho bed that will probably stay down most of the time and a table, that can convert to a bed, but will mostly stay in table position. Based on how we camp, we know that this will work for our needs and will give us the comfort of spending time indoors on those less than perfect days.

10. Multimedia and extras

Multimedia features are generally options or add-ons, so if you don’t want any of these features you should be able to avoid them, but consider them if they could add to your camping experience. Features include anything from integrated radios and sound systems to televisions with DVD or Blu—ray players. There are probably even more features that I haven’t considered.

Music is essential when we camp, so we opted into a built in sound system with a bluetooth radio, but elected not to get a television system. We also discovered a number of extras along the way (such as reading lights in the bed area) that will add to our camping experience but weren’t part of our initial research – so it is always good to be open to those.

These are just 10 features considerations that I considered while looking at trailers, and I think that they are worth considering for most people looking to purchase a trailer. Are there any features that you would add to this list? What features do you consider absolutely essential in a trailer? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

To All the Books I’ve Loved Before Book Tag

Published on November 12, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello lovely readers! Today I am doing a type of post that I don’t think I’ve ever done before – a book tag! Not only am I doing a tag, but I was actually tagged to do it by another blogger. Thank you so much @whisperingstories for tagging me! I was very excited to receive my first tag.

As you have seen from the title, today I am doing the “To All the books I’ve Loved Before Book Tag.” I did a bit of research and it looks like this tag was initially created by a YouTuber whose channel is called Franky Days. The tag was created a few years ago now, and unfortunately it doesn’t look like she’s still creating videos, but you can check out her introduction to the tag video here.

This tag is based on the book “To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han, which was also made into a movie within the last couple years. Moment of truth? I have not yet read the book or seen the movie… I know! I know! It’s scandalous. I have been trying to read the book recently. The audiobook became available from my library recently, but I had so many other books come available at the same time that the loan expired… it is now back on hold and hopefully I’ll be able to read it by the end of the year *fingers crossed*.

Despite not yet having read the book, I still thought that this tag looked fun, and the prompts are general enough that I can answer them without any knowledge of the book. I had the most difficult time picking books for each category (how do you choose between all the books you’ve ever read?!) But I think I am satisfied with my choices.

1. Kenny from Camp – Your first book love

I have two answers for this question (look at me breaking rules right out of the gate). The first is one of the first novels that I remember loving as a very small child and that is Brown Ears at Sea by Stephen R. Lawhead. I absolutely loved it. I don’t think that many people have actually heard of this book, so let me know in the comments if you’ve read it.

My second answer is Nancy Drew. I have gone back to this series over and over again since I read my first book and I think that I will always love it.

Nancy Drew and The Secret of the Old Clock

The other reason I want to put this one here is that Ned Nickerson was my first real book crush (at least the first one I can still remember). To this day I have refused to read any of the series’ where Ned and Nancy are not together. Because I am weird that way. (Don’t even ask me about my feelings regarding Nancy’s love life in the new CW show… I am a hot mess of contradictions about that)

2. John Ambrose McClaren – The book that got away
(a book that may not be your all time favourite now, but you’ll always love it)

I had a really difficult time with this answer (something that was a recurring theme for this list). I have a difficult time picking favourites at the best of times, and there are so many books that I wouldn’t consider to be my favourites but will still always have a special place in my heart.

I decided to go with the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I have not read all of the books in this series, I haven’t even read most of the books in this series. But I did start the series (and read the first 3 or 4 I think) back when they initially came out. And I enjoyed reading them – they were such a roller coaster ride of emotions!

After my first initial wave of reading, I kind of just stopped and never went back. I have toyed with the idea of picking up the series again, especially when I hear some of the reviews for the more recent books, but I also worry that they won’t live up to my expectations. In some ways I would rather just enjoy the memory of that first experience.

An honourable mention for this category would be The Little House on the Prairie series. Though it is a series that I hope to revisit with my own children or nieces sometime in the future, I don’t think it’s a book series I would go back to on my own. Even though I loved it when I was young (and am toying with the idea of rewatching the show soon…)

3. Lucas from Homecoming – Your favourite LGBTQ+ character or book

I had a few choices for this category that I went back and forth between, but I ended up going with one of my more recent reads. I loved Calamity Jane from My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows. This is book 3 in the the Lady Janies series. I had so much fun reading it and I loved Jane as a character.

My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

An honorable mention for this category would be The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee. I thought Monty was such a great (and also at times terrible) character and I had lots of fun with that book, even though I have yet to pick up the later books in the series.

4. Josh Sanderson – the book book next door
(a book that you’ll love no matter how many times you read it)

Even just looking through this list here, there are so many books that I have read that could be put into this category, but in the end, there was only one that really called out to me, and that’s Going Postal by Terry Pratchett.

This was the first Pratchett that I read, and I think it will always be my favourite. It doesn’t matter how many times I read it, it is always laugh out loud funny and it always makes me happy. I also just couldn’t go this whole list without including a Pratchett title somewhere.

4. Peter Kavinsky – your one true book love

Is it even fair to ask a book lover to name their one true book love? Isn’t that like asking a parent to choose between their children?

That being said, I picked The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I can’t decide if it’s truly “my one true book love” but the Narnia series is probably the one I have re-read the most of all the books I’ve read in my lifetime, and it never fails to disappoint. I will forever wish to find a secret world in the back of a wardrobe… actually, let’s be real. I will forever hope to stumble upon Narnia itself in the back of a wardrobe. Even though I know that Tumnus couldn’t possibly be there to greet me.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

I want to include an honourable mention for this category as well since it seemed wrong to only include one… The other series I considered for this category was Anne of Green Gables. I will always have a soft spot for the Anne series, and it has had such an impact on my life. Also – Gilbert Blythe may be my one true love book boyfriend… just saying.

I completed a book tag! While I was working on it, I felt sure that I wouldn’t be able to come up with any books to fit into the categories, but I did it, and I had a lot of fun doing it. As much as I don’t like being forced to make choices about the books in my life, it is also good to stretch out of my comfort zone from time to time. I may just seek out some more tags to do in the upcoming months.

Now, onto the people I tag! I am still fairly new to the Book blogging world, but these are just a few of the blogs I’ve been enjoying lately.
1) Elaine Howlin
2) Cherelle the bibiophile
3) Soph’s Book World
4) You! If you are reading this post and think that it would be fun to participate, then consider yourself tagged! And let me know if you’ve done it in the comments so I can check out your picks!

Until Next Time,

Size Matters: Buying a Trailer Part 2

Published on November 10, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Friends! I am back with part 2 of the considerations for buying a trailer series. If you are new here today, welcome! I would recommend starting with the introduction post here, as it will provide some context for what we’re talking about today. Last week, I encouraged you to consider why you are looking to buy a trailer and how you are planning to use it. This week we are talking about some considerations related to trailer size.

Once you’ve determined why you’re buying a trailer and what you hope to use it for, size is the next important question to consider. This is one of the most important, if not the most important questions to consider, as it will affect and influence almost every other decision you make about the trailer. Before we get to the considerations, let’s define a couple terms.

Dry Weight: This is the weight of your trailer with nothing else in it. When you consider whether your vehicle can tow the trailer of your choice, the vehicle tow capacity must exceed the dry weight of your trailer. Remember that your supplies and equipment will add to this weight.

Tow Capacity: This is the weight of trailer that your vehicle can pull. This weight includes anything that you pack into your trailer, so make sure that the tow capacity includes a cushion for all your supplies.

Tongue Weight: This is the weight that your trailer will put on the tongue. It is equally important to make sure that your vehicle and your trailer tongue weight are in the proper range.

What is your vehicle situation?

VW Bug pulling a small trailer — Wouldn’t it be nice if all trailes could be pulled with a VW Bug?
Image by junki72 from Pixabay

Before we consider the size of trailer that will work for you, we need to talk about vehicles. I think that this is something people often overlook when thinking about buying a trailer, especially in the early stages, but it is extremely important.

Unless you plan to park your trailer and then never move it, you need a vehicle that can pull it. I recently helped my parents research a new vehicle that would work for them daily, and also be able to pull the trailer. We are getting an extremely light trailer. It is lighter than most, if not all, other trailers I researched in it’s size category. Because of this, my parents were able to get a smaller/mid sized SUV with a tow package and not a truck.

Some smaller trailers can be pulled with smaller vehicles and vehicles with a lower tow capacity. But don’t assume that because you are getting a small trailer that it will also be light – do your research! This is especially important if you are specifically in the market for a light trailer. I discovered that many small trailers are still very heavy. Just because a trailer is labelled as “ultra light,” it might not mean the same think you think it means.

We wanted a trailer that was as light as possible. We didn’t want a large SUV or a truck, and we wanted a trailer that was as light as possible for driving. To that end, I was often disappointed when I looked at the dry weights on the “ultra light” trailers only to discover that they were still over 3,500 pounds to start. Because I knew the weight that we were looking for, I was able to eliminate many trailers right off the bat. This can be helpful when you’re in those initial stages, but it can also become discouraging.

I would highly recommend you look into the specs of your vehicle before you start researching trailers. Once you have figured out what your current vehicle can pull, you can figure out if the size of trailer you want will require a new vehicle. Even if you already plan on getting a new vehicle prior to buying your trailer, you’ll still need to know your trailer weight to ensure you pick out a vehicle with sufficient tow capacity.

And remember – at the end of the day it is better to have “too much” tow capacity than not enough. Pulling a trailer that is too heavy for your vehicle is not only extremely unsafe, but it will also destroy your transmission over time. And if you break your transmission because you towed over capacity, you better believe your warranty is not going to cover that. You are going to have your trailer and your vehicle for many years so do yourself a favour and make sure you consider everything related to the size and weight.

Are you looking to park it or travel with it?

I’m not going to spend too much time here since we discussed it last week. You should already have an idea about whether you want to park the trailer or travel with it, and you should have already considered some of the size implications related to both options.

If you are looking to park your trailer and then leave it, you may be able to go for a bigger trailer than if you were planning on travelling around with it. You may also want to go slightly bigger if you are going to spend more time there, or treat it like your cottage.

One thing to consider is that if you plan to park the trailer, you may be able to go with a bigger trailer without needing a bigger vehicle. You will need to find a bigger vehicle to tow the trailer to the place where you are going to park it, but you may be able to find a friend to assist with this.

If you plan to travel with your trailer, smaller can be a better option. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go for a tiny trailer. This could mean that you do a bit of extra research and pick the 18’ trailer instead of the 25’ trailer. You may be able to find all the features you want in a slightly smaller trailer, and that might make all of the difference in your enjoyment of towing.

How many people will you be travelling with?

This may seem like an obvious consideration, but make sure that it is something you think about early on. How many people will you be travelling with regularly? You may have more or less people that you travel with depending on the circumstances, but as a general rule, how many people will be the norm?

You want to make sure that you have enough space for all of you. This doesn’t mean you need a huge space, but you should make sure that at the very least you have enough space to comfortably sleep everyone.

Most trailers have at least one table that can turn into a bed if necessary. But before you count that as your primary bed for one of your travellers, consider whether you need it to be a table. If you are only going to use that table in the event of rain or inclement weather, then you might not mind putting the bed away in that instance. But if you are going to use the table every day, or even most days, are going to want to put that bed away every morning? This may not bother you at all, but make sure you have thought it through.

If all of you go camping, will your trailer work? Is there someone willing and able to sleep in a tent if necessary? Or does that defeat the purpose of getting a trailer for you. It’s better to think through all of the scenarios and possibilities (or as many as you can) now, instead of realizing a year after you purchase your trailer that it’s not enough space, too much space, or you strongly dislike putting away a bed every day.

Bigger isn’t always Better.

You may have gathered by now that I prefer smaller trailers. I have nothing against bigger trailers, but I am just not drawn to them, and they just don’t feel like camping to me. But this point is not about my personal preference for small trailers.

I want you to consider that bigger isn’t always better. If you are newer to trailers, you may think that the bigger the trailer the more features, or the better the experience that you will get. But this is not necessarily true. I have seen many big trailers that are laid out so poorly that you can actually get more usable space in a slightly smaller, better planned out, trailer.

Before you just jump into a bigger trailer, think about whether you actually need all of that extra space. Sure you may have cabinets coming out of your ears, and that may seem great at first, but do you need to bring all of that stuff with you while travelling? And remember, more stuff means more weight for you to tow. You may find that a smaller trailer, with well thought out storage solutions, and thoughtfully laid out, actually provides you with more than enough storage space for your needs and wants along with providing the right amount of living space.

Will you be happy in that size of trailer (Smaller isn’t always better)

Happy Camper image — This is a Happy Camper. A more modern trailer based on the original boler design
Image by Michelle Churchman from Pixabay

For most of this post, I have stressed the benefits of a smaller trailer, but I don’t want to neglect the important consideration that smaller also isn’t always better. Though I prefer a smaller trailer, this is still something that I fully believe. We are getting a 16’ trailer. This is smaller than many of the trailers out there, but it’s also not a “small” trailer by the definition of some.

When I first started looking into trailers, I was fascinated with Bolers and Trilliums. If you are not familiar, these are older, compact, fiberglass trailers. And they are small. They are about 13’ in length, and they are not overly tall. I love the look of these trailers, and if I were to suddenly find myself with gobs of extra money, I would love to own one. But after fully considering our options, we decided that this type of trailer wasn’t going to be practical for us.

They are just that wee bit too small. We didn’t want to run into a situation where our trailer was too small, or too claustrophobic. There were also a number of features that we wanted in our new trailer that would not have worked in a Boler, even if we fully renovated the interior. There is such a thing as too small for you.

It can be tempting to look at the tiny trailers and see nothing but the advantages. But if you are going with something small, you need to be fully committed to that size of trailer. If you are thinking that you can learn to live with the disadvantages, take some extra time to consider whether you want to learn to live with them. Do the positives that you associate with a smaller trailer outweigh the negatives? Because if they don’t, or if even one of those negatives has the potential to turn into a deal breaker, then you won’t be happy in the long run. Don’t regret your trailer choice because you decided to go with something too small for you.

Our new trailer is small, but it is laid out well and it has enough space for all of the features that we want. Many people will look at our trailer and think that it is too small, and I’m sure there are many that think it’s too big. But because we knew exactly what we wanted, and had a good idea of the general size and weight we wanted, we were able to find something that I think is going to work perfectly for us.

It can seem like there are endless options when it comes to trailer size. It can feel overwhelming to figure out the size of trailer that you need, especially in a time where people are buying giant luxury trailers. These size options have expanded the trailer world to include more people. Even though they might not be for me, these big, apartment style trailers, have opened the doors to people who may not have been interested in smaller options.

Now that you have considered these questions related to the size of your new trailer, where do you see yourself? Are you looking at a small trailer to fit your needs, or do you lean towards something bigger? Do you have any considerations related to size that you would like to add to this list? Which of the items on this list did you find the most helpful in your considerations for a trailer? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Next week we are getting into some of the fun elements of researching trailers – the features!

Until Next Time,

October 2020 Reading Wrap Up

Published on November 5, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Lovely Readers! It is that time of month again already. The time when we look at all the books I managed to read in October.

Can I tell you a secret? I had this entire post written and ready to be edited and then my computer crashed. And somehow I lost the entire thing… So now I am going to attempt to recreate what I had written in time to still go live on Thursday. If you’re seeing this, you’ll know if I succeeded, and I hope the future is treating you well.

Overall, October was a mediocre reading month for me. I managed to make progress on my fall goals, and I read a number of Halloween themed books, but even though I enjoyed most of what I read, and nothing was really terrible (with the possible exception of one DNF), the whole month just felt a bit “meh.” I’ll have to see if there’s anything I can change up to make November feel more successful.

Speaking of changes… When I started these posts back in the spring, I mentioned that I wasn’t sure how long I would continue with this format of posts. In that time, I have found that, while I enjoy writing wrap ups, I also am not completely sure if I love the format for me.

Personally, I enjoy reading and watching other people’s wrap ups. But while I enjoy traditional wrap ups from some of my favourite creators, I also love ones that twist up the format. Some of my favourite wrap ups are the “Balancing the Books” videos Emma from @drinkingbymyshelf. Just the slight twist of needing to see how many books went on and off her TBR makes the videos unique and interesting, even if she doesn’t do a full wrap up for each book. I am also a fan of other TBRs or Wrap ups that incorporate some form of game.

All that to say that I am considering a change. And while I am thinking about what I want to do going forward, I am curious about what types of posts you prefer. Do you enjoy reading wrap up posts – either traditional or with a twist? Or would you prefer more in depth book talks instead of the short blurbs I give in wrap ups? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Now, on to this month’s books! I read a total of 6 books in October, I got part way through one other, and I DNF’d 1. I read 3 audiobooks and 3 e-books. The DNF was the only physical book I picked up. My favourite read of the month was Dead Beat and my least favourite was Candy Corn Murder. Now on to the blurbs.

1. Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett – 3.5 stars

This is a YA contemporary, and it is the second Jenn Bennett novel that I have read. Though I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as Alex, Approximately, I did have a lot of fun reading it. In particular, I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story. I liked how the main character was a mystery aficionado, and how her love interest worked with that to spend time with her. As someone who also loves mysteries, I thought it added a fun twist to the typical romance plot line.

2. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher – 4 stars

This was the next book in line as I work my way through the Dresden Files series, and I could not have planned the timing better if I tried. This book took place at Halloween, and the main case involved necromancers and Zombies. It was the perfect read at this time of month and I think that the atmosphere added to my enjoyment of the story. That and all the parts that made me literally laugh out loud.

3. The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates 3.5 stars

This is the first book I have read in the Lighthouse Library series, though it is not the first book in the series. Though there is a good amount of suspended disbelief required for the premise (there is no way that you can fit a library, a rare book room, and a small apartment into a library), I really loved it and am excited to read more in this series. I know that it’s not possible, but I want a small apartment in a lighthouse library, doesn’t that sound perfect? I Will definitely be picking up more in this series.

4. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher 4 stars

Since I enjoyed reading Dead Beat so much this month, I jumped right into the next book in the series, so it was a two Dresden Files month. This book also ended up being perfect for October, as it featured supernatural monsters disguised as horror movie monsters. I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as Dead Beat but I still had a lot of fun reading it. I especially liked how this book integrated a number of the recurring characters from previous books and I am excited to see how some of the new developments unfold in the upcoming books.

5. Made for Us by Samantha Chase 3.5 stars

This is the first book in The Shaughnessy Brothers contemporary romance series. This wasn’t my favourite book by Samantha Chase, but it was a solid and enjoyable read. I really liked both the main characters as well as the side characters, who I know will get their own books as the series progresses. This book was exactly what I was looking for when I picked it up. One of the things that I love about Chase’s romances is how she develops the relationship between the main characters and how there’s the perfect amount of tension and steaminess for me. Not too hot, not too cold.

6. Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier – 3 stars

I think that this completes my reading of Meier’s Halloween themed Lucy Stone novels. Chronologically, this one falls between the previous two that I read, and I would say that my overall enjoyment of it fits right in between those two as well. Particularly my enjoyment of Lucy. This book supports my theory that Lucy gets less irritating as the series goes on. My main complaint was that there was too much lead up to the murder and then not enough tension or intricacy between the discovery of the body and the revelation of the murderer. The way that Meiers went back and forth between the past and the present had such potential, but in my opinion it didn’t tie together as well as it could have. Will I continue reading this series? Probably. But if you know of another author that writes seasonally themed mysteries, I would love to check out your recommendations.

DNF The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

I wanted so badly to enjoy this book, but I just couldn’t get into it. On the surface, it had everything I was looking for. Vampires. Murder. Atmosphere. Romance (I’m assuming?). But it was so boring. I read about the first 130 pages and I just kept wondering when I would get drawn in, and that’s not because there was no action. There were 2 or maybe 3 murders in that time, and we were introduced to what I am fairly certain is a secret society of supernatural or magic beings. All of this should be highly engaging! And yet, I had no problem returning the book to the library when my loan expired. So what I would like to know from you is this. If I am feeling this way 130 pages in, is it worth it for me to borrow it again and push through? Does it get better? If you have read this book, let me know your opinions – either yes it’s worth it, or no let it go – in the comments.

And now for a new feature… the November Preview!

You might have noticed that I don’t post TBRS unless it’s for a specific read-a-thon or challenge. I am the worst at sticking to them, and I don’t see the point in posting something that is at best a rough guideline of what I think I might read that month. BUT I am tossing around the idea of including a preview of what I’m thinking of reading in the next month. So, here we go.

In November I am continuing to try and make progress on my fall reading goals since it is the last month to accomplish them. I want to continue to read thriller and/or spooky books but I am also feeling that Fantasy feeling and would love to pick up one of the big fantasy novels I talked about last week. Add to that a non-fiction book for “Non-fiction November”… and it looks like I need to read like it’s my full time job this month. Obviously that’s not going to happen, but it will be fun to see where I end up. Perhaps I’ll abandon it all and read nothing but romance. But you will need to come back next month to see 🙂

What kind of a reading month was October for you? Did you read everything that you were hoping to read? What was your favourite book of the month? What are you looking forward to reading most in November? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

How Are You Going to Use it? Buying a Trailer Series Part 1

Published on November 3, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello and welcome back! If you missed last week’s post introducing this new series where I’m going to look at some of the things I think you should consider if you’re looking to purchase a trailer, you can check it out here. This week I want you to consider why you are buying a trailer and how you are going to use it. And I’m looking for more than “because I want one” or “to camp…” How you answer this question will greatly impact the type of trailer you decide to get, and many of the things we’re going to discuss in the next few weeks hinge on the answers you give to this question.

Question 1: What do you like and dislike about your current setup?

Woman enjoying a cup of coffee camping — Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

How you begin to answer this question will depend on whether or not you are currently a camper. Before you start looking into trailer options, I suggest that you think about the way you currently camp. If you haven’t camped for awhile then consider the way you have camped in the past. If you are not currently a camper, then I want you to think about why you would like to start camping, and why you want to start with trailer camping specifically.

If you are currently a camper, then I want you to think about and list the things that you love about your current setup and the way that you currently camp. Even if you want to change how you camp, you still want to pick out a trailer that fits your camping style. For example, if you love everything about tenting but are tired of sleeping in a tent, you may find that a 20’ luxury camper would be too drastic a change and would take all the joy out of camping. Your equipment shouldn’t take away from what you love about camping.

Once you have completed this list, think about all the things you don’t like about camping or your current setup. Is your current set up too big or too small for your needs or wants? Do you really wish that you didn’t need to walk to the washroom first thing every morning? Do you despise cooking in the rain? Write everything down.

In this stage you’re not considering features that you want in depth, that will come later. You just want to identify your likes and dislikes to give you a baseline for the type and size of trailer that you will be looking for. You don’t want your new trailer to ruin camping for you, but you also want to try and eliminate some of the things you don’t like about your current setup.

If you aren’t a camper, I still want you to go through this likes/dislikes exercise. I want you to consider what you think you will like and dislike about trailer camping. What are the things you look forward to and dream about when you picture yourself with your new trailer? What are the things that have kept you from camping up to this point?

There are many objections to camping that you can overcome by picking the right trailer. But there are many that you won’t be able to overcome. So pay attention to any of the “big things” that appear on this list. I don’t want to turn you away from camping, but I also don’t want you to buy a trailer on a whim and then regret it.

I don’t want to discourage you from taking up trailer camping, or suggest that you shouldn’t purchase a trailer. But I do want to make sure that you’ve thought it through. Trailer camping isn’t for everyone and it may be a good idea to dip your toes in the water of camping prior to making such a big purchase. Many parks have roofed accommodation options that fall somewhere between a tent or trailer and cabins, have you considered staying in one of these? Depending on where you go these accommodations provide more or less equipment, but there are options available to rent the necessary equipment so that you don’t need to purchase everything right away.

oTentik Picture — An oTentik at Thousand Islands National Park

These options aren’t going to give you the same experience as trailer camping, but I think they can help you get an idea of whether or not you will enjoy camping. Another option to consider would be renting a trailer for one or two trips, though I don’t know much about the logistics of this option.

Question 2: What is your time line?

This may seem like an odd consideration, but I have learned that it is a valuable one. Are you looking to purchase your new trailer immediately, or do you have some wiggle room? What would happen if you were told that you needed to wait 6 months? What about 1 year or 2 years? Would that turn you off the trailer completely?

You might be tempted to skip this question – because of course, you want the trailer as soon as possible. But I encourage you to take the time to think past that. I spent years thinking about and researching trailers to figure out what I wanted. I know that many people aren’t going to do this, but it’s important to note that I could take my time because I didn’t need the trailer right away.

We had a couple trips planned that we didn’t need a trailer for, so we could take things slow to get an idea of what we wanted. We also still owned our old trailer for most of that time so it was there if we needed it. Once we made the final decision to switch to a new trailer, we sold the old one in the spring, and then had picked out our new trailer by September of that same year.

And then we were told that there was a 2 year wait list for the trailer we wanted. Most trailers don’t have this length of wait list, but our trailer is being custom built at a small, family owned company and they can only produce so many trailers a year. We could have changed our minds and decided to look for something else similar, but we knew what we wanted, and we knew our time line. And because of that we were able to go ahead with it.

You may still think that this doesn’t apply to you because you aren’t looking to buy a custom trailer. But don’t brush it off. There are many smaller trailer companies that may also have waiting periods. Not to mention that many companies saw a surge in interest this year and sold through more inventory than in a typical year. In addition to high demand, there were closures that led to lumber and parts shortages. And these are sure to cause production schedule delays. If you find the perfect trailer but the supply is low and you need to wait for it, is that something you are willing to do? It’s okay if your answer is no, but you should know going in.

You should also know your time line if you are looking to buy used. The used trailer hunt can be short and sweet, or it can be tedious, time consuming and lengthy. There are often a lot of people selling trailers but they won’t necessarily meet your needs or you’ll find that the perfect ones seem to be scooped up before they even come across your screen. Even trailer companies that sell used trailers can only sell you what’s on the lot, and if none of those trailers match your needs, then you’ll need to keep looking, or change what you’re looking for.

Question 3: How do you plan to use it?

Yes, I know. You’re planning on using it for camping. What I mean is, in general, are you looking to park it our travel with it? Many trailers can be parked or traveled with, but there are some better suited to each type of use. This question will come up again next week when we talk about size, but it is useful to consider in this step as well. It also may not be something you have considered before this point.

There are many people who buy trailers to park and leave in one place. For people who can’t afford or don’t want the additional expenses and responsibilities of a cottage, a trailer in a nice park can be a great alternative. If this is how you intend to use your trailer, you might want to consider something a bit bigger and you also won’t need to be as concerned about the trailer weight. I’m not saying that you need to go crazy or that you can’t park a small trailer. But if you’re going to spend a lot of time at the trailer you may want a bit more space or a few more creature comforts. If this is your plan, it is also worth considering trailers that are already located at your chosen park.

On the other hand, it is easier to travel with a smaller trailer. It is possible to travel with a giant trailer, and I am sure you have seen any number of them traveling down the highway. But the bigger the trailer the more unwieldy it will become to drive and park. Not to mention you’ll use more gas, need a bigger vehicle, and put more wear and tear on that vehicle the bigger you go. I’m not saying that you need to buy one of those little tear drop trailers if you plan on taking road trips. But I am saying that you should take some time to think about what size of trailer will best meet your specific needs. Because, as we’re going to see next week, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better.

I hope that you have found these considerations helpful. There are so many different styles and sizes of trailers available in the market that it can be overwhelming if you don’t have some idea of what you are looking for and what you need. The more you can know about your wants and needs going into the search, the better prepared you will be to quickly eliminate the ones that don’t meet those needs. Do you know your camping style? Let me know one thing that you can’t live without from your current setup in the comments below!

Until Next Time,

Top 5 Reads of 2020

1. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

2. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

3. Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny

4. A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore

5. The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

5 Least Favourite Reads in 2020

1. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle

2. 1st to Die by James Patterson

3. Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie

4. Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich and Promise of Love by Tamie Dearn

5. He Started it by Samantha Downing

5 Favourite Series I read in 2020

1. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

2. The Paranormal Investigation Bureau by Dionne Lister

3. Band on the Run by Samantha Chase

4. Girl Meets Duke by Tessa Dare

5. League of Extraordinary Women by Evie Dunmore

1. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (3 Stars)Family and Friends

2. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren (5 Stars)A Book Published in 2020

3. Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich (1 Star)A Christmas Mystery

4. Americanos, Apple Pies, and Art Thieves by Harper Lin (4 Stars)Many Happy Returns

5. The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams (4 Stars)A Book with Green on the Cover

6. Snowy Nights at the Loney Hearts by Karen King (3.5 Stars)A Christmas Romance

7. Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke (3.5 Stars)A book that includes Baking

8. Promise of Love by Tamie Dearen (2 Stars)A Book with Red on the cover

9. Small Favor by Jim Butcher (4 Stars)A fantasy Read

Other Completed Squares

Missed Squares

Goal #1: Fantasy

Goal # 2: Fright

Goal #3: Cozy and Chic

Goal #4: Miscellaneous

1. Slayer by Kiersten White (3 Stars)

2. Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie (3 Stars… maybe 2.5?)

3. The Girls Weekend by Jody Gehrman (3.5 Stars)

4. A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore (4 Stars)

5. White Night by Jim Butcher (4 Stars)

6. None Like Him: 10 Ways God is Different from Us by Jen Wilkin (4.5 Stars)

December Preview

1. Permanent vs non-permanent beds

2. Fridge Size

3. Storage Space

4. Winterization

5. Indoor Cooking

6. Power and Water

7. Bathroom Facilities

8. Heating and cooling

9. Spending time indoors

10. Multimedia and extras

1. Kenny from Camp – Your first book love

2. John Ambrose McClaren – The book that got away(a book that may not be your all time favourite now, but you’ll always love it)

3. Lucas from Homecoming – Your favourite LGBTQ+ character or book

4. Josh Sanderson – the book book next door (a book that you’ll love no matter how many times you read it)

4. Peter Kavinsky – your one true book love

What is your vehicle situation?

Are you looking to park it or travel with it?

How many people will you be travelling with?

Bigger isn’t always Better.

Will you be happy in that size of trailer (Smaller isn’t always better)

1. Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett – 3.5 stars

2. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher – 4 stars

3. The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates 3.5 stars

4. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher 4 stars

5. Made for Us by Samantha Chase 3.5 stars

6. Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier – 3 stars

DNF The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

Question 1: What do you like and dislike about your current setup?

Question 2: What is your time line?

Question 3: How do you plan to use it?

1. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (3 Stars)
Family and Friends

2. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren (5 Stars)
A Book Published in 2020

3. Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich (1 Star)
A Christmas Mystery

4. Americanos, Apple Pies, and Art Thieves by Harper Lin (4 Stars)
Many Happy Returns

5. The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams (4 Stars)
A Book with Green on the Cover

6. Snowy Nights at the Loney Hearts by Karen King (3.5 Stars)
A Christmas Romance

7. Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke (3.5 Stars)
A book that includes Baking

8. Promise of Love by Tamie Dearen (2 Stars)
A Book with Red on the cover

9. Small Favor by Jim Butcher (4 Stars)
A fantasy Read

2. John Ambrose McClaren – The book that got away
(a book that may not be your all time favourite now, but you’ll always love it)

4. Josh Sanderson – the book book next door
(a book that you’ll love no matter how many times you read it)