Meaghan Elizabeth

Big Fantasy Reads for November

Published on October 29, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello lovely readers! Can you believe that it’s almost November? I don’t know about you, but October practically flew by for me. With all that this year has brought(and there has been a lot), I am both more than ready for 2020 to be over, and still a bit surprised to find that there are only two months left.

This week I want to talk about some BIG fantasy novels. I often find myself drawn to longer fantasy novels this time of year. I’m not always successful in reading the books in November, but I find myself thinking about them all the same. Perhaps it’s because the days are getting shorter and the nights longer so there’s seemingly more time to cozy up and read.

Whatever the reason, as my thoughts have turned to the longer books, I thought I would share some long fantasy recommendations. This list is in no way intended to be exhaustive, or definitive. I have picked 5 long novels that I enjoy and then an additional 5 that I have not yet read but that are on my TBR to possibly read at some point. There are a couple that I hope to pick up in the next month, and I’ll note those below.

Note: The one condition that I have tried to stick to is that the length should be 500 pages or more, though I have made a couple exceptions to that rule, as you will soon see.

Books I’ve Read or am Reading

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

1. A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy) by Deborah Harkness
I only read the third book in this series earlier this year, but I have read the first two books twice. I find this series to be wonderfully atmospheric, and I am currently trying to convince myself not to pick it up for a re-read this month. An important thing to note is that this is a Vampire series, and though it plays with the tropes, it also embraces them. If you don’t like vampire tropes, then as much as I love this series, it’s not going to be for you. I love the combination of magic, vampires, and history. And I love that our main character is a historian. I think I might satisfy my craving for this series by reading the companion novel soon.

2. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
I discovered this middle grade series just over a year ago, and it fast became a favourite. We follow a young girl who discovers early on that she is not a human, as she has previously believed, but an elf with magical abilities. She is whisked away to a new world and a new family and sent to a new school where she can learn about and refine her abilities. I love the world building, and the characters. The friendships are well developed and I love that, in contrast to many other middle grade series, there is a strong emphasis on family. I have read the first three books, and hope to pick the next book up soon. Book 1 is just under the 500 page mark, but as the later books are much chunkier, I decided it still fits.

3. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
This book is unique on this list in that it is the only stand alone. In my experience most long fantasies are part of series, so it is rare to find a stand alone. This book is almost 900 pages long and I for one, loved pretty much every minute of it. The cast of characters is deep and well developed, as is the world building. In a world deeply divided by religion, this book is full of political intrigue, friendship, romance, and dragons. Be prepared to have a lot of information dropped on you at the beginning, but if you can push by that, it is well worth the read. And there’s only one book to commit to if you’re not ready for another long fantasy series.

4. Foundryside (The Founders Trilogy) by Robert Jackson Bennett
One of my favourite things about this series so far is the magic system. Practitioners use coded commands to imbue inanimate objects with sentience. The magic is complex and its use creates deep class divisions in the world. Thrown into this mix is our main character who has a unique talent. She is able to hear, or feel, the codes in the world and this ability allows her to get past security systems… making her an excellent thief. When she steals an artifact of immeasurable value, she soon finds her life in danger as others try to take it from her. I have had book two, Shorefall, on my TBR since it came out earlier this year.

5. The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
I found this book while browsing my library a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Because it’s been so long since I read the first book, I’m worried that I don’t remember enough of it to continue, so a re-read is definitely in order. This is a time travel fantasy series set in New York, with a main character whose ability to manipulate time allows her to travel to the past to steal artifacts that are important in the present. The only problem is, Old New York is a dangerous place filled with more magic than the current day and our main character has to make choices to protect herself in the past while also ensuring she still has a future.

Books I haven’t Read

1. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
I don’t want to admit how long I have been “in progress” reading this book. And it’s not because I’m not enjoying it. I have heard great things about Brandon Sanderson’s writing, and I am determined to get into his books. I don’t know much about the series, other than that it is the very definition of epic fantasy. One of these days I will succeed in making it all the way through.

2. The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard series) by Scott Lynch
This series has been out for some time now, though I only heard about it earlier this year. This book follows a main character who is, once again, a thief. He eventually becomes the infamous leader of a band of thieves and when he is faced with a coup, he is forced to either defeat his enemy or die trying. I honestly don’t know too much more about the story than that, but I have heard enough praise for this series that it is one I would really like to try out. I’m not sure if I’ll get to this one this year, but it is on the horizon.

3. The Black Prism (Lightbringer Series) by Brent Weeks
Once again, I don’t know much about this series, other than that it has a unique magic system. Even the description doesn’t give too much information. I have heard just enough about this series to be intrigued, but not enough to know whether I would enjoy it. If you’ve read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it in the comments!

4. The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle series) by Patrick Rothfuss
I’m not going to lie… I have intentionally avoided this series because it has almost been 10 years since book two came out and there is still no reliable release date for Book three… I don’t know if I want to commit to a series that may never get finished. So why does it still appear on this list? Because I have heard such good things about it that I can’t help but want to read it. So I sit here, trying to decide if now is the time to pick up this series in the hopes that 2021 is the year when the final book in the trilogy is released. If you have any advice as to whether I should dive in or not, I would love to hear it!

5. Assassin’s Apprentice (Realm of the Elderlings/The Farseer Trilogy) by Robin Hobb
This book also doesn’t fulfill the requirement of being 500 or more pages, but the series itself is long, and many of the later books meet the criteria, so I decided to sneak it in. I’ve had this series on my TBR for years, and then recently I have heard many positive comments about the series so I decided to put it higher up on the list. I picked up the e-book at a good deal earlier this year, so I am hoping to pick it up soon – if not this year, then next year.

I know, I know. I can hear you all now telling me that your favourite series or book is not on this list. No need to shout, as I mentioned in the introduction, this list is not meant to be complete or “definitive”. To list all of the books in this category that I’ve read or would like to read would make a post way too long for anyone to actually want to read. So I limited myself to 10 books total. The 10 I’ve included here doesn’t even necessarily reflect my “favourites” (for me such a list would at least include The Lord of the Rings).

I hope that you have found something here that you haven’t read to add to your TBR. If your favourite isn’t on this list, I would love to hear it in the comments so that I can check it out if I haven’t already!

Until Next Time,

Thinking About Buying a Trailer Series Introduction

Published on October 27, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth2 Comments

This year has seen an increase in people buying trailers and RV’s. The pandemic not only restricted travel options, but it also increased the necessity and desire to remain safe during travel. These factors encouraged many people to look into options such as renting or purchasing travel trailers of all types. People who never before considered buying a trailer now started to consider it. And I think that many more people who were already considering it moved up their purchase plans. Not only have people been buying trailers, but many have been buying very large trailers… in some cases ones that are essentially small apartments on wheels.

As someone who was already in the process of buying a trailer before the pandemic hit, I think that it’s great that more people will experience the joys of trailer camping. At the same time, I can’t help but wonder if some of these new owners are going to end up with serious buyers remorse in the next few months or years as they made this big purchase on a whim. Then again, that could just be because I’m the type of person who spends months considering and researching for a major purchase of this type.

With that in mind, I thought it would be a good time to post about the process that went into picking out our trailer, and some of the things that I think you should consider if you are looking to purchase a trailer. I intended to write this series earlier in the summer, and then I took my unplanned break. Though we’re no longer in trailer season, I think this series is still relevant at this time for a number of reasons.

I had planned on writing about our process of buying a trailer since I started this blog. Our trailer, and the camping that goes with it, is going to be featured in many posts once we get it, so I wanted to background that with posts about the process.
People aren’t done buying trailers in relation to the pandemic. Even as the world eventually starts going back to normal, I think there’s still going to be an inclination to maintain distance during travel.
Trailer purchases didn’t begin with the pandemic, and trailer camping is still something that will continue long after the pandemic is a thing of the past. The considerations I want to talk about are common regardless of whether you buy a trailer now or in the future.

Some Background

I have been camping with my family for my whole life. I was two weeks old the first time I went, and I’ve gone at least once per summer almost every summer since then. We have always been tent trailer campers. Our first trailer was an old canvas Canadian Tire camper, and it was small. It was essentially a box with fold out flaps for beds. I think the middle space had room for a playpen, and that was about the extent of it.

Our pictures of this trailer have gone temporarily MIA, but this is the first trailer we had

After that, we moved up to a slightly bigger canvas tent trailer. It was still essentially a box with fold out beds, but this one also had a space in the middle with benches and a table. I loved this trailer. Sure, it was small. But it was cozy (as long as you didn’t touch the canvas in the rain), and it had a lot of character. Eventually it was too small to actually sleep our entire family, but I am the sentimental type, and it was full of memories.

And then one year, the weekend before we were planning on getting it out of storage, we got a phone call. A phone call stating that the barn where we stored the trailer had burned down, along with our trailer and many of our camping supplies. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but we were so upset to lose our trailer so suddenly, and many of the things we lost had a great deal of sentimental attachment. With camping booked for the summer, my parents were now on the hunt for another trailer.

The trailer we got next was luxurious in comparison to what we were used to and it was much newer than our previous trailers. I’m not going to lie – I wasn’t a huge fan at the start. At the time, my opinion was that no self-respecting tent trailer would have electricity, a furnace and a refrigerator. What can I say, I was young and I didn’t like change. I also wasn’t the one responsible for the food for the trips, and had never experienced the struggle of keeping food fresh using only coolers and a Kool-a-tron. My opinion on this aspect has changed significantly over the years. Though I know there are also people who would still agree with my younger self.

Our Third, and most recent, tent trailer — Our Third and most recent trailer

This trailer served us well for years, and it was still functional and in good condition when we started to think about switching to something new. The problem was, it was no longer functional for us anymore. We found we were tent camping more often because the tent trailer was too big for the two of us, and took more setup than we often wanted to do on our trips. For the amount of time we traveled with more than 2 of us, it just wasn’t worth it. No to mention that the trailer was heavy to pull for what it was.

And so, despite how much we loved our trailer, and how well it had served us for years, we started to seriously consider getting something else. Our research and consideration process was actually quite lengthy from start to finish because it began with dreaming and “window shopping” long before we even started thinking about making the change. Even after we started to look in earnest, we took it slow and steady because we wanted to find something that would be perfect for our needs, or at least as close to it as we could get.

In the end we settled on a small, custom made, fully enclosed trailer from a family owned Canadian company that is essentially “down the street” from us. We will transition from being tent trailer people into a trailer that has absolutely no canvas on it. It’s still relatively small as trailers go, and compared to those hotels on wheels, it could be considered basic. But it will be equipped with all of the creature comforts that we were looking for, plus a few that we’d never even considered before we came across this company. In short, after a ridiculous amount of research, we have chosen a trailer that will hopefully be as close to perfect for us as we can get.

Taylor Coach Sample Trailer Image — Picture taken from taylorcoach.com – Sample of the type of Trailer we’re purchasing

Along the way, through all the dreaming and research and talking to others we knew that had trailers, I’ve put together a list of some of the things I think are worth considering when you’re looking to upgrade or change your camping rig. I am certain there are aspects of trailer research and purchase that I haven’t included, but these are the ones I think were highest on our list of considerations. I am going to look at each of the following topics over the course of the next four weeks, and I’ll talk about our personal process and decision making as we go along.

Why are you buying a trailer and how are you going to use it?
Size Matters
Need, want, don’t want: Features to Consider
What’s Your Budget?

I hope that you will join me over the next month as we look at these considerations and the process of researching to buy a trailer. Do you own a trailer? If so, is it something that you’ve purchased recently, or have you had it for some time? Are there any major considerations that you think I’m missing from my list, or anything that you would like me to write about? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Ghostly Reads for Fall (Or anytime)

Published on October 22, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Lovely Readers!

While I was putting together my list of cozy and atmospheric mysteries for last week’s post, I came across a number of mysteries that included ghosts in some way or another. Some I included in last week’s post, but I found that I had a few that seemed just that wee bit more “ghostly” than the others, and I decided that they deserved their own post.

As I have previously mentioned, I can be a bit of a wimp when it comes to spooky or scary stories. I fall somewhere between completely wimpy (no scary at all) and horror aficionado. If my fright tolerance level was on the spiciness scale, it would be medium. Over the years, I have found that I enjoy stories that feature ghosts as long as they aren’t overly scary or gory. I also enjoy series with friendly ghosts.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I’ve enjoyed ghostly stories for quite some time. I used to love the children’s TV show Ghostwriter and then when I got a bit older, I enjoyed Ghost Whisperer (I am still bitter that the show got canceled when it did). And these are just a couple examples. But let’s move on to the books that this post is about. And don’t be put off if you are also a bit of a wimp when it comes to scary, because this list includes a range of fright levels.

1. The Lockwood & Co Series by Jonathan Stroud

In my opinion, this series does not get nearly enough visibility or recognition. I think I discovered it initially while browsing my library Overdrive and it quickly became one of my favourites. It is a YA series about a small group of teenagers that make up the smallest “Psychic Investigation agency” in London. Essentially, in an England that is in the midst of a ghost epidemic, Psychic Investigators are young people who hunt and dispel ghosts. The characters are amazing, and the stories and world are so well developed. At some point in the first book, they are joined by a talking skull that may or may not be friendly, and he is great. Overall, this series is amazing and I would highly recommend it. There are a total of 5 books, all of which have already been released – so it is the perfect binge series.

2. The Shades of London series by Maureen Johnson

*Disclaimer: this series was set to include 4 books, but it has started to seem as if the 4th book is never going to come out, and book 3 ends on a major cliff hanger from what I can remember… so if that is something that is going to bother you to no end, maybe hold on this series. BUT all that being said, I do still highly recommend this series if you enjoy ghostly books.
This YA series is, once again, set in London. The first book has a “Jack the Ripper” storyline, but after that, it moves away from the “known” stories and focuses more generally on ghostiness. Also, just because of the Jack the Ripper aspect, don’t assume that this is historical fiction because it’s not. In this series, we once again follow a group of teenagers that hunt ghosts. On the scariness scale, I would say that this one is a bit scarier/tenser than Lockwood & Co. Romance also plays a bigger part in this series if that is a factor in whether you pick up this series.

3. The Cassidy Blake series by Victoria Schwab

If you have been around for my last couple of posts, you’ll have seen me mention this series already. This is a relatively new middle-grade series featuring ghosts. Though this would definitely be spooky and a little scary for the target age range, I would say that this is the least scary series in this list so far. We follow a young girl (I think she’s 12), and her ghost best friend around the UK and Europe with her parents, who have a paranormal investigation television series. Cassidy discovers an ability or calling to send ghosts on beyond the veil and she gets into any number of scrapes doing it. There are two books in this series so far, with a third scheduled for Spring 2021.

4. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Depending on how much time you spend in the YA fantasy genre, you may be familiar with Kendare Blake from her Three Dark Crowns series. The Anna duology came out before that series began. I debated including this book here since it has been so long since I read it, and I’m not sure if I even read the second book. In the end, I included it because it has stuck with me all these years, and is one of the reasons I am always on the lookout for more ghostly reads. I don’t know how this book/series would hold up over the years, but I remember it being very creepy. It is probably on the mid to high level of the scariness scale. This book features a main character ghost hunter who is facing the dangerous ghost of a young woman who has killed everyone that stepped into her house… at least until she allows our main character to live. I really enjoyed this one, and would recommend it… I think. Perhaps it is time for a re-read to determine whether it holds up and, if it does, to finally pick up book 2.

A few Honourable mentions
The next few books didn’t really fit the direction this list ended up taking, but they are books I enjoyed that are ghostly in one way or the other, so I wanted to give them a mention. (Note that this list is in no way exhaustive.)

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella (great if you want a ghostly book that is not at all scary and more contemporary)
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager (This one is more haunted house than ghost hunter, and one of the few Adult reads I came up with)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (This one is ghostly in a completely different way than the others… and it’s not really the ghosts that contribute to the scary factor)

Writing this list has made me want to pick another ghostly series, or maybe re-read one from this list, so don’t be surprised if you see that on an upcoming wrap-up! How about you? Do you enjoy ghostly stories? If so, do you have any you could recommend? I would love to find some adult stories that fit with this vibe. Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Dreaming of Fall Camping

Published on October 20, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Lovely Readers, and welcome back! It has been awhile.

If you’re someone who also reads my book posts, you may be thinking it hasn’t been all that long at all since my last post, and you would be correct. But I know there are some who come here primarily for the travel and adventure related posts. Even those of you who primarily read the book posts may be wondering where the travel posts have gone. Let me assure you, they have not gone away for good, they just went on a bit of a break.

I mentioned in my Summer Reading wrap up that I took an unplanned break from writing this summer. A number of life things came between me and writing over the summer months. Though I wish I could have continued without the break, I am learning to recognize and listen to my physical and emotional cues and take a break when needed. I’ve seen it said many times that it’s better to take a break, or rest than to quit. So that is what I did.

And then when I started back up again with writing in September I decided to spend a few weeks getting back in the swing of things by posting book-related posts only, thus limiting myself to one post a week. Not only did I want to ease back in, but I also didn’t want to burn out before I’d even really got started again. But I think I am ready now to jump back into the travel-related posts. I have the week off from work in an unprecedented fall vacation, and I am hoping to put together a few posts so that I can have the flexibility of working ahead instead of always running from week to week.

I had originally planned on jumping back in with a series about buying a trailer, but as I am sitting here today enjoying some beautifully crisp fall weather, I keep thinking about how much I’m looking forward to doing some fall camping next year, and so I decided to chat a bit about that. Don’t worry though, the trailer series is coming, so consider this a teaser for the upcoming weeks.

I have never gone fall camping. It’s just not something my family did when I was growing up. I don’t think it was something we ever considered since it’s more effort to heat a tent trailer than a fully enclosed trailer, and I just can’t imagine running to the washroom in the early hours of a fall morning. Now, I know that there are probably many out there telling me that they camp all the time in the fall or winter in tents without any heating. As much as I would love to try out that type of fall or winter camping someday, in general, we are wimps, and you are braver than us. So, other than the occasional youth group campout or a fall retreat in cabins, I have never really gone off-season camping.

As I have mentioned before (if you can remember that far back), we are buying a new trailer with a delivery date of June 2021. Our new trailer is a fully contained, aluminum travel trailer with a heater and an onboard washroom. As such, one of the things we are really looking forward to is the possibility of more offseason camping trips. It may sound strange, but a fall camping trip is one of the things that I am currently looking forward to the most in 2021.

Though October can be a hit or miss month in terms of the weather here in Southwestern Ontario, even cooler days can be beautiful and you can’t beat the changing leaves for scenery on fall walks. Sure, you’re not likely to have any beach days or sunbathing in October, but in my opinion, there’s so much to look forward to/dream about with regards to fall camping.

1. Long scenic walks in the woods

In some ways, the cooler fall days are nicer for long walks than hot summer days. When the days are hot and humid, it can quickly become “too hot” to enjoy a long walk. In the fall, the days are cooler so that you don’t overheat but aren’t typically cold enough that you need too many extra layers. Not to mention that the changing leaves make for a beautiful change to the scenery when walking in wooded areas. There is also something special and magical about walking over the soft padding of fallen leaves on the path. I am a big fan of fall walks, especially knowing there’s a cozy trailer and hot tea or chocolate waiting at the other end.

2. Coffee outdoors on Crisp Autumn mornings

Coffee enjoyed outdoors in nature is just better somehow. And it’s even better yet if the morning is just enough on the crisp side that you need a sweater or light jacket, but not too cold to keep you inside or make the coffee get cold too fast. I enjoy the odd day where I can enjoy a coffee, or tea, on my deck at this time of year, and I can’t wait to enjoy it outside of our trailer surrounded by the sounds of fall. When morning coffee is in charge of waking you up and warming you up, it is that much more lovely.

3. Cool morning lie-ins and slow starts

I don’t know about you, but I often find it more difficult to sleep in while camping in the summer, especially if I’m in a tent. The sun, combined with warmer temperatures, is just so insistent in saying that you should get up and start your day. Add to that the need to get up and walk to the washroom, and I just don’t find myself staying in bed too long. Now, I don’t actually know how it will be in practice waking up in our trailer on fall mornings, but I am envisioning the possibilities of lazier, more slow-moving mornings – especially since an on-board washroom and stove mean that we don’t actually need to leave the trailer first thing in the morning if the weather is less than pleasant or it’s raining. It will be so much easier to enjoy the rain on the aluminum roof if we’re not thinking about the upcoming mad dash to the washroom…

4. Cozy evening campfires

I love campfires in the evening while camping in the summer. Depending on the weather, however, summer nights can be too warm to fully enjoy a campfire. This is where fall campfires shine. And with fall you don’t even necessarily need to restrict the campfires to the evenings if the day is cooler. Fall campfires are something you can truly cozy up to, and they’re even better with hot beverages. Sure, depending on the evening, you might also need sweaters and blankets (and possibly hats), but that just adds to the mood and coziness. An added bonus is that, even if you have the temperature down low in the trailer, you won’t be leaving the coziness of the fire to go into a freezing cold tent.

5. The freedom to just relax and enjoy

Now, I try to do this on all of my camping trips, or at least on the ones that aren’t incorporated into other travels, but I think the options are a bit different on a fall camping trip. Sometimes, on summer trips, there can be more pressure to get out and do something to enjoy warm days we know won’t last. Whatever that looks like, it doesn’t always feel right to just hang around all day (though we have been incorporating more of this in our summer camping). Regardless of whether it’s the same activities or different, I think fall days lend themselves so much better to snuggling up and reading or writing all day, or spending the entire day listening to music and playing board games. I’m not sure I’m explaining this point all that well, but I am looking forward to the extra coziness that comes from a lazy fall day indoors surrounded by nature and peppered with the occasional trek outside for fresh air.

These are just some of the things I am dreaming about when I think of fall camping. I’m sure what I enjoy about it, and what I look forward to with regards to it, will change once I’ve actually gone fall camping, but for now these are the things I am picturing while sitting on my deck wishing I was elsewhere.

Have you ever been fall camping? Do you go in a tent or in a trailer? What is the thing you enjoy most about fall camping as opposed to summer camping? Leave me a comment below and don’t forget to like and subscribe if you enjoyed this post!

Until Next time,

Cozy and Atmospheric Fall Mysteries

Published on October 15, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Lovely Readers!

A couple weeks ago I outlined my fall reading goals, and in that post I mentioned that I enjoy reading books, across genres, that fit within a seasonal theme. I am always on the lookout for seasonal reads, or for books that feel like a particular season to me. I am hoping to share my favourite seasonal reads here regularly, beginning this week with mystery.

Mystery is one of my favourite genres to read in year round and I am always on the lookout for seasonal mysteries. I especially love mysteries that have a deeply developed setting and that are heavy with atmosphere. Of course, when I started putting this list together, I was promptly struck with an inability to come up with the types of books I wanted to include… I really need to start a few running lists of this type so that I am better prepared next season.

Before we get to the list, I wanted to make a note about the word “atmospheric.” According to the dear dictionary, atmospheric means “creating a distinctive mood, typically of romance, mystery or nostalgia.” In this sense, saying that a book is atmospheric means very little outside of context. Despite this, it has become a frequently used description word, particularly for describing “fall” books. So, for the purposes of this list, atmospheric means invoking a sense or feeling of fall and all that encompasses. In many ways this list is completely subjective, but I hope you find something that will work for your definition of atmospheric.

1. The Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson

This YA mystery/thriller trilogy is the perfect read for this time of year. This series is set in a remote, exclusive and prestigious (as well as quirky) boarding school. In addition to being an unconventional school, the estate has a mysterious history with the death of the founders wife, and the disappearance of his young daughter. The history of the estate soon collides with the present – becoming sinister after the suspicious death of a student. This series combines a true crime style mystery with traditional mystery/thriller aspects, along with humour and quirky characters to make for a delightful, suspense filled, sometimes scary read. As a note, this trilogy may be getting a fourth book in 2021, but I think it will be a companion novel, so you can easily read this trilogy now and feel like it is complete.

2. The Stalking Jack the Ripper Series by Kerri Maniscalco

I won’t go into too much detail about this series today, because I’ve mentioned it here before. If you’re interested in my series wrap up, you can find that here. This is a four book YA thriller/mystery/historical fiction series that has excellent fall atmospheric vibes. Each book is based around a different setting, though we follow the same characters throughout. The main character does get on my nerves on occasion, but I really enjoyed this series – so much so that I am considering starting a re-read – if not this year, then next year. If you enjoy mystery/thrillers with a historical twist, then I would highly recommend this series.

3. The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher

If you’ve been around awhile, you’ll know that I have been working my way through this series over the past year. I’ve been listening to the audiobooks and I’ve averaged about 1 book a month. From looking at the reviews, I know that people have very mixed opinions on this series. I am in the camp of those that enjoy it, at least so far. This series combines mystery and fantasy elements. If it were a television series, I would say that it mixes recurring storylines with “monster of the week” stories. The series is set in Chicago and I find that the combination of supernatural/paranormal elements gives the series a bit of a darker, more atmospheric feel. There’s magic, and vampires and werewolves (oh my!) and a good dash of humour. Overall this series is a whole lot of fun!

4. Phantom Evil by Heather Graham

I have only recently discovered Heather Graham, and I think this is the first one I’ve read. Because of that, The verdict is still out as to what I think of her as an author, and what I think of her books in general. But I did enjoy this first one I picked up. I enjoyed how Graham combines a typical “FBI” special investigation type premise with supernatural elements. The supernatural elements aren’t as prevalent or apparent as they are in the Dresden files, but the balance is effective. Throughout the book, you’re often stuck between trying to decide if there’s something supernatural at work or if there’s a rational explanation – right along with the characters. This book definitely has atmospheric vibes, and I look forward to picking up more in this series.

5. Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie

This is an Agatha Christie that I have not yet read, nor had I heard of it before I stumbled across it on a list of fall mysteries. I am looking forward to picking this one up, and may read it as the Christie book I pick to fill my Fall reading goal. In this book, Poirot and Ariadne Oliver (who I am not familiar with), work to solve the murder of a young girl found drowned in an apple-bobbing tub after a Halloween party. This sounds pretty much perfect for this time of year.

6. The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates

As you can see, the cover for this book has pumpkins and a cat reading “Sleepy Hallow”… if that doesn’t scream fall vibes, I don’t know what does. This one just became available off my library hold list, so I will hopefully pick it up shortly. This is book 4 in the Lighthouse Library mystery series, but I think like many cozies, it will be fine to read as a standalone. The cover description mentioned the possibility that the library might be haunted… and whether it is or isn’t in the end, that is a premise that I am fully on-board with.

7. Death Overdue by Allison Brook (Marilyn Levinson)

This is the first book in the Haunted Library Mysteries series and, unlike the previous entry, this one I have read. I remember enjoying this one, though I don’t remember too much about it. In this one, the library is haunted, but in a good way. Our main character works with a friendly library ghost to solve a recent murder with historical importance.

8. The Inspector Gamache Series by Louise Penny

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to put my finger on a selection from this series that is set in Autumn, but I am certain there must be one. In any case, Penny’s beautiful setting descriptions ensure that each and every book (at least those I’ve read so far) are suitably atmospheric. They just may or may not be “fall” atmospheric. If you can think of one that is set in the fall, let me know in the comments! Personally, I am hoping to pick up the most recent entry in this series – “All the Devil’s are Here,” this fall.

9. The Paranormal Investigation Bureau series by Dionne Lister

This series is not strictly “fall” themed, and of the ones I’ve read so far, I can’t even remember if any of them are specifically set in the fall, but I think they still have a place on this list due to the theme. As I’m sure you can tell from the series title, this is a cozy mystery series with a paranormal twist. I would say that the paranormal portion is more on the “light” side, so if you’re not sure you’ll like the paranormal/fantasy element, but want to give it a shot, this might be a good gateway series.

10. The Lucy Stone series seasonal offerings by Leslie Meiers

As I’ve mentioned in a couple of my more recent posts, I’m still not completely convinced that I enjoy the Lucy Stone series. Of the ones I’ve read, I’ve had about a 50% success rate. I think the trend seems to be that I enjoy the later books more than the earlier ones. What I can say, though, is Meiers is great if you are looking for seasonally themed mysteries. She has written quite a number of them. So far, I’ve read Trick or Treat Murder and Wicked Witch Murder this year, and I am also hoping to pick up Candy Corn Murder this fall.

I know that this list doesn’t come close to all of the great seasonal or atmospheric mysteries out there, and I am always on the lookout for more. What is your favourite seasonal read? Have you read any good ones yet this year? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

September Reading Wrap Up

Published on October 8, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Friends! Is it just me, or is anyone else surprised to find we’re already into October? I honestly feel like September just flew by. Despite how quickly it went, I still managed to get a lot read, and I’ve also made some progress on my fall reading goals that I talked about last week.

I also finally took the plunge and bought an e-reader that supports Overdrive, and this has made a world of difference to my library e-book reading game. In the past, I have used my iPad mini or my phone to read library e-books, but this is not my preferred method, especially as I’m trying to limit screen time before bedtime. More and more I found that I wasn’t picking up library e-books, and that was starting to limit my reading. I am loving having an actual e-reader for library books now, and I think that helped me read more books overall this month.

In total I read 11 Books and DNF’d 1
– 3 Physical
– 4 E-books
– 4 Audiobooks

1. Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff (3.5 stars)
If you are unfamiliar with this series, it is a dark, gritty (sometimes explicit) fantasy that follows a young woman who was training to be an assassin in the first book. It is a bit more gritty than I am typically comfortable with, so if that is something that bothers you, then stay clear of this series. I won’t say much about this one, since it is the second book in the series, but I will say that I mostly enjoyed it. It took me a bit to get into, and there were some story lines I didn’t enjoy at all, but I liked it overall and am excited to read book 3. That twist at the end!

2. 1st to Die by James Patterson (3 stars)
I think this is the first James Patterson book I’ve read and, honestly, it was just okay. I strongly disliked the beginning and don’t think it was necessary to the story, unless I completely missed something. I almost didn’t read the book, I disliked it so much. Overall, I enjoyed this one enough that I think I’ll pick up book two to see if I can get drawn into the series. If you read Patterson, do you have a book or series that you would recommend?

3. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager (5 stars)
I loved this one! There were a few bits that I didn’t enjoy, but for sheer enjoyment it was 5 stars. It was exactly what I was looking for – a creepy, mysterious ghost story set in a Haunted House. I loved the way the story went back and forth between the present day and the “book” that the narrator’s father wrote about their experience with the ghosts at the house when the narrator was little. If you are looking for a ghost story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I would highly recommend this one.

Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier (Cover)

4. Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier (3 Star)
This was a low 3 star read for me. Though I enjoyed the concept and the mystery itself, it reminded me of all the reasons I didn’t like Lucy Stone the first time I picked up this series. The Halloween vibes were great, and I loved the parts that talked about the old homes and renovating and restoring them, but I almost didn’t pick up the next book in this list because of my general annoyance with Lucy.

Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier (Cover)

5. Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier (3 star)
This was also a 3 star read, but it was inching up towards 3.5 stars. This book is much later in the Lucy Stone series than the one listed above. Lucy has started to come into her own by this point and I didn’t find her nearly as annoying in this book. Though the Halloween vibes weren’t as strong in this one, I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed this one enough that I’ll most likely read more in this series. The fact that Meier writes so many seasonally themed books is a major draw for me.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green (Cover)

6. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green (4 Star)
I have been meaning to read this book for so long. I was initially drawn to it because I have enjoyed Hank’s videos for years, but this was also the thing that made me hesitate to pick it up. In the time that it’s been out, however, I’ve consistently heard good things about it from others who were initially skeptical. As someone who does not read a lot of sci-fi, I would say that if you don’t often read in this genre, but want to try it out, this would be a good book to pick up . Who wouldn’t want to read a story that combines giant robot statues with a commentary on humanity and social media? I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to picking up book two soon.

7. Blood Rites by Jim Butcher (4 Star)
I know from scrolling through the reviews that people have very mixed opinions on this series, and I can understand the objections, but I am really enjoying it. It’s not perfect, and there are times I roll my eyes at Harry, or find myself wanting to have a serious conversation with him about some of his more questionable trains of thought, but aside from that, I’m really enjoying this series. I love the humour, and I found myself literally laughing out loud in sections. I am looking forward to continuing this series.

8. The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw (3.5 Star)
This was almost everything I was hoping it would be. I had a day where I was exhausted, and overall feeling blah, and this was the perfect book to cozy up with that evening. I read it in almost one sitting. I just wish that it would have been longer, and that we could have had more time to really dive into the characters and the plot. I loved the premise of the ghosts of 3 women drowned as witches coming back to revisit a town every year for 200 years to enact their revenge, I just wanted more of it.

Heavy Vinyl by Carly Udin, Nina Vakeuva (Cover)

9. Heavy Vinyl, Vol. 1: Riot on the Radio by Carolyn Urdin, Nina Vakeuva (4 Star)
I cannot remember where I heard about this graphic novel, but I am so glad that I picked it up because I really enjoyed it. The basic premise is that there is a group of young women who all work at a music store. The story is set roughly in the 90s, which is excellent in and of itself, and then on top of that they are also part of a secret society, vigilante girl gang, fight club. It was so much fun, and I picked up the second volume shortly after finishing the first.

Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab (Cover)

10. Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab (4 Star)
This is book two in the Cassidy Blake series, which is a middle grade series about a young girl whose parents have a television ghost hunting show. Her mother is a believer, her father is a skeptic, and Cassidy doesn’t need to take it on faith because her best friend is a ghost. When Cassidy and her parents move to Europe for the television show, Cassidy discovers a new mission to send stuck ghosts on through the veil. In this instalment they are in Paris and hunting down a poltergeist. I am really loving this series, and as much as I loved book one, I thought this one was even better. Highly recommend.

He Started It by Samatha Downing (Cover)

11. He Started It by Samantha Downing (3 Star)
this was another low 3 star read for this month. This is Downing’s second book, and I think I might have to say that I just don’t mesh well with her writing style. As much as I love the premise of both books, the writing just drags for me. For both of Downing’s books, I have been simultaneously hooked on the story and bored by it. If you like family drama thrillers with an unreliable narrator, you may enjoy this book, and don’t let my negativity turn you away from picking it up. I am definitely in the minority in not loving Downing’s books.

DNF. Deep in the Alaskan Woods by Karen Harper
I had such high hopes for this book and was excited to read a book set in Alaska, so I was very disappointed when I made the decision to DNF it. Though I have read at least one other book by this author in the past, I just could not get past the writing style. The writing was clunky and confusing and I wasn’t nearly interested enough in the story to continue. I think this one could have benefited from a good edit.

Overall, I think September was a pretty solid reading month. I had a couple books on the lower end of the ratings, but the ones that I enjoyed, I really enjoyed and that made up for the low ones. I am really enjoying all of the fall vibes in the books I’ve been reading and am hoping to continue that trend into October.

What about you? How did your reading go in September? What was your favourite book that you read this past month? Have you read any of the books on this list? If so, do you agree or disagree with my thoughts?

Until Next Time,

Fall 2020 Reading Goals (September – November)

Published on October 2, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Depending on what you consider to be the start of fall, this post is either quite late or pretty close to right on time. I tend to start my ‘fall reading’ at the beginning of September because, regardless of the weather, that always seems like the unofficial start of fall to me. The kids go back to school and cooling temperatures and changing leaves are on the horizon. So, from my point of view, this post is very late… but c’est la vie. We are here now.

I don’t stick too closely to seasonal themes in my reading, but I do like to try to read at least some books that fit within the seasonal theme or feel. For me, in recent years anyways, that means cozy, slightly spooky, more “atmospheric” (whatever that means) books for the fall. In practice this generally means a lot of mystery, some thrillers, some that are loosely horror or supernatural, and then fantasy.

These seasonal aspects, along with the knowledge that we are entering the final stretch of this year and I have not made nearly as much progress on the reading goals I set out earlier this year, are the things that shaped my reading goals for this fall.

Goal #1: Fantasy

Fantasy Book Cover slices — Fantasy Books Cover slices

What you will soon discover, if you have not already, is that I read fantasy year round. The amount can vary depending on the mood I’m in, but fantasy is a staple in my reading diet. At this time of year, I tend to gravitate towards some of those darker, atmospheric (there’s that word again) fantasies that just seem so well suited to fall. Since my summer reading was light on fantasy this year, I want to focus on reading more fantasy overall along with focusing on the fall vibes.Here are some of the books I’ve picked for this category.

I) Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff
As you’ll see in my September wrap up next week, I read the second book in this series, Godsgrave, at the end of August. This dark, gritty series is perfect for fall and I hope to finish the series off this year.

II) Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
This was on last year’s fall list and it didn’t happen, therefore it needs to happen this year. If ever there a year to read about an unlikely duo trying to stop the apocalypse, it feels like this is it.

III) Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab
Cassidy Blake can see ghosts and in this instalment on particularly unpleasant poltergeist is loose in Paris. I really enjoyed the first book in this middle grade series when it came out. With it’s ghostly vibes and setting, I think book 2 will be the perfect fall read.

IV) Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett
I have not read nearly enough Pratchett this year, and that needs to change. This instalment, focusing on the Grim Reaper, seems to be a seasonally appropriate choice. If ever there was a year that needed a few laughs…

V) House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
I don’t think this one really fits with the atmospheric vibes, but it’s been on my list since it came out earlier this year, and I am crossing my fingers it will be my turn at the library soon.

Goal # 2: Fright

Fright Books Cover slices — Fright Books Cover Slices

This category includes more than just your typical scary books; it also includes some mysteries and thrillers and some fantasy. I don’t gravitate towards intense horrors (even though sometimes I think I might like to) because I like to sleep and my imagination mixed with horror doesn’t always allow that. But I really enjoy a certain level of scary, so I am always on the hunt for the perfect level of scary.

I) Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
This book features a haunted house and dangerous ghosts. What more really needs to be said? (Seriously though, if you want a wee bit more than that, come back next week for the blurb in my wrap up)

II) We have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
If you haven’t heard of this one before, Jackson is the same author that wrote The Haunting of Hill House, and I have heard that this one is even better than that one.

III) The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Every year the small town in this book is revisited by the ghosts of three young woman that were drowned as witches 200 years prior. The women inhabit the bodies of living young women and proceed to drown young men to enact their revenge on the town. The synopsis as I have given it sounds terrible, but I have heard excellent things about this one.

IV) The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White
You may have figured out by now that I love stories that include an aspect of a “retelling.” I don’t know much about this one, and I’ve actually heard very mixed reviews for it, but as it fits into this category of retelling, I am looking forward to giving it a shot.

V) Assorted Thrillers, Horror and Mystery
I have more specific titles on my personal list, but I am largely at the mercy of the library hold list as well as the “reading whims.” The “reading whims” have strong feelings about which books in this category I am drawn to pick up. Also – I am always looking for recommendations of books that are spooky, creepy, and scary, but that aren’t too scary or gory. If you have any, I’d love to hear them in the comments!

Goal #3: Cozy and Chick

Cozy and Chick books Cover Blocks — Cozy and Chic Books Cover Blocks

Here there be cozy mysteries as well as anything that I might classify as “chick lit.” Okay, okay, I hear you. This is a bit of a 180 from the previous two categories, but hear me out. There are a lot of cozy mysteries and contemporary/romance books that are either clearly set in fall, or give off intense fall vibes, and that is largely what I want from this category. I also just really love this category of books and know that if I don’t put any on the list I’m likely to go off the rails and abandon all other categories…

I) Read at least 2 Leslie Meier books
I have not read many Leslie Meier cozies, and the ones I have read have left me very indecisive as to whether I enjoy them… but she writes so many seasonally themed mysteries that I want to give her another shot.

II) At least 1 Agatha Christie
I’m not sure if I want to read the other Christie that is on my “Twenties” reading list, or if I want to read something completely different, but after reading the Mysterious Affair at Styles earlier in the summer, I am feeling drawn to pick up another one of her books.

III) A Murder She Wrote novel
Yes. I am that girl. I am 100% unsure of how good this series of books based on the show will be, but I am also quite addicted to Murder She Wrote these days, so I figure, why not?

IV) Start a new series by Samantha Chase
This one doesn’t fit with my “fall vibes” theme. I enjoy Chases’ romance novels and haven’t picked on up since I finished the series I was reading earlier this year. I want to start a new series so I have it on the back burner going into winter.

Goal #4: Miscellaneous

Leaves on an open book — Image by ksyfffka07 from Pixabay

I have 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. Full disclosure – if these goals were being ranked in a high school year book, they’d probably receive “most likely to not be completed”… just saying.

I) Make some progress on my “Book Lists”
Along with some of my themed reading lists that I’ve shared here over the past year, I also wrote a “Must Reads” list for 2020 at the beginning of the year. There are 20 books (plus optional sub ins) on this list, and up to this point, I have read 9 of them. And don’t even ask me how I’m progressing on my themed lists…

II) One or Two Non-fiction books
I am trying to get back into reading non-fiction at least occasionally, and there are a few books in this category that I have really wanted to read for some time. Let’s see if I can finally convince myself to dive in. If it’s on a list, it has to happen… right?

III) Graphic Novels
On my personal goals list, this was specifically to pick the LumberJanes series up again. I am still planning on that, but I also feel drawn to graphic novels in general right now. I have only dipped my toe into this category, so if you have any that you could recommend, I am always open to suggestions.

IV) Something Mermaid
I know, I know, this is both oddly specific and extremely vague. Basically, I know there are some more spooky mermaid fantasies that I want to read, but it will all depend on library availability (and my ability to remember what they are…)

V) Start a ‘Walking Book’
Yes. This is another strange one. This goal is tied into a goal I have to go for walks more consistently. I have the idea that if I start an audiobook that can only be read while walking, I’ll walk more… so far I have succeeded in increasing the number of walks I’ve gone on, and listened to zero audiobooks on the way. So this might be a doomed goal, but we shall see.

There you have it, all of my reading goals for Fall 2020. I know that it might seem like a lot of goals, but I make my reading goals the same way that I make my themed reading lists. Think of it like a reading goal buffet – you want to have plenty of options to pick from to be prepared for whatever mood that strikes. Sometimes you want salad and mains, and sometimes you want 3 helpings of dessert…

…now that I’ve made myself completely hungry, I think that it’s a good time to wrap up this post. What about you? Do you find that you tend to read seasonally? What are some of your favourite fall reads?

Until Next Time,

Summer Reading Wrap Up

Published on September 25, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Friends, and welcome back! It has been awhile. When last we spoke, it was the middle of July and I was bringing you my June reading wrap up. And here we are in the middle of September and, though I’m back with another reading wrap up, it’s now for the entire rest of the summer.

I took a bit of an unplanned writing hiatus this summer. Between the stresses of figuring out whether or not we were still going to Newfoundland this year, and a number of big family things that happened between the end of July and the end of August, writing just didn’t happen. My one week break turned into two, and then next thing I knew, it was the middle of September, and it had been two months without a single post.

With previous blogs and writing projects, this break would have been enough to make me quit the project all together. But I’m trying really hard not to do that this time. 2020 has been such a crazy year that I’m trying to give myself a good measure of grace when things don’t go the way that I’ve planned. Sometimes life demands that you take a break from your projects, and that is okay.

So I’m going to pick myself up, dust of my keyboard, and get back to it. And this month you’re going to get a wrap up that covers two months instead of one.

Speaking of the wrap up… since this post covers two months, and quite a few books, I’m only going to comment on a few of the books individually, and I’m going to try to keep those comments short and sweet. I’m also not going to stay strictly chronological to allow me to group books together to talk about them. Sound good? Okay, let’s get to it.

Book on a blanket in summer. Image by Innviertlerin from Pixabay

July

I had a rocking reading month in July. I read a total of 12 books, 2 of which were audiobooks. I started off the month continuing the paranormal mystery series by Dionne Lister that I started in June. Because these books are like candy, and are fairly short, quick reads, they gave me a significant amount of reading momentum to carry through the rest of the month. I also got on a bit of a romance kick this month, which kept me moving through books at a quick pace.

I read 4 more books from the Dionne Lister series I started in June. I enjoyed some more than others, but overall I cannot get enough of this series. I actually had to force myself to pause my reading of this series, because I didn’t want to devour them too quickly. (That reminds me, I think it’s time to pick up the next book…) I won’t go into each book, but if you enjoy cozy mysteries and also enjoy stories that have a paranormal aspect, I would highly recommend you look into this series.

1. Witchslapped in Westerham by Dionne Lister

2. Witch Silenced in Westerham by Dionne Lister

3. Witch Haunted in Westerham by Dionne Lister

4. Killer Witch in Westerham by Dionne Lister

I read quite of bit of romance this summer and, though they were a mixed bag in terms of quality and enjoyability, for the most part I enjoyed them all. I also think that some of my complaints were less about the books themselves and more about my personal preference when it comes to romance (in particular steaminess level). Of the books listed below, my favourite was without doubt “The Governess Game.”

5. Against Her Rules by Victoria Barbour
You might recognize this title from my post about books set in Newfoundland. If I manage to read a few more from that list, I’ll do a bit of a wrap up, but for now I’ll just say that this one was enjoyable, but the style wasn’t my favourite. If you don’t enjoy “insta-love,” maybe pass this one by. For me, it depends on how it’s done and this one fell just short of the mark.

6. Swipe Right for a Cowboy by Karen Foley

7. Falling for the Highlander by Emma Prince

8. The Governess Game by Tessa Dare
This series is is pretty much everything I want in a romance series. There is plenty of steaminess, and romance (of course), but Dare also incorporates humour, and brings a depth to her characters that is sometimes absent from others in this genre. I cannot wait to pick up book 3.

These last few books from July include a little bit of mystery and a little bit of fantasy (okay a lot of fantasy) and, all but the Agatha Christie book, include a combination of both. I have touched on the Jim Butcher series before, and I will again most likely in an upcoming post, so I’ll just tell you a bit about the last book for now.

9. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

10. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

11. Phantom Evil by Heather Graham

12. My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodie Meadows
This series (each of which can be read as standalones), is a perfect combination of historical fiction, fantasy and humour. I would highly recommend the audiobooks, because the narration adds an amazing aspect to the story, especially as the narrators often provide commentary on the story. Even if historical fiction is not your thing, if you enjoy fantasy with a good dose of humour, I would highly recommend you give this series a try.

August

My reading slowed down quite a bit in August. This was partially because work was so busy that I just didn’t feel drawn to reading in the evenings, and partially because I started working on some art/craft projects more regularly. This list is also a bit skewed because I read a very long book at the end of August that I didn’t finish until the beginning of September. In total I read 5 books in August, 2 of which were audiobooks.

1. Lucky in Love by Carolyn Brown

2. Sweet Nothings by Kim Law

3. The Cat Came Back by Louise Clark
This is the first book in a series that, oddly enough, I forgot I started. This gap in memory is not a comment on the book so much as it is a comment on the craziness that was August. This is another new cozy mystery series that includes a good dash of the fantastic and paranormal. This was a solid first entry, and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series. (A tip to draw you in… there is a talking cat and he is amazing).

4. Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters
I had a lot of fun with this rom-com style book. It was funny, and cute, and I thought the relationships were well developed. I did guess the twist, but despite that the ending was completely worth it and it was just different enough from how I guessed to keep my interest to the very end. If you enjoy fun romances with quirky characters and plenty of movie references, then I would highly recommend you pick this one up.

5. Death Masks by Jim Butcher

Altogether this summer I read 17 books, and I would say that is quite the accomplishment. I enjoyed most of the books I read, and I found a couple new series and new authors that I am excited to continue with. How did your summer reading go? Did you read as many books as you were expecting? What was the best book you picked up this summer?

Until Next Time,

June Reading Wrap Up

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

In my May wrap up, I said that I thought my reading slump was over. It turns out that was a little bit right and a little bit wrong. I did have a pretty good reading month in June, and I managed to complete 9 books. But I read the majority of those books in the last part of the month. I finished two books by June 7th and then I didn’t pick up another book until the 18th. 7 of the 9 books I read were completed between the 18th and the 30th.

Now that we’re halfway into July, I think I can confidently say the reading slump is over. It helped that I figured out the type of book I was in the mood for and that I picked up some shorter books. When you’re having a difficult time with reading motivation, it can be helpful to pick up shorter books.

When you finish books that are short and quick to read, the sense of accomplishment can spur you to pick up another book right away. I love reading long books, but it can be hard to pick up a 600 page book when you can’t even bring yourself to read for 5 minutes before bed.

Okay, enough rambling, and on to the books I read in June.

1. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (4 Stars, Audiobook)

This is book 3 in The Dresden Files series. I am really enjoying this series. I’ve been listening to the audiobooks from Overdrive, and there’s always been at least a few weeks of hold time between each book, so I’ve been going through the series at a nice, leisurely pace so far. This one was overall enjoyable, though not my favourite so far. In this instalment, we’re starting to get into the bigger story of the series, and the stakes for Dresden are high throughout the book.

2. Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore (3.5 Stars, E-Book)

This is the first in a new historical romance series. It is also the first book in a series of me going on a fairly significant historical romance and romance reading kick. Set in 1879, this book follows a young woman determined to get her degree at Oxford University. As part of her scholarship, she has to participate in a suffragist group, where she is tasked with getting the Duke of Montgomery onto their side. As you can imagine, sparks fly. Overall this was a very fun read, and I look forward to reading the next book when it comes out this fall.

3. Reborn Yesterday by Tessa Bailey (3.5 Stars, E-Book)

There are two things you should know going into this book. First it is a Vampire book, and second it is a steamy romance. If you don’t like either of those things then I would suggest you steer clear. I enjoyed the vampire aspect of the story, though it was more steamy than I prefer, so I found myself skimming over parts. The main character is part owner of a funeral home, she designs and makes dresses, and her sense of humour is terrific. I look forward to picking up Book 2 in the very near future.

4. The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare (4 Stars, E-Book)

This is the first book in the Girl Meets Duke historical romance series and I had an absolute blast reading it. When I think about this type of romance, for some reason I never expect them to be funny, but this book was at times laugh out loud funny. The characters were great, and I genuinely enjoyed the story. This is a steamy romance, so that is something to be aware of if you pick it up. I will definitely be reading more – and book 2 is sitting on top of my TBR pile as we speak.

5. Damaged by Pamela Callow (3.5 Stars, E-Book)

This is the first in a mystery/suspense series set in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The series follows Kate, a lawyer who has recently started a new job at a high-powered law firm after breaking off her engagement. While a serial killer is stalking the streets of Halifax, Kate is pulled into a tangled legal conspiracy that puts her right into the crosshairs of that same killer. This book was engaging and suspenseful, and I look forward to picking up book 2.

6. Destiny’s a Witch by Lucy May (2.5 Stars, E-Book)

I would like to give this book 3 stars, because even though there were aspects of it that I enjoyed, but overall it fell flat for me. My biggest complaint is that the mystery could have been better developed. The mystery felt like a side plot throughout the story. There wasn’t enough time dedicated to it, and it wrapped up too quickly. I may give this series another try, because I am always on the lookout for new cozy mystery series with a witchy or paranormal twist, but this first book was, unfortunately, lacking for me.

7. Witchnapped in Westerham by Dionne Lister (4 Stars, E-Book)

I found this series through an e-book deals email, and I am so glad I gave it a chance, because I am hooked! This is a cozy mystery series with a witchy twist, and it did not disappoint. The mystery and the magic are well balanced and the world building and magic system have clearly been well thought out and developed. I would tell you that I look forward to reading more, but as you will see in the next two entries, that has already happened!

8. Witch Swindled in Westerham by Dionne Lister (5 Stars, E-Book)

This is book 2 in the Paranormal Investigation Bureau series, and I enjoyed this one even more than the first book. These are fairly short, quick reads, and every time I finish one I want to immediately pick up the next book. In this book, we get to know all of our main characters a bit more, and our main character Lily starts to get more familiar with the Witch world as she learns how she can use her magical talent to help solve a case where someone is using magic to swindle millions out of unsuspecting retirees.

9. Witch Under cover in Westerham by Dionne Lister (5 Stars, E-Book)

This is Book 3 in the Paranormal Investigation Bureau Series and it has quickly become one of my favourite cozy mystery series. Lily is a great main character, and I love how Lister develops her character and shows us more about her in each book, while she also gradually develops and gives us more information about the witch world. In this instalment, Lily helps the PIB in the hunt for a murderer with a possible link to art fraud. And could there be a romance in Lily’s future? Only time will tell.

Those are the books that I read in June. It was definitely a whirlwind at the end, but I can confidently say that I came out of June on a reading roll. I hope to get to some of the bigger books on my TBR over the next few months, but I’m also not fighting the reading whims. If I want to read nothing but romance and witchy cozy mysteries for the next two months, that’s what I’ll do.

What have you been reading lately? Do you find that you are reading more now that it’s summer? Have you read any of the books on this list, and if so, what were your thoughts?

Until Next Time,

Planning for Socially Distanced Travel?

Published on July 14, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

About two weeks ago, just when I was finally going to sit down and start cancelling things for our trip to Newfoundland, I got a call from the hostel we had booked for St. John’s. The caller asked if we were still planning on our trip, and he informed me there was a chance we might not need to cancel if we were still interested in visiting. After months of being told that Newfoundland would not be open this summer, there’s now a chance that’s going to change.

As it stands at the time of writing, Newfoundland has opened it’s borders to the ‘Atlantic Bubble,’ so residents of the 4 Atlantic provinces are free to travel between those provinces with no quarantine period required. Depending on how things go with this level of re-opening, there is a chance that the borders may open to other provinces as soon as July 17th. Nothing is confirmed, and at this point, there’s about as much chance of the borders not opening as there is that they will open.

This possible re-opening brought up many questions in terms of our trip. Before this announcement, it was simple. Closed borders meant the trip was off, end of story. Now we’ve been wrestling with the question of whether we should travel, along with questions about what aspects of our trip would need to change if we did end up going. One thing was certain, it would be a different trip than it would have been pre-Covid 19.

I started writing this post a week ago, and at the time, we were considering taking the trip if it was allowed. As you’ll see below, I struggled quite a bit with whether that was the right decision or not, but we were leaning towards trying to make it work. Since then, we have decided to cancel the trip regardless of whether the borders open. I’ll go into this decision more below, but it became clear that there was just too much that we weren’t going to be able to do. And if we only get to Newfoundland once in our lives, we want to do as much as we can on our list.

In light of this decision, I considered scrapping this post. But I realized that the decision on whether or not to travel isn’t going away in the near future. I think the following considerations are going to be relevant as part of trip planning for a good while still – whether you’re planning distance travel or sticking closer to home. I think that these are things anyone who is considering travel in the next few months should think about.

1. Should we Travel/Is it Safe?

This is by far the biggest consideration, and all the others hinge on the answer to this question. This is also the most difficult question to answer, and people are going to answer it in different ways, for many valid reasons. There are some who will say that any level of travel is too risky. And there will be those who believe there is no risk at all. Personally, I fall somewhere in between.

In many ways the answer to the question is no. It isn’t safe. There are risks. And thinking about those risks can be scary and make it seem like the only answer is to cancel. But then, aren’t there risks involved in everything we do and every trip we take? Every time we leave the house there’s a chance something could go wrong, and that someone could get sick or injured.

So what do we do? How do we manage the risks specific to this time and this pandemic? How do we find a balance between living in fear and living recklessly?

Eventually, we will need to figure out what it means to live with Covid-19, and to travel within this reality. In considering trips, we will need to decide what is an acceptable level of risk and what is an unnecessary risk. I think destination and type of travel are big factors. I also think the answer will vary at different points between now and the ‘end’ of this pandemic.

I don’t know the right answer. As someone who who agonizes over big decisions, and the “what ifs,” this has been a difficult question for me to navigate. Dwelling on all the things that could go wrong is no way to live, but neither is pretending there aren’t risks. I think the key will be to make the best decisions we can under the circumstances, remain cautious and vigilant about safety, and always look to give others grace as we all do the best we can.

2. What Itinerary Changes are Necessary?

Anyone going forward with pre-planned or new trips, over the next few months will need to consider itinerary changes. Chances are that not everything you had hoped to do will be possible. For us, these changes ended up pushing us to the final decision to cancel. There were many changes that we were fine with, but as the changes to experiences started to pile up we realized that it wasn’t going to be worth it. We had crossed off too many things on our “must do in Newfoundland” list.

One of the difficulties in setting an itinerary right now is that we are living in an ‘only time will tell’ situation. Just because something is closed right now doesn’t mean it will still be closed a week or two from now. And just because it’s open now, doesn’t mean it still will be in a few weeks. This makes it difficult to finalize plans. Depending on the type of trip you are looking to take, this might not be a problem for you, but it is important to take potential cancellations into consideration.

Your trip might be different than in other years. But different doesn’t need to mean worse if you can accept some of the uncertainty and the need to be more flexible in building your itinerary.

3. Meal Considerations

We always include both eating out and eating at our accommodations when we travel. Often we have a few pre-planned meal stops for specific restaurants that interest us, but we typically plan our meals on a day-to-day, or even meal-by-meal, basis. If you plan your meals anything like we do, it might be worth it to spend a bit more time pre-planning this year.

One thing to consider when planning your meals this year is the decreased restaurant capacity. You will most likely need to make reservations, or call ahead at the very least. It is also possible that restaurants will have reduced hours, and some may not be open at all. I would suggest that it also might be a good idea to plan more take out meals or eat more often at your accommodations.

Another thing to consider is planning your grocery trips wisely or taking your food with you. If you are planning a camping trip or a road trip, it would be a good idea to pack as much food as you can to take with you. The fewer shopping trips you need to make on your trip, the better. Making meals work while travelling during Covid-19 is going to take a balance of careful planning along with increased flexibility when booking restaurants.

4. Maintaining Social Distancing

Original Image by Joshua Miranda from Pixabay

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times – social distancing. One of the things to consider with any trip you take right now is how many people you are likely to be in contact with throughout the trip. Part of the reason we even considered going ahead with our trip was because it had a degree of social distancing already built in. Though we were flying to get there, after that, we were renting a car and road tripping.

This is a good year for trips like road trips or camping – as evidenced by the number of people suddenly buying and renting RV’s and campers. You can bet that if we had our trailer this year we would be camping. Though showers aren’t typically available at campgrounds yet, camping is still a good option to maintain social distancing while enjoying the outdoors and getting away from everyday life.

Whatever type of trip you decide to take, it is important to consider how you’re going to practice social distancing – both for yourself and for any of the people you come into contact with. You may not be concerned about this contact, but others might be, and it is always a good idea to be a kind and compassionate traveller.

5. New Items on your Packing List

In some ways this is a more minor consideration, but it is an area where there are both notable and important changes. While each trip requires it’s own unique packing list, this was the first time I ever included masks on a packing list! This year, masks are as essential as toothbrushes… more so even, since they’ll let you on the plane without a toothbrush but not without a mask.

You’ll also likely need to pay more attention to cleaning and sanitizing supplies, as well as hand sanitizer. It’s always a good idea to be conscious of cleanliness while travelling, but this year that is even more true. Even if you’re not a fan of cleaning wipes or hand sanitizer, like we’re not, it’s worth packing both this year.

These are the main things we considered as we were deciding whether to go ahead with our trip to Newfoundland. It’s going to take some time to figure out how to live in this new reality, and what travel is going to look like going forward. And this process will involve stepping out into the unknowns. But that’s not new. Life has always been filled with unknowns.

What about you? Are you considering any trips in the upcoming months? Are there any considerations that you would add to this list?

Until next time,