Reading – Page 2 – Maps and Meanderings

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,

10 Novels that Feature Camping

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

When I set out to put together this list of books that feature camping, I was confident that it wouldn’t be all that difficult. Though putting together these types of lists is typically time consuming, I normally have a good basis of posts and lists to start from. Both Google and Goodreads have always been good friends in helping me sift through books to come up with a list. It turns out that this was not the case when it came to books that feature camping.

I soon discovered that there are not many existing lists to peruse. Though I am certain that there are many books that include some form of camping, they don’t seem to be grouped together or easily identifiable. Camping doesn’t seem to be a common keyword tag for novels. There are at least 2 books on this list that I only found because I spent time scrolling through my Goodreads “Read” and “Want to Read” lists, and I remembered enough about them to click through to the description.

Many of the lists that do exist are short and contain the same small handful of books, or they list books that contain some wilderness aspects and/or hiking but not camping. There are lists of books set at summer camp, but that was not what I wanted. It turned out to be very difficult to find fictional books that include camping. But I have succeed in putting together a list!

The books listed here feature camping to different extents, but I think they all feature it in some way or another. I have not read them all, but I have read a number of them and hope to add the others to my TBR for the future.

1. Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes
This was the book that inspired me to write this list, and somehow made me believe that it would be easy to put together. If there’s one book, there must be more, right? This is the first in the Camper & Criminals cozy mystery series that is set in a campground in Kentucky. With campground politics to traverse and a murder to solve, this is a fun entry into the series and I look forward to reading the later books.

2. The Wild Inside by Christine Carbo
This is the first in the Glacier Park Mystery series. From the description, this might not be one to take along on your next camping trip unless you are okay with being scared of every thing that goes bump in the night. This mystery deals with grizzly bear attacks that appear to be instigated by a very human killer. As intriguing as this one sounds, I don’t think I’ll be too keen on sleeping in a tent too soon after reading it.

3. Hatchet by Gary Paulson
I read this book years ago while in elementary school. This is again the first in a series, though I think I only ever read the first book. The series follows a boy who is forced to survive in the Canadian wilderness after the plane he was in crash lands in a lake. All he has is the clothing on his back and a small hatchet.

4. Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
I came across this one multiple times before I added it to the list, because I was convinced that it was a non-fiction/memoir/self-help type book. But I was wrong. This is a contemporary novel about a recently divorced woman who lets her younger brother convince her to sign up for a wilderness survival course where she will spend three weeks in a remote area of Wyoming.

5. The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson
This book has quite possibly one of the cutest covers ever, but it might be stretching the topic a tad, because I’m not sure how much camping it includes. This is a contemporary romance novel that follows a woman who moves back home to help out her grieving and aging grandfather only to find that her mother has already taken over her old room. Things start to turn around when her grandfather gifts her an old run-down vintage camper that she resolves to restore with the help of a certain handsome gentleman from town.

6. Flamingo Fatale by Jimmie Ruth Evans
This is the first in the Trailer Park Mystery series, and from the description, it probably falls right on the edge of the camping category. When Wanda’s husband is found murdered with her favourite pink flamingo yard ornament, she quickly becomes not only the prime suspect but a target for the real killers. Wanda and her best friend need to catch the real killers before they get her.

7. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
This is the first book in the fantasy series The Queen’s Thief. While camping isn’t a main feature point in the book, and certainly not the rest of the series to my knowledge, the characters do spend a fair amount of time camping and hiking through the woods as they set out on a quest in search of a treasure. There are even stories at night by the campfire! This is a series that I quickly fell in love with, and I would highly recommend checking out.

8. Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
This is a young adult contemporary romance that features a group camping trip that goes south leaving the two main characters – best friends turned enemies – alone in the wilderness. Can the two stop fighting long enough to get out of the woods in one piece? And what will happen as their hidden feelings start to surface? This is one that I have had on my list for a while after reading, and loving, another book by the same author.

9. The Distance Between Lost & Found by Kathryn Holmes
I read this book quite sometime ago, and from my Goodreads review it seems that I had mixed feelings about it at the time, despite giving it 3 stars. I don’t remember it enough to say why I felt this way, so it might be worth a re-read. This story features a group of characters with a complicated history, that set out on a youth group camping trip. The three main characters become separated from the group and they need to overcome their history to survive and escape the wilderness.

10. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Okay… so this one is really stretching it, but I didn’t love some of my other options so I decided to just go with it. This is a book that features the type of camping you might enjoy if you like your vacations with a touch of danger. And of course, by a touch of danger, I mean that chances are you won’t survive. This book gives new meaning to the theme of escaping the wilderness alive. Beware of changing landscapes and unpredictable killer creatures. “May the odds be ever in your favour.”

There you have it. 10 books that I was able to find that feature camping to some degree or another. I am certain that there are more books that I have read or heard about that include camping, but they were playing hard to get. Hopefully going forward, this topic will be something that I can keep in mind while reading, and maybe somewhere in the future I’ll be able to write an updated list with more titles.

Have you read any books that feature or include a type of camping that I have missed? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time,

10 Fictional Destinations I’m Dreaming About Right Now

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

Do you ever read a really great book and wish that you could visit the world contained within it’s pages? Do you ever wish that you could take a road trip to the fictional town in your favourite television show or movie? Because I do.

I spend more time than I should probably admit, dreaming about and imagining scenarios where I am immersed in a fictional world. Sometimes, in the case of a long series, I spend so much time in the world that I can almost believe I’ve actually been there – especially when the author or creator is skilled at detailed world building.

Last post I talked about the 10 Trips that I am dreaming about right now. Since there’s not much travel happening this year, dreaming and planning is almost all that can be done in the real world. Luckily, there are no travel restrictions in place when it comes to fictional destinations, so I’ve spent some time thinking about the fictional destinations I would most like to visit.

This list isn’t exhaustive. Some locations were left off because I wanted to include some “off the beaten path” locations. There are also some worlds that are very well written and detailed that I didn’t include because I’m not sure they would make great tourist destinations – I’m looking at you, Panem. That’s not to say that the below locations would be completely safe for tourists. But after much deliberation, these are the 10 fictional places that I would most like to visit right now.

1. Narnia

This might be an obvious destination to include on a list such as this, but I just couldn’t pass it by. Because of it’s very nature, it’s a world that lends itself well to travel dreams. You can almost believe that you might be able to stumble upon it someday. When a world can be accessed through a wardrobe or a work of art, it feels almost within reach.

It might not always be the safest of travel destinations, but it is the one that I most wish to visit. I would love to see the lantern in the woods and the home of the Beavers. I would also really love to sail the seas on a ship with Prince Caspian. But I’d want to make sure to not get involved in any quests or dangerous journeys.

2. Middle Earth

Hobbit Houses in the hills. Image by Nel Botha from Pixabay

Speaking of dangerous journeys… I would love to visit Middle Earth, as long as there are no potentially world ending wars going on at the time. You would need to set aside a good length of time for a trip to Middle Earth. I don’t think you could fit all the big locations in a two week trip, so plan for at least a month.

I wonder if Rivendell would allow tourists. That is definitely one location that I think would be the most difficult to arrange. I imagine a limited number of very expensive accommodations. I also wouldn’t want to miss having a drink at the Prancing Pony in Bree and taking a guided tour of the Lonely Mountain… so many locations, so little time!

3. Discworld

This destination is less well known than the previous two. This is the world in Terry Pratchett’s series of the same name. This is another world that could be dangerous, even for tourists, but I think with a good guide you could possibly manage to avoid some of the dangers. There would be a lot of research required beforehand though, even just to make sure that you had paid any of the necessary guild fees associated with a visit to the city of Ankh Morpork.

My top priority for this trip would be Ankh Morpork and the surrounding cities. I would also like to visit Uberwald, though I acknowledge that there are additional risks involved in visiting that area – such as vampires and werewolves to name a few.

4. The Lost Cities

These are the cities of the Elves and other magical creatures from Shannon Messenger’s series “Keeper of the Lost Cities.” Since I have only read the first 3 books, I have a lot to learn about what it would be like to visit this destination. I would definitely schedule in time to visit the magical creatures reserve, and Atlantis would be high on my list of priorities as well. I’m sure there are many other activities and locations that will be added to my travel itinerary as I read more of this series.

5. Space, The Final Frontier

The Earth from space. Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

This is space a la Star Trek. In real life I’m not sure whether I would actually want to go into space. If road trips and air travel can give me anxiety, I can’t imagine what space travel would do to me… But this list isn’t about real world, it’s about fantasy. And one of the first destinations I can remember wanting to visit was space.

I don’t want to get involved in any dangerous missions, but since the Enterprise’s primary objective was to explore new worlds… hopefully we could avoid any dangerous missions. I would be fine with exploring the known worlds, or even just going on a sightseeing jaunt around space. “Now, if you’ll look out the window to your left, you’ll see the planet Vulcan…”

6. The Book World

If you haven’t read the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde, then you should definitely check it out for so many reasons. The Book World is the world of all stories, where book characters live and the books are played out. I’m not sure how best to explain this, but essentially the book characters “live out” the book they’re from on repeat as people read it. Characters from popular books are busier than those from less read books.

In this world you can visit pretty much any novel. Some of the later books in this series even describe tourist groups to this world, though they are somewhat problematic, and not seen as entirely positive. I am fully of the opinion that the Book World should be protected and not be filled with high numbers of tourists, but I would still love to visit. This type of trip brings with it so many possibilities! I would also be amenable to visiting the world where Thursday lives.

7. Storybrooke and The Enchanted Forest

This is the world from the TV show Once Upon a Time. I suspect that this could be a bit of a dangerous place to visit (I’m sensing a theme here) but maybe it wouldn’t be too bad for tourists? I would love to eat in the Diner, pop into Mr. Gold’s shop, and visit all the key locations in both worlds.

I can imagine a walking tour that goes through the “history” of the town and it’s residents. There would be so much to hear and see on this type of tour with a good guide. I would like to take a similar trip to the Enchanted Forest, though I suspect this would need to be more of a bus (carriage?) tour. I would also like to visit Hook’s ship… especially if it’s Hook giving the tours.

8. Camp Half Blood/Camp Jupiter (by Rick Riordan)

I couldn’t figure out how best to include this destination on this list, since much of the enjoyment of the series is following the main characters on their quests. And while a quest could qualify as adventure tourism, I’m not sure I would like to sign the waiver form for a trip like that… so I settled on a visit to the camps. I think that you could get some of the experience, with less of the danger… at least in theory.

If anyone is wondering, I would like to stay in the Poseidon cabin during my stay at Camp Half Blood and I think Leo’s workshop at Camp Jupiter.

9. Red London

This is one of the London’s from V.E. Schwab’s “Shades of Magic” trilogy. This is a fantasy series that features 4 different parallel London’s. There’s Grey London, which is a version of London most closely related to the one that we would know. Then there’s Black London, which is located in a dead world, and White London that is located in a dying world. The London that I would like to visit is Red London.

This is a London where magic exists. It’s not perfect and, like many destinations on this list, it would have it’s share of dangers and places to avoid, but I think that it would be such a fun city to explore. I’m not sure if I would like to visit more places in the Red London world, or if I would confine myself to the city, but either way it would be a memorable trip.

10. Asgard (Marvel)

Once again, I feel the need to add the disclaimer that this might not be the safest of locations to visit. I also acknowledge that there are some spoilery things that would greatly affect a trip to Asgard. But let’s just pretend that we would be able to visit the world prior to those events.

I think that this would be such a unique location to visit, and getting there would be half the fun with the rainbow road! I would love to explore everything about this world and would probably take way too many pictures of the buildings and architecture. I’m not going to lie, I would also spend a great deal of time attempting to get a glimpse of a certain god of mischief… even if running into him would be one of those dangers I mentioned earlier!

These are the top fictional places that I would love to be able to travel to right now. In writing this post, I’ve actually become so nostalgic for each location that I think I’m going to need to add them to my summer read and watch lists in order to be able to satisfy that travel bug a little bit.

What about you, are any of these locations on your fictional travel list? Are there any places that you would add, or that I should check out? I would love to hear in the comments – I am always looking for great new fictional worlds!

Until next time,

Travelling Pages: Books set in Newfoundland

Published on June 18, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

As I mentioned earlier this week, I had planned to travel to Newfoundland and Labrador this summer. As Newfoundland is currently off limits unless you already live there full time, that trip has now, sadly, been postponed until 2021. Since I can’t visit Newfoundland in person this year, I thought that the next best thing would be to travel through reading! With that in mind, I have put together this list of 15 books set in Newfoundland.

Ideally, as I write more in this series of books from around the world, I would like to be able to put together lists of books that I have read, so that I can provide reviews and recommendations. Unfortunately, I have discovered that I have not yet read any books set in Newfoundland. At least not any that I can remember.

This list is as much a reading list for me as it is a list that I have put together for others. Some of the books on this list aren’t in genres that I typically read, and will stretch my reading if I pick them up. But there are many that sound right up my alley, and I am excited to add them to my TBR. Hopefully by the end of the summer I’ll have read at least a couple from this list and will be able to provide you with some personal recommendations.

Because I have not read these books, I have kept my descriptions below to a couple of lines of what I gathered to be the most pertinent information.

Books Set in Newfoundland Covers — A selection of some of the books in this post

1. The Agony of Bun O’Keefe by Heather Smith
This is a young adult young adult novel set in Newfoundland in the 1980s. The story focuses on Bun O’Keefe – a 14 year old girl who runs away to St. John’s after her mother tells her to leave one day, and is taken in by a street musician. This is one that has been on my list for awhile, and I am hoping to pick it up this summer.

2. The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston
This historical fiction centres on Joe Smallwood, the first premier of Newfoundland. The book follows him from the time he’s a schoolboy up until adulthood when he takes his place in history. At almost 600 pages in length, this book is no small undertaking, but it is highly recommended everywhere I looked.

3. Last Lullaby by Alice Walsh
This book, the author’s debut mystery novel, follows a lawyer as she investigates the death of her friend’s small child. Set in the fictional town of Paddy’s Arm, Newfoundland, this mystery is described in the blurb as “equal parts police procedural and diner gossip.”

4. Sweetland by Michael Crummey
I don’t tend to read a lot of books in the literature genre, but this one sounds so intriguing that I really want to pick it up. It follows an old man who finds himself struggling to survive on a remote island, amidst the ghosts of the former islanders, after he has faked his own death to avoid leaving during a mandatory relocation project.

5. February by Lisa Moore
This literary fiction was the winner of Canada Reads in 2013. It follows a woman who lost her husband when the oil rig Ocean Ranger sank off the coast of Newfoundland in 1982. It is a dual timeline narrative about grief, community, and memory, that moves between present day and February 1982.

6. Our Homesick Songs by Emma Hooper
This is a literary fiction that looks at a family that is on the verge of extinction as they struggle to stay together in a small fishing village after all the fish have disappeared. Every blurb I read was slightly different, but the reviews are good and many say that it is beautifully written. The cover is also really lovely.

7. A Roll of the Bones by Trudy J. Morgan-Cole
Speaking of covers… based solely on the cover, I don’t think I would ever pick this book up. Not even to read the description. But it appears on almost every list that I looked at, and it sounds like it might be good. This is a historical fiction set in the early 1600s and it’s the first in a trilogy that looks at Newfoundland in the time of colonization.

8. One for the Rock by Kevin Major
Not only is this a mystery, which I love, but the story centres on a murder in a tour group in St. John’s, so it combines both mystery and travel. It has mixed reviews on Goodreads, but I am definitely intrigued by the premise. It is also quite short at just under 200 pages, so I think it would make for a good vacation read.

9. As Near to Heaven by the Sea by Kevin Major
If you think this author name sounds familiar, you would be correct, as this is the same author as the previous book. Where that was a mystery, this is a non-fiction history of Newfoundland. If non-fiction is more your style, this might be one to pick up.

10. Son of a Critch by Mark Critch
I don’t read a lot of memoirs, and I’m not even overly familiar with Mark Critch. But this one has pretty good reviews on Goodreads and sounds like it could be a fun read, as it is supposedly quite funny. Critch focuses mostly on his experience growing up in Newfoundland in the 1980s.

11. Flannery by Lisa Moore
Flannery is a young adult contemporary, by the same author as February. It features love, friendship and the ups and downs of high school, mixed with a dash of fantasy as the main character creates a love potion that is rumoured to actually work. This one sounds like a lot of fun, and I am hoping to pick it up this summer.

12. Grey Islands by John Steffler
I am forever trying to encourage myself to pick up more poetry. And this is one that I have now added to that list. This book is described as a novel in the form of poems and features the interplay between nature and human society.

13. Random Passage by Bernice Morgan
This is the first book in a historical fiction duology that has been adapted into a CBC miniseries. Described as a history of daily life, this book follows a family that is forced to flee England as they look to start a new life facing the harsh realities of their new home.

14. Come, Though Tortoise by Jessica Grant
I think this book would fit into either the contemporary or literature genre. The story follows a young woman who moves back to Newfoundland when she learns that her father is in a coma. It also features an opinionated tortoise… Need I say more? I am looking forward to picking this one up.

15. Against her Rules by Victoria Barbour
Seeing as how we’re going to summer and the season of beach reads, I would be remiss not to include a romance pick. This sounds like a fairly standard, fun, romance with a main character that runs a Bed & Breakfast in Newfoundland. It sounds like it includes some steamy times, so if that’s not your thing, pass this one by.

Have you read any of the books on this list? If so, which do you recommend? Do you know of any books set in Newfoundland that I should add to this list, or that you particularly enjoyed?

Until next time,

“Stalking Jack the Ripper” Series Wrap Up

Published on June 11, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

As I mentioned in my May Reading Wrap Up, I recently finished reading the Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco. I started this series around the time when the first book came out in 2016, and then I was paused on it for a bit and read the last two books this year. I thoroughly enjoyed the series, and it is one that I am already thinking about re-reading, so I thought that I would do a series wrap up with my overall thoughts.

The Stalking Jack the Ripper series is a Young Adult mystery/thriller/historical fiction series set in the late 1800’s. The first book is set in London during the Ripper murders (as the names implies), but the series does not stay in London and later books explore other historical events and figures such as Vlad the Impaler, Houdini, and the White City Devil.

For this wrap up, I’m going to give a brief synopsis of each book and then I will sum up my thoughts on the series in a few points. I am going to keep this wrap up spoiler free. There are a few things (such as mention of a romance), that could be considered spoilers, but they are mentioned on the backs of the later books, or in the Goodreads descriptions, so I’m going to consider them not spoilers… And I promise I won’t go into detail about those “border line” topics.

I want to note that I listened to all 4 books on audiobook, and thoroughly enjoyed them in that format. If you enjoy listening to audiobooks, these are ones that I would highly recommend checking out.

Book #1 – Stalking Jack the Ripper

Throughout the series we follow our main character Audrey Rose Wadsworth, and we see the events through her eyes. She would much rather spend her time in her Uncles’ laboratory learning about forensics and investigating murders than in engaging in the typical societal pursuits. In this first instalment, Audrey Rose, her Uncle, and her new, often aggravating acquaintance, Thomas Cresswell, are right in the middle of the Jack the Ripper investigations. The investigation quickly becomes personal as Audrey Rose and her companions rush to discover the identity of Jack the Ripper and put an end to his reign of terror.

Book #2 – Hunting Prince Dracula

In this story, we leave London and follow Audrey Rose and Thomas to a school of forensic medicine in the heart of Romania. The school is located in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler – also known as Vlad Dracula – making the setting dark, creepy, and atmospheric. Our main characters are once again faced with a series of murders to investigate, these ones bearing a terrifying resemblance to those of the Impaler. The lines between myth and reality become blurred as Thomas and Audrey Rose, along with a number of new characters, rush to identify and stop the killer.

Book #3 – Escaping From Houdini

In this book, we once again follow Audrey Rose, Thomas and her Uncle, this time as they embark on a week long voyage across the Atlantic travelling from London to New York. They are to be entertained nightly on their voyage by a troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers and a daring young escape artist (three guesses who…) The voyage is not destined to be one of pleasure only, however, as young women begin to go missing and then people begin to die in brutal and shocking ways. Thomas and Audrey Rose must rush to figure out who the murderer is before they arrive at their destination, and before someone close to Audrey Rose comes to harm.

Book #4 – Capturing the Devil

In this finale, Audrey Rose, Thomas and her Uncle are on the hunt for the elusive killer known as the White City Devil. In this instalment our main characters travel from New York to Chicago in the hopes of capturing the killer who has not only been hunting in New York, but who they suspect to be connected to the murders on their voyage across the Atlantic, Thomas and Audrey Rose find themselves in the middle of an investigation that threatens to turn deadly at every turn.

My Thoughts

1) History with a twist

One of the things I loved the most about this series was the way Maniscalco took historical events and people as inspiration but then expanded on the well know stories to create new and exciting plot lines. Knowing the true stories, especially in the case of Books 1 and 2 for me, didn’t take away from the plot of these books in anyway because Maniscalco came up with ways to make the stories fresh and unpredictable. The world the books are set in is clearly our own, and yet not quite ours all at once.

2) The Second Book Slump?

I have long enjoyed books that combine the history of Vlad the Impaler with a touch (or more) of the mythical and fantastical. And this book was no exception. The mix of legend and reality in the story was well executed and throughly enjoyable, but for some reason, looking back, something about this one fell just a bit flat. I can’t put my finger on why – maybe second book syndrome? – but this book was probably my least favourite of the series.

3) Thomas and Audrey Rose’s Relationship

I loved this aspect of the series. It may not be for everyone, and I read a couple reviews from people who thought the romance/friendship was given too much space and time as the series went along, but I really enjoyed it. I especially liked the way their friendship and relationship grew and developed over the course of the series. Both Thomas and Audrey Rose made mistakes and they hav disagreements to work through, but they also grew in their relationship and learned how to compromise, respect each other and communicate. And I really liked that aspect of the story.

4) Character Development and Growth

Along the same lines as my previous point, I enjoyed how both Audrey Rose and Thomas changed over the course of the series. Neither are exactly the same people in book 4 as they were in book 1. They both grow and change and are impacted by the events that they face in each book. I was impressed with how Maniscalco had her characters grow and develop as individuals along with growing in their relationship.

5) The Connecting Plots

Each book in the series centres around a different mystery and investigation. Despite this, you really shouldn’t read the books out of order. There is a story line, outside of the character development and relationships, that connects the entire series. Jumping in out of order would leave you missing references and feeling quite confused. Sometimes with thriller and mystery series’ it can be difficult to have a balance between a new, gripping mystery and series development and growth in each book, and I thought Maniscalco did a good job finding this balance.

6) A few miscellaneous “cons”

Very few books or series get everything right all the time, and this series is no exception. Though I would say that the pros for this series definitely outweigh the cons. One thing that took me out of the story frequently was Maniscalco’s tendency to overstate some of the themes or points she was trying to get across. While I almost always agreed with the points, and understand that we were supposed to be seeing the themes through Audrey Rose’s perspective, it felt a tad heavy handed at times. This improved as the series went on and these points were less clunky by book 4

My only other complaint would be the loose ends. I think it’s good when a series doesn’t tie up all loose ends or storylines. I like to be left feeling like the characters are going to continue living and having adventures after the last cover closes. But there were a few things in this series, in particular with relation to certain side characters, that I would have liked answers to, or a little bit more information about.

One other thing I would like to mention before we wrap up is that something a bit odd happens as part of the conclusion to Book 1. I thought it was an interesting twist, but I can see it being the type of thing that turns some off from the series. I would say, though, that if you didn’t love that part but enjoyed the characters and the rest of the story, it might be worth checking out the rest of the series.

In Conclusion

I highly enjoyed this series, and would give it an overall rating of 4 stars. This isn’t an average, I gave a couple of the books 3 star ratings, but since the last two books have made me want to re-read the series, and pick up something else by Maniscalco, I think that 4 is what I am going to settle on for overall rating. Consider it a “whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts” type of situation.

If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers with a touch of fantasy and a solid side of friendship and romance, then you should definitely pick this series up. The characters are fun and exciting and I enjoy that the author is exploring forensic medicine and investigation against a Jack the Ripper time period and back drop.

Have you read any books in this series? If so, what did you think of them? Can you recommend to me any other mystery/thrillers similar to this series?

Until Next Time,

May 2020 Reading Wrap Up

Published on June 4, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

If you’ve been around the book blog or Booktube world, for any length of time, then you will be familiar with wrap ups. They’re generally monthly, but they can be other frequencies as well – quarterly tends to be popular, as are end of year wrap ups. I’m not sure yet if I want to continue to post monthly wrap ups, or if I want to post them less frequently, but we shall see how it goes.

After having a very successful reading month in April with the Magical Readathon, May was borderline a reading slump. I’ve still been watching/listening to a fair amount of YouTube, so I haven’t listened to as many audiobooks as normal, and right up until the last week of the month, I could not bring myself to pick up an e-book or a physical book. I didn’t know what I wanted to read, and I had zero motivation. I still managed to have a not bad reading month, and I finally read a book at the end of the month that seems to have snapped me out of my slump… so here’s to hoping for an even better June!

The Books I Finished in May

Audiobooks = 3
E-books = 2

1. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle (2 Stars, Audiobook)

I was so disappointed with this book. Years ago I read a later book in this series and I can remember enjoying it, but never pursued reading more of the series. So, when I found the first book available as an audiobook at my library, I was excited to give it a try. I don’t know if it’s a matter of the series getting better as it progresses, or if this is a series that doesn’t hold up across the years or the way that I have changed and grown as a reader, but there was too much that bothered me and not enough enjoyable about the story to balance it out.

The book is dated in its language and some of its themes, and there was a lot that made me cringe. I am generally willing to provide a certain amount of leeway to account for the time in which a novel was written, but I had a hard time doing that in this case. And quite frankly, other than the information about coffee included throughout, the story itself was not engaging enough for me to overlook the many things that I didn’t like. I doubt that I will read more in this series.

2. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (4 Stars, Audiobook)

I originally gave this book 3 Stars on Goodreads, but on looking back, I think it’s closer to a 3.5 or a 4. This is the second book in The Dresden Files series, and I am really enjoying the series so far. The series focuses on Harry Dresden – a wizard living in Chicago, who specializes in paranormal investigations and consultation. He also consults for the police department… or at least he did.The start of this book finds Harry dealing with some of the consequences of his actions in the first book, and on top of all that, it seems like Chicago might have a werewolf problem.

Harry is a man of many flaws, many of which he is starting to become more aware of over the course of this book. I can only hope his personal development will continue. The mystery in this instalment was solid, and well written – even more so than that of the first book – and I really enjoyed it. And I am thoroughly enjoying the mixture of mystery and fantasy. So far, this series is shaping up to be everything I hoped it would be.

3. The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (4 Stars, E-book)

The blurb describes this book as “Steel Magnolias meets Dracula,” and though I’m not overly familiar with Steel Magnolias, I would say that’s not a bad description. This is the book that pulled me out of my reading slump. Instead of needing to force myself to pick it up, I absolutely couldn’t put it down. I was hooked from the first page to the last – even if it made me somewhat worried about a vampire crawling into my bedroom window.

I don’t read a lot of horror because I don’t like a lot of gore or gruesomeness, and I often find that the topics in horror novels make me uncomfortable outside of the creepiness. I don’t often like to read those types of topics, so I have a hard time finding horror that I want to read. Because of that, I want to make it very clear that this book dealt with some very uncomfortable and terrible topics, and it will not be for everyone. The bad things are condemned by the book and the characters within it, but it is still uncomfortable, and at times upsetting, to read.

This book was creepy, and uncomfortable, and infuriating, and it was supposed to be. But I enjoyed the story and the women who were the main characters, even if they also drove me nuts at times. And don’t even get me started on the husbands. Overall, this was a hit for me, and I absolutely loved how the author pitted his monster against a group of Southern housewives.

4. Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco (4 Stars, Audiobook)

This is the fourth and final book in the “Stalking the Jack the Ripper” series, and I loved it! I’m not going to go into too much detail, since it’s the 4th book in the series, and I don’t want to include any spoilers here. I am also planning on doing a spoiler free wrap up of the series next week. What I will say is that I think this was my favourite book of the series, and I am going to miss the characters very much. I will definitely be picking up whatever the author writes next.

This book takes us on a thrilling chase from New York to Chicago in search of a serial killer stalking the White City. Based on the true story of the White City Devil, which I did not know much about prior to now, this book has moved Erik Larson’s non-fiction Devil in the White City higher up on my TBR for sure. Set against the background of the World’s fair, and with the main characters facing just about as much drama in their personal lives as in their search for th killer, this book was definitely a wild ride. Stay tuned for my series wrap up coming soon.

5. Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale (3 Stars, E-book)

This was a nice, light, summery read. Set in a small, coastal town in Maine, this story feels like summer through and through. The main character, Babe, is in that last summer between High School and the rest of her life. And her summer is not going to go anything like what she had planned. Between having a major fall out with her best friends at the start of summer, and breaking her one rule of “never dating a summer boy,” her summer will be one to remember, even if she’s not sure she’ll enjoy the memories.

While not joining the ranks of my favourite YA contemporary romances, this was enjoyable and fun. I had a hard time getting used to the main character’s name being “Babe”, which is a silly complaint, but it took me at least the first half to get used to it, and before that it was very distracting. I also wish that there had been a bit more depth to the characters. I always felt they were holding me at arms length, and I didn’t get as drawn into their lives as I would have liked. But overall, it was an enjoyable and fun read. I think this would be the perfect beach read.

Those are all the books that I have in May. Though there was one book that I really didn’t enjoy, overall I think that I had success with the books that I ended up reading. I think my favourite book from this month would have to be Capturing the Devil.

What about you? What was your favourite book that you read in May? Do you enjoy reading wrap ups? Or do you prefer to read individual book reviews? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time,

Mapping the Books – Reading around the World and Across Genres

Published on May 28, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

I don’t know about you, but I love it when a book includes maps in the front. I love how they allow you to situate a book in a place – especially when that place is not part of this world. Whether you reference the map as you read the story, or only look at it at the start, the map is one of the tools that the author uses to ground their story in a setting and to create a world. If the places that the characters visit are marked on a map, they are made that much more real.

I love maps. Between maps in books and maps in travel, I am often referencing them.

Today I want to introduce a new series that combines books and maps in a different way. I’m not actually sure if it should be classified as a series, as it’s more of a way to manage and organize books and posts… but don’t think there’s a word that sums that up. And since there will be posts directly related to this organizational method… series it is.

The Background

As I have mentioned before, when I started up this blog I knew that I wanted to write about both reading and travel. I had many brainstorming sessions to think up ways to combine the two on an ongoing basis. One of the ideas that came out of these sessions was to map out the books that I read, books that I would like to read, or use maps to create reading lists for specific places.

The more I thought about it, the more I started to get really excited about the idea of being more intentional in reading books from different areas of the world. I also wanted to see where the books that I read and talk about are located, and how they’re spread out around the world. I have an idea about where the majority of books I read are set, but as someone with both history and math in her background, I love the idea of seeing it actually laid out and plotted.

My vision for this is to have clickable maps that allow you to navigate to a section of the world of books and see all the posts about the books from that area. At this point, however, I’m not completely sure how to make that happen. I don’t know if I can add such a thing to a blog without major programming required. I have a few ideas, but I need to work on it and play with it some more. In the meantime, the world of books will be organized into separate pages to group the books from each area.

A Series in Two Sections

This series is going to consist of two parts, at least to start. The first will be mapping books in the physical world. This section will include books of any genre that are set in “real” locations on earth or in space. These might be books that are set in alternate, or more fantastical, versions of real locations, as well as those that are more realistic. If you can find it on a map then it can be included, even if it’s completely different than how we know the place in the past or present.

The second section will be the world of genres. This section is one that will definitely be more interesting once I can figure out how to make clickable images, but I’m going to start it up now and work towards the vision. For now, this section will organize the books I read and talk about by genre. I would like this world map of genres to include everything from Fantasy to Non-Fiction.

I love the idea of seeing books and genres on a map. In the case of the genres, it’s fun to imagine what they would look like on a map. What are the continents, and the countries? Which genres are “border” each other? There are so many things that I want to explore with this series, and I’m excited to get started with it.

You can find the “Map of Books” page and the “Map of Genres” pages linked below. They will also be linked under the “books” menu going forward, once I get that set up.

Do you enjoy maps? Do you categorize the types of books that you read or look for trends in this way? Do you find that you read books mostly from one area of the world or do you read more widely? Let me know in the comments!

World Map of Books
The Map of Genres

Until next time!