Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Little Free Library in Stinson Beach, California!!

 

Last weekend was my husband's 55th birthday! So, we spent Friday, September 15th through Sunday, September 17th in Bolinas, California relaxing to celebrate his birthday this year. 

Bolinas, California is a very small, coastal town roughly 90 minutes north of San Francisco, Califonia. We stayed in a very rustic AirBnB during our visit that was situated in a very lush perennial garden in a rural part of town. Loads of quail, hummingbirds, butterflies, and bullfrogs could be heard during our short weekend getaway.

On our way into Bolinas, we stopped off in Stinson Beach, California to drop off three audiobooks at a rustic Little Free Library with a reading bench next to the Little Free Library. I loved this Little Free Library and am always happy to find ones on vacation or during day trips.

Little Free Library in Bolinas, California!

Little Free Library in Bolinas, California!

Last weekend was my husband's 55th birthday! So, we spent Friday, September 15th through Sunday, September 17th in Bolinas, California relaxing to celebrate his birthday this year.

Bolinas, California is a very small, coastal town roughly 90 minutes north of San Francisco, Califonia. We stayed in a very rustic AirBnB during our visit that was situated in a very lush perennial garden in a rural part of town. Loads of quail, hummingbirds, butterflies, and bullfrogs could be seen and heard during our short weekend getaway.

This little free library was just sitting by itself on the side of the road on the way to Agate Beach... Agate Beach is known locally for its tide pools during low tide and is a local tourist attraction. I left four books at this particular little free library.

Visiting Bolinas, California was a mixed bag of tricks! It was out first visit there, but am not sure we'll return in the future. I liked the small town vibe and that it wasn't very touristy. There isn't much going on there at all. There were two areas to take beach walks, hiking trails if you're into that, and a very small downtown with a handful of eateries. Cellphone reception is very spotty unless you are in the downtown area. Parking in downtown is difficult to find at times. 

The two restaurants we ate at were superb! BoVida had the best organic acai bowls I've ever had in my life as well as sandwiches (my hubby loved their paninis), soup of the day, salads (the strawberry & gorgonzola salad is divine!!) and smoothies. The Coast Cafe was delicious too with lots of menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner... The fish tacos and the fish and chips were our favorites from the Coast Cafe. 

Bolinas Lagoon... We loved seeing the egrets and other shore birds.

Bolinas Beach

Overlook on the way out of town!

City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

 

Yes to FINALLY reading City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson and narrated by Pascale Armand!!! This young adult novel has been in my 'to be read' pile for a number of years now before getting around to reading it by the end of August this year.

I love the narration for the City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson. A good narrator always makes for a pleasurable listening experience. I liked the storyline for this young adult, mystery/thriller novel as well. 

City of Saints & Thieves is set in Africa, primarily in Kenya and also in the Congo as well. The exotic setting/locale made for interesting reading as one sees a different way of life being portrayed in this novel. 

I liked the main character, Tina, aka Tiny Girl, for City of Saints & Thieves quite a bit. Tina is a strong, resourceful, female character in her teens. Tina is living on the streets as a thief for the Goondas in Sangui City, Kenya to support herself. Tina (and her younger sister's) mother has been murdered. Tina strongly suspects that her mother's murderer is Roland Greyhill, the man her mother worked for as a maid. Her mother was also having an affair with Roland Greyhill. Tina had overheard Mr. Greyhill telling her mother that he was going to kill her. Tina is set on revenge to kill Roland Greyhill for killing her mother with the help of the her Goondas' cohorts. But, of course, things don't work out as expected, which is half the fun of the novel!

The action and pacing for City of Saints & Thieves is pretty steady throughout. I found myself wanting to keep listening to this novel to find out what was going to happen next to the characters as well as to whether Roland Greyhill was the murderer of Tina's mother or not. There are many twists and turns throughout this novel, which kept things captivating.

Below is the plot summary for City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson from Goodreads:

In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn't exist. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. Greyhill's personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it.

With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother—and why—keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller.

I am giving City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Holiday In Death by J. D. Robb

 

J. D. Robb's 'In Death' mystery series seems to be very popular with readers. I started listening to (or reading) a few of the novels in the 'In Death' mystery series a few years ago and I have been meaning to read more of them ever since. 

I finished listening to Holiday In Death by J. D. Robb and narrated by Susan Ericksen on September 15, 2023. This is the second novel I've listened to in the 'In Death' mystery series this year. Although, I liked Holiday in Death by J. D. Robb overall, I felt it was a middle of the road read and that this series is becoming formulaic in terms of its characters and storyline. This is too bad as I have other novels in the series waiting to be read or listened to in the future. Susan Ericksen is a decent narrator... good, but not great. The characters need to pop a bit more and not be so much the same old, same old... And as I've already mentioned, the plot/storyline seem to be more formulaic with each read.

Below is the plot summary for Holiday In Death by J. D. Robb found on Goodreads:

No one likes to be alone during the holidays. For New York's most posh dating service, Personally Yours, it is the season to bring lonely hearts together. But Lt. Eve Dallas, on the trail of a ritualistic serial killer, has made a disturbing discovery: all of the victims have been traced to Personally Yours. Eve soon enters an elite world of people searching for their one true love - and one killer searching for his next victim.

I am giving Holiday In Death by J. D. Robb a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Judgement In Death by J. D. Robb

 

Over the years, I've read a few books in the 'In Death' series by J. D. Robb and have enjoyed the ones I've read so far. I haven't been reading them in order of publication, just read whichever ones came my way. I recently listened to Judgement In Death by J. D. Robb and narrated by Susan Ericksen, which I started in July and finished in August.

Although, I liked Judgement In Death by J. D. Robb overall, I felt it was a middle of the road read and that this series is becoming formulaic in terms of its characters and storyline. This is too bad as I have other novels in the series waiting to be read or listened to in the future. Susan Ericksen is a decent narrator... good, but not great. The characters need to pop more and not be so much the same old, same old... And as I've already mentioned the plot/storyline seems to be more formulaic with each read. 

Let's see what happens/how I feel after I read or listen to other books in the series I already have on hand before I decide to quit this series entirely or keep going with it.

Below is the plot summary for Judgement In Death by J. D. Robb from Chirp's website:

In an uptown strip joint, a cop is found bludgeoned to death. The weapon’s a baseball bat. The motive’s a mystery. It’s a case of serious overkill that pushes Eve Dallas straight into overdrive. Her investigation uncovers a private club that’s more than a hot spot. Purgatory’s a last chance for atonement where everyone is judged. Where your most intimate fate depends on your most intimate sins. And where one cop’s hidden secrets are about to plunge innocent souls into vice-ridden damnation…

I am giving Judgement In Death by J. D. Robb 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Quintessentially: The One by Aleatha Romig

 

Aleatha Romig is a new to me author this year. I took a chance on listening to her novel, Quintessentially: The One, based on the plot summary earlier this summer. I was in the mood for a fun, light, romance read this summer and Quintessentially: The One fit the bill perfectly.

I enjoyed the storyline, characters, and writing for Quintessentially: The One by Aleatha Romig very much. I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed listening to this contemporary romance novel. 

Below is the plot summary for Quintessentially: The One by Aleatha Romig from Chirp's website:

A trip back to the small Indiana town of Riverbend to finalize my grandmother’s last will and testament throws my world off its axis. I wasn’t prepared to learn the stipulations of her will or that she’d left her beloved mercantile Quintessential Treasures to my college summertime love, Kandace Sheers.

Imagine my greater surprise when I learn about the secret that’s been roaming Riverbend for the last five years. Here are a couple of hints:

She’s five years old.

She has her mother’s silky auburn hair and my golden eyes.

The answer is simple.

I take responsibility for the girl and go back to Chicago where my life awaits.

It turns out, Grandma had other plans because life’s never that simple.

I am giving Quintessentially: The One by Aleatha Romig 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

Fiction Books Set in Museums!

 Wow, it's always fun to find interesting videos on YouTube that highlight themed book topics. In this instance, I discovered a short video reviewing fiction books that are set in museums! Now I have a list of books to add to my reading wishlist. 

Check out the above video if you too are interested in watching book reviews about books set in museums.

Words Can Be DANGEROUS!! Banned Books. Plus, a Banned Book Museum!

 

Did you know there is a Banned Books Museum in Tallinn, Estonia? Well, I didn't know this factoid until watching a fabulous video created and posted on RobWords's YouTube Channel two nights ago! The Banned Book Museum also hosts a monthly banned books club where they read and discuss a banned book virtually via Zoom, which sounds pretty cool if you ask me.

I've become a fan of RobWords YouTube Channel and am a recent subscriber to the channel. The RobWords YouTube Channel is dedicated to language facts and etymology fun.

Anyway, I enjoy reading banned books. I also enjoy learning why certain books have been banned. And, of course, learning about a banned book museum in the above video also make for an educational experience as well. If these topics are of interest to you too, then please check out the above YouTube video... The video is just under 18 minutes in length.

Until my next post, happy reading!!