I picked this book up at Half-Priced Books warehouse sale (boy those were the days) and it sounded so fascinating. I had such high hopes and was delighted that it fit into this category of reading. Part of this book is indeed absolutely fascinating but then it shifts. About half way through he starts repeating himself, working the same material into chapter after chapter. Maybe I should have been forwarned since the author's name on the book cover is at least 3 times the size of the actual book title.

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I am came across this book while I was reading The Familiars by Stacey Halls as part of my Bewitching Reads category. The book takes a completely different look at the Pendle Witch Trials-- through the eyes of a different historical character. These books were totally different reads but I will say I did prefer this book.

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I don't often read "classics" but when I do I hope to always find gems such as this one. Very readable for a "masterpiece". Wallace Stegner was a contemporary of Avis Devoto and was great friends with her husband. I mention this because I love when my categories and book choices serendipitously collide. At the beginning of 2020 as I finished my reads for the category "To the Letter" I read As Always, Julia which is a collection of letters between Julia Child and Avis Devoto. I highly recommend both of these books for separate reasons.

This is the 23rd Kate Scarpetta novel. I generally never read out of order but this sounds good and was already in one of my many TBR stacks. I haven't read any of her books since the 1990's and I can't remember why I stopped-nor can I remember why I bought this copy. While this proved a quick read--reading this far out of order gave me some issues. I had a hard time relating to and/or empathizing with the "good" guys and even though she gave an enormous amount of back story it was still hard to connect with the characters- with many seeming to be simply pasted in-they are in all the books so they need to be in this one as well. Reading this one-- did cause me to remember that her books had a tendency to be repetitive after awhile and maybe that is why I stopped reading them.

This is an author I have never read but after seeing her name mentioned numerous times on Bookish Twitter and after reading JacquiWine's wonderful review I could resist no longer and this title considered one of her best works was a perfect fit. I enjoyed the book although it was a little bleak with few totally sympathetic characters. I will read more of this author.

A long-overdue and dramatic reinterpretation of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots by one of the leading historians at work today and a book I cannot wait to start. I do a lot of Royal reading--most recently the Tudors. I am understandably keen to read more on Elizabeth I's  biggest rival. Even though this was a book of door-stopping length it kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. A woman of whom it can be truly said "If it weren't for bad luck I would have no luck at all."

A Maeve Binchy title that I have not read--what a perfect way to round out this category with heart. I did enjoy this book. It followed a bunch of co-workers at a heart clinic and patients with little stories about their interconnected lives.

This is the second book I have read by this author. It was good but The Dilemma is better--it also shows that the writer is improving her writing chops.

This author had bookish Twitter all abuzz in 2019 so I wanted to give one of her books a spin. Creepy and weird-not a bad thing. I wanted to like it better than I did.

I read this book during the chaotic days that followed the US 2020 Presidential elections, starting on the day that for all but the "delusional" the election was called in favor of Joe Biden. It has started my love affair with this author and I have since read 3 more of his books and I really need to read more.

I read this book during the chaos of the 2020 US Presidental elections as I was in need of some very distracting reads. This filled the bill perfectly--I even loved the perfectly bureaucratic ending.

Books that I read and reviewed just because I wanted to...

I found the author Kate Vane via Twitter, we follow each other, and recently I read a book review she posted on her website. I liked her review as it was honest without being hurtful. So I decided to read her latest book.

Rating systems do not allow for partial stars so I am giving this book 4 stars, although in reality I would rate it in the range of 3.5-3.8. In other words somewhere between “I liked it and I really liked it”. I am comfortable leaving my rating at 4 based on the writing strength and the keen ability of Ms. Vane to draw characters and to set scenes.

I found the promo blurbs to be a little misleading so I am creating my own— because this book is different from what you are led to believe—I am not alone in this comment.

For the record, I thought it was going to be a crime mystery wherein a journalist for the BBC, would unravel the “who-done-it” before or by working with the police. And it is sort of…but this book refuses to pigeon-hole itself into one genre and I like that as it makes for a more interesting read. I am also a fan of books that flip through time with alternating storylines involving the past and the present.

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  Restoring Prana: A Therapeutic Guide to Pranayama by Robin Rothenberg currently reading  

   Written In My Own Heart's Blood (Outlander #8) by Diana Gabaldon currently reading

  The Lingering by SJI Holliday completed 2/2020

  Breakers by Doug Johnstone completed 1/2020

  Jane Doe January by Emily Winslow completed 1/2020

  The Monsoon Ghost Image by Tom Vater completed 1/2020

Click here to read my in depth review 

Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth completed 1/2020

  The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell completed 1/2020 

  Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris completed 1/2020

  The Mitfords by Charlotte Mosley currently reading

 ETERNAL EVE The History of Gynaecology & Obstetrics by Harvey Graham currently reading

  Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrowby Yuval Noah Harari Category: Social Studies currently reading 

 Lady Susan and Other Works by Jane Austen read 1/2020 

To date I have only read the title novella. 

In the honor of February "the month of love" I am starting a category of books with "heart" in their titles. Yes this is mostly so I can finally read Outlander #9 but there are a lot of other enticing titles. This category will outlast February for sure as several of the books are of "doorstop" length. 

Written in my Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon currently reading

I have held off on reading this 8th book in the Outlander series as so far it is the last published. The author is hard at work on the 9th book and although she had hoped publish sometime in 2019--it is now 2020 with no publication date in sight. I can wait no longer--this is exactly the kind of immersive book reading experience that "my heart" is longing for right now--so I am giving it solace and escaping once again into this fabulous world. 

  Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell to be read

This is the 23rd Kate Scarpetta novel. I generally never read out of order but this sounds good and was in one of my many TBR stacks already. I haven't read any of her books since the 1990's and I can't remember why I stopped.

  The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen to be read

This is an author I have never read but after seeing her name mentioned numerous times of Bookish Twitter and after reading JacquiWine's wonderful review I could resist no longer and this title considered one of her best works was a perfect fit. 

  My Heart is my Own by John Guy to be read

A long-overdue and dramatic reinterpretation of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots by one of the leading historians at work today and a book I cannot wait to start. I do a lot of Royal reading--most recently the Tudors. I am understandably keen to read more on Elizabeth I's  biggest rival. A door stopping read.

  Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy to be read

A Maeve Binchy title that I have not read--what a perfect way to round out this category with heart.