Nan's Reads in 2026 > Likes and Comments

In 2026, I hope to read 100 books, but realistically, will probably read 80 books because of various commitments.

I hope to reduce the number of books on my shelves (both physical books and e-books).

1. Heterodox Haiku--Contrarians (Dissent in Japanese Inspired Micropoetics), edited by Jerome Berglund
Haiku and senryu often speak truth to power, and in this chapbook, haiku poets from around the world speak out and do just that. In these poems, a reader will find poets "tilting at windmills" to express their emotions about world events and so much more. But not every poem is angry; many poems just see clearly what is going on in a few words.

The editor, Jerome Berglund, divides the book into different sections and C.X. Turner provides context in the introduction about haiku poetry and its changing role in the world.

That this reader has a haiku/senryu (I don't always distinguish between the two) just makes me proud to be a contrarian.

Read in 2025 when it first came out.

2. The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian
This is a heart-racing story of a photo safari in the Serengeti. It features a newly married couple and their friends and family.

When Katie Barstow and her new husband David Miller head to the Serengeti, they never expected to be kidnapped along with their friends.

Told from the perspective of various characters, the reader is introduced to the past and the present.

A safari gone wrong...what is behind the kidnapping of Hollywood royalty and the entourage? Who will survive this perilous trip?

Powerful story, and at times, gruesome.

3. Pets and the City by Dr. Amy Attas
a re-read in preparation for a presentation at a book group

4. Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews
Two Bridezillas from the Hollingsworth clan are at the center of a murder in this latest Christmas-themed mystery from Donna Andrews. Meg Langslow is her usual self, helping out with her family, trying to keep the brides, their families, her mother, and others sane during the holiday season.

Both of their weddings are scheduled for the same day at the same church with the receptions at the same location. The two cousins have impossible demands including using the same photographer, who happens to be murdered before the wedding day.

Like most of the people who get killed in Andrews' mysteries, he is not a nice person. Who would want to kill such a nice guy? Does anyone really deserve to be murdered? Maybe not, but at least in the world created by Andrews, the person who gets knocked off is generally "deserving." There are plenty of suspects because the photographer has managed to accrue a great deal of animosity.

Per usual, Andrews provides some humorous moments and this one was no exception. This reader could not stop giggling about the visuals created by the passage about the "fascinators."

Will Meg solve the murder before someone else gets hurt? Or will Meg, once again, come face to face with the killer before escaping with her life intact? Always a fun read and the title tie-in to the golden eagles was very punny.

If only Andrews would go back and write about what happened to T2.

5. Hot Rocks by Nora Roberts
Read this one out of order as this reader read "Big Jack" first, still this fills in the rest of the story and gives the background of the "Hot Rocks" in the first place.

Laine Tavish has taken a new name to further distance herself from her father. She's now running a little antique and curios shop, and she's built up a life outside of the grift until it comes back to haunt her in the town she now calls home.

When a man enters her store during a busy period, Laine dismisses him pretty easily until she sees him run out in front a car in front of her shop. It's only in his death does she recognize him, setting off a chain of events that will pull her back into a life she'd once escaped. Yet in the process, she meets sexy Max Gannon, an investigator. What next for Laine? What next for Max? Can she gain respectability and the "hot rocks" at the same time?

Wish I had read them in the correct order as some of the surprise factor was gone. It was interesting, though, to read the two different writing styles of Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb side-by-side.

6. A Doctor's Snowed In Christmas Wish by Daisy Flynn
Rosalind and Daniel meet under what might be called a rescue operation. Roz's ex wants to get back with her and appears on the island where she lives. Daniel plays knight-in-shining-armor when her ex-boyfriend becomes abusive.

He is only visiting the island to work out his career situation (a surgeon who is questioning whether to continue his practice), but this grumpy guy is willing to relax a bit when Rosalind wants to show him the delights of her home. Including a snowed-in Christmas.

As they get to know each other, sparks ignite. What will happen once he returns to the mainland? Will the fire go out between the two? Can they have a happily-ever-after?

A few chaste kisses throughout is as sexy as it gets. Plenty of What-the-tuck trends seen (winks galore, and a green-eyes main character) as well as the words "mischievous" and " mischief" used numerous times.

Still, a very squeaky clean romance.

3.5 stars for the wedding service that's out of order. Vows should be prior to exchanging rings.

7. Father of Lions: One Man's Remarkable Quest to Save the Mosul Zoo by Louise Callaghan
This is the true story of Abu Laith, who loved animals so much that he wanted to save the Mosul Zoo (in particular his lion, Zombie). From his early days on, he could calm the most savage dogs, and as an adult, he took care of the zoo near his home during the time of ISIS (Daesh) taking over Mosul and making life tough for the Iraqi people with tightening sharia law especially in regards to dress.

Finding ways to protect the animals (the bears, the monkeys, the lions, and more) while hiding out from Daeshis, who want to kill him, Abu Laith elicits help from friends and family.

A powerful story that also shows the culture of the Muslim culture.

8. The Last Mile by David Baldacci
Having read the novel, Memory Man, in the past, I was aware of Amos Decker's abilities and some of his backstory. After years of serving as a cop, he is invited to join a new FBI group, and they investigate a case not unlike the one that cost him his wife and daughter in the past. Not only that, but the case parallels it when the person, a few days from execution, is cleared because of a confession from a man who is soon to be executed, too.

Melvin Mars, a man who was once heading to the NFL, was convicted of killing of his parents, spending twenty years of his life on death row, before suddenly becoming exonerated and released from prison a few days before his execution. What's going on? Who killed his parents, and why?Especially when the authorities want to put him back in prison?

A twisty suspenseful thriller that has Decker joining forces with the new FBI group and Melvin Mars himself. As Decker starts investigating, there are things not adding up. What really happened twenty years ago, and why? It was an excellent story, keeping this reader on tenterhooks throughout. One small glitch was when a character's name changed from Montgomery to Davenport and then back again. but there were few What-the-tuck trends (a smirk).

Next up is The Fix, the third book in the series, and hopefully, Mars may show up in it as he is cool character.

Loved the football angle and that Decker is from a small area, Burlington, in Ohio and played for The Ohio State Buckeyes. Yes, I looked it up because I had never heard of it before.

9. The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
Once upon a time, an author wrote a fairy tale for adults. Having read other novels by this author, this one may be my favorite. Referencing so many of my childhood favorite books (Alice in Wonderland, the Chronicles of Narnia, specifically mentioning The Silver Chair, and The Wizard of Oz) it was a joy to read.

Two teens disappear in the Red Crow National Forest in West--by God--Virginia! for six months. When they finally reappear, both have "memory problems." What happened during those six months?
Neither Rafe nor Jeremy have answers, or if they do, they aren't talking.

Flash forward fifteen years, and the story gets interesting as Jeremy, who now finds lost girls and women, and Rafe, who is an artist and recluse, are trying to reconnect. Will they? And why? No spoilers here, but like all good fairy tales, it is a rollicking good story. It has heartfelt moments and scary moments. It has good guys and bad, but maybe even a villain or two. Will there be a happily-ever-after?

There is a hint that there might be another fairy tale in the making; this reader can only hope so.