When you're not reading a mystery...

[Thomas]

I read My Thirty Minute Bar Mitzvah by Denis Hirson it is a memoir of a Jewish man.
My 3 star review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[C.J.]

Thomas, thanks for this lead to Charco Press, with its subscription bundle of Latin American books. Now I want to read The Cemetery of Untold Stories! & maybe the whole 2024 bundle. Easier though if they did ebooks as well as paper...

[Thomas]

C.J. wrote: "Thomas, thanks for this lead to Charco Press, with its subscription bundle of Latin American books. Now I want to read The Cemetery of Untold Stories! & maybe the whole 2024 bundle. Easier though i..."
My copy of Cemetery book was an eBook.

[Thomas]

I read Pushing Back the Desert: Inspired by True Events by Gordon Zuckerman The true event is the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Iran in 1953 by British and American spies. My 3.5 star review, rounded up: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon It is a book by a Cambodian woman who escaped Cambodia before the genocide, but lived a poverty stricken life for many years. My 4.5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tiziana]

I chose this book because I felt in need of romance.
Not bad, but a little bit disappointing in the middle part of the book.
Very slow-burn romance. Well developed the historical part, even if not always so engaging.

The Marigold Chain by Stella Riley

Here is my review ( 3.5 stars rounded to 4 ):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald It is historical literary fiction about the Scopes trial in 1925 Dayton, Tennessee. I enjoyed the way brought out opposing viewpoints and rated it 4 stars. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles It is historical fiction based on an actual group of women who volunteered to go to northern France in 1917. I recommend it. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Penny]

Thomas wrote: "I read Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles It is historical fiction based on an actual group of women who volunteered to go to northern France in ..."

really like the look of this one - thanks for tip

[Thomas]

Penny wrote: "Thomas wrote: "I read Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles It is historical fiction based on an actual group of women who volunteered to go to nort..."
You're Welcome

[Tiziana]

A lovely regency romance set in Vienna. It's installment #3 in the Imperial Season series ( all books set in 1814 at the well known Congress of Vienna )

Vienna Dawn by Mary Lancaster

Here is my 4.6 ( rounded up to 5 stars ) review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Rednecks by Taylor Brown It is an excellent historical reconstruction of the coal miners struggle to unionize in 1920-21 and subsequent battle of Blair Mountain. My 4.5 star review, rounded up https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi. It is literary fiction, translated from French. My 3.5 star review, rounded up. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read two kindle books: A Night at the Tropicana. My 4 star review for a sweet, short story https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Then Last Dance
It is book 16 in a legal thriller series. My 3.5star review rounded up https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
It is historical fiction set in 1961 Netherlands. I rated it 2.5 stars rounded up. There are graphic sex scenes. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read The Hubble Cosmos: 25 Years of New Vistas in Space by David H. DeVorkin It is not a mystery, but a book of photographs taken by the Hubble space telescope. I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in astronomy. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin by Timothy Snyder It is not a mystery but a history of the mass killings under Hitler and Stalin from 1932-19454. My 5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I strongly recommend this book. The author speaks and reads 6 languages, and has consulted sources overlooked by most historians of this period.

[Pamela]

These days, I'm practicing a long-tail cast on knitting stitch in preparation of making four stocking caps for a family outing. I've made others but not with this way of casting on and its nearly driven me crazy figuring it out. So now I'm practicing not only to remember the stitch but figuring out the tension, etc.

[Joan]

Pamela, you will figure out that knitting cast on out and, eventually, it will seem second nature to you. I promise! Happy Future knitting! ( and Happy reading!)

[Tiziana]

Gentle Conquest by Mary Balogh

A disappointing regency romance by a well known and appreciated author.

Here is my review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tiziana]

Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman by E.W. Hornung

Small book with a collection of short stories. Very nice if you need a light quick read :-)

My short review here :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Holy Enemies of Freedom: How Martin Luther Unleashed the Beast of Anti-Semitism by A.J. Deus It describes much more than Martin Luther's antisemitism. It is a history of organized religious violence. My 3.5 star review, rounded down https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Penny]

Morgan - I read that and loved it. Have you read The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman? For some reason I always think of those 2 books together

[Thomas]

I read Sharpe's Command by Bernard Cornwell It is historical fiction based on an actual battle in the war between Britain an Napoleon's France. See my 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tiziana]

I finished yesterday Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

Adult romance set in 1843 London.
It's funny and sweet at the same time, with a hint of adventure and action scenes.

Here is my 5 stars review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Helen]

My review of Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year by Joanna Nell is here.
A lovely book about the first year of retirement.

[Werner]

Helen wrote: "My review of Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year by Joanna Nell is here.
A lovely book about the first year..."

Helen, your post doesn't actually have a link to your review.

[Thomas]

I read Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow It is not a mystery, but an account of Nazi propaganda in the US from 1933-41. I rated it 4.5 stars rounded up. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber by Andy Borowitz It is nonfiction, detailing how American politicians have grown increasingly dumber, starting with Reagan and ending with Trump. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tiziana]

Clean historical adventure-romance suitablefor cozy mystery readers, clean romance readers, Downton Abbey fans, Scarlet Pimpernel fans.

A Revolution of Hearts Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

My 4 stars review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jackie]

Tiziana - do you read any Heather Blake/Heather Webber series? They are very very light-weight but not badly written and I have just started the magic potion series.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/9730...

[Tiziana]

Jackie wrote: "Tiziana - do you read any Heather Blake/Heather Webber series? They are very very light-weight but not badly written and I have just started the magic potion series.

https://www.goodreads.com/ser..."

No I never read it.

I use to like cozies but not fantasy/paranormal and I usually prefer those ones with historical setting... but since I love cats and I can see cute cats on the covers of the series, who knows... Maybe I should give it a go :-)

Thank you so much for your kind suggestion, light and funny mystery are always a good "potion" for our soul and mind !

[Thomas]

I read Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran It is an excellent reconstruction of the life of Maria von Trapp. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Forgotten on Sunday by Valérie Perrin It is historical/literary fiction, set in a small town in France. It was a bestseller in France. My 3.5 star review, rounded down. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tiziana]

Compelling historical fiction set in the Kingdom of Poland in 1610.
Adventure, military action, love, rivalry for power, best friends and bitter enemies... it's all there!

The Heart of a Hussar by Griffin Brady

Here is my 5 star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tiziana]

I just finished book #2 in The Winged Warrior series, a wonderful historical fiction that takes place in 1614 Kingdon of Poland.
Love and passions, battle, intrigues and vicious villains... it's a gripping adventure romance.

A Hussar's Promise by Griffin Brady

Here is my 5 stars review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tiziana]

Just finished a nice and sweet regency novella :

Vienna Wolfe by Mary Lancaster

Here is my review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Celestina's House by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez It is literary fiction, set in the Philippines. I rated it 3.5 stars rounded up. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tiziana]

The Smuggler's Escape by Barbara Monajem

My 3 stars review here :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lady]

I also read thrillers, comedy, children`s books, vintage and some chic lit

[Thomas]

I read The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell It is story of a 1913 copper miners strike in Michigan, I rated 4.5 stars rounded down. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read The Bishop’s Villa by Sacha Naspini It is historical fiction, set in a small village in WWII Italy. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Code Peking Duck by Max Claro It is a thrilling, true life story of a man who rescued defectors and dissidents from communist countries. My 4.5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman It is set in the present day, with flashbacks explaining events in Ove's life. I recommend this book. My 5 star review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri It is historical fiction, set in Germany, 1938-41, and present day US. I recommend it to historical fiction fans. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Río Muerto by Ricardo Silva Romero It is more of a literary/historical fiction book than a thriller. It is about the civil war in Colombia. My 4 star review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Righteous Strife: How Warring Religious Nationalists Forged Lincoln's Union by Richard Carwardine It is not a mystery, but a scholarly book on how religious denominations reacted to the civil war, slavery and secession. I recommend it to anyone interested in how religious beliefs influenced viewpoints on the above subjects. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tiziana]

Regency mystery-romance ( so not strictly a mystery as meant here in the group ) : Confessions of a Dangerous Lord by Elisa Braden

My 3.5 stars review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read 2 short stories set in contemporary India: COVID Stories from India: Long Road Home
My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And COVID Stories from India: The Abandoned Cook My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Both books by Emmanuel Bhaskar

[Thomas]

I read Isola by Allegra Goodman It is historical fiction, set in the mid 16th century, France and New France(Canada). My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...