***Michelle's Counting Stars 2023 Challenge

[Michelle]

Lea wrote: "You're making me want to get back into my Stephanie Plum books. They are such silly fun."

They are fun. I really love the Grandma. She makes me laugh out loud.

[Michelle]

Listening Hard.

#117 Hot Six I had to jump right into the next Stephanie Plum to see who she called in the cliff hanger from book 5. Stephanie manages to collect another batch of misfits and solve the case once again but still can't figure out her love life or hang onto a vehicle. Meanwhile, Grandma Mazur gets her drivers license and declares independence. 3 always makes me laugh stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#118 Evergreen The second in this historical mystery series. A young Japanese/American woman tries to solve the murder of an older Japanese man in a turbulent Los Angeles as the Japanese return from the internment camps and try to regain their lives. I think I enjoyed this book better than the first in the series. 4 things are not what they appear stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#119 The Secret Book of Flora Lea Two young sisters are evacuated from London during the WWII Blitz. The younger sister is lost. The older sister never gives up on finding her. A pretty but implausible tale. 3 power of story stars. Audiobook. Historical Fiction.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 15
4 stars - 55
3 stars - 45
2 stars - 4

Current:
Night Train to Lisbon ebook.
Poster Girl ebook.
Kindness Goes Unpunished audiobook.

[Michelle]

#120 Poster Girl This distopian tale has a distinct Orwellian vibe to it. A young woman is held prisoner for the crimes of her parents after a rebellion puts a new regime in power. She is given a task which if completed could set her free but she must do the impossible without breaking the rules. I enjoyed this new one from Veronica Roth. 3 always watching you stars. Audiobook. YA/SciFi-Distopia.

#121 Kindness Goes Unpunished The second in the Longmire series. The sheriff goes to visit Cady. She is attacked and Longmire has to break up a drug ring to avenge his daughter. Really loving this series. 4 cowboys and indians in the big city. Audiobook. Mystery.

#122 Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath Bill Browder writes about his crusade to have countries enact legislation that would freeze the assets of those who violate human rights. As a result he is pursued by the Russians who would like to silence him. His crusade even plays into the election of Trump as President of the United States. I'm not sure I followed it all but this was bad stuff. 3 history in the making stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Political.

#123 Night of Miracles A beautiful sequel to The Story of Arthur Truluv about hope and reaching out to other people. 4 hopeful stars. ebook. Contemporary Fiction.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 15
4 stars - 57
3 stars - 47
2 stars - 4

Current:
Night Train to Lisbon ebook. Slogging along.
They Turned the World Upside Down: A Storyteller’s Journey with Those Who Dared to Follow Jesus Audiobook.
Strange the Dreamer ebook. Only a few pages in.

[Michelle]

#124 They Turned the World Upside Down: A Storyteller’s Journey with Those Who Dared to Follow Jesus Charles Martin uses his considerable talents as a storyteller to relate the story of the early Christians and point out the parts of their faith that we should emulate. 3 stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Christian.

#125 Without Fail Reacher helps the Secret Service eliminate a threat to the Vice-President elect. And of course, with Reacher when we say eliminate, we really mean it. 4 stars. Audiobook. Thriller.

#126 Chain-Gang All-Stars This book got a lot of hype. I got the message. I really did. Loud and clear. The whole thing just somehow left me wanting more. I wanted to feel more. I would say overall a great concept, but the execution may have been a bit clumsy and overwrought. 3 stars because I didn't dislike it, I just wanted to like it more. Audiobook. Contemporary Fiction.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 15
4 stars - 58
3 stars - 49
2 stars - 4

Current:
Night Train to Lisbon I checked it out one more time but I have all but given up on catching that train. ebook.
Strange the Dreamer I'm liking this one a lot. ebook.
Beyond That, the Sea Just started. Audiobook.

[Michelle]

So, I have a question for my Goodreads friends, and I don't know where else to put it. I'm hoping you'll help me out here. My real-life book club will have a November/December combo meeting next month and we didn't pick a book. Instead, we will each read any Christmas book we like and report back to the group. Give me some ideas I read the typical Christmas novels from time to time but I would like something really good, maybe a little unusual, that I could recommend to the group. What are your favorite Christmas reads?

[Ioana]

Probably not the kind of Christmas book you had in mind, but NOS4A2 is really good.

[Michelle]

Ioana wrote: "Probably not the kind of Christmas book you had in mind, but NOS4A2 is really good."

Oooh! Actually that is a good suggestion. I want to shake them up a bit.

[Ioana]

I would love to see their reaction, next to a bunch of Hallmark Christmas books 🤣

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Ioana wrote: "Probably not the kind of Christmas book you had in mind, but NOS4A2 is really good."

Bwahahha... that sounds like something I would recommend. 🤣🤣

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Road of Bones was really good. Nice, wintery feel. 😏

Also; any of the Wendigo books. I just read The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood; who is the original. Pretty darned good. A bunch of other writers have their own rewrites and versions.

[Michelle]

I'm looking at all of these now. A little Christmas horror. LOL

[Michelle]

#127 Beyond That, the Sea A young girl is sent to live in America to escape the London Blitz during WWII with lifelong repercussions for her family and the American family that shelters her. Well written but sad. It would have been 4 stars but the last part of the book dragged out way too long. I thought the story wasn't going to end until the last of the MC's died. 3 past time to wrap it up stars. Audiobook. Historical Fiction.

#128 Every Crooked Nanny A retired police detective does a little private eye business on the side to help keep her cleaning service business afloat. 3 no one notices the maid stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#129 Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants A beautiful book. Robin Wall Kimmerer shares the wisdom and the warning she has learned from her heritage and her beloved plants in a series of poetic essays on the environment and our stewardship of it. Thank you Ms. Kimmerer for your teaching. 5 give back to the planet stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Environment.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 16
4 stars - 58
3 stars - 51
2 stars - 4

Current:
Night Train to Lisbon ebook. Not really reading if I'm honest
Strange the Dreamerebook. Great if I could get time to sit down and read.
Another Man's Moccasins audiobook. Longmire again.

[Michelle]

#130 Another Man's Moccasins I really like this audiobook series. The death of an unknown young woman brings Longmire not only another murder to solve but flashbacks to his days in Vietnam. 4 Henry and the sheriff in Vietnam stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#131 Strange the Dreamer Laslo Strange had dreamed of adventure and magic his entire life. The appearance of a delegation of foriegners results in Laslo being invited along on a desparate mission which will bring him both. A great fantasy book but it ends in a terrible cliff hanger. 4 Adding it to the hold list stars. ebook. Fantasy.

#132 Notes from the Internet Apocalypse: A Novel Ugh! This was occasionally cute, but it never was quite clever enough to pull it off. Was this an internet apocalypse or a mental break down? I don't know. All I know is that it was mercifully short, and I won't be checking out the sequel. 2 Thank goodness that's over stars. Audiobook. Fantasy-Apocalypse - I guess??

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 16
4 stars - 60
3 stars - 51
2 stars - 5

Current:
Night Train to Lisbon ebook. I am going to finish this someday....Maybe.
No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II Audiobook. Squeezing one in for the President's challenge.

[Lea]

No Ordinary Time is a long one to squeeze in, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. As usual, you are reading so many books that I also want to read! :-)

[Michelle]

Lea wrote: "No Ordinary Time is a long one to squeeze in, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. As usual, you are reading so many books that I also want to read! :-)"

I am listening to the audiobook so hopefully it will go quickly. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it. I am finding it interesting so far.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Glad you enjoyed Strange the Dreamer. My daughter loved the book. I still need to pick it up

[Michelle]

Alondra wrote: "Glad you enjoyed Strange the Dreamer. My daughter loved the book. I still need to pick it up"

I really did love it Alondra. The whole book just had a certain magical feel to it. It would have been a five star for me but I felt I would have preferred to have the whole story from one POV. Definitely pick it up. I think you will like it.

[Michelle]

#133 No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II Doris Kearns Goodwin gives readers an insider view of the marriage of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevlet and reveals how the relationship of this brilliant couple affected history. I enjoyed this audiobook but realized about halfway through that I had checked out an abridged version of the book and that my library did not offer an unabridged version. I don't think I will seek out the unabridged for another reading but I may pick up another book on Roosevelt to fill in the gaps. For now though I'm counting this one towards my Presidents challenge. 3 two amazing individuals in an unsatisfactory marriage stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-History/Presidents.

#134 The Dark Horse The sheriff goes undercover. Standing Bear and company check in on him from time to time to make sure he doesn't get into trouble. He does. 4 love this series stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#135 Birds of a Feather The second in the Maisie Dobbs series. Maisie takes on a missing persons case which quickly turns into a murder case. Nice mystery! 4 Jacqueline Winspear is awsome stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#136 When Clouds Touch Us Touching YA coming of age story. The use of poetry instead of prose in this book beautifully illustrates this refugee famliy experience. 4 "I relinquish you to a world unknown to me" stars. ebook. YA Fiction.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 16
4 stars - 63
3 stars - 52
2 stars - 5

Current:
When Christmas Comes Audiobook.
Night Train to Lisbon ebook.
Sparring Partners Hardback.

[Ioana]

Michelle wrote: "#133 No Ordinary Time Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II Doris Kearns Goodwin gives readers an insider view of the marriage of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevlet and reveals how the relationship of this brilliant couple affected history. I enjoyed this audiobook but realized about halfway through that I had checked out an abridged version of the book and that my library did not offer an unabridged version. I don't think I will seek out the unabridged for another reading but I may pick up another book on Roosevelt to fill in the gaps. For now though I'm counting this one towards my Presidents challenge. 3 two amazing individuals in an unsatisfactory marriage stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-History/Presidents."

I had the bad experience with some abridged books from my library, and never rated the book above 3 stars. It's like a skeleton with no flesh and bones...nothing to make you want to hold that book. I'm glad you enjoyed it somewhat, but I'm sure it would've been better, even though a lot more time consuming, to read the unabridged version. But these presidents' books are all huge...

[Michelle]

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#133 No Ordinary Time Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in Worl..."

I couldn't have said it better Ioana. It was just like reading the skeleton of the book and longing for the flesh to round out the picture. In this case though I thought they did a pretty good job of covering the subject and giving the reader a feel for Ms. Goodwin's take on this slice of history. There were lots of topics that I would have liked to explore more thoroughly. However, because this book focused on the relationship between the Roosevelts, I'm not sure I could have taken the entire book. It would just be too sad. I may search for a book with a slightly different take on the topic. I do hate it though when I am listening to an audiobook and suddenly realize that it is abridged. I am going to have to start checking more carefully.

[Bill, Moderator]

I have to get back to Maisie Dobbs and Longmire. Both enjoyable series.

[Michelle]

Bill wrote: "I have to get back to Maisie Dobbs and Longmire. Both enjoyable series."

Both have great characters and good solid mysteries. Enjoy Bill!

[Michelle]

An update on my attempt to read a Christmas book for my RL book club. I thought I wanted to something a little unusual. Shake things up a bit. Alas, I did not follow the advice of my Goodreads friends but jumped right into a Christmas murder mystery that I saw hyped online. Bad move. Really, really bad move. See my reviews below but I will just say that I am now on Christmas book 4 and things are not looking much better. I usually read one Christmasy book during the season, but I don't think I have ever read this many and all of them have been bad in their own way. I'm actually listening to all of them on audio so I may just find an audiobook of A Christmas Carol and cut my losses. On the other hand, I'll have plenty to talk about at the book club meeting.

This whole experience actually reminds me of a local radio station that plays Christmas music only 24/7 from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. They dig up some of the worst and most unusual Christmas music known to man. My family actually likes listening to it in the car to see what cheesy song they can come up with. This is my version of that with Christmas books I think.

[Michelle]

#137 When Christmas Comes I'm not even going to bother telling you the plot on this one except to say that it was an attempt at a Christmas murder mystery. There was nothing evil, bad or scary about this book, but the MC was a total creeper. I couldn't separate the story from my feelings of wrongness about this character. 2 Ted Bundy solves a Christmas mystery stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#138 The Christmas Bookshop I bounced from the last book right into this one looking for something more traditional. How could we go wrong with a book store right? Ah let me count the ways: sarcastic, resentful main character, overachieving big sister, love interest a Quaker PHD of trees from Brazil, really, really mean Nanney, three children with issues, a perky self-help author with a sleazy alter ego, bookstore owner the illegitimate son of a Nazi. I could go on but I won't. Overall the story worked out OK for everyone so I'm giving it 3 Christmas miracle stars for pulling all of that together. Audiobook. Contemporary Fiction.

#139 Sparring Partners I needed a break from Christmas so I picked this up. Three short stories in which Grisham revisits some of his more memorable characters from previous short stories. The first story gave a sort of update on what was for me one of the more memorable stories from Ford County. 5 revisiting old friends stars. Hardback. Contemporary Fiction.

#140 The Last Devil to Die The latest in the Thursday Murder Club mystery series deals with some more somber topics but also has plenty of hijinks as the club tracks down a friend's killer. I like that there was a lot of character development in this one. 4 senior avengers stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#141 Silent Night A young boy enroute to the hospital on Christmas Eve to deliver a St. Christopher medal to his dying father is kidnapped by an escaped murderer. Need I say more. 3 stars for winding it up quickly. Audiobook. Christmas Thriller???

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 17
4 stars - 64
3 stars - 54
2 stars - 6


Current:
Night Train to Lisbon ebook. I don't know maybe I will finish it.
Once We Were Home ebook.
The Matzah Ball Audiobook. I know right???

[Lillie]

Michelle wrote: "#139 The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, #4) by Richard Osman The Last Devil to Die The latest in the Thursday Murder Club mystery series deals with some more somber topics but also has plenty of hijinks as the club tracks down a friend's killer. I like that there was a lot of character development in this one. 4 senior avengers stars. Audiobook. Mystery."

Yay! I’m glad you liked it. It was definitely darker than the previous ones and I really liked that aspect.
Sorry the Christmas books were a bust. Do have any lined up for next month? Hopefully you’ll fare better

[Michelle]

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#139 The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, #4) by Richard Osman The Last Devil to Die The latest in the Thursday Murder Club mystery series deals with some more somber topic..."

You know I might just continue the bad Christmas book roll. It's becoming a thing now.

[Patricia]

Hope The Matzah Ball works out for you! I have that one too & hope to start it next week. I've read good things about it!

[Michelle]

I just finished it Patricia and I did enjoy it. Hope you do too.

[Lillie]

Michelle wrote: "You know I might just continue the bad Christmas book roll. It's becoming a thing now."

In the same tradition as the bad Christmas sweaters, lol

[Michelle]

Exactly! I don't think I can stop here.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Michelle wrote: "An update on my attempt to read a Christmas book for my RL book club. I thought I wanted to something a little unusual. Shake things up a bit. Alas, I did not follow the advice of my Goodreads frie..."

Holiday themed books can be very hit or miss. Sorry, they have been bad. No one likes bad reads.

I'll just stick to the rereads.

Also; I hear Krampus is really good. Creepy, but good. Muahahha

[Michelle]

#142 The Matzah Ball A jewish author who writes Christmas romances has been asked to write a Hannukah romance instead. Looking for inspiration she volunteers to help with the Matzah Ball. Unfortunately, the man in charge is the first person who ever broke her heart. There is a lot more to the story (the author also has chronic fatigue syndrome and uses a pen name to keep her Christmas books a secret) but that gives you the gist. So this was an attempt to keep my Ugly Christmas Book (thanks for giving it a name Lillie) Binge going. I think though that they are getting better as we get closer to Christmas. This one was good. Of course, it was Hannukah not Christmas so I think we can count it in. 3 chocolate rugalach stars. Audiobook. Contemporary Romance-Holiday.

143 Holly A break from Christmas with a new Stephen King and one of my favorite characters - Holly Gibney. Kudos to King for this one. It is a great little mystery and he did not resort to the supernatural to explain this one. As the book points out, that makes it even more horrifying. In the middle of the pandemic Holly brings a serial killer to justice. 5 Holly's biggest fan stars. Audiobook. Mystery/Great King.

#144 Faithful A young woman struggles with years of guilt and self-loathing after a car crash leaves her best friend in a coma. Like all of Alice Hoffman's books the main character is compelling even when you don't like her. I had to finish the book to make sure this character was going to be OK. Not a happy book but so well written and with characters who show so much compassion. 4 bring a tissue stars. Audiobook. Contemporary Fiction.

#145 Bright Lights, Big Christmas This Christmas romance by Mary Kay Andrews includes all the trademarks of her writing: luscious descriptions of food and decor, lots of DIY, southern charm and a plucky MC who turns her life around. In other words it was cheesy but good. It really doesn't deserve to be included in my Ugly Christmas Book Binge but the binge has taken on a life of its own and sucked it in anyway. 4 save the farm stars. Audiobook. Romance-Christmas.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 18
4 stars - 66
3 stars - 55
2 stars - 6

Night Train to Lisbon ebook. Still.
Once We Were Home ebook. Good but progressing slowly.
Lovelight Farms audiobook. Another save the Christmas tree farm romance. Definite Ugly Christmas Book Binge potential.

[Ioana]

I am so happy to hear you liked Holly, it's on my 2024 list, as soon as I get If It Bleeds from the library. Given the number of people waiting and the number of copies, hopefully in August 😱

[Michelle]

Ioana wrote: "I am so happy to hear you liked Holly, it's on my 2024 list, as soon as I get If It Bleeds from the library. Given the number of people waiting and the number of copies, hopefully i..."

Maybe it won't be that long Ioana. Hope you enjoy!

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

I haven't picked up Holly yet; waiting until the buzz dies down. I really have enjoyed her character arc and these stories that King is developing around her. She is quite different than most of his heroines. I loved The Outsider.

[Michelle]

Alondra wrote: "I haven't picked up Holly yet; waiting until the buzz dies down. I really have enjoyed her character arc and these stories that King is developing around her. She is quite different than most of hi..."

I felt like this story really gave Holly her independence finally. There was quite a lot of Barbara and Tyrone also which I liked. Most of all I liked that King wrote a straight up mystery with no supernatural villain at the bottom of it. I felt like turning it over to the supernatural in The Outsider was something of a cop out. This one proves that Holly doesn't need that to be a more than interesting MC.

[Lea]

I'm getting excited about Holly.

I went back to your first post to see how your counting stars worked out for you and wow...you knocked it out of the park!!!

[Michelle]

Lea wrote: "I'm getting excited about Holly.

I went back to your first post to see how your counting stars worked out for you and wow...you knocked it out of the park!!!"

Thanks Lea! I think I have. Quality not quantity was the idea but somehow that idea brought on quantity as well. Somehow, not tying myself to a number or to specific books or even a specific kind of book really freed me up this year. I have listened to way more audiobooks than I have read print books but somehow it has not bothered me. I didn't have a set number in my head for various goals. They just had to be good and for the most part they were. Also, my quality percentage goals were set a little low. I didn't know exactly what would happen since it was the first time I tried it. I also would never have predicted how many books I would read.

[Patricia]

I do enjoy Alice Hoffman & I'm starting to think I need to add Holly to my list. Haven't read Stephen King in awhile. Heard so many good things about it.
Glad you liked The Matzah Ball. I just started the audio. And I just checked out Bright Lights, Big Christmas. Hope to get to it over the season.

[Michelle]

Holly first appears in the Mr. Mercedes trilogy. A great King series. If you're not up to that though Holly could be read stand alone. Happy reading Patricia! You've definitely got some good ones lined up.

[Patricia]

Michelle wrote: "Holly first appears in the Mr. Mercedes trilogy. A great King series. If you're not up to that though Holly could be read stand alone. Happy reading Patricia! You've definitely got some good ones l..."

I did read the first in the trilogy years ago but never read the second & all I remember from the first is that I enjoyed it. I would like to read it again but that's unlikely to happen. But you never know!

[Michelle]

#146 Lovelight Farms The latest addition to my Ugly Christmas Book Binge. This was a cute little rom-com playing on the save-the-Christmas-tree-farm and the BFF's-to-lovers tropes. My main criticism is that the backstory came a little too slowly. I felt like I missed something for several chapters. It was also very fluffy but perfect for my UCBB reading (that is not really complimentary). 3 not too terrible stars. Audiobook. Romantic Comedy-Holiday.

#147 Legends & Lattes An Orc retires from the mercenary business and opens a coffee shop (because of course, right?). This was fun and sweet and somehow very adorable. I didn't know there was such a thing as a Cozy Fantasy until I listened to this book. I'm already in the library queue for the next in the series. Can't wait! 4 time to make a Starbuck's run stars. Audiobook. Fantasy-Cozy.

#148 The Blue Sword A young woman in a strange country is suddenly thrust into her destiny. Robin McKinley never disappoints. 3 call of destiny stars. Audiobook. Fantasy-YA.

#149 The Scourge Between Stars The remnants of a failed colony limp home to Earth but something terrible is aboard ship reducing their chances of making it back with every attack. A quick but satisfying read. It is billed as SciFi/Horror but I would say less Horror and more Suspense. Full on SciFi though packed into one nice little book. 3 don't open the door stars. Audiobook. SciFi/Suspense.

#150 The Two Lives of Lydia Bird So is it just me or does Josie Silver only write really, really sad romance novels. A young woman struggles with the sudden death of her fiance but finds that she can visit a world where he still exists in her sleep. You can guess the rest. This was a really sweet book and I cared about the characters but the obvious ending may have dragged out a little too long. And did I mention it was sad. A good sad but still very sad. 3 life goes on stars. Audiobook. Romance-Sad.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 18
4 stars - 67
3 stars - 59
2 stars - 6

150 books. Woohoo!!!!! It occurs to me that I could just stop right here and 2023 would end nice and tidy but I would have to stop reading/listening for a couple of weeks and so no. That is not going to happen. Books are my stress relief and boy do I need it this time of year.

[Ioana]

Michelle wrote: "150 books. Woohoo!!!!!"

Congratulations! That's amazing, and 18 5 stars!!! That's more than 10%, you should be very happy.
Hope 2024 is as good, if not better!

[Michelle]

Thanks Ioana! I'm pretty excited about it. It's been a great reading year.

[Lea]

I don't think I'll get to 150 books this year, nor will I have read 18 5 star books, so you can count this as a very successful year, Michelle! Best wishes, and yes! By all means, you have to continue reading!!!

[Michelle]

Lea wrote: "I don't think I'll get to 150 books this year, nor will I have read 18 5 star books, so you can count this as a very successful year, Michelle! Best wishes, and yes! By all means, you have to conti..."

Thanks Lea! The 150 books includes an unprecedented number of audiobooks for me. Until this year I just haven't given myself permission to listen more than I read. Life these last few years though has not given me a lot of time to sit still and read. I'm so glad that I discovered audiobooks before this season of life rolled around. Otherwise I would be going bonkers. I still love to sit in a comfy chair and read the day away and I love the feel of a real book in my hands. I think this experience has made me appreciate those luxuries even more. As for the 5 star reads I credit the tastes of my fellow Goodreads readers. The Goodreads Choice books and checking out the overall star ratings not to mention following GR friends like you always leads me to good books.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Kudos on 150 books. That is so awesome, Michelle!! ☺️

[Michelle]

Alondra wrote: "Kudos on 150 books. That is so awesome, Michelle!! ☺️"

Thanks Alondra!

[Bill, Moderator]

Michelle wrote: "#146 Lovelight Farms The latest addition to my Ugly Christmas Book Binge. This was a cute little rom-com playing on the save-the-Christmas-tree..."

I may have to check out The Scourge Between Stars. It sounds interesting.

[Michelle]

You might like it Bill. Good space SciFi with a suspense twist.