It's Monday! What Are You Reading? December 1, 2025 #IMWAYR

        

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

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How can it be December already!? I'm tired of the cold and snow already and I'm not at all ready for Christmas, which is coming up fast! Yikes!!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

Remember to Eat and Other Stories

by Meryl Ain

print for review

Pub date ~ January 20

Class Action: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You

by Gail Ward Olmsted

eARC for review

Pub date ~ December 11

The Palest Ink: Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters

(Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters #0)

by Kay Bratt

audio-book from my TBR collection

Published October 2015

What I recently finished

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

by Jim DeFede

print from my TBR shelf

Published September 2002

Three Days in June
by Anne Tyler
print for review
Published February 2025

The First Last Kiss: A Holiday Rom-Com Short Read

(When Sparks Fly Series)
by Ashley Farley
eARC for review
Pub date ~ December 2

What I am going to read next

The Christmas Party

(Bailey Family #1)

by Mikayla Davids

e-book for a challenge

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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North of Tomboy by Julie A. Swanson ~ My Thoughts #NorthOfTomboy @GoSparkPress

North of Tomboy by Julie A. Swanson

Middle Grade, Queer, Fiction, 376 pages

Published September 2, 2025, by SparkPress

For fans of Kacen Callender, Lin Thompson, and Kyle Lukoff, comes a middle grade novel set in 1973 about a child who feels more boy than girl and is frustrated that people act blind to that when—aside for her stupid hair and clothes—it should be obvious!

Shy fourth grader Jess Jezowski turns the tables on her mom when she’s given yet another girly baby doll for Christmas. This time, instead of ignoring or destroying it, she transforms it into the boy she’s always wanted to be—a brave, funny little guy named Mickey. Making him talk, Jess finally lets the boy in her express himself.

But when Mickey evolves to become something more like an alter ego whose voice drowns out her own and the secret of him escapes the safety of her family, Jess realizes Mickey’s too limited and doesn’t allow the boy part of her a big enough presence in the world. She must find a way to blend him into her—so she can be that side of herself anywhere, around anyone.

Jess tries to wean herself from the crutch of Mickey’s loud, comical persona, and to get her family to forget about him, but she struggles to do both. What will it take for her to stop hiding behind Mickey and get people to see her for who she truly is? Based on the author’s experience growing up on Michigan’s rural Leelanau Peninsula in the ’70s, North of Tomboy includes artwork throughout.

My thoughts about North of Tomboy ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"On the day I was born, God made a mistake."

North of Tomboy gives the reader interesting and enlightening insight to the confusion experienced by most young people in their pre-teen and teen years. Trying to figure out their bodies, minds, and the hormones during that turbulent time isn't easy.

Jess sees herself differently from the way others around her perceive her. When she creates another persona in Mickey, she becomes very comfortable using his personality for a lot of the situations she finds herself in. Will she be able to move past this shield that she has created with Mickey to discover her own true self? 

North of Tomboy is the perfect read for young people who might be struggling with their identity and may help them realize that they are not alone in their struggles.

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Praise for North of Tomboy

". . . a powerful, tender portrait of early gender exploration and self-acceptance, interwoven with charming illustrations."—Readers' Favorite, 5-star review

"North of Tomboy is an engaging novel that reveals the inner world of a creative child who explores and learns to express her nonconforming gender identity."—Foreword Reviews

"An adolescent's struggle with identity makes for a smart, fascinating read."—Kirkus Reviews

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About the author

Julie Swanson grew up on Michigan's "Little Finger", the Leelanau Peninsula, where many of her stories are set, but has lived in Wisconsin, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, California, and Virginia. 

For the past twenty-five years she's lived in Charlottesville, VA. Julie writes middle grade and young adult novels and enjoys sports, the outdoors, "making things" (almost any type of art or craft, woodworking), reading, writing, eating, planting trees, and spending time with family. She suddenly has 6 grandchildren! Good thing she loves kids. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Julie

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

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Release Day! Tell Me Why by Kay Bratt ~ My Thoughts #TellMeWhy

Happy Release Day!

Congrats Kay

on the release today of

Tell Me Why!

Tell Me Why by Kay Bratt

(Hart's Ridge #14)

Saga Fiction, 283 pages

Published November 24, 2025 by Red Thread Publishing Group

In Hart’s Ridge, secrets don’t stay buried. They burn.

When a charred vehicle is found abandoned on the outskirts of town—with a body too damaged to identify inside—private investigator Taylor Gray is called to the scene. But nothing prepares her for the possibility that the victim might be someone she once called family.

As rumors swirl and grief ripples through Hart’s Ridge, Taylor digs deep into the investigation, uncovering ties to a shady local business, a trail of hidden cash, and a growing list of people with something to hide. Every lead pulls her further into a dark web of corruption, addiction, and betrayal—and closer to a truth that someone is desperate to keep buried.

With her instincts sharp and her heart on the line, Taylor must race to connect the dots before another life is lost. Because in this town, justice isn't just personal—it's dangerous.

From Kay Bratt, bestselling author of the Hart’s Ridge series, comes a gripping small-town mystery full of unforgettable characters, shocking twists, and emotional depth. Tell Me Why is perfect for fans of crime fiction, women sleuths, Southern suspense, and stories where family ties cut both ways.

My thoughts about Tell Me Why ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First lines—"Fear is the moment before reality hits. Dread is knowing something is coming and being powerless to stop it."

This book in this wonderful series starts off pretty intense! Taylor is racing to the scene of a horrible car accident, not knowing who was involved. As she ticks off all of her family members and their whereabouts to determine if they are safe, she speeds to the location of the wrecked car. How frightening!

The intensity during Taylor's investigation doesn't wan much at all as she tries to figure out what happened and why. The corruption and the secrets that she uncovers puts everyone around her in danger. I flew through the pages to try to unravel the mystery myself. 

I love this series and I love each adventure that Kay Bratt takes me on with her new book. I love the cases that Taylor gets wrapped up in as well as the personal family happenings that are a part of every episode. I get the mystery right along with the family drama. The best of both worlds. 

The Hart's Ridge series is an amazing set of stories, with memorable characters and interesting plots. I highly recommend Tell Me Why, along with this whole series—it just keeps getting better and better. 

And the author just keeps writing this series. Yay for us!! 

Book #15, Ticket to Ride, is expected to be released on March 19, 2026!

I received an ARC of Tell Me Why from the author and this is my honest opinion.

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Read my thoughts about Hart's Ridge, Lucy in the Sky, In My Life, Borrowed Time, Instant Karma, Nobody Told Me, Hello Goodbye, Starting Over, Blackbird, Hello Little Girl, So This is Christmas, Every Little Thing, and Now and Then

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About the author

Kay Bratt; Writer, Rescuer, Wanderer

As a writer, Kay used writing to help her navigate a tumultuous childhood, followed by a decade of abuse as an adult. After working her way through the hard years, Kay emerged a survivor and a pursuer of peace--and finally found the courage to share her stories. She is the author of more than a dozen full length books, with ten of those published by Lake Union Publishing. Kay writes women's fiction and historical fiction, and her books have fueled many exciting book club discussions. Her works have been translated into German, Korean, Chinese, Czechoslovakian, and Estonian.

As a rescuer, Kay currently focuses her efforts on animal rescue and is the Director of Advocacy for Yorkie Rescue of the Carolinas. As a child advocate, she spent a number of years volunteering in a Chinese orphanage, as well as provided assistance for several nonprofit organizations that support children in China, including An Orphan's Wish (AOW), Pearl River Outreach, and Love Without Boundaries. In the USA, she actively served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children in Georgia, and spear-headed numerous outreach programs for underprivileged children in the South Carolina area.

As a wanderer, Kay has lived in nearly three dozen different homes, on two continents and in states from coast to coast in the USA. She's traveled to Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Philippines, Central America, Bahamas, and Australia. Currently she and her soulmate of more than 25 years enjoy life in their forever home on the banks of Lake Hartwell in Georgia, USA.

Kay has been described as southern, spicy, and a little sassy. Social media forces her to overshare and you don't want to miss some of the antics that goes on with her and the Bratt Pack. 

Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and then buckle up and enjoy the ride. You can find a full list of her published works at www.kaybratt.com -- To be notified when new books are released, please sign up for my monthly email newsletter at www.kaybratt.com ~ Goodreads

Connect with Kay

Website |  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? November 24, 2025 #IMWAYR

       

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

**************************************

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

The First Last Kiss: A Holiday Rom-Com Short Read

(When Sparks Fly Series)

by Ashley Farley

eARC for review

Pub date ~ December 2

Three Days in June

by Anne Tyler

print for review

Published February 2025

The Palest Ink: Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters

(Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters #0)

by Kay Bratt

audio-book from my TBR collection

Published October 2015

What I recently finished

The Time Hop Coffee Shop
by Phaedra Patrick
eARC for review
Pub date ~ December 9

A Crimson Heart: A Thanksgiving and Christmas Novella
by Grace Greene
eARC for review
Published November 20, 2025

Read my thoughts here


Nowhere Girl
by Susan Strecker
paperback from my TBR shelf for a challenge
Published March 2016

What I am going to read next

Class Action: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You

by Gail Ward Olmsted

print arc for review

Pub date ~ December 11

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

*************************

Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!  

Release Day! A Crimson Heart by Grace Greene ~ My Thoughts #ACrimsonHeart @Grace_Greene

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Grace

on the release today of

A Crimson Heart!

A Crimson Heart: A Thanksgiving and Christmas Novella by Grace Greene

Holiday Fiction, 148 pages
Published November 20, 2025 by Kersey Creek Books

She lost her husband years ago. Now, she may lose the one person—and the one place—that still holds his memory.

Amelia Hennipen has spent years quietly mourning her husband, Simon, while doing her duty, as she sees it. But grief doesn’t offer rest—not when the past lingers in every room of Hennipen House, and not while caring for Simon’s aging grandmother, Henny, whose mind is slowly slipping away.

This Thanksgiving, new neighbors, Nathan Shaw and his young nephew, bring fresh laughter and the warm aromas of a holiday meal back into the house. For the first time in years, Hennipen House feels alive. Plans for a memorable Christmas are underway… until Henny’s daughter, Lisa, delivers news that will break the promises she made to Henny, and change everything.

She intends to change Henny's current living arrangements.

What is best for Henny? Amelia doesn’t know for sure, but she does know this will break the promise they made to Henny. Amelia must decide: will she walk away from the home and the challenge of the increasingly difficult obligations to Henny, the woman who is more like her mother than her own?

Or will she fight for one more Christmas at Hennipen House, and maybe even a chance at more to come?

A heartwarming holiday novella about love, the memories we cherish, difficult decisions, and the strength it takes to choose one’s path.

My thoughts about A Crimson Heart ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First line—"Red is the color of love and sometimes romance."

Grace Greene's books are always filled with wonderful, kind characters and warm, inviting settings. A Crimson Heart was no different because I immediately felt comfortable in this world, surrounded by captivating people. 

Amelia has her hands full taking care of Henny. New neighbors and upcoming changes put her world in a tailspin when all she wants is what's best for Henny. The holidays are coming up but will they be able to celebrate the way that they want or will things be out of their control?

A Crimson Heart is the perfect escape read for everyone right now. Escape into this short, entertaining read before the craziness of the holidays take over all of our worlds. I have loved all of Grace Greene's stories and this one is just as wonderful as all of the rest of her books. I highly recommend it!

I received an ARC of A Crimson Heart and this is my honest opinion of the book. 

About the author

Grace Greene writes fiction with romance, suspense and inspiration ~ The Emerald Isle, NC Stories Series includes Beach Rental, Beach Winds, Beach Wedding, along with the Christmas novellas, Beach Christmas and Beach Walk. 

Her Virginia books are Women's Fiction with romance, suspense and mystery. Most are set in rural Cub Creek and include her bestselling The Memory of Butterflies and The Happiness In Between which were released in 2017. Three new Cub Creek books were released in 2019 - The Wildflower House Series: Wildflower Heart, Wildflower Hope and Wildflower Christmas, and Wildflower Wedding, A Light Last Seen was released in Feb. 2020. 

A Barefoot Tide and A Dancing Tide brought a new character from Cub Creek to the beach at Emerald Isle with beloved crossover characters from both settings. Beach Heart and Emerald Heart are single titles set in Emerald Isle, NC. Grace's newest, A Heart Beyond, will be released on September 3rd, 2024.

Grace is also an artist and photographer and these interests show up on the pages of the stories. She lives in central Virginia. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Grace

Website | X | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

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Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!