Book list 2017
15. Beaton, M.C. Death of a Glutton
HB, mystery, not keeping, 203 pages (large print)
Peta is a noisy, vulgar, glutton, not the most suitable business partner for Maria's classy matchmaking business. The singles at the event at Tommel castle are not particularly engaging. The whole Hamish McBeth/Priscilla romance is tedious, and the reason for the murder was a let down. The thing with this one is it started out way more interesting than it finished. (2/6)
16. Dunn, Dot May Twelve Babies on a Bike
PB, diary, 260 pages, my copy
A birthday present from a friend who knows I love to read real-life medical books. It's 1956 in post-war Midlands. Dot is a pupil mid-wife who must deliver 12 babies. She gets unexpected twins, the brothel worker's baby, emergency haemorrhage, the 8th baby for someone else, a breech delivery and the rest, all with her madly peddling on the bike to get there in time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. (5.5/6)
17. Mallory, Clare Anna-Charlotte
pb, 251 pages, my copy.
I finally settled down to the second of CM's previously unpublished manuscripts. The tone felt quite different to the Merry books. Anna's mother runs the corner shop to support the family as Anna's father is an alcoholic (PTSD after the war). Anna, bright and musical, but oh so untidy, is subjected to bullying by the new rich girl, who is jealous of Anna and draws her friends away. Charlotte is a senior at the high school, where Anna will eventually attend. She's not without faults, but takes Anna under her wing and polishes her up. It's closest in themes to Leith and Friends, my least favourite book by CM, but whereas I may only read L&F once more, A-C is one I will definitely read again.
18. Nelson, Rhonda Picture me Sexy
pb, romance, 242 pages, not keeping
She designs lingerie, but has body hang-ups, and has just been dumped by her fiance who took someone else on their honeymoon that Delaney paid for. He's a photographer, taking her boudoir photos that she decided to do to change her image. There's some trust issues and it all ends up happily ever after! (4.5/6)
19. Hardy, Kristen As Bad as Can Be
pb, romance, 235 pages, not keeping
Mallory owns 'Bad Reputation', the new bar in town, where girls dance on the bar. Shay owns the Irish pub that's been in his family for generations. He's meant to be looking out for Mallory on behalf of her brother. There are some trust issues and it all ends up happily ever after! (3.5/6)
20. Hardy, Kristen Scoring
pb, romance, not keeping, 241 pages
Mallory of the previous book was a minor character in this one. I didn't realise the two books were part of a series. Becka and Mace, who get together in this book, have a minor appearance in Mallory's tale. It has a baseball theme - he had to retire from professional baseball after a car accident, she's an athletic therapist for a minor league team he comes to coach. There are some trust issues and it all ends up happily ever after! (4/6)
21. Andrews, Donna Access Denied
HB, mystery, not keeping, 250 pages.
The chief crime solver in this, the third (I think) in the series, is an AI with human assistants. In an earlier book, a copy of the AI was stolen. Turing Hopper wants her clone-sister AI back. The criminal who stole her rejoices in the name of Nestor Garcia, whose name crops up in relation to credit card fraud. This mystery solves the credit card fraud (and 3 murders) and gets marginally closer to recovering the missing AI. How many books can this be strung out? It makes me think of a baby version of Person of Interest. (3.5/6)
Books read: 21
Pages: 5,234
Rereads: 2 (May have read Bad Reputation previously)
Keeping: 7
Challenge books:
a) alphabetical challenge - 3
b) Abbey books in order - 0
Books out: 25 (includes 10 out from boxes)
Books in: 16 (3 from Meryll)
HB, mystery, not keeping, 203 pages (large print)
Peta is a noisy, vulgar, glutton, not the most suitable business partner for Maria's classy matchmaking business. The singles at the event at Tommel castle are not particularly engaging. The whole Hamish McBeth/Priscilla romance is tedious, and the reason for the murder was a let down. The thing with this one is it started out way more interesting than it finished. (2/6)
16. Dunn, Dot May Twelve Babies on a Bike
PB, diary, 260 pages, my copy
A birthday present from a friend who knows I love to read real-life medical books. It's 1956 in post-war Midlands. Dot is a pupil mid-wife who must deliver 12 babies. She gets unexpected twins, the brothel worker's baby, emergency haemorrhage, the 8th baby for someone else, a breech delivery and the rest, all with her madly peddling on the bike to get there in time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. (5.5/6)
17. Mallory, Clare Anna-Charlotte
pb, 251 pages, my copy.
I finally settled down to the second of CM's previously unpublished manuscripts. The tone felt quite different to the Merry books. Anna's mother runs the corner shop to support the family as Anna's father is an alcoholic (PTSD after the war). Anna, bright and musical, but oh so untidy, is subjected to bullying by the new rich girl, who is jealous of Anna and draws her friends away. Charlotte is a senior at the high school, where Anna will eventually attend. She's not without faults, but takes Anna under her wing and polishes her up. It's closest in themes to Leith and Friends, my least favourite book by CM, but whereas I may only read L&F once more, A-C is one I will definitely read again.
18. Nelson, Rhonda Picture me Sexy
pb, romance, 242 pages, not keeping
She designs lingerie, but has body hang-ups, and has just been dumped by her fiance who took someone else on their honeymoon that Delaney paid for. He's a photographer, taking her boudoir photos that she decided to do to change her image. There's some trust issues and it all ends up happily ever after! (4.5/6)
19. Hardy, Kristen As Bad as Can Be
pb, romance, 235 pages, not keeping
Mallory owns 'Bad Reputation', the new bar in town, where girls dance on the bar. Shay owns the Irish pub that's been in his family for generations. He's meant to be looking out for Mallory on behalf of her brother. There are some trust issues and it all ends up happily ever after! (3.5/6)
20. Hardy, Kristen Scoring
pb, romance, not keeping, 241 pages
Mallory of the previous book was a minor character in this one. I didn't realise the two books were part of a series. Becka and Mace, who get together in this book, have a minor appearance in Mallory's tale. It has a baseball theme - he had to retire from professional baseball after a car accident, she's an athletic therapist for a minor league team he comes to coach. There are some trust issues and it all ends up happily ever after! (4/6)
21. Andrews, Donna Access Denied
HB, mystery, not keeping, 250 pages.
The chief crime solver in this, the third (I think) in the series, is an AI with human assistants. In an earlier book, a copy of the AI was stolen. Turing Hopper wants her clone-sister AI back. The criminal who stole her rejoices in the name of Nestor Garcia, whose name crops up in relation to credit card fraud. This mystery solves the credit card fraud (and 3 murders) and gets marginally closer to recovering the missing AI. How many books can this be strung out? It makes me think of a baby version of Person of Interest. (3.5/6)
Books read: 21
Pages: 5,234
Rereads: 2 (May have read Bad Reputation previously)
Keeping: 7
Challenge books:
a) alphabetical challenge - 3
b) Abbey books in order - 0
Books out: 25 (includes 10 out from boxes)
Books in: 16 (3 from Meryll)