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Rosepoint Reviews – January Recap – Catch the winter reading bug, not the flu

#Rosepoint Reviews - January recap

January is a catch-up month around here, packing holiday decorations away, doing some cleaning, updating blog folders (and Challenge page) to 2025, and doing some general website housekeeping. I took a hard look at my challenges and signed up for the same few, but reduced goals this year. Just too much always going on to keep up and I’d dearly love to do some AI graphics.

After looking at WP templates and formats, it would appear I am pretty well stuck with the same one as I still don’t want to try the block editor again and so many of the templates only work with the block editor. As is, I’m finding problems with my widgets, the blocks interfering with spacing and I’m blocked from linking both Twitter feed and Instagram. Still, I want to update the look somewhat with whatever additional resources I have.

Decided I would continue to try for posts on Tuesday and Thursday—Sunday if the CE has a review available. Felt like our stats were dropping and I went in to get an average number of reviews per month, but last January 2024 (not counting bookish posts), we posted ten reviews. So then looking at all months and tallying the average, discovered that between the two of us, we are generally running about 11.33/books/mo. Maybe not fewer then, just a shift in where we are getting the books and an increase in audiobooks equal to the decrease in digitals.

I mentioned AI graphics before and looking at different apps and free downloads, found more than I thought available. I played around with the free version of Freepik, but the free version is very limited and doesn’t make sense to pay for the little I’d use. Between the two, the AI graphics on Canva (again my free version) offers greater diversity and is more user friendly. Still, one can always resort to Google Gemini 2.0 which creates limited graphics as well as text.

I’m using Goodreads to mine the opportunity for good audiobooks, as well as your suggestions, and books sourced at NetGalley, author and publisher requests, and my well-stocked library.

We managed thirteen reviews between us in January that included seven audiobooks. These links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase or source information.

Rosepoint Reviews - January Recap

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (audiobook)
Downstate: A Novella by Jeffery Deaver (CE review)
History’s Pages: The Knocknashee Story by Jean Grainger (5 stars)
The Burning and The Lost Coast by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman (audiobooks)
To Catch a Thief by David Dodge (CE review)
All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee
Half Moon Bay by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman (audiobook)
A Measure of Darkness by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman (audiobook)
The Crossing Places: The First Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths
A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni (CE review)
The Investigator by John Sandford (audiobook)

Favorite Book of the Month

No question this month, All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee left me breathless and satisfied. I recommended it to the CE and he burned through it in a couple days. No doubt this would make a super selection for any book club.

Favorite for January – All We Thought We Knew

My Reading Challenges page…My Goodreads Challenge is currently at 18 of a 2025 goal of 125. No, keeping up with my Challenge page wasn’t a New Year’s resolution. I’ll get to it…
by and by.

Welcome to my new subscribers! So glad you joined our group. I hope all my readers are finding some amazing books to spend some quality hot chocolate, fireplace time with!

Rosepoint Reviews – November Recap – Look Out, Here Comes the Snow and Ice

Rosepoint Reviews - November Recap

UGH! Not a fan of this time of year, the temps already plunging to the low teens with a “feels like” of 3 degrees. (Yeah, the Chicago wind.)

As I mentioned last month, in quick succession, we celebrated our daughter’s birthday, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, and if you celebrate Thanksgiving hope it was a good one and everyone is back home safe. All the cooking is getting to me and I’m beginning to check out the TV dinners in the grocery store. Problem with so many of those, of course, is all the stuff they put in the food, including Carrageenan (especially in pumpkin pie) and it really messes up my system. Of course, the CE loves his pumpkin pie and even homemade with evaporated milk contains the miserable stuff.

So, for me, Thanksgiving also kicks off the beginning of the Christmas holiday decorations. Usually have much of it done within a few days of Thanksgiving, but as our son is still here, I’m waiting a bit. It appears he’s got a house and will be moving out next week (it’s been a real struggle in a seller’s market). Of course, it’s also so cold I have no incentive to get the lights up outside either.

We celebrated Punkin’s first year with us. She’s beginning to blossom into a real dog, showing some personality. She’s doing better with potty time, adores her walks now with the CE and he is gradually allowing her more latitude, allowing her off-leash when they return to our yard. She takes in all the “messages” and then winds up to whiz into the house through the open door coming to a screeching stop and sliding on the laminate floor into her portable kennel.

Love those audiobooks at my local library, so many opportunities to listen to the books, otherwise, I’m busy morning to evening and don’t get that much reading time on my cell phone. Must admit they appear to be overtaking reading. Still, sources include NetGalley, as well as author and publisher requests and I’ve been mining Goodreads recommendations and blog reviews to find interesting books.

November reflected the blow to either reading or listening with only eleven titles. As always, links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase or source information.

Rosepoint Publishing - November Recap

Summit’s Edge by Sara Driscoll
Waking Up in Vegas by J E Rowney
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (audiobook)
A Slay Ride Together With You by Vicki Delany (audiobook)
Yesterday’s Paper: The Knocknashee Story by Jean Grainger
Ruthless Tide by Al Roker (audiobook)
Dead Men Wag No Tails by Sarah Fox (CE review)
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave (audiobook)
Omens by Kelley Armstrong (audiobook)
Sea of Death by Mark Nolan (buddy review with the CE)
The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (audiobook)

Did you vote in the Goodreads Choice Awards for 2024? I wrote regarding the Choice Awards back in November. December 1 (that’s today!) is the last day to vote for your choice of the final round nominees. I see several of my reviewed novels made the final cut: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty for Readers’ Favorite Fiction, The Women by Kristin Hannah for Favorite Historical Fiction and Favorite Audiobook, First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston for Favorite Mystery and Thriller, and Murder Road by Simone St James for Favorite Horror. Let me know if you found one of your favorites among the finalists.

Favorite Book of the Month

We posted three five-star reviews in November: Summit’s Edge, Yesterday’s Paper, and Sea of Death. Of course, each of these novels has radically different genres and Mark Nolan’s books are always a favorite. But then so are Jean Grainger’s and Sara Driscoll’s. The CE loves that Nolan’s books are fast-paced and action packed. I love that Grainger is pushing her boundaries with her historical novels and Driscoll’s books have my favorite dogs. Yeah, you’re right…it has to be:

Favorite for November – Summit’s Edge by Sara Driscoll

My Reading Challenges page…Reading Challenges page—always something that keeps me from catching up that page. My Goodreads Challenge is at 122 towards a goal of 130 for 94%. If we can manage our usual monthly number, should just make it.

Welcome to my new subscribers! And I always appreciate those of you who continue to monitor, read, and comment on my posts. Hope this recap finds you well and looking forward to the holidays!

Happy Autumn Sunday!

Rosepoint Reviews – September Recap – No More Tomatoes

Rosepoint Reviews-September Recap

Definitely flirting with inclement weather patterns when you wait until September in the Midwest to go on a road trip! That is becoming, however, our annual get-together time with our old Navy buddies from Texas. Last year we went to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Love those hot springs! This year it was Cherokee Village and Hardy, Arkansas. Why Arkansas? It’s approximately half way between the two of us—them coming from Texas.

The AirB&B was disappointing, but the area (seven lakes) was delightful and we lucked out with the weather, both coming and going and while we were there…home in time to miss the mess from Helene.

The Spring River area is absolutely lovely and the boys got in enough fishing to fill their hearts content—trout—a succulent feast. Regardless where we stay, we eat well! Lots of river and lake recreation from boating and fishing to swimming and rafting. We thought the fish were ours, the snake thought they were his. Kit and I were going to go kayaking until we saw the snapping turtles off the wharf where we stayed. And so much for swimming below the Mammoth Spring Dam (pic behind cover banner) when we got into a wrestling match for our trout left on the line in the water with a water moccasin. The snake got downright angry with me. (Pic cut from video.)

Returning home, I discovered the tomatoes had given up for the season, the garden looking very sad, with only a couple viable peppers remaining. Horrible garden year. Never did get my fill of fresh tomatoes and one or two paltry cucumbers didn’t make more than one or two salads. The squirrels wouldn’t leave my fresh greens alone either. I’ll try again next year.

Update on Punkin the Pomeranian: She’ll officially have been adopted a year on the eighth of October. She has now (1) bonded with the CE, (2) bonded with our son (who is still staying with us), (3) beginning to enjoy treats, (4) going on two-mile walks with the CE). She is still not tolerating my advance to her (runs back to her kennel) and although doing better, can’t say she is house trained yet. She is inconsistent with letting us know she needs to go out to do her business and we don’t always catch her. UGH. It’s good she’s cute.

I realized after I’d left that I should have left a note on the blog that I would be gone and apologize for all the stacked-up emails, notes, comments, and likes that were not acknowledged. I won’t make that mistake again. I tried to schedule some reviews but then was unable to connect with my little tablet and answer, respond, or post on social media.

Reduced activity on the blog in September, although I did get some reading done. I continue to get books from NetGalley as well as author and publisher requests, and my local library, both ebooks and audiobooks. Together we read or listened to eleven books. As always, links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase or source information.

Rosepoint Publishing - September Recap

Battle Annie by Trish MacEnultyBattle
You’ll Never Find Me by Allison Brennan (audiobook)
The Second Smartest Dog That Ever Lived by Will Pass (CE review)
Saving the Guilty by Liz Milliron
Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)
Death Stake by Andrew Mayne (CE review)
Running on Empty by Karin Fitz Sanford
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins (audiobook)
Color Me Dead by Teresa Trent
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth (audiobook)
In Too Deep by Lee Child, Andrew Child (CE review)

Favorite Book of the Month

While I enjoyed that little surprise at the end of The Heiress, I gave Battle Annie five stars. The CE gave Death Stake five stars. Still, Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth kept me hanging on every word on the audiobook.

**Favorites for September – Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth**

My Reading Challenges page…obviously been too crazy around here lately but I think I might see light at the end of the tunnel now. My Goodreads Challenge is at 97 towards a goal of 130 at 75%. As for the rest, I’m still catching up from the vacation.

Thank you new subscribers—welcome! Appreciate those of you who continue to monitor, read, and comment on my posts. That’s what keeps me plodding forward!

#TuesdayBookBlog

Rosepoint Reviews – December Recap – Welcome 2024!

Rosepoint Reviews-December Recap

After the Halloween snow, it warmed up and December was lovely with above normal temps. It was also rather dreary with gray skies. If it rains, that little Pom rescue we acquired in October balks at going out. She is currently “blowing her coat” which would normally require us to brush her every day. Easier said than done when she still prefers her crate over human companionship and any gentle uninvited encouragement is met with canine obstinance. So, yes, little progress from last month and will soon be three months. It can be discouraging.

The big push to get everything ready for Christmas took any spare time. Despite the extra projects, I continued to try using the little treadmill as I don’t particularly like getting in my steps when it’s raining either. The CE doesn’t like the machine—he continues to walk outside.

First I tried reading while walking. That left me dizzy. Then I tried listening to my audiobooks while walking and that quickly clashed with the CE’s choice of TV programs. Then I discovered trail guides—the problem is that they don’t communicate with my health apps. If I could get everything to “shake hands” it’d be a boon, but not so far. Except for turning pages, how do you exercise in the winter? Gym membership?

Of course, those cloudy, cold gray days I’d prefer to just curl up with a good book and not do anything but read, but that’s still not an option either. Anyway, between everything else, we reviewed thirteen books in December. Those we managed to read are below, and as always, links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase or source info.

Rosepoint Reviews-December Recap

Mission Target by Mark Nolan (CE review)
Rivers of Wrath by Jean Grainger
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell (5* audiobook)
Ghost Team by Paul Heatley (5* CE review)
Game Over at Guild Hall by Amy Patricia Meade
The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O’Neal (audiobook)
Six Truths and a Lie by Ream Shukairy (CE review)
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Susan Wiggs
Up on the Woof Top by Spencer Quinn (audiobook)
The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen (CE review)
Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl
Dead West by Matt Goldman (audiobook)
Pirate Trap by Matt Cost (CE review)

Favorite Book of the Month

The CE really enjoyed Ghost Team; I was blown away by Lisa Jewell’s None of This Is True. I listened to the audiobook beautifully narrated by a large cast of impressive artists seamlessly integrated. Well-developed MC manipulated in a dark, intense thriller.

Book of the Month for December—None of This Is True

My Reading Challenges page…I read 157 books of a goal of 145 in Goodreads and am still at a 97% feedback ratio in NetGalley. Unfortunately, I barely made 50/50 this year in my Challenges, making the goal in Goodreads and Netgalley, failing miserably both the audiobook and historical fiction challenges where I thought I had solid confidence. Obviously, I’ll have to look at those category goals a little harder next year.

I’m taking a harder look at the blog in general, however, disappointed with performance this year and looking for answers. I want to update the blog home page, try again to introduce a recurring feature, add a couple pages, enlarge the font size (is this better or worse?), and still have more time for blog hopping. Is it possible given I’ve never been able to learn how to manage the block editor? Looking at free templates on WP, all are now using the block editor and I’m still limping along with the Classic Editor. I’m open to any suggestions—thank you!

As always, welcome to my new subscribers! I love your likes and comments.

Happy New Year!

Rosepoint Reviews – May Recap – Early Taste of Summer!

Rosepoint Reviews - May Recap

May presented us with an unintended two-week break from the blog. While we were planning our trip to Texas, I had scheduled ahead as much as I could and took my old laptop to fill in spots I normally posted. Last time I used the laptop, it was extremely slow, huffing and puffing, sounding like it was preparing for take-off. I guess it did as I was not able to get into the administration of the blog.

Luckenbach TX We met up with our old Navy buddies of 54 years, first in Hot Springs, Arkansas, then to their home in the upper eastern part of Texas, portions known as “the Hill country.” OMG, so beautiful! Not the Texas of my memory at all. Green hills, monster oaks hundreds of years old, wildflowers everywhere. And so much to see and do! Fantastic hosts, Ted and Kitra packed in a full schedule and we enjoyed great food and in Luckenbach, a downhome country band. So much fun! (We missed Waylon and Willie though.)

May then obviously took a hit with reading and reviewing only ten books. (As always, links below are to my reviews that include purchase info.)

Rosepoint Publishing May Reviews

Closer by Sea by Peter Chafe (CE review)
Snapshot by Don Keith and George Wallace (CE review)
When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi
Washington by Ron Chernow (audiobook)
Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross
North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan (CE review)
Flop Dead Gorgeous by David Rosenfelt
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (audiobook)
A Line in the Sand by Kevin Powers (CE review)
Lock ‘N’ Load by Tee O’Fannon

These included historical fiction, cozy mystery, literary fiction, and (gasp!) romantic suspense! Sayyy what?!

Favorite Book of the Month

While I greatly enjoyed Flop Dead Gorgeous (the author always a favorite) and I gave it five stars partly owing to the surprise in conclusion, we’ll have to give Snapshot, a CE review the nod for May.

Book of the Month for May—Snapshot.

Blogger Post

I did little blog-hopping in May but always appreciate the thoughtful and varied posts of Carla at Carla Loves to Read. I thoroughly enjoy her reviews, meme posts, and am dazzled by her signature graphics. If you haven’t found her yet, now is the time.

My Reading Challenges page… I have 60 books of a goal of 145 in Goodreads (one book ahead of schedule) and holding a 98% feedback ratio in NetGalley. Behind on the others again but hope to have the page and challenges caught up shortly.

With the crash of a laptop used only for out-of-town trips now, I began a search for a cheap replacement, and after seeing Kitra’s Kindle Fire (she also reads—a LOT) and the extent of its capabilities, I began thinking in terms of a tablet. During our motorcycling years, we learned to travel with just a trunk and saddlebags that fit on the back of the bikes. We have traditionally traveled light. I needed something light.

I looked at laptops, the size, and the price. Goodness! Then the tablets: I liked the size, the weight, and the price. However, they just won’t do Photoshop—hoping I can get by with Canva. Also, having old equipment and old versions of Word—which I paid for years ago and have managed to use in successive PC’s, have now discovered it’s subscription only—except for those tablets 10.1” and below.

It’s been a bear figuring out how to get the tablet, an Android (Samsung) set up to my liking. I need a class for this! I finally figured out how to get Office Word on it. But it won’t open a document without asking for an upgrade to Office 365—the subscription. Has anyone tried to download and use a free version of Word on a tablet?

The year is going too fast! Welcome to new subscribers and thank you, as always, to those who read and comment. I love hearing from you!

Rosepoint Reviews – April Recap – Hello May!

Rosepoint Reviews - April Recap

April was a month of crazy temps reaching from freezing temps to the low 80s. Of course, I put my potted plants out during the 80s only to have the last week of April revert to freeze warnings. In any case, it’s going to be a while before I try to start my annual veggie garden. Thinking I’ll keep it simple this year with the dominant crop as always cherry tomatoes. Dried, they are better than candy!

We took a more relaxed pace in April which appeared to have also slowed our reading-reviewing activity. We read or listened to thirteen books in April, NetGalley books as well as audiobooks. (As always, links below are to my reviews that include purchase info.)

April Reads

The Remarkable Wisdoms and Bizarre Tales of Tennison Hawk by Michael Reisig
Netflix Series Daisy Jones and the Six vs Audiobook by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Spare by Prince Harry
Velma Gone Awry by Matt Cost
The One Who Fell by Kerry Wilkinson
The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
Reaping the Whirlwind by Rosey Dow
The Devil’s Glove by Lucretia Grindle
Plum Island by Nelson DeMille
You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard
Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
Blow Up by Ellen Crosby

If you’ve read one of these, please let me know your thoughts. These included Prince Harry’s memoir, of course, as well as historical fiction, cozy mystery, literary fiction, and another comparison of audiobook to netflix series.

Favorite Book of the Month

Okay, I have to give it to Harry. I really enjoyed his memoir, certainly as he read his own work. This could be followed closely by Plum Island—opening my eyes to a new author I can follow.

My Book of the Month for April—Spare.

Blogger Post

I did get to do a little blog hopping in April and always appreciate the varied posts of Lynne at Fictionophile as well as her beautiful graphics. She also offers a number of features that will interest you from “Cover Love” to “Wednesday’s Word.” If you read many book review blogs, I’m sure you’ve already found her delightful site, but if not, it’s time to check it out.

My Reading Challenges page… I have 48 books of a goal of 145 in Goodreads (three books ahead of schedule) and still keeping a 97% feedback ratio in NetGalley. Lagging behind on the others again but hope to have the page and challenges caught up shortly.

Once again, I’m bumping up against the Happiness Engineers at WordPress. Used to be I could jump on a chat but that went bye-bye. Then it was send an email, but I wonder if you’ve discovered it’s getting increasingly difficult to even find the help link. I wrote recently asking about where I could find my broken links. Pam wrote back several days later:

“While access to email support starts with the Personal plan, being on the Free plan you have unlimited access to our community forums, where you’ll be able to find answers to your questions.”

OOH…And no, there isn’t any answers to my questions in the Forum. I view it as a campaign to eliminate their free users. I realize I don’t know what I don’t know and had checked with Semrush for a (free) site audit. Have you subscribed to any SEO tool? Well, mercy, I have some fixin’ to do—if I only knew how! Google Analytics (again) doesn’t help with a free site. So I’d request that if you click on a link and it’s broken, please let me know. I’m trying what other suggestions Semrush pointed out, but it’s a struggle. It appears I’m going to have to upgrade shortly but not sure the “personal” plan would make me any happier with the engineers.

Also, when did this “Blaze” thing start? (I didn’t notice it last month when I was working on the recap.) Promote your content? The Blaze link has been attached to every one of my post links. Anyone else notice this? Is it, indeed, new?

I do appreciate you all. Thank you sooo much for reading and commenting on my posts. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Authors to books to reviewers