Carla Loves To Read

Only I Can Save Them by Imogen Matthews #BookReview #BlogTour Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Only I Can Save Them by Imogen Matthews. I enjoy historical fiction based on real people and once again, I learned about another unsung hero. Scroll down for my thoughts.

Only I Can Save Them by Imogen Matthews #BookReview #BlogTour

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Only I Can Save Them by Imogen Matthews. I enjoy historical fiction based on real people and once again, I learned about another unsung hero. Scroll down for my thoughts.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (October 13, 2025) 📚📚 Welcome to It’s Monday! What are you Reading? It’s hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, this is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (October 13, 2025) 📚📚

Welcome to It’s Monday! What are you Reading? It’s hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, this is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

Stacking The Shelves (October 12, 2025) 📚📚 Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, books for review from authors, Netgalley, Edelweiss or publishers, as well as gifts or books you won.

Stacking The Shelves (October 12, 2025) 📚📚

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you…

Autumn Reads: Lauryn Harper Falls Apart, The Second Story Bookshop, The Cinnamon Spice Inn, and The Simplicity of Cider #BookReview #Audiobook I don't always read seasonally, but this year, it seemed like a good thing to do. One book about a new beginning and an apple festival, another about a death of a loved one who manipulates her granddaughter's love life from the grave, another second chance romance when a young woman returns home to save her family's inn, and finally a book dealing with trying to save an apple orchard while using a bit of magic to make unforgettable apple cider.

Autumn Reads: Lauryn Harper Falls Apart, The Second Story Bookshop, The Cinnamon Spice Inn, and The Simplicity of Cider #BookReview #Audiobook

I don't always read seasonally, but this year, it seemed like a good thing to do. One book about a new beginning and an apple festival, another about a…

Mini-Reviews of Books I Read on My Cruise: We All Live Here, The Berry Pickers, The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake and The Queen and I #BookReview

I was thrilled to see the wonderful library on our ship, The Oosterdam from Holland America. They had some books that I had on my TBR shelf, but hadn't…

Historical Fiction: The Lawyer and the Laundress and Wartime Comes to West India Dock Road #BookReview #Audiobook Version 1.0.0 I do enjoy a good historical fiction book and these two fit the bill. They are very different, one set in Toronto, Canada around the time of the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837 and the second in London, England during WW2. Both had great characters and I enjoyed listening to them.

Historical Fiction: The Lawyer and the Laundress and Wartime Comes to West India Dock Road #BookReview #Audiobook

Version 1.0.0 I do enjoy a good historical fiction book and these two fit the bill. They are very different, one set in Toronto, Canada around the time of the Upper Canada Rebellion in…

Saturday Morning for Kids: Banned Books Addition This meme was started by Rae Longest at Powerful Women Readers, but as she is busy with her bookstore, she is not posting as much and asked me to take over. I hope some of you will join in and post those reviews of children's or middle grade books on Saturdays. As I am a grandmother, who loves to read to her grandchildren, a mother who loved to read to and with her children, and a retired teacher librarian, this meme is right up my alley.

Saturday Morning for Kids: Banned Books Addition

This meme was started by Rae Longest at Powerful Women Readers, but as she is busy with her bookstore, she is not posting as much and asked me to take over. I hope some of you will join in and post those reviews of children's or middle grade books…

Novellas in November #NovNov25 Novellas in November is a month-long blogger/social media challenge celebrating the art of the short book. It’s now in it’s fifth year but this is only the 4th year I’ve taken part. Hosted by Cathy of 746 Books and Rebecca of Bookish Beck it runs from 1st to 30th November.

Novellas in November #NovNov25

Novellas in November is a month-long blogger/social media challenge celebrating the art of the short book. It’s now in it’s fifth year but this is only the 4th year I’ve taken part. Hosted by Cathy of 746 Books and Rebecca of Bookish Beck it runs from 1st to 30th…

Romance is in the Air: Sounds Like Love, Head Over Paws and The Wedding Gift #BookReview #Audiobook #BeatTheBacklist2925 #FinishingTheSeries2025 Travelling to cities that are known for love (Florence, Rome, Santorini), I was able to read some romance while on my cruise. They are all very different from one another, with The Wedding Gift being an anthology of novellas. I enjoyed them all, and will share my thoughts.

Romance is in the Air: Sounds Like Love, Head Over Paws and The Wedding Gift #BookReview #Audiobook #BeatTheBacklist2925 #FinishingTheSeries2025

Travelling to cities that are known for love (Florence, Rome, Santorini), I was able to read some romance while on my cruise. They are all very different…

Non-Fiction Reviews: The Boys of Riverside and A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream #BookReview #Audiobook #ReadNonFicChal2025 I enjoy reading about underdogs and how they rise above, and The Boys of Riverside was a great book to listen to. A Most Extraordinary Ride was a bit too political for my taste, but I enjoyed learning about Marc Garneau's journey to becoming the first Canadian in space. Unfortunately, he passed away shortly before I listened to this book.

Non-Fiction Reviews: The Boys of Riverside and A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream #BookReview #Audiobook #ReadNonFicChal2025

I enjoy reading about underdogs and how they rise above, and The Boys of Riverside was a great book to listen to. A Most…

Top Ten Tuesday (October 7, 2025) Ten Books with Covers That Give off Fall Vibes on my Fall TBR Shelf #TTT Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.

Top Ten Tuesday (October 7, 2025) Ten Books with Covers That Give off Fall Vibes on my Fall TBR Shelf #TTT

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique…

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (October 6, 2025) 📚📚 Welcome to It’s Monday! What are you Reading? It’s hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, this is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (October 6, 2025) 📚📚

Welcome to It’s Monday! What are you Reading? It’s hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, this is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

Summer 2025 Reads: Summer by the Lake and Summer at Firefly Beach #BookReview #BeatTheBacklist2025 I finished my 20 Books of Summer with two books on my original list that I hadn't gotten to. I decided that I was going to read them on my cruise and I did. They were both romance and I enjoyed them both.

Summer 2025 Reads: Summer by the Lake and Summer at Firefly Beach #BookReview #BeatTheBacklist2025

I finished my 20 Books of Summer with two books on my original list that I hadn't gotten to. I decided that I was going to read them on my cruise and I did. They were both romance and I enjoyed them…

Murder at the Royal Palace by Verity Bright #BookReview #BlogTour @BrightVerity @Bookouture Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Murder at the Royal Palace, the 23rd Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery by Verity Bright. Once again, Eleanor finds herself in a situation where she tries to save a dying man. With her new husband, her butler, and her ladies, she is on the case.

Murder at the Royal Palace by Verity Bright #BookReview #BlogTour @BrightVerity @Bookouture

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Murder at the Royal Palace, the 23rd Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery by Verity Bright. Once again, Eleanor finds herself in a situation where she tries to save a dying…

Stacking The Shelves (October 5, 2025) 📚📚 Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, books for review from authors, Netgalley, Edelweiss or publishers, as well as gifts or books you won.

Stacking The Shelves (October 5, 2025) 📚📚

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you…

20 Books For Christmas 2025 #Challenge #20BooksForChristmas2025 I began participating in 20 Books Of Christmas back in 2019, at that time hosted by Jo Jackson over at Tea & Cake for the Soul. She no longer hosts this challenge, in fact, she is no longer blogging, so Jodie over at That Happy Reader now hosts a Christmas Challenge. I will link to hers.

20 Books For Christmas 2025 #Challenge #20BooksForChristmas2025

I began participating in 20 Books Of Christmas back in 2019, at that time hosted by Jo Jackson over at Tea & Cake for the Soul. She no longer hosts this challenge, in fact, she is no longer blogging, so Jodie over at That Happy Reader…

Checking In

Hi everyone. Just checking in to let everyone know that I'm alive, we'll, and enjoying my cruise. We are at sea today, heading to Santorini. I will be home October 5th, and back online. Here's a few pictures from the first 2 weeks.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (September 8, 2025) 📚📚 Welcome to It’s Monday! What are you Reading? It’s hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, this is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (September 8, 2025) 📚📚

Welcome to It’s Monday! What are you Reading? It’s hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, this is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

VACATION TIME! 😊

I will be off on holiday from today (leaving tonight at 6:00 p.m.) and not returning home until October 5th. I will be on a cruise for most of that time and will not have a lot of time to do much besides enjoy all the places we go, the sunshine, the company and maybe some reading…

Mystery, Suspense and Twists: Happiness Falls, The Housemaid is Watching, 4th Man, and The 7th Month #BookReview #Audiobook #ThrillerThursday #FinishingTheSeries2025 It's Thursday again, and I have four reviews to share with you. These four books are either mysteries with a twist or a thriller, not really what I would normally include in my Thriller Thursday post. I listened to most of them and enjoyed the narration. Scroll down for my thoughts.

Mystery, Suspense and Twists: Happiness Falls, The Housemaid is Watching, 4th Man, and The 7th Month #BookReview #Audiobook #ThrillerThursday #FinishingTheSeries2025

It's Thursday again, and I have four reviews to share with you. These four books are either mysteries with a twist or a thriller,…

Happy Friday! Positivity Wave! September 5, 2025 This meme was originally created by Meggy @Chocolate’n’Waffles to spread some positivity amongst all the doom and gloom on social media and in the news. Meggy isn’t blogging any more, so Nicki @Secret Library Book Blog is now hosting. Feel free to join in with your own Happy Friday post, and link to this post if you want to. I always enjoyed participating before, so look forward to doing it again.

Happy Friday! Positivity Wave! September 5, 2025

This meme was originally created by Meggy @Chocolate’n’Waffles to spread some positivity amongst all the doom and gloom on social media and in the news. Meggy isn’t blogging any more, so Nicki @Secret Library Book Blog is now hosting. Feel free to…

Whodunnit – Cozy Mysteries: The Story That Wouldn’t Die, The Busybody Book Club, #BookReview #Audiobook #FinishingTheSeries2025 Those of you who regularly follow my blog know that I enjoy a good cozy mystery. One of these is the second book in a new series I tried earlier this month, one is a standalone story, and the other is the first book in a series that I started partway through. Time to go back and read or listen to the ones I missed along the way.

Whodunnit – Cozy Mysteries: The Story That Wouldn’t Die, The Busybody Book Club, #BookReview #Audiobook #FinishingTheSeries2025

Those of you who regularly follow my blog know that I enjoy a good cozy mystery. One of these is the second book in a new series I tried earlier this month, one is a…

Can’t Wait Wednesday (September 3, 2025) #WOW Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. If you’re continuing with WOW, feel free to link up as well! Find out more here. This week, I’m waiting for ….

Can’t Wait Wednesday (September 3, 2025) #WOW

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. If you’re continuing with WOW, feel free to…

Top Ten Tuesday (September 2, 2025) Non-Bookish Freebie Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.

Top Ten Tuesday (September 2, 2025) Non-Bookish Freebie

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to…

20 Books of Summer 2025 Tracking and Final Update #20booksofSummer2025 Thanks to Annabel at AnnaBookBel and Emma at Words and Peace for hosting the 20 Books of Summer for 2025. I can't believe it is already September and the unofficial fall season has begun. Below you will see the list of books that I read for this challenge and links to my reviews. (I have one more to post). I worked on the Bingo Card and had covered several lines, but when I went to post the graphic, it was blank, so I'm not redoing it.

20 Books of Summer 2025 Tracking and Final Update #20booksofSummer2025

Thanks to Annabel at AnnaBookBel and Emma at Words and Peace for hosting the 20 Books of Summer for 2025. I can't believe it is already September and the unofficial fall season has begun. Below you will see the list of books…

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (September 1, 2025) 📚📚 Welcome to It’s Monday! What are you Reading? It’s hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, this is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind. Oops, forgot to hit publish.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (September 1, 2025) 📚📚

Welcome to It’s Monday! What are you Reading? It’s hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, this is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind. Oops, forgot to hit publish.

Romance is in the Air: The Best of Us, All The Ways You Save Me, Saving The Scot, Save The Date, and The Wedding Party #BookReview #Audiobook #FinishingTheSeries2025 #BooksIOwn (17, 18) Enjoying so many genres means I can mix up my reading. Over the last couple of weeks, I have read several romance stories. They varied from RomCom to family drama with romance, to New Beginnings and one DNF that was way too steamy for me.

Romance is in the Air: The Best of Us, All The Ways You Save Me, Saving The Scot, Save The Date, and The Wedding Party #BookReview #Audiobook #FinishingTheSeries2025 #BooksIOwn (17, 18)

Enjoying so many genres means I can mix up my reading. Over the last couple of weeks, I have read several…

Bookish Travel: August 2025 I saw this bookish travel post on It’s All About Books and thought, I like this!! So, I decided to try and do it at the end of every month. Hopefully, I will be able to keep track. I would love to be able to travel more, but I have to settle for armchair travel. I am only including actual places which is fine as I don't read a lot of fantasy.

Bookish Travel: August 2025

I saw this bookish travel post on It’s All About Books and thought, I like this!! So, I decided to try and do it at the end of every month. Hopefully, I will be able to keep track. I would love to be able to travel more, but I have to settle for armchair travel. I am…

Stacking The Shelves (August 31, 2025) 📚📚 Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, books for review from authors, Netgalley, Edelweiss or publishers, as well as gifts or books you won.

Stacking The Shelves (August 31, 2025) 📚📚

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you…

The Book of Irish Secrets by Susanne O’Leary #BookReview #BlogTour @bookouture.bsky.social @susanneol.bsky.social Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for Susanne O'Leary's fifth book in the Magnolia Manor series, The Book of Irish Secrets. I have enjoyed each addition to this series and was looking forward to this one. I was not disappointed. Scroll down to read my thoughts and learn more about the book and author.

The Book of Irish Secrets by Susanne O’Leary #BookReview #BlogTour @bookouture.bsky.social @susanneol.bsky.social

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for Susanne O'Leary's fifth book in the Magnolia Manor series, The Book of Irish Secrets. I have enjoyed each addition to this series and was…