The important thing about electric kettles is that their insides be stainless and that they turn themselves off beyond that it’s all extra. I buy the cheapest that I can find that fits those parameters because I didn’t actually use my added features in the fancy one I had. Currently I have a Krups and like it. https://www.amazon.com/KRUPS-BW26-Cool-Touch-Stainless-Electric/dp/B075G3C5Z7/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1oq35q3x7QIVFniGCh2NdgokEAMYAiAAEgKDVvD_BwE&hvadid=344155545039&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9011760&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16859297148761039997&hvtargid=kwd-42665291&hydadcr=24663_10400924&keywords=braun+kettle&qid=1609181958&sr=8-4&tag=googhydr-20. We actually use it anytime we need hot water so it gets pretty often ay my house. Ds uses it for his oatmeal every morning etc.

I finished the Ladies of Literature spelling challenge for December...... December - Rumor Godden R........Dancing in the Rain by Kelly Jamieson U........Teo for Sorrow by Nicola Upson M........To Helen Back by Susan McBride O.........Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt R.........Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Katie Racculia G.........Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews O.........One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie D.........Hurricane Force by Jana DeLeon D.........Frontier Follies by Rene Drummond E.........The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett N.........Waiting for Nick by Nora Roberts

Last night I finished the latest by Louise Penny. I have a total adoration thing going on with Gamache and the audio books. I managed to survive the narrator switch but only because Ralph Cosham died 😢so I had to move on in order to finish the series. That said the past few books have been bad. Seriously how many times can Gamache be attacked by the same people to weird extremes. When I finished A Better Man I promised myself I would leave Gamache at the airport saying goodbye .......but The Devils are all Here was released and I read the blurb. Canada was left behind for Paris and in hopeful anticipation I decided to try it. It’s good! I have no idea if the next one will be but that book was great. On future rereads I may skip a couple and go right to Paris......nothing good would be missed. I plan to listen to a few classics next year and have looked up and made a wish list of Ralph Cosham narrations for a starting place. Just in case you didn’t know Overdrive let’s you search by narrator as well as author. I need a couple of days to finish my lists.

Merry Christmas Everyone! I just finished reading a Christmas book gift from a friend here. It was a contemporary romance that she enjoyed and shared. It was quite good in part because it wasn’t totally typical. My Christmas Number One by Leonie Mack https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55031244-my-christmas-number-one I am planning to work on my lists tonight so thought I would add this completed one to the thread. Agatha Strikes Again!..........my Christie in order perpetual challenge 1 ABC Murders-Poirot 2 Cards on the Table 3 Dumb Witness 4 Death on the Nile 5 Murder in the Mews 6 Appointment with Death 7 And Then There Were None 8 Murder is Easy 9 Sad Cypress 10 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

I have been doing Robin’s AC in order challenge and really enjoying it. I choose the audio books whenever possible because they really do seem to be better when read by a good narrator....Hugh Fraiser has done several. It looks like Crooked House won’t be on my list until 2022 unless I manage to increase my speed!

😂 I see Pen already answered but wanted to add that many crafters have named 2020 the year of UFO’s because we have been finishing things we never honestly expected to!

I finished listening to the first book in David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series last night.....I spent a really long time on the hold list for this one but wanted to start at the first of the series because I wanted to be able to enjoy them all because the dog’s on the covers are always so cute. This one was a solid lawyer mystery, good not great. I put the next one on hold as they get a bonus for being on audio. @PenThese have potential for you. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1017537.Open_and_ShutI just decided to pull my major UFO quilt out and try and get it hand quilted before it turns too hot. This involves being spread out in a way that is easier on the bed so I will be able to sit and listen to books. Getting it done is going to be my New Year’s goal. Tonight’s entertainment will be The Favored Queen which is the story of Jane Seymour for my “ Henry and his Kin” 10X10. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10898653-the-favored-queen?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=yxk2UDFVFr&rank=1Trying to finish reading One, Two, Buckle my Shoe which will finish my Bingo Card. Woot! It will also finish my Agatha Christie set of 10’s. I don’t remember this one at all......oddly I plan to use it for my drama Bingo square as it appeared on multiple lists as a drama when I was hunting for an “official” drama book. @Lori D. I was glad to see your reviews of Miss Buncle. These are in my 2021 plans and I am now really looking forward to them! I love DE Stevenson and have bee spreading them out.😉

I have been slowly going down the Goodreads order list......there was one that made me glad I was in order. I need to get back to these!

I am now hooked on some audiobooks by Beatriz Williams in the Schuyler Sisters series. I read the first in the series to fill my “Groovy Baby” square on the Bingo card and became really involved in the story which shifts between 1960’s NYC and the European build up to WW1. The current day Schuyler sister discovers she has and Aunt Violet who was a physicist and disappeared from the family tree when she receives her aunt’s suitcase in the mail........returned from a lost and found in Switzerland. I will definately be reading the rest of these! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18667976-the-secret-life-of-violet-grant

No idea about the adult part but...... I listen to my audio books while sewing......so sitting on my sewing chair or either on the couch or on my bed if hand sewing. For my book reading I mainly sit at the table, couch, or in bed. I used to read constantly while riding in the car but Covid seems to have broke that habit as I now find riding in cars fascinating!😂 @Robin MI loved the Devotion of Suspect X! I read the third or forth in the series earlier this year.

I thought of you while reading the Moonflower Murders as I knew you would be reading it soon! I read it a couple of weeks ago and like you enjoyed it. I also picked up the clues along the way but didn’t know who did it!

I have been working on planning for next year. Some of my 10’s were disappointing as I just couldn’t seem to motivate myself so I plan to bring my Patricia Wentworth (yep, I failed a cozy mystery category with 7 more needed), Somewhere in Time (Time travel, probably going to finish this off with romantic time travel instead of popular recommended time travel which I didn’t enjoy in 2020), and finally Corsets and Clockwork will move forward. The Steampunk category is one I started mid year after formally giving up on my Alfred Hitchcock books to movies idea. Somehow I think Robin has plans for this one in the coming year. I did create new 10’s along the way......Sniffer Dogs, Spooky Books, and Christmas books.😂 I have a few Christmas books to go but expect to be successful! I have gone ahead and picked my new categories.........borrowing a few from Robin. At this stage I love to spend a few hours exploring my library wish lists and assigning books to categories. I have only just started the process. I love planning.... 1. Give me 10 more Agatha’s......AC in order again so I will eventually complete the list over on 52 books. 2. If I could talk to the animals......unusual animals/pets in books is something I want to keep track of 😂, I read a book with a moose friend last week. This is purely for my entertainment. 3. In a Galaxy Far, Far, Away........Sci Fi without a category is not a good idea. I don’t read as much Sci Fi unless I require it of myself. I actually like Sci Fi........ 4. Fines and Misdemeanors (stories and crimes around libraries and bookstores)........One of Robin’s, a call to read cozy’s🤷‍♀️ 5. Get thee to a nunnery (involves nuns, priests, etc)......Robin’s again. Before last year a goal was to reread Brother Cadefel in order. Should fit in here. 6. My Cozy Corner(new to me cozy series)......I do this one every year and really enjoy it. This was how I found Mrs Pollifax. 7. Let me tell you about myself.....memoirs, biographies and true stories.......I have several interesting books on wish lists that fit this category. Maybe this will make me read some of them. 8. Around the World in 10 Detectives.......the return of a favorite. This means I will revisit some old favorites and maybe discover a few new ones. 9. Witches, Werewolves, and Vampires......Oh My!........planning to put fun spooky books here. My spooky category lives on. 10. Into the past (historical fiction).......Robin’s. This may be a catch all category with several books from series like Maisie Dobbs WW2 get thrown together with Russian Tsars. In development and leaning towards historical mystery series.

I have been pretty busy attempting to finish this years challenges so have read quite a mixture in the past week...... I read my fix book ever by CJ Box and will definitely be reading more. Good basic thriller/suspense, apparently I have been missing out as I really liked this one and have skipped over these books by this author for years. Yay! to my book chain challenge which made me go looking for the word Box. I actually listened to Back of Beyond https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10134217-back-of-beyond and enjoyed the narration too. The next really good find is Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts which I did have marked as a to read so I suspect someone here recommended it at some point. I located it on a list of humorous books and decided to use it for my bingo card. I wanted to use something that someone beyond me found funny and this book was just cute but qualifies because of the list!😉. That said I loved that sweet funny book, for me it was a slight step down from Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie good. No idea why it reminded me of Sweetness but it did so decided to mention it in my review. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42478640-tuesday-mooney-talks-to-ghosts

@-M-I just noticed your avatar. Not sure when you switched it but I have to say it’s most appropriate!

Another finished challenge a book chain of 20 for 2020. Next year I will do 21 as I enjoy this challenge! Book Chain 1 Dragon Actually by GAAiken 2 Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs 3 Rock-a-Bye Bones by Carolyn Haines 4 Rock withWings by Anne Hillerman 5 Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte 6 Shades of Earl Grey by Laura Childs 7 Agony of the Leaves by Laura Childs 8 Unforgivable by Laura Griffin 9 Scorched by Laura Griffin 10 Scorched by Rachel Butler 11 Falling for Rachel by Nora Roberts 12 Hideaway by Nora Roberts 13 The Summer Hideaway by Susan Wiggs 14 Queen Anne’s Lace by Susan Wittig Albert 15 A Plain Vanilla Murder by Susan Wittig Albert 16 Witch Way to Murder by Shirley Damsgaard 17 Slouch Witch by Helen Harper 18 Star Witch by Helen Harper 19 To Helen Back by Susan McBride 20 Back of Beyond by CJ Box

No, I haven’t mainly because I discovered them during my Brit Tripping year and being set in NY had to set them aside. I just looked and my library has them, so placed the first on my wish list. Also, I have noticed you never rate mysteries on Goodreads and personally think you need too! I have started my 2021 planning but still have a few to finish for challenges for 2020 so am not as far as in a normal year planning wise! Woot! @Robin M your lists look great! Dragons has been fun and I am totally doing that one again!

My husband would say better value!😂

I did some organization on my lists yesterday, so will post a few more today..... A to Z by Author A.......Addison, Katherine.........The Angel of the Crows B.......Baldacci, David........Memory Man C.......Collins, Suzanne........The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes D.......Deveraux, Jude........A Knight in Shining Armor E........Estep, Jennifer........Spider’s Bite F........ Finch, Charles........The Vanishing Man G........Gentill, Sulari.........A Few Right Thinking Man H........Huang, SL........Null Set I..........Ireland, Justina........Deathless Divide J.........Jonasson, Ragnar.......The Darkness K.........Kimberly, Alice........The Ghost and Mrs. McClure L.........Lynch, Scott......The Lies of Locke Lamora M........Mann, George.......The Affinity Bridge N.........Ness, Patrick........Burn O.........Overholt, Cuyler.......A Deadly Affection P..........Palmer, Suzanne.........Finder Q.........Quartey, Kwei........The Missing American R.........Robb, JD........Golden in Death S.........Spencer Fleming, Julia........Hid from Our Eyes T..........Tolkien, JRR.......The Hobbit U.........Upson, Nicola........Two for Sorrow V..........Vincy, Mia........A Beastly Kind of Earl W.........Wilde, Darcie.........A Useful Woman X..........Xiaolong, Qiu........Red Mandarin Dress Y...........Yoshimoto, Banana.......Moshi Moshi Z..........Zarlenga, Anna........Not My Type

I ran in to an interesting (to me 😉) book review today and thought I would share. I have put a hold on The Bell in the Lake after reading this......https://shereadsnovels.com/2020/12/10/the-bell-in-the-lake-by-lars-mytting/

I really like Rebecca Roanhouse’s books.....that’s all.😉 I have gone through my books on my kindle and have decided to start a Christmas themed bookshelf. I loved doing my Spooky shelf in October so why not do Christmas too. I might just get through several Carla Kelly’s @Kareni. I am currently reading Donna Andrews latest book with the Christmas theme.....The Gift of the Magpie. Loving it!

@Seasider tooI haven’t watched it but there is a Mrs. Pollifax movie on Amazon Prime.....It’s a wonderful book series that I managed to miss back in the day too. Found via someone on BaW! I am reading them very slowly in order not to run out and am not even sure that I picked one up this year. Last night I finished Frontier Follies by Ree Drummond https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51195557-frontier-folliesfor my cowboy square on the Bingo card. I know she used to be a boardie before my time and I missed the much of the fame as I lived in England. I did pick up one of her cookbooks once on Overdrive when BaW was featuring cookbooks and commented that the recipes had a lot of butter.......Amy warned me I shouldn’t be saying that, former boardie. 😂. Somehow in that first cookbook read I got the impression she was a Chicago born big city girl who married the rancher and was transplanted to farm life. The reality is yes she was a “city” girl who lived in the next county over.......she may not have been around cows as a child but she certainly must of had a clue to what life on a ranch would entail and how far a grocery store would be. Anyway I picked up this book expecting a paragraph or two on the early days of WtM.....not a mention. Home Ed is barely mentioned. It was a a good compilation of stories about her life with Ladd.....her family, dogs, and really not all that much cooking talk. She did poke fun at her butter consumption in recipes......it’s down 50%!😂

Everyone feel free to use my Goodreads but I do want to give a bit of a warning that I tend to rate on genre .........and I read pretty eclectically. All genres are created equal in my mind and I rate within each genre. I might give a sweet silly formula driven cozy a 5* because it was excellent in that genre. The problem is I will also give a very gritty thriller the same rating if it was done really well.....there is a french dectective series where I barely finished the series because of extreme violence but one of those books was seriously an awesomely clever mystery and was rated accordingly. So don’t mistake levels of violence etc to necessarily change my rating because I tend to allow it and still give high rating if that is appropriate to the book. I may have skimmed the violence and the adult scenes. I skim those things in most books...... For my first couple of years using Goodreads I felt a book had to be somehow worthy of a 5* and it dawned on me that wasn’t fair to the authors.....a thumping good read is just that no matter of the genre.

@VickiMNETrying to remember.......that particular Ragnar Johannsson is part of a pretty depressing series his other series is better. Vander Valk had some pretty explicit free love type scenes.......Tell me a couple mysteries your hubby enjoyed and I will try to come up with compatible titles. The Inspector Chopra series is good....think I read them last year for my Asian Detectives challenge!😉

I just finished my Qui Xiaolong book for this year’s X author and once again am suffering a bit of a crush on Inspector Chen. He is clever and a good person! These books are set in 1990’s Shanghai and filled with Chairman Mao and the cultural revolution. The actual Mandarin dress construction was an interesting side journey in this book......apparently it used to be constructed with the sleeve totally attached....not set in sleeves like we are used to. Must have been hard to move. The author is Chinese, I believe born in Shanghai, but left in the 90’s and now lives in the US so not translated. 😉 Inspector Chen finishes off my detectives 10 x 10........ Around the World in 10 Detectives 1 Amos Decker.....United States......David Baldacci (The Last Mile] 2 Inspector Hulda .......Iceland........Ragnar Johansson (The Darkness) 3 Van Der Valk.........Holland........Nicolas Freeling(Love in Amsterdam) 4 Department Q........Denmark.......Jussi Adler- Olsen(A Conspiracy of Faith) 5 Emma Djan..........Ghana..........Kwei Quartly (The Missing American) 6 Karen Pirie...........Scotland........Val McDermid(Still Life) 7 Rowland Sinclair......Australia .......Sulari Gentill(A Few Right Thinking Men) 8 Lane Winslow.........Canada...........Iona Winshaw(A Killer in King’s Cove) 9 Detective Galileo........Japan.......Keigo Higashino(A Midsummer’s Equation) 10Chen Cao.......China......Qui Xiaolong(Red Mandarin Dress)