Leslie Popp

🎄December Wrap-Up:

Holiday reads are so warm and fuzzy and I loved the seasonal titles this year (rereading Jenny Colgan books are always a plus). The audiobook of Fourth Wing was a huge hit and really made me change my tune on the story (I struggled a bit with the physical book but the narrators really brought it to life).

This is the first year that I tracked my reading, and I had no idea how many books I read! Here's to 2024!

Grab your copy of Life by Pumpkin: A Cat's View on Everything on Amazon and Barnes & Noble today.😸🐕

"This true story is a delightfully captivating tale about the greatest cat that ever lived. My mom does an excellent job capturing and documenting my thoughts and memorable reign in a book that is long overdue.” - Pumpkin

Book Review: The Lost Bookshop
Did not finish

I made it about halfway through this audiobook but it wasn't holding my attention so I decided to cut my listening short and move on to the next one.

😸Life by Pumpkin Chapter 19: Establishing Dominance😸

"Mom has a male friend. He’s been around a lot recently and seems to really like me, but the question is: do I like him? You don’t wander into my house and automatically get to be friends with me. We’re only friends if I say we’re friends.

He gets down on the ground to pet me, play with me, and sometimes even feed me. He’s open to snuggles, which does, admittedly, win him some points. But I’m still evaluating him. I’m not convinced that this isn’t some crafty ploy to undermine my authority in the house and muscle in on my time with Mom. I am the favorite. I am the man of this house, and there’s only room for one of us unless I say so!

So here he is again today, stretched out on my side of the bed and using one of my pillows. He seems to think he’s going to be allowed to stay here tonight, but I haven’t approved of this arrangement. If he must remain in this house, then he can sleep on the floor at the end of the bed like a good boy until I decide he has earned a place on my bed, which may never happen."

🌟Stay tuned for more chapter excerpts from Life by Pumpkin: A Cat's View on Everything!🌟

📚Book Review: Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe
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❓What's your favorite holiday story❓

I always enjoy some Jenny Colgan holiday spirit! Her books are so light and heartwarming with fun, colorful characters that are wonderfully imperfect.

B&N Synopsis:

"Life is sweet for Issy Randall, owner of the Cupcake Cafe. Taught how to bake by her beloved late grandfather, she is proudly carrying on the family tradition with her London eatery. Not only is business thriving, the icing on the cupcake is that she also happens to be head over heels in love. Plus she’s surrounded and supported by close friends, even if her cupcake colleagues Pearl and Caroline don’t seem quite as upbeat about the upcoming season of snow and merriment.

But when her boyfriend Austin is scouted for a possible move to New York, Issy is forced to contemplate the prospect of a long-distance romance. And when the Christmas rush at the cafe—with its increased demand for her delectable creations—begins to take its toll, Issy has to decide what she holds most dear.

This December, Issy will have to rely on all her reserves of calm, courage, and cinnamon to make sure everyone has a merry Christmas, one way or another. . ."

📚Book Review: Goldilocks

Ollie is running from her past family trauma, trying to put distance between herself and a deranged brother. Her childhood friend Huck is the only person she trusts, and while she betrayed his trust after a tragic accident, she is determined to mend the rift. Unfortunately, danger follows Ollie wherever she runs and together she and Huck have to face down a shadow from their childhood.

🐉Fourth Wing Audiobook!

❓Do you ever listen to the audiobook after reading the physical book❓

I think the audiobook is the way to go on this one. I read it on my Kindle first, but the audio really brought the story to life.

📚Book Review: Boy in Luv📚
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❓Have you read any Jay Crownover books❓

Boom! Another incredible read from Jay Crownover. You're cheering for Langley and Iker from chapter one and the ride does not disappoint 😀 While there are so many challenges for them to overcome, their determination to put each other first is inspiring.

Goodreads Synopsis

"Langley Vaughn knows she's never going to make the same mistake again.

Who falls head over heels in love in a week? Langley did, and she's regretted it every day since she handed her heart to a boy with too many secrets and too much baggage. Iker doesn't fit into Langley's world, and he made it clear he doesn't want to. He left before she even got a chance to try and change his mind or to prove to him how good they could be together. Langley's spent the last nine months healing her heart and making big plans for the future. Plans that absolutely don't include Iker… even though he's back, looking better than ever, and saying all the right things.

Iker Alvarez knows he made the biggest mistake of his life.

At first, the pretty blonde in the red dress was nothing more than a means to an end. But, she quickly became so much more. As soon as Iker walked away from Langley, claiming it was for her own good, he knew he screwed up. He left her so she wouldn't worry about him when he deployed, so she wouldn't waste her time waiting around for a guy who was never going to be good enough for her. Only, nine months and a deployment later, Iker still can't get Langley out of his head… and he totally underestimated the hold she has on his hardened heart. He's a guy who's not sure how love should work, or how to go about winning his girl back…he's about to get a crash course in both"

🎄Book Review: The Christmas Bookshop🎄
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❓What is your favorite holiday read❓

What a sweet Christmas read filled with cozy bookshop moments, funny family drama, and relationship misunderstandings. A light, heartwarming, seasonal read!

Goodreads Synopsis

"When the department store she works in closes for good, Carmen has perilously little cash and few options. She doesn’t want to move in with her perfect sister Sofia, in Sofia’s perfect house with her perfect children and her perfectly ordered Edinburgh life.

Frankly, Sofia doesn’t exactly want Carmen there either. Her sister has always been sarcastic and difficult. But Sofia has yet another baby on the way, a mother desperate to see her daughters get along, and a client who needs a retail assistant for his ailing bookshop, so welcoming Carmen might still have some benefits for everyone.

At Sofia’s behest, Carmen is thrown into the daily workings of old Mr. McCredie’s ancient bookshop on the streets of the old dark city. Can she use her design skills to revamp the store and bring it back to popularity in time to benefit from Christmas shopping traffic? Can she choose between bad boy literary rock star Blair and quiet Quaker student Oke? And will she heal the rift with the most important people of all: her family?"

📚Book Review: Prodigal Son📚

So, I generally love Jay Crownover, but this one I just couldn't get invested in. It won't stop me from investigating her next book, but it's a bummer.

November Reads!

❓What was your favorite read this month❓

The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse were my favorite books this month! They were fun, seasonal reads and who doesn't enjoy a bit of witchcraft now and then 😊

Book Review: The Kiss Curse
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❓If you were a witch, what would you do with your power❓

Such a fun story filled with spellbinding moments, magical whimsy, an enchanted cat, and of course an evil witch! I laughed so far a few times and thoroughly enjoyed the story. Who doesn't love a good spell and a bit of magic?

Goodreads Synopsis
"Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late."

📚Book Review: Bright Lights Big Christmas 🎁

❓When do you start decorating for the holidays❓

This was such a cozy, feel-good read with loveable characters and a festive backdrop. The dynamics of the quaint Christmas tree stand in New York City really warmed my heart because there was a strong sense of community between the shop keepers, local residents, and brother sister team that ran the operation. A great book to kick off the season 🎄

Goodreads Synopsis
"When fall rolls around, it’s time for Kerry Tolliver to leave her family’s Christmas tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina for the wilds of New York City to help her gruff older brother & his dog, Queenie, sell the trees at the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village. Sharing a tiny vintage camper and experiencing Manhattan for the first time, Kerry’s ready to try to carve out a new corner for herself.

In the weeks leading into Christmas, Kerry quickly becomes close with the charming neighbors who live near their stand. When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry will need to combine her country know-how with her newly acquired New York knowledge to protect the new friends she’s come to think of as family,

And complicating everything is Patrick, a single dad raising his adorable, dragon-loving son Austin on this quirky block. Kerry and Patrick’s chemistry is undeniable, but what chance does this holiday romance really have?"

Book Review: Wrecked
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❓What's the last book you read with a strong female lead❓

Jax and Elena are great characters, and their struggles to deal with past emotional traumas and navigate illnesses in their families really ground the story. They have to learn to support each other when faced with challenging situations, which in the end, only brings them closer.

Goodreads Synopsis

"𝗝𝗮𝘅
Pills. Alcohol. Adrenaline.
I’m addicted to destructive decisions that numb my pain.
Until one night when I make a catastrophic mistake.
To repair my broken reputation, my team hires Elena—
An overpaid babysitter set on ruining my plans.
She's my damnation disguised as my salvation.
And my newest addiction.

𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮
I begged the universe to save me from my financial disaster.
It answered my call with a Formula 1 team desperate for a PR miracle.
One season. One job. One broody British racer.
Except that Jax turns our hotel room into a battleground.
To beat the enemy, I need to find his weaknesses.
What I learn threatens to ruin everything.
Him. Me. Us.
Love is a warzone, and neither one of us plans to surrender."

Book Review: The Honeymoon Heist
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❓What is your dream honeymoon destination❓

This novella was filled with beautiful scenery and fast paced action. I loved the Italian backdrop, and the art theme. A cozy read with fun, loveable characters.

Goodreads synopsis
"Between the delectable meals, the gorgeous Mediterranean seaside, and historical sites, Pike and Jennifer are enjoying their time with Amena in the Italian village of Positano, grateful for the reprieve from their day jobs—protecting U.S. interests from terrorist threats. But their relaxing vacation runs into trouble when Amena and Pike uncover what appears to be a priceless Renaissance painting hidden in a grotto and soon find themselves in the center of a black market art scheme.

A powerful Italian businessman and suspected crime lord had arranged to take possession of the rare, deeply significant Caravaggio artwork in the cave through less-than-legal means, and hadn’t counted on the trio of Americans interrupting his plot. He is determined to leave no witnesses . . . but when he dares to threaten Pike and his family, he learns how dangerous they truly are"

A cozy fall read featuring a sassy NYC tabby cat with big dreams and an even bigger heart! Life by Pumpkin: A Cat's View on Everything is fun for all ages and is sure to make you smile 😊

Book Review: The Ex Hex
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❓Do you believe in magic❓

Okay, I loved this one. An accidental hex wreaking havoc on a Georgia town, coupled with a second chance relationship made this a cozy, feel-good read! "Don't mix witchcraft and vodka."

Goodreads Synopsis

"Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pi**ed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late."

Book Review: The Invisible Hour
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❓If you could time travel, what time period would you go to❓

Such an interesting read with a twist as we follow Mia through her life growing up in a cult, a daring escape, and a budding romance with her favorite classical author. I really enjoyed the dual time periods and exploring the changes in society over time.

Goodreads Synopsis

"One June day when Mia Jacob can no longer see a way to survive, the power of words saves her. The Scarlet Letter was written almost two hundred years earlier, but it seems to tell the story of Mia’s mother, Ivy, and their life inside the Community—an oppressive cult in western Massachusetts where contact with the outside world is forbidden. But how could this be? How could Nathaniel Hawthorne have so perfectly captured the pain and loss that Mia carries inside her?

Through a journey of heartbreak, love, and time, Mia must abandon the rules she was raised with at the Community. As she does, she realizes that reading can transport you to other worlds or bring them to you, and that readers and writers affect one another in mysterious ways. She learns that time is more fluid than she can imagine, and that love is stronger than any chains that bind you.

As a girl Mia fell in love with a book. Now as a young woman she falls in love with a brilliant writer as she makes her way back in time. But what if Nathaniel Hawthorne never wrote The Scarlet Letter ? And what if Mia Jacob never found it on the day she planned to die?"

Book Review: The Art Thief
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Wow, what an interesting story about a prolific art thief gallivanting around Europe and helping himself to more than $1bn in stolen art from unsuspecting museums. A well written recount of a true story that seems almost unbelievable by the sheer audacity of the thief.

❓QOTD: Who is your favorite artist❓

Goodreads Synopsis

"For centuries, works of art have been stolen in countless ways from all over the world, but no one has been quite as successful at it as the master thief Stéphane Breitwieser. Carrying out more than two hundred heists over nearly ten years--in museums and cathedrals all over Europe--Breitwieser, along with his girlfriend who worked as his lookout, stole more than three hundred objects, until it all fell apart in spectacular fashion.

In The Art Thief, Michael Finkel brings us into Breitwieser's strange and fascinating world. Unlike most thieves, he never stole for money, keeping all his treasures in a single room where he could admire them to his heart's content. Possessed of a remarkable athleticism and an innate ability to assess practically any security system, Breitwieser managed to pull off a breathtakingly number of audacious thefts. Yet these strange talents bred a growing disregard for risk and an addict's need to score, leading Breitwieser to ignore his girlfriend's pleas to stop--until one final act of hubris brought everything crashing down."

📚Book Review: Happiness Falls📚
DNF

I really struggled with this one because the pacing was very slow and frustrating. I ended up skipping through chapters and skimming pages to keep it moving unfortunately. Maybe the next one will be a winner.

Goodreads Synopsis

""We didn't call the police right away." Those are the first words of this extraordinary novel about a biracial Korean-American family in Virginia whose lives are upended when their beloved father and husband goes missing.

Mia, the irreverent, hyperanalytical twenty-year-old daughter, has an explanation for everything--which is why she isn't initially concerned when her father and younger brother Eugene don't return from a walk in a nearby park. They must have lost their phone. Or stopped for an errand somewhere. But by the time Mia's brother runs through the front door bloody and alone, it becomes clear that the father in this tight-knit family is missing and the only witness is Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome and cannot speak.

What follows is both a ticking-clock investigation into the whereabouts of a father and an emotionally rich portrait of a family whose most personal secrets just may be at the heart of his disappearance. Full of shocking twists and fascinating questions of love, language, race, and human connection, Happiness Falls is a mystery, a family drama, and a novel of profound philosophical inquiry. With all the powerful storytelling she brought to her award-winning debut Miracle Creek, Angie Kim turns the missing person story into something wholly original, creating an indelible tale of a family who must go to remarkable lengths to truly understand one another."

Book Review: Collided
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Headstrong Sophie was such a fun character! Watching her discover herself and forge her own path made this an enjoyable read. I liked the first book in this series more, but this one doesn't disappoint.

Goodreads Synopsis
"Sophie Mitchell
Liam is Formula 1's golden boy.
But he's nothing but a fraud.
Charming. Devious. Seductive.
And someone who promises to fulfill all my naughty bucket list items.
I force him behind the safe lines of the friend zone.
Instead of accepting our friendship, he strikes a deal.
One season. One list. One dirty secret.

Liam Zander
Sophie is my greatest fantasy brought to life.
And a major threat to my contract renewal.
She's a part of the rival team and someone I should resist at all costs.
Everyone is against our friendship.
My boss. Her dad. Me.
Yet, I'm captivated by her and the naughty list she created.
Screw platonic, I want catastrophic."

📚Book Review: Throttled📚
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Ok so I loved the relationship between Noah and Maya! The witty banter and the excitement of the races kept me interested from the first page to the last.

Goodreads Synopsis

"Noah Slade is a Formula 1 legend in the making.

Focused. Unapproachable. Ruthless on and off the track.
A man with walls higher than the Grand Canyon.
And my brother's new teammate.
I want more of the prince who disguises himself as the villain.
But while I crave a happy ending, he wants to destroy his.

Maya Alatorre is a forbidden temptation.
An ambitious post-grad I should stay far away from.
And chaos wrapped with a bow.
We're a ticking time bomb, about one wrong move away from exploding.
I want to trip the wire, detonating together in passion and pain.
Because in the end, all's fair in lust and war."

October Reads! It was a mixed month with some great books like Everyone Here is Lying and The Fine Print, and some that I skipped through like The Spare Room. Nonetheless an accomplished month!

Book Review: Mrs. Planksy's Revenge📚
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Another miss for me. I liked the premise of this one, and the main character was endearing but I thought a lot of moments felt really drawn out. Oh well, on to the next.

Goodreads Synopsis
"Mrs. Loretta Plansky, a recent widow in her seventies, is settling into retirement in Florida while dealing with her 98-year-old father and fielding requests for money from her beloved children and grandchildren. Thankfully, her new hip hasn’t changed her killer tennis game one bit.

One night Mrs. Plansky is startled awake by a phone call from a voice claiming to be her grandson Will, who desperately needs ten thousand dollars to get out of a jam. Of course, Loretta obliges―after all, what are grandmothers for, even grandmothers who still haven’t gotten a simple “thank you” for a gift sent weeks ago. Not that she's counting.

By morning, Mrs. Plansky has lost everything. Law enforcement announces that Loretta's life savings have vanished, and that it’s hopeless to find the scammers behind the heist. First humiliated, then furious, Loretta Plansky refuses to be just another victim.

In a courageous bid for justice, Mrs. Plansky follows her only clue on a whirlwind adventure to a small village in Romania to get her money and her dignity back―and perhaps find a new lease on life, too"

📚Book Review: Ciao For Now📚
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This was such a fun and cute read. I loved Violet and Matt's dynamic, and the Italian and fashion industry backdrop gave it a feeling of whimsy.

Goodreads Synopsis:
"When an American interning at a fashion house in Rome butts heads with her professor's surly son, sparks fly!

With her thirties rapidly approaching and a mountain of student debt looming over her, Violet Luciano’s dream of finishing design school and working in fashion has cost her everything. So when she lands an internship at an up-and-coming fashion brand in Rome, she brings her A game to Italy. With nothing left to lose, Violet plans to win the competition among the interns for the ultimate prize—a job at a New York label.

But when a coffee run goes wrong and Violet accidentally destroys a stranger’s laptop, all of the apology Americanos in the world won’t help her. Because it turns out that the man from the café is Matteo, her professor’s eternally grumpy son, who thinks she’s a clumsy American…and maybe a stalker. Their animosity (and undeniable chemistry) grows as together they’re forced to face a summer of chic parties, adventures through Rome and sharing a home…with the person they can’t stand the most.

The more time she spends with him, the more distracted she finds herself. With her chance to win the competition slipping out of her grasp, Violet has to decide whether to say ciao to Matteo—or ciao to her dreams."

😸Life by Pumpkin Chapter 17: Supervising My Kingdom😸

"Sometimes I take Mom for a walk and let her explore the rest of my kingdom. It’s a lazy morning, and I decided that it would be good for both of us to stretch our legs a bit. She opens the front door, and we stroll cautiously out into the hallway, making sure that no one else is about. The coast is clear. I eagerly sniff along the walls and the floor, investigating every inch. A good ruler knows his domain from top to bottom. I pick up the scent of several other subjects that live behind the other doors and of the tiny, yappy beast that I dislike but tolerate as long as I don’t see him.

There are so many things to look at out here and so many different smells. I do think we should redecorate this area. It could use a few soft pillows and tall perches, and there’s not a food or water bowl in sight. I don’t like being this far from my bowls in case I get the urge to snack."

🌟Stay tuned for more chapter excerpts from Life by Pumpkin: A Cat's View on Everything!🌟

📚Book Review: The Fine Print📚
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I was rooting for Zahra the whole time. I love a good book where the female lead comes into her own and takes ownership of her life. With the theme park background, I thought the setting was really fun and the pages just flew by (perhaps unfortunately because it was over too soon). Definitely an upbeat and compelling read.

Goodreads Synopsis:

"Rowan
I'm in the business of creating fairy tales.
Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels.
Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland.
My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her.
Things spiraled out of control once I texted her using an alias.
By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late.
People like me don't get happy endings.
Not when we're destined to ruin them.

Zahra
After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland's most expensive ride, I should have been fired.
Instead, Rowan Kane offered me a dream job.
The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I'd ever met.
Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn't care.
At least not until I discovered his secret.
It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn't fix everything.
Especially not us."

😺Life by Pumpkin Chapter 16: Banishment📚

"I have been banished from my own room! This is not allowed in my house, as all rooms are mine and no doors should ever be shut. Everyone should be well trained and do as I say.

'Open this door at once!' I demand in frustration."

🌟Stay tuned for more chapter excerpts from Life by Pumpkin: A Cat's View on Everything!🌟