It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (December 1, 2025)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

Winter has arrived in my part of Minnesota just in time to make Thanksgiving travel a challenge. We received 10.4 inches of snow on Tuesday/Wednesday which fell over a nice layer of ice and another 5.3 inches of snow fell on Saturday. The Tuesday snow was a wet heavy mess. Saturday's snow fell as big fluffy flakes ALL DAY LONG. We outperformed expectations on Saturday since we were supposed to be on the Northern edge of the snow event and only get an inch of snow. 

I don't drive when the roads are snowy and the plow ridges at street corners make it difficult to see on-coming traffic. My car is now plugged for the winter. I'm dependent on by brother for transportation until Spring arrives. He's very good about taking me wherever I want to go. Luckily, I like staying home and am perfectly content to read, listen to audiobooks, and play computer games. 

My brother was the one who cooked our Thanksgiving dinner - turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and green bean casserole. I did stand by and kibbitz though. Our green bean casserole doesn't used fried onions since I really don't like them when they end up mushy after cooking. We substitute canned water chestnuts for crunch and chow main noodles for the topping. Today (Sunday) will be a repeat of that dinner before he goes to work for his first 3:30 to midnight shift of the season. 

I did bake bread yesterday for the first time since last winter. I have a recipe for an easy peasant bread that requires stretch and folds instead of kneading. I was a little concerned about the age of my yeast, but the bread turned out well. 

I have finished all of my 2025 review copies and am almost finished with my second 2026 release. I have eleven books releasing on or before January 13. The last three January releases on my stack (so far) will be released on January 27.

Read Last Week

• Secrets of the Lost Ledgers by C. J. Archer (Kindle, mine since January 26, 2025) -- 5th book in the Glass Library fantasy series. It's set after World War I in England. My review will be posted on December 13.
• Turns of Fate by Anne Bishop (Audiobook, mine since November 18) -- First in a new urban fantasy series. Great worldbuilding and intriguing characters. I reviewed the ARC on November 4.
• All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Kindle, mine since August 6, 2025) -- Third book in the Naturals YA thriller series. My review will be posted on December 20)

• Bad Blood by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Mine since August 6, 2025) -- Finale of the Naturals YA thriller series. My review will be posted on January 10.
• The Cyprian by Mercedes Lackey (Review, December 30) -- The latest in the Elemental Masters series is a Regency fantasy based on Hans Christian Anderson's The Wild Swans. My review will be posted on December 23.
• Hounded by Kevin Hearne (Audiobook, mine since June 27, 2022) -- This is the first urban fantasy in the Iron Druid series. Lots of Celtic mythology. My review will be posted on December 25.

• Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread)
• Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman (Kindle, Mine since January 27, 2025) -- First Tess Monaghan mystery set in Baltimore. She's a former newspaper reporter soon to turn into a private investigator. My review will be posted on December 27.
• The Devil in the Details by Vicki Delany (Review, January 6) -- 11th Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery. This time Gemma needs to solve two deaths so that Jayne's wedding can proceed without a hitch - like a fiancé in jail for murder. My review will be posted on December 30.

Currently

• The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz (Review, January 6)
• Ceremony in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread)

Next Week

• Wildwood by Amy Pease (Review, January 6)
• The Storm by Rachel Hawkins (Review, January 6)
• Axe and Grind by Taylor Hutton (Review, January 6)

• Wreck Your Heart by Lori Rader-Day (Review, January 6)
• A Deadly Clue by Victoria Gilbert (Review, January 13)
• The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura (Review, January 13)

Reviews Posted

• How the Finch Stole Christmas by Donna Andrews (Chirp Audiobook)
• Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts (Chirp Audiobook)
• All My Bones by P. J. Nelson (Review copy)

• The Snow Lies Deep by Paula Munier (Review copy)
• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (Audiobook)
• Gutter Mage by J. S. Kelley (Mine)

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh (Review, January 27)

Bought:

• Ember Eternal by Chloe Neill (Kindle, Kindle Rewards, $11.99)
• World of Howl Collection by Diana Wynne Jones (Kindle Daily Deal, $1.99)

What was your week like?