The Book Date

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

Update For those of you who wondered where Laurel Rain went to. I have just had a message from her granddaughter.

” She has been dealing with some health issues the past few months and isn’t able to type any more, so unfortunately I don’t think she will be blogging anymore:(

I read her your message and she was so happy to hear that there are people out there that care about her and noticed that she was gone!”

So sending love and care to Laurel Rain and being grateful for her many years of blogging.

The week went by! We had a bad storm at the beginning of the week. Fortunately no damage where I am but some parts were badly hit. These storms are so frequent now.
Tuesday was great, at the end of the day I felt great satisfaction! Then Wednesday I woke and found I had vertigo, which was really very unpleasant. However I went carefully and by Friday it had passed. Friday night we had a family night of fish and chips with four of my siblings and their partners. Very pleasant!

What I read last week:

I read two books and finished two audiobooks and then read a novella. I really enjoyed Vera Wong and the novella was great. The Funeral Crashers was a good read and a review on its way for The Drowning.

What I am reading now:

The Library of Amorlin is a review book, as far as I have read I don’t think the library is as we know it.
I am a big fan of the TV show Ted Lasso so looking forward to Believe, an audio NF book about the show. Wife by Wednesday audio too, catching up on sale audio I bought and never read.

Up next:

I am really looking forward to this book, from one of my top favourite authors.

Last Week’s Posts

Books for Armchair Travel.

Top Ten Tuesday

Books for Arm Chair Travellers

February 17, 2026 Kathryn

Ten countries to armchair travel to. Links take you to Goodreads if you want to know more about them.

Australia: Back on Track by Tricia Stringer. This is a journey from Darwin to Adelaide right through the middle of Australia. I did great armchair travel with this one right through the centre of the country.

Antartica: Another travel journey because the main character goes to the Antartica. Away with the Penguins Veronica goes off to see the penguins. And just in case I think I am too old to go there, Veronia is 85! And… in further books she does more travel related to penguins. This book goes by How the Penguins Saved Veronica in the USA.

Ireland: An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly. The first in a cozy mystery series that takes you to Ireland to a small Irish village. Plus it has a home and a bookshop with secret doors and rooms.

Scotland: There are many books that take me to Scotland but Jenny Colgan does it well and I loved her Mure series as well as any of them. Mure is a Scottish island so you get to see a place where I think is hard to live on. The Café by the Sea.

Canada: Going to Canada you could go by L M Montgomery or Louise Penny, both do great things for Canada and I have travelled to Canada via them. Uzma Jalaluddin also takes us to Canada – Toronto. Ayesha at Last explores being a Muslim in Toronto. I throughly enjoyed this story of Ayesha and Khalid. I liked the Muslim / Indian/ Canadian aspects and I liked the humour, and the characters.

Japan: What you are looking for is in the Library. A set of five short stories set in Japan. It tracks five characters and their search for happiness and meaning and purpose in life.

Isle of Jersey. The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson takes is to St Helier on Jersey. This is an island off France, self governed but linked to England. I loved my visit there via Kate Thompson’s book. This is a World War 2 book.

Europe: The Things I Should Have Told You by Carmel Harrington will give you a trip to ten countries in Europe via a family and a camper van. Very good reading too.

Sweden: No better author than Fredrik Backman to take me there. Many books but the ones I found excellent but tough reading was the Beartown series. Beartown

China. Dragon Springs Road by Jamie Chang took me to China -Shangai. It’s historical fiction and set in the early twentieth century. It is the story of Jialing an Eurasian girl. There were some really touching moments in the book and I liked the bravery on Jialing’s part.

Linking up to That Artsy Reader Girl

#IMWAYR

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

February 16, 2026February 15, 2026 Kathryn

Another summer week. This weekend has seen the weather throw a hissy fit, with more rain and flooding in some areas. Strong winds around me and more rain promised. Climate change is a thing!

It’s Sunday as I prepare my post and I have hardly ventured outside. Definitely a day for inside activities.

What I read last week:

I did not like The Wedding, a book not for me. Winter Solstice was a reread and I enjoyed it all over again. Set mostly in Scotland with an older couple, a younger couple and a teen.

What I am reading now:

Set in Australia. A couple of older people become funeral crashers to sing at funerals to drown out the pastor who sings dreadfully. So far so good.

And I am listening to….
I am nearing the end of Vera Wong and have loved it. For My Lady’s Heart I see I bought back in April 2013. I am trying to clear out books I bought at Audible and never listened to. This is a medieval romance story written back in 1993. It’s taking me awhile to get into it but I think I am nearly got the hang of it.

Up next:

Last Week’s Posts

Romance Books I Look forward to Reading in 2026
What Tomorrow Will Be. Julianne MacLean – Review

Review

What Tomorrow Will Be. Julianne MacLean

February 13, 2026 Kathryn

Published by: Lake Union
Date: February 3rd 2026
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

At nineteen, Sienna MacKay believed she had it all—a promising career ahead of her and a young love destined to last forever. But a tragic accident shatters that idyllic existence, leaving her with a heartbreaking loss.

Years later, Sienna has rebuilt her life. She’s a successful designer, a devoted mother, and a woman who has dared to love again—with Nate, a passionate, rising-star chef. But as Nate drifts further into ambition, cracks surface in their once-bright marriage. A stormy confrontation ends in disaster, and Sienna becomes caught between two worlds—her near-perfect past and her more complicated present—where she must ask herself: What is the price of true love…and is she willing to pay?

What Tomorrow Will Be was a story that kept me engrossed for the telling of the story. It starts with Sienna being young and very much in love with a guy and a dog. And then the unthinkable happens.

We jump ahead in time to where Sienna has met Nate and she encourages him to make a stand and do what he wants to do in life instead of following with what his unbending father wants him to do.

Then we jump ahead in time to where Sienna and Nate are married and have two lovely children. Nate has his restaurant, but somehow things are going awry. And then something again happens that tips everything upside down again. From this experience both Sienna and Nate learn valuable insights that are sure to help them move ahead.

The book is set in Nova Scotia, Canada. The characters are likeable, yet some flaws of course. Who is without them. The dogs are delightful and were very much part of the family and their owners.

The characters are able to action what they come to value and it ends on a very hopeful note. Some of the wisdom that was imparted was inspiring and worth reflecting upon. I enjoyed my time with the characters and the story.

Top Ten Tuesday

Romance Books I Look Forward to Reading in 2026

February 10, 2026 Kathryn

Romance Books I want to read this year.

The Shippers Katherine Center.
The Night We Met. Abby Jimenez
And the crowd went wild. Susan Elizabeth Phillips
One Golden Summer Carley Fortune
Lead Me Home. Catherine Bybee

How Simi Got Her Groom Back. Sonali Dev
Rumour Has It. Karly Lane
All Together for Christmas Sarah Morgan
The Romance Revival. Christina Lauren
Dolly All The Time. Annabel Monaghan

Linking up with ThatArtsyReaderGirl

#IMWAYR

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

February 9, 2026February 8, 2026 Kathryn

A quietish week. I have been trying to ignore starting any new quilt and instead concentrating on finishing about twelve other projects. Quilts are like books – very tempting! I have been putting in some time doing that, and then a walk, some grocery shopping, some TV – oh and some reading too of course. And then it seems the day is over! Rinse and repeat.

What Tomorrow Will Be is a book coming up for review. Just One Look was an audio that went on forever. It was set in New Zealand, and the setting was very true, but I found the plot tedious and far too drawn out. Death is Not Enough was on audio too and caught me up with a backlist book. I enjoyed it but so much blood and guts!

What I read last week:

What I am reading now:

About a third of the way through. Not quite my style or to my taste but persevering … so far.

And listening to…

Vera Wong is my walking audiobook, When Light Breaks is one that has lurked in my Library and I am going back through finding ones I haven’t listened to.

Up next:

From the library.

Last Week’s Posts

January Reading Wrap: Ratings and Goals Update

Two Non Fiction Book Reviews

Reading challenge, Review

Exploring Non-Fiction: Gloriavale’s Truth and Habit-Building Insights

February 6, 2026 Kathryn

My Non Fiction reads from January

Unveiled by Theophilia Pratt won’t mean much to anyone outside New Zealand. Gloriavale is a supposedly Christian commune on the west coast of the South Island, here in NZ. It is rife with cruelty and sexual abuse and non information about the outside world.

Theophila Pratt has done an excellent piece of writing in describing her life through Gloriavale into real freedom. I have nothing but admiration for her. I hope she is enjoying life now in her new home. I think the final part of her book has excellent suggestions for the general public on how to deal with Gloriavale. Of course since the book was published the school has just closed and hopefully the young people will get the opportunity to go to a school outside the compound. Meant to be a Christian community but is an anti-christian cult community, (my opinion.) And in it like many religious communities a disdain for women. I was especially shocked by the treatment of the elderly. We always focus on the young but the elderly suffer too.

Atomic Habits by James Clear, says it is an easy & proven way to to build good habits and break bad ones.

I think on the whole that is true. I took away some useful ideas. For example one was don’t expect results overnight. It’s going to take time for change. So if you don’t lose weight quickly or build muscle in a week that’s okay. Small steps each day towards it will make a difference.

Another idea was to make it easy. Last year I just lost interest in updating Storygraph and just kept with Goodreads. This year after reading the book I put the Storygraph icon link right next to my Goodreads link on my homepage. Now that has really made it easy for me to update both. Seems small and easy but its helping me keep with Storygraph for the year.

Or trying to get rid of a habit? Make it difficult. I scroll too much on Facebook, so when I got rid of all my cookies I did not log in again to Facebook on my computer. It’s a bit of a nuisance to log in so while I am on my computer I don’t go to there. It’s on my iPad and I guess if I removed the app it would be even harder! Not going there yet!

There is a workbook also published, I have it but will wait a little while before I go through that, it looks like it will be helpful in refreshing the ideas I found in this one.

Non Fiction Nibbler Memoir. 1/6.

Non Fiction Grazer 1/12

Month in Review

January Reading Wrap-Up: Book Ratings & Goals

February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 Kathryn

Total books read this month: 16

Book Ratings

State of Preservation. Kindle – own. 4.25 stars
The Heir Apparent. Print. – own but will give away. 1.75 stars
The Heiress’s Daughter. Kindle – own. 4.25 stars
Unveiled. A Story of Surviving Gloriavale – library. 4.75 stars
Yours for the Season. Kindle – own 4.75 stars
My Friends. Audiobook. 4.75 stars
Remember That Day. Print – own. 4 stars
The Gift At Sugar Sand Inn. Audible Plus. 3.75 stars
Lavender Hill. Review-Kindle. 3.75 stars
Graceling. Audiobook – own. 4.75 stars
Life as Planned. Review-audiobook. 4.5 stars
Turns of Fate. Library hardback. 4.5 stars
The Secret Daughter. audiobook. 4.25stars
What You are Looking For is in the Library. Audiobook. 4.25 stars
Every Summer After. My paperback. 4 stars
Beach House Rules. 4.25 stars

New to me authors:

Rebecca Armitage.
Theophila Pratt
Leigh Duncan
Kristin Cashore*
Carley Fortune*
Michiko Aoyama*
Carley Fortune*

Will read again*

Settings

USA 4
England 5
New Zealand 1
Sweden 1
Tasmania, Australia. 1
Fantasy World 2
Japan 1
Canada 1

Genres

Contemporary Suspense/Romance 1
Contemporary Romance 3
Contemporary Fiction 3
Mix Historical/Contemporary 1
Memoir 1
Historical romance 3
Fantasy. 2
Short Stories 1

2026 Reading Goals check. Running Total.

Acquiring Reading Books

Limit NetGalley books to 20 requested 2026. 12/20 already requested
New buys about 30. Print or ebook. 5/30
Reread about 20. 1/20
Borrow about 25 from the library. 2/25
Listen to about 60 audiobooks. Buy or library 5/30
From shelf I already own at end of 2025. Either print/ebook. 1/20.

This adds to close to 175, if I go over in one area I will adjust other areas if I need. But I have left room to expand in some areas. Nothing in this section set in concrete.

Participation in Reading Challenges

Read NF 12 for Non Fiction Challenge. 1/6. plus 0/12
Read 12 Science Fiction/Fantasy for the Speccy Fiction Challenge 2/12
Emilie Richards’ Reading Challenge. January – a short story or novella. I read What You are. Looking for is in the Library which has five short stories. 1/12

General

Keep up a slow read book most of the time. One completed.
Take up the Hidden Legacy Series by Ilona Andrews, reread the first one and continue on. 1st one reread.
Start a couple of new series. Turns of Fate is a 1st in a series. So is Graceling
Continue with series I enjoy. Completed Anne Gracie series. Read latest in Mary Balogh series. Latest from Marie Force series.
Using a random generator pick out a book from my Goodreads TBR to read in that month. If it is a book not yet published, spin again. Much of my TBR there is like a wish list. January book. Graceling. Written in 2008 and fantasy by new to me author Kristin Cashore. it has a lot of 5 stars from people I follow. Bought the audiobook and listened to it. Enjoyed it.

Review

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 Kathryn

And now we have February! The past week went by quickly for me. Here I am retired and yet I fill my day and don’t do half of what I should – like gardening and housework!

I have been thinking how in the book blogging world we get to know each other through what we read. Recently I have heard of a few people who are dealing with health issues for themselves or loved ones. Sometimes someone disappears and we don’t know why or what has happened. We are concerned. Our hearts go out to all these wonderful people.

I use Goodreads and I always look to see who has read a book I am thinking about reading. Sometimes it’s someone who has given up blogging or someone who has passed on but their reading record is there. I love to see what they thought of the book and it makes me also remember them and appreciate them.

What I read last week:

What I am reading now:

And listening to…

I need to remind myself I will not get annoyed by the narrator of Just One Look who won’t be able to voice a NZ accent!

Up next:

Last Week’s Posts

Bookish Discoveries made in 2025

Lavender Hill. ALISSA CALLEN – review

Recent Book haul

Book Haul

Monthly Book Tracking: My Reading Life

February 1, 2026 Kathryn

I am starting to keep my book acquiring separate from my end of month wrap as it helps me keep an eye on what I have and still need to read.

Remember that Day. Mary Balogh Read
Every Summer After Carley Fortune Read
One Golden Summer Carley Fortune To read
Divine Rivals. Rebecca Ross To read

Audiobooks

Graceling. Kristin Cashore Finished
What You are Looking For is in the Library Finished
Beach House Rules. Kristy Woodson Harvey. Finished

Library

Turns of Fate. Anne Bishop. Read

For Review

Lead Me Home. Catherine Bybee
The Drowning. Fiona Lowe
The Library of Amorlin. Kalyn Josephson