Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Sharlene from Real Life Reading that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.
Nothing like starting the year off with lots of new books to read (and, as you can see from my loot, travels to plan)!
Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos – this was the last book I read in 2018 (bringing me to a round 150) and it was such a lovely way to end the year. The story of Clare (age eleven) and Cornelia (age thirty-one) and how they find each other (and the other things they’ve been missing) was warm, charming, and full of golden-age movie references – what’s not to love?
Daughters of the Winter Queen by Nancy Goldstone – I placed a hold on this back when the library first ordered it but am even more excited now to read the story of Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen, and her four daughters. Why? Because I reread A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley last month, which focuses on the Jacobite community living in exile on the continent, so am in the perfect mood for more Stuart history. I love when the timing works out that perfectly.
The Maisky Diaries edited by Gabriel Gorodetsky – I borrowed this before but never managed to get around to it. Still, there was no doubt I would return to it – I love diplomat’s diaries, especially from this period (see my all-consuming love of The Siren Years by Charles Ritchie).
Love to Everyone (or The Skylark’s War) by Hilary McKay – I can’t remember where I first saw children’s story set during WWI reviewed but it was enough to convince me to place a hold. I’ve seen it numerous places since then (the hold list moved very slowly) and it seems to be universally loved.
Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson – I have an extraordinary weakness for stories about matchmakers.
The Precious Ones by Marisa de los Santos – I loved Love Walked In so much that I grabbed this off the shelf without even looking to see what it’s about.
All my other reading is suffering since my spare time is currently devoted to obsessively reading about France. I’m planning to visit Europe in late May/early June this year and have been fretting over where to go. London is a given but I was completely at sea as to where to spend the rest of my time – too many places appealed to me! But I think I’ve settled on Brittany, with its beautiful coastline and thousands of kilometers of walking paths. Now I’m having fun pining down the details.
What did you pick up this week?
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The Captive Reader 
I’ve been wanting to read Love to Everyone, also
It’s certainly starting off well!
Oh! I loved (!!!) Love Walked In when I read it years ago and recently listened to it as an audiobook and fell for it all other again. Did you know there are sequels with these characters? Her newest book (I don’t remember the name) is all about Claire as a young woman and there’s another one in between…
WHAT?!?! This is vital information and clearly I know what I need to be reading next.
I read Love to Everyone (the publisher should have kept the UK title) last night and it was extremely enjoyable. I will be curious to see if others see similarities to Flambards although that is more YA and this is more middle grade.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it! I’ve just started and am enjoying it so far.
Brittany sounds absolutely lovely! The only thing I really know about Britany is that where the Kouign Amann originated – it’s something that’s becoming so popular （and common!) here in the Bay Area.
How interesting to see what food items become popular as they travel around the world! I’m hoping to make it to your area even before going to France so maybe I’ll taste the California Kouign Amann before the original. My best friend lives in the Bay Area and, despite her have lived there (first in Alameda, now in San Mateo) for the last four or five years, I’ve never visited. I’m determined that 2019 will be the year I do so!