Best wishes Gina, sorry to hear of your family's health problems. Good luck with Opal.

Ripley is watching you incredibly attentively for some reason today. I've read that Star Trek Cats book, its such a brilliant idea. Yay for Opal! She's lovely, sometimes giving them that extra chance outside the shelter can really make all the difference, hope it is continuing to go well. I'm waiting to hear right now on fostering a DOG 🙀 we will see. How rude of that sticker! You have to wonder what people are thinking.

Sending lots of love Gina ❤ The a Star Trek cats book is brilliant. I must check out Alan Bradley. I’ve been resting whenever possible the last few weeks because of a procedure on my arm. Annoying to not be able to do certain things but it’s really forced me to chill out so read a lot of books which is a plus!

Such thoughtful gifts

Thank you so much for including Montgomery Hurst!😊

That Postern of Fate is a first edition, it is the year of publication. Great find!

Sorry to hear about the health issues in your family.

Ty for saving Opal!!! Good for your husband for quitting that shelter.

Hi Gina, This is my first time visiting your channel. I’m a cat and book person, so I loved that Star Trek cats book. Too cute! Thank you for adopting Opal. I have 3 cats and two dogs. Take care of yourself. Books are a wonderful form of escapism during stressful challenging times. I look forward to your next video. Thank you.

I recommend This is Happiness by Niall Williams and also his latest release, Time of the Child. Beautifully written, memorable books (set in a small village in Ireland) 🇮🇪

Gina, Sorry to hear about your relative. A difficult part of life most people have to deal with, doesn’t make the process any easier. You are doing the right thing helping with your family members. Happy you rescued sweet Opal, it sounds as if the shelter takes the easy way out and that seems wrong. Hang in there. You are a bright spot in our reading day!❤️📚

So sorry to hear about your family member. My.husband passed in October after an almost 2 year battle with cancer. It's hard on everyone. Especially when you know it's a matter of time and there's no cure. Books and channels like yours definitely help me through this tough adjustment. Of course little kitties are an absolute plus also!!! Sending you positive thoughts. ❤

I am so sorry for the health problems in the family. When life is hard, the cosies (especially cozy mysteries for me) are the best...

I suppose the Star Trek cats are on a five year mission to explore strange new cardboard boxes. 😸

I'm sorry for what your family is going through, sending you loving vibes. I love that star trek kitty book, so adorable.🐱

I'm so so sorry for your hard times, Gina! Sending you virtual hugs. Your kitten reminds me of our first cat, a longhaired tabby. There was a shelter story there as well. We picked her from a cage full of look-alike brothers and sisters because she climbed up and loudly begged us to take her home. So we did. She wound up not eating and not doing great, so we took her in to have her checked there (we were young and inexperienced and also poor students). They told us she had a temperature and "just go ahead and pick another one." I was aghast and horrified. We'd already fallen in love and she was ours now, so how could we just swap her out and leave her behind. We took her back home. Anyway, she luckily started eating and doing well (maybe she overheard what was being said), and lived to be nearly 20, our longest-lived cat. I'm glad you and your husband put your feet down and kept your little one. She's lucky. ❤

Just finishing up The Bear and the Nightingale, in the middle of Tutum & Nutmeg, hopefully starting The End of the Road by Tom Bodet which I'm told is good for a giggle 😊

Kate Carlisle series has run its course, I gave up three books ago. Sometimes series run out of steam. 📚 Love Miss Read books. Wish she was still alive and writing more books. 👍💕

I'm so glad you rescued Opal! And that your husband took a stand about what was taking place in that shelter. My cat, Barnacle, was from the Seattle Humane Society (in Bellevue), and was about to be put down due to an upper respiratory infection .. I saw him in the other room and asked about him. They wouldn't let me take him that day but I called constantly about him for 24 hours to make sure they wouldn't kill him - finally they told me I could come pick him up. He lived a wonderful life for 20 years (was 5 months old when I got him). Terrible to think that this sort of activity is still taking place in shelters. 😢

Hi my friend, I am sorry your relative is so sick. I can tell you are really sad/ upset over it. It has been unbearably cold here in S.E. Mi. Yesterday minus 3° when I got up at 8am. Been like that for a couple weeks. Not much snow, of course the wind makes it much worse. It has been below zero w/o the wind.Basically staying in and drinking tons of tea while reading. Tomorrow is supposed to get to 23°, so I might return a library book, pick up A Rx, get a few groceries and my used bookstore (ANOTHER LOOK BOOKS is having a "to-do" as it is their anniversary so will drop in. Thankfully none are far from my apt. That's about it. Nothing real exciting. Read a bk. that many picked as their fave of 2024. I did not like it at all. Earlier started The Winter Witch, sounds good, set in Wales, not a real witch. Think I'll go make some popcorn. Prayers to you.🤗

Your cat is adorable!

I’m sorry to hear about your relative’s illness. Wishing peace for him and all of you. 🤗

I need to return to Flavia de Luce!

I’m so sorry 😞 life has been extra life-y for you, Gina! ☕️💐 hot drink and flowers for you!

Good seeing you Gina. I second the tough times. I'm currently reading a YA fantasy called Summers at Castle Auburn. A recommendation from Amy of HearthRidge (who I hope will come back). My next book will be Under the Christmas Moon . A recommendation from Fiona at ReadsandEats a Scottish booktuber I"ve just met through Sarah. I'm also listening to the Wind in the Willows read by my literary booktuber Malcolm Guite,

I love the Gladys Taber books! I read them slowly and savoured every page. Just fantastic. I also am a big fan of Mary Stewart.

I read one of Julie's books with her daughter Emma, but that was on her own, how was it? I love As Time Goes By, it is a favorite forever show of mine, (I also love A Fine Romance, she did that with her husband Michael Williams.) What episode was that in that she was reading a Ruth Rendell? I can't believe I missed it! Did you end up reading Towards Zero? Did you like it? None of the adaptions have the right detective in it, Superintendent Battle, I thought it was such a different one and I really loved it. I love that companion book, I got it for my birthday years and years ago.

Hi Gina, my favourite read of 2024 was The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Really enjoy all your recommendations.

I’d like to enter for September! Thank you!

It's cause you can't be fully you while you are sincere and inspired lol! I wouldn't want any family members there either

Gina, so lovely to see you - so sorry I am late to seeing this! I am glad you enjoyed the Advent calendar! I am still getting on once in awhile to play a game. 💛

NEW ONES!!!

Hi Gina, I haven’t read Rosamund Pilcher before and am definitely putting her on my TBR list. I can totally relate to your plight of having a husband at home all the time. My husband retired a few years ago and it has been quite the adjustment 😅

What a gem for your collection! That signed copy is quite a lovely gift.

We have some sonos speakers and I'm mildly worried that when they age out, I'm not sure what we'll do. It was an investment and I'm not crazy about the sonos software. Enjoyed this catch-up with you. Good luck with the little kitten.

I would enjoy reading "September" very much. It is kind of you to give a book away. You have gotten me interested in Rosamund Pilcher as well as Miss Read. I just finished "Christmas in Fairacre" with 3 wonderful stories. I need to try and make Bread Milk! it sounds so cozy for a cold night. Good wishes for the new kitten. Take care and Happy New Year.