Challenge Tracking

Past Reading and Challenges

Monday, January 30, 2023

Claws for Alarm

 I listened to the audiobook version of this 2nd book in the Nick and Nora mysteries by T.C. LoTiempo.   There is quite a bit of family angst in Claws for Alarm as well as a cat with seemingly unusual powers. I often wonder if the cat is a reincarnation of his previous owner- time will tell as the series progresses.  Fans of hidden passages and seemingly locked room scenarios will enjoy the investigation of the murder in this story.   

Claws for AlarmClaws for Alarm by T.C. LoTempio
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyable book and mystery but at times it just feels a little too over the top to me. The way so
E of the components overlap just seems a bit much. Additionally I feel it’s a bit to much like it’s trying to be a cozy romance as well with just a bit too much emphasis on the romantic interest and fawning over male models. My opinion may be influenced by the fact I listened to the book and the narrator’s inflection when reading those portions. I do enjoy the Nick character and his human like traits. The ongoing parallel mystery about the disappearance of Nick the PI is intriguing and will probably keep me coming back for more

View all my reviews


Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

  1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  3
  2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 3  
  3. Audiobook  #2023AudiobookChallenge #1
  4. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  CA
  5. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  C
  6. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   T
  7. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
  8. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 +1
  9. Color Coded #6 black
  10. What an Animal Book #1
  11. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #3
  12. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #2
  13. Cruisin thru Cozies  Animal #1
  14. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #1
  15. Craving for Cozies  Book #1
  16. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #65  Shot #2
  17. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags  poisoned
  18. 23 in 2023 # 2
  19. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #35  Book you Meant to Read Last Year
  20. 52 books in 52 weeks  #14 storyteller
  21. Around the Year in 52 Books #14. A book with a con, deception, or fake
  22. Bookworm #47  Read a book that involves a conspiracy 
  23. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #30 An Audiobook
  24. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #42 this house is alive (or at least very important)
  25. Cozy Mysteries   #11 An author who uses initials
  26. HP Quidditch 23 #53 mentions Harry Potter
  27. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #14 Listen to an audiobook
  28. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 # 18  GUILTY PLEASURE
  29. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #40  A book by an author with the same initials as you
  30. Pick your Poison  # 32 A book with a moon on the cover
  31. Read with Allison #34 Audiobook
  32. Sci and Nature # 2  With an Animal on the Cover
  33. Unruly Reader Bingo  #8 Fire Drill

The Key Lime Crime

 This is the 10th book in the Key West Food Critic series by Lucy Burdette.   If you love tropical settings with a spunky female lead this is a great series for you.   The food descriptions will have your mouth watering for sure.  This particular book, The Key Lime Crime, is all about the notorious dessert of Key West and the rivalries about who makes the best Key Lime Pie.  As expected from a cozy, a sinister outcome arises from a competition to name a "Best Key Lime Pie"   Anyone with a sweet tooth will be longing for some pie I would suspect.


The Key Lime CrimeThe Key Lime Crime by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always enjoy reading about the antics of Hayley Snow and Miss Gloria. Their relationship and the setting in Key West make the books an enjoyable read. It always feels like a vacation when reading these mysteries. After reading this installment full of Key Lime baked goods the reader will either be craving key lime or turned off of it like Hayley’s mother in law. The development of their relationship and the information we learn about Nathan adds depth to the characters and their relationships. The mystery is well plotted out and the guilty party was definitely a surprise ending. Key West at New Years is an even bigger scene than the other weeks of the year. Probably only surpassed by Fantasy Fest. The book does a nice job of discussing the conflicts felt by locals while living in a tourist driving economy and locale.

View all my reviews


Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

  1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 4
  2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #4   
  3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  FL
  4. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge K
  5. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  B
  6. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 2 Book # 1
  7. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 10/1
  8. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 +1
  9. Color Coded #8 pink for other color
  10. What an Animal Book #2
  11. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #3
  12. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #3
  13. Cruisin thru Cozies  culinary 1
  14. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #2
  15. Craving for Cozies  Book #2
  16. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 16 Shot # 3
  17. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
  18. 23 in 2023 # 17  A book with a triangle (or pointed building/house) on the cover
  19. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #16  Featuring one of the "Seven Deadly Sins" 
  20. 52 books in 52 weeks  #23 southern
  21. Around the Year in 52 Books #47. A book related to a geometric shape
  22. Bookworm #28 Read a book with a neon-colored cover
  23. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  # 28. About Complicated Relationships
  24. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #23 family drama or court intrigue
  25. Cozy Mysteries   #5 Set somewhere you'd like to vacation
  26. HP Quidditch 23 #37 Alicia Spinett: Written by a female author
  27. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #43 Read a book from the library
  28. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #3 A SEQUEL
  29. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #1 A book you meant to read in 2022
  30. Pick your Poison  # 94 A book about a place you want to visit
  31. Read with Allison #38 Blurbed by One of Your Favorite Authors:
  32. Sci and Nature # 34 Set at Your Favorite Place (Beach)
  33. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 4 Islands
  34. Unruly Reader Bingo  #21 Library Checkout

Friday, January 27, 2023

Anna and Elsa's Hygge Life

 

Disney Frozen: Anna and Elsa's Hygge Life   is a fun book about Olaf discovering the meaning of Hygge.   I must admit it was a term I had heard previously but couldn't really explain what it was prior to reading this book.  I now can describe it as something that gives you a warm cozy happy feeling.  Olaf is an adorable character that finds fun in life and is a great character to represent hygge. 

Disney Frozen: Anna and Elsa's Hygge LifeDisney Frozen: Anna and Elsa's Hygge Life by Heather Knowles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cute kids book explaining hygge. Was a great explanation of how different experiences bring joy and warm feelings to different people. Plus what’s not cute about Olaf

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

  1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  2
  2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  2 
  3. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge A
  4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   K
  5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #2
  6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #1
  7. 23 in 2023 # 20 A book with a title containing a word you don't know
  8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #6 Under 200 pages
  9. 52 books in 52 weeks  #4 hygge
  10. Around the Year in 52 Books #1. A book set in a location that begins with A, T, or Y
  11. Bookworm #33  Read a movie novelization book (movie to book, instead of book to movie)
  12. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #35. Title Starts with “A”
  13. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #35  letter “z” in the title
  14. HP Quidditch 23 #12 Firebolt: Contains a special gift
  15. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #5 Read a book based on a tv series or movie adaptation (watch the show or movie after for fun)
  16. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #27. A BOOK WITH ILLUSTRATIONS INSIDE
  17. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #42 A book based on a popular movie
  18. Pick your Poison  # 99 A book with a super cheerful person on the cover
  19. Read with Allison #52 Book That Doesn't Fit Any of the Prompts:
  20. Sci and Nature # 31 Flowers or Plants on the Cover:
  21. What's in a Name   #6 Q, X, Z

Our Missing Hearts

 Our Missing Hearts was a rather intense book to start the year off with.  I enjoyed the book immensely but did find it unsettling at times and I did find the character a bit selfish.  As always Celeste Ng has written a powerful character-driven book that has a backdrop of an uncomfortable message.  I generally do not care for dystopian reads and this one was as out of my norm as I usually go.  

I read Our Missing Hearts for our book club read for Jan and we had quite an interesting discussion about it.  Particular attention was paid to the decision by the mother and what we felt about it.  

All in all, I liked the book and gave it 4 Stars.  The unresolved feeling at the ending was what kept it from being a 5-star for me.


Our Missing HeartsOur Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

intense and emotional read

This is a very thought-provoking book. I’m generally not a dystopian reader but this book reads along almost like a saga and a thriller. The character development was well done and the intensity of feelings between individuals was evident. The underlying message of being silent and looking away is one that resonates through history and is relevant today too

View all my reviews


 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

  1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 1 
  2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  1 
  3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  MA
  4. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge O
  5. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  N
  6. Color Coded  #1 Blue
  7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #1
  8. 23 in 2023 # 6 A book told from three perspectives or with three points of view
  9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #8  Dystopian Fiction / 45 First Word in the Book is "The"
  10. 52 books in 52 weeks  #9 rogue  
  11. Around the Year in 52 Books #21 A book by an Asian diaspora author
  12. Bookworm #8 Read a book you got from Project Gutenberg, a library, or another nonprofit source
  13. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #39. 2022 Bestseller
  14. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #32 point-of-view character is under 18 
  15. HP Quidditch 23 #34 Oliver Wood: Includes a fanatical character
  16. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #16 2023 Bestseller
  17. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #28. TOLD FROM THREE PERSPECTIVES / #16 AWARD-WINNING BOOK
  18. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #35 A book about divorce
  19. Pick your Poison  # 103 Children's: A book with a protagonist 12 years old or younger
  20. Read with Allison #27 Contemporary Fiction
  21. Unruly Reader Bingo  #2 Scholarly
  22. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO Heart
  23. Read Around the US   MA
  24. Read Your Bookshelf  A book that starts with the word “a” or “the”.

Friday, January 13, 2023

Pick Your Poison


 Because I must be crazy I have another challenge that I will try again in 2023.  I think this year I need to really examine which ones I like engaging with the other readers on and actively participate in updating my reading etc vs doing as many as possible.  For now though I will keep on taking on more challenges as long as they overlap with the others.


I'm going to aim for Going for the Burn which is 78 books.  If I finish more great if not no biggie.




Prompts  77/78

Categories 26/26



Standards
Lost and Found
Hobbies
Who Wrote That
  • *Twofer two books by the same author using different names (counts as two books)
  • *An author you have always wanted to read
  • *A local author
Series (Or Not)  Completed 6/21/23
Cuddly and Cute  Completed 6/21/23
Regarding the Moon
The Number Four
Preparing for the Robot Uprising
  • *A book with the work "machine" or "mechanic" in the title
  • *A book about rocket science
  • *A book with a robot, cyborg or AI character
  • *A steampunk book
Road Trips
Initial Impressions  Complete 4/12/23
Weather or Not
Not As It Seems
Take a Flying Leap  
Sparkles and Glitter
Matching  topic completed 2/16/23
Love Them Critters  completed 5/18/23

Shakespeare Inspired
Bucket List
Spirits
Museums
  • *Natural History: A book with dinosaurs in it
  • *Art: A book with a well-known painting on the cover
  • *Children's: A book with a protagonist 12 years old or younger
  • *Maritime: A book about ships or sailing
Dinner Time!
Roots  Completed 6/25/23
The Darkness Around Us

Ain't That Sweet
Music
Wildcards

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nerd Daily Challenge

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    #thenerddaily

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    #nerdreading2023


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Read 45/52 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. RECOMMENDED BY THE NERD DAILY

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. 2023 ADAPTATION

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 8/1/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. 3. A SEQUEL

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. ILLUSTRATED COVER  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. DEBUT AUTHOR

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. TITLE STARTS WITH 'K' OR 'N'

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. TRANSLATED BOOK

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. ROMANCE OR HORROR

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. A Proposal They Can't Refuse by Natalie Cana
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/4/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. 9. QUOTED BY AN AUTHOR YOU LIKE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. A COMING-OF-AGE STORY

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. PROTAGONIST STARTS WITH 'S'

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. SURNAME COULD BE A FIRST NAME

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. STANDALONE 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          14. A BOOK YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          15. THRIFTED OR GIFTED 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1.  A Murder for the Books (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries, #1) by Victoria Gilbert
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2.  Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/23/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. 16. AWARD-WINNING BOOK  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry by J. Patrick Lewis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/12/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. 17. BOOK WITH ORANGE SPINE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            18. GUILTY PLEASURE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            19. SET IN A SMALL TOWN 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              20. AN AUTHOR YOU LOVE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                21. BETWEEN 380-430 PAGES

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                22. RELEASED IN AUGUST 2023

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                23. A 2022 RELEASE YOU NEGLECTED

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                24. OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE WORLD

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/12/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. 25. SUN, MOON OR STARS ON COVER

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver  DNF
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Blog Post and Goodreads Review  6/21/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. 26. RECOMMENDED BY BOOKSTORE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 6/21/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. 27. A BOOK WITH ILLUSTRATIONS INSIDE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                28. TOLD FROM THREE PERSPECTIVES

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                29. SPORTS OR SPACE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 9/23/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              12. 30. TWO WORD TITLE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              13. Cocoa Conviction (Mission Inn Possible #3) by Rosie A Point
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              14. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/10/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              15. 31. SILVER ON COVER 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  32. A BILINGUAL CHARACTER

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Parable of the Sower Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia Butler and Damian Duffy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/13/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. 33. SET IN THE SUMMER

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  34. FROM OUR #READWITHPRIDE SERIES

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  35. INDIE AUTHOR

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    36. CHAPTERS HAVE TITLES

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    37. SELECTED BY FAMILY OR FRIEND

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/19/23
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. 38. ROMANTIC INTEREST STARTS WITH 'M'

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    39. AN AUTHOR NEW TO YOU

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    40. DUAL TIMELINES

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    41. AUTHOR STARTING WITH 'L'
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    42. TITLE WITHOUT 'THE'  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    43. MIDDLE GRADE OR NON-FICTION

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      44. FLORA ON COVER

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        45. RELEASED IN MARCH 2023

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        46. #OWNVOICES AUTHOR

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          47. A HOLIDAY THAT ISN'T CHRISTMAS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            48. #BOOKTOK RECOMMENDATION

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            49. AN ANTHOLOGY

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            50. HISTORICAL OR FANTASY

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            51. A BOOK 15 YEARS OLDER THAN YOU

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            52. FEATURES AN A