Vanilla Vendetta

 I finally started this series by Rosie A Point.  I have had it checked out in my Kindle Unlimited account for months now.  I'm not really sure what I think of the series yet.  I will finish the other 2 in the box set before deciding whether I will continue on with the series or not.  
The book was a quick and easy read that I finished within a day but I did find the main character a bit annoying.  Charlie is a spy in hiding and I found that concept to be a bit far fetched for some reason.  I think I found her character to be over the top and not very believable.  I guess I just have trouble visualizing James Bond/Mission Impossible being a character in a cozy mystery.   The series is titled Mission Inn Possible, playing on the surname of the owner of the B&B that is central to the story.  I guess that should be an indication that it is meant to be somewhat cheeky and a play on the theme.

As mentioned, I will continue to give the next 2 books a try before I make a final decision on the series.  Maybe the characters will grow on my as they develop in the series.  

Vanilla Vendetta by Rosie A. Point
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My verdict is still out on this series. While I ended up liking the mystery and the characters, the premise behind our main character's arrival in Gossip, TX seemed a bit fanciful. The spy in hiding felt a bit over the top for me but Ms. Point did a wonderful job of progressing Charlie from a high strung spy to settling into her role as a maid at a B&B. The guilty party was a bit of a surprise so that will keep the reader guessing. If you don't mind a cozy with a bit of a stretch on the back story of the main detective then this is a good series to try.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge   "V"
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #124
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #138
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #81
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #118
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #99
7. Pick your Poison #19-1 A book about secret societies/clubs 
8. Backpacking Bookworm  #bbReadingChallenge2021 
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Row 3
Bar, store, restaurant

• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Detectives- Charlie/ Gamma
• Victims- Pete 
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #76  Shot #1

   

Jackpot

 

This is the next installment in the Teddy Fay series co written by Stuart Woods.  I really enjoyed this book with an added bonus of an author starting with a Q so it was a double winner for me.

I am finding I enjoy the Teddy Fay series more than the Stone Barrington books these days probably because they seem to focus more on the clandestine operations and less about the gratuitous sexual encounters.  I am not a prude but it does get old reading about Stone's escapades.  

This book finds Teddy in Asia- Hong Kong and Macau to be exact.  He meets up with a female who challenges him on his skillset and intelligence.  This subplot makes for interesting introspection by Teddy and for a great development of his character.  It makes him more human that's for sure.  

The mystery and intrigue is also well written and full of plot twists.  If you like reading spy novels that feel like a Bond movie then this will be a good fit for you.

Jackpot by Stuart Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Teddy Fay adventures keep your on the edge of your seat

I am finding the Teddy Fay series to be more engaging than the Stone Barrington series these days This story is about the intrigue and action of the spy/intelligence business without the gratuitous sexual exploits of Barrington. The twists and turns and uncertainty of who’s on Teddy’s side is very engaging. The complexity of the characters and what is justified behavior keeps the book moving rapidly.
Great book if you’re looking for a foreign espionage book set in Macau

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #95
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Macau (China)
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  "J"
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "Q"
5. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Teddy Fay #5 
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #102
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #116
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #98
9. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  Thriller
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #5a  Shot #6

Z Rex

 This book is definitely not in my usual genre choice for sure.  It is a middle grade reader that is definitely science fiction.   I also don't generally pick books about dinosaurs either.  This book just happened to cover to more difficult challenge prompts in one read though-  the letter Z and a book about dinosaurs.  So this is how I came to read it in 2021.

This book is a great book for young readers especially boys who may be reluctant readers.  The main character is a male who is trying to find his father all while encountering bad guys and real dinosaurs.  The book also incorporates video game features.  All the makings of a book that is interesting to young males.  Personally I found it a quick read once I got engaged in the book and finished it in one day.  I found it interesting if not exactly realistic.  It was a fun read.

I did enjoy it though so I guess the goal of reading things out of your norm by participating in challenges was achieved.  Who knows I might even pick the follow up next year to complete my alpha challenge again in 2022.  

Z. Rex by Steve Cole
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an enjoyable read and would be a great pick for any young reader who likes fantasy and dinosaurs. It is not my usual choice of genres but I selected for a reading challenge. It was an enjoyable read with drama and a bit of mystery thrown in. All in all a fun read that had a bit of deeper ethical questions underlying it that sparks thinking from more mature readers

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #94
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Scotland
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  "Z"
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #101
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #115
6. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #32. A book whose title starts with “Q,” “X,” or “Z”
7. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #30. Change: about/involving dinosaurs
8. Pick your Poison #17-2 A book with a shape-shifting character
9. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  magic/super powers
10. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO-  One
11. 52 books in 52 weeks  #22 fantasy creatures

Yule be Dead

As the name implies this next book from the Victoria Square series is set at Christmas time.  With the increased number of shoppers at Artesian Alley there comes increased crimes not limited to vandalism and shoplifting.  Meanwhile Katie finds herself with a surprise visitor, her former Mother in Law, Margot.  This just adds to the stress of the holiday season even before she finds herself mixed up in another criminal investigation.  As if that isn't enough she has the opportunity to expand her business holdings and has an offer that makes it easier but has possible strings attached.   All these decisions and a business to run and vendors to keep happy.   

In addition to the business stressors there are plenty of personal anxieties as well.  Katie isn't sure how she's going to do it all and keep here relationship afloat with Andy.  The atmosphere of the small town at the holiday season is well written but at times the book feels like it has too much going on with a few too many subplots.  They do help to show more of the characters' personalities but it does feel a bit overwhelming at times. 

Hopefully the next installment will settle the story down a slight bit.  

 

Yule Be Dead by Lorraine Bartlett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although I found this story to be an engaging read in the Victorian Square series for some reason this felt a bit forced. I think the story just didn't flow as well as it had in some of the previous books. I will say the characters were definitely honest in their representations of emotions people experience. The jealousy and anger that Katie and Andy experience in this book seemed realistic. The struggle with parental relationships between Vonne and Francine as well as Katie and Margot felt real. It is easy to visualize the square and its charming Dickensian events. All in all the series continues to hold my attention

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #87
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  Y
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Victoria Square #5
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #94
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #108
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #62
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #93
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #79
10. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3
• Bar, store, restaurant
• Weapons
• Row 5
• Hands or fists
• Detectives- Katie
• Victims- Vonne
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #67a  Shot #2

A Just Clause

 

A Just Clause by Lorna Barrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this 11th installment we learn more about Tricia and Angelica’s parents. Like many real families their’s is quite dysfunctional to put it mildly. The representation of the relationship is well written and believable. Meanwhile there is another body that the sisters found. Again Tricia gets caught up in trying to solve the mystery of Carol whom no one really seems to like In the process many secrets are uncovered and eventually the murder is solved. The book is well written and an enjoyable read. Cannot wait to read more about the sisters and Booktown

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #78
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  J
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Booktown #12
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #85
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #98
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #56
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #83
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #72
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Row 4

Street or sidewalk

• Weapons
• Row 5
• Hands or fists
• Detectives- Tricia/Angie
• Victims-
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #67  Shot #3

When the Grits Hit the Fan

 This next installment of the Country Store Mysteries by Maddie Day continues to keep my interest.   In this book, Robbie finds herself caught up in another murder investigation when  day of snow shoeing leads to finding the body of a man seemingly disliked by everyone who knows him.  The ensuing investigation casts suspicion on friends and acquaintances and Robbie must decide if solving the crime is justification for breaking confidences.  

The mystery is well written and the guilty party was a surprise although looking back the full set of clues were there.  Day does a wonderful job of building characters that are emotionally relatable, whether the reader likes or dislikes them the feelings are present.  

I enjoyed how Robbie's other interest of crossword puzzle and puzzle solving in general is incorporated in the book.  There is also just enough about her relationship with Abe to make it an interesting aspect of the story without Robbie being portrayed as swooning for a man.  Overall I am enjoying the series and plan to continue reading it.

When the Grits Hit the Fan by Maddie Day
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

enjoyable read with lots of side mysteries involved in the story. the character development and relationships continue to build in the series. I liked the fact the guilty party was pretty much a surprise. the author does a great job of mixing the culinary aspects of the story with the actual mystery

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #44
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  "W"
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Country Store #3
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #52
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #62
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 23
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #46
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #39
10. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes restaurants
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lake or ocean
• Weapons
• Row 3
• Drowning, water, ice
• Detectives- Robbie/Octavia
• Victims- Charles Stilton/ Lovey
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #  Shot #

Hush Hush

 This is the 56th book in the Stone Barrington by Stuart Woods.   The series is a fun escape but are by no means pieces of serious literature.  The book leads the reader on a trip around the different parts in the world where Stone Barrington owns properties.  Unlike many of the books in the series this one really doesn't have a mystery element, it is more thriller suspense in nature.  If you are looking for a fun quick escape then this is a great book for you.

Hush-Hush by Stuart Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a typical gun toting, sexual encounter filled book featuring Stone Barrington. It was an entertaining chase around the world amongst the different properties Stone owns. Many of the typical characters appear with several new characters. If you are looking for an action packed story that borderlines on a spy thriller then this is a good choice for you.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #24
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "H" 
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 current on Stone Barrington series
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #32
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #35
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #25
7. Around the Year in 52 Books #39. A book involving an immigrant
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #31 Shares A Similar Title To Another Book
9. BooklistQueen   # 34. An Author You Love
10. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #15 by one of your fav authors
11. What's in a Name   #2 Doubled word (ex. In a Dark, Dark Wood; Wolf by Wolf)
12. Pick your Poison #24-3 Anything you want 
13. Medical Examiner Challenge  11 Toe Tags (shot)
14. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Pathway or forest x7
• Row 2
• Alley or mews x1
• Lawn x1

Row 3
Bar, store, restaurant x2 

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• Row 5
• Rifle or shotgun
• Detectives- Ed Rawls/Dino Baccheti/ Lance Cabot/ Stone Barrington/ Rocky
15. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #5b  Shot #3

Olive Bright Pigeoneer

 This novel by Stephanie Graves is a great combination of a historic fiction novel and a cozy mystery in the classic styling of Agatha Christie.  It is a well written mystery that has quite a few suspects and a surprise ending.  The main character, Olive is a well developed character that demonstrates multiple layers of her personality.  She is a young woman torn between helping her family and a need to feel like she is helping her country.

The Bright family has a dovecote of winning racing pigeons.  They have appealed to the war department to utilize their pigeons in the war effort, unfortunately Olive's father has a reputation that precedes him and makes that an impossibility.   Olive is feeling restless in her hometown and is seeking to signup for war work.   Then along comes a suspicious death in town and a strange visitor to their home.   The visitor insists on secrecy but offers to let Olive and her pigeons play a role in the war effort but she cannot tell her family.    The resulting cover story makes for some interesting plot lines.  Meanwhile Olive is investigating the mysterious death of the town's opinionated busybody.   Olive decides to channel her inner Hercule Poirot and investigate this death which she feels is not the accident that the inquest determines it to be.  

All in all this is a well written and entertaining historic cozy.   I recommend it as a great combination of historical fiction and the mystery included in the plot.  

Olive Bright, Pigeoneer by Stephanie Graves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun take on a cozy mystery. It really read more like a historic fiction novel for quite awhile. There is lots of historic detail and story based around WWII era England. The mystery that is included is well written and intertwined with the storyline well. The investigation leads to a surprise ending and guilty party. If interested in reading historic cozy mysteries this is a good choice

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #22
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "O"
3. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 16 war novel
4. Cozy Mysteries   # 13 you picked for title
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  #9 historic #2
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #24
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #21
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #48. A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #7 An Author With Only 1 Published Book
10. BooklistQueen   # 21. A WWII Story
11. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #24 occupation in title
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #10. DEBUT AUTHOR
13. Magic in the Books Book 2 #1 Bird on the cover
14. Pick your Poison #6-3 A book about baby boomers
15. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021 – Historical Fiction Novel Featuring Inspiring Women
16. Diversify your reading #DYRC21-  Historical Fiction
17. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
18. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 5
• Garden, park, gazebo
• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Detectives- Olive/Jamie
• Victims- Miss Buxelbee
19. 52 books in 52 weeks  #37 military

Booked for Death

 This is the first cozy in the new Booklover B&B mysteries by Victoria Gilbert.  I enjoyed the fact the story had the main murder plot but also some other side mysteries regarding the different characters backgrounds.  This of course leads to different false suspicions and some misunderstandings.

The interesting aspect of this character list to me was the fact Charlotte, the MC, suspects her friends and employees along with the guests of her B&B.   The reactions were as expected but I did feel their would have been more resentment that others suspected you although the book portrayed them as taking it in stride as objective investigators.  I think there would have been a bit more emotion and hard feelings involved though.   

The book has many references to other works of mysteries as the central event in the story is a literary theme week and there are many book club members as characters.  All the characters are avid mystery readers.

I enjoyed the series debut and look forward to reading more as the series expands.

Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great first book in a new cozy series

This cozy has some great characters and lots of descriptions. This book felt like there was more detail about environment, food, locations and people than a typical cozy. I liked that the lead, Charlotte, suspected friends as well as strangers. The awkward encounters were. Included and seemed mostly realistic although I’d think there would be a few hard feelings if your friend thought you might have committed murder. There were lots of twists and the ending was a bit of a surprise although I had begun to suspect that character was the guilty party

I look forward to reading more of the Booklover B&B series

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #21
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "B"
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "G"
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #30
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #33
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cozy Mysteries   #4 set in hotel or b&b
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Freebie #6
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #22
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #19
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #48. A book from your TBR list chosen at random
12. Bookworm  #48 free space level 4
13. Magic in the Books  Book 7 #3 first in a series
14. Pick your Poison #3-1 A book about a hotel
15. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags (stabbed)
16. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Knife
• Detectives- Charlotte/Ellen
• Victims- Lincoln Delamont
17. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #52  Shot #1 

The Afterlife of Holly Chase

 I really had no idea what to expect in this retelling of A Christmas Carol by Cynthia Hand.  I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging and unique it was.  It had all the elements of a Scrooge finding their way to reform but it also had some fun twists and turns.   The book had some science fiction elements to it including the explanations for how the ghosts travel with Scrooge.  There are elements of time paradoxes and alternate realities in the story as well.  It seems to be common in many of the books I have selected this year and is not a norm for my go to reading.   I have not read many retellings and found this enjoyable.  

The book definitely had its moments that caused the reader to stop and reflect on life and priorities.  As a parent there were moments when you realize it would be better to stop and slow down rather than get caught up in life- be in the moment.  There is a romance piece to the story as is often found in YA books but it was relevant to the story.  The ending definitely leaves you thinking about who knew what and when.  Also, there is definitely a bit of a chicken and the egg as well.   

It's funny because as I read it at times I kept finding myself visualizing the movie Scrooged with Bill Murray.  There are very few similarities but for some reason the production aspect of the story made me keep thinking of it and specifically Bill Murray.  I guess it's my year to read books that remind me of movies Murray stars in -  Groundhog day (In a Holidaze) 

The book is both enjoyable and thought provoking and I am glad I spotted it and checked it out from the library.

The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A book about chances

This was a wonderful surprise. I really had no idea about this book when I borrowed it from the library. I found myself cheering for Holly and Ethan to find their respective happiness. The book has some intrigue and a wonderful sense of what if that keeps the reader engaged. Anyone looking to lose themselves in a fantastic retelling of A Christmas Carol or just read a book about the potential to find one’s better self should read this book

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #19
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge
3. Color Coded #6 Black
4. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #37 non-fairytale re-telling 
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #27
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #30
7. Around the Year in 52 Books #20  3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 3
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #34 A Book You'd Rate 5 Stars
9. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #18. Mr. Pitch: with an immortal character
10. BooklistQueen   # 40. Fantasy
11. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 15. Genre you don't usually read
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #43. A RETELLING
13. Bookworm  #33.) Read a book where the main character is a magic user
14. Magic in the Books  Book 7 #4 A Retelling
15. Pick your Poison #25-2 A fairytale or myth retelling in a modern setting
16. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #4 story about witches or magic 
17. 52 books in 52 weeks  #4 illusion
18. Unruly Reader Bingo  #17 restoration

Egg Shooters

 Another fun installment in the Cackleberry Club by Laura Childs.  I always enjoy reading this series by her, second only to her Carmela Bertrand Scrapbooking series.   This is the ninth installment in the series and there were a few twists from a typical book in the series.  This time Suzanne was involved in the primary crime as a witness so she is caught up in the case from the start.  There are definitely some plot twists involved and there are some parallel crime stories going along in this book.  

All in all it is an enjoyable series and I find it easy to get lost in the book for the day or two it takes to complete.  If you like reading about recipes and a trio of female business owners this is a great series to read.

Egg Shooters by Laura Childs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Always enjoyable to read this series based around the Cackleberry Club. The usual trail of crimes seems to find Suzanne. This time it's much closer to home when she is caught up in a hospital shooting. The relationships between Suzanne and Dr. Sam is developed a bit further in this installment as is her relationship with Toni and Petra, her business partners/friends.
The book does a wonderful job of mixing the mystery and its solution with the side plots of the Cackleberry Club and its meal and tea services. Anyone who likes charming books stores and cafes will like this series plus it's full of recipes for those who look to expand their recipe box.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #16
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  TN
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge-  "E"
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021   series 11
5. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 20 Wild Card
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #24
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #27
8. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice #3
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #18
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #16
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #22 SFF or Mystery
13. Bookworm  #18.) Read a book by an author born in the 20th Century (1901-2000)
14. Magic in the Books Book 3 #1 Read a Guilty Pleasure
15. Pick your Poison #23-4 A book that comforts you on a rainy day 
16. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
17. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3  Free square- hospital
• Weapons
• Row 2  Hand gun
• Detectives- Suzanne/Toni/ Dooger
18. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #1  Shot #4

Peril through the Panama Canal

 This is book 2 in the Lizzie Josephson Cozy Cruise Series.  These mysteries are well written and focus on the action in the plot.   If you are looking for huge character development or descriptive scenery this probably isn't the series for you.  But, if you are lookin for fun, clean and focused mysteries these are a great series.  The characters are a recurring cast centered around Adrianne Christander, a new inheritor of a cruise line and how she is growing into the role as an owner and how she is approaching the business development aspect of the cruise line.  Her BFF Carol is present in all the stories as is Captain Keith Knowles.   Their relationships are ancillary to the plot lines.   I don't mean to imply they don't feel relatable, in fact I find much of Adrianne's problem solving/business analytics very relatable as that was my previous role before becoming a stay at home mom.   The stories are just more plot driven and less about development of the relationships and dialogue outside of that which pertains to the mysteries/plots.

The other aspect that differs from many of the cozy mysteries I read is these generally are not murder mysteries.  Instead, there are other crimes that are part of the storylines.  I find this a nice refreshing aspect even if it means I cannot put them down in my ME challenge :)

All in all these are a fun set of cozies to get lost in for an afternoon.  

Peril Through The Panama: Book Two: The Cozy Cruise Mysteries by Lizzie Josephson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Charming cruising mystery

This second installment on the Cosmos cruise ship has Adrienne and Carol meeting up with Captain Keith again. This time they find themselves on a cruise through the Panama Canal. I enjoyed reading the story about the cruise and the mystery they encounter. I found the story interesting and believable. The only part that I found a bit dissatisfying was the fact Adrienne had been on this cruise for more than two weeks with Carol working on a mystery that somehow she hadn’t kept her abreast of the situation. They seem close so this part felt a bit inconsistent. I enjoyed the story though and look forward to reading more in the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes Panama
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  "P"
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "J"
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021
5. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #3 it’s on a ship!
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #17
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #20
8. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
9. Cozy Mysteries   #14 published month of your birthday
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  #8 travel #1
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #13
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #11
13. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #29. A book set in multiple countries
14. Around the Year in 52 Books #34. A book with a travel theme
15. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #18  Author With A 9-Letter Last Name 
16. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #11. The Vast: set on a plane/boat
17. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 17. Book less than 200 pages
18. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #25 in another country
19. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #
20. Bookworm  #44.) Read a book that starts with the letter P  
21. Magic in the Books Book 2 #4 Mystery Novel
22. Pick your Poison #23-3 A book with a picture of clear blue sky on the cover 
23. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #
24. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Detectives- Adrianne/Keith
25. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #43  Shot #2
26. 52 books in 52 weeks  #40 come sail away
27. Unruly Reader Bingo  #

   

No Good Tea Goes Unpunished

 

This is the 2nd book in the Seaside Cafe series by Bree Baker.  I found it fun to return to the small island town of Charm, NC.   Everly has been growing her Tea and Sweets shop since the first book set a few months earlier.  

In this case, we meet another childhood friend from town, Judy, who is celebrating her nuptials on the Beach next to Everly's shop and home.   Everly has helped with the coordination of the wedding and is hosting the bride and subsequently, the groom in her Victorian home.  Unfortunately the wedding is not without mishap and Everly finds herself embroiled in another mystery.

This mystery reintroduces us to Grady, the local detective.  The sparks continue to fly between Everly and Grady as they muddle through the investigation.   Everly's innate need to assist and satisfy her curiosity gets her in the middle of the investigation against Grady's wish for her to remain 

No Good Tea Goes Unpunished by Bree Baker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Southern charm meets disastrous wedding

The return to Charm, NC to visit with Everly and her Aunts is a charming Southern trip. Unfortunately while helping host a wedding for a childhood friend things go wrong. The mystery gets so complicated and the suspects numerous. The guilty party is not revealed until the end and the motivations unexpectedly believable. Reading these books makes me feel like I’m on vacation and a part of the small town. I’m excited to keep reading the series 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  NC
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge 
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 series 8 
4. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #14 non-human character
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #14
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #17
7. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  animal related #2
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #11
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #9
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #14. A book set in a restaurant
12. Around the Year in 52 Books #25. A book set on an island 
13. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #4. The Flesh: MC/author works in food service
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #25. FOOD ON THE COVER
15. Bookworm  # 14.) Read a Murder Mystery
16. Magic in the Books Book 6 #1 With a flower on the cover
17. Pick your Poison #4 -2 A book with a knife on the cover
18. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #
19. Backpacking Bookworm  #bbReadingChallenge2021 
20. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tag  
21. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 5
• Beach or shoreline
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Knife
• Detectives- Everly/Grant
22. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #40  Shot #2
23. 52 books in 52 weeks  #
24. Unruly Reader Bingo  #

In a Holidaze

 This romantic chick lit by Christina Lauren was a nice refreshing read for a cold winter day.  It felt like reading a Hallmark movie.   This is the second novel by this author pair that I have read.  Last year I read Twice in a Blue Moon and this book continued to be a good decision to read their work.  

The characters are well developed and relatable to the reader.  The unconventional family holiday book is a bit like the movie groundhog day and you cannot help but root for Maelyn to figure out her dilemma and find her happiness.  

The book is well written for a novel representing the repetition of a day.  The book does not feel monotonous and I found myself waiting to see what would happen next.  The book definitely has a sappy happy ending feel to it but but it is not without drama and uncertainty.   

The certainly provides a few thought provoking scenes where you wonder what determines a happy outcome.  Sometimes you have to fight for what you want and getting it too easily can ruin the outcome.  Is there such a thing as being too truthful.  

The book does contain a few detailed romantic scenes so this may  not be the most appropriate book for all readers.  

    

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

I enjoyed this romance quite a bit. I think Christina Lauren did a wonderful job of not making the repetitive nature of the storyline boring. The book does a wonderful job of making the reader think about what happens if we really get a chance to do things over and what would we do with that opportunity. If we get what we've always wanted can we make the best of it. 

The characters are a charming untraditional family that just makes things work because they want to be together and part of each others' lives. It is easy to imagine oneself dropped into all their family holiday festivities and wanting to be a part of it. 

The book is a charming exploration into dealing with acknowledging our feelings and the outcomes of that willingness to expose ourselves. Being true means giving others a chance to show their true selves as well.

Be aware that there are some moderately detailed sexual encounters in the book so it may not be the best choice for every reader. 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #10
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  UT
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  "I" 
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "L"
5. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #11 chapter title page has art
6. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 10 chick lit
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #12
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #15
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #43. A book with elements of magic  
10. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #40 Found Via #Bookstagram  
11. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #43. Jane Prentiss: with a found family
12. BooklistQueen   # 33. Time Travel Novel
13. A Pretty Mess Challenge #7. A love story
14. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #16 genre not typical 
15. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #18. RECOMMENDED ON SOCIAL MEDIA  
16. Bookworm  #4.) Read a stand-alone novel (not in a series) 
17. Magic in the Books 
• Book 1 #1 With a written letter in it
18. Pick your Poison #27-4 A book by two or more authors 
19. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #18  with snow on the cover 
20. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Read a relationship story, romance, comedy, or feel good contemporary.

The Three Mrs. Wrights

 Wow, didn't realize one person could be so deceitful and able to keep their stories straight.  Linda. Keir created quite a tangled web of a story and an amazing male main character.  Jonathan/Jack/Trip is quite a charming and proficient liar.  His ability to deceive others in his life makes you wonder if he is even sure what the truth is any longer or if he is the ultimate sociopath.   The story is quite well written and you cannot help but cheer for the leading ladies of the story. They are strong women who are duped and it seems easy to judge from a distance but if you think of the many busy lives we encounter in today's world you will soon realize the premise isn't as far fetched as it would first seem.   The conclusion to the story is quite intriguing and as happy as can be hoped for under the circumstances laid out by the plot.

Highly recommend for anyone interested in a non mystery suspense book.

The Three Mrs. Wrights: A Novel by Linda Keir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Quite an intriguing novel of suspense. It definitely created an atmosphere where trusting others seems to be impossible. As you read you cannot wait to find out what the real story is, not the fabricated identities you are meeting, but rather the real truth. There is quite a fun twist at the end that leads to as happy an ending as can be found in a book about so much deceit and lying.
Very glad I picked this book out at the library 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #7
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  IL
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "T"
4. Color Coded #5  Brown
5. Around the Year in 52 Books #32. A book whose cover shows more than 2 people
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #32 A Selfish Character
7. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #52. Manuela Dominguez: author/MC works in the sciences
8. BooklistQueen   #12. With a Number in the Title 
9. A Pretty Mess Challenge #12  book with 2 authors 
10. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #11 multiple authors
11. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #42. WRITTEN BY TWO AUTHORS  
12. Bookworm  #16 Read a book that has a person on the cover
13. Magic in the Books 
• Book 6 #2 with a number in the title/on the cover
14. Pick your Poison #22-4 A book about an estranged family
15. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #10  set at or featuring a wedding 
16. 52 books in 52 weeks  #41 hide in place
17. Unruly Reader Bingo  #18 blurb

Laughing at my Nightmare

 This memoir by Shane Burcaw is a wonderfully written account of how Shane has used a positive attitude to overcome extreme adversity in his life.   What is particularly good about the memoir is, while having a great approach to life and trying to laugh and see the positive is working and is what gets him through his struggles, he is also honest about the fact he does have poor me moments.  He talks about how he came to chose a better attitude at different points in his life and why he made those choices.  He is brutally honest about his experiences and how he uses his humor to survive many struggles and awkward moments.   

I was inspired by how he just adapted himself to do the things he wanted to do and to participate in the things that interested him with his friends.  I don't think Shane has ever said I can't do that to himself, he just finds a way to do it in a manner that works.  

He is very honest about how he addressed many of the typical developments adolescents experience and discusses how challenging do normal teen things could be at times.  His description of the 6th grade dance was spot on and made you realize the difficulties of situations that you wouldn't normally think would pose a specific challenge outside of the obvious awkward dance moments.  

This book made me realize how easy it is for people to misjudge someone just because they use a wheelchair.  It is easy for strangers to assume Shane is mentally challenged along with his physical deformities but that isn't the case.  I love how he has learned to deal with it and to point out that we should always give people a chance for their personalities and social skills to shine before assuming they are different from ourselves.  

This aspect of his life reminded me of the struggles 2 of our family friends face on a daily basis.  We happen to know 2 families who have boys with Duchene's MD.  The struggles those boys face are enormous although different from Shane's.  It is easy to see how they just would want to have normal friendships and relationships just like those who do not have their physical disabilities.  Shane's honesty about his daily routines reminds me of the challenges my friends must face everyday while also dealing with the very real threat of a shortened life expectancy.   I've admired them for a while but now even more so after reading Shane's book

This book is an amazing compilation of anecdotes from Shane's life that are inspiring and flow well.  He is an amazing author along with a great  inspiration.   You cannot help but root for him to succeed in all endeavors.  He seems to have an amazing family and friend group that will help him achieve everything he sets out to do.  

I highly recommend this book for perspective and just because it's a great book.  

Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw
My rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Amazing inspiring story

This memoir is an amazing testament to how attitude is everything. Shane got dealt a pretty tough blow at birth with a Serious muscular dystrophy diagnosis. Instead of wallowing he chooses to find humor and fun in life and specifically with the challenges he faces. It isn’t all sunshine and roses though he discusses the frustrations and this sucks moments too. He chose to adapt activities to do what he finds fun and engaging with his friends. The book addresses his challenge with growing up and being in middle school and high school. Through it all you are reminded he’s a typical boy finding his way through life and at the heart of it just wants to have fun and have friends 

He is an inspiration and an awesome writer. He also seems like a great person who is influential to many through his blog and non profit. 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

Possible prompts

I will decide as the year goes along which prompts I use it for on several challenges since it meets multiple criteria within the challenge.

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #8
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  PA
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "L"
4. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #7  caused a major book hangover
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #9
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #11
7. Memoir  #14 Written by someone under 40   
8. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #5. Disease
9. Humor  Book #1
10. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #31 by a blogger
11. Around the Year in 52 Books #3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music
12. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #24 A book you think they should read in schools
13. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #35. Melanie: by/about a social media personality
14. BooklistQueen   #39 From an Indie Publisher 
15. A Pretty Mess Challenge #21. Book by an indie author 
16. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #21 nominated for an award
17. While I was Reading  #10. A memoir
18. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #16. STANDALONE
19. Bookworm  #28.) Read a book published in the 2010s
20. Magic in the Books 
• Book 6 #3 featuring a strong friendship
21. Pick your Poison #2-4 A book with someone laughing on the cover 
22. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #16  autobiography or memoir
23. Backpacking Bookworm  #bbReadingChallenge2021 Jan character with a disability 
24. 52 books in 52 weeks #1  this is the way
25. Unruly Reader Bingo  #4 triumph