A to Z for me

  

 A to Z Tracking 

Once again I plan to participate in 2 A-Z tracking challenges for Titles and the one for Authors as well.  I will track them both on this combined tracking page.  The tracking for the challenge can be done on the facebook page.  

The title and author based challenges are hosted by Dolly at EscapewithDollyCas   These are Alphabet Soup and Author Alphabet Soup.  

Read books starting with A to Z.  For the tougher letters (Q, X and Z)  you can count if they fall anywhere in the title. Exclude "the", "a" or "an" from beginning of title when assigning letters

  

• Books can be from any Genre. 
• Use #AlphabetSoupChallenge or #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge on social media
• All formats of books acceptable
• Cross overs with other challenges permissible

• Runs Jan 1- Dec 31

• Authors-  First, Middle or Last name counts  
  

A fun twist I found at the Challenge Factory on Goodreads is an A to Z from main characters.  I am going to add that to this tracking as well.  Sounds like a great way to keep better track of my characters names

Updates for reads on Titles  and Author

Meddling and Murder

 Meddling and Murder is the 4th Aunty Lee book by Ovidia Yu.  This installment felt a little different from the others in the series.   For some reason it just felt a bit forced and as though the characters were not in sync with their usual rhythms.   I also discovered after reading it that there don't seem to be any more books in this series so I don't know if the author abandoned this series for her other colonial Singapore-based series.  I am interested in trying that series to see how I like it since I do enjoy reading about Singapore and its culture.   Hopefully, there will be more written about Aunty Lee in the future to see what happens with the characters.  

Meddling and Murder by Ovidia Yu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoy this series very much. Aunty Lee is quite a character and her relationships with Nina, her stepson and her friends are quite amusing at times. She makes new friends in this book as she looks to expand her independence during this story. I didn’t give this a higher rating because I felt this story didn’t flow as smoothly as the previous books. I think it was because the stairs kept changing focus of characters and the sub plots. The mystery was wrapped up at the end but still felt like a bit of the details could be expanded upon more thoroughly. I do hope the series continues so readers see how Nina’s story progresses

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  104
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 86  
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   Y
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 16  Book #1
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 4
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 5
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #95
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #72
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #51
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #80
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #68
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #94  Shot #4
13. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
14. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #39 The Final Book in a Series
15. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  July: Books Set in Southern Asia
16. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  October: True Crime/Mystery
17. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge  October 18 - Danger Zone

Murder, Simple Stitched

 Murder, Simply Stitched is the 2nd installment in the Amish Quilt Shop series by Isabella Alan.  This book is a good perspective on how the Amish and Englisch interact in parts of the country.   If you have any interest in quilting or reading about different cultures while enjoying a cozy mystery you will enjoy this series.  The mystery has lots of twists and turns will following the trope of clearing a friends name from a crime.   I enjoy the simplicity of the lifestyles represented in this book.  I look forward to reading more of this series.  

Murder, Simply Stitched by Isabella Alan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Angie is a bit of a busybody but aren’t most amateur sleuths in cozy mysteries. This mystery is well written and reaches a good conclusion. There are definitely charming settings and good relationships included in the story line. I appreciate that Angie tries to find the best n people despite initial impressions to the contrary. There is quite a cliff hanger at the end of the story. I will have to read the next book to see what happens

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  91
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  74 
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  I 
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #83
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #64
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #41
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #69
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #58
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 3 Shot #4
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
13. Pick your Poison  # 36 A book published in a year that includes a 4
14. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge August 16 - Tropetastic!

  

Secluded Cabin sleeps Six

 Lisa Unger did not disappoint in Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six.  She certainly knows how to pen wonderful thriller novels.  I picked this up after thoroughly enjoying her Confessions on the 7:45. See my review here  Blog 

 I am certainly glad I did.  She weaves a suspenseful book with plenty of examination of human nature.  I found it humorous that she mentions the cliche horror film behaviors of the lead females in this novel as the characters reflect on whether their actions differ from what a dumb character would do in a horror film.  It provides a  little levity to break up the intensity of the suspenseful situations.  

This book also has the reader reflecting on how much of our human characteristics are based on genetics vs how we are raised.  The age-old nature vs nurture definitely plays a role in this book.  There are also aspects to the story that leads to reflection about the ethics and use of genetic information from a genealogy perspective vs criminal investigations.  The slippery slope is definitely alive and well in regard to how the information should be used and by whom.  

All in all, this was a wonderful thriller that kept me wanting to read more and more.  

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

twisting thriller with some poignant themes

I did not know much about this book when I picked it out to read. I’m so glad I did. This book is well plotted and highlights the good and bad of humanity We are made up of part our genetics but it the heart we make our choices whether to be Good and ethical. Sometimes the lines are blurred. The characters in this story have choices and not are all good. I cannot imagine anyone walking away from reading this without thinking of nurture vs nature as concept

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  87
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   71
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  U
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #79
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #65
6. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #90  Shot #2
7. Medical Examiner Challenge  9 Toe Tags
8. HP Quidditch 23 #  3 Quidditch Pitch: Set in nature
9. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #24. New York Times Bestseller
10. Sci and Nature # 40 About Survival

Death on Cozumel Island

I will admit I was drawn to Death on Cozumel Island because I have many happy memories of visits to the area during cruise vacations.  I am intrigued to go for a land trip now after reading about the fabulous scuba diving available there.   The scuba diving was the other aspect of Cindy Quayle's book that captured my interest.  I was able to certify and dive a few years before Covid hit.  It is now an item to get back to once I have successfully lost weight.  Quayle did an amazing job at capturing the feeling of the open water diving experience.  She not only included the positive aspects such as enjoying the beauty of the flora and fauna under the surface, but she discussed the struggles of the time on the surface quite accurately as well.  Besides the great descriptions of the setting for the book, the actual mystery was well constructed.  I would say the only negative I have to mention is the extreme degree to which she created an unlikeable victim.  It worked with the story though and I'm sure people have encountered such boors on their vacations.  I look forward to reading more in this series.  

Death on Cozumel Island by Cindy Quayle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun mystery even if it seems a bit of a stretch that Claire would go out on a linb for people she just met. The mystery and motivation are well structured. The paradise of Cozumel is well represented in this story. Claire clearly relishes experiencing the world and embracing the experiences. Any scuba fans will love reading about her diving adventures. Makes me want to decertify and go dive there myself. Looking forward to more in the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  79
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  Q
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
5. What an Animal Book #29
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #71
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #34
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #59
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #51
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #106  Shot #1
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
12. 23 in 2023 # 1 A book published in 2023
13. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #52 Published in 2023
14. Around the Year in 52 Books #51. A book published in 2023
15. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #24. 2023 New Release
16. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #1. 2023 New Release
17. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #12 A book published in spring 2023
18. Pick your Poison  # 12 A book about a hobby you do or would like to do
19. Read with Allison #31 2023 New Release 
20. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 13 2023 New Release
21. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  JUNE- Take the Plunge set around water

Death of a Red Heroine

My experience reading  Death of a Red Heroine is a testament to the powers of participating in reading challenges.  If it were not for the alphabet challenge where I am always trying to find authors that meet the Q/X/Y/Z categories I might not have ever tried this detective story set in Shanghai.  The book is written by Qiu Xiaolong  I ended up really enjoying the storyline and the historical perspective of China as it was transitioning into a more capitalist approach to its economy.  The plot highlights the importance of the Party and the High Ranking Cadres' ability to get things done to their advantage;  something those without the connections cannot readily achieve.   In many ways, it reminded me of the old money influence in the US.  The wealth/power that exists acts as a barrier to newcomers entering the markets.  I did enjoy the book and may give the next in the series a go in the future.

Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I selected this audiobook from my library mainly because it sounded interesting and the author's name allowed me to fulfill some harder letters in the alphabet challenge. I ended up with a pleasant surprise and learned a lot about the history of China from an author who was born there. The intricacies of the Party establishment and the country's situation post-Tiananmen Square protests were a very interesting backdrop to a detective mystery. This is definitely not a cozy and has some very edgy and graphic details about the murder as well as the sexual exploits of the characters. The mystery is well constructed and details the police work involved in solving crimes, particularly with politically connected suspects and victims. I enjoyed the book and will definitely potentially try another in the series.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  51
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  39 
3. Audiobook  #2023AudiobookChallenge 6
4. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  China
5. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  X
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #44
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #39
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #40
9. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
10. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #3
11. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #41 A Character Who is a Refugee
12. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #45 more than 450 pages
13. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #24. OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE WORLD
14. Pick your Poison  # 54 A book you expect will expand your initial knowledge of a subject
15. Read with Allison #49 Set in the 1990s:
16. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Longer than 400 pages
17. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge April- Unusual Historical

Just Shoot Me Dead

 Just Shoot Me Dead, by Anne R  Tan, was a random find on Hoopla in February.  They do a bonus borrow campaign in Feb and I saw this and decided to give it a try.  Turns out it is related to the Raina series I had been planning to try at some point so it was a double win.  I liked Lucy Fong and PoPo but Lucy has a bit more baggage than I would normally like in my MC. I tend to want to read these books to escape and try to solve a mystery.  Lucy has a lot of unresolved issues in her past and it feels like these may play a big role in the storylines.   I am willing to give the series another try before making a final decision though.  

Just Shoot Me Dead by Anne R. Tan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting premise for a cozy. Lucy’s family has a PI business that’s been in the family for generations. Problem is she left home as a teen and has nothing to do with it. That was until her mother is in the hospital after being shot and her sister is missing. Oh yeah there’s a dead guy in her sisters apartment. Needless to say there’s plenty of family drama. Mixed in with this is comedic relief of PoPo and cousin Stella and a bit of a budding romance with Max the police chief. There’s deception and secrecy all helping to hide the killer’s identity. The who is rather clever if it was revealed a bit abruptly but did make sense when all the pieces were explained. Overall an intriguing and unique cozy

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #33  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   27
3. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  J
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  A
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #29
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #24
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #9
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #25
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #22
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #99  Shot #1
13. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags shot
14. Around the Year in 52 Books #33. A book by an author with a first name popular in 1923
15. HP Quidditch 23 #41 Cho Chang: Written by an Asian or AAPI author
16. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #2.  A book with more than 300 pages
17. Pick your Poison  # 93 A book with a beach on the cover
18. Read with Allison #10 Pronoun in the Title
19. What's in a Name   #4 You or Me
20. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge March Baggage

Dead Heat

 I started reading Dick Francis novels again last year and have remembered how much I enjoy his work.  I think the stories are a bit more engaging to me now as my son's girlfriend rides and I have now been exposed to the horseshow world peripherally.  This allows me to have more of a connection to the details in the novels Francis has written.  This one was written in 2007 after he had taken a break in writing and just returned to publication in the previous year.  

I really enjoyed Dead Heat and the character in the lead, Max.  There were several references to contemporary restaurants and chefs that made the connections to the story even stronger.   I think that is one of the aspects of Francis' writing that I enjoy.  He gives depth not only to his characters but also to the topics discussed in the stories.  In this case, there was a great deal about running a restaurant and being a chef since that is Max's career.   

There was also a great bit written about the polo scene.  It was interesting to learn some of the subtleties of the sport both in its play and rules and also the descriptions of the spectators and participants.  I appreciate that much of this information is conveyed either by the reflection of discovery by Max's research or conveyed through conversations with other spectators at the match.  It is far more interesting than just reading a factual paragraph or two.  

I found myself connecting with Max on an emotional level because his experiences and emotions were portrayed in a realistic manner.   He is a civilian exposed to some extreme violence and he reacted in a manner typical to how I would expect someone to process such an experience.  Rather than making him stoic and a hero we see his emotions and weaknesses which makes him that much more appealing as a character.  

Overall I really enjoyed this book both based on the plot and the mystery it entailed as well as the characters. There are some graphic descriptions of the violent aftermath of a bombing so readers should be aware before reading the novel.

Dead Heat by Dick Francis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dick Francis did it again with another suspense filled novel set amongst the horse world This one have a glimpse into the life of polo and explained some of the basics as well as some unique nuances. The storyline was well written with the various unknowns being unraveled at appropriate times. I felt the experience Max had and the way it haunted him was an realistic representation of how someone would react to the situation he found himself in. I always enjoy reading Dick Francis and this book was no exception

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 21
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  England
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   F
4. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2023  Book # 2
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #16
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #15
7. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #42  Shot #3
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 22 Toe Tags
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #28 Includes a Funeral
10. Around the Year in 52 Books #27. A book by an author from continental Europe
11. Bookworm #36 Free Space! Pick any book
12. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #49 horses. that’s the prompt.
13. HP Quidditch 23 #52 Double Eight Loop: Written by multiple authors
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #31.Read a book with two or more authors
15. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #17. BOOK WITH ORANGE SPINE
16. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #33 A book about an athlete/sport
17. Pick your Poison  # 66 A book with a person jumping on the cover
18. Read with Allison #37 Bought Secondhand
19. Sci and Nature # 8 About Science Gone Wrong
20. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 
21. Unruly Reader Bingo  #8 Fire Drill
22. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Feb Western Europe

A West Side Love Story

 A West Side Love Story is a retelling of the classic Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet.   This was a such a great read.  I loved all the drama and indecision that was felt by Mariana and Angelo.   Having to choose between their growing attraction for each other and their loyalty to family is tearing them both apart.  The generation-long dispute between the 2 families comes to a head during the San Antonio Mariachi Battle.  I loved how Priscilla Oliveras mixed the culture and traditions within a modern story.  The subtext about the dangers of gentrification and its unintended consequences was well-written without being an in-your-face lecture.  I appreciate that the story presented both sides with room for the reader to think about the topic on their own. If you are looking for a great romance with minimal steamy scenes this is a great read.

West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

an emotional story of forbidden romance

This book was a wonderful example of a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The growth of the relationship between Mariana and Angelo amidst the strains of a decades long feud was full of emotion and stress. Both adept at managing their own and their family’s needs and struggles makes their burgeoning relationship that much more complicated. You cannot help but root for them to succeed. I also liked the details of the mariachi music and other aspects like the importance of family in their culture. I really appreciated the way the Spanish was woven into the prose and then translated. It was clever and flowed amazingly. If you are looking for a Feb romance read with some steamy scenes that centers around devotion to family while trying to make a forbidden romance work then this is a read for you

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 18 
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #15   
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  TX
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  O
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #17
6. 23 in 2023 # 11 A book by William Shakespeare or a retelling
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #20 a Book about siblings  
8. 52 books in 52 weeks  #18 isn't it romantic
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #30 
10. Bookworm #52 Read a "Found Family" story 
11. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #33. About Adoption 
12. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #37 all the romance 
13. HP Quidditch 23 #22 Chudley Cannons: Includes a battle
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #15  Read a retelling
15. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #1. RECOMMENDED BY THE NERD DAILY
16. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #14 A modern retelling of a classic
17. Pick your Poison  # 119 A book about finding hope when life is challenging
18. RAD Challenge #aradreadingchallenge #4 Retelling of a Classic
19. Read with Allison #16 Romance
20. Sci and Nature # 7 About Women in Science
21. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 17
22. Unruly Reader Bingo  #25 After School Special
23. What's in a Name   #4 Chess Piece 
24. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  February: Romance
25. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge jun romance

Cheddar off Dead

 If you can finish Cheddar Off Dead without craving cheese you must not like cheese.  I loved how Karina Moss mixes cheese information and recipes into this first story in her Cheese Shop Series.  I look forward to reading more about this crew in the cheese store and the other businesses around the small town in the Sonoma Valley.  

Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great first book in a series. I really liked learning about cheese and the processes that make them unique. I appreciated the team sleuth approach and that they were a diverse set of ages and genders. The black sheep aspect of some of the characters made it that much more intriguing and suspenseful. There were many suspects with legitimate doubt cast on who to trust Lots of secrets lead to people doubting one another and misdirecting the authorities. I look forward to reading the next book in the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #15  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 12  
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  M
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series:  Book #
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
7. Color Coded #5 Brown
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #14
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #2
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #12
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #10
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 95 Shot #1
13. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags stab
14. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #32 Published by MacMillan
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #11 western
16. Around the Year in 52 Books # 52. A book with an unusual or surprising title  
17. Bookworm #51 Read a book that has a title that is punny and/or alliterative 
18. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #45. A Book That Makes You Happy 
19. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #39 your favorite genre
20. Cozy Mysteries   #18 Judge a book by it's cover
21. HP Quidditch 23 #18 Seeker: Includes a found family
22. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #48 Read a new to you author
23. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #9. QUOTED BY AN AUTHOR YOU LIKE
24. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #4 A book by a first-time author
25. Pick your Poison  # 67 A book you want to dive into
26. Read with Allison #48 Two Colors on the Cover
27. Sci and Nature #25 Fungi on the Cover

The Trial

 The Trial is a novella that falls between the 15th and 16th books in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson.  I think I didn't appreciate this book as much because it had been a while since I read those books and the storyline has moved on.  Additionally, I didn't remember a lot of the backstory that goes with the case this is related to.  The story is a fun quick read as it is a Book Shot and it was good for an afternoon of relaxation but it wasn't my best read of the year.  

The Trial by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this novella from the women's murder club series. I really give it a 3 1/2 star because I felt the story line was a bit hard to follow if you haven't just read book 15- I am currently caught up on the series on the main novels. I think the suspense would have been more impactful if the reader had read 15 recently. Also, I felt like the ending with Lindsay and Joe was a bit rushed. A paragraph or two discussion how they resolved issues would have been beneficial to make it a bit more realistic. The twist at the end was a wonderful conclusion though.

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  12
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 11  
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  P
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 4 Book #1
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 15,5
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #12
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #11
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #9
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #77  Shot #3
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  7 Toe Tags
12. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #50 Related to the Word "Murder"
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #13 15
14. Around the Year in 52 Books #22  A book with a faceless person on the cover 
15. Bookworm #2  Read a book under 300 pages
16. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #40 By an Author You Love 
17. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #28 less than 170 pages
18. HP Quidditch 23 #23 Holy Head Harpies: Includes a group of strong females
19. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #30  A book set in a place where you have visited 
20. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #20 AN AUTHOR YOU LOVE
21. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #26 The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
22. Pick your Poison  # 5 A thriller
23. RAD Challenge #aradreadingchallenge #7 Can read in a Day
24. Read with Allison #40 Thriller
25. Sci and Nature # 19 About BIPOC in Science

Lessons in Chemistry

 My first 5-star read of the year.  I am so glad I finally put this book at the top of my to-read list after seeing so many recommendations online in the various book groups I follow.  As someone who experienced studying engineering in college as the solo woman in my small department and then going to work on Wall Street, I encountered my fair share of doubting males.  But, I also encountered my share of Calvins that didn't differentiate based on my gender.  I was also fortunate enough to have many strong female managers who helped me in my career.  I appreciate the struggles women like Elizabeth endured to enable me to have the career I did in the 1990s.  

I think the aspect of this book I liked the most was although it is a serious topic and the struggles were represented well, they were not in your face like a lecture.  Rather the reader was able to process and intuit the differences in how Elizabeth was treated and the societal rules she was challenging.  I loved her belief that Life is Change and Chemistry is Change which helped her to encourage change and courage in many other women, most of whom she didn't know.  

Readers looking for an empowering read will like this novel.   There are some trigger scenes involving rape and inappropriate interactions in the plot.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book lived up to all the hype in my opinion. It is far more serious than the title would imply. I still felt like there were many light-hearted moments that brought a smile to my face. There is a level of seriousness to the story as well. Elizabeth and Calvin had rough lives before they met, each keeping secrets of their childhood but someone they were able to find each other and related to each other like none before. Both are very logical and pragmatic personalities and anyone that tends to lean toward that in their lives will definitely relate. As someone who feels they have a B****y resting face, I can certainly relate. The underlying story about the struggles women, particularly those working in scientific fields, encountered in the 50s and 60s was well written without feeling like it is a lecture. I cannot recommend this book enough, especially for women who have ever worked in a male-dominated career.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  24
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  G
3. What an Animal Book #5
4. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2023  Book # 3
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #1
6. Humor  Book #1
7. 23 in 2023 # 22 A book about the body, medicine, or science
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #43 A Book "Everyone" has read
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #35. A book with a school subject in the title
10. Bookworm # 55 Read a book that takes place in at least two different decades
11. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #2. Goodreads Winner in 2022
12. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #11 2022 debut novel
13. HP Quidditch 23 #25 Puddlemere United: With multiple points of view
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #10. Read a book that is hyped online
15. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #36. CHAPTERS HAVE TITLES
16. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge # 39 A book you wish you could read for the first time again
17. Pick your Poison  # 72 A book whose cover makes you think of a middle school girl
18. Read with Allison #3 Read By #readwithallison in 2022
19. Sci and Nature # 1 About a Scientist
20. Unruly Reader Bingo  #23 Chemistry
21. Beyond the Bookends  February- Read a historical romance

Read and Buried

 Read and Buried is the 2nd Ashton Creek Book Club mystery by Erika Chase.   This is a series full of Southern charm set in AL.  But don't let the gentile setting fool you, there is plenty of murder and underhanded behavior going on.  With a few ex-spies living in the area, and residing in her Aunt's old home now converted to a B&B, Lizzie has her fair share of strange run ins.  I do enjoy the characters and appreciate that they aren't 20 something fitness buffs, but at times it is a bit outlandish in its premise.  The story is a fun one though.   So, if you are looking for a fun distracting book to pass some time, especially if you like stories based around book clubs and have ensemble casts, you will probably enjoy this one.

Read and Buried by Erika Chase
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The mystery in this story was good, although it did feel like it was a bit of a wide net with the possible suspect list and was hard to keep track of at times. I’m sure this is probably rather realistic with real life cases.
I do like the characters in the book club and am enjoying the development of their personalities and relationships in the books. I just didn’t find myself wholly absorbed in the storyline and I’m not sure if that was due to the rest of my life interrupting my reading or a lack of pull by the book. It seems as though Chase is setting up the characters to reveal more about who they are and their backstories in future installments. I will have to see how the next book goes to see if this is an accurate guess

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 7 
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 6
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes AL
4. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge R
5. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  E
6. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
7. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #7
9. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #6
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Career #1 
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #4
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #4
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 22 Shot #2
14. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
15. 23 in 2023 # 19 A book with shiny details on the cover, or a title containing a shiny synonym 
16. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #49 Books on the Cover 
17. 52 books in 52 weeks  #1 Agatha Christie
18. Around the Year in 52 Books #6 A book where books are important
19. Bookworm #11 Read the next book in a series you haven't read in a while
20. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #13. Animal on the Cover
21. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #48 character is keeping a big secret
22. Cozy Mysteries   #13 A library book
23. HP Quidditch 23 #8 Snitch: A book with a Golden Aspect (edges or cover foiled, etc)
24. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #47 Read a book that has one of your favorite book tropes in it 
25. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #44  FLORA ON COVER
26. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #6 A book about a forbidden romance
27. Pick your Poison  #74 A book with gold writing on the cover
28. RAD Challenge #aradreadingchallenge #3  Animal on the Cover
29. Read with Allison #44 Outdoor Scene on Cover
30. Sci and Nature # 36 Set in Your Favorite Season