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

Hook, Line and Sinker

 Hook, Line and Sinker is the 3rd Lake of the Ozarks book by Marc Jedel.   I enjoy the aspect of this book that there are 2 narrators who are husband and wife.   It makes for an interesting perspective on the storyline.   This book has an interesting mystery related to the background of 

Hook, Line and Sinker by Marc Jedel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

enjoyable cozy from 2 pov

I like how Marc Jewel writes the series from both the husband and wife’s perspective. It’s also nice to not have the simmering sexual tension hanging over the main character like it is in so many books The mystery is interesting if not a bit loose on its solution. I do enjoy the series

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  90
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  AR 
3. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge   H
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 12  Book #1
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 3
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #82
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #40
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #68
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #57
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #53  Shot #3
12. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
13. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #4 Title starting with letter "H"
14. Read Around the US   Jul Arkansas

Villa in Sicily: Olive Oil and Murder

 Villa in Sicily: Olive Oil and Murder  is the first book in the Cats and Dogs Murder series by Fiona Grace.  I read my first book by her earlier this year when I tried Aged For Murder Tuscan Vineyard #1 in March.  ( my Blog Post )  I enjoyed this book as well.  I appreciate how the murder mystery is almost an afterthought in the stories vs the foremost plot feature.   Ms. Grace does a wonderful job of describing the countries and villages where she sets these mysteries.  You can really visualize the locations as you read them and feel as though you are there experiencing the culture as well as the protagonists.  I also like how the character relationships and experiences take a prominent role in the storylines rather than being sidenotes as they often are in cozy mysteries.  Neither is a bad approach, I just enjoy the variety these books by Fiona Grace provide.  

If you are looking for cozy mysteries with strong character development and relationships set in foreign locations be sure to give her Cats and Dogs and Tuscan Vineyard series a try.  

 

A Villa in Sicily: Olive Oil and Murder by Fiona Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable mystery that’s really more about the adventures of Audrey Smart on her ex pat journey in Sicily. The situations she finds herself in are often comical. The decisions she must make regarding her 1 euro home renovations are at the center of her missteps. Her move and establishing a vet practice are engaging storylines. Grace makes the reader feel Audreys dilemma between starting a new life and returning to the comfort of life in Boston. The series should prove to be an adventure in home renovations and establishing a vet practice in her new hometown.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  88
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   72
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Sicily
4. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  V
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 =-1
7. What an Animal Book #32
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #80
9. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #62
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #39
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #66
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #56
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 97 Shot #2
14. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
15. Bookworm #41 Read a book with a title that starts with the letter V
16. Beyond the Bookends  July- Read a book set in Italy
17. Read Your Bookshelf July  different country than June's book 

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

Winter Takes All

 Winter Takes All was a fun cozy I found on my kindle when looking for a title with Winter in it for a mini prompt for a challenge.  I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it was to read about Crystal and her new found career in outdoor adventures.  It was a nice mix of setting and description mixed with mystery and clues.  I look forward to reading more in the series in the future.  

Winter Takes All by M.L. Erdahl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I kind of stumbled upon it on my kindle while trying to complete a mini challenge of a book with a season in the title. I really liked the level of description of the time Crystal spends in the outdoors I really felt like I could picture the scene. I also liked the way the storyline would jump back as a reflection of a past scenario when Crystal was telling a story to someone. It made the story a bit more interesting rather than one long week. I look forward to finding more in this series

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #14  
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   WA
3. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  W
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
6. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2023  Book # 1
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #12
8. Cruisin thru Cozies career #2
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #11
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #9
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 36 Shot #6
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags pushed
13. 23 in 2023 # 5  A book that starts with the letter W
14. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #2 Featuring an Inheritance
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #6 character vs nature
16. Around the Year in 52 Books #43  A book that involves a murder
17. Bookworm #29 Read a book that has under 1,000 reviews or ratings on a website or app 
18. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #12. You Own But Haven’t Read
19. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #3 takes place primarily in winter or a cold region
20. Cozy Mysteries   #9 Male Author
21. HP Quidditch 23 #13 Quidditch Gloves: Set in winter
22. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #25 Read a book with a person on the cover
23. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #39. AN AUTHOR NEW TO YOU
24. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #44 A book that was self-published
25. Pick your Poison  # 7 A book about a missing person
26. Read with Allison #43 Title Starts With "W"
27. Sci and Nature # 27 About Hiking or Camping
28. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 7
29. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  All
30. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Jan new beginnings
31. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge Jan Starting Over

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

Murder at the PTA

 Well, I have been to some contentious PTA meetings in my time but never one that ends up in murder.  Murder at the PTA is the first book in the Maya and Sandra mysteries which I found on Kindle Unlimited.  It is different than most of the cozies I read because it has an MC who is a private investigator.  Normally my books just have amateur sleuths.  This book was alright but wasn't the most engaging of the cozies I have read this year.   I think the characters in this book were a bit too edgy for me.  But, it is perfect for readers who are looking for an MC that isn't the wholesome, girl next door character.  They mystery itself was well written for me it was just about not necessarily liking or warming up to the characters.  I think I prefer Lee Hollis' other series about Hayley Powell who is a private chef. 

Murder at the PTA by Lee Hollis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great cozy with strong female leads

Unlike many cozies with amateur female detectives this one has 2 strong women who find themselves working together. They support each other in solving the case but also in helping each other weather some trying personal disappointments. Maya and Sandra make an unexpected pair but watching their friendship and partnership develop is as engaging as the actual mystery. I look forward to reading more about their PI cases together

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  6
2. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  M
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book # 6
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book # 5
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #1
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #3
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #3
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 50 Shot #2
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
12. 23 in 2023 # 7 A book with a tricycle or other child-related object on the cover
13. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #11 A Book about Secrets
14. 52 books in 52 weeks  #7 sleuths
15. Around the Year in 52 Books #2 A book by an author you read in 2022 
16. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #49 Read any book from a series
17. Bookworm #3 Read a book with a female main character
18. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #37. Detective Story
19. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #31 protagonist name starts with “M” 
20. Cozy Mysteries   #10 Main character is different than you 
21. HP Quidditch 23 #11 Nimbus 2001: Set or written after 2001
22. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #49 Read any book from a series
23. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #31 SILVER ON COVER
24. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #31 A book about a family 
25. Pick your Poison  # 77 A book about marriage
26. Read with Allison #41 Multiple POVs
27. Sci and Nature # 35 That was Sustainably Acquired (library, used, borrowed, etc.):
28. Unruly Reader Bingo  #19 Electives
29. Read Around the US   Maine

Evvie Drake Starts Over

 I've had Evvie Drake Starts Over on my to-read pile for a while now.  I selected it to read in Jan because it fits the motif of new beginnings.   I was pleasantly surprised by the story and enjoyed it thoroughly.  The development of the characters and their relationship was well thought out and made sense;  it was too Hallmark moviesque.   If you are looking for a nice feel-good romance for February I can recommend this one.  

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I feel like I am late to the game reading this book but I’m so glad I finally got to it. It’s a little bit romance a lot of soul searching and broken people. I think anyone who has ever doubted themselves or is a people pleaser will relate to Evvie. There are definitely some humorous moments in the book and there are definitely sad moments. I loved watching her recovery and her growth as an individual. It’s an inspiring story to start off a new year

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 5 
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 5
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  ME
4. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  E
5. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge    H
6. Color Coded #4 Green
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #5
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #4
9. 23 in 2023 # 13  A book containing a sport
10. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #26 Has an Epilogue
11. 52 books in 52 weeks  #10 character vs fate
12. Around the Year in 52 Books #8  An author's debut book 
13. Bookworm #46  Read a book by a new author   
14. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #25 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
15. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #46  plants on the cover
16. HP Quidditch 23 #17 Keeper: Includes a character you fall in love with
17. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #27 Read a book with a happily-ever-after ending
18. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #13 STANDALONE
19. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #41 A book written during NaNoWriMo
20. Pick your Poison  # 69 A book about taking chances
21. Read with Allison #11 Green Cover
22. Sci and Nature # 13 Green Cover
23. Unruly Reader Bingo  #18 Elementary
24. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  New Beginnings
25. Read Around the US   ME
26. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge Jan

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 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

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 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 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”.

Up to No Gouda

 Up to No Gouda, by Linda Reilly, is like a warm comfort food cozy.  The descriptions of the Grilled Cheese sandwiches are wonderful and really add to the storyline.   The relationship between Carly and her employees feels authentic and precarious at times.  The struggle she is having to reconnect with her high school friend, Gina, as well as the others in the small town she grew up in feels realistic and something many can relate to-  think the Bon Jovi song Who Says You Can't Go Home.  I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series and hopefully many more to come.   

Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the foundation of this novel and the delicious descriptions of grilled cheese sandwiches are mouth watering. The mystery definitely had me questioning the guilt of some of the parties and kept me guessing until the bitter end. I liked the vulnerability of Carly and the development of her relationships with her employees and her HS friend. I appreciated the romantic interest is not a primary storyline but rather a side note. Made for a nice change from many cozies.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 75
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  VT
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge U
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #89
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #59
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #84
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #77
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-parking lot
• Weapon- statue
• Detectives- Carly Hale
• Victims- Lyle Bagley
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 89 Shot #1

I Must Betray You

 Although I Must Betray You is a Young Adult book by Ruta Sepetys I did not feel it was too immature to enjoy as an adult.  Like Salt to the Sea ( my review) and The Fountains of Silence ( my review) which I have read previously, I found this book to be informative.  It provides some depth into a historical event I was aware of but not in much detail.  I appreciate that Sepetys builds suspense and action into historical fiction.  I hope her works inspire younger readers to enjoy history and learn more about the past of not only our country but the global world around us.  

While this book provides a bleak look at the effects of communism in Romania it is inspiring to read about how Cristian and the others find a way to have their voices heard and to bring about change in their country.   It is hard to fault the bad guys for doing what they have done to survive.   Sepetys creates a narrative that fully captures the inability to trust anyone that is created by the regime.  There is quite a build-up to figuring out who is the guilty betrayer and it is a bit of a shock.   

Be sure to read the author's notes at the end as they provide a foundation of the realities of communism and a lack of freedom of speech.  I highly recommend this book, especially in light of what is going on in Ukraine currently.  It is easy for those of us in stable Democratic countries to forget just how tough like can be elsewhere in the world.  Our struggles, though real are all relative when compared to other nations.  

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an intense story. I am old enough to remember when this revolution happened in Romania and the wall came down. This story, although fiction is an amazingly well written story that combines romance, intrigue and suspicion. The story is well written and is engaging for readers of all ages. Lovers of historical fiction will enjoy this book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #53
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Romania
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  I
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 5 YA Book
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #64
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #64
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #8
8. Bookworm #35 Read a Psychological Thriller
9. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #17. Set in the 1980s
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #32 superheroes/villains OR character in disguise
11. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #18 Highly anticipated read
12. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #13. A book set in the 1980s
13. Pick your Poison #60 a new release you feel guilty reading because your TBR list is so long
14. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  "You"
15. Beyond the Bookends  YA Romance
16. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  Thriller
17. 52 books in 52 weeks  #8 hall pass