Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks

 This was a perfect read for me at this time of the year. The only downside was it made me want to go to the Disney parks RIGHT NOW.  The photographs and the stories do a phenomenal job of talking about and showing how the holidays are celebrated currently and in the past at the different parks around the world.  They discuss the different paths the decorations and events have taken and the pictures are absolutely amazing.  

Any Disney lover will find themselves smiling non-stop as they read this book.  

Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World from Fall to Winter by Rebecca Cline
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

wonderful photography that will make any Disney lover smile. This book focuses on the history and photo journalism of the fall and winter holidays as they are celebrated around the world. The photography is wonderful and the reader truly gets a sense of the magic and the stories behind making the different holidays shine in the parks

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #134
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #34 a book with illustrations
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #147
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #162
5. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #7 hobbies
6. Pick your Poison #22-3 A book you'd share with your child 
7. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge spanning multiple continents

Once Upon A Prince

 I am not generally a romance reader but I thoroughly enjoyed this Christian romance novel by Rachel Hauck.  The main characters Susannah and Nathaniel are very likeable characters who have had their hearts broken in the past.  They are both at points in their lives when they are faces decisions on how to move forward.  It is not at all convenient for them to fall in love with each other.   But the heart knows what it wants.  Their relationship is not without its bumps and interferences, but they way they handle the situations and the support they provide each other is wonderful to read.  So often books are full of flawed characters and relationships,  This is not a book where everything goes right all the time, in fact there are lots of impediments to them being together.  The reader is certainly cheering them on to succeed though.

I appreciated that the outcome was not the fairy tale ending that would have been so easy to write.  Rather, the Cinderella like story has some twists and the evil step mother and sister are well disguised.  All in all if you are looking for a book with a positive message and an underlying faith in God then you will enjoy this book.

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am not generally a romance reader but I enjoyed this book. I appreciated the depth of the principles of the main characters and their willingness to do what was the best for others rather than what would make them most happy. The growth Susannah experiences is apparent as is her relationship with God. Her conviction helps Nate reawaken his beliefs and trusts in God as well. I thought their spirituality felt authentic and not pushy or preachy as other reviewers have said. I also liked that the ending was not the predictable easy happily ever after that it so easily could have been.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #127
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #137
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #152
4. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #22 lost royalty 
5. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #9 A book with a family tree 
6. A Pretty Mess Challenge #9. Favorite book to movie 
7. Pick your Poison #6-1 A book about millennials 
8. Bookworm  #19.) Read a book with a form of royalty in the title
9. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Yes Georgia

The Picture of Dorian Gray

 Well  I must say that between my book club and the challenges I have read a number of books that I would not have chosen otherwise this year.  This book by Oscar Wilde certainly falls in that category.  There is a story that is captivating in itself but then there is a much deeper philosophical discussion going on within the book as well. You can definitely see the influence of Wilde's life and experiences in this work and it definitely feels like a great big stick it to the upper class of England  novel as well.  This is definitely a novel with layers and it feels like a gothic novel with some super natural elements as well.  If you are looking for a classic for the Halloween season this would be a good choice

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow is this book a bit creepy and deep. Definitely not a quick read but it is engrossing. Makes you stop and think about who is good and evil in the world. Definitely need to remember the era it was written in when reading it. A good classic that isn't necessarily heavily read.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #114
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #16 banned book 
3. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 3 friend recommendation 
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #121
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #135
6. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #12. A book you have seen on someone’s bookshelf
7. BooklistQueen   #16. Published in the 1800s 
8. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #8 written pre 1900
9. While I was Reading  #1 A book published before 2000
10. Pick your Poison #11-4 A book with a monster on the cover 
11. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #15 mentioned in a tv show or film 
12. Beyond the Bookends  mental health fiction

  

Steampunk Poe

 This is the first book I have ever truly DNF'd.   There have been other books I lost interest in and set aside to never have picked up again yet, but this one I made a conscience decision to stop reading.  I had selected this book to meet a prompt regarding steampunk.  I am still glad I did so as I thoroughly enjoyed looking through the book at all the illustrations.  I just could not adjust to Poe's reading style.  I tried several of the stories- Tell Tale Heart (reread),  The Masque of the Red Death, The Fall of the House of Usher and the poem the Raven.   I just struggled to read the language and finally decided to stop instead of forcing myself through the book just because it's a classic author and a book I picked up at the library.  Boy did it feel good to make that decision.

Steampunk: Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I must admit I ended up DNF thins book. I just could not get past the formal old style of writing. I tried reading 3 stories and several poems but just found myself not enjoying the reading. I gave this a 3 star because the steampunk illustrations were wonderful. I found myself lingering over the drawings and really seeing them relate to the stories Poe wrote. If you enjoy the classics and Poe this is a book worth checking out

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #110
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #49 written in verse
3. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge #  9 a classic 
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #117
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #131
6. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #13
7. BooklistQueen   #9 Poetry
8. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  - Shadow/ black cover
9. 52 books in 52 weeks  #3-4 steampunk

A Flock of an Alibi

 This was an anthology that I discovered through one of the author newsletters I receive.  Since it was free on Kindle Unlimited I decided to give it a try.  Each of the stories is a short novella cozy.   Some involve murder, others alternate types of crimes.  They all had the common theme of a flamingo as a central part of the story.   The short stories were a quick and enjoyable read and I will certainly try more books by the various authors.

A Flock of an Alibi by Verena DeLuca
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun flamingo featured anthology

Great variety of cozy novellas. Some funnier others more intentional in their mysteries. Hard not to end up with a smile while reading these stories all centered around the beautiful pink bird

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #43 anthology
2. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #75
3. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #111
4. Craving for Cozies  Book #93
5. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #9. AN ANTHOLOGY
6. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
7. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Row 4

Hotel room
Swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi

• Weapons
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Row 5
• Medicine or drugs

One of Us in Next

 The sequel to One of Us is Lying proved to be another wonderful read by Karen McManus.  This is the 3rd book I have read by her this year and I have thoroughly enjoyed them all.  She captures the angst and drama of the teen life very well.  These books truly make me glad I didn't grow up in the age of social media with all the drama it brings with it.  I also appreciate that my son is not that interested in broadcasting his life and feelings on the internet.  

McManus wrote another thrilling drama that keeps the reader guessing until the end and continues to show the dangers of gossip and social media when manipulated by those with unhealthy needs to toy with others, emotionally and physically.  This book is a wonderful sequel in that it has the same essence of a hidden puppeteer manipulating the teens of Bayview HS once again.  The characters at the center of the story were involved in the original thriller but were not the central characters in that novel.  Those characters from One of Us is Lying are included in this entry, but are more peripheral in general. 

 All in all these are well written YA books that keep the reader engaged while pointing out the all too realistic opportunities for abuse of social media.

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

high school continues to be a terrifying setting in this second book in the series. I sure am glad I didn't have social media when i went through high school . the mystery behind the new rumor driven truth or dare challenge is well constructed and keeps the reader in suspense until the end. There are plenty of good twists and turns and the life of a teen/young adult is depicted well in this book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #105
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #36 second book in a duology 
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #113
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #127
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #107
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #52 Re-Do One Of The Previous 51 Categories From This 2021 Challenge-  #1 set in a school
7. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #14 The Web: with a puppeteer figure
8. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Back to School
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• 
  
• Row 3
• Cliff, roof, high place
• Weapons
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Detectives- Maeve/Knox
• Victims- Brandon Weber
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #72  Shot #3

Icebound

I had read a preview about this book in a literary magazine.  It had intrigued me and thus I was quite happy when my book club chose to read this book in July.  I had started it much later than several members and they had indicated it was a dry read, kind of like reading a text book.  Needless to say, expectations were not high when I started it.  Turns out I liked it better than most.

I just focused on the story and didn't worry about keeping track of characters or the overall history of expeditions to the pole that the author frequently referred to.  This was one of the issues as the book was written from the captain's logs and would be telling a narrative when suddenly the author would switch to talk about other explorers at other periods of time.  Which while interesting facts, lead to a less flowing narrative.  

All in all I enjoyed the book and could find myself visualizing the landscape and the ocean as they were described in the book.  It wasn't written quite in the voice that reads like a novel such as when I read Bad Blood.  But if you enjoy history or travel this is a fascinating non fiction read about William Barents and his polar expeditions.     

Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World by Andrea Pitzer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting non fiction work

While there were times this NF work read like a research paper and took a bit to get into, I did like it. I read it like a story and didn’t try to keep all the names straight. It is a factual account of a historical event and as such there is not a lot of emotions expressed by people in the book. It is still possible to envision their possible emotions during their struggles but they are not explicitly written as the account is sourced from a captains log. If you like reading about risk takers and areas of the world that you haven’t visited this book will appeal to those interests


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #91
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #20 genre you never/rarely read
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #98
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #112
6. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #6. Oceanography
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #16 Set Before The 17th Century
8. Pick your Poison #16-4 A book with a map on the cover
9. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021 July – Book Set On An Island
10. 52 books in 52 weeks  #26 mushing

There There

 This debut novel by Tommy Orange has been on my TBR list since 2020.  I am glad I finally read this book and really enjoyed the story told in the work.  My biggest problem was in style and my difficulty  following the storyline as it switched between the different characters narrating the story.  I think some of this struggle was due to the fact I was listening to the book rather than reading.  If I had been reading a written edition, I could have switched back and forth to keep the characters straight in my head.

The other reason I only gave it a 2 1/2 star review was the ending.  I finished the book feeling like I had been dropped off a cliff.  There were so many unanswered questions regarding the fates of the characters.  Maybe this is a reflection of me as a reader and a need to feel like things are resolved and complete.  I left the book feeling like there was parts of the story missing.   I do think this does indicate I had a real interest in the characters and their lives.  I just want to know what happened to them.  

There There by Tommy Orange
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings about this book and would really have given it a 2 1/2 stars if possible. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and their stories and emotions. I liked the entire premise of the different people of Native American descent coming to the PowWow in Oakland each with their own motivations. The characters definitely interested me and drew me into their worlds and I found myself wanting to learn more about them. I just had a hard time with the erratic nature of the story line at times and struggled to keep the characters straight especially their relationships and their histories. I do think the fact I was listening to the book probably exaggerated this confusion. Perhaps in a written copy there is a character chart with their relationships to each other that helps keep the reader on track.
The other aspect of the book I found troubling was the ending. I felt like I was left without any resolution and a lack of knowledge of what became of the characters. I definitely think this feeling of frustration does attest to the degree to which I became invested in the characters and their stories. If I had not been engaged I probably wouldn't care so much about feeling like I was left hanging to know what became of the characters and their lives.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #89
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "O"
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #50 includes a 2nd person point of view
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #96
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #110
6. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #16. A book by an indigenous author
7. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #27. SAME FIRST INITIAL AS YOU
8. Pick your Poison #17-4 A book by an author whose name is a color
9. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  yes contemporary fiction
10. Backpacking Bookworm  #bbReadingChallenge2021  Indigenous author/characters
11. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge  book #10

Where'd You Go Bernadette

 

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Complex and entertaining

This book was bit different than I expected. I enjoyed the story and the complexities of the characters. I felt the author captured the quirkiness of an artistic soul quite well in Bernadette. The book illustrated the different takes on the same situations by different people quite well.
The reason I didn’t find it a 5 star is I found the storyline a little too erratic at times even when you realize who the narrator is it still felt a bit disjointed. Additionally there were a bit too many exaggerated stereotypes going on at times. While I do appreciate the factual descriptions of Antarctica, Seattle and Microsoft there were instances where it felt like every stereotype about techies and artists and private schools was a bit over the top. This did not keep me from enjoying the book at all, just from making it a 4 or 5 star read.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #79
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  WA
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #38 from your 2020 backlist
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #86
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #99
6. Humor  Book #6

The Kiss Quotient

I selected this as my Own Voices selection with really  know idea what it was like.  It was a bit different than expected but I did enjoy it.  I feel it resonated with me as we have a family member on the spectrum and it provided some insight into the internal struggles he faces.  

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Steamy and insightful

This is not your mothers rom com. Beware there are some details that might make you blush. It is definitely a steamy romance.

This book provides insight into the socialization struggles a woman on the spectrum can face. Stella is an endearing and complex character. You cannot help but root for her to find love. I admire that she realizes being herself is most important and you hope that others realize that too. Loved this book!

View all my reviews

  

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #74
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #47  brings out the geek in you
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #81
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #94
5. Humor  Book #5
6. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #7. The Spiral: by an ND person/with an ND MC
7. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  Romance
8. Beyond the Bookends  own voices book

21st Birthday

 

21st Birthday by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is full of twists and turns and crazy killers. The plot is well done but there were some editing inconsistencies where storylines aren’t consistent in the same scene and a case where the same paragraph is used 2 pages apart. It doesn’t ruin the story but keeps me from giving it a 4 star rating

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #70
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Women's Murder Club 21 
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #12 kept you up late reading
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #86
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Row 3
Bar, store, restaurant
Row 4
Hotel room

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• 
  
• Detectives- Teddy Fay
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #5a  Shot #5

Sharp Objects

 It feels like I was one of the last people to read Sharp Objects or any book by Gillian Flynn for that matter.   Wow is her book intense.  I listened to the audiobook and it is definitely not for public consumption.  If you are offended by language or sexual content you will want to avoid this book.  

It is a psychological thriller that has a cast of very blunt characters.  Camille is sent home to Missouri to cover a missing person's case involving a 10 year old girl.  The second tragic crime to happen in this very southern Missouri small town in less than a year.   Camille's return home it quite startling and it opens many old memories and insecurities.  Flynn definitely captures the cruelty of teenage girls especially in a small town that is divided by the wealthy and the working class.  She creates characters that are complex and unlikeable.  

Witnessing Camille struggle to fit into her family which consists of a very passive aggressive mother- Adora, a timid step father, Allan, and a half sister, Amma, she doesn't know is intense and heartbreaking at times.  Her personal struggles to deal with the loss of her younger sister, Marian when she was a 13 yr old and the resulting spiral of grief is intense.  

The mystery of the crimes is intense and is wrapped into glimpses of Camille's past, Amma's current duality of life and Adora's terrifying mothering.  The mystery has plenty of twists and turns and pokes fun at the small town stereotypes that come up in the characters.  An attempt to relieve the intensity of the psychological topic I would imagine.  

I am not sure whether I want to watch the show based on this book or not.  It could be very engaging but also disturbing.  I may need to watch though since I have managed to survive watching Riverdale and it has some similarities in topics.  Maybe on a hot summer day when hiding in AC I will try it out.  

I think I am interested in reading Gone Girl at some point but I do need to retreat to cozy mysteries and the lighter presentation for a bit before doing so.  

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an intense psychological thriller. If you are easily offended by sexual lingo/scenes or foul language then do not read this book. It is definitely not for the faint of heart as it deals with the murder of children but it is an amazing ride that takes the reader through dealing with abuse, self injury and the consequences of it all. The ending is a twisty one although I had my suspicions about the guilty party at times while reading. It was still a shocking ending.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #65
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes MO
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #46 good book, bad cover
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 2 controversial book
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #72
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #85
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #69
8. Bookworm  #10.) Read a book that's been turned into a TV series or a Movie
9. Pick your Poison #11-3 A book about something that scares you
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 4 Toe Tags
11. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge  Book #7

Oh Say Can You Fudge

 This is the next in the Mackinaw Island based series by Nancy Coco.  This time Allie finds herself in a mess around the 4th of July.  What a perfect read for the start of summer.  The series is so perfectly descriptive of the Mackinaw Island and all its charm and history.  Reading these books really makes me want to travel to the island.  Maybe we can tie a visit in with a college visit this summer.                              

Allie's character and her friendships with Jenn, Frances and Trevor continue to develop in this next installment of the series.  I love all the descriptions about Mal and the mischief she finds. This book highlights much of the traditions of the Island for the 4th of July and combines those wonderful features with a set of mysteries.  There is an explosion that may or may not relate to previous fires on the island.  The story weaves these mysteries together with life on the island in a very seamless way.   I really am enjoying this series.

If you are looking for a  wonderful cozy mystery series this is definitely one to try.  Now if you are trying to avoid candy and sweets, the fudge recipes may be a deal breaker :)

Oh Say Can You Fudge by Nancy CoCo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great mystery set in an iconic site

This book captures the history and traditions of Mackinaw Island so well. The mystery is well written and full of plot twists that are ultimately tied together well. The characters are endearing and their relationships grow with each book in the series. Perfect summer read as the season begins

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Candy Coated Mysteries #3
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #6 book you forgot you had
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #71
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #84
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #43
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #68
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #59
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Airplane or airport
• Weapons
• Row 3
• Bomb or explosion
• Detectives- Allie/Rex
• Victims- Rodney Rivers
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #19  Shot #3

Murder in Red

 Book #49 by the infamous Jessica Fletcher with the help of Jon Land was an entertaining installment set in Cabot Cove, ME.  I enjoyed the humor of the characters making fun of Cabot Cover being a murder magnet.  This was probably the least formulaic of the books I have read from the series in a while and I wonder if it is due to the difference in co-author.  Either way I found it quite enjoyable.  

This book incorporated some corporate and medical ethics queries into the plot line that are definitely relevant in today's society.  I appreciated that the topics were raised without preaching on them and while presenting both sides to the issue.  This story brought Jessica's friend, George Sutherland to town and incorporated him into the storyline along with Mort and Seth.  The book introduces a few other Cabot Cove residents as well.

All in all this was a good mystery with characters and storyline with depth.  If you are a fan of the TV show then you probably already like the books but I would recommend the series to any cozy mystery fan.

Murder in Red by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This installment in the murder she wrote series is more original than many of them. it definitely felt less formulaic and seemed like it was a probable plot line. I enjoyed reading it and finished it in one day. Always fun to read a book from the series

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #64
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Murder She Wrote #49
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #1 more than one author
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #70
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #83
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cozy Mysteries   #17 author collaboration
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #42
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #67
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #58
11. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #20 Made Into A TV Series
12. BooklistQueen   #19. A Book Turned Into a TV Series 
13. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #5 made into a tv/movie
14. Spells and Spaceships Big screen
15. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
16. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Library or bookstore
• Weapons
• Row 5
• Medicine or drugs
• Detectives- Jessica/Mort
• Victims- Mimi; Laurie Ann
17. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #12  Shot #4

The Henna Artist

 I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Alka Joshi.   It was principally set in Jaipur, India in the 1950s.  It is fascinating how Lakshmi had reinvented herself after fleeing her husband in a village.   She applied the knowledge her Saas (mother-in-law) taught her on how to use natural remedies for ailments. She also developed her artistic talents into masterful henna artistry and mandala designs.  Her business relationship with Samir Singh opened doors into his wife's social circle and allowed her to develop her business.  These relationships demonstrated the caste system at work as well as the different beliefs and professions deemed acceptable within each caste.  Lakshmi is from the Brahmin's which is one of the highest castes but her status as an estranged wife is a secret that keeps her from developing her relationships in society as fully as she would normally be able to do.

Joshi captures the tenuous relationship between Lakshmi and the wealthy ladies.   Also the story addresses the maneuverings of an arranged marriage between 2 prominent families that allows them both to improve their business and social standings.  It discusses the idea of marrying for love versus an arranged marriage.  It also talks a bit about dowries and the arrangements of marital residences relative to the parents.  

The book addresses unwanted pregnancies, infertility and the influence of spiritual  advisors that impacts the Maharaja, his family and familial decisions. Be advised there discussions/ plot lines having to do with termination of pregnancy through herbal concoctions so this may be disturbing to some readers.  The tradition of multiple wives and concubines are addressed briefly as well.   All in all it is a fascinating overview of the culture of India from 60 or so years  ago.

Additionally, their are relationship struggles between Lakshmi and her sister Radha as they become acquainted and settle into a sibling relationship while also being a custodial situation.   Radha experiences many of the typical teen adjustments but they are magnified by being an villager who finds herself a scholarship student at a prominent school.   This disparity only exacerbates her ability to fit in.  How she and Lakshmi handle the situation with the help of auntie Kanta is an interesting take on the timeless theme adolescent assimilation.  

All in all I enjoyed this book and can recommend it to those interested in reading historic fiction based in India.     

    

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating story full of culture and growth

This story was layered with characters and relationships that were both frustrating and wonderful. It was amazing to see Lakshmi develop her relationship with he sister Radha and Malik. The book showed some aspects of the caste system and socioeconomic differences specific to India but global as well. The growth of the characters and their realization of what is important is well written and powerful. I found myself hoping for happiness for the good people and forgiveness for those who need it

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #62
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #48 bought it for the cover
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #68
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #81
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #10
6. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #43. The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
7. Around the Year in 52 Books #7 A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list -- A book where the protagonist adheres to a religion that is not your own
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021   #44 Includes A Garden
9. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #21. BOUGHT BASED ON COVER
10. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021  May – Book Set In India
11. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Yes Southern Asia
12. Unruly Reader Bingo  #3 eye catching

The Sanatorium

 This is a very dark thriller by Sarah Pearse.  It is set in a remote area of forest in the Swiss Alps at a new ultra modern hotel built on the footprint of an old Sanatorium.   There are mysterious deaths that play a role in the plot and at times the reader can even question if there is supernatural aspects to the story.  

The lead detective is Elin, a UK detective on leave for PTSD and at the hotel to celebrate her brother, Isaac's engagement to Laure.  Unfortunately the weekend is far from the pleasant vacation she and her boyfriend, Will, were hoping for when they flew to Switzerland.  

The story has plenty of plot twists and drama that leads the reader to suspect many of the different characters of being the guilty killer.   The reader is easily talked into suspecting different people and honestly I thought I had figured it out at points and then was shown why I was wrong.  

The remote setting and snowstorm definitely play a vital role in the story.  I also felt as though the hotel itself was a character with its own history and major role in the story.   It definitely played a key role and the story would have been weaker without the weather and location.  

Elin is a character rift with self doubt and questions her relationships with her brother and Will.  We slowly learn about her physical and mental stress and how it affects her entire being.  She is portrayed as someone haunted by her past and is obsessed with seeking answers.  I think it was an accurate portrayal of someone who suffered a tragedy at a young age and never had proper treatment to deal with it.   It affects her whole life and relationships.  

The only real issue I had with the story was the conclusion. I am not sure of the purpose of the epilogue unless it is to provide a setup for a sequel.  Otherwise, it is a very large unanswered question to the story.

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book was good. I don't agree with the negative reviews but I understand where they were coming from. I think I didn't have as high of expectations as some of those readers so I didn't build myself up. The cover absolutely made me think of the Shining as did the description. There is a creepiness factor with the setting of blizzards and avalanches in a remote location in the Swiss Alps. The body count does rise and makes the story suspense grow.
Elin as the main character definitely comes across as a damaged character. Her full story is revealed to us as the plot goes along and some of it is more believable than others. Her relationships with her boyfriend and brother are definitely not perfect and the story demonstrates that.
Pearse provides many different potential villains and each make sense in their own right. As a reader I kept thinking it has to be this person, they don't seem the most obvious. In the end the true culprit is revealed and while the motivation behind their crimes is a bit weak, the explanations make sense and are given but this is why I gave it a 3 instead of a 4 star rating. There is an epilogue that completely confused me though, not sure if it's a set up for a sequel or just meant to leave you wondering.


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #42
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   Switzerland
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #39 book where the woods/forest are important
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 18 gothic novel
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #50
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #58
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #42
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #16. A book with a building in the title
9. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #2. The Buried: a Bottle Episode (set in a single room/place)
10. Pick your Poison #12-4 A book from a celebrity favorite list
11. Medical Examiner Challenge   4 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 4

Hotel room
Swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi

• Row 3
• Drowning, water, ice
• Detectives- Elin
• Victims- Dennis/Margot/Laure/Adele
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #17 ice or snow bound

Daisy Jones and the Six

 This mockumentary interview style book was an unexpected gem.  I really wasn't sure what to expect especially given all the hype the book has received.  

Taylor Jenkins Reid did a wonderful job of creating a realistic story of a band from the 70s.  It is so realistic if you google you will find just how many people thought they were a real band.  The format of interviewing the different band members and telling a retrospective of the bands formation and subsequent dissolution is quite a unique approach and very entertaining.  

I listened to the audiobook and can highly recommend that format.  Each character is voiced by a different person.  This really made it feel like a documentary that you would find on MTV.   There are even a few surprise twists at the end.  All is all it is a great look at the personalities and dynamics of rock and roll in the 1970s- including all the sex and drugs.  Definitely has mature topics that are not camouflaged.   I found this to be one of my best reads of the year so far.  

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an unexpected find and I highly recommend the audiobook for it. The book is written like a biographical interview of band members years after their career. The book is so well developed that it seems like a real band and there are plenty of google searches to show that many feel it is a real band. The style is unique and worked perfectly. It was a book that made me think of the MTV where are they now or rockumentaries. There are times you cannot stand some of the characters and you wish they could get their lives sorted out. It was easy to get invested in the characters and to feel as though they were real people. There are even some twists at the ending that surprise the reader. Highly recommend this book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #40
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #18 all about the music
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #48
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #54
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #7
6. Around the Year in 52 Books #38. A book related to a word given by a random word generator- Dad
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #42 An Epistolary
8. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #21. Piper: music is a plot element
9. Bookworm  #54.) Read a book that takes place in the 1960s
10. Pick your Poison #26-2 A book about self care or recovery
11. Diversify your reading #DYRC21 hist fiction
12. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge #2

Theater Nights are Murder

 This cozy in the Poppy McAllister series is a fun and often funny mystery.   The mystery itself is well structured and I was genuinely surprised by the reveal of who was the murderer. Beyond the story though the character representations are hysterical.  Poppy's Aunt Ginny and her friends get into enough trouble to give anyone gray hairs and they draw Poppy into more trouble than she wants- she had no intention of investigating Duke's death.  Some of their escapades made me truly laugh out loud especially during the production of Mamma Mia.   If you are looking for a good cozy series with funny characters in good mysteries then this series by Libby Klein is one you should definitely check out.  

 

Theater Nights Are Murder by Libby Klein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A humorous cozy with lots of yummy recipes. Poppy Macallister, her Aunt Ginny, and the biddies are up to al sorts of trouble again in this 4th book in the series. The seniors in town are putting on a production of Mamma Mia but the drama on the stage isn’t all the drama. There’s romantic rivalries, family drama and a suspicious death to contend with. Poppy is a great lead character that seems like a normal 30something trying to get by in life and have a life. She is very relatable and her antics trying to wrangle her Aunt and her friends are enough to put anyone over the edge. The story is a great mystery mixed with humor and a lot of realistic issues people face as we grow older. Looking forward to reading more of the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #34
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Poppy McAllister #4
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #35 WTF plot twist
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #42
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #47
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 13
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #34
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #28
9. Humor  Book #3
10. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #50. PROTAGONIST STARTING WITH G
11. Pick your Poison #16-1 A book with a sword on the cover 
12. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
13. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3
• Cliff, roof, high place
• Weapons
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Detectives- Poppy/Ginny
• Victims- Duke
14. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #21  Shot #4