Clearing the Piles

  Once again I am doing several challenges to help clear the ever growing TBR pile.  

Some of the TBR challenges refer to physical books I own and others have to do with clearing the list of Want to Read and Library borrows that I am always seeming to add to as well.  

First up are 2 hosted by Bev on her MyReadersBlock blog.  

Mount TBR-   #MountTBR2025  books you already own before 1/1/25  Goodreads group

 Challenge Levels:

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s-  <== Trying this
Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro*: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s (*aka Cerro El Toro in South America)
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

The Rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. You are welcome to voyage further and conquer taller mountains after your commitment is met. 

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2023

*Audiobooks and E-books may count provided they are yours prior to January 1. ARCs are also fine.

Virtual Mount TBR-  #VirtualMountTBR2025 Clear your want to read list   Goodreads group

 Challenge levels:

Mount Rum Doodle: Read 12 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Crumpit: Read 24 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Munch: Read 36 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library  
White Plume Mountain: Read 48 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Stormness Head: Read 60 books from you Virtual TBR/Wish List Library
Mount Mindolluin: Read 75 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library  <== Trying this
Mount Seleya: Read 100 books 
Mount Olympus: Read 150+ books 

~Once you choose your challenge level you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find you are on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are welcome to upgrade. All books counted for lower mountains carry over towards the new peak.

This challenge is only for books you do not own. They may be borrowed from the library, a friend, found on a free e-book site (like Project Gutenberg), or anywhere else that allows you to temporarily "checkout" the book. Also--unlike Mount TBR--there is no date limit on your wish list. If you see a book that strikes your fancy after January 1 and want to grab it from the library, etc. then go for it.

  This is a straightforward challenge to just track books that are on your to read list- whether or not you actually own them.  Only requirement is that it must be published before 2024 and be on your list at the beginning of the challenge. Not sure if this challenge is being hosted this year or not.  

I found a new TBR challenge last year that is hosted by    Rose City Reads.  The goal is to read 25 books off your TBR this year.  This will obviously coordinate with the others   Link Reviews here

One additional Backlist based challenge is hosted by the Book Girls  They have called it the In Case You Missed It challenge and you will read a book each month from the last 12 years.  So Jan is 2013 and Dec 2024.  They have curated lists of recommendations as well.  I will note the book for the particular year when listing it below.

Death of a Country Fried Red Neck

 

Another interesting installment from the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails series.  The book is full of recipes both for meals and cocktails.   There is a bit of a weakness in some of the feasibility of the plot line but overall it is entertaining

Death of a Country Fried Redneck by Lee Hollis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

entertaining cozy

Hayley Powell is quite a unique narrator. Her actions in normal circumstances seem pretty typical despite finding herself mixed up in a murder investigation however her columns for the paper are quite a different story. She’s funny and quirky in those. This makes for a fun personality in the story. While I did find the outcome of the story a bit extreme I’m not sure it is impossible to imagine this being a reaction to one’s lifestyle being threatened. Be sure to read to find out what I mean

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  107
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #89   
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
5. What an Animal Book #41
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #98
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #73
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #54
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #83
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #71
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 50 Shot #3
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
13. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  October: True Crime/Mystery
14. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  OF
15. Read Your Bookshelf  October: The book will start with the first letter of the author’s last name from your September book.
16. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge October 18 - Danger Zone

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

While My Pretty One Knits

While My Pretty One Knits by Anne Canadeo, is the first book in a new series to me.   The book is based around a knitting group in Massachusetts.   A former student experiencing success decides to pay a visit to the Black Sheep Shop and do a presentation.   Unfortunately, a rival shop owner's death casts a pall over the event.  The knitting group gets involved in the investigation when their friend becomes a person of interest.   The story is well composed and if you are interested in learning about knitting this is a great source for you as a reader.   I look forward to reading more in the series in the future.

While My Pretty One Knits by Anne Canadeo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. The ensemble characters are well mixed with different personalities that makes it engaging. I will say I suspected who did it very early on but didn’t know the why until the story unfolded. The mystery has lots of red herrings and circumstantial evidence pointing at multiple culprits. There are plenty of knitting techniques and patterns discussed that I’m sure will greatly appeal to knitters. Looking forward to more of 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 #  102
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  84 
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
5. What an Animal Book #38
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #93
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #70
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #49
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #78
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #66
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #109  Shot #1
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
13. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge October 18 - Danger Zone

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

 Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is the 2nd book by Taylor Jenkins Reid that I have read.  I have enjoyed both of the books.   The prior read was an audiobook of Daisy Jones and the Six.  I plan to read another one of Reid's books later this year- Carrie Soto is back.  

Evelyn Hugo is a fun book that is based on the life of a Hollywood starlet.   The story is reputed to be loosely based on Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner and  Rita Hayworth's lives.  I enjoyed how on the surface it is a fun and engaging book with snippets of the life of the famous.  There are deeper topics covered within the story.  

Additionally, the format of the book is a somewhat different approach.  Monique is called by Evelyn Hugo to hear her life's story and publish the biography upon Evelyn's death.   The book delves into both of their characters and what drives their personalities.  The reader is not really sure whether they should like Evelyn or dislike her.  Evelyn believes she lived her life as true as possible given the circumstances of her fame.   She doesn't regret her decisions and says she would do it all again.   It is hard to be sure if that would really be the case but it certainly makes for a polarizing character in the story.  

If you are looking for a relatively light read that does address deeper issues and gets you to think this is a great choice for you.  

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

very engaging read. hard to put down

Jenkins Reid certainly addresses some questions about people and how they define their truths to themselves. Evelyn Hugo was viewed by the public as an icon and celebrity this book shows the cost and benefits of this fame. If you ever wish you were famous this book will make you think twice about having the world wanting to know your business. And this was before social media

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  92
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 75  
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #84
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #65
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #6
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #  25 A Fashionable Character
7. 52 books in 52 weeks  #22 book to movie
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #49. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2022 or 2023  
9. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #14. Recommended by a Librarian
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #14  a character is lost royalty
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #11 A book about or set in Hollywood
12. Pick your Poison  # 67 A book you want to dive into
13. Diversify your reading #DYRC23   August: Contemporary Fiction
14. Read Around the US   Aug California
15. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge  July 19 - Opposites Attract

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

View all my reviews

 

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!

  

saint x

 I selected Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin because I needed a full-cast audiobook for the month of July for one of my challenges.   Saint X looked like an intriguing read and thus I selected it.  I'm glad I did as it was an engaging suspense novel with some depth in characters.  The motivation behind people's actions and desire to seek the truth is well-plotted and interesting.  While this is a tragic mystery behind the death of Alison, while on vacation in Saint X the book feels more about the discovery of who her sister is, who Clive is, and what really happened on that day of Jan in the 1990s.  

The book does jump around time frames so if you don't like that style this is not a book for you.   I really enjoyed the narration and think it contributed to my decision to give this book 4 stars.  If you are looking for a suspense novel with minimal graphic descriptions this is a good choice. 

Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an intriguing novel with suspense throughout. But in a nice balance, there was plenty of character depth. I listened to the audio and it was a great read with a full cast doing the narration. The story moves between different time periods quite well. There were fluid shifts with the story starting out focusing on the past (1990s) and then current day. In the present time the narrators reflected back on their past this connecting the 2 periods of time plus Clive’s childhood. This book built the suspense well and had a very surprising ending

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  89
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  73 
3. Audiobook  #2023AudiobookChallenge 16
4. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  X
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #81
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #63
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #67
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
9. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #2. 2023 ADAPTATION
10. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #20 A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023
11. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 8 Made Into A Series Or Movie
12. Beyond the Bookends  June- Listen to a full-cast audiobook

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.

View all my reviews

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 

Moon Spinners

 

This is the 3rd Seaside Knitters mystery by Sally Goldenbaum.  I am glad it wasn't the first because I might have given up on the series.  Moon Spinners started out a bit slowly and I found many of the characters were easy to confuse.  Both names and relationships were a bit indistinguishable at times.  For those who are interested in knitting, there are plenty of references to the craft.  I also appreciate how there is a relationship formed over the craft and it is utilized as means for healing.   The characters are relatable and it is easy to root for them as the story progressed.  The mystery was well thought out and developed.   The clues and structure are well done.  

Moon Spinners by Sally Goldenbaum
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the book but for some reason had trouble getting engaged. i also felt a bit lost at times because the character names kept getting muddled in my attempts to follow the story. I enjoyed the motive and twists of the mystery it was just a bit less fluid of a read for me than the others I have read so far

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 84 
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  68 
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 3
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #76
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book # 61
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #37
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #62
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #54
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 46 Shot #3
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
12. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #46 Script Font on the Spine
13. Around the Year in 52 Books #38. A book with the sun, moon, or stars on the cover
14. Cozy Mysteries   #6 Sun, Moon, or Stars on the cover

The Unhoneymooners

 This is the 3rd book by Christina Lauren that I have read.  The Unhoneymooners like the others is an entertaining book that has some deeper character development/reflection than many rom-com books.  Olive and Ethan find themselves in a comical situation due to circumstances beyond their control.  It leads to many funny and somewhat predictable moments which are enjoyable to read about.  

 I felt many emotions about the different characters and I could relate to how different situations are perceived based upon our own notions.  It is easy for 2 people to have 2 very different perspectives of what occurred in the same moment.  I think of it like the saying, every story has 2 sides and then there's the truth.   Humans tend to look at things from our own perspectives and our own experiences affect how we see/interpret something.   Thus, preconceived notions or other people's opinions can affect how we feel about a given situation.  This book is full of those between Olive and Ethan.  It makes for a very good enemies-to-lovers and back-to-enemies storyline.   Family allegiance also plays a very strong role in the plot as well.   Overall I enjoyed the book and would like to read the follow-up story to it.

 

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable enemies to lovers rom com with a twist. The expected outcome is not what happens making for a great plot. The characters and their sibling relationships are well thought out and plausible. Anyone with a big extended family will laugh and find many relatable moments. I definitely found myself wanting to travel to Hawaii after reading this book.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  83
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   67
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #75
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #60
5. Humor  Book #3
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #38 An Enemies to Lovers Plot
7. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #52. Holiday Romance
8. Pick your Poison  # 34 A book with a word in the title that rhymes with moon or "moony"

A Souffle of Suspicion

 A Souffle of Suspicion is the 2nd book in the French Bistro series by Daryl Wood Gerber.   It is set in Napa with Mimi Rousseau as the main character.   She is the young woman who owns a bistro as well as the Inn next door.   The 2 businesses keep her busy enough prior to the inn playing host to a Sweets Festival.  The addition of a dead body into the picture just further complicates the matter.  The subsequent investigation into the death leads Mimi to question the motives and alibis of many local residents.  The mystery is well-structured and the crime ends up being resolved in a manner that makes sense and believable.  Unfortunately, I do not think this series will be continued as there hasn't been another published in this series since this one in 2018.   This is too bad as there are definitely some cliffhangers in the storyline regarding the personal lives of the characters.  Hopefully, the author returns to this series after focusing on other series she is currently writing.  

 

A Soufflé of Suspicion by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read set on the Napa Valley area. Foodies will love the delicious meals described and the recipes included on the book. The mystery is well written with Mimi going back and forth on suspecting the different possible guilty parties. Her reasons and queries are laid out in a way the reader can readily follow. Not sure if there will be more in the series but I hope so

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  82
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   66
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series:11  Book #1
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 = 3
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #74
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #59
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #36
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #61
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #53
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 44 Shot #6
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
13. HP Quidditch 23 #16 Beater: Includes a competition

The Mother in Law

 The Mother In Law, by Sally Hepworth is an ebook I have had on my Kindle for a while.  I uncovered it when I went looking for a thriller set in Australia in order to fulfill prompts from different challenges using the same book as the month was nearing an end.  This book has quite an intriguing set of characters and a suspenseful story based in Melbourne.   The story bounces back and forth between the present when the matriarch of the family has passed away and into the past at different times to set the stage for the story.    The book grabbed my attention enough to stay up until 2am to finish it on the 2nd day of reading.  I plan to look into other books by Hepworth.  

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this thriller set in Australia. I liked both the suspenseful storyline and the characters developed in the story. The family dynamics in the story are very relatable to many readers I am certain. There are background stories that all weave together to tell a story of relationships and death.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  77
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2023  Book # 8
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #57
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #58
5. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #105  Shot #1
6. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
7. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #23 recommended by a bookseller
8. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #8. Book that is set in the decade you were born in 
9. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #26. RECOMMENDED BY BOOKSTORE
10. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #21 A book set in the decade you were born
11. Pick your Poison  # 24 A standalone book
12. Read with Allison #17 Bookstore Recommendation:
13. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Jun Set in Australia
14. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  June: Thriller

Mai Tai One On

 I found this book on my library Hoopla site.   I was looking for a fun sounding cozy and it seemed to fit the bill.  Mai Tai One On is a Tiki Goddess mystery by Jill Marie Landis and is set in Kauai.   What's not to love about tropical island settings.   The characters grew on me as the book went along.  Many of them have pasts they are keeping hidden from most people and this leads to some confusion and misdirection.  The mystery was plotted well and had some twists that were unexpected.  I plan to read the rest of the series since it felt like a vacation while reading it.   

I will note that this book had a bit more spice with nudity and drug references that aren't usually found in cozy mysteries so readers be aware.  This would not be a book to have your young reader move onto after Nancy Drew.  

 

Mai Tai One On by Jill Marie Landis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyable cozy set in paradise. a group of misfits star in this book. The descriptions of Kauai and the tropical venue is a fun read. This cozy is a bit edgier than most with some Marijuana references and some nudity detailed. The mystery was intriguing and I liked how the story incorporated Hawaiian language and customs

I’m will continue to read 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 #  74
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  62 
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  HI
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
6. What an Animal Book #26
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #67
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #55
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #33
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #56
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #49
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #104  Shot #1
13. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
14. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 3 Hawaii
15. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  June Take the Plunge- set around water
16. Read Your Bookshelf June: The title for your June book will have half as many letters as your May title  11 vs 22

Masking for Trouble

 Masking for Trouble is the 2nd book in the Costume Shop series by Diane Vallere.  I enjoy reading about the quirky character Margo and her affinity for dressing in character and costumes.  This story highlights the struggles Margo is facing as she transitions into her role as the manager of her family's costume store.  This book is perfect for those who enjoy small town stories and particularly if you like Halloween.  

Masking for Trouble by Diane Vallere
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable cozy especially for those who love costumes and Halloween. Margo is a likeable character who is unsure of her capabilities and thus has doubt. She is growing into her role as shop many but still has trouble defining boundaries in other aspects of her life. Her independence gets her mixed up in another murder in Proper City. This time she has trouble determining who’s guilty until it’s almost too late. The story is a great mystery with some character growth and development of various relationships thrown in to Round it out.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #72  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   60
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  NV
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #65
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #53
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #31
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #54
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #47
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 91 Shot #2
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags 

A Murder Like No Author

 A Murder Like No Author is the 3rd book in the Main Street Book Club series by Amy Lillard.  This is a cozy series with intriguing characters full of Southern charm.   The mystery is constructed well and it is easy to see how the investigation by the book club members is exasperating to Arlo.   The character development has grown through the different books in the series.   My only reason this isn't a 4 star read is the frivolity of the romance triangle is a bit over-dramatic at times.  Also, it seems like Arlo would have been more concerned with the outcome of the date at the premier than the story ended up representing.  I am not sure if the series continues as this book was published in 2021 and there is no indication that there is another installment in the works.  

A Murder Like No Author by Amy Lillard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is enjoyable and the mystery is well developed. I like the quirky characters but the love triangle aspect is getting a bit drawn out over the books. Also after making a big deal of a date we never find out how it went due to the action of the murder solution so this left me hanging and frustrated. Overall a charming series set in MS

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  73
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  61 
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  MS 
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 10 Book #1
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 3
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
7. What an Animal Book #25
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #66
9. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #54
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #32
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #55
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #48
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 62 Shot #3
14. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags