Showing posts with label #LibraryLoveChallenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #LibraryLoveChallenge. Show all posts

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Library Reads 25

  

 Library Love Challenge



 #LibraryLoveChallenge


I am going to participate in this challenge again in 2025.    It is being hosted at Angel's Guilty Pleasures and Books of My Heart.     They are doing 3 semester challenges and mini-challenges with giveaways if you review the books you read.  

Winter Semester will run Jan 1- Apr 30, 2025  The linkup  to record your reading can be found here 

Summer Semester is May 1- Aug 31, 2025

Autumn Semester Sept 1- Dec 31, 2025

Mini challenges-  audiobook from June 1- July 31 

Check out the sign-up by clicking here or on the logo above.  They have a Goodreads group to join and see what everyone is reading.

This one has a minimum of 12 books from the Library to be read in 2025.  The only requirement is you check it out from the library, no restrictions on format or genre.   Just support your local library.

I get most of my books from my TBR pile or the Library so this challenge along with the TBR ones are perfect for me.  I admit I do not buy books very often if I can find them at the library or in their ebook catalog.  I do have a Kindle Unlimited account which I use for additional titles.  I prefer to not collect more books in the house as I am trying to slowly downsize our possessions.  


Library Books  


Progress: 89/60
Tracking my reads  here on blog checkin 



  1.  Golden Hour by Brett Battles
  2. Bound for Murder by Victoria Gilbert
  3.   Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena
  4.  When We Left Cuba (The Perez Family, #2) by Chanel Cleeton
  5.  Yeast of Eden (Pancake Cafe #4) by Sarah Fox
  6. The Solace of Bay Leaves (Spice Shop #5) by Leslie Budewitz
  7. And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps
  8. The Spook in the Stacks (Lighthouse Library #4) by Eva Gates
  9. Stiffs and Swine (Supper Club #4) by Ellery Adams
  10. The Double Helix (Explorer Academy #3) by Trudi Trueit
  11. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving 
  12. Evil by the Sea ( By the Sea #4) by Kathleen Bridge
  13. Spaced Out (Moon Base Alpha #2) by Stuart Gibbs
  14. Manchester Christmas by John Gray
  15. One Potato, Two Potato, Dead by Lynn Cahoon
  16. The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas 
  17. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
  18. A Fatal Feast (Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery, #6) by Kathleen Bridge
  19. Have a Deadly New Year (Farm-to-Fork #3.5) by Lynn Cahoon
  20. Dog Man (Dog Man #1) by Dav Pilkey
  21.  The Battered Body (Supper Club Mystery, #5) by Ellery Adams
  22. Crepe Expectations (Pancake House #5) by Sarah Fox
  23.  In the Dog House ( Dog Club #1) by V M Burns
  24. Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson
  25. Petals and Poison by Jess Dylan 
  26. Love from Paddington (Paddington #14) by Michael Bond
  27. Silent Nights are Murder by Libby Klein
  28. Seinfeldia by  Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
  29.  Caught Bread Handed by Ellie Alexander
  30. A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin
  31. The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
  32. The Next Deadly Chapter by V.M. Burns
  33. Pleading the Fish (Seaside Cafe #7)  by Bree Baker
  34. Death on Tap (Sloan Krause #1) by Ellie Alexander
  35. Beagles Love Muffin but Murder (Beagle Diner #3)  but Murder by CA Phipps
  36. Sleep in Heavenly Pizza (Deep Dish #4)  by Mindy Quigley
  37. The Star Dunes (Explorer Academy #4) by Trudy Trueit 
  38. Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson
  39.  You Belong to Me by Mary Higgins Clark
  40.  Smolder (Stone Barrington # 65) by Stuart Woods and Brett Battles
  41. It Had to Be You (Under Suspicion #8) by Mary Higgins Clark
  42. Partners in Lime: A Beachfront Cozy Mystery (Seaside Café Mysteries Book 6) by Bree Baker
  43. Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) (Vera Wong, #2) by Jesse Q Sutanto
  44. Gnomeo and Juliet Junior Novelization by 
  45. Murder, She Wrote: Death on the Emerald Isle (Murder, She Wrote #56) by Jessica Fletcher
  46. Pudding Up With Murder (Undercover Dish Mystery #3)
  47. Brie Careful What You Wish For (Grilled Cheese #4 ) by Linda Reilly
  48. Dominoes, Danzon and Death (Caribbean Kitchen #4) by Raquel V Reyes
  49. 25 Alive (Women’s Murder Club #25) by James Patterson
  50. Private Berlin (Private Europe Book 3) by James Patterson
  51. You Feta Watch Out (Grilled Cheese Mysteries #5) by Linda Reilly
  52.  Death of an Irish Druid (Dublin Driver Mysteries #6) by Catie Murphy
  53.  Deck the Halls with Fudge (Candy Coated Mysteries #5.5) by Nancy Coco
  54.  Murder on Tour (Mystery Bookshop #9) by VM Burns
  55. Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early
  56. Twelve Slays of Christmas (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery, #1) by Jacqueline Frost
  57. Sandwich by Catherine Newman
  58. Stuart Woods' Finders Keepers (Stone Barrington #66)   by Brett Battles
  59.  Boston Scream Murder (Deputy Donut Mystery, #4) by Ginger Bolton
  60. Murder at a Cape Bookstore (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery, #5 ) by Maddie Day
  61. Four Charming Spells (Kitchen Witch Mysteries, #4) by Lynn Cahoon
  62.  Tea & Treachery (Tea by the Sea, #1) by Vicki Delany 
  63. The Arctic Fury by Greer McAlister
  64. Robot Revenge (Winston Wong, #2) by JJ Chow
  65.  The Pint of No Return (Sloan Krause #2) by Ellie Alexander10/12/25
  66. Death Overdue (The Haunted Library Mysteries, #1) by Allison Brook 10/16/25
  67.  Dead-End Detective (Piper and Porter Mystery #1) by Amanda Flower
  68.  Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston  by Jessica Fletcher
  69.  Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum  by Michael J Fox
  70. A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen
  71.  Mystery In Rocky Mountain National Park (National Park Mystery #1) by Aaron Johnson
  72.  The Chow Maniac (Noodle Shop Mystery, #11)  by Vivien Chien
  73.  Hounding a Killer (A Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery, #2) by Kallie E Benjamin
  74.  You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa
  75.  The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys
  76.  Party of Liars  by Kelsey Cox 
  77.  Nutcracker Nightmare (Killer Chocolate, #2) by Christina Romeril
  78.  Waste of Space by Stuart Gibbs
  79. Edam and Weep (Grilled Cheese Mysteries #6) by Linda Reilly
  80.  The Bride Test (The Kiss Quotient, #2) by Helen Hoang
  81. The Perfect Staging for Murder (Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery #7) by Kathleen Bridge
  82. Stories from Candyland: Confections from One of Hollywood's Most Famous Wives and Mothers by Candy Spelling
  83. The Woman in Suite 11 (Lo Blacklock, #2) by Ruth Ware
  84. Just Add Water: My Swimming Life by Katie Ledecky
  85. You Can't Joke About That: Why Everything Is Funny, Nothing Is Sacred, and We’re All in This Together by Kat Timpf
  86. Stuart Woods' Blown Away (Teddy Fay #8) by Brett Battles
  87. Uptown Girl: A Memoir by Christie Brinkley
  88. Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret (Ernest Cunningham, #3) by Benjamin Stevenson
  89. In the Water They Can't See You Cry: A Memoir by Amanda Beard

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Monday, October 30, 2023

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 RedneckDeath 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

View all my reviews


 



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
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Pink Lemonade Cake Murder

 I must agree with many of the online reviews that point out the weaknesses in this latest installment of the Hannah Swensen series.  After 29 books you'd expect the books to have some formulation to them but this one just felt forced.   There are many aspects of the story that feel as though they have just been dropped into the plot with no real reason.  Stella is introduced as though we should know who she is and I don't recall her in any previous stories.  Hannah and her sisters are still involved in solving mysteries and baking which is fine.  I do wish Hannah would just hurry up and decide to marry instead of just continuing to lead him along.  I am hoping this is the outcome of the twist at the end of the story and the introduction of Stella as a character.  Hopefully the next book won't be too trite and will provide a conclusion to the series.  



Pink Lemonade Cake MurderPink Lemonade Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this latest Hannah Swenson novel. It felt a bit fresher than several of the more recent ones I only gave it 3 stars though because there were times the story line felt a bit erratic. The whole side plot of Mikes desire to retire was a bit odd at times. Stella is introduced into the story as though she’d been part of a previous story but I dont remember her. Also that plot line felt contrived at times. Almost like. Tv show where they are trying to write off a character and bring in new ones. The mystery is well constructed and there’s definitely a cliff hanger that makes readers anxious for the next Installment. Hopefully it wont be too long though since the teaser chapter is from a whole different series from this one

View all my reviews


Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

  1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  106
  2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  88 
  3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series:18  Book #1
  4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 29
  5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
  6. What an Animal Book #40
  7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #97
  8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #53
  9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #82
  10. Craving for Cozies  Book #70
  11. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
  12. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #32 A book that comes out in the second half of 2023
  13. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  October: True Crime/Mystery
  14. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge  October 18 - Danger Zone
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Fatal Fudge Swirl

 Fatal Fudge Swirl is set in Penniman, CT, and is based around an ice cream shop.  This particular one is based upon a socialite wedding at Halloween.  Of course, there is a murder and a list of suspects a mile long.  Instead of focusing on ice cream making the crew of the shop ends up investigating the murder.  As a backdrop to the story, there is a movie being filmed that is loosely modeled on the Hallmark channel movies.  Lots of references to repeat appearances by actors and actresses and the rom-com-type approach to the stories depicted in the movies.   This aspect of the story involves Sprinkles in a major role allowing the outcast cat show feline to strut her stuff.  Allen captures the personality of a cat in a very lifelike manner in this book.   I realized as I was reading this book I had forgotten to read book 2 in the series so I am going back and catching up on that one now.  I can say there isn't much in the way of spoilers in this book so if a reader wanted to have a seasonal read they can jump in with this book.  


Fatal Fudge SwirlFatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fine book that will appeal especially to Halloween and fall lovers. The ice cream flavors will make your mouth water if you’re not careful. The mystery is quite well laid out and not super obvious. I like how there is some historic significance included in the book since it is set in Connecticut. Looking forward to reading more in 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 #  105
  2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  87 
  3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series:17  Book #1
  4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 3
  5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
  6. What an Animal Book #39
  7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #96
  8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #52
  9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #81
  10. Craving for Cozies  Book #69
  11. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
  12. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  October: True Crime/Mystery
  13. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  OCTOBER- Spellbinding or Spooktacular
  14. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge  October 18 - Danger Zone
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Sunday, October 29, 2023

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 MurderMeddling 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

View all my reviews


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
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Double Trouble in Iowa

 Double Trouble in Iowa is the second Izzie Lewis book by Wendy Byrne.   I started this series when I was looking for a book set in Iowa for the literary escapes challenge last year.  Izzie has become less shallow since we first met her in book one which made the story a bit more enjoyable.  The grannies are still a crazy crew and definitely provide comedic relief for the books.  I am looking forward to reading the next mystery to see what antics the ladies all find to get into.  


Double Trouble in IowaDouble Trouble in Iowa by Wendy Byrne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read with lots of quirky characters. There are two storylines in this book and I enjoyed that. I did find the one a bit abrupt of a conclusion but did appreciate how all the different events were connected to this investigation vs the one of the murder. I think because I read the book over a period of time I did have trouble following who all the characters were especially the suspects. Overall it is a fun series 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 #  103
  2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   85
  3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  IA
  4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
  5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
  6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #94
  7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #71
  8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #50
  9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #77
  10. Craving for Cozies  Book #67
  11. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
  12. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  October: True Crime/Mystery
  13. Read Your Bookshelf October: The book will start with the first letter of the author’s last name from your September book.
  14. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge October 18 - Danger Zone
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Saturday, October 28, 2023

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 KnitsWhile 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


View all my reviews


 



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
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Wednesday, August 16, 2023

The Plot and the Pendulum

 

The Plot and the Pendulum is the 13th installment in Jenn McKinlay's  Library Lovers mystery series.  It has been fun to watch the characters and their relationships grow with the series.   It is like visiting old friends when reading it.   I appreciate that there are fresh storylines and they don't all feel like a formulaic read.   

This particular book has some atmospheric vibes as it is set around Halloween and there is the question of whether the house they are visiting is haunted.   This book felt very much like an adult version of a Nancy Drew book;  that is not an insult in my opinion.

I hope to keep reading about Lindsay and Sully for a good while.  


The Plot and the PendulumThe Plot and the Pendulum by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read with some spooky seasonal elements. This is a case of an old mystery being solved today. There are quite a few twists and turns and attempts to cast suspicion on others. I enjoy reading about the daily activities as well as the mystery solving aspects in these books


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. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  76 
  3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  CT
  4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 13  Book #1
  5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 13
  6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
  7. What an Animal Book #34
  8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #85
  9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #42
  10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #70
  11. Craving for Cozies  Book #59
  12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 69 Shot #3
  13. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
  14. Read Your Bookshelf   August: A book that is the same genre as your July book.
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