Violeta

 Violeta by Isabel Allende was a selection for my book club this year and it fit several prompts for different challenges perfectly.  This was my first book by Allende and I will be reading more works by her in the future for sure.  Overall I really liked the way she combines character development and story action.  My only real complaint was the ending of the book felt as though she was throwing as many possible social issues into the story as possible rather than sticking to the main plotline that centered around the Chilean political uprising and the general US involvement in Latin American politics.  The story is an amazing saga of the family and all it underwent over the course of Violetta's lifetime.  

Violeta by Isabel Allende
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

fantastic epic historical novel

This is such a beautiful mix of description and characters. The history of Chile and S America that is revisited in this novel is an astonishing reminder of how much has changed in the world and how often it repeats in a different manner. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars is the last portion felt as though all the faults in the world had to be thrown into the storyline/Violeta’s reflection letter. It just felt a bit contrived at that point whereas the rest of the book had felt authentic without lecturing til then. I am glad I went back and finished this book after having begun earlier in the year


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  101 
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Chile
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #125
4. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #13
5. Around the Year in 52 Books # 38. A book by a Latin American author
6. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  # 23. A Book Everyone is Talking About 
7. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #30 translated to your native language
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #21 a book you never finished 
9. Pick your Poison #97 a book about a pandemic
10. Beyond the Bookends  December- Read a family drama
11. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  December: Books Spanning Multiple Continents
12. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  Dec Historic Fiction
13. Lifetime of Reading  multi generational
14. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2022  #5 hiking

A Murder Yule Regret

 I must have had a subconscious decision to read Christmas in July books.  I ended up reading 3 different books set at the holidays this past month.  A Murder Yule Regret is the 7th book in the Bread Shop series by Winnie Archer.  Ivy Culpepper finds herself working 2 different parties hosted by starlets while helping her boss, Olaya, at Yeast of Eden.  In addition to the well constructed mystery with multiple side crimes including blackmail and stalking, there are developing relationships mixed within the story.  I appreciate the author discussing the positive aspects of the relationships and how Ivy values the support she and Miguel have for each other.  These cozies always seem to have a nice balance of highlighting the positives of human nature along with the dark side that leads to murders. 

 If you are looking for a mystery with strong relationships and delicious bread and appetizer recipes/descriptions then look no further.

A Murder Yule Regret by Winnie Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

mouth watering bread and appetizers play a huge role in this story as there are multiple catering gigs at the center of this Hollywood starlet centric story. the small town charm of Santa Sofia is interrupted at the holidays when 2 starlets throw holiday parties. unfortunately neither had murder on their agendas when they made their guest lists. the story is well developed with lots of surprises and a fairly shocking outcome

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 68
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 33 Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #81
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #52
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #76
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #69
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- cliff/swimming pool
• Weapon- push/drown
• Detectives- Ivy Culpepper/Det York
• Victims- Edward Yentin/Cordelia Knight
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 31 Shot #4
10. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #34 protagonist starts with "i"

Geekerella

 Geekerella by Ashley Poston was a surprise fun read for me.  I selected it to fulfill a retelling prompt and ended up enjoying it much more than I anticipated.  The storyline definitely mimics Cinderella even involving a pumpkin and sewing dresses.  No multi talented animals though.  The story does a wonderful job of showing the lows and highs of an underdog   You would have to be mean at your core to not cheer for Elle to get her goal fulfilled.   

There are several YA tropes in the book but rather than feeling contrived they do make sense.   Among them are the mistaken LGBTQ crush, the mean girls and the secret admirer.  The whole fangirl and Cosplay theme make for a great story.   If you are looking for a fun heart warming story you will enjoy this book.  It's an added bonus if you are into SciFi and Cons. 

There are several other books in this series that I am interested in reading down the road.  

 I liked this retelling of Cinderella mixed with the Sci Fi flair.  The Cosplay was An interesting plot line.  I wished there was A bit more depth to the relationships between Elle and her family.   There were glimpses of them starting to discuss emotions that quickly disappeared I would have liked that to have happened.  Also the ending felt a bit  rushed maybe I just was wanting more.  i did enjoy the book though.

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #63
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #75
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #58
4. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #8 one word title
5. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #37 A coming of age story where the characters are in school
6. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #15 a retelling
7. OWLS 22  #3 Tales of Beedle the Bard: A fairytale retelling
8. Pick your Poison #7 a retelling of a classic
9. RAD challenge #aradreadingchallenge #3 A One word title

Santa Cruise

 Santa Cruise is the first book I have read by Fern Michaels.  I was drawn to the book based upon the cover and the title.  For some reason I felt like reading a Christmas type book and decided this would be a perfect Christmas in July theme read.   I don't generally read the more romance chick flick type books a lot but I did find myself thoroughly enjoying this book.  It was fun reading about the cruise and all the exciting activities and ports of call particularly since it has been several years since we have been on one and I do miss this vacation style.  

The character relationships fit well with the concept of good friends reuniting at a high school reunion and reigniting old bonds.  The redevelopment of their friendships felt organic and realistic.  Their personal development and growth when facing life changing career decisions seemed real and the level of uncertainty and angst was conveyed at a believable level.  

I would not hesitate to select another book by Fern Michaels if I was looking for a feel good escape.  

Santa Cruise by Fern Michaels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

fun book combining Christmas and vacation

What a fun book about a cruise reuniting a group of HS friends add in Christmas season and a bit of romance. All in all a fun enjoyable read

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #61
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #73
3. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  # 17 A book picked based on its spine
4. Bookworm #43 Read a book by an author with the same name as one of your parents 
5. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #8 bought based on cover 
6. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #2. A book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship
7. Pick your Poison #103  a beach read 
8. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  JULY- Summer Lovin’ 
9. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  Jul Contemporary Fiction

Dead Cert

 Dead Cert is the first book by Dick Francis, written in 1962.  I have read several of his works a long while ago and decided to pick up this one in order to meet some specific timeframe challenge prompts.  I am pleased I made this decision. I really enjoy reading the books set around horse racing.  Francis as a retired jockey and writer has done a wonderful job of capitalizing on both his skills and knowledge.  This book is about  Alan York and is considered a standalone work.   I thought the details about the horse community, horses in general and steeplechase are well incorporated into the story without being too overwhelming.   The mystery itself has lots of layers and intertwines personal relationships with the investigation.  Alan is definitely torn on whether he wants to get to the bottom of what happened to his friend Bill Davidson at times as he is afraid of the guilty party being someone he cares about.  This book is a good balance of character development and action.  Dick Francis captures the stress and adrenaline of a chase and hunt very well and has the reader on the edge of their seat waiting to see the outcome.  I look forward to reading more of the books and don't mind rereading the ones I read as I don't remember all the details by any means.

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

I always have enjoyed Dick Francis books. I find it interesting to read about the racing world and I am also up for a well written mystery. Francis knows his crafts- writing and horse racing and it shows in his stories. This one has red herrings and a plot full of personal relationships that lead to confusing and suspicion.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #58
2. What an Animal Book #38
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #68
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #55
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #45
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #67
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #62
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- horse track
• Weapon- wire; knife
• Detectives- Alan York
• Victims- Bill Davidson;  Joe N  
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 86 Shot #1
11. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #27 Includes a map
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #44 released before you were born
13. Pick your Poison #79 a book set within 10 years of your birth
14. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2022 6 set in Mexico
15. Century challenge  1960s

What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo?

 What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo? was a book I found while trying to decide what to read for the prompt to read a book based on a screen show that you haven't read previously.  I realized I had watched plenty of Scooby Doo episodes and movies so this would meet that requirement.  I actually really enjoyed reading about the history of the character and the different evolutions of the program.  It was a fun trip down memory lane.  I highly recommend this book for any Scooby Doo lovers out there.

What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo? by M.D. Payne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great info for any Scooby-Doo lover out there

This book was full of fun and interesting information about a Scooby-Doo and the gang. I learned a bunch of stuff I didn’t know and the book brought back lots of memories

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #41
2. What an Animal Book #28
3. Non Fiction Reader  #ReadNonFicChal    #7  Reference
4. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #39 A middle-grade novel
5. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #37 reading for research, reference, or general interest
6. Bookworm #55 Read a book that has a title in the form of a question
7. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #5  Read a book based on a tv series or movie adaptation 
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #5 mystery or middle grade
9. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  May: History & Biography
10. While I was Reading  #1 A book with a question in the title.

The Honeybee Emeralds

  The Honeybee Emeralds is a brand new 2022 release I happened upon at the library.  I am so glad I spotted this book and read it.  It is a fascinating historical fiction book that spans modern time and goes back through different points in history.  Amy Tector does a wonderful job of connecting various famous people in history through an emerald necklace.  While it is probably a stretch to believe this could have touched that many famous lives it was still a great plot line and well constructed.  

I really enjoyed the mystery aspect to the story line as well as the glimpses into modern history.   This is a fun historical fiction book that has characters with depth and dimensions.  While the necklace and the quest to identify its history are the main focus, there are character history and emotions that are included as well.   It was easy to view myself as a member of the Fellowship searching for information.  

Great read for anyone who likes historical fiction and especially lovers of Paris.  

The Honeybee Emeralds by Amy Tector
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an engaging historical fiction book that had a mystery at the center of the storyline. In that sense it reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing. The mystery is important to the story but the characters and their environments are just as important. The characters flaws and histories become part of the story in a slow reveal. Each character has aspects of who they are that are revealed as the story progresses. Many of their issues and concerns are very relatable to readers as I am sure many have backgrounds enable them to relate to the characters' stories. The mystery was intriguing and fascinating and the different points in the necklace's history, although a bit of a reach, were interesting.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #38
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #50
3. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 1  Historical Fiction
4. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #6
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #51
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #38 Don’t judge a book by its cover! 
7. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #48. Historical Novel
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #24 recommended on social media
9. OWLS 22  #15 Telescope: A book you spotted on social media
10. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #11. A #BookTok recommendation
11. Pick your Poison #83 a book about a lost treasure

Artificial Condition

 This is the 2nd novella in the Murderbot Diaries Series by Martha Wells.   I am not normally a science fiction reader but I really enjoy this series so far.  They are definitely a thriller/suspense style book and I found this one to be a page turner.  The sci fi aspect of the story was fascinating and I found the dynamics between the different bots and characters to be interesting and unique.   If you are looking for a quick suspense read this series is a great choice.

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

intriguing series

Not usually a sci fi reader but read the first In The series last year and enjoyed this one a lot. The different entities are intriguing and I found their ability to be compassionate even if they don’t really have emotions fascinating. The book has a bit of a mystery to it and I’m curious to see how the story unravels

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 23 Book #1
2. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 17 Award Winning
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #45
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #36
5. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #28 Award-winning book from your country
6. Around the Year in 52 Books #28. A book that won an award from Powell's list of book awards
7. Bookworm #10 Read a book from NPR's top 50 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the past decade
8. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #13. Genre You Don’t Usually Read
9. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #16 YA or SciFi
10. OWLS 22  #11 Astronomy: A book set in outer space
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #27. A Hugo Award winner
12. Pick your Poison #26 a space opera
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #7 Space Opera

   

Mirror Girls

 Mirror Girls is a horror  YA novel by Kelly McWilliams.  This is definitely a book from outside my norm reading selections.  I don't even remember the last time I read a horror book if ever.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book- which I selected purely because the cover intrigued me.  

The author does a wonderful job of centering a book around a difficult topic- Jim Crow in the South without being too preachy about the topic.  There were some references to General Lee that reflected a modern lens being applied to history but for the most part the storyline stuck to the actions of a small town in GA during the 1950s.  It truly demonstrated how far the nation has come even though there are clearly areas we can still learn and improve upon.   

The actual plot of the story was well written and descriptive.  The paranormal aspects were well done and quite interesting.  The existence of spirits and how they came to haunt the area are explained and intriguing.  The book is a nice balance of plot and deeper themes and ideas to reflect upon.  Overall I really enjoyed this book and am glad I read it.  

Mirror Girls by Kelly McWilliams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really didn’t know what to expect with this book. The cover captured me when reading a book publication. I am definitely not a normal horror reader. This book was a wonderful read. The story and plot are very good and intriguing but the deeper themes and ideas are amazing. For the most part the book refrains from preaching and guilting about the past wrongs that occurred in this country. I think the stories and the demonstrations of the pervasiveness of Jim Crow laws is much more effective in explaining the past horrors. The symbolism of the mirrors and coming to see herself for who she is and is capable of being adds such depth to Magnolia. I appreciate that this book isn’t all happily ever after but there is hope which is what the world needs to move forward through difficult times and to affect change in a healthy and pervasive way.
This book is a wonderful read

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #31
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   GA
3. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 14 Horror
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #42
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #5
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #50 A person of color as the main character
7. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #43. Spooky Read
8. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #23 book written for an age group you don't belong to
9. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #28 Read a YA book
10. Nancy Drew #38. The Mystery of the Fire Dragon (1961) - read a fantasy book
11. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #52 bipoc author
12. OWLS 22  #57 Animagus: Includes a shapeshifter
13. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge # 12  A book about the afterlife
14. Pick your Poison #74 a book about a ghost
15. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  Mar  Fantasy
16. 52 books in 52 weeks  #6 Haunted

A Vacation of Mischief (A Cozy Mystery Tribe Anthology, #4)

 This is the 2nd Anthology of the Cozy Tribe that I have read.  I enjoyed reading the short novellas that introduced several new characters to me as well as revisiting some of the series I read in the previous anthology,  A Flock of an Alibi  The book is available through Kindle Unlimited and is an enjoyable quick read.  Since it is an anthology the stories are short reads which makes this a perfect book for reading while at appointments, in car pool lines etc.  These stories all center around a vacation theme.  

Flint and Steal is my first read of Patty Joy.  The story introduced me to Kelly Green who is working as a camp host in a State Park in Missouri for the summer.  Here she hooks up with Sheriff Duncan from her hometown to help resolve the mysterious disappearances of items from the campsites of his extended family during their reunion.  This book is a wonderful combination of eclectic characters and a glimpse at Romani culture.  It definitely intrigues me to read more in the series about .

The series I had previously read was by Verena DeLuca.  This story, Axure and the Case of the Rogue Ride,  is part of a paranormal series with dragons and their humans they have connections with.  Azure and her human, Tona, visit a new amusement park outside San Antonio, TX.  Strange occurrences require investigating while Tona is on a day long date at the park's soft opening.  

Brittany E Brinegar introduced me to her character, Becky Robinson, from her Hollywood Whodunit series in the story Hitchcock's Perfect Murder. Becky is on vacation with her high school ex and his extended family and finds herself solving a mystery.  The book mimics the classic Murder on the Orient Express.  I definitely enjoyed this character and her personality and would like to read the series. 

Rune Stroud's story, Beaches and Bloody Hands introduced me to Simon, the talking Raven who is the familiar of Autumn.  While both are on vacation in Myrtle Beach, they assist in locating a missing elderly woman.  Simon is a cheeky character that adds a bit of levity that makes the series enjoyable.  I generally am not a huge paranormal reader but this series intrigues me.   

Kathryn Mykel's Murder Glazed Over introduced me to Cole and Katherine who are on vacation Alice Springs, WA when they discover a murder victim.  They end up helping solve the mystery during their Valentines' getaway.  This series seems to be one based up their travels and the mysteries they encounter

Sue Hollowell's Pedicures and Perpetrators has us following Tilly and Fiona to a spa for a relaxing weekend of treatments.  Unfortunately their tranquil trip is interrupted by a murder.  They need to clear their names so they can return to their everyday lives in Belle Harbor.  Their strong friendship engaged me and I look forward to reading more about them in the Belle Harbor series.  

All in all this anthology has definitely added books to my TBR list.  

A Vacation of Mischief by Verena DeLuca
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

enjoyable anthology

I enjoyed these vacation themed cozy stories. Most of the authors were new to me an have sparked interest in reading their series to learn more about their characters

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1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  TX
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge V
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   V
4. What an Animal Book #19
5. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book #4
6. Cruisin thru Cozies Paranormal #2
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #34
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #33
9. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- parking lot
• Weapon- poison
• Detectives- Abby McCree; Gage
• Victims- Bryce Cadigan
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #75  Shot #2
12. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #44 An anthology
13. Around the Year in 52 Books #49. A book connected to the phrase "Here (There) Be Dragons"
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #1  2022 New Release
15. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #9 an anthology
16. OWLS 22  #16 Care of Magical Creatures: Includes a magical creature
17. Pick your Poison #51 a book of short stories

Body in the Book Drop

 Body in the Book Drop is the prequel that sets the back story for the Cat Latimer series by Lynn Cahoon.  I actually have  not read any of this series previously so it was interesting to start with a prequel before reading any  of the other books.   I think the series might be interesting as there is an element of suspense built into the series since Cat's mother and Uncle seem to be keeping some information about her hometown a secret.  Cat is a graduate student who finds herself investigating the death of Albert Hines after her mother discovers his body.  The mystery  is interesting and enjoyable although I did find the conclusion a bit abrupt.  I look forward to reading more of the series in the future.  

Body in the Book Drop by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

intriguing novella

Looking forward to reading more about Cat and Aspen Hills. The stage is set for a big secret surrounding the town. This particular mystery was interesting and well structured but it did reach a conclusion a bit abruptly. I am interested to read more in the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  CO
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #34
3. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #16
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #31
5. Craving for Cozies  Book #30
6. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
7. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-library
• Weapon- knife
• Detectives- Cat Latimer
• Victims- Albert Hines
8. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 34  Shot #6
9. Nancy Drew #48. The Crooked Banister (1971) - read a book with stairs on the cover
10. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #45 picked at random 
11. OWLS 22  #55 Liquid Luck: Luck of the draw: choose a book randomly
12. Pick your Poison #95 a book set in an area geographically different from your home

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

 The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is a non fiction work by Allison Hoover Bartlett.  The biography focuses the criminal life of John Gilkey but is more in depth than just the factual recounting of his crime spree.  Bartlett immerses herself in the Book Collection community while doing the background work for the book. She attends expos and really attempts to understand what drives collectors in their passionate pursuit of printed texts.  Bartlett discusses the psychological drive behind many of the collectors behaviors and how it is almost an obsession for some.  Others collect things that have a specific attachment or attraction to- books falling into a similar category.   She talks about her own connections with books and the memories they evoke.  

At the center of the book is her interaction with and in depth interviews of Gilkey.   She attempts to analyze his motivations and his rationale for his behaviors.  It is amazing how much Gilkey is able to justify his behavior and to never truly acknowledge what he has done is wrong.  It made me think of the cases where they interview people after they have ransacked and stolen things from retailers, saying its ok because they are big companies and insurance pays for it.  This thinking is a shallow and unconscionable attitude that belies a victim mentality or a self serving attitude that they are justified in breaking the law.  Robin Hood mentality is not an excuse to commit crimes and this book gives a glimpse into the thought process of someone who believes it is.  

While the book does read like a novel at times, I did not find it as compelling and engaging as Bad Blood  (Goodreads review) .  This book definitely read more like a non fiction work than a fiction one but was still very interesting.   

   

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting non fiction book that is written in the form of a story rather than a fact retelling. Bartlett uncovers the world of rare book collecting, looking at both the obsessive nature of the hobby and the people who collect. At the center of the book are a thief, John Gilkey, and the man determined to catch him and other book thieves, Sanders. There is some thought placed on the motivations behind the theft and the psychological drive of the two men. All in all an interesting read

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #26 
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #33
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #23
4. Memoir  #12  Written by an author or journalist
5. Non Fiction Reader  #ReadNonFicChal   Book #1- Social History
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #34 An author’s photo on the back cover
7. Around the Year in 52 Books #37. A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author's name
8. Bookworm #50 Read a True Crime book
9. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #44. Nonfiction Bestseller
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #13 non-fiction
11. Nancy Drew #28. The Clue of the Black Keys (1951) - read a book with a lot of black on the cover
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #36 non fiction or audiobook
13. OWLS 22  #49 Daily Prophet: A nonfiction book
14. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #36. A book you know nothing about
15. Pick your Poison #35 a book about an obsessive hobby
16. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  Feb Keyword  Book
17. Reading Randomizer  yes
18. 52 books in 52 weeks  #17 secret agent man
19. Unruly Reader Bingo  #23 one hit wonder

Christmas Caramel Murder

Christmas Caramel Murder is  Hannah Swensen Book #20 was combined into a set with another Christmas-themed story and I inadvertently didn't realize I had read them previously.   This one centers on a Christmas reenactment of A Christmas Carol and features some dream/visits by Hannah's deceased father.  The reader can decide for themselves whether there is a spirit at play or just an active dream sequence.   The mystery itself is well written and enjoyable.  Even though I was rereading I didn't remember the guilty party until the very end so I enjoyed the read anyway.

Christmas Caramel Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had read this story a few years back but had realized it since the book was combines with another Hannah Swensen book in a Christmas collection. I actually reread it and realized I didn’t remember much. I will say that as the book wrapped up I remembered who the guilty party was but that wasn’t until the very end. I always enjoy reading this series but I do seem to visualize Hannah as Alison Sweeney vs the red head she is in the book :).
This is a great series if you like to bake or are into sweets at all

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #23
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   MN
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 13  Book #1
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #25
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #15
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #10
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #24
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #23
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- parking lot
• Detectives- Hannah Swensen
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #44  Shot #4
12. Around the Year in 52 Books #27. 2 books with the same word in the title - Book 2
13. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #20 murder, mystery or both
14. Nancy Drew #32. The Scarlet Slipper Mystery (1954) - read a book with a lot of red on the cover
15. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 # 1 book with a red spine 
16. OWLS 22  # 32 Trelawney: A book featuring a prophecy 
17. Pick your Poison #5 book with the color red or the word "read" on the cover
18. 52 books in 52 weeks  #1 Play it again Sam

Christmas Cake Murder

 This book, Christmas Cake Murder, Hannah Swensen #23, is the other portion of the combined Holiday-themed entry by Joanne Fluke.  This one is a bit of a prequel to the series and goes back and tells the reader the origin story of Hannah's bakery, the Cookie Jar.  We are also provided a glimpse into the first mystery she found herself embroiled in solving.  This book has a twist as the mystery is being told in the form of a journal entry written by one of the town elders, Emmie.  This format made for a fun twist on the usual cozy.  All in all, I always enjoy reading this series even if it is a reread.

Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I reread this one as part of the Christmas compilation. I really enjoy how the story is a combo of the live-action of Hannah and her family combined with the written journal/stories of Emmie the main character outside the Swenson family. It is fun to read the origin story of the Cookie Jar and Hannah’s adventures. The descriptions of the Christmas Ball from years gone by was wonderful as well

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  24
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 13  Book #2
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #26
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #16
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #11
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #25
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #24
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- hospital/sidewalk
• Weapon- heart attack/hospital
• Detectives- Hannah Swensen
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #44  Shot #5
11. Nancy Drew #27. The Secret of the Wooden Lady (1950) - read a book written by a female author
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #23 reread
13. OWLS 22  # 12 Star Gazing: A book with a star on the cover or in the title
14. Pick your Poison #106 an epistolary book
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #18 Teen Detective

Antique Auctions are Murder

 Antique Auctions are Murder is Poppy MacAllister #7 by Libby Klein.  If you enjoy cozy mysteries that have you laughing at the antics of the characters then this is a must-read series for you.   The relationship between Poppy and her Aunt Ginny is a riot and the stunts Ginny pulls with the Biddies is comical to say the least.  The actual mysteries in this series are well written as well.  This book is loaded with details relating to Antiques and auctions as the name implies.  You will also learn much about prize-winning gardens and the competition they dredge up amongst neighbors.  All in all this is a great fun read

Antique Auctions Are Murder by Libby Klein
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Another great installment in the Poppy McAllister series. Aunt Ginny and the biddies are in the middle of a mess this time and Poppy cannot seem to stay out of the investigation despite her best efforts. The characters provide lots of humor and there is a building relationship with Gia that you definitely want to see succeed. The solution to the murder is quite unexpected and well written

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #22
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  A
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:12  Book #2 Caught up on Series
4. What an Animal Book #14
5. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 13 Book Published in 2022
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #24
7. Cozy Mysteries   #3 Sleuth who is over 60
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #9
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #23
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #22
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-beach/store room
• Weapon- macrame hanger/vampire stake
• Detectives- Poppy MacCallister
• Victims- Auggie Whipple
13. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #52 Published in 2022
14. Around the Year in 52 Books #33. The next book in a series
15. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #49. A 2022 New Release
16. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #44 A funny book
17. Nancy Drew # 21. The Secret in the Old Attic (1944) - read a book with antiques in the story  
18. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #17 released in Feb 2022
19. OWLS 22  #52 Amortentia: A book that includes a romance
20. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #1. A book published in 2022
21. Pick your Poison #13 a book about memory loss
22. 52 books in 52 weeks  #26 Little grey cells

Next Year in Havana

 Next Year in Havana is an astounding read by Chanel Cleeton. I admit my knowledge of the Cuban Revolution was cursory at best.  This novel does an amazing job of capturing the people and the culture that were impacted when Fidel Castro overthrew the government of Batista in 1959.  Her descriptions of the country and the people were wonderfully written.  I appreciated that she approached the book as an open minded approach by Marisol Ferrera during her first visit to the country she considers her home.  The love of the Cuban people for their country is captured in the characters in the book.  It is hard not to feel the emotions and the struggles the Perez family felt in the late 50s and those that Marisol faces in the modern era.

Cleeton tries to reflect both sides of the situation from the perspective of the exiled and those who remained and live there in current times.  She acknowledges that change does not always come about as planned nor is the opening of the country to mass tourism the answer to the Cubans problems.  They are a proud people and just want to be able to be free and make an honest living in their own country.   The book highlights a feeling that the citizens of Cuba feel as though they are tourists in their own country and cannot enjoy the country and the culture as much as a visitor is able.  She talks of the laws that prohibited citizens from staying in hotels and the fear of speaking out against the government still today.  This is something that we as Americans do not have to struggle with and we should remember that although things may not be perfect here in our nation, they are far worse elsewhere in the world.  

I feel as though I was invested in this book even more because my son is considering attending the University of Miami for college and we have recently spent time there on a visit.  I look forward to more Cuban culture exposure if he should go there.  I hope to someday have the opportunity to visit the country of Cuba and see the wonderful beauty of the country and its people- my parents were fortunate to visit on a cruise when things first opened and Americans were allowed to visit briefly.  Hopefully that will come back sooner than later.  I am looking forward to reading When We Left Cuba as it focuses on Beatriz Perez and her life in exile.  

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

stunning portrait of being a Cuban

This book is an amazing portrayal of the conflict many Cuban exile families must feel having left their country. I appreciate the story also reflects the perspective of those who remained. The novel balances history with romantic relationships and love as well as loss. I look forward to reading her other works


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #21
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Cuba
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  N
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge   #8 Book Set in a Country you'd Love to Visit
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #23
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #14
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #4
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #24 Addresses a specific topic
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #52. A book with a time-related word in the title
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #46. Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #19 picked by a celebrity book club
12. Bookworm #42 Read a Dystopian
13. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #2 A Reese Witherspoon BOTM pick 
14. Nancy Drew #37. The Clue in the Old Stagecoach (1960) - read a historical book
15. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #2 debut author
16. OWLS 22  #10 Mad Eye Moody: A book with multiple points of view
17. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #6. A book by a Latinx author
18. Pick your Poison #99 a book about a social movement
19. Beyond the Bookends  Historical Fiction
20. 52 books in 52 weeks  #11 Myths, Monsters, and Imagination
21. Unruly Reader Bingo  #19 time capsule

From Beer to Eternity

 Besides the fun play on words, From Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris feels like an ode to Hemingway.  Harris captures the charm of the Panhandle of FL in a glimpse of what FL is like before all the crazy high rise development.  There are areas in the Panhandle that have restricted building heights and developments in an effort to keep from overrunning with tourism.  This book was especially fun for me to read as we have family that live in Ft. Walton Beach so we spend lots of time in the area.  The points of interest and descriptions resonated well with me.  

I also thoroughly enjoyed the character of Chloe Jackson and her interactions with Vivi.  The locals that she meets and comes in contact with are real feeling and the caution with which they treat her as an outsider feel authentic.   The mystery is well written and the motives plausible.  There are some side distractions that also fit well with the main plot line.  I look forward to reading more about Chloe and the Sea Glass Saloon.  I also enjoy Sherry Harris' other series about Sara Winston and garage sale business, although the setting of FL is much more enticing than Mass. when we are dealing with winter weather.

From Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great start to the series. I found this book extra enjoyable because I am familiar with the area where it is set. Harris captures the culture and attitude of the Panhandle quite accurately. The characters are so easy to relate to and it is absolutely conceivable that Vivi would treat Chloe just as she does. There is a cautiousness and distance to the relationship that feels authentic to the situation. The actual solving of the murder is well constructed and the guilty party was a bit of a surprise but made perfect sense. I look forward to reading more about Chloe and her adventures in the Panhandle.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #20
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #22
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #13
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #8
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #22
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #21
7. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- alley
• Weapon- knife
• Detectives- chloe jackson
• Victims- 
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #4  Shot #3
10. Around the Year in 52 Books #12. A book related to glass
11. Nancy Drew #44. The Clue in the Crossword Cipher (1967) - read a book where a puzzle of some kind is solved
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #4 title starts with "f" or "s"
13. OWLS 22  #54 No Foolish Wand Waving: A book without magic
14. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #19. A book that takes place during your favorite season
15. Pick your Poison #89 west side story a tragic love story
16. Lifetime of Reading  yes Mid 20s
17. Unruly Reader Bingo  #24 vintage