Carry On Simon Snow

 I selected this book in order to fulfill the Chosen One prompts in several of my challenges.  I discovered this book when I read Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl last year.   This is a spinoff of sorts from that book.  In Fangirl the characters write fanfiction about a fictional character named Simon Snow and Baz.  This book brings those characters and their world to life as the center of the story.  It is a similar story to Harry Potter with a bit more frenemies and romantic tension than those books have.   I did enjoy this book even if it took me quite a while to read it.  I had to turn it in to the library and then got busy with other books as I read and renewed the kindle book from the library.   If you are looking for a fantasy book with a bit of a twist at the end this book would be a great read.  

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

magical thriller

Generally not the gene I read but I thoroughly enjoyed this boon. The frenemies relationship between Simon and Baz grows through the book. Although there are similarities to Potter this book is very different and intense.


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #124
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #134
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #148
4. Around the Year in 52 Books #30 A long book
5. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #45 A Coming Of Age Novel 
6. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #5  The Desolation: about a Chosen One

7. BooklistQueen   #25. Coming of Age Story 
8. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #10 over 500 pgs  
9. Bookworm  #40. Read a book that uses the "Chosen One" trope  
10. Magic in the Books Book 6 #6 Includes the Chosen One trope
11. Pick your Poison #23-1 A book with the word "snow" in the title
12. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #22.  500+ pages  
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #6-2 swords and sorcerers 

The Picture of Dorian Gray

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

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

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

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

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

  

The Lost Apothecary

 This debut novel by Sarah Penner is a wonderful mix of historical fiction with a touch of fantasy.  I original discovered this book while reading the Book Pages magazine from my library.  The book sounding interesting so I placed a hold on it prior to its release at the beginning of March.   I am glad I did.  

The author did a wonderful job of interweaving a historic "mystery" with a modern investigator.  Caroline and Nella are both women who were betrayed by men they loved, only 300 years apart.  It is a timeless tale that is  captured in contrasts between the options available to  women of the 18th century versus the modern era.  Both are strong women who found their way to move forward in the face of adversity.  Each found a new purpose and quest.  

The story had a very little bit of fantasy/supernatural that was presented in both times in the dual timeline.  It is up to the reader to decide whether there were other magical forces at work or just the coincidence of the universe.   Either way the tale that is woven is very engaging and a great combination of timelines and multiple points of view of 3 very different women.

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This debut novel does a wonderful job of mastering a dual timeline and 3 female points of view. I appreciated the contrasts of how similar misfortunes for women are represented in the 2 timeframes. Women in 1790s had very little recourse if their marriages were destroyed versus 2020. I enjoyed how the themes of betrayal and self definition was presented in both Caroline and Nella. The innocence of Eliza is such a wonderful contrast but her wiseness beyond her years was also well developed. I enjoyed the ending and how you weren't sure if there was supernatural elements at play in both the 18th and 21st centuries. This book was an unexpected pleasure and I am glad I discovered it in a book publication previewing it before its release.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #35
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "P"
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #43
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #48
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #5
6. BooklistQueen   # 22. A Highly Anticipated Book
7. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 14. A book everyone is talking about
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #3. GOLD ON COVER
9. Magic in the Books Book 5 #1 Read a fantasy novel 
10. Pick your Poison #17-3 A book with a shape on the cover that reminds you of a Rorschach test
11. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #7 with foiling on the cover
12. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO-  "Lost"
13. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021  Historical Fiction Novel Featuring Inspiring Women
14. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  Historical Fiction 
15. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
16. Unruly Reader Bingo  #3 eye catching

Frontier Follies

 I will admit I have never actually watched an episode of Pioneer Woman but now I am very intrigued after listening to Ree Drummond's audiobook.  It was a great way to pass time while driving on my errands and she is such a positive spirit it was hard not to get a smile on my face as I listened.  She is a wonderful storyteller and didn't hesitate to tell stories that were less than flattering to her.  It felt like I was sitting next to her in her kitchen listening to her regale me with her activities of the week.   The stories ranged from early marriage in the 1990s to current Covid stories.  I feel as though I was right there with her and her family and could absolutely visualize the action as they transpired.  

If you are looking for an inside look at Ranch life, a cooking show on tv and the fun and drama of a family with 4 kids this is a perfect book to read or even better, to listen to.  I promise you will find yourself laughing and smiling anytime you pickup this book.

Frontier Follies: Adventures in Marriage and Motherhood in the Middle of Nowhere by Ree Drummond
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Charming stories from a great storyteller

I actually listened to the audio book which was so much fun as it was narrated by Ree. The short chapters were perfect for car rides and do fun. Her stories are heart felt and you felt like you were sitting at a big farm table having coffee together as she regaled you with stories. Fascinating info about living on a ranch so far from town and neighbors. I just might have to watch the show now :)

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #26
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  OK
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #52 mentions a pineapple
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #34
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #39
6. Memoir  #4 Food Memoir
7. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #9. Food
8. Humor  Book #2
9. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #35. A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
10. Around the Year in 52 Books #33. A collection of short stories, essays, or poetry
11. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #48 A Cover With A Woman Who Is Facing Away
12. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #48. Adelard Dekker: MC is religious
13. BooklistQueen   # 29. An Audiobook
14. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 22. An audiobook
15. While I was Reading  #2. An essay or short story collection
16. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #1 
17. Bookworm  #56.) Read a nonfiction book that teaches you a new skill
18. Magic in the Books Book 2 #5 A Funny book
19. Pick your Poison #15-2 A memoir
20. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #18 an audiobook
21. 52 books in 52 weeks  #20 tip toe through the tulips
22. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge #1

Shakeup

 This is the 55th Stone Barrington novel by Stuart Woods  These books are always good for a bit of escapism reading.  They usually have a bit of travel thrown in and this book is no exception.   In this installment Stone finds himself caught up in a murder that literally lands at his feet.  Fortunately he is not a suspect for long but the mystery continues to unravel and involve him.   There are a series of coincidences that intertwine different threads of the book which are good for the plot but not so good if you are looking for a practical/ realistic read.  This book returns to the bedroom escapades of Stone and you practically need a chart to keep track of his revolving companions but the details are minimal so those looking for a cleaner book would be ok reading this since it is easy to skip over the parts that are not of interest.   

All in all a decent book to lose yourself in for an afternoon or 2

Shakeup by Stuart Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the 55th book in the series and the ideas for crimes continue to be unique even if the plots are a bit formulaic. This one has a bit more twists and turning with intertwining plot lines. You are back to needing a map to keep Stone's bedroom trysts and companions straight though. The story manages to involve most of the recurring main characters even if in very cursory roles in the plot.
Always a fun escape read especially if you're willing to believe in small worlds intersecting

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #18
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Stone Barrington series #55
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #5 set in a major city
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #26
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #29
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #19
8. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #8. The Hunt: a murder mystery
9. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #40 released in 2020
10. Bookworm  #12.) Free Space! Pick any book!
11. Pick your Poison #16-3 A rollicking adventure story
12. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #11 one word title 
13. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
14. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 4
• Hotel room
• Street or sidewalk

Row 5
Bedroom

• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Row 2 
• Hand gun x 2
• Detectives- Stone/Dino
15. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #5b  Shot #1

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The Day the World Came to Town

 This non fiction work by Jim DeFede is a recounting of the days from Sept 11, 2001- Sept 15th.  If you were alive that day you know exactly where you were when you heard and how your family was impacted.  This story is about people who were right in the middle of the chaos, not in NYC or DC but immediately impacted nonetheless.   It is written as perspectives of local residents of Gander, Newfoundland and passengers on the flights that were redirected and grounded there when all air traffic was stopped in the US.  Coincidentally there were some very influential passengers on a few of the flights who shed some additional background and insight beyond just having been there, the stories are engaging as well as inspiring.

Mr. DeFede wrote a novel like non-fiction account.  It was a pleasurable read that I sat down and completed on a bleak winter afternoon.  The book reminded me of the good in man kind and at the heart of most people that is so easily overshadowed by the news media today.  It was refreshing to be reminded there are good people who do the right thing just because it is the right thing.  

The people of Gander and the surrounding small communities took in nearly 7000 stranded passengers and crew.   They rallied to house, feed and transport those individuals who found themselves stranded during a time of confusion and angst.   The author was able to focus his narrative on a small group of those individuals that tells a story of survival and innate goodness.  The people of Newfoundland put their lives on hold to help provide some proximity of normal to complete strangers, and wanted NOTHING in return.    

I urge you to read this book and treasure the beauty of human nature at its best.  I had the opportunity to visit St. Anthony, Newfoundland in 2019 with my husband and I can attest to the warm nature of the citizens.  It reminded me of my experiences in New Zealand.  These are truly people who will give the clothes off their backs to strangers and think it's weird that you are surprised at the gesture.  There is a chapter on being screeched in and I can say we too experienced this on our cruise ship.  It is an unforgettable experience to say the least- you will have to read the book to see what it means.  

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an amazing non fiction book that shows an entirely different side to the events of 9/11. It is easy to forget that so many people's lives were impacted on that day outside of those on the 4 planes and in the Towers and Pentagon. DeFede writes an amazing compilation of the stories of some of the passengers and the local residents of Gander, Newfoundland.

The different unique stories he was able to identify and relay are amazing. It is interesting to see how many different compelling stories were established in a small province of Canada. The strength and goodness of people really shine in this book. DeFede's writing style reads like a story instead of a non fiction textbook and it is so enjoyable.

This book reminds us of the wonderful kindness and generosity of good people in a time of need. It is a refreshing read that reminds me of the good in mankind which is much needed in such a turbulent time right now.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #15
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Newfoundland, Canada
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #23
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #26
5. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #1 Biography
6. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #37. A book you think your best friend would like
7. Around the Year in 52 Books #2. A book by an author whose name doesn't contain the letters A, T or Y
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #8 A Book In The 900's Of The Dewey Decimal System
9. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #1. The Eye: Nonfic about an unfamiliar subject
10. BooklistQueen   # 4. Biography
11. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #7 biography/autobiography
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #36. RELEASED BETWEEN 1991 - 2012
13. Bookworm  #7.) Read a book with the color white on the cover
14. Pick your Poison #26-3 A book set after a major world event (war, weather disaster, etc.)
15. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #21  a book with illustrations
16. 52 books in 52 weeks  #9 anithero
17. Unruly Reader Bingo  #7 narrative non fiction 

The Red Address Book

 This novel is a well written reflection on the life of Doris as told by Sofia Lundberg.   It is a compilation of stories as told by Doris to her great niece, Jenny as she nears 97 years of age.  These different experiences and stages of Doris' life are presented as individual sections categorized by the entries in Doris' address book.   Her stories are associated with the different stages in her life as they relate to the different people she had met over the years and had entered into her address book.  These entries represent different stages in her life, all closed chapters at this point with the exception of her relationship with Jenny.  

There are many aspects of this novel that are sad and it would be easy to imagine the story as being a tear jerker.  Lundberg has done a wonderful job of pointing out the sadness and isolation of the end of Doris' life without being overly dramatic.   The stories of her life are the focus, they show how fully she lived.  As is often the case, they demonstrate the life before children and the lives that children know.  Often times, our offspring are shocked by the person who lived a different life before they were born.  This is definitely the case with Doris and Jenny.  Similarly, we find out Jenny has a similar change to her life when she became a mother.  

The stories Doris shares with Jenny depict and amazing life which helps offset the sadness of the current situation Doris finds herself in.   It would be easy to focus on the isolation Doris is experiencing late in her life and be overcome with sadness but rather the tapestry of Doris' life is central to the story.  This novel is an amazing layered journey through Doris' life but also a closure for herself and Jenny.  

I highly recommend this book and the only reason I did not give it 5 stars was the slow pace in which the story began.  Once the story got going, it was harder to put down but the format of each chapter representing an encapsulated story made it easy to start and stop my reading.

The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what to think about this novel at first. It started out a bit slow and then it really caught my attention and I couldn't read it fast enough. One of the nice aspects about it is each of the chapters tend to be encapsulated stories so you ca read it a little bit at a time and not feel like you have to backtrack to get started again.

The story is full of reminiscences and stories of Doris' life in Stockholm, Paris, New York and England. She experienced an amazing amount during her lifetime, but it is apparent she never shared it with her great niece, Jenny. Jenny discovers the stories as she visits Doris for one last time in Stockholm and wants her great aunt to tell her more and share more about their shared past as well as Doris' before Jenny was born. The story is poignant about how, as she lived to be quite an elderly lady, most of her acquaintances have passed away. The story is structured as a events of her life through the interactions with the different individuals in her address book. The reader hears about her love and tragedies as well as the adventures she experienced. Doris is clearly a strong woman who is reflecting on her life and her loss of independence. We should all be so blessed to have such a long life and to remember it is such detail.
I highly recommend this book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #13
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Sweden
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #24 written in letters or diary entries 
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 19 written in a foreign language  
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #19
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #22
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #3
8. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #38. A book about art or an artist
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #12. A book eligible for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation
10. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #22 A Family Saga
11. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #39. Oliver: involves dreams
12. BooklistQueen   # 28. A Book About Friendship
13. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 3. Debut author
14. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #19 translated book
15. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #31. A BOOK YOU NEVER FINISHED
16. Bookworm  #41.) Read a book where the main character is elderly
17. Magic in the Books Book 4 #7 Read a book in translation
18. Pick your Poison #20- 2 A book about overcoming obstacles
19. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf # 9 on your tbr for over a year
20. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  "RED"
21. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Western Europe
22. Beyond the Bookends  about addiction
23. 52 books in 52 weeks  #27 diary
24. Unruly Reader Bingo  #22 immigrant

 

Ms. Marvel Vol 2

 This is the 2nd installment of the G. Willow Wilson Graphic Novels I have read.   Last year for my graphic novel selection I picked Vol 1 of the series.   See my review here.    I decided to pick the next one in the series for this year as well since it covered several of my topics for different challenges.   

I continue to realize I am not the best audience for graphic novels, even though I do enjoy the Marvel movies.  I think I just have trouble following the flow of the story line.  This plot was a bit confusing for me at times but I also think so of that relates to the fact this is a compilation of several issues of comic books.   I do like that there is a strong young female as the lead in the story.  The dynamics are especially complex as she is a Muslim teen trying to balance her religious beliefs and constricts with being a typical American teen.  I appreciated that she sought the advice of her church leader in this book and came to realize the applicability of his advice.  

The target audience is YA for this series and the messages at the end were a bit too "woke" and preachy for my taste at times.  I truly hope not all fiction geared toward YA is so pessimistic and fatalistic.   I think this is often the message given to them in school as well and I worry about their outlook for their futures. There are many positive aspects of life today versus the past.  We have progressed while realizing we can still grow as a nation.  This might also explain the popularity of dystopian tomes with that generation as well.   I suspect much of it is just this generation's cause and as they take on responsibilities their outlooks may change some and balance the extremes with the possibilities.  

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

great story with a strong teenage girl in the lead character role. I appreciate watching her growth as a person/superhero while enjoying the action. I did find the storyline hard to follow at times, not always certain who was talking but the general idea was readily able to be followed.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #12
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes NJ
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "G"
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge #13 ya book
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #16
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #19
7. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #24. A book by a Muslim American author
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #17. A book with a Muslim character or author
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #26  An Author Of Color
10. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #26. Titan: a graphic novel
11. BooklistQueen   #8. An Author Who Uses Initials
12. A Pretty Mess Challenge #6. YA book by author of color 
13. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #14 with images
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #11. RELEASED IN APRIL
15. Bookworm  #47.) Read a book with the main character  of a different ethnicity than you 
16. Magic in the Books  Book 4 #4 Includes a shapeshifter
17. Spells and Spaceships Monster Badge
18. Pick your Poison #27-3 A comic book 
19. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #1 an unusual format 
20. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021 Contemporary Black Author
21. 52 books in 52 weeks  #19 robot

Girl, Wash your Face

 This self help book by Rachel Hollis was well written.  She hits upon many insecurities that many women suffer through.  Her format is to pose it as lies we have come to believe.   Each chapter is about a different lie we allow ourselves to believe in over our lives, such as being a working mom, not being organized enough, being a bad mother and many more.  She's brutally honest about how she fell into believing them herself and ways to work through them,  She speaks as someone who has gone through the self doubt of each of them herself.  Rachel works through them and points out how the self talk can be destructive and make us feel as though we are the only ones who feel that way.  Her experiences make it clear we are not alone and no matter how successful someone may seem, it doesn't mean they don't share many of the same feelings everyday women do.  

I found it easy to relate to many of the issues she discussed and found her suggestions of how she dealt with them (and continues to) relatable.   The book is written much like a conversation with a close girlfriend who can commiserate with your concerns.  The advice given is applicable to anyone, not just someone who's successful and can hire help to overcome situations.  

This book felt as though any woman could gleam some advice and suggestions to help them sleep easier each night.   Not every suggestion or topic is for everyone but I think you will find some you relate to and can take advice from.  

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

This was a very relatable book with advice on how to deal with the self doubting talk that many women suffer from today. The format of a chapter per lie we tell ourselves makes it an easy read to break up into small chunks and focus on a little bit at a time. The advice she gives is readily able to be applied to anyone's lives and not just to someone who has the wealth to pay for assistance. I recommend the book if you are looking to make some straightforward changes to your attitude and approach to life 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  "G"
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #40 black and white
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #3
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #14
5. Memoir  #9 Written by a woman  
6. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #3 Self Help
7. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #19. A book that discusses body positivity
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #33 Featuring Adoption
10. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #24 I Do Not Know You: by an author you’ve never read
11. BooklistQueen   # 38. Nonfiction New York Times Bestseller
12. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 23. Famous author you've never read
13. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #2 non fiction book
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #41. BODY PART IN TITLE
15. Bookworm  #6.) Read a book that was recommended to you 
16. Magic in the Books 
• Book 1 #3 Non Fiction
17. Pick your Poison #15-4 A self help book 
18. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #12 with a face on the cover 
19. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021 Truth Bomb Nonfiction Book 

The Three Mrs. Wrights

 Wow, didn't realize one person could be so deceitful and able to keep their stories straight.  Linda. Keir created quite a tangled web of a story and an amazing male main character.  Jonathan/Jack/Trip is quite a charming and proficient liar.  His ability to deceive others in his life makes you wonder if he is even sure what the truth is any longer or if he is the ultimate sociopath.   The story is quite well written and you cannot help but cheer for the leading ladies of the story. They are strong women who are duped and it seems easy to judge from a distance but if you think of the many busy lives we encounter in today's world you will soon realize the premise isn't as far fetched as it would first seem.   The conclusion to the story is quite intriguing and as happy as can be hoped for under the circumstances laid out by the plot.

Highly recommend for anyone interested in a non mystery suspense book.

The Three Mrs. Wrights: A Novel by Linda Keir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Quite an intriguing novel of suspense. It definitely created an atmosphere where trusting others seems to be impossible. As you read you cannot wait to find out what the real story is, not the fabricated identities you are meeting, but rather the real truth. There is quite a fun twist at the end that leads to as happy an ending as can be found in a book about so much deceit and lying.
Very glad I picked this book out at the library 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #7
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  IL
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "T"
4. Color Coded #5  Brown
5. Around the Year in 52 Books #32. A book whose cover shows more than 2 people
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #32 A Selfish Character
7. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #52. Manuela Dominguez: author/MC works in the sciences
8. BooklistQueen   #12. With a Number in the Title 
9. A Pretty Mess Challenge #12  book with 2 authors 
10. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #11 multiple authors
11. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #42. WRITTEN BY TWO AUTHORS  
12. Bookworm  #16 Read a book that has a person on the cover
13. Magic in the Books 
• Book 6 #2 with a number in the title/on the cover
14. Pick your Poison #22-4 A book about an estranged family
15. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #10  set at or featuring a wedding 
16. 52 books in 52 weeks  #41 hide in place
17. Unruly Reader Bingo  #18 blurb

Deserts, Driving & Derelicts

 

This is the second book in the Campground series by Tonya Kappes.   We return to the Happy Trails campground and see that Mae West has settled into running the campground after fixing it up.  There are lots of happy customers and new traditions.  Unfortunately for Mae, her old foster brother arrives unexpectedly on the scene and seems to bring a negative aura with him.   On top of that, Mae stumbles upon a dead body again which leads her to be mixed up in the mystery of the woman's death.  

As Mae asks questions, she soon learns not everyone in her life has been totally honest and this just leads to more questions that require answering.  Mae stumbles along and gains clarity on those issues as well as the facts surrounding the death of the dog nanny.   Yes, there's a dog nanny and a poodle named Fifi in this book.   There role in the book is important and makes logical sense (to the extent that rich people's somewhat eccentric behaviors make sense to the rest of us)

The mystery is well written and not predictable.  The character development continues to engage us into the life of Mae and her friends.  Her romantic prospects continue to perplex her and add a fun side note to the story.   

I look forward to reading more of the series which is available through Kindle Unlimited.

Deserts, Driving, & Derelicts by Tonya Kappes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars 

I enjoyed reading this second book in the series. Mae West is settling into life owning the Happy Trails campground and her life in Normal, KY. Unfortunately she keeps stumbling upon dead bodies. This time she gets mixed up with a wealthy dog breeder and her strange group of acquaintances. To top it off an old step brother suddenly appears at the trailer as well. The mystery has some good twists and the characters still continue to be fun and engaging. This book reveals a few more relationships and some new characters. Looking forward to continuing on in the series 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

Possible prompts

I will decide as the year goes along which prompts I use it for on several challenges since it meets multiple criteria within the challenge.

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  KY
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "D"
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "K"
4.  Color Coded # 8. A book with any other color in the title/on the cover
5. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Campers & Criminals Book 2
6. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #10  quest to find lost/hidden object
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #7
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #9
9. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
10. Cozy Mysteries   #7 involving a theft
11. Cruisin thru Cozies  One career-based cozy mystery #1
12. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #6
13. Craving for Cozies  Book #4
14. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #12 Title Starting With The Letter "D"
15. Around the Year in 52 Books #49  A book with an ensemble cast 
16. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #46 Breekon & Hope: with an established partnership/romance 
17. While I was Reading  #6. A book with alliteration in the title
18. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #20. A QUEST
19. Bookworm  #5.) Read a book that starts with the letter D
20. Magic in the Books 
• Book 4 #6 Includes a theft
21. Pick your Poison #12-2
22. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #13  a murder mystery
23. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
24. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 5 Home or business office
• Weapons
• Row 2   Knife
• Detectives- Mae/Hank
• Victims- Camille
25. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 25  Shot #2
26. 52 books in 52 weeks  #42 cozy
27. Unruly Reader Bingo  #11 quest

Red at the Bone

 I read this book by Jacqueline Woodson for my January read for our book club.  It is a fast read, I basically read it in one sitting.  I found it engaging although I did struggle with the time line hopping around as well as the narrator.  It wasn't always easy to tell who was telling the story and when in the time frame it was occurring.  I did find the  story to be an engaging one and the characters definitely intrigued me.  There were aspects of the story that lead me to look at different aspects of socio economics and cultural differences from a different perspective.  I found it interesting how Aubrey's mother viewed the government Welfare programs and her attitude toward accepting the assistance.  The other very interesting perspective was how Blacks of differing skin tones are perceived even within the Black community.   

The coming out party was and interesting cultural phenomena that I wasn't familiar with but seemed to be a tradition that Melody's somewhat old fashioned grandparents cherished.  They seemed to struggle to hold on to the past traditions and to want to keep a perception of innocence alive.  They seemed to be a bit naive in their approaches and attitudes.  I cannot help but wonder if their naivete/apparent lack of acceptance regarding sexual orientation was common in the Black community as a whole or if  it was an outcome of their traditional religious foundations.   Perhaps I am just overlaying a misconceived timeline to general acceptance of sexual preferences and believing it was later in my life than I remember it being.  Although, while reading another book recently that had a Black LGBTQ character the statement made to them was it must be hard being gay and black so maybe the acceptance is lower within the Black community or took longer to be as acceptable as I perceive it to be on average in the US.  I would hope at this point we could all just come to see each other as humans and judge us on our individual personalities and behaviors rather than lumping people into buckets and making assumptions about each other.

Overall this was an enjoyable read despite the difficulties I had following the storyline at times.  I also have decided I am not a fan of the dialogue not being placed in quotations.  It makes it difficult to ascertain whether it is actual conversation or an internal dialogue in my opinion.  These factors are why I gave the otherwise interesting and engaging story only 3 stars.   

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Wonderful story teller

This is the first book by Jacqueline Woods I’ve read. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. Her story is a great read about families and the different ways they interact and love each other. This book is full of glimpses of hope loss and sorrow all rolled into one. The reason I didn’t give it 4 stars is I found the story a bit disjointed at times. It was often times difficult to tell who was narrating the section I was reading at the time and also where in time we were in the story. Overall I enjoyed the book and the glimpse into perspective of the different experiences a POC has of events in history and society. I may not totally understand or agree with the depiction of historical events as Ms Woods represented them but I found the correlation to Iris’ history interesting. At the heart of it all we are all human and we experience love and loss during our lives 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #3
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes    NY
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge #AlphabetSoupChallenge  R
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  W
5. Color Coded #2  Red
6. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #  45  book about bones OR “bone” in the title
7. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 6 can read in a day
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #3
9. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #4
10. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge  #8. A book that has won the Women’s Prize for Fiction
11. Around the Year in 52 Books #5. A book by an author on USA Today's list of 100 Black Novelists You Should Read
12. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #3 A Dual Timeline 
13. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #12. The Corruption: about a family
14. BooklistQueen   # 42. Recommended by a Librarian
15. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 1. 2020 Bestseller
16. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #12 read in a single day
17. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #37. BIPOC AUTHOR 
18. Bookworm  #35 by an author of a different ethnicity than you 
19. Magic in the Books Book 4 #3 Includes a rebel character
20. Spells and Spaceships  Standalone Badge:  standalone story
21. Pick your Poison #51 Crossing Boundaries 3- A book about reconciliation
22. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #3 LGBTQ protagonist 
23. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  January: Literary Fiction
24. 52 books in 52 weeks   Row 2-7 skin diving
25. Unruly Reader Bingo  #  Uncoventional