Ms Marvel Vol 3

 

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

Another engaging installment in this series. I enjoy the perspective of the teen acceptance and adjustment to her powers. The conflict between her heritage and her lifestyle is again a central theme. I appreciated that her brother explained the difficulties in her being able to date/marry outside her culture. It is handled well. She also comes to realize with the power comes conflict between what different factions feel the inhumans times should be

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   102
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #126
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #94
4. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  # 16. About a Muslim Protagonist
5. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #18. A romance novel by a BIPOC author 
6. Pick your Poison # 66  a book by a BIPOC author

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

The Night Portrait

 The Night Portrait is an engaging and thought-provoking work of historical fiction.  It combines scenes from DaVinci's 1540s in Milan with WWII time plot.   Each timeframe has 2 story narrators within the era.  Laura Morelli does a wonderful job of merging the 2 narrators' stories without losing their individuality.  There are many subtle connections in the storyline that join the timelines and several times she uses the same final sentence from one narrator as the first sentence to the next narrator's chapter.  

I always appreciate reading WWII books that address the horrors of the war without overwhelming the reader.  In this case, Morelli definitely describes the US soldiers' reactions to the discovery of the trains at Dachau and there is no mistaking the horror as she describes the scene quite graphically across a variety of senses.  Edith's story and how she is torn between survival and being aghast as to the horrors around her is also depicted well and you cannot help but empathize with her.  

The other story arc is in the 1490s and focuses on Da Vinci and his painting of the Lady and the Ermine in Milan.  One of the narrators is the female subject of the portrait.  There are historical explanations of the progressive approach to the painting compared to predecessors of the time.  The story includes references to many of Da Vinci's inventions and works of art.  

Morelli does a wonderful job of presenting facts in a narrative.  Be sure to read the author's note at the conclusion to understand the accuracy of the real characters in the novel.  Additionally, Edith and Dominic, although fictitious, are based upon real people involved in the Nazi art theft and retrieval efforts by the Monuments Men.   I am definitely intrigued to learn more about this group and will watch the movies referenced in her notes soon.  

Any history or art lover will enjoy this book.  I look forward to reading other works by Morelli.  

The Night Portrait: A Novel of World War II and da Vinci's Italy by Laura Morelli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

wonderful historical novel

A fantastic multi timeline story centered around daVinci’s the Lady and the Ermine Morellos does a wonderful job of interweaving the stories of Edith, and Dominic in WWII Poland/Germany and their quest to protect and preserve artwork during the ravages of war. In parallel we learn about the creation of the piece they are trying to save and the painter and subject- Cecilia. There are some very clever ways on interconnecting the storylines and the overall affect is amazing. I highly recommend this book for readers who like historical fiction and a well written story

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   98
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Poland
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #120
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #89
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #12
6. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #11. Discussion-Worthy Book Club Book
7. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO # 38 Dual timeline book
8. OWLS 22  # 25 Time Turner: A book with dual timelines
9. Pick your Poison #4 a "comprehensive" book
10. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #33. A social-horror book

Final Fondue

 This is the 3rd book in the 5 ingredient mystery series by Maya Corrigan.  This series is heavy on character relationships and that really adds to the appeal.   The main and recurring relationship is between Val Deniston and her grandfather.   This is a realistic representation of a relationship between a grown woman and her grandfather.  Particularly the aspects where he is still trying to tell her how to live her life even if he means well.   The book is rife with misunderstandings and people jumping to conclusions; particularly when past events are clouding their judgments.  

Final Fondue by Maya Corrigan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a cleverly written cozy with several red herrings that keep the reader guessing until the end about the guilty party. I liked the references to Hitchcock movies that are interwoven into the storyline. The characters in the story are all dealing with things in their pasts that are well conceived and the characters' reactions feel very appropriate and authentic.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:51  Book #1
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book # 111
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #86
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #84
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #112
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #102
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- garden
• Weapon- rope
• Detectives- Val Deniston
• Victims- Fawn Finchley
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #54  Shot #2
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  # 19. Bottom of Your To-Read List
11. Nancy Drew #2 read a book that has been hidden on your TBR list
12. Pick your Poison #45 a book with a  picture of a cliff or ocean on the cover
13. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO
14. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America
15. Lifetime of Reading  80s grandpa

Wuthering Heights

 I had not previously read Wuthering Heights somehow.  I guess it wasn't on the list of classics we read in high school and I just never picked it up.  I read it this month as our book club selection.  I must admit I understand why it is a classic and I appreciate the depth of the writing and the storytelling.  It is amazing a woman wrote this is the 1800s and I understand why it was published under a pen name.  The characters are well developed and their are some very strong willed women in the story- something I imagine was rather out of the ordinary for the time.   That being said I disliked the characters immensely.  I did not like their personalities or their morals.   I am guessing this was supposed to be the reader's reaction and it is definitely achieved.   Bronte does a wonderful job of showing the difference in the classes in the era and the frivolousness of some of the wealthy.   Modern versions of "privilege" complaints should read the classics to see the true disparity and lack of ability to rise above one's class of birth.  

The descriptions of the moors and the setting surrounding Wuthering Heights is such that it is easy to visualize the sparseness and the despair the environment can cast on the characters.   Discussion questions raise the query as to whether the moors are themselves a character in the story.   They definitely play an important role for certain.   

The aspect of the story that surprised me the most relates to observations and comments about the story as I have heard through my lifetime.  Heathcliff and Catherine are portrayed in a manner that implies this novel is a romance.   Definitely a shock if that is the reader's expectation.  Also,  I have never seen the movie but in our discussions at book club it became apparent that the original Laurence Olivier  version their are major screenplay liberties taken and characters who play a large role excluded from the plot.  It sounds as though the movie is where the misconception of the romance story originates.   

This classic definitely uses old language and reading it on kindle has many advantages as you have the built in dictionary to look up words quickly.  All in all this was a good read and I am glad to have experienced another classic but won't be running out to read those over cozy mysteries in a big hurry.  

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had never read this classic before and I must admit that from hearing about the book and references over the years I would have thought it was a romance. Heathcliff and Catherine have been glamorized and romanticized in comments and definitely in cinema. Wow reading this book could not be a bigger shock to how not a romance story it really is. I truly cannot stomach any of the characters except Nelly, the narrator. The abhorrent behaviors of many of the characters make them unlikeable. That being said I totally understand why this is a classic and the level of complexity of the novel is quite apparent. Bronte obviously writes an amazing story to draw that level of emotions out of the reader even if it is a distaste versus liking the characters. Her level of descriptions of the moors and the environment definitely creating a setting of desolation and despair. I must say though that anyone who tells you this is a story of a love affair has only watched the movie for sure. A perfect dark read for the month of October.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 86 
2. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 3 Friend Recommendation
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #105
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #77
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #10
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #32 A book that intimidates you
7. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #37. Classic You’ve Avoided
8. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #9 everyone has read it but you
9. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #48 Read a classic
10. Nancy Drew # 14. The Whispering Statue (1937) - read a book that has been recommended to you 
11. Pick your Poison #17 a classic novel
12. RAD challenge #aradreadingchallenge #9 Reread a Book from High School
13. Century challenge

Meow if it's Murder

 Meow if it's Murder is the first in the Nick and Nora mysteries by T.C. LoTempio.  I picked this book to satisfy a prompt to read something by an author who shares my initials.  I came across this book on my TBR list and decided it was a perfect choice.  I ended up really enjoying the book more than I expected to.  It is kind of a cross between a cozy and an old-school PI detective book in some ways.  There's a bit of an implied supernatural element at play here as well.  So that is great for readers who enjoy those types of cozy mysteries too.  If you are a cat lover you will definitely enjoy the book and the interactions between Nora and Nick as he wins her over to the feline fans' side of the aisle.   The mystery has lots of twists; it isn't always obvious who is the bad guy, and there are twists and turns until the end.  I did suspect a chunk of the story but didn't get it all correct by any means.  If you are looking  for a new series you might want to give this one a go.

Meow If It's Murder by T.C. LoTempio
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

An enjoyable start to a series featuring a cat and a female detective. This series felt like a bit of a cross between a cozy mystery and a old fashioned PI detective story. There were plenty of twists to keep the reader guessing. The variety of themes from cats, supernatural, culinary and a bit of quirkiness ensures lots of interest by a wide group of readers.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #57
2. What an Animal Book #37
3. Audiobook  #2022AudiobookChallenge 6
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #67
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #54
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #44
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #66
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #61
9. Medical Examiner Challenge 5 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- ocean/boat/prison/road
• Weapon- drown/shot/asthma/shot/car accident
• Detectives- nora charles
• Victims- Lola Granger; Patty Simmons; Adrian Sloan; Nick Atkins; Lott
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #85  Shot #1
12. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  # 26. Author Who Shares Your Initials
13. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #27 Read an office romance novel
14. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #7. A book with an onomatopoeia in its title
15. Pick your Poison #104 a gritty detective story

Curse of the Stage Fright

 This was a comic book that I borrowed from the library.  I admit I am a Scooby Doo fan and have been for 40+ years.  The extra bonus of this book was it was about a performance of Hamlet so I am going to count it toward a prompt to read a Shakespearre work-  a big stretch but I would not be reading anything for that otherwise.   This was a fun flashback to the tv shows and I thoroughly enjoyed my nostalgic read.

Curse of the Stage Fright by Steve Korté
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fun nostalgic read. I always love a good Scooby mystery whether a book or a show it always makes me smile This book was no exception.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #56
2. What an Animal Book #36
3. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #14. Shakespearean Play
4. Nancy Drew #46. The Invisible Intruder (1969) - read a book with less than 50 ratings
5. OWLS 22  #20 Monster Book of Monsters: A scary looking book
6. Pick your Poison #109 a book about your favorite animal

I Must Betray You

 Although I Must Betray You is a Young Adult book by Ruta Sepetys I did not feel it was too immature to enjoy as an adult.  Like Salt to the Sea ( my review) and The Fountains of Silence ( my review) which I have read previously, I found this book to be informative.  It provides some depth into a historical event I was aware of but not in much detail.  I appreciate that Sepetys builds suspense and action into historical fiction.  I hope her works inspire younger readers to enjoy history and learn more about the past of not only our country but the global world around us.  

While this book provides a bleak look at the effects of communism in Romania it is inspiring to read about how Cristian and the others find a way to have their voices heard and to bring about change in their country.   It is hard to fault the bad guys for doing what they have done to survive.   Sepetys creates a narrative that fully captures the inability to trust anyone that is created by the regime.  There is quite a build-up to figuring out who is the guilty betrayer and it is a bit of a shock.   

Be sure to read the author's notes at the end as they provide a foundation of the realities of communism and a lack of freedom of speech.  I highly recommend this book, especially in light of what is going on in Ukraine currently.  It is easy for those of us in stable Democratic countries to forget just how tough like can be elsewhere in the world.  Our struggles, though real are all relative when compared to other nations.  

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an intense story. I am old enough to remember when this revolution happened in Romania and the wall came down. This story, although fiction is an amazingly well written story that combines romance, intrigue and suspicion. The story is well written and is engaging for readers of all ages. Lovers of historical fiction will enjoy this book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #53
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Romania
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  I
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 5 YA Book
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #64
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #64
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #8
8. Bookworm #35 Read a Psychological Thriller
9. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #17. Set in the 1980s
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #32 superheroes/villains OR character in disguise
11. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #18 Highly anticipated read
12. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #13. A book set in the 1980s
13. Pick your Poison #60 a new release you feel guilty reading because your TBR list is so long
14. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  "You"
15. Beyond the Bookends  YA Romance
16. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  Thriller
17. 52 books in 52 weeks  #8 hall pass

Songteller

 Songteller is a wonderful memoir by Dolly Parton.  I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the format.  It was structured as an interview of sorts and Dolly answers questions and prompts to tell stories and the background about many of her songs.  Generally, there is a snippet of her singing her song at the start of the section.   Dolly has such a sweet and happy voice it was such a pleasure to listen to her tell stories.  It was almost as though she was sitting right there next to me as I listened.  

Previous to this book I had no idea just how prolific a songwriter she is.  The impact and diversity of her work are amazing both in the music industry and her other business and philanthropic endeavors.    Readers will be happy to know she discusses some of her most famous- "Nine to Five" and "Jolene".  Also, I forgot she was the songwriter behind Whitney Houston's famous "I Will Always Love You."

I can highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Dolly or enjoys hearing stories told from personal experiences.

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dolly is such a sweet and honest soul and it comes through in this audiobook. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her tell about her songs and what inspired each of the ones they discussed. The format was a unique one as it was like a question and answer session. Listening to her stories about the business, her family and writing songs was such a peaceful experience. So glad I read this book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #54
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes TN
3. Audiobook  #2022AudiobookChallenge #5
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #74
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #53
6. Memoir  #15  Written by someone over 40
7. Non Fiction Reader  #ReadNonFicChal   Book #3. Language
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #30 Audiobook is narrated by the author
9. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #50. Inspiring Memoir
10. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #4 Read a memoir
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #21. A book about a band or musical group
12. Pick your Poison # 70 a non fiction book about someone you admire
13. RAD challenge #aradreadingchallenge #6 A Celeb Memoir
14. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  Jan theme of Memoir
15. Lifetime of Reading  Books that Follow the Main Character over Several Decades
16. 52 books in 52 weeks  #29 Clef Notes

Possible Prompts book could be used for

Memoir  # 9 Written by a woman;  #6 Music Memoir

Pick your Poison #38 a memoir focused on the author's profession

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

Roast Mortem

 Roast Mortem is the 9th book in the Coffeehouse Mysteries set in NYC.  Clare Cosi is the now empty nester single mother who is in business with her ex and her ex mother in law while managing the Village Blend in Greenwich Village.   This makes for some interesting dynamics at times in the stories but overall it is a unique and well constructed set of characters that have logical roles and reactions in the different mysteries.   

Those who like coffee or well written mysteries will like this series.  A familiarity with NYC is a bonus for recognizing destinations and neighborhood that are parts of the stories but definitely is not a requirement to enjoy them.  

Clare is a strong woman and her intelligence and logic are well demonstrated in this book.  I appreciate the research and accuracy of the facts in firefighting and NYC history that are included in the story.  I had not read this series in 3-4 years and am happy to have started reading it again and look forward to finishing up the series. 

Roast Mortem by Cleo Coyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Coffee lovers will definitely enjoy this book, especially if you are at all interested in how an espresso machine works. Clare Cosi, manager of Village Blends, installs an espresso machine while tryign to solve a mystery. Through this installation and the serving of cafe drinks, there is plenty of description on how the machine and the process works. The possible pitfalls are detailed as well. For those not interested, and I admit after awhile that included me, you can just skim over those parts similar to a recipe description in cooking/baking cozy.
I enjoy this series and hadn't read it in a number of years. Now I am excited to catch up on the books I hadn't read yet. Clare is a more mature sleuth but not a senior citizen. Thus, she is a rarer amateur detective. Another pleasant difference is her civilian meddling isn't met with as much opposition as many books present. The mystery itself is well written and has quite a surprise ending on who the guilty party is.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #34
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  R
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 22 Book #1
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #46
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #37
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #29
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #47
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #45
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- restaurant; garage
• Weapon- fire; asphyxiation
• Detectives- Clare Cosi
• Victims- Bigsby B; Jamie Noonan
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #82  Shot #1
12. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #15. With a Two Word Title

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

View all my reviews

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

   

Death by Chocolate Lab

 Death by Chocolate Lab is the first Lucky Paws Petsitting mystery by Bethany Blake.  This is a great book if you are a dog lover.  The book features multiple breeds and their fun antics are sure to put a smile on your face.  Daphne is a bit of a free spirit, she even drives a 70s VW bus,  who is living with her veterinarian sister, Piper.  Her interactions with Piper are clearly ones of a loving relationship but they are certainly portrayed as women who also bicker and get on each other's nerves.  Don't even get them started on how much their mother can drive them nuts.   All very realistic representation of family dynamics in my opinion.

But family is family and Daphne gets involved helping to clear Piper's name when her ex is found murdered at her farm.   Daphne manages to create sparks with the new Detective in town, Johnathan Black-some romantic but mainly ones of irritation. These tensions create additional tensions with Daphne's sort of romantic interest, Dylan, as jealousy rears its head.  Creating some tense moments outside of the mystery solving activities.  This romantic triangle was a bit annoying at times and one fo the reasons I only gave this a 3.  The other factor was the flakiness of Daphne didn't really correspond with her diligence in detecting and I found it a bit irritating as well.  

 The mystery itself is well written with multiple suspects with valid motives.  There are some additional sub plots with mysterious origins as well that help point suspicion along the way.  The actual culprit was identifiable part way through the story but the motive was interesting when it was revealed.  All in all I look forward to reading more about this ensemble of characters and their hometown of Sylvan Springs in the Poconos. 

Death by Chocolate Lab by Bethany Blake
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyable first in a series. The MC, Daphne, is a bit of a free spirit but good hearted. Her relationship with her mother and sister, Piper, feel authentic. They love each other but get on each others nerves. If you love dogs this is a great book for you. Daphne is a pet sitter and a foster dog mom. The descriptions of the dogs and their antics are wonderful. The mystery itself is well constructed and although I had a suspicion of the guilty party the motive was quite a surprise. The book has lots of twists and turns in mysterious subplots that lead to many false guilty suspicions. I look forward to trying more in the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #32
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  PA
3. What an Animal Book #23
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 11 Debut Novel
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #43
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #34
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #26
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #45
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #43
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- woods; field
• Weapon- hammer
• Detectives- Daphne Templeton; Johnathan Black
• Victims- Steve Beamus; Virginia Lockhart
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #80  Shot #1
13. Around the Year in 52 Books #21. A book with one of the Monopoly tokens on the cover
14. Bookworm #23 Read a book about a musician (non-fiction or fiction)
15. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #4. Book with a Twist
16. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #7 debut novel
17. Nancy Drew #42. The Phantom of Pine Hill (1965) - read a book set in the mountains
18. Pick your Poison #86 a book that features a classic car

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 Safe House

 Given this is the 61st book in the Stone Barrington series by Stuart Woods I am not surprised it is formulaic and predictable.   This was the first and probably the last time I read it as an audiobook.  I did not care for the narrator's portrayal of Dino Bacchetti's voice. It was far too nasally, and I have lived in NYC so I am familiar with NY accents, this was an over the top nasal twang.  

  The other aspect of this book that I did not care for was the level of stupidity the characters portrayed.  Bill Eggers the managing partner of the law firm Stone works for was made to sound like a bumbling idiot.  The choices Stone and Jenna (his client) make regarding entrance to properties where they are staying are pathetic considering they are being pursued by individuals looking to kill them both.  

I don't read these novels for intellectual stimulation or hard hitting thoughts, but this particular installment was darn right annoying.  I will not be rushing to check out the next Stone Barrington entry anytime soon.

A Safe House by Stuart Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is about on par with the others in the series in terms of plot complexity and predictability. At least Stones’s bedroom antics are monogamous in this book. It was full of globetrotting to his different homes while trying to outrun a hired gun of an angry ex. I really am giving this a 2.5 because I did not care for how dumb Bob Eggers was portrayed. He was made to be a bumbling idiot vs successful law partner. Also the ludicrous behaviors of Stone and Jenna in light of attempted murders of both of them were ridiculous. I know someone is pursuing me but I’m going to buzz them into my office unattended. Come on. Also I listened to the audio book for this and I did not care for the portrayal of Dino Bacchetti’s voice. It rubbed me the wrong way.
If you want a mindless thriller that you can get lost in for a day or 2 then this will meet that requirement don’t read it for hard hitting storylines or literary value

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #29
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  ME
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 11 Book #2
4. Audiobook  #2022AudiobookChallenge  #2
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #40
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #43
7. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- car; home office; bedroom
• Weapon- car bomb; gun
• Detectives- stone barrington; dino bacchetti
• Victims- Jamie Jacoby; Wallace Slade; Harley Quince
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 5 Shot #4
10. Around the Year in 52 Books #51 A book published in 2022
11. Bookworm #30 Read a Revenge Story
12. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #29. An Audiobook
13. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #7 Thriller novel 
14. Nancy Drew #5. The Secret of Shadow Ranch (1931) - read a book with horses in the story
15. Pick your Poison #23 a suspense novel
16. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  April: Mystery

A Murder between the Pages

 

A Murder between the Pages by Amy Lillard continues on the antics of the ladies of the Friday Night book Club and their abilities to test Arlo's patience.  I enjoy the growing details of the relationship between these women and Arlo as well as that of Arlo and Chloe's friendship.   The awkward romantic triangle between Arlo, Mads, and Sam, while a bit cliché, is an interesting dynamic that overlays the mysteries as well.  This book depicts life in small town Sugar Springs, Mississippi which I imagine is quite like living in a small town in many areas of the US.  The ladies of the book club use the beauty parlor as the source for town gossip to help them investigate both the 50 year old mystery as well as the current murder that both involved Lillyfield Manor and the wealthy Whitney family.  There is definitely a sense of reverence for the wealthy Whitney family whether they deserve it or not and there is a sense of mystery that surrounds their life as it differs from the rest of the town's residents.  These details add to the storyline and the mystery. The mystery was a bit predictable as I formulated my suspicions about halfway through the story, but it was still enjoyable to see how the story played out.   

The mystery ends with a cliff hanger that I am curious to learn more about in the next book in the series.  

A Murder Between the Pages by Amy Lillard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This second book in the series does a wonderful job of incorporating small town Mississippi into the plot. The antics of the Friday Night Book Club add a wonderful dimension to the mysteries. The structure of this story was well written and I enjoyed the correlations the book club made between the real life story in their town with that in the novel written by a local raised author. The realism of their actions is a bit stretched as I am sure they would be in much more trouble in real life for their interference but it still adds a fun tone to the story.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:21  Book #1
2. What an Animal Book #22
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book # 9
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #32
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #24
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #42
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #41
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- stairs
• Weapon- statue
• Detectives- Arlo/Mads
• Victims- Hayley
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 60 Shot #2
11. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #52. You Own But Haven’t Read
12. Beyond the Bookends  book set in bookstore
13. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  mystery