saint x

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

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

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

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

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

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

Death on Cozumel Island

I will admit I was drawn to Death on Cozumel Island because I have many happy memories of visits to the area during cruise vacations.  I am intrigued to go for a land trip now after reading about the fabulous scuba diving available there.   The scuba diving was the other aspect of Cindy Quayle's book that captured my interest.  I was able to certify and dive a few years before Covid hit.  It is now an item to get back to once I have successfully lost weight.  Quayle did an amazing job at capturing the feeling of the open water diving experience.  She not only included the positive aspects such as enjoying the beauty of the flora and fauna under the surface, but she discussed the struggles of the time on the surface quite accurately as well.  Besides the great descriptions of the setting for the book, the actual mystery was well constructed.  I would say the only negative I have to mention is the extreme degree to which she created an unlikeable victim.  It worked with the story though and I'm sure people have encountered such boors on their vacations.  I look forward to reading more in this series.  

Death on Cozumel Island by Cindy Quayle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun mystery even if it seems a bit of a stretch that Claire would go out on a linb for people she just met. The mystery and motivation are well structured. The paradise of Cozumel is well represented in this story. Claire clearly relishes experiencing the world and embracing the experiences. Any scuba fans will love reading about her diving adventures. Makes me want to decertify and go dive there myself. Looking forward to more in the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  79
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  Q
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
5. What an Animal Book #29
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #71
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #34
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #59
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #51
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #106  Shot #1
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
12. 23 in 2023 # 1 A book published in 2023
13. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #52 Published in 2023
14. Around the Year in 52 Books #51. A book published in 2023
15. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #24. 2023 New Release
16. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #1. 2023 New Release
17. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #12 A book published in spring 2023
18. Pick your Poison  # 12 A book about a hobby you do or would like to do
19. Read with Allison #31 2023 New Release 
20. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 13 2023 New Release
21. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  JUNE- Take the Plunge set around water

Mai Tai One On

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

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

 

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

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

I’m will continue to read the series.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  74
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  62 
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  HI
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
6. What an Animal Book #26
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #67
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #55
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #33
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #56
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #49
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #104  Shot #1
13. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
14. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 3 Hawaii
15. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  June Take the Plunge- set around water
16. Read Your Bookshelf June: The title for your June book will have half as many letters as your May title  11 vs 22

Unicorns have Bad Manners

 I picked this book because I needed a book about unicorns and dinosaurs and this fit the bill twice over.  It was a cute book with lots of fun illustrations.

Unicorns Have Bad Manners by Rachel Halpern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute kids book with great illustrations. Teaches kids about looking at things from other’s perspectives

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  70
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  58 
3. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  U
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #63
5. What an Animal Book #24
6. Bookworm #59 Read a book involving Dinosaurs
7. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #2 about dragons or robots
8. Pick your Poison  # 101 Natural History: A book with dinosaurs in it
9. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 14 Unicorns

The Cracked Spine

 The Cracked Spine is not the first book I have read by Paige Shelton even if it is the first in the Scottish Bookstore series.  Like her Dangerous Type series, Shelton writes an amazing book with relatable characters.   Not all characters are endearing but they all feel real.  The other feature of her stories that I appreciate is her ability to mix the descriptions of the locale into the storyline without feeling as though you are reading an abundance of descriptive prose.   This succeeds in allowing the reader to feel as thought they are in the setting with the characters without losing the flow of the mystery.  

I am missing reading more of the Dangerous Type books so I was very happy to find this other series by Paige Shelton.  This is my second book of the year set in Edinburgh and it has definitely inspired me to want to travel there soon.  My mother's maternal side of the family is from here and it would be fun to revisit the place of my Ainsley heritage as I haven't been there in more than 40 years.  

The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable cozy. I especially enjoyed it as an audiobook with the narration using different accents and voices to reflect the different characters. The mystery is well constructed with plenty of doubt cast upon many of the suspects. Delaney is a bold and adventurous character with a slightly unusual ability. Her new found family at the Cracked Spine bookstore is quirky but loveable. I look forward to reading the series.

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  43
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  36 
3. Audiobook  #2023AudiobookChallenge 5
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #38
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #32
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #16
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #34
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #30
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 85 Shot #4
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
13. Bookworm #6 Read a book you meant to read for last year's challenge
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #9. A book that has been on your TBR for 2+ years or more
15. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 28 Castles

Beagles Love Steak Secrets

 Beagles Love Steak Secrets by C A Phipps is a great 2nd book in the Beagle Diner series.  I love how Cinnamon the Beagle is given human-like traits and seems to understand and communicate with her owner, Lyra.  The pair have moved home to Lyra's hometown along with Dan and Maddie- Lyra's remaining support staff after leaving her old tv chef life.  It is an adjustment, not only to the properties- the diner and her childhood home, but also to reacclimate into small-town life.   Not everyone is happy she has returned home though.  Rob McKenna, her elderly neighbor, was welcoming and stepped in as a friend.  Unfortunately, his untimely passing leaves a hole in her heart as well as a mystery to solve.   In the course of the investigation, town secrets and long-forgotten squabbles arise and add to the confusion of whodunnit.  The mystery is well written with plenty of personality drama thrown in to add to the characters' appeal.   The guilty party ended up being someone I suspected but the reasoning behind it was not as I had thought.  I look forward to reading the next book in the series and hope there are more to come.  

Beagles Love Steak Secrets by C.A. Phipps
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lyra is a strong female chef who has given up a dream restaurant to move back to her hometown. There she and her team are workouts renovate a diner and her childhood home. Unfortunately someone wants to disrupt her plans. This someone is quite adept at hiding their identity and this much of the small town is under suspicion. Great characters and an interesting plot.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  36
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 29
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  OR
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 +1
6. What an Animal Book #9
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #31
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #26
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Animal #2 
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #28
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #24
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #78  Shot #2
13. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
14. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #29 Sends you Down a Rabbit Hole
15. Around the Year in 52 Books #24. A character that might be called a Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, or Spy
16. Bookworm #12 Free Space! Pick any book
17. Cozy Mysteries   #20 Has a purple cover
18. HP Quidditch 23 #33 Harry Potter: Includes a celebrity
19. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #39.the highest-rated book on your Goodreads TBR list
20. Pick your Poison  # 52 A book by an author with initials in their name
21. Read with Allison #2 Purple Spine
22. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 20 Animals: Cat Books | Dog Books | Dogs In Lit
23. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Animal 

Every Last Fear

 Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay is an intense psychological thriller that was a 5 Star read for me.  This is a fast paced novel that is hard to put down.  I stayed up until 2am to finish it.  I was especially intrigued by the choice of locales for the Pines' new residence.  It is my hometown in the western suburbs of Chicago.  This choice led me to do digging on the author to see if there was a connection to Naperville, but I couldn't find one.  For this reason I am actually going to use this book for the down the rabbit hole prompt since I spent quite a while trying to figure out why Naperville would be selected.  

For a debut novel, this was a great read in my opinion.  The multiple-voice narration and dual timeline worked well and definitely added to the story rather than being a distraction.  This approach provided a vehicle for each character to reveal their own involvement in the matter and their secrets.   It made an already tragic story even more emotional and gut-wrenching.   If you are looking for a roller coaster and high-speed read this is one for you. 

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

intense the whole way through

I had no idea what this book was about but I stayed up late finishing it once I started. Crazy intensity that keeps the reader turning pages. The book is set in 2 timelines before the crime that shook the Pines’ lives and after. Everything feels like fate and each member played a role in the drama. The who and why was intense til the end and the reveal was a perfect culmination

View all my reviews 

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  35
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  28 
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Mexico 
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #30
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #25
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #27
7. Medical Examiner Challenge  6 Toe Tags
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #3. A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the 2023 list
9. Bookworm #7 Read a book with a basic shape on the cover
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #18. With Dual Timelines
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #4 meant to read it last year
12. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #38. Read a horror/creepy novel
13. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #40. DUAL TIMELINES
14. Pick your Poison  #84 A book you would wrestle from the jaws of a tiger to read
15. Read with Allison #5 Mood Read
16. Sci and Nature # 11 About a Dangerous Creature
17. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 30 Monsters

Murder in an Irish Village

 Murder in an Irish Village is a charming cozy to kick off the Irish Village series by Carlene O'Connor.  The descriptions of the village are wonderful and welcoming. The authenticity of the terminology and characteristics are a welcome feature.   It is hard not to want to grab a plane ticket and head over to the Emerald Isle after reading this book.  

The O'Sullivan clan is a well-written family unit with its share of squabbles and differences while being a tight-knit crew.  The mysterious death of a family rival in their bistro was enough to put a strain on those tight bonds and to create suspicion among all of the village residents.  It is hard to imagine anyone you have known all your life to be a murderer but that is the case unless it is the outsider, the Yank.   Sioban and her siblings work to investigate and clear James' name.  Unfortunately, their discoveries open many wounds and secrets.  The Village of Kilbane will not recover any time soon.  I plan to read the next in the series to see how it comes along.  

Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O'Connor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An authentic feeling book set in Ireland. The use of Irish phrases and words adds a truly authentic feel to the characters. It’s easy to visualize the countryside around Cork and in Kilbane in particular. The mystery is well written including the why and who. The small village was leveraged to add to the difficulty in solving because who wants to suspect someone they’ve known their whole lives and who have reached out to help your family. Add to it the mysterious Yank with unknown intentions and everyone is looking at each other sideways. Siobhan is a character that is dealing with internal struggles between her dreams and her sense of obligation. I look forward to reading more about this family and village.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  29
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  25 
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes Ireland
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #27
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #22
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #7
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #23
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #20
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 98 Shot #1
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags stabbed
13. Around the Year in 52 Books #20. A book with a cover or title that includes a route of travel
14. HP Quidditch 23 #49 Slothgrip Roll: A book that’s taken you a long time to read
15. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #38. ROMANTIC INTEREST STARTS WITH 'M'
16. Pick your Poison  # 53 A book your initial reaction to is "I know I'll love this"
17. Read with Allison #18 Book in a Series
18. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 #26 Ireland: Ireland Books | Ireland Movies
19. Read Your Bookshelf The title has to start with the next letter in the alphabet from your February book
20. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge Baggage

Through the Liquor Glass

 This is the 5th book in the Literary Pub series by Sarah Fox.  I am anxiously awaiting the next book now that I have finished Through the Liquor Glass.  I thoroughly enjoy the characters of Sadie and Grayson and enjoy how we see their relationship progressing as the series moves forward.  In this book, we see another personal relationship of Sadie's in detail when her mother comes to visit.  This visit sparks a range of emotions that I think many readers can relate to with their mothers.  Sadie wants her mother to be proud and approve of her choices since establishing her home in Shady Creek, Vt.  Unfortunately, the unexpected discovery of a body at Grayson's brewery makes the reunion a bit strained.  Sadie struggled to keep the situation from her mother in order to avoid clouding her opinion of her new boyfriend but secrets have a way of causing stress and revealing themselves.  

Overall this mystery is well written and has some side mysteries that fit within the plot line.  In fact, those side mysteries help to cast suspicion on several people, thus distracting Sadie from finding the real killer and clearing Grayson's name.   I cannot wait to read the next book to see what happens with Sadie and Grayson next.  

 Through the Liquor Glass by Sarah Fox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book gave the reader a chance to see Sadie’s interactions with her mother. I think anyone who has ever sought their parent’s approval will relate to the trepidation Sadie was feeling about her visit. Unfortunately that visit became strained when Sadie had to coverup the reason for Grayson’s absence as well as her clandestine investigation into another murder. The story was well constructed and there were side mysteries that added to the suspicions surrounding the original murder. I really enjoyed this book and felt as though I was right there In Vermont investigating and celebrating with Sadie.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #22  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 18  
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  VT
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  S
5. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 6 Book #1
6. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 5
7. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book # 20
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #4
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #16
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #13
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #41  Shot #5
13. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
14. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  # 14 Survival Story
15. Around the Year in 52 Books # 31. A book found by inputting a favorite author on https://www.literature-map.com
16. Bookworm #24 Free Space! Pick any book
17. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #1 cozy read or cover
18. Cozy Mysteries   #3 Has a beverage recipe
19. HP Quidditch 23 #6 Quaffle: With a title including the letter Q
20. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #18. Highly anticipated read
21. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #23. A 2022 RELEASE YOU NEGLECTED
22. Pick your Poison  # 106 A book with a restaurant on the cover 
23. Read with Allison #42 Featuring a Murder
24. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 #27 Beer
25. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge Feb Getaway

Dead Heat

 I started reading Dick Francis novels again last year and have remembered how much I enjoy his work.  I think the stories are a bit more engaging to me now as my son's girlfriend rides and I have now been exposed to the horseshow world peripherally.  This allows me to have more of a connection to the details in the novels Francis has written.  This one was written in 2007 after he had taken a break in writing and just returned to publication in the previous year.  

I really enjoyed Dead Heat and the character in the lead, Max.  There were several references to contemporary restaurants and chefs that made the connections to the story even stronger.   I think that is one of the aspects of Francis' writing that I enjoy.  He gives depth not only to his characters but also to the topics discussed in the stories.  In this case, there was a great deal about running a restaurant and being a chef since that is Max's career.   

There was also a great bit written about the polo scene.  It was interesting to learn some of the subtleties of the sport both in its play and rules and also the descriptions of the spectators and participants.  I appreciate that much of this information is conveyed either by the reflection of discovery by Max's research or conveyed through conversations with other spectators at the match.  It is far more interesting than just reading a factual paragraph or two.  

I found myself connecting with Max on an emotional level because his experiences and emotions were portrayed in a realistic manner.   He is a civilian exposed to some extreme violence and he reacted in a manner typical to how I would expect someone to process such an experience.  Rather than making him stoic and a hero we see his emotions and weaknesses which makes him that much more appealing as a character.  

Overall I really enjoyed this book both based on the plot and the mystery it entailed as well as the characters. There are some graphic descriptions of the violent aftermath of a bombing so readers should be aware before reading the novel.

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

Dick Francis did it again with another suspense filled novel set amongst the horse world This one have a glimpse into the life of polo and explained some of the basics as well as some unique nuances. The storyline was well written with the various unknowns being unraveled at appropriate times. I felt the experience Max had and the way it haunted him was an realistic representation of how someone would react to the situation he found himself in. I always enjoy reading Dick Francis and this book was no exception

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 21
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  England
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   F
4. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2023  Book # 2
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #16
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #15
7. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #42  Shot #3
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 22 Toe Tags
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #28 Includes a Funeral
10. Around the Year in 52 Books #27. A book by an author from continental Europe
11. Bookworm #36 Free Space! Pick any book
12. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #49 horses. that’s the prompt.
13. HP Quidditch 23 #52 Double Eight Loop: Written by multiple authors
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #31.Read a book with two or more authors
15. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #17. BOOK WITH ORANGE SPINE
16. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #33 A book about an athlete/sport
17. Pick your Poison  # 66 A book with a person jumping on the cover
18. Read with Allison #37 Bought Secondhand
19. Sci and Nature # 8 About Science Gone Wrong
20. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 
21. Unruly Reader Bingo  #8 Fire Drill
22. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Feb Western Europe

Parable of the Sower

 I must admit I wasn't looking forward to this prompt from the 52 book club.  In general, I am not a big fan of specifying a specific author to read, I prefer the more generalized "pick an author that fits certain criteria" prompts.   The reason I wasn't too keen on reading Octavia Butler is I am generally not a science fiction or a dystopian reader.  As far as I know, her books fall into those tropes.   That being said, I picked Parable of the Sower in a graphic novel format to fulfill this requirement.  

Once I began reading the book and got past the initial adjustment to the format and learning the characters, I ended up appreciating the book.  I found there to be lots of thought-provoking aspects to the plot and the actual verses contained within the story.   I found myself stopping and reflecting on society and my own personal beliefs, particularly about religion.  I am a firm believer that the world would be a better place if we all just treated each other with the kindness and respect we would like to receive.  Instead of judging and critiquing others assume the best.   If their actions prove to be unsatisfactory for your morals and ethics then chose to move on;  judging others based on their appearance, background, and beliefs without getting to know them is a recipe for a lot of anger in your life.  Knowing someone's story gives you a better chance to know them, and even if you don't agree on all things it doesn't mean you cannot get along and be friendly.   Our diversity is what makes the world an interesting and unique place.  Much of this story aligns with this thought process and I appreciated that.  

I felt Butler brings her perspective as a Black woman without being too judgemental, but rather provides an opinion without lecturing, allowing the reader to take in the story and form their own perspective.  I am glad I read this book but won't be rushing to read any more in the Parable series soon as I really do not care for the doomsday tone of dystopian stories.  

Parable of the Sower by Damian Duffy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

food for thought

While dystopian stories are not my normal reading choice I did find this one engaging once I got into the story. There are many aspects of belief presented here and how amongst horrors people can find hope. Much of the book is about survival and the story talks about the different ways people can be enslaved. While there is discussion of race and discrimination it felt as though it was about economic disparity as well. There are definite parallels to the struggles seen in inner city US today and the story highlights illiteracy and drugs as a factor in the issues. Many ways it feels like a warning of what can come if we as a nation don’t start caring and respecting life and each other instead of constantly being at odds and choosing sides

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #19  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 16  
3. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge P
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #18
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #14
6. 23 in 2023 # 15 A book about a religion you don't practice
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #48 A Book by Octavia E Butler
8. 52 books in 52 weeks  #24 speculative fiction
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #11. A book about a person/character with a disability
10. Bookworm #50 Read a book where the main character is a Villain or Anti-hero
11. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #47. Modern Classic
12. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #41 graphic novel outside your fave genre
13. HP Quidditch 23 #35 Angelina Johnson: Written by a BIPOC author
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #36. Read a graphic novel, manga, or comic
15. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #32. A BILINGUAL CHARACTER
16. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #23 A book with a map
17. Pick your Poison  # 79 A book with something that can be lit by a match on the cover
18. Read with Allison #36 Fantasy
19. Sci and Nature # 15 Cli-Fi (Climate Fiction)
20. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 11 LGBT Graphic Novel
21. Unruly Reader Bingo  #7 Apple
22. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Gardens and Library
23. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge Feb Getaway

     

A West Side Love Story

 A West Side Love Story is a retelling of the classic Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet.   This was a such a great read.  I loved all the drama and indecision that was felt by Mariana and Angelo.   Having to choose between their growing attraction for each other and their loyalty to family is tearing them both apart.  The generation-long dispute between the 2 families comes to a head during the San Antonio Mariachi Battle.  I loved how Priscilla Oliveras mixed the culture and traditions within a modern story.  The subtext about the dangers of gentrification and its unintended consequences was well-written without being an in-your-face lecture.  I appreciate that the story presented both sides with room for the reader to think about the topic on their own. If you are looking for a great romance with minimal steamy scenes this is a great read.

West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

an emotional story of forbidden romance

This book was a wonderful example of a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The growth of the relationship between Mariana and Angelo amidst the strains of a decades long feud was full of emotion and stress. Both adept at managing their own and their family’s needs and struggles makes their burgeoning relationship that much more complicated. You cannot help but root for them to succeed. I also liked the details of the mariachi music and other aspects like the importance of family in their culture. I really appreciated the way the Spanish was woven into the prose and then translated. It was clever and flowed amazingly. If you are looking for a Feb romance read with some steamy scenes that centers around devotion to family while trying to make a forbidden romance work then this is a read for you

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 18 
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #15   
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  TX
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  O
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #17
6. 23 in 2023 # 11 A book by William Shakespeare or a retelling
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #20 a Book about siblings  
8. 52 books in 52 weeks  #18 isn't it romantic
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #30 
10. Bookworm #52 Read a "Found Family" story 
11. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #33. About Adoption 
12. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #37 all the romance 
13. HP Quidditch 23 #22 Chudley Cannons: Includes a battle
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #15  Read a retelling
15. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #1. RECOMMENDED BY THE NERD DAILY
16. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #14 A modern retelling of a classic
17. Pick your Poison  # 119 A book about finding hope when life is challenging
18. RAD Challenge #aradreadingchallenge #4 Retelling of a Classic
19. Read with Allison #16 Romance
20. Sci and Nature # 7 About Women in Science
21. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 17
22. Unruly Reader Bingo  #25 After School Special
23. What's in a Name   #4 Chess Piece 
24. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  February: Romance
25. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge jun romance

Winter Takes All

 Winter Takes All was a fun cozy I found on my kindle when looking for a title with Winter in it for a mini prompt for a challenge.  I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it was to read about Crystal and her new found career in outdoor adventures.  It was a nice mix of setting and description mixed with mystery and clues.  I look forward to reading more in the series in the future.  

Winter Takes All by M.L. Erdahl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I kind of stumbled upon it on my kindle while trying to complete a mini challenge of a book with a season in the title. I really liked the level of description of the time Crystal spends in the outdoors I really felt like I could picture the scene. I also liked the way the storyline would jump back as a reflection of a past scenario when Crystal was telling a story to someone. It made the story a bit more interesting rather than one long week. I look forward to finding more in this series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #14  
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   WA
3. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  W
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
6. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2023  Book # 1
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #12
8. Cruisin thru Cozies career #2
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #11
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #9
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 36 Shot #6
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags pushed
13. 23 in 2023 # 5  A book that starts with the letter W
14. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #2 Featuring an Inheritance
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #6 character vs nature
16. Around the Year in 52 Books #43  A book that involves a murder
17. Bookworm #29 Read a book that has under 1,000 reviews or ratings on a website or app 
18. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #12. You Own But Haven’t Read
19. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #3 takes place primarily in winter or a cold region
20. Cozy Mysteries   #9 Male Author
21. HP Quidditch 23 #13 Quidditch Gloves: Set in winter
22. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #25 Read a book with a person on the cover
23. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #39. AN AUTHOR NEW TO YOU
24. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #44 A book that was self-published
25. Pick your Poison  # 7 A book about a missing person
26. Read with Allison #43 Title Starts With "W"
27. Sci and Nature # 27 About Hiking or Camping
28. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 7
29. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  All
30. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Jan new beginnings
31. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge Jan Starting Over