Showing posts with label ATY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ATY. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Poinsettias and the Perfect Crime

 Poinsettias and the Perfect Crime is book #3 Diana Flowers Floriculture Mysteries  This series is a lot of fun to see the different dynamics amongst the characters.  This installment is full of family drama and residual high school age drama.   Mixed in among all this is the murder of Bill Wrexton and the disappearance of a valuable diamond.  The plot is a mix of light hearted fun directed at Diana's friend, Fergus and his conspiracy theories and a bit like a government spy novel.   Diana has drama in the form of her ex boyfriend appearing on the scene as well as a high school rivalry resurfacing.   Meanwhile it is the holiday season and her floral business is booming and expanding.  This is always an interesting sub story and learning experience.  I look forward to reading more of this series.  If you want a light hearted and somewhat humorous cozy this is a great series to try.  


Poinsettias and the Perfect CrimePoinsettias and the Perfect Crime by Ruby Loren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

a great mix of family drama and a murder. there are lots of plot twists that read like a james bond movie at times that make this book a fun read the whole conspiracy theory aspect of the series is lots of fun too and makes you pause at times

View all my reviews


Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

  1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:26  Book #2
  2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #80
  3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #61
  4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #51
  5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #75
  6. Craving for Cozies  Book #68
  7. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
  8. Beachcomber Challenge  
    • Crime Scene- den
    • Weapon- knife
    • Detectives- Diana Flowers/Fergus
    • Victims- Bill Wrexton
  9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 30  Shot #4
  10. Around the Year in 52 Books #36. 2 books related to flora and fauna - Book 2
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Friday, December 3, 2021

Around the Year in 52 Books

 

  • This challenge is hosted on Goodreads in the Around the Year group.  There are a variety of prompts among the 52 selections.  You can create a topic on Goodreads to track your progress if you wish.  The 2022 challenge can be found here

My tracking page on Goodreads can be found here.  

COMPLETED 12/12/22

Prompts completed 52/52 

1. A book with a main character whose name starts with A, T, or Y

2. A book connected to a book you read in 2021

  • Murder at the Taffy Shop (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery, #2) by Maddie Day
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/9/22

    • 3. A book with 22 or more letters in the title

    4. A book that fits your favorite prompt that did not make the list ---A book where the title and author name are in two different colours---

    5. A book by an author with two sets of double letters in their name

  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney 
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/23/22

    • 6. A book with an image of a source of light on the cover 

    7. A book related to psychology, neuroscience or the mind 

    8. 3 books set on three different continents - Book 1

    9. 3 books set on three different continents - Book 2

  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/23/22

    • 10. 3 books set on three different continents - Book 3

  • Criminal Mischief by Stuart Woods
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/21/22

    • 11. A book from historical fiction genre

  • Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/13/22

    • 12. A book related to glass 

    13. A book about a woman in STEM

  • Beauty Expos are Murder by Libby Klein
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/23/22

    • 14. A book with fewer than 5000 ratings on Goodreads

  • Dachshund Through the Snow (A Very Murder Christmas #1) by Rosie A Point
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/6/22

    • 15. A book without a person on the cover

  • Death by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/17/22

    • 16. A book related to Earth Day   IDEA:  A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

    17. A book from NPR's Book Concierge

  • People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review  2/3/22

    • 18. A book by an Asian or Pacific Islander author  IDEA:  Aunty Lee's Chilled Revenge by Ovidia Yu

    19. A book that involves alternate reality, alternate worlds, or alternate history

  • Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/16/22

    • 20. A fiction or nonfiction book that is set during 1900 -1951

  • The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher
  • Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/22/22

    • 21. A book with one of the Monopoly tokens on the cover  IDEA:  The Quick and the Thread by Amanda Lee

      22. A book with a Jewish character or author

      23. A book that features loving LGBTQIA+ relationship

    1. Body in the Books by Heather Huffman
    2. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/26/22

      3. 24. A book related to inclement weather 

      25. A book less than 220 pages OR more than 440 pages

    3. Candy Canes and Culprits: A Cozy Christmas Novella by Tricia L. Sanders
    4. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/25/22

      5. 26. 2 books with the same word in the title - Book 1   IDEA:  Scone Cold Dead by Kaitlynn Dunnett

      27. 2 books with the same word in the title - Book 2   IDEA:  Scone Cold Killer by Lena Gregory

      28. A book that won an award from Powell's list of book awards  IDEA:  A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James

      29. A book set on or near a body of water

    5. Killing in a Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher and Terry Farley Moran
    6. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/10/22

      7. 30. A book related to mythology 

        31. A book published at least 10 years ago

        32. A book where the main character is a female detective/private eye/police officer

      1. Killer Research (Library Lover's Mystery, #12) by Jenn McKinlay
      2. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/3/22

        3. 33. The next book in a series  IDEA:  Butter Off Dead by Leslie Budewitz

      3. Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein  
      4. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 3/3/22

        5. 34. A book with an academic setting or with a teacher that plays an important role

        35. 2 books related to flora and fauna - Book 1  IDEA: Poinsettias and the Perfect Crime by Ruby Loren

        36. 2 books related to flora and fauna - Book 2  IDEA:  Delphiniums and Deception by Ruby Loren

          37. A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author's name  

          38. A book by a Latin American author IDEA:  City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende

          39. A book from the TIME list of 100 Best YA Books of All Time 

          40. A book related to one of the 22 Tarot Major Arcana cards
        1. Fudging the Books (Cookbook Nook Mystery, #4) by Daryl Wood Gerber
        2. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/24/22

          3. 41. A book with a theme of food or drink

        3. Mango, Mambo, and Murder (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery, #1) by Raquel Reyes
        4. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/2/22

          5. 42. A book with a language or nationality in the title  

            43. A book set in a small town or rural area 

            44. A book with gothic elements 

            45. A book related to a game

          1. A Tennis Pro To Die For (Cozy Mysteries to Die For, #3) by Judy Moore
          2. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/11/22

            3. 46. A book with a non-human as one of the main characters

            47. A book with handwriting on the cover 

            48. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2021 or 2022  IDEA:  The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

            49. A book connected to the phrase "Here (There) Be Dragons"   

              50. A book that involves aging, or a character in their golden years

              51. A book published in 2022 IDEA:  Hot and Sour Suspects by Vivien Chien

              52. A book with a time-related word in the title

            1. Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
            2. Blog Post and Goodreads Review 3/2/22


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              Tuesday, November 16, 2021

              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 OnCarry 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.


              View all my reviews


              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 


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              Friday, October 22, 2021

              Shadow of the Wind

               This is a translated work by Carlos Ruiz Zafron.  It is a bit historical mystery, a bit magical realism with some romance thrown in.  This book was selected for my book club and I wasn't too sure about the selection but I ended up really enjoying the book.  It is a bit of a slow read at the beginning, not in the sense that you feel as though you are trudging through chapters.  Rather, it is just a slow methodical read that is quite enjoyable.  As the book progresses the pace definitely picks up and I was hard pressed to put the book down.  The mystery unravels as you learn about the characters and their intertwining stories.  There are lots of characters that can be a bit difficult to keep straight initially, but as the story progresses the familiarity grows as well. The book spans a period of 9 years in Daniel's life and reveals his growth and obsession with Julian Carax, the author he has become enamored with after selecting his work from the Cemetery of Lost Books

              Zafron writes characters that draw emotion from the reader.  Some you cannot help but root for as an underdog type character, others are down right despicable and unlikeable.  The story definitely draws the reader in and it would be impossible not to feel emotion for the characters and their plights.  He is also a masterful story teller who weaves different character storylines together masterfully.  Each section reveals someone else's connection to the narrator, Daniel, and Julian Carax.  I thought the stories were well connected and made sense.  There are other works in the series and I look forward to seeing if they are separate storylines about books selected from the Cemetery of it there will be stories told from others' perspectives.   Time will tell but I do intend to try the next book for sure.  


              The Shadow of the WindThe Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
              My rating: 5 of 5 stars

              This book starts out at a slow steady pace but gradually picks up to a fast paced Nobel you don’t want to put down. Ruiz creates characters and a storyline that weave together in amazing intricacies but are still quite plausible. The whole novel is set amid the lure and mystery of Barcelona and is set in the era of turmoil surrounding the civil war. The implicit lack of trust of Barcelona citizens helps fuel the story more. I look forward to reading more in this series

              View all my reviews



              Challenge Prompts

              The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  


              1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #107
              2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "Z"
              3. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 9 a classic 
              4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #115
              5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #129
              6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #109
              7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #12
              8. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #21  A genre hybrid 
              9. Around the Year in 52 Books #37. A book from the Are You Well Read in World Literature list  


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              Tuesday, September 7, 2021

              Binti

               I selected this book by Nnedi Okorafor as a read for an Afrofuturist book.  This book was definitely one that took me outside my normal genre/comfort zone.  I was pleasantly surprised by the book as I am not generally a sci fi/fantasy reader.  This book did a wonderful job of combining Earth and space species in the story.   Binti is a smart, strong willed young women who has grown up in the Namib desert.  I have had the pleasure of visiting this desert so it made it a bit easier to visualize and imagine the setting I think.  

              Binti is from a people who are considered outsiders within her own country/region but are accepted as they play a large role in the functioning of the planet and the species.  Her people, the Himba, are the makers of the astrolabes which are a vital part of the society.  She is  even more special as she is further gifted in math and harmonizing.  

              The story has a central theme of a war raging between two cultures as well as one of a coming of age element.  Binti wants to pursue her passion, not follow according to her family's plan for her to takeover her father's successful business.  Her boldness drops her into a community of like minded scholars but also places herself in a precarious position of belonging to neither of 2 races who are at war with each other.  

              The story was an adventure and shows the compassion of living beings and how friendships can overcome differences when people give each other a chance.   There is a series of books in this tale and I may pursue reading more of them in the future since I did enjoy this one and it was a nice quick read.  



              BintiBinti by Nnedi Okorafor
              My rating: 5 of 5 stars

              This is not my normal genre but I really enjoyed this sci fi/ fantasy novel. The description is wonderful and brings out the ability to visualize the scenes. The characters are a mix of both human and extra terrestrial. This is the first in a series and it sets up an interesting premise and characters with an intriguing relationship that will be interesting to see if it develops as the series progresses. Binti is a strong willed and determined young woman who is very intelligent and a role model in her bravery.

              View all my reviews



              Challenge Prompts

              The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  


              1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #103
              2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Namibia
              3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #111
              4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #125
              5. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #2 An Afrofuturist book  
              6. Around the Year in 52 Books #41. A book by a new-to-you BIPOC author  
              7. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #3 The Dark: about/set in space
              8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #38. SET IN THE FUTURE
              9. Bookworm  #43.) Read a Science Fiction
              10. Spells and Spaceships #3 Space Opera Badge: Book set in space or on other planets; #2 First Contact Badge: Humanity meets extraterrestrial life for the first time
              11. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Back to School
              12. Monthly Book Awards #AwardReadingChallenge  Hugo 2016
              13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #4-6 out of this world


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              Tuesday, August 31, 2021

              Class Act

              This is the 58th installment in the Stuart Woods series about Stone Barrington.  At this point the series is definitely a bit predictable in certain aspects, dinner with Dino; Stone as a playboy;  people wanting to kill people.  All of this was present but I did find the plot a little better than the recent installments in the series.  I also found some of Stone's decisions to be a deviation from his normal behavior with a bit of a more edgy and questionable slant.  The plots are enough to keep my attention and will keep me returning for more but if you are looking for highly thought provoking or intricate details this is not the series for you. 


              Class ActClass Act by Stuart Woods
              My rating: 3 of 5 stars

              On one hand this is a typical Stone Barrington story. Rotating trysts and people wanting to kill him amidst fancy dinners at PJ Clarke’s and Patroon. This installment was a bit more gritty and showed a side of Stone that isn’t often seen. He is faced with some moral and ethical choices that he deals with himself rather than passing off to Herbie or other associates. This book will full of action, deceit and double crossing highlights the fact that people are not always what they seem and their pasts may surprise you

              View all my reviews


              Challenge Prompts

              The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  


              1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #100
              2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Stone Barrington #58
              3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #108
              4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #122
              5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
              6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #103
              7. Around the Year in 52 Books #31. A book by an author whose career spanned more than 21 years  
              8. Medical Examiner Challenge 6 Toe Tags
              9. Beachcomber Challenge  
                • Crime Scenes 
                  • Row 1
                    • Kitchen or bakery
                  • Row 4
                    • Street or sidewalk
                  • Row 5
                    • Bedroom
                    • Bathtub, shower, bathroom
                • Weapons
                  • Row 2 
                    • Hand gun x3 
                    • Pointy object x2 
                  • Row 3
                    • Bomb or explosion
                  • Row 4
                    • Dagger 
                  • Row 5
                    • Hands or fists
                • Detectives- Stone/Dino
                • Victims- Manny/Hilda/Sal/Cora/the Don/Michael 
              10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #5b  Shot #1

              

              

              

              

              

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              Friday, July 30, 2021
              

          
              
        

              

              





              
All by Myself Alone

              

              

              

              

              

              I selected this book for the challenge to read a book published by an author 65 years or older.  I forgot I had previously read the book but I still enjoyed reading it. Anyone who loves to take a cruise will enjoy reading this book.   MHC does a wonderful job of creating characters that are weak and others that are annoying.  It is always a pleasure to read stories involving Alvirah and Willy Meehan.  They just feel like a couple you would want to meet and get to know.
              Although I had previously read the book I did not remember all the details and was still surprised by much of the story and the crimes.   I will miss reading MHC's books now that she has passed away but hopefully rereading others will be as enjoyable as this one. 


              All By Myself, AloneAll By Myself, Alone by Mary Higgins Clark
              My rating: 4 of 5 stars

              Alvirah and Willy so it again

              This time the Meehans are on an inaugural cruise that seems as I’ll fated as the Titanic. The new ship was appointed on many of the ways of the famous ship. It also had many glamorous and famous passengers. But not all who traveled were as they appeared and some had very malicious intents. The book is full of descriptions of the glamorous ship as well as the lectures aboard. The main focus was the gemologist and the curse of the Cleopatra necklace. There were several potential candidates for the criminal and I appreciated how the story was wrapped up concluding all the sun stories.

              View all my reviews

              Challenge Prompts
              The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  
              1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #85
              2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #92
              3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #106
              4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
              5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #91
              6. Around the Year in 52 Books #11. A book to celebrate The Grand Egyptian Museum
              7. Pick your Poison #12-1 A book by your favorite author
              8. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
              9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #10  Shot #3
              

              

              

              

              

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              Thursday, May 27, 2021
              

          
              
        

              

              





              
Two Can Keep a Secret

              

              

              

              

              

               This is the second YA book by Karen McManus that I have read.  I really enjoy her fast paced writing style that develops drama amongst the characters and plotline without drawing the book out too long.  She is wonderful at capturing what it is like to be a teenager in high school.  It reminds adults of what life was like back when they went through school just as much as today's teens can relate to the different stereotypes of characters.  The book has  a thriller and suspense aspect to the story that covers multiple years and generations in a small town in Vermont.  
              McManus does a wonderful job of casting suspicion on different characters and demonstrates how easily people jump to conclusions about people's guilt.  The role of social media and the media in general in this presumption of guilt is represented accurately as we often see in real life.  People are quick to cast judgement and slow to acknowledge the truth or the facts as they reveal themselves.   
              This story has a buildup in intensity and you cannot help but want to keep reading late into the night to see how it ends.  The ending is definitely not something I saw coming.    

              Two Can Keep a SecretTwo Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
              My rating: 4 of 5 stars

              McManus continues to capture teens’ social and emotional characteristics well. Anyone who had any insecurities in high school or was the new kid can find a character they relate to in this book. In addition to the great characters there is a well written mystery in the novel too. The ending was not something I saw coming!

              View all my reviews


              Challenge Prompts
              The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

              1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #59
              2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021 #26 features a carnival or circus
              3. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #63
              4. Around the Year in 52 Books #23 A cross genre novel  
              5. Pick your Poison #19-3 A book with the word "secret" in the title 
              6. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
              7. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #72  Shot #2
              

              

              

              

              

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              Thursday, May 13, 2021
              

          
              
        

              

              





              
Can't Judge a Book by It's Murder

              

              

              

              

              

               This is the first in a series by Amy Lillard.  I selected the book initially due to its setting in Mississippi.  The cozy started out a bit slow as the characters and town are introduced but once the mystery got going it was able to hold my attention.   In fact, as it ended I found myself anxiously reading to find out who was the guilty party.   
              Arlo and Chloe are best friends who own a Bookstore and Coffee shop together in Sugar Springs.  They know each other from high school and have chosen to establish their roots in the small town where they met.  Others from their graduating class did not opt to remain in town and their return plays a major plot theme in the book.  Beyond the returning best selling author, Wally Harrison, there is also the return of Arlo's 2 high school sweethearts.  The sudden return of Sam adds to the romantic tension Arlo is already trying to avert after Mads has returned to be a Police Chief in the town.  As in most cozy stories this is a side plot for much of the book, particularly since Arlo's Godmother, Helen, and her friends are insisting on attempting to play matchmaker.  
              This tension is a distraction to Arlo as she attempts to find who is guilty and get her friend released from jail.  She feels pressured to conduct her investigation in a timely manner due to the deal she struck with Mads to keep her friend in the town jail rather than sending her out to the County lockup.   Additionally as the grieving widow and assistant are being freed to leave town her panic rises.  All of this pressure is well conveyed to the reader and I found myself racing to finish the book as though I too had a deadline.
              While this was not my favorite cozy starting out it because it just didn't get to the solving of the mystery very quickly, it definitely caught my attention at the end of the book and I will explore further tomes in the series.

              Can't Judge a Book By Its MurderCan't Judge a Book By Its Murder by Amy Lillard
              My rating: 3 of 5 stars

              Suspenseful til the end

              After a somewhat slow start the book.picked up pace and was more engaging. The characters are a great group of quirky friends trying to help.one of their own prove her innocence. There is plenty of small town drama and history going back years to high school at the center of the story. The ending sets up a potential carry over to the next book

              View all my reviews

               
              Challenge Prompts
              The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

              1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #56
              2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  MS
              3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #63
              4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #75
              5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
              6. Cruisin thru Cozies   free choice # 36
              7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #60
              8. Craving for Cozies  Book #52
              9. Around the Year in 52 Books #44. A book whose title contains a negative
              10. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  "Book"
              11. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
              12. Beachcomber Challenge  
                • Crime Scenes 
                  • Row 4
                    • Street or sidewalk
                • Weapons
                  • Row 1 
                    • Poison, poisoned food
                  • Row 4
                    • Push or fall
                • Detectives- Arlo Stanley/ Mads
                • Victims- Wally Harrison
              13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #65  Shot #1
              

              

              

              

              

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              Wednesday, May 12, 2021
              

          
              
        

              

              





              
First Comes Like

              

              

              

              

              

               This is the third installment in the Modern Love series by Alisha Rai.   Similar to the first 2 books Rai continues to write fun books with strong female characters.  I had to laugh there were even references to passing the Bechdel test in the book as just one example of the lighthearted humor the book contains.
              Jia is an influencer who is struggling to manage her success and her family expectations.  She is a Muslim Pakistani American who is balancing her religious beliefs, her family's traditional expectations, and her more outspoken American personality.    Rai does a wonderful job of demonstrating the balance as well as the struggles Jia faces.  
              There are some very comical scenes with her family of 4 sisters and traditional parents as well as the Bollywood famous family of Dev.  Underlying all the story though is a tale of desire for acceptance and happiness.  I appreciate how Rai intertwines this and other messages in an enjoyable romance with minimal graphic sexual detail.   There is some but it is an appropriately placed plot line rather than gratuitous lust as many books are keen to present.
              I hope this series continues so readers have a chance to watch the relationships of Jia, Rhiannon, and Katarina grow.  I'd imagine the next book would have to be about Lakshimi or Luna if it keeps to the pattern focusing on a different MC in each book.  Only time will tell.


              First Comes LikeFirst Comes Like by Alisha Rai
              My rating: 4 of 5 stars

              Enjoyable comedic tone with strong female leads

              This 3rd installment in the series focuses on Jia. Her portrayal is a well balanced one showing struggles I'm imagine are real.especially for young women balancing 2 cultures. it is easy to see her inner struggles with keeping her Pakistani/Islamic upbringing at peace with who she wants to be in LA as a modern American woman. Rai represents the struggle between traditional and modern well and the reader cannot help but cheer for Jia to find happiness and success

              View all my reviews

              Challenge Prompts
              The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  
              1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #55
              2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Modern Love #3 
              3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #62
              4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #74
              5. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #3. A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
              6. Around the Year in 52 Books #13. A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020
              7. BooklistQueen   # 18. Longer Than 400 Pages
              8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #7. PART OF A TRILOGY
              9. Pick your Poison #9-4 A book about how radio, television, or the internet has changed us
              10. Beyond the Bookends  faux celebrity protagonist

              

              

              

              

              

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              Friday, April 16, 2021
              

          
              
        

              

              





              
The Sanatorium

              

              

              

              

              

               This is a very dark thriller by Sarah Pearse.  It is set in a remote area of forest in the Swiss Alps at a new ultra modern hotel built on the footprint of an old Sanatorium.   There are mysterious deaths that play a role in the plot and at times the reader can even question if there is supernatural aspects to the story.  
              The lead detective is Elin, a UK detective on leave for PTSD and at the hotel to celebrate her brother, Isaac's engagement to Laure.  Unfortunately the weekend is far from the pleasant vacation she and her boyfriend, Will, were hoping for when they flew to Switzerland.  
              The story has plenty of plot twists and drama that leads the reader to suspect many of the different characters of being the guilty killer.   The reader is easily talked into suspecting different people and honestly I thought I had figured it out at points and then was shown why I was wrong.  
              The remote setting and snowstorm definitely play a vital role in the story.  I also felt as though the hotel itself was a character with its own history and major role in the story.   It definitely played a key role and the story would have been weaker without the weather and location.  
              Elin is a character rift with self doubt and questions her relationships with her brother and Will.  We slowly learn about her physical and mental stress and how it affects her entire being.  She is portrayed as someone haunted by her past and is obsessed with seeking answers.  I think it was an accurate portrayal of someone who suffered a tragedy at a young age and never had proper treatment to deal with it.   It affects her whole life and relationships.  
              The only real issue I had with the story was the conclusion. I am not sure of the purpose of the epilogue unless it is to provide a setup for a sequel.  Otherwise, it is a very large unanswered question to the story.

              The SanatoriumThe Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
              My rating: 3 of 5 stars

              I thought this book was good. I don't agree with the negative reviews but I understand where they were coming from. I think I didn't have as high of expectations as some of those readers so I didn't build myself up. The cover absolutely made me think of the Shining as did the description. There is a creepiness factor with the setting of blizzards and avalanches in a remote location in the Swiss Alps. The body count does rise and makes the story suspense grow.
              Elin as the main character definitely comes across as a damaged character. Her full story is revealed to us as the plot goes along and some of it is more believable than others. Her relationships with her boyfriend and brother are definitely not perfect and the story demonstrates that.
              Pearse provides many different potential villains and each make sense in their own right. As a reader I kept thinking it has to be this person, they don't seem the most obvious. In the end the true culprit is revealed and while the motivation behind their crimes is a bit weak, the explanations make sense and are given but this is why I gave it a 3 instead of a 4 star rating. There is an epilogue that completely confused me though, not sure if it's a set up for a sequel or just meant to leave you wondering.


              View all my reviews


              Challenge Prompts
              The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

              1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #42
              2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   Switzerland
              3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #39 book where the woods/forest are important
              4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 18 gothic novel
              5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #50
              6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #58
              7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #42
              8. Around the Year in 52 Books #16. A book with a building in the title
              9. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #2. The Buried: a Bottle Episode (set in a single room/place)
              10. Pick your Poison #12-4 A book from a celebrity favorite list
              11. Medical Examiner Challenge   4 Toe Tags
              12. Beachcomber Challenge  
                • Crime Scenes 
                  • Row 4
                    • Hotel room
                    • Swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi
                  • Row 3
                    • Drowning, water, ice
                • Detectives- Elin
                • Victims- Dennis/Margot/Laure/Adele
              13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #17 ice or snow bound


              

              

              

              

              

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