Beyond the Bookends

 

 Another fun monthly based challenge is being hosted at Beyond the Bookends blog.  Some of the prompts are setting based, others topic.  It looks like a nice addition to my other challenges

My selections:

January- Read a book adapted to the screen

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

February- Read a feel-good book   

• People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review  2/3/22
• The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/18/22
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/23/22

March- Read a historical fiction

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

April- Read a book set in bookstore

• A Murder Between the Pages (Main Street Book Club Mysteries #2) by Amy Lillard
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/3/22
• The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/9/22

May -Read book set at a carnival or circus

• Murphy's Slaw by Elizabeth Logan
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review  5/21/22

June- Read a young adult romance

• I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 6/3/22

July- Listen to a family-friendly audiobook

• Encyclopedia Brown Boy Detective by Donald J Sobol
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 7/28/22

August- Read a thriller
September- Read a banned book
October – Read an adult fantasy
November – Read a WWI
December- Read a family drama

1. Violeta by Isabel Allende
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 12/9/22

And Then There were Crumbs

 This is the first book in a new series by Eve Calder.  The Cookie House series is set in Southern FL in a resort town but is written with the lead protagonist in the process of relocating to the town.  Katie quickly realizes there is a very different and charming side to the town and locals that you don't pick up on while at the resorts and beaches.  There are dynamics at play between the developers who wish to convert the area into a playground for the wealthy with little regard for the people who reside there and those permanent residents.  Katie discovers this quickly when her new boss, Sam, is accused of murdering one of those developers.  There are plenty of twists and some fun family moments in this story which make it very endearing.  Plus what's not to love about a dog that seems to have adopted Kate

The cast of characters and detectives is wide since the local book group is investigating to help prove their friend innocent.  The ensemble detective approach reminds me a bit of the Real Murders Club found in the Aurora Teagarden series/shows.  

And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this cozy. I appreciated the strong independent female characters. There was quite a bit of irony built into the storyline that was fun to discover. I enjoyed reading about the bakery and the bread and cookies. It was a nice development of the relationship between Katie and Maxi and I look forward to reading about their friendship as the series progresses.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #120
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #130
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #144
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #87
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #124
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #105
7. Pick your Poison #9-2 A book about taking in a stranger 
8. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  In the Library with the candlestick
9. Beyond the Bookends  blue cover
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3
• Taxi or bus (limo)
• Row 5
• Home or business office
• Weapons
• Row 5
• Medicine or drugs x 2
• Detectives- Kate/Maxi
• Victims- Muriel/ Stewart Lord
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #77  Shot #1

The Picture of Dorian Gray

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

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

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

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

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

  

The Kiss Quotient

I selected this as my Own Voices selection with really  know idea what it was like.  It was a bit different than expected but I did enjoy it.  I feel it resonated with me as we have a family member on the spectrum and it provided some insight into the internal struggles he faces.  

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Steamy and insightful

This is not your mothers rom com. Beware there are some details that might make you blush. It is definitely a steamy romance.

This book provides insight into the socialization struggles a woman on the spectrum can face. Stella is an endearing and complex character. You cannot help but root for her to find love. I admire that she realizes being herself is most important and you hope that others realize that too. Loved this book!

View all my reviews

  

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #74
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #47  brings out the geek in you
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #81
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #94
5. Humor  Book #5
6. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #7. The Spiral: by an ND person/with an ND MC
7. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  Romance
8. Beyond the Bookends  own voices book

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 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

By Book or By Crook

 This is the first in a new to me series by Eva Gates.   She has set the series in a library in the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  The setting sounds like a fabulous location and I would love to have an apartment right on the beach such as the one Lucy lives in at Bodie Lighthouse.   The story captures much of small town politics and old family ties to those towns.  It also touches upon the local vs visitors relationships in touristy towns.  The diverse set of characters add to the story and as it unfolds we see more depth to some of the characters.  I look forward to seeing the relationships grow and reveal themselves as the series progresses.

The mystery itself was well structured with several subplots that blended well with the main storyline.   All in all it is a great start to what seems to be a promising series.

By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an enjoyable cozy set in the Nags Head area of the Outer Banks of NC. This is the first in the series set in a library in the lighthouse. Mysterious happenings including the death of a library board member and the disappearances from a display of Jane Austen collection of books. Lucy as a new arrival gets her feet wet in her new position amidst all the mysterious occurrences. She has returned to the Outer Banks where she has summered during her childhood and has met up with family and friends and is reestablishing those relationships. The mystery is well written and it looks like it will be a good ongoing series.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #54
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #60
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #71
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies free choice 34
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #58
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #50
8. Beyond the Bookends  story set in a library
9. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO Book
10. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Library or bookstore
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Pointy object
• Detectives- Lucy/Bertie/Butch
• Victims- Johnathon
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 63 Shot #1
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #29 librarians

Beyond the Bookends

 Another fun monthly based challenge is being hosted at Beyond the Bookends blog.  Some of the prompts are setting based, others topic.  It looks like a nice addition to my other challenges

My selections:

Jan-   Story set in a location you want to travel to  

• The Sinister Superyacht by Ana T. Drew  
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review  1/4/21

Feb-  Book about addiction 

• The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/13/21
• Dry by Augusten Burroughs
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/23/21

Mar-  Read/listen to Audie Winner

• Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 

  

Apr-  Story set in a library 

• By Book or by Crook by Eva Gates
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 5/6/21

May-  Faux celebrity protagonist  

• First Comes Like by Alisha Rai
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 5/11/21

Jun-  Own Voices book  

• The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 6/23/21

Jul-  Book set in Japan  IDEA: Memoirs of a Geisha

Aug-  Unreliable narrator  IDEA: The Good Son

Sep-  Fic or NF about an author 

• The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafron
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 9/20/21

Oct-  Mental Health fiction or NF

• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 10/21/21

Nov-  Book with a blue cover  

• And then there were Crumbs by Eve Calder
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 11/10/21

Dec-  Jane Austen Classic, retelling or adaptation  IDEA: Pride and Prejudice