Friday, June 12, 2020

Cruisin thru the Cozies Challenge goal updated

 I originally set my goal to be Level 2 Investigator for this challenge.   I completed all but 1 prompt for this on June 12 so I have decided to update my goal to be Super Sleuth B-   So 2 books from each category and 10 books of my choice.   I have updated my tracking to reflect the new goals. 

For the original goal/post see this page.



The levels of the challenge are as follows:
Level one (Snoop) -
A) Read 10 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B) Read one book in each of the above cozy sub-genres (total of 10 books)

Level two (Investigator) -  
A) Read 20 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B) Read all the books in level one plus an additional 10 cozy books of your choice (total of 20)

Level three (Super Sleuth) - 
A) Read 30 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B) Read two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 10 cozy books of your choice (total of 30 books)

Level four (Sleuth Extraordinaire) -  Now going for this in B
A)Read 40 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B)Read two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 20 cozy books of your choice (total of 40 books)

Optional Categories
- One from culinary (anything dealing with food: restaurants, baked goods, etc.)
- One from animal related (cats, dogs, birds, etc.)
- One from craft related (any kind of hobbies - knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc.)
- One from paranormal (witches, vampires, etc.)
- One from cozy mysteries based outside the US (example: Belinda Lawrence series (British))
- One career-based cozy mystery (housekeeping, wedding planner, etc.)
- One holiday based (set during any holiday - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentines, etc.)
- One travel mystery (character could be on a cruise, touring another area, etc.)
- One historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present)
- One is your choice! (freebie!)

Basic Rules:

The challenge runs from 1/1/-12/31/20.  Books don't have to be unique to this challenge and can be in any format.  Reviews are not required but always encouraged.  You can track on a blog, Goodreads or just post in comments on the host site.  

So pick up a cozy and get reading.  

Here's my list:  Trying for Sleuth Extraordinaire as of 8/24/20  Challenge Completed 9/28/20
completed- 20/20 category books;  42/20 additional

Note: books are linked to my review page on GoodReads.  Date listed is completion Date
  1. Culinary Cozy  
  2. Animal Cozy  
  3. Craft Cozy 
  4. Paranormal Cozy  
  5. Outside US 
  6. Career Cozy 
  7. Holiday Cozy 
  8. Travel Cozy 
  9. Historical Cozy
  10. Read- Word to the Wise by Jenn McKinlay 3/15/20
  11. Read- Hitting the Books by Jenn McKinlay 4/7/20
  12. Read- Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke  4/23/20
  13. Read- The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns 4/30/20
  14. Read- Read Herring Hunt by V.M. Burns 5/1/20
  15. Read-  Sweet Saboteur by CA Phipps 5/7/20
  16. Read- Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz 5/11/20
  17. Read- The Novel Art of Murder by VM Burns  5/20/20
  18. Read- Wed, Read, & Dead by VM Burns 5/21/20
  19. Read- Bookmarked for Murder by VM Burns 5/26/20
  20. Read-  Death by Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum 6/7/20
  21. Read- Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay 6/10/20
  22.  Read- All Fudged Up by Nancy CoCo   6/23/20
  23. Read-  The Grim Reader by Kate Carlisle 7/13/20
  24. Read- Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross 7/17/20
  25.  Read- Class Reunions are Murder  by Libby Klein 7/21/20
  26. Read- Midnight Snacks are Murder by Libby Klein 7/26/20
  27. Read- Who's Dead Doc?   JM Griffin 8/3/20
  28. Read- Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu 8/5/20
  29. Read- The Killer Karma by Ana T. Drew 8/6/20
  30. Read- Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes 8/7/20
  31. Read- The Agatha Christie Book Club by C.A. Larmer 8/10/20
  32. Read- Restaurant Weeks are Murder by Libby Klein 8/20/20
  33. Read- Chocolates with a side of Murder by Meredith Potts 8/23/20
  34. Read- Rescued by a Kiss by Colleen Mooney 8/28/20
  35. Read- Death in the English Countryside by Sara Rosett 8/30/20
  36. Read- Danger at the Dive Shack by Donna Amis Davis 8/31/20
  37. Read- Egg Drop Dead by Vivien Chien 9/1/20
  38. Read- Duplicity at the Dive Shop by Donna Amis Davis 9/2/20
  39. Read- Parchment and Old Lace by Laura Childs 9/8/20
  40. Read- Rum Raisin Revenge by Jennifer Joy 9/15/20
  41. Read- Disquiet at the Dive Shack  by Donna Amis Davis 9/20/20
  42. Read- The Florist and the Funeral by Ruby Loren 9/22/20
  43. Read- Flour in the Attic by Winnie Archer 9/23/20
  44. Read- Wine and Punishment by Sarah Fox 9/24/20
  45. Read- Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell 9/25/20
  46. Read- Who Moved My Goat Cheese by Lynn Cahoon 9/30/20
  47. Read- Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower 10/1/20
  48. Read- Live and Let Chai by Bree Baker 10/4/20
  49. Read-To Helvetica and Back by Paige Shelton 10/9/20
  50. Read-Deadly Fudge Divas by Christine DeSmet 10/11/20
  51. Read-Bless her Dead Little Heart by Miranda James 10/12/20
  52. Read-Undercover on the Calypso by Lizzie Josephson 10/13/20
  53. Read-Gone with the Wings by Leena Clover 10/14/20
  54. Read-A Time for Murder by Jessica Fletcher 10/16/20
  55. Read- Dr. Shine Cracks the Case by Cathy Tully 10/19/20
  56. Read- Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass 10/24/20
  57. Read- Winner Cake All by Denise Swanson 10/29/20
  58. Read- Murder in Storybook Cottage by Ellery Adams 11/4/20
  59. Read- One for the Books by Jenn McKinlay 11/19/20
  60. Read- Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day 11/23/20
  61. Read- X Marks the Scot by Kaitlyn Dunnett 11/25/20
  62. Read- Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan  11/26/20
  63. Read- Apple Cider Slaying by Julie Anne Lindsey 11/28/20
  64. Read- The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton 12/16/20
  65. Read- The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco by Laura DiSilverio 12/19/20
  66. Read- Piece of My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark  12/20/20
  67. Read- The Bread of the Dead by Anne Myers 12/24/20

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    May reading recap

    May Reading Progress

    General Tracking

    AtoZ  and  Alphabet Soup #AlphabetSoupChallenge  - May letters :  P, R,Y
    completed previously - A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L, M, N, O, P, S, T, U, W

    Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge- May letters:
    completed previously A, B, C, D, E, F, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, W

    Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2020  Tracked Here  completed 6/5 in total

    New series in May:  Teddy Fay (#2 ) by Stuart Woods & Parnell Hall

    Previously read:  Hannah Swensen; Hat Shop Mystery Series; Library Lover's Series;  Murder She Wrote;  New Orleans Scrapbooking Series;  Private; Stone Barrington,  Under Suspicion;

    Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Tracked Here  /36 books read  (39 previously)

    Literary Escapes  (Destination)  Visited in May: States: MT, NC, NV  Countries: China, Wales

    visited previously CA, CT, FL. HI, IL, MA, MI , MN, MO, NY, OH, OR, TN, TX, WA, VT plus Australia, England, France, Ireland, Israel, Yugoslavia

    Specific Criteria


    PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge  completed in May # 28(meant to read in 2019), 33 (in country with "C"),
    completed previously # 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 30, 34, 35, 38,40, 41, 43,  46, 47, 49, 50

    Around the Year in 52 Books  completed in May #27 (history or historical fiction),  35 (geometric pattern or element on the cover )
    completed previously # 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 32, 33, 34, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 51

    52 Books in 52 Weeks completed in May  #45 (cost you less than $5),
    completed previously  #1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 37, 39, 42, 43, 46, 47, 48 , 52

    BooklistQueen completed in May  ##15 (set in asia), 17 (celebrity memoir )
    completed previously #3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43, 46, 49

    20 in 20 #Read20in2020 completed in May #

    completed previously #1F, 2 NF, #5 F/NF, 7 F/NF, 8 F/NF, 9F, 10F, 13F, , 16F, 17F, 18F,

    NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2020   completed in May #3(self published), #22 (spec-fic book):
    completed previously #1, 2, 3,  4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23,  24, 25

    Wizarding World Tour
    • Beauxbatons: 0 new prompts in May 
      • 5/7 prompts completed previously
    • Castelobruxo- 0 prompts in May - 
      • 6/7 prompts completed previously
    • Durmstrang:   prompt in May - 
      • 6/7 prompts completed previously
    • Hogwarts:  0 new prompts in May 
      •  5/7 prompts completed previously
    • Ilvermorny-  prompt in May - 
      • 6/7 prompts completed previously
    • Koldovstoretz- 1  prompt in May -   involving potions; 
      • 2/7 prompts completed previously
    • Mahoutokoro-   new prompt in May - 
      • 3/7 prompts completed previously
    • Uagadou-   prompt in May - 
      • 4/7 prompts completed previously


    While I was Reading  in May - #
    completed previously- #1, 2, 4, 11

    What's in a Name 0 new prompts in May -
    completed previously- An Antonym, Given/First Name; reference to children; one of 4 natural elements

    Color Coded  0 prompts in May -
    completed previously Beige, Blue, Black, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, White,  and Yellow

    Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Author Introduction
    Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO-    Keyword  Sky, Name, Blue, Book, Enchant, Is


      Monthly Book Awards #GXOAwardReadingChallenge - Agatha Award 2013


      TBR Based Challenges


      2020TBR #2020TBRReadingChallenge: completed in May - # 16 (Asia)
      completed previously  # 1, 5, 7, 9, 14, 16 (n america, australia, europe), 17,  20, 21


      Beat the Backlist #BeatTheBacklist2020  completed 7  books in May ;   new bingo square:

      completed previously 13  bingo squares:  #1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23


      Back List Reader  #Backlistreader Tracked Here  /24 read  (26 read previously)

      Start on Your Shelfathon  #StartOnYourShelfathon Tracked Here  26/5  thru May  2020

      Mount TBR  #MountTBR2020 Tracked Here  /24 read  (26 read previously)

      Genre Specific


      Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2020  a prompt in Jun -
      previously a prompt in 10 months-Jan, Feb Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul,  Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec

      Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal - Mysteries Tracked Here  /25 total comp (23 prev)

      Craving for Cozies  Tracked Here  /26 total completed  (11 completed previously)

      Cruisin thru Cozies  completed  # ()  /20  total completed;   (14 completed previously)
      previously read the culinary, animal, craft, outside US, career, holiday and 4 freebie

      Historical Fiction  #2020HFReadingChallenge  Tracked Here  2/5  The Opium Lord's Daughter

      Memoir  total completed 4/5  Read   # ( )
      previously read memoir for the Food memoir category; Mental Health/Illness, person who identifies as LGBTQIA,  Lab Girl fits multiple prompts using for under 300 pages



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      Tuesday, June 9, 2020

      What Happens in Paradise

      Well it was another intriguing visit to St John in this book by Elin Hilderbrand.  This is the 2nd in the series about the Steele family, Huck, Maia and Rosie and Ayers.  We continue to get a glimpse into life in St John as well as see the characters change and go through some additional challenging decisions. It is hard to not want to book a flight down to this island paradise when reading the descriptions of the island, the ocean and the food in this book. Plus, the idea of a painkiller on a hot summer day sure sounds refreshing.

      If you haven't read Winter in Paradise, the first book in the series, be sure to read it first.  There are spoilers in this book that will take away from some of the plot lines in the first book.

      I am looking forward to the release of the next book in the series later in 2020.  There was a plot evolution with a cliff hanger at the end of this book that intrigues me to read more about what will happen. 


      What Happens in ParadiseWhat Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
      My rating: 4 of 5 stars

      Enjoyed reading this second installment of the series involving the Steele family, Huck and Maia as well as Ayers The characters continue to interact and develop relationships with one another. We see them struggle with decisions and discoveries. There is still some intrigue that carries over from the first installment, Winter in Paradise. I encourage people to read that book first as much of the story line in this book builds on the initial book and there are aspects of this book that would ruin some of the plot lines in the first book.

      Looking forward to Troubles in Paradise coming out later this year. This book ended in a cliffhanger that I want to see the resolution for.


      View all my reviews


      Challenge Prompts

      The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:
      1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #56
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      Monday, June 8, 2020

      Death by Cashmere

      This is the first book in the Seaside Knitters Society series by Sally Goldenbaum.  It was an enjoyable read after I was able to get engaged in the book.  It took me several tries to read more than a few pages at a time.  Once I got into the rhythm of the story it was an enjoyable read.  I enjoyed the characters and the relationships between the residents of the small town on the Cape.  I am sure it would be even more fascinating if you were interested in knitting and knew a lot about it.

      I will continue to try the other books in the series of cozy mysteries.


      Death By Cashmere (Seaside Knitters, #1)Death By Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum
      My rating: 4 of 5 stars

      This book took a little bit to get flowing. I enjoyed it once I was engaged in the book. The story was different and had some unexpected twists. I really like the characters and cannot wait to read more stories involving them.


      View all my reviews


      Challenge Prompts

      The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:
      1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #55
      2. Alphabet soup Author- #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge
      3. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #43
      4. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice #11
      5. Medical Examiner-  3 Toe Tag 
      6. Six Shooter-  1st  shot for Sally Goldenbaum
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      Friday, June 5, 2020

      The Silent Patient

      Wow,  now I see why this has gotten so many high praises from people in the different challenges I am participating in this year.  Alex Michaelides has written a crazy fast paced and engaging thriller with the Silent Patient.  I literally read it in one 4 hour sitting,  I never got up from the chair.  There were lots of plot twists and apparent clues but I never saw the ending coming.  It is a great book and I am so glad I read it.  The only thing that kept me from giving it a 5 star review was there was  bit of confusion in the timeline for me.  When I look back on it I think the confusion is intentional but I am not 100% sure.  This is a definite thriller to put on your list if you like psychological thrillers.


      The Silent PatientThe Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
      My rating: 4 of 5 stars

      Wow, was this an intense thriller. Couldn't stop reading, finished in 4 hours. There is a very surprising twist at the end that I definitely did not see coming. Only reason I didn't give it a 5 star was some of the chronological pieces didn't make sense to me. Overall a very fast paced and engaging thriller


      View all my reviews


      Challenge Prompts

      The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:
      1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #54
      2.  Cloak and  Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #42
      3. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge #31 Medical Thriller
      4. 20 in 20:  #Read20in2020 # 3 Fiction A book with a (mostly) white color cover
      5. TBR Book #33  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
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      Wednesday, June 3, 2020

      Buried in a Bog

      Sheila Connolly takes her readers on a wonderful trip to County Cork Ireland in this first in a series cozy mystery.  Maura Donovan finds her self in Ireland quite suddenly at the last request of her Grandmother.   She lands there and is taken care of quite readily by all the strangers in town-  they knew her grandmother or someone else in their family did.  Maura isn't quite sure what to think of the Irish hospitality after growing up in South Boston.   She quickly becomes immersed in the town life and drama as she gets mixed in the middle of a murder investigation.

      Through the story we read lots of descriptions of the Irish countryside surrounding Leap.  It is very easy to visualize yourself there and to experience the quaint charm of the country and the people.  I had the fortune of visiting Ireland this past fall during a cruise.  We visited Cork and Dublin as well as Belfast in Northern Ireland.  I would love to return and go on a driving vacation of the country to explore it in more depth.

      Connolly also did a great job of intertwining the history of the Irish and the British as it pertained to the land ownership.   It was a nice explanation of what is a portion of what was behind the desire for the Irish to separate from England.  She does not put a political opinion on her description, just a factual account from the perspective of an Irishman.

      All in all I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more in this series.  All in all there appear to be 9 books in this series.

      The next book up is Scandal in Skibbereen









      Buried in a Bog (County Cork, #1)Buried in a Bog by Sheila Connolly
      My rating: 4 of 5 stars

      Very enjoyable cozy mystery set in Leap in County Cork Ireland. Connolly does a wonderful job of mixing action/suspense with beautiful descriptions of the Irish countryside and people. There are bits of coincidence that are a little too convenient within the story but then again it's Ireland and lots of people are related as distant cousins there.

      If you would like an enjoyable cozy without any romance while visiting the Irish countryside this is the book for you.


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      Challenge Prompts

      The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:
      1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book 53
      2. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  41
      3. Cruising through cozies -  8-  Travel cozy
      4. Medical Examiner-  2 Toe Tag 
      5. Six Shooter-  1 shot for Sheila Connolly
      6. Mystery Bingo: 
        • Weapons card :  Rock or brick
      7. TBR Book #32  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
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      Monday, June 1, 2020

      Bookmarked for Murder

      This is the most recent book in the Mystery Bookstore series by VM Burns.  This story finds Sam and her Senior Sleuthers in Chicago for a holiday weekend trip.  The bus trip ends with a bit of a nasty surprise and as Nana Jo describes it makes her feel like Gilligan.  The 2 hour bus ride home to North Harbor, MI turns into a 12 hour ordeal.  Of course this also comes with a mystery to solve.  Again the ladies are drawn into the investigation, but fortunately this one does not find any of them as suspects.  The character involvement in this book is limited to Sam, Nana Jo and the other ladies of Shady Acres.  There are some intermittent appearances by Zac and Christopher as well as Frank, but no Dawson or students from MISU since it is winter break.

      As always there are some comedic moments in the story but in general the seriousness of the case seems to take on a more central role as the ladies find themselves struggling to figure out who committed the murder.  There are some side stories and dramas that find resolution in the end.  We get some glimpses at Frank and Sam's growing relationship and continue to hope that they will make it in the long run. 

      The book seems to be set up for more installments but at this time, there are no further books in the series.  I do hope there will be more soon. I plan to check out some of the other works by VM Burns to see what those series are like.


      Bookmarked for Murder (Mystery Bookshop, #5)Bookmarked for Murder by V.M. Burns
      My rating: 4 of 5 stars

      I enjoyed the story in the latest installment in the Mystery Bookshop series. I will admit it is fun to read about books set in places you are familiar with and being a resident of the Chicago suburbs I was familiar with all the stops on Sam and the group's visit to Chicago. I also feel as though I know the area that North Harbor is in southwestern MI.

      These cozy mysteries are always enjoyable and have comedic aspects to them as well as more serious undertones and plot lines. This book was no exception. Ms Burns does a wonderful job of providing clues and red herrings to keep the reader guessing til the end. Her characters are likeable and you cannot help but root for them to find love and happiness.

      I cannot wait for the next book in the series.


      View all my reviews


      Challenge Prompts

      The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are: 
      1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #52
      2. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #40
      3. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice #10
      4. Calendar of Crime-  #CalendarOfCrime2020  Jan #4  New Year's
      5. Medical Examiner-  3 Toe Tag 
      6. Six Shooter-  5th shot for VM Burns
      7. Mystery Bingo: 
        • Red Herring : mysterious stranger
        • Crime Scenes: Stairs; Bus
      8. Monthly Keyword-  #MonthlyKeyWordChallenge   "Book"
      9. Around the Year in 52 Books- #20  20th cozy I read this year
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