Wonder Woman Vol 1 lies

  I picked this for a challenge prompt of a non patriarchal society.  I figured the origin of Wonder woman was definitely in a matriarchal society.  This is a story of deception that I think having some awareness of the Wonder Woman tale enhances. Not knowing wouldn’t ruin it but the reader might be a bit lost

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #74
2. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #57
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #14 graphic novel, manga, or web comic
4. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #9  Graphic Novel
5. OWLS 22  #5 Parseltongue: A book that contains a fictional language
6. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge # 3. A book about or set in a nonpatriarchal society 
7. Pick your Poison #81 a book about a mythical creature

Santa Cruise

 Santa Cruise is the first book I have read by Fern Michaels.  I was drawn to the book based upon the cover and the title.  For some reason I felt like reading a Christmas type book and decided this would be a perfect Christmas in July theme read.   I don't generally read the more romance chick flick type books a lot but I did find myself thoroughly enjoying this book.  It was fun reading about the cruise and all the exciting activities and ports of call particularly since it has been several years since we have been on one and I do miss this vacation style.  

The character relationships fit well with the concept of good friends reuniting at a high school reunion and reigniting old bonds.  The redevelopment of their friendships felt organic and realistic.  Their personal development and growth when facing life changing career decisions seemed real and the level of uncertainty and angst was conveyed at a believable level.  

I would not hesitate to select another book by Fern Michaels if I was looking for a feel good escape.  

Santa Cruise by Fern Michaels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

fun book combining Christmas and vacation

What a fun book about a cruise reuniting a group of HS friends add in Christmas season and a bit of romance. All in all a fun enjoyable read

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #61
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #73
3. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  # 17 A book picked based on its spine
4. Bookworm #43 Read a book by an author with the same name as one of your parents 
5. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #8 bought based on cover 
6. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #2. A book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship
7. Pick your Poison #103  a beach read 
8. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  JULY- Summer Lovin’ 
9. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  Jul Contemporary Fiction

Not All Diamonds and Rose

 This book by Dave Quinn is a biography of sorts of the different Real Housewives franchises.   Not all Diamond and Rose begins with the start of the franchise and the creation of the Orange Country edition.  This book is an enjoyable book doing memory lane for fans of the shows.  It does relive many of the premier moments with thoughts and opinions from Housewives and producers.   There isn't a whole lot of juicy behind the scenes info and I am sure the stories and info have been scrubbed to meet with Bravo and Andy Cohen's approval.  All it all it was a fun read but don't expect to get a whole lot of new information.  

Not All Diamonds and Rosé: The Real Housewives Spilling Tea, Throwing Shade, and Sharing Secrets by Dave Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

fun read for franchise fans

While I enjoyed reading the stories and remembering scenes I couldn’t help but feel like this was more timeline rehash rather than revealing anything new per se. Felt like it had been whitewashed to make acceptable to bravo


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #60
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  Q
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #72
4. Non Fiction Reader  #ReadNonFicChal   # 6. Celebrity
5. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #7 A non-fiction bestseller  
6. Bookworm #26 Read a book published by Macmillan (or subsidiary)
7. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #24  author has an active podcast or youtube channel
8. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #39. Recommended by a Librarian
9. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #24 New York Times Nonfiction Bestseller
10. OWLS 22  #60 Vanishment Spell: A bestseller (that vanishes off the shelf!)  
11. Pick your Poison #18 a biography
12. Lifetime of Reading  July – Life in Your 50s
13. Unruly Reader Bingo  #22 immersion

High Stakes

 After reading Dead Cert earlier this month I decided to pick another Dick Francis book to meet the prompt written when you were 5.  I remembered how much I enjoyed his storytelling and figured it was easy enough to select a stand alone that was published in 1975.   I had never actually read this one so that was a nice added bonus.  

As always he crafted a well written book set around horse lifestyles.  In this case the steeplechase is the focus of the horse racing.  There is quite a large amount of deception and plotting that occurs in this story.  I also enjoyed the side information about Mr. Scott's toy inventions.  Be sure to read the author notes on how he formed this character and who he based it upon.

This book is a great pick for those who like well crafted mysteries and horse lovers.

High Stakes by Dick Francis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A gritty book about revenge and the depth people will go when they feel wronged. As with all Dick Francis books the story centers around the horse racing community. Each of the mysteries sheds a little bit of background information about horses and the racing world. I am enjoying going back and reading books written in the 1970s. It is enjoyable to read modern books without modern technology and the detective work is much more about footwork and observations

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #60
2. What an Animal Book #40
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #71
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #56
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #48
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #70
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #65
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- toy workshop
• Weapon- machine
• Detectives- Steven Scott
• Victims- Ganser Mays
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #86  Shot #2
11. Bookworm #17 A book that was published when you were 5 years old
12. Pick your Poison #84 a book by an author you consider amazing
13. Century challenge  1970s

The Rocky Road to Ruin

 This book is perfect for ice cream lovers as well as mystery lovers.  You will be craving ice cream as you read The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen.  This is the first in a new series that definitely has the making for some interesting storytelling going forward.  Riley has a very unique past that she is bringing home to her hometown in CT.  Bits of her story get told as the mystery progresses but I envision much of her mysterious past to be part of the background dialogue in future installments.

The mystery itself is well written with several smaller mysteries contained within the principal one.  Riley's relationship with her BFF, Caroline. is a timeless story of sister/friends from childhood.  Riley's protectiveness of her friend is believable and unwavering.   The relationship with her father and stepmother is ancillary but believable in many ways.  Overall I really enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more in the series.

The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great first installment in a new series. Set in CT and cemeteries around an ice cream shop there’s a small town feel within a farming community. Characters are realistic with not perfect family dynamics that feel authentic. I enjoyed the mystery that was multi layered with several smaller mysteries built into the big one.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #59
2. What an Animal Book #39
3. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #70
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #47
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #69
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #64
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 4 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- barn; road; bedroom x2
• Weapon- pitchfork; car; poison; natural
• Detectives- Riley Rhodes
• Victims- Mike Spooner; Martha M; Brooke Danforth; Buzzy Spooner
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  # 42 title is an alliteration 
11. Around the Year in 52 Books #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

Remaining prompts through Aug

At the half way point in the year I thought I would write a post that lists all the remaining prompts I have on any of the challenges I am participating in.  Some of the challenges do not require me to complete all prompts based upon my goals but I listed each of them nonetheless.  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes
• States remaining:  AL/AZ/AR/DE/DC/HI/IA/KS/KY/LA/MT/NE/NV/NH/ND/OK/RI/SD/TN/UT/VT/WV/WI/WY
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge
• Letters remaining  Q/U/X/Y/Z
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  
• Letters remaining  I/O/Q/U/X/Y/Z
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 
• #3 Friend Recommendation
5. Cozy Mysteries   #
• #4 A Golden Age mystery
• # 10 next cozy in a series from one of CMRC's 2021 book chat selections
6. Non Fiction Reader  #ReadNonFicChal   Book #
• 2. Popular Science Hidden Figures
• 4. Medical Memoir Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner
• 5. Climate/Weather
• 6. Celebrity  Not all Wine and Rose
• 8. Geography
• 9. Linked to a podcast The Plus: Self-Help for People Who Hate Self-Help
• 10. Wild Animals
• 11. Economics
• 12. Published in 2022 James Patterson by James Patterson
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #
• #1 A second-person narrative
• #7 A non-fiction bestseller  Not all Wine and Rose
• #16 A book you’ve seen someone reading in a public place  The Paris Detective (Detective Luc Moncrief, #1-3)
• # 17 A book picked based on its spine The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
• #21 Published by Simon & Schuster Beartown
• #32 A book that intimidates you  Animal Farm
• # 35 From the villain’s perspective  Poor Unfortunate Soul (Villains, #3)
• #40 A book with photographs inside Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World
• # 46 A job title in the title  Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse
• # 47 Read during the month of November
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #
• #4. A book that fits your favorite prompt that did not make the list
• #36. 2 books related to flora and fauna - Book 2  Poinsettias and the Perfect Crime 
• # 38. A book by a Latin American author  Violeta/City of the Beasts (Eagle and Jaguar, #1)
• # 39. A book from the TIME list of 100 Best YA Books of All Time Dumplin
• # 48. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2021 or 2022  The Thirteenth Tale
9. Bookworm #
• #15 Read the first book in a duology Warcross
• # 16 Read the second book in a duology  Wildcard
• # 17 A book that was published when you were 5 years old  High Stakes 
• # 19 Read a book about Zombies 
• # 21 Read a book from AbeBooks.com's list of 100 (fiction) books to read in a lifetime: https://www.abebooks.com/books/100-book-to-read-in-lifetime/ 
• # 22 Read a book with the word City in the title City of the Beasts
• # 25 A book with a title that has 5 letters Missing/Dead Heat
• # 26 Read a book published by Macmillan (or subsidiary) The Hypnotist's Love Story;  My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish
• # 31 Read a book by Philippa Gregory
• # 38 Read a book that starts with the letter Z (or has Z in the title)  zombie chasers
• # 41 Read a book with the word Wisdom in the title  The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes
• # 43 Read a book by an author with the same name as one of your parents 
• #46  Read any book from the Men's Health most popular book list  To Kill a Mockingbird
• # 51 Read a book by Georges Simenon (or one of his Pen Names)
• # 53 Read a book that takes place in Russia  Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster
• # 56 Read a banned book from this banned book list  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
• #  58 Read a book that Linz read previously  The Red Tent
• # 59 Read a book that Tress read previously  And Then There Were None
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #
• #11. Discussion-Worthy Book Club Book Becoming
• #12. 2021 Bestseller American Dirt
• # 16. About a Muslim Protagonist Ms Marvel
• # 19. Bottom of Your To-Read List
• # 23. A Book Everyone is Talking About  Violetta
• # 34. YA Fantasy Home (Binti, #2)
• # 37. Classic You’ve Avoided  Animal Farm
• # 38. Set in Africa  Embassy Wife / Bitter Side of Sweet
• 39. Recommended by a Librarian  
• # 41. Reread a Favorite   Red Tent
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #
• #8 one word title  Becoming
• # 9 everyone has read it but you    American Dirt
• #10 set in the mountains Traitorous Toys (Cozy Corgi Mysteries, #2)
• #24  author has an active podcast or youtube channel Not all Wine and Rose
• # 28 'wolf' or 'star' in the title
• # 30 translated to your native language   City of the Beasts
• #37 reading for research, reference, or general interest 
• # 42 title is an alliteration The Rocky Road to Ruin (Ice Cream Shop Mystery,#1)
12. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #
• #6 Read a book that was recommended to you
• # 9  Graphic Novel  Ms Marvel
• # 29 Read a book with a summer romance
• # 37 A coming of age story where the characters are in school
• # 38 Dual timeline book  The Night Portrait
• # 43  Read a Young Adult Romance   Dumplin'
• #48 Read a classic  Animal Farm
13. Nancy Drew #
• #2. The Hidden Staircase (1930) - OR read a book that has been hidden on your TBR list
• # 14. The Whispering Statue (1937) - read a book that has been recommended to you
• # 17. Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk (1940) - read a book with some kind of metal in the title  The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
• # 52. The Secret of the Forgotten City (1975) - re-read a book that you read a long time ago Red Tent
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #
• #3 bookstore recommendation 
• # 8 bought based on cover  The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
• # 13 reviewed by nerd daily in 2022  Lucky Leap Day/ Part of Your World
• #15 a retelling  Geekerella
• #21 a book you never finished   Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World
• # 27 2022 tv adaptation
• #29 released in july 2022
• # 31 a questionable cover  And Then There Were None
• # 33 a book gifted to you 
• # 34 protagonist starts with "i"
• # 48 one word title   Dumplin'
15. OWLS 22  #
• #1 Ancient Runes: A book in translation   City of the Beasts/Violeta/Beartown
• #3 Tales of Beedle the Bard: A fairytale retelling Geekerella
• #4 Mistranslation: A book whose title is translated differently To Kill a Mockingbird
• #5 Parseltongue: A book that contains a fictional language  the seven sisters
• # 19 Unicorn: Your most anticipated book of the year  22 Seconds
• # 25 Time Turner: A book with dual timelines The Night Portrait
• # 41 History of Magic: A book that mentions a historical witch or wizard 
• #48 Hogwarts: A book set in a school  The Oxford Inheritance
• #60 Vanishment Spell: A bestseller (that vanishes off the shelf!)  
16. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #
• #2. A book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship  Santa Cruise
• # 3. A book about or set in a nonpatriarchal society 
• # 4. A book with a tiger on the cover or "tiger" in the title 
• # 10. An Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner A Brief History of Seven Killings
• # 18. A romance novel by a BIPOC author Get a Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters, #1)
• #22. A book with a character on the ace spectrum 
• #30. A book with the name of a board game in the title After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom/ Sifting Through Clues (Cookbook Nook Mystery, #8)
• #31. A book featuring a man-made disaster Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster
• #34. A book set in Victorian times 
• #37. A book about gender identity  middlesex
• #40. A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
• # 43. A book with a palindromic title  Life After Life (Todd Family, #1)/ One by One
• # 44. A duology (1) Warcross
• 45. A duology (2) Wildcard
17. Pick your Poison #
• #4 a "comprehensive" book
• #7 a retelling of a classic Geekerella
• # 15 a book with the word "remember" in the title
• # 17 a classic novel  To Kill a Mockingbird
• #18 a biography
• #24 a book to pass the time while your favorite author finishes their next book
• #25 about body image
• # 27 a book with the word "over" in the title
• # 33 a book by an author who sounds like a geek  
• #34 a book with a cover that reminds you of a video game  Nearly Departed in Deadwood (Deadwood, #1)
• #37  a book by an author whose name is a trade or profession A Call for Kelp (Seaside Café Mystery, #4)
• #38 a memoir focused on the author's profession Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner
• #40 a nonfiction book about worker's rights The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
• #45 a book with a picture of a cliff or ocean on the cover  
• #46 a book by an author you've always wanted to read 
• #48 a book someone dares you to read Becoming
• # 52 a book wider than it is tall
• # 58 a book someone gave you that you haven't read yet
• #64 a book known for having an unexpected twist at the end 
• # 66  a book by a BIPOC author  Ms. Marvel, Vol. 3: Crushed
• # 68  a book written by an immigrant 
• #70 a non fiction book about someone you admire  
• # 71  a book with the word "feet" or "clay" in the title  
• #72 a book with a cape or cloak on the cover  The Arctic Fury
• #73 a book with the word "bridge" in the title
• #77 reread a childhood favorite
• # 78 a book about the circus The Night Circus
• #80 a coming of age story
• #81 a book about a mythical creature Poor Unfortunate Soul (Villains, #3)
• #84 a book by an author you consider amazing While My Pretty One Sleeps
• #85 a book with alternating timelines or narrators  The Night Portrait
• #92 chicago a book set in a jail or prison  After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom
• #93 a book tranlsated from another language Beartown (Beartown, #1)
• #96 a book with the word "land" in the title  Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World
• #97 a book about a pandemic  Violetta
• # 101 a western
• #103  a beach read 
• #107 an award winning book
18. RAD challenge #aradreadingchallenge #
• #3 A One word title  Violetta/Beartown (Beartown, #1)
• #9 Reread a Book from High School
19. While I was Reading  #
• #3 A book with a cover you don’t like. And Then There Were None
• #8 A food related memoir.  Roasting in Hell's Kitchen: Temper Tantrums, F Words, and the Pursuit of Perfection
20. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2022 
• #2 set in south africa  Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood
• #3 set in a vineyard/wine books  A Pairing to Die for (Colorado Wine Mystery #2)
• #4 baltic setting  Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster
• #5 hiking A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
• #7 dark academia  The Oxford Inheritance
• #8 australia  The Hypnotist's Love Story
• #9  road trip The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America
• #11 about or set in thailand  
• #12 about or set in ecuador  Diamonds & Donuts: A Jessica James Cozy Mystery (Murder on the Equator, #4)
21. 52 books in 52 weeks  #
• #10 Humor Me  Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse
• #28 Selected by a Friend 
22. Unruly Reader Bingo  #
• #9  afro futurism  Home (Binti, #2)
• #10 native american author 
• #22 immersion  Diamonds & Donuts: A Jessica James Cozy Mystery (Murder on the Equator, #4)
• #25 biography  After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom
23. Six Shooter Authors to read for 2022
• Mildred Abbott
• Amanda Flower/Isabella Alan
• Winnie Archer
• Bree Baker/Julie Anne Lindsay/Jacqueline Frost/Julie Chase 
• Lorraine Bartlett/Lorna Barrett
• Ginger Bolton
• Rhys Bowen
• Lucy Burdette/Roberta Isleib
• Eve Calder
• Kate Carlisle
• Laurie Cass
• Chris Cavender
• Erika Chase/Linda Wiken
• Mary Higgins Clark
• Leena Clover
• Sheila Connolly
• Maya Corrigan
• Donna Amis Davis
• Kaitlyn Dunnett
• Sarah Fox
• Victoria Gilbert
• Sally Goldenbaum
• JM Griffin
• Cheryl Hollon
• Marc Jedel
• Lizzie Josephson
• Jennifer Joy
• Tonya Kappes
• Celia Kinsey
• Kate Lansing
• CA Larmer
• Karen McManus
• Alyssa Maxwell
• Colleen Mooney
• Chris Niles
• Sara Paretsky
• Paige Shelton
• Cathy Tully
• Lisa Unger
• Ruth Ware

Don't Taco "Bout Murder

 My verdict is not quite set on this cozy mystery, Don't Taco 'Bout Murder.   While I loved Mona Marple's descriptions of the Dio De Los Muertos celebrations and other cultural highlights of Emily and Uncle Cornelius' visit to Mexico, there are aspects of the story that just bugged me.  I think Uncle Cornelius feels a bit too much like a con artist to me at times which makes it hard for me to like him.   Also, Emily transforms from a naïve and sheltered young woman into an emboldened one far too easily in the story.   

I originally selected this Kindle Unlimited book to meet a June reading prompt to read a book set in Mexico.  I am glad I found this series and will happily try the next book even if it won't be at the top of my to read pile for now.  If you like reading books set in different countries that describe culture and experiences then you will like this book.  May not be the best pick for readers looking for strong characters.

Don't Taco 'Bout Murder by Mona Marple
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

interesting cozy

I selected this book as I was looking for a story set in Mexico for a book challenge. This book definitely delivers on giving the reader a glimpse into the culture and traditions in Mexico I enjoyed that aspect very much. The mystery itself was very intriguing even if a bit predictable. I am just not sure what I think of the main characters though. Emily starts out as such an immature and unworldly young lady who suddenly has the gumption to stand up to a very brash bigger than life Texan. It didn’t feel realistic to me. I may try the next book in the series just to see how some plot lines go but not sure yet


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Mexico
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #69
3. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #46
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #68
5. Craving for Cozies  Book #63
6. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
7. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- lake
• Weapon- drown
• Detectives- Emily Monk
• Victims- daniel lopez; francisco martinez; miguel sanchez 
8. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #87  Shot #1