Cheli's Colorful 2019 Category Challenge

Hi everyone, this is my 11th annual category challenge and this year I'm using a combo theme.
This year my theme is COLOR. I have selected 19 colors to signify my categories. I really wanted to do this but was wondering how I could use color as my theme. I decided that anything goes. It could be the cover of the book, the color of the letters for the title, it could be the color of the main characters car. I could do anything. But then I also thought that some colors bring certain things to mind - example white makes me think of snow, so I could do that too! We'll just have to figure it out together! I'm not sure which color will win out in the end but I certainly hope that my year of reading will touch the entire spctrum of colors!
Again, I want to try again to have at least 75% of the books I read come off my TBR pile - meaning the books had to be in my possession for at least 6 months, either on my Nook, Kindle, MP3 for audio, or physical shelves unless they were ARCs or ER books which need to be read in a timely manner. At this point in time, it looks like I finished 2018 with 123 books read and of those over 90% were from my shelves or ARCs. So I did really well with this goal.

In 2019 I'll be continuing the following formal challenges:

The 75 Book Challenge This is where I spend most of my time. I can chat about my grandchildren, themes for the day or just anything I feel like as well as BOOKS.
US Presidents Challenge So far I'm still working on FDR and the Great Depression. Needless to say, this challenge has been extended to 2024 at least.
European Challenge - I still have 2/3 of Europe to explore. Hopefully, a few foreign countries are in my future this year.
50 States challenge - Only six states left on the itinerary, and I'm hoping to finish this challenge in 2019.
Miscellanous monthly challenges that will help me find new things to stretch my reading include the CAT challenges, Alpha Kit - and books for my ladies' book club.

Then there are also several personal challenges that I will be endeavoring to work on in 2019.

Bookshelf Bootie - I'm trying to remind myself that when books come into to my house they need to be read soon. My goal is that 50% of new books in are read in the current year. Hopefully, that will include the books that I actually purchased as well as downloaded to my Nook so that those books that show in my acquisition ticker on my ROOT thread will be read in a timely manner. I want to dwindle down my TBRs by reading old books as well as all the new acquired. This will be tough. I did manage to read 55% of new books acquired in 2018. YEAH!!!
ROOT Challenge is my effort to read 84 books off my own shelves- I'm increased my goal this year because I'm falling farther behind! (This includes books on my Nook/Kindle, ER & ARCs I receive for review, and audiobooks that I've downloaded in the past.) I've resolved to reduce the number of ARCs/ERs that I request so that more of the old books have priority. This resolution is very hard for me to do, but I'll try again in 2019. I did poorly in 2018 because I received 105 books that had to be read and reviewed in the current year and I didn't keep up.

Series Catchup - In 2019 I again plan to try to keep catching up on series that I've already started and make a conscious effort to stay current on any new series that I start. Last year I managed to bring or keep 24 series current which is only about 12% - I have to do better.

So here we go!

I will be giving an idea of what each color reminds me of but I would love to hear what you think of for a particular color, so join in, please!
This year has no books designated for any particular category, they will land whereever I want them to go.

The goal is 5 books in each category!

I. Dark Brown - CATEGORY COMPLETED
II. Copper - CATEGORY COMPLETED
III. Orange /Tan /Light Brown - CATEGORY COMPLETED
IV. Gold - CATEGORY COMPLETED
V. Yellow - CATEGORY COMPLETED
VI. Dark Green - CATEGORY COMPLETED
VII. Green - CATEGORY COMPLETED
VIII. White - CATEGORY COMPLETED
IX. Black - CATEGORY COMPLETED
X. Blue - CATEGORY COMPLETED
XI. Sea Blue - CATEGORY COMPLETED
XII. Dark Blue - CATEGORY COMPLETED
XIII. Purple - CATEGORY COMPLETED
XIV. Lavender - CATEGORY COMPLETED
XV. Light Pink - CATEGORY COMPLETED
XVI. Pink - CATEGORY COMPLETED
XVII. Dark Pink - CATEGORY COMPLETED
XVIII. Red - CATEGORY COMPLETED
XIX. Garnet - CATEGORY COMPLETED

I. Dark Brown -
When I see dark brown I think of teddy bears, leatherbound books, tree trunks, coffee, labrador retrievers, chocolate!
So many things could be in this category!

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. Dancing at Midnight - hero's eyes were described as molten chocolate
2. Louvre: All The Paintings - Mona Lisa's hair on the cover
3. A Cold Brew Killing - coffee
4. A Curio Killing (A Keepsake Cove Mystery) - cowboy boots
5. In Cold Chocolate - chocolate
6. One Potato, Two Potato Dead = potatoes
7. And Then They Were Doomed - mud

II. COPPER
Copper makes me think of pennies, coins, teakettles, plumbing fictures,copper tresses, cookware!

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1.Dead as a Door Knocker Sawdust's fur
2.A Vintage Death - old scissors
3.Sconed to Death - caramel apples
4.The Summer Guests - Jazzy's coat
5.Trouble on the Books - chair in cover

III. Orange /Tan /Light Brown
Laugh if you must but the color orange makes me think of oranges, and pumpkins, fire, candy corn, cheese doodles, autumn leaves, carrots, goldfish, cheese, Reeses! Orange is a big food color for me. Light brown brings to mind parchment, sand, beaches, mushrooms.

ETA- orange and tan-light brown)

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. Coloring Crook - parchment paper
2. A Light in the Window - book spine
3. Broken Bone China - fire in the hot air balloon
4. Expiration Date - dough
5. The Angels Share - malmsey wine

IV. GOLD
I wear GOLD every day. Just about every piece of jewelry I own is set in gold. Besides jewelry, gold makes me think of King Tut's mask, fire, Wedding rings, awards, lettering, honey, french fries, King Midas, and money!

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. Thread Herrings - coat of arms on needlework at center of story
2. Murder at the Marina - gold coins
3. Sweet Tea and Secrets - gold top on the body
4. Yeast of Eden - waffles
5. Toxic Toffee - toffee

V. YELLOW! CATEGORY COMPLETED

Of course, when I see yellow I think of Sunshine, rubber duckies, bananas, lemons, corn on the cob, baby chicks, big bird,post its, marigolds, sunflowers, daffodils, dandelions, mustard, eggs, and chardonnay. Wow, A lot of flowers! What a mixture!

1. Eggs on Ice - eggs, of course!
2. Restaurant Weeks are Murder apron for main character
3. The Rosie Project - cover
4. The Name of the Rosé (Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery) - attack plane
5. Codebook Murders - sunflower backpack
6. Bound for Murder - title on the cover

VI.DARK GREEN

Even though green is my favorite color, some the things that green reminds me of are things that are not my favorites. Dark green makes me think of me of cemeteries, forests, vegetables (blah!), Christmas trees (yeah!) christmas wreaths, leprechauns and shamrocks! See what I mean about good and not so good?

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. In Want of a Knife - much of the action took place in a forest
2. Mardi Gras Murder: A Cajun Country Mystery - primary color of the cover
3. Corned Beef and Casualties - St. Patrick's Day timing
4. Breaking the Mould -evergreens
5. Crêpe Expectations Dress

VII.GREEN
As I said, green is my favorite color because it brings to mind grass, limes, leaves, grapes, apples, quacamole, pears, and MONEY!

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. Mother's Day Mayhem - fraud for money
2. Telephone Line - jello mold
3. Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches - cucumbers
4. Sifting Through Clues - aventurine
5. Nasty Breaks - golf course

VIII. WHITE

Black or white grabs so many things but together I see checkers and chess, old movies and old photographs,newspapers and ice cream parlor floors.
White makes me think of polar bears, snow, ice, angels, clean linens, swans, brides, bunnies, clouds, cotton balls, mountain tops.

Wow What books could I read for this color?

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles - The main character was preparing for her wedding
2. The Dressmaker - Titanic hit an iceberg
3. The Temptation of Forgiveness - coupons for drug rebates
4. Gown with the Wind - wedding gown
5. Golden Compass - Armed Bear

IX.Black
Black makes me think of witches, cats, panthers, bats, chalkboards. Evil seems to gravitate toward darkness.

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. Prose and Cons - murder weapon - liquid nicotine on Victorian Gown
2. Murder in the Reading Room - dungeon at the Biltmore
3. The Walking Bread - zombie car
4. Leave No Scone Unturned - Hijacker's mask
5. Rotten Lies - burned flesh
6. Criminally Cocoa - sneezing powder
7. Murder Most Fermented - oil beneath the house
8. Buried in the Stacks - Smokey Joe, library Cat
9. Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder - electrical burns
10. Opening Night Murders - stage shadows

X.Light BLUE CATEGORY COMPLETED

Light Blue brings to mind little boys, baby's eyes, summer skies, swimming pools, jeans, peacocks, blue jays

1. Cut to the Chaise - murder scene
2. The Hour of Death: A Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery cover background
3. Room Service (The Innkeepers) - cover bedspread
4. Triple Jeopardy - stolen pendant
5. Beyond a Reasonable Stout - author's name on the cover
6. You're in Good Paws cover bsckground

XI. Sea Blue
Sea blue is just that, the idea of oceans and seas, desert islands but also blue crabs and lobsters, but alas, also the blue screen of death on my computer.

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. Crowned and Moldering - ocean view
2. Past Due for Murder - hat
3. Flour in the Attic - victim's favorite swimsuit
4. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - blue flame
5. Bear in Love - Words of Title
6. Unto Us a Son Is Given (Guido Brunetti) scarf

XII. Dark Blue

CATEGORY COMPLETED

Dark Blue reminds me of the field for the stars on the american flag, sapphires, blueberries, night skies, military uniforms

1. The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla midnight sky
2. Immoral Certainty - author's name on cover
3. The Vanishing Man: A Prequel to the Charles Lenox Series - sky on cover
4. Memories and Murder - Door on the cover
5. A Very Mummy Holiday - blue tick hound
6. The Woman in Cabin 10 - water in fjord at night

XIII. PURPLE

CATEGORY COMPLETED

African Violets, pansy faces, royal robes, amethysts are just some of the things that come to mind when I see purple.

1. Murders and Metaphors - main character's name is Violet
2. The Loch Ness Papers (A Scottish Bookshop Mystery) - cover
3. Ella Enchanted - cover banner
4. Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player - my Mah Jongg tiles
5. An Ale of Two Cities - cover background

XIV. LAVENDER

CATEGORY COMPLETED

Lavender is more of something I smell than see but it is still a beautiful color. I think Tanzinite is the color of lavender which makes me think of far away places, candles burning, sachet bags,

1. Kingdom of the Blind - a homeless little girl rescued at the end smelled of lavender
2. Blood Oath - handkerchief
3. Fields Guide to Abduction - purse with a hidden pocket
4. Pie Hard - cover background
5. The Body in the Attic - haze on the cover
6. Killer in the Carriage House - title on cover

XV. LIGHT PINK

CATEGORY COMPLETED

Light Pink makes me think of baby girls, bubble gum, bunny ears, erasers

1. Batter Off Dead - Title Cover
2. Chocolate Cream Pie Murder - Pink Grapefruit Cake
3. Down in Flames - twins' sweaters
4. Premeditated Peppermint - peppermint bark
5. Killer at the Carriage House - Title letters

XVI. PINK
Don't laugh, but when I think Pink I think of Sweet 'N'Low, tutus, ballerinas, and Pepto Bismol

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. Hair of the Dog - cover background
2. Assault and Beadery - beads
3. Murder at Marble House - flower petals
4. Fatal Cajun Festival - 4½" high heels
5. Chocolate Cream Pie Murder - pink grapefruit cake

XVII. DARK PINK

Dark Pink makes me think of roses, ribbons in little girl's hair, nail polish, tourmalines, prom dresses, corsages

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. Grand Slam Murders - back of cards on the cover
2. Murder by the Book - jeweled box
3. Murder with Cherry Tarts - cover background
4. Mumbo Gumbo Murder - cushions at the wine bar
5. Tudor Dawn - Tudor Rose
6. Marry Christmas Murder tablecloth on cover

XVIII. RED

So much of red - I think of hearts,valentines, Christmas bows, blood, red velvet cake, fire trucks, cherries, Santa's suit, roses, strawberries, tomatoes, apples, peppers, Elmo, sports cars, stop signs, tulips,

I can see a lot of mysteries in this category!

CATEGORY COMPLETED

1. In Peppermint Peril - Title on the cover
2. Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder = pizza sauce
3. The Great Alone - blood
4. Alibis & Angels - victim's coat
5. The Dog Who Lost His Bark - dog bed- red velvet lining in violin case
6. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - hand on cover
7. A Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg: How to Play the Game & Win - header on cover

XIX. GARNET

Garnet isn't the same as a true Red. Garnet color brings to mind a lipstick, deep cabernet wine, football jerseys, garnets (of course), ruby slippers

1. Wine and Punishment - red wine
2. Died in the Wool - title on the cover
3. Wed, Read & Dead - bridesmaid dress
4. Christmas Gathering - marks on victim's neck
5. Pinot Red or Dead? - wine color
6. Clarets of Fire - wine color

Book made into a movie - Crowned and Moldering
Main title has 6 or more words in it - The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
Title contains a homophone word (such as hair/hare, slay/sleigh, there/their/they’re) - Prose and Cons prose/pros
Weather (title contains a weather word, or book involves/centers around a weather event) - CodeBook Murders
Book has an LT rating of 4.0 or more Kingdom of the Blind
Book in translation
Prize-winning book - Mardi Gras Murder Agatha Award
Children’s/YA book, or reread a childhood favorite - The Dog Who Lost His Bark
Graphic novel
Food-related title or topic - In Cold Chocolate
Read a book bullet (meaning another LT member inspired you to read it)
Book mentioned in another book you have read
Animal on cover/in title/plays a significant role - Hair of the Dog
Short stories or essays
Debut novel - In Peppermint Peril
Book about/featuring siblings - Murder at the Marina
Book with an artistic character - Telephone Line
Fairy tale (classic or reworked) - Ella Enchanted
Author uses middle name or middle initial - Cut to the Chaise
Cover has at least two human figures - Dancing at Midnight
Part of a series - As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles
Alliterative title - Premeditated Peppermint
Topic or character related to medicine/health
Eastern European author or setting
Read a CAT - Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder National Pizza Day in February - Calendar Cat

1st Quarter reads

January

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles
In Peppermint Peril
Prose and Cons
The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
Dancing at Midnight
Murders and Metaphors
Wine and Punishment
Dressmaker

February

Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder
Eggs on Ice
Kingdom of the Blind
In Want of a Knife: A Little Library Mystery
Hair of the Dog
Cut to the Chaise (A Caprice De Luca Mystery)
Dead as a Door Knocker
Crowned and Moldering
Coloring Crook

March

A light in the Window
Restaurant Weeks Are Murder
The Loch Ness Papers (A Scottish Bookshop Mystery)
Mardi Gras Murder: A Cajun Country Mystery
The Great Alone
Grand Slam Murders (A Bridge to Death Mystery)
Corned Beef and Casualties (A Tourist Trap Mystery)
Thread Herrings
Louvre

2nd Quarter reads

April

Blood Oath
Murder in the Reading Room
A Cold Brew Killing (All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery)
Murder by the Book (Bookstore Mystery)
Alibis and Angels
Broken Bone China
Walking Bread
Batter Off Dead: A Southern Cake Baker Mystery
Assault and Beadery

May

The Rosie Project
Breaking the Mould (A Vintage Kitchen Mystery)
Mother's Day Mayhem
Ella Enchanted
The Hour of Death
Vintage Death
Murder at Marble House
Curio Killing
Room Service

June

Expiration Date (A Cook-Off Mystery)
In Cold Chocolate: A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery
Murder at the Marina
Sweet Tea and Secrets
Telephone Line
The Body in the Attic
Died in the Wool
Leave No Scone Unturned

3rd Quarter Reads

July

Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches
Chocolate Cream Pie Murder
Sifting Through Clues
Rotten Lies
Sconed to Death
One Potato, Two Potato Dead
Angels Share
Criminally Cocoa
Premeditated Peppermint (An Amish Candy Shop Mystery)
The Dog Who Lost his Bark

August

Down in Flames
Murder Most Fermented (Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery)
The Name of the Rosé (Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery)
Codebook Murders
Buried in the Stacks
Immoral Certainty (Signet)
No More Time
Summer Guests
Death in Focus
Nasty Breaks

September

Fields' Guide to Abduction
Yeast of Eden
Crêpe Expectations
Past Due for Murder
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Vanishing Man: A Prequel to the Charles Lenox Series
Bound for Murder
Flour in the attic
Wed, Read, and Dead
And Then They Were Doomed
Pie Hard
Fatal Cajun Festival
Temptation of Forgiveness
COUNTRY INN MYSTERY

4th Quarter reads

October

November

December

Good luck with your reading!

Starred this so I can follow along. I cannot wait to see what you choose for each category and how you came up with where to fit books. Is it literal, figerative or a mix of both?

Happy reading in 2019!

Happy New Year!

What a pretty thread!!

You found some great pictures for your thread. I especially like the one at the very top.

Bunny ears!!!! Awwww :D Great setup for your challenge -- have a great reading year!

Fabulous colour theme and I love the images you have chosen to go with your categories!

Beautiful theme! Looks like it will be a year of fun reading!

Wonderful pictures! Have a great reading year!

Great set-up, love the colors and what they inspire in you - good luck with your 2019 reading, including progress on the US Presidents Challenge! I'm going to make some progress on that this year as well.

Great set-up and organization, Chelle! Looking forward to following along on your colorful 2019 journey.

Challenge Book # 1
As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles ★★★½
Leslie Budewitz
Category - White - main character was a bride-to-be
Other Challenges - AlphaKit January - Q&A
ROOT Challenge

Erin Murphy is getting ready for her wedding while at the same time Jewel Bay is in the midst of Christmas festivities. Erin runs in to Merrily Thornton, who has returned to town to try to reconnect with her family. But her mother will not give in, having disowned her when she was sent to prison 20 years ago. Erin tries to befriend and invites Merrily to the cookie exchange. When Merrily is a no show and is later found murdered, Erin begins to the murder and her as questions put her own life in jeopardy.

I love the setting, the warm-hearted characters, and how the clues were spread throughout.

Challenge Book # 2
In Peppermint Peril ★★★

Joy Avon
Category - Red - Lettering of the title on the cover, candy canes
Other Challenges - AlphaKit January - Q&A
ROOT Challenge

Callie Aspen comes back to Heart’s Harbor, Maine for the holidays planning to help her Great Aunt Iphy with her tearoom, Book Tea. Aunt Iphy sends her to Haywood Hall for a special tea being hosted by the owner, Dorothea Finster where she will be reading her will to family members as well as town officials. Her Nephew's wife has other ideas in mind and before either can be realized, an old caretaker is found murdered in the conservatory. Feeling that she needs to help her old friends, Callie starts asking questions which sends trouble her way not just from the police but the killer too.

I liked the story and the characters. I kept thinking I was playing CLUE - Mr. Brown in the Conservatory with the knife. And I couldn't figure out where the title came from.

>37 cyderry: I just put a hold on the first one in that series. I see it won an Agatha for best first novel.

>38 cyderry: That one isn't available at the library. I tried to win a copy from GoodReads (I think--since the title is familiar). I did add a recommendation for it in the library that allows that on e-books.

Challenge Book # 3
Prose and Cons ★★★½

Amanda Flower
Category - Black - Murder Weapon was liquid nicotine
Other Challenges - AlphaKit January - Q&A
Calendar Cat - National Book Month - Magical Bookshop
ROOT Challenge

Autumn has come to Cascade Springs and with it the Food and Wine Festival. To draw customers in to Charming Books, Violet and her grandmother Daisy plan a poetry with the local writers group, the Red Inkers, dressed in period costumes for the 19th century representing different characters or authors. When one of the writers is late appearing, Violet goes to find her and discovers her body at the body of the stairs, neck broken.

The ensuing investigation has the Red Inkers squarely in the forefront trying to aid Violet in finding the murderer.

The characters are really developing well, and the setting with the magical tree assisting in supplying clues is fantastic!

Challenge Book # 4
The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla ★★★

Lauren Willig
Category - Dark Blue - midnight sky
Other Challenges - AlphaKit January - Q&A
Calendar Cat - Pink Carnation series - Carnation January's birth flower

Sally Fitzhugh, is still unclaimed on the Marriage Mart in her second season, so when she discovers that the long-lost Duke of Belliston has returned she is determined to find out if the rumors of his being a vampire are true.

Lucien, Duke of Beliston, left home when he was fifteen after the death of his parents. It was said to be a murder/suicide and no one paid attention when he said that they must have been murdered. He left to go to America where he stayed with an aunt in New Orleans. But he now feels that it is time to find who killed his parents.

To relieve her boredom with the season, Sally pairs herself with Lucien to find the murderer and they prove that Lucien is no vampire.

Challenge Book # 5
Dancing at Midnight ★★★
Julia Quinn

Category - Dark Brown - hero's eyes were described as molten chocolate
Other Challenges - AlphaKit January - Q&A
TBR Cat - oldest book on TBR list
ROOT Challenge

Lord John Blackwood has returned from the war scarred in body and mind. Lady Arabella Blydon has retreated to the country, tired of the Marriage Mart and men who only wanted her dowry. The two meet by accident but soon discover a comfort in each other's company. However, there wasn't really much of a plot. Just bad guy from the past trying to even the score threatening the woman in his life. Entertaining but not great.

Challenge Book # 6
Murders and Metaphors ★★★½
Amanda Flower

Category - PURPLE - main character's name is Violet
Other Challenges - AlphaKit January - Q&A
Calendar Cat - National Book Month - Magical Bookshop
ROOT Challenge

Violet Waverly has taken over as Caretaker of Charming Books from her Grandmother Daisy. Still adjusting to her new duties, Violet is running late when they are supposed to be hosting a book signing at Morton's Wineries, and the author is not happy. Violet's BFF, Lacey, shows up to speak to her sister (the author) and there is a major scene because the author won't talk to Lacey. When the author is later found dead, Lacey is the chief suspect so Violet feels the need to clear her friend.

The fascinating part about the series is the magical tree inside the bookshop. It keeps trying to help Violet by setting Little Women in front of her as well as pointing her to certain passages in the book. I love it!

Challenge Book # 7
Wine and Punishment ★★★½
Sarah Fox

Category - GARNET - red wine
Other Challenges - Calendar Cat - Garnet cover - garnet January birthstone
ROOT Challenge

Sadie Coleman has broken up with her boyfriend, Eric, left Boston and purchased the old Grist mill in Shady Creek, Vermont opening a literary pub - wine, beer, drinks and books! The Autumn Festival is just a few days away, but Sadie has other things to deal with - slashed tires, fire in a neighboring building, and an ex-boyfriend that wants her back. When she discovers Eric's dead body and she seems to be the only one in town that knows him, Sadie jumps to the top of the suspect list and has to figure out who did it to clear herself.

As the first in the series, I will pleased to see a good description of the town and many of the secondary as well as the man characters. Great start

Challenge Book # 8
The Dressmaker ★★★½
Kate Alcott

Category - WHITE - Iceberg and Titanic
Other Challenges - AlphaKit January - Q&A
ROOT Challenge

Tess Collins decides that life as a ladies maid is not for her, so she grabs her things and heads to the docks hoping to get a job on the Titanic that will take her to America . She wants to be a dress designer and so when she gets the opportunity to work for Lady Lucy Duff Gordon, ironically as a ladies maid, she believes that fate is in her favor. Duff Gordon is an American dress designer and Tess hopes that once she is in America she can get a job not as a ladies maid but in the dress industry.

But then the sinking of the Titanic occurs and Tess, as well as the other survivors have to adapt to reality and wonder - could more have been saved?

Interesting historical fiction surrounding a few of the fictional survivors of the Titanic

Challenge Book # 9
Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder ★★★½
Chris Cavender

Category - RED - pizza sauce
Other Challenges - Calendar Cat - National Pizza Day
ROOT Challenge

Eleanor owns A Slice of Delight, the local Pizzeria, and along with her sister, Maddie, tries to stay financial afloat. When Ellie finds a dead body in her kitchen, and it turns out to be the brother of one of her employees, problems start escalating - pizzeria shut down by the police to gather evidence and a missing employee. Ellie and Maddie have to do something with their new found off hours, so they start hunting for answers.

Their search for the murderer could get their pizza cooked for sure.
I wish that Ellie would stop wallowing and move forward with her life. She has a great sister and good friends, time to move on.

Challenge Book # 10
Eggs On Ice ★★★½
Laura Childs - sent from author

Category - YELLOW - eggs
Other Challenges - AlphaKit February - K&O
ROOT Challenge

The theater group in Kindred is producing A Christmas Carol for the holiday season, but at the dress rehearsal, a ghost proceeds to stab and kill Allen Sharpe, the nasty attorney who was perfectly cast as Scrooge. The murder took place in front of the cast and crew but the ghost costume left the identity of the murderer in question. So many people in town had reasons to hate Sharpe, but who did it?

A beautifully crafted mystery and the characters were, as usual, warm and whimsical.

Challenge Book # 11
Kingdom of the Blind ★★★★
Louise Penny
Category - LAVENDER a homeless little girl rescued at the end smelled of lavender
Other Challenges - AlphaKit February - K&O

Armand Gamache, Chief Superintendent of the Sûreté du Québec, is on suspension after the decision he made to let a huge shipment of a new deadly drug get by in order shut down the drug cartel. Trying to keep himself occupied, Armand is not adverse to accepting the position of "liquidator" for an old cleaning woman from the Three Pines village. What her finds out, however, is that she is a possible heir to a large European estate under dispute.

Juggling the duties of the executor of this possible wealth, and murder that appears connected and still trying to locate the drugs that have him suspended, keeps Armand and the reader busy as well. The two stories are woven together beautiful but the endings seem forced, not unexpected as in previous books in the series, and not unacceptable, just forced.

I certainly hope that Armand will be back with all his strength of spirit in the future.

Challenge Book # 12
In Want of a Knife: A Little Library Mystery ★★★★
Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli

Category - DARK GREEN much of the action took place in a forest
Other Challenges - AlphaKit February - K&O
CALENDAR CAT - National Library Lover’s Month
ROOT Challenge

Jenny Weston and her friend and neighbor, Zoe Zola, are drawn into the search for Cammy Otis who has disappeared. Recently Janice Root, a young woman, was found dead on the side of rode and now the town of Bear Falls thinks there may be a serial killer on the loose. Just as these tragedies are enveloping the town, they are informed that a new resident wants to gift $2 million to the town but wants to get to know the people as well.

The introduction of the new residents automatically points to them as the villains but the twists and turns of how Zoe and Jenny eventually solve these crimes kept this reader on the edge of her seat wondering if they would get there in time.

Definitely a winner!

Looks like you are making quite a bit of progress!

Challenge Book # 13
Hair of the Dog ★★★★
Carlene ONeil

Category - PINK Cover Background
Other Challenges - AlphaKit February - K&O
ROOT Challenge
BINGO

Penny Lively, winery owner, is busy not just with wine but trying to protect her cousin Annie. Annie is a vet and when Penny stops of at the vet clinic with her cousin and then founds her bending over the dead body of her partner with the murder weapon in hand, Penny knows she has to find someway of convincing others that Annie is not guilty even if that means figuring out who the real murderer is.

I love the cast of characters and how they relate with each other. I love the protectiveness of Penny but sometimes it is a bit much.

Plot was great and clues well disguised with all the furry friends.

Challenge Book # 14
Cut to the Chaise ★★★½
Karen Rose Smith

Category - LIGHT BLUE -- scene of the crime - Teal Chaise
Other Challenges - AlphaKit February - K&O
ROOT Challenge
BINGO

Caprice DeLuca is finally going to be marrying the love of her life, but will the problems surrounding the reception venue be resolved in time? Having waited for the Grant's annulment to be finalized, now Caprice and Grant don't want to wait any longer, but trying to find an opening on the church calendar as well as a reception space was a bit tricky, The church had a cancellation and Caprice found that her former clients at the Rambling Vines Winery have an opening at their event center. Things seem to be working out until one of the owners is found murdered.

Can Caprice get the all clear for her reception or will alternative circumstances cause an end to this love story.

The characters and setting, background and pets make this one of my favorite series.

Challenge Book # 15
Dead as a Door Knocker ★★★
Diane Kelly

Category - COPPER -- Sawdust's fur
Other Challenges - AlphaKit February - K&O
ROOT Challenge

In this first installment of the House Flipper Mysteries, Whitney Whitaker comes to the reader as a Property Manager for rentals who is getting ready to take the exam to become a full fledged realtor. Whitney is tasked to evict three college boys from a charming little cottage near the university. After she gets them out (while receiving threats of retribution), Whitney discovers that the house has been trashed severely. The owner happens by and seeing the damage, offers the house to her at a giant discount simply to eliminate further hassles for him. Whitney gathers all her savings, gets her cousin,Buck, to co-sign and they are set to refurbish and flip the house for a tidy profit. But wait. The first night the house catches on fire due to old knob and tube wiring which the inspector failed to note on his inspection sheet. Having escaped the fire, Whitney, then discovers a few days later the old owner dead in her garden. Could anything else go wrong? Now she's a murder suspect!

This was a great start for a new series and I particularly loved the chapters that were from the POV of Whitney's cat, Sawdust. Definitely generated laughter!

Challenge Book # 16
Crowned and Moldering ★★★½
Kate Carlisle

Category - SEA BLUE - ocean view
Other Challenges - AlphaKit February - K&O
ROOT Challenge

Shannon Hammer's construction company finally has the go ahead from the Historical Society to start the renovations to the old Lighthouse mansion, that is until a skeleton is found in the old dumbwaiter.

Discovering that the bones belonged to a friend from high school who everyone thought had just run away, sends Shannon's memories of those days flooding back to her. Who hated Lily enough to stuff her in the dumbwaiter and leave her there to die?

The characters are definitely growing and expanding in their dimensions - the mystery was well-planned and clues well done.

Challenge Book # 17
The Coloring Crook ★★★½
Krista Davis
Category - TAN/LIGHT BROWN/ORANGE - old parchment coloring book
Other Challenges - AlphaKit February - K&O
ROOT Challenge

Florrie Fox, manager of the Georgetown book store Color Me Read, is startled by one of her regular customers with a copy of a 1700s Adult Coloring Book titled The Florist. Florrie tells her customer, Dolly, that it appears to be an original and could be worth a great deal of money. Dolly got it at a yard sale so this would be a huge windfall for her. Dolly posts on Social media about her huge find and that's when trouble starts. Florrie is accosted by several people trying to purchase The Florist and Dolly is found dead that evening. When it's discovered that she was murdered, Florrie is even more concerned because of a break-in at the bookstore. Did the burgular think she had The Florist? Was it one of her customers that killed Dolly, or was it someone else?

This mystery was cleverly woven around numerous characters that may have been behind any of the crimes or all of them.
Loads of fun! I think I'll get my coloring books out!

Challenge Book # 18
The Light in the Window ★★★
Jan Karon
Category - TAN/LIGHT BROWN/ORANGE - spine of the book
Other Challenges - AlphaKit March - U&L
TBR CAT - very old TBR - loaned from Tututhefirst since 2009
ROOT Challenge

A return to Mitford finds Father Tim with woman problems - he has a weird "cousin" arrive unexpectedly from Ireland, girlfriend issues with Cynthia, and widow Edith is anxious to replace her deceased husband with him.

It was a heart-warming read, but I really had a hard time staying connected to the story. I don't think I will be reading anymore from this series, just too blah for me.

Challenge Book # 19
Restaurant Weeks Are Murder ★★★★
Libby Klein
Category - YELLOW - apron worn for contest
Other Challenges - AlphaKit March - U&L
ROOT Challenge

Poppy McAllister's high school boyfriend, Tim, is entered in the Restaurant Week cooking contest and asked her to help out. When she arrives for the first day's cooking, she finds not only an ugly yellow apron supplied by the other female chef on the team, but that she has been drafted to be the dessert portion of the team. Just as competition seems ready to start, the MC finds out that the hotel where the judges were scheduled to stay has issues and that every place else in town is booked. Poppy offers the B&B which hasn't opened yet, and so the competition can start.

However, it doesn't seem that the little local contest is going to go smoothly. The first day, all the ingredients in the pantry are mislabeled and only by accident did Poppy notice and save her team. Equipment malfunctions, injuries occur, and when one of the distinguished judges keels over dead, it's time for Poppy to figure out who murdered the judge, especially since they are staying at her B&B. Is she housing a murderer?

I loved it! The mystery was fun, the characters tremendously enjoyable and the food sounded so good!

>57 cyderry: I'm going to take that at a BB because I need a food related book for the Bingo Dog. TY!

>58 Tess_W: This is the 3rd in the series and they have all been great fun to read and laugh with.

Challenge Book # 20
The Loch Ness Papers ★★★
Paige Shelton
Category - PURPLE - The majority of the cover is this deep vibrant purple
Other Challenges - AlphaKit March - U&L
ROOT Challenge

Delaney Nichols is preparing for her wedding and after meeting with the minister who will officiate, Delaney literally runs into Norval Fraser, an elderly man obsessed with the Loch Ness monster. Norval draws Delaney into friendship and when Norval's nephew is found murdered, Delaney has to help keep Norvasl from being blamed. All this at the same time as her wedding nears, her family arrives from the US and The Cracked Spine receives a very rare and expensive book returned by a penitent family member of the thief.

Love the story, but it seemed a bit over the top, fantasizing the truth of the Loch Ness monster. I also thought it minimized Delaney's feeings about her wedding.

Challenge Book # 21
Mardi Gras Murder ★★★½
Ellen Byron
Category - Dark Green - The majority of the cover is a woodsy green
Other Challenges - Calendar CAT - Mardi Gras
ROOT Challenge
BINGO

Pelican Louisiana is preparing for Mardi Gras with all its festivities - parade, gumbo cooking contest, and of course, the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant. Maggie Crozat's grandmother is normally one of the judges, but since she's under the weather, Maggie is drafted to take her place. The area is trying to recover from massive flooding and the discovery of an unknown body washed up in the flood has Maggie working triple time. When one of the judges turns up dead, another is almost poisoned, Maggie decides she needs to figure out what's going on before its her turn.

The descriptions of the festivities as well as the characters and their motivations are entertaining and brought the flavor of the region to the reader. Great story!

Challenge Book # 22
Kristin Hannah ★★★★
Kristin Hannah
Category - RED - blood
Other Challenges - Calendar CAT - Iditarod Race - book set in Alaska


Ernt Allbright is A Vietnam Vet with PTSD but since this book is set in the 70s that syndrome had not been identified as yet. He is a violent man but he loves his wife Cora, and his daughter Leni. However, as in most domestic abuse situations, the batterer continually says he won't do it again and the battered believe him. This book, set in the wilds of Alaska, put the abusive environment in isolation, with only a few neighbors not really near and no method of emergency communication or rapid assistance. A scream would never be heard and injuries would be left undiscovered.

When we put a teenage girl into this position with her parents, and the anger of the father turns away from the mother to that daughter, bad things will happen and do. Frightening to think that these things really do occur even in today's world.

The story of Ernt and Cora is very sad in that they really do seem to love each other but the horrors of war have destroyed Ernt's ability to control his violent nature. Leni's romance with Matthew is a catalyst waiting to explode and destroy her family and those that love them.

My ladies' group chose this book for discussion because I am planning a trip to Alaska. I was stunned by the details presented as to how primitive life was there even in the 70s.

Challenge Book # 23
Grand Slam Murders ★★★
R. J. Lee
Category - Dark Pink - Playing Cards on the cover
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - U&L
BINGO
ROOT Challenge


As someone who plays bridge quite frequently, and is always searching for that Grand Slam hand, I was thinking that the players would be investigating a murder that was connected with their game. I was very surprised, therefore, when the Grand Slam murders were actually the foursome at the bridge table.

Wendy Winchester, the society reporter for the Rosalie town newspaper and a sub for the Rosalie Bridge Club, persuades her editor to let her write a set of articles about the 4 women who were murdered at the bridge table. Her father being the chief of police and her boyfriend the homicide detective did help her get some details that were readily available for all.

As Wendy digs deeper into the lives of the victims, her investigation uncovers facts that could point to an unusual culprit.

I was a bit disappointed that there was as much Bridge relation for the mystery. The characters still need a bit of fleshing out from 2 dimension to three, but overall, entertaining.

>63 cyderry: One of my favorite Agatha Christie mysteries is Cards on the Table, in which the victim is murdered by one of his party guests during a game of bridge. I'm sure I'd enjoy it even more if I were actually familiar with the game!

Challenge Book # 24
Corned Beef and Casualties ★★★½
Lynn Cahoon
Category - Dark Green - timing St. Patrick's Day
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - U&L
Calendar CAT - St Patrick's Day
ROOT Challenge


St. Patrick's Day has arrived in South Cove and crowds or revelers are wondering throughout the town. Alana McDaniel wonders into Coffee Books and More and Jill Gardner, the owner, enjoys a conversation with her. They plan to meet later but before that can happen Alana is found dead on the beach. The holiday festivities and rowdy visitors are keeping the police busy but Jill is able to uncover clues that the police have missed.

Love this series and the warm and friendly characters.

Challenge Book # 25
Thread Herrings ★★★½
Lea Wait
Category - GOLD coat of arms on needlework
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - U&L
ROOT Challenge


Angie Curtis is goes to an estate auction with her friend Sarah Byrne where she is captivated by apiece of needlework of an ancient coat of arms. Unable to resist,, Angie wins it but trouble comes along with her purchase. Researching the coat of arms and an ancient paper found with it dated 1757, apparently someone is not happy when her friend Clem who is a TV reporter, publicizes the information and the desire to find out more about the needlework. Clem is found dead the next day, Ange's car is bombed, and pole are certain that she is in danger. But Angie is determined to find out who killed her friend and why.

Great addition to this series! The characters continue to grow and bring realism to the storyline.

Challenge Book # 26
The Louvre: All the Paintings ★★★½
Vincent Pomarède
Category - BROWN - Mona Lisa's hair on cover
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - U&L
TBR CAT
ROOT Challenge


I've always wanted to visit the Louvre and Paris but unfortunately I doubt that will ever happen so being able to see all the paintings in this beautiful book, gave me the opportunity to see what I'm missing. I was surprised at the volume of paintings that were of a religious nature- so many Madonna and Child, Crucifixions, and others but also the number of portraits. I expected more landscapes and still lifes as well. All in all, a beautiful experience of viewing the works of great masters of art.

>66 cyderry: I always forget about Lea Wait's books. I need to resume that series. I didn't get far, but I think I liked it.

Challenge Book # 27
Blood Oath ★★★½
Linda Fairstein
Category - LAVENDER - Handkerchief evidence
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - B&M
ROOT Challenge

Alex Cooper is finally ready to return to her job as ADA of Special victims after her kidnapping and witnessing the murder of her boss. Her first case could be more than she can handle - "Cold Case" of a witness choosing now to come forward to identify a politician that raped her when a teenage witness in a murder case.

At the same time, Alex is concerned because a friend has become deathly ill and then disappears. When the connection of the two becomes evident, Alex gets put back into danger.

Such a great addition to this fantastic series!

>67 cyderry: - Wow! I didn't know that book existed. I can only imagine how huge it must be to have all of the paintings included. I'm going to have to search for this book as I'd love to be able to see the pictures. Still have hopes of one day visiting The Louvre, but in the meantime it would be fun to browse.

Challenge Book # 28
Murder in the Reading Room ★★★★
Ellery Adams
Category - BLACK - no light in dungeon at the Biltmore
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - B&M
Series CAT
ROOT Challenge

Another mystery at Storyton Hall - best one yet! Jane Steward the guardian of the secret library decides that she needs to find her lover, Edwin, by visiting the Biltmore estate in NC. Clues have led her to believe that Edwin is being held there. Taking only one Fin with her, they are able to locate Edwin, but they are caught trying to free him. The Templars are Edwin's captors and they are willing to realize him but for a price. Will Jane be willing to pay that price?

Having visited the Biltmore estate, I could very well believe all the twists and turns that occurred in this mystery related to this huge estate. But the best part is when they return to Storyton Hall and how Jane's past collides with her future.

Challenge Book # 29
A Cold Brew Killing ★★★
Lena Gregory
Category - BROWN - coffee
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - B&M
Series CAT
ROOT Challenge

Gia's busy with her breakfast cafe when her friend Trevor from the ice cream parlor next door rushes in saying that he found a body in his freezer! Gia runs over and discovers the body of the man running for mayor. She calls the police and decides that she really doesn't want to get involved but Trevor is her friend so she is drawn into the investigation. Many of her new friends seem to be caught up in the web of the victim's life and Gia works to untangle the clues that only she seems to find. Solving the murder also reveals details of the lives of some of the minor characters.

Cozy definitely fits this mystery and the story within!

Challenge Book # 30
Murder by the Book ★★★½
Lauren Elliott
Category - DARK PINK - Jeweled Box with secrets
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - B&M
Series CAT
Calendar CAT - National Library Week
ROOT Challenge

Addie Greyborne has inherited a house from a Great Aunt she knew nothing about, leaves her past as a librarian of rare items, and moves to the town of Greyborne and opens up a bookstore but it seems that there are those who aren't happy to see her. Having had her fiance murdered, her father dying in car accident, enough has happened to her but there's more is to come. Her "new" home is burglarized, she is nearly run over by a car, she is run off the road, but the Chief of Police is taking a personal interest in protecting her and he's cute to boot.

The mystery itself was quite complex and I felt that some of the clues were missing for the reader to solve it along with Addie. The relationship of her "friends" also seem to move a bit too fast, but I'll be looking for the next one!

I loved this!

>74 cyderry: - That's lovely! I'll get to work on my spring garden right now!

>74 cyderry: Great thoughts, Cheli!

>74 cyderry: - That is so perfect!

Challenge Book # 31
Alibis & Angels ★★★½
Olivia Matthews
Category - RED - victim's coat
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - B&M
Series CAT
Calendar CAT - Lent
ROOT Challenge

The Sisters of St. Hermione of Ephesus offer sanctuary to Mayor Heather Stanley after her finance director dies in what appears to be a slip and fall accident, but since the mayor has been getting threatening notes it may not be the case since the victim was wearing the mayor's coat and driving her car. Burglaries, muggings make it seem that there are some voters that don't want the mayor re-elected.

Sister Lou and the nuns are great characters and the story centered around the Lenten season expands the reader's involvement in the religious aspects of the story. Twists and turns keep the reader searching for the resolution until the end.

Challenge Book # 32
Broken Bone China ★★★★
Laura Childs
Category - ORANGE - hot air balloon explosion
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - B&M
ROOT Challenge

Theodosia and Drayton take an opportunity to take a hot air balloon ride at one of the events that they are catering but then witness a drone attack another balloon causing it to crash to the ground. One of the victims was the keeper of a rare Revolutionary War flag which goes missing after the "accident". Theo and the Indigo Tea Shoppe go forward with their Nancy Drew Tea, and Theo, in true Nancy Drew fashion, sets out to find the flag as well as uncover who plotted and programmed the drone.

Love Theo and the gang more each book and the writing is superb! Thanks to the author for sending me an ARC - great surprise - loved the book!

Challenge Book # 33
The Walking Bread ★★★
Winnie Archer
Category - BLACK - zombie car
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - B&M
ROOT Challenge
Ivy Culpepper's brother Billy has been entering a car in the Art Car Parade for several years but been coming in 2nd repeatedly because of design espionage. But this year Billy has guarded his design and thinks he can win. Chances seem pretty good until the frequent winner is found murdered in his entry and, of course, Billy shoots to the top of the suspect list. Ivy has to clear her brother of suspicion or his business will fail.

The descriptions of the cars entered in this event are only surpassed by the descriptions of the aromas from the bakery. The characters are developing and I look forward to the next visit to Yeast of Eden.

Challenge Book # 34
Batter Off Dead ★★★½
Maymee Bell
Category - LIGHT PINK - title on the cover
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - B&M

Sophia Cummings and her bakery, For Goodness Cakes, are hired to provided desserts for the Library Fundraiser being held at the Grape Valley Winery. A major donor who backed out of his donation is found murdered in the vineyard, and numerous other disasters occur causing Sophia to wonder if her new business is going to survive.

The mystery was a little lite but the characters are fleshing out nicely in this second installment of this series. The pastries all sounded delicious!

Challenge Book # 35
Assault and Beadery ★★★½
Mollie Cox Bryan
Category - PINK - beads
Other Challenges - AlphaKit - B&M
ROOT Challenge
Cora Chevalier's current craft retreat is a Mom's Escape weekend but the beading classes are being overshadowed by the murder of the Community Theater director.Cora's friend, Zee, is arrested simply because she was found over the body with the murder weapon in her hand. Go figure, the police think she did it. Can't imagine why, but Cora is determined to clear her friend. Balancing her commitments to the retreat and searching out the real murderer has Cora near panic but she manages to stay the course.

The murder mystery is simple but the characters are carefully woven into the story The crafts that are featured for the beading classes seem to be interesting as well.

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You've been on a cozy reading roll! There are so many series now. Not sure how you keep up.

Challenge Book # 36
The Rosie Project ★★★★
Graeme Simsion
Category - YELLOW - cover
Other Challenges - LILIES Book CLub

Dr. Don Tillman, a geneticist with Asperger's syndrome, decides that he needs a wife and devises a questionnaire to select possible candidates. Rosie comes along but has none of the characteristics that he is looking for. However, he decides that he will help her with her project to find her biological father.

I found the writing witty and entertaining. The story makes one think - would I really have a list of criteria to choose the person I was going to send my life with? Don't think it would have worked for me. Good book.

>84 thornton37814: Lori, I love cozies and it is hard to keep track of where I am in each series. FictFact was great in helping me do that, but now that they are no longer there (thanks a lot, Amazon) I am going to have to re-initiate my old series spreadsheet. Bummers!

Challenge Book # 37
Breaking the Mould ★★★★
Victoria Hamilton
Category - Dark Green - Evergreens
Other Challenges - AlphaKit V&H
ROOT Challenge
It's Christmas time in Queensland and Jaymie has been working on diorama of the Cratchit Christmas as a display for the Dickens Days festival. Arriving to finalize the display, Jaymie discovers the town Scrooge - Evan Nezer - dead.

The mystery was fun and cleverly woven into the holiday preparations for the town and Jaymie's family. Such an enjoyable cozy.

Challenge Book # 38
Mother's Day Mayhem ★★★
Lynn Cahoon
Category - GREEN - fraud after money
Other Challenges - Calendar Cat
ROOT Challenge
This fill-in novella of the Tourist Trap series centers around what the title suggests - mothers. Jill is finally going to meet Greg's mother and it is a bit apprehensive about the upcoming encounter. To take her mind off it, she steps in to help a young man who works next door to her shop who thought his mother was dead but has been contacted by a woman who says that she's his mother. This was a great way to keep the characters moving forward in their development with just a light mystery.. FUN!!

Challenge Book # 39
Ella Enchanted ★★★½
Gail Carson Levine
Category - PURPLE - cover banner
Other Challenges - Calendar Cat (purchased for my granddaughter's dance recital gift,) BINGO
What a charming story of a young princess who has been given a fairy gift at birth that isn't exactly terrific. Ella is gifted obedience by a thoughtless fairy and she must obey any command or order given to her. When her mother dies, and her father remarries, because of her "gift" Ella basically becomes a servant to her stepmother and stepsister. (Cinderella anyone?) However, in this retelling of the fairy tale, Ella battles her "gift" to free herself and find true love.

I read this book because I bought it for my granddaughter and wanted to be able to talk with her about it. I think that I will show a side of respectful self-reliance and understanding for others.

Challenge Book # 40
The Hour of Death: A Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery ★★★★
Jane Willan
Category - LIGHT BLUE - cover background
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - H&V
ROOT Challenge
Sister Agatha of the Gwenafwy Abbey is writing a murder mystery so when Tiffany Reese is found dead just before the Art Festival she thinks things are a bit fishy even though the police rule death by natural causes. Sister Agatha starts her own investigation and eventually convinces the police that more details need to be checked.

Sister Agatha is a great character and when she teams up with Father Selwyn the two make a formidable Holmes and Watson. The background of the nuns and Abbey give the reader a sense of order to offset the chaos of the mystery investigation. Looking forward to the next one!

Challenge Book # 41
A Vintage Death (A Keepsake Cove Mystery) ★★★½
Mary Ellen Hughes
Category - COPPER/RUST - antique scissors
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - H&V
ROOT Challenge
Callie Reed inherited her aunt's Music Box Shop in Keepsake Cove. She's trying to fit into the community so she volunteers to help with the town's fall festival which leads her to interactions with many of the other merchants - nice and not so nice. When one of her new friend's estranged husband is found murdered and the weapon (antique scissors) points sharply at her friend, the owner of the sewing shop, Callie jumps in to find the real culprit and save her friend.

Even though this ids the second book in the series, the main recurring characters have definitely fleshed out and the writing brings them to life. I really wish there was a Keepsake Cove - I'd love to visit!!

Challenge Book # 42
Murder at Marble House ★★★½
Alyssa Maxwell
Category - LIGHT PINK - dusky flower petals
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - H&V
ROOT Challenge

Emma Cross' cousin, Consuelo Vanderbilt, is being forced into a marriage with the Duke of Marlborough but she is fighting all the way. When she disappears appear after a tea with "future" family and a murder of the fortune teller brought in for entertainment, Emma has two tasks, find Consuelo as well as the murderer.

This series is very entertaining - bringing back the old days of the turn of the century in 1900 as well as old-fashioned social requirements and expectations. We have a heroine not afraid to step out of the norm.

>89 cyderry: Ella Enchanted is such a charmer! I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope your granddaughter likes it too.

>92 cyderry: I have an Alyssa Maxwell book on my TBR, Murder Most Malicious. I really must get to it soon!

>87 cyderry: That one sounds cute! I'll have to try to locate it.

Challenge Book # 43
A Curio Killing (A Keepsake Cove Mystery) ★★★
Mary Ellen Hughes
Category - BROWN - cowboy boots
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - H&V
ROOT Challenge
Callie Reed is excited about her first Spring festival in Keepsake Cove until she hears that her ex-boyfriend's band has been hired to play. Hank hasn't exactly been moving on since the breakup and when he is arrested for the murder of the band's manager, he turns to Callie for help.

I love the setting of Keepsake Cove as well as the regular characters, but I was surprised at how needy Hank came across. Callie definitely is trying to move and hope future books don't include Hank.

Challenge Book # 44
Room Service (The Innkeepers) ★★★½
Rochelle Alers
Category - LIGHT BLUE - cover bedspread
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - HS&V
ROOT Challenge
Jasmine Washington worked with Hannah DuPont-Lowell at a bank and when they were laid off at the same timer became friends. Hannah decided to turn her ancestral home in New Orleans into a B&B and wanted Jasmine to be the HR person for the project, but Jasmine wasn't sure she wanted to leave NY. Visiting NO for Hannah's wedding, Jasmine met Cameron Singleton, but she since she was returning to NY didn't think that there was a chance for them. 7 month's later Cameron is visiting NY and contacts Jasmine for a dinner date. They enjoy each other's company and share a week of fun and frolic.

Jasmine decides to take Hannah up on her offer and goes to NO, seeing Cameron as well. When she realizes that she is pregnant from their week in NY, Jasmine and Cameron have decisions to make about the future.

New Orleans and the characters are very much alive because of the vivid descriptions throughout the story. Looking forward to the next installment.

Challenge Book # 45
Expiration Date ★★★
Devon Delaney
Category - LIGHT TAN- dough
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - J&D
ROOT Challenge
Sherry Frazzelle is taking part in a cooking competition and things she has a good chance to win the $10,000 prize until the Head judge/chef keels over dead and her dish was the last one he tasted. Sherry is feeling very insecure and feels she needs to clear her name of suspicion before the police take the easy way out and blame her.

Not particularly a fresh idea for the plot and the characters were a bit 2 dimensional. Will try another in the series and see if it improves.

Challenge Book # 46
In Cold Chocolate ★★★½
Dorothy St. James
Category - BROWN- chocolate
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - J&D,
BINGO
ROOT Challenge

Charity Penn has been working at the Chocolate Box for 7 months ever since she "found" her grandmother (she was abandoned as a baby). and inherited. She has been trying to make friends among the locals because her new "family" doesn't want anything to do with her. A new friend, Jody, invites her to observe the hatching of the baby sea turtles - but things aren't going well. The baby nests have been tampered with and a realtor who wants that land is found dead. Jody is the prime suspect. Penn not only has to haggle with her "relatives" but find a murderer.

These characters are great and the setting very enjoyable. Wish I could taste some of that chocolate!

Not a real big mystery fan, but the title is calling me! On my wish list it goes!

Challenge Book # 47
Murder at the Marina ★★★½
Janet Finsilver
Category - GOLD - gold coins
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - J&D,
BINGO
ROOT Challenge
Kelly Jackson, manager of the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast, arranges to meet the Doblinsky brothers at their boat but when she gets there early she sees a dagger which appears to be covered in blood so she calls the sheriff. When the brothers arrive and explain that the dagger looks like one that they own, the sheriff requests to see theirs. This dagger brings to light the back story of two aristocratic brothers who fled Russia in their childhood.

After examination, the dagger it is determined not to be blood, so the Sheriff holds on to the dagger since apparently someone trespassed on the boat. Several days later, the body of an antique dealer is found on the boat murdered.

The Doblinsky Brothers seem to be in the thick whatever brought about the murder, so Kelly calls on the Silver Sentinels, a group elderly amateur detectives to find out what happened and why thereby helping their friends be freed from suspicion.

Love the Silver Sentinels! It is so encouraging to have characters that are past retirement age but still show the intelligence and determination that we baby boomers have. The mystery was very interesting with the background of the Russian Aristocracy and as always the characters did not disappoint.

Challenge Book # 48
Sweet Tea and Secrets ★★★★
Joy Avon
Category - GOLD - blouse of the victim
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - J&D,
ROOT Challenge

Callie Aspen has given up her job as a traveling tour guide to help her Aunt Iphy in the tea shoppe. While settling into Heart's Harbor, Maine her aunt has rented a cottage for her and found a handyman to help with the fixer upper. Aunt Iphy has also asked her to help with the program for the 4th of July celebration by spotlighting an historical event of the town. Her handyman suggests the disappearance of a soap opera star back in 1989. While researching the event, Callie talks to the newspaper editor who was the lead reporter on the story. When later he is found murdered in his office, Callie knows that the disappearance from 1989 may be connected with a certain handyman that seems to be acting a bit peculiar.

I liked the fact that Callie is still uncertain about the decision of changing her job and settling in one place, and the other characters lend their support to her as she tries to figure what happened 30 years ago and how she may have brought another death.

Well written - good clues.

Challenge Book # 49
Telephone Line ★★★★½
Julie Mulhern
Category - GREEN - Jello Mold
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - J&D,


Ellison Russell has been corralled by her mother to head the charity museum fundraiser and the stress of the upcoming event as well as her mother's expectations has Ellison in knots, so her friend suggests a yoga class to ease the tension. However, when the yoga instructor locks the class in the room, and then is found dead, Ellison knows that her mother, Frances, will not be pleased. Frances acts as if Ellison purposely finds dead bodies just to irritate her. Ellison knows something that others don't and so she tries to find the murderer and help her boyfriend Detective Anarchy Jones without revealing her sources.

I have to admit that this is my favorite series being written today. Maybe it's because the characters are so perfectly drawn in the 1970's (when I was just out of college) and the reactions to what happens seem so true to life. I can actually hear my own mother's voice in Frances.

I pre order every book just so I know that when it is released, I can read it right away.

My favorite book of the year so far!

Challenge Book # 50
The Body in the Attic ★★★★
Judi Lynn
Category - LAVENDER - haze on the cover
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - J&D,
ROOT Challenge

Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod are house flippers and this story starts out with them buying at auction the home of an old friend of the family that has passed away. His ungrateful heirs just want to get rid of the headaches and get the money. Jazzi and Jerod begin the demo in the house but when they get to the attic they find a trunk with a skeleton. When Jazzi is able to identify some of the artifacts in the trunk, her family is brought in to the investigation of what happen and how that body got there.

Prevented from further work indoors temporarily, the cousins start out in the yard but work again is halted by the discovery of a more recent murder victim buried in the yard.

This mystery was very well-written connecting the old and the new. The characters seem to be well-drawn and I am looking forward to another in this series.

Challenge Book # 51
Died in the Wool ★★★★
Melinda Mullet
Category - GARNET - title on the cover
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - J&D,
ROOT Challenge

Abi Logan, award-winning photojournalist, inherited Abbey Glen distillery in Scotland from her uncle. Still trying to learn the Whiskey business, Abi has also taken to rescuing sheep been sent to the slaughterhouse. Sheering time has arrived at Abbey Glen and Abi has discovered a women's shelter who can use the wool, but she also discovers that the women's shelter is being given a rough time by their landlord who had been forced into giving a no rent lease by the previous shelter leader. Feeling a need to help, Abi agrees to join the board of directors which gets her smack in the middle of situations related to the women seeking help.

Meanwhile, back at Abbey Glen, Grant McEwan, master blender, is still recovering from a bad concussion and has lost his sense of taste and smell. Grant is also being "nursed" by his former fiancée who badly wants to rekindle their romance.

Abi has her hands full at home and in town. The mysteries surrounding her could be overwhelming, but will she survive"?

This is a great series and I definitely enjoy the characters as well as the whisky references!

Challenge Book # 52
Leave No Scone Unturned ★★★★
Denise Swanson
Category - BLACK - Carjacker mask
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - J&D,
ROOT Challenge

Dani Sloan,Chef-to-go in a small college town is getting ready for the fall semester by catering a university luncheon. Afterward, Dani learns from one of her boards that she has been taking the leftover food to help the homeless. Not sure that this is a wise idea after meeting the head homeless guy, Dani persuades Spencer Drake, the uncle of the young lady and head of university security to go with her to talk to this man. No talk ensues because they find him dead in his tent.

Believing that his murder may be connected to a rash of carjacking on campus, Dani and Spencer start asking questions to help the new cop in town who doesn't seem to have a clue.

Good story and liked how the characters are continuing to grow. FUN!

You're on a roll on those reviews!

I've been reading a lot but not writing the reviews and they were stacking, so I decided that I needed to catch up before I finished another book. Got 2 more to do!

Challenge Book # 53
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches ★★★½
Karen Rose Smith
Category - GREEN - Cucumbers
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - C&P,
ROOT Challenge

Daisy's Tea Garden is expecting a visit from TV Chef turned food critic Derek Schumaker. Daisy isn't sure she should have agreed to his coming since his recent reviews of other eating establishments have not been glowing, in fact they have been down right harsh. Many people aren't happy with Derek but Daisy's Tea garden puts on a smiling face and serves their best to Derek. When leaving he asks for a take-out order of Cucumber Sandwiches.

When Derek is found dead later and the police believe he has been poisoned, word gets out that it was Daisy's Cucumber Sandwiches which did it. Detective Rappaport tells Daisy that there were foreign ingredients (drugs) in the sandwiches and that he doesn't believe that she put them there but he doesn't want to let that information out. Needless to say, Daisy's business starts to disappear as people fear to be poisoned. Daisy has no choice but to try to figure out who killed the critic.

Not only does Daisy have to worry about the decline in business but her employee Foster (who's dating her daughter) is acting a bit strange and her boyfriend Jonas is extremely disappointed when Daisy cancels a weekend getaway to stay home to talk with her daughter who asks for a private chat.

All the action, searching for the murderer, family issues and boyfriend troubles keep Daisy hopping throughout.

Love the way that the business and characters are woven together as well as the family life.
Looking forward to future visits to Daisy's Tea Garden.

Challenge Book # 54
Chocolate Cream Pie Murder ★★★
Joanne Fluke
Category - LIGHT PINK - Pink Grapefruit Cake
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - C&P,
ROOT Challenge

Hannah has decided to bare all to her friends at church and informs them that Ross (her supposed husband) was already married and has left to return to his wife. Everyone is very supportive and tells Hannah that Ross had better watch out if he ever returns. Which is just what is going to happen when he calls and tells her that he needs the money that he left in their bank account. Hannah tells him that she put that money back into HIS account, she wanted nothing more to do with him. Ross turns ugly insisting that she get that money for him.

There really wasn't much of a Murder mystery since the dead body wasn't found until chapter 20 and everyone knew that he was going to die so really this was more a story to close out the Hannah/Ross romance rather than a murder mystery. Story was good, mystery not so much.

>108 cyderry: I need to get to the next one in that series (for me).

Challenge Book # 55
Sifting Through Clues ★★★½
Daryl Wood Gerber
Category - GREEN - Aventurine - crystals in ritual on the body
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - C&P,
ROOT Challenge

Crystal Cove is having a Book Club Bonanza to attract the tourists. Jenna as a member of the Mystery Mavens book club is part of the group that is participating in a progressive dinner for its members. Ivy Beale's house is slated as last for the dessert course but when the group arrives Ivy is found dead in the kitchen. There are plenty of suspects (Ivy wasn't the most popular person in town) but the chief suspect is the mother of the Chief of police. Jenna feels that she needs to help the police chief find the real murderer since she may be a bit too close to the situation.

As always the writing is superb and the characters and situations thoroughly entertaining.

Challenge Book # 56
Rotten Lies ★★★½
Charlotte Elkins
Category - BLACK- burned flesh - lightning strike
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - C&P,
ROOT Challenge

Lee Ofsted is shooting the best round of her life when a storm rolls in and play is suspended due to lightning in the area. After the all clear is given, Lee heads back to where she was playing but comes across someone who apparently was hit by lightning. Being a good person, she puts aside her play and starts CPR until someone else comes along. Unfortunately, she strains a previous injury and is forced to withdraw from the tournament. Luckily, the TV broadcasters need a color announcer and get her to fill the spot.

One would think that being struck by lightning could not be murder - think again.
Completely captivating!

Challenge Book # 57
Sconed to Death ★★★½
Lynn Cahoon
Category - COPPER - Caramel Apples
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - C&P, TBR CAT,
ROOT Challenge

The latest writing retreat week has arrived and the writers write mysteries! Perfect for the events that are popping up. Shauna, Cat Latimer's partner in the Warm Springs Writer's Retreat, has decided that she's going to take her recipes (she's the cook) and write a cookbook, however, the local bakery's owner, DeeDee, feels that Shauna has been stealing her recipes. Out of spite, DeeDee calls in a health code violation and sets Cat off to straighten things out. Arriving at DeeDee's bakery, Cat tries to smooth things over but only arranges a temporary truce. When a well-known chef is found murdered in DeeDee's kitchen, she turns to Cat for help.

Having the retreat be mystery writers adds a special spark to go along with the great characters and setting. Hope the next one is here soon!

Challenge Book # 58
One Potato, Two Potato, Dead ★★★
Lynn Cahoon
Category - BROWN - potatoes
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - C&P, TBR CAT,
ROOT Challenge

Angie Turner lives on a small farm with Mabel (a hen), Precious (a goat) and Dom her St. Bernard puppy who is growing fast. She also is part owner/chef at restaurant The County Seat with her best friend, Felicia. Angie loves to cook and Felicia loves to talk so Angie handles the kitchen and Felicia takes care of the customers. Felicia is dating a man who runs a homeless shelter/soup kitchen, so the staff at the County Seat volunteer to cook one evening. Along with the staff of Estebe (asst. chef), Hope (dishwasher), and Ian, Angie's boyfriend, Professor Daniel Monet, one of Hope's instructor's at the local college joins in at the shelter. Afterward, Hope offers a ride to the Professor and that's how trouble starts. The Professor is found dead the following day and Hope is a suspect. Angie and the rest of Hope's "family" from the County Seat set out to find out what happened and clear Hope.

I really didn't like this story that much. It seem a little to pat that there were connections of this new professor with Angie's boyfriend and unusual how the people were all supposed to be connected.

Love the background and the regular characters.

Challenge Book # 59
The Angels' Share ★★★★
Ellen Crosby
Category - LIGHT BROWN malmsey wine
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - C&P,
ROOT Challenge

Lucie Montgomery and her fiancé Quinn Santori attend the annual Avery after Thanksgiving weekend party where Lucie is invited down to the wine cellar by the Prescott Avery, the family patriarch. Prescott wants to persuade Lucie to sell him some very old Madeira but Lucie doesn't know anything about. She believes that her father, a gambler, probably already sold it. Prescott is disappointed so Lucie returns to the party only to realize that she must have dropped her phone in the wine cellar. She and Quinn return only to find Prescott dead. Police believe that Prescott fell and hit his head but Lucie thinks otherwise considering that Prescott's cane was not with him.

What Prescott told her about the wine that he was searching for, if it still existed, the bottles would be extremely valuable. Prescott also told her that her father had 2 safety deposit boxes and wondered if the details of the Madeira would be there.

Lucie starts her search for the Madeira and comes across many historical references to Prohibition as well as the War of 1812 which take her to Williamsburg, and other areas of Virginia linked to the Founding Fathers.

Loved this story and the historical ties that were incorporated throughout. Great mystery as well.

Challenge Book # 60
Premeditated Peppermint ★★★½
Amanda Flower
Category - LIGHT PINK - peppermint bark
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - C&P,
BINGO DOG, TBR CAT
ROOT Challenge

Bailey King is getting ready for the Harvest Christmas Market and the Swissmen's Sweets shop is concentrating on Peppermint candies. Just as she thinks everything is under control, Bailey's ex-boyfriend,Eric, a celebrity chef, turns up thinking that he'll rekindle their romance as well as use the Amish candy shop as a Christmas venue for his show. Before any actual filming takes place, the producer is killed, and of course, Eric is the chief suspect.

Bailey is caught between trying to clear Eric and manage the candy production needed for the market. The new producer doesn't seem to think that anyone wouldn't want their business to be front and center in the TV spotlight, but Bailey has to live with the Amish way of life and get their approval before things can proceed.

A fun cozy with great characters and delicious sounding candy!

Challenge Book # 61
Criminally Cocoa ★★★½
Amanda Flower
Category - BLACK - sneezing powder
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - C&P,
TBR CAT
ROOT Challenge

Bailey King has been recruited to host a TV series showcasing the wonderful Amish candies that she makes with her grandmother in Ohio. Arriving in NYC with her Amish cousin, Charlotte, (who is experiencing her Rumspringa - her chance to see the world outside of the Amish faith to decide if that's what she wants), Bailey has several mishaps in the TV set and Charlotte believes that they are acts of sabotage and determines that she will investigate and stop any possible injuries or problems that may arise.

It is very interesting to see the modern world through the eyes of someone not use to technology, etc. and yet she manages to navigate the modern world quite well.

Lovely to see all the quirky characters in the NYC setting, fun, fun, fun.

Challenge Book # 62
The Dog Who Lost His Bark ★★★★
Eoin Colfer
Category - RED - velvet lining of violin case/dog bed
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - C&P,
ROOT Challenge

I asked for this book in the Early Reviewers because I really like dogs and thought it would be a great book for my grandchildren. I was right! This story of this poor little dog and his fear caused by cruel owners was very uplifting when you see how a young boy and the dog bond together and learn to trust each other.

So sweet, loved it!

Challenge Book # 63
Down in Flames ★★★½
Cheryl Hollon
Category - LIGHT PINK - twins' sweaters
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - N&I,
ROOT Challenge

Savannah Webb continues to have classes showing new and different glass techniques and this time her classes are introducing glass beading. After one of her classes however, Savannah is horrified when the bartender/manager for her fiance's bar next door is run down in front of her shop and later dies. Her autistic friend/employee, Jacob, is a witness and withdraws into silence. Savannah needs to help Jacob and while trying to ease his trauma, she determines that this wasn't an accident but murder.

I love the way that the author writes the characters with realistic issues and problems but also making them very likable. I also really enjoy the background story at the glass shop.

Challenge Book # 64
Murder Most Fermented ★★★
Christine E. Blum
Category - BLACK - Oil
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge

Annie “Halsey” Hall was presented with a plot in the neighborhood gardening area by her friends for her birthday and she has decided that if you live in California and your friends are wine drinkers, you need to have a vineyard. So Halsey heads up to see about her plot and starts digging to turn the earth and prepare it for planting the vines. However, what turns up is not going to help her make wine - a body is buried on her land. Turns out to be a previous resident off the area that had been battling with the local historical society and a developer who wanted to buy up all the houses on Rose Avenue and build fancy condos.

Halsey and the Rose Avenue Wine Club are determined to save their neighborhood from the developers.
So much fun to see Halsey and her dog, Bardot, aided by her neighbors resolving the problems that most of the time they bring on themselves! Funny and entertaining.

Challenge Book # 65
The Name of the Rosé ★★★½
Christine E. Blum
Category - YELLOW - attack plane
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - N&I,
ROOT Challenge

Annie "Halsey" Hall is enjoying time by the pool and sipping wine with her neighbors when they hear of a plane crash at the nearby local airport. It turns out to be a relative of one of her neighbors and that there was a suspicious package (drugs!) addressed to her best friend. Halsey scrambles to help the local police find out where the package originated and why it was earmarked for a Rose Avenue address.

This is a fun series, quirky characters and good wine abound!

Challenge Book # 66
The Codebook Murders ★★★★
Leslie Nagel
Category - YELLOW - sunflower backpack
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - N&I,
BINGO DOG
ROOT Challenge

Charley Carpenter runs a vintage clothing shop, but frequently turns detective when a mystery presents itself. Driving home to get ready for the first Oakwood Mystery Book Club meeting, Charley has to abandon her car when she is caught in the path of a tornado. escaping to safety through an underground tunnel at the high school, Charley discovers a backpack with a journal that is coded. After researching the code, she and one of the current high school students,PJ, who is a math wiz, determine that the journal belonged to Regan Fletcher , a young girl murdered 40 years ago after the Homecoming Football game. Her boyfriend had been convicted (while protesting his innocence) and a felon later confessed and recanted. Her boyfriend was never really freed from the suspicion of her murder. Charley and PJ continue to work on the coded journal and eventually figure out what was really going on 40 years before.

I found this mystery to be extremely entertaining, maybe because I was in high school in the 70's or maybe because of the interesting way the story was presented, Using technology that hadn't been available 40 years before. Sometimes the mix of old and new doesn't work, but this did.

Challenge Book # 67
Buried in the Stacks ★★★★
Allison Brook
Category - BLACK - Smokey Joe, library Cat
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - N&I,
ROOT Challenge

Carrie Singleton, librarian, has been persuaded to take on the task of being the Sunshine delegate for the library. Her first assignment is to visit Dorothy who slipped on ice in the grocery store parking lot. This makes for an interesting visit since Dorothy and Carrie don't get along, however, Dorothy confides in Carrie that she thinks her husband is trying to kill her so Carrie is a bit more sympathetic. After returning to work, Dorothy is run off the road and dies. Carrie feels that she owes it to Dorothy to find out who did this. Evelyn, the library ghost is also anxious to know since Dorothy was her niece and Dorothy believed that whoever was trying to kill her also killed her aunt.

At the same time as Carrie is trying to discover who had it in for Dorothy, she is also working with a group that is trying to create a facility for the homeless to use during the winter days rather than spending their daytime hours in the library.

It was very interesting how the two story-lines were woven together and especially the resolution. Love the characters especially Evelyn and Smokey Joe the cat.

Challenge Book # 68
Immoral Certainty ★★
Robert K. Tanenbaum
Category - DARK BLUE - Author's name on cover
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - N&I,
ROOT Challenge

I normally enjoy Police procedural/legal mysteries however, this one, even though I've read the previous books in the series, has just gotten a bit too difficult to handle with the aged scenarios - computer, technology not as up-to-date as today's society. Also the subject of child-sex rings and cult killings was very hard to handle.

Hopefully, the next one will be a bit easier to handle since I really like the characters and their interactions.

Challenge Book # 69
No More Time ★★★½
Suzanne Trauth
Category - GOLD - stolen BMW
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - N&I,
ROOT Challenge

Dodie O'Dell has taken to the Jersey shore with her boyfriend Bill for a much needed vacation, however the reappearance of her old boyfriend and the arrival of the Etonville Community Theater contingent entered in the New Jersey Shore theater festival are not giving the couple a lot of privacy. When Bill's gold BMW is stolen, he goes into police chief mode and Dodie finds she has more time on her hands than she wants. Her old boyfriend is suspected of killing his former partner, so Dodie decides to use her free time to solve the murder.

There were a great number of clues that made this mystery fun to solve as well as the characters that interacted so well together. It was good to see Dodie resolve her issues with her past as well as begin to move forward.

Challenge Book # 70
The Summer Guests ★★½
Mary Alice Monroe
Category - COPPER - Jazzy's coat
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - N&I,
ROOT Challenge

Hurricane Nicole is coming - projected to hit Florida as a category 5 and then proceed to ride the east coast all the way impacting the barrier islands. With warnings in place, numerous characters started preparations to evacuate inland to the farm of their friend, Grace and Charles Phillips, bringing with them their dogs and horses.

My book club selected this for our end of summer "beach read" and I was looking forward to it, but it fell short for me. The writing was disjointed, jumping from scenario to scenario and different character to different character and it just didn't seem to really have a cohesive plot.

I think I would have been more entertained if the book had centered more on the impact of the hurricane and how the aftermath effected the characters but instead i centered more on horses and who was going to ride what horse when and it just didn't do it for me.

>126 cyderry: Sorry to hear that. I usually love Mary Alice Monroe. That is one I haven't read yet.

Challenge Book # 71
Death in Focus ★★
Anne Perry
Category - RED - blood everywhere!
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - N&I, SeriesCat
ROOT Challenge

Normally, I devour the books by Anne Perry and have enjoyed her characters and writing immensely over the years, however, after 18 chapters and trying diligently to absorb the story being told, I was forced to abandon this promising new series. There was entirely too much gore for me to accept. In 18 chapters there were 2 murders, an assassination, and a person who apparently had their skin removed. I couldn't go on.

I was very much interested in a character such as Elena Standish, seeing the second World War through the eyes of a photographer. I guess I just didn't expect the gory descriptions that came with it. As usual the writing was superb, but the story appalling.

>128 cyderry: sounds gruesome!

Challenge Book # 72
Nasty Breaks ★★★★
Charlotte and Aaron Elkins
Category - GREEN - golf course
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - N&I,


Lee Ofsted has a chance to make some easy money on a week when she thought she'd just be waiting around for the next tournament. She's been asked to fill in as a pitch and putt coach on Block Island for the executives of a local salvage company on a small 9 hole course with treacherous compact greens and wicked sea breezes. Things seem a bit strange for Lee after she thwarts an attempted kidnapping of the sponsor's wife and then he turns up dead. Considering that the access to the island is limited to ferry or plane, Lee knows that the killer has to be close.

I get a kick out of the idea of a professional golfer being zoned in on finding murderers. Fun series to to read.

>130 cyderry: I've read all of the books in the series. Wish there were more.

>131 lindapanzo: I guess after 14 years they're not going to write anymore.

>132 cyderry: I read a cozy series within the past couple years where the author killed off a main character. We know it's not coming back. Most just fade away and we never hear from them again.

btw, I think I liked Death in Focus more than you did. It was more graphic than I expected and, at times, I felt like not continuing but, in the end, I'm glad I made it to the end. Loved it and look forward to the next one. I'll be glad to get to her Christmas one, which is more of what I expect from her.

Challenge Book # 73
Fields' Guide to Abduction ★★★½
Julie Mulhern
Category - Lavender - purse with secret compartment
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
ROOT Challenge

Poppy Fields has been in the limelight all her life as the daughter of a world famous actress but the limelight isn't always her friend. While in Paris she wakes up one morning to find her on again off again boyfriend dead next to her from an overdose. Despondent, she accepts an invitation to a new resort in Cabo San Lucas, all expenses paid, just to be one of the beautiful people there. Doesn't exactly work out well for her because she has an unexpected visitor that she barely knows who is frightened by her boyfriend. Poppy takes her in and finds her dead from an overdose the next morning. The Mexican police take her passport and Poppy is forced to find other connections to escape. But alas, it is not to be, and instead of hoping a plane to anywhere she isn't, Poppy is kidnapped by a drug kingpin with a fascination for her mother.

This new series by Julie Mulhern was very entertaining and I will definitely be on the lookout for more of Poppy's adventures.

Challenge Book # 74
Yeast of Eden ★★★½
Sarah Fox
Category - GOLD Waffles
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
Series Challenge, ROOT Challenge

Marley McKinney, the owner of the FlipSide pancake house in Wildwood Cove, has been working hard to improve business since she inherited the eatery. Now trouble is brewing because Wally Fowler has returned to his hometown with the intention of opening up a Waffle House which could cut into Marley's breakfast business drastically. Wally seems to think that all he needs to do is open the doors to his establishment and the whole town will come running. He doesn't seem to remember that when he left he was not very popular and that feeling hasn't changed. No surprise when Wally is found murdered but Marley isn't happy that the prime suspects seem to be her BFF and her head chef. Needless to say, Marley feels the need to find out w hat really happened. She uses her investigation as a way to distract herself because her boyfriend is out of town with family (father having heart surgery)..

Cute entry to this series, moving relationships along and the recipes sound scrumptious!

Challenge Book # 75
Crêpe Expectations ★★★★
Sarah Fox
Category - DARK GREEN - fancy dress
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
Series Challenge, ROOT Challenge

While visiting her landscaping boyfriend on the job Marley sees a small kitten lose on the grounds. While trying to catch it, she runs across a skull in the woods. As the skeleton has been buried for some time, it is suggested that it may belong to a teenager that disappeared after a graduation party that was held in that area several years ago. While the police are trying to determine the identity, Marley is also involved in the Wildwood Cove’s annual amateur chef competition persuading her chef at the FlipSide to be one of the judges.

Weaving the competition together with the skeleton discovery was interesting and well done. Love the characters and the the setting. So much fun.

Challenge Book # 76
Past Due for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery ★★★½
Victoria Gilbert
Category - SEA BLUE - Ski Hat
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
Series Challenge, ROOT Challenge

Amy Webber loves her job as the director of the public library in a small town in Virginia. When the mayor decides to resurrect the old May Day celebrations other things are resurrected as well- namely tales of missing girls and abductions by fairies. When a local professor is found murdered and the last person seen arguing with her was Amy's old boyfriend, Amy is drawn into the search to find the killer.

Fun story, well plotted and surprising end!

Challenge Book # 77
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close ½
Jonathan Safran Foer
Category - RED - Hand on cover
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,


My book club selected this book for September because of its connection with 9/11 so I thought it would be interested. However, the writing was so choppy and disjointed that I was unable to finish reading it. The characters, IMO, were too strange it seemed as if the author was trying to make this book and its characters unlikable.

I abandoned it halfway through because I really didn't like the writing style, someone else might.

Challenge Book # 78
The Vanishing Man: A Prequel to the Charles Lenox Series ★★★
Charles Finch
Category - DARK BLUE - Sky on cover
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
ROOT Challenge

Charles Lenox has made a bit of a name for himself, having helped Scotland Yard solve a mystery so the Duke of Dorset enlists his help to find out who took and retrieve a family portrait. Thinking that the thief took the wrong painting (a much more valuable one hung next to the stolen one) Charles andthe Duke lay in wait for the thief to return. Unfortunately, the Duke in his haste to prevent another theft, amy have ended up shooting the wrong person.

As Charles works to solve the inconsistencies presented by the events, he also is dealing with a young cousin that is energetic and rambunctious.

Great "prequel" for the series!

Looks like you are past 75 now! Congrats!

Challenge Book # 79
Bound for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery ★★★
Victoria Gilbert
Category - YELLOW - Title on cover
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
ROOT Challenge

Amy Webber, director of the public library, is trying to help her BFF Sunny Fields who is running for Mayor, but the news that a body has been uncovered on her grandparents farm may make Sunny's political future not so sunny. The Fields' farm was once a commune and now the former inhabits are dying mysteriously - are they accidents, robberies gone wrong, or all tied together. Amy puts her research skills to work trying to find the answers..

Some of the characters seem to be a bit stagnant, saying one thing but doing another. This wasn't the best of the series by far.

>141 cyderry: I've got to read #3 before I get to that one!

Challenge Book # 80
Flour in the Attic ★★★★
Winnie Archer
Category - SEA BLUE - victim's favorite swimsuit
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
ROOT Challenge

Ivy is so excited because her BFF, Emmaline, has finally decided that she's not waiting for Ivy's brother to pop the question, she's going to ask him! Plans are made for a romantic picnic on the beach, but plans go awry when a body washes ashore. Since Emmaline is also the chief of police, she needs to handle the situation. The body turns out to be the waitress, Marisol Ruiz, from the restaurant that Ivy's beau owns, making it a family affair to handle. Marisol was a strong swimmer, a triathlete, so how could she drown?

Ivy tries to help Emmaline and the family come to grips with the tragedy but was it an accident or is something more sinister afoot?

I love this series, I look forward to every new installment. This was the best, but then they just seem to keep getting better and better as the characters become more like friends.

Challenge Book # 81
Wed, Read & Dead ★★★½
V. M. Burns
Category - BURGUNDY/GARNET - Bridesmaid's dress
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
ROOT Challenge

Samantha Washington's mother, Grace, has finally decided that it is the perfect time for her to marry her beau, Harold Robertson, and has set the date at 3 weeks! Sam is trying to be supportive but the bridesmaid dresses that her mother keeps picking are like trying to wear cotton candy - bright pink and very, very fluffy. Along with the dress disasters, her mom has yet to meet the groom's family. When she does, snobbery abounds. When Harold's sister insists on having a wedding planner take care of all the details, (details that Grace doesn't like) tears are abundant. Harold has a major disagreement with the wedding planner , and when she turns up dead, Harold is the main suspect. Sam and her friends decide if the wedding bells going to ring on time, they need to find the murderer and clear Harold of suspicion.

The story was terribly amusing as well as well thought out, and the characters and their reactions were great!

Challenge Book # 82
And Then They Were Doomed: A Little Library Mystery ★★
Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli
Category - BROWN - mud
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
ROOT Challenge

Zoe Zola has received a mysterious invitation to take part in a webinar about Agatha Christie but the invitation itself seems a bit sinister, reminding Zoe of death notices from her mother's family. Jenny Weston agrees to take her to the remote location since her sister his nearby working on a documentary and it's a good excuse for a visit.

The weather is horrific,with constant rain and flooding, cutting off the webinar resort from the "rest of the world". Zoe seems to feel that the webinar is just an excuse for intrigue. There are 10 people at the resort and they start disappearing one by one - reminding Zoe of Agatha Christie's AND THEN THERE WERE NONE.

This book was very dark and had a cruel feeling to it. I didn't like it, especially since it didn't seem to really fit with the Little Library theme.

Challenge Book # 83
Pie Hard ★★★½
Kirsten Weiss
Category - LAVENDER - cover background
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
ROOT Challenge

Val Harris is worried that her bakery, Pietown, may not be getting enough business, but she isn't ready for the surprises that Charlene, her crust maker, has in store for her - a reality TV show to help boost her sales as well as a group of ladies with their own Yirt arriving unexpectedly outside her front door.

When the producer of the TV show turns up dead, Val and Charlene put on ther detecting hasts and set out to solve the murder.

Lots of fun, good characters and yummy sounding goodies!

Challenge Book # 84
Fatal Cajun Festival ★★★
Ellen Byron
Category - PINK - 4½" heels
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
ROOT Challenge

Maggie Crozat and her friend, Gaynell Bourgeois, are helping Maggie's grandmother with the Cajun Country festival and everything seems to be exciting until Gaynell finds out that Tammy Barker, her nemesis from high school, now a name country singer is coming back to town. Things just seem to be getting worse when Gaynell turns down a pass from Tammy's manager and then he turns up dead.

As usual, Maggie has to try to make things right but ends up getting herself in danger instead.

The mystery wasn't that heavy, more time was spent on the characters and their interactions but it was still fun.

Challenge Book # 85
The Temptation of Forgiveness ★★★
Donna Leon
Category - PINK - 4½" heels
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
ROOT Challenge

Guido Brunetti confronts illegal drug distribution and pharmaceutical fraud in this book. A mother, a professor at Paolo's university, comes to Commissario Brunetti believing that her son is taking drugs. However, without a lot of information Brunetti is forced to gather evidence in a round about way. Utilizing not just Senorina Electra and her suspect computer but also sources from the underworld, Guido determines that there is more than just illegal drugs at issue.

It amazes me that such a Renaissance man as Guido Brunetti is, that he can still find a way to be empathetic to many of the worst criminals.

Challenge Book # 86
THE COUNTRY INN MYSTERY ★★★
Faith Martin
Category - BLACK - Regency Costume
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - F&W,
ROOT Challenge

Jenny Starling is a traveling cook and agrees to replace her friend in a small country inn so her friend can take a vacation. There will be a group of amateur actors recreating an historical tale of love and loss where the recreated ending becomes all too real.

A nice little mystery but it lack something to really grab me as a reader. Maybe if I had read the previous books in the series I would have liked it more.

Challenge Book # 87
Gown with the Wind ★★★★
Stephanie Blackmoore
Category - WHITE - wedding gown
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - G&T,
ROOT Challenge

Mallory and Rachel are working hard to expand their B&B/Wedding business so when there is a cancellation they move the wedding of Keith (Mallory's ex) and Becca (the other woman) forward. It isn't a pleasant situation, but business is business. The girls are really pressed for time by arguments over the wedding gown, conflicts over the decorations,color scheme and food, the attempted murder of the bride's grandmother, the murder of the bride's enemy, and the return of the bride's current husband. Why would there be any difficulty?

This was so much fun, laughing as more and more problems arose and the bride and future mother-in-law grappled for controi along with the bride's grandma!

I really hope that Keith and Becca find their balance.

Loved it!

I've never heard of some of those cozy series. There are tons of new ones though.

>151 thornton37814: I found most of them through NetGalley. Some are terrific, others average.

Challenge Book # 88
Toxic Toffee ★★★★
Amanda Flower
Category - GOLD - toffee
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - G&T,
ROOT Challenge

Bailey King has returned from NY to help her Grandmother at the candy shop in preparation for the Easter candy rush. Bailey witnesses a man keel over dead from an apparent hear t attack but it is later determined that he had been poisoned with a bit of toffee..The man murdered was a rabbit farmer and was well-liked by everyone, so who added the poison to the toffee?

Bailey is enlisted as go-between by the man's son who wants nothing to do with the police, but accepting that position could put her in the path of the murderer.

The story was fun because the mystery was interspersed with Bailey's romance woes. Fun, fun, fun!

Challenge Book # 89
Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player ★★★
Elaine Sandberg
Category - GOLD - toffee
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - G&T, Calendar CAT
ROOT Challenge

I have been playing Mah Jongg for several decades and am trying to teach some friends the game so I picked up this book from my shelves for ideas on how to indoctrinate them into this fun game. There were several very interesting ideas on how to choose your hand and choosing your discards as well but I think it is more geared toward a intermediate player rather than novice.

>153 cyderry: I hope I never bite into toxic toffee.

>154 cyderry: I used to play Mah Jongg on the computer some, but it's been years so I've forgotten how. I don't remember it being particularly difficult to play, and I always quickly figured out strategies on my own.

>155 thornton37814: The mah Jongg that people play on line is usually just matching tiles in different configurations. The real game of Mah Jongg whether American or Chinese is very hard to master.

>156 cyderry: I just assumed it was similar.

Challenge Book # 90
Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake ★★½
Sarah Graves
Category - BROWN - Milkshake
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - G&T, Calendar CAT
ROOT Challenge

Jake Tiptree and her friend Ellie White are having a rough go keeping their beloved Bakery, The Chocolate Moose, in business. They are on the brink of having to close, they are only able to see a bit of daylight because of an order for a wedding cake from Andy Devine (CG Captain) and his fiancée Sharon Sweetwater, kindergarten teacher. However, things aren't looking promising when Sharon's ex-boyfriend is fund murdered after he was fighting with Andy. Jake and Ellie have to find the real murderer or close their bakery.

I didn't really see the plot working well - seemed far-fetched to think that one cake could save it all.
I like the characters but this one fell a bit flat.

Challenge Book # 91
A Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg: How to Play the Game & Win ★★★
Elaine Sandberg
Category - RED - Heading background on cover
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - G&T, Calendar CAT

This is a book that easily shows a beginning Mah Jongg player the basics - the tiles that are used, the way the hands are played and also a good description of how to read the requirements of the MJ card for American Mah Jongg.

>158 cyderry: Too bad that one wasn't better. What a way to die!

Challenge Book # 92
Trouble on the Books ★★★½
Essie Lang
Category - COPPER - chair on cover
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - G&T, ROOT Challenge

Shelby Cox's aunt has had a knee replacement and needs help during her recovery so Shelby takes a ,leave of absence from her job and returns to Alexandria Bay to take over the new Book shop opening in Blye Castle. She isn't thrilled with the head of the volunteers, Loreena Swan, but when Shelby finds Loreena dead, she feels a need to find out who is the murderer.

This was the start of a new series, and I love books that are set in libraries or bookstores. I can just see myself there. Having the bookstore in the castle just adds another dimension to the story. I think that the characters were okay but can see where there is room for development. Will look for the next one, hopefully soon.

Challenge Book # 93
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children ★★★★
Ransom Riggs
Category - SEA BLUE - Flame color
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit - G&T, ROOT Challenge

Rarely do I do a re-read. I have so many books that are waiting I don't use my reading time to read a book again, however, I'm glad I made an exception for this book. My Book club selected it and since I "read" it more than 2 years ago, I decided I needed to refresh my mind,. I selected, however, not to re-read the graphic novel I did in 2017 but the actual full book. Now I know why it was a sensation. The graphic novel in no way, shape, or form did this book justice. I now am convinced I will never read another graphic novel.

That said , this book has a perfect title because the children depicted are peculiar. But then aren't we all in someway? The story is so well-written showing teenage years perfectly with rebellion, insecurity, flashes of sexual tension as well as the distrust of adults and authority. Interwoven is a wonderful time travel scenario and a tremendous battle of good vs. evil.

The graphic novel gave none of that, earning barely ★★½ but the full tale was great, easily earning ★★★★!

Now I might even read Book 2!

Challenge Book # 94
Thread on Arrival ★★★★
Lea Wait
Category - WHITE - Lily of the Valley
Other Challenges - none

Spring has arrived at Haven Harbor, Maine and the Blessing of the Fleet is in full swing. Angie Curtis sees Ike Hamilton, an elderly man with some learning difficulties,collecting recyclables to turn in for money. It;s his way of supporting himself. However, some of the more "esteemed" residents feel that he brings the image of Haven Harbor down and want to have him relocated somewhere else before the tourist season is in full swing. Angie and her fellow needlepointer Dave, meet Ike with a new friend,Leo, a teenager who Dave thinks may be a runaway. Dave tries to befriend the teenager and offers his name and address in case he ever needs help. The next day Leo shows up on Dave's doorstep terrified because Ike is dead!

The mystery is full of twists and turns, bad guys and good guys, and a few red herrings!
Sol much fun!

Challenge Book # 95
Mumbo Gumbo Murder ★★★
Laura Childs
Category - DARK PINK - cushions at the wine bar
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE, ALPHAKIT - G&T

Carmela Bertrand and Ava Gruiex have watched the parade for the Jazz Fest in New Orleans and head over to Royal Street for the street fair and food stalls. While they are wondering around, they hear shouting and glass breaking but arrive too late at Dulcimers Antiques where Carmela finds her friend Devon Dowling dead. Detective Babcock (Carmela's fiancé) arrives with the police and Carmela begs him to find who did this to her friend. But she is impatient, and not hearing anything about progress on the investigation, so she and Ava set out with an investigation of heir own.

This is a fun series mainly because of the setting in New Orleans, however, I think it is starting to get a bit stale with Carmela's friends being bumped off one by one. If I was Ava, I'd watch out!

Thanks to the author for an advanced copy for review.

Challenge Book # 96
Golden Compass ★★★
Philip Pullman
Category - WHITE - armored bear
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE, ALPHAKIT - G&T

Lyra Belacqua is an 11 year old girl who lives at Jordan College associated with Oxford University. AS a rather inquisitive child, she has hidden herself in the wardrobe of a meeting room when Lord Asriel enters with other learned scholars and begins to talk about a special dust. Danger seems to lurk all around for children who are being kidnapped. The story progresses with Lyra basically kidnapped by Mrs. Coulter (who turns out to be her mother) but she escapes and heads off with an armored bear and a band of Gyptians to snowbound Svalbard to rescue the kidnapped children and Lord Asriel..

For a "children's" book I had a very difficult time understanding the connection human being and its daemon which turns out to be the manifestation of each person's soul and that there is an invisible connection between human and daemon.which can change to different animals until a child hits puberty and then remains constant.

This didn't really make sense to me. An interesting book but I doubt I will read another in the series.

Challenge Book # 97
Triple Jeopardy ★★★★
Anne Perry
Category - LIGHT BLUE - stolen pendant
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE, ALPHAKIT - G&T

Daniel Pitt is delighted that his older sister has returned to London from America for a visit. He hasn't seen her in more than 5 years and since then she has married (an American policeman) and had 2 beautiful delightful little girls. When he meets his new brother-in-law he is drawn into a legal situation that started at the British embassy in Washington DC and because of diplomatic immunity has difficulties in seeing justice pursued. Daniel has to dig deeply into the background of all concerned (victim, family, and the embassy staff) before I can find justice for all.

This is the second book is this series and the characters are beginning to flesh out nicely. I love Daniel who tries so hard to be efficient and serve justice just as his father but also I enjoy the interaction of the other characters outside the family.

Hope this series continues for a while!

Challenge Book # 98
Tudor Dawn ★★★½
David Field
Category - DARK PINK - Tudor Rose
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE, ALPHAKIT - G&T

I have a fascination with British history and have read numerous books about the Plantagenets, Henry VIII, and the Elizabeth I. However, I had yet to read a detailed book from the viewpoint of Henry VII - the founding father per se of the Tudor Dynasty. I found it well-written and believe that it was well-researched. I'm not saying that Henry VII was a man I would want to meet but I did find that he came across very human in this accounting of his life.

I hope that the future books in this saga are done as well.

And here is a picture of an actual Tudor Rose

Challenge Book # 99
Bear in Love ★★★
Sam Loman
Category - SEA BLUE - Words of title
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE, ALPHAKIT - S&Y

This was a short little sweet story of a bear that loves a squirrel. A wonderful way to show children that our differences shouldn't make any difference when we care about someone. I look forward to sharing it with my grandchildren.

Challenge Book # 100
Memories and Murder ★★★½
Lynn Cahoon
Category - DARK BLUE - Door on the cover
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE,

How cruel can con artists be when they target our elder citizens trying to get their meager savings away from them? In this latest of the Tourist Trap mysteries, Aunt Jackie is contacted by her "supposed" dead husband asking for help - of course, needing money. Jill has been looking into the Senior Project, an organization to help the elderly with problems so when a volunteer from the Senior Project is murdered and the victim had the skills to be the con artist, Jill feels the need to find out just who really is a victim.

This is one of my absolute favorite series - the setting is restful and calming while the characters are energetic and entertaining and the mysteries just get better and better!

Challenge Book # 101
Murder with Cherry Tarts ★★★½
Karen Rose Smith
Category - DARK PINK - Cover background
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE, ALPHAKIT - S&Y

Daisy Swanson has a lot on her plate - between her business (Daisy's Tea Garden), her pregnant daughter's upcoming wedding, and helping a homeless father and child, do you think that she can fit in a murder investigation? When Barry Storm, an unscrupulous antique dealer, is found bludgeoned to death and the homeless father is a prime suspect, Daisy squeezes one more thing on her plate and decides that helping a stranger in need is something she has to make time for.

I love this series - the characters and their interactions plus the attention to the details just makes this such a joy to read! Just wish I could find Daisy's Tea Shop in reality!

FYI, the touchstone for Memories and Murder is going to the wrong book. I think my sister would like this series, I give her books to read and pass around to the women in her apartment building and they all love a good cozy series.

Looks like you had several 3.5 star cozy reads. I don't keep up with some of them quite as much as you, but I enjoy most except the Carmela and Ava one. I just never got into that series although I tried.

The color in my world has dimmed a bit.
I think that my reading may be curtailed a bit this month. My husband, Tim and I have been married 45 years so his family is really my family too. His sister passed away on Sunday night so we are in family mode - funeral arrangements, picking up others at the airport, etc. Not that think I have the concentration to read anyway. Maybe next week will be better.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself and your family.

I'm so very sorry to hear about your loss. Hope you find some comfort with the rest of your family.

Condolences to you and your family, Cheli.

>173 cyderry: Sad to hear of your loss. My condolences to you and your family.

A close loss is so hard. My condolences.

Challenge Book # 102
Killer in the Carriage House ★★★
Sheila Connolly
Category - LIGHT PINK - Title letters
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE, ALPHAKIT - S&Y

Kate Hamilton left her hometown of Asheboro, MD, but after working for a large hotel, Kate is laid off when the hotel she managed is bought by a hotel chain. Kate has returned home only to find that the little town is nearly bankrupt and needing a plan to revitalize. Kate takes on the job of developing a plan to bring the town back to its former glory.but as usual trouble seems to be in abundance.

There is a murder, of course, but it doesn't seem to be the center of the story. The majority of the book centers around the search for Henry Barton's papers which would hopefully fund the revitalization of the town.

I will look for the next in the series, hoping that there is more of a mystery and a little to do lists.

Challenge Book # 103
An Ale of Two Cities ★★★★
Sarah Fox
Category - PURPLE - cover background
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE, ALPHAKIT - S&Y

Winter Carnival comes to Shady Creek, Vermont and along with it comes an ice sculpting competition. A former resident returns to compete with his nose in the air but before the ice has a chance to melt, he's been stabbed with an ice pick and the whole town could be suspects.
Sadie Coleman, the proprietor of the Inkwell Literary Pub, knows that her friend and employee Melanie “Mel” Costas is the chief suspect since it was her ice pick. But Sadie vows to clear her before the charges are even brought. But things could get a bit slippery before all is said and done.

Wonderful story with characters getting fleshed out more and more as well as amusing events to lighten things up when it might get a bit too dangerous.
Looking forward to the next one!

Challenge Book # 104
A Very Mummy Holiday ★★★★
Lynn Cahoon
Category - DARK BLUE - blue tick hound
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE, ALPHAKIT - S&Y

Jill Gardner and her boyfriend set out with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving on the coast of Oregon. The weekend starts out with a mystery of a mummified body on the beach and Jill has to figure it out, who is it? what happened?

The characters and plot were so well-written that the story just zoomed by. The Novellas are great because we as readers don't have to wait as long for our next fix of Jill and Greg!

Challenge Book # 105
Beyond a Reasonable Stout ★★★½
Ellie Alexander
Category - LIGHT BLUE - authors name on cvr
Other Challenges - ROOT CHALLENGE, ALPHAKIT - E&R

Leavenworth, Washington has recreated itself as a tourist attraction town becoming a Bavarian village with all its breweries and German inspired shops, however, the incumbent city councilman is trying to change that by turning the town dry. When he turns up dead on the eve of the election, just about every business owner had motive to kill him. Sloan Krause is enlisted by April Ablin,, Leavenworth’s self-described ambassador of all things German, to prove her innocence, but can Sloan do that when it means that someone else she knows is the murderer?

This series is refreshing in that the background town and brewery where Sloan works are not your normal settings. Looking forward to more.

Challenge Book # 106
The Woman in Cabin 10 ★★★
Ruth Ware
Category - DARK BLUE - Fjord water at night
Other Challenges - ALPHAKIT - E&R

Lo Blacklock really wants to make it as a reporter and circumstances both good and bad seem to attack so that that might not happen. First, just prior to a special assignment, her apartment is burglarized and she is traumatized by the event. Her boyfriend is out -of town and she has no one to turn to. So, she goes off on her special assignment - a luxury private cruise - Lo is to interview the owner and others that are on-board. Her first night, she drinks a bit too much, and staggers back to her cabin - No.9. In the middle of night, she awakens to noises in the cabin next door #10 and a loud splash as if someone went overboard. Lo also sees blood on the partition between her balcony and that of Cabin 10. Earlier in the evening Lo had met the occupant of Cabin 10, a pretty young girl, but when Lo tries to find her and contacts security about the splash, she is informed that there was no one in Cabin 10. Then the gas-lighting begins.

The story seemed a bit used, and Lo is too much of a whiner to really grab my sympathy. I read it for book club, not sorry, but it could have been better.

Challenge Book # 107
Unto Us a Son Is Given ★★½
Donna Leon
Category - SEA BLUE - scarf worn by victim
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge, ALPHAKIT - S&Y

I have been a fan of Commissario Guido Brunetti for many years look forward to every installment - good or bad - the characters and setting always bring a smile to my face. This unfortunately, I can't rank good or bad - it was pretty mediocre. The main story is that a family friend of Guido's father-in-law (he is gay) wants to adopt his young man so that he will inherit his estate. There apparently are no provisions in Italian law to leave your estate to whomever you wish - it has to go to family. Guido, is asked by his father-in-law to see if there is a way to prevent the adoption and more than half of the book is geared to this investigation. The friend dies and it appears that the adoption has taken place until an unexpected twist arrives. Then murder.

I love the series, this book not so much.

Challenge Book # 108
Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder ★★★½
Meg Macy
Category - BLACK - electrical burns
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge, ALPHAKIT - S&Y

The Silver Bear Shop and Factory won the Teddy Bear Keepsake Contest and Sasha Silverman along with her family are thrilled even though it means that along with their normal workload at Christmas time they will also be producing a wizard bear - Beary Potter. When the annual tree lighting ceremony and Christmas parade are preparing to start, Santa Bear is nowhere to be found. The Silverman's start the hunt and find the Mayor in the Santa Bear costume - dead - apparently electrocuted.

Feeling the need to clear up how the Santa Bear was killed, Sasha starts her own investigation. Not sure that the premise of Sasha trying to solve the murder really floats well here, but I do love the stories that have all the bears!

Challenge Book # 109
You're in Good Paws ★★★★
Maureen Fergus
Category - LIGHT BLUE - cover background
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge, ALPHAKIT - S&Y

What a cute story to help children not be afraid of hospitals. Leo is having his tonsils out and his parents accidentally go to the animal hospital rather than the Children's Hospital. Here at the Animal Hospital admissions is taken care of by a chicken, the nurse is a cow, and the surgeon is a mouse. Leo seems to feel no fear because the animals are so gentle and caring. The illustrations are perfect for the story and I can honestly say I am anxious to hear how my granddaughter likes it since I am giving it to her for Christmas. She loves animals, so I'm sure she'll enjoy it too!

Challenge Book # 110
The Opening Night Murders ★½
James Scott Byrnside
Category - BLACK - stage unlit
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge, ALPHAKIT - S&Y

I had several issues with this book. First, it was very slow in developing. I think this was because of the time frame (1935), the characters were very 2 dimensional (maybe because of 1935), it tried to be too old - I mean trying to be as if it had been written in 1935. The mystery wasn't hard to figure out.

I thought it would be more entertaining being set in a theater, but sadly,no.
Wouldn't recommend and don't plan to try another by this author.

Challenge Book # 111
Marry Christmas Murder ★★★½
Stephanie Blackmoore
Category - DARK PINK - tablecloth on cover
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge, ALPHAKIT - S&Y

Mallory Shepard's best friend Olivia March, decides to move her wedding up so that the event will be in 3 weeks- 2 days before Christmas! Not only does Mallory need to revamp the decorations, food, and venue, she has also been hired by the March family to handle a charity auction Paws and Poinsettias for the local animal shelter. At the same time, Mallory's mother appears for the holidays (early) with the announcement that she is moving back from Florida and wants to get back into the staging business. Mallory has been working with Lacey, the current stager, but when she is found poisoned, Mallory's mom becomes suspect #1.

Seeing Mallory not only feeling her way through her own personal relationship (boyfriend Garrett got a job offer that may have him moving away) but also dealing with her mother's interference and her friend's issues, made this a quick read because there just was no place to stop and take a breath. Looking forward to seeing the ongoing effects of the relationships in place.

Challenge Book # 112
A Christmas Gathering ★★★★
Anne Perry
Category - GARNET - marks on victim's neck
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge

I love the short Christmas collection stories where minor minor characters are showcased in a Christmas setting, giving me a peek into their lives that in the normal MONK/PITT series you do not see. This time we see Lady Vespasia and her husband Lord VIctor Narraday at a Christmas house party held by Lord and Lady Cavendish. But it's not an ordinary house party. Victor, the former head of Special Branch has been enlisted to meet a courier and retrieve a package which will then be passed on and hopefully identify the person who is engaged in treason. The host and hostess appear to severely dislike Victor and Vespasia and when the courier, a young woman is found unconscious after an apparent attack, Victor and his wife must protect the package, the young girl, and figure out who is responsible all before the end of the house party.

Seeing Vespasia interacting with Victor and the two working together to solve the mystery with the Christmas party in the background was fun. Hope these special Christmas books continue for many years to come!

Lots of interesting selections here. I may read a few of them at some point.

Challenge Book # 113
Pinot Red or Dead? ★★★½
J. C. Eaton
Category - GARNET - color of the wine!
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge

The Two Witches Winery in Seneca Lake, New York, is joining in the seasonal “Deck the Halls Around the Lake” festivities but things aren't starting off on a good foot for the region. A Distribution truck was hijacked with several wineries production of Pinot Noir and the 2 witches has had it's production of Pinot sabotaged. Then the owner of the distribution company turns up dead apparently victim of a hunting accident. What more can happen?

Was it truly an accident or were the problems with the distributor and the Pinot issues connected? Can the Two Witches' Norrie Ellington save the regions reputation for a good Pinot or is the Pinot dead too?

Fun holiday twist with the wine accents abounding! The characters continue to be fleshed out and grow more like fine wine!

I completed my category challenge with this book!

Challenge Book # 114
Clarets of Fire ★★★½
Christine E. Blum
Category - GARNET - color of the wine!
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge

Halsey and the Rose Avenue Wine Club have heard that their friends Penelope and Malcolm are joining forces with the local pizzeria to showcase their carets but when the pizzeria goes up in smoke it seems like the partnership will fail before it starts. A bottle from the winery stuffed with a gasoline soaked rag appears to have been the cause of the fire, putting Penelope and Malcolm as well as their friend Rico on the top of the arson suspect list. Was the pizzeria the real target or just a diversion?

The ladies in the wine club have just gotten more entertaining with each adventure and this one really crackled . I really wish there was a Wine group like this in my neighborhood!

Challenge Book # 115
Clarets of Fire ★★★
Elizabeth Blake
Category - LAVENDER - cover background
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge

The President of the local Jane Austen society has been poisoned! Who would kill her? There are numerous members who weren't fond of the lady and Erin Coleridge, the bookstore owner, knows many of the suspects. Erin's friend, Farnsworth, thinks she's at the top of the police suspect list since she was the one who was serving thew tea. Erin decides to "help" the police with her observations of the local members who may be involved.

I liked the premise but the writing left me a bit underwhelmed. Too many quotes and the characters seemed a bit two dimensional.

The Final accounting is in for 2019.

I read 115 books.
12 were real tree books or as I think of them - Antique reading Devices (ARDs)
8 were audio books. Really need to up that number in 2020.
95 were e-books.

I'm doing more e-books now because the arthritis in my hands gives me such cramps when I hold a book for too long. Besides there's really not a lot of room on my shelves for the real thing.

5 were Children's books.
2 were Historical Fiction.
6 were read for Book Club (mostly Chick lit)
3 were game related.
96 were mysteries (mostly of the Cozy variety)
1 Art book
2 were romances.

As for my series:
started 15 new series (it's an addiction)
continued 83 series which brought 47 series current until new books are released.
abandoned 2 series
I finished 2 series!
I donated 26 books to a book sale to benefit a scholarship fund and sent several children's/young adult books to my grandchildren. I gave The Dog who lost his Bark to my granddaughter (6) who just loves her dogs, but she said that she was afraid to read it because she thought it would be sad. Mommy promised to read it with her.

I did absolutely no reading for the President's challenge in 2019 and that has got to change.
I have 63 Net Galleys still needing to be read and reviewed!

I enjoyed my reading in 2019 and hope to catch up on more series and NetGalleys in 2020.

Wishing everyone a great reading year in 2020!

>194 cyderry: 63 Net Galleys? I feel much better now! I was behind most of the fall but got caught up sometime during my Christmas break. I just requested one earlier today. I'm trying to read a few other things before requesting too many again.