Reading Challenge Wrap-Up: 52 Books in 52 Weeks 2020

 I did it!  I read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.  Okay, so I actually read more than 52 books this year, but here are the books that I read as part of this challenge for 2020.

1. Script for Scandal by Renee Patrick
2. The Silent Second by Adam Walker Phillips
3. Careless Whiskers by Miranda James
4. Murder on the Half Shell by Shawn Reilly Simmons
5. A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns
6. Microphones and Murder by Erin Huss
7. Here Comes the Body by Maria DiRico
8. Death with a Dark Red Rose by Julia Buckley
9. My Fair Latte by Vickie Fee
10. Lost Hills by Lee Goldberg
11. Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz
12. Abstract Aliases by Ritter Ames
13. Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer
14. Barking with the Stars by Sparkle Abbey
15. Iced in Paradise by Naomi Hirahara
16. The Beckoning Ice by Joan Druett
17. Booked 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton
18. The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan
19. Cozy Up to Death by Colin Conway
20. Spiders from Mars by Diane Vallere
21. The Study of Secrets by Cynthia Kuhn
22. Sprinkles of Suspicion by Kim Davis
23. Guaranteed to Bleed by Julie Mulhern
24. Billy Boyle by Jame R. Benn
25. The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor
26. No Saving Throw by Kristin McFarland
27. Hems & Homicide by Elizabeth Penney

28. Sowing Malice by Wendy Tyson

29. Dead Body Language by Penny Warner

30. From Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris

31. Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing

32. The Key Lime Crime by Lucy Burdette

33. Digging Up the Remains by Julia Henry

34. The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

35. The First Wave by James R. Benn

36. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron

37. Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay

38. Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

39. Dying in a Winter Wonderland by Vicki Delany

40. Invitation to Murder

41. Murder Goes to Market by Daisy Bateman

42. Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien

43. Murder Comes to Call by Jessica Ellicott

44. Murder on Fifth Avenue by Victoria Thompson

45. Spy School Revolution by Stuart Gibbs

46. The Enemy We Don't Know by Liz Milliron

47. Open for Murder by Mary Angela

48. Murder in Season by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land

49. A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte

50. Unlocked by Shannon Messenger

51. Death at a Country Mansion by Louise R. Innes

52. A Wicked Yarn by Emmie Caldwell

Reading Challenge Wrap Up: New Release Challenge 2020

 It was another great year of new releases, which I read as part of the New Release Challenge.  I signed up for the New Release Veteran level, which is 61-100 books, and as you can see from the list below, I made it!

1. Script for Scandal by Renee Patrick
2. Careless Whiskers by Miranda James
3. Statue of Limitations by Kate Collins
4. Buried to the Brim by Jenn McKinlay
5. Microphones and Murder by Erin Huss
6. Al Dente's Inferno by Stephanie Cole
7. Here Comes the Body by Maria DiRico
8. Murder Makes Scents by Christin Brecher
9. Death with a Dark Red Rose by Julia Buckley
10. My Fair Latte by Vickie Fee
11. Revenge is Sweet by Kaye George
12. Lost Hills by Lee Goldberg
13. Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz
14. Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
15. Murder at the Taffy Shop by Maddie Day
16. Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer
17. The Future King by James Riley
18. Tyrannosaurus Wrecks by Stuart Gibbs
19. Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay
20. The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan
21. Cozy Up to Death by Colin Conway
22. Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton
23. Spiders from Mars by Diane Vallere
24. The Study of Secrets by Cynthia Kuhn
25. The Murder of Twelve by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land
26. Up Next, Murder by Erin Huss
27. Sprinkles of Suspicion by Kim Davis
28. Fake Truth by Lee Goldberg
29. City Spies by James Ponti
30. The 20th Victim by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
31. The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor
32. Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day
33. Super Puzzletastic Mysteries presented by Chris Grabenstein
34. Hems & Homicide by Elizabeth Penney
35. A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette
36. Quiche of Death by Mary Lee Ashford

37. From Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris

38. The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowen

39. Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing

40. The Key Lime Crime by Lucy Burdette

41. Digging Up the Remains by Julia Henry

42. Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James

43. The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

44. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron

45. Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker

46. Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

47. Hollyberry Homicide by Sharon Farrow

48. Dying in a Winter Wonderland by Vicki Delany

49. Candy Slain Murder by Maddie Day

50. Invitation to Murder

51. Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis

52. Murder Goes to Market by Daisy Bateman

53. The Timeless One by James Riley

54. Murder Comes to Call by Jessica Ellicott

55. Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door by Barbara Ross

56. Puzzling Ink by Becky Clark

57. Spy School Revolution by Stuart Gibbs

58. The Enemy We Don't Know by Liz Milliron

59. Open for Murder by Mary Angela

60. Murder in Season by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land

61. Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

62. A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte

63. The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews

64. Unlocked by Shannon Messenger

65. Death at a Country Mansion by Louise R. Innes

66. Wedding Bear Blues by Meg Macy

67. A Wicked Yarn by Emmie Caldwell

68. Absence of Alice by Sherry Harris

Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Mount TBR and Virtual Mount TBR Challenges 2020

I did very well with both the Mount TBR and Virtual Mount TBR challenges for 2020.  It helps that I was looking at my bookcases more and grabbing what I had on hand.  I did still manage to get in some audiobooks this year, which helped with the Virtual part of this challenge.

My Mount TBR challenge was 12 books.  For Virtual Mount TBR, I was aiming for 24 books.  Here's how I did for each and what I read.

Mount TBR

1. Murder on Bank Street by Victoria Thompson
2. Buyer, Beware by Diane Vallere
3. The Silent Second by Adam Walker Phillips
4. Murder on the Half Shell by Shawn Reilly Simmons
5. Knot in My Backyard by Mary Marks
6. A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns
7. A Likely Story by Jenn McKinlay
8. Mermaid Mysteries by Diane Vallere
9. Abstract Aliases by Ritter Ames
10. Murder on Memory Lake by J.D. Griffo
11. Barking with the Stars by Sparkle Abbey
12. Iced in Paradise by Naomi Hirahara
13. Second to Nun by Alice Loweecey
14. The Beckoning Ice by Joan Druett
15. No Saving Throw by Kristin McFarland

16. Dead Body Language by Penny Warner

17. A Chorus Lineup by Joelle Charbonneau

18. Bad News Travels Fast by Gar Anthony Haywood

19. Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay

20. The Dogfather by Sparkle Abbey

21. Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien

22. Hot Enough to Kill by Paula Boyd

23. Some Like it Haute by Diane Vallere

24. Final Fondue by Maya Corrigan

25. Swift Edge by Laura DiSilverio

26. Sign of Foul Play by Penny Warner

Virtual Mount TBR

1. "P" is for Peril by Sue Grafton
2. Past Crimes by Glen Erik Hamilton
3. Battered by GP Gollieb
4. Crypt Suzette by Maya Corrigan
5. Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan
6. Murder on Waverly Place by Victoria Thompson
7. The Murder Pit by Jeff Shelby
8. Booked 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton
9. With a Vengeance by Annette Dashofy
10. Going Nowhere Fast by Gar Anthony Haywood
11. Murder Most Fermented by Christine E. Blum
12. Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders by Tess Arlen
13. Guaranteed to Bleed by Julie Mulhern
14. Murder on Lexington Avenue by Victoria Thompson
15. The 20th Victim by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
16. Billy Boyle by James R. Benn
17. Better Late Than Never by Jenn McKinlay
18. The Brim Reaper by Diane Vallere
19. "Q" is for Quarry by Sue Grafton

20. Echo Park by Michael Connelly

21. Murder on Sisters' Row by Victoria Thompson

22. The Murder List by Hank Phillippi Ryan

23. The First Wave by Jame R. Benn

24. Ditched 4 Murder by J. C. Eaton

25. Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart

26. Fatal Forgeries by Ritter Ames

27. The Overlook by Michael Connelly

28. "R" is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton

29. Hard Cold Winter by Glen Erik Hamilton

30. Murder on Fifth Avenue by Victoria Thompson

31. Design for Murder by Carolyn Hart

32. Gone but Knot Forgotten by Mary Marks

Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Audio Book Challenge 2020

Of all my reading challenges, I had the most trouble with the audio book challenge for 2020.  It's not that I wasn't interested in audio books this year.  It was that I usually listen in my car, and I was driving far less since I was working from home and so many events were cancelled.  But I still manage to hit my target.

Caffeinated Reviewer was the host again this year.  I was aiming for Stenographer level, which is 10-15 audio books.  And here's what I listened to.

1. "P" is for Peril by Sue Grafton
2. Past Crimes by Glen Erik Hamilton
3. Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan
4. "Q" is for Quarry by Sue Grafton

5. Echo Park by Michael Connelly

6. The Murder List by Hank Phillippi Ryan

7. Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart

8. The Overlook by Michael Connelly

9. "R" is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton

10. Hard Cold Winter by Glen Erik Hamilton

11. Design for Murder by Carolyn Hart

12. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly (relisten)

Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Foodie Reads 2020

It's no surprise to anyone that I had fun again with Foodie Reads in 2020.  This is hard a challenge since there are no levels.  Just read books that center on food.  In my case, that's culinary cozies.

And here's what I read:

1. Murder on the Half Shell by Shawn Reilly Simmons
2. Battered by GP Gottlieb
3. Al Dente's Inferno by Stephanie Cole
4. Here Comes the Body by Maria DiRico
5. Crypt Suzette by Maya Corrigan
6. My Fair Latte by Vickie Fee
7. Revenge is Sweet by Kaye George
8. Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
9. Iced in Paradise by Naomi Hirahara
10. Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay
11. Murder Most Fermented by Christine E. Blum
12. Sprinkles of Suspicion by Kim Davis
13. Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day
14. Sowing Malice by Wendy Tyson
15. A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette
16. Quiche of Death by Mary Lee Ashford

17. From Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris

18. Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing

19. The Key Lime Crime by Lucy Burdette

20. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron

21. Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker

22. Hollyberry Homicide by Sharon Farrow

23. Candy Slain Murder by Maddie Day

24. Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis

25. Murder Goes to Market by Daisy Bateman

26. Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien

27. Puzzling Ink by Becky Clark

28. Final Fondue by Maya Corrigan

29. Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Cloak and Dagger Challenge 2020

 I had another great year of reading mysteries, all of which showed up as part of the Cloak and Dagger challenge this year.  I signed up for the highest level - 56 books, and I more than doubled that.

Here's what I read as part of the challenge.

1. Script for Scandal by Renee Patrick
2. Murder on Bank Street by Victoria Thompson
3. Buyer, Beware by Diane Vallere
4. The Silent Second by Adam Walker Phillips
5. "P" is for Peril by Sue Grafton
6. Careless Whiskers by Miranda James
7. Statue of Limitations by Kate Collins
8. Buried to the Brim by Jenn McKinlay
9. Murder on the Half Shell by Shawn Reilly Simmons
10. Knot in My Backyard by Mary Marks
11. A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns
12. Microphones and Murder by Erin Huss
13. Past Crimes by Glen Erik Hamilton
14. Battered by GP Gottlieb
15. Al Dente's Inferno by Stephanie Cole
16. Here Comes the Body by Maria DiRico
17. Crypt Suzette by Maya Corrigan
18. Murder Makes Scents by Christin Brecher
19. Death with a Dark Red Rose by Julia Buckley
20. My Fair Latte by Vickie Fee
21. Revenge is Sweet by Kaye George
22. Lost Hills by Lee Goldberg
23. A Likely Story by Jenn McKinlay
24. Mermaid Mysteries by Diane Vallere
25. Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz
26. Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
27. Abstract Aliases by Ritter Ames
28. Murder at the Taffy Shop by Maddie Day
29. Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan
30. Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer
31. Murder on Waverly Place by Victoria Thompson
32. Murder on Memory Lake by J.D. Griffo
33. Barking with the Stars by Sparkle Abbey
34. Tyrannosaurus Wrecks by Stuart Gibbs
35. Iced in Paradise by Naomi Hirahara
36. Second to Nun by Alice Loweecey
37. The Murder Pit by Jeff Shelby
38. The Beckoning Ice by Joan Druett
39. Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay
40. Booked 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton
41. The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan
42. With a Vengeance by Annette Dashofy
43. Cozy Up to Death by Colin Conway
44. Going Nowhere Fast by Gar Anthony Haywood
45. Spiders from Mars by Diane Vallere
46. Murder Most Fermented by Christine E. Blum
47. The Study of Secrets by Cynthia Kuhn
48. The Murder of Twelve by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land
49. Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders by Tessa Arlen
50. Up Next, Murder by Erin Huss
51. Sprinkles of Suspicion by Kim Davis
52. Fake Truth by Lee Goldberg
53. Guaranteed to Bleed by Julie Mulhern
54. Murder on Lexington Avenue by Victoria Thompson
55. The 20th Victim by James Patterson by Maxine Paetro
56. Billy Boyle by James R. Benn
57. The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor
58. Better Late Than Never by Jenn McKinlay
59. Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day
60. No Saving Throw by Kristin McFarland
61. Super Puzzletastic Mysteries presented by Chris Grabenstein
62. The Brim Reaper by Diane Vallere
63. Hems & Homicide by Elizabeth Penney
64. Sowing Malice by Wendy Tyson
65. A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette
66. "Q" is for Quarry by Sue Grafton
67. Quiche of Death by Mary Lee Ashford
68. Dead Body Language by Penny Warner

69. From Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris

70. A Chorus Lineup by Joelle Charbonneau

71. Echo Park by Michael Connelly

72. The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowen

73. Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing

74. The Key Lime Crime by Lucy Burdette

75. Murder on Sisters' Row by Victoria Thompson

76. The Murder List by Hank Phillippi Ryan

77. Bad News Travels Fast by Gar Anthony Haywood

78. Digging Up the Remains by Julia Henry

79. Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James

80. The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

81. The First Wave by James R. Benn

82. Ditched 4 Murder by J. C. Eaton

83. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron

84. Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker

85. Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart

86. Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay

87. Fatal Forgeries by Ritter Ames

88. Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

89. Hollyberry Homicide by Sharon Farrow

90. The Overlook by Michael Connelly

91. Dying in a Winter Wonderland by Vicki Delany

92. Candy Slain Murder by Maddie Day

93. Invitation to Murder

94. Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis

95. The Dogfather by Sparkle Abbey

96. Murder Goes to Market by Daisy Bateman

97. "R" is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton

98. Hard Cold Winter by Glen Erik Hamilton

99. Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien

100. Hot Enough to Kill by Paul Boyd

101. Murder Comes to Call by Jessica Ellicott

102. Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door by Barbara Ross

103. Puzzling Ink by Becky Clark

104. Murder on Fifth Avenue by Victoria Thompson

105. Spy School Revolution by Stuart Gibbs

106. Some Like it Haute by Diane Vallere

107. Final Fondue by Maya Corrigan

108. Design for Murder by Carolyn Hart

109. The Enemy We Don't Know by Liz Milliron

110. Swift Edge by Laura DiSilverio

111. Open for Murder by Mary Angela

112. Sign of Foul Play by Penny Warner

113. Murder in Season by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land

114. Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

115. A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte

116. The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews

117. Gone but Knot Forgotten by Mary Marks

118. Death at a Country Mansion by Louise R. Innes

119. Wedding Bear Blues by Meg Macy

120. A Wicked Yarn by Emmie Caldwell

121. Absence of Alice by Sherry Harris

Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Cruisin' Through the Cozies and Craving for Cozies Challenges 2020

 I'll start with the lead - I can't believe it, but I got 100 cozies read this year.  I remember being close last year, but not quite making the triple digits.  I'm very happy with that.

But I'm here to do a wrap up for both the  Cruisin' Through the Cozies and Craving for Cozies challenges this year.  For Cruisin', I was at the maximum level of 40+ cozies.  For Craving, I went with Yearning, which was 51-75 cozies.  Clearly I surpassed both of those goals.

And here are the cozies I enjoyed this year.

1. Script for Scandal by Renee Patrick
2. Murder on Bank Street by Victoria Thompson
3. Buyer, Beware by Diane Vallere
4. Careless Whiskers by Miranda James
5. Statue of Limitations by Kate Collins
6. Buried to the Brim by Jenn McKinlay
7. Murder on the Half Shell by Shawn Reilly Simmons
8. Knot in My Backyard by Mary Marks
9. A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns
10. Microphones and Murder by Erin Huss
11. Battered by GP Gottlieb
12. Al Dente's Inferno by Stephanie Cole
13. Here Comes the Body by Maria DiRico
14. Crypt Suzette by Maya Corrigan
15. Murder Makes Scents by Christin Brecher
16. Death with a Dark Red Rose by Julia Buckley
17. My Fair Latte by Vickie Fee
18. Revenge is Sweet by Kaye George
19. A Likely Story by Jenn McKinlay
20. Mermaid Mysteries by Diane Vallere
21. Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
22. Abstract Aliases by Ritter Ames
23. Murder at the Taffy Shop by Maddie Day
24. Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer
25. Murder on Waverly Place by Victoria Thompson
26. Murder on Memory Lake by J.D.Griffo
27. Barking with the Stars by Sparkle Abbey
28. Iced in Paradise by Naomi Hirahara
29. Second to Nun by Alice Loweecey
30. The Murder Pit by Jeff Shelby
31. The Beckoning Ice by Joan Druett
32. Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay
33. Booked 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton
34. The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan
35. With a Vengeance by Annette Dashofy
36. Cozy Up to Death by Colin Conway
37. Going Nowhere Fast by Gar Anthony Haywood
38. Spiders from Mars by Diane Vallere
39. Murder Most Fermented by Christine E. Blum
40. The Study of Secrets by Cynthia Kuhn
41. The Murder of Twelve by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land
42. Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murder by Tess Arlen
43. Up Next, Murder by Erin Huss
44. Sprinkles of Suspicion by Kim Davis
45. Guaranteed to Bleed by Julie Mulhern
46. Murder on Lexington Avenue by Victoria Thompson
47. Better Late Than Never by Jenn McKinlay
48. Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day
49. No Saving Throw by Kristin McFarland
50. The Brim Reaper by Diane Vallere
51. Hems & Homicide by Elizabeth Penney
52. Sowing Malice by Wendy Tyson
53. A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette
54. Quiche of Death by Mary Lee Ashford
55. Dead Body Language by Penny Warner

56. From Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris

57. A Chorus Lineup by Joelle Charbonneau

58. The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowen

59. Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing

60. The Key Lime Crime by Lucy Burdette

61. Murder on Sisters' Row by Victoria Thompson

62. Bad News Travels Fast by Gar Anthony Haywood

63. Digging Up the Remains by Julia Henry

64. Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James

65. The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

66. Ditched 4 Murder by J. C. Eaton

67. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron

68. Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker

69. Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart

70. Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay

71. Fatal Forgeries by Ritter Ames

72. Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

73. Hollyberry Homicide by Sharon Farrow

74. Dying in a Winter Wonderland by Vicki Delany

75. Candy Slain Murder by Maddie Day

76. Invitation to Murder

77. Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis

78. The Dogfather by Sparkle Abbey

79. Murder Goes to Market by Daisy Bateman

80. Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien

81. Murder Comes to Call by Jessica Ellicott

82. Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door by Barbara Ross

83. Puzzling Ink by Becky Clark

84. Murder on Fifth Avenue by Victoria Thompson

85. Some Like it Haute by Diane Vallere

86. Final Fondue by Maya Corrigan

87. Design for Murder by Carolyn Hart

88. The Enemy We Don't Know by Liz Milliron

89. Swift Justice by Laura DiSilverio

90. Open for Murder by Mary Angela

91. Sign of Foul Play by Penny Warner

92. Murder in Season by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land

93. Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

94. A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte

95. The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews

96. Gone but Knot Forgotten by Mary Marks

97. Death at a Country Mansion by Louise R. Innes

98. Wedding Bear Blues by Meg Macy

99. A Wicked Yarn by Emmie Caldwell

100. Absence of Alice by Sherry Harris

Book Review: Absence of Alice by Sherry Harris (Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries #9)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong story, real characters, page turner

Cons: All cons are absent

The Bottom Line:

Stella is missing

Sarah works alone to find

Another winner

Seeking Stella

I can never wait to read a new book by a favorite author.  However, I decided to save Absence of Alice, the newest Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery from Sherry Harris, for my final book of 2020.  I was hoping it would be a wonderful exclamation point to my reading of the year, and I was not disappointed.

It’s been almost two years since Sarah Winston started her garage sale business in Ellington, Massachusetts, a business she uses to help clients like Alice Krandle sell off their antiques.  Even when she does have a client like Alice, someone who thinks she can get more for her antiques than Sarah believes is realistic, Sarah still enjoys her work.

However, Sarah’s world is turned upside down from a phone call.  Someone has grabbed Sarah’s landlady and friend, Stella.  He is holding Stella hostage, and has a series of tasks that Sarah must do if she wants to see Stella again.  There are also the instructions.  Instructions like don’t go to the police and don’t tell Sarah’s boyfriend, Seth, about what is going on.  Can Sarah figure out who to trust?  Will she find Stella?

Honestly, I hadn’t read a teaser for this book before I started reading it, so when I realized what this book was going to be about, I was immediately hooked.  Yes, this book is part thriller and that makes the book a bit darker, but it is still a cozy.  Sarah may be racing to find her friend against overwhelming odds, but she is doing it surrounded by the characters and locations we have come to love.

Naturally, Sarah suspects that this is someone seeking revenge against her for one of her past cases.  As a result, there is some discussion of previous books in the series.  They are all vague enough that you should be okay if you jump in here.

However, I don’t recommend you jump in here.  Part of the reason this book works so well is the fact that we already know these characters and are invested in their relationships.  We get to see these relationships impacted by what Sarah goes through here, and I felt that part of the book was not only realistic but perfectly handled.

And yes, the plot is page turning addictive.  Did I really have to tell you that?  There are so many twists and turns, I had a hard time putting it down and easily read the book in two days while working and getting ready for Christmas.

Sarah Winston has yet to disappoint me with one of her adventures, and Absence of Alice is no exception.  Sherry Harris has once again penned a winner.  Fans will delight in the latest addition to the series.  If you haven’t met Sarah yet, fix that today.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Book Review: A Wicked Yarn by Emmie Caldwell (Craft Fair Knitters Mysteries #1)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Good mystery, likable characters

Cons: Lia’s relationship with Belinda didn’t ring true for me

The Bottom Line:

Developer’s death

Begins to impact craft fair

First book starts things well

This Debut is a Good Yarn

At one point, I decided I was going to try to go all of December without starting any new series.  I really crack myself up some times.  A Wicked Yarn is the second new series I started this month.  Since is it from Emmie Caldwell, aka Mary Ellen Hughes, it was an easy decision to start this series.  I’m glad I did.

After her husband dies, Lia Geiger has decided to start her life over again in Crandalsburg, Pennsylvania.  It’s still close enough that she can see her old friends, but it is helping her find a fresh start to her life.  Part of that is spending her weekends selling knitting projects she and her friends have completed at the Crandalsburg Craft Fair, run by her best friend Belinda.

Mother’s Day weekend should prove to be a busy weekend, but things are cut short when Lia shows up on Sunday morning to find Belinda standing over the dead body of her ex-husband.  The man had been at the craft fair the day before talking about buying the barn where the craft fair is held in order to tear it down to build something bigger, better, and newer.  With Belinda as an obvious suspect, attendance takes a huge dive.  Lia decides she has to not only clear her friend but help save the craft fair.  Can she find the truth?

Because the victim was really threatening the entire craft fair, Lia has plenty of suspects to sift through, and as she goes along, she begins to find suspects some unrelated to the craft fair as well.  I enjoyed watching her try to figure out what was really happening.  I didn’t figure it out until she did, and the climax was very suspenseful.

My biggest problem with the book is actually Lia’s relationship with Belinda.  We are told several times that they are best friends, but I just didn’t get that sense.  I know Belinda is going through a lot in this book, and I get how her personality is impacting how she deals with that, but I still struggled with their relationship.

On the other hand, Lia does have some wonderful friends.  While she hasn’t been in her new town long, she is quickly making some good friends, and I loved those relationships.  Her young adult daughter is a major character, and their relationship was fantastic.  The group of friends she regularly knits with are good, although there is definitely room for them to grow in future books.  That’s just a factor of how much page time they get.  Naturally, the suspects are strong as well, which helped keep me guessing.

Since I enjoyed the cast, I’m definitely looking forward to returning to see what trouble Lia can find next.  If you want to end the year with a fun debut, be sure to get A Wicked Yarn.

 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Book Review: Wedding Bear Blues by Meg Macy (Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mysteries #4)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Strong mystery, characters once I got to know them

Cons: One sub-plot didn’t feel realistic

The Bottom Line:

Wedding rehearsal

Ends when someone is murdered

Fun and cozy book

A Killer Walk Down the Aisle

Weddings can be an extremely stressful time, but fortunately, they don’t usually lead to murder.  Except in cozy mysteries, where they make an excellent backdrop to murder and mayhem.  That’s the case in Wedding Bear Blues, the fourth Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery from Meg Macy.

Sasha Silverman and her sister Maddie are both bridesmaids in the Valentine’s weekend wedding of Cissy Davidson.  However, the weekend is turning out to be anything but a dream.  Cissy is becoming more demanding that her weekend be perfect, the best man and maid of honor have a past and hate each other.  The ring bearer (a dog) is not trained well, but he’s still better behaved than the flower girl.  Sasha and Maddie are just ready to have the weekend over.

The tension makes the wedding rehearsal difficult, but it only gets worse at the rehearsal dinner.  Various members of the wedding party are sniping with each other, but then Maddie discovers one of them dead in the bathroom.  With the wedding postponed, Sasha finds herself asked to clear another member of the wedding party of the crime.  Can she do it?

I’ll admit that I struggled to keep the various members of the wedding party straight at first.  It didn’t help that we met them all in a couple of group scenes early on.  However, we are given enough background to remember who everyone is, and the further I got into the book, the easier it was able to remember who they were on my own.

The plot is strong.  The more Sasha investigates, the more motive she finds for the murder.  I always love mysteries like that.  There are the usual assortment of red herrings that also help confuse things.  Yet when the case is wrapped up, everything makes perfect sense.

The book has a few sub-plots that weave in and out of the main mystery.  I enjoyed them, although I did find one of them a stretch.  I suspect this is more on me.  I’m willing to believe that Sasha is capable of solving a mystery that the police can’t solve, but I couldn’t believe this one sub-plot was realistic.  As I said, it’s me.

While we do get some updates on the various friends and family in Sasha’s life, the story here focuses on the mystery and a core cast of characters, something I really appreciated.

Wedding Bear Blues is a wonderful winter time cozy.    Grab your favorite hot drink, snuggle under a blanket, and enjoy this book.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mysteries.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Disney Pin Review: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Crests of the Kingdom - 2019 Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: A crest for an attraction that should have a crest

Cons: None for me

The Bottom Line:

Toad Hall gets a crest

That honors the attraction

Pin is fun for fans

A Wild Crest

When I think of family crests, I think of old stately homes in England.  So it is perfectly fitting that Disneyland’s Crests of the Kingdom pin series included a pin for Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.

Of all the pins in the series, the front of this one does look like a classic crest.  The main feature is Mr. Toad front and center.  He’s surrounded by a crown and leaves and it just looks like I picture a crest.  The banner this time is down at the bottom and says “Toadi Acceleratio.”  I’m sure you can guess on your own, but the official translation of this Latin phrase is Toad Acceleration.  Like the rest of the pins, this part is a gray pewter, but it is raised, so it is easy to see the elements of the crest.

Also like the rest of the series, when you flip up the crest, you get a full color picture inside.  In this case, that’s a picture of Mr. Toad sitting in one of the cars.  Those familiar with the ride know that the cars all have names based on the characters in the story, and it’s no surprise that his car is Toady.  Behind him, it looks like he is in the early part of the ride set in Toad Hall.

It’s rare that Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride gets included in the limited edition pins that Disney releases despite still being a popular ride, so it was great to see them include it here.  As I said, it makes lots of sense given the nature of crests and the subject of the ride.  The combination plays out perfectly.

Fans of this ride will certainly be happy with this Crests of the Kingdom pin.  Even though it’s not my favorite ride in the parks, I’m happy to have it.

If you'd like to see some pictures, stop by my Instagram account.

December 26th's Weekly TV Thoughts

 Yes, I'm missing last night's finale for The Christmas Caroler Challenge.  I'll include that next week.  Both weeks are pretty slim pickings with Christmas and New Year's.  It's always like that this time of year.

Tell Me a Story – I know I said this last season, but I don’t see how they can wrap all of this up in one episode.  And everyone is in trouble!  I called which was the good and which was the bad twin.  I still didn’t expect the murder.  I knew the cop was a goner.  Never expected that Jackson’s sponsor was going to tie in with the Ashley Rose plot, however.  How are they going to realize she is still in danger?

Supermarket Sweep – I never really watched the original run of the show, so I don’t know how common it was for a three-way tie, but that was pretty impressive in the first round.  And it was close in the amounts they got in the sweep, too.  I don’t know that I would have kept going after barely finding the third item, so my hat is off to that team for pressing on, even if it didn’t work out.  The second round was close, but not quite tied.  Wasn’t surprised the bargain hunters made the final list, but I was disappointed they didn’t get to the third item in time.  I would have loved to see them go far.

Merry Christmas!

Just a quick post to wish everyone a merry Christmas.  I hope that if you celebrate, you are finding a way to enjoy the holiday.

Ornament Review: Winter Fun with Snoopy #23 - Sleigh Ride - 2020 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Christmas twist on a winter activity

Cons: Does tip to one side

The Bottom Line:

Going for sleigh ride

Adding a fun Christmas twist

In fun mini piece

Time for a Sleigh Ride Just Like Santa

The ornaments in Hallmark’s Winter Fun with Snoopy series have included both Christmas activities and general winter activities.  This year, they are combining the two by putting a Christmas twist on a fun winter activity.

You see, Snoopy and Woodstock are enjoying a sleigh ride.  Or at least Woodstock is enjoying one.  Snoopy is pulling the sleigh with Woodstock sitting inside.  Based on the smiles they both have, I think both of them are enjoying it.

But what makes this ornament Christmassy?  Snoopy is wearing a pair of reindeer antlers on his head and Woodstock is wearing a Santa hat.  I don’t see any toys, but we can pretend they are out delivering some toys.  Or they are just having fun dressing up as they wait for Christmas day.

Either way, this is a fun ornament.  I like the fact that it makes a sleigh ride something with a definite Christmas feel to it.  Living in Southern California, I pretty much only associate sleigh rides with Christmas as it is thanks to Christmas music, but there’s no denying that this is a Christmas activity.

What I haven’t mention yet is that this is a miniature ornament.  Fans of the series won’t be surprised since this has always been a miniature ornament series.  Snoopy is a little over an inch tall, and the sleigh makes this a little over an inch wide.  As long as you know that, you’ll be fine.  The detail is fantastic for the size, so I’m not complaining.

Snoopy and the sleigh are both in snow, and that snow forms the base of the ornament.  You can set it out or add it to a display as long as you aren’t setting it some place where it can get lost or broken.  I’d worry about that because of the size.  Speaking of the base, you’ll find the series marker on the bottom.  With a 23 inside a Christmas tree, it’s pretty hard to see, but I trust that it is correct.

The loop for hanging the ornament is in the middle of Snoopy’s head.  Since the loop isn’t centered, I’m not surprised that the ornament tips slightly to one side.  It isn’t too bad, however, and a well placed tree branch will disguise it.

I love the twist that Hallmark put on a sleigh ride for this Christmas ornament.  That makes this year’s Winter Fun with Snoopy a winner for me.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Winter Fun with Snoopy ornaments.