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Sunday, December 31, 2023

New Years Eve's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to the last day of 2023 and this week's Sunday/Monday Post.  I will be linking up to:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

I had a great Christmas in spite of myself.  Two weeks ago when I posted, I talked about having gotten a mild cold.  Well, it came with a cough that just won't go away.  And right after I posted, I started running a low grade fever, too.  I even went to the doctor, but what they gave me doesn't seem to have helped.  (And I was negative for Covid twice and the flu once.)  The fever left after a couple of days, fortunately, but this cough just won't go away.  I thought I was going better a few days ago, but it has been worse on Saturday than it has been.

But here's the thing, this can be normal for me.  I'll get a cough after a cold, and it won't go away until I get another cold.  So, anyone have a cold they want to share with me?

Anyway, my family told me to come on up for Christmas anyway, so I did.  And I had a wonderful time.  I got three full days up there, which was nice.  Nothing super fancy or exciting, but it was just nice to spend time with family and relaxing some.

Then it was back home and back to work.  Accounting doesn't take a holiday, and we started our month end close the last two business days of the month.  Fortunately, since we don't have a traditional fiscal year, we were just dealing with a typical month end, which is nice.

Looking for Something New for 2024?


Before I get into the rest of my typical segments, I'm going to do a little blatant self-promotion here for a couple of non-blog specific groups.

The first of these is a group I run on Facebook called First Line Monday.  Yes, it really is as simple as it sounds.  Every Monday, a group of readers share the opening line of what they are currently reading.  Or have read during the last week.  (I typically have at least two posts each week.)  This is not a place for promotion of your own stuff, either books you have written or your own blog.  I don't promote my blog in the group, either.  We'd love to have you.

The other is a Goodreads Group - Audiobook Junkies.  This is especially great for those signing up for the Audiobook Reading Challenge this year.  I was made a moderator, and I didn't really realize it.  I'm trying to breath a little life into the mostly dead group (being totally honest here), so if you want to help kick start it again, please come join us.

This Past Week on the Blog:


Friday - 2023 Reading Challenge Wrap ups (multiple posts)

This Coming Week on the Blog:


Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post
Monday - 2024 Reading Challenge Sign ups (multiple posts)
Tuesday - Book Review: Partners in Crime by Steve Hockensmith
Wednesday - TV Show Review - Night Court (reboot) - Season 1
Thursday - Book Review: Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire
Friday - Book Review: The Burning Room by Michael Connelly
Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

Would you believe I bought no books the week before Christmas?  I know, I was surprised as well.  I mean, yes, I had lots of books on my Christmas wish list.  But it seems like there's usually a Kindle sale I can't resist.

Not to worry, my family helped me out by giving me books for Christmas.

These Honored Dead by Thomas Desjardin is very atypical for me.  It's non-fiction about the history of Gettysburg.  I find the Civil War interesting, so I'm curious to see what I learn from this book.

My sister-in-law tracked down the final three Dorothy Gilman novels I needed to complete my collection.  These are three of her non-Mrs. Pollifax books - Kaleidoscope, Thale's Folly, and Incident at Badamya.  Considering all three books are out of print, I wasn't sure anyone would get them for me when I put them on my list.  I was thrilled to get them.

Rounding out my Christmas books, I also got Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien.  I am woefully behind on this series, and this will be a good step toward catching up.

And yes, there is another book in that picture.  I had to stop by my local Barnes and Noble when they were having their annual hardback sale.  The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman was the only book to catch my eye while I was there.  I've only read the first in his popular Thursday Murder Club series.  I have the second, but not the third.  This is the fourth.  At some point, I need to get to them since I know people love them so much.  I did enjoy the one I read.

What I'm Currently Reading:

As I write this, I am about half way through Mushroom Capped by Cathy Wiley.  This is the second in her Fatal Food Festival Mysteries.  This time, we are at a mushroom festival (obviously) in Maryland.  I'm hoping to finish the book up Sunday.  Since I don't currently have any plans for New Year's Eve (see earlier talk about my cough), I should be able to finish it up.

Assuming that happens, Monday, I will be starting Knot of This World, the eighth quilting mystery from Mary Marks.  I only have two books to go in the series, and it would be nice to finish it up this year so I can focus on other series.  (I really need to stop beginning new series, but they all sound so good!)  Anyway, I do enjoy the series, and I'm looking forward to spending time with the characters again.

That wraps it up for me this week.  Happy New Year, everyone!

at 32 comments:

Saturday, December 30, 2023

December 30th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Extended Family (12/23) – I feel like this is one of those shows that should work on paper but probably won’t in reality.  I’ll give it another couple of tries beyond the pilot because the pilot is often weak.  But I really didn’t find the episode at all funny.  Instead, it was painful in how hard it was trying to be funny.

Night Court (12/23) – What happened to the bailiff?  I’m assuming they will be writing him out in the real season two premier?  Or am I forgetting something from the first season finale?  Either way, they were definitely trying too hard.  Still.  I had hoped the writers would have found their rhythm better before season two started.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians – I was a bit surprised they were there already, but once the episode started, I did remember this came this quickly in the book, too.  Well done.  I’d forgotten how they outsmarted everyone (although I’m not sure this followed the book completely).  Still, fun and some good character and team building, too.

The Challenge – The competition they had early on?  No thank you.  I had eating challenges like that.  I’m happy for the contestants – two weeks in a row they managed to keep their money.  I do hope that streak continues.

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Friday, December 29, 2023

Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Reading by the Numbers 2023

 


I had a great time with the Reading by the Numbers challenge.  I had originally set my goal as 100, but I upped it part way through the year to 120.  I made it, having reached 127 books.

1. Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay
2. Gone for Gouda by Korina Moss
3. Aerobics Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers
4. Death by Smoothie by Laura Levine
5. Oh Danny Girl by C. Michele Dorsey
6. Where the Guilty Hide by Annette Dashofy
7. Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross
8. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
9. Dead-Bang Fall by J. R. Sanders
10. Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron
11. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
12. Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings
13. Six Sweets Under by Sarah Fox
14. What the Cluck?  It's Murder! by Jacqueline Vick
15. Bastille Vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
16. It Takes Two to Mango by Carrie Doyle
17. Stuff Dreams are Made of by Don Bruns
18. Murder on Wall Street by Victoria Thompson
19. Life on the Mississippi by Rinker Buck
20. Charred by G. P. Gottlieb
21. City of the Dead by James Ponti
22. Secrets and Scents by Lyn Perry
23. Till Death Do Us Port by Kate Lansing
24. Record Store Reckoning by J. C. Kenney
25. Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke
26. The Shimmer by Ridley Pearson
27. All That is Hidden by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
28. Hooked on Murder by Betty Hechtman
29. Apprehend Me No Flowers by Diane Vallere
30. Four Parties and a Funeral by Maria DiRico
31. The Christie Caper by Carolyn Hart
32. Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer
33. The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman
34. Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs
35. Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn
36. On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry
37. The Truth We Hide by Liz Milliron
38. Knot on Her Life by Mary Marks
39. Cheddar Late Than Dead by Linda Reilly
40. Curds of Prey by Korina Moss
41. "X" by Sue Grafton
42. Murder in Midtown by Liz Freeland
43. Arbor Day Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers
44. Murder on the Home Front by Jessica Ellicott
45. #TagMe for Murder by Sarah E. Burr
46. The Black Box by Michael Connelly
47. Silence is Golden by Penny Warner
48. If I Had a Hammer by Teresa Trent
49. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen
50. Her Dying Day by Mindy Carlson
51. Southern Ghost by Carolyn Hart
52. Murder at the Marina by Janet Finsilver
53. Tough Luxe by Diane Vallere
54. Murder at Sea by Various Authors
55. Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman
56. Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J. Chow
57. Murder on Madison Square by Victoria Thompson
58. Muddled Matrimonial Murder by Kim Davis
59. A Stolen Child by Sarah Stewart Taylor
60. Racing the Light by Robert Crais
61. Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen
62. Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross
63. Happily Ever After by James Riley 
64. Hiss Me Deadly by Miranda James
66. The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz
67. Gone but Not Forgotten by C. Michele Dorsey
68. Kinsey and Me by Sue Grafton
69. Murder at the Majestic Hotel by Clara McKenna
70. Teacher's Threat by Diane Vallere
71. Death in a Pale Hue by Susan Van Kirk
72. Paint Me a Crime by Holly Yew
73. Murder at a London Finishing School by Jessica Ellicott
74. A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke
75. The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan
76. A Sense for Murder by Leslie Karst
77. The Body in the Cattails by Catherine Dilts
78. Murder on Bedford Street by Victoria Thompson
79. Death on the Grand Canal by M. A. Monnin
80. Claws of Death by Cathy Wiley
81. Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews
82. Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O'Connor, Liz Ireland, Carol J. Perry
83. A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver
84. Murder in the Wine Country by Janet Finsilver
85. Fair Game by Annette Dashofy
86. Pink Lemonade Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
87. Bring the Night by J. R. Sanders
88. Fahrenheit 501 by Diane Vallere
89. The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly (reread)
90. Murder Off the Books by Tamara Berry
93. The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair
94. Hanging by a Thread by Dorothy Howell
95. Nine  Lives and Alibis by Cate Conte
96. Sugar Plum Poisoned by Jenn McKinlay
97. Brush Up on Murder by Sybil Johnson
98. Hunters of the Dead by Steve Hockensmith
99. Bruce Wayne: Not Super by Stuart Gibbs with Art by Berat Pekmezci
100. Mistletoe and Murder by Connie Berry
101. Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew
102. A Nutcracker Nightmare by Christina Romeril
103. A Parfait Crime by Maya Corrigan
104. Barbecue Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers
105. Mint Julep Murder by Carolyn Hart
106. Cheap Thrills by Wendall Thomas
107. Tulle Death Do Us Part by Diane Vallere
108. Calico by Lee Goldberg
109. The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen
110. Final Cut by Marjorie McCown
111. Case of the Bleus by Korina Moss
112. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman
113. Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
114. Dead Man's Hand by Penny Warner
116. Over My Dead Blog by Sarah E. Burr
117. The Body in the Cornfield by Catherine Dilts
118. "Y" is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton
119. City of Betrayal by Victoria Thompson
120. Keep Your Family Close by Annette Dashofy
121. Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley
122. Murder Under the Mistletoe by Erica Ruth Neubauer
123. Spoon to be Dead by Dana Mentink
124. Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna
125. Dearly Deleted by Sarah E. Burr
127. Irish Milkshake Murder by Carlene O'Connor, Peggy Ehrhart, & Liz Ireland
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Reading Challenge Wrap Up: 52 Books in 52 Weeks 2023

 As always, I enjoyed the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge in 2023.  Since I read more than 52 books, it isn't really a challenge, but it is still fun to think about which book I want to highlight each week.  Those books this year were:

1. Gone for Gouda by Korina Moss
2. Aerobics Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers
3. Oh Danny Girl by C. Michele Dorsey
4. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
5. Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron
6. Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings
7. Murder on Wall Street by Victoria Thompson
8. Charred by G. P. Gottlieb
9. Till Death Do Us Port by Kate Lansing
10. Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke
11. All That is Hidden by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
12. Four Parties and a Funeral by Maria DiRico
13. Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer
14. On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry
15. The Truth We Hide by Liz Milliron
16. Cheddar Late Than Dead by Linda Reilly
17. Murder in Midtown by Liz Freeland
18. #TagMe for Murder by Sarah E. Burr
19. If I Had a Hammer by Teresa Trent
20. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen
21. Southern Ghost by Carolyn Hart
22. Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman
23. Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J. Chow
24. A Stolen Child by Sarah Stewart Taylor
25. Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross
27. Gone but Not Forgotten by C. Michele Dorsey
28. Murder at the Majestic Hotel by Clara McKenna
29. Paint Me a Crime by Holly Yew
30. Murder at a London Finishing School by Jessica Ellicott
31. The Body in the Cattails by Catherine Dilts
32. Death on the Grand Canal by M. A. Monnin
33. Claws of Death by Cathy Wiley
34. A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver
35. Fair Game by Annette Dashofy
36. Bring the Night by J. R. Sanders
37. Fahrenheit 501 by Diane Vallere
40. Nine  Lives and Alibis by Cate Conte
41. Hunters of the Dead by Steve Hockensmith
42. Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew
43. A Parfait Crime by Maya Corrigan
44. Tulle Death Do Us Part by Diane Vallere
45. The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen
46. Case of the Bleus by Korina Moss
47. Dead Man's Hand by Penny Warner
48. Over My Dead Blog by Sarah E. Burr
49. Keep Your Family Close by Annette Dashofy
50. Spoon to be Dead by Dana Mentink
51. Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna
52. Irish Milkshake Murder by Carlene O'Connor, Peggy Ehrhart, & Liz Ireland
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Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Netgalley and Edelweiss 2023


I'm glad I decided to try to Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge for 2023.  It was interesting to see just how many eARCs I read in a year.  I've got to admit, I feel like it is more at times.  Of course this doesn't count the physical ARCs, so that might account for the difference.

I had originally signed up for the Bronze level, which was 10 books.  Clearly, I made that and then quite a bit.  I shot past the Silver level, which is 25 books, in fact.

Anyway, here are the books I read for this challenge this year.

1. Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay
2. Where the Guilty Hide by Annette Dashofy
3. Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron
4. Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings
5. Six Sweets Under by Sarah Fox
6. Till Death Do Us Port by Kate Lansing
7. All That is Hidden by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
8. Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn
9. Murder on the Home Front by Jessica Ellicott
10. #TagMe for Murder by Sarah E. Burr
11. If I Had a Hammer by Teresa Trent
12. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen
13. Murder at Sea by Various Authors
14. Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman
15. Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J. Chow
16. Muddled Matrimonial Murder by Kim Davis
17. A Stolen Child by Sarah Stewart Taylor
18. Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen
19. Hiss Me Deadly by Miranda James
20. Gone but Not Forgotten by C. Michele Dorsey
21. A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke
22. A Sense for Murder by Leslie Karst
24. Sugar Plum Poisoned by Jenn McKinlay
25. Brush Up on Murder by Sybil Johnson
26. Hunters of the Dead by Steve Hockensmith
27. Mistletoe and Murder by Connie Berry
28. Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew
29. A Nutcracker Nightmare by Christina Romeril
30. Barbecue Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers
31. Cheap Thrills by Wendall Thomas
32. Tulle Death Do Us Part by Diane Vallere
33. Calico by Lee Goldberg
34. The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen
35. City of Betrayal by Victoria Thompson
36. Dearly Deleted by Sarah E. Burr
37. Keep Your Family Close by Annette Dashofy
at No comments:

Reading Challenge Wrap Up: New Release Challenge 2023

 I had a great year with the New Release Challenge in 2023.  I'm always reading lots of new releases.  I had signed up for the Veteran level, which was 61-100 new releases, and I easily met that goal.

Here's what I read for the challenge.

1. Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay
2. Where the Guilty Hide by Annette Dashofy
3. Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross
4. Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron
5. Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings
6. Six Sweets Under by Sarah Fox
7. Charred by G. P. Gottlieb
8. City of the Dead by James Ponti
9. Till Death Do Us Port by Kate Lansing
10. The Shimmer by Ridley Pearson
11. All That is Hidden by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
12. Four Parties and a Funeral by Maria DiRico
13. Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer
14. Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs
15. Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn
16. The Truth We Hide by Liz Milliron
17. Cheddar Late Than Dead by Linda Reilly
18. Curds of Prey by Korina Moss
19. Murder on the Home Front by Jessica Ellicott
20. #TagMe for Murder by Sarah E. Burr
21. If I Had a Hammer by Teresa Trent
22. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen
23. Murder at Sea by Various Authors
24. Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman
25. Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J. Chow
26. Muddled Matrimonial Murder by Kim Davis
27. A Stolen Child by Sarah Stewart Taylor
28. Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen
29. Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross
30. Happily Ever After by James Riley 
31. Hiss Me Deadly by Miranda James
33. The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz
34. Gone but Not Forgotten by C. Michele Dorsey
35. Paint Me a Crime by Holly Yew
36. Murder at a London Finishing School by Jessica Ellicott
37. A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke
38. The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan
39. A Sense for Murder by Leslie Karst
40. The Body in the Cattails by Catherine Dilts
41. Murder on Bedford Street by Victoria Thompson
42. Death on the Grand Canal by M. A. Monnin
43. Claws of Death by Cathy Wiley
44. Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews
45. Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O'Connor, Liz Ireland, Carol J. Perry 
46. Pink Lemonade Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
47. Bring the Night by J. R. Sanders
48. Murder Off the Books by Tamara Berry
51. Hanging by a Thread by Dorothy Howell
52. Nine  Lives and Alibis by Cate Conte
53. Sugar Plum Poisoned by Jenn McKinlay
54. Brush Up on Murder by Sybil Johnson
55. Hunters of the Dead by Steve Hockensmith
56. Mistletoe and Murder by Connie Berry
57. Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew
58. A Nutcracker Nightmare by Christina Romeril
59. A Parfait Crime by Maya Corrigan
60. Barbecue Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers
61. Cheap Thrills by Wendall Thomas
62. Tulle Death Do Us Part by Diane Vallere
63. Calico by Lee Goldberg
64. The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen
65. Final Cut by Marjorie McCown
66. Case of the Bleus by Korina Moss
67. Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
68. Over My Dead Blog by Sarah E. Burr
69. The Body in the Cornfield by Catherine Dilts
70. City of Betrayal by Victoria Thompson
71. Keep Your Family Close by Annette Dashofy
72. Murder Under the Mistletoe by Erica Ruth Neubauer
73. Spoon to be Dead by Dana Mentink
74. Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna
75. Dearly Deleted by Sarah E. Burr
77. Irish Milkshake Murder by Carlene O'Connor, Peggy Ehrhart, & Liz Ireland
at No comments:

Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Mount TBR and Virtual Mount TBR 2023









I had another successful year with the Mount TBR and Virtual Mount TBR challenges.  While I easily beat by Mount TBR challenge of 12 books, I was closer to my Virtual Mount TBR goal of 24.  Here are the books I read for the challenges.

Mount TBR
1. Gone for Gouda by Korina Moss
2. Death by Smoothie by Laura Levine
3. Oh Danny Girl by C. Michele Dorsey
4. Dead-Bang Fall by J. R. Sanders
5. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
6. It Takes Two to Mango by Carrie Doyle
7. Murder on Wall Street by Victoria Thompson
8. Life on the Mississippi by Rinker Buck
9. Record Store Reckoning by J. C. Kenney
10. The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman
11. On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry
12. Murder in Midtown by Liz Freeland
13. Silence is Golden by Penny Warner
14. Her Dying Day by Mindy Carlson
15. Tough Luxe by Diane Vallere
16. Murder on Madison Square by Victoria Thompson
17. Murder at the Majestic Hotel by Clara McKenna
18. Teacher's Threat by Diane Vallere
19. A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver
20. Fair Game by Annette Dashofy
21. Dead Man's Hand by Penny Warner
22. Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley


Virtual Mount TBR
1. Aerobics Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers
2. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
3. What the Cluck?  It's Murder! by Jacqueline Vick
4. Bastille Vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
5. Stuff Dreams are Made of by Don Bruns
6. Secrets and Scents by Lyn Perry
7. Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke
8. Hooked on Murder by Betty Hechtman
9. Apprehend Me No Flowers by Diane Vallere
10. The Christie Caper by Carolyn Hart
11. Knot on Her Life by Mary Marks
12. "X" by Sue Grafton
13. Arbor Day Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers
14. The Black Box by Michael Connelly
15. Southern Ghost by Carolyn Hart
16. Murder at the Marina by Janet Finsilver
17. Racing the Light by Robert Crais
18. Kinsey and Me by Sue Grafton
19. Death in a Pale Hue by Susan Van Kirk
20. Murder in the Wine Country by Janet Finsilver
21. Fahrenheit 501 by Diane Vallere
22. The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly (reread)
23. The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair
24. Mint Julep Murder by Carolyn Hart
25. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman
26. "Y" is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton
at 2 comments:

Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Finishing the Series 2023


At one point, I thought I had seriously over committed to the Finishing the Series challenge.  I wound up at the A list level, which was 9 or more series.  As you can see below, most of these had multiple books to the series I had to finish, too.  But only two of the series I wanted to focus on didn't get finished.  Next year for those series, hopefully.  We'll see how the year progresses with all the other books calling my name.

And, considering how long I've been working on some of these series, it felt great to cross them off my list.

Alcatraz Vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson
6. Bastille and the Evil Librarians (co-written with Janci Patterson)

By the Books Mysteries by Tamara Berry
2. On Spine of Death
3. Murder Off the Books

Bucket List Mysteries by Ryan Rivers
0.5 Arbor Day Can Be Deadly (novella)
1. Aerobics Can Be Deadly
2. Barbecue Can Be Deadly
(Yes, a bit of a cheat, but I did read a short story with these characters back in October)

Cheese Shop Mysteries by Korina Moss
2. Gone for Gouda
3. Curds of Prey
4. Case of the Bleus

Connor Westphal by Penny Warner
6. Silence is Golden
7. Dead Man's Hand

Elvis Cole and Joe Pick by Robert Crais
19. Racing the Light

Frankie Chandler Mysteries by Jacqueline Vick
4. What the Cluck?  It's Murder

Did not finish this series.  These two books are left.

5. A Scaly Tale of Murder
6. A Scape Goat for Murder

Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson
24. Murder on Wall Street
25. Murder on Madison Square
26. Murder on Bedford Street

Kelly Jackson Mysteries by Janet Finsilver
5. Murder at the Marina
6. Murder in the Wine Country

Kinsey Millhone by Sue Grafton
24. "X"
25. "Y" is for Yesterday
Kinsey and Me

Nate Ross by J. R. Sanders
2. Dead-Bang Fall
3. Bring the Night

Quilting Mysteries by Mary Marks
7. Knot on Her Life

Did not finish this series.  These two books are left.

8. Knot of This World
9. Knot Ready for Murder

Stella and Lyndy Mysteries by Clara McKenna
4. Murder at the Majestic Hotel
5. Murder on Mistletoe Lane

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Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Audiobook Challenge 2023


I completed another year of the Audiobook Challenge, hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and That's What I'm Talking About.  I made my goal of Stenographer, and I was right in the middle of the 10-15 book range.

Here are the books I read for this challenge.

1. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
2. Bastille Vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
3. The Christie Caper by Carolyn Hart
4. "X" by Sue Grafton
5. The Black Box by Michael Connelly
6. Southern Ghost by Carolyn Hart
7. Racing the Light by Robert Crais
8. Kinsey and Me by Sue Grafton
9. The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan
10. The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly (relisten)
11. Mint Julep Murder by Carolyn Hart
12. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman
13. "Y" is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton
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Reading Challenge Wrap Up: European Reading Challenge 2023


I don't read a lot of books set in Europe, so I'm a little surprised at how well I did with the European reading challenge last year.  Granted, I didn't visit that many countries, but I did hit 6.  I read more books than that set in Europe, but lots of them were in England, and since each country only counts one for the challenge, I couldn't use them all.



Anyway, here's what I read:

1. Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer (Turkey)
2. Murder on the Home Front by Jessica Ellicott (England)
3. Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman (Germany)
4. A Stolen Child by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Ireland)
5. Death on the Grand Canal by M. A. Monnin (Italy)
6. Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (France)
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Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Southern Literature Reading Challenge 2023


I did pretty well for the Southern Literature Reading Challenge in 2023.  As I expected, I hit the top level, which is 7+ books, by reading 12 books set in the South.  And those books were:

1. Aerobics Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers
2. Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron
3. Stuff Dreams are Made of by Don Bruns
4. Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke
5. Apprehend Me No Flowers by Diane Vallere
6. The Christie Caper by Carolyn Hart
7. If I Had a Hammer by Teresa Trent
8. Southern Ghost by Carolyn Hart
9. Hiss Me Deadly by Miranda James
10. The Body in the Cattails by Catherine Dilts
11. Claws of Death by Cathy Wiley
12. Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews
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Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2023


I did well with the Historical Fiction reading challenge in 2023.  I had signed up for the Medieval level, which is 15 books, but I made it to Ancient History, which is 25.  Just barely, but I made it.

Here are the books I read this year:

1. Dead-Bang Fall by J. R. Sanders
2. Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings
3. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
4. Murder on Wall Street by Victoria Thompson
5. All That is Hidden by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
6. Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer
7. The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman
8. The Truth We Hide by Liz Milliron
9. Murder in Midtown by Liz Freeland
10. Murder on the Home Front by Jessica Ellicott
11. If I Had a Hammer by Teresa Trent
12. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen
13. Murder on Madison Square by Victoria Thompson
14. Murder at the Majestic Hotel by Clara McKenna
15. Murder at a London Finishing School by Jessica Ellicott
16. Murder on Bedford Street by Victoria Thompson
17. A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver
18. Bring the Night by J. R. Sanders
19. The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair
20. Hunters of the Dead by Steve Hockensmith
21. The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen
22. Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
23. City of Betrayal by Victoria Thompson
24. Murder Under the Mistletoe by Erica Ruth Neubauer
25. Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna
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Reading Challenge Wrap Up: Calendar of Crime 2023


I had an absolute blast with the Calendar of Crime challenge in 2023.  This one is different since you are aiming to read one book to represent every month based on prompts like release day, month story is set, etc.

Here are the twelve books I included this year:

January - Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay (release month)
February - Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron (release month)
March - Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross (St. Pat Day)
April - Arbor Day Can be Deadly by Ryan Rivers (April holiday)
May - Murder at the Majestic Hotel by Clara McKenna (M in title)
June - The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman (author's birthday)
July - Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings (set in July)
August - It Takes Two to Mango by Carrie Doyle (Beach/resort on cover)
September - Silence is Golden by Penny Warner (S is title)
October - Gone for Gouda by Korina Moss (book set in October)
November - Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys (Thanksgiving)
December - Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman (Christmas/December set)
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