Cheli's 75 book Challenge for 2017

Well, I'm a little late this year at setting up my thread but real life definitely has been keeping me busy and I read the fewest amount of books in 2016 since I joined LT in 2008. I did manage to finally complete the cataloging and shelving of my books so my collections are complete unless of course, I stumble across another box of books.

But 2016 is gone and 2017 has arrived with a myriad of plans - a long weekend with the girls in January, a cruise with college friends in February, and the biggest surprise for me, was when I was told at Christmas that Tim and I will be going to Great Britain in July - he'll get to play the Old Course, and I'll get to see a place I've always wanted to visit.

Blessings have abound but I do need to ask for some prayers for my 92 yr.old Mom, who may need to have her hip replaced in the near future. I wish all my family and friends a joyous new year and hopes for good health and success in all your endeavors.

Hopefully my travels will allow me time for reading - that God for e-books!

Now on to reading!

I am part of the group.
I love being part of the group.
I love the friendships bestowed upon my by dint of my membership of this wonderful fellowship.
I love that race and creed and gender and age and sexuality and nationality make absolutely no difference to our being a valued member of the group.

Thank you for also being part of the group.

Glad you're here, Cheli. Happy new year!

Offering prayers for your Mom.

Happy New Year, Cheli!

Happy reading in 2017, Cheli!

Welcome back!

Hi, Cheli. Just stopping by to drop a star. Sounds like you have some great travel coming up! Have fun!

I knew it was too good to be true - the trip to Scotland fell through.

Aw. I got to visit in '08 - it was great!

>8 cyderry: I am sorry, Cheli.

Oh, Cheli, so sorry it didn't work out!

How have I missed your thread until now?

> Lori, It's only been up for a few days. I still need to finish recapping 2016.

My granddaughter Bella turns 6 tomorrow so she decided while outside in the snow that she didn't need a hat anymore - they're for babies.

Challenge Book #1

Shades of Wrath

Caprice continues to expand her clientele and this installment centers around a home for abused women. Her client is found dead from an apparent fall, but Caprice thinks there's something fishy going on since blackmail had been mentioned just the previous day.

I love this series not just for the wonderful characters and hometown setting, but also for the animal lovers depicted as well as the decorating tips.

Challenge Book #2

Murder on Cue

Jocelyn O’Roarke, a broadway actress, gets suck into an understudy role by an old friend and when the actress that's actually playing the role dies suddenly, she is a prime suspect. But things get dangerous not just in the police eyes but the killer's as well.

What a great start for a series - glad I grabbed this one, had to buy the next one right away!

Challenge Book #3

Forget me Knot

Martha and her friends are in a quilting group and are invited to the home of another quilter who wants to join them. When they arrive they discover the new quilter dead. Asked by the family of the victim to study her works and see is there is a story to be told, the twists and turns that are revealed are well represented in the tangled threads that quilters use.

Loved the story, and the details of the quilters - definitely hunting down the next one!

Cheli--Love the photo of your granddaughter and why would you cover up that beautiful hair with a hat?!

Good job on the Challenge books.

So, are we on the cruise with the girl friends?! Hope you are having fun!!

>Actually, we went on the cruise with 7 other couples we went to college with. Amazingly, we are all still married to our college sweethearts ranging from 34 years to 43 years. When I finally get home I'll post a picture of the 8 couples.

The cruise was a absolute blast and I even had reading time and got 7 books finished!

I'm glad you are having such a great time! The best cruise we had was with Will's Aunt, some of her friends, and Will's cousins. We laughed the entire time. We had more fun on board then when we went to the places on land.

Happy Day to you good friend Cheli. I love you dearly.

I have finally returned from a wonderful 2 week vacation with my husband and friends from college. We had a great time catching up , showing off pictures of our grandchildren and just plain relaxing. Several days in Orlando (Tim golfing) visiting the parks, and then a week cruise to Haiti, San Juan, and St. Maarten. We had such a great time on the cruise we booked another for next year!

Doesn't get much better than that! Welcome home.

Hello, Cheli!

>24 alcottacre: Stasia It's great to see you here again. Congratulations on your successful academic career!

Challenge Book #4

Today Will Be Different - 1/24/17

I was disappointed by this book. I truly enjoyed this author's previous effort in Where'd you go Bernadette? and expected another light-hearted and amusing offering but unfortunately, that is not what I read in this book. The main character Eleanor had sworn to herself that she would do things that she had let slide for her personally as well as for her family and with determination she would change that, however, all good intentions aside, we know that just saying so doesn't make it so.

I think if the author had stuck to the "difficulties" of facing a bad day with her usual wit and humor the book would have been better than going down a "dark and lonely path" with a sister who no longer communicated and a husband who had major secrets.

Challenge Book #5


Miss Seeton Draws the Line 1/25/17

Scotland Yard is investigating serial murders of children and again Miss Seeton's extraordinary abilities come into use. There is a child in her village she cannot draw and when the same reactions occur when trying to draw a victim, Scotland Yard descends on her small village believing that the next victim will be this child.

The subject matter was heavy yet the author was able to carry it easily interjecting humorous situations that Miss Seeton always seems to "fal" into while brandishing her trusty umbrella.

Looking forward to the next installment.

Challenge Book #6


Time Out (A Dodie O'Dell Mystery) 2/2/17

Dodie O'dell is the manager of a small town restaurant but she also helps out at the community theater tying both activities together with themed menus for the current production. Things go a bit wrong when the guest director suddenly dies of what appears to be food poisoning after eating one of the new dishes at the spring Food Fair.

Since business is now impacted Dodie has to "help" find the cause to save the restaurant.

Loved the twists and turns related to the theater and the victim.

Challenge Book #7


The Crêpes of Wrath: A Pancake House Mystery 2/14/17

I love breakfast with all its yummy possibilities so this new series seems a perfect fit, and while my mouth was watering frequently through the reading, the story and characters kept me very entertained.

Marley has come to town to help in her cousin Jimmy's Pancake house while he is in the hospital. She thinks it will only be a few weeks but things go wrong when Jimmy is found dead by the shore. Mourning his loss and startled by the knowledge that she is the main heir including the restaurant, Marley sets out to find who shortened Jimmy's life.

The characters were fun and well-rounded and the setting was "delicious". Definitely a series to keep on the hot list!

Challenge Book #8


For Whom the Bread Rolls 2/16/17

I picked up this book from NetGalley and after starting it I realized that I hadn't read the first book in the series - stopped and read that one and dove right back into this great little cozy.

This installment brought back a nasty lady who was repeatedly harassing the Pancake House and since the police were unable to get enough evidence to do anything to stop her, Marley decided to try to bury the hatchet, however what ended up getting buried was the nasty lady after Marley found her dead.

Marley is now a prime suspect so she has to find the real murderer to clear her name.

The characters are continuing to develop as well as the relationships between them. I really enjoyed this.

Challenge Book #9


Whodunnit? Murder in Mystery Manor 2/17/17

I originally saw a TV show on which this book was based or it could be the other way around. As a reader of all types of mysteries, I enjoyed the fictional manor house where surprise guests are murdered one by one and the remaining visitors must work diligently to solve each murder or become the next target.

This start of a series (?) for TV or readers needed a bit of polishing - descriptions were a bit short more geared to what might be for TV but all in all I enjoyed it and look forward to the next one.

Challenge Book #10


Grilling the Subject 2/22/17

Crystal Cove is having a Wild West Extravaganza but before the start, fireworks are flying when Jenna's father and other citizens have a massive disagreement with one of their neighbors and then she turns up dead. Cary has no alibi along with a few others so Jenna starts a quiet search to clear the name of those of which she's fond.

The characters in this series are so much fun and realistic. I love the setting and the background too.

Challenge Book #11


A High-End Finish 2/22/17

I was highly excited to read this book when I heard that the series was being made into a Hallmark Mystery movie and wasn't able to read it before the movie aired. I enjoyed the movie very much, but the book even more so.

There is a great deal of license taken with characters and situations when a book is made into a movie, but here I found a far better story then what was portrayed on screen. The plot twists and character development were so much greater in the written word. Will I watch another movie, probably, will I read the next book, most definitely!

Challenge Book# 12



Murder Wears White 2/23/17

Mallory is still trying to get her new business off the ground but renovations to transform her inheritance into a B&B as well as wedding venue are being held up. A wealthy bride wants to move up her wedding date but things only get more complicated when things start to go wrong - disappearing equipment, accidents on the work-site just to name a few. Then talk of the house being haunted brings a group of paranormal hunters into the mix.

This was such a fun adventure, the characters are well-developed and the mystery is engaging.

Challenge Book# 13



Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel 2/27/17

This was my first graphic novel and it will probably be my last. I was very interested in reading this book because of all the fanfare regarding the movie (I always read the book first) but now I'm not sure I even want to see the movie. The book seemed very light as to plot and content and the characters weren't very well developed IMO.

A definite disappointment.

Challenge Book# 14



The Secret Garden 2/27/17

Finally, a classic I actually enjoyed. I was looking for an easy book that I had on my e-reader while on vacation and this seemed like one that I could easily finish while not taking too much of my attention away from other activities - was I wrong! This story, though slow at the beginning, was totally enchanting and grabbed me until I finished. It's wonderful the way that the author had the children grow and mature as individuals while still keeping their innocence.

I was even lucky enough to see the movie right after I finished the book. The book was better!

Challenge Book# 15



Chapter & Hearse 2/28/17

Booktown always seem to have a great event to start off the newest adventure but Angelica's book signing for her new cookbook doesn't appear to be going well. Tricia watches over her sister's cookbook store while Angelica hits the road to promote her book. After her departure, the history bookstore across the street from Haven't Go A Clue (Tricia's mystery book store) is destroyed by an explosion and the main suspect appears to be Angelica's boyfriend, Bob Kelly, so Tricia is enlisted to try to clear him of suspicion - a tough job since she doesn't really like Bob.

I love the whole concept of Booktown and the majority of the characters but this one fell a little flat for me storywise. Won't stop me from reading the next one.

Challenge Book# 16



You Better Knot Die 3/5/17

Molly is taking on more responsibility at the bookstore when it's decided to add a yarn department and the first promotion will be the book about a crocheting vampire. But while Molly is preparing for the author signing she is also working on crocheted holiday decorations and helping a neighbor who's husband has disappeared.

Molly begins to believe that the missing husband did die as reported but is trying to escape from the FCC because of a Ponzi scheme. Working at the bookstore and searching for clues keep the mystery hopping and fun all the way through!

Challenge Book# 17



Murder at the Fortune Teller's Table 3/8/17

Just finished and I was delighted with the entire story!
It's wonderful when characters that you meet in a series starter continue to be as heartwarming and engaging in subsequent adventures. I was happy that Kelly made the decision to stay at the Redwood Cove and it was wonderful to see the Silver Sentinels come together again and fight justice.

Hope the next adventure is soon!

Challenge Book# 18



Mary Russell's War: And other stories of suspense 3/11/17

Part of me was thrilled with this and part of me was very disappointed. I thought that this was going to be a completely new novel in the Mary Russell series but it turns out to be a collection of short stories that are gap fillers for the time frames of the full novels. I'd read most of these already so very disappointed.

Challenge Book# 19



Kneaded to Death 3/16/17

Ivy Culpepper has returned to her home town because of the hit and run death of her mother. In an effort to sooth her spirit since the driver was never found, she enrolls in a bread making class not knowing the direction that it will lead her. When another class attendee is found dead in her car at the bakery parking lot and Ivy discovers that she was acquainted with her mother, she begins to feel that the two deaths are related and starts delving into what they were both involved in.

This is a start of a new cozy series and the characters were down-to-earth and at times a bit quirky, but I look forward to seeing them again.

Challenge Book# 20



A Treacherous Trader 3/20/17

Molly Appleby, a writer for an Antiques periodical, travels to Vermont to plan her wedding because her fiancé is hoping to get a residency there. While making arrangements she becomes acquainted with a Mother and daughter, Lindsey, who are also planning a wedding. Being told the circumstances of why the mother is in a wheelchair and the subsequent abandonment by Lindsey's father, Molly feels involved when the father is found murdered.

At the same time as Molly works to find out who was the killer, she is also wrapped up in a minor mystery surrounding a vintage wedding dress that she has purchased. How everything gets tied up neatly is absolutely amazing. Well-written and totally fun!

Challenge Book# 21



Bittersweet: A Novel 3/23/17

I really tried to like this book, but the majority of the characters were just not like-able and some were really stupid. The setting just seemed to be the same old run of the mill "family summer retreat" with nothing to make it interesting.

I'm finally caught up with all my reviews!!!

>44 cyderry: Well done, Cheli. I am trying to catch up on the threads this morning in Kuala Lumpur. xx

>40 cyderry: I probably have not read many, if any of the stories, in Mary Russell's War, so I need to pick up a copy of that one!

>35 cyderry: I loved this book, but I read the original, not the graphic novel and perhaps therein lies the difference. So sorry you didn't enjoy it more. : ( The Secret Garden is one of my all-time favorites!

>27 cyderry: I love the Miss Syton series. Hmm, maybe it is due for a reread?

Challenge Book# 22



The Shadow Land: A Novel

I thought that this book would be really interesting from the description that was posted on NetGalley, however, I had a very hard time getting through the book. I couldn't get attached or emotionally involved with any of the characters - the beginning was just a bit too cryptic for me switching from Alexandra's childhood and her lost brother to the man in the urn.

It wasn't an enjoyable read for me.

Challenge Book# 23



The Lake House

Sadie Sparrow, a police detective, is force to take some time off so she heads to Cornwall to stay with her father. While there she comes across an abandoned house , THE LAKE HOUSE, and through the book the reader is transported back in time to the events that resulted in the disappearance of Theo Edevane. Sadie is determined to solve this cold case and starts hunting for the family members as well as the staff that had lived at the Lake House 70 years ago.

The twists and turns as well as those people who kept information to themselves show a tremendous depth of planning a plotting to make all the facts come to light at the right time and to the right people.

It was a little slow at the beginning but once you got hooked, it was a great ride.

Since I had a hard time at the beginning I also read:

Challenge Book# 24

Challenge Book# 25



Earthly Remains

Commissario Guido Brunetti has a very unusual reaction during an interrogation and realizes that he needs a break from his stressful position at the Questora. He accepts an opportunity to rest at a relative's villa on the laguna and spread the days rowing - not thinking, not feeling.

When the man that he was rowing with turns up dead, Guido realizes that he must have answers to questions that he had failed to ask this man when he was alive.

I love all the books where Guido Brunetti is the central character trying to prevent or correct a social wrong. This was no different in bringing me a magnificent story.

Challenge Book# 26



Bearly Departed

Sasha and her sister are running the Silver Bear Shop and Factory that their founded. When hey are informed by a shady sales director that their father agreed to send manufacturing to China, there is a heated confrontation by the family. So when that same Sales Director is found dead by the stuffing machine, the factory has police troubles as well as trouble keeping up with production.

Some areas of the book have a bit too much detail and description leaving little to the reader's imagination, but overall, this arctophile loved it! Great beginning for a series.

Challenge Book# 27



Death in Advertising

Tobi Tobias has struck out on her in the advertising business but lack of clients has her on the edge of failure. A new client walks in and a week later her ad campaign is the talk of the town, not just because of the sensational slogan but that it might have influenced a murder.

The characters need a bit more development but that could happen after a few more installments in this new series. It was fun and well-written leaving some red herrings and other clues for the reader to solve this new whodunnit.

Challenge Book# 28



Depraved Indifference

I read this series in all the wrong ways - the first book read was number 12 - I went back to #1 and found that I liked the characters as well as the setting and background so I continued. Then I realized that these books were set in the 70's, I thought, this is going to be so dated and hard to get by without computer and cell phones but I was very much surprised.

The story is so well-written that I never thought about how there were no cellphones and the areas where there were "computer printouts" only made me laugh reminding me of the early days of computers. What really startled me was the date and action of the story 9/10/76 about the hijacking of a plane. Was it prophetic, I don't think so, just eerily chilling.

I'm ready for my next trip back to the 70's already. I love a good dose of justice!

Challenge Book# 29



The Invasion of the Tearling

The Mort invasion is coming and Kelsea, Queen of the Tearling is troubled, trying to find a way to protect her people as well as trying to figure how these visions of a woman named Lily Mayhew are related to her and the Tear.

Kelsea continues to grow and mature not only as a woman but as the Queen and is not afraid to make hard decisions.

I loved the way the stories were interwoven so that the reader would finally find out about how the Tear came to be and the details of the Crossing.

Look forward to the final installment!

I'm reading the latest Country Club Murder , Watching the Detectives. I'm laughing so hard and I'm only at chapter one.

This series is set in the 70's and has a great deal of details of bygone days. But what really made me laugh out loud was the last line of chapter 1. The housekeeper is informing the lawyer of heroine of the murder. She said...

"Mrs. White in the study with a revolver." tell me if you recognize this!

I know you like mysteries, so I wanted to let you know I've started a thread for May Murder and Mayhem. I asked around, and didn't see that anyone else was starting it, so I volunteered!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/255974

>57 tymfos: thanks for the update!

>40 cyderry: Agreed, for those of us who are Mary Russell fans, this was all old stuff, but I guess I'm glad to see it all together in one place, instead of little bits and pieces of ebooks everywhere!

I'm going to have to read the Miss Seeton books - they look interesting, but I haven't read one yet.

Challenge Book# 30



Triple in Paradise: Three Short Stories

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. I got this group of short stories for my Ladies Book club because we wanted to read something which had a feel for the tropics/Florida Keys and it was part of the description. However, I never got any feeling of the Keys and the writing was so hard to follow, I was glad that it was just a few short stories and that I didn't have to suffer long.

Challenge Book# 31



Watching the Detectives

I love this series, I love these characters and I loved this writer and this book! Ellison Russell seems to always be at the wrong place at the wrong time and her mother is continually tell her to stop finding dead bodies because it is not the thing that decent people do. But how can she avoid it when the body is her own house?

Ellison has decided to redecorate her late husband's sanctuary and has the decorator there but she is called away for a short period of time and when she returns, well Mother was not pleased. The decorator was dead. Mother also forced Ellison to hold a dinner party at her home days later, and well, Mother definitely wasn't pleased this time either.

The book was well-written, entertaining and the mystery keeps you scrambling for clues.

SPOILER

The best part for me was the references to the game of Clue - Mrs. White in the Library with the revolver, Mr. White in the Dining Room with the Candlestick. I laughed so hard!

Challenge Book# 32



Death Among the Doilies

Cora Chevalier has moved from the big city to a small own in NC to start a crafting retreat. She hires several crafters to demonstrate their abilities and teach her guests, but when her friend is suspected of a local murder, Cora has to work to save her dream from the tangle of deceptions.

The writing pleasantly wove the murder and the character exposures together so that the reader not only "met" them but was rooting for them as well.

Good start for a crafty series!

Challenge Book# 33



Fatality by Firelight

The second retreat that Cat Latimer hosts at her writer's retreat doesn't go exactly as planned. Winter has arrived in Colorado so the guests are treated to a trip to the mountain however, more edges were caught at the bar than on the slopes and when the bartender is later found murdered, one of the writer is a prime suspect.

Couple this with a missing rare book from the library used by the "retreaters" for research and Cat has her hands full keeping things from getting snowed under.

A good continuation on this new series.

Challenge Book# 34



Tightening the Threads

Angie's friend Sarah finally reveals some of her history and how she came to Maine so when Angie is asked to help her at the birthday party of her new found uncle, Angie can't refuse. No surprises to the reactions of her new cousins when they are told of her existence but things head toward a wreck at the lobsterbake.

I loved finding out more about the regular characters but I was disappointed at the lack of "Needlepoint" that was included in the story. But that no means implies that I will not continue reading these great stories!

Challenge Book# 35



Christmas Caramel Murder

What fun to have Hannah recount to her new husband the story of the Christmas Caramel disaster! We see Hannah still in the midst of her romantic dilemmas and as successful as ever at figuring out who killed the latest victim.

And the recipes! I will never get back to a Size 10 if she keeps give us such scrumptious recipes!

>62 cyderry: Well, I see you have been busy writing your reviews!! Your review of Watching the Detectives tickled by funny bone. I will have to put it on the WL.

>66 cyderry: If there are recipes involving caramel, I need to avoid that one! LOL I found myself doing screen shots on the iPad to capture the recipes on the Childs book I just read. Why does Haley make such tasty-sounding treats?

>68 thornton37814: You're tempting me now!

>68 thornton37814: Caramel? I am going to sit and wait here for further developments...........

Have a lovely weekend, Cheli.

>68 thornton37814: >70 PaulCranswick: There were oodles of great sounding recipes but the ones that I want to try are:

Gingerbread Pancakes
Chocolate Caramels
Butterscotch Crunch Candy
Cashew Candy Rolls

I adore gingerbread, chocolate, caramel, butterscotch, and cashews!!!

>71 cyderry: Now you have our mouths watering!

>71 cyderry: Yum!

>71 cyderry: I'm allergic to nuts but I'd take any of the other ones!

Cheli, just stopping by to say Hi!

Another Hello! Hope all is well.

Adding my voice to those missing you.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say they missed me. A lot has been going on so I will try to catch you up on what's been happening.

First, my 92 yr old mother was having trouble with her hip so my sisters and I have been working to get her the medical attention required as well as finally convincing her that she should not be living alone. Tests and doctor appointments kept us busy but on June 8 we finally got her settled into assisted living and two weeks later she had her right hip replaced. She finished her in-house rehab and returned to Assisted living earlier this week.

In the meantime, yours truly took a nasty fall out of bed and damaged my neck and shoulder. I have been playing "how can we make Chèli better?" with the doctor for the last 10 weeks. At first, the doctor thought it was an inflamed rotator cuff, but determined later that I also had a pinched nerve in my neck. The shoulder isn't getting any better so I am scheduled for surgery on September 18th.
So while I have been trying to recover from the fall, I have been on heavy duty painkillers and sleeping a great deal. However, I did manage to keep up on my reading and will try to get my reviews posted here soon.

Here is the list the books that I've read since my mishap:

Treble at the Jam Fest
Small Great Things
Banana Cream Pie Murder
Hospitality and Homicide
Herbert Hoover in the White House
Dead in the Water
The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist & the Psychic Thief
Killer Party
The Inheritance
Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash of 1929
No Charm Intended
Book Club Murders
Crewel Yule
A Front Page Affair
Antique House Murders
Deadly Notions
Night of the Living Thread
Uncorking a Lie
Apollo 8
A Killer Keepsake
Sound of Glass
Stepping to a New Day
No Mallets Intended
Nightmares Can Be Murder
Revenge in a Cold River
Deadly Dog Days
Secret Mistress
Graves of the Guilty
Great Reckoning
Murder Between the Lines
Guest Cottage
Gulliver's Travels
Deadfall
Of Books and Bagpipes
Assaulted Caramel
ROOT of all evil
Cold as Ice
Fate of the Fallen
Death Overdue

Reading, actually was about the only thing that I could do. Thank goodness for audio and e-books because holding a real book is still quite painful. Typing isn't the easiest since I can only use one hand, but I'll try to keep up with the news.

Cheli, sorry to hear about your mishap. I can't imagine what you've had to go through the last 10 weeks, it sounds like a nightmare. I hope the surgery will help, it's too bad it's still several weeks away. Sounds like you have been doing some great reading though, which must at least be some comfort (I know it would be for me!) What a great title for a book - The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist & The Psychic Thief - I may have to check it out.

Happy to hear that your mother seems to be doing well.

Wow, so sorry you've had a rough summer. But your reading has been great! And yeah, I latched on to The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist & the Psychic Thief too.

>79 rretzler: >80 drneutron: That title definitely sticks out there, doesn't it?

Cheli--Sorry you've been dealing so much. Thank goodness for books! You certainly squeezed in a few recently!! Wow. Hang in there and read away.

Challenge Book# 36



Treble at the Jam Fest

Jewel Bay is preparing for the annual Jazz Festival, but one of the headliners takes a dive off a cliff. Did he fall or was he pushed? To keep things running smoothly for the festival, Erin Murphy sets out to uncover the truth and discover some things she wished she hadn't.

The characters need a bit more fleshing out but overall a fun read.

Challenge Book# 37



Small Great Things

I have to admit that I had a really difficult time with this book. It's not that it wasn't compelling, because it was, it wasn't because it was poorly written, it wasn't, my problem was because when I suspend my disbelief and immersed myself into the story - I was terrified. I felt very much like Ruth when the police broke down her door and arrested her.

I had to abandon the remaining pages because my terrors were causing panic attacks.

The writing was excellent, the characters, what I read were amazing, I just couldn't handle the story.

Challenge Book# 38



Banana Cream Pie Murder

Lake Eden doesn't need Hannah Swensen to be home to have a murder victim discovered my someone in the family. Delores, Hannah's mother, hears arguing and a gunshot in the apartment below and so she is the Swensen to find the body of Tori Bascomb - sister of the Mayor and the Director of the Lake Eden Players.

Hannah is summoned from her honeymoon to conduct the private investigation into the murder. Surprises of all types await the newlyweds on their return.

I think my Hannah days may be numbered because of the movies that are being made based on these characters. Hannah is just ruined for me.

The Books describe Hannah as a tall full figured woman with Red hair that has a tendency to frizz but the actress in the movies is short, blonde and tiny. Completely miscast but maybe because she's the producer, she can change the character.

The movies also have her marrying Mike in, I think, it's the 4th movie.

Lisa is hardly even there let alone telling her stories.

Michelle is non-existent and Delores looks younger than Hannah.

Moiche is a calm cat. Hannah lives in a house not a condo and she doesn't have a cookie truck.

All the things that make these books so enjoyable are completely missing in the movies. But somehow I am still compelled to watch them.

I'll try another book but I'm not guaranteeing anything. The recipes are to die for!

Challenge Book# 39



Hospitality and Homicide

The latest murder in South Cove seems to have been stolen from the pages of a visitor author. Jill Gardner the bookstore owner feels compelled to try to discover the murderer at the same time as she is dealing with a few personal issues - namely her boyfriend - the police chief, a wacky neighbor, and an ending romance for two of her employees.

The main mystery is a little light, but there was a secondary mystery surrounding a missing child that was very engrossing. I really enjoyed the story filled with more wacky characters and other previously minor characters that were brought front and center.

Challenge Book# 40



Herbert Hoover in the White House: The Ordeal of the Presidency

I have been reading biographies of all the presidents and when I saw this one on Hoover I thought that it would be perfect for me, however, I found that it was slow in the beginning and a bit too detailed as to his motivations and actions at trying to be the Republican nominee in 1928 and the future President after Calvin Coolidge. There was sporadic information regarding his qualifications (education, etc.) and I felt that the author didn't really care for the man. I wonder why he wrote this book.

Guess I'll need to find another.

Challenge Book# 41



Dead in the Water: A Cherringham Mystery

An interesting start to a revamping of a novella series into full novels.
a web designer and former NY cop team up to investigate murder in a small English village.

If you never read the novellas (my situation) it's a bit hard to understand the background of the characters and their relationship, but eventually it all comes together and the mystery is cleverly woven.

Challenge Book# 42



The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist & the Psychic Thief

The detective partnership of Jesperson and Lane begin their association in this debut novel of a fantasy series set in Victorian London. they have 2 cases to solve - one is to determine where the sleepwalker goes and what he does and a second case to find the disappearing mediums.

the stories are cleverly interwoven with a very satisfactory conclusion.

Challenge Book# 43



Killer Party

Jill Gardner and her boyfriend Greg King are spending the weekend with his friends from high school in preparation of the wedding Greg's best friend Levi. Levi has rented out the entire nearby castle resort but things are not going according to plan especially when Levi is found dead in the pool. Greg would normally be in charge of the investigation, but his closeness to the victim forces him to step back and implore Jill to gather evidence of who killed Levi.

Great next installment including growth of regular characters.

Challenge Book# 44



The Inheritance

Hannah DuPont-Lowell was planning to retire eventually to her family home in New Orleans but when she was abruptly laid off she immediately returned to her plantation-style home.

The Garden District DuPont House with eighteen rooms and two guesthouses would make a wonderful inn which was Hannah's plan for her retirement. She invites her friends/coworkers Tonya, Jasmine, and Nydia to join her in the new adventure since they were unemployed. Hannah returns to New Orleans just in time to attend her high school reunion where she once again connects with College Professor St. John McNair, Hannah’s one-time classmate. Their rekindled friendship moves toward romance.

The characters have room for growth which will fun to see in future installments of this new series.

Challenge Book# 45



Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash of 1929

This book gave a detailed account of the week and events leading up to the great crash. It explained the actions of different individuals which resulted in the roller coaster ride that the market took on its way to disaster.

Challenge Book# 46



No Charm Intended

Cora, Jane, and Ruby are worried about the disappearance of Gracie, London's babysitter, but must carry on the current craft retreat while they try to protect their guests.

the mystery had several different levels and the plot twists were fascinating.

LOVED IT!

Challenge Book# 47



The Book Club Murders

Any lover of Cozy mysteries would love this start of a new series!

Charley Carpenter joined the local ladies book club so that she could possibly drum up business for her vintage clothing store. The group only reads mysteries but when murders start emulating the books they've read, the members come under suspicion and Charley feels the need to figure out who behind the deaths.
The background characters are great and I look forward to more stories set with Charley and her friends.

Challenge Book# 48



Crewel Yule

The Nashville Needlework Show is usually scheduled for he winter however, a schedule snafu has it moved up to before the holidays. Betsy and Goddy are in attendance when a presenter takes a header from a 9th floor railing and as usually Betsy gets involved in the investigation since the hotel is snowed in and only she and her police friend are around to sort out the mystery.

The usual fun of a Needlecraft mystery

Challenge Book# 49



A Front Page Affair

Capability Weeks (known as Kitty to her friends) is a female reporter at a NY newspaper in 1915, not a usual position for a woman. There are stereotypical restrictions (no women in the news room) so when her feminine expertise is needed on a murder that occurred at a society function, Kitty thinks she finally has a chance to really get into real reporting. She digs into the murder and may have more than she bargained for.

Set in the early 20th century the historical details and inferences may be a bit much for this character but I'm willing to carry on to the next in the series to see how it pans out.

Challenge Book# 50



The Antique House Murders

Charley Carpenter, owner of a vintage clothing store, is given a sneak peak at an estate sale where she buys vintage clothing before the final auction. When she goes to the auction house to pick up her purchases, she finds her friend, the auctioneer,dead. Convinced that the murder was related to the upcoming demolition of the estate building, Charley gets involved in the investigation and nearly ends up like her friend.

Several twists and turns kept the mystery hopping so that it was fun to figure out the culprit along with Charley.

Challenge Book# 51



Deadly Notions

Tori Sinclair, local librarian, attends a birthday party for the daughter of one of her sewing circle friends and meets a really obnoxious Pageant mother who thinks that no one can measure up to her little girl. She is rude and cruel to everyone so when she turns up murdered, all the party going parents are a suspects. As Tori tries to figure out who was responsible she's also dealing with he return of her boyfriend's old flame.

Love the characters and the sewing references - mystery was fun.

Challenge Book# 52



Night of the Living Thread

Threadville is preparing not only for Halloween but the wedding of Edna Battersby. The needle enthusiasts make a special skirt for Edna which includes little twinkle lights and glow in the dark thread but things go a bit haywire and a body is found in the lake wearing the skirt.

Now Willow, who used the special thread, must follow the trail as it glows-in-the-dark to find killer before she becomes the next victim…
Fun, fun, fun.

Challenge Book# 54



Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon

I was expecting a very technical account of the adventure of man's first trip to the moon, but was pleasantly surprised by the "thrilling" account of the mission that started man's extraterrestrial experiences. The story revolved around the life of Frank Borman, the mission commander - his military career and life as an astronaut.

I very much enjoyed the details of the mission assignments, interactions with other astronauts and how the eventual reality of Apollo 8 came to be.

A thoroughly enjoyable read what reminded me happily of days gone by. My favorite read of 2017, so far!

Challenge Book# 55



A Killer Keepsake

Molly Appleby has finished her article on the Forget Me Not Doll Club for Collector’s Weekly and shortly after meeting with the club members to deliver copies of the magazine, one of the club members is found murdered, and a stolen antique doll—supposedly haunted—is found in the victim’s house. Researching the background of the doll, carries Molly deeper and deeper into the murder investigation.

I loved the details of the history behind the special doll and how she protected her owners. Could dolls have a real life that we can't see, maybe?

Challenge Book# 56



The Sound of Glass

Merritt Heyward learns two years after her husband's death that his grandmother has left the family home to him and so she now owns the family estate in Beaufort, SC. Needing to start over she leaves her past in Maine where when Merritt arrives in Beaufort, she is immediately confronted by the appearance of her young stepmother, Loralee, and her half-brother Owen.

Everyone appears to have secrets - Merritt her past, Loralee her reasons for being there, and even secrets from the past - her deceased husband and his grandmother had secrets too.

The stunning details of the cleverly woven tale and how all the pieces fit together made this a riveting story to read.

Challenge Book# 57



Stepping to a New Day

The own Henry Adams, KS has become a favorite place to visit for me and this story continues that love affair with the inhabitants of this little town.

Genevieve Gibbs has finally started to remake herself after her disastrous marriage to her hog loving ex-husband. Returning from a trip she is met at the airport by the new town driver - TC Barbour. The two hit it off with he mutual love of jazz but TC has a secret and he's not sure that Genevieve will accept his shortcomings. In the meantime her ex has returned to town with his 600 lb. hog and the law on his tail.

The situations that evolve and the characters interactions, always make Henry Adams a place to go to to smile and laugh and sheer.

Looking forward to the next one.

I won this book on Librarything's Early Reviewers but never received it. I had to buy for myself.

Challenge Book# 58



No Mallets Intended

The old Dumpe Manor has been purchased by the Queensville Heritage Society and will be restored and used as a museum and headquarters. While Jaymie is working on returning the kitchen to its glory in the Depression era, she is attacked by an intruder with a vintage mallet. Several days later the local historian is found murdered by another mallet. Jaymie is determined to find the perpetrator and may end up in danger again without thinking.

Fun story, good characters, good writing.

Challenge Book# 59



Nightmares Can Be Murder: A Dream Club Mystery

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Ali opens a nostalgic candy store in Savannah and her sister Taylor comes to help her keep it in the black. Ali's hobby involves dream interpretation and so she has friends that gather frequently in the book to discuss their dreams. Taylor isn't sure if she can believe all that is said at these meetings, but when one member says she dreamed of a death and then a neighbor is found murdered, the group decides that they need to see if their dreams can be directed to finding the murderer.

The characters were fun and the setting and background great, but I'm not sure I can stick with the premise of a "dream Club". I'll have to seriously thin, before I read another of this series.

Challenge Book# 60



Revenge in a Cold River

This installment of the William Monk series reminds the reader of the origin of the series - Monk had a horrific carriage accident and it robbed him of his memory. He has flashbacks on occasion, but still has no memory of the past. Here he is confronted with people who he knew in California during the Gold Rush, but he knows nothing of them. When they become entangled with a body that is recovered from the river, Monk has to determine how they are connected and who is responsible.

It was great to see that Monk still has to fight for his every day existence without the memories that could be of use in the investigation.

Love this series and the writing - looking for to the next book!

Challenge Book# 61



Deadly Dog Days

Cameron Cripps-Haymon is eating her lunch by the canal when she notices a hand reaching of the water - but it's not moving. After the police arrive it's discovered that the body is the "girlfriend" of her estranged husband so Cameron is immediately a suspect. When she finds out that the woman had 5 dogs and that no one is caring for them, she takes them in. These dogs have varying personalities which keeps Cam on her toes.

At the same time as she is "investigating" trying to clear herself from suspicion, she also has to deal with her mother-in-law who regrets handing the family estate over to her son and Cam. The MIL tries to appropriate the house back piece by piece making for some very funny incidents interwoven throughout.

I enjoyed this book and will look forward to another in this series.

Challenge Book# 62



The Secret Mistress

Lady Angeline Dudley is on her way to London for her first season. While waiting at an inn for her brother the Duke of Tresham to fetch her, she finds herself in an unpleasant situation and is rescued by an unknown gentleman. It is love at first sight, but will she ever meet him again?

An ordinary romantic story with ordinary characters - no spice. Not what I expected from this author.

Challenge Book# 63



Graves of the Guilty

Cooper Lee feels that life is just getting better and better thanks to her friends and family. But when her sister and brother-in-law are drawn into a murder Cooper calls on her friends at her Bible study group to find the answers and clear up any suspicions that linger. The only way to do that is to find the killer.

I find this series no only uplifting for the positive attitudes of the characters but also fun because of the characters interactions.

Challenge Book# 64



A Great Reckoning


Armand Gamache, former Chief Inspector of the Sûreté du Québec has retired with his wife, Reine-Marie, to the village of Three Pines. However, he is persuaded to take on the control of the Sûreté Academy, the final portion of the force which has not been rid of corruption. He fires many of the old professors but keeps the former second in command. He also brings several old colleagues on board who are to show how corruption can impact a career.

When the former second in command is found dead - shot execution style, the Sûreté arrives to investigate and also calls in a independent observer from the RCMP. At the same time as the murder investigation is underway, Gamache has 4 cadets probing into the origins of a map that was found in the walls of the bistro in Three Pines.

How these two story lines connect and the characters interaction are totally engrossing and had this reader losing sleep to finish this book.

This book definitely lives up to the previous installments and makes me want the next book immediately.

Challenge Book# 65



Murder between the Lines

Kitty Weeks is still working for the New York Sentinel's Ladies Page when she is given and assignment which brings her in contact with the women's suffrage movement. After writing an article about a girl's academy, one of the girls that Kitty spoke with is found dead. Kitty feels a need to understand how it happened because of the similarities to her own life situations.

The situations that are depicted seem so true to life - great story. Looking forward to more character development in the future.

Challenge Book# 66



The Guest Cottage

The GUEST COTTAGE seems to be a story of compromise and acceptance. Sophie and Trevor each rent the cottage from as friend (their friends are cousins) and meet at the cottage expecting to spend a leisurely summer at the beach with their children but when they realize that they are going to be living in the same house, they first have to make a decision whether to stay or not. Deciding that the cottage is large enough (some cottage - 6 bedrooms) they begin to learn about each other and the parenting problems that they each have.

This story was very predictable but enjoyable.

Challenge Book# 67



Gulliver's Travels

I was extremely surprised by the story told in this book mainly because of the presupposition that I had because of a very old movie that I had seen. Yes, there were the little people and the giants but then the story goes on to further travels. The "adventures" show mankind in a very poor way with the satirical exposures of bad governments and prejudices that we would find nonsensical today. However, I wonder if 300 years from now if mankind would feel the same about our prejudices.

Maybe we can still learn from the past.

Challenge Book# 68



Deadfall (An Alexandra Cooper Novel)

Alexandra Cooper is beginning to recover from her own experience as a victim when Paul Batlaglia, her mentor and boss, is shot down and he falls literally into her arms. Unable to officially be involved with the assassination investigation because she is a witness, Alex works behind the scenes to get to the bottom of the reason for his death. Mike and Mercer work with Alex as she digs deeper into the people that the DA was investigating on his own..

This newest of Linda Fairstein's mysteries with Alexandra Cooper as the Assistant DA goes deeply into the world of the illegal trafficking of ivory and Rhino horns and various other "big game" animals that are nearing extinction because of hunters that believe they are above the law. The details of how these animals are hunted and why was horrendous.

I love how detailed the research is into the NY city landmark spotlighted in each book.. The special Landmark spotlight is a trademark of Ms. Fairstein's novels and one I have grown to love.

Challenge Book# 69



Of Books and Bagpipes

Delaney Nichols is still settling in to her new job, new country , and new home so when her boss asks her to pickup a package at a castle, she heads on out.Unfortunately, she finds the man she was to meet dead. Worrying about her employer's possible involvement, she isn't totally truthful when she is questioned by the police. Thinking that if she had been earlier, the young man would be alive, Delaney sets out to find the murderer and solve the secret of the rare manuscript she was to have received.

The characters are charming and still evolving so this was fun to see how an American would adjust t a foreign country. The mystery was entertaining and kept me interested until the end.

Well, I've caught up a little, but still have a few to go.

Sorry to read of your fall; very impressed by all your reading!

Glad to see you've had fun with your reading. If I got that far behind on posting, I'd never catch up. I'd also never remember enough details to write the reviews.

>118 thornton37814: I had the reviews written, just hadn't posted them.

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to give you and update of what's going on.

Saw the surgeon this morning and on Monday I will be going into surgery to see what is wrong with my shoulder/arm and hopefully have it repaired. I was told if I have a tear (which he thinks I do) my arm will immobilized for 4 WEEKS! (My husband says he's buying a gun.) I will be making a new best friend with my Nursing assistant who will be spending 8-9 hours a day with me doing all the things for me that I can't do.

Thank God for audio books and e-books because there is no way that I could hold a regular book without my left hand.

Either way the doctor says I will be ready for my trip in January. (Tim said I was going even if he had to take me on a gurney or in a wheelchair.)

I'l try to keep you posted. but I don't type well right-handed.

So sorry, Chèli, 4 weeks is a long time without using your arm.
I hope the surgery goes well!

Hope you fully recover soon, Cheli. xx

Hope the recovery goes well.

Wishing you a full recovery, Cheli!

HOORAY!!!! Doctor says I'm doing great - don't need sling 24/7!! Not only did I tear my rotator cuff, I ALSO TORE MY BICEP TENDON! Doc says I can start passive range of motion PT and can use arm as long as I don't raise it or make sudden motion.

That is less restriction than you feared, Cheli!
Hoping for a speedy and full recovery.

>125 cyderry: Good news!

Hope all is going well in your recovery and that you can type again soon and be back here!

This is a time of year when I as a non-American ponder over what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for this group and its ability to keep me sane during topsy-turvy times.

I am thankful that you are part of this group.

I am thankful for this opportunity to say thank you.

Sending Thanksgiving wishes!! Hope to see you here again soon.

Sorry to be gone so long!
I have been very busy with physical therapy but my recovery is coming along great!

I spent a few days at Thanksgiving with 3 of my grandkids receiving tender hugs and kisses and they even did my physical therapy exercises with me. I've been reading a lot but haven't been doing well at posting the reviews here.

Here are the books I've reads since I last posted a reading:

Assaulted Caramel
ROOT of all evil
Cold as Ice
Fate of the Fallen
Death Overdue
Death on Tap
A Fatal Collection
Of Spice and Men
Witch Miss Seeton
Death Plays a Part
Pekoe Most Poison
Malice Prepense: For the Defense
The Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules
Paris Spy
Glass Houses
Vineyard Victims
A Murder for the Books
Breakfast in Bed
Velveteen Rabbit
Murder is no Accident
Asking for Truffle
A Deadly Éclair
The Secret, Book & Scone Society
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
An Echo of Murder
Leave it to Cleaver
30 Second Death
Miraculous Mysteries: Locked Room Mysteries
And Death Goes To...
This side of Murder
Murder in Mayfair
Lucianna
the forgotten Man
And Then She Fell
Egg Drop Dead
Poisoned Prose
This Old Homicide
The Emperor's Code
A Fall of Marigolds
The Body in the Library
The Murder at the Vicarage
Playing With Bonbon Fire
Storm Warning
The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits

Wishing everyone a great Holiday season!

I just read Egg Drop Dead earlier this month and have Pekoe Most Poison checked out to read over the holidays. Sounds like we are both trying to get ready for the new 2018 installments.

Wow, what a list of books!

I'm glad your recovery is going well!

Wishing you all good things this holiday season and beyond.

It is that time of year again, between Solstice and Christmas, just after Hanukkah, when our thoughts turn to wishing each other well in whatever language or image is meaningful to the recipient. So, whether I wish you Happy Solstice or Merry Christmas, know that what I really wish you, and for you, is this:

Happy Boxing Day!!

Finalizing my numbers for 2017

I read 120 books.
First in a series = 29
Second in a series = 17
Third in a series = 9
Farther in a series = 41
Series caught up (new books yet to be published) = 24
Net Galley ARCs = 63

New Books acquired = 109
NetGalley - 81
LTER - 2
BookBub = 2
B&N settlement = 3
B&N - 20
Gifts = 1

New Books read = 55 50% GOAL REACHED!!!

I feel like I had a great reading year even though the main reason I read so much was because I couldn't do much of anything else due to an injury. I have to look at it on the bright side!!