Cozy Mysteries discussion
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When You’re Not Reading a Cozy
Zermeena wrote: "Brenda wrote: "My review for 
The Lawson Sisters by Janet Goverhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
For once ..."
That's great Zermeena - I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)
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This book crosses off another prompt for the PopSugar Challenge, now 44/50. Only six prompts left! This was one of the harder ones for me, as it’s not a genre or subgenre I tend to gravitate towards. I had nothing in Mount TBR that fit, so had to find a cheap or free recommendation from others in the GR PSC group. I didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it, either.
You're doing really well with that challenge Heather! I'm always daunted by the prompts as there are so many I wouldn't read :)
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So I’ve been reviewing suggestions again, and recently I saw that a couple people had recommended Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, which is much shorter, only 234 pages and sounds like it would be a fast read. Most people in the group have read a more recent release, The Love Hypothesis, which does sound good, but isn’t on my shelves. I keep hoping it will turn up in a neighborhood LFL, but no such luck (so far, lol). 😄
Still a few months to go for you Heather, thankfully! I agree with the 600 page book - too high to read for a challenge if you don't like it that much :)
I am reading Cold Feet by Jennifer Youngblood.*
Update: Completed today. This story is a short and funny Christian RomCom. I like this author's writing style with her other series, although I wasn't sure of a different genre. I should have known there would be the same quirky dialog with fun interactions between the MC and other characters!
*
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Read Oedipus At Colonus by Sophocles. We read the first book in his Theban Cycle last month in the classics group. Several people decided they wanted to continue the “trilogy” this month. Since I have all three, and it’s been ages since I first read them, I decided I might as well join in. Did not like this one as much as Oedipus Rex. Next up is Antigone. I’m also tempted to pull out my more modern retelling of Antigone by Jean Anouilh.
Listening to Call the Midwife: A True Story of the East End in the 1950s by Jennifer Worth.. Two minutes after I downloaded the audio I discovered I had previously purchased a digital copy for my Kindle. Guess I really wanted to read this!! I'm also indulging my guilty pleasure of shapeshifters by reading Cowboy Wolf Trouble by Kait Ballenger. Worth the cover alone.....sigh.
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Here is my 4.84 rounded to 5 stars review of Desperation in Death
by J.D. Robb:My review
This is the fifty-fifth book in the In Death Eve Dallas series and I have read all of them up to this point. J. D. Robb (pseudonym for Nora Roberts) brings murder, suspense, and anguish to a well-written futuristic police procedural set in New York City during the spring of 2061. Overall, this novel was heartwrenching as well as darker and grittier than usual.
Here is my 3.69 rounded to 4 stars review of Rules of Engagement
by Stacey Abrams writing as Selena Montgomery.My Review
This romantic suspense / spy thriller is creative and complex, and it will keep readers guessing. High stakes and an all-too-real situation kept me engaged throughout the story. The final chapter takes place four months later and wraps up the loose ends. However, it felt tacked on rather than a smooth continuation of the story.
Heather L wrote: "Karen M— Apparently we both have cowboys on the brain this weekend. I’m reading Cowboy After Dark today. "Yup! LOL
Now I'm reading The Recipe for Hope by Fiona Valpy which I won from GR. No cowboys on the cover.
Here is my 4.16 rounded to 4 stars review of The Winter Orphans
by Kristin Beck.My Review
This historical fiction novel is largely set in southern France between August 1942 and November 1943. Overall, this was an engaging and emotional story of hope, fear, and bravery in the face in adversity.
I finished Murder on Waverly Place by Victoria Thompson 4 stars our 5. One of my favorite historical mystery series. All of our favorite characters are back. This book is focus on murder at a séance. Lots of good discussion around spiritualist around the turn of 1900s, and how they used to dupe their clients. Very good detail. I enjoyed it very much.
My readathon weekend reviews:
Sienna by Annie Seatonhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Of Darkness and Light by Heidi Eljarbohttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Promise of Home by Nicola Marshhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Proxy Bride by Zoe Boccabellahttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 4.21 rounded to 4 stars review of The Shadow Murders
by Jussi Adler-Olsen.My Review
This police procedural is set in Copenhagen, Denmark and features the cold case division Department Q. Great characterization and a deeply involved plot kept me engaged throughout.
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Listening to The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood and reading an ebook, A Tidy Ending by Joanna Cannon. Just published August 2, 2022.
Here is my 4.16 rounded to 4 stars review of Winter's End
by Paige Shelton.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is the fourth book in the Alaska Wild series. It combines traditional police detective work and amateur sleuthing in a mystery with atmosphere and heart. Overall, this enjoyable mystery was engaging, suspenseful, intriguing, and compulsively readable.
My 3.21 rounded to 3 stars review of The Witch and the Tsar
by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore: My Review
The author weaves a story of light versus darkness that highlights Russian history, mythology, and folktales. The country seemed to come to life in this descriptive tale that has excellent world-building. However, the pacing was slow at times. The narrative is rather straightforward and the plot didn’t have the twists and turns that I expected. However, the historical references to actual people and events added a significant layer of interest to the plot.
Here is my 3.86 rounded to 4 stars review of Mother Daughter Traitor Spy
by Susan Elia MacNeal.My Review
This standalone historical fiction spy novel is inspired by real people and events. Based on a real mother-daughter spy duo, Veronica and Violet are well-developed characters. They seem to be somewhat naïve, but definitely feel a duty to protect democracy and do what is right for the country. Overall, this story is inspiring, well-written, and well-researched and it is a story that will stay with me.
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* Antigone by Sophocles — for the classics group, finishes the Theban Cycle, which were rereads for me. This was a fairly quick read, under two hours.
* Where Books Fall Open by Bascove — For the September mini challenge. Collection of poems, essays and excerpts on reading/writing/books.
* The Art of Work by Jeff Goins — A rare nonfiction pick. This was a Little Free Library find and crossed off another PopSugar prompt (a book I knew nothing about). Only four prompts left! 😃
Well done Heather!! Take a breath now ;)
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Not much reading tonight, though, as I was watching part two of the new Ken Burns’ documentary, “The US and the Holocaust.” It’s been frightfully eye-opening. One of the things learned tonight is that Charles Lindbergh was not the upstanding hero most history books make him out to be. Conclusion is Wednesday night.
Heather L wrote: "Thanks, Brenda! I had a bit of a Roku binge last night, and have now started another book. I was going to go with a cozy, then switched to another non-mystery on this month’s TBR list when I realiz..."Glad you're having varied and interesting evenings Heather!
I read this over a year ago on my kindle and liked it so much that I ordered the physical version The Haunting of Coyote Island
by Alexandria Clarke
My review for
Snowflakes and Secrets in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcrofthttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 3.52 star rounded to 4 stars review of Hell's March
by Taylor Anderson:My Review
This is the second book in the Artillerymen series. It's a mash-up of an alternative earth science fiction historical military thriller. (1847, monstrous animals, Yucatan Peninsula, human sacrifices, war) The author brings amazing world-building and characterization to this action-packed novel.
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Cozy Mysteries
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