ANNUAL READING GOAL CHALLENGE for 2015!

Finished book #4/65 last night.

"From Notting Hill with Four Weddings . . . Actually" from Ali Mcnamara. It is book 3 of this series and like the others I enjoyed it. It is fluffy read but cute and fun.


I started "A Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins last night but am not far in.
 
Finished book 6 the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. There seems to be a lot that was cut from the film. But I liked.

Book 7: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
 
#2

Harvest by Terri Gerittsen

Medical mystery about a cardiac transplant unit in a hospital.

I really enjoyed this as most of the medical stuff was correct. It had a few twists just to keep you interested.

Next up a couple of fluff reads from Nora Roberts.
 
#1 of 24

Private Down Under by James Patterson

From Amazon - The world's most exclusive detective agency opens a new office - in Australia!

With the best detectives in the business, cutting edge technology and offices around the globe, there is no investigation company quite like Private. Now, at a glittering launch party overlooking the iconic Opera House, Private Sydney throws open its doors . . .

Craig Gisto and his newly formed team have barely raised their glasses, however, when a young Asian man, blood-soaked and bullet-ridden, staggers into the party, and what looks like a botched kidnapping turns out to be a whole lot more.

Within days the agency's caseload is full. But it is a horrific murder in the wealthy Eastern Suburbs and the desperate search for a motive that stretches the team to the limit. Stacy Friel, friend of the Deputy Commissioner of NSW Police, isn't the killer's first victim - and as the bodies mount up she's clearly not the last . . .

My thoughts - It was a very easy read and I started/finished in an afternoon. Although I typically prefer a storyline that is a bit more complicated, I liked that I could still maintain the story even with the many distractions of my little ones. It did get a little tedious at times and I wondered how smart some of the characters were for doing what they did. Even so, I would pick up other "Private" boks if I needed a quick beach read. I'll give it a 4 out of 5.
 

I have read four books out of 50 books for my goal so far this month. Next book I am going to read in Girl Online by Zoe Sugg. She has a YouTube channel called Zoella that I follow.
 
I've read 4 books of 65 so far, and I've been kind of disappointed in all 4.

1. Finding Mary Blaine-Thomas
2. Secrets Collide (Brooks)
3. Staged to Death (Smith)
4. Nightingale Way (March)

The first 3 were 3 stars, the last one was 3 1/2. However, in this last one the male hero was another CIA secret op type. I swear, those heroes are so popular, for some reason, the countryside most be over-populated with all these secret ops, CIA, spy-types running around! Why can't a couple of people with normal jobs get together? OK, rant over, and hopefully some more enjoyable books to come!
 
2/30

Finished Voyager (Outlander #3)!

These books are even better the second time around! Love them!! Love the characters, love the storyline, love the author's style of writing and humor...

Next up: Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4) and To Kill a Mockingbird (reading both simultaneously depending on my mood)
 
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Book #5 of 50: The Last Town by Blake Crouch

I enjoyed the Wayward Pines trilogy, I can’t wait for the miniseries to come on tv.

I just picked up the first book in this trilogy at the library to read soon (hopefully before Feb. is over, lol) due the DIS reviews lately on them.
 
5/25 - A Christmas Quilt by Sandra Dallas

3 out if 5 - it is a good book. I think I am just getting author burnout..
 
Goal 72

#4 Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

From the jacket:
"All her life, Sara has wondered about her birth parents. As an adopted child with two sisters who were born naturally to her parents, Sara did not have an ideal home life. The question of why she was given up for adoption has always haunted her. Finally, she is ready to take steps and to find closure. After months of research, Sara locates her birth mother only to be met with horror and rejection. Then she discovers the devastating truth: Her mother was the only victim ever to escape a killer who has been hunting women every summer for decades. Sara soon realizes the only thing worse than finding out about her father is him finding out about her."

Was just ok for me.
 
Book 7. Disney in Shadow Book 3 of the Kingdom Keepers.

Book 8 Broken by Kelly Elliott. Probably the "dirtiest" book I have ever read. I think I learned a few things :eek: if you want to read a steamy book, here you go. I her than that, mostly fluff.
 
#1 of 40
Don’t Tell by Karen Rose

It was a desperate plan. But Mary Grace Winters knew the only way to save herself and her child from her abusive cop husband was to stage their own death. Now all that remains of their former life is at the bottom of a lake. Armed with a new identity in a new town, she and her son have found refuge hundreds of miles away. As Caroline Stewart, she has almost forgotten the nightmare she left behind nine years ago. She is even taking a chance on love with Max Hunter, a man with wounds of his own. But her past is about to collide with the present when her husband uncovers her trail and threatens her hard-won peace. Step by step, he's closing in on her- and everything and everyone she loves.

#2 of 40
Die Again by Tess Garritsen

When Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are summoned to a crime scene, they find a killing worthy of the most ferocious beast—right down to the claw marks on the corpse. But only the most sinister human hands could have left renowned big-game hunter and taxidermist Leon Gott gruesomely displayed like the once-proud animals whose heads adorn his walls. Did Gott unwittingly awaken a predator more dangerous than any he’s ever hunted?
Maura fears that this isn’t the killer’s first slaughter, and that it won’t be the last. After linking the crime to a series of unsolved homicides in wilderness areas across the country, she wonders if the answers might actually be found in a remote corner of Africa

#3 of 40
Murder in the Magic Kingdom by Annie Salisbury

Who's Killing Cast Members at Walt Disney World?

When Imagineering apprentice Tommy Boyd is found face-down in the waters of the Jungle Cruise, the evidence points to mild-mannered Josh, a Cast Member in Fantasyland. But Josh didn't do it.
With Disney security closing in, Josh must unravel the devilish (and very Disneyish) riddles left by the murderer as clues.
The trail leads Josh from the Jungle Cruise and the Haunted Mansion to the other Disney World theme parks, both backstage and on the rides themselves, and then to a thrilling climax at Fantasmic!, where Josh and the murderer face their final battle high atop Mickey's island.
Written by a former Disney World VIP Tour Guide, Murder in the Magic Kingdom is brimming with backstage action, Disney trivia, and plenty of foul play.

#4 of 40
Burn by James Patterson

Detective Michael Bennett finally returns to New York City--and to the most unsettling, horrific case of his career.
At last, Detective Michael Bennett and his family are coming home to New York City. Thanks to Bennett, the ruthless crime lord whose vengeful mission forced the Bennett family into hiding has been brought down for good.
Back in the city that never sleeps, Bennett takes over a chaotic Outreach Squad in Harlem, where he receives an unusual call: a man claims to have seen a group of well-dressed men holding a bizarre party in a condemend building. With no clear crime or evidence, Bennett dismisses the report. But when a charred body is found in that very same building, he is forced to take the demented caller seriously--and is drawn into an underground criminal world of terrifying depravity.

#4 ½ of 40
Rhymes with Prey by Deavers/Sandford

In this short story from the thrilling anthology FaceOff, bestselling authors Jeffery Deaver and John Sandford—along with their popular series characters Lincoln Rhyme and Lucas Davenport—team up for the first time ever.

The last time Lucas Davenport traveled from his home in Minnesota to New York City, it was to help his friend, NYPD detective Lily Rothenburg, catch a serial killer who was terrorizing the streets of Manhattan. So it’s no surprise that Lily would ask him back to consult on another difficult case—this time, one she can’t trust to her fellow NYC cops. Teaming up with New York’s finest forensic mind, the irascible and brilliant Lincoln Rhyme, and Lincoln’s partner Amelia Sachs, they set out to investigate the deaths of four young women, all illegal Mexicans, all of whom seem to be connected to the drug trade. The problem is: the killings may not be cartel hits—they may be carried out by corrupt cops looking to get information, and then silence the source.
64 pages

#5 of 40
The Ride Delegate by Annie Salisbury

The rich and famous experience Disney World differently from the rest of us: they're escorted by VIP Tour Guides, elite Cast Members who truly do hold the keys to the kingdom. Annie Salisbury was one of these Cast Members, in charge of making the very best magic for those who could afford it.
In The Ride Delegate, her memoir of life as a Disney World VIP tour guide, Annie shares some of her most memorable experiences:
> The Middle Eastern royal family who needed a room at the Contemporary where all thirty-seven of them could pray, right now
>The wealthy woman who used cancer as an excuse for why her family should be able to ride It's a Small World until they were ready to get off
>The mysterious VIP (dubbed "Dr. No" by Annie) who arrived for his afternoon tour in a private plane at a private airport in the swamp
>The famous football player who didn't understand why he couldn't ride Universal's Incredible Hulk Coaster at EPCOT
Plus, you'll learn about the perks and privileges of being a VIP Tour Guide, from corn dogs to illicit cash, and the lengths to which Disney will go to keep its VIP guests happy. Come get a taste of what Disney World is like for those with deep pockets—and personalities to match—and meet the eccentric, outrageous guests who turned Annie's dream job into a reality show.

#6 of 40
Invisible by James Patterson

Everyone thinks Emmy Dockery is crazy. Obsessed with finding the link between hundreds of unsolved cases, Emmy has taken leave from her job as an FBI researcher. Now all she has are the newspaper clippings that wallpaper her bedroom, and her recurring nightmares of an all-consuming fire.

Not even Emmy's ex-boyfriend, field agent Harrison "Books" Bookman, will believe her that hundreds of kidnappings, rapes, and murders are all connected. That is, until Emmy finds a piece of evidence he can't afford to ignore. More murders are reported by the day--and they're all inexplicable. No motives, no murder weapons, no suspects. Could one person really be responsible for these unthinkable crimes?

#7 of 40
Murder on the Whiskey George by JJ Brinks

Murder on the Whiskey George is the story of the aftermath of a brother's brutal murder; of the unlikely alliance of two men; of a woman unknowingly caught in the cross hairs of a chance encounter; of family hatred turned deadly; of a corrupt and controlling father who would see his own son dead for a daughter's life and the protection of his criminal enterprise.

The sugar-white sands of Florida's Panhandle turn crimson as New York attorney Cage Royce is trapped in a manhunt where twisted truths and shattered innocence are the currency of survival.
 
Finished #5 - The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

I really enjoyed the Rosie Project so I was excited to read this sequel. I was disappointed. I found this one annoying & tedious. I did not like Rosie in this story at all or the over the top hijinks that Don gets caught up in.

Don Tillman and Rosie Jarman are back. The Wife Project is complete, and Don and Rosie are happily married and living in New York. But they’re about to face a new challenge because— surprise!—Rosie is pregnant.
Don sets about learning the protocols of becoming a father, but his unusual research style gets him into trouble with the law. Fortunately his best friend Gene is on hand to offer advice: he’s left Claudia and moved in with Don and Rosie.
As Don tries to schedule time for pregnancy research, getting Gene and Claudia to reconcile, servicing the industrial refrigeration unit that occupies half his apartment, helping Dave the Baseball Fan save his business, and staying on the right side of Lydia the social worker, he almost misses the biggest problem of all: he might lose Rosie when she needs him the most.


Next book: Necessary Lies
 
Book #6 of 50: Hold on My Heart by Tracy Brogan

From Goodreads:
Chicago event planner Libby Hamilton can turn any bland setting into a dramatic venue – but when she abruptly loses her job, and her fair-weather boyfriend moves to another state, Libby suddenly finds herself back in the tiny town she grew up in. Worse than that, her father wants help transforming an old schoolhouse into a vintage ice cream parlor and Libby must trade in her power suits for power tools.

Widowed restoration specialist Tom Murphy can rebuild just about anything – except the shattered relationship he shares with his teenaged daughter. Hired by Libby’s father, Tom isn’t interested in sharing the details of his personal life with beautiful, spunky Libby. He just wants to get the job done. But she is tenacious – and sexy – and it doesn’t take long before she breaks down his walls, builds up his hope, and gets a hold on his heart that won’t let go.
 
book #5/65

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.

I don't read a lot of thrillers but I couldn't put this down.
 
I finished book 6 last night, The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory. From Goodreads:

Regarded as yet another threat to the volatile King Henry VII's claim to the throne, Margaret Pole, cousin to Elizabeth of York (known as the White Princess) and daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, is married off to a steady and kind Lancaster supporter Sir Richard Pole. For his loyalty, Sir Richard is entrusted with the governorship of Wales, but Margaret's contented daily life is changed forever with the arrival of Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon. Margaret soon becomes a trusted advisor and friend to the honeymooning couple, hiding her own royal connections in service to the Tudors.

After the sudden death of Prince Arthur, Katherine leaves for London a widow, and fulfills her deathbed promise to her husband by marrying his brother, Henry VIII. Margaret's world is turned upside down by the surprising summons to court, where she becomes the chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. But this charmed life of the wealthiest and holiest; woman in England lasts only until the rise of Anne Boleyn, and the dramatic deterioration of the Tudor court. Margaret has to choose whether her allegiance is to the increasingly tyrannical king, or to her beloved queen; to the religion she loves or the theology which serves the new masters. Caught between the old world and the new, Margaret Pole has to find her own way as she carries the knowledge of an old curse on all the Tudors.
 
book #5/65

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.

I don't read a lot of thrillers but I couldn't put this down.

Can't wait. I just got notified from my library that this is ready. Need to finish Stephen King's Revival though.
 
3 of 25

Missing you by Harlan Coban
It's a profile, like all the others on the online dating site. But as NYPD Detective Kat Donovan focuses on the accompanying picture, she feels her whole world explode, as emotions she’s ignored for decades come crashing down on her. Staring back at her is her ex-fiancé Jeff, the man who shattered her heart—and who she hasn’t seen in 18 years.

Kat feels a spark, wondering if this might be the moment when past tragedies recede and a new world opens up to her. But when she reaches out to the man in the profile, her reawakened hope quickly darkens into suspicion and then terror as an unspeakable conspiracy comes to light, in which monsters prey upon the most vulnerable.

As the body count mounts and Kat's hope for a second chance with Jeff grows more and more elusive, she is consumed by an investigation that challenges her feelings about everyone she ever loved—her former fiancé, her mother, and even her father, whose cruel murder so long ago has never been fully explained. With lives on the line, including her own, Kat must venture deeper into the darkness than she ever has before, and discover if she has the strength to survive what she finds there.

This book was great, a little bit slow to start but in the end I loved how it all came out. This might inspire me to start reading more mysteries again.

Next: ? Waiting on three books from the library all of which I'm #1 for on the hold list
 

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