Reading challenge 2021

[Gramingo]

Just finished Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I loved it. Reminded me of a Jackie Collins novel but much more articulate and mature. I'm going to start another one tonight by the same author, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

 

[willowsnn3]

38/60 Crash & Burn by Lisa Gardner
Third in the Tessa Leoni series
My name is Nicky Frank. Except, most likely, it isn’t.
I’m looking for a little girl. I have to save her. Except, most likely, she doesn’t exist.
My husband claims he’ll do anything to save me. Except, most likely, he can’t.
This is my life. Except, most likely, it’s not. Now watch me crash and burn.

What can I say except that Lisa Gardner is very close to being my favorite author. Always waiting for her next release.

 

[Allison Joy]

15/15 Fragments of Light by Michéle Phoenix

Christian fiction about a women with cancer, Ceelie, and her friendship with another cancer patient, Darlene. Darlene's father ran out on her and her mother, shortly he returned to the US, after being part of the D-Day invasion in France. He didn't just walk out.... He seemingly disappeared without a trace. After years of resentment, Darlene asks Ceelie to try to find out more information on her father as a dying wish. This eventually results in Ceelie going to Normandy, France.

I was almost afraid, because this book was listed a Christian fiction. While there was a sub plot that involved relationships, it was NOT girl meets perfect guy because God is awesome. (God IS awesome, but it doesn't mean that everyone gets the perfect spouse, as many Christian fiction books seem to indicate, and I'm sick of that sub-plot.) And really the only "Christian" part was an heirloom Bible with specific verses underlined, which are quoted. And the fact that swearing is hinted at, but not written. I enjoyed this much more than I originally thought I would.


Next up -- A re-read of the entire Harry Potter series. Yes, I bought the books. I won't do any reviews for those, since I've read them twice before, and most on here would have either read them or know the basic plot. I anticipate, at the rate I've been reading, this will take me into the 2022 reading challenge.

 

[OKW8297]

Just finished Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I loved it. Reminded me of a Jackie Collins novel but much more articulate and mature. I'm going to start another one tonight by the same author, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Malibu Rising is on my TBR list. I loved The Seven Husbands

 

[Simba's Mom]

I feel like it's been a long time since I've done an update, so here goes-

#30-"The White Rose Resists by Amanda Barratt-4 stars. An interesting book of historical fiction about German college students who pretended to support the Germans during the day, but were secretly members of the resistance at night
#31-"Murder Makes Scents" by Christim Brecker-3 stars. Cozy mystery about a candle maker on Nantucket
#32-"The Cast" by Danielle Steel 3 1/2 stars-very typical Danielle Steel
#33-"The Last Flight" by Julie Clark-4 stars. My first time reading this type of psychological suspense/thriller about 2 women crossing legal lines and disguising identities
#34-"Golden Girl" by Elin Hildebrand-4 stars. The 11th book I've read by this author and I've enjoyed every one.
#35-"Why is Grandma Naked" by Ellen Rittburg. Caring for your aging parent. Interesting, some humorous parts, but unfortunately no new information.

 

[willowsnn3]

39/60 The Shadow by Melanie Raabe
'On February 11 you will kill a man called Arthur Grimm. Of your own free will. And for a good reason.'

Norah has just moved from Berlin to Vienna in order to leave her old life behind her for good when a homeless woman spits these words at her. Norah is unnerved- many years earlier, something terrible happened to her on February 11. She shrugs this off as a mere coincidence, however, until shortly afterwards she meets a man called Arthur Grimm.

Meh, just ok. Was glad when I finished.

 

[Gramingo]

Malibu Rising is on my TBR list. I loved The Seven Husbands

I am loving 7 Husbands! I could have finished it in one night but I forced my self to put it down at 3am lol. I have been milking it since. I don't want it to end

 

[RangerPooh]

22/25. A Slice of Heaven by Sherryl Woods

 

[OKW8297]

51. Henry’s Sisters by Cathy Lamb. I went from struggling with it to really liking it in the second half.

 

[mrs. magoo]

20/24 - Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro - This was a free book on audible. It was ok but I don't really think I am much of a mystery person anymore. The reading of the book was strange as well. I listen to books on my morning walk and it was more like a podcast than a book. There was music playing in strange places. I don't really have any desire to read anymore of the series unless they are free.

21/24 - Angry Housewives eating bon bons by Lorna Landvik - I picked this one up at the library book sale for a quarter. It was the story of a group of housewives who got together every month for a book club. The story began in the 60's and ended in 1998. It was an ok book. I did finish it up felt that many of the story lines had a too predictable plot and that the women are portrayed as pretty stereotypical for the time period. There are also some racial issues that are swept under the rug.

 

[bobbiwoz]

24/35 The Woman With the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff

Based on true stories of people who hid in sewers to hide from the Nazi’s in Poland during WWII. Sadie and her parents escape to the sewers where they encounter tragedy, unexpected happiness, and friendship.

While at times I found parts of this implausible, at the end of the book the author‘s note said that this was based on real accounts of people who survived by living in the sewers. That, of course, makes it all the more heartbreaking to think of people living like this. I enjoyed the plot and liked the characters and there was a surprising twist at the end.

What a story! I am so happy that I read your synopsis. It was my 49/50.

 

[mgarbowski]

12/24 "Bears Discover Fire" by Terry Bisson
13/24 "Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football" by David Winner
14/24 "The Moving Target" by Ross Macdonald

• Bears Discover Fire is a science fiction short story collection. It's generally in the more what-if and thoughtful genre of personal sci-fi rather than grand canvas space opera with heroes and villains. Very mixed bag, but worth reading.
• Rambling and intentionally disjointed history and musings on soccer in Holland. Very highly recommend if you are a fan of the game.
• The first book in the Lew Archer series of detective novels. I enjoyed it enough to try more; by reputation Macdonald improved considerably by the third of fourth novel in the series.

 

[melk]

31/35 Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

When Meredith finds out her husband stole millions from his investors she falls under suspicion and must leave her home. Her former best friend, Connie, takes her in and the two women head to Connie‘s summer home in Nantucket. Their friendship is restored but things are complicated by a handsome widower and a former boyfriend.

Typical Elin Hilderbrand novel. This is several years old but I was having trouble getting into a book and went with this because I knew it would be an easy, rather mindless read. And it was.

 

[Allison Joy]

16/15
I finished my re-read of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

On to Chamber of Secrets!

And I am already thoroughly enjoying my re-read of HP, with my very OWN hardback set. (Nerding out, over here. Don't mind me...)

 

[Wendy1985]

I know it’s only September but can someone else do 2022 please working from home has kept me busier then I thought it would

 

[willowsnn3]

I know it’s only September but can someone else do 2022 please working from home has kept me busier then I thought it would

If you get no other takers, I don't mind doing next year, but if anyone else wants to do it I would be ok with whoever. I just like to keep up with what I've read & get good recommendations from everyone.

 

[Wendy1985]

If you get no other takers, I don't mind doing next year, but if anyone else wants to do it I would be ok with whoever. I just like to keep up with what I've read & get good recommendations from everyone.

thank you

 

[OKW8297]

52. No Home lLike Nantucket by Grace Palmer meh. Formulatic. First in a series. Doubt I’ll continue.

 

[willowsnn3]

#40/60 The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens
On the eve of their Silver Anniversary, Mary Gooch is waiting for her husband Jimmy--still every inch the handsome star athlete he was in high school--to come home. As night turns to day, it becomes frighteningly clear to Mary that he is gone. Through the years, disappointment and worry have brought Mary's life to a standstill, and she has let her universe shrink to the well-worn path from the bedroom to the refrigerator. But her husband's disappearance startles her out of her inertia, and she begins a desperate search.

 

[mrs. magoo]

22/24 - The Yellow Envelope by Kim Dinan- another free book for me. I though the concept of the yellow envelope was awesome but I found Kim as the main character to be self indulged and whiny. Kim and her husband Brian quit there jobs because Kim wants to travel. They sell their home in Oregon leave their dogs with Brian's parents and then take off for South America. While in Ecuador Kim starts to become annoying she dreams of traveling alone and Brian is weighing her down. The book goes to India, Nepal, Bali and other places. The yellow envelope was money given to them by friends to hand out where they saw fit on their trip. I did not like Kim and felt bad for Brian because he was dragged along on a trip that he really did not have a desire to take.