Reading Challenge/Goals for 2024

[Wood Nymph]

38/30 - And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie - 5/5

This is one of her most famous stories. I had seen a movie based on this book ages ago. But I didn't remember who the murderer was or how it was done. This was another one of her books published in 1939. I had to laugh because the house is considered to be very modern. But they still used a wood burning stove.

 

[Kirby]

#73 - Welcome to the School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan
Genre - General Fiction
Maggie went to the window and opened it wide, inhaling the lovely salt air off the sea. Why had she never lived by the sea before? Why had she always looked out on housing estates and not the little white hulls of trawlers bobbing off in the distance?
It’s gloriously sunny in Cornwall as the school year starts at the little boarding school by the sea. Maggie, the newest teacher at Downey House, is determined to make her mark. She’s delighted by her new teaching job, but will it come at the expense of her relationship with her safe, dependable boyfriend Stan?
Simone is excited and nervous: she’s won a scholarship to the prestigious boarding school and wants to make her parents proud. Forced to share a room with the glossy, posh girls of Downey House, she needs to find a friend, fast.
Fliss is furious. She’s never wanted to go to boarding school and hates being sent away from her home. As Simone tries desperately to fit in, Fliss tries desperately to get out.
Over the course of one year, friendships will bloom and lives will be changed forever. Life at the Little School by the Sea is never dull…
This is a cute story, the beginning of a four book series. I enjoyed reading it but not enough to pursue the other three books.

#74 - The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
#75 - The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
#76 - An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
Genre - Historical Romance
I had been waiting for months for these stories to come available at the library. I've read the first one before a long time ago and decided I wanted to read it again and the others to see how they compared to the Netflix series. I liked the tv series of The Duke and I better than the book for Daphne's story but liked the book better than the tv series of the Viscount Who Loved Me for Anthony. I believe they are telling Benedict's story next so we shall see on An Offer From a Gentleman. One thing I did like is that Julia Quinn has written a 2nd Epilogue on the Bridgerton stories that takes you farther in the future. I found them quite entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading Collin and Penelope's story sometime in the near future.

 

[RangerPooh]

34/35 Death and Eggnog, Sugar Creek Mystery Series #5. Nova Walsh

 

[Simba's Mom]

And-
#52/52-"The Paris Housekeeper", Renee Ryan, 4 stars. Written from 3 different perspectives by 3 women as they navigate the German invasion of France during WWII.

Although I've reached my goal # of books, I'll continue reading until the end of the year.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

31/25 - Mayhem at the Mountain Resort by Cindy Bell. Two women sleuths solve the murder of resort employee. The sleuths were funny. It was an ok cozy mystery.

32/25 - The Amish Bachelor’s Bride by Pamela Desmond Wright. Widow and young daughter about to lose home. Bachelor has to raise his orphaned niece and nephew in this marriage of convenience story. I enjoyed the story.

33/25 - Bonding with the Cowboy’s Daughter by Lisa Jordan. Single girl comes home to fulfill her grandmothers last wishes to keep her store open. Reunited with old widowed friend and his cute daughter. They work together on his family’s ranch and have a hea. Enjoyed the story.

34/25 - Shielding the Innocent Target by Terri Reed. Federal employee witnesses her prosecutor bosses murder. Federal Marshall must bring her and her young son safely into witness protection program. Lots of action and suspense. Enjoyed it.

35/25 - Mochas, Mermaids and a Murder by Alyssa Helton. Another in the series I read. Legal researcher and her work colleague solve the mystery of a nail salon owners death. She still has her hands full as a single mom with a special needs son but is finally going on a date with colleague. It was ok.

36/25 - Her Surprise Amish Match by Pamela Desmond Wright. Another book in the series centered on a single opinionated sister who deals with a very conservative widower and his two teen children. His daughter helps bring them together but the relationship weathers many issues until they find their hea. Good story.

37/25 - Turkeys and Thanksgiving by Lena Clover. Mystery to solve looking for a missing turkey. I liked the setting but really didn’t care for the story, the characters or the terrible ending.

 

[MGMmjl]

31/32 - Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews

Description:
"Tilly Farriday isn’t feeling very jolly this season. Recently divorced and broke, she’s squatting in one of her rental agency’s properties until her new home is ready. The sprinkles on top of the burnt Christmas cookie that is her life? The new owner shows up early, forcing Tilly to hide in the attic to save her job…and what remains of her dignity.

George Holloway is here to sell his granduncle’s house—and to reconsider whether he and his fiancée are right for each other. Amid home repairs, George notices strange noises and missing food, but as much as he gets his rental agent on the phone, Tilly dodges every invitation to meet. He’s sure that someone’s here with him, and it’s certainly not the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, or Future.

As Tilly and George circle each other, they both wonder where their lives are headed and if, maybe, meeting each other is just the Christmas miracle they need."

This was a pretty cute Christmas short story.

 

[bobbiwoz]

53/80
I’m rereading some of Jan Karon’s Mitford series…”Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good”4/5

 

[DisneyHardin]

31/32 - Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews

Description:
"Tilly Farriday isn’t feeling very jolly this season. Recently divorced and broke, she’s squatting in one of her rental agency’s properties until her new home is ready. The sprinkles on top of the burnt Christmas cookie that is her life? The new owner shows up early, forcing Tilly to hide in the attic to save her job…and what remains of her dignity.

George Holloway is here to sell his granduncle’s house—and to reconsider whether he and his fiancée are right for each other. Amid home repairs, George notices strange noises and missing food, but as much as he gets his rental agent on the phone, Tilly dodges every invitation to meet. He’s sure that someone’s here with him, and it’s certainly not the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, or Future.

As Tilly and George circle each other, they both wonder where their lives are headed and if, maybe, meeting each other is just the Christmas miracle they need."

This was a pretty cute Christmas short story.

I love Mary Kay Andrews - thanks for the suggestion - I just downloaded it. It was free on Amazon Prime.

 

[melk]

32/30 Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

I read this on a whim after seeing it at the library. While the language can be a little confusing because of how long ago it was written, it’s a good story.

 

[Wood Nymph]

36/30 - The Invisible Hour - by Alice Hoffman - 3/5

This book was on the Staff Picks shelf at the library. I didn't know anything about the author or the story. It turned out to be mystical realism, which means that the story gets weird. The main character is Mia, who lives in current day New England area. Her experience moves into mystical stuff that my logical brain just couldn't deal with. But it is a well written book, if you like that stuff.

 

[willowsnn3]

#46/50 The House Hunt by C. M. Ewan
Your real estate agent calls. She’s running late and needs you to show a man around your home. You let him in and begin the tour. But something about him feels wrong. You ask him to leave and he refuses.
Just ok, creepy & pretty unbeliveable.

 

[bobbiwoz]

31/30 An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor

Dr. Barry Laverty begins his medical career in a small rural practice in Ballybucklebo in Northern Ireland. There he encounters quite the cast of characters beginning with Dr. Fingal O’Reilly, owner of the practice.

This was a very nice story, funny and sweet, kind of reminded me of All Creatures Great and Small. It’s the first book in a pretty long series.

I agree about the series reminding me about All Creatures Great and Small, I got hooked and enjoyed the whole series!

 

[Lumpy1106]

21/20 - Lori Gottlieb - 'Maybe You Should Talk to Someone" - 5/5
Loved this book. It's an autobiography from a therapist going to a breakup that seeks the help of another therapist. She goes into details from several of her clients' cases and how that relates to her own journey. I saw myself and several of my close family members in the characters discussed. You know how you always hear we could all use a good therapist? I believe it now. Just wonderful insight into how it all works.

 

[Kirby]

#77 - Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
Genre - Historical Romance
Secretly drawn to her best friend's brother for years, Penelope Featherington believes that she knows everything about Colin Bridgerton, until she stumbles upon his deepest secrets.
I liked this book and the Netflix show the same. I wish that Benedict's story had been told before Colin's just to keep some flow in the different adventures. It will be interesting to see how they handle some of the story line in Benedict's story that actually happened before Colin and Penelope's story.
#78 - To Sir Philip, With Love by Julia Quinn
Genre - Historical Romance
Sir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except… she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her…and more.
Did he think she was mad? Eloise Bridgerton couldn't marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking…and wondering… and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except…he wasn't. Her perfect husband wouldn't be so moody and ill-mannered, and while Phillip was certainly handsome, he was a large brute of a man, rough and rugged, and totally unlike the London gentlemen vying for her hand. But when he smiled…and when he kissed her…the rest of the world simply fell away, and she couldn't help but wonder…could this imperfect man be perfect for her?
I enjoyed this story about Eloise. I'm looking forward to seeing what Shondaland does with this one.
#79 - When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
Genre - Historical Romance

Everything was so much simpler…
When he was wicked.​

In every life there is a turning point.
A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.
After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer - the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.
But that was then…Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love…until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets…
This one had a lot of spice in it and since I always skip over those parts, the story was so much more shorter than the others. So far, I've liked this story the least. Even if I hadn't skipped over a lot of it, it would feel lacking.

 

[bobbiwoz]

54/80
Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon
Experience the joys of a small time Christmas in the beloved Medford series!
4/5

 

[willowsnn3]

#47/50 Miss Julia Hits the Road by Ann Ross
Just another fun read with Miss Julia's antics.

 

[melk]

33/30 The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

A woman gets the opportunity to see the outcomes had she made different decisions at certain points in her life.

A solid read, I enjoyed it.

 

[cayennews]

#35 The Return by Nicholas Sparks. It has been a while since I've read a Nicholas Sparks book. After I read The Best of Me, I was very turned off by his writing. That book was ridiculous. Anyway, this book was okay. Slow at the beginning but picked up towards the end.

 

[Kirby]

#80 - Mercy; Book 4 in the Atlee Pine series by David Baldaaci
Genre - Mystery
I enjoyed this four book series very much. Now on to finish the Memory Man/Amos Decker series.

#81 - The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson
Genre - General Fiction

 

[MGMmjl]

32/32 - Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson

Description:
"In this fantastical novel, Disney's Magic Kingdom suddenly becomes a bit eerie. Finn Whitman and four other teens have been hired as Disney World guides, but with an odd twist: With cutting-edge technology, they have been transformed into hologram projections capable of leading guests around the park. What begins as an exciting theme park job turns into a virtual nightmare as Finn and his pals attempt to thwart an uprising by a menacing group of Disney villains."

I have heard about the Kingdom Keepers books before, but this is the first time I have read one. I thought it was pretty good.