Reading Challenge/Goals for 2024

[cayennews]

#37 The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere. I enjoyed this book. The writing reminded me how Richard Paul Evans writes.

 

[bobbiwoz]

60/80
“Return” by Karen Kingsbury. 4/5

 

[cayennews]

#38 A Stranger for Christmas by Carol Lynn Pearson. An endearing Christmas story. Very enjoyable.

 

[willowsnn3]

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

38/25 - The Amish Christmas Gift Worth Waiting For by Tracy Fredrychowski. Amish girl must take care of her seven siblings after mother’s death. Meets Amish widower across the street. Finding faith and love after tragedy story with hea. Quick read.

39/25 - Cruising Claire's Dream by Linda Jo Reed. Single girl buys lake cruise ship. Deals with strained family dynamics. Falls for her newly hired captain. It was ok.

40/25 - Christmas Cake Murder by Donna Doyle. Fun cozy mystery with quirky characters. Quick read.

 

[bobbiwoz]

61/80
Rejoice by Karen Kingsbury 3.5/5

 

[mgarbowski]

Book 21 of 24 - Entrances and Exits - Michael Richards
Book 22 of 24 - The Steerswoman - Rosemary Kirstein
Book 23 of 24 - Spook Street (Slough House #4)- Mick Herron

I'm working on 24 and will finish in time.

 

[Silver saucer]

To everyone who read the books and shared your thoughts, thank you!!
I've reserved many of the books from my local library based on what I've read on here and I have enjoyed reading them.
I can't wait for the 2025 thread

 

[RangerPooh]

35/35 Deadly Sails. Blue Lake Mystery Series #2. Hadley Knox

I had mixed thoughts on book 1, but was able to get into the flow with book 2.

36/35 Jingle Bell Murder. Blue Lake Mystery Series #3. Hadley Knox

 

[MGMmjl]

34/32 - Daylight by David Baldacci

Description:
"For many long years, Atlee Pine was tormented by uncertainty after her twin sister, Mercy, was abducted at the age of six and never seen again. Now, just as Atlee is pressured to end her investigation into Mercy's disappearance, she finally gets her most promising breakthrough yet: the identity of her sister's kidnapper, Ito Vincenzo.

With time running out, Atlee and her assistant Carol Blum race to Vincenzo's last known location in Trenton, New Jersey -- and unknowingly stumble straight into John Puller's case, blowing his arrest during a drug ring investigation involving a military installation.

Stunningly, Pine and Puller's joint investigation uncovers a connection between Vincenzo's family and a breathtaking scheme that strikes at the very heart of global democracy. Peeling back the layers of deceit, lies and cover-ups, Atlee finally discovers the truth about what happened to Mercy. And that truth will shock Pine to her very core."

This is book #3 of 4 in the Atlee Pine series. The first book in the series wasn't my favorite, but the books got better as the series progressed. I really liked this one, and I look forward to reading the final entry!

 

[Wood Nymph]

43/30 - The House is on Fire - by Rachel Beanland - 4.5/5

I picked up this book from a display table at my library. It is historical fiction which is one of my favorite genres. The setting is Richmond, Virginia in 1811 when a theater caught on fire during a stage play. It tells the story from the point of view of four characters.

I really enjoyed this book. This is the author's second book, and she did such a good job that I am now reading her first book. I hope she is writing a third book.

This year has had a lot of unexpected times for reading books. I exceeded my goal and even left off a few books that I didn't count because I've read them before. I've enjoyed following this thread and reading some of the books that have been reviewed here. Thank you, willowsnn3 for maintaining it.

 

[OKW8297]

28. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem by Elizabeth Boyle a really delightful holiday read. Quite long at 600 pages but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I exceeded my goal of 25 books!

 

[Simba's Mom]

56/52-"All Tucked Inn", Rachel Hannah, 4 stars. Enjoyable, light read. A little predictable. Turns out that this is part of a series, and I'd enjoy reading more.

57/52-Briar Club, Kate Quinn. 2 stars. I had such high hopes for this-there was a very long waitlist, so I figured it must be good. I just don't know what everyone else saw-I thought it was much too wordy and half of it was unnecessary.

58/52-"Twas the Bite Before Christmas", David Rosenfelt, 3 stars. The story was sort of interesting, but what with the cover photo and the title, I really expected more 'cute doggie' happenings.

 

[mgarbowski]

Book 24 of 24 - Abaddon's Gate - James S.A. Corey

A couple of months ago I was sure I'd exceed the target but this one took longer than I thought. Still good though.
Happy New Year!

 

[willowsnn3]

Just barely made my goal this year. These 3 were all good but I think I liked the Lone Women best. Little bit different.

48/50 Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks
Disaster, Melanie Barrick was once told, is always closer than you know. It was a lesson she learned the hard way growing up in the constant upheaval of foster care. But now that she's survived into adulthood--with a loving husband, a steady job, and a beautiful baby boy named Alex--she thought that turmoil was behind her. Until one Monday evening when she goes to pick up Alex from childcare only to discover he's been removed by Social Services. And no one will say why. It's a terrifying scenario for any parent, but doubly so for Melanie, who knows the unintended horrors of what everyone coldly calls "the system." Her nightmare mushrooms when she arrives home to learn her house has been raided by sheriff's deputies, who have found enough cocaine to send Melanie to prison for years. The evidence against her is overwhelming, and if Melanie can't prove her innocence, she'll lose Alex forever.
49/50 Lone Women by Victor Lavalle
Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her wherever she goes. It’s locked at all times. Because when the trunk opens, people around Adelaide start to disappear. The year is 1915, and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, forcing her to flee California in a hellfire rush and make her way to Montana as a homesteader. Dragging the trunk with her at every stop, she will become one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can tame it—except that Adelaide isn’t alone.
50/50 The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
She's looking for the perfect man. He's looking for the perfect victim. Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot. Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet. Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

 

[willowsnn3]

Hey everyone, as much as I love this thread, I don't think I will be able to continue with next years thread. I have been super busy at work & at home so just need to take a break.
So if someone could take over, I would like to continue to have a place to keep up with what I am reading & everyone's choices too. So if someone starts one for 2025 please post a link.
Doesn't have to be a challenge or a goal, just a book/nook kinda thing would work also.
Thanks everybody!
Happy New Year!

 

[melk]

Hey everyone, as much as I love this thread, I don't think I will be able to continue with next years thread. I have been super busy at work & at home so just need to take a break.
So if someone could take over, I would like to continue to have a place to keep up with what I am reading & everyone's choices too. So if someone starts one for 2025 please post a link.
Doesn't have to be a challenge or a goal, just a book/nook kinda thing would work also.
Thanks everybody!
Happy New Year!

Thank you for keeping count and running the thread this year!

36/30 The Coast Road by Alan Murrin

It takes place in 1994 Ireland where housewives Izzy and Colette are stuck in troubled marriages since divorce is not yet legal. Their friendship that develops will lead to tragedy for one, freedom for the other.

It got kind of unnecessarily crude towards the end but overall it was a good story.

 

[Kirby]

#86 - Mirror Sight: Book 5 of the Green Rider series by Kristen Britain
Genre - Fantasy
Karigan G'ladheon is a Green Rider - a seasoned member of the royal messenger corps whose loyalty and bravery have already been tested many times. And her final, explosive magical confrontation with Mornhavon the Black should have killed her.
But rather than finding death, and peace, Karigan wakes to a darkness deeper than night. The explosion has transported her somewhere - and into a sealed stone sarcophagus - and now she must escape, somehow, before the thinning air runs out and her mysterious tomb becomes her grave.
Where is she? Does a trap, laid by Mornhavon, lie beyond her prison? And if she can escape, will she find the world beyond the same - or has the magic taken her out of reach of her friends, home and King forever...?
I've enjoyed reading this series, there are eight books total and a novelette (I believe). I haven't actually finished this book, I'm 90% through it, so I decided to go ahead and add it.

I've enjoyed sharing the books I've read with you and seeing what you are reading. Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Last book of 2024-

59/52-Descent into Darkness, 1941, A Navy Diver's Memoir. USN(Ret) Cdr Edward C Rayner, 3 1/2 stars. Parts of the book-the parts I came to read-about the 4 battleships in the attack on Pearl Harbor-were very interesting. However, there were also lots of long stories about leave time and the local women, which I had no interest in. So the rating is an average.

 

[Needsanap]

I know I haven’t logged in any books, but I’ve read 33 more.

I’m 93/25.

Thank you for keeping track.

Happy New Year!