2010 Cozy Mysteries Challenge – COMPLETE

Hosted By: Kris
April 1, 2010 – September 30, 2010

I loved this challenge! I could keep going on forever with this challenge but need to focus on so many others that I had to finish it off at 6 mysteries. I look forward to this challenge next year and hopefully up the ante to 12 mysteries.

MY LIST:

1. 3rd Degree by James Patterson
2. 4th of July by James Patterson
3. 5th Horseman by James Patterson
4. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
5. To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
6. Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

REVIEW: Immortal in Death

Title: Immortal in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Finished: June 4, 2010
Pages: 312
Published: 1996
Format: paperback

I have been waiting to get back into reading the In Death series and after this latest adventure I can’t wait to get to the next book. It is fast growing to become one of my favorite series ever.

In this new mystery, Eve finds herself arresting her friend in connection with murder. The problem is everyone seems to have an alibi or memory loss – which leaves Eve relying on instincts to find out who’s causing all the problems.

Everything either revolves around one of two things for Eve – her upcoming wedding or a new drug called Immortal. And Eve’s not the only one searching, when she is teamed with a new partner and another detective from the illegals department who can’t wait to get his captain’s badge.

As if Eve doesn’t have enough going on with models and informants getting killed, her dreams become reality as she remembers her childhood trauma – risking not only her career but her future with Roarke.

I loved this book. I can’t wait to get to the next one.

*challenges: 1010 category challenge, ryob challenge, 100+ challenge, in death challenge, spring reading thing, cozy mysteries challenge, june 12×12 challenge

It’s Monday. What are you reading?

Bookjourney over at One Persons Journey through a world of books is now hosting this event.

It’s been awhile since I joined in on this weekly meme, I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to do much extra blogging. Instead of trying to play catch up, I’ll just start with this past week. The Spring Reading Thing Challenge is fast approaching deadline and I have a lot of books to finish before June 20th. Here’s to hoping I can accomplish that.

Read Last Week

1. Rich Again by Anna Maxted
2. Innocent in Death by J.D. Robb
3. Sign of the Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene
4. Clue of the Broken Locket by Carolyn Keene

Reading This Week

1. Alex Cross’s Trial by James Patterson
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
3. Sail by James Patterson
4. F is for Fugative by Sue Grafton
5. A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly

REVIEW: Rich Again

Title: Rich Again
Author: Anna Maxted
Finished: May 31, 2010
Pages: 462
Published: 2010
Format: first edition

For awhile I couldn’t remember what it was about this book that intrigued me when I requested it as an Early Reviewer. It took me a long time to finally get into the story and often it got set aside for other books until I just forced myself to read it on a vacation.

Rich Again tells the story of a wealthy family, focusing mainly on the lives of the two daughters. Once I got further in, it became very interesting seeing the twisted lives of this wealthy family.

Every topic you could imagine seems to be covered in this sordid tale of love, hatred, betrayal, and eventual happiness. The secrets this family keeps from each other from day cause consequences they could have never predicted. One daughter is nearly caught in an incestuous relationship only to find the truth out just in time. They are so focused on survival of the fittest that they don’t even realize all their downfall is brought on by an unlikely suspect who only reveals itself to them in the final moments.

Maxted’s writing is creative, in depth, intense and relational. After the first cliffhanger, it was nearly impossible to set the book aside until I started getting answers and solving the mystery myself.

Turns out, I shouldn’t have waited so long to find out what Rich Again was all about.

*challenges: countdown challenge, monthly mixer mele, 1010 category challenge, new author challenge, awesome author challenge, ryob challenge, twentyten challenge, 100+ challenge, pub challenge, spring reading thing, may 12×12 challenge

June 12 by 12 Reading Challenge

Hosted By: Misfit Salon
June 1 – June 30, 2010

The rules are whatever you want to make of them, but here are the guidelines the creator of NaJuReMoNoMo goes by:

1. Must Be A Novel. Works of fiction only, please. Memoirs, non-fiction, how-to books, and Garfield collections don’t count.

2. Memoirs Aren’t Novels. No matter how made up the story, anything ostensibly true isn’t a novel. Also known as The James Frey Rule.

3. Start and Finish a new novel in June

4. Re-reading Doesn’t Count. Try something new. Read something by your favorite author or try an entirely new author or tackle that novel you have always wanted to read.

5. Have Fun. Nobody is grading you or paying you or judging you. Read what you like and like what you read.

I am enjoying these challenges very much, they help keep track of my reading, on track, and also gives a sense of accomplishment when you get to complete a challenge each month. I’m continuing with Lucky Number 7 and keep that as a goal for this month as well. I have a lot to read so I anticipate being able to get that easily.

My List:

1. Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
2. Sign of the Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene
3. Clue of the Broken Locket by Carolyn Keene
4. Alex Cross’s Trial by James Patterson
5. Sail by James Patterson
6. F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton
7. Thank You For Smoking by Christopher Buckley
8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
9. Everything Counts by Gary Ryan Blair
10. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
11. A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly