- By December 31, 2023 our bowls must be filled with one book (title) for each letter of the Alphabet.
- Each letter should begin the book title--except for those pesky Q, X, and Z letters. For those 3 letters the word that begins with the challenge letter may appear anywhere in the title
- Each letter = one spoonful.
- You can sign up any time.
- The challenge runs the 2023 calendar year
- Reviews do not have to be posted
- Books can come from any genre
- Children's books and novellas are OK but they must be over 50 pages
- Crossovers are OK
- You can drop the "A" and "The" in the title if the first main word is the letter you are counting
Book reviews of mysteries, historical fiction and graphic novels with a smattering of non-fiction books.
Friday, December 30, 2022
2023 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge
My Life in Books
Here is another great book title meme. This one is from Booker Talk blog. Just pick a title from the books you read in 2022:
Links in the titles below will take you to my reviews where they exist.
In high school I was: Among the Innocent by Mary Alford
People might be surprised by: The Sugarcreek Surprise by Wanda Brunstetter
I will never be: The American Adventuress by C. W. Gortner
My life post-lockdown was: I'm Still Alive by Roberto Saviano
My fantasy Job is: Royal Heir by P. K. Adams
At the end of a long day I need: Thanksgiving by Janet Ivanovich
I hate being: The Thorn by Beverly Lewis
I wish I had: Nine Lives by Peter Swanson
My family reunions are: Iced in Paradise by Naomi Hirahara
At a party you’d find me Double Blind by Sara Winokur
I’ve never been to Paris by Edward Rutherford
A happy day includes: The Taste of Ginger by Mansi Shah
Motto I live by: Always Never by Jordi Lifetree
On my bucket list is: London by Edward Rutherford
In my next life, I want to have: A Billion Years by Mike Rinder
Thursday, December 29, 2022
In 2022 . . .
Shellyrae at the Book'd Out blog came up with this cool meme. Complete the prompts using titles from the books you have read in 2022
2022 was the year of: Fear Thy Neighbor by Fern Michaels (don't ask why)
In 2022 I wanted to be: In a Kingdom by the Sea by Sara McDonald
In 2022 I was: The American Adventuress by C. W. Gortner
In 2022 I gained: Nine Lives by Peter Swanson
In 2022 I lost: Trust by Sharon Mitchell
In 2022 I loved: The Orange Lilies by Nathan Dylan Goodwin
In 2022 I hated: that Royal Heir by P. K. Adams
In 2022 I learned: My Wife is Missing by D. J. Palmer
In 2022 I was surprised by: The Sugarcreek Surprise by Wanda Brunstetter
In 2022 I went to: London by Edward Rutherford
In 2022 I missed out on: A Billion Years by Mike Rinder
In 2022 my family were: Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim
In 2023 I hope (for a): The Perfect Home by Kevin Lynch
Monday, December 26, 2022
Top Ten Books of 2022
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Top Ten Books I Want in 2023
- The Last Masterpiece by Laura Morelli, June 6, 2023 publication date
- Honey Drop Dead by Laura Childs, August 8, 2023 publication date
- The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey, July 11, 2023 publication date
- Terror in Topaz by A. M Stuart, publication date not set (final installment of the Harriet Gordon Mysteries)
- The Secrets We Keep by S. D. Sykes, publication date not set
- Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See, June 6, 2023 publication date
- Lion by Conn Iggulden, February 2, 2023 publication date
- The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang, February 21, 2023 publication date
- The Perfumist of Paris by Alka Joshi, March 28, 2023 publication date
- The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson, March 7, 2023 publication date
Friday, December 23, 2022
Top Ten Book Covers of 2022
book design artist is Will Staehle
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Top Ten New Authors of 2022
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Wrap-Up of the 2022 Color Coded Reading Challenge
I participate every year in the Color Coded Reading Challenge. It is a fun way to find new books and new authors. I must admit, though, that finding a book with "brown" in the title is impossible. I only read 9 books though. I missed finding titles with the colors brown and white in them. Here is what I read:
Monday, December 19, 2022
Wrap-Up of the 2022 Cruisin' Through the Cozies Challenge
A year ago I signed up to participate in the Cruisin' Through the Cozies Challenge by reading 10 books. I am happy to say that I was able to meet the challenge with 15 books. I read the following:
Honey Roasted by Cleo Coyle
Bitter Roots by Ellen Crosby
Easter Bonnet Murder by Leslie Meier
Evil in Emerald by A. S. Stuart
The Sugarcreek Surprise by Wanda Brunstetter
A Catered St. Patrick's Day by Isis Crawford
Lock Up Honesty by Anna Castle
Mother's Day Murder by Leslie Meier
Father's Day Murder by Leslie Meier
Star Spangled Murder by Leslie Meier
Blue Murder by Emma Jameson
A Dark and Stormy Tea by Laura Childs
The Apple Creek Announcement by Wanda Brunstetter
Iced in Paradise by Naomi Hirahara
Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich
Favorite Book: Evil in Emerald
2nd Favorite Book: Honey Roasted
Least Favorite Book: Thanksgiving
Wrap-Up of the 2022 What's in a Name Challenge
This year's installment of the long-running What's in a Name Challenge required participants to find books with the following in the title:
- A compound word
- Speed
- A Person and their description
- A mythical being
- A season
- A color
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Wrap-Up of the 2022 New Release Reading Challenge
I agreed to read between 1 and 30 books for this challenge and finished the year with 48 books. There were only 5 that I didn't care for so this was a very successful challenge this year.
Saturday, December 17, 2022
Wrap-Up of the Graphic Novel and Manga Challenge
I pledged to read 52 graphic novels or comic books this year. However, I only read 47. A disappointment for sure since I came so close to my goal. Check out my reviews below:
Wrap-Up of the 2022 Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge
The Monthly Key Word Challenge asks participants to read at least one book per month where a key word is in the title. I fell off the wagon two months ago so I only was able to read 9 books.
Friday, December 16, 2022
Wrap-Up of the 2022 Calendar of Crime Challenge
When I signed up for this challenge a year ago, I agreed to read 12 books, one for each month of the year. The challenge was to read a mystery that took place in the given month, was published in that month or was the author's birth month. I selected books that had holidays taking place in each month. However, I got bogged down in reading and slowed down in October. I was only able to read 10 books for the challenge.
Thursday, December 15, 2022
Wrap-Up of the 2022 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
I signed up for this challenge at the Ancient History level which required that I read 25 historical novels. I met the challenge with 27 books. This is a big reduction in reading for me as in 2021 I read 50 books for the challenge. I am having problems concentrating lately but I did read some excellent books.
Wrap-Up of the 2022 Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge
When I signed up for this challenge a year ago, I agreed to read 26 -35 books. I more than met the challenge with 42 books! Many of the novels that I read were from my favorite authors such as Cleo Coyle, Ellen Crosby, Alison Stuart, James Rollins, Dan Palmer, Ruth Heald and Laura Childs. I also found some new (to me) authors: Peter Swanson and Peng Shepherd,
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Wrap-Up of the 2022 Chunkster Reading Challenge
This year's chunkster challenge did not have any reading requirements other than books needed to have 450+ pages. I read 15 books for the challenge: