Top Ten Book Covers of 2022

I started a regular monthly post this year on the best book covers of the month. In the middle of the year I decided it would be fun to highlight the artist who created the cover, when the artist can be found online.  It is one of my favorite posts to write. Below are my favorite book covers from first to last.

book design artist is Lisa Marie Pompilio

Illustrators Pius Bak and Roman Titov

book design artist is Will Staehle

Top Ten New Authors of 2022

Last year I read 99 new authors. In 2022 I only read 78 new (to me) authors. Below are my favorite new authors whose future books I am looking forward to reading.

10) Erica Ferencik (suspense thriller)

9)  Katie Tallo (psychological thriller)

8)  Peng Shepherd (magical realism)

7)  Alaina Urquhart (historical mystery)

6)  Karen Brooks (historical fiction)

5)  Juhea Kim (historical fiction)

4)  Vaishneva Patel (historical fiction)

3)  Linwood Barclay (suspense)

2)  Peter Swanson (psychological suspense)

1)  Melissa Fu (historical fiction)

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:

Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dao Randel

Blue Murder by Emma Jameson

The Orange Lilies by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

Black Ice by Brad Thor

19 Yellow Moon Road by Fern Michaels

Purple Lotus by Veena Rao

Mandarin Plaid by S. J. Rozan

Evil in Emerald by A. S. Stuart

A Patchwork Past by Leslie Gould

Favorite Book: 19 Yellow Moon Road

2nd Favorite Book:  Evil in Emerald

Least Favorite Book:  Mandarin Plaid

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

I finished the challenge early in the year and read the six books by March.

The Spyglass File by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

Why Mermaids Sing by C. S. Harris

Fast Girls by Elise Hooper

Purple Lotus by Veena Rao

Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu

The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks

Favorite Book:  Peach Blossom Spring

2nd Favorite Book:  The Good Wife of Bath

Least Favorite Book: None but if I have to pick, Purple Lotus

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.

A Taste of Ginger by Mansi Shah

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu

The Easter Bonnet Murder by Leslie Meier

Evil in Emerald by A. S. Stuart

Bitter Roots by Ellen Crosby

Black Ice by Brad Thor

Threads of Hope by Leslie Gould

Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik

The Sugarcreek Surprise by Wanda Brunstetter

The Opus Dictum by Gary McAvoy

The New Girl by Ruth Heald

The Perfect Home by Kevin Lynch

Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

Honey Roasted by Cleo Coyle

Lock Up Honesty by Anna Castle

The Cleopatra Cipher by L. D. Goffigan

The Candid Life of Meena Dave by Namrata Patel

Booth by Karen Joy Fowler

Kingdom of Bones by James Rollins

Fear Thy Neighbor by Fern Michaels

Among the Innocent by Mary Alford

The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks

The Fugitive Colours by Nancy Bilyeau

Kaikeyi by Vaishneva Patel

Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim

My Wife is Missing by D. J. Palmer

One Girl Missing by Carla Kovack

Take Your Breath Away by Linwood Barclay

Her Perfect Life by Emily Shiner

The Omega Factor by Steve Berry

Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva

Rising Tiger by Brad Thor

The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes

A Dark and Stormy Tea by Laura Childs

The Applecreek Announcement by Wanda Brunstetter

Revenge by Tom Bower

Not In It To Win It by Andy Stanley

William at 40 by Robert Jobson

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson

The Nanny by Ruth Heard

A Billion Years by Mike Rinder

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

The American Adventuress by C. W. Gortner

Dust Child by Nguyen Pham Que Mai

Granite Kingdom by Eric Pope

Favorite Book:  Nine Lives

2nd Favorite Book:  Peach Blossom Spring

Least Favorite Book:  A Taste of Ginger

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:

Days of Sand by Aimee de Jongh

Roofstompers by Alex Paknadel 

.Self by Christopher Sebela

River of Sin by Kelly Williams

Memoria by Curt Pines

Policing the City by Didier Fassin

Bootblack by Mikael

Django by EFA

Olympia by Vives

Flake by Matthew Dooley

Eat the Rich by Sarah Gailey

Swine by Jesus Some

The Delicacy by James Albion

Billionaires by Darryl Cunningham

Putin's Russia by Darryl Cunningham

Night of the Ghoul by Scott Snyder

Trashed by Derf Backderf

The Realist by Asaf Hanuka

Saga #55 by Brian Vaughn

We Only Kill Each Other by Stephanie Phillips

Red Tag by Rafael Albuquerque and Rafael Scavone

The Panic by Neil Kleid

Cold Iron #1 by Andy Dingle

Chef's Kiss by Jarrett Melendez

After Lambana by Eliza Victoria

Always Never by Jordi Lifetree

Regarding the Matter of Oswald's Body by Christopher Cantwell

Welcome to St. Hell by Lewis Hancox

Amazona by Canizales

A Visit to Moscow by Rafael Grossman

Georgia O'Keefe by Marie Hereros

Ducks: 2 Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton

World Record Holders by Guy Delisle

In the Flood by Ray Fawkes

Vann Nath:  Painting the Khmer Rouge by Matteo Mastragostino

Moms by Yeong Shin Mei

Palimpsest by Lisa Wool-Rem Sjoblom

It Won't Always Be Like This by Malaka Gharib

Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte

Acting Class by Nick Drnaso

Alice Guy: First Lady of Film by Jose-Luis Bocquet

Invisible Wounds by Jess Ruliffson

I'm Still Alive by Roberto Saviano

Ballad for Sophie by Filipe Melo

Hotell by John Lees

Barnstormers by Scott Snyder

Beatrix Rose Vigilante by Stephanie Phillips

Favorite Book:  Olympia

2nd Favorite Book:  Trashed

Least Favorite Book:  After Lambana

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.

The Girl in the Painting by Renita D'Silva

The Girl in the Ground by Stacy Green

Never by Ken Follett

Island Queen by Vanessa Riley

The Thorn by Beverly Lewis

In a Kingdom by the Sea by Sara McDonald

Star Spangled Murder by Leslie Meier

Take Your Breath Away by Linwood Barclay

Her Perfect Life by Emily Shiner 

Favorite Book:  Take Your Breath Away

2nd Favorite Book:  The Girl in the Painting

Least Favorite Book:  Star Spangled Murder

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.

Double Blind by Sara Winokur

Valentine by Tom Savage

Easter Bonnet Murder by Leslie Meier

A Catered St. Patrick's Day by Isis Crawford

Mother's Day Murder by Leslie Meier

Father's Day Murder by Leslie Meier

Star Spangled Murder by Leslie Meier

Dark August by Katie Tallo

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich

Favorite Book:  The Butcher and the Wren

2nd Favorite Book:  Valentine

Least Favorite Book:  Thanksgiving

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.

Evil in Emerald by A. S. Stuart

Royal Heir by P. K. Adams

The Fugitive Colours by Nancy Bilyeau

The Girl in the Painting by Renita D'Silva

The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton

The Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dao Randel

London by Edward Rutherford

Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu

The Opus Dictum by Gary McAvoy

Island Queen by Vanessa Riley

Hotel Portofino by J. P. O'Connell

Fast Girls by Elise Hooper

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

Lock Up Honesty by Anna Castle

The Vivaldi Cipher by Gary McAvoy

In a Kingdom by the Sea by Sara McDonald

Why Mermaids Sing by C. S. Harris

Booth by Karen Joy Fowler

The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks

Kaikeyi by Vaishneva Patel

Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim

The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes

Paris by Edward Rutherford

Children of Sugarcane by Joanne Joseph

The American Adventuress by C. W. Gortner

Dust Child by Nguyen Phan Que Mai 

Granite Kingdom by Eric Pope

Favorite Book:  Peach Blossom Spring

2nd Favorite Book:  Kaikeyi

Least Favorite Book:  Hotel Portofino

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, 

Honey Roasted by Cleo Coyle

Bitter Roots by Ellen Crosby

Evil in Emerald by A. S. Stuart

The Girl in the Ground by Stacy Green

The Spyglass File by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

Double Blind by Sara Winokur

Mandarin Plaid by S. J. Rozan

The Vivaldi Cipher by Gary McAvoy

Never by Ken Follett

Valentine by Tom Savage

Trust by Sharon Mitchell

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

The Cartographers by Peng Shepard

Easter Bonnet Murder by Leslie Meier

Black Ice by Brad Thor

Girl in Ice by Erica Frenetic

The Opus Dictum by Gary McAvoy

The New Girl by Ruth Heald

The Perfect Home by Kevin Lynch

A Catered St. Patrick's Day by Isis Crawford

The Orange Lilies by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

19 Yellow Moon Road by Fern Michaels

Star Spangled Murder by Leslie Meier

Lock Up Honesty by Anna Castle

The Cleopatra Cipher by L. D. Goffigan

Kingdom of Bones by James Rollins

Among the Innocent by Mary Alford

One Girl Missing by Carla Kovach

Mother's Day Murder by Leslie Meier

Father's Day Murder by Leslie Meier

Blue Murder by Emma Jameson

My Wife is Missing by D. J. Palmer

Take Your Breath Away by Linwood Barclay

Her Perfect Life by Emily Shiner

The Omega Factor by Steve Berry

Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Dan Silva

Rising Tiger by Brad Thor

Dark August by Katie Tallo

A Dark and Stormy Tea by Laura Childs

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

The Nanny by Ruth Heald

Iced in Paradise by Naomi Harihara

Favorite Book:  Nine Lives

2nd Favorite Book:  19 Yellow Moon Road

Least Favorite Book:  Iced in Paradise

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:

Island Queen by Vanessa Riley

Fast Girls by Elise Hooper

London by Edward Rutherfod

Never by Ken Follett

Valentine by Tom Savage

The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton

The Girl in the Painting by Renita D'Silva

Kingdom of Bones by James Rollins

The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks

Kaikeyi by Vaishneva Patel

The Omega Factor by Brad Thor

Rising Tiger by Brad Thor

Salt by Mark Kurlansky

Paris by Edward Rutherford

Revenge by Tom Bowers

Favorite Book:  Kaikeyi

2nd Favorite Book:  The Good Wife of Bath

Least Favorite Book:  Salt

Wrap-Up of the 2022 Library Love Reading Challenge

When I signed up for this year's Library Love Challenge I agreed to read 24 books.  My expectations were low because I was still afraid of catching COVID-19.  I still am. However, I did find a few excellent reads.

Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu

Black Ice by Brad Thor

Girl in Ice by Erika Ferencik

Hotel Portofino by J. P. O'Connell

London by Edward Rutherford

Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

Evil in Emerald by A. S. Stuart

Fear Thy Neighbor by Fern Michaels

Kingdom of Bones by James Rollins

My Wife is Missing by D. J. Palmer

The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks

The Omega Factor by Steve Berry

Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva

Rising Tiger by Brad Thor

Star Spangled Murder by Leslie Meier

Booth by Karen Joy Fowler

Take Your Breath Away by Linwood Barclay

A Dark and Stormy Tea by Laura Childs

World Record Holders by Guy Delisle

The Woman From Valencia by Annie Perrault

William at 40 by Robert Jobson

Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Ducks by Kate Beaton

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

The Nanny by Ruth Heald

A Billion Years by Mike Rinder

Iced in Paradise by Naomi Harihara

Acting Class by Nick Drnaso

Alice Guy: First Lady of Film by Catel and Bocquet

The American Adventuress by C. W. Gortner

Favorite Book:  Peach Blossom Spring

2nd Favorite Book:  My Wife is Missing

Least Favorite Book:  Hotel Portofino