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

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

Top Ten Books of 2022

I read 141 books in 2022 from several genres. I read mysteries, historical fiction, historical mysteries, cozies, religion, non-fiction, science and graphic novels. Most of my reading was equally split between mysteries, historical fiction and graphic novels. My top ten list has been chosen from among all of these genres. Let the countdown begin!

10.  The Fugitive Colours by Nancy Bilyeau (historical fiction)

9.  19 Yellow Moon Road by Fern Michaels (mystery)

8.  The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart (mystery)

7.  Putin's Russia by Darryl Cunningham (graphic novel)

6.  Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim (historical fiction)

5.  The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks (historical fiction)

4.  Kaikeyi by Vaishneva Patel (historical fiction)

3.  Take Your Breath Away by Linwood Barclay (suspense)

2.  Nine Lives by Peter Swanson (suspense)

And the number 1 book for 2022 is:  

1.  Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu (historical fiction)

Top Ten Books I Want in 2023

I haven't heard much about books that will be published in 2023. I checked my post from last year and noticed that I read nine of my top ten wanted books for 2022. John Grisham's The Judge's List was the book I neglected to read. I struggled with my research but below are new books coming soon from my favorite authors.

• 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

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