Blood Oath 1 Through 4

Blood Oath is a  5 part Comixology Original by Rob Hart and Alex Segura. I have read installments 1 through 4. Installment 5 will be released soon. The story takes place during Prohibition with Hazel Crenshaw tending to her Staten Island farm, caring for her younger sister and running her business. Her business becomes tangled up with the New York gangs that will eventually coalesce into the mafia. With the farm not doing as well as Hazel hoped, she helps bootleggers by letting them store their alcohol on her farm. When the Crenshaw farm is attacked, Hazel has to defend her home but realizes that her flirtation with the gangs also put her and her family in danger.  

Blood Oath blends bootlegging and vampires into a horror story that entertains. While it is a horror story, it is also a family story as both Hazel and the vampires act in their respective family interests. A fun read, I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Sunburn

Sunburn is Andi Watson's fourth graphic novel. Sunburn is a sweet, clean fiction story about 16 year old Rachel. Rachel is happy to have found a summer job at a butcher's shop where she will be mopping the floor and performing other mundane tasks. At the last minute her mother receives a phone call from her best friend Diane with an invitation for Rachel to spend the summer in Greece with her. Of course, Rachel decides to give up that summer job and take a free trip to Greece.

Rachel hasn't seen Diane and her husband Peter since she was a baby. However, she assimilated into the Greek culture swiftly and even made a friend. Benjamin is attracted to Rachel and she feels the same way about him. They spend most of their days and nights together getting to know one another. 

Sunburn has no foul language, violence or sex so it is appropriate for kids. The adults do alot of drinking and party every night. Rachel and Ben tag along with them. There is a mystery concerning why Diane invites a young person every summer to her home and Benjamin has something to do with it. I couldn't figure it out though. The story is illustrated in the blues and whites that you see in Greece which made the story more attractive to the reader.

This is a lovely story. 5 out of 5 stars.

Happy New Year!

 

2023 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

I have been debating for awhile whether I should join this challenge and have finally decided to give it a try. It is hosted by the Escape with Dollycas Blog. The Rules are simple. 

• 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

I will be linking my blog post reviews on the challenge Facebook page. The group name is "Alphabet Soup 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

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