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

2023 What's in a Name Reading Challenge

The 2023 What's in a Name Reading Challenge (WIAN) will once again be hosted by Andrea at the Carolina Book Nook Blog.  This is an easy and fast challenge to complete as there are only 6 books that you need to read. 

The Rules:

    1)    The challenge runs from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.

    2)    Read a book in any format (hard copy, ebook, audio) with a title that fits into each category.

    3)    Don’t use the same book for more than one category.

    4)    You can choose your books as you go or make a list ahead of time.

You can sign up using at the WIAN challenge page/post and use the challenge badge on your post. The categories below are also links to each category sign up link.  Add your book review for each category so we can see what you’ve read and discover ideas as needed.

Choose 6 books with titles that contain:

• Punctuation
• 7 Deadly Sins
• You or Me
• Chess Piece
• Celebration
• Q, X, Z

Beatrix Rose Vigilante

Beatrix Rose Vigilante is a 5 part Comixology Original written by Stephanie Phillips and it is fantastic. Beatrix Rose was working for British intelligence when her team turned on her and killer her husband and kidnapped her daughter. Beatrix went underground for awhile but resurfaced in Hong Kong. She became trapped by the Triad in Hong Kong and is forced to work for them. Her job is to protect them as there is another killer, called Yaomo or Demon, who has targeted the Triad's bosses.  Beatrix sets out to find Demon and kill him. 

The comic is a fun read with no sex or foul language, if that bothers you. Lots of killing, though but that didn't stop me from enjoying the comic.  5 out of 5 stars.

Hotell

Hotell is a graphic novel about an off the beaten track hotel. If you drive down Route 66 in the middle of the night and you are desperate for shelter, sanctuary or secrecy, you will see its battered sign on the side of the road. The Pierrot Courts Hotel is where the tormented made their last stand as well as the demons that haunt them. It's where customers check in but few check out. 

Some of the characters include Jack Lynch, the hotel check-in clerk, who gives his customers more than enough evidence that he is much more than a strange man. The first customer is a pregnant woman named Alice who is running away from a physically abusive boyfriend. Alice is the reason why I found this horror story compelling. As she sleeps in her room, she has nightmares about the boyfriend which is understandable. She also has dreams about her unborn child who comforts her as much as she comforts him. Hearing noises from an adjoining room, Alice knocks on the door and meets a man intent on killing his wife, but she does not know that. Going back to her room Alice tries to convince herself to leave the hotel but she is just too tired and needs another night's sleep. The story then moves on to the tenant next door. Several more storylines concerning other tenants follow and all are gripping.

While I am not a horror or noir fan, Hotell had me captivated. I couldn't put it down and though it is only 96 pages in length, I felt like I had read a full length novel. 5 out of 5 stars.