Cecil’s Comments (group member since Jan 07, 2020)

Cecil’s comments from the Chapter Adventure Reading Challenges (Formerly GXO) group.

Okay, are you ready? I skimmed my TBR list, wrote down a bunch and checked them agains this year’s words. Only had to eliminate two! Here goes:
Eye, gone, deep, island, sister, boy, house, who, welcome, box, half, still, tree, me, quiet, when, trap, wife, home, call, you, don’t, right, road, not, creek, and liar.

Also would like to suggest a few subjects for motif list:

Short Stories- A book of short stories ( or a short story for those pressed for time.)
Classics - Classic books over 50 years old (think Dracula, Dorian Grey, Jack London, etc.)
International legends or myths : Nordic tales, Japanese tales, etc.
Non- Fiction - self help, current events, scientific, etc.
True Story - history, true crime
Local - authors from your state, local past events, stories based in your state.
Creepy Critters - spooky stories involving animals or insects

That’s all for now, hope you can find some ideas here. Thanks for all you do to keep us reading!

Challenge complete (actually early in August).
Book: Stormy Weather by Carl Hiaason
While in all honesty I really wouldn’t relish a trip to Florida myself, it is a vacation destination for many. I always enjoy the wild ride this author promises, this was not a disappointment.
My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Word: Side
Book: Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver
This story, while written 16 years ago, was still a good warning on the dangers of posting online things that you would not say in person. Also the treachery of following podcasters (or bloggers, as in the story) to whatever dark or false bunny trails they lead. Just because someone has a following, that does not an expert make. And the damage created can spread far and wide. Not new news these days, but a good reminder nonetheless.

Book read: The Secret Place by Tana French
This challenge was one of the hardest to find a suitable book for, but it helped I had read this author before.
Took me awhile to get through this one, had to interrupt for a book club book, and the story writing was long on detail, so not a quick read. Still a good book, but could use some more concise wording. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Playing catch up today…
I read Rebecca by Daphne De Maurer
I have been wanting to get to this classic for some time, so fit nicely in this theme. So glad I finally got to read it, was a great novel!
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Challenge complete!
Word: Story
Book read: If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olson.
This was a tough one, knowing it was all true. Proof that some people are truly taken over by evil, whether learned or in their genes. It always amazes me how easily they can manipulate people, and find the ones that would make a good victim. Sad story, but some justice in the end. Just not as severe as it should have been, in my opinion.

Challenge complete!
Word: Child
Book: The Child by Fiona Barton
A good twist mystery, with switching perspectives keeping things moving. I have not read the first in the series, “The Widow”, but might check it out. Did not see the final twist coming, but was getting suspicious. More than one crime involved here, and it seems everyone has a secret. Good read!

Word - Lie (used Lying)
Book - The Lying Room by Nicci French

How to lose your mind in 30 days should have been the title. From bad to worse to “Holy Crap!” Poor lady could do nothing right, and if she had any luck it all, it was only the bad kind. A wild ride for sure!

Read “Table for Two” by Amor Towles
This worked out good, was able to use my book club book for this as well! Very much enjoyed this one, all of the short stories and the novella were excellently written.

Key Word: Days
Book read: Zero Days by Ruth Ware.
A wild ride that stretched belief as to human endurance, but still worth the suspense and mystery Ruth Ware is known for.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson.
It's been on my TBR list (and bookshelf) since 2015! Didn't lose any of it's quality over time, still was a twisty version of "Strangers on a Train", only this time in a airport bar and on a plane. Changing perspective was good, enjoyed the ride!

I read Harvest by Tess Gerritsen.
An all too believable horror show of the way money influences who lives and who dies when it comes down to choices, and who has control of those choices.
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Key Word: Little
Book read: Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark
A great suspense/mystery. I have never been disappointed by MCH!
My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read "The Women" by Kristin Hannah. That was definitely an emotional roller coaster, but worth the ride. I suggest anyone who still thinks women were only active in the military in the last 20 years get their eyes opened. Highly recommend.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Key Word - First
Book - Find You First by Linwood Barclay
Just finished this one last night (actually early this morning). Was an interesting adventure, wasn't sure how the two seemingly separate story lines were going to come together, but it was done very creatively. Really enjoyed Chloe, she was fearless! It did not escape my notice that the main heroes of the story were all women, even though a couple characters were definitely not! The mental picture of the wild ending was great!

Key Word: Silence
Book: The Silence by Susan Allott
A dual timeline mystery that kept me guessing, major red herrings.
My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Challenge complete!
Punctuation: Question mark (This was a tricky assignment, other than apostrophes, not too many to pick from!)
Book: Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark

An older book, but not lacking for suspense and interest. Very much enjoyed this one. Now will have to read the recent follow up before I forget the background details.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Read Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. I didn't have any particular cover in mind, so just picked one from my fantasy list, they are usually good for a pretty cover.
A fun read, here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hi all!
I have introduced myself before, but will add a bit for new challenge readers. I’m from mid-Minnesota, living in a rural area, retired and enjoying that immensely! The best part is it gives me more time to read, often later at night. I tend toward mystery, suspense, thriller, some horror (especially around fall), with some history, historical fiction, adult fiction, with some fantasy and science fiction thrown in. Some of my favorite authors are Karin Slaughter, William Kent Kruger, C.J. Box, Craig Johnson and Allen Eskens. There are many more I follow, but you get the idea. I typically read at least three books a month, including the Key Word and Motif challenges, plus at least one for my book club. I like that the book club books pull me out of my rut of staying in the same genre, everyone needs that.

My reviews will not attempt to re-write the summaries listed elsewhere, I prefer to convey what I liked or didn’t like about the writing overall. I also try very hard not to reveal spoilers or give anything else away, that’s just not fair to potential readers. I also try to be generous with my ratings, recognizing the effort that goes into writing that I lack the talent for. But if it’s really bad, I’ll say so. It’s just not necessary to be cruel to get the point across.

I am excited that recently my husband has gotten into reading more, he generally used to rely mostly on the TV for entertainment. So I’ve been having fun helping him find books that interest him, usually military history based stories. So nice to turn off the TV and just sit and read together!
Looking forward to a new year of challenges, keeps me looking beyond the next in my favorite series when picking a book to read! Thank you to Kimberly and Tanya for keeping this going for us, your efforts in creative plans are much appreciated!

Key word: Under
Book: Under the Lake by Stuart Woods.
A good mystery with a bit of paranormal thrown in. See my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...