Yalonda’s Comments (group member since Feb 11, 2020)

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

I am loving the motifs so far :-)

CHALLENGE COMPLETE: I read "Who Left That Body in the Rain?" and am just not sure what I think of this author. I read a previous book and loved it but this one ... meh. Maybe it hits too close to home as a Southern of a not-so-wealthy family. Maybe it is just so different from my normal fare. Whatever the reason, I did not enjoy as much as I could.


I am also finishing "Shall We Tell the President?" - audiobook version. It is a catchy little mystery about the plot to assassinate the 43rd President of the USA - and the Prez is a female! Can't wait to see how it turns out :-)

CHALLENGE COMPLETE. I cannot say enough about this book! I am not usually one for historical fiction but this one was incredible. Spies, powerful females, emotional attachments to the characters, deep-felt horror at the Nazis - all the feel were there with an exceptional story. Definitely recommend this one.

CHALLENGE COMPLETE! Since I couldn't get access to my chosen book for this month, I tried a new author, Heather Graham. This was a good read - a bit slow in places & I could live without the romance - but the paranormal comes through in a unique way. I am interested in the next book especially since I am almost certain things get a bit better since there are 38 books in this series and she writes under two other names. Let's go, Krewe of Hunters!

CHALLENGE COMPLETE: The last few books in this series have been leading up to the final "will Ezra make it or?" moment. I won't spoil it but I had all the feels as the conclusion was reached.

Challenge complete: I've gotten behind in posting and I read July & August out of order but I did it :-) I enjoyed this first book but am not sure how well this particular series will fit for me. From Florida to Alaska and with a huge storm coming? The weather and elements definitely played a role in this one!

Challenge complete: I've gotten behind in posting and I read July & August out of order but I did it :-) I always enjoy a Joe Pickett story and this was no exception. He is always about the animals but in this, one of the final straws that leads to the final good-evil clash is the slaughter of the town's elk herd...which they didn't really want until they were gone.

CHALLENGE COMPLETE: Went back to the Stephanie Plum series which always gives me a chuckle - poor girl! - and “Visions of Sugar Plums” by Janet Evanovich did not disappoint!

CHALLENGE COMPLETE: Picked up the Guild Codex series again & it was *so* good! Read “Dark Arts & A Daiquiri” by Annette Marie

CHALLENGE COMPLETE with the next Rivers of London book, Lies Sleeping.

CHALLENGE COMPLETE! I have been working my way through the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Book 3 - Three to Get Deadly - was a treat. It was suspenseful, laugh out loud funny in spots thanks to Lula, and had just enough romance to remind you that relationships are blooming. Looking at my TBR list, I notice several thrillers so it must be my thriller era ;-)

CHALLENGE COMPLETE! I just finished Fractured by Karin Slaughter. This is where the first season of the television show is based. It is far less dark than the first book plus we get to see the origin of the dynamic duo: Trent & Faith Mitchell. I can’t wait to read the next book & the start of season 2!

CHALLENGE COMPLETE with “Holly” by Stephen King. Awesome read! I can see why it won GoodReads 2023 "Best Horror" award. I was thrown off a bit because the antagonists are suffering from the same ailments as I am. Made me question how far I am willing to go to alleviate pain.

CHALLENGE COMPLETE: Enjoying Johnstone’s Christmas series - “A Texas Hill Country Christmas” for this month - which always include snow except this one. It was all about the rain that should be snow LOL I am working on “A Frontier Christmas” now & it has plenty of snowstorms.

CHALLENGE COMPLETE: I read a book set in Pratchett’s Discworld - absolutely fabulous! “The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents” was a Pied Piper twist that was all Pratchett. I am so sorry it has taken me so long to read it!

CHALLENGE COMPLETE: Back to a favorite for spooky month - Broken Homes (Rivers of London #4) by Ben Aaronovitch … not the best in the series but we get to see more of Nightingale’s power & Peter’s potential. Plus what the heck is up with Molly & the computer?!

CHALLENGE COMPLETE! It took a bit to find a book for this month but I read "All the Lonely People" - which I believe is actually "Eleanor Rigby" by the Beatles - written by Martin Edwards. Decent read but wanders a bit much & is too loose in flow for my taste. However, given the condition of the main character, the author did an excellent job of telling the story as if I was the main character. Definite promise so might be worth reading another in the series to see how the author grows.

Emily wrote: "I ended up reading a second book for this challenge - I started it in June but didn't finish until July. I read The Hotel Nantucket which was a fun very summer book. The cast of cha..."

This looks so good! I am adding it to my TBR list :-)

CHALLENGE COMPLETE! "Triptych" by Karin Slaughter - the first Will Trent book. This book is *vastly* different from the television show - totally unexpected. However, it was an easy and enjoyable read. Since it is so different, I must continue reading to find out what the true T is ;-)

CHALLENGE COMPLETE. It was a stretch but this one was set near the ocean and kept coming back to watery places. I grow fonder of this series with each book I read. Without spoiling it for anyone who reads later, the ending blew my mind! Got to the next book soon :-)

CHALLENGE COMPLETE! I have waited so long for the fourth and final installment in this series. It was totally worth the wait! The main character, Jennifer Strange, completes her journey which - unbeknownst to her - has been three centuries in the making. The previous three books have led to this moment and did not end anywhere close to what I expected. I cried like a baby! Although I love all of Fforde's work, I believe this series is my personal favorite.