Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge discussion

I'm game for another year of reading!! I hit 30+ in 2013. I will strive for that or better in 2014.

Glad you are back for another cozy year! You did great in 2013. Have fun!

Hello, Sleuth Extraordinaire Challenge. I've started "gunning" for you...

1. Deb Baker - Dolled Up For Murder 140104

Currently reading the second in that series

Phew... Five months to input. I really have to get better at updating in a more timely manner. (Don't hold your breath!!) Rather than one long post, however, I'll break it up...

End of Jan and Feb
2. Deb Baker - Goodbye, Dolly 140111
3. Lawrence Block - The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons 140125 ** Too long a wait for one of my favorite characters to get another full-length book. I hope more are coming -- and sooner rather than later!
4. Lawrence Block - The Burglar in the Rye 140205
5. Jennie Bentley - Fatal Fixer-Upper 140210
6. Annette Blair - Skirting the Grave 140212
7. Leslie Caine - Death by Inferior Design 140215 ** A bit convoluted, but a good start to a new-to-me series.
8. Annette Blair - Cloaked in Malice 140217
9. Annette Blair - Tulle Death Do Us Part 140217
This is the latest book in the Vintage Magic Mystery series. I have enjoyed all the books to date. Blair's characters are well drawn and believable, even the ghosts. Though there are elements that anger me (characters acting and reacting certain ways, for example), the mysteries are involving enough to keep one guessing. I love how they, as you can guess from the "vintage" part, mix the old with the new. I find the fashion trivia interesting, too. I'm looking forward to more in the series. (And... the story telling and writing in this series has made me add Blair's other works on my ever-increasing to-read list.)
10. Deb Baker - Dolly Departed 140220
11. Deb Baker - Ding-Dong Dead (apa Guise & Dolls) 140223
This was the last (to date??) in the Gretchen Birch series. It's an enjoyable series, which is set in my home town making it very easy to picture where events are taking place, etc. This book was published in 2008, but I hope more entries are coming. They're quick reads with good and quirky characters. One of the books I'm currently reading (my emergency book) is Baker's other series which features Gertie Johnson. Gertie is Gretchen's aunt by marriage on her father's side -- her mother's sister-in-law. (Gretchen's mother's sister is her main sidekick in the Doll mysteries.)

Try inputting review links for 46 reading challenges. THIS is why my three run February 2014 to February 2015 and don't contribute to the typical traffic! :-) I am sure to read over 100 this year (being at 58 thus far). Fortunately certain titles fit into certain themes, not all 100 at those 46 websites. Carolyn.

March...
I looked into my TR box (still not buying new-to-me books) and found the first three books to the Hannah Swenson series by Joanne Fluke so I started it. Between the library and my box, I've read 12 (and a novella!) in the series to date.

12. Joanne Fluke - Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder 140301
13. Joanne Fluke - Strawberry Shortcake Murder 140308
14. Joanne Fluke - Blueberry Muffin Murder 140311
15. Joanne Fluke - Lemon Meringue Pie Murder 140319
16. Joanne Fluke - Fudge Cupcake Murder 140322
17. Joanne Fluke - Sugar Cookie Murder 140323 ** Sort of between a novella and a full book. The last third of the book is a cookbook.
18. Joanne Fluke - Peach Cobbler Murder 140327
19. Joanne Fluke - Cherry Cheesecake Murder 140330

April...

20. Joanne Fluke - Key Lime Pie Murder 140405
21. Candy Cane Murder, a collection of three novellas:
* Joanne Fluke - Candy Cane Murder 140409
* Laura Levine - The Dangers of Candy Canes 140413
* Leslie Meier - candy canes of christmas past 140419
There was nothing new in Fluke's story, but serves as a nice little morsel bridging two Hannah Swensen books. Though I love Laura Levine's Jaine Austen mysteries, I would have to say this was the weakest entry of these three novellas. If you've read any of Levine's books, it's same ol' same ol', but not as good as a full book. If you haven't, don't hold this story against the series. It's usually very clever and funny. As for Meier's entry... It was the best of the three. Though I have a couple of the Lucy Stone books in my TBR boxes, I hadn't read any. This story is a prequel to the series and takes place soon after Lucy, her husband, and their toddler son moved to Maine. The mystery is a very cold case (and not just because it's Christmastime). I really enjoyed meeting Lucy and her new friends and am looking forward to reading the series.
22. Anne R. Allen - The Best Revenge 140420
23. Anne R. Allen - Ghostwriters in the Sky 140422
24. Anne R. Allen - Sherwood, Ltd. 140423
These are the Camilla Randall mysteries and have been described as " Bridget Jones meet Miss Marple." I'm not quite sure that's an apt description. Bridget Jones may have been ditsy, but she wasn't stupid and there is ABSOLUTELY NO resemblance to Miss Marple. Though there are murders in the books, Camilla doesn't really do any investigating. The action happens around her as she lives her life as a penniless socialite (can one be a former socialite?) and interacts with her loser friends. She's involved in the murders, but I can't say she really solves them. The character is pretty naive in the first book (supposedly a prequel, but it's the first I read anyway), which is fine because she's 19. However, she doesn't really change in the latter two books when she's 20+ years older. She's still the same, makes the same mistakes, etc. They were freebie mysteries (for e-book apps) and sounded fun. I was wrong. I wouldn't recommend them.
25. Cleo Coyle - French Pressed 140427
26. Mary Daheim - The Alpine Yeoman 140430 Still loving this series!!

May (start, anyway)...

27. Joanne Fluke - Carrot Cake Murder 140503
28. Joanne Fluke - Cream Puff Murder 140504
29. Joanne Fluke - Plum Pudding Murder 140507
I'm reading the Hannah Swensen series as I can get then from the library. Six more, plus a couple of novellas, to be current. I enjoy the series for the most part. Though I've read 12.5 entries, a year can span three or four stores. Other readers have mentioned fatigue with the Hannah-and-her-two (sometimes three)-men plotline. I would agree if the actual passage of time was longer than a couple of years. My knock with it is more how Hannah, who's supposed to be a strong woman, puts up with how one of the male character treats her as long as his kisses cause her knees to go weak. It's irritating. Plus, as good as the writing is, I don't get the feeling as I read that the Hannah character loves either (or any) of the men. Maybe I'll get as annoyed as other readers as I continue the series, but I'm liking it well enough to keep going.
30. Heather Blake - A Potion to Die For 140510 ** The start of a fun new series. I've read one of Blake's Wishcraft mysteries and really enjoyed it. I found this as I was searching the e-library for more in that series.
31. Lawrence Block - The Burglar on the Prowl 140511 ** Can never go wrong with Bernie!
32. Leslie Caine - False Premises 140512

I've started Deb Baker's Murder Passes the Buck, an e-book freebie and the start of the Gertie Johnson series, and am half-way through Chris Cavender's ( Tim Myers) Killer Crust. Up next I have Leslie Caine's Manor of Death and Laura Childs' Photo Finished

C. wrote: "Try inputting review links for 46 reading challenges."

OH MY!! I have enough trouble keeping up to date with my own annual list, GoodReads (for this challenge and the 2014 books-read challenge), and FictFact (to keep my series lists up to date). There is no way I'd be able to keep up 46 challenges!! More power to you!

I organize it in a way that it isn't hard and of course, the same 100+ books are distributed wherever the belong. It's fun for me to plop the right themes down in each. It's merely the review-inputting at those websites that blows chunks, if I were to leave it until December (and if they all insist running January to December). Mine run February to February and the Canadian one July to July (Canada Day of course).

I own many of Heather Blakes and look forward to trying them! My collection is entirely physical books. I own many of Laura Child's too and didn't care for the second teashop one nor the first cackleberry club (whatever that is). I have high hopes for the scrapbook one. It isn't a hobby I touch with a ten foot pole but her friend or shop neighbour is supposed to run a voodoo shop and it's supposed to be darker than a cozy, which I enjoy. If it is paranormal, I'll be gladder. Carolyn

The cackleberry club is a restaurant formed by 3/4 woman after their husbands left. The first 3 books I would rate a 5. The next I was about 1/2 done when I decided I didn't want to read it. (Don't ask me why as I don't know.)

I know that series, so well I clarify none were left by husbands. ;) See above: I said I read the first and disliked it. I merely wondered about the term "cackleberry". One was recently widowed, one's spouse is in a care home, the third kicked an unwise union to the curb.

While another friend is here, I'd like to remind pals I hate spoilers enough to write an article cautioning against it. Thinking of the Sarah Kelling series, I beg that no discussion/e-mail dampen things I say I intend to read. I shared yesterday: I lovingly collect everything I find by Canadian Charlotte MacLeod and most definitely already consider every word she utters worth reading.

Back to you Karen, regarding Laura Childs; the jury is out. Heather Blake, since both are paranormal I expect to love every bit. I was disappointed with the first ghost novel by Yasmine Galenorn but hold out hope for the rest of those. I very often pre-collect someone's entire suite (in physical copies) years before I dip into reading, so I'll definitely give second volumes a chance! It would be costly not to! LOL! I also have nearly all of Annette Blair's but am witholding those in my tendency to 'save the best for last'.

I too collect series but I read them one by one as I go. I can't read one book in a series after another because by the third book, I'm bored and it ruins the rest of the series for me. I buy my books at used book stores (or once in awhile at library sales)so I have the series to read even if the books are a little older. I can't read out of order (a little OCD, I suppose). I liked the first couple of Cackleberry Club but it's not the first book I pick up anymore. I think Leslie Meier is one series author who stands the test of time. Although I'm not really big on ghosts and other non-human characters, I've enjoyed every Galenorn book. I find the Laura Childs books interesting still but have to admit that I don't pick her books up as much as I used to. I wouldn't postpone Annette Blair - too good to wait.

I don't read series in a go. Exactly like you, I proceed in order of what I feel, with much to enjoy in between. I feel I will love the rest of the Galenorn. It's just that the cover showed a gorgeous cat but it mostly involved giving shit to two irritating kids. She went out of her way to make parental noises and as I reader I said "Yes I get it, this protagonist is a parent".

The ethereal or paranormal is very important to me, even if a story in fiction. I believe in a spirit realm wholeheartedly and like seeing it pursued. There aren't enough treatments of it for adults, or that focus on spirits and extra-sensory abilities. What we see a lot of is fabricated 'supernatural' stuff like vampires. I either read youth novels with a decent ghost story or search for adult ghost stories that aren't whimsical. Nice to hear from you, Kathryn. I have my own thread too. LOL :) Carolyn.

Kathryn wrote: "I too collect series but I read them one by one as I go. I can't read one book in a series after another because by the third book, I'm bored and it ruins the rest of the series for me." - AND - C. wrote: "I don't read series in a go. Exactly like you, I proceed in order of what I feel, with much to enjoy in between."

I, too, tend to pick up as I go. However, as Kathryn wrote: "I buy my books at used book stores (or once in awhile at library sales) so I have the series to read even if the books are a little older. I can't read out of order (a little OCD, I suppose). Before my book austerity program, I would hit the used bookstores and buy as many books in a series I could. I wouldn't start the series, however, until I had book one. Then, I read them in order (my OCD, too!!), supplementing with new if I couldn't get used. I don't care about reading them all at once, but usually wind up doing so. If I start a series I have on hand, I'll read as many of them as I have/can get to catch it up. I don't really get bored with a series reading one after another. It's like binge-watching TV. Plus, it's easier to speed-read those catch-me-up parts of the books when I've read similar passages in previous editions. When I can't get to the next in a series, I read what I have, even starting a new binge or catching up on an old one I've been able to track down until I can get back to it in order.

Like you, I find it difficult to read series out of order. With e-freebies or books from friends I usually don't have a choice, but if I decide to continue with the series after the freebie, I'll get and read them in order. I will even stop a series I'm binging if I don't have the next-in-the-series on hand---even if I have the ones that come after---rather than read ahead as long as I have something else to read. It's a sickness, I know.

My book austerity program: I used to be a compulsive (?) book buyer. Not so much a mental disorder as a lover of books. I could spend hours and dollars in a bookstore. It was worse when I started reading cozy series because, as mentioned, I'd pick up as many as I could in a series. Books started piling up as I bought and read more and more. Finally, a few years ago my company closed the local office and I was out of a job. I started hitting the library for the free wi-fi and books and cut back on buying books. I then took a look at my boxes (yes, multiple!) of TBRs and made myself stop buying (for the most part!) until I got through what I had. Between TBRs and e-freebies, supplemented with the library, I've made it six (!!!) years. [Uh-oh, don't know what that says about me and my book hoarding...] I have purchased now and then, but have spent less than $100 of my own money on books in that six years. Sadly, I still have boxes to go before I sleep, and boxes to go before I sleep.

Let me clarify, I read in order. It isn't a compulsive disorder. I pick up on information and clues that behoove a better reading experience, in order. However I don't finish a series the same year. Not even close! I bounce but when I return to a series; heck, even a standalone author, reading in order is a must.

Yes, to make this possible I pre-collect too. I see this as a money saver! I'm going to want those books, series or not, eventually and it's wise to gobble up a sale. I disagree there's anything "sad before I go to sleep" of having a fine collection. There are several by our bed and it makes me feel *accomplished* about my life's collection, causing SMILING when I sleep. :) Boxes? Girl, have you not seen my blog? Our unread library is a whole outbuilding next to the house! It's well-organized and considered my pride and joy. We don't view it as "junk" or a "problem"; it comes across as the most impressive decor of our property - next to nature itself.

If you use it, it brings joy, if you make it work with your home - I've made it my mission to stop the negativity with which pre-collecting used to be regarded. ;) If you consider that I read physical books only: sales are a must. No library and for many reasons (another blog article, LOL!) e-books will never be relevant to what I get out of books. So taking advantage of sales is the only thing that makes my way of reading feasible. Plus I read over 100 a year. At that rate, my math and my guess say it'll take 20 years to cover it. It's my own store and I certainly read from what I have, adding the right pieces as deal opportunities arise. I can't describe the THRILL of picking & choosing for 46+ reading challenges. The "home store" is the fun! Canadian, Irish, Scottish, paranormal, books older than 1990, women, word games.... Hey, nobody gives you grief if you stockpile a room full of toilet paper or food. They don't say "how many years will it take you to use all of that". :-)

Once again, I've been reading, but not posting. I've been away from the internet while clearing out and restoring items back to three rooms. (It's like packing to move without actually moving.) Leaves little time for reading, etc., but I've done okay. However, I noticed I'm getting behind in the latest (or more!) to different series I read. I've got to update my both my read and to-be-read lists. 2015 is going to be a busy year.

Okay, I left off in May. Continuing from there...
33. Chris Cavender - Killer Crust 1405xx
34. Laura Childs - Photo Finished 140622
35. Laura Childs - Bound for Murder 140706
I'm enjoying this series. I've read one more (below) and have 8 more to catch up the series. Slowly but surely...
36. Kate Carlisle - The Book Stops Here 140803
This is one of my favorite series. Looking forward to the next one. There wasn't a CozyCon this year (boo!), but at the 2013 event Ms. Carlisle mentioned that she wasn't sure the publisher would contract future editions. I hope they worked things out. I'd hate to see this series end.
37. Laura Childs - Motif for Murder 140805
38. Leslie Caine - Manor of Death 140904
39. Leslie Caine - Killed by Clutter 140905
40. Leslie Caine - Fatal Feng Shui 141121
41. Joanne Fluke - Apple Turnover Murder 141128
These are fast reads! I'm awaiting the next from the e-library. (I would have gone brick and mortar, but I had other TBRs around and turned to them instead.)
42. Laura Alden - Murder at the PTA 141208
I just started this series, reading the second one (Foul Play at the PTA) now. So far, so good. The third, Plotting at the PTA, is next on the list. I'm hoping to finish both before the end of the year. I would have liked to hit 50 books (or 52!) for the year, but I don't think I can get 10 done in the next 12 days. Maybe... but I doubt it.

I started a book this summer, Jennifer Allison's
Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator. I checked it out of the e-library and my access expired before I could finish it. I need to get back to that. Have any of you read that series? What do you think?

Deb Baker's Murder Passes the Buck (e-book freebie), the start of the Gertie Johnson series, is still my back-up book, but haven't really needed to rely on it. I'm only a couple of chapters in. Read a couple more chapters in my "car" book, Motherhood Is Murder. I'm wondering if I will ever get through those three novellas!

I found a new series by Susan McBride (Debutante Dropout series). The first three books were only $1.99 for the Nook. That's usually my price limit for e-books (because I hate paying for "air"), so I grabbed them. The series (River Road) stars Helen Evans, a modern-day Miss Marple. Unless my "hold" e-library book opens, after the PTA books I will start on Helen Evans.

This has been fun. I know I will be posting a year-end report. I'm looking forward to next year's challenge.

Well, my "hold" e-library book (Joanne Fluke's Devil's Food Cake Murder) came available and was automatically checked out to me. I found that out five days into the loan period, so I had to interrupt my reading of the PTA/Beth Kennedy series to read the e-book. Since I had to download that e-book and the rest of the Hannah Swensen series, to date, was available, I decided to get them. I intended to get them read quickly and finish out the year with the Alden books, but Christmas got in the way, darn it! ;o)

So, finishing off my 2014 list of Cozies...
43. Joanne Fluke - Devil's Food Cake Murder 141226
Before reading this book, I read Fluke's novella, Gingerbread Cookie Murder, listed as "Hannah Swensen 13.5" and whose story bridges Apple Turnover Murder and this book. I finished the other novellas as noted below.
44. Joanne Fluke - Cinnamon Roll Murder 141228
45. Gingerbread Cookie Murder 141229, a collection of three novellas:
* Joanne Fluke - Gingerbread Cookie Murder 141220
* Laura Levine - The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies 141229
I love Laura Levine's Jaine Austen books, but I am SOOOOOOOOOOO tired of Jaine's cat, Prozac. In this story, Jaine Austen visits her parents for Christmas in their Florida retirement community, where murder ensues. Jaine's mother dotes on the cat, who she calls Zoloft, as she would a grandchild. When I started this series, I found the "cat thoughts" funny. Now, they're just irritating. Jaine was still in Florida at the end of the story and I'm hoping---but not expecting---when I get back to the series she has left the cat there. I'm tired of that gimmick.
* Leslie Meier - Gingerbread Cookies and Gunshots 141229
Wherein I really liked the last novella I read by Meier (see above, Candy Canes of Christmas Past), I wasn't overly impressed with this story. If I hadn't read the earlier one, which inspired me to add Meier's books to my TBR, this would not have done it. It was fine, but not as involving as the first one.
46. Joanne Fluke - Red Velvet Cupcake Murder 141230

I was rushing to finish Joanne Fluke's Blackberry Pie Murder before midnight, but didn't get it done until after 1a (even past midnight in the PTZ. But wait, AK and HI time...). It's my first book of 2015.

Didn't hit 50 Cozies for 2014! Will work harder next year.

Happy New Year, everyone!