75 Books...More or Less! discussion
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Dawn Michelle's Attempt At 75
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Dawn Michelle
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Jan 01, 2014 01:25PM
Perhaps this year will be the one where I can get back INTO reading and will hit 75!!!
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Good luck, Dawn Michelle. I hope the same for you and me both!
1. Inside Out Girl ~Tish CohenRead ~January 1 - January 3, 2014
2 Stars
^ NOT an awesome start to the new year. NOT really my cup of tea, though there were parts that were super-sweet and fantastic. Just not enough to go higher than 3 stars. Rachel was almost ALWAYS annoying, right up to the last 3 chapters and that made it a tough read. And the secondary storyline with the daughter Janie felt forced and contrived. Like the trauma of having a special needs child who lost her mother wasn't drama enough for the book. It made the book feel false and again, annoying.
Bummer :( Here's hoping the next one is better!
Thanks Stacie!!! I think the most disappointing thing about this book was that I had waited SO long to read it. I had it on my list for forever it seemed and then finally found it in a used bookstore and was SO excited. THOSE are the books that when they turn out to be "meh" that are a true disappointment in my opinion.
2. The Look of Love [Wedding Cake Mystery #2] ~Mary Jane ClarkRead ~January 3 - January 9, 2014
4 Stars
^ I LOVE this series. LOVE. IT. And there were SO many people who COULD have done it that I just never knew who to choose! And then when it was revealed, I was surprised, but not shocked. Twisted. Very, very twisted. The things people do for what they believe is "love".
3. The Friend: A Short Story [Wedding Cake Mystery 2.5] ~Mary Jane Clark
Read ~January 9, 2014 [Read in an hour]
4 Stars
^MUCH better than the first short story in this series!!! :-)
4. Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater ~Frank BruniRead ~January 3 - January 15, 2014 NF
4 Stars
^A great NF book about a man who has struggled with his weight his WHOLE life and ends up as the NY Times food critic. For anyone who has struggled with weight and their love of food in spite of that, will love this honest book. I really admire Mr. Bruni and totally enjoyed this very engaging book!
5. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches [Flavia #6] ~Alan Bradley
Read ~January 16 - January 17, 2014 [2AM!!!]
5+ Stars
^WOW! WOW! WOW!!!
I never, ever expected THAT!
WHAT an interesting twist. Pheasant Sandwiches INDEED!!!!
Looks like it's been a good year so far!And I get what you mean about "those" books... the ones you're waiting on forever, and then you finally read it and it turns out to be nothing like what you'd hoped for.
Right Charleen? SO annoying. Though, the one I am reading now is making up for that crappy first one! :-) So I feel a little better. ;-)
6. The Cat, The Mill and The Murder [Cats in Trouble #5] ~Leann SweenyRead~January 17 - January 22, 2014
4 Stars
^ LOVE this series. LOVE. This one was very sad, even when the "bad guy" is caught, there really is no happy ending for this one. Too many people hurt. Things are reconciled, but that is it. And it REALLY made me think about how I treat those around me. Excellent read.
7. Lift ~Kelly Corrigan
Read~January 20, 2014 [2 hours]NF
5+ Stars
^ What a great little book. I really enjoyed reading the "letter" to her children and her views on things and the stories she tells. WISH it had been longer. She is really gifted as a storyteller.
8. Breakfast with Buddha ~Roland Merullo
Read~January 22 - February 2, 2014
3 1/2 Stars
^ I added this book in 2008, around the same time as the first book I read this year, and while that one annoyed me to NO END, this one was redeeming. Quirky and interesting and yes, at moments tedious, it was mostly redemptive in how it makes you look at life, and what you believe and why.
9. God Said Yes ~Heather Hornback-Bland
Read~January 22 - January 28, 2014 NF
5 Stars
^WHAT an amazing book of endurance, grave and God's unfailing love. Though somewhat "whiny" at times [though never complaining. Ever.], I feel that she had the "right"to whine a little considering ALL that she has been and continues to go through. The end was the only thing that fell flat for me. I wanted to know more and was left hanging.
10. Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith ~Jon KrakauerRead~January 29, 2014 - February 9, 2014 NF
5 Stars
^There was A LOT of information to filter through in this book, yet there were parts that read like a fictional novel. Mr. Krakauer's exhaustive research yields an amazing read. And considering some of the more recent events [this was published in 2003], some of the statements made in this book by Fundamentalist Mormon Prophets [concerning Warren Jeffs and his "fall from grace"] are astonishing and thought-provoking.
Having not known how Mormonism started or really much about it in general, this was a fascinating read. From this book I have added three more books to my TBR list that the author recommends. I continue to be fascinated by this subject and just why people choose to live as a FLDS and in polygamy [most of them in abject poverty].
11. The Year of Fog ~Michelle Richmond
Read~February 2, 2014 - February 14, 2014
3 Stars
^This book dragged on and on and on and the end was VERY flat for me. UGH.
12. Dashing Through the Snow ~Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
Read~February 2, 2014 [Two hour read]
1 Stars
^Well, I will never get THOSE two hours back....
One of the WORSE reads from them ever. I was so disappointed. It was tepid and blah and I couldn't wait to be done with it. Ugh.
13. Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape ~Jenna Miscavige Hill
Read ~February 12, 2014 - February 19, 2014 NF
4 Stars
^WOW! What an amazing life [and not really in a good way] this girl has had [and because of what I have read and heard about Scientology, I do not doubt what she is saying is true]. It is amazing that she came out of that as "normal" as she did. An amazing read, one that will grip you from beginning to end. WOW!
14. The Diva Frosts a Cupcake [Domestic Diva #7] ~Krista Davis
Read~February 15, 2105 - February 20, 2014
4 Stars
15. Divergent ~Veronica Roth
Read~Feruary 21, 2014 - March 4, 2014 YA
3 Stars
^I cannot give this more than three stars. Just can't. Didn't like it well enough for that. BUT, the end [the last 5 chapters really] made it go up another 1/2 star. THAT was the best part of the book. When it really picked up for me.
I WANTED to like this book. Love it even. Ummm, no. Not even close. I think it is because I am such a fan of The Hunger Games series that I can see all the flaws and weak writing in this book. I will read the other two because of course, now I am invested. I DO hope they get better with each book.
16.Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital ~Alex Beam
Read~February 20, 2104 - March 16, 2014 NF
^This was an interesting book. There were parts where it got bogged down and lagged, but thankfully, those were few and far between. I learned a lot about how mental illness was treated a long time ago and some of how it is treated now. The Author is good at showing just how little "care" goes into treating those will mental illness these days as compared to the days of old.
McLean is an interesting place that I would love to visit, but never stay at. This was a really good read.
17. Insurgent [Divergent #2] ~Veronica Roth
Read~March 4, 2104 - March 24, 2014 YA
3 1/2 Stars
^20 days to read ONE book. Granted the book was over 400 pages, but still. I have read Harry Potter books bigger than this in WAY less time [like one day!]. Never really got interesting until Chapter 27. Then it was BAM and readreadread [200 pages in an hour] and then BAM again it was back to inane and blah. And then the last 4 - 5 chapters it picked up and the end was just enough to make you want to read the third one, which I am assuming will be just like the first two, in which we will read a BUNCH of juvenile, unnecessary dialog and THEN it will get good.
I guess that is my biggest problem with these books. They COULD be great. Seriously. The basic plot line is really good. There is strength in almost ALL of the characters, even the bad ones. It is the writing and the story and how they are all put together. Its just so....meh. You shouldn't have to wait until you are in Chapter 27 of a book for it to get good and interesting. Seriously.
I will be reading the third one. I now have a need to know what happens to these people and how they got there [which I am hoping is answered in the third book]. I am just not really looking forward to it.
18. Lost in Shanghai-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War 2 ~Mitchell Zuckoff Read~March 25, 2014 - April 6, 2014 NF/Kindle
4 Stars
^ AMAZING read. Totally captivating. Would have been done sooner but had Kindle issues.
19. Thirteen Reasons Why ~Jay Asher
Read~March 25, 2014 - March 29, 2014 YA
5+ Stars
A MUST-READ. Amazing book. Very sad. But yet, very hopeful.
20. The Magic Room: A Story about the Love We Wish for Our Daughters ~Jeffery Zaslow
Read~April 6, 2014 - April 18, 2014 NF
5 Stars
^What a lovely story -- great book about family, love and just how important the perfect wedding dress really is.
21. The Fault in Our Stars ~John Green
Read~April 6, 2014 - April 11, 2014 YA
5+ Stars
WOW!!
22. Riding the Bus with My Sister: A True Life Journey ~Rachel Simon
Read~April 17, 2014 - April 22, 2014 NF
5+ Stars
^ WOW! This was an amazing read. What a great book about family and love and just what we do for the sisters we love. A MUST-READ!!!
23. One Summer ~David Baldacci
Read~April 22, 2014 - April 26, 2014
3 Stars
^ Meh.
While the end was good, the epilogue was anticlimactic and fell flat for me. And the whole book was weird. NOT my favorite DB book by any stretch. Meh.
24. Persuasion ~Jane Austen
Read~April 22, 2014 - April 26, 2014
4 Stars
^I never expected to love this book. I love the movie but every time I would try and read this, I would either fall asleep or throw it aside in boredom. NOT this time. I read it fairly quickly and loved it. YAY!!!
25. One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Where You Are ~Ann Voskamp
Read~May 1, 2013 - April 23, 2014 NF
5+ Stars
26. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home ~Rhoda Janzen
Read~April 29, 2014 - May 6, 2014
5+ Stars
^ A book that made me both reflective AND laugh until I almost peed...WHAT a great read. Too hilarious to give a decent review of, you just must read it for yourself. Be prepared and pee first. Trust me on this one.
Dawn Michelle wrote: "One Summer ~David BaldacciRead~April 22, 2014 - April 26, 2014
3 Stars
^ Meh."
I haven't read this or his other dramas. They might be very good stories, but it just strikes me as strange when an established author drastically changes direction like that. If that's what they want to do, power to them, I guess... I just hope the Nicholas Sparks-esque covers are enough to deter readers who might otherwise pick them up expecting another action thriller.
The Christmas Train and Wish You Well are AMAZING books by him. I read The Christmas Train every year and still love it. So when I saw this, I was truly expecting the same. OMG I was so wrong. I probably would go back and knock it down to 2 stars now that I have had time to think about it even more. So disappointed.
Dawn Michelle, you've got me intrigued with "Mennonite in a Little Black Dress". Hmmm.
It was HILARIOUS. I went and got the sequel and will read it soon. I can hardly wait! :-)
Dawn Michelle wrote: "It was HILARIOUS. I went and got the sequel and will read it soon. I can hardly wait! :-)"OK, so my "To Read" list is starting to grow all over again, after having just pared it down!
HA! Mine grows daily. I have figured if I read 100 books a year it will take me 15 years to read everything. I am sure that number will grow before the year is out. :-)I think you will enjoy the book.
Mod
I think you will enjoy the ..."
I enjoy doing that math occasionally...at this moment there are 2,947 books on my Goodreads To-Read list. ;) Which goes up daily. And doesn't include some books I've added to my library list that I haven't transferred over. Or multiples in a series. I went through and deleted all but the next book I need to read in the series. To make my list smaller. HA! Time to quit my job and read full-time! I wish.
Oh you and me both. I know I read a TON more when I wasn't working. And while I am grateful for my job, I miss reading like that.
Mod
In the meantime I have to work...hahah
I can't wait to read The Fault in Our Stars, I'm so glad you love it!
Oh that would be so lovely! A nice island, someone to bring me umbrella drinks and to rub sunscreen on me when needed and BOOKS!!! Ahhhhh....that image will get me through the next few days!TFiOS was really a good read. I am glad I gave in and read it. And the movie is a good adaptation!
I read Gone Girl. Yeah. I still am having nightmares from that.
So every time I get behind here I
VOW
to not ever do that again. Yeah.
You can see how well I have done with that!!! LOL
Here we go.............
SPOILER ALERT!!! I REALLY GO ON AND ON ABOUT GONE GIRL, SO IF YOU HAVE NOT READ IT DO NOT READ THE REVIEW!!!!!! IT WILL SPOIL IT ALL FOR YOU!!!!!
27. And the Mountains Echoed ~Khaled Hosseini
Read~May 6, 2014 - May 20, 2014
4 Stars
^ Okay. I loved The Kite Runner. And never thought he could capture my interest like he did with that book. And then A Thousand Splendid Suns came out and I was BLOWN away by that book. And loved it even MORE than The Kite Runner. So when this book came out, I was prepared to just love it and be blown away again. Yeah. Not so much.
Do not get me wrong. It is a good book. It is a well-written book. But a lot of it is convoluted and a tad confusing. I love his style, so that is why I stuck with it and I loved the characters which is why I gave it 4 stars. But will it replace ATSS on my list of favorites? No. Not by a long shot.
28. Gone Girl ~Gillian Flynn
Read~May 20, 2014 - June 1, 2014
4 Stars
[I do not think I will ever recover from this book. EVER]
HUGE SPOILER ALERT HERE. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER!!!!!
^ FINALLY. FINISHED.
What a crap ending. Seriously?? I think she kills him. OR she kills herself and the baby [which is the best way to destroy Nick at this point] I think that is what that ending means. Because he didn't love her, he felt sorry for her, even with his child about to be born. And truly, he is better off than the life he was leading with this PSYCHO HOSE BEAST. Good grief.
This is not my kind of read. AT ALL. VERY strong language [that to be honest really offends me as a woman. I don't enjoy people who talk that way. It is vulgar and perhaps that is why is used with Amy here. She is supposed to be "Amazing Amy" and it is just more proof that she is not because of her foul mouth, not to mention the psychopathic tendencies] and..I don't know how to explain it.
I cannot be upset at the idea of Nick cheating. Amy was and is a piece of work and being married to her must have been torture when it wasn't heavenly. And to never know just what she was going to do, yet to know ALL she was capable of....THAT is the chilling part of the book.
It is interesting how the author leads you on and on in this book until you are just CONVINCED it is Nick that has killed his wife. And then BAM...the truth comes out. And you are left reeling and then the [almost] HATRED for Amy sets in and that never goes away. I even get why Nick stays in the end, even when no one else gets why he is still there. He HAS to stay. She has NOTHING to lose and will destroy him if he walks away and he knows it. To his very core he knows this and it is easier to look over your shoulder when you are sleeping with the enemy than it is when you are on the run from them.
And yet for all that...the book intrigued me [which is why it got three and a half stars]. Hooked me from the beginning. I can see me reading her other books [just not anytime soon. I SO need to go play with kittens and unicorns for awhile now] because of the way she writes. It hooks you, engages you and then you are invested and you just CANNOT. STOP. READING. Even when the book was pissing me off, I just could not shove it aside. I did however throw it across the room a couple of times. :-)
I am off to play with kittens and unicorns and watch something ludicrously HAPPY to try and drive Amy and all of her crazy out of my mind.
[12/23 - I am bumping this up to 4 stars. The writing is just too good to not give it that many stars. And the story is still with me [NOT always a good thing] and that too makes it worthy.]
29. In An Instant ~Lee and Bob Woodruff
Read~June 1, 2014 - June 29, 2014
4 Stars
NF
30. The Princess ~Lori Wick
Re-read~May 23, 2013 [1 Day Read]
5+ Stars
^ A MUCH needed respite from Gone Girl.
31. Just Above a Whisper [Tucker Mills #2] ~Lori Wick
Re-read~June 10, 2014 [One Day Read]
5+ Stars
^ Again, a much needed respite with a book I loved. Ahhhh.
32. Leave a Candle Burning [Tucker Mills #3] ~Lori Wick
Reread~June 10, 2014 - June 12, 2014
5+ Stars
^Comfort books at their best. :-)
33. CSI: Double Dealer [#1] ~Max Allan Collins
Read~June 29, 2014 - July 2, 2014
3 Stars
34. The Perfect Neighbor [The MacGregors #9] ~Nora Roberts
Re-read~June 13, 2014 - June 14, 2014
4 Stars
^ Reread this when I found the book I had bought for my friend Joy [before I sent it to her]. Love this story. :-)
35. Turn Around Bright Eyes: The Rituals of Love and Karaoke ~Rob Sheffield
Read~July 2, 2014 - July 10, 2014
5+ Stars NF/Kindle
^ I LOVED this book. Truly I love everything I have ever read that he has written. I probably would read a phone book that he wrote, I enjoy his writing THAT much. I HIGHLY recommend his books!!
36. The Poisonwood Bible ~Barbara Kingsolver
Read~July 10, 2014 - July 16, 2014
2 Stars
^O M G just kill me now. This book took forever to read, went on for WAY to long and I spent a lot of the time being ANGRY at the husband/father's treatment of his family.
I DID learn a lot about the Congo that I never knew and will now be searching out more info because of that. Probably why I gave it two stars.
37. Sin City [CSI: Crime Scene Investigations #2]~Max Allan Collins
Read~July 17, 2014 - July 20, 2014
3 Stars
38. The World of Divergent: The Path to Allegiant [Divergent 2.5] ~Veronica Roth
Read~July 20, 2014 [One Day Read]/Kindle
1 Star
^ THIS was totally pointless and not worth the .99 I spent to "give me insight" into Allegiant. Geesh. What a complete rip-off!
39. Allegiant [Divergent #3] ~Veronica Roth
Read~July 24, 2014 - July 31, 2014
4 Stars
^ WARNING!! I am about to get ALL controversial.
I really ENJOYED this book [truly, I may be the only one]. I loved it SO much more than the first two books, which were, IMO, almost painful to read. I felt this book was written better than the first two [and especially #2] and that it flowed better as well. And, to be honest, I didn't HATE the ending. Being a "glass half empty" kind of girl, those are the kind of endings I totally expect in books like this [I was CONVINCED that Harry Potter was going to die {and stay dead}!!]so I wasn't surprised nor did it bother me as much as I know it bothered others. I so wish the first two could have been as good as this one.
40. Wounded by God's People: Discovering How God's Love Heals Our Hearts ~Anne Graham Lotz
July 21, 2014 - November 4, 2014
4 Stars NF/KINDLE
^ As someone who has very recently been hurt by supposedly "good church folk" this book was painful at times for me to read and it was one of the reasons it took me so long to read it. It taught me many things and Anne is a great writer. I am glad I was able to finish it.
41. King and Maxwell [Sean and Michelle #6] ~David Baldacci
Read~August 3, 2014 - August 9, 2014
5+ Stars
^ I [quite simply] FREAKING. LOVE. THIS. SERIES.
42. Wonder ~R.J. Palacio
Read~August 1, 2014 - August 2, 2014
5+ Stars
^ To put it quite simply, THIS book is amazing. And a MUST READ.
And let us all remember: ALWAYS be kind!!!
A note about the next 5 books. I did not buy the ONE hardcover book with all the stories in one. I bought each story SEPARATELY on my Kindle for $1.99 each. SO, that is why I am counting them at 5 different books. :-)
43. The Transfer [Divergent 0.1]: A Divergent Story ~Veronica Roth
Read~August 10, 2014 [One Day Read]/Kindle
3 1/2 Stars
^ I enjoyed reading about Four and how he came to choose Dauntless and what life was like for him.
You learn about how he is abused by his father in the books, but this novella makes it all the more real and help you see just who Four is and why. I wish Divergent and Book #2 could have been this well-written. It was so enjoyable to read this.
44. The Initiate [Divergent 0.2]: A Divergent Story ~Veronica Roth
Read~August 14, 2014 - August 15, 2014/Kindle
4 Stars
45. The Son [Divergent 0.3]: A Divergent Story ~Veronica Roth
Read~August 17, 2014 [One Day Read]/Kindle
4 Stars
46. The Traitor [Divergent 0.4]: A Divergent Story ~Veronica Roth
Read~August 19, 2014 - August 20, 2014/Kindle
3 1/2 Stars
47. Free Four: Tobias tells the Knife Scene [A Divergent Story] ~Veronica Roth
August 28, 2014 [One Day Read]
3 Stars
48. Sisterhood Everlasting [Sisterhood #5] ~Ann Brashares
Read~August 29, 2014 - August 30, 2014
3 Stars
^ THIS book upset me and made me cry and made me laugh and then made me cry and totally, throughout it all PISSED ME OFF royally. Yeah.
Dawn Michelle, really good to hear from you! Thanks for catching us up on everything you've been reading. Quite a list you've got there!
Mod
Mod
Charleen, somehow I missed your little blurb here. :-( I just read it and I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have heard how people HATE Allegiant and how it was written. I have always been one to swim against the current! :-)To be honest, the movie ending of GG left me feeling meh. And the friend I was with was like WTF?? And then I had to explain how the book was and she thinks she would like the book ending better. WHO knows. :-)
Elyse, I just got Dark Objects, but it will be a good 6 months before I delve into her world again. . GOOD to know about Sharp Objects.
Andrea, glad I could entertain you! LOL That was one of the most vocal reviews I have ever written I think.
Karol, get ready, because I am about to add a TON more. :-)
Finally made my goal. :-)50. Prayers For Sale ~Sandra Dallas
September 20, 2014 - September 23, 2014
4 Stars
49. The Welsh Girl ~Peter Ho Davies
August 7, 2014 - August 18, 2014
2 Stars
^ O M G. THIS is one of those books that I have wanted to read for forever. And so when I joined a book-club and it came to MY pick, I went with this one. WTH was I thinking?
The problem with this one was that the author was trying to write from too many perspectives. He should have stuck with one and let everyone one else be peripheral. THANKFULLY, everyone else that read it felt the same way.
51. Forevermore [Only in Gooding #2] ~Cathy Marie Hake
September 24, 2014 - September 26, 2014/Kindle
4 Stars
^ THIS was a much better read than the first one in the series [Fancy Pants <--Meh] and I am glad that I gave this series another chance. Great characters, sweet and a touch disturbing all at the same time. Loved how the theme of protection, whether from those who love us or from God swirled throughout this book.
52. A Brew to a Kill [A Coffeehouse Mystery #11] ~Cleo Coyle
September 28, 2014 - September 30, 2014
4 Stars
^ I really love this series. The writing is good and the mystery is always very puzzling. So glad I found these all those years ago!
53. Holiday Buzz [A Coffeehouse Mystery #12] ~Cleo Coyle
October 1, 2014 - October 14, 2014
5 Stars
^ You can almost always tell when work picks up. It will take me forever to read a book I can typically read in a day or two. Sigh.
This was a great read. I had NO IDEA and was totally shocked at the end. Just when I think I am the consummate cozy mystery reader, one of them THROWS me a loop and WHAM! I feel like a novice all over again. :-)
54. The Name of the Wind [The Kingkiller Chronicle #1] ~Patrick Rothfuss
October 3, 2013 - November 21, 2014/Kindle
3 1/2 Stars
^ Okay. This was NOT my pick for book-club. I had never even HEARD of this guy before this book. And while I eventually really enjoyed this book [enough to get #2], it did take quite awhile to get into the book. And then you hit Chapters 14-16 and you are just WIPED OUT. Then it really picks up and goes fairly well after that. I really like Kvothe and his story. I loved how resourceful he was AND I liked learning about the world that they all lived in. It is a HUGE book [I think it was close to 700 on the Kindle] and just a TON of info. I think that is why it took me so long.
55. The Julian Chapter [Wonder 1.5] ~R.J. Palacio
October 12, 2014 [One Day Read] Kindle/YA
5 Stars
^ AHHHH-Mazing. I don't know if I like Julian any more [or any less] after reading this, but it sure cleared some stuff up. :-)
56. A Will and A Way ~Nora Roberts
November 15, 2014 - November 16, 2014/Kindle
4 Stars
57. Whirlwind [Only in Gooding #3] ~Cathy Marie Hake
November 21, 2014 - November 25, 2014/Kindle
4 Stars
58. Little Witch ~Anna Elizabeth Bennett
November 25, 2014 - November 26, 2014
Kindle/YA
5+ Stars
^WHAT a delightful little book. Very cute and fun read. It was an easy read and just full of cuteness and surprises and fun. So glad I picked this one up!
59. Masterpiece ~Elise Broach
November 27, 2014 - November 30, 2014 YA
1 1/2 Stars
^ Meh. Plain and simple. Meh.
NO WHERE near as good as her first book [which was delightful]. I was bored almost from page one and it just never got better [though the end was better than expected and that is why this got a 1/2 star]. SUCH a disappointment.
60. Footprints in the Sand [Wedding Cake Mystery-Piper Donovan #3] ~Mary Jane Clark
November 30, 2014 - December 3, 2014/Kindle
4 Stars
^ LOVED this!! I guess totally wrong [lots of red herrings in this one]!! These are fun, quirky reads with just enough intrigue to keep you guessing. Such FUN reads.
61. The Old Black Magic [Wedding Cake Mystery - Piper Donovan #4] ~Mary Jane Clark
December 3, 2014 - December 8, 2014
5 Stars
^THIS is the best in the series. Totally on the edge of my seat and again, I had guess TOTALLY wrong. It wasn't until the end, just as everyone else was finding out did I go...well. DUH! LOL A really, really good read.
62. Craving God: A 21-Day Devotional Challenge ~Lysa TerKeurst
December 7, 2014 -
^ I am not done with this yet, but it is next in my book, so I will come back and leave a review when it is completed. I have read ahead several times, so it will be less than 21 days. :-)
63. Body of Evidence [CSI #4] ~Max Allan Collins
December 8, 2014 - December 12, 2014
4 Stars
^This was the best [so far] of the series. LOTS of red herrings, lots of surprises. A good read.
64. The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse [Flavia 6.5] ~Alan Bradley
December 12, 2014 [One Day Read]
Kindle/Novella
5 Stars.
^ OH how I love Flavia. CANNOT wait for the new book in January!!!
65. Kilt Dead [Liss MacCrimmon Mystery #1] ~Kaitlyn Dunnett
December 13, 2014 - December 14, 2014
3 Stars
66. Aunt Dimity and The Wishing Well [Aunt Dimity #19] ~Nancy Atherton
December 15, 2014 - December 21, 2014
5+ Stars
^ I wish I could write a review that would do these books justice. They are truly the most amazing books I have read ever. The stories, the people, the plots [not all of them are true mysteries] just fill you with happiness and longing. I WANT to live in a place like Finch. Even with the nosy neighbors and feuds and crackpots...THEY are the ones who make Finch, Finch.
The was ONE of the best books I have read this year, hands down. These books never fail to make me feel good, are filled with mystery and mischief and good people who gossip, fight, support and love each other fiercely. They [even after 19 of them] have never failed me. AND it made me cry. :-)Great read; I HIGHLY recommend this book [and the whole series!].
Wow, Dawn Michelle! Yep, that's a bunch!I see you still love a good cozy mystery, as do I.
I do love a good cozy mystery. I am amazed at how many crappy cozy mysteries that there are out there though. :-( Thankfully I have seemed to find the good ones and I love that the series just go on and on!! :-)
Mod
I tend to forget I am supposed to update here Elyse! LOLI LOVE the Coffeehouse series. SO. MUCH. FUN. The Flavia novella is a very quick read. And all it does it wet your appetite for MORE FLAVIA!!!
67. Somewhere Safe with Someone Good [Mitford #10]~Jan KaronDecember 21,2014 - December 29, 2014
5+ Stars
68. The Night Before Christmas ~Clement C. Moore
December 23, 2014 [ONE DAY READ]
5+ Stars
69. Odd Thomas: You Are Destined To Be Together Forever [Odd Thomas 0.5]
~Dean Koontz
December 23, 2014 - December 25, 2014
5 Stars
70. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty ~James Thurber
December 25, 2014 [ONE DAY READ]
4 Stars
71. The Wanderer in Unknown Realms: A Novella ~John Connolly
December 29, 2014 - December 31, 2014
4 Stars
^SUPER SUPER SUPER CREEPY and very weird!!!
72. Where There's Smoke [Short Story] ~Jodi Picoult
December 31, 2014 [ONE DAY READ]
3 1/2 Stars
73. Jesus Calling ~Sarah Young
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
5 Stars
^ A lovely daily devotional that really enhanced my daily life.
Great ending to your year, Dawn Michelle!
Thanks Kay!! I feel good about that number!!! :-)And there were mostly GOOD books this year [after a rough start]!!
Thanks Andrea!!!I am already 4 in for this year! I think this will be a GOOD year for reading!! For BOTH of us!
