Cozy Mysteries discussion
Members Reading/Challenge Lists
>
Melodie's Challenges
date
newest »
newest »
Read The USA ChallengeI'll give it a go!
Start May 15, 2010
Alabama: The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree by Susan Wittig Albert
Alaska
Arizona: Buttercream Bump Off by Jenn McKinlay
Arkansas
California: Wild Goose Chase by Terri Thayer
Colorado: Something Borrowed, Something Bleu: A Home Crafting Mystery by Cricket McRae
Connecticut: Vision in White by Nora Roberts
Delaware
District of Columbia: Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy
Florida: Half-Price Homicide by Elaine Viets
Georgia: Tressed to Kill by Lila Dare
Hawaii: Restless Waters: A Rachel Porter Mystery by Jessica Speart
Idaho
Illinois: Body Work by Sara Paretsky
Indiana: Dirty Rotten Tendrils by Kate Collins
Iowa: Ticket to Ride by Ed Gorman
Kansas: The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard
Kentucky: Satan's Lambs by Lynn S. Hightower
Louisiana: Bloodlust by L.J. Smith
Maine: Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier
Maryland: Bring On The Night by Jeri Smith-Ready
Massachusetts: Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
Michigan: The Hanging Tree by Bryan Gruley
Minnesota: Undead and Unfinished by Maryjanice Davidson
Mississippi: Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
Missouri: An Uplifting Murder by Elaine Viets
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada: Driven to Ink by Karen E. Olson
New Hampshire: Chapter and Hearse by Lorna Barrett
New Jersey: Night of the Living Deed by E.J. Cooperman
New Mexico
New York: Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb
North Carolina: Fatally Frosted by Jessica Beck
North Dakota
Ohio: The Long Quiche Good-bye by Avery Aames
Oklahoma
Oregon: The Quick and the Thread by Amanda Lee
Pennsylvania: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
Rhode Island: The Ghost and the Dead Deb by Alice Kimberly
South Carolina: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcie & Margaret Stohl
South Dakota: 61 Hours by Lee Child
Tennessee: Delicious and Suspicious by Riley Adams
Texas: A Glimpse of Evil by Victoria Laurie
Utah: Tapped Out by Natalie Roberts
Vermont: Native Angels by William Jaspersohn
Virginia: Origins by L.J. Smith
Washington: River Marked by Patricia Briggs
West Virginia
Wisconsin: Dead Center by David Rosenfelt
Wyoming: Winterkill by C.J. Box
Spring Read The Rainbow ChallengeI just realized I never put up anything at the beginning of this challenge! I finished up 6/26.
6/6 DONE 6/26!
Yellow:
6/26Orange:
6/8Red:
4/18Green:
4/20Blue:
4/8Purple:
5/25
If you are interested in a book based in Massachusetts, try The Black Squirrel Ball. It is a cozy mystery based in western Massacshusetts which I wrote.
Amy wrote: "If you are interested in a book based in Massachusetts, try The Black Squirrel Ball. It is a cozy mystery based in western Massacshusetts which I wrote."Thanks for the suggestion. I might check it out, but my Massachusetts spot is reserved for the new Spenser book in October. I'm hopeful that Parker had one or 2 more in the can before his untimely passing.
Read the Season Challenge: AUTUMN6/6 DONE 12/20/10
A -
U -
T -
U -
M -
N -
, 
, 
,
, 
,
For your AUTUMN challenge: books by Nancy Lynn Jarvis (That's me. If you can go one word in, then Buying Murder takes care of two letters.
September Theme & Author-Of-the-Month Reads:2/2 DONE 9/25!!
FOOD:
by Joanne Fluke DONE 9/8WINE:
by Michele Scott DONE 9/25AUTHOR OF THE MONTH: Michele Scott
DONE 9/25
October Theme & Author-Of-the-Month Reads:3/3 DONE 10/28/10
HALLOWEEN (SPOOKY THEME):
by Sue Ann JaffarianDONE 10/15/10
by Leslie MeierDONE 10/28/10AUTHOR OF THE MONTH: Susan Wittig Albert
DONE 10/27/10
November Theme Reads DONE 11/15/10!
1.- A book about Thanksgiving or Family:
by Isis CrawfordDONE 11/13/102.- A book about books: Library, Librarian, bookstore, book collector, bookbinder, etc:
by Kate Carlisle DONE 11/15/10
Read the Season Challenge: WINTER6/6 DONE 3/18/11
W -
I -
N -
T -
E -
R -
,
,
,
,
,
March Theme Reads & Author-of-the-Month3/3 DONE 3/26/11
Read Across America:
by Joanne Fluke DONE 3/10/11Mystery involving crafting:
by Mary Ellen Hughes DONE 3/10/11AUTHOR OF THE MONTH: Alice Kimberly/Cleo Coyle
DONE 3/26/11
Read the Season Challenge: SPRING6/6 DONE 5/8/11
S -
P -
R -
I -
N -
G -
,
,
,
,
,
I didn't set out to do this challenge, but when I looked at what I read this month I had stuff that fit!5/5 DONE 5/28/11!!
1. Birth Mother Day (May 7th) and Mother's Day (May 8th) - Read a book where at least one character is a mother. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
2. Blame Someone Else Day (first Friday the 13th of the year) - Read a mystery where someone is falsely accused. The Craving by L.J. Smith
3. Frog Jumping Day (May 13th), Dance Like a Chicken Day (May 14th), and National Sea Monkey Day (May 16th) - Read a book with an animal either on the cover or a character in the story. (Note: Any animal counts, even if the cover has a butterfly on it, for example, or a horse in the novel.) Dog Tags by David Rosenfelt
4. Military Spouses Day (May 6th) and Armed Forces Day (May 21st) - Read a book with a character that is in the military, is the spouse of a military member, or is a veteran or spouse of a veteran, or where the author is a veteran. The Gendarme by Mark Mustian
5. Pick Strawberries Day (May 20th) and Water a Flower Day (May 30th) - Read a book with a fruit or a flower on the cover, or the cover is red. Red by Sammy Hagar
,
,
,
,
Hi Melodie. Did you read The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree? I checked it out from the library and I seem to be having a bit of trouble getting into it. So I though if you had read it if it was good and did it take a little bit for you to get into it? Or is just me? :)
Karendenice wrote: "Hi Melodie. Did you read The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree? I checked it out from the library and I seem to be having a bit of trouble getting into it. So I though if you had..."I read it all, but it was a struggle. Just not my cup of tea, at all. It was very well written, since Susan Wittig Albert is an excellent writer, but just didn't care for the story.
Thanks Melodie. I've had a lot of trouble getting into it. Maybe now is just not the right time for me to read it. I know I can always get it from the library again. I have actually never read anything by her so this would have been my first. I think that I'll have to go check out some of her other books. Which of hers do you like?
Karendenice wrote: "Thanks Melodie. I've had a lot of trouble getting into it. Maybe now is just not the right time for me to read it. I know I can always get it from the library again. I have actually never read anyt..."Her China Bayles books are top notch reads. Absolutely love them. I think the most recent one was the 19th in the series and I've only been disappointed with 2 of them. The first in the series is
.
I actually have been looking for that one. I didnt realize that the same person wrote them. Thanks for lettibg me know. Ill check the library for it asap.
June Mini-Challenge & Author-of-the-Month:6/6 DONE 6/30/11
June 1st - Flip a Coin Day. Pick 2 books, then flip a coin and to see which one you're to read. Shoulder Bags and Shootings by Dorothy Howell DONE 6/7/11
June 8 - Best Friends Day - Pick a book to read off one of your GRs friends shelves. (If you don't have many GRs friends, then pick off one of our member's shelves.) Old World Murder by Kathleen Ernst DONE 6/4/11
June 8 - Name Your Poison Day - Read a book with "poison" or a type of poison named in the title, or a mystery where a poison is mentioned or used in the book. Southern Poison by T.Lynn Ocean DONE 6/6/11
June 18 - National Splurge Day - Read the most recent mystery book you've purchased. Or splurge and purchase a new book and then read it! Misery Bay by Steve Hamilton DONE 6/12/11
June 28 - Paul Bunyan Day - Read a book that's 400 or more pages (as Paul Bunyan was huge) or read a book with a blue cover (in honor of his companion, a huge blue bull named Babe). Delirium by Lauren Oliver (a BLUE cover & 448 pages!) DONE 6/25/11
,
,
,
,
AUTHOR-OF-THE-MONTH: M C Beaton
DONE 6/30/11
Summer Reading ChallengeS -
U -
M -
M -
E -
R -
,
,
,
,
,
July Mini Challenge5/5 DONE 7/22/11
July is National Ice Cream Month
With sooo many ice cream days falling this month, as well as national ice cream month, read a book that either shows ice cream on the cover, has a flavor of ice cream in the title, or someone eats ice cream somewhere in the book.
July 2- I Forgot Day
Read a book you've previously purchased, but forgot to read. Instead of reaching for the top of your TBR pile, reach for something lying forgotten on the bottom of it.
July 11 - Cheer up the Lonely Day
Read a book that you've borrowed from someone else or was given to you, read a book to someone else (reading to your own family counts), or share a book with someone else.
July 13 -Embrace Your Geekness Day
Read a book where someone has a geeky type profession, or read a non-fiction book (to increase your geekness! lol)
If you have a picnic and read part of a book there, that counts. Or read a book showing a picnic on the cover, in the title (any words from the above picnic related holidays counts, so "pie" or "hotdog" in the title works), or any book where somewhere in the book there is a picnic.
,
,
,
,
September Mini Challenge5/5 DONE 9/27/11
Sep 6 - Fight Procrastination Day and Read a Book Day. Read the oldest book on your TBR shelf. Bonus credit for reading on Sep 6th.
Sep 8 - International Literacy Day. Read a book that takes place anywhere in the world, that is not your home country. (Example, for all Americans, read a book that takes place somewhere other than in the USA.)
Sep 16 - Collect Rocks Day. Any book with a rock (of any kind) on the cover, or in the title. If part of the book takes place in a building made of stone, that will also work. Note: Remember a diamond is also "rock".
Sep 19 - International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Read a book with a pirate in it, or takes place on a ship. (Any kind of ship works).
Sep 28 - Ask a Stupid Question Day - Read a book where there is a question mark in the title, or a question is posed as part of the book jacket blurb describing the book. (Example: What's a Ghoul to Do? or a blurb that asks.. "Who killed...?). Also, any title that begs a question, such as... a cookbook titled How to Cook Without a Book: Recipes and Techniques Every Cook Should Know by Heart.
,
,
,
,
October Mini Challenge 4/4 DONE 10/24/11
October is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Read a book with a sweet title, a character bakes, any character that has diabetes, etc. Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay DONE 10/17/11
October 1 is International Frugal Fun Day. Readers choice, but it must be a book you already own. No buying anything new for this as it's a "frugal" fun day! Memory in Death by J.D. Robb DONE 10/24/11
October 7th - Briansgirl/Kate's Wedding Day!! Button Holed by Kylie Logan (the bride, who's looking for buttons for her gown, gets offed!)DONE 10/10/11
October 30th is Mischief Night and October 31st is Halloween. Read a book with a halloween theme, or a black or orange cover. Death in a Difficult Position by Diana KillianDONE 10/3/11
,
,
,
5/5 DONE 11/22/11Nov 1 - All Saint's Day
Nov 2 - All Soul's Day
Read a book where someone has died.
Nov 5 - Guy Fawkes Day
"Remember Remember, the 5th of November!" In honor of the man who nearly blew up Parliament, and whose effigy is burned yearly on Bonfire Night... Read a book set in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland).
Nov 5 - Book Lover's Day
Read the last book you bought. (If you havn't bought one recently, then by all means, purchase one and read it! hehe)
Nov 17 - Homemade Bread Day
Read a Culinary Mystery. BONUS: Bake Homemade Bread this month, or eat homemade bread. Yum!
Nov 11 - Veteran's Day
Read a book with a veteran in it, or anyone actively serving in the military. Another option, as I am retired US Air Force, is for you to pick a book off any of my shelves here on GRs to read.
,
,
,
,
January 2012 Mini-ChallengeJan 11 - Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend's Day Read a book with any form of water in the title or on the cover.
Jan 13 - Blame Someone Else Day - first Friday the 13th of the year. Read a mystery where someone is falsely accused. (Easiest way to find one is to find a book where an amateur slueth helps solve a mystery to clear their name.)
Jan 10 - Peculiar People Day Read any book with a quirky character in it. (Use your own judgement to what you would define as a quirky character.)
Jan 23 - Measure Your Feet Day Read a book with a number somewhere on the cover or in the title, or has shoes on the cover. (It counts if someone is wearing the shoes.)
Jan 31 - Backward Day Instead of reading the oldest book on your TBR list, read the most recent one added. (And I'll never know if you add one just so you can read what you want! lol)
,
,
,
,
DURATION: 2/16/12 thru 7/31/12Cozy Themes
#1 British - English - Books that take place in the United Kingdom countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
#2 Historical/Period - Any book that takes place prior to 1940.
#3 Animals - Any book with an animal as a main character, subject of the book, book takes place in a pet shop, stable, etc.
#4 Culinary/Cooking - Food themed mysteries.
#5 Paranormal - Anything centered around the occult, witches, vampires, werewolves, Psychics, ghosts, etc.
#6 Vacation Mysteries/Exotic Locations - Any book that takes place outside the United States and/or outside the country in which you live.
#7 Holidays - Any holiday themed mystery.
#8 Hobbies - Any mystery that centers around a hobby, craft, sport, etc.
#9 Professions/Careers/Jobs/Occupations - Any mystery that centers on or highlights a particular job. Doesn't matter if the job is that of the person murdered, or that of the amateur slueth.
#10 Senior Slueths - Read a mystery where the sleuth is 50 or older
,
,
,
5 of 5 DONE 3/26/12March is National Craft Month - Read a book with any crafting theme.
March 2 - Old Stuff Day - Read your oldest TBR (to be read) Cozy Mystery
Mar 3 - If Pets Had Thumbs Day - Read any book with an animal on the cover, in the title, or is a significant character in the book.
March 10 - Middle Name Pride Day - Read any author who uses their middle name on their published works.
March 12 - Plant a Flower Day - Read any book with a flower on the cover or in the title.
, 
, 
, 
, 
January 2013 Mini Challenge4/4 DONE 1/25/13
Jan 2 - Run up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day - Read a book with a flag on the cover, or a book cover with the colors of your countries flag on the cover.
Jan 6 - Cuddle Up Day - Cuddle up with your favorite cozy author. Your choice.
Jan 10 - Peculiar People Day - Read a book with a peculiar person in it. Doesn't have to be the main character.
2nd Week of Jan is Letter Writing Week - Read any book with a letter shown on the cover, a character in a book says they're writing or reading a letter, or the book actually shows letters (or a note) written to a character. (Is a written clue found?)
February 2013 Mini Challenge5/5 DONE 2/27/13
3rd Week of Feb is International Flirting Week - Read a cozy mystery that also has a romance in it. (Does not have to be the main characters).
Feb 2 - Candlemas - Candlemas is the last holiday of the Christmas season. Candlemas is a christian celebration, or festival, of the Feast of Purification of the Virgin Mary. It also celebrates the annual blessing of candles used by the church. Read a book that has a candle on the cover, in the title, or featured in the story someway OR read a christmas themed book.
Feb 3 - The Day the Music Died - Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash in 1959. Read a book that has something to do with music. From a radio or sheetmusic or an instrument on the cover, to a character that sings or plays music, etc.
Feb 13 - Get a Different Name Day - Read a book by author who uses an alias or penname. BONUS: Read 2 books by the same author, each book under a different penname.
Feb 27 - No Brainer Day - Read the first cozy mystery you can see, reach out and touch, etc. that you havn't already read. (ie Top of your TBR list)
,
,
,
,
April 2013 Mini Challenge4/4 DONE 4/30/13
April is Keep America Beautiful month - Read a book set in a US State. Preferrably a state that you don't read about often, so you can explore and experience a new state. For example, if you read about New York, Texas or California alot, how about reading a book set in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, or Alaska?
Weekly celebrations: Week 1: Library Week - Easy. Read a library book. If you don't have access to a local library, borrow a book from a friend (or loan one).
Apr 14 - International Moment of Laughter Day - Read a book with an element of humor in it. Something that makes you laugh (even if it's just the silly title).
Apr 15 - Titanic Remembrance Day - Read any book about the Titanic, or any book with a scene that takes place on a boat. (There are several mysteries that take place on cruise ships.)
,
,
,
May 2013 Mini Challenge5/5 DONE 5/29/13!!
May 1 - May Day - Read a book with a 3 word title, or the author's (first or last) name has 3 letters.
May 1 - Mother Goose Day - Read a book with a Mother in it (the Mother can be of any age, her children could be newborn or fully grown, or it could be a mother dog with her puppies), or a Goose (either in the title or on the cover). BONUS points for the goose!
May 6 - No Diet Day - Read a book with any kind of food in the title or shown on the cover.
May 18 - No Dirty Dishes Day - Read a book with a dish (of any kind) on the cover.
May 30 - Water a Flower Day - Read a book with a flower either on the cover or in the title.
,
,
,
,
July 2013 Mini-ChallengeDONE 7/26/13!
July is National Anti-Boredom Month. So read a book by your favorite author.
July 4 is Sidewalk Egg Frying Day - Read a book with a food theme. Bonus if egg is in the title, or on the cover.
July 11 is Cheer up the Lonely Day - Read a book that will make you smile. :)
July 20 is Ugly Truck Day (it's a "guy" thing) - Read a book that has any kind of truck on the cover, in the title, or someone drives one in the book somewhere.
July 26 is Aunt and Uncle Day, and July 30 Father-in-Law Day - Read a book where any main character has a relative show up in the book somewhere.
,
,
,
,
Cozy Mysteries
Books mentioned in this topic
Father Knows Death (other topics)Let it Burn (other topics)
A Broth of Betrayal (other topics)
Tarnished and Torn (other topics)
You Cannoli Die Once (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Scott Westerfeld (other topics)Jeaniene Frost (other topics)
Steven Tyler (other topics)
Lia Habel (other topics)
Gillian Bradshaw (other topics)
More...
6/6 DONE 9/20/10
S -
SIZZLING SIXTEEN by Janet EvanovichDONE 7/13U -
UNSAFE HARBOR by Jessica SpeartDONE 9/17M -
Marrone, Amanda - DEVOUREDDONE 9/8M -
Moore, Christopher - BITE ME: A Love StoryDONE 8/19E -
Eisler, Barry - REQUIEM FOR AN ASSASSINDONE 9/20R -
RESTLESS WATERS by Jessica SpeartDONE 7/4