Cheli's network of reading for 2014 Program#1

Hi everyone, this is my 6th annual category challenge and I'm really excited. Even though I read a great deal, I know that 196 books (14X14) is not in the realm of possibility for me to accomplish (not that I don't have the books to read) so, being realistic,
I'm going to be doing a halfer - 14 categories but only 7 books on each category. That's 98 books, well within my reach.
The real challenge will be to have at least 5 of the 7 books (70) read from books that were in my possession prior to 2014 either on my Nook, Kindle, physically on my shelves, or PC/MP3 for audio.

In 2014 I'll be continuing the following formal challenges:

The 75 Book Challenge This is where I spend most of my time.

US Presidents Challenge So far I'm finished through Grover Cleveland - I'm losing steam. I'm hoping to reach up to Taft so that WWI is due in 2015. Needless to say, this challenge has been extended to 2020 at least.

European Challenge - I still have 2/3 of Europe to explore. Hopefully, I'll reach some of those exotic destinations by tuning in to the Travel Channel. There is also a GeoCAT this year that may help me.

50 States challenge - Only ten states left on the itinerary and the Travel Channel may help there too.

TIOLI monthly Challenges in the 75 book Challenge - these change every month and actually make reading more fun because I usually find something new that I want to read because of it. However, I may not be as involved this year because the CAT challenges (GEO, Mystery and Random) have caught my interest.

Then there are also several personal challenges that I will be endeavoring to work on in 2014.

Bookshelf Bootie - Many book bloggers telegraph to each other what new books we receive each week with a meme called Mailbox Monday. Usually these books are received free for review or won in a giveaway. In my version (Bookshelf Bootie) I'm trying to remind myself that when books come into to my house they need to be read soon. My goal is that 25% of new books in are read in the current year. Hopefully, that will include the books that I actually purchased as well as downloaded to my Nook so that those books that show in my acquisition ticker will be read in timely manner. I want to dwindle down my TBRs by reading old books as well as all the new acquired. This will be tough. Books marked with % are sitting on my shelf and should get priority.

ROOT Challenge is my effort to read 80 books off my own shelves (This includes books on my Nook/Kindle, ER & ARCs I receive for review, and audiobooks that I've downloaded in the past.) I fell short of my goal last year of 105 so I've backed off to 80. Bookshelf Bootie should help this challenge.

Series Catchup - Each year I try to choose several series that I will definitely be current on by the end of the year. There are others where I have several books to read to get to the most recent so I purposely select 2-3 to concentrate on. I don't like to read them all in a row, so I will spread them out over the months.

Now that everything has been explained, here are my categories for 2014. The 14 categories are all designated by a TV network. Since I have mostly given up TV (except for a few shows) in favor of reading, I'm keeping TV in my forefront this way.

Here are my category designations:

I. A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series) (7/7) COMPLETED
II. Game Show Network - Group/Shared reads (7/7) COMPLETED
III. Disney - Children/Youth Books (6/7)
IV. FOOD Network - Chunksters/books over 500 pgs or audios 15+ discs (6/7)
V. American Movie Classics - TBRs/classics (7/7) COMPLETED
VI. History Channel - History (7/7) COMPLETED
VII. TRAVEL - Euro, US, and GEOCAT Challenges (7/7) COMPLETED
VIII. PBS -Audio Books (6/7)
IX. ABC - ARCs/ERs (7/7) COMPLETED
X. NBC - Nook Books/ C(K)indle (7/7) COMPLETED
XI. CBS - Continuing Books in a Series (7/7) COMPLETED
XII. Weather Channel - Cozy mysteries (7/7) COMPLETED
XIII. Hallmark - Romances (7/7) COMPLETED
XIV.ESPN - Catching up on a series (6/7)

LET THE FUN BEGIN!!

I. A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
There's a website called FictFact which I use to track my books in a series. Currently it shows that I follow 209 series. 38 are current or completed, 23 unstarted, leaving (gulp) 148 series that I still want to finish.
Even though I have these 148 series started, I know that I will not be able the resist reading books that start new series especially since I already own the books. So this category will record the new series that I start or new authors I find.
By the way,I blame all of you here at LibraryThing. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have heard about these series. I'm actually thinking about identifying who should get the blame credit for bringing these books to my attention.

1. Fer-de-Lance 1/25/14
2. A Deadly Grind 2/23/14
3. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy 3/4/14
4. Guidebook to Murder 4/15/14
5. A Wicked Slice 5/21/14
6. Richard Castle's Deadly Storm 6/16/14
7. Death Checks Inn 12/17/14

COMPLETED

★ Designates the books that are at the top of the list.

These are the firsts that I Already Own
✔★A Deadly Grind
✔★A Murderous Glaze (VT) recorded in Category #7
★Deadly Blessings
✔★Deadly Endplay recorded in Category 10
✔★A Wicked Slice
✔★Fer-de-Lance
★Mercy Kill (SD)
★Upright Piano Player (ABANDONED)
Alexander Cipher
Beauty to Die for
Dolled Up for Murder
Hearse and Buggy
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor
Larceny and Old Lace
Mind over Murder
Murder Passes the Buck
Murphy's Law
Sweet Revenge
The Master Butchers Singing Club (ND)

These are these ones on my wishlist.
Cloche and Dagger
The Christie Curse
A Taste for Murder
The Ninth Daughter
A Beautiful Blue Death
Them Bones
Grace under Pressure
The Curiousity

II. GSN (Game Show Network) - Group or Shared Reads

There are a great number of books that have been sitting on my TBR pile which I've
been meaning to get to but I find that a nudge from someone else reading is the
motivation I need. So besides the book group that I head in my local area (LILIES), I have a
few group reads that I will be participating in here at LT.

1. The one hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared 1/29/14 LILIES
2. Anne of Green Gables 2/16/14
3. The Last Original Wife 3/23/14 LILIES
4. Where'd You Go, Bernadette? 4/30/14 LILIES
5. Mists of Avalon 9/23/14
6. Frankenstein 10/20/14 LILIES
7. Arabian Nights 11/13/14

CATEGORY COMPLETED

These are the ones that I've signed up for, so far.
Of course, there will always be others for TIOLI and my local ladies book group.

✔Arabian Nights % (736 pgs) - Year Long IN PROGRESS
Middlemarch % (795 pgs) - 1st qtr CANCELLED
✔Anne of Green Gables % (308 pgs) - February
✔Canterbury Tales % (912 pgs) - 2nd qtr group read recorded in Category #4
✔Water for Elephants %♫ (563 pgs) - recorded in Category 8
✔The Mists of Avalon %♫ (876 pgs) - September
✔Madame Bovary % (576 pgs) - October recorded in Category #4

III. Disney - Children/Youth Books
When I realized that I enjoyed the Harry Potter books so much, I started looking at other Young Adult books. I have a stack on my TBR list and here is where they will be recorded.
I have a friend with a young son who is an avid reader. He is my consultant for the Young Adult genre.

1. Peter and the Starcatchers 3/4/14
2. A Snicker of Magic 3/30/14
3. Reflections of Queen Snow White 6/7/14
4. A great & godly adventure : the Pilgrims & the myth of the first Thanksgiving 11/18/14
5. Polar Express 11/29/14
6. Emerald Atlas 12/7/14
7. Tim Cratchit's Christmas Carol 12/10/14

CATEGORY COMPLETED

Here are my prime candidates:
β = e-book ♫= audio %= ROOT
✔★Shadow of Night%♫ recorded in Category #4
★Sabiel%♫
★Catching Fire β%
★The Princess and the Horse β%
The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia%♫
✔★Peter and the Starcatchers%♫
Peter and the Sword of Mercy %♫
Peter and the Secret of Rundoon %♫
Peter and the Shadow Thieves %♫
The Magicians%♫
✔★Emerald Atlas β%
★Mark of Athena%♫
Golden Compass %♫

CURRENTLY READING
The Likeness

IV. FOOD - Chunksters/books over 400 pgs or audios 12 discsor 10 hours
I have been trying to read the books that I currently own but some have been lanquishing on my shelves for a long period mainly because they are what I call CHUNKSTERS. In other words they are fatties - books that are more than 400 pages or audios that are more than 15 discs - 18 hrs. I am going to target 7 of these to finally clear some significant space. Hopefully, I can do several of these in Group reads so that I am not alone.

1. How The Light Gets In 2/19/14 675 pgs.
2. Death Angel 3/13/14 496 pgs
3. Canterbury Tales 6/8/14 912 pgs.
4. Kate: The woman who was Hepburn 6/29/14 656 pgs
5. Shadow of Night 6/29/14 592 pgs
6. The Likeness 7/30/14 887 pgs
7. Madame Bovary 10/29/14 576 pgs


CATEGORY COMPLETED


Here are my prime candidates:
✔★Canterbury Tales % (912 pgs)
★A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Two (761 pgs)
✔★Acceptable Loss (William Monk Series) (535 pgs) recorded in Category 14
✔★Execution Dock (William Monk Series) (553 pgs) recorded in Category 14
★Faithful Place Audiobook (679 pgs) - September
★Summer Rental (683 pgs)
✔★The Likeness (887 pgs) - July
★The Pillars of the Earth (1,009 pgs) - 4th Qtr
The Bonesetter's Daughter (567 pgs) - September
Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander) (752 pgs)
The Casual Vacancy (503 pgs)
The Columbus Affair: A Novel (619 pgs)

V. AMC - TBRs/classics

Okay, I am the first to admit that Classics aren't my thing but I keep trying.
Each year I try to clear a few classics off my TBR list and 2014 will not be an exception.
This year I'm going to try something different in this category. Most of the Classics that I'm planning to try will be recorded in my Food Network category because they are chunksters. So here, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the film The Wizard of Oz, I am going to dedicate the category to the works of L. Frank Baum, The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection.

1. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 2/4/14
2. The Marvelous Land of Oz 3/22/14
3. The Woggle-Bug Book 3/25/14
4. Ozma of Oz 7/31/14
5. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz 9/5/14
6. The Road to Oz 10/25/14
7. The Emerald City to Oz 11/3/14

CATEGORY COMPLETED

I'm not sure I'll get through all 15 but I will get through at least 7.

✔The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
✔The Marvelous Land of Oz
✔The Woggle-Bug Book
✔Ozma of Oz
✔Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
✔The Road to Oz
✔The Emerald City of Oz
The Patchwork Girl of Oz
Tik-Tok of Oz
The Scarecrow of Oz
Rinkitink in Oz
The Lost Princess of Oz
The Tin Woodman of Oz
The Magic of Oz
Glinda of Oz

VI. History Channel - History

For the last 5 years I have been working on a personal challenge to read biographies of all the Presidents. When I started the challenge, the goal was to finish by the end of 2012, but since I decided that I also wanted to read books about other historical events that occurred during those presidencies, I've been delayed in the completion of that Challenge. I've set a new end date of 2020. (It took me 2 years with the Civil War and I anticipate that as I move forward I will also need extra time for WWI, the depression, WWII, etc.) Even though I only need 7 books to finish the category officially, I will continue in this category as much as I can. I didn't get as far along in 2013 as I wanted, so I really need to move because I want to get to World War I in 2015.

1. An Honest President 1/6/14
2. The presidency of Benjamin Harrison 1/7/14
3. Freak of Freedom 8/9/14
4. By Fire, By Water 8/17/14
5. The President and the assassin : McKinley, terror, and empire at the dawn of the American century 9/28/14
6. The War Lovers
7. The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt & the Fire That Saved America

CATEGORY COMPLETED

Here are some of the books I'm hoping to read in 2014.

✔★The presidency of Benjamin Harrison / Homer E. Socolofsky and Allan B. Spetter
★A Ship to Remember: The Maine and the Spanish-American War
✔★The war lovers : Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst, and the rush to empire, 1898
★1898 : the birth of the American century
✔★The President and the assassin : McKinley, terror, and empire at the dawn of the American century
★The king and the cowboy : Theodore Roosevelt and Edward the Seventh : secret partners (1901)
✔Mornings on horseback posted in CATEGORY #8
★Bully Pulpit
Photographs : George Eastman House, Rochester, NY
Guest of honor : Booker T. Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and the White House dinner that shocked a nation
America, 1908 : the dawn of flight, the race to the Pole, the invention of the Model T, and the making of a modern nation
1912 : Wilson, Roosevelt, Taft & Debs-- the election that changed the country
An age of extremes

VII. TRAVEL - Euro, US, and GEOCAT Challenges - Locales I haven't visited before
A great deal of the historical fiction that I read is set outside the United States. Hopefully, those settings that I visit in this category will also help with my European Challenge. I am also working on the 50 State Challenge. 10 states are still on the itinerary.

1. American Passage: The History of Ellis Island 1/15/14 GEOCAT
2. Curse of the Pharaohs 2/16/14 GEOCAT
3. Death Al Dente 3/11/14 US 50 state MT
4. A Murderous Glaze 5/2/14 US 50 State VT
5. Eat, Pray, Love 6/3/14 INDONESIA GEOCAT
6. Little ship of fools : 16 rowers, 1 improbable boat, 7 tumultuous weeks 6/30/14 GEOCAT
7. The Snowman 7/27/14 GEOCAT (NOR)

CATEGORY COMPLETED!!!
Will add additional if necessary.

Here are some I'm hoping to get to:
★Blood Ties (SD)
Dead Politician Society (CAN)
★The Sisters (KY)
★Handle with Care (NB)
✔★Curse of the Pharaohs (EG)
The Tiger's Wife: A Novel (Yugo)
✔Eat, Pray, Love (IND)
The Lusitania Murders (Atlantic)
✔★The Snowman (NOR)
✔★A Freak of Freedom (San Marino) posted to CATEGORY #6
The Calligrapher's Daughter (KOR)
★Cloud Atlas (NZ)
Cocaine Blues (Australia)

VIII. PBS -Audio Books
I frequently listen to books on audio. They give me the opportunity to get other tasks completed without giving up my reading time.

1. The Whole Enchilada 2/26/14
2. Maze of Bones 3/7/14
3. Beautiful Ruins 7/13/14
4. Water for Elephants 8/26/14
5. Mornings on horseback 9/30/14
6. State of Wonder 10/19/14
7. Wait Till Next Year 11/15/14

CATEGORY COMPLETED

These are the ones I'm hoping to be heard.

✔Beautiful Ruins
✔The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt & the Fire That Saved America
The Heretic's Daughter
An Irish Country Village: A Novel,
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
The Sisters brothers
The Warden
Face of Deception
Emperor's Tomb

These are other possibilities:
206 Bones
"A" is for alibi
The Air We Breathe
All Over Creation
The Aloha Quilt
Another Thing to Fall
Back Spin
Backseat Saints
Believing the Lie
Betrayal of Trust
Big Boned
Break No Bones
Bridesmaids Revisited
Buckingham Palace Gardens
By a Spider's Thread
The Columbus Affair: A Novel
A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five
Darkest Fear
DAYS OF GOLD
Dead Man's Chest
Dead ringer
Death at Victoria Dock
Devil Bones
Devil's Corner
Fade away
A Feast for Crows: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Four
The final detail
Firefly Lane: A Novel
The First Lady
First Test
Flash and Bones
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hallowed Bones
Hard Row
Hardly Knew Her
Heartstopper
Heavenly Pleasures
Home to Holly Springs
Honor Thyself
The House I Loved
In Big Trouble
In the Company of Others
The King's Deception: A Novel
Kiss of Fate
Knit Two
The Lace Reader
Lady Killer
The last place
Life Sentences
Long Spoon Lane
The Lost Quilter
The Magicians: A Novel
The master quilter
Miss Julia Delivers the Goods
Motor Mouth
Murder In Montparnasse
Murder in the Dark
No Choice But Seduction
No Good Deeds
On the Run
One False Move
The Other Boleyn Girl
Over Sea, Under Stone
The Perfect Poison
PLAYING THE GAME
Queen of the Flowers
Quicksand
The Quilter's Legacy
The Ravenscar Dynasty
The Ritual Bath
Rituals of the Season
Safe Haven
Sarah's Key
A Secret Kept
Seven Dials
Shark River
Shepherds Abiding
Silks
Size 12 Is Not Fat
Size 14 Is Not Fat Either
Spider Bones
Stalemate
Started Early, Took My Dog: A Novel
✔State of Wonder
A Storm of Swords: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Three
The Sugar Camp Quilt
The Swan Thieves
Sweetwater Creek
A Taste for Death
This Body of Death CD: An Inspector Lynley Novel
To the Power of Three
Treason at Lisson Grove
The Vendetta Defense
What Came Before He Shot Her
What the Dead Know
The Whitechapel Conspiracy
The Winding Ways Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts Series #12)
Winters Child
With No One as Witness

9. ABC - ARCs/ERs
I've found in the past few years that I always seem to have new ER books from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program and other ARCs from ShelfAwareness as well as NetGalley, so this year I decided they deserved their own category.

1. The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion 1/23/14 ★★★★ ARC
2. The League of Delphi 2/4/14 ★★★½ ARC
3. Christmas Hope 2/8/14 ★★★ ER
4. Inherit the Word 3/8/14 ★★★½ ARC
5. Prime Minister's Secret Agent 4/5/14 ★★★½ NetGalley
6. Gossamer Ghost 10/3/14 Signed from Author
7. Scorched Eggs 11/29/14 Signed from Author

CATEGORY COMPLETED


Here are books still waiting for review.

✔The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion: A Novel Flagg, Fannie - sent by publisher
The Boleyn Deceit: A Novel Andersen, Laura - NetGalley
✔Christmas Hope - Anne Perry ER
The Delphi Deception Everheart, Chris - sent by publisher
The Golden Door Rodda, Emily - sent by publisher
The Hope Factory: A Novel Sankaran, Lavanya - sent by publisher
I'll Be Seeing You Hayes, Suzanne - sent by publisher
✔Inherit the Word - sent by author
✔The League of Delphi Everheart, Chris - sent by publisher
The Lucifer Code Brokaw, Charles - sent by publisher
The Temple Mount Code Brokaw, Charles - sent by publisher
✔Delicious! - sent by publisher recorded in Category #13

X. NBC - Nook Books/ C(K)indle
I am very lucky because I have both a Nook and a Kindle so the e-books on my TBR list need their own category.

1.Home of the Braised 2/2/14
2.You Cannoli Die Once 3/17/14
3.Murder at Honeychurch Hall 4/10/14
4.Deadly Endplay 4/13/14
5. Mission to Murder 8/4/14
6. Bookplate Special 9/8/14
7. A Wish and a Prayer 10/6/14


CATEGORY COMPLETED

Here are the ones at the top of my list out of the 149 to be read.

✔★A Wish and a Prayer: A Blessings Novel
★Deadly Sanctuary (Kendall O'Dell Mystery series)
★Sherlock Holmes: The Montana Chronicles
★Love and Murder on the Queen Anne Nook Version
★Murder on the Cote d'Azure: A Maggie Newberry Mystery (Vol 1)
★In the Garden of Temptation (The Garden Series Book 1)
Murder On The Mind: The Jeff Resnick Mysteries
The Rose Throne
The York Rose

Here are other possibilities:
11.22.63
1936--ON THE CONTINENT
212: A Novel (Ellie Hatcher)
A Family Affair
A Fool Again: A Novella
A Hidden Fire
A Provencal Mystery
Accused (Pacific Coast Justice)
Alexander Cipher
Amberville: A Novel (P.S.)
An Autumn Wedding
And Only to Deceive
And Then She Fell (Cynster Sisters Duo)
Aphrodite's Kiss
Armed and Fabulous (Lexi Graves Mysteries)
Around the World in 80 Days
BAIT & SWITCH
Barchester Towers
Birdman
Black Out: An Inspector Troy Thriller
Blue
Bridesmaid Lotto (McMaster the Disaster)
Brothers Grimm Household Tales. 200 tales. Includes Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Little Red-Cap, Clever Else & more (mobi)
Cake Icing, Butt Budder and Tea Lids
Carved in Bone: A Body Farm Novel (Body Farm Thriller 1)
Colters' Wife
Dare to Die (Death on Demand Mysteries)
Dark Legacy
Daughter of Time: A Time Travel Romance
Dawn of War (Blood War Trilogy)
Dead Tease (Lake Loon Mystery)
Deadly Stillwater
Death By Drowning 2 (Mystery & Women Sleuths) (Josiah Reynolds Mysteries)
Divine
Divorced, Desperate and Delicious (Sukey Reynolds Mysteries)
Do Not Disturb #2(A Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery)
Donovan's Angel (The Donovans of the Delta)
Dying For Danish (A Lexy Baker Bakery #2 Cozy Mystery)
Dying to Get Published (The Jennifer Marsh Mysteries)
Earthly Delights: A Corinna Chapman Mystery (Corinna Chapman Mysteries)
Easy Innocence (Georgia Davis Mysteries)
Executive Privilege
Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice, Book 1)
First, There Is a River
Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1)
Footsteps in the Dark
For Love of Livvy
Fortuna
From the Ashes
Front Porch Prophet: A Novel
Gabriel's Angel
Georgiana Darcy's Diary: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice continued (Pride and Prejudice Chronicles)
Grace
Green Grow the Rushes
Happy Hour
Harry Potter's Bookshelf: The Great Books behind the Hogwarts Adventures
Haunted on Bourbon Street
Heartfire (Search For Love)
Heiress (Daughters of Fortune)
Hide in Plain Sight
His Lady Mistress (Harlequin Historical Series)
Hose Monkey
Hostile Witness: A Josie Bates Thriller (Volume 1)
Hour of the Hunter
Indecent Proposal
Intentions of the Earl: Scandalous Sisters, Book 1 (Volume 1)
Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery Series #1)
Irresistible Forces (Kimani Romance)
It Happens Every Spring (The Four Seasons of a Marriage Series #1)
Just Deceits: A Historical Courtroom Mystery
Justice in June
Kiss Me Deadly (Silhouette Nocturne)
Lady of Hay: Two Women, Eight Hundred Years, and the Destiny They Share
Laid to Rest (Theatre Mysteries)
Leaving Before It's Over: A Novel
Love's Magic: Book One in the Boadicea Series
Maid for Love: McCarthys of Gansett Island (Volume 1)
Married By Mistake
Murder Passes the Buck: A Gertie Johnson Murder Mystery
Murphy's Law (Molly Murphy)
My Lady Gisborne: A Love Story
Napoleon's Pyramids
Natural Causes (The Inspector McLean Mysteries)
Never Buried: A Leigh Koslow Mystery (Volume 1)
Oh, Cherry Ripe
One Deadly Sister (Sandy Reid Mystery Series)
Order of the White Feather: The Sword of Dalamar
September Fair (The Murder-By-Month Mysteries)
Shadow Of Doubt: A Kali O'Brien Mystery
Silver Lies: A Silver Rush Mystery (Silver Rush Mysteries)
Sloane Monroe Series Boxed Set (Books 1-3)
Solomon vs. Lord
Sophie's Secret (Whispers)
Sweet Masterpiece: The First Samantha Sweet Mystery
The Age of Innocence
The Amersham Rubies
The Axeman's Jazz: A Skip Langdon Novel
The Beauty Bride: The Jewels of Kinfairlie
The Billionaire Wins the Game: Billionaire Bachelors
The Billionaire's Curse (The Archer Legacy)
The Bride's Baby
The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy)
The Deal
The Devil's Cradle (Kendall O'Dell Mystery series)
The Duchess of Love
The Entitled
The Fairy Tale Bride (Once upon a Wedding)
The French Maid,
The Ghost and Jacob Moorhead
The Glades
The Hanover Square Affair
The Hunt: A Novel (Hunt Country Suspense)
The Inside Ring: A Joe DeMarco Thriller
The Journey Home
The Jungle Books (Nook Version)
The Killing Room Nook Version
The Lady Risks All
The Magnificent 12: The Call
The Maine Event (Josh & Dana)
The Master of Verona
The Murder at the Vicarage: A Miss Marple Mystery (Miss Marple Mysteries)
The Name Game
The One You Love
The Secret Dreams of Sarah-Jane Quinn: A Harper & Lyttle novel
Tuesday's Child
Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (A Rose Gardner Mystery)
Warned Off (The Eddie Malloy Series)
Wild Angel

added at year-end

★Francesca: The Silk Merchant's Daughters
★Buried in a Book
Six Strokes Under
✔★Pecan Pies and Homicides recorded in Category 12
✔★The Proposal recorded in Category 13
Angel's Advocate
A Slice of Murder
★The Walled Flower

XI. CBS - Current Book Series
I love series and I blame all of you here at LibraryThing. After updating my file at Fict Fact, I have 209 series with that I have either started, have the first book or am current.
Several (23) I'm only one book behind so those I will definitely make an effort to get read before another is published and I start to fall farther behind.

1. Eggs in a Casket ARC from author - 1/12/14 signed card included CURRENT
2. Steeped in Evil 3/18/14 CURRENT
3. Something Old, Something New 4/21/14
4. Silence of the Grave 4/28/14
5. Mrs. Hudson's Case 8/2/14
6. Terminal City 8/14/14
7. If the Shoe Kills 11/22/14

Here are my top candidates:
Need only 1

The Garden Intrigue (#9) (Pink Carnation)
Blood of Tyrants (#8) Temeraire
✔★How the Light Gets In (#9) Inspector Gamache recorded in chunksters Category#4
★Blackberry Pie Murder Hannah Swensen
✔★Mrs Hudson's Case (#12½) Mary Russell
✔★Steeped in Evil (#15) Tea Shoppe
✔★Home of the Braised (#7) White House Chef recorded in Nook Books Category 10
✔★Something Old, Something New: A Blessings Novel Nook Version
Destroyer Angel Anna Pigeon
Read It and Weep (#4)
✔★Death Angel ♫ (#15) Alex Cooper
Inferno (#4) Robert Langdon
Rivals in the City (#4) Agency
★Thread and Buried (#3) Threadville
A King's Ransom (#2) (Lionheart)


Need 2

I Shall Not Want (Reverend Clare Fergusson)
Through the Evil Days (Reverend Clare Fergusson)
The London Blitz Murders (Disaster Series)
The Lusitania Murders (Disaster Series)
The Vintage Vendetta (Wine Country)
The Sauvignon Secret (Wine Country)

XII. Weather Channel - Cozy mysteries
My favorite type of book is cozy mysteries, so why not give myself a category that I can just sit back and relax on the cool snowy evenings. I can definitely see this category being overrun with books!

1. Final Sentence 2/27/14
2. Pecan Pies, and Homicides 4/19/14
3. Decaffeinated Corpse 5/21/14
4. Stirring the Plot 7/17/14
5. Bookmarked For Death 9/2/14
6. The Lies That Bind: A Bibliophile Mystery 9/20/14
7. Twisted Threads 12/16/14

CATEGORY COMPLETED

★ designates top of the list.

Here are the prime suspects:
✔★The Lies That Bind: A Bibliophile Mystery
✔★Bookplate Special
✔★Bookmarked For Death
★Red Velvet Revenge
★A Spoonful of Murder
★Allergic to Death
✔★Pecan Pies and Homicides (#3) Charmed Pie Shoppe
★Dead Letters: A MUSEUM MYSTERY
✔★The Whole Enchilada
Death by the Dozen
Ghost a la Mode
A Dyeing Shame: Death at the Beauty Box
We'll Always have parrots

Lesser suspects:
Written in Stone
Diva Paints the Town
Pinned for Murder
Going Through the Notions
Through a Glass Darkly
Tool & Die
Triple Witch
Nail Biter
Mallets Aforethought
Mind Over Murder
Murder a la Carte
Murder Passes the Buck
Murphy's Law
Repair to Her Grave
Red Velvet Revenge
Larceny and Old Lace
Love and Murder on the Queen Anne
In the Garden of Temptation
Invisible
Knit Fast, Die Young: A Knitting Mystery
A Face at the Window
A Killer Stitch
A Plateful of Murder
A Provencal Mystery
All Sales Fatal
Armed and Fabulous
Gilt By Association
French Pressed
Going, Going, Ganache
Hanging By A Thread

XIII.Hallmark - Romances
Ever since I can remember choosing my own books, I've been a sucker for romances. Maybe it started because I went to an all girl high school and I didn't have a lot of exposure to boys until I went to college and met my husband. But he's not a real romantic, he's an accountant. He treats me like a princess but rarely do I get a birthday card or flowers, or anything that many would classify as romantic. So I always tease him when I'm reading a romance novel/bodice ripper whatever you care to call them, that I'm getting my dose of romance. Before LT, romances were a good 75% of my reading, now maybe 10%. But still I can't do without them.
I can also reduce the size of my TBR list if I read the ones I already own.

1. The Proposal 6/13/14
2. Delicious! 7/8/14
3. The Escape 7/12/14
4. Nantucket Sisters 8/27/14
5. Island Girls 10/5/14
6. Love Letters 10/12/14
7. The Queen of Four Kingdoms 11/12/14

CATEGORY COMPLETED

★ designates top of the list.

Here are the prime candidates:
A Night Like This
★Bianca
★A Secret Affair (Huxtable Quintet, Book 5)
★And Then She Fell (Cynster Sisters Duo)
★Everlasting
★It Happened One Season
★Talk of the Ton (Berkley Sensation)
Dancing at Midnight
The Dressmaker
The Distant Hours
Everlasting
★The Greatest Lover in All England
★The Lady Risks All
★The Perfect Mistress
✔★The Proposal (#1)
★The Secret Mistress (The Mistress)
Wedding of the Season: Abandoned at the Altar
A Bride in the Bargain
A Distant Magic (Guardians (Del Rey))
The Stolen Crown: The Secret Marriage that Forever Changed the Fate of England
The York Rose
An Irish Country Village: A Novel,
The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After

Here are others that may be in the running:
A Duke's Temptation: The Bridal Pleasures Series
A Good Yarn (Blossom Street, No. 2)
A Husband's Wicked Ways
A Necessary Husband
A Precious Jewel
A Summer Affair: A Novel
A Wedding Story
A Wicked Lord At the Wedding
An Autumn Wedding
An Indecent Proposition (Signet Eclipse)
An Unlikely Countess: A Novel of the Malloren World
Believe (Heartspell)
Candle in the Window
Colters' Wife
Darcy's Temptation: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
DAYS OF GOLD
Fascinated
Ft-Blue Bayou
His Every Kiss (Avon Romantic Treasure)
His Favorite Mistress: A Novel
His Lady Mistress (Harlequin Historical Series)
Honor Thyself
Indecent Proposal
Intentions of the Earl: Scandalous Sisters, Book 1 (Volume 1)
Irresistible (Berkley Sensation Historical Romance)
It Happens Every Spring (The Four Seasons of a Marriage Series #1)
Kiss Me Deadly (Silhouette Nocturne)
Kiss of Fate
Kissed by Shadows (Get Connected Romances)
Knight of Pleasure (All the King's Men)
Lady Rogue
Lovesong
Midnight Angel
Never Less Than a Lady
Never Seduce a Scoundrel (The School for Heiresses, Book 1)
Nightsong
No Choice But Seduction (Malory Family)
Only a Duke Will Do (The School for Heiresses, Book 2)
PLAYING THE GAME
Priceless
Shameless (Banning Sisters Trilogy)
Ship of Destiny (The Liveship Traders, Book 3)
Star of the Morning (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 1)
Sweet Savage Love
Ten Things I Love About You
The Angry Tide
The Billionaire Wins the Game: Billionaire Bachelors
The Bride's Baby
The Enchanted Land
The French Maid, Nook Version
The Guardian
The Lady Most Likely...: A Novel in Three Parts
The Magic Of You (Malory Novels)
The Marriage Bed (Avon Romantic Treasure)
The Pearl at the Gate (Nook Version)
The Princess and the Pea (Faerie Tale Romance)
The Ravenscar Dynasty
The Runaway Princess
The School for Brides (A School For Brides Romance)
The Second Mrs. Darcy: A Novel
Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1)
The True Darcy Spirit: A Novel
The Truth About Lord Stoneville (Hellions of Halstead Hall)
The Virgin's Secret
To Be the Best (Emma Harte Saga)
To Taste the Wine
Unmasked
Warrior's Woman
WINDSONG
Yesterday & Forever

XIV. ESPN - Catching up on series

I have 209 series that I've marked an interest in, some I'm all caught up on (38), some I haven't started yet 23 - I have the book just haven't read it - leaving me 148 series that I need to catch up on. (And where do you think I get the ideas for these?) Each year I try to choose several series that I will definitely be current on by the end of the year. But there are others where I have several books to read to get to the most recent so I'm purposely select 2-3 to concentrate on in 2014.

1. Execution Dock 4/24/14
2. The Girl of His Dreams 5/9/14
3. An Incomplete Revenge 6/4/14
4. Acceptable Loss 7/7/14
5. A Sunless Sea 8/31/14
6. A Lesson in Secrets 12/7/14
7. About Face 12/13/14

CATEGORY COMPLETED

I only managed to get current on one in 2013, so I really need to concentrate on this endeavor in 2014. The series that I have chosen in 2014 are:

William Monk by Anne Perry

✔Execution Dock %♫(CHUNKSTER)
✔Acceptable Loss % ♫
✔A Sunless Sea
Blind Justice
Blood on the Water

Guido Brunetti by Donna Leon

✔17. The Girl of His Dreams % ♫
✔18. About Face %♫
19. A Question of Belief % ♫
20. Drawing Conclusions
21. Beastly Things
22. The Golden Egg
23. By Its Cover

Maisie Dobbs

✔An Incomplete Revenge % ♫
✔A Lesson in Secrets: Complete
✔Elegy for Eddie
Leaving Everything Most Loved

What a well thought out challenge! Good luck next year.

I agree, Cheli, very well thought out categories and books. Like you, I love all the extra challenges like TIOLI and the CATS. 2014 is shaping up to be a fun reading year.

Great setup, especially for catching up on series! Good luck :)

Great setup for your challenge, Cheli!

All I can say is WOW! You have certainly put a lot of thought and effort into your challenge. I'm pretty sure it would give me a heart attack. :) Looking forward to seeing what you read!

Have fun! I had a Food Network category one year, but it was all culinary mysteries and books about cooking, etc. I've got you starred since I'm sure I'll catch many of those book bullets flying my way from your thread.

I've also signed up for the GEOCATs. Challenges like this help me to stretch in my reading. Many of these books I wouldn't have even considered reading without this fun nudge into the wider world. So here are the books that I'm planning to read:

January -- Canada and the US
✔American Passage, the history of Ellis Island
✔Fer-de-Lance
February -- Middle East and North Africa
✔Curse of the Pharaohs (Egypt)
March -- Central America, Mexico and Caribbean
The last prince of the Mexican empire ABANDONED
April -- Eastern Europe
Budapest & the Best of Hungary ABANDONED
May -- South Asia
On the Grand Trunk Road: A Journey into South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Afghanistan) OUT OF DATE
June -- Islands and Bodies of Water
✔Little ship of fools : 16 rowers, 1 improbable boat, 7 tumultuous weeks (Atlantic Ocean)
July -- Polar Regions
✔The Snowman (Norway)
August -- Western Europe
✔By fire, by water : a novel (Spanish Inquisition)
✔Freak of Freedom (San Marino)
The Ludwig Conspiracy (Bavaria)
September -- East Asia
Bonesetter's Daughter (China)
October -- South America
✔State of Wonder (Amazon)
November -- Australia and Oceania
Cocaine Blues (Australia, New Zealand)
December -- Sub-Saharan Africa
The Abyssinian (Ethiopia)

Three will also count toward my Endless European Tour and three are actually timed right for the Mystery CAT.

With my love of mysteries I couldn't pass on the MysteryCAT so here are a few books that possibly could find their way into my reading for 2014.

January -- Detective novels
✔Fer-de-Lance - Nero Wolfe
✔An Incomplete Revenge - Maisie Dobbs
February -- Series
✔Death Angel
✔Curse of the Pharaohs
March -- Young Adult and Childrens' mysteries
Death Cloud ABANDONED
✔Maze of Bones
April -- Nordic mysteries
✔Silence of the Grave
May -- Classic and Golden Age mysteries
✔★The Likeness moved to July
June -- Police Procedurals
✔Execution Dock - William Monk
✔The Girl of His Dreams - Commissario Brunetti
July -- Noir and Hard-boiled
Faithful Place
August - British mysteries
✔Mrs. Hudson's Case
✔Acceptable Loss % ♫ read in June
A Sunless Sea
September -- Book-themed mysteries
✔The Lies That Bind
✔★Bookmarked For Death
✔Bookplate Special
October -- Global mysteries mysteries set outside of N.America, Britain and Scandinavia
✔State of Wonder
November -- Historical mysteries
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor
The Hanover Square Affair
Sacrilege
Borgia Mistress
The Queen's Man
December -- Cozy mysteries
Death by the Dozen
Ghost a la Mode
A Dyeing Shame: Death at the Beauty Box

THIS LOOKS LIKE FUN!!!!

Very clever set-up and the illustrations are great - looking forward to following along!

Cheli, as usual you are more organized than I am! I've begun thinking about specific books for different categories, but I'm not as far along as you are. Looking forward to another year of book bullets from you!

Some great categories here, as usual, Cheli.

I'm going to be much more focused on the CAT challenges, Geo, Mystery, and Random, in 2014. In fact, in my 2014 category challenge, GEO Cat gets its own category.

I was going to make the GEOCAT it's own category but then thought about my state challenge and decided to combine them.

It's obvious you've spent some time deciding on your reading list for next year. I'm so embarrassed that I could never be so organized! Have a great year!

Will be following again this year. Great category set-up. I'm still moving books in and out of categories now that the CATs are set. Those of you who waited to set your categories were smart.

Surprised to find someone else who is planning on taking on the OZ series. I remember when I was little my dad read aloud to me on Sunday afternoons and we went through the series. Thought it would be nice to do it again, I certainly don't remember them so it will quite fresh.

Yay - love your forward planning for the GeoCAT and MysteryCAT. I've planned for January only at this stage - way too many choices of course.

209 series! Thank you for reminding me NOT to count the number of series I'm reading. I don't want to know.

Great organization. I tried listing possible books for each category one year and discovered that it greatly reduced my chance of actually reading those books. So I'm avoiding my shelves until the month in question when it comes to the CATs. Which I am also excited about, although suspect that the existence of the location wikis will add to my TBR pile.

Kay, of course your series reading is probably somewhat limited by what you took with you to Germany, except for those occasional purchases!

Hi Cheli:

Just checking in and marveling at your organizational skills as usual. I have to check Fictfact and see how many series I have to catch up on. I'm also going to check my Nook library, I recognize a few of your planned reads as books that I may have purchased but neglected to add to my LT catalog. We won't mention how many books are currently sitting on the Nook.

I've been slowly adding my series to FicFact but am finding it a bit daunting to go backwards and figure out where I really am on some series I haven't read for a while. I think in 15, I'm going to have some kind of series catch-up category. Not to mention all the new series I started this year. And I blame some of you cough! cough LTers for most of them.

Betty, it's not blame, it's credit. Give credit to the person who found those series you. :-)

Thanks for the FictFact tip! I haven't been organized with my series reading and this is just what I needed.

Oh yeah - credit...that's the word :)

#9 - do you already have all of those audios, or are they simply ones you've identified as available in that format?

yes, I really have all those audios which is why I keep getting more, I have to be ready for the WWBF!

Oh Man! What a great challenge. I love the network related themes, so well done! I'm still chugging through older challenges like the presidents and states but since I don't concentrate on them they're only hit and miss. Good luck with your '14 challenges!

Great theme, Cheli.

Just received a signed copy of Daryl Wood Gerber's book Inherit the Word. She said on Facebook that she had a few copies and asked if anyone wanted one. I jumped on it, so it will be at the top of my ABC category!

Challenge Book#1

TITLE: An Honest President: The Life and Presidencies of Grover Cleveland ★★★¼
AUTHOR: H.P.Jeffers
DATE READ: December 27 - January 6
Book type: ARD
Category: history

This was the perfect title because Cleveland was a man that held honesty as the most important trait of any man even if it threatened his political popularity.

Wouldn't it be nice if a few more politicians aspired to that?

ETA: What? They're not all honest? Surely you jest?

Nice to see you are still moving along with the Presidential challenge. I really need to get back to that as I'm lagging behind. I do have a Buchanan booked planned for this year and hopefully will work in a few more.

I had to finished Grover because I had Ben Harrison from the Library and I have to return him tomorrow!I'm hoping to finish through Taft this year.

Challenge Book#2

TITLE: Benjamin Harrison: America's 23rd President ★★¾
AUTHOR: Jean Kinney Williams
DATE READ: January 7 - January 7
Book type: ARD
Category: history

Most people if asked about Benjamin Harrison will either say that he was the man elected in between the non-consecutive terms of Grover Cleveland or that he was the grandson of William Henry Harrison, the 9th President and in this short biography that's about it. He appears to have been elected on name recognition and his war record rather than anything he stood for or had done.

What a great idea for your category themes - LOVE the images you picked for each one too!

Challenge Book#3

TITLE: Eggs in a Casket ★★★¾
AUTHOR: Laura Childs
DATE READ: January 7 - January 12
Book type: ARD
Category: CBS - Continuing Books in a Series
How does it fit the category? 5th in the series

One of my favorite series, love the characters, love the recipes, LOVE THE STORIES!

I need to track down #4 in the Cackleberry Club series so I can read that one! I've looked for it a couple of times in the used bookstore, but the only time I found it, the copy was new and full price. I refused to pay that. Hopefully I'll track it down soon. I enjoyed the first 3 in the series.

Challenge Book#4

TITLE: American Passage: The History of Ellis Island ★★★
AUTHOR: Vincent J. Cannato
DATE READ: January 13 - January 15
Book type: ARD
Category: TRAVEL - Euro, US, and GEOCAT Challenges
How does it fit the category? Focus reading for GEOCAT

Reading this book makes me wonder how my grandfather managed to pass through Ellis Island and get into the USA.

Well, I haven't finished reading that one yet, Cheli. It's in process. I was too tired to read last night. Hopefully I can curl up on my couch and read tonight.

Challenge Book#5

TITLE: The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion ★★★★
AUTHOR: Fannie Flagg
DATE READ: January 15 - January 23
Book type: ARD
Category: ABC - ARCs/ERs
How does it fit the category? ARC from Random House

The title grabbed me and the book did too. Funny with quirky characters and a bit of nostalgia.

I don't have this one, but I do have a couple of Fannie Flagg books in my TBR that I keep meaning to get to. I suppose I could say "maybe this year", but who knows.

Challenge Book#6

TITLE: Fer-de-Lance ★★★
AUTHOR: Rex Stott
DATE READ: January 2 - January 25
Book type: Audiobook
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? first in the Nero Wolfe series

TV series, TV movies - heard of Nero Wolfe but never read the books. This was an interesting introduction.

I tried to listen to the audio of Fer-de-Lance years ago for a group discussion, but the narrator (Michael Pritchard) isn't my cuppa. I finally got around to reading it (in print) last month! I'm trying to read all the groups reads that I missed for that group which used to pick a mystery a month and then discuss them for four days. I was shocked to discover that I had "missed" 14 books in the four years that the group did this format! Of course "14" books missed made it the obvious choice for a category in the 2014 Challenge! :-)

Anyway, I thought Fer-de-Lance was interesting too. I'm not so sure this is a top priority series for me; but if I happen to see a Nero Wolfe story on one of my book acquisition raids, I would probably pick it up! I also got a copy of the 1936 film, "Meet Nero Wolfe" which helped with some of the imagery and stylings; but I'm pretty sure Hollywood got the characterizations "wrong!" Someone told me that the A&E series (starring Timothy Hutton) was pretty good. Maybe, when I pick up my next Nero Wolfe, I'll treat myself to the pilot episode :-)

Challenge Book#7

TITLE: The 100 year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared ★★★ ½
AUTHOR: Jonas Jonasson
DATE READ: January 25 - January 30
Book type: Audiobook
Category: Game Show Network - Group/Shared reads
How does it fit the category? LILIES BOOK GROUP


Light, amusing with a touch of history thrown in.

Challenge Book#8

TITLE: Home of the Braised ★★★★ ¾
AUTHOR: Julie Hyzy
DATE READ: February 1 - February 2
Book type: e-book
Category: NBC - Nook Books/ C(K)indle
How does it fit the category? on my Nook

I love this series and always worry that the new one won't live up to the past ones…No worry here! This is so great I didn't put it down until my eyes kept closing on me and I had to sleep, but I got up early to finish it!

I'm finally going to read the second White House chef book this month.

I need to get to the next one also. So many series - which ones to read this month?

I love the Nero Wolfe books but mainly for the mid 20th century atmosphere and the characters. Less so for the mysteries themselves.

I need to get to the new Julie Hyzy book soon, too.

Challenge Book#9

TITLE: League of Delphi ★★★★
AUTHOR: Chris Everheart
DATE READ: January 27 - February 4
Book type: e-book
Category: Disney - Children/Youth Books
How does it fit the category? Young Adult series starter

The publisher offered this book to me for review and I pleasantly surprised at how gripping the story was. I didn't even mind the cliffhanger.

Challenge Book#10

TITLE: Wonderful Wizard of Oz ★★★★
AUTHOR: L. Frank Baum
DATE READ: February 4 - February 5
Book type: e-book
Category: AMC - TBRs/classics
How does it fit the category? first of Oz books

I've watched the movie so many times, it was fun to read the actual story behind it.

This is the second time tonight that I've been able to sing "We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz . . . "

Challenge Book#11

TITLE: Christmas Hope ★★★
AUTHOR: Anne Perry
DATE READ: February 5 - February 8
Book type: ARD
Category: ABC - ARCs/ERs
How does it fit the category? ER from LT

Even though this was an October batch for ER, I didn't receive it until January. I think I would have enjoyed it more during the holidays but it really didn't have much of a touch of the holidays, story-wise. A typical Perry Holiday novella.

Challenge Book#13

TITLE: Anne of Green Gables ★★
AUTHOR: L.M. Montgomery
DATE READ: February 5 - February 16
Book type: E-BOOK
Category: GSN (Game Show Network) - Group or Shared Reads
How does it fit the category? Group Read

Anne is definitely a chatty little thing. However, the conversations, day dreams, and any activities really didn't do it for me. I guess I was too old for this one.

Challenge Book#14

TITLE: How the Light Gets In ★★★★★
AUTHOR: Louise Penny
DATE READ: February 15 - February 19
Book type: Audiobook
Category: FOOD - Chunksters/books over 500 pgs or audios 15 discs
How does it fit the category? 675 pages 16 discs

It is hard to believe that Louise Penny can continue to improve on the writing in this series and yet she does. Each book is better than the last! The characters are tremendous and the story unbelievably sensational!

Challenge Book#15

TITLE: A Deadly Grind ★★★
AUTHOR: Victoria Hamilton
DATE READ: February 19 - February 23
Book type: E-book
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? New series

New series that needs a bit of tweaking still. Too many characters kept this reader confused but may just have been to introduce the cast of characters.

I'm sad that you didn't like Anne. She's one of my all-time favorites.

Challenge Book#16

TITLE: The Whole Enchilada ★★★
AUTHOR: Diane Mott Davidson
DATE READ: February 21 - February 26
Book type: Audio book
Category: Weather Channel - Cozy mysteries
How does it fit the category? cozy mystery

A fun addition to this series. Not the greatest but still fun!

> 72 Cheli: Did it seem to you that with the epilogue that was included that this might be it for the series?

It just seemed to me as though she tried to wrap up things a little more neatly than usual.

I didn't feel that way. I think the new development will just cause her more opportunities to get into trouble.

Challenge Book#17

TITLE: Final Sentence ★★★½
AUTHOR: Daryl Wood Gerber
DATE READ: February 24 - February 25
Book type: e-book
Category: Weather Channel - Cozy mysteries
How does it fit the category? cozy mystery

A new cozy mystery series by an author who really knows how to put food and mystery together. Got the next one ready to go!

Challenge Book#18

TITLE: Peter and the Starcatchers ★★★½
AUTHOR: Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
DATE READ: February 27 - March 4
Book type: audiobook
Category: Disney - Children/Youth Books
How does it fit the category? Children/YA

What fun! A prequel about Peter Pan telling how he learned to fly, Tinker Bell's birth, Neverland and Captain Hook all! Looking forward to the next installment.

Challenge Book#19

TITLE: Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy ★★★½
AUTHOR: Karen Foxlee
DATE READ: March 1 - March 4
Book type: audiobook
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? new author

11 yr old Ophelia believes in science until she meets and helps the Marvelous Boy who has only a few more days to defeat the Snow Queen. The descriptions and events engage the imagination.

The Peter and the Starcatchers series is such fun! My favourite was the last one, Peter and the Sword of Mercy.

75> Quit finding new cozy series involving food! I don't need another series to add to my list that will never get caught up.

>79 thornton37814: Ditto! (Plus, they make me hungry!)

Challenge Book#19

TITLE: Maze of Bones ★★★½
AUTHOR: Rick Riordan
DATE READ: March 6 - March 7
Book type: audiobook
Category: Disney - Children/Youth Books
How does it fit the category? YA mystery

Dan and Amy Cahill are presented with a quest when their grandmother passes away. The Quest is also presented to other branches of the family with power as the final reward. The kids have to fight off many adults while progressing on the quest.

Interesting that this series is written by multiple authors.

Challenge Book#20

TITLE: Inherit the Word ★★★½
AUTHOR: Daryl Wood Gerber
DATE READ: March 5 - March 8
Book type: ARD
Category: ABC - ARCs/ERs
How does it fit the category? Signed ARC from the author

This book was sent to me by the author when she posted that she had a few extra copies for review and I requested it. Since it was the second in the series, I bought the first and have enjoyed both. If they keep going this way, I may have a new series for my top 5!

Challenge Book#21

TITLE: Death Al Dente ★★★½
AUTHOR: Leslie Budewitz
DATE READ: March 8 - March 11
Book type: ARD
Category: TRAVEL - Euro, US, and GEOCAT Challenges
How does it fit the category? US 50 State - Montana

So many characters are returning to their hometowns, but it works to reunite the family and old friends. Erin Murphy comes back to help Mom and the family business. When a body is found in the alley behind their general store, Erin has to fight not just the police but her mother too.

Interesting exposure to the state of Montana and I especially liked Erin's Spreadsheet of Suspicion.

Great timing with your reviews. I'm heading to the Left Coast Crime Convention next week and will have to be on the lookout for both of these books. Looks like Daryl Wood Gerber is planning on attending so I'm sure her books will be available for sale there. Can't wait!!

Challenge Book#23

TITLE: Death Angel ★★★★
AUTHOR: Linda Fairstein
DATE READ: March 11 - March 13
Book type: Audio
Category: CBS - Continuing Books in a Series
How does it fit the category? latest in Alex Cooper series

If anyone ever wants to learn about New York City, a little bit at a time, this is the series to read to do it. In each book Ms Fairstein concentrates on one aspect of the city - this time it was Central Park and the Dakota. The mystery was cleverly woven around the park and this special building.

I do want to get back into the Alex Cooper series, I enjoyed the first one and then quickly amassed several others in the series, but never got back to them. Now they sit on my shelf, and on the Nook mocking me. I think I will pull book number 2 off the shelf, if I can find it that is.

Challenge Book#24

TITLE: You Cannoli Die Once ★★★½
AUTHOR: Shelley Costa
DATE READ: March 11 - March 17
Book type: E-book
Category: NBC - Nook Books/ C(K)indle
How does it fit the category? Nook Book

Give me pasta and cannolis anytime and I'm in heaven. Add it to a cozy mystery and it's a winner in my opinion!

Challenge Book#25

TITLE: Steeped in Evil ★★★★
AUTHOR: Laura Childs
DATE READ: March 17 - March 18
Book type: ARD
Category: CBS - Continuing Books in a Series
How does it fit the category? Latest in the Tea ShoppeMysteries

I keep wishing that there was a real Indigo Tea Shoppe in Charleston. I'd be there in a heartbeat just to meet these characters.

>88 cyderry: - I know! I was in Charleston last year and was wishing I could find it.

Challenge Book#26

TITLE: The Marvelous Land of Oz ★★★¼
AUTHOR: L. Frank Baum
DATE READ: March 20 - March 22
Book type: ARD
Category: American Movie Classics - TBRs/classics
How does it fit the category? Next in the Wizard of Oz series

It's fun to see the story of Oz continue with new characters as well as a few of the old.

Challenge Book#27

TITLE: Last Original Wife ★★★½
AUTHOR: Dorothea Benton Frank
DATE READ: March 18 - March 23
Book type: Audiobook
Category: Game Show Network - Group/Shared reads
How does it fit the category? LILIES Book Group


What a fun book - a woman who finally just walks out on her bully husband - his reactions are priceless!

Challenge Book#28

TITLE: The Woggle-Bug Book ★★★
AUTHOR: L. Frank Baum
DATE READ: March 24 - March 25
Book type: e-book
Category: American Movie Classics - TBRs/classics
How does it fit the category? Next in the Wizard of Oz series

It's fun to see the story of Oz continue with another new character!

Every time I go to Charleston I keep hoping that the Indigo Tea Shop will miraculously appear before my eyes. You would think that someone would open a tea shop there, whether it is called Indigo or not, just to capitalize on the novels. I'm glad you enjoyed the Dottie Frank book. I don't read a lot of "chick lit," but she is one author I really enjoy.

Sadly, this one has been abandoned.

No wasting times on books we don't like - too many books we do like are out there!

Challenge Book#29

TITLE: A Snicker of Magic ★★★¾
AUTHOR: Natalie Lloyd
DATE READ: March 27 - March 30
Book type: ARD
Category: Disney - Children/Youth Books
How does it fit the category? Young Adult book

I am a sucker for just about anything magic - that this one had ice cream with magical powers - icing on the cake!

Challenge Book#30

TITLE: Prime Minister's Secret Agent ★★★½
AUTHOR: Susan Elia MacNeal
DATE READ: March 31 - April 5
Book type: e-book
Category: ABC - ARCs/ERs
How does it fit the category? ARC from NetGalley

Love the series, love the characters! Plot was little thin but still enjoyable!

Challenge Book#31

TITLE: Murder at Honeychurch Hall ★★★★
AUTHOR: Hannah Dennison
DATE READ: April 6 - April 10
Book type: e-book
Category: NBC - Nook Books/ C(K)indle
How does it fit the category? NetGalley on Kindle

The characters were so fun and the story was well written.
Hope the story continues.

>98 cyderry: I hope that one is better than the A Vicky Hill Exclusive by her that I read. Is it part of the same series? or is it different? a stand-alone?

new series as far as I know

Could you please stop reading so many good books? I don't think my TBR can take it! ;)

But Laura, I actually abandoned 2 books this year!

Challenge Book#32

TITLE: Deadly Endplay ★★★
AUTHOR: Ken Allan
DATE READ: April 10 - April 13
Book type: e-book
Category: NBC - Nook Books/ C(K)indle
How does it fit the category? NetGalley on Kindle

great book for bridge players, more so than mystery lovers.

Challenge Book#33

TITLE: Guidebook to Murder ★★★¾
AUTHOR: Lynn Cahoon
DATE READ: April 13 - April 15
Book type: e-book
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? new series/new author

It's a typical little cozy but I love the characters and the way it was written. Hope the next one comes soon!

102: Yes, but there are 31 others that you finished and enjoyed! :)

>103 cyderry: The cover picture is really coool!

Knee surgery was Monday and I think that I'm progressing very well.



I'm not quite up to this speed yet, but I am up and walking around.

Good for you! It's all improvement from here on out.

That's great news Cheli! It looks like you've been reading some good books lately too.

Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery!

Glad to hear you're up and about! Hope the recovery continues to move quickly :)

Glad to see you are on the road to recovery and in great spirits!

Hope it's smooth sailing from now on. Or rather, smooth walking!

Excellent to hear about the success of the surgery - hope it continues to go smoothly!

Keeping my fingers crossed for everything to keep on going well.

Challenge Book#34

TITLE: Pecan Pies and Homicides ★★★★
AUTHOR: Ellery Adams
DATE READ: April 16 - April 19
Book type: e-book
Category: Weather Channel - Cozy mysteries
How does it fit the category? Cozy Mystery

This series is growing to be one of my absolute favorites.
The characters are fun, the situations have a certain quirkiness,
the mysteries are satisfying, and the food sounds absolutely yummy.

Challenge Book#35

TITLE: Something Old, Something New ★★★★
AUTHOR: Beverly Jenkins
DATE READ: April 20 - April 21
Book type: e-book
Category: CBS - Continuing Books in a Series
How does it fit the category? next in the series

This series just makes me smile and laugh and wish that all the rich old b******* would learn a lesson and dedicate some of their funds to helping small town America. I love the characters and the stories!

>117 cyderry: - Cheli - I read this one back in Jan and I'm a big fan of the series also. And a fifth one just came out this year.

Challenge Book#36

TITLE: Execution Dock ★★★
AUTHOR: Anne Perry
DATE READ: March 25 - April 24
Book type: e-book
Category: ESPN - Catching up on a series
How does it fit the category? next spotlighted series

Love the characters and the writing, but the plot was a little thin on this one.

Challenge Book#37

TITLE: Silence of the Grave ★★★½
AUTHOR: Arnaldur Indriðason
DATE READ: April 25 - April 30
Book type: ARD
Category: CBS - Continuing Books in a Series
How does it fit the category? next in Reykjavik series

The characters aren't really likeable but it still works, the writing is excellent.

Challenge Book#38

TITLE: Where'd You Go Bernadette? ★★★★¼
AUTHOR: Maria Semple
DATE READ: April 25 - April 30
Book type: AUDIO
Category: Game Show Network - Group/Shared reads
How does it fit the category? Lilies Book Group

This was such an unusual book, but it was fun. It made me laugh and realize that yes, there are strange people in this world who can still be nice.

Thanks to tutu for the recommendation.

Challenge Book#39

TITLE: A Murderous Glaze ★★★¼
AUTHOR: Melissa Glazer
DATE READ: April 30 - May 2
Book type: e-book
Category: TRAVEL - Euro, US, and GEOCAT Challenges
How does it fit the category? Vermont 50 state Challenge

This was a fun start with a new series. I especially liked that the main character was older and already married and in a good relationship. That made her seem more stable and likeable. I could relate more.

Challenge Book#40

TITLE: The Girl of his Dreams ★★★¼
AUTHOR: Donna Leon
DATE READ: May 4 - May 9
Book type: audiobook
Category: ESPN - Catching on a series
How does it fit the category? Brunetti series

I love to listen to this series because of the magnificent narration and accents, makes me want to visit Italy!

Well, I hit a small reading funk when I was overwhelmed with other activities, but I'm packing up to take a vacation with my sweetie to celebrate our 40th anniversary (25th) and my 60th birthday (29th) in wine country USA.


While he hits the links in the morning, I'll get quiet time to do some reading. I probably won't be here much, but I should be back and filled with books to review at the beginning of June!

Please remember our warriors, past and present this Memorial weekend.

Happy Anniversary and Birthday! Have a great trip. I'll imagine you, sipping wine, reading and looking out at a beautiful view.

Have a wonderful trip, Cheli. That sounds like the perfect holiday, enjoy your Anniversary and Birthday.

Have a great time, and many happy returns! :) Enjoy your reading time as well!

Happy vacationing, anniversary, and birthday, Cheli!

Hope you have a great trip! Happy birthday and anniversary!

Challenge Book#41

TITLE: Decaffeinated Corpse ★★★½
AUTHOR: Cleo Coyle
DATE READ: May 19 - May 21
Book type: ARD
Category: Weather Channel - Cozy mysteries
How does it fit the category? cozy

Even though I rarely drink coffee, I enjoy this series and the characters. This was interesting because of the information regarding the decaffeination process.

Challenge Book#42

TITLE: A Wicked Slice ★★★½
AUTHOR: Charlotte Elkins, Aaron Elkins
DATE READ: May 22 - May 23
Book type: e-book
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? new author

My husband is an avid golfer, I frequently joke that in the ratings of what he counts as most important, golf is ahead of me. I thought reading a book centered on the golf course would be helpful for me to understand his passion. Didn't work that way, but it was a good mystery.

Hi Cheli - I finally found you and got caught up with all your books. Thankfully, I'm not very tempted by cozies, or I'd be complaining right along with everyone else about all the book bullets here! As it is, you're making me reconsider getting back into the cozy habit.

Glad to hear your surgery went well - hope you're still improving. Congrats on the anniversary and another ends-in-zero birthday. A friend of ours insists that all such birthdays should be spent on the beach. Wine country sounds better to me, though.

Beach could cause sunburn, wine country is much more fun.

And delicious!

Challenge Book#43

TITLE: Eat, Pray, Love ★★½
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Gilbert
DATE READ: May 23 - June 2
Book type: e-book
Category: TRAVEL - Euro, US, and GEOCAT Challenges
How does it fit the category? GEOCAT - South Asia

I really thought this would be a better book considering how most people rave about it, for me it just seemed that this woman was a whiner.

Challenge Book#44

TITLE: An Incomplete Revenge ★★★½
AUTHOR: Jacqueline Winspear
DATE READ: May 24 - June 4
Book type: audiobook
Category: ESPN - Catching on a series
How does it fit the category? next Maisie Dobbs

I love the way that JW discloses more about Maisie woven cleverly through a good mystery. Looking forward to another Maisie soon.

Challenge Book#45

TITLE: The Reflections of Queen Snow White ★★★★
AUTHOR: David Meredith
DATE READ: June 3 - June 7
Book type: e-book
Category: Disney - Children/Youth Books
How does it fit the category? based on a fairy tale

We all, as children, read the fairy tales and have seen the movie regarding Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. At the end we are told that they lived happily ever after. Here is the story about the ever after and the story of what happened to Snow White before and after the Dwarfs. Great fun!

Challenge Book#46

TITLE: Canterbury Tales ★★★
AUTHOR: Geoffrey Chaucer
DATE READ: April 15 - June 8
Book type: e-book
Category: FOOD Network - Chunksters/books over 500 pgs
How does it fit the category? 912 pgs

I'm really proud that finally got through this classic.
Some of the tales were amusing when I finally understood what was being said. My copy of this book had each tale in Old English and Middle English. I often had to seek some clarification through wikipedia or Sparks.

>135 cyderry: I didn't really like it either. "Eat, Pray, Whine" would have been a better title.

Lori, I'm glad I'm not alone, thank you.

>140 cyderry: Oh! You are so not alone! I hated Eat, Pray, Love soooo much! I thought the author was a spoiled brat and, to put it mildly, a fraud. It grated my nerves to see it made into a movie and, a sequel written to boot! Grrrr!

> 141, 139, 135: There must be more of us than I thought. I'll bet without Oprah's endorsement this would have died a quick death.

Great job on completing The Canterbury Tales!

Challenge Book#47

TITLE: The Proposal ★★★½
AUTHOR: Mary Balogh
DATE READ: June 9 - June 13
Book type: e-book
Category: Hallmark - Romances
How does it fit the category? romance

Mary Balogh is one of my favorite romance writers, and this new series just reinforces that. Independent women that have to be won over by tall, dark, and handsome. Give me more!

#144 - YUM! Mary Balogh is one of my favorite romance authors, too, but I can't remember the last time I read one of her books. More than a year for sure. Maybe time for another?

>>145 sjmccreary: Sandy, this is a new series. The Proposal is #1, then comes The Arrangement (I read out of order), and The Escape I have an ARC NetGalley to read in August. I love her books!

Challenge Book#48

TITLE: Richard Castle's Deadly Storm ★★¾
AUTHOR: Brian Michael Bendis
DATE READ: June 15 - June 16
Book type: ARD
Category: Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? 1st in the Derrick Storm series

I've always told myself that I would try a graphic novel and when this one debutted I thought it would be perfect. However, I have not changed my mind, a graphic novel is not a real book, IMO, it is just a comic "book".

Challenge Book#49

TITLE: Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn ★★★¼
AUTHOR: William Mann
DATE READ: June 17 - June 29
Book type: ARD
Category: FOOD Network - Chunksters/books over 500 pgs
How does it fit the category? 656 pgs.

The viewpoint of this author of the life of Katharine Hepburn conflicts tremendously with other biographies, however, I did, on occasion, find his ideas interesting.

Challenge Book#50

TITLE: The Shadow of Night ★★★¾
AUTHOR: Deborah Harkness
DATE READ: June 7 - June 29
Book type: audiobook
Category: FOOD Network - Chunksters/books over 500 pgs
How does it fit the category? 592 pgs.

I don't normally enjoy the vampire based books but somehow this series works for me. I enjoy the historical aspects and am reminded of Harry Potter when I see Diana and her quest to learn about her magical powers.

Challenge Book#51

TITLE: Little ship of fools : 16 rowers, 1 improbable boat, 7 tumultuous weeks on the Atlantic ★★★¾
AUTHOR: Charles Wilkins
DATE READ: June 13 - June 30
Book type: ARD
Category: TRAVEL - Euro, US, and GEOCAT Challenges
How does it fit the category? GEOCAT

This was a very interesting story of how 16 people got together n an effort to set a record of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. My opinion - better them than me!

Hi Cheli,

Just checking in to see your mid-year progress report. I guess I'm not that familiar with her life - what was so different about William Mann's bio of Katharine Hepburn from anyone else's?

>>151 sjmccreary: My book club decided that we would read Biographies of Katharine Hepburn, not all the same book. During the discussion it appears that the books that were written by authors who interviewed her personally, were given her life story the way she wanted to be known, not necessarily the actual events as they occurred. For instance, the way that the Tracy/Hepburn relationship has been portrayed, wasn't necessarily complete with the details - they were separated for several years after she got him off the booze, but then later on she was back and stayed with him until his death. Their sexual relationship was definitely questionable - apparently sex wasn't something that she really was interested in.

Challenge Book#52

TITLE: Acceptable Loss ★★★½
AUTHOR: Anne Perry
DATE READ: July 1 - July 7
Book type: audio book
Category: ESPN - Catching on a series
How does it fit the category? next in the William Monk series

This installment is the continuing saga of Monk and Hester's efforts to stop child pornography. The trial has Oliver Rathbone in a rather precarious position personally.
Great reading!

Challenge Book#53

TITLE: Delicious! ★★★¾
AUTHOR: Ruth Reichl
DATE READ: July 1 - July 8
Book type: ARD
Category: Hallmark - Romances
How does it fit the category? accidental romance

This was a really fun book looking back at a culinary magazine and its influence during WWII. The writing really flowed easily from one period to another.

Challenge Book#54

TITLE: The Escape ★★★½
AUTHOR: Mary Balogh
DATE READ: July 10 - July 12
Book type: e-book
Category: Hallmark - Romances
How does it fit the category? romance

Mary Balogh never fails to have characters that are full of life as well as love! This one was a bit different but we did have a happily ever after anyway.

>154 cyderry: That one is already on my TBR list so I avoided another book bullet.

>154 cyderry:
It's on my wishlist too, but I had forgotten that it was so thanks for the nudge. I do like Reichl's style a lot.

>154 cyderry: - I read one of her books a couple of years ago and have one more in my TBR, but not this one. Guess it goes onto the wishlist "Recommended by LT" list that I keep.

Challenge Book#55

TITLE: Beautiful Ruins ★★★¼
AUTHOR: Jess Walter
DATE READ: July 10 - July 13
Book type: Audio book
Category: PBS -Audio Books
How does it fit the category? audio


The beginning was a little difficult to follow, but eventually the confusion cleared.I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed because I had heard so many good things about this book and it didn't live up to my expectations. It was okay, but not great.

Challenge Book#56

TITLE: Stirring the Plot ★★★¾
AUTHOR: Daryl Wood Gerber
DATE READ: July 12 - July 17
Book type: ARD
Category: Weather Channel - Cozy mysteries
How does it fit the category? Cozy Mystery

This series is fast becoming one of my favorites - the mysteries have a touch of whimsy to go along with the touch of romance - real fun!

Challenge Book#57

TITLE: The Snowman ★★★¾
AUTHOR: Jo Nesbo
DATE READ: July 20 - July 27
Book type: AUDIOBOOK
Category: TRAVEL - Euro, US, and GEOCAT Challenges
How does it fit the category? GEOCAT


Usually I don't like books with serial killers but this story was riveting - well-written with great characters. I may have to investigate others in the series.

Challenge Book#58

TITLE: The Likeness ★★★★¾
AUTHOR: Tana French
DATE READ: July 17 - July 30
Book type: ARD
Category: FOOD Network - Chunksters/books over 500 pgs
How does it fit the category? 887 pgs

By the time I had read 12 pages, I was hooked. The story was so engaging that I literally couldn't put it down. It had to fall out of my hand before I would turn out the light to sleep. A great followup on the first from the series!

>162 cyderry: Wow! That's quite the endorsement! I have The Likeness on the TBR pile and should get to it soon (namely so that my mother can read it next).

>160 cyderry: - happy to see the favorable review! Really enjoyed her first book as did my parents. Thinking of buying the next two as a birthday gift for my dad.

That's how I reacted to The Likeness when I read it. It was fantastic -- the premise sounds so unlikely, but French pulls it off.

Challenge Book#59

TITLE: Ozma of Oz ★★★
AUTHOR: L. Frank Baum
DATE READ: July 30 - July 31
Book type: E-book
Category: American Movie Classics - TBRs/classics
How does it fit the category? an Oz book


This was fun seeing new characters interact with old ones.
Ozma until the last book and then here were Tiktok and the yellow hen.

Looking forward to the next book now that Dorothy is back.

Challenge Book#60

TITLE: Mrs, Hudson's Case ★★★½
AUTHOR: Laurie R King
DATE READ: August 2 - August 2
Book type: E-book
Category: CBS - Continuing Books in a Series
How does it fit the category? next in the Mary Russell series

This short story answers the question, did Mrs. Hudson learn how to conduct her own investigation - the answer is YES! The story has Mrs. Hudson on her own and she's smart enough to out smart Russell. What a feisty lady! Good fun!

Challenge Book#61

TITLE: Mission to Murder ★★★½
AUTHOR: Lynn Cahoon
DATE READ: August 2 - August 4
Book type: E-book
Category: NBC - Nook Books/ C(K)indle
How does it fit the category? on Kindle


A nice little cozy for the second installment. The characters are sweet and he story was entertaining.

Discussions has begun for the 2015 CATs.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/178741

I personally have started trying to decide on my theme for the new year. Any suggestions?

Well, I'm not nearly as creative as you. I'd thought about doing a college curriculum theme - with each category being a course towards a "diploma". But it's too much of a stretch for me to try to make it work. I'll probably do my usual and skip the clever themes. What are you thinking of doing?

Well, I thought about a pyramid challenge that would be 120 books, and theme it to be Histories and Mysteries and Witcheries(Fantasy and YA).

And then I'm thinking about a Baseball Theme, or a Flower theme, or Sports theme or an author theme where I would do a halfer+ where 8 categories would need 7 books and 7 categories would need 8 books.

Still trying to decide which I would like best and would work with how I choose and to read.

The easiest would be the Baseball theme since it was the runner-up for this year and I would just need to come up with one more category.

But the Author theme is starting to grab me - a specific author for each category and a category for new authors and one for my favorite authors but then how do I handle my histories because they aren't all written by the same author? Do you think I could get away with a category for Author writings set in WWI? An author challenge would help me catch-up on some of my series.

Have to give them more thought.

>170 sjmccreary: That's not far from what I'm planning for myself (but I'm not telling you what it is!)

>171 cyderry: It's your challenge, you can get away with whatever you want!

Well, instead of choosing THE author for a particular period of history, you could choose a representative author from a period of history - or choose an author who is famous for writing about your historical period.

It's always fun to see everyone's themes. It seems like they get more clever and intricate every year. And it also seems like there are trends in themes - music is usually popular.

I'm much too literal to devise a theme and then feel comfortable about defining it so that my books will fit.

Flowers is a nice idea - or trees? birds? Hm, I'll give it some thought. Lots of time left.

Usually, I have a good idea as to what categories I intend to pick and have gotten better at picking themes.

For next year, though, I am totally at sea. I think 15 categories is too many unless I do some sort of step challenge. Right now, I'm thinking fewer, but much broader, categories.

Well, I know that there is no way I can do a full 15x15 - so I am wavering between the pyramid which would be 120 or the halfer+ which is 112 minimum or 120 maximum. The pyramid, I think might be too hard to pick categories which only get one or two or three books vs. which gets 15 and 14 and 13. The halfer+ has the books more evenly spread between the categories, so I'm really leaning toward the halfer+.

Right now I've narrowed down the theme to Authors and Baseball. Of course, before the beginning of 2015. some other theme may pop up that will grab me.

I haven't decided what I'm going to do for next year. I've got an idea in my head for theme, but I will have to figure out categories and make sure it is doable. If it's not, it will be back to the drawing board.

Challenge Book#62

TITLE: Freak of Freedom ★★★½
AUTHOR: J. Theodore Bent
DATE READ: August 1 - August 9
Book type: E-book
Category: History Channel - History
How does it fit the category? history of San Marino

This 1870 history of the small Republic of San Marino was extremely dry and mainly centered around the relationship of this small area surrounded my Italy and its relationships with other a reas and the Catholic Church.

Challenge Book#63

TITLE: Terminal City ★★★★
AUTHOR: Linda Fairstein
DATE READ: August 9 - August 14
Book type: E-book
Category: CBS - Continuing Books in a Series
How does it fit the category? latest book in the Alex Cooper series

Love this series, the characters, the settings! I think this was the best so far! Fairstein's touch of the history NYC always amazes me.

>I think you've got the wrong touchstone there. Is this the one you meant? Terminal City

Thanks Sandy. I hate it when there is more than one book with the same title.

Me too. I hate it even more when I can't find the right touchstone for the book I want. Someone recently explained how to force a touchstone when it doesn't show up on the list, but of course I've forgotten how to do it, or even where the explanation occurred.

I only noticed yours when I went to look at the book - the author and series seemed familiar. And I was right - I've read the first book of that series. Vaguely familiar - must have been a couple of years ago. But I never got around to the next book. Have you read the entire series?

>181 sjmccreary: Sent Sandy a private message with instructions on forcing the touchstone.

Yes, I've read the entire series. One or two were mediocre, but Overall, I really enjoyed them all.

It amazes me that at any time there really was this much intolerance and cruelty in the name of Christianity. Reading this makes appreciate the freedoms in my time and nation.

Challenge Book#63
TITLE: By Fire By Water ★★★
AUTHOR: Mitchell Kames Kaplan
DATE READ: August 15 - August 17
Book type: ARD
Category: History Channel - History
How does it fit the category? Spanish Inquisition

This was an entertaining book but I was disappointed because I didn't feel it lived up to the hype around it. It just seemed to be the same old boy runs off to the circus story.

Challenge Book#64
TITLE: Water for Elephants ★★¾
AUTHOR: Sara Gruen
DATE READ: August 1 - August 26
Book type: ARD
Category: PBS -Audio Books
How does it fit the category? Audio

Normally I find Nancy Thayer's books entertaining, however, this one seem too cliché. Poor girl and rich girl are friends - rich girl loves poor girl's brother but different circumstances keep them apart. Poor girl falls for rich boy, gets pregnant but rich girl marries rich boy and poor girl stays silent. There was no depth to the story.

Challenge Book#66
TITLE: Nantucket Sisters ★★¾
AUTHOR: Nancy Thayer
DATE READ: August 18 - August 27
Book type: ARD
Category: Hallmark - Romances
How does it fit the category? Romance

Challenge Book#67

TITLE: A Sunless Sea ★★★½
AUTHOR: Anne Perry
DATE READ: August 27 - August 31
Book type: Audio
Category: ESPN - Catching up on a series
How does it fit the category? Next Monk mystery

I really like this series - I've been reading it for nearly 10 years and and I'm almost current. The series addresses social issues during Victorian times.

Did you see that Jack the Ripper has been identified?

It is so much fun to read these cozies set in a little town that has so many book stores but especially one that sells only mysteries! Wish I could really visit it!

Challenge Book#68
TITLE: Bookmarked For Death ★★★½
AUTHOR: Lorna Barrett
DATE READ: September 1 - September 2
Book type: E-BOOK
Category: Weather Channel - Cozy mysteries
How does it fit the category? Book town mystery

Challenge Book#69
TITLE: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz ★★★
AUTHOR: L Frank Baum
DATE READ: September 4 - September 5
Book type: E-BOOK
Category: American Movie Classics - TBRs/classics
How does it fit the category? one of the Oz books

I am really enjoying the lighthearted stories of the land of Oz and the adventures of Dorothy and her friends. I really recommend that others try these stories.

>188 cyderry: - You and me both! How great would it be to visit?

By Fire By Water looks very interesting, and goes on my wishlist.

It seems I enjoyed Water for Elephants better than you did. Did you see the movie?

Challenge Book#70

TITLE: Bookplate Special ★★★½
AUTHOR: Lorna Barrett
DATE READ: September 6 - September 8
Book type: E-BOOK
Category: NBC - Nook Books/ C(K)indle
How does it fit the category? Nook

I enjoy this series because of the characters love of mysteries (name dropping several throughout) as well as small town feel. The mysteries are fun!

Challenge Book#71

TITLE: The Lies That Bind ★★★¾
AUTHOR: Kate Carlisle
DATE READ: September 16 - September 20
Book type: E-BOOK
Category: Weather Channel - Cozy mysteries
How does it fit the category? cozy

Who says that working can't be fun and interesting? I think that bookbinding could be both with a teacher like Brooklyn. Looking for the next one!

Challenge Book#72

TITLE: The Mists of Avalon ★★★½
AUTHOR: Marian Zimmer Bradley
DATE READ: September 3 - September 23
Book type: audio
Category: GSN (Game Show Network) - Group or Shared Reads
How does it fit the category? group read LT

I try to read a few Classics each year but usually I find I hard because I really don't enjoy them much. 2014 seems to be an exception because I enjoyed this Classic story very much.

Challenge Book#73

TITLE: The President and the Assassin: McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century ★★★
AUTHOR: Scott Miller
DATE READ: September 1 - September 28
Book type: ARD
Category: History Channel - History
How does it fit the category? Presidential bio

Good book to cover both McKinley's life, administration, Spanish/American war and the assassination and aftermath.

Challenge Book#74

TITLE: Mornings on Horseback ★★★¼
AUTHOR: David McCullough
DATE READ: September 24 - September 30
Book type: Audiobook
Category: PBS -Audio Books
How does it fit the category? Audiobook

This book was the start of my study of Teddy Roosevelt. It was the tale of his father and siblings and how they all interacted in his early life. With David McCullough as the storyteller, I couldn't go wrong.

Ooooh, #74 sounds so good!!! Also, I nearly took home #73 from work yesterday - but I figured I might want to get a little more general knowledge about McKinley and the time period first!

>>197 LauraBrook: I thought The President and the Assassin: McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century gave a good deal of general knowledge about the time period as well as McKinley. It was written in such a way that we saw McKinley's efforts and what was going on in the everyday lives of citizens because of the assassin. If you don't want to go completely in depth, then this book should handle what info you're looking for.

>195 cyderry: - Definitely going to keep that one in mind when I finally get around to McKinley. I'm hoping to get back into the President's challenge next year. Lincoln is the next one up for me and I have that one penciled in for early in the year. Hopefully that will help get me back on track.

Looks like you are trying to get caught up on your presidential reading.

Well, I want to be at the point where 2015 is dedicated to WWI. I need to finish TR and Taft before I get there. I have The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt & the Fire That Saved America, The Bully Pulpit, and The war lovers : Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst, and the rush to empire, 1898 selected but I may only get the Bully Pulpit done.

It absolutely amazes me when I think that when I started the Presidential Challenge, I thought we could do it in 4 years. I'd be surprised if I finish it in 15 years.

>198 cyderry: Thanks for the info! I'll be putting onto my TBR pile in about two seconds, then!

Challenge Book#75

TITLE: Gossamer Ghost ★★★¾
AUTHOR: Laura Childs
DATE READ: September 29 - October 3
Book type: ARD
Category: ABC - ARCs/ERs
How does it fit the category? Signed ARC from Author

When I first started this series, it wasn't one of my favorites, but because I love the author I kept reading it, now I really enjoy them, they seem to get better as the series goes along.

Challenge Book#76

TITLE: Island Girls ★★★
AUTHOR: Nancy Thayer
DATE READ: October 3 - October 5
Book type: ARD
Category: Hallmark - Romances
How does it fit the category? light romance

A light read with the normal family issues and light romance

Even though I'm still behind on my reviews, I spent the afternoon setting up my 2015 category challenge.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/182503

Challenge Book#77

TITLE: A Wish and A Prayer ★★★★
AUTHOR: Beverly Jenkins
DATE READ: October 5 - October 6
Book type: e-book
Category: NBC - Nook Books/ C(K)indle
How does it fit the category? on my Nook

The characters in the Blessings series will grab you and climb in your heart. They'll make you laugh, cry, smile.

Love the series!

Challenge Book#78

TITLE: Love Letters ★★★★
AUTHOR: Debbie Macomber
DATE READ: October 7 - October 12
Book type: ARD
Category: Hallmark - Romances
How does it fit the category? ROMANCE

There are 2 separate story lines and Jo Marie proprietor of the Rose Harbor Inn is the connection. The stories are beautifully told with a good sense of realism.

Challenge Book#79

TITLE: State of Wonder ★★★½
AUTHOR: Ann Patchett
DATE READ: October 2 - October 19
Book type: audio book
Category: PBS -Audio Books
How does it fit the category? audio book


The book started slow but wow, what an ending!

Challenge Book#80

TITLE: Frankenstein ★★★
AUTHOR: Mary Shelley
DATE READ: October 19 - October 20
Book type: ARD
Category: Game Show Network - Group/Shared reads
How does it fit the category? Book Club read

The story of the making of a monster - it wasn't what I expected- kind of bland.

Challenge Book#81

TITLE: The Road to Oz ★★★
AUTHOR: L Frank Baum
DATE READ: October 23 - October 25
Book type: ARD
Category: American Movie Classics - TBRs/classics
How does it fit the category? Oz Book

Dorothy wanders off the Kansas Farm and somehow she starts a new adventure!
We meet new characters and get reacquainted with old friends.

Challenge Book#82

TITLE: Madame Bovary ★★½
AUTHOR: Gustave Flaubert
DATE READ: October 21 - October 29
Book type: ARD
Category: FOOD - Chunksters/books over 400 pgs
How does it fit the category? 576 pgs.

Well, I can mark it off. I was not fond of any of the characters or the storyline.
It must have been something about the period of time that it was written that makes it a classic.

Challenge Book#83

TITLE: The War Lovers: Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst, and the Rush to Empire, 1898 ★★★
AUTHOR: Evan Thomas
DATE READ: October 21 - October 30
Category: History Channel
How it fits in: Spanish American War

This book delves into the interactions of Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge vs. William Randolph Hearst and their viewpoints about the American need to go to war against Spain in the late 19th century.

Factual but hard to get into.

Challenge Book#84

TITLE: The Emerald City of Oz ★★★½
AUTHOR: L. Frank Baum
DATE READ: October 31 - November 3
Book type: e-book
Category: American Movie Classics - TBRs/classics
How does it fit the category? Oz books

I've really enjoyed reading the first half of the complete collection of the Land of Oz - meeting all Dorothy's friends has been fun. Too bad these books are pushed among the new generations!

Challenge Book#85

TITLE: Wait Till Next Year ★★★¼
AUTHOR: Doris Kearns Goodwin
DATE READ: November 1 - November 10
Book type: audiobook
Category: PBS -Audio Books
How does it fit the category? audiobook

Being a baseball fan as well, it was great to see this side of such a great writer.
The stories brought back memories of my childhood - the disappointments as well as victories.

Challenge Book#86

TITLE: The Queen of Four Kingdoms ★★★¼
AUTHOR: HRH Princess Michael of Kent
DATE READ: October 26 - November 12
Book type: ARD
Category: Hallmark - Romances
How does it fit the category? historical romance

I have always had a fascination with royalty but usually I tend toward British. This is my first look into the French side and I found it completely captivating.

>211 cyderry: That must have been some self-motivation to get through that large of a book with so little going for it! I applaud your commitment!

I try to get through a few classics every year. Some are harder than others.

Challenge Book#87


This book was a group read for the entire year. I finished a few weeks early.

I can honestly say that I have read The Arabian Nights. I'm sure that at the time of publication the stories were fascinating, however, in this day and age when many of the individual tales have been adapted to the silver screen, the stories have lost their luster. Some I had never heard before, others far too many times.

TITLE: Arabian Nights ★★★
AUTHOR: Anonymous
GENRE: Historical Fiction
SUBJECT: morality tales
Setting: Baghdad, Middle East
CHARACTERS: Scheherazade, Sinbad, Ali Baba
DATE READ: January 15 - November 13
NO. OF PAGES: 765
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile

I'm impressed! Still working my way through my copy.

>211 cyderry:
I can't stand Emma Bovary. Easily my least-liked book ever.

>21 thornton37814:
>220 -Eva-:

Oh, I loved Madame Bovary when I read it a couple of years ago! Emma is one of the few female characters that I totally "get" and feels real to me. She mortgaged her life and soul to her ambitions, and failed spectacularly; but there was something in the gamble that appealed to me strongly. When DH started but dropped the book after a few pages saying he didn't get it, I almost cried. How could he claim to know and love me but not get Emma?

>221 Tanya-dogearedcopy:
"How could he claim to know and love me but not get Emma?"
Haha - I'm with him!! Oh, I just think her awful. All she does is make terrible decisions and then whine when things go wrong. And then do the same thing over again. AND, I've had to read it not once, but twice at University, AND write about it, AND discuss it to death. Never again! I'd say about 20% of each of my old classmates were like me, tearing our hair out at Emma's choices, and the rest, like you, loved it. I love that the same book can raise such, equally strong, but differing opinions in people!

I can truly say that Emma was not and never will be a favorite character nor one that I wish to revisit. I understand her motivations but not her lack of ability to see how the results of her actions affect others.

>223 cyderry: Me too!

Well, I'm behind on my reviews again, but I'm going to catch-up in the next few days. I've got 4 more books to read to finish my challenge and here's the rub. One of the original books that I selected was Pillars of the Earth but since it is soooooo long, I've decided to change it for another. Maybe I'll get this one done in 2015 sometime even though it doesn't fit into the 2015 challenge.

Challenge Book#88

TITLE: The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt & the Fire That Saved America ★★★¼
AUTHOR: Timothy Egan
DATE READ: November 11 - November 15
Book type: audio book
Category: History Channel - History
How does it fit the category? history


The story of the US Forest Service was interesting - especially when iy was telling about the firefighters and their extra recruits.

Challenge Book#89

TITLE: A Great and Godly Adventure: The Pilgrims and the Myth of the First Thanksgiving ★★★
AUTHOR: Godfrey Hodgson
DATE READ: November 14 - November 18
Book type: ARD
Category: History Channel - History
How does it fit the category? history

I was looking for something related to Thanksgiving for Book Club and this was perfect, very enlightening.

Challenge Book#90

TITLE: If the Shoe Kills ★★★½
AUTHOR: Lynn Cahoon
DATE READ: November 18 - November 22
Book type: e-book
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? series started this year

The Tourist Trap mysteries have proved that nice people can get mixed up with murder. But they are fun and light-hearted as cozies can be.

Challenge Book#91

TITLE: Polar Express ★★★★★
AUTHOR: Chris Van Allsburg
DATE READ: November 29 - November 29
Book type: e-book
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? series started this year

Having watched the movie and knowing the story didn't make this children's book any less enjoyable. Seeing the little boy and his desire to believe that Santa is real makes this story touch even the heart of those older.

The love of Christmas and belief in Santa will always make this story a classic.

Challenge Book#92

TITLE: Scorched Eggs ★★★★
AUTHOR: Laura Childs
DATE READ: November 23 - November 29
Book type: ARD
Category: ABC - ARCs/ERs
How does it fit the category? ARC from author

The Cackleberry Club sounds like a place I wish was located in my area - a great restaurant with a needlework corner and Book store attached - my 3 favorites …food, books, and needlecrafts! Unfortunately, I can only visit in books, but I enjoy them all. The Characters are fun, maybe a little quirky, but I love to visit every chance I get.

Challenge Book#93

TITLE: Emerald Atlas ★★★★
AUTHOR: John Stephens
DATE READ: November 29 - December 7
Book type: e-book
Category: Disney - Children/Youth Books
How does it fit the category? Young Adult book

Magic, time traveling, dwarfs, hidden tunnels and more made this book a thoroughly entertaining experience and had me running to the bookstore for the next in the series.

>229 cyderry: Who doesn't love the Polar Express?

>230 cyderry: I need to read the next in that series for me.

I think I'm one behind in the Cackleberry Club series (with the new one, now two books to read) but look forward to catching up, soon!!

Challenge Book#94

TITLE: A Lesson in Secrets ★★★½
AUTHOR: Jacqueline Winspear
DATE READ: November 29 - December 7
Book type: audiobook
Category: ESPN - Catching up on series
How does it fit the category? 2 from being current


Maisie Dobbs in this installment continues to use her unique talents to help others while completing her investigative assignments. Her abilities to reach others on a personal level while discerning their secrets is what continues to make her stories so enjoyable.

Challenge Book#95

TITLE: Tim Cratchit's Christmas Carol ★★★★★
AUTHOR: Jim Piecuch
DATE READ: December 8 - December 10
Book type: e-book
Category: Disney - Children/Youth Books
How does it fit the category? Young Adult book

Sequels of great books of the past rarely live up to the original, however, I truly believe that Charles Dickens would have been proud of the portrayal of Tim Cratchit in this book and the revival of the spirit of the redeemed Ebenezer Scrooge.

I loved the story and the characters and would happily recommend this book to everyone for the holidays!

>235 cyderry: That one sound interesting. Bah humbug!

Challenge Book#96

TITLE: About Face ★★★
AUTHOR: Donna Leon
DATE READ: December 8 - December 13
Book type: audio book
Category: ESPN - Catching up on series
How does it fit the category? next in the series

I enjoy this series not just for the mysteries but the characters and the attention that the author brings to a single social issue. Audio versions are the best because of that Italian flavor.

96 books so far this year - will that be all, or are you frantically reading today to finish 4 more and make it an even 100? Either way, you have me beat, I'll be coming in around 70 and will be surprised if it is 75. I'm itching to clear out the 2014 records and start fresh tomorrow on 2015!

Happy New Year!

Actually I've finished 102; I'm just behind on my reviews. Hoping to get them done today.

I started my first book for 2015 last night.

Everything I'm currently reading was intended for 2014. Plus several others that I never got started on. I'm thinking seriously of just taking all of them back to the library unread or unfinished and beginning the new year with a clean slate and the 4 books that I got for January.

One hundred two! Impressive! I'll be watching for your reviews and your year-end recap.

Challenge Book#97

TITLE: Twisted Threads ★★★½
AUTHOR: Lea Wait
DATE READ: December 11 - December 16
Book type: e book
Category: Weather Channel - Cozy mysteries
How does it fit the category? cozy series

This was a cute new cozy that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Needlepointers who band together for more than crafting.

>241 cyderry: Glad you enjoyed it too.

Challenge Book#98

TITLE: Death Checks Inn ★★★
AUTHOR: Sara Robbins
DATE READ: December 16 - December 17
Book type: e book
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? new series

A cute little start for a new series revolving around a B&B in Colorado. Characters are interesting and the mystery was good with an surprise ending.

Challenge Book#99

TITLE: Elegy for Eddie ★★★½
AUTHOR: Jacqueline Winspear
DATE READ: December 18 - December 22
Book type: audio book
Category: Catchup overflow
How does it fit the category? next in the series


This installment takes Maisie back to her roots when she is enlisted by some of the men she's known since childhood to investigate the supposedly accidental death of Eddie Pettit. We see Maisie as she interacts with characters that she has known for years.

Challenge Book#100

TITLE: Murder at the Book Group ★★★
AUTHOR: Maggie King
DATE READ: December 17 - December 25
Book type: audio book
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? first in the series

Belonging to 3 book groups I couldn't resist this one.
The characters were fun and the mystery was entertaining.

Challenge Book#101

TITLE: Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death ★★★
AUTHOR: Mark Reutlinger
DATE READ: December 26 - December 27
Book type: e book
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? first in the series

This book was a complete light hearted tale of senior citizens in a retirement home trying to figure out who stole Daisy's earrings and how they got into the Matzoh Ball Soup. A real romp!

Challenge Book#102

TITLE: Toured to Death ★★★½
AUTHOR: Hy Conrad
DATE READ: December 27 - December 29
Book type: e book
Category: A&E - Art & Entertainment(new authors/series)
How does it fit the category? first in the series

There are murder mystery weekends where the attendees try to solve the murder well, this was a road rally with the same idea. Clues were spread throughout 4 countries and islands and the participants have time trials getting from one site to the next.

The concept sounds like a blast until there is a real murder.

Some nice year-end reads here. I'm hoping to catch up on some of my cozy series next year. Happy New Year!

2014 Recap

When I started to total up my reading numbers for 2014, I was very surprised at some of the numbers that I got.

Number of books read that were on my original list at the beginning of the year ..........63/102

First books in a series:............................................18
Second books in a series:..........................................7
Third books in a series:.............................................8
More books in a series (beyond the third):.................21

Number of series brought current:..............................6

I really thought I had done better.

Books abandoned:..............4

CLASSICS:........................................6
ROMANCE:........................................7
FICTION:......................................... 11
HISTORY:..........................................9
MEMOIR:...........................................2
COZY MYSTERY:...............................30
MYSTERY:........................................20
CHILDREN/YOUNG ADULT/FANTASY....17

Where did my books come from?

Library books______________12
E-books - my Nook or Kindle__43
ARDs (actual books)_________19
Audiobooks________________28


Progress on Challenges:
75 Book Challenge..................................102/75
Category Challenge..................................98/98
European Challenge.................................19/49
US state challenge...................................42/51
TIOLI Challenges..................................102/102
MysteryCAT..............................................22
GEOCAT...................................................8
ROOT Challenge......................................86/84
Gastro Challenge.....................................3

Total books read in 2014:................102
Total pages read in 2014:............34,677
READ OUR OWN TOMES Challenge.....86
Total ARC/ER books read:.................27
Total books read in 2014 for Euro Challenge = 2
Total books read in 2014 for US State Challenge = 2
Presidential Challenge = 6

Best of the Year:........How the Light Gets In
Worst of the Year........Anne of Green Gables
The book that kept me breathless: ........The Likeness
The mystery that I enjoyed reading the most: ........Terminal City
Book that gave the most smiles/laughs: ........ Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
Book I wish I'd read sooner: ........Emerald Atlas
Best Recommended book: ........Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
The book with the most surprises: ........Mists of Avalon
Most thought provoking book: ........State of Wonder
Series book that has me wanting the next one NOW!: ........ Blessings series - A Wish and a Prayer
Best Audio book: ........ Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
Book I am still working on: ........Bully Pulpit
Book I'm glad I finished: ........Arabian Nights

TBRs 1/1/2014 419
Books read from TBR: 86
Books added to TBR: 84
Books moved from TBR: 78

Balance:.....339 I actually reduced my TBRs!


Library books/borrowed Books read: 15
Free Books Read: 8
Group Reads 4

Prettiest Cover Emerald Atlas