June Wrap Up!

June has been a busy month.  School ended, Scout activities increased, we had birthdays to celebrate, we had visitors, and we went on a family vacation.  Among all those activities I still managed to squeak in a few books and reviews.  Pretty proud that I accomplished something.  :-)

I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS AND TO ALL YOU LOVELY VISITORS THAT STOP IN TO READ MY BLOG!!!  I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU EVERY DAY!  


Here's what I have read in June: 3 Grand Total of  Books!!
You can click on the title of the book to get to my review of that book.  :-)

~ 0 Young Adult Fiction:

~ 3 Adult Fiction:
~ 10th Anniversary by James Patterson
~ 11th Hour by James Patterson
~ Goose In The Pond by Earlene Fowler

~ 0 Children Fiction:

How are my Challenges looking as we hit the peak of this year's hill?
You can click on each challenge below and you will go to my post for that challenge to see which books counted for each challenge or what each challenge entails.  As I complete challenges I will highlight them!  :-)

2015 Reading Challenges:

1.  2015 Reading Challenge Addict Challenge  On The Roof: Complete 6-10 Challenges Entered and Completed.

2/10 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

2.  2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge  Getting My Heart Rate Up:  Read 1-5 more books in 2015 than in 2014.  I read 31 books in 2014.

0/5 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

3.  2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge  Read 12 books from TBR pile that were published before 2014.

12/12 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  COMPLETED!!!

4.  2015 What's In A Name Reading Challenge  Read one book from each categories that has title with certain words in.

2/6 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

5.  2015 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge  Read a book with title starting with each letter of alphabet.

8/26 Completed! 

Wrap Up Post:  

6.  2015 What An Animal Reading Challenge VIII  Read 6 books with animal in title, on cover, as a major role, or turns into an animal.

2/6 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

7.  2015 Cruizin Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge  Level 1, Snoop.  Read 6 cozy reads.

5/6 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

8.  2015 Color Coded Reading Challenge  Read a title containing each color listed.

2/9 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

9.  2015 Mount TBR Reading Challenge  Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from TBR pile owned prior to 2015.

13/36 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

10.  2015 Authors A to Z Reading Challenge  Read books with authors of all the 26 alphabet letters for last names.

5/26 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

11.  2015 Reading Road Trip Reading Challenge  Read books set in the states.  Wayfarer 21-30 States.

5/30 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:    

12.  2015 EBook Reading Challenge  Bits- Read 5 eBooks.

0/5 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

13.  2015 Mocha Girls Reading Challenge  Read books with titles starting with "MOCHA GIRLS 15".

1/12 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

14.  2015 Audiobook Reading Challenge  Newbie Level.  Listen to 1-5 Audiobooks.
5/5 Completed!
Wrap Up Post:  COMPLETED!!!

15.  2015 Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge  Initiate Level.  Read 1-5 Witchy books.

0/5 Complete!

Wrap Up Post:  

Perpetual:

1.  Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge  Read all the books in this series.
Wrap Up Post:  

Book Review: Goose In The Pond

Title:  Goose in the Pond
Author:  Earlene Fowler
Pages:  305
Publication Date:  1998
Version:  Paperback
Genre:  Adult Fiction (Mystery)

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Benni Harper--spirited ex-cowgirl, quilter, and folk art expert--finds herself on the trail of killer in this brand-new mystery from Agatha Award-nominee Earlene Fowler...When Benni finds a dead woman lying facedown in the lake, dressed in a Mother Goose costume, her investigation takes her inside the Storyteller?s Guild.There she discovers that Mother Goose was telling more than fairy tales--she was a gossip columnist who aired the kind of secrets that destroy lives--and inspire revenge..."

My Review:

This book was like a breath of fresh mystery air for me.  I decided to take a break in the series I was reading to mix up my reading with this book.  I am so happy I did!  Goose In The Pond is an amazing book, with such great characters.  I just loved Benni, her police chief hubby Gabe, and all the family members and friends of theirs.  Benni may get into trouble without even trying, but her heart is in the right spot; all she wants to do is help her small town, her friends, and her husband by being naturally curious and inquisitive when it comes to solving murders.  How can she stay out of things like she promised Gabe she would, when everyone seems to think she knows more than she does and is telling her things that could break open the case of the murdered Mother Goose, aka Nora?  Benni figures what can it hurt to do a little poking and prodigy around for clues.  People think she's digging anyway, so why not make that assumption the truth?  Only hitch in this country girls giddy up will be her police chief husband Gabe.  He wants her to keep her nose out of this murder and just let him do his job, but can she do that?  He's so stressed from a friend dying, his son showing up on their newlywed doorstep,  her family showing up on their doorstep, and pressure from above to solve this murder she would actually be doing him a favor by sticking her nose in and helping right?

Having never read any of the work from this author, much less the books before this one, I was a bit worried I would be lost.  I recently tried reading a book by another author mud series and ended up very lost and just giving it up.  This book pleasantly surprised me and was very easy to hop right into.  Yes, there were references to past events from the previous books, but none that were super pertinent to this book making sense.  They made me curious about the other books, but that was all.  No confusion or lost feelings.  This author has done an amazing job with description and with character development!  I found myself going through all kinds of emotions while reading this book too.  I felt like I was part of the characters circle and could just see and hear the things going on; because of this I felt a lit of the emotions the characters did, especially Benni.  I must say this was one of the few mysteries I have read that had me completely stumped for "who done it".  I mean completely!  I have had mysteries where I've been wondering til the end if I could really be right, but this one had me clueless.  I literally had no clues myself as to who killed Nora.  I was about ready to say the ducks in the pond she was found in must have done it because she neglected to feed them bread crumbs.  I didn't see the ending coming at all!  And...it was an amazing feeling!  The feeling of being truly surprised by a book.

Great writing, great characters, great plot, steady flow, and amazing mystery.  This book is a must, must, must read!!  You can't help but fall into this book as you read.  You get caught up in reading this book from page one and find yourself a little sad when it has to end.  If you are a mystery lover, then this is absolutely the best book ever for you to seek out and pick up!

5/5 Stars!!!

2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge Wrap Up Post!

I have completed another 2015 reading challenge!  So excited to have been able to stick with my reading well enough this year so far to have completed some of my challenges.  So, 2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge...COMPLETE!

Below is my original post and review links:

2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge Sign Up

About:

I am pleased to announce that Roof Beam Reader’s official TBR Pile Challenge is back for the SIXTH YEAR! 

This challenge started after I realized I had some MAJOR issues with buying books but never reading them (not because I don’t read – but because I have such a book buying problem!).  Year after year, books would sit on my shelf, untouched, and I would end up reading newer ones first. I realized I was missing out on a lot of great books because I let them sit there gathering dust instead of reading them as I bought them.

The Goal: To finally read 12 books from your “to be read” pile (within 12 months).

Specifics:

1. Each of these 12 books must have been on your bookshelf or “To Be Read” list for AT LEAST one full year. This means the book cannot have a publication date of 1/1/2014 or later (any book published in the year 2013 or earlier qualifies, as long as it has been on your TBR pile – I WILL be checking publication dates). Caveat: Two (2) alternates are allowed, just in case one or two of the books end up in the “can’t get through” pile.

2. To be eligible, you must sign-up with Mr. Linky below – link to your list (so create it ahead of time!) and add updated links to each book’s review. Books must be read and must be reviewed (doesn’t have to be too fancy) in order to count as completed.

3. The link you post in the Mr. Linky below must be to your “master list” (see mine below). This is where you will keep track of your books completed, crossing them out and/or dating them as you go along, and updating the list with the links to each review (so there’s one easy, convenient way to find your list and all your reviews for the challenge). See THIS LINK for an idea of what I mean. Your complete and final list must be posted by January 15th, 2015.

4. Leave comments on this post as you go along, to update us on your status. Come back here if/when you complete this challenge and leave a comment indicating that youCONQUERED YOUR 2015 TBR LIST! Every person who successfully reads his/her 12 books and/or alternates (and who provides a working link to their list, which has links to the review locations) will be entered to win a $50 gift card from Amazon.com or The Book Depository!

5. Crossovers from other challenges are totally acceptable, as long as you have never read the book before and it was published before 2014!

*Note – You can read the books on your list in any order; they do not need to be read in the order you have them listed. As you complete a book – review it, and go back to your original list and turn that title into a link to the review - that will keep the comments section here from getting ridiculously cluttered. For an example of what I mean, Click Here.

Monthly Check-Ins: On the 15th of each month, I’m going to post a “TBR Pile Check-In.” This will allow participants to link-up their reviews from the past month and get some recognition for their progress. There will also be small mini-challenges and giveaways to go along with these posts (Such As: Read 6 books by the June Check-in and be entered to win a book of your choice!). I’m hoping this will help to keep us all on track and make the challenge a bit more engaging/interactive. I started these mini-challenges last year, and I think they were a great success, so I am continuing them this year!

Chat: On Twitter, Instagram & Facebook, use #TBR2015RBR

Giving this a whirl for 2015!  My Progress Is Below!

1.  Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich

2.  The 6th Target by James Patterson

3.  Diva Digs up the Dirt by Krista Davis

4.  7th Heaven by James Patterson

5.  NYPD Red by James Patterson

6.  NYPD Red 2 by James Patterson

7.  Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

8.  Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich

9.  8th Confession by James Patterson

10.  9th Judgment by James Patterson

11.  10th Anniversary by James Patterson

12.  11th Hour by James Patterson

Book Review: 11th Hour

Title:  11th Hour 
Author:  James Patterson
Pages:  391
Publication Date:  2012
Version:  Hardcover
Genre:  Adult Fiction (Mystery)

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Lindsay Boxer is pregnant at last! But her work doesn't slow for a second. When millionaire Chaz Smith is mercilessly gunned down, she discovers that the murder weapon is linked to the deaths of four of San Francisco's most untouchable criminals. And it was taken from her own department's evidence locker. Anyone could be the killer - even her closest friends.

Lindsay is called next to the most bizarre crime scene she's ever witnessed: two bodiless heads elaborately displayed in the garden of a world-famous actor. Another head is unearthed in the garden, and Lindsay realises that the ground could hide hundreds of victims.

A reporter launches a series of malicious articles about the cases and Lindsay's personal life is laid bare. But this time she has no one to turn to - especially not Joe."

My Review:

I very much enjoyed this book.  Following these ladies in the Women's Murder Club is such an enjoyable task.  The last book told of the marriage of Lindsay and this book tells of another huge life change in her and Joe's lives as they are preparing for their baby.  Lindsay is an amazing detective and I just know she will be a great Mom too.  Only question is, how long will it take her to adjust once baby finally comes to having something more important than work?  Rich and Lindsay have two of the biggest cases of their careers in this book.  They work hard and are persistent to get to the bottom of things, just like I have come to expect out of them.  How long will it take them though?  How many lives will be lost before Lindsay and Rich can stop the perpetrator in their tracks?  This could be the most important and touchy couple of cases in their careers.  One is a possible dirty cop vigilante and one involves a movie star!

This book is full of action, adventure, wonder, friendship, drama, and relationship issues too.  I just loved how there were all these little mini plots and a main plot, yet nothing ever got confusing or overwhelming for me as a reader.  I love a book that keeps right on moving and this book certainly does that.  It is full of twists and turns that just seem to keep on showing up, right until the very end.  I love it!  It was a bit different to see two bigger murder cases being handled by Rich and Lindsay in this book.  Usually they have one big case and other small cases.  Not the case in this book and I found I kind of liked it.  

Also a huge positive is that, following true Patterson style I'm used to, such vivid descriptions were used in this book I could see the book playing out in my head.  I found that I read this book in chunks rather than a few chapters at a time.  Once I started reading I just had to read until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.  I highly recommend this book, especially if you have read the other books in this series.  This is a great continuation, but also is a great book to get you hooked enough to go back and start the series too, to see where it all started.  Also, it would be great as a stand alone book.  It takes true talent to write a book that can cover all these categories, but this one sure can.  So don't miss out on this fantastic book!

5/5 Stars!

Book Review: 10th Anniversary

Title:  10th Anniversary
Author:  James Patterson
Pages:  395
Publication Date:  2011
Version:  Hardcover
Genre:  Adult Fiction (Mystery)

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Detective Lindsay Boxer's long-awaited wedding celebration becomes a distant memory when she is called to investigate a horrendous crime: a badly injured teenage girl is left for dead, and her newborn baby is nowhere to be found. Lindsay discovers that not only is there no trace of the criminals--but that the victim may be keeping secrets as well. At the same time, Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano is prosecuting the biggest case of her life--a woman who has been accused of murdering her husband in front of her two young children. Yuki's career rests on a guilty verdict, so when Lindsay finds evidence that could save the defendant, she is forced to choose. Should she trust her best friend or follow her instinct? Lindsay's every move is watched by her new boss, Lieutenant Jackson Brady, and when the pressure to find the baby begins interfering with her new marriage to Joe, she wonders if she'll ever be able to start a family. With James Patterson's white-hot speed and unquenchable action, 10th Anniversary is the most deliciously chilling Women's Murder Club book ever. "

My Review:
I must say, I never thought Lindsay Boxer would ever really marry Joe.  I figured they would just keep living together and that would be about it.  This book kicked off with a bang, with the wedding day of Lindsay and Joe.  There is no honeymoon for the happy couple though.  Lindsay is thrown into a case that involves mysterious rapes and a missing baby.  She would do anything to find this baby before something bad happens to him.  Trying to get pregnant herself, she has a soft spot for any baby, especially one that may be in danger.  Will the baby ever be found...and alive and well?  Next Lindsay is confronted with the possibility of having to go against one of her very close friends on a murder trial that Yuki has been putting together for more than a year.  Lindsay knows Yuki will not be happy at all, but she has to do what she thinks is right.  Even if that means going against a good friend and also against orders from her Lieutenant.  She will take the punishment later, she just has to know if her gut feeling is right.  But at what cost?  Big relationship news comes out in this book too.  I was blown away by all the moving forward the women in the women's murder club do in their personal lives in this book.  

This was a fast paced book, just as I have come to expect from Patterson, especially in this series.  I must say, it was not the best one I have read, but that had nothing to really do with the plot or anything itself.  More so just that I didn't like some of the things that happened in the book as far as the relationships of the ladies.  The plot was great and the sub plots were amazing too.  I was kept guessing for most of the book about what the outcomes to all of the mysteries would be.  Some I was right on, some not so much, but that's what made the book good for me.  I like being thrown for a loop sometimes.  As always the writing is so descriptive and so vivid for my mind to picture what's happening.  This is one of the reasons I just can't get enough of Patterson's work.  I can't wait to keep reading on in this series.  As one of my favorites, I told myself I would finish, well catch up on, this series this year and so far I am well on the way to doing that.  I always think I will take a break and read a different book in between the books of this series, but then the book is ended in such a way that I just can't wait to see what happens next with all these wonderful characters and I end up moving on to the next book in the series anyway.  

I highly recommend this book.  From start to finish you will be hooked and will find you always say, "just one more chapter" until you find you have no more chapters to read in the book because you read them all.  Then you can say, "just one chapter in the next book"!

4/5 Stars!

May Wrap Up!

May has been an interesting month in more ways than one.  As the weather gets warmer here, I find the time seems to go faster during the day.  Impossible, I know, but it's how it seems.  So, my reading slowed since last month, but I did still manage to get 3 books in, which is better than zero.  So all in all, I am happy with my reading this month.  I also am almost done with another book.  Happy Spring to you all and happy reading in the sun to come!

I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS AND TO ALL YOU LOVELY VISITORS THAT STOP IN TO READ MY BLOG!!!  I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU EVERY DAY!  


Here's what I have read in May: 3 Grand Total of  Books!!
You can click on the title of the book to get to my review of that book.  :-)

~ 0 Young Adult Fiction:


~ 3 Adult Fiction:
~Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich
~8th Confession by James Patterson
~9th Judgment by James Patterson

~ 0 Children Fiction:


How are my Challenges looking as we start the hike up the new year hill?
You can click on each challenge below and you will go to my post for that challenge to see which books counted for each challenge or what each challenge entails.  As I complete challenges I will highlight them!  :-)

2015 Reading Challenges:

1.  2015 Reading Challenge Addict Challenge  On The Roof: Complete 6-10 Challenges Entered and Completed.

0/10 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

2.  2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge  Getting My Heart Rate Up:  Read 1-5 more books in 2015 than in 2014.  I read 31 books in 2014.

0/5 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

3.  2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge  Read 12 books from TBR pile that were published before 2014.

7/12 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

4.  2015 What's In A Name Reading Challenge  Read one book from each categories that has title with certain words in.

1/6 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

5.  2015 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge  Read a book with title starting with each letter of alphabet.

6/26 Completed! 

Wrap Up Post:  

6.  2015 What An Animal Reading Challenge VIII  Read 6 books with animal in title, on cover, as a major role, or turns into an animal.

1/6 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

7.  2015 Cruizin Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge  Level 1, Snoop.  Read 6 cozy reads.

3/6 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

8.  2015 Color Coded Reading Challenge  Read a title containing each color listed.

1/9 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

9.  2015 Mount TBR Reading Challenge  Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from TBR pile owned prior to 2015.

7/36 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

10.  2015 Authors A to Z Reading Challenge  Read books with authors of all the 26 alphabet letters for last names.

4/26 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

11.  2015 Reading Road Trip Reading Challenge  Read books set in the states.  Wayfarer 21-30 States.

5/30 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:    

12.  2015 EBook Reading Challenge  Bits- Read 5 eBooks.

0/5 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

13.  2015 Mocha Girls Reading Challenge  Read books with titles starting with "MOCHA GIRLS 15".

0/12 Completed!

Wrap Up Post:  

14.  2015 Audiobook Reading Challenge  Newbie Level.  Listen to 1-5 Audiobooks.
5/5 Completed!
Wrap Up Post:  COMPLETED!!!

15.  2015 Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge  Initiate Level.  Read 1-5 Witchy books.

0/5 Complete!

Wrap Up Post:  

Perpetual:

1.  Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge  Read all the books in this series.
Wrap Up Post: