Review: No Cats Allowed by Miranda James

Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
E-ARC

Publisher:
Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries

Release Date:
February 2016

Review: Sleight of Paw by Patricia Fry

Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
E-Book

Publisher:
Matilija Press

Release Date:
January 2015

Source:  My Kindle Collection Library





Synopsis from Goodreads…

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2016 - Sign Up

I started this one many years ago and 2015 was my last year to host it.  I'm so thankful Bea agreed to take it over for me.  I couldn't resist joining.  I still love series books even if I never seem to complete any. If you'd like to join, sign up at Bea's Book Nook.

The details:

All books that are part of a continuing series qualify (i.e. Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, James Patterson's Alex Cross, etc.)

It doesn't matter if you have 1 book or 10 books in a series to complete it, it qualifies (i.e. if you only need to read one more Mercy Thompson book to complete the goal, that's fine) The goal is to complete a series from wherever you are up to until the last published book.

The qualification period is January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. Books must be read during this time frame to count. Sign up is now until December 1, 2016.

Take the button above and post about it on your blog. Use the link below to sign up and make sure you link it directly to your post about this challenge, not to the home page of your blog.

If you don't have a blog, that's fine. Just leave a comment to sign up and tell us which series you are reading. Or you can join the Goodreads group for this challenge by clicking here.

Each month there will be a post where you can link up your reviews. Write a review - 2 sentences or an essay, whatever works for you, but there is a minimum of 2 sentences. Not sure what to write? How about something like, "The characters were a delight but the story was slow and confusing. It was disappointing."

Any format and length of book counts - print, audio, ebook, etc.

You should choose the series you want to finish before the challenge begins, but it isn't necessary. It's fine to change series during the year - as long as you complete whichever series it is.

Choose a level below.

Level 1 (Novice series reader) - Complete 1 series.
Level 2 (Testing the waters) - Complete 2 -4 series.
Level 3 (Experienced) - Complete 3 - 6 series.
Level 4 (Expert series reader) - Complete 7 or more series.

I'm going to go with Level 2. I'll list my progress here and these are the series I want to complete...

These are three series I want to complete. Hopefully I can complete at least 2 of them...

Cat in the Stacks by Miranda James - 5 books behind

#3  File M For Murder
#4  Out of Circulation
#5  The Silence of the Library
#6  Arsenic and Old Books
#7  No Cats Allowed by Miranda James (Click here to read my review.)

Pizza Lovers by Chris Cavender - 5 books behind

#2  Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder
#3  A Pizza To Die For
#4  Rest In Pizza
#5  Killer Crust
#6  The Missing Dough
#7  Thin Crust Killers

Klepto Cat by Patricia Fry - 13 books behind

#3  Sleight of Paw by Patricia Fry (Click here to read my review.)
#4  Undercover Cat
#5  The Colony Cat Caper
#6  The Celebrity Cat Caper
#7  The Corral Cat Caper
#8  The Gallery Cat Caper
#9   Mansion of Meows
#10  PAWtners in Crime
#11  PAWsitively Sinister
#12  The Purrfect Lie
#13   A Picture-Purrect Christmas

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge Wrap Up

I finally completed this challenge - for the first time, even though I'm the host of it - and actually completed two series I always loved and wanted to finish for the longest time. 

I did Level 2 and here's what I read ...

Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber:
Read:
1. 1105 Yakima Street
2. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane

Women's Murder Club by James Patterson:
Read:
1. 10th Anniversary
2. 11th Hour
3. 12th of Never
4. Unlucky 13

Review: Unlucky 13 by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Genre:
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Format:
Audio

Publisher:
Blackstone Audiobooks

Release Date:
May 2014

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2015

Welcome to the 2015 edition of the Finishing the Series Reading Challenge. This is my fourth year of hosting this challenge.  I've always been a huge fan of series books, but I end up starting them and never getting around to finishing them.  That's why I originally started this reading challenge.  This is a challenge to finish up those unfinished series books!

Here are the rules guidelines.

Review: 12th of Never by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Genre:
Mystery, Thriller

Format:
Audio

Publisher:
Hachette

Release Date:
April 2013

Review: 11th Hour by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Genre:
Mystery, Thriller

Format:
Audio

Publisher:
Little, Brown & Company

Release Date:
February 2013

Review: 10th Anniversary by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

Genre:
Mystery, Suspense

Format:
Audio

Publisher:
Little, Brown & Company

Release Date:
January 2012

Review: 1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber

Genre:
Romance

Format:
E-Book

Publisher:
MIRA

Release Date:
October 2012

Review: 1105 Yakima Street by Debbie Macomber (Cedar Cove #11)

Genre:
Romance

Format:
E-Book

Publisher:
Mira

Release Date:
August 2011

2014 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

Welcome to the 2014 edition of Finishing the Series Reading Challenge. I was a failure last year. I was supposed to complete two series, but I only completed one. That's okay, I'll just try again.

This is a challenge for all those series books you started at some point and haven't finished. I know I'll start a series and read the first book, then get distracted with other books and never get back to the series. Before I know it, the series has 10 books - I get overwhelmed and don't go back to it. Now, I want to finish a couple.

Here are the rules guidelines.

1) All books that are part of a continuing series qualify (i.e. Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, James Patterson's Alex Cross, etc. etc.)

2) It doesn't matter if you have 1 or 10 books in a series to complete it, it qualifies (i.e. if you only need to read one more Sookie Stackhouse book to complete the goal, that's fine) The goal is to complete a series from wherever you are up to until the last published book.

3) The qualification period is January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Books must be read during this time frame to count.

4) Take the button above and post about it. Use the Mr. Linky below to sign up and make sure you link it directly to your post about this challenge.

5) If you don't have a blog, that's fine. Just leave a comment to sign up and tell us what you are reading. Or you can join my Goodreads group for this challenge by clicking here.

IF YOU WANT TO LINK UP YOUR REVIEWS OR, FOR THOSE WITHOUT A BLOG, LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.

6) Any format of book counts - audio, ebook, etc.

7) You should choose the series you want to finish before the challenge begins, but it isn't necessary. It's fine to change series during the year - as long as you complete whichever series it is.

8) Choose a level....

Level 1 - Complete 1 series.
Level 2 - Complete 2 series.
Level 3 - Complete 3 or more series.

I'm going to try for Level 2 again. These are the series I want to complete ...

Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber:
Need to read:
1. 1105 Yakima Street
2. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane

Women's Murder Club by James Patterson:
Need to read:
1. 10th Anniversary
2. 11th Hour
3. 12th of Never
4. Unlucky 13


Sign up link...Please put in the link that goes directly to your post about this challenge and not to your main blog page.



Completed reviews link...



Wrap up posts link...

Review: 1022 Evergreen Place by Debbie Macomber

Genre:
Romance

Format:

Audio book

Publisher:

Brilliance Audio

Release Date:

August 2010

Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction…

1022 Evergreen Place, Unit B,
Cedar Cove, Washington

Dear Listener,

Guess what? I'm falling in love! With Mack McAfee.

My baby daughter, Noelle, and I have been living next door to Mack since the spring. I'm still a little wary about our relationship, because I haven't always made good decisions when it comes to men. My baby's father, David Rhodes, is testament to that. I'm so worried he might sue for custody.

In the meantime, the World War II letters I found are a wonderful distraction. Both Mack and I are trying to learn what happened to the soldier who wrote them and the woman he loved.

Come by sometime for a glass of iced tea and I'll show you the letters. Plus I'll tell you the latest about Grace and Olivia, my brother Linc and his wife, Lori (who tied the knot about five minutes after they met!), and all our other mutual friends. Oh, and maybe Mack can join us..

Mary Jo Wyse

My review…

This is one of my all time favorite series, ever!  This is the first book of the series I listened to on audio and it was fun to listen to, although I will most likely be reading the rest of them on my Kindle.   I think I prefer to read these over listening to them.

Debbie Macomber is one of my all time favorite authors.  Before I turned into a cozy mystery junkie, I was strictly a romance reader and Macomber was always one of my top favorites.  This book features two of my favorite characters – Mary Jo Wyse and Mack McAfee.  We first had a taste of their story in A Cedar Cove Christmas and I totally fell in love with them in this one book.  I was so excited to hear that 1022 Evergreen Place focused on them, too!

These two characters are wonderful and I really hope we read more about Mary Jo’s brothers.  I know the series has ended but I’m not finished reading them yet, so I still have things to look forward to and I don’t think of it as an “ended” series. J 

This is a relaxing series…a series that just lets you enjoy it and be stress free.  These books are sweet romances with plenty of conflicts that will never leave readers bored.  These books are the definition of “feel good” books.  I love every one of them.  I never felt bored with any book in this series.  I’m always anxiously awaiting the next one. 

FTC Disclosure: I took the audio book out from the library for my own enjoyment.   All opinions expressed are my own.

For reading challenges:

Where are you reading? challenge (Washington)
Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

Genre:
Mystery

Format:
Audio

Publisher:
Random House

Release Date:
November 2012






Stephanie Plum is back for her 19th book! This time she has to find Geoffrey Cubbin. A man about to go on trial for embezzling. He mysteriously disappears from the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery. She also takes on a side job of escorting Ranger to a wedding and finds herself as a bridesmaid.

This is the last book that's been released in this series. #20 will be coming out in November. I'm actually caught up, what a surprise! This is a series I truly enjoyed listening to although there are things about Stephanie that still bother me. There's juggling two men, which I've already mentioned in my previous reviews. Then, although this isn't Stephanie's fault LOL, the constant blowing up of her cars. It was funny the first couple of times in the earlier books, but now it's just overkill. Nobody can be that unlucky with cars, not even in fiction :)

Overall, I enjoyed the earlier books much more than the later ones. I guess because it was a fresh, new series with new characters. By the time the 19th book rolled around, the characters and storylines were more repetitive than anything else. Will I continue listening to this series? Yes, I can't help myself. Once I've gone this long with a series, I won't stop until the series stops. I love the narration and some of the scenes are still funny. Also, it makes my commute to and from work a bit easier.

For reading challenges:
2013 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge
2013 Library Books Reading Challenge
2013 A-Z Reading Challenge



 FTC Disclosure: I took this audio book out from the library for my own enjoyment. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

Genre:
Mystery

Format:
Audio

Publisher:
Random House Publishing

Release Date:
November 2011







Synopsis from Goodreads:

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum’s life is set to blow sky high when international murder hits dangerously close to home, in this dynamite novel by Janet Evanovich.

Before Stephanie can even step foot off Flight 127 Hawaii to Newark, she’s knee deep in trouble. Her dream vacation turned into a nightmare, and she’s flying back to New Jersey solo. Worse still, her seatmate never returned to the plane after the L.A. layover. Now he’s dead, in a garbage can, waiting for curbside pickup. His killer could be anyone. And a ragtag collection of thugs and psychos, not to mention the FBI, are all looking for a photograph the dead man was supposed to be carrying.

Only one other person has seen the missing photo—Stephanie Plum. Now she’s the target, and she doesn’t intend to end up in a garbage can. With the help of an FBI sketch artist Stephanie re-creates the person in the photo. Unfortunately the first sketch turns out to look like Tom Cruise, and the second sketch like Ashton Kutcher. Until Stephanie can improve her descriptive skills, she’ll need to watch her back.

Over at the bail bonds agency things are going from bad to worse. The bonds bus serving as Vinnie’s temporary HQ goes up in smoke. Stephanie’s wheelman, Lula, falls in love with their largest skip yet. Lifetime arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt moves into Stephanie’s apartment. And everyone wants to know what happened in Hawaii?

Morelli, Trenton’s hottest cop, isn’t talking about Hawaii. Ranger, the man of mystery, isn’t talking about Hawaii. And all Stephanie is willing to say about her Hawaiian vacation is . . . It’s complicated.


My thoughts...

Like I said last week after I listened to Smokin' Seventeen, I'm finding myself getting hooked on the series again. Kind of silly since I'm listening to #19 now #20 won't be released until November. I'll have to wait for the library to get in the audio of that one.

I really thought I'd stop reading this series, but I kept at it and feel like I'm listening to an episode of a TV show each time.

There's not much of a review to write as - even though I'm enjoying it - the plots pretty much remain the same - cars blow up, people go missing, Stephanie's life is always in danger and she can't choose a man. I'm still loving the things Lula and Grandma Mazur say. They are fun characters. I admit I'm still annoyed that Stephanie can't choose either Morelli or Ranger. I guess the part that makes me nuts is that she seems to be in love with Morelli but doesn't have a problem sleeping with both of them. Somehow that just isn't a quality for a heroine to have in my eyes.

Have any of you seen the movie One for the Money with Katherine Heigl?  I haven't seen it yet, but I can't see Heigl as Stephanie.  Eventually I'll get around to watching it but I'm not all that anxious.  I always thought of Sandra Bullock in the role. 




For reading challenges:
2013 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge
2013 Library Books Reading Challenge
2013 A to Z Reading Challenge


Disclosure: I took the audio book out of the library to listen to for my own enjoyment. All opinions are my own.

Review: Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Genre:
Mystery

Format:
Audio

Publisher:
Random House Audio

Release Date:
June 2012





Synopsis from Amazon:

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum.

Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list.

Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie.

With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke.


My thoughts...

Lately I've been disappointed in this series, which is a shame because it was my #1 favorite when it first began. I used to anxiously await the hardcover release and would actually read them immediately. They never went on the TBR pile. Then, I got bored. They felt repetitive. However...this one sort of brought me back to the series. I can't put my finger on the reason (and I'm still getting a bit disgusted with Stephanie unable to choose between two hot men)but I do think listening to the audio version helps me. Now I'm listening to #18 and really enjoying it. That kind of surprised me.

I still love the things Lula and Grandma Mazur blurt out. They have to be two of the funniest characters in any book I've read over the years. They alone make the series worth it to me.





For reading challenges:
2013 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge
2013 Library Books Reading Challenge


Disclosure: I took the audio book out of the library to listen to for my own enjoyment. All opinions are my own.

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Genre:
Mystery

Format:
Audio

Publisher:
Macmillan Audio

Release Date:
June 2010




Synopsis from Goodreads:


Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a “lucky” bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn’t specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck. . . .

BAD LUCK:

Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to Stephanie, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs.

GOOD LUCK:

Being in the business of tracking down people, Stephanie, Lula, and Connie have an advantage in finding Vinnie. If they can rescue him, it will buy them some time to raise the cash.

BAD LUCK:

Finding a safe place to hide Vinnie turns out to be harder than raising $786,000. Vinnie’s messing up Mooner’s vibe, running up pay-per-view porn charges in Ranger’s apartment, and making Stephanie question genetics.

GOOD LUCK:

Between a bonds office yard sale that has the entire Burg turning out, Mooner’s Hobbit-Con charity event, and Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle, they just might raise enough money to save the business, and Vinnie, from ruin.

BAD LUCK:

Saving Vincent Plum Bail Bonds means Stephanie can keep being a bounty hunter. In Trenton, this involves hunting down a man wanted for polygamy, a turnpike toilet paper bandit, and a drug dealer with a pet alligator named Mr. Jingles.

GOOD LUCK:

The job of bounty hunter comes with perks in the guise of Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, and the dark and dangerous security expert, Ranger. With any luck at all, Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle will have Stephanie getting lucky---the only question is . . . with whom?

Sizzling Sixteen . . . so hot, the pages might spontaneously combust!

My thoughts…

It made for a good diversion driving to and from work for me. I love listening to these books in the car. It’s not exactly my favorite of the series, but it was good.   I must admit, I’m getting a bit tired of the Ranger/Morelli thing. I want Stephanie just pick one already. LOL   I find it harder and harder to come up with new thoughts on the series.  I just have 3 more to catch up with on this series.  Audio seems the way to go for me with the Plum books.





Disclosure: I took this one out of the library for my own enjoyment.

For reading challenge:
2013 Library Reading Challenge
Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

Goodreads Reading Challenge Groups

I have created three groups on Goodreads for my reading challenges. So, for those who don't have a blog or, even if you do but want to join the group - here are the links for them. You can even join on the blog and the groups as well. I'm hoping we can even talk about books we're reading for the challenges on the groups.

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

1 member
This group is for all of those who would like to participate in the Finishing the Series Reading ...

Books we've read

View this group on Goodreads »

What An Animal Reading Challenge

1 member

This group is for all of those who would like to participate in the What An Animal Reading Challe...

Books we've read

View this group on Goodreads »

Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge

118 members

This group is for all of those who would like to participate in the cozy mystery challenge I host...

Books we've read

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

by Joanne Fluke

Start date: January 2, 2012

Dropped Dead Stitch

by Maggie Sefton

View this group on Goodreads »

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2013

I decided to host this challenge again, even though I made no headway at all last year with it. LOL Still, I love series books and I really need to catch up. I hope some of you will join in with me. Here's the info...

It's a challenge for all those series books you started at some point and haven't finished. I know I'll start a series and read the first book, then get distracted with other books and never get back to the series. Before I know it, the series has 10 books - I get overwhelmed and don't go back to it. Now, I want to finish a couple.

Here are the rules guidelines.

1) All books that are part of a continuing series qualify (i.e. Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, James Patterson's Alex Cross, etc. etc.)

2) It doesn't matter if you have 1 or 10 books in a series to complete it, it qualifies (i.e. if you only need to read one more Sookie Stackhouse book to complete the goal, that's fine) The goal is to complete a series from wherever you are up to until the last published book.

3) The qualification period is January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Books must be read during this time frame to count.

4) Take the button above and post about it. Use the Mr. Linky below to sign up and make sure you link it directly to your post about this challenge. (Note: I'm not going to be using the Finishing the Series Blog I created last year. I'm going to keep everything here.)

5) If you don't have a blog, that's fine. Just leave a comment to sign up and tell us what you are reading.

IF YOU WANT TO LINK UP YOUR REVIEWS OR, FOR THOSE WITHOUT A BLOG, LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.

6) Any format of book counts - audio, ebook, etc.

7) You should choose the series you want to finish before the challenge begins, but it isn't necessary. It's fine to change series during the year - as long as you complete whichever series it is.

8) Choose a level....

Level 1 - Complete 1 series.
Level 2 - Complete 2 series.
Level 3 - Complete 3 or more series.

I'm going to try for Level 2 again. These are the two series I plan to read...

1) Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove (I need to read 3)
1022 Evergreen Place
1105 Yakima Street
1225 Christmas Tree Lane

2) Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum (I need to read 4)
Sizzling Sixteen
Smokin' Seventeen
Explosive Eighteen
Notorious Nineteen





Sign up link...




Completed reviews link...



Wrap up posts link...

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

Okay, I wasn't going to be hosting anymore reading challenges (then again I wasn't going to be joining anymore either and that's not happening - LOL), but I broke down and started this one. I searched all over and didn't see one for this yet so I'm going to start it myself.

It's a challenge for all those series books you started at some point and haven't finished. I know I'll start a series and read the first book, then get distracted with other books and never get back to the series. Before I know it, the series has 10 books - I get overwhelmed and don't go back to it. Now, I want to finish a couple.

Here are the rules guidelines.

1) All books that are part of a continuing series qualify (i.e. Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, James Patterson's Alex Cross, etc. etc.)

2) It doesn't matter if you have 1 or 10 books in a series to complete it, it qualifies (i.e. if you only need to read one more Sookie Stackhouse book to complete the goal, that's fine) The goal is to complete a series from wherever you are up to until the last published book.

3) The qualification period is January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Books must be read during this time frame to count.

4) Take the button above and post about it. Use the Mr. Linky at my new blog for this challenge. Click here to sign up and go over there now, but make sure you link it directly to your post about this challenge.

5) If you don't have a blog, that's fine. Just leave a comment to sign up and tell us what you are reading.

ADDENDUM: IF YOU WANT TO LINK UP YOUR REVIEWS OR, FOR THOSE WITHOUT A BLOG, LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOUR REVIEW, GO TO THE FINISHING THE SERIES BLOG, JUST CLICK HERE.

6) Any format of book counts - audio, ebook, etc.

7) You should choose the series you want to finish before the challenge begins, but it isn't necessary. It's fine to change series during the year - as long as you complete whichever series it is.

8) Choose a level....

Level 1 - Complete 1 series.
Level 2 - Complete 2 series.
Level 3 - Complete 3 or more series.

I'm going to bite the bullet and try for Level 2 and complete 2 series.

1) Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove (I need to read 3)
A. 1022 Evergreen Place
B. 1105 Yakima Street
C. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane

2) Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum (I need to read 6)
A. Fearless Fourteen
B. Plum Spooky
C. Finger Lickin' Fifteen
D. Sizzling Sixteen
E. Smokin' Seventeen
F. Explosive Eighteen