Reading Challenge/Goals for 2023--2024 link added

[MGMmjl]

8/30 - Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock

Description:
"One father was murdered. Another was convicted of his death. All because their children fell in love.

Nate Beckett has spent his life fighting wildfires instead of the lies and rumors that drove him from his Colorado hometown. His mother begs him to come back now that his father has been released from prison, but it isn’t until he’s sidelined by an injury that he’s forced to return and face his past. But that means facing Brenna too.

Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher’s daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate’s drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down not long after, people assumed Nate set the fire to get even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left town without looking back.

Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and now she’s fighting a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. Brenna is barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her.

As Nate and Brenna deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—the past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first."

I have read a few of Blackstock's books and enjoyed all of them. I really enjoyed this one too. It is a stand-alone novel and not part of a series.

 

[bobbiwoz]

28/75 Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
A story of the making of a family as told by the original voice of Ginny Moon, an autistic 14 year old. I thought it was more original, then very good. 3.5/5

 

[Simba's Mom]

Two more done-
#16/56-Calypso, by David Sedaris, supposed to be a humorous collection of essays, but I didn't find it particularly funny. 2/5 stars
#17/56-The Storyteller of Casablanca, by Fiona Valpy,in two "voices", one from the modern day, the other as she reads a journal she's come across from a young girl who'd escaped Germany during WWII. Although it was well-written, I had hoped for more about the war, and it moved extremely slowly I thought. 3/5 stars

 

[willowsnn3]

#21/50 I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
David and Cheryl Burroughs were living the dream life when tragedy struck. Now, five years after that terrible night, Cheryl is remarried. And David is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for the brutal murder of their son.
Then Cheryl’s sister, Rachel, arrives unexpectedly during visiting hours and drops a bombshell. She’s come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park with a boy in the background who has a familiar, distinctive birthmark … and even though David and Rachel realize it can’t be, they both just know. It's David’s son, Matthew, and he's still alive.
David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible–save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.
Coben has always been hit or miss with me. This one was good in parts but overall just ok.

 

[Christine]

Hi Everyone! I'm not in the challenge at all but I do read this thread to get ideas!

First, I'll say that I'm in total agreement about When the Crawdads Sing. Rave reviews but I was just underwhelmed. I didn't hate it by any means, just do not get all the love for it.

Second point is that I see there was some recent readers of The Hunger Games. I enjoyed those years ago and if you like that genre, you might try the Silo trilogy by Hugh Howey. I just read the first of the 3 books. It's titled Wool. It takes place in what appears to be a post-apocolyptic world (you'll find out more of why that is as the books go on). The remaining population lives in what is really a whole city underground (silo). I won't give away any more of it but it is going to be a series starting on May 5th on Apple TV with a decent looking cast. Is it the best book in the world or up to Hunger Games? No. But I enjoyed it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

29/75
Open House by Elizabeth Berg 3.5/5. A woman really finds herself after being caught by surprise in a divorce.
I used to read a lot by this author. I am home recovering from Covid, I was looking at books to download, saw her name and figured why not. Easy read.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

29/75
Open House by Elizabeth Berg 3.5/5. A woman really finds herself after being caught by surprise in a divorce.
I used to read a lot by this author. I am home recovering from Covid, I was looking at books to download, saw her name and figured why not. Easy read.

Just wanted to send you good thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery!

 

[Simba's Mom]

29/75
Open House by Elizabeth Berg 3.5/5. A woman really finds herself after being caught by surprise in a divorce.
I used to read a lot by this author. I am home recovering from Covid, I was looking at books to download, saw her name and figured why not. Easy read.

Take care of yourself!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Just wanted to send you good thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery

Take care of yourself!

Thank you both! I am feeling much better. I came here to get an idea for another book. I did make a short “to do” list today, and accomplished two things!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think I am probably the only person alive that just did not care for this book.....I've read rave reviews about it but I really just didn't like it at all.

My opinion is closer to yours than all the accolades!

 

[bobbiwoz]

8/30 - The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate

From Good Reads:
When successful New York editor Jen Gibbs discovers a decaying slush-pile manuscript on her desk, she has no idea that the story of Sarra, a young mixed-race woman trapped in Appalachia at the turn of the twentieth century, will both take her on a journey and change her forever. Happy with her life in the city, and at the top of her career with a new job at Vida House Publishing, Jen has left her Appalachian past and twisted family ties far behind. But the search for the rest of the manuscript, and Jen's suspicions about the identity of its unnamed author, will draw her into a mystery that leads back to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains . . . and quite possibly through the doors she thought she had closed forever.

I really enjoyed this book. In fact I could not just listen to it on my walk. I had to finish it up during my free period at school. It was a freebie on audible. I was so intrigued by the story of both Jen and Sarra. I discovered Lisa Wingate when I read Before we were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends. There was a bit of a Christian undertone to the book with Jen being in what I would consider a Christian Cult as a child and then Sarra with her Cherokee and Catholic ideas but overall that did not bother me.

I would give this one 4 out 5.

I just borrowed this one.

 

[willowsnn3]

29/75
Open House by Elizabeth Berg 3.5/5. A woman really finds herself after being caught by surprise in a divorce.
I used to read a lot by this author. I am home recovering from Covid, I was looking at books to download, saw her name and figured why not. Easy read.

Hope you get well soon!

 

[willowsnn3]

My opinion is closer to yours than all the accolades!

And when I saw they did a movie on one of the streaming channels, I thought "why"? Lol
Referring to the Crawdad book.

 

[willowsnn3]

Hi Everyone! I'm not in the challenge at all but I do read this thread to get ideas!

First, I'll say that I'm in total agreement about When the Crawdads Sing. Rave reviews but I was just underwhelmed. I didn't hate it by any means, just do not get all the love for it.

Second point is that I see there was some recent readers of The Hunger Games. I enjoyed those years ago and if you like that genre, you might try the Silo trilogy by Hugh Howey. I just read the first of the 3 books. It's titled Wool. It takes place in what appears to be a post-apocolyptic world (you'll find out more of why that is as the books go on). The remaining population lives in what is really a whole city underground (silo). I won't give away any more of it but it is going to be a series starting on May 5th on Apple TV with a decent looking cast. Is it the best book in the world or up to Hunger Games? No. But I enjoyed it.

Hi, Christine!
I loved the Hunger Games & just re watched the first movie the other day. Mostly because a bit of it was filmed close to my house.
I absolutely loved the Silo trilogy also! I might even say it was better than Hunger Games. I think HG has more 'action' & Silo is more slow moving but very good. I think I have read some of his other work but will have to go back & check.

 

[bobbiwoz]

8/30 - The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate

From Good Reads:
When successful New York editor Jen Gibbs discovers a decaying slush-pile manuscript on her desk, she has no idea that the story of Sarra, a young mixed-race woman trapped in Appalachia at the turn of the twentieth century, will both take her on a journey and change her forever. Happy with her life in the city, and at the top of her career with a new job at Vida House Publishing, Jen has left her Appalachian past and twisted family ties far behind. But the search for the rest of the manuscript, and Jen's suspicions about the identity of its unnamed author, will draw her into a mystery that leads back to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains . . . and quite possibly through the doors she thought she had closed forever.

I really enjoyed this book. In fact I could not just listen to it on my walk. I had to finish it up during my free period at school. It was a freebie on audible. I was so intrigued by the story of both Jen and Sarra. I discovered Lisa Wingate when I read Before we were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends. There was a bit of a Christian undertone to the book with Jen being in what I would consider a Christian Cult as a child and then Sarra with her Cherokee and Catholic ideas but overall that did not bother me.

I would give this one 4 out 5.

I give it 4/5 as well. I really enjoyed it. I have an Interest in Appalachia and The Smoky Mountain NP is the NP I have visited most often. I enjoy going to ranger led music programs especially.

It was my 30/75. I read it in one day. I am feeling much better, but still have some mild Covid symptoms, a cough and sneezing primarily.

 

[mrs. magoo]

I give it 4/5 as well. I really enjoyed it. I have an Interest in Appalachia and The Smoky Mountain NP is the NP I have visited most often. I enjoy going to ranger led music programs especially.

It was my 30/75. I read it in one day. I am feeling much better, but still have some mild Covid symptoms, a cough and sneezing primarily.

Glad you enjoyed it as well. I love everyone's suggestions on here I am happy that I was able to contribute. Hope you are on the mend.

 

[bobbiwoz]

#19/50 All The Broken Places by John Boyne
From Goodreads:
Ninety-one-year-old Gretel Fernsby has lived in the same well-to-do mansion block in London for decades. She lives a quiet, comfortable life, despite her deeply disturbing, dark past. She doesn't talk about her escape from Nazi Germany at age 12. She doesn't talk about the grim post-war years in France with her mother. Most of all, she doesn't talk about her father, who was the commandant of one of the Reich's most notorious extermination camps. Then, a new family moves into the apartment below her. In spite of herself, Gretel can't help but begin a friendship with the little boy, Henry, though his presence brings back memories she would rather forget. One night, she witnesses a disturbing, violent argument between Henry's beautiful mother and his arrogant father, one that threatens Gretel's hard-won, self-contained existence. All The Broken Places moves back and forth in time between Gretel's girlhood in Germany to present-day London as a woman whose life has been haunted by the past.
Ok, I did not realize when I picked this one up from the library that it was written by the author of 'The Boy In The Striped Pajamas', which I have not read but did see the movie & that has stuck with me ever since as will this book.
#20/50 The Family Across The Street by Nicole Trope
From Goodreads:
Sometimes, the most perfect families are hiding the most terrible secrets. How well do you know the people next door…?
Everybody wants to live on Hogarth Street, the pretty, tree-lined avenue with its white houses. The new family, The Wests, are a perfect fit. Katherine and John* seem so in love and their gorgeous five-year-old twins race screeching around their beautiful emerald-green lawn.
Every family has secrets, and on the hottest day of the year, the truth is about to come out. As a tragedy unfolds behind closed doors, the dawn chorus is split by the wail of sirens. And one by one the families who tried so hard to welcome the Wests begin to realise: Hogarth Street will never be the same again.
All in all, a pretty good pretty good twist-packed psychological thriller. I enjoyed it.

I read this, and knew I had to read the book!

31/75..I read it yesterday, couldn’t put it down. I’m really a lot better regarding Covid. I’ve been outside, riding my bike. DH hasn’t caught it, and neither have my friends whom we were with a lot last Thursday and Friday. So, the shots and boosters didn’t prevent me from getting it, again, but it wasn’t as bad this time.

I gave the book 4/5 rating.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Has anyone read Kristin Harmel books?
I am going to start reading an ARC of The Paris Daughter this weekend and wondering how she is as a writer?

 

[Simba's Mom]

Has anyone read Kristin Harmel books?
I am going to start reading an ARC of The Paris Daughter this weekend and wondering how she is as a writer?

I've read 2 of her books. I haven't read "The Paris Daughter", but based on my experiences with her books, that's only because our library doesn't have it-yet. One of her books, "The Book of Lost Names" was a 5 star book for me, one of the most fascinating books I've read about the French Resistance in WWII. The other book, "The Forest of Vanishing Stars" I enjoyed also. I hope you enjoy your book.

 

[mgarbowski]

9 of 24 - Odd Apocalypse by Dean Koontz
Fifth of six novels in the Odd Thomas series. Eh. I'll finish the series but I have not enjoyed books 4 and 5 as much as nos. 1-3.