Sweet Southern Challenge 2019

Hello my cozy friends,

I decided to jump into another reading challenge called 2019 Sweet Southern Reading Challenge hosted here at Readeropolis. The challenge will run from January 1 to December 31, 2019. You can join at any time.

For this challenge, the South is defined as the states of :
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.*

There are five reading levels for this challenge.

• One Glass of Sweet Tea: Read 1 - 3 Books
• Two Glasses of Sweet Tea: Read 4 - 6 Books
• Three Glasses of Sweet Tea: Read 7 - 9 Books
• A Pitcher of Sweet Tea: Read 10 - 12 Books
• A Gallon Glass of Sweet Tea: Read 13 or More Books

* These are states where when you ask for sweet ice tea, it is served already sweetened, not unsweetened with packets of sweetener on the side. 

I recommend you use the link above and read the whole post. You don’t need a blog to participate, only a link of where you’ll keep track, like a Goodreads shelf.

My level will be "A Gallon Glass of Sweet Tea" and I’ll list the books here, starting with one I just finished and blogged about.

1.  Deserts, Driving, and Derelicts (A Camper & Criminals Cozy #2) - Tonya Kappes
2. No Good Tea Goes Unpunished (A Seaside Cafe Mystery #2) by Bree Baker 
3. Sweet Tea and Secrets (A Tea and Read Mystery #2) by Joy Avon
4. Motorhomes, Maps, & Murder (A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Book 5) - Tonya Kappes
5. A Cold Brew Killing (All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery #3) by Lena Gregory 
6. Cat Got Your Crown: A Kitty Couture Mystery (Kitty Couture Mystery #4) by Julie Chase
7. Broomsticks and Burials: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Magic & Mystery Book 1) by Lily Webb
8. Spellbooks and Stakings: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Magic & Mystery #2) by Lily Webb
9. Forests, Fishing, & Forgery (A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery #3) by Tonya Kappes 
10. Lethal in Old Lace (Consignment Shop Mystery #5) by Duffy Brown
11. A Peach of a Murder (Fresh-Baked Mystery #1) by Livia J. Washburn
12. Live and Let Chai (A Seaside Cafe Mystery #1) by Bree Baker 
13. A Steep Too Far (A Seaside Cafe Mystery #3) by Bree Baker
14. Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries (A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery #1) by Tonya Kappes 

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Deadly News (A Britton Bay Mystery Book 1)

Hello my cozy friends,

I am involved in several reading challenges as well as book discussions this year and one is to read 20 books in month of January I have read 5 so far.

Today I am reviewing Deadly News (A Britton Bay Mystery Book 1) by Jody Holford.  This is Facebook Group  Death Becomes Us Cozy Mystery Book Club  January 31st discussion with the author herself!

Print Length: 186 pages

Publisher: Lyrical Underground (Oct. 30 2018)

Genre - Cozy Mystery

Former Army brat Molly Owens is ready to put down roots, and the picturesque seaside town of Britton Bay on the Oregon Coast seems like the perfect place for it. Especially when she lands a job as editor of the local paper. But she’s got one colleague who’s very bad news . . .

As an experienced journalist, Molly is eager to bring the struggling Britton Bay Bulletin up to speed. But when she pushes Vernon, one of her less welcoming reporters, to dig a little deeper into the story of a prominent local family, the man ends up dead. The fact that he wasn’t well-liked makes finding the killer extra complicated. The lists of suspects range from his ex-wife to his own son to Molly’s boss, who has a secret of his own. But when Molly’s attempts to sleuth out the truth result in her receiving frightening threats, the trouble is just beginning . . .

The one bright spot is Molly’s newfound flirtation with Sam Alderich. The sexy mechanic is used to taking things apart and piecing them back together, and between the two of them they just might be able to solve this deadly puzzle—if Molly can survive peaceful small-town life long enough . . . 

I LOVED it!  This first novel in a new cozy mystery series "DEADLY NEWS" was engaging and really well-written, with a wonderful small town, seaside setting and excellent characters. As most of you know I love the sea and the way this town was described I was dreaming of living there myself.  The protagonist Molly was intelligent, likeable, and the friends she made were people I would like to hang out with especially Katherine and Cali.  I found myself thoroughly enjoying the story and instant romance whilst trying to figure out the killer. The reveal and the reason Vernon was killed was surprising, I had guesses who close to end but not the why.  I think Jody did a very good job on her first cozy mystery (author of romance novels) and I am really looking forward to her next book in the series DEADLY VOWS. (PS I preordered it already)

My Rating

I'm a mom and wife first and many things after. I'm a best friend and a regular friend. A daughter, sister, auntie, and a teacher. I am a book lover, a shopper, a pajama-wearer, movie-watcher, worrier, over-thinker, and a wanna-be-good-Samaritan. I'm a Gemini, a nervous talker, and an emotional

writer. I am represented by Frances Black of Literary Counsel. Jody was born in Ontario, Canada

Website:     http://www.jodyholford.weebly.com
Twitter:      1prncs
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Authorjodyholford/

Genre:        Romance, Ebooks, Chick Lit





Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

2019 Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge

Hello my Cozy friends!

My 9th Challenge for 2019 is called Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge as offered by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews... this one sounds super fun!

Challengers have two options - one is to read only sub-genres and the other is to read cozy mysteries of your choice.

I naturally chose option B) Read one book from only sub-genres:

- One from culinary (anything dealing with food: restaurants, baked goods, etc.)
- One from animal related (cats, dogs, birds, etc.)
- One from craft related (any kind of hobbies - knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc.)
- One from paranormal (witches, vampires, etc.)
- One from cozy mysteries based outside the US (example: Belinda Lawrence series (British))
- One career-based cozy mystery (housekeeping, wedding planner, etc.)
- One holiday based (set during any holiday - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentines, etc.)
- One travel mystery (character could be on a cruise, touring another area, etc.)
- One historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present)
- One is your choice! (freebie!)

Full details and rules are available over on Yvonne's blog or in the Goodreads group.

Here are the levels you can join for either A or B…

Level one (Snoop) -
A) Read 10 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B) Read one book in each of the above cozy sub-genres (total of 10 books)

Level two (Investigator) -
A) Read 20 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B) Read all the books in level one plus an additional 10 cozy books of your choice (total of 20)

Level three (Super Sleuth) -
A) Read 30 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B) Read two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 10 cozy books of your choice (total of 30 books)

Level four (Sleuth Extraordinaire) -
A) Read 40 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B) Read two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 20 cozy books of your choice (total of 40 books)

The challenge runs from January 1, 2019 and ends December 31, 2019.

You don't have to post a review, but I'm sure others would love to know about the books you are reading and may even want to add it to their reading lists.

I'm going to go for Level 3 (Super Sleuth) to read two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 10 cozy books of your choice (total of 30 books). I'll be listing them here...

1.  Pies and Prejudice - Ellery Adams

2.  Inherit the Word - Daryl Wood Gerber

3.  Curiosity Thrilled the Cat - Sofie Kelly

4.  Bickering Birds (Cozy Corgi Mysteries Book 3) - Mildred Abbott

5.   Last Wool and Testament - Molly MacRae 

6.  Glitter Bomb - Laura Childs

7.  The Witches Of Enchanted Bay Cozy Mystery Book 1 - Amelia Morgan

8.  Murders and Metaphors: A Magical Bookshop Mystery - Amanda Flower

9.   Off Kilter  - Hannah Reed

10. The Cracked Spine: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery - Paige Shelton

11.  Lethal in Old Lace: A Consignment Shop Mystery - Duffy Brown

12. Murder in White Lace: A Bridal Shop Cozy Mystery Book 1 - Karen Sue Walker

13. Yule Be Dead - Lorraine Bartlett

14. Christmas, Corpses, and Clockwork Kittens - L.A. Nisula

15. Starboard Secrets: A Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Book 1 - Hope Callaghan 

16. Murder in the South of France (The Maggie Newberry Mystery Book 1) - Susan Kiernan-Lewis

17. Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods - Emily Brightwell 

18. The Tuscan Child - Rhys Bowen

19. Murder, Mayhem and Bliss (Myrtle Grove Garden Club Mystery Book 1) - Loulou Harrington

20. Ditched 4 Murder - JC Eaton

21. Death at First Sight - Lena Gregory

22. Staged 4 Murder - JC Eaton

23. Hooked on Ewe - Hannah Reed

24. Murder in the Mystery Suite - Ellery Adams

25. Sunny Side Up - Sonia Parin

26. Books can be Deceiving - McKinlay

27. Longest Yard Sale - Sherry Harris

28. Murder by the Book - Lauren Elliot

29. Walled Flower - Lorraine Bartlett

30. One Potato, Two Potato - Lynn Cahoon

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog!

P.S. Please share. with your friends and leave me a comment below. I read them ALL!

Hugs,

2019 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Hello my cozy friends,

This past year was very disappointing in respect to my crafting as well as my reading...
So for the first time I am participating in 10 challenges and I am loving the sign up process, picking out what books I will read! It hopefully will be incredibly helpful in nudging me to read some of the older books on my kindle and all the paperbacks I have been collecting lately.

This TBR Challenge is sponsored by Adam at "Roof Beam Reader". You can sign up at his blog's page  Announcing the 2019 TBR Pile Challenge! (sign up here).

The goal is to read just 12 books from your TBR pile.

This shouldn't be a big issue as I have bought 20 paperbacks this year that need reading, they are part of the  Print Only Challenge.  From the way this blog is worded, I would say these books definitely need to be physical books.  

Thankfully crossovers from other challenges are totally acceptable, as long as you have never read the book before and it was published before 2018!

Plus 2 alternates may be picked just on the off-chance that there's a book you won't make it through

*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!

See Adam's sign up page for all the details and to link up if you have a blog.

My 2019 Roof Beam Reader TBR Challenge List:

1. Ditched 4 Murder - JC Eaton
2. Booked 4 Murder - JC Eaton
3. Staged 4 Murder - JC Eaton
4. Off Kilter - Hannah Reed
5. Dressed to Kilt - Hannah Reed
6. Hooked on Ewe - Hannah Reed
7. Walled Flower - Lorraine Bartlett
8. Copycat Killing - Sofie Kelly
9. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat - Sofie Kelly
10. Books Can be Deceiving - Jenn McKinlay

Alternates

1. The Bookshop of Yesterdays - Amy Meyerson
2. Origin - Dan Brown

Chat: On Social Media, please use #TBR2019RBR


As I was typing up this post 3 more bools arrived!

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Mount TBR Reading Challenge - 20189

Hello my fellow cozy readers,

One of the blogs I follow Cuddle up with Cozy Mystery and a Dachshund  posted this challenge by Bev over at  My Reader’s Block blog runs this. Bev also has it on Goodreads, so you can keep track there too.

Image from Bev’s page to identify this challenge.

I will be going for Mt. Vancouver or 36 books from my TBR pile. Here’s my Goodreads link where I’ll keep track on a shelf. 

Challenge Levels:

• Pike’s Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
• Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
• Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
• Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s
• Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
• El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
• Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
• Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2019. No library books!

Physical or e-books count.  

Books may be used to count for other challenges as well, which I am happy about. 

For full rules, here’s the sign-up link on Bev’s blog again.

Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2019.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Print Only 2019 Reading Challenge

Hello my cozy friends

I have become addicted to entering these challenges thanks to a couple of my cozy friends!

This one is run by As Told by Tina  Print Only Challenge 2019 Reading Challenge.

The picture is property of Tina and indicates I’m part of this challenge.

It’s easy and straightforward: physical books only, but they can be yours, borrowed or gifts, as long as they are a physical book.   Dust off some of your books and read them.

I’m going for the 10+ Out of Print, since I received 10 paperbacks for christmas from my lovely Lindi-Lou.  I have more in a TBR pile so ...

Levels:

1-10 – Out Of Print
11-20 – 1st Edition
21-30 – 2nd Printing
31- 40 – Signed Edition
41+ – Collector’s Edition

My books:

1. Copycat Killing - Sofie Kelly
2. Botched 4 Murder - JC Eaton
3. Glitter Bomb - Laura Childs
4. Sleight of Paw - Sofie Kelly
5. Staged 4 Murder - JC Eaton
6. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat - Sofie Kelly
7. Death at First Sight - Lena Gregory
8. Ditched 4 Murder - JC Eaton
9. Yule Be Dead - Lorraine Bartlett 
10. Dead, Bath, and Beyond - Lorraine Bartlett

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

2019 What an Animal Reading Challenge

Hello friends,

Over on  Yvonne of Socrates’ Reviews, and you can use her 2019 What an Animal Reading Challenge  page to sign up for another fun goal.. (me it will be Dogs)


If you don’t have a blog, you can use the What an Animal Reading Challenge Goodreads group to keep track. I will use both.

Based on the number of animal mysteries and books on Dogs I read, I am pretty sure I can read at least 6.  Please note: A animal does have to have a major role in the book, not just be on the cover.

The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragon, mermaid, centaur, vampire, werewolf...you get the idea... 

The levels as shown on Yvonne’s blog:

• Level One – Read 1-6 
• Level Two – Read 7-12 
• Level Three – Read 13-20  
• Level Four – Go crazy and read at least 21 or more

Have fun reading books with animals!

My goal is Level One 1 - 10:

1. The Dog Who Knew Too Much
2. The Mystery of the Blue Dolphins
3. Traitorous Toys
4. Cruel Candy
5. A Bark in the Night
6. Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know

The challenge will begin on January 1, 2019 and end on December 31, 2019.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting with me and Lindi-Lou!

P.S. Please share. with your friends and leave me a comment below. I read them ALL!

Hugs,

2019 First in Series Challenge

Hello cozy friends,

Happy Weekend everyone and Merry Christmas!

Can you believe that there is only one and a half weeks left to 2018!  I am trying to finish signing up for all the reading challenges.  Tari has made up this challenge as she had a lot of firsts to read.  I am a very OCD person and always like to read the books in order, since joining Cozy Mystery Book Corner, I haven't always done that due to the book discussions.  This challenge will give me a great opportunity to catch up.

I am not sure how many I have to do but a few I know of are:

1. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat (Magical Cats Mysteries) - Sofie Kelly
2. The Whole Cat and Caboodle (Second Chance Cat Mysteries) - Sofie Kelly
3. Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries (Camper & Criminals Mysteries) - Tonya Kappes
4. A Ghostly Undertaking (Ghostly Southern Mysteries) - Tonya Kappes
5. Scene of the Grind (Killer Coffee Mysteries)- Tonya Kappes
6. Off Kilter (Scottish Highlands Mysteries)- Hannah Reed
7. Last Wool and Testament (Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries)—Molly MacRae
8. Sprinkle with Murder (Cupcake Bakery Mysteries)—Jenn McKinlay
9. The Quick and the Thread (Embroidery Mysteries)—Amanda Lee
10. Books Can Be Deceiving (Library Lover’s Mysteries) - Jenn McKinlay
11. Broomsticks and Burials (Paranormal Cozy Mystery) - Lily Webb
12. Deadly News (Britton Bay Mysteries) - Jody Holford
13. Killer Christmas (An Emma Wild Holiday Mystery) - Harper Lee 
14. 
    

I'm only just now been ready to enjoy the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies I pvr'd.  I also watched Bohemian Rhapsody last night with my girlfriend for her birthday.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog!

P.S. Please share. with your friends and leave me a comment below. I read them ALL!

Hugs,

2019 Craving for Cozies Challenge

Hello cozy friends,

I am signing up for another reading challenge, since I can crossover on a lot of these why not go for it.  Give me some more motivation to read instead of being on electronics.  I plan on doing the Famished level.  This is copied from the Escape with Dollycas blog:

“The challenge runs from January 1, 2019, and ends December 31, 2019

Rules

1. Choose the level of which you would like to participate:

• Peckish – 1 – 25 Cozy Mysteries 
• Famished – 26 – 51 Cozy Mysteries 
• Yearning – 51 – 75 Cozy Mysteries 
• Starving – 76 – 100 Cozy Mysteries 
• Ravenous – 101 – 125 Cozy Mysteries 
• Voracious – 126 – 150 Cozy Mysteries 
• Overindulged – 151 – 200 Cozy Mysteries 
• Pigged Out – 201 or more Cozy Mysteries 

You can always go up a level but you can’t go down.

2. You can Feed Your Need To Read with print, digital or audio books.

3. You do not have to post a review but the authors would appreciate it if you did. If you need help just let Escape with Dollycas know.” (end of copied text)

This challenge can be even more fun if you join Lori’s Facebook group, Craving for Cozies Challenge.  Even though I plan to keep track there, I still will still have a Goodreads Shelf and use my notebook I have been writing my challenges and books in. 

I plan to review on Goodreads and Amazon for all the books that I read but with that said I might not necessarily choose to blog about them. I do like to post a review to help out the authors.

Please, be sure to go to the original blog post on Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book to click on
the form to sign up! What level are you going to sign up for?

Thanks for taking the time to stop by my little blog.

P.S. Please share. with your friends and leave me a comment below. I read them ALL!

Hugs,

2019 Reading Challenge Addicts

Hello friends,

This is what I have become after becoming friends with Tari over on Cuddle up with a Cozy and a Dachshund .  Please check out her blog.

Bev from My Reader’s Block is hosting it but that first link is just her own page for listing her challenges. Reading Challenge Addicts 2019 (sign up here) has its own separate blog. Here are the levels from that same blog’s About page. (See the Reading Challenge Addicts About Page  for complete details.)

“How addicted are you?

• Easy as Pie: 1-5 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• On the Roof: 6-10 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• In Flight: 11-15 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)”

As I am new to all this Reading Challenge idea, I will start off with Easy as Pie but who knows I might change it part way through.

Tari had a great idea of having a post listing all the challenges and having links to keep track, which I will do after the holidays.  I only try to post 3 times a week but with trying to sign up for these challenges i need to post sometimes a couple in one day.  I apologize for bombarding you all.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog!

P.S. Please share. with your friends and leave me a comment below. I read them ALL!

Hugs,

2019 Purr-Fect Reading Challenge

Hello friends,

My friend Tari over on Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery  posted about this challenge led by Yvonne at Socrates’ Reviews, and you can use her Purrfect Reading Challenge 2019 page to sign up too.

If you don’t have a blog, you can use the Purrfect Reading Challenge Goodreads group to keep track. I will follow Tari's lead and use both.

Based on the number of cat mysteries I read over the years, I am pretty sure I can read at least 10.  Please note: A cat does have to have a major role in the book, not just be on the cover.

The levels as shown on Yvonne’s blog:

Purring – Read 1-10 cat mysteries
Kneading – Read 11-20 cat mysteries
Meowing – Read 21-30 cat mysteries
Catnip – Go crazy and read at least 31 and go as high as you’d like – the sky is the limit!

Have fun reading mysteries with cats! (As Tari suggested Magical Cats by Sophie Kelly is a really good series to start with)

My goal is Purring 1 - 10:

1. Familiar Tail - Delia James

2. Classified as Murder - Miranda James

3. Escape Claws - Linda Reilly

4. Claws of Death - Linda Reilly

5. A Literary Scandal - Libby Howard

6. The Tell All - Libby Howard

7. No Cats Allowed - Miranda James

8. Purrfect Murder !-3 Box Set - Louise Lynn

9. Spell Booked - Joyce & Jim Lavene

10. Meows, Magic and Murder - Madison Johns

11. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat - Sofie Kelly ( Christmas gift from the dog)

The challenge will begin on January 1, 2019 and end on December 31, 2019.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting with me and Lindi-Lou!


Hugs,