2010 COMPLETED CHALLENGES

• 100+ Reading Challenge 2010
• 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge
• Ireland Reading Challenge 2010
• New York Challenge
• Pub 2010
• Medical Mystery Madness Challenge 2010
• Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2010
• What's in a Name 3 Challenge
• Reading Through the Seasons 2010
• Chunkster Challenge 2010

CHALLENGES FOR 2011

I did well with my reading challenges this year, so I'm coming back for more in 2011.  Here are the ones I plan to do - and there might be more later:


Read 'n Review Challenge hosted by MizBooks

100+ Reading Challenge 2011 hosted by Amy

Ireland Reading Challenge 2011  hosted by Carrie

2011 Medical Mystery Madness Challenge hosted by Twiga

What's in a Name Challenge 4 hosted by Beth Fish

Just for Fun Reading Challenge hosted by Dollycas

Chunkster Challenge 2011 hosted by Caribousmom


I haven't really looked over my books and wish lists yet to see which books will fit which challenges.  After I decide on books, I'll do another post for each challenge.

But for now, I'm in!

THE RICHEST SEASON

THE RICHEST SEASON by Maryann McFadden

From the book jacket:

After more than a dozen moves in twenty-five years of marriage, Joanna Harrison is lonely and tired of being a corporate wife.  Her children are grown and gone, her husband is more married to his job than to her, and now they're about to pack up once more.  Panicked at the thought of having to start all over again, Joanna commits the first irresponsible act of her life.  She runs away to Pawleys Island, South Carolina, a place she's been to just once.

She finds a job as a live-in companion to Grace Finelli, a widow who has come to the island to fulfill a girlhood dream.  Together the two women embark on the most difficult journey of their lives:  Joanna struggling for independence, roots, and a future of her own, as her family tugs at her from afar; and Grace, choosing to live the remainder of her life for herself alone, knowing she ma never see her children again.

Entwined is Paul Harrison's story as he loses his wife, his job, and everything that defines him as a man.  He takes off on his own journey out west, searching for the answers to all that has gone wrong in his life.  One thing remains constant:  He wants his wife back.

Joanna, however, is moving further away from her old life as she joins a group dedicated to rescuing endangered loggerhead turtles, led by a charismatic fisherman unlike anyone she's ever met.

THE RICHEST SEASON is a stunning debut about three very different people, all changing their lives when such transformations are usually long over.  It will resonate with any woman who's ever fantasized about leaving home to find herself.

This book, judging by the above description, sounded like it should be a winner - it wasn't.  First of all, I didn't understand the title at all.  It didn't fit the story.  I didn't like most of the characters.  I thought Joanna and Grace were very cold, unfeeling and extremely selfish.  I read nothing that indicated any warmth or closeness between them, yet by the end of the book the reader was supposed to understand Joanna's deep feelings for Grace.

The only character I had any "feeling" for was Paul.  He wasn't a perfect husband or father, but he really got the shaft from Joanna.  He was the only one who made any positive changes in his life.

I really wanted to like this book, but it failed to life up to expectations.

A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN ATLANTA

It started snowing around noon yesterday and continued into the evening.  Above is my house last night and below is my house early this morning.

It looks so pretty!  The temperatures are going to stay low today, so the snow might stay around for a couple of days.

Now I know this doesn't look like much snow to those of you in the Northern states, but this is the first real white Christmas in Atlanta since the 1880's.  This storm is headed toward the Northeast today - in the form of a blizzard.  Stay safe and warm!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU

I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU by Fannie Flagg

From the book jacket:

Meet Maggie Fortenberry, a still beautiful former Miss Alabama.  To others, Maggie's life seems practically perfect - she's lovely, charming, and a successful real estate agent at Red Mountain Realty.  Still, Maggie can't help but wonder how she wound up in her present condition.  She had been on her hopeful way to becoming Miss America and realizing her childhood dream of someday living in one of the elegant old homes on top of Red Mountain, with the adoring husband and the 2.5 children, but then something unexpected happened and changed everything.

Maggie graduated at the top of her class at charm school, can fold a napkin in more than forty-eight different and interesting ways, and can enter and exit a car gracefully, but all the finesse in the world cannot help her now.  Since the legendary real estate dynamo Hazel Whisenknott, founder of Red Mountain Realty, died five years ago, business has gone from bad to worse - and the future isn't looking much better.  But just when things seem completely hopeless, Maggie suddenly comes up with the perfect plan to solve it all.

As Maggie prepares to put her plan into action, we meet the cast of high-spirited characters around her.  To Brenda Peoples, Maggie's best friend and real estate partner, Maggie's life seems easy as pie:  Slender Maggie doesnt have to worry about her figure, or about her Weight Watchers sponsor catching her at the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop.  And Ethel Clipp, Red Mountian's ancient and grumpy office manager with the bright purple hair, thinks the world of Maggie but has absolutely nothing nice to say about their rival Babs "The Beast of Birmingham" Bingington, the unscrupulous real estate agent who hates Maggie and is determined to put her out of business. 

Maggie has heartbreaking secrets in her past, but through a strange turn of events she soon discovers, quite by accident, that everybody, it seems - dead or alive - has at least one little secret.

It's been about four years since a new Fannie Flagg book has been released.  This one is charming.  A cast of funny characters, including a midget and a mysterious set of twins from the past, is included and all have an effect on Maggie and her plans.  I loved the scene where Maggie and Babs had a few too many Pink Squirrels and Maggie told Babs exactly what she thought of her.

This was a quick, easy read - just right for this busy time of the year.

CHRISTMAS AT HARRINGTON'S

CHRISTMAS AT HARRINGTON'S by Melody Carlson

From the back of the book:

Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless.  She is trying to restart her life, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent.  When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing.  But can she keep her past a secret?

Well, Ms. Carlson, after reading three of your earlier books and not having been impressed, you've redeemed yourself.  This book was charming.

Lena, as Mrs. Santa, spreads the message that although we may all try to be good, at times we all will slip.  And that's OK.  We all need to learn a few simple lessons;  try your best, when you make a mistake, admit it and forgive others who have also made mistakes.  A good lesson for all of us, and not just at Christmas.

This book is a keeper for me.  Thank you, Ms. Carlson.

THE SCARECROW

THE SCARECROW by Michael Connelly

From the book jacket:

Jack McEvoy is at the end of the line as a crime reporter.  Once a hotshot in the newsroom, Jack is now in the crosshairs of the latest set of layoffs at the Los Angeles Times.  He decides to go out with a bang, using his final days at the paper to write the definitive murder story of his career.

Jack focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a sixteen-year-old drug dealer in jail after confessing to the brutal murder of a young woman found strangled in the trunk of her car.  Jack plans to write about how societal dysfunction and neglect created a teenage killer.  But as he delves into the story, Jack realizes that Winslow's so-called confession is bogus.  The kid might actually be innocent.

When Jack connects the L.A. trunk murder to an earlier murder in Las Vegas, he is off and running on the biggest story he's had since the Poet crossed his path years before.  This time Jack is onto a killer who has worked completely below police and FBI radar - and with perfect knowledge of any move against him.

What Jack doesn't know is that his investigation has inadvertently set off a digital trip wire.  The killer knows Jack is coming - and he's ready.

Another good book by Mr. Connelly.  He has become one of my favorite crime and mystery authors.

The reader knows throughout the book who the killer is - the suspense is watching Jack find out also.  The killer is always one step ahead, and it's almost too late when Jack finally connects all the dots.  Or has he made a huge mistake and centered his attention on the wrong person?

A previous case - the Poet - is reference throughout this book.  I'm going to have to get Mr. Connelly's book THE POET and find out the whole story.

ANGELS IN THE SNOW

ANGELS IN THE SNOW by Melody Carlson was read for the 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge.

From the book jacket:

Looking for solace after the deaths of her husband and young son, artist Claire Andrews flees to a cabin in the Cascade Mountains.  As Claire walks through the woods each day, she discovers two mysterious sets of footprints in the snow, an adult's and a child's.  Is she imagining them?  And how is it that the tracks are gently leading her to paint - and to hope - once again?

This was the last book in this treasury.  Another disappointment, although by this time I wasn't expecting much.  For some reason, this author hasn't thrilled me.

This particular book seemed very disjointed.  A character was introduced, and it seemed like he would be important to the story.  But he just disappeared - I don't understand why he was there in the first place.  I got the feeling that Ms. Carlson lost her way in this book.

This was the last book scheduled for the 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge.  This is one challenge I usually enjoy, but this year my choice of books left me a little dissatisfied.  Oh well, there's always next year and a whole new crop of holiday books!

HOW TO BE LOST

HOW TO BE LOST by Amanda Eyre Ward

From the back of the book:

Joseph and Isabelle Winters seem to have it all:  a grand home in Holt, New York, a trio of radiant daughters, and a sense that they are safe in their affluent corner of America.  But when five-year-old Ellie disappears, the fault lines within the family are exposed:  Joseph, once a successful businessman, succumbs to his demons; Isabelle retreats into memories of her debutante days in Savannah; and Ellie's bereft sisters grow apart - Madeline reluctantly stays home, while Caroline runs away.

Fifteen years later, Caroline, now a New Orleans cocktail waitress, sees a photograph of a woman in a magazine.  Convinced that it is Ellie, all grown up, Caroline embarks on a search for her missing sister.  Armed with copies of the photo, an amateur detective guide, and a cooler of Dixie beer, Caroline travels through the New Mexico desert, the mountains of Colorado, and the smoky underworld of Montana, determined to salvage her broken family.

Boring.  And confusing.  And I didn't like any of the characters.

The viewpoint of the book changed from one character to another, making it hard to follow in parts.  Too much was left unsaid, leaving a lot to the reader's imagination.  I usually don't mind having to figure out parts of a story, but this one left too many holes.

A good thing about the book?  It was short and I was able to finish quickly.

THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT

THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT by Melody Carlson was read for the 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge.

From the book jacket:

Christine Bradley couldn't have been more surprised when, shortly after her mother's death, her father revealed that Christine had been adopted at birth.  As she grapples with the revelation, Christine determines to find what's left of her biological family.  As Christmas nears and Christine draws closer to the truth about her heritage, she finds an unexpected gift in the family she never knew she had.

I wasn't too thrilled with this one, which surprised me.  As some of you might know, I found my birth father's family a few years ago, and they all welcomed me in with open arms.  So I thought this book would be right up my alley.

I felt that Ms. Carlson had a tough time deciding who the characters would be, especially the grandmother.  She seemed so tough on the outside, but then made a 360 degree turnaround almost overnight.  It just seemed too easy to me.  And the reaction of the rest of the family seemed unlikely given the short period of time they had to digest the news of Christine's story.

This was the second book in this treasury - right now I don't have high hopes for the third.

THE POSTCARD KILLERS

THE POSTCARD KILLERS by James Patterson and Liza Marklund

From the book jacket:

NYPD detective Jacob Kanon is on a tour of Europe's most gorgeous cities.  But the sights aren't what draw him - he sees each museum, each cathedral, and each cafe through the eyes of his daughter's killer.

Kanon's daughter, Kimmy, and her boyfriend were murdered while on vacation in Rome.  Since then, young couples in Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, and Stockholm have been found dead.  Little connects the murders, other than a postcard to the local newspaper that precedes each new victim.

Now Kanon teams up with the Swedish reporter Dessie Larsson, who has just received a postcard in Stockholm - and they think they know where the next victims will be.  With relentless logic and unstoppable action, THE POSTCARD KILLERS may be James Patterson's most vivid and compelling thriller yet.

I had been reading Christmas books and decided to take a break with something different.  Different was an understatement!

This was a typical Patterson book with short chapters and lots of action.  The descriptions of the murders were gruesome, not for the faint of heart.  I didn't find the character of Jacob Kanon to be a nice person - he was so full of anger and hate, which I guess would be expected as he was looking for the killers of his only daughter.  Still, he was, to me, unlikeable.

Now it's time to get back to some sweet, simple books to get those murder scenes out of my head.

THE CHRISTMAS BUS

THE CHRISTMAS BUS by Melody Carlson was read for the 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge.

From the book jacket:

It's only two weeks before Christmas, and Edith Ryan is disappointed to learn that none of her children is coming home for the holidays.  She decides to invite strangers to rent rooms usually reserved for family during the week of Christmas.  When the guest list shapes up to include a cantankerous old woman and a young couple with a broken-down hippie bus and a baby on the way, Edith wonders if she made the right choice.  Will this strange assortment of guests ruin Christmas?  Or could she be entertaining angels unaware?

This story was another of the pregnant woman, no room at the inn type of stories.  I've read better.

Edith lacked backbone - she let her B&B be taken over by her guests, especially old Myrtle who seemed to butt into everyone's business.  I don't think I could have put up with her and her meddling and intrusiveness.  But then again, maybe Edith is a better person than I.  But I wasn't thrilled with Edith or Myrtle or anyone else in the small town.   I didn't see the purpose of the various guest except to fill up the rooms.  Quite an odd assortment.

This "book" was included in a treasury containing three complete books by Ms. Carlson.  I'm hoping the other two will be a little better than this one.

CALL ME MRS. MIRACLE

CALL ME MRS. MIRACLE by Debbie Macomber was read for the 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge.

From the book jacket:

This Christmas, Emily Merkle (Call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley's the last family-owned department store in New York City.  And her boss in none other than...Jake Finley, the owner's son.

For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before.  Now Christmas means just one thing to him - and to his father.  Profit.  Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat.

Holly Larson needs a miracle, too.  She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves.  Holly's widowed brother is in the army and won't be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe the toy robot from Finley's, the one gift he desperately wants.  If she can figure out how to afford it...

Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue.  Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others - and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking!

This Christmas will be different.  For all of them.

Each year I wait for Debbie Macomber's newest Christmas book.  The stories are all light and fun, and this one is fits the bill perfectly.  In fact, this book has been made into a Hallmark TV movie which will be shown this year.

Based loosely on Miracle on 34th Street, this includes a young boy wanting a special Christmas gift, a young couple discovering love, and a couple of surprises along the way.  Short, sweet and fun - a perfect combination for an evening's reading on a cold December night.

Thank you, Ms. Macomber, for making my cold night a little warmer.

EVIDENCE

A couple of years ago, I wrote a post about a zebra named Evidence.  He had been found outside of Atlanta - he had fallen off a truck then hit by a car.  He was sent to Noah's Ark, south of Atlanta, where he was treated and found a permanent home.

I learned today that Evidence died a short time ago.  During a surgery, immediately after he had been found, to repair a severed urethra, a stent had been placed.  This stent failed, urine backed up, and a massive body-wide infection occurred.  It happened very quickly.  He was being transported back to Auburn University but died during the trip.

Noah's Ark is a special place that takes in unwanted animals and gives them a loving home.  They also have children living there who need love and attention and need to learn how to trust again.

I guess I'm just a sucker for animals.  I hate to hear that an animal had been mistreated or hurt.  I'm so thankful for places like Noah's Ark that will help these animals.  I'm sure everyone there misses Evidence - he made quite an impression in his three short years.

RIP Evidence.

A CHESAPEAKE SHORES CHRISTMAS

A CHESAPEAKE SHORES CHRISTMAS by Sherryl Woods was read for the 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge.

From the book jacket:

After years apart, Mick and Megan O'Brien are finally ready to make it official...again.  Most of their grown children couldn't be happier about their rekindled love and impending marriage this holiday season.  Only Connor is a holdout.  Driven to become a divorce attorney after what he views as his mother's abandonment of their family, Connor's not about to give his blessing to this reunion romance. 

The last thing Megan wants to do is hurt her family again.  After all, is she really sure she and Mick can make it this time around?  And when an unexpected delivery causes chaos, it seems only a miracle can reunite this family.

Of course, it is Christmas - the season of miracles.

I've grown to really like the O'Brien family and their stories.  This is the fourth book in this series and I've loved them all.  In this one, Mick and Megan have planned to marry on New Year's Eve.  But things have gotten in the way, and the reader is left to wonder if this marriage will ever take place.

A couple of new characters are introduced and it looks like their story will be continued in the next book, DRIFTWOOD COTTAGE, which will be released in April 2011.  And there are two more scheduled to be released early in 2011.

CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER

CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER by Michelle Moran

From the back of the book:

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time.  Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony's rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt.  When their orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, only two - the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander - survive the journey.  As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian's family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings deep within their own hearts.

Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra's Daughter is a fascinating portrait of imperial Rome and of the people and events of this most tumultuous period in human history.  Emerging from the shadows of the past, Selene must confront the same forces that destroyed her mother and struggle to meet a different fate.  A young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, Selene will capture your heart.

I had read the two previous books by Ms. Moran and enjoyed them.  This one was a good one too.  I don't think I had ever read anything about Selene and her brother Alexander before, so it was interesting to see how they were handled when they were taken from Egypt to Rome.  I would have thought their life would have been spent in captivity, but they were treated the same as members of Octavian's family.  But there was the ever-present threat of danger to them when they reached the age of 15, which was considered the age when childhood ended and adulthood began.

Ms. Moran is an author who definitely does her homework when researching a book.  I'm anxious to see what she has next in store for her readers.

NOVEMBER BOOKS

Finally, a good reading month.  This was a month of reading favorite authors, including Michael Connelly, David Baldacci, Diane Chamberlain and Katrina Kittle.

Here's what I read:

DREAM WHEN YOU'RE FEELING BLUE by Elizabeth Berg

THE REVERSAL by Michael Connelly

MORE THAN FRIENDS by Barbara Delinsky

BEFORE THE STORM by Diane Chamberlain

THE DOWRY by Walter Keady

HELL'S CORNER by David Baldacci

A YEAR ON LADYBUG FARM by Donna Ball

AT HOME ON LADYBUG FARM by Donna Ball

LOVE LETTERS FROM LADYBUG FARM by Donna Ball

SECRETS SHE LEFT BEHIND by Diane Chamberlain

THE BLESSINGS OF THE ANIMALS by Katrina Kittle

SUMMER'S CHILD by Diane Chamberlain


Which favorite author did you read this month?