250 Book Challenge 2023-2024

[Stormcaller]

Book Number:  4

Number Of Pages:  448

Book Title:  Dark Song

Author:   Christine Feehan

Summary:  This is number 34 in the Dark Series of Carpathian Novels.  The romance features Elisabeta Trigovise and Ferro Arany.  It brings in many characters introduced in earlier novels to join forces to wrap up the recent storyline, and to celebrate the defeat of Sergey. 

[autumnbrandolyn]

Book Number: 43
Number Of Pages: 432
Book Title: The Burning Shadow
Author: Jennifer L Armentrout

Book Number: 44
Number Of Pages: 512
Book Title: The Brightest Night
Author: Jennifer L Armentrout

Book Number: 45
Number Of Pages: 384
Book Title: A Multitude of Dreams
Author: Mara Rutherford

[Lagie]

Book Number: 13

Number Of Pages: 213

Book Title: Hurricane Child

Author: Kacen Callender

Summary: Caroline Murphy is a 'hurricane child', born during a hurricane. Is she destined to be unlucky for life? When a new girl arrives at school, perhaps Caroline's luck will change.

Review: The Stonewall Book Award on the cover drew me to this. The subject matter is dealt with deftly. (Surprised to find this in Nassau, really...)

[Little-Star]

Book Number: 7

Number Of Pages: 416 (massmarket paperback)

Book Title: En Plein Coeur (french version of Still Life)

Author: Louise Penny

[Stormcaller]

Book Number:  5

Number Of Pages:  504

Book Title:  Dark Tarot

Author:   Christine Feehan

Summary:  This is number 35 in the Dark Series of Carpathian Novels.  This book features a romance between lifemates Sandu Berdardi and Adalasia Ravisio.  The main focus, however, is a totally new storyline which includes much travel and visits with some of the older characters.

 

 

Book Number:  6

Number Of Pages:  441

Book Title:  Dark Whisper 

Author:   Christine Feehan

Summary:  This is number 36 in the Dark Series of Carpathian Novels.  The romance is between Afanasiv Belan and Vasilisa.  

 

I've read these books before but wanted to refresh my memory of them before the next book  becomes available early next monrh.

 

[purplehaze]

Book Number: 6

Number of Pages: 346

Book Title: Hang the Moon

Author: Jeanette Walls

Summary: This story is set during the Prohibition years in rural Virginia. Sallie Kincaid inherits her father's empire at age 18 and must learn to cope with tangled family bonds, secrets, lies, bootlegging and deadly feuds.

Review: So many plot twists and turns that it was hard to keep up with the story! It left me feeling unbalanced and disoriented through a good bit of the book. Although Sallie was a strong female protagonist in a time and place where women were expected to defer to the men in their lives, she was never developed with much depth. Character development seemed to take a back seat to action.

 

Book Number: 7

Number of Pages: 366

Book Title: The Long Way Back

Author: Nicole Baart

Summary: When an Instagram-famous teenager mysteriously disappears, her mother grapples with the revelation of dark secrets.

Review: This book was a real page-turner and I couldn't wait to find out how it would be resolved. Many surprises along the way.

[autumnbrandolyn]

Book Number: 46
Number Of Pages: 407
Book Title: The Shimmering Road
Author: Hester Young

Book Number: 47
Number Of Pages: 416
Book Title: The Burning Island
Author: Hester Young

Book Number: 48
Number Of Pages: 371
Book Title: The Revenge of Seven
Author: Pittacus Lore

Book Number: 49
Number Of Pages: 409
Book Title: The Fate of Ten
Author: Pittacus Lore

Book Number: 50
Number Of Pages: 449
Book Title: United as One
Author: Pittacus Lore

[Lagie]

Book Number: 14

Number Of Pages: 311

Book Title: Crystal Singer

Author: Anne McCaffrey

Summary: Killashandra was devasted when she learned she couldn't be a soloist, but then she learned about crystal singers.

 

 

I've given up on a book titled Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. It looked interesting but was heavy going and having now cheated and read the final pages, I'm glad I didn't bother.

[Little-Star]

Book Number: 8

Number Of Pages: 659

Book Title: Mistborn: The Final Empire

Author: Brandon Sanderson 

[Lagie]

Book Number: 15

Number Of Pages: 373

Book Title: Killashandra

Author: Anne McCaffrey

Summary: Killashandra travels to Optheria and there meets Lars Dahl in a rather unexpected manner.

[Stormcaller]

Book Number:  7

Number Of Pages:  379

Book Title:  Silence Fallen

Author:   Patricia Briggs

Summary:  Number 10 in the Mercy Thompson series of novels.  She is kidnapped and taken to Europe where she has numerous adventures.

[autumnbrandolyn]

Book Number: 51
Number Of Pages: 442
Book Title: As Dead As It Gets
Author: Katie Alender

Book Number: 52
Number Of Pages: 368
Book Title: Enchanted to Meet You
Author: Meg Cabot

Book Number: 53
Number Of Pages: 364
Book Title: Royal Blood
Author: Aimee Carter

[Lagie]

Book Number: 16

Number Of Pages: 313

Book Title: Crystal Line

Author: Anne McCaffrey

Summary: As a senior Crystal Singer, Killashandra Ree is experiencing the expected memory loss, but changes are afoot.

[purpledragonclaw]

Book Number: 4

Number Of Pages: 183

Book Title: Ask: Building Consent Culture

Editor: Kitty Stryker

Summary: This is an anthology that gives diverse perspectives and opinions on how to create consent culture, in all aspects of life.

[Lagie]

Book Number: 17

Number Of Pages: 295

Book Title: Stranger than Fanfaction

Author: Chris Colfer

Summary: When a quartet of friends set off on a summer road trip, they are surprised by the last minute inclusion of one of their all-time favourite actors.

[Stormcaller]

Book Number:  8

Number Of Pages:  368

Book Title:  Storm Cursed

Author:   Patricia Briggs

Summary:   Number 11 in the Mercy Thompson series of novels.  Some bad witches and a lot of zombies in this story.

[Lagie]

Book Number: 18

Number Of Pages: 149

Book Title: The Little Broomstick

Author: Mary Stewart

Summary: Mary Smith goes to stay with her great-aunt deep in the countryside and meets Tib the cat who leads her to a broomstick.

 

 

Book Number: 19

Number Of Pages: 230

Book Title: Absolutely Normal Chaos

Author: Sharon Creech

Summary: Mary Lou Finney has to keep a journal over the summer holidays. Cousin Carl Ray comes to stay and turns a dull summer into something much more interesting.

[autumnbrandolyn]

Book Number: 54
Number Of Pages: 525
Book Title: Lady of Darkness
Author: Melissa K Roehrich

Book Number: 55
Number Of Pages: 314
Book Title: Birthday Girl
Author: Matthew Iden

Book Number: 56
Number Of Pages: 336
Book Title: Premeditated
Author: Josin McQuien

[Little-Star]

Book Number: 9

Number Of Pages: 232

Book Title: Contes Interdits : Aladin

Author: David Bédard

[Stormcaller]

Book Number:  9

Number Of Pages:  304

Book Title:  Fair Game

Author:   Patricia Briggs

Summary:   Third book in the Alpha & Omega series.  This takes place in the same world as the Mercy Thompson series.  This book features a serial killer story.

[autumnbrandolyn]

Book Number: 57
Number Of Pages: 295
Book Title: The One That Got Away
Author: Simon Wood

Book Number: 58
Number Of Pages: 336
Book Title: Every Other Day
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Book Number: 59
Number Of Pages: 280
Book Title: Arcana Rising
Author: Kresley Cole

Book Number: 60
Number Of Pages: 318
Book Title: The Dark Calling
Author: Kresley Cole

[purplehaze]

Book Number: 8
Number Of Pages: 427
Book Title: A Season for Second Chances
Author: Jenny Bayliss

Summary: Annie's life changes as she leaves behind her cheating husband and her successful restaurant business to take up a temporary winter guardianship in a historic seaside home.

Review: The storyline was fairly predictable, but the setting and the characters were charming. Short chapters made it easy to pick up and read a bit without having to invest a lot of time.

Edited October 1, 2023 by purplehaze

[Lagie]

Book Number: 20

Number Of Pages: 488

Book Title: The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock

Author: Imogen Hermes Gowar

Summary: Mr. Hancock's fortunes change when one of his ship's captains brings him back a mermaid.

Review: Great historical detail adds authenticity to the story.

[AstridBeatrix]

Book Number: 5
Number of Pages: 296
Book Title: Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science

Author: Nigel McCrery
Summary: an account of all the major areas of forensic science from around the world over the past two centuries

Book Number: 6
Number of Pages: 370
Book Title: Dr. Mutter's Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine

Author: Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
Summary: A mesmerizing biography of the brilliant and eccentric medical innovator who revolutionized American surgery and founded the country’s most famous museum of medical oddities

Book Number: 7
Number of Pages: 446
Book Title: Curvy Girls Can't Date Quarterbacks (The Curvy Girl Club® Book 1)
Author: Kelsie Stelting

Book Number: 8
Number of Pages:151
Book Title: Bedbugs and Chamberpots: A History of Human Hygiene
Author: Elizabeth Poynter
Summary: a light-hearted look at aspects of human hygiene down the ages, and in a range of cultures across the world, including the author's personal experiences in countries as diverse as Japan and Iceland

Book Number: 9
Number of Pages: 272
Book Title: Cursed Objects: Strange but True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items
Author: J. W. Ocker
Summary: Beware...this book is cursed! These strange but true stories of the world’s most infamous items will appeal to true believers as well as history buffs, horror fans, and anyone who loves a good spine-tingling tale. 
 

[AsymDoll13]

I've been reading, just forgetting to pop it in here. lol

 

Book Number: 10

Number of Pages: 312

Book Title: Salthouse Place

Author: Jaime Lee Sogn

Summary: As a teenager, Delia losses her best friend in the lake, now 20 years on... the case could be solved. 

Review: 5/5 Interesting read. I liked it.

 

Book Number: 11

Number of Pages: 325

Book Title: Ghost of Crowford School/The Portrait of Sister Elsa

Author: Amy Cross

Summary: The old Crowford school stands haunted by the ghost of a woman murdered.../ Sister Elsa is in Crowford to right an ancient wrong. 

Review: 5/5 Both are good books! I like the Portrait of Sister Elsa more but... still great novels! Short and sweet!

 

 

Book Number: 12

Number of Pages: 326

Book Title: The Haunting of Crowford Hoy/The Horror of the Crowford Empire

Author: Amy Cross

Summary: Sally lost her young son in a place where ghosts like to stay./The Crowford Empire used to be a beautiful music hall, now it's falling apart. One spirit can't rest until she takes down the ones that took her life. 

Review: 5/5 Okay so... Sally is a wonderfully sad character, but like... the second book is fantastic~! I was so engrossed in it! Still short and sweet, but man this series is good!

 

Book Number: 13

Number of Pages: 432

Book Title: Broadway Butterfly

Author: Sara Divello

Summary: Dot King, a performer and well known Broadway girl, is found dead in her bed. Was it the mysterious "Mr. Marshall," her rich sugar daddy? Was it the man that beats her?

Review: 5/5 Look ma! A real book! lol. This look into the famous case of Dot King is incredibly well written and researched! I adored it so much! It's always nice to learn about old cases anyway, so this was a fun read. It did take a bit of time to pick up. That's my only criticism.