Adrienne (fairywings) tries to keep up (again) in 2022 part2

Hi my name is Adrienne, I turned 50 last year, live in Brisbane Australia, have 21 yr old twin boys (Declan and Riley) living at home. I am a Teacher Aide, I work with special needs kids on the primary school level. Last year we only had one small lock down with learning from home activated, but for the first time they cut down the amount of staff on site and we scrambled for things that we could do from home.

I love reading a wide range of books but my favourite is paranormal.

I start the year with great intentions then I get very busy with life and work and became very lax in getting on the boards.

I will continue to try and clean up the books on my tablet a bit (I failed miserably the last couple of years). I keep downloading free books but never get around to reading them, so my challenge is to not purchase or download before I've read some already there (failed at that two years in a row now) I didn't download much last year but didn't read much from there either.

BOMS 17
BOMT 5
LIB 6
LIB/Audio 19
LIB/EBOOK 14
AUDIBLE 39

Purchases

February
Moon Over SoHo by Ben Aaronovich
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales: Classics Collection

April
Serpent and Dove by Shelby Maharin
Blood and Honey by Shelby Maharin
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (actually bought for me by my granddaughter)
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
The Queens Assassin by Melissa De La Cruz

June
Christmas Magic by Cathy Kelly
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
Cosette by Francois Ceresa
The Art Of French Kissing by Kristin Harmel
The Manny by Holly Peterson
Island of Bones by Imogen Robertson
Battleaxe by Sara Douglass
Prudence b Gail Carriger
Pilgrim by Sara Douglass
Freedoms Choice by Anne McCaffrey
Threshold by Sara Douglass
One Day by David Nicholls
The Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
The Prisoner Of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Crusader by Sara Douglass

July
The Castle by Sophia Bennet
Norse Myths and Tales by Brittany Schorn

September/ October
The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
The List by Patricia Forde
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier
Go Ask Alice by Annonymous
May Gibbs Tales From The Billabong
A Memory Of Light by Robert Jordan
Brothers Of The More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido
Cents and Sensibility by Maggie Alderson
The Ionian Mission by Patrick O'Brian
How To Talk To A Widower by Jonathan Tropper
The Independence Of Miss Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
A Small Part Of History by Peggy Elliott
The Soldier's Curse by Meg and Tom Keneally
The Chocolate Promise By Josephine Moon

Books Read

January
1. Well Played by Jen DeLuca LIB/ EBOOK
2. Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis BOMS
3. Thyme Out by Katie Fforde BOMS
4. Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey LIB/ AUDIO
5. Amanda's Wedding by Jenny Colgan LIB/ EBOOK
6. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston LIB/ EBOOK
7. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare BOMS
8. The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis BOMS
9. Looking For Andrew McCarthy by Jenny Colgan LIB/EBOOK
10. To Love And To Loathe by Martha Waters LIB
11. The Fell by Sarah Moss LIB/ AUDIO
12. Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker LIB/ AUDIO
13. Daughters of War by Dinah Jefferies LIB/ AUDIO
14. Here We Stand, Book 1: Infected by Frank Tayell AUDIBLE
15. Call Me Maybe by Cara Barstone AUDIBLE
16. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens AUDIBLE
17. Artistic License by Katie Fforde BOMS
18. The Bookshop On The Corner by Jenny Colgan LIB
19. All Systems Red by Martha Wells LIB/ AUDIO
20. Zero Day Code by John Birmingham AUDIBLE
21. Fail State by John Birmingham AUDIBLE
22. The Sandman by Neil Gaiman AUDIBLE

February
23. When Harry Met Harry by Sydney Smyth AUDIBLE
24. The Wedding Proposal by John Swansinger AUDIBLE
25. Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones LIB/ AUDIO
26. Surviving The Evacuation, Here We Stand: Divided by Frank Tayell AUDIBLE
27. Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon AUDIBLE
28. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells AUDIBLE
29. The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon AUDIBLE
30. Surviving the Evacuation: Outback Outbreak by Frank Tayell AUDIBLE
31. Highland Fling by Katie Fforde BOMS
32. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory LIB
33. Castle In The Air by Dianna Wynne Jones LIB/ AUDIO
34. The Roommate by Dervla McTiernan AUDIBLE

March
35. Wolf Girl by Leia Stone AUDIBLE
36. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne BOMS
37. The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa Lib/ EBOOK
38. Agent 355 by Maria Benedict AUDIBLE
39. It started With A Secret by Jill Mansell LIB
40. A Kingdom Of Flesh And Fire by Jennifer L Armentrout LIB/ EBOOK
41. You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria LIB/ EBOOK
42. Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally LIB/ AUDIO
43. House Of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones LIB/ AUDIO
44. Meet Me At Beachcomber Bay by Jill Mansell LIB
45. Surviving The Evacuation: Unsafe Haven by Frank Tayell AUDIBLE
46. The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory LIB
47. The Crown Of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L Armentrout LIB/ EBOOK
48. Wolfsong by TJ Klune LIB/ EBOOK
49. Surviving The Evacuation: Reunion by Frank Tayell AUDIBLE
50. Sweet Talk by Cara Bastone AUDIBLE
51. Ravensong by TJ Klune LIB/ EBOOK

April
52. The Little Shop Of Hidden Treasures by Holly Hepburn LIB/ AUDIO
53. An Offer From A Gentleman by Julia Quinn LIB/ EBOOK
54. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang LIB/ EBOOK
55. Ever Shade by Alexia Purdy BOMT
56. Ever Fire by Alexia Purdy BOMT
57. Ever Winter by Alexia Purdy BOMT
58. Hearts Of Stone by Mina Carter BOMT
59. Persuasion by Jane Austen BOMS
60. Because Of Miss Bridgerton LIB/ AUDIO
61. The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn LIB/ AUDIO
62. The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn LIB/ AUDIO
63. First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn LIB/ AUDIO
64. The Sandman Act II by Neil Gaiman AUDIBLE
65. Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn LIB/ EBOOK
66. A Cowboy To Keep by Barbara Ankrum BOMT

May
67. Agent Of Prophecy by M. A. Rothman AUDIBLE
68. Heirs Of Prophecy by M. A. Rothman AUDIBLE
69. Seat Mate by Cara Bastone AUDIBLE
70. The Stand In by Lily Chu AUDIBLE
71. Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson LIB/ AUDIO

Jume
72. The Naughty, The Nice and The Nanny by Willa Nash AUDIBLE
73. Three Bells, Two Bows and One Brothers Best Friend by Willa Nash AUDIBLE
74. A Partridge and a Pregnancy by Willa Nash AUDIBLE
75. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells AUDIBLE
76. Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid AUDIBLE
77. Sense and Second-Degree Murder by Tirzah Price LIB/ AUDIO
78. The War Of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout LIB/ EBOOK
79. The Sweetest Connection by Denise Williams LIB/ AUDIO

July
80. Emma by Jane Austen BOMS
81. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells AUDIBLE
82. The Ophelia Network by Mur Lafferty AUDIBLE
83. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir AUDIBLE
84. The Last Woman In The World by Inga Simpson LIB/ AUDIO
85. The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab AUDIBLE

August
86. The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz LIB/ AUDIO

September
87. The Savage Earth: Vampire World Book 1 by P. T. Hylton and Jonathan Benecke AUDIBLE
88. The Savage Night: Vampire World Book 2 by P. T. Hylton and Jonathan Benecke AUDIBLE
89. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead BOMS
90. Frostbite by Richelle Mead BOMS
91. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead BOMS
92. Blood Promise By Richelle Mead BOMS
93. Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead BOMS

October
94. Last Sacrafice by Richelle Mead BOMS
95. Network Effect by Martha Wells AUDIBLE
96. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells AUDIBLE
97. Paradise Fields by Katie Fforde BOMS
98. Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden BOMS
99. The Sentence Is Death by Anthony Horowitz AUDIBLE

November

December
100. Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson AUDIBLE

Popsugar Challenge

2022
Regular Picks
1 A book published in 2022 - The Ophelia Network by Mur Lafferty
2 A book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship
3 A book about or set in a nonpatriarchal society
4 A book with a tiger on the cover or "tiger" in the title
5 A sapphic book - One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
6 A book by a Latinx author - The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
7 A book with an onomatopoeia in its title - Howl's Moving Castle By Diana Wynne Jones
8 A book with a protagonist who uses a mobility aid - Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden
9 A book about a "found family"
10 An Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner
11 A #BookTok recommendation - The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
12 A book about the afterlife
13 A book set in the 1980s
14 A book with cutlery on the cover or in the title
15 A book by a Pacific Islander author
16 A book about witches
17 A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2022 - The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
18 A romance novel by a BIPOC author - The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
19 A book that takes place during your favorite season
20 A book whose title begins with the last letter of your previous read - Ever Fire By Alexia Purdy
21 A book about a band or musical group
22 A book with a character on the ace spectrum
23 A book with a recipe in it
24 A book you can read in one sitting - Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
25 A book about a secret - Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
26 A book with a misleading title
27 A Hugo Award winner - Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
28 A book set during a holiday
29 A different book by an author you read in 2021 - Well Played by Jen DeLuca
30 A book with the name of a board game in the title
31 A book featuring a man-made disaster - Here We Stand, Book 1: Infected by Frank Tayell
32 A book with a quote from your favorite author on the cover or Amazon page
33 A social-horror book
34 A book set in Victorian times
35 A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title
36 A book you know nothing about - The Last Woman In The World by Inga Simpson
37 A book about gender identity
38 A book featuring a party
39 An #OwnVoices SFF (science fiction and fantasy) book
40 A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge - All Systems Red by Martha Wells Set in the future

Advanced Picks
41 A book with a reflected image on the cover or "mirror" in the title
42 A book that features two languages - You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria
43 A book with a palindromic title
44 A duology (1)
45 A duology (2)
46 A book about someone leading a double life - Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon
47 A book featuring a parallel reality - Vespertine by Margaret Rogeron
48 A book with two POVs - Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
49 Two books set in twin towns, aka "sister cities" (1)
50 Two books set in twin towns, aka "sister cities" (2)

British Author Challenge

January
Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
Voyage Of The Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis

February
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - Wildcard read the book and watch the movie.

July
Emma by Jane Austen

Australian Authors
Annual Australian Authors Challenge 2022
Duration: 1/1/22 - 31/12/22
Level: 1
4/12

Male Authors
1.Zero Day Code by John Birmingham
2.Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
3.Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden

Female Authors
1.Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
2.The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
3.The Last Woman In The World by Inga Simpson

2022 New Releases
1.
2.
3.

Favourite Genre
1.
2.
3.

And save this one just in case.

Happy new thread, Adrienne!

Thanks Anita 😊

Happy new thread :)

Happy new thread Adrienne and congratulations on passing 75!

>14 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita 😊

Congrats on reaching 75, and happy new thread!

>15 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, and congratulations on 75 to you too 😊

>17 bell7: Thanks Mary 😊

Once again, congrats on hitting 75! (left a message on your old thread too...)

Happy new thread, Adrienne! :)

>20 drneutron: Thanks Jim 😊

>21 curioussquared: Thanks Natalie 😊

76. Neanderthal seeks Human by Penny Reid
Knitting In The City Book 1



There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris:
1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved,
2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and
3) She doesn't know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store.

To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan—aka Sir McHotpants—witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn to make her an offer she can't refuse.

77. Sense and Second-Degree Murder by Tirzah Price
Jane Austen Murder Mystery #2



When eighteen-year-old aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood discovers her beloved father slumped over the desk of his office study, she knows his death means dire straits for the Dashwood women. To make matters worse, an outdated will entails his estate—including Norland & Company, the private investigation firm where her younger sister Marianne worked as her father’s partner and protégé—to their half-brother and his haughty wife, who waste no time in forcing the Dashwoods out of their home and into a cramped apartment on London’s Barton Street.

But before they go, the Dashwood sisters make a startling discovery that points to foul play, and the killer might be family.

Obviously, the girls must investigate. It could be dangerous; it could ruin their reputations; and most importantly, it won’t bring back their father. But if the Dashwood sisters can combine their talents and bring their father’s murderer to justice, it may bring them all some comfort—and it might even lead to love.

Bit of a fun twist on Jane Austen.

Congratulations on the first 75!

Thanks Stasia 😊

78. The War Of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blood And Ash Book 4



From the desperation of golden crowns…

Casteel Da’Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could’ve prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable.

And born of mortal flesh…

Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for. With the strength of the Primal of Life’s guards behind her, and the support of the wolven, Poppy must convince the Atlantian generals to make war her way—because there can be no retreat this time. Not if she has any hope of building a future where both kingdoms can reside in peace.

A great primal power rises…

Together, Poppy and Casteel must embrace traditions old and new to safeguard those they hold dear—to protect those who cannot defend themselves. But war is only the beginning. Ancient primal powers have already stirred, revealing the horror of what began eons ago. To end what the Blood Queen has begun, Poppy might have to become what she has been prophesied to be—what she fears the most.

As the Harbinger of Death and Destruction.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Adrienne!

79. The Sweetest Connection by Denise Williams



Teagan’s job in an airport candy store pays the bills but she dreams of traveling the world. With one week until she boards a plane for an international adventure, she finds an abandoned love letter in the store and talks her BFF into helping her figure out who it belongs to.

Silas solves problems for a living as an airline customer service representative. One problem he can’t solve is how to reveal a big secret to his best friend that would risk changing their entire relationship. When she proposes they work together to get the love letter back to its owner, he jumps at the chance.

Teagan and Silas stumble on romantic clues, old stories, and more than a few dead ends along the way while trying to play Cupid, all of which bring them closer together. With only a few days before Teagan’s transatlantic move, the two of them must decide if the sweet temptation of falling for their best friend is worth the potential heartbreak or if either can stand to keep their feelings wrapped up.

Dropping by to wish you well, Adrienne.

>30 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. Hope all is well with you.

80. Emma by Jane Austen



Emma Woodhouse is one of Austen's most captivating and vivid characters. Beautiful, spoilt, vain and irrepressibly witty, Emma organizes the lives of the inhabitants of her sleepy little village and plays matchmaker with devastating effect.

This is a re-read for me as I'm slowly working my way through Austen again.
Fits the July British Author challenge

Congrats on blowing past 75 books :)

Happy new thread Adrienne!

Thanks Nina, for this one and the 75 congrats.

81. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells



Murderbot wasn’t programmed to care. So, its decision to help the only human who ever showed it respect must be a system glitch, right?

Having traveled the width of the galaxy to unearth details of its own murderous transgressions, as well as those of the GrayCris Corporation, Murderbot is heading home to help Dr. Mensah—its former owner (protector? friend?)—submit evidence that could prevent GrayCris from destroying more colonists in its never-ending quest for profit.

But who’s going to believe a SecUnit gone rogue?

And what will become of it when it’s caught?

Another enjoyable romp in murderbot's world.

82. The Ophelia Network by Mur Lafferty



In an authoritarian America, personal freedoms are at risk, information is being controlled, and legal citizens suddenly find themselves being deported. A growing resistance movement is active, angry, and looking to strike back. And a TV show for kids may be the key.

Enter Celeste Montgomery and Bailey Vance. Celeste is an intern for the show that features Bailey singing and dancing with puppets. While Bailey teaches the kids about geography, Celeste is planting codes into the script, songs, background, whatever she can do to pass messages for the resistance.

Celeste doesn't know who these messages are from or who they're for. But she’s certain about one thing—if the scheme is uncovered, it will be her head on the chopping block.

Only the government got to Bailey first. And Celeste has no idea whose side he’s on.

83. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir



Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that's been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it's up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

I think I first saw this on Jim's thread. Since then I've seen it everywhere. I'm glad I finally downloaded it and gave it a listen, it was great. Bit of mystery to go with exciting first contact and science content. It does switch between the now and what happened before and sometimes it seems like it jumps back in time with no warning, but that didn't bother me too much, it was pretty easy to keep track of what timeline you were in.

84. The Last Woman In The World by Inga Simpson



Fear is her cage. But what's outside is worse...

It's night, and dust swirls against the walls of Rachel's home in the Australian bush. Her fear of other people has led her to a reclusive life as far from them as possible, her only occasional contact with her sister.

A hammering on the door. There stand a mother, Hannah, and her sick baby. They are running for their lives from a mysterious death sweeping the Australian countryside - so soon, too soon, after everything.

Now Rachel must face her worst fears to help Hannah, search for her sister, and discover just what terror was born of us. . . and how to survive it.

85. The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue By V. E. Schwab



France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever-and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore, and he remembers her name.

This has been on my radar for some time now. I'm glad I finally got to it. I wasn't expecting to feel as much as I did when reading this. If you haven't read it already you should bump it up your list.

Ok so I'm finally getting around to adding the books I've acquired over the last four months.

Bookstore purchases with birthday vouchers.

Serpent and Dove by Shelby Maharin
Blood and Honey by Shelby Maharin
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (actually bought for me by my granddaughter)
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
The Queens Assassin by Melissa De La Cruz
The Castle by Sophia Bennet
Norse Myths and Tales by Brittany Schorn

June Bookfest purchases

Christmas Magic by Cathy Kelly
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
Cosette by Francois Ceresa
The Art Of French Kissing by Kristin Harmel
The Manny by Holly Peterson
Island of Bones by Imogen Robertson
Battleaxe by Sara Douglass
Prudence b Gail Carriger
Pilgrim by Sara Douglass
Freedoms Choice by Anne McCaffrey
Threshold by Sara Douglass
One Day by David Nicholls
The Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
The Prisoner Of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Crusader by Sara Douglass

I also got a huge bag of books from my dad at Easter, but I haven't begun to unpack them yet. Will post them when I get around to it.

First lot from my dad is a bunch of Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander books.

Master and Commander
Post Captain
H.M.S. Surprise
The Mauritius Command
Desolation Island
Treasons Harbour
Clarissa Oakes
The Letter Of Marque
The Thirteen Gun Salute
The Wine Dark Sea
The Commodore
The Yellow Admiral
The Hundred Days
Blue At The Mizzen
The Road To Samarcand
The Reverse Of The Medal
The Far Side Of The World
The Fortune Of War

This group is from Helen MacInnes

Horizon
Ride A Pale Horse
The Hidden Target
The Snare Of The Hunter
Pray For A Brave Heart
North From Rome
Above Suspicion
Cloak Of Darkness
The Unconquerable
Assignment In Brittany
The Double Image
The Venetian Affair
Neither Five Nor Three
Agent In Place
The Salzburg Connection

Next group.

The Paris Option by Robert Ludlum
The Cry Of The Halidon by Robert Ludlum
The Bourne Sanction by Eric Van Lustbander
The Chancellor Manuscript by Robert Ludlum
The Hades Factor by Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds
The Forgotten by David Baldacci
The Innocent by David Baldacci
Testament by David Morrell
The Fraternity Of The Stone by David Morrell
NYPD Red 6 by James Patterson
Hitler's Brothel by Steve Matthews
A Game Of Spies by John Altman
Codeword Cromwell by Ted Allbeury
The Judas Factor by Ted Allbeury
A Time Without Shadows by Ted Allbeury
Landfall by Nevil Shute
Girl Missing by Tess Gerritsen
Blue Moon by Lee Child
The Man From St Petersburg by Ken Follett
Last Witness by Jilliane Hoffman
Speaking In Bones by Kathy Reichs
Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs
Lost Temple by Tom Harper

Nice haul(s)! Where are you going to put them all?

>47 humouress: thanks Nina, I'm still working that out lol.

Not finished either, I have some nice Folio Society boxed hard covers to add.

86. The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

Not quite what I was expecting, but still enjoyable.



She planned her own funeral. But did she arrange her own murder?

One bright spring morning in London, Diana Cowper – the wealthy mother of a famous actor - enters a funeral parlor. She is there to plan her own service.

Six hours later she is found dead, strangled with a curtain cord in her own home.

Enter disgraced police detective Daniel Hawthorne, a brilliant, eccentric investigator who’s as quick with an insult as he is to crack a case. Hawthorne needs a ghost writer to document his life; a Watson to his Holmes. He chooses Anthony Horowitz.

Drawn in against his will, Horowitz soon finds himself a the center of a story he cannot control. Hawthorne is brusque, temperamental and annoying but even so his latest case with its many twists and turns proves irresistible. The writer and the detective form an unusual partnership. At the same time, it soon becomes clear that Hawthorne is hiding some dark secrets of his own.

New York Times bestselling author of Magpie Murders and Moriarty, Anthony Horowitz has yet again brilliantly reinvented the classic crime novel, this time writing a fictional version of himself as the Watson to a modern-day Holmes.

A masterful and tricky mystery that springs many surprises, The Word is Murder is Anthony Horowitz at his very best.

87. The Savage Earth: Vampire World Book 1 by P. T. Hylton and Jonathan Benecke



If humans want to take the Earth back, they'll need to survive the night.
It's been over a century since the humans lost the war for Earth. Cities have been reclaimed by nature, and the planet is quiet and empty by day. At night, feral vampires—more beast than man—roam the lands, hungry for blood.

The few thousand surviving humans live on a massive airship that circles the Earth, moving with the rotation of the planet so it's always in sunlight.

Alexandria Goddard is a member of the elite Ground Mission Team, a group tasked with making dangerous runs to the planet's surface for the supplies needed to keep the ship airborne. But even as the team fights for their people's survival, dangerous forces are working against them. A growing movement aboard the airship believes it's time for humans to resettle the Earth, and they are willing to go to extreme measures to make their vision a reality.

As the situation aboard the ship becomes more desperate, Alex and her team discover a terrifying secret about the vampires infesting the Earth.

88. The Savage Night: Vampire World Book 2 by P. T. Hylton and Jonathan Benecke



Night is coming for Alex.
Danger from the vampires below. Turmoil in the city above. Nowhere is safe and every day is a battle.

As Alex struggles to become the leader her team needs, she must contend with new allies and old enemies to have any chance of saving the city she loves.

Nothing the Ground Mission Team has faced so far can prepare them for what's next. But if their mission is successful, the world will change forever.

Strap in for an action-packed ride as questions are answered and new mysteries arise in the post-apocalyptic world where death is as close as the next sunset

I started watching the new series they made and decided it was time for a re-read.

89. The Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Book 1



Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies...

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires—the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger... and the Strigoi are always close by.

Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love, and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever...

90. Frostbite by Richelle Mead
Book 2



Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks.... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

>32 fairywings: I am going through Austen this year too, Adrienne, and have greatly enjoyed the experience.

>36 fairywings: Re-reading those books too :)

>38 fairywings: I have really got to get to that one!

>40 fairywings: If you haven't read it already you should bump it up your list. Noted

>41 fairywings: >42 fairywings: >44 fairywings: >45 fairywings: >46 fairywings: Woot!

>52 fairywings: I just read that one recently too.

Have a marvelous Monday!

>54 alcottacre: I generally read at least one Austen every year, but decided to read them all again this year. Not sure I will unless I focus to finish the rest of them.

>54 alcottacre: >36 fairywings: I'm pretty sure I first got interested in them on your thread Stasia.

>54 alcottacre: >38 fairywings: Yes it was all kinds of fabulous.

>54 alcottacre: >40 fairywings: I hope you enjoy it when you get to it.

Hope you have a great week Stasia.

91. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
Book 3



WHAT IF FOLLOWING HER HEART MEANS ROSE COULD LOSE HER BEST FRIEND FOREVER?

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires - the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

Rose knows it is forbidden to love another guardian. Her best friend, Lissa - the last Dragomir princess - must always come first. Unfortunately, when it comes to gorgeous Dimitri Belikov, some rules are meant to be broken...

Then a strange darkness begins to grow in Rose's mind, and ghostly shadows warn of a terrible evil drawing nearer to the Academy's iron gates. The immortal undead are closing in, and they want vengeance for the lives Rose has stolen. In a heart-stopping battle to rival her worst nightmares, Rose will have to choose between life, love, and the two people who matter most... but will her choice mean that only one can survive?

92. Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
Book 4



Bound by love, but sworn to kill...
The world thought Dimitri was dead. And to a certain extent, he was. But I hadn't been able to forget a conversation he and I had once had. We'd both agreed that we'd rather be dead - truly dead - than walk the world as Strigoi. It was time to honor our words.

Guardian Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same. The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck; a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count.

But only one victim matters... Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

93. Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
Book 5



Salvation has its price . . .
The words stunned Adrian for a moment, but he kept going. "You're lying. What you're describing is impossible. There's no way to save a Strigoi. When they're gone, they're gone. They're dead. Undead. Forever."
Robert's next words weren't directed at Adrian. They were spoken to me. "That which is dead doesn't always stay dead...."

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Siberia, Dimitri’s birthplace, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. It's graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives outside the academy’s cold iron gates to finally begin. But even with the intrigue and excitement of court life looming, Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri. He’s out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he has silenced her . . . forever.

But Rose can't forget what she learned on her journey—whispers of a magic too impossible and terrifying to comprehend. A magic inextricably tied to Lissa that could hold the answer to all of Rose's prayers, but not without devastating consequences. Now Rose will have to decide what—and who—matters most to her. And in the end, is true love really worth the price?

94. Last Sacrafice by Richelle Mead
Book 6



They come first.

My vision was growing dimmer, the blackness and ghosts closing in. I swore it was like I could hear Robert whispering in my ear: The world of the dead won't give you up a second time. Just before the light completely vanished, I saw Dimitri's face join Lissa's. I wanted to smile. I decided then that if the two people I loved most were safe, I could leave this world.

The dead could finally have me.

Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardians to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose - for a crime she didn't even commit. She's in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She'll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose's life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back...and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your whole life is about saving others, who will save you?

95. Network Effect by Martha Wells
Murderbot Diaries Book 5



You know that feeling when you’re at work, and you’ve had enough of people, and then the boss walks in with yet another job that needs to be done right this second or the world will end, but all you want to do is go home and binge your favorite shows? And you're a sentient murder machine programmed for destruction? Congratulations, you're Murderbot.

Come for the pew-pew space battles, stay for the most relatable A.I. you’ll read this century.

I’m usually alone in my head, and that’s where 90 plus percent of my problems are.

When Murderbot's human associates (not friends, never friends) are captured and another not-friend from its past requires urgent assistance, Murderbot must choose between inertia and drastic action.

Drastic action it is, then.

This entry had me laughing at Murderbot's internal dialogue a lot

96. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
Murderbot Diaries Book 6



No, I didn’t kill the dead human. If I had, I wouldn’t dump the body in the station mall.

When Murderbot discovers a dead body on Preservation Station, it knows it is going to have to assist station security to determine who the body is (was), how they were killed (that should be relatively straightforward, at least), and why (because apparently that matters to a lot of people—who knew?)

Yes, the unthinkable is about to happen: Murderbot must voluntarily speak to humans!

Again!

Yay, Murderbot! Whenever I see my friends on the threads reading these books I have the urge to reread them myself :)

I read the first Murderbot and loved it so much I've been looking for a copy for my shelves. But they're expensive, especially for such slim volumes. I'm still hunting and I may have spotted one ...

Enjoyed catching up, Adrienne and it is great to see you back posting. Are you planning on reading any of the MacInnes books soon as I might join you?

Have a great weekend.

My Thingaversary is tomorrow. I'm including some books I bought last month as my purchases for the 14 year anniversary, plus 2 I bought today.

The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
The List by Patricia Forde
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier
Go Ask Alice by Annonymous
May Gibbs Tales From The Billabong
A Memory Of Light by Robert Jordan
Brothers Of The More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido
Cents and Sensibility by Maggie Alderson
The Ionian Mission by Patrick O'Brian
How To Talk To A Widower by Jonathan Tropper
The Independence Of Miss Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
A Small Part Of History by Peggy Elliott
The Soldier's Curse by Meg and Tom Keneally
The Chocolate Promise By Josephine Moon

>65 fairywings: Nice list and surprisingly I don't own nor have I read a single one on the list.

Dropping in to wish you a wonderful weekend!

Happy Thingaversary!

>67 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita, same to you.

>68 humouress: Thank you Nina :)

97. Paradise Fields by Katie Fforde



It's not as if Nel Innes doesn't have enough on her plate already: keeping track of her unnervingly beautiful teenage daughter, sorting out a house full of animals, and organizing a farmers' market in the picturesque Paradise Fields. But when her old friend Sir Gerald dies and his son has no intention of preserving the Fields, Nel takes up arms - determined to fight for the meadow and the market she loves.

98. Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden



Luca is ready to audition for the Australian Ballet School. All it takes to crush his dreams is one missed step . . . and a broken foot.

Jordan is the gorgeous rowing star and school captain of Luca's new school. Everyone says he's straight - but Luca’s not so sure . . .

As their unlikely bond grows stronger, Luca starts to wonder: who is he without ballet? And is he setting himself up for another heartbreak?

I absolutely loved this book. It was the best kind of emotional roller coaster.

Hi Adrienne! Good to see your reading is coming along well!

Dropping by to wish you a glorious Sunday, Adrienne.

>72 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel, good to see you.

>73 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, thanks, I hope your Sunday is wonderful too.

99. The Sentence Is Death by Anthony Horowitz



"You shouldn’t be here. It’s too late…"

These, heard over the phone, were the last recorded words of successful celebrity-divorce lawyer. Richard Pryce, found bludgeoned to death in his bachelor pad with a bottle of wine – a 1982 Chateau Lafite worth £3,000, to be precise.
Odd, considering he didn’t drink. Why this bottle? And why those words? And why was a three-digit number painted on the wall by the killer? And, most importantly, which of the man’s many, many enemies did the deed?

Baffled, the police are forced to bring in Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne >and his sidekick, the author Anthony, who’s really getting rather good at this murder investigation business.

But as Hawthorne takes on the case with characteristic relish, it becomes clear that he, too, has secrets to hide. As our reluctant narrator becomes ever more embroiled in the case, he realises that these secrets must be exposed – even at the risk of death…

100. Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson



Manchester, 1850

Isabelle Rackham knows she will not marry for love. Though arranged marriages have fallen out of fashion, hers has been settled for some time. Alexander Osgood is handsome, well-known, and wealthy, but he is distant and aloof, spending much of his time at his textile mill.

Moreover, Northern England is nothing like Isabelle's home in the Lake Country, and her marriage is far from the fairy tale she expected. Conversations with Alexander are awkward, when they happen at all, and Isabelle struggles with loneliness.

Sensing his wife's unhappiness, Alexander brings Isabelle to his country estate. During their time together, the couple begins to build a friendship, opening up to each other about the details of their lives. But when a tragic accident leaves Alexander unable to walk, their fledgling relationship is tested.

Isabelle is determined to see to her husband's recovery, and in caring for him, she discovers within herself an untapped well of strength and courage. In learning to rely on each other, the couple has an opportunity to forge a love connection that they both have longed for but never dreamed could be.

Hi Adrienne! Hope things are going well. That last book looks pretty good. :)

>77 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel. Things are great right now. Looking forward to the new year. How's it going for you? It was a pretty good read :)

>78 fairywings: Things are going well. We weathered the oncoming blizzard well - kept all 3 kids home, then nothing happened. But it was fridgedly cold out, and the daycare had to evacuate because their heat broke. So I'm glad that I kept him home.

Delurking to wish you a merry Christmas from Sydney!

Malaysia's branch of the 75er's wishes you and yours a happy holiday season, Adrienne.

Happy New Year, dear Adrienne.

Hope to have the opportunity to keep up with your reading again this year.