35. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

34. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Decked Out

33. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling

32. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

32. Sisterchicks Go Brit by Robin Jones Gunn

31. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught by Neta Jackson

30. The Yada Yada Prayer Groups Gets Tough by Neta Jackson

29. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real by Neta Jackson

28. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down by Neta Jackson

27. The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson

25. Rotten to the Core by Sheila Connolly

24. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Oh my gosh I couldn't get my hands on this book fast enough! After reading Hunger Games last month it was excruciatingly painful to have to wait for a month for the second installment. In this book, Katniss and Peetra have returned from the Hunger Games as joint victors. This was a first in the history of the games and due to an underlying "star-crossed lovers" ideology. Once they are home Katniss is so happy to see Gale and her family and get back into her normal routine, aside from the upgraded home in Victor's Village and the money! All is going well until President Snow pays a visit to Katniss at her home, after she has been hunting beyond the fence again, which is highly illegal by the way. She is informed that there is the threat of uprising in the districts and if she doesn't make the fairytale and very fake romance seem real to everyone that there will be stringent consequences in store for her. To throw another wrench into the situation this year's games is one of the "special" ones that only happens every 25 years. The twist this year is that the tributes will be selected from the previous victors from each district. Being that district 12 only has three victors, 2 male and 1 female, this means that Katniss will be entering the arena again with either Peetra or Haymitch!

Once she reenters the arena this time around, Katniss is an entirely different person. Her attitude is one of acceptance of her certain death and she seems to be indifferent to the possibility of never again seeing her family or Gale. I will not spoil the ending for those that haven't read it yet but I will say that the twists and turns continue and I can't believe I have to wait an entire year for the next book!

23. High Heels are Murder by Elaine Viets

This is he second installment in the Mystery Shopper series featuring Josie Marcus, my favorite sleuth shopper. This one started out with what I thought was a steamy scene from Josie's high school days but turned out to be her present reality. Josh and her seem to be getting hot and heavy...we will see where this goes. In this story, Josie is to mystery shop a shoe store where a very slimy salesman named Mel seems to be a little too interested in women's feet if you know what I mean. Unfortunately for Mel he gets fired and then permanently silenced. I do enjoy the fact that the nosy neighbor is snubbed in this one. A great read that makes me want to continue to see how the next assignment goes.

22. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle

This is the first book in the Bibliophile series and I cannot wait for the next one. Unfortunately I read faster than she writes and this book was released this year so I am sure I will have at least 6 months to wait. This story was intriguing from the very beginning. Brooklyn, a book restorer, is put in charge of Faust by Goethe. Of course this book is said to carry a curse but she does not believe it at all. From the description of the Covington library I absolutely want to go there, but of course it is fiction so it will remain a place in my mind. A handsome British detective also plays into the plot and boy is he a catch. After Brooklyn's mentor Abraham is viciously murdered in the splendid library with the Faust found in his jacket with his arms wrapped around it, she is determined to find out who has done this. But will she be able to find out who done it before she becomes another victim?

Definitely a 5/5

21. Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke

It's Hannah Swensen again!! This follows after the proposal in Peach Cobbler and I wanted to know what happened. I loved this one because a new love interest entered the picture. Boy did Mike & Norman have a fit of jealously! Main street became the scene of a Hollywood movie and murder. The prop gun apparently was not a prop after all and Hannah has to figure out who did it.

20. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

OMG this was such an amazing read. This book is a young adult novel but it was absolutely captivating. I really enjoyed her Gregor series and this one did not disappoint me at all. This story reminds me of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' in context. Katniss is such a wonderful main character and the relationship between her Pietra is a nice one to follow. I hope it continues in the next one. The next book comes out September 1st and I cannot wait. I am hoping for a midnight release party!

19. Photo Finished by Laura Childs

This is the 2nd installment in the scrapbook mystery series by Laura Childs. I have enver read her tea series but I am sure that it is just as good. I love the characters in this series especially Shamus. I sure hope that Carmela and him end up back together although Glory Meechum is such a bear of a sister-in-law. This story takes us into the celebrations of New Orleans and the art museum world. Apparentl;y there is not only painting forgery that goes all but a whole lot more. I enjoyed this one and cannot wait to pick up the next one.

18. Through the Grinder by Cleo Coyle

I loved this second installment in the coffehouse series. I love all the tips it gives you on how to identify blends and the recipes too! Claire finally gets involved in a relationship with someone other than Matteo this time around but unfortunately it doesn't work out. I would like to see her back with Matteo but at the same time think that there are good reasons for the break up in the first place. I am definitely picking up #3 and can't wait to see what happens next.

17. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle

This is the first in the coffeehouse series and what a delight it was to read. Although the Berkley typeface drives me crazy because it is so small, the book was so good that I couldn't stop turning the pages. I love the characters and the ambiance of the coffeehouse. I can just imagine cuddling up there with a good book and brew. There was a lot of insight into the coffee world and tips I would have never asked about espresso even though I am quite the connoisseur. I am picking up the second book right away and can't wait to see what is in store in "Through the Grinder".

16. Murder Over Easy by Jimmie Ruth Evans

So I read the second book in this series without realizing it at all. It was the only book by Jimmie Ruth Evans in my library. I was delighted to be introduced to the Mississippi world of the Culpepper family. The characters were very well developed and the storyline was strong. There was a theme in the book about TJ that I defnitely picked up on before the big reveal but other than that it was a smooth read.

15. The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas

This book was so hard to get through. It was selected as the book of the month for my bookclub back in December or January and I just now finished it. It was a slow read as it should have been for its setting in the 1930's Dustbowl era. I am a fast paced type of gal so it did drag. Out of 196 pages, it finally picked up around 101 and I couldn't put it down. The story is of a women's quilting club and the fabric that knits these groups of ladies together. A newcomer joins them and stirs up a deep old secret that the club has sworn to take to the grave. The story is heartfelt and shows the warmth that women can share in friendship.

14. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

This book was a long one and at times difficult to continue. It was full of emotion and a wrencher from beginning to end. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending although I wish things had gone differently in the middle. Do not read this book at a time that you are emotionally charged ro vulnerable as you will be a basketcase until you are done. I would read it when life is relatively good and not in turmoil. I really enjoyed this book and would gladly recommend it to a friend.

13. Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke

I can't remember which number in the series this is but the Cookie Jar is full of excitement in this one. Shwna Lee is back and rears her ugly head in this one by opening up a rival bake shop right across from Hannah's. SHe gets hers in the end though and Delores is smitten with Winthrop. Lisa and Herb get married in this one as well. I really enjoyed it and the surprise proposal was a cliffhanger!

12. Gregor and the Code of Claw

This is the fifth and final book of the Underland series. It made me so sad to leave this wonderful world of underground fantasy. I wish that Gregor could stay with Luxa forever. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have been recommending this series to others. I say that even if this isn't your genre, this series is a heartwarming one that will expand your reading horizons.

11. Gregor and the Marks of Secret

This was the slowest read so far of the series. I don't know exactly what it was missing but it wasn't as suspenseful or page turning as the previous three. On this adventure there really wasn't a "prophechy" they were trying to fulfill. They are trying to figure out what has happened to all the nibblers and the answer lies with the Bane. I do plan on reading the 5th and final installment of the series and I do hope that it is better than this book.

10. Keepsake Crimes by Laura Childs

This was my first dose of Laura Childs and I was pleasantly surprised. I would have liked to have had the climax a little earlier than the last couple of pages but beggars can't be choosers. I love mysteries and love scrapbooking so this series is a welcomed new look. Again the font is small because of the publisher but it wasn't as hindering as in the past. I look forward to the next scrapbook mystery.

9. Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Oh how wonderfuly it was to re-enter the world of Hannah Swensen and the Cookie Jar. This time we are in the middle of a fair and one of the judges of the baked goods contest is murdered on the midway. There are delicious recipes for all types of gulity concoctions including the deep-fried candy bar.

If you haven't tried one you don't know what you are missing!

8. Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods

This was the saddest in the series so far. It was quite adventuresome but also sad. This adventure takes Gregor to the jungle to find the cure for the plague that has taken over the underland. Gregor tries and tries different paths.

7. Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane

This is book 2 and just as exciting as the first. IN this adventure Gregor is sent on a mission to fulfill the Prophecy of Bane. He finds out he is supposed to do away with the Bane, a baby rat. Ripred and Vikus help him to fulfill the prophecy. The next book is bound to be as exciting if not more so.

6. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

My friend Melissa is to blame for turning me on to this series. It is a story of a boy who finds this mysterious "Underland" world below his apartment building in NYC. The characters are amazing and the plot well developed. Theere are only 5 books in this series and I am wondering what will come in the following stories.

5. Breaking Dawn

So I was finally able to finish this one up about a month ago. I don't know why it wasn't as quick of a read as the rest of them but it dragged along for me. I actually read about 500 pages of it and then put it down for months. I let a friend borrow it and didn't pick it back up right away when I got it back. For me this one seemed to be drawn out more than was needed. I think that there is a lot of room to condense the story down into about 600 pages or less. And while it did take me a long time to get into the story and fiinish it up, I do miss them now.

4. One Bad Apple by Sheila Connolly

This is the first in the Orchard Mystery series from Sheila. I liked the storyline alot but the size of the text just bhugged the heck out of me. It is very small and apparently th eublisher is who decided on the tine and cramped font. It made it harder to read through as quickly but still worth it.

I especially enjoyed the insinuating love story that I hope will continue in the next book.

3. Murder Between the Covers by Elaine Viets

This is the second book in the Dead End Job series and it was delightful. I love Helen Hawthorne and this time she is working in a bookstore (dream job if you ask me). The owner of the bookstore, a real jerkface anyway, ends up dead and Helen's friend Peggy is charged with the crime. Helen sets out to prove that Peggy is innocent and learn some interesting things about her former boss, coworkers and friends along thw way.
5/5

2. Snow Blind by PJ Tracy

This is from the Monkeewrench series although it primarily involves Detectives Roseleth and Magozzi. Grace and her gang only make a couple of brief appearances throughout the book. This story starts out with a snowman making contest gone haywire and ends with a tale of murder, lies, and destruction of an entire generation.

4.5/5

TBR challenge for BookLover'sGroup

These are the 10 books that I am commited to finishing this year.

1. Wicked- Gregory Maguire
2. 16 Lighthouse Rd- Debbie Macomber
3. Hide- Lisa Gardner
4. Whistling in the Dark- Lesley Kagen
5. Perisan Pickle Club- Sandra Dallas
6. One Fifth Ave- Candace Bushnell
7. The Historian- Elizabeth Kostova
8. The Shack- William Young
9. Dead Run- PJ Tracy
10. Millionaire Women Next Door- Thomas J. Stanley (Non-fiction)

1. Bake Sale Murder by Leslie Meier

This is book number 13 in the Lucy Stone series and it brings no bad luck to Leslie Meier's wonderful character. This book was great from beginning to end. We meet some new neighbor's in Tinker's Cove and they are great additions. I am reading this series out of order so this is my first lucy Stone myestery set in Tinker's Cove. I plan on starting at the beginning with Mistletoe Murder now that I have read the most recent. 5/5