MONICA'S (CRAZY4READING) goes again for 75 IN 2026
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2026
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1crazy4reading
I always have great plans for this thread and then the New Year happens and it just drops off. My goal this year is to be more active than I have been in the past. My reading goal is to read as many of my own books as possible.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Monica and I have been a member of LT since Sept of 2008. I enjoy reading and love to just relax in my house with a good book or two. I have two grown children. My daughter is married and graced me with a granddaughter in 2020. Interesting tidbit is that her baby shower was held on March 14th 2020, that was the last day things were opened. We almost did not have her babyshower. My SIL was afraid of her getting Covid and I told him that if this didn't happen she would not have a baby shower for her. My granddaughter's name is Ruby her mom is Samantha and her father is Rob. My youngest child is named Brandon. They are in a relationship and does not plan to have any children.
I am divorced and enjoying life as a single person that just dates when she wants to. I spend more time with my girlfriends now than I used to. I work full time in Special Education offices. I have worked for the same district for over 20 years.
In June of 2025 I had an accident at work and was out of work until the middle of September. I had broken my ankle and also dislocated it. I had to have it popped back in place and then 2 weeks later I had surgery to have a screw placed on the inside of my ankle and screws and a plate on the outside of my ankle. I did a real number on my foot. With being home and not able to be mobile you would have thought I would spend my time reading. I just could not stay comfortable that trying to read for long periods of time hurt me. I was not able to put weight on it for over a month. It was a long recovery and I am still recovering even though I am fully healed. I have pain in my foot now more than usual.
Well I guess that is all for now. Looking forward to seeing what everyone gets up to this year.
My tracker for this group
ROOTS CHALLENGE
Let me introduce myself. My name is Monica and I have been a member of LT since Sept of 2008. I enjoy reading and love to just relax in my house with a good book or two. I have two grown children. My daughter is married and graced me with a granddaughter in 2020. Interesting tidbit is that her baby shower was held on March 14th 2020, that was the last day things were opened. We almost did not have her babyshower. My SIL was afraid of her getting Covid and I told him that if this didn't happen she would not have a baby shower for her. My granddaughter's name is Ruby her mom is Samantha and her father is Rob. My youngest child is named Brandon. They are in a relationship and does not plan to have any children.
I am divorced and enjoying life as a single person that just dates when she wants to. I spend more time with my girlfriends now than I used to. I work full time in Special Education offices. I have worked for the same district for over 20 years.
In June of 2025 I had an accident at work and was out of work until the middle of September. I had broken my ankle and also dislocated it. I had to have it popped back in place and then 2 weeks later I had surgery to have a screw placed on the inside of my ankle and screws and a plate on the outside of my ankle. I did a real number on my foot. With being home and not able to be mobile you would have thought I would spend my time reading. I just could not stay comfortable that trying to read for long periods of time hurt me. I was not able to put weight on it for over a month. It was a long recovery and I am still recovering even though I am fully healed. I have pain in my foot now more than usual.
Well I guess that is all for now. Looking forward to seeing what everyone gets up to this year.
My tracker for this group
ROOTS CHALLENGE
2crazy4reading
List of books read in 2025:
January -
February -
March -
April -
May -
June -
July -
August -
September -
October -
November -
December -
January -
February -
March -
April -
May -
June -
July -
August -
September -
October -
November -
December -
3crazy4reading
My reads in 2026
January - 5 books this month!
1. Deadly Target
2. Another Time, Another Love
3. Those Who Save Us***
4. Keep You ***
5. That was Then, This is Now
February -
March -
The *** mean that it was one of my faves for the month.
January - 5 books this month!
1. Deadly Target
2. Another Time, Another Love
3. Those Who Save Us***
4. Keep You ***
5. That was Then, This is Now
February -
March -
The *** mean that it was one of my faves for the month.
5PaulCranswick
Lovely to see you back for another year, Monica.
6ctpress
Happy New Year, Monica - sorry to hear about all the trouble with your foot. Hopefully it will not spoil the reading this year.
7crazy4reading
>4 drneutron: Thanks Jim! It is good to be back.
>5 PaulCranswick: It is great to be back Paul!
>6 ctpress: Happy New Year to you Carsten. My foot is doing much better now. I still have pains but I am mobile.
I have finished 3 books this year so far. I hope this keeps up for the year. I will post reviews hopefully later tonight.
>5 PaulCranswick: It is great to be back Paul!
>6 ctpress: Happy New Year to you Carsten. My foot is doing much better now. I still have pains but I am mobile.
I have finished 3 books this year so far. I hope this keeps up for the year. I will post reviews hopefully later tonight.
8crazy4reading
Books purchased at the end of 2025
1. A Dangerous Duet A Novel by Karen Odden
2. This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel
3. False Witness by Karin Slaughter
4. Wicked Dreams by Lisa Jackson & Nancy Bush
5. Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan
6. Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
7. The Last Sinner by Lisa Jackson
8. The Heights by Louise Candlish
9. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
10. The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish
11. A Scarpetta Novel Flesh Blood by Patricia Cornwell
12. Livid by Patricia Cornwell
13. Death at the Chateau by Ian Moore
14. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
15. Dog Blood by David Moody
16. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
1. A Dangerous Duet A Novel by Karen Odden
2. This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel
3. False Witness by Karin Slaughter
4. Wicked Dreams by Lisa Jackson & Nancy Bush
5. Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan
6. Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
7. The Last Sinner by Lisa Jackson
8. The Heights by Louise Candlish
9. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
10. The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish
11. A Scarpetta Novel Flesh Blood by Patricia Cornwell
12. Livid by Patricia Cornwell
13. Death at the Chateau by Ian Moore
14. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
15. Dog Blood by David Moody
16. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
9crazy4reading
1. Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard
IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FINISH THIS BOOK. I WANTED TO READ THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES BEFORE STARTING THIS BOOK. I am glad I did that. I was a little lost when I first started this book. This book is about Erin Larson and Nathan Campbell.
We start with Erin and her friend boating on Puget Sound and have an accident. Erin learns her mother has tried to commit suicide. Nathan is fishing with his father when his father is shot.
Nathan's father was investigating a missing person's case and Erin has a podcast on cold cases just like the missing person's case Nathan's father was working on. As Nathan and Erin investigate together then begin to realize that they are also being targeted.
The twist and turns this book took really kept me intrigued. I did not want to put the book down.
4 stars
IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FINISH THIS BOOK. I WANTED TO READ THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES BEFORE STARTING THIS BOOK. I am glad I did that. I was a little lost when I first started this book. This book is about Erin Larson and Nathan Campbell.
We start with Erin and her friend boating on Puget Sound and have an accident. Erin learns her mother has tried to commit suicide. Nathan is fishing with his father when his father is shot.
Nathan's father was investigating a missing person's case and Erin has a podcast on cold cases just like the missing person's case Nathan's father was working on. As Nathan and Erin investigate together then begin to realize that they are also being targeted.
The twist and turns this book took really kept me intrigued. I did not want to put the book down.
4 stars
10crazy4reading
2. Another Time, Another Love by Anne Beaumont
This book was a nice quick read and kept my interest. I didn’t want to put it down. A second chance at love for Laurel and Connor, two people that have loved before only to be hurt.
Nice sweet romance. I enjoyed the banter between the characters.
5 stars
This book was a nice quick read and kept my interest. I didn’t want to put it down. A second chance at love for Laurel and Connor, two people that have loved before only to be hurt.
Nice sweet romance. I enjoyed the banter between the characters.
5 stars
11crazy4reading
3. Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
Those Who Save Us is the story of Anna Schlemer and her daughter Trudy. Trudy is a German history professor and she starts investigating the past. Trudy believes her mother was involved with a Nazi officer and that this officer is her father. She was only 3 years old during the war. Trudy finds a picture of her mother, the Nazi officer and herself in her mother's belongings.
Trudy discovers her mother's past and her own history. I found myself crying when Trudy finally discovers her truth. After Trudy discovers her past I was happy for her and was hoping for a different ending, that is why I gave the book a 4 star rating.
4 stars
Those Who Save Us is the story of Anna Schlemer and her daughter Trudy. Trudy is a German history professor and she starts investigating the past. Trudy believes her mother was involved with a Nazi officer and that this officer is her father. She was only 3 years old during the war. Trudy finds a picture of her mother, the Nazi officer and herself in her mother's belongings.
Trudy discovers her mother's past and her own history. I found myself crying when Trudy finally discovers her truth. After Trudy discovers her past I was happy for her and was hoping for a different ending, that is why I gave the book a 4 star rating.
4 stars
12crazy4reading
4. Keep You by Christopher M. Tantillo
OMG!!! I received this book as a gift and it has been on my wishlist since I had heard about it. Once I started this book I had trouble putting the book down! Christopher has done it again with his writing!
Keep You, does have some trigger warnings that are mentioned before you even start the book. I did not read that because I did not want any spoilers into the story. So be sure to read them if you have trigger warnings.
Dev Landry and Hadlee were best friends 3 years ago, but something happened that caused their friendship to end. Dev does not remember what happened. Dev is on the track team and it always finishes in second or lower. He watched Hadlee as she takes pictures around school and around town. We find Dev waking up in the forest, and he does not remember how he got there.
Dev's parents do not like Hadlee and Hadlee's parents do not like Dev. By the end of this book you will learn what happened between Dev and Hadlee three years ago after sharing a kiss. This book ended on a cliffhanger and more is to come in book 2. I am patiently waiting for this book to be released. Hoping this book will be released soon......
5 stars
OMG!!! I received this book as a gift and it has been on my wishlist since I had heard about it. Once I started this book I had trouble putting the book down! Christopher has done it again with his writing!
Keep You, does have some trigger warnings that are mentioned before you even start the book. I did not read that because I did not want any spoilers into the story. So be sure to read them if you have trigger warnings.
Dev Landry and Hadlee were best friends 3 years ago, but something happened that caused their friendship to end. Dev does not remember what happened. Dev is on the track team and it always finishes in second or lower. He watched Hadlee as she takes pictures around school and around town. We find Dev waking up in the forest, and he does not remember how he got there.
Dev's parents do not like Hadlee and Hadlee's parents do not like Dev. By the end of this book you will learn what happened between Dev and Hadlee three years ago after sharing a kiss. This book ended on a cliffhanger and more is to come in book 2. I am patiently waiting for this book to be released. Hoping this book will be released soon......
5 stars
13crazy4reading
5. That was Then, This is Now by S.E. Hinton
I loved the Outsiders book and that is still my favorite from S. E. Hinton. I have wanted to read this book for awhile. I finished it this weekend. It was a very quick and easy read. I enjoyed seeing some of the characters from the Outsiders in this book. I felt this book moved very quickly. These two teenage boys who are brothers by friendship and not blood find their relationship changing as one starts to grow up and the other doesn't.
4 stars.
I loved the Outsiders book and that is still my favorite from S. E. Hinton. I have wanted to read this book for awhile. I finished it this weekend. It was a very quick and easy read. I enjoyed seeing some of the characters from the Outsiders in this book. I felt this book moved very quickly. These two teenage boys who are brothers by friendship and not blood find their relationship changing as one starts to grow up and the other doesn't.
4 stars.
14crazy4reading
HELLO!!!!!!! I am still around. Just busy reading, working and going out with my sister, friends and family. I have actually read a total of 17 books this year so far. My goal on GR is 50 so I am 2 books ahead of schedule. Maybe I will reach 75 this year. I have a few reviews to get on here. So much to do with so little time to do it.
Work has been busy and a little stressful. We are having some changes happening in our district. There is construction going on for expansion of a highway and did we have an incident one day/night. I woke up one morning to no water pressure in my house. My first tought was Oh No a pipe burst in my house. After investigating I realized it was not that. I did not see any water outside my house either. I finally found out on Facebook that it was a water main break that was caused at 3 am at the construction site for the highway. Got a quick shower and went to work. We still had pressure at work but as the day went on the schools started to loose pressure. Went home to still low water pressure. I couldn't cook, wash or drink my water (glad I have bottles of water on hand). We had to close the district because there was no pressure at the schools, so we got an improptu 'snow day'.
I have seen a few plays this year. My best friends daughter went to college for performing arts and would love to perform on Broadway, so right now she is doing small theater to gain experience. She was in Young Frankentstein and The Producers. The next show we will be seeing is at a HS that she did the coreography for and it is Footloose. Not sure what show she will be in next. I will be seeing Arsenic and Old Lace in May.
I took my granddaughter and MIL (Great Grandmom) out to Build a Bear a few months ago. My granddaughter had a wonderful time. She did get nervous when we lost Great Grandmom when we left the restaurant after eating. Great Grandmom could not find her purse. It blended in with the chair she had placed it on and she thought she had left it in Build a Bear. A few weeks ago I took her and Great Grandmom out to a park because it was such a beautiful day. She had a good time. Then we went back to her home and played video games since GG was going to church.
My daughter and I do not always get along. I found out this past month that my daughter has found her way back to writing and art. She was always into that stuff growing up. She is going to have something published in Rip Rap in May. I am so excited and happy for her! She has an Instagram account just for her art work. I am beyond impressed on what she has created and shared on there. She is a very private person but she is sharing her passion with others which is wonderful. I told her that for Mother's Day we should take her daughter Ruby out to a place called Color Me Mine so she can spend the day with her three mothers - My daughter, her Grandmom (me) and Great Grandmom (MIL). I think that is a good quality time for all the women in the family to do. Even if they do not want to color/paint anything.
Well that is all for now. I will try to be back later tonight to post reviews of the other books I have finished.
Work has been busy and a little stressful. We are having some changes happening in our district. There is construction going on for expansion of a highway and did we have an incident one day/night. I woke up one morning to no water pressure in my house. My first tought was Oh No a pipe burst in my house. After investigating I realized it was not that. I did not see any water outside my house either. I finally found out on Facebook that it was a water main break that was caused at 3 am at the construction site for the highway. Got a quick shower and went to work. We still had pressure at work but as the day went on the schools started to loose pressure. Went home to still low water pressure. I couldn't cook, wash or drink my water (glad I have bottles of water on hand). We had to close the district because there was no pressure at the schools, so we got an improptu 'snow day'.
I have seen a few plays this year. My best friends daughter went to college for performing arts and would love to perform on Broadway, so right now she is doing small theater to gain experience. She was in Young Frankentstein and The Producers. The next show we will be seeing is at a HS that she did the coreography for and it is Footloose. Not sure what show she will be in next. I will be seeing Arsenic and Old Lace in May.
I took my granddaughter and MIL (Great Grandmom) out to Build a Bear a few months ago. My granddaughter had a wonderful time. She did get nervous when we lost Great Grandmom when we left the restaurant after eating. Great Grandmom could not find her purse. It blended in with the chair she had placed it on and she thought she had left it in Build a Bear. A few weeks ago I took her and Great Grandmom out to a park because it was such a beautiful day. She had a good time. Then we went back to her home and played video games since GG was going to church.
My daughter and I do not always get along. I found out this past month that my daughter has found her way back to writing and art. She was always into that stuff growing up. She is going to have something published in Rip Rap in May. I am so excited and happy for her! She has an Instagram account just for her art work. I am beyond impressed on what she has created and shared on there. She is a very private person but she is sharing her passion with others which is wonderful. I told her that for Mother's Day we should take her daughter Ruby out to a place called Color Me Mine so she can spend the day with her three mothers - My daughter, her Grandmom (me) and Great Grandmom (MIL). I think that is a good quality time for all the women in the family to do. Even if they do not want to color/paint anything.
Well that is all for now. I will try to be back later tonight to post reviews of the other books I have finished.
15PaulCranswick
Great to see you posting, Monica.
Congratulations to your daughter and thank you for sharing with us your justifiable pride in her achievement. x
Congratulations to your daughter and thank you for sharing with us your justifiable pride in her achievement. x
16crazy4reading
6. The Brides Of Christmas by Jo Beverley, Margaret Moore, Deborah Simmons
This was three books in one. I enjoyed all of them. You have the Wise Virgin by Jo Beverley which I really enjoyed. You have a lord that steals the wrong lady during Christmas. I found myself laughing and enjoying the characters interaction with each other.
Next was the Vagabond Knight by Margaret Moore. You have. Knight who comes to a house of a lady looking for shelter during a blizzard. A strong woman who feels she doesn’t need a man. This one also made me smile.
Last book was The Unexpected Guest. A traveling party arrives at Lord Campion’s home during the Yuletide. Her name is Joy and she too is a very independent woman who decides to seduce Lord Campion only to realize she is falling in love.
All three books have strong willed women.
4 stars
7. Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady
I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audio version and just hearing the two main characters interact with each other was great.
You have Ryan and Josie, two independent bookstore managers of two completely different types of stores. Their owner decides to combine both stores along with the coffee shop he owns too. Either Josie or Ryan will become manager of the new larger bookstore.
Will Josie be able to beat Ryan or will the man win in the end? I found myself laughing, crying and just rooting for Josie and Ryan.
5 stars
8. With a Vengeance by Riley Sager
This book hooked me right from the beginning. The story is set in the 1940's & 50's and is a mystery and thriller. Anna Matheson's family is destroyed in 1942 and she wants revenge. It takes her 12 years to finally have revenge on the people that destroyed her family.
You will be taken on a train ride from Philadelphia to Chicago that Anna has booked on the Phoenix. All those involved in the destruction of her family are on their way to Chicago to be arrested by the FBI.
Things turn deadly on the train ride and now Anna and the other's need to figure out who is doing the killing before everyone is murdered. I found myself taking guesses and being thrilled when I was right and then shocked when a twist came along that I did not suspect. I did not want to put this book down.
5 stars
That is all for now. I still have more to post. Might post more tonight.
This was three books in one. I enjoyed all of them. You have the Wise Virgin by Jo Beverley which I really enjoyed. You have a lord that steals the wrong lady during Christmas. I found myself laughing and enjoying the characters interaction with each other.
Next was the Vagabond Knight by Margaret Moore. You have. Knight who comes to a house of a lady looking for shelter during a blizzard. A strong woman who feels she doesn’t need a man. This one also made me smile.
Last book was The Unexpected Guest. A traveling party arrives at Lord Campion’s home during the Yuletide. Her name is Joy and she too is a very independent woman who decides to seduce Lord Campion only to realize she is falling in love.
All three books have strong willed women.
4 stars
7. Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady
I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audio version and just hearing the two main characters interact with each other was great.
You have Ryan and Josie, two independent bookstore managers of two completely different types of stores. Their owner decides to combine both stores along with the coffee shop he owns too. Either Josie or Ryan will become manager of the new larger bookstore.
Will Josie be able to beat Ryan or will the man win in the end? I found myself laughing, crying and just rooting for Josie and Ryan.
5 stars
8. With a Vengeance by Riley Sager
This book hooked me right from the beginning. The story is set in the 1940's & 50's and is a mystery and thriller. Anna Matheson's family is destroyed in 1942 and she wants revenge. It takes her 12 years to finally have revenge on the people that destroyed her family.
You will be taken on a train ride from Philadelphia to Chicago that Anna has booked on the Phoenix. All those involved in the destruction of her family are on their way to Chicago to be arrested by the FBI.
Things turn deadly on the train ride and now Anna and the other's need to figure out who is doing the killing before everyone is murdered. I found myself taking guesses and being thrilled when I was right and then shocked when a twist came along that I did not suspect. I did not want to put this book down.
5 stars
That is all for now. I still have more to post. Might post more tonight.
