1crazy4reading
Happy New Year & Welcome!! I am back again this year. I fell off the internet last year but I still read books. I just stopped updating my stuff. My goal for this year is to read 30 ROOTs this year. I will add a tracker to my next message.
My name is Monica and I am a single woman with 2 adult children. I have one grandchild and she is 5 years old. I enjoy reading mystery, thriller, fantasy, romance, historical fiction, young adult, cozy mystery etc. I know there are even more sub genres people talk about. I stick with the main genres and go from there. Last year I broke my left ankle as was not working. You would think that I would have read a lot of books. I had a hard time concentrating because it was a very bad break. I was in my bed except to go to the bathroom for awhile. When I finally became somewhat mobile again I started reading again. I just didn't go on my computer to update my posts.
My name is Monica and I am a single woman with 2 adult children. I have one grandchild and she is 5 years old. I enjoy reading mystery, thriller, fantasy, romance, historical fiction, young adult, cozy mystery etc. I know there are even more sub genres people talk about. I stick with the main genres and go from there. Last year I broke my left ankle as was not working. You would think that I would have read a lot of books. I had a hard time concentrating because it was a very bad break. I was in my bed except to go to the bathroom for awhile. When I finally became somewhat mobile again I started reading again. I just didn't go on my computer to update my posts.
2crazy4reading
My trackers:
ROOTS
ROOTS
3crazy4reading
List of books completed in 2026
1. Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard
2. Another Time Another Love by Anne Beaumont
3. Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
1. Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard
2. Another Time Another Love by Anne Beaumont
3. Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
4crazy4reading
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
Books purchased in 2026
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
Books purchased in 2026
5connie53
Welcome back, Monica. That sounds really awful. I hope you are well now and the ankle is back to normal. Glad that you joined the ROOTers again.
Don't forget to become a member.
Don't forget to become a member.
6Cecilturtle
Welcome back, Monica! Wishing you a healthy 2026
7MissWatson
Welcome back, Monica. I hope the new year treats you better than the last one.
8crazy4reading
>5 connie53: Thanks! Happy to be back! I need to read my own books more than library books. I am getting better every day. Thanks for the reminder to join the group.
>6 Cecilturtle: Thanks! Hope you have a wonderful 2026
>7 MissWatson: Thanks! So do I!
Well I have completed 2 books so far. My goal is to read more of my own physical books so I can clear out those books that I do not want to keep. I have so many in boxes that I am not even sure if I have duplicates of books.
>6 Cecilturtle: Thanks! Hope you have a wonderful 2026
>7 MissWatson: Thanks! So do I!
Well I have completed 2 books so far. My goal is to read more of my own physical books so I can clear out those books that I do not want to keep. I have so many in boxes that I am not even sure if I have duplicates of books.
9crazy4reading
1. Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard
This book I won in the ER program here and I had never read the first book. I tried reading when I first received it but was a little lost so I waited to read it until I could find a copy of the 1st book. I read the first book last year. In Deadly Target we meet Erin Larson and Nathan Campbell again. This is their story.
We start with Erin and her friend boating on the Puget Sound and they have an accident. Erin learns her mother has tried to commit suicide. Nathan is fishing with his father when his father is shot. After reading those two chapters I was invested and wanted to know what was going to happen.
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 & Erin investigate then begin to realize that they are also being targeted.
The twish and turns this book took really kept me intrigued. I did not want to put the book down.
4 stars.
This book I won in the ER program here and I had never read the first book. I tried reading when I first received it but was a little lost so I waited to read it until I could find a copy of the 1st book. I read the first book last year. In Deadly Target we meet Erin Larson and Nathan Campbell again. This is their story.
We start with Erin and her friend boating on the Puget Sound and they have an accident. Erin learns her mother has tried to commit suicide. Nathan is fishing with his father when his father is shot. After reading those two chapters I was invested and wanted to know what was going to happen.
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 & Erin investigate then begin to realize that they are also being targeted.
The twish and turns this book took really kept me intrigued. I did not want to put the book down.
4 stars.
10Caramellunacy
>8 crazy4reading: I am wishing you luck in your goal! I have been too focused on library books and really need to read more of my own shelves (out of boxes) this year, too.
11crazy4reading
#2. Another Time, Another Love by Anne Beaumont
I have books that are wrapped for a wrapped book challenge. My BFF wrapped the books. I gave her a bunch and told her to just wrap which ever ones she wanted. She wrapped them all so I have books to open and read whenever I want. This is one that I opened up this month and decided to read. This book was a nice quick read and kept my interest. Laurel and Connor are two people who have a second change at love.
Laurel is a single mother who was heartbroken when her fiance leaves her for another woman and the way he treated her is why Laurel is so cautious with men. I understand her. Laurel also struggles to support herself and her daughter and is determined to not be dependent on a man to take care of her. She lives in Hewitt House which is being sold. When she runs into a handsome man in her building and realizes he is the owner Connor that is buying all the contracts she feels something she hasn't felt in years.
Connor is the devastatingly handsome Aussie that owns Hewitt House and is trying to settle up the last tenants in his building, one just happens to be Laurel. Once the two meet the connection is one that Laurel doesn't want to believe is real. I enjoyed the banter between Connor and Laurel. He sweet talks Laurel and she fights it because she does not want to be controlled by a man. This was a nice pleasant read.
5 stars
I have books that are wrapped for a wrapped book challenge. My BFF wrapped the books. I gave her a bunch and told her to just wrap which ever ones she wanted. She wrapped them all so I have books to open and read whenever I want. This is one that I opened up this month and decided to read. This book was a nice quick read and kept my interest. Laurel and Connor are two people who have a second change at love.
Laurel is a single mother who was heartbroken when her fiance leaves her for another woman and the way he treated her is why Laurel is so cautious with men. I understand her. Laurel also struggles to support herself and her daughter and is determined to not be dependent on a man to take care of her. She lives in Hewitt House which is being sold. When she runs into a handsome man in her building and realizes he is the owner Connor that is buying all the contracts she feels something she hasn't felt in years.
Connor is the devastatingly handsome Aussie that owns Hewitt House and is trying to settle up the last tenants in his building, one just happens to be Laurel. Once the two meet the connection is one that Laurel doesn't want to believe is real. I enjoyed the banter between Connor and Laurel. He sweet talks Laurel and she fights it because she does not want to be controlled by a man. This was a nice pleasant read.
5 stars
12crazy4reading
#3. Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
I finished this book a few days ago. I love reading books based in WWII. 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
I finished this book a few days ago. I love reading books based in WWII. 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
13connie53
>12 crazy4reading: I have read that one too and gave it 4 stars as well.
14deep220
>12 crazy4reading: Ooohhhh I have this on my TBR also. Will be adding that to the root list this year.
15crazy4reading
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
16crazy4reading
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.
17crazy4reading
>13 connie53: I am always afraid that my rating will be different than most others. I rate by how it makes me feel more than anything else. I enjoy most books that are historical on WWII.
>14 deep220: It is worth the read.
My fave reads so far this year are Keep You and Those Who Save Us
>14 deep220: It is worth the read.
My fave reads so far this year are Keep You and Those Who Save Us
18crazy4reading
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. I am not sure how many are ROOTS but I do have a few more to add to this list. 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.
19Cecilturtle
>18 crazy4reading: Sounds like a busy time, Monica! I'm glad your daughter has an outlet through her art - creativity is so important!
20crazy4reading
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
>19 Cecilturtle: I agree! Creativity is very important. My daughter, granddaughter and myself are going to Color Me Mine for Mother's Day. I am so excited to do this activity with them. Then we hope to do lunch/dinner afterwards.
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
>19 Cecilturtle: I agree! Creativity is very important. My daughter, granddaughter and myself are going to Color Me Mine for Mother's Day. I am so excited to do this activity with them. Then we hope to do lunch/dinner afterwards.
21connie53
>18 crazy4reading: Great to hear your daughter is so into art, Monica! That's beautiful. how was Color Me Mine? I don't really know what that is but it probably creative.
