Cheli's 101010+20 3rd Qtr

I decided to break things up by quarter so I'm starting 3rd quarter here. I'm doing the full 101010 plus a bonus category of 20 in honor of the century. I may add additional bonus categories at the end, if I finish before 10/10/10. Here is my 2nd Qtr Thread.

** indicates books I own

Here are my candidates for the categories. I may follow this list and then again, other books may pop up that fit just as well. These are just possibilities. If I have cross them off, they were used in the challenge.
I. Cuddle up with a good cozy mystery (repeat from 999)
The chocolate Cat Caper**
The Chocolate Bear Burglary**
The Chocolate Frog Frame-up**
Murder on St. Mark's Place**
Finger Lickin' Fifteen
Death on Demand**
Design for murder**
The Diva Runs out of Thyme**
Death at Bishop's Keep**
Gilt by Association**
Dead Cat Bounce**
Jane & the Unpleasantness at Seagrove Manor**
Homicide in Hardcover**
Murder is binding**

II. Civil War and its Leaders
Lincoln President-Elect : Abraham Lincoln and the Great Secession Winter 1860-1861
Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney
Lincoln and his Admirals
The two American Presidents : a dual biography of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis
Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee**
Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation: The Economics of the Civil War
Desperate engagement : how a little-known Civil War battle saved Washington, D.C., and changed American history
Confederate Ordeal: The Southern Home Front : The Civil War
The South vs. the South: How Anti-Confederate Southerners Shaped the Course of the Civil War
Why the South lost the Civil War
The Reconstruction Presidents

III. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
Mastered by Love**
First comes Marriage**
Then Comes Seduction**
At Last Comes Love**
Everlasting**
Irresistible**
Gates of Trevalyan**
Taste of Innocence**
Queen's Bastard**

IV. Miss Austen and Her Relations (Pride & Prejudice lives on!)
The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy** - Elizabeth Aston
The True Darcy Spirit - Elizabeth Aston**
The Second Mrs. Darcy** - Elizabeth Aston
Darcy's Temptation**
Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One** (Mr & Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy) - Sharon Lathan
Loving Mr. Darcy: **Journeys Beyond Pemberley - Sharon Lathan
The Pemberley Chronicles: A Companion Volume to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice**: - Rebecca Ann Collins
The Women of Pemberley**: A Companion Volume to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (The Pemberley Chronicles)
The ladies of Longbourn : a companion volume to Jane Austen's Pride and prejudice
Mr. Darcy's Daughter: The acclaimed Pride and Prejudice sequel series (The Pemberley Chronicles)

V. Surprise - Books I find and want to read /group reads(repeat from 999)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (group read January)
The Three Musketeers **(group read Feb/Mar)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (group read 7/14)
Dressed for death
Lace Reader
Lost Symbol
Great Expectations
Call of the Wild (#neverstoptrying)
The 19th Wife
Empire of Ivory
Mister Monday
Over Sea, Under Stone

VI. Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies (repeat from 999X2)
Knit One, Kill Two
Needled to Death
A Deadly Yarn
A Killer Stitch**
A Murderous Yarn **
Hanging by a Thread**
Hooked on Murder**
Murder in miniature**
Death by Cashmere**
Through the Grinder**
Plum Pudding Murder
Apple Turnover Murder**
Died in the Wool**
The Mournful Teddy**
The Clockwork Teddy**
The Crafty Teddy**
The False-Hearted Teddy**

VII. I HEARD THEM(repeat from 999X2)

RED Badge of Courage
This Republic of Suffering
Don't know much about the Civil War
Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief
With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln
Team of Rivals (Lincoln cabinet)
A House Reunited
Borderline 1/24/10
Her Fearful Symmetry 5/27/10
The Art of Racing in the Rain 8/25/10
In Big Trouble
No! I don't want to join a book club
Someone to Love
The Sugar Queen
Seducing an Angel
Hardly Knew Her

VIII. Who/What/When/Where/How/Why? - Bios/history (Repeat from 999)
Polk : the man who transformed the presidency and America
The California Gold Rush and the coming of the Civil War**
The Impending Crisis (civil war bkgrd) joycepa
1858: Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and the War they Failed to See
Lincoln at Gettysburg : the words that remade America
Zachary Taylor : Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest
Millard Fillmore:Biography of a President
Expatriation of Franklin Pierce: The Story of a President and the Civil War
James Buchanan by Jean Baker
Over the edge of the world:Magellan's terrifying circumnavigation of the globe

IX. Books found on the Internet/thru LT/at the library/in a bookstore (repeat from 999)
Lost Throne**
First lady of the Confederacy : Varina Davis's Civil War
Mrs. Robert E. Lee: The Lady of Arlington
If the South had won the Civil War
Yankee Women sjmccreary
The Brutal Telling (group Read April)
A Separate Country**
Eggs Benedict Arnold**
Decoding the Lost Symbol**
My Name is Will**
Wives of Henry Oades**
A Summer Affair**
Future Hope** abandoned

X. A Full Course Meal
Cocktails - Whiskey Sour
Salad - Crazy salad : some things about women
Bread and Butter - Fax me a bagel
Soup - Chicken soup for the soul
Seafood - The oyster wars of Chesapeake Bay
Meat Entrée - Dead Meat
Wine & Cheese - The Bordeaux Betrayal
Dessert - Eat Cake
After Dinner Drinks - Clash of cavalry; the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863
Coffee or Tea - Sex, Murder and a Double Latte**

And I'm doing a bonus category of 20 books for the century!

BONUS - Niagara Falls 20 CATEGORY Overflow (repeat from 999X2)

I. Cuddle up with a good Cozy Mystery
CATEGORY COMPLETED




1. Dressed for Death
2. Hail to the Chef
3. Eggs Benedict Arnold
4. Murder on St. Mark's Place
5. Teaberry Strangler
6. Chocolate Cat Caper
7. Chocolate Bear Burglary
8. Chocolate Frog Frame-up
9. Death on Demand
10.Homicide in Hardcover

II. Civil War and its Leaders
1.Lincoln President-Elect: Abraham Lincoln and the Great Secession Winter
2.Team of Rivals
3.Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief
4.Desperate engagement : how a little-known Civil War battle saved Washington, D.C., and changed American history
5.Red Badge of Courage
6.This Republic of Suffering
7.Confederate Ordeal: The Southern Home front
8.
9.
10.

III. Love is a Many Splendored Thing
1. True Colors
2. Someone to Love by Jude Deveraux
3. Mastered by Love
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

IV. Miss Austen and her relations (Pride & Prejudice lives on!)
1. Matters at Mansfield (or the Crawford Affair)
2. Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One
3. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
4. Loving Mr. Darcy : Journeys beyond Pemberley
5. The Pemberley Chronicles
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

V. Surprise - Books I find and want to read - Group Reads CATEGORY COMPLETED





1. The Picture of Dorian Gray
2. Politically Correct Bedtime Stories: Modern Tales for Our Life & Times
3. Politically Correct Bedtime Stories: Once Upon a More Enlightened Time
4. The Complete World of Greek Mythology
5. Ella Minnow Pea
6. The Brutal Telling
7. The Three Musketeers
8. Her Fearful Symmetry
9. A Separate Country
10.The Scarlet Pimpernel

VI. Crafts/Hobbies/Cooking in the background





1. Plum Pudding Murder 1/13/10
2. Apple Turnover Murder 4/3/10
3. Died in the Wool: A Knitting Mystery
4. Death by Cashmere 4/24/10
5. Knit One, Kill Two 6/7/10
6. Knit in Comfort 6/15/10
7. Eggsecutive Orders 7/3/10
8. Through the Grinder
9. Latte Trouble
10.A Murderous Yarn

7. I HEARD THEM (Audiobooks) CATEGORY COMPLETED




1. Venetian Betrayal 1/18/10
2. Borderline 1/24/10
3. Empire of Ivory 3/3/10
4. The Charlemagne Pursuit 4/1/10
5. Victory of Eagles 4/21/10
6. Death and Judgment 4/26/10
7. Sea of Monsters 4/30/10
8. Titan's Curse 5/7/10
9. Battle of the Labyrinth 5/22/10
10.No, I Don't Want to Join a Book Club! 6/10/10

VIII. Who/What/When/Where/How/Why? - Bios/history CATEGORY COMPLETED!!




1. Polk : the man who transformed the presidency and America
2. Zachary Taylor : Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest
3. The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War
4. Millard Fillmore
5. Millard Fillmore: Biography of a President
6. Franklin Pierce:Young Hickory of the Granite Hills
7. President James Buchanan
8. The Impending Crisis
9. 1858: Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S Grant and the War They Failed to see
10. Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation: The Economics of the Civil War

IX. Books I found out about on the Internet/at the library/in a bookstore CATEGORY COMPLETED





1. The Lost Throne 1/8/10 4 stars
2. My Name is Will 1/19/10 ½ star
3. Decoding the Lost Symbol 2/14/10 3 stars
4. A Second Helping 3/27/10 3 stars
5. The Wives of Henry Oades 3/31/10 2 stars
6. The Agency: A Spy in the House 4/7/10 4 stars
7. Hush: A Novel 4/11/10 4 stars
8. The Power of Half 5/1/10 3½ stars
9. Lumby Lines 5/13/10 4½ stars
10.God of the Hive 5/27/10 4 stars

10. Full Course Meal



1. Cocktails - Whiskey Sour 1/15/10
2. Salad - Perfection Salad: Women and Cooking at the Turn of the Century 3/23/10
3. Bread and Butter - Fax me a bagel 4/2/10
4. Soup - Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul 5/15/10
5. Seafood - The Oyster Wars of Chesapeake Bay 5/16/10
6. Meat - Turkey Day Murder 7/14/10
7. Wine & Cheese - The Bordeaux Betrayal 7/27/10
8. Dessert - Eat Cake 8/15/10
9. After Dinner Drinks - Clash of cavalry; the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863 9/9/10

10.

BONUS 20 CATEGORY
NIAGARA FALLS Overflow (repeat from 999X2)


1. The Mapping of Love and Death 6/12/10
2. The Demigod Files 6/15/10
3. Stealing Lumby 6/21/10
4. Lumby's Bounty 7/10/10
5. The Good Daughters
6. Bury Your Dead 8/23/10
7. The Art of Racing in the Rain 8/25/10
8. The Last Olympian 8/30/10
9. Hooked on Murder 9/3/10
10.In the Bleak Midwinter 9/5/10
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

2nd qtr RECAP (It wouldn't post on my old thread so I'm posting it here.
Well, June ran below average because of injuries, visiting relatives, household improvements (my reading room is done!) and golf association activities but I managed to read 9 books - again some great, some just good, a few disappointing. But I did finish two more categories of the challenge and I only have one ARC left (#5 of Lumby I still need to read #3 nd #4.).

The best of the month was - Stealing Lumby
The worst of the month - Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation: The Economics of the Civil War - it really wasn't bad just overly educational.

I. Cuddle up with a good cozy mystery (repeat from 999)

II. Civil War and its Leaders

III. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing

IV. Miss Austen and Her Relations (Pride & Prejudice lives on!)

V. Surprise - Books I find and want to read /group reads (repeat from 999)

VI. Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies (repeat from 999X2)
Knit in Comfort
Knit One Kill Two

VII. I HEARD THEM (repeat from 999X2)
COMPLETED CATEGORY
No, I don't Want to Join a Book Club!

VIII. Who/What/When/Where/How/Why? - Bios/history (Repeat from 999)
COMPLETED CATEGORY
The Impending Crisis
1858: Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and the War they Failed to See
Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation: The Economics of the Civil War
IX. Books found on the Internet/thru LT/at the library/in a bookstore (repeat from 999)

X. A Full Course Meal

Xi. Niagara Falls - Overflow
The Mapping of Love & Death
The Demigod Files
Stealing Lumby

I hope to do better in July, now that I have my Nook. I will be reading the following books:
Lincoln President-Elect : Abraham Lincoln and the Great Secession Winter 1860-1861
Eggsecutive Orders
A Separate Country book and audiobook
Turkey Day Murders
Through the grinder
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Wine & Cheese - The Bordeaux Betrayal
The Chocolate Bear Burglary**
The Chocolate Frog Frame-up**
The Mournful Teddy
Art of racing in the Rain audiobook
Lace Reader audiobook
Team of Rivals (Lincoln cabinet)
With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln
Death on Demand
I really need to get back on track so I'm hope with my Nook my new little study Nook, I can get my act back in gear.

Book Talley for 2nd Quarter:

Books Acquired 21 (8 read , 2 in progress)
Books Read Owned 17 (Pages: 4,802)
Books Read Borrowed 17 (Pages: 6,157)
Audio Books heard 8 (104½ hours)

Total Completed
23 books and 10 audio books - 11,187 pages
27 fiction; 6 nonfiction

Genre Summary:

Nonfiction:
6 books History

Fiction:
Novels: 8
Fantasy: 5
Mystery: 14

I love the pictures you added!

Well there you are. You add great pictures and create terrific graphics!!

#64 EGGSECUTIVE ORDERS

Author: Julie Hyzy
Read: June 30 - July 3
Format: Nook - eBook 253 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: poisining, espionage, recipes
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI
Category: Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

Ollie Parras is waken early by a call from the White House, telling her that there is a car waiting outside her apartment building to bring her in and she was instructed not to speak with anyone. Not knowing what was going on as she exited the building in the company of two large Secret Service Agents, Ollie is startled by the news that one of the White House dinner guests of the night before has died.

This was just the start of Ollie's problems - her mother and grandmother were coming to visit and she was supposed to pick them up at the airport but being held for questioning and having forgotten her cell phone, there was no way to contact them and no way of knowing when she would be able to get away to meet them.

Things just seem to get worse when the ent8ire WH kitchen staff is sent home with instructs to stay away until the cause of death is determined and they are cleared. How are they supposed to prepare for the annual Easter Egg Roll without the use of the WH kitchen?

Luckily Tom went and picked up Ollie's but the issues at the WH put a strain on their relationship. Time off is used creatively and Ollie and her family work together to resolve the issues.

It was wonderful to finally meet members of Ollie's family and get to know some of her staff and neighbors better. I really enjoyed this cozy.

This was the first book that I read on my new NOOK e-reader and it was really an enjoyable experience - no cramps in my hands from holding the book open.

Glad you're loving the Nook! I haven't tried this series, but it sounds like fun.

With my poor eyesight, the best part was being able to change the font size so that I could actually read it without wearing my glasses so I snuggled down in bed and one-handed could read the book. My husband liked it because it freed the other hand to scratch his back. But since he, in essence, bought it for me, I really can't complain.

I bump my Kindle typesize up at times, such as when I'm in a location that isn't bright enough.

For me, it's the best part. Though I have a bit of an internet addiction and having the web access on my Nook is nice to. If I'm waiting for an email I can check there and not have to carry my laptop around.

My wishes to all my friends here - a safe and happy 4th!

#65 Lumby's Bounty

Author: Gail Fraser
Read: July 5 - July 10
Format: Trade paperback 368 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Setting: Lumby, Northwest USA
Category: Niagara Falls -- Overflow/Books found - Internet
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, BOSC
Stars: 3½

This is the third book in that chronicles the town of Lumby and its inhabitants and it just seems to get better and better. We have seen in the prior two books the changes in the town and in this book we are witness to changes in the people themselves.

Brian Beezer, a ne'er-do-well teenager, who constantly seems to be getting into trouble, contracts in the towns name to host a hot air balloon festival and then sort of dumps the problem on the town to handle. As usual the residents come together to handle the situation and the underlying stories and interactions are entertaining as usual.

I really don’t want to go farther than that into the story because, IMO, it would definitely spoil the story for the next reader. The special characters from the previous books (Hank, Isabella-the blind horse) are joined with a few new "characters" as well as residents and visitors that are given more center stage. The book was so wonderfully written that I was constantly thinking about the story even when I wasn't reading it. I really wish there was a town of Lumby - I'd put it on my vacation list for sure!

When Ms Fraser started writing thsi series, I started buying it for my sister as part of my Christmas gift to her since we had both liked the Jan Karon series about Mitfor and this one sounded similar. Then when she's done with them she gives them back to me to read. (I'm good about not reading them before I give them to her, although I'm tempted).

So far I've only read #1, but I have 2,3, and 4 on my shelves, patiently waiting for me to get back to them. Maybe soon - I can always put one in my miscellaneous category. Every time you write of them, I get antsy to start the next one. Thanks for the push!

#66 A Separate Country

Author: Richard Hicks
Read: May 31 - July 10
Format: Audio 13 CDs and hardback 432 pages
Source: Public Library/Prize for HRBG reading
Subject: post Civil War/ General John Bell Hood
Category: Surprise - Books I find and want to read /group reads
Genre: Historical Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, Audiobook, SYLL,
Stars: 1½

General John Bell Hood of the Confederate States of America would seem to have been a unique individual if the premise of this work of historical fiction is true. However, it was difficult to follow being written using different POVs as well as different time periods.

We are told of a Confederate officer who suffered several horrible injuries, losing an arm and a leg in the war, who married Anna Marie and fathered 11 children. We hear about her youth and how she met and befriended Michèl and Rentra and Pascal.

I've had this book for a over a year and resolved that I was going to read it this year. If not for that resolution and the fact that I was part of a group read at my suggestion, I don't think that I would have continued to the end. I tried reading the hardback. It was too confusing, I got an audio version and I was able to get through it easier with the different readers helping to keep things straight.

I found this story very disjointed, only because I had read Widow of the South did I understand the references to Franklin and therefore I can only give it 1½ stars.

#67 Lincoln President-Elect: Abraham Lincoln and the Great Secession Winter

Author: Harold Holzer
Read: June 28 - July 13
Format: Hardback 483 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: preCivil War - Lincoln post election
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, USPC, Chunkster
Stars: 2½

It's hard to believe that a book this large was devoted only to the activities surrounding one man in a 3½ month period of time. It was extremely detailed in the activities of Abraham Lincoln following his election as President of the United States from Election Day until his inauguration.

During the time period between the election and inauguration, Lincoln was besieged by office seekers. He would spend hours everyday greeting those that traveled to Springfield to shake his hand and tell him what job they wanted him to give them. At the same time, the nation was being torn apart by the Southern states starting their secessions, Lincoln remained quietly in Illinois. He believed that he did not have the power and influence required until the Electoral College confirmed his election and that President Buchanan should be the person to handle the current crisis.

During the Secession winter of 1860-1961 Abraham Lincoln 'successfully maintained a masterful inactivity and public silence to prevent the spread of slavery, privately fought a political battle to bar unprincipled compromise.'

When asked to evaluate the reasons for the crisis as it related to him, he "reminded them that no President could possibly prove wicked enough to destroy the country in the four years allotted by the Constitution - not even, it implied, a Republican elected by a minority of the popular vote." (history repeating itself?) and when asked on the legality of the seceding states he said " My opinion is that no state can in any way lawfully get out of the Union without the consent of the others."

The book told of his struggles to create a cabinet, his train trip to Washington and the threats on his life all while finalizing his inaugural speech which would endeavor to show his devotion to the laws of the nation and the Constitution as well as maintaining the traditions of the Founding Fathers.

This was a very detailed book with numerous quotes and stories of Abraham Lincoln at this time. However, I think that in the long run, it was too detailed when it came to the day to day activities and could have been shortened with some good editing.

#68 Turkey Day Murder

Author: Leslie Meier
Read: July 12 - July 14
Format: hardback 230 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: Native American, casinos, corporate pressure
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI,
Category: Full Course Meal - Meat
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3

Lucy Stone has taken on the job of reporter for the Pennysaver weekly paper in her small hometown. While reporting on local events she gets embroiled in the controversy surrounding the local unrecognized Native American tribe and their push for authentication. At the same time all this debate is being waged, Lucy is looking forward to her son Toby coming home for Thanksgiving - his first visit since going off to college. He appears _ extremely late - and instead of bringing just one guest, he's brought three, his roommate and their two girlfriends.

This book was a simple little mystery of who killed the person who was most against the casino and Tribal recognition, but I was prepared for Lucy to murder her own son for his inconsiderateness and was very surprised by her reactions and actions. Definitely brain candy.

#69 Chocolate Bear Burglary

Author: JoAnna Carl
Read: July 12 - July 14
Format: Paperback 160 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: chocolate molds, blackmail
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Category: Cuddle up with a Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3

Lee McKinney lives with her Aunt Nettie and helps her with the management of the family chocolate making/business. The winter promotional theme was teddy bears so they decorated the shop with some borrowed old teddy bear chocolate molds which turned out to be quite valuable as well as dangerous.

Lee's undercover romance with Joe hits a few snags but they work together to clear her ex-stepson who dropped in out of nowhere of the murder of the antique dealer who loaned them the molds.

A nice little cozy mystery with yummy sounding chocolates at the center of the controversy.

I admit that I'm not crazy about cozies, but I like the JoAnna Carl ones. Maybe because they are about chocolate!

#70 Chocolate Frog Frame-up

Author: JoAnna Carl
Read: July 17 - July 18
Format: Paperback 156 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject:
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Category: Cuddle up with a Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3

Lee McKinney, lives with her Aunt Nettie and works as the business Manager for the family chocolate business in Warner Pier, MI. She has a delicate relationship with Joe Woodyard and when he is implicated in the death of Herschel, the town crazy, Lee works to resolve the problem and clear his name.

The clues are interestingly presented so that the reader follows along and puts the mystery to bed at the same time as the characters figure out the solution. A fun read!

#71 Through the Grinder

Author: Cleo Coyle
Read: July 19 - July 20
Format: Paperback 270 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: serial killer, dating
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC, TBR
Category: Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3

Clare Cosi, who manages the coffee shop the Village Blend, is concerned when her daughter Joy decides to look for a new beau through the Internet and other new dating groups. Trying to check out the groups, Clare signs up and finds a new man in her life.

At the same time, several of the Village Blend regulars are mysteriously found dead and the talk is suicide except that the police think it's murder and that the murderer might be the new man in Clare's life.

Clare sets out to clear the suspicion from her new beau with the help of her ex-husband Matteo. The situations that they find themselves in are amusing and at times over top but the story was fun and entertaining.

This book was really entertaining with the enthralling mystery and the interesting and amusing situations. It just makes me want to find the next one in the series to move forward.

#72 The Scarlet Pimpernel

Author: Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Read: July 14 - July 26
Format: E-Book 304 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: freedom, French Revolution, Reign of Terror, corruption
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, RTT
Category: Surprise - Books I find and want to read /group reads
Genre: Classics
Stars: 3

I remember reading an abridged version of this book when I was about 10 or 11 years old because I liked the title, but I didn't remember the story at all so it was a delightful surprise adventure for me to the time of the Reign of Terror. I loved it and usually Classics are not my forte.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is an adventurer who risks his life to free the terrified royalists who are awaiting execution during the Reign of Terror. We hear of the exploits of this courageous man as he smuggles men, women, and children out of France before their date with guillotine. He is threatened with exposure and yet manages to continue his mission.

What surprised me most about this book is the story - not the main plot but the underlying tale of rescue of Frenchmen by a band of Englishmen. First, you have Englishmen trying to free Frenchmen which is unusual given the animosity between the two countries that had existed since the time of Henry V, then you have the fact that the English had tried 10 years earlier to prevent the Americans from freeing themselves from England, and last the Key point for me, was the major difference between the American Revolution and the French Revolution. Seeing the violence of the French Revolution and the overthrow of the government as the chief point in that Revolution, makes me appreciate more the struggle that the American colonists undertook to gain their own freedom.

#73 The Bordeaux Betrayal

Author: Ellen Crosby
Read: July 25 - July 27
Format: Hardback 264 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: wine making, old wine, WWII
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Category: A Full Course Meal
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

Lucie Montgomery owns a vineyard in Northern Virginia and has volunteered to host a charity auction on the estate. A neighbor has offered a very old bottle of wine believed to have been purchased by Thomas Jefferson to give to George Washington and it is causing a stir in the wine world. When an author who wrote of Jefferson's travels through the vineyards of France turns up dead, the auction becomes a second thought to the battle to wine the Washington wine.

This is the third installment of the Wine Country mysteries and I think it is the best so far. The plot was much tighter than the others as well as being more suspenseful, IMO. Even though the clues were there, the solution was still hidden until the last few chapters. There are 2 more in the series and I will be checking them out.

I've long intended to start the Ellen Crosby Wine Country mystery series.

The same is true for the Michele Scott Wine Lovers mystery series. The first in that series, I believe, is Murder Uncorked.

Very interesting comments on The Scarlet Pimpernel!

I love The Scarlet Pimpernel! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I've found so many new cozy mystery series reading your posts that my wishlist has grown by groups instead of by single books. I'm trying not to mooch or order too many at a time since I have nowhere to put them. Just keeping adding to the list :) Thanks for good suggestions.

#74 Death on Demand

Author: Carolyn Hart
Read: July 28 - July 31
Format: Paperback 196 pages
Source: Personal Library
Subject: mystery writers, blackmail, murder
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Category: Cuddle Up with a Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

Annie Laurence lives in Broward's Rock, South Carolina, an outer island that can only be reached by ferryboat. Annie had come to island to visit her uncle and when he unexpectedly dies, she stays to run his mystery bookstore. Death on Demand.

The island is a mecca for mystery writers and so Annie holds a weekly meeting of the writers to share information and techniques. It's not surprising that the book opens with the murder of one of the writers at this meeting.

Prior to the meeting, Annie is surprised when her last boyfriend, Max Darling, shows up with his red Porsche to get her back and insists on attending the gathering, so when the murder occurs, Max is adamant he help her figure out what happened.

The characters and their interaction are entertaining and hold the readers attention. The murder wasn't that difficult to solve because the clues are spread all over but enjoyable just the same.

JULY RECAP
Well, July started very slowly but I managed to read 11 books - some were very entertaining, one or two informative, and a few disappointing. I did finish another category of the challenge but I have a few ER/ARCs left.

The best of the month was - Lumby's Promise
The worst of the month - A Separate Country

I. Cuddle up with a good cozy mystery (repeat from 999) 8/10
Chocolate Bear Burglary
The Chocolate Frog Frame-up
Death on Demand

II. Civil War and its Leaders 1/10
Lincoln President-Elect : Abraham Lincoln and the Great Secession Winter 1860-1861

III. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 3/10

IV. Miss Austen and Her Relations (Pride & Prejudice lives on!) 2/10

V. Surprise - Books I find and want to read /group reads (repeat from 999) 10/10
A Separate Country
The Scarlet Pimpernel
COMPLETED CATEGORY
VI. Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies (repeat from 999X2) 8/10
Eggsecutive Orders
Through the Grinder

VII. I HEARD THEM (repeat from 999X2) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

VIII. Who/What/When/Where/How/Why? - Bios/history (Repeat from 999) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

IX. Books found on the Internet/thru LT/at the library/in a bookstore (repeat from 999) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

X. A Full Course Meal 7/10
Meat - Turkey Day Murder
Wine & Cheese - The Bordeaux Betrayal

Xi. Niagara Falls - Overflow 4/20
Lumby's Bounty

I hope to do better in August now I finished my big golf project. I will be reading the following books:

Team of Rivals (Lincoln cabinet) in progress
The Inheritance ER book
Eat Cake
The Good Daughters ER Book
A Murderous Yarn **
Desperate engagement : how a little-known Civil War battle saved Washington, D.C., and changed the course of American history
Hanging by a Thread
Clash of cavalry; the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863
Promise of Lumby
Hooked on Murder
Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley - Sharon Lathan
Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee
Homicide in Hardcover
The Pemberley Chronicles: A Companion Volume to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: - Rebecca Ann Collins
The Women of Pemberley: A Companion Volume to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (The Pemberley Chronicles)
The ladies of Longbourn : a companion volume to Jane Austen's Pride and prejudice
Mr. Darcy's Daughter: The acclaimed Pride and Prejudice sequel series (The Pemberley Chronicles)
Dead Cat Bounce

I know that this is very ambitious, but I really want to make a bunch of progress before summer's end.

I'm glad to see that the Lumby books are continuing to be good! If I can get my car out of the shop today (it's been there a week!), I may make a run to the bookstore to see if they have them.

And I'll accept your opinion of A Separate Country and cross it off my list of possibles for the Civil War theme.

You do have an ambitious list for August! Good luck!

#75 Latte Trouble

Author: Cleo Coyle
Read: August 3 - August 4
Format: E-Book 256 pages
Source: B&N Nook
Subject: Fashion, coffee, partnerships
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book,
Category: Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

Clare Cosi, who manages the coffee shop the Village Blend, is hosting a party for Fall Fashion week when one of the partygoers dies from a poisoned latte. Her barista, Tucker, is arrested on the suspicion of murder, so Clare sets to work to prove that he is innocent.

The plot in this third in the coffeehouse mysteries, was tight and suspenseful. The characters were fun to get to know. I was on the edge of my seat because I though I figured it out toward the end, I was still in for some surprises at the end. It was great. I'm going to have to get the next one soon. This is fast becoming one of my favorite series!

#76 Pride and Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen
Read: August 6 - August 9
Format: E-Book 509 pages
Source: E-book - Nook
Subject: social prejudices, marriage
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, CHUNKSTER,
Category: Miss Austen and Her Relations (P & P lives on!)
Genre: CLASSICS
Stars: 4½

There really isn't much more that can be said about this book that hasn't already been said. I love the characters that Miss Austen has created in this narrative - some are multi-dimensional, some are caricatures, some are there just because they are needed to push the story forward. But put them altogether and you have a love story that stands the test of time.

I hadn't planned to re-read this book but a few nights ago I didn't have anything to read and since it was on my Nook I started it again and again it grabbed me and held me until the end. Definitely a CLASSIC!

#77 Team of Rivals

Author: Doris Kearns Goodwin
Read: July 13 - August 10
Format: Audio 36 CDs, Hardback 754 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, USPC, Chunkster, Audio
Stars: 5

I think I know Abraham Lincoln. This book has so many details and delves so deeply into the personality of Abraham Lincoln as well as his cabinet members that I feel as if I've actually met this man and what a great man he was.

This book reveals the private details of the lives of Abraham and Mary Lincoln as well as William Seward, Edward Bates, Salmon Chase, Edwin Stanton, and Montgomery Blair during the time of the Civil War. The images of these great men depicted in this volume place the reader within the Lincoln's circle of confidantes so thoroughly that you feel that you are part of the decision making Team of Rivals.

Beyond that and because of that, you see every facet which made Lincoln the great man that he was. "His speeches possessed unmatched power, conviction, clarity and moral strength." Lincoln was always known for his humor as well as his drive, but the reader also sees his spirit of generosity, his gentleness, his ability to bring out the best in anyone. Lincoln was not a vain man and knew that there were abilities that he did not possess and so he turned to the men that he knew had those abilities and drew them to his support. He seem to know exactly how to convince his former rivals to become his friends and his allies. Each of these men wanted to be President and Lincoln "stole" the nomination in 1860. These men could have turned against him, but Lincoln used his abilities of persuasion and placed them in the position that aided in the preservation of the nation.

It is remarkable that a basically self-educated man was able to accomplish what he did at such a volatile time in our history. Men who served before and after him in the Presidency had more education, but perhaps, it is the spirit of the man, that in the end, succeeded where others would have failed. How sad that he was cut down before he was able to complete the task of reuniting our nation. History definitely would have been quite different.

Suzanne Toren on the Audio version (I had both hardback and audio) was tremendous making this 750+ page come alive

I rarely give a book 5 stars, this one I couldn't give less - it should have more.

#78 The Good Daughters

Author: Joyce Maynard
Read: August 11 - August 14
Format: Trade paperback 276 pages
Source: LT ER program for review
Subject: Farming, Art, dysfynctional families
Category: Niagara Falls - Overflow
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, 50 State, TIOLI
Stars: 3

This book is the story of two women born on the same day (birthday sisters) in the same rural hospital and how their lives intertwined and eventually came together in the same place again.

Ruth and Dana are very different and yet very similar. Ruth is a farmer's daughter who loves art. She grows up on the farm helping her father (she has 4 other sisters) but longing for girly things like a Barbie doll.

Dana is an artist's daughter and is very scientific and down-to-earth, eventually getting a college degree in horticulture .

The story is told in alternating chapters with the two women as the narrators. The entries are almost as if the reader has been handed their diaries which have been shuffled together, showing moments that they shared as well as their individual lives.

The idea of this story is not new and the outcome was pretty evident early on. Each of the issues that appear in the book are easily predicted by the reader. It was well-written but not great reading because of the lack of originality.

#79 Eat Cake

Author: Jeanne Ray
Read: August 10 - August 15
Format: Audio 6 CDs equivalent 258 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: unemployment, rehabilation, comfort zones
Category: A Full Course Meal - Dessert
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO,SYLL
Stars: 3

Ruth's comfort zone is cake. Whenever something isn't right she thinks of cake. When things are wrong she bakes cakes. She tries to hide that she bakes as much as she does, but isn't successful when it comes to her family. She has a somewhat rebellious teenager daughter, a divorcée mother who is afraid to live alone, and a husband who has just been laid off from his job of 22 years and going through a mid-life crisis. At this moment she is confronted with a phone call that her father (with whom her mother can't bear to be in the same room) needs to come and live with them temporarily because of two broken wrists.

The stories and antics that follow are at times hilarious and others tearful. But always in the background is Ruth's need for cake in some form or other. How it all works out is a bit predictable but still enjoyable.

Eat Cake was a pick for my book group, but I missed that month and I never did read it. I think I will pass. It doesn't sound bad, but there are so many other books I'm DYING to read, that I'll skip this one.

And I absolutely agree that Team of Rivals was a 5 star read. One of my very top for the year. It made me cry when Lincoln died, and it wasn't like it came as a surprise! But I couldn't help it. So, so, so good.

I agree, Team of Rivals is my top read this year so far. The writing was just superb. It would have been so easy for it to be disjointed with all the major players that were covered but it flowed so well. I definitely will check out other books of Doris Kearns Goodwin.

@45 :: I liked Eat Cake for a sweet, feel-good comfort read. Step Ball Change is another good book if you're in the mood for that sort of thing.

#80 Bury Your Dead

Author: Louise Penny
Read: August 15 - August 19
Format: Tradepaperback 371 Pages
Source: LT ER program for review
Subject: Champlain, Old Quebec City, mental anquish
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, Thriller, BOSC
Category: Niagara Falls -- Overflow/Books found - Internet
Genre: Mystery
Stars: 5

It's hard to believe that the Three Pines series could keep getting better and better but in Bury Your Dead Louise Penny has excelled beyond the previous books in this series. Rarely, do I stay awake into the wee hours of the night because I simply can't go to sleep without finding out the ending of a book. This one kept me up.

For those that follow the series, this book is set several months after the ending of The Brutal Telling and we are informed that Olivier has been convicted of manslaughter and is in prison, and that Chief Inspector Armand Gamache as well as several of his team are recuperating from a deadly attack for which we have no specifics at the beginning.

This is a multi-level story intricately woven together so that the reader is drawn deeper and farther along without realizing the tug to reach the end will completely engulf them. First we have Armand Gamache staying with his old mentor in Quebec City incognito. When he is recognized at the scene of a suspicious death, the officer in charge asks for his assistance and reluctantly, Gamache agrees. Next, we have Gamache questioning himself and the conviction of Olivier in Three Pines so he sends Inspector Beauvoir to the tiny village to reinvestigate off the record. Lastly, we have the mysterious attack which injured and killed members of the Sûreté du Québec. Who was killed, who was hurt, how badly- are the questions that are constantly running through the reader's thoughts as the story evolves.

To answer any or all of these questions in a review would only detract from the thrill of reading this book for yourself. The majestic writing of the anguish and fear of the Chief Inspector and his desire to continue on after his ordeal only add to the reader's respect and admiration for the character and his gentle spirit.

I have been blessed with the sheer pleasure of reading every book where Armand Gamache appears as the central character and hopefully, I will continue to be blessed in the future with more books by Louise Penny. They are all sensational! I couldn't give it less than 5 Stars!

2/3 TOWARD MY GOAL!

I am looking forward to reading Bury Your Dead. I've heard elsewhere that, once you start, you won't want to put it down so I intend to read it next weekend, when I have no plans for anything else.

(This weekend, we're going away for a long weekend.)

>49 cyderry: I agree. This one was absolutely amazing!

As do I. How lucky that so many of us got the ARC! I would be beside myself, after reading everyone's glowing reviews, if I'd had to wait another couple of months to read it.

#81 A Murderous Yarn

Author: Monica Ferris
Read: August 10 - August 15
Format: 243 pages
Source: Private library
Subject: antique cars, car shows, infidelity
Category: Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, BOSC,
Stars: 2½

This is the 5th installment of the Needlecraft mysteries. Betsy Devonshire, the owner of Crewel World, sponsors her friend Lars' antique car in the Antique car show. Along the way, one of the other participants turns up dead.

Despite the title of this book, the main focus was on the antique cars and the special "runs" that were made to show them off in the Minnesota countryside. Very little of the action took place in Betsy's Shop Crewel World and the only tie in was that the suspects to the murder met at the needlework shop.

The book was entertaining to a degree but was not one of the best cozies I've read. A dip in status for this series. Let's hope the next is better.

Another Category finished!

>81 lindapanzo: I didn't really like the one with the antique cars either.

#82 The Art of Racing in the Rain

Author: Garth Stein
Read: August 19 - August 25
Format: Audio 6 CDs equivalent 356 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: Race car driving, child custody, parental rights
Category: Niagara Falls - Overflows - #7 I Heard That!
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, Audio, SYLL, TIOLI
Stars: 2½

This story is told from the viewpoint of a dog. It's a bit strange to think that a dog would be able to communicate a story this complex, but once you suspend your disbelief, it's possible to put yourself in Enzo's place and relate to the characters.

Denny Swift is a race car driver who falls in love with Eve and they have a little girl named Zoe before Eve finds out that she's dying of brain cancer. Enzo knew that something was wrong but wasn't able to communicate that information to Eve.

The story continues detailing the changes that take place in Denny and Enzo's lives as Eve's illness and its results effect their future.

The characters are very stereotypical as well as one dimensional and the story is tired from overuse. The only bright spot was the unusual narration by Enzo. I read this book on the recommendation of a friend (not LT) because she thought it was cute coming from the dog. Maybe in her opinion, not mine.

#83 Homicide in Hardcover

Author: Kate Carlisle
Read: August 24 - August 28
Format: paperback 289 Pages
Source: Private library
Subject: bookbinding, book restoration, murder,
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, BOSC, TIOLI
Category: Cuddle up with a Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

Brooklyn Wainwright loves books. She treats them with reverence and had made restoring and repairing them her life's work. So when her teacher/mentor is murdered while working on the restoration of a rare book, and Brooklyn takes over, she resolves to find the murderer as well as restore the book.

This was a well-written first in a series cozy with good character development as well as good mix of characters. The mystery was well-plotted with several twists and turns and it held this reader's attention throughout. I'm looking forward to the next one.

#84 The Last Olympian

Author: Rick Riordan
Read: August 26 - August 30
Format: Audio 9 CDs equivalent 381 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: New York, Greek Mythology
Category: Niagara Falls - Overflows - #7 I Heard That!
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, Audio, SYLL, TIOLI
Stars: 4

Percy Jackson is in for dangerous times as Kronos and the other Titans gather to fight for supremacy and for the possible destruction of Olympus and the gods. Percy makes difficult decisions and takes tremendous risks to support the gods in their battle.

The reader sees old friends and enemies return as well as being introduced to several new characters. The story flows so well between the emotional aspects of growing up and making decisions while battling the evil Titans.

What a fun read!

Cheli, we are just about on schedule together here. I'm at 84 right now, counting my bonus "next in the series" category and about to enter #85.

Maybe we can pencil in a day in late Nov/early Dec to finish 1010?

Actually, I looking at whether I'm going to finish on time. 84/85 at the end of August and averaging 10 books a month, means I'm going to be cutting it close to the end of the year before I finish the last 35/36 books especially with all the activities and family events in the offing. Let me see where I stand at the beginning of November.

#59 I had my two "bad" months early in the year and, lately, averaging more like 12 1010's per month or more. I'm thinking I'll finish around Thanksgiving and then plan something for my December reading.

In September, I am thinking of a few longer TIOLI books that are non-1010 so my pace might slow down a bit.

Linda, You had mentioned somewhere Bleak House for maybe next year. Is that still your plan because I got a copy for my Nook and thought maybe it would fit into GOOD OLD DAYS category.

>56 cyderry: - I just BM'd this book after seeing your post. I love book mysteries. John Dunning has a good series - not exactly cozy, but good book mysteries.

#61 Aha, there's your Bleak House question. I'll read it either in December, after I finish 1010, or else read it next year for my 11 in 11 chunkster category.

AUGUST RECAP
Well, August moved along fairly well. I managed to read 10 books - histories, mysteries and 2 ER books. I did finish another 2 categories in my 101020 challenge, but I still have 2 ARCs left.

The best of the month was - Bury Your Dead but a close second was Team of Rivals.
The worst of the month - The Art of Racing in the Rain - It wasn't bad but not great either.

I. Cuddle up with a good cozy mystery (repeat from 999) 10/10
Homicide in Hardcover
COMPLETED CATEGORY

II. Civil War and its Leaders 2/10
Team of Rivals

III. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 3/10

IV. Miss Austen and Her Relations (Pride & Prejudice lives on!) 3/10
Pride and Prejudice

V. Surprise - Books I find and want to read /group reads (repeat from 999) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

VI. Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies (repeat from 999X2) 10/10
Latte Trouble
A Murderous Yarn
COMPLETED CATEGORY

VII. I HEARD THEM (repeat from 999X2) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

VIII. Who/What/When/Where/How/Why? - Bios/history (Repeat from 999) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

IX. Books found on the Internet/thru LT/at the library/in a bookstore (repeat from 999) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

X. A Full Course Meal 8/10
Dessert - Eat Cake

Xi. Niagara Falls - Overflow 4/20
The Good Daughters -Category 9 Books found
Bury Your Dead -Category 9 Books found
Art of Racing in the Rain - Category 7 I heard that!
The Last Olympian - Category 7 I heard that!

I hope to keep up in September but big projects are looming so we have to go with the flow. I will be reading some of the following books:

Hooked on Murder
Promise of Lumby
Desperate engagement : how a little-known Civil War battle saved Washington, D.C., and changed the course of American history #1
Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley - Sharon Lathan
Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief
After Dinner Drinks - Clash of cavalry; the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863
Hanging by a Thread
The Pemberley Chronicles - Rebecca Ann Collins
The Women of Pemberley
The ladies of Longbourn
RED Badge of Courage
The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy** - Elizabeth Aston
The True Darcy Spirit - Elizabeth Aston
The Second Mrs. Darcy** - Elizabeth Aston
Lumby on the Air
Darcy's Temptation
Coffee or Tea - Sex, Murder and a Double Latte
I know that this is very ambitious, but I really need to make a bunch of progress now that summer's over.

You're making really good progress on the challenge, Cheli! For a change, your planned reads for September are not on my list (yet), except the Lumby books. I look forward to your comments!

I just purchased the new Lumby book for my sister for her birthday.

I'm checking out all the recaps this month to see what I like so I can copy one that I think will work for me next year. I didn't think I'd need it, but after all these months, I can see it's a good thing to do.

Hooked on Murder

Author: Betty Hechtman
Read: August 28 - September 3
Format: paperback 273 Pages
Source: Private library
Subject: crochyeting, public relations
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, BOSC,
Category: Niagara Falls - Cuddle up with a Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3

Molly Pink is a widow trying to put her life back together after her husband's unexpected death. She's got a job as an event coordinator for a local bookstore. The bookstore is sponsoring an auction of a hand crocheted afghan when disaster strikes - the leader of the Tarzana Hookers (who are making the afghan) is found dead in her home by Molly. Before she can call for help., the police arrive and find her with the body. Fortunately, Molly's boyfriend, (a police detective) is able to convince the officer in charge that Molly is not involved. However, Detective Heather Gilmore has the hots for Greenberg so she places Molly at the too of her suspects list.

With a Ellen dead, the Hookers are runny short of crocheters so Molly and her friend Dinah volunteer to help even though they are only beginning crocheters. As they learn more and more about the members of the group, Molly and Dinah work to figure out who killed Ellen.

The book lacked a bit in the character development area and some of the clues were a bit vague, but overall it was an enjoyable cozy mystery. I'm hoping that the next in the series will improve.

>67 cyderry: I see that we had much the same reaction to the book -- liked it well enough to give the next installment a try.

#86 In the Bleak MidWinter

Author: Julia Spenser-Fleming
Read: September 3 - September 5
Format: Audio 11 CDs equivalent 384 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: New York, Female ministry, out of wedlock pregnancy, cold weather
Category: Niagara Falls - Overflows - #7 I Heard That!
Genre: Thriller
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, Audio, SYLL, Thriller
Stars: 3

Clare Ferguson is the new Episcopal minister in Miller's Kill, NY where she has some problems fitting into the community. Besides being a female, she's also ex-army and a southerner who doesn't understand the difficulties of a hard cold winter. Shortly after her arrival, she discovers an abandoned baby on her doorstep and throws herself into the investigation of first who the parents may be and then who murdered the mother and grandfather.

I had heard a great deal about how good this series was from several friends, so I thought I would give it a try when I had the time. First, I liked the plot and the two main characters. They were well-developed and interacted in a interesting manner. But the other characters and the lack of clues make me wonder what I missed that others saw. I'll have to try another in the series before I can make a definite decision.

I read In the Bleak Midwinter a month or so ago and I thought it was just a bit above average....I gave it 3 and 1/2 stars. I also liked Clare and Russ and the plot in general, but I thought the book really lagged in the middle. It seems these pacing issues are common in mystery books that are the first in a series. Now that I think about it some more, there was very little character development for anyone except Clare and Russ. It seemed odd to not read more about Russ' wife. I have heard, though, that you learn more about her in the next book in the series.

70>> Thanks for the update. I'll try to remember that when I read the next one.

#87 Clash of cavalry; the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863

Author: Fairfax Downey
Read: September 4 - September 9
Format: 153 pages
Source: Public library, ILL
Subject: Cavalry during the US Civil War, Battle of Brandy Station
Category: Full Course Meal
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI
Stars: 2½

During the American Civil War, numerous improvements were made to the "art of war" for the time but the most surprising may have been the improvement of the Calvary for the Northern/Union forces. This may have been best seen at the battle of Brandy Station (a small railroad post near Culpepper VA less than 40 miles from Washington, D.C. so named because "they had Brandy") which was fought on June 9, 1863 and by some historians was the opening of the Gettysburg campaign.

The main focus for the Confederate Army was to take the war to the North while for the Union forces, their goal was reconnaissance of the Rebel army. During this battle with JEB Stuart in charge of the Southern units and Pleasanton commanding the Union troops, the northern Calvary made tremendous gains in confidence while the battle was a considered a draw.

Many historians apparently argue over the importance of this battle citing the start of the supremacy of Northern Calvary troops and at the same time, the deterioration of Stuart's Confederate dominion.

This was an unusual book and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way. It was filled with information - maps that were too small to read, lists of military officers and units from numerous states and areas of the nation, commanders of both sides, descriptions of horses and what color horse went with what unit (did I really need to read that?), sheet music which told the troops to charge, retreat, etc., pictures of armaments and their use and descriptions, troop movements, it went on and on. I did manage to gather in the midst of all this miscellaneous information the value of the Calvary officers and their role in the battles - not clearly but to a certain extent. This book was poorly written, very disjointed and jumpy and, I fear, that this little known battle does not receive it's proper significance because of such coverage. But I am glad I read it.

#88 Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as commander in chief

Author: James M. McPherson
Read: September 1 - September 11
Format: Audio 8 CDs equivalent 384 Pages
Source: Public library
Subject: Abraham Lincoln, Civil War
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, USPC, Audio, SYLL, TIOLI
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Stars: 3½

The most amazing point of interest regarding this book about Abraham Lincoln is that it is the first book that basically analyzes Lincoln's position as the Commander-in-Chief. His entire administration was impacted by war starting with letters from Fort Sumter requesting aid on the day of his inauguration and ending with his assassination 6 days after General Lee surrendered at Appomattox. We have books about Lincoln's writings, his humor, his views on religion and slavery, and his ideas of how to reunite the nation, but nothing that had centered on his military role as Commander-in-Chief.

Lincoln spent more time during his Presidency with matters of war - communications with his Generals in the field, visiting the troops and battlefields, international relations, and military strategy then any other aspect of his policies. Never having been a soldier (he actually only served in the military for a short period and saw no action), Lincoln spent hours studying military strategy. He had to deal with incompetent Generals who were either filled with their own thoughts of supremacy or with Generals who were afraid to move their troops. Not until Ulysses Grant was placed in the position of the General in charge did Lincoln have a leader that would eventually end the Confederacy's drive toward separation from the Union.

I found this book fascinating in that the reader can see all the abilities that Lincoln had to put in place to prevent the Southern forces from completely demolishing the morale of the North and at the same using the knowledge that he had gathered from his military studies to instruct the officers in the Union Army to do what was need to win the war.

After reading this book, I am really glad as an American, that at this time, Lincoln was the President of our nation. He was the man that was needed at the time and he truly completed the task that was given to him.

Although not a big fan of Civil War/history reading, I've found some good recommendations here for books for the hubs. #87 seems like something he'd like. That and ship disasters. And for me - cozies. Off to add to my wishlist.

#74 You've certainly come to the right place for recommendations about civil war books and cozy mysteries!

#89 Desperate engagement : how a little-known Civil War battle saved Washington, D.C., and changed American history

Author: Marc Leepson
Read: September 9 - September 14
Format: 236 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: Civil War, Battle of Monocacy, Capital defenses
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI
Stars: 4

How amazing is it to live within a 50 mile radius of an area and never know the historical impact that it holds? We've all heard of Bull Run, Gettysburg, Appomattox but how many of you have ever heard of the Battle of Monocacy? I hadn't and I've lived in the area for nearly 40 years. How many of you knew that the Confederate Army ever threatened to invade Washington D.C.? Did you know that Abraham Lincoln was actually fired upon by a hostile army?

This book told the tale of the Confederate invasion of the state of Maryland in 1864 by Jubal Early and his regiments. They marched through most of the far northern suburbs of Washington D.C. - Frederick, Hagerstown, Urbana and were confronted by a small contingency of union soldiers led by Lewis Wallace (author of Ben-Hur) who knew that Washington was undermanned and also realized that for there to be enough time for reinforcements to arrive to man the fortifications of the capital, his men would have to engage and prevent Early's army from progressing beyond the Monocacy River for at least a day - 5,800 men against 16,000 - not promising but somehow the union soldiers held their ground for the necessary time before their retreat. Early moved on to Rockville, Silver Spring, Tenleytown - and were "knocking at the door of a nation's capital when the reinforcements from General Grant arrived in the night.

I found this book to be terribly engrossing probably because it told me facts about the Civil War that I never knew as well as about an area that I have lived in and never fully realized its impact in history. Definitely a book that should receive more exposure.

Cheli, you've been making amazing progress through the civil war books lately. That last one sounds pretty interesting - especially since you're so familiar with the area. Do you have more lined up, or is that all for a while?

Thanks for all the Civil War book recommendations, Cheli. I have to add the Leepson book and the McPherson book to my list for 11 in 11.

Sandy,
I have three ILLs that I'm waiting for

Confederate ordeal : the southern home front
The Civil War at sea
The South vs. the South : how anti-Confederate southerners shaped the course of the Civil War

When they arrive, I'll have to read them because I only get them for three weeks with no renewals. Hopefully, they all won't come at once, but if they do, oh, well. Right now I'm finishing Red Badge of Courage. I also have Call of Duty which is about Robert E. Lee. I have a few others that I'm interested in, so we shall see. I may have to carry the Civil War over to next year to finish the ones I want to read.

I've been thinking that some of your recommendations of Civil Wr books might be a good Christmas gift for my husband. I usually give him a couple of books for Christmas and some of these sound good. I doubt I'll get to mooch them before then.

#79 Cheli, are those ILLs from that one Civil War series? If so, they look fairly short but definitely interesting.

I'm looking forward to exploring different facets of the Civil War. I've read about it, of course, but have never looked into the lesser-known areas.

That's what I wanted to do, I wanted to look at the Civil War in total- not just the battles that were fought but the impact that it had in different areas like the economy and changes that it made to the lives of the people of the day. I've heard about many battles especially living in this area but rarely about the navy (except for Monitor and Merrimac) so I was really looking for books that were not on the normal radar. I felt that reading the books about Lincoln would give enough of the normal Civil War details that I could look deeper in the Civil War books for information that I never heard when I was in school.

The Confederate ordeal : the southern home front is a Time Life book that was in the library catalog, the others I found just searching the state catalog and Barnes & Noble website for books related to the Civil War.

I also forgot that I'm getting ready to start This Republic of Suffering. I'm running out of spaces in my Civil War category, so I may be running to the overflow soon. Because I also want to read Lincoln and his Admirals. Tried by War didn't go into his naval exploits as Commader in Chief too much so I'm lacking a bit of info there.

#90 Red Badge of Courage

Author: Stephen Crane
Read: September 13 - September 15
Format: Audio 5 CDs equivalent 173 Pages
Source: Public library
Subject: Civil War
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, Audio, SYLL, TIOLI
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Stars: 1

The Red Badge of Courage is the tale of the initial cowardice and later courage of a Union soldier in the Civil War. The young soldier grows up and learns to deal with his feelings about the war.

"I had heard so much about this book but was terribly disappointed. I had a very difficult time getting through this ""saga"". Just a another CLASSIC that didn't grab me. Don't know what the fuss was all about.

This Republic of Suffering is a definite for me. When I was making a book donation to the library friends, I noticed I'd included it and then rescued it.

This is one of the categories I'm really looking forward to, for next year.

I'm really enjoying the Civil War category, and I'm learning a lot about the time and my own section of the country. Desperate Engagement really blew me away. My husband even says that he wants to read it and he hasn't read a book in 35 years. The different books about Lincoln have been tremendous because they show the many facets of his personality as well as his determination to win. I'm going to extend the Civil War into next year if I haven't finish all the books that I want to read about it. Since we've moved the deadline for the USPC I'll have more time for it.

#91 Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys beyond Pemberley

Author: Sharon Lathan
Read: September 14 - September 20
Format: 425 Pages
Source: Prize in Giveaway
Subject: Pride and Prejudice sequel
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Category: Miss Austen and Her Relations (P & P lives on!)
Genre: Romance
Stars: 3

Being a fan of Pride and Prejudice by Jane and Austen and not a fan of Zombies, I have found that there are numerous authors who have taken Austen's characters and continued their story. This book is the second in the Darcy Saga by Sharon Lathan. I read the first and this faithfully follows upon that story. (I would suggest reading them in order).

This portion of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy's story starts about 6 months after their marriage and involves their first trip to London as well as introducing and expanding on family members from the other books. It's interesting to see the character development of minor characters along with learning more about the Darcy Family history.

I will grant that Darcy and Elizabeth are not exactly the same characters that Austen wrote in P&P but then all characters have to evolve in some manner, and they grow in a pleasant direction for P&P fans, IMHO.

I'll continue to watch for your civil war reads. I really enjoyed the civil war category I had in the 999, even though many of my books were fiction. Since I've decided on an American Wars category for next year, I'll be free to include some more about the civil war (as if I really need permission!)

This Republic of Suffering

Author: Gilpin Faust
Read: September 16 - September 21
Format: AUDIO VERSION EQUIVALENT 645 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: Civil War, Death
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI, Audio, Chunkster
Stars: 1½

This book is about the carnage that was the result of the Civil War.

The reader is told of the total of casualties - dead, missing in action, and injured. We are also told of the indignity of the bodies that are left on the battlefields, unburied. We hear this through diary excerpts, journals and first hand accounts from Union as well as Confederate soldiers.

It is sad to think that this time of literal carnage on the battlefields that there were no contingencies for aiding the injured so that many were just left on the field where they fell.

This book also relates the improvements that were made to embalming processes and to the federal cemetery system so that families were able to accept the bodies of their loved ones or visit their final resting places.

I didn't like this book because it just seemed to have no direction and to continually run on from one topic of death to another with no purpose. It didn't seem to have any continuity or justification for what it was stating, it stated it. Information - yes, purpose - No.

I think I'll skip that one.

#93 The Pemberley Chronicles

Author: Rebecca Ann Collins
Read: September 22 - September 28
Format: 366 Pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: Pride and Prejudice sequel
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Category: Miss Austen and Her Relations (P & P lives on!)
Genre: Romance
Stars: 2½

This is the first of the series by Rebecca Ann Collins which takes the Jane Austen characters from Pride & Prejudice (P&P) and continues their story in her own particular way.

In Pemberley Chronicles, the reader not only sees how Elizabeth and Darcy's lives advance, we are also shown the lesser characters of P&P and are introduced to the next generation of Darcys, Gardiners, and Bingleys. We see their joys and heartbreaks, successes and failures. This book also tries to include some historical accuracy of the issues in Great Britain of the time.

Reading several of the P&P sequels and comparing the writing styles and to an extent the story content, I have to admit that even though I liked this book for what it told and I'll go on in the series, I prefer the Sharon Lathan series more - at this point.

Thanks to Sandy (sjmccreary) for actually pointing me in the direction of P&P sequels.

#94 The Confederate ordeal:The Southern Home front

Author: Steven A. Channing
Read: September 23 - September 30
Format: 168 pages
Source: Public library ILL
Subject: Civil War, Southern reactions
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI,
Stars: 3

Confederate Ordeal: The Southern Homefront is one of several books that addresses the Southern issues and citizen's viewpoint of the Civil War. The issues created when the general male population goes off to war leaving a female population that normally handles the "delicate" side of life to continue to produce the requirements for an army are well-documented as well as the shortsightedness of the Confederate government and politicians who push their populace into a war that they were ill-prepared for with only 1 factory able to produce cannon and firearms and none to create ammunition.

Entire areas are impacted when doctors are "drafted" leaving no medical care for the ordinary citizens. State Schools closed because there were no students and Ladies schools had no teachers. Stores closed because no one was there to stock the shelves.

Other issues that bother the citizens were related to their rights - the Confederate Government, in its rush to be setup, had not documented the individual rights of the citizens as had been specified in the USA Bill of Rights and Constitution. The Conscription Law, in essence drafting all men between the ages of 18 and 35 for 3 years, angered the majority of the population who saw it as favoring the rich and influential since they were able to avoid service if they could hire someone to take their place. Having a necessary job could also earn a man exemption from serving - some jobs that qualified were munitions worker, postal worker, preacher, blacksmith, telegraph operator. Because of this, the conflict became known as " a rich man's war and a poor man's fight."

The southerners saw, with the advance of the Union Army into the secessionist states, the confiscation of their property (food, livestock, and wagons), homes burned, and what couldn't be taken, destroyed. With all the young men in the army, those left behind were unable to restore what had been lost.

As the Union Army closed in, the Southerners in the battle states lost their last sense of dignity with the loss of their homes and their need to flee to other areas which could feed and shelter them. As the realization of their impending defeat hit home, many former anti-secessionists gave up the battle and supported the invading army both verbally and materially. President Jefferson Davis was ridiculed and on numerous occasions asked to end the war so that the surviving members of their families could come home and start again.

This wasn't a very large book but the impact with the numerous pictures of the suffering and destruction got the message across quite well.

SEPTEMBER RECAP
Well, September came in with some travelling so I'm surprised that I managed to read 10 books - histories, mysteries and a couple romances.

The best of the month was - Desperate engagement : how a little-known Civil War battle saved Washington, D.C., and changed the course of American history .
The worst of the month - Red Badge of Courage

I. Cuddle up with a good cozy mystery (repeat from 999) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

II. Civil War and its Leaders 7/10
Desperate engagement : how a little-known Civil War battle saved Washington, D.C., and changed the course of American history
Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief
RED Badge of Courage
this Republic of Suffering
Confederate Ordeal: The Southern Home Front : The Civil War

III. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 3/10

IV. Miss Austen and Her Relations (Pride & Prejudice lives on!) 5/10
The Pemberley Chronicles - Rebecca Ann Collins
Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley - Sharon Lathan

V. Surprise - Books I find and want to read /group reads (repeat from 999) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY
VI. Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies (repeat from 999X2) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

VII. I HEARD THEM (repeat from 999X2) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

VIII. Who/What/When/Where/How/Why? - Bios/history (Repeat from 999) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

IX. Books found on the Internet/thru LT/at the library/in a bookstore (repeat from 999) 10/10
COMPLETED CATEGORY

X. A Full Course Meal 9/10
After Dinner Drinks - Clash of cavalry; the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863

Xi. Niagara Falls - Overflow 10/20
Hooked on Murder
IN THE Bleak MidWinter

I hope to keep up in October but big projects are currently in progress so time for reading has been curtailed. I will be reading some of the following books:

Killer Angels
The South vs. the South: How Anti-Confederate Southerners Shaped the Course of the Civil War
The Women of Pemberley #3
The Valcourt Heiress
Netherfield Revisited
10. Coffee or Tea - Sex, Murder and a Double Latte
The ladies of Longbourn #14
Mr. Darcy's Daughter
The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy** - Elizabeth Aston
First come Marriage
Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee
Then Comes Seduction
At Last Comes Love
Lincoln and his Admirals
Everlasting
Irresistible
Taste of Innocence
Promise of Lumby
Lumby on the Air
Civil War at Sea
Out of the storm : the end of the Civil War, April-June 1865

I know that this is very ambitious, but time is running out and I need to get moving on my challenge.

Book Talley for 3rd Quarter:

Books Acquired 44 (4 read , 0 in progress) 21 Free Classic Nook books
Books Read Owned 18 (Pages: 1,064 )
Books Read Borrowed 12 (Pages: 4,376 )
Audio Books heard 8 ( 105¼ hours)

Total Completed
23 books and 8 audio books - 10,101 pages
25 fiction; 6 nonfiction

Genre Summary:

Nonfiction:
6 books History

Fiction:
Novels: 9
Fantasy: 1
Mystery: 13
Romance: 2

January: 0 pre-owned : 8 borrowed : 2 ARC - 10 books.
Best of the Month: The Lost Throne
February: 3 pre-owned: 6 borrowed: 1 new: 2 ARC - 12 books.
Best of the Month: The California Gold Rush and the coming of the Civil War
March: 1 pre-owned: 5 borrowed: 0 new: 2 ARC - 8 books.
Best of the Month: Empire of Ivory
April: 3 pre-owned: 6 borrowed: 1 new: 4 ARC - 14 books.
Best of the Month: Brutal Telling
May: 1 pre-owned: 6 borrowed: 0 new: 3 ARC - 10 books.
Best of the Month: Lumby Lines
June: 1 pre-owned: 3 borrowed: 3 new: 2 ARC - 9 books.
Best of the Month: Stealing Lumby
July: 5 pre-owned: 3 borrowed: 3 new: 0 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: Lumby's Promise
August: 2 pre-owned: 4 borrowed: 2 new: 2 ARC - 10 books.
Best of the Month: Bury Your Dead but a close second was Team of Rivals.
September: 3 pre-owned: 7 borrowed: 0 new: 0 ARC - 10 books.
Best of the Month: Desperate Engagement

The 3rd Quarter is over and time for another Thread Here