August Serial Reader Challenge

[Mary]

Kay (Brigidsmomma) wrote: "Nell wrote: "Mary W's list:

Maggie Sefton, Knitting Mystery
"

Mary, You have a lot of really grat series to choose from, but i am choosing the Maggie Sefton, Knitting Mystery series for you. Let..."

Kay,

You picked a great series for me. It is one of my favorites. Thanks.

Mary W

[Julesy]

Nell -

I pick Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series for you. I can't believe there are that many books in the series! Have fun with it.

[Julesy]

Gina wrote: "Julesy I am picking the tourist trap mystery's for you. It looks like a fun series. Let me know what you think, most of the reviews were great! Enjoy!!!"

Thank you, Gina! I will let you know how they are. I have these on audio so I hope the narrator is decent. The narrator can make or break it for me.

[Christine]

Becky I pick the cupcake backery series for you

[Heather]

Maisie Dobbs


Amelia Peabody


Theodosia Browning, Tea Shop Mysteries


Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid Mysteries


Death on Demand Series

[Stephanie]

Kathleen, I select the Tea Shop Mysteries for you!

[Nell]

Julesy wrote: "Nell -

I pick Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series for you. I can't believe there are that many books in the series! Have fun with it."

Perfect! I'm reading The Bloody Tower now so for once I have a head start.

[Linda C]

Fairlee wrote: "Linda for you I pick the knitting series as I want to read this on myself. Hope you have fun"

Thanks, Fairlee,
I used to knit a long time ago and moved on to crochet and now have gotten away from both. Looking forward to reading this series, never know might regenerate a new hobby.

[James]

Nell wrote: "Participants:

...
√Amy picks for Kat
Teresa picks for Christine
√Kathleen picks for James
√James picks for Stephanie
√Amanda picks for Hilary"
...

If the check marks are to denote which individuals have made selections, then, unless I'm experiencing a schotoma, Kathleen's pick for me hasn't been made, yet.

[Nell]

James wrote: "Nell wrote: "If the check marks are to denote which individuals have made selections, then, unless I'm experiencing a schotoma, Kathleen's pick for me hasn't been made, yet..."

You're correct James. I gave Kathleen credit for Kat/Katherine's pick. I'll send a reminder if they don't post selections soon.

[Connie N.]

Kay (Brigidsmomma) wrote: "Maybe not, but I have a ton of hers to read, so this should keep me busy most of August... Especially since most of these are in ppbk format, not Kindle. Thanks for the pick! I'm really pleased and excited!."

Yes, I was surprised to see how many books there are in this series. I haven't read her in years. I think I'm going to have to start over again from the beginning. Have fun!

[Becky]

Christine wrote: "Becky I pick the cupcake backery series for you"


Great! Thanks!

[James]

Nell wrote: "I'll send a reminder if they don't post selections soon."

Cool. I'd hate to be left out in the cold...

[Teresa]

Christine wrote: "sorry this is so late but here are my five series

donut shop mysteries by Jessica beck

soup lovers series by Connie Archer

Janie austen series by Laura Levine

white house chef mysteries by Ju..."

Christine wrote: "sorry this is so late but here are my five series

donut shop mysteries by Jessica beck

soup lovers series by Connie Archer

Janie austen series by Laura Levine

white house chef mysteries by Ju..."


Christine,
I pick the soup lovers series for you. Happy reading!

[Stephanie]

Thanks James. Your choice of my reading Murder She Wrote got me to hurry up and finish book 7 in anticipation of August. This is such a great mystery series to read when you spend a lot of time at appointments. You can be interrupted over and over, but it's easy to pick up the storyline again.

[James]

Stephanie wrote: "Thanks James. Your choice of my reading Murder She Wrote got me to hurry up and finish book 7 in anticipation of August. This is such a great mystery series to read when you spend a lot of time a..."

Great. I've not read them, but I really enjoyed the tv series. Mostly when it stayed in Cabot Cove. (is that the town?)

[Nell]

James

I pick the Steve Hockensmith Holmes on the Range series for you.

[James]

Nell wrote: "James

I pick the Steve Hockensmith Holmes on the Range series for you."

Thanks, Nell.

They were all potentials and this choice is an author I've never read, so here's hoping for a new favourite!

[Nell]

So far I've read one book in the series picked for me - The Bloody Tower - #16 in Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series. Enjoyed the visit with Daisy and Alec. Planning to read at least one more this month.

[Becky]

I finished my 2 Jenn Mckinlay books & loved them! Can't wait to continue the series

[Anne]

I have finished my 2 Cleo Coyle books and really enjoyed them.

I am looking forward to doing this again.

[Julesy]

Congratulations to those who've finished and enjoyed the series.

@Becky - I love the Cupcake Bakery series. I am currently reading the latest book in the series, Dark Chocolate Demise.

I finished my first book from the Tourist Trap series. It was okay. I will start on the second book probably next week as I have other "required" reading to do.

[Gina]

Julesy,
I'm sorry the first read was just okay. As I mentioned, I also haven't read any of that series. Heres hoping that the second one is so great it makes you forget the first was so so.
Gina

[Amanda]

I have read six books from the Coffeehouse Mystery Series by Cleo Coyle. I have enjoyed participating and look forward to participating next month.

[Gina]

I just finished the first of the Psychic Eye Mystery Series, Abby Cooper, Private Eye. I really liked it and I'm excited to get started on the second one, "Better Read than Dead". These are your typical cozy mysteries, so we, in this group, should love this series. Abby is an intuitive and has made a comfortable living reading people. There are plenty of interesting supporting characters and the mysteries are fun and interesting. Thanks Linda for picking this one for me. I am really enjoying them.
Gina

[Amy]

This challenge really paid off for me this month. I read the Death al Dente, the first in the Food Lover's Village series and did not enjoy it as much as I hoped. I felt details were repeated over and over and that the main character's mother being a suspect detracted from the book. There were some other writing quirks, like repeating cutesy expressions, that annoyed me enough to take me out of the book. But I promised two books for the challenge so read the second book, Crime Rib. I really liked it. The plotting was better, the characters far less irritating and the crime was more interesting. Without this challenge I would never have read a second book in this series.

The setting is delightful and I love food references in my cozies. Go ahead and give this series a try but maybe just start with book two!

[Linda C]

Gina wrote: "I just finished the first of the Psychic Eye Mystery Series, Abby Cooper, Private Eye. I really liked it and I'm excited to get started on the second one, "Better Read than Dead". These are your ..."

I really need to get back to this series!

[Gina]

Linda,
I just finished the second one. Loved it!! I'm really starting to become invested in these characters. I love the humor infused in the writing. Thank you for choosing this series for me. I am really enjoying it.
Gina

[Linda C]

Just finished my first book for August, Knit One, Kill Two, Maggie Sefton. I liked this book. Liked the knitting motif (although I haven't knitted in years) and thought the heroine was pretty level headed compared to the last couple of mysteries I've read. Just started the second one.

[Mary]

Linda C wrote: "Just finished my first book for August, Knit One, Kill Two, Maggie Sefton. I liked this book. Liked the knitting motif (although I haven't knitted in years) and thought the heroine was..."

Linda,

I have read mostly all of these books and they are really good! I just finished number 13 for my August read and I am waiting for # 14! I can't wait. I love these people and you will get to love them all too. Stick with them they are fun!

Mary W

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review), Co-Moderator, Featured Series]

I finally got around to reading the next two in the Bibliophile Mystery series, this is a fun one and I'm glad it was picked for me!

[Linda C]

Finished my second Maggie Sefton for my August series. Also enjoyed this one. I will definitely be continuing this series.

[Kay (Brigidsmomma)]

I have finally gotten to my Scarpetta books this month, and have read and . Both are solid 5 stars. I really do enjoy Cornwall's in depth writing style, and the Character of Kay Scarpetta. My only problem has been that I have these in paperback, and I am so used to reading with my Kindle Paperwhite (backlit so I can read in the dark, and variable print size) that I am truly spoiled and have a really hard time with the whole book rigmarole (having to turn pages, tiny script, loosing place when I have to put it down...). Geez, I'm becoming as whimpy as my grandchildren when it comes to doing stuff the 'old-fashioned' way!

[Mary]

Kay (Brigidsmomma) wrote: "I have finally gotten to my Scarpetta books this month, and have read and . Both are solid 5 stars. I really do enjoy Cor..."

I am with you Kay, I have been reading on my Kindle so long that when I try to turn the pages they don't change like the kindle. I have to turn them by myself.
I get so upset. Very old-fashioned!

Mary W

[Nell]

Kay (Brigidsmomma) wrote: "... My only problem has been that I have these in paperback, and I am so used to reading with my Kindle Paperwhite (backlit so I can read in the dark, and variable print size) "

The newest Kindle e-readers (Paperwhite and Voyage) are not backlit. The e-reader light comes from the front and shines down on the page similar to a lamp. It's a small but significant difference from reading on backlit devices like a computer, tablet or smart phone. It's much easier to read without eye fatigue.

I love my Kindle Voyage but still read a lot of paper books. It does take an adjustment to transition from one to the other.

[Julesy]

I finished my August serial challenge this morning. I read the first 2 books in the Tourist Trap series by Lynn Cahoon. I would have to say that I will not be continuing with this series. I did not hate it but I just felt lukewarm about the first book and gave the second one a shot since it was part of the serial challenge.

After reading the second book, my initial thoughts were confirmed that this series isn't my cup of tea ... or in this case, my cup of coffee since the main character owns a coffee/book shop. I know some readers enjoy this series. It could be that I listened to these on audio and sometimes the narrator doesn't really pull you into the story. My biggest gripe about book #2 is the character names. We have main character Jill and another character Lille. Then again we have another main character Greg and another character Craig. On audio, these names sound alike and it easily confused me as to whom the narrator was saying. I don't like when authors have names that are similar in their books. I think they should be easily distinguishable from one another, whether in print or on audio.

Anyway, rambling too much here and didn't want to continue to be so negative, so just saying I finished the challenge (yay!!) and am looking forward to the September serial challenge where I know I LOVE the author. ;-)

[Gina]

Julesy,
Bummer!! I was hoping that the second book would blow you away! Congrats on completing the challenge though. It was the first challenge I've taken part in and I'm off to a lukewarm start. Thanks for the feedback though. With so many cozy mystery series out there it's good to know the ones that others enjoy.
Good Luck on the September Challenge.
Happy Reading
Gina

[Jill]

Linda C wrote: "Just finished my first book for August, Knit One, Kill Two, Maggie Sefton. I liked this book. Liked the knitting motif (although I haven't knitted in years) and thought the heroine was..."

I like this series a lot. Although I don't knit, I could relate to the main character. This one is a fun series to read