Carol J.'s Books Read in 2021

[Carol]

279. Daughter of the Morning Star by Craig Johnson - Tribal Police Chief Lolo Long's niece is getting death threats and asks Walt Longmire (who brings his friend Henry Standing Bear) to investigate. **** 11/23/21

[Carol]

280. Lore by Alexandra Bracken - A modern take on the Greek gods thing. I found it hard to truly get into this book. Most of the characters, IMHO, were unlikable. *** 11/24/21

[Elyse, Moderator]

Carol wrote: "280. Lore by Alexandra Bracken - A modern take on the Greek gods thing. I found it hard to truly get into this book. Most of the characters, IMHO, were unlikable. *** 11/2..."

Eep! I've been in the holds queue for this on Overdrive for awhile, I think I'm due to get it next week-ish.

[Carol]

281. Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy - I'm still feeling a little scritchy and did not get into this book as much as I would have hoped. Just finished another book with, IMHO, had a bunch of unlikable characters. I did like the general thread that the animals are disappearing from our world. Franny Stone is on a mission to witness the last Arctic Terns migrate to Antarctica. ** 11/25/2021

[Carol]

282. A Big Sky Christmas by William W. Johnstone - Part of a Western Christmas series. A group of immigrants want to leave too late in the season from Missouri to the Montana Territory. Jamie MacCallister tries to talk them out of it but somehow leads them west. After they have several issues on the trail, they experience nothing less than a Christmas Miracle. *** 11/27/2021

[Carol]

283. The Strike at Shayol Ghul by Robert Jordan - A short story explaining how the Dark One was imprisoned. *** 11/28/21

[Carol]

284. Well Matched by Jen DeLuca - April Parker is a romantically fragile single mom of a high school senior. Then Mitch falls into her life and it tests the strength of her fragile heart. *** 11/30/21

[Elyse, Moderator]

Carol wrote: "284. Well Matched by Jen DeLuca - April Parker is a romantically fragile single mom of a high school senior. Then Mitch falls into her life and it tests the streng..."

Hoping to finish out this trilogy this year! I nabbed it for $3.99 ebook over the weekend.

[Carol]

285. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - My favorite book of the year! Ryland Grace wakes up (from a drug induced coma) with drug induced short term amnesia. He is on a spaceship in the middle of space with two corpses. He doesn't know what he is doing out there, but eventually pieces it together. ***** 12/1/2021

[Elyse, Moderator]

Carol wrote: "285. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - My favorite book of the year! Ryland Grace wakes up (from a drug induced coma) with drug induced short term amnesia. He ..."

So good! Fist my bump! haha! Rocky forever!

[Charleen]

Carol wrote: "285. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - My favorite book of the year! Ryland Grace wakes up (from a drug induced coma) with drug induced short term amnesia. He ..."

I was so disappointed by Artemis, it made this one even more of a delight. So good!

[Carol]

Elyse wrote: "Carol wrote: "285. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - My favorite book of the year! Ryland Grace wakes up (from a drug induced coma) with drug induced short ter..."

Rocky is the best! Jazz hands!

[Carol]

286. Laurentian Divide by Sarah Stonich - The sequel to Vacationland. This book is also a series of short stories about the citizens of Hatchet Inlet, Minnesota. **** 12/1/2021

[Carol]

287. A Trail of Crumbs: A Novel of the Great Depression by Susie Finkbeiner - The first book in the Pearl Spence series took place during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl era. In this second book of the series, the Spences move from Oklahoma to Michigan improving their situation. The Depression had also taken hold causing grief all over the world. Something bad hit close to home for the Spence family. ***** 12/2/21

[Carol]

289. New Spring by Robert Jordan - A prequel in the Wheel of Time series. The Dark One is growing strong in the wastelands. Moiraine is a young woman in the Aes Sedai order who may be of use in this huge story. *** 12/4/4042

[Carol]

290. Gilded by Marissa Meyer - This was a very dark & twisted retelling of Rumplestiltskin. Serilda entertained people by telling them fairy tales. Then, they caught the attention of the Erlking. **** 12/5/2021

[Carol]

291. UnDivided by Neal Shusterman - Wow another great book in this disturbing series of "Unwinding" the naughty teens. The author wrapped up the series in this book. The next is a group of short stories written by Neal Shusterman, family and other collaborators. ***** 12/6/2021

[Carol]

292. The Stolen Hours by Allen Eskens - A tough story to hear of Lila Nash's horrific HS experience. **** 12/8/2021

[Carol]

293. Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier - Mary Yellen's late mother wanted her daughter to go live with Mary's Aunt and Uncle who run Jamaica Inn. *** 12/8/2021

[Carol]

294. 1000 Record Covers by Michael Ochs - It was so nice browsing through tons of "oldie" album covers. It was mostly divided by decades (60s through 90s) with some basic album notes. But sometimes it meandered and had the album covers divided by color, or picture, or style. ***12/11/21

[Carol]

295. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie - A woman is found dead on a train and her legendary necklace is missing. Poirot investigates! *** 12/12/21

[Carol]

296. Swede Hollow by Ola Larsmo - The story of the Klar family, who immigrated from Sweden to New York in 1897. I believe this is a well researched book and tells a pretty accurate story of the immigration experience for the poor. It seemed like it was very hard for a person to get ahead in those days. *** 12/12/21

[Carol]

297. Murder on the Ballarat Train by Kerry Greenwood - Really enjoyed this 3rd book in the Phryne Fisher Mysteries. Every Phryne Fisher Mystery I read, I say THIS is my favorite... well, this was my favorite, so far. A woman disappears on a train and is later found murdered. Phryne is there to figure out what happened and whodunnit. ***** 12/13/21

[Carol]

298. The Salzburg Connection by Helen MacInnes - This story took place in the 1970s. After WWII, the Nazis had some important files that were hidden in the Fintersee, a lake in the Austrian Alps. Richard Bryant, an English spy retrieved the files and things went bad... The Nazi party seems to still be in operation. *** 12/14/21

[Carol]

299. Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich - This time, bail-bonds woman, Stephanie Plum needs to bring in "Uncle Sunny" a mobster. *** 12/14/21

[Carol]

300. Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien - Letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien as Father Christmas to his children. I picked up some Middle Earth type references with goblins, elves, runes and Elbereth. Also some mention of WWII that was going on. What a sweet remembrance from a loving father. **** 12/14/2021

[Elyse, Moderator]

Carol wrote: "300. Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien - Letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien as Father Christmas to his children. I picked up some Middle ..."

This was cute!

Congrats on 300!!!

[Carol]

Elyse wrote: "Carol wrote: "300. Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien - Letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien as Father Christmas to his children. I picked u..."

Thank you!

[Carol]

301. Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook by Celia Rees - In a post WWII world, Edith Graham was a bored school teacher. She gets recruited to work for a British Agency, the Control Commission for Germany to help rebuild the country. However, Miss Graham is recruited away from the CCG and joins the American OSS, Office of Strategic Services, a Precursor to the CIA. *** 12/15/2021

[Carol]

302. Reeling by Sarah Stonich - 2nd book in the RayAnne Dahl series. RayAnne is heading down to New Zealand to film a season of her all women fishing show. There is a cast of quirky characters. *** 12/16/2021

[Carol]

303. A Castle in the Clouds by Kerstin Gier - "A Castle in the Clouds" is a grand hotel in the Swiss Alps. Sophie is a young intern trying to make sure everything is just right. Unfortunately a lot goes wrong in this mystery/comedy/romance/drama. *** 12/19/21

[Carol]

304. Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler - 2nd book in the Moose Springs series. Lana Montgomery is a savvy business woman who is trying to promote the town as a tourist haven. The town doesn't want that... At the same time, she meets and falls for Rick. *** 12/20/21

[Carol]

305. A Frontier Christmas by William W. Johnstone - This 4th book in a western Christmas series is ultimately heartwarming. The book starts with a brutal crime in Chug Water, a family is killed by the Cave brothers. Fortunately, the criminals that killed the family are quickly apprehended by Duff MacCallister. Unfortunately, they escaped. THEN a diphtheria epidemic breaks out. The town is putting it's hope into a shipment of medicine that could save them, but the Cave brothers manage to throw a monkey wrench in that! **** 12/21/21

[Carol]

306. The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan - Apollo has fallen out of favor with Zeus and is dropped in modern earth as a gawky teenage boy... without any powers. *** 12/22/21

[Carol]

307. An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn - Another sweet story in the Bridgerton world that is strangely similar to Cinderella. **** 12/23/21

[Carol]

308. The Mystery at Lilac Innby Carolyn Keene - I listened to the 1961 version (that had been rewritten, partially because of racial profiling) Nancy falls victim to an impersonator. *** 12/25/21

[Andrea, Moderator]

Just WOW Carol!!

[Carol]

309. The Trail to Seven Pines by Louis L'Amour - Hoppy finds trouble. A large amount of cattle are being stolen from the Rocking R Ranch. It is up to him to fix it. *** 12/26/21

[Carol]

310. An Offer From a Gentleman: the 2nd Epilogue by Julia Quinn - It has been three years Sophie's horrible experience with her wicked stepmother. Sophie's step sister, Posy Reiling had come to Sophie's aid and has since been in the outs with her mother. Sophie wants Posy to find a match, but has not been successful... **** 12/26/21

[Carol]

311. UnBound by Neal Shusterman - A series of short stories in the "Unwind" universe. My favorite is the story featuring Argent. *** 12/27/21

[Carol]

312. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - The story of Antoinette Cosway, the first wife of Edward Rochester's (Jane Eyre). It gives insight on why she turned out like the way she did. ** 12/27/21

[Elyse, Moderator]

Carol wrote: "312. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - The story of Antoinette Cosway, the first wife of Edward Rochester's (Jane Eyre). It gives insight on why she turned out..."

I've heard the title but had no idea that it was a Jane Eyre prequel!! Must bump it up my list for 2022! But ohh, 2 stars? Oh no!

[Carol]

Elyse wrote: "Carol wrote: "312. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - The story of Antoinette Cosway, the first wife of Edward Rochester's (Jane Eyre). It gives insight on why ..."

Elyse, it could have just been me... I am feeling a little scritchy these days. My rating was probably more like 2.5 if we could rate like that.

[Carol]

313. A Christmas in the Alps by Melody Carlson - Simone Winthrop's great grandmother died and alluded that there was a treasure back in their home in the French Alps. Will she find her treasure. Looks like she might find love... **** 12/28/21

[Carol]

314. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham - This was a fun novella about a couple, without any family obligations, decide to skip Christmas and go on a cruise. **** 12/28/21

[Carol]

315. Good-Bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton - The story of the adult life of a British school teacher, Mr. Chipping (Mr. Chips). *** 12/29/21

[Carol]

316. The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon - This is the first book in the Hardy Boys series. Frank and Joe Hardy are teen brothers. They are delivering papers from their dad, investigator Fenton Hardy, to a lawyer. They are almost forced off the road by someone driving recklessly. The boys find out their friend's yellow "jalopy" has been stolen! They are going to investigate, following in their dad's footsteps. *** 12/30/21

[Carol]

317. The Becoming by Nora Roberts - This is book 2 in The Dragon Heart Legacy. Breen Siobhan Kelly returns to Talamh with her human best friend Marco. There is a promise of a war with her grandfather. *** 12/30/21