2022 Book Selectors and Themes

[jaxnsmom]

Here's the schedule for choosing books in 2022:

Selectors

January - Hilary
February - Alice
March - Helen
April - Meg
May - QNPoohBear
June - Taylor
July - Stacy
August - Barb
September - Steven
October - Cheryl
November - jaxnsmom
December -

Alternates:

Please try and make your selections by the 20th of the month prior to your assigned month. If you find out you can't choose for your assigned month, please let me know asap so I can schedule an alternate.

If you want to add a theme, post here and I'll add it to the list. I know some of them are pretty broad and you might want to add a more specific one.

Themes

Amish
The Arts: painting and sculpting, ballroom dancing, ballet, acting
Beauty/Health
Beverages
Wines/Vineyards
Books / Bookshop /Library
Cats/Dogs
Other animals
Veterinarian / Works with animals
Cooking - Bakery
Cooking - Restaurant
Cooking - Specialty
Craft store
Craft as hobby
Clothes / Fashion
English village/Set in England
Foreign country (not US)
Gardening / Garden center / Hobby farm
Magical / Ghosts / Paranormal/ Psychic / Witches / Vamps and Werewolves
Historical - 1800s
Historical - 1900 to 1970
Holiday
Home related – renovation/HOA/Realtors
Island setting (ex: Caribbean)
Job-related
Music
MC over 40
Male sleuth
Outdoors: location and activities
Religious sleuth
Sewing / Fiber arts
Sports
US Region - South
US Region - New England
US Region – West
US Region – mid-West
US Region - Pacific Northeast
Vacation / Travel / Tour Guide
South of the equator
Written 1900 - 1949
Written 1950 - 1999
Written 2000 - present

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

Okay I have picked two that haven't been done since late 2017/early 2018 and they fit the Bakery theme Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander and Kneaded to Death by Winnie Archer , both series seem to be available in print, ebook and audio!

[jaxnsmom]

Sounds great, Hilary. Both books don't have to meet your theme, but it's fine if they happen to.

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

jaxnsmom wrote: "Sounds great, Hilary. Both books don't have to meet your theme, but it's fine if they happen to."

I know it was just the way it fell!

[Nell]

Kneaded to Death is $1.99 on Kindle.

[QNPoohBear]

Baking is my key theme. I've read some of both those series but they're not my favorites.

[Alice]

Okay I have picked my February theme and Selector's choice

theme Amish author is Vannetta Chapman

For Selector's Choice Libby Klein I have been told her Poppy McAllister series is very good

Hope this gives time to everyone to find books cheap/free or download

[jaxnsmom]

Alice - It looks like Vannette Chapman has more than one mystery series. Which one are you choosing?

The first book in the Poppy McAllister series is Class Reunions Are Murder.

[Alice]

I will read The Amish Bishop Series but if others want to read her other series that is fine too.

What the Bishop Saw

[Cheryl A.]

All of the "Amish Village Mystery Series" (3 books) are freebies for owners of Amazon Prime!

[Barb, Co-Moderator Challenge Expert]

Cheryl wrote: "All of the "Amish Village Mystery Series" (3 books) are freebies for owners of Amazon Prime!"

I see that they're all free with Kindle Unlimited, but I'm not seeing anything about being part of Prime Reading (or whatever they're calling it now). What am I missing?

[Michaela]

I can´t get them on Kindle Unlimited either, probably because I´m not in the US.

[Cheryl A.]

Barb wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "All of the "Amish Village Mystery Series" (3 books) are freebies for owners of Amazon Prime!"

I see that they're all free with Kindle Unlimited, but I'm not seeing anything about be..."

*
This is the direct statement from the "Amish Village Mystery Series" page (US Amazon): "All titles below are free to borrow with your Prime subscription. To read for free, select "Read for free" below for each eligible title."
*

[Barb, Co-Moderator Challenge Expert]

Interesting. This is what I see :



I wonder if I'm not seeing what you see because I have a Kindle Unlimited subscription (for another week or so)? I'll have to remember to check back when the KU subscription ends and see if it's changed.

[jaxnsmom]

Alice chose the Amish Bishop series. The first book is What the Bishop Saw. For the US it's not on KU - I don't know about Prime Subscription. In my library system it's available in bookform, through hoopla and overdrive/libby - so check all your library resources.

[Helen]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Alice chose the Amish Bishop series. The first book is What the Bishop Saw. For the US it's not on KU - I don't know about Prime Subscription. In my library system it's available in..."

Unfortunately another series that is nearly $10 per book on kindle in Australia.
Both January books are around that price too.

[Alice]

Helen wrote: "jaxnsmom wrote: "Alice chose the Amish Bishop series. The first book is What the Bishop Saw. For the US it's not on KU - I don't know about Prime Subscription. In my library system ..."

Helen I hope you can get the Libby Klein series cheaper. but it is okay to read on of Vanetta Chapman's other series too and comment on them. She is a very good writer.

[Alice]

We need topics created for February books

[jaxnsmom]

Alice wrote: "We need topics created for February books"

Done! Thanks for the reminder, Alice.

[Helen]

I would like to nominate C A Larmer’s The Agatha Christie Book Club, which appears to have been republished as The Murder Mystery Book Club as the March book for the South of the Equator theme. It is set in Sydney, Australia.
and as the second book. It is a series I haven’t started, which was recommended by a friend.
Both series are definitely available on Amazon, and the Kindle versions were a good price here in Australia.

[Michaela]

I got Mrs. Pollifax on my kindle, but The Agatha Christie Book Club isn´t available in any format here, nor in the US or UK.

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

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Myste... for the UK

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Mystery... for the US

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

Michaela wrote: "I got Mrs. Pollifax on my kindle, but The Agatha Christie Book Club isn´t available in any format here, nor in the US or UK."

See my post above Michaela - I found the series in both the US and the US, mind you I had to search for the author rather than the book!

[Michaela]

Thanks Hilary! I missed that it was published under another title.

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

Michaela wrote: "Thanks Hilary! I missed that it was published under another title."

Not a problem, glad to help!!

[QNPoohBear]

Mrs. Pollifax is a classic series that should be available in U.S. libraries. My library system has regular, and large print and also an e-book available.

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

QNPoohBear wrote: "Mrs. Pollifax is a classic series that should be available in U.S. libraries. My library system has regular, and large print and also an e-book available."

I will confess that the Mrs Pollifax stories are new to me - YAY!

[Helen]

Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "Mrs. Pollifax is a classic series that should be available in U.S. libraries. My library system has regular, and large print and also an e-book available."

I will confess that t..."
Yes, Mrs Pollifax is new to me too, though I’ve heard of them.
Thank you for posting the link to the CA Larmer books. I forgot that the name of the first one had been changed as well as the series.

[Barb, Co-Moderator Challenge Expert]

Mrs. Pollifax is an old friend here. Mom got me started on Mrs. Pollifax decades ago, so they hold a special place in my heart. I hope those of you who are new to the series love her as much as I do :)

[Meg]

I'm thinking of the following for April. Pls let me know what you think:

Isabella Alan - Amish Quilt Shop
Book 1: Murder, Plain and Simple (Crafts)

Andrea Penrose - Wrexford and Sloan
Book 1: Murder on Black Swan Lane

[Alice]

I think we need March topics added

[jaxnsmom]

Sorry, I haven't been around. Recovering from covid and still totally miserable. Too nauseous to see or think straight.

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

jaxnsmom wrote: "Sorry, I haven't been around. Recovering from covid and still totally miserable. Too nauseous to see or think straight."

Oooh get well soon!

I did start a couple of threads off (not as well as you would do it but at least it got us started!)

[L J]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Sorry, I haven't been around. Recovering from covid and still totally miserable. Too nauseous to see or think straight."

Take it easy and take care. Trying to do too much too soon can delay recovery.

[Meg]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Sorry, I haven't been around. Recovering from covid and still totally miserable. Too nauseous to see or think straight."

Oh, I'm sorry that you've had to go through that. Sending positivity and hugs for your recovery!

[Helen]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Sorry, I haven't been around. Recovering from covid and still totally miserable. Too nauseous to see or think straight."

Hope you are better soon.

[Helen]

Meg wrote: "I'm thinking of the following for April. Pls let me know what you think:

Isabella Alan - Amish Quilt Shop
Book 1: [book:Murder, Plain and Simple|184570..."

Again, these are quite expensive on kindle in Australia. The cheapest is the second in the Amish quilt series at $7.99. It sounds like a series I would enjoy.
Libraries are not really an option here at the moment. They rarely stock American cozies, and our main library has just been inundated by an unprecedented flood, which covered the entire CBD and several low lying suburbs. Fortunately I moved high enough to avoid it, several years ago.

[Cheryl A.]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Sorry, I haven't been around. Recovering from covid and still totally miserable. Too nauseous to see or think straight."

*
I am so sorry the Covid got you, too. Several friends had it and only had a few days of sickness but they said it was the worst they have ever encountered. I am praying for a speedy recovery! Take care and rest!
*

[jaxnsmom]

Thanks all for your well wishes. I got sick 3 weeks ago with severe cold symptoms. It really pisses me off because I'm vaxxed, boostered, and have the least contact with others than anyone I know.

Thanks Hilary, for setting up the threads!

[Nell]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Thanks all for your well wishes. I got sick 3 weeks ago with severe cold symptoms. It really pisses me off because I'm vaxxed, boostered, and have the least contact with others than anyone I know.
..."

Oh dear! I'm sorry to hear that you're sick! I can imagine after taking all the precautions being really upset about it too. Hopefully, your symptoms were 'milder'. Hope you feel better soon.

[Nell]

Hilary - Thanks for taking the initiative and setting up the threads. I see there are lively discussions going on.

[Sherrie]

Think positive. My sister had both covid shots and booster but she did catch it. Because she had the shots and booster she did not end up in the hospital. She was sick for awhile but feeling better now. She is not 100 back to her self as of yet but at least she did not end up in the hospital. Hopefully you are feeling better.

[QNPoohBear]

Sherrie wrote: "Think positive. My sister had both covid shots and booster but she did catch it. Because she had the shots and booster she did not end up in the hospital. She was sick for awhile but feeling better..."

Wow and wow jaxnsmom! Everyone that I know who had it, probably had omricon and they were sick with mild to moderate cold symptoms for a few days. Unvaccinated too. One unvaxed had a fever and felt sick enough to stay in bed for a few days, one uvaxed felt congested like a bad cold. One unboosted (too young) felt cold symptoms for a few days. The other unbootsted anti-vaxers felt sick off and on for a week or felt scratchy throat, congestion, sick for one day and cough/cold symptoms/less energy for a good two weeks.

[jaxnsmom]

Even though I've been sick for a month and I've been completely miserable, I think it would have been so much worse without vax and booster. With my health factors I'm pretty sure other variants would have had me in the hospital, and probably killed me. I'm still too whiny to appreciate it, but there are improvements. Trying to focus on those.

[Zermeena]

Jaxnsmom: get well soon and don't be too hard on yourself.

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

Do we have books picked for April yet?

[Meg]

Hyl and everyone: I had posted a suggestion March 1st but didn't get much feedback. Here's what I posted....you all let me know if this works. If not I'll have a quick look for subs.

"I'm thinking of the following for April. Pls let me know what you think:

Isabella Alan - Amish Quilt Shop
Book 1: Murder, Plain and Simple (Crafts)

Andrea Penrose - Wrexford and Sloan
Book 1: Murder on Black Swan Lane "

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

they are both good for ebook and paperback - I am guessing the crafts is your choice.

[Meg]

Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) wrote: "they are both good for ebook and paperback - I am guessing the crafts is your choice."

I went ahead and picked crafts from the selection list as it matched the book I was reading. Figured I didn't need to stress!

Would you want to add the author's other Amish series? It simply called Amish Mystery; first book is Hearse and Buggy.

[Nell]

Meg -
No problem with your choices except they are both new-to-me series and the descriptions are intriguing. Mt TBR is teetering! 😄
I posted your choices for April on the group's main page.

Hilary
Thanks for setting up the discussion threads.