January '25 Serial Reader Challenge

[Nell]

JANUARY '25 SERIAL READER CHALLENGE

Those born in January have the beautiful and diverse garnet as their birthstone. Garnets are commonly red but also come in an extraordinary range of beautiful colors, including orange, yellow, purple and vibrant green.... Some believe the true value of the garnet birthstone is its power to bring the wearer good health, wealth and happiness.



TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JANUARY CHALLENGE:

♦Pick five series that you want to read.

♦It can be a new or an on-going series.

♦Post the name of the series and the covers of at least two books that you have not read.

♦There must be at least two unread books in the series. No re-reads allowed.

♦You may re-post a series chosen before as long as there are at least two unread books.

♦Post series now through December 20th.

♦Pairs will be posted on December 21st.

♦Select a series for your partner between December 21st and 24th...sooner is better

♦Next month, read two (or more) books from the series selected for you.

New to the challenge? The thread for challenge guidelines and questions is here

Comments on this thread will be limited to members posting series until the 21st. After pairs are selected, the thread is open for discussion.

[Nell]

Players


⛄Meg picks for Helen
❄️Linda R picks for Jennifer
⛄Zermeena picks for Brigid
⛄Helen picks for Meg
❄️Jennifer picks for Zermeena
⛄Brigid picks for Linda R

[Meg]

❄️❄️❄️ January 2025 ❄️❄️❄️


Merry Wrath
Marriage Vow Murder
Mystery Night Murder

Beaver Island
Dead Calm
High and Dry

Kate Shackleton
Dying in the Wool
A Medal for Murder

Kiki Lowenstein
Make, Take, Murder
Ready, Scrap, Shoot

Verity Kent
A Pretty Deceit
Murder Most Fair

[Linda]

New Year, New Series

Secret Staircase Mystery by Gigi Pandian


LA Night Market by Jennifer J. Chow


Secret Bookcase Mystery by Ellie Alexander


Raven's Nest Bookstore by Allison Kingsley


Friend for Hire Mystery by Laura Bradford

[Zermeena]

I'm in!

Cat in the Stacks


Countess of Harleigh


Mad for Mod


Magical Cats


Ernest Cunningham

[Helen]

I’m in for January.

Dawn Brookes Rachel Prince



Donna Leon, Commissario Brunetti


Edie Claire Leigh Koslow mysteries.

Jacqueline Winspear Maisie Dobbs



Harriet Steel Inspector de Silva



Diana Xarissa Aunt Bessie

[Jennifer]

What a lovely photo of those garnets, Nell!

January series:

Humorous Tiffany Black


Posadas County



Nathan Heller


Quarry


B&B Spirits

[Brigid]

Happy Holidays to all! I look forward to a new year of new reads with you all!


Harper Lin -- Cape Bay Cafe



Laura Bradford -- Emergency Dessert Squad



Benedict Brown -- Lord Ederton


Lee Strauss -- Rosa Reed Series


Ellery Adams -- The Secret Book and Scone Society

[Nell]

Welcome to the Challenge! Pairs are posted at msg 2. Please pick a series for your partner.

[Meg]

Hello, Helen, and Happy Holidays!

I've picked for you:
Dawn Brookes Rachel Prince

[Jennifer]

Zermeena wrote: "I'm in!

Cat in the Stacks


Countess of Harleigh
[bookcove..."

Zermeena, I'm picking Cat in the Stacks for you. That's a great series!

[Linda]

Jennifer wrote: "What a lovely photo of those garnets, Nell!

January series:

Humorous Tiffany Black
[bookcover:A Perfect Murde..."

Hi Jennifer,

I don’t know any of your series but B&B spirits sound fun so that’s my pick. Happy reading and happy holidays!

[Zermeena]

Brigid wrote: "Happy Holidays to all! I look forward to a new year of new reads with you all!


Harper Lin -- Cape Bay Cafe
[bookcover:Tea, Tiramisu, and T..."

Hi Brigid - I'm choosing the secret, book and scone society for you. I hope you enjoy them!

[Zermeena]

Jennifer wrote: "Zermeena wrote: "I'm in!

Cat in the Stacks


Countess of Harleigh
[bookcover:A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder|59..."

Thanks Jennifer!

[Jennifer]

Linda wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "What a lovely photo of those garnets, Nell!

January series:

Humorous Tiffany Black
[bookcove..."

Thank you ma'am!

[Brigid]

Linda wrote: "New Year, New Series

Secret Staircase Mystery by Gigi Pandian


LA Night Market by [author:Jenni..."


Hi Linda,

I have the Hidden Staircase series on my TBR list, and would love to hear feedback on it, so I choose that for you. Happy Holidays!

Brigid

[Linda]

Brigid wrote: "Linda wrote: "New Year, New Series

Secret Staircase Mystery by Gigi Pandian


LA Night Market by..."

Thank you! Looking forward to it.

[Barb, Co-Moderator Challenge Expert]

Brigid wrote: "I have the Hidden Staircase series on my TBR list, and would love to hear feedback on it"

I'm not who you chose these books for, but I've read all four (?) of them so far and have really liked them :)

[Helen]

Meg wrote: "❄️❄️❄️ January 2025 ❄️❄️❄️


Merry Wrath
Marriage Vow Murder
Mystery Night Murder

B..."
Hi Meg,
I’m not familiar with any of your series, but as I love islands, I’m choosing Beaver Island for you. Enjoy, and Happy New Year.

[Helen]

Meg wrote: "Hello, Helen, and Happy Holidays!

I've picked for you:
Dawn Brookes Rachel Prince

"

Thank you Meg. A couple of cruises is just what I need for the summer holidays here in Australia.

[Meg]

I'm so glad you chose Beaver Island series for me. I've been seriously trying to get back to these.

Wishing you and all our serial reader friends a wonderful Christmas/ holiday! 🎄🎄🎄

[Linda]

I finished my first, Under Lock & Skeleton Key, over the weekend. It was really good and it was different than most cozies with the MC being a magician. Looking forward to the second one later this month.

[Zermeena]

I finished both my books in the Cat in the Stacks. I enjoyed the second one better than the first.

[Helen]

Finished my first

[Linda]

Finished my second - The Raven Thief. I really like this series. The writing is good and it's all a little different from the regular cozy. So glad there is a reveal at the end or I would not have a clue - not only to the culprit but to how it is all accomplished.

[Helen]

Finished my second yesterday.