Cover to Cover Challenge discussion

I am aiming for 100 books but hope to read more. I figure this is a good starting point and then will go from there. Read 109 books in 2010 and would like to read more next year but am not sure how many at this point. Looking forward to seeing how many I can get read this coming year since my TBR pile is huge...472 books. Running out of room to store them...I really need to get some of them out of here...

I am going to try to keep track of the number of pages I have read along with how many books this year. Curious how many get read in a given year. Have never kept track of pages before so this should be interesting...

ivy, i like the idea of tracking pages. i vaguely remember that someone mentioned having a spreadsheet to help with this...maybe you could ask in the main boards if that's something you're interested in using. good luck!

I have already set up a spread sheet on my computer to track the books I am reading and just added another column to keep track of the pages in each book. I will add them up as I go along so I will know how many by the end of the year.

1. Indulgence in Death by J. D. Robb. This is book 33 of the In Death series. I liked it for the most part but found that some of my favorite characters from past books where not in this one as much. All in all though it was a good addition to the series.

Finished: 1/2/2011
Pages: 373

2. Sweet Narcissus by M. K. Lorens. This book is written in a style that I am not real fond of. I read it mostly because it fit into a challenge I am participating in in another group.

Finished: 1/3/2011
Pages: 262

3. The Footprints on the Ceiling by Clayton Rawson.

Finished: 1/4/2011
Pages: 256

4. 100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson. This is book 1 of the 100 Cupboards series. It is written for 9-12 year old children but I wanted to read it before sending it to my niece to read. I wanted to make sure it was a book she would like to read. I found that it was very well written and that the action just kept on coming. Kept me interested and wanting to find out what was going to happen next to the main character, Henry. I would recommend it to any one that likes to travel to other places both real and make believe.

Finished: 1/9/2011
Pages: 289

5. First Kill All the Lawyers by Sarah Shankman This is the first book in the Samantha Adams series. It is an older book and it a bit dated but a good read none the less. I got a feel for Samantha and why she was back in Georgia...how she got involved in the whole mystery and how she solved the mystery. Good writing, great plot, and a great surprise ending. Looking forward to reading another one in this series.

6. The Case of the Mythical Monkeys (Perry Mason Mysteries by Erle Stanley Gardner I fell in love with Perry Mason years ago and still love reading his books over and over again. This is one that I don't remember ever reading but then I could be wrong. These books were originally written in the 1950s so are very dated and for someone who has not read them before may throw them a bit. I like that they show some really good detective work and great court room drama.

7. Indiana Jones and the Seven Veils by Rob MacGregor I picked this one up mostly because it had Harrison Ford on the cover and I really liked the movies he had made in the past. I found that this book took Indy to places that the movies never could have begon to take him. He was in trouble most of the time and was always getting himself out of it. It is very well written and the descriptions of the characters and the scenery was so vividly described that I felt like I was really there. I have not read any books by this author and was pleasantly surprised...I look forward to reading more books in this series and other books by this author.

Tall, Dead and Handsome by Annie Griffin I read about 30 pages and was so bored to death that I just put it down. Will more then likely will not finish reading this one but wanted to post it as a book that I had at least tried to read.

8. Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger by Kevin BolgerThis book is written for the 9-12 year old boy. I picked it up mostly because the title struck me as silly. I don't think I have laughed so much while reading a book as I did reading this one. Prince Harry of Armpit gets himself into trouble one to many times playing practical jokes and his father King Reginald decides to send him on an adventure with Sir Fartsalot. They get into some tight fixes with the creatures they encounter along the way.

This book is headed to the special education classroom at our school for the kids to enjoy...some of them are having trouble with reading and this one will help them with the reading and have fun at the same time.

Ivy wrote: "7. Indiana Jones and the Seven Veils by Rob MacGregor I picked this one up mostly because it had Harrison Ford ..."

Re: Indiana Jones. I'm trying hard not to add any more books to my TBR list and finished the shelves I have at home. But you can't have an Indiana Jones book out there and not read it, can you? I sure can't, so my list grows.... Thanks Ivy

I know how it is with some of the books that I have seen others listed as read. I am adding to my wish list every time I get an email with an update...this is not a good thing since I have more books then I will ever read in my lifetime in house now so buying more is not good...but do I stop??? NNOOO!!!

9. Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

This is the first book in the series so was not really disappointed as much as I was kind of bored in spots. There was a little to much detail about the witchcraft aspect of this book. And I lost track of what the main character was trying to do...solve a mystery. She kept going off on trips to buy more merchandise for her store instead of trying to find clues as to how the child got kidnapped or the death of the woman. She seemed more concerned with her love life then she was with the problem at hand. Not sure if I will read the next book in this series or not.

10. Murder on Waverly Place by Victoria Thompson

I really like this series. It is set back in the 1800s so there are a lot of modern conveniences that we have now missing in these books. It takes some getting use to not having them but once you get into the story you forget all about them.

Sarah gets involved with a Spiritualist in this one and of course there is a dead body. It is fun seeing how she figures out who the killer is and how Malloy helps her out.

I did expect to learn more about Sarah's relationship with Malloy in this one but there wasn't much even hinted at so I am hoping for the next installment.

All in all a very good book...

11. Then Hang All the Liars by Sarah Shankman

12. Chapter and Hearse by Lorna Barrett

Really liked this addition to the Booktown Mystery series. Killer was going after multiple people at once so that you couldn't be sure who he/she was. Great ending to this book. Now to find the ones in the series that I have missed.

Finished: 2/12/2011
Pages: 326

13. Murder With Peacocks by Donna Andrews

This is book 1 of the Meg Langslow mystery series. It is a good first book that was well written. I thought I had figured out who the killer was twice to be proven wrong. I will be looking for the next one in the series for sure.

Finished: 2/17/2011
Pages: 296

14. Better Read Than Dead by Victoria Laurie Good addition to this series. I like the idea of Abby going after the Mob. This for sure a good one...looking forward to the next book in this series.

Finished: 2/21/2011
Pages: 296

15. Witch & Wizard by James Patterson

Finished: 2/26/2011
Pages: 307

16. Indigo Dying by Susan Wittig Albert

This is book 11 of the China Bayles series.

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen This is book 1 in the Rizzoli and Isles series. It was okay for a first book of a series. The only thing is that Isles is no where in this book. Hopefully she will show up later in the series.

Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts This is book 1 of the Three Sisters Island trilogy. It is a very good book, well written and kept my on my toes for most of the book. Now I am off to start the second book to see what happens next.

Missing in Deathby J.D. Robb I have enjoyed this whole series. I found when I was checking to see when the next one comes out that I had not read this one yet. Eve is wonderful in the way she figures out who the killer was and how he got off the ferry with the body.


Now I am off to figure out how many pages are in this book so I can count them towards my 10,000 pages I want to read this year along with the 100 books.

Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts

This is book 2 of the Three Sisters Trilogy. It centers mostly around Ripley and her accepting her gift as a witch. She also finds the love of her life which is a good thing for her.

Now off to start the last book in the series...

Face the Fire by Nora Roberts

This is book 3 of the Three Sisters Trilogy. This one centers around Mia and the final fight to save the island. She fights with herself about Sam and how she feels for him and how they can save the life they once might have had.

Grave Apparel by Ellen Byerrum

Those in Peril BY Wilbur Smith

I got an ARC copy of this book from Library Thing Early Give Away program. It is due out in May 2011.

I had never read anything by this author so was not sure what to expect. I found that he wrote in a style that I enjoyed. He kept the action going and kept me wondering what would happen next. His description of the assault on the yacht and the taking of Cayla was so good that I felt like I was right there on the yacht and was one of the crew that was observing everything that was happening. From there on through the whole book I felt like I was one of the characters watching everything that was happening instead of someone reading a book.

The Mystery of the Tolling Bell by Carolyn Keene

This is book 23 of the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories. I am having alot of fun rereading these books with my granddaughter. She had never heard of Nancy Drew until I got some of these for her. We are reading them together and having a lot of fun spending the time together and reading.

This one takes Nancy to a coastal town where there is a cave with a tolling bell and a ghost. Nancy has a time at finding out how the bell tolls whenever the tide is coming in.

The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass

This is book 5 of the Body Farm series. In this one Dr. Brocktcon has to find out who is selling body parts on the black market. I found myself turning pages as fast as I could read them. Very well written and interesting.

Ivy wrote: "The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass

This is book 5 of the Body Farm series. In this one Dr. Brocktcon has to find out who is selling body parts on the black market. ..."

Thanks for the info. I am always looking for new authors and this seems to be right up my alley. Yes!

Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb

This is book 39 of the In Death Series. Peabody overhears an argument between two fellow officers that sets the tone for the rest of the book. As Peabody and Eve look into the actions of the two officers they find that it is worse then anyone could have anticipated.

I think this is one of the best books in this series.

Finished: 4/8/2011
Pages: 375

Murder on Marble Row by Victoria Thompson

This is book 6 of the Gaslight Mystery series. I think that I am now all caught up with this series. I really like it and enjoy seeing the relationship between Sarah and Detective Malloy develop.

This one starts with a man being blown up with a bomb and then goes from there. It is a defendant page turner as you try to figure out who blew him up and why. There are all kinds of twists and turns along the way.

The Hunt for Atlantis by Andy McDermott

This is book one of the Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase series. Wasn't sure what to expect when this book was recommended to me. I found that it was very well written, lots of action going on most of the time, and that it kept me looking forward to the next page. Nina is an archaeologist that has always wanted to find Atlantis. When the opportunity comes her way she takes it and goes on a hunt for one of the biggest legends in history. If you like a good Indiana Jones type book you will enjoy this one. I am looking forward to finding and reading the next book in this series.

Finished: 4/23/2011
Pages: 514

Pretty in Ink by Karen E. Olson

This is book 2 of the Tattoo Shop Mystery series. I was hooked when I read the first book in this series and find that this one is as good if not better then the first.

This one has drag queens, dead bodies, bombs and so much more...Brett really gets herself involved in a pickle and getting out is all you would want in a cozy mystery.

Married to the Mop by Barbara Colley

This is book 5 of the Charlotte LaRue Mystery series.

In this one Charlotte ends up cleaning for the mob and getting involved in a murder. How she figures out who really killed him is very interesting and how she gets out of a very tight spot is for sure different.

Finished: 5/6/2011
Pages: 265

How to Host a Killer Party by Penny Warner

This is book one of the Party Planning Mystery series. You get to meet Presley Parker who was fired from her job at the university because of down sizing and is now trying to get her business as a party planner off the ground. She ends up trying to figure out who killed not one person but two before the Detective in charge of the cases puts her in jail for both murders.

It was fun getting to know her and the way she attacks an investigation. And the way she has to learn to trust the one guy that she is not sure if he really believe she is innocent or if he has a hidden agenda...

Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Finished: 5/17/2011
Pages: 298

The Treacherous Teddy by John J. Lamb

This is book 5 in the Bear Collector's Mystery series. As with others in this series they are all well written and a joy to read. I found myself wanting to help out with the investigation. The action just kept on coming and I never knew for sure who was going to get involved at any given time. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Finished: 5/25/2011
Pages: 301

The Brothers of Baker Street by Michael Robertson

This is book 2 of the series and having not read the first book in the series I was not sure what to expect. I found it to be slow in spots and boring in others. It did not seem to come together at all. It took forever for anything to happen and when it did it was still not exciting enough to make me want to find the first book to read it to see what I had missed. There was more about the relationship between a couple of the main characters love life then there was about the mystery.

Finished: 6/2/2011
Pages: 274

Dying to Be Murdered by Judy Fitzwater

Jennifer Marsh Mystery, Book 5

I really liked this book. I kept me turning the pages and wondering what would happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Jennifer and how she figures out a crime. She kept me guessing until the end about who the killer was. Am looking forward to finding the rest of the books in this series to read.

Finished: 6/5/2011
Pages: 225

Dead By Midnight by Beverly Barton

I picked up this book thinking it was the first book in a trilogy but as I read it I found that it would have been better if I had read other books by this author that have the same characters in it. I found that this is a the first book of a trilogy that is in the middle of a series of books with the same characters and found that there was a lot of references to previous books.

Having said that I still enjoyed reading this book...it was well written and really kept me reading the next page. It did leave me with a cliff hanger so now I am off to see if I can find the next book to see if I can figure out who the other killer is.

Finished: 6/18/2011
Pages: 442

The Lies That Bind: Catching a Killer Takes a Lot of Spine by Kate Carlisle

This is book 3 in Bibliophile Mystery series. It was well written, set in San Francisco, two dead bodies and a killer that just doesn't fit the bill until it is all pointed out to you who they are...will be looking for other books in this series.

Finished: 6/25/2011
Pages: 275

If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell

This is book 1 of the Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series. It was okay but I found that it was slow and seemed to take for ever for anything to even move along. The explaination for Mel being able to see the ghost was very lame and I don't think was ever really explained very well. And why was she solving the death of someone that she didn't like in the first place but less someone that didn't like her either. I kept waiting for something to happen for most of the book...to much explaining about home renovation and not enough mystery or the solving of the crime...boring in spots. Don't think that I will be looking for the next book in the series.

Finished: 7/3/2011
Pages: 316

Killing Her Softly by Beverly Barton

This is book 1 in the Griffin Powell series. It is very good and kept me turning pages. There was always something going on and kept me wondering how they were going to figure out who the killer was. Just about the time I thought I knew who the killer was another clue was dropped and I had to change my mind.

I am now looking for the next book in the series. I am for sure hooked on this author.

Finished: 7/6/2011
Pages: 404

Bedeviled Eggs by Laura Childs

This is book 3 of the Cackleberry Club Mystery series. This book was okay but at the same time was boring in parts. It seemed like Suzanne spent more time having parties for her business or her love life then she did trying to solve the mystery. And then about the time I thought she was finally going to get down to business and try to figure out who the killer was the killer confessed. It was not a good way to end this book...all of a sudden he was there. Struck me as anti climatic ending.

Finished: 7/13/2011
Pages: 302 not including pages with recipes.

Close Enough To Kill by Beverly Barton

This is book 2 of the Griffin Powell series. This one has a serial killer who thinks that each of his victims are his lovers...he courts them as a secret admirer before letting them know who he is.

This book is very well written and kept me turning the pages and wanting to see how the police would figure out who the killer was and how they captured him. My only negative things is that although it is part of the Griffin Powell series you do not hear about Griffin until the book is over half done and then only very briefly. Other then that it was very good and I ended up staying up late (11:00pm) a couple of nights reading because I couldn't put it down.

Finished: 7/28/2011
Pages: 438

10th Anniversary by James Patterson

This is Book 10 in the Women's Murder Club series. I have really enjoyed reading this series for the most part. This one has Lindsey chasing after three different bad guys for three different reasons.

For the most part I enjoyed reading this book but it jumped around a bit more then usual because of the three different story lines going at one time.

Finished: 8/3/2011
Pages: 395

The Dying Game by Beverly Barton

This is another book in the Griffin Powell series. This one involves Griffin for then the ones in the past and really lets you get to know him better. We find that he is searching for a serial killer that killed his friends wife four years ago. The search is intense and exciting...you are kept on your toes the whole way through the book. I was constantly wondering who the killer was and how he was getting away with so many murders.

Finished: 8/8/2011
Pages: 440