2017 Alphabet Soup Challenge

2017 Alphabet Soup Challenge


A - All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
B - Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
C - Clammed Up by Barbara Ross
D
E
F - Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
G
H - Here Today, Gone Tamale by Rebecca Adler
I - I Was Here by Gayle Forman
J
K
L - Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
M
N
O - The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight
P - Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke
Q
R - Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
S - Spilled Milk by KL Randis
T
U
V
W - What She Left Behind by Ellen Wiseman
X
Y
Z

Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber - 5 Stars

Anne Marie is a 38 year old childless widow who is looking to find happiness again. She owns a bookstore on Blossom Street, but feels this isn't enough. On Valentine's Day, her and her other widowed friends get together and decide to make a list of 20 wishes. One of Anne Marie's wishes was to do something good for someone else, so she volunteers to be a Lunch Buddy for an 8 year old girl named Ellen. What she doesn't know is that Ellen will change her life in ways she hadn't even imagined.

The story also follows her friends Barbie and Lillie and their wishes.

Another warm fuzzy by Macomber. This was the 5th in the Blossom Street series , but could also be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this one and it made me smile at the end.  :)

The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer - 3 Stars

Beth's one worry is that her daughter will go missing. One day, her worst nightmare comes true. Her daughter Carmel has gone missing while the 2 of them were out at a fair. The story alternates between the 2 points of view, Beth & Carmel's. Carmel is only 8 years old and doesn't realize she's missing, while Beth is constantly searching for her.

The book has good ratings, but I didn't care for it. I had to force my way through it.

Highly Illogical Behavior - 5 Stars

Solomon is a 16 year old agoraphobic who hasn't left the house in 3 years. Lisa is a high school junior who desperately wants to get in to one of the top psychology colleges in the country. Lisa thinks Solomon is the answer to getting in to this school. Lisa sets out to "fix" Solomon. Bringing her boyfriend Clark in to the mix, the 3 soon become close friends.

This was a cute "coming of age" story of unlikely friends. It is a YA book, so I had to keep that in mind, but it was still a great read overall.

Orphan Train by Christina Kline - 5 Stars

Molly is a 17 year old girl who has spent her life in foster care. Vivian is an elderly woman who grew up an orphan. From the outside the two are as different as night and day, but when Molly has to perform community service and offers to help clean out Vivian's attic, the two quickly discover they have more in common than they think. 

This was a story of unlikely friendship. I really enjoyed how the story was woven together through the past and the present. It gave me warm fuzzies at the end. LOL! 

China Dolls by Lisa See - 4 Stars

Ruby, Helen and Grace all meet in San Francisco in 1938. All come from very different backgrounds but with the town booming and war brewing, the 3 strike up an unlikely friendship. The story follows the girls as they become dancers in a local night club and then throughout the next 10 years. But can this friendship last? As quoted from Amazon, "But after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, paranoia and suspicion threaten to destroy their lives, and a shocking act of betrayal changes everything."

I really enjoyed the story of the girl's friendship and all that they went through. This was the first book of Lisa See's that I've read, but I may give some others of hers a try.

Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke - 4 Stars

In this installment of the Hannah Swenson series, it's Christmastime and everyone is gathered for the community's annual Christmas buffet. When recently divorced Martin shows up with his new wife, a glittery glamorous Vegas show girl, heads surely turn. But when Hannah's mom's antique knife disappears and is found sticking out of Martin's new wife, Hannah has to once again put her sleuthing skills to work. Who killed Martin's new wife and why? With the whole town in attendance, it could be anyone.

This was a quick read, but I didn't like it as much as I liked the previous ones. I do like the recipes that are put in the back of the book, though.