Final Check-in 2025 Challenges & 2026 Sign-ups

Final check in for my challenges:

The challenge is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer  again & That's What I'm Taking About. Thank you ladies!

I signed up for 125-150 I Can't Hear You (earbuds are always in) books and managed 145 books.  Here are a few of my standout listens:

Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl #1) by Matt Dinniman

Sharp Force (Kay Scarpetta #29) by Patricia Cornwell

Cold as Hell (Haven's Rock #3) by Kelley Armstrong

One Fell Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #3) by Ilona Andrews

Out of the Shadows (Angelhart Investigations #1.5) by Allison Brennan

Exit Strategy (Murderbot Diaries #4) by Martha Wells

I'm signing up for I Can't Hear You (earbuds are always in) 125-150 books again. Click HERE for details if you'd like to join in, too!

I sign up for the Goodreads Challenge every year and I've already completed it with 177/175. I'll be reading more before the end of the year so I'm sure that number will climb. I'll be signing up again with a goal of 175.

What about you? What challenges have you signed up for?

Library Mini Reviews: We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter & Turns of Fate by Anne Bishop

 

We are All Guilty Here (North Falls #1) by Karin Slaughter

Publication Date: August 12th 2025 by Harper Audio

Pages: 439

Audio Book Length: 16hrs 33min

Narrator: Kathleen Early

Source: Purchased

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Karin Slaughter did it again! One of my favorites of 2025! I was completely riveted by the story and stayed up well into the night to finish!

I noticed something that made one twist not completely surprising, but I like when an author writes in clues for the audience to notice so you sort of feel like you're solving the case with the detectives. Another twist I should've picked up on, but was totally surprised! I wonder how it'll factor in the coming books!

I've read reviews that this was a gritty read, which always makes me hesitate, so I wanted to point out that yes, the subject matter/crimes are disturbing, but none of the violence takes place on the page. It's referred to or after the fact. I hope that makes sense. If I would've known that I would've read this sooner.

I listened to the audio version narrated by Kathleen Early. Her performance was fantastic, as usual! She also narrates KS's Will Trent series. A definite recommend!

5 Stars

Turns of Fate (Isle of Wyrd #1) by Anne Bishop

Publication Date: August 12th 2025 by Penguin Audio

Pages: 511

Audio Book Length: 17hrs 45min

Narrator: Jesse Vilinsky

Source: Library

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed Turns of Fate! Fans of Bishop’s The Others’ series will find it similar in tone with the Arcana (magical creatures) and humans co-existing but not always getting along ending with some severe consequences.

 

Beth Fahey, a police officer is assigned to the precinct closest to Destiny Park/Island and right away has an easier relationship with the Arcana. It doesn’t go well for humans causing trouble there.

 

The Arcana often help humans at risk from other humans, endearing me to them right away. You can’t help but cheer them on when the meet out justice to some of these awful people! There’s several POVs and story threads, each gripping and suspenseful at times as I worried for the character and the dangers they faced!

 

The story was over 500 pages (17 hrs 45 min audiobook length) but I breezed right through in two days, the story grabbed my attention, and I needed to know how it’d all turn out! I’m eager for the next installment!

 

I listened at 1.75x normal speed and enjoyed Jesse Vilinsky’s performance! She did well with the many characters, a range of ages and a few accents!

4.5 Stars

Sunday Post #320

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

Happy Sunday!

I'm late getting this up as I stayed up late listening to an audiobook. 

It's been pouring rain here. We've had almost 5 inches in the last couple of days and we're supposed to have almost 6 inches today alone! My cats are not pleased. They love to be out and about during the day. Surprisingly, they still venture out when there's a bit of a lull. They come back in wet with muddy paws. Constantly in and out!

You can't see it well with this photo, but the creek (in the middle of the photo) is level with the grass in the front yard. I wonder how high it'll be by the end of the day with all the rain!

Starla napping on a dining room chair as I do a puzzle on the table.

500 Piece Puzzle: Winter Perch by Galison

This was fun and quick!

1000 Piece Puzzle: Maggie the Messmaker by Milton Bradley

A lot of fun with all that detail! Plus, cat!

Someone asked me what I do with all the puzzles I do when I'm done. A lot of the puzzles I've had for years and I have them in storage bins up in the attic. I grab a few and work them then put them back and grab another few to do. I usually hand off the ones I've done to my sister and she does them and gives them back. I have bought several new puzzles lately. I need to buy more storage bins!

We've been busy at work. I expect more inpatients this time of year because cold and flu irritates chronic heart conditions, but all our outpatients have been showing up for their appointments, too even with this rain! I think people want to get their testing done before they have to meet a new deductible.

In the busy season do you shop in person or online? I shop mostly online. I can't stand the crowds and lines! I have a whole bunch of stuff to cart to Montana when we travel out to meet with the kids.

Read:

Turns of Fate (Isle of Wyrd #1) by Anne Bishop-4 Stars

A Drop of Corruption (Shadow of the Leviathan #2) by Robert Jackson Bennett-5 Stars

Kirkyards & Kindness (A Rip Through Time #4.5) by Kelley Armstrong-4 Stars

Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl #1) by Matt Dinniman-4 Stars

Three library lends and one purchased audio. I didn't read any ARCs this week!

Received:

Wreck Your Heart by Lori Rader-Day

Inside Man (Head Cases #2) by John McMahon

Make it Out Alive (Quinn & Costa #7) by Allison Brennan

Carl's Doomsday Scenario (Dungeon Crawler Carl #2) by Matt Dinniman

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Hanover Square Press! I bought the audio of the second Dungeon Crawler Carl. 

 

How was your week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Winter 2025-2025 to-Read List

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Reader where each week they post a new top ten list and ask fellow bookish folk to share their lists on that topic.

This week the theme is: Books on My Winter 2025-2026 to-Read List:

(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Make it Out Alive (Quinn & Costa #7) by Allison Brennan

Release date: 1/27/26

Inside Man (Head Cases #2) by John McMahon

Release date: 1/13/26

First Sign of Danger (Haven's Rock #4) by Kelley Armstrong

Release date: 2/17/26

Antihero (Orphan X #11) by Gregg Hurwitz

Release date: 2/10/26

It's Not Her by Mary Kubica

Release date: 2/3/26

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

Release date: 1/27/26

Remember That Day (Ravenswood #5) by Mary Balogh

Release date: 1/6/26

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Release date: 1/20/26

Bloodlust by Sandra Brown

Release date 3/17/26

Carl's Doomsday Scenario (Dungeon Crawler Carl #2) by Matt Dinniman

Release date: 1/6/21

What books are on your Winter 2025-26 TBR?

Sunday Post #319

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

Happy Sunday!

I've had the week off from work which is a good thing since my shoulder continues to bother me, but not as bad as the previous week. I've been doing my PT exercises and other workouts, raked a ton of leaves (not great for the shoulder) and trimmed back a bunch of thorny blackberry bushes that are growing out of control. 

Today (Saturday) my husband and I went to lunch, Home Depot and the garden center to buy cyclamen and pansies. I planted them and then we made dinner. I've been listening to Dungeon Crawler Carl on and off all day and it's hilarious!

The weather's been unseasonably warm here in the mid to high 60s, but we're about to drop down to normal temps and we have a bunch of rain in the forecast. 

We've seen a coyote on our cameras walking through the property twice in the last two weeks during the night, so we've made sure the cats are in right at dusk. The racoons have been showing up (three of them) and unfortunately I forgot to bring in the dish of dry cat food one night so they had a meal which means they'll be showing up for a while to see if they get lucky again.

Last of my roses from the garden

Flowers on my walk: Red Hot Poker 

1000 Piece Puzzle: Valley Farm Street by Buffalo Games

Read:

Earl Crush (Belvoir's Library #2) by Alexandra Vasti

Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh

For some reason I didn't get much reading done, but I did enjoy both books!

Received:

Seeing Other People by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

Thank you to Berkley and Poisoned Pen Press!

How was your week?

Audiobook Review: Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh

 

Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh

Publication Date: June 10th 2025 by Thomas Nelson

Pages: 353

Audio Book Length: 11hrs 10min

Narrator: Jorjeana Marie

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Rosie’s dream of becoming an actor has been worn down by years of trying to catch a break only to land bit roles and suffer rejection. Desperate for a job and money, Rosie sends out dozens of resumes and lands a creative director position in Door County, Wisconsin. However, Rosie fails to read the job offer over carefully and so she’s shocked to discover that the theatre is in a retirement community and her actors are all seniors. Little does she know that the job she didn’t realize she applied for is about to change her life in the most profound and wonderful way!

 

There’s a whole collection of interesting characters: the varied group of seniors cast in her play, an ornery stage manager, and surly teenager Rosie enlists as a volunteer.  Most notably, however, is Booker, the handsome physical therapist! He’s a sweetheart, listening without judgement and always there when Rosie needs him! Their friendship turned into a romance that was everything!

 

I absolutely loved Everything’s Coming Up Rosie! Found family, romance, and finding happiness where you’d least expect it! Such an inspirational, feel-good story!

 

I also loved the author’s note where she talked about her dreams, (similar to Rosie’s) and how coming to realize your dream can shift and pivot without meaning you’ve given up.

 

I listened to the audio version narrated by Jorgeana Marie and it was perfection! She performed male and female in a wide range of ages seamlessly! Definitely enhanced this heartwarming story!

5 Stars

Book Description:

Sometimes what you think you want and what you actually want turn out to be different things . . 

Rosie Waterman has one to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn't been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does--puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she's been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie's been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?

When she's offered a job as the director of a regional theatre's production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance--even though she's only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she'll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the "regional theatre" is actually in a retirement community, and the "actors" are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.

Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn't turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It's not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?