The last thing I should be doing this Readathon is a mini challenge since I’m so behind. But I couldn’t resist Kathrin’s! I’ve taken each section and answered it below.

Now, what I want you to do for the mini-challenge is to search your memory for books and book series that might also work as a TV series. Which are they, and do you already have some actors in mind for them? (If so, you might even post links to a photo of the actor!)

While I haven’t read the Sookie Stackhouse books, I did think the Kitty Norville books would make an excellent television series. The concept of a talk radio host who deals with the paranormal lends itself to many storylines and ideas with the possibility of season long story arcs. (which I enjoy) I have no idea as far as actors go…there’s a reason I guess that I’m not a casting director! This series would need a huge budget for the werewolfs to look real!

Now think about the movies or TV series you’ve watched. Which of them would you read as a book as well? What are they about and what genre would they be?

Most of my favorite series do have books because they are the kind of shows you obsess over. Or they came from books to begin with! But I can say that I’ve read some of the Buffy season 8 comics….and they’re interesting.

And finally, think about the books that have already been made into a movie or a TV series. And what about those movies and TV series that were made into a book?

I watch Gossip Girl and Bones which both came from books. I never read the books, though. I also heard that the Vampire Diaries is shooting a pilot which will hopefully be picked up by the CW..guess we find that out soon. I love LOST and Buffy and both of them have series of books that were written for die hard fans.

Well, Amy has quite a bit of her book read, and my distraction has disappeared (I thought I left the coffee maker on in my pod at school – with no way to get into the building – after numerous calls, my principal just called and said the custodian was on his way over to check).  WHEW – almost as bad as when I swallowed the earring (-:  Anyway, surprisingly, I’m really enjoying this Karen Kingsbury book. Take One is the title.  Has anyone else read it?  I also can’t seem to stop eating these yummy doughnut holes Amy brought over.  Thank you all you wonderful bloggers for all the encouragement.  It helps!  Oh well, back to the books…

Ok, now that the gardeners have completed the yard (VERY noisy) and I have reviewed Dr. Laura’s book (watch for that one) I can get back to work.  Yummy doughnuts have helped motivate and awaken me!  I have completed two half-finished books and now to the newest one (I think) by Karen Kingsbury.

Well, Amy is finally into her book after trying unsuccessfully to log into our wireless.  Oh well, I have distractions as well, but did FINISH my first book, Fudge Cupcake Murder (I was already half way into it, but that doesn’t matter, right?)  Getting ready to begin my second half-finished book by Dr. Laura, In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms.  Later…..

It’s Amy here of My Friend Amy…my dad is out of town so I came to visit my mother and read for 24 hours!  She shared with your pictures of books….I’m a bit late getting started because my computer is not connecting to their wireless network.  BOO!!!!!

So I’m borrowing my dad’s. Shhhh, don’t tell!  Anyway, I have the goal of reading three books…one from my pleasure pile, one from my challenge pile, and one from my review pile.  I hope I can do it!!  Currently reading Boneman’s Daughter…catch you on Twitter!

Ok – Amy and I are getting ready to begin and these are our piles of books.  Think we’ll get them read?  Can’t wait to begin!

H

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder introduces cozy mystery heroine, Hannah Swenson.

From back cover: In this story, Hannah already has her hands full trying to dodge her mother’s attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden’s most popular bakery.  But once Ron LaSalle the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah’s famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life just can’t get any worse.  Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer.  But if she doesn’t watch her back, Hannah’s sweet life may get burned to a crisp.

Strawberry Shortcake Murder is the second book in this series.

From Back Cover:  When the president of Hartland Flour chooses cozy Lake Eden, Minnesota, as the spot for their first annual Dessert Bake-Off, Hannah is thrilled to serve as the head judge.  But when a fellow judge, Coach Boyd Watson, is found stone-cold dead, facedown in Hannah’s celebrated strawberry shortcake, Lake Eden’s sweet ride to fame turns very sour indeed.

My Review:  I love these books and have ordered three more in the series.  Both of these stories are engaging and kind of folksy – enjoyable reads for Spring Break!  I feel good when I read these books – because they are about people I could really know.  People who have real problems with lots of mystery thrown in.  Small town Minnesota is a great setting.  I enjoy the setting because I lived in Iowa for eight years.  Hannah is a single woman near or at about 30 years old.  Everyone is trying to marry her off, and she has two semi-serious boyfriends as different as night and day.  One of the main characters is her cat Moishe – a finicky feline.

 The pet, the home, the humor, and the cooking (including mouth-watering recipes) give Fluke’s books charm and create a high level of interest.  Hannah’s relationship with her mother and sister, Andrea, are easy to identify with.  Her mixed feelings about men and her curiousity and impatience with the system to solve murders ring familiar bells with me.

While there is not a super amount of psychological suspense in these stories – there is SOME suspense, definitely enough to keep turning the pages.  I love these books and am reading the third – Blueberry Muffin Murder right now and plan to read all the books in this series.  They are refreshing and lots of fun!  

Strawberry Shortcake Murder (from back

The Easter Egg Haunt by Mike Thaler

Product Description
Join the Easter egg hunt with a skeptical young boy as he questions the tradition of eggs and bunnies, and finds out the true purpose of our Easter celebration. With humor and love for the church, the creators of the Black Lagoon series show readers what Easter is really all about. 

From the Back Cover
With hilarious stories and nutty pictures, the Tales from the Back Pew series offers kid’s a unique view of church. Enjoy plenty of giggles with your child—and learn fun, important truths about God, church, and the Bible.
It’s Easter. Will the Easter bunny be ten feet tall? Will it really lay eggs? I hope they’re not scrambled! 

My Review: This is a GREAT new series.  The pattern is similar to The Black Lagoon Series, so I know children will love it!  I love the fact that this author is now writing to a distinctly Christian audience.  The illustrations as always are great.  These books capture fears of children in a funny and extreme way.  As far as I know there are three other books in the series.  I have pictured those books below.

Looking for something fun to read over spring break?  How about something like . . .

  This is the first of a series of novels by Rebeca Seitz written for and about scrapbookers.  It is a cute story about 4 sisters who were all adopted by a loving couple.  The mother has since passed away, but the four sisters carry on her tradition of scrapbooking.  This first novel centers on one of the sisters named Tandy.  Tandy has moved away from her hometown and is a successful attorney, but she is not quite satisfied.  In this book, she comes home for a visit.  During her time at home, she realizes and struggles over this confusing dissatisfaction with her life.  She also realizes that a former boyfriend has moved back to her hometown and the flame still flickers . . .

     I don’t scrapbook, but I did enjoy the story.  It is maybe a bit unoriginal, but good escape reading.  It is also one of those that drops hints about what might develop in the novels to come  I love that – makes me want  to read the next one!

Or maybe you are in the mood for a cozy mystery . . .

  This novel by Cynthia Hickey is labeled a “Summer Meadows Mystery” so there must be a series of them, but this is the first I have read.  Again, light reading – though there are some dead bodies involved!  Summer, unwilling to wait patiently for the cops to do thier job, plunges ahead to help solve the mystery.  After all, it was in her own yard that the diamonds, cash, and bloody gardening glove were found.  What does it all mean?  Is her life in danger?  Summer and Ethan (the man she not-so-secretly loves) are on the job to discover some answers.

     Hope you all are having or have had a wonderful spring break.  We are just beginning ours, and I am excited to have extra reading time with my girls.  Maybe I’ll have some good children’s book reviews for you by the time our week is up! 

     Happy Spring!

Product Description