21 in 21 - January Update

 I said I would update the blog once a month with an update on my 21 in 21 project

1. Donate 1 item per day
1.  I'm 25 items behind
   
2. Bike 52 hours
1. I have completed 0.5 hours so far
   
3. Run 52 hours
1. I have completed 1.98 hours so far
   
4. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Dane County
1. I have completed 0 of 61.6 total miles
   
5. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Fond du La & Sheboygan Counties
1. I have completed 0 of 39.6 total miles
   
6. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Green County
1. I have completed 0 of 22.7 total miles
   
7. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Rock County
1. I have completed 0 of 63.9 total miles
   
8. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Walworth & Jefferson Counties
1. I have completed 0 of 25.2 total miles
   
9. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Washington County
1. I have completed 9.7 of 45 total miles
   
10. Mail 1 "just because" postcard each day
1.  I'm 14 behind, but working through them!
   
11. Mail 1 "just because" gift each month
1. I mailed a scarf to my friend Hallie in January
   
12. Get a massage once a month
1. I am on schedule
   
13. Complete the 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge
1. I have completed 4 of 50 reading challenge prompts
   
14. Maintain a feedback ratio of 80% in NetGalley
1. I am currently at 36% 
2. I have 46 out of 72 books left to read/review
   
15. Sort through 1 box/tub/crate/drawer per week
1.  I'm 2 behind
   
16. Watch 1 TED Talk per day
1.  I am on schedule
   
17. Complete GEP 3 for DAR
1.  I have not yet registered
   
18. Update Blog monthly with 21 in 21 status
1.  Updated on January 26
   
19. (Re)Learn to Cross Country Ski
1.  Contacted a local instructor about scheduling a private lesson
   
20. Watch one "new to me" movie each month
1.  I haven't watched a movie yet this month
   
21. Get a facial once a month
1. I am on schedule
   

Review: A Conspiracy of Bones

A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I enjoyed the mystery, but I had troubles remembering the previous book and the things that had happened leading up to the start of this one. Dr Brennan isn't working for the County Medical Examiners office anymore, but she receives a text from a blocked number showing a mysterious body.

Working outside the system, Brennan works to determine who the unidentified body was and how/why he died. This process included her own personal struggles, such as health, relationships, and renovations/damages to her home.

I appreciated the afterword from the author explaining how she incorporated her own life and health experiences into the story line. It brought more of the story into focus knowing it afterword.

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Review: A Lady's Formula for Love

A Lady's Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I enjoyed the story of Lady Violet, her scientific friends, and the man assigned to protect her.

Lady Violet is a widow who loves chemistry and learning new things. Her step son has asked her to to work on an antidote to a chemical weapon that has been used by a local group trying to overthrow the aristocracy. Due to the threats possible, her step son Grey has asked Arthur Kneland to protect her until she can discover the antidote. The story was great for getting to know the characters, even as they got to know themselves!

I wasn't thinking going in that this would be more than a historical fiction love story, but it definitely had steamy scenes! Be prepared for that if it's not your jam.

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Review: The Egg

The Egg by Andy Weir
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

I think this little story was thought-provoking, but I wish it were more. The whole story is maybe 2 pages in a Word document long.

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Review: The Kindred Spirits Supper Club

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it without even asking!

I really enjoyed the latest book by Amy Reichert. I've read them all since The Coincidence of Coconut Cake, and each has been more fun than the last. This latest book, I wasn't too sure about, but I ended up loving it!

Sabrina and her family have a curse.... or a blessing, depending on who you talk to. The women of the family can see ghosts, but only those who have some unfinished business. As soon as possible, Sabrina escaped the small town life of Wisconsin Dells, as the ghosts couldn't follow her. Now she's back in town and seeing the ghosts.

Sabrina meets Ray, new to town and owner of a local restaurant. Ray makes Sabrina finally feel comfortable in her own skin, even as she tries to keep her secret. Who can say no to a kind, caring, and CUTE guy?

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this Advanced Readers Copy.

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Review: Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier's First Gunfighter

Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier's First Gunfighter by Tom Clavin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

I enjoyed the information within this book. There were a lot of historical tidbits about Wild Bill and some great information about possibilities without making assumptions. I learned a lot about Wild Bill that I didn't know before, since I really only knew the name.

What I wish it didn't have was complete backgrounds of the people Wild Bill interacted with. While interesting, I didn't need the history on Calamity Jane and Buffalo Bill. I wanted to read about Wild Bill. Instead of getting a quick summary of who the side characters were, we often got what felt like an entire chapter. (Being an audio book, I lost track of whether they were whole chapters or just parts of them.)

The narrator had a great voice for the topic, kind of gravely and western.

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Review: The Royal Nanny

The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I really enjoyed this fictionalized version of history. I learned some new things about the Royal Family (for instance, I had no idea when they became known as "The Windsors"), and it was well written, This follows the story of Charlotte Bill (aka Lala), the nanny of David (King Edward VIII Duke of Windsor), Bertie (King George VI), and their siblings. This included the rarely seen or talked about John.

Lala comes into the children's lives early, and rescues them from a potentially harmful situation with a bad nanny. She is then asked to take over the role of the head nanny and proceeds to be a part of the Royal family for years to come. Much of this story is about John, known as "The Lost Prince" due to rarely being seen or talked about. John needed much help from Lala, but was loved dearly by her.

While the story is not completely historically accurate, you can tell a lot of research went into the book and the story line. I appreciated the explanatory information at the back that told which characters were or were not real people.

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers, William Morrow Paperbacks, and NetGalley for this free copy.

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21 in 21

 

 

So, we're going to try this again.  A list of 21 tasks I want to complete in 2021.  This year I'm aiming for tasks I have nearly complete control over, so that tasks won't be absolutely impossible to accomplish if the pandemic doesn't ease up some.

1. Donate 1 item per day
2. Bike 52 hours
3. Run 52 hours
4. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Dane County
5. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Fond du Lac & Sheboygan Counties
6. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Green County
7. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Rock County
8. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Walworth & Jefferson Counties
9. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Washington County
10. Mail 1 "just because" postcard each day
11. Mail 1 "just because" gift each month
12. Get a massage once a month
13. Complete the PopSugar Reading Challenge
14. Maintain a feedback ratio of 80% in NetGalley
15. Sort through 1 box/tub/crate/drawer per week
16. Watch 1 TED Talk per day
17. Complete GEP 3 for DAR
18. Update Blog monthly with 21 in 21 status
19. (Re)Learn to Cross Country Ski
20. Watch one "new to me" movie each month
21. Get a facial once a month

What is on your list of things you want to accomplish in 2021?