2026 Holiday Reading Challenge | The Running Bibliophile

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Who doesn’t love a good challenge, especially when it pushes you to read outside your comfort zone or discover a new author? I’ve always wanted to join a reading challenge or reading bingo, but so many of them feel repetitive. So, I decided to create something a little different. It doesn’t mean a challenge like this isn’t out there; I just haven’t come across one myself. Introducing The Running Bibliophile’s 2026 Holiday Reading Challenge, a fun and unique way to expand your reading list while celebrating the spirit of the year. This challenge features 14 books of your choice, with one key twist: each book’s plot must revolve around the specific holiday mentioned. The challenge runs for January 1 through January 31, 2026. To keep things exciting, you may not duplicate any books on the list. By the time you've completed the challenge, you will have read 14 new books to diversify your reading list. To kick things off, the first prompt is simple: choose any holiday-themed book as l...
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Book Review: Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross

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book review hidden beneath maine clambake mystery 11 barbara ross

Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross is the story about Julia and her mother Jacqueline attending a memorial service on Chipmunk Island for Ginny, who was an old friend of Jacqueline.  When something seems off at the memorial, Julia decides to delve into the cold case of Ginny, and in the process of the investigation, a murder takes place on the island.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for the Advanced Readers Copy of Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross in exchange for my honest review.  I first became familiar with this series and author while reading a collection of short stories that included one from the Maine Clambake Mystery series.  I was excited when I was approved to read this newest book and was not disappointed.

This newest edition can be read as a stand alone as the author does a fantastic job of recapping the backstories of the characters from previous books in the series.  I found all the main characters to be incredibly likable.  With that being said, I didn't care for most of the supporting characters that were friends with Ginny.  They seemed very cliquey, which is something I don't expect of grown women, let alone ones in their sixties.

The story was entertaining, and I enjoyed the fact that there were two or three of different mysteries that were presented in the book.  Trying to figure out the connection between them was fun.  However, it did seem to take a bit too long to find out how it all connected together, but the story ended with a bang, which more than made up for any slow parts.  I had no clue as to the identity of the murderer, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Five out of five stars is what I gave Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross.  The expected publication for this book is June 27, 2023.  I have a long wait for the twelve book in the series, so I'll tide myself over by reading the books that came before this one.

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