WHAT ARE WE READING & REVIEWING IN September 2022?

What Are your Reading Plans for September?

Carol's September Reads
🏫- ★
43/43
September (Back to school)
🏫 Snakes Have No Legs - Kelly Tillis - 5★
🏫 Finn's Fantasy - K.C. Wells - 5★
🏫 Bleeding Blue - Brian Shea - 4★ - Pick A Winner...
🏫 Of Sea and Sand - Denyse Woods - 4★
🏫 Mystery Walk - Robert R. McCammon - 5★
🏫 Just Like That - Cole McCade -4★
🏫 The Squatter - Jonathan Dunne - 5★
🏫 An Elephant in My Kitchen - Francoise Malby- Anthony - 5★
🏫 Reigniting Chase - Jeanne St. James - 3★
🏫 The Haunting of Witterwick House - John Hennessy - 5★
🏫 The Dark - S.J. Bolton -3★
🏫 The Lies I Told - Mary Burton- 3★
🏫 I Remember You - Brian Freeman - 5★
🏫 Not My Child - Samantha King - 4.5★
🏫 Code Red - N.R. Walker - 4.5★
🏫 Code Blue - N.R. Walker- 5★
🏫 The Hidden Grave - Dominika Best - 3★
🏫 Blood & Dirt - Corey Niles -★ -5★
🏫 Code Red-Sierra View series - Max Walker - 5★
🏫 Code Silver - Max Walker - 5★
🏫 Code White - Max Walker - 4.5★
🏫 A Death in Bloomsbury - David C. Dawson - 4★
🏫 Abigale Hall - Lauren A. Forry - 5★
🏫 Foolish Games - M. Scott Swanson - 3★
🏫 Gallows Hill - Darcy Coates - 5★
🏫 November 9 - Colleen Hoover - 2★
🏫 Out of the Blues - Mercy Celeste- 3★
🏫 The Fix Is In - Mary Calmes - 4.5★
🏫 The Sacred Well Murders - Susan Rowland - 3★
🏫 The Darkest Lullaby - Jonathan Janz - 5★
🏫The Right to Remain - L.A. Witt - 5+++★
🏫 Pack of Lies - Charlie Adhara - 5★
🏫 When it Rains - Elle Keaton - 5★
🏫 These Things Hidden - Heather Gudenkauf - 3,5★
🏫 Unforgivable- Elle Keaton- 5★
🏫 Treble Maker - Annabeth Albert - 3.5★
🏫 All Note Long - Annbeth Albert - 5★
🏫 Running From My Heart - Felice Stevens - 3★
🏫 Extra Whip - L.A. Witt - 5★
🏫 Tough Love - Heidi Cullinan - 2★
🏫 Stripped Love - Baylin Crow - 3★
🏫 Cold Heart Creek - Lisa Reagan -3★
🏫 Real Trouble - Elle Keaton - 4.5★

Snakes Have No Legs - Kelly Tillis
5★
Can a snake wear shoes? No! But they sure can win a race. In this light-hearted picture book about snakes, learn how snakes can slither up trees, on land and even in the water. See all the fun shapes a snake can make with its body. Snakes Have No Legs is perfect for home or for classroom read aloud. Kids love shouting out the answers to silly questions like "Can a snake wear gloves?" This call and response format is a time-tested method for keeping kids engaged and interacting, instead of just chewing on the pages.

I am probably the only person in this group that can truly say "I love snakes". I also find them absolutely beautiful and also among the most misunderstood animals on earth. Without snakes we would soon be overrun with rats and other vermin. I spent 28 years of my life presenting education programs that included the "snake message". I needed a book for a challenge and in searching found this little gem. I don't agree with every animal information book ever published...but I 100% agree and support this author's message and the clever method she used for its delivery. Any 5-year-old would love shouting out the answer to "Can snakes wear gloves"? An absolutely lovely little treasure here. I hope every pre-school, Kindergarten & 1st grade teacher will make this one a part of their curriculum. Oh...and the big one...People are not the choice food of snakes. A small child MIGHT be an occasional victim in some countries with very large snakes, but overall...snakes don't eat people...especially most adults. We're designed wrong to go all the way down...and snakes also aren't stupid:) P.S. I do understand people's fears of snakes because I am absolutely 1000%, TERRIFIED of spiders.

When it Rains - Elle Keaton - (Washington)
Shielded Hearts Series Bok #8
5★
Beto Hernandez isn't in town to make friends, much less fall in love. His objective: Break the human trafficking ring plaguing Skagit once and for all.
When he crosses paths with an intriguing and handsome younger man, the first in years to spark Beto’s interest, he knows the attraction can't go anywhere.
Carsten Quinn wants nothing to do with the law. After surviving years in hell, Carsten has his own mission. The only problem is he’s hiding, not living anything like a normal life. He doesn’t trust anyone, especially not cops. The two try to stay away from each other, but their undeniable chemistry keeps them close. And when Carsten’s past comes back with a vengeance, he has no one to turn to but Beto. Are Beto and Carsten too different and too broken to trust anyone, much less each other? Can they overcome the terrifying obstacles on their path to love?

This is the end of the Shielded Hearts series. I'm sorry to see these characters go...but then I'm always sad to see a good series end. Knowing Elle Keaton there will be another series just as good and maybe some of these will make a pass through. since I own all the books, I can just go visit on my own. I am notorious for reading out of order, when checking my other books, I have found a few more in this series that are still unread...why doesn't that surprise me? There was lots of suspense, adventure and romance in this story. Carsten really surprised me at how he came forward when Beto needed him the most. I would have liked there to have been a bit more interaction with the characters from the other books when they showed up to help. It's still a bit confusing about the two different series that contain some of the same books and the same characters. Some are listed as a part of the Accidental Roots series and others are listed as a part of The Shielded Hearts series. I think that's how I got books that are yet unread that are supposed to be before this one. I tried to be a good girl and read in order:) At any rate, it was a great story, really good connections with the two main characters and I am looking forward to more of Elle Keaton's books.

The Squatter - Jonthan Dunne -(Ireland)
5★
The house is free but it comes with a price...Single mom, Molly Greene, is forced to close her Michelin star restaurant due to the Covid 19 pandemic. To escape the ghosts of her past and the high cost of city living, Molly moves the Greene family to the isolated town of Old Castle where they move into a free-of-charge 200-year-old stately farmhouse...which isn’t quite vacant. The Greene family realize they've become unwitting participants in a macabre contest where the farmhouse is first prize...or is it? Little do they know they're sharing their house with a sinister squatter that lingers in the fireplace and likes to come out and play when the sun goes down. Financially broke, Molly decides to go public about the ominous presence in the farmhouse, hoping to cash in on the phenomena, never considering the repercussions of her actions.

I knew when I read the line "The house was free" that our single mom, Molly should remember that there is no such thing as a free lunch, much less an entire free house. Something wasn't right. Of course, she didn't listen to me.... or to anyone else for that matter. I began to feel Molly utter frustration with her financial situation, her new business that wasn't doing so well, and how everyone began telling her that "bad things had happened there", but she wanted to provide for her girls, and she was the grand prize winner of this 200-year-old farmhouse. I wondered if she was the ONLY entry in that contest. She heard the warnings but was reluctant to believe there was any such thing as a real haunted house. Ghosts are just Halloween things...right?? I began to suspect that things were going to go wrong fast when a stipulation was put on her winnings of a probationary period to determine if she is the right person for the house. Exactly what was the qualifications for being the right person? She and the girls and their cockatoo Louis, move in and almost immediately things start to go bump in the night. I've read this author before and he always gives a ghost story an extra set of goosebumps and a truckload of chills. This one is no exception. The "ghost-story junkie" loved it. The ghost wasn't especially malevolent. However, the fact it was a ghost, and it was "in your face there"...was enough. "The Squatter" was eventually identified and Molly wanted to help...but could she? Could anyone? I'm not telling. You'll just have to read the story to find out.

Klara And the Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro
Audio performed by Sura Siu
4.5****

What does it mean to love? Can science duplicate that essentially human quality in an artificial intelligence being? Do we want scientists to even try?

Klara, the narrator of this extraordinary work, is an artificial friend (AF). She sits in the shop with other AFs watching the world go by the shop window, listening to the Manager about how to act / react among prospective buyers. She is a keen observer and learns her lessons well. And even though she is not of the latest generation of Afs it is Klara that one young girl, Josie, wants.

But there are things in Josie’s household that don’t compute. The Housekeeper seems extra watchful when The Mother is away at work. Josie is frail but has a special friend nearby, Rick. Klara gets drawn into Josie and Rick’s “plan” for their future, while also is learning that the plans of adults may not coincide. For all her intelligence and perceptiveness, Klara cannot quite understand emotion and she certainly doesn’t have feelings of her own. Her interpretations of what she observes are sometimes quite naïve, and I was reminded of comments my niece made when she was four or five years old.

This is a dystopian world, and there is significant pollution and there are hints of potential civil war. There are distinct differences between the haves and the have nots. Wealthier parents have the option to “lift” their children (via genetic engineering) to improve their intelligence and academic performance. And AFs are not always treated kindly.

I hope there will be a movie … I can just see the crane shot of that final scene.

Sura Siu does a marvelous job of voicing the audiobook. She really made Klara a believable AF, giving her an innocence to go with her intelligence. 5***** for the audio performance.

Unforgivable - Elle Keaton - (Washington)
Shielded Hearts series Book #6
5★
No one ever claimed it would be easy. Running away from his messy divorce did not bring Ira Fragale the peace he sought. If he's going to get his life together, he needs to pull up his big-boy pants and take care of business. He's been hiding out in Skagit, licking his wounds, for two years now. Keeping his head down, except for the trail of young men he's left behind. Something's got to give. Bartending at the Loft is easy, and Cameron McCulloch likes the friendships he's developed since his family rejected him, but he wants more. To get that, Cam needs to knock Ira off the pedestal he's placed him on. Ira's older, but that doesn't mean he has any clearer handle on life and the universe than Cam. Cam needs to focus on his own needs and forget about Ira, but he can't. Ira didn't choose Skagit at random; decades-old events set him on the path he is on today. The mystery of his father's murder may never be solved, but Ira would like to lay his spirit to rest. None of this explains why Cameron is suddenly the target of a series of hate crimes. The small town of Skagit has its share of trouble, but someone has it in for the LGBTQ community, and Cameron is directly in their crosshairs.

We met Ira in the beginning. A man in his 40's that is divorced with a son. Ira's ex-wife took the young son with her when she stormed out the house and Ira ran as far away as he could get which turned out to be Skagit, Washington. Now we meet Cameron (Cam) who bartends at The Loft. This setting reoccurs in most all of the books in this series along with a local coffee shop. It's like coming home to familiar places. There's not as much mystery in this one as there has been in the others in this series, except for who could be targeting Cam and leaving disturbing homophobic notes outside his door and then trashing his apartment. The person that had been attacking him previously is under arrest for assault, so it can't be him. I thought Cam took this latest occurrence way too lightly knowing that it had to be someone else. Ira and Cameron were destined to get together in spite of the 20-year age difference and that Ira's son was the same age as Cam. I liked that Ira had some of his major past issues put to rest and that he found a hopeful future with Cam. The two characters of Ira and Cameron kept me intrigued and happy all through their story.

Of Sea and Sand - Denyse Woods - (Oman, /Iraq/Ireland)
4★
Gabriel Sherlock arrives in Oman in 1982, fleeing shame and disaster back home in Ireland, and begins an intense affair with a woman whom no one else has seen. Locals insist she must be one of the jinn―a supernatural being―but Gabriel refuses to buy into the folklore, despite her sudden, unexplained disappearance. Twenty-six years later, Irishwoman Thea Kerrigan lands in Muscat, chasing her own ghosts from the past, and is approached by Gabriel, who believes she is his lost lover. Certain that they have never met before, Thea is nonetheless drawn to this deluded, and perhaps dangerous, stranger and the rumors that surround him. “Sometimes, the sunniest settings have the darkest shadows. Of Sea and Sand takes you to such a place, plays tricks with light and time―and eaves you not knowing who is real...us or them?

We are introduced to characters who lead us on a journey to Oman, Iraq and Ireland. Instead of the things we usually think of when the middle east is mentioned, like oilfield, camels and billionaire sheiks. Instead, we find the huge, hot and windy Arabia of dunes and vast endless desert spaces. The air is filled with wadis and souks and spices along with spirits of the liquid sort, and, it seems, spirits. of the ethereal type, better known in this world as a Jinn. Prudence is one very interesting jinn. She fades in and out of view in a very cinematic and mysterious blue aura. She is both physical and spiritual, normal and mysterious. It all turns out to be very mysterious. It’s a ghost story, a love story, and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. It is always unpredictable and has a simply amazing ending. It is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished the last page. It’s not my normal genre, but I really did enjoy this story

The Haunting of Crimshaw Manor / Mark E. Drotos
3.5 stars

Stephen has just become a new professor of Paranormal Studies at a university he used to attend. He had been in a relationship with Evelyn, who is still a student there. Stephen is called upon to be the university rep for the paranormal club that Evelyn is a part of and they are lucky enough (along with two other students from the club) to be able to investigate a haunting at a local (now deserted) house, Crimshaw Manor. During its history, Benjamin Crimshaw lived there with his wife, Elizabeth, and their young son Jonathan. After a bad storm, Elizabeth was found hanging, but there was never any sign of Benjamin or Jonathan.

There was more on the technical equipment/aspects of the investigation than I’m really interested in, but I appreciate that it was described so readers can get a better idea. I don’t really believe in ghosts, though I love the stories of them! Even still, they can creep me out. And this one did, at times; there were some creepy things going on!

I wasn’t crazy about Stephen and Evelyn’s relationship (picked up from a previous time), with Stephen now being a professor and Evelyn a student (though not Stephen’s student). I didn’t find the “relationship” very interesting, even without the professor/student dynamic. I did like Elizabeth’s story and how the place came to be haunted. The end did indicate that there might be a sequel, and I liked it enough to read the next book if there is one.

The Fix Is In - Mary Calmes - (Illinois/Oregon)
Torus Intercession series Book #4
4.5★
How can a man who doesn’t believe in things that go bump in the night possibly protect a man who does? It’s safe to say that Shaw James is a pragmatist who has no patience for anything but the facts. He is good at assessing threats and focusing on a clear objective when he goes out on a job for Torus Intercession. But he hasn’t had to be a detective before, it’s all brand new, so why his boss chose him to figure out who may, or may not, be trying to kill Benjamin Grace is beyond him. Protecting a paranormal investigator from whoever—or whatever—may be trying to kill him is completely out of Shaw’s wheelhouse, and how is he supposed to help find an attacker when the guy he’s sent to protect maintains that the threat is ghostly in origin? It’s insane, and Shaw does not do insane. Benjamin Grace is going to be a problem. But Benji is nothing at all like Shaw imagined he’d be, and the fixer is spellbound from their first meeting. Benji is kind and can laugh at himself, doesn’t take things too seriously, and, more than anything, he wants to help everyone. The man is inarguably Shaw’s polar opposite, and he brings out every protective instinct in Shaw. Best of all, though, is that Benji seems every bit as enchanted by the man sent to protect him. Together, Benji and Shaw must work to figure out what’s happening in the small town of Rune, Oregon, and it quickly proves more difficult than it should be to keep Benji alive. When it goes from difficult to seemingly impossible, Shaw packs Benji up and takes him back home to Chicago where the most frightening thing is Shaw’s own big, loud, loving, and overly-invested-in-his-love-life family who can’t seem to resist meddling in his affairs. Or not. Turns out the scariest thing might just be Benji, the guy who seems perfect for Shaw.

It was a non-scary ghost story as well as a love story and a story of two complete opposites finding out that they weren't so opposite after all. Shaw James, the youngest of with 6 older brothers had to learn early to look out for his own well-being so he was the perfect fixer/bodyguard for Benjamin Grace (Benji) a ghost hunter in a tiny town in Oregon. Benji was amazingly perfect with a catchy sense of humor that brought a lightness to Shaw's seriousness. There were parts that were funny and parts that were sweet. I loved how Benji "tames", rough/tough, by-the-book- Shaw. I do wish the series would continue...but there is always more Mary Calmes.

Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle – Ann B Ross
3***

Book number twelve in the Miss Julia series, featuring a woman of a certain age who cannot help but get involved in the goings on in her North Carolina town.

It’s not as if she doesn’t have enough going on at home. Hazel Marie is hugely pregnant with twins, Lloyd comes home from school with a story that his teacher was taken away by police, Lilian reports that the grocer complained about a bounced check, and then they learn of a body found in Miss Petty’s toolshed.

Well, of course, Miss Julia needs to get to the bottom of this. She can’t have people thinking she’s a scofflaw or worse that she’s losing her marbles writing bad checks all over town.

What I love about this series is Miss Julia, herself. She’s a real firecracker of a woman. She has her standards but seems unable to help herself when it comes to gossip or getting involved in things that are really none of her business. Her chief exercise seems to be jumping to conclusions, which lead to some rather humorous situations and conversations.

The supporting cast of characters are wonderful as well. From her long-time cook, Lillian, to her late husband’s mistress, Hazel Marie, to the ever -patient Sam, they help, caution, support and love Miss Julia through all her many adventures.

A fast, fun, comfort read.

Atomic Love – Jennie Fields
3.5***

Rosalind Porter worked on the Manhattan Project as the only woman physicist. But now, in 1950, she’s selling antique jewelry at Marshall Fields. Her job at the lab had ended abruptly just after her love affair with colleague Thomas Weaver had also ended abruptly. Heartbroken and depressed she left science behind and moved on with her life. But now Weaver has contacted her again and wants to re-establish their relationship. FBI agent Charlie Szydlo also wants her to see Weaver again, because the FBI suspects Weaver has been passing secrets on to the Russians and they want Rosalind to spy on him.

This work of historical fiction captured my attention from the beginning, and the twists and turns in the plot kept me turning pages. I wasn’t always in Rosalind’s camp. She seemed very vulnerable and far too easily swayed. There were times when she showed her intelligence and courage, but other times when I wanted to just shake her. I loved Charlie, though I found it hard to believe he’d be accepted into the FBI given his obvious PTSD and disability resulting from his time spent as a POW in a Japanese camp during WW2.

I’m not sure how this book came to my attention, but I noticed that both Ann Patchett and Elinor Lipman (authors whose works I’ve enjoyed) praised it.

Bleeding Blue - Brian Shea - (Massachusetts)
Boston Crime series Book #2
4★
With two street gangs on the brink of war, Detective Michael Kelly must solve a murder before the entire town goes up in flames. Boston Homicide Detective Michael Kelly just took his latest case. It seemed simple enough: a convenience store clerk gunned down in cold blood. There’s just one catch...the store was under the protection of the Irish mob. Now the city is a powder-keg, and Kelly must solve the murders before it explodes in further bloodshed.

I read the first book in this series, {Murder Board} and really liked the writing style of the author as well as the characters, so was anxious to read book 2. I liked that he brought a character from the first book back by hiring Kristen Barnes. She had partnered up with the character of Detective Mike Kelly in the first book. It didn't take as long to recognize and get into the bones of the plot as it did the first book and I have to say it was an exciting ride. It features and focuses more on organized crime in Boston than the first one did. I'm not a big fan of mafia stories but since reading the first book I was a fan of the character of Michael Kelly and his team of investigators. I probably will, at some point, read book #3. The only really "iffy" thing I can say about the story was the questionable planting of the undercover cop. It was a little unbelievable...but I won't go into the "why" to keep from giving too much away.

Woman In The Dark
By Dashiell Hammett
4/5 stars
A young woman on the run shows up on the doorstep and is taken in to help her. However, the couple who live there have no idea what they are getting into.

The SUPERGIRLS – Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and The History of Comic Book Heroines
by Mike Madrid
4/5 stars
Madrid discusses the history of the comic supergirls from the beginning in the 1940’s until the 2000’s. Very detailed and interesting.
Comics History

An Elephant in My Kitchen - Francoise Malby-Anthony - (South Africa)
5★
Françoise never expected to find herself responsible for a herd of elephants with a troubled past. A chic Parisienne, her life changed forever when she fell in love with South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony. Together they founded a game reserve but after Lawrence’s death, Françoise faced the daunting responsibility of running Thula Thula without him. Poachers attacked their rhinos; their security team wouldn’t take orders from a woman and the authorities were threatening to cull their beloved elephant family. On top of that, the herd’s feisty new matriarch Frankie didn’t like her. In this heart-warming and moving book, Françoise describes how she fought to protect the herd and to make her dream of building a wildlife rescue centre a reality. She found herself caring for a lost baby elephant who turned up at her house, and offering refuge to traumatized orphaned rhinos, and a hippo called Charlie who was scared of water. As she learned to trust herself, she discovered she’d had Frankie wrong all along.

The story is about something with four legs and bit of fur, so of course I give it 5 stars. It was heartbreaking but mostly heartwarming. Francoise had a heart bigger than the animals she was protecting. Actually, she never thought she would HAVE to do what she did. Her husband that started the sanctuary was suddenly gone...killed and she either had to fight to protect the elephant herd or let the poachers kill them.... which thankfully she never considered that an option. There is an attack on an animal orphanage that is horrific, that some may want to by-pass, but overall, the story contains, hope, love, joy and, yes, sorrow, but it also shows why we need to protect our precious wildlife. I sympathized with her...because I worked almost half my life for an organization that was dedicated to doing this. Although my zoo did not have elephants there are 5 other Zoo's in my state that do and donate to Francoise's refuge. We have to really take into consideration that we, as humans, are not exempt nor immune to following the path that so many of the Earth's species have already followed. Extinction is forever.

As Sure As The Sun - Elle Keaton - (Washington)
Shielded heats series Book #4
4.5★
The universe is trying to tell Sacha Bolic something. A fire escape collapses under him, he lands in crap, and a killer barely misses his target... all in the same few seconds. That's on top of a long list of mishaps and job dissatisfaction. Not one to ignore signals when they're shoved in his face, Sacha retires and uses his savings to buy an old building in Skagit, Washington. With a little help from DIY videos, he's going to bring it back to its former glory. And, yeah, it's a metaphor. If he makes one change, others will follow…Seth Culver avoids entanglements, romantic or otherwise. Who needs them? He's learned the hard way that people betray you or leave. Still, Seth finds people compelling. He kind of collects them, learning their secrets before letting them go their own way. His commitment to no commitments may have met its match in Sacha. Handsome and hot, Sacha seems to offer a permanence that scares Seth more than anything ever has. Seth will have to decide if he's going to grab life by the balls or keep watching from the sidelines. A box of inconsequential belongings hidden for decades in the old building hints at lives imagined but not lived, reminding them both there are no guarantees in love, or this thing called life.

Retired US Marshal Sacha Bolic returns to the small town of Skagit, where he once worked undercover but is now investing his time and money in renovating old buildings such as the Warrick, a bank building built in 1899. He’s also hitting his forties—and knows it’s time for him to stop living in the closet and to start a new life. Maybe even to find someone to share it with. He meets Seth Culver who has never really dealt with his demons. The fear of abandonment keeps everyone at bay, even his half-brother Adam. His carefree attitude was offset by the deep-rooted feeling that it was best he left first than be left behind hurting...which I thought was rather ridicules. If someone loved him and was willing to try to make a relationship work, why not meet them halfway and give it a chance? Would he have been any better or any worse off? The really interesting part of this story, other than the romance, was the box of letters, a picture and a book of poems that Sacha found hidden behind a wall in the building that he was restoring. Seth was determined to see if he could find if either of the men in the picture was still alive. They would be in their eighties or nineties n Seth's time. While searching the mystery of the hidden box they meet and make some new friends and learn how hard it as to be a gay man in the early 1900's. I also found a side note at the end of the story from Mary Calmes. It seems the characters of the two early men that are connected to the box was based on something that actually happen to her grandmother's brother. If you read this story, be sure to read that little side story at the end of this very sweet romance story.

Just Like That - Cole McCade - (Massachusetts)
Albin Academy series Book #1
4★
Summer Hemlock never meant to come back to Omen, Massachusetts...But with his mother in need of help, Summer has no choice but to return to his hometown, take up a teaching residency at the elite Albin Academy—and work directly under the man who made his teenage years miserable. Professor Fox Iseya. Forbidding, aloof, commanding: psychology instructor Iseya is a cipher who’s always fascinated and intimidated shy, anxious Summer. But that fascination turns into something more when the older man challenges Summer to be brave. What starts as a daily game to reward Summer with a kiss for every obstacle overcome turns passionate, and a professional relationship turns quickly personal. Yet Iseya’s walls of grief may be too high for someone like Summer to climb…until Summer’s infectious warmth shows Fox everything he’s been missing in life. Now both men must be brave enough to trust each other, to take that leap. To find the love they’ve always needed…Just like that.

I had never read anything by this author before, but this was recommended by a friend on another site so thought why not...and I have to say I liked it enough that I am going to read the second book in this series, Just Like This. The character of Fox could have been given a slightly warmer and more forgiving personality. I can't imagine a long term anything with him without some changes. Overall, they can both eventually be described as smart, witty, courageous, and inspiring. The author has a beautiful style of writing that keeps you turning pages and hoping that these two get there happy ever after. It is a May-December romance, and I liked the way that their age differences didn't come up in every other chapter and in every decision they made together. I'm really looking forward to book 2.

The Haunting of Witterwick House - John Hennessy - (Australia)
5★
You can't out run your past...A young family move into a beautiful house to leave behind a tragic secret. Far from remaining in the past, that secret has decided to move in with them. The beautiful, majestic, and hauntingly gothic Witterwick House is the kind of home they could have previously never dreamed of owning. It seems too good to be true. They thought they had buried their tortured past so that they could enjoy the future. However, the new home is haunted - but not with ghosts that rattle chains or open kitchen drawers. Shadows do not just appear when going to sleep. At Witterwick, it is something far more sinister.

I can't resist a haunted anything and especially a haunted house. This was much more than a mere haunting...this was evil incarnate. Something that couldn't be out run or be driven out with holy anything. Believe me The Amityville Horror was a bedtime fairy tale compared to this. Best thing the "Ghost Story Junkie" has read in this genre yet, and I have read a lot. Can't wait to see what John Hennessy brings to life next.

The Sacred Well Murders - Susan Roland - (England)
3★
A simple job turns deadly when Mary Wandwalker, novice detective, is hired to chaperone a young American, Rhiannon, to the Oxford University Summer School on the ancient Celts. Worried by a rhetoric of blood sacrifice, Mary and her operatives, Caroline, and Anna, attend a sacrifice at a sacred well. They discover that those who fail to individuate their gods become possessed by them.

If you love the combination of mystery and myth...or at least what you hope is only myth...this is more than likely right up your ally. The theme of magic is presented throughout the story. At first detective Mary Wandwalker is skeptical about the magic. Her task of escorting a young woman to a Celtic Summer School brings her to increasingly strange and unexplained encounters, some of them deadly. The pair soon find when they get there that there is an active cult called "Reborn Celts" who are performing rituals and believe they are going to be gods and goddesses. Personally, I think they've all been popping a lot of different colored pills and smoking weed. I found the plot interesting, for lack of a better word, but too unlikely in the whole. It's a bit gory, definitely fantastical.

Ordinary Girls – Jaquira Díaz
Digital audiobook narrated by Almarie Guerra
4****

In this memoir, Díaz relates her childhood and teen years with brutal honesty. She grows up in a dysfunctional family, first in Puerto Rico and later in Miami. Her mother battles both mental illness and drug addiction. Her father is frequently absent. She gets support and love from her friends, but lacks direction. She relishes her Puerto Rican cultural heritage, but her bisexuality does not fit the cultural model. A few teachers see the spark of her intelligence and nurture it, but she has a long, hard road to traverse (mostly alone) before she achieves some success.

I found her writing gripping and enthralling, despite the many cringe-worthy scenarios. Diaz does not flinch when reporting her own misdeeds, or a sexual assault, or her time in juvenile detention. There were times when I wanted to turn away, because the scenes were so painful, but her writing kept me going. My heart went out to the young girl and struggling teenager. I applauded the woman she became and the ways she found to reconcile with her parents.

Almarie Guerra does a superb job of narrating the audiobook. I had to double check that it was not narrated by the author, herself, because Guerra’s delivery sounds so very personal.

Mystery Walk - Robert McCammon - (Alabama/Illinois)
4.5★

One talks to the dead. The other heals the living. Both must make the Mystery Walk…From deep within the empty house of a murdered family, Billy Creekmore hears his name whispered…and is drawn inside. At a revival meeting in Alabama, Wayne Falconer demonstrates his miraculous healing powers…while demons feast and grow in his soul. On separate journeys through the Deep South to Chicago, from a world of innocence to a world of evil, greed, and lust, the two young men discover their manhood—and fuel a deadly rivalry. On a scorched slab of desert, they will meet in fear and unite their extraordinary powers against a raging, unshackled spirit—the walking, hungry corpse of the Shape Changer.

It's been a long time since I read a Robert McCammon book. As i got further into the story, I remembered that he certainly has a talent for books that are compelling and are designed to keep the reader turning the pages to find out what will happen next. I couldn't wait to see which boy would be the one to defeat the evil forces aligned against them both. The two boys, Billy Creekmore and Wayne Falconer are different as night and day in many ways but as alike as Siamese twins in others. Billy lives in a small rural Southern Alabama town with his parents. The other children will have nothing to do with him and no one in the town will acknowledge his family since his mother is called a witch because she has the ability to help the dead cross over. They will call on her when she is reluctantly needed for her "talent"... but avoided otherwise. When the family of Billy's best friend is murdered, he feels a strange "calling" to go into their house. Their spirits are stuck and can't cross over. There Billy discovers his life calling. He also has the same ability as his mother. Then we have Wayne...110% different than Billy. Wayne's family has more money than they know what to do with. Billy's family doesn't have two nickels to rub together. Wayne is the son of a famous evangelist and spends his summers traveling with his father's crusade. When his father discovers Wayne's talent for healing the sick...or at least that's what they think it is...Wayne becomes famous. The sick and dying of his father's flock come to him to be healed. Everyone believes in him, except for Ramona Creedmore and her son. When they come to the crusade, they see through Wayne and see that he can heal no one...although it appears he can. The rivalry begins between the two boys that continues as they grow up. Each has a talent. Each is learning how to use and shape it and wondering how their lives should revolve around it. Each fears the other and something they both call "Shape Changer", a beast that comes to them in dreams and tells them how it will kill them and eat their souls if they don't do as it tells them to. As grown men they meet again and must discover family secrets and learn the truth about their powers. They know that they must unite to fight the "Shape Changer" if they have any hope of survival. I liked the mystique that surrounded the characters and the evil and mystery that was woven in and out of the plot. Horror story fans will like it.

As Good as Gone by Larry Watson
370 p. - ★ ★ ★ ★

During the summer of 1963, Calvin Sidey returns to Gladstone, Montana, to supervise his granddaughter Ann and grandson Will while their parents are in Missoula for Marjorie's operation. Calvine hadn't wanted to come back, having left that house years ago - after his wife died, and when he should have stayed to care for his own children. There is trouble brewing, though, as Ann's ex-boyfriend won't take "no" for an answer and Will's friends become more aggressive. Calvin tries to solve problems in the way of Old West cowboys, but trouble lies in that way.

It was really hard not to picture Sam Elliott as Calvin Sidey! My favorite character was Beverly Lodge, who could push back against Calvin. I don't think this is Watson's best, but it is close.

November 9 - Coleen Hoover - (California}
2★
Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in Los Angeles together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist. Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

Even though the book was written well, I can't say I ever warmed up to any of the characters. To begin with I thought there was hope for Fallon. I liked the way she handled herself, but then there was Ben. At first, I thought I might like him but after about the halfway point he became a controlling creep. I wanted Fallon to have sense enough to run far and run fast... but I knew that was not in the cards. That was not the place this story was going. He spent the rest of the book trying to force her into listening to him and doing exactly what he wanted her to. I have to admit that I started skim reading until the end because by now I just didn't care about any of them... not even for Fallon. I hated that she didn't have any backbone whatsoever and just kept forgiving him again and again. Overall, the story is filled with abusive relationships and toxic characters. It glorifies cheating and other such negative things that absolutely is never to be a part of any relationship.

Shards Of Honor– Lois McMaster Bujold
Digital audiobook read by Grover Gardner
3***

Book number 1 in the space-opera series Vorkosigan Saga introduces the reader to this family. Not being a great science-fiction fan, I’d never heard of this series, but a challenge to read something by Bujold led me here.

We have a kick-ass heroine, Commander (later Captain) Cordelia Naismith, who is leading her team on a scientific exploration of a new planet, when they are ambushed. She instructs her crew to leave and save the ship before she is knocked out. When she comes to, she is face-to-face with the infamous Captain Aral Vorkosigan, head of the Barrayaran military patrol that attacked them. But it seems that HIS forces also left and now the two of them are alone.

Well, that’s a pretty exciting beginning, and it certainly captured my attention. I was interested in the world Bujold created, including the many creatures – furry crabs, deadly bubbles. But the adventure is just beginning. Bujold gives us intrigue, politics, war, competing interests and many plot twists that kept this reader turning pages (or listening past bedtime). I loved the dry humor and witty banter between these two. Their individual strengths complement one another, and I enjoyed watching the attraction between them blossom.

What I find most interesting is that this first in the series takes place BEFORE the lead series character is even born! Well, will I read more to find out about Miles? Probably not. But I’m still glad I read this one.

Grover Gardner does a good job of narrating the audiobook. I frequently notice his deep, gravelly voice, especially when there’s a female character, but it made no difference to me this time. Perhaps that is because he made less effort to actually change his voice from character to character in this book. He certainly does a good job of performing “adventure” stories.

The Devotion of Suspect X
Keigo Higashino
4/5 stars
Detective Kusanagi gets involved in a case of murder of a divorced man but has no clue who is involved. The man had a contentious relationship with his ex, Yasuko Hanaoka. He had been threatening her and he ended up dead. The wife goes to her neighbor, Ishigami who has feelings for her and he helps deal with the body. The detective has no answers and reaches out to his friend, physicist Dr. Manabu Yukawa, also known as “Detective Galileo” to help his solve this mystery. Very interesting!

Not My Child - Samantha King
4.5★
Two mothers. One child. Who do you believe? The playground is the last place I thought I’d see you. It was my Billy’s first day at school. It was supposed to be a happy one. But then you turned up. I remembered you instantly from the hospital wing. Our babies born on the same day. Both premature. Both needing intensive care. While Billy grew stronger day by day, your baby sadly slipped away. But now you’re back with one devastating accusation… Billy isn’t my son at all, he’s yours. And you’ve come to take him away.

When Ruth takes her son Billy to school for the first time, she gets the shock of her life when another woman, Eve, approaches her to tell her that Billy is actually hers and that their babies were switched at birth. Whilst Billy went on to live, the other baby died and Ruth’s reaction to all of this is to run home with her son away from those accusations. As the story goes on, we are thrown into the history of the women and in particular Ruth’s history with her husband and some friends. Nothing is as it seems and there is an intricate web of secrets from both mothers that means there is more to the story than merely babies switched at birth. There is so much suspense in woven into this book that I didn’t know who to believe. I couldn’t begin to imagine ever being in that situation. It’s genuinely, absolutely horrifying. There are so many twists and turns that the reader can hardly get their heads around it all. I enjoyed the idea behind the story. The book is very well written, and I found it more and more difficult to stop reading. I will warn that it may be a very difficult book for anyone that has ever lost a child to read.

Treble Maker -Annabeth Albert - (California)
Perfect Harmony series Book #1
3.5★
Cody Rivers wants to be a music star. And this a cappella singing competition could be his best, last chance to make it happen. However, his punk style and rocker attitude don’t exactly fit in with the world of clean-cut, wholesome a cappella groups or reality music TV shows. Even worse, a bumbling bass singer from a rival group might be his undoing. Lucas Norwood isn’t cut out to be a star. He’s content being in the background of his college a cappella group, trying not to trip over his feet while attempting to fit in with his more conservative friend group. He’s also determined not to let Cody’s barbs—or his smoking hot good looks—get to him. When the show forces them to work together, their chemistry is undeniable, both on and off the stage. But giving into their attraction may have real consequences, especially with elimination looming. Will making their dreams come true mean losing each other?

Annabeth Albert has written better...but this is not by any stretch of the imagination, a bad or uninteresting book. I just couldn't work up much appreciation for the background of the story or the characters, although I began to like the two main characters more as the story went on. I was happy to see that Cody and Lucas cared enough about one another to try to work together to strengthen their budding attraction and relationship and that Lucas had the strength of his conviction to stand up to his unreasonably demanding parents. The parents were quiet a pair and it was commendable of Lucus and Cody to face them without completely alienating them. Annabeth Albert's books usually get much higher ratings from me, but I felt that while the story and the characters were good it took a bit too long to get started. I do intend to finish the series with books 2 & 3.

The Testaments / Margaret Atwood
4.5 stars

This sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale” takes place 15 or 16 years after the first book. In this one, we follow three characters: Aunt Lydia and two teenaged girls, one in Gilead and one in Canada. Early in the book, both girls lose their mothers. Agnes’ (in Gilead) father, Commander Kyle, marries Paula, who is awful to Agnes. Daisy in Canada has actually lost both her parents in an explosion, and she is a bit lost as to what to do next until someone gives her some information she hadn’t previously known and helps her with where to go next. With Aunt Lydia, we find out more about her pre-Gilead, and how she became an aunt. The three stories do converge as the book continues on.

I listened to the audio and it was really good! The actress who plays Aunt Lydia in the tv show also narrated the character’s storyline in “The Testaments”. Although I loved the audio, and would recommend it for those who listen to audio books, it was harder to tell Agnes and Daisy apart, especially when the storylines converged; earlier in the book, you can tell by the other characters and what is happening around them. The narrators are different and their voices are different, but I still couldn’t remember which voice was who. BUT that did not detract from how much I liked the book. I also liked an added bit (can’t recall if it’s called such, but it’s an epilogue) at the very end. I’ve read “The Handmaid’s Tale” twice and I liked this one quite a bit more.

Titanic Survivor / Violet Jessop & John Maxtone-Graham
3 stars

Violet Jessop was a cabin steward in many different cruise ships during the early 20th century, taking over after her mother was no longer able to do the same work. However, there were very few women who did this job at the time. Violet survived not only the Titanic sinking, but also when the Britannic sank during the war.

This was ok. There wasn’t nearly as much about the Titanic as I’d hoped. I do normally like biographies/memoirs, as well, but I just didn’t find this one all that interesting. And I’ve done cruises, so that is often interesting to me, as well. I just didn’t find her writing interesting, unfortunately. John Maxtone-Graham was the editor of Violet’s writings and he did interject tidbits of info and speculation into the book, and that didn’t bother me at all, but in the ebook it was sometimes hard to tell when it was Violet’s words or his; italics or square brackets of some other indicator would have been nice.

I wondered at times if she was making some of it up, to be honest. One thing that made me think that was repetition of common things (that were apparently incorrect, like musicians playing “Nearer My God to Thee”) that have been said. She also used pseudonyms for some people, which is fine, but the editor mentioned at one point that he wondered if some of the passengers mentioned were mashes (my word, not his – can’t recall the word/phrase he used) of multiple people Overall – ok, but I’m not sure this should be at the top of anyone’s Titanic reading list.

Reigniting Chase - Jeanne St. James - (Pennsylvania)
3★
Chase: After an excruciating loss, I’m desperate for a fresh start. Away from the painful memories. Away from everyone I know and anyone who knows my story. That’s how I end up in Eagle’s Landing, Pennsylvania. As a bestselling author, my main reason for moving to a remote mountain cabin is to overcome the writer’s block that crushed my creativity for the past two years. My hope is to rediscover my words in the quiet, small town where no one knows me or my past. A place where I can blend in enough that I become invisible.

Rett: Even though Chase, one of my favorite authors, insists he wants to be left alone, I refuse to let him wallow in whatever’s drowning him. As a local bookstore owner and an author, myself, I’m intrigued by the man who’s a master of the written word. Unfortunately, his social skills could use a lot of work. Even so, I’m determined to pull the irritable and frustrating man out of the dark pit he’s fallen into and back to the surface, no matter how hard he fights it. I only hope dragging Chase down that fiery path just might reignite his spark and that I don't get burned in the process.

I have liked this author and her work for a quiet some time, so I wasn't expecting anything different from Reigniting Chase. I wasn't exactly disappointed, but I didn't like how the character of Rhett went about trying to pull Chase back to the land of the living. His heart may have been in the right place, but Rett's actions...the way he kept approaching Chase, began to seem more like stalking than actually giving Chase a chance to know him and confide in him and begin any relationship of any kind. The chemistry between Rett and Chase was there from the moment they met but Chase didn't make any effort to show interest. He grumbled and pushed Rett's attempts at friendship away at every turn. I will give Rett credit for not giving up, but he didn't to go at it slower. I figured it would work out for them in the end if they could get past the angst, they felt toward one another.

Pack of Lies - Charlie Adhara - (North Carolina)
Monster Hunt series Book#1
5★
Julien Doran arrived in sleepy Maudit Falls, North Carolina, with a heart full of hurt and a head full of questions. The key to his brother’s mysterious last days might be found in this tiny town, and now Julien’s amateur investigation is starting to unearth things the locals would rather keep buried. Perhaps most especially the strange, magnetic manager of a deserted retreat that’s nearly as odd as its staff. Eli Smith is a lot of things: thief, werewolf, glamour-puss, liar. And now the manager of a haven for rebel pack runaways. He’s spent years cultivating a persona to disguise his origins, but for the first time ever he’s been entrusted with a real responsibility—and he plans to take that seriously. Even if the handsome tourist who claims to be in town for some R & R is clearly on a hunt for all things paranormal. And hasn’t taken his brooding gaze off Eli since he’s arrived. When an old skeleton and a fresh corpse turn a grief errand into a murder investigation, the unlikely Eli is the only person Julien can turn to. Trust is hard to come by in a town known for its monsters, but so is time.

I am such a huge fan of her Big Bad Wolf series. While waiting for something else by her to magically appear, I reread the series 3 times and now am anxiously awaiting book #2 of this series... Den of Thieves, which comes out on April 25, 2023. The two new main characters in this series found exactly what they each needed in the other.... eventually. They didn't always see eye to eye, but they complimented one another beautifully and made me want to see more of them. At this point I don't think you have to have read the Big Bad Wolf series in order to enjoy this one, but you will meet a couple of characters from that series, which by the way was fantastic...thank you Ms. Adhara! This is Eli's story. Eli is a snarky werewolf who manages a mountain resort in Maudit Falls, North Carolina which serves as a safe house for rebel werewolves. Eli is a bit unusual in that he possesses secret shifting abilities which I found kinda cute.... and wish I could do that. Eli meets Julian, a grieving young man who is staying at another local resort. Julian is searching for answers about his brother Rocky’s death and was led to the area by a cryptic message about monsters that Julian found in Rocky's room. Both Eli and Julian have past trauma and trust issues, so of course they are leery of getting too close. Eli is afraid that Julian would reject him if he learned that Eli was a shifter...and Julian…well, let's just say that he has his own secrets. The title of this book is perfect since there certainly is a plethora of lying going on, so much so that you’re not sure who to believe. I loved how each character's lies were revealed and the motivation was uncovered allowing us to experience the story from each of their prospective. It was a combination of murder mystery combined with paranormal elements. We get to follow Eli and Julian as they join forces to do some sleuthing, along with some romancing while trying to keep their secrets from each other. Thank you, Ms. Adhara, for bringing Oliver and Cooper into the story. Even though they only had a small physical presence we knew they were helping behind the scenes. Please keep them coming back.

I Remember You - Brian Freeman - (Massachusetts/Nevada)
5★
On the Fourth of July, Hallie Evers dies at a rooftop party in Las Vegas. Hours later, she wakes up in the hospital, disoriented but alive. Why can’t she find the doctor who revived her? Why does her head feel crowded and loud? Why do her memories feel both foreign and familiar? Her self-doubt spirals into crippling paranoia. Hallie knows that mental illness runs in her family―her mother suffered from delusions that led to an early death. But now even Hallie’s dreams are fraught with details that seem like more than imagination―vivid images of a city she remembers but has never visited in her life. As she embarks on a cross-country search for answers, Hallie catches glimpses of what feel like another person’s memories. It’s a dark, horrifying, tragic vision…of someone else’s murder. But is any of it real?

My library's mistake produced a pretty good end result when I received the book with the right title...but the wrong author. I've read Brian Freeman's books before so rather than returning it, I kept it and read it. Glad that I did. For Hallie Evers it was the worst fourth of July imaginable. It's not every day that your boss fires you, your boyfriend texts a break-up and informs you that he's going to date your roommate, oh...and did I mention that you are pronounced dead? This is only the beginning for Hallie. She has memories that are clearly NOT hers and after being released from the hospital that she doesn't remember ever being taken to, by a doctor that she's never seen or met before but obviously knows her, she boards a plane for Boston, a city that she feels she has to return to but knows she has NEVER been anywhere near. Once there she will meet a sister that she remembers vividly but also remembers that she is an only child. This nightmare is not finished with her by any means. A pair of assailants nearly kidnap her before they’re run off, and Todd Kivel, a private eye who appears out of nowhere to rescue her, gets killed for his trouble. Clearly Hallie’s being tracked by some unknown someone who is plotting a deeper game. I did almost figure it out...but not all of it. Just when you think that the "Big Reveal" has arrived...you're wrong. It's only the beginning to a new set of mysteries. The question remains are these or are they not the worst, most confusing dreams ever ...and whose dreams, are they? This book was without a doubt one of the best "mistakes" I ever read.

Darkest Lullaby - Jonathan Janz - (Indiana)
5★
The old house waited. For years there had been rumors that the owner, Lilith Martin, had been part of an unholy cult. People spoke of blasphemous rituals, black rites filled with blood, sex…and sacrifices. Then Lilith died and the house sat empty. Until now. Lilith’s nephew, Chris, and his wife, Ellie, are moving in. Ellie isn’t happy about living in such a dark, foreboding place, but she wants to get pregnant, and this house has a lot more room to raise a baby than their apartment. Unfortunately, she and Chris will soon learn that Lilith has other plans.

Creepy, creepy, creepy! Just my kind of story. I did find that Mr. Janz, while writing a goosebump producing story seems to more than once to set up scenario's that seem to be so impossible to escape that any way the characters find to solve a problem is equally impossible to believe. I didn't find that that took any enjoyment away from the story...just made me have to reassess my way of thinking. If you are a reader that just reads and doesn't try too hard to solve things...that won't bother, you at all. I had read that the author grew up between a very dark woods and a graveyard...so he certainly uses his past experiences when creating these stories that suck you in and keeps you wanting and coming back for more. This is the third book by Joanathan Janz that I have read. One moment he has you seeing a beautiful expanse of forest, and a future for this young couple, and the next...every living thing that is seen or unseen becomes an awaking of the most sinister and malevolent forces you can imagine. In the turn of a page the safe harbor has becomes a prison. You'll love the two main characters that now own the house that was inherited from Chris's aunt, but it isn't very far into the story that you will discover that the house has other plans...it may now "own" them.

The Book of Lost Friends – Lisa Wingate
Audiobook performed by Bahni Turpin, and Sophie Amos, with Lisa Flanagan, Dominic Hoffman, Sullivan Jones, Robin Miles, and Lisa Wingate
4****

For this work of historical fiction, Wingate was inspired by actual “Lost Friends” advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, wherein newly freed slaves search for family members from which they’d been separated. She uses the ubiquitous dual timeline for this story.

Hannie, still sharecropping on her former master’s Louisiana estate, tells her tale from 1875-1876. While Benedetta (Benny) Silva, is a first-year teacher at a poor rural school in a tiny Mississippi River town in 1987-88, trying to engage and inspire her students with a project to look into their own family histories. Wingate moves back and forth from chapter to chapter between these two settings, leading to an eventual convergence of the stories.

I’ve come to really dislike the dual timeline, but I thought Wingate did a marvelous job in this case. And while I thought Hannie’s tale was the more compelling of the two, I also appreciated the “modern” story of poor, Southern blacks and how the system continued to enslave and impoverish them. I did think Wingate tried to hard to make Benny an empathetic character – drawing some nebulous comparisons with her background and those of the children she was teaching. And I didn’t think the nascent love interest did anything to serve the main story.

Still, I was interested and engaged from beginning to end, and I really appreciated learning about the “Lost Friends” advertisements; examples of actual “Lost Friends” articles are sprinkled throughout the book.

The audiobook is masterfully performed by a cast of talented voice artists. Bahni Turpin, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators, brings Hannie to life, while Sophie Amos narrates Benny’s chapters. I did think that Benny came off sounding WAY too young and naïve, especially at the beginning. The other actors fill in the many characters, in both 19th and 20th centuries. Finally , Wingate narrates her own author notes describing how she came to this story.

All Note Long - Annabeth Albert - (California)
Perfect Harmony series Book #3
4.5★
Michelin Moses is good at reinventing himself. The successful rocker turned country superstar knows all about new beginnings and second chances. But when he’s caught kissing a hot dancer at an LGBTQ+ club, the resulting publicity storm may be more than he can weather. Lucky Ramirez can only be himself—fabulous dancer, flirty personality, and fantastic kisser. He didn’t mean to come on to the hot patron with a familiar face. Except somehow he did, and now their kiss is all over the gossip sites. When Michelin’s publicist suggests a fake relationship to help Michelin’s image, Lucky reluctantly agrees. How hard can it be to fake loving a superstar, especially one as nice and as charismatic as Michelin? But when they give into their very real attraction, pretending gets more and more difficult. Lust may not be enough to overcome their differences, and trust is in short supply. Can Michelin get Lucky before it’s too late?

Annabeth Albert created an interesting story of what happens when a country singer comes out. Country music is generally promoted more in the south where the acceptance of a gay country singer might/could meet a bit more resistance. I felt Albert did a great job showing the acceptance and rejection that Michelin goes through from various sources. And I also liked that even in the end, there were those who couldn't accept it because that, people, is the real world we live in. Everything. no matter how much we may want it, we know that everything doesn't always have a happy ending. Michelin takes a lot of grief from his record label, and that was tough to see him caving to their wishes all the time, but when it really counted, he pushed back. I absolutely loved Lucky. He was a fantastic character. He was so dedicated to his dancing and that no matter what anyone, including his family, thought about what he did, he wasn't going to let it rule his decisions. There was so much pride...actually sometimes too much, but mostly he was just really passionate about what he loved and wanted things to work out and that included his life with Michelin. He was a great match for the country singer. Lucky had no problem telling Michelin what he thought, and he was also more fun and spontaneous which helped push Michelin out of his quiet shell. Overall, it was a really good read...but I would expect nothing less from Annabeth Albert.

Grey Matters / Clea Simon
3.5 stars

Ducie is a grad student working on her thesis. Just after she meets with her advisor, she comes out of the building only to stumble upon a murder victim, another man in the English department. In her personal life, she is feeling lonely as her boyfriend is spending almost all his time working; her best friend/roommate has a new boyfriend; her beloved pet cat, Mr. Grey, had recently passed away, although his ghost visits her, still, and she has a new black and white, still unnamed, kitten.

Like with the first book in the series (this is the 2nd), there was more academic-speak in the book than I would have liked. I wasn’t necessarily all that excited to hear, in so much detail, about Dulcie’s thesis. I wasn’t sure initially if I would continue the series after this one (primarily) because of that. Not a big fan of ghost-cats talking, either. But as the end came around, I decided I like it enough that I would try the next book, as well.

These Things Hidden - Heather Gudenkauf - (Iowa)
3.5★
When teenager Allison Glenn is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls' golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces whispered rumors every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It's Brynn—shy, quiet Brynn—who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her. But then Allison is released to a halfway house and is more determined than ever to speak with her estranged sister. Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.

This book was written well enough to make it almost painful to read. This author is really good with descriptions...in this case, almost too good. She painted images in my head that will not be easily erased any time soon. The chapters are short. First, and sometimes third person narratives tell the story. That sounds confusing but somehow it flowed well. I expect that was mainly due to the fact that Heather Gudenkauf has excellent writing abilities. The entire book should have "Trigger Warning" embossed on the cover in huge bright red letters. There are just so many events within the story that could set some readers on a downward spiral. There's sibling rivalry, bullying, teen pregnancy, adoption, mental illness and attempted suicide that are all addressed throughout. In spite of that, the book was intriguing, and informative...but be warned, the ending was shocking, unexpected, and absolutely heartbreaking. It keeps the reader more than just curious throughout the story. The plot might seem obvious from the beginning but there is more to Allison’s "crime" than meets the eye. The 3.5-star rating didn't come from the shock value of the story but from the way the story drifted eventually into unbelievable territory, Also I wasn't exactly sure what message the author was actually trying to convey or how we, the reader, was supposed to feel about Alison

Side Note
The plot is built on Iowa’s Safe Haven law, which decriminalizes child abandonment, allowing for newborns to be given up at designated Safe Haven sites and for the parents to remain anonymous.

Code Silver - Max Walker - (California)
Sierra View series Book #1
5★
Dean Harper is the type of doctor anyone would want to bump into in an elevator. He’s devilishly handsome, deeply caring, and has a pair of sapphire blue eyes that pierce right through you. He was well on his way to having the perfect life with who he thought was the perfect man. Well, until he found that ‘perfect’ man cheating on him with three other guys. At the same time. Noah Silver is having a difficult time. With his mom passing and his dad growing more and more difficult to live with, he’s pushed into an unorthodox way of making money. He knew that being a cam boy would be temporary, but he didn't realize how drastically it would change his life. He had no idea he would meet the man of his dreams because of it. He also had no idea he would become the target of a serial killer because of it. Dean’s world gets turned upside down when Noah, the guy he’d been fantasizing with through a computer screen, ends up in his exam room. Their connection is immediate, even though Noah has no idea Dean is behind his online crush. They both have issues to work on, but can either of them pass up a chance like this? Or are they both throwing themselves into harm’s way?

I have never read anything by Max Walker that wasn't a 5-star worthy story, Code Silver is not an exception. I absolutely loved the two main characters. Noah Silver is a personal trainer. He earns some extra money as a camboy. Dean Harper is an ER doctor. He left a cheating ex after a five-year relationship. You can feel the chemistry between these two guys from the beginning when they first met in the ER. Both have their personal reasons to take it slow and not rush into anything. I liked how they let it build by staring to dating and getting to know one another. There were some self-doubts, but there was also plenty of excitement that comes with any new relationship. Their antics were sometimes funny and sometimes frustrating. Along with the budding romance we also have a mystery. There's a stalker whose intentions are murder. When added to the storyline we now have an intense love story with a twist. I'm on the Code Red and Code Blue. I know they will be just as good. You can't expect Max Walker to deliver anything less.

>33 Carol420: I'm very high on Brian Freeman as authors go. He's new to me but so far vey enjoyable, so this one has just moved up my TBR thanks to your review.

>40 ColinMichaelFelix: Hope you enjoy it. I've liked everything I've ever read by him.

Code Blue - N.R. Walker - (Australia)
5★
Steve Frost had dreams of wearing the national championship belt in mixed martial arts, maybe even going pro, but instead, finds himself working as a security guard for the rich and famous in LA. Quickly earning a reputation for his blunt and precise people management skills, he lands a position on the security team for an up-and-coming boyband, Atrous. Years later, he's head of security. He knows these boys, and with countless tours, flights, car trips, public events, concerts, he's closer to one band member in particular. Jeremy's been a pillar for Atrous since day one, but even more so these last few months. Now the face of the band more than ever, he's also got himself the attention of a delusional stalker-fan. When the fame and stress become too much, when Jeremy's health takes a hit, Steve becomes Jeremy's lifeline. But as Jeremy knows already, and as Steve is about to learn, not even the brightest star can shine forever.

I read the book out of order because this one was part of a group challenge but because the "boy band /security guard falling for each another" theme had been done in recent other books that I've read, and the books seem to tell the stories of the characters more than following the events of the band itself, it worked for me. I do have the other two books...so will meet the other members. Steve wasn't a particularly likeable character. He was a bit over demanding and a lot hardheaded and opinionated. He and Jeremy did truly love one another, and they were there supporting one another when each needed the other the most. It made for a sweet love story that was written as only Ms. Walker always does. The stalker in the story was a good addition but a bit too complex. Her characters in all her books that I have read, have always succeed in getting their happy endings...and this one was no different. Another fabulous read from another author that could write anything and I’d read it.

The Hidden Grave - Dominika Best - (Oregon)
3★
Still reeling from the aftermath of solving the Creek Killer investigation, Cold Case detective, Harriet ‘Harri’ Harper has returned to Eugene, Oregon to tend to something closer to home: her private quest to find out what really happened to her sister, Lauren Harper, who disappeared almost twenty years ago.A serial killer has been stalking young teens and dumping them in the same woods where her sister was last seen. Could the two cases be somehow linked? When Harri, along with FBI profiler Jake Tepesky, gets involved in the search for a missing fifteen-year-old boy, they uncover a decades-old conspiracy, one that someone wants very much to keep secret—at all costs.As more victims die and few clues surface, Harri and Jake’s investigation collides with that of the Eugene Sheriff’s department in a clash that threatens both their careers. Can Harri find the evidence to stop the killer, or will she become his next victim?

I can't really say that I liked or disliked the book. It was well written and easy to follow but it left a lot of unanswered questions in the end. I'm finding that more and more authors are doing this now. Almost seems like a ploy to sell the next book to the reader that is hoping to find out what happened in the last book. Overall, it's not a bad read except for the lack of a real ending. I realize that it is book 3 of an ongoing series but there should have been a better conclusion to this one before moving on to the next one. I was left feeling like I just became a part of a marketing scheme with no guarantee that the next one or the one after that, would answer any of the unanswered questions. Putting my soapbox away now:)

The Right to Remain - L.A. Witt - (California)
5+++★
Levi Harris has never had a reason to stay on the straight and narrow. Nothing he does is ever good enough for his family, his teachers, his bosses, his drill instructors. He can’t do anything right, so why bother trying? Then he gets caught breaking and entering, and now he’s bound for prison. Or is he?
Austin Caldwell isn’t thrilled about being burglarized, but when he finds himself face to face with the intruder, he sees himself in those terrified eyes. He knows more than most how much prison chews people up and spits them out. Maybe, just maybe, he can save Levi from that fate. It starts as an arrangement for Levi to work off his debt to Austin. As trust grows between them, so does an undeniable attraction. Especially as Austin begins to see untapped desires in Levi, and he begins to unlock a whole new world of sensuality for his submissive protégé. Levi’s in heaven. He’s finally wanted. He finally belongs. For the first time in his life, he has something to lose. All he has to do is stay out of trouble. And hope trouble doesn’t find him.

586 pages that I simply wanted to find that overnight that an additional 586 had miraculously materialized somehow. The two main characters of Levi and Austin and the way they first met, was the beginning of a spectacular story. It was a story with many, many facets. It was about human decency when faced with a situation that you know isn't everything that it seems to be at first. It's about trust, honesty and giving and getting second and even third chances. It's about hope. It's about the resilience of the human spirit. Levi was willing and trying to change his life and Austin was willing to give him that chance. Austin had at one time been where Levi was at the beginning of the story. He told Levi about his time in prison and how while it had nearly broken him, it had made him a better and prouder human being. Levi and Austin were the picture of pure perfection for one another from the beginning. It was a treat to watch their love grow and sometimes overwhelm them but yet hold them together like super glue. I thought that things were going to be smooth sailing for them until Levi's past reared its ugly head. The story at that point evidenced that all of our actions have consequences that sometimes come back to bite us when we are least expecting it. I cry over very few stories unless an animal dies or is mistreated, but the section where Levi and Austin had to at long last "pay the piper", had me hunting Kleenex. I knew that L.A. Witt seldom, if ever, writes a book that the main characters don't find happiness, but I have to say I had my doubts here. I absolutely loved the book, and it was worth every penny I paid for it. I'm waiting for the arrival of the second book Finding Mr. Right. I know this genre isn't everyone's cup of tea so please be aware that it is a same sex couple, has many sex scenes, and has mild BDSM.

Long Walk to Freedom / Nelson Mandela
4 stars

Nelson Madela was a lawyer, then involved for most of his life with the ANC (African National Congress), when he fought for the rights of black Africans and against apartheid when that was instituted in the 1950s. He went to prison in 1963 and spend almost three decades there as a political prisoner (alongside other members of the ANC and other similar political groups) before being freed in 1990. This is his autobiography up to when he became president of South Africa in 1994.

In the first half, I found his personal life more interesting than his work/political life. But the second half really picked up for me. I found his time as a prisoner the most interesting part of the book. He (and the other political prisoners) managed to continue to fight as much as they could from within the prison walls. He really was an amazing man, but sadly his family life suffered for everything he did for the people of South Africa.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind – William Kamkwamba
4****

Subtitle: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope

This is the memoir of an extraordinary young man, the son of a Malawian farmer, struggling in poverty and through famine and drought, but following the spark of inspiration, his own thirst for knowledge, and a desire to help his family and community. William saw a need and thought, “What if?” As he explained to a TED conference, “I tried, and I made it.”

What he did was electrify his family home with his makeshift windmill, constructed from miscellaneous parts he scavenged from a scrapyard. Unable to attend school because his parents lacked the funds to pay tuition, William relied on the library, and one specific book on physics which he read over and over and over again. He did not despair that he lacked this or that device or material, rather he saw possibilities in the least likely bits and pieces. And he remained focused on his goal of improving his family’s life and ability to succeed.

Brian Mealer co-authored the memoir, as Kamkwamba’s English was pretty basic at the time he sat down to tell his story. Still, it’s not the best-written book I’ve read, but the emotion of the story is what elevates it, in my opinion.

His story is inspiring and uplifting. Bravo!

(Note: There is also a young adult edition of his memoir, which, I assume, has less of the technical science / engineering in it. In his life, Kamkwamba has since gone one to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College. He continues to work to improve the lives of his countrymen.)

Code Red - N.R. Walker - (Australia)
Atrous series
4.5★
Maddox Kershaw is the main vocalist of the world's biggest boy band. He's at the top of every music chart, every award show, every social media platform, and every sexiest-man-alive list. He's the bad boy, the enigma, the man everyone on the planet wants a piece of. He's also burned out and exhausted, isolated and lonely. Not in a good headspace at the start of a tour.
Roscoe Hall is Maddox's personal manager. His job is high-flying, high-demand, high-profile, and he loves it. Maddox has consumed his entire life for the past four years. Roscoe knows him. He sees the real Maddox no one else gets to see. He's also in love with him. When the tour and stress become too much, when the world begins to close in, Roscoe becomes Maddox's lifeline. But as Maddox knows already, and as Roscoe is about to learn, the brighter the spotlight, the darker the shadow.

The story is an interesting commentary on the music industry wrapped up in a sweet love story, although a forbidden love Story. Maddox, the front man of the boy band Atrous, and Roscoe, his personal manager have been attracted to one another from the first time they met, but Maddox's contract has a "no dating staff" clause that could get him removed from the highly popular band. Maddox has more problems than his attraction to Roscoe. He struggles with a crippling anxiety that manifests when enormous pressures are put on him. Of course, his entire life now with the band is one giant pressure cooker of various pressures. The author does a really good job of depicting the potential ill-effects of the music industry we sometimes hear about plaguing bands and performers. Rather makes you wonder what they thought life was going to be like before they started on this road. Roscoe shows lots of protective instincts and nurturing personality. You knew that these are two genuinely thoughtful guys. I loved the relationship and comradery between Roscoe and Maddox and the five band members. The band members are unquestioningly supportive of Maddox and whatever changes he needs to make to improve his health. I thought the author did a great job of portraying anxiety and panic attacks realistically as well as compassionately. She got the message across that there is no shame in having mental health issues and certainly not in asking for help.

Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend
Mitchell Zuckoff
4/5 stars
Charles Ponzi, an immigrant from Italy came to America in 1920 to make it big. Unfortunately, life was hard in America but he eventually latched on to a scheme in Boston that made him a lot of money at the expense of others. Unfortunately, his scheme ended to be a house of cards falling when he thought he had it made! Well written and very interesting!

The Lies I Told - Mary Burton - (Virginia)
3★
Twin sisters Marisa and Clare Stockton were sixteen when Clare’s body was found in Virginia’s James River. No arrests were made. Fourteen years later, Marisa’s friends and dedicated career as a photographer help her to cope with the open wound of the past. But Marisa still feels the hurt―and the unsolved murder isn’t the only thing haunting her. A recent car crash has erased ten days of Marisa’s memories―a black hole leading up to the accident that’s left her disoriented. Every text and phone call from that crucial missing time has vanished, along with her phone. A photograph she took of the river has disappeared. A new neighbor Marisa believes she knows introduces himself as if he were a stranger. And there’s the growing fear that her near-fatal accident was no accident at all. As dreams of Clare and nightmares of the crash begin to converge, so do two disturbing puzzles fourteen years apart. Putting the pieces together could be fatal. As she struggles to remember everything, Marisa closes in on a killer―without realizing that he’s already closed in on her.

The story is filled with mystery and suspense. dangerous secrets, lies, and manipulations with a fair amount of mystery and suspense. There are a lot of people that could be guilty, and there’s no way to tell who’s telling the truth. The author made her main characters extremely unlikeable and entirely unsympathetic. Actually, all of the main characters came with their own load of bone-crushing baggage. A therapist could have spent their entire career sorting through. Despite there being a lot going on, the plot kind of meandered throughout the story. Some scenes were fast paced and interesting while others dragged on and on and were just boring. The ending left me a bit on edge. There was a conclusion to the case, but there were so many other things going on that were left unresolved and unanswered. It wasn't an entirely bad book, and I'm sure there are many people that will have no problem with any of it. I have just read better by this author.

Abigale Hall - Lauren A, Forry - (Wales)
5★
Amid the terror of the Second World War, seventeen-year-old Eliza and her troubled little sister Rebecca have had their share of tragedy, having lost their mother to the Blitz and their father to suicide. Forced to leave London to work for the mysterious Mr. Brownwell at Abigale Hall, they soon learn that the worst is yet to come. The vicious housekeeper, Mrs. Pollard, seems hell-bent on keeping the ghostly secrets of the house away from the sisters and forbids them from entering the surrounding town—and from the rumors that circulate about Abigale Hall. When Eliza uncovers some blood-splattered books, ominous photographs, and portraits of a mysterious woman, she begins to unravel the mysteries of the house, but with Rebecca falling under Mrs. Pollard’s spell, she must act quickly to save her sister, and herself, from certain doom.

This was perfect for the "Ghost Story Junkie". While it was an anxiety-inducing story, it was also a really well-written one. It's categorized as a suspense novel, but it is more a gothic horror novel. If you like ghost stories, houses that there is just something slightly "off" about, along with a fast-paced page-turner, this one is waiting to go home with you. The two main characters are a pair of very young sisters that have become victims of the war with the death of their parents and end up being sent to Wales to work for Mr. Brownwell who they never see. They do see the housekeeper, Mrs. Pollard, who is . . let's just say..."off". They try to make plans to escape back to London, but when Eliza discovers a book covered in blood, she has to figure out what’s going in the house and why none of the other girls hired in the past are alive. None of the characters in the book are completely likable, even the two sisters, but the story drew me in in spite of that. Eliza frustrated me at the start of the book, but later she goes through some necessary character changes, and I was rooting for her by the end. Rebecca was a 'horse of another color". Her role in the story became twisted, but interesting. Let's just say that she definitely adds to the creepiness and mystery.

Running From My Heart- Felice Stevens (New York)
Rock Bottom series Book #3
3★
"Holding onto the past can hurt more than letting it go." People say six years is long enough to mourn the death of his husband but for Ross Miller, the pain is as fresh as if it happened yesterday. He’s left his glittering Hollywood life behind, yet guilt still dogs his steps, no matter how far he runs. Trapped by his past and needing to escape his well-meaning friends, he rents a cabin in the secluded Adirondack mountains. A reclusive man moves in next door and piques Ross’s interest, but his persistent attempts at friendship are rebuffed. That doesn’t stop him because the one rule Ross Miller has always lived by is to never take no for an answer. Novelist Arden Wainwright has given up. He can’t pretend a happiness he knows he’ll never find again. Solitary days turn into years, and he remains frozen, unable to take a breath. At his wit’s end, he retreats to the mountains, but it does little to stir his creativity. He continues to hide from life and avoids his overly nosy neighbor, who insists on planting himself at Arden’s doorstep at every turn. Making friends is the last thing Arden wants, but annoying or not, he can’t get the damn man out of his mind. Finding peace in their isolated surroundings, the two lonely men forge an unlikely friendship where they realize they’re more alike than different and better together than apart. With Ross’s help, Arden begins to rebuild the shattered pieces of his life, while Arden gives Ross the strength to face his fears and find his way home. When love comes calling you can choose to hide from hurt, loss, and pain, but if you take a chance and open the door, you might discover that running from your heart is the last thing you'll want to do.

It took a while, but I finally began to like the two main characters. I listened to this on Hoopla and wished that I had just stopped and read it instead. The reader in the audio addition constantly put so much angst into the various characters voices that it became annoying, frustrating and unnecessary. That was in no way the fault of the author or the content of the story. I like Felice Stevens books and I think I would have liked this story more if the reader had not been so excited. There were things that I genuinely liked about the story. As their relationship begins to materialize, there is laughter, sorrow, beauty and joy. It becomes a story of hope as well as the realization that life and love need not cease when seemngly endless grief caused by separation fills most of every moment of every day. The ways in which Ross and Arden become the foundation of support and love that the other so desperately needs, is heartwarming beyond measure.

Extra Whip - L.A. Witt - (Illinois)
Bold Brew series Book #8
5★
Will and Aaron Taylor have a perfectly imperfect marriage. For twenty years, even when their desires haven’t quite matched, they’ve always found ways to adapt…until now. When Aaron’s needs push past his Dom’s limits, their best hope for compromise is finding a unicorn—a third person who checks both men's boxes. After his estranged father wills him a house he doesn’t want in a town he doesn’t know, Kelly Griffith is itching to find his place in this unfamiliar new world. When he finds an ad from a couple looking for a sub like him, he jumps at the opportunity. A chance to be what someone needs and wants instead of being a perpetual disappointment? Yes, please. The chemistry sizzles from the get-go. Will and Aaron insist they don’t want to be poly, and Kelly doesn’t want to be anyone’s third wheel, but playing together? Any time, any place. All they have to do is keep emotions from joining the party as the trust and intimacy deepen between them. But by the time they realize they’re in over their heads, hitting the brakes is no longer as simple as using a safe word.

The Bold Brew series is written by ten different authors and uses the focus of a little coffee shop that the characters of each story often frequent. Even though the little shop plays a small role in each story, the stories actually center entirely on the characters. This one has three main characters, Will, a graphic artist and a dom, Aaron, his husband of 20 years and a criminal defense attorney, and Kelly, a newcomer to the area and a want-a-be artist. Aaron and Kelly are both subs, but Kelly brings a bit more to the table than just his submission. The guys are perfect for one another, life is beautiful...until it isn't. Of course, something happens that throws an unexpected monkey wrench in their life plans. I love L.A. Witt's characters and her stories. This was not an exception. As usual it was a sweet story that had more than likeable characters that all had problems of one type or another but were willing to try and make what they started together work. I cannot express how much I loved Aaron, Will, and Kelly! It took a while to finish this mammoth sized book, almost 500 pages, but it was worth every single minute. It is heavy into BDSM that was times cringing and overwhelming...but still a good story that I was sorry to see end. It won't by any means, be the last time I read it.

Gallows Hill - Darcy Coates - (Australia)
5★
The Hull family has owned the Gallows Hill Winery for generations. Their wine wins awards. Their business prospers. Their family thrives. People whisper that the curse has awakened once more. The sprawling old house has long been perched on top of a hill overlooking the nearby town, jealously guarding the estate's secrets. It's been more than a decade since Margot Hull last saw her childhood home. She was young enough when she was sent away that she barely remembers its dark passageways and secret corners. But now she's returned to bury her parents and reconnect with the winery that is her family's legacy―and the bloody truth of exactly what lies buried beneath the crumbling estate. Alone in the sprawling, dilapidated building, Margot is forced to come face to face with the horrors of the past―and realize that she may be the next victim of a house that never rests.

I saw this book described as "Catnip for fans of things that go bump in the night, and eventually the day" and thought, "how appropriate a description in just a few words." It was always thought that Hugh and Maria Hull died of heart attacks on the same night. Their daughter Margot can’t say yes or no to that theory. She had been sent away as a small child and raised by her grandmother. The news that she’s the sole heir to her parents' winery is not exactly looked on by her as a good thing. She’s always wondered why they sent her away all those years ago. She knows absolutely nothing about running a business, especially this one that’s suddenly been dropped in her lap. She can’t even drink wine. It makes her ill, which is also something she's wondered about. She can drink other spirits with no problems. Off she goes to her parents' winery in spite of her doubts. She has hardly arrived at her parents’ house when eerie, frightening things begin to happen. There are cries and moans in the night. Six nooses outside the house suddenly appear out of the blue. Kant, the winery manager, tells her that nooses have also regularly appeared for the 30 years he’s been there. Viewing a videotape her parents made for her is creepier and more disturbing. Margot has also always been afraid of underground spaces which is also severely tested. She finally comes to the conclusion that the place is haunted. I thought, well about time. What was your first clue? Strangely it seems that anyone that settles on Gallows Hill, can never leave. We learn that Ezra Hull, the winery’s original owner, along with his wife and their four children also strangely disappeared, and as the winery's 250th anniversary approaches, we can just give up thinking there is any pretense of anything resembling normal happening. The ghostly manifestations increase along with the tension and the strange unexplained happenings. Darcy Coates has NEVER disappointed in the ghost/unexplained happenings department...and she certainly didn't with this little gem.

The Cat Who Turned On and Off – Lilian Jackson Braun
3***

Book three in Braun’s popular “The Cat Who…” cozy mystery series, starring journalist Jim Qwilleran (known simply at Qwill), and his two Siamese: Koko and Yum Yum.

This time Qwill’s been assigned to write a Christmas feature story on Junktown, a formerly (still?) blighted area of town full of shops specializing in all manner of antiques and collectibles. Since he’s also in the market for a new apartment, he’s happy to find a truly affordable place in a remodeled and repurposed mansion, above the antique shop run by the owners. And, of course, he’s curious about a padlocked shop – one resident says the owner was murdered, but almost everyone else say it was a tragic accident. Qwill can’t help but investigate.

I really like this cozy series. As a journalist for the local newspaper, Qwill has every reason to search out the story. His cats seem rather prescient as well. No, they don’t talk to Qwill, other than to voice their demands for food, of course. But Koko, in particular, has a knack for pointing out interesting tidbits – a red feather here, or a secret panel behind the bookcase there – that help Qwill’s investigation.

There isn’t a lot of graphic violence, and Qwill is a gentleman when it comes to romantic interludes (i.e., he never tells).

The Sisters Brothers
Patrick deWitt
3.5/5 stars
Set in the 1850’s in the old West, Charlie and his brother Eli are on their way to kill Hermann Kermit Warm, a prospector as ordered by the Commodore for stealing from him. Things do not go well for them in their travels to find Warm. This was later made into a movie. I enjoyed DeWitt’s tale of mishap!

Foolish Games - April-May Snow Novel #7- M. Scott Swanson - (Alabama)
3★
No one has seen Antoine since he left to play European basketball a decade ago. It's disconcerting when he shows up claiming he needs to protect me from the "gray ones." I think he's a card short of a full deck. Lee and I are moving to Baltimore next month. I haven't found the right time to tell Mama and Daddy the exciting news. No, there's no ring yet. Still, I'm sure Lee has just been too busy to propose. Right? I need to clear out my caseload before leaving town. My clients are not being helpful. I'm running all over North Alabama searching for my client's scorned wife to stop her from offing the couple's dog. Dusty talks me into one more ghost hunt before I leave. I wouldn't have agreed, but we've been there before. Something about returning to the Imperial theater makes my blood chill. When the "gray ones" appear, I realize I may not live to see my moving day.

I believe to actually understand what is taking place here you really need to start with book 1 of this series. If I had done that, I may have had some other feelings for the character of April other that frustration and wanting to help the "gray ones" take her away. She seems to be a bit of an airhead and is totally unable to make any rational decision about her love life...and if she had actually let her client's wife lay one finger on the dog, I would have been done with the book much sooner. I don't believe that I am going to devote any more reading time to this series although I do feel that in all fairness to the author, I should at least read book one before giving it up.

Code Red- The Sierra View Series, book 2 - Max Walker - (California)
5★
Caleb Forester, a charming nurse with a trademarked smile, is having a fine time at life. He left a terrible situation and found himself in a much better one at Sierra View, and for that, he was constantly grateful. He would have been perfectly fine without any waves rocking his boat. Everything was just… fine. Red Miller is the actor everyone wants to see on the big screen. Aside from having an overflowing bank account, Red was rich in charisma and sex appeal. From the outside looking in, anyone would have thought the action star and billionaire heir lived a great life with his girlfriend and millions of adoring fans. The tidal wave came the day Red and Caleb first met, wiping out both their boats and showing them there was much more to life and love than they let themselves believe. Caleb must now reckon with his past while Red with his future. When outside forces from all sides start pushing in, they both must find the strength to stop from crumbling or end up breaking from the pressure.

I never tire of Max Walkers writing or his wonderful, adorable characters. When Red and Caleb first met on the movie set where Caleb had been asked to do a small part in one of Red's movies...they wanted a real nurse to deliver the few lines and Caleb was the lucky guy that was chosen...I had doubts that I was going to like Red very much. Not only was he a big hugely successful movie star, but he was also a big, successful closeted movie star. To make matters worse he had an actress posing as his girlfriend and she seemed to be hoping that it would become more than an acting role. He and Caleb hit if off though from the start. We get to meet again with two of the main characters from the first book, doctor Dean Harper and Noah Silver, but mostly it's a straight told tale of lust, missed chances, and hopes for the future, told in alternating points of view. Each chapter brings us more clarity and makes us hope that everything is going to work out for them. By the third chapter I had changed my opinion of Red. I absolutely loved him. He was giving a lot of thought to coming out. Not just to get his byline int he papers but for Caleb and their possible future. He didn't ever want Caleb to ever feel like his "dirty little secret". Caleb was also a neat character. He loved his job at the hospital and was very practical about his life while terrified as to what could happen after evil pops up into his life once again. The worse mistake of his life was back working at the same hospital and had less than beautiful plans for Caleb that didn't include Red. No matter how much Caleb wants it to skip Red... that evil does find its way into Red's life, and the result is a chapter or two of hurt, angst and near violence which could have used some more depth and detail in its resolution. But...all's well that ends well. We get a sneak peek at one of the main characters in the next book in the series. Oh...and I loved the cover picture of this one.

Tough Love - Heidi Cullinan - (Nevada)
Special Delivery series Book #3
2★
Crescencio "Chenco" Ortiz pulled himself up by his garter straps after his father's will yanked the financial rug from under his spank-me pumps. He doesn't need anyone, yet when Steve Vance steps into his life, the prospect of having a sexy leather daddy on tap begins to take on a certain appeal. There's a hitch when he learns Steve is friends with Mitch Tedsoe--the half-brother Chenco never knew except through his father's twisted lies. Despite his reservations, soon Chenco is living his dreams, including a performing gig in Vegas. Now if only he could get Steve to see him as more than just a boy in need of saving. Steve's attraction to Chenco is overshadowed by too many demons, ones he knows his would-be lover is too young to slay. Yet as he gets to know the bright, determined young man whose drag act redefines fierce, Steve's inner sadist trembles with need. He begins to realize Chenco's relentless tough love might be the only thing that will finally set him free.

I read the other two books in this series and liked them, and I really wanted to like this one...but did I? Not even a little bit. I just didn't see what the attractions or the connections the characters had to one another. I've read enough BDSM books that I understood the connection between Chenco and Mitch when Chenco was in his male persona but when he was in the female persona that he performed as...I became lost. Between the relationship dynamics, the group dynamics and the male/female personality of the Chenco...it just didn't work for me. I guess I don't understand the attraction of drag. The start of the story was complex and promising, but everything was way too wrapped up and pretty by the end. I checked back to be sure that it was part of the Special Delivery series. It had some of the same characters but this one was not even in the same league as the other two books.

Blood & Dirt - Corey Niles - (Pennsylvania)
5★
Vincent depended on his boyfriend, James, to stand up for him—until a violent hate crime result in James’s murder. Weeks after his funeral, James reappears, perfectly healthy but changed in ways that neither of them can quite understand. Now, Vincent must uncover what truly happened on the night they were attacked. In the face of an apathetic police force and a growing number of missing gay men, Vincent and James work to identify the criminals who attacked them. With James scarred from what happened to him in the weeks between his death and rediscovery, Vincent must learn to stand up for himself and face his real monsters or lose James—and himself.

A new author and a new book that I felt privileged to read. A good friend of mine, who works at my library in Battle Creek, Michigan, stopped me and handed me this book saying that it was written by a good friend of hers and she wanted me to read it. Thank you, Jade for this opportunity to read not only a great mystery but also a good M/M romance, although it was rather vanilla. I felt so sorry for Vincent who blamed himself for James being killed. He felt he had pushed him to go jogging but actually James was one of several victims of this killer just because he was gay and in the wrong place at the wrong time Later, Vincent finds that James is alive...but something just doesn't seem quite right about him. Yeah, Vincent...DO YOU THINK??? From there it almost turns into a horror novel as well as a mystery and an M/M romance story. I had to finish every last word of it before I did anything else at that point. I had to search more info about what James now was because I hadn't read much about golems...and no one in the story was putting much effort to working how the HOW of James's return from the dead. Lets' just say, I liked James and Vincent, but I don't think I'll be inviting them to dinner any time soon, but I will be looking forward to more in this vein from Corey Niles.

The Innocents / Michael Crummey
2 stars

When Ada and Evered’s parent both die, they are still young. It’s the 19th century and they live in an isolated area in Newfoundland. They do what they can to survive.

I listened to the audio. It was slow-moving and I couldn’t get interested, though the Newfoundland accents and phrases are fun. I missed much of what happened in the book, but I didn’t really care, either. I’m not sure how old the kids were when their parents died and not sure how old they were at the end of the book, either. It was a bit ugly as they became teenagers with no one else around, though. When I saw this book was nominated for a few awards, that explained it for me (my not liking it).

Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel / Carl Safina
4 stars

The subtitle sums up this book in just a few words, but to be more specific, the author talks to people who have been studying elephants, wolves, and whales (and travels to the places to see the animals). One additional section does not focus on any one specific type of animal, but looks at many different animals and various studies of animal observation and behaviour.

If there are still people out there who think animals don’t think or feel, they are deluding themselves. Anyone who spends any time around animals at all has to realize. And it seems most or all are smarter than we think. And how do we define “intelligence”, anyway? In human terms. Even IQ tests are biased. The author points out many instances where if we held humans to the same standards as scientists hold animals when they are being studied, humans may not fare very well, either.

Of the three animals that were mainly focused on, I have read very little about whales, so I probably learned the most in that section. Sadly (and to no surprise for most of us), each of these animals are having a hard time surviving with everything humans are doing to their world, and this is touched on toward the end of the sections for each of the animals. If we start to “understand” them a bit better, will that help change things we are doing to our world (as it affects them so much)?

Pretty Little Wife / Darby Kane
4 stars

Both Aaron and Lila had awful childhoods, losing both their parents in terrible ways. After being (emotionally, mentally) abused and controlled by her husband, Aaron, for years, Lila discovers a secret Aaron has carried. She finds a video. This pushes her over the top and she comes up with a plan to make him disappear. But on the day she tries, although things seem to work according to plan, initially, something goes very very wrong… Adam has disappeared, but not in the way Lila had intended.

I thought this was really good. It pulled me in quickly and I wanted to know what was going on. Of course, there are a few twists and turns along the way. And I constantly wondered what to believe of Lila. She’s very cold, not very likable. Parts of the story are also from the point of view of Ginny, the lead investigator into Aaron’s disappearance. The two women are both very smart and tough.

(2022 review; this is my 5th time reading in the past 10 years.)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow / Washington Irving
3.5 stars

Icabod Crane is a teacher in a village near “Sleepy Hollow”, where there is a legend of a headless horseman – a ghost of someone without a head who rides a horse; they say he was a soldier. Crane has a crush on young local beauty Katrina Van Tassel, but another man – a good-looking brawny practical joker – also has eyes for her. Even still, bookish Crane thinks he has a good chance with her. But he runs into trouble late at night after a party at the Van Tassels on his way home.

I’ve read this a few times before, usually around Halloween. I feel like I paid more attention this time, as I was at home without other distractions. I tend to gloss over descriptions, and this one is very descriptive, but I paid more attention today so I feel like I “noticed” more going on in the book in addition to the ending. Keeping my rating at “good”.

Code White - Max Walker - (California)
The Sierra View series Book #4
4.5 ★
Dr. Nicholas White was finally pursuing what he wanted. Or rather, who he wanted. After a year of marriage to a woman he was sure was cheating on him, he got a divorce and found himself in bed with the man he couldn’t stop thinking about. It was a heated and passionate encounter that left them both wanting more. So much more. Shepard Kensworth couldn’t believe how strongly he connected with Nick. Shepard was a resident at the hospital and should have had his nose buried in a book, not in Nick’s chest. Their moment was brief, but their feelings certainly weren’t. That same day, Nick received news that altered the course of his life forever. A rift cracked between the two men before they could ever solidify anything. When life pushes them back together, the two men begin to accept just how perfect of a match they are. Not everyone is happy with the reunion, though. When outside forces threaten to tear them apart again, Nick and Shepard must come together stronger than ever before or end up shattered beyond repair.

I love this story and another one that I hated to see end. Nick and Shepard (Shep) were perfect for each other. Their love for Emma, Nick's baby daughter and how Shephard tried to help Nick get visitation more than two days a week was sweet and just made the reader want to gather the evidence against the drug using cheating ex for them. The sad part was if you had read any M/M romances that featured good, honest hard-working fathers, and nasty ex-wives and their children, we knew what Nick and Shep were going to be faced with to accomplish this. I love seeing characters from other books in a series visit throughout. This one had characters from not only this series but some past series as well as future series play a role in the story. I also like when the bad guys get their due and the good guys come out on top. So, since this one had it all...I'll just say good job, yet again Mr. Walker and on to the next one.

Heart of a Dog
Mikhail Bulgakov
4/5 stars
This is the strange tale of a dog, Sharik, in Moscow in whom a scientist transplants a man's glands into the mongrel. Sharik, the dog, turns into a man who then wreaks mayhem in the scientist's life. This satirical novel written in 1968 exposes the flaws in "creating a new Soviet man". Short but very enjoyable. I would read more of this author.

Death in Bloomsbury - David C. Dawson - (England)
4★
Everyone has secrets... but some are fatal. 1932, London. Late one December night Simon Sampson stumbles across the body of a woman in an alleyway. Her death is linked to a plot by right-wing extremists to assassinate the King on Christmas Day. Simon resolves to do his patriotic duty and unmask the traitors. But Simon Sampson lives a double life. Not only is he a highly respected BBC radio announcer, but he's also a man who loves men, and as such must live a secret life. His investigation risks revealing his other life and with that imprisonment under Britain's draconian homophobic laws of the time. He faces a stark choice: his loyalty to the King or his freedom.

I don't know much about English politics or law but this one was a pretty good introduction to learning. I guess people are basically the same the world over and thankfully a lot has changed since the setting of this story in 1932. If you are a fan of mysteries, and historical books, you will probably really like this one. I loved Simon. He was such a class act even though he had to endure a lot and was also dealt a lot. What he’s about to undergo in his life is going to change him in ways he could never have possibly expected. He ran upon a murder that everyone around him just wanted to cover up or pretend they didn't know anything about. Simon was determined to get to the bottom of it no matter what. It’s that "no matter what" that’s about to cost him everything. It’s already cost him several things dear to him. He was a caring man that was devoted to his job. He knew it could or would possibly cost him his life or a beating, or, imprisonment, but he stood by his principals and was not going to lie for anyone. He was going to tell the truth to the right people. He was going to do what should have been done to start with. The story captures you from the beginning and holds you throughout the entire book. Great start to a new series. I’m anxious to see what Simon is planning to do. I think I know, but I've been wrong before. I know whatever happens, it will be a great ride.

The Pianist – Wladyslaw Szpilman
4****

The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: The Extraordinary True Story of One man’s Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945.

Szpilman was a pianist who performed on Polish radio. He was, in fact, playing Chopin’s Nocturne in C-sharp Minor, live on the radio on Sept 23, 1939, when shells exploded outside the station. It was the last live music broadcast from Warsaw that day; a German bomb hit the station, and Polish radio went off the air. Ultimately, the Nazi’s plan for extermination of the Jews would take all of his family, but Szpilman would manage – by luck, courage, tenacity, and the kindness of others – to stay hidden and survive. The most unlikely person to help him was a German officer who came across him in the ruins of a building scrounging for food.

He wrote his story shortly after the war was over, but it was suppressed for decades, finally being published in 1999, and even then, not in Poland. The edition I had included entries from the diary of Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, the German officer who saved Szpilman towards the end of the war.

Szpilman’s story is told in a very straightforward manner. He recounts the ever-increasing restrictions imposed by the government on Jews, the forbearance and belief that “this is bound to pass” among his family and others in the community, the terror and horror of witnessing (or being subject to) random acts of violence and death. And yet, there is a certain cool detachment. Almost as if he were witnessing someone else’s story rather than reliving those experiences himself. In the forward, his son Andrzej supposes that his father wrote the memoir “… for himself rather than humanity in general. It enabled him to work through his shattering wartime experiences and free his mind and emotions to continue with his life.”

I found it engaging and gripping. Even though I knew he survived, I simply could not stop reading.

The extraordinary memoir was adapted to film in 2002, starring Adrien Brody (who won the Oscar for his performance) and directed by Roman Polanski (Oscar for Best Director).

>68 BookConcierge: probably in my top 5 books of forever!

Out of The Blues - Mary Celeste - (Georgia)
3★
Whoever said you can't go home again should change that should not go home again. As in EVER! Mason Foxworth swore on his grandmother's bible never to return to the small Georgia town that he sort of grew up in. And for eight years he'd succeeded in keeping that promise. Until his twin sister decided she needed to get married...back home...and she'd invited their parents. Wasn't this going to be a just a fabulous weekend? Since leaving the Marines, Kilby Adams rarely ever left his farm and now here he was in Georgia, as best man at his stepbrother's wedding. Out of his comfort zone and with too many people that he doesn't know Kilby has nothing to keep his mind off the past except the gorgeous brother of the bride. And wouldn't you just know it, there was only one room left at the Inn and Kilby would have to share it, with Mason, who was straight and....yeah, this was going to be one hell of a weekend.

The setting of the story is a small Georgia town that had a lot of bad memories for Mason. He swore he would NEVER go back, but that's where his twin sister had decided to get married, so here he was, for better or for worse and right off the bat ...he found the worse staring him in the face in the form of Kirby, a retired Marine...out of the closet, out of the universe, gay as an Easter parade man that he was sharing the last vacant room in town with. I won't go into the unbelievable plot twists that take place almost immediately upon the two guys meeting and sizing one another up. Lets' just leave it at "unbelievable"...unless I misread it and Mason and Kirby are actually not human but two dogs in heat. Overall, in a little over 350 pages you have possible incest, crazy love triangles, suicide, child molestation, rape, disregarded homophobia, and possibly the worst negligent parents on Earth. I had to keep reading to see what crazy, off the wall thing, was going to take place next. The last 25% is nothing but one big angst fest with numerous participants. You now have this wacky story in a nutshell. I'm still trying to figure out if it was supposed to be a comedy. I'm glad I didn't buy this book, but it got 3 stars for the most twisted, unbelievable plot I think I have ever read.

Finn's Fantasy - K.C. Wells - (Maine)
Men of Maine series Book #1
5★
A secret desire: By day, Finn builds houses on the coastline of Maine. Afterhours, Finn dreams of the hot older guy who walks his chocolate lab on Goose Rocks Beach. The man of his dreams ticks all his boxes. Salt and pepper hair. Strong jawline. Blue eyes. His dream man is perfect fantasy material. As for actually speaking to him? As if. Their paths won’t ever cross, and the guy is probably straight.
A new chapter: Recently divorced Joel is finally living as a gay man, but he’s not sure he’s ready to jump into a relationship. That doesn’t stop him from noticing his new contractor’s muscular build, hewn from hard, physical work, or his storm-colored eyes. Or the way he wears his tool belt slung low on his hips. The icing on the cake? There’s more to Finn than good looks. Maybe he’s the perfect guy to share long walks on the beach and warm nights in front of a fire. But it’s been twenty years since Joel was with a man. While he’s not forgotten how to flirt, he’s nervous about making a move. Especially with Finn.

I changed my mind about the rating for this book at least a dozen times. It started out very slow. Finn watched Joel walk Bramble the dog, while working to build a new hotel. Joel walked Bramble and watched for the handsome man swinging the hammer that he could see in the unfinished structure. Joel convinced himself that he was too old for the young man... a ripe old 42. Finn convinced himself that the older man would be perfect for him, but when he saw him walking with a woman and two teens...he guessed that was that...just his luck, the was married. The need to replace a deck that was Finn's specialty, got the ball rolling. Little by little they got to know one another. Finn met Joel's ex-wife that he was still on good terms with and Laura and Nate, the two kids. Nate had unanswered questions that Joel and his ex-wife were trying to figure out how to have the discussion that would answer them. The story began to pick up as events were laid out and life for Joel and Finn began to come together. I'm glad I didn't give up. If I had I would have missed the beautiful coming together of these two men that grew to love one another more every day. How they worked through every would be/could be obstacle was sweet and touching. Great story, wonderful characters that proved that age is just a number.

To See You Again / Betty Schimmel
4 stars

Early during WWII, Betty and her Jewish family moved out of Czechoslovakia to Hungary. It was there that Betty (at 13 years old) met Richie. They fell madly in love with one another and vowed to marry one day. But they were separated in the last year of the war and though Betty, her mother, sister, and brother all survived, Betty could not find Richie after the war ended. At the encouragement of her mother, although Betty didn’t love him, she married Otto, who loved her very much. But she never lost her love for Richie and while married decades to Otto (and she had three children with him), she always looked for Richie.

I thought the first half during the war was better. Yes, the Holocaust is awful, but it was amazing that all in Betty’s family survived except for her father, much due to her mother’s encouragement, support, and resilience. I hadn’t read anything about Hungary (and its occupation) during the war until now. I felt really badly for Otto as Betty continually commiserated about losing Richie. Although he was almost never home (always working), which was hard on Betty, especially once the kids came along.

Ask Again, Yes – Mary Beth Keane
Digital audiobook performed by Molly Pope.
5*****

This is the kind of character-driven literary fiction that I absolutely love. Keane focuses this decades-long story on two families living in a suburb of New York City. Francis Gleason and Brian Stanhope are two rookie cops on the NYPD when they meet. They settle with their wives and young children in homes across the street from one another. But Brian’s wife Anne is unstable, and Francis’s wife Lena cannot understand why her offers of friendship are turned away. When their children become friends (and more than friends as they enter their teenage years), the stage is set for strife and heartache.

There is so much going on here. Family expectations. Alcoholism. Denial. Mental Illness. Betrayal. Forgiveness. Love.

By the end of the novel I felt that I really knew these people. I cheered for them. Was dismayed by them. Worried about them. Forgave them.

Molly Pope does a stupendous job of performing the audiobook. I particularly liked how she interpreted Anna Stanhope and Kate Gleeson, though she was equally effective in voicing the male characters.

Cold Heart Creek - Lisa Regan - (Texas)
Josie Quinn series Book #7
3★
In the stark light of dawn, the young couple are laid out on their backs by the dying campfire, their hands clasped between them. Their eyes are open, but their hearts are cold…When a park ranger stumbles across the bodies of Valerie and Tyler Yates by a creek in the small town of Denton, Detective Josie Quinn is first on the scene. Still reeling from the news that her abusive mother is dying, Josie suspects this is more than just accidental poisoning, and she’s right: someone jammed a crudely carved pendant necklace down Valerie’s throat before she died. Combing the area, Josie’s team discover a third sleeping bag indicating there could have been an extra guest around the fire that night. A lucky escape? A missing victim? Or a suspect on the run? Finding this person is the key to the entire investigation…Trawling the couple’s photo albums for clues, Josie can’t imagine why anyone might want to harm these smiling, carefree young lovers. Until a face in one of the pictures stops her in her tracks and leads her to a farmhouse hidden deep within the forest – a special place where people go to escape, and to hide. There they meet a young girl with frightened eyes and bandaged wrists who knows more than she is saying. But the next day she’s found dead, choked with a matching necklace…With her mother’s life hanging by a thread, Josie has an impossible decision to make. But first she must find the meaning of the pendant and catch this twisted killer before another innocent life is taken. Is she already too late?

I have always liked this series and this author, but I wasn't as enthralled with this addition as previous ones. Josie's continuous nightmares were a bit too much. I understand that if someone had gone through such a horrendous childhood, they certainly could be expected to have nightmares and much more, but every time Josie went to bed you knew what was going to happen. Once again, we were going to read about another horrible nightmare. It was predictable and after a while, boring while lending nothing to the story. I wondered why Josie's superiors wasn't pulling her off duty and sending her for help. I certainly wouldn't want a sleep deprived detective with a gun backing me up. For the first time in a Lis Regan book, I felt like I wasn't relating to the characters or getting caught up in the storyline at all. I was really surprised this happened.

Strong Boy: The Life and Times of John L. Sullivan, America's First Sports Hero
Christopher Klein
4/5 stars
Klein does a wonderful job describing the colorful life of John L. Sullivan, pugilist and sports icon who was born in 1858 as he follows the ups and downs of his life and career till his death in 1918. Despite the lack of TV and radio, Sullivan’s popularity was one of the highest in the US and he was considered the US’s first sports hero. Highly recommended!

Real Trouble - Elle Keaton - (Washington)
West Coast Forensics Series Book 1
4.5★
Dany has so many secrets. He’s not on the island by accident, he’s not a nice guy, and he’s using a fake name. He's laying low but he must have been born under a bad sign because the very man he’s hiding from walks back into his life. A new life in a new town seemed like the right decision for Soren. discovering Dany living on Piedras brings back all the feelings he's tried to forget. Too bad Dany is just as compelling as he ever was. Two men from opposite sides of the law: can they set aside their differences and trust their hearts?

The description is a bit off when it says, "Two men from opposite sides of the law". Soren is a deputy on the Piedras Island Sheriff Dept., but it would have you believe that Dany is a criminal of some type. He isn't. He's an outstanding chef that just happened to have the bad luck to be born into a major crime family and has had to work his entire life to show that he's not like them nor does he want to be like them. This is also book 1 in the West Coast Forensics series that overlaps the Veiled Intention series and the Shielded Hearts series with all the characters from the two other series either showing up in this one or being mentioned. I find this confusing as some of the books are listed in all three series...UHHHH! I love all 3 series so I'm just going to quit fighting it and whatever Elle Keaton writes I'll read. I really liked Soren and Dany's story and that these two actually tried to work out their problems even though they found themselves right in the middle of a couple of murder and several arson cases that may have been tied to the same suspect. There is more than one "bad guy" that they have to watch out for...and Dany has to learn that he is not responsible for anything that his family has ever done, and he is worth Soren's love.

The Night Watchman– Louise Erdrich
Audiobook performed by the author
4****

Winner of the Pulitzer prize. Erdrich was inspired by the true story of her grandfather, who successfully fought against a US Senator intent on “eliminating” various Indian tribes.

The setting for the novel is 1953, on the Turtle Mountain reservation in North Dakota. Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing factory, where many of the women of the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa are employed. The jewel bearings are used by the Defense Department, and in the manufacture of certain watches. He’s also the tribal elder and very concerned about a proposed bill in Congress to abrogate nation-to-nation treaties, which calls for the termination of five tribes, including his. Thomas is a thinker, deliberate and willing to entertain different ideas, but always following his own conscience. His appearance before Congress was masterful.

His niece, Patrice “Pixie” Paranteau is one of the women working at the plant, earning barely enough to support her, her mother and younger brother. She must deal with a number of family issues as well. Her sister left for Minneapolis some time before and has now disappeared, while their alcoholic father occasionally makes an appearance causing havoc for the family.

Erdrich uses these two parallel and interconnecting story lines to highlight the life, struggles and triumphs of the Native Americans during this era. Many of their problems stemmed for institutional racism: the efforts of the U.S. government to strip the land from the indigenous peoples, to eradicate their culture by forcing children to attend boarding schools where they were forbidden from using their native languages and frequently mistreated, and the government’s continued paternalistic attitudes that viewed the Native Americans as unintelligent savages, not worthy of help or assistance.

I loved these characters, and the many supporting characters in the book. Patrice, in particular, spoke to me. She’s intelligent, straightforward, and principled. She thinks quickly, averting trouble or getting out of sticky situations on her own. She’s cautious about romantic entanglements, as well.

Erdrich weaves in elements of Native mythology and folklore, employing magical realism in some scenes.

The audiobook is read by the author, and I cannot imagine anyone doing a better job. She really brings these characters to life. Brava.

The War in the Country / Thomas F. Pawlick
4 stars

The author of this book is looking at life in rural areas with a focus on eastern Ontario. More specifically, he is looking at family farms vs factory farms, as well as mining rights vs indigenous land claims and sub- vs surface rights of landowners.

It seems the government is making things more and more difficult for smaller operations. Large corporations not only get subsidies, but smaller operations are hit with regulations they couldn’t possibly afford to meet, and in a lot of cases, regulations that just make no sense for what they are doing.

Some examples include the vegetarian restaurant told they needed to replace their cedar counter with stainless steel, stainless steel being needed for meat… but they don’t serve meat; but they might one day; well we’ll get stainless steel if that happens; nope, too bad, you need to do it now. Or the small butcher shop that doesn’t serve food to eat inside his shop but is suddenly required to install washrooms. These are just the tip of the iceberg. Both these businesses were asked to do much more than this, as their own expense, of course. Growing organic food is much more difficult than it should be, etc.

The author does end the book with lots of suggestions to fix these issues, but the political will is needed to do it and that’s currently not there, with large corporate lobby groups holding the purse strings of many politicians. Urban folks are asked to become educated to help rural folks stand up for these things.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
5*****

In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box. But when the Eastwood sisters--James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna--join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witches' movement.

What an extraordinary book. It was gifted/loaned by a friend, who had read it along with her daughter. Which gives me hope for the future!

This book takes the past of the Inquisition and focuses it on witch burnings. And how, in the created world, the result was a complete elimination of Women's Ways and magick. An example is the stories collected called "The Sisters Grimm" that contain variations on the familiar stories of childhood that are more instructional in magic and in this world's different history. That history includes the malevolence of spirit that ruthlessly hunts down and kills women throughout many generations. It also includes magick of thread and feather and chanted words, recognizing the overlooked items women keep in their pockets. A central focus is on the (in)famous town of Salem and asks, What if the Salem Witch Trials had culminated in burning all the inhabitants of that town? And what happens when the lust for power and the desire to punish combine to create a malevolent Spirit made of shadows?

The result is a well-crafted, deeply written, full book of three sisters who grow up without a mother, with an abusive father, and how his tearing them apart when they are young women preys on their minds and hearts. And yet, they find themselves drawn together at long last with the thread that binds them together. And because their grandmother continued to teach them spells and rhymes, they are able to track down the ways in which Witchcraft and Healing and Women's Ways have survived in stories and samplers and symbols carved on gateposts.

It is sometimes not an easy read, but it is timely and well worth the effort.

Blood and Honor by Simon R. Green
4****

Jordan had always prided himself on his acting abilities, but now he faced the challenge of his career. Magicked into looking exactly like Prince Viktor, middle son of the recently assassinated King Malcolm, Jordan had been hired to pretend to be the prince as the war of succession raged at Castle Midnight. With both Viktor's elder brother, Lewis, and his younger brother, Dominic, only too eager to dispatch their middle sibling, thereby increasing their own chances to gain the crown, Jordan soon found himself hard pressed to survive.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book, its characters, its plot, and even the middle part that almost got bogged down in "what strange beings are going to show up now?" managed to resolve itself well. It is a book that has been on my shelf for decades, staring at me, saying variously, "Bring me for your lunchtime reading." "Think of me for coffee shops." "Hey there, you bought me, read me!" So I did.

The main character is Jordan, a traveling actor who retells the days of glory and heroes, wars well fought by noble leaders, and good special effects courtesy of fire pellets and other things hidden in pockets in his sleeves. Things are so-so for him, and then he is "invited' to personify a long-banished prince who has returned to the castle of his birth upon the death of the king.

So far, standard fantasy plot material. Until we get to the meat of the story, which is the magick shared by the noble bloodlines, a castle full of the Unreal (not just ghosts here), and three brothers who are noble only in their descending from the king and not through altruism. Jordan learns that they are each horrible men who use their power and standing to do whatever they want; how long does he want to continue his new act?

Add in a kick-a** steward named Catriona who has the power to keep the Unreal at bay, machinations and geas and the whodunit of who killed the King, and you've got a really good storyline that needs to be re-read a time or two.