WHAT ARE WE READING AND REVIEWING IN SEPTEMBER- 2021

What are you reading in September? Tell us your plans and how you liked the book.

📌 - ★
Carol's September Reads
📌Darkest Corner of Texas - Russ Hall 4.5★
📌Ghosts - John Banville – 2★ (Pick A Winner)
📌Dark Roads - Chevy Stevens - 5★
📌The Engineer - C.S. Poe – 4★
📌Yes Daddy - Jonathan Parks -Ramage -3★
📌The Love Study - Kris Ripper - 4.5★
📌Watch Over Me - Nina LaCour - 4.5★
📌Learning to Speak Southern - Lindsey Rogers Cook - 3★
📌Murder At Pirate's Cove - Josh Lanyon - 5★
📌Secret At Skull House - Josh Lanyon - 5★
📌A Beautiful Corpse- Mark Mcnease - 5★
📌Fatal Shadows - Josh Lanyon - 4.5★
📌A Dangerous Thing - Josh Lanyon - 5★
📌The Hell You Say - Josh Lanyon - 5★
📌Bath Haus - P.J. Vernon - 3.5★
📌Spotlight- Robert Innes - 5★
📌Near The Bone - Christina Henry - 4★
📌The Last Time I Saw You - Liv Constantine - 3★
📌The Better Sister - Alafair Burke – 2★
📌Forgotten Bones - Vivian Barz – 4.5★
📌Blackbird In The Reeds - Sam Burns– 4★
📌The Sumage Solution - G.L. Carriger – 4★
📌The Omega Objection - G.L. Carriger – 4★
📌The Enforcer Enigma - G.L. Carriger – 4.5★
📌When You Find Me - P.J. Vernon – 5★
📌Bloodless - Douglas Preston – 4★
📌The Wangs vs, The World - Jade Chang– 3★
📌Life Among The Savages - Shirley Jackson – 4★
📌Prom House - Chelsea Mueller– ★
📌American Fairytale - Adriana Herrera – 4.5★
📌Leap of Faith - Morgan Brice - 5★
📌Forgotten In Death - J.D. Robb - 5★
📌An Unlocked Mind - K C Wells – 4.5★
📌Just Last Night- Mahairi McFarlane - 2.5 ★
📌Out of Focus - L A Witt - 5★
📌Deadly Nightshade - Victor J. Banis - 4★

Bath Haus - P.J. Vernon - (Washington D.C.)
3.5★
Oliver Park, a recovering addict from Indiana, finally has everything he ever wanted: sobriety and a loving, wealthy partner in Nathan, a prominent DC trauma surgeon. Despite their difference in age and disparate backgrounds, they’ve made a perfect life together. With everything to lose, Oliver shouldn’t be visiting Haus, a gay bathhouse. But through the entrance he goes, and it’s a line crossed. Inside, he follows a man into a private room, and it's the final line. Whatever happens next, Nathan can never know. But then, everything goes wrong, terribly wrong, and Oliver barely escapes with his life. He races home in full-blown terror as the hand-shaped bruise grows dark on his neck. The truth will destroy Nathan and everything they have together, so Oliver does the thing he used to do so well: he lies. What follows is a classic runaway-train narrative.

“When it comes to lying there is a Golden Rule...tell as much of the truth as possible because the truth is easier to remember”.
From about the 3rd page of the book this becomes Oliver’s mantra. None of the characters are particularly likeable and they all seem to be caught in dysfunctional relationships. The two main characters.... Oliver and Nathan would have benefited much more if Oliver could have brought himself to have just told Nathan the entire truth...but then again, Nathan probably would have been too hurt to forgive him no matter how much he loved him. The author does an excellent job of showing how one lie...one deception... leads to more and more and more, until the entire relationship is built on nothing but lies, and it doesn’t matter the sexual orientation of said relationship. Nathan wasn’t stupid and he has stayed with Oliver through a variety of life traumas...if anything he was simply naïve. I didn’t dislike the book by any means... but it just feels that it was a deep pit of “dark” and there was no happiness to be found here. The author tried hard to jazz it up with so much unnecessary “flowery” language. It is exhausting to see Oliver continuously trying to cover his tracks...but continuing to keep working himself deeper and deeper. The story is challenging in ways that are completely outside the box of most readers perception and probably outside many readers’ comfort zone in terms of what you may think is happening and what you wish would have happened. What IS happening turns out to be heartbreaking. It’s a train wreck that you can’t stop watching.

The Sumage Solution - G.L. Carriger - (California)
San Andreas Shifters series Book #1
4★
Can a gentle werewolf heal the heart of a smart-mouthed mage? GL Carriger, presents an offbeat gay romance in which a sexy werewolf with a white knight complex meets a bad-boy mage with an attitude problem. Sparks (and other things) fly. Max fails everything - magic, relationships, life. So he works for DURPS (the DMV for supernatural creatures) as a sumage, cleaning up other mages' messes. The job sucks and he is in no mood to cope with redneck biker werewolves. Unfortunately, there is something oddly appealing about the huge, muscled Beta visiting his office for processing. Bryan AKA Biff (yeah, he knows) is gay but he is not out. There is a good chance Max might be reason enough to leave the closet, if he can only get the man to go on a date. Everyone knows werewolves hate mages, but Bryan is determined to prove everyone wrong, even the mage in question.

The author has created a fun, amazing, world with the start of this series. The supernatural is commonplace occurrence with shifters...magicians...and kitsune all sharing space in a modern-day San Francisco. We learn about the laws that bind the place and how magic works as we go along. Not a lot of time is wasted on exposition. The ending is telegraphed far ahead, but this was a case where even if you knew where you're going...I guarantee that you're still going to enjoy the ride. This is a wonderful book that doesn't take itself too seriously and I hope the rest of the series is the same. In spite of the “shifter/fantasy” theme, the reader needs to be aware that they are gay shifters.

Life Among The Savages - Shirley Jackson
4★
In her celebrated fiction, Shirley Jackson explored the darkness lurking beneath the surface of small-town America. But in Life Among the Savages, she takes on the lighter side of small-town life. In this witty and warm memoir of her family's life in rural Vermont, she delightfully exposes a domestic side in cheerful contrast to her quietly terrifying fiction. With a novelist's gift for character, an unfailing maternal instinct, and her signature humor, Jackson turns everyday family experiences into brilliant adventures.

I first read Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House when I was 17 years old. We won’t go into how many years ago that was but even as a 17-year-old I couldn’t wait to read more of this delicious horror dished out by this author. It wasn’t until these many years later that I discovered that my “go-to” horror author at that time...also had a comical side. This little treasure tells an amusing story of life in chilly...often times, frozen Vermont. With this being my Shirley Jackson, there has to be a shiver underneath all the domestic goings-on. We meet a housekeeper that frosts her cookies with "Repent, Sinner" frosting. Another borrows a few bucks and flees town with her felon boyfriend. Let's not miss out learning about the kids that are all excited about their next visit to "Pudge" over the hill, where the children live beneath the water of the pond and an afternoon visit might take years. Shirley Jackson left her legacy to her readers before the age of 50... so I felt so fortunate to not only have her scary stories like The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in The Castle, but to visit this other lesser seen side of Ms. Jackson with this supremely funny little book.

>5 Carol420: I love Shirley Jackson but haven't read this one. I may put this on my challenge for next year!

>6 JulieLill: It was republished in 2015. I don't know if it was released before that or if it had just been shoved aside and someone just decided to publish it. I know she wrote some others that weren't horror genre but I haven't read any of them yet.

The Engineer - C S Poe
Magic and Steam series Book #1 -(Arizona)
4.5 ★
1881 - Special Agent Gillian Hamilton is a magic caster with the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam. He’s sent to Shallow Grave, Arizona, to arrest a madman engineer known as Tinkerer, who’s responsible for blowing up half of Baltimore. Gillian has handled some of the worst criminals in the Bureau’s history, so this assignment shouldn’t be a problem. But even he’s taken aback by a run-in with the country’s most infamous outlaw, Gunner the Deadly. Gunner is also stalking Shallow Grave in search of Tinkerer, who will stop at nothing to take control of the town’s silver mines. Neither Gillian nor Gunner are willing to let Tinkerer hurt more innocent people, so they agree to a very temporary partnership. If facing illegal magic, Gatling gun contraptions, and a wild engineer in America’s frontier wasn’t enough trouble for a city boy, Gillian must also come to terms with the reality that he’s rather fond of his partner. But even if they live through this adventure, Gillian fears there’s no chance for love between a special agent and outlaw.

The book starts with a bang...literally. It presents an awesome set of complicated, competent heroes who deserve each other...even if they don’t believe it yet. Also, the setting was a character of its own, not to be ignored. The affection between Gunner and Gillian develops quite quickly...but after all this is a novella of 148 pages so time really had to be speeded up. Great book with action literally from beginning to end...and a bonus of a little history thrown in... but this should be expected from the author that brought us the Winter and Snow series

Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at America's Most Storied Hospital
by David Oshinsky
5/5 stars
Oshinksy does a wonderful job of relating the rich history of Bellevue Hospital that has been around for three centuries serving all the people (poor or rich) within their reach and the pioneering of many of the advancements in healthcare. I had a hard time putting this down because it was so compelling to read. This definitely will be on my best reads list this year!

Crow Lake / Mary Lawson
4 stars

When Kate is only 7-years old, tragedy hits her family in Northern Ontario. She and her baby sister, Bo, end up being raised by their older brothers, Luke (19-years old) and Matt (17-years old). Luke gives up his future so they can stay together, and also so Matt can finish school and continue to university (he was always the smarter one, anyway – the one expected to go to university). Kate and Matt have a bond.

Grown-up Kate, a professor in Toronto, never thought she’d fall in love, but she has. But she also has a hard time opening up to Daniel about her past and her family, even though they’ve been together for more than a year. Daniel still hasn’t even met her family.

I really liked this. It was slow-moving, but I found even the biology bits interesting. There was tension in Kate’s family, though she didn’t understand much of it when she was a kid. And the neighbours had some drama (this may be putting it lightly) going on at their place, as well. I actually read this over a decade ago, but only remembered siblings and a lake (actually it was a pond). I really didn’t remember much at all, but it was chosen as a book club book, and I’m really glad I reread it.

Watch Over Me - Ninna LaCour (California)
4.5★
Mila is used to being alone. Maybe that’s why she said yes. Yes, to a second chance in this remote place, among the flowers and the fog and the crash of waves far below. But she hadn’t known about the ghosts. Newly graduated from high school, Mila has aged out of the foster care system. So when she’s offered a teaching job and a place to live on an isolated part of the Northern California coast, she immediately accepts. Maybe she will finally find a new home—a real home. The farm is a refuge, but it’s also haunted by the past. And Mila’s own memories are starting to rise to the surface.

It's stunning, haunting and beautiful. The story focuses on a couple on a farm that takes in foster children that have been tossed between different families. Here you have a ghost story that’s more endearing than scary but still manages to be super creepy. The “Ghost Story Junkie” found it to be perfect.

The Road to Jonestown / Jeff Guinn
4 stars

Jim Jones was the leader of the Peoples’ Temple. This is the group that, in November 1978, committed mass suicide in Guyana, by “drinking the Kool Aid” (it wasn’t actually Kool Aid, but a similar flavoured drink, laced with cyanide). Over 900 people died that day. This book is actually a biography of Jim Jones, so it looks at his entire life. When he was starting out, he was charismatic, he believed in a world (in the 50s) where races mixed freely, and he believed in socialism, where everyone helped everyone else. The socialism attracted some to his group, as did his so-called healing powers. As his group got bigger, he moved them from Indiana to California, and of course, later to Guyana. He was married, but had several affairs and children.

This was really good. I didn’t realize until I checked it out of the library that the author is Jeff Guinn. It was just last year that I read his book on Bonnie and Clyde and I thought it was so well-researched, as was this one. I actually didn’t know much about Jim Jones or his followers, so this was new to me (except the “Kool Aid” suicide). I can see where he would have been very charismatic and appealing with his outlook on life, initially, at least. I would have liked to know more of the aftermath and the people left behind; I suppose that would have been somewhat extraneous, though, since the book is a biography of Jim.

I listened to the audio, and I do wonder if the book might have some photos (I suspect so – his Bonnie and Clyde book did), so I may have missed out on that, but the narrator was good. It was long, so yes, I did lose interest occasionally, but not often and overall, I thought it was well done.

Death And Judgment – Donna Leon
Digital audiobook narrated by David Colacci
3.5***

Book # 4 in the Commissario Brunetti mystery series, set in Venice, Italy. This case starts with a tractor trailer catching fire, destroying the cargo, which includes foreign women. Then three prominent businessmen are murdered. And Brunetti’s investigation leads him to an organized group of sexual traffickers.

This was definitely one of the darker works in this series. As usual, the Commissario relies on his wife for advice and comfort, but his daughter insists on helping and that gets uncomfortable very quickly. I love the atmosphere of these novels, but the seedy underbelly of Venice depicted here made me disinclined to ever want to visit.

Leon crafts a good mystery, with enough clues keep the action moving forward and a logical solution. She also does a great job of putting the reader right into the setting. And I love the scenes of Brunetti at home, which make him so much more human and fallible and approachable. It’s a series I’ll continue reading.

David Colacci does a great job of performing the audiobook. He sets a good pace and I love the voice he gives these characters.

Murder At Pirates Cove - Josh Lanyon- (Rhode Island)
Secrets and Scrabble series Book #1
5★
Ellery Page, aspiring screenwriter, Scrabble champion and guy-with-worst-luck-in-the-world-when-it-comes-to-dating, is ready to make a change. So when he learns he's inherited both a failing bookstore and a falling-down mansion in the quaint seaside village of Pirate's Cove on Buck Island, Rhode Island, it's full steam ahead! Sure enough, the village is charming, its residents amusingly eccentric, and widowed police chief Jack Carson is decidedly yummy (though probably as straight as he is stern). However, the bookstore is failing, the mansion is falling down, and there's that little drawback of finding rival bookseller--and head of the unwelcoming-committee--Trevor Maples dead during the annual Buccaneer Days celebration. Still, it could be worse. And once Police Chief Carson learns Trevor was killed with the cutlass hanging over the door of Ellery's bookstore, it is.

Cozies are not my favorite kind of stories, but one thing they always have going for them is that you can put your money on things turning out okay and the good guys getting their happy ever after. Plus...if Josh Lanyon has her name on the cover...you know 100% that it’s going to be an outstanding story. The characters will be engaging...the dialogue intelligent...and the main characters are not going to do anything making them too stupid to live. I really enjoyed this great start to a new series...at least for me. So....I have my tea... I have my new to me series and I’m going to spend some time in Pirate’s Cove at Ellery’s bookstore. Feel free to come and join me.

Leap of Faith - Morgan Brice - (South Carolina)
A novella featuring the characters from both the Witchbane and Badlands series
5★

From Morgan Bric's website I found a site called "Prolific Works" where readers can get free ebooks from numerous authors. Most are in novella length but hey...IT"S FREE! I have found several short offers from the book series that I read by Morgan Brice...one of my favorite authors. This one has Simon and Vic from the "Witchbane" series hosting Seth and Evan from the "Badlands" series. Simon...a psychic medium has helped Seth and Evan with information about the supernatural things they fight in all their series books, but this is the first time they have met in person. It was suppose to be a vacation for Seth and Evan but they end up helping Simon and his cop fiancé, Vic, solve a the murder of 4 men by what they knew was a supernatural monster that ripped the victims apart in a locked room. A key was a link but it took some good investigating on all their parts to figure out how it was working. Love this author...love both these series as well as her "Treasure Trails" series. If you are not opposed to same sex couples, you have not only romances but a really good supernatural mystery in every book.

The Next Thing On My List – Jill Smolinski
3***

From the book jacket: After a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa, dies, June Parker finds herself in possession of a list Marissa has written: “20 Things to Do By My 25th Birthday.” The tasks range from inspiring (run a 5K) to daring (go braless) to near-impossible (change someone’s life). To assuage her guilt, June races to achieve each goal herself before the deadline, learning more about her own life than she ever bargained for.

My reactions:
It was about what I expected. I was not a big fan of the main character, June, who really seemed to have her priorities backwards. As she worked to complete Marissa’s list it really became all about HER, not about honoring Marissa. I also wasn’t much of a fan of most of June’s friends. And I really didn’t like how the relationship with a young girl she is supposedly mentoring played out.

Still, the plot moved forward and there were some situations that really captured my attention and kept me reading, as well as scenes that were quite entertaining. All told, it was fine, just not stellar.

Prom House - Chelsea Mueller - (Texas)
4★
A Killer Afterparty....When Kylie walks into the gorgeous beach house, it’s a dream come true. She still can’t believe she talked her parents into letting her spend the weekend down the shore with her boyfriend, Liam, after prom. Kylie, Liam, and their friends have rented the most amazing party house - and it’s all theirs. Prom was awesome, but this is going to be even better. Except there’s a little problem. A violent storm hits the beach and the power goes out - with no sign that it’s coming back anytime soon. Roughing it with candles and camping lanterns isn’t the vibe they were going for, but everyone wants to make the most of it. Until people start disappearing...and turning up dead. Kylie is terrified. Is somebody’s prom date a killer?

Prom House is a fun, twisty, fast-paced YA thriller that combines teen angst, romance, and complicated relationships...with the added drama of a murderer on the loose. I bought the book for my friend's boyfriend’s daughter’s 15th birthday and ended up reading it before wrapping it up. It only takes a few hours of time. The story brought back memories of all those high hopes and the times of not being sure what you should or could do with your life...but above all else you just wanted some memory-making fun even if it’s just for a weekend. This book captures all those emotions and delivers the high school drama in spades. The only thing I saw that probably won’t made any difference what-so-ever to a 12–16-year-old... was that there was no build up to turn the characters into “flesh” in our minds and not just words on paper. We never really got to know them so it was hard to really care about them. Overall...a fairly good read for a few hours of reminiscing.

Down and Out in Paris and London
George Orwell
3.5/5 stars
In this semi- autobiographical story, Orwell tells of an English writer who has spent time in France and England in poor circumstances having to live in shelters and outside, scavenging for food while working in restaurants and thus highlighting the lives of the homeless and poor. Very interesting!

Yes Daddy - Jonathan Park Ramage - (New York)
3 ★
Jonah Keller moved to New York City with dreams of becoming a successful playwright, but, for the time being, lives in a rundown sublet in Bushwick, working extra hours at a restaurant only to barely make rent. When he stumbles upon a photo of Richard Shriver—the glamorous Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and quite possibly the stepping stone to the fame he craves—Jonah orchestrates their meeting. The two begin a hungry, passionate affair. When summer arrives, Richard invites his young lover for a spell at his sprawling estate in the Hamptons. A tall iron fence surrounds the idyllic compound where Richard and a few of his close artist friends entertain, have lavish dinners, and—Jonah can’t help but notice—employ a waitstaff of young, attractive gay men, many of whom sport ugly bruises. Soon, Jonah is cast out of Richard’s good graces and a sinister underlay begins to emerge. As a series of transgressions lead inexorably to a violent climax, Jonah hurtles toward a decisive revenge that will shape the rest of his life.

The main character of Jonah Keller, was a selfish and self-centered young man. He was wimpy and a cry baby who got into trouble due to the bad life decisions he made and then blamed others for the outcomes. Absolutely nothing at all likable about this character. I soon grew tired and frustrated with him always trying to make himself THE victim. I believe that the author is a decent writer but there was just so much of the plot that just doesn’t ring true or work. I would really like to try another of this author’s works in spite...or perhaps because...of Jonah.

Ghosts - John Banville - (Ireland)
2★
An unnamed murderer who has served time in prison comes to live on a sparsely populated island, the secluded home of Professor Silas Kreutznaer and his laconic companion Licht. When a party of castaway's strangers on a day-boat are washed up there, the results are uneasy; they soon find out that the grounding of their boat may not have been an accident after all.

A very, very strange book. It’s obvious that the protagonist knows more than he is telling and he well could be just out and out, lying. None of the character are particularly likable, and they all have a past they would rather not talk about or have known. Frankly I couldn’t make heads or tails of the plot or the characters. The entire thing was mind numbing... but I read through to the last word. I’m sure that Mr. Banville’s book will absolutely over joy some other reader...just not me. He also is very fond of his own voice since he uses fifty or more words where five or less would do just fine... in every paragraph. No wonder the lady checking out the books at the library looked at me like I had finally lost my mind.

Such a Pretty Face / Cathy Lamb
4 stars

Stevie’s mother was mentally ill and did a bad thing when Stevie was still a child (that I don’t want to give away in my review, even though we found out at the beginning what happened there). Stevie’s grandparents had done their best to take care of Helen (their daughter; Stevie’s mother) and protect her, while also taking care of Stevie and her sister, Sunshine. As an adult, the events of the book take place some months after Stevie had bariatric surgery; she has since lost 170 lbs.

She is trying to figure out who the new skinnier Stevie is, as she tries to deal with the lawyers where she works and the case she hates helping defend; her best friend who is still very overweight seems to have changed toward Stevie; the neighbour down the street, Jake (who only moved in just after Stevie’s surgery), is just way too good-looking and Stevie is completely tongue-tied around him, so she tries to avoid him altogether; and Stevie is trying to help her cousins plan her horrible uncle’s 40th wedding anniversary…

There is a lot going on in this book, and a lot of characters, but I really liked it. There is also a huge mix of very “weighty” (pun not intended initially, but when I realized it was punny, I decided to leave it!) issues in book: mental illness, obesity, abuse, and so much more, but mixed in with the occasional bit of humour. I found myself being horrified by Helen, Stevie’s uncle, her “friend”, and the lawyer defending that case, but then the author would turn around and put Stevie in some ridiculous situation (usually trying to avoid Jake!), and I’d be laughing. I thought she did that very well. II think a bunch of very quirky characters made it “easy” to throw in the humour. At the same time, the author did a good job of showing the struggle that Helen went through with her schizophrenia.

I was surprised at the lower ratings, but on reading the reviews, I can see why they rated it what they did, but it wasn’t enough to bring my rating or enjoyment of the book down (although some of the quirky characters were a bit too quirky for me!). I think all the emotions were in this book (there was also a lot of love).

Where She Went / Gayle Forman
3 stars

Three years ago, Adam and Mia split. Mia had lost her family and had barely survived herself. She was about to head to Julliard to study the cello. Adam, meanwhile, became a famous rock star. This is told from Adam’s point of view as he and Mia meet up again in New York after one of Mia’s concerts.

I listened to the audio and I had no issues with it. But overall, I thought the story was ok. It’s been a long time since I read the first book, but I did think the author did a nice job with the recap. It seemed to fill me in on everything I needed to know that I had forgotten. I guess music stories are not necessarily all that appealing for me, nor are rock star celebrity stories. Of course, this is a YA book, so I can see where both of those things are maybe more appealing for younger people.

Learning To Speak Southern - Lyndsey Rogers Cook - (Tennessee)
3★
Lex fled Memphis years ago, making ends meet with odd jobs teaching English around the world. She only returns when she has no choice, when her godmother presents her with a bargain she can't refuse. Lex has never understood her mother, who died tragically right before Lex's college graduation, but now she's got a chance to read her journals, to try and figure out what sent her mother spiraling all those years ago. The Memphis that Lex inhabits is more bourbon and BBQ joint than sweet tea on front porches, and as she pieces together the Memphis her mother knew, seeing the lure of the world through her mother's lush writing, she must confront more of her own past and the people she left behind. Once all is laid bare, Lex must decide for herself: Just what is the true meaning of family?

I had some doubts about the dysfunctional family aspect of the book to begin with but believe me...Lex and her family are dysfunctional with a capital D. Lex and her mother had a love/hate relationship, although there seemed not have been any love involved there at all. Lex also had never planned to ever return home. Of all the characters, Grant and Cami were the only ones that I actually liked...Lex never really came through for me although I understood why she was like she was to her family. Since her mother being dead was the reason she returned home, I would have thought she would have made more of an effort to perhaps learn and understand why her parents were like they were. It wasn’t a bad story by any means but I came away feeling slightly dirty. What the reader does learn is we need to be extremely careful of our words and our actions as they shape our lives and our outcomes more than we may never know. I once heard someone say that “A person may forget what you say. They might never understand what you do...but they will never ever forget how you made them feel.” This family should have had that little quote framed and hung in every room of the house.

That Churchill Woman – Stephanie Barron
Digital Audiobook narrated by Saskia Maarleveld.
3***

From the book jacket: Wealthy, privileged, and fiercely independent New Yorker Jennie Jerome took Victorian England by storm when she landed on its shores. As Lady Randolph Churchill, she gave birth to a man who defined the twentieth century: her son Winston. But Jennie--reared in the luxury of Gilded Age Newport and the Paris of the Second Empire--lived an outrageously modern life all her own, filled with controversy, passion, tragedy, and triumph.

My Reactions
I’m not sure I would have picked this up if it weren’t a selection for my F2F book group.

I find Jennie a fascinating character. Barron does a good job of bringing her to life and giving the reader a “modern” woman who was able to bend the rules of the restrictive society in which she found herself to achieve some measure of personal happiness and fulfillment. And she certainly succeeded in nurturing her son, identifying his gifts, helping him overcome his difficulties, and launching his career!

I knew that Winston Churchill’s mother was an American heiress and that she was known as somewhat of a firebrand. But I didn’t know much else about her story. Stephanie Barron is known to me as the author of a series of cozy mysteries featuring Jane Austen as the amateur sleuth (try them, they’re delightful). So I know that she is able to fill her novels with the kind of accurate period details that I like in historical fiction. She certainly does that here.

This novel has piqued my interest and I think I’ll seek out a biography of Lady Randolph Churchill.

Saskia Maarleveld does a find job of narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and has the skill to handle the many characters.

The Enforcer Enigma G.L. Carriger - (California)
San Andres Shifters series Book #3
4.5★
ENFORCER - Judd has wandered from pack to pack his whole life, searching for wolves who will accept him for who he is and who he loves. Now he believes that he's finally found the right pack and the right man.
NERD - Rejected by his family for being gay and geeky, Colin has never fit in with werewolves, yet now he is one. He doesn’t know how to react when Judd starts courting him. He’s even more lost when a famous singer, the selkie mob, and the feds also start chasing him. Can Judd protect Colin and still prove his love? Can Colin figure out why enemy shifters are invading his favorite café? And what's with all the gold sparkle?

Book 3 in the series and it features a new couple...both are members of the pack who were introduced in the previous two books. I love the building of the world of the werewolf shifters in this series, particularly the alternate reality vibe and the way the author has twisted aspects of real-life such as “Panda rights”. Like the books that preceded it, this one deals with some quite heavy emotional issues, in a way that makes you root for the characters all the way through to the end. There’s plenty of steamy scenes as well as some very hilarious moments. I have really enjoyed this series.

The Body: A Guide for Occupants
Bill Bryson
5/5 stars
I am a big fan of Bryson and this book doesn’t disappoint. Bryson writes about the body and how it functions and includes so many interesting facts, including that mustard gas slowed down the creation of white blood cells which influenced the science and started the study and the beginning of chemotherapy and also that in “a lifetime, the heart does an amount of work sufficient to lift a one-ton object 150 miles into the air.” Definitely for science non-fiction readers!

Fatal Shadows - Josh Lanyon - (California)
Ardien English Mystery series Book #1
4★
One sunny morning Los Angeles bookseller and aspiring mystery author Adrien English opens his front door to murder. His old high school buddy (and employee) has been found stabbed to death in a back alley following a loud and very public argument with Adrien the previous evening. Naturally the cops want to ask Adrien a few questions; they are none too impressed with his answers, and when a few hours later someone breaks into Adrien's shop and ransacks it, the law is inclined to think Adrien is trying to divert suspicion from himself. Adrien knows better. Adrien knows he is next on the killer's list.

I am a huge fan of Josh Lanyon and almost everything she writes. Mostly what she writes is a murder mystery mixed with a little romance (same sex couple). The main character of this series...Adrien is no fool by any means...so when he is pulled into a murder case and he begins to look into the murder himself. After all the victims have all been friends of his and he can't help but wonder if he is also on the killers scope. Since he doesn’t want to be arrested for something he didn’t do.... he starts sleuthing on his own which doesn’t make him any friends with the cops. Ardien could use some friends. He seems to be a lonely man living his solitary life, running his book store and trying to write his own novel. I actually felt sorry for him and was just waiting for someone to see what a special guy he was....especially the homicide detective that couldn't decide if he was gay or straight. The book had enough twists and turns to make it a very intriguing storyline. As the crime is solved Adrien finds that he may have found just the “friend” he needs...or not. (sigh)

A History of Loneliness – John Boyne
Book on CD performed by Gerald Boyle
5*****

Father Odran Yates has spent thirty years as a teacher and librarian at a boys’ school. He has no real ambition to rise in the ranks of the Church. Although he excelled academically and even served a year in Rome as the Pope’s night attendant, he has been content “behind the high walls and closed gates of this private and erudite enclave.” But just as the scandal of predatory pedophile priests erupts, the bishop moves Odran to a local parish who priest has been removed. That priest is Odran’s best friend from seminary. Odran must come to terms with the ugly truth of a longterm coverup by the Church, and with his own role.

What marvelous writing! Odran narrates the story, but moves from time period to time period, from 2001 back to 1964, then forward to 2010, and back to 1972, etc. Through his recollections he reveals his history of loneliness … the family tragedy that leads to his entering the seminary, the experiences there (good and bad), his obsession with a woman in a coffee shop, his conflicted feelings about his mother, sister and nephews, and his struggles to understand and embrace his Church and his country.

His final realizations about his life are painful to witness. My heart about broke for Odran, and at the same time I was appalled at his willful ignorance.

Boyne gives us characters who are conflicted and run the gamut of human behavior and emotion. Some are angry and lash out, other are cowed and submissive. Some are understanding and compassionate, other defensive and determined to hide. There are times when I just want to slap Odran, and other when I long to comfort and console him.

This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time.

Gerald Boyle does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. He has many characters to deal with and he has the vocal skills to deftly handle this.

Notorious RBG / Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik
3 stars

The RBG in the title is, of course, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the first women lawyers in the US, and later Supreme Court judge.

She was an amazing woman who brought about a lot of good for women, but I was a bit disappointed that this wasn’t really a biography as much as a look at her work and career, and the changes she brought to US law. There were bits and pieces of her personal life, but not a lot. I listened to the audio and it was not interesting to listen to various laws being read. It was pretty short – it felt like it was abridged but it wasn’t. This was published in 2015, before her death… and also before Trump made it into office. For me, this was simply “ok”.

Spotlight - Robert Innes - (England)
Blake Harte series Book #5
5★
Life is stressful for Detective Sergeant Blake Harte. Not only must he come to terms with his difficult new Inspector at the station, but then his parents suddenly turn up on his doorstep – and his mother does not approve of his new boyfriend, and his relationship with Harrison soon begins to suffer. Meanwhile, Harmschapel police station is in pursuit of two drug dealers. These two men have proven difficult to apprehend before, but then the case takes a sudden and inexplicable turn. One night, during a high-speed car chase, the two suspects completely vanish into thin air, before Blake’s eyes. While trying to fathom how it is possible for a car to seemingly evaporate in the middle of a tunnel, one of the suspects turns up dead, in equally bizarre circumstances. Blake is soon faced with more questions than answers, and the killer may be about to strike a lot closer to home.

I do so like this series. It is just plain good fun. This author is so talented. He treats the readers to an intelligent...not easy to solve mystery, but you will have a great time trying. There is a dash of romance, along with a great cast of characters. In fact, these characters are strong enough to hold up their part of the story while never taking anything away from Blake and Harrison. What we have is a story that is absolutely perfectly balanced. Robert Innes provides just enough tension for us to be worried that things will go wrong, even though we know without a doubt that Blake just has to save Harrison, and that good will, as always...prevail. It will have you turning the pages to see how it will all be explained. So... what will improve this wonderful series? Longer books with a bit more Blake and Harrison time. But it’s hard to improve on perfection.

The Promise / Robert Crais
3.5 stars

P.I. Elvis Cole is investigating, looking for someone at a home where no one answers the door. As he is leaving, police descend and he sees someone run out of the house. He runs after, but is stopped by police officer Scott James and his dog Maggie. There is also someone dead inside and a room full of explosives. Before James ran into Cole, though, he and Maggie came face-to-face with the guy who ran. They clearly saw each other’s faces.

This was good. It’s a lot of testosterone, maybe darker than much of what I prefer in a mystery, but what brought the rating up a bit for me was Scott and Maggie. I love their relationship! I also like that we are given the same scene (or important parts of the scene) from a few different perspectives. This is only the second book that follows Scott and Maggie. It’s too bad there aren’t more, as I find them so much more interesting than Elvis Cole and Joe Pike who have far more books in their respective series.

A Dangerous Thing - Josh Lanyon (California)
Adrien English series Book #2
5★
In his second sleuthing adventure, bookseller Adrien English arrives at the Pine Shadow Ranch (left to him by a beloved grandmother) to find a corpse in the dusty driveway. But by the time the unfriendly local sheriffs arrive, the body has disappeared.

Poor Ardien is getting a little fed up with his on again off again relationship with Jake Riordan the cop. I share his frustration. If this man was any further in the closet he’d completely disappear. To complicate Ardien’s problems, he’s not doing very well writing the sequel to his first sold manuscript. He's getting nowhere in either situation...so he decides to take a break and go to the ranch that his grandmother left him. Who but Ardien would find a dead body in the road the night he arrives? Ardien is the heart and soul of this series even though we are only two books into it. He has no illusions about who or what he is. And he can laugh at himself and find humor in the situations that he finds himself in. He is completely aware of the ridiculousness of his situations. After so long reading Josh Lanyon’s books, I know she always rescues her characters and that there will be a happily after...eventually. Perhaps a good kick in the seat of his pants would help Jake out of his closet...but it does seem that he is making some progress on his closet exit on his own.

The Last Time I Saw You - Liv Constatine - (Maryland)
3★
In a world of wealth and privilege, a killer is hiding . . . Dr. Kate English has it all. Not only is she the heiress to a large fortune; she has a gorgeous husband and daughter, a high-flying career, and a beautiful home anyone would envy. But all that changes the night Kate’s mother, Lily, is found dead, brutally murdered in her own home. Heartbroken and distraught, Kate reaches out to her estranged best friend, Blaire Barrington, who rushes to her side for the funeral, where the years of distance between them are forgotten in a moment. That evening, Kate’s grief turns to horror when she receives an anonymous text: You think you’re sad now, just wait. By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll wish you had been buried today. More than ever, Kate needs her old friend’s help. Once Blaire decides to take the investigation into her own hands, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems in Baltimore high society. As infidelity, lies, and betrayals come to light, and tensions rise to a boiling point, she begins to alienate Kate’s friends and relatives with her relentless, accusatory questions, as she tries to find Lily’s killer. The murderer could be anyone—friend, neighbor, loved one. But whoever it is, it’s clear that Kate is next on their list.

This book started out good... slow, but good, but only for the first half. I wasn't sure exactly where it was going to take me. I didn't know who to trust...who was sane...who wasn't. Actually, I just couldn’t get close to these characters and it seemed the book ended up way out in left field. I believe one problem may have been that the book is written in two voices and it’s difficult to follow. I’ve read this author before so I won’t let this one put me off getting more of her books.

The Mirror and the Light by Hillary Mantel
4****

England, May, 1536. Anne Boleyn is dead, decapitated in the space of a heartbeat by a hired French executioner. As her remains are bundled into oblivion, Thomas Cromwell breakfasts with the victors. The blacksmith's son from Putney emerges from the spring's bloodbath to continue his climb to power and wealth, while his formidable master, Henry VIII, settles to short-lived happiness with his third queen, Jane Seymour.

Maybe on the re-read I'll appreciate this book more. And I am so sad to say that - it is a beautifully written work, full of court intrigues and Thomas Cromwell's musings and a whole lotta history. But there was a point at which the political machinations and the conversations just became too much. Too much to keep up with, the enormous cast of characters at the front was overwhelming, and because people are addressed with one title and referenced by another name, it became slow going.

But, I'm sure I'll re-read it in years to come and maybe that will make all the difference. I loved her first two volumes and hope to love this one more.

The Great Mortality by John Kelly
4****

"La moria grandissima" began its terrible journey across the European and Asian continents in 1347, leaving unimaginable devastation in its wake. Five years later, twenty-five million people were dead, felled by the scourge that would come to be called the Black Death. "The Great Mortality" is the extraordinary epic account of the worst natural disaster in European history--a drama of courage, cowardice, misery, madness, and sacrifice that brilliantly illuminates humankind's darkest days when an old world ended and a new world was born.

This is a fascinating and in-depth look of the Black Plague that swept through Constantinople, Asia Minor, North Africa, and all of Europe in the 14th Century. It seemed fitting to read it now in 2021, in part to remind myself that we've been here before, and to understand more of what went on way back then.

Kelly does a phenomenal job with explaining where the Plague came from, which rodent on the plains of Mongolia carried the flea, and how there were really two kinds of Plague: pneumonic and Bubonic. I had no idea. He also uses contemporary sources as a way to point out that what was "every living soul" in medieval writing was, in truth, closer to 30 percent or 40 percent and why. Because there were different death rates in different areas.

And how the plague spread from Mongolia through trade routes (think: bags, packs, pack animals, minimal hygiene) to Caffa on the Black Sea, and then from there to Constantinople. Again, the hyperbole of "everyone on board the ship was dead when it was in port" gets a modern historical review.

The amount of death and destruction, though, is immense. Town by town and city by city he leads us, up water routes and across land routes, and writings by those who survived and those who didn't. Also part of the history are the economic and ecological disasters that happened in different parts of Europe; England was especially hard hit with torrential rains that resulted in widespread famine 20 years before the Plague, with resulting lowered immune systems of the children who survived the famine only to die so quickly of the Plague.

What kept me from giving this book the full 5 stars was the author's commentary and interjections of "he must have thought" and occasional pulling together of threads that too jumbled to make a great deal of sense.

Secret At Skull House - Josh Lanyon - (Rhode Island)
Secrets and Scrabble Series Book #2
5★
Ellery is back and in hot water again! Unlike everyone else in Pirate's Cove, Ellery Page, aspiring screenwriter, reigning Scrabble champion, and occasionally clueless owner of the village's only mystery bookstore, is anything but thrilled when famed horror author Brandon Abbott announces he's purchased legendary Skull House and plans to live there permanently. Ellery and Brandon have history. Their relationship ended badly and the last thing Ellery wants is a chance to patch things up--especially when his relationship with Police Chief Jack Carson is just getting interesting. But then, maybe Brandon isn't all that interested in getting back together either, because he seems a lot more interested in asking questions about the bloodstained past.

I love Ellery, and his relationship with Jack. The romance is there, as it was in book 1, but it takes a back seat, putting the mystery in the forefront. Here we have a very unlikeable victim...a shop owner who is suspected of murder... a wonderful small town full of supporting characters that we are coming to know and like... and there is enough information about running the bookshop to keep those of us who think of that as a dream job interested. The murderer is revealed at the end in classic fashion and our two romantic main characters are left to work on their relationship for book 3. This one was fun... fast paced.... I couldn't put it down.

One Good Turn
Kate Atkinson
3/5 stars
Jackson Brodie, ex-cop returns in this second book starring him. He is retired and has followed his girlfriend to France where she is trying to establish an acting career. Meanwhile Brodie gets embroiled in several incidents including a crime novelist whose so-called friend is murdered. I really liked his character in the first book but I had some trouble following all the different characters and plots in this book.

A Well-Behaved Woman – Therese Anne Fowler
Digital audiobook narrated by Barrie Kreinik
3.5***

The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: A Novel of the Vanderbilts.

Alva Smith and her sisters are left with nothing but their good reputation after the Civil War. William Vanderbilt’s family is wealthy but not accepted by New York’s premier families. A marriage between the two might improve both families’ spot in society. It’s a false hope, however. But Alva is determined. She uses her husband’s money to build new and lavish mansions, hosts her own grand balls, works to found the Metropolitan Opera House, and to ensure that her children achieved the stature she deemed appropriate.

She was no shrinking violet … she was a Steel Magnolia. Intelligent, cagey, and fiercely independent. Faced with a betrayal, she moved forward with a scandalous strategy. It was a courageous move, but she was determined. Among the causes she championed was suffrage for all women.

I thought Fowler did a great job of bringing this fascinating woman to life. Of course I had heard of the Vanderbilts, but I knew little of Alva’s background or of her political causes before reading this.

Barrie Kreinik did a fine job of performing the audiobook. I found her interpretation of Ava and the many other characters believable. This is the second book set during the Gilded Age that I’ve listened to this month, and I admit that I got a bit confused at times, thinking that an episode in the story of Jennie Churchill was part of Alva’s story. That’s my fault, not the book’s or narrator’s.

Beautiful Corpse - Mark Mcnease (California)
Marshall James series Book #2
5★
“It was 1984. Prince ruled the airwaves. The Los Angeles Olympics had come and gone, taking with it a spotlight that had shone harshly on the city’s night crawlers and left them thankful for the the shadows. AIDS was spreading its dark, black, wings over us all, and I was a happy guy. At least I thought I was, until things took a sudden turn for the deadly.” – Marshall James It’s been over a year since Marshall James first became intimately familiar with murder. He’s six months sober now and happily living with the love of his life, LAPD Detective Mac McElroy. Despite the coming storm of AIDS and its devastating toll on the world Marshall knows, his dark days seem to be behind him. Then one night he says the wrong thing, storms out in anger, and walks straight into a nightmare. Someone is setting him up to take the fall for a beautiful corpse. But who would do something so evil, and so planned? Within hours he finds himself running from the police and the mob, and running toward a killer he must apprehend before the only chance left is no chance at all.

Beautiful Corpse is an awesome read that keeps you on edge and takes you on an unpredictable journey, giving you a glimpse inside the 80s. It’s dark and scary and yet the author manages to slip in his twisted wry humor. The character of Marshall James is flawed but still a redemptive guy... and that's why the reader will always root for him. This author is quiet the storyteller and mystery fans that don’t mind same sex characters will really like it.

Near The Bone - Christina Henry - (Maine)
4★
Mattie can't remember a time before she and William lived alone on a mountain together. She must never make him upset. But when Mattie discovers the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, she realizes that they’re not alone after all. There’s something in the woods that wasn’t there before, something that makes strange cries in the night, something with sharp teeth and claws. When three strangers appear on the mountaintop looking for the creature in the woods, Mattie knows their presence will anger William. Terrible things happen when William is angry.

My suggestion would be to never, ever, for any reason...make William angry! William and Mattie live in a remote forest on a mountain. It’s always just been the two of them but then one day when checking the traps for their food source, Mattie finds a chilling pair of footprints that are not like any animal she’s ever seen before. She and William discover a cave of horrors that belong to this creature and William becomes set on hunting down this monster. It doesn’t take long to figure out that William is an abusive husband...so of course you start rooting for Mattie and encouraging every little act of defiance that she manages to commit. There are questions that I wanted/needed answered that just didn’t come about. Maybe another book will answer them but it left the story incomplete and a little disappointing for me...hence the 4-star rating. Never the less it’s so utterly bone-chilling, that it should not be missed by true fans of the horror genre.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory / Caitlyn Doughty
4 stars

Fascinated with death since she was a child, at 23-years old, after completing her medieval history degree, the author worked at a crematorium where she learned a lot and it prompted her to go to mortuary school, though she hated embalming with a passion! But she wanted to learn what the majority in the industry were taught. In addition to stories she tells of her coworkers, and incidents and stories with the dead bodies she worked with, she looks at the history of death rituals in various places and times.

Loved some of the quirky people she worked with! I enjoyed reading about the different death/dying rituals through time and place. She does throw some humour in there – I suppose to work in the industry one must possess some humour to lighten things up. Like her, I have been wanting to have a green burial for a long time now. It was just about a week ago that a new cemetery opened in my city with a green burial option, so I’m happy about that.

Dark Roads - Chevy Stevens - (British Columbia)
5★
The Cold Creek Highway stretches close to five hundred miles through British Columbia’s rugged wilderness to the west coast. Isolated and vast, it has become a prime hunting ground for predators. For decades, young women traveling the road have gone missing. Motorists and hitchhikers, those passing through or living in one of the small towns scattered along the region, have fallen prey time and again. And no killer or abductor who has stalked the highway has ever been brought to justice. Hailey McBride calls Cold Creek home. Her father taught her to respect nature, how to live and survive off the land, and to never travel the highway alone. Now he’s gone, leaving her a teenage orphan in the care of her aunt whose police officer husband uses his badge as a means to bully and control Hailey. Overwhelmed by grief and forbidden to work, socialize, or date, Hailey vanishes into the mountainous terrain, hoping everyone will believe she’s left town. Rumors spread that she was taken by the highway killer―who’s claimed another victim over the summer.
One year later, Beth Chevalier arrives in Cold Creek, where her sister Amber lived―and where she was murdered. Estranged from her parents and seeking closure, Beth takes a waitressing job at the local diner, just as Amber did, desperate to understand what happened to her and why. But Beth’s search for answers puts a target on her back―and threatens to reveal the truth behind Hailey’s disappearance.

Unsettling doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling the reader experiences. The missing...the dead...those left behind and those that know what happened...all come breaking through the pages to tell their stories. The entire setting is brilliantly designed to give you chills. I have followed and read everything that this author has written for many years and I can honestly say I believe this is the best of many great books she has written. It will defiantly make you think twice before venturing down those dark, deserted roads after dark. I seldom recommend books since I know reading tastes vary greatly even among those of us that like the same genres, but I highly recommend all mystery, suspense fans find and read this one. Thank you, Lynda & Oliver for loaning me this treasure.

Moonflower Murders – Anthony Horowitz
4****

Two books in one! A very interesting concept. Susan Ryeland is a retired publisher/editor who is approached by the Treherns, parents of a missing woman, for help in finding out where their daughter Cecily is and what has happened to her. Why? Because before she disappeared, Cecily mentioned that she had read a book by an author Susan used to represent, and that book gave her the solution to a real-life murder at the hotel her family owns and operates.

This is book two in a series featuring this literary detective, Susan Ryeland. And like the first novel, the secret to this one lies in a book Susan edited which featured the master German detective, Atticus Pünd (think Hercule Poirot). So, of course, Susan must re-read the book in question, and the mystery of what has happened to Cecily is interrupted after 227 pages, to allow the reader to experience the Atticus Pünd novel in its entirety, before returning to Cecily’s disappearance (and to the murder she felt she had solved using the Pünd book).

Sound confusing? Well, that’s because I am nowhere near the talented writer that Anthony Horowitz is. I was completely mesmerized by this book (these books?). I enjoyed the difference in style between the two storylines and was equally immersed in each mystery (or really three mysteries … the one that Pünd is solving; the murder that Cecily believed she had solved by reading the Pünd novel; the disappearance of Cecily).

I like Susan as a character, and I like Atticus Pünd. Both are meticulous and thorough and deliberate in analyzing the evidence they uncover. And I love the way that Horowitz plays with words

I haven’t read the first in the series – Magpie Murders - yet, but I definitely will, and I look forward to future installments as well.

The Better Sister - Alafair Burke - (New York)
2★
Though Chloe was the younger of the two Taylor sisters, she always seemed to be the one in charge. She was the honor roll student with big dreams and an even bigger work ethic. Nicky—always restless and more than a little reckless—was the opposite of her ambitious little sister. She floated from job to job and man to man, and stayed close to home in Cleveland. For a while, it seemed that both sisters had found happiness. Chloe earned a scholarship to an Ivy League school and moved to New York City, where she landed a coveted publishing job. Nicky married promising young attorney Adam Macintosh and gave birth to a baby boy they named Ethan. The Taylor sisters became virtual strangers. Now, more than fifteen years later, their lives are drastically different—and Chloe is married to Adam. When he’s murdered by an intruder at the couple’s East Hampton beach house, Chloe reluctantly allows her teenage stepson’s biological mother—her estranged sister, Nicky—back into her life. But when the police begin to treat Ethan as a suspect in his father’s death, the two sisters are forced to unite . . . and to confront the truth behind family secrets they have tried to bury in the past.

My mother loved this author’s books as well as her father’s books so when I found this one at a yard sale, I thought I would give it a try. I really tried to find something to like about any of the characters and felt rather disloyal to my mother because I simply couldn’t do it. It was a bizarre story to say the least. We have a tale of two forty-something sisters thrown together under tragic circumstances after being estranged for fifteen years. The culprit was unpredictable and what they did with the murder weapon was simply idiotic. By the end I had stopped caring one way or another who was guilty. I guess the book was just not for me. Sorry Mom.

The Wangs vs. the World - Jade Chang – (California/New York)
4★
Meet the Wangs, the unforgettable immigrant family whose spectacular fall from glorious riches to (still name-brand) rags brings them together in a way money never could. Charles Wang, a brash, lovable businessman who built a cosmetics empire and made a fortune, has just lost everything in the financial crisis. So he rounds up two of his children from schools that he can no longer afford and packs them into the only car that wasn’t repossessed. Together with their wealth-addicted stepmother, Barbra, they head on a cross-country journey from their foreclosed Bel-Air home to the Upstate New York retreat of the eldest Wang daughter, Saina.

384 pages of some hilarity, but not as much as the description will have you thinking. More delight than I was expecting considering Charles Wangs situation... and as should be expected...a little heartbreak. The writing was wonderful, and it was an intriguing perspective on that time in our nation’s history told through the story of immigrants Charles and Barbra and three adults or nearly-adult children who grew up here and had never wanted for anything...they have no idea how to budget...or how to do with less... because they never had to. For the most part, this is a fun and compelling read.

Bloodless - Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child
Agent Pendergast series Book #20 - (Georgia)
4.5★
A fabulous heist: On the evening of November 24, 1971, D. B. Cooper hijacked Flight 305—Portland to Seattle—with a fake bomb, collected a ransom of $200,000, and then parachuted from the rear of the plane, disappearing into the night…and into history. A brutal crime steeped in legend and malevolence: Fifty years later, Agent Pendergast takes on a bizarre and gruesome case: in the ghost-haunted city of Savannah, Georgia, bodies are found with no blood left in their veins—sowing panic and reviving whispered tales of the infamous Savannah Vampire. A case like no other:
As the mystery rises along with the body count, Pendergast and his partner, Agent Coldmoon, race to understand how—or if—these murders are connected to the only unsolved skyjacking in American history. Together, they uncover not just the answer…but an unearthly evil beyond all imagining.

I’ve read all 20 books in this series and have always liked the characters of Pendergast, Constance... and the recent addition of Coldmoon. This story is based mainly on the 1971, mysterious hijacker D.B. Cooper who parachuted from a commercial airliner with a bundle of cash in the remote northwest and is never heard from again. The story takes up here a half-century later, with Aloysius X.L. Pendergast and colleague Armstrong Coldmoon being sent to Savannah, Georgia, to investigate a “most peculiar incident”: a body has washed ashore with not a drop of blood left in the corpse. The story also becomes creepy at this point with the reader being reminded that old city of Savannah has always been known to have some strange, unexplained events take place. This does well to add to the already haunted feel of the storyline and taking it into one of more horror than crime. All of Pendergast’s adventures are weird and wonderful fun, and this is no exception.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond / Elizabeth George Speare
3.25 stars

It’s the 17th century. Katherine (Kit) is from the Caribbean and is now an orphan, so she manages to find passage on a ship to Connecticut, where she has an aunt. Her aunt and uncle (and cousins) take her in, but she has a hard time adjusting to the culture, and to the amount of work she is expected to help with (she is used to having slaves to do the work). She befriends the local elderly woman who lives alone, Hannah. Hannah is a Quaker, and is also considered a witch by the locals and Kit is asked not to visit Hannah, anymore.

I listened to the audio, and mostly I liked it, but it was hard to keep focus, unfortunately. I liked it enough that I often rewound to listen again to try to catch what I’d missed, but I still missed more than I would have liked.

The Last Runaway / Tracy Chevalier
3.75 stars

In the mid-1800s, Honor, a Quaker, is accompanying her sister Grace across the ocean from England to Ohio, where Grace is to marry Adam, someone they grew up with who had moved to Ohio to help out his brother in his business. Unfortunately, Grace dies along the way. Honor is so seasick on the crossing, she can’t imagine getting back on a ship to cross the ocean again to head home. But it’s a bit odd for her to live with her widowed almost-brother-in-law, and his newly widowed sister-in-law. They manage for a while.

On her way to Ohio, Honor met up with a local slave hunter. Before reaching Adam, Honor stayed a few days in a nearby town, helping Belle in her hat shop, as Honor is an amazing quilter and seamstress. Once she arrives to stay with Adam, though, she finds herself quite out of place, despite being part of a community of Quakers.

This book had a lot going on… that is, the author had to do a lot of research on a lot of different things, including Quakers, quilting, Ohio, and the Underground Railroad. I quite liked it, but I never did figure out the odd attraction she had for one character. I did love Belle! I’m not a quilter or sewer, so I found the Underground Railroad and the Quakers more interesting. It’s odd that I’ve not read much about Quakers before, but both my audio book and this one, being read at the same time included Quakers who are immigrants to the US (though the audio was set in the 17th century and this one in the 19th).

The Hell You Say - Josh Lanyon (California)
Ardien English series Book #3
5★
Demons...Death Threats...and Christmas Shopping...It’s going to be one Hell of a holiday! In the third in the popular Adrien English series, the "ill-starred and bookish" mystery writer has to contend with a Satanic cult, a handsome university professor and his on-again/off-again relationship with the eternally conflicted LAPD Detective Jake Riordan. And, oh, yes, of course murder.

I really enjoyed the occult setting for this mystery. Jake of course was horrid. What else is new? This time he has hit an all-time low. I believe that he and Ardien have entirely two very different ideas about what they each want and need out of this relationship. Ardien also is having trouble with his assistant Angus. He gave him money to get out of town. Angus is involved in some Satanic cult as evidenced by some rather disturbing phone calls he's been getting. Little does Adrien know his giving Angus money is going to land him in some trouble. Satanic rituals...a mansion in a very rich part of town... and Adrien doing his best to figure it out and get the info and pass it to the police... and above all, stay alive. In the mean time he’s getting an entire new family rather he wants them or not. Hang in there, Ardien....maybe Josh Lanyon will make things better for you in the next book.

Hamnet
by Maggie O’Farrell
4.5/5 stars
Set in England in the late 1500’s. A poor young man named John falls in love with Agnes who is a healer and knows how to make potions. Life is hard for them but they love each other and have three children. When their young son succumbs to bubonic plague, the family falls apart and John moves to London to work on the stage, write plays and earn money. Will John and Agnes’ marriage fall apart following this move or will they be able to come up to the challenge to continue to love each other. I thought this was a wonderfully written novel.

Forgotten Bones - Vivian Batz- (California)
Dead Remaining series Book #1
3★

When small-town police officers discover the grave of a young boy, they’re quick to pin the crime on a convicted criminal who lives nearby. But when it comes to murder, Officer Susan Marlan never trusts a simple explanation, so she’s just getting started. Meanwhile, college professor Eric Evans hallucinates a young boy in overalls: a symptom of his schizophrenia - or so he thinks. But when more bodies turn up, Eric has more visions, and they mirror details of the murder case. As the investigation continues, the police stick with their original conclusion, but Susan’s instincts tell her something is off. The higher-ups keep stonewalling her, and the FBI’s closing in. Desperate for answers, Susan goes rogue and turns to Eric for help. Together they take an unorthodox approach to the case as the evidence keeps getting stranger. With Eric’s hallucinations intensifying and the body count rising, can the pair separate truth from illusion long enough to catch a monster?

I liked the main characters and this could have been an excellent story and received another star if something hadn't been missing from the start. The main thing that was missing was that the “thriller” part that was in the description never really materialized. The killer was so obvious that there wasn’t any fun left for the reader to “solve the mystery”. There are also some topics in the book that are going to be everything from slightly embarrassing to downright disgusting to some readers....so just be warned.

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Vol. I (of 3)
5***** and a heart

Il y a un point ou les infortunes et les infames se melent et se confondent dans un seul mot, mot fatal, les miserables; de qui est-ce la faute? Roughly translated (because of all the nuances in these few words): There is a point where the unfortunate and the infamous mix together and become mixed up into one sole word, a fatal word, les miserables; whose fault is this?

Wow, what an extraordinary book. It operates on so many levels and addresses so many themes, many of which are in my tags above: social justice, poverty, child abuse, hunger. Hugo captures the desperation of a hungry boy in Jean Valjean who saves himself, but sadly his family for whom he stole the loaf of bread succumbs to their poverty. The priest who loans him the candlesticks? There is a marvelous passage about this priest and a dying man, who represent the two sides of the French Revolution.

And Fantine! She grieves for a cart horse while her friends and their lovers (and hers) drink and dine and carouse. Hugo's description of her demise into poverty and how a bitter Gossip traces her daughter's whereabouts causes that demise are all too true today. He goes into great detail about how she learns to eat only every other day to save money and how a thin blanket covers her night after night, and the descriptions are just so poignant. And so tragic and unnecessary.

And then there are the passages about Napoleon, where Hugo pretty much asks in today's parlance, "What were you thinking?! M. le General, why did you bring up the heavy cannons when there was so much rain on the ground? And didn't you scout out the dropoff where your cavalry was due to charge? How could you make such military blunders?" What a powerful passage, and one filled with military details that I had no idea had led to Napoleon's loss at the Battle of Waterloo.

A very, very worthwhile book, as timely now as it was then. And off to Vol. II!

When You Find Me - P.J. Vernon - (South Carolina)
5★
Her husband is missing.
Visiting her family’s South Carolina estate, socialite Gray Godfrey wakes from a night out to an empty bed. Her husband Paul is gone and a thrashing hangover has wiped her memory clean. At first, she’s relieved for the break from her tumultuous marriage; perhaps Paul just needed some space. But when his car is found abandoned on the highway, Gray must face the truth: Paul is gone. And Gray may not want him found. Her life is unraveling. When a stranger named Annie calls claiming to know Paul’s whereabouts, Gray reluctantly accepts her help. But this ally is not what she seems: soon Annie is sending frightening messages and revealing disturbing secrets only Gray could know. As Annie’s threats escalate and Gray’s grip on reality begins to slip, the life she thought she had and the dark truth she’s been living begin to merge, leaving an unsettling question: What does Annie want? And what will she do to get it?

This story has it all. Family dysfunction...substance abuse...old secrets...betrayal... madness... and a missing husband. This is a debut novel by this talented author. I just finished his second book Bath Haus and immediately decided to search to see if he had any more. This one is so different than Bath Haus but it is every bit as entertaining and absorbing. We quickly realize that this family has secrets that are as rich as their estate and deeply buried with the hope they will never see the light of day. I never saw the ending coming. P.J. Vernon has produced a chilling...twisted, and dark thriller that is very hard to put down until the last page is turned.

An Irish Country Christmas – Patrick Taylor
Book on CD performed by John Keating
4****

Book three in in the charming and popular story of 1960s country GP, Barry Laverty, M.B., his partner / mentor Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, and the people of Ballybucklebo. It’s Christmas and love is in the air.

I came late to this party, but I’m glad I finally arrived, and now it seems that I may never leave. The books are charming and entertaining and just plain fun to read. I love the cultural references to the time period, as well as learning a little about medical practices “back in the day.”

Taylor peoples the novels with a cast of eccentric villagers, and a few lovely ladies. I particularly like the doctors’ housekeeper, Kinky. And appreciate Taylor’s including some of Kinky’s recipes at the end of each book.

John Keating does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. He really brings these characters to life. I love the way he portrays Kinky!

Blackbird In The Reeds - Sam Burns -(Oregon)
The Rowan Harbor Cycle Series Book #1
4.5★

Devon Murphy has never believed that there were fairies at the bottom of the garden, but when he’s in an accident on his way to his grandmother’s house and comes face to face with the biggest, baddest wolf he’s ever seen, he’s forced to reconsider. When his grandmother asks him to look into a string of suspicious accidents, he finds a much bigger mystery to unravel. From his childhood best friend to the too-attractive Deputy Wade Hunter, everyone in Rowan Harbor seems to have something to hide. Devon has to get to the bottom of it all before the accidents turn deadly.

This is the first in a series about a small town in Oregon that is populated by werewolves, witches, vampires, and fae. I should have saved it for October:) They've drawn up an accord to live in peace there, both from each other and the outside world. The main characters are likable and endearing. They draw you right in to their world. The secondary characters need a little work to fully fledge them out but if this first book is any indication of this authors talent, that will surely happen. I love characters that I can imagine liking to hang out with and Sam Burns has given me an entire town. Rowan Harbor feels real, populated with people who are going to annoy you... delight you.... but generally, just makes you happy, Looking forward to book 2.

Darkest Corner of Texas - Russ Hall - (Texas)
Alan Quinn series Book #7
5★
Scream Away, But No One Cares… Austin’s urban sprawl is crowding in on Al Quinn’s once wilderness lakefront house. Yet he is tugged away from his cozy retirement, his quirky housemates, and even his promise to marry Fergie by a string of seemingly petty crimes that are starting to seem organized. Houses may be springing up around where he and his family live, but Al knows from his years as a sheriff’s department detective that there are still some quite dark corners in Texas. He finds himself drawn right out into the darkest of them. The trail he follows gets even more sinister when he and Fergie must confront the Aryan Brotherhood. There is no backing away, though, when the lives of his brother Maury, Bonnie, Little Al, and even Al’s dog, Tanner, are at stake.

This is book #7 in the series but if it’s the first book of the series I have read. Its fairly easy to pick up on the storyline and get to know the characters. Al Quinn just wants to be left alone, thank you very much. Dom is out of prison after 8-years and feels perfectly comfortable making himself comfortable on Quinn’s dock, even if he wasn’t invited...and you can be sure that he wasn’t. Neither was his companion...his nephew, Cabe. In another time and another place, somebody might be lecturing people about taking care of family. In this book, it is all about family and taking care of the people and pets you love. Sometimes you simply can’t wait for others to clean up the mess...especial the mess of your own making. The Darkest Corners of Texas is a fast paced, action filled read. The crimes to be dealt with range from dog-napping to human trafficking. Of course, that means several villains, including a criminal mastermind and a white supremacist. There are a lot of characters to keep up with but it’s an exciting ride. The only thing that I found a tad annoying, was that the author was a little long - winded when describing the scenery...but that was a small thing and didn’t affect the rhythm of the story. This is the first I have read by this author but it won’t be my last. Maybe I’ll even start with book #1.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Red Adapt Publishing in exchange for an honest opinion. The views expressed by this reviewer are entirely my own.

The Love Study - Kris Ripper
Love Study series Book #1
4★
Declan has commitment issues. He’s been an office temp for literally years now, and his friends delight in telling people that he left his last boyfriend at the altar. And that’s all true. But he’s starting to think that maybe it’s time to start working on his issues. When Declan meets Sidney - a popular nonbinary YouTuber with an advice show - an opportunity presents itself: as part of The Love Study, Declan will go on a series of dates arranged by Sidney and report back on how the date went in the next episode. The dates are…sort of blah. It’s not Sidney’s fault; the folks participating are great people, but there’s no chemistry there. Maybe Declan is just broken. Or maybe the problem is that the only person he’s feeling chemistry with is Sidney.

I read the 2nd book first...The Hate Project, so I was already familiar with the group of friends that get together regularly to help one another. I like their friendship along with all their snarky remarks. They are always there for one another when life gets to be too much...which is more often than not...but they hold one another accountable and feel comfortable calling each other out when one of them needs an “attitude adjustment”. The thing that bothered me a bit in both books... is that a lot of the time they act more like a bunch of Jr. High School age kids instead of folks in their early to late 20’s. Declan was a sweetheart that really deserved better from life and I was happy to see that he was working very hard on achieving that. Sidney was exactly what Declan needed, but it seemed to take them a long time to work it out. This book was a really great beginning to this series. I wish I had read it first to start with.

The Fruit of Stone by Mark Spragg
287 p. - ★ ★ ★ ★

This is a story of the lifelong friendship between two men and the woman they both love. Told partially in flashback, part dream, and partially in the present, Gretchen is married to Bennett, McEban's best friend. She married him at nineteen, when she was pregnant with McEban's child. McEban was headed off to college and didn't know about the pregnancy or the marriage. Twenty years later, Gretchen leaves Bennett, telling him she will write to him in Boise. Bennett and McEban follow her across the West, picking up Rita and Paul (a young woman and her little brother) along the way. Love, loyalty, friendship, and family are all examined on the road trip.

A Knight in Shining Armor / Jude Deveraux.
4 stars

Dougless is on a trip to England with her partner, Robert, and his spoilt-brat daughter, Gloria. When, after a fight, Robert and Gloria drive away and leave Dougless behind at a church without even her purse, she breaks down in tears on top of a tomb – the tomb of 16th century “rake” Nicholas Stafford. When a man appears, she refuses to believe he is from the 16th century – he says he IS Nicholas. She just thinks he’s crazy! Even still, she agrees to help him, as he is obviously confused about everything going on around him (or he’s acting so, anyway). They decide to do some research to find out more about what happened to him (he appeared to Dougless only 3 days before he was scheduled to be executed) – that is, who accused him of the crime he is to be executed for.

I quite enjoyed this. I’m not a big romance fan, but I do like time travel. This one got even better with an unexpected turn of events in the middle of the book. Although, I did find Dougless to be a bit – I can’t think of a good word, but “flakey” maybe? I have no idea what she ever saw in Robert! I do feel like this was a tough one to find a good ending for, but I thought she did a good job with that. There is an afterword in the edition I read, which was apparently slightly rewritten from the original. The author said she tried to make the reader see a bit better why Dougless might have wanted so badly to marry Robert, but I still didn’t get that part of it. Despite that, however, I did love the time travel aspect of the book!

In the Country We Love – Diane Guerrero
Audible original audio narrated by the author.
4****

Subtitle: My Family Divided

When Diane Guerrero was fourteen years old, she came home from school to find an empty house. Her family had been picked up by ICE and were detained pending deportation. Fortunately for Diane, a family friend agreed to take her in, so that she could remain in school. This is her memoir.

The author has an important message to convey about the effects on children of America’s immigration and deportation policies. Diane had been born in the United States, so she was never at risk of being deported, but she was a child when her parents and brother were sent back to Columbia. And no government agency checked on her welfare … at all. Yes, you read that right. Social Services, Child Protective Services, ICE, Homeland Security … not one single government entity bothered to check to see if this 14-year-old child was okay, had food, shelter, clothing. It’s not like they didn’t know she existed. While her parents were awaiting deportation, she visited them at the detention facility, registering as their daughter, accompanied by the family friend who was temporarily caring for her.

The traumatic events left psychological scars, and Guerrero is open and honest about what she endured (including years of self-harm) until she got the emotional help she needed. She is now an outspoken advocate for immigration reform.

My book club had a very interesting discussion of this book. Her “voice” as an author is very young at the outset. It’s almost as if she were writing for a high school or even middle school audience. But as she recovers from the trauma, and particularly the last two chapters, her voice matures, and she writes with confidence and authority.

Guerrero narrates the audiobook herself. I had read the first two-thirds of the book in text format before a friend shared the audio with me. The difference in maturity between the beginning and ending is more evident on the audio.

Forgotten In Death - J.D. Robb - (New York)
Eve Dallas In Death series Book #53
5★
The body was left in a dumpster like so much trash, the victim a woman of no fixed address, known for offering paper flowers in return for spare change―and for keeping the cops informed of any infractions she witnessed on the street. But the notebook where she scribbled her intel on litterers and other such offenders is nowhere to be found. Then Eve is summoned away to a nearby building site to view more remains―in this case decades old, adorned with gold jewelry and fine the clothing―unearthed by recent construction work. She isn’t happy when she realizes that the scene of the crime belongs to her husband, Roarke―not that it should surprise her, since the Irish billionaire owns a good chunk of New York. Now Eve must enter a complex world of real estate development, family history, shady deals, and shocking secrets to find justice for two women whose lives were thrown away.

The first book in this series was in reader’s hands in 1995...so we are still here 26 years later following the lives of Eve, Roark, Peabody,, McNab and all those other wonderful familiar characters that make this one of the top series in the entire country. You would think that J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) would run out of ideas and bad guys for our Eve to find and arrest. Set 40 years into the future...we, in 2021 can with a doubt be assured that Eve & Peabody has surely got them all either behind bars or “off planet” when we get there. I really think that I could handle drinking soda out of a tube and I want one of those Auto Chef coffee dispensers. Back to Eve’s case (s) ...we actually have two and the thing that seems to disturb Eve the most is the cruelty of the killings. An elderly victim is disposed of in a dumpster and a woman and her fetus is found sealed in a wall... and that murder is proved to have happen 40 years in the past...our time. Eve sets a fast pace finding the killer with her usual skill and ferocity. I have always found the interview scenes between Eve and the suspects are some of the best parts of all the stories. You better believe that no one will be “Forgotten In Death” on Eve’s watch. Another great addition. Keep them coming, Ms. Robb!

American Fairytale - Adriana Herrera (New York)
Dreamers' series Book #2
4.5★
Fairytale endings don’t just happen; they have to be fought for. New York City social worker Camilo Santiago Briggs grew up surrounded by survivors who taught him to never rely on anything you didn’t earn yourself. He’s always dreamt of his own happily ever after, but he lives in the real world. Men who seem too good to be true…usually are. And Milo never ever mixes business with pleasure...until the mysterious man he had an unforgettable hookup with turns out to be the wealthy donor behind his agency’s new, next-level funding. Thomas Hughes built a billion-dollar business from nothing: he knows what he wants and isn’t shy about going after it. When the enthralling stranger who blew his mind at a black-tie gala reappears, Tom’s more than ready to be his Prince Charming. Showering Milo with the very best of everything is how Tom shows his affection. Trouble is, Milo’s not interested in any of it. The only thing Milo wants is Tom. Fairytale endings take work as well as love. For Milo, that means learning to let someone take care of him, for a change. And for Tom, it’s figuring out that real love is the one thing you can’t buy.

Milo and Tom give an entirely new meaning to “stubborn”. I just wanted to shake them. Then I realized that their stubbornness was more about who they were and what they each stood for than just being total asses. They were worlds apart in so many things but totally right for one another...they just had to figure out how to put it together so they were going to work. There was no magic lamp to rub...just good old hard work and compromise. In the process they learned that they had more in common than they thought. The author has the two guys discuss social issues that they are both facing...as are countless people outside the fictional pages of a book...and she does it was tact and diplomacy. I loved the two characters and everything else about this book. I had read the first book in the series... American Dreamer and really liked it. Even though the books are a series for the like topics they contain...they’re not a continuing story so the books don’t need to be necessarily be read in order.

Fangirl / Rainbow Rowell
3.75 stars

Cath and Wren are twin sisters and going to college. Not only are they leaving their dad, but Wren has insisted they not be roommates so they can meet new people. Which is fine for outgoing, party-girl Wren, but Cath is a shy nerd. A fanfiction writing nerd, obsessed with Simon Snow, the wildly popular fantasy series, and the last book will be coming out soon. Cath’s new roomate Reagan is distant, but Reagan’s boyfriend is far too friendly – with everyone. Mostly Cath leaves him in the hall if Reagan isn’t home (which is most of the time). Cath is excited to start her Creative Fiction course, though – a higher level class she needed permission to get into.

I really enjoyed the main story of Cath and the events surrounding her. For me, there was far too much Simon Snow, though. I skimmed over almost all of the Simon Snow writings in the book. This is what brought my rating down by a quarter star. I did come to quite like Reagan. I loved Luke! There were some serious topics in the book, but it’s still a lighthearted book with humourous bits thrown in.

An Unlocked Mind - K.C. Wells -(England)
Secrets series Book #2
4.5★
Rob Daniels is determined to prove to himself that his brother Alex got it wrong. Alex believes he found love through BDSM; Rob is certain that’s not possible. He even makes several visits to a London club to prove his point. But when he attends the grand opening of Secrets, Rob gets a shock, one that has him fleeing, vowing never to return―until he does… and runs into the brick wall that is Dom Vic Prentiss. As first meetings go, theirs is a disaster. The more time he spends around Rob, the more convinced Vic becomes of two things―one, something is eating away at Rob, and two, he’s looking for something. Every instinct tells Vic to help him, but trying to unlock the secrets hidden in Rob’s mind requires a key. All Vic has to do is find it. Because maybe then he’ll get to see the real Rob, the man who’s scared to let go.

I listed to this and was almost sorry I did. The “reader” had one of the most annoying accents I had ever heard...but it grew on me eventually. I loved the voice he gave to the character of Vic... but the voice he gave to poor Rob made the listener imagine that he was a royal snob and the most hostile, depictable person in England or perhaps the entire universe. I either became accustomed to it or the authors rendition of Rob made him much more likable. Rob is very, very broken and riddled with anxiety over his past actions as well as being in emotional turmoil over liking what he perceives he shouldn't. Vic was so patient with this boy that suddenly appeared in his life and kept appearing without any rhyme or reason. It was actually heart wrenching, yet so rewarding to see Rob come into the person that he deserved to be and his and Vic’s devotion to one another and the life they were building. Rob’s mother should have been taken out and shot. I understood Rob more after meeting what had raised him and his brother. Hoopla only has this one book in this series and it's #2... but there are 5 of the books in K.C. Well’s other series, Collars and Cuffs. Some of the characters in that one also appear in this one. It was like seeing old friends again.

We Were Feminists Once
Andi Zeisler
3/5 stars
This book came out in 2016 and talks about how feminism was politicized, taken over and turned into a media trend without any real change in how women are treated at work and in the media. I thought the author made some good points.

Just Last Night - Mhairi McFarlane
2.5★

Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have been friends since they were teenagers. Now in their thirties, the four are as close as ever, Thursday night bar trivia is sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed. Maybe she should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed still thinks about it, too. But then, in an instant, their lives are changed forever. In the aftermath, Eve’s world is upended. As stunning secrets are revealed, she begins to wonder if she really knew her friends as well as she thought. And when someone from the past comes back into her life, Eve’s future veers in a surprising new direction... They say every love story starts with a single moment. What if it was just last night?

There were a lot of subjects covered in these 414 pages... love, heartbreak, friendship, deceits and loss to name a few....in a variety of ways. The characters are easy to like, however I wouldn't have wanted any of them for my best friends, Like most long time friends they knew well each others faults and weaknesses as well as one another's strengths... so they shouldn't have any surprises when dealing with one another. I read on the back of the book that it was a "romantic comedy"....but I didn't read anything that remotely made it a comedy...more like a romantic tragedy. The story is about loss, grief, and infidelity...I don't see comedy in any of that. It did have some witty dialog, but still not enough to make it funny. I will admit that this is not my usual genre...the book was given to me to read and pass on, but I had to get through nearly 40% of the book before I really developed any desire to find out what happened to Eve.

Winchell: Gossip, Power, and the Culture of Celebrity
Neal Gabler
4/5 stars
Gabler does a thorough job tracking Winchell’s career, relationships with his family and friends and his ups and downs in the publishing arena, vaudeville, radio, TV business and the gossip culture against the background of what was going on in America in the time period he worked in. I never realized how prolific he was in his career. Very interesting!

A Spark of Light / Jodi Picoult
3 stars

This starts off with a hostage situation in a women’s reproductive health services clinic. The daughter of one of the police is in there. Along with many others.

It was good, but hard to follow – maybe more-so because I listened to the audio. Lots of characters, and all over the place in time/chronology with all the different characters made it really hard to follow. I don’t even know if the hostage situation was finished or how it finished! If it was finished off somehow, I missed it. I suppose the book wasn’t really about the hostage situation, and there wasn’t really tension with the hostage storyline at all.

There were a couple of interesting twists that I hadn’t expected. Speaking of that, there was another storyline for one of the characters that I’m not quite sure how it ended, either. Actually there was more than one, now that I think of it. I could have done without the abortion descriptions. Good parts: I learned a few things, an interesting author’s note at the end. I was going to rate it “good” at 3.5, but the end (or too many ends that weren’t tied up – or if they were, I missed them all) brought my rating down a bit.

Deadly Nightshade - Victor J. Banis - (California)
Deadly Mystery series Book #1
4★
Straight cop, gay cop, and a woman who "isn't real." Tom and Stanley are on the trail of a drag queen serial killer, and along the way, they find themselves engaged in a more intimate pursuit, trying to resolve another mystery: their unexpected attraction to one another.

My two friends that supply me with tons of these books just handed me this and said, "We haven't read it yet. Thought you could be our guinea pig". Not sure if that was intended to express my great evaluation of literature or if they were expressing something that I might not want to examine too closely. Nonetheless...read it I did...and I liked it. I felt rather sorry for poor Tom. He was not expecting Stanly or the effect that Stanly had on him. He thought it was a bad case of indigestion but Pepcid was not helping any and every time Stanly looked at him he had to take some more. Them working that out was almost as good as the rest of the story. In Deadly Nightshade, we are introduced to the transgender world of San Francisco and certain parts are an eye opener for me....since I didn't know much about the transgender population. The story is layered with suspense and I never guessed the murderer. There were some issues with Stanley that seemed "odd". He had some unrealistic "gun" issues. How did he ever graduate from any police academy? Other than that the rest was 4 easily earned stars. The ending, is a fairly exciting climax. I'm going to tell my two friends they can purchase book #2 anytime now

Out of Focus - L A Witt
5+ ★
For the last twelve years, Ryan “Angel” Morgan and Dante James have been partners in every sense of the word. They’re lovers, they run a successful photography business together, and couldn’t be happier. The only problem? They’re both dominants who crave submission. Solution? Bring in a submissive for sizzling hot three-way action. When Jordan Steele hires the photographers from his sister’s wedding to shoot some promo pictures of his stallions, the sparks fly. There’s something about them, something that’s anything but vanilla, and he wants a taste of it. He’s inexperienced, but curious, and Angel and Dante are more than happy to show him the ropes. Jordan is exactly what they need and they’re exactly what he needs, but when emotions come into play, he may be more than they bargained for. After all, the one thing Angel and Dante can’t give each other is submission. If one of them can get love and submission from Jordan, will the other be pushed out of the picture?

I wasn’t exactly sure how this was going to work out but I’ve read many of LA Witt’s books and she has never failed me yet. I loved her “Out of Uniform” series so figured if she could bring the guys in that series together while they were fighting the DADT policy of the military...she should have no problem with two middle aged Doms that had been in a serious relationship for 12 years. I really liked the character of the sub, Jordan... that became the third player here. He questioned what he wasn’t sure of...expressed his opinions and just didn’t “give in”. The first part of the story... the setup was just a bit too long but the remaining 2/3 of the book was incredibly incredible. It's quite an easy read.... and all three guys were perfect together. The reader of this one, Nick Russo, did so much to make the story even better by the beautiful voices he gave each of the guys. I loved, loved, loved the characters in this book. The is a short sequel called Before There Were Three that tells the story of how Ryan (Angel) and Dante met and came to be together all those years ago.

The Girls – Emma Cline
Audiobook read by Cady McClain.
2**

From the book jacket: Northern California, during the violent end of the 1960s. At the start of summer, a lonely and thoughtful teenager, Evie Boyd, sees a group of girls in the park, and is immediately caught by their freedom, their careless dress, their dangerous aura of abandon. Soon, Evie is in thrall to Suzanne, a mesmerizing older girl, and is drawn into the circle of a soon-to-be infamous cult and the man who is its charismatic leader.

My reactions
I vividly remember the Manson murders of Sharon Tate et al. I followed the news coverage and could not imagine how these people became so enthralled and obedient to the obviously crazy Charles Manson. Cline’s Evie gives me some insight into how that might have happened.

But I cannot bring myself to rate the book even with three stars. The subject was so distasteful to me. I cringed at how Evie is drawn in, at how she was abused, at how she “begged” for the abuse because she was so hungry for attention and for what she thought was evidence of love. I could hardly bear to keep listening, but persevered because so many people I know had rated this debut highly. At the end I felt I had wasted my time, as these characters wasted their futures.

Cady McClain did a good job narrating the audiobook. She really brings Evie to life, and she was equally believable voicing the slimy cult leader, or Evie’s mother.

>71 BookConcierge: That amazed and confused me also, Tessa. It makes you wonder how evolved some people are. I try not to say anything political on GoodReads or here because it's not what they are intended for or why so many people use them...they're safe sites...but I can't image how so many people followed like sheep to one of our more recent politicians. Surely they wouldn't have had someone like that for even a casual friend much less a leader. Sorry about breaking my "no politics" rule, but I don't see a great deal of difference between Charles Mason's followers and his.

>71 BookConcierge: I gave it 3 stars (ok), but I did like the story, just not any of the characters. I also listened to the audio.

All Over But the Shoutin’ – Rick Bragg
4****

In this memoir, Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist Rick Bragg outlines the difficulties of growing up “dirt poor” in Appalachia, with an alcoholic father who could never shake that demon and a mother who willingly sacrificed her own health and well-being for her children’s sake. He also gives the reader a look at the life of a child who felt loved and was free to explore and roam and enjoy the nature around him. He openly shares the differing paths his brothers took. Older brother Sam found his own success, taking on the mantle of adult responsibilities when he was still a child, while younger brother Mark continues to struggle. And Bragg gives a nod of thanks to the relatives (Uncle Ed, in particular), townspeople and teachers who recognized his talent and encouraged him to strive for something more.

There is a sense of nostalgia about some of his reminiscences. Bragg left his home, but his home never left him. His story in an honest, gripping, heart-wrenching and inspiring love letter to his mother.

Mammoth / John Varley
4 stars

Multi-billionaire Howard has a “thing” for elephants and mammoths. When he gets his hands on a frozen excavated mammoth, he hires elephant trainer Susan to help impregnate an elephant to create an elephant-mammoth hybrid. Also with that frozen excavated mammoth was found a Stone Age man – with a wristwatch! And a box. Howard figures the box is a time machine and he hires genius mathematician Matt to figure it out.

I really liked this. It started off fast paced, and there were plenty of other fast-paced events in the book to keep things really going. And a few surprising events. I also really liked the way the book ended. I wasn’t sure how it was going to wrap up, but I thought it was done quite well.

Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik
Temeraire Series, Book 4
5*****

Tragedy has struck His Majesty's Aerial Corps, whose magnificent fleet of fighting dragons and their human captains valiantly defend England's shores against the encroaching armies of Napoleon Bonaparte. An epidemic of unknown origin and no known cure is decimating the noble dragons' ranks--forcing the hopelessly stricken into quarantine. Now only Temeraire and a pack of newly recruited dragons remain uninfected--and stand as the only means of an airborne defense against France's ever bolder sorties.

You know, just when I hesitate to start a book in this series because how can it possibly top the last one, I read it anyway. And am still blown away by the breadth and depth of Novik's research and insight into her time period!

Of course, reading it post-2020 is a bit, well, relevant? Is that the right word? Because as the book begins, we find that there is a mysterious, contagious pandemic occurring among the dragons in the British Empire. It broke out while the events of Book 3 were taking place, so of course there are no warning signs until Laurence and Temeraire and their crews and dragons land. And Novik describes the conditions of lockdown and isolation, and the effects of the dragons' deaths both on the defense of Britain and on the dragons' handlers.

But since Temeraire does not catch this virus, events and travels become a timeline and the pieces are connected to see how it was that his previous year's journey brought him around the Horn of Africa and to a probable cure. So off to Cape Town go a crew of sailors and less-sick dragons and a ship's captain whose beliefs in the slave trade do not match with Laurence's own. Remember the time that this book takes place, and yes, Wilberforce plays a part in the pre-voyage action of the book.

Events lead everyone to the Dutch settlements in Cape Town, a cure is uncovered, but so is a dragon-centered culture in the midst of Africa who are determined to end the depredations of the slave trade on their villages and people.

And the adventures continue . . .