WHAT ARE WE READING AND REVIEWING IN DECEMBER 2023?

What better way to end the year? Tell us what your plan to read.

Carol's December Reads
🎄 - ★
52/52
🎄Cutie and the Beast - E. J. Russell - 5★ (Friend) (1)
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🎄Risking It All - Reese Knightley - 3★
🎄Taking It Slow - Reese Knightly- 5★
🎄Battle It Out - Reese Knightley - 3.5★
🎄Bringing It Home - Reese Knightley - 4★
🎄Nowhere Ranch - Heidi Cullinan - 3★
🎄Serve, (white House Men) - Nora Phoenix - 2★
🎄No Rules, No Regrets - Nora Phoenix - 5★
🎄Edged, trophy Doms Social Club- Kate Hawthorn - 5★
🎄Nathan, Johnson Family Rules - Carly Marie - 5★
🎄Denim - K.C. Wells - 5★
🎄No Surrender - Nora Phoenix - 5★
🎄Adverse Conditions - Elle Keaton - 4★
🎄Beat of Their Own Drum - K.M. Neuhold - 4★
🎄Seeking Sanctuary - Romeo Alexander -5★
🎄Cuffs and Commitment - Romeo Alexander - 4★
🎄Our Love Story - M. A. Innes - 5★
🎄Not Dead Yet - Jenn Burke- 5★
🎄Make Me Stay - Annabeth Albert - 5★
🎄Christopher & Ethan, Beautiful Shame - M.A. Innes - 4★
🎄Merry Christmas Cupid- N. R. Walker - 5★
🎄No Fear - Nora Phoenix - 4★
🎄Professor Platonic - Lucy Lennox - 4★
🎄Up in Flames - Eden Finley & Saxon James - 4.5★
🎄Puzzle, White House Men - Nora Phoenix - 4★
🎄Step Right Up, (Carnival of Mysteries) - L.A. Witt - 5★
🎄Heel - K.M Neuhold - 4★
🎄Three's Company - N.R. Walker - 5★
🎄Tic-Tac Mistletoe - N.R. Walker - 5★
🎄Easton's Lost Otter - Della Cain - 4★
🎄 A Silver Fox for Kinkmas - Colette Davison - 4.5★
🎄A Dash of Salt and Pepper 4.5 -★ (31)
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🎄Solstice - Eli Eaton & R.J. Scott - 3.5★
🎄Adrift - Isabelle Adler- 3.5★
🎄The Innocent Wife - Lisa Regan - 5★
🎄Local Girl Missing - Lisa Regan - 3★
🎄See Her Die - Melinda Leigh - 4★
🎄The Uninvited: The True Story of the Union Screaming House - Steven LaChance - 5★
🎄Haunted: a Canadian Family's Experience Living in a Haunted House - Dorah L. Williams - 5★
🎄None of This Is True - Lisa Jewell - 3.5★
🎄Every Last One - Anna Quindlen - 3★
🎄 Either Side of Midnight - Tori de Clare - 3★
🎄The Haunting on West 10th Street - Helen Phifer - 5★
🎄Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six - Lisa Unger - 5★
🎄Kept Secrets - Shawn McGuire - 2.5★
🎄Sandman - Morgan Hannah MacDonald - 4★
🎄The Night House - Jo Nesbo - 3.5★
🎄Deadly Lies Chris Patchell - 4.5★
🎄The Winner - David Baldacci - 4★
🎄Back To The Garden - Laurie R. King - 4.5★
🎄The Burning Girls - C.J. Tudor- 5★
🎄Our House - Louise Candlish - 3★ (20)

Edged, Trophy Doms Club - Kate Hawthorne - (Oregon, New York)
Trophy Doms Social Club Series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
The love of Archie's life just happens to be the one he left behind when he left his hometown ten years ago. Archie is now reliving the biggest regret that he has ever had....one he never imaged he would have to endure. Owen is the man he’s always loved.... but of course, ten long lonely years have changed Both of them. Archie was ten years ago, just a twenty-year-old and a recent college graduate that has been busy building his life...and what a life it is...but it's missing something, and he soon discovers that that "something" was the one he left behind...Achcie. Fate seems to not be a "fickle lady' and has given them a second chance to make things right…but the big question is if they can. Owen never expected to see Archie again much less experience the feelings that hit him like a ton of bricks. We knew that when they meet that "best friends" wouldn't begin to describe what Archie and Owen are...but now we have a bit of an "on again off again" going on since Owen stubbornly refuses to open his heart to that kind of pain ever again. His head might be okay with that plan, but his heart says, "NO WAY"...What's wrong with you"? Kate Hawthrone is an author that is anything but bashful about the emotional damage she can cause her characters... these two in particular...before allowing them to come together. Just a warning to be prepared to have your heart torn out. I have read the first book, Humbled, so I was prepared for it but I still couldn't believe that she would ever not allow Archie and Owen to get the HEA that they both wanted and needed so much. I don't often get emotional about a book, but this story actually hurt more than the first one.... and under it all was the overwhelming emotions of these two flawed, but perfect for one another characters. I really like series that past characters from the other books show up to offer support and advise. It was good to see Grayson and Rob again and still happy, from book #1.

Nathan, Johnson Family Rules - Carly Marie
Johnson Family Rules Series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
The chemistry that developed between Nathan and Elliott was amazing. They got a rough start by the way that Elliott came into Nathan's families law firm, but both Nathan and Elliott, as well as the readers, soon discover what we knew would happen all along...they were made for each other. Both men were hurting, both men were lonely, but together they blended together beautifully. You can see the changes as that started to take place in the two of them. Nathan had a hot-tempered personality...even his brother Austin calls him "grouchy pants" while still loving him. The Johnsons are one big, (9 kids, his, hers and theirs), close kinit, loving family so it's not surprising the support that Nathan received. When Elliott first comes to work at the law firm, Nahan does his best to get rid of him, that is until he gets to really know him. Elliott didn't like him in another series by Carly Marie...how Elliott treated his then boyfriend, Kevin was the problem then. Elliotts parents were horrible. Nothing he did was ever good enough for them and he knew that if he continued to try to always, please other people that he very easily could end up just like his mother and father. Elliott is lucky to have a best friend, Emma who listens to him and encourages him to move and get another job. He promises her he will and will also start to live for himself...finally admit that he's gay and work on making his life what HE wants. New city, new law firm, new friends. He eventually finds that with Nathan he can have all that and much more. At first, he's shy and quiet but that soon changes as these two together begin to help each other. I struggled a bit with the rating...not because of the characters or the story content. I LOVED every word, every sentence of it. The struggle came from the switch with the series. Three books are under the series entitled "Johnson Family Rules"...then these same characters are all in another series called "Undisclosed"...same family members getting their stories told. It's confusing and a bit difficult to actually find them. I did run across Larson's story but purely by accident. I have read it and will review it later.

Denim - K.C. Wells - (England)
Material World series, Book #1
5★
I liked and disliked Harry all at the same time to start with...then I began to want to hit him over his hard head with something equally as hard. He is a man that is so busy totaling up the things that he’s lost, or believes he's lost, that he can't see how good his life really is. I loved the character of Tony from the first time we met him, leaning on the fence waiting to whistle at Harry when he came by on his way to his office. Harry was confused, bewildered and dumbfounded by Tony's behavior. He wondered why would this gorgeous man, "God's Gift" to every gay man on Earth, would want to waste his time with him? Tony doesn't see the same things that Harry sees when he looks in the mirror. Harry sees a 35-year-old "bear" who could stand to lose a few pounds...a grown man who still lives in the house his mother left him, the very one he grew up in... a man that is pretty much a loner who has few friends because he doesn't encourage anyone to try to know him...all for the same reasons that he can't understand Tony's attention. Tony sees things so much differently when he looks at Harry. He sees only the best things and wants more than anything to help Harry accept and love the man he is today and perhaps let him love him in return. I thought "Good luck with that, Tony!" I could see right away that Harry actually didn't like himself...at all, so he thinks, why would anyone else? I loved the way Tony looked at the world…and at Harry. Tony is so secure in his heart, body and mind...no apologies here, nor are any needed. Harry was never a 'bad" man. He was always ready to help everyone and was very sweet about it. It was just himself that he had this dislike for. This story had me holding my breath to see what crazy thing Harry was going to do to next to "improve" himself. What he finally tried nearly killed him. Tony’s determination to be a gentleman as he courts Harry and seeing Harry learn to love himself as he falls in love with Tony made me smile.... A LOT! The story is beautiful and sweet as well as being relatively angst free, which I liked even more. I'll just say that Tony and Harry are a great deal happier at the end of the story than they were at the start. A brief word about this author. I first read K.C. Wells work in a series that she co-wrote with Parker Williams called "Collars and Cuffs". That series, to this day, remains my absolute favorite "read again anytime" series. I'm now busy collecting anything that has her name on it. I'm especially looking forward to her newest series, "Second Sight". I can't be the only person that reads M/M romances, although it feels like I might be:)...but if you are a reader of M/M Romances or if you can just accept the genera, I think you will come to love them as much as I do.... but to each his own:)

Cutie and The Beast - E. J. Russell
Genera: Paranormal/Fantasy/M/M Romance
5★
I read this book as part of a challenge, and I am so glad that I chose it. I absolutely loved everything about this story. The main characters had plenty of insecurities...but their personalities are actually what sold me on the book. Alun and David were such opposites, yet they were still so in sync with each other. Everything they did had the same intention and the same outcome; they were just very different in their approaches. David was snarky and sarcastic and blunt in the ways he put the “elderly" in their places and opened their minds to new possibilities. The story, based on the title...had a “Beauty and the Beast” aspect, yet the author made it unique to this particular story. Alun’s struggles were often heartbreaking because of the history and the reasoning behind his appearance. It was a nice touch to see little signs that things were healing as the story advanced. Alun was so oblivious to it all due to his guilt and grief. The entire story and the plot were very well done, and I was very happy how the story ended. The "rules" of the supernatural communities and the various inhabitants were interesting as well as spellbinding. This book can easily be described as "simply good fun". The fantasy, the depth, the romance, it was all so well done and so cohesive and comprehensive that I had to give it 5 very bright and enthusiastic stars. Readers have such diverse tastes in books and authors that I seldom recommend a book, but if you are a fantasy genre fan, this might just be your kind of story.

Paperweight
Meg Haston
4/5 stars
Stevie is a teenage girl in an eating disorder home. Along with that her brother's anniversary of his death is coming up and she plans to end her life. Well written but very sad! Off My Reading List

Sandman - Morgan Hannah MacDonald - (California)
Genera: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
4★
To say that Meagan McInnis, has horrible luck, and taste in men would be a colossal understatement. She does have lots of ex's though, so she isn't exactly stupid, just unlucky and a bit delusional. Her ex-husband was an alcoholic, her ex-fiancé mooched off of her while he watched porn all day, her ex-boyfriend was a cheat who lied to her about being married, (maybe he just forgot), the manager of the salon where she works is for some reason hostile to her after she spurred his advances and her next one, the lead singer to a local band, seems way too good to be true. So, it’s no wonder she got herself a large dog and tends to hide out in her apartment. Actually, I thought the dog was a big improvement to all the men in her life. She doesn't hide away...but she’s cautious. When she starts getting weird hang up calls, she figures it one of her many exes’ trying to scare her by making her think she has a stalker. Little does she know how close to the truth that is. Now we meet JJ Thomas who is trying to hang on to his sanity and not doing a very good job of it. He's still trying to get over the suicide of his wife two years ago...he doesn’t sleep much...and he spends way too much time in a bottle. When a dead body found on the beach looks like the work of a serial killer, he starts letting go of his demons and starts focusing on the case and that leads him to Meagan. His desire to protect her from being the next victim was notable but felt a bit off. When considering Megan's past, I thought that the relationship between Megan and JJ happened entirely too quick...they barely knew each other, but he was better than what she had had. They didn’t meet until halfway through the book, and their relationship didn’t move to the next level until the very end and then it was just left hanging. I would have like to see a little bit more development to know that they ended up together in a solid place. I did like this story by a new for me author and I would have to say that it was an "edge of your seat" thriller. You’ll have a long list of suspects and will always believe that one of them is the killer up until almost the end. Meagan will manage to win your admiration. While some pretty horrible things happened to her, she seems to have an inner strength that kept her going and not melting into a pile of sticky goo, which is what should have happened.

All My Patients are Under the Bed / Dr. Louis J. Camuti
3.5 stars

Dr. Louis Camuti was a veterinarian from the 1920s(?) and throughout much of the 20th century. This is a memoir of some of his clients and patients, as well as just a little bit of his own life. He was in New York City, specialized in cats and, unusual for the time, eventually did only house calls.

This was enjoyable. I’ve read many of these veterinarian memoirs, now, so it’s hard to keep all the anecdotes in my head, but I certainly enjoy the stories while I am reading them. Despite him practicing some decades ago, I feel like he might have been slightly ahead of his time on many things (his views on indoor/outdoor cats, declawing, cats shouldn’t really drink milk, adopting rather than buying from breeders, etc).

Solstice - R.J. Scott & Eli Easton - (Washington)
Lake Prophet Mysteries series Book #1
Genera: Mystery/Gay characters but little romance
3.5★
Possible Trigger: Violence involving an animal
This is listed as a romantic suspense novel. It does feature two gay characters, but not much actual romance occurs other that they're together. You will have no trouble figuring out that they love one another. Much more emphasis in the story is placed on the mystery & suspense part. If you enjoy stories with intricate plots and more than a little sexual tension but with less "sheet pressing", then this is absolutely your book. Gabriel has recently moved back to his hometown to become the sheriff and also to mend the rift between himself and his family. Tiber also recently moved to Prophet. Both men have situations and memories that they are trying to escape. Gabriel goes to Tiber for help when a murder victim’s dog, Duke, is found near his body. The dog is terrified and Tiber’s expertise with animals is just what Gabriel needs. I've read R.J. Scott's books before but had never read anything by Eli Easton, but once I started this book, I had to finish it. In addition to the murder mystery, the personal situations that each of the main characters found themselves in had me glued to their drama. Gabriel’s situation with his brother, and the reasons for it, was heartbreaking. The murder gets solved, so there is no cliffhanger or continuation on down the line... but I wondered what the authors were going to do with the personal relationship between Gabriel and Tiber as it was only just getting started here. Watching them “dance” around each other was one of the things that I really enjoyed about this book. It just goes to show that a book doesn’t have to be hot and heavy between the sheets to be a really great story. I can’t wait to see how their romance develops over the course of the series, and I certainly hope the authors let it happen. I gave the book 3.5 stars, not because I didn't like the story, because as I have said, I really, really did. If it hadn't been for the violence that the animal suffered, I would have given it a 5-star rating in a heartbeat.

Haunted: The Incredible True Story of a Canadian Family’s Experience Living in a Haunted House - Dorah L. Williams - (Ontario, Canada)
Genera: Paranormal/Supernatural/Non- Fiction
5★
Dorah L. Williams tells this story in incredibly simple and straightforward language. She doesn't ask the reader to believe it or to disbelieve it...she just tells what her family experienced in their small-town Canadian home. The Williams family's "adventure' began a few years ago when the family moved into an old Victorian house in a small town in Ontario, Canada. Readers of the paranormal will recognize symptoms of a haunting early in the book...the family’s mysterious attraction to the place, the sudden appearance of small coins everywhere, broken clocks, screaming fire alarms, strange smells, flickering lights, cold spots, and a household pet that refuses to go up the stairs. I'm totally with the poor pet on that one. She writes of these events cautiously, like someone that is almost desperate for someone to believe her. Soon the events go from enchanting to bordering on Satanic, and the tension and the terror skyrocket. Musical snow globes start playing by themselves, candles light with no one near them, and ghostly, unfamiliar faces start to appear in photographs. I could hardly believe this, but it seems that the family, for the most part, gets along with the spirits, that is until some artifacts are dug up in the back yard. That’s when several ghosts, still wearing the Victorian clothing they wore when they died, materialize at night and try to make contact with the occupants. With the help of a psychic and a smudging ritual, the family finally manages to make peace with their astral house guests, who thank Williams for attempting to communicate with them. They give her a gift of a rosebush that never stops producing blooming roses, even in the dead of a Canadian winter. Some reviewers have stated that they wish that the author would tell the exact location of her home so that they can visit and see if they can say with equal credibility that they have seen these dead people also. Do I believe it? it really doesn't matter one way or the other. What matters is that Darah Willimas 100% believes it... so who can say? My Irish Grandmother believed in spirits and their ability to return, so I grew up hearing the stories she told. Needless to say, it scared us to death as kids. Do I want to visit this house? ABSOLUTELY... NO WAY! I wondered, as I read, if the author realizes...and the answer is probably "yes", that if there is any reality to it...that these "people" are not their friends, but they are something that could be extremely dangerous to all the family and anyone that enters the house? Thank you, Ms. Williams, your book gave me the creeps...and I gave it 5-stars...one for each goosebump!

Merry Christmas Cupid - N. R. Walker - (Montana)
Hartbridge Christmas Series book #3
Narrator: Glenn Lloyd
Genera: M/M Romance/Christmas
5★
We have Gunter and Clay who are as different as night and day, with a decent age gap between them also. However, they, inexplicably, work as a couple, naturally slipping into each other's hearts and lives, with nothing dissuading them from pursuing what is developing between them. They are also fortunate to live in a small town that seems almost too good to be true and is also entirely non-homophobic. It was nice, though fairly unrealistic, to read a story that is endearing, sweet, and funny, without any angst whatsoever. just a lovely relationship filled with patience and understanding as Gunter and Clay navigate their lives. Clay had it made. He felt free to embrace his sexuality, experiment, and exposing his true self to his father, best friend and coworkers as well as the small town. Two couples from the first two books in this Christmas series make brief appearances so it's like "old home week without taking anything away from this story. Jayden and Hamish from the first book appear here as Gunter's "new" best friends. Gunter is restoring an old house in town that he has purchased, and he meets Clay when Clay brings a load of cut lumber from the sawmill that he and his dad run. I absolutely fell in love with Clay's dad. He was humorous, and always supportive of Clay and Gunter. Like many of N.R. Walker’s shorter novels, she gives us an uncomplicated story that’s fun, heartwarming, amusing, swoony as well as romantic, with colorful characters within a family-like setting. Glen Lloyd, the narrator of this audiobook is so much fun to listen to. He’s energetic in his delivery, thoughtful in his pacing, and executes the fundamentals exceedingly well. He has just the right pitch and intonations for both of the leading men, as well as the side characters. What I felt was most important was that Glenn Lloyd appeared to be emotionally invested in these characters that he was giving voice to. Overall, this entire little story is a very pleasant, warm fuzzy feel-good story that puts a smile on your face while having you laughing out loud in many places, then giving a happy sigh when Gunter and Clay get the ending that they so deserve.

No Surrender - Nora Phoenix - (New York)
No Regrets series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/BDSM
5★
I loved Indy and his guys in the "No Shame" series, so I was happy to see that I wouldn't be leaving them but continuing to see most of them in this new series. I didn't especially like Burke to start with...but I deeply felt for him. He wasn't a very nice man, and certainly was not very patient or understanding. But as his character went on, we learned that he had some really BIG confusions about some huge issues. Wander Burke, (loved him from the start), was so patient with him when he could have just thrown him under the bus and happily sat in the driver's seat. We first met Wander where we left off in the "No Shame" series. He had been employed by Indy and the men of the "No Shame" series to find the crime family that wanted them dead. Despite that it takes up from that point, you will have no problem reading this and seeing it as an entirely separate book, as the focus is completely on Burke, Wander and his team. We meet Burke when he is at his lowest and the beginning of the story focuses so much on that...Burke and his personal struggles. We learn about the reasons behind his actions, and I particularly liked that the author took the time to introduce us to who Burke was and where he was coming from. Burke presumes he is straight, and he desperately wants control, so he's training to be a Dom. The owner of the club asks Wander to mentor, him, and lets just say that his eyes are opened to a whole different level of BDSM. Burke became a lot more likeable at that point. I don't believe the story will be for everyone, even if you don't mind kink and BDSM in your stories. You can expect a lot of different kinks and multiple sexual practices. Nora Phoenix is one of my favorites. I own at least 30 of her books and have read them numerous times and I see no reason why this series won't be joining their "brothers in print".

Beat of Their Own Drum - K.M. Neuholder - (New York/California)
Genera: M/M/M Romance/Kink
Narrator: Kenneth Obi
4★
Jude is the very talented drummer for the super star rock band "Downward Spiral". Unfortunately, the band’s name seems to be their destiny if Archer, their manager, can’t get these guys to quit self-destructing. Jude has made a name for himself as the band’s bad boy. He has a well-publicized taste for hookers and coke....and not the bottled kind. Little does anyone...not even his band mates and manager know... it is all a self-destructive means he believes will offer self-preservation. A little coke and a rent boy that won’t get attached numbs him so he can protect himself from the years of hurt for not being good enough for anyone...especially not his father. Archer knows that it is his responsibility to get Jude under control and that that will mean calling the one and only man that can destroy his heart...his ex-fiancé. Bennett is known for being the one that can be depended on to get celebrities back under control. What Archer and Bennett weren’t prepared for was the attraction that they would feel for this young man. Now they need to figure out is what to do with those feelings and how to get Jude on board. My slight problem with this story was the way that the D/s storyline was presented. I agree that Jude needed structure and control, but what he needed above all else was acceptance and love. His “acting out” was a product of his childhood and his completely non-relationship with his father. Bennett went into overdrive being his Dom....and that didn't seem to be what he needed at the time it was taking place. I liked Bennett, but I thought that his methods were too hard and he never ever once, throughout the entire story.... gave Jude aftercare of any type. For Bennett, life was about structure and rules, consequences, punishments and rewards and above all...control. I just felt that he, of the two guys in the relationship with Jude, should have been the one to do everything in his power to insure that "their boy" was in his right headspace...every... single... time. Overall...it's not a bad story...just a few glitches...but I love this author and I'm looking forward to Benji's story and to seeing what happens with the band. Thank you to Kenneth Obi for the great job with the audio on this one.

Adrift - Isabelle Adler - (somewhere in outer space)
Staying Afloat Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Sci-Fi
3.5★
Matt Spears is a captain of a small ship; with a crew of two. He takes jobs of questionable origin and legality, often transporting illegal goods through space. Of course, these jobs do not come without risk, but that’s the price he pays in order to make money. Then a job comes along that seems too good to be true...a job that he knows he shouldn’t take, but his crew needs the money...and it is a LOT of money. So, of course he takes it...especially when he discovers it comes with an experienced pilot who will be commandeering his ship. Enter Ryce. Not only an expert pilot but he's good looking, and intelligent...seemingly perfect. In spite of his attributes, Matt is not pleased to have this cocky hunk on his ship, but he doesn’t have a choice if he wants the money. Instead, he decides to do the best he can and just…well, sleep with him. What should be a quick, fairly easy job turns out to be something else entirely. Danger is around every corner, there's modern space pirates, ancient alien weaponry and who knows if they are even going to make it out alive...and to make matters even worse...Matt hasn't yet even had a chance to sleep with Ryce!!! Matt is such a great character. He seems completely sure of himself, but he does have a soft spot in his heart for his ship and his crew. He also has a fairly complicated past that he tries to ignore, but throughout the story it comes back to haunt and actually, sometimes to help him. Ryce is a fascinating character. His backstory is intriguing, and although he comes across as close to perfect, he makes some rather poor decisions, but in spite of that he does learn to care about the people around him. Danger is everywhere in this story, and that does make it exciting. Just when things seemed to calm down, there was always trouble again in a new form. Somehow everything that happened made sense in the context of the world the events the story is based on. In the end, there were very real consequences for the men that will make you worry about their safety. I understand that there is a second book in the series but even though I didn't dislike the story, I wasn't a raging fan either. I would like to see if Matt ever figures out a way to sleep with Ryce though...so maybe. Fans of sci-fi, space pirates, and aliens, should enjoy this. It's a lot of everything crammed into a short, quick read.

No Rules - Nora Phoenix - (New York)
No Regrets Series Book #2
Narrator: Michael Dean
Genera: M/M Romance/BDSM/Mystery
5★
This, the second book in the No Regrets series, crosses over with the first book, No Surrender. With the characters and past situations and events making appearances throughout the story...the books are best if read in order to establish the context of the start of this story. However, you can probably catch on fairly quickly weather you read the first one or not. Alex is the youngest member of Wander’s security team and an inexperienced sub. He is also the best on the mat when it comes to hand-to-hand fighting and a far-better that reasonable marksman. Ryan is an experienced Dom, who doesn’t think he is capable of being a Dom anymore. He is a former cop and now a PI. He has joined the security team permanently and for some reason feels compelled to annoy Alex. I will admit I became aggravated with him very quickly...but really loved him when he "became more human". Ryan is training Alex on investigation skills and together they are working on a case trying to solve the murder of a racehorse and the framing of his owner. It’s one thing to want to train Alex as a private investigator but Ryan is reluctant to train Alex as a sub... but for reasons he can't quiet figure out he can't he let anybody else train his "baby boy"...and where did that thought come from anyway? We learn more about some of the guys from book #1, Wander, Burke, Jesse, David and the rest of the security team. We also get a few small cameos from Josh, Connor from the "No Shame" series where we were first introduced to Wander and his team. What I really liked about this book is simply, the story. It is...but yet it isn't, just a BDSM book, or an age gap book, or even just a simple love story. It is all of these things rolled into a really good mystery for Alex and Ryan to solve. The whole thing comes together beautifully. It's well written...a decent length... that allows none of the elements listed above to be short changed. There's real character development, real relationship development and solid plot line. There is lots of heated sex in the story...and if you are not comfortable with this or don't believe you ever could or would be...then skip it and move on...and thank you for reading this review...but if this is your thing... you won't be disappointed in the least.

The Hunter and the Wild Girl / Pauline Holdstock
2.5 stars

There is a feral girl stealing from local people in a village in France. They try to catch her, but she gets away and ends up another village over. A farmer(?) there, Peyre, is intrigued by her. Peyre tries to entice her to come, as he’d like to see if he can “tame” her. He sees his son, whom he’s lost a while back, in her.

This started off really slow and I wasn’t interested. Parts I didn’t like and just skimmed through were mostly Peyre’s background (though I eventually got the gist of at least what happened with his son and wife). It was only the last half or 1/3 of the book, which focused more on the girl, where I was a bit more interested in what was happening. The ending was open-ended, so I wasn’t a big fan not really knowing what had happened there.

Adverse Conditions - Elle Keaton - (Washington)
Reclaimed Heats series Book#1
Genera: M/M Romance
4★
It’s a low angst, opposites attract, small-town romance supposedly with an enemy to lovers' theme, but it’s more that they just greatly annoyed one another. I really didn't quite understand the "enemy" part or why these two now, adult guys, seemed to still have their supposed "hate" based something that happened in high school. Adult Vincent is a real estate appraiser and high school shop teacher. He loves living in the small town he grew up in in Washington with his fifteen-year-old daughter, Romy, whose mom...Vincent’s ex-wife...took off for greener pastures and deserted them. Adult Xavier is a realtor, who returns to his hometown after about twenty-years of living in the city. Both men have had enough heartbreak so neither is really interested in a relationship....at least not with each other. The very first chapter of the story was confusing. We saw what could have been a murder or at best an assault...but was this the unsolved murder of the person whose bones are found in the present part of the story? Nothing was after said again about the first incident. Then there was the case of a missing girl that was never investigated. I expected a lot more from this author. I own and have read every series she has ever written up to this current one. This story does have some good “small town” characters, but overall, the town of Cooper Springs felt dull instead of charming or even eccentric. It’s unfortunate because I really did enjoy the two main characters and their romance when they decided maybe they didn't hate each other as much as they thought....and then there was the dogs that Xavier's Mom adopted. Good job Ms. Keaton for showing how lovable and how needful shelter dogs are. That was an extra star-worthy touch. If the story had only focused on the growing relationship between Xavier and Vincent, and the rest of the small town without the unsolved murder and the opening mystery that was never revisited or explained...I would have liked this story so much more. At least it had a Happy Ever After at the end...but it comes very suddenly. I won't give up on this series, and NEVER on this author. I will give book #2 a chance whenever it comes out.

Cuffs and Commitment - Romeo Alexander - (Colorado)
Men of Fairlake series Book #1
Narrator: Michael Dean
Genera: M/M Romance/Mystery
4★
I nearly gave this up until I reached almost half-way through the story. I felt like I was wading through muck with all the dialog between Ethan and his siter Bri. Nearly 100 pages of it. Finally, Ethan does something "investigative" and goes to the police station. He really had to sell his skills to Trevor, and I thought that if this goes another 100 pages the book will nearly be over and nothing has happened...not investigative or romantic. I liked the main characters of Ethan, the investigative reporter and Trevor, the Chief of Police. He and Trevor decide that Ethan could secretly work on finding out who is manufacturing meth in the woods of the little town and have the right to write his articles about it at the end. This leads to a fake dating as a cover story, but the fake part doesn't last long...and I'm not sure I understood the reasoning for it. Ethan and Trevor have an attraction for one another right away. Trevor has concerns over the age difference, (46 & 25), plus he has a tendency to want to be alone. For those reasons, plus Ethans tendency to be gone for long periods of time when he's working a story, neither of the men are expecting anything serious or long term to occur. They obviously have never read many M/M Romance books:) Months pass and Ethan has practically moved in with Trevor as they build a solid connection, growing to understand each other more, and exploring each other during some rather steamy, sexy times. Seems that surely love, and a fantastic HEA are in their future, but first they have to get through the investigation with its twists, lies, deception, and danger. Things almost go bad in the investigation, but it turns out much better than I was being led to believe. We learn just how talented Ethan is at what he does and how he has survived his previous investigations, but it does make your heart pound. There is also a "found family" theme throughout the story...both blood related people and their friends who have been pulled into the circle. I'm intrigued enough to give the next story a try.

Secluded Cabin, Sleeps Six - Lisa Unger - (Georgia)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
A luxury vacation quickly turns into anything but what it was supposed to be as a host of dark secrets rear their ugly heads. Hannah was fearful of being away from her baby daughter.... it was the first time, but she and her husband, Bruce, did need a break. Bruce was a workaholic and hadn't taken a break in years. The vacation Hannah’s older brother, Mako, has arranged sounded too good to pass on: so, a long weekend in a luxury cabin deep in the North Georgia woods, complete with a gourmet chef, in-house massage, and much more...Hell yes! Mako had become extremely wealthy by running a video game company, so the entire thing is his gift. Mako’s wife, Liza, will also be joining the group. Hannah and Liza don't know one another very well but Liza hopes the trip will change that. The guests that I thought seemed a bit odd to along was Hannah’s best friend....and Mako’s ex-girlfriend... Cricket, who could only e described as a good-time "party-girl". But they don't get Cricket without her new boyfriend, Joshua...which none of them know anything about. Hannah thinks that Joshua is the only unknown, but she’ll soon be proven wrong. The three couples arrive for the summer getaway even though there is a storm brewing in the Atlantic that could be headed their way. To add to the tension that is starting to brew we learn that There are tales of ghosts on the property that suggests there has been past violence there, but they could just be made up tales to add selling points to the property. The host and cabin owner, Bracken, definitely is very creepy and even scarier, is his promise of Wi-Fi along with other things...just might not be reliable. I thought, "do you think?" I've read this author for a long time, and she always writes a very good story. In this one she skillfully builds the tension right from the first page with a prologue about a Christmas dinner with Hannah’s family, that ends horribly when the mysterious gift of a DNA test kit for everyone is received. Strange gift, don't you think? Everyone claims to know nothing about it. By the time the vacationers reach the cabin, the ominous mood is firmly in place. Everything seems disturbing, from the gleaming array of knives in the kitchen to a skull-shaped chandelier. Before they even make it through dinner, one of them disappears, as does all contact with the outside world. The others begin a frantic search as the storm blows in and as it becomes clear that all of them are in danger...but from whom, and why? It will make you think about several things. How well do we truly know the people we let into our lives...what actually makes a family a family...and how far would we be willing to go to protect those that we love?

Professor Platonic - Lucy Lennox - (Massachusetts)
Narrator: Michael Dean
4★
I liked the idea, but the story was W-A-Y- too short. At least they had a happy ending and they got to stay together...but it should have been a bit longer for us to at least get to know the two main characters a bit better. If River knew what was happening with the expedition that Jack applied for, he should have told Jack why he did what had done to keep him off of it and WHY he did it. Oh well...I have yet to write a book so I can't be too critical. it was well written, and Michael Dean did a fantastic job at the narration. What more could I ask for?

The Children's Blizzard / Melanie Benjamin
4 stars

Raina and Gerda are teenaged sisters who have recently become teachers. In January 1888 in rural Nebraska, they are put to the test in their respective schools with a crazy winter storm that rolls in just after a beautifully warm morning. The storm comes in just as or before kids are being let out of school to walk varying distances home. They each make different decisions on this day; one becomes a heroine and one does not fare so well.

Anette is one of Raina’s students, who was sold by her mother to a woman who works her to the bone and does not treat her kindly. Although Raina’s other students stay behind, Anette is worried she will be in trouble if she doesn’t come home right away. Her only friend Frederik follows her into the storm.

The storm, of course, really did happen, and it was called “the children’s blizzard” because of the timing and the fact that so many children (among other people) died that day. I thought the initial part of the book was its strength; this is, of course, the part of the book when the blizzard happens. The book does continue with the aftermath of the storm and, though it is interesting to see where things end up, it’s not the best part of the book.

As always, I appreciate the author’s note at the end. The bulk of the characters in this book were fictional, but some were based on real people. The author did, of course, use David Laskin’s nonfiction book “The Children’s Blizzard” in a big way in her research. I’ve read it, but too long ago to really make any kind of comparison.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine / Gail Honeyman
3.75 stars

Eleanor is socially awkward, has no friends, and seems to prefer life this way. She has worked in the same job for many years, and is proud that she has never taken a sick day. She is also an alcoholic, and grew up mostly in foster homes, though she does hear from “Mummy” once in a while. But she has no way to contact Mummy herself, and Mummy has a tendency to belittle Eleanor, anyway. Things start to change when she falls for a local musician and becomes friends with Raymond from the office. She begins to unravel a bit and starts to remember more from when she was a child.

I listened to the audio and it started off a bit slow for me. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not, but it got better and better as more and more was revealed about Eleanor’s past. There was a twist at the end that I hadn’t seen coming.

Serve - Nora Phoenix - (Washington D.C.)
White House Men Series - Book #4
Narrator: John Solo
Genera: M/M/M Romance
3★
This is Not my original Review...I revied it on 12/12
I still love Nora Phoenix. I have nearly all of her books and have reread them many times over...but even if you read in or out of order for this series...it doesn't seem to matter.... most of the characters are still unlikable. I'm making a "correction" to my original review.... including raising the rating from a 2star rating to a 3star rating. I have never, ever, given a Nora Phoenix book this low a rating, but I really can't go any higher than a 3. I think on reflection that it probably may have been the voices that the narrator, (who is also a favorite of mine), gave these three men more than the content of the story. They were supposed to be 'tough", confident, "take no survivors" in their roles as Secret Service agents assigned to the President's detail. The narration for the voices of the three men came across extremely rough and loud whenever the characters were talking. It didn't matter if it was to outsiders or to one another or when they were together as lovers. It just didn't seem that people that love one another would speak like that.... every time. The story is continued so we still, after 40 something chapters, don't know who killed the First Lady or if the President is a good guy or a bad guy. "bad" has my vote:) I still love Nora Phoenix and thought I was a bit harsh in my frustration with this one and it was probably something that she had no control over. I believe that I should have read the physical copy of the book.

The Haunting on West 10th Street - Helen Phifer - (New York)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Supernatural
5★
We follow Detective Maria Miller and her partner, Frankie, as they investigate a brutal crime in the attic of a Greenwich brownstone, where decades earlier a beautiful actress was murdered in the same way. The detectives are puzzled by the disturbing similarities between the crimes occurring in this house and wonder if and how they could possibly be connected? They speculate that they may have a sadistic copycat on their hands or is it something much more sinister? Immediately upon entering the brownstone, Maria feels something dark. It’s a tickle in her senses...something equally unpleasant and unsettling. The way the crime scene has been staged only adds to those feelings. In both the past and present cases, body parts had been removed from the victims and not found. Also, there is strong evidence of satanic rituals at both the past and the present crime scenes. They question who could possibly want to recreate something so evil? The story is told in a dual timeline with Maria and Frankie in the present, and a historical perspective featuring the events leading up to the past murder in the house. We are also offered a modern perspective from an unknown individual, who appears to maybe be the "bad guy". I liked getting the multi-perspectives as well as the history. The past sections were a bit slower paced than the modern perspectives, but helpful when putting it all together. It helped to give the needed insight into the property and all the characters involved. The house itself became a major character itself in the story providing lots of chills and unexpected activities. Fans of haunted house stories and good murder mysteries will more than likely really like this offering.

None of This is True- Lisa Jewell - (England)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
3.5★
In a nutshell, the story is about two women who share a birthday and become the subject of their own "true crime" story. It's their 45th birthdays, and Josie Fair and Alix Summer meet at a pub and discover they were born not only on the same day, but also in the same hospital. Alix is a journalist, and Josie convinces her that their story would interest others. Josie met her husband when she was 13 and he was 40. Talk about an "age gap"! She tells Alix, “I can see that maybe I was being used, that maybe I was even being groomed”, “but that feeling of being powerful, right at the start, when I was still in control. I miss that sometimes. I really do. And what I’d like, more than anything, is to get it back.” From this premise Alix creates a Netflix series, "Hi! I’m Your Birthday Twin!", which investigates Josie’s life as she relates what happened to her as a teen and seeks a new direction in her life. Her story is then left unfinished, and the narrative begins in the present tense, with prose that I can't believe anyone actually uses. “He turns to see if the girl is behind him, and sees her wishy-washy, wavy-wavy, in double vision through the glass windows of the hotel.” Does anyone actually talk like that? Alix is in equal parts, intrigued and repulsed by Josie, but she is willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Alix’s husband, Nathan, has a drinking problem, and Alix knows what it’s like to be reluctant to leave a bad situation. But Josie seems more interested in being part of Alix’s seemingly glamorous life than she is in fixing her own. When three people end up dead and Alix’s life is turned upside down, the evidence points to...guess who...you got it... Josie! This turns the TV series into a real-life murder mystery. Transcripts from Alix’s interviews now alternate throughout the narrative, offering varied perspectives on Josie’s story as told by her neighbors, friends, and family members. With so many versions of events, the ending simply shatters, leaving readers to decide who is telling the truth. Can't say it was one of my Lisa Jewell favorites but it's not a bad story either.

Blue Heron / Avi
3.25 stars

(Almost) 13-year old Maggie’s parents are divorced and live across the country from each other. In the summer, right around her birthday, Maggie heads from Seattle, where she lives with her mom, for a holiday with her dad – this year at a lake near Boston. When she arrives, she learns a few things about her dad from her stepmom, Joanna – things that worry them both. Maggie also has a new baby stepsister, and she becomes fascinated with a great blue heron that she sees on the lake most mornings.

This is a good children’s book. I wasn’t thrilled with some of the “crap” Joanna piled onto Maggie. Joanna was nice and was dealing with her own issues, but I was not impressed that she dragged Maggie into some of those things, at only 13 years old. The nature descriptions were very nice.

Up in Flames - Eden Finley & Saxon James - (Washington)
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
The story is a cute fake honeymoon romance between two first responders. It is a standalone spinoff of Foolish Puckboy where Remy has been stood up at the altar by his fiancé, Eman, who was really a sorry excuse for a human being, and I thought that Remy was actually lucky...but that wouldn't have been much of a story:) Eman’s childhood friend and groomsman, Sanden, has to break the news to Remy and then encourages him to hold the reception party anyway and still go on his honeymoon. Somehow, Sanden ends up on the Hawaiian vacation, too. I was in hopes that Sanden would have his own story ever since we met him as a Gabe’s friend and fellow firefighter in Foolish Puckboy....and it really isn't necessary to have read that book to really enjoy this one. Sanden is a sweet, goofy, lovable man and a selfless hero. He used to be closer friends with Remy until Eman came between them. Remy is uneasy about being married. He finally realizes that it’s the wrong move and when he’s left standing at the front of the church alone, he realizes he dodged a bullet. No need to waste a great honeymoon in a gorgeous place so Remy and Sanden enjoy the luxurious vacation...living in a state of suspended reality... where of course they are mistaken for newlyweds. Once they return home to Seattle, however, their actual reality becomes more of a reality. They can't seem to return to b normal…who are they now? Are they lovers, colleagues, friends with benefits? All of these things? There’s a strong attraction between them but Sanden knows Remy is not in the right headspace for a rebound fling or a more serious relationship. He badly wants more so he’ll wait until Remy has time to heal, trust him, and is ready for more. But Eman left Remy with deep emotional scars he won’t overcome easily. I really hated Eman. He was a truly vile character. He’s a conniving, manipulative, emotionally abusive psycho who have received a great deal of pleasure from simply strangling him and hiding the body. Sanden, wasn't without his own trauma from his childhood so they both needed time and each other to heal. In spite of the dark tone that the story sometimes took, it was still full of enjoyable banter and sexy fun.

The Uninvited: The True Story of The Union Screaming House - Steven A. LaChance - (Missouri)
Genera: Supernatural/Paranormal/Horror
5★
Possible Triggers: Supposedly true horror; Animal Killings
It began in May 2001. From the book:"Having been cramped in a small apartment with his children for a while, LaChance was eager to stretch out. His lease was up anyway and fearing homelessness he looked at every classified ad for a possible lead. So, when an opportunity arose to look at a real house for rent in Union, Missouri he jumped at the chance. Not only was it big, but it also had a yard and quiet neighborhood. Or so he thought. Moving day came on a Friday and nothing of note happened inside the house, however, a local pulled up to the curb and said something odd: “Hope you get along okay here.” LaChance consults paranormal investigators, psychics, and priests, but the demonic attacks, screams, growls, putrid odors, invisible shoves, bites, and other physical violations only grow worse. The entities clearly demonstrate their wrath and power: killing family pets, sexually assaulting individuals, even causing two people to be institutionalized." Shortly after moving in he began to watch how his neighbors reacted to the house. He noticed that people would NEVER walk in front of the house...instead they went out of their way to cross the street...even in bad weather where walking in from of the house side would have offered a shorter route. The author and his three children soon found out that they weren't dealing with "Casper the Friendly Ghost".... this, entity was evil incarnated...what his son had labeled the "Basement Monster" ...a thing possibly from the bowels of Hell whose only form seemed to be oily black fog and mist. They had watched in horror as it would drift through the house as if searching for them. They had heard as it screamed either in pain or rage or a hellish combination of both; plenty of time as had other people in the neighborhood including all the dogs in a four-block radius. The author and his children finally saw its face for the first and last time, as they fled the house leaving most of their belongings behind, mere weeks after moving in. Is it true or is it a work of fiction? I don't know and I'm certainly not willing to put it a test. It doesn't really matter rather you read this as fiction or as the truth in which it's told, but please treat the authors feelings with delicacy. This is the story of people who glimpsed Hell and lived to talk about it. I have wondered why they didn't burn the thing and salt the Earth it stood on. I believe there is a sequel to this book.

Nowhere Ranch - Heidi Cullinan - (Nebraska)
Narrator: Iggy Toma
Genera: M/M Romance/Kink (Pony, Puppy and other types of Play)
3★
Imagine being a young man from a religious family in cowboy country. You’re not exactly the smartest puppy in the pile, but you try really hard and focus on what you do know...like sheep, so you manage to get by without drawing too much attention.... except for the biggest 'fly in the ointment"...you’re also gay. The Nowhere Ranch story is told by a narrator, the cowboy that's "trying to not draw too much attention" and also trying to be invisible in his Iowa hometown, Roe. The worst thing has happened...the discovery that blows his cover...his stack of gay porn which quickly results in a "godly intervention to heal" him. The result being anger and displacement that leads to a short prison term, and once he is free, Roe makes a break from his hometown. It’s a lonely existence but he gets a job on the "Nebraskan Nowhere Ranch", working for the owner, Travis Loving. It’s the perfect job for Roe. His boss is the quiet, private and respectable type; he lets him carry on with no questions, no dramas... everything is perfect, maybe for the first time in his life. Of course, Roe is his own worst enemy...he walks into the ONLY gay bar for 200 miles... and guess who is sitting at the bar… his BOSS. Roe just stood there wishing/waiting for the floor to open up and swallow him... but then it occurred to him that there was only one reason the BOSS would be there, yep...same as him. I got many chuckles listening to Roe’s story. He tells it in his own simple farm boy way without sophistication, grandeur, and he has never learned the meaning of restraint...not an ounce of pretense. Heidi Cullinan did this brilliantly. I will say that I have read books that these kinky sex plays are featured but we get it all rolled into one in this one.... Pony play, puppy play, play that would probably be censored if it was even mentioned casually in writing...but through it all let's just say our Roe was "quite accommodating"...as was the BOSS. Roe was so accommodating that The BOSS gifts him with an extraordinarily original birthday present. Although you could say that his present requires an acquired taste… I have found that Heidi Cullinan doesn't have any shyness when calling a kinky spade, a kinky spade...so if you have sensibilities.... ahh, just saying. I wasn't expecting the ending to be quiet so "syrupy sweet". This was not at all in line with the relationship dynamic throughout the story. Good job, Iggy Toma. This couldn't have been very easy to read out loud:)

Vacuuming in the Nude: And Other Ways to Get Attention
Peggy Rowe
4/5 stars
Peggy Rowe is the mother of Mike Rowe host of Dirty Jobs. She is also a talented writer and has written other books. She talks of her life with her family. This was very enjoyable and I look forward to reading her other books.

Out of Circulation / Miranda James
3.5 stars

This is the 4th in the series. Vera is on the library board and everyone in town seems to hate her. She is found dead at the bottom of the stairs during a fundraising event by Charlie’s housekeeper, Azalea. Although Azalea hated Vera (for some reason she will not disclose to Charlie), it appears there was no way she could have pushed Vera down the stairs. But someone could have.

As with many cozy mysteries, it took some time to set things up, including introducing the characters and conflicts with Vera. I do like many of the characters and I love Diesel the Maine Coon cat. This is a good story.

Our Love: The Story - M. A. Innes
Genera: M/M/M Romance with lots of "guests"
5★
This is really 3 full-length books set in 1 huge, over 700-page, binding written by another of my favorite authors. I own almost all her books. This volume was so very special. I loved meeting all 3 of these guys again and seeing how they found their individual happiness...as they should have...together. They truly "completed" one another and added something special that they didn't even know was missing in their individual and "couple" lives. We first met the main characters of Bishop, Cohen and Ian in the "Leashes and Lace" series...and this is their own "love story". The story of Cohen; the "Dom" and "Uncle"; Bishop; the "Daddy" and "Pup"; and Ian; the "Little" and "Sub". Ian's friends are some of the guys from the "Leashes and Lace" series that come for regular visits. I laughed and chuckled a lot, at the antics of these crazy side characters. In these 700+ pages we have D/s, relationships, age play, puppy, play, and contemporary, romance. It begins with Ian and Bishop finding their place not only together, but also with Cohen. You know from the start that these men just absolutely HAVE to become a trio. These combined books are soft and sweet, and totally hot. Now I have to search out Ian's friend, Emerson's story.

Every Last One - Anna Quindlen - (Vermont)
Genera: Contemporary Fiction/Family Drama
3★
Mary Beth Latham, who runs a landscaping business, and her eye-doctor husband Glen are the parents of 14-year-old twins Alex and Max and 17-year-old Ruby. The first half of the story is Mary Beth’s biased narration of her family’s life. She's the first to admit that her marriage to dull but decent (her word, not mine), Glen, continues on slow burn. Son Alex, the soccer star, is popular in his own way as is self-confident Ruby, who is finally past her bout of anorexia. Only Max, geeky and socially awkward, seems to still be struggling, although he does seem to like his therapist who specializes in twins and is a twin himself. His only friend is Ruby’s boyfriend, Kiernan. Ruby is sure that she has outgrown Kiernan, but he continues to hang around her house "mooning" over her and adopting her family as his surrogate family since his own parents’ have had a nasty divorce. Mary Beth handles small business crises and her Mexican workman. That could be another story by itself. She and her friends commiserate over their children, in not quite believable language...but not much is said about their marriages, Kiernan, has mental problems that Mary Beth has either missed or simply ignored, although they’ll seem glaringly apparent to the reader. She goes berserk and commits a horrendous act of violence against Mary Beth’s family and only Mary Beth and Alex survive, and the remainder of the book details their road to emotional recovery. Unfortunately, while Anna Quindlen’s a pro at writing of the life of a woman like Mary Beth, the actual plot is hard to believe. The murders are obviously meant to shock.... and they do. Mary Beth’s guilt over a brief affair she had with Kiernan’s womanizing dad years ago just doesn't ring true. The outpouring of support she receives from friends and family is just too sweet and much too redemptive. I didn't hate the story, and I have really liked other books by this author, but this one seemed to be an unsatisfying mix of melodrama and the mundane. Three stars for old times sake.

The Edge of the Earth – Christina Schwarz
4****

The book jacket synopsis hints at danger in a remote location, not just from the elements but an unexpected presence hiding in the wilderness. But this is so much more than a thriller based on isolation and the fear of the unknown.

Trudy is a highly educated woman, able to argue philosophy (Kant, anyone?) or play a Mozart sonata. Everyone expects she’ll marry her childhood friend, Ernst, and settle down to an upper-middle class life in Milwaukee. But then she meets Ernst’s cousin, Oskar, and everything changes. Oskar is a dreamer with training as an engineer. He’s intent on inventing the next BIG thing and Trudy is caught up in his dreams. He takes a position as an assistant lighthouse keeper on a remote promontory on the California coast, thinking he’ll have plenty of time to work on his invention. So, in fall of 1898 the newlyweds set out to make their own future. Things don’t go as they expected.

Trudy is a wonderful character. She’s intelligent, but also observant and not afraid of some hard work. When the lighthouse keeper’s wife suggests (demands?) that Trudy serve as a schoolteacher for the keeper’s children, she takes on the challenge. But the children have much to teach her as well.

Oskar, on the other hand, is a real piece of work. I guess I can understand how his enthusiasm and apparent drive to make a real impact on the world could have seduced her, but how could Trudy keep forgiving him and supporting him when his true colors became evident. I saw the climactic scene coming a mile off, though I still enjoyed reading it and seeing how Schwarz would craft this denouement.

The character that most surprised me was Euphemia (Mrs. Crawley). She was a rock, a pillar of strength, and when push came to shove, she supported and helped Trudy, her children, and Helen. She loved her brother, yes, but she recognized his failings and ultimately would not make excuses for him. Brava.

Risking It All - Reese Knightley - (Washington)
Code Of Honor Series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance/Military/Christmas
3★
This is listed as a novella (228 pages), that begins almost like the other books in the series. It's Christmas time and Elijah is heading off to a small town, and this time he's not fighting a foreign enemy, or rescuing anyone...he's falling for the baker, Justin. Soon the explosions start, letting us know we may not be going to have such a Merry Christmas after all. I really almost liked this book. The characters. as in all these books, are smart, strong and more than a bit sassy. The slow burn between Elijah and Justin makes you want to help them along as they navigate the situations that form Justin’s past. The small-town loves Christmas and have planned a lighting ceremony. Here's where some things become a bit unrealistic. For example: At the lighting ceremony a shooting occurs, injuring Elijah and the shooter is never caught. The town reschedules it, and everyone shows up. I don't think the town, or the citizens, no matter how holiday crazy they all are...would take that chance so soon after an event like this happened.... some might but not the entire town. I also don't believe the military would send in "Special Forces" to protect them no matter who they might be related to. Elijah and Justin have their own personal secrets that no one is talking about. A shooting occurring in the town would have had the local police all over it, but there was so little interaction by anyone with them. They didn't even show up at the hospital where Justin had rushed Elijah. No one meets them...no one realizes they are even there. Aren't hospitals required by law to report gun-shot wounds? Though I read this one out of order, I have read the other books and have always liked the main characters, especially Elijah and was really glad that he was the "main star" of this one...but there are a lot of inconsistences in the way the shooting was handled. The story is still getting 3 stars because I really like the main characters and I certainly admire this authors ability to come up with these great adventure stories.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Ocean Vuong
Digital audiobook read by the author
3.5*** (rounded up)

A young Vietnamese man, now living in America, writes a letter to his mother who cannot read. In it he relates a short family history –his grandmother, mother and himself – and pours his heart out to the woman he calls both a mother and a monster. He tells of his grandmother Lan’s life as a sex worker during the Vietnam War, which resulted in her pregnancy. Her daughter, Rose, named for a flower, later gave birth to a son, whom they call “Little Dog” hoping to trick demon spirits who might otherwise harm a cherished child. They come to America full of hope, but meet with harsh reality: language barriers, poverty, and discrimination.

Vuong uses a nonlinear storyline but weaves an intricate tapestry from Vietnam to Connecticut, incorporating his thoughts on war, racism, drugs, love, and culture. The author is a poet, and this novel has the ethereal feel of poetry, with some passages so beautiful as to take my breath away, and others so raw with pain as to make me wince, even cringe.

Vuong narrates the audiobook himself. I cannot imagine anyone else doing a better job of it.

Either Side of Midnight - Tori de Clare
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
3★
We first meet Naomi Hamilton Stone six hours after her wedding. It's then that she discovers her special cross necklace is missing...the one she’d never taken off her neck except to replace it with a family heirloom for the wedding. She searches her room and realizes that in all the confusion after the reception and travel, it must have fallen out of the travel bag and been left behind in the car. Naomi tells Nathan that she's going to the car to look for her necklace and will then be back. He asks her to wait for him to dress and go with her, but she is already out the door. He has not yet caught up with her, and she is obviously enjoying playing chase with him. They talk to one another on their cells as she runs to the car while he is still trying to dress. They continue to tease each other as he tries to catch up. That's the last time Nathan hears his new wife's voice. A figure appears at the car and kidnaps Naomi and the nightmare begins. From that point the story gets more exciting, with some really well-done twists and turns. Naomi nightmare begins when she thinks she is being buried alive in an old open grave...but then the story suddenly flashes back to her parents, driving home from the wedding. Naomi’s mother is complaining about Nathan, convinced that Naomi has ruined her life by marrying him. Her mother had her own plans for Naomi's future, and it didn't include Nathan, or anyone else. Now we learn that Naomi has a twin sister, Annabel, who is a "social butterfly" The book continues to jump from Naomi’s current predicament to the events leading up to it. We clearly see the dysfunction of the Hamilton family and the competition between the twins, as well as some of the secrets Naomi has told Nathan. We meet Lorie, the employee that is responsible for keeping the Hamilton household running, but who has also become Naomi’s friend and confidant. Then there is Tom, the ex-boyfriend who badly hurt Naomi. We meet more people than I could keep straight. I wish the author had made more obvious breaks when moving from one scene to another. I found it really very disorienting and difficult to remember who was who, and who did what. I would recommend this book to those who love suspense and are willing to work for the end results...but be prepared to do a lot of mental exercise trying to follow the abrupt changes in the setting and remember what has happened before the changes.

Kept Secrets - Shawn McGuire - (Wisconsin)
Whispering Pines Series Book #2
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
2.5★
I read book 1 and had my doubts about trying any others since I absolutely, positively hated the main character. I know that's not good advertisement for a series...but Jane is pushy, judgmental and downright obnoxious. Every other character in the books except Jayne is fine...but I don't think you can build a series on secondary characters. I became fed up with her browbeating witnesses and the suspects alike, she's a police officer and should have had better training. Maybe she was absent the day that protocol was taught:). SHE knows everything and does it better than anyone else, from investigating to brewing coffee. Oh...and let's not forget how she excels above everyone else because she is the only person in the entire precinct...maybe the entire town... who can solve a murder! I thought it was funny and wanted to hit her upside the head with my book when she questioned why another character in the story didn't like her. Really??? Could it possibly be because you accused this person of killing her own daughter in the first book! The solution to the murder in this book was farfetched, rushed. I did like how the author respectfully portrayed people that are gender fluid and those with disabilities. Thank you for that. For those reasons alone, I will more than likely try Book 3....but please, with the royalties from the two books in this series, could you give Jane a personality transplant.

Infinite Country – Patricia Engle
Book on CD performed by Inés del Castillo
4****

From the book jacket: Talia is being held at a correctional facility for adolescent girls in the forested mountains of Columbia. She urgently needs to get out and get back home to Bogotá, where her father and a plane ticket to the United States are waiting for her. If she misses her flight, she might also miss her chance to finally be reunited with her family in the north.

My reactions:
Engle has crafted a story of immigration and emigration, of oppression and prejudice, of hopes and dreams, and of the bonds of family.

The storyline moves back and forth in time from current-day adolescent Talia, to her young parents’ first meeting and falling in love, the their struggles in the USA, how they came to be separated, and how Talia, a US born citizen, wound up in Columbia with her father rather than in New Jersey with her mother and two siblings. Engel also switches narrators, so we get snippets of the story from Talia, her mother Elena, her father Mauro, her sister Karina, and her brother Nando. We see the sacrifices made by parents for the sake of their children, but also the hurt and feelings of abandonment suffered by the children separated from a parent.

Inés del Castillo does a very fine job of narrating the audiobook. She really brought these characters to life.

The Devil’s Highway – Luis Alberto Urrea
Digital audiobook read by the author.
5*****

From the book jacket: In May 2001, a group of men attempted to cross the border into the desert of southern Arizona, through a place called the Devil’s Highway. They entered a desert so harsh and desolate that even the Border Patrol is afraid to travel through it. For hundreds of years, men have tried to conquer this land, and the desert has stolen their souls and swallowed their blood. Along the Devil’s Highway, days are so hot that dead bodies naturally mummify almost immediately. And that May, twenty-six men went in. Twelve came back out.

My reactions:
This was a horrifying episode and Urrea’s reporting of it in this book earned a nomination for a Pulitzer. He handles the details of the journey with competing emotions: hope, outrage, compassion, frustration, despair. He is honest about what happened and fair when reporting both the positions of “The 26” and of the Border Patrol agents.

Urrea has spent time in this landscape, and he writes poetically about the colors of the desert at dawn, the flora and fauna, the beauty of this incredibly dangerous place. I could feel the searing heat (just writing about it now, I keep reaching for my water bottle), the grit in my socks, the pain of a cactus spine in my finger. The author’s detailed descriptions of the effects of such heat on the human body are clinically accurate … and horrifying to imagine going through.

I found these two video interviews with the author:
(short video about Devil’s Highway) https://billmoyers.com/content/luis-alberto-urreas-change-of-heart/
Longer expansive interview with Urrea about his background and his work: https://billmoyers.com/segment/luis-alberto-urreas-border-crossing-journeys/

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author. I cannot imagine anyone else doing a better job of the narration.

Seeking Sanctuary - Romeo Alexander - (Colorado)
Men of Fairlake Series Book #2
Genea: M/M Romance/Drug Rehabilitation
5★
When I read the first book I make comment in the review that there was way too much background to get through before the story really started...but it was the first book and we hadn't been introduced to any of the character as of yet...so I was wanted to give the second book, Seeking Sanctuary a try hoping to meet some of the folks that we had met before, plus learn a new couple's story... and I was not disappointed. Romeo Alexander has written an emotional and exciting story that will hook you from the start. It was easy to become immersed in the story and root for Devin and Chase to overcome Devin's years of drug abuse and find their way together. Chase and Devin were best friends, but then Devin left town and the two didn't have any contact with each other until Devin at the end of his rope and the lowest point of his life knew he had to get help or die...he called Chase. It was short notice, but Chase was there, without question. wasn't easy, seeing Devin a shadow of his former self due to drug abuse...but Chase put him in the car and took him back to Fairlake...his home and now it will be Devin's home, with him. Both guys were likable, each in his own way and together they take on the fight against drugs. This was not easy and didn't happen overnight...but it was portrayed realistically by the author. It was in no way sugar coated, and just like in real life, there were ups and downs. There was such a strong emotional bond between Chace and Devin. As a reader, you could feel the tension between them, but the author never let us lose track of the love. Towards the end of the story the author kicked up the heat and suspense. Actually, I had waited for what happened to happen about mid-away through the story and just when i thought that Devin was lucky and was going to dodge that bullet and then...Wow.

The Innocent Wife - Lisa Regan
Josie Quinn Series Book #16
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
It's hard to believe that this is book 16 in this series. I've read it off and on since book 1...of course I read most of them out of order:) Like all the Joie Quinn stories, it moves fast and is loaded with plenty of plenty of secrets, lies and twists for Josie and her team to unravel. The plot itself is intense, with a race against the clock and a very, very unlikeable victim and a suspect who seems to be hiding a lot. While I did guess part of the big twist, I never saw the full truth coming until it was finally presented to us...which I really like in a good mystery story. Don't make things too simple. The Innocent Wife turned out to be yet another highly addictive and extremely engaging detective thriller sequel of a series I consider to be one of my favorites. Things have been said in other reviews about the credibility of the plot...to each his own and we can't all like the same things... but I personally don’t mind as this series is well worth the read for its entertainment value alone. If you like your detective thrillers on the fast and intense side, you have this one and 15 more before it...so happy reading.

Taking It Slow - Reece Knightly - (Louisianna/California/Dubai)
Code of Honor series Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance/Military/Suspense
5★
This is the story of Spencer and Liam, who we have met before in the first three books. Their story is filled with a love that is guaranteed to curl your toes and keep you turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. Taking It Slow is the 4th of eight books in the Code of Honor series. Readers will be shown the lives of the men and women who deal with the dangers of the world we live in so that we may sleep in peace at night. These stories will make you feel that you are an actual part of the military unit, doing what is often a dangerous and thankless job, but trusting your "brothers in arms" will be there for you. The jobs these people in the series do are always top secret and it's vital that they remain that way. Their unit has missions that are usually always "off-the-books". They see the world we live in as being a truly dangerous place that often seems to be getting more dangerous every day. These soldiers and agents deal with those danger and strive to keep us safe. As an observer of their lives and jobs you will find joy and sadness, often bringing tears while making you stop and think how lucky we are to have people like them. The books in this series can easily be read as standalones but I recommend you start with book one and go from there as these men work as a unit and most of the time their stories overlap...and the main characters are sprinkled through all eight books making the series seem like one huge novel. Reese Knightly is an excellent writer, creating these stories with just the right amount of angst. Your only complaint will probably be like mine...they just end way to soon.

Solito – Javier Zamora
5***** and a ❤

This is a memoir of the author’s own harrowing journey from El Salvador to the USA when he was only nine years old. While his parents and grandparents paid a “trusted coyote” (i.e. a smuggler of humans; a guide to take migrants through the desert) to accompany him on the entire journey, he was still basically alone for most of it, in that he had no contact with his family, and no idea whom to actually trust.

He started out with joy and excitement, anticipating a couple of weeks of adventure ending in a reunion with his parents. But the reality was a months-long feat of endurance and courage.

Like a few of his fellow “pollitos” (little chickens … what the coyotes call the migrants), Javier had to put his faith in the hands of a man he had only just met, to do what he was told without complaint of question. He suffered through weeks waiting in a safe house, changes in plans (including an unanticipated sea journey), and several changes in coyotes. He endured heat, cold, hunger, sleep deprivation and thirst. He was lucky in that one woman and her teen-aged daughter “adopted” him on the journey, as did at least one of the men who traveled with them.

The book came about partly with the encouragement of the now-adult Javier’s therapist, who helped him recall some of the repressed memories and work through his guilt and anger and fear.

When I was fifteen, I took a trip to Puerto Rico to visit friends. The plan was for me to fly home two weeks later, but an airline strike scuttled that, and I wound up staying for nearly two months. When I was finally able to get a flight home it was a convoluted journey with several changes of plane (and airline) and some unanticipated delays which resulted in a missed flight (or two). This was before cell phones or internet. My parents waited at the airport for my scheduled flight and were understandably distressed when I failed to arrive. They called their friends in PR thinking perhaps I hadn’t gotten on my plane at all. Now from both PR and Texas panicked parents were frantically calling every authority they could think of to trace my journey and find me. What should have been a 10-hour total journey turned into 16 hours. And for most of it my parents had no idea at all where I was and if I was safe. I was also anxious (though at least I knew I was safe), and unsure, and often in tears. Kind strangers helped me – a young military man retrieved my bags for me; another man let me ahead of him in line for a chance I might make my next flight (I didn’t, and neither did he); a grandmother and her granddaughter bought me dinner and kept me company for two hours while I waited for another flight. While my experience is in no way equivalent to Zamora’s, I could not help but think of it as I read his tale, and the emotions came flooding back.

Zamora uses a lot of Spanish, including colloquial phrases / vocabulary. Although I grew up speaking Spanish, mine was the Spanish of the Texas/Mexico border and I didn’t’ always know the exact meaning of the words Zamora used. (Just as the young Javier didn’t always understand when Mexicans used their colloquialisms rather than the Salvadoran Spanish he was used to.) That didn’t slow me down, as I could glean the meaning from context. Non-Spanish speakers might want to have google translate handy.

I Love You More / Jennifer Murphy
3.5 stars

Picasso is 11 or 12 years old when her father is murdered. It seems that her mother (along with her father’s other two wives!!!) planned it. The detective investigating the case falls for Picasso’s mother, Diana.

I listened to the audio and it took a little while for me to get interested, but it did get better. There were a couple of twists near/at the end that brought my rating up from “ok” to “good”. However, I didn’t think the relationship between the detective and Diana was believable. The audio is done by a few different narrators. I’m not sure I noticed if each of the wives had their own perspectives or not; Diana definitely did, but I’m not sure about the others. I do know I had a bit of trouble telling whose perspective we were listening to with the women’s voice(s). We followed perspectives from Picasso, Diana, and the detective – and at least one more.

The Night House - Jo Nesbo - (Norway)
Genera: Paranormal/Mystery
3.5★
I've always liked Jo Nesbo's writing style and the way that great imagination can create a story that stays with the reader long after the book is closed. Sometimes it stays TOO much:)...but to be honest...with this one I am still very much confused, and it hurts my head to try...so I stopped trying. We find ourselves in the town of Ballantyne, and we meet Richard Elauved. Richard is a 14-year-old boy who takes a great deal of pleasure in bulling his classmates. He tricks Tom into going into a phone booth and gets him to call Imu Jonasson. Neither boy knows Imu Jonasson...it's part of Richrd's fun...a random person whose name he picks out of the phone book. Now the story begins to become strange as the phone takes a mind of its own and digs into Imu's flesh and eats him alive until all traces disappear. I don't think that phones are supposed to behave like this and neither does Richard...so he goes to the police. Of course, they don't take him seriously, and he can't persuade them that he's telling the truth. First of all, they can’t even find Jonasson’s name in the phone book...and they come to the conclusion that Tom must have drowned in the river. In the first part of the story, all the main characters are teens. Then as it moves along, fifteen years have passed, and we find Richard attending a class reunion. Now he is also the author of the novel, The Night House... the story of himself and Tom. He says that it is “the teenage horror novel that changed my life.” He tells people at the reunion that he came to apologize for having bullied everyone, yet all his fellow classmates insist he’d always been a good kid...not the nasty bully he’d portrayed in his famous book. Now we have the problem of determining what is going on and who is right. Creepy things continue to happen, a death by hanging, blood seeping down a car window, and even someone transforming into a cockroach...you know, all the standard horror fare.... though the cockroach is a new one for me. What adds to this bewilderment, is when we learn that Richard had invented the surname “Elauved” for some strange reason. Now we don't know if anything he has told us is true or is the detritus of his obviously fevered brain. Could it be a dream within a dream? Some of the evil comes from a surprising source, who advises young Richard, “If you really want to kill them, you have to do it twice. If you don’t, they come back.” I thought that an ill-fated fiend named Jack had the best line: “We’d actually prefer it if you tried to escape. It’s a well-known fact that adrenaline gives meat a bit of extra flavor.” I don't know any more than I did in the beginning, and I'm not at all sure that I really want to know.

Step Right Up, (Carnival of Mysteries) - L.A. Witt
M/M Romance/Mystery/Fantasy
Narrators: Michael Ferraiuolo & John Solo
5★
Jason and Ahmed are nurses and coworkers at a clinic. Jason has been secretly in love with Ahmed for some time...but Ahmed has a long-term boyfriend, Mark. I didn't like Mark so was anxiously waiting for him to "hit the road". Mark seems to hate all of Ahmed’s friends and co-workers, but they don't say much to Ahmed about Mark because they all like him so much. Anyone that has been around one or has read much that features one in the storyline, will quickly recognize Mark as an abuser and Ahmed as his victim. He hardly lets Ahmed out of his sight and wants to go everywhere that Ahmed goes with his friends, so that means that Ahmed either has to bring him along or stay home. Ahmed's friends are going to a carnival as a group and Ahmed wants to go so along also comes Mark. There are some interesting things at the carnival including a caricaturist who seems to know what every person is hiding. There are also games that are giving the winners some interesting prizes. Ahmed wins a very interesting picture. On the way home Mark and Ahmed have a slight accident and while waiting for help to arrive, they get into a big fight. I thought "At last, this is going to end this toxic relationship". They finally decide that the picture is what is causing the problems...so they try to give it back. Easier said than done and they tried some interesting ways to do this. What happens after that is what makes this such a good story with a special magical element with a hidden twist. I absolutely love the way L.A. Witt tells a story. Her works were some of the first M/M Romance books I ever read and helped give me a genuine love for the genera. A word of thanks also has to go out to John Solo and Michael Ferraiuolo whose performance did so much to give this story a magical life of its' own.

American Dirt – Jennine Cummins
Book on CD performed by Yarreli Arizmendi
4****

Lydia Quixano Pérez runs a bookstore in Acapulco. She is married to Sebastian, a journalist, and they have a son, eight-year-old Luca. But when Sebastian publishes a profile of the head of the local drug cartel, their family is in the crosshairs. Lydia has to flee with her son, and there is no one she can truly trust.

This is a gripping story. Lydia is an intelligent woman, but she is not equipped with the street smarts for this journey. Luck and the kindness of a few strangers, plus her basic privilege (as a white, middle-class, educated woman with money in the bank), all serve her well.

There were some things about the book that bothered me. Did Cummins choose a middle-class white woman as the central character because she wanted to open the eyes of her reading public to the fact that not all migrants coming to the USA are “rapists, drug traffickers, welfare cheats”? Did Cummins think her USA audience would be more sympathetic to the story if they could more easily relate to this woman’s horror rather than to a young male peasant?

Speaking of which, there is plenty of horror and trauma to go around. Beto’s story of “being born in the dump” was heart-wrenching. No wonder he’s such a tough, wise-cracking, endearing character! The two sisters, Soledad and Rebecca, were wise beyond their years due to traumas they witnessed and/or suffered. But why emphasize their “incredible beauty” so often? There is no requirement of “beauty” for a woman to be subject to kidnaping, rape and human trafficking. And we should be just as outraged about the incidents, and compassionate towards the victims, even when they are poor, smelly, and unattractive.

As for other books that also depict the harrowing journey that so many migrants make, I’d recommend these: The Devil’s Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea (nonfiction); Solito by Javier Zamora (memoir); The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz; Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario (nonfiction, there are two editions, one for adults one a young-adult version).

The audiobook was performed by Yarreli Arizmendi who did a marvelous job of the narration.

Heel - K.M. Neuhold - (California)
Working Out The Kinks Series Book 2
Genera: M/M Romance/Puppy Play
4★
Adrian and Vale are old friends. Vale had rescued Adrian once before, but convinced himself that the young man was too young to be anything more than a friend. However, it never stopped them from thinking about each other. When Adrian's so called "Daddy/Handler", breaks Adrian's wrist, Adrian finds the courage to leave and run to Vale, who wants to help him in any way that he can. Actually, Vale wants to kill Adrian's ex...and I would have been on board to help him...then wrap Adrian in bubble wrap and stand him in the closet with the door firmly shut. Adrian is nothing short of sweet and adorable. His is a giving nature that makes him so easy to love, but as often happens, it also makes him easy to take advantage of. Nathan, Adrian’s ex-boyfriend, definitely does that in every way imaginable. I really wanted to cause Nathan great bodily harm. Vale sees only the best in Adrian and his fierce protectiveness towards the young man gave him a top spot in my heart. Adrian has good friends who are also in the lifestyle, who are protective of him as well. He's one lucky "pup". There’s an innate sweetness about this book, but there’s a lot of strength in it also. Watching as Adrian finds his way to be himself with the help of Vale and his friends will keep you glued to each page. I really liked that K.M. Neuhold never portrayed Adrian as weak or needy, just a little bit lost letting his own strength shines through in the end. I spent most of this book smiling. If you’re looking for something to brighten your day, I can absolutely recommend Heel. Just be aware of the genera as it contains everything that you would expect. These books can easily be read out of order, and I found that I do have the first book in this series.... imagine that:) So far there are only 2 books, but I hope there will be more to come.

Time Was Soft There – Jeremy Mercer
3***

Subtitle: A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare & Co
Also published as: Books, Baguettes and Bedbugs: the Left Bank World of Shakespeare and Co.

Several bad decision derailed Mercer’s journalism career in Canada, so he ran to Paris to take a final French course and finish his degree requirements. On a rainy afternoon he took refuge in a shop near Notre Dame and discovered Shakespeare & Co. A casual invitation from a lovely young woman to join the others for “tea upstairs” eventually led to his being offered a bed in the place, something the owner, George Whitman, did for writers and other artists down on their luck. The result is this memoir of the time he spent there.

I found this very entertaining. I loved reading about his adventures scrounging for the cheapest food, picnics with friends along the Seine, the joys of free museums, and the eccentric residents of the shop, not least of which was the owner. It’s a very atmospheric read – you can smell the dusty books, hear the soft buzz of conversation, relish in the aroma of fresh baked croissants.

But, I was less enamored of the casual lawlessness, from drug use to petty theft; I just don’t find that kind of behavior “romantic.” Still, I think it’s an honest, and well-written, depiction of his time there. And I enjoyed vicariously living in Paris for those few days I was reading this. (Mercer still lives in France.)

Puzzle, White House Men - Nora Phoenix - (Washington D.C.)
White House Men Series book #6
Narrator: John Solo
Genera: M/M Romance/Political Mystery
4★
Branson and Ryde's relationship was frustrating. Ryder's previous boyfriend, Paul, was less than desirable and treated him badly, but Branson was nothing like him. I thought that Ryder was smart enough to know this. When Branson and Ryder finally get it together, they do have smoking hot chemistry that made for some epic scenes later. Ryder does get more likeable eventually and even starts becoming a decent human being. Ryder was really there for Branson when he needed him the most when Branson's father had cancer surgery and they didn't if he was going to make it. He also took Paul on and read him the riot act which was VERY OKAY. A lot of the questions about the assassination of the president and two first ladies was figured out by Ryder and wrapped up from the first 5 books. We also got to visit with some of the couples from the other books to see how they were doing. I believe the last book is Del's story. It's been a good series though not my favorite, but still worth the time.

Duma Key / Stephen King
3 stars

Edgar is in an accident and loses one of his arms and he is viciously angry all the time. Enough so that his wife (after he tries to strangle her, which he doesn’t even remember) tells him she wants a divorce some months later. His doctor then suggests he head to Florida to try clearing his head elsewhere, so he rents a place on the beach in Duma Key, Florida. As he walks daily, he sees in the distance an elderly woman and a man, apparently her caretaker. Edgar eventually becomes friends with the two of them, while at home he learns he has a talent for drawing and painting… something he never knew about before. But the drawing and painting seem to overtake him when he’s doing it; not only that, it seems his paintings tell him things he couldn’t possibly know, things that really come to happen or have already happened.

Overall, I’m considering this “ok”. Some parts I liked more than others, but art is not my thing, including reading about it. There were shorter chapters in italics to tell us those chapters are from another perspective, but large sections in italics often lose my interest, as did these chapters, unfortunately.

See Her Die - Melinda Leigh - (New York)
Bree Taggart Series Book #2
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
4★
The book is described as a "blood-freezing thriller of murder, rage, and revenge". Yes...it does cover those categories.... some much more than others. Sheriff Bree Taggert is called to a shooting in a campground that is shut down for the winter. When she arrives, she finds that the crime is not as simple as it should have been. Actually, there is no evidence of any crime being carried out at all...no shooter, no victim, and no blood. No one believes the witness, Alyssa, no one but Bree that is. What would this young woman gain by lying about what happened to her friend? Alyssa is a homeless teen who continually insists that she saw her friend shot. Bree asks the help of former deputy Matt Flynn and his dog to track the killer and search for the victim, who may have just been injured in spite of Alyssa insistence that she saw the shooting happen. They discover the beaten corpse of a missing university student under the ice in Grey Lake, but even though it is a body, and it is indeed dead, it's not the victim they're looking for. Then two more students go missing and additional bodies are found, and Bree knows that she must find what ties these victims together. The one thing that is obvious is that these murders were fueled by intense rage. Her first witness Alyssa, then disappears. The question now is now will the witness herself become a victim? I liked the characters...especially the dog. The only "down" thing I can say about it was that it was a tad slow. It could have used a bit more in the action department.

The Dictionary of Lost Words – Pip Williams
Digital audiobook narrated by Pippa Bennett-Warner
3.5***

”Some words are more important than others – I learned this, growing up in the Scriptorium. But it took me a long time to understand why.”

Esme is a young motherless child when her father takes her to work with him. He’s one of the lexicographers who are collecting information for the first Oxford English Dictionary. Sitting under the sorting table where the men work, Esme is surrounded by words and their meanings. One day she finds a slip of paper with the word bondmaid printed on it. After learning that it means “slave girl,” Esme begins to save the “forgotten” words that fall beneath the table. Eventually she realizes that the discarded slips are frequently words related to women or to common folk, and she begins to collect them in earnest with the goal of writing her own dictionary – a Dictionary of Lost Words.

Esme is a wonderful character, maturing from an innocent child to curious adolescent to determined young woman. And living at a time when the Women’s Suffrage Movement was very active in England, and World War I was looming. She is nurtured by her father, but also by a few women, beginning with Lizzie, a maid whom Esme trusts to keep the slips of paper safely hidden away. Another is Ditte, Esme’s godmother, a “learned lady” and a regular contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary project. (Edith Thompson, a/k/a Ditte, was a real woman who, along with her sister, contributed tens of thousands of entries to the OED.)

I like the way that Williams puts the focus on the “missing women” in history. She’s far from strident, but she is insistent and caused this reader to think about all the missing women is “HIS”tory.

Pippa Bennet-Warner does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. I really liked how she interpreted these characters. She sets a good pace and has very clear diction, so even when I doubled the speed, I could easily understand her.

Battle It Out - Reece Knightly - (North Dakota, North Carolina, California)
Series: Code of Honor Book #6
Genera: M/M Romance/ Military Fiction
3.5★
I debated a long time before deciding on the rating. This is Zane and Issac's story.... the story that it seems I have waited forever to read. I have had an on again off again going with this series since book 1, but I do really like Reece Knightly and several of the books in the series have really hit the mark with me...this one? Yes and no. There are way too many individual storylines going on so that we don't have a real clear feeling of what is going on. Anyone that started the series with this book would probably give it up. I expected a big blow up and didn't have long to wait...both guys are dynamite fuses looking for a place to go off. One of the biggest problems I have with not only these two guys, but many of the characters in other M/M romances, as well as F/M romance books...they either don't talk to one another, or they spent 3/4 of the book being either angry or reiterating why they shouldn't be together. Come on...the book is only so long. Get it together guys. You're acting like a couple of love-sick teenagers. Overall...Reece Knightly is a fantastic author and the characters in this series will grab and hold your heart. I just wish they wouldn't take so long to grab each other's hearts.

Bringing It Home - Reece Knightley - (Oregon)
Code of Honor series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Domestic Violence & Abuse
4★
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS: (Please see the Genera Content above.)
Domestic violence and sexual assault should never be tolerated by anyone and should be reported. I can understand what the author was doing with this story and enlightening people on the importance of stopping it.... still, I felt it went on a little too long. Triton from book #2, was abused by his parents fand then a boyfriend and his brother, because of his sexuality. Since he had never experienced real love, he didn't always understand how not to make wrong choices for his life. Then he met Diesel who was an army buddy of Triton's cousin and his boyfriend. Triton was kidnapped and held in a cave and Diesel rescued him. Triton ex-boyfriend and his brother had beat him so bad that his friend helped him to leave and go to Oregon to Diesel. When Triton got to Oregon, he was grabbed and was about to be assaulted when the lady at the bus station rescued him. Through being with Diesel, his friends and counseling, Triton began the healing process. The story was good and the point the author was trying to make was important, but this was a hard story to read.

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding – Agatha Christie
3***

This is actually a collection of short stories, which are:
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
The Mystery of the Spanish Chest
The Under Dog
Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds
The Dream
Greenshaw’s Folly

Poirot takes center stage in all but the last story, which features Miss Marple.

I have seen the BBC dramatizations, starring David Suchet as Poirot, of most of these stories, so the plots were vaguely familiar. Still, I didn’t always remember the culprit and was happy to read how Poirot and his little grey cells put together the clues to solve the case. I also enjoyed the subtle differences in plotting from the televised episodes to the original stories as written by Christie.

I’m less a fan of Miss Marple, and in this case she’s really in the background until she comes in and tells everyone how the murder REALLY happened and who the culprit is. Of course she (and Poirot in his cases) is right.

Agatha Christie is one of my go-to authors when I want a break from everyday life and heavier, more literary reads. I just plain enjoy them. I’m also a fan of short stories, and this fit the bill nicely for winter evenings … one story per night.

===========================


Candy Cane Murder – Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier
2.5*** (rounded up)

Three short novels make up this anthology. Candy Cane Murder (Fluke), The Dangers of Candy Canes (Levine) and Candy Canes of Christmas Past (Meier).

The first is a typical Hannah Swenson cozy. Her sisters and mother help her investigate the murder while her two boyfriends, dentist Norman and policeman Mike either help or warn her to stay out of the investigation. I have to wonder how this woman makes any money when she’s always giving cookies away. The story comes with some tasty recipes, though.

Levine’s entry comes next, and it was the weakest of the trio. Freelance writer Jaine Austen is asked to check into an “accidental” death; seems a suburban neighborhood’s holiday decorating contest has turned deadly. I didn’t like the heroine, I didn’t like the plot.

Candy Canes of Christmas Past revolves around Lucy Stone, her husband and son, who have left the high-stakes world of New York City finance to move to Tinker’s Cove, Maine. But things aren’t going well with the renovations of their farmhouse, and money’s tight. When she spots a sign for a yard sale, Lucy takes a chance and finds a unique artifact – a glass cane. Trying to find out more about it, she heads to the library and uncovers a family mystery. The story was pretty light on the mystery, but was a sweet and charming holiday tale.

Three's Company - N.R. Walker - (Florida)
Genera: M/M/M Romance
5★
Simon and Adam are a bonded, happy, couple that work together running a 5-star hotel and restaurant in Key West Florida. They are as different individually as night and day, personality wise...but they simply, absolutely, work in spite of their unconventional ideas about their relationship. They both, occasionally, like to bring a third into their tightly knit relationship. However, that person only gets invited once. The two are committed to one another and their relationship remains first and rock solid. Simon is the serious one and the manager of the hotel. Adam is the easy going, fragile half of the relationship with an ex that abused him past. Simon is fiercely protective of Adam. Then from small-town Alabama comes chef extraordinaire, Wilson Curtis to stay at their hotel...and for the first time...things change. A one-night deal becomes two...then three and then ten. Will's small town in Alabama is anything but open or consenting about his sexuality. His ex-partner back home dropped him when things become too heated in the town and folks stopped eating in his restaurant because they were afraid that they would "turn gay" from eating the food that he prepared. Meeting Simon and Adam was overwhelming and eye-opening for him since he had never seen such acceptance of the simple act of walking down the street holding the hand of man for the first time. These characters were so well written that they almost came off the page. N.R. Walker created real men with real interactions, feelings, hopes and dreams. Will came to terms with his sexuality and learned to accept himself for what he was and not what others viewed him as. Simon had to relinquish a little control and lean on the two strong men around him. Adam had to become the glue that held all three of them together. We see into the hearts of these men making this story more of a heart touching romance than just a ménage storyline.

Country Roads: Memoirs from Rural Canada / Pam Chamberlain (editor)
3 stars

This is a collection of nonfiction essays by various (celebrity?) Canadians. Mostly authors (and many of these essays have been published previously elsewhere), but also (at least) one hockey player, one actor, one artist, one reporter, one musician. Recognizable names include Rudy Wiebe, Sharon Butala, Wayne Johnston, Pamela Wallin, Brett Sutter, George Fox. All of these people grew up (or at least lived while younger) somewhere in rural Canada. Many of the stories were on the Prairies and in the Atlantic Provinces, with a few in BC, Ontario, and Quebec (but fewer in these provinces, I think).

Like with short stories, some of these were more interesting to me than others, so this results in a middle-of-the-road 3 star (ok) rating from me. Many of the ones more interesting to me were the Prairie ones, since I grew up in a small Saskatchewan town, though not on a farm (as did many of the people here).

Aunty Lee’s Delights – Ovidia Yu
2**

From the book jacket: After losing her husband, Rosie Lee could have become one of Singapore’s “tai tai,” an idle rich lady. Instead, she is building a culinary empire from her restaurant, Aunty Lee’s Delights, where spicy Singaporean meals are graciously served to locals and tourists alike. But when a body is found in one of Singapore’s tourist havens and one of her guests fails to show at a dinner party, Aunty Lee knows that the two events are likely connected.

My reactions:
I had hopes for this first in a new cozy mystery series. I’ve visited Singapore and love the cuisine. And I love cozy mysteries with fun amateur sleuths. But this one just fell flat for me.

I thought Yu was trying too hard to craft a complicated mystery and NOT doing enough to endear Aunty Lee and her trusty sidekick/maid, Nina, to the reader. Senior Staff Sergeant Salim seems way too inexperienced and easily cowed by Aunty, but he is a good foil for her efforts to solve the crime on her own.

The other characters were just ridiculous … though I did love how Aunty thought of her stepdaughter-in-law; “Silly-na” perfectly describes Selina!

And there was something off-putting for me about the lesbian characters and theme. Perhaps I don’t have sufficient understanding of the Singaporean culture to appreciate what Yu was doing by introducing these characters and their storyline.

Not Dead Yet - Jenn Burke
Not Dead Yet Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Paranormal Suspense
5★
Possible Triggers: Suicide
I really liked this one. It’s one of those stories you end up really feeling for and cheering the characters. I'm not real fond of slow burn romances but this one somehow just...worked. I would have to say that it was one of the best slow romances I have ever read, and it didn't frustrate me halfway through and make me want to slap the poor clueless guys up the side of their hard heads. I was surprised to learn that Wes and Hudson had been romantic partners before...and were actually willing to try it again. Maybe they believed in the old adage that the second time is the charm:) Along with that "perfect romance" we are treated to lots of good humor! I was snickering and giggling so much while reading. I would love to share why, but I won't because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Having to choose a favorite character from this bunch is an absolutely impossible task. Aside from the really believable urban fantasy aspects that you can almost believe are happening around us, I loved how new Wes’s "abilities" were and seeing him learn how to use them. The author, Jenn Burke, has put so many thoughts and details into this character's personality that there aren't enough good words to describe it. Overall, I would call it a wonderful story with a wonderful couple.

Tic-Tac-Mistletoe - N.R. Walker (Montana/Idaho)
Genera: M/M Romance/Christmas
Narrator: Glen Lloyd
5★
Think of your favorite film or book about travel related catastrophes and shenanigans during the holidays and you can add this little offering to them. Poor Hamish from Australia, where Christmas it seems, as hard as it is to imagine, is in the summer...and if even if it was in the season that it belongs in... there evidently wouldn't be 25 feet of snow falling in one giant blizzard. As a result of the blizzard, his flight is diverted to Montana instead of Idaho. Now he's in the wrong state and has no idea how to get to Idaho except to rent a car. He's a grown man so How hard could it be? Except...he has never driven in the U.S., and he has never driven in snow, much less a blinding blizzard, and he's never even seen snow before. So, it's no surprise that he ends up in a ditch in "No Where", Montana. His first and only thought is "I'm just going to die, and my body won't be found until spring. I had to laugh at Hamish's experience with the rental car. I drove in Ireland once and was less than happy to have not remembered that not only did I have to drive on the WRONG side of the road, but I had to sit on the WRONG side of blooming car to do it!! This was problem #1 for our Hamish. Combined with everything else that had gone wrong with this trip...he is now freezing to death in a Montana ditch. Summer clothing, and summer footwear will hasten his death if he gets out...and where would he go? He doesn't even know where he is, except in the middle of nowhere! Just when he is panicking about something that he saw in a movie.... of all things, "serial killer bears", he’s rescued by Ren Brooks who lives nearby in the town of Hartbridge, Montana. Ren and his dog...who is adorable...take him home...and after he establishes that Ren is not a serial killer...he settles in. Turns out that they are only an hour and half from the Idaho state line and Hamish's sister. Ren was attracted to Hamish right away and the feeling was mutually returned. They spend a few days together and find they both like the domestic feelings that each brings. They do make it to Hamish's sister's and spend Christmas. Hamish & Ren have to decide if they want to have the budding relationship continue or just say it was fun while it lasted. Hamish is going to be in the U.S. for two years...but Ren and Hamish both want to try and see where it will go. N.R. Walker has created two masculine leading men who are beautiful and unapologetically gay. They sing along with Mariah, quote "Schitt’s Creek" endlessly, watch piles of Hallmark movies, and share a love of "Legally Blond". There’s a fabulous gay tone to this exceptional story. I found the character development to be refreshing and enjoyed meeting Ren and his dog and this lovely Australian character. This is the sweetest of all sweet stories. Ren and Hamish fall in love while enjoying simple, homegrown holiday traditions. It’s warm and wonderful and has a perfect happy ending....and any book that mentions "Snuffleupagus" from Sesame Street is okay with me.

Easton's Lost Otter - Della Cain - (Illinois)
Found By Daddy Series Book #5
Genera: M/M/Romance/Age Play (Daddy, Little)
4★
All of this series are short, cute, sweet stories featuring a "Daddy" & his "Little". Easton and Jarad meet at a convention in Las Vegas and connect rather quickly. Easton who is s "little", is never far from Charlie, his stuffed otter and constant companion. Jarad has always suspected that he had "Daddy" tendencies, but never knew how or had the time to really explore them...then his booth at the convention was next to Easton and his stuffie, Charlie and Jarad had knew that he had to learn more about this part of the kink family lifestyle...and he diffidently wanted to learn more about Easton. In the rush home, Charlie got misplaced and Easton was devastated when he arrived home without his little friend. I won't say much more about that because that is what the rest of the story is mainly based on. Characters from the other four books make brief appearance as they do in all the previous books, which is one of the things that I love about this series. It's not too heavy, it has interesting and lovable characters and always has a happy ending.

Deadly Lies - Chris Patchell - (Washington)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
4.5★
Jill Shannon is no stranger to trauma. She's had her fair share of in her life and is really a victim of not only outside circumstance but those of her own wrong or bad decisions. Despite her many flaws, I couldn't help but feel some degree of sorry for her. Alex Shannon is a good man, at least he tries to be. He desperately wants to do the right thing for the people he cares about while balancing his job as a police officer. In spite of all his good intentions his marriage is on the rocks, and he knows that Jill is hiding more than just one secret. Alex is on the case of a serial killer who is using the internet to lure his victims into meeting him. There is almost too much going on in this book. It does a great job of keeping you guessing, and you'll change your mind at least a dozen times before the final reveal, which you'll probably get wrong:) I have never read this author before, but this will not be my last read by her by any means. Overall, it was a really a well written, action-packed thriller with interesting and believable characters.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle
5*****

Yes, getting five stars from me, and not just because I'm a fan of Monty Python. It's also because Eric Idle is a very good writer (as one would expect) and he puts his childhood out there as well as his fame. And the famous people he became close friends with who were as famous as he without setting out to be icons: George Harrison, Keith Moon, Ron Wood are a few among many.

He is unstinting on his father's ironic post-War accidental death and his years in boarding school that were pretty darn traumatic. He's also brutally honest about his first marriage and relationship with his son, Carey. But then he got better, in no small thanks to his fellow Pythons and the comedic art they made.

And he dishes on their work sessions, his contributions of music to the troupe, the cold and wet that was Scotland during the filming of "Holy Grail" and how much George Harrison contributed to making sure that "Life of Brian" got made. There are also hilarious tales of their tours, including "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" and late plane arrivals and zig-zagging across Canada because they did not realize when they booked the tour how vast things are on the other side of the pond.

In short, a great read, insightful and honest and a glimpse into a life that was forever impacted by his work as a young man. And "Always look on the bright side of life" is the most requested song at British funerals, so that's gotta be something.

Irish Knit Murders by Peggy Ehrhart
3 1/2 ***

I picked this one up because I liked the cover (yes, really!) and the idea that here was yet another cozy mystery with knitting involved. The fact that it opens with a St. Patrick's Day singalong was an added bonus. And it's #4 in the Knit and Nibble series with a pattern for a Knit Egg Cozy and a recipe for Irish Coffee Truffle. All in keeping with this genre.

Sadly, I was not that impressed. While there was a knitting group that meets weekly (I think), with a really diverse group of knitters, the main crafty details were the cooking. From the first few chapters with a St. Patrick's Day dinner, to the main character's breakfast and watching the drip coffee every morning, to pies and cookies, the details about knitting seemed to take a back seat to all the sweet treats Pamela and her best friend Bettina ate constantly.

Pamela lives in a small New Jersey garden-area town with a job as an editor for a Fiber-oriented magazine. Which is great - she gets to review articles on the Shakers and a medieval depiction of the Virgin Mary knitting in an anachronistic method, then send them to her editor. Her daughter is at college, she is widowed and still living in the home she and her husband fixed up after he died, And she had a romance with the guy next door, till it ended, and now some new romances seem to be blossoming.

I liked the fact that Pamela is a woman in her 40's, her best friend is an older woman who writes for the weekly town paper, and the diverse characters: a guy knitter (a lawyer whose therapist is encouraging him to relax), a Wiccan in the town who explains how St. Patrick was not necessarily a great guy towards women in his world, and the murder victim who was a bit of a wild child in the (gasp!) long ago 60's. Oh, and there's the abundance of cats. Always good to have a kitty or two in a cozy mysterday!

But I was really not that infatuated with the vast amounts of food consumed, described, and prepared, and the constant visiting that Bettina bestows on Pamela seems a bit excessive. I like my neighbors in the area, but if they came to my door every day at breakfast, and then later in the afternoon when they think they've maybe solved the case? I would quickly set some boundaries.

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott
5***** and ❤️

What a truly amazing book, one that works on so many levels. As historical fiction, it pulls from the files of the CIA and the experiences in Soviet "re-education" camps. As a book about women in the workforce, it nails the reality of being just as talented as men and offered menial roles. As a look at LGBTQ+ issues, it describes what life was like when being in the closet was a choice between existence and non-existence. And most of all, it describes the steps taken by so many to publish Boris Pasternak's literary masterpiece, "Dr. Zhivago."

The story takes place in two locales, clearly labeled: East and West, and during roughly the same time period of 1949 - 1961. In the East, Boris Pasternak is putting the finishing touches on his masterpiece, while Olga, his mistress, is visited by the KGB to inquire about her involvement in his work. This visit eventually leads to the Gulag; Boris is ruminating about his fellow writers and poets who have met a similar fate. The difference is that Stalin loves Boris Pasternak's poetry and his hand has protected Pasternak.

Meanwhile, after the Second World War ends, the women in the OSS who performed admirably are given jobs at the Agency. As typists. Despite their talents, despite their successes, they are asked to type memos and notes and letters, day after day. They form a camaraderie and one of them is Irina. Her mother left Soviet Russia without her husband, and at his death in the USSR she begins to ply her trade as a dressmaker to the community. Irina lives with her and most of the story from the West portions are told from her POV.

The 3 years Boris and Olga spend apart are described, and when the book is finally, finally completed the manner in which it was published would interest the most diehard John le Carré geek. What resulted was pure Soviet machinations to try to explain why the rest of the world read it before it was published in Russia.

In the West, Irina is befriended by Sally, and Irina is engaged to Ted who has a passion for all things Russian. Which is what attracts him to Irina. There are details about life as a working woman in Washington, D.C. in the 50's that are not too different from our own time. The details about life in the Agency as an LGBTQ+ person are horrendous and also, sadly, timely.

I found that this was a book I needed to savor, like a fine wine or heady beer. Pick up, enjoy, then put down.

The Winner - David Baldacci - (Virginia/Sweden/Switzerland)
4★
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
LuAnn Tyler is a beautiful, "white trash" truck stop waitress with a useless husband and a really cute baby daughter. A few months after the birth of the daughter, Lisa, LuAnn gets a phone call telling her to go to an office in an unrented storefront of the local shopping mall. Now why anyone would do this after receiving a summons like this and especially after seeing the location...would be anybody's guess. Most sensible people would never have done this in a hundred million years. Once there, she gets an unbelievable offer from a "Mr. Jackson", a monomaniacal, cross-dressing... (I liked that touch) ...manipulator who says he knows the winning numbers in the national lottery before the numbers are drawn. (Maybe I can use Mr. Jackson's talents after all!) He says that LuAnn fits the media's idea of what a lottery winner should be...namely. poor, undereducated...but still mighty proud. I began to question LuAnn's mentality a lot at this point. Mr. Jackson tells her that IF she's willing to buy the right ticket.... at the right time... and then when she wins, transfer most of her huge jackpot winnings to him...then she'll be able to retire in luxury. Of course, as we knew would be the case, there is more that he doesn't tell her. Jackson fails to inform her, that if she refuses his offer, he'll simply...just have her killed. Here's where it became even worse for delusional LuAnn. She barely escapes death when one of her husband's drug deals goes bad. She hops on a train to Manhattan with the hired executioner in hot pursuit. The executioner is one of Jackson's paid handlers and he can't help but hear wedding bells loud and clear when he sees LuAnn with her baby daughter. Wouldn't you know it!?...a winning 100-million-dollar lottery drawing complicates everything....as if things weren't already complicated enough...Jackson now spirits LuAnn and Lisa away to Sweden, with Charlie in, as they say..."hot pursuit". Never fear dear reader...not only will LuAnn escape a series of increasingly violent, and more unbelievable predicaments, but she'll also manage to outwit Jackson, pay an enormous tax bill to the IRS, and have enough left over to honeymoon in luxury in Switzerland. Overall...it's too preposterous to call feminine wish-fulfillment and too formulaic to be really suspenseful. I could hardly believe that David Baldacci actually wrote this. Maybe he was a victim of an alien invasion that took over his body and wrote a "best seller". The ridiculousness of it was in itself entertaining, and I do usually like what David Baldacci pens when his head is on straight...so 4 stars.

Eugenie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac
5***** ♥️

An amazing look at the arrogance and evil of greed. Not "I want a good position in a company and will work hard to get it so I can have the best things" greed, but the egotism and absolute focus on the having wealth at any cost. Even one's family. The precision with which Balzac zeroes in on his human subjects and makes them as relevant today as they were when the book was written (1833) is why I love this author.

Full disclosure: I read it in the French folio edition to maintain my language skills and to catch the nuances of Balzac's writing. There was one place, where I took to Wikipedia to make sure I understood a certain plot point. And basically Wikipedia confirmed what I had suspected: that M. Grandet was more interested in building his already massive fortune at the expense of his nephew's future. But more on that further on.

The famille Grandet lives on vast holdings in Saumur, near Tours along the Loire. M. Grandet made his fortune as a cooper and he marries an heiress and they purchase vineyards with their combined wealth. All well and good, and life progresses with the birth of a daughter, Eugenie.

Yet Mme. Grandet is only allowed 6 francs at a time for her household expenses. The house is large and old, and is falling into disrepair because Felix does not wish to spend the money to fix it. They have one servant, Nanon, who has the strength to support her mistress and deal directly with the avarice of Felix in her household duties. And the town is betting on who will take the hand of Eugenie: la famille des Cruchot, or la famille des Grassins, each of whom has an eligible son.

These are also the only two families allowed to visit la famille des Grandet, along with the town's Abbot, and it is while they are celebrating Eugenie's birthday (at low light due to the cost of firewood) that Felix' nephew, Charles, arrives on his uncle's doorstep with a request from Guillaume, M. Grandet's estranged brother. Guillaume requests Felix' help for his son Charles to travel to the Indies to set up his fortune. What is revealed to the reader, and later to Charles himself, is that Guillaume is deeply in debt and has taken his own life in his shame.

Eugenie, living as she does in her isolated family, falls in love with her cousin and as one would expect, pledges are trothed and love is spoken, and Charles gifts her with a prized gold dressing case of his mother's. In return, Eugenie gifts him with her rare gold coins that her father gives her every year for her birthday. And Felix offers to "help" Charles sell his jewels since Felix knows the townsfolk and can get a good price. This was the part where I turned to Wikipedia because of the interest rate, timeframe, etc. While Eugenie helps her beloved with his future, Felix swindles his brother's son out of his family's fortune.

What happens next is brilliant and full of realistic actions and observations of the characters and their motivations. For Felix, it is gold; for Eugenie, it is love and pride in herself and her actions, and for Mme. Grandet, she has lived in fear all her married life and now it overcomes her.

One passage that forms an essence of the book is below (in its original, to gain the nuances and beauty of the language):

Tout pouvoir humain est un composé de patience et de temps. Les gens puissants veulent et veillent. La vie de l'avare est un constant exercice de la puissance humaine mise au service de la personalité.

Make Me Stay - Annabeth Albert - (Oregon)
Safe Harbor Series Book #2
Narrator: David Lee Garver & Lance West
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Professor Holden Justice is teaching at the local college, doing his podcast, and hanging out with his friends on trivia night, and drinking questionable coffee at his friend Sam’s coffee house, "The Blessed Bean". Their screwy idea that he needed a roommate was crazy.... wasn't it? He might be an extrovert, but he liked being a bit messy with his house and his life. Of course, cooking for more than one person is always much more fun. So, when the prickly diver gets hurt, and his old RV finally breaks down permanently, Holden decides that maybe he does need a roommate after all....as long as it's that sexy diver. Holden comes home at lunch one day and discovers Cal’s favorite distraction technique to help him relax and rest when his PTSD is overwhelming. To say that he's surprised but intrigued, is an understatement. Cal’s obsession with doing all things solo soon becomes very questionable. Holden understands that it's a release technique for him, plus being alone, having major trust issues, along with being demisexual, complicates things a lot more. He’s determined that he is going to break that hard shell and show Cal that he really can be trusted. I had wondered about Holden's friend from the first book and why he was in a wheelchair that was never fully explained. Seems that it's not a new story. Some people, especially when they are young, think they are invincible, unbreakable...but one unwise choice changes their lives forever and this is what happened to this man. I really liked that both Cal and Holden picked up on cues of the man's discomfort about talking about it, as both men had had trauma in their lives...both physical and mental. Holden dealt with it through humor, while Cal developed "stickily thorns" to keep others as far away as possible. Luckly, Cal saw through Holden’s comical side and Holden found a way to break through Cal’s armor. I have read and always loved everything that Annabeth Albert has ever written. The characters in her books usually start out as friends and slowly develop into something more. Nor are they "kids", but seasoned, often life-challenged, men, that need love and trust in their lives. I also like that these characters don't just disappear from previous books but are allowed to wander throughout each story. In this one we get to see that Monroe and Knox from the first book, have settled nicely into their relationship and Knox is not only accepted but a welcomed member of their group. I am both excited and a bit leery of the next book. Excited because we finally get Sam’s story, and Worth is finally coming home. Leery because this is supposed to be the last book in this wonderful series. I know I can trust Annabeth to come up with something just as good so I'm not too worried.

Her Christmas Cowboy – Jessica Clare
3***

A predictable cozy Christmas cowboy romance!

Caleb is painfully shy around women, and not all that open even around his brothers. But the moment he saw new local schoolteacher Amy, he knew she was the woman for him. The problem is he can’t manage much more than a grunt when face-to-face with her, and when he DOES try to speak, he garbles the words and comes out with unintended awkward (or downright rude) comments. But he volunteers to play Santa to Amy’s Mrs Claus for the sake of the town’s children. Maybe once he gets to know her, he’ll find a way to speak to her.

Of course, there’s at least one jerk in the picture, and Amy, recovering from a bad divorce, is vulnerable. But Caleb is just so sweet and considerate and always comes to her rescue. It’s inevitable that they’ll get together, and the sex will be incredible for both of them (despite the fact that he’s a virgin and has no idea at all what he’s doing).

Well, what did you expect? It’s a Christmas Cowboy Romance … capital ‘C’ and capital ‘R’. Fun to read and a great escape.

The Ship Of Brides – Jojo Moyes
Digital audiobook performed by Nicolette McKenzie
3***

In 1946 a group of women embarked on a six-weeks long journey to Great Britain, leaving Sydney harbor aboard the HMS Victorious, a royal navy aircraft carrier. The 650 (or so) women joined the crew of some 1,100 sailors on a journey none of them would forget. The women were all married to British service men whom they’d met when those men were briefly stationed in Australia during WW2. This is fact. Moyes own grandmother was one of those women and her story inspired this novel.

The novel focuses on four women: Jane, a 16-year-old teen without much education and who is ready to party; Avice, a society debutante from a wealthy family; the visibly pregnant Maggie, who’s leaving behind her father and brothers on the farm to join her husband; and Frances, a nurse who keeps mostly to herself, and wants nothing more than a fresh start. Moyes intersperses these women’s personal stories with events aboard ship: beauty contests, educational seminars on how to be a proper British wife, drunken brawls among the sailors, shopping in exotic ports, heart-breaking telegrams, secrets kept and scandals revealed.

Two men feature prominently as well. Captain Highfield whose Naval career is about to end, is tasked with getting his men, his ship and the women passengers safely to Britain. And Marine Nicol who is part of the detail tasked with guarding the women’s quarters and who has his own personal heartache.

Nicolette McKenzie does a fine job of performing the audiobook. She has a lot of characters to contend with and manages to make each sufficiently distinct, so I didn’t get confused about who was speaking.

Back To The Garden - Laurie R. King - (California)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Police Procedural
4.5★
During that summer of 1979, someone placed a dead body in a hole that was about to be filled with concrete, and there it had sat for over 40 years....
Waiting to be uncovered. The Gardener Estate was once one of the residences of California’s rich and famous. Then it was turned into an almost equally famous commune by an heir. Years have passed and it has become a tourist attraction, known for its eclectic history, its beautiful gardens, and its collection of feminist artworks by a once famous artist. One of those artworks, a statue showing the three faces of Eve, has been hiding a grave. As the statue begins to topple, conservators rush to save it and to keep it from falling on any of those tourists whose money keeps the place financially solvent. That’s where Inspector Laing comes in. She’s been working on a cold case that has just become much too hot for the police departments in Northern California. A serial killer that was known to be operating in the 1970s, who was not only never caught but was never even thought to be anything more than an urban legend. They called him "The Highwayman". His real name was Michael Johnson. When cancer caused him to need paid care his terrible secrets were at last uncovered. Now with him dying, Laing needs for him to give her the details about all his victims so that their families can have their closures. The body under the statue might be one of the "Highwayman’s" victims and if it is, it might help close the biggest cold case that Laing has ever worked.... or it might just open an entirely new case. The story is told in two timelines...the 1970s past and the 2020s present. Laing needs to solve this case as her career is hanging by a thread....so she uses her sister, who has her fingers in the "Dark Web", to try to gather information that is not available on police files. What makes this story so compelling are all the unanswered questions from the past. She may not actually know who was buried under the statue, but she does know when it happened because of the date the statue was erected.... the late 70's. A picture begins to emerge of the body's those final days. A picture that brings 1979 back to life in all of its drug-hazed glory...and tragedy. Laurie King does a beautiful job of not only bringing this decade alive but also teasing us that remembers this decade, with remnants of a few memories from our past.

The Burning Girls - C.J. Tudor - (England)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Horror
5★
The fresh start for the Vicar and her daughter, turns out to be anything but. The Vicar, Jack Brooks’ has been asked to leave her Parrish, St. Anne’s, in Nottingham for an assignment in the small, rural, Sussex village of Chapel Croft. Actually, it sounded like it was more of an order than really asking for a favor. She's assured that she will serve as interim vicar only until a suitable replacement for the former vicar can be found. Jack has a 15-year-old daughter, Flo, who is...let's just say she is less than thrilled, and that's putting it mildly, to leave the city. She knows that the move will be good for her mother who could use some distance from a horrific tragedy that recently occurred at St. Anne’s, that Jack feels she was mostly responsible for. Soon after they arrive at Chapel Croft, however, they learn that their new village has more than its share of strangeness...weirdness...and tragedy. The vicar that Jack is replacing allegedly hung himself in the chapel. Then there were the two teen girls, Merry & Joy... (don't you love these cute names?) who disappeared without a trace 30 years ago... and oh yeah...did anyone tell Jack that the village is known for the "Burning Girls", also known as the "Sussex Martyrs", who were burned at the stake in the 16th century? I would certainly want to live there...NOT! Jack soon starts finding strange things...twig dolls on the church grounds...disturbing accounts of exorcisms having been performed in the cellar of her cottage. Flo also experiences the strange weirdness when she begins to catch glimpses of strange figures in the graveyard. She also makes a questionable friend. Lucas Wrigley is a troubled boy with a less than desirable past. Oh, it keeps getting better when bodies keep turning up and dark secrets emerge about a local, very powerful, family. The scares and suspense are steadily cranked up while effortlessly switching between multiple narratives...one that indicates Jack’s past may be about to catch up with her. I rather liked Jack. She's not the angelic Vicar by any means. She curses and smokes, and her faith, which she continues to explore throughout, is...shall we say... complicated. Jack and Flo do share a strong bond, and they are going to need it in order to face what’s coming. The final breathless twist is deliciously creepy and well worth waiting for.

Once Upon a December – Amy E Reichert
Digital audiobook narrated by Sharon Freedman.
3***

This is a delightful holiday rom-com set in a magical Julemarked in Milwaukee (my home town). The Julemarked appears in different cities, within that city’s Christmas Market. Time is different in the Julemarked. The only clock has 25 numbers and chimes only a minute before midnight on Christmas Eve, to let the residents of the magical place know that they are about to shut down for the next year. But it’s not really a year in their land. So, they don’t age as we regular humans do. And the Julemarked doesn’t necessarily come back to the same city every year.

Anyway … Jack Clausen and his family run Kringle All the Way, baking and selling the delicious yuletide pastry. Astra and her girlfriends stumble upon the shop one year and they marvel at the delicious treats. And Jack falls – HARD – for Astra. But she’s of the real world and he can’t have a relationship with her until (and if) she remembers him.

Is there a way for these two to be together? Can either of them leave all their friends and family behind to be with the one they love?

Besides the wonderful fairytale at the heart of this story, I really enjoyed all the references to my city. Reichert is something of a foodie and an unabashed Milwaukee booster, so it’s no surprise that she takes her readers on a little culinary tour of Milwaukee. I was listening to the audiobook while I was in Texas for a family event, and I kept wanting to “run out to XXX to get some YYY” but, of course, I couldn’t because I wasn’t at home. Well, that was better for my waistline, albeit frustrating!

Oh, and for those who search for that kind of thing, there’s a wonderful dog, Bernie, in the story, too.

Sharon Freedman does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. There are a lot of characters, and it can be challenging to keep Astra and her three girlfriends straight when they are together, but Freedman was up for the task.

You Sound Like a White Girl – Julissa Arce
3.5***

Subtitle: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation

Arce came to the United States with her parents when she was only eleven years old. Eager to achieve “the American Dream” (whatever that is), she studied hard, perfected her English, excelled at college and got a prestigious job at Goldman Sachs. All while undocumented. But no matter the outward appearance of success, Arce felt that she was not accepted or welcomed. Her take on this is that the white people in power will never allow brown and black people to actually assimilate in the USA culture.

Arce gives many examples of ways in which white people have harmed indigenous populations, from the Spaniards who conquered and killed off Aztec, Mayan and Incan populations, to the US settlers who stole the land and resources from the various native tribes in what is now the United States.

But the tone of her arguments in the book was so angry and outraged, so self-important and uncompromising that it turned me off.

I am a Mexican-American woman. I was born in the USA, as was my mother, but I barely spoke English when I started school. When I came to college I was often asked “Where are you from?” And yet, I never felt like I did NOT belong. I took the questions of others as natural curiosity, and I answered, “I’m from Texas.” I didn’t turn my back on my cultural heritage, but I fully identified as being “American.” As I read this book, I kept wondering how Arce can bear the weight of all that outrage and anger. It must be exhausting.

She has some valid points to make in this book, but in the end, I think “she doth protest too much.”

It’ll be interesting to see what the others in my Hispanic book club think of this book.

Our House - Louise Candlish - (England)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Psychological Thriller
3★
Fiona. "Fi", discovers strangers moving into her home and her estranged husband and her sons are nowhere to be found. Little does she know that it’s only the beginning of the nightmare that will turn her life upside down. “Fi", loves her house in the posh Alder Rise neighborhood. She loves it almost as much as she loves her idea of her "picture-perfect" family that consists of her husband, Bram, and two adorable sons, Harry and Leo. I had fairly high hopes for this story for both the suspense and the compassion, but the characters of Fi and Bram quickly put those hopes on the back burner. I knew by the second chapter that I was going to hate her and have no respect whatsoever for him. She was stubborn and cluelessness about the state of her marriage to Bram who is a big-time adulterer, among other things...and, later on she insists that she is a victim. She goes on a podcast called "The Victim" and tells the whole world that is listening that she is a "victim". I thought "you sure are. A victim of stupidly maybe. Get a clue lady!" She was a sour protagonist at best. When Fi catches Bram having sex with someone in, of all places, the children’s garden playhouse... (wow! that must have been comfortable), she throws him out but then gets the idea to try a custody arrangement known as a "bird’s nest"...an arrangement where the children stay in the family home and the parents take alternate days or weekends living there or at their newly acquired flat. The setup sounds good on paper, but it doesn’t take into account the depth of Bram’s lies and the yearlong driving ban that he’s managed to somehow hide from Fi, but all that soon becomes the least of his worries. The lengths that he goes to try to save himself is unbelievable, and that he managed to pull most of them off was even more so. The narrative confusingly splits into sections from Fi’s podcast segment, a "Word" document that is allegedly Bram’s suicide note, and the perspectives from both spouses, makes it difficult to keep up with the timeline and to actually care as Bram enters into an unnecessarily complicated blackmail scheme and Fi remains annoyingly oblivious on all fronts even when Bram disappears, and sells the Alder Rise home without her knowledge. Wasn't her name ever on the deed? Didn't people come to look at the house? Another act that I found also unbelievable. Things just didn't "connect" very well...well, actually mostly not at all. The characters were so incredibly unlikeable and so wrapped up in their own problems, which were mostly of their own makings, that “family” "trust" or "loyalty" were merely words that they had absolutely no concept of.

A Silver Fox for Kinkmas - Colette Davison - (England)
Series: Naughty or Nice season 3
Genera: M/M Romance/ Daddy/Boy Age Play
4.5★
I have read all three seasons of this series and have always enjoyed them by these various M/M Romance authors. They all have about the same themes..."Daddy's" or "Boys" summiting letters on the Cuffd Club site hoping to meet their forever Daddy or Boy over the Christmas season. The club calls it "Kinkmas". Barney had used this site in the past but even though he has met and enjoyed time with some really great "Daddy's", he never found one that he wanted to stay with. He makes a trip to Manchester to visit his best friend and his friend's husband when he discovered there was going to be a "Kinky Christmas" event at the club, and he decided it would be fun to attend. There he met "Santa", better known as Magnus, the owner of the club and diffidently a "Daddy" and a "silver fox". Barney was hooked and agreed to spend the week seeing and playing with this silver dream on two legs. Neither of these men expected to so quickly fall in love. There were a couple of things that frustrated me and even though from previous experience with genera, I knew it would eventually work out...but there was over 300 pages to wait for it to happen. One of the biggest frustrations was Barney's unfunded belief that he would have as toxic a relationship with anyone as his parents have. The second thing had nothing to do with the relationship but with Magnus' pet African Grey parrot's portrayal. I spent 28 years of my life in Conservation Education trying to convince people that wild animals were not intended to be or do they overall, make good pets. They are NOT domesticated. Domestication takes hundreds and sometimes thousands of years. Even dogs and cats sometimes turn back to their wild origins and injure and even kill their owners. The parrot was cute and funny, and they are one of best "talkers" in the parrot family...but they don't learn that quickly...or say phrases in just the right places like this one did. Somewhere in the end of the story, it would have been nice if there had been a disclaimer that the behavior and the abilities that this parrot displayed throughout the story was unrealistic, and some were impossible. I wondered how many people read this and went out and tried to purchase an African Grey parrot thinking it was going to be like the one in the story and then being disappointed with the poor bird. Actually, this alone really bothered me more than Barney's insecurity. Otherwise, it was a sweet story with a happy ending for two guys that deserved it.

Naughty in Nice / Rhys Bowen
3.5 stars

In this 5th book in the series, Georgiana’s brother and his wife are heading to the Riviera and want to shut down the castle that Georgie is currently living in (with them). But they can’t afford to bring her along; the queen (remember, Georgie is thirty-something in line to the throne!) helps Georgie out by paying for her way in exchange for Georgie looking for and retrieving an item that the queen is certain was stolen from her… and is now in the Riviera. Things escalate once Georgie is there.

I liked this. It was kind of fun how the author brought Coco Chanel into the story. (Author’s note at the end suggests that Coco would have spent time in the Riviera during this time frame.)

The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England / Ian Mortimer
3.5 stars

This book takes the reader back in time to Elizabethan England, the time during which Elizabeth I reigned, from 1558 to 1603. The author describes society in general so the reader/time traveller knows what to expect/how to behave.

These are interesting, but this one didn’t have the same appeal as the first in the series, Medieval England. Not sure if that was because I’ve read more set during Elizabethan times, so there wasn’t as much new to me (but plenty still was), or if it’s because I was often reading while distracted; I expect it’s more the latter.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold – Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Digital audiobook performed by Arina Ii
4****

A particular coffee shop in a Tokyo back-alley has been serving customers for more than one hundred years. More than the coffee, the shop offers a unique experience – the chance to travel back in time to a particular moment. But there are rules: you can travel only once; nothing you do or say will change what is the present reality; your visit will end as soon as the coffee gets cold. Over a few months four distinct customers elect to make the trip for different reasons.

This was just a delightful surprise. I quickly became invested in each character’s life and his or her reasons for traveling. The vignettes are in turns humorous, tender, insightful, or frustrating. It made me wonder who I’d visit, what ONE person and ONE instant in time would I want to experience again.

I would definitely read more from this author.

Greenwood / Michael Christie
4 stars

In 2038, Jake works on Greenwood Island in British Columbia; it’s one of the only truly livable/habitable places left with its giant trees. A biologist, Jake loves living here, though she’s not as enamoured with the job, touring around “Pilgrims” (tourists). Unfortunately, she’s also discovered a couple of trees that appear to be sick; these trees are hundreds of years old.

Her ex-fiance (a lawyer) shows up and books a private tour with her to tell her she might actually “own” the island, given her family history and the history of the island (that is, it may be part of an inheritance for her). The book continues by backing up in time through a few generations of Greenwoods to when Jake’s grandmother was a baby… and one generation earlier in 1908 when Jake’s great-grandfather was a kid (along with his brother). The brothers were very different: Everett ended up a vagrant and in jail; Harris was hugely wealthy via his lumber business, cutting down all the beautiful trees that Jake loves so much.

The bulk of the story followed Harris and Everett and that’s what I liked the best. Have to admit it took a short bit for me to get interested and to figure out what was happening and who the different characters were as we went back in time. I liked the way this one was done: we actually started in 2038, and gradually made our way to 1908 through the generations, then moved forward again back to 2038.

Christopher & Ethan - M.A. Innes
Beautiful Shame Series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Humiliation Play
4★
I'm not a big fan of humiliation play in a story, but to each his own and M.A. Innes is so good at making it not only interesting but keeping the reader reading on. Ethan and Christopher attend the same university and have one class together that Ethan doesn't always attend. For a class assignment about humiliation, Christopher writes a paper that the professor chooses to read aloud, and you can guess who was in class that day and who the paper is about...you got it...Ethan. Christopher has had a gigantic crush on Ethan for some time and he never thought that Ethan would be in class that day or that his paper would be the one that was chosen to be read. The story could have taken so many different roads that would have changed the characters and the dynamic of their relationship, but M.A. Innes chose to send it to the "fluffy" side rather than the "Master/Slave" side, and that was absolutely perfect. Ethan finally worked out that Christopher wasn’t just shy; he was a kinky little thing who thrived on humiliation of almost any type. Once the door was opened, these two didn’t look back. Be aware that there are a lot of kinky humiliation scenes between these covers...but the two guys are sincerely super sweet

Bleed, Blister, Puke, and Purge / J. M. Younker
3.5 stars

This is a history of medicine in the United States. Of course, before modern medicine, people (doctors included) really didn’t know much about science or how the human body works. Prevailing cures for many things was to “bleed, blister, puke, and purge”. Many of us who read history or historical fiction certainly have read about “bleeding” people to cure various ailments. There was also a section on women in medicine. This was interesting, but also quite short. So for anyone who wants a quick overview of the topic, this is a good place to start. It also has a catchy title.

A Dash of Salt and Pepper - Kosoko Jackson - (Maine)
Genera: M/M Romance/Humor
4.5★
It's been a disastrous two months for Xavier Reynolds. In that short period of time, he is sure that the "Gods of the Universe" must hate him, or he has really done something to tick them off. He has lost his job, lost his fellowship opportunity with the Carey Foundation, and has even lost his boyfriend. He has now moved back into his childhood bedroom, no less, in Harper's Cove, Maine. His parents and his longtime best friend, Mya, are very happy to have him around...almost "too happy"... and for some reason they think that they can meddle in both his professional and his personal life. Xavier has already made a disastrous first impression on Logan O'Hare, an older local restaurant owner who is friends with his parents. Word travels fast, after all it is a small town. The Carey Foundation calls to offer Xavier another spot in their program, and he agrees, knowing that the cost to attend is going to be really steep, so he needs a job, fast. The Wharf, Logan's restaurant, is in desperate need of a sous chef, and Xavier's family legacy in the kitchen seems like a perfect match for a temporary solution. Not at all a smooth start. Can you say, "Immediate attraction"? Sounds good but this situation is like putting a bull up against a brick wall. The two stubborn men dance around their attraction...their banter over delectable New England fare seems to be their idea of foreplay. Xavier's point of view is charming and snappy; but unfortunately, Logan's falls short. With his smarmy attitude and frequent undermining, Logan often treats Xavier more like his preteen child than a grown man with his own wants and needs. Sadly, the romance element of the book feels unnecessary and even, at times, detrimental to Xavier's growth. Logan and Xavier eventually resolve their communication issues, but this is a romance in which the main character deserves so much more. Though the author is right-on with the tone of the story and the humor, the romance parts seemed to get short changed. It was still a delightfully good read and well deserving of the 4.5★ rating.

Ubik
Philip K. Dick
3/5 stars
This is a science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick. It surrounds Glen Runciter, businessman who has people who work for him that are preventing psychic spies accessing data from his clients. However, Runciter is injured, and now time is moving backwards. His groups are trying to reverse his condition and how the product Ubik is involved. Very interesting!

The Only Plane in the Sky: an Oral History of 9/11 / Garrett M. Graff
4.5 stars

This is an oral history of 9/11 by people from all perspectives. These are quotes from people who were “there” in some capacity, whether that be on a plane, in one of the towers, at the Pentagon, on the ground, a first responder, part of the president’s staff, the family of someone who was there, or in some other way involved. The book goes primarily over the day of, but continues to the next day and some of the events (funerals, etc) following.

I listened to the audio, and I feel like this was the way to go with this one (I am giving it 4.25 stars, with an extra ¼ star for the audio).

No surprise: this was pretty powerful. It also included actual speeches by George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as some recordings of air traffic controllers and flight attendants on the planes. I will admit that I did lose interest a bit during some of the political stuff and the air force people tasked with bringing down any possible planes that may be a threat, and this is why I didn’t rate it higher… but it’s still likely to make my favourites this year.

>88 LibraryCin: Great book!

My Effin' Life by Geddy Lee
5***** and ❤️

OK, so, yeah. Geddy Lee. A rock legend and the voice of my breaking out of the norms of high school thru prog rock in the early 80's. Rush's audacity of combining lyrical folk-guitarist openings like "Closer to the Heart" or the messaging of "Trees" with pounding drums and break-out rock rhythms was novel in the world of AM and FM radio play. Or not, in the case of Rush. I mean, to end the problems between the oaks and the maples ("The oaks are just to greedy/And they grab up all the light") with the iconic "The trees are all kept equal/With hatchet, axe, and saw" at a time when the North American landscape was being clear-cut for the "Subdivisions" that are part of the problem? So incredibly foresighted.

Geddy has not had an easy life; he reserves Chapter 3 to describe the horrors of the work camp of Wierzbnik, Poland, during World War II where his parents met and, somehow, fell in love is a brilliant piece of research, and he gives fair warning to the reader that *this* is the chapter they may or may not wish to read. And if so, Geddy will pick back up with them in Chapter 4.

Losing a father (and a faith) at such a young age was also traumatic, and the fact that he had music to turn to is a Gift to the rest of us. He describes his earliest band and the fact that he could "apply studs and shiny sequined bobbles" as a nod to his many talents. The book is chock full of pictures, captions, and anecdotes from these and later years.

What also helped humanize Geddy Lee were his stories of the road. This was not the touring band that had girls on every arm and leg, or chartered flights on private jets; this was the band that packed up their gear and took turns keeping the driver awake to the next gig on the tour van. Or the van that had the flip-down beds that they thought would work better but didn't. Or the marriage dynamics of coming home, not saying anything about what might be wrong for the weeks that one is home, and then finally, by the time the tour is ready to start, having *the* fight on the way out the door. His wife, Nancy, whom he met while still very young, plays a central role in this book throughout the years, and Geddy takes time to describe her burgeoning career in fashion, along with their children who take her time, and how he is not really there during most of their marriage.

Each of their albums is covered at length (thank you Geddy!!), with more detail at the beginning of how the lyrics came to be, to the recording, to the mixing, to the producer and the search for a producer, or mixer, or studio, and all these details give me, as a fan and listener, a greater insight when the album notes say "recorded at . . . " "mixed at . . . " "produced at . . . ". Zowie! What a lot of work went into what I used to listen to on my turntable and wonder how I could ever be good enough. Now I know. And I am good enough.

And the tragedies. Holy moly. Geddy is very honest about these as well and goes into great detail about former bandmates, photographers, publicists, friends, and what their loss has meant to him. Which of course brings up the most well-known loss, that of Neil Peart's family's deaths, Neil's new family, and then Neil's death. It's OK - I skipped to the end to read a bit of that part, too. I'm sure Geddy knew that would happen.

This book was written during lockdown and Geddy is honest about the impact lockdown during Covid had on him and on his mom. And how being at home and retired has led him to a new understanding of life and how it continues despite the odds.

For a fan of Rush or prog rock, or how the trauma of the Holocaust is multi-generational, or a burgeoning musician who dreams about life on the road, or a spouse of a traveling musician, or . . . I could go on. If any of these are your checkboxes, I highly recommend this book. It is a treasure, and I am grateful for it.