WHAT ARE WE READING & REVIEWING IN JANUARY 2024?

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY READING. TELL US WHAT YOU PLAN TO READ.

Carol's Reads For January
⛄ - ★
52/52
⛄All The Sinners Bleed - S.A. Cosby - 5★ (Friend)
⛄The Poet - Michael Connley- 4.5★ (Group Read) - (2)
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⛄Promises - Marie Sexton - 5★
⛄Winter Oranges- Marie Sexton- 5★
⛄Strawberries For Dessert - Marie Sexton - 5★
⛄The Letter Z - Marie Sexton - 4★
⛄Four Letter Word - K.M. Neuhold - 4.5★
⛄Stay, Working Out The Kinks K.M. Neuhold - 4★
⛄When All the World Sleeps - Lisa Henry & J.A. Rock - 5★
⛄Painted Lace - K.M. Neuhold - 5★
⛄Blindside - N.R. Walker - 4★
⛄All Dolled Up - Chara Croft - 3★
⛄Somebody To Love - April Wilson - 3.5★
⛄Signs and Wonders, Witchbane - Morgan Brice - 5★
⛄Randall & Hudson - M.A. Innes - 3★
⛄Somebody to Hold - April Wilson - 3★
⛄A Daddy for Kinkmas - Reese Morrison - 4.5★
⛄A Cutie For Kinkmas - Morticia Knight - 4★
⛄What He Left Behind - L. A. Witt - 4.5★
⛄Not Safe For Work - L. A. Witt - 4.5★
⛄From Out in The Cold - L.A. Witt - 4★
⛄Play It by Ear - K.M. Neuhold 5-★
⛄Strike A Chord - K. M. Neuhold - 4★
⛄Rescue Me - K.M Neuhold - 5★
⛄Broken - Collette Davison - 4★
⛄Forgotten Colette Davison- 4.5★
⛄Forgiven - Colette Davison - 4.5★
⛄Never Have I Evan - D.J. Jamison - 4.5★
⛄Two Truths and A Lyle - D.J. Jamison 4 ★
⛄Seeds and Sunshine - Jodi Payne & B A Tortuga - 4.5★
⛄Make Me Stay - Annabeth Albert- 5★ (29)
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⛄If You Tell - Gregg Olsen - 5★
⛄Dark Divide & Badlands Witch - Carrie Vaughn - 4★
⛄Please Tell Me - Mike Omer- 5★
⛄What Lies in the Woods - Kate Alice Marshall -5★
⛄The Writing Retreat - Julia Bartz -3.5★
⛄Grave's End: A True Ghost Story - Elaine Mercado - 3.5★
⛄Haunted Wisconsin - Michael Norman & Beth Scott -5★
⛄Storm Born - Richelle Mead -2.5★
⛄All The Little Raindrops - Mia Sheridan -3.5★
⛄The Voyage of the Narwhal - Andrea Barrett -4.5★
⛄City Under One Roof - Iris Yamashita -3★
⛄The Echo of Old Books - Barbara Davis -5★
⛄Our House - Louise Candlish - 2.5★
⛄Those People - Louise Candlish -5★
⛄The Hike - Susi Holliday -2★
⛄Small Mercies - Dennis Lehane -5★
⛄Silent Angel - Helen Pifer-5★
⛄Haunted Heartland - Beth & Norman Scott -5★
⛄The Searcher - Tana French -5★
⛄The Haunting of Elmwood Manor - Pamela McCord -4★
⛄The Reformatory -Tananarive Due -5★
⛄All The Forgivnesses - Elizabeth Hardinger -5★ (22)

Please Tell Me - Mike Omer - (Indiana)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
What does anyone do when all the clues to a serial killer and his crimes, are firmly locked inside the brain of a child unable to speak. How do you treat a 9-year-old who escaped from a kidnapper 15- long months after he kidnapped her and has ever since, gone mute? Kathy Stone’s mother is lucky enough to have an old friend, Robin Hart, who’s a child therapist. Robin begins having sessions with Kathy, watching her play with figures in a dollhouse. This affirms what's trapped in Kathy's mind as Robin watches and pays close attention to the scenes that Kathy is creating. There is nothing to do but wait for the child to work through the trauma that’s rendered her completely speechless. As the sessions go on, Kathy’s "games" suggest that her memories are intertwined with the murder of Haley Parks, who was stabbed and hanged in Clark State Forest two weeks earlier. Now Robin faces a dilemma. She wants to share this information with Police Detective. Nathaniel King, of the Indianapolis Police Department, but she can’t and won't, violate her bond of confidentiality with her small patient, even though Kathy’s father, Pete, is eager to have the police question her and get this over with. Kathy doesn’t regain her voice, but as she begins to act out a wider range of extremely violent fantasies and Robin realizes that she’s recreating the scenes of several other murders...including at least one that didn’t take place until after Kathy was rescued. Whatever she witnessed during the 15 months of her captivity is understandable, but how can she possibly predict a crime that hadn’t happened yet? The author shifts gears from one set of riddles and anxieties to the next, keeping the tension high enough to make you read just one more chapter. This is the first book I have reviewed in 2024 and I thank the author, Mike Omer for making it a 5-star read.

A Daddy for Kinkmas - Reece Morrison
Naughty or Nice Series, Season 3
Genera: M/M Romance/Transgender Couple
4.5★
The characters in this story are a trans/masc couple, David and Nafalti. David is an accountant and a "baby" Daddy Dom who is anxious to learn everything about his kink. Naftali is a teacher and a submissive. The two guys meet at a rope workshop that Naftali was helping to run and are attracted to one another right off, but both have insecurities and are afraid that they won't "get it right". Both have recently come out of abusive relationships and are afraid to try another one so soon...especially Nafalti. David had booked a ski vacation before his break-up and still plans to go, and Naftali volunteers to go with him for the week and be his "boy" and hopefully learn more about one another. Along the way they also attended David's parent's anniversary party. I hated David's mother. She acted as if he was still his birth persona calling him Diana instead of David (deadnaming). The rest of the family was wonderful. The way these two supported each other was part of what made this story extra warm and special. Each of them had their own difficulty navigating the world, but neither of them ever got exasperated with the other. They were always asking “how can I support you right now?” The author made notes about the things that they were writing about which helped to explain what both characters had had in their individuals lives and what they were going through. That was helpful to understand them and others like them as individuals and their sexuality. You can't help but be glad that you got to know Davd and Nafalti, and it won't take long to become deeply attached to these sweet guys. I have a good friend who is trans, and I really appreciated that Reece Morrison didn't present these characters being trans as something that they owned others any explanation or apologies for, but something that made them happy and complete in themselves.

The Last Ride of the Pony Express – Will Grant
4****

Subtitle: My 2,000-mile Horseback Journey into the Old West

Journalist (and cowboy) Will Grant states that he is a product of the USA West. Raised on a ranch just south of Denver, Colorado, he began riding horses when just a toddler. On a horse is where he wanted to be … always. But he also went to journalism school and began writing articles related to horses for various magazines. One fateful December, a magazine editor asked him what he knew about the Pony Express. “Fast horses and young men, I told him. He encouraged me to look further. So I did.”

I think most of us (or at least most residents of the USA) have heard of the Pony Express – a fast-paced horseback ride to carry the mail in the era before railroads had been completed linking the East and the West coasts. Grant decided to ride the same trail from St Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California (or as close an approximation of it as he could do in modern day) to better understand the challenges and joys encountered by the pony express riders.

While those Western heroes of the 19th century made the nearly 2,000-mile journey in an extremely fast-paced ten days (!), Grant wasn’t trying to set any speed records. He took his two horses, Badger and Chicken Fry, on a walk; they took 142 days to cover the trail. He fills this memoir with his thoughts on the current-day West, sketches of the many people he met along the way, encounters with wildlife, distressing signs of human littering, expansive vistas, the extremes of weather, and much history of the 1860s American West.

I was completely fascinated by his account. And I learned a few things about the history … and myth … of the Pony Express.

The book includes some wonderful photographs of Grant and his horses on the journey.

A Cutie for Kinkmas - Morticia Knight - (Maine, Massachusetts)
Naughty or Nice series Season 3
Genera: M/M Romance/Age Play (Daddy, Little)
4.5★
Ethan is a "tired of it all" movie star and Lyon is rugged Maine lobsterman who has put in too many hours on his boat and alone. Both guys are attending the Cuffd Kinkmas event and looking for someone special to share their life with. Ethan needs a "boy" to care for and call his own...Ethan needs a "Daddy" to take care of him and make him feel loved. They run into one another...almost literally...at Club Sensation where the Cuffd event is being held. It's a short book...barely 100 pages...but contains enough love and tenderness to fill a few hundred Dictionaries. Mortica Knight has never written anything that I haven't read and reread and this one isn't going to be an exception to the rule by any means. It's a sweet story about two sweet guys looking for each other. It even has a cute cat:)

Somebody to Love - April Wilson - (Illinois)
Genera: M/M Romance/Mystery & Suspense
3.5★
I'm a bit on the fence about this one. I didn't particularly like one of the main characters, Police Detective, Tyler Jamison. Why in the world would he believe that he was, (his words), "defective", because women just didn't "do it for him"? When he found that Ian Alexander more than just "did it for him" I would have thought that a 30-something year old man would begin to get some idea, unless he had lived in a vacuum his entire life.... or maybe it was that "closet" that must be getting pretty full by now. He was not only clueless, but he spent a great deal of the story hating himself. I know that he and Ian Alexander were universes' apart in every way imaginable...but surely, he could have at least discussed this with the man that he thinks of as the love of his life and that he obviously wants more than he wants air. All this comes about on top of a really good mystery...the murders of three gay men and Ian is in the killer's sights to be number 4. I thought Ian moved on Tyler a bit too fast. At one point I thought that Tyler was going to have a heart attack...but all he did was run and hide. Wild horses have nothing on that man! Tyler has so many conflicts and undissolved issues that I don't think Dr. Phil would know where to start to help him. Then...WOW! Our Tyler is a fast learner! I can't say that I didn't like the story...I just wish Tyler had got his act together sooner. I have the next book in the series and hopefully Tyler is less conflicted by now. After all, he has by now had some practice. I have to give Ian extra points for being the most patient man I have ever seen.

What Lies in The Woods - Kate Alice Marshall - (Washington)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
5★
Small town secrets are sometimes, no matter how bad they are, are sometimes kept for centuries and passed down from one family member to another. When finally revealed...they can tell a tale that might have been better if kept buried. This is such a story. When she was 11 years old, Naomi Shaw was left for dead in the woods outside her tiny Pacific Northwest hometown of Chester, Washington. She had been stabbed 17 times by her would-be killer. With her friends Olivia and Cassidy, who were also in the woods at the time, she provided the damning evidence that put a dangerous serial killer behind bars. It We move ahead 22 years and find that that man has died in prison. This resurrects all those unwanted memories of the girls who are now adults. Liv, in particular is completely overwrought, insisting she knows more that she wanted to share then or now. At the same time, Ethan Schreiber comes on the scene...he's a true crime podcaster and both eager and persistent. He starts asking a lot of questions and gets some odd answers when Naomi starts engaging with him on several ill-advised levels...setting the scene for an explosive outcome. Decades of secrets begin to roll out. Kate Alice Marshall does a wonderful job of maintaining a palpable current of tension throughout the entire book. Her depictions of the intricately tangled relationships inherent in small-town life are right on the money. The story is elevated beyond some of the many other stories of this genera with bold, terrifying but terrific writing. The author's description of the grieving mother sitting in her child's room after it's been searched by the police, was nothing short of powerful. Boldly drawn and likeable characters bring this terrifying tale to an all too vividly imaginable life of its own. I will be looking for more by this author in the future.

Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
Book on CD narrated by Simon Vance
3.5***

Decades ago, I read a children’s classic abridged version; I’ve also seen at least one of the film adaptations, and read multiple books that reference Miss Havisham and her wedding attire. (My favorite references being in Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series; the scene where Miss Havisham reads Heathcliff the riot act – book 3 in the series - is priceless!) And a couple of years ago I read Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs which was inspired by Dickens’s classic. So, I figured it was time to get to the original.

It’s typical Dickens in that there are many characters and many hidden relationships between them, which will eventually be revealed and explain the seemingly “random” encounters.

I enjoyed watching Pip mature from a child to a young man finding his way to some measure of success. I absolutely loved Joe Gargery, Pip’s brother-in-law and an all-around good guy. He was so steady and caring, the epitome of a good father, IMHO. Magwich was a very interesting character, starting out as a dangerous criminal and later showing more humanity and caring.

On the other hand, I thought Dickens gave too little attention to the women. Miss Havisham and Estella would be ideal main characters but were relegated to supporting roles. I haven’t researched this, but I hope that some talented author has taken up the task of fleshing out their story.

The edition I read included a bonus epilogue, indicating the first ending Dickens wrote (originally published in weekly installments). I’m glad he revised it, for I prefer the ending as it was later written.

Simon Vance does a marvelous job of performing the audio book. He has a wide range of characters to deal with and his skill as a voice artist was up to the task . (Though I did read the text for about a third of it.)

Rescue Me - K.M. Neuhold
Heathen Ink Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Possible Triggers: PTSD, Extreme Emotional Trauma
Madden and Thane are products of two very different walks of lives. A brief meeting at a local club throws them together as they come to terms and try to recover from being caught up in a shooting that takes place only minutes after they get together. Thane rescues injured Madden...stays with him until the paramedics arrive, and even through the early days of his surgery...taking him to his home and caring for him afterwards...we knew that their lives would be forever changed. Thane is a firefighter who was previously a Marine so saving people was second nature to him. He lived through "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and he still lives a fairly closeted lifestyle, but that choice is mostly because he has never found a man he wants to settle down with. He’s quite pragmatic about who he is and how he lives his life and when he is very publicly outed after saving Madden’s life, he simply rolls with it and easily deals with the one odd jerk at his fire station. Madden's life was as different from Thane's as night and day. His parents shouldn't have been allowed to ever have pets, much less children...gay or straight. They unceremoniously closed him out of their lives when they found out he wasn't ever going to be bringing home anyone that was female, in his entire lifetime. That was after their attempt to “straighten him out” that left long lasting marks on him mentally. Marks that he carries with him and that does nothing for his recovery when the shooting causes his PTSD and anxiety problems to return in spades. He's a tattoo artist at Heathen Ink...a job that literally saved his life.... but nerve damage may take that talent and job away from him. What an interesting and supportive group of friends he has there. They are truly THERE for him in every way imaginable, as is Thane. It is so easy to see how Thane will be perfect for Madden's life. I have some mixed feelings about the last part of the book. I completely understood why Madden felt the way he did, but to take the steps that he did to go about "fixing" himself, and the way that he did it, seemed so callous and really unnecessary. It was so unfair to Thane. Madden could have easily ended up losing him. Overall...it's a good story, with easy to like characters...especially Thane's parents...by an author that I really, really like.

The Case of the Missing Servant – Tarquin Hall
Digital audiobook performed by Sam Dastor
3.5***

From the book jacket: Meet Vish Puri, India’s most private investigator. Portly, persistent, and unmistakably Punjabi, he cuts a determined swath through modern India’s swindlers, cheats, and murderers. In hot and usty Delhi, Puri’s main work comes from screening prospective marriage partners, a job once the preserve of aunties and family priests. But when an honest public litigator is accused of murdering his maidservant, it takes all of Puri’s resources to investigate.

My reactions:
This debut novel was just delightful! Puri is a marvelous character, and I want to follow the series just to get to know him better. But the supporting cast is also wonderful. From “Mummy-ji” (his mother, who insists on playing sleuth when “everyone” knows mummies are not detectives), to his undercover operatives: Tubelight, Flush, and Facecream.

While the main storyline focuses on the missing Mary, there are other issues Puri and his team must deal with – WHO is taking potshots at Puri and his chili plants? As the team travels from the swanky Gymkhana Club to the slums of Dehli, and from a desert oasis to a distant mine, the reader gets a view of modern-day India that is colorfully vivid.

I’ll definitely read more from this author.

Sam Dastor does a very good job of narrating the audiobook. I love the accents he used for Puri, Mummy-ji and the other characters.

Somebody To Hold - April Wilson - (Illinois)
Tyler Jamison series Book #2
Narrators: Jack Dupont, J. F. Harding
Genera: M/M Romance/Police procedural
3★
I really loved the characters of Ian and Tyler and was happy to see things starting to work out for them. Tyler was a lot more comfortable with his sexuality and the life he's trying to make with Ian than he was in the first book. This story takes up almost exactly where the last story left off, so the two books diffidently should be read in order. The first book ended with Tyler coming to Ian’s defense and beating Brad to a pulp because he had chocked Ian nearly unconscious in the bathroom of the club they were at. Even though Tyler was off duty, we knew that there had to be some kind of repercussions for his actions here. Even the police can't get away with this type of behavior. I found the way Tyler handled the entire thing to have been not very smartly conceived. Brad had made a lot of threats and harassments to Ian...mostly pressuring him to have sex and threatening him if he refused. In this day and age everyone from a 5-year kid to a 90- year of grandparent has a cell phone...yet not one recording was ever made of Brad's verbal threats to Ian...not one video or photograph was ever taken of Ian's bruises...not one written, threating note was ever saved. I can't believe that at least 50 or more people wouldn't have been taking video and pictures of what was happening in that bathroom and posting them on Facebook. No one even bothered to call the police, so we are to believe that not one report of the assaults and threats ever made the police records.... not even by Tyler who WAS THE POLICE. I completely believe that no one, no matter who they are, is above the law. It was okay that Tyler was punished...but this happened without anyone offering one iota of evidence or testimony to defend him??? No way Jose! Tyler should have at least filed a report...but no. Ian's father is a judge, and his mother is a defense attorney...but neither of them did one single solitary thing to defend their son either. In spite of liking the narrators and the characters of Tyler and Ian, I have been married to a cop for too many years to be able to buy into most of this. I have to give Ian a boatload of credit for refusing Brad's demands even knowing that he is threating to file charges against Tyler. Let's not forget Ian's father. Ian is 25 or so years old...madly in love with Tyler, knowing that when Brad finally carries out his threat that Tyler is likely to serve some jail time and probably lose his job...and so "dear old dad" convinces Tyler that Ian simply "can't be allowed" to testify if there is a trial.... instead, Tyler is supposed to plead guilty. Really??? In spite of loving Ian and Tyler and the really good parts of this story...the unbelievably frustrating parts, and there were many...outweighed them. I'll give the story 3 stars for those parts that I liked, and for Tyler and Ian...but his whole story has to be taken with a grain of salt.

Broken - Colette Davidson - (England)
Heaven and Hell Club Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance
4★
This was a sweet story about two guys who in the end are exactly what each other needs. Michael is the Heaven and Hell club owner who has had a difficult time finding a new relationship since he lost, Edward, the love his life. He's somewhat careful with his feelings because of that, but he is definitely interested in the new pole dancer, Jag. Jag is a young man (25) who has been on the run from his family for 10 -years. His parents were not supportive or understanding at all about his sexuality and forced into conversion therapy. They're rich and have endless resources to back this venture. Why they continue this after Jag is an adult is unclear, but it plays a major role in how Jag lives his life. He has been going from job to job and only staying long enough to make enough money and move on hoping to stay ahead of anyone his parents have hired to find him.... but this stop is different. He is definitely interested in Michael, but there is his plethora of "rules" that he lives by faithfully and have saved him several times. Michael is happy to go along with whatever limitations Jag puts on their budding relationship even though he is not normally a “no strings” type of guy. Of course, feelings grow and convincing must be done to get Jag to see they could actually have something more. Michael was exactly what Jag needed in that he never pressured him until it was safe to do so, and he always made it clear the ball was always, in Jag’s court. Likewise, Jag ended up being that bit of sunshine that Michael needed to jump start his feelings all over again. We learn enough details about Jag’s past to understand why this is the way his journey started out, but his own rules that he follows has gotten him stuck in a rut. Michael helps him see that as an adult the laws have changed and now gives his parents much less, if any, control over him, and he no longer needs his rules or needs to ever leave again. Mac, Michael’s best friend and employee, was a great side character, and I’ll read more about him and his partner in the next book. While I wasn’t completely wowed by this story, it was still an enjoyable and easy read.

All The Sinners Bleed - S.A. Cosby - (Virginia)
Genera: Mystery/Suspense/Southern Noir
5★
Possible Triggers Child Murder, Racial Violence
It involves a "cat-and-mouse" game played out between a twisted white religious killer and the first black sheriff in this small Virginia community. Welcome to Charon County, Virginia... a small peninsula on the Chesapeake Bay with a cursed name and a blood-soaked history, where... (from the book) ... “equality’s surest foothold was found on the autopsy table.” . The place is no stranger to tragedy, and the latest one is something that is becoming all too familiar to us in America...a school shooting. It's awful enough by itself, but it's only the beginning of the new "hell" that's coming to descending on Charon. Both the shooter and the victim are connected to a string of unimaginable abuses that target black children. Also, there is a mysterious killer still at large, his gruesome crimes steeped in "Scripture and religious iconography". Titus Crown, the recently elected Sheriff, is organized, decisive, but a bit conflicted between justice and vengeance...but this is his case, and he will use his FBI training to create a profile of a murdering madman. As in any good story of this caliber, everyone is the enemy, and everyone is a suspect. Titus has his hands full. He's being hounded by bigots of all types: biased and prodigious police officers, both extreme, and casually racist locals, and bigoted white supremacists. Basically, Titus is the only three-dimensional character in the story as well as the only really likeable one. The story moves along rather quickly with each new clue and obstacle with graphic scenes and dozens of characters that are fitted into the mix beautifully by this author. I will warn that if religious bias is a big "NO NO" for you, you might want to skip this one because, what I would call "Institutional Christianity" takes a huge "kick in the teeth". Titus’ platitudes about how "broken" the world is.... although I have to say he's mostly right...might become tiring and frustrating, but nevertheless, you will likely cheer at his brutal come backs against those who push him past the point of patience. (From the book) ...“Evil is rarely complicated,” Titus explains. “It’s just f....Ing bold.” I read both of S.A. Cosby’s previous works, Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears, and would recommend them along with this one...but be prepared for not only brutality but honesty on a lot of controversial subjects.

Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir
Book on CD performed by Ray Porter
5***** and a ❤

Earth is threatened with an extinction-level event. Ryland Grace is one of three astronauts selected to go on a mission to solve the problem and save earth. But when Grace awakens from the medically induced coma he and his crewmates have been put into to begin the trip, he discovers that he is alone. He also has amnesia and it takes him a while to figure out where he is and why he is there. Now it’s up to Grace, alone, to save Earth. Or is it?

Damn, but Weir can write a compelling story! I absolutely loved this. Yes, there is a lot of science and math, and my 60+-year-old memory of some of these subjects was sorely tested. But I didn’t care. I loved this book. And I absolutely loved Rocky! What a marvelous character! And I thought the ending was just perfect.

The book jacket promises “an irresistible interstellar adventure” and that is exactly what Weir delivers.

Ray Porter does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. But he gets significant help from the producer who added marvelous sound effects (something that usually irritates me, but which were absolutely necessary for this book).

Haunted Wisconsin - Michael Norman -(Wisconsin)
Genera: Paranormal/Hauntings
5★
From the book:“The line between reality and legend in these stories is imprecise at times. Some are clearly rooted in the folklore or storytelling tradition of a particular locale.” What I admired most about this author was this declaration that he wasn't pushing the reality of ghosts or hauntings down the readers throat...but offering us his experiences as well as the experiences of ordinary folks like you and I and just letting us believe or disbelieve. Most everyone, at some time in their lives...has enjoyed a good ghost story. Memories of a childhood Halloween or sitting around a campfire on a dark night trying to scare one another to death...most of us first began our journey into ghosts and hauntings accompanied by plenty of goosebumps and chills. Mine and my cousin's childhood ghostly experience was at the knees of my Irish grandmother who eagerly told us stories of her beloved Ireland's haunted past and present. She believed ever word and had a willing, eager audience. Michael Norman reminded me so much of that dear lady. He has obviously done a great deal of investigation and we visit not only Wisconsin, but he southern Ohio where there is a locally known folktale of a ghostly wolf that has been heard for well over a century. He and his mates are hunted until one by one they make their way to the “dying place of the wolves.” From the book: “Some of these ‘true’ ghost stories have been told and retold so many times...each recitation adding its own twists and turns, that it’s hard to know for certain where, when or how each one originated. But they all have one element in common: they are said to have originated with an actual event, as far as I can tell.” Other stories in the book fall more within the controversial realm of parapsychology as they deal with people who claim to have had perplexing encounters with something they consider of supernatural origin. An example that Norman points out. From the book: “His sister was one of the sources. She heard his voice and felt his presence in their family home many years after his death. She had very specific, very credible encounters with her deceased older brother. I believe she believed in what happened to her.” It doesn't matter if you are a sceptic or a believer...these stories are full of paranormal, creepy fun.... but you may want to leave a light or two on.

Promises - Marie Sexton - (Colorado)
Coda Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Police
5★
This is a great start to what I'm sure is a wonderful series. I fully intend to find out. In this story two main characters had lots of ups and downs. Some hard times and some that gave you big smiles and some laughs. The characters are wonderful...well, with the exception of one.... but I guess you need at least one bad guy. I found that it was a book that I just didn't want to put down. Jared is a confident, cute and lovable character. His heart is firmly planted in his home=town of Coda, Colorado with his wonderful family, his favorite football team, and now, with Matt, a very sexy cop that is new to the force.... but firmly locked in the ever-present closet. It seems that some of the folks in small town Coda have no room in their hearts or their lives for gay people like him.... though he has lived there his entire life. It’s not all bad, however. There are still quite a few that avoid Jared like the plague...but he has some good friends and a wonderful family. He's so tired of small-minded people that seem to just seem to hate gays for the sheer fun of it. So, yes...he’s lonely but Matt seems to want to be his friend...watch football with him, go mountain bike riding...and Jared realizes that even though Matt doesn't have the nerve to admit it yet...he wants a whole lot more. Matt's getting grief from some of the other cops on the force for hanging out with Jared, so he tries to date a woman.... but he’s miserable. The more he gets to know Jared, the more he wants to really BE with him. Sometimes life just gets to be too much when too many things are pressing down on you...and Matt begins to feel like a ticking time bomb. It becomes a tossup if they can make things happen or if they will stay away forever. Matt's father.... oh, what a "Grinch" he was. He was completely over-the-top, in-your -face...HORRIBLE. Nothing likable or redeemable here folks. It was good seeing Matt finally stand up to him. Matt is so confused for much of this story. He’s been brow-beaten into thinking love is wrong between two men, mostly by "Dear Old Dad". His family, his job....it seems to him that everyone wants something from him except no one bothers to ask what HE wants, except Jared. He wants Matt to be happy...and he wants Matt to love him as much as he loves Matt....even if they can only be as just friends. As I have learned with most M/M Romances, if you just keep turning pages things usually work out. The story is very well written. I really liked this book and couldn't help but give it 5 -stars for the simple, pure enjoyment of it.

If You Tell - Gregg Olsen - (Washington)
Genera: True Crime/Murder
5★
Possible Triggers: Please be aware that is a true crime novel with some murders beyond gory,
I didn't realize it at the time that I picked up this book that it was a true story.... I should have since I have read Gregg Olsen's books before. Noone wants or should ever, in a million years... have a family like this one. In a nutshell it's the story of three abused sisters who helped to put their mother in prison. Nobody in this little Washington town seemed to even notice when a live-in babysitter vanished from the home of Dave and Shelly Knotek in the tiny town of Raymond, Washington, in 1994. Then two more of the family’s boarders disappeared, and Shelly’s three daughters suspected the frightening, unimaginable truth...the missing people had been murdered and they knew exactly who was responsible. Gregg Olsen writes the most amazing true-crime books, and this one is right up there at the top of the list. The half-sisters' fears proved justified after the older two went to the police. Shelly and Dave were arrested in 2003 and sent to prison for their roles in the deaths of the babysitter, Kathy Loreno and two others. It’s a really grim tale, told in short chapters, that highlights the sisters’ amazing courage, strength, and love for one another. For years, their mother, Shelly had inflicted abuses that bordered on. and then escalated into the realm of the sadistic on her boarders as well as her three daughters. Dave either helped or simply stood passively by. Loreno was drugged, beaten, starved, and subjected to a crude form of waterboarding using a torture devise composed from household items... and their other victims endured similar fates. Gregg Olsen had first-hand access to the three sisters, Dave Knotek, and a grandmother. Yet even his repetitive prose robs the victims’ stories of the emotional impact that they so deserved. On reflection I had to think that there was no way that anyone's mere words could possibly tell or make "normal" people understand what the victims had suffered through. Meeting the three sisters even through the written word gave us insight to their amazing resilience. Nikki is the strong-willed oldest; Sami, the middle child is the accommodating one; and Tori, the youngest was simply lost not understanding anything until she understood everything....and it nearly destroyed her. As for their mother, Shelly...she was every monster you can possibly think of, personified. There are almost no words that a normal person can think of that adequately describes her. In spite of all the gory details we are given...I still have to wonder how in the name of everything holy...in a town as small as Raymond where everyone tends to know everyone else’s business, did these horrific crimes go undetected for so long?

The Traitor's Wife / Susan Higginbotham
4.25 stars

This is fiction during the times of Edward II and Edward III. It is told from the point of view of Eleanor, the wife of Hugh le Despenser, who was a favourite of Edward II for a while. Eleanor was only 13 when she married Hugh, but she seemed to be completely in love with him. However, he was often away, and apparently committed piracy (among other bad things). Still, he loved Eleanor and their children. He also may have “loved” the king. Later in the book, once Edward II is gone (he was likely murdered), and a teenage Edward III is ruling, it is really his mother and Roger Mortimer (her new lover) who rule through him. But they were ruthless, and when Edward was older, he was not going to go along with this.

This was really good. I think I’ve only read one other book (nonfiction) about this time period and these kings. (The focus of that book was on Mortimer.) It took a bit to get “into” this one since I was unfamiliar with the time period and the people, so I spent a bit of time at the start figuring out who everyone was. Also, there are so many people with the same name! The author tried to distinguish most of the time, but it was still sometimes a bit confusing. But still very good, I thought.

Forgotten - Colette Davidson- (England)
Heaven and Hell series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
I really liked the main characters of Kyrone and Jared. Kyrone is a dancer at the Heaven and Hell club, but this is mostly Jared’s story. It's the story of a young man who suffered a traumatic brain injury, spent months in a coma, and while he did survive, he has complete amnesia. His family has become complete strangers to him, no memory of any of them whatsoever. Jared relocates to Leeds in his need to get away from their hopes that he’ll remember, but also to follow the one hopeful clue to his past since he had found, a note in his handwriting, that simply read, "J./Leeds". In Leeds he gets a job as an apprentice at a tattoo parlor and meets the intriguing, if somewhat flamboyant dancer... Kyrone. Several of the men from book#1 filter throughout this story giving the two guys encouragement and friendship. I couldn't imagine how Jared ever managed to live his life with no memory after waking up from his long coma. Kyone is a bit of a surprise, but in a really good way. The author presents him just as he is and lets the reader make their own assumptions. He was so good for, and so supportive of Jared making him more than okay in my book. I had to admire how Jared handled how changed his life had become since the accident. His constant migraine headaches that plagued him almost daily. I can't imagine losing the memories of 21 years of my life...but he had Kyrone to look out for him and to love him unconditionally, never knowing what the next day might bring. This is the 2nd book in the series and on some level, I felt it was a bit better than the first book, Broken, and it received a slightly higher rating from me. The main conflict of the story is better explained and so different than anything I have ever encountered in any genera...not that Broken, the first book, isn't well worth the reading time. I seem to just have a penchant for strays, underdogs:)

This was a December read that got lost and not reviewed. Better late than never:)

Painted Lace - K.M. Neuhold - (Illinois)
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
This is a story of complete opposites who attract each other at their first meeting, although deep down they are just two alike people looking for that special someone who will accept them for who they authentically are, and not wanting them to ever change, for any reason. Austin likes and needs order. He constantly plans ahead and never does anything without a complete purpose. His ex-boyfriends often called him “boring”. In college he had told Austin that nothing more could come out of their relationship, and they had been together for three years! Then there is Keaton who can best be called a "free spirit'. He's an artist that believes that life should be lived the way YOU want to live it, not how someone else thinks it should be. He doesn’t want to be tied down with a 9 to 5 job. He just adds several jobs part-time jobs when he needs the money for food and rent. He has had a strange assortment of jobs... bartender, date-for-hire, nude model, and artist. He's good painting and he paints what he feels. When he needs company, he hooks up with someone. He is immanent that he DOSEN'T DO RELATIONSHIPS'.... but then there are expectations.... and he believes that he is bad with those expectations. Now, how can these two totally opposite personalities have such great chemistry? They simply have to leave their hang-ups at the door, and then they just mesh perfectly. They more than complement each other. They may look like total opposites outside but when it comes to what really matters, they are perfect for each other. I love this author and now own more of her books than any other author's. She creates characters who can be boring, organized, messy and chaotic, but who are always truly unique and so endearing that you can’t help but fall in love with them. This story has all these qualities in spades.

Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them / Jennifer Wright
4 stars

This book looks at various “plagues” (or diseases) over the years and how they were overcome. There are chapters on smallpox, the Spanish flu, polio, leprosy, syphilis, typhoid, and more. Not only does she talk about the diseases and how they affected people, but she included specific people stories for some of them, as well (“Typhoid Mary”, Father Damien at Moloka’i...)

This was published pre-COVID. I listened to the audio and although my mind did wander at times, I thought it was very good. She does pepper the book with humour. It was interesting to read about vaccines, etc, especially with COVID fresh in my mind. She does end on a positive/hopeful note, but it does make me curious about how she feels about how people have reacted to the COVID vaccine, particularly anti-vaxxers (she does talk a bit about vaccines and anti-vaxxers in her chapter on polio).

Forgiven - Colette Davidson - (England)
Heaven and Hell Series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
I had a great deal of admiration for Callum. He had a horrible family, except for his Uncle Ezra who he came to Leeds to live with. His homophobic father was in prison for the murder of a man just because he didn't approve of the man's sexual choices. The continuous support and actions boarding on glowing admiration for his father was more than he could stand. A fresh start was what he needed, away from what was left of his toxic family....and he found it in Leeds. He lands a job as a barman in "Heaven and Hell", a gay pole-dance club in Leeds. He couldn't believe it when one of the dancers, Dylan, playfully begins to flirt with him. Dylan is lonely and he hides that loneliness behind his numerous tattoos, piercings and one-time hookups. He was desperate for love that he thought he would never find or want. Dylan's childhood consisted of being shoved around from foster family to another. Then, to his surprise, he falls for the club's confused barman, and he fears he has now made himself even more vulnerable. Callum is slowly learning more about himself and none of it is anything that his sister or mother will approve of or care about anyway. I had trouble understanding why he would subject himself to even caring what they thought. This story was all about love and acceptance and how it can be found in the most unexpected places. Dylan made you just wanted to hug him. He was so calm, accepting and patient with Callum....even when Callum didn't realize that that was what he needed or wanted. There was nothing likable, much less, lovable, about Callum's family, so I was happy that the author didn't waste much valuable space and ink on them. This author has always been able to describe the thoughts and emotions of her characters in a way that makes them almost real.

Royal Flush – Rhys Bowen
3***

Book number three in Bowen’s “Royal Spyness” series of cozy mysteries, starring Lady Georgiana Rannoch, thirty-fourth in line to the throne.

Georgie is having a tough time in London. She is really strapped for cash and her latest effort at business has captured the attention of the authorities. However, they will keep quiet if she will do a little spying for them. It seems there is a threat against the royal family, and they suspect it is an insider. Lady Georgiana is the perfect person to observe and report what she finds. So off she goes to her ancestral home, which is just next door to Balmoral.

I like this cozy series. Georgie and her best friend Belinda are quite the pair. And the handsome, if enigmatic, Mark Darcy certainly seems interested. Georgie’s Bohemian mother figures prominently in this story line, as does her maternal grandfather, a retired policeman with good instincts and some connections.

I like the historical background that Bowen weaves into her plots as well. Historical notes at the end of the novel give insight into what was actually happening during the time frame of the story, as well as clarifying the author’s inventions for the plot’s sake.

The Echo of Old Books - Barbara Davis - (New Hampshire)
Genera: Mystery/Romance/Historical Fiction
5★
I was intrigued by the title and completely drawn in by the cover...not a great reason to read a book I know...but whatever it was that placed this little treasure in my hands will forever have my sincere gratitude. Now I have a book hangover, and my husband just waved to me as he went off to bed....and I vowed to read "just one more chapter". We all know how well that works for us! I stayed up most of the night and a great deal of the morning to finish it. I can honestly tell you that The Echo of Old Books is a love story. Not a romance.... a genuine love story....and a mystery that spans decades. It will tie your heart in knots and wring emotions from you that you didn't even know you had. Be prepared to raise to the heights of joy and to plunge to the depths of despair. It is emotional, quietly exciting and leaves the reader absolutely satisfied. The story is told over two historical timelines, aided by alternating chapters of two books: "Regretting Belle" written by Hemi, and "Forever and Other Lies" written in reply to Hemi's book by Belle. I just couldn't stop reading. I wiped away tears...I smiled...I was frustrated, angry...but ultimately, satisfied. This was my first book by Barbara Davis book, but it won't be my last.

Randall & Hudson - M.A. Innes
Beautiful Shame series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance/ Consensual Humiliation /BDSM D/s
3★
I know there are probably folks out there that are into Randall's kink, but I have to admit that its appeal goes completely over my head. Most people go out of their way to avoid humiliation...but evidently not Randall. He thrives on being watched and what would be considered by most as horrible "other things"... really turns him on. As you can imagine the "nice" guys always avoid him.... but he says he isn't looking for love. To look at him he appears to be "vanilla" but what he wants is so entirely... something else. Hudson is "eyes straight ahead on the road" focused on his family's business and keeping everything, including himself...under control. Oh my... then he meets that thing called "Fickle Fate" which has an entirely different plan for him, and he soon finds that he is an innocent submissive... and, an oh s-o-o-o naughty, little thing. Randall and Hudson are so far at opposite ends of the same coin that it's amazing that they somehow proved to be perfect for each other...now he just needs to convince Randall that what he wants isn't dirty or shameful. I wondered "how are you going to possibly do that? Good luck guy! You're going to need it" Should have known that I would be wrong. Turns out that these two, who were both strong in their own way, do actually figured a way to the make a strong...if still unusual, relationship... actually work.... very well. I think the thing that helped the most was that they always had clear communication and a total complete emphasis on absolute consent. It's an easy read but I still don't completely understand it.... but it was...interesting.

Blindside - N. R. Walker - (Australia)
Narrator: Michael Pauley
Blind Faith Series #3 (Mark's Story)
4★
At first you might mistake Mark Gattison as an arrogant, self-absorbed, overgrown tease...but you would be mistaken, and you would have trouble appreciating how totally awesome he actually is. Mark can actually be described as a "gem in the rough". He’s loyal and kind and funny. He brings levity to even the most intense situations... and he can make anyone and everyone, laugh. Knowing Mark in this way makes this Mark...the Mark in this story, charming and hysterical. Mark, a self-proclaimed "commitmentphobe", was so deserving of someone to love him and in turn, of someone to love. Now we meet Will… a coworker, Mark's best friend, and his "partner in crime". The story was totally captivating by the chemistry between Mark & Will. Their ease with each other, their complete knowledge and understanding of one another, their light banter, and their absolute total commitment. Will, as Mark's sidekick-turned-"object-of-affection", was sweet and steady, even a tiny bit on the boring side...but the two guys balanced each other out perfectly. Though the story didn’t come without some trials, (remember this is Mark and he doesn’t do relationships!), watching him trying to figure it out was…well... painful and sweet at the same time. Poor clueless Mark…got pummeled over the head by love! The cast of characters is rounded out by Carter & Isaac (from the first 2 books) as well as Mark’s looney-but-lovely mother, who you can't help but love! Overall, the story was funny, sweet and fairly light on the "smut" scale, and Michael Pauley did a fantastic job on the narration. I would never ever have expected anything less from N.R. Walker.

Learning to Live Out Loud
Piper Laurie
4/5 stars
I knew about Piper Laurie, the actress but I don't think I ever saw her in many films but I going to check out some of her older films. She was the mother in the horror film Carrie (which I did see). She also lived quite an interesting life. I really enjoyed her autobiography. She just recently died in 2023 at the age of 91.

Winter Oranges - Marie Sexton - (Idaho)
Genera: M/M Romance/Paranormal/Ghost
4.5★
"It was easy to believe that the house was haunted. After acting for most of his life, Jason Walker's first thought upon seeing the house he had purchased virtually sight unseen was that it would have been a perfect place to have filmed an Amityville remake."

After that opening, and the fact that I needed the book as a part of a challenge, Ghost...Haunted house...I was in. I didn't even mind that it at some point it
began to slide off into the "not quite what I expected" realm. Jason. a former child star hasn’t had much success since becoming an adult, but that doesn’t stop the reporters from still chasing him. He needed a break from his crazy life...so he buys a house... sight unseen, and in the remotest of the remote part of northern Idaho. He’s also trying to put distance between himself and his very, very best friend, Dylan, with whom he is secretly so very much in love. They have a "friends-with-benefits" arrangement but that’s no longer nearly enough for Jason. Of course, we don't have long to wait before things start to happen. Jason sees what looks like the face of a young man in the window of the apartment above his garage. He’s paranoid about those dreaded reporters, so he calls the police. they come, but they can find nothing. Eventually he encounters the ghost face to face, and immediately questions his own sanity. He begins to research all the mental illnesses that he can think of or find on the internet including psychosis, hallucinations, and delusions. None of the symptoms fit, so he finally convinces himself that either he is completely nuts or Ben...the ghost, is as real as it gets. Ben and Jason struggle to communicate but finally find a way that Jason can actually hear Ben speak. Ben tells him a fantastical, unbelievable story about how he lives in a little house in a snow globe, thanks to his sister with magical powers that put him in there to keep from him from enlisting in the Civil War. At some point he can't find his sister...so he can’t get out. Jason is becoming attached to Ben and carries the snow globe from room to room as Ben can only remain in the room the globe is in. Ben is learning about life in the 20th century and...and he likes TV and has a fondness for cheesy TV shows like "All My Children" and "The Guiding Light" from the eighties. Even worse is that Jason and Ben are falling in love. What can go wrong, you may ask but the question should be, what can go right? Oh...it's not done yet. Additional conflicts and interferences arise in the form of Dylan and the local police who believe that Jason is experiencing a psychotic break. Jason has to put all his acting skills to work to convince them otherwise. Marie Sexton has managed to create palpable sadness at the sheer impossibility of this entire situation. I wanted so badly for these two lonely men to find happiness, somehow... but I could never have guessed how the story would end. How could they be together corporeally forever...how could there be a happy ending, right? Of course, in books anything is possible, and it was everything I could hope for. It seems some Christmas wishes do can and do come true. The story wasn't exactly what I was expecting but it was still enchanting.

The Stolen Lady – Laura Morelli
Book on CD read by Lisa Flanagan, Caroline Hewitt, and Paul Woodson.
3.5****

A work of historical fiction with a dual timeline – 1939 in France as the Germans are invading; and 1479 in Florence, when Leonardo da Vinci is commissioned to paint a portrait of Lisa Gherandini. In both cases one woman takes it upon herself to ensure that the portrait remains hidden away in order to protect it.

In 1479 the loyal servant Bellina, illiterate and not always fully understanding the intricacies of Medici politics, takes it upon herself to secure an unfinished portrait of her mistress. In 1939, Anne works to help obfuscate and hide the inventories that point to the location of the precious artwork. Having learned to drive a truck she is sometimes pressed into service joining the convoys that move the Louvre’s treasures about the countryside, trying to keep one step ahead of the Nazis. Both storylines have moments of intense activity and suspense, along with romance thwarted (or delayed, or interrupted) by events occurring outside their control.

Between the two storylines, I clearly preferred the World War II one. I wasn’t sure that this novel needed the 15th century story line. For me, it distracted from the danger and adventure of the situation faced by the curators and workers of the Louvre who worked tirelessly to secure the museum’s collections – including, or especially, the Mona Lisa – from invading Nazis. However, I did find the story of the creation of the painting, including the “rivalry” between Da Vinci and “that upstart” Michelangelo, interesting. I had no idea that the artist had presented the painting to the French. I also appreciated the look at how politics and religious fervor affected the residents of Florence during this time frame. I think I would have enjoyed it more had the two time frames been treated in separate novels.

The audiobook is very well done by a trio of talented voice artists. This does help when switching time frames and/or narrators.

I also had the print version readily available and I’m glad I did for it included extensive author notes / interviews and historic photos of the Louvre staff moving these treasures.

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come / Jessica Pan
4 stars

The author is a “shintrovert” (shy + introvert… a word she made up). She decided she was going to try a bunch of extroverted-type things over a year. She did things like learn to talk to strangers on the street or public transit, she joined a website/app to meet new friends (like a dating app, but to meet friends), took an improv class, forced herself to do some group networking, took a comedy class (with the end result everyone up on stage to perform their comedy), travelling alone, hosting a dinner party, and probably more I’m forgetting.

Pretty sure this book will appeal much more to the introverts of the world. I am one. As a kid and teen, I was even a shintrovert, but the shyness is (mostly) gone as an adult. Obviously (based on the title), Jessica includes some humour in her story. I think there can’t help but be humour, though, in some of these situations that she puts herself though. I admire that she was able to do all those things (comedy! Improv!), and she ended up enjoying most of it.

The Writing Retreat - Julia Bartz - (New York)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
3.5★
Five writers, four weeks, and a $1 million book deal for the lucky winner. Unless they disappear first! Alex has just had her 30th birthday and has to face up to some hard truths: First of all, she hates her job; second, she’s been miserable ever since breaking up with her best friend...and third and the worst, she’s stuck in writer’s block, which makes it extremely hard, if not impossible, to be discovered and have your book published. Then, out of the blue she receives a call from a writer friend who has somehow gotten Alex a space at an elite writers retreat being held at the estate of none other than the mysterious and glamorous novelist, Roza Vallo. From the very first night she's at Vallo's estate, Blackbriar, it becomes very clear that this is not a warm fuzzy workshop, and Roza Vallo is in no way a soft, or even friendly, mentor. Each of the workshop attendee's is told that they must create a proposal for a full-length novel, then manage to crank out 3,000 words a day to be critiqued....by Roza. Despite the surroundings of luxury...food and wine and a library to die for...there is no ignoring the fact that the writers are trapped there. There is no Wi-Fi or cell service to be found. Alex's sense of disquiet grows as her research deepens, and with Roza’s urging, she has decided to write a novel about the original inhabitants of the house...a wealthy tycoon and his waitress wife who was also happened to be a medium. Both were found dead after the wife had channeled a demon called Lamia. Then one of the other guest writers disappears, and Alex can’t help but wonder if the occult history is repeating itself.... or is there a much more sinister, and possibly human plot behind this writing retreat. Despite Alex’s somewhat whiny disposition, the pacing of the story is slow and filled with dread and horror. I found the first part to be exceptional...but I felt the execution left a something to be desired. The Alex character was underdone. It would have been nice if we had had more about her backstory. The remaining women at the retreated seemed flat as well. It seemed like each of the characters was only partially painted. It was still a decent story, and if that’s all you want this will do it for you. Overall, I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t really love it either.

All Dolled Up - Chara Croft - (North Carolina)
Destination Daddies series Book #11
Genera: M/M Romance/Age Play/Daddy-Little
4★
Rene
Asheville, NC is the last place Rene would have thought he’d be heading when he takes a few vacation days. Probably because first, he doesn’t actually get vacation days, and second, because he never goes anywhere. Too many anxieties. Too much responsibility. Too little faith that what he really wants is actually out there. But when a “Daddy” he meets online invites him to a kinky weekend to discover whether or not Rene can be the kind of boy he thinks he wants to be, he takes a leap of faith and… sinks. Stranded, rejected, and without anywhere to lay his head, Rene’s only choice is to share a room with a stranger. A stranger who helps Rene discover that he does want a Daddy, but it’s not just Daddy’s boy he wants to be. Pretentious Asheville, NC is the last place Edward would have thought he’d be heading when he takes a few vacation days. Probably because first, he has no use for vacation days, and second, because he never goes anywhere. Not since his husband passed away and took Edward’s heart with him. But when his attorney refuses to follow Edward’s directive to sell a property he owns, Edward rises to the bait and goes to check out the tiny boutique hotel himself to find out just what’s so special about it.
Edward
The hotel is fully booked for an event on the only weekend Edward can get away, but he’s the owner. so there he is. They will find him a room… and they do. At the expense of a nervous, beautiful boy who Edward’s burst of temper has all but put out on the streets. Stepping in to take care of him is the least Edward can do, even if that means falling down a rabbit hole of kink that he never expected and discovering that maybe his heart didn’t die with his husband after all. D/s relationship was unusual to say the least. It absolutely worked perfect for these characters though. The buildup and relationship development in the beginning was so sweet and just bumped the story up another notch for me, although the character of Sam became way, way too much before the end.

The Sandalwood Tree – Elle Newmark
Digital audiobook performed by Justine Eyre
3.5***

The blurb that put this on my TBR promised “Two love stories. 90 years apart.” That’s not quite what I got. But I did get a good historical fiction tale framed by the British leaving India as that country gained its independence.

In 1947, Evie, her husband and son, arrive in India; Martin has a Fulbright Fellowship to study India as part of his Ph.D. dissertation. But the unrest surrounding the coming partition of India and Pakistan results in the family being located in the small village of Masoorla rather than in Dehli. When cleaning the kitchen of their rented bungalow, Evie discovers a loose brick and behind it a stash of letters hidden in a cubbyhole. Those letters were written in the mid-19th century and have been partially destroyed by the heat and humidity of the kitchen, but slowly the story of two British women in India emerges.

Newmark captivated me with this dual story line, although I wasn’t sure there was a real reason to include the lesbian relationship, which was really such a small part of the whole tale. Basically, though, she gives us a story of relationships and the difficulties two people might have, as a result of different cultural backgrounds, family expectations, and emotional trauma suffered by one or both of the parties.

Evie narrates most of the story, though flashbacks provide the story of Felicity and Adela. I liked how Evie grew and came to understand her husband and her own emotions by reading the journals / letters / poetry of these long-dead women. The struggles Felicity and Adela endured help Evie realize what she truly valued. Additionally, Evie, an American, has to come to grips with the British mentality as Britain’s rule over India is ending.

Justine Eyre does a fine job of performing the audiobook. She sets a good pace and is able to give the many characters sufficiently unique voices, so it was easy to tell who was speaking.

Dark Divide & Badlands Witch - Carrie Vaughn - (Nevada)
Cormac and Amanda's story
Genera: Mystery/Paranormal
3★
Cormac Bennett is an ex-con, an ex-bounty hunter, and now a paranormal investigator, and his spirit/ghost partner is Amelia Parker, a wizard from the Victorian era. Even though I haven't read any of the other books in this series, the story is still easy to follow, and there's enough information to allow the reader to figure out their relationship. Cormac and Amelia are hired to investigate the death of a ranger who died from starving, which was odd in itself since his cabin is filled with all varieties of food. The villain was pretty easy to guess, and there's a huge twist about the "who's" and the "what's" at the end. Overall: It's a short, interesting little mystery with a touch of magic and historical fiction. The writing was good, and the story ran along quickly and smoothly but I don't think the series will be on my "books I need to read more than I need to breathe" list.

Strawberries for Dessert - Marie Sexton - (Colorado)
Coda Series Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
The story focuses on two men learning how to love and compromise, and most of all, recognize their own fallibilities so they can heal and find their happy ending. Cole Fenton is a character that it's hard to relate to in any meaningful way. His lifestyle is one most of us would only dream about...but honestly would never want. He’s independently wealthy...doesn’t hold a job; owns homes in Paris, Hawaii, Vail, the Hamptons, and Phoenix; has lots of "friends with benefits" conveniently living in each location. Mostly his time is spent traveling the world for months at a time whenever he wants, while indulging in his various interests and hobbies. It may sound adventurous but actually it's a life of extreme loneliness. He has only a few really "meaningful" friendships, and his only relative is his mother to whom he’s been estranged from for years. The absence of loving relationships growing up has left him damaged and he has adopted this flamboyant, "devil may care" lifestyle as a defense mechanism. Cole doesn’t really know anything about what real love is. Keeping everyone at arm’s length, he's never had a committed relationship. He says he’s too restless to ever settle in one place for very long and he becomes resentful of anyone who expects that of him. Somehow his "brokenness" is what made me love him so much once I started to understand him. Then we have Jonathon (Jon), Kechter who actually was not a great catch either. Cole and Jon are set up by one of Cole’s friends, and their first date is beyond disastrous. It’s fascinating to see Cole transform from a man cocooned in self-preservation, not permitting anyone to see his pain, to a partner who eventually allows his walls to crumble and lets his vulnerability show. Jon’s lesson to learn is that instead of trying to change Cole, he needs to set aside his stubborn pride and make the change within himself, and to bring happiness to Cole while making their new and fragile relationship successful. Although theirs is an unusual relationship, they both do work hard for their happily ever after, and what a delightful ending it is.

City Under One Roof - Iris Yamashita - (Alaska)
Genera; Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
3★
An Alaska detective unlocks menacing secrets in a frigid, sinister small town while struggling to recover from a personal tragedy. The discovery of dismembered body parts in remote Point Mettier, brings police detective Cara Kennedy from Anchorage to investigate. The find was made by a teenager, Amy Lin, who spotted the remains while smoking marijuana with some friends in a hidden cove, close to the Salty Pub, the local bar that serves as the main place for town gossip. The town itself takes on a life of its own, becoming a forbidding character in this dark story. The small town is composed of only 205 full-time residents, all of whom live in the Davidson Condos, an industrial complex that can only be accessed by an underground tunnel. The perspective shifts from Cara to Amy and then to paranoid Lonnie, who hears voices and wanders the town in fear that she’ll be locked up again in the Institute. It's the story of these three women, who are all outsiders. It's nicely balanced with the criminal investigation, which proceeds steadily in tantalizing small tidbits. A winter storm furthers the isolation by cutting off all access to the town. Cara is getting herself under control having recently experienced a family tragedy that occasionally undermines her and fills her with self-doubt. It's not a great place to live especially if you are a woman and if you are unwilling to conform to the ideas of the town. The dislike, contempt, and prejudice against women is ingrained so deep in the town’s culture that all three women at times question their perceptions of reality. Several more or less disreputable residents emerge as suspects as riddles large and small add fuel to the mystery on the way to the final solution. I found it to be an offbeat thriller that was hard to follow at times or to understand the ideas of the town itself. The story is at times like that of a locked room mystery. I thought it was interesting when I read that the setting is based on a real town in Alaska. I bet their Chamber of Commerce, if they even have one, loved this story:)

Grave's End - Elaine Mercado - (New York)
Genera: Paranormal/Horror
3.5★
The story is that of the author and her family's experiences with a Victorian house they had purchased and restored. Considering her occupation as an emergency room R.N., she is used to dealing with death. Yet when she and her family continue to have dreams of suffocation, see balls of light streaking around the ceiling and dusky shadows flowing along the baseboards of their Victorian house that they had restored with so much love, neither her nurse’s training nor her experiences with death, could provide any answers. From the book:“Denial plows very deeply into our souls,” she states. “We would rather have a flimsy, semi-rational explanation, however irrational in reality, than have to deal with the unknown.” In spite of that, it is the "unknown" that stalks her and her family in this ghost story and I have no reason to believe that it is not true...or at least that it is absolutely true as far as she's concerned. The family is tossed into a nightmare that consist of skeletal brides huddling near the stairway, drinking glasses that hover by in the air by themselves, and finally and worst of all...sexual assault by "things" unseen. The author and her family struggles with these manifestations and desperately searches for a rational explanation. When all the lights inexplicably turn on and the doors all unlock by themselves, they try to rationalize it away with "perhaps the fuse box had shorted out"...or "maybe the doors were not really locked". She has two young daughters in the house who are alternately frightened and saddened, wanting to help whatever is haunting the house. I thought long before this, that they should be looking for help from someone that perhaps deals with these things and NOT offering to "help" whatever this is. It didn't seem to be very friendly or even wanting to be friends, to me. Soon the manifestations escalate. I thought is this even possible? How much worse can it get??? Finally, the author and her daughters leave the house from sunset to sunrise. I thought that they might as well sell it or burn the thing down. As the story go on, neighbors and a search of historical records bring clues to the haunting. Why they didn't do this the very first time they saw or experienced anything was beyond my understanding. They got psychic investigator Hans Holzer involved and hoped he could get to the bottom of it. If I or any other reader believes or disbelieves makes no difference...the author and her daughters believed it and either was or thought, they were experiencing it. Rather you believe it or not, it's still a story that will give you goosebumps if not nightmares.

Requiem for a Mezzo – Carola Dunn
3***

From the book jacket: The Honourable Daisy Dalrymple attends a performance of Verdi’s Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall with Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard. What should be a pleasant afternoon is disrupted when Bettina Westlea, the mezzo-soprano, falls dead onstage. But it was no accident – she was poisoned.

My reactions
Book number three in this delightful cozy mystery series set in 1920s England. Daisy may be “to the manor born,” but she is fiercely independent. She’s also observant, intelligent and an astute judge of character. DCI Fletcher seems to rely on her more in this episode, as she was present when the death occurred, and the mezzo was her next-door neighbor. There are plenty of suspects including other performers, jealous lovers, a long-suffering sister, and a possible anarchist. I wish I had been listening to the audiobook, only because of the many “foreign” characters; I think the narrator might have had a great time with all those accents!

It's a fast read with a satisfying resolution. I’ll keep on with this series.

Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans... / Judy Christie, Lisa Wingate
3 stars

Lisa Wingate’s “Before We Were Yours” is a fictional account of Georgia Tann and her illegally obtaining kids and babies to illegally adopt out. With the popularity of that book, she and Judy Christie decided to reach out to many of those “kids” (now adults, of course) to hear their stories and to set up a reunion.

I listened to the audio and that may have been my downfall. Because there were multiple individual stories to this one, it was more similar to a book of essays or short stories, so (because – audio) when I missed parts, it was hard to “catch up” on what I’d missed before we moved on to the next story. It did seem like many of the adopted kids had good lives, in the end.

There was some talk at the end about one of the reunion attendees not having a great home life post-adoption and that she was heartened to find others out there with a similar story – that is, she wasn’t alone in that. But if those stories were told in this book, I missed them. The entire story (Georgia Tann) is sad, but I suspect I might have liked this more if I’d actually read it. In any case, I’m still rating it ok.

Four Letter Word - K.M. Neuhold - (California)
Love Logic Series Book #2
Genera: M/M/M/M Romance/Polyamory
4.5★
Polyamory is not at all a new concept, it literally means “many loves.” It may not be as popular as monogamy, or platonic, open or even arranged marriages, but it is starting to be known/discovered in a much more modern or even in remote societies. Just like any relationships, there are limits or boundaries, rules to follow in order for the relationship to grow. And especially when you have multiple partners to give attention to and care for, these boundaries and limitations are very important. Bishop, Leo, and Hudson have been friends since they were young boys. Along the way, specifically during their Senior High School years, something very significant happened between Hudson and Leo that changed the dynamic of their friendship for more than ten years. When they graduated, Leo left California for New York where he attended college and started his career as a lawyer. Meanwhile Bishop and Hudson stayed in California and continues to see each other until one night when they both had had a bit too much to drink and they discovered that they felt more than just friendship for one another. Their friend, Bishop, had been in love with both his best friends since he was fourteen. But just the thought of loving two men with the same intensity, seemed to be impossible and a sure recipe for disaster, so he buried these feelings deep within himself. Years later Riot, who works as a Bartender in the club that Bishop and his three friends frequent, comes into their lives and the Polyamorous lifestyle is formed. Through the newness of all this and some misunderstandings, Riot is the one responsible for making, encouraging and guiding these three friends into seeing the reality and the possibility of being together as "in-love-with-each-other together" and forming a new life with four. Riot became the catalyst that glued everyone together, although Bishop is the real "center" of all their affection. K.M. Neuhold gave Riot not only an outstanding personality but a surprise when we learned he was much more than a bartender. You'll have to meet Riot to find out what else he is:) These four guys will cause you to fall in love with them and to love them for who and what they are...perfectly imperfect!

Fayne / Ann-Marie MacDonald
3 stars

In the late 19th century, 12-year old Charlotte lives with her father at Fayne (in Scotland or England). Her mother died in childbirth and her brother died when she was young, as well (Charlotte does not remember her brother). Charlotte is extremely smart and her father hires a tutor for her (who is initially perturbed that he was brought to tutor a girl). She wants to attend university.

This did not turn out as I’d expected. It was very long and I’m rating it ok. There were parts I liked (more toward the beginning of the book), but whenever we switched perspectives, I felt like I was starting over (even though after the first couple of times, we were mostly going back and continuing from where the last switch left off), and wasn’t interested for the first bit (of every switch). It took time to get interested again, but just as that happened, we switched again.

So, the other perspective is Charlotte’s mother. I honestly didn’t find this nearly as interesting, overall, as Charlotte herself. Though, after a bit, I was interested (then… switch!). Clarissa (Charlotte’s aunt) was a piece of work, wow! I didn’t like her from the start. The end was a bit weird: Did Charlotte live to about 140 years old!?

The Night of the Storm / Nishita Parekh
4 stars

Jia is divorced and raising her 12-year old son, Ishaan, who was recently in trouble at school. So much trouble that her ex-husband is threatening to take him away from her. However, the urgent issue this evening is the hurricane coming toward Houston. Told to evacuate their area Jia and Ishaan are invited to Jia’s sister Seema’s place, not too far away. What they don’t realize until it’s too late is Seema’s area was also supposed to evacuate (though Jia does question that there are so few people nearby). Seema and her husband, Vipul, have also invited Vipul’s brother, Raj and his wife, Lisa. Also in the house is Vipul and Raj’s mother and Seema and Vipul’s young daughter.

When a neighbour urgently presses the doorbell to be let in, he is injured and needs help. Although Vipul does not like Rafael at all (they have had a number of disagreements), they let Rafael in, anyway. And things go terribly wrong.

I really liked this. There were, of course, also flashbacks to what led Jia to her divorce, Ishaan’s issues at school, and other things going on with Jia (including unwanted advances from Vipul). I did find the storm/”current day” scenes more interesting than the flashbacks, but of course the flashbacks were needed to figure out what was going on, in general. There were times I wasn’t a fan of Jia, as she did do some stupid things. I almost rated it a bit lower due to more focus on these flashbacks (when I’m really interested in the storm and the murder/thriller/suspense parts of the book), but the end brought the rating back up for me.

Silent Angel - Helen Pifer - (England)
Morgan Brookes series Book #7
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
5★
My second book by Helen Phifer...yes, I know that it's book 7. The book has plenty of the "thriller "element to give the reader all the thrills, chills and shocking moments that they can handle. Again, it seems that Detective Morgan Brookes draws murders to her small village. This time her team investigates a dead body found in local churchyard ditch and things start to escalate in an alarming way. They have to ask if there is a deranged killer in their small village and could the killer be someone that they all know? I enjoyed and felt that it was worthy of a 5 -star rating even though the ending was a bit abrupt and didn't completely answer all my questions or all the questions the team had during the investigation. I am looking forward to seeing what Morgan is up to next...and, where her relationship with her partner, Ben, is headed. It was good to see a few new characters make an appearance, and I liked what they added to the team. I don’t know if they will be back, but some guest appearances would be nice. Morgan is again a danger" magnet". If you've read any of this series, you will know what I'm saying. If you haven’t read and met Detective Morgan Brookes, I do highly recommend this series. You can easily start this series with this one, or any of the first 6 books, but I know that may not work well for everyone, but you wouldn't be entirely lost. I didn’t mention on of my favorite characters, Declan...but I have to give him his due credit. He is written as one of the kindest souls I have ever encountered whose job it is to deal with the dead. He has the most caring manner. I love the character of Morgan Brookes and believe if you are a Mystery/Suspense/Thriller fan that and you will like this series and its characters also.

When all the World Sleeps - Lisa Henry & J A Rock - (South Carolina)
Narrator: Greg Tremblay
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Possible Trigger Warnings: Depression, Physical & Emotional Violence
Daniel Whitlock had been a sleepwalker since he was a boy. He would walk and talk like he was awake, but he is actually asleep. He never remembers anything he does during these episodes, and it has gotten him in a plethora of various troubles over the years. During one of his sleepwalks he made a questionable comment to another man in the town, Kenny Cooper. Kenny attacks Daniel at a later date when Daniel is awake, and brutally beats him nearly to death. No charges are filed even though “everyone” knows Kenny and his friends were responsible. another night while sleepwalking he sets fire to Kenny’s house with Kenny still inside causing Kenny's death. The story takes place several years after this event occurred. Daniel went to prison despite his defense lawyer arguing he was sleepwalking. He's not popular in the small town as everyone feels he got off too easy and thinks the sleepwalking is fabricated. He's shunned as the town freak...his friends (?) harass him...and Daniel hides, alone in his cabin. Do you wonder that Daniel is depressed? Daniel can no longer trust himself to sleep...he fears it like the plague and feels that he'll be trapped, and when his body and brain win out and he does fall asleep, he again sleepwalks to the extent that he, in desperation, chains himself to his bed. The narrow-minded people in the town, including Daniel’s parents frustrated me. So much kept happening to Daniel even though he tried so hard to stay out of trouble. Then we, and Daniel meets Bel who comes rolling into Daniels life and becomes his rock, his mainstay, his friend...his only friend...and maybe his lover as Daniel and Bel tries to start a relationship. It’s hard, especially for Bel, to know that their relationship has some really hard boundaries. Bel isn't entirely convinced that Daniel is truly sleepwalking in the beginning, but the more he sees, the more he believes. Daniel behaves like another person when he's walking in his sleep; he becomes bolder, and much more seductive. Bel knows before they can begin to have a true relationship, he first has to do something about Daniel destructive thoughts of wanting to punish himself for what he has done. I felt so sorry for Daniel and absolutely loved Bel. The audio is done by Greg Tremblay who is one of my favorites. His narration of this book is nothing short fantastic, making the story, and the character come alive. He makes you can feel how the characters feel, their desperation, their frustration, and their love and relief. The story will leave you drained, for lack of a better description...but at the same time you won't allow yourself to stop until you know every last detail.

Foster – Claire Keegan
Digital Audiobook read by Aoife McMahon.
5*****

Facing tough times, a rural Irish family sends their oldest daughter to another community to live with distant relatives she hardly knows. Keegan explores what it means to be family in this short novella. She also deals with grief and the ways we show love without words being said.

Our narrator is the young girl, who is never named, though I loved that the patriarch of her guest family calls her pet names such as “petal.” The Kinsellas are a quiet couple who have had their share of heartache. They work their farm with quiet dignity and grace. Edna takes in the young girl, never judging but showing her how to maintain a clean and healthy environment. John is a bit more taciturn, but he allows the girl to tag along as he milks the cows or repairs equipment, and he encourages her to build up her confidence. It is he who notices that she needs new clothes and makes the move to “tog her out” so that she has a nice dress and new shoes for going to Mass on Sunday. And it is he who gently gives her a lesson in empathy and compassion and tact.

The somewhat ambiguous ending is perfect for this award-winning tale.

Aoife McMahan does a fine job of narrating the audiobook, though I wound up reading the second half of the book in text format. And have re-read it twice already since first finishing it.

Against a Brightening Sky / Jaime Lee Moyer.
3.5 stars

It’s 1919 in San Francisco. When Delia and Gabe, Sophie and Jack (and their two kids), and Sam and Libby head to a parade, they never expected a riot to break out. Not only a riot, but then gunfire and explosions. Gabe and Jack are police so they go to help. Delia is a “spiritualist” – she can see ghosts; not only that, Sophie’s young son Connor sees them, too, but he is too young to do anything about it and they scare him. Delia does what she can to protect him. She also noticed the people who ended up rioting had something odd happen just before the riot. Once again, Delia and her friend Dora (also a spiritualist) must help Gabe solve this mystery.

I liked this. This is the third (and final, I’m guessing?) in a series. The POV changes between Gabe and Delia. Like the 2nd book, I think I liked Gabe’s storyline a bit better. I really liked the police officer, Jordan Lynch, whom they brought in from Chicago. There were a few times I really didn’t like Dora. I would continue with this series if it was to keep going (and would hope Jordan Lynch would continue to be in it, as well), but I see there aren’t (currently) more and this was published in 2015, so I’m not sure how likely another one is. It also kind of ended in a way that appears that there is unlikely to be more in the series.

Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan
347 p. - ★ ★ ★ 1/2

Mordecai Tremaine, an amateur sleuth, is invited to Benedict Grame's famous Christmas party. On his invitation is a note from Nick Blaise, Grame's assistant, letting Tremaine know that Blaise suspects harm may come to Grame. And in the wee hours of Christmas morning, Tremaine and the other house guests discover that harm has come to the old manor house - there is a body under the Christmas tree. Tremaine already has some suspects in mind, and as the snow falls and suspicions fly, he tries to prevent anyone else's Christmas murder.

A reprint of a 1949 work, this hasn't aged too badly. I don't think the author gave us quite enough clues to solve it on our own, although I was halfway there. A very large cast of characters, not all of whom were fleshed out, and it took a while to meet all of them. Once we met them all and the murder was committed, the story started to move quickly. It just took a while to get there. I would give it a 3.75 if I could, as it is better than my typical 3.5 and not up to a 4.

Haunted Heartland - Beth & Norman Scott - (Il, IN, IA, MI, KS, MN, NE, OH, MO, WI)
Genera: Paranormal
5★
This is a collection, (150), ghostly accounts of supposedly true ghost stories either collected by the authors or told to them by people that had heard of them or experienced them themselves. I say "supposedly true" because the authors state very clearly that they can't say one way or the other if they are true or not...only that the people that recounted them believe they are, or might be, true. The book is arranged nicely by the Midwest state that it came from...so if you don't have the time or the desire to read all 150 you can easily take your pick. Being that I am the "Ghost-Story Junkie" , I plowed through all 150 over the course of 3-months. Some of the stories were really frightening and some were missing a great deal of the fright feature that you would expect. One that may have had some elements of truth to it was from Illinois entitled "Buried Alive". It was interesting since the time period that it was set in, the methods of ascertaining death from trance or catatonia were often lacking and bodies were often not treated as they are today, so a person believed to be dead, could sometimes regain consciousness. There were also several stories relating to Abraham Lincoln in "Lincoln and the Supernatural" that had interesting historical elements. They say that guests in the Lincoln bedroom of the White House have reported encountering the 16th, President. Since Michigan is my adopted state, I was most interested in the stories from there. Many of Michigan's 19 stories are about ships on the Great Lakes. However, "The Soul Of Stephen Strand" is a nicely developed story of reincarnation or possession. I also liked a few of the Minnesota stories, "The Horrors of Heffron Hall" tells the tale of St. Mary's College in Winona where some of the evils that were alleged to have been perpetuated by the catholic priests are said to have their victims as permanent guests. One of the milder ones was "The Levitation of Archie Collins" that talks about theater magic shows, to show it is sometimes impossible to tell whether an act is real or make-belief. Overall if you are a "ghost story junkie" like yours truly, you will find something in this book to keep you awake with the lights on.

A Girl from Yamhill
Beverly Cleary
4/5 stars
This is one of two biographies written by Beverly Cleary. This is the first one and it details her life growing up in Yamhill, Oregon. This is a juvenile biography but I really enjoyed it and I think adults will really enjoy this book too. I am going to read her second book My Own Two Feet and am looking forward to that one also!

The Letter Z - Marie Sexton - (Colorado)
Coda Series Book #2
Narrator: John Solo
Genera: M/M Romance
4★
Zach owns a video rental store. When his ex-boyfriend left him, he got the video rental, Blockbuster-like, store. He was also left a diffident cat which I thought was the better part of that deal. Zach is just getting through life, existing from day to day, then he gets a new landlord and then he hires a helper. Suddenly things start to turn around. The landlord proved to be something else ...but it was interesting. Zach gets to keep his store IF he keeps the landlord happy. Now almost everyone over the age of 15 probably understands what "keeping the landlord happy" actually means, but Zach, true to his nature...doesn't get it. Yes, Zach lives on a different plane of existence from most everyone else, which is why he misses the signs entirely. Now we meet his new employee, Angelo. Zach doesn’t really get Angelo either, which won't surprise you in the least by now... but they do slowly become friends. Angelo educates Zach about movies. How can you own and run a video store if you don't know the first thing about movies?? Zach also learns about Angelo’s past....and somehow the two of them manage to just…get along. We aren't finished with the new landlord, and he's not by any means finished with Zach, and he proves that in spades with the monkey-wrench he throws into things. With Angelo’s encouragement, Zach takes a risk and moves to Coda, joining Matt and Jared from book 1...a couple that he and Angelo met at a festival. Zach wants more from Angelo, but Angelo’s been burned before, making him fearful of relationships and not trusting anyone...not even the man he’s falling in love with. Just when things seem to be settling down for Zack and Angelo, who should reappear but Zach’s old landlord and then the proverbial hell breaks loose. Marie Sexton's characters always seem to overcome their difficulties and find happiness, so I wasn't too worried for Zack...but things were close for a while. This crazy couple deserved happiness if anybody did. This little series is best read in order as the characters reappear in each story as the series progresses. As usual, John Solo does a fantastic job with the narration.

Midnight Howl – Clare Hutton
3.5***

This is the fifth entry in the Poison Apple series of middle-school books dealing with various paranormal phenomena. Each book can easily be read as a stand-alone work, however. In this case, it’s werewolves who are at the center of the story.

Marisol and her mom have to vacate their Austin, Texas apartment complex during renovations, so they take up her mom’s college roommate’s offer to stay at their Montana bed-and-breakfast during the off-season. The host family has twins who are Marisol’s age, so the three can go to school together. But the wilderness is a very foreign environment for city-girl Marisol. The howls of wolves are bad enough, but the rumors that werewolves roam the valley during a full moon get her imagination working overtime.

I participated in my public library’s pen-pal program this summer (pairing children ages 5-12 with senior citizens to write letters to one another), and my pen pel recommended this book to me.

I’m not a great fan of paranormal genre, but this one is light on the paranormal and focuses more on the relationships between the kids. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. I liked the cautious way Marisol made friends and how she tried to research the history of the valley to determine the truth behind the rumors.

At its core, this is a story of friendship, loyalty and compassion.

Not Safe for Work - L.A. Witt
Narrator: Nick J. Russo
Genera: M/M Romance/Bisexual/D/s/mild BDSM
4.5★
There was a bit of a rocky start here as it’s not immediately obvious who the Dom and who the sub is. Anything involving a role reversal between personal and professional lives was fine with me, but it did take a little while to sort out. Jon builds models for an architecture firm. He finds himself in an interesting situation with his firm’s largest client, Rick Pearce. Rick is the owner of a huge company and is dominating and controlling down to the very last aspect of his professional life...but in his personal life...that's an entirely different story... Rick is an absolute, in every sense of the word... submissive. Rick has been watching and secretly drooling after Jon for quite some time. Jon is a total Dom's Dom, divorced, supporting his ex-wife and paying his children’s college tuition... easy to see that he has a lot on his plate. Jon is a little difficult to read. He's a good guy...totally in line in every way with his responsibilities to others...but when it comes to watching out and protecting himself, it's a different story. He allows himself to be manipulated and blackmailed which was very frustrating, but I understood what his fears and concerns were. The story does have some BDSM aspects in it, but they are very mild, considering what it is. A little more "playtime" between the two guys would have been nice, but not a biggie, as there was lots of incredible passion and chemistry between them. As with all of the books that I have read by L.A. Witt...and there have been ALOT...they have all had a very solid plots, great characters, and always...good, clear writing that keeps the reader "in the story". As you can see, I’m a 110% fan of this author. Overall....I really liked this story and loved the two main characters. There was a short part that seemed to drag a little but didn't last long enough to affect the storyline. M/M Romance & fans and fans of BDSM in their stories will more than likely really enjoy this one.

Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky – Sandra Dallas
3.5***

Dallas returns to the issue of internment camps where US residents of Japanese heritage were interred during World War II. Her previous novel, Tallgrass was an adult book, told from the perspective of the townsfolk near where the camp is located. In this novel, suitable for middle-school children, she focuses on one Japanese-American family and their experiences inside the camp.

Tomi Itano is the middle child and only girl in her family. She’s a good student and has heard the news of Pearl Harbor. Still, when “No Japs allowed” signs begin appearing in local stores she’s taken aback. Then her family is forced to leave the strawberry farm they’ve worked so hard to make successful to be moved first to a horse barn at a race track and finally to the camp known as Tallgrass, near Ellis, Colorado.

Dallas deals well with this episode of USA’s history. She explores how the knee-jerk reactions of politicians and a scared populace resulted in the imprisonment of many completely innocent people of Japanese heritage. She shows how ill-equipped the camps were for the influx of residents, and details the efforts made by the Japanese-Americans to improve the conditions, and form their own governing groups within the camps. I liked how she showed the different attitudes and coping mechanisms that people employed. Some despaired, while others overcame their fears and uncertainties to become leaders. Some used humor, while others channeled their anger and outrage into positive action. Some held themselves apart, while others joined the community to make the best of a terrible situation.

The Poet - Michael Connley - (California, Illinois, Colorado, Arizona)
Jack McEvoy Series Book #1
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
Group Read- January 2024
4.5
Jack McEvoy is a reporter in pursuit of not only a story but the killer who murdered his twin brother, Sean. Even his friends in the Denver PD thought Sean's shooting in the backseat of his car looked like a suicide, right clown to the motive: his despondency over his failure to clear a high-profile murder. Sean's twin brother, Jack, a reporter with the Rocky Mountain News, sees little things that make him think that Sean's death is murder. There was also the dying message Sean had scrawled inside his fogged windshield..."Out of space. Out of time"...that also reminded him of a series of similar killings that ran from Sarasota, Florida to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pattern tells Jack that there were actually two different types of murders: the sex killings of children, and the murders made to look like suicides; and always of police officers that were lead investigators of a case. Jack becomes involved with the Law Enforcement Foundation as well as the FBI while chasing the killer and the story he's determined to write. He even, against all odds, manages an inside role in the investigations, only to find himself shut out of both the cases and his own story. I thought that Jack made some bad decisions especially becoming romantically involved with FBI Agent, Rachel Walling. The story had a lot of promise and I, in the early parts considered a 5- star rating...but as time went on...and on...and on, there was information that I found myself bogged down with and I began to "count pages" wanting something to happened besides endless meetings. The book while interesting...was just entirely too long with information that was unnecessary to the story. The things that I liked about the book and the characters just didn't quite tip the scales for a 5-star rating, but certainly worth 4.5. This book and character mesh with Michael Connley's Harry Bosch series, so fans of that series may want to give this one a try.

Never Have I Evan- D J Jamison - (Nebraska)
Games We Play Series book #1
Narrator: John Solo
Genera: M/M Romance
4★
The story takes place in a small town in Nebraska where Evan has lived his entire life and helps his grandfather run the family hardware store. He's 24 years old.... a bit of a nerd ...and to his utmost dismay...still a virgin. He attempted to avoid his best friend’s, Calista’s party because he never seems to fit in and while he likes the people, all people that he has known and hung out with his entire life, he just can't seem to enjoy it...but he goes to be with his friends and there isn't much else to do in this little town. They aren't wild get-togethers, but they always seem to have drinking games, the favorite one being "Never Have I Ever". This is where it comes out that Evan is a virgin. Since he's known these people his entire life, it’s really not so terrible, but still, he's embarrassed. Then it's kind of IS terrible since he notices the gorgeous guy who overheard the whole thing....and he’s mortified. When a project for the high school requires his considerable talents as a computer programmer, he begins working with "Mr. Gorgeous Hunk" who he finds out is Calista’s cousin, Dawson. After imploding his college football career, Dawson has returned home to coach the high school football team. The two work together and learn a lot about each other and themselves in the process. DJ Jamison is known for sweet, warm and fuzzy stories and this one is not an exception. Some of it is cheesy, some of it unbelievable, but in the end, it will put a smile on your face. It's fairly short low angst fluffy stuff that will pass a few hours.

Two Truths and A Lyle - DJ Jamison - (Nebraska)
Games We Play Series Book #1
Narrator: John Solo
Genera: M/M Romance/Friends to Lovers
4★
During the drinking game, "Two Truths and a Lie", Lyle and Truman’s friends stage an intervention, pointing out that they are actually in love.... which was one of the "truths". The question is whether their friend's good intentions when they interfered would spark romance, or anger, or flight, or perhaps all three. This is a novella and can easily be read in one sitting. In the audio version, we hear the story told in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Lyle and Truman. The one thing that I found a bit annoying was the text chats that constantly went on between all their friends. For once I'm glad that I read out of order, or I might never have finished it. I know it was designed so that the reader could tell what was going on in the heads of the others, but it was still annoying. The setting for the entire series is a small Nebraska town where everyone knows everyone's business and there are no secrets. Gossip spreads quicker than news on social media. It’s also a place where meddling also comes off as simply caring. I loved the gossipy, golden old ladies. Age and experience had given them absolutely no filters, and they loved to make the young folks blush. They called themselves the "Grannie club" and I suppose every small town has one. It's a low-angst romance, and given its length, the ensuing drama was appropriately realistic. I loved meeting Truman and Lyle... one isn’t right without the other. That was vividly apparent when Truman left for college and made family and friends, especially Lyle, feel like they were missing a vital part of their bodies. As everyone knows, you sometimes don’t know how much you miss something until it’s gone. If you like 'friends to lovers' " stories, you might give this little jewel place in you reading life.

All The Little Raindrops - Mia Sheridan
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Dark Thriller
3.5★
I was a bit surprised at just how dark this book was. I read a lot of books like this one, but some may want to be aware that it is raw with visceral evil of the main theme of the storyline. The story focuses on two individuals, Noelle Meyer and Evan Sinclair. They are both kidnapped and thrown into cages in a strange room. Neither of them knows how they got there, or why they have been chosen. The two teens do have a connection to their past however, and there is "bad blood" between them. Despite that they see that they need to form what is an unlikely, but necessary, alliance if they have any chance of escaping their kidnapper. Quicky the story suddenly jumps forward and here; the story takes on a much more straightforward investigative thriller vibe...one with romance and a mystery at its heart, but it then comes full circle back to the initial ordeal the pair worked so hard to escape. It soon becomes evident that this is the work of a clever mastermind... someone who wants Evan and Noelle to work at figuring out their situation. Are they walking into danger or is this person somehow just playing a dangerous game? This creates for the book, a very strong opener and climax. In fact, the book actually ends in a really satisfying way, explaining everything and even adding a little social commentary about class also, which was a nice touch. I became a bit bogged down in the story's unlikely events and the kidnappers' expectations with the back-and-forth perspective between Evan and Noelle trying to put their lives back together again. There are several sex scenes that are described throughout the book. These didn't bother me. I read books in a genera that some would make these scenes read like children's bedtime stories...but for those that are less tolerant of this will soon find that they go on for way too long and some could have been cut off sooner or left out completely. The first, to be fair, does makes perfect sense and works really well in the context of the story. Also be aware that the book bills itself as :a really sickening, grotesque thriller", but I didn't find that to be true at all. It's actually a mystery to uncover the truth, and one that you probably will actually figure out early on. It’s not a bad story but it is just a bit "uneven". Overall, it's actually a good thriller. It’s certainly not perfect...and some readers may be put-off by the graphic, violent descriptions...but the ending is worth sticking it out for.

Seeds and Sunshine - Jodi Payne & B A Tortuga - (Vermont)
Wrecked Universe series book #3
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
Shiloh, (Shi), has had two hard, sad, long lonely years since the loss of his beloved husband Matty, in a horrible bull riding accident. His good friends Skyler and his husband Beckett have talked him into moving to Vermont to help out and get away from his daily pain and sorrow. He's now in Vermont but he spends his days watching cooking show reruns in his tiny apartment and his evenings sitting alone, nursing a single glass of whisky at the bar in town, while reliving memories of his husband. One night a friendly guy begins to pay attention to him by sitting and talking...then asking him to join the pool game. This sweet guy is Tate, a High School math teacher and to Shi's surprise, it seems that he actually seems to want to become his friend. Before long Shi is spending more time at Tate's farm than at his lonely apartment. Then Tate is seriously offering to put up a greenhouse on his farm so Shiloh can pursue his passion of growing plants and food. We knew that the broody cowboy that sits in the last booth by the restrooms at the bar every night and caught Tate's eye, and it won't be long before he captures…his heart. Both Tate and Shiloh were warm, wonderful characters. Tate was just the perfect amount of sunshine to make Shiloh finally come out of self-hibernation and start to bloom and grow again just like his plants. The two men just completely complimented each other. Shiloh could finally start to thaw out of his big self-induced freeze and start living his life, as his Matty would have wanted him to. I liked that this book also let us catch up with Skyler and Beckett and their three children again. Shi had so much support from these friends when his Matty was killed, and he became a big part of their family...now he also has Tate and people that he's met since coming to Vermont. I really like these two authors writing together. I've read and own almost everything that they have authored. It doesn't matter if it's blended families getting together, couples discovering love and forming a relationship, or rodeo cowboys...the stories are warm with a guaranteed happy ever after.

Those People - Louise Candlish - (England)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
5★
The story begins with a teaser about the horrific, unexpected death of a character that is not immediately identified, and then travels back eight weeks to the events that was the reason for that death on the quiet little block of Lowland Way....a pricy, and until Darren moved in, quiet London neighborhood. This is where Ralph and his "take-charge" wife, Naomi; Ralph's less than successful brother, Finn, and his wife, Tess; the overly stressed young parents, Ant and Em, and the determined Sissy, who has turned her home into a bed-and-breakfast after her husband's departure. Into this uncertain 'Garden of Eden" arrives the unrepentant commoner Darren, who promptly turns the house he has inherited from his Aunt Jean into a “disaster zone” of a construction site, blasting away at hard rock at all ungodly hours, taking up valuable parking spaces with the used cars he sells, and generally turning the "solid, unassailable respectability” of the neighborhood upside down. Soon he and his “other half,” Jodie, have upset and turned upside down the very last nerve of everyone on the block. Every neighborhood conversation turns to a heated discussion of ways, legal and ethical...and some unethical...to get rid of them. The story soon turns from light comedy to something very much darker. While some of the turns the plot takes strain credulity, and some of the characters are much better developed than others, the author convincingly portrays the effects of pressure on this social habitat as fault lines begin to open; both within the characters and within their relationships. Although the Darren character is not, like the others, Candlish allows the reader to glimpse this complicated man behind the persona that his neighbors have created. Unless you live under a rock, the issues raised will certainly resonate with readers who live in a "nice" neighborhood and want to keep it that way.

Let the Dead Keep Their Secrets / Rosemary Simpson
3.5 stars

It’s the late 19th century in New York City. Prudence and Geoffrey run an investigation business. An opera singer, Claire, comes to them to ask them to investigate her twin sister’s (Catherine’s) death. Her sister, also an opera singer, was married to Aaron who seemed to keep her from her family and, by his request, she had stopped performing/singing. Catherine had just had a baby and they are now both dead. Aaron remarried very quickly after their deaths, and now Prudence and Geoffrey worry about his new wife, Ethel (who is pregnant).

This continues to be an enjoyable series. I love that a woman is doing much of the investigating. Apparently there were a few women investigators with the famous Pinkerton investigation agency at the time, as well. The story didn’t grip me as much as the first two in the series did, but it did ramp up a bit toward the end. Definitely still enjoying it enough to continue the series. I didn’t mention it in my description, but Aaron had a photographer come take a post-mortem photograph of Catherine and their baby; I did know this happened, but only because of the Nicole Kidman movie “The Others” from the late 90s?, so that wasn’t a surprise.

The Genius of Birds / Jennifer Ackerman
3.5 stars

As the title suggests, this book looks at bird intelligence. How intelligent are birds? And how do we measure this?

It’s hard to base intelligence on what humans think is smart. I think it’s similar to culturally-biased IQ tests, really. Birds don’t need to know the same things as humans. That being said, there are things that birds know or can figure out that is comparable to humans and/or other primates. They are smart, IMO. Most of us know how smart corvids (crows, ravens, etc) are, but other birds are smart, too, in different ways, including sparrows, pigeons… some birds that aren’t “traditionally” thought of as smart. Some of the things discussed in the book include songs, migration, tools, aesthetically—pleasing displays, etc. I listened to the audio, but I bet I would have taken in more had I actually read it in print or via ebook.

Storm Born - Richelle Mead - (Arizona)
Genera: Fantasy
2.5★
Eugenie, who is a shaman tells the story. Her "specialty" is banishing spirits, fey, and creatures of the Otherworld that cross into the human world intent on causing harm. Basically, the book is about faeries, that Eugenie refers to as "gentry", so it was easy to sometimes forget what the primary part of story was actually about. Storm Born is a sexy story with a fairly good mixture of love and action. Actually, there is a love triangle, as well as hidden powers and secret heritages which do add depth to the story....and it really needed it. I can honestly say the book was "entertaining" even though it was really weird at times. The events that follow Eugenia after finding out about who and what her father is, was also a bit disconcerting. A lot more secrets are revealed as the story goes along...most were just over the top...but this is a fantasy, so I guess that was to be expected. I read M/M romances, so erotica is not something that bothers me at all, but those that it does bother, should be aware that there are several scenes that border on very erotic. You probably won't want your kid reading it. I don't think I will be continuing this series, not because it's badly written or not an okay story...but it's just not my "cup-a tea". Anyone that likes fantasies will more than likely be a lot more tolerant than I was...just remember that it's not all G-rated.

Make Me Stay - Annabeth Albert - (Oregon)
Safe Harbor Series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Holden Justice teaches at the local college, and also has a podcast that is very successful. His social life is active in spite of his needing the aid of a wheelchair. His friends that he has weekly "trivia night" with, think that he needs a roommate after Monroe and Knox’s "roommate situation" ended with them becoming a couple, in book #1....but Holden thinks they're crazy. He thinks of himself as an extrovert, and he likes being able to leave his piles of homework to grade on his dining room table. Cooking for more than one is always much more pleasurable...but he'll get by okay. When Cal a rescue diver gets hurt on a dive and his old RV breaks down, permanently... Holden decides maybe he does need a roommate after all... and the sexy diver is the one he wants. When Holden comes home unexpectedly and discovers Cal’s favorite distraction technique to help him relax and rest when his PTSD is overwhelming, he is surprised but also intrigued. Cal has an obsession with doing all things solo...and it's very questionable. Holden doesn't bat and eye when he discovers Cal's kink. It convinces Cal to let him join in since he's determined to break Cal's hard shell and show him that he can be trusted. Both Holden and Cal have had a lot of traumas in their lives...both physical and mental. Holden dealt with his through humor as an avoidance, while Cal developed thorns to keep people at a distance. Cal saw through Holden’s comic side and Holden broke through Cal’s armor. Both showed that trust could develop and that they could try. Annabeth Albert was one of the first M/M romance authors that I ever read, and when I counted how many of her series and standalones that I had read, I found that with this series...I have read everything that she has written, and I didn't see a single one that I didn't absolutely love. This series looks like it is only going to have three books...but there will still be the things that make these books special...such as this group of lifelong friends that deeply care for one another and want everything for the others that they want and deserve. Most of these men are in their early forties and need love and trust in their lives. I really like when characters are "recycled" through a series, so it was great to see all the men from the first book back to encourage Cal and Holden. I am equal parts eager and leery of the next book. Eager because we finally get Sam’s story and Worth is finally coming home...yet leery because it will be the last book in this wonderful series.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay
5*****

I was not expecting to read this in three consecutive evenings, and I just had to finish it to arrive at the ending. Plus, the family dynamics were incredibly engaging and the writing throughout was top-notch.

The story centers around a family that loses its mother/wife without a trace. The two youngest children, Miranda and Jeff, are the most affected by her sudden disappearance. Their oldest brother, Alex, is the least mostly due to his age. How each child relates to their father, the chief suspect, is the underlying tension in this book.

The question that lasts throughout the book centers on the father/husband, Dan. Did he or didn't he? What was his relationship with his wife, Jane, like? And there is a brilliant section that is told from Jane's POV that leaves no doubt about whodunit.

Yet the focus of the book is more about proving in a court of law who the suspect is and how the children deal with their growing up without their mom. And when they reach adulthood, the battle lines are well-entrenched for who suspects their dad, and who does not.

During the initial investigation, the spotlight on Dan as the chief suspect gradually dims and the DA chooses not to charge him. When a case is finally brought, Dan's skills as a defense attorney come to the fore brilliantly. Jane's sister, who has never liked Dan, plays a behind-the-scenes role in this case and relates incidents that in hindsight show the obvious to any who should be looking.

The ending was incredible and grabbed me and stayed long past when I got to the last sentence.

Four Blind Mice by James Patterson
4 1/2 ****

This book was a great revisit to Alex Cross' world and into the trauma experienced by soldiers when they return home. It did not get my usual 5 star rating, though, because the book seemed to be relying on too many formulas.

Still, it is a great page-turner. Alex Cross is deciding to resign from his policing job with the Washington, D.C. police force, and instead go into another field. It may be psychology, it may be the FBI and he he leaning toward the FBI. Then his best friend, Sampson, urges him to help clear an old Army buddy from Death Row.

As the two lifelong friends investigate what appears to be a wrongful conviction they come up against the thick grey wall of the armed forces. Seems that Sampson's buddy was accused of a brutal murder of three women, including painting and posing the bodies, and nothing either Sampson or Cross say will change the verdict.

Along with this conviction are more Army men accused of similarly heinous crimes, all of whom plead innocent and all of whom are put to death by the State. All of them served in the Vietnam War.

And then we begin to see the co-plot of three men, veterans of this same War, who seem to be re-enacting something from their days in Vietnam. They have a horrible blood lust and seem to revel in tracking down and killing their victims.

In the personal side of this book, Nana is beginning to feel her age and it takes Alex everything he can do to get her to a doctor. In fact, the Doctor comes to visit Nana and only then does she agree to go to a hospital. And the possible interest from the previous book, Jamilla, begins a long-distance romance with Alex.

By the end, the resolution was just a bit too pat and complete, and the chance to hear the stories from the bad guys didn't happen. I would have loved a confession of some sort from them.

The Poet by Michael Connelly
4 1/2 ****

An interesting look at an FBI murder investigation from a journalist's point of view. Jack Riley is an investigative reporter with a plum beat with the Rocky Mountain News where he covers the police beat on his own terms. As the story opens, Jack finds out that his twin brother, Sean, has killed himself in a deserted parking lot of a National Park. The thinking was that an unsolved gruesome murder has haunted Sean, and he couldn't take it any more.

When Jack breaks the story, he uncovers details that bring in the FBI to begin to link his brother's suicide with similar suicides by cops. The other side of the story that Jack finds, and that the FBI investigates, are the series of children's murders committed to which these same cops are assigned.

Because of Jack's breaking the case wide open, he is given access to the FBI during its investigation of this case. The common theme of suicide with quotes from Edgar Allen Poe's works begin to point to murders, not suicides. And we are also given the POV of a pedophile named Gladden, released from years-long imprisonment on a technicality, who continues to stalk children now that he is back on the streets.

While the ending seemed like a necessary wrap-up due to the length of this book, the story itself is a good one and kept me and my book group guessing.

>65 threadnsong: So glad that you liked it. It is a book that I'm sure I will reread many times.

Voyage of The Narwahl - Andrea Barrett - (Arctic)
Genera: Adventure/Exploration
4.5★
This is the story of a fictional 1855 expedition to the Arctic to search for a missing explorer who disappeared 10-years before. An expedition that will cost the lives of several men and change forever the lives of the others with guilt, anger and horror. Another way it can be described is that it is a story of scientific self-gratification and sheer hard-headed ambition. For more than half of the story the author pulls off an amazing feat of weaving the plot into a beautiful narrative that is filled with such vivid descriptions that the reader feels they are a part of the crew. Add the well-done suspense and you can almost cut it with a knife. Only in the novel's final pages does drama give way to moral dilemmas. There are two "heroes" in this story: Erasmus Wells, a middle-aged naturalist who hopes to use the voyage of the Narwhal for his own vindication. A way to try and forget, or at least to come to terms, with his experience on an earlier trip to the Arctic. Then there is Zechariah Voorhees who hopes to gain glory and fame as the commander of the Narwhal expedition. Never were there two men so different. Erasmus is shy, and cautious; Zeke is charismatic and impulsive. Erasmus is still mourning the death of the woman he loved, and sees himself as a loner...while Zeke, who is confident of the devotion of Lavinia, Erasmus' sister, comes across as what "bodice ripper" novels would call a "charming rake". Erasmus has promised Lavinia that he would "keep an eye" on Zeke, and make sure that he returns home safely. You know that was a promise that never should have passed his lips, since by the time the Narwhal had reached the polar waters, icebergs and shifting pack ice, was only the start of their troubles. The sled dogs had died of a mysterious illness...and one of the crew had died of lockjaw. The crew is split into feuding and sides have been firmly drawn... and Zeke had grown increasingly moody. He was anything but content with the information he had collected from the local Eskimos concerning the missing explorer; and he is determined to push ahead to try to reach, what he believes, to be an open ice-free polar sea. The last few chapters of the story... the until now well constructed plot...suddenly gives way to an overwhelming number of contrived events that seemed more a script for a Hollywood movie than to this novel. In spite of that, the story is still deserving of the 4.5-star rating. The author did an incredible job of conveying to the reader the indecisive role that chance and luck play in people's lives, as well as the raw, unpredictable, and unforgiving power of nature. Combined they help to produce a powerful and gripping novel that adventure enthusiasts will find intriguing.

The Lifeboat – Charlotte Rogan
Book on CD narrated by Rebecca Gibbel
3.5***

In the summer of 1914, newly married Grace Winter and her husband Henry, set sail from London back to America. But after an explosion aboard ship, Grace is hurried aboard a lifeboat that is over capacity. As days go by with no sign of rescue it becomes clear that not all (if any) will survive. It comes down to a battle for leadership between the only able seaman aboard and a strong-willed matron skilled at persuasion.

Grace is not a completely reliable narrator. The majority of the story is told in flashback, as Grace is on trial for murder. At the suggestion of her attorneys, she recalls her experiences in the lifeboat, but she also reflects on how she met and married Henry.

Her observations about her fellow passengers are limited to a handful, mostly those of her class, save for the seaman, Mr Hardie. As their situation grows more dire, the survivors in the lifeboat are faced with decisions they never imagined having to make. There are times when I felt Grace was a weak woman content to let the wind blow her where it will. And other times when I felt she was manipulative and scheming. But then again, we have only Grace’s word for what happened. One thing is certain, though, Grace is a survivor.

Rebecca Gibbel does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and distinguishes the characters sufficiently to avoid confusion about who is speaking.

Signs and Wonders,Witchbane - Morgan Brice - (West Virginia)
Witchbane Series Book #7
Genera: M/M/Romance/Supernatural/Adventure
5★
It's hard to believe that we are up to the seventh book in the "Witchbane" Series. I was so excited when it went on sale on Amazon, since it is one of my absolutely favorite series with some of the sweetest, most lovable characters ever to grace a storyline. I thought the way the last one ended that the series was finished...so thank you ever so much, Morgan Brice! Evan and Seth are hunting warlocks...twelve of the nasty creatures. They must dispose of them before they can sacrifice any more of the surviving decedents of the families that were responsible for their immortality centuries ago.... the eldest male descendent of those chosen families must become the next "offering" to their unholy master if they want their immortality to continue...and they really DO, unfortunately Evan and Seth both fit that description. So... I wanted this series to go on...well...forever would be okay. After a bit of a hiatus, it was a welcome return to the series and to characters that I’ve come to love. The setting for this one is the beautiful West Virginia countryside, which is also spooky enough to contain a remote retreat, an old, abandoned hospital asylum, a quiet government zone, (which I found out is a real thing) ...and plenty of paranormal entities that need encouragement to move on. Morgan Brice is a really wonderful author. Her writing style just seems to seamlessly flow through the entire book. My guys, Seth and Evan, have been so busy ridding the world of the warlock disciples that they haven't had time to wonder if the war they're fighting is really worth the price. These "stop and pause" moments are good as they allowed us to see that while Evan and Seth are devoted to the fight, they are also so very devoted, heart and soul, to each other's needs, as well as the path going forward to when the hunt will end. We meet old friends, like Travis and Brent, in each book, and we also make a few new ones. Cameron and his boyfriend, Tyler are the new friends in this one, as Cameron is supposed to be the sacrifice this time. This is the seventh book in the series, and they have sent seven Warlocks on to the wherever evil things go. so, if there were 12 warlocks to start with... Just hoping that Ms. Brice can also count and keep it going for at least 5 more books. all I have to do now is talk her into writing more of my other favorites...her Badlands and the Treasure Trail series.

The Hike - Susi Holliday - (Switzerland)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
2★
I hated the characters...all of them...therefore, I could have cared less if one of them or all of them fell off a mountain. I think the author was hoping that most readers would be sad or be sorry to see someone killed off, but still want to stick around to see how it ends, and who gets their "just rewards". At the beginning of the book, she kind of gave it away with the teaser that implied that only two of the four would survive. It served its purpose to pique our curiosity, and for the majority of the book, we don’t know which characters it will be...and I frankly didn't care. There were also many twists, which always helps to propel the "thriller plot", no matter what the characters likeability was. There is one person who is clearly meant to be the "best’ of the worst", but they all do so many despicable things to each other that I wasn’t particularly disappointed to read the last page, but I was eager to solve the complicated puzzle that the author cleverly presented. We received a lot of the happenings in the story from out of the character's heads. They were always making, (thinking), vague threats in their head about the others, such as "as long as I follow my plan today, she’ll realize what a mistake she’s made." The entire atmosphere of the book is threatening, with ominous signs facing the group at every turn... a vulture that follows them up the mountain, a reliance on a paper map that no one is quite sure how to read. The reader sees from the beginning that this trip is going to turn into a major disaster that has found a place to happen. The author did a great job of using the characters lack of anything resembling common sense to keep the readers interest with twists we didn’t see coming. I don't know if this was an accident or if it was done on purpose.... but it worked. I just hung on to see what these idiots were going to do next and when finally, at least one of them, would take a header off the mountain. I guess it was too much to hope that they would take the others with them. The story can best be described as totally meaningless entertainment...and a pure waste of good reading time.

Say When – Elizabeth Berg
Book on CD narrated by David Colacci
3***

“I think our marriage is like a house we stopped using.”

Griffin is happy; he has a satisfying job, a beautiful wife, Ellen, a delightful daughter, Zoe, and a nice home in a Chicago suburb. But one morning he awakens, and Ellen tells him she has decided they should divorce.

I love how Berg writes about relationships. There are a lot of ups and downs here as the characters navigate the aftermath of Ellen’s stated wishes. Griffin is the narrator, so we get less of Ellen’s thinking than of his, but we still learn something of what led to her decision.

I admit to going back and forth in my loyalties to these two characters. I was sometimes in Griffin’s camp, and sometimes in Ellen’s. (And always in Zoe’s.) As in real life, no one is completely at fault, and no one is completely blameless. They have both gone along with the status quo without really seeing one another or exploring what they really want from the relationship and from life.

There are some heartbreaking scenes, and some very humorous ones (Griffin deciding to get a part-time job as a mall Santa leads to many of these).

The audiobook is narrated by David Colacci, who does a fine job of it.

The Perfume Thief – Timothy Schaffert
Digital audiobook performed by Gabrielle De Cuir and Stefan Rudnicki.
4****

From the book jacket: A Gentleman in Moscow meets Moulin Rouge in this stylish, sexy page-turner about Clementine, a queer American ex-pat and notorious thief who is drawn out of retirement and into one last scam when the Nazis invade Paris on the eve of World War II.

My reactions
This was a marvelous heist caper thriller, featuring interesting characters, several twists and turns and the atmosphere of Paris on the verge of world war. I found it fascinating and exciting and when it was over, I wanted to start it again to catch what I’m sure I must have missed.

Before she lands in Paris in 1930, Clem begins her career in belle-epoch era Manhattan, and travels to Costa Rica and Marrakech in search of ingredients and potions.

Schaffert shines a light on a subset of Parisien society that few tourists experience. Clementine and her friend Zoe St Angel are in a perfect position to encounter some of the famous residents of Paris in this era. They move seamlessly between the artists, crooks, ladies of the evening, and invading Germans. But they have their secrets and their plans to thwart the Nazis. Not only can Clem concoct an intoxicating scent, but she can use her knowledge of chemistry to provide invisible ink or poison, making her a valuable asset to the resistance.

The audiobook is masterfully performed by two talented voice artists: Gabrielle de Cuir and Stefan Rudnicki. They have a lot of characters to handle and I am sure I lost track of the plot a few times. Not to take anything away from their performances, but next time, I’ll read this in text format.

Death Cruise: Crime Stories on the Open Seas / Lawrence Block (ed.)
4 stars

These are mystery short stories mostly set on cruises.

But. Short stories so mostly not memorable by the end of the book, though I really enjoyed most of them as I read them (hence the 4 stars, which is higher than I rate most short story collections). One had a short author’s note at the end, which made me happy because I did wonder (the story took place on the Queen Mary, and there were some interesting stats and uses of the ship during WWII). Unfortunately, one of the last stories (and potentially also the longest), I didn’t like, but almost all the others I really liked. Might help that I have enjoyed the cruises that I’ve taken, so the setting is familiar and enjoyable for me.

No Such Person by Caroline B. Cooney
246 p. - ★ ★ ★ ★

Miranda Allerdon loves her family's summer cottage on the Connecticut River. She loves that her neighbors drop by any time and that the two little boys next door spend more time at her house than at theirs. She starts to question everything, though, when her sister Lander, a beautiful, almost-perfect pre-med student, is accused of murder. Miranda is certain that Lander's new boyfriend has something to do with it. But no one believed her when she said she thought she saw him drop a water skier in front a barge. So Miranda, with the help of a young neighbor, starts investigating on her own.

I thought this was one of Cooney's first adult novels, but I was wrong. This is one of her YA novels, and boy - is it a good one! It kept me guessing up until the end what was going on.

Small Mercies - Dennis Lehane - (Massachusetts)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
5★
The story takes us to Boston and back nearly a half a century. In 1974, when the court ordered school busing, protests erupted throughout many of the white neighborhoods of some previously very segregated cities.... which it seems Boston to have been one of them. Mary Pat Fennessy was a hard-working white woman, the daughter of Irish immigrants, who was trying to keep ahead of the bill collectors. Her relationship with her teenage daughter, Jules, was close, but also trying. She suspected that Jules was keeping secrets. Then one night Jules doesn’t come home, and of course Mary Pat is frantic. The next day at Meadow Lane Manor, a retirement home for the elderly where Mary Pat works as an aide, she learns that the son of Dreamy Williamson, one of her few black co-workers, had died in, what the police are calling, a "mysterious subway incident" that same night. Mary Pat doesn’t really know Dreamy all that well, but she likes her, and is sorry for her loss. It now seems that they have a lot in common...they both have lost children, however they're responses to this event are very different, and... they experience entirely different levels of support from their two communities. Soon they come to learn that these seemingly separate losses; a death and a disappearance...have a connection that neither of them could have ever anticipated. The story mostly focuses on Mary Pat, showing her to be a loving mother and a decent person, but sharing the prejudices of her white, Irish neighborhood toward the people they feel are encroaching on their turf. It’s a hot summer, and tensions are escalating with threats of violence at a fever pitch. Mary Pat keeps trying to find out what happened to Jules and why her, no matter where or what the truth may be. What she discovers is how much she DIDN'T know about her daughter...her neighborhood, and who really has the power and the authority and how long it has gone unchallenged. In spite of their differences and their different circumstances, both mothers are willing to risk everything to learn the truth. It's a good story that will produce a bit of soul-searching.

Old Bones – Douglas Preston & Lincoln Childs
Book on CD narrated by Cynthia Farrell.
3***

First book of the Nora Kelly series. (Note: She has made previous appearances in the Pendergast series.)

Nora is a curator at the Santa Fe Archeological Institute and is approached by historian Clive Benton with an opportunity to lead an expedition to find the Donner Party “Lost Camp.” The hook is the rumor of millions of dollars in gold coins buried at the camp site.

Meanwhile, novice FBI agent Corinne Swanson has been assigned the odd case of a grave robbery cum murder. Researching further she finds several other grave robberies, as well as a missing (and presumed murdered) young woman which all have the same connection: the victims were all descendants of one of the Donner Party members.

The body count goes up as a major spring storm is about to completely cut them off. Is the killer one of the archeological team? Someone from the wilderness outfitter’s team? Has someone been following them? And what about the ghost(s)?

Preston and Childs are great thriller writers. They keep the reader turning pages with short sentences and chapters. They increase the tension and suspense by moving back and forth between the two story lines, until they inevitably intersect.

I really liked Nora as a central character, and hope that she continues to work with Special Agent Swanson, too. And now I really need to start reading the Pendergast series!

Ander & Santi Were Here – Jonny Garza Villa
Digital audiobook performed by Avi Roque
3***

This is a YA gay romance featuring two very likeable young men facing serious life decisions. Ander is an artist and planning to go to college to further his studies in art. He has a chance at a prestigious scholarship, but feels he should take a gap year first. Santiago is an undocumented immigrant without family who takes a job in the restaurant Ander’s family runs. When they meet, sparks fly.

Oh, the intensity of young love. The passion and fierceness of the feelings. I really liked these two young men. Ander is very “out there” … he’s expressive and expansive in his art and in his feelings. He never holds back. Santi is more reserved, partly because of his natural personality, but also partly because he HAS to live under the radar to avoid being deported.

These two face some very tough decisions. Should Ander give up his dream college program because Santi cannot travel with him? Should Santi go back to Mexico to deal with a tragedy in his own family? Can the love they feel for one another survive such a separation? What choices do they have?

They are lucky in that Ander’s family is incredibly supportive of them both. While they are understandably upset that Ander would even consider abandoning his college dreams for Santi, they love him and respect his decisions. And when ICE arrives, they support and fight for Santi equally.

I do have a complaint, however. I’ve seen comparisons to Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and the feelings and tenderness of first love certainly hold up to that comparison, but to ME, the language here (significant use of the ‘F’ bomb) and the sexual content seem more adult than YA. It’s a beautifully told love story, but Villa could have done it with much less swearing and graphic sex.

My Own Two Feet: A Memoir
Beverly Cleary
4/5 stars
This is the second memoir from Beverly Cleary, writer. The book starts with her college years during the depression including WWII, working at a library and ends with the publication of her first book. I really enjoyed this book too! I am surprised this is a Juvenile book but it is definitely a book adults will enjoy!

What He Left Behind - L.A. Witt
Narrator: Dan Rider
Genera: M/M/M Romance
4.5★
It catches your interest from the very first as Michael, Joshes longtime friend, is telling Josh about his inability to trust in a relationship with anyone after his abusive ex. Josh and Michael were each other’s firsts in everything, so Josh is heart- broken for Michael and wants to help. just that when Josh is telling his husband, Ian, that Michael is having problems with others because of Steve his ex, Ian suggests that maybe Josh can help out with that problem. It's a bit on the "maybe" and, the "how can everything possibly NOT go wrong" side...but it made an interesting storyline. My suspicious nature had another reaction to Ian's suggestion... “Who are you sleeping with, Ian?” I thought to myself that NOBODY is that understanding or that good of a friend to suggest his husband sleep with someone without an alternate reason. But... Ian’s reasoning is that he cares about Michael as a friend, and that everything should be done to help him out. And, since Josh was once Michael’s lover, who else could be a better candidate to help Michael? Nobody had to make the suggestion twice and Josh eagerly heads off to help Michael out with his problems, at this point most of the story then becomes an erotic therapeutic journey. Since Michael is doing so well with overcoming his fears, it is then suggested that it’s time to try it out with someone who Michael knows but hasn’t slept with yet...and now we have Ian willingly volunteering for the job. I still felt that no matter how good the intentions, something bad is going to rear its ugly little head. Everyone with the common sense that God gave green apples know that Ian and Josh, really took a chance and that they could have done more harm than good with Michael. And...it did seem to have cause what Josh thought were problems...but I had already worked out the solution and was just waiting for them to get with the program:) There was a happy ending, but I hope that everyone really knows that if this was to cross from fiction to reality the results could be dangerous and even deadly.

Play It by Ear - K.M Neuhold - (Illinois)
Replay series Book #2
Gener: M/M Romance/Disabilities
5★
Possible Triggers amnesia and mental/physical disabilities.
The “Downward Spiral” band has canceled their tour, because their lead singer Lincoln, was hospitalized once again and the band needed to regroup. Lando knows exactly where he is headed…back to the beach in Miami where he last saw the love of his life who vanished without a trace after their "special" weekend. Then he sees Dawson at the bar he just knows his luck is changing. However, it doesn't take long for him to discover that something is very wrong... Dawson isn’t the same man he loved and lost nine years ago. When Dawson’s past "object of lust", Lando, taps him on his shoulder and starts talking to him, he is truly completely confused. "Who is this man"? "Does he or should he know him"? The accident 9-years ago had left him not only clinging to life due to a traumatic brain injury, but it also robbed him of nearly every memory of his life before the accident and took away his hearing as well. Dawson soon learns that Lando was a part of the missing weekend just before the accident. Lando is doing everything in his power to convince the now skeptical and shy Dawson, that he still loves and wants him and not just the man that disappeared from his life and heart, nine long years ago. Seeing how these two men moved forward and grew to be the one that the other one needed, was incredibility special. Lando had to face the fact that the man he's continued to love for the last nine lonely years, was never in a million lifetimes, completely ever be that man again. Lando did everything he could to show Dawson how much he still loved him and that he accepted and loved him for who he was now. He even learned sign language so that he could better communicate on a more personal level. Lando had not only found Dawson but was willing to do anything to keep him. Dawson slowly began to learn to take some risk, not because Lando was a famous rock star, but because he was learning to trust and love him.... again. I can’t find enough good words to describe this book. It gives the reader only a mere glimpse into how lives, can be forever changed by the actions of a carelessness act with severe; never to be undone; consequences. This is a hard book to read if you have experienced something similar or are close to someone that has.

The Good Thief’s Guide to Paris – Charles Ewan
3***

Book two in the Good Thief’s Guide mystery series, has author and thief Charlie Howard in the City of Lights. He agrees to a reading at a bookstore and following the event joins a few people for drinks. Under the influence he agrees to show one of the patrons how to break into a building. Of course, they are breaking into the man’s own apartment. The next day, Charlie is contacted by his usual fence with a new “commission” to steal a painting … at the same apartment. And then things get complicated.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one fell flat for me. Oh, I still like Charlie and I like the way he thinks. He’s fiercely independent but possibly not so good at truly hiding his identity as he has always thought. I enjoyed the introduction of Victoria, his agent; she really added a lot to this episode.

But this plot went all over the place. I never did really figure out the role of a few of the players. One thing I expect of mysteries is that the conclusion answers all my questions, and this one did not. Though he did set up the next in the series rather nicely, so I’ll probably read more.

Our House - Louise Candish - (England)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
2.5★
Fiona (Fi) Lawson discovers strangers moving into her home. Her estranged husband and her sons are nowhere to be seen. This is only the beginning of the nightmare that will turn her life upside down. Fiona “Fi” Lawson loves her house in the posh Alder Rise neighborhood almost as much as she loves her picture-perfect family: husband Bram and rambunctious sons, Harry and Leo. As hard as the author tries for suspense and compassion with Fi, she comes up empty with this character. Her almost stubborn cluelessness about the state of her marriage...even though it is well known that Bram is a serial adulterer, among other things. Also her insistence on being a victim, she even goes so far as to go on a podcast called "The Victim". It makes her a sour protagonist at best. When Fi catches Bram having sex with someone else in the children’s garden playhouse, she throws him out but decides to try a custody arrangement known as a "bird’s nest". This allows the children to stay in the family home and the parents alternate living there as well as at a rented apartment. The setup seems great on paper, but it doesn’t take into account the depths of Bram’s lies, or the yearlong driving ban he’s hidden from Fi, which soon becomes the least of his concerns. The lengths he goes to save himself is unbelievable. The chapters are confusingly split into sections from Fi’s podcast segment, a Word document that’s allegedly Bram’s suicide note, and perspectives from both spouses, making it’s difficult to keep a firm grip on the timeline and to really care as Bram enters into an unnecessarily complicated blackmail scheme. Fi remains annoyingly oblivious to everything even when Bram disappears. I also had a bit of trouble believing that he sold the Alder Rise house without her knowledge. Wasn't her name on the deed? I'll give the story a maybe it could happen on that as things may be done differently in England. For a novel concerned with connections and trust, this one fails to connect on either level, The characters are so wrapped up in their own problems that the word or the meaning of “family” means nothing to them.

Whispers
Dean Koontz
4/5 stars
This is a very suspenseful novel about a woman and filmmaker, Hilary Thomas who is being stalked by a mad man named Bruno Fyre. When he has been found dead, she is relieved, but he is still haunting her from the grave or is someone else terrorizing her. I enjoyed this book. 1980

Strike A Chord - K.M. Neuhold - (Oregon)
Replay Series Book #4
Genea: M/M Romance/Musicians
4★
This series is about rock stars, their fame and how it changes their lives....and not always for the better. Benji has always been the “good one” in the band. He just does his job and doesn’t make waves like the others. All he wants is to do is go home for Christmas to see his mom and dad and hang out with his best friend, London. What he doesn’t expect though, is for London’s identical twin brother...Paris, cute...I wonder where Rome is. Too bad they weren't triplets. Sorry, I regress. Benji has had a crush on Paris ever since the moment he first saw him in high school...for him to be home for the holidays was a big surprise. Paris has not had a good year... shoulder injury, reconstruction surgery and 10 months later he's still in therapy...and last but not least, his cheating boyfriend dumps him. So, when London suggests that Benji and Paris pose as fake boyfriends for publicity reason they both say “no way” ...at first. But very soon opportunity reopens that door, and the question becomes; can these two guys really “fake it” when they both have long time hidden feelings for each other without the other realizing it? I have given the first 3 books well deserving 5-star ratings, but this one will only get 4, as the ending felt rushed and the epilog was disappointing and very short. Overall, K.M. Neuhold is one of my favorite M/M romance authors so I would have been surprised if the story had been anything other than a worthwhile read with wonderful, hot and sexy characters. Maybe it was just knowing that this was the last book in the Replay series that made me want a bit more.

The Viscount Who Loved Me – Julia Quinn
Digital audiobook performed by Rosalyn Landor
3***

Book two in the Bridgerton series focuses on Anthony. He knows he is destined to die young, because his father died suddenly of a bee sting. And he is determined to marry well, but NOT to love his wife. The perfect candidate is the “Incomparable” Edwina Sheffield. But Edwina’s older half-sister, Kate, while not the beauty that Edwina is, captures Anthony’s attention with her intelligence and wit. And when he happens upon her just as a bee has stung her he insists on sucking out the venom, leading to the couple being discovered in a very compromising position. Nothing to be done but to marry Kate. Oh, well, what difference can it make. He won’t love his wife in any case. Or will he?

This is a typical Regency romance. It’s so hot between the pages that the current August heat wave feels positively cool. Devilishly handsome, and very rich, gentleman meets and seduces a chaste and vulnerable young woman. Sparks fly. Multiple orgasms are had. True love results. What’s not to like? A quick read that sets my pulse racing. Perfect escape.

The audiobook is capably narrated by Rosalyn Landor. She sets a good pace and has clear diction.

Bluebird, Bluebird / Attica Locke
3.75 stars

Darren is a black man and a Texas Ranger. Though he is on suspension, he gets a tip that there have been two murders one county over – a black man and a white woman. Bodies found in the river a few days apart. Initially, he heads over just to see what things are looking like. Turns out there is an active chapter of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (a modern-day KKK) in this small town where there hasn’t been even one murder in decades. When he does get the go ahead from his Ranger supervisor to help investigate, the local sheriff isn’t thrilled.

I mostly liked this, but some of the flashbacks to previous happenings didn’t completely hold my interest. I liked Darren, but didn’t like some of the other characters much. I feel like dark and gritty are good words to describe this one. I do plan to continue with book 2 at some point.

Lottery of Secrets / Nadija Mujagic
4 stars

Lynn has won 5 million dollars in the lottery. But she doesn’t want to tell her abusive husband, Jimmy. She plans to donate the money to charity. She is sick and doesn’t want him getting his hands on any of the money. But then the threats start.

There are more layers to this than I’ve mentioned. I’m not sure how much I want to give away (even if much of it is revealed early on, and I think much more is said in some of the other reviews).

Lynn is a very unreliable narrator. I thought all the feelings she went through after winning (about winning) probably were legitimate, but stacked on top of that was all the abuse she’s suffered over decades. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. There was a surprise/twist near the end, but then it ended so abruptly, so that was disappointing, as it seems it is meant to continue in another book. If it wasn’t for the (non?) ending, I might have rated it a bit higher.

Rosemary– Kate Clifford Larson
Book on CD narrated by Bernadette Dunn
4****

Subtitle: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter

After two healthy boys, Rose and Joseph P Kennedy had a baby girl, whom they named Rosemary. She was apparently healthy and robust, but as she grew to toddler age, it was clear that her development lagged behind her siblings. Soon her younger sisters, Kathleen and Eunice, surpassed Rosemary’s capabilities, both physically and mentally.

Larson does a fine job of detailing Rosemary’s life, and that of the Kennedy family. Their ups, downs, successes and tragedies have been chronicled frequently, but little has been known about Rosemary.

The Kennedy’s did all they (and their money) could in order to provide sheltered educational opportunities for Rosemary, but as she grew up her behavioral issues exacerbated. When she was in her early twenties, Joe decided the best treatment was a newly touted operation – a frontal lobotomy. His expectation was that Rosemary’s emotional outbursts would stop, leaving her more docile and obedient. Unfortunately, the operation went awry, and Rosemary was left with severe mobility issues as well as extremely limited intellectual capacity. Joe eventually placed his oldest daughter at St Colletta’s School in Jefferson, Wisconsin, where she lived out her life in a private cottage, with two full-time caregivers.

Intent on building a political dynasty, Joe and Rose Kennedy insisted on keeping their oldest daughter’s condition a secret from all but a few close friends. Even Rosemary’s younger siblings knew little about her. Rose didn’t see her daughter for decades. Only Rosemary’s sister Eunice visited with any regularity. And Eunice, along with her children, worked to form several charities to care for and support those with mental, intellectual and mobility disabilities.

Bernadette Dunn does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She has clear diction and sets a good pace.

The Searcher - Tana French - (Ireland)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
5★
Our main character is Cal Hooper originally from North Carolina but has spent the last 30 years in Chicago with the Chicago Police. At this time in his life, he's searching for something much different. He says he wants “A small place...a small town...in a small country”. He sells his house, collects his retirement, says good-bye to his friends, and moves to Ireland. His daughter is now an adult, his wife has left him, so Cal is on his own...that is until a kid named Trey starts hanging around. Trey’s brother, Brendan, is missing. Everyone believes that Brendan has run off like his father did, but Trey thinks there’s more to the story than just another young guy leaving his family behind in search of money and excitement in the city. Trey wants the police detective who just emigrated from America, to find out what’s really happened to Brendan. Cal is interested and tempted, but he's a new arrival to a small, tight-knit community, so he’s cautious and unsure how he feels about discovering that he hasn't left crime and violence behind when he left Chicago and his police life. I liked the "Cal" character. He's complex just enough to be interesting, and he doesn't just jump in headfirst to solve this mystery. As it turns out the mystery, he’s decided to try to solve is less shocking than what he actually discovers. I liked the "slowness" of the story. It's neither fast-paced nor action-packed, and it has as much to do with Cal’s personal life as it does with finding Brendan. There is some action, but it's mainly in the last third of the story. The only thing that I found about the book that might bother some folks is the morally ambiguous ending. Overall, the author delivers plenty of twists, some shocking revelations, and some truly chilling moments. It's a story with several delicious layers of intrigue. Mystery fans that are willing to "wait for it", will probably like this one.

The Haunting of Elmwood Manor - Pamela McCord
Pekin Dunlap Series
Genera: YA/Paranormal
4★
I work with a wonderful group of LGBTQ kids from 12-17 years old. Several of them love to read as much as I do, so we formed a Friday afternoon reading group. They pick the book and they set the "rules", which are very few. But one of their rules was that they each to explain why they likes or didn't like the book and the dislikes couldn't be overly critical. Usually, they pick books with a gay or trans character, but this was the book they chose for January that they finished last Friday. I think they related to and put the feeling that they experience or have experienced, into the Pekin character

15-year-old, Pekin Dewlap, is starting her own ghost-hunting business and plans to get her best friends, Amber and Scout, to join her. She has chosen to clean up haunted houses because, up until middle school, she was able to communicate with the spirits. She tells her mother, Melissa, who used to have that same ability, “I want to be special again.” Pekin already has a customer... Elonia Collins, who says the property she inherited at 12 Elmwood is haunted. Elonia is fairly sure the spirit is Miranda Talbert, who was 14 when she disappeared in the house in 1918. Pekin is joined by her two reluctant friends, and encounters Miranda on her first visit to the Manor. Miranda is reluctant at first but soon becomes comfortable with the trio and tells them that she was murdered. My group of kids really liked this next part.... during the attack, Miranda bit off and swallowed one of the killer’s fingers, keeping him from crossing over when he died. Since then, the culprit has been imprisoned at Elmwood Manor, and has been tormenting Miranda. The three friends, with the help of a local psychic Mildred “Mildew” Willingham, now have to figure out the best way to banish the killer and help Miranda move on. I've picked just a couple of the things the kids said they liked and disliked about the book.
What they didn't like:
1."Pekin and her friends had to deal with some very emotional changes in their lives. just like we do...sometimes everyday...but she never gave up." (This was from Steven one of my 16-year-olds)
2. "People judged Pekin for being able to see things that they couldn't see and thought she was lying. Just because she was a kid didn't mean she would lie about this. You shouldn't judge people because they are different than you." (Abby -12)
3. "Pekin's friends didn't want to help her and she might have gotten killed or hurt if she had had to do this by herself. You should always help people if you can...especially your friends.". (Amanda - 14)

What They Liked:
1."The story was good because it showed that friends are important and you should be willing to listen to what people have to say even if you don't believe like they do". (Taylor - 13)
2. "Miranda the ghost was scary but she didn't mean to scare Pekin and her friends who were trying to help her". (Lynne) 12)
3 "I like ghost stories and mystery stories and reading with my friends. This is a good place to spend my time and I feel that I have friends here that will help me just like Penkin did." -(Danny - 14) (Danny is one of our newest kids and he has a lot to work out yet in his life.)

The kids all liked that when the three friends inevitably get in over their heads, they are willing to seek help from the adults in their lives, especially Mildew, and that the adults could be trusted to help them. Oh, and of course the bitten off and swallowed finger was a big hit along with a great deal of chuckling and gagging:)

Overall, they agreed on a 4★ rating.

From Out in The Cold - LA Witt - (Illinois, California)
Genera: M/M Romance/Trama
4★
Possible Triggers: War related PTSD/ death of a partner
There was so much personal turmoil in this story. Everything from the loss of a husband...war related PTSD...homophobic unreasonable parents...so much so until a good story idea from a wonderful favorite author became almost overwhelming. L A Witts books are not usually like this. I was happy that the two guys didn't torment one another and soon came to a satisfying conclusion...but the trip to get there was something else. I hated Jeremy's homophobic parents. I just don't get how people that have loved and raised a child can do these things. If you like L.A. Witt's books...and I certainly do ...you will stay the course with this one...otherwise, probably not.

The Reformatory -Tananarive Due - (Florida)
Genera: Mystery/Thriller/Racial Violence
5★
Possible Triggers: Racial Violence
It's a mix of horror, and historical fiction, that tells a story of inequality, ghosts, abuse, and the power of love between siblings. It also explores racism that exited in Florida; actually, in a lot of the south. in the 1950's... a place where race relations weren't much better than they'd been in 1865, the year that the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and gave people of color their freedom. However, it didn't offer equality. It's the summer of 1950 when 12-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr. and his older sister Gloria, meet up with 17-yera old, Lyle McCormack, the son of Red McCormack, the man who basically owns and runs the small town of Gracetown. Lyle gives Gloria a look that most any adult will understand, and then touches her arm and says things he never should have said. Meaning only to defend his sister... Robbie kicks him. Robbie's efforts were well intended but he still gets a bloody ear from Red and a six-month sentence at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory with a dark past in which boys of all races often vanish forever, from the state. It's doesn't come as a big surprise that the school is full of racists and Robbie soon learns that the punishment...no matter how small the offense, is quickly administered, extreme, physical, and very, very common. What is a surprise is that Robbie finds he can see ghosts, all the time and everywhere. They don't harm Robbie and he soon learns how to deal with them. He even believes that he can communicate with his dead mother through the pipes in the showers. Most of the ghosts begin to show signs of their past violence and Robbie starts to unveil the school's dark, and violent history through these apparitions. Gloria does everything in her power to rescue her little brother while also coping with their father's absence and the changing ways in which she has to navigate the world as a black girl that's now seen as a "young black woman" by the people of the town. I was born and grew up in Florida, so I wasn't too surprised that I found that there was a great deal of truth in this haunting story that delves deep into the realities of what is known as the "Jim Crow South". The horrors of schools like the Gracetown School for Boys and the atrocities that went on inside their walls, were unfortunately real. The author manages beautifully to deliver a historical fictional narrative that will hit readers in the face with the ugliness of racism, while she also makes every hero in the story a person of color and excellence...figures like Zora Neale Hurston, Thurgood Marshall, and Louis Armstrong. Yes, there is a great deal of abuse here and discriminating words are constantly used as a weapon to insult and degrade folks, but ultimately the narrative comes across with love and perseverance making it memorable.

Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight
Janet Evanovich
3.5/5 stars
Stephanie Plum is back in her 28th book and she is with Diesel, who also apprehends criminals too! This time they are going after Oswald Wednesday. He is known for hacking computers and he is killing off other hackers who hacked into his network! I like her stories which are fun and not too involved!

You May Also Like / Tom Vanderbilt
3.5 stars

The author looks at what people like, why we like those things, etc. Our “taste” so to speak (not the sense of taste, but our “taste” for what we like). He does, of course, discuss food, but there is also a chapter (I found this one particularly interesting) on online reviews and recommendations, etc. Other chapters include museums/art, ways to describe why we like something, and more.

Not too much to say about this. I found it (mostly) interesting and easy to read. Oddly, although I’m not really one for art appreciation, I remember that chapter a bit more than some of the others (also the online review chapter, but that may not be a surprise considering I am writing a review to post online…!).

All The Forgivenesses - Elizabeth Hardinger - (Kentucky/Kansas)
Genera: Historical Fiction
5★
It's 1906, and the Sweet family is gathered in Kentucky for a family reunion and "pig killing day". Bertie is a little over six years old and has been given the task of watching Timmy, her three-year old brother. Her Mother and the other women are taking care of the meat, and her dad and brothers go off to hunt with the other men. Baby sister, Darcia is put down for a nap. all is well and just as it is almost any day until...it isn't! Later in the day Bertie discovers that Timmy is missing. The search begins for him begins but it is too late...his body is found in the creek the next morning. Life, of course, immediately changes for the family, especially the remaining children. Six-year-old Bertie becomes the mother, the cook, the one that tries to hold the family together and who tries not to attract the attention of their father...who just comes and goes without much purpose. The story follows Bertie through her adolescence, her marriage, and into her adulthood. We see how she carries her childhood experiences into her marriage. Her husband, Sam, is a much better provider for the family than her own father ever was, and he is a kind, and patient man. They soon move from Kentucky to the oil fields of Kansas for work. I learned that this book was inspired by the stories told by the author's mother and aunts, All The Forgivenesses "is a captivating novel of family loyalty, redemption, and resilience" , a quote from Goodreads. I absolutely, 100%, agree. There are parts of the story that are heartbreaking, and we find that Bertie is by no means perfect or a superhero. She never really had a childhood past age 6. She has numerous flaws that she carries with her into the different aspects of her life...but we also see that she had many strengths. The story is really sad but also very beautiful.

Bombay Time – Thirty Umrigar
4****

Umrigar’s debut novel focuses on the residents of a particular middle-class apartment building in Bombay.

The apartment dwellers who have long lived at Wadi Baug come together to celebrate the wedding of one young man. As they arrive at the reception, each, in turn, reflects on his/her life and how they came to live in this community of Parsi men and women. One man descends into alcoholism. A woman is an incorrigible gossip. One man thinks on his betrayal and heartbreak. A widow who has retreated into herself is finally seen with compassion. One local man has risen above and become very wealthy, but still lives in the same apartment because it feels like home. And a couple struggle to find the love and attraction that drew them together in the first place.

Umrigar’s writing is full of the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this vibrant community. Several scenes are shockingly brutal – abject poverty, violence, pestilence. And then there are scenes of loving tenderness – a new baby, a man’s love for his wife, the devotion between a mother and daughter.

The Word Exchange / Alena Graedon
2.75 stars

It’s a little bit into the future and almost everyone uses a “Meme”, a recent handheld device that does pretty much everything, including coming up with language/words for people to use. Print dictionaries are almost at an end. Doug is working on the last one that will be printed, but when he disappears, he leaves a clue for his daughter, Anana. While she searches for him, Memes start controlling more and more of people’s language as they also need to pay for words (via “The Word Exchange”. Not only that, there is now a “word flu” making its rounds where people are not only not feeling well, they are garbelling their words.

I feel like I might have liked it better and paid better attention if I hadn’t listened to the audio. I got the gist of the bulk of what was happening, and was a little bit interested, but not completely. Hmm, in some ways (based on other reviews), maybe the audio was better? I didn’t notice too many super-big words that made it hard to understand, and I mostly didn’t have an issue understanding what people were trying to say when garbled words were coming out – that was likely easier due to hearing the “word” rather than reading it. Overall, I’m rating it just under “ok”.