WHAT ARE WE READING AND REVIEWING IN MAY 2022?

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WHAT ARE WE READING AND REVIEWING IN MAY 2022?

1Carol420
Editado: Abr 22, 2022, 11:12 am



Tell Us what books that you plan to read in May.

2Carol420
Editado: Maio 31, 2022, 11:18 am



Carol's May Reading Plans
💐 - ★
💐Intelligence Check - Katheryn McIntyre - 4.5★ (March Early Readers - (Didn't receive until 5/26)
💐Stronger Than Passion Katherine McIntyre - 5+★ (April Early reviewers)
💐Conspiracy Theory - Elle Keaton - 3.5★ (Pick A Wiinner Make A Friend)
💐The Reality of Us - Vanessa North - 4★
💐Ashes Beneath Her - JR Erickson - 4.5★
💐Sister Dear - Hannah Mary McKinnon - 2.5★
💐Wrong Place, Wrong Time - W. Glenn Duncan - 3★
💐Cover of Night - Linda Howard - 4.5★
💐The Widower’s Wife - Cate Holahan - 4★
💐The Hockey Player's Heart - 5★
💐Seven Perfect Things -Catherine Ryan Hyde - 5★
💐Where Shadows Meet - Colleen Coble - 2.3★
💐Fletcher - M. Tasia - 5★
💐The Fear Hunter - Elise Sax - 2.5★
💐Zero At The Bone - Jane Seville- 4.5★
💐 Always Time to Die - Elizabeth Lowell - 3.5★
💐Third You Die - Scott Sherman - 4.5★
💐Color of You - C.S. Poe - 5★
💐Can't Hide From Me - Cordelia Kingsbridge - 3.5★
💐Storm Season - Elle Keaton - 5★
💐After The Fire - Felice Stevens - 5★
💐Embrace The Fire - Felice Stevens - 4.5★
💐Tattoos & Teacups - Anna Martin - 4★
💐Chase the Sun - Christina Lee - 4★
💐Never Saw It Coming - Linwood Barclay - 5★
💐Run Rose, Run - Dolly Parton and James Patterson - 3★
💐Fear Thy Neighbor - Fern Michaels - 5★
💐Hurry Home - Roz Nay- 4★
💐Midnight Sun - Ramsey Campbell - 3★
💐The Bone Field - Debra Bokur - 4★
💐No Surrender, Badlands - Morgan Brice - 5★
💐The Druid Stone Heidi Belleau- 4★
💐In The Weeds - Andrew Grey - 5★
💐Rescue Me - K.M. Neuhold - 4★
💐Second You Sin - Scott Sherman - 4★
💐Backward - Andrew Grey - 5★
💐Round and Round - Andrew Grey - 5★
💐Not Dead Enough - Peter James- 5★ (Reread)
💐Over and Back - Andrew Grey -5★
💐Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled - Dorothy Gilman -3★
💐Where You Are - J.H. Trumble - 4.5★
💐Don't Let Me Go - J.H. Trumble - 4.5 ★

3sturlington
Maio 1, 2022, 8:22 am

Up next I have Ring Shout and The Seep.

4Carol420
Maio 1, 2022, 8:46 am


Cover of Night - Linda Howard - (Idaho)
4.5★
n the charming rural town of Trail Stop, Idaho, accessible to the outside world by only a single road, young widow Cate Nightingale lives peacefully with her four-year-old twin boys, running a bed-and-breakfast. Though the overnight guests are few and far between–occasional hunters and lake fishermen–Cate always manages to make ends meet with the help of the local jack-of-all-trades, Calvin Harris, who can handle everything from carpentry to plumbing. But Calvin is not what he seems, and Cate’s luck is about to run out.

All of Linda Howard's stories seem to be filled with lots of dangerous people, hard-core emotions, and some really well-done writing. Oh, and let's not forget the sexy romance. This one was certainly no exception. The character of Cate was a strong heroine who holds her own when it comes to building a new life as a widow and getting out into the wilderness to help save the town. If you read many of this genre of books you will figure out fairly quick how it was going to end. You will laugh, maybe shed a few tears, but above all you'll cheer.

5BookConcierge
Maio 1, 2022, 11:18 am


Malice In the Highlands – Graham Thomas
3***

From the book jacket: Detective Chief Superintendent Erskine Powell of New Scotland Yard (is) a member of the New Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad in London. Now, seeking distance from criminal concerns, Powell embarks on a salmon-fishing competition in the Scottish Highlands. But there, in the castle-dotted countryside along the picturesque River Spey, a cold-blooded murderer soon turns Powell’s haven into a busman’s holiday – and a quiet anglers’ paradise becomes just as deadly as the mean streets of London.

My reactions
Thank heavens the author’s writing is NOT so overwrought as the book jacket blurb!

This is a police-procedural mystery with a likeable lead character. It’s clear that Powell needs a vacation and really wants nothing more than to enjoy his holiday in peace. But he’s drawn in when the wealthy Canadian owner of an estate next to the resort is fished out of the river by one of the tourists, and the local coroner determines that his death was NOT an accidental drowning. The laird’s daughter and servants aren’t very forthcoming or cooperative, the resort lodge’s staff and owner are similarly tight-lipped, and Powell gets drawn into the case however reluctantly.

There are plenty of suspects, and a mishmash of clues and subplots to keep things interesting. I did not solve the case ahead of Powell and was happy to be surprised by how things turned out. At least as far as whodunit is concerned. What happened after the reveal was a little less satisfying, as I didn’t feel it showed how a true Yard detective would have behaved.

Still, it was a thoroughly satisfying mystery, and I would read more of this series.

6Carol420
Editado: Maio 1, 2022, 4:02 pm


Fletcher - M. Tasia - (Michigan)
Fire Lake Book #2
4★
BLOOD BROTHERS...Fletcher Daniels has family. The family he chose. His Navy SEAL family. Those who share his DNA are dead to him, except his brother Kyle. When Kyle disappears, Fletcher is forced to confront his “blood” family, whose mere presence makes going through Hell Week at BUD/S feel like a walk in the park. Saving Kyle is fraught with intrigue and betrayal. With his real “brothers” at his back, and the addition of a tough sheriff who’s decided Fletcher is his, they uncover unthinkable crimes. Elias Cooper thought he’d left military maneuvers behind when he retired from the Marines and became the sheriff of Marshall County. Working with Fletcher and his team brought it all back. Now, Elias will do everything and anything to keep the man he loves alive, especially when the pain in the ass doesn’t want the help. Two tough men with hardened hearts come to learn the meaning of community and love.

Fletcher has all the family that he wants or needs...his SEAL brothers. Now he also has Sheriff Elias Cooper. I hated Fletcher's blood family except for his brother. Poor guy. I can't imagine these people being allowed to raise a dog much less a child. There was so many things happening here but the core was Fletcher's relationship with his guy, sheriff Elias. He knows that he was lucky to have him as well as his "family". Not his blood family, but the guys that always have his back and he calls his friends. There was some good action and even a little mystery. Overall it was a well rounded story. Fletcher summed it up in the end saying, "Family means everything, especially the family that you choose and it's even better when they choose you".

7Carol420
Editado: Maio 2, 2022, 8:34 am


Chase The Sun - Christina Lee - (Oregon/California)
Free Fall Series Book #2
4★
Jamie and Conner are as different as night and day. Even after years of living apart, they still have a blast together—but now it’s mixed with an undeniable spark of attraction. Before they know it, they can’t keep their hands off each other. For Conner it’s all new and exciting, but Jamie isn’t the type of guy who takes this sort of intimacy lightly. Conner soon realizes that Jamie quenches something deep inside of him that no one has before, but he doesn’t know how to handle a real relationship. As Jamie’s time in LA comes to an end, and the more they struggle to get on the same page about their feelings, the more Jamie realizes that trying to tie Conner down is as futile as capturing the sun.

Connor and Jamie grew up in the same small town in Oregon, but their core differences could have had almost had them living on different planets. Connor's parents were the town hippies...known for smoking and growing weed, having an open relationship and being "free spirits". As soon as Connor could leave, he made his way to LA where he had a series of jobs as well as roommates and generally drifts his way through life. Jamie's family is more traditional. After graduating from high school, he works at the repair shop owned and run by his family, while continuing to live at home with his father and his mother who has MS. Connor's uncle dies and leaves him a vintage car, which Jamie, his childhood friend, offers to get running and bring to him in LA. When Jamie arrives the two of them start learning that there is more out there than the life that either of them had been living. They say opposites attract and it was certainly true of these two sweet guys. Connor, who is outspoken and vibrant, and Jamie who is shyer and more reserved, soon learn that together they bring out the best in each other. Together they are a couple that you can't wait to see their "together". This was a lovely story of two young men learning more about themselves, about life, even as they’re learning about falling in love.

8Carol420
Maio 2, 2022, 1:08 pm


Fear Thy Neighbor - Fern Michaels -(Florida)
5★
At twenty-nine, Alison Marshall is ready to find a place to call home. With no family and no ties, she’s drifted from one small Florida town to another since high school, working odd jobs, saving hard, and building a nest egg. Once she finds the right place to settle down, she’ll know. And when she reaches beautiful Palmetto Island, she thinks she may have found it. The small, close-knit island community seems to have everything Alison needs. On a hunch, she contacts the island’s only realtor, and learns that an old beach house is on the market. Miraculously, it’s in her budget, and Alison takes it as another sign that she’s in the right place. At first, home is everything she hoped it would be. But as days turn into weeks, she uncovers a dark side to this supposedly peaceful haven. The locals have a secret, and once Alison discovers what it is, she faces a stark choice. She can stay and join them—or escape. But leaving brings its own risks, and Alison is starting to wonder if coming to Palmetto Island is the last mistake she’ll ever make.

I started this yesterday and didn't something I haven't done in ages...I stayed up until morning to finish it. I then found that I was actually disappointed that it had ended...that there wasn't any more story. Just when Alison starts to make friends and is happy with her decision and her new home.... strange things begin to happen. This is where I knew I COULD NOT stop reading! She finds a bone. ...you can use your imagination to guess what kind...as she's clearing up overgrowth on her property. She then learns this is not the first time that bones came from here. Then she hears the rumors of missing children and cult activity, or is it just rumors? Slowly she knows that her first thoughts on the discoveries were right. Still, she wants to spend time in her nice cottage on the beach. She has now set herself on a course that may change her life forever. The characters are both likable and questionable. The plot is breathtaking and events are sometimes horrific, but be assured the book will hold onto you until the end and afterwards.

9sturlington
Maio 3, 2022, 7:18 am

I finished The Seep and started Black Widows.

10Carol420
Maio 3, 2022, 9:34 am


Zero At The Bone - Jane Seville - (Ohio)
4.5★
After witnessing a mob hit, surgeon Jack Francisco is put into protective custody to keep him safe until he can testify. A hitman known only as D is blackmailed into killing Jack, but when he tracks him down, his weary conscience won't allow him to murder an innocent man. Finding in each other an unlikely ally, Jack and D are soon on the run from shadowy enemies. Forced to work together to survive, the two men forge a bond that ripens into unexpected passion. Jack sees the wounded soul beneath D's cold, detached exterior, and D finds in Jack the person who can help him reclaim the man he once was. As the day of Jack's testimony approaches, he and D find themselves not only fighting for their lives... but also fighting for their future. A future together.

This has been on my "To Read" list for a long, long time. I have to admit the title was a bit of a turn off, but I finally decided that it was time and if I didn't like it I could always just close the book or shut off the sound...something I have trouble doing. Well, I did neither. I loved the story and the two characters. It definitely was the most unlikely love story I have ever encountered since D is the hitman that has been sent to kill Jack, a surgeon who was unlucky enough to be at the wrong place at the wrong time...which means he's now the key witness against a huge mob boss and everyone is out to get him. D is a hitman with a conscience and a heart. He doesn't kill people who don't deserve it, and he feels that Jack, an innocent surgeon, falls under that umbrella, so D takes Jack under his wing to protect him. Just because D doesn't kill him, doesn't mean that there aren't other hitmen that will. There is so much more to this story line...both from D and Jack's side...and as they run for their lives...they both find a new reason why they really need to live. It's a very long story but I recommend the audio version. I truly enjoyed Alan Smith's rendition. I have several favorites narrators, but it was the first time hearing him. I have added him to my favorite's list.

11JulieLill
Maio 3, 2022, 12:20 pm

The Cement Garden
Ian McEwan
4/5 stars
When their parents died, four children were left behind in their home. Though they were capable of informing the authorities, they stayed in the house doing whatever they wished. I do like McEwen and his dark stories.

12Carol420
Maio 3, 2022, 5:13 pm


After The Fire - Felice Stevens - (New York)
Through Hell and Back series Book #2
5★
A single bullet destroyed the dreams of Dr. Jordan Peterson. With his lover dead, Jordan descends into an endless spiral of self-destruction that nearly costs him his friends, his career and his life. When Jordan finds himself working closely with the aloof Lucas Conover, the investment banker's mysterious past and unexpected kindness shocks him back into a life and emotions he'd thought lost forever. The betrayal by the foster brother he'd worshiped taught Lucas Conover never to trust or believe in anyone. Living a solitary life doesn't free him of the nightmare of his youth; it reinforces his belief that he would never fall in love. When the death of one of his clients forces him to work closely with Dr. Jordan Peterson, he meets a person whose suffering exceeds his own. Though Jordan rejects his effort to help, something within Luke pushes him discover more about the first man to ever get under his skin. As Luke lets down his guard and Jordan lets go of his pain, desire takes control. Each man must come to terms with past struggles if they are to create a future together. And learning to trust in themselves and love again after tragedy and a lifetime of pain, may be the only thing that saves them in the end.

Another Incredible story by Felice Stevens and a wonderful reading by Kale Williams. It has thought-filled characters, emotional and heartfelt feelings, and well done hot sexiness. Life is complicated and we all have issues. It's how we deal with them and who we surround ourselves with that matters. Honesty, understanding, patience, compassion, acceptance and true love are all here to enjoy. Realistic characters and a heart wrenching tale are so vividly written and will hold your attention to the end. I loved Asher and Drew, in the first book, plus the family and friend, so it was great to see them again, because the story is richer if you know the characters deeply. Dr. Jordan Petersen, and Investment Banker, Lucas Conover each have issues, each a different upbringing, and they have to work out those issues, let go, be open and honest to let new hopes, new desires, and new love in. Lucas presented Jordan with the Trust that Keith left him to take care of abused young kids and to get guns of the streets. Jordan has heavy problems with the anti-anxiety meds, and hides it from everyone. He's wallowed in sorrow over Keith's death for nearly a year. The Trust and community center give him hope, and Lucas gives him hope for love, also. Lucas is "Luke" from Ash's childhood. Dr. Tash is introduced, and we will see more of him in book three. I really enjoyed the journey of this story.

13LibraryCin
Maio 3, 2022, 10:41 pm

Breathless / Amy McCulloch
4.25 stars

Cecily is a reporter who has only tried climbing the three highest mountains in England, Scotland, and Wales. Her ex (and fellow reporter), James, was the mountain climber and he wanted to do the three in 24 hours. Although Cecily failed to do it, she was hailed a hero after she stayed with someone while rescuers were on their way. Cecily’s blog (to James’ consternation) brought her to the attention of famous climber, Charles McVeigh, who is trying to climb (I can’t recall how many) 8,000 m peaks in a year without Oxygen or fixed ropes (alpine style). He has one peak left to do and he invites Cecily to join him with the promise of an exclusive story if she can summit.

Unfortunately, people are dying on the mountain. That’s not unusual in mountain climbing, but there is something suspicious here. And Cecily (along with a few others) is convinced she often hears someone whistling outside her tent some nights; she follows one night to find a lone tent no one knew was there. As a reporter, she also tends to ask a lot of questions.

This pulled me in right away and I thought it was suspenseful from the start. But then, I like thrillers, as well as mountain-climbing stories, though I’m not sure I’ve ever read a fictional mountain climbing story – they can be suspenseful and exciting all on their own without adding a murder mystery to the mix! I did pick out someone as suspicious early on in the book. No surprise to read at the end that the author has climbed this particular mountain in the story herself.

14LibraryCin
Maio 3, 2022, 10:57 pm

Becoming Mrs. Lewis / Patti Callahan
2 stars

When New York author Joy starts corresponding with C.S. Lewis, she is beyond thrilled. They discuss religion in their letters and she is happy to be able to travel to England to meet him (while leaving her husband and two sons behind). Of course, she falls in love with him.

I listened to the audio, and though I lost focus sometimes in the first half, I was pretty much paying attention in the second half, but it didn’t help the story any. I probably did miss some things in the first half of the book, as Joy eventually accused her husband of abuse, but that’s something I completely missed (although he did cheat on her with her cousin).

With regard to the “relationship” between Joy and “Jack” (C. S. Lewis’ nickname), apparently this was based on real life (I had just assumed it was completely fictional), but in the story itself, I didn’t see or “get” it. Yeah, she was head over heels for him, but I didn’t see that he loved her at all. All the gushing at the end was just ridiculously eye-rolling and gag-inducing to me. I didn’t believe it. Oh, and the religious stuff bored me.

15Carol420
Editado: Maio 4, 2022, 1:25 pm


The Druid Stone - Heidi Belleau - (Ireland)
Layers of The Otherworld series Book #1
4★
"Sean never asked to be an O'Hara, and he didn't ask to be cursed by one either." After inheriting a hexed druid stone from his great-grandfather, Sean starts reliving another man's torture and death...every single night. And only one person can help. Cormac Kelly runs a paranormal investigation business and doesn't have time to deal with misinformed tourists like Sean. But Sean has real magic in his pocket, and even though Cormac is a descendant of legendary druids, he soon finds himself out of his depth...and not because Sean's the first man he's felt anything for in a long time. The pair develop an unexpected and intensely sexual bond, but are threatened at every turn when Sean's case attracts the unwelcome attention of the mad sidhe lords of ancient Ireland. When Sean and Cormac are thrust backward in time to Ireland's violent history—and their own dark pasts—they must work together to escape the curse and save their fragile relationship.

The author uses a mix of Celtic mythology, magic, history, time travel, and romance create this epic story. I found the characters to be interesting and there was definitely a lot of complexity. The only issue I had was how confusing the plot became at times, and I had a hard time following along without having to do some re-reading. I heard Scottish and Irish spoken all my life, so I didn't have any problem understanding the reader, but I think anyone that was unfamiliar with the accent and some of the terminology might have difficulty with it. I also had difficulty telling if the point of view being expressed was Connor's or Sean's. There are a lot of supporting characters, including creatures, animals, a wonderfully accepting family, really good friends and former lovers. I do wish there had been a bit more romance between Connor and Sean but overall, it was a really good story with some outstanding creepy bits.

16Carol420
Maio 5, 2022, 9:20 am


The Bone Field - Debra Bokur - (Hawaii)
Dark Paradise Mystery series Book #2
4★
Kali Mahoe has been called to a bizarre crime scene. In the recesses of a deep trench on Lana’i Island’s pineapple fields, the skeletal remains of someone buried decades ago has been found inside an old refrigerator. The body is headless, the skull replaced with a chilling adornment: a large, ornately carved wooden pineapple. Kali’s investigation leads her to an unlikely suspect, an illegal cock-fighting organization, and a strange symbol connected to a long-disbanded religious cult. Kali solves cases using logic and reason, not the unknown or unexplainable, which might help her unravel an increasingly mind-boggling series of deadly events. Because the dormant pineapple fields of Lana’i have yet to give up their darkest and most terrifying secrets.

Kali is a young Hawaiian police officer who teams up with her uncle Walter for another very strange case along with what they thought would be merely pedestrian police work. Soon they find that their puzzling investigation involves a very strange cult. Some tourists have discovered a refrigerator containing a headless skeleton with the head having been replaced with a carved pineapple. Strange hardly covers this case. When more bodies are uncovered, they have to work even harder to figure out how they are all connected, who the killer could be and how this weird cult fits into it all. Although I found the head being replaced with the carved pineapple a bit over the top, I found it to be a fun read with equally as many red herrings as real clues to keep you guessing.

17Carol420
Editado: Maio 6, 2022, 9:58 am


Embrace The Fire - Felice Stevens - (New York)
Through Hell and Back series Book #3
4.5★
Brandon Gilbert has spent years in hiding, but he’s finally accomplished his dream of working as a public school teacher. When offered the chance to help bullied children, there was no way he could say no. Not to mention that meeting Dr. Tash Weber, the psychiatrist who helps them, a sad yet sexy older man, ignited a spark inside Brandon he’d never had before. Though five years have passed since the death of his lover, Dr. Sebastian "Tash" Weber has no interest in relationships or love. But young, enigmatic Brandon awakens his heart and his desire. Despite Tash’s best efforts to push him away, Brandon unlocks the passion for life Tash thought he’d lost forever. Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan for either Brandon or Tash, but neither family disapproval nor self-doubts can stop them from embracing the fire that burns between them. And when Brandon returns home to fight for a future he never imagined possible, he and Tash discover that the one thing worth fighting for has been with them all along.

This entire series would have been absolutely perfect if, and that's a big IF, these people would have stopped meddling in the lives of the main characters. I don't see how they think they are going to "help" anything by interfering as if the two guys are 10 years old. In this case Tash was 15 years older than Brandon so for some unknown, unthinkable reason, almost everyone has to tell Tash that Brandon is too young for him and needs to go out and have the time of his life. Brandon is a teacher and has told everyone that he's happy and has no desire to do the club scene. I just wanted to scream at them to LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!! I would have loved Brandon no matter who he had been paired with,but pairing him up with Tash was perfect. I really loved the epilog where we got to see what happened with each of the couples. The characters in these book are loved, they're a family that I will miss until I reread this series again...and I defiantly will.

18Carol420
Maio 6, 2022, 10:55 am


No Surrender - Morgan Brice - (South Carolina)
Badlands series Book #5
5★
Cold cases, hot leads, a psychic psychopath, a copycat killer, cursed objects, the trial of the century--and wedding plans. Psychic medium Simon Kincaide and sexy homicide detective Vic D'Amato met hunting a supernatural serial killer. Since then, Simon has become a police consultant on cases involving the paranormal, and Vic has gotten over his doubts about Simon's abilities being real. Along the way, they fell in love and got engaged. But it seems like the danger never ends. Now, the first case Simon and Vic worked together comes back to haunt them as the killer goes to court and all hell breaks loose. The killer has a crazy fan setting curses on key players in the upcoming trial. Ghosts from an old cold case suggest that someone got away with murder. And a supernatural creature attracted to fear and death is using the Grand Strand as its feeding ground. Simon and Vic feel like they’re waging a war on all fronts, but with the stakes so high, there can be No Surrender!

The "slitter", the really bad guy from Badlands, book #1, is about to go to trial but someone wants to stop it from happening. Seems the creep actually has a fan that idolizes him. Vic has always depended on paranormal info from Simon, but this time they work the case tightly together. Along with the case, and on a happier note, they are finally planning their wedding. I know that this is probably creeping up to ending this wonderful series but I really, really, really want it to go on somehow. I think Morgan Brice can come up with a way to make this happen. (fingers crossed) I've reread this series so many times I've lost count. I love Simon and Vic as individual characters and as a couple. Their relationship feels so real, something that an actual real life couple would go through. They have arguments and then hot make ups. There are a few work problems, that usually aren't too serious like being late to dinner. Simon now has so much support from friends and Vic's family who accepted him and truly love him. His past with his ex and his own " sweet" mother was an unbelievable nightmare. Vic and Simon's relationship keeps getting stronger with every new book...and I hope all us fans are going to be invited to the wedding.

19JulieLill
Maio 6, 2022, 12:09 pm

The Brown's Chicken Massacre
Maurice Possley
4/5 stars
Maurice Possley discusses the shockingly, true story of the massacre of the staff of a Brown's Chicken in Illinois, as they closed down the store one night in January of 1983. It took 10 years and advances in DNA testing before they could solve the case. Well researched and written.

20Carol420
Editado: Maio 7, 2022, 9:52 am


Conspiracy Theory - Elle Keaton - (California)
Veiled Intentions series Book #1
3.5★
Disillusioned, burned-out and fed up, homicide detective Niall Hamarsson burns his last bridge and flees to the only place he's ever called home. All he wants is to be left alone with his ghosts. very, very alone. Sheriff Mat Dempsey is a glass-half-full kind of guy. He returned to Piedras a decade ago after his father's unexpected death, but he loves taking care of his small hometown. And he remembers Niall from before, the man is even more intriguing now--even if he is an arrogant ass who acts like Mat has no idea what he's doing. Almost immediately the first suspicious death on Piedras in years has the two men at odds. Sheriff Dempsey needs Niall to stay away from the murder investigation, he doesn't want the ex-detective muddying the waters. Niall's not interfering with Dempsey's investigation so much as keeping his hand in and using the case as a distraction from unwanted memories that are popping up like weeds after a storm. Will the two men realize they work better together than apart, in more ways than one? Or will Niall successfully keep Mat at arm's length?

I liked the characters, and I really, really liked the dog. The organization of the story however, needed some work. The mystery was good, the setting was well done, And as I have already said I liked the two main characters. Some of the supporting characters were just lukewarm. Like the deputy that we were told was competent and smart and in the next chapter became a harpy worrying about the guys "bad language. Come on...really? This was a police station not a Sunday School class. The character of Niall is primarily a jerk, that spent most of the story steamrolling over Mat and Mat allowing him to. I hope that's not going to be the way any relationship they might have in the future is going to go. I know first books in a new series sometimes spend time setting the stage for future books, and since I didn't totally dislike the book...I will be willing to try book 2.

21BookConcierge
Maio 7, 2022, 4:10 pm


Send For Me – Lauren Fox
Book on CD read by Natasha Soudek
3***

This is an historical fiction work set both in 1930s Germany and in contemporary Wisconsin, that tells the one family’s story. Annelise is the daughter of a loving couple who own a bakery in Feldenheim, Germany. They are Jewish but not particularly religious or observant, so when they begin to hear of the anti-Jewish sentiment, they are not very worried. But as Hitler’s power increases, things escalate. Annelise, her husband and infant daughter are able to leave for America, but her parents are left behind. Decades later, Clare, discovers a packet of letters her grandmother had saved, and begins to piece together the story of her family.

I liked how Fox tells the story in the mundane details of life. Young people chafe at restrictions imposed by adults, enjoy some school subjects and hate others, form friendships and find love. Adults shop for groceries, talk to their neighbors, go for walks in the park, try on a pair of shoes. Mothers meet to exchange information about child-rearing. And all the while devastation is looming just over the horizon.

There were parts of the novel I really liked, when I was completely engaged and caught up in the story. But there were other parts that just fell flat for me. I think this is my fault; I am just so over the dual timeline in historical fiction.

Lauren Fox based this work of fiction on her own family’s history. She discovered her great-grandmother’s letters in boxes her grandparents had stored.

Natasha Soudek does a reasonable job of voicing the audiobook. But it did take me a while to get used to her delivery. I didn’t feel the characters come to life, and this affected my rating.

22Carol420
Maio 8, 2022, 7:31 am


Sister Dear - Hannah Mary McKinnon
2★
Beauty. Wealth. Success. She’s got it all. And it all should’ve been mine. When Eleanor Hardwicke’s beloved father dies, her world is further shattered by a gut-wrenching secret: The man she’s grieving isn’t really her dad. Eleanor was the product of an affair, and her biological father is still out there, living blissfully with the family he chose. With her personal life spiraling, a desperate Eleanor seeks him out, leading her to uncover another branch on her family tree - an infuriatingly enviable half-sister. Perfectly perfect Victoria has everything Eleanor could ever dream of. Loving childhood, luxury home, devoted husband. All of it stolen from Eleanor, who plans to take it back. After all, good sisters are supposed to share. And quiet little Eleanor has been waiting far too long for her turn to play.

Ho hum! It's been a long time since I have had a book that I was so bored with. The main character was a ditz to put it kindly. She did things that I found so unbelievable from a supposedly educated woman. Even the plot was flimsy. I know I'm a minority with this opinion, but it just didn't do anything for me. Oh wait...yes it did. It allowed me to mark another category off a challenge.

23Carol420
Editado: Maio 8, 2022, 10:20 am


Stronger Than Passion - Katherine McIntyre - (Maryland)
Chesapeake Bay series Book #2
5+★
Hudson West is the enemy. The calm, arrogant, stupidly hot owner of the rival restaurant in town never fails to push Nico Shah's buttons. So when he and Hudson are invited to collaborate to cater the Chesapeake Days festival, he wants to say hell no. But with his mother's upcoming transplant, he needs that money. Nico Shah is trouble. Hudson's noticed the gorgeous, witty flirt and has veered far away. He's looking for commitment while Nico's looking for his next flavor of the night. Except now that they're working together, neither can ignore the chemistry that's one spark away from burning down a forest. And when they finally collide, the connection is beyond anything either has experienced. But with Nico still terrified of the word "boyfriend" and Hudson needing someone who belongs to him, this can only end in heartbreak.

This is the second book that i was fortunate enough to receive to read and review from this author. I believe "WOW"! probably says it all. Hudson and Nico were enemies, business rivals, thought they could never be friends mush less lovers...until something strangely unexpected and wonderful happened...Neither of them wanted to explore it too closely since neither had had much luck at relationships but they both knew this was something they wanted to try...wanted to succeed...wanted to totally loose themselves in. I hated Hudson's family, which I'm sure I was supposed to. I don't understand how parents could treat a child of any age the way they did Hudson. Noone has the right to decide how your life is going to be lived. It wasn't even because he was gay, it was because he refused to fit in their perfect family mold. Anyway...Katherine McIntyre certainly knows how to present a heartwarming, hot romance story with the absolute perfect couple. I don't want to give anything away but I will say that Hudson and Rico solved one of their problems with and idea that I had already wondered why they didn't try. Even though this is book 2 in the series, the books can be read as standalones. Thank you to Hot Tree Publishing and author, Katherine McIntyre for this opportunity.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hot Tree Publishing and Katherine McIntyre in exchange for an honest opinion. The views expressed by this reviewer are entirely my own

24LibraryCin
Maio 8, 2022, 3:30 pm

Seabiscuit: An American Legend / Laura Hillenbrand
3.5 stars

Seabiscuit was a racing horse, famous in the 1930s. As a colt, he just wanted to sleep and eat. He only turned on the speed when he felt like it. His owner was Charles Howard; trainer was Tom Smith; jockeys were Red Pollard and George Woolf. This book includes biographical information about Seabiscuit in addition to all the men. Of course, there is plenty of information on horse racing, in addition.

The story was good. Horse racing is dangerous and I do not like using animals for human entertainment. This certainly didn’t help my opinion. Of course, the author mostly focused on the danger for the jockeys, but those same dangers go for the horses, as well. But the human jockeys choose to do what they do, knowing the dangers. I was surprised to learn how much those jockeys mistreat their own bodies (“reducing” to lose weight) in order to race – the health issues that must come about from that! Being from Alberta, it was interesting to learn that Red Pollard was originally from Edmonton. Hillenbrand is a very good writer and the descriptions of the races were exciting. I was cheering Seabiscuit on.

25Carol420
Maio 8, 2022, 4:36 pm


Midnight Sun - Ramsey Campbell -(England)
3★
Ben Sterling has a very strange inheritance... Though now a happy family man, and a successful writer of children s stories, as a child Ben was tragically orphaned by a mysterious car crash. Raised by a loving aunt who refused to discuss his father s eccentric family, he nevertheless develops a strange fascination with the lonely Yorkshire house they inherited. On his aunt's death, Ben unexpectedly acquires this ancestral home, and the family decide to move into it...ignorant of the strange stories concerning those who stray too close to the woods at night. Ben himself is increasingly drawn to nearby Sterling Forest extensive pinewoods planted by his family around the ancient oak grove where his great-grandfather was found dead so many years before. Edward Sterling had been exploring the icy wastes of the far north, where shamans were said to practice ancient rituals to keep the midnight sun shining over their desolate land. Found naked and Snowblind in this distant wilderness, he had been returned to his wife...but died soon afterwards in bizarre circumstances. Now, three generations later, Ben unwittingly sets loose an awesome power, and soon the entire countryside falls into the grip of ice and blizzards. But what must be the sacrifice that can transform eternal winter back into spring?

I have read Ramsy Campbell's books for more years than I care to recount. I started with The Hungry Moon and The Doll Who Ate His Mother and have been hooked on his books ever since. In spite of my fondness for this author, I found this one a bit frustrating, for lack of a better word, to read. It was excessively descriptive and seemed to just plod along until almost the last. The plot was interesting, but I didn't feel that it ever really fleshed out. The father of the family relocated to a big house that his grandfather had lived in and immediately begins to get obsessed with the forest that had been planted many years ago. This forest seems to have some type of energy that remains unknown to the reader throughout the entire story. It never becomes clear what is in the woods... what is illuminating the frozen forest... and what exactly is in the center of it all. It was strange and somewhat eerie at times, but ultimately i felt it was unfulfilling. The main character simply does an implausible turn around, conveniently tying things up in very short order...making it all a bit pointless. 3 stars because I know this author can and has done better and I do have hope for the future.

26sturlington
Maio 9, 2022, 10:03 am

I finished the thriller Black Widows and started a literary science fiction novel, If, Then.

27JulieLill
Maio 9, 2022, 12:10 pm

Wizard of Oz: An Over-the-Rainbow Celebration of the World's Favorite Movie
Ben Nussbaum
4/5 stars
This is a short book celebrating the movie - The Wizard of Oz. The author discusses a myriad of topics on the film, the actors who performed and even talks about the Broadway musical - Wicked. Definitely for fans of the movie.

28Carol420
Maio 10, 2022, 1:20 pm


In The Weeds - Andrew Grey -(Pernnsylvania)
New Leaf Romance series Book #2
5★
Florist to the stars Vin Robbins is in high demand in LA, but he hates working for someone else. When he returns to his Pennsylvania home to help his widowed father, he finds an opportunity he never expected with his first love, but learns that someone’s been taking advantage of the unused family greenhouse. Casey Lombard wasted too much of his life denying who he is and what he wants, but he won’t do that any longer. His biggest regret is letting Vin go, so running into Vin again when he gets called to investigate who planted pot on Vin’s family’s property sends him reeling. Vin ignites feelings Casey thought long dead. But Casey has a daughter, and Vin is only home for a visit. Surely the bright lights of Hollywood will call him back to the City of Angels, so how can Vin and Casey build the life they both wish they had?

Andrew Grey was one of the first m/m romance authors that I ever read. His Carlisle Cops series was what really whetted my appetite for this genre of books, plus my two lovable" book bring buddies":) His characters are lovable and believable plus they work together to get their HEA. Although this is the second book in this series, New Leaf being the first, the characters from several of his other books make appearances so we always can keep track of old friends while making new ones. Vin and Casey had been childhood friends and as 14 year old's they began to notice that something was developing between them other than friendship. Life went on and they took different paths that led away from one another. Vin to LA where he followed his mother's talent of creating beautiful and unusual floral arrangements for the stars, but he worried about his widowed Dad back in Carlisle, PA. Casey joined the Carlisle Polce Department, married and then divorced and now has custody of his young daughter, Brianna. When Vin takes two weeks to check on his dad and see about selling the floral shop that his mother ran before her death, things pick up where they left off between Vin and Casey but now there are other lives to consider. Another thing that I love about Andrew Grey's books is that he doesn't make his "print people" overly miserable, totally ignorant, nor does he keep the reader in suspense for very long. Always a good read by this author.

29sturlington
Maio 10, 2022, 2:07 pm

I finished the short book Nothing But Blackened Teeth.

30Carol420
Maio 11, 2022, 7:51 am


Tattoos and Teacups - Anna Martin
4★
As a teenager, Robert McKinnon left his native Scotland and moved to America. That was sixteen years ago, and Professor McKinnon has never quite settled in his new home or found his place this side of the pond. He might be prematurely old, but he has his cat, and his books, and that's all he needs. Then Chris Ford explodes into Robert's life with a crash of cymbals. The younger man is the polar opposite of Robert's calm civility. Bright tattoos cover his skin, and he wears his hair in a Mohawk and plays drums for a rock band. But he's a shot of color in Robert's black-and-white world, and Robert turns out to be the one thing Chris can count on. Despite all the reasons it shouldn't work, somehow it does. Even if Robert wasn't looking for love especially not with someone nearly ten years his junior, but he can't deny being with Chris is fun. But sometimes Chris's free-spirited nature leaves Robert feeling vulnerable. If they can't find a balance between "tattoos and teacups", their relationship won't survive, and neither will Robert's newfound lust for life.

Another new author for me. It wasn't a bad read by any means but there were some things that were made into a bigger issue than they needed to be. The main one was how much time was spent by Rob and Chris agonizing the 9-year age difference. Nine years is a mere drop in the bucket. They were attracted to one another...Rob could accept Chris's many tattoos and his choice in music...although in addition to his band he also plays percussion with an orchestra. hris knew that Rob wasn't enthusiastic about his band's music, but it didn't seem to me to have been a huge issue since what he was enthusiastic about was Chris. They genuinely loved one another although that seemed to happen with supersonic speed. Some readers might find the swiftness of this to be too much. I liked that they obviously have a strong attraction, are good for each other, and wish to be together despite being so different from each other. Their romance is a sweet, slow build with minimal angst.

31JulieLill
Maio 11, 2022, 1:03 pm

Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Jeffrey Archer
3/5 stars
Four men are swindled in an investment by Harvey Metcalfe, a wealthy man who has no remorse. The men get together to take him down and get their money back. Not my favorite of the Archer books but I enjoyed it.

32Carol420
Maio 12, 2022, 11:02 am


The Reality of Us - Vanessa North
4★
The reality of Alden... Arrogant. Aloof. Argumentative. Antagonistic. Angry. Alden Kaufman is many things, and none of them are nice. Trauma has left him deeply scarred and incapable of easy friendships. He doesn't know how to let anyone past his walls, and he doesn't think it's worth the trouble. The reality of Kit...Everybody's best friend, nobody's boyfriend. In spite of a lifestyle that doesn't invite attachments, Kit Taylor gets along with everyone he meets-except Alden. He can't entice his prickly co-worker out of his shell and has given up on trying. The Reality of Us...Two men at odds with themselves and each other embark on what should be a simple team-building exercise, but nothing goes as planned. Unexpected intimacy and a freak accident leave Kit and Alden dependent on each other long after they leave the mountain behind. Now they have a choice-to continue as they've been or trust a shaky new reality together.

A really good read. Both the men were vulnerable for similar reasons, Kit as he struggled to reconcile the happy go lucky, no strings attached relationship with his deep feeling for Alden, and Alden with his tragic personal & family history, that he deals with by pushing others away, but he's unable to keep Kit at arms' length. I thought the author portrayed Alden's PTSD and agoraphobia with a great deal of delicacy and tack. The story was very well written, sometimes raw, and very honest. I liked Alden's Mom was a jewel. I hope Thomas, (Alden's likeable ex) gets his "Happily Ever After" someday.

33Carol420
Maio 12, 2022, 5:24 pm


Seven Perfect Things - Catherine Ryan Hyde
5★
Thirteen-year-old Abby Hubble lives in an unhappy home in the Sierra Nevada foothills where her father makes life miserable for her and her mother, Mary. One day Abby witnesses a man dump a litter of puppies into the nearby river. Diving in to rescue all seven, she knows she won’t be able to bring them home. Afraid for their fate at the pound, she takes them to an abandoned cabin, where all she can offer is a promise that she’ll be back the next day. To grieving widower Elliot Colvin, life has lost meaning. Looking for solace, he retreats to the hunting cabin he last visited years ago, before his wife’s illness. What he discovers is not at all what he expected: seven puppies and one determined girl with an indomitable heart. As Abby and Elliot’s friendship deepens, Abby imagines how much better her life―and the puppies’ lives―would be if her mother were married to Elliot instead of her father. But when Abby’s father moves the family hundreds of miles away, Abby and her mother must decide how long they’re willing to defer happiness.

The picture on the cover is worth at least 10 stars all by itself. Inside the cover is a wonderful and heartwarming perfect story. It's a story of bravery, of heroics, of commitment, of responsibilities, of relationships, but mostly, it's about love and creating a family. Through in the miracle of second chances and you have something that will stay with you for a long, long time. Of course, there are the seven perfect furry, wiggly, cuddly little things that will charm you with their innocence, and sweet warm puppy breath. I ask you, who could resist that?

34sturlington
Maio 13, 2022, 8:06 pm

I finished If, Then. I'm reading Better Luck Next Time and contemplating a reread of The Shining.

35Carol420
Maio 14, 2022, 12:06 pm


Ashes Beneath Her - J.R. Erickson - (Michigan)
4.5★
Orla has a gift, an ability to sense things she touches: memories, traumas…murders. On a sunny day in 1975, she sets off on a bike ride into the picturesque countryside and vanishes. She is not the first young woman to go missing and she will not be the last.

The setting was in Traverse City just on the southern side of the Mackinac Bridge in my beautiful state of Michigan. It would have been nice if the author had done more description of Lake Michigan and the surrounding areas which are nothing short of magnificent. Otherwise, it was a fast paced and very well written story. I expected it to be a little more on the paranormal side, but it had a really good serial killer mystery angle. If you are a fan of a good ghost story, a murder mystery blended with the supernatural, and some tenacious characters, then this book may be just the thing for you.

36Carol420
Maio 14, 2022, 5:17 pm


Rescue Me - K.M Neuhold
Heather Ink series Book #1
4★
"Your life can change in an instant" (Madden) I never thought a night out could change everything. All I wanted was to dance, drink, maybe take a cute guy home for a night of fun. I met the guy, but the night ended as a nightmare. Screams and blood and tragedy haunt my dreams. I'm alive and I owe it all to the gorgeous marine who refused to leave me for dead. But how can I start a new relationship when I'm not even sure who I am anymore? "I'll always save you" (Thane) After a long work week, all I wanted was to let my hair down and to meet a nice guy. When I laid eyes on the gorgeous, tattooed man at the bar, I had to have him. I never would have thought the night could end in such horror. I saved his life, and I swear I'll save him as many times as I have to. Even if it means saving him from himself.

Madden and Thane are both really great characters. Their story has lots of ups and downs. Their first meeting was traumatic which understandably left Madden terrified of many things that could have adversely affected his budding relationship with Thane. It was good to see that Madden and Thane cared about one another enough to work it out. Madden knew it had to learn to trust himself again and Thane was smart enough to give him the opportunity. The on page emotions and lust can be felt throughout the book which gives the story a very authentic vibe.

37LibraryCin
Maio 14, 2022, 10:16 pm

Anne of Green Gables / L. M. Montgomery
4 stars

Anne is 11-years old and an orphan when she is brought to middle-aged siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert on Prince Edward Island. They had sent word that they wanted a boy to help with the chores, but there was a miscommunication and they ended up with a girl. They hadn’t the heart to send back the chatty girl who wormed her way into their hearts, despite all the foibles she made along the way.

This was a reread. I read it as a teenager. For this reread, I listened to an audio version. The CBC mini-series from the mid-80s with Megan Follows is one of my all-time favourite movies. Because of that, there was no way I could picture anything else but the characters in that movie as I listened to the book. But that’s ok by me. The book had a few additional happenings that they didn’t put in the movie and the movie expanded on some of the happenings in the book. I don’t know how anyone could not help but love Anne. (Well, to be honest, I’d probably have a harder time of it in real life – as an adult, anyway; I’m sure as a kid, I would have loved her.)

38JulieLill
Maio 15, 2022, 3:33 pm

>37 LibraryCin: I loved that series!

39LibraryCin
Maio 15, 2022, 4:11 pm

The Council of Twelve / Oliver Potzsch
4.25 stars

In the late 17th century, the hangmen of Bavaria are gathering just outside Munich for their guild council. They don’t often get to meet because, being the dishonourables that they are, no one wants to host their meetings. On this occasion, they happen to be near Munich as the dead bodies of two young girls are discovered, murdered in various styles of execution from the time. As more bodies are found, the hangmen, of course, are suspected. Jakob Kuisl, his daughter Magdalena, and her doctor husband Simon, try to help figure out what it going on.

Meantime, there is also a group of people distributing counterfeit money, and Simon (whose reputation as a mystery-solver has preceded him) has been asked to find the lost dog of a local “royal” family. Really, this turns out to be the young prince’s dog, who befriends Simon and Magdalena’s son, Peter. And Jakob’s younger daughter, Barbara, is at an age where she should be getting married; although, Magdalena was lucky and found someone above her station, Barbara is likely to have to marry one of the other executioners or their sons.

I really like this series and I feel like it gets better and better. I believe I am now caught up in the series, so it’s hard to say when I will get to the next one (I am assuming there will continue to be more – I hope!). The book switches points of view (though never first-person) quite often, but I like that it gives me the feel of all of these things happening, as different characters go about their business, at the same time. Of course, for suspense, it often cuts to a different character/scene just as something exciting is about to happen or happens.

40LibraryCin
Maio 15, 2022, 4:41 pm

MirrorMask / Neil Gaiman
2 stars

Helena comes from a circus family and when her mother (not long after they’ve fought) ends up in the hospital, Helena has odd dreams.

This was just odd, I thought. Apparently a movie came first? This has illustrations throughout and it’s short. Since the bulk of the book was a dream, like many dreams it just went from odd happening to odd happening.

41Carol420
Maio 16, 2022, 8:48 am


Third You Die - Scott Sherman - (New York)
Kevin Connor series Book #3
4.5★
Finally settling down with his hunky cop boyfriend, former callboy Kevin Connor is giving up the "oldest profession" for a new career: producing his mom's TV talk show, "Sophie's Voice." But when their latest guest--gay porn sensation Brent Havens--ends up floating in the East River after vowing to blow the lid off the adult film industry, Kevin returns to the world of high-stakes sex to find out: Who killed the twink who had everything? Was it the X-rated director who exploited his star--for his own desires? The bartender boyfriend who hustled more than just cocktails? Or the eye-candy co-star who left the sweet actor for a sugar daddy? Either way, Kevin is zooming in on one twisted plot with no shortage of drama queens. But is he ready for his close-up. . .with a killer?

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I really liked Kevin Connor and his somewhat inane entourage. I hope there is going to be more to follow this one. The reader's credulity might be stretched a little by Kevin's and his mother's investigative techniques or the necessity for them to have to have to investigate at all, but it is still a good story. The entire storyline might have been a bit more satisfying if we had learned a little more about what eventually happened to the various victims and culprits, but I guess we can accept that the good guys prevailed.

42Carol420
Maio 16, 2022, 5:21 pm


Hurry Home - Roz Nay - (Canada)
4★
Alexandra Van Ness has the perfect life. She lives in an idyllic resort town tucked away in the Rocky Mountains, shares a designer loft with her handsome boyfriend, Chase, and has her dream job working in child protection. Every day, Alex goes above and beyond to save children at risk. But when her long-lost sister, Ruth, unexpectedly shows up at her door asking for help, Alex’s perfect life is upended. Growing up, Ruth was always the troublemaker, pulling Alex into her messes, and this time will be no different. Their relationship is fraught with hurts and regrets from their childhood that bind them to silence, but they can’t outrun them forever. Alex lets Ruth stay under one condition: we will never, ever, talk about the past. But when a local child is in danger, Alex becomes very involved and the secrets from long ago come back to haunt her with terrible consequences for everyone.

It's a chilling and suspenseful domestic drama. Both estranged sisters have dark secrets from the past that both want to remain deeply buried. Alex now has what seems to be the perfect life. She has a handsome boyfriend, Chase, who she lives with in his beautiful loft in the Rocky Mountains. She has the job that she always wanted working in Child Protective Services with at-risk children. But all that is at risk of change when her sister Ruth appears unexpectedly at her door. With a long history of trouble in Ruth’s life, Alex is certain that Ruth’s appearance will only bring upheaval to her world...but they are still sisters so Alex agrees to help Ruth. She makes Ruth promises never to bring up anything from the past. The story is told from both Alex’s and Ruth’s points of view, and needleless to say the points of view are very different. The secrets are slowly revealed, leaving the reader wondering who is telling the truth and who can be trusted. Many twists and turns that keeps the reader guessing right up to the shocking conclusion.

43LibraryCin
Maio 16, 2022, 10:32 pm

Offshore / Catherine Dook
3.5 stars

Catherine and her husband John live on a boat off the coast of British Columbia. This book details a few short sailing trips they took, mostly with the intention of being gone longer than they were, turning back mostly due to weather issues (and not really being very good sailors!). On the trip where they’d hoped to sail to Hawaii, they brought two additional crew members, Aussie John and Kiwi John; at that point, Catherine’s husband was “John Darling”.

This was short and I had to shake my head a bit at the foibles. But it was entertaining and a bit amusing with some humour thrown in. I enjoyed it.

44Carol420
Maio 17, 2022, 9:42 am


Wrong Place Wrong Time - W. Glenn Duncan -(Texas)
Rafferty series Book #4
3★
When bounty hunter Toby Wells offered Rafferty two hundred bucks for fifteen minutes work the answer was obvious. There was no way he could know Wells would murder an innocent man and use Rafferty as cover for his getaway. Payback will taste sweet. and would be a whole lot easier to come by if Rafferty wasn't already spending his days protecting Thorney—the octogenarian uncle of a good friend. but a deal is a deal. He's not about to cut the old guy loose just because things got complicated. Then Wells is back in town. Still trigger-happy and showing no signs of slowing his murderous rampage. Rafferty has to stop Wells. and he has to do it now. because Uncle Thorney is walking right into the crossfire.

Rafferty is suckered into aiding and abetting in a murder and of course it all goes downhill from there. The writing itself is not bad and I can see a reader getting caught up in the humor and the characters but there was way too much inconsequential filler that does absolutely nothing to advance the story. About halfway through I found I had to go back and reread to see if by some chance I had missed something. I also found that the "romance" lines between Rafferty and Hilda would have better suited a couple in high school than two middle aged adults.

45JulieLill
Maio 17, 2022, 12:19 pm

The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup: My Encounters With Extraordinary People
Susan Orlean
4/5 stars
I always enjoying read Susan Orlean’s books and this book has her original interviews with the famous and not so famous people she encountered. This book was published in 2001 but is still entertaining though it would be interesting to see where those people are today.

46Carol420
Maio 17, 2022, 3:34 pm


Can't Hide From Me - Cordelia Kingsbridge - (California)
3.5★
Charles Hunter’s team is on a mission to extract an unidentified ATF agent from an undercover job gone wrong. All they’ve got to go on is the rendezvous location—until Charles recognizes the ex he hasn’t seen in years. Their “simple rescue mission” is about to get a lot more complicated. For Ángel Medina, adjusting to life after his cartel nightmare is hard enough without confronting memories of a failed relationship. All he wants is a fresh start. But when a violent stalker lashes out from the shadows, Ángel realizes his nightmare is far from over. As the stalker’s obsession escalates and bodies start dropping, Charles and Ángel are thrown together in a desperate search for the culprit. Tempers flare and old passions reignite, drawing them back into the same turbulent relationship that once ended in disaster. But the stalker isn’t letting go—and the next strike might hit straight through the heart.

I read Cordelia Kingsbridge's Seven of Spades series some time ago and absolutely loved each and every addition. In this one, Charles and Angel were great characters, but it took some time for them to admit that they needed one another like they needed air. I have to admit that I never figured out who the person was that was wanting to eliminate Angel, but more importantly, I really didn't understand the why. I was happy with the way the story ended and I do so hope there will be more books for us to follow Charles and Angel's adventures.

47Carol420
Editado: Maio 18, 2022, 7:07 am


The Fear Hunter - Elise Sax- (California)
2.5★
Living in a haunted lighthouse in the small town of Sea Breeze, California with her two elderly aunts, Agatha Bright has everything she wants. She owns and runs a bookstore / soup shop on the beach, and her soups are loved by everyone in town. Her life is regimented and organized. But Agatha has secrets that might get her in big trouble. Dark secrets. When a woman goes missing, the suspicion falls on Agatha, turning her life upside down. The new detective in town, Remington Cumberbatch, has seen a lot of weird things as a detective in nearby Cannes, California, but he’s in for a surprise with Agatha, her family, and the quirky town of Sea Breeze. He begins to investigate Agatha as the number one suspect, but the attraction is immediate. When the missing woman turns out to be murdered, the mystery deepens, and Agatha must help Remington find the killer before she winds up in prison…or worse.

I don't mind humor in a story. Usually I find it often adds to the plot and makes the characters more human and likeable, but I found this entire book to be silly and not in a good way. Actually, I didn't really care for the story or the characters. I did finish it hoping that maybe it would get better. No such luck.

48Carol420
Editado: Maio 19, 2022, 11:08 am


The Hockey Players Heart - Jeff Adams - (California)
5★
Hometown hero. Hockey superstar. Perfect boyfriend? When hockey star Caleb Carter returns to his hometown to recover from an injury, the only thing he’s interested in is a little R & R. He never expects to run into his onetime crush at a grade school fundraiser. Seeing Aaron Price hits him hard, like being checked into the boards. The attraction is still there, even after all these years, and Caleb decides to make a play for the schoolteacher. You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take, right? Aaron has been burned by love before and can’t imagine what a celebrity like Caleb could possibly see in a guy like him. Their differences are just too great. But as Aaron spends more time with Caleb, he begins to wonder if he might have what it takes to win the hockey player’s heart.

Caleb is sincere, sweet, and down-to-earth. During a period of recovery from an injury he returns to his hometown where he reconnects with his sister's best friend. Their friendship grows and soon begins to turn into something else. Both guys were a bit unhappy before, but this developing "thing" between them seems to have alleviated their sense of loneliness. We all know that real life sometimes rears it's ugly head, and most everything has logistics. One looming problem is that Caleb doesn't live in Foster Grove...he lives in New York. He has a commitment to his hockey team and he travels for most of the season. I loved Aaron. He's a teacher who not only loves his job but is committed to his students. There's some angst as the guys try to figure out how they can make this can work. I loved the way it gets resolved. Overall it's a 'feel good' story. Parts of it were a bit "fluffy"...but hey, sometimes we can all use a bit of fluff in our lives.

49JulieLill
Maio 20, 2022, 12:07 pm

The Great Train Robbery
Michael Crichton
4/5 stars
Set in Victorian London, Edward Pierce sets up a crime with his cohorts to steal a gold shipment that will be traveling by steam train. But will they succeed? Very clever and a fast read!

50Carol420
Editado: Maio 20, 2022, 5:39 pm


Where Shadows Meet - Colleen Coble - (Indiana)
2.5★
Hannah is distraught when her parents are murdered—but what makes it worse is that she should have been at home with them . . . not meeting her forbidden love, Reece. Unable to face the community and her guilt, she runs away and marries him. But Reece isn’t the man she thought he was. He controls her completely, and when she gets pregnant—against his wishes—he pushes her down the stairs as she approaches her due date. When she wakes in the hospital and he tells her the baby died, she knows she’s had enough. She runs again. Years later, Hannah has become an expert on Amish quilts, and her visibility allows Reece to track her down. He begs her to come back, saying he’s changed—and sends her a picture of their daughter.

This was just so incredibly slow and the twists that finally appeared didn't make much sense to me. The character of Reece especially was just forced for lack of a better word. I completely understand the plot intended and the reality of how the abusive marriage thing works, it's just that this author has simply failed to really bring these people to life. There are times when the plot drags on through too many useless twists of the characters' every move or every train of thought. I really had to force myself to finish it.

51Carol420
Editado: Maio 20, 2022, 5:05 pm


Second You Sin - Scott Sherman - (New York)
Kevin Conner series Book #2
4★
Someone is killing New York City's hottest male prostitutes, and it's up to full-time call boy, part-time sleuth Kevin Connor to find out who. With his spectacular boy-next-door looks, quick wit, and ability to role-play even the most outrageous scenarios, Kevin is facing his most challenging position yet--to stop a ruthless killer. As Kevin begins his investigation, there's no shortage of possible suspects or motives. Could the killer be a sadistic head case with a deadly fetish? A high-profile celebrity worried that his biggest secret might get out? Or perhaps it's a right-wing politician, guilty of protesting too much from his pious and unforgiving soapbox. As Kevin gets closer to the truth, he'll find himself trapped in a scandalous web of secrets where the line between victim and predator blurs, and no sin goes unpunished.

The character of Kevin is lovely, bright, funny, and a guy that his friends and family can count on. I really liked him. The main problem that I had with the story was that it was hard to tell where the "mystery" began and why Kevin's closeted boyfriend, Tony, who was a cop, didn't take more of an interest in the murders. Early in the story one of Kevin's friends is hit by a hit and run driver and spends the entire story in a coma without Kevin or any of his friends taking much of an interest in his condition. Just seemed odd. I did like the ending, and I loved Kevin's mother and the lengths she went to in order to get even with the TV personality that was running down Kevin and the rest of the gay community. There are 3 books in this series thus far and of course I've read them backwards but I know for a fact that Scot Sherman has created a character in Kevin that is both charming and intelligent, and is only discovering just how smart he really is. I hope that the author lets Kevin live in several more books.

52Carol420
Maio 21, 2022, 9:57 am


The Widower's Wife - Cate Holahan
4★
Ana Bacon, a beautiful young wife and mother, tumbled off a cruise ship into dark and deadly waters. Ana is gone—leaving behind her wealthy husband and adorable daughter—but not everything about her disappearance adds up. What secrets did she leave behind? Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a ten-million-dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident. But the husband has a substantial alibi and a number of witnesses claim to have seen Ana fall, and the official ruling seems to hold up. Still, the more Monahan uncovers about Ana’s life, the more he realizes how many people would kill to keep her secrets hidden. And the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the odds grow that he, too, will take a fatal fall.

This was a different tale about greed, betrayal, and love with surprising plot twists and suspense. Usually, I am not fond of stories where the writer goes back and forth between time periods. In this case, it is only a few months and it seemed to work well. The Mystery builds piece by piece and the characters and locations have the reader feeling like they are there. Overall, a very good mystery.

53sturlington
Maio 21, 2022, 11:53 am

54threadnsong
Maio 21, 2022, 7:25 pm

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
4****

Read for a challenge and oh my what fun! Ten strangers marooned on an island off the coast of Devon, each knowing their host more or less, treated to hospitality . . . and honesty! From early, early on we meet the strangers as they make their way to their holiday, setting the stage for their character in a very innovative way.

And after supper we find out why they have been invited to this coastal island: a recording played on a gramophone lists each guest and what death they caused. So then we are taken into the mind of each guest, the denial, the shrug, followed by each meeting his or her fate by someone on the island.

Warning: Imagery in the nursery rhyme and accompanying statuettes of "Indians" is cringeworthy and reflects the time period of the writing.

55threadnsong
Maio 21, 2022, 8:29 pm

The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Shades of Nyx by A.R. Cook
3***

Cervera, Spain, 1852. David Sandoval is a sixteen-year-old genius on many different subjects, yet he is more content studying than becoming close with family or friends. He accepts an apprenticeship offer from a French architect, and while on his travels to Paris, a foolhardy decision on his part gets him abducted by a gypsy caravan owned by a living Grecian sphinx. The sphinx, seemingly intrigued by the fearless young man, takes him through the Curtain, the gateway between our world and the worlds of the unseen, where many creatures of myth and legend reside.

A young man's journey from his home in Spain to his apprenticeship in Paris is strangely interrupted by a series of adventures in an inn that includes a band of travelers. Most are Rom (formerly Gypsies) and they are led by a Sphinx. Young David does his best to escape from her (and their) clutches, until some conversations with a Scottish juggler helps him see the worth of his new traveling companions.

Events transpire, David is transported into the darkness of the mythical world as well as into its healing. There is a dark aspect that has taken over this Sphinx along with other mythical beings, and David is drawn to finding and helping his new friends.

While YA is not my chosen genre, I found much to be satisfying with this book: David goes through his inner growth, central characters are women, and many world myths are explored. That said, there was a bit too much in the way of journeying and exploring, and the inner voyaging was often lost in the new locale.

56LibraryCin
Maio 21, 2022, 11:35 pm

The Dutch House / Ann Patchett.
3.75 stars

Danny and Maeve are young when their mother just up and leaves to head to India. There is a seven (or eight?) year age difference between them, but they become very close, especially after their father remarries Andrea and Andrea and her two daughters move in. Danny is still only 15-years old when their father dies. The story is told from Danny’s point of view and goes back and forth in time between them as adults and growing up.

Wow, Andrea is the modern-day evil stepmother from hell, isn’t she!? Like many others, I listened to the audio, which was done so well by Tom Hanks (I’m upping my rating by ¼ star due to his narration). I never lost interest, though it is a slow moving book. I didn’t much like the interaction between Celeste (Danny’s wife) and Maeve, either. I identified more with Danny’s feelings near the end than Maeve’s though I can sort of understand why she would feel the way she did. There were other interesting happenings at the end of the book, as well.

57Carol420
Maio 22, 2022, 9:49 am


Always Time To Die- Elizabeth Lowell -(New Mexico)
St. Kilda series Book#1
3.5★
As a dark world of twisted passions and depraved crimes slowly opens up before Carly, she realizes that there is no one whom she dares to trust -- perhaps least of all Dan Duran, a dangerous and haunted mystery man who's somehow tied to the Quintrells' past. But she will need an ally to survive the terrible secrets a father carried to the grave and an even more devastating evil that lurks among the living -- because following the bloodlines of the wealthy and power-hungry can be a bloody business ... and some dead secrets can kill.

Powerful family secrets are the center of this story. It's filled with characters that are part of the family or are in some way connected to the family and they all have secrets. Details about those secrets are slowly revealed throughout the book; some of which leads to further investigation and danger for Carly and Dan. There is an extremely large number of characters that makes it a bit difficult to sort out exactly who is who, but there is a family tree at the beginning of the book does help. The unexpected twist toward the end of the book makes wading through the huge number of details in the early part of the story worth the effort. The romance between Carly and Dan plays second fiddle to the mystery surrounding the Quintrell & Castillo family. Overall, it's a well written story that just has way too many characters.

58BookConcierge
Maio 22, 2022, 10:09 am

Sorry I've been MIA for a couple of weeks. Please bear with me as I try to catch up....


The Power Of One – Bryce Courtenay
Audible audiobook performed by Humphrey Bower
4****

How had I never heard of this book before? A challenge to travel the world combined with a challenge to read a book that “made-me-cry” brought this one to my attention, and am I ever glad it did!

Courtenay’s autobiographical novel tells the story of a small boy sent to boarding school because his mother has had a nervous breakdown. He’s bullied and terrorized, but learns how to get along with the help of a pet chicken and a native medicine man. Peekay (a nicer version of the nickname the bullies christen him with) is an intelligent, bookish kid and his reading ability helps him advance in school far beyond his chronological age. Just when he figures he’s gotten the hang of this boarding school, he’s advised that he’s leaving for a new home.

A six-year-old on a several-days-long train journey is pretty vulnerable, but the porter, conductor and other railway employees take Peekay under their wing. This is where he learns about boxing and sets a goal for himself that he pursues relentlessly.

I’m not the writer Courtenay is, so can’t really do justice to the plot of this coming-of-age story. But the writing grabbed me from page one and I was sorry to see it end. Peekay has more than his share of difficulties and tragedies befall many of the people he comes to love and rely on. He’s a great kid and I was cheering for Peekay throughout. And while I’m no fan of boxing, I even enjoyed the lessons on strategy and technique.

Humphrey Bower does a great job of performing the audiobook. He really brings the characters to life, though I did have some difficulties understanding the accent at times.

59BookConcierge
Maio 22, 2022, 10:10 am


L.A. Weather – María Amparo Escandón
3.5*** Rounded up

The Alvarado family has always been close-knit. But now the patriarch, Oscar, has retreated and seems to have lost all desire, content to obsessively watch the Weather Channel. His wife, Keila, has had it with Oscar’s moods and has instituted a “Crossed-Legs Strike,” and now at the weekly family dinner, she’s announced to their three adult daughters that their marriage is kaput.

This is a funny, engaging, endearing novel that looks at a year in the life of one affluent Mexican-American family. It starts with a near tragedy and the characters (and reader) hardly have time to recover from that event when yet another crisis looms. The girls have their own issues, and before long everyone in the family is spinning and bouncing from issue to issue, like balls in an out-of-balance pinball machine.

Unlike many popular BIPOC novels (and, I love them, too), this one does NOT focus on an immigrant story. No, the Alvarados have been in California since the King of Spain still ruled, and their family was given a land grant to help settle what was then a distant and mostly uninhabited land. And they’ve prospered over many generations.

It’s not really a novel about climate change, but the winds, drought and fires add more tension to the family’s internal strife, and ultimately help them focus on the things they CAN change, rather that what they have no control over. They still make bad decisions, and there is no HEA ending, but I was completely invested in these characters by the end, and I want more!

60BookConcierge
Maio 22, 2022, 10:11 am


Tooth And Claw – Jo Walton
4****

What a fun romp of a story! It’s a typical regency (or Victorian) romance: the females cannot inherit and must marry well; there are rather rigid rules of etiquette and social classes should not mix; country houses and balls in town; young females are presented during the season; oldest sons inherit the title while younger sons need to into the military or perhaps the clergy. BUT … all the characters are dragons.

I was captured from the first page and enthralled and entertained throughout. Oh, how I wish this was a series, because I want to read more about the Algornin family, but apparently, it’s not.

61BookConcierge
Maio 22, 2022, 10:14 am


What We Keep – Elizabeth Berg
Digital audiobook performed by Stephanie Roberts.
4****

Do we ever really know our parents? Would we still love them if we did? Could we forgive them their mistakes?

The novel opens with Ginny Young on a plane, flying cross-country to see her mother, whom she hasn’t seen in thirty-five years. She thinks back to 1958, when she and her sister, Sharla, were young girls, and a new “exotic” neighbor moved in and opened their eyes to glamorous possibilities. But it was also the summer their family fell apart.

The novel moves back and forth in time as Ginny recalls her childhood and how she felt about the events of that summer, and on the years since, including her own experiences as a mother. She learns a few things she’d been unaware of before and adjusts her long-held opinions based on new evidence.

Berg writes family relationships so very well. All the ways in which we rely on and trust one another, show our love and loyalty, and hurt or betray one another. There are always two (or more) sides to any story, and it takes a mature person to wait to pass judgment until all parts are known. My heart broke for all the family members, and my loyalties shifted as I learned more.

Stephanie Roberts does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. Ginny’s character as an adult woman is very different from her 11-year-old self and there are many other female characters in the book, which Roberts very well.

62Carol420
Maio 22, 2022, 11:36 am


Color of You - C.S. Poe - (New Hampshire)
Lancaster Story Book #3
5★
Bowen Merlin—yes, that’s his real name—accepts a position in the quaint town of Lancaster, New Hampshire, as the high school band director. He leaves New York City for the snowy countryside of New England just in time for the holidays. With class, homework, after-school activities, and a surprise Christmas concert to plan and rehearse, Bowen is plenty busy. And since he’s never had much luck with romance, factoring in time to find Mr. Right isn’t a priority. Until he meets the proprietor of Snowy Ridge Apple Orchard, Felix Hansen. Suddenly, true love seems like a possibility for the first time in Bowen’s life. The two are a perfect match and fill the skipped beats of each other’s hearts. But as wonderful as Felix seems, he’s harboring old scars that could bring an end to their budding relationship after someone in town goes to great lengths to sabotage their careers. If Bowen is to survive, he’ll need to lean on old friends and new, convince Felix he’s worth any hardship, and prove they can come out of the catastrophe stronger if they do so together.

I discovered this author about three years ago and I believe I have read almost everything she has written and have really enjoyed each one. Her characters are believable, loveable, and better yet, redeemable. This story is a beautifully written Christmas themed, MM romance tale that is built on attraction, respect, and honesty that I totally loved. Bowen is a newbie to New Hampshire and a 35-year-old music teacher, who gets things started by accidentally spilling his hot apple cider on Felix Hansen, the 47-year-old divorced owner of the orchard gift store and café. After that it's just becomes one of the sweetest adventures of the year. You don't have to wait until Christmas to meet and enjoy Bowen and Felix.

63LibraryCin
Maio 22, 2022, 11:46 pm

Tituba of Salem Village / Ann Petry
3.5 stars

This is a fictional account of the Salem witches in the late 17th century. Told from the point of view of Tituba, who was a slave in Barbados, sold along with her husband to Reverend Samuel Parris who moved with them to Boston hoping to get a position there, but settled for a position in Salem Village. The Parris’s had two young girls in their care – their only daughter, Betsey, and their niece, Abigail. When the young girls started having fits and blaming it on witches, it was Tituba, along with two others who were first named as the witches causing the fits.

I thought this was good; I liked it. About 2/3 of the book was leading up to the witch accusations, some of which was just them all getting settled first in Boston, then in Salem -- a small village where Tituba and her husband were not used to such cold. In this fictional account, Abigail really comes off as a troublemaker – you can see it coming. (She was the first to start having “fits”.) There was a short point form section at the end that explained some of the things that really did happen.

64Carol420
Maio 23, 2022, 8:34 am


Never Saw It Coming - Linwood Barclay - (Connecticut)
5★
Keisha Ceylon is a psychic. At least, that's what she tells people. She watches the news for stories of missing people, then waits a few days and goes to see the family. She tells them she's had a vision and that she may know where their missing loved one is--for a price, of course. Keisha's latest mark is Wendell Garfield, whose wife disappeared a week ago. She's seen him on TV, pleading for his wife to come home, or for whoever took her to let her go. Keisha tells Wendell her vision of what might have happened. Unluckily for Keisha, her vision turns out to be alarmingly close to the truth. As she wades deeper into the mystery, Keisha inadvertently finds herself caught in a web of suspicion and violence that's much more complicated than she first thought--and which may end up with her own disappearance.

The book centers around con artist ‘psychic’ Keisha Ceylon. She lives with her dead-beat boyfriend Kirk, who I hated, and her young son Matthew. I thought it was quite clear from the start that Keisha is motivated by financial means to "trick" the bereaved into hearing what they want to hear. My first thought was "How does this woman sleep at night?". Then it became evident her tricks were soon to be catching up with her. The question then becomes what happens when the scammer is scammed? Overall this is an intense psychological thriller, slightly different than Barclay's usual fare, but filled with shady characters. It's a cleverly done story and a very satisfying read.

65JulieLill
Maio 23, 2022, 12:02 pm

Where Are the Children?
Mary Higgins Clark
4/5 stars
Years ago, Nancy Harmon was accused of killing her children. However, her sentence was overturned, allowing her to start her life over again. Married with two new children, she feels her life is more settled. But once again, her life is in turmoil when her new children are missing and she is suspected in their disappearance. I enjoyed this book and it kept me reading to see how it was going to end.

66LibraryCin
Maio 23, 2022, 4:25 pm

Our Souls at Night / Kent Haruf
3.75 stars

Louis (pronounced Lewis – I listened to the audio) is surprised when Addie, whom he doesn’t know well, though he knows who she is, approaches him to relieve lonely nights by sleeping together (literally sleeping side-by-side). They are older and their spouses are gone, and they are lonely. Louis decides to give it a try. It’s not long before Addie’s son, Gene, and his wife decide to separate, so Gene brings his 6-year old son, Jamie, to live with Addie for a while, so Addie and Louis now have a grandson in the house, as well.

This was good. I loved the relationship between Addie, Louis, and Jamie (and the dog!), but wth is wrong with Gene!? How can he be so awful to his mother about all this? My grandpa, some years after my grandma died, had a lady friend/companion, and I don’t know that either my mom or her sister (Grandpa’s daughters) had an issue with it. Really Gene? Can you not let your mother be happy? Ugh!

67Carol420
Editado: Maio 23, 2022, 6:09 pm


Backward - Andrew Grey - (Pennsylvania)
Bronco Boys series Book #3
5★
Club owner Harry Klinger has had his eye on Tristan Martin for months, but never had the nerve to approach him. He’s watched as Tristan dated Eddie and then reluctantly sat on the sidelines during the emotional breakup when Tristan discovered Eddie was dealing drugs. Now that Tristan seems to be healing, Harry hopes to get his chance. When Eddie sends his men into Harry’s club to harass Tristan, Harry steps in to help. Tristan is reluctant at first since he admittedly has terrible taste in men, but Harry seems genuine, and Tristan can’t help but think Harry’s sexy as well and begins to hope for happiness for both of them. Unfortunately, Eddie isn’t behaving rationally, sampling too much of his own product. With his determination to take Tristan back, it’ll take more than Harry’s help to keep Tristan safe as Eddie ratchets up his attempts to get what he wants.

I loved Tristin and Harry. Harry is levelheaded, above board and part owner of a successful night club. Tristin is just a sweetheart. Their getting together seemed to be a bit rushed at first, but we learned that Harry and Tristin had been circling one another for months. Its a love story for the ages, with a beautiful happy ever after for two deserving guys.

68Carol420
Maio 24, 2022, 8:03 am


Storm Season - Elle Keaton - (Washington)
5★
They say you can't go home again. Adam Klay doesn't intend to until the death of his father forces his return to Skagit, Washington. Cleaning up his father's chaotic life was never on Adam's bucket list. Worse, Adam finds himself inexplicably drawn to the elusive, terminally-clumsy, gorgeous, Micah Ryan. No way is he getting involved with someone from his hometown, he's always insisted the best view of Skagit was in his rearview mirror. Micah Ryan has been coasting on auto-pilot since his family was killed in a car accident a decade earlier. He runs a web business and has an irritable cat. He hardly leaves his house, unless it is for his afternoon espresso. His world tips upside down when Adam Klay rolls into town. For the first time in years, he feels alive. Unfortunately, Micah's return to the living has been noticed and is not appreciated.

I have read this author off and on for several years now and always have found that the characters that she creates are usually 'broken" in some way but they always find someone that is absolutely perfect for them. Adam is intense, driven, and usually fixated on murder. He’s also a broken guy in a lot of ways. Micah is warm and nurturing, but he doesn’t have any outlets for his need to take care of someone until Adam comes into his life. They make each other feel better, as well as healing each other’s wounds simply by existing...and it’s beautiful. A really good story that keeps you guessing throughout, with that great chemistry existing between Adam ad Micah.

69Hope_H
Maio 24, 2022, 9:49 pm

The English Wife by Lauren Willig
376 p. - ★ ★ ★ ★
Read for NAPL Evening Book Club

1894 - Georgie Evans is an actress in a failing bawdy theater in London. She meets Bay Van Duyvil, a wealthy American man and the son of one of the "400." Each is hiding who they really are. After their marriage, Bay builds a replica of her childhood home, Illyria, on the banks of the Hudson River in New York. After Bay is found murdered and Georgie goes missing, their truths are discovered by Bay's sister Janie and newspaper reporter James Burke.

Ultimately, a very good read! The first third was a little slow, with the Georgie/Annabelle twist, but the last third of the book raced.

70BookConcierge
Maio 25, 2022, 9:38 am


Subpar Parks – Amber Share
3***

You can’t please all of the people all of the time, but a 1-star review of Yosemite National Park (“Trees block the view, and there are too many gray rocks.”) or the Grand Canyon (“A hole. A very, very, large hole.”)?

Amber Share is an illustrator / graphic designer, and also a life-long afficionado of the United States’ National Parks. She’s an avid hiker and finds much to enjoy in wildly different climates and ecosystems, including some of the most remote park settings. So, when she stumbled upon some of the clueless 1-star reviews she just had to shake her head, and then laugh.

She turned to her talent for illustration and painted some wonderful depictions, graced with the clueless remarks of seriously underwhelmed visitors, and began posting them, once a week at first (on her blog? Instagram? … whatever). People loved them and clamored for more. This book is the result.

Each park “visited” starts with the illustration and the clueless remark, but Share then gives an informative description of the park, including some ranger’s tips / cautions, and other hints on best enjoying nature’s splendors. She also incorporates Native American culture and significance for most of these parks.

The text does get somewhat repetitious, especially when you’re reading this as a book, rather than using it as a handy reference guide, hence the 3-star review. But she gets 5***** for her illustrations! I’m inspired to visit another “Not much to do” park!

71Carol420
Maio 25, 2022, 10:48 am


Not Dead Enough - Peter James - (England)
Roy Grace series Book #3
5★
On the night Brian Bishop murdered his wife he was 60 miles away, asleep. At least that's the way it looks to Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, who is called in to investigate the kinky slaying of beautiful socialite Katie Bishop. Grace soon starts coming to the conclusion that Bishop has performed the apparently impossible feat of being in two places at once. Has someone stolen his identity or is he simply a clever liar? As Grace digs deeper behind the façade of the Bishops' outwardly respectable lives, it becomes clear that everything is not at all as it seemed.

Once in a while I like to reread favorite series by favorite authors, and Peter James's Roy Grace series certainly meets the criteria. As usual, Peter James has written a well plotted thriller with an elusive criminal who continues to wreak his havoc while being pursued by the intelligent and determined Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his crew. The process involves several of the characters that we've already met in the previous books. His characters are smart, funny, and utterly human. No superstars here able to wave a magic wand and solve a complicated crime. It's all about hard work, ferreting out the facts, and working them together with his peers. Kinda like putting together a 1,000-piece puzzle. The problem with this case is that the pieces keep moving. It's fun watching Roy move the pieces around until he has the answers. I seldom recommend books since everyone has different tastes, but I diffidently would recommend this series to anyone that enjoys tense crime thrillers.

72Andrew-theQM
Maio 25, 2022, 4:41 pm

>71 Carol420: Love this series Carol, and it only gets better as it progresses.

73Carol420
Maio 25, 2022, 5:33 pm


Round and Round - Andrew Grey - (Pennsylvania)
Bronco Boys Book #4
5★
When it comes to love, Kevin Foster can’t seem to win. Some consider him a hero, but dousing an arsonist’s attempt to burn Bronco’s to the ground puts Kevin on the vengeful criminal’s radar. Afterward, the arsonist fixates on Kevin, determined to burn away every part of Kevin’s life. Coming to Kevin’s rescue more than once, and in more ways than one, is “MacDreamy Hotness”―firefighter Angus MacTavish. Not only is Angus smitten at first sight, he learns Kevin’s nickname for him, intriguing him further. When Angus discovers Kevin is the arsonist’s target, he takes it upon himself to protect him at any cost. Soon Kevin works his way into a heart Angus thought he’d closed off for good. Things heat up between them, but the arsonist has no intention of letting Kevin finally find happiness. Hopefully Angus and Kevin can stop him before he reduces everything Kevin values to ash―including the love igniting between him and Angus.

I call Andrew Grey's books my hot chocolate and comfort reads. I always know I'll get something consistently enjoyable...not too exciting or angsty...and nothing overly suspenseful. Harry and Bull's club is the target of an arsonist on the loose. Not only is the club in danger but the boys are in danger also. A fireman that will become everything to Kevin is ready to save the day. an absolutely beautiful story. Very emotional with on the edge of your seat suspense. There is also an amazingly brilliant "Happy Ever After" also.

74Carol420
Maio 25, 2022, 5:35 pm

>72 Andrew-theQM: Me too Andrew. It's been long enough since I started the series that they're all new to me again. There is something to be said for getting old:)

75BookConcierge
Maio 26, 2022, 9:57 pm


Eat Cake – Jeanne Ray
Audiobook read by the author
4****

Ruth Hopson likes to bake cakes. She finds comfort in comforting others, and lately everyone – including Ruth – needs some comfort. Her mother has moved in after a day-time burglary at her home, her teenage daughter has all the sullenness and angst of most 16-year-olds, her son’s away at college, and her hospital administrator husband has just lost his job. Then her father, a traveling piano player whom she hasn’t seen in 35 years, breaks both wrists in a fall and has nowhere else to go. Can she bake enough cakes to soothe everyone – and herself?

I have loved every book I’ve read by Jeanne Ray, and this one is no exception. Her writing reminds me of Anne Tyler and Elizabeth Berg. Her characters experience everyday life, with all its joys, crises, heartaches and triumphs.

I loved Ruth. I liked how she came to grips with her anxieties, how she reached out for help when she needed it, how she listened to advice but still made her own decisions. I loved the interactions between Ruth and her mother, or Ruth and her daughter. This is a woman I want to be friends with … and not just because of her cakes, though I would love to try them!

And I really liked the addition of Florence, the occupational therapist who makes house calls as a favor to the family to help Ruth’s father recover the use of his hands. This is a no-nonsense yet compassionate woman that everyone needs as a best friend. She’s a wonderful addition to the mix of this household.

The audiobook is performed by the author, and I cannot imagine anyone else doing a better job. She really brought these characters to life. One little quibble with the audio version, however, is that it is difficult to tell when Ruth is saying something out loud or just thinking it. But that didn’t really lessen my enjoyment of the book.

The text includes detailed recipes at the end.

76Carol420
Editado: Maio 27, 2022, 12:20 pm


Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled - Dorothy Gilman - 3★ - (Syria)
3★
After facing down hijackers on a flight to the Middle East and saving the lives of the passengers on board, a young American woman steps off the plane in Damascus in a blaze of celebrity and disappears. The CIA believes Amanda Pym was kidnapped, possibly murdered. Masquerading as Amanda Pym’s worried aunt, Mrs. Pollifax begins her determined search, slipping through Damascus’s crooked streets and crowded souks . . . and trekking deep into the desert. Yet she is shadowed by deadly enemies, whose sinister agenda threatens not only Mrs. P. but the fragile stability of the entire Middle East.

This is the first of the Mrs. Pollifax books that I've read, and I have to say that I enjoyed the adventure with this unique elderly lady more than I thought I would. I found myself laughing at her humor and sometimes her attitude. She is smart, daring. and tough. I'd have to call it a good "old fashioned" read, no blood and guts anywhere. It reminded me somewhat of the works of Georgette Heyer.

77Carol420
Editado: Maio 27, 2022, 12:56 pm


Intelligence Check - Katherine McIntyre - (March Early Reviewers)
Dungeons and Dating series Book #3
4.5★
Mason gives people too many chances, Hunter gives too few, but are they willing to take a chance on each other? Mason has always tried to believe the best in people, and for the most part, their sunshine attitude pays off. They love their friends, their family, and they’re determined to win over their broody, gorgeous coworker Hunter—especially when their car in the shop turns into carpooling to work together. Hunter’s only seen the worst in people, and he doesn’t trust easily—not after growing up with a mom who ditched and an addict dad. However, perky, sweet, hot-as-hell Mason seems to win him over with every goofy comment or adorable smile, and before he can stop himself, he’s falling hard. The more time Mase and Hunter spend together, the more their attraction flares until they’re both holding the hope for something real. However, when Hunter’s past collides with his present, the secret he's been keeping threatens to destroy everything—the home he established, the friends who’ve become his new family, and any chance of a future with Mason.

This is the third book I have read by this author but the first book in this four=part series. I loved, loved the Chesapeake Bay series and was equally sure I would love this one also. You just know that Mason & Hunter are going to be perfect for each other...even though they came from completely different backgrounds. We learned early on that both guys had been deeply hurt and seemed almost afraid to trust that they could heal. Their families weren't train wrecks going somewhere to happen...they had ALREADY happened. Mason's twin sister died of an overdose and Hunter's father and mother were both addicts, but both men were determined to climb out of that hole if they possibly could. We also learned that both of them had secrets that had the ability to kill their budding relationship. Katheryn McIntyre tells a story with such depth that the reader feels every victory but also every setback. Thank you Ms McIntyre for giving me the opportunity to read yet another of your wonderful stories. Also for taking the time and trouble seeing that I received it,

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

78Andrew-theQM
Maio 27, 2022, 3:09 pm

>76 Carol420: I need to read more from this series.

79BookConcierge
Maio 28, 2022, 12:02 am


Devil’s Peak – Deon Meyer
Digital audiobook performed by Simon Vance
4****

Book #1 in the Inspector Benny Geissel mystery series, starring the South African detective. There’s a serial killer on the loose; the reader knows it is Thobela Mpayipheli, a man torn by grief over the death of his son who has sworn vengeance by killing those who have harmed children. A second thread involves Christine Van Rooyen, a sex worker with a need to confess. And then there’s Benny and his alcoholism; at the outset he awakens to find his wife standing over him with a packed suitcase – she gives him six months to sober up, or get out of the family’s life forever.

Knowing who the serial killer is does nothing to lessen the tension and suspense in this novel. Benny is such a flawed character and watching him try to make sense of his life and keep away from the bottle while he tracks the serial killer and becomes ensnared in the mystery Christine weaves had me backtracking and re-reading sections to try to make sense of what was happening. Meyer does a great job of adding layers to an already complicated plot. And the final chapters are a wild ride!

The audio version is performed by Simon Vance. Need I say more?

80Andrew-theQM
Maio 28, 2022, 5:20 am

>79 BookConcierge: Love Simon Vance audiobooks.

81BookConcierge
Maio 28, 2022, 9:32 am


Elizabeth Blackwell: Girl Doctor – Joanne Landers Henry
3.5***

This is part of a series for middle-school readers about the “Childhood of Famous Americans.”

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to attend medical school in the United States and she went on to found the New York Infirmary for Women and Children and then a medical school for women (the latter endeavor having to wait until after the Civil War was over before it could open).

This fictionalized biography focuses on her childhood in England and the United States, the incidents that piqued her interest in healing, and her constant goal to become a doctor and practice medicine. She was a pioneer in the field of hygiene, insisting that hospitals and clinics be kept spotlessly clean, and thereby limiting infection.

The book is both entertaining and informative, and possibly inspiring for young girls who read it.

82LibraryCin
Maio 28, 2022, 2:58 pm

The Wilderness Warrior / Douglas Brinkley
3.25 stars

President Theodore Roosevelt was a bird lover, a lover of nature in general, and also a hunter. As president from 1901- 1909, he created numerous national parks and monuments and expanded more; he brought in laws protecting birds, as well as created hunting seasons and licensing. He admired Darwin and his theories. He did a lot for conservation in the United States in the early 20th century.

Sadly, I also felt he was very contradictory due to his joy of hunting (including trophy hunting!) Yes, he did a LOT for conservation, but that was dimmed (in my opinion) by his love of hunting, particularly big game, in many cases just to put the animal’s head on his wall. Even in some of his parks, he still allowed hunting, but only of predators, not prey. This was a very long book at just under 1000 pages, so there were times I lost interest. I did learn some interesting things, too – I didn’t know “teddy bears” were named after him (but he didn’t like being called “Teddy”, either).

83LibraryCin
Maio 28, 2022, 3:35 pm

The House from Hell / Genoveva Ortiz
3.75 stars

It was the 1960s in Indiana. Gertrude Baniszewski was a single mother of seven who took in two teenaged sisters while their parents were travelling around the US for work. Unfortunately for the sisters, Sylvia and Jenny (particularly Sylvia), no one realized how abusive Gertrude was, and it was ramped up to infinity as she took a dislike to Sylvia. Not only did Gertrude torture Sylvia, but she encouraged and coaxed others, including her children and their friends, to do so, as well.

This book is fairly short and written in a simple style to make it easy for anyone (regardless of reading level) to be able to read; this is explained in the introduction. This may have led to the very straightforward way of telling the story, all the horrible torture and all. It’s hard for me to rate this book because of all the violence and awful torture Sylvia was put through before she finally died. I read a lot of horror and true crime and other dark things, but this was tough to read – and it really happened! The book is part of a true crime series, and I would be willing to read others, even though it was hard to read the details in this one.

84Carol420
Maio 29, 2022, 3:43 pm


Over and Back - Andrew Grey - (Italy, Pennsylvania)
Brocos Boys series Book #5
5★
Opposites attract on an overseas holiday, but trouble has hitched a ride. While Bronco’s nightclub is closed for renovations, the owners invite the staff on a trip to Italy. Bartender Hank needs a roommate, and he’s had his eye on waiter Grant for a while, even if he’s had to keep his distance. But sharing such close proximity means sparks are sure to fly…. Grant has a problem saying no, and it’s led him into some less-than-healthy relationships. While he’s determined not to repeat his mistakes, it’s clear Hank is different. They’re both willing to take it slow and explore the feelings building between them, but even in a foreign country, their pasts are catching up, and that could hurt more than just their budding romance.

Hank and Grant’s love story was magnificent. They are wonderful additional characters to the series. The two of them really needed each other. Both had terrible exes' that ruled and dominated their existence. Together they gave one another the courage they needed to finally be free. An added bonus, as with the first four books of the series, we got to spend time with Zach and Bull and the rest of the guys while they toured Italy, while the club was being repaired and remodeled after a fire. This series really should be read in order to understand how the characters came to be together. Get to know all these wonderful guys because they are nothing short of amazing.

85LibraryCin
Maio 29, 2022, 4:37 pm

The Last Wild Wolves / Ian McAllister.
4.5 stars

The author is a photographer and lives on the northern coast of British Columbia. He has taken many wildlife photos and helped with studies of the local wolf populations where he is. This is a coffee-table-style book with plenty of large photographs, alongside information about the wolves, and an epilogue that includes information about the destruction and conservation of the area.

Oh, they are beautiful. And sadly, so vilified. I hate people. I hate hunters – there are stories in the epilogue of some awful hunters. I hate the humans behind the companies that only want to make money and don’t care what they destroy to do it, as they destroy the habitats for most animals. These wolves are in an area that is less disturbed by humans, but it’s hard to say if that will last.

Getting beyond that, the wolves and the photos are beautiful. The area itself is beautiful, and there are a few photos that are not of the wolves, though of course, the bulk of the photos are. The information about the wolves was interesting – I didn’t know that wolves and ravens have a symbiotic relationship; wolves will hunt and eat many birds, but there has never been remains of ravens found in their scat. There is also a 20-ish minute DVD included with the book, a short documentary that says some of the same as what the book says, but of course the “photos” are now a video. And have I mentioned how beautiful they are!?

86BookConcierge
Maio 30, 2022, 10:41 am


The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel – Renee Nault / Margaret Atwood
5*****

I’ve read and reviewed Atwood’s novel previously (See my review HERE), so I’ll confine this review to the adaptation.

Nault is a Canadian artist and illustrator and her interpretation of Atwood’s novel is marvelous.

Her imagery is even more vivid and memorable than some of the same scenes as described by Atwood. I’m thinking particularly of “the Ceremony” where the Commander tries to impregnate Offred each month, or the scenes of Offred walking past the wall where “traitors” are hung.

She uses just enough text to keep the story moving and to explain the images. Of course, I’d read the original (two or three times), but I don’t think I would have missed much had this been my only experience with Atwood’s story.

The final chapter, called “Historical Notes,” is perhaps too brief, but certainly conveys the relevant information, and is less likely to be skipped over than in Atwood’s original.

I do NOT recommend that readers skip the original work, but this would be a great introduction or supplement to the novel.

87Carol420
Maio 30, 2022, 2:51 pm


Where You Are - J.H. Trumble
4.5★
Robert Westfall's life is falling apart--everywhere but in math class. That's the one place where problems always have a solution. But in the world beyond high school, his father is terminally ill, his mother is squabbling with his interfering aunts, his boyfriend is unsupportive, and the career path that's been planned for him feels less appealing by the day. Robert's math teacher, Andrew McNelin, watches his best student floundering, concerned but wary of crossing the line between professional and personal. Gradually, Andrew becomes Robert's friend, then his confidante. As the year progresses, their relationship--in school and out of it--deepens and changes. And as hard as he tries to resist, Andrew knows that he and Robert are edging into territory that holds incalculable risks for both of them.

I had so many mixed feelings about this story. Andrew as a teacher should have known that what he and Robert had started was going to blow up and take them, at least him, down with it...but love is truly blind, deaf and dumb. Robert lied to Andrew about his age and that wasn't found out until after things were spinning out of control. Andrew thought that Robert was 18 which would have made him an adult, then finds out he wouldn't be 18 for two more months. Andrew is only 6 years older. I felt drawn to their dilemma and found myself rooting for them when I realized that the ups and downs in the relationship was all created entirely by others. It deals with such a controversial subject but is done in such a way that the sexual aspect of the forbidden teacher/student relationship is secondary. The story is strong and realistic and oddly provocative without being vulgar. It's compelling, romantic and if like me you are a sucker for a happy ending you'll love Andrew and Robert. These two deserved happy ever after in spades.

88LibraryCin
Maio 30, 2022, 10:21 pm

The Keepers / Tan Van Huizen
3.5 stars

There is a group of police officers in the small town of Titicut, Massachusetts who are not only tasked with regular police work in town, but there is something they’ve had to keep in check for 300 years, and the guardianship of this has been passed down from generation to generation. Because of this very dark “something”, people occasionally go missing… and the police cover it up. They don’t want outsiders coming in, either, to poke their noses in. So, reporter Don may be in for some back luck as he follows up on another reporter who once tried to figure out what was going on… but then he disappeared. Now, Don will give it a try. And there are teenagers wreaking havoc in town.

It was a bit hard to follow at the start. It started in the 1600s (an epilogue, really), with a lot of Bible verses and other stuff I had trouble figuring out. It continued in the 1980s, but there were a lot of characters to introduce, so it was a bit tricky to follow, in addition to me trying to figure out if it was the 1980s or 1970s when some people had disappeared. I got it in my head, somehow (though I believe I was incorrect), that we were flashing back to the 70s (from the 80s) at times. When we switched to ritualistic stuff with the “Keepers”, it was back to the Bible verses and I lost interest.

All that being said, once I figured out who people were, even though I didn’t like many of them, I had an easier time following. And the pace at the end picked up a lot, I thought. By this point I liked the book enough that I was thinking I would read a sequel if there was one. And it ended on a bit of a “cliffhanger”, so there definitely will be one coming. Hard to say if I’ll remember, though, as this was an ARC, so I am unable to add the second book to my tbr at this point.

89Carol420
Maio 31, 2022, 10:59 am


Don't Let Me Go - J.H. Trumble -(New York)
4.5★
Some people spend their whole lives looking for the right partner. Nate Schaper found his in high school. In the eight months since their cautious flirting became a real, heart-pounding, tell-the-parents relationship, Nate and Adam have been inseparable. Even when local kids take their homophobia to brutal levels, Nate is undaunted. He and Adam are rock solid. Two parts of a whole. Yin and yang. But when Adam graduates and takes an off-Broadway job in New York--at Nate's insistence--that certainty begins to flicker. Nate's friends can't keep his insecurities at bay, especially when he catches Skyped glimpses of Adam's shirtless roommate. Nate starts a blog to vent his frustrations and becomes the center of a school controversy, drawing ire and support in equal amounts. But it's the attention of a new boy who is looking for more than guidance that forces him to confront who and what he really wants.

There are so many twists and turns in this story...some thought provoking and some heart-breaking. Nate and Adam have to come to terms with what has happened between the two of them. Adam will have to truly look deep and see what it is he wants from Nate. Nate will have to find himself and learn to stand up on his own with no one to help. Nate will find a friendship that means a lot to him and he will experience love outside of Adam that scares him. The book causes you to take another look at love and relationships in view them in an entirely different light. You'll ask yourself how is it that you can love someone so much that you will put your entire life on hold for them? How is it that a new relationship can open your eyes making you see that what you had right in front of you could have been a lie? The author has done a fantastic job with this story. When the last sentence has been read and the covers have been closed, you will without a doubt love these four guys.

90threadnsong
Jun 5, 2022, 5:40 pm

>83 LibraryCin: This sounds so familiar - I've either read this book or one detailing the events it describes as a true-crime book. It seemed to be a "thing" when parents dropped their children off with strangers when they couldn't keep them.

And I remember seeing a movie based on it years ago.

91threadnsong
Editado: Jun 5, 2022, 5:52 pm

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (Glasgow)
5****

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: she struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she's thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding unnecessary human contact, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen, the three rescue one another from the lives of isolation that they had been living.

What a terrific book! It is a reason that I join in my book club reads, as it is modern fiction, well-written, and leads to so many interesting discussions. The premise is that of young-ish Eleanor Oliphant who has a very measured and predictable life; her habits are almost obsessive-compulsive. Almost. The bottles of vodka every weekend point to a different sort of compulsion.

Add to Eleanor's life an IT geek from her office who smokes and wears athletic shores instead of a tie, an elderly man who falls near them, mutual families who are welcoming or abusive, and you have a story that operates on a number of different levels. I started it one night and finished it a couple of nights later in time for book club night.

92threadnsong
Jun 5, 2022, 8:45 pm

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
5*****

The year is 1327. The place is a wealthy Franciscan abbey. And the crimes committed here are beyond the wildest imaginings. It will be the task of English Brother William of Baskerville to decipher secret symbols and dig intot he eerie labyrinth of abbey life to unravel the mystery.

Where do I begin? This book is dense and multi-faceted, and worth every hour and brain cell and glimpse into post-Templar monastic life. The mystery is more relevant in the film adaptation, while the mystery of the Labyrinth and the conflicts between the different Orders are the main part of the book.

Set "somewhere" in Italy in 1327 and written by the aged Adso, he recounts his journeys as a young man with his master, William of Baskerville, to solve a suicide (later two, later three murders) within a Franciscan monastery. William must also argue for a monk, Michael, who is shortly to journey to the Pope in Avignon to argue for the sanctity of the poverty of Christ. Arguments against the Benedictines, who hold that the Church should be rich in material things.

I don't profess to understand, or sometimes even follow, the various power-plays between the sects of Franciscans, Benedictines, Cluniacs, Minorites, and other monastic orders, except in the broadest possible scope. What I did find fascinating was the animosity between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emporer and how each side vied to gain the upper hand. And how, sadly, the ruthless Inquisitor Bernard Gui wins the unconscionable arguments.

While re-reading this I found my original pen drawing of the labyrinth, with its towers and openings and polygon sides. The search that William and Adso make of the labyrinth-library is meticulous and leads me to wonder if such a building ever existed. Just like the Library of Alexandria, all of the forever-lost learning is a central tragedy. As is the treatment of the poor, illiterate peasant girl and condemnation of so-called heretics.

A brilliant work by a brilliant mind.

93threadnsong
Jun 5, 2022, 11:18 pm

The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer
3***

Better than a 3 1/2 star read? Not as good as a 4? I struggled with how I felt about this book throughout my time reading it. It has been a ground-breaker in feminist literature and I really held high hopes for it.

Much of its insight into women's conditioning still holds true: recent social media revelations about how young women view their bodies in a negative light are as relevant as when the tweens saw "perfect women" on the color glossy pages of 60's magazines. And hated their own bodies as a result. Women earning significantly less than men. Still. Women struggling in the arts and sports to achieve what their male counterparts have achieved (see: US Women's Soccer). Greer's references to studies of rural women in post-Elizabethan England, who married their husbands for love and were equal with him in running the household; we were right there, until the demands of family forced so many Western women to resign their jobs (see: 2020).

The cringe-worthiness of dated references to African-Americans or members of the LGBTQ community are on full display here. The publications and studies are now mostly obscure, though she does pull out good historical quotes by and about women.

But. The contempt with which Greer writes about and to housewives, her denigrations about their abilities, including her own mother, are revealing. By the end of the book I had to wonder: What was she trying to achieve? Her paternalism, her lack of compassion, and her general "snark" meant that. I. Just. Couldn't. Praise her more than as an ardent second wave feminist whose work did not stand the test of time.