End of Year Book Survey

I originally saw this over at Living a Joyful Life and thought it looked fun :) 

How would your answers compare?

Currently reading?

• Well, I'm sort of cheating, since it's already past the middle of January, but since you asked, 
• I'm finishing up The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton (by Eleanor Ray), 
• making my way slowly through We Wrote in Symbols: Love and Lust by Arab Women Writers (edited by Selma Dabbagh), 
• and just starting Ship of Blood: Mutiny and Slaughter Aboard the Harry A. Berwind, and the Quest for Justice (by Charles Oldham).

 
Your book goal of 2021?

• 100

 
How many books read in 2021?

• 97

 
Fiction/Non-fiction ratio?

• 89/8

 
Male/Female authors?

• 22/74 and one non-binary author

 
Favorite book(s) read?

• Golly! My five-star reads in 2021 were (in no particular order):
• The Age of Witches by Louisa Morgan
• Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
• The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson
• What Could Be Saved by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz
• The Memory Collectors by Kim Neville
• The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni
• Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis
• The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

 
Least favorite(s)?

• Writing a book is hard, and I just don't have it in my heart to call a book out as my least favorite.

 
Longest title? (apparently non-fiction books have very wordy titles - who knew?)

• Totally just guessing on this one:
• The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larsen
• Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man, and the Gospel of Jesus' Wife by Ariel Sabar
• It's Not About the Gun: Lessons from My Global Career as a Female FBI Agent by Kathy Stearman
• Here She Is: The Complicated Reign of the Beauty Pageant in America by Hilary Levey Friedman
• Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz: The Rebellion of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton by Gail Crowther

 
Shortest title?

• Unchosen by Katharyn Blair
• Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge
• Litani by Jess Lourey
• Constance by Matthew FitzSimmons
• Unthinkable by Brad Parks
• Swindle by Gordon Korman (audio book)

 
How many re-reads?

• None

 
How many audio books?

• I think two?

 
How many of this year’s books were from the library?

• A handful, but mostly ARCs

 
Favorite cover of a book you read?

• I'm sad to say, I do probably more than half of my reading on my kindle, so I don't see book covers often enough to pick a favorite.

 
Most disappointing book?

• See above - writing is hard and I don't want to call someone's book 'disappointing.'

 
Book that had the greatest impact on you?

• Hard to say. I still think about The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson because of the pandemic stuff. I also think about the witch books I read from time to time.

 
2021 read you recommend the most?

• I suppose it depends on what you like. My five-star books are all worth recommending, I think. I've also added a few favorite authors. I'd never say no to books from Alice Hoffman, John Bishop, Robert McCaw, and Lia Louis, for example.

Five Things for Friday

1. Ugh. Rough morning. Yesterday we originally had dentist appointments scheduled, but when half the family didn't feel good for the whole beginning of the week, I didn't want the poor hygienist digging around in COVID mouths, so I canceled. But I didn't cancel my two hours off work. And then somehow I convinced myself as I left yesterday, that I was going into a three-day weekend. And I am. After today.
2. So when oldest made it to school for a half-day, she told everyone she'd decided the next day she'd be staying home. Her reasoning? "Meh. My mom and I are all out of f*%#s." Yeah. She is not even kidding. Her frustration is all the kids who don't wear masks, or wear them incorrectly. Our district does have a mask mandate, but there isn't much sense when no one enforces it. That said, our county has also stopped contact tracing, and our high school of more than 2,000 kids announced just 16 cases of COVID yesterday. Yeah. I'm pretty sure my daughter could name more than 16 kids she personally knows at the school who currently say they have COVID. Methinks a few have gone unreported.
3. I know I save my #5 for books, but my Yelp book club is finally starting - yay!! I was doing that social anxiety thing when I hadn't heard yet...I was sure they started but purposely excluded me. Because my brain hates me.
4. We got to see the screening for Hotel Transylvania: Transformia on Wednesday before it's available to everyone else today. It was a fun evening. My son and I went and got popcorn from the theater to enjoy with the show in our family room. The movie was about as expected. I'd say 3/5 stars. The beginning was better than the ending, and the actual ending felt like they ran out of time and had to finish it on an all-night bender for production the next day. As sequels so, it wasn't bad. Check out your chance for other movie premieres and other freebies at Yes/No Detroit Deals + More on Facebook.
5. Books! This week saw publication of my reviews for Treachery Times Two by Robert McCaw (4 out of 5 stars, with a giveaway still running til 1/16/22), Daughters of the Lake (4 out of 5 stars), and Inhuman Trafficking (5 out of 5 stars, with a giveaway running til 1/17/22). Treachery Times Two and Daughters of the Lake were read in 2021 for me, and Inhuman Trafficking was one of my first reads for 2022. 

Five Things for Friday

 

Yeah! C'mon 2022 - it wouldn't take much for you to exceed the past couple years...

Anyway, while my 2022 goals post isn't done yet, part of it is making these Friday posts. I've decided this is where I'll share not only my week, but my book reviews published, and new books received. No point in lying, books are kind of a big deal for me. My ten-year-old still doesn't believe me. He asks regularly, "What's your favorite thing to do when you're bored?" I always tell him it's reading, but he still keeps asking. Anyway, without further ado, here's my first week of 2022!

1. I honestly barely made it til midnight last Friday before escaping to my bed. I'd gotten my COVID booster shot mid-day on Thursday, which was not doing my desire to stay awake any favors. That said, I'm grateful I didn't have noticeable side effects, and I've now done my part to protect myself, my family, and my community. So, starting the year off right :)
2. Totally appreciated that hubs and I still had Monday off work for the holiday weekend. The kids were back to school, so hubs and I washed the new car (we took delivery on our new Ford Mach-E on Friday!) and headed to Fogo de Chao for lunch. I was able to go twice around their grand opening, with Yelp, and then a group of bloggers, but this was his first trip. Totally delicious - yay, meat sweats!
3. Gosh. Then I went back to work. Which also isn't terrible. Our numbers are finally manageable (for seriously like the first time since I started in February - crazy!!) and I get a lot of satisfaction from my work. So, yay again.
4. The kids are taking today off of school. Because, COVID Omicron is crazy, school shootings are horribly stressful for months afterwards, and I just can't argue anymore. Stay home. I'm over it. I always say five days in a row of requirements is excessive. Truth.
5. Books! Since my final Show Us Your Books post, my blog published my last three reviews of the 2021, for A Beautiful Blue Death, To Love and To Loathe, and The Social Graces.  Books I Think You Should Read also posted my review for All I Want. There are still two more reviews to come for books I read in 2021, but at least one of them still isn't published, so patience and all that, right? I'm also super excited that I was approved to read Keanu Reeves: Most Triumphant, which doesn't publish til April. There's a few 'stars' that there isn't gossip and slander about, who make you feel better about the whole world, amiright? So excited to read this book as soon as I can fit it in. 

So how's your 2022 going? I would say it can't get much worse, but enough of tempting fate, yeah?

To Love and To Loathe - Book Review

To Love and To Loathe (The Regency Vows #2) by Martha Waters
Published: April 6, 2021
Pages: 349 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Strengths: Charming, witty characters
Weaknesses: Not a lot of substance

Am I the only one who feels like this could be the community next to the Bridgerton's? LOL Which probably just shows how un-educated I am about the time period and society.

The women in The Regency Vows series so far are so independent and fun. In the one, the widowed Lady Diana Templeton decides it may be time for her to take a lover, around the same time one of her brother's friends who she has known for years decides he needs an honest opinion regarding his...ahem...bedroom performance. Perfect fit, right? Of course, they usually thrive on insulting and riling each other, but they each think they can handle their distaste for one another for a month or so, while they both accomplish their behind-closed-doors goals.

The plot line becomes pretty obvious early on. That doesn't make their banter and chemistry any less fun. I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars and look forward to more in the series. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my free electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. 

A Beautiful Blue Death - Book Review

 

A Beautiful Blue Death (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #1) by Charles Finch
Published: June 26, 2007
Pages: 309 pages ☆☆☆
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Strengths: Fun, quirky characters
Weaknesses: Not strictly within the time period it's set in

Charles Lenox and his neighbor and lifelong friend Lady Jane have a very unique relationship for Victorian London. They're friends. And since their both adults who aren't courting for spouses, they seem to get away with a lot. Having not actually done a lot of research into the era, I'm not sure if it might be too much, but whatever. They're witty, and charming, and her insights even help him to solve crimes in his work as an amateur detective.

Lenox talks about solving an earlier case for Scotland Yard, but this is the first book in the Charles Lenox Mysteries series, so I assume we're just establishing his backstory. More books will certainly be amusing. He's a fun, aristocratic character with enough smarts, time, and other resources to show up the regular bobbies with his investigative prowess.

I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars. It was quirky and amusing, even if it didn't feel entirely accurate as a historical mystery.

Show Us Your Books - November 2021

And just like that, we're almost done with 2021.

Still not sure how I'm going to log/review my books for 2022, or even what my goal may be for how many books I want to finish.

I do know that I just feel so pressured to try and get this post up each month, trying for a few comments (which doesn't really happen if you miss the opening rush). And if reading is for fun, I shouldn't feel pressured to prove I've been reading, right? But no other alternative is jumping out, and I do want a register (of sorts) so I can look back to see what I've read and how much I've enjoyed it....

So for now, and the end of December, I'm still with Life According to Steph and Jana Says, here to Show Us Your Books!

Ready to share a bit of insight regarding the ten books I finished and reviewed since last month's post, I'll still be linking back to Goodreads with my titles, and either my blog or Books I Think You Should Read for full reviews. As always, big shout-out and thanks to Netgalley and the publishers who let me read their new books for free in exchange for my review. Receiving the books for free never influences my review.

Finished Reading:

Wolf Point (Ashe Cayne Book 2) by Ian K. Smith - I have read both Ashe Cayne books, but they would stand alone fine as well. In Wolf Point, Ashe is hired by the children of a powerful man in the community who was said to have committed suicide, but those close to him don't believe it. I gave this one 3 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐

The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson - You'd think I'd be tired of pandemic stuff by now. But this was a fascinating book about the next pandemic. In this one, they acknowledge that those around had already survived COVID. Now, there was a new virus, in which its victims sort of blacked out, and killed one victim. With their bare hands or whatever was available. After their chosen victim was dead, they came around with no idea what they'd done. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars, and may read it again, now that I'm thinking about it. My full review is here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke - This was definitely a thinker. Back in the 1600s, when some suspected witches were burned at the stake on this remote Scottish Island, the suspected witches ended their torturous lives by cursing those families remaining on the island. When single Liv move to the Island in the 1980s with her three small daughter, she's been commissioned to paint the interior walls of an ancient lighthouse. Let's just say, things don't end as planned. But that's not the end of the story. Nearly 20 years later, the one remaining sister may finally have a chance to be reunited with her missing family from so long ago. But everything may not be as it seems. I gave this thriller 4 out of 5 stars, and there may be some plot points I still haven't untangled, even after writing my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

How to Murder a Marriage (The Ex-Whisperer Files #1) by Gabrielle St. George - What's not to enjoy about a sassy, contemporary female main character with hilariously bad luck? Besides being stalked by her own ex, she's now getting threatening messages from the ex of a woman who wrote in to her advice column. She thought she'd have a fresh start by moving back to the town where she grew up, but trouble seems to have followed her. Check out my full review where I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐

Meant to Be by Jude Deveraux - The story starts off with two sisters, ready to marry their sweethearts and move on with their 'real' lives. But things get complicated fast. I thought I was coming to the end of the book as their stories resolved, but it was just getting warmed up. This book follows through a couple more generations, and most of the sisters' lives. And the writing had me engaged so much that I had to find out what would happen next. My full review gave it 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

House of Glass Hearts by Leila Siddiqui - When Maera's grandfather dies, the greenhouse from behind his old Pakistan house shows up in her American backyard. And as her mother does with anything from the past, she acts like she can't see it. Decades ago, Maera's older brother may have entered the very same greenhouse, never to be heard from again. Maera and her friends can't miss the chance to save him, if he's still there. But first they have to face off with legendary Indian creatures from the folklore they all grew up with. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars in my full review (and there's also a giveaway through 12/16/21). ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Her Name is Knight (Nena Knight #1) by Yasmin Angoe - The parallel stories in this book were both so interesting. Before she was Nena Knight, her village was destroyed before her eyes. When she is adopted into a new family who is committed to justice, she is trained and given the tools that may finally bring justice to the family she lost as a child. And protect the family who now has her total devotion. I'm excited to read more of her story. I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart - I read this one with one of my book clubs. While it's a young adult book, the emotions were full on hitting all my mom buttons. After a traffic accident tragically kills a mother and her two young daughters, the two remaining family members pick new names for their new future and hit the road. Rodeo is the only name he'll answer to, as 'dad' is too strong of a reminder of those he's lost. And Coyote is okay with it. He does what he can to take care of his daughter, while just calling her the new name she chose. They get by. But when she finds out she has one chance to go get her last link with her mother and sisters, she's determined to trick her dad into taking her back to their hometown. With the help of a few new friends, she just might do it. My full review gives this one 4 out of 5 stars. It's a great story of starting over, and escaping what you need to. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #1) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - I'm almost glad I didn't finish this one before my other book club met. Once someone said it was written to be a play, that changed my whole interpretation, and I enjoyed the second half even more. There's a small, retro coffee shop in Japan, and from one seat, you can travel in time. But only within the coffee shop, and only until the coffee gets cold. The four relationships that were examined when half of their members traveled in time to a critical moment were beautiful. While you can't change the present by traveling to the past, sometimes a change in perspective is all you really needed. I gave this one 3 out of 5 stars in my full review, and would LOVE to see an actual theater production of this book someday. ⭐⭐⭐

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry - This was another in-depth family drama. When their mother dies, three siblings find themselves reunited in the hometown two of them hated. After trying to determine why their mother died in the yard with a digging spoon in her hand, they find a box of secrets that change what they believed their entire past to be. My full 4 out of 5 star review is here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Currently Reading:

I started All I Want by Darcey Bell last night. So far the main character strikes me as a bit sniveling and annoying, but we'll see how she reacts as they move into their house of horrors... I started Treachery Times Two by Robert McCaw on my lunch. I love his beautiful Hawaiian background to the intriguing murder/mysteries!

Reading Next:

Actually, by finished the two I've got going now, I'll be caught up with scheduled stuff through January! I think the oldest hard-copy book in my review pile is The Final Six by Alexandra Monir, and the oldest kindle book waiting for a review is Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb. I'd love to be able to pick something new up and just read it, without feeling guilty for the backlog of books wanting my attention ;)

Before the Coffee Gets Cold - Book Review

 

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Published: December 6, 2015
Pages: 213 pages
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆
Strengths: Characters and lessons
Weaknesses: Little continuity of the storyline

When my book club met about this book, someone mentioned that it (and its sequel) was originally written as a play. And that made it all so much more clear. I would LOVE to see an actual production of this. 

With that being said, a novelization of a play definitely reads differently than an actual novel. Since I admittedly did not finish the book before our book club met (first time this year, I swear!), I read the second half from a different perspective. The writing was a bit choppy for me, which I had just attributed to the language difference and the possibility of some depth lost in translation. In retrospect, it was the difference between something being written as a play and waiting for someone to add a bit of their own characterization and acting to the performance.

I loved the characters, if the foreign names were a bit challenging for me to remember and keep straight. The lessons they learned through their time-travel journals to those they had lost in one way or another were priceless.

I'd give this book at least 3 out of 5 stars, and would like to read the second book to see what additional insight it lends concerning the cafe and the core characters. And as stated previously, I would LOVE to experience an actual theater production of it.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise - Book Review

 

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Publication date: January 8, 2019
Pages: 344 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Strengths: Characters and storyline
Weaknesses: Some characters were more understandable and more detailed than others

The journey that were on with Coyote, and her dad Rodeo, is a small part of all their five years on the road so far. See, the three other people who were part of their family died in a traffic accident, so Coyote and Rodeo picked new names, agreed to never discuss the past, and hit the road.

While Coyote hasn't said that she doesn't like never settling down somewhere or making a friend for more than a few hours, when she talks to her grandma on the phone each week she's always sure to say that they're doing well and enjoying their travels. Coyote wants to keep the peace and help her dad be as happy as he can.

The evolution of the characters and the new relationships between Coyote and the newcomers to their journey were my favorite parts of the story. I wanted to see Coyote truly be the kid and be cared for like she deserved, but I could still sympathize with Rodeo and his resistance to acknowledge that his life was no longer shared every day with his wife and other two daughters along with Coyote.

I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars, and recommend it for someone in the mood for an emotionally cathartic read. It was a great read for someone in the mood to immerse in a story about escaping traditional reality. 

Meant to Be - Book Review

 

Meant to Be by Jude Deveraux
Publication date: March 16, 2021
Page: 416 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Strengths: Intricate plot
Weaknesses: A lot of stories - could have been two or three books?

Who doesn't love following a family's whole lineage? This story starts with Vera and Kelly - sisters engaged to be married to two young men they grew up with. Paul is the veterinarian's son - a perfect fit for Kelly, who plans to also become a veterinarian and take over the older doctor's practice. Adam is the mayor's son, a respectable young man from a great family, who's been promised to Vera forever - even when he left town to join the Peace Corps in Africa, a dream Vera planned to follow with him once her mom was taken care of by her younger sister in a few years.

But the best-laid plans...am I right? I thought I was reaching the end of the story when Vera and Kelly got settled the first time, but it was just the beginning. This story followed through to their grandchildren, and almost beyond. The writing was engaging, and I kept wanting to know what would happen next. 

Overall, I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars, and had tears in my eyes at the perfect ending (even if it was a bit abrupt). I'd recommend this for readers who enjoy epic generational stories. It spanned more than 50 years, with the introduction of new younger characters feeling very tied in with those we already knew.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review.  

The Lighthouse Witches - Book Review

 

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke
Publication date: September 30, 2021
Pages: 367 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Strengths: Intricate plot
Weaknesses: Kind of confusing til it all came together

I've thought about this book for days since finishing it! It's a few characters/timeline alternating story - there's the owner of the lighthouse (more toward the end than the beginning), Liv in 1998 (a woman who moves herself and her three daughters to the bothy next to the lighthouse so she can paint commissioned art inside it), and Luna in 2012 (Liv's surviving daughter, trying to get on with her life after her mother and both sisters vanished in 1998).

Around the half-way point or so, it started feeling a little confusing, but pushing through that was an excellent idea - the ending was so fascinating, as everything fell together. Unfortunately, that makes this the sort of review that can't give away too much. Let's just say there's a happy-ish ending for the characters we know.

Overall, I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars and would consider reading it again. The magical part was super interesting, if a bit scary. I'd recommend it for those who like witch stories, as well as those into interesting family dramas, as Luna tries to untangle what she can't remember of what happened to her family.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. 

Show Us Your Books - October 2021

Second Tuesday of November already?!?

It looks like I read hardly anything in October, but I actually have a few more reviews ready but not published yet. You'll get to hear about those next month ;)

I'm still sharing what I finished as part of Show Us Your Books with Jana Says and Life According to Steph. Not sure how I'm going to keep track of my reading and reviews next year. With work and all, I've struggled to get each monthly summary post up this year. Have you found some other system that works for you? I post reviews on both my blog and Books I Think You Should Read. Maybe just an annual post that I keep updating as my reviews post? I just dunno.

Oh well. I'll certainly finish up November and December with Show Us Your Books - As always, title links go to Goodreads, and the review links to go the review either on my blog or Books I Think You Should Read. As always, thank you to Netgalley and publishers who let me read their books for free - receiving books for free never influences my review. 

Finished Reading:

Litani by Jess Lourey - I've got to admit, part of what I liked best about this book was its setting in the 1980s midwest. Home, sweet home. Except the part where it was about satan worshippers and child abductions and abuse. This book was a very well told fiction about a real hysteria in the 80s, at least for a bit. Frankie Jubilee is dropped in the middle of it all when her father dies and she is moved to her mother's house. She doesn't really know her mother and hasn't even visited in years, so it's not expected to be pleasant anyway. But 'not pleasant' was never expected to include a bunch of kids who don't trust anyone and don't really want any new friends, and a bunch of adults who could be predators. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gated Prey (Eve Ronin #3) by Lee Goldberg - I'm so happy I've been reading this series since the beginning (although the books would certainly stand alone fine as well). I enjoy Eve Ronin's character and her adventures. She's a detective, but her promotion has left her always cloaked in scandal. There are a lot of old-school 'boys club' officers who don't like her and never will. But she gets the last word every time by solving the unique crimes and seeing that justice is served. I gave this one 4 out of 4 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Becoming of Noah Shaw (The Shaw Confessions #1) by Michelle Hodkin - While the book was engagingly written and I finished it pretty quickly, I'm still not sure what was going on. Reading others' reviews, I see that I should have read the Mara Dyer series first to get to know and understand all the characters, who do seem like pretty interesting kids. Oh well. In my full review, I gave this one 3 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐

Christmas In Peachtree Bluff (Peachtree Bluff #4) by Kristy Woodson Harvey - This one was a fun holiday story about the Murphy women. While I haven't read the previous books, it was easy to catch up and get to know these strong female characters. In reading the previous summaries, these books aren't just straight fluff romances, but a lot more about their full characters and family dynamics. And of course, the other residents of the quaint town of Peachtree Bluff. In this one, part of the family finds themselves stuck in Peachtree Bluff during the first hurricane to hit the town in more than 100 years. In my full review, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Currently Reading:

I'm a bit of the way into The Lighthouse Witches by C.J.  Cooke. It started out a little confusing, but I think I'm getting into the groove now. So far there are alternating viewpoints between single mom Liv and her three daughters on a creepy island with a 100+ year old lighthouse, in 1998, and Luna as the sole survivor of the family in 2012 (I think?) who still hopes her mom and two sisters will turn up...

Reading Next: 

How to Murder a Marriage by Gabrielle St. George, and The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray. Or maybe something else. We'll see!

Gated Prey - Book Review

Gated Prey (Eve Ronin #3) by Lee Goldberg

Publication date: October 26,  2021
Pages: 268 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆

Strengths: Unique, engaging main characters

Weaknesses: Somewhat predictable

I will never turn down a chance to read another Eve Ronin story. I've been reading these since they started, and each one has been a unique police procedural with engaging characters and great writing.

In this one, Eve and her partner Duncan are undercover as a filthy rich couple. Someone has been getting in to gated communities and robbing homeowners, and they're determined to lure the culprits and stop their wave of crime. That case goes pretty much as expected, and the leadership in the city and at their department are eager to wrap it up with a bow and call it done. But Eve and Duncan have to trust their instincts when something feels a bit off about the crowd-pleasing end of the crime spree.

While still hanging out in the gated communities where they've been looking for similarities to solve all the break-ins, Eve ends up called to the scene of a stillborn baby and its distraught mother. She thinks that one is just paperwork, but a phone call early the next morning leaves her chasing another series of clues to a different crime. 

Eve Ronin is a unique hero, and not a very stereotypical police officer, either. I'd recommend this series to anyone who enjoys quick thrillers and police procedurals. I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars, and I'm looking forward to reading what comes next.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my early electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review.
 

Show Us Your Books - September 2021

It's the second Tuesday of the month already - time for Show Us Your Books with Jana Says and Life According to Steph. 

Only a month into the school year? This is exhausting! I'm ready for a week or two off. I'm trying not to look my anxiety directly in the eye - for all the activities my kids are involved in (especially my high-schooler), I'm coming and going every day. Except when we realized last Thursday that my car had a dangerous gas leak, and my husband left town. So I regularly tell my daughter to go ahead and go out, have fun, find a ride. She walked in over the weekend and said at least one friend's older brother is not a good driver. Grrreattt. 

Books are a good distraction, right? I finished and posted reviews for seven books since our last Show Us Your Books. And there's some really good ones! 

As always, title links go to Goodreads, and the review links to go the review either on my blog or Books I Think You Should Read. As always, thank you to Netgalley and publishers who let me read their books for free - receiving books for free never influences my review. 

Finished Reading:

Cold Snap: A Viking Cat Mystery by Codi Schneider - I might have argued whether a cat narrator can really work,  but Bijou isn't a cat I want to argue with. While an all-animal participating cast (they did have human owners) was quirky, the author made it work. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars in my full review for Books I Think You Should Read. ⭐⭐⭐

All These Bodies by Kendare Blake - This one was really interesting. It was sort of a psychological thriller, but most of it was told in re-telling. The majority of events in the book had already occurred and were being recounted from Marie to Michael. It was interesting as it was a hard-to-believe recounting being told by a narrator we don't know if we should trust, to a teenage boy without a lot of reference to judge truth from fiction. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson - I've been lucky enough to read some really well-done non-fiction lately, and this definitely fit the description. My Yelp book club agreed that if anything, this book had TOO MUCH facts and detail. There were a few storylines that went nowhere. I found myself way more interested in the serial killer and his fascinating building than in the construction and running of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, but I definitely learned a lot of trivia about both events. I'm excited to have read that the movie rights have already been purchased (but no more information so far). I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars in my review.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni - This was a simultaneous telling of three very different coming-of-age stories. The stories start when William (a Vietnam vet) sends his journal from his time in Vietnam to Vincent, decades later. Vincent is recalling his own years immediately after high school, while working for a construction company with William after his military discharge. The third story is still through Vincent's telling,  but it's about his own son, Beau, who is graduating from high school. The men have three very different stories to tell, that changed each of their lives dramatically. I found myself enthralled with all three stories and gave the book 5 out of 5 stars in my review. I've thought about its characters many times since finishing the book. It was a very realistic fiction memoir. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

No Words (Little Bridge Island #3) by Meg Cabot - Little Bridge Island sounds like the coziest, most charming place to live, or in this book, even just visit! The author again does not disappoint with an endearing cast of characters with quirky flaws that just make you love them more. There's a fun frenemies trope, and I think every reader loves stories about writers - it feels so relatable reading about books. In my review, I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars. It was a great book to escape with for a few days - I always love a visit to Little Bridge Island. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis - Noelle Butterby has had her share of bad times. When there are an overwhelming number of good coincidences that make her life better, you just can't help but cheer. This sweet story is definitely worth a suspension of disbelief as the coincidental encounters (past and present) with Sam Attwood occur and are discovered. Being around while Noelle and Sam learn more about themselves and each other was so heartwarming. I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars in my review and recommend it for nearly anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Book of Magic (Practical Magic #2) by Alice Hoffman - While this happens to be the most recent review I've published, it also means for this month, I've saved the best for last. I knew before I even picked up this book that it would be my favorite for the month, if not much longer. I love all of the Owens' women and their stories. This final chapter was no exception. Aunt Jet and Aunt Franny are passing the magical torch to their complex nieces. Gillian and Sally are next in line. But will Sally ever be convinced of the good side of magic, and the true worth of love? This one was a really great story, and we got to know more Owens women better. Read all of the books in this series - the prequels as well as the original Practical Magic (sure, you can watch the movie too) and wrap it all up with this gem. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Currently Reading:

I just started The Becoming of Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin yesterday in print (so far it hasn't really sucked me in), and Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey on my kindle (probably predictable, but cozy).

Reading Next:

I have Wolf Point by Ian K. Smith on my list still for October. It's another book in the Ashe Cayne series, so I'm sure it will be a fun read. My last October scheduled review is for The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke. I haven't looked at the summary since I agreed to read it, but WITCHES! Sounds like it will be my perfect Halloween read. 

The Book of Magic - Book Review

 

The Book of Magic (Practical Magic #2) by Alice Hoffman
Publication date: October 12, 2021
Pages: 400 pages
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆
Strengths: Amazing characters, detailed story, great magic and witchcraft depictions
Weaknesses: Some loose ends? (maybe another book coming??)

There are some books I know I'll give five stars to before I even start. These include all of the books in Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic series. 

The most press these books have gotten, and the way I've mentioned them to most people, are the book that the Practical Magic movie was based on, and then more of the glorious, magical back story. Which of course is now followed by the what happens next for Aunt Jet and Aunt Franny, and Gillian and Sally. 

This book (book 2, because Practical Magic was book 1, and The Rules of Magic and Magic Lessons actually took place before Practical Magic), tells of Aunt Jet and Aunt Franny leaving their magical legacy to Gillian and Sally (although Sally really doesn't want it), and also to Sally's daughters (who don't know about their magical history). The biggest conflict of The Book of Magic is the curse - is it real even if you don't believe it? And if some don't believe it exists, can it still be eliminated? The Owens women deserve to give and receive love, but no solution has been found in hundreds of years.

I don't want to spoil the details for those who haven't yet read the series. Of course, I can't recommend the series strongly enough. It doesn't quite need to be read in order (it wasn't written that way), but I can't imagine reading just part of the series. I read Practical Magic first, then the two prequels, and last week I finished The Book of Magic. I don't know if there are more coming or not. There are reasons to continue, and reasons to say the story is now complete. We'll just have to leave that up to Alice Hoffman.

Thank you again, Ms. Hoffman, for another great and engaging book. Definitely 5 out of 5 stars again from me. While I don't have time to read them all again yet, I'm looking forward to watching the Practical Magic movie again and see how the newest installment influences my views of the characters, by knowing what comes next.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance electronic copy of this great book. Receiving my copy of the book for free did not influence my review. 

No Words - Book Review

No Words (Little Bridge Island #3) by Meg Cabot
Publication date: October 12, 2021
Pages: 384 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Strengths: Charming characters and story
Weaknesses: None come to mind...

A series of books about a sweet little island town could theoretically run out of characters, right? The third book in the Little Bridge Island series has solved that - the main character is author Jo Wright, a New York author visiting to be a part of the island's first book festival, and receiving a hefty stipend for her participation.

She confirms with her publicist that the author who lives nearby is not part of the festival, since he ripped out her heart and stomped on it previously when he spoke badly about children's books - Jo's specialty.

While the books in the series are predictable, knowing they're so warm and fuzzy is a comfort. Reading a book to escape, and knowing that true love will be found and wishes will come true is hardly something to complain about. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars and I look forward to reading more about the residents and visitors to Little Bridge Island in the future. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my complementary electronic copy of this book. Receiving access to the book for free did not influence my review. 
 

The Devil in the White City - Book Review

 

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson
Publication date: January 1, 2003
Pages: 447 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Strengths: Incredible research
Weaknesses: Long and very detailed

I was torn whether very detailed was a strength or a weakness, but the discussion with the Yelp book club helped clarify what was in my own head. The author did an amazing job of researching so much going on during the time period when the book took place. But as the ten or so of us talked about it, the story lines were getting a bit tangled, and we realized that there were a few points (I'm looking at you, Prendergrast) when we weren't quite sure why some events or details were included. In fact, someone brought up that the movie rights were already purchased for this, and I really hope the movie is about the World's Fair in Chicago, OR H.H. Holmes's killing spree. They worked all right in a book, with sections sort of alternating between the two stories, but the time and location overlap didn't really make them one story.

I loved the description of H.H. Holmes planning and building his house of horror. I wish there had been more pictures or even a map, but one may not even exist, based on the ending of the structure. Speaking of pictures, there are more pictures of the area and the buildings in the World's Fair online; I would have loved to see those in the book. 

Overall, this was admittedly my third time starting to read this book, but I was finally drawn in enough to read for hours straight finishing it for our book club this time. I especially liked the summary toward the end telling how the legacies of some of the characters ended up being people we knew even better (yeah, Disney!). I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars and I'm glad I finally finished it.

Show Us Your Books - August 2021

It's the second Tuesday of the month already - time for Show Us Your Books  with Jana Says and Life According to Steph. 

School started last week here. While the kids only attended four days last week, we also had theater performances for the oldest - actually dress rehearsals Monday - Wednesday, and then performances Thursday - Sunday. Their high school troupe knocked Macbeth in modern English out of the park. I'm so proud, especially of my new freshman, making her way in the high school with the 'big kids.' ;)

I've only got five books to post about from last month. No excuses, that's just how it worked out. 

As always, title links go to Goodreads, and the review links to go the review either on my blog or Books I Think You Should Read. As always, thank you to Netgalley and publishers who let me read their books for free - receiving books for free never influences my review.

Finished Reading:

It's Not About the Gun: Lessons From My Career as a Female FBI Agent by Kathy Stearman - Wow! Non-fiction, as I'm sure I've said before, can be hit or miss. This was a solid hit. The author's descriptions of her job and the places where it took place were colorful and fueled my imagination. Her storytelling was wonderful at illustrating the events that occurred, as well as the surrounding circumstances that influenced it all. I will disclose that her political views toward the end of the book were definitely skewed toward reasonable humans, empathy, and equal rights. If those values aren't your thing, you may not agree with the author's viewpoints of some changes in the world around the time of her retirement. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars in my full review here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Family Plot by Megan Collins - Dahlia Lighthouse and her three siblings were brought up in a very sheltered home where their mother insisted on homeschooling them - using serial killers and their victims as the curriculum. Somehow they all seemingly move on to lives out in the world, until their father dies and they return to the family home, where even more creepy secrets are revealed. My full review gives this book 3 out of 5 stars. It was a unique thriller. ⭐⭐⭐

Constance by Matthew FitzSimmons - This future-based story about clones and some of the moral results was intriguing. I've seen notice since that there's already a pre-sale for the next book in the series, set to publish later this year. The book starts out with Con dragging herself in for her latest update - they're required ever few months s
o your clone is never too far off from the current time. But when she wakes up, 18 months has passed. Con is dead, and now she's her clone, with just the old memories from her last update. She's on a mission to find out who killed her original, and why. This story line was something I hadn't seen before, and the speculation of what the future is like was interesting too. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Veritas: A Harvard Professor, A Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife by Ariel Sabar - This was a lucky month for me and non-fiction, eh? I had requested Veritas a while ago, and it took me way too long to get to, but it was fascinating! The author proved to be an incredibly detailed researcher. If a part of the con man's or the professor's story turned out untrue, instead of writing off the rest of it, the author would still research every tendril of the story - which often revealed new motivations for what or why things may have really happened. If you have any interest in the true history of religion, this book was very revealing of facts from past discoveries, and motivations behind a lot of the revelations that have come to light through the ages. While I'm not a particularly religious person, I find the business of religion fascinating. I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Desolations of Devil's Acre: The Sixth Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - This was the culmination of a series I've enjoyed all the way through. I waited a bit to get this one from the library, as I had to know the ending of all of peculiardom, told mostly by Miss Peregrine's unique charges. I think only the first one so far has been made in to a film, but I hope the others eventually will as well. Hard to describe the peculiars in just a few lines, but I'd bet you've heard a bit about them since the first book published in 2011 (and its movie was released in 2016). I gave this conclusion 4 out of 5 stars in my review, but they definitely need to be read in order to understand what's happened. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Currently Reading:

I just started All These Bodies by Kendare Blake, and The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (I've actually picked this one up a few times previously, but never got into it enough to finish it. This time it's for a book club on September 21 - wish me luck!).

Reading Next:

Still on my list for this month (can I get a few extra hours, please??) are No Words by Meg Cabot, and Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis. Also super excited to fit in The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman. 

Fall is my favorite season, although it does bring out my dread of cold and snow... I'm glad I've got a few reads that fit a bit darker vibe. What are your perfect books lately?

The Desolations of Devil's Acre - Book Review

 

The Desolations of Devil's Acre (The Sixth Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children) by Ransom Riggs
Publication date: February 23, 2021
Pages: 528 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Strengths: Characters, continuing plot, succinct conclusion to the series
Weaknesses: Long

Of course, I could not resist reading the conclusion of this amazing story for Jacob Portman and his friends. While I've read plenty of books that stand alone okay aside from their series, this is not one of them. Please read the novels of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children in order. But do read them.

It took me a few pages to get back in the swing of things - I don't remember how long it's been since I read the previous book. As I was reminded of where we were at the beginning of the sixth book, I was able to recall the incredible cliffhanger that ended the fifth book. While I never believed the main character would be eliminated, his chances looked a little dicey before the start of this book.

The beginning of this book found a lot of the characters getting a bit predictable, but as we moved toward the end of this book - and the whole series - there were some interesting developments that I don't want to give away. Every time they think their problems are solved, there's a new wrench in their plans!

Anyway, this far into the series, I really enjoyed wrapping up the series, and I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I would love to see more movies from this series; I think just the first book has been made into a film so far? I really enjoy the old photos that are shared in both the print copy and kindle editions of all the books in the series. The series has really been exactly how it's described - Miss Peregrine and her unique charges, the peculiar children, as well as the charges of other ymbrynes around the world. If the idea interests you, the writing is good and you're likely to enjoy the whole series.

Veritas - Book Review

 

Veritas: A Harvard Professor, A Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife by Ariel Sabar
Publication date: August 11, 2020
Pages: 416 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Strengths: Extensive research and detailed story
Weaknesses: Kind of dry, lots of back story that couldn't be explained in one book

I've always been fond of religion as a subject, and this non-fiction definitely did not disappoint. The title really tells all the background it needs to - a con man tried to pass off what he suggested was the first copies of the Gospel of Jesus's wife, to a renowned Harvard professor. And in reading the book, it sounds like the professor decided to overlook a lot of red flags and stake her fame on this amazing discovery (the Gospel, which she tried to maintain was not a fraud). 

The author of this book went above and beyond. Even when a particular fact became glaringly not possible, the author would travel wherever needed to check every detail involved to make the verification (or lack of) even more concrete. A lot of the background in the trafficking of old religious texts and artifacts was quite interesting.

This book also makes me want to re-read Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. As suggested in Veritas, the author notes several similarities between the tale woven by the con man and the Harvard professor, and the 'facts' in the popular fiction book. The timing between the publication and controversy of The DaVinci Code and the reveal of the Gospel of Jesus's Wife was suspiciously close. 

In a nutshell, nothing about this book can be summed up in a nutshell. If religion, religious texts, and the big business behind it all is a curious topic to you, this book is definitely worth reading. I'd give this 4 out of 5 stars, and still honestly feel like there was as lot I didn't thoroughly understand without more background in religion, religious texts, The DaVinci Code, and Harvard's famous divinity school.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. 

Show Us Your Books - July 2021

After a week off for vacation, I'm struggling to actually return at full speed, if ya know what I'm saying.

It's the second Tuesday of the month already - time for Show Us Your Books  with Jana Says and Life According to Steph. Vacation did help me get a couple more books added to the count for this month! I finished two audio books on the road trip portion of our vacation (10 hours each way, yay!).

I'm posting about 10 books for July 2021. I finished 13 in July 2020. Not bad, when you average in the 40+ hours/week I work (yeah, yeah, when not on vacation. LOL).

As always, title links go to Goodreads, and the review links to go the review either on my blog or Books I Think You Should Read. As always, thank you to Netgalley and publishers who let me read their books for free - receiving books for free never influences my review.

Finished Reading:

The Lockhart Women by Mary Camarillo - Brenda, along with her almost-adult daughters Peggy and Allison, are having a heck of a year or so. Brenda chooses the OJ Simpson trial as her distraction as her husband leaves her, and she and her daughters start trying to make their own way in the world. Admittedly, some of their choices stressed me out, but the epilogue made up for it all. I gave this modern family story 4 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dead Certain (Broden Legal #1) by Adam Mitzner - So I just realized this was the first in a series. Sounds like the next two books in the series only loosely connect, based on the whole Broden family. In the first book, Ella and her sister Charlotte are very different. They think they tell each other everything, but are forced to admit they both have secrets. But the secrets of one sister may get them both killed. Books about writers are always amusing to me, and this was an interesting story of one of their lives possibly imitating their art. In my full review, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐

It Came From the Sky by Chelsea Sedoti - Funny side story, I read this shortly after watching The Iron Giant for the first time, so I pictured a lot of the book in a small-ish town like the movie. I enjoyed the book, a story of two brothers who decide convincing the town of an alien encounter is what they need to make their mark on the world. I gave 3 out of 5 start in my review. ⭐⭐⭐

Murder Among the Stars (Lulu Kelly Mystery #2) by Adam Shankman and Laura L. Sullivan -  I'm excited for my daughter to read this quirky young adult mystery. Set in the 1930s or 1940s, Lulu Kelly and her boyfriend Freddie are invited to an exciting casting party weekend getaway at the Hearst Castle. The descriptions of old Hollywood are so engaging! Their enjoyment is soon pushed aside when they're left with a murder or two to solve. My full review gives this charming story gives it 4 out of 5 stories. While it's the second in a series, I felt I understood the characters and everything else fine reading this as a stand-alone. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spin: A Novel Based on a (Mostly) True Story by Peter Zheutlin - Annie Londonderry knows an adventure when she sees one. When the only opportunity cost for seeing the world on the back of a bike (which, oh yeah, she doesn't know how to ride yet) is denying her Jewish heritage and leaving her children and husband behind, she doesn't hesitate. It's certainly not a popular decision when she sets out in the 1890s, and she knows she's got to make the most of her adventure (and some imagination) to benefit the most from it all. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐

The Age of Witches by Louisa Morgan - This was absolutely my favorite book from this month, and I can't wait to pick up more similar stories by this author. Harriet has been quietly keeping an eye on things for years. She knows better than to interfere, until she notices Frances using dark magic to try and change Annis' future. It's only fair for Harriet and Annis, as the good witches, to fight the control Frances is trying to take. It's a great story that mostly takes place over a year or so, while also spanning back to the ancestor Harriet and Frances have in common - Bridget Bishop, a witch burned at the stake. My full review of course gave this great book 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Apology Project by Jeanette Escudero - Amelia Montgomery suddenly finds herself rich, and unemployed. The career as a litigator to which she's dedicated half her life is over, and she's not sure what her work-a-holic self might enjoy, given the choice. She's discovered that she's lost most of her friends over the years, and has convinced herself she's fine with just the periodic company of her sister. This utopian story of self-realization was endearing and had a rewarding ending. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars in my review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unthinkable by Brad Parks - Oh, my! The original premise in this one (if you're familiar with the trolly problem, it's just like this 'unthinkable' choice) was mind-blowing enough, but then the plot twists?!? I did not see the final developments of this one coming. Nate Lovejoy is perfectly happy as a stay-at-home dad raising his two little girls while his wife pursues her very successful legal career. He wouldn't want any of it to change, until he has no choice. This unique story got 4 out of 5 stars from me here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My last two books were audiobooks, which is out of the norm for me. Apparently I'm much more of a visual learner, as I sometimes 'forget' I'm listening, somehow. Road trips are what finds me as a captive audience. We listened to Swindle by Gordon Korman on the first leg of our road trip (driving from Michigan to New Jersey). I had this book, the first in a fun series about a 12-year-old boy, on cds from the library. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars and talked a bit more about it in this post. ⭐⭐⭐

On the way back from New Jersey to Michigan, I chose to listen to a book that wouldn't be for the whole family. Some other book lovers recommended The Dutch House by Ann Patchett and read by Tom Hanks. I downloaded this story of Danny's life (mostly with his sister, Maeve) on Libby and listened to it just a bit faster than normal for most of the drive back. As I mentioned here, I'd give this one 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Currently Reading:

I have less than an hour to go in Kathy Stearman's It's Not About the Gun (Lessons from My Global Career as an FBI Agent). Non-fiction can be hit or miss for me, but this one's a hit! The author's style is very conversational and her stories are interesting. She was not only in the minority as a female FBI agent, she also earned positions around the world where her gender was meant to define even more of what she was 'supposed' to be doing.

Reading Next:

I'm hoping to get to The Family Plot by Megan Collins before it publishes next week. I don't really remember the pitch - not sure what I'm in for! The cover looks a little dark and mysterious. That will be a change from some of the fiction I've read lately.

Have you read any stand-out books lately? Do you agree or disagree with my assessments of the books I've finished last month? I find it fascinating that opinions can vary so much :)