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 ;)

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!

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. 

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?

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 :)

Show Us Your Books - June 2021

 

The kids are already lamenting that, 'Summer's almost over!' Gosh, I hope not - this working every day thing has made my seasons blend together. Luckily I like what I do!

I'm with with my sparse June reads to share with Jana Says and Life According to Steph for Show Us Your Books. I actually have a couple more read already,  but I haven't written the reviews yet. I figure it all comes out in the wash - by the end of the year, all the books I've read will be accounted for.

I've also made it a goal lately to alternate my book posts with, well, something else. If you have a fun not-completely-bookish meme to share, please leave it in the comments :) Unfortunately I've found that just sharing what's on my mind was somehow offensive. I have enough family members who want nothing to do with me because of past blog posts, so I stick with pretty bland posts - I didn't come from a big family to start with and I can't afford to piss any more off! LOL

There are five books I finished reading and reviewing in June. Let's check them out, shall we? The 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:

Here She Is: The Complicated Reign of the Beauty Pageant in America by Hilary Levey Friedman - While I've never participated in beauty pageants, they've never really bothered me either. This book was very interesting in pointing out the reflections of society in beauty pageants, and vice versa. Another part I found quite interesting is how many pageants there really are. As late as 1940, Miss America contestants were required to disclose their lineage, you know, to make sure they were white. When I enjoyed watching pageants, I wish I'd known how many other ones there were to see! This was a well-written non-fiction, and I gave it 3 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐

Act of Negligence by John Bishop, M.D. - As much of a 'good ole boy' as Dr. Jim Bob Brady is, in his cowboy boots and with his 'aw shucks' charm, I still don't get tired of him. I think it's a credit to the author that I have a hard time describing all the stereotypes that make up the Doc, but he's still a good guy, with fun adventures to read about. This was another fun medical mystery. I have not read all the books in the series, but the ones I've read stand quite well alone. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars in my review here, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys medical mysteries with quirky good characters. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - Second non-fiction this month?!? I read this one with my Yelp book club. If you haven't read this one, I recommend getting to it eventually. I believe it's also a movie now, maybe on Hulu? I haven't watched it yet, but definitely want to after reading the book. In case you don't know the general idea, the cells of Henrietta Lacks - called HeLa cells - are still so important to ongoing medical research. She has changed the face of modern medicine, but she and her ancestors couldn't even afford medical insurance. It's a frustrating, fascinating, and eye-opening story. In my full review, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars, which is an especially strong rating for non-fiction. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

No Offense (Little Bridge Island #2) by Meg Cabot - Like most of the books I've read from Meg Cabot, this was a great way to pass the time. The characters are fun, the plot is predictable, and the good guys in. This particular story is about Miss Molly, the new children's librarian, and the new-ish sheriff. They annoy each other as only those who are destined to fall in love can. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars in my review, and would absolutely recommend the series (I'm sure the others are or will be comparable) as great beach reads or vacation books. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Lily Garden by Barbara Josselsohn - I enjoyed this family drama. Caroline is having a bit of a mid-life crisis, and projecting it on her daughter Lee. As Lee finishes high school and chooses a college, is she doing what she really wants, or what the wealthy and successful aunt who raiser her mother wants her to do? Caroline and Lee take a trip to visit a few colleges, oh, and reconnect with the chosen family that Caroline hasn't visited again in nearly 30 years. Everyone stands to learn about themselves and the ones they love. In my review, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars and wished the ending had come through a bit stronger after all the buildup through the rest of the story. ⭐⭐⭐

Currently Reading:

I'm excited to finish this post and snuggle down to start reading The Age of Witches by Louisa Morgan. I had been waiting to get this one from the library, so of course I'll fit in reading it ;)

Reading Next:

On my list to get to soon are Unthinkable by Brad Parks (publishes July 27, 2021), It's Not About the Gun by Kathy Stearman (which published the first of June, but I just got my pdf last week), and The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray (another June publication, that I just got recently).

I have to share, I'm super excited that I got approved for The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman. It publishes in October of this year, but I already have it on my kindle from NetGalley! Woo-hoo!!

Show Us Your Books - May 2021

 

Another month has flown by already?!? Right now we're diving in to the last week of school; can you say CHAOS!!?? I am trying my darndest to share my reads from May with Jana Says and Life According to Steph all year through Show Us Your Books. I keep promising myself I'll start writing this post the weekend before I schedule it to go up. Go ahead, you can laugh along with me - it hasn't happened yet. Check out the rest of the fabulous book bloggers who join in the linky each month!

In May 2020, I finished 14 books (keeping in mind this was the second month of staying home most of the time). This May, I finished nine, and a few were really just for me (as opposed to most of the books I read for the purpose of reviewing). Goodreads still says I'm around my 10 books/month goal.

So here's the nine books I finished in or around May 2021. My book titles link to Goodreads, and my full reviews are posted either here at SweetlyBSquared, or over at Books I Think You Should Read. Thanks to the participating publishers or NetGalley who provided me with five of the seven books in exchange for my unbiased review.

Finished Reading:

The Atmospherians by Alex McElroy - This satire was a story of a disgraced social influencer and her childhood friend starting a cult together to try and turn their lives into something successful. Maybe. Parts of it were a bit slappy and amusing, but much of the satire and humor did not hit the mark for me. I'd imagine it may be better for someone who enjoys social commentaries, abstract philosophy, and not needing happy endings. My full review for 2 out of 5 stars is here. ⭐⭐

Across the Winding River by Aimie K. Runyan - After swearing off WWII historical fictions - and then realizing I had already promised to read/review this one - I was pleasantly surprised. This story did a great job of telling three different viewpoints across two timelines. Max and his love struggled to find time together while he served as a medic, and then Max and his daughter in the modern story trying to find out whatever happened to his first love. As much as I've said I'm over WWII stories, I gave this one a high 3 out of 5 stars in my full review and definitely recommend it for those who enjoy books set in this time period. ⭐⭐⭐

Three Martini Afternoons at the Ritz: The Rebellion of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton by Gail Crowther - I think I originally expected more of a storytelling about the interactions of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton (and martinis), but this was more of a parallel biography of both women, pointing out some of the similarities of their lives as contemporaries, and the differences. I gave this one 3 out of 5 stars in my full review. I think it left me with more questions than it answered, but sometimes that's okay too. ⭐⭐⭐

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley - I loved this charming story of the quaint Frick Island and its quirky residents. Anders isn't sure at first if maybe he's the crazy one, as all the residents talk to Piper's husband Tom. It's the like the Emperor's new clothes, but as the outsider, he doesn't want to be the one to publicly ask if they're crazy or if it's him. As Anders spent more time on Frick Island, he and the villagers learned a lot about life, strangers, and the nature of grief. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars here. It's a super cute summer read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Girl One by Sara Flannery Murphy - I keep trying to think this is an older book than it is, but it was published June 1, 2021, and I read my advance copy partway through May. Instead of a classic dystopian where parts of the population are eliminated, this takes another angle - partheogenesis (again, I probably keep getting that word wrong..) - creation without a male gene/contribution. But somehow, a man was still in charge of it all. Go figure.  Nine mothers and their essentially cloned daughters lived on a plot of land called the Homestead. There were people who thought they were brilliant and above the rest of the world, and there were those who hated and feared their disruption of the natural order of things. When the Homestead burned to the ground, with two lives lost, the remaining survivors scattered and mostly tried to blend in, until Girl One's mother (Mother One) disappears. Girl One starts putting together the real story of the Homestead. My full review gives it 3 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐

Vera Kelly is not a Mystery (Vera Kelly #2) by Rosalie Knecht - Vera is such a fun character! It was interesting to have a book mostly written like brain candy, but about an out-of-place lesbian in the late 1960s. The book starts out with her losing her job (because being a lesbian violate the morals clause or whatever) and having her girlfriend leave her. Talk about a bad run of luck! Apparently in the first book, Vera was abandoned on a CIA mission, so her skill set lends just fine to her hanging out her shingle as a private investigator - although it isn't a very ladylike career. That would have been fun enough, but then one of her first case ends up with her trying to rescue a young boy, but not necessarily for the people who hired her. The plot thickens! Find out why I gave it 3 out of 5 stars in my full review here. ⭐⭐⭐

Dead Dead Girls (Harlem Renaissance Mystery #1) by Nekesa Afia - Louise Lovie Lloyd was quite the heroine. Her back story made me wonder if it was already a book, but alas, this is number one for the Harlem Renaissance Mystery series. Her background does make her recognizable, and there may be a killer trying to drag her back into the spotlight. I thought I'd love this roaring 20s book more than I did, but it was adequately entertaining, and if you think you'd enjoy getting a feel for a story in this time period, I'd recommend it. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐

The North Face of the Heart by Delores Redondo - I think this was my favorite read this month. I'm amazed that the author's books are so beautiful, as they are even translated. I can't help but think they'd be absolutely stunning in her native Spanish. This was actually a prequel to the Baztan Trilogy, which I think is on Netflix already. While I read it as a new release, I think it's only a new U.S./English release, and has been out in other locations much longer. If you love thrillers written well enough to be striking contemporary fiction, this book is for you. Also, most of it takes place in my favorite city, New Orleans, but during Hurricane Katrina. Talk about a unique setting for a story! My full review gives it 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (follow the full review link for a giveaway ending 6/8/21!)

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - This one got in just under the wire. Yes, I read it in June. So sue me. :P I always write what I read right up until I write the post, so my memory is a bit more fresh.  Anyway, the book. The reviewers before me went on about the stuff they recognized from the books (that technically follow this one, but were written first). Again about my memory - yeah - it was years ago that I read the original Hunger Games books. So while I remember the main premise and a little about the characters, I couldn't say anyone besides Snow sounded familiar to me in this one. And this is about Snow's growing up years, so I found it interesting, even if I didn't remember a lot of characteristics of his adult character. That being said, I really enjoyed the book and its story. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the Hunger Games at all. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars in my review here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Currently Reading:

Right now I'm reading a print copy of Act of Negligence by John Bishop (which publishes June 15). I've read one other book in the series, and this is number four, so they stand alone just fine. Dr. Jim Bob Brady is quirky and amusing, and he and his wife have a level of love and devotion to each other that is admirable. Mostly, though, the books are medical procedural mysteries and I find them quite intriguing. 

I'm also reading a kindle copy of Here She Is: The Complicated Reign of the Beauty Pageant in America by Hilary Levey Friedman. It's an interesting non-fiction that tells the history of pageants, overlapping with how they and feminism have evolved independently, and in response to each other.

Reading Next:

I think I'm almost caught up with my June reviews, but I'm pretty sure that my book club which meets via zoom near the end of the month is discussing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. I've been interested in this history and this book for a long time, so I'm excited to finally have the motivation to read it. 

So excited to finally be able to spend some afternoons out on my porch, watching my hummingbirds, orioles, and red-wing blackbirds, and reading. My roses are already budding!! Hope your summer is kicking off just like you want it to.

Show Us Your Books - April 2021

 

I am seriously so grateful for the accountability that Jana Says and Life According to Steph give me by hosting Show Us Your Books each month. Check em out, and be sure to visit the other great book bloggers who join in the linky each month.

It's officially been more than 90 days at my new job, back in the work force, 40 hours a week. Luckily I really enjoy what I do, because I feel my biggest sacrifice is the things I did just for me, like blogging and reading. Now by the time I finish my work day, the kids are standing on their heads trying to get my attention, and I still have dinner and regular household laundry, kitchen cleaning, etc, staring me in the face. (I got up twice during writing that paragraph to help with baths.) I've got to say, I also like having a disposable income again. 

In April 2020, I read a staggering 14 books (staggering for me - yay for social distancing and staying home!). This April, I feel I fudged the numbers a bit to say I read seven. Goodreads still says I'm around my 10 books/month goal. I just keep reminding myself it's not a competition, and I read for fun ;)

So here's the seven books I finished in or around April 2021. My book titles link to Goodreads, and my full reviews are posted either here at SweetlyBSquared, or over at Books I Think You Should Read. Thanks to the participating publishers or NetGalley who provided me with five of the seven books in exchange for my unbiased review.

 

Finished Reading:

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert - This was a fun contemporary romance with a ghostly twist. Sabrina Monroe moves back to her hometown, the infamous water park capital of the world, the Wisconsin Dells, to save up some money and get back on her feet when her life in the big city isn't quite going as she plans. Instead of making the quick escape back to big city anonymity, she meets Ray, the new owner of the supper club in town. They can't seem to avoid each other in the small town, but she's sure he'd never want to be with her if he knew her secret - she sees ghosts! This was a quirky and amusing tale that I gave 4 out of 5 stars to in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

At the End of the World, Turn Left by Zhanna Slor - Reading the college days in Milwaukee of sisters Masha and Anna made me think back to my own college days. While I've never lived in another country, the way they described being on the outside looking in can be familiar to anyone. The pull of family may have been all that kept them thinking of each other sometimes, but heritage is a strong thing to try and deny. I especially liked knowing that while there were some loose ends, they both seemed to end up following their own dreams, and not just those of their parents. I gave this unique story 3 out of 5 stars in my review here. ⭐⭐⭐

The Stranger Inside (Strangers #4) by Jennifer Jaynes - I never guessed the ending of this page-turner! As we met the new people in Diane's life, a few seemed suspicious, but as soon as I thought I was figuring it out things would move in a whole new direction. With things changing that fast, there were a few loose ends I never did figure out, but the surprise ending threw it all past caring. I gave this one 3 out of 5 stars. As I said in my full review, it was a fun-ish thriller (well, except for the victims!), and I bet others by the same author would be similar. ⭐⭐⭐

A Promised Land by Barack Obama - This book is completely what you'd expect. I miss Obama being president, so I loved reading his words about his first term. I also learned a lot about world and national politics, okay, I learned some. My favorite was reading about the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, since that's pretty central to my job now. It never occurred to me that it was so NEW (formed in 2010). I reviewed this one on my blog and gave it 3 out of 5 stars. So glad the kindle version still had all the pictures too! ⭐⭐⭐

Better Choices by Rod Pennington and Jeffery A. Martin - This reminded me a bit of the vigilante justice thrillers I enjoy, except instead of a thriller, it was a woman finally coming to the long-awaited end of her marriage. When she took back her power, she took back all of it! In about one day Allison Clark finished filing for divorce, took on her twins' school board, stood up to her mother, and then fought for what was right for all of them. While it didn't ring as very realistic, it was a satisfying read. My full review gave it 3 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐

It Had to Be You by Georgia Clark - While some books lend themselves to being a 'beach' read, or a 'holiday' read, this book had a little of everything. It was a fun big-city read with a variety of characters. Old, young, different sexual orientations, unique jobs, something for everyone! A New York City wedding planner loses her husband and her business partner when he dies unexpectedly in a hotel room with his girlfriend. Who could have guessed that he also willed his half of the business to the girlfriend his wife knew nothing about? I gave it 4 out of 5 stars in my full review (and there's still a giveaway with my review open til 5/13/21!). ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman - A friend insisted I read this one, and I'm glad I did. Lilly Blackwood thinks being sold to the circus by her mother is the scariest, worst thing to ever happen. In the story of her whole life, that may not be the worst. Julia Blackwood is convinced that life nearly on the streets is better than life with her abusive mother, but when she returns to the family home, she's desperate to find out what secrets her parents had been hiding for so long. While it felt like the author finally reached for a happy ending, the sad definitely outweighed the happy by the time I was done reading this one. I'm still thinking about it and furious with at least one character days later. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Currently Reading:

I'm just starting Across the Winding River by Aimie K. Runyan. I've sort of sworn off the overabundance of WWII stories for a while now, but this one was still lingering on my to-be-read-and-reviewed list. So here goes nothing! :)

Reading Next:

The only one still on my commitment list for May is The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley. Then I'm not sure if I'll work on some more older ones, or try and get a jump on June. 

What have you read lately that you'd recommend?

Show Us Your Books - March 2021

 

Another month in the books! Haha...see what I did there? Anyway...

I definitely feel like I've been overall more productive since I've started working full-time (thankfully, from home, so far). I finished 12 books in March - only finished 10 last year, with all the insane stress that was March 2020. If I had to find something that isn't happening between work and reading, it's probably that I am not as closely able to supervise my kids' virtual schooling. And my Animal Crossing - New Horizons house is suffering (I HATE when I go there and have to kill a roach in my house).

Thanks again to all of you! I love the accountability of posting what I've read each month for Show Us Your Books with Jana Says and Life According to Steph, and I love checking out other book bloggers and seeing your comments on my blog. The news is stressful - hearing what the popular books are and who's enjoying what is way more valuable!

Here's a brief summary of the nine books I read last month. The title links go to Goodreads, and the links to the more in-depth review are either on my site, SweetlyBSquared, or the other site I review on frequently, Books I Think You Should Read. And always, if I've received the book for free from the author, publisher, or whatever, this does not change my review.

Finished Reading:

I Can See Clearly: Rise of a Supernatural Hero by James A. Cousmano -- Sixteen-year-old Luc Ponti is expected to go pro with his mad basketball skills, but instead an injury almost costs him his life. After his near-death experience in the hospital, Luc discovers he has a whole new set of skills - supernatural ones. I especially enjoyed Luc's spiritual exploration with his funky new monk friend. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars in my full review and recommended it for those who enjoy paranormal or spiritual stories. Also worth noting, I think this is supposed to be the first of a series. ⭐⭐⭐

Good Eggs by Rebecca Hardiman -- This quirky, unique family drama let its setting of Ireland color some of the language and traditions that made up three generations of the Gogarty family. Grandma Millie may be getting a little dotty, but a caretaker can set that right, right? Her granddaughter, Aideen, is feeling left-out of most things, and responds by acting out. In the middle is Kevin, unemployed and currently overseeing the older and younger generations of the family while not sure who he really is, if he's not providing financially for his family. The adventure all this lands them in is interesting. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommended it for those who enjoy fun, contemporary fiction. Check out my full review here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Memory Collectors by Kim Neville -- This was a favorite this month. I love a bit of magical realism, and this Vancouver, Canada based book had plenty. Ev has always been able to feel the energy and emotions in objects. It helps her run her little business - selling found items in the Chinatown Night Market. She's only known one other person with this gift, but it turned him evil. When she meets Harriet and discovers she can do the same thing, Ev is reluctant to let someone else in. What if the wrong items make Harriet dangerous too? I enjoyed this book a lot and gave it 5 out of 5 stars in my full review. My biggest 5 star determining factor is if I want to read it again, and I do. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel by Renée Nault -- While I've read the original The Handmaid's Tale twice over the years (plus watched the 1990 movie and all of the tv series), I decided to mix it up when it was my book club pick for the month and went with the graphic novel instead. It had been sitting on my shelf and needed to be read. Graphic novels will never be my favorite, but I loved the strong depictions of the emotions for the situations in this book. The colors used for each character or role were easily recognized, and even without retelling the story, the book definitely brought it all to mind, as I stated in my review here. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐

Silence is a Sense by Layla AlAmmar -- 'Voiceless' is a Syrian refugee telling her anonymous story in a London online paper. We get to learn about her not only through her column (which her editor wants to have more emotion, but not divisive politics), but as she lives her life. No matter where she lives, no where is truly safe when people look at you as different. She's lost everything when she left her homeland alone, and she's not sure she can withstand losing anymore. I enjoyed this book as a beautiful depiction of a not-so-beautiful life. It was a well-written literary fiction and I gave it 4 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Are We There Yet by Kathleen West -- Alice is used to having a perfect, enviable life. But within one day, she finds out her younger child isn't reading as well as she should, and her older child may be a bully. Suddenly even her closest friends don't look at her the same. While sometimes this book felt almost over-the-top as the epitome of white privilege, it was also a good reminder that no one has it as good as their Facebook profile would like you to believe. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars in my review here. ⭐⭐⭐

They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall -- This mystery based on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None (also published as Ten Little Indians) was a disappointment for most of my Yelp book club. I enjoyed it. The story was modernized - each of the seven people on the remote island were lured there for a different reason. What we find out as the story goes along is that each of them has a negative experience in their past that represents one of the seven deadly sins. During his long time suffering before his eventual death from cancer, Philip O (who most of them knew as their attorney) has orchestrated karmic retribution. I do love me some vigilante justice. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐

Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge -- Libertie Sampson has always been expected to be the doctor's daughter, and grow up to be a doctor herself. If it was up to her, she'd rather live a life that doesn't look first at her dark skin and her gender, and then at who she may really be. Libertie's life and search for her identity were wonderfully told, and her voice was clear and demanding of answers. I reviewed this one here and gave it 3 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐

Tell No Lies (Quinn & Costa Thriller #2) by Allison Brennan -- This series is such a fun escape for me. Kara Quinn is actually an LAPD detective, but when her undercover operation was blown wide open by at least one FBI agent, her life is at risk in the city she's always known. She now works the job she loves as an undercover officer on-loan to a great FBI agent and his team - the mobile investigations unit. Their second case together is supposed to be about environmental dumping and a murder that may have been committed to cover it up, but partway through the case, they stumble on a child trafficking ring, and Quinn feels a moral obligation to take care of that kind of evil. I enjoyed this book and gave it 4 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson -- I've never seen The Phantom of the Opera, but this gender-swap tale with a twist of fantasy intrigued me. Isda has grown up always in the opera house, where her only exposure to the world outside is viewing the opera patron's memories with her gift. When she meets Emeric, she's surprised to see another baby with the same deformities as her in his memories. My full 3 out of 5 star review is here. ⭐⭐⭐

Knives and Knightsticks by K. Lew & C.R. Lockhart -- I've got to admit, even the pitch email from these authors was fun. I can only guess that's just the way they are. This was the first book in their series about quirky best friends Sadie and Zoey, who live in Toronto. They don't go looking for trouble, but it seems to be finding them! I gave it 4 out of 5 stars in my complete review, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman -- I knew going in I'd love this one and I was so happy when I finally got my turn to borrow it from my local library. I love the original Practical Magic book, the movie, the soundtrack..you get the picture. This book told the story of Maria Owens - the first witch in their lineage. From her childhood after being found as an abandoned orphan in the woods, right up to her building the house the Owens women live in during the movie, and her adventures around the world in between. I loved it, and gave it 5 out of 5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Currently Reading:

I'm a little passed half way in The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert and really enjoying it. The Waterpark Capital of the World, ghosts, and quirky romance make this one lots of fun!

Reading Next:

I'm still hoping to finish up a few more of my March published books this month. I've got The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry and Meant to Be by Jude Devereaux queued up and ready to go.

Looking forward to summer - longer days and time to sit outside and read!