The Friends We Keep by Holly Chamberlin

 Started: 7/22/2021

Finished: 7/29/2021

Year: 2007

Pages: 408

Genre: fiction

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "In her college freshman year, Sophie Holmes met Eva and John, forging the kind of deep friendship that seems destined to last forever. But time proved otherwise, and Sophie married and moved to Los Angeles. Now, two decades later, newly divorced and adrift, Sophie has returned to Boston, and instinctively reaches out to the people who once defined her world.

"Though they've stayed in the same city, Eva and John too have grown apart. Eva is an ambitious advertising executive who favors flings over relationships. John is a dedicated lawyer wondering if he's left it too late for love and marriage. Through Sophie's reappearance, their connection crackles to life once more. Just as they did long ago, the three confide their longings and secrets--until old insecurities and new betrayal threatens to shatter their bond for good."

Opinion: Predictable. One character was just awful but obviously well written in order for me to dislike the character as much as I did.  Sometimes friend reunions are just not all that they are cracked up to be.

Our House by Louise Candlish

 Started: 7/16/2021

Finished: 7/21/2021

Year: 2018

Pages: 399

Genre: Literature

Grade: C

Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway

Type: ARC

Blurb (from back cover): "In the wake of her husband, Bram's infidelity, Fiona Lawson manages to keep her young sons' lives as stable as possible thanks to a bird's nest custody agreement. The two boys stay in the family home, while Fiona and Bram take turns living there. All seems to be going as well as possible until the terrible day Fiona arrives home-and sees another couple moving in.

"With Bram and their children missing, Fiona desperately searches for answer, uncovering a dangerous web of lies-and a betrayal so shocking it will teach her to keep her own secrets behind locked doors."

Opinion: Not a fan in how this story was told-part media interview with Fiona and part word document for Bram and then a real day account. A strange premise which makes it unique and unlike other stories about divorcing couples.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Prath

 Started: 7/14/21

Finished: 7/15/21

Year: 1971

Pages: 200

Genre: Literature

Grade: B

Reason for reading: 1001 books to read before you die, TBR pile

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "The Bell Jar chronicles the crack-up of Esther Greenwood: young, brilliant, beautiful, and enormously talented, but slowly going under—maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the reader into Esther’s breakdown with such intensity that Esther’s neurosis becomes completely understandable and even rational, as probable and accessible an experience as going to the movies. Such thorough exploration of the dark and harrowing corners of the psyche - and the profound collective loneliness that modern society has yet to find a solution for - is an extraordinary accomplishment, and has made The Bell Jar a haunting American classic."

Opinion: One of the better 1001 books that I've read. Since my educational background is in psychology, this book takes an indepth look at the system back in the day and how people with mental illnesses were handled. Wish I could say that it has improved greatly since the 70's but I can't.

The Whole 30 Day by Day by Melissa Hartwig

 Started: 7/13/2021

Finished: 7/14/2021

Year: 2017

Pages: 206

Genre: Health & Fitness

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "The Whole30 Day by Day is the essential companion to the New York Times bestseller The Whole30; a daily handbook to keep you motivated, inspired, accountable, and engaged during your Whole30 journey. It’s like having Whole30’s own Melissa Hartwig coaching you through the Whole30 one day at a time, sharing a day-by-day timeline, personal motivation, community inspiration, habit hacks, and meal tips. Plus, each day offers guidance for self-reflection, food journaling, and tracking your non-scale victories to keep your momentum going and help you plan for the days to come.

The Whole30 Day by Day also serves as a quick-reference guide for the program: keeping the rules handy, sharing helpful resources, and walking you through the important reintroduction phase, one day at a time. You’ll carry it everywhere during the program, using it to stay accountable and motivated during the 30 days, and letting the observations and reflections you record guide your food freedom plan long after your Whole30 is over."

Opinion: The Whole 30 is a restrictive 30 day reset program-not exactly a diet or long life style change. I had heard about the program but didn't really know what it allowed/restricted. The book contains some good tips and I might look into a little bit more and give it try (mostly to get rid of the sugars in my body) and see how my body reacts to it. If I do, it won't be for a while.

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

 Started: 7/8/2021

Finished: 7/13/2021

Year: 2019

Pages: 381

Genre: Horror

Grade: B

Reason for reading: Goodbooks.com giveaway

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "When Mouse's dad asks her to clean out her dead grandmother's house, she says yes. after all, how bad could it be?

"Answer: pretty bad. Grandma was a hoarder, and her house is packed to the gills with useless garbage. That would be horrors enough, but there's more. Mouse stumbles across her stepgrandfather's journal, which at first seems to be the ravings of a broken mind.

"Until she encounters some of the terrifying things he described herself. Alone in the woods with her dog, Mouse has to confront a series of impossible terrors-because sometimes the things that go bump in the night are real, and they're looking for you. and if she doesn't face them head-n, she might not survive to tell the tale."

Opinion: Pretty decent horror book, especially if you have the imagination for it. I did like how everything tied in together-finding journal and how it seemed to come to life. Ending was high climax with a successful resolution.

Day Hikes in Washington State by Don J. Scarmuzzi

 Started: 7/8/2021

Finished: 7/8/2021

Year: 2021

Pages: 282

Genre: Nature

Grade: A

Reason for reading: LibraryThing.com giveaway

Blurb (from back cover): "Day Hikes in Washington State offers a unique perspective for each hike, taking you to the amazing sights of the most scenic locations in the area. Author Don Scarmuzzi personally hiked every single tail to discover the greatest overlook summits, breathtaking nature views, and incredible mountain kikes around Mount Rainier, The Olympic Peninsula, the Snoqualmie Region and Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the Central Cascades, Sky Valley, and the Northern Cascades."

Opinion: Well described routes, trailheads for each each. Pictures for each trail. 90 hikes in all. Will be using for reference once I get more comfortable on going hiking.

Through the Waves a Steady Path by Patrick M Garry

 Started: 7/1/2021

Finished: 7/8/2021

Year: 2021

Pages: 473

Genre: mystery

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: ARC

Blurb (from back cover): "Through the Waves a Steady Path tells the story of Elaine Connor, a former Minneapolis police officer now working as a college campus cop, and eighteen-year-old Reilly Borschardt, who appeared at Elaine's door weeks ago and now works as Elaine's assistant.

"Reilly is the daughter of Elaine's former boyfriend, whom Elaine has not seen since she gave up the lifestyle that had caused her so much regret. As part of her life reform, prompted by her closest confidante-a religiously-converted inmate at the state prison-Elaine now lives in a rundown neighborhood where she buys vacant houses to rent out to ex-cons she once arrested during her police days. But when a bomb explosion occurs at the university, Elaine is thrust back into her old life with her old police colleagues, one of whom underhandedly reminds Elaine of secrets she has tried to forget.

"Elaine's investigation of the explosion must navigate the minefields of her past life, as well as the political pressures form the university president. Contrary to initial conclusions about the bombing, Elaine begins to see connections between the bombing and the recent suicide of a professor. When a second suicide occurs, Elaine finds herself at odds with both the university and the police.

"Ejected form the official investigation, Elaine turns to Reilly and an ex-con computer hacker who lives on one of Elaine's houses. This threesome becomes embroiled in a massive cover-up involving an international smuggling scheme."

Opinion: Despite it being a long book, it read quickly. There were lots of little components that made for a good story. The characterization of Elaine and Reilly were well developed with in depth looks at both of these characters and why they do the things that they do. A more complete review will be posted on Reader Views in the near future.

Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters by Peter Vronsky

 Started: 4/25/2021

Finished: 7/1/2021

Year: 2004

Pages: 383

Genre: True Crime/Psychology

Grade: B

Reason for reading: grabbed off TBR shelf

Type: paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "In this unique book, Peter Vronsky documents the psychological , investigative, and cultural aspects of serial murder, beginning with its first recorded instance in ancient Rome through fifteenth-century France on to such notorious contemporary cases as cannibal/necrophiliac Ed Kemper, Henry Lee Lucas, Ted Bundy, and the emergence of what he classifies as the 'serial rampage killer,' such as Andrew Cunanan.

"Vronsky not only offers sound theories on what makes a serial killer but also makes concrete suggestions on how to survive an encounter with one-from recognizing verbal warning signs to physical confrontational resistance. Exhaustively researched with transcripts of interviews with killers, and featuring up-to-date information on the apprehensive and conviction of the Green River Killer and the Beltway Snipers."

Opinion: An interesting look at the history of serial killers and some of the possible psychology behind it. Some information about the FBI profiling team which I have always been interested in.  I found this pretty interesting to read.