Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

 Started: 9/2/2021

Finished: 9/9/2021

Year: 2020

Pages: 319

Genre: Romance

Grade: B

Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway

Type: ARC

Blurb (from back cover): "Jesse Strong is known for two things: his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation for breaking hears. When Mama Joy unexpectedly passes away, he and his brothers have different plans on what to do with Strong Knits, their neighborhood knitting store. Jesse wants to keep it open. His brothers want to tie off loose ends and close shop...

"Part-time shop employee Kerry Fuller has kept her crush on Jesse a secert. When she overhears his impassioned plea to his brother to keep the knitting shop open, she volunteers to help. Unlike Jesse, Kerry knows the 'knitty-gritty' of the business

"But the more time they spend together, the stronger the chemistry builds between them. Kerry, knowing Jesse's history, doesn't believe their relationship can last. But Jesse is determined to prove to her that he can be the man for her forever and always-after all, real men knit."

Opinion: A decent contemporary romance. Predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. Any fan of romance would probably enjoy this one.

A River for Gemma by Debra Whiting Alexander

 Started: 8/26/21

Finished: DNF

Year: 2021

Pages: 407

Genre: Literature

Grade: F

Reason for reading: Review for Reader Views

Type: Paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Miracles abound in Sugar Creek, a small-town nestled near the horse trails and hazelnut orchards of Oregon's lush countryside. It is here, where twenty-six-year old Gemma Porter lives a vibrant life chasing her dreams. But Gemma is underestimated by a world that pigeonholes her as 'intellectually disabled.' While the naysayers and bullies only see Gemma's limitations, her beloved grandmother sees the heart of a genius--and a soul of divination. When Gemma's longing to be a mother collides with her grandmother's hidden past, three generations of Porter women are put in peril. A harrowing adventure unfolds into a heroic quest to save their lives. As Gemma's bravery is tested, she will need to prove that regardless of age or intellect, a mother's love knows no bounds."

Opinion: This had a painfully slow pace. There was a mystery subplot going on but I couldn't even be interested enough to try to find out what it was all about because of the slow pace. Well written characters which was the book's saving grace.

The Haunted Looking Glass: Ghost Stories Chosen and Illustrated by Edward Gorey

 

Started: 8/23/2021

Finished: 8/25/2021

Year: 1959

Pages: 251

Genre: Short Stories

Grade: B

Reason for reading: booksfree.com book

Type: Paperback

Blurb: from Amazon:

The Haunted Looking Glass is the late Edward Gorey's selection of his favorite tales of ghosts, ghouls, and grisly goings-on. It includes stories by Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, M. R. James, W. W. Jacobs, and L. P. Hartley, among other masters of the fine art of making the flesh creep, all accompanied by Gorey's inimitable illustrations.

ALGERNON BLACKWOOD, "The Empty House"
W.F. HARVEY, "August Heat"
CHARLES DICKENS, "The Signalman"
L.P. HARTLEY, "A Visitor from Down Under"
R.H. MALDEN, "The Thirteenth Tree"
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, "The Body-Snatcher"
E. NESBIT, "Man-Size in Marble"
BRAM STOKER, "The Judge's House"
TOM HOOD, "The Shadow of a Shade"
W.W. JACOBS, "The Monkey's Paw,"
WILKIE COLLINS, "The Dream Woman"
M.R. JAMES, "Casting the Runes"

Opinion: as with all short story collections, I enjoy some more than others. The illustrations were impressive.

When the Ghost Screams by Leslie Rule

 Started: 8/20/2021

Finished: 8/22/2021

Year: 2006

Pages: 222

Genre: Paranormal

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: grabbed off TBR pile

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "Hauntings-the word conjures up immediate and insatiable curiosity. Paranomal author Leslie Rule explores a new twist on this strange phenomenon when she investigates brutal deaths-and subsequent hauntings-all over the United States. Through extensive research and interviews, Leslie reveals how the souls of those who die violently are prone to remain earthbound.

"These spine-tingling true stores divulge the mysterious details of ghostly sightings as Rule visits the area, interview credible witnesses, and extensively researches the history of each location."

Opinion: I only wish that some of the stories had more information about them-local history or first person accounts. Overall, a good read for paranormal ghost fans.

A Rebellious Woman by Claire J. Griffin

 Started: 8/14/2021

Finished: 8/20/2021

Year: 2021

Pages: 370

Genre: Literature

Grade: B

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "A Rebellious Woman is based on the life story of Belle Boyd (1844-1900), whose coming of age coincided with the opening shots of the Civil War. Debutante, teenaged spy, seductress, actress, divorcee, crossdresser, and self-promoter, she carried a pistol and wasn't afraid to use it. In a century when a woman was meant to be noting more than a well-behaved wife and mother, Belle Boyd stands out as a scandalous woman of history defying all the rules."

Opinion: An interesting look at what was an interesting person during the Civil War period. I had not heard of Belle Boyd before reading this and I'm intrigued to learn more her. A more complete review will be posted on Reader Views in the near future.

Real to Reel: Truth and Trickery in Courtroom Movies by Michael Asimow and Paul Bergman

 Started: 8/5/2021

Finished: 8/13/2021

Year: 2021

Pages: 421

Genre: Movies

Grade: B

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Real trials and courtroom movies are made for each other. Lawyers are storytellers, courtrooms are theaters, and the trial process provides drama, surprise, suspense or comedy.

This book will serve as a video guide to help you identify the courtroom movies you'd like to see. It ranks each of the films on a one- to four- gavel system, with four gavels for the classics. And it answers the questions you'll be asking as you see the films. Where does truth end and trickery begin? Can lawyers really pull rabbits out of hats with unexpected courtroom stunts? Did the trial process reveal the truth-or conceal it? How well do reel trials reflect real events?

These are just some of the topics you'll encounter as the authors analyze over 200 courtroom movies, including such classics as To Kill a Mockingbird, My Cousin Vinny, 12 Angry Men, and The Trial of the Chicago 7. An index at the back of the book lists all of the films reviewed in the book.

The book celebrates the courtroom genre that has intrigued viewers around the world. The authors will entertain and educate you on a fascinating journey through nine decades of reel law, lawyers and justice."

Opinion: An enjoyable collection of courtroom movies-drama and comedies-reviewed by lawyers so they can add their insight and explain what really happens. A more complete review will be on Reader Views in the near future.

More! by Tammie Rothermel

 Started: 8/2/2021

Finished: 8/5/2021

Year: 2020

Pages: 180

Genre: Literature

Grade: C

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "Worlds collide and sparks ignite when a simple country girl encounters a white hot rock star in rural Pennsylvania.

"Certainly, small town Nikki wasn't looking for love. But, from the moment she meets the universally famous Grant Henderson, More! comps the reader a backstage pass to the secrets, glitz, glam, and romance of a sizzling rock star's non-stop life.

"As Nikki climbs on board Grant's comet, her own charisma engages the world, even as a mysterious stranger pursues her from Naples to Hong Kong. Along the way espionage's notorious 'Agency' sucks Nikki into its beguiling embrace of treachery."

Opinion: Um, yeah....the pace of this book was just off and a lot of what was in it wasn't needed. The ending hints that another book could be there but honestly, I wouldn't read it.  I was hoping for more when I picked this one to review. A more thorough review will be on Reader Views in the near future.

Voices from the Fallen by Michael K. Tourville

 Started: 7/30/2021

Finished: 8/1/2021

Year: 2021

Pages: 161

Genre: Self Help-substance abuse

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: Trade paperback

Blurb (from the back cover): "Voices from the Fallen takes us on an intimate journey inside the lives of people who have experienced the hell of addiction, the relentless defeat of relapse, and hope of recovery.

"Listen to them speak about fear and desperation, hope and optimism. Sit with them in solitary misery, feel their grief over a lost family member, and shar their joy with the promise of a renewed life.

"Listen closely, for these courageous voices come from those all around us, and can help rebuild shattered families, restore broken hearts, and save lives."

Opinion: A decent collection of stories about substance abuse. A couple are a little unbelievable since it is told in first person of people who overdosed....how did the author know that they were that close to trying to get help or how they truly felt about their drug use? A more complete review will be on Reader Views in the near future.

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.

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

 Started: 6/24/21

Finished: 6/27/21

Year: 1961

Pages: 282

Genre: Literature/Classic

Grade: A

Reason for reading: reread one of my favorite childhood books

Type: paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "Billy has long dreamt of owning not one but two dogs. So when he's finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own, he's ecstatic.

"Soon Billy and his hounds become the finest hunting team in the valley . But tragedy awaits these determined hunters-now friends-and in time Billy learns that hope can grow out of despair."

Opinion: Sometimes it is just fun to reread some of your favorite books from childhood-see if you still have the same appreciation. See if what you remember is still there.  As an adult, I have more questions-like how did Billy know how to train these pups to be the outstanding hunters that they were? Still an enjoyable read for me. Maybe I'll read it again in another 30 years or so.

Breach of Honor by Janice Cantore

 Started: 6/21/2021

Finished: 6/24/2021

Year: 2021

Pages: 409

Genre: Mystery

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: ARC

Blurb (from back cover): "As a police office in Table Rock, Oregon, Leah Radcliff puts her life on the line to help other every day. But at home, Leah's battling her own personal nightmare: Brad, her abusive husband, a fellow officer, celebrated hero, and beloved son of a powerful prominent family. Brad's violent outbursts and suspicious activities have left Leah physically and emotionally scarred, until one desperate action to put a stop to his abuse results in deadly consequences.

"Though public opinion seems ready to convict Leah, Officer Clint Tanner is one of the few to believe she acted in self-defense. As he works with Leah's attorney to produce the evidence they need, new truths about Brad's dark side come to light-and reveal a deep-rooted problem in Table Rock. There are some who have breached their sworn duty to serve and protect....and they'll do anything to keep their secret safe."

Opinion: A rather enjoyable mystery, romance, literature read. Kinda of something for everyone. A more complete review will be posted on Reader Views in the near future.

Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton

 Started: 6/15/2021

Finished: 6/20/2021

Year: 2005

Pages: 273

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book

Type: mass market paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "Despite the fact that her aunt was an expert knitter, Kelly Flynn never picked up a pair of knitting needles she like-until she strolled into House of Lambpsun. Now, in the first in a brand new series, she learns how to knit one, purl two, and untangle the mystery behind her aunt's murder...

"Kelly Flynn would be the first to admit her life in Washington, D.C., is a little on the dull side. But coming back to Colorado for her beloved aunt's funeral wasn't the kind of excitement she was seeking. The police are convinced that her aunt Helen's death was the result of a burglary gone bad, but for the accountant in Kelly, things just aren't adding up. After all, why would her sensible, sixty-eight-year-old aunt borrow $20.000 just days before her death? With the help of the knitting regulars at House of Lambspun, Kelly's about to get a few lessons in cracking out a sumptuously colored scarf-and in luring a killer out of hiding..."

Opinion: A fun cozy however there are things that irk me.....Kelly was very forthcoming about all her issues about her aunt's murder and had no problem talking to strangers (to her) about her questions. How did she know that they weren't involved? Or where they?  That bothered me throughout the book but the solving of the mystery was a good one and I would recommend this.

Perish by L. C. Barlow

 Started: 6/12/2021

Finished: 6/14/2021

Year: 2020

Pages: 258

Genre: Horror

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: review for Readers Views

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "Her name is Jack Harper. She just escaped the clutches of a cult that had held her in thrall since she was little girl.

"Now she's on a quest for justice.

"She discovers that her cult was just one cell in a global network knows as Infinitum. Armed with an array of burgeoning supernatural powers, Jack sets out to eradicate Infinitum's leadership, all while uncovering an ancient mystery that may hold the key to stopping Armageddon."

Opinion: Not as good as Pivot but definitely not as horrific-no torturing of animals. Should be interesting to read how this trilogy is summed up in the next book.

Pivot by L. C. Barlow

 Started: 6/10/2021

Finished: 6/11/2021

Year: 2019

Pages: 224

Genre: Horror

Grade: B

Reason for reading: review for Reader's View

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "His name is Cyrus. He's the leader of a mysterious cult that he holds in thrill with his dark charisma and even darker powers.

"Jack Harper is his newest convert and favored acolyte, After rescuing her from homelessness, Cyrus is teaching her all his darkest secrets-how to kill, how to steal, how to control others.

"But his greatest secret is contained in a small box that holds untold power.  Jack makes it her mission to find out what's inside the box, and in doing so sets off a supernatural bottle of wits with Cyrus. The price of failure will be her soul, while the prize for victory will be her freedom."

Opinion: If you don't like kids or animals being brutalized, then don't pick up this book. And it's more kids being brutalized than animals. It was easy to forget that the main character is a female kid because of the things that she does and witnesses. Read this for the Reader Views awards.

Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop by Jenny Colgan

 Started: 6/7/2021

Finished: 6/10/2021

Year: 2013

Pages: 331

Genre: Romance/Literature

Grade: B

Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "In her comfy cottage nestled in the Derbyshire hills, Rosie Hopkins has good reason to feel a warm blush in her cheeks. With Christmas weeks away, the holiday is being ushered in with England's first glorious snowfall of the season. Her boyfriend, Stephen, is starting his new job as a teacher in the village school. Her quaint Hopkins' Sweetshop and Confectionery has been restored to its former glory, and she has a loveable mop of a new puppy named Mr. Dog. Most glorious of all, Rosie's and Stephens' relatives will finally be gathering together in Lipton for what is sure to be a merry feast.

"But when a devastating tragedy strikes at the heart of the close-knit town, plans for a cozy Christmas are suddenly in danger of melting away. It's going to take Rosie's indomitable spirit, the embrace of family and friends, and the resilient goodwill of a community to turn it all around and make this a holiday to be thankful for."

Blurb: Not a bad literature/romance novel. Despite the author stating that reading the previous book wasn't necessary, I think that I would have found it helpful. Lots of characters to keep track of who is related to who. Sweet ending.

The Body Artist by Don DeLillo

 Started: 6/6/2021

Finished: 6/6/2021

Year: 2001

Pages: 126

Genre: Literature

Grade: C

Reason for reading: 1001 books to read before you die

Type: paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "In this spare, seductive novel, he inhabits the muted world of Lauren Hartke, an artist whose work defies the limits of the body. Lauren is living in a lonely coast in a rambling rented house, where she encounters a strange, ageless, man, a man with uncanny knowledge of her own life. Together they begin a journey into the wilderness of time-time, love, and human perception."

Opinion: Another one of the 1001 list that I wonder why....why is it on this list? It felt like this was a book assigned in English class where you need to figure out theme, etc and you are left wondering how you are going to bs your way through this essay. An average short book to say the least.

Murder of a Snake in the Grass by Denise Swanson

 Started: 6/2/2021

Finished: 6/5/2021

Year: 2003

Pages: 262

Genre: Mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: continuing with the series, booksfree.com book

Type: mass market paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "Scumble River is celebrating its bicentennial in style-with historical reenactments, bingo, a coal-tossing tournament, and a Crazy Craft race. Serving as the guest of honor is none other than the town founder's great-great-grandnephew, Gabriel Scumble. But his visit turns out to be short-lived when Skye's students Frannie and Justin find him dead with a pickax protruding from his chest.

"Meanwhile Skye's deceitful ex-fiance, Luc St. Amant, has appeared out of the blue, creating turmoil in her love life. Does the real danger lie in the chance that Luc will drive away the men in Sky's life...or in the possibility that there's a menacing connection between Luc's arrival and Gabriel Scumble's murder?"

Opinion: Another good mystery read. The back and forth of Skye's romantic interests is a little tiresome but adding in the ex fiance made it entertaining. 

Murder of a Sleeping Beauty by Denise Swanson

 Started: 5/28/21

Finished: 6/1/21

Year: 2002

Pages: 263

Genre: Mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: continuing with the series, grabbed off TBR pile

Blurb (from back cover): "Sleeping Beauty is dead. Star of the school play, cheerleader, and beauty pageant queen, Lorelei Ingels was the most popular girl in school. But today, no one envies her. While the principal and the police are busy with the politics of this high-profile case, Skye Denison counsels kids and combs for clues...ever more convinced that high school is a truly dangerous place. Finagling her way around crazy school administrators, stupid rules, pushy parents, and teens whose slang needs decoding takes all of Skye's formidable ingenuity. And even ever-optimistic Skye knows that, in this case, finding the killer won't end this tale happily ever after...."

Opinion: Another fun mystery in this series. So glad that I was never involved in beauty pageants or trying to be the most popular kid in high school. High school was hard enough without that added pressure. The mystery isn't what it seemed to be. 

One Night Pregnancy by Lindsay Armstrong

 Started: 5/27/21

Finished: 5/28/21

Year: 2010

Pages: 186

Genre: Romance

Grade: D

Reason for reading: Bookcrossing.com book

Blurb (from back cover): "Rescued during a raging storm, sensible Bridget blushes scarlet when she finds herself seduced by a captivating stranger. How un-Bridget-like-she's mortified! But little does she know her rescue is ultrawealthy...and ultraexclusive!

"Until she reads the newspaper headlines...

"Bridget's mystery man is none other than the notorious Adam Beaumont, heir to the Beaumont empire. Now Bridget has to find the words-and the courage-to tell him he left a lasting impression!"

Opinion: Fluff....typical Harlequin fluff. Grammar wasn't great.

The Mammoth Book of The History of Murder by Colin Wilson

 Started: 2/7/21

Finished: 5/27/21

Pages: 639

Year: 2000 (this edition)

Genre: True Crime

Grade: B

Reason for reading: grabbed off TBR pile

Type: paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "Following the original success of his history of homicide, The Mammoth Book of True Crime 2, expert author Colin Wilson has prepared this new, completely revised edition, bringing the chronicle of this most dreadful of crimes right up to the present.

"He examines the motives and methods, both of particular categories of murder and of individual and mysterious cases. Starting with the horrifying entertainments of Ancient Rome, and moving on through the centuries, he illuminates such infamous figures as Vlad the Impaler, Ivan the Terrible, Gilles de Rais, the Countess Elizabeth Bathory and the Marques de Sade, Elizabethan executions, Jacobean with hunts, the gaslit Victorian underworld of Jack the Ripper, and the gangland killings of the Jazz Age lead us up to the serial killers of the modern world, among them Fred West, Chikatilo, Milat, and Jeffrey Dahmer, gruesome cannibal killers and random 'spree' gunmen, as well as the growing phenomenon of murder with an element of the occult"

Opinion: An interesting collection of true crime stories. Some a lot of people will recognize. Some are not as well known. Interesting look at the history.

Hunting Annabelle by Wendy Heard

 Started: 5/20/21

Finished: 5/24/21

Year: 2018

Pages: 289

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B

Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway

Type: ARC

Blurb (from back cover): "Sean Suh is done with killing. After serving three years in a psychiatric prison, he's determined to stay away from temptation. But he can't resist Annabelle-beautiful, confident, incandescent Annabelle-who alone can see past the monster to the man inside. The man he's desperately trying to be.

"Then Annabelle disappears.

"Sean is sure he's been kidnapped-he witnessed her being taken firsthand-but the police are convinced that Sean himself is at the center of this crime. And he must admit, his illness has caused him to 'lose time' before. What if there's more to what happened than he's able to remember.

"Though haunted by the fear that it might be better for Annabelle if he never finds her, Sean can't bring himself to let of her without a fight. To save her, he'll have to do more than confront his own demons...He'll have to let them loose."

Opinion: An interesting read. The ending seemed rushed and a major thing was never resolved before a big twist which is frustrating. The fact that Sean's character is Korean and repeated throughout the book was not necessary. Readers can remember that significant fact about a character. The twist made it entertaining.

Seven Up by Janet Evanovich

 Started: 5/15/21

Finished: 5/20/21

Year: 2002 (this edition)

Pages: 337

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: catching up on the series. Booksfree.com book

Type: Mass Market Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "All New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has to do is bring in a semi-retired bail jumper Eddie DeChooch. For an old man he's still got a knack for slipping out of sight-and raising hell. How else can Stephanie explain the bullet-riddled corpse in Eddie's garden? Who else would have a clue as to why two of Stephanie's friend suddenly vanished? For answers Stephanie has the devil to pay: her mentor, Ranger. The deal? He'll give Stephanie all the help she needs-if she gives him everything he wants...

"As if things weren't complicated enough, Stephanie's just discovered her Grandma Mazur's own unmentionable alliance with Eddie. Add a series of unnerving break-ins, not to mention the bombshell revelation leveled by Stephanie's estranged sister, and Stephanie's ready for some good news. Unfortunately, a marriage proposal from Joe Morelli, the love of her life, isn't quite cutting it. And now-murder, a randy paramour, a wily mobster, death threats, extortion and a triple kidnapping aside-Stephanie's really got the urge to run for her life..."

Opinion: Oh the antics that Stephanie gets herself into. A fun read and goes right along with the series.

More Confessions of a Trauma Junkie: My Life as a Nurse Paramedic by Sherry Lynn Jones

 Started: 5/13/21

Finished: 5/15/21

Year: 2021 (this edition)

Pages: 130

Genre: Biograpy/Autobiography-Medical

Grade: C

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "More Confessions shares the raw and honest feelings of emergency service professionals through true 'story behind the story' revelations. Disclosing experiences from both sides of the gurney. Sherry and other EMS, ER, paramilitary, and firefighter responders walk you along their fragile line of sanity. Using humor as a life raft during perfect storms, workers reflect upon how they endure and survive personal and professional tragedy while trying not to care too much, and what happens when they fail in that attempt. A graduate student in psychology, Sherry is a paramedic, trauma nurse, and crisis interventionist who led a national paramilitary crisis response team and continues conducting crisis management training throughout the U.S."

Opinion: As someone who has dealt with behavioral health crises in her career, I can relate to some of these stories and how humor is used in order to cope.  A more complete review will be posted on Reader Views in the near future.

Inside Our Days by Michele Merens

 Started: 5/8/21

Finished: 5/13/21

Year: 2020

Pages: 242

Genre: Fiction

Grade: C

Reason for reading: review for Reader's View

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "A happily married woman abruptly flees home and family after receiving a dire health diagnosis. As Bree Durning rejects all offers of help and instead becomes preoccupied with her own blindsiding memories, even her psychologist-trained husband is tested to his limits as he struggles to ease his wife's pain."

Opinion: The ending left a lot to be desired-hence the average grade. Without the ending, it would have been a B. A complete review will be on Reader's View in the near future.

The Trouble with Kim: On Transcending Despair and Approaching Joy by Seth David Branitz

 Started: 5/2/21

Finished: 5/6/21

Year: 2020

Pages: 270

Genre: Memoir/biography

Grade: B

Reason for reading: review for Reader's Views

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "THE TROUBLE WITH KIM: On Transcending Despair and Approaching Joy is a poignant collection of true stories about growing up poor in a troubled family, and struggling to heal past childhood wounds toward wholeness and manhood. A gifted storyteller, Seth David Branitz manages to move and entertain as he explores even the most difficult of themes. It's impossible not to be touched as he deftly tackles mental illness, addiction and recovery, sexual awakening, the limits of familial obligation, death, grief, emotional maturity, creative self-fulfillment, and finding love, all with great compassion and compelling attention to detail."

Opinion: an interesting way of telling one's story. A more complete review will be on Reader's Views in the near future.

The British Billionaire's Innocent Bride by Susanne James

Started: 4/22/2021

Finished: 4/25/2021

Year: 2009

Pages: 184

Genre: Romance

Grade: C

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book, TBR shelf

Type: mass market paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "When devilishly handsome Theodore Montague meets Lily Patterson in Rome, he is quite taken by this pure English beauty. Theo's not looking for a wife, but he needs annoy for his three motherless children and Lily's the perfect candidate!

"Lily might feel completely out of her depth in Theo's glamourous world, but from the moment they're under the same roof the spark between them ignites into a passion neither of them can ignore..." 

Opinion: It's a Harlequin.....probably don't need to say more than that. Not the best, not the worst.

Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger by Soraya Chemaly

 Started: 4/17/21

Finished: 4/21/21

Year: 2018

Pages: 296

Genre: Nonfiction, Psychology

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway

Type: ARC

Blurb (from Amazon): "As women, we’ve been urged for so long to bottle up our anger, letting it corrode our bodies and minds in ways we don’t even realize. Yet there are so, so many legitimate reasons for us to feel angry, ranging from blatant, horrifying acts of misogyny to the subtle drip, drip drip of daily sexism that reinforces the absurdly damaging gender norms of our society.

In Rage Becomes Her, Soraya Chemaly argues that our anger is not only justified, it is also an active part of the solution. We are so often encouraged to resist our rage or punished for justifiably expressing it, yet how many remarkable achievements would never have gotten off the ground without the kernel of anger that fueled them? Approached with conscious intention, anger is a vital instrument, a radar for injustice and a catalyst for change. On the flip side, the societal and cultural belittlement of our anger is a cunning way of limiting and controlling our power—one we can no longer abide."

Opinion:  It is very evident that this was heavily and thoroughly researched. Anger is looked at from many different points and how it has effected women across all boards.  Definitely insightful and enjoyable.

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

 Started: 4/10/21

Finished: 4/15/21

Year: 2001 (this edition)

Pages: 336

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: rereading series to catch up, booklender.com

Type: Mass Market

Blurb (from back cover): "Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is faced with her most daunting task yet: bring in the mysterious former Special Forces agent Carlos Manaso (aka Ranger). He's the man who taught her everything about fugitive apprehension, and Stephanie knows she will be testing her skills against the master. But if she does catch him, she's not so sure she could turn in her friend-even if he's wanted for murder...

"And if this isn't enough to keep her up at night, Grandma Mazur is crimping her sex life by moving in with her and keeping her from getting any action from her cop boyfriend, Joe Morelli. Now, with her love life messing with her head, two threatening goons on her tail, and three corpses-so far-it's getting a litter too hot for Stephanie, whose search for Ranger is bringing her dangerously close to the wrong side of the low..."

Opinion: Another fun read. The antics that Stephanie gets into is silly but makes it fun.

Die, Grandpa, Die by Dale Hudson

 Started: 4/2/21

Finished: 4/9/21

Year: 2006

Pages: 383

Genre: True Crime

Grade: B

Reason for reading: grabbed off TBR pile

Type: mass market paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "On November 28, 2001, in Chester County, South Carolina, police made a grisly discovery. Joe Pittman, 66 and his wife Joy, 62, had been brutally slain with a .410 shotgun and their house set afire with the bodies inside. Their black Nissan Pathfinder was missing. So was their 12-year-old grandson, Christopher Pittman. What had become of the boy? Was he still alive-and if so, for how long? The clock was ticking and time was running out.

"Christopher was found safe and sound in a neighboring county. But relief turned to suspicion as he told an improbable tale of a black man who'd killed his grandparents and kidnapped him. Eventually, Pittman confessed to the slayings and to fleeing in the SUV. In February 2005, he was tried as an adult. Defense lawyers claimed Pittman had been unhinged by the prescription drug Zoloft. It would be up to a jury to decide whether the boy who killed would have to face a man's punishment..."

Opinion: I have always enjoyed Hudson's books and this one is no different. The book goes into the crime and the trial thoroughly.  Did Zoloft affect Christopher so much to the point of murder? Hard to say as medication effects everyone differently. Overall a sad story about the cycle of abuse (alleged) and the possibility of medication effects that led to a horrendous murder.

Overnight Delivery by Raymond Parish

 Started: 3/27/21

Finished: 4/1/2021

Year: 2020

Pages: 339

Genre: Mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: review for Reader's View

Type: Trade paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "Small of stature but big of heart, psychotherapist Hank Anderson has a gift for helping clients face serious issues and heal life-altering traumas, but this talent intersects with darker truths, an insatiable curiousity that will soon threaten to violently shatter every aspect of Hank's life."

Opinion: A fun adventure when a psychotherapist meets the client with a threatening truth. A more complete review will be posted on Reader's View in the upcoming future.

My Adventure: An Encounter with Life by William Millard

 Started: 3/18/2021

Finished: 3/26/2021

Year: 2020

Pages: 282

Genre: Memoir

Grade: B-

Type: Trade paperback

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Blurb (from back cover): "Bill Millard is a commercial attorney with an international law firm in Dallas, Texas, and life could not be better.

"On top of his lucrative job, he is married with two wonderful children, lives in a nice neighborhood with great schools, and is a proud Texan. But his world comes crashing down as his health starts to decline.

"At first, it's not clear what is wrong, but then he is diagnosed with several near-fatal diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, which is a progressive nervous system disease that causes a loss of muscle control.

"He loses his family, career, home, and health. After a period in a comatose state, he wakes up as a quadriplegic, suffering severe seizures. He is unable to eat, drink, swallow, speak, stand, breathe without respiratory care, or carry on life as he knew it.

"In this inspiring memoir, Millard reveals how he coped with his diagnosis and made a miraculous recovery, spending seven-plus years fighting for his life in long-term health care facilities, physical rehabilitation facilities, and other centers. Millard's story also offers a unique first-hand patient's perspective as to what it is like to live in skilled and senior healthcare facilities today, containing many observations on what he thinks makes a better facility for patients and their families."

Opinion: I wanted more about his illness but he does address why he didn't dwell on what it was or could have been. I think that this could have been helpful for others and their families that are facing similar struggles. A more complete review will be on Reader Views in the near future.

The Memorandum by Robert W. Kelley

 Started: 3/10/2021

Finished: 3/17/2021

Year: 2019

Pages: 259

Genre: Legal non fiction

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "In The Memorandum, attorney Robert W. Kelley offers a gripping account of his years-long epic battle against one of the world's most power companies and his efforts to seek justice for a family forever devastated by its misconduct.

"Part legal thriller, part personal memoir, part trial strategy, attorney Kelley's narrative brings to life one of the most important legal cases of the decade. A giant corporation, a secret memo exposing is reprehensible conduct, legions of defense laws blocking the truth, all brought to justice by Kelley and his relentless band of warriors."

Opinion: This was a great combo of memoir and legal info. There is enough explanation of the legal stuff without making it overwhelming to readers who might not understand it. A more complete review will be posted on Reader Views in the near future.

Day of Judgment by Heath Daniels

 Started: 3/6/21

Finished: DNF 3/9/2021

Year: 2019

Pages: 641

Genre: Literature

Grade: F

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "The Hammond family has worked and lived comfortably in the semi-rural, semi-isolated Appalachian area of southwest Virginia for years until a a violent attach against Arabs disrupts their American-dream life. Frank and Brad each live and work in a 'don't ask, don't tell' environment until violence by disaffected Arabs sends them seeking answers.

"Arab-Muslim professional, Joe and Omar, are committed to seeking justice! Joe, a brilliant young American-born attorney, seeks justice in the courtroom and starts the process of becoming one of the country's experts on hate crimes. At the same time, his good friend Omar, an equally brilliant Islamic theologian, seeks justice within the spiritual realms of Allah. Their actions reflect the double entendre in the title Day of Judgment: judgment in the US legal system and judgment before Allah"

Opinion: This book needs to be chopped in half and be heavily edited. Several grammar errors and just a lot of words that don't need to be there. A more complete review will be on Reader Views in the future.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

 Started: 2/27/2021

Finished: 3/5/2021

Year: 1994

Pages: 346

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book

Type: trade paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "In 1915, Sherlock Homes is retired and quietly engaged to study of honeybees when a young woman literally stumbles into him on the Sussex Downs. Fifteen years old, gawky, egotistical, and recently orphaned, the young Mary Russell displays an intellect to impress even Sherlock Holmes-and match him wit for wit. Under his reluctant tutelage, this very modern twentieth-century woman proves a deft protegee and a fitting partner for the Victorian detective. In their first case together, they must track down a kidnapped American senator's daughter and confront a truly cunning adversary-a bomber who has set trip wires for the sleuths and who will stop at nothing to end their partnership."

Opinion: Having heard so many good things about this book and not really looking up to see what it was all about, I was thoroughly surprised. I can understand the praise. Definitely a fun read.

Indianapolis by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic

 Started: 2/16/2021

Finished: 2/27/2021

Year: 2018

Pages: 578

Genre: Military Non Fiction

Grade: A

Type: hardcover

Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway

Blurb (from book jacket): "Just after midnight on July 30, 1945, days after delivering the components of the atomic bomb from California to the Pacific Islands in the most highly classified naval mission of the war, USS Indianapolis is sailing alone in the center of the Philippine Sea when she is struck by two Japanese torpedoes. The ship is instantly transferred into a fiery cauldron and sinks within minutes. Some 300 men go down with the ship. Nearly 900 make it into the water alive. For the next five nights and four days, almost three hundred miles from the nearest land, the men battle injuries, sharks, dehydration, insanity and eventually each other. Only 316 will survive.

"For the better part of a century, the story of USS Indianapolis has been understood as sinking tale. The reality, however, is far more complicated-and compelling. Now, for the first time, thanks to a decade of original research and interviews with 107 survivors and eyewitnesses, Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic tell the complete story of the ship, her crew, and their final mission to save one of their own."

Opinion: Wow. I'm not usually a reader of military books and not even sure why I entered the giveaway other than because the USS Indianapolis is the boat that is discussed in Jaws during one of my favorite scenes. I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Very compelling stories from the survivors and about bs that the US Navy did to one of its own.

It by Stephen King

 Started: 9/16/2019

Finished: 2/16/2021

Year: 2016 (this edition)

Pages: 1153

Genre: Horror

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: reread after the new movies.

Type: Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "To the children, the town was their whole world. To the adults, knowing better, Derry, Maine, was just their home town: familiar, well-ordered, a good place to live. It was the children who saw-and felt-what made Derry so horribly different. In the stormdrains, in the sewers, It lurked, taking on the shape of every nightmare, each person's deepest dread. Sometimes It reached up, seizing, tearing, killing...

"The adults, knowing better, knew nothing. Time passed and the children grew up, moved away. The horror of It was deep-buried, wrapped in forgetfulness. Until the grown-up children were called back, once more to confront It as It stirred and coiled in the sullen depths of their memories, reaching up again to make their past nightmares a terrible present reality."

Opinion: I enjoyed both the TV miniseries and the new movies. I read this several years ago and decided to reread it after I watched the new movies. Surprisingly, my brain pictured the miniseries instead of the new movies when rereading it. Definitely worth the reread.

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

 Started: 2/3/2021

Finished: DNF

Year: 2014

Pages: 347

Genre: Southern Literature

Grade: F

Type: Trade Paperback

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book

Blurb (from back cover): "Mrs. Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Alabama, has just married off the last of her daughter and is looking forward to relaxing with her husband, Earle. Then, quite by accident, Sookie stumbles on a secret about her mother, the formidable Lenore Simmons Krackenberry-a discovery that suddenly calls into question everything she ever thought she knew about herself. Sookie begins a search for answers that takes her to California, the Midwest, and back in time to the 1940s, when an irrepressible woman named Fritzi takes on the the job of running her family's filling station. As Sookie learns about the adventures of the girls at the All-Girls Filling Station, she finds new inspiration for her own life."

Opinion: Again I have tried a Flagg book and hated it. It is just something about her character Sookie that makes me want to throw the book across the room-or at least reach into the book and smack Sookie for being so over the top annoying. I gave it just over 100 pages and said nope, I have over 400 other books in my house to read....NEXT.

With You Always by Rena Olsen

 Started: 1/29/21

Finished: 2/3/21

Year: 2018

Pages: 339

Genre: Literature/suspense

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway

Type: ARC

Blurb (from back cover): "In the wake of a painful breakup and struggling to provider herself at work, Julia feels adrift. When Bryce blows into her life, he seems like the perfect anchor. Handsome, charming, secure, and confident, Bryce brings out the best in Julia, sweeping her off her feet with attention and affection while grounding her with his certainty and faith. Together they embark on a path guided by the principles of his family and their church, each step a paving stone leading to happily ever after.

"But this is no fairy tale.

"Step by step, one small concession leading to another, Julia is slowly isolated from her job, her friend, and her family, until she comes to find that her dream come true is a cage. Then one day everything changes...and Julia is faced with no choice but to find a way out."

Opinion: Great way of describing how one can get caught up in a cult/abusive situation but the ending was rushed. And the solution was too quick after all of the rest of the book. Throughout reading it, I kept shaking my head at the naivety of Julia.

Murder of a Sweet Old Lady by Denise Swanson

 Started 1/23/21

Finished: 1/28/21

Year: 2001

Pages: 251

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: booksfree.com book

Type: mass market paperback

Blurb: "When Skye's beloved grandmother is found dead in her bed, the family consensus is natural causes. Still, Skye insists on an autopsy-an examination that proves the sweet old lady was, in fact, murdered! But who could have done the deadly deed? Skye is determined to find out, through her snooping doesn't sit well with the relatives. Family tensions can mean only one thing: family secrets. And when a series of hooligan attacks on Skye's property leads to an outright physical assault, Skye has to wonder if by exposing the rotten roots of her family tree, she's one step closer to exposing the killer...."

Opinion: Another predictable but fun cozy mystery. Every family has its secrets and Skye's certainly has a lot and knowing them now in the 2nd book of the series, allows readers more of an inside look at what has made Skye Skye.

Murder of a Small-Town Honey by Denise Swanson

 Started: 1/18/21

Finished: 1/22/21

Year: 2000

Pages: 238

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B

Type: mass market paperback

Reason for reading: booksfree.com book

Blurb (from back cover): "Immediately, Skye's determination to keep a low profile as the new school psychologist is assaulted by an army of small-town busybodies and well-meaning family members who can't wait to pry into her life, dole out advice, and volunteer her services in the Chokeberry Days Festival. And when the fair erupts in chaos and controversy-the Cow Chip Bingo sabotaged and the jelly contest ruined-Skye closes the event down altogether by find a dead body...

"The deceased, who at first appears to be the elderly host of a beloved children's TV program, and a dear, sweet thing, turns out to be quite different-a sexy young woman with a wild past and more secrets than in Aunt Minnie's Jell-O Surprise. And as if this stunning revelation weren't enough to intrigue Skye's inner snoop, soon her own brother is accused of the crime..."

Opinion: I have read others in the series (out of order). This is the first one. A fun read even though I figured out whodunit halfway through the book. I will be continuing with the rest as they are fun to read.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

 Started: 1/7/21

Finished: 1/16/21

Year: 2009

Pages: 444

Genre: Literature

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book

Type: Mass market paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "Enter a vanished world: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. Where black maids raise white children, but aren't trusted not to steal the silver...

"There's Aibileen, raising her seventeenth white child and nursing the hurt caused by her own's son's tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from college, who wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared.

"Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. No one would believe they'd be friends; fewer still would tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries, they come to depend and rely upon one another. Each is in the search of a truth. And together they have an extraordinary story to tell..."

Opinion: I loved the movie when this came out so when I got my hand on a copy of this through a book exchange, I grabbed it. An entertaining look at how life probably was back in the day.

The Exes' Revenge by Jo Jakeman

 Started: 12/31/20

Finished: 1/6/21

Year: 2018

Pages: 340

Genre: thriller

Grade: B+

Type: ARC

Reason for reading: Goodsread.com giveaway

Blurb (from back cover): "Imogen's marriage to Phillip Rochester was never easy-he betrayed her, ignored her, and cheated on her. Now that they're getting a divorce, he's determined to make it as difficult as possible.

"When Phillip demands that Imogen and their son move out of the house by the end of the month or he'll sue for sole custody, Imogen succumbs to a moment of madness-and does the unthinkable. Now she's in control. But how far will she go to protect her son and punish her husband?

"What happens next will unite Imogen with Phillip's first wife and his new girlfriend against the man who has hurt them all-and who deserves a very special kind of payback...."

Opinion: A great way to start the new year. Great thriller.....and karma.

Ice Hunt by James Rollins

 Started: 9/13/2020

Finished: 12/30/2020

Year: 2003

Pages: 613

Genre: fiction/adventure

Grade: B

Reason for reading: booksfree.com book

Type: Mass market paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "Carved into a moving island of ice twice the size of the United States, Ice Station Grendel has been abandoned for more than seventy years. The twisted brainchild of the finest minds of the former Soviet Union, it was designed to be inaccessible and virtually invisible. But an American undersea research vessel has inadvertently pulled too close-and something has been sighted moving inside the allegedly deserted facility, something whose survival defies every natural law. And now, as scientists, soldiers, intelligence operatives and unsuspecting civilians are drawn into Grendel's lethal vortex, the most extreme measures possible will be undertaken to protect its dark mysteries-because the terrible truths locked behind submerge walls of ice and steel could end human life on Earth."

Opinion: This isn't my usual type of book (military) to read but wow what an adventure. Lots of action, lots of using one's imagination to picture everything that is happening.  Would recommend for readers who like a lot of action in their books.

Here Lies a Father by McKenzie Cassidy

 Started: 12/15/20

Finished: 12/18/20

Year: 2021

Pages: 262

Genre: Literature

Grade: C

Reason for reading: LibraryThing.com giveaway

Type: ARC trade paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "When Ian Daly and his sister Catherine arrive for their wayward father's funeral in his small and desolate upstate New York hometown, a secret that was kept from them their entire lives emerges: their father Thomas abandoned two other families, leaving behind two furious wives and several children who never knew their father. Ian wants to know more of the truth, but his sister and mother want to preserve the carefully constructed myth they've created around who Thomas really was.

"In the cold, lonely winter landscape of small-town New York, fifteen-year-old Ian sets out alone to learn the truth about his father's past and the families he left behind. Here Lies a Father examines the long-term effects shameful secrets have on a family, and how difficult it is for a young man to reconstruct his own sense of right and wrong, when every value and moral principle he was ever taught was based on a lie.

Opinion: This was an average read for me. What I did like was how Ian's maturity and growth were shown in short amount of time-amazing what can happen when the truth is discovered. What I didn't like was how the past was intertwined with present day-felt lost in a couple of spots.

James Herriot's Dog Stories

 Started: 12/8/20

Finished: 12/15/20

Year: 1986 (this edition)

Pages: 503

Genre: Animal

Grade: B

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book

Type: paperback

Blurb: "In this very special, heartwarming collection of favorite stories about dogs great and small, James Herriot tells us about his own dogs and all the wonderful people and animals we have come to love so much.

"Fifty memorable tales move us to both laughter and tears, and Herriot's personal introduction and notes make this tribute by a master storyteller to man's best friend a book to be read, reread and treasured for many years to come."

Opinion: An enjoyable collection of stories from one of the world's most favorite vets. All of them are about dogs mixed in with their owners and fellow animal characters.  I have always enjoyed Herriot's stories and this one goes right along with the rest of them

You Were Made For This by Michelle Sacks

 Started: 12/2/20

Finished: 12/7/20

Year: 2018

Pages: 336

Genre: Literature

Grade: D

Type: ARC

Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway

Blurb (from back cover): "Doting wife, devoted husband, cherished child. Merry, Sam, and Conor are the perfect family in the perfect place. Merry adores the domestic life: baking, gardening, caring for her infant son. Sam, formerly an academic, is pursing a new career as a filmmaker. Sometimes they can hardly believe how lucky they are. What perfect new lives, they've built.

"When Merry's childhood friend Frank visits their Swedish paradise, she immediately becomes part of the family. She bonds with Conor. And with Sam. She befriends the neighbors and even finds herself embracing the domesticity she's always seemed to scorn.

"All their lives, Frank and Merry have been more like sisters than best friends. And that's why Frank soon sees the things others might miss. Treacherous things, which rare almost impossible to believe when looking at this perfect family. But Frank, of all people, knows that the truth is rarely what you want the world to see."

Blurb: I don't think that I have read a book with more hated characters. All of them are just awful....to each other and themselves. Only reason why this got a D was because I liked the writing style.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

 Started: 12/1/20

Finished: 12/2/20

Year: 1993 (this edition)

Pages: 190

Genre: Sci Fi

Grade: C

Reason for reading: TBR pile

Type: Hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known."

Opinion: What did I jus read?

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

 Started: 11/26/20

Finished: 12/1/20

Year: 2009 (this edition)

Pages: 276

Genre: Literature, Romance

Grade: B

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book, TBR pile

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "'Dear John,' the letter read. And with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives changed forever.

"When Savannah Lynn Curtis comes into his life, John Tyree knows he is ready to turn over a new leaf. an angry rebel, he had enlisted in the army after high school, not knowing what else to do . Then, during a furlough, he meets Savannah, the girl of his dreams. The attraction is mutual and quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah vowing to wait for John while he finishes his tour of duty. But neither can foresee that 9/11 is about to change the world. Like so many proud men and women, John must choose between love and country. Now, when he finally returns to North Carolina, John will discover how love can transform us in ways we never could have imagined."

Opinion: I had seen this movie long enough ago that I didn't remember a good chunk of the book. Like most Sparks' books, it grips the reader's heart. Another touching story

Death at a Country Manson by Louise R. Innes

Started: 11/20/20

Finished: 11/26/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 219

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com

Type: Paperback

Blurb: (from back cover): "No one would ever accuse famous opera star Dame Serena Levante of lacking a flare for the dramatic. Unfortunately, it's curtains down on the dysfunctional diva when she's found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her elegant home. Solving an opera singer's murder may not be the typical hairdresser's aria of expertise. But Dame Serena was the mother of Daisy' best friend Floria, so Daisy must do-or-dye her best to get to the roots of the case. Even though the gruff but handsome Detective Inspector Paul McGuinness tells the stylist to stay of his hair, Daisy is determined to make sure the killer faces a stern makeover-behind bars."

Opinion: One of the better mysteries I've read-really didn't know who was the murdered until the very end. A more thorough review will be posted on MyShelf.com in the upcoming months.

Life with the Afterlife: 13 Truths I Learned About Ghosts by Amy Bruni

 Started: 11/14/20

Finished: 11/19/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 255

Genre: Autobiography

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: fan of Amy's and the paranormal

Type: Hardcover

Blurb (from book jacket): "Amy Bruni co-star of Kindred Spirits and one of the world's leading paranormal investigators, has spent years studying the otherworldly, and she has a life time of first-hand experience. Now, in Life with the Afterlife, she reveals the surprising insights she has gleaned and how these unwavering truths have shaped her unique approach to interacting with the spirits of the dead and those who encounter them.

"Though her fact-based research and wildly entertaining prose, Amy relays how she uncovers back stories that eerily explain and corroborate apparitions, and have recognizing that ghosts are people can help us move from fear to empathy for them. From stories of her earliest supernatural encounters as a child, through her years on Ghost Hunters and the creation of her company Strange Escapes, which offers paranormal excursions to some of America's most notoriously haunted destinations, and into her current work on the Travel Channel's Kindred Spirits this book is full of astonishing and deeply moving tales of Amy's efforts to better understand the dead but not yet departed.

"This book is sure to change how you think about ghosts, whether you are a die-hard skeptic or a long-time believer. With Amy's bright humor and fierce compassion for both those who are haunted and those who are haunting. Life with the Afterlife is an eye-opening look at what connects us as people, in life and beyond."

Opinion: I have been a fan of Amy's since her debut on Ghost Hunters. She brings a refreshing look to paranormal investigations. This book is like having a conversation with Amy about her take on ghosts and why she investigates the way that she does.

House of Evil by John Dean

 Started: 11/8/20

Finished: 11/13/20

Year: 2008

Pages: 231

Type: Mass Market Paperback

Genre: True Crime

Grade: C

Reason for reading: booksfree.com book

Blurb (from back cover): "In the heart of Indianapolis in the mid 1960's, through a twist of fate and fortune, a pretty young girl came to live with a thirty-seven-year old mother and her seven children. What began as a temporary childcare arrangement between Sylvia Likens's parents and Gertrude Baniszewski turned into a crime that would haunt cops, prosecutors, and a community for decades to come...

"When police found Sylvia's emaciated body, with a chilling message carved into her flesh, they knew that she had suffered tremendously before her death. Soon they would learn how many others-including some of Baniszewski's own children-participated in Sylvia's murder, and just how much torture had been inflicted in one..."

Opinion: A truly horrible traumatic experience and no real reason behind it. No true motive was ever demonstrated in this of why Sylvia was tortured and eventually murdered.  This needed more for me to give it a higher grade.

The Killer's Shadow by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker

 Started: 10/31/20

Finished: 11/7/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 292

Genre: True Crime

Grade: B

Type: Trade Paperback

Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com

Blurb (from back cover): "In the fall of 1980, John Douglas-the legendary FBI profile then in the early years of his career-was called in to the manhunt for a white supremacist serial killer. A highly mobile and experienced sniper, the fugitive Joseph Paul Franklin was suspected of racially motivated murders around the country. Not only was he capable of taking even more innocent lives, there was also a fear that he would target President Jimmy Carter during the 1980 presidential campaign. With the clock ticking, Douglas meticulously dissected the killer's psychology, but despite Franklin's ultimate apprehension, what began as fugitive profile would become one of Douglas's most disturbing and lingering cases.

"In The Killer's Shadow, Douglas, with his longtime collaborator Mark Olshaker, details the highly coordinated pursuit of Franklin and Douglas's eventual prison confrontation with him. Recounting the methodical detective work that led to Franklin's capture, Douglas reveals how the case helped prove the power of criminal profiling at a moment when the stakes couldn't have been higher. Years later, after Franklin's conviction and subsequent confessions while in federal prison to a horrific array of other murders, Douglas sat across from Franklin for the first time to complete the profile and understand what motivated his terrifying evolution from hate speech to racially and religiously inspired killing The end result is a Mindhunter case as chilling and relevant today as it was forty years ago, one that goes inside the vicious cycle of far-right extremism and shows that to emerge from it shadow of hate, we must first understand its origin."

Opinion: This is a true crime story told differently than most others. This looks more at how Franklin came to be who he was instead of focusing on the details of his crimes.  I would recommend for any true crime or forensic psychology fan. A more complete review will be up on MyShelf.com in the upcoming months.

A Kind of Mirraculas Paradise by Sandra Allen

 Started: 10/25/20

Finished: 10/30/20

Year: 2018

Pages: 275

Genre: biographical

Grade: C

Type: ARC Trade Paperback

Reason for reading: Goodsread.com giveaway

Blurb (from back cover): "Sandra Allen did not know her uncle Bob very well. As a child, she had been told he was 'crazy', that he had spent time in mental hospitals while growing up in Berkeley in the sixties and seventies. But Bob had lived a hermetic life in a remote part of California for longer than she had been alive, and what little she know of him came from rare family reunions or odd, infrequent phone calls. Then in 2009 Bob mailed her his autobiography. Typewritten in all caps, a stream of error-riddle sentences over sixty single-spaced pages, the often incomprehensive manuscript proclaimed to be a 'true story' about being 'labeled a psychotic paranoid schizophrenic' and arrived with a pleat to help Bob get his story out to the world.

"In A Kind of Mirracules Paradise, Allen translates her uncle's autobiography, artfully creating a gripping coming-of-age story while sticking faithfully to the facts as her shared them. Lacing Bob's narrative with chapters providing greater contextualization, Allen also shares background information about her family, the culturally explosive time and place of her uncle's formative years, and the vitally important questions surrounding schizophrenia and mental healthcare in America more broadly. The result is a heart-breaking and sometimes hilarious portrait of a young man striving for stability in his life as well as his mind, and an utterly unique lens into an experience that, to most people, remains unimaginable."

Opinion: So this was different. Not sure if I wanted more of his story in his own words or more of his story in her words. The mix of the two just didn't fully work for me. 

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

 Started: 6/21/20

Finished: DNF

Year: 2000 (this edition)

Pages: 817

Genre: Classic Literature

Grade: F

Type: paperback with jacket

Reason for reading: 1001 books to read before you die/booksfree.com

Blurb (from Amazon): "Described by William Faulkner as the best novel ever written and by Fyodor Dostoevsky as “flawless,” Anna Karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious Anna and the dashing officer, Count Vronsky. Tragedy unfolds as Anna rejects her passionless marriage and thereby exposes herself to the hypocrisies of society. Set against a vast and richly textured canvas of nineteenth-century Russia, the novel's seven major characters create a dynamic imbalance, playing out the contrasts of city and country life and all the variations on love and family happiness."

Opinion: It didn't grab my interest and after 300 pages, I decided that I have hundreds of other books to grab my attention. So this will be sent back to booksfree.com 

Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien

 Started: 10/14/20

Finished: 10/24/20

Year: 2018

Pages: 326

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Grade: B

Type: Mass Market Paperback

Reason for reading: TBR pile

Blurb (from back cover): "The last place Lana Lee thought she would ever end up is back at her family's restaurant. But after a brutal breakup and a dramatic workplace walk-out, she figures that a return to the Cleveland area to help wait tables is her best option for putting her life back together. Even if that means having to put up with her mother, who is dead-set on finding her a husband.

"Lana's love life soon becomes yesterday's news once the restaurant's property manager, Mr. Feng, turns up dead-after a delivery of shrimp dumplings from Ho-Lee. But how could this have happened when everyone on staff knew about Mr. Feng's severe, life-threatening shellfish allergy? Now, with the whole restaurant under suspicion for murder and the local media in a feeding frenzy-to say nothing of the gorgeous police detective who keeps turning up for take-out-it's up to Lana to find out who is behind Feng's killer order...before her own number is up."

Opinion: This is the first of the Noodle Shop Mystery series and a decent one at that. I do want to know more about this breakup with the one who will not be named and to see what Lana gets herself mixed up in next. The mystery plot was decent and the motive turns up to be something that isn't expected.

Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima

 Started: 10/9/20

Finished: 10/13/20

Pages: 329

Year: 2015

Type: Mass Market paperback

Genre: Mystery

Grade: A

Reason for reading: grabbed off the TBR pile

Blurb (from back cover): "When a forest ranger hears gunshots an find blood on a cabin's porch, she calls in the first K-9 team in Timber Creek, Colorado. Deputy Mattie Cobb and her partner, police dog, Robo, follow the scent from the blood trail into the woods, where a Bernese mountain dog is guarding the body of a young girl.

"With the help of Cole Walker, local veterinarian and a single father, Mattie and Robo must track down the truth before a killer claims another victim. But as Mattie investigates, she realizes how many secrets her hometown holds. And the key may be Cole's daughter, who knows more than she's saying. Murder is just the beginning, and if Mattie isn't careful, she and Robo could be next."

Opinion: I've read the other books of this series and had not gotten to the first one. Even though you can get the gist of the characters, reading the series in order is helpful. Definitely enjoyed this one. Can't wait for the next one.

Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

 Started 10/3/20

Finished: 10/8/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 356

Genre: Cozy mystery

Grade: C

Type: Hardcover

Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com

Blurb (from book jacket): "While Hannah speeds through a lengthy holiday checklist, drama in town grows like Santa's waistline on Christmas Eve. Her sister Andrea wants to stave off the blues by helping out at The Cookie Jar, Michele's love life is becoming complicated, Lisa needs Hannah's advice, and Delores has a Christmas secret she's not willing to share. But nothing dampens the holiday mood more than the chilling mystery surrounding the man found near death in an abandoned storefront two doors down from Hannah's bakery...

"The befuddled John Doe can't recall a thing about himself-except for his unusual knowledge of restoring antique furniture. With a smattering of clues and barely enough time to frost Christmas cookies, Hannah must solve a deadly puzzle that could leave her dashing through the snow for her life!"

Opinion: Not one of the greatest Fluke novels. I've read them off and on over the years. Some great looking recipes are throughout the book but the title is misleading and the mystery isn't completely solved. The ending was very rushed. A more complete review will be on MyShelf.com in the near future.

Meet Isabel Puddles by M. V. Byrne

 Started: 9/26/20

Finished: 10/2/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 330

Type: ARC Trade Paperback

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: review for Myshelf.com

Blurb (from back cover): "To the tourists and summer residents, Kentwater County is a picturesque community of small-town charm, fruitful farmland, and gorgeous freshwater beaches. To  middle-aged widow Isabel Puddles, it's where she enjoys breakfast every morning at a local cafe with her childhood best friend and spends her evening cozying up with a good book and her devoted Jack Terrier, Jackpot. In between, Isabel makes ends meet through a variety of trades-preserving pickles, baking pies, working the counter at her cousin's hardware shop, and occasionally helping 'fix-up' the hair of corpses at the local funeral parlor.

"When Isabel discovers a two-inch nail embedded in the skull of Earl Jonasson, it seens the octogenarian may not have died of a stroke. His son is quickly arrested when his alibi doesn't check out. But Isabel has known Earl, Jr since they were kids and can't believe he'd murder his father, regardless of his financial difficulties. As gossip about Earl, Sr's land, and insurance policy money starts to spread around the county, Isabel finds herself conducting her own investigation to clear her friend's name. But real detective work isn't like what she sees on TV, and she's meeting dangerous suspects who don't like Isabel poking around in their business...."

Opinion: You certainly meet Isabel Puddles in this book and at first I was wondering if it was too much detail. Because this is the first of a new series, it probably isn't too much and it will be interesting to see if the following books contain as much detail. For  more complete review, please visit Myshelf.com in the upcoming months.

Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

 Started: 9/20/20

Finished: 9/25/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 289

Genre: Mystery

Grade:  B

Type: Trade Paperback

Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com

Blurb (from back cover): "Love is full of surprises-though few compare to realizing that you're marrying the real-life Santa. April Claus dearly loves her new husband, Nick, but adjusting to life in the North Pole is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous elf named Giblet Hollyberry is killed-felled by a black widow spider in his stocking-shortly after publicly arguing with Nick.

"Christmastown is hardly a hotbed of crime, aside from mishaps caused by too much eggnog, but April disagrees with Constable Crinkle's verdict of accidental death. As April sets out to find the culprit, it'll mean putting the future of Christmas on the line-and hoping her own name isn't on a lethal naughty list..."

Opinion: Always wondered how Santa continued on for thousands of years. This was a decent cozy-lots of suspects, lots of murder, lots of characters. For a more complete review, please check out MyShelf.com in the upcoming months

A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer

 Started: 5/31/20

Finished: 9/13/20

Year: 2008

Pages: 618

Genre: Literature

Grade: B

Type: mass market paperback

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book, off TBR pile

Blurb (from back cover): "If Danny Cartwright had proposed to Beth Wilson on any other day he would not have been arrested and charged with the murder of his best friend. But when the prosecution witnesses happen to be a group of four upper-crust college friends-a barrister, a popular actor, an aristocrat and the youngest partner in an established firm's history-who is going to believe Danny's side of the story?

"Danny is sentenced to twenty-two years and sent to Belmarsh prison, the highest-security jail in the land, from where no inmate has ever escaped. But Spencer Craig, Lawrence Davenport, Gerald Payne, and Toby Mortimer all underestimate Danny's determination to seek revenge-and the extent to which his fiancee Beth will go in pursuit of justice."

Opinion: First book that I've read by Archer and it was pretty interesting. Wasn't sure how Danny's antics would get the revenge that he wanted but in the end it was nicely tied up. Might seek some other Archer books.

Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima

 Started: 8/30/20

Finished: 9/5/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 282

Genre: mystery

Grade: B+

Type: hardcover

Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com

Blurb (from book jacket): "A deluge has flooded the high ground near Hanging Falls-but heavy rains aren't the only menace descending on Timber Creek while on a counting mission to pinpoint trail damage, Officer Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner, Robo, stumble upon a body floating at the edge of a lake. Robo catches a human scent, which leads to an enigmatic forest-dweller who quickly becomes suspect number one.

"With help from veterinarian Cole Walker, Mattie identifies the victim and discovers an odd religious cult whose dress and manners harken back to the nineteenth century. As the list of suspects grows, an unexpected visit from members of Mattie's long-lost family sheds new light on her childhood as they help Mattie piece together details for the fateful night when she was abducted at age two.

"The tangled threads of the investigation and family dynamics begin to intertwine-but darkness threatens to claim a new victim before Mattie and Robo can track down the killers."

Opinion: Another enjoyable mystery from the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series. A more complete review will be posted on MyShelf.com in the upcoming months