The Bell Lady of Blairmont Manor by Novella Jean

Started: 11/24/2022

Finished: 11/28/2022

Year: 2022

Pages: 267

Genre: horror/ghost/paranormal

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Nestled in the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains, the small town of Daffodil harbors a secret about the mansion by the lake. On the outside, Blairmont Manor appears to be a peaceful lakeside getaway. Inside, it is a house of terror.

"For over a hundred years, the people of Daffodil have kept this secret. Their children grow up knowing pure evil exists in this world and that they are powerless against it.

"By the time Thia moves in, with plans to convert the historic mansion into a luxury boutique hotel, the secrets of Blairmont Manor are so well kept that she suspects nothing is amiss about her new home. But it’s not long before she comes to realize the townspeople are keeping something from her...and that someone is willing to do whatever it takes to make her leave."

Opinion: a thorough review is on Reader Views

Jackal by Erin E Adams

Started: 11/21/2022

Finished: 11/23/2022

Year: 2022

Pages: 318

Genre: mystery/thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "It’s watching.

"Liz Rocher is coming home . . . reluctantly. As a Black woman, Liz doesn’t exactly have fond memories of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a predominantly white town. But her best friend is getting married, so she braces herself for a weekend of awkward, passive-aggressive reunions. Liz has grown, though; she can handle whatever awaits her. But on the day of the wedding, somewhere between dancing and dessert, the couple’s daughter, Caroline, disappears—and the only thing left behind is a piece of white fabric covered in blood.

"It’s taking.

"As a frantic search begins, with the police combing the trees for Caroline, Liz is the only one who notices a pattern: A summer night. A missing girl. A party in the woods. She’s seen this before. Keisha Woodson, the only other Black girl in Liz’s high school, walked into the woods with a mysterious man and was later found with her chest cavity ripped open and her heart removed. Liz shudders at the thought that it could have been her, and now, with Caroline missing, it can’t be a coincidence. As Liz starts to dig through the town’s history, she uncovers a horrifying secret about the place she once called home. Children have been going missing in these woods for years. All of them Black. All of them girls.

"It’s your turn.

"With the evil in the forest creeping closer, Liz knows what she must do: find Caroline, or be entirely consumed by the darkness."

Opinion: I can see why this book has been popular. Takes on a child kidnapping to a slightly different level. Worth the read if you're a fan of mysteries, thrillers, slight horror.

Double Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Started: 11/16/2022

Finished: 11/21/2022

Year: 2011

Pages: 337

Genre: Thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: finishing up the series, library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Dexter Morgan is not your average serial killer. He enjoys his day job as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department . . . but he lives for his nighttime hobby of hunting other killers. Dexter is therefore not pleased to discover that someone is shadowing him, observ­ing him, and copying his methods. Dexter is not one to tol­erate displeasure . . . in fact, he has a knack for extricating himself from trouble in his own pleasurable way."

Opinion: Been a while since I read one of the Dexter books. Recently watched the new Dexter series and wanted to finish up the books. Enjoyable like always but Rita is annoying.

Down Wind and Out of Sight by Douglas Richardson

Started: 11/7/2022

Finished: 11/9/2022

Year: 2022

Pages: 333

Genre: thriller

Grade: C

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Down Wind and Out of Sight abounds with mysterious questions.

 How did an emotionally-damaged group of social misfits come to live secretly—and illegally--on a sweeping northern Chesapeake Bay estate?

• Who is this Aboriginal financial wizard holding the strange band together—and what deceptions is he determined to keep alive?

• Who is responsible for the spiraling series of bizarre catastrophes - and how many people are going to die?

• How long can this 'found family' remain "down wind and out of sight" as federal Investigators close in?

This unique novel is both a riveting thriller and a compassionate exploration of how much people reveal when they're doing their best to hide. Full of wry wit, compelling characters and unexpected twists, the adventures of this unique band of misfits race to a shocking climax, catching you up in a powerful story you won't forget."

Opinion: a thorough review is on Reader Views

Moose Willow Mystery by Terri Martin

Started: 11/1/2022

Finished: 11/3/2022

Year: 2022

Pages: 273

Genre: mystery

Grade: C

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "A suspicious death in a game processing meat locker is just the beginning of bizarre events happening in the Upper Michigan village of Moose Willow. It all starts when a mysterious woman appears at the Methodist church during choir practice. Janese Trout and her best friend, State Trooper Bertie Vaara, team up to connect the woman to a growing number of disturbing occurrences around town including the disappearance of Janese's eccentric lover, George LeFleur, and an undeniable increase in Bigfoot sightings. Meanwhile, Janese faces a multitude of personal challenges as she grapples with a sagging career at the Copper County Community College, an elusive pregnancy test, and a controlling mother who inserts herself into every hiding place of Janese's life."

Opinion: a thorough review is posted on Reader Views

The Little Book of True Ghost Stories by Echo Bodine

Started: 11/15/2022

Finished: 11/16/2022

Year: 2011

Pages: 191

Genre: paranormal

Grade: C

Reason for reading: library book

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Barroom brawler ghosts, a ghost prayer group, Peeping Tom ghosts, a ghost who hates children, and even a ghost who didn't know he was dead are just a few of the wild assortment of characters in Echo Bodine's delightful new collection of true ghost stories. A psychic who has been hunting ghosts for 40 years, Bodine shares her story of how she became a ghost buster along with the stories of ghosts, hauntings, and possessions she encountered along the way.

"Wondering if those flickering lights, jangling door knobs, and mumbling sounds in the middle of the night mean you have a ghost? Bodine offers step-by-step instructions for getting rid of them along with clearing and protection prayers to keep them away. These funny, sometimes unnerving, and always entertaining stories will provide reassurance to anyone who has ever encountered things that go bump in the night.

"Previously published as Relax, It's Only a Ghost."

Opinion: Some interesting stories about some of the ghosts that Echo encountered. 

American Demon by Daniel Stashower

Started: 11/10/2022

Finished: 11/15/2022

Year: 2022

Pages: 306

Genre: True Crime/biography

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Boston had its Strangler. California had the Zodiac Killer. And in the depths of the Great Depression, Cleveland had the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run.

"On September 5th, 1934, a young beachcomber made a gruesome discovery on the shores of Cleveland’s Lake Erie: the lower half of a female torso, neatly severed at the waist. The victim, dubbed “The Lady of the Lake,” was only the first of a butcher’s dozen. Over the next four years, twelve more bodies would be scattered across the city. The bodies were dismembered with surgical precision and drained of blood. Some were beheaded while still alive.

"Terror gripped the city. Amid the growing uproar, Cleveland’s besieged mayor turned to his newly-appointed director of public safety: Eliot Ness. Ness had come to Cleveland fresh from his headline-grabbing exploits in Chicago, where he and his band of “Untouchables” led the frontline assault on Al Capone’s bootlegging empire. Now he would confront a case that would redefine his storied career."

Opinion: An interesting look at Ness' work in Cleveland. 

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

Started: 11/4/2022

Finished: 11/6/2022

Year: 2011

Pages: 320

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

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

Blurb (from Amazon): "Before Stephanie can even step foot off Flight 127 Hawaii to Newark, she’s knee deep in trouble. Her dream vacation turned into a nightmare, and she’s flying back to New Jersey solo. Worse still, her seatmate never returned to the plane after the L.A. layover. Now he’s dead—and a ragtag collection of thugs and psychos, not to mention the FBI, are all looking for a photograph he was supposed to be carrying.

"Only one person has seen the missing photo: Stephanie Plum. Now she’s the target. An FBI sketch artist helps Stephanie re-create the person in the photo, but Stephanie’s descriptive skills are lacking. Until she can improve them, she’ll need to watch her back.

"Over at the bail bonds agency things are going from bad to worse. Vinnie’s temporary HQ has gone up in smoke. Stephanie’s wheelman, Lula, falls for their largest skip yet. Lifetime arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt moves into Stephanie’s apartment. And everyone wants to know what happened in Hawaii?

"Morelli, Trenton’s hottest cop, isn’t talking about Hawaii. Ranger, the man of mystery, isn’t talking about Hawaii. And all Stephanie is willing to say about her Hawaiian vacation is . . . It’s complicated."

Opinion: Started off slightly different than the other books in the series but eventually everything came together. Another fun read.

The City Where We Once Lived by Eric Barnes

Started: 11/4/2022

Finished: DNF

Year: 2018

Pages: 234

Genre: literature

Grade: F

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "In a near future where climate change has severely affected weather and agriculture, the North End of an unnamed city has long been abandoned in favor of the neighboring South End. Aside from the scavengers steadily stripping the empty city to its bones, only a few thousand people remain, content to live quietly among the crumbling metropolis. Many, like the narrator, are there to try to escape the demons of their past. He spends his time observing and recording the decay around him, attempting to bury memories of what he has lost.

"But it eventually becomes clear that things are unraveling elsewhere as well, as strangers, violent and desperate alike, begin to appear in the North End, spreading word of social and political deterioration in the South End and beyond. Faced with a growing disruption to his isolated life, the narrator discovers within himself a surprising need to resist losing the home he has created in this empty place. He and the rest of the citizens of the North End must choose whether to face outsiders as invaders or welcome them as neighbors."

Opinion: Just not a fan of the writing style and the blahness of everything. 

L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton

Started: 10/28/2022

Finished: 10/31/2022

Year: 1995

Pages: 347

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book, continuing the series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "L is for LIES…

"When Kinsey Millhone's landlord asks her to help deceased World War II vet Johnnie Lee's family find out why the military has no record of his service, she thinks it'll be a cinch. But she is about to meet her match in world-class prevaricators who take her for the ride of her life.

"L is for LARCENY…

"When Lee's apartment in burgled and a man named Ray Rawson, who claims to be an old friend of Lee's, is beaten up, Kinsey soon finds herself on the trail of a pregnant woman with a duffel bag. Soon the intrepid P.I. is following leads halfway across the country and encountering another man from Lee's past―a vengeful psychopath.

"L is for LAWLESS

"Stalked by a new enemy and increasingly suspicious of Rawson―not to mention running out of time and money―now Kinsey must steer a collision course to solve a decades-old mystery that some would like better left unsolved.…"

Opinion: Not quite the typical plot for Kinsey. Still enjoyable. Shook my head at a couple of things because it didn't make sense for Kinsey's character.

Murder of a Pink Elephant by Denise Swanson

Started: 10/27/2022

Finished: 10/28/2022

Year: 2004

Pages: 252

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with the series

Type: mass market paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "When Skye Denison's brother forms a band called Pink Elephant, the town goes wild-maybe too wild. First, a groupie turns stalker, seducing the band members one by one. Then, one of the Pink Elephants winds up murdered. Who's to blame? Everyone seems to think it's the drummer-and now Skye has to clear her brother's name."

Opinion: Truly amazing what a school psychologist can get herself into. This is another mystery series that I enjoy and I will be continuing on with the series.

Waxing On by Ralph Macchio

Started: 10/27/2022

Finished: 10/27/2022

Year: 2022

Pages: 258

Genre: Memoir

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: fan of The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Since The Karate Kid first crane-kicked its way into the pop culture stratosphere in June 1984, there hasn’t been a week Ralph Macchio hasn’t heard friendly shouts of “Wax on, wax off” or “Sweep the leg!” Now, with Macchio reprising his role as Daniel LaRusso in the #1 ranked Netflix show Cobra Kai, he is finally ready to look back at this classic movie and give the fans something they’ve long craved.

"The book will be Ralph Macchio’s celebratory reflection on the legacy of The Karate Kid in film, pop culture, and his own life. It will be a comprehensive look at a film that shaped him as much as it influenced the world. Macchio will share an insider's perspective of the untold story behind his starring role—the innocence of the early days, the audition process, and the filmmaking experience--as well as take readers through the birth of some of the film’s most iconic moments.

"Ultimately, the book centers on the film itself, focusing on the reason that the characters and themes have endured in such a powerful way and how these personal experiences have impacted Macchio's life. It will bring readers back to the day they met Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi for the first time, but will also provide a fascinating lens into how our pasts shape all of us and how the past can come back to enrich one's life in surprising and wonderful ways."

Opinion: A great look at how Ralph Macchio had his life impacted by The Karate Kid franchise. Some behind the scenes look. A must read for any Karate Kid or Cobra Kai fan

Ultimately, the book centers on the film itself, focusing on the reason that the characters and themes have endured in such a powerful way and how these personal experiences have impacted Macchio's life. It will bring readers back to the day they met Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi for the first time, but will also provide a fascinating lens into how our pasts shape all of us and how the past can come back to enrich one's life in surprising and wonderful ways.

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Started: 10/25/2022

Finished: 10/27/2022

Year: 2022

Pages: 258

Genre: rom-com

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project—a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia—Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

 "Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school—archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.
 

"Now, her equipment is missing, the staff is ignoring her, and Bee finds her floundering career in somewhat of a pickle. Perhaps it’s her occipital cortex playing tricks on her, but Bee could swear she can see Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas…devouring her with those eyes. And the possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?"

Opinion: Started off slow-wasn't sure it was going to make my 100 page test but it did. I don't like intelligent female characters made to be so stupid when it comes to love lives. Other than that, I thought that it was an enjoyable rom-com.

The Trapped Girl by Robert Dugoni

Started: 10/21/2022

Finished: 10/25/2022

Year: 2017

Pages: 358

Genre: mystery

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with the series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "When a woman's body is discovered submerged in a crab pot in the chilly waters of Puget Sound, Detective Tracy Crosswhite finds herself with a tough case to untangle. Before they can identify the killer, Tracy and her colleagues on the Seattle PD's Violent Crimes Section must figure out who the victim is. Her autopsy, however, reveals she may have gone to great lengths to conceal her identity. So who was she running from?

"After evidence surfaces that their Jane Doe may be a woman who suspiciously disappeared months earlier, Tracy is once again haunted by the memory of her sister's unsolved murder. Dredging up details from the woman's past leads to conflicting clues that only seem to muddy the investigation. As Tracy begins to uncover a twisted tale of brutal betrayal and desperate greed, she'll find herself risking everything to confront a killer who won't go down without a deadly fight. Once again, New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni delivers a taut, riveting thriller in the fourth installment of his acclaimed Tracy Crosswhite series."

Opinion: There was a slight change in how this was written and I'm not a fan. Another good mystery with an interesting twist. I will be continuing on with the series.

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Started: 10/19/2022

Finished: 10/21/2022

Year: 2011

Pages: 324

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: booklender.com book, continuing the series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list. Short on time to find the murderer, Stephanie is also under pressure from family and friends to choose between her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom wants her to dump them both for a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, suggests a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Joe’s old-world grandmother gives Stephanie “the eye,” which may mean that it’s time to get out of town.

"With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke."

Opinion: These are always fun and I usually end up mentally yelling at the things that Stephanie does. 

Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen

Started: 10/14/2022

Finished: DNF

Year: 2021

Pages: 580

Genre: Literature

Grade: D

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "It’s December 23, 1971, and heavy weather is forecast for Chicago. Russ Hildebrandt, the associate pastor of a liberal suburban church, is on the brink of breaking free of a marriage he finds joyless―unless his wife, Marion, who has her own secret life, beats him to it. Their eldest child, Clem, is coming home from college on fire with moral absolutism, having taken an action that will shatter his father. Clem’s sister, Becky, long the social queen of her high-school class, has sharply veered into the counterculture, while their brilliant younger brother Perry, who’s been selling drugs to seventh graders, has resolved to be a better person. Each of the Hildebrandts seeks a freedom that each of the others threatens to complicate."

Opinion: Eh.....just eh. I made it more than halfway through and just decided that I wanted to read something else and do not want to continue. I picked this one up since I had seen a lot of positive things on Goodreads about it. But yeah....eh....The family, I just didn't care what happened to them. Each of them was facing their own set of crossroads and it didn't seen to matter how it affected the family as a whole unit...

The Black Ice by Michael Connelly

Started: 10/10/2022

Finished: 10/14/2022

Year: 1993

Pages: 428

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: booklender.com, continuing with the series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Working the case, LAPD detective Harry Bosch is reminded of the primal police rule he learned long ago: Don't look for the facts, but the glue that holds them together. Soon Harry's making some very dangerous connections, starting with a dead cop and leading to a bloody string of murders that wind from Hollywood Boulevard to the back alleys south of the border. Now this battle-scarred veteran will find himself in the center of a complex and deadly game—one in which he may be the next and likeliest victim."

Opinion: Not quite sure how often this type of case would even be happening but it did have an interesting twist at the end.

My Race for Life by Alison J. Delgado, MD

Started: 10/5/2022

Finished: 10/6/2022

Year: 2020

Pages: 170

Genre: Memoir

Grade: B

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Alison Bedingfield Delgado had a conventional upbringing in a suburb of Greater Cincinnati. From an early age, Alison excelled in academics and athletics, graduating class valedictorian from Colerain High School, where she was a member of the four-time state champion cross country team.

"In her first-time entry into the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon in 2005, the unknown 22-year-old placed first in the women s division. Then, in 2010, as a newly wed and second-year pediatric resident at Cincinnati Children s Hospital, Alison was hit by a car while cycling on a suburban road. Her husband, an emergency helicopter physician at University Hospital, was dispatched to treat an unidentified traffic victim and bring her back to University of Cincinnati Medical Center only to discover the patient was his wife.

"Alison had suffered a traumatic brain injury and developed aneurysms that required surgery and intensive rehabilitation therapy. With patience and exceptional determination, the young physician completed her medical training and is now a practicing pediatrician in Park City, Utah. She resumed running, and while placing fourth in the 2012 Flying Pig, bested her own time from 2005. She went on to compete in the Boston Marathon.

Dr. Delgado hopes that her story will be an inspiration for others who face seemingly impossible odds. This beautifully written memoir is her first book."

Opinion: A thorough review is posted on Reader Views

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Started: 10/10/2022

Finished: DNF

Year: 2021

Pages: 365

Genre: Fiction

Grade: F

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

"The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

"Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

"And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

"By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.

"Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind."

Opinion: Ugh....just ugh. I gave it my 100 page try and I really just don't like any of these characters. Don't care enough about these characters or this party that is being thrown. Didn't want to continue wasting my time when I have hundreds of others books to read. If you read it and enjoyed it, I'm happy for you. I just couldn't.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Started: 10/6/2022

Finished: 10/10/2022

Year: 2021

Pages: 303

Genre: mystery

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.

"As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.

"Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated."

Opinion: Not quite the outcome and plot that I was expecting. Pretty interesting-makes me wonder with the author came up with the idea in the first place. A pretty decent mystery. Not sure if I will search out more of Dave's books or not.