September Books

 Tell Me Who You Are by Louisa Luna -- This book alternates between the perspectives of Dr. Caroline, a therapist who makes up names for her patients; Gordon Strong, a man who was recently fired and sharing all his gripes about life; and Ellen Garcia, a woman held hostage. 

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb -- Eh, this book was not a favorite, but I kept reading to see how it ended since it was a quick read. Sophie moves with her husband Graham and son Jack to a small town in Texas where she'd lived during high school. She wanted somewhere smaller to raise her son, but finds it rather boring. When she's invited to join an exclusive club with a handful of beautiful, rich women, she gets more excitement than she bargained for! 

The Rom-Comers by Katherine Center -- For ten years Emma has been the caretaker for her father who was injured in a rockslide, but when her former boyfriend Logan calls her with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - writing with a famous screenplay writer in Los Angeles, her dad and sister agree that Emma has to go!  When Emma finds herself outside of Charlie's house, eavesdropping because the door popped open, and realizes he had no idea she was coming, she's furious at Logan for getting her to LA by deceptive means. 

The Wrong Family by Ellery Kane -- After years of living in foster and group homes, Hallie is now a young adult wanting to locate her father. When a DNA match supposedly helps her find THE Robert Thompson, she is thrilled at how her father welcomes her. She's invited to spend a couple of weeks at her father's house in Lake Tahoe, and enjoys working at the restaurant, but can't ignore all the weird things that have been happening.

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker --  Patch and Saint are best friends, both a bit outcast, but they have each other's backs. When Patch does something heroic and disappears, Saint stays after the local police to find her friend. This book goes on and on and on (nearly 600 pages!!), yet I kept reading because I had just enough interest in what happens, and also the chapters are super-short which I like.

The Match by Harlan Coben -- Wilde was found living in the woods as a boy, and has recently submitted his saliva to a DNA site in order to locate his family. When a second cousin known as PB reaches out to him, Wilde reluctantly gets in touch and becomes involved in a search for someone who murdered online trolls. 

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell -- Cate and her family are living in a posh neighborhood while their house is being repaired from extensive damage. She likes the place except for the creepy neighbor across the street, and the empty lots behind the fence where foxes scream...and people hang out. When a teenager goes missing, Cate is relieved when the creepy neighbor is taken in for questioning, but why does she have some misgivings about this? This book is told from the perspectives of Cate, Saffyre, and Owen. 

Night Bird Calling by Cathy Gohlke -- After her mother's funeral, Lilliana flees her home in Philadelphia to stay with her aunt Hyacinth in the mountains of North Carolina. There she hides out from her scheming father and husband, and gets to know the locals. 

Two Girls Down by Lousia Luna -- Alica Vega teams up with Cap to investigate the disappearance of Kylie and Bailey, two girls who disappeared when their mom made a quick stop at Kmart. 

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson -- Abigail and Bruce are three weeks from getting married when something regrettable happens on her bachelorette weekend. When she sees Scott in her hometown, she wonders if he's there to see her or just happens to be in the area. It is New York City, after all. When Abigail and Bruce go to a remote island in Maine, creepy things start happening. 

The House on Cold Creek Lane  by Liz Alterman -- Two storylines: Laurel and Corey. One (Laurel) is the current resident of the house while the other (Corey) lived there with her husband and daughter until a tragedy sent her to live with her mom in Florida. Laurel meets neighbors in her new community. She can't stand the nosy grandma, but adores the beautiful single lady Addie. Meanwhile her husband Rob wants to fit in and makes demands on Laurel while she's struggling.  Pretty clever ending though I figured out a bit of it before the big reveal. 

The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini -- A few years ago, I read alllll the Elm Creek Quilts novels in my library, and then saw this book in the New Books section the other day. The author says this is "in celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Elm Creek Quilts series."  Summer returns to Pennsylvania after being unable to finish her master's thesis in time to graduate. She uses the summer to enjoy quilt camps, and be with her friends and family while taking on the project of curating a museum of quilts for the Waterford Historical Society. I enjoyed the historical discoveries she made along the way.  

What You Made Me Do by Barbara Gayle Austin -- A couple different timelines with Anneliese looking for her birth mother, and then the story of Willem and his mom, the beautiful, but tyrannical concert pianist, Louisa. How do these people fit together?  Pretty good. 

The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden -- Millie and Enzo (from the author's previous books) are married with two children who recently moved to a bigger place on Long Island. As the children Ada and Nic try to fit in, Millie is concerned with her son's change of personality. She's also concerned about her next-door neighbor who seems to have eyes for Enzo and a talent for insulting Millie.  

It Was An Ugly Couch Anyway by Elizabeth Passarella -- The full title of this book includes "and other thoughts on moving forward." I read a book by this author a few weeks ago, and finally read this one which was a follow-up about her life in Manhattan. She told stories about the couch her father loved and their search for a bigger apartment in their same building, and stories about several other things. 

August Books

 The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd -- Pretty good story about Caroline and Patrick, art students sent to an advisor who encourages them in their quest to find out more about a missing painting and the life of Juliette Willoughby who died in a fire in Paris years ago. This alternates between a few storylines and decades.

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay -- Ryan and Ali were highschool sweethearts when Ali was kidnapped and he was suspected in her disappearance. Now he's in Italy on a school trip when the car Ali was driving that night has been found in a lake. Poppy McGee is the new deputy put on the case. Pretty good story. 

The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson -- Joan and Richard met one summer when they were at a beach resort in Maine. Through the years they kept in touch - anonymously and very sporadically - for nefarious reasons. Meanwhile Joan hires her former English teacher, now a private investigator Henry Kimball who is featured along with Lily in some other books from this author. 

The Song of Sourwood Mountain by Ann  H. Gabhart -- This book took much longer to read than I anticipated. Not because it was dull...it was actually decent, but I was watching so much of the Olympics "Live" and then again at night during Primetime with Andrew so that cut into my reading time a lot. I really enjoyed races on the track the last several days! Anyway, this book is about Mira who got a fast proposal from a preacher who lives in the Kentucky mountains. He wants her to go back with him as his wife and to be a school teacher to the children there. 

Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell -- This is a Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel which I enjoyed, but would have appreciated more if I were familiar with the character. I did look her up. In this book Jessica is hired by Amber whose twins Fox and Lark spent the summer with their father in the UK, and came back changed. They were "perfect," too perfect and Amber wants Jessica to investigate. 

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley -- The timelines of the book switch around quite a bit, but it was pretty good. Bella is part of the grand opening of a new resort her childhood friend Francesca started. We have flashbacks to the summer that the girls were friends, and so forth. An OK book. 

Beyond Summerland by Jenny Lecoat -- Hazel and Jean are two women who are dealing with the aftermath of the German occupation of the Channel Islands where residents are desiring to punish those who they feel collaborated with the enemy. An OK story. 

The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen -- Ariel gets a disturbing text -- well, disturbing because the guy who supposedly sent it died as far as she knows. Then it's found out that a glitch caused five-year-old texts to be sent, and, well, Ariel and her work friend Zain end up looking into what happened to cause Ariel's boyfriend Drew to leave as he did. 

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay -- Except for his brother in prison, Matt's family was found dead while on vacation in Mexico. The authorities initially say it was accidental, but FBI agents aren't so sure. Matt travels to Mexico to return his family's bodies and solve the mystery.

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate -- Two timelines in this book: one around 1909 and the other in the 1990s. Olive and the little Choctaw girl who has lived with her family for a few years escape Olive's stepfather and go on the run. They meet up with other children living in the wild. Meanwhile Valerie has recently taken a job as a ranger with the National Park Service in Oklahoma where she investigates things that happen within the park.  

What Have We Done? by Shari Lapena -- When Diana is found murdered in a field, her friends Riley and Evan try to figure out what happened to her. Did her boyfriend Cameron kill Diana in a fit of rage when she broke things off with him? Was it a creepy teacher or the customer who liked to visit the store? 

The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine -- This book revisits characters from the authors' debut novel featuring Amber, the latest Mrs. Parrish; Daphne, the ex who wants nothing to do with her former husband; and Jackson recently released from prison for tax evasion. 

Our Kind of Game by Johanna Copeland -- Stella has the perfect life in a nice community filled with glamorous people just like herself. Yet she escapes that life occasionally and thinks back on her formative years. Meanwhile in another storyline Julie deals with her mom and her mom's many boyfriends. So fun. 

July Books

 The Teacher by Freida McFadden -- The Bennetts teach in the same high school. Whereas Eve is a not-well-liked, rather stern math teacher, her husband Nate is handsome, kind, and a very-much-liked English teacher. No one comes to love him more than Addie who has both Mr. and Ms. Bennett, and whose love of poetry makes her a favorite of Mr. Bennett. Addie is picked on by bullies so Mr. Bennett looking out for her attracts her to him. Interesting story with a twist that made me want to reread the whole book looking for clues! 

Life, Loss, and Puffins by Catherine Ryan Hyde -- Ru heard her mom describe her daughter as "freakishly smart" when she was just a little girl, and sure enough Ru (short for Rumaki) is set to begin college at thirteen. In order to better support her, Ru lives with a mom and son who rent out their extra room to students, and Ru becomes good friends with Gabriel, who is starting college as well. When something life-changing happens, Ru and Gabriel decide to fulfill a college list (instead of a bucket list) and head off to see stars somewhere in Utah, the aurora in the Northwest Territories, and puffins!  Pretty cute story. 

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena -- Three adult siblings reluctantly eat lunch with their parents on Easter Sunday when their father drops a bombshell that leaves them leaving in a hurry. When the housekeeper finds the parents dead in the kitchen when she arrives on Tuesday, the police are convinced one of the children - Catherine, Dan, or Jenna - killed the Mertons. They just have to prove it. 

Last House by Jessica Shattuck -- Bet and Nick meet and marry and have two children, Katherine and Harry. Nick is often gone to the Middle East as part of a US company representing Big Oil, and Bet manages things at home. Later Katherine becomes quite the activist in standing up to all the things that make society grand (some will say).  

So Pretty It Hurts by Kate White -- yet another book featuring reporter Bailey Weggins as she's a guest at someone's house when a supermodel winds up dead. Bailey does her thing - investigates! 

We Are All Good People Here by Susan Rebecca White -- Eve and Daniella meet in their first year at college, as roommates they become fast friends. Later they lose touch as Eve sheds her wealthy upbringing to live simply with people against the Vietnam War - who openly cheer the Viet Cong instead. Meanwhile Daniella gets her law degree, gets married, and so forth.  The book later explores Sarah and Anna's life as daughters of Daniella and Eve. Pretty good.

The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier -- This book takes us to an island near Venice where the glassmakers lived and crafted goblets, platters, mirrors, and candlesticks among other things. It follows Orsla beginning as a 9 year old girl, and it travels through decades - sometimes generations - with Orsla aging a bit, but not as if she truly lived all those years. Most of the main characters are still there with a few dying off from the plague and other illnesses. An interesting look at life in Murano from the 1400s on.  Pretty clever.  I'm glad the author included a list of Italian words and phrases sprinkled throughout this book. I should know many Italian and Venetian curses if I choose to remember them! 

Even If It Kills Her by Kate White -- another Bailey Weggins book because I figured I might as well read the complete series; In this book, Bailey is contacted by a friend from their years at Brown. Jillian's family was murdered back then and the guy convicted of their murders might not be the true killer. DNA tests found a new person on the scene. Of course, Bailey investigates! 

The Stranger by Harlan Coben -- I was browsing at the library the other day because all my holds are still ON HOLD at the library, and saw a sign that had book similar to ______, and was right in the row with this author's books so I got one. And I liked this fast-paced story. Adam was at a lacrosse meeting - one his wife usually attended - when a stranger came up to him and told him a secret that got Adam investigating his wife's activities from a couple years back. This stranger knows things - and spreads his tidbits of knowledge to people. Pretty interesting story. 

My Summer Darlings by May Cobb -- Three best friends live near each other and regularly meet for Wine Nights around Kittie's fantastic pool. When a handsome single man moves into the neighborhood, Jen, recently divorced, sets her sights on him. But Will Harding seems interested in others as well. 

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth -- Jessica, Norah, and Alicia met as foster children in a woman's house years ago. Initially Miss Fairchild was warm and inviting to Jessica (the first of the three children she took in), but her moods became increasingly volatile. Years later the foster sisters are contacted when bones are excavated on the property where they grew up. 

Such a Perfect Wife by Kate White -- I think this is the last of the Bailey Weggins series though I saw in her last book that the author mentioned bringing back another in the future so we'll see. In this book Bailey goes to Lake George, New York, on assignment when a woman is missing. Shannon went on a jog and never came home. 

Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben -- I saw the library had a lot of this author's books so I decided to start book 1 of the Myron Bolitar series which was published way back in 1995. It's quite funny to read about people rewinding messages on their answering machines, and guys talking on their car phones. I like Myron's sense of humor somewhat, especially pertaining to his name.  In this story, he is a sports agent who investigates with his friend Win. They try to track down a missing woman who was engaged to Myron's latest signee, Christian.  So far I prefer the standalone novel mentioned above, but I may continue this series when I need more to read.

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins -- Miriam lives on a narrow boat, and makes a gruesome discovery at the boat parked next door. (It had stayed two days too long so she had to see what was the matter with this rulebreaker!)  Meanwhile Laura is struggling to fit into life, and is questioned by the police. This book is full of interesting characters. 

Good Apples: Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York by Elizabeth Passarella -- I enjoyed this memoir that I found one day recently when I was looking for good stories to read. The author grew up near Memphis, TN, but ended up going to New York City after college - and married a guy from Manhattan. Pretty interesting! 

The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace -- When Jo Jones inherits an estate in England, she goes to this small village since there is nothing in the US holding her back. Her marriage failed, her job is over, and her mom is dead. Jo discovers a painting hidden behind a dresser, but then it goes missing. And someone is found dead on her property.  A mystery!   Kind of cool that I did a reverse image search - my first one - and the very next day Jo did one, too! 

A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson -- Martha starts suspecting her husband of something and calls an old college friend Lily who helped her get away from a bad relationship years ago. Lily decides to show up at the teachers' conventions where Martha's husband sells his wares when she comes across an acquaintance from the past. 

She Left by Stacie Grey -- Amy walked away from a party, and minutes later the cabin exploded with several of her friends and acquaintances dying. Twenty years later, about ten people associated with those who died are gathered because a journalist wants to revisit the story.  Amy - now known by her middle name Therese - is an FBI agent, and when things get weird at the meeting, she has to investigate!  

June Books

 Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda -- Hazel returns to Mirror Lake for her father's funeral, and is surprised to learn that he left her the house. When two cars are found near her house and brought up from the lake during a time of drought, Hazel is shocked to recognize the second one as the car her mother drove - the one she thought her mom had taken years ago when she left the family.  Pretty good story.

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware -- I've noticed reality TV books have become more of a thing - or maybe it's just the books I've chosen, but in this one Nico talks his scientist girlfriend Lyla into traveling with a reality TV show. Nico hopes this will jumpstart his flailing acting career, and Lyla agrees to go. They end up on some remote island in Indonesia and while the place is beautiful, taping the show is odd. They also have to deal with a terrible storm and the aftermath of that isn't good.

The Widow Spy by Megan Campisi -- A fictional account based on true events. Kate Warne is a spy for Pinkerton detectives, and she's assisting in finding the cipher Rose Greenhow, a Confederate spy, has hidden. Pretty good.

It Had to Be You by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke -- This book revisits Laurie, Jerry, and Grace who, quite frankly, I'd forgotten about, but maybe I read about them before. There were a number of back story references that didn't really ring a bell, but maybe I just forgot those. Laurie looks into the unsolved murder of two wealthy people, a couple, who were murdered ten years before. Their twin sons were under suspicion for their murders, and they want to finally solve this.

A Mother Would Know by Amber Garza -- Valerie's adult son Hudson came to stay with her. She's been forgetting things; he needs a place to live after breaking up with his latest girlfriend. When a local woman is found dead, Valerie wonders if her son had anything to do with her death.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright -- Murders rarely happen in Shepherd, Iowa, however, the two murders on record both happened at the same house on Predicament Avenue. What's up with that? Effie (short for Euphemia) and Norah live in this town, nearly 100 years apart, and both are trying to find out what happened.

The Hunter by Tana French -- DNF ; I collected a fair bunch of names in this small Irish community, but even after 150+ pages, I couldn't get into the story enough to continue this long (over 450 pages) book.  One of the main characters is Trey, (short for Theresa) who is a fifteen year old.

Can't Look Away by Carola Lovering -- Molly and Hunter are trying for a second child which has been harder to conceive. Meanwhile Sabrina is a new person who has come to town, befriending Molly. What does Molly's former boyfriend Jake have to do with any of this?

The Wives by Simone Gorrindo -- An interesting memoir by a lady who grew up in a pacifist household who somehow ended up the wife of a soldier. The author and her husband Andrew are progressives  (she more than he) and atheists (he more than she) from California and later New York City, and end up living for several years in Columbus, Georgia, where they befriend fellow military and their wives. Although she never specifies which Unit her husband is part of, it's more "elite" than just the regular Army.  In this book she tells about their decision to join the military, friends she makes, fights they had about how things were, how Andrew changed, and so forth.

The Last Time She Saw Him by Kate White -- Soon after she sees her ex-fiancé at a friend's gathering, Jamie is found dead. Many are quick to rule it a suicide, but Kiki doesn't believe this and wants answers. Of course, she investigates!

These Tangled Threads by Sarah Loudin Thomas -- This "novel of Biltmore" includes places I've traveled to, but back about 100 years ago when Biltmore Village was a series of shops where you could order material from weavers and toys or frames from woodworkers.  Maybe you can still buy those things there in Asheville, but I usually go to the mountains to visit nature or family, and not so much for shopping so I don't know. But it was interesting reading about the flood since I do know that region is prone to flooding - the Swannanoa, French Broad, they even made a trek to Madison County, NC, looking for the person who designs such wonderful patterns.  That's basically the gist of this book - Lorna and Arthur looking for the mysterious weaver and for the girl, Gentry, who was part of the weaving school several years prior. Sounds rather boring, but it worked okay for the book, I guess!

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera -- Lucy leaves her home in LA to return to her roots in Texas for her grandma's 80th birthday party. Meanwhile she's dealing with the story of her best friend Savvy (short for Savannah) who was killed five years ago. Folks always suspected Lucy did it, but the police were unable to prove it. Now a true-crimes podcaster, Ben, has brought it up again.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin -- This book was OK... seems a variation of many books I've read about Nazis banning and destroying books while librarians worked to save some of those books. This story takes place in Warsaw so it was interesting to read about the German occupation of that city. I took note of Zofia saying she knew her Polish history and the last time her country was occupied, it was for 123 years!  Meanwhile Janina is her best friend, a Jewish lady who is forced to live in the ghetto.

Between Two Trailers by J. Dana Trent -- A memoir of a lady who grew up in Indiana and North Carolina in a family full of drugs, mental illnesses, and interesting characters. The author is now a minister and teaches at a community college in Wake County, NC.

Lethally Blond by Kate White -- Another Bailey Weggins mystery; this time Bailey is asked to help locate a missing actor, the friend of her former love interest, Chris. Bailey makes a gruesome discovery in upstate New York, and tries to find out what happened to Tom.

The Call to Serve: the Life of an American President by Jon Meacham -- Apparently the text of this book is taken from another book this author wrote about George Herbert Walker Bush, but he incorporated those words into this book which is mostly pictures, and, therefore, a pretty fast read for me. The text is interesting and the captions as well.  Really enjoyed this book I found at the library last week. 

Stuff I shared in a private group about this book:

I was at the library with Andrew recently, and saw this book about the life of George HW Bush which was full of big pictures and some text. I decided to check it out, and this morning I read through about half of it. Since a lot of it is pictures, you can make good progress. 

Anyway, his family often called him Poppy, he even signed letters home from the military this way, and Barbara referred to him as Poppy in a letter shared in the book.

He had one older brother who was named for their father, Prescott, so George was named for his mom's father who was named George Herbert Walker. (She was Dorothy Walker.)

George the grandpa was known as Pop, so George Herbert Walker Bush (the future 41st president) was nicknamed Poppy or Little Pop.

I read the letter he wrote home to his parents when he had to parachute out of the plane he was flying in World War II, and it was fascinating. Sadly, the two men with him died, and their deaths stayed with him throughout his life. He floated in his raft for over 3 hours until a submarine picked him up. It was cool reading the caption about that. A seaman swam out to get him, and they took him on board. He was a bit bored on the sub so he took over the job of censoring the letters servicemen wrote. The book noted that Bush had a privileged life, and reading these letters gave him a perspective of "ordinary" people.

Interesting to me, too, is that the navy sent him to Chapel Hill, NC, for part of his training. I think it was the course to become a pilot.

I shed a tear or two when I read about his daughter Robin's months-long battle with leukemia. I think she survived 8 or 10 months after the diagnosis; she was three and their second child (first was Bush 43 who said he believes he developed his wittiness and penchant for trying to lighten up heavy moments at that time in order to cheer up his mom during those dark times.) They said the physician was usually upbeat, but she was misty-eyed when she gave the family the diagnosis in Texas. Robin was sent to the north for treatment, but it didn't work. I doubt they had as good treatments then as they do now.

By the way, Robin was named for Barbara Bush's mom Pauline Robinson Pierce.

An Appalachian Summer by Ann H. Gabhart -- When Piper learns about the frontier nursing service in the mountains of Kentucky, she decides to spend her summer as a courier to the nurses who treat folks living in Appalachia. This, instead of attending parties, dances, teas, and dates during her debut season. Meanwhile will Braxton Crandall wait for her return? And what about her buddy Jamie? 

One Way Back by Christine Blasey Ford -- A look at the woman who came forward to share her experience with a Supreme Court nominee who is now a justice. A quick read. 

A Very Inconvenient Scandal by Jacquelyn Mitchard -- Frankie returns home to Cape Cod thinking there is a family emergency only to find the reason she was summoned is that her father is getting married again... in like a few days. Frankie's mom died suddenly several months back, and Mack just can't live without an adoring woman except this time, it's someone that makes Frankie cringe. This book was possibly better than ^ that sounded. I like reading about Frankie's job as a photographer - one who seeks to take pictures of aquatic life. So cool! 

May Books

 

After Annie by Anna Quindlen -- A young family and woman struggle with the sudden death of their wife and mother and best friend. Told mostly through the eyes of Ali, the first born who is thirteen when her mom dies; Bill, Annie's husband, and Annemarie, the BFF whom Annie saved, and who needs saving still. 

The Wild Side by Fern Michaels -- This book was a little too perfect for the main character, Melanie, but it was a cute read as she is a pretty neat lady. After her time with the Office of Special Investigations, Melanie goes back to school in order to become a school guidance counselor. Pretty cute.

The Exvangelicals by Sarah McCammon -- "Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church"; I am familiar with this author from hearing her reports on NPR, and when I saw that she grew up in a conservative evangelical household, I decided to read this library book. I could relate to many things she said: the songs she heard growing up, the teachings, so many things. I couldn't relate to the leaving part exactly though I understand why she did. I could very much relate to chapter 7 about whose character matters.  Towards the end of the book, she mentions Rachel Held Evans and I found it interesting that I was reading about Rachel on the 5 year anniversary of her death (May 4) - which Facebook posts reminded me of.  I used to enjoy Rachel's books, and was saddened by her sudden death when she was 37.

The Coworker by Freida McFadden -- Natalie and Dawn have cubicles nearby at work. While Dawn seeks to befriend Natalie, it seems Natalie is intent on bullying Dawn for her oddities. This book follows a series of emails from Dawn to her best friend Mia, as well as Natalie in present time seeking to find Dawn when she doesn't show up for work. Pretty good story.

Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki -- A pretty interesting way to learn more about this woman who challenged the status quo and made an impact on women's rights, among other things.

The Mystery Writer by Sulair Gentill -- Gus and Theo are Australian-raised siblings living in Kansas of all places. Theo (short for Theodosia) quit law school in order to write novels, and meets a famous author at a local coffee shop. When something happens to her friend, she strives to find justice. An OK book.

The Child by Fiona Barton -- When a newborn's skeleton is found during a construction project, reporter Kate Waters decides to investigate. Meanwhile Emma and Angela are convinced that it was her child who was found. Pretty good.

'Til Death Do Us Part by Kate White -- Bailey Weggins writes true crime stories for a magazine so when an acquaintance calls with her fear of possibly being targeted, Bailey agrees to look into the cases of two bridesmaids' mysterious deaths. Another in this series that I decided to read because, why not?

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner -- I haven't read anything from this author in awhile, but recognize Frankie whose speciality is finding missing people especially the cold cases. When Frankie is contacted by the Beautiful Butcher, a death row inmate, she finds herself on a private island near Hawaii looking for a woman who disappeared when she was five years old. Frankie is getting used to camp life on this atoll filled with crabs and an interesting bunch of people when she learns the death row inmate has now escaped, and Frankie feels she's on her way to rescue her sister for herself.

The Lost Book of Bonn by Brianna Labuskes -- This book followed the stories of Annelise and Christina, sisters on opposite sides of the Hitler Youth movement - for awhile at least, and a few years later when Emmy, an American librarian travels to Germany to sort books stolen by the Nazis. This book was just OK.

Even though the storylines in this book weren't the most interesting to me, I did enjoy an exchange on page 99 when Eitan, a Jewish friend, explained to Annelise why he liked poetry best. Besides enjoying the way "poets play with language," he said "most of all I like that it's how we used to tell stories. ... In ancient times, ... most people couldn't read or write, ... instead, stories were mostly spoken so the words had to flow and rhyme and repeat to make them easier to remember. ... For the longest time, poems are how we told the story of humanity."   Annelise realized this was "like songs" and why she could remember those better than anything else she tried to memorize. This helped me understand why the Psalms (poems I actually like) repeat things so often.

Another interesting exchange started on page 191 where Lucy, a Jewish lady, told Emmy how "We're very big on forgiveness, ... But only if it's earned. Teshuva is the process of repenting for the hurt you caused someone else. If you're sincere, the injured party can forgive you, which brings both people closer to God's divinity."

The Foxhole Victory Tour by Amy Lynn Green -- Maggie and Catherine are among a handful of performers chosen to travel with the USO in order to spread some cheer to American troops fighting the evil Germans. First stop: North Africa. Really enjoyed these characters and this story. 

The Inmate by Freida McFadden -- Brooke returns to her hometown and takes a job as a nurse practitioner at the prison where her first boyfriend was incarcerated after her testimony put him behind bars. Awkward. Meanwhile her son attends school where her best friend Tim is the assistant principal. Pretty good.

A Deadly Thaw by Sarah Ward -- Second in the DC Childs series; I read the first book, but the library didn't have any others. I put them on my Amazon Wishlist and got three more for my birthday. In this book, a body is found of someone who recently died only he was identified by his wife in a murder over a decade ago. Why did she lie about the identity of her husband back then? Who is the guy who was killed earlier? Now Lena is missing, and her sister Kat is trying to figure out what's going on. The police are, too.

A Patient Fury by Sarah Ward -- Another DC Childs book. In this one Julia and George's father, stepmother and young half-brother are murdered one night. The police mostly decide it was a murder-suicide while DC Connie Childs wants to pursue another possibility which gets her in trouble with her boss. Interesting tale!

The Shrouded Path by Sarah Ward -- The final DC Childs book that I have; maybe the last in the series...I don't know. The police are investigating a couple of unattended deaths that could be suspicious. They aren't sure. But then an elderly lady dies in the hospital rather abruptly which gets the detectives looking for connections. Mina is wondering why her mother was agitated before her death, and why she talked about seeing Valerie and the Cutting. 

A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena -- Tom comes home one night to find his wife missing. Later he finds out she's been in an accident; she'll be OK, but her memory has failed for now. Meanwhile a detective investigates a murder that took place and comes calling on Karen to see if she knows anything. Pretty good. 

The Split by Kit Frick -- On a stormy night in Connecticut, Jane takes a phone call from her younger sister Esme about Jane picking up Esme in New York City. Jane has trauma from an accident she drove through as a teen so she hesitates. One chapter deals with Jane having picked up her often troubled sister, and another deals with her not having gone that night, but having Esme missing. Each chapter delves into Gone or Home scenarios. Pretty good if you like this sort of thing. 

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering -- Cassie is a new mom, an influencer on Instagram, and Billie misses her best friend! During a birthday party, Billie ends up with Cassie's little girl, and well, this was pretty good if you enjoy these types of books.

The Favorite Daughter by Kaira Rouda -- Jane is a mother coming out of her "complicated grief" after the supposed accidental death of her older daughter Mary. As the family marks one year since her death plus the upcoming high school graduation of Betsey, the other daughter, Jane has plans. Plans for how to handle the affair she knows her husband is having, and later plans to deal with Betsey's hidden (until now) relationship with a tutor. What a lady! 

Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America by Heather Cox Richardson -- I occasionally read her posts on Facebook, and when I saw this book in the new section of the library, I decided to read it. Also I remember Suzanne having read it last year. Thought-provoking and interesting.

Over Her Dead Body by Kate White -- Another in the Bailey Weggins series. Bailey goes to work for a new magazine, and pretty soon is investigating the murder of her boss, Mona.  Nice to read in between sessions with the book just above by HCR.

Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse -- I feel there was another book or two about this family that would tell me more about things alluded to in this book. Callie and Emmy are sisters in a large family. While Emmy is eager to marry and set up a house, Callie is content climbing trees and visiting the creek. Decent book. Had a few sweet moments towards the end re: Decoration Day* and sibling death. I liked the epitaph parents placed on the stone of their child:

 

 "Dear, you are not dead to us, 

but an affectionate one unseen." 

* Two days from now (Sunday, June 2) at cemetery in Spring Creek so interesting timing.

Itchy Boots Season 7 ENDS: Central African Republic to the Netherlands

 

When I posted about Itchy Boots' adventures in early February, she was in the Central African Republic. Since then she made her way across several other countries, and finally concluded her ride, but not in the way anyone hoped.  Here is the final post about her trip.

February 5, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 15, 28

We watched episodes 79-86 which were in the Central African Republic, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and Angola

While crossing a river in the dark, Alaska fell in the water. A mechanic took 3 or 4 hours to fix it in the dark. (ep. 80)

Interesting to see Noraly wait over an hour for gas and for her to ride on the nice Chinese-built road (ep. 81).  In order to avoid the Democratic Republic of Congo, Noraly sailed around it into Angola which was very nice and had cheap gas.  In Angola, her motorcycle got a nice service.  Noraly enjoyed how the locals called her amiga, but felt old when the kids called her tia even though she said she was an "auntie." (ep. 84). Angola is a lovely country with a huge waterfall especially in this rainy season, and a rushing river.

March 3, 6, 10, 13, 18, 20, 24, 27, 31

We watched episodes 87-95 which were in Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia (airport and hotel only), and Madagascar

Noraly was frightened to be caught in a thunderstorm with lots of lightning, but in the next episode she continued on to the border with Zambia crossing some sketchy wooden bridges. We laughed at pigs enjoying the mud puddles in the middle of the road. She also rode through thick sand before reaching the border (ep. 88).

I enjoyed the nice people in Lusaka (ep. 90) and the wild animals on the safari in Zambia (ep. 91). Noraly decided to fly to Madagascar where she rented a KTM Enduro bike in order to explore some of the paths. She also took along a guide, Didier, for most of this visit. There were many rough roads, but the scenery was pretty. She mentioned being there during hurricane or cyclone season.  

April 3, 7, 10, 17, 21, 27, 28

We watched episodes 96-103 which were in Madagascar

During a nighttime forest walk, we saw some lemurs and giant snails. (ep. 96). Noraly's Enduro bike did well in the sand, but her guide had a Chinese bike which made the trails tough, and he ended up falling quite a bit.  (I read a comment that he was given that bike because all of the other Enduro bikes were rented for an event taking place around this time.)  I enjoyed the children Noraly saw around episode 100, and absolutely loved her time with the fishermen and videoing them underwater (ep. 101).  In episode 102, Noraly traded bikes to a vintage African Twin due to her being more on tarmac as she rode towards the capital. Also, she said goodbye to Didier who guided her throughout her Madagascar adventure near the western areas.

May 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22

We watched episodes 104-110 which were in Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, and the Netherlands

Noraly declared Madagascar to be one of her top 5 countries after having visited over 100. She ended her time there with food poisoning that left her racing for her destination in order to leave the country. Back in Malawi, she was reunited with her bike, Alaska, and we saw beautiful views and a huge lake. She was also able to meet up with her best friend Mandy who was visiting Malawi at the time. Unfortunately Noraly left her rain jacket at the last place she stayed, and because the roads were tricky, she decided to not go back for it. One day she saw local college students out fixing the road (ep. 108). 

 

Unfortunately in Tanzania, something happened that caused her trip to end abruptly. She was going to tour Tanzania and end her journey in Kenya, but things didn't go as planned (episode 109.)  In the final episode she told everyone about her rescue, leaving Tanzania, and her surgery and recovery prospects. The surgeon punctured her lung during surgery and they didn't realize it so she's also dealing with a collapsed lung.  Note to self: the x-ray in Tanzania indicated that her crash was on April 17th. Based on other things she said, I think her surgery was in early May.  It was rather emotional seeing Alaska loaded up. Noraly has already said she is getting a new bike for her next adventure. Alaska carried her through many states, provinces, and countries. 

 

 

I really enjoyed her time in Africa, and look forward to seeing where she goes next!  I hope she rests this summer and heals, and we'll see her on YouTube again in coming months.

April Books

 

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin -- Three generations of women, Junietta, Sylvia, and Adelaide, live together during the Gilded Age, and the older two are trying to influence the youngest. Does she want to marry to save her family home, or should she look to do whatever makes her fulfilled?

My Name Was Eden by Eleanor Barker-White -- After a drowning incident, Lucy is relieved when her daughter Eden coughs up the water and lives. However her personality is totally different and Eden now declares that she is Eli, the name Lucy gave the twin she carried for a short time during her pregnancy.

The Silence in Her Eyes by Armando Lucas Correa -- Leah has lived with motion blindness since an accident when she was eight. Now at 28, her sharpened senses of smell and hearing have her befriending her new neighbor, Alice, and attempting to save Alice from her abusive husband.

Family Family by Laurie Frankel -- Alternating between now and when India was in high school and college, this story explores what makes a family. Fig and Jack are twins, and Fig has a secret: she's met (online) a child her mom placed for adoption when she was 16. Rebecca now goes by Bex, and she does something to "out" her biological mom.

Note: I have seen Bex in several books lately. Usually books located in the UK, but this one is in the US. Still, it's worth noting as a thing.  The Eden book above also had a Bex.

The Truth About the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline -- TJ is the black sheep of the Devlin family, but he has a good heart, and wants to solve the mystery his older brother John brought him into. Things turn weirder when John starts accusing TJ of relapsing and committing a crime. 

End of Story by A.J. Finn -- I read a bit over a fourth of this 400+ page book, and decided it wasn't good enough to keep reading.  DNF

Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf -- Five contestants gather at an estate for a new reality TV show that promises ten million dollars to the winner! Although the contests are grueling and bordering unethical, Maire, Camille, and the three guys duel it out as the assistant/host Fern encourages them on. Pretty good.

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan -- When Germans bomb London and the library is destroyed, Juliet, the deputy librarian in Bethnal Green, and her friends Sofie and Katie among others decide to move books to the underground where folks sheltering from bombs can enjoy the stories. Pretty good.

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris -- Grace is the main caretaker for her sister Millie who was born with Down's Syndrome. Grace would like a husband and family, but knowing that she is the one who will care for Millie, often has boyfriends scrambling when they find out. Enter Jack Angel...who not only loves Grace, but adores Millie, and wants to take care of them both. After a whirlwind engagement and marriage, Grace is stunned to discover Jack missing on the night of their wedding. Where has he gone? And what will it be like to be married to Jack?

Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French -- Three incidents - two of them over thirty years prior - and one recent murder. Are they somehow connected to the disappearance of Charlotte Salter the evening of her husband's fiftieth birthday party? When Morgan decides to do a podcast about the events - and gets his brother Greg to give his side of the story, the police reluctantly decide to take a closer look.

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf -- Wylie is in Iowa renting a house and writing a true crime story about an event that took place decades before. Josie lost both her parents on the same night that her best friend Becky and her brother Ethan went missing. No one was ever arrested for this crime. Meanwhile a little girl lives with her mother in a basement. Her father sometimes brings her treats and food, and sometimes he doesn't.

The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen -- Lindsey has always been the smart twin who worked hard to make it to the top whereas her sister Alex seemed to have it made easily because of her stunning looks. When Lindsey moves back to Maryland due to a major job fiasco in New York, she and Alex have more time together than they have in years. A pretty good story.

Never Lie by Freida McFadden -- Tricia and Ethan are on the way to a remote area to look at a house that's for sale. Unfortunately a blizzard means they are stuck at this house, but thankfully they are able to get inside and spend the night there. They realize they are in the house of a therapist, Adrienne, who went missing three years ago and presumably killed by her boyfriend. A pretty good thriller/mystery type.

Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher -- Iris is a teenager when her twin Piper is taken by some men. The police wonder if it's truly a kidnapping or if Piper just ran away. This is told in the timelines of Iris then - as a teen begging for help in finding her sister - and today as she gets a job helping those deemed incompetent to stand trial. She wants to get close to someone she believes is connected to her sister's disappearance. 

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay -- Years ago Ella was the only survivor of a stabbing spree where she worked at Blockbuster. Now that a similar crime has occurred, she's been summoned to talk with Jesse, the only survivor who has been hospitalized. Sarah Keller is an FBI agent called in to help (because the local police needs the feds' resources), and Chris is a public defender with ties to the past case. Pretty good. 

Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen -- After Maple's husband dies in the war, she turns her hobby of making doll houses into a business in order to support herself. She has always had perfect recall for details, and after witnessing a disturbing scene, she recreates it in order to solve a possible murder.

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray -- An interesting book about an impressive lady, Frances Perkins (sometimes Wilson), who served in FDR's cabinet among many things.

If Looks Could Kill by Kate White -- Since I read several of her books already, I decided to read the first of the Bailey Weggins Mystery series. In this story, Bailey is helping her friend Cat solve the mystery of the nanny who winds up dead in Cat's house. 

The Dilemma by B. A. Paris -- This alternates between Adam and Livia on the day of Livia's fortieth birthday party, something she's been saving for and planning since the couple was young and needy.  Fast read

She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica -- Meghan is a critical care nurse charged with caring for a young woman brought in as having attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge. Later a witness comes forth claiming someone else was on the bridge with Caitlin and it might be more than meets the eye. Meanwhile Meghan is trying to raise her 16 year old daughter mostly by herself since she and her husband divorced recently. Also she's trying to help a high school friend, Natalie, who recently came back into her life.  Pretty interesting story.

Watch Where They Hide by Tamron Hall -- This is the second book in the Jordan Manning series. Jordan is called by a distraught woman who claims her sister disappeared, but she's getting little help from authorities. As an investigative reporter, Jordan is asked to help. This book was OK.

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay -- Jenna, Donnie, and NIco were best friends at a group home, and years later weird things happen that reunite these friends in order to solve a mystery. Pretty good.

A Body to Die For by Kate White -- Second in the Bailey Weggins series... Bailey is looking forward to her weekend getaway to her mom's college friend's spa, but when one of the massage therapists ends up dead, Bailey gets involved with trying to figure out what happened.