February Books

 Whispers at Painswick Court by Julie Klassen -- Anne is a surgeon's daughter who is hired as a nurse for Lady Celia. There she meets with friends from her youth and such. 

My Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner -- A good story about Mimi who was on her way home when her baby daughter was stolen at a Philadelphia airport. The book follows Kit and Sabrina's stories along with perspectives from Sally and Mimi. I enjoyed Kit's travel to Japan to find out more about her origins, as well as Sabrina's perspective as the daughter of a single mother from China. 

Brush of Wings by Karen Kingsbury -- Final book in the Angels Walking series; It features all the characters from the first two books. Mary Catherine is headed to Uganda despite her health while Marcus wants her to marry him when she gets home. Meanwhile Lexy is struggling with her need to fit in the neighborhood gang. 

The Bridesmaid by Cate Quinn -- Holly is a forensic scientist called to the site of a wedding where she has to figure out who killed a bridesmaid. Meanwhile Adrianna is determined that her wedding will go forward as planned. 

The Orphanage by the Lake by Daniel G. Miller -- I enjoyed this mystery featuring 30 year old Korean-American, Hazel, who lives in New York City with her childhood friend-turned-roommate Kenny. Hazel is a private investigator hired by Madeline to find out what happened to her goddaughter Mia who disappeared from a children's home by Lake George. 

The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter -- Shelby is stunned when she finds out at her grandma's will reading that she left just under half the shop to her former boyfriend Gray. Is Gram trying to reconcile them from the grave? 

Matchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Coryell -- I wasn't sure about this book when I plucked it off the New Books shelf at the library, but I enjoyed it! Lexie wanted to be a therapist, but time and money held her back. Instead she started working for a startup company focusing on bringing folks together for love. Her boss put her in charge of an interesting group: those whose scores deemed them as psychopaths...wow.  

A Murder in Paris by Matthew Blake -- Olivia is a memory expert in London who travels to Paris when her Gran has some issues with dementia and confesses to a murder after the last world war. Pretty good story. 

That's Not How It Happened by Craig Thomas -- Imagine writing a memoir about your life as a mom to a son with Down's syndrome, and that book being made into a movie. That's what this book is about, and it features the perspectives of Paige, the mom; Rob, her screenwriter husband; and her children Emmett and Darcy. I don't often find myself chuckling out loud while reading, but there were a few places in this book where I did find myself laughing. It has a lot of language (I don't care for that), but overall the book is good and different.

Blade by Wendy Walker -- I found this a fitting book to read just after I watched quite a bit of figure skating at the Winter Olympics taking place in Milano Cortina. Ana is now a lawyer who specializes in defending children accused of committing crimes. When she's called to help Grace at a skate-training facility in Colorado, it brings back memories of when she was thirteen and dropped off there to live as one of the Orphans. This book alternates between the present day and her time there. 

High Season by Katie Bishop -- When Nina was five she witnessed something that made a former babysitter go to prison for ten years. Twenty years have passed, and Nina is questioning her memories. Was Josie wrongly accused of killing Nina's older sister, Tamara, during that long-ago summer in France? 

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage -- Lexi's life changed drastically when her father and brother were killed on a skiing trip. Suddenly her life in Tasmania - where she was halfway through a residency as a medical doctor - is no more. She is needed back in England where she has to decide whether or not to become the next in line to the throne! 

HBD, DBFIII! I<3U! 

January Books

 The Mad Wife by Meagan Church -- Lulu is a 1950s housewife living the best life - or trying to. But the pressures of life get to be too much after the birth of her second child, Esther. When her husband tries to help, well...what do men know about the pressures of the stay-at-home mom? 

The Intruder by Freida McFadden -- Casey is hunkering down in her remote cabin in the woods when she thinks she sees a face outside. Later she finds a young teenager, Eleanor, who seems to be on the run. Alternating between Casey now, and Ella "then," this was a fast read on this pretty day in early January. 

The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker -- A virus that puts its victims into a deep sleep runs through a small California town. This book explores how it affects certain people. I thought for sure this was written post-covid 19 pandemic, but it was published in 2019.

The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf -- Jamie returns to Nightjar, Wyoming, as an ATF agent and is called to a ranch after a gender-reveal party ends in disaster. Meanwhile the hosts Madeline and Wes are questioned about why someone would want them or one of their guests dead. Pretty good. 

Heart.Life.Music by Kenny Chesney -- I saw this in the new books section when I was looking for other books, and thought I'd give this memoir a read. I didn't realize he was from the Smoky Mountains (near Knoxville, TN). 

Hell by Eitan Bar -- "Uncover the true meaning of 'hell' by studying it in its original context!" This book is written by a Jewish Israeli who believes in Jesus as his Messiah. He explains how people back in the day would have understood phrases and words that we've made into this doctrine of hellfire, especially the one with eternal conscious torment. I got this book for Christmas after my friend Marcus told me he was listening to it. I've discussed it a bit with him. 

No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall -- Years after their parents were killed, sisters Juliette, Emma, and Daphne are still estranged, but when Emma and her husband return to the old home place, the sisters see each other again. Emma is still under a cloud of suspicion which makes Nathan wonder about this woman he married...naturally. 

Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury -- Recently my mom was cleaning her closet and returned several books that she said I'd given her to read a few years ago. There were a few I didn't recognize as having read so before I give them away, I decided to read them. I used to read a lot of this author's books, but hadn't in several years. This is part of the Angels Walking Series. Tyler skipped college in order to play baseball professionally, but a shoulder injury leaves him in dire straits. His former girlfriend Sami, meanwhile, is living a good life in California. A sweet, clean, predictable book, with a good reminder about God's grace. 

The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell -- If you enjoy time travel and magical hotels, this book might be a good read for you. Eve discovers these magical keys that allow her to travel back a few decades. Not my favorite type of book. 

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf -- Allison is released from prison early due to good behavior, but getting back into the world is tough. She really wants to reconnect with her little sister Brynn. Meanwhile Charm is taking care of her stepfather Gus, and they remember the little boy they saved years ago. 

My Sister's Daughter by Liv Constantine -- This and the next one are thriller novellas, part of the same book (222 pages total.)  When Ashley's sister is killed in an accident, she takes her daughter into her household. Strange things start happening. Is Serena causing this or is her daughter Luna acting out of jealousy? 

Silent Echo by Liv Constantine -- When Charlotte's little boy is part of a tragic school accident, she can hardly cope. Several months later she sees a photo online and is convinced Sebastion is still alive, but in another state! 

Chasing Sunsets by Karen Kingsbury -- This is part of the Angels Walking Series mentioned above. It's a pretty easy read during these weird days of Andrew's mom being under hospice care and spending time with his family and some friends dropping by. I've read bits of it most days recently. Mary Catherine and Marcus were in book one of this series though the focus was on their friends Sami and Tyler in book one. Well, this story focuses on them...surprise, surprise.