WHAT ARE WE READING AND REVIEWING IN MARCH- 2024?

Tell Us What You Plan To Read in March.

Carol's Reads for March
🍀 - ★
Carol's March Reads
52/52
🍀The Book of Accidents - Chuck Wendig - 5★ (Friend)
🍀The Malta Exchange - Steve Berry- 3★ (Group read) (2)
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🍀Square One- L. A. Witt - 2.75★
🍀It Was Always You- L.A. Witt - 2.5★
🍀The Closer You Get - L.A. Witt - 5★
🍀The Walls of Troy - L. A. Witt -4.5★
🍀A Single Soul - L.A. Witt -5★
🍀Seth - Carly Marie -5★
🍀Close To Home - Carly Marie -5★
🍀The Other Side of Here - E.M. Lindsay - 4★
🍀Accidental Master - M A Innes - 4.5★
🍀Master By Choice - M A Innes - 4.5★
🍀Master By Fate - M A Innes - 4.5★
🍀Cuddle Bug - Aster Rae - 3★
🍀A Beauty For Kinkmas - R. A. Frick- 3★
🍀All My Mother's Lovers - Ilana Masad - 2★
🍀Kel's Keeper - K.C. Wells - 4.5★
🍀My Only Wish - Leigh Lennon - 4★
🍀Face The Music - K.M. Neuhold - 4.5★
🍀Enemies With Benefits - N R Walker - 2.5★
🍀Chase Me Home - Tatum West - 4.5★
🍀Unconventional - M A Innes - 4.5★
🍀Untouched - M A Innes - 4.5★
🍀A Fighting Chance - Tatum West - 5★
🍀Noble & Strong - Tatum West - 4★
🍀Truth & Betrayal - K.C. Wells - 4★
🍀Pride & Protection - K. C. Wells - 5★
🍀The Nothing Collection - Jay Northcote - 4.5★
🍀The Nothing Collection #2 -Jay Northcote - 4.5★
🍀The Nothing Collection #3 - Jay Northcote - 4.5★
🍀From The Ashes - K.M. Neuhold - 5★
🍀Already Home (Finding Home) - Carly Marie - 5★
🍀Home For Christmas - Carly Marie - 5★
🍀Daddy's Little Christmas- Della Cain - 5★
🍀Meet Me In The Middle -L.A. Witt - 4.5★ (33)
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🍀Stalking Ground - Margaret Mizushima - 4★
🍀The Curse of Penryth Hall- Jess Armstrong - 5★
🍀Murder by Degrees - Ritu Mukerji -5★
🍀The Wedding Plot - Paula Munier - 3★
🍀The Manor House - Gilly McMillan - 5★
🍀The Keeper of Hidden Books - Madeline Martin -5★
🍀The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires - Grady Hendrix - 5★
🍀Dead Silence - S.A. Barnes - 4.5★
🍀Hide - Kiersten White - 4★
🍀Missing in Michigan- April Taylor - 5★
🍀Bad Luck and Trouble - Lee Child - 5★
🍀The Silent Bride - Shalini Boland - 5★
🍀Kitty Confidential - Molly Fitz - 5★
🍀Sundial - Catriona Ward - 5★
🍀Just Like Mother - Anne Holtzer- 2★
🍀Murder Past Due - Miranda James - 4★ (16)

The Closer You Get- L A Witt - (Washington)
Wildes Series Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Everyone thought Alex was the quiet shy guy that had never had a boyfriend... but he’s just perfect for Kiernan who we had met in the first three books in the Wildes series. Kiernan isn’t used to dating guys that he would be a "first" for...but there is just something about the shy Alex that calls to his heart. Being an experienced guy, he knows he could give this guy everything, including his heart...and that worries him a little...well actually A LOT. But the more he gets to know Alex the more he really likes him. The question now is, is he really ready to settle down from his one night...love 'em and leave 'em ways? If anyone could do it for him, he was sure it would be Alex. Kiernan needs to decide what he wants to do before he ends up losing Alex by doing something stupid that he will regret. I really liked Kiernan, but he won't be everyone’s "cup of tea". Most of the story had Kiernan trying to figure out how in the world he was going to deal with Alex? Would Alex want to stay with him or explore on his own? Would whatever decision he made help or hurt Alex, and would it break his own heart? The Wilde’s series has been a lot of fun so far. Nice to see new faces and characters but keep encountering the old favorites from the other books. Even when their lives are turning upside down, L A Witt allows them to manage to pull together and make it work.

Classified As Murder– Miranda James
3***

Book two in the Cat In The Stacks mystery series featuring librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine coon cat, Diesel.

James Delacorte is an aging, eccentric millionaire, who frequents the library where Charlie volunteers. He asks for a private meeting, and lets Charlie know that he had a collection of rare books he would like catalogued. In fact, he suspects someone is stealing from the collection. Within hours of beginning the inventory, however, Mr Delacorte is dead, and someone in the household must have done it.

I like Charlie and we learn more about his background in this installment. His son, Sean, arrives unannounced, but makes himself quite useful in the investigation. And, of course, Diesel is always present.

The mystery is satisfyingly concluded, though I guessed the culprit fairly early. Still, I enjoyed watching the characters figure it out. And, I love all the literary references.

The Accidental Master - M A Innes
Genera: M/M/M Romance/ Puppy Play
The Acciedental Master Series - Book #1
Narrator: Kenneth Obi
4.5★
A misplaced ad on Facebook for Puppy Training, made for a delightful story of a man who does not know that he is even looking for something but finding it anyway. The witty dialogue and the differences between Cooper and Sawyer’s personalities and how Jackson deals with each is absolutely priceless. I love how Kenneth Obi, the narrator, made the guys come to life.


Master By Choice - M A Innes
Genera: M/M/M Romance/Puppy Play
The Accidental Master Series - Book #2
Narrator: Kenneth Obi
4.5★
No one writes puppy play like M.A. Innes. Her wonderful characters come to life and in this second book, we get to see Sawyer putting more trust in letting his master see his puppy. To him that was such a big deal, but it was handled beautifully. The love and the trust were so apparent and made the story a joy to read. Cooper, Sawyer and Jackson really are fully well-developed characters, and the story is erotic, very loving, and so very well presented.


Master By Fate - M A Innes
Genera: M/M /M Romance/Puppy Play
The Accidental Master Series - Book #3
Narrator: Kenneth Obi
4.5★
The trio continues growing in their relationship and we see how far they’ve come and where they're all heading. The conclusion to this story was sweet with plenty of fun and lots of heat. Again, Kenneth Obi was the perfect narrator. He brought into life each of the characters perfectly and vividly to the listener. He made this a really great listen.

A Beauty For Kinkmas - R. A. Frick - (California)
Part of The Naughty or Nice Series - Season 3
Genera: M/M Romance/Daddy Little Age Play
3★
A Beauty For Kinkmas is a cross-over between the Naughty or Nice Christmas "Little/Daddy letters of the Cuff'd series and R.A. Frick's X Club series. This can easily be read as a standalone. if you have read any of the X Club books or the Naughty or Nice series you may see some familiar faces, which I always like. Lance is reunited with Danny after Lance has "reinvented" himself in San Francisco after a devastating fire. Danny had been Lance's high school coach and his big crush. This holiday story unfolds with Danny earning Lance's trust and Lance overcoming obstacles to place his trust in the "Daddy" he's always wanted. It's a short but beautiful story.

Cuddle Bug - Aster Rae - (California)
Genera - M/M Romance/Age Play
3★
This is a story about a lifestyle that most folks have never heard of and few, except those that are in that particular lifestyle, understand. To each his own...whatever makes then happy is okay with me. This is a relationship that always needs to be built on a lot of trust between the two players...a "daddy" and his "boy". These stories nearly always have little confrontation and always have a happy ending. There were parts of this story that were way to long... like the amount of time that Waxley and Wren spent in the Hug Club. It's mostly a story about the acceptance of difficult issues and these two main characters had some tough ones. Waxley had a chronic illness that caused him to sometimes pass out...that was how he and Wren met. Waxley trusted Wren enough to tell him ways to help. Being "Little " was one of the ways that helped when these spells happened. Wren's previous "boy" had just cheated on him and left him because of Wren's body structure...but how Wren's body looked didn't both Waxley in the least. Waxley also had obligations in his life that his illness made difficult to fulfil, but Wren helped him form a plan that worked. This is just a sweet story where you can root for the two of them to have a happy life...together.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Gabriel García Márquez
4/5 stars
This is the story of a young woman, Angela Vicario who married but than was returned to her family because her new husband thought that she slept with another man. Her brothers want to kill the new husband for her dishonor. 27 years later, a man returns to look into the incident. Who is to blame? 1981

How Moon Fuentez Fell In Love With the Universe – Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
3***

From the book jacket: When her twin reached social media stardom, Moon Fuentez accepted her fate as the ugly, unwanted sister hidden in the background, destined to be nothing more than her sister’s camerawoman. But this summer, Moon also takes a job as the merch girl on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers, and her fate begins to shift in the best way possible.

My reactions:
This is a pretty typical enemies-to-friends-to-lovers scenario. It’s also a YA coming-of-age book that deals with bullying, body-image, and self-confidence. Moon and Star’s Mom is a religious fanatic who has always favored Star, the fair-skinned, blonde “good girl.” It takes a group of strangers, and one in particular, to get Moon to recognize her own gifts and talents, and to help her find her own path to success.

The up-and-down, on-and-off romance drove me a little crazy, but it’s part of the package for this genre. Although the sex scene was still unrealistic, I’m at least glad that Gilliland chose to have them get to know one another over several months before they acted on the attraction.

As for Star … I’m not sure I would have forgiven my sibling so easily for behaving the way she did.

Square One - L. A. Witt
Genera: M/M Romance/Bi-Sexual
2.75★
I have never been even slightly disappointed with anything that L. A. Witt has written...until now. I really, really, really disliked the characters.... all of them. Holden is a selfish absentee dad, and his ex-wife is nothing to "write home to mother about" either... but at least she was somewhat sympathetic. Hello, lady...you knew that your husband was bisexual all along when you married him. Did you think he was going to have transplant of some kind??? Porter was the best of the characters. He was understanding and a perfect "Manny", and just judging by the picture on the cover he was a "hottie". It didn't take long for me to lose all sympathy for Holden as he turns out early in the story to be a total jerk. Overall, it was a very disappointing effort from an author that I truly, truly love...but hey, everyone is entitled to at least one bad day...right?

EWB Enemies With Benefits - N.R. Walker - (Australia)
Narrator: Glen Lloyd
Genera: M/M Romance
2.5★
The premise of this book is really over the top.... but somewhere in the world I'm sure there are people that share Valentine Tye's kink. It seems that he needs to have someone who really and truly hates him, someone that will verbally abuse him during sex. He tells Marshall that he’s tried BDSM clubs, but they didn’t work for him because the person didn’t really hate him. Several therapists that he's seen have told him that as long as he’s safe, and it's consensual that its fine. I think their licenses must have come straight from a Cracker Jack Box. The reason that Marshall Wise hated him to start with really had nothing to do with either of them, but with their fathers. So, another thing that made no real sense. Into about a fourth of the story, Marshall’s hate starts to change and then the story actually becomes fairly sweet with a lot of real love happening between Marshall and Valentine. The story was WAY too long and really the best part was the last 15 minutes that the guys told everyone that they were a couple and Valentine told his father what he could do with his demands and his company. Glen Loyd did an excellent job with the narration. This story isn't in any way typical of the author's writing. Seems that this is the month that all my favorite authors have decided to try something new and not necessarily make anything better...but I still love them:)

Little Fires Everywhere / Celeste Ng
3.75 stars

Reread. Originally read as an audio in July 2022 (Rating at that time: 3.25 stars).

Photographer Mia and her teenage daughter, Pearl, move around a lot. Now, they have rented the upstairs of a house from the wealthy Richardson family. The Richardsons have four teenage children. Pearl and Moody become good friends, and Pearl spends a lot of time at the Richardson’s place. Meantime the youngest Richardson, Izzy, seemingly not well-liked by her parents or siblings, takes a liking to Mia and wants to learn about photography from her. Things become heated between the families when a friend of Elena Richardson’s (the mother) adopts a Chinese baby, and Mia knows something about this baby and her biological mother.

I had forgotten the bulk of the book, and I only read it again for my f2f book club. I did prefer the ebook to the audio, for sure, although like with the audio, I still found the first half of the book moved very slowly. The second half picked up for me quite a bit. There is a pretty big moral issue in the second half of the book that made things a little more interesting.

Unconventional - M.A. Innes
Unconventional Love Series Book#2
Genera: M/M Romance/Age Play
4.5★
This is Finn and Beckett's story. The two have great chemistry and an instant connection right away. Finn is young but he wants to be the best Dom for his "boy". He's even taking lessons and talking to experienced Doms. He's willing to admit that he doesn't know everything, but Finn was determined to be the best...perfect for his sub. There were so many things in this relationship that Beckett could have run from. His being older than Finn and being a professor... but he doesn’t. He looks for the best things come and knowns that they sometimes come in unconventional packages. Finn and Beckett are perfect for one another. Holden and Ryland from book #1, Unexpected, another "unconventional" type relationship make several appearances throughout the story, and we get to how their relationship has grown. Good story, wonderful characters.


Untouched - M.A. Innes
Unconventional Love Series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Age Play
4.5★
This is Logan and Jay's story. I was really frustrated with Jay early on in the story. He's really young, not especially in years but in life experiences in general...already a junior or perhaps a senior in college. We did learn that he was in his early twenties. He has been so sheltered in his life that he has no idea how to react to most all events that occur in everyday life...so the lifestyle that he has investigated on the internet might as well be taking place on Mars as far as he's concerned. His roommate, Logan, who he feels "sinful" feelings for...might as well be from a dimension that Jay never knew actually existed...other than on "Mr. Google". In spite of his "ignorance" he can't stop seeing the elephant in the room..."THE BOX"...the one under Logan's bed. His curiosity wins the battle, and he has to look in "THE BOX"...and what he sees is "so pretty"! His roommate, Logan is a Dom, and he is interested in Jay...but knows the journey from curious to fully invested in the BDSM lifestyle is eons away from shy, sheltered Jay...but Logan is patient and feels that Jay is worth the wait. The best side character in the story is Logan's Grandmother. What a lady she was! I wish we had seen a bit more of her. The story is really a slow, slow burn. In spite of being frustrating, Jay is adorable while learning about the "real world"...especially the world he REALLY wants to know more about. Everything is "a first" for him and that is a turn-on for Logan who gets to re-experience it all himself.

Face The Music - K.M. Neuhold
Replay Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Boy Band
4.5★
Each book in The Replay series features a different member of the rock band Downward Spiral, getting a second chance at romance and happiness. This one allows us to see Lincoln getting his second chance with his childhood best friend, Jace, who was also Lincoln’s first boyfriend. There is a certain amount of struggle for them to get over past hurts and betrayals, but it was necessary that they go through that first in order to make a new start together. I somehow missed this book in the series but in my defense the order differs depending on where you look for it. Since the stories are told of the individuals and not continuing events it really doesn't matter that much. The books all take place in the same time frame so there is an endless opportunity for the scenes to be told from different perspectives or to leave us wondering from one book to the next until we get the whole story behind a scene we already read about. Hope that makes sense. The stories are well written, and the characters all have very distinct personalities...some more likeable than others. Jace was a sweetie, and I think of the five books in the series I found myself rooting more for things to go right for Linc and him than any of the others.

The Children’s Blizzard – Melanie Benjamin
Book on CD read by Cassandra Campbell
3***

Benjamin is known for writing novelized “biographies” of historical figures (usually women) who have been under-represented (or completely ignored) by history. This time, she turns her attention on an historical event, the blizzard of 1888 that caught residents of the great plains completely unawares, and invents the characters to populate the story.

The novel focuses on two schoolteachers in different communities, sisters Gerda and Raina Olsen. Barely out of school themselves, they take positions as teachers, Gerda in the Dakota Territory, Raina nearer her family farm in Nebraska. When the blizzard hits, the two sisters take different approaches, and the outcomes are drastically different.

I felt that the romantic entanglements each sister experienced detracted from the basic storyline, especially in Raina’s case. I also thought that the storyline featuring the child Anette bordered on the melodramatic.

I had previously read David Laskin’s excellent NONfiction account of this event, also titled The Children’s Blizzard. So, the bar was set high for this work of fiction. And Benjamin didn’t quite make it.

Cassandra Campbell has become one of my favorite audio book narrators. She does a fine job with this work, though I did occasionally lose track of which sister’s story we were following (especially earlier in the novel).

Stalking Ground - Margaret Mizushim - (Colorado)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
4★
A cop and her canine partner track down the killer of a colleague’s girlfriend. Deputy Mattie Cobb has already proved that she and her Robo, her K-9 partner are a team to be commended. Actually, Robo is more efficient that some humans I've met:) Noone was surprised that when Chief Deputy Ken Brody’s girlfriend, Adrienne Howard, goes missing, he wants Mattie and Rebo's help. They haven't been closest of friends, but he needs the best and Mattie and Rebo are it. Brody insists that something has happened to Adrienne even though it's only been 48 hours since she disappeared and demands that there be a search. Mattie and Robo go over the area near Adrienne’s abandoned car, but nothing turns up. Robo finally finds a clue on a horse trail and leads Mattie to Adrienne’s body. Mattie’s friend and maybe boyfriend veterinarian Cole Walker, brings food and water to Mattie and Robo who is guarding the body until the tam arrives to gather evidence if there even is any, and ends up staying with them. They share personal stories through the night and make some progress toward a more clearly defined relationship. It seems that Cole is a popular guy. Carmen Santiago, his newest client at the Dark Horse Stable, is also very interested in him and wouldn't be beyond trying to cause trouble. There's still a case to solve and Adrienne is still dead, so Mattie and Robo have to track down her killer. More problems and trouble await Mattie after her long absent brother reaches out to her. This is the authors second book in this series and while it has a decent mystery, a well written story, and the characters are interesting and believable...especially the dog...there wasn't enough going on around the investigation or finding the killer. Too much time standing in a snowstorm, still it was a decent enough story.

Chase Me Home - Tatum West - (Virginia)
Narrators: Alexander Cendese & Tor Thom
Bridge to Abingdon series Book #3
4.5★
The characters in this story are great together. I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Elias. He was the product of a dysfunctional family...seems to be somewhere on the autistic spectrum...and as a result had social and behavioral trouble in school. He fell for Zane while at prep school years ago, but he couldn't bring himself to accept his sexuality at that time and pushed Zane away breaking his heart. The story then moves ahead to several years later, and Elias is now a multi-millionaire tech whiz, has divorced his wife, and finally comes out as a gay man, and he has what he never thought would be possible...another chance with Zane. At a financially low point in Elias' life, he and Zane tentatively reunite and begin to explore a relationship. Suddenly, with no warning his ex-wife literally dumps Zoe, their daughter, on him and takes off for parts unknown. Zoe is a mess to put it mildly. She's been told that her father didn't love her and had never wanted anything to do with her. She is beyond autistic. No school can manage her for more than a few months or even weeks. Zane steps in and helps him and he and Zoe simply, beautifully, mesh, connecting with his very little trouble. What results is a very sweet and emotional love story, between Elias and Zane, and Elias and Zane with a very wary and emotionally needy, Zoe. I loved how Zane could always make things right...how he never gave up on Elias or Zoey. He gave new meaning to "the patience of a saint". The story went through 11 years and there was a happy ending for everyone in spite of the way it started out. I listened to the audio and that was really the only problem I had with the entire story. The voices of Elias and Zane were done by two different narrators. Zane's voice was beautifully done but Elias's voice was grating to put it mildly. It sounded like he was angry and on the verge of having a melt-down through the entire reading.

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires- Grady Hendrix - (South Carolina)
Genera: Horror/Paranormal/Vampires
5★
A group of Charleston, South Carolina housewives are about to get more than they ever bargained for. Patricia Campbell’s life has so far been fairly normal other than her habit of just showing up to the book club meeting. She seldom reads any of the book, but she likes the members and the gossip. She says that It’s hard to get any reading done between raising her two kids, Blue and Korey...picking up after her husband, Carter, and taking care of her live-in mother-in-law, "Miss Mary", who seems to have dementia. It doesn’t help that the books chosen by the Literary Guild of Mt. Pleasant are just plain over the hill.... boring, with a capital "B". Then Kitty, another book club member, gives Patricia a gloriously, sexy, trashy true-crime novel and Patricia changes her tune and is instantly and completely hooked. Soon she’s attending a very different kind of book club meeting with Kitty and her friends Grace, Slick, and Maryellen. Never mind what is piling up at home! Patricia loves her new friends but still wants a bit more excitement in her life. "Be careful what you wish for, Patricia". Her wish is granted when James Harris moves in on her street. The women are all intrigued. Who is this handsome "night owl", and why does Miss Mary keep insisting that she knows him from somewhere in her youth? Impossible...since that would make James over 100 years old!! A series of horrific events begin to occur that rattles Patricia’s nerves almost to the breaking point. Among these horrid events is a scene involving a large horde of rats. She just knows that James is up to no good...there's something "so wrong about him"...but nobody believes her. After all, she’s ONLY a housewife, but Patricia knows to the bottom of her Southern soul that evil personified has bought a house and set down roots in her neighborhood. The character of Patricia grows from someone who apologizes for apologizing to a fiercely brave woman determined to do the right thing...hopefully with the help of her friends. Grady Hendrix does a magnificent job of working well-established vampire lore into a really fantastic story. Here he has shown that he’s a master at conjuring heady 1990s nostalgia. The result is that this just might be his best book yet. Horror fans will certainly enjoy it.

Sundial - Catrina Ward -(Nevada)
Genera: Horror/Suspense
5★
Possible Triggers: Domestic Violence
Rob Cussen lives in a beautiful California suburb with her handsome husband Irving and two daughters, Callie and Annie. Her life is beginning to become undone, and the cracks are beginning to show. Irving cheats on her constantly, and while Annie, the youngest and her favorite, is the sweetest child, she worries about the strange, friendless twelve-year-old Callie. Still, she’s determined to give the girls a normal, "All-American" life...a type of life that she had been denied. So-what if it means putting up with the increasingly violent Irving, whose bitterness toward her no longer emerges just through his cheating. These two have knock-down, drag-out fights that sometimes have Rob running for her life. Still, she can't bring herself to leave him. She’s determined to stay in this nightmare of a marriage...are you ready for this? To give her daughters a "stable??", family life with both parents. This was the first of many times that I wanted to hit her upside the head with the book!! Then an incident between her children occurs that forces her to finally face the truth that she’s been trying to hide. Shocked into action by the violence she witnesses between her girls, she decides to take Callie, the main instigator, back with her to her family’s home out in the Mojave Desert. The reader gets both sides of the story both from Rob and Callie’s perspectives. The story is a frightening puzzle of a novel that unfolds in overlapping layers as Rob struggles with the need for both supremacy and survival...especially from her eldest daughter. Her past has marked her, but is Callie destined to the same fate or is Rob just giving in to the madness and paranoia in trying to "save her child? I was surprised by how few of the plot twists I could see in this tale of this complicated, terrible family and the ghosts of the past that haunted them. Rob and Callie are difficult, almost impossible characters to like, but by the end, I was more invested in them both. The author has managed to cleverly unravel this families seemingly terrible decisions in such unexpected yet realistic ways, making this one of the most startlingly convincing novels I have ever read.

A Fighting Chance - Tatum West - (Virginia)
Bridge to Abingdon series Book #2
Narrators: Alexander Cendese & Tor Thom
Genera: M/M Romance/Family Drama
5★
a box of tissues should be a requirement before you start reading or listening to this story. I challenge anyone to have a dry eye by the time the last chapter is finished. This story was amazing. The characters are really well-done...the plot is good...the dialogue simply flowed....and the narrators are perfect for the voices. It had the right balance of "sexy stuff" that added to the story but didn't overwhelm. You couldn't have asked for a better ending. These characters are real. The situations are real. The outcomes are real, though in real life it would be rare for so many things to turn out so very well in the end. Even so, it is at least a possibility. I loved the romance and the erotic moments, but they really weren't needed in order for the story to simply work. This book made me cry, and that's a fairly rare occurrence unless the story is about dogs or cats. This one is about humans...everyday, run of the mill, hardworking humans... and it contains good times, bad times, realistic scenes, and more genuine love than I have encountered in a story in a long time.

The Curse of Penryth Hall - Jess Armstrong - (England)
Genera: Horror/Paranormal
5★
The story is Set in 1922 in the Cornish countryside. Ruby Vaughn, our heroine, wonders if a curse is actually to blame for a real-life murder. Ruby is working for an old and rare book shop in Exeter, when she walks into a scandal. This happens when she goes to the village of Lothlel Green to deliver a box of books to Ruan Kivell, who's known to the locals as "the Pellar". Ruby decides that that means he's maybe some type of Cornish exorcist....a cross between a physician, a witch, and a priest, but that’s not to say she isn't intrigued. Ruan is a mystery within a mystery. The second time Ruby meets him, she thinks: “This wasn’t the charming man I’d seen only yesterday...No. He had thunder on his face, and there was something different about him. Something untamed, uncivilized, and entirely terrifying.” While in Lothlel Green, Ruby reunites with her old love, Tynsm. He's been living there in a place known to the locals call Penryth Hall. When he dies mysteriously and Ruby herself is nearly killed, she learns about the "Curse" that was put on Penryth Hall", where the Chenowyth family lives. The story goes that years ago, a jilted woman asked a local witch for help to win back the heart of her lover, a Chenowyth ancestor who'd married a barmaid, and “the witch" put a curse on the entire Chenowyth line as revenge. The curse killed the faithless heir and his bride. The witch removed his unfaithful heart and delivered it to his betrothed in a silver box. Ruby is not sure she believes the story or that she believes in curses, but she knows that Edward was not a faithful husband and likely has a lot of enemies. Tamsyn isn’t too broken up about Edward’s death, but she’ll do anything to protect her son from becoming the next victim of the curse, and to do that she needs Ruby’s help. Romance and danger are abundant in every corner of this dark, and spooky estate. The folklore in the story is firmly set in the minds of the locals as truth, and they treat it with absolute reverence while searching for a killer that they know is human...or at least they think it is. This was an intriguing and enchanting mystery...almost like a dark fairytale. Just enjoy it for what it is and don't even try to pronounce some of the names.

The Good Guy – Dean Koontz
Book on CD narrated by Rick Ferrone
4****

From the book jacket: Timothy Carrier, having a beer after work at his friend’s tavern, enjoys drawing customers into amusing conversations. But the jittery man who sits next to him tonight has mistaken Tim for someone very different – and passes to him a manila envelope full of cash, a photo of a pretty woman marked for death, and her address. Minutes later, another stranger sits next to Tim. This one is a cold-blooded killer who believes Tim is the man who has hired him. Tim tries to call off the deal, giving the man the money “to do nothing.” But when Tim secretly follows the killer out of the tavern, he gets a shock: the guy is a cop.

My Reactions
This thriller just grabbed me. I could not figure out why this woman was targeted, and why the killer was so relentless in his pursuit. Tim is the quintessential good guy. A gentleman, smart, determined, creative and principled. And I loved his mother! Several of the close calls stretch credulity (timelines just didn’t work), but Koontz kept me turning pages (or changing CDs) to see what would happen next.

This was written sixteen years ago, but the whole Deep State conspiracy at the end was so reminiscent of recent conspiracy theories floated by a certain former President and his minions that it made me uneasy. So far, # 45 and his crew aren’t anywhere near so smart as Koontz’s characters, so that’s some consolation.

Rick Ferrone does a great job of narrating the audiobook. He is a gifted voice artist and even does a reasonable job of bringing the women characters to life.

Random Acts of Medicine: The Hidden Forces That Sway Doctors, Impact Patients, and Shape Our Health
Anupam B. Jena
4/5 stars
The title pretty much explains it all. It was a fascinating look at healthcare and poses questions that the researchers worked on. One chapter focused on who is a better doctor, a seasoned veteran doctor or someone who just graduated. Is it ever a good time to have a heart attack? Another chapter was why kids with summer birthdays are more likely to get the flu. Non-Fiction Books

Noble & Strong - Tatum West -(Virginia)
Bridge to Abingdon Series Book #5
Genea: M/M Romance/Homophobia
Narrators: Alexander Cendese &Tor Thom
4★
I like the series, I like the author, I like the narrators, the biggest problem was there was so much hate and judgement going on, not from the residents of the little town but from outsiders brought in by the people in authority from the town that should have known better. I've read the first 4 books in this series and while there is always some controversy about some issue, it's fairly peaceful for this little primarily gay town. The hate has been nowhere as prevalent as it is throughout this story, actually the citizens, both gay and straight, get along well. That being said...this story is about justice being served, truth being told, learning respect and to compromise. Nobel is the son of a Bible thumping father who is a southern Pastor in another little town. He picks and chooses what the Bible says and translates it to suit his own narrow-minded whims. His son, Noble has hidden his true self for thirty years. Now he's met Connor Strong, the town baker and the love of his life...and he's finished hiding. The school administration is composed of bigots and those that are loud but not in any way right. Every town has some, but it seems that Abingdon has more than its fair share. Add to this a hillbilly homophobic damaging his boyfriend Connor's bakery and Connor almost ending up in jail. It was just one thing after another! The near ending surprised me, and the last chapter made my heart sing. Yes...There is hope for everyone.

Missing in Michigan - April Taylor - (Michigan)
Alex Bentley series Book #1
Genera: Paranormal/Mystery & Suspense
5★
The book is the start of a new series by April Taylor. At first, we wonder what, exactly, is Alexa Bentley? Is she a psychic or a medium, or perhaps a bit of both. She can talk to ghosts and everywhere she goes, she finds them, or they find her. She knows these abilities are simply a part of who and what she is...always has been and she can’t change. Alexa heads off to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to a small town where nothing unusual ever happens...but she finds out that it does and has been, unknown to the residents, for some time. Her task here is to get Mrs. Felton, a recently departed soul, to move on. While working on this she discovers that quite a few teens have gone missing over the past several years. Now we add to the mix a Native American supernatural creature...a sheriff with something to hide... and a professor. Alexa now has her hands full. Her goal now is to solve the mystery of the missing people before it happens to anyone else...and she wants to know exactly what is the sheriff’s big secret? This was a great read. It had everything that makes up a good spooky mystery... supernatural things goings on, plenty of ghosts, a bit of romance and surprisingly, a whole lot of humor, all wrapped up in an easy read. It has plenty of action and a few twists that you never see coming. There are some more serious subject matters covered, and it's done very well. The characters are great, easy to relate to and very likable. Do you get the idea that I really liked this book? The story hooks you enough to make you want to read the next one. I know that I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

The Nothing Collection - Jay Northcote - (England)
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★ for each of the 3 books

This is a group of short stories that are sweet, funny, and low angst. This collection is everything, actually. Each story is a standalone, allowing them to be read in order. What I love about this author is that he can weave a story so well, you feel as if you are a part of it or at least a voyager. The stories draw you in and you can't help but root for these sweet guys to get their happy endings.

Book #1 - Nothing Serious
We meet Mark and Jamie. Mark has finally admitted to himself that he is gay and ends his long-term relationship with his girlfriend. Then Jamie enters into the picture when the moving company he works for is hired to move Mark into his new apartment. This is the beginning of a dance that comes complete with a dropped box of "toys" and a friend with benefits agreement. As they navigate the ups and downs of their new attraction and agree that they might very well end up more than just friends.

Book #2 - Nothing Special
Now we meet Noah and Sol. This one is my favorite out of the group. It's nice to have a cutie appear in the start of a story line. Noah is a bit insecure and confides in his friend about the guy in the London zookeepers' uniform that he’s seen on the train, as he travels to and from work. In a brave move Noah posts an ad in the local paper, to get Sol’s attention...and it works! He certainly gets Sol’s attention. But will getting Sol’s attention be enough or will Noah’s insecurities drive them apart? I was rooting for these two throughout this really sweet story.

Book #3 Nothing Ventured
Our couple in this final offering is Aiden and Matt. Talk about a long road to haul… These two guys work together but are not really friends. They only agree to train together for a charity race that their office is entering called "The Mud Masher" which I thought sounded simply awful. Aiden has been a bit of a couch bunny and needs to train for this race. Enter Matt, who is bi and not exactly "closeted" but doesn't make it openly know, and who reluctantly agrees to help Aiden train. As the training progresses and race day approaches the two guys begin to realize they are not as uninterested in each other, as they and their co-workers thought. The question hangs in the air "will Matt win Aiden’s heart or will they crash and burn?

Each story is complete with sexy times, wonderful banter, and completely delightful characters.

Son of the Shadows / Juliet Mariller
3.75 stars

This is book 2 in a trilogy. It’s been a very long time since I read book 1, but it’s not really necessary to have read it, as it’s the next generation that is followed in this book vs the 1st. I remembered nothing from the first book, and I don’t think it mattered.

Liadan and Niahm (pronounced Nee-av – have to say I was happy to have the glossary and pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book!) are sisters. When Niahm falls in love with a druid and disgraces herself by giving herself to him (all in secret), her family hurriedly marries her off to the older man they want to make an alliance with. Liadan accompanies Niahm part-way to her new home, but is kidnapped on her way back. She is a great healer and has been asked to help some “outlaws” heal one of theirs. While there, Liadan becomes friends (and more with one) with them, and hates to leave, but needs to go home to her dying mother.

It took a bit at the start for me to get into this. I’m not always “into” fantasy (Liadan also has a “sight” of a kind), and difficult to pronounce words (thank you, glossary!) also make things harder. But once Liadan was kidnapped, the story really picked up for me. There were a few times I kind of lost interest, but there were many happenings that made the book “enjoyable” for me. I’ve never been a fan of a “story within a story”, and this one does contain a bunch of those (oral storytelling is popular in Liadan’s family). On rereading the review of the first book, I wasn’t sure if I would continue the series (obviously I did), and I do plan to continue on from here. It looks like it was originally meant to be a trilogy, but has expanded beyond that.

The Wedding Plot - Paula Munier - (Vermont)
Mercy Carr Series Book #4
Genera: Mystery
3★
It's an amusing thriller with a slight sinister side, that finds Mercy Carr having more than just her hands full with pre-wedding mayhem at the location of her grandmother’s upcoming nuptials at the Lady’s Slipper Inn, when the spa director goes missing... an unidentified person is found dead on the property of the local goat farm...and her special four-legged friend, Elvis, accidentally uncovers the skeletal remains of a woman who seems to have been murdered and buried more than twenty years ago. The story moves along smoothly. The characters are persistent, resourceful, and clever and the plot is engaging filled with twists, turns, surprises, red herrings, familial drama, danger, tension, a smidge of romance, and murder. What more could a good mystery need? Overall, this book is a clever, fun, and an easy read. If you are a fan of lighthearted mysteries with intelligent, helpful, four-legged friends...this one is for you. I only gave it 3 stars, not because there was anything "off" about the book and nothing about the authors abilities...it was just a bit too much on the "cozy side" for my liking.

It Was Always You - L. A. Witt
Genera: M/M Romance/Friends to Lovers
2.5★
I was a bit floored. This is NOT like any story by this author that I have ever read. Yes...it's a sweet story of childhood friends who had grown up together but have drifted apart in the last five years. The bond of friendship has hidden their love for a long time and the story is how they discover that. This is where it begins to shift away from what I'm accustomed to getting from anything that L.A. Witt writes. There was so little of the usual heat or sizzle that readers are accustomed to from this author. Somewhere around the middle, the story started to drag. Things were happening but there was nothing happening between Justin and Tyler, the two people that something should have been happening. By the time they got together I really didn't care any longer. If you have patience for a really...and I mean REALLY, slow burn then you will probably like this one more than I did. I'm not holding one mediocre offering against one of my favorite authors, as no one is perfect, and everyone is entitled to have a bad day.

A Natural History of Dragons– Marie Brennan
Digital audio performed by Kate Reading
4****

Subtitle: A Memoir by Lady Trent

From the book jacket: All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, knows Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

My reactions:
Well, this was a wonderful romp of an adventure. We learn how Isabella became interested in natural history, and dragons in particular. As the only daughter in a family of six children, she struggled to be ladylike, but her curiosity would not be dampened. Her father suggested she try book learning rather than “field work” and when she came of age to marry she was fortunate to find a man whose intellectual curiosity matched hers and who was more than willing to have her continue her research. And that is how they come to take a thrilling expedition to foreign lands in search of dragons.

Isabella is a wonderful heroine. She’s intelligent, tenacious, curious, and determined. She makes sure that she is of value to the expedition by honing her skill at anatomical drawing so as to record the expedition forces’ findings. But she also is a keen observer on her own. Of course, it is she who solves the great mystery at the center of this adventure.

While the time is set in approximately the Victorian era, Brennan has really created a marvelous world where dragons roam. She includes much information about the various sub-species and their differences in both appearance and behavior. I was completely engaged from beginning to end. I’ll definitely continue with the series.

Kate Reading does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. Her diction is clear and easy to understand. She really brings these characters to life.

The Manor House - Gilly McMillan - (England)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
Nicole and Tom are childhood sweetheart. Then something happens that they never expected and creates a life-changing event...they win the lottery. When they move into a beautiful "smart home" on the grounds of Lancaut Manor, they thought their dreams had come true...but their dream soon turns into a nightmare. Tom is found dead in the swimming pool. The question the police have to answer is "was it an accident or something much more sinister?" Nicole feels like a little fish in a big glass bowl, surrounded by sharks and piranhas. It's a chilling thriller that really gives the saying "be careful what you wish for" legs as the consequences of sudden wealth is explored along with many hidden threats. The story can be described as a "closed room" thriller as nearly everyone is a suspect. The suspense keeps the reader guessing as secrets unravel. It starts out a bit slow but keep reading...you won't regret it.

No Exit – Taylor Adams
4****

College student Darby Thorne is on her way to see her dying mother when she gets caught in a blizzard in the Colorado Rockies. She manages to pull into a rest stop where four other people are also waiting out the storm. There’s no cell phone signal, but at least there’s a bathroom, a vending machine and coffee. When she goes outside in hopes of getting a signal, she makes a horrifying discovery. There is a child locked in a cage in the back of one of the vehicles. Can Darby figure out whose car this is and get the child to safety? It will be a long night.

This is a gripping psychological thriller, with several twists and turns. Darby is a courageous, if naïve, young woman. She never stops thinking of ways to save herself, the child, and the innocent people in the shelter. But she makes several mistaken assumptions that compromise her plan(s) and may just lead to massive casualties.

I was completely caught up in this scenario, although there were times when I wanted to shake Darby to get her away from what I saw as an obvious mistake. She certainly got one thing right – the criminal is NOT really smart, just determined and callous. The question is whether Darby can last the night, and that kept me turning pages long past my bedtime.

Truth & Betrayal - K.C. Wells - (Georgia/Tennessee)
Southern Boys series Book #1
Narrator: John Solo
Genera: M/M Romance/American South
4★
Jake knew the day he saw the police show up at his door that his life would be forever changed. And he was right. He lost his best friend and brother, Caleb. Caleb was everything to him and now he doesn’t know how to go on. On top of it, at the funeral the man who was in the accident, the man who was driving the car, showed up. And he’s a person of color and Calab was white. In his surprise and grief, Jake said some hurtful things...things that he would later regret. The man's name was Liam...and Jake could get him out of his head. Something was eating at him about this whole situation, and he had to know what it was. A few weeks later he went to pick up Caleb’s belongings, it was awkward and tense and didn’t turn out very well, but he saw that Liam was also grieving and realized that he had made a big mistake. He went through Caleb’s computer and found that Caleb’s betrayal was nearly more than he could bear, and he had to find Liam and apologize. The more Jake talked to Liam, and the more he found out, the more confused he became. After spending more time with Liam, he started to have real feelings for him and those feeling were returned... but how can that be with his brothers ex? How can they all move on? Calebs Mother and Father didn't know about Caleb's sexuality, and they didn't know about Jakes either. Thus begins Jake and Liam's game of "cat and mouse". I became a bit frustrated with Caleb's parents. He wasn't 10-years old...he was 20, an adult...they had no control over him like they showed here. That is the main reason for the 4-star rating. It just went on and on with his folks until I thought how nice it would be if someone just strangle them! I could write pages about this book...aren't you glad I'm not going to? I'll just say that K.C. Wells wrote a fantastic story, showing that life moves on and so does love. Tragedy happens...and sometimes it happens to good people that never deserved it. Life itself is too short and it shouldn't matter what their skin color is...what sex they are, or who they chose to love. All that should matter is what's in their hearts. Not everyone will like or approve of this book, but that's true of every book published. Thank you, K.C. Wells for putting these truths on paper and writing this amazing story.

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law / Mary Roach
3.5 stars

In this book, Mary Roach takes a look at wild animals and their “relationships” with humans, primarily breaking human laws (like attacking them, breaking into houses, stealing, etc.). She talks to and follows along with fish and wildlife officers, and other scientists that study these animals (oh, and trees and plants, too!) and their interactions with humans (and how humans are trying to mitigate these interactions).

I liked this. Despite being about animals, I didn’t like it as much as I like some of her other books, but it was still interesting. I don’t think there was as much humour in this one as some of her others, either, but there were bits of it, too.

The Keeper of Hidden Books - Madeline Martin - (Poland)
Genera: Historical Fiction/WWII
5★
Zofia Nowak and her friends love to read, but in Warsaw in August 1939, reading has become a radical activity. With a Nazi invasion imminent, Zofia and her friends scramble to read as many Hitler-banned books as they can before they’re confiscated. When the Nazi invasion arrives, Zofia and her father hide the banned books beneath the floor in their apartment, hoping to keep them safe until a time when Poland might be free again. When her father, a physician, is taken off to prison along with so many of Warsaw’s intellectual elite and her best friend, Janina, is confined to the Jewish ghetto, Zofia realizes she herself must join the resistance against the Nazis. The Nazis are trying to control the Polish people by controlling the ideas they have access to; Zofia and a few other librarians find clever ways to continue getting books into hands and education into minds of the people. As the crackdown against the Jewish people gathers strength, Zofia puts her new skills to work hiding away not only the banned books but also the Jewish people she’s helping to smuggle out of the ghetto. Madeline Martin has created a novel that is both heartbreaking and timely. Through Zofia’s eyes, the reader experiences the agonizing separation of families at the hands of the Nazis and the anger that so many Polish people had to tamp down in order to survive. The fear that so many families must have felt as friends and neighbors disappeared and there was no way to know who might be next was so vividly captured. Through it all, Zofia recognizes the hope and love this beloved clutch of hidden books represents and she knows and understands that love in itself is precisely the reason that Hitler wanted the books stamped out in the first place. Zofia reflects, “Books inspired free thought and empathy, an overall understanding and acceptance of everyone". Those of us living in what has always been a "free world" for our entire lifetimes will find parts of this story difficult to read and even more difficult to understand, but may Heaven forbid this ever happen again!

I think this pretty much says it all:
“We cannot let the atrocities and persecution of the Jews slip between the cracks of history. Nor can we let the memory of those brave men and women who fought for freedom and what is right disappear in the turning pages of time. The world also needs to remember to never take for granted what has been gifted to us through the sacrifice of others: the right to an education and learning, the power and luxury of freedom, and the beauty to appreciate the routine of simple, everyday life.”

The Walls of Troy - L. A. Witt
Genera: M/M Romance/Military
4.5★
The story is built on an older man/younger man dynamic, which I didn't mind even though it's not one of my favorites. Iskander is a Navy cop who wants to get into doing personal security details. His first assignment is to guard the 20-year-old son of an Admiral. He thinks it's a really unnecessary assignment, but Iskander is a professional so he's going to just do his job. Every other member of the security team thinks there is nothing to the threats the son has claimed to be getting, but Iskander quickly figures out that there is indeed more. I love this author and I had high hopes for this story, but about half-way into in it started to go a bit downhill. Of course, getting involved with your commanding officer's son, the man your job is supposed to be to protect...even if he is an adult, isn't necessarily the best way to further your career... but these two just plowed on playing with the fire. I don't understand why the two of them lied to Troy's father about who the stalker was, and I was also surprised that his father hadn't figure it out for himself. I found the first half of the book to be better paced and much more intriguing... and even though it wasn't my favorite book by this author, I did have to appreciate how strong the ending actually was.

The Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller
Digital audiobook performed by Frazer Douglas
4****

Miller turns her remarkable talent to Greek mythology in this retelling of events leading up to and including the Trojan War. The novel is narrated by Petroclus, a young prince who has been exiled to the court of King Peleus, where he meets Achilles. The two become friends and are schooled together by the centaur Chiron, who teaches them the arts of war and of medicine. But then Helen of Sparta is kidnapped, and the call goes out for all the men of Greece to battle Troy. Where Achilles goes, Petroclus will follow.

Of course, I knew the basic storyline of the Trojan War going into the book, but Miller makes this such an intimate tale that I felt I was first hearing this story. There are two young men learning about life, honor, duty, and love. I was initially taken aback by Miller’s choice to have Petroclus narrate the tale, but I quickly came to love his point of view.

Frazer Douglas does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. He really brings these characters to life.

Kitty Confidential - Molly Fitz
Pet Whisperer P.I. series Book #1
Genera: Mystery
5★
We talk to our pets everyday but how cool would it be to really understand the conversation? Okay ...maybe "cool" and "curse" would both be the right term here. This is a delightfully amusing story about how a woman achieved the ability to not only talk to but understand every single word her cat said...and oh the things she learned! Angie Russo's life was just fine until she experienced a near-death experience, and she suddenly found she could understand and talk to animals. Her cat, Octavius Maxwell Ricardo Edmund Frederick Fulton... or just "Octo-Cat", was a typical feline...well, as typical as any cat can ever be... who thinks humans are the lesser, but necessary, creatures that were put on this Earth to serve and deliver each and every feline desire. By the way...this is the opinion shared by ALL cats, everywhere in the world, just in case you haven't realized that yet. If you are owned by a cat, you soon will "get it". Together, Angie and Octo-Cat manage to find a murderer. There is lots of humor, interesting characters and a few unexpected twists in this story. The ending was unexpected. It was a fun story even if it was a bit on the ridiculous side...but that's my lowly human opinion. Angie's not Sherlock Holmes by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm sure that her skills will grow in the future since she has a top-notch teacher. Of course, Octo-Cat was great. He's spoiled...as he rightly should be, but he's so hilarious and sweet as only a cat can be, and he says that Angie is his best friend in the world.... now come and work this can-opener. (If you are a completely oblivious "dog person" you won't get any of this.)

The Elementals
Michael McDowell
4/5 stars
This is a haunted house story revolving around the McCray and Savage families. Matriarch Marian Savage has died and the family has escaped to their summer homes for respite. There are three homes but only two are livable. The third home is sinking and is uninhabitable. The family members are scared of the third home and rarely enter it until this summer when unexplained things are happening to the home and the family members. Horror Novels

Bad Luck and Trouble - Lee Child - (California/Oregon/Nevada)
Jack Reacher Series Book #11
5★
Once there’d been eight of them...military cops Reacher had molded into an elite unit. Suddenly, four of them are dead, killed by person or persons unknown, and Jack Reacher is out to repay the evil deed. “You don’t mess with the Special Investigators' . The army was a thing of the past, but in Reacher’s philosophy loyalty is timeless... imperishable. “There are dead men walking.” "You don’t throw my friends out of helicopters and live to tell the tale.” For vengeance to go forward there are questions that must be answered. Such as, why are they being hunted so many years after they’ve stopped making enemies? A blood-soaked chess game begins with gambits, and deadly traps. Reacher's own hunt takes him from California to Las Vegas. He knows that they've make mistakes, corrected them, edged closer to the answers they need in order to satisfy the "code" they continue to live by. between the hunt Reacher rekindles sort of rekindles an old love affair. At last Jack sees a frightening conspiracy beginning to take shape and suggesting that much more is at stake than any of them could have imagined. A point of no return is approaching, and soon Reacher, who is nothing if not code-driven, will face a mind-bending choice...perhaps his most excruciating one yet. The lives of friends... the lives of innocents...the lives of thousands. Which one and how can he pick? Like all Jack Reacher stories it's a tightly plotted...fast-paced...page-turner.

A Single Soul - L.A. Witt
Genera: M/M Romance/Paranormal/Fantasy
Narrator: Michael Ferraiuolo
5★
There is just something about Matt that makes you want to root for him. He certainly has issues, but then...who doesn’t? I honestly found his interactions with the other leading man, Cory, to be engaging and in many cases, a great deal of fun. Matt and Cory are loaded with personalities of their own...and I loved Matt's literal angel and demon residing on his shoulders...but paranormal fantasy parts of the story never overshadowed the romance we see brewing. They only added to it. If you are a L.A. Witt, fan then you already know that typically she is all about bringing the angst to any situation and while there is some in this story, there is also plenty of humor, heat, and just plain sweetness. This has it all and it is wrapped up in a fairly short story. I have always been a big fan of L.A. Witt and I own quite a few of her books, so was excited when I saw how many of her stories had been added to Hoopla....and this was one of them. It's fun, it's spicy, and has characters you won’t want to walk away from. Plus, if you are paranormal romance fan and don't mind that it's two guys, then you may want to give A Single Soul a chance. Michael Ferraiuolo also makes it more than worth the time. I could listen to him reading instructions for installing toilets:)

Pride & Protection - K.C. Wells - (Georgia)
Southern Boys series Boo#2
Genera: M/M Romance
Narrator: John Solo
5★
Del has been out for a long time, but he knows moving to a small southern town is going to be/could be a problem, but his love for his brother wins out over any reluctance he might have. He knows there’s going to be issues, but he’s determined to make a go of the bike shop that has been his brother’s dream and is now a reality. We met Taylor, the police officer, in the first book. He feels that he has only been living half a life, keeping most of who he is in the shadows out of the fear of losing all of the, what he imagines are the “important” things in his life. But meeting Del makes him realize that maybe what’s really important are the things that someone like Del can bring into his life and share with him. Is he ready to let his life be what he has always wanted? I absolutely loved Del. His whole “take me as I am” attitude was really refreshing, as was his obviously protective and caring nature. He meets Taylor, and he quickly comes to realize how much the younger man has been struggling and wants to help him figure things out. I felt for Taylor’s struggle. He spends so much time worrying about people finding out who he's not really enjoy life. Another great part of this story was the interactions between Del and his brother, and Chaz, the young man they hired for the shop. The "big brother vibe" was something that Del had in spades. There’s a lot to love about all these guys. For Taylor, this story is about his journey to find himself. The story is well done, even though there’s a few moments where it seemed to get…stuck for a lack of a better word, but mostly it moved along at a gentle pace. K.C. Wells is one of those authors who can always make you smile but can just as quietly break your heart once or twice along the way. This one was filled with lota of smiles. Narrator, John Solo did a magnificent job...as always...on the voices.

A Murder in Time / Julie McElwain
4 stars

Kendra is a profiler with the FBI. She is injured in a shoot out that involved one of her own as a traitor; someone else died. (I missed a bunch of activity, then) suddenly she wakes up in the early 19th century where a teenage girl is found murdered. For the brief time Kendra has been here, she’s been pretending to be a servant. She can tell right away this murder is the work of a serial killer and he will kill again, but how does she convince the aristocracy to believe her so she can help find the killer? They mostly tended not to think women were terribly smart at the time, and how could she know some of the things she knows?

I really liked this. I listened to the audio and except for the present day stuff (I did miss a bunch at the very beginning and had a hard time focusing at the very end when we were back in current day), the entire rest of the book was interesting and appealing to me. I liked that the current-day investigator was unable to rely on many current-day technologies, and

Somewhere in France / Jennifer Robson
4 stars

Lady Elizabeth is in her early 20s(?) and has not had a real education, although she would have loved that. She is expected to marry, be a wife, and mother. When her brother’s friend, Robbie from university, visits, “Lilly” is swept away. But he is far below her “station”, and her mother sends him packing (with a lie Lilly doesn’t know about). Lilly thought they were getting along very nicely and was very disappointed Robbie left without a word.

WWI arrives, and Edward (Lilly’s brother) heads to war, and Lilly learns that Robbie is a doctor and has gone to France to perform surgeries on wounded soldiers at the front. Lilly wants so badly to help, but is forbidden by her mother. She finds a way to secretly learn to drive, and when things blow up with her parents, she leaves to live with her former tutor in London. From there, she manages to get a job driving an ambulance in France to help shuttle soldiers from when they were wounded to the makeshift hospitals.

This was also a romance, which is not usually my thing, but I got swept away in this one. I really liked it. I really liked both Lilly and Robbie. And it was interesting to learn about the women ambulance drivers in the war. The author’s father was a historian with an interest in the two world wars.

Murder by Degrees - Ritu Mukerji - (Pennsylvania)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5-★
I read somewhere that this a debut novel for this author. If every future thing she writes is anything like this one, she will have many "Best Sellers" and we the readers, will have another outstanding author to follow. Our main character, Dr. Lydia Weston serves the "working-class" patients at the city’s Spruce Street Clinic and teaches future female doctors at the Woman’s Medical College. In 1875 this was quite an accomplishment for a woman. We should not be surprised that her accomplishments are often dismissed by the men who believe women are prone to hysteria and not capable of being good doctors. The body of a woman believed to be one of Lydia’s patients is found in the Schuylkill River, and she is invited into the police investigation. The body...Anna Ward had worked as a housemaid for a wealthy family whose snobby members are far from willing to cooperate with the search for her killer. Their sense of privilege opens the door for the author to transform her crime novel into a social novel that cleverly examines the deprivation suffered by people in service and the struggles of women like Lydia and Anna who only wished to choose their own paths. The reader is pulled into the fascinating and detailed world of forensic autopsies and Lydia's instincts and determination to carry out a murder investigation as effectively as...or perhaps even better than the police. We have well-constructed narrative that is also appealing. All we "armchair sleuths" can only hope that this is the beginning of a new series with our "star" Lydia, who in this one proved she is a strong and indomitable woman who overruns her circumstances to become a crusader for social justice in what was very much still a "male orientated world".

Winter Wonderland - Heidi Cullinan - (Minnesota)
Minnesota Christmas series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Christmas
4★
This is a part of a series that follows a handful of gay men in a small town in Minnesota... Marcus, Arthur and Paul, three "bears", three best friends, as they try to find their forever partners. In this story we get to see Paul, who is the neediest of the entire bunch, finally find his forever love.... well not right away... first we have to have a little bit of angst and drama. Paul is from a quite conservative family. Poor guy…. He’s a big "bear", but he’s also a big mess...a mess of anxiety, a complete lack of confidence, and some other oddities that you would never suspect considering that he is a big "bear". He has his friends, he’s dated, but he can’t ever seem to connect with the right guy. He’s lonely but he’s so tied up in his own head that he can’t see what is right in front of him. Kyle Parks. the Resident Twink. So much so that "Look at me I'm a twink" should have been written in bright, glowing florescent paint across his forehead. He finally decides he’s waited long enough and he’s going to get "his man" come Hell or high water. He starts by trying his luck with Grindr, which doesn’t work so well. Next, he tries his personal specialty, snow sculptures...and leaves a lovely creation on Paul’s front porch. I won't say what it was, but let's just say that the town was NOT amused. I, however laughed and snickered through the rest of the story. Paul is not too impressed either. He eventually enlists the help of resident "busybody" Corrina, who helps him come up with a plan of attack. Kyle, after a few more "mishaps" gets his man, and we get a very sweet holiday story. I loved this book along with poor Paul and all his drama, and Kyle and his strength and willpower to not give up his cause, even if some of his methods were a bit on the questionable side. The plot that runs through it about trying to save this small town was a great backdrop to Paul and Kyle’s love story. The little details in this book that worked so well...like Holiday movies, snow sculptures, cooking together, friends, food, family...it was a perfect way to spend a memorable Christmas.

Kel's Keeper - K. C. Wells - (Vermont)
Narrator: Falcon Sound Company
Genera: M/M Romance/Age Play/Daddy-Boy
4.5★
Kel Taylor spends a lot of time hiding who he is from the people he loves the most. He’s convinced that if his parents knew that he was gay, he would lose them forever. When tragedy strikes, he realizes that living less than a full life is a complete waste of time. Luc has watched Kel grow from a child to a man. When he steps up to help his long-time neighbor cope with the loss of his parents, he finally has to admit that his attraction to the young man Kel has become just keeps getting stronger. But he vows to take a step back and just be Kel’s friend if that’s what he needs. Age difference books have to be well written to make sure that they don’t just become creepy. K.C. Wells has seemed to always manage this feat. This one does a fantastic job of documenting the changing and growing relationship between Kel and Luc. I enjoy the fact that the story doesn’t get distracted from its point with a lot of drama from outside influences. There are a few moments of angst from Kel's grandfather, but mostly the story is just about how Luc helps Kel work his own way to realizing that his life has to be lived on his own terms and hating himself because of his parent's beliefs isn’t something that he has to feel responsible for. The author does a great job of showing both sides of the same coin. The daddy kink in this book is not hardcore. That also mostly focuses on Luc being a steadying influence on Kel and not on trying control him. If you’re looking to be swept away by a story of slow-burning love and self-understanding, then this will definitely appeal to you...but keep in mind that it is two guys.

Hide Kiersten White
Genera: Horror/Thriller
4★
Possible Triggers: Extreme gore
This is a dark horror story that’s filled to overflowing with blood, gore.... with a secret society of high society elites who are murdering the young, and the poor in order to secure the success of their own families. I had to wonder when they would turn on those like themselves when they became too much competition. Fodder for another book maybe. I do not misspeak when I say that it is grisly. The plot is well thought out and cleverly presented with a diverse cast of characters that are almost entirely TOO memorable. The central character and the heroine of this dark tale is very often totally unlikeable, and we learn that she is fighting a very dark past. The storyline is frighteningly simple...the game is composed of fourteen contestants who are dropped off in an abandoned amusement park for a game of extreme...and I do mean extreme... hide-and-seek. The winner is promised not only glorious fame but also a fifty-thousand-dollar cash prize. Believe me... we quickly find out what folks will do for that kind of money. The competitors range from an internet influencer who is looking for viral content for his program, to a couple of techies hoping for a chance to spend earn time with the executives of the extreme sports company that is sponsoring this "event". There is even a young woman trying to rebuild her life after an abusive relationship... and last but not least...a rural gas station attendant who just wants to make some "real-life" friends. Who in the world would want these people as friends??? Why doesn't he just go to a club or to church, or just go to the library??? Oh yeah now I remember...fifty thousand big green ones!! So, our little murdering groupies are composed from all walks and stations of life...all with one common goal in mind...kill before you're killed, then take the money and run quickly to the bank. I will have to say that it was less bleak than I expected after the first couple of chapters, but OMG...the amount of blood, gore, and body parts that was crammed into these pages! You probably will need to be HUGE fan of horror, or you'll spend a few weeks or months locked away in your house hiding under your covers with every light in the house on, after finally closing the book. Of course, you'll have to eventually go out for food...but watch your back and stay away from the amusement park!!

Seth - Carly Marie - (Tennessee)
Johnson Family Rules Series - Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Ice Hockey
5★
Seth Johnson is a hockey star with the Tennessee Grizzlies hockey team. He is also the first-born in the Johnson family of 9 children. The family is unusual in the fact that the mother, father, and grandmother...all are a part owner, and all work at the family owned BDSM club. Also the 6 sons and 3 daughters are all gay. This is the last book in the series although the characters are likely to pop up in other Carly Marie books. Seth and a man, Mazdon Grabowski, meet at a Halloween party. Maz is the newest member of the team but hadn't met his teammates yet. When Maz and Seth meet at the party, they believe it's just a one-time hook-up, so they didn't use their real names, and both were in costume... Maz hadn't played yet with the team so he nor Seath knew who the other was...but neither of them could ever forget the encounter. Seth went by the name "Pretty" and Maz was "Phantom". When they began sending text messages to those names, neither had any idea they were from the two of them who are now playing on the same hockey team. I have loved each of these three books. I hate to see this series end but was so glad I bought all of them so I can reread to my heart's content. Seth and Maz end up getting to know one another, while each thinking they were still receiving text from someone that they met at the party. There were some clues that they "thought" were things that each of them remembered learning from the other...but they didn't learn the identity until more than half-way though the story. In spite of it being nontraditional, their story really works. Seth and Maz are so sweet together, and I liked how they made one another a stronger person and how easily they accepted each other's individual kink. One of the lines that really made a lasting impression on me was when one of Seth's brothers told him "You have to always be yourself no matter what, because everyone else is already taken". The real possibility of such a totally accepting hockey team, really existing is probably a bit of a stretch, but times are changing and seeing as they are all truly nice guys...it's totally possible. Their camaraderie as a team is all there for everyone to see...and I loved these tough, grown men and their teddy bears.

Close To Home - Carly Marie - (Oklahoma)
Finding Home Series Book #3
Genera: M/M/M Romance
5★
Jasper and Harrison finally get their story. As always with this series, there is a kink involved here...and it involves Greg Joseph, one of the Navy SEALs introduced in Book 2 of this series. Jasper finally becomes comfortable with himself, but several unresolved issues remain setting the stage for a sequel and the final book in this series. The three guys were sweet together, but some of the other characters, like Ty, Jasper's rock star brother, was a bit harsh for no apparent reason. I would have liked to see him at least be a bit more supportive of his brother. At any rate...I enjoyed it, and it was a good addition to the "Finding Home" series. Maybe in the next book, the last one, the brothers, Ty, Declan and Jaspers's father can become a little more human and forgiving.

The Edge of the Shadows
Elizabeth George
This is the third book in the Whidbey Island Saga. Becca is still hiding out from her stepfather on the island. However, now someone is setting fires! Who is it? There are couple of suspects. There is one more book left in the series! Whidbey Island Saga

Britt-Marie Was Here – Fredrick Backman
Book on CD performed by Joan Walker
3.5***

Reeling from her husband’s latest infidelity, Britt-Marie decides to seek a job and move on. The only position she can get is a temporary one, however, in the small town of Borg, as custodian at the local recreation center. But when she arrives in Borg, she finds a town that is dying, and it was only an oversight that the rec center hasn’t already been closed. Not to worry, she’s been hired to clean and cleaning she can accomplish. But Britt-Marie isn’t really prepared for the residents of Borg, particularly the children whose passion for soccer / football slowly wins Britt-Marie over to their side.

I thought this was a lovely little fairy tale. The scenarios were somewhat improbable, and Britt-Marie didn’t always behave the way I would have expected her to, but just as the residents of Borg grew on her, Britt-Marie grew on me. I found her insistence on structure exasperating at times, but I also loved how determined she was. While she kept her emotions in check, she still showed tenderness and genuine caring.

The ending was not what I was expecting (or originally what I wanted), but I think it was perfect for Britt-Marie.

Joan Walker does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She had a lot of characters to voice, several of them women, but she sufficiently differentiated them, so it was easy to tell who was speaking. I also had the text handy though the audio uses the term “football” while the text (USA edition) uses “soccer.”

The Other Side of Here - E.M. Lindsey
Other Side of Here Book #1
Narrator: J.R. Warlow
Genera: M/M/M Romance/Age Gap/Polyamory
4★
Xan is a grad student. His parents were killed when he was still in high school, and he was still working on healing when he met Max when he was a sophomore in college. He’s now living with him as his fiancé, but Xan is miserable. Max has systematically cut him off from any other relationships, friendships, and even tries to interfere with one of his only remaining family members, his cousin Allie. While Max hasn’t hit him, he’s made him feel like he’s nothing and that no one would ever want him and that he couldn’t survive without him. He won’t allow him to go with him when he goes out with his friends. They really don't share anything, and Max continues to run Xan down. When Luca meets him on campus, he quickly realizes that something is very wrong, and they offer to help. After they meet, he realizes there might be more there than just being his friend. Luca has shared all this with Sebastion, his husband, and they are both on board to make Xan a part of their relationship, since they've always had an open marriage. Sebastian recognizes a lot of what is going on with Xan since he had had an abusive ex in the past and he didn’t have any support. Luca and Sebastian want to help but Xan may not be ready to accept what they are offering. Xan decides that he needs to help himself...so even though it breaks all their hearts, Xan leaves for Europe. Will he return? Sebastian and Luca can only go on with their lives and hope. This was beautifully written and read...and parts of it will break your heart. While I became a bit anxious for something to happen between the three guys...I began to see that this was the right step for them to take. I wondered about the title, but it's explained well as the guys work to make their relationship work. "You will never get to the other side of here if you don't take the first step"

The Malta Exchange - Steve Berry - (Malta)
Cotton Malone Series Book #14
Genera: Suspense /Thriller
3★
In the beginning of the book the pope has died, and His Eminence Kastor Cardinal Gallo schemes to get the job. The chances of this happening, he knows is slim since he is “persona non-grata" in the church and has been proclaimed a "threat to all the faithful” which is true since he only fakes his religious belief. Power is what he wants, and he is willing kill for it. He has an identical twin brother, Pollux, who is a Knight of Malta but he's not a priest and certainly not his brother's 'baby-sitter". Meanwhile, Cotton Malone is on a special assignment from Britain’s MI6, looking for a rumored secret correspondence between Winston Churchill and Mussolini. Former Army Ranger Luke Daniels trails Kastor, who is from Malta, where much of the story takes place. Cotton finds a mysterious ring engraved with a Maltese cross and a five-word palindrome that’s spelled out a bit too often. Maybe there is a secret in the engraved words. He also uncovers documents hidden by Mussolini and looks for what’s hidden in Rome. The intrigue is intense as Kastor, and a few others will stop at nothing short of murder to assure his rise to the most powerful post in the Roman Catholic Church. Thriller fans will eat this up! We also learn more than we probably ever needed or wanted to know about the inner workings of the church, its history dating all the way back to Constantine, and the very troubled past of Malta. A word of warning...Cynicism about Christianity is very strong here; Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi Hunter, once said "the Vatican has the best spy service in the world". Cotton Malone and his little band of "Merry Men"...and women, is more than capable of righting any wrong...“Failure is not his style” ...but Kastor and Pollux are the conniving characters that really stand out in this one. The books do not necessarily need to be read in order but "in order" will allow the reader to see how Cotton and his group evolved.

Trunk Music – Michael Connelly
Book on CD read by Dick Hill
3***

Book number 5 in the Harry Bosch series finds the detective back on the job after a previous suspension. He’s also back on homicide and he’s called to the scene of a potential mob hit. The car has been in the woods for a few days and the corpse in the trunk is pretty ripe. Harry and his new partners, Kiz Rider and Jerry Edgar, soon find themselves traveling to Las Vegas to track down leads in the case.

This is a typical Harry Bosch detective mystery. Lots of twists and turns. Lots of Harry battling against the police force bureaucrats that are the bane of his existence. It’s fast-paced and kept me guessing until pretty close to the end. I’m not sure I’m satisfied with the ending, though.

Dick Hill does a great job of narrating. I’ve listened to him voice Harry several times now. However, after the audio arrived from the library I realized it was the abridged version, so I chose to read the book rather than listen. There is an unabridged version that is also narrated by Hill.

The Miniaturist / Jessie Burton
3.5 stars

It’s the 17th century. Nella is newly married and travels to Amsterdam to live with her new husband (whom she’s barely met), a somewhat well-to-do merchant. She is young and he is much older. She is “greeted” by Marin, who seems pretty rude, and turns out to be her new sister-in-law. There are two servants in the house – one is a black man! – and her husband is away. No one is particularly welcoming.

When her husband buys a cabinet that is a small version of the very house they are living in as a wedding gift, there is a miniaturist who will make tiny things to add to the house, but the miniaturist starts sending things Nella has not ordered. Nella’s husband is often away on business, and she has a hard time fitting in. And weird things happen in this house.

This was good. It took a short bit to get going for me, and I suppose it is slow-moving in its entirety. I did get more interested and the story moved on, though. There are definitely some (big) surprises. I do think the cover is beautiful. (Though that wasn’t why I chose to read it – it was a gift.) And I see there is a sequel. I will read it.

A Beautiful Truth / Colin McAdam
3.5 stars

Walt and Judy want children, but are unable to have any. When Walt sees a chimpanzee at a circus, he decides he will get one for his wife, in place of a child. They love Looee very much, like a son, but as with all wild animals, as he ages, he is too much to handle.

There is a chimpanzee sanctuary where people are studying the chimps’ behaviour. In the story, we alternate between Walt/Judy/Looee’s perspectives, and the perspectives of the people and chimps at the sanctuary.

I listened to the audio and at first, particularly when we switched to the sanctuary, I had some trouble initially figuring out what was going on. It was interesting to see things from the chimps’ perspectives at times, though. And heartbreaking. I also had trouble getting “into” the book at the start knowing Walt and Judy had done a terrible thing treating a wild animal as a child; There was no way it was going to end well for Looee. I felt like the book didn’t fully end, but it’s possible I missed something (audio), or maybe the author wanted “life” to just sort of continue on.

Dead Silence - S.A. Barnes - Deep Space)
Genera: Sci-Fi/Horror
4.5★
I haven't read a Sci/Fi novel in a long, long time so thought this one sounded like something I would like. I wasn't entirely wrong. It opens with a crew of workers who are finishing a maintenance project in deep space when they suddenly pick up a distress signal from the luxury liner, Aurora. This usually wouldn’t be too unusual except that luxury liner went missing twenty years ago, lost to the mysteries of space…that is...until now. Claire Kovalik, the head of the team makes the decision to investigate...and she and her crew enter the ghost ship. They find that after more than two decades of drifting in deep space, the Aurora’s life support systems are all offline, and its interior is littered with hundreds of bodies. They also discover that most of the cruise liner’s passengers appear to have died under very mysterious circumstances. Something strange and unimaginable happened here. Darkness and paranoia begin to close in. I have to say up until that point, this story was exactly what I had expected and had hoped it would be. As Claire and her crew explored the haunted ship filled with the dead, I thought it was very much like "Event Horizon"...creepy, atmospheric, with over-the-top tension. It was unfolding beautifully into an awe-inspiring experience that felt very much like watching a movie. Then, the second half changed. The story from here split into two separated timelines...the past and the present. The story lost a lot of the momentum. The pace came to an abrupt halt during, and it was simply impossible to see things quite the same and I started to lose interest as more of the intrigue was removed, and the plot began to feel a tad too "crowded" with the addition of corporate politics, pandemic themes, conspiracies, and even a touch of romance which seemed almost to have been an afterthought. The action and the thrills toward the end were okay, but they were having much less of an impact at this point. I didn't in anyway dislike the book, I just wish the author could have continued the vibe that it started out with. I couldn't quiet go with the 5-star rating that I started out with, but 4.5 is honest. If you enjoy sci-fi horror, then chances are you are going to love Dead Silence.

Strange Brew – Kathy Hogan Trochek
3***

This is book six in the Callahan Garrity Mystery series, featuring former cop Callaghan and her mother, Edna, who run “House Mouse” maid service in Atlanta. Their neighborhood is seeing increased crime, but apparently is still a target for developers to buy up inexpensive properties and gentrify them. On Halloween, Wuvvy, an aging flower child who runs a toy store / head shop, confronts one of these new developers during a party at a local tavern. The next night said developer is found dead inside the Wuvvy’s shop. She swears she had nothing to do with the murder, and Callahan is inclined to believe her. But before she can really begin investigating, Wuvvy is found dead in her car, an apparent suicide.

I like this series. I like Callahan, who does have some reason to investigate and is at least skilled at it. She’s frequently helped by the House Mouse crew of eccentric ladies; I particularly like the elderly sisters Baby and Sister. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep even the best amateur sleuth guessing, and I didn’t figure out the perpetrator much before Callahan did.

Another satisfying cozy mystery from this author, and I’ll keep reading the series.

>59 BookConcierge: Ok, I suppose this shows a. my age, and b. that I'm Canadian. But I see "Strange Brew" and immediately think Bob and Doug MacKenzie!

Already Home - Carly Marie - (Oklahoma/Tennessee)
Finding Home Series Book #4
Genera: M/M/M Romance
5★
This was Jasper's story. I was always taken aback by the way this wonderful family of accepting parents and other gay siblings, had treated Jasper. Jasper was like the "red-headed stepchild"...put him in the barn, have him manage the farm, but never treat him like one of the other sons. Jasper never was able to tell his family that he was bisexual. He knew even if he did, they wouldn't have believed him. Even inviting him to go to the Stick Pony, a gay bar, with them on night was a bit on the "mean" side. It backfired big time on them though because this is where Jasper meets not one...but two men, Greg and Harrison, that become the "loves of his life". We had met Harrison in the first three books. He was Derek's best friend and a member of the band. I was happy to see that his three brothers did have the good graces to come and talk to him and apologize for their years of bad behavior. It was also good to see his dad come around to being a better father and not so judgmental. Jasper was his oldest son, but he treated him like slave labor. I hated to see this series end...I'll miss all the wonderful, warm, sweet guys...but I own all the books so I can revisit, and I will. There is a Christmas book, Home for Christmas, that is part of this series with a story for each couple.

Arbella: England's Lost Queen / Sarah Gristwood
2.75 stars

Arbella Stuart was the great-granddaughter of Margaret Tudor (Henry VIII’s oldest sister). She should have been a possibility to be queen, but was bypassed. Both Elizabeth I and James I kept her at bay, and wouldn’t even allow her to marry (in the line of succession, you need permission to marry since they will likely want a politically advantageous marriage). Eventually, she just gave up and chose who she wanted to marry and married in secret (to the great-great-grandson of Mary Tudor (Henry VIII’s youngest sister)). It wasn’t long before they were found out and imprisoned.

This was nonfiction and felt a bit dense through much of it. As I tend to often mention in my reviews of historical biographies of women, even if they were royalty, there often seems to be little information on them, so much of the “action” is actually what’s taking place around them. Arbella’s marriage and attempt to escape the Tower were the most interesting part (and likely where there was the most information to use for this biography). I feel like a fictional account of her life might make things a bit more interesting.

Nobody Hugs A Cactus - Carter Goodrich
Genera: Children's Book
5★ and the kid that it belongs to gets 100,000:)

"A grumpy cactus learns that sharing affection feels good."

My 4-year-old granddaughter, Shelby, who is visiting brought this book with her since she "reads" with me. Actually, she turns pages and I read TO her. This is so incredibly cute, Shelby said I had to tell my friends about Hank.

Hank is a cactus that sits in a round pot in the window of a house surrounded by what else...of course a desert. According to the text, “It was hot, dry, peaceful, and quiet. Just the way Hank liked it.” Soon however, the peace is shattered by a number of creatures passing by. Rosie the Tumbleweed calls a cheerful greeting, as do a timid turtle, a jackrabbit, and a coyote, among others. Hank returns the greeting to each of them, but one day a cowboy points out that “nobody hugs a cactus.” Hank can’t quite get over the feeling that he’s missing something. When Rosie rolls by again...remember she's a tumbleweed... and does him a favor, he decides to return it which leads to a big hug after all. There are watercolor illustrations allow the paper’s texture to show through and feature sandy golds, subtle greens, and an expanse of sky that moves from clear blues to pinks, reds, and purples to indicate the passage of time. Carter Goodrich does an awesome job of giving Hank such a genuinely personable personality. He’s got a spike-head and two stubby, prickly arms, and he looks alternately cranky, forlorn, shocked, and friendly. Elongated shapes and unusual perspectives add interest and complement the low-key, conversational text. Those folks that have grumpy young listeners may not be entirely convinced by Hank’s relatively rapid turnaround, but the closing thought “After all, it’s better to be stuck in a hug than stuck all alone” is one that can be embraced by everyone. We all need a hug...even a cactus. I know the book by heart now and so does Shelby as we just completed out eighth read in two days. On to Chez Bob who is an alligator:)

>60 LibraryCin: Thanks for the chuckle!

The Daughters of Yalta – Catherine Grace Katz
Digital audiobook read by Christine Rendel
4****

Subtitle: The Churchills, Roosevelts, and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War

When the Allied leaders chose to meet at Yalta for a summit concerning strategy for finally ending World War II, three young women, each a daughter of a key player, were asked to come along. Kathleen Harriman was the daughter of U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union Averell Harriman; she was a champion skier and a war correspondent. Sarah Churchill, a RAF officer (and former actress) accompanied her brilliant father, who depended on her astute political mind. And Franklin D Roosevelt’s only daughter, Anna, was tasked with keeping her father’s closely guarded secrets, especially when it came to his failing health. Each young woman had a fierce sense of family loyalty but was also blessed with political savvy. They not only witnessed history but helped to craft the world’s future. And then there were the romantic intrigues …

I found this “behind-the-scenes” history fascinating. I had heard of Sarah and Anna, but knew nothing of Kathleen. These young women – beautiful, wealthy and vivacious – were treated by the press as “society” stories. But they were far more than just photo opportunities. Each was highly intelligent and quite accomplished. And each one helped her father in key ways.

As a bonus there was more info on Churchill’s daughter-in-law. I had previously read Life of the Party: The Biography of Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman by Christopher Ogden, so familiar with Pamela, but this work nicely supplemented what I knew about her, as well.

Christine Rendel does a fine job of narrating the audiobook edition. But there were several sections that I chose to read in text. I find that reading history in text helps me to better absorb the information than listening.

Home for Christmas - Carly Marie -(Oklahoma/Tennessee)
Finding Home Series Book #5
Genera: M/M/M Romance/Christmas/Family
5★
This was awesome and amazing...but I wouldn't have expected anything else from Carly Marie. It's a Christmas themed story, there's a wedding (actually a lifetime commitment since three men can't marry), all the Scott family is together with their family and all the family's "add-ons" in spite of the snowstorm that I guess isn't a usual occurrence for that part of Oklahoma. It had some really funny parts some tear producing parts (in a good way), just a wonderful time with these sweet, awesome men. The world of the Scott family is one that I would have happily stayed in longer, but I can revisit the guys as many times as I like. This series should be read in order to fully understand the dynamic of the Scott family members.

Daddy's Little Christmas - Della Cain
Part of The Secret Santa series
Genera: M/M Romance/Age Gap (Daddy/Little)
5★
I always love age -gap stories, (Daddies & Littles) since they always have a happy ending, the characters are sweet, the daddies are terrific caregivers, and everyone is happy. Sure, I know this is not how real life often is and this is "fluff", but it's a great escape mechanism for a couple of hours. The characters in all three of these books are opposites of what you would think of when thinking about Daddys and Littles. In this one the larger man who was the "Little" was a successful CEO of a large, successful company where the "Daddy" was a smaller, younger man and his assistant. When they came together, they were absolutely perfect. We also got to visit Club Collard where some other stories by Della Cain have taken place. The three books in this little, (no pun intended), series are all short and capable of being read in one sitting...as if I could have put it down before the last page:)

>67 Carol420: I'm curious if you are doing a challenge for Christmas books at this time!? :-) We've had a recent dump of snow that started Tuesday and continues to today, so I'd like to put my Christmas lights back up!

>68 LibraryCin: All the snow that we didn't have in February arrived two days ago, but it's all gone now. I don't want to encourage any more of it...but you go ahead and put your Christmas lights back up but don't be surprised if the snow follows them as if they are a 'guiding light:) The last few books that I've read have had a Christmas theme and Christmas in the titles, but it's because I bought them in December and am just getting around to reading them. Don't think I'll press my luck by posting a challenge...but you go ahead if you want to:)

>69 Carol420: Ah, the snow has been here all week. :-) It will warm up next week, and oh! The sun just peeked out for the first time since... Monday or Tuesday? Gone again at the moment, but I see blue sky for the first time in that many days, too.

LOL! Ok, makes sense for the Christmas themed books then!

Meet Me In The Middle - L.A. Witt
Wildes Series Book #5
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
This is the story of Dale and Adam, who were two best friends in high school. They acted on their attraction right after graduation just before Adam left for the Navy. Then they lost contact until their ten-year class reunion where once again they acted on that mutual attraction...then Adam broke Dale’s heart. Now their 20-year reunion is coming up and Dale is determined that history is not going to repeat itself. Of course, it does, and they are left to deal with the aftermath and the knowledge that Adam will be retiring from the Navy soon. They both want to rebuild their friendship, but Dale needs and wants more, he wants and needs to know what happened in the past won’t happen again in their future. This was much less angsty that I thought it would be, and overall, I really enjoyed this book. I loved Adam and Dale’s interactions, yet I found their interactions with Dale’s friends (the couples from the first two books) to be rather awkward. There also wasn't much bonding time between Dale and Adam, so I wasn't surprised that Dale had so much concern when they were apart. It was good to see that Dales friends were there for him and gave him good advice. Adam's speech at his retirement ceremony was what really did it for me as far as raising the rating that I started out with. Overall, it was a fast, sweet read with happy ever after.

Dangerous Rhythms by T.J. English
5*****

Such a great book and so eye-opening about the intersecting worlds of jazz and the Mafia. I had no idea. There were rumors of Frank Sinatra's involvement with the Mob and Mob Bosses, but the work done by this author brings so much more to light about these two worlds.

In short, the Mafia had the money and they were active during Prohibition, while they also ran the speakeasy's as a chief source of income. And they were familiar with the burgeoning jazz musicians who were willing to play in those same clubs as a way to make a living.

Then once Prohibition ended, these same Mafia bosses had to find a way to keep their income coming in and boy did they. From New York's famed Cotton Club to Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, and Miami, the jazz clubs sprang up, the musicians played, big band music became the new thing, and the money rolled in. Mostly to the mobsters as one would expect.

Very many aspects of the intertwining of jazz and the Mafia are put into history, including the increased use of heroin and the musicians who got hooked, the violence that happened if anyone tried to switch clubs or bands, and the "plantation mentality" of black musicians, white audience till the 60's and early 70's. Also detailed are the years that Havana was a jazz-and-Mob jewel and how Las Vegas came to exist.

Highly recommend this book for music fans and readers interested in 20th century American history.

Girls and Their Monsters by Audrey Clare Farley
4****

This book is a well-researched history of a set of American quadruplets who grew up in Lansing, Michigan and were part of the burgeoning research into the origins of schizophrenia. Is it nature or nurture? What does the science of psychology gain from these studies? And most importantly, how has the care of the mentally disturbed become so abysmal?

The parents of these quadruplets married in the 1920's, with many warnings pre-marriage that the young bride, Sadie, failed to heed. One wonders what her life would have been had she not listened to her employer, a doctor, who decided that Carl was a "good man" even though her intuition told her differently. And as one can guess, the abuse started early with one bizarre twist: Carl was a biter.

They eventually have their quadruplet girls and like so many children they learned to perform on stage and were the family's breadwinners for several years. But as they began to enter school their differences became much more discernible: Helen became inert and would not finish school, Edna became a second spouse to Carl. Wilma discovered her own body, and Sarah just wanted to be able to have friends outside her family. But Carl would have none of it, and the abuse became more physical and sexual as the sisters entered puberty.

By the 1950's, their story included mental health institutions, which eventually brought all 4 sisters to the attention of a brilliant psychologist, David Rosenthal, and his new facility, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

The four sisters lived on the NIMH campus for several years, their parents were also studied, to see whether their schizophrenia was genetic or tied to their upbringing. The author shows how it could easily be both.

Also presented in the book's timeline are the strides that were made in the care of those suffering from mental illness that came to a crashing halt with 1980's Reaganomics. Once mental health facilities turned to profits for themselves instead of care for the mentally challenged, there was nowhere else to turn but the streets.

The Sawbones Book: The Hilarious, Horrifying Road to Modern Medicine / Justin & Sydnee McElroy
4 stars

You might guess from the subtitle that this is a humourous look at the history of medicine. The authors are a family doctor, and her husband, a layperson. The book appears to be based on a podcast (I have no clue about this podcast). Some of the topics they look at include: opium, charcoal, mercury, radium, arsenic, honey, chocolate, and vinegar. Also, weight loss, the Black Plague, erectile dysfunction, spontaneous combustion, phrenology, lobotomy, poop, the dancing plague, homeopathy, bloodletting, polio, and more.

This was funny! I’ve read a number of medical history books that look at many of these things, so some of the stories are repeats, but it’s still nice to get the reminders, since often with books like this that include so many different topics, it’s easy to forget. There were some fantastic illustrations, and little side-notes of the authors dialogue between themselves about the various topics. Even though some of the topics can be pretty disgusting (though it didn’t bother me), this is a good way to read about it with the humour mixed in.

The Silent Bride - Shalini Boland - (Iowa)
Genera: Psychological Thriller/Mystery & Suspense
5★
At the start you may think that the storyline is going to be predictable...just another "who done it... but you'll be wrong....in a good way. Alice, our bride, is looking for her missing groom. As you read a bit further, you’ll realize just how much "more" there is to this story. The author has done an excellent job of creating a tense atmosphere that keeps you guessing until the end. The story is filled to overflowing with intrigue, deception, and surprises. The characters are well-rounded, complex and so very easy to relate to. I found that Alice is a likeable heroine. She will tug at your heartstrings as you follow her efforts to find her missing groom. The author has given us Seth...Alice's fiancé, and the missing groom. He is our character that we can "love to hate". Every psychological thriller needs one of those you know. We are introduced, along the journey, to some other characters that will keep you guessing as to exactly what their intentions are. You will soon find that you are deeply invested in all of these characters, and you are hooked. The journey you have undertaken is filled with twists and turns that culminate in a conclusion that is sure to leave you breathless. Overall...anyone who loves good psychological thrillers with a captivating storyline, well-rounded characters and an excellent writing style, will love The Silent Bride. I found it nearly impossible to put down.

Schindler's List
by Thomas Keneally
4/5 stars
This is the fictionalized version based on the real-true life story of Oskar Schindler which was later made into a film. Schindler during WWII helped a number of the Jewish population escape from the death camps in Czechoslovakia. Lengthy but interesting!

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood – Howard Pyle
Adapted by Deborah Kestel
3***

A friend mentioned that her book club was focusing on classics this year and this was their monthly read. When I said that I had never read the full story (though, of course, I was familiar with the legend), she offered to pass the book along to me when she was finished.

Well, what she had was the “Great Illustrated Classics” edition, adapted by Deborah Kestel for a younger audience, and illustrated by Pablo Marcos Studio.

It’s a fast, fun adventure with lots of fighting, competition, disguises, and more than a few near misses. Most of the characters are here, including Friar Tuck, Little John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. But Maid Marion is mentioned only once.

I imagine the middle-school audience would enjoy this legend of adventure and derring-do. I wanted more depth to the story, though I doubt I’ll try to go back and read the original.

A Corner Of the Universe – Ann M Martin
Book on CD performed by Judith Ivey
4****

This is a wonderful Newbery Honor book written for middle-school-aged children. Set in about 1960, it focuses on Hattie Owens and her family. Hattie loves the small town in which she lives with her parents in the boarding house they run. It’s an insular world but Hattie knows every corner of it, and she enjoys her friends and neighbors. Her experience, however, is far different from that of her grandparents, who also live nearby, but who are quite wealthy. And then, the summer she turns twelve, an uncle she had never heard of appears. Adam has been living “at school” (really a residential institution for the mentally disabled), but the school has closed so he has come home while his parents search for other accommodations for him. Hattie relates the events of the summer of Adam in this story.

There are some serious issues dealt with in this novel, but Martin handles them deftly, honestly and with compassion. Hattie is a bright girl, curious and resourceful, polite and obedient. She is entranced with Adam who is more like a large child than an adult man. He is effusive and enthusiastic about everything. He’s also impulsive and prone to having a meltdown when under stress.

As Hattie pieces together the truth about her uncle she comes to understand a bit about what it means to grow up and the different ways in which people react to the unexpected. She learns that it is better to “lift the corners” and peek at what is hidden rather than try to forget about what is unpleasant or uncomfortable. She learns, too, that being different does not make you a lesser person.

Judith Ivey does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. She is a gifted actress, and I particularly liked the way she interpreted Adam’s effusive speech patterns.

Bouncing Back - L.A. Witt - (Washington)
Wilde Dance Club Series Book #9
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
We return to Washington's Gay Dance Club, Wilde’s. This was Elliott and Samir’s story, and the last book in this series. The ability of these two, to be kind, sweet, and gentle was the best thing about these guys. Simar, a veterinarian, was trying to get free of his abusive boyfriend, Jesse...but Jesse just didn't understand "leave me alone" or the meaning of the word "no"...so Simar asked Elliott...a bouncer at the club and a war veteran, if he could be at his house when Jesse came to pick up his things. Samir knew that Jesse wouldn't give up easily, but he never imagined the lengths Jesse would go to in order to keep him frightened. Abuse isn't always physical...sometimes it's mental and that can be even worse. Physical wounds heal but mental ones linger and haunt sometimes for years. The story became heart breaking at times...but each time Jesse "attacked" Samir became a bit stronger. Elliott was not going anywhere, and he had Simar's back and soon had his heart. I hated to see Samir suffering and berating himself because he wasn’t “strong” enough to break it off with Jesse without asking for help, in the form of Elliott. It was also very difficult to watch Samir second-guessing himself constantly about getting involved with Elliott basically as soon as Jesse was gone. It seems that was a pattern, as that’s how Samir went from his first abusive boyfriend to another just like him...Jesse. Elliott was unlike anyone Samir has ever met and his kindness and gentle nature keep Samir coming back. I was rather disappointed at how easily Simar would fold when Jesse tried something else...but having never been in that situation, I couldn't judge. The story did have a wonderful ending.

Hell's Half-Acre / Susan Jonusas
3.5 stars

The Benders were a group of four people, an older couple known simply as Ma and Pa, and a younger couple. No one knows if the younger were siblings or married. They moved to a plot of land in Kansas in the 1870s and stayed for a few years. The younger woman, Kate, called herself a “spiritualist”. They sold groceries (or had a sign out to do so, anyway), and attracted travellers with food and a place to stay. Unfortunately for some of those travellers, the Benders were also serial killers. When some of the locals were suspicious when the local doctor went missing, the Benders up and ran. No one ever found them. As the locals started looking around, the bodies were piling up on the homestead. There were at least 11 people killed, mostly men, mostly travellers, but one 18 month-old baby buried with her dad (they think the baby was buried alive).

I read a shorter account of this somewhere, I’d like to say not long ago, but it may be longer than I’m thinking. This was an expanded version of the story. Only about the first 1/3 of the book told of them coming to the area until they ran. The next bit of the book followed them to the wilds of Texas, where there were a lot more outlaws and places to hide, and people to help them hide. Beyond that, no one knows where they ended up. The last bit of the book was when, 16 years later, someone thought they’d found Ma and Kate; there were trials to determine if they really were the Benders or not. There is an extensive note section at the end, as well.

I thought the start and end were the more interesting. The middle part, as the Benders made their escape, was less interesting as we focused on a few of the other criminal element who helped them along their way (one of these people talked to police while he was in jail later on, so that’s how some of this is known). Overall, I’d say this was good. Certainly a lot of research went into it.

Black Powder War – Naomi Novik
Digital audiobook narrated by Simon Vance
4****

Book number three in the marvelous series featuring Captain Will Laurence and his dragon, Temeraire. Following their exploits in China (book two), they’ve received special orders to escort three precious dragon eggs purchased from the Ottoman Empire from Istanbul back to England. It is important that the eggs arrive in England before they hatch. But they are waylaid several times, due in part to the schemes employed by the Chinese dragon Lien. Capt. Laurence and Temeraire have little choice but to launch an offensive against Bonaparte’s forces.

I love this series and this episode has more of the aerial “dog fights” that first entranced me in book one. I love that Novik used the Napoleonic War as the background to this story, while building on the legends of dragons and their varied traits. Temeraire is a marvel; intelligent, fluent in multiple languages, an astute observer and a skilled warrior. He is also devoted to Will and their relationship is an important part of the series.

I listened to the audio, masterfully performed by Simon Vance. I love the voice he gives Temeraire. And especially enjoyed the way he interpreted the latest dragon to join their adventures, the hatchling Iskierka.

Just Like Mother - Anne Heltzel - (New York)
Genera: Horror/Cults
2★
Possible Triggers: Rape, Imprisonment, Abuse, Loss of Body Parts
This is a very creepy story about the young survivors of a "mother-worshipping" cult, who grow up to be damaged and potentially dangerous adults. I wasn't at all surprised. I thought the description sounded like "my kind of story" but quickly learned that this book was more disturbing than necessary...even for me. We have the two main characters, Maeve and Andrea who were raised by a group called "the Mother Collective"...a fancy name for "cult". The cult was raided and disbanded after 8-year-old Maeve runs away and turns them in. Now we move forward, and adult Maeve is a talented editor, but lives a lonely, disconnected life, until a DNA test reunites her with Andrea once again. Andrea is the head of a tech and lifestyle company with a limitless fortune, and of course she wants nothing more than to spend time with Maeve, but they can't speak of their early years...that is strictly forbidden. Maeve begins to spend more and more time with Andrea and her husband at their isolated country home, and things begin to get weird. That’s all I’ll say about the plot. I will say that the story from here goes in a frightening direction, but I couldn't find any of it to be remotely credible. I think it's supposed to shock and disturb the reader, but it didn’t present enough insight into the characters or their situation to make any of it truly believable. I never did understand Andrea’s company and how she came to be so successful...but it does involve robot baby dolls, which in themselves were scary and weird. I read some really weird things and but this was just overload...even for me. I think the author was probably going for "terrifyingly and creepy", but missed the mark that would have held the reader's attention enough to find out what happened.

Murder Past Due - Miranda James - (Mississippi)
Cat in the Stacks Series Book #1
Genera: Cozy Mystery & Suspense
4★
Charlie Harris is a widow who has moved back to his hometown of Athena, Mississippi, into the house he inherited from his aunt. He works part time as the archivist at the local college’s library. He’s also well known for his rescued Maine coon cat, Diesel; a cat that goes almost everywhere with him. I loved Diesel. I'm not a big fan of cozies but I am a big fan of kitties, so the story is worth reading just to meet him. Of all the people from his past Charlie never wanted to ever see again, Godfrey Priest was IT. Godfrey was a jerk when they had known each other in high school and college, and now his status as a bestselling author of thrillers has done nothing to deflate his gigantic, growing ego. Now Godfrey is back in town and appearing at the local college where...you guessed it...Charlie works. Since Godfrey returned, secrets start appearing out of the woodwork. Charlie then finds Godfrey dead in his hotel room. The investigation centers around Charlie’s boarder, who is the son of an old friend, and Charlie starts looking around and asking questions. Still, it won’t be easy to find the killer of a guy who no one seemed to ever have liked. Charlie isn't sure that he is the one to do it or even if he can. One of the reasons I don't especially care for Cozy Mysteries is that usually the plot moves forward at a snail's pace, and it takes forever for something to happen. That wasn’t the case with this one. This book had more twists in the first 100 pages than some books I've read had in the entire story. The pace did slow down a little as the story progressed, there were still some really good twists and reveals in the second half. The clues were well planted, and I found myself completely satisfied at how things came together at the end.

Malta Exchange by Steve Berry
3***

Having read another book in the Cotton Malone series, and being interested in the Knights Templar and other Medieval organizations, I was really intrigued that there would be discussion of the Knights Hospitaller and the Knights of Malta, and even letters between Churchill and Mussolini. What fun!

Unfortunately, this book was a bit too disjointed. Yes, there was discussion about the structure of the Knights Hospitaller and the mysterious documents case held by Benito Mussolini at the time of his death, but the latter sort of fizzled out on Malta and the former was a bit eclipsed by a cast of characters that were in, then out, then trying to be mysteriously involved.

While I can appreciate multiple chapters with multiple points of view, this one jumped from Cotton Malone to Luke to the mysterious Knight to other events, and all those jumps made following the plot just way too hard. So, while I enjoy this genre, I was left without that wonderful conspiracy puzzle that I had expected.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet / Jamie Ford
4.75 stars (average over two reads)

It’s 1986 and, after losing his wife to cancer, Henry Lee and his son have a slightly strained relationship, similar to the one Henry had with his father. When Henry passes the Panama Hotel, and sees that someone has found boxes of abandoned things in the basement, it brings back memories of 1942. Henry was 12 years old, and going to a white kids’ school, where the only other non-white was a Japanese-American girl, Keiko. They strike up a friendship, until her family is sent away to the internment camps. It moved back and forth in time, between Henry patching up his strained relationship with his son, Marty, in 1986, and back to the war years and his time spent with Keiko and his struggles with his father over their forbidden friendship.

2010 read:
5 stars
Loved this book! Wow! What an emotional roller-coaster! This was Jamie Ford’s first book and I do hope he’ll be writing more.

2024 reread:
4.5 stars.
It was slower-moving through the book than I remembered. And there was a lot I’d forgotten. I really only remembered the gist of the book and how much I liked it. It was a difficult topic done in a nice way. I liked all the mixes of races (at least amongst the main characters, and that they all managed to be friends.) But Henry’s father sure was hateful (full of hate, himself, and easy for the reader to dislike).

The Mountaintop School for Dogs... / Ellen Cooney
2.5 stars

Evie has travelled to work (or volunteer?) at a dog rescue at the top of a mountain. However, she lied and said she had experience training dogs. Meanwhile, she looks things up online to help herself out. She is delayed for a while at the bottom of the mountain where she meets Mrs. Auberchon, who is in charge of the lodge she is temporarily at, and “Giant George”, a teenager who also works/volunteers at the rescue. And she meets a few of the dogs on their way to the rescue.

I listened to the audio. Although I liked the idea of the dog rescue and some of the issues that the book brings to light as to some of the awful ways dogs are sometimes treated and why they might end up at a rescue, I wasn’t impressed with this rescue – seems to me this is a pretty disreputable place. They let Evie go straight in and start training without training her themselves? They stole at least one dog (the new Evie and teenager George were sent to do this), probably more. I didn’t really like Evie, and I wasn’t interested in her background, so I mostly tuned that out. The 2.5 stars is for the dogs and the general information about dogs included in the book.

The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen
4 1/2 ****

I finished the last 20 pages of this book on 4/2, then promptly went on a camping expedition in Illinois to see the eclipse, so my apologies for not posting this review sooner!

A great book that is so very timely, both in its subject matter (the search for the cure for polio) and for its actual writing. Cullen says at the very end of this book that she began it the day that Chinese scientists announced an outbreak of a new, respiratory-centered virus, and only found the coincidence months later.

The book centers on the life of Dorothy Horstman, daughter of German immigrants, who earns her college degree in science because she uses her first two initials. Barely allowed even a fellowship appointment in the 1940's, she has become drawn into fighting the horrors of polio and its attack on the nervous system. And the way it robs people of all ages of their full lives.

Dr. Horstman is competing not just with a narrow-minded group of colleagues, but also the famous Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, the former of whom is credited with finding the cure. Except he didn't. And his race to get the grant resulted in rushed inoculations with the dead, not the live, virus, combined with shoddy work at the laboratory. Both of these mistakes resulted in another mass outbreak of polio, though they also brought about stricter controls on labs that manufacture vaccines.

The great thing about this book is the way in which I felt drawn into the race, into rooting for Dorothy and her successes, the deft way in which she handles both the egos and the medicine, and her compassion for those doomed to live their entire lives in an iron lung.

One aspect that seemed a little forced was the way in which other noted women who worked around polio patients were introduced to the story, and then shuffled to the side. Granted, this is Dorothy's story, but a bit more interaction or fleshing out of the Australian nurse Sister Elizabeth Kenny, who placed hot, wet wool on patients' limbs, or Barbara Johnson, the research assistant who developed polio due to interacting with the live virus in her work, would have helped the larger story.

Still, this is a timely story that needs to be told, in the way that Lynn Cullen has made women's histories come back from obscurity with her books.