I was interested in this book because it was described as Mark Twain-like and I really like his style of writing. While I could see what the author was attempting to do with this book, it fell short for me.
Continue reading “Up a Tree by Richard M. Brock”
This is a fun piece of fluff that is a somewhat enjoyable read. It centers around three women, all facing different difficulties, who bond over their love of food. Trista left her life as a lawyer behind (we never find out why) and buys the bar/restaurant she worked at while in law school. It needs a big makeover if she’s ever going to earn a living from it. Margo is a part-time real estate agent who loves to cook and has recently been dumped by her self-absorbed husband. While it’s a blessing in disguise, she must navigate finding a career to support herself with renovating a run-down farm she inherited in the divorce. Aja wants to learn to cook better and is looking for good friends who will support her through an unplanned pregnancy.
Continue reading “The Cookbook Club: A Novel of Food and Friendship by Beth Harbison”
This is another great mystery/thriller by John Hart. I always look forward to his books because they are so well written, and the stories are so original, that it’s an immense pleasure to read them. This book is set in the South during the Vietnam War and follows one family as they struggle with the invisible wounds of PTSD and the growing pains of coming of age.
Continue reading “The Unwilling by John Hart”
3.5 stars
I LOVED Ready Player One and read it in one sitting. So, I was super excited when I heard the author was writing a sequel. While I liked this book, it pales in comparison to the first one. But hey, what do you expect? The first book was brilliant and I’m not surprised I didn’t like the second one as much.
Continue reading “Ready Player Two (Ready Player One, #2) by Ernest Cline”
This is a fun, entertaining mystery/romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Finlay is a young mother of two getting divorced from her cheating husband. She’s a struggling mystery/romance author who has writer’s block and is in danger of having to return her meager book advance. She’s in debt up to her eyeballs, her husband is fighting her for custody and she can’t catch a break. A last minute change of plans has her meeting her book agent in a Panera restaurant sitting amongst a lunchtime throng. As she discusses the latest plot of her murder mystery, she senses the woman at the table next to her listening in and eyeing her.
Continue reading “Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano”
This is a really good first book in a new, exciting fantasy series. We’re back in Kingfountain, and I’m so excited! This story revolves around a young man nicknamed Ransom. As a young second son, he is given to the King by his father as hostage to ensure his father behaves and does not side with rival Devon Argentine, who is intent on taking the crown for himself.
Continue reading “Knight’s Ransom (The First Argentines #1) by Jeff Wheeler”
This was the book for our January book club meeting. I hadn’t heard of the book until it was chosen, and then it seemed like I saw it everywhere. The book is a well-written peek into the life of residents in a section of a housing project in south Brooklyn. The story starts with an alcoholic, cranky elderly church deacon named Sportcoat shooting the local drug dealer in front of everyone in the middle of the project’s courtyard. From there, the book weaves the stories of the various residents from the Five Ends Baptist Church that witnessed the shooting and are affected by it, as well as the police officer assigned to investigate the shooting and a local Italian mobster.
Continue reading “Deacon King Kong by James McBride”
Meh. This an ok fantasy. It’s an easy read, but the story doesn’t really go anywhere. It’s listed as a YA Fantasy and while the story is as simplistic as a YA book, I think the inclusion of a lot of discussion about sex takes it out of that category. Perhaps if you’re talking about college-age YA, then perhaps.
Continue reading “Shadow in the Empire of Light by Jane Routley”
This is a good mystery/thriller that is a quick and easy read. Sam sustained a serious head injury in Afghanistan and is suffering from severe PTSD. He gets a job as a bar back in a club and is trying to deal with his injury and repair his failing marriage. One night Sam shelters his co-worker Melody who was beaten by her boyfriend. When the boyfriend turns up dead the next day, both Sam and Melody are suspects.
Continue reading “Deeper into the Dark (Detective Margaret Nolan #1) by P.J. Tracy”
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