3.5 stars
This was a beautifully written historical fiction about the fictitious marriage of Ana, a young girl raised in a wealthy family, and Jesus. It focuses on the unknown time in Jesus’ life between the age 18 and the time he began his public ministry. Continue reading “The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd”
3 stars
This was an easy-to-read mystery/thriller set in northern Michigan. Continue reading “Two Widows by Laura Wolfe”
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
This is a compelling historical fiction about women who were convicted, given harsh sentences, and shipped off to an Australian penal colony. Continue reading “The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline”
4 stars
Once again we are treated with an exciting, action-packed book about the struggle of Elsira and Lagrimar, two nations that have been at war for centuries. The book starts fast and doesn’t slow down until the satisfying cliffhanger. (I mistakenly thought this was the last book in the series, but no, we will be treated to at least one more book!) Continue reading “Cry of Metal & Bone (Earthsinger Chronicles #3) by L. Penelope”
3 stars
This was a fairly good Mystery/Thriller book about a nanny left to care for 4 children in a remote Scottish Highlands “smart” house that is reportedly “haunted”. The author did an ok job of building tension, but overall, the story was a little blah. Continue reading “The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware”
3 stars
I was really looking forward to reading this follow-up to The Handmaid’s Tale, but I sadly have to agree with a lot of reviewers that felt this book was not necessary. There were certainly sparks of greatness in this book, unfortunately just not enough of them. Continue reading “The Testaments (The Handmaid’s Tale #2) by Margaret Atwood”
2 stars
This is a well-researched historical fiction book about the supposed affair between the mistress of a home and Branwell Bronte, the brother of the daughters’ governess Anne Bronte, and the other famous Bronte sisters. Continue reading “Bronte’s Mistress by Finola Austin”
4 stars
This was the July book for my book club. I’ve never read this author before, but I really enjoyed his writing and will definitely read more of his books. This book is written about one fateful summer in the life of 13 year old Frank Drum who lived in New Bremen, MN in 1961. The book is told from his perspective 40 years after the events. Continue reading “Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger”
4 stars (release date August 4, 2020)
This is a quick and enjoyable mystery/thriller that has a story within a story. Rachel has a true crime podcast (think “Serial”) that grew in popularity after her first season when she investigated a murder trial and found evidence that set the defendant free. Now in her third season, she is following a rape trial in real-time in the small town of Neapolis. The town is being torn apart by the rape trial of a young teenage girl by a popular teenage boy training for the Olympics. Continue reading “The Night Swim by Megan Goldin”
