4.5 stars
This is an outstanding short story about a young boy’s journey through regret and grief as he sits vigil over his comatose mother in the hospital. Fourteen year old Jodie tries to memorialize his mother by drawing her, which his older brother doesn’t like and finds creepy. Each of Jodie’s sketches are almost complete – except for his mother’s eyes. He just can’t seem to get them right.
Continue reading “My Mother’s Eyes: A short story by Jeremy Ray”
This is an ok mystery/thriller centered around a family and their babysitter. The mother, Sarah, is wound tight and doesn’t trust easily. Her husband hires 22 year old Holly, the daughter of one of his club friends, to babysit their 6 year old son. Initially things go well, but Sarah’s suspicions start to build until she eventually learns something about Holly she can’t overlook. The family moves across the country to start over, but Sarah finds hidden cameras in their rented house and then starts to receive ominous texts from someone, possibly Holly. As the mysteries mount up, Sarah is determined to get to the bottom of it all.
Continue reading “Watch Out For Her by Samantha M. Bailey”
This is a fun and flirty historical fiction romance set in 1550 Scotland. This is book 3 of the series, but it is a stand alone story. I haven’t read the first 2 books, but there was enough background that I didn’t feel like I missed too much. Gideon Sinclair is one of four sons raised by their father to be the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in their clan. Gideon is Justice and has spent his life learning the law and dispensing justice to the members of his clan.
Continue reading “Highland Justice (Sons of Sinclair #3) by Heather McCollum”
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
This is a good historical fiction romance mystery book. I haven’t read many books with these components and it was a nice change of pace. This is book seven in the series. I haven’t read any of the previous books but since this is a stand alone story it isn’t necessary to read the others. There is also plenty of exposition that explains a lot of the backstory of the characters, so I didn’t feel lost.
Continue reading “Never a Duke (Rogues to Riches #7) by Grace Burrowes”
This is a very good non-fiction book that takes an in-depth look at the difficulties people released from prison face once they are released. The author focuses on six individuals that were incarcerated as minors and follows their journeys as they are released and attempt to integrate back into a society that most of them barely recognize.
Continue reading “Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home by Lauren Kessler”
This is a really good historical fiction mystery/thriller. I must admit, I read the first book in this series One Good Deed and did not enjoy it very much. In fact, I couldn’t even finish it! This really surprised me, because I normally really enjoy David Baldacci’s books. I’m so glad that I revisited the series because this book was so good.
Continue reading “Dream Town (Archer #3) by David Baldacci”
This is a cute and funny contemporary book about the self-appointed mayor of a tiny Italian village desperately trying to save his hometown no matter the cost. Signor Speranza is told by the water commissioner’s office that unless he can come up with 70,000 Euros to fix the town’s pipes, the water will be shut off and all of the town’s 212 inhabitants will be forced to disperse. So what’s an informal Mayor to do? Why, spread a false rumor that a famous heartthrob actor is shooting his new movie in the village, of course! His hope is that tourists will flock to the town and the revenue for the pipes will be raised.
Continue reading “The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simon”
This is a good contemporary mystery/thriller. Novelist Andy Drake returns home to care for his sick father. He re-connects with Rachel, a childhood friend, starting an affair that gives her a break from her emotionally abusive husband. After several months, Andy receives an anonymous note telling him to break it off with Rachel, or else.
Continue reading “Or Else by Joe Hart”
This is a fun and flirty “marriage of convenience” trope regency romance set in England in 1817. It’s a quick and easy read that I read in one sitting. The characters pop off the page and the banter between the two actually made me laugh out loud at certain points. I haven’t read the two previous books, but that didn’t deter me from enjoying this one. The supporting characters rounded out the story well, so I definitely plan to go back and read To Have and to Hoax and To Love and To Loathe.
Continue reading “To Marry and to Meddle (The Regency Vows #3) by Martha Waters”
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