The Book Woman's Daughter (The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, #2) by Kim Michele Richardson

The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by: Katie Schorr this was such a good continuation of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, only now the main character is her daughter, Honey Lovett, who has been essentially orphaned when the state arrests both her parents and throws them in jail for a few years. This leaves Honey and her trusty horse (who was my favorite character in the book!) to wade through so many trials and tribulations. Luckily she has old friends, and new friends who help her along the way as she begins a job just as her mother did- a pack horse librarian spreading the love of reading to those in the remote areas of Appalachia and tries to become emancipated. I loved Honey's story so much, it is a must read for all!!!

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The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this wonderful beach read about 4 women, Birdie, her daughter Chess and Tate (opposites in every way) and Birdie's sister, India who converge on their summer home in Tuckernut Island after 13 years. Oh the plot, the drama, the suspense, and the real humanity of family with secrets. Another great character was Barrett, he has some history with both daughters and I enjoyed him as a character who did not fit into the business world, never went to college, but was crushed on by almost all of these ladies and many others on the island. A great story of love lost and found, grief, anger, and the importance of family and love.

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Borrowing Bunnies: A Surprising True Tale of Fostering Rabbits by Cynthia Lord

Borrowing Bunnies: A Surprising True Tale of Fostering Rabbits by Cynthia Lord
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to MaryAlice Briggs-Dicker for this awesome recommendation! I love Cynthia Lord and this book will really speak to children about caring for and loving bunnies but also about letting them go to good homes. The pictures and photos were totally awesome. I think really anyone should read this book!

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A Sitting in St. James by Rita Garcia-Williams

A Sitting in St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many Thanks to Reading Rants for recommending this book as one of her favorites for 2021. I enjoyed reading about the white family with slaves, it's past and it's present, as Williams-Garcia writes with feeling, authenticity, and empathetic in the brutal way Madame Sylvie Guilbert treats and talks to her family, her servants, and those in her community, as she strives to marry off grandsons, ignore granddaughters who are mixed race, and still tell her own story of being married off to a brutal man. I loved many of the characters, Byron, Pearce, Thisbe, Eugenie, Jane, Lily and the painter and hated Lucien, Sylvie, and all those who ignored the hard work of the slaves on their plantations and took all the glory themselves. A mesmerizing read!

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The Maid by Nita Prose

The Maid by Nita Prose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read and loved this book as part of the Albright College zoom book discussion and that my friend Sue Murphy recommended. The writing by Prose was delightful, concise, and pitch perfect as she describes, maid Molly Grey to the reader. Molly lives with her Gran, loves her deeply and has learned many life lessons through her Gran's quotes. Molly is socially awkward but loves her job as a maid at the Regency Hotel, since as a youngster her Gran taught her about the importance of cleaning and neatness. As Molly strives each day to return each hotel room to a state of perfection, one day changes everything---she walks in on Mr. Black and finds he is dead and she quickly becomes the main suspect. I read this in 2 days and loved learning more and more about Molly---how she desperately misses her Gran (her only friend), pines after a bartender, Rodney, and makes sure Juan Manuel has a room every night in the hotel, since his friend, Rodney, told her that he lost his visa and has no place to stay. I loved all the characters, the plot and the many twists and turns, this delicious mystery takes. Highly recommended!

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The Wrong One by Dervla McTiernan

The Wrong One by Dervla McTiernan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this novella excellently narrated by Neil Hellegers, Michael Crouch, I was drawn in by the narrators as they wove a complex mystery in this novella. A mother has been accused of murder, her son has past problems with the law, and an old detective friend of the family, Simon, wants to rescue Clara because he knows she did not kill a woman who was known as nasty and litigious. But all is not as it seems as the mystery/murder unfolds and the reader finds out more about the characters. A great listen!

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Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson

Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this Varian Johnson book so much! Ant is 10 yrs old and loves cards as muc h as his father and brother and this year he wants to do so much better in the card tournament than he did last year. But it all seems to fall apart and his partner and friend must back out of the competition. What happens is Ant's family falls apart, he meets a new girl who is good at cards, and he begins to change as he finds out more secrets about his father. A must read!!!

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Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases by Paul Holes

Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases by Paul Holes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Paul Holes; this audiobook covers Holes' time solving cold cases, serial killer captures and rapist cases. His stories are compelling; his need to solve cases to help the families was pivotal and affected his life, his marriages and his relationships with his children. A must read!

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Private Label by Kelly Yang

Private Label by Kelly Yang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Kelly Yang and this YA novel hit me with the reality of Serene's and Lian's lives as ehtnic students in a largely white high school. Serene's mom has raised her but Serene has always had questions about her father, and her mother has always responded---That is in the past, only go forward, but that still does not stop Serene thinking about who he might be. Serene and her mother are very very close while Lian has a family with a mother who pushes him to be an engineer while he would love to be a stand up comic. When they finally get to know each other---both realize how much the honesty they share with each other changes their lives. A must read! Just like her other YA novel, Parachutes, teens will see what other teens lives are like.

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The Pale-Faced Lie by David Crow

The Pale-Faced Lie by David Crow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my cousin, Colleen Bresnahan for recommending this true story of David Crow, his father and David's family as they are targeted many times throughout their life by their bully of a father. Pontificating all the time, just being a blow hard, David and his brother and sister live in a reign of terror during their entire life as their father tries to draft them to kill their mother and others he abhors. Told by David, who is a hell cat himself, David has a side that feels empathy, while his father only feels empathy for animals. Constantly telling David about the people he killed and got away with, his convict father also has a side that beguiles others---like the doctor in jail that gets him out early and the women who marry him. Despite his learning disabilities David loves to read and continues to go to school to better himself. It is only through counseling and forgiving his mother, father and himself that David feels he can have a relationship and makes his way successfully in the world.

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Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink

Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to @teachingfactor for recommending this audiobook!!! The awesome narration by Miah Ellis renders this historical fiction romance as can't put down. As the Tulsa Massacre is due to unfold, Randi Pink's novel of 2 teens falling in love during this horrific time in the days leading up to the 1921 race riot was compelling, honest, and sheds a light on the families during that time. Isaiah Wilson was such an interesting character and the changes in him as he falls for Angel, breaks free from a toxic friendship, and redeems himself was so uplifting. Angel was the perfect heroine; honest, helping others, and caring for her dying father. This is a MUST listen to audiobook and MUST read!

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Heart Full of Lies by Ann Rule

Heart Full of Lies by Ann Rule
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell; this Ann Rule book/audiobook involves a totally soulless woman, Liysa (I won't mention all of her last names due to marriages) who kills her husband, Chris Northon, and pleads battered woman as her defense. Through her own writings which were found as the trial begins, Liysa still tells her supporters she was beaten and abused by her husband, and had to kill him. But as with any sociopath, her lies are exposed and she pleads guilty. She leaves two sons & she said was they reason she killed Chris, to protect them but in the aftermath they were shuttled around since Liysa kept demanding that they not be with Chris' family. The whole story had me captivated and I was horrified she still kept up her lies and even manufactured more.
Now she is out and married a writer while in prison and he wrote a book refuting Ann Rules' book because of course Liysa told her lies and he believed her! I wonder when she will get tired of her latest conquest and move on or kill him?

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Eternal by Lisa Scottoline

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this historical fiction audiobook awesomely Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell , Edoardo Ballerini , and Lisa Scottoline. The characters were so strong despite the circumstances, the period of time with Mussolini was so awful with the way he changed the laws to hurt and punish the Jews, like his friend and ally, Hitler. The plot was so gripping, I loved all 20 hours of this audiobook but my heart broke over and over again with how Sandro and his family as the Jews suffered. I loved The friendship and love between the 3 childhood friends. History and their separate situations created such an engrossing story. The importance of family, friendship, the depth of love and longing made this such a great read. Highly recommended!

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Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him by Luis Carlos Montalvan

Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him by Luis Carlos Montalván
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this true story about a battle scarred veteran from Iraq, who is saved by a golden retriever, Tuesday. This story shines a light on the veterans' lives from the Iraq War and the failings of the Army and the Veteran's Administration as well as the workings of dog rescue agencies. I loved Luis Montalvan's voice, this book kept me riveted as I learned so many things about war, soldiers who are wounded warriors, and how they try to adapt the world after war.

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