The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue (The Vanderbeekers, #3) by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue by Karina Yan Glaser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In this 3rd book, the humor continues as their house with all the pets fails an inspection and someone keeps dropping off kittens, guinea pigs, a dog and chickens. As they try to get them adopted and save their mother's business, the hilarity and wholesomeness continues! Such an awesome book!!!

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The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden (The Vanderbeekers, #2) by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2nd book in the series was so much fun to read- hilarious, mysterious, and lots of fun. Their dear friend has a stroke and while he, his wife and the Vanderbeeker children's mom spend every day in the hospital, the kids hatch a plan to turn a littered lot into a garden for their neighbor's homecoming. I could not stop turning the pages as each seed and flower, and tree was planted in this garden. What a great book and series!!!

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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street (The Vanderbeekers, #1) by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book so much! The kids are adorable; their parents are very likable because they are involved. The many neighbors and friends of the Vanderbeekers are thoroughly enjoyable and even enemies become friends. I am definitely going to be reading this series of an interracial family living in Harlem with all their pets; and I am getting copies of the book for my granddaughter she will LOVE it!

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From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement by Paula Yoo

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement by Paula Yoo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jenn LaGarde recommended this last summer and I purchased it right away but it took me a year to get to it----BUT what an amazing book! Taking place in 1982, Vincent Chin is days away from getting married when he and his friends get into an altercation in a bar and what results is his awful death, many ruined lives, and the reality that some people do get away with crimes (not going to jail). This thoroughly detailed & well researched book by Paula Yoo kept me turning the pages with the photos, the newspaper articles and the friends and family point of view. A must read for all---adults and teens will want to read about this pivotal moment in history, and one that continues to happen throughout history.

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Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk

Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this latest novel in verse from Ashley Woodfolk and the author speaks about what happened to her in her teen years and how it took many many years for her to face this friend/romance. It was alternately happy/uncomfortable/angry as these two friends become something more but many times they were not on the same plane all the time. The verse was heartfelt. A must read!

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Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow, Grace falls for Jack (handsome, caring man who loves her sister Millie) and they quickly marry and then reality hits as on their honeymoon Jack imprisons her and threatens to torture and kill Millie once she comes to live with them. Once he tells her "his story", Grace is in a fight for her life and Millie's but will she be able to pull it off. I could not stop turning the pages!

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Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Narrated by Chris Reilly, Mungo is a a young teen living in hell with a mother who leaves & disappears from the family. Mungo has a sister and brother (Hamish is dangerous, a gang leader who hates Catholics & gay people) and life is bleak until he meets James, who is a Catholic (not good) and gay (not good) and they forge a friendship where James raises his beloved pigeons, talk about a future that includes them and accepts them. It was very hard to listen to this book---neglectful parents, violence, rape, fighting, and so much dysfunction it made for a difficult read and because of my mind at this time, I really did not enjoy either of Douglas Stuart's books like I wanted to...

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Split Second (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell, #1) by David Baldacci

Split Second by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OH boy, can it be that Michelle Maxwell's and Sean King's split second decisions costing them mightily are intertwined? I loved this first book in the King & Maxwell series. Both were Secret service agents & took their off their detail and now they meet and realize that what happened to them may not be coincidence...I can't wait to read the 2nd book in the series, loading it onto my kindle!

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The Honeymoon Cottage (Cemetery, Indiana, #1) by Lori Foster

The Honeymoon Cottage by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Lori Foster books and this book was a great read- the town of Cemetery, Yardley's friends and family and her wedding planner business sucked me right in. I loved the progression of the story, Yardley is a heartfelt character who really does not know how much she is loved by everyone. Enter Travis and his sister as clients for her services. Immediately both Travis and Yardley are attracted to each other, but each have a rule that they do not date clients, and add the town drama, best friend Mimi's insecurities after having a baby, and a rescued dog; I loved turning every page. I am glad this is going to be a series because I fell in love with Cemetery, the food and house architecture, and the goodness/down to earth chraracters---I want to know more, more, more!!! Highly recommended!

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Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book, writer, etc...but the totally depressing topics, the Glasgow dialect made it difficult for me to gush about loving this book. I am now listening to Young Mungo, so we will see if the narration makes it easier to enjoy... Shuggie's life is so dismal- his mother drinks and she becomes abusive to her family and gets on the phone and crank calls people who have wronged her, goes thru men, is totally irresponsible and leaves her children hungry and disillusioned. As this continues, the older children plot to leave...and poor Shuggie is left to watch over his mother, hungry, cashing her child support checks and missing lots of school. I ached for Shuggie and all the difficulties he encounters, will he be able to escape this life?

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