King and Maxwell (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell, #6) by David Baldacci

King and Maxwell by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This final book in the Sean King and Michelle Maxwell series was so so good! Sean and Michelle help a teen who has been told his Army father has died---but then he receives a letter from him!!! What is really going on??? As Sean and Michelle try to help Tyler, someone is leaking information and secrets about Tyler's Dad, the government, and terrorists. Once again, I could not stop turning the pages as Baldacci ratchets up the suspense and thoroughly weaves a satisfying thriller. I will SO MISS SEAN & MICHELLE!!! What great characters, partners, and private eyes. All the while the reader laughs with their conversations...then hangs on as danger keeps happening!!!

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Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

this is the gut wrenching story of a time in history when an evil woman, Georgia Tann stole children from struggling parents, put them in locations until they were adopted ---while there life was a nightmare as the Foss children realize their beloved life on the Arcadia boat on the Mississippi River, is forever changed. Told in two voices, the present day is Avery---a county prosecutor who works with her politically appointed father and is very close to her grandmother who has dementia. When an older woman at a nursing home, stares her down and "takes" her dragonfly bracelet---life changing events begin as Avery and a young man whose grandfather used to "find" people. All of this mystery throws light onto the abuses of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage and Avery's life and future is about to change! Based on the true story of Georgia Tann's iron hold on stealing children in the 1930s from poor parents with lies, this story is riveting and heart breaking, a must read!

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The Vanderbeekers Make a Wish (The Vanderbeekers, #5) by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers Make A Wish by Karina Yan Glaser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Vanderbeekers are getting ready to surprise their Dad for his birthday when he is called away to a funeral. A big surprise is their mother's parents arriving on their steps! Their grandmother is mean, nasty and constantly criticizing everyone, so the kids stay away from home and try to unravel a mystery letter from their deceased grandfather to his son about his graduation gift. The kids decide to remake this gift for their father but first they have much research to do. Heartwarming, funny, and the best family hijinks continue!

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Thye Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club, #2) by Richard Osman

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 2nd book in Thursday Murder Club series! After Ibrhaim is badly beaten and robbed by 3 teens, his 3 friends will not stop until this crime is solved and their friend is forever changed. I could not stop turning the pages, laughing and rooting for these seniors...and the many new characters---police, and grandsons!

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A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this jolly romance just after finishing listening to Julia Whelan's Thank You for Listening and just as I loved the madcap romp romance in Julia's book so did I love the hysterical plot of plus size Bee (porn star) now a real star cast in a Family Channel Christmas romance with none other than her teen crush, rock star Nolan Shaw! I loved both characters' personalities--they were real people with real problems- Nolan was a bad boy rock star and now his family has medical problems he wants to keep quiet and use $$$ from this movie to pay the exorbitant medical bills while Bee must not let anyone who she is, but surprise surprise---Nolan knows who she is (and he is an avid fan with a crush) and I was sucked right into this great romance with lots of laughs and oh so much chemistry! I want more of Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone collaborations!

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My Broken Language: A Memior by Quiara Alegria Hudes

My Broken Language: A Memoir by Quiara Alegría Hudes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quiara Alegria Hudes' biography/memoir contains her life as a child of a Jewish father and Spanish mother but the world she lives in is what she writes so compelling about---history her activist Puerto Rican mother has told her and shown her over the years. Using stories we learn about her life in North Philadelphia and her time in Malvern, we learn about the barrio, the many players in the life the author wants to know more about and read/write/sing about.

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Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Julia Whelan's first book, so I was really excited for this 2nd book and oh did I love it---using humor, romance, chemistry, and learning oh so much about narrating audiobooks, Julia, once again rose to the top as an awesome narrator (she kills males' voices) and the plot was super funny, yet serious with all the madcap happenings- needing lots of $$$ for nursing home care for her grandmother, winning awards narrating nonfiction, suddenly narrating a romance book (she hates romance tropes, etc.!) meeting a dreamy man and enjoying one night sex, narrating with the famous Brock McNight (no one has ever seen him or met him) and flirting and being honest with each other, and the relationships she has with her father, Blah (her grandmother), mother, best friend, and owner of a production studio were all so authentic! I loved this novel and was so glad I listened to it because Julia Whelan's voice is my favorite audiobook narrator!

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What She Found (Tracy Crosswhite, #9) by Robert Dugoni

What She Found by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this 9th book in the Tracy Crosswhite series! There is a cold case Tracy takes on that takes her to many places of lies, secrets, and betrayal. I loved this latest cold case that follows Tracy on many paths (some she can't reveal, others she must push forward) and I loved her family story and her police family story too! A must read!

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The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An amazing novel in verse about a young Asante boy in 1860 who does not understand the many things his parents and grandparents will not explain---you are too young to understand. How will Kofi get answers, deal with his evil cousin, goofy best friend and long for the girl, Ama? I was gutted as I read every page of this must read book---a journey about a boy, a village, history, and the truth.

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The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my librarian friend, MaryAlice Briggs for lending me her copy of this awesome historical fiction book! I loved the story of Belle de costa Greene and her life and her job as J.P. Morgan's personal librarian. Fraught with mystery and suspense and the time in history, Belle becomes as famous as her employer, with her love of books and artwork, and her study of humanity as she flirts, uses her mouth as both honest and hiding her real identity and famous for her style. This reader rooted for Belle as she maneuvered her way around those who admired and/or hated her. A part of history I was totally unaware of and prepared for, I could not stop turning the pages in this thoroughly researched book! A must read!!!

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The Sixth Man (Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, #5) by David Baldacci

The Sixth Man by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 5th book in the series and have the 6th and final book on hold at library BUT boy will I really hate this series to end!!! I just keep turning those pages and rooting for Michelle and Sean and those that work with them!!!

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Amari and the Great Game (Supernatural Investigations, #2) by B.B. Alston

Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I did not LIKE this ending at all! I kept turning the pages but was so overwhelmed and chagrined with the evil that happened in this WHOLE book; I think B.B. Alston needs to re-think Book 3 if he is going to once again shatter the reader time and time again (like he does to Amari throughout this book!!!) with threatening war, challenges that are meant to sink, dangers that are motivated by the WORST bad characters, and finally decisions that work against the characters and plot---too too bleak---give the reader a MORE POSITIVE story in Book 3, this reader begs you...

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Lessons in Corruption (The Fallen Men, #1) by Giana Darling

Lessons in Corruption by Giana Darling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beginning of a series; I enjoyed King and Cressida's romance-both crave each other from moment 1!

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French Braid by Anne Tyler

French Braid by Anne Tyler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Kimberly Farr, this story and the characters meant nothing to me; I could not identify with them, warm up to any of them, and I wasn't enjoying any of the plot. This family left me feeling flat...I wish I could have enjoyed it more...

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The Return of Zita the Spacegirl (Zita the Spacegirl, #3) by Ben Hatke

The Return of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In this 3rd & final graphic novel; Zita and her beloved mouse are on trial for all sorts of bogus charges and worse yet- the evil one in charge is aiming at taking over Earth and ruining it!!! With many friends and supporters, Zita will prove she is a heroine through and through who cares about her space friends and those on Earth!

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Legends of Zita the Spacegirl (Zita the Spacegirl, #2) by Ben Hatke

Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In this 2nd of the series, Zita is trying to get back to earth but that proves to be a big problem when her mouse friend is captured, she is a hero, and there is someone impersonating her---is that a good thing? I love all the drama, the illustrations are just awesome, and Zita continues to rock everyone's world!

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Zita the Spacegirl (Zita the Spacegirl, #1) by Ben Hatke

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Ben Hatke and was I ever happy to stumble upon this awesome series at the Springfield Public Library while enjoying the Thomas the Trains with my grandson!!! Zita is just a normal girl playing with her friend when they are transported to outer space. While she tries to find & rescue her friend she becomes friendly with all sorts of creatures, especially the rat, who becomes very special to her. A good vs evil graphic novel series that will have you rooting for Zita and turning those pages!

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