Family Family by Laurie Frankel

Family Family by Laurie Frankel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Tara Smith for this get well book about seeking your best life, families, adoption, romance and so much more. I loved how Frankel engineered each chapter (past, present denoted as days of the week) and the characters were rich as well. I loved India in all her decisiveness, wanting always to be an actress (who can't sing), her many loves, and her world of plays, TV and movie as an actress.

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The House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City, #3) by Sarah J. Maas

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another winner from Sarah J. Maas! I have so enjoyed the Crescent series and this 3rd book is just awesome! At 900+ pages I finished in 3 days rooting for Bryce Quindlen & Hunt Althazar!
Lidia & Ruhn were kick ass as well. The plot, the settings, the world building, and the characters all made this a book I could not put down. Total suspense with the torture of Hunt & his friends filled me with horror. But what I enjoyed most was Bryce's certainty that she could figure things out. A must read!

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Mission Manhattan (City Spies Book, #5) by James Ponti

Mission Manhattan by James Ponti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I continue to totally enjoy the City Spies series! This mystery thriller of kids solving crimes has the globe hopping spies protecting a young environmentalist from Europe to New York City. What I continue to love is each characters' specialty in solving crimes, working with each other and fooling adults to get results. A must read!

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The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this with my Albright College Zoom Book Club. Narrated by Dominic Hoffman, this historical fiction has everything; racism, social class distinctions, family, friendship, sorrow, humor, and hope. But it is the way McBride tells this story of Jews & Blacks living in the Chicken Hill area of Pottstown, PA in the 1920s. I went to Albright College in Reading so I loved reading landmarks, cities, & hospitals in this compulsively readable book. I could not stop listening! The characters Chona, Dodo, Nate & his wife, Bernice, and Monkey Pants were my favorites but all characters were authentic. I rooted for the many subplots & McBride did not disappoint! This is a stellar must read; I highly recommend it!

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I Give You Peace by Diane DiSerafino

I Give You Peace by Diane DiSerafino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Donna Gola for giving this debut author book to read. I really enjoyed the plot and characters in I Give You Peace. There are many universes and Alex and Leonard are experimenting to bring world peace to New Philadelphia located in the Tertius universe. But things are not proceeding as planned for many reasons and as we meet a few of the subjects in this grand experiment the reader roots for "real peace" not enforced peace. I loved all the Philadelphia places, the cover is perfect, and technology must be watched. I look forward to other books by Diane DiSerafino!

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The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Women by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Janet, my librarian friend, for purchasing this gut wrenching read I could not put down. Frances is an idealistic Catholic girl who wants to follow her brother into the Vietnam War, she is a nurse and becomes a very good one, in horrific conditions but with the support of nurse friends and doctors. This is a must read - research is lengthy with many sources provided and experts/war personnel. I will be thinking of the characters, the country of Vietnam and its people, and the veterans who went into the war, gave their life and the veterans who returned to no fanfare, just derision, and had to "find" their way. Highly recommended!

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Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca

Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another Rajani La Rocca winner; this novel in verse about twin sisters with very different personalities was awesome; middle grade and young adult readers will enjoy the format, the girls' drama, and their summer camp escapades. Will Maya & Chaya find each other as their differences threaten to tear them apart? Highly recommended!

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The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1) by Freida McFadden

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Donna Compton for giving me this great mystery read as I heal from knee surgery. I absolutely LOVED the characters of Millie, Nina and Andrew; even minor characters like Nina's daughter & gardener were taut and masterfully drawn. Just how long will it take for just released convict, Millie, to be drawn into the total chaos of that family that on the outside looks so wonderful, on the inside is anything but. I could not stop reading this psychological mystery and I am definitely going to read the other books in this series!

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The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat

The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lisa Yee and illustrator, Dan Santat have crafted a great middle grade story of mystery, friendship, family that kept me turning the pages and rooting for these kids who become part of RASCH, trained to fight crime. A must read and a series I will be waiting to read and love!

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Muzzled (Andy Carpenter, #21) by David Rosenfelt

Muzzled by David Rosenfelt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great audiobook mystery in the Andy Carpenter series, Andy helps his friend, Beth reunite a dog with his owner, only he is dead, or is he! Another legal thriller with Andy's brand of humor!

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Dachshund Through the Snow (Andy Carpenter, #20) by David Rosenfelt

Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Number 20 of the Andy Carpenter series, is a Christmas delight! When Laurie wants to grant a wish to Danny and his dog, he finds the plea to help his father heartfelt and enters into another murder mystery.

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Bark of Night (Andy Carpenter, #19) by David Rosenfelt

Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Andy rescues Truman, a French Bulldog and takes on a new case in number 19. Narration by Grove Gardner was perfect, a laugh a minute all the while solving the mystery of the murdered owner.

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School Trip (New Kid, #3) by Jerry Craft

School Trip by Jerry Craft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jordan, Drew, Liam, Maury, and their friends are going to Paris for their class trip. What begins as an exciting adventure at the last minute many changes. Going to Paris without their beloved teacher chaperones, what will their time in Paris be like- fun or torture? Loved this graphic novel of humor, friendship, and growth!

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