Fury of Persuasion (Dragonfury Scotland, #4) by Coreene Callahan

Fury of Persuasion by Coreene Callahan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love this series so much and it finds Vyroth, missing for months trapped in a prison, unable to get to his pack, but a High Energy female Nikki comes to his aid, how will this turn out? You will love it!

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Forever Never by Lucy Score

Forever Never by Lucy Score
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this sizzling story about Remi returning home to her beloved family with a really big secret that will endanger anyone Remi cares about. I loved Brick and his big awesome body that knows something is wrong with Remi (the girl he can never have...) and will stop at nothing to protect her. Will Remi & Brick find each other??? Such a great romance!

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Sooley by John Grisham

Sooley by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Dean Looney for this awesome read! I loved the character of Sooley, a teen from war-torn Sudan and the plot contains some Philadelphia mentions (Jay Wright, Villanova Basketball) and reading this 2021 book in which South Sudan is in a war ---and also now in 2023 South Africa is suffering from tribal wars. I have read/known as a high school librarian refugees like Sooley and it is so painful to read/see how these shell shocked "boys" experience war, murder of family members, isolation and a new world to become used to in the United States. Grisham had me turning the pages as I fell in love with his best friend (in North Carolina) as he becomes Sooley's friend, roommate, then manager. The reader will root for Sooley, he is a great main character! I loved all the basketball games, players and challenges Sooley faces.

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The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Louise Erdrich's narration of this story that takes place between All Souls' Day 2019 and ends on All Souls' Day 2020 with Tookie, a once lesbian Native woman, incarcerated for stealing a dead body with cocaine on it. But this book deals with so much MORE and all of it was so tantalizingly good, I loved this story so much---mystery, humor, ghosts, the supernatural and most important a bookstore and many many great titles recommended for readers!!!


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Should We Stay or Should We Go by Lionel Shriver

Should We Stay or Should We Go by Lionel Shriver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My friend highly recommended this book since we both have parents in their 80s & Shriver concocts short stories about the many ways Cyril & his wife Kay will be leaving the world. I just did not enjoy this premise at all. And with it taking place in England, the Brexit & Covid just fell flat and became repetitive without endearing me to the story. So, no answers here for this reader...should we stay?

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The Guncle by Steven Rowley

The Guncle by Steven Rowley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by the author, Steven Rowley, Guncle is Patrick, a retired gay actor, who is asked by his brother after his wife's death to care for his 2 children while he is in rehab. What follows is his niece, Maisie and his nephew, Grant moving into his Palm Beach home as they all struggle with the death of his best friend (and also a partner who died in a car accident) & the kids beloved mother. I loved Patrick's theatrics and his growth. The plot, characters & setting were all stellar. Such a great read!!!

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If the Shoe Fits (Meant to Be, #1) by Julie Murphy

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this new book in a Julie Murphy series, a modern take on the Cinderella story. Cindy is on a plane to visit her stepmother (famous reality queen of modern dating shows), step sisters and triplets. She meets Henry (Prince Charming) on the plane has a great conversation and there it ends --- until Cindy decides to join her stepsisters and enter a dating game show and low & behold the SUITOR is Henry. I loved the story (but I did not like the intense scenes on the dating shows and between the contestants) and root for Cindy and Henry and enjoyed the many plot twists. I really liked so many of the characters (except nasty Allison) and learning about textiles and design. The emphasis on family and friends was nice and authentic. I can't wait to read the 2nd book in the series!

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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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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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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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Slonim Woods 9: A Memoir by Daniel Barban Levin

Slonim Woods 9: A Memoir by Daniel Barban Levin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Jay Myers, this nonfiction account of a modern cult at Sarah Lawrence College concerns Daniel in his sophomore year and how he becomes involves in a cult with his friends. Daniel is friends with Talia, Santos, Claudia, and Isabella and one day Talia asks these friends if her Dad, Larry Ray, can live with them after he gets out of prison and they all say YES! Once in, Larry takes over at first in a small way, then it more insidious and exploitive, yet the friends do not see how Larry is isolating them, humiliating them and turning them against everyone who loves them. So compelling and a must read!

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Empire of Pain: The Secret History of teh Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Narrated by: Patrick Radden Keefe I could not stop listening to this awful, compelling nonfiction narrative of the Sackler family and their willful brutishness about their role in the drugs they produced and actively advertised to their sales reps, doctors, and ultimately their users who often became hooked and died. For years, law was after them and for years the Sackler family used legal tactics against the government, district attorneys, and the victims (some were their own employees) that halted for investigations...but as the dying continued and the opioid crisis continued, this author relentlessly interviewed, researched and documented the continued Sackler accountability unearthing many documents, people and victim to finally bring this giant family to admit to their role and try to exact justice for the many who died or became addicted to the drugs the Sackler family created and touted. A must read!!!

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The Women of Chateau of Lafayette by Stephanie Dray

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my Albright reading buddy, Mary McGrath Nakajima, for recommending this awesome read & stellar narration by Tavia Gilbert , Emma Bering , Rachel Jacobs! Even though I did not enjoy the horrors of my last historical fiction read (many many times I wanted to put it down for the misery it evoked) The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan; I was energized to read more and more about the heroines of Chateau Lafayette! These women (Marthe & Beatrice) strived to be like their heroine, Adrienne Lafayette (who emulated the ideals of freedom and equality of her husband, the Marquis de Lafayette) and the time periods this book spans were so thoroughly researched and plotted that I could not put this book down! Highly recommended!

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The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan

The Last Green Valley by Mark T. Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a very very difficult book for me to read; the terrible things the Martel family suffered under Stalin during WWII. There was so much horror, suffering, death and evil that many many times I wanted to put this book down. I was so glad I persevered and finished this book for my Albright College Zoom book discussion because this family was determined to survive against many horrific odds.

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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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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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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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A Devil in the Valley by Paul Holes

A Devil in the Valley by Paul Holes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

this Audible Original Podcast was so good; Narrated by: Jim Clemente & Paul Holes it was thoroughly researched and as Paul Holes goes about trying to tie serial Killer, Phillip Hughes, to one murder, then two, and each time solving cold cases. I loved this podcast and will definitely listen to others Paul Holes is involved with.

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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to MaryAlice BD & Janet for recommending this read for my Albright College Zoom friends! After reading some heavy historical fiction and nonfiction history, they were ready for a lighter read and this book was good on many levels. Poppy and Alex meet on the first day of college and since this book is from Poppy's viewpoint, it was a fail (Alex was from her hometown, wears khaki pants and too tightly wound for Poppy's personality). After sharing a ride home things change and Poppy and Alex become the best of friends through college and after. Each year they vacation together and it is during this time, they begin to hide things and not be honest with one another. But that is not totally true because as the book goes from the present - This Summer- and each vacation year---the reader knows Poppy has major issues with her hometown, settling down, and Alex. Whereas the reader knows thruout the book that Alex is steady in his goals- fall in love, get married, have kids and teach in his hometown. It is how Emily Henry weaves this story that captured me; I could not stop turning the pages as I hoped they would both get it together and appreciate one another. Henry says that her books are about family and love and this reader so enjoyed the redemptive ending but also leaving open choices--now will those choices work or not, I am very very hopeful!

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