#scandal by Sarah Ockler

a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17415348-scandal" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">#scandal by Sarah Ockler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love Sarah Ockler books, Lucy finds out what scandal really means when she is set up by some mean person at the after prom party. Lucy has always been very careful, a homebody who likes to play internet games with her friends rather than go out. But when BF Ellie begs her to go to prom with her boyfriend, Cole- as much as Lucy doesn't want to do it (she has been in love with him for the last 4 years the day he moved into her neighborhood) she agrees to help her best friend out. What she wakes up to the next day is someone taking her phone, uploading pics of her and Cole & other friends at the party. This is a true cyberbullying lesson that just keeps happening day in and day out- destroying lives, friendships, and shows how mean people (and friends) can be. Yes she finds out who perpetrated it, but what good will it do- she does get Cole and learns some REAL lessons in the process.

View all my reviews

Gemina (Book 2 The Illuminae Files) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Gemina by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, did I LOVE this 2nd audiobook in the series I listened to for the 2017 Hub Book Challenge. The narrartion was out of this world by Carla Corvo , Steve West , P.J. Ochlan, full cast (I wish I knew all their names, they were fantastic) and had me on edge as I worked out listening to Hanna and Nik try to out maneuver the BeiTech assault teams. Just as Illuminae was full of action, fighting, conniving, so were Hanna, Nik and his cousin Elana being overly sleep deprived- forced to try to match their wits against alien predators and the enemy. Will they be able to do what Kady Grant and Ezra Mason did in Book 1? You bet! Hang onto your seat because you are in for a wild ride!

View all my reviews

The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein

The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Group and Disney-Hyperion for the ARC, The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein. Once again, Wein has crafted masterful historical fiction you can’t put down. Julie returns home for the summer from boarding school three days early and since no one is expecting her, she decides to walk around what remains of her grandfather’s home in Scotland that is being renovated to accommodate a new school. Instead, Julie wakes up three days later in the hospital with a head injury, no memory of what happened, and no one knows her identity in the hospital. It is when Julie wakes up to find good friend and librarian, Mary, ready to tell what little she knows, that this novel roars into adventure and thriller. As the mystery unfolds about what happened with Julie, there are many other things going on in this riveting novel of family, friendship, finding one’s place in the world and the courage to right wrongs. Through Julie’s eyes the reader is treated to the beauty of the Scottish countryside, their wonderful people (even the much maligned Travellers who rescued Julie), the rich history of her grandfather’s home, the pearl industry history and the compounding mysteries Julie, Ellen and Sandy are racing to solve. Julie, her mother, her brothers Jamie and Sandy, were authentic, wonderful, finely drawn characters. I cringed whenever Mary, the Water Bailiff, and other law enforcement officers belittled and blamed the Travellers, Ellen, Euan and their family due to their blinding prejudices and fear. Wein once again has crafted a beautiful, gripping, tense novel. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Caraval by Stephanie Garber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this epic, grand story and loved Rebecca Soler's narration of two sisters, an abusive father, a constricted life, and the chance(s) to escape it all to find love, happiness, hope, and maybe fear? Told from Scarlett's POV; Solar's voice was real showing her love and fear for younger sister, Tella. Their father is a governor in their small town and has been hitting them and psychologically holdoing them hostage for years (ever since their mother disappeared. As Scarlett looks forward to marrying a duke and spiriting her sister to safety with her new marriage- tickets arrive for the Caraval, which grants the winner a wish. As Scarlett prepares to run away and participate in Caraval but get back in time for her wedding- oh do things go so wrong, change, etc. With Caraval, no one is who they seem, there is a problem with time, people lie, scheme, and act as riddles and clues spur players forward. I loved Scarlett and her pull toward Julian was sizzling. I can't wait for Book 2!

View all my reviews

Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber

Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too by Adele Faber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great book for any parent or grandparent- since I am now watching my 3 granddaughters, I have been reading all the great stories, illustrations, comics helping me with sound advice.

View all my reviews

At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh what a great historical fiction read! Maddie is such a great character who goes through so much, becomes self aware, and really blossoms as a heroine through growth, internal strife, and uses her courage to deal with a husband who drinks and abuses drugs, lies, looks down his nose on everyone, and also his best friend who does not look out for Maddie when she most needs it. With much resolve, the people in the village and small house she lives in show Maddie what really matters most in life; protecting her and helping her to see so many possibilities in life with purpose.

View all my reviews

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great recommendation from my college roommate & friend, Connie---if you liked Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, you will thoroughly enjoy this story about an aging grump who has a lot of anger but also so much knowledge about fighting for things that matter, fixing anything around houses and following rules. A great read about the importance of acceptance, life, family and neighbors.

View all my reviews