Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand

Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my daughter in law Alicia for another great book by Elin Hilderbrand! I loved Summer of '69, both the historical perspective and the comparisons and contrasts of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Exalta's large family lives on Nantucket every summer but that is not happening this summer. Kate's son, Tiger has been drafted in the Vietnam War, Kirby has decided to work on Martha's Vineyard, and Blair is stuck at home largely pregnant and having marital problems. Jessie and Kate will be staying with Exalta for the summer where there are lots of secrets, too much drinking, and new adventures for 13 year old Jessie. I ached for Tiger's time in Vietnam and the sense of loss for him especially by his mother and sister, Jessie. The summer job and lives of Jessie and Kirby were drama filled (loved the women's lib, Woodstock, Betty Friedan) while Kate suffers by drinking to numb her pain. Exalta rules with an iron hand and her racism and beliefs chafe terribly with Jessie. But the journey and adventures and growth in this family with new friends like Pick, Patty and Darren makes this a can't put it down historical fiction beach read!

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Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, #1) by Cassandra Clare

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the audio narration of this latest new series awesomely narrated by Finty Williams but my major peeve with the plotline was the Grace-William debacle (spoiler alert) and the fact that it continued for the whole book really irritated me profoundly. Since when do these awesome ShadowHunters not notice something wrong the whole book!!! Not one of those awesome characters like Will, Tessa, Cordelia, Lucy, Jesse, Christopher, Matthew and James questions the bracelet on James' arm (how he changes when it is on and when he no longer wears it) and Grace is just so creepy all the time. So no, I do not think during this time of Covid will I pursue this series; there needs to be more to hope for in this series and Grace needs to be gone as a character!

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Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another thank you to Alicia (my daughter in law) for this scary, but needed book! Susannah's mystery illness grabbed her, throwing her into seizures, anger, rigid walking, not eating, highs and lows, but not easily diagnosed. She is a journalist and her captivating writing along with her father's notes, her medical files, notebooks her divorced parents used to keep up with her harrowing descent into madness, tells unflinchingly her awful dilemma of being misdiagnosed until one doctor figured out why her brain was on fire. A must read!!!

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The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my daughter in law for this heart stopping romance between Lucy and Gabe while students at Columbia. They are wildly in love with one another but since they were blind-sided by 9/11 they want to give commitment and service and make their mark in their jobs. Gabe is offered a job in the Middle East and Lucy has her career as director of a children's show in New York and neither is willing to follow the other. As Lucy tells their story, even as their lives change and move away from each other, they are still very connected. I could not put down this book; will Lucy and Gabe find each other?

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Don't Walk Away (DreamMakers, #3) by Vivian Arend

Don't Walk Away by Vivian Arend
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this 3rd book in the DreamMakers series between Dean Colter and long lost love Emma Lee.

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Reading With Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship by MIchelle Kuo

Reading with Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship by Michelle Kuo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my wild librarian group for this gripping read! Michelle Kuo is a very special, committed teacher who working in the Delta as a Teach America teacher, who has a life changing experience as she struggles to reach the poor, reluctant students in Helena, Arkansas. Over the disagreeing, but loving immigrant parents, Michelle becomes entrenched with Patrick, a student who has a poor attendance in school, a father with questionable parenting, and a mother he loves very much (she also is the only working parent). As Michelle begins to see Patrick as special and promising, she leaves for law school. When she finds out Patrick is in jail for murder, she returns and tries to help him through reading, writing and poetry. I could not put this heart breaking book down and it was due to Michelle's writing, her personality and her commitment that she and Patrick connect and begin a life long friendship.

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There's Someone In Your House by Stephanie Perkins

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the slasher mystery Perkins crafted, also the romance with Makani and Ollie (which her friends did not LIKE at all), and the creep factor of things being out of place was chilling. Can't wait for another Perkins book!

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