Mary-he Adventures of Mary Shelley's Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter by Brea Grant

Mary: The Adventures of Mary Shelley's Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter by Brea Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this graphic novel imagining of 5th Mary Shelley age 16 and not wanting to follow into the family business of writing and how the monsters come looking for her to be healed. She is a teen who knows what she does not want to do and I loved the monsters, especially Adam who come calling! I hope there are more of these graphic novels by Brea Grant in the future!

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The Cyanide Canary: A True Story of Injustice by Robert Dugoni and Joseph Hilldorfer

The Cyanide Canary: A True Story of Injustice by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Narrated by Tom Perkins, this audiobook broke my heart, made me angry, and gave me hope that these Special Agents will not have to continue to fight so hard against the government, businesses, and the courts as they expose through very tedious interviews, research, and court proceedings the way Allen Elias, owner of a fertilizer facility (but really a hazardous waste disposal factory) did not care about his employees, gets away with it for years because he is a lawyer, liar, has people on the inside warning him, and tries to paint the employees as stupid. I love Robert Dugoni and now I love Joseph Hilldorfer, the EPA agent who fought for Scott Dominguez and his family as he becomes "the cyanide canary" as they expose over many years of court cases just how slow the system is. I had a problem with the judge in the case too and disagreed with his bias in favor of Allen Elias. A tough but needed read about the how those who should know and abide by the rules, laws and regulations, of hazardous waste and disposal do not and are not punished, given jail time, or made to pay up to remediate the waste facility.

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Spitting Devil (Jonathan Stride, #5.5) by Brian Freeman

Spitting Devil by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this audiobook read by Joe Barrett detailing the period between Serena and Maggie as Johnny investigates a creepy mystery happening inside a home, driving the occupants apart and crazy. Another winner by Brian Freeman!

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Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This compelling novel in verse by Jacqueline Woodson can and should be read by all ages! Telling the dramatic story of a son's love for his famous football player father who begins to show the ravages of many years of concussions, My heart ached for ZJ and his mother and most definitely for his father as the life they built for one another was decimated as shakes, anger, memory loss, and moodiness. With memories, songs, music, friends (the Fantastic 4) and family, this 12 year old grows up quickly and lives for those times when his father remembers, calls him Little Man, and hopes for a future that can help his father heal. A must read!

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Sol Invictus (The Eye of Ra, #2) by Ben Gartner

Sol Invictus by Ben Gartner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kudos to the awesomeness of this 2nd book in The Eye of Ra series, written by Ben Gartner. The pulse pounding momentum of John and Sarah's adventures continue with the siblings landing in ancient Rome given the daunting task of bringing enemies together and saving the world. Readers will love the Roman gladiators in the ring, fighting with swords and spears. John still wears the pendant of Ra around his neck but others want that pendant and try to steal it. Gartner's new characters comprise the many peoples of ancient Rome; slaves, gods, venatores, gladiators, soldiers, barbarians, kings and princesses. A young boy, Crocus, saves them from becoming slaves of the Emperor Constantius and then oh do the adventures begin! I loved this second book so much and will be waiting in suspense to see where Joan and Sarah's travels take them!

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The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir by Michele Harper

The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir by Michele Harper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my friend and librarian, Mary Alice, for giving me her copy of this debut by Dr. Michele Harper, a memoir about her adolescent life and her life as an emergency room doctor. Michele's compassion and love for her work as a doctor helping those seeking emergency room services was far reaching, humbling, and so moving. This is a must read and I for one am so glad we have the many doctors who valiantly care for patients in their care!

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The 7th Canon by Robert Dugoni

The 7th Canon by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by James Patrick Cronin, I listened to this detective thriller, lawyer mystery on Hoopla. Peter Donley was totally awesome as Father Thomas Martin's attorney. Initially Peter does not believe Father but as time, stories, and Peter's horrific past are revisited, Peter becomes Father's staunch ally as he tries to defend this priest from a heinous murder of a gay street hustler who has come to the priest's refuge. He has to fight a ruthless DA and his father who is as crooked as they come and a politician to boot and his own demons. I loved this book as I love everything Robert Dugoni writes. I could not stop reading/listening to it! For murder mystery lovers!

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