The Tie That Binds by Kent Haruf

The Tie That Binds My Rating: 4.9

Colorado, January 1977. Eighty-year-old Edith Goodnough lies in a hospital bed, IV taped to the back of her hand, police officer at her door. She is charged with murder. The clues: a sack of chicken feed slit with a knife, a milky-eyed dog tied outdoors one cold afternoon. The motives: the brutal business of farming and a family code of ethics as unforgiving as the winter prairie itself. Here, Kent Haruf delivers the sweeping tale of a woman of the American High Plains, as told by her neighbor, Sanders Roscoe. As Roscoe shares what he knows, Edith's tragedies unfold: a childhood of pre-dawn chores, a mother's death, a violence that leaves a father dependent on his children, forever enraged. Here is the story of a woman who sacrifices her happiness in the name of family--and then, in one gesture, reclaims her freedom.

Kent Haruf has a gift for writing that completely draws you into the lives of his characters. His prose is quiet and understated, yet so immersive that I felt as though I was living alongside them, experiencing every hardship and triumph.

From the very beginning, I loved Sandy's voice as he recounted the story of Edith, her family, and the events that shaped their lives. As the layers of the story unfolded, I found myself completely captivated. Haruf is a master storyteller, creating deeply human characters and an unforgettable sense of place without ever resorting to unnecessary drama.

His books continue to be among my favorites, and this one was no exception. I highly recommend it.

The Color of Water by James McBride

My Rating: 3.0

The Color of Water blends James McBride's own story with the life of his mother, Ruth McBride, born Rachel Shilsky. Through alternating chapters, readers learn about Ruth's difficult childhood as the daughter of an abusive Orthodox rabbi, her escape from a painful home in Virginia, her marriages, and her determination to raise twelve children despite poverty, racism, and hardship.

McBride weaves his own coming-of-age story throughout the book, sharing his experiences growing up as a mixed-race child, his struggles with identity, and the path that eventually led him to a successful life.

If you enjoy nonfiction and memoirs, you'll probably appreciate this book more than I did. While Ruth's story certainly contained its share of hardship and perseverance, I found myself much more interested in James McBride's chapters about his own childhood and his siblings than in Ruth's earlier life. The book explores themes of family, identity, race, and resilience, but overall it just wasn't a favorite for me.

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Theo of Golden My Rating: 10 out of 5

One spring morning, a stranger named Theo arrives in the small Southern town of Golden. He offers little explanation of where he came from or why he's there. But when he visits the local coffeehouse, where pencil portraits of the town's residents line the walls, he begins purchasing them one by one and giving each portrait to the person it depicts. In return, he asks for only one thing: their story.

Portrait by portrait and person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are quietly transformed.

A story about giving and receiving, seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of human connection, and the quiet miracles that happen when we choose kindness.

This was a touching, wholesome, and absolutely wonderful book. Tears were shed.

This is the kind of book I want to recommend to everyone—even complete strangers. Don't read reviews or look up the plot. Just pick it up and read it.

I wish I would have read it last month when my book club discussed it but, better late than never. Though it's a short, gentle novel, its impact is lasting. It stays with you long after you've turned the final page and leaves you wanting to treat others with the same kindness, compassion, and quiet grace that Theo showed everyone he met.

We Are The Brennans by Tracey Lange

We Are The Brennans My Rating: 4.5

When twenty-nine-year-old Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital, bruised and battered after a drunk driving accident she caused, she swallows her pride and goes home to her family in New York. But it’s not easy. She deserted them all—and her high school sweetheart—five years before with little explanation, and they've got questions.

Sunday is determined to rebuild her life back on the east coast, even if it does mean tiptoeing around resentful brothers and an ex-fiancé. The longer she stays, however, the more she realizes they need her just as much as she needs them. When a dangerous man from her past brings her family’s pub business to the brink of financial ruin, the only way to protect them is to upend all their secrets—secrets that have damaged the family for generations and will threaten everything they know about their lives. In the aftermath, the Brennan family is forced to confront painful mistakes—and ultimately find a way forward, together.

This was an entertaining audio book of an Irish family and their relationship and drama. A lot of secrets that unraveled throughout the book but brought the family closer together. If you like a good Irish Catholic family story, this is for you.

The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman

The Reckoning  My Rating: 4.9

"Never forget, Llewelyn, that the world's greatest fool is a Welshman who trusts an English king."

His father's words haunt Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales, who has been ruling uneasily over his fractious countrymen. Above all else, Llewelyn fears that his life and his own dream—of an independent, united Wales—might be lost to Edward I's desire to expand his English empire.

Alive from the pages of history, this is the hauntingly beautiful and compelling tale of a game poised to play itself out to its bloody finale as English and Welsh cross swords in a reckoning that must mean disaster for one side or the other.

For anyone who has ever wanted to experience the rich tapestry of British history and lore, this bold and romantic adventure must be read.

This is the third and final book in the *Prince of Wales* trilogy, and I'm genuinely sad it's over. It was an incredibly immersive journey through history, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Not only did I learn so much about this fascinating period of Welsh and English history, but I also fell completely in love with many of the characters—both Llewelyns, Simon, Nell, Ellen, and so many others. Sharon Kay Penman has an extraordinary gift for bringing historical figures to life, making them feel like people you truly know and care about.

On the other hand, I was appalled by the weakness of King Henry II and the ruthless, autocratic rule of King Edward I. Penman portrays both the triumphs and tragedies of history with remarkable depth, making the emotional impact even more powerful.

One warning: don't Google any of the historical characters until you've finished the trilogy. Even a quick search can reveal major spoilers about the real historical events and the fates of the characters, which is much more rewarding to discover through Penman's storytelling.

This trilogy has become one of my favorite historical fiction series, and I can't wait to read more of Sharon Kay Penman's books.

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

 Burial Rites My Rating: 1.0

Agnes is charged with the brutal murder of her former master and sent to await execution on an isolated farm. Horrified at the prospect of housing a convicted murderer, the family at first avoids Agnes. Only  a priest Agnes has mysteriously chosen to be her spiritual guardian, seeks to understand her. 

As Agnes's death looms, the farmer's wife and their daughters learn there is another side to the sensational story they've heard. 

I’m so glad I read The Good People first because if I had started with Burial Rites, I doubt I would have picked up another book by this author. What a disappointment.

I listened to the audiobook, and the whispery, breathy narration didn't help, but the bigger issue was the story itself. I never connected with a single character, and the novel felt like it had almost no plot. It was a long, drawn-out story where very little happened.

The writing itself is undeniably beautiful, but beautiful prose isn't enough for me. I need characters I care about and at least some sense of momentum. I think we were meant to feel sympathy for Agnes and the priest, but I never became invested in either of them.

I should have DNF'd this one, but I kept waiting for it to get better. It never did. Lesson learned.

Falls The Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman

Falls The Shadow My Rating: 4.9

Simon de Montfort was a man ahead of his time in the thirteenth century, a disinherited Frenchman who talked his way into an English earldom and married Eleanor ("Nell"), the sister of King Henry III. A charismatic, obstinate leader, Simon soon grew frustrated with the king's incompetence and inability to keep his word, and found himself the champion of the common people.

This is his story, and the story of Henry III, two men whose opposing personalities and convictions set them on a collision course that would end in violence, betrayal, and one of the most dramatic conflicts in English history.

This time period is completely new to me. I didn't know about Simon and didn't realize how weak Henry III was (ick!). Sharon Kay Penman brings these historical figures to life so vividly that I was completely immersed, especially in Simon's relationship with his remarkable wife, Nell.

I highly recommend this book and am jumping right into the third and final novel in the series.

Love Like You Mean It by Bob Lepine

Love Like You Mean It My Rating: 5.0

Every year, millions of men and women stand before family and friends and pledge their lifelong love and commitment to one another. But do they truly understand what marriage is meant to be?

Sadly, many people have only a shallow, superficial view of marriage. As a result, many marriages fail, while countless others simply survive instead of thriving.

In Love Like You Mean It, Bob Lepine provides a biblical understanding of what genuine love looks like by unpacking the ten attributes of love found in 1 Corinthians 13. He reminds us that lasting marital love is not primarily built on emotions but on daily choices and actions that, over time, deepen love and strengthen a marriage.

Whether you're married, engaged, considering marriage, or simply want to better understand God's design for marriage, this book offers practical, Scripture-based wisdom that is both convicting and encouraging.

This book was outstanding.

I thought my marriage was in pretty good shape until I read this book and realized, through Scripture, just how far I still have to go in loving my husband the way Christ calls me to. It challenged me in ways I wasn't expecting and gave me a much deeper understanding of what biblical love truly looks like.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to every married couple. If you're engaged or even thinking about getting married someday, read it before you say, "I do." I only wish I had discovered it 40 years ago. It's one of the best books on Christian marriage I've ever read.

The General's Daughter by Nelson DeMille

The General's Daughter My Rating: 4.4

When a respected career military officer is found raped and murdered, the investigation quickly uncovers evidence that points to a scandal reaching the highest levels of the military. The lead investigator is less than thrilled to discover he'll be working alongside a woman with whom he shared a turbulent romance years earlier. As they dig deeper, they realize the victim—the military's "golden girl"—had connections to several powerful people, any one of whom may have wanted her dead.

We listened to this audiobook during our commute between our two homes, and it kept us both entertained and guessing until the end. We really enjoy Nelson DeMille's writing, and now we're thinking about watching the movie starring John Travolta to see how it compares.

The Homesman by Glendon Swarthout

 The Homesman My Rating: 4.2

Set in the American West during the 1850s, The Homesman shines a light on a side of pioneer life that is often overlooked—the women. Life on the frontier was brutally hard, and many women were broken by the isolation, loss, and relentless hardships of homesteading.

When several women can no longer cope with life on the plains and must be escorted back East to a sanitarium, a "homesman" is needed to make the dangerous journey. When none of the local men volunteers, the task falls to Mary Bee Cuddy, a former teacher and unmarried woman who is both resourceful and remarkably determined.

The story follows their trek eastward, moving against the tide of westward expansion while facing harsh weather, loneliness, Indian attacks, and countless other dangers. It is a powerful and compelling tale filled with adventure, courage, and resilience.

I found this to be a wonderfully paced novel with strong character development. The vivid descriptions create an authentic sense of time and place, transporting the reader to an era when hardship, bravery, and loneliness were simply part of building a home and raising a family on the plains. Reading about the realities of frontier life made me realize there is no way I could have survived back then!

I was surprised to learn that this book was adapted into a movie, and after enjoying the novel so much, I may have to check it out.

Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman

Here Be Dragons My Rating: 4.9

Thirteenth-century Wales is a divided country, ever at the mercy of England's ruthless, power-hungry King John. Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, secures an uneasy truce by marrying the English king's beloved illegitimate daughter, Joanna, who slowly grows to love her charismatic and courageous husband. But as John's attentions turn again and again to subduing Wales---and Llewelyn---Joanna must decide where her love and loyalties truly lie.

The turbulent clashes of two disparate worlds and the destinies of the individuals caught between them spring to life in this magnificent novel of power and passion, loyalty and lies. The book that began the trilogy that includes Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning, Here Be Dragons brings thirteenth-century England, France, and Wales to tangled, tempestuous life.

Despite the title, this is not fantasy - it is exceptional historical fiction. While the story is filled with battles and political conflicts, the real strength of the novel lies in its characters. They are so richly developed and compelling that I found myself staying up far too late reading because I simply had to know what happened next.

Sharon Kay Penman brings history to life in a way that feels both epic and deeply personal. By the time I turned the final page, I was completely invested in these characters and their world. I am thrilled that this is a trilogy because I cannot wait to continue the journey in the next book.

A definite recommendation and an easy addition to my "Best Of" list.

The Good People by Hannah Kent

The Good People My Rating: 4.6

Three women, drawn together to rescue a child from a superstitious community.

Nóra has lost her daughter and her husband in the same year, find herself alone and is now burdened with the care of her four-year-old grandson, Micheál. The boy cannot walk, or speak, and Nora, mistrustful of the tongues of gossips, has kept the child hidden from those who might see in his deformity evidence of otherworldly interference. 

A handmaid, Mary, arrives to help Nora just as rumors begin to spread that Micheal is a changeling child who is bringing bad luck to the valley. 

Determined to banish evil, Nora and Mary enlist the help of Nance, an elderly wanderer who understands the magic of the old ways.

This was based on true events in nineteenth century Ireland. This is a slow build and worth every minute. It is hard to believe that this is only Kent's second novel. The writing is rich and leads you into the world of superstition. I want to read her first novel which was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction and the Guardian First Book Award. It won the ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year, the Indie Awards Debut Fiction Book of the Year and the Victorian Premier's People's Choice Award, and was shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Definitely recommend the audio version.

The Lost Man by Jane Harper

The Lost Man My Rating: 4.4

Set in the brutal, isolated Australian outback, the story begins when two brothers discover the body of their middle brother near a lonely stockman’s grave. The circumstances make no sense. He should never have been where he was found. As the family searches for answers, old resentments, buried secrets, and emotional wounds begin to surface.

The Australian setting plays a huge role in the story. The endless heat, the isolation, and the unforgiving landscape create a quiet intensity that stays with you the entire time. It feels immersive without being overly descriptive or heavy.

This is not a fast-paced thriller filled with nonstop action. It is thoughtful, layered, and emotionally intelligent. The mystery matters, but so do the complicated relationships, the weight of family history, and the loneliness that can exist even among people who know each other well.

If you enjoy mysteries that are atmospheric, character-driven, and genuinely absorbing, The Lost Man is absolutely worth adding to your list. I enjoyed the audio with the Australian accents.

The Last Train To London by Meg Waite Clayton

My Rating: 4.7

In 1936, the Nazis are little more than loud, brutish bores to fifteen-year-old Stephan Neuman, the son of a wealthy and influential Jewish family and an aspiring playwright whose playground stretches from the streets of Vienna to its intricate underground tunnels. Stephan’s closest companion is the brilliant Žofie-Helene, a Christian girl whose mother edits a progressive, anti-Nazi newspaper. But the carefree innocence of their adolescence is shattered when the Nazis seize control.

Based on the remarkable true story of Truus Wijsmuller, a member of the Dutch resistance, this novel follows one woman who risks her life smuggling Jewish children out of Nazi Germany to the few nations willing to take them in. Her mission becomes even more dangerous after the Anschluss—Hitler’s annexation of Austria—as countries across Europe begin closing their borders to the growing number of desperate refugees seeking escape.

Known as Tante Truus, she is determined to save as many children as possible. After Britain passes a measure allowing at-risk child refugees from the German Reich to enter the country, she boldly approaches Adolf Eichmann—the man who would later help devise the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question”—in a suspenseful race against time. Her efforts may be the only hope for children like Stephan, his younger brother Walter, and Žofie-Helene as they embark on a perilous journey toward an uncertain future.

It took me a little while to fully settle into this story, but once I did, it completely drew me in. The novel centers on the heartbreaking decisions parents faced as they sent their children away on The Kinder Transport, in hopes of saving their lives. The vast majority of these parents never saw their children again. Told primarily through the perspectives of the children, along with Tante Truus herself, the story captures both the horror of the time and the extraordinary courage of those determined to survive and help others.

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

 Horse by Geraldine Brooks My Rating: 4.6

I bet most of us have heard of Man o’ War, but have you heard of Lexington? What a story.

Set across three timelines, this book follows the incredible racehorse Lexington and the people connected to him through history. In 1850 Kentucky, an enslaved groom named Jarret forms a deep bond with a bay foal who will go on to become one of the greatest racehorses in American history. During the Civil War, their lives are turned upside down in ways that are both heartbreaking and unforgettable.

In 1954 New York, a gallery owner becomes fascinated with a mysterious equestrian painting, while in 2019 Washington, D.C., a Smithsonian scientist and an art historian begin uncovering the hidden history surrounding Lexington and the Black horsemen who helped shape racing history.

I REALLY enjoyed parts of this book… and other parts, not so much.

Let’s get the negatives out of the way first. The 2019 timeline felt very forced to me and preachy. Theo was probably the most pompous and unlikeable character in the book, and his relationship with Jess felt flat and unconvincing. Honestly, I also think the 1954 timeline could have been skipped entirely. At times this felt like three separate books mashed together, and I found myself wondering what the editor was thinking allowing such a hodgepodge to make it to print. (Brooks even managed to throw Jackson Pollock into the mix.)

Now for what I loved: the 1850 storyline absolutely carried this book for me. Jarret and Lexington completely stole my heart. Brooks beautifully captured the bond between horse and groom, along with the turmoil and heartbreak surrounding their journey. I also have to admit I was relieved that something truly horrific did not happen to Lexington - and I’ll leave it there to avoid spoilers.

Despite the parts I didn’t care for, I still definitely recommend this one for the historical storyline alone.

Thanks to shoegaljeana for the recommendation.