Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michael Robotham

My Rating: 3.7

Evie was hiding in a room when a crime happened. She is in a secure child facility and petitioning to be released. She looks like she could be 12 or 15 but claims to be 18. Adult, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven must determine if Evie is ready to go free.

Cyrus is also called in to investigate the shocking murder of a high school figure-skating champion, Jodie Sheehan, who dies on a lonely footpath close to her home.

Despite excellent writing, this didn't grab me. The characters felt shallow. I also felt that a lot of the book dragged out too long and then the ending felt rushed. I don't know if I will continue reading this series or not.

Rising Man - Sam Wyndham #1 by Abir Muhkerjee

My Rating: 4.9

Captain Sam Wyndham, former Scotland Yard detective, is a new arrival to Calcutta. Desperately seeking a fresh start after his experiences during the Great War, Wyndham has been recruited to head up a new post in the police force. A senior British official has been murdered, and a note left in his mouth warns the British to quit India: or else. With rising political dissent and the stability of the Raj under threat, Wyndham and his two new colleagues–arrogant Inspector Digby, who can barely conceal his contempt for the natives and British-educated, but Indian-born Sargeant Banerjee, one of the few Indians to be recruited into the new CID–embark on an investigation that will take them from the luxurious parlours of wealthy British traders to the seedy opium dens of the city.

This brilliantly written novel not only built out the characters of Sam, Digby and Surrender-Not (loved him!) but also of the British rule in India. I loved how India was it's own character brought to life with all it's glories and flaws - including the sects/classes. I am not usually big on detective/mystery novels but this was so enjoyable that I can't wait to read more books in this series.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

My Rating: 3.0

Lowen is a struggling writer who's mother just died at home with hospice. Jeremy Crawford is the husband of the best selling author Verity Crawford. Lowen is offered a deal to complete the remaining books in a contract his permanently injured wife is unable to fulfill  Lowen goes to the Crawford home to sort through Verity's chaotic office searching for notes to write the next book and stumbles across Verity's autobiography that reveals things that would crush Jeremy.

This has all the cliches like "she had no choice" and of course the plot line had Lowen falling for Jeremy. Combine that with a completely implausible story line - why would Jeremy select a struggling writer to complete his wife's best selling series - really?. It was REALLY hard to go along with all the many implausibilities of this. It was just so far fetched from the very beginning and got worse. I finished it, and won't get that time back. Definitely do not recommend.

Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

My Rating: 4.6

This starts with a mom trying to wake up her teenage son. On his bedside table, his locked phone lights up with a text asking if he broke into a house last night before it goes dark. She is stunned. Another text lights up asking him if he got anything good. She wakes up her son in outraged anger and so unfolds this page turner.

This was a light easy read that kept me guessing of "who done it" right up until the end. A fun light thriller read.

A Spool Of Blue Thread by Ann Tyler

My Rating: 3.5

Abby & Red met in 1959. They went on to get married and have four grown children. Like all families, they have many moments of laughter, tears, jealousy and love. This captures it all.

Not only do you get to know Abby, Red and their four children but, you also know their house, and their parents. The many nuances that go into a family. This was interesting but, not a must read. If you want a similar book that I think was a stellar story line and character development I highly recommend The Most Fun We Ever Had. 

My Time With God by Joyce Meyers

My Rating: 4.8

Over the course of three years, Joyce Meyer recorded in her journal the personal devotions and inspirations that guided her busy life. Those writings comprise MY TIME WITH GOD, the 365-day devotional that shares powerful insight into Joyce's spiritual reflections and journey.

I like that this includes personal stories from Joyce's life that made it relatable. Each devotional is only a page or two and perfect to leave you with something to think on for that day.

All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williiams, Lauren Willig & Karen White

My Rating: 4.0

1914 France - Auriele is trapped with her father on the wrong side of the front when the Germans take over their ancestral estate

1942 France - Marguerite "Daisy" is raised by her grandmother in the Ritz Hotel in Paris.

1964 France - Barbara "Babs' Langford" husband Kit has died. She goes back to the Ritz to meet an American lawyer in hopes of finding out more of her husband's love "La Fleur" from the war.

It well could have been my mindset when I read this but for me, the characters and time periods all ran together making me not care about the outcome. 

Bookmarks Magazine July/August

What better way to kick off the long weekend than getting my July/August edition of Bookmarks - yeah!!! As alwys, this had a lot of potential great reads in it that I can't wait to get to.

One of their featured authors was Paulette Jiles. I adored "News of the World" so put a few more of her books into my queue:


      



These are by other authors and sounded really intriguing to me:
        
     


I don't typically like non-ficttion but this sounded really good in the reviews:


I almost didn't add this one to my queue as it sounded too much like current events! Apparently the author handles it with lighthearted wit so, we shall see.