Stories I Only Tell My Friends Autiobiography by Rob Lowe

 My Rating: 4.6

A teen idol at fifteen, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at twenty, and one of Hollywood's top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles his experiences as a painfully misunderstood child actor in Ohio uprooted to the wild counterculture of mid-seventies Malibu, where he embarked on his unrelenting pursuit of a career in Hollywood.

His whole career was pretty incredible. I love how Lowe comes across - very down to earth, no ego and genuine. It was also wild how he moves to a new neighborhood and his neighbors are Charlie and Emelio and their Dad Martin - wow! 

Godpretty In The Tobacco Field by Kim Michelle Richardson

 My Rating: 4.8

Rubylynn is growing up on her Uncle's tobacco property in the late 1960s. Her uncle is very strict. Rubylynn does paper fortunes which have a lot of the townfolk thinking she has more knowledge of the future than she does. There is so much captured in this book – poverty, racial divides, fair grounds

Just like Richardson's other books this captures so much of the backwoods life and it's people. Her familiarity with the South brings it to life with her beautiful writing. Will definitely be reading more by her.

The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne

 My Rating: 4.9

Helena has two grown daughters, loves her husband, goes picking in the forest to collect berries for the artisan jams she sells and by all appearances, has a peaceful normal life. Then her father escapes from a nearby prison and we find out her history that no one else knows. Her mother was kidnapped by her father and two years later birth to her in a remote cabin where she was raised with no concept that her 'family' was anything but normal.

This had me completely memorized throughout. The unfolding through flashbacks of how she was raised and how her current completely separate idyllic life came to be was beautifully told and really made you think about how all of this could come to be. Riveted. Will definitely read more by this author.

Purgatory Ridge (Cork O'Connor Mystery Series #3) by William Kent Krueger

My Rating: 4.6

When an explosion kills the night watchman at wealthy industrialist Karl Lindstrom’s nearby lumber mill, it’s obvious where suspicion will fall. Former sheriff Cork O’Connor agrees to help investigate, but he has mixed feelings about the case. For one thing, he is part Anishinaabe. For another, his wife, a lawyer, represents the tribe.

It is nice that Cork is back with his family. Really enjoy WKK's writing and will continue reading this series.

The Last House On The Street by Diane Chamberlain

 My Rating: 4.7

1965 Ellie doesn't want to follow her well to do upbringing and, instead, one summer decides to volunteer to help black voters register. 

Current day: Kayla and her husband – both architects - designed their dream house. Her husband dies in an accident in the house prior to it being finished. Kayla is torn as to whether she and her young daughter should move in to their dream house that is now marred.

This book captures so much including naivety, stereotypes, racism, the klan and more. I quite enjoyed this particularly the 1960's piece of the book.

NPR: Driveway Moments All About Animals

 My Rating: 2.0

This claimed to be short stories that would make you laugh or sometimes tear up. Nope. These were cheezy fillers that didn't resonate with either of us. Definitely not worth our time...or yours.

The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

 My Rating: 4.4

Sharing inspiring stories from modern-day circle makers as well as his own experiences, this book encourages you to pray. 

 

I felt that some of the stories went on WAY too long - we get it without hammering it over and over again. A few less stories and more practicality would have given a higher rating but, I did appreciate the emphasis on specific prayers.

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

 My Rating: 4.9

Fresh out of nursing school in Montgomery, Alabama, 1973, Civil Townsend intends to make a difference, especially in her African American community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she hopes to help women shape their destinies, to make their own choices for their lives and bodies. But when her first week on the job takes her along a dusty country road to a worn-down one-room cabin, Civil is shocked to learn that her new patients, Erica and India, are children—just eleven and thirteen years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling the family’s welfare benefits, that’s reason enough to have the girls on birth control. 

As Civil grapples with her role, she takes India, Erica, and their family into her heart. Until one day she arrives at their door to learn the unthinkable has happened, and nothing will ever be the same for any of them. 

This was during the time of the Tuskegee experiment but is told by Civil decades after the event. This unflinching novel brought to life that horrific time in history. Definite recommend.

Jackie and Me by Louis Baynard

  My Rating: 4.6

Jacqueline Bouvier is hard at work at a Washington newspaper. When she meets Jack Kennedy, it isn't long till she is shifting her desire from being an independent reporter to wanting a relationship with Jack. Lem Billings was JFK's friend from childhood and his confidant. Lem and Jackie form a deep friendship that helps her navigate her courtship with Jack. This is narrated by an older Lem and, as he looks back, he wonders if he should have been more of a friend to Jackie and warning her of going down the path and the aisle with Jack.

I was so engrossed in this story that I felt jilted when the story ended at Jack and Jackie's marriage - what about everything that happened after that point? So much untold that I wanted to delve into. I guess that is the sign of a good book.

The Star Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman

My Rating: 4.1

A trio of second-born daughters set out on a holiday with their Great Aunt Poppy through the lush Italian countryside to break the family curse that says second daughters in their family will never find love,

I loved Aunt Poppy and her feisty spirit. Lucy grew on me through-out the book and I loved the ending for Emilia that is wasn't wrapped up in a typical bow. A fun light read with some great characters.

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly

 My Rating: 4.8

Josie and Arlette, former female spies, hunt down an infamous Nazi doctor after their release from Ravensbruck. They must put themselves in grave danger to secure justice and protect the ones they love.

This book brought so many things to my awareness - how being released from a concentration camp didn't mean you could just pick up the pieces of your life, what happened to a lot of the Nazi doctors and scientists and America being complicit in their lack of punishment. Although there were some parts of this book that felt far fetched and others that I think should have been edited down, this was an excellent read. Thank you to Goodreads for this free copy. Kelly is a fabulous writer and I appreciate her bringing little known history to the forefront.

When The Stars Go Dark by Paula McLean

 My Rating: 3.5

Anna, a seasoned missing persons detective in San Francisco, has tragedy strike her personal life. As her life disintegrates, she flees to her childhood town of Mendocino California to grieve. She relives her youth with her beloved foster parents, and now she believes it might be the only place left for her. Soon she is pulled into a local teenage girl's disappearance. Soon past and present collide.

Parts of this were beautifully written but much of it felt drawn out. It was hard to connect with any of the characters. This kept me reading but it is not McLean's best work. 

The Daniel Key by Anne Graham Lotz

My Rating: 5.0 

Daniel was honored by God, protected, and trusted. His faith did not waver facing those who were against him, serving new kings in power, or even confronting hungry lions. How can you have that kind of faith?

In easily digestible chapters, she walks you through how and why Daniel had the faith that he did and why we should as well. This is laid out in 20 key lessons (20 chapters) that are shared in a very applicable way to our modern lives. I have always loved Daniel and this deepened that and renewed so many wonderful truths. Will definitely be reading more by Anne.

Boundary Waters #2 Cork O'Connor Series by William Kent Krueger

 My Rating: 4.7

Shiloh -- a country-western singer at the height of her fame -- has disappeared. Her father arrives in Aurora, Minnesota, to hire Cork O'Connor to find his daughter, and Cork joins a search party that includes an ex-con, two FBI agents, and a ten-year-old boy. Others are on her trail as well -- men hired not just to find her, but to kill her.

I continue to love this series and Krueger's writing. Cork is a lovable character with such a good heart that, despite murders and violence, this book feels wholesome.

Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss

 My Rating: 4.8

Life is a series of negotiations you should be prepared for: buying a car, negotiating a salary, buying a home, renegotiating rent, deliberating with your partner. Taking emotional intelligence and intuition to the next level, Never Split the Difference gives you the competitive edge in any discussion.

This was a business book but the audio version has a great narrator. We read it in 'chunks' which made it easier but it was somewhat dry. That being said, we have implemented some of the techniques and I can tell you that THEY WORK!

The Absolute Value of Mike by Katherine Erskine

 My Rating: 4.7

Ever since 14 yo Mike's mother died, he has been responsible for the care of his father, a brilliant math & engineering professor, who's fantastic with numbers, and terrible at managing life. Mike's own dyscalculia (a math disability) is a sticking point between he and his father. To help solve this, Mike's father announces that while he will be teaching overseas for the summer, Mike will go to stay with relatives in rural Pennsylvania, to help build an artesian screw. This project, in the eyes of Mike's father, will help Mike build the necessary skills to enter a prestigious math/science high school. Upon arrival in the town, though, Mike discovers that Moo and Poppy (his relatives) are in their 80s, grieving the death of their adult son, and that the "artesian screw" Moo described to his father is really an "artisan's crew," working to raise the funds necessary for the town's minister to adopt a Romanian orphan. Mike quickly gets involved in the plan, despite his ongoing protests that he's too young to help, and the town's unusual residents all pitch in to make the adoption work

    

This was a delightful quirky story with so many fun characters. Sometimes it felt a bit 'much' but if you get in the spirit of it, it really was so cute.

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

My Rating: 4.7

Malcolm owns a bookstore and is a mystery aficionado. As part of promoting the bookstore when it first opened, he blogs a post titled "Eight Perfect Murders" from the best mystery books (Agatha Christie, Death Trap, etc.) Fast forward to current day and no one is more surprised than Malcolm when the FBI come knocking on his door looking to solve murders that seem to match the books on Malcom's list. Malcolm starts looking into the murders to understand the connection and soon believes that the killer is watching him - and aware of his every movement. As the murders continue, it seems that Malcolm may be the one who is accused.

This psychological thriller was fast paced and typical Swanson where I didn't know who did it and it kept me entertained all the way through.

Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson

 My Rating: 4.7

Kate is a fragile 20 year old who has panic attacks due to her ex-boyfriend kidnapping her, holding her hostage and eventually he commits suicide. This makes it a bold move for her when she decides to swap her flat in Britain with her American 2nd cousin Corbin in Boston. On her second day in his beautiful apartment, she discovers that the next door neighbor has been murdered, and starts to wonder if Corbin is involved. 

Warning, this is VERY disturbing and twisted...and really good. It gets into some twisted minds - voyeurs, accidental murder and intentional murdered with a deeper twist. Very disturbing. and all so creepy that I couldn't just put it down. This is not the best Peter Swanson novel I have read but it kept me coming back for more.

The Other End Of The Leash by Patricia B. McConnell

 My Rating: 4.9

The Other End of the Leash demonstrates how even the slightest changes in your voice and the way you stand can help your dog understand what you want. Once you start to think about your own behavior from the perspective of your dog, you’ll understand why much of what appears to be doggy-disobedience is simply a case of miscommunication. 

With our getting a new puppy, this book was fabulous. It was recommended by the breeder and it really helped me realize the MANY things I could do inadvertently that send the wrong signals to my dog. Very educational and one of the best dog training books that I have read.

Churchill's Secret Messenger by Alan Hlaad

 My Rating: 4.9

A riveting story of World War II and the courage of Rose who goes from working in Churchill's typist room to being drafted into Churchill’s overseas spy network, aiding the French Resistance behind enemy lines and working to liberate Nazi-occupied Paris. 

I enjoy Hlaad's writing and this book was no exception. I loved knowing that he pieced together various parts of history and created this amazing novel with a lot of little known facts interwoven through-out. 

Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca by Maria Goodavage

 My Rating: 4.6

Lucca K458 was a decorated and highly skilled military working dog. An extraordinary bond develops between Lucca and Marine Corps dog handlers Chris Willingham and Juan Rodriguez, in what would become a legendary 400-mission career. A Specialized Search Dog, Lucca belongs to an elite group trained to work off-leash at long distances from her handler. She served alongside both Special Forces and regular infantry, and became so sought-after that platoons frequently requested her by name.

This was an entertaining read about Lucca. It is amazing the work that these Marine Corps dogs do, as well as their handlers. This detailed Lucca's life and her missions. It described the grittiness of her missions but also included a lot of humor.

Iron Lake Book #1 by William Kent Krueger

 My Rating: 4.9

Cork is part Irish and part Anishinaabe Indian. He is also the former sheriff of Aurora Minnesota. His marriage and his career are in shambles. When the town's judge is brutally murdered, and a young Eagle Scout is reported missing, Cork takes on a mind-jolting case of conspiracy, corruption, and scandal.

I fell in love with Cork as a boy in the prequel Book #0 Lightning Strike. When I picked up this book, the first in the series, it was an adjustment to Cork not only being an adult, but to him having a less than idyllic life. I quickly feel in love with Cork, Aurora and all of the characters in this book. So well told and I will continue this series. 

Habakkuk by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

My Rating: 5.0

This is a series on Revive Our Hearts (listen through their webpage or their free app). Do you ever feel like God is not hearing your prayer? The prophet Habakkuk did. He looked at the injustice around him and wondered why God did not seem to change the situation. As he continued to look to God, the prophet ended up getting answers—but they were far different from what he expected. Learn how to worship in the middle of worry, confusion, and frustration in this practical series on Habakkuk.

I love listening to Revive Our Hearts and this series broke down the little book of Habakkuk and made it applicable to my own life. Nancy is fabulous at not only breaking down each verse to help understand what the Bible is saying but, she applies it to our real life/world circumstances. Absolutely fabulous!  

Friends Like These by Kimberly McCreight

 My Rating: 4.4

Five friends go the Catskills. They have been friends since college, back before what happened to Alice all those years ago. They are a complicated group with so many personalities, secrets and history (dysfunction).

Lots of "who dunnits" but, I figured out the 'who' about 2/3 of the way in. I didn't get all the 'why' or other details till the end. This was a fast paced light, easy thriller. 

Traveling Light by Max Lucado

My Rating: 4.8

Using the 23rd Psalm as our guide, Max Lucado walks us through a helpful inventory of our burdens. The Burdens discussed in this book are the following: 

• lesser God
• self reliance
• discontent
• weariness
• worry
• hopelessness
• guilt
• arrogance
• grave
• grief
• fear
• loneliness
• shame
• disappointment
• envy
• doubt
• homesickness

Along with my Christian book friends, we read two chapters a week and discussed it. It was the perfect pace to be able to absorb everything and reflect on it. I enjoyed his analogies and his insights helped me to look deeper to analyze myself.

Out Of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys

 My Rating: 4.4

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Despite capturing the prostitutes, brothel and their business so well, there was also a wholesome feel to this savey street-wise book. Septeys has an amazing gift of taking a piece of history and bringing it to life. My two favorite books of hers so far are I Must Betray You and Between Shades of Grey. I will continue reading everything that she puts out as her writing really is amazing.