The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

My Rating: 4.9

1940's England and three different women feel compelled to help England fight the war against the Nazis.  Debutante Osla who is dating Prince Philip of Greece, self-made Mab who is determined to pull herself out of East End London poverty and Beth who is painfully shy but has a brain meant to work on puzzles. They all end up at Bletchley park where the best minds are gathered to try to decode the enemy's secrets. 

1947 these three once inseparable friends are now enemies. Prince Philip is going to wed Princess Elizabeth, the girls have gone their separate ways with children, a fiancée and one is in an asylum. They are forced to reunite to figure out who was the traitor in their midst.

Quinn brings everything to life - the code breaking techniques, the war, Prince Philip and most of all the three different girls. This was excellent. Quinn never disappoints and I will be reading more of hers.

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

My Rating: 4.7

Avery is a therapist who has lost her license - which allows her to use unconventional means. Marissa and Matthew Bishop have their first session with Avery - and Marissa reveals the real reason she has brought her husband to counseling when she reveals that she had an affair.

What unfolds is a lot of twists and turns. It is a fun thrilling ride as each page has more suspense as the story unfolds. A fun popcorn beach read type of thriller that I couldn't wait to get back to.

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.