Sunday, March 26, 2023

All My Knotted-Up Life

 Nonfiction by Beth Moore


This was a good honest memoir that really helped me understand the author's life in its complexity. Also having it read in her own voice is a bonus!



Saturday, March 25, 2023

The Younger Wife

 Fiction  by Sally Hepworth

Heather Wisher is the titular Younger Wife, and the story opens at her wedding. In attendance is, of course, Stephen (the Older Groom) and his grown daughters, Rachel and Tully and... Stephen's ex-wife Pam? All of  these five people are emotionally strained, possibly to a breaking point, so it's no surprise that something happens. But what exactly happens will not be revealed until the final chapters.

This was a great story with good characters and several surprises! I like this author a lot.

I also read recently by this author: The Good Sister

Friday, March 24, 2023

Never Lie

 Fiction by Freida McFadden


Tricia and her husband are looking for a house together when they go to view Dr. Adrienne Hale’s large home during a snowstorm and get snowed in. Since Adrienne disappeared two years ago, the place is abandoned and dusty. But the electricity is on and there is food in the refrigerator... Is someone living here? What secrets does the house hold?

This was an exciting thriller that had some surprises.



I also read recently by this author: Do You Remember?

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

The Final Life Of Nathaniel Moon

 Fiction by Shawn Inmon


This was an interesting book. I’m not sure I’m buying the author’s worldview, although I’ve read several of his novels now. The deeper you go into the time-travel idea, the harder it gets to sustain.

In this story, Nathaniel is born with otherworldly knowledge and special abilities beyond human understanding, and it’s up to his mother to both protect him and develop his gifts. It’s an exciting book but definitely an odd one. 



I also read recently by this author:  The Death and Life of Dominick Davidner

Monday, March 20, 2023

Nora Goes Off Script

 Fiction by Annabel Monaghan 


Nora is a romance screenwriter whose husband has just left her. So, of course, she writes a script about it! But when Hollywood comes to film at her house, she gets more than she expected.

This was a fun story, a could-have-been-formulaic romance that still managed to surprise you!



Saturday, March 18, 2023

The Death and Life of Dominick Davidner

 Fiction by Shawn Inmon


This is the third book in a series; I'd describe it as a parallel novel to The Redemption of Michael Hollister rather than a sequel, however.

The author describes it as a love story but not a romance, which is a great description. I enjoyed it!


I also read by this author: The Unusual Second Life of Thomas Weaver

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

The Last Flight

 Fiction by Julie Clark


Claire is desperate to escape her abusive husband. Eva is just desperate to escape. They will meet at JFK Airport, seemingly by chance. Will either of them get away?

This was an exciting story that really kept me guessing! I will look for more books by this author. 

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Born a Crime

 Nonfiction by Trevor Noah.


I had heard a lot of good things about this book; still I was reluctant to start reading. I don't often love celebrity memoirs; usually their lives aren't that interesting other than the fact that they are on TV or whatever. And I'd seen Mr. Noah's show briefly and remained unimpressed.

But I'm so glad I did go ahead and read this book. Born in South Africa under apartheid to mixed-race parents and raised partly in hiding, Trevor Noah has an amazing story to tell! The thing I loved the most was reading about his mother, Patricia. She's great! 

I definitely recommend this book.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

The Family Across the Street

 Fiction by Nicole Trope.


There's a hostage situation in a suburban neighborhood, but it's the height of summer and everyone is closeted indoors. Will anyone realize the danger in time to save Katherine and her twin five-year-old children?

This was an exciting thriller with a real surprise at the end.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

The Redemption of Michael Hollister

 Fiction by Shawn Inmon


This book is the sequel to The Unusual Second Life of Thomas Weaver. The character of Michael Hollister was introduced in that story. Interestingly, in that story, Michael Hollister was the villain; seriously, the guy was a serial killer! In the afterword of this book, the author explains how he got the idea for the title of this book right after finishing the first one; however, it took quite a while before he could figure out  how to turn a villain into a protagonist.

I really enjoyed this story and the chance Michael has to redeem himself. I'm definitely moving on to the next book in this series.

Monday, March 6, 2023

Heartburn

 Fiction by Nora Ephron


Rachel's marriage is falling apart because her husband is cheating on her while she's pregnant with their second child. Fortunately, tragedy doesn't stop her from making jokes about it!

The late Nora Ephron was a great writer, mostly known for her movie screenplays, such as "When Harry Met Sally."

Heartburn is a classic, written in 1982; however I had never read it before. This performance by Meryl Streep won an award in 2014, and it was definitely deserved. I loved this story!

Saturday, March 4, 2023

The House at the End of the World

 Fiction by Dean Koontz.


Katie has lived alone on an island called Jacob's Ladder for two years now, and she has enjoyed the solitude, recovering from the tragic loss of her husband and daughters. Now there has been a disturbance on neighboring Ringrock, an island with some kind of secret government facility, and it looks like the problem over there might be spilling over to Katie's island. 

This was an exciting story with some surprises, although it was a little overblown in places.

I also read recently by this author: Quicksilver

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Cat Among the Pigeons

 Fiction by Agatha Christie


This is the kind of Hercule Poirot mystery I like best: one in which the celebrated detective doesn't show up until the story is well past halfway over. He swoops in and solves it at the end, but we don't have to hang out with him the whole book or anything.

This story involves missing jewels, a mysterious Arabian prince, and... an English girls' school. 


I also read recently by this author: Murder on the Orient Express

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Don't Move

 Fiction by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth.


Megan Forrester is having a bad year. At the beginning of this story a horrible tragedy strikes her family. Then six months later, just as she's beginning to recover, she takes a camping trip with a church group. And there is something terrible in the woods...

This was basically a horror movie to read. It was exciting!