Fiction by Catherine Banner
This story was about the Esposito family, who lived on a small (probably fictional) island off the coast of Italy near Sicily called Castellemare. It takes place over the course of most of the twentieth century.
It was okay but...the characters just didn't hold my attention. I finished it but felt like it hadn't been worth it to push through to the end. I can't really articulate why.
Youth Fiction by Christopher Healy
This fantasy themed, locked-room mystery was okay but I didn’t love it.
Nonfiction by Cathy Glass
This is the 32nd book I've read by this author. In this story, Cathy has sort-of retired from fostering to be a family support worker, spending her time trying to help an at-risk family keep their children OUT of foster care. Cathy devotes herself to single mother Janie and her three children (aged 7, 5, and 3), but it's an uphill battle.
The story was well-told, but kind of depressing. People's problems are so much bigger than social work agencies can handle.
I also read by this author: Unsafe
Fiction by Jennifer Weiner
This was a fun little romance that turned into a mystery. The main character is an Instagram "influencer" with a page on plus-size fashion and also one for her dog Bingo. (The dog has more followers.) The story is mostly about her love/hate relationship with her longtime friend Drue Cavanaugh, beautiful rich girl.
This was an interesting story with some surprises.
I also read by this author: Golden Hills
Fiction by Francine Rivers
This was a good-enough straight romance set in California around 1875. Kathryn Walsh leaves the sophistication of Boston to come to a small mining town. She plans to claim an inheritance from her uncle, and to get away from her controlling stepfather, but she will find true love instead.
I also read by this author: Leota's Garden
Audible Original Fiction by Alexander Kane
If alien oppressors took over the Earth and forced all humans to slavery (or death), would you work for them? Or would you try to fight against them?
This is an interesting philosophical question; but for our fictional hero Ezra Barker, it's a real choice when the Merg invade the planet. And he chooses the safe route: he collaborates with the Merg and works at a nice office job instead of being killed or sent to the work camps. But deep inside, Ezra wishes he had joined the Resistance instead.
This was a really exciting adventure story with great characters. It had funny moments but wasn't necessarily as humorous as the other books I've listened to by this author. It's an imaginative and engrossing story!
I also listened to from Audible Originals: The Forever Part 2
Fiction by Catherine Ryan Hyde
At the beginning of this book, a widower named Aaron and his young son Buddy are heading to the local diner. They're going to have dinner, of course, but they are also going because Aaron has developed a tendresse for Virginia, who is a waitress there, and he's thinking of finally asking her out. But Aaron and Virginia's happy ending together will get derailed by what is coming next...
This was a sweet character story that didn't go the way I expected. It was a little sad.
