tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35211374370319422192024-03-16T02:08:21.962-05:00Annette's Book SpotThe More You Read, The More You Will Know!-Dr.Seuss................................................................
Book Reviews, Book Discussions, and Anything Else Book Related!Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.comBlogger2110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-7044101056448927272023-10-15T11:55:00.000-05:002023-10-15T11:55:42.502-05:00Audiobook Review: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBP0_AofnSEIiqa1ciAz0oV_ZG9Jzwt4YeQzwtm22W9nIt8OjIU4rnGC3SkGCw3scH9txEUsDXIKLkKcN4TVR7peZfibhT1cpO2h7XmS07Q4TWbQgfdu3V1jAm53ZMDwzkdPnyqf2ofmGjUHmrxslo0K_8ewcqXegHxs5NvtWQ_U3ruHzv-WjbvUanE7Y/s711/covenantofwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="474" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBP0_AofnSEIiqa1ciAz0oV_ZG9Jzwt4YeQzwtm22W9nIt8OjIU4rnGC3SkGCw3scH9txEUsDXIKLkKcN4TVR7peZfibhT1cpO2h7XmS07Q4TWbQgfdu3V1jAm53ZMDwzkdPnyqf2ofmGjUHmrxslo0K_8ewcqXegHxs5NvtWQ_U3ruHzv-WjbvUanE7Y/w133-h200/covenantofwater.jpg" title="The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese book cover and review" width="133" /></a></div>I read <i><a href="https://annettesbookspot.blogspot.com/2013/05/audiobook-review-cutting-for-stone-by.html" target="_blank">Cutting for Stone</a></i> and really enjoyed it. Verghese is such a great storyteller. So when I saw <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Covenant-Water-Abraham-Verghese/dp/0802162177/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1697387341&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Covenant of Water</a>,</i> there was no hesitation on my part. And I was totally correct. I think this is one of my new favorite books of all time.<div><br /></div><div>I'm inserting part of the amazon.com description, because I can't do better: <i>Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on South India’s Malabar Coast, and follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning—and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala’s long-existing Christian community, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unforgettable new beginning, the young girl—and future matriarch, known as Big Ammachi—will witness unthinkable changes over the span of her extraordinary life, full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, her faith and love the only constants.</i><br /><div><br /></div><div>There is so much to this story, much like <i>Cutting for Stone.</i> It spans generations. It takes you from India to Ireland (and you have to just be patient to see how things all fit together.) The characters are so richly detailed that they feel like a part of your own life. My only complaint is that I wasn't ready for it to end. There were some situations that I would have liked more resolution, although the ending is comfortable. It isn't a cliffhanger or anything. But I was so involved that it felt abrupt.</div><div><br /></div><div>Verghese narrates the audiobook himself and is superb. He has an accent, but it is appropriate and easily understood.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is a long story, but it flies by. I highly recommend the audio version. The only thing I didn't realize is that there are illustrations. So either get a copy of the book or go to https://www.abrahamverghese.org/the-covenant-of-water/. I wished I had known this while reading because I would have liked to see the illustrations at the proper part of the story as I was listening. <i>The Covenant of Water</i> will stick with me for a long time.</div><div><br /></div>Published by Grove, May 2, 2023<br />
Audiobook obtained from libro.fm<br />
736 pages<br />
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Rating: 5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-7583108834697091602023-10-05T12:02:00.000-05:002023-10-05T12:02:29.173-05:00Book Review: A Traitor in Whitehall, by Julia Kelly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUnOv6R9CvPvtGiFX3boBlC1CO2wSUZYNnf7QDFRxYohyphenhyphenyw0NAau8zquqfG1ETEq6s7NZOxqL9Cf3qcUcDodkbAoPOjKrx3j_-2FfueEf1hHMKg0v0q5zKZbjMi03SYFRMxEANfi_cb382IUneiFsYKt-U3MQL9lOUbAHwcvBG8bLCAKMhBdEMCgLtKA/s466/traitorinwhitehall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Traitor in Whitehall, by Julia Kelly book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="307" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUnOv6R9CvPvtGiFX3boBlC1CO2wSUZYNnf7QDFRxYohyphenhyphenyw0NAau8zquqfG1ETEq6s7NZOxqL9Cf3qcUcDodkbAoPOjKrx3j_-2FfueEf1hHMKg0v0q5zKZbjMi03SYFRMxEANfi_cb382IUneiFsYKt-U3MQL9lOUbAHwcvBG8bLCAKMhBdEMCgLtKA/w132-h200/traitorinwhitehall.jpg" title="A Traitor in Whitehall, by Julia Kelly book cover and review" width="132" /></a></div>I was reading a new thriller, and taking forever. After about 55%, I asked myself, "Do I really care about these characters? Can I live without knowing what the 'big twists' are?" The answers were "no" and "yes." So I gave up. Sometimes I easily blame myself for not enjoying a book--not in the right mood, not enough time to read...you get the idea. But sometimes I just don't like the book! And I need to admit that. After reading over half the book I still couldn't keep the two main characters apart.<div><br /></div><div>All of that is to say, I decided to try <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Traitor-Whitehall-Parisian-Orphan/dp/1250865484/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1696523837&sr=8-1" target="_blank">A Traitor in Whitehall</a>, </i>and I really enjoyed it. I read it in three sittings! It grabbed me from the beginning. It was an easy read. So I realized, I CAN read and enjoy a book! There's nothing wrong with me!!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's 1940 in England and Evelyn is doing everything she can for the war effort by working in a munitions factory. When she runs into a friend of her father's, he gets her working as a typist in Winston Churchill's war rooms. Top secret stuff. She works three days and must stay at the underground facility. Then she gets two days off to go home.</div><div><br /></div><div>She is trying to get to know the women she works with when one of them is murdered. And Evelyn is the one who finds the body. She can't help but begin investigating, but this causes her to butt heads with David, who is investigating for the government. She also finds out he's investigating a mole who is selling secrets to the enemy. Are the two crimes related? David allows Evelyn to help him in his investigation, and it turns out she's pretty good at it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The clues are interesting, and there are plenty of suspects. This is the first of the <i>Parisian Orphan</i> series, so as everything is solved, we find out more about David and his work. It seems Evelyn and David will be working together in the future. I'll be interested to read more of their adventures.</div><div><br /></div><div>This one is a pleasant and easy read. The characters are likable and easy to root for. The historic setting is always a plus for me. Read <i>A Traitor in Whitehall</i> if you are interested in these types of stories.<br /><div><br /></div>Published by Minotaur, October 3, 2023<br />
eARC obtained from <a href="https://www.edelweiss.plus/#dashList=0&page=1" target="_blank">Edelweiss+</a><br />
304 pages<br />
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Rating: 4/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a></div>
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-38866311968836951592023-08-23T20:19:00.002-05:002023-08-23T20:19:44.967-05:00Book Review: The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHkrMUK0lwulOAi6duiXHFAK0GtNm6lA994UBQdwJJfyP0qjCF204NBHi3SjIOPeW5XkaXm1DbZo1BpqtnrbcP38HroNadZL9aPc_-msZjeA1nh-nULrSXpBJnKCZZoc7INC_cnIsz8UC5cEX3SVboO39khf953HrTvIp1Fwq7Dp2dAG1eAxw1Baz_vw/s1207/bonecrusher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHkrMUK0lwulOAi6duiXHFAK0GtNm6lA994UBQdwJJfyP0qjCF204NBHi3SjIOPeW5XkaXm1DbZo1BpqtnrbcP38HroNadZL9aPc_-msZjeA1nh-nULrSXpBJnKCZZoc7INC_cnIsz8UC5cEX3SVboO39khf953HrTvIp1Fwq7Dp2dAG1eAxw1Baz_vw/w133-h200/bonecrusher.jpg" title="The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs book cover and review" width="133" /></a></div><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Hacker-Temperance-Brennan-Novel/dp/1982190051/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1692837580&sr=8-2" target="_blank">The Bone Hacker</a></i> is the latest Tempe Brennan book, and as expected, it was very enjoyable.<div><br /></div><div>This episode brings Tempe to Turks and Caicos where several young men, tourists, have been disappearing. Some bodies have been found and they need help from our favorite forensic anthropologist.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seemingly unrelated accidental deaths have also occurred. It's all very confusing and the pieces don't come together until the end.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another creative plot that kept me turning pages and kept me guessing (incorrectly) at the resolution. As usual, it gets tense as Tempe herself faces danger.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you are a fan, as I always say, you won't want to miss this latest installment. If not, you should start anywhere -- it isn't necessary to read these in order. And if you've only watched the TV series (<i>Bones</i>), you are missing out!</div><div><div><br /></div>Published by Scribner, August 1, 2023<br />
eBook obtained from <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/" target="_blank">NetGalley</a><br />336 pages<br />
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Rating: 4.5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L6j0Ft-CzQhX4KpUCnZEtcd60K-EIiSwL6zTN0MmiXV0_ShZpda5Qtg-sMjDosWjS_PcyosXYCt_peunYa4WmpMUiBRRqXuIkfBXZ1ZuUzJzw6lMXmEcL2AKIexE8PMRbZEcBlMTzAcV/s1600/halfhat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L6j0Ft-CzQhX4KpUCnZEtcd60K-EIiSwL6zTN0MmiXV0_ShZpda5Qtg-sMjDosWjS_PcyosXYCt_peunYa4WmpMUiBRRqXuIkfBXZ1ZuUzJzw6lMXmEcL2AKIexE8PMRbZEcBlMTzAcV/s1600/halfhat.png" /></a></div>
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-72116687019207995862023-08-10T09:12:00.000-05:002023-08-10T09:12:18.471-05:00Audiobook Review: Killers of a Certain Age, by Deanna Raybourn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ9H29XGQDVfkr8jCW_2ZEt7X3zrS0NS9wkkCnVdJoM4AsF-PZyqIsSSTIQ4pK80YafUdO7akIctb5i_gh6kjWFDwuXCty43pUZN_x2_U0vMKdp52mzsxhwQ3PTEirSVMDOGFpo9PGAc7wUzd_A3YiYyi_xCZ8Y0-iMMOeAzLUcpmomXGzFoIv0OIblE/s499/killersofacertainage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ9H29XGQDVfkr8jCW_2ZEt7X3zrS0NS9wkkCnVdJoM4AsF-PZyqIsSSTIQ4pK80YafUdO7akIctb5i_gh6kjWFDwuXCty43pUZN_x2_U0vMKdp52mzsxhwQ3PTEirSVMDOGFpo9PGAc7wUzd_A3YiYyi_xCZ8Y0-iMMOeAzLUcpmomXGzFoIv0OIblE/w134-h200/killersofacertainage.jpg" title="Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn book cover and review" width="134" /></a></div>At first, I thought <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Killers-Certain-Age-Deanna-Raybourn/dp/0593200683/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Killers of a Certain Age</a></i> was going to be a kind of tongue-in-cheek cutesy assassin story. After the introduction, when the women were fighting for their lives, the tone changed, and I found it to be pretty exciting.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Billie is the narrator of the present time. She is one of four, recently retired women, who have worked for the past 40 years as assassins. The organization they work for, the Museum, started out as a Nazi-hunting squad, but since the Nazis' numbers have dwindled, their mission is to investigate, target, and assassinate unscrupulous people all over the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>The four women have been sent on an all-expenses-paid cruise as a retirement gift. Turns out their real gift is finding out they, themselves are targets of the Museum. Once they figure this out, they are on their own to escape their former colleagues who are now trying to assassinate them and to figure out why they have been targeted.</div><div><br /></div><div>Their methods are creative and intriguing. The four each have different personalities and different strengths. We get flashbacks of how they were recruited and trained 40 years ago, and some of their early missions are described.</div><div><br /></div><div>They can trust no one, as we soon find out. Their destiny seems an impossible one to escape. There are surprises all the way through, and I only figured out the situation as the characters did.</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, <i>Killers of a Certain Age </i>was time well spent. Oppenheimer and Delaine, the narrators, did a great job. (One did the present, and the other did the flashbacks.) I would recommend this one if it sounds interesting and highly recommend the audio version.</div><div><br /></div>Published by Berkley, 2022. Penguin Audio.<br />
Audiobook obtained from <a href="http://libro.fm">libro.fm</a><br />368 pages<br />
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Rating: 4.5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L6j0Ft-CzQhX4KpUCnZEtcd60K-EIiSwL6zTN0MmiXV0_ShZpda5Qtg-sMjDosWjS_PcyosXYCt_peunYa4WmpMUiBRRqXuIkfBXZ1ZuUzJzw6lMXmEcL2AKIexE8PMRbZEcBlMTzAcV/s1600/halfhat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L6j0Ft-CzQhX4KpUCnZEtcd60K-EIiSwL6zTN0MmiXV0_ShZpda5Qtg-sMjDosWjS_PcyosXYCt_peunYa4WmpMUiBRRqXuIkfBXZ1ZuUzJzw6lMXmEcL2AKIexE8PMRbZEcBlMTzAcV/s1600/halfhat.png" /></a></div>
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</div><p></p><p></p>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-84975010538206856462023-08-04T14:30:00.000-05:002023-08-04T14:30:48.262-05:00AudioBook Review: The Guardians by John Grisham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRmiA5tlS10kRQQXaIOsDwbCbp6lIdrZtG5Hey54u1J5f1ctlGLHcCDVpgCoakhxjDs18v4iMfHFLdtHTwSD2bXP6GJoiOL7dkzx8nFPhJqgG_PZnt2l9Wg9_xI-1GRLl8okl7rW7S0THgQYqEzIqwpPD5bSmKGYv7ZOwnsVuW98lRxxVWBchHuaAagY/s499/guardians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Guardians by John Grisham book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="343" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRmiA5tlS10kRQQXaIOsDwbCbp6lIdrZtG5Hey54u1J5f1ctlGLHcCDVpgCoakhxjDs18v4iMfHFLdtHTwSD2bXP6GJoiOL7dkzx8nFPhJqgG_PZnt2l9Wg9_xI-1GRLl8okl7rW7S0THgQYqEzIqwpPD5bSmKGYv7ZOwnsVuW98lRxxVWBchHuaAagY/w138-h200/guardians.jpg" title="The Guardians by John Grisham book cover and review" width="138" /></a></div>I always enjoy Grisham stories, but I really loved <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Guardians-Novel-John-Grisham/dp/0385544189/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">The Guardians</a>.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I think it's because of the premise. The main character, a lawyer named Cullen Post, created and runs Guardian Ministries, a nonprofit that works to get innocent people, most of them on death row, out of prison. I totally believe there are many people, right now, who are in prison but innocent. I just can't imagine being in that situation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Post is trying to prove the innocence of Quincy Miller. Twenty-two years ago, Quincy was convicted of murdering a lawyer at his desk. Post knows this isn't true, but proving it and getting anyone in the legal system to listen to him, isn't easy. And it turns out the people who framed Quincy are powerful and dangerous, which creates the build-up of suspense. </div><div><br /></div><div>I enjoyed all the people who work with Post. They are colorful and special characters. While he is working to free Quincy, we learn about several other cases that Post is working on and some of those that he's been successful in getting released from prison.</div><div><br /></div><div>I loved the narrator, Michael Beck. He has the appropriate southern drawl, but not too irritating. I thought he was perfect for this story, and he has narrated several of Grisham's novels.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Guardians</i> is a good one, combining good guys, and colorful bad guys, in the courtroom and on the street. If you enjoy Grisham, you won't want to miss <i>The Guardians.</i><div><br /></div>Published by Doubleday, 2019. Random House Audio<br />
Audiobook obtained from <a href="http://Libro.fm">Libro.fm</a><br />384 pages<br />
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Rating: 5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-85900529435195701982023-08-03T09:07:00.002-05:002023-08-03T09:07:47.220-05:00Book Review: The Hotel Nantucket, by Elin Hilderbrand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vzVPrY8Uxe-J1EmhBFnuN-H-IUrVWlT4bscnDRM9iVdhdtZzi6hH80qJ4gNP68P8Hl06vl5t4DH303t44Aa-Q_FvG2ScoHKU6DCIUYqLTDLnmZycR4bnfOisDCbQ7S_SdnVE1nvoYRqtgx3BeN8joz1xSnef1iuAJXkrxvrvr7b5IiJpVF8xLrdRKVI/s499/hotelnantucket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="322" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vzVPrY8Uxe-J1EmhBFnuN-H-IUrVWlT4bscnDRM9iVdhdtZzi6hH80qJ4gNP68P8Hl06vl5t4DH303t44Aa-Q_FvG2ScoHKU6DCIUYqLTDLnmZycR4bnfOisDCbQ7S_SdnVE1nvoYRqtgx3BeN8joz1xSnef1iuAJXkrxvrvr7b5IiJpVF8xLrdRKVI/w129-h200/hotelnantucket.jpg" title="The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand book cover and review" width="129" /></a></div><div>I saw this on a "deal of the day" right before I went on vacation. I was in the mood for something "beachy" and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Nantucket-Elin-Hilderbrand/dp/0316258679/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1691070317&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Hotel Nantucket</a></i> did not disappoint.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lizbet has just had a devastating breakup with her longtime boyfriend and business partner after discovering he was having an affair. Some faraway billionaire, Xavier, purchases The Hotel Nantucket and needs a general manager. The hotel has been closed for many years and is supposedly haunted. Lizbet throws everything she has into redesigning the hotel. The only way to make Xavier happy is if she gets a 5-star rating from Shelly Carpenter, the popular Instagram influencer who has never given 5 stars to any hotel.</div><div><br /></div><div>The ghost, Grace, who was killed in a hotel fire in 1922, does play a part in the story. Don't let that throw you off. It is tasteful and a cute addition. Turns out Xavier (who doesn't even visit the hotel until the very end) had an ulterior motive for buying and refurbishing the hotel. But I won't spill the beans about that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lizbet is destined for some romance (new or old? I won't tell you that either.) The employees and guests of the hotel are varied, and each has their own backstory. There are ups and downs, of course, but ultimately this is a feel-good beach read with a happy ending. Not too sappy. Some secrets that are intriguing. Just what I wanted!</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't read too many of this genre, so I don't have much to compare it to. Hilderbrand is supposedly a master, so I would recommend <i>The Hotel Nantucket </i>if you are in the mood. </div><div><br /></div>Published by Little, Brown & Co., 2022<br />
EBook purchased<br />
416 pages<br />
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Rating: 4/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-10794194018503806402023-07-11T08:19:00.000-05:002023-07-11T08:19:09.244-05:00Book Review: The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MocPCPpWodqFnF0Dg2jN9w6IqBZx1L3aLDrPA6nyzle4qPP5zhqIbaCnqMaMm3Ae-I0to3jHGivqGy4Z44axLMnqU1Yu65TF9OH04CZmlMbShg8tmNYPAUafiCI805XqrOxq4L_DAS7nEfm948d2O9sjdUiAKJNi5eIGD9l4AW4gtwNXGxTsRhYAkK0/s406/heartgoeslast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="263" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MocPCPpWodqFnF0Dg2jN9w6IqBZx1L3aLDrPA6nyzle4qPP5zhqIbaCnqMaMm3Ae-I0to3jHGivqGy4Z44axLMnqU1Yu65TF9OH04CZmlMbShg8tmNYPAUafiCI805XqrOxq4L_DAS7nEfm948d2O9sjdUiAKJNi5eIGD9l4AW4gtwNXGxTsRhYAkK0/w129-h200/heartgoeslast.jpg" title="The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood book cover and review" width="129" /></a></div>Like <i><a href="https://annettesbookspot.blogspot.com/2020/06/book-review-handmaids-tale-by-margaret.html" target="_blank">The Handmaid's Tale</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Goes-Last-Novel/dp/0385540353/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">The Heart Goes Last</a></i> is another creative and thought-provoking dystopian by Atwood.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Because of some non-descript economic collapse, Charmaine and Stan have lost everything and are now living in their car. When they get the opportunity to join The Positron Project. a town where everyone has a home, a job, and security. The tradeoff is that every other month they must serve as inmates in the Positron Prison. So while they are in prison, another couple is living in their home and working their civilian jobs. And you can never leave the town.</div><div><br /></div><div>It all seems great -- until things fall apart. Charmaine has an affair with the man who lives in her house when she is in prison. But it's more than that. The affair is a setup, and secrets about Positron are revealed. Stan's life is in danger and Charmaine can't do anything to help him. Or can she?</div><div><br /></div><div>I found <i>The Heart Goes Last</i> to be intriguing, but I got bored after a while. I thought it just dragged on a bit. I always wonder if this is because I stopped reading for a while, so it took me a long time to finish. Or maybe I stopped reading because I was bored with the book? Chicken, or egg?</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I was satisfied with the ending. <i>The Heart Goes Last</i> was mostly compelling and a bit disturbing. I still think it is worth a read if you enjoy these types of books.</div><div><br /></div>Published by Bloomsbury, 2015<br />
Copy obtained from my collection<br />
382 pages<br />
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Rating: 3.5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L6j0Ft-CzQhX4KpUCnZEtcd60K-EIiSwL6zTN0MmiXV0_ShZpda5Qtg-sMjDosWjS_PcyosXYCt_peunYa4WmpMUiBRRqXuIkfBXZ1ZuUzJzw6lMXmEcL2AKIexE8PMRbZEcBlMTzAcV/s1600/halfhat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L6j0Ft-CzQhX4KpUCnZEtcd60K-EIiSwL6zTN0MmiXV0_ShZpda5Qtg-sMjDosWjS_PcyosXYCt_peunYa4WmpMUiBRRqXuIkfBXZ1ZuUzJzw6lMXmEcL2AKIexE8PMRbZEcBlMTzAcV/s1600/halfhat.png" /></a></div>
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</div><p></p><p></p>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-35354157878890120752023-06-28T09:07:00.001-05:002023-06-28T09:07:51.741-05:00Audiobook Review: Stay Close, by Harlan Coben<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso1rPpmZRaM1Ce0Ii34qtg_AjwJvOURnYsdbDEpjlrQro3dVzQIhx-V98PVzNw2b5qmXySiyMVySAN6GO46Jx20wflpiUThvAlQZb8iWL22-pwEeYXuax2H4ssJA7qcqWTKW2Z1qS8UGNUZb2tHM85rl3NKdD8145ERf5Ll2gErQfGV-v5uprf8maiYs/s499/stayclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stay Close by Harlan Coben book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso1rPpmZRaM1Ce0Ii34qtg_AjwJvOURnYsdbDEpjlrQro3dVzQIhx-V98PVzNw2b5qmXySiyMVySAN6GO46Jx20wflpiUThvAlQZb8iWL22-pwEeYXuax2H4ssJA7qcqWTKW2Z1qS8UGNUZb2tHM85rl3NKdD8145ERf5Ll2gErQfGV-v5uprf8maiYs/w133-h200/stayclose.jpg" title="Stay Close by Harlan Coben book cover and review" width="133" /></a></div>I'm a big Coben fan and hadn't read one for a while so I was very entertained by <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stay-Close-Harlan-Coben-2012-03-20/dp/B01K3LVUYK/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1687612021&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Stay Close</a>.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Megan, a suburban housewife with two kids, a handsome husband, and a beautiful house, has a secret past. When she decides to return to one of her old haunts -- where they know her as Cassie -- she ends up digging up more than she bargained for.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ray, a two-bit photographer who is constantly down on his luck, is someone from Cassie's past. Ray inadvertently takes a picture of a man right before he disappears. He sends the picture anonymously to the police, and Detective Broome is on the case. </div><div><br /></div><div>These three characters will have their world turned upside down as they dig into this case. Turns out there are many more missing men, going all the way back to Cassie's and Ray's relationship.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Stay Close </i>has also been turned into a Netflix series if you are interested. The audiobook narrator, Scott Brick, does a great job. The voices are distinct, but his narration doesn't get in the way.</div><div><br /></div><div>As in all Coben stories, there are many twists and turns and lots of surprises. The characters are sympathetic, even with all their faults. The way these surprises are revealed is classic Coben, and if you haven't experienced his storytelling, you should try <i>Stay Close. </i>Or my favorite, <i>Tell No One</i>. Or really any of his mystery thrillers. You won't be disappointed. <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Published by Dutton, 2012</div><div>Audiobook obtained from <a href="http://Libro.fm">Libro.fm</a><br />387 pages<br />
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Rating: 4.5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-43791255063447494722023-06-24T08:01:00.001-05:002023-06-24T08:01:44.393-05:00Book Review: Paradox, by Catherine Coulter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4H3sK72vxfCKNlU0w6NCQE_Z9y5N7haq-WXZqlhoiMClU73gpQry2CawI86HJMfHaeWax1Q2z6W8qeWF-Xt2iSTftHUvOcK75eHHVJsNcsEU48DXL7-H1EUKz2WQCski_-8cmU4XO-QFIU3nCSa9JDl7SvgDYP74y4eJdgfBFO7H-pNIxnQmBSEX3eA/s500/paradox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paradox, by Catherine Coulter book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="322" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4H3sK72vxfCKNlU0w6NCQE_Z9y5N7haq-WXZqlhoiMClU73gpQry2CawI86HJMfHaeWax1Q2z6W8qeWF-Xt2iSTftHUvOcK75eHHVJsNcsEU48DXL7-H1EUKz2WQCski_-8cmU4XO-QFIU3nCSa9JDl7SvgDYP74y4eJdgfBFO7H-pNIxnQmBSEX3eA/w129-h200/paradox.jpg" title="Paradox, by Catherine Coulter book cover and review" width="129" /></a></div>I almost forgot about this book! A friend gave it to me and I read it on a camping trip and then left it in a Little Free Library.<div><br /><div><i>Paradox</i> is #22 in the <i>FBI Thriller</i> series, but the first one I've read. It was a quick, enjoyable read.</div><div><br /></div><div>The main characters are Sherlock and Savich, a married couple, who thwart an attempted kidnapping of their young son. In the meantime, Chief Ty Christie witnesses a murder on the lake from the deck of her cottage.</div><div><br /></div><div>When they drag the lake, they find a lot of old bones, and so the FBI (Savich) is called in. There are some twists and turns. The killer is known as the characters investigate. It has been a while since I read this and I don't remember many details. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but pretty much my experience with thrillers of this type.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not a big detective series reader. Usually one or two books then I move on. I would be willing to experience these characters again, but not 21 more times! Also, just FYI, Savich has "visions" that help solve these crimes. I was OK with it, but some may think that is kind of a cop-out. Just sayin'...</div><div><br /></div><div>If you are looking for a new set of police/detective characters to follow, <i>Paradox</i> would be worth a try. Nothing spectacular, but certainly kept my interest.</div><div><br /></div>Published by Gallery Books, 2018<br />
Copy obtained from a friend<br />448 pages<br />
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Rating: 3/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a></div>
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-26456948949605395142023-06-20T10:29:00.001-05:002023-06-20T10:29:18.947-05:00Book Review: Zero Days by Ruth Ware<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEoBpp2Dsf1t4dADa3arP0NSg67d4_xFXLkWMvdLgiDY-r-bOrbsL1QAR3jRmdjr9s3oHe5ue66PIIvZ4vvHFFAQoTv-2g8dJ809cuLKyx9Qq5fpEUpUMhPcge8FyUj3UPN9iWy7UYhGRO6P-t6a2PXWCR8X4ge4G_OsHYKVJSybRr6AjRXFEZLuci94/s499/zerodays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Zero Days by Ruth Ware book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEoBpp2Dsf1t4dADa3arP0NSg67d4_xFXLkWMvdLgiDY-r-bOrbsL1QAR3jRmdjr9s3oHe5ue66PIIvZ4vvHFFAQoTv-2g8dJ809cuLKyx9Qq5fpEUpUMhPcge8FyUj3UPN9iWy7UYhGRO6P-t6a2PXWCR8X4ge4G_OsHYKVJSybRr6AjRXFEZLuci94/w133-h200/zerodays.jpg" title="Zero Days by Ruth Ware book cover and review" width="133" /></a></div>While <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Days-Ruth-Ware/dp/1982155299/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1340306392239209&hvadid=83769431968300&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=90666&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-83770199010631%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=27862_14484111&keywords=ruth+ware+zero+days&qid=1687273664&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Zero Days</a></i> may not be my favorite Ware book, it can certainly be described as a page-turner!<div><br /><div>Jack and her husband Gabe are experts at testing companies' security systems. Jack attempts to break into their facilities and get to the good stuff. Gabe tries to hack their computers. They are very good at what they do.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jack arrives home very late from an assignment and finds Gabe murdered while sitting at his computer. The spouse is always the first suspect, and since Jack's alibi isn't airtight, she soon becomes the primary target of the investigation. In order to make sure that whoever did this pays for it, Jack goes on the run to try to solve the case herself.</div><div><br /></div><div>At first, I thought the setup was a bit too cutsie, but soon things take a dramatic turn. At about 50% you begin to suspect the bad guy. But I think that is by design, and you are only at 50%, so trust me, there's a lot more to it. Jack is one of the most determined and resilient characters I have ever met. The length she goes to is astounding. The twists and turns are exciting.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the end is a bit cutsie too. But all in all, I enjoyed <i>Zero Days </i>a lot and would recommend it. This was a very quick read for me, during times when I've not been reading quickly at all! That says a lot.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Published by Gallery/Scout Press, June 20, 2023<br />
eARC obtained from <a href="https://www.edelweiss.plus/#dashboard" target="_blank">Edelweiss+</a><br />
368 pages<br />
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Rating: 4/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-14623505032842709732023-06-15T08:23:00.000-05:002023-06-15T08:23:01.976-05:00Book Review: Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_527Y2wAJqGG5ew-A5hF6GA9oTDbiEigIXxC8biHE62Nmbrz3P3m_mScuxpZe7NhNVR5D1YYgij7Exe57m9sa8dVp0jdEvUYtBVKs0uChUSzBuc4K0YECQeyecZa-wR5KTgRu7CHLDN0cTsYLZe6EcB2I5VJbKV1pXKyWzzJ7O8AoHtbucliOE2dR/s400/ladytanscircleofwomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_527Y2wAJqGG5ew-A5hF6GA9oTDbiEigIXxC8biHE62Nmbrz3P3m_mScuxpZe7NhNVR5D1YYgij7Exe57m9sa8dVp0jdEvUYtBVKs0uChUSzBuc4K0YECQeyecZa-wR5KTgRu7CHLDN0cTsYLZe6EcB2I5VJbKV1pXKyWzzJ7O8AoHtbucliOE2dR/w132-h200/ladytanscircleofwomen.jpg" title="Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See book cover and review" width="132" /></a></div>I have enjoyed several of Lisa See's books, and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Tans-Circle-Women-Novel/dp/1982117087/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1686834259&sr=1-1-6b4f25f7-bce0-4ed2-87fc-46a0e037e36a" target="_blank">Lady Tan's Circle of Women</a> </i>is no exception. She has a way of writing that draws you into the lives and environment of the characters in ancient China.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to copy the description from amazon.com. I don't usually do that, but this is a good one. Here's the thing. I went on a month-long camping trip and finished 80% of this book. Then, I got home a month ago and had the yard, the garden, the grandkids, and just generally catching up. So I just now finished this book. And we are leaving on another camping trip today. So that's my excuse (if you've made it this far.)</div><div><br /></div><div><div><i>According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose—despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it—and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife—embroider bound-foot slippers, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions, go on to treat women and girls from every level of society, and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a captivating story of women helping other women. It is also a triumphant reimagining of the life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.</i></div></div><div><br /></div><div>See's books are so easy to read. The belief system of 15th-century China is fascinating. Foot binding, how women were treated, the class system, childbirth, all of it. If you are interested in the topic, I highly recommend <i>Lady Tan's Circle of Women.</i></div><div><br /></div>Published by Scribner, June 6, 2023<br />
eARC obtained from <a href="https://www.edelweiss.plus/" target="_blank">Edelweiss+</a><br />
368 pages<br />
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Rating: 5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-31110677799202035492023-05-21T07:48:00.000-05:002023-05-21T07:48:54.938-05:00Book Review: Small Mercies, by Dennis Lehane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDoo4Wecwrvtp6QiLFGMXufQESaBnIla_ORkzPUPduU-Lnspq923M-LLDRXQ8UcnKBTlZ4Q5svSRXADxRghjGUPEX-uy_lPjf934fPwbrQD91smknAWPd7JV9UkT9siL108vYFr4luZSkncpxjSGVj1Te_9dMX_Y7OPGxcTpz_D9jReTh_oCYyJHt/s499/smallmercies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDoo4Wecwrvtp6QiLFGMXufQESaBnIla_ORkzPUPduU-Lnspq923M-LLDRXQ8UcnKBTlZ4Q5svSRXADxRghjGUPEX-uy_lPjf934fPwbrQD91smknAWPd7JV9UkT9siL108vYFr4luZSkncpxjSGVj1Te_9dMX_Y7OPGxcTpz_D9jReTh_oCYyJHt/w133-h200/smallmercies.jpg" title="Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane book cover and review" width="133" /></a></div><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Small-Mercies-Novel-Dennis-Lehane/dp/0062129481/ref=asc_df_0062129481?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80608076236226&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584207595066902&psc=1" target="_blank">Small Mercies</a></i> is a book that takes place in 1974 when Boston was trying to desegregate schools by bussing kids out of their neighborhoods. It's not really much about that, though.<div><br /></div><div>Yes, there are protests, but mostly the book is about racism during this time and how being in the wrong place at the wrong time (and if you are the wrong color) can be deadly.</div><div><br /></div><div>The book is well-written and kept my interest. The main characters are well developed, especially Mary Pat, who is looking for her daughter who has disappeared. I did get some of the supporting characters confused, as Mary Pat visits all sorts of people who might know what happened.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Small Mercies</i> takes place during a tumultuous time that I knew little about. The history is interesting and inciteful. The book isn't a favorite, but if you are interested in this time period, <i>Small Mercies</i> is a good option.</div><div><div><br /></div>Published by Harper, April 25, 2023<br />
eARC obtained from <a href="https://www.edelweiss.plus/#Login&returnUrl=Login%3FforwardURL%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.edelweiss.plus%252f" target="_blank">Edelweiss+</a><br />
320 pages<br />
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Rating: 4/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a></div>
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-71022224675140276912023-04-12T15:49:00.000-05:002023-04-12T15:49:10.139-05:00Audiobook Review: Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hFsak3Vq2IQ1tBlUubzvXzz4i02DUlo93ssNscObWyjIJ4g_dW3XEEANoFG9dL6kDfWygor1KnHNB2xSi9kC9oiGt-6fVfHVUGI5Uljtt4R7Q1mscZ5IzFotnR1O7nFBJPnXnTPeljWAIUobHgbU0x0gEgb5mCk6pxgfg8o0irYPa3FowES6Wvrt/s500/theireyeswerewatchinggod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hFsak3Vq2IQ1tBlUubzvXzz4i02DUlo93ssNscObWyjIJ4g_dW3XEEANoFG9dL6kDfWygor1KnHNB2xSi9kC9oiGt-6fVfHVUGI5Uljtt4R7Q1mscZ5IzFotnR1O7nFBJPnXnTPeljWAIUobHgbU0x0gEgb5mCk6pxgfg8o0irYPa3FowES6Wvrt/w127-h200/theireyeswerewatchinggod.jpg" title="Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston book cover and review" width="127" /></a></div>I wanted to read <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Their_Eyes_Were_Watching_God" target="_blank">Their Eyes Were Watching God</a></i> because it is somewhat of a classic now, and it was part of the English curriculum when I was a librarian.<div><br /><div>And for those reasons, I'm glad I read it. I was impressed with the writing. The descriptions are vivid and detailed, if a bit drawn out. But that is the poetic aspect of the book.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was glad I chose the audio version because I think the dialect would have been tedious to read. The narrator, Ruby Dee, does an excellent job with the dialect as well as the voices. I'm hoping the teachers used the audio version to help the students with it.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Their Eyes Were Watching God </i>is the story of Janie, a black woman in the 1930s. We learn a lot about black traditions, especially when it came to how women were treated. I would recommend -- the audio version -- if you are interested in the subject.</div><div><br /></div>Published by J. B. Lippincott, 1937<br />
Audiobook obtained from libro.fm<br />
297 pages<br />
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Rating: 3.5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-3238952228727911462023-03-28T11:18:00.000-05:002023-03-28T11:18:00.632-05:00Book Review: The House of Wolves, James Patterson and Mike Lupica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HL-DWzrkXXOZ-oPgM7nNniXykU53dlvpILF8A9REAz2Q_r95463wSNvYq5pulg4UK3R_yQ_VkM17qdEQu_gLWeW-gXvzvshSO8LW1X8eKYZDLJ_S5IsZLfh6TrnUJtghf4ZrlAqJYgRSyMmekkF_FAWczva7nkRIYAqr0qahFv0E1hs1kebbHRWP/s499/houseofwolves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The House of Wolves by Patterson and Lupica book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="323" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HL-DWzrkXXOZ-oPgM7nNniXykU53dlvpILF8A9REAz2Q_r95463wSNvYq5pulg4UK3R_yQ_VkM17qdEQu_gLWeW-gXvzvshSO8LW1X8eKYZDLJ_S5IsZLfh6TrnUJtghf4ZrlAqJYgRSyMmekkF_FAWczva7nkRIYAqr0qahFv0E1hs1kebbHRWP/w129-h200/houseofwolves.jpg" title="The House of Wolves by Patterson and Lupica book cover and review" width="129" /></a></div><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/House-Wolves-Yellowstone-Succession-Power-Family/dp/0316404292/ref=asc_df_0316404292?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80676796389530&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584276314477539&psc=1" target="_blank">The House of Wolves</a> </i>is another book that I found good, not great.<div><br /></div><div>The Wolf family is a San Francisco power family. They own the professional football team, as well as the prestigious San Francisco Tribune newspaper. When the patriarch dies under mysterious circumstances, the reading of his will brings many surprises. Thirty-six-year-old daughter, Jenny, has been given control of the newspaper and the football team. Her brothers are not happy. Jenny had been an outcast and had not had contact with the family. So all sorts of things are planned to wrestle away the football team from Jenny. You see, her brothers have planned to sell the team to make a huge profit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jenny also suspects her father's death was actually a murder, and she's out to prove it and avenge her father's death. Nasty family. Lots of deception and backstabbing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm usually a fan of Patterson and have read a couple of Lupica's books. I found that I didn't care much for the characters. Most of them weren't very nice. And maybe the book went on a bit long, although it isn't that long of a book. I was interested enough, but life got in the way and it took me a long time to finish, so that may be part of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>It has a nice little twist at the end, but I wish this character had been introduced earlier in the book. I think the ending would have had a bigger impact. So, as stated, I liked <i>The House of Wolves</i> by two very popular authors. If it sounds like something you would like, I would recommend it.</div><div><div><br /></div>Published by Little, Brown & Co., January 9, 2023<br />
eARC obtained from Edelweiss+<br />
400 pages<br />
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Rating: 4/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a></div>
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-19649139751147192352023-03-14T09:07:00.000-05:002023-03-14T09:07:49.219-05:00Book Review: Stateless, by Elizabeth Wein<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhIp8TFTBDzfiQLordW3DdjWvWRQDdVZiG6RUS7B4Xl0m6YshzgY3b7mTrHw0y189U_TdV5WMPmaibe9HAJrmHNyfFlQcAva6szx2jizHbejoogJJN-N1jev9F5k6-HoQnfKXlZBd_VUfiRdy1HzGixw-u77azIsqcCOiLCwjgrfBVZyvqmeHYse-/s499/stateless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stateless, by Elizabeth Wein book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhIp8TFTBDzfiQLordW3DdjWvWRQDdVZiG6RUS7B4Xl0m6YshzgY3b7mTrHw0y189U_TdV5WMPmaibe9HAJrmHNyfFlQcAva6szx2jizHbejoogJJN-N1jev9F5k6-HoQnfKXlZBd_VUfiRdy1HzGixw-u77azIsqcCOiLCwjgrfBVZyvqmeHYse-/w134-h200/stateless.jpg" title="Stateless, by Elizabeth Wein book cover and review" width="134" /></a></div>As in some previous Wein books I have read, I found <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stateless-Elizabeth-Wein/dp/0316591246" target="_blank">Stateless</a></i> to be good, not great. As a matter of fact, I finished it weeks ago and just now realized I didn't review it. What better time than the day of the book's official release. <br /><div><br /></div><div>As the Nazis are gaining power, an air race for European young people has been arranged in the hope that it will bring everyone together. Stella North is the only female participant, representing Great Britain. She feels a lot of pressure to represent well since no one believes in her abilities as a pilot.</div><div><br /></div><div>She loves nothing more than flying, but it loses some of the fun when she witnesses what appears to be one plane driving another plane into a crash. Who can she trust? Tension mounts as other things start happening, and all the pilots are in danger even if they don't know it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The relationships among the pilots are interesting and the story is well told. I just thought it all a bit far-fetched. But true to young adult fiction, it is exciting and kept my interest.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you enjoyed Wein's other stories, <i><a href="https://annettesbookspot.blogspot.com/2012/05/book-review-code-name-verity-by.html" target="_blank">Code Name Verity</a></i>, <i><a href="https://annettesbookspot.blogspot.com/2013/09/book-review-rose-under-fire-by.html" target="_blank">Rose Under Fire</a>, </i>etc., you will most likely like <i>Stateless.</i></div><div><br /></div>Published by Little, Brown BFYR (March 14, 2023)<br />
eArc obtained from <a href="https://www.edelweiss.plus/#dashboard" target="_blank">Edelweiss+</a><br />
400 pages<br />
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<p>
Rating: 4/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-34637751216468317242023-03-02T14:29:00.000-06:002023-03-02T14:29:26.861-06:00Audiobook Review: Carrie Soto is Back, by Taylor Jenkins Reid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTi46Vid_drGofOw2wUOS1sLUpMDkgVJEXUi6oYyn_gvUETq13iEhEkvmeb-2OgGZ18ksLZWb50Wc9vACcvWUnB6LAlSA3JMPDBqUKFIFpGnpwmjxsLnMP1_2PlsO9jyHK3iJT2aN8hlInaF7Lx1unjtfUZbuuqcARXjctIF6vS-KMljXljhbQI5F/s499/carriesotoisback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="329" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTi46Vid_drGofOw2wUOS1sLUpMDkgVJEXUi6oYyn_gvUETq13iEhEkvmeb-2OgGZ18ksLZWb50Wc9vACcvWUnB6LAlSA3JMPDBqUKFIFpGnpwmjxsLnMP1_2PlsO9jyHK3iJT2aN8hlInaF7Lx1unjtfUZbuuqcARXjctIF6vS-KMljXljhbQI5F/w132-h200/carriesotoisback.jpg" title="Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid book cover and review" width="132" /></a></div>I'm a tennis nut. I love to watch tennis in any form. I often have The Tennis Channel on in the background. So I really enjoyed <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Carrie-Soto-Back-Taylor-Jenkins/dp/0593158687/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1677787615&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Carrie Soto is Back</a>.</i><div><i><br /></i><div>Carrie Soto is a 37-year-old retired tennis star. Her record for winning the most Grand Slam titles has just been tied by the young Nicki Chan and she has decided to come out of retirement and win another Grand Slam because she can't stand that someone else might break her record.</div><div><br /></div><div>Her father, Javier, has agreed to once again coach her on this quest. She also decides to train with Bowe Huntly, her contemporary, who hasn't retired. There is a bit of bad blood between these two since he and Carrie went out and then he just never called her again. But he's the only person who will agree to hit with Carrie to get her in shape. You see, Carrie was never very liked on the tennis circuit, and no one thinks she has a chance in hell to win another slam.</div><div><br /></div><div>The relationship between Carrie and her father is probably the best part of the book. Javier is so wise--and not just about tennis. There is a lot of tennis, so if you don't understand the game, <i>Carrie Soto</i> isn't the book for you.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is cute and heartfelt, even if a bit over the top at times. You can't help but root for Carrie, and not necessarily to win. Mostly just for her to grow up and come to terms with her life as it is. </div><div><br /></div><div>An enjoyable read (or listen.) Stacy Gonzalez does a great job with the voices. There are parts of the book in Spanish, and not all of it is translated. You mostly can imagine what is being said because of the situation, but it still bothered me. It was also really cool that Patrick Mcenroe and Mary Carillo, two tennis icons, narrated parts of the book.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you enjoy tennis, <i>Carrie Soto is Back </i>is worth it.</div><div><br /></div>Published by Ballentine, 2022<br />
Audiobook obtained from <a href="http://libro.fm" target="_blank">libro.fm</a><br />
384 pages<br />
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Rating: 4/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a></div>
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-27444573084303732932023-02-11T13:15:00.001-06:002023-02-11T13:15:25.937-06:00Audiobook Review: The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCyk72gCLZ6xHnsL-blRys0gYbtZtAE6cxw7Xg3kpp3xQ-MInAwFMbvWdMEopfye4QnIRsxm7oCk_ubyZwEqqrwYG8RnDD2UiyxOGfY9MYvFUFZsIWxHfLqo5c9xqqgjWNxt4xThPOusCCSwjMYx4r22W56tESyx27nVG_-KOYk23lSmaYnrN9o_M/s499/thursdaymurderclub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCyk72gCLZ6xHnsL-blRys0gYbtZtAE6cxw7Xg3kpp3xQ-MInAwFMbvWdMEopfye4QnIRsxm7oCk_ubyZwEqqrwYG8RnDD2UiyxOGfY9MYvFUFZsIWxHfLqo5c9xqqgjWNxt4xThPOusCCSwjMYx4r22W56tESyx27nVG_-KOYk23lSmaYnrN9o_M/w133-h200/thursdaymurderclub.jpg" title="The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman book cover and review" width="133" /></a></div>Despite the fact that <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thursday-Murder-Club-Novel/dp/1984880969/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1676141189&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Thursday Murder Club</a></i> isn't "my kind of book," I really enjoyed it.<div><br /></div><div><i>The Thursday Murder Club</i> is made up of residents of a community of retired people. They meet every Thursday to discuss old murder cases. But all of a sudden, they have a real murder to solve. Much to the chagrin of the local authorities. </div><div><br /></div><div>The characters are interesting and somewhat mysterious. There are many twists and turns, many dead people, and many red herrings. The pacing is fast enough to keep your interest. And, as I said, I was delighted. There are heartwarming relationships. Very witty exchanges. Even some of the bad guys are sympathetic.</div><div><br /></div><div>As much as I liked <i>The Thursday Murder Club,</i> I won't be continuing the series. I've done this many times with many series. (#1 Woman's Detective Agency, Women's Murder Club, Rizzoli & Isles just to name a few.) I read the first book and enjoy it but never continue. I just don't like reading about the same characters over and over as they solve different cases.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lesley Manville does a great job narrating the audio version, so I would recommend it. If you like these amateur sleuth books, you will certainly enjoy <i>The Thursday Murder Club.</i><div><br /></div>Published by Pamela Dorman, 2020<br />Audiobook obtained from<a href="https://www.yourcloudlibrary.com/" target="_blank"> the library</a>.<br />
368 pages<br />
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Rating: 4/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciVhxpqyY6EuP9LYapjnXgb9SkOJL5_UZZYi2SiGiF-OTe3EGjIZB_Vr-RvyJcRnNrZHEYV1h9KfoNj9U3W2Zc_K-GZtxXfQQGoZYdUsyEJt7J9UjW_qqXQkWPYmiY5oAgKPv_hjCfPoJ/s1600/annette.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciVhxpqyY6EuP9LYapjnXgb9SkOJL5_UZZYi2SiGiF-OTe3EGjIZB_Vr-RvyJcRnNrZHEYV1h9KfoNj9U3W2Zc_K-GZtxXfQQGoZYdUsyEJt7J9UjW_qqXQkWPYmiY5oAgKPv_hjCfPoJ/s200/annette.png" width="200" /></a>
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<a href="http://annettesbookspot.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage</span></a><i> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Copyright © 2023 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved</span></i></div>
</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-69543557790413376942023-01-30T13:25:00.000-06:002023-01-30T13:25:06.239-06:00Book Review: Just the Nicest Couple, by Mary Kubica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNWjXbE47x4t791iKF6disTb7Ju5dJrbONnAOYFNkN7N2eAv28Rki1Yg4iZybyhUUn-Gr3Hws5hN8orFRqLLOy6Ji1XCSbOIk243lU_UKZiNNmb6lZHYPHeUlYZQkiAd9YJ-TvxB-rKRDY0vEHDZTBZh4EZLU1zuLaPbG3JHZbiTVrCSJCJPk0Czs/s499/justthenicestcouple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="330" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNWjXbE47x4t791iKF6disTb7Ju5dJrbONnAOYFNkN7N2eAv28Rki1Yg4iZybyhUUn-Gr3Hws5hN8orFRqLLOy6Ji1XCSbOIk243lU_UKZiNNmb6lZHYPHeUlYZQkiAd9YJ-TvxB-rKRDY0vEHDZTBZh4EZLU1zuLaPbG3JHZbiTVrCSJCJPk0Czs/w133-h200/justthenicestcouple.jpg" title="Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica book cover and review" width="133" /></a></div><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Nicest-Couple-Mary-Kubica/dp/0778333116" target="_blank">Just the Nicest Couple</a></i> is a domestic thriller that kept my interest and surprised me.<div><br /></div><div>Our first narrator is Christian, whose wife, Lily confessed that she was accosted by a man while in the park, and she thinks she may have killed him. She knows she hit him several times in the head with a rock in order to escape.</div><div><br /></div><div>The man, Jake, is the husband of Lily's colleague, Nina. They both teach at a high school and are friends. Nina is our other narrator. Since she and Jake had a bit of a fight, when he disappears she thinks Jake, a local doctor, has left her.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lily doesn't go to the police (otherwise there wouldn't be a novel) and as she and Christian work to cover her tracks, you can just see a big trainwreck coming. It's one of those novels where you just want to scream "No! That's a really bad idea!"</div><div><br /></div><div>And while Lily is covering her tracks, Nina is trying to convince herself that Jake will come back. She files a missing persons report after realizing that he hasn't been coming to a job to which he is totally dedicated.</div><div><br /></div><div>After the cringe moments of the coverup, we begin to get some idea that maybe there are some more secrets yet to be revealed. And of course, there are. And a couple of red herrings. Love that. I thought I knew what the big reveal was gonna be, but I was <i>wrong!</i> </div><div><br /></div><div>So if you are in the mood, I would recommend <i>Just the Nicest Couple. </i>You are sure to be entertained. The only other Kubica book I've read is <i><a href="https://annettesbookspot.blogspot.com/2020/01/book-review-other-mrs-by-mary-kubica.html" target="_blank">The Other Mrs.</a>,</i> and I really enjoyed that too. I think I need to put some more of her books on my list.<br /><div><br /></div>Published by Park Row, January 10, 2023<br />
eARC obtained from <a href="https://www.edelweiss.plus/#dashboard" target="_blank">Edelweiss+</a><br />
320 pages<br />
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Rating: 4/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-35067085418910604892023-01-26T12:37:00.007-06:002023-01-26T13:02:53.952-06:00Audiobook Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeJVlJ3AtMmh2rXwljfocZ-pa3R9Wldb3VFN83wchhw8VRWZ0JfQRewfO0MfhtL_HWga8ohKOK4CU46Y9KiNH8tbcCzTPoFDtrdqP4vvn7DTOGSTh12pTS4tLlsm_qyvEUMivc6ApFk8DEBDgYblYMWj0SqaOx8eaJQz03LbOCWgNQ7Rps9TliRGM/s2560/invisiblelifeofaddielarue.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1696" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeJVlJ3AtMmh2rXwljfocZ-pa3R9Wldb3VFN83wchhw8VRWZ0JfQRewfO0MfhtL_HWga8ohKOK4CU46Y9KiNH8tbcCzTPoFDtrdqP4vvn7DTOGSTh12pTS4tLlsm_qyvEUMivc6ApFk8DEBDgYblYMWj0SqaOx8eaJQz03LbOCWgNQ7Rps9TliRGM/w133-h200/invisiblelifeofaddielarue.jpg" title="The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab book cover and review" width="133" /></a></div><div>I've wanted to read a book by V. E. Schwab for quite a while, and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Life-Addie-LaRue/dp/0765387565/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1674756826&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue</a> </i>was a good first choice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Addie is over 300 years old. At least for part of the story. It starts out when she is young and makes a deal with the devil. Of course, she doesn't understand the consequences. She will live forever (or until she chooses to let the devil take her soul) and never age. But, throughout her entire life, she will never be remembered by anyone. As soon as she walks out of sight, they will not remember her. Pretty difficult to build relationships. Or get and keep a job. </div><div><br /></div><div>Her life begins in the French countryside in the early 1700s, so after about 300 years, you can just take a moment and think about everything she's lived through. Wars, economic upheaval, changes in technology, slavery, environmental changes...</div><div><br /></div><div>And then, all of a sudden, she meets a man in a bookstore, and he remembers her. How? Why? Well, those are questions that the second half of the book answers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Schwab is a good writer, and I found the narrative interesting, if a bit lengthy. It takes a long time for Addie to meet Henry (when things get really interesting IMO.) The audio version of a story always makes me more patient, so that certainly helped.</div><div><br /></div><div>Julia Whelan narrates the audiobook, and she is a favorite of mine (and of a lot of people). So if you are new to audiobooks, seek her out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even with the slow pace, I would still recommend <i>The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.</i> It's an interesting story and leaves you thinking about life. And what is important. And relationships.</div><br />Published by Tor, 2020.<br />
Audiobook purchased from <a href="http://libro.fm" target="_blank">libro.fm</a><br />
448 pages<br />
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Rating: 4/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-9739387786728366152022-12-31T16:11:00.000-06:002022-12-31T16:11:24.773-06:00Book Review: The Villa by Rachel Hawkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUo1iPX7pZWFBpGbudIm8_3ZthwC_EPIiBidEYk7psxTtFf1r9dOE6QJzu7Umq028JkiK7GJyjdr9RKEFbLQFRBgcbqhj7qHNqs_bvpzo23g8mLTmXKT2DM35DXLPhLlUGFmEeE5PklprDpsTNfhwnb1taK_ofox1R1iy59hhcnO6Q3d-lFyqkf0iJ/s499/villa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Villa by Rachel Hawkins book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="328" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUo1iPX7pZWFBpGbudIm8_3ZthwC_EPIiBidEYk7psxTtFf1r9dOE6QJzu7Umq028JkiK7GJyjdr9RKEFbLQFRBgcbqhj7qHNqs_bvpzo23g8mLTmXKT2DM35DXLPhLlUGFmEeE5PklprDpsTNfhwnb1taK_ofox1R1iy59hhcnO6Q3d-lFyqkf0iJ/w131-h200/villa.jpg" title="The Villa by Rachel Hawkins book cover and review" width="131" /></a></div>It took me a while to get into <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Villa-Novel-Rachel-Hawkins/dp/125028001X" target="_blank">The Villa</a>, </i>but it was entertaining enough.<div><br /></div><div>Emily and Chess are lifelong friends who decide to spend a summer at a villa in Italy. The trials of adult life have caused them to drift apart, so they are looking forward to reconnecting.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is the same villa where in 1974 a group of five people spend the summer at the same villa and one of them ends up dead. Out of this group, one was already a rock star. One records a best-selling album, another writes a book (suspiciously about a murder in a villa), and the other is convicted of the murder. These aren't spoilers, as this information is given fairly early. Part of the narrative is also passages from the book that was written during the summer of 1974 (which involves more characters!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Emily, an author, gets interested in the history of the villa and begins to research what happened. Chess is also a self-help author and begins to press Emily to let her help write a book about it. Emily doesn't want Chess's help, tensions build, and things go south from there.</div><div><br /></div><div>So it takes a while to sort it all. There are a lot of characters and two time periods. Hawkins is a good writer, so it all makes sense, but I thought it all went on a bit too long. I had read about the "twists," and was looking forward to them. But it takes about 80% of the book before anything twisty begins to happen.</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't get me wrong--there are more twists than you realize. I suspected something of the sort...for a while, but it kept going farther than I ever imagined. </div><div><br /></div><div>I would recommend <i>The Villa.</i> The characters are interesting, even if the buildup goes on a bit too long. (and I just realized this book is less than 300 pages. Seemed longer...) The twists are clever and worth the wait.</div><div><div><br /></div>Published by St. Martin's, January 3, 2023<br />
eARC obtained from <a href="https://www.edelweiss.plus/#dashboard" target="_blank">Edelweiss+</a><br />
288 pages<br />
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Rating: 3.5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-54741155304407092922022-12-16T09:21:00.001-06:002022-12-16T09:21:42.592-06:00Book Review: We Deserve Monuments, by Jas Hammonds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3FxfgnZmyksyRBgyCjgzEmu4TuuyKyC9GOmZ5Gt3_sB6Oh-NyLHT_L5Rm8F6tIdyVya92UVnC1DJdjt19u5U-HbCZq7fcOgrbm8l0AfjKCWBgLrgBugrxETFQYF6UE1W_qGMmA3OXNIh5kpWyYX9FJJrr3phIEqIml_34vHjRCEtPbipLufAO6_Q/s346/wedeservemonuments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="231" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3FxfgnZmyksyRBgyCjgzEmu4TuuyKyC9GOmZ5Gt3_sB6Oh-NyLHT_L5Rm8F6tIdyVya92UVnC1DJdjt19u5U-HbCZq7fcOgrbm8l0AfjKCWBgLrgBugrxETFQYF6UE1W_qGMmA3OXNIh5kpWyYX9FJJrr3phIEqIml_34vHjRCEtPbipLufAO6_Q/w134-h200/wedeservemonuments.jpg" title="We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds book cover and review" width="134" /></a></div>I don't read as much Young Adult Literature these days, but I'm glad I chose <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Deserve-Monuments-Jas-Hammonds/dp/1250816556/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34WGCGR98O5CN&keywords=we+deserve+monuments+by+jas+hammonds&qid=1671203110&sprefix=we+deserve%2Caps%2C327&sr=8-1" target="_blank">We Deserve Monuments</a>. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>In the interest of time and clarity I'll copy the description here because I think it does a better job than I can at describing the main plot ideas:</div><div><br /></div><div><div><i>Seventeen-year-old Avery Anderson is convinced her senior year is ruined when she's uprooted from her life in DC and forced into the hostile home of her terminally ill grandmother, Mama Letty. The tension between Avery’s mom and Mama Letty makes for a frosty arrival and unearths past drama they refuse to talk about. Every time Avery tries to look deeper, she’s turned away, leaving her desperate to learn the secrets that split her family in two.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>While tempers flare in her avoidant family, Avery finds friendship in unexpected places: in Simone Cole, her captivating next-door neighbor, and Jade Oliver, daughter of the town’s most prominent family―whose mother’s murder remains unsolved.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>As the three girls grow closer―Avery and Simone’s friendship blossoming into romance―the sharp-edged opinions of their small southern town begin to hint at something insidious underneath. The racist history of Bardell, Georgia is rooted in Avery’s family in ways she can’t even imagine. With Mama Letty's health dwindling every day, Avery must decide if digging for the truth is worth toppling the delicate relationships she's built in Bardell―or if some things are better left buried.</i></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>We Deserve Monuments</i> gave me a lot of "feels." The teen romance was sweet, although the realities of a lesbian relationship are also apparent. Mama Letty was a great character, and I must admit I shed a tear for her (which is unusual for me.) The mystery aspect didn't intrigue me as much, but still added to the story. </div><div><br /></div><div>YA reads are usually quick, and <i>We Deserve Monuments</i> is no exception. So if you are in the market for a brand-new YA story, you should pick this one up. But you don't need to take my word. It is a current bestseller.</div><div><br />Published by Roaring Book Press, November 29, 2022<br />eARC obtained from Edelweiss+ and NetGalley<br />
384 pages<br />
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Rating: 4.5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-25729110212608549942022-12-02T08:17:00.000-06:002022-12-02T08:17:27.745-06:00Audiobook Review: Varina by Charles Frazier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZG-gG14scsIHGF4ab_auaurbCh0lU_sZ59EJwptXGCZRkgxMdDvHdiWiqfjSohjtIu0x3w9M8qnsENXc1T0mog7WKrFvOvzcKteNOdbQ3ntQoXWT4zhJ3LK0Yy5Yr_N8WGbqXnlde-nvDXGnlJnJBzsZJUWFSxaaloxK03qAdy8dJLbMjC8DaTnTg/s2416/varina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Varina, by Charles Frazier book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="2416" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZG-gG14scsIHGF4ab_auaurbCh0lU_sZ59EJwptXGCZRkgxMdDvHdiWiqfjSohjtIu0x3w9M8qnsENXc1T0mog7WKrFvOvzcKteNOdbQ3ntQoXWT4zhJ3LK0Yy5Yr_N8WGbqXnlde-nvDXGnlJnJBzsZJUWFSxaaloxK03qAdy8dJLbMjC8DaTnTg/w133-h200/varina.jpg" title="Varina, by Charles Frazier book cover and review" width="133" /></a></div><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Varina-Novel-Charles-Frazier/dp/0062405985/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1669989185&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Varina</a>, </i>the story of Jefferson Davis' wife, was fascinating.<div><br /></div><div>Many years ago I read <i>Cold Mountain, </i>and I remember learning quite a bit about the Civil War era. So when I saw Frazier had written <i>Varina, </i>I had to check it out. I also read <i><a href="https://annettesbookspot.blogspot.com/2014/10/audio-book-review-nightwoods-by-charles.html" target="_blank">Nightwoods</a>,</i> which I didn't even remember until I looked it up. I didn't like that one as much...</div><div><br /></div><div>There is so much I didn't know. Their marriage wasn't that happy, in fact, they spent much of it apart. She was much younger than him. They took in a black child that Varina found on the street and raised him as their own. This black child is the impetus for Varina telling her story. If it wasn't for Jefferson catching up with them, Varina and the children probably would have made it to Cuba -- to which all the leaders of the Confederacy tried to escape.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is much more. Varina, in her old age, tells the story of her escape, as well as how she came to be married to Davis, to her long lost "son." It is a wonderful story that easily kept my attention.</div><div><br /></div><div>I do wish there were an afterword about what was real and made up. Where the author found his information. How reliable is this account, etc. I love historical fiction but always want to know what facts I can rely on!</div><div><br /></div><div>The narrator of the audio is Molly Parker, a familiar voice to me. I had to <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662504/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0" target="_blank">look her up</a> on IMDB and found that she is the actress I thought. She does a great job. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to learn more about the Civil War and its aftermath, I highly recommend <i>Varina.</i><div><br /></div>Published by Ecco, 2018<br />
Audiobook obtained from <a href="https://libro.fm/" target="_blank">libro.fm</a><br />
368 pages<br />
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Rating: 4.5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-72654686398477165162022-11-30T08:24:00.000-06:002022-11-30T08:24:39.584-06:00Book Review: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjnLXMPuMgXVkGl8aVHyrQSi3lEYOuRStq_NmJSfPY3ZRoQmxO-ZvB8XEP2X0rvqCiFcI3N6U81gFJ2EqWMMSBwAfmyUSsxxmQcRrJyzA1dmBoBWM_64FgLNFGrk5KdZJRcXDOJCeALPkX4UwJ10J1yIW4RwVykh5uA685sQAAMCM2KLUQkm_uD2A/s499/demoncopperhead.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="329" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjnLXMPuMgXVkGl8aVHyrQSi3lEYOuRStq_NmJSfPY3ZRoQmxO-ZvB8XEP2X0rvqCiFcI3N6U81gFJ2EqWMMSBwAfmyUSsxxmQcRrJyzA1dmBoBWM_64FgLNFGrk5KdZJRcXDOJCeALPkX4UwJ10J1yIW4RwVykh5uA685sQAAMCM2KLUQkm_uD2A/w132-h200/demoncopperhead.jpg" title="Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver book cover and review" width="132" /></a></div>I have really enjoyed every Kingsolver book I've read, but <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Demon-Copperhead-Novel-Barbara-Kingsolver/dp/0063251922" target="_blank">Demon Copperhead</a></i> just didn't do it for me. And to be perfectly honest, I skipped part of it.<br /><div><br /></div><div>From the blurb: <i>Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Kingsolver writes well. Her text is interesting. But this book was such a downer. For the first 1/3, I slogged through and then was so happy that things were looking up for Demon. But there was a lot of book to go, so as I continued, at about 60% I realized things were going to get depressing again. I went to the reviews. There are many stunningly glowing reviews. Maybe because this is supposed to be a modern retelling of <i>David Copperfield.</i> (I've never read it.) But when I looked at the more harsh reviews, I realized many people felt the way I did. People who were Kingsolver fans. But I did see that the book's ending was worth reading. So I skipped ahead and read the last few chapters.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was able to glean pretty much what had happened in the part that I skipped. And, as I suspected, it was horrifying. The book is TOO LONG. It just goes on and on. Same stuff over and over. Same complaints. Same hardships. Lots of substance-abuse-related deaths.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Demon Copperhead</i> wasn't for me. Maybe if you are prepped and in the right frame of mind, you will love it, as many others did. </div><div><br /></div>Published by Harper, October 18, 2022<br />
eARC obtained from <a href="https://www.edelweiss.plus/#Login?forwardURL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.edelweiss.plus%2f" target="_blank">Edelweiss+</a><br />
370/560 pages<br />
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Rating: 3/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEoXg8sMEJRl3uuz9E_hQEIvchiXuRZUM8GacAWmbHNk3LWqhsa-aCsYJlV_QFXFqiQu_DPuHaeY744RGLag-CqW22GImLjN4CiAyWnRl9DmnSoGic2v9l2xOKuLD64VHODXW7YFDzEcL/s1600/catshat.jpg" /></a></div>
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</div><p></p><p></p>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-57329607648509546392022-10-21T08:49:00.000-05:002022-10-21T08:49:47.735-05:00Audiobook Review: Fairy Tale by Stephen King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3MHWhLh_ReGy4D_TAf-qdC1Q7EBK6fMG4f-92pwTGYxGSdEvDVls4XXVG-6DR2rhi2_W4TP7le5EteMEm-Cvq9Hvtr2JDV02xRkngyMMNBJ9JkS-6XmdQHPPwNEH0XB9tMeUOrTEi8kOMOq-pfBIe8cetJlhlwN2sc03pvcf80XeXuUlHpkM6t-n/s499/fairytale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fairy Tale by Stephen King book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="329" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3MHWhLh_ReGy4D_TAf-qdC1Q7EBK6fMG4f-92pwTGYxGSdEvDVls4XXVG-6DR2rhi2_W4TP7le5EteMEm-Cvq9Hvtr2JDV02xRkngyMMNBJ9JkS-6XmdQHPPwNEH0XB9tMeUOrTEi8kOMOq-pfBIe8cetJlhlwN2sc03pvcf80XeXuUlHpkM6t-n/w132-h200/fairytale.jpg" title="Fairy Tale by Stephen King book cover and review" width="132" /></a></div>Stephen King's latest, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tale-Stephen-King/dp/1668002175/" target="_blank">Fairy Tale</a>,</i> is a bit different than his usual horror-ish stories, but as I have often said, I will read anything he writes because he can write about anything!<div><br /></div><div>It's a story about a boy, Charlie, who ends up in a fairytale land and must save that land from the evil king who possesses it.</div><div><br /></div><div>But of course, there is so much more. Charlie ends up befriending the local "old guy with the mean dog whose house is haunted." When Charlie hears the man crying out for help, he calls an ambulance and ends up taking care of the man's dog, Radar. Radar is just a sweet, aging German Shepherd that can hardly make it up the steps to his house. And Charlie soon falls in love with him.</div><div><br /></div><div>After his convalescence in the hospital, the man, Mr. Bowditch, comes home and Charlie takes care of him, as well as Radar. Bowditch begins to confide in Charlie about his life, his past, and secrets that Charlie can tell no one. One secret is about what is in the shed in Mr. Bowditch's backyard.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now you can probably see where this is going, and I really don't want to tell you much more. It is a fun adventure story, with lots of danger and many references to fairy tales we are all familiar with -- but this isn't a retelling. King, of course, adds his own twists and turns.</div><div><br /></div><div>The narrator, Seth Numrich, is perfect. The voices are distinct, but not too much. King, himself, narrates a certain part of the book, and it's amazing. I highly recommend the audio version, if you like audiobooks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't go in expecting the usual spooky, twisted, scary tale that you usually get, and you will be highly entertained by <i>Fairy Tale.</i></div><div><br />Published by Scribner, September 6, 2022, audio by Simon & Schuster<br />
Audiobook obtained from <a href="http://libro.fm" target="_blank">libro.fm</a><br />
608 pages<br />
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Rating: 5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521137437031942219.post-51415818672388913062022-10-17T08:42:00.000-05:002022-10-17T08:42:19.539-05:00Book Review: The Prisoner, by B. A. Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNM5SBla_i013cqeYUhC3_979-TEFAPvbtt7-pSXNMU54OUa7-W-aLb16vQaG0xAhXWKufGBpK_3AKrVG4QFvD4Bq6s1RbieliZropiwsj4YjEjjsxFsdIFJO18bqXzBbJJj1A6HIj4hMMwdbvxYNNim3LAHatKWfqvAsiOOBHnVXyx3B36kdgGof/s499/prisoner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Prisoner, by B. A. Paris book cover and review" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="329" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNM5SBla_i013cqeYUhC3_979-TEFAPvbtt7-pSXNMU54OUa7-W-aLb16vQaG0xAhXWKufGBpK_3AKrVG4QFvD4Bq6s1RbieliZropiwsj4YjEjjsxFsdIFJO18bqXzBbJJj1A6HIj4hMMwdbvxYNNim3LAHatKWfqvAsiOOBHnVXyx3B36kdgGof/w132-h200/prisoner.jpg" title="The Prisoner, by B. A. Paris book cover and review" width="132" /></a></div>After reading a few books by Paris, she is fast becoming a go-to author for me. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prisoner-B-Paris/dp/1250274141" target="_blank">The Prisoner</a></i> sealed the deal.<div><br /></div><div>I love when a book jumps right in and grabs you from page one. Amelie has been kidnapped and is in a pitch-black room. She can't understand why she has been kidnapped but knows that she might be safer here than if she is freed and must face her husband, Ned, who she is certain will kill her.</div><div><br /></div><div>We get flashbacks to find out how Amelie met her friends, and through them, her future husband. And the strange way he became her husband. And, then, how she began to fear for her life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ned is everything a reader wants in a creepy, dangerous guy. But everything is not as it seems. I was surprised when the kidnapping ends about halfway through the book. The second half is about finding out who the kidnappers were and why. Paris throws in twist after twist and it's a page-turning rollercoaster ride.</div><div><br /></div><div>As you can probably tell, I thoroughly enjoyed <i>The Prisoner.</i> And if you enjoy thrillers, you should get your hands on a copy. Sure, it's a little far-fetched at times, but I hardly noticed. The surprises make up for it.</div><div><div><br /></div>Published by St. Martin's, November 2, 2022<br />
eARC obtained from <a href="https://www.edelweiss.plus/#dashboard" target="_blank">Edelweiss+</a><br />
304 pages<br />
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Rating: 4.5/5</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p></p></div>Annette Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13850197520930988077noreply@blogger.com3