Review: The Gifted School

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

This book had so many messed up relationships on so many levels. Marriages, friendships, parent/child... All levels of messed up.

Four women met at a "mommy and me" event over 10 years ago. The four stayed friends through life's various ups and downs. Now, they're navigating the application process to a new gifted school in their district, sure that their kid is gifted enough to get in. The process brings out the pettiness in relationships and the backstabbing and lying that can be done when someone wants to give their kid a leg up.

This book made me think about relationships in my life and how I might react to some of these situations in my life (if I had kids).

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Review: The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it, if you ask me

Roz is a robot. She finds herself the sole survivor of a shipwrecked cargo container filled with robots. When she "wakes up", she finds she must learn to survive. Survival means learning from the local animals about how to best navigate the island and it's obstacles. Learning from the animals means observing, but also befriending!

This book was fun to see how friendships can develop even when differences abound.

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Review: Twelve Days of Christmas

Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This was a fun, light-hearted Christmas book that was perfect for a December book club I am a member of.

Julia is a peppy, young lady who tries to see the positives in everything. Living across the hall is Cain, who she sees as a real life Scrooge. Julia is in the process of interviewing for a new job in social media, which involved the final two candidates creating a blog and seeing who could get the most followers. It wasn't going great for Julia, when her friend suggests she blog about her neighbor and "killing him with kindness" to see if his outlook changes. For 12 days, Julia undertakes tasks to try to bring cheer to Cain's world and the blogging about the changes in how they interact.

Of course, love enters the mix and things go all wonky. It's fun to see how they interact, how the relationship changes, and how the blog is revealed.

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Review: Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies by William Golding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I can see why this book has been placed on the banned book lists out there. There's quite a lot of violence in it, considering the age group it was probably intended for and the time it was written.

The story of the shipwrecked boys on a deserted island did not go as I expected. There's a power struggle, bullying, and loss of life. It took a while before the title made sense to me, but it does eventually make sense.

There seems to be a lot of violence related to the wearing of war paint on the boys and the anonymity it allows. During a "war dance" type event, while wearing face and body paint, the boys beat one of their own to death. It reminds me of the anonymity allowed by the internet these days and the violent and evil things some people are willing to say that they'd never say to someone in person. [There seems to be a lot of violence related to the wearing of war paint on the boys and the anonymity it allows. During a "war dance" type event, while wearing face and body paint, the boys beat one of their own to death. It reminds me of the anonymity allowed by the internet these days and the violent and evil things some people are willing to say that they'd never say to someone in person. (hide spoiler)]

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Review: Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief, 3rd edition

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief, 3rd edition by Henry Martyn Robert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it without you asking me (assuming we're talking about Robert's Rules!)

This book is a great introduction to Robert's Rules and shows real life examples of how they can be used during a meeting.

It's not an enjoyable read, but I didn't expect it to be. I read it with the expectation that it would allow me to pass the National Association of Parliamentarians membership exam, and it did exactly that!

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Review: Party of Two

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

A great book in a series of great books. I love the fact that the books feature strong, independent women who are not straight out of college. They're more relatable to this "older" single lady.

I really like how these stories stand alone, but they intertwine characters from each past book in an interesting way. Olivia Monroe moves to LA to be closer to family and start a new law firm with a friend. While staying at a hotel, waiting for her new place to be ready, she meets Max. Max is just a cute guy who is kind of recognizable, so she assumes he's a C or D-list actor. After leaving the hotel bar, Olivia turns on the TV to find that Max is actually Senator Powell, the junior senator from CA.

The twists and turns that bring these two together and drag them apart are extremely relatable.

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Review: Charlotte Holmes and the Locked Box

Charlotte Holmes and the Locked Box by Sherry Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This might be one of the shortest little stories out there. It was a great, quick mystery that Charlotte was able to solve. There was no true story, just the little meeting with a client and solving of the mystery.

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Review: The Curiosities

The Curiosities by Susan Gloss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I really enjoyed this book, set in Madison, because it allowed me to imagine the places I've been within town.

Nell and her husband have been trying all possible ways to have a baby after losing their first. What Nell hasn't told her husband is that much of the cost of IVF and other interventions wasn't covered by insurance and is now on credit cards. When the latest attempt fails to end in a pregnancy, Nell start searching for a job to fill the void. She comes across something that may be the perfect job at a new nonprofit called the Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony. Before she knows it, she's the Director and welcoming the first artists into the mansion.

I really enjoyed getting to know each of the artists. Annie is a well-known artist, but wants to break out of the medium she's known for. Odin is an up-and-coming metal sculptor who has recently had tragedy in his life. Paige is a student at UW-Madison who is proficient in many art mediums, but she hasn't found her voice.

I really enjoyed the story. I hope to see more of the artists in future books! I also really liked how she was able to have a quick tie-in to her first book, Vintage.

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Review: An Unexpected Peril

An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it, if you ask me

Veronica Speedwell is at it again! Another mystery to solve and another possible chance encounter with her estranged family.

Veronica and Stoker are asked to help set up a display of artifacts at the Curiosity Club for the late Alice Baker-Greene, a world renowned hiker who had recently fallen to her death while climbing in Alpenwald (a tiny, fake country between France and Germany). While unpacking crates, they come across a few clues that make them feel that the fall may not have been an accident.

Loved the twists and turns of the story, and, as always, I didn't see the solution to the mystery until it was upon me.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy.

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Review: A Study in Scarlet Women

A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Charlotte Holmes is not like other women. She doesn't love fashion and only wish to be a wife and mother. She wants to be independent and not tied down and dependent on a man (any man).

When she finds herself on her own, with the help of a kindly older woman (actress), she is suddenly able to put her skills together as someone who is observant and able to recall the slightest details. She invents a brother, Sherlock, who is a private detective willing to help people with their problems (lost items, gift puzzles, or the like). "Sherlock" is unwell, so Charlotte acts as his emissary.

I read book #5 in the series and felt the need to go back and see how it all started. I can't wait to read more of the books in the series.

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Review: Shopgirl

Shopgirl by Steve Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

This story is about a young lady, Mirabelle, who sells gloves at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills. She struggles with depression and, as such, relationships. She meets Jason at a laundromat and she meets Ray when she sells him some gloves. The rest of the story is about her relationship with the men, her mental health, her art, and her family.

I thought it was interesting how well Steve Martin was able to weave the feelings of depression so well into the story without making it feel sad and depressing.

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Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a grown up fairy tale of the dark variety. I really enjoyed listening to Neil Gaiman narrating his story.

A man returns to his hometown for a funeral and is lured to his old, childhood stomping grounds. He goes to the end of the lane he grew up on and has memories he can't quite understand or fully form.

Forty years earlier, it all started with a lack of money and the suicide of a boarder from their home. The boy is thrown into a crazy world of witches, fantasy, and monsters. He has some crazy experiences that are only memories in the moment. He doesn't remember them as he grows up.

I enjoyed seeing where the twists and turns of where the story would go next.

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Review: Faithful

Faithful by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

Shelby Richmond's life changes in an instant after an incident at 17. She goes from being one of the most popular girls in school to someone who almost never speaks.

This story is one about love, seeing, and being seen. The end of the story reminded me of the quote, “To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.”

The narrator, Amber Tamblyn, was great. I hope she does more narrations in the future.

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Review: Things We Didn't Say

Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This was a very interesting story about a (fictional) WWII POW camp in Minnesota. While the camp and town are fictional, the story is based in reality.

Johanna Berglund is a linguistics student at the University of Minnesota. She has a goal to leave her tiny hometown behind and eventually go study at Oxford, where she can translate the classics. Johanna is offered a job as a translator at the POW camp that is going into her hometown. The German prisoners will work on local farms helping with the crops. Johanna wants nothing to do with it, and turns down the job offer. When her anonymous scholarship donor changes the rules, she takes the job as the only way to keep her scholarship.

While I enjoyed the story, and I was interested in where it was going and how it would end, it was very tough to get lost in the story and want to read for long periods of time. The entire book is a series of letters between various people. This style made it easy to step away temporarily and not just get lost in the story line.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.

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Review: Room-maid

Room-maid by Sariah Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I really enjoyed this story.

It's a great way to talk about being independent from a toxic family and how anyone can do it.

Madison Huntington grew up as the youngest child of an extremely wealthy family in Houston. When she chose to not follow through on the expectations her family laid out for her, she was cut off from her trust fund and any chance of "love" from her parents. Her family had spent her whole life pitting the children against each other to earn their parents love and affection.

When Madison takes a job as a teacher at a local school, she suddenly has to find an apartment, learn to drive, and buy a car. She ends up becoming a roommate to Tyler Roth who is in need of someone to help him clean and take care of his rescue dog Pigeon. Having never cleaned anything in her life, there are definitely some adventures as she learns the basics... like Dawn doesn't go in the dishwasher!

I enjoyed the interaction between Madison and Tyler.

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Review: Hope Rides Again

Hope Rides Again by Andrew Shaffer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask, I'll tell you to read it

This was a fun way to escape the world for a little bit. This book takes place before Joe Biden has decided to run for President in 2020. He visits Barack Obama in Chicago on his way home from a book signing tour. While stopping by a conference on economics, Joe meets a young man who is helping out. He also learns that Obama has misplaced his beloved Blackberry.

When searching for the Blackberry, Biden comes across a shooting scene where the young man has been shot. Biden decides this is a mystery he must solve, to follow through on something he'd told the young man (that if he were his father, he'd always be there for him).

As Obama and Biden romp around Chicago, we're introduced to brothels, speakeasies, the mob, gangs, and churches... A variety of characters and a variety of wrong turns later, they solve the mystery of where the Blackberry went AND who shot the young man.

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Review: Pumpkinheads

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I really enjoyed both the story and the artwork in this graphic novel.

It follows the last night of the last season for 2 high school friends working in a pumpkin patch. Throughout the story, Deja is encouraging Josiah to ask out his long term crush before they end their employment. There are many obstacles throughout the evening, including snack thieves, lost children, and a corn maze!

I recommend it to anyone who needs a good Halloween story geared toward YA or older.

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Review: How to Fail at Flirting

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it without even asking!

I always enjoy reading books that reference my home state of Iowa, even if all it says is that the main character is from "a small town in Iowa".

This was a great way to throw some focus on a really tough subject, women who are abused. Women can be powerful in their professional lives and yet still be abused (mentally and physically) behind closed doors. This book shows the before, during, and after view from the perspective from someone who had lived through it.

I hope the author wasn't writing from a place of personal experience, but it was written in a way that allowed those who haven't gone through it to understand how it can happen to a strong, independent woman.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this Advanced Reader's Copy.

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Review: The Lost Princess

The Lost Princess by Connie Glynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it (but read the rest of the series first)

In this 3rd book in the Rosewood Chronicles Series, Lottie and Ellie attend summer school in Japan while still attempting to figure out who is behind Leviathan.

They meet a variety of characters in the Japanese boarding school. They also appear to find themselves while there.

I enjoyed the story, but it was a cliffhanger... I can't wait until the next book in the series is released!

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Review: Like the Willow Tree: The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce: Portland, Maine, 1918

Like the Willow Tree: The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce: Portland, Maine, 1918 by Lois Lowry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

I think I would have given it 4 stars, if the narrator had been a little different. You could tell she was reading in a child-like voice, to match the age of the character. That part was fine. I had issues with the singing, to be honest. It was louder than the rest, so I'd have to quickly turn it down. There were also times it wasn't quite sounding right... Just my $0.02.

The story was an interesting one. It told about the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 and the story of how the Shakers took in orphans to raise them in the faith throughout history.

Lydia and her brother are orphaned when the Spanish Flu kills her parents and baby sister. When it is determined that her uncle and his family cannot take them in, Lydia and her brother are taken to the Shaker community and raised there. Lydia has to learn all sorts of new rules, customs, and religious beliefs.

I didn't know much about Shakers, and I loved this historical information shared at the end of the book. I also did a little extra research on my own, and I hope that someday I can visit Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village where this book was set.

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Review: Lu

Lu by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it (but read the other 3 first!)

I really enjoyed how this series wrapped up nicely. A story line from book 1 came full circle and was concluded in this book.

It's also a great way to explain about the drug problem in America in a way that younger people can grasp (to a point). A cautionary tale of why drugs are bad, and all that.

The narrator was great.

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Review: The First Time We Met

The First Time We Met by Jo Lovett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This book was a great way to get away from the world for a little while. It's a story of missed connections, right place and wrong time.

When we first meet Izzy, she's working in a greasy spoon diner trying to make ends meet while she's pursuing her dream of being a speech therapist. She's serving breakfast one morning, when she meets "The One", Sam. The chat, they flirt, and he goes on his way. She runs after him to ask him out, only to learn that it's the morning of his wedding.

There are a few other connections between the 2 over the years, but it's never the right time for them to get together (for various reasons). Then, after years of not seeing him, Izzy gets an email asking for help with Sam's son's stutter. This reconnection is just what they both need at that point in their lives, and it's interesting to see how it all unfolds.

Thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley for this Advanced Reader's Copy.

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Review: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I listened to this book, and I really enjoyed the narrator.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the story of Francie Nolan and her life growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1900s. The story spans from before entering school until she is starting college, describing the triumphs and struggles of her, her family, and the country.

When she was young, Francie's family was struggling to get by. Her father drank away a lot of his income and her mother worked as a cleaning woman to make up the difference. Francie and her brother collected rubbish to trade for pennies each week. Francie's mother realized that education was necessary for her children to rise above their beginnings.

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Review: Hope Never Dies

Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This was a fun, light-hearted, crazy romp of a mystery. Joe Biden is sitting around at home after the 2016 election, missing his friend Barack. Suddenly, Barack appears from nowhere and tells him his favorite Amtrak conductor is dead!

Amtrak Joe is on the case! With the help of Barack Obama and a Secret Service Agent, Joe is determined to find truth and justice in the death of his friend. The humor in this book made me laugh, but the mystery kept me on my toes!

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Review: Princess in Practice

Princess in Practice by Connie Glynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I really enjoyed learning more about Lottie's family history in this second book in the series. We get to discover the history and provenance of her family crown, the one with the moon on top. We also get to learn a little about other historical princesses in the lands.

We also continue with the mystery that was brought forth in the first book. Who is Leviathan and what do they want? While we don't learn ALL the details, we do learn a little more.

I will definitely read the 3rd book in the series when it's available from the library!

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Review: Undercover Princess

Undercover Princess by Connie Glynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I really enjoyed meeting Lottie Pumpkin and Ellie Wolf as they attended Rosewood Manor. These 2 young ladies couldn't be more opposite, but they became the best of friends. Lottie is a scholarship student who loves princesses and feels that she must be perfect in order to prove her right to be there. Ellie is the princess of a country with an edge to her desire to live a "normal" teenage life.

When rumors start to swirl and the students begin to believe that Lottie is the princess, Ellie comes up with a plan to allow the rumors to be seen as truth. There are twists, turns, and intrigue throughout the story as we learn that there may be threats against the princess. Lottie and Ellie have to navigate the challenges together, and this brings them closer than ever as friends.

I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

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Review: Murder on Cold Street

Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it, if you ask me

I really enjoyed reading this book about Charlotte Holmes. This is the first book in the series that I have read, but it is book #5 in the Lady Sherlock series. I look forward to going back to read more about how we got to the current state of things.

Charlotte Holmes claims to be Sherlock's sister, but in reality there is no Sherlock to speak of. She works "on his behalf, as he is an invalid", mainly because she knows most would not work with a woman detective.

In this story, Charlotte is faced with helping her friend, Inspector Treadles, to determine who killed the 2 men with whom he had locked himself in a room. The men worked with his wife, who had recently taken over managing the family business.

The story had several twists and turns, and I really enjoyed the side jaunts that you thought might lead somewhere, but weren't the answer!

4 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it, if you ask me

I really enjoyed reading this book about Charlotte Holmes. This is the first book in the series that I have read, but it is book #5 in the Lady Sherlock series. I look forward to going back to read more about how we got to the current state of things.

Charlotte Holmes claims to be Sherlock's sister, but in reality there is no Sherlock to speak of. She works "on his behalf, as he is an invalid", mainly because she knows most would not work with a woman detective.

In this story, Charlotte is faced with helping her friend, Inspector Treadles, to determine who killed the 2 men with whom he had locked himself in a room. The men worked with his wife, who had recently taken over managing the family business.

The story had several twists and turns, and I really enjoyed the side jaunts that you thought might lead somewhere, but weren't the answer!

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader's Copy.

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Review: The Testaments

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it without even asking! (but you need to read the first book first)

I really enjoyed the narrators in this book, as they were all different enough to know that it was a new section of the story.

I enjoyed learning the fate of Gilead and a little more about how it came to it's end. At the end of The Handmaid's Tale, we knew it was no longer in existence but not what had taken it down. This is a great story line that describes the end of Gilead from several points of view.

I loved that it kept some characters from the first book, but introduced us to another set of intertwined characters we didn't know about. Some of the characters were extremely disturbing, but others were not quite what you were expecting (after The Handmaid's Tale).

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Review: The Stars of History: Charlie Chaplin

The Stars of History: Charlie Chaplin by Swysen Bernard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 our of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I learned a lot about Charlie Chaplin that I never knew while reading this graphic novel. It was clear that Charlie started out with a hard life, but he was able to pull himself up and become the star he is now known to be. I also had no idea about how he was treated through the trials of McCarthyism.

I really enjoyed learning more, and perhaps I will look into the autobiography that is mentioned!

Thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for a copy of this book!

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Review: When the Emperor Was Divine

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

This book was interesting, right from the start. The writing, never mentioning the name of the characters, made me interested to know more about the family.

I find the stories of what we have done to our fellow Americans throughout the years to be sad, but interesting. We cannot change if we do not learn from the past.

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Review: Admission

Admission by Julie Buxbaum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This books is a fictionalized version of the "Varsity Blues Scandal" that tore through headlines about parents paying for raised test scores and fake athletic abilities to get their kids into great schools.

This novel takes the perspective of a child who didn't know it was happening, and the toll it takes on her life and relationships. It was written in a style that showed before and after the story broke in alternating chapters, showing what was known and perhaps what should have been known. It also shows what this sort of thing can do to relationships within a family and those of friendships and romance once the story broke.

I really enjoyed the book, and I will be looking for other stories from the author in the future.

Thanks to Random House Children's Delacorte Press and NetGalley for this Advanced Readers Copy.

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Review: The Case of the Gypsy Good-Bye

The Case of the Gypsy Good-Bye by Nancy Springer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it, even if you don't ask.

The reason this got 5 stars is because it nicely tied up the end of this series. There were no open ended questions still lingering, and no wonder if another book could still be coming. (Though, I wouldn't be sad if there was another!)

In this newest case, Enola is hunting for a kidnapped Duquessa, Lady Blanchefleur. She was last seen going into the Baker Street Underground Station, and hasn't been seen since! While Enola is hunting for the missing Duquessa, Sherlock is hunting for Enola. A mysterious package has been dropped off at their home in the country, and it is addressed to Enola from her mother.

The story ties up with a nice, happy ending... with the possibility for future adventures!

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Review: The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline

The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I loved how this one tied in the historical figure of Florence Nightingale.

Enola has to work to determine how, why, and who has kidnapped her landlady in the latest installment of the mystery series. Her landlady had followed her husband to the Crimean War many years before. It was what lead to her extreme deafness and left her a widow. Now Enola has to determine how that past has a connection to the current state of affairs.

Sherlock is also pulled into the case through other means, and Enola works to keep her freedom while also running into Sherlock several times.

I really enjoy Enola's spunk and fortitude to keep going through all her trials!

Can't wait for the next one.

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Review: The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan

The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan by Nancy Springer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I really enjoyed that we got to re-meet a previous case in this book. I also really enjoyed that Enola works with Sherlock but still doesn't trust him to know where she's living or working.

Time for book #5 in the series!!

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Review: The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets

The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets by Nancy Springer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

In this book, Dr. Watson is missing... and Enola is on the case!

Enola visits Mrs. Watson and determines that there was a sinister bouquet in among all the flowers that had been delivered. The language of flowers is a way to send a message without using any words at all, and many do not understand it. It's like a secret language and code all wrapped up in one.

Enola takes a room for rent next door to Mrs Watson and waits for another bouquet to be delivered to see what she can learn. She finds clues, finds them, and sends a coded message to her brother through the newspaper columns on how to find Dr Watson.

Looking forward to reading the next in the series!

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Review: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

In the second book in the series, Enola is still hiding from her brothers. She's communicating with her mother via the social ads in code. She has also set up shop as the assistant to a (non-existant) perditorian (or a professional finder of missing persons).

In this second book, she is visited by Dr Watson, who wishes to help Sherlock locate Enola. This made me giggle. She also is determined to locate the daughter of a local prominent man who has gone missing. It is believed she may have run away to elope, but Enola doesn't think so!

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Review: The Case of the Missing Marquess

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I really enjoyed meeting Enola Holmes, younger sister of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. Enola is curious, adventurous, and smart, which is what all young ladies should aspire to.

When Enola's mother goes missing, she takes it upon herself to try to locate her. Along the way, she identifies another missing person and works to locate him as well. She may be hiding from her brothers, but that doesn't stop her from solving mysteries and helping the police!

I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

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Review: They Called Us Enemy

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it, even if you don't ask

This was an amazing graphic novel that tells the story of George Takei's life, including his time in the internment camps for Japanese during WWII. I learned a few new things from what he shared.

The artwork was amazing. I could see George Takei clearly in every drawing.

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Review: Thoughts of Dog

Thoughts of Dog by Matt Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

Thoughts of Dog was just as good in book form as it is in Tweet form! It's short and sweet. The book is a series of short stories from Dog, each story telling us about his year. He tells about winter, 4th of July, Halloween, and other days.

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Review: Patina

Patina by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It's a story for all those who have felt they needed to grow up too soon and take on the responsibilities of the adults in their world.

Patina (Patty) has been doing her best to take care of her little sister and her mother since her father died when she was 6. She has felt that it is her responsibility to make her everyone is cared for, even after her aunt and uncle adopted her and her sister.

Patty learns that it's a team effort, but that it doesn't (and shouldn't) all fall on her shoulders.

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Review: One Little Lie

One Little Lie by Colleen Coble
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I really enjoyed learning the beginning of the story between Jane, Reid, and Will. Having started with the second book, I felt like I was missing some of the details of their history together.

Jane is the new Police Chief in Pelican Harbor, and she has her work cut out for her. A member of the City Council doesn't approve of her appointment, there's a vigilante causing mayhem, and now there appears to be a killer.... is it the vigilante escalating, or someone else?

As she's investigating, the FBI comes to arrest her father (the former police chief) and Jane now has to follow the evidence to see if he's guilty or being framed, as he claims.

I enjoyed not being able to figure out what was happening until it was revealed.

Sometimes good guys are bad, sometimes bad guys are good, and sometimes people are exactly who you think they are!

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Review: Two Reasons to Run

Two Reasons to Run by Colleen Coble
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it, if you ask me

I really enjoyed how the story pulled you in from the beginning. I wish I'd known that it was the second book in a series before I started listening, as the continuation gives away surprises that were revealed through the first book. Even without reading the first book, I was able to follow the story line and figure out what had already happened.

Jane Hardy is the Chief of Police in Pelican Harbor, AL. There appears to be some sort of conspiracy happening on an off-shore oil rig, and a missing man who knew something was going on. The mother of the missing man comes to see Jane with emails from her son stating that if he were ever to go missing, she should visit the Chief and share what little he knew and shared.

As the story unfolds, there are chapters told from the perspective of "the man" who is behind some of the mysterious happenings -- including break ins and threats against Jane's son, Will.

I really enjoyed that I wasn't able to figure out who was behind everything until it was revealed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for this Advanced Listening Copy.

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Struggle Bus - Derecho Edition

 It's been tough lately to get into anything.  It seems that when I get home from work each day, it's all I can do to just get some food in me and sit on the couch watching mindless TV.  Between Covid-19 and the Derecho that hit my parents' house in Iowa, it's been a rough month or so.

Derecho was a weather word I definitely hadn't heard before August 10, when straight line winds estimated at 140mph hit my hometown in Iowa.  When it was over, after more than half an hour, my city looked like a disaster zone.  It's estimated that over 50% of the tree cover in the city is gone.  My parents had a tree in the house and garage for nearly 2 weeks before they were removed this past Sunday.  One hundred year old oaks that had survived countless storms and tornadoes were completely uprooted, and thousands lost their homes, cars, and businesses.

Apparently the word derecho, in reference to a weather event, was first used in 1888 by Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs in reference to an Iowa storm in 1877.  It is a widespread, long-lived, straight-line wind storm that is associated with a fast-moving group of severe thunderstorms.  It is commonly referred to as an inland hurricane, and I can see why after watching videos posted from cameras people had recording during the event.

When I first arrived in my hometown on August 14, I cried as I drove down streets that were as familiar to me as my family, but were so changed I wouldn't know where I was if dropped there out of context.  Trees were uprooted, snapped in half, or crushing houses.  A few friends joined my family that weekend, and we cleaned up the downed trees as best we could.  I had an amazing friend from work, Lisa, who spent the majority of her time using a chainsaw and cutting the trees and limbs into manageable sizes.  The rest of us struggled to keep up as we hauled them to the side of the street for the city to eventually come and pick up.  (As of this writing, I don't believe even a first pass has happened on my parents' street.)  Another friend drove down with a car-load of supplies that her friends and connections had donated money for.  She has no connection to Cedar Rapids, other than the fact that her daughter attended college there.  She spent a full day with us hauling debris and cleaning as best we could without power.  We are forever in their debt.

Now, on a daily basis, I call my parents and ask for an update on the status of their home.  Insurance has been out to review it, we have a contractor to repair and replace things, but everyone has to agree on timetables and prices of things.

Review: Murder in the East End

Murder in the East End by Jennifer Ashley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I really enjoyed meeting Kat Holloway and Daniel McAdams in book 4 of this series. I will definitely go back and read the other 3 already published.

In this story, Kat, the cook at a nice home in London, is brought into a mystery involving missing children from a Foundling Hospital (orphanage). Daniel's "brother" is on the board of trustees and fears that children have gone missing, as well as one of the nurses in their charge. Daniel wants Kat to help him investigate, as she has the ability to go and talk to people he might not (such as the orphanage cooks and maids). They do not want to go to the police until they know there's truly something sinister happening with the missing children.

In the end, as always happens in this book, the mystery is solved (but not everything always turns out positively).

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced copy!

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Review: Dear Girl

Dear Girl by Aija Mayrock
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 - It was ok.

Poetry has never been my thing, but the story being told and narrator were both powerful.

The theme throughout about lives of women and their journey through life was one that did hit close to home with me.

There were times the music was louder than the narrator, which was distracting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for this advanced copy.

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Review: The Photographer of Mauthausen

The Photographer of Mauthausen by Salva Rubio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

5 out of 5 - I'll tell you to read this without you asking.

The Photographer of Mauthausen was a story I had yet to learn about WWII history. I didn't know about the Spanish who had gone to fight with the French and were sent to concentration camps. Mauthausen was a work camp that no one was supposed to survive. Francisco Boix was one of the Spaniards who was sent to Mauthausen. In his previous life, he'd been a photographer. This allowed him to get a "job" at the camp working with one of the Nazi leaders who was attempting to turn death into an art form, taking photos of men who were killed during the time at Mauthausen.

Francisco uses his place within the camp to steal the photo negatives and works with others to find a way to smuggle them out to a woman in the village nearby. After he is liberated from the camp by the Americans, he is able to recover the negatives that were smuggled out. He attempts to publish them, but other photos have already been published from Auschwitz and Berkenau, so his photos weren't wanted or needed for publication.

He was able to utilize the photos to testify against some of the Nazis in the Nuremberg Trials, but he wasn't able to tell the full stories of what he had witnessed and endured.

You could see the research that had gone into the telling of this story. I also was impressed by the illustrations and coloring of this graphic novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dead Reckoning from the U.S. Naval Institute for this advanced copy.

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Review: The Switch

The Switch by Beth O'Leary
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask, I'll tell you to read it.

Lena Cotton is a high powered woman in London. She's had a lot of upheaval in her life, as she's only a year removed from losing her sister to cancer. As we meet her, she's having a panic attack before and during a client meeting. Lena's boss determines that she needs a sabbatical and tells her she's being pulled from all projects for two months. As she sits at home in her apartment, she calls her grandmother and agrees to come visit for the weekend.

Eileen Cotton is Lena's grandmother, living in a small village in the country. Eileen is very involved in the activities of the village, including the neighborhood watch, the May Day committee, and walking the dog of one of the men in the village once a week. What she misses most, though, is companionship. Her husband, Wade, had walked out on her with their (younger) dance instructor.

While visiting, Lena finds Eileen's "project list", which happens to include a pro/con list of all the eligible men in the village. It's a pretty disappointing list! Lena introduces her grandmother to online dating and they learn that there are none in the "over 70" group within 100 miles of the village. There are, however, over 400 to choose from in London. Then the idea hatches. Lena needs to get away during her sabbatical, and Eileen wants to have an adventure. They decide to switch places for those two months. Eileen's one condition is that Lena has to hand over her laptop and smartphone. She can use the old "dumb" phone and desktop of her grandmother's.

Over the next two months, there are all sorts of adventures for both women. Eileen meets a nice man who wants "no strings attached". She also meets all of the neighbor's in Lena's building and finds a way to give back to her generation in the neighborhood. Lena finds that sometimes the "slow, village life" is anything but. There are drama and stories and always something to do. Lena takes her grandmother's place on all committees and tries to fulfill all her commitments.

I really enjoyed the 2 narrators who alternated chapters. Each played the role of Lena or Eileen Cotton and the story from their perspective. I did get distracted by the noises though. You could hear them clearing their mouths and swallowing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy.



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Review: Behind the Bookcase: Miep Gies, Anne Frank, and the Hiding Place

Behind the Bookcase: Miep Gies, Anne Frank, and the Hiding Place by Barbara Lowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 - If you ask, I'll tell you to read it.

I listened to the audiobook. The narrator was very good.  I didn't give it 5 stars, because an illustrated book isn't quite the same in an audiobook format.

Miep Gies was an employee of Otto Frank. She agreed to hide them. Miep kept the family up to date with news and information. Miep wanted to be there for Anne as a young girl on the verge of womanhood.

Miep is the reason we have access to Anne's diary, Kitty. She found it, kept it, and gave it to Otto after the war.

I can't wait to see the physical copy and see the illustrations. This is a great way to start teaching children about Anne Frank before they are able to read her diary.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Audiobooks for this advanced copy.

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Review: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you about it without you asking.

Stiff is a very interesting look at life after death.... the life of the body, rather than the soul! Mary Roach made sure to find topics that people probably think about, but rarely talk about. She then took those topics and made them interesting and even, at times, funny!

Topics covered included anatomy schools, Eastern medicine, burial vs cremation vs "other", and the weight of a soul. I was enthralled with all the research that brought it all together. Between interviews and writings, there was a cross section of time and location for the topics being covered.

I also really enjoyed the narrator. Her inflections and timing were perfect for making sure you caught the humor intended.

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Review: I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Michelle McNamara's "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" was well written and compelling to follow. I can easily see why she got sucked into the mystery and intrigue surrounding these cases. Michelle dubbed the killer she was seeking the Golden State Killer, though the police and others had different names. She worked with various people, cops and civilians, to come up with various clues, suspects, and motives. Her ability to gather and collect as much information as she did is what made this an amazingly well written book. She was able to gain access to retired and current police officers and crime lab technicians. She was able to interview some of the survivors.

The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because it wasn't 100% her writing. Her writing flows and is easy to follow, but this was a combination of her writing and other people putting together her notes after her death. The writing seemed a little all over the place at times.

I'm sad that she wasn't able to live long enough to see him identified and arrested.

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Review: The Art of War, with eBook

The Art of War, with eBook by Sun Tzu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok.

I'm not sure I fully understand the reason people read it and recommend it. It had a few points that were interesting, but mostly I was bored.

I did like that there were 2 narrators. One was for the original text and one was for footnotes or explanations. That was helpful.

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