The Teller of Small Fortunes

This was such a sweet and cozy fantasy novel. Tao is a teller of small fortunes, and while technically she has the sight of a seer, she chooses to only focus on small fortunes. It's safer for her and those around her to keep the fortunes small, big things like war, death, and betrayal can leave a mark and make her even more feared than she already is. The thing is, Tao is Shinn. And most Eshterans are wary of Shinn and other who came across from the sea. It's a lonely existence for Tao who travels from town to town in her wagon. She never stays in a place long enough to wear out her welcome. Suddenly though she gains some traveling companions and their lives are about to intersect in the most magical way. Charming, sweet, and great character building. I loved watching the friendships blossom. 

Scales of Destiny

Prince Kaeleron is more than just a prince, behind those misty blue eyes lies a secret that only his family knows, he has the ability to transform into a fearsome dragon. His mother insists upon secrecy, but after a late night flight, an eagle eyed thief recognizes his unique eyes. Vitani saw those eyes once before, when she was fleeing from the palace after a thwarted attempt to steal a rare and valuable item from the castle vault. Rather than be repulsed by the prince and his secret, Vitani finds herself captivated. The two have a bond that they can't escape, no matter how hard the queen tries to keep them apart. They soon find that the castle is more filled with foes than family and must fight to remain together. Filled with adventure, magic, betrayal, and romance; this short story fantasy (less than 150 pages) will appeal to readers who are in the mood for a good fantasy novel without wanting to commit to 400+ page book or long series. As an added bit of interest, Karen D. Perry is a Johnson County author, who calls Whiteland her home. This is her debut novel.

The Man No One Believed

2.5 stars rounded up. This review does not reflect the heart of the story, which I think is worth learning about, but is more of a review on the readability of this true crime book. Joshua Sharpe explores the brutal double murder of Harold and Thelma Swain in their church in 1985 as well as the investigations that took places years after the fact that ended up putting an innocent man in prison for decades. Heartbreaking and unfathomable, this miscarriage of justice is all too familiar to many in the south who have been wrongly convicted. The Man No One Believed is true crime story and a damning indictment of American injustice, I just wish I had been more engaged with the writing. I feel bad giving this book a low rating, but it didn't grab me. Excellent research and a story worth knowing, maybe just listen to a podcast or a summary of it though. 

The Au Pair Affair

The premise of this book was so fun and I enjoyed the first half, I just completely checked out the second half. Pro hockey star, Burgess, is in a bind. He and his ex-wife co-parent their vivacious 12 year old and hockey season is about to start. Burgess has hired his best friend's fiancé to be a live in au pair and the two are wildly attracted to each other. Which is a problem because he is eleven years her senior and most importantly, her boss. Despite a rocky start, Tallulah, fits right in to their family unit and it's hard to imagine life without her there. When things start to get hot and heavy between them, everything they worked so hard to build comes crumbling down around them. I was very annoyed because Burgess, kept lamenting that life wasn't worth living without Tallulah and there was no point in going on. Sir! You have a child that adores you! His daughter was never at the forefront of his decisions and that pissed me off. It ruined the ending for me. I didn't even want them to get back together (spoiler). I'll still keep on with the series, but I am glad this one is behind me!

The Spellshop

This was such a cute, cozy, and atmospheric fantasy novel. It was charming, fun, and pretty low stakes, exactly what I want in a cozy novel. Librarian, Kiela and her sentient spider plant Caz, have fled the capital city as rebels start to burn the buildings including the Great Library of Alyssium. She and Caz loaded up a boat with as many spell books as it can carry and have fled to the outer islands. With no idea where to go, Kiela decides that her remote home island is as good of a place as any. She hasn't been back to the island since she was 9 and not much has changed. The island is a little more weathered and battered than she remembers but her parent's cottage is there and she is ready to start a new life. Realizing that she needs to have a job so she can eat, she decides to make jam as the island doesn't have a library. She's used to being solitary but finds that island life comes with friends and hunky neighbors. Charming and oh so fun. 

Lifeguard

I honestly did not realize that this was a memoir until 3 chapters in. I just thought it was very conversational, lol. Lifeguard is a memoir by Janet Fash chronicling her life as a lifeguard in New York's Rockaway Beach. Starting as a peon and eventually working her way up to becoming the first female lifeguard chief of Rockaway Beach. Beginning in the 80s and up through the present day, this memoir explores the sexism, the wild parties, the hazing, the lifesaving, and the corrupt culture behind the lifeguard union. It's a love letter to Rockaway Beach even during worst moments. This memoir has a very conversational tone and is a quick read at under 250 pages. Each chapter focuses on a year or two so the book really does span decades. An interesting and in depth look at the complexities of lifeguarding. 

Kingdom of Waves

This was a quick little fantasy read that is the start of a new series. The Ophir have been repressed and subjected to what amounts as slavery for hundreds of years. You either work for the Laconians for minimum wages and struggle to fill your bellies, take to thieving, or are lucky enough to live on the one lone Ophir sanctuary, a mysterious floating city. Gin and Eban are both Ophir thieves and they've just been double crossed by the same man. They were able to steal some loot, including some enchanted reliquaries. Even though they don't know each other they both must work together to flee the city and try to find other Ophir. The two are about to discover that their actions have the potential to save the Ophir, if they are up to the challenge. Predictable, yet with enough action and excitement to keep you going. I predicted the "surprise" at the end immediately, but I am an adult reading teen literature so I can't be too mad. I would maybe continue on with the rest of the series. 

I Who Have Never Known Men

This book packed such a punch despite it's relatively short page count. This dystopian novel opens up with 40 women locked in a large cage in a bunker. Something happened in the world but none of them can recollect what. All they know is that not one of them know each other or why they are being held in captivity. There are always three guards patrolling to make sure they never touch one another, yell or hurt one another, or try to hurt themselves. It's a lonely existence. Especially for the child. The rest of the women or older, fully adult, but there is one child and this novel is through her eyes. She is desperately trying to understand what the world used to be like and to learn. It's such a boring existence and she is desperate for knowledge even if she can't even fully grasp what they are imparting on her. Haunting, solitary, and inspired. The prose and and understanding of our main protagonist is completely arresting. This novel is unlike anything I've ever read!

Fangirl Down

I enjoyed this audiobook, although the narrator was a bit much. The story was also over the top and mildly cringe, but I still somehow really liked it and am planning on reading the rest in the series. It was a light and mostly fluffy, with some pretty intense sex scenes that sprung up occasionally. Fangirl Down is about Josephine, a mega fan of pro golfer Welles Whitaker. Known to be a jerk, Welles has been super unpredictable and has slowly started tanking his career. The only one on his side is mega fan Josephine who cheers him on at all his Florida events. After a particularly rough day on the course he snaps at Josephine (the only one on the course cheering for him) and loses his last fan and his last reason for golfing. After going on a bender he decides to try and make it up to her and in the process finds a desire to help her. A hurricane floods Josephine's golf pro shot and she has no insurance. He offers to let her caddy for him so she can earn some money. As the two start to work together they find themselves extremely attached to one another and Welle's life really starts to turn around in a positive way. Cheesy but fun. 

Dear Missing Friend

I love epistolary novels and this was no exception. Irish immigrant Catherine McGuirk has high hopes for America. She longs to be a governess and embrace life in America. She eagerly writes her family back in Ireland, her childhood best friend, and Patrick, one of the people she bonded with on the voyage over. As the years pass she finds herself writing her brothers, new American friends, and soon a beau. She loses loved ones to whaling, the gold rush, and other nineteenth century ailments. Dear Missing Friend spans decades, friendships, and family and really illustrates what life was like in New York City in the mid to late nineteenth century. I also thought it was interesting that the author very loosely based this off her family's history. Unique and captivating! 

Carl's Doomsday Scenario

Explosive! Literally and figuratively. These books are such a fun ride. I love getting to learn more about the dungeons through Carl and Princess Donut's eyes. Laugh out loud fun, action packed, and weird as hell this series is perfect for those who love gaming, pop culture, and having a laugh. The quests that Carl and Princess Donut find themselves participating in are over the top weird and I loved every minute of this book. Give me the next one please! 

Taming the Heart

Definitely my least favorite of the series. It was a little too predictable and the slow burn wasn't as chef's kiss as the first two in this series. Sage takes a job as a business promoter for a ruff and rugged former bull riding star and it turns out he is the same man she had shamelessly flirted with months prior. Awkward. To make matter's worse, the person who she is supposed to report to her bosses sister and she's out all summer. So she finds herself alone on this ranch with her super smoking hot boss and he is totally off limits. Why you may ask? Because he's married to a country superstar who's out on tour. Sparks fly, but can they both remain true to themselves and not get tangled into each other? Predictable but still a fun read with lots of steam. 

Cleopatra

I just finished a re-read. Endlessly fascinating, but still somehow a slog. This book was hell to power through. 

In one word, fascinating. This biography delves into the world's most "wicked woman" and arguably the least understood woman. What little survives of her was written by men, Romans who would eventually annex Egypt and misremember, misattribute, and slander Cleopatra. What people remember about this bad-ass queen, is not her wit, fierceness, and shrewd leadership; rather they remember her as a beautiful seductress who managed to snag two of the most powerful men in the world. Stacy Schiff delves deep to set the record straight in this amazing (admittedly a little dense at times) biography. I always thought Cleopatra was cool (what little I knew about her), but after reading this I realized that she is the feminist boss babe I needed in my life right now. In her lifetime she sat a table of leaders, all men - and reigned supreme.

Bouquets and Buckles

This was a cute stand alone novella set in the world Crimson Ridge. Skylar decides to come home holidays and surprise her boyfriend, but lo and behold, she's the one in for a surprise because she sees her boyfriend with another woman. Desperate to get the hell out of there she discovers that she has a flat tire. With her parents out of town, she calls her gay best friend to rescue her, but his dad picks up instead. And no questions asked he comes out and rescues her. He takes her back to his place, a home that Skylar has visited a million times, but this time she's wearing a seductive little number (intended for her piece of shit boyfriend), and she's at the house alone with her bestie's dad. The snow is falling down fast and they know they'll soon be trapped for at least a day or two. What if they are both attracted to each other? What if a few drinks makes them both a little loose? What's the worse that could happen? Forbidden love, age gap romance, hot as hell. More please!

Braving the Storm

I didn't know that I was into age gap romances until I started this series! This one went a little further than that though and involved an uncle and a niece (not related by blood!). Briar is fleeing her cheating husband and her no good family and she goes to the one place that's far away and out of their grasp, the little cabin in Crimson Ridge. She found out her father had left it to her in his will. She's never been there but she is desperate to hide out somewhere. When she arrives, a SHOCKING, interaction leads her to discover that the cabin is indeed not empty and is occupied by her estranged uncle who has had no contact with the family in years. He is a cowboy and former rodeo star who has lived in the cabin for quite some time and had no idea that his adopted brother had died and left the cabin to his now adult daughter. Storm hasn't seen his niece in at least a decade and damn, does she look good. The two decide to share the small cabin for the time being and sparks start to fly. If it's wrong, then why does it feel so right? Forbidden love, steamy as hell, nice little age gap. I'm already on to book three!

Twilight

Wowzaa. I had not re-read this book since high school and even back then I did not love it. But reading this as an adult really hits different! Red flags EVERYWHERE. The romance goes from zero to 100. The plot, cheesy as hell. Bella being the emo, manic, pixie, dream girl, I'm not like everyone else, got real boring, real quick. A quick and dirty summary is a coven of vegetarian vampires (they only eat animal blood not human blood) impersonate being teenagers to attend high school. At over 100 years old, Edward finds himself attracted to the new 17 year old girl in town because he can't resist her blood and he can't read her thoughts. Bella too falls in love with him immediately even though they have nothing in common and he's old enough to be her great, great, great grandfather. Chaos ensues and this is the first of a series. What were we thinking?!?! Why was this so beloved? lol

Chasing the Wild

This is officially the smuttiest audiobook I've ever listened to and I am here for it. Wowzer. I didn't know I was so into forbidden tropes, but this audiobook proved that I have a lot to learn about myself! Due to horrible unforeseen circumstances, Layla Birch finds herself snowed in high in the mountains with her ex-boyfriend's father. She's due to start a brand new job tomorrow and now she is stuck up at Devil's Peak Ranch with the most smoldering hot cowboy she's ever seen. Colton Wilder is nearly twice her age and totally off limits, her ex would never forgive her for messing around with his dad. But as the mountain pass remains shut down, the restraint between Layla and Colton starts to thin. They both know they are attracted to each other, but both of them know they can't cross that line.... Deliciously slow build romance and the scenes are hot, hot, hot. I devoured this audiobook and can't wait for the rest in this series.

Three Apples Fell From the Sky

This was breathtaking and unexpected. I didn't think I would find myself so engrossed in this story, but it was such a pleasure to listen to. I highly recommend the audiobook version because the names are hard to pronounce and the narrator does a phenomenal job of bringing the dialect and accent to life. This book is set in the small mountain village high in the Armenian mountains. Once a bustling town, famine, war, earthquakes, and more have dwindles the town's population down to nothing. But despite the solitude, the the lack of contact with the outside world, hunger, and no more children - the elderly residents of this town keep going about their lives, not just out of stubbornness, but because it's the only thing they know how to do. Harvesting crops, laundering clothes, making meals, taking care of livestock, and gossiping with neighbors has never been more interesting. Thoroughly enjoyable, the setting and the characters are unforgettable. 

The Unknown

This was a wild ride. It took me a little bit to get into but it was so worth it because the END! The end got me man. Did not see it coming! An aspiring actress is plucked out of obscurity and saved from waiting tables to work on a top secret film directed by the legendary Ronan Peters. The catch is, she has to report to a supposedly haunted island for a week of team building with the other actresses and director. They picked the cursed island because that is actually the setting of the movie. Nothing could possibly go wrong... right? Slowly people start disappearing and it seems to be mimicking the script, Marin thought it was all mumbo jumbo, but now she's not sure. What will she do to survive? Classic Riley Sager, lots of fun and twists that you won't spot coming! 

A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle

This was an enjoyable listen. I admittedly had not read the first book in the series, but that did not impact any bit of the story, this can definitely be read as a standalone. When Flora discovers that her husband of 20 years is having an affair, she leaves her apartment and decides to stay at her bookshop. There is an attic with an uncomfortable bed in it. Anything is preferable to being near her adulterous husband. Her bookshop is located in the tiny village of Honeyford and it's loads different than living in Oxford. Since purchasing the bookshop she has struggled to fit in with the locals, maybe now that she's living there she can start to assimilate better. When a nosy shop owner overhears Flora's husband barge into the bookstore and demand she come home, she announces that Flora is living with her. Luna owns a mystical shop and she can see that Flora's aura can do with some healing. Desperate to escape the spider's in the bookshop attic, Flora takes Luna up on her offer to lodge a Starlight Cottage, and finds herself having a rather different summer than she intended. Cozy and cute, although completely predictable. Good fluff. As an added bonus the narrator has a British accent to help bring the story alive. 

Alchemised

EMOTIONAL WRECKAGE! And I loved every second of it. I fear this is about to set me on a path of reading exclusively Dramoine fan fiction til the end of the year and I'm not even mad about it. Alchemised is a retelling of Manacled which is a reimagining of dark, slow burn enemies to lovers fanfiction romance set in the wizarding world of Harry Potter and starring Draco and Hermoine. It is so so dark, and I am obsessed with it. I can't even write a review on it, because you just have to read it yourself. It starts a little slow, but by the end of part one I was INVESTED. Even though it was over 1,000 pages it didn't feel like it (well my wrists felt it, this was a damn heavy book!

Life

I love a good devotional and I really adored this one. I love that Lisa Harper didn't offer vague generalities -  she shared stories from her life, lessons she's learned, failures, and many, many joys (often involving her adopted daughter). Each devotional opened with a few lines from scripture and then shared a story from her life that tied in to the scripture. The stories were candid, insightful, and didn't always make her look the best (which is INSPIRING - we aren't all perfect!). Following that there were three questions to help the reader will dig in deep and reflect on what was just read and make a plan on how to incorporate a lesson or a mindset into their lives. Wonderful! I need to read more of her books! 

The Shippers

This was such a cheesy, fluffy book and it came at the right time! This book is... 100% predictable. Cheesy. Over the top. Wonderful. No part of this book is believable, but did that stop me from enjoying it? Absolutely not. It was so cliche and romantic and I didn't even care! JoJo walked away from her fiancé at the alter (more like fake fainted) and while she is glad that she dodged that bullet, she is unmoored. What comes next? Her older sister's wedding is mere weeks after JoJo's failed wedding and JoJo is dreading it. It's a cruise ship wedding and her whole family and neighborhood friends will tease her mercilessly at her botched attempt at love. When her sister informs JoJo that her childhood crush will be attending the wedding and that he's newly single, the sisters make a plan to steal his heart and remake JoJo's image. What could possibly go wrong? When JoJo's best friend also shows up on the cruise, she makes him go along with her plan and makes him pretend to flirt with her to make her crush jealous. But what if they're not pretending? Predictable, charming, fluff. 

Wrath of Poseidon

This series is fun and I liked that this one was a prequel of sorts. Wrath of Poseidon goes back to how Remi and Sam met and their very first adventure together. Is it cheesy? Yes. Did I still thoroughly enjoy it? Also yes. Remi was young and inexperienced at the ways of the world (gun handling, scuba diving, etc.) but luckily for her Sam has already made it through DARPA training. Despite her lack of "skills" she showcases her quick thinking and adaptability. The only thing that troubles her is how "easy" it was for Sam to kill a man in self-defense. Can their budding relationship survive when bodies are hitting the floor? This isn't going to win awards anytime soo but it was fun and I plan on reading (aka listening) to the next installment whenever it comes out. 

The Mash Up

This was such a cute, feel good novel for millennial women. It' a little over the top, but that didn't bother me in the slightest. Ruby Wynne likes to play it safe. She and her boyfriend Conner are as beige as they come and they have everything mapped out. On Ruby's 35th birthday, her best friend presents her with a remnant from the past. A rediscovered MASH game. According to her younger self, her dream future included marrying her twin brother's best friend Penn (yuck!), driving a tie-dyed jeep, owning a roller rink diner, and so much more. Ruby can hardly remember that idealistic and over the top girl. When her boyfriend tells her, he's moving to NYC later that night - Ruby is aghast. Her carefully planned future is destroyed. After a few too many drinks she falls, hits her head, and wakes up in her MASH future. In this world, everything is as young Ruby envisioned it, down to the multiple pools, mansion, and roller rink diner. But what about Penn? And how on Earth is she supposed to get back to reality? This will be of most fun to girls who grew up in the 90s. It's a nostalgia overload and super cheesy but it works. Excellent debut! Make a Hallmark movie of this already! The witty banter was amazing! 

Fight Oligarchy

Concise, easy to read, well stated, ESSENTIAL! I read this short manifesto in under 90 minutes and man it packs a punch and gets you mad. Bernie Sanders has been fighting the oligarchy for decades so he knows what he's talking about and he knows what's effective at disrupting it. At no point in our country r world's history has so few people held all the money and power. It's disgusting, disruptive, and dangerous. This book is perfect for anyone, regardless of political affiliation (he craps on the democrats too!), because it is a cliffs note book on what is wrong in our country, how it got that way, and how to fix it. Very impactful, I've already passed this book on to someone else to read!

Yesteryear

I don't normally enjoy books where the main character is supremely unlikeable, but this book was hard to put down! Natalie Heller Mills is an influencer, a tradwife to be exact, although she resents the term. She and her perfect husband and her perfect children live on a huge ranch and they work the land, homeschool their children, and live simple lives. But what if it's not all that it's cracked up to be? What if there are two realities, the one that social media users see and the one that's really happening? One morning Natalie wakes up and she's in her room, but it's not her room and it's not her family. She's back in time, in the late 1800s and she has no idea how or why? Is she on a reality show? Did she eat something weird? Life may have looked wholesome and easy, but having to put in this level of work (no washing machines!!), is tedious. Told through multiple storylines, Yesteryear is raw, thought provoking, and unputdownable. I didn't see the end coming!

Thinky Thoughts

Very much in the same style as Jenny Lawson, this collection of humorous essays discuss motherhood, trauma, womanhood, writing, friendship, love, and more. I felt personally seen in some of the essays. Gwenna has a way with words and her humorous turn of phrases or funny insight really helped this book shine. I especially loved the essay that was from the sofa's perspective, it was so sweet and heartening, and her author's note at the end was a delight as well. An excellent book of essays that will make you feel less alone and more seen. 

Make Believe

Are you freaking kidding me?!? This book is a love letter to children's literature and is a MUST READ! It was funny, insightful, and so essential. Mac Barnett is a beloved children's book author and he decided to use his influence and platform to write a book for adults about the importance of making and reading GOOD books for children. No summary will do this book justice; Make Believe is a slim, 180 page rallying cry for authors, librarians, editors, educators, and adults who read to children. Mac talks about why kids are so amazing and why we need to make the books they WANT not the books we think they need. Kid's books are worthy and not just for kids. Kids deserve the same appreciation and care that give to adult books. Essential reading! I liked it so much, I bought my own copy after reading the library copy.  

Murder in an Irish Village

This was the cute start to an Irish cozy mystery series. I related to this book a fair bit. Not because I'm a gorgeous, talented red haired Irish beauty; but because Siobhán O’Sullivan is the oldest daughter, has six siblings, and has dead parents (I have one dead mom and that's enough, but you get the picture). Since her parent's unexpected death by a drunk driver, Siobhán has become guardian of the younger siblings, taken over running her parents cafe, and deferred her dream of going to Trinity College to stay home and make sure the family stays together. When they open up the bistro one morning and find a dead body (the brother of the drunk who killed their parents!), Siobhán knows she has to get to the bottom of it to clear her family's name and save them from financial ruin. It doesn't help that the town police has their eyes firmly set on James, the eldest brother because he was on a drinking bender the night of the murder. Full of twists and turns, figuring out who the murderer was, eluded me until the very end! I'll read more in the series for sure! 

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop

Dream Harbor is so cute and lovely and I love getting to read every new book in the series. The Daisy Chain Flower Shop features Daisy, flower shop owner and newcomer to town, Elliot. After the mayor has a vision of a storm cloud above Daisy's flower shop and three couples who used Daisy to make their wedding floral arrangements have split up, the town of Dream Harbor has decided that the Daisy Chain Flower Shop is cursed and business practically dries up. Desperate for newcomers, Daisy decides that a fake relationship might be the thing to turn her business around. They'll never actually develop feelings for each other... right? Fake dating is probably my least favorite romance trope, but whatever, it's fine. Not my favorite in the series, but it's cute, quick, and fun. I'm interested to see who the next couple will be, it's shaping up to be Elliot's brother and the town vet!

Dungeon Crawler Carl

I'm annoyed it took me so long to read this! Freaking obsessed. Hell of a great start to a series. I was hooked from the very beginning. Snarky, laugh out loud funny, adventurous, gory, and fun - this has something to appeal to most everyone. When Carl runs outside in the middle of the night to rescue his ex-girlfriend's cat he doesn't expect the world to essentially end. But while he's outside in his leather coat and frayed boxers coaxing Donut down from a tree every building in the world sinks into the earth's surface killing anyone and anything that was unfortunate to be inside at 2am. Immediately after that happens, thousands of portals open up and tempt surviving humans to enter within one hour if they want to survive. Inside the entrance is a series of levels filled with insane beasts and monsters. Carl and Donut will have to take them on in order to survive. And if they do well, they can get sponsors and be featured on intergalactic tv as trillions of beings around the galaxy are tuned into the games. How deep in the dungeon can he go? And did he just become best friend's with his exe's cat (who can also talk now). So much freaking fun!

The Potter's Field

It's been a long time since I watched this episode of the Brother Cadfael series on Masterpiece Theater so I was surprised at the end. Hoodwinked again! This whole series brings me so much joy. A body was found buried in a potter's field. There didn't appear to be any foul play, but it was clear she must have been murdered otherwise she would have been given a proper Christian funeral. Brother Cadfael and Hugh Berringer must figure out who the woman is and who killed her there. There are lots of men who look guilty, so the pair will have to use all their cunning to uncover their truth. Give me more!

Within the Black

A middle grade novel about grief and losing yourself to anger and pain. Will's mom died and everyone seems to be handling it better than him. His older sister isn't fighting his friends, his younger brother isn't hiding in his room, his dad isn't hiding things that remind him of her. Only Will. When nowhere comes for him, he embraces it. It's an escape from reality and in Nowhere, he can embrace the black, the cold nothingness of forgetfulness. But his family and friends keep trying to pull him back and make him remember. But Will just wants to forget, it hurts less. A good novel about grief, but the concept of Nowhere and the Keeper and the Caretaker needed a little finessing. As an adult reading this novel, I had trouble following the thread sometimes. 

St. Peter's Fair

Derek Jacobi could read a phone book for all I care and I will still love it. As a child I watched Brother Cadfael with my mother and I am so glad to finally be reading the books that the PBS masterpiece theater series was based off of. Brother Cadfael is a medieval monk who always seems to stumble upon a mystery, during the annual fair a merchant is found murdered in the river, his valuables abandoned. Is this just a random act of thievery or is there something more sinister afoot? Wonderfully narrated by Derek Jacobi, this medieval murder mystery is damn good and keeps you guessing. Give me more!

The Secret Library

This was an excellent middle grade read with truly an amazing plot that could have worked really well for an adult audience as well. Especially the ending, it was really deep! Dally Peterharrington just wants time for herself, time to explore, go on adventures, make friends. Instead her overbearing mother forces her to go to school, have a private business tutor, etiquette classes, nearly every waking moment is spent preparing to take over the family business. Her mom is concerned with being a good steward of the family fortune and legacy an there isn't time for adventure or fun. Life has been miserable for Dally until she discovers a map that leads her to a secret library. The library is filled with family secrets and soon Dally starts to learn more about her family history then she ever thought possible and it's about to change her whole life. Impressive world building, unique magic, and one hell of an adventure. 

Fire Mountain

One of the more action packed inspirational books that I've ever read to be honest. Kit wakes up only to discover she has wrecked her semi, has a baby as a passenger, and is stranded on a mountain with an active volcano threatening to blow. Did I mention the bullet holes? Someone was also shooting at her. She has no recollection of the wreck or picking up a baby. When a strange man comes to her aid, she is very wary of him at first. He soon proves to her that he is a good guy and he wants to get her and the baby safely to the evacuation zone. Cullen is a former cop and knows how to take care of himself, which is good because it turns out that there are some bad man after the baby and it's mom. Nonstop action, very clean, minimal mention of religion, but still a presence. Not a bad thriller. 

All About Mohandas Gandhi

This slim little biography is perfect for kids. It's got large print, breaks down a big topic into simple talking points, has illustrations, and is a great introduction to the life of Gandhi. I knew the broad strokes of Gandhi's life but even I learned a lot about his early years in this book. This is very similar to the "Who Was" book series for kids and I believe there are lots of other biographies in this series. 

Kareem Between

I absolutely LOVED this book! It pulled at my heartstrings and covered so many timely topics. Kareem Between is a middle grade novel told in verse. Kareem is a Syrian American and all he wants to do is fit in and make the football team. When he is told he has to help a new Syrian student in school, he is resentful. That kid can hardly speak English, having to "babysit" him at school isn't going to help him fit in any better. If anything it will make him stand out even more. To make things more stressful, his mom is going back to Syria so she can bring her parents back with her to America. Kareem has never met them before but he has talked to them on the phone for his whole life. Things are tough when his mom leaves, but they get so much more tough when the president passes the Muslim ban and their mom can't come home. This book deals with xenophobia, bullying, family relationships, guilt, and hope. I absolutely LOVED this book.

Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude

A quick poetry collection that has depth and soul. I savored this collection one poem at a time over a few weeks. As a Hoosier, I've met Ross Ga at different literary events and he is a real nice man. I am more of an old school poetry lover and I am more used to rhymes o easy concepts. Some of these poems were really heavy and I had o re-read them to really let it sink into me. I would read more of his works. 

Freedom's Game

A little French orphanage in southern France isn't filled with much hope, but it is filled with one big secret; it's full of Jewish children in hiding in plain sight. It's 1942 and the war is in full swing. Twelve year olds, Elka and Ziggy have been on the run, moving from place to place trying to stay one step ahead of the Nazis. Hitler has taken over northern France and the children are scared that he is getting closer and closer. There isn't much in the way of food an blankets at the orphanage but the children have each other and they love their teachers. Well mostly. Ziggy is convinced that their new gym teacher is a spy, and Elka is convinced he is one of the good guys. When their new teacher wants to organize a sport competition, Elka can't wait to race; Ziggy on the other hand, has his reservations. Loosely based off of a true story; this tale of courage, friendship and faith is a great middle grade read.

Bree Boyd is a Legend

Admittedly, I've never read the first novel in this middle grade series, but that didn't impede my reading or understanding of this at all. Bree Boyd follows a young Black girl trying hard to make her father and family proud all while trying to be there for her friends, stay happy, and be true to herself. It's a story that everyone can relate to. To make matters worse though, Bree has started getting these weird tingles in her hand when she is upset or anxious. The tingles always proceed some kind of magical calamity and she has no idea how to control it or stop it. It keeps popping up at the most inopportune times though. And the pressure is only mounting as her father's political campaign takes shape, the spelling bee approaches, and her friends ask her for a big favor. What's a girl to do? Relatable and fun, this wholesome book is great for middle grade students. 

Katz Pajamas: The Holly Jolly Heist

This was the first book that I had read in the series. I'm not sure what order the books go in, but this might be the third? This is a cute, although overly punny, middle grade read. Katz Pajamas is a feline detective who has to work on his most unique case yet. A tiny little cat knocks on his office door and declares that Santa Claws has sent him to whisk Katz back to the North Pole to solve a mystery. According to the little elf cat, Santa's magic toy bag and the naughty and nice list have been taken! Katz Pajamas is honored to take the job and goes up north. He is overtaken with holiday cheer and happiness when he arrives. The North Pole is all he ever imagined and more. But now to find the culprit. This is a super quick read and kids will enjoy it. The formatting is a little unique, but it makes for quick reading. 

Dive

This was an exceptionally well done and thoughtful middle grade read. Dive follows Kass, a middle school student who has recently transferred to a private Catholic School so she can join their dive team. She's grateful for the opportunity, but she really misses her old run down public school, her best friend, and fitting in. She's an outsider, and a poor one at that. Her new classmates probably never have to hear their parents whisper arguing at night about money and worrying about business. Her parents own a restaurant and money is tight, she feels guilty that her parents are sacrificing so much to send her to a school she doesn't love. One day while waiting at the bus stop she meets, Miles. A high school drop out digging through the dumpster. The two form an unlikely friendship and soon he is showing her the ropes on scavenging and helping her realize, that there is someone always worse off then she is. Kass is convinced that no one will understand her relationship with Miles so she keeps him a secret and starts lying to her parents and skipping dive practice to hang out with him and dumpster dive. Sooner or later though, the truth will come out. Dive touches on a lot of timely topics and is a great read for kids! 

Young Man in a Hurry

I wanted to like this so much more than I did, but I found this memoir to be both braggy and with an agenda. On the whole, I still like the man and I can't deny the positive success he has had in California. I have no doubt he will be running for president. This book made me realize HOW connected Newsom is. To the Gettys, Pelosis, the tech giants, politicians, celebrities, etc. Even though he grew up with divorced parents and a mom who struggled to make ends meet, his family's legacies and friendships afforded him insane opportunities. From dining with royalty, partying with celebrities, studying polar bears in Alaska and so much more. This book feels like it was made just to silence his critics, to say, "Yes, I know all these people, they opened doors for me and helped me out, but I struggled as a kid! I didn't get where I got JUST because of my connections." And really, that is the crux of the book. As a reader you have to decide how much of Gavin Newsom's success came from his hard work and perseverance and how much came from the sphere that surrounded him. I do think it is a mix of both and I still admire him. I just got tired of all the name dropping. 

Smiling on the Inside

This was a sweet little memoir about practicing dentistry. Author, Sarah Akard Wilson, treats readers to stories about the day to day realities of cleaning teeth, shares funny stories about mishaps and misunderstandings, and pulls back the curtain on what really goes on in a dentist's office. Not quite a linear story, this memoir is more of a collection of short essays about different aspects of dentistry. It's humorous, eye opening, and intriguing. This book is very short and easy to read in one sitting. It's a fun glimpse into what really goes on at the dentist.

Orphanland

A little slow to get into, but worth the wait. This charming middle grade read is about a found family of misfits living in a small town Ohio orphanage. Most are truly orphans, but a few, like Kacey, have been abandoned by their parents. Primarily told through the eyes of eleven-year old, Willa, this story is one of friendships, the family you make, rising from the ashes, and of course there is a little mystery at the heart of it all. Willa discovers that Mercy (the manager of Southern Ohio Children's Home) is hard pressed for money and looking for a way to keep the orphanage running. That's when they discover that there is an old boys school practically in their back yard. It's neglected and falling apart and Mercy owns it. Will she sell it to make ends meet? What happened there and why will no one talk about it? Orphanland deals with a lot of meaty issues; opioid addiction, losing your parents, consent, injustice, losing your parents, gender identity and more. I was so impressed with how topics were respectfully discussed without being too preachy. Orphanland is a great book for kids to read and then start asking questions of their own. The cover and title is awful, if it were re-branded I think this book would go gangbusters! 

Night Shift

Another compelling collection of Stephen King short stories. I might have liked this audiobook better with a different narrator, but I eventually got used to his "expressive" voice. This collection is a mixed bag and had a little bit of everything, some of this I wouldn't even classify as horror and others are truly gruesome and gory. As always, King is a master at creating compelling characters and captivating circumstances in no time flat - his ability to set the scene and get the ball rolling on a story is insanely impressive. Some stories that I really enjoyed include: The Graveyard Shift, Quitters, Inc, Sometimes They Come Back, and Strawberry Spring. This wasn't my favorite Stephen King short story collection, but I still really liked it. He is just so dang good! 

There Once was a Girl

A short collection of heartfelt and meaningful poems written over  lifetime. Penned by a central Indiana author, this collection of poetry is melodic and deep. From motherhood to childhood - this poems will resonate with readers. Each poem is accompanied by a picture or an image that adds to the beauty of the collection. Charming and sweet, this is definitely a collection that I will read again! 

The Mountain Between Us

This was more than a survival story, it was about forgiveness, hope, and looking toward the horizon. When two strangers find themselves on a charter flight over the mountains, they never suspect that they will soon crash and have to brave the horrible winter alone after their pilot is killed. Stuck high in the mountains, Ashley has a broken leg and Ben has broken ribs. Fortunately for her, Ben happens to be a doctor and has some survival skills. He sets her leg, but they will need to find food and shelter if they want to make their way down the mountain. They are in a nature preserve with no roads or buildings for miles and the altitude isn't helping their healing or breathing. The two must find hope and companionship if they want to stay alive. They may even find more than that high in the mountains. I was mad for the first half of the book, caught on to a potential twist (I was right) and pretty much predicted the end. I still enjoyed it though!