The Baller

Every year I try to read some football inspired smut leading up to the superbowl. This had been sitting on my shelf begging to be read. Delilah is a female sports reporter trying to prove herself in a man's world - when she is sent to do the locker room interviews with the New York Steel she is ready for anything - that is until star quarterback, Brody, takes his towel off mid-interview. She somehow manages to finish the interview but she is pissed. And of course as the New York Steel start to dominate she finds herself over at the football field, facing that sexy QB more and more often. Will the two fall for each other (you know they will). But as Delilah is letting go of her past, something from Brody's is entering his present. Can they make it work? Steamy and improbable. 

Unmasked

I read this from start to finish in one day. Like most of America, I am completely enthralled with the dark parts of history, namely the crime and the murders - especially those that remain unsolved. Paul Holes uses his memoir to write not just about his life, but mainly his fascinating career solving cold cases. He writes about his involvement in the following cases: Lacie Peterson, Jaycee Dugard, and the Golden State Killer. There are lots of other cold cases peppered throughout - but those were some of the notorious cases he worked on during his career. The one he obsesses over the most (causing strains in family life) is of course The Golden State Killer. His insight and behind the scenes knowledge of these infamous cases will keep readers on edge. At times a little braggy, but how can you not be when you have a career like his under your belt. A perfect book for those interested in cold cases and forensics. 

Satan Loves You

If you are into bizarre - then this is a book for you. I've long loved Grady Hendrix and his absurd horror novels and this one was a real treat - while not my favorite of his - it had the most fun imagining of hell that I've ever read or seen. Satan has been struggling for eons - there simply isn't enough money to keep hell running at the standard it was used to. The demons are dispirited, it's becoming rundown, and Satan has had enough. He fired Death in a fit of rage, is trying to find a fighter for the upcoming Ultimate Death Match versus Heaven, is being sued by a woman claiming he assaulted her, and then gets word that the angels up above need him to kill a nun. Simply put Satan snaps. Intricately detailed with hilarious asides, this reads like a B-movie and is so much good fun. I could have cared less about the plot and just read about how hell operates. Definitely a uniquely weird read. 

Strike Zone

I'm not a big baseball fan - but I was riveted by this middle grade sports novel. Twelve year old, Nick Garcia, is the star pitcher on his baseball team, The Blazers. If his team does well this summer and they win the championship and he gets the MVP award he would get to throw out the first pitch at a Yankee's game! But instead of focusing on sports - he keeps finding his mind wandering towards his family. His older sister suffers from Lupus and neither of his parents are American citizens. They could get deported back to the Dominican Republic at any time. His parents try to tell him to let them do the worrying and he can just stress about baseball, but he isn't having it. Especially not when people in his Bronx neighborhood keep getting taken by ICE. Riveting, and eye opening for kids. A wonderful story about hope, dreams, and baseball (albeit a little gut wrenching at times!).  

A Dragon Used to Live Here

A children's fantasy novel that is told as a story within a story. When two Noble Children lose one of their best arrows they stumble upon a "dungeon" in a courtyard they weren't often there. They soon discover that it's not a dungeon but an odd assortment of artists who are responsible for all the castles invitations, paintings, and decorations. The leader of the rag tag group is Meg, and she wants nothing to do with the children as she is very busy. But the kids know that this crazy woman (is she a witch?) has some fantastic stories up her sleeve. So the boy and girl come back every day with treats from the castle kitchen and put themselves to work, all in order to hear the story about the dragon who used to live in the tower. It's too unbelievable to be true, but the kids are entranced by the story. They soon discover -that one of the main characters in Meg's story is their sensible mother. Their mother knew about a dragon and never told them?!? Cute and fun, a perfect family read that is sure to elicit lots of giggles. The illustrations are a nice touch. 

The Magnolia Palace

This book started really slow for me - I didn't start caring about any of the characters or the plot until halfway through. Told during two time periods at the same place, the Frick Mansion in New York City, The Magnolia Palace is about uncovering long buried secrets. In 1919, infamous model "Angelica" is wanted for questioning by the police. When she is mistaken for an applicant for a lady's secretary and given an interview, she quickly accepts the job as the money will allow her to leave the city faster. Even though she knows nothing about being a secretary to the wealthy elite she is a quick learner and soon proves invaluable to the Frick family, especially, Helen. In 1966, an intern and a model are trapped overnight in The Frick Museum during a blizzard. Veronica (the model) discovers a packet of letters that are really a clue - what will they lead to and what will they uncover from the past? The two storylines collide at the end as all is revealed. Intriguing, but not wholly captivating. 

The Stars Are Not Yet Bells

 

Assadi, Hannah Lilith. The Stars Are Not Yet Bells. digital. 2021. Penguin Random House Audio.

A vivid and lyrical novel exploring the mind of a woman suffering from dementia in her old age. Elle and her husband Simon were sent to Lyra Island by Simon's wealthy father to explore the mysterious blue lights around the island and discover if they really harbor minerals with mystical properties. Decades later, Elle's mind is no longer her own and she can't tell the difference from the past and the present; her life is becoming a jumble of memories. She starts to fixate on the one thing her life that got away - her true love, Gabriel. But where has he gone? Why is Elle's life in such disarray and what has happened to Simon's family's business? Beautiful, heartbreaking prose takes readers deep inside Elle's mind as she tries to piece together the timeline of her tumultuous life. Haunting, seductive, and enchanting. Narrator, Hillary Huber, does a perfect execution of Elle's disarrayed thoughts and narrative. Poetic and enchanting - this story will stay with readers long after they've finished the novel.  - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN