Pacific Vortex

I listened to and enjoyed the Fargo Adventures by Clive Cussler - but maybe I went too far back in time for this one. Pacific Vortex is the first of the Dirk Pitt series. I've seen the movie Sahara, but that is all I know about Dirk and his exploits. The first novel was ok - but the old narration was not great and the story was not that thrilling. Very meh for me. I might continue with the series (only if the narrator changes though!). 

Wildfire

Summer smut that is sweet and ... wholesome? Aurora and Russ, two college kids who "accidentally" had a one night stand - find themselves thrown together as camp counselors at an exclusive summer camp for kids. Surprise! Aurora's home away from home is this camp - as a kid it's the safest she ever felt. She loved being a camper and she loves being a counselor even more. For Russ it's all a new experience, he needs the cash and to get away from his messed up family for the summer. Besides their hook up at college, Russ and Rory, find that they have lots in common (daddy issues!) and have to admit that their attraction goes deeper than just boning. Light, fluffy, and funny - this steamy romance is good for college kids (I felt so old reading this). 

Icebreaker

Smutty hockey romance. It was nice to see a healthy relationship portrayed - but I officially feel too old now to be reading college smut. I felt aged reading this even though it was pretty enjoyable. There was a lot of drama, a lot of sex, and a lot of over the top scenarios but it was a fun read. I suppose I will read the second in the series :)

Yours from the Tower

I absolutely adored this book! So much fun and I know younger me would have also loved it. Told through a series of letters between Sophia, Tirzah, and Polly in late nineteenth century England - Yours from the Tower is a celebration of female friendship. The letters are funny, heartfelt, sometimes sad, and all around wonderful. The girls couldn't be more different in temperament and in circumstance. They all met at a girl's finishing school - but now they are back at "home" they miss each other dearly. One girl is in the middle of her first (and only) season and she is hoping to catch a wealthy man to care for her and her younger sisters, another is stuck at home with her grandmother as a companion, and the third works at an orphanage. So much fun - I loved this novel from the very first page!

Target Acquired

This Christian thriller is the second in a series - but reads easily as a standalone. I had no issues following along and don't even know which characters were the focus of the first book. Target Acquired follows tenacious, Kenzie King as she tries to figure out if her SWAT team is being targeted or if it's just her that has a target on her back. She's proud to have been chosen as the SWAT medic even if she's the only girl on the team. Most of the guys don't seem to trust her, except for Cole that is. He is her brother's best friend and unless she's mistaken there might be something blossoming between the two of them. There's not much time for romance though because they need to figure out who is attacking them and why they seem to want Kenzie dead. Is it one of the guys on the team who has an axe to grind?! To make matters even more complicated her father (a disgraced former police chief) confesses that he thinks her mother's death a decade ago may have actually been murder. There is a LOT going on in this book with lots of loose threads. But like all inspirational reads everything does eventually get resolved. I wanted to like this more than I did - but there were aspects of the plot that were so wildly unbelievable and over the top that it seemed to distract from the story. I wish they had done more with the alternate storyline with Betsy as well.

45 Ways to Live Like an Italian

This was a fun little bathroom book to read through. As someone with Italian heritage it was fun to learn a little bit more about Italian lifestyles and tradition. Each section has a little illustration, info about a food, activity, way of life, saying, etc. and ends with some tips or ways you can incorporate it into your own life. It was fun and enjoyable. Not life changing, but had some good advice and interesting takes on happiness. Like I said, good bathroom reading. 

The House in the Pines

Ugh - I hate rating this book so low. It was well written but the main character was supremely unlikable and when you get to the end and discover the twist?! Man I just wanted to throw the book against the wall. Glad I just checked this one out from the library and didn't buy it. I like thrillers and I like thrillers with weird premises - but this one.... not good. 

Counting the Cost

WOW! Such an eye opening memoir about what really went on in the Duggar household. This isn't some tabloid fuel, scandalous account - this is a real, conflicted, raw, and emotional recounting about the highs and the lows. It's clear how much love Jill still has for her family but I am so proud of her for finally putting up boundaries and learning to be her authentic self rather than the version that her parents wanted her to be. It's narrated by Jill and captivated me from the start. AN excellent audiobook for anyone who knows anything about the Duggar family or people who want to read about others cutting off toxic family and toxic faith. 

Good Enough

I ADORED this book. I read a section every single morning and it helped set the tone for my whole day. Kate Bowler is an absolute gem and I so appreciated the analogies, the humor, and the heartfelt sentiment. I sincerely need to read all her other books and I CANNOT wait to reread this book again. The messages were so profound and so relatable. Do yourself a favor and read this book - you don't need to be overly spiritual or religious to benefit for this book - this book is for all women. 

Swift and Saddled

I love this series so much. You can read any of these as standalones but it is fun to read them in order so you understand some of the side characters backgrounds. Swift and Saddled follows Wes, the middle Ryder sibling and Ada, the interior designer he has hired. Wes has middle child syndrome bad - his older brother will inherit the Rebel Blue Ranch someday, his baby sister is a champion barrel horse rider and he needs to make his mark. He decides to renovate an old cabin on the property and turn it into a guest ranch. Enter Ada, she's pretty much friendless, loveless, and is desperately running away from San Francisco. There might be a chance that the best place she could run to would be into her sexy cowboy bosses arms. Delicious. I literally CANNOT WAIT for the next one - I have been DYING for Teddy and Gus to get together. 

Morning Gratitude

I started reading this devotional a few months ago and honestly it has been such an empowering and inspiring start to my day. I genuinely look forward to reading each day's passage and prayer and I think it has made a big impact on how I greet the day and has definitely grown my relationship with God. I am also reading an evening version at night - but that one is taking longer to complete because there are definitely some nights where I pass out to quick. Love starting and ending my day with a little spiritual reflection! 

Done and Dusted

This was such a fun sexy read. I am so jacked to start the next in the series. I love romances told in alternating perspectives. Done and Dusted is about Clementine - a barrel rider at the top of her game who after a terrifying fall from her horse comes back to her family's ranch with her tail between her legs and Logan - a sexy cowboy who is best friends with her brother and is a royal pain in the ass. The two grew up together in mutual dislike - but Luke hasn't seen Clementine in years and he is blown away by how sexy she has grown. How is this the same girl he up making fun of?! Clementine has never been impressed with Luke or his looks and she always thought he was an immature and vain man. But maybe there is more lurking beneath the surface? A fantastic, smutty western romance with unbelievable chemistry.  It's also a super quick read - I finished it in only two sittings! 

Moving Forward

While this is the second in a series - it easily reads as a standalone. Shelley Shepard Gray has penned another firefighter romance in a small Colorado mountain town and as one can expect - there is definitely a happy ending. Greg is veteran and current firefighter. Staying busy at work helps keep his mind off of the horrors he experienced over in Iraq and Afghanistan. While at work he goes on a run and helps rescue a gorgeous women having heart issues. The two hit it off, but they are keeping secrets from each other - will they learn to trust each other enough to open up fully? Or will they keep their hearts locked down. Sweet, sentimental, and chaste. 

Ross Poldark

I watched the first few seasons of the new tv adaptation and pretty quickly fell in love the show. I knew that I would have to read the book series as soon as I realized that was what the show was based on. This is the first in the series and it isn't bad - but it does ramble in some places, but the writing is beautiful. Ross Poldark comes back to England after fighting for Britain in the Revolutionary War. His father has passed and the estate is now his. It's a shabby house and the land is overgrown but he makes a go of it. He is sorely upset to find out that his beloved, Elizabeth, is betrothed to his cousin Francis. He is heartbroken but puts his mind off of it and puts all his focus into making the most out of his lot. When he rescues a dirty beaten child he has no idea how much his life will soon change for the better. I think I like the show better, but I still may try to read the second book in the series. 

Coming Home

A nice breezy romance there was very chaste and heavy on second chances. A small town in Colorado got even smaller when Anderson Kelly returned home from serving in the military. He broke up with his high school sweetheart, Chelsea, as soon as he enlisted and hasn't really seen her since. He thought their breakup would be temporary and that she would wait for him while he grew up, but she went to college and got pregnant and his heart never fully healed. Chelsea, has regrets, but her son Jack is not one of them. It's hard being a single mom but she has a job that she loves and wonderful friends and neighbors. When Anderson comes back to their hometown to work as a firefighter she is surprised that her heart still feels a pull to him even though he broke her heart. Wholesome, sweet, and a quick inspirational romance that is the first in a series! 

Weyward

This book gave me major Alice Hoffman vibes. I loved the witchy vibes and the three alternating storylines. Altha is a healer from the 17th century and she is on trial for murdering an esteemed villager with witchcraft. Violet is a sheltered daughter who delights in the simple beauty of nature on her family's estate during the mid twentieth century. Kate is a victim of domestic abuse and desperate to escape her husband's clutches. When she finds the courage to escape she fleas to her great aunt Violet's cottage in the countryside. These three strong woman may be separated by many years but they are bound by blood and the Weyward name. I was interested in all three storylines and it was so interesting to see the ways they intersected. I can't wait for more by this author!

Carrie Soto is Back

I don't love playing sports but I do LOVE reading about them. This book was a grand slam. It started off a little slow and I did not like the main character, Carrie Soto, very much in the beginning. Throughout the book she isn't exactly the world's most lovable character - but damn you have to admire her grit and determination. And I LOVED her father who was her coach. Carrie Soto is the GOAT - she has set some of the most impressive records for Tennis and when she retired after winning 20 grand slams she thought her record was safe. Half a decade after her retirement her record is tied and Carrie can't abide by that, not for one minute. She enlists her father to help coach her again and her goal is to win at least one more slam and get her record back. But at 37 is that even possible anymore? Fantastic and keeps you at the edge of your seat. I don't even like tennis but I was hooked! 

Until Our Time Comes

A captivating and tragic historical fiction novel about something I had never heard of. WWII has inspired many novels, but this was the first that I read that centered on the horses. An American horse trainer in Poland finds herself desperately trying to save hundred of Arabian and other pure breed horses from invading forces. Adia cares for horses more than life itself and she will do whatever it takes to do what is best for them even if it puts her in danger. Bret, a British spy has fallen madly in love with Adia but he can't convince her to leave the horses behind. Adia stays on under the watchful eyes of Nazis who want these prized Polish horses for their own breeding program, thankfully the Nazis care about the horses, but unfortunately for her, she is considered a prisoner and it is too risky to see Bret or the orphan she cared for as her own. Filled with tales of heroism, resistance, romance, and horror - this inspirational read is light on Christianity, but heavy on historical facts. Tragic but important. 

You are a Magnet

If you are young and you enjoy self-help books then don't miss this one. This almost reads as a devotional - each "chapter" (they aren't numbered) is short and comes with skills and/or activities to do after reading. This book is meant to be savored. None of the self-help mantras are totally new but I do love how the book is packaged. There were definitely some quotes and mantras that I wrote down to remember and it's a good one to refer back to you. The advice ranges from forgiveness to not fighting the current - to embracing each day as new - to cultivating what sparks joy. Each little section is impactful and it would be a good way to start each day.

Lore Olympus: Volume Six

This series is slowly trucking along and the plot is starting to reveal itself. Obviously if you've read any Greek mythology at all you know exactly what is going to happen but it is interesting to see how it plays out in this reimagined graphic novel format. The romantic tension between Hades and Persephone grows as she hides out in the Underworld from Zeus. Hera finally finds out what Apollo has over Kore, Minthe gets a bit of a backstory, and Persephone tells the truth about what happened when rage overcame her in the garden (murder - lots of murder). Fun and I eagerly await the next volume! 

Love on the Brain

I didn't know that romcoms in academia would be so fin - but I love Ali Hazelwood and I love reading about smart women. Love on the Brain is such a sweet enemies to lovers romance about two misunderstood scientists who have more in common then they imagine. It may have been a little predictable, but the banter was amazing, the slow burn was fantastic, and the ending was more than satisfying., I have got to read the rest of Ali Hazelwood's backlist! 

Almost Just Friends

A nice beach read about second chances and opening your heart. Piper hasn't had an easy life - she had to raise her two younger siblings after her parents tragically died. They have finally flown the coop and now Piper is free to think about unpausing her life and moving forward. Her goal is to fix up their grandparents property, sell it - split it three ways with her siblings, and then go to college several states away. Her well planned out future though goes poof when her siblings unexpectedly come back to Wildstone and when she catches sight of the neighbors son. Lots of drama, desire, family, and friendship. Even though it's part of a series it reads as a standalone. 

A Fate Inked in Blood

I didn't know what I was missing out on - but hot damn I need more Viking/Norse romance in my life STAT! I am so pumped that this feminist fantasy romance is the first of a series because I immediately need more. This is a slow, slow burn filled with vengeance, destiny, Norse mythology and some seriously bad ass characters. Also, this cover is gorgeous - who wouldn't want to pick this up! 

My Throat an Open Grave

When I saw people comparing this to Labyrinth it was an instant read. This dark, cottage core teen horror novel is super intriguing and the plot kept me guessing. Leah lives in a small mountain town and knows that one day she'll die there. She works part time at a gas station, goes to high school, and helps care for her baby brother. She's in an awful rut and some days wish she could just wash away in the river. When the Lord of the Woods takes her baby brother - she knows she has to go after him. The only trouble is - girls who go into the woods don't ever come back out. But, she knows it's her responsibility since he disappeared on her watch. When she finally finds the Lord of the Woods she is confused. He is a lot different then she was led to believe. She has a month to say with him in his village to pay the price for her brother. But what if the price is too high? This is the second book I have read by this author and it won't be the last!

The British Booksellers

Lots of moving parts - this inspirational WWII novel has quite a few threads to keep track of. Charlotte and Amos came from different worlds; Amos was a lowly tenant's son and Charlotte was part of the upper crust of British society. Despite that, the two enjoyed each other's company and would sneak off to the old greenhouse whenever they had a hance so they could read or Charlotte could play her cello. By the time they declare their mutual affection for each other it is too late - WWI has erupted and Charlotte has been promised to a titled man. Now decades later, the two have opened up rival bookstores and an American solicitor has come to Britain to shake things up for the former lovebirds. On top of that, war with Germany is at their doorstop. Told through multiple perspectives - this tale of love, hope, and secrets goes back in forth in time. Very good, loved the characters - just a lot to keep track of!

Black Girl You Are Atlas

Not only is the poetry moving and heavy, the accompanying illustrations are fantastic. This poetry collection is a wonderful celebration and reflection of Black girlhood. Renee celebrates the highs and lows of her childhood while simultaneously expounding on the experience as a whole. A true delight, I devoured this collection in one sitting. 

Kitchen Confidential

I'm sad I waited until after his death to read this wonderful culinary memoir. I was hooked from page one, this was an amazing and impossible to put down book. Bourdain pulls back the curtain on what is really happening in kitchens and it's fascinating, scary, and very exciting. It's not all fun and games, it takes dedication, thick skin (physically and emotionally), endurance, and skill. Filled not only with his journey into the culinary belly of the world, this memoir also dishes on what days to order meats and seafoods, how to tell if a restaurant deserves your business and many other useful tidbits that I would never have known in a million years. He is also very real about his vices, addictions, and drugs found in virtually all restaurants of the world. Superbly written, witty, and engaging this memoir is not just for foodies, it's for everyone. Sad we lost such a great personality, but his voice will live on through his books and on his shows.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde

I don't know what I was expecting based off the cover - but this book was so good! I love the cover, I just don't know if it fits the book. Ricki Wilde has never lived up to her family's expectations. They own one of the largest funeral home corporations in the US. Fired as a receptionist, Ricki decides to pack up her life in Atlanta and move to Harlem to open a flower shop. She's done trying to placate her family, she's going to live authentically from now on. She moves in the first floor of a gorgeous old brownstone, putting her business in the front and her living spaces in the back. Her elderly landlady lives above and soon becomes like the grandma she never had. When she runs into a mysterious man one night, life as she knows it is about to change. Ezra Walker has been around the block a time or two. All his life he's dreamt of a woman who will change that life. When he meets Ricki he is certain she is the one, but if she is, time is running out. Lyrical, funny, and romantic (with a few good steamy scenes to boot!). This is a romance for the ages!

The Song of Sourwood Mountain

Sweet, wholesome, and uplifting; this historical inspirational romance is heavy on the historical drama and light on the romance. Within the span of a week Mira Dean has lost her teaching position, her lodging, and committed to marrying a man she barely knows to be a preacher's wife and teacher in the Kentucky hills. Mira prays on it and feel that the Lord is calling her to take a leap of faith and to help the children who have never had a school or a teacher. She fervently hope that she will learn to love the stranger she married as well. When she arrives in Sourwood she finds herself instantly falling in love the community and their strange ways. A 10 year old orphan named Ada June also takes a spot in her heart and vice versa. When one door closes, another one opens. 

Being Reflected Upon

Famed poet, Alice Notley, pens a memoir in verse; primarily reflecting on the last two decades of her life. Being Reflected Upon is a memoir, in the vaguest sense of the definition - but being as it's written by a poet, it works quite well. Notley reflects upon her breast cancer diagnosis, years spent living in Paris, reminisces of her youth and much more. It's not at all linear and told in a stream of conscious way - but for poetry it works. Narrated by the poet herself, this poetry effuses authenticity and introspection. Fans of Alice Notley's work will love this, those unfamiliar with her work may be inspired to read her earlier collections. Heartfelt and affecting, Notley's poetry leaps from the page and straight into the imagination. 

Dungeons and Drama

This was such a cute and nerdy romcom for teens. I am clearly not in that demographic, but this was so sweet and wholesome. I loved it. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Riley loves acting and singing so much that she risks the wrath of her mother to steal her car and drive her and her best friend two hours away to see a musical. Her parents freak out and as a punishment she has to work at her dad's game store for a few months. It's the worst punishment she could think of. She has to hang out with nerds?! She ends up on the wrong foot with Nathan, an employee and classmate - but before long the two of them hammer out an arrangement, a fake dating situation. What could possibly go wrong. Cute, wholesome, nerdy, and so much fun!

Age of Cage

Endlessly entertaining - I learned so much about my man Nic Cage. I was hoping for a little more info about his personal life, but aside from his early childhood and family ties - The Age of Cage is really just a look at my mans filmography. Which is still super interesting. There were so many films I didn't know about or had forgotten. The Age of Cage really hones in on Nic's acting chops, personal thoughts on movies, inside info about roles turned down or looked over, and so much more. This book got me inspired to start at the beginning of the list and work my way through all the movies. So far I am two in and I know it's going to take me some time but I don't care. This book has got me inspired. Perfect for fans of Nic Cage!

You'll Think of Me

A sweet inspirational romance featuring a single mother and second chances. When Brooklyn finds out that her estranged husband has died and left her and her daughter his parents homestead in Idaho - she is conflicted. She hadn't seen her husband since she told him she was pregnant with their child. She is elated that her daughter can have a home though. It answered one of her prayers because renting in Reno was getting expensive and she needed someone to watch her daughter. She moves back to her hometown only to discover that her new neighbor was her husband's best friend. The two weren't friendly in high school, can they be friends now? And is he only being friendly so he can buy some acreage off her? A wholesome inspirational romance without too much drama. 

A Psalm for the Wild-Built

A sweet cozy sci-fi that was wholesome and reflective and just a treat. Sibling Dex is at a crossroads. They have everything they could possibly want and need. but waking up each morning is a slog. They feel unfulfilled. Dex decides to leave his monastery and go out into the wilds and be a tea monk - hoping to find more fulfillment there. They never expect that they will run into a robot. Humans haven't seen robots in centuries and Dex is the first human to have the honor. What develops between Dex and Speckled Mosscap is a genuine curiosity and adventure. Short and sweet and wholesome. I'll have to read more in this series!

Just for the Summer

Abby Jimenez is amazing. Somehow her books keep getting better and better. How is it possible?! Just for the Summer was so good. I didn't expect to feel all the feelings and start crying during it - but boy oh boy I was in for a treat. This book was soo good. These characters will stick with me and boy I wish they were real. Abby knows how to write real and flawed people. They are aren't two dimensional - they are wonderful. In Just for the Summer Emma and Justin meet through a Reddit thread. They are both convinced they have a curse. A curse that all their exes find "The One" after they break up. They decide to meet up in real life. Emma and her best friend Maddy travel all over the United States as travel nurses. They take turns picking locations. Emma decides to pick Minnesota so she can meet the Reddit guy. Initially they decide to meet so they can break each other's curses - but it quickly turns into so much more. They both have some heavy baggage and Abby deals with that brilliantly. Wonderful, emotional read!

Living Resistance

Radically different from any other "self-help" guide I've ever read and all the better for it. Kaitlin writes about connecting to ourselves, our earth, each other, our ancestors, and to spirituality. Each section has personal experiences as well as a few tips and a few prompts. You can enact as little or as much as you want and compared to other guides - there is no pressure. I wish I would have savored this book a little longer rather than rushing through reading it. I'll definitely turn back to the text for refreshers and inspiration. No matter your ethnicity or spirituality this book is an important and empowering read.  

Killers of the Flower Moon

DAMN! This book was worth the hype! I loved The Lost City of Z, so I'm not surprised that I loved this as well. It's dark, disturbing, wonderfully researched and written. It's truly a marvel about a dark and bloody part of United States history. This book investigates the murder of dozens (the number is likely in the hundreds) of Osage Indians during the twenties as greedy white Americans tried to wrest oil rights from them. When some of the richest oil fields in the world were found in Osage territory, the tribe suddenly became some of the wealthiest people per capita. Try as they might the government couldn't force them to move or to take their oil away from them so greedy white neighbors hatched a plot to slowly kill them off. Local officials were crooked and it took Hoover sending over some of his investigators to help curb the deaths. It's a dark and sordid take that's worth remembering. I can't give this book enough praise.

The Accidental Guardian

When Deb and her younger sister survive a wagon train massacre they find themselves caring for the author survivors, two small children. Stuck in the high Sierras they happen upon a young man who takes them back to his modest homestead. With winter on the way and only small rough settlements nearby Deb, Gwen, and the children find themselves being welcomed into Trace's home. He and the other two ranch hands build up an additional house for the women and in return they do the cooking and cleaning. It's an ideal arrangement. However, Deb and Trace are worries for more wagon trains, the outlaws that massacred their group are still out there and might be plotting it again. Inspirational historical fiction that is the first in a trilogy. 

The Amazing Adventures of an Amish Stripper

WOW. This was a pretty salacious read. I don't know how much is 100% fact - but also, I can't imagine someone making this up. Naomi left her Amish order at 17 and went on a decades long bender of drugs and prostitution. She went straight from modesty to boning anyone that seemed remotely interested. There are a LOT of details, it truly is erotica. Naomi makes a lot of interesting choices in her life, especially in regards to men and copious drug use. But, it takes a brave soul to share your story in all its gory glory and man it gets quite explicit. There are even included photos. Definitely an interesting read!

Pink Glass Houses

This book is a delightful mix between Class Mom and Big Little Lies. The cover makes it look more menacing and suspenseful than it really is, but I digress. I loved this book. It was SO MUCH FUN. Sunset Academy is one of the most elite public elementary schools in the United States. The wealthy Malibu zip code it is in ensures that their kids get the best education imaginable. Charlotte Giordani is one of the top moms and the fundraising queen of the PTA. Melody Howard is a Florida newbie having just arrived from Kansas. She is desperate to fit in and Charlotte takes her and her daughter under her wing. Melody also meets Darcy, a Florida native who despises Charlotte and her ultra rich cronies. Each chapter alternates between different moms and the unfolding PTA scandals. Deliciously juicy, snarky, and fun. This would make a great TV show!

Unforgiven

I thoroughly enjoyed this inspirational tale of second chances. Most of the Amish fiction I read tends to portray only the devout and practicing Amish. Unforgiven focuses on a woman who was shunned for divorcing her husband and an Amish man who went to prison and is unbaptized. Seth Zimmerman went to prison for accidentally murdering an Amish man who was assaulting a woman. Tabitha Yoder was a young woman who married a monster. She was physically and emotionally abused constantly, but she left her husband for good after he beat her so bad she miscarried their baby. These two outcasts find they have a lot in common and start to grow closer. A slow burn with lots of interesting side stories and characters. I was rooting for Seth and Tabitha the whole way!

The Last Bookwanderer

This series started off strong and kind of meandered. The Last Wanderer is the final book in the six book series and it does tie a lot of loose threads up but I feel as if it still ended rather abruptly. Tilly, Alessia, Oscar, and Milo team up to find the final ingredients for the potion to wake Horatio up and vow to discover where the book of books is before the Alchemist discovers it first. As with the other books there are lots of little side quests taken and lots of fanciful bookwandering rules and lore. Fun, but the first book is still the strongest. 

Water, Water

A book about a young boy who wakes up and discovers that his room has somehow separated from his house and he is now floating on what appears to be an infinite sea. Thankfully he has his dog to keep him company, because what on earth is he supposed to do?! Rafe has to find ways to keep him and his dog occupied AND keep them fed. Whimsical and intriguing, this book will appeal more to kids (the intended audience) then to adults because there are so many questions that will never get answered (how on earth did his bedroom get detached? is this the great flood?). The illustrations help keep the story going. 

The Puppets of Spelhorst

A charming tale with absolutely wonderful illustrations. An old sea captain sees some whimsical puppets in the window of a store and takes them home. One puppet in particular catches his eye. When he goes home all he can do is stare at her and cry. The next morning the landlord discovers that he has died and the puppets start another journey. The puppets know that they are a set and they are part of a story. The problem is they don't know what their story is or what their role should be. There is a young girl, a hunstmen, a wolf, an owl, and a king. Exceptionally illustrated and told. A tale i will gladly read to my daughter.  

Emmie of Indianapolis

A coming of age story set in 1960's Indianapolis. When Emmie's parents get divorced, her mother takes her and her two sisters and moves into a series of small apartments in Indianapolis. While her mother struggles with alcohol and depression, Emmie steps up and helps take care of her siblings. When she isn't watching her sisters she is walking around the neighborhood making friends. She befriends a gypsy girl, a Chinese immigrant, and a young Black boy. Soon they are the best of friends. If that had been the only story that would have been believable and interesting enough, but there were also witches, mean boys that get hit by cars and died after taunting them (really?!), a neighbor being murdered (which Emmie knows and does nothing about). It's a little over the top. Good storytelling - but this is VERY fictional and doesn't seem like it could ever be real.

Queen Charlotte

I haven't seen the show yet but now I am chomping at the bit to watch it! This audiobook was so good! The narrator was top notch (loved the accent!) and she really helped bring this regency romance to life! Queen Charlotte wasn't a steamy slow burn - there was romance, but it unfolded in a caring and tender manner. King George hid his mental breaks from everyone but his closest advisors and when he is forced to marry a queen, the color of her skin doesn't matter but he is determined to hide his "mental decline" from her and it strains their marriage. When she finally discovers his ailments she is more than supportive. This story also focuses on the two main servants and their relationship as well as Lady Danbury. Wonderful addition to the Bridgerton universe!

The Keeper

A quick and moving graphic novel that has never been more timely! Kelcey Ervick was a top soccer player in the 80s and was in the first wave of female athletes. This graphic novel reflects on the history of women's soccer, her youth spent playing soccer and what it meant to be a young female in the 80s, the ramifications of title IX, and growth of women's sports. The illustrations are top notch and the story is timely and inspiring. A must read for athletes, feminists, and more!

The Minus-One Club

Heartfelt and moving; this teen novel about a boy losing his sister and coming to terms with his sexuality is emotional and inspiring. After the loss of his older sister, Kermit is angry and lost. His parents are shaken and nothing is the same. At school he finds a mysterious note in his locker telling him to meet in the art room after school. When he gets there he meets other teens who have lost someone dear. A sister, a mother, a grandfather, and so on. They take him under his wing - they don't ever talk about IT, but they are there for each other through the tears and through it all. In the club, Kermit starts to get close to Matt, the only openly gay kid in school. The two start to fall for each other and work through their demons. Very moving!

Katzenjammer

Dark, twisty, and filled with trippy illustrations; this young adult book will stay with you. Cat is stuck in hell, or at least she imagines what hell would be. She's trapped in a living, breathing high school and she and the other students are slowly being transformed into monsters. If that wasn't bad enough something is roaming the halls and killing students. None of the teens have any memory of how they got there or what life was like before, but they are all desperate to escape. As Cat tries to find out who is killing her friends she starts to get flashbacks from her old life. Her life where she was an artist and her best friend was Jeremy. Are these memories a clue to how she got here? Are they clues on how to escape. The whole book is so weird and I had no idea where it was going until the very end. Inventive and unique storytelling. No spoilers, but it's pretty heartbreaking. 

Kindred Spirits

J Whit wants to escape; from his school, from his father, from everything. He just wants to focus on his poetry and his future. He befriends a new kid from Ohio and he just so happens to a poet. Together the two of them bond over poetry and decide to put on a show so they can prove to their whole town, that they are worth something and have a bright future to look forward to. Interspersed in the short young adult story is information about James Whitcomb Riley and Paul Dunbar; two famous poets from over a century ago. Their real life story is being retold with these two teenager. I love the poets, and I love what the author was trying to do but it didn't mesh together very well at all. I can't see teenagers relating to this.