The Thirteenth Crime

A young girl by the name of, Lillie Field was, brutally murdered in Otter Tail County, Minnesota in 1887. The author speculates that justice was being served, because prior to Lillie's murderer being punished for his crimes (by hanging) many others before had not served time for murder. In fact, the little county was getting a reputation for letting murderers walk free. The author sensationalizes the many instances (twelve to be exact) of murderers walking free in part one and then in part two she goes into the death of Lillie Fields and talks about how justice was finally served. I liked the concept of this book, but the execution left a lot to be desired. I loved that maps were included but I would have liked to have seen photos an newspaper clippings as well. My biggest beef was that nothing was cited; newspapers and dates were referenced but when the book ends there is no works cited. This could easily have read as fiction, especially since so much was embellished (mannerisms, dialogue, etc). A blurb on the back of the book touts "an insightful, creative and well researched account of crime and punishment in 19th century rural Minnesota..." It was creative all right! 

Beer and the Nobel Prize

This was a fun little book that had lots of interesting factoids about people who have won the Nobel prize or circumstances around receiving the award. As the title alludes to, there were a few that centered on beer; whether it be drinking beer when receiving the call, getting free beer for life because of the award, or winning the award because of something scientific discovered using beer as an element of the process. Curious tales about the award included animals that helped scientists win the award (including animals who were nominated for or won the award themselves), lost and stolen medals, items in the Nobel museum and more. There are also lots of pictures to go along with the stories, which is a nice addition. This slim little nonfiction book is only around 100 pages and not too bad for an independently published book.

Interstate '85

I just want to preface that I am not the intended audience for this book. The only sports I watch are football and some basketball. My state does not have a professional baseball team (let alone two!). I was also born in 1988 and completely missed this World Series. This book was so utterly foreign and boring to me. The first half of the book I had trouble remember which players belonged to which teams, the play by play commentary went largely over my head. I did appreciate that this book profiled not just players, coaches, and owners, but every day fans as well. I do think it's cool that two teams from the same state got to play each other in the world series (especially since Missouri is a Midwest state) but this book lasted too long for me, a mere plebe. This book would definitely appeal to the die hard baseball fan, and sadly that is not me. I appreciate the amount of research and depth that the author covered, the play by plays and commentary from the media alone probably took ages. I also love that there are loads of pictures. This book will be vastly more appreciated by ball players, but I respect the research and writing style (sorry I was bored by the content!). 

The Turtle The Mitten and an Epic History of Michigan

I won't lie, I was not very impressed looking at the cover. Where are the commas? Is this just a stock photo or AI? But man, I REALLY enjoyed this book when I started reading it. I've vacationed in Michigan several times but I've never made it further north than Saugatuck. Author, Aaron Helman is a cyclist and he framed this history book through his bike ride around Michigan's mitten. He tells the story of Detroit's rise and fall, the lumber barons, the Indigenous tribes, the wrecked ships, the dunes, the fight for land, and more. It's not a linear history, nor is it exhaustive, but it's a captivating history of a beautiful state. As a Hoosier, I've long been jealous of their beautiful scenic vistas and vacation hot spots (no one is coming to Indiana for vacation). This book made me appreciate the state even more and makes me want to visit all the places that that Aaron biked through. I really appreciated his wit and humor, this was a laugh out loud funny and educational. I enjoyed this travel book so much that I want to read more by this author! Look past the cover and you will love this book. The only thing that could have improved this would be a map of the state with all the towns and the bike route taken. 

The Academy

This book was a bunch of hot gossip and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Academy is about an elite college prep/ boarding school on the east coast. Set over the course of a year, The Academy follows teachers, the dean, the students, the staff, and all the drama. Even though teens are featured heavily, a lot of the focus is on the staff. Illicit trysts, gambling, drinking, envy, and more. There isn't a huge over arching storyline per se, but I found myself eating it all up. It ended with some unanswered questions and to my delight I saw that there is a sequel releasing later this year! This book is perfect for those that like books with a wide cast of characters, witty dialogue, and lots of drama. So fun! 

Never Flinch

I think I've established at this point, that I will read anything that Stephen King writes. I haven't quiet read every one of his works, but I am making quite a dent! Never Flinch stars Holly Gibney, detective and owner of Finders Keepers. While this can be read as a standalone, it's much better to read this in order because there are lots of Easter eggs and other recurring characters. Evil men are afoot and two storylines highlight two very different zealots. One, a stalker set on taking down Kate McKay, a fiery pro-choice women's activist, and the other a deranged recovering alcoholic set on making innocent people pay. Holly will find herself enmeshed in both cases, although at times she will have to choose which to pursue. Fantastic audiobook, the narrator does an excellent job of creating unique voices for all the characters. The plot is a little messy, and there is a lot to follow, but it's definitely worth it. No one writes characters like Stephen King does!

Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired

This trim little nonfiction book provided an inspirational start to each morning. Broken into different sections, Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer breaks down different areas of wonder: our bodies, our universe, nature, creativity, mysteries and more. Each section includes bullet points that contain info to inspire us. It's like a mini encyclopedia filled with fun anecdotes and tidbits. Reading this book will definitely make you a more well-rounded player on Jeopardy for sure! Every morning I would read four pages and it was such a delight. I love a book that I can pick up and put down without "losing" my place. This book will definitely help spark joy and inspiration in a tiring and exhausting world! 

Up All Night with a Good Duke

LOVED IT!  I mean this was cheesy, unbelievable, and over the top and I want more of it. Immediately. Artemis leaves her teaching position to have another season in London so she can help her best friend and her younger sister. She's not there to find a man, she just wants to keep her independence and save up enough to open her own school for ladies. She runs, quite literally, into the Dastardly Duke of Dartmoor and the two hit it off. Maybe she can have some fun this season, because the Duke is very charming and very handsome. Maybe they can come to some sort of an agreement. Cheesy, but I ATE IT UP. I don't care. Ordering the next book stat ;)

Puddin'

So stinking cute! I loved all the characters in this novel and I wanted to be in their friend group (and I'm an adult!). Told through the alternating storylines of Millie, an overweight teen who wants to attend journalism camp and get closer to her crush, and Callie, a seemingly perfect soon to be dance captain who lives for dancing. When Callie gets caught in a prank that goes wrong she finds herself having to work with Mille, a girl she would have otherwise never talked too. Callie soon discovers that everyone who she  thought was a friend has turned their back on her and the only one who is giving her a chance is Millie and her friends. Maybe being a mean girl isn't so great and maybe she can actually develop some real friendships and get her life back on track. Wonderful and full of body positivity!

The Barn

Adored this little English microhistory. Author, Sally Coulthard, bought an English farm estate in Yorkshire in 2007. She fell in love with the land, the farmhouse, and the barn. The barn being several hundred years old proved to be especially fascinating to her and she loved looking up where some of the stones came from, what some symbols meant, what the additions were called, what purposes different areas had. She shares all that she discovered in The Barn and it's a charming look back at a quant little parcel of land and the amazing British history that took place on the land or inspired change on the land. Delightful and fascinating. As a history nerd I ate this up. I learned so many little tidbits about the origin of words (horsepower for instance) and the history of different farm implementations and England's transportation and road system. This may have been my first Sally Coulthard but it won't be my last! 

James

Lived up to the hype and then some. It's been years since I read Huckleberry Finn, but this brought me right back. Percival Everett did an AMAZING job of reclaiming Jim, the enslaved traveling companion to Huck. James is told from Jim's perspective and Huck is relegated as a minor accompanying character. While staying true to the story, this book gives Jim agency, dialogue, motives, and an actual story. He's intelligent, brave, compassionate, and will do whatever it takes to find a way to free his wife and daughter. Being on the run with Huck is an adventure, but it's also life and death for Jim, something that Huck doesn't quite understand. Wonderful storytelling; I am so glad that I got to read this classic American novel through Jim's eyes. Legitimately, the best book companion I've ever read!

Strength for all Seasons

I like reading a devotional a day in the morning and this was a welcome addition to my collection and the first that focused on mothers. This devotional is supposed to be read once a week so you can really marinate in the message and the scripture, but I'm not built that way so I read it every day instead. I really enjoyed the format. There was scripture, examples, questions, and a prayer. It was nice and it's one I will definitely use again in the future. 

The List of Things

A cute romcom with a little bit of spice. Ryn is junior at college and she is the kind of no strings attached, no fucks given, kind of gal that many women aspire to be. She's in college to advance her career, not get tied down by some scrub that's going to break her heart. Bellamy is the star of the football team and a total golden retriever. He's a walking green flag but Ryn wants nothing to do with him outside of math tutoring. One day while tutoring he discovers her secret list of things and he is convinced to do all those things with her. The list contains cheesy romantic things found in movies, but as Ryn believes, not found in real life. Bellamy is very persistent, and before Ryn knows what hits her, she has agreed to fake date Bellamy for two weeks so he can try to tick off all the things on her list from: kissing on a ferris wheel, cooking together and making a mess, getting tattoos and more. She's not trying to catch feelings for Bellamy, she's just passing the time. But what if they are both already in too deep? Cute, but a little over the top. Neither of the characters appeared to have any flaws. Especially, Bellamy. No man is THAT perfect. I'll read the next two in the series. 

Brigands and Breadknives

I loved the first two books in this series so much and I think this is another fabulous addition. My only beef is that this was released as a hardcover instead of a paperback and now my series doesn't match (first world problems, truly). Brigands & Breadknives follows Fern, our adventurous rattkin bookseller that readers met in Bookshops and Bonedust. Years and years later, she decides to sell her bookstore and travel to Thune to open up a new bookstore right next door to her friend Viv's coffeeshop. Moving to Thune seems like a great idea at first, she's been wanting a change for sometime, but after her new bookstore is open Fern is distressed to discover that she is still restless and unhappy. Rather than confess to Viv how unhappy she is, Fern decides to get rip roaring drunk and passes out in someone's cart. When she awakens over a day later, she is far from home and in the company of legendary elven oathmaiden, Astryx. Fern is starstruck, there are books written about her, she is almost a millenia old!  Astryx graciously allows Fern, a stowaway, to travel with her until they reach the next town and can find someone to take her back home. But what if Fern doesn't want to go home? Heartwarming, funny, and charming; this cozy fantasy warmed me up. Loved the characters and I hope to meet them all again! 

The In-Between

This memoir in verse was so good and so impactful. It's geared towards middle grade readers but there are important lessons that I think teens and adults would benefit reading this as well. Set in 2002, this memoir takes place over a six week span in which thirteen year oldKatie, her two younger siblings, and her mom find themselves staying at an extended stay hotel. They've had to move out of yet another apartment and their mom has yet to find a job, They have to share a small cramped hotel room and deal with anxiety, hunger, and helplessness. Their dad takes them every other weekend and he lives in a nice big house, but it doesn't feel right there either. Katie has to learn to stand up for herself and give herself a chance to fly. Inspiring and heartfelt. A wonderful memoir that I was able to relate to. Yay for dysfunctional childhoods! As a bonus there are lots of photos in the back of the book. 

The Recovery Agent

I wanted to like this book so much but it felt like a budget version of Clive Cussler's Fargo series. The adventure was middling and you had to suspend so much belief while reading this. Gabriela Rose is a recovery agent. She finds missing items for wealthy clients all over the world. When her grandmother is told by a ghost that she can find a map that will lead her to the Seal of Solomon she is skeptical. But regardless she breaks into her old house to dig beneath the floorboards and find the map. She gets caught by her ex-husband (it is his house after all) and he convinces her to tag along on the journey when they really do find the map. If they find the Seal of Solomon they can sell it and use the millions of dollars to save their hometown and help their parents (it was ravaged by a hurricane). The map leads them to the jungles of Peru and on an adventure they will never forget. Readers are supposed to believe that this scuba diving ex-husband and Gabriela are extremely competent with every conceivable type of gun and have no qualms about killing cult members and drug lords. They aren't even former military, they just know how to use every type of gun and escape any insanely situation all while being ridiculously confident. They seem to have no flaws. They are very two dimensional characters. I don't think I will be reading the sequel.  

Select

Full disclosure, I am not a big soccer fan. It's exciting, but not something I watch or regularly attend. This middle grade book about soccer has me rethinking everything. It is so good! Alex lives and breathes soccer. She and her younger sister, go to the rec as an escape and for Alex soccer is her lifeline. It helps that she is really, really good at it. After playing an amazing year she is recruited to join a traveling league, her gut tells her no because she loves her coach and her teammates, but she is getting it all paid for and this team has a chance to go to Nationals which will help her secure college scholarships later in life. She joins the team and is immediately disgusted by her coach. He is rude and sexist and not nice to any of the girls. But they are a good team and keep advancing. But is it worth it? What will happen when she starts to dread going to practice. An excellent book about sticking up for yourself and the difference between positive and negative coaching. 

Hoops

This was such a simple and empowering graphic novel. Even though this story is about a high school girls' basketball team it is written for middle grade readers, Hoops is the fictionalized account of the 1976 Indiana girls' basketball team that went all the way to the state championship in the first year that their was a state tournament held for girls. Title IX was brand new legislation and Warsaw cobbled together their first girls' team. They didn't have equal access to the gym, no uniforms, no busses, no meal vouchers, and no recognition. They did however believe in themselves and inspired change in their school and their community. Beautifully told in graphic novel format this is an empowering, feminist read. We've come a long way since 1976 and we still have a long way to go!

Lady's Knight

This was such a fun read. I know it's marketed to teens, but this could have easily been an adult novel as well. Extremely well written and it will appeal to anyone who loves "A Knight's Tale." When Gwen, a blacksmith, concocts a mad scheme to enter the jousting tournament, she has no idea how in over her head she's about to be. for starters, she's female, and to further complicate things she's not nobility. When Lady Isobelle discovers the deceit (by chance) she is all on board and wants Gwen to take it even further. Isobelle and her dowry have been promised to the winner of the tournament and some of the knights are truly garbage human beings. But if Gwen keeps up the charade as Sir Gawain, then maybe she won't have to marry a beastly knight after all! The growing attraction between the two of them doesn't hurt either. Fun, feminist, and all around awesome. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. 

The Crescent Moon Tearoom

This was such a cozy read. I adored it. Stacy Sivinski says she's not a word witch but I beg to disagree. This book was like warming up with a cup of herbal tea on a cold night. The Quigley sisters aren't just triplets, they're witches in downtown Chicago. Since their parent's death they converted their house into a charming teashop and read the tea leaves for all of Chicago's society ladies. It's a cozy and comforting business until one day they receive a letter from the council. Suddenly their small, comfortable world is turned on it's head and they must complete three tasks in order to keep their tea shop open. The problem is, the very thing that's meant to save them might be the thing that is starting to tear them apart. Charming and cozy. I may have to re-read this every few winters!