The Restless Lake

Life has been very different for Olivia Vandenberg since she left Seattle and her tech hustle to stay at Stehekin Wilderness Ranch, a ranch that offers an escape from the busy city world. Despite being there for only three years, she feels like she belongs and is warmly welcomed by its residents. When Luka Novak, an Olympian, shows up at the ranch, her world becomes both more complicated and exciting. Unfortunately, Luka seems to be hiding something from his past, resulting in a fragile friendship that threatens to break at any moment. Still, the joys of hiking, kayaking, and exploring the natural world keep her occupied with the treasures of the present.

Teri Fink's The Restless Lake captivates readers with a spellbinding story about a romantic relationship that is plagued by painful memories and commitment issues.

The Restless Lake maintains a balance between past and present events, creating a great blend between the chaos of trauma in a politically unstable society and the more trivial problems of the ranch. Thankfully, some chapters are labeled to reveal the time and place being depicted. This enables readers to follow the story easily when it shifts to different times and places, like when it depicts Luka's story in Harborview Medical Center, 1997, after relating his experience of Dulic Prison Camp in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1992.

The story is filled with intriguing conflicts and dilemmas. While Luka deals with loss and painful memories, Olivia struggles with her fear of him and the torn feelings she has as she gets closer to him. Teri's engrossing storytelling reveals their internal struggles clearly, with intense, emotional accounts delivered mostly in the first person.

Readers get to enjoy a smart blend of themes, including illnesses, war, loss, nature, love, and friendship. I was enthralled by Luka's transition from his past to the present. His history with war and sports is well contrasted with his need for healing and enjoying the moment.

Ultimately, Teri's book is a heartwarming story that reminds us that we can find a place of healing and love despite our imperfections and struggles. It's a tale that will cause fans of love tales to bask in its romantic chaos and excite anyone who loves a well-crafted story. I couldn't stop marveling at its mix of captivating conflicts, complex characters, and lyrical English. Now that I'm done, I revel in my memories of it and look forward to reading more riveting stories by Teri.


The Restless Lake

Olivia Vandenberg used to live a monotonous life in Seattle as the Director of Human Resources for a tech company before moving to Stehekin. It was a remote place, a lot different from the bustling city she was used to. Stehekin was a countryside where the locals were more close-knit, the scenery was beautiful, and it attracted tourists who went horseback riding, kayaking, and for culinary delights. Through her connections in school, she landed a role at a tech company in its early stages, which became very successful later on.

Olivia worked round the clock with her boyfriend Bill, although she had made a boatload of money. She eventually gets diagnosed with a rare medical condition and is also shattered by her partner abandoning her. She flees to Stehekin to start afresh and battle her illness. There she meets wonderful people, enjoys activities that make her feel alive, and also meets Luka.

Luka Novak left Croatia to live in Stehekin after the civil war. He had scars from the war, and the memories of it still haunt him, including dreams of his lover Anya. Interestingly, he was an Olympic gold medalist and was quite popular in his homeland. Luka and Olivia connect through their circle of friends. Situated in a corner in the North Cascades, life is more adventurous as they go kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, or fishing. Feelings start growing between Luka and Olivia, but they are both held back by their pasts. Will they overcome it?

Adding to the main story are characters like Ingrid, Greta, West, and Bill, which make the novel much more interesting. Bill is a typical boss who is only focused on results and wants employees to work every minute of their lives. Of course, this leads to an unhealthy lifestyle and jeopardizes the health of workers. Olivia's runaway boyfriend shows how people we rely on can leave when we need them the most. The novel also reminds readers of the devastating impact of war, as the experience is hardly forgotten by the victims, especially with the scars they carry and the loved ones lost.

As an adventurous person, I enjoyed reading all about horseback riding, kayaking, and hiking. It allowed me to immerse myself in the story. The plot was well paced, and the novel had enough characters to keep you engaged throughout. Restless Lake by Teri Fink will be perfect for fans of fiction novels with themes of romance, adventure, hope, friendship, and survival.


The Restless Lake

The Restless Lake by Teri Fink was one of the best novels I have read in a long time. The perfect balance of summer romance, mystery, adventure, and history, readers are in for a treat! Alternating between the viewpoints of Olivia Vandenberg, Luka Novak, and Ingrid Norgaard, Fink sets the scene at Stehekin Wilderness Ranch, a remote paradise in the North Cascades of Washington State. Co-managed by Olivia and Kathy Stokes, guests are offered an upgraded camping experience, full of hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and much more.

These two women have put their heart and soul into the establishment, charmed by the wilderness they adore and want nothing more than a smooth operation. Looking forward to the summer ahead, they have welcomed former Olympian kayaker, Luka, to lead the water tours. Ingrid, fresh out of high school, will lead a summer horseback riding camp before she returns to Stanford in the fall. These key leaders, alongside many others, have Kathy and Olivia with high hopes to give their guests an epic summer vacation experience.

However, not everything is all beauty at Stehekin. Before long, Olivia realizes there is much more to Luka than meets the eye. A survivor of the Yugoslav war, he seems to be burdened tragedies and secrets too heavy to express in words. With an equal amount of respect and fear, the reader follows Olivia as she embarks on a journey to find out who Luka really is, and how he ended up so far from his home and the country he loved?

Fink’s story stood out to me as a stellar novel. Unlike much modern-day literature, she truly has a unique plot line with a distinctive cast of characters, each excellently written. The personalities of each figure were explicit, heartfelt, and genuine. She gave just enough information to where the reader felt a connection without excessive writing. She also did a fantastic job balancing out each subplot. The story was a terrific blend of everything that makes a good fiction novel, not too heavy on any particular genre (another rare quality not often found in modern literature)!

Transformed into this wilderness ranch alongside the cast, Fink clearly has a talent for authoring. As a fellow lover of hiking and the outdoors, her words transported me to these idyllic mountains and tranquil lakes. The ideal summer read, women eighteen+ should add this novel to their reading list!


Twelve Palominos (A Brig Ellis Tale)

Kilgore’s latest has all the hallmarks of a detective novel. The protagonist is Brig Ellis, whom readers might recognize as the hardboiled fellow from some of his other works. (And who readers of detective fiction new to Kilgore’s work will recognize all the same, for he hits familiar characterizations from many other detectives.) There is the wealthy man seeking to hire Ellis for a job, the butler (for lack of a better word) who has more skills than any ordinary butler can lay claim to, the MacGuffin (in this case, a miniature statue of a palomino horse) which Ellis is sent after. Of course, there is the femme fatale; in this case, the daughter of the aforementioned wealthy man.

And, as the novel goes on, there are the casualties, both of innocent and not-so-innocent bystanders. These pile up chapter by chapter.

The story itself is intriguing. Ellis’s chase for the story’s MacGuffin leads him into a web of what at first seem like curses but soon become a twisted collection of betrayals and greed. I was fascinated by the twists and turns, by the new adversaries appearing, and by the danger targeting Ellis from around every corner. Before long I expected almost everyone to die the moment Ellis began speaking to them, which only enhanced my enjoyment by raising the stakes.

Why, then, did I give this only four stars? The plot itself was very nearly everything I could have asked for, but the characterization failed to impress me. Kilgore relies on stock characters, which is not in itself a bad thing. If anything, it’s exactly what I would expect from the genre. The trouble comes when the stock characters begin to feel like stereotypes. Stock characters, well written, serve to enhance a plot and push it along, giving the reader someone to be invested in while keeping the story in the forefront. Stereotypes, on the other hand, merely feel like lazy writing.

I also felt that Kilgore did not make the best use of his characters. A little more room for them to breathe and a little more thought given to each of them might have made them all, and the story itself, more engaging.

I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a quick, tight read with an intriguing plot and a decent mystery. Despite my complaints about the characters, I had a great time on the ride.


The Great Turkey Walk: A Graphic Novel Adaptation of the Classic Story of a Boy, His Dog and a Thousand Turkeys

Kathleen Karr, Léonie Bischoff, Bailat-Jones Michelle

The Great Turkey Walk is a graphic novel that follows Simon, a young orphan boy in the "old" days, who just found out that he is graduating from school… so, now what? With a loan, startup funds, and an undeterred dream, Simon gets help from some unlikely people of all ages, during his trip from Union, MO to Denver, CO, as he herds one thousand golden turkeys for his first business venture to gain wealth experience, friendships, and a sense of purpose. If Simon can keep his mood up and stick to the plan throughout the journey, he may have much more than he bargained for.

 I enjoyed this story because the main character is around my age, and it shows how determination and problem-solving can make nearly anything happen. Simon's positive attitude throughout the story made it uplifting. The illustrations were enjoyable to look at, and between them and the text, the story was easy to follow and understand. This story contains mostly good things, but some negative ones include guns and shooting. Simon meets new people, such as a drunk getting kicked out of the saloon, a slave child, and a woman in need of help.


The Littlest Christmas Tree

This is the sweetest story to start off the Christmas holiday. The little bear and the forest animals need to get ready for Christmas and find a treat to decorate, so they hunt for the perfect tree. The rabbits want a skinny one, and the badgers want a wide one, but what will the baby bear choose?

I really love sweet stories like this for the holidays. The illustrations are perfect and remind me of how cozy and fun the holidays are. All you need to go with this book is a cup of hot chocolate. My favorite part is the animals picking out their trees and getting them home to decorate. This is a must-read for the holiday season! I think it would be fun to see what other adventures the little bear goes on.


At Dark, I Become Loathsome

Eric LaRocca is a special kind of horror writer because you never know what you’re going to get, just as the world was changed with his viral story Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke. At Dark, I Become Loathsome is a prime example of this.

"If you're reading this, you've likely thought that the world would be a better place without you."

A special inviting message for those who feel they have nothing left to live for. But Ashley Lutin can help them with a special procedure that is very discrete and secret. It involves a coffin and a hole and thirty minutes spent in complete isolation beneath the earth. After that half hour, the person comes back changed.

But things are taken to a whole new level when Ashley meets a potential client named Jinx who has a story to tell. It is a harrowing, despicable tale that is both horrific and fascinating. The two are brought together through this and other diabolical tales.

Eric LaRocca does it again with a most disturbing tale that is beautifully written in his unique hand. The language is lush but dark, the characters are whole but broken, and the story is like nothing you’ve read before.


Halima, Superhero Princess

Halima, Superhero Princess by Emily Joof is a picture book that tells the story of best friends Halima, Astrid, and Maya. The girls are excited to have been invited to Alexis’ sixth birthday party. The friends do everything together and are thrilled to plan their outfits for the party theme: superheroes and princesses. None of the names the girls rattled off did not look like Halima. Halima felt sad and worried she wouldn’t be able to go to the party as someone strong and brave.

Mama reminds Halima that women who look like her are heroes in their own right, from Amanda Gorman to Shuri, from Mae Jamison to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. With so many fantastic role models to choose from, who will Halima represent for the birthday party?

Halima, Superhero Princess is a collaboration between Joof, an African-diaspora children’s author, and Swedish artist Åsa Gilland. Together, they bring to life a story of finding inspiration in talented, intelligent, and courageous Black women. For young readers and their parents, Halima’s story is a reminder of the rich and influential history and contributions of women of African descent. Knowing one’s culture and identity, children will understand that hurtful words cannot bring them down. There is a teachable lesson for young readers who do not share Halima’s background: sometimes people say unkind things they do not mean, but the pain is the same.


The Helper

The Helper is a suspense novel that has many twists and turns. Readers will love that they will not be able to guess what the protagonist, Mary Williams' next move will be. Mary is a single mother to a preteen girl named Emma. After losing her job at the local library, Mary starts to panic. She is late on rent and struggles to put food on the table for her and her daughter. She tries a sexting job online but isn't very good at it. Then, she answers an ad for someone who needs help. Eric wants someone to kill him so that his ailing mother will receive his life insurance. Mary goes back and forth between wanting to do the job and thinking that it is something she could never do. Then, Emma gets taken away from her by social services.

This book was so suspenseful. Even when you think everything is straightforward, it's not. There were many times I wanted to yell at Mary because she would act so stupid. The characters were all very well-developed and "played their parts" well. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover.


Cosmic Creatures: The Friendly Firecat

The Friendly Firecat is the second book in the Cosmic Creatures series about a girl named Charlie, her family, and her best friend Random, a robot. They came to Earth to live on the planet Vela (on the other side of the universe) to colonize it and learn about its plants and animals. In the first book, Charlie and the colony find and deal with a situation from the Rumblebears.

This time, she and her brother visit their aunt on the far side of the planet and meet firecats! After a stampede from the cats, Charlie finds a kitten left behind. On her way to locate the rest, she discovers animal kidnappers and tries not to get kidnapped herself!

The Friendly Firecat is an exciting story and gives me enough cats to make me happy. The Cosmic Creatures books are similar to Holly Webb's Pet Rescue stories, except these are "alien" animals, which makes them unique and fun to learn about! The story is easy for me to read and understand and will appeal to both boys and girls.


Cosmic Creatures: The Runaway Rumblebear (Cosmic Creatures, 2)

Cosmic Creatures: The Runaway Rumblebear is the story of a young girl named Charlie and her "pet" robot named Random, along with her family (mom, dad, brother), who are Earthlings, living on the planet Vela for the past two years to learn about it. When food gathered from plants begins going missing, people get worried, but Charlie explores and discovers a new species of animal that they name the "Rumblebear" because of its surprising roar from a small, soft, and cuddly creature. One goes missing, and it's up to Charlie and Random to help find its family in new, uninhabited, potentially scary areas.

<em?The Runaway Rumblebear was an easy read with the words, and I enjoyed the pictures throughout the book. It reminded me of the Holly Webb stories with rescue animals; readers who like some slight suspense, mystery, and rescuing animals will love this book and this series. I could not think of a favorite part because I enjoyed it all!


Abyss of Tyranny

"Justin Cook's Abyss of Tyranny is a passionate and highly enlightening tale about the justice system in the USA. Drawing on his abusive experience even outside the prison walls, Justin tells a story that shines a light on the need to transform conventional correctional measures and guarantee true improvement. Ultimately, Justin's poignant memoir will fill your heart with a burning desire to see positive changes in the justice system." —Foluso Falaye, Los Angeles Book Review


Blood Mage

"With dynamic characters and strong realm crafting, Blood Mage is set in a world of magic and mystery. A world ruled by deceit and threatened by treachery. Only the ancient practice of blood magic will prevail. This young adult fantasy is brilliantly written and hard to put down." —Eric Smith,  Portland Book Review


Raised by Trees: Bibles, Beer, and Babes: growing up in rural Oregon in the '80s

Raised by Trees is a brilliantly humorous and fast-paced tale that gives us a glimpse of Eric Day's life. Eric Day shares stories about his childhood and growing up with playful siblings who constantly tested the authority of their Christian parents. Sometimes, it ended in spanking, and other times, Eric and his brothers managed to get away with their daring pranks. The author recalls being cautioned against exploring sexual fantasies and awkwardly learning about masturbation from his family.

Apart from Eric's playful exploits, the book sheds light on his experience of business, including when he acted on his idea of opening a nightclub in downtown Portland. We see him reflect on becoming a teacher in more recent years despite working full time at his father's piano and musical instrument store after dropping out of high school. Eric has come a long way from his days as a daring teenager living in rural Oregon. His cherished memories are captured skillfully in Raised by Trees, offering readers a chance to savor the richness of a collection of addictive anecdotes.

I had to look for an empty room because I couldn't stop laughing hysterically. That's what the combination of Eric's witty storytelling and his hilarious exploits does to you. Even when talking about his burning feeling of guilt, he describes it humorously: "What I'd dreamt was no dream delivered by God, but a dark fantasy conjured up from within and delivered by none other than the Devil himself."

As funny and outrageous as these stories were, many of them remind me of my childhood. The book comprises a wide variety of stories about different family moments and childish curiosity, presenting readers with many anecdotes that they're likely to resonate with—from Eric's first taste of alcohol to his experience of different religious traditions. Also, since the chapters are relatively short and loaded with multiple intriguing elements, the book is seriously engaging from start to finish.

The book's immersing descriptions are a joy to follow. You'll meet various captivating characters and get to connect with them like you're with them in person. I especially enjoyed seeing the differences between the first of three sons in the family and Eric's dad, such as his dad's unstyled and flat hair and his brother's constantly feathered blonde locks.

This humorously captured tale offers a grand journey back to the joys of childhood and being free-spirited. Readers who had an exciting and prank-filled childhood will especially resonate with the story. This fun, mind-blowing, nostalgic tale will make you feel young, vibrant, and mischievous.


Immersion: A Linguist's Memoir

Linda Murphy Marshall's Immersion presents a riveting story about a linguist and her perilous and exciting career assignments in various countries. Despite growing up in a family that frowned upon a woman having a career away from home, Linda found herself exploring the opportunities that came with knowing multiple languages.

Though she got to experience various cultures and meet many amazing people, she also had close calls and scarring encounters with violence in various countries, including South Africa a few months after apartheid ended and Zambia during one of the worst riots in its history in 1990. Linda's close calls offer a chilling reminder of the brevity of life and the importance of peace.

Follow Linda as she reflects deeply on the lessons she gained from witnessing violent conflict, disheartening poverty, culture shocks, and notable historical moments in this unforgettable memoir.

I've only read a few nonfiction books that got my heart racing and had me completely engrossed, like Immersion. Imagine traveling to Kenya following a deadly terrorist bombing by al-Qaeda and accompanying a US president to Tanzania. Linda has engaged in many high-risk missions that will make even the bravest men shudder with fear.

As she narrates her work experiences, Linda also sheds light on her moments of transformation and the woman she was becoming along the way. Additionally, the generous essays about the author's personal challenges, such as her experience with divorce, her family's lack of support for her important choices, and her feelings of anxiety due to missing her children, highlight the cost of her career choices. Throughout the story, we get to follow an intriguing balance of awe-inspiring work assignments and thought-provoking personal struggles.

The book's smart portrayal of historical and cultural themes adds to its rich, nuanced layers. History fans will appreciate the privilege to join the author in her journey to Pretoria, South Africa, six months after the abolition of apartheid and her observation of the "rounded, rising gables with whitewashed walls" that the Dutch left behind. Also, the book combines tales about experiences in different countries, including Zambia, Brazil, Spain, South Africa, Kenya, the DRC, and Tanzania.

Linda has created a memoir that's captivating in different ways. It's a deep portrayal of the importance and challenges of a linguistic career. Furthermore, it provokes thoughts and questions about family values and sexism. History fans and travel enthusiasts are in for a treat with this highly descriptive journey to the past. Lastly, the raw, evocative essays will tug at your heartstrings and keep you emotionally committed throughout. This perfect mix of attractive writing elements offers a truly memorable experience.


The Wrong Station

Fast-paced and suspenseful, The Wrong Station by Ilona Joy Saari tells the story of Lorena Raven, a videographer and minor New York celebrity. After helping the ATF break up an illegal arms dealing syndicate, she has become a popular photographer in the New York districts. Now able to pick and choose the work that interests her, Lorena is shooting a gala when Saari begins to tell her story.

Exhausted, Lorena leaves in the wee hours of the morning on a departing train home. Disoriented, she accidentally gets off at the wrong station. With no cell phone or taxis in sight, Lorena does the only thing she can fathom: walk until finding help. Along this 3:00 am stroll, she stumbles upon a singular house lit up; risky, but seeing no other option, she takes her chances and knocks on the door, hoping someone can assist. Her seemingly kind host ushers her in, listens to her story, and momentarily leaves her to speak with his wife. In these few isolated moments, Lorena turns and spots two dead bodies on the floor, horrified and suddenly fearful that she will not make it home alive.

A page-turning moment, readers will follow Lorena as this dangerous night ventures on. Narrowly escaping death, she is now thrust into a world where she is being hunted. Who are these people, and who did they kill? What lengths will they go to find her? And how can Lorena maintain her friendships, relationships, and professional life while on the run from these unknown murderers?

As much as I wanted to love, The Wrong Station admittedly, this book missed the mark. From the novel’s description, I was immediately drawn in—an intense murder plot, Russian agents, and a dark conspiracy—what more could a reader ask for in a thriller? Unfortunately, I found that this element of the novel was an accessory to the intense, complicated love webs at play.

Between Lorena’s lovers and the other characters' relationships, the plot weighted more in the direction of romance and drama than crime. I was waiting to hear more about the killers' and victims’ identities, motives, and personalities; yet readers get pages and pages of steamy scenes, unresolved lover’s quarrels, and character’s internal amorous dialogues. This book lacked getting to know each character outside of their love affairs, something that would have helped develop a stronger plot.

Although this novel was not my cup of tea, do not be mistaken: Saari is an excellent writer! If you are a reader who likes a story high in romance, this book may be the one for you. For readers who prefer the more traditional mystery novel, I would suggest looking elsewhere.


Rise, Tomorrow Girl

The opening of Martin’s latest book will feel very familiar to most readers. Leanne Khoury, the teenage protagonist, lives in a world torn apart by a pandemic, but this one explicitly worse than the coronavirus. This fictional pandemic, called the Century Virus, affects primarily teenagers and young adults, with a fifty percent mortality rate.

Leanne has recently been infected.

Fortunately for her, her parents can afford to have her cryogenically frozen until an effective treatment can be developed. She wakes years afterward, into a world which feels both familiar and foreign. Some societal trends have faded away, others have blossomed, and one troubling one has grown worse than ever. Leanne lives in Canada, and the political instability in the United States has grown bad enough that there are frequent rumblings of fear that Canada will be invaded.

Martin has crafted a near-future story that manages to tread the difficult line between keeping an intimate focus on one character and showing the changes that have occurred in the wider world. The novel feels at once like a fantastical coming of age for one girl and a glimpse at a world which might be in the years to come. I was intrigued by the world-building, even those parts the readers only receive glimpses of.

That was the one weakness of having the novel focused solely on Leanne’s perspective. So many details are left to the readers’ imaginations. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; I enjoyed connecting the dots and imagining what might have happened in those intervening years. At other points, I found some of the details strange and unexpected, or at least wished I knew a little more about what had happened and what else had changed.

But in the end, this is not the story of the world, or even the story of Canadian or North American culture. It is the story of one girl, transplanted from one time to another, trying to find a new way to live. In that, it is delightful. The only reason I took off a star was that at times the prose was difficult to follow.

This book will perfectly suit people looking for a new sci-fi YA novel to read. Leanne is not a Katniss, shifting the world around her, but not every protagonist has to be. Sometimes, this book says, it is enough to have your world be yourself and the people around you. Even when a wider world reaches out to you, that may be all you have to save.


Cost of Malice: A Jake Clearwater Legal Thriller (Jake Clearwater Legal Thriller Series)

Cost of Malice is the third book in the Jake Clearwater Legal Thriller Series. When Nancy Seah takes a seat in Professor Jake Clearwater's criminal law class, Jake can only wonder what the District Attorney could want from him. It turns out she is looking for a "top-flight prosecutor." The deal includes Jake taking a one-year leave from his teaching position and becoming one of the DA's frontline prosecutors. He would also be put on the DA's Advisory Committee, a group better known as "The Elders." This catches Jake's attention, and he agrees to take the position.

Readers are introduced to The Elders, which includes Seah and three other prosecutors. This group reviews the most difficult cases and discusses them. From there, the cases are distributed to the attorneys.

In this book, Jake takes on three very intricate cases. The reader follows Jake into the courtroom, where he works his magic one witness at a time.

The first case Jake takes on is that of the murder of an eighteen-year-old girl named Tracie Switzer, who was found in her truck. murdered. Jake is able to find two degenerates who are incarcerated in separate states to not only snitch on the murderer but also testify in exchange for a reduction in their sentences. This is not an easy feat since one of the men is in Nevada. Because Nevada doesn't benefit from a case across state lines, Jake must make the importance of his case clear to the State of Nevada.

An observation I made about this book is that it had an excessive amount of dialogue and the main points of each case were stated multiple times. I would have liked to have had either the synopsis of the case as discussed by the Elders told in more detail or had the dialogue contain more detail so that the information did not become repetitive. Because the dialogue is laid out as the case is told in court, I believe the details would have been more effective here.

Overall, the cases Jake encounters in this book and their realism make Cost of Malice entertaining and fascinating. With themes such as the Second Amendment, child abuse and neglect, and courtroom politics, this book is sure to keep its readers engaged from cover to cover. This book is perfect for fans of legal thrillers and mysteries that are led by an intelligent, likable attorney.


River's Reach: Coming of Age Amid the Fish War

River’s Reach is an engaging and relatable story for young adults with interest in books that are thought provoking and cause them to question their values and authority. It follows a young man named Alex who is navigating the challenges of adolescence against the backdrop of a heated dispute over fishing rights in a small town. As the community becomes increasingly divided, Alex must find his own path while grappling with loyalty, justice, and personal growth.

The plot is both intriguing and original, weaving the personal development of Alex with the larger conflict over river rights. The tension keeps the reader hooked and wanting more. Moments of intense drama, particularly those involving the community's struggles, stand out, leaving readers eagerly flipping to the next page. The characters are well-developed and relatable to fellow young adults. Richardson portrays Alex’s journey with depth, making his experiences and growth believable.

The writing is smooth and evocative, effectively drawing readers into the world of the story. The dialogue is natural and helps to develop the character relationships and advance the plot. The language flows well, maintaining interest and making the story enjoyable to read. The story’s moral revolves around understanding and balancing personal desires with communal responsibilities. The author effectively communicates this message, prompting readers to reflect on their own values and choices.

This book is ideal for young adults and older readers interested in coming-of-age tales with a blend of social and environmental issues. It’s especially engaging for those who enjoy stories about personal growth intertwined with community conflicts. I recommend River’s Reach for its thoughtful exploration of adolescence and community struggles. It is a captivating read that balances personal growth with broader social themes. If you enjoy stories with emotional depth and social relevance, this one is worth your time.

Dive into River’s Reach if you’re looking for a story that will make you ponder your own journey and the world around you. It is a compelling read that will leave you reflecting long after the last page.


A coming-of-age tale that takes in subjects as diverse as land rights and social justice, fishing wars and the Vietnam War, teenage romance and family loyalty, David Scott Richardson’s River’s Reach is an entertaining and educational young adult novel that explores an aspect of American history—fishing rights—capable of triggering strong emotions among disparate inhabitants of Washington State through the eyes of a young man seeking to find his place and purpose in the world.

It’s the start of senior year and football-playing high schooler Alex Haugen is on top of the world—save for the fact that he has no car, no girlfriend, and no concrete plan for college, anyway. That and the North Thurston High School football team being stuck in a terminal losing streak. Still, despite such minor woes, Alex is a popular kid with a tight group of friends, a potential love interest in the shape of cheerleader Amanda Schneider, and a passion for fishing in the local Nisqually River.

However, Alex’s easy-going life becomes complicated when his father, an officer with the Washington State Game Department, is involved in a raid on members of the Nisqually tribe who are fishing at Frank’s Landing. Gunfire breaks out during the raid and several arrests are made, including a teenager named Charlie McCallister. When Alex befriends Charlie and starts looking into the issue of fishing rights more deeply, he finds that things are nowhere near as clearcut as he thought.

River’s Reach follows Alex’s journey of self-discovery—that is, discovering who he is and who he wants to be—as he begins to recognize the importance of doing the right thing despite peer/family pressure and to understand the thorny issue of “gray areas” of the law. Indeed, David Scott Richardson takes pains to portray both sides of the dispute, not opting for the easy answer of labeling one side—either the Game Department or the Nisqually tribe—as the “bad guys.”

As such, the story takes a very nuanced approach to the issues and so manages to educate while it entertains. The same is true for other social issues addressed during the course of Alex’s journey, including the push for racial equality in the United States and the opposition to the Vietnam War. Alex’s nascent romance with Amanda also elucidates certain issues concerning gender inequality during the 1970s, although she is portrayed as a strong character who certainly knows her mind.

The issue of women’s rights is also touched upon in relation to Amanda’s mother’s work as a lawyer representing some of the Nisqually Indians. Moreover, the legal aspects of the story provide an illuminating contrast between the government’s business-like approach to issues such as fishing and the Nisqually Indians’ reverence for the natural world. Taking in so many social issues does sometimes slow down the pace of the story, but such issues are always interesting and well-handled as thinking points.

Alex is an appealing and often amusing character to follow, and while he can sometimes seem a bit naïve, his observations provide insights into how young people viewed major events at the time. The supporting characters are all well realized, despite the dialogue sometimes not quite ringing true, and the Washington State setting is vividly and lovingly brought to life. Overall, River’s Reach is a fine young adult novel with a relatable protagonist and an unusual central plot point, which should particularly appeal to those with an interest in recent US history.


An Empty House Doesn't Sneeze

Nostalgic and deeply evocative, An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze by David Scott Richardson offers a profound glimpse into the uncertainties of youth set against the tumultuous backdrop of 1940s America. The novel's protagonist, fifteen-year-old Scotty Johannsen, invites readers to journey with him as he grapples with the harsh realities of war, the clash of ideologies within his family, and the evolving nature of his friendships. Richardson artfully weaves historical fiction with a coming-of-age story, offering a compelling narrative that speaks not only to the heart but to the shared history of a nation at war.

The novel is set in a small American town during World War Two, where the shadow of global conflict looms large over everyday life. Scotty, like many boys his age, is initially preoccupied with the typical concerns of adolescence, like palling around with his friends, sneaking glances at girls, and enjoying the simple pleasures of cookies and after-school paper routes. Yet, the war intrudes on these joys, forcing Scotty and his peers to grow up far too quickly. Daily routines are interrupted by air raid drills, blackouts, and food rationing.

These elements of wartime life are vividly described, drawing the reader into the tension and sacrifices that defined this era. Scotty's internal conflict is central to the novel. His father, an air raid warden, and his older brother Erik, who is deeply opposed to the war, represent the broader societal divisions over America’s involvement in World War Two.

Scotty finds himself caught between these opposing viewpoints, struggling to make sense of the violence and suffering he hears about on the radio and in conversations with adults. As he attempts to reconcile his own feelings about war, Scotty's character is thoughtfully developed, and Richardson does an excellent job of portraying the confusion, fear, and burgeoning maturity that often accompany adolescence in times of crisis.

The novel also offers an intriguing mystery. Strange fires begin to erupt in Scotty’s neighborhood during the nightly blackouts, raising suspicion and fear in the community. Determined to uncover the truth, Scotty takes it upon himself to solve the mystery, bringing a detective-like twist to the plot. This aspect of the story adds a layer of suspense, and the tension between wartime life and the boys’ playful investigations keeps the novel engaging.

Overall, I would highly recommend An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze to readers aged twelve and up who are interested in historical fiction, particularly those curious about the personal and emotional effects of war on young people. Its blend of humor, mystery, and poignant reflection makes it a memorable and enriching read.


An Empty House Doesn't Sneeze

Nostalgic and heartfelt, An Empty House Doesn't Sneeze by David Scott Richardson is a 1940s historical fiction novel ideal for young adults. Told through the youthful, vibrant eyes of fifteen-year-old Scotty Johannsen, readers explore his internal struggles with the reasoning behind war, America’s role in this turmoil, and how to come to terms with the sacrifices and tragedies of these situations.

Carefree and light-hearted, Scotty and his friends (like most young boys) are mainly interested in looking at girls, playing outside, delicious cookies, and their nightly paper routes. Unfortunately for them, the backdrop of World War II America thwarts the complete pursuit of these small pleasures. Forced to mature quickly amidst routine nightly blackouts, taking cover in bomb shelters, rationing delicious food, and growing victory gardens, the boys are no strangers to the sacrifices happening within their community. Their televisions, neighbors, friends, teachers, and family all speak of war.

Neither ignorant nor fully educated, Scotty is unsure how to react to the developing news being thrown at him. Not to mention, his older brother Erik does not agree with war, while his father, an air raid warden, has a clear differing opinion. In this scene, full of conflicting and sometimes confusing information, Scotty begins to develop his own opinions and ideologies, asking the question of why war even exists.

As a key component of this novel, I appreciated how Richardson developed Scotty’s character. Portraying the internal dialogue of a teenager in war, this novel gave a great insight into their possible personal and familial struggles during this period. Showcasing possible disagreements and tensions, readers can see how fragile relationships can be amongst such upheaval and the weight a teenager may have carried navigating such complexity.

As the story continues, some strange things start to happen in Scotty’s neighborhood. Someone is intentionally lighting fires during routine blackouts. A mystery to all. Who is this culprit and why are they doing this? Do they not know the possible danger they are inflicting? With multiple suspects in line, mysterious notes, scary threats, and school bullies, Scotty makes it his personal quest to find his town's arsonist, and more importantly, stop them!

Relaxing and enjoyable, this novel would be ideal for ten+ aged boys who enjoy wartime novels. A fun plot, full of mischief and camaraderie, this age group would best relate to Scotty, as well as enjoy his neighborhood escapades and boyhood stories!


Lizard Larson and the Time Keeper

Action-packed, exciting, and full of surprises, Lizard Larson and the Time Keeper by Gary Natoli is an excellent book choice for middle school and early teenage readers. Told from the perspective of Elizabeth Larson, otherwise known as Lizard, readers are in for a memorable adventure through multiple universes and dimensions of time!

Fourteen-year-old Lizard is unique; the daughter of two physicists, she has spent most of her childhood days between their laboratories. At school, she is neither popular nor disliked; rather, Lizard is respected for her peculiarities at a healthy distance from most of her peers. Her best friend Mahalia and two other allies, Skye and Nick, are all she needs. But, one day all of that changes. Abruptly pulled out of school by her parents, they tell her she must leave immediately to stay with her aunt.

Giving little to no explanation, she is thrust into a train station where unbeknownst to her family, an unwanted man awaits them. Before she knows it, Lizard is standing as witness to an alleged terrorist bombing, watching her entire world fall before her eyes… or is she? Could this horrible reaction leaving Grand Central Station in flames be caused by something else? And why suddenly does Lizard seem to have a special ability? One that allows her to stop time?

With these shocking events underway, government conspiracies begin to unravel, enemy attacks pour in, and chaos ensues, leaving Lizard in an entirely new world, one in which she is responsible for saving humanity. Will she be able to accomplish the enormous tasks at hand? Readers must discover that themselves!

A strong read for a middle school to teenage audience, Natoli formulated a novel perfect for science fiction enthusiasts and adventure junkies. He did a fantastic job clearly writing the plot, which is no small feat with interlapping time dimensions at play! Similarly, he paced the novel superbly, keeping the timeline cohesive and coherent for readers to follow despite a complicated web of time travel. His attention to these small nuances, as well as a fantastic plot line and descriptive imagery, made this novel one well-worth reading.

A review of this novel would be incomplete without complimenting Natoli for the pure creativity that shone through in this book. From his description of the Time Keeper, a sort of Willy Wonka of clocks, to Doctor Kali’s futuristic mechanical eye and Archie’s Time Repair shop, his imagination curated an amusing read for his audience!


The Crush of Wine and War

The year is 1989 and Sivan Mayr has returned home after a prolonged absence. He is walking the streets of St. Jakob, Austria, and hears words that stir up resentment and anger at events going back to World War II. A man who is being heralded as a hero is nothing more than a rogue in Sivan’s eyes. The man who left Hannah Maislinger and their child could never be considered heroic.

Hannah Maislinger was an irrepressible youth growing up in the town of Moosfeld who considered becoming a nun as her sister Greta did. However, her future shifted upon meeting Sebastien Brandl. Hannah was working at a local eatery when she met the raffish young man. Hannah’s parents were flummoxed at her change of heart, but Sebastien managed to win them over with his unabashed honesty and charisma. Hannah would soon be working at the Brandl family’s restaurant and marriage between Hannah and Sebastien a foregone conclusion.

Despite Hannah’s and Sebastien’s happiness, the world around them has become precarious. The rise of the Nazi Party has led to a state of siege enveloping Austria and citizens are strenuously urged to join. Sebastien and Hannah are unnerved by the repressive measures of the local Nazi officials and have witnessed the destruction firsthand. Sebastien begins to evolve from sentiment to action in expressing his antipathy to the National Socialists.

Max Mayr is a vintner in Vienna who has become equally alarmed at the vehement tolerance exhibited at Jewish citizens and others considered “unpure” by the Nazis. Max married a refugee named Lili who survived a pogrom in her home country. The pair have two children and Max will do anything to protect them as their heritage makes them vulnerable to the latest pogroms. Max begins to forge a path of resistance similar to Sebastien in that its revelation would have fatal consequences.

The emotions are still raw and exposed as survivors of a near-apocalyptic war join in harmonious celebration forty-plus years later. The Crush of Wine and War may be fiction in certain ways, but the historical backdrop provides the gravitas in the dramatic interplay between characters. The decision to oppose tyranny feels right to Sebastien, but Hannah is conflicted over her husband’s activism. Concern over her family and friends leads to her questioning his actions. Despite initial reluctance, Max Mayr throws himself fully into aiding the underground as he knows the perils of acquiescence.

Author Molly Fumia exceptionally writes of a fragile time when friendships were severed by differing allegiances and families were ravaged by the cataclysmic hand of fate during war. Fumia’s novel is compelling reading on all counts.


No Safe Place: A Thriller (Michael Gannon Series, 4)

No Safe Place felt a lot like a James Patterson novel that wasn’t edited for plot flow. The story starts out with a young college student named Olivia who sees something she shouldn’t one night. We know there are bad men but don’t find out until much later what they were up to and what happened to Olivia. Almost all of the book is about the ex-military, ex-cop protagonist Mike who helps his childhood crush, Colleen, now an investigator, find out what really happened to Olivia.

I felt the story started off well and I was interested in what Olivia saw, but that part of the story fizzled as the reader is forced to follow Mike who is a little too egotistical for his own good. It took a long time to get back to Olivia’s story. The book focused a lot on the henchman named Shaw trying to kill Mike and blow things up. I wish the author had developed the backstory about what happened to Olivia because it left me feeling like that part of it was skimmed over very quickly. Overall, the characters are a bit obnoxious and the plot lost it’s structure.


Precipice: A Novel

The year is 1914, and Venetia Stanley is involved in an illicit relationship with H.H. Asquith, the British Prime Minister. Asquith is a married man in his early 60s, whereas Venetia is in her late 20s. The intensity of their relationship is borne out in their correspondence, where Asquith confides in Venetia about pressing issues with Ireland along with trouble brewing in Eastern Europe. There are murmurings about their affair, but they have been able to mostly keep things under wraps.

Paul Deemer is an investigator with Scotland Yard who has been asked to investigate a double drowning that involves members of high society as witnesses. Deemer learns of Venetia’s presence and questions her. Despite the case soon being closed, Deemer is recruited for an intelligence position. In his role, Deemer is soon privy to the liaison between Asquith and Venetia. Deemer knows this scandal could rock the foundations of government.

Precipice is the latest transfixing work of historical fiction by the wonderful Robert Harris (“Fatherland). The shadow of an apocalyptic war hovers over the forbidden romance between a government official and a much younger woman of high society. Harris’ knack for reviving the past with extra flair is on full display.


Close Knit: A Novel

A Jenny Colgan novel and a hot cup of tea are like a warm hug, and Close Knit is perfect for stormy weather.

Gertie has spent her life in the small town of Carso, in northern Scotland, closely involved with the local knitting circle. Still living with her mother, Gertie has grown complacent, spending her days working at the local supermarket and her spare time rattling away with her needles. Gone are the days when she had to dread her classmates from school, or so she thinks. When two of them offer her a job (and they prove very nice), Gertie can step out of her wool-haze and explore beyond the bounds her self-imposed limitations have allowed. Will Carso be enough for her, or will the wild beyond call Gertie away on a new adventure?

What’s enjoyable about this book is its appreciation for small towns, rural life, and a closely connected community. The wild, rugged landscape is charming and deadly, but in the end, it’s the skeins that bind us together that matter. A beautiful, heartwarming, hilarious book, this is Scotland written as only Jenny Colgan can do.


Kalyna the Cutthroat (Failures of Four Kingdoms)

Radiant Basket of Rainbow Shells is a Loashti scholar living abroad in Quruscan to study. Radiant’s safe and comfortable existence as a welcome guest came to a crashing end when his traveling papers were revoked. Now, as an outsider on the run, Radiant needs protection and a new home. Radiant meets Dagmar, a skilled fighter and sometimes bodyguard. Dagmar introduces Radiant to Kalyna, whose talents go beyond faking her way as a soothsayer. Together, they fight against the oppressive fear of outsiders. She will need to be ruthless and cunning if they want to succeed. Kalyna will have to be cutthroat.

Kalyna the Cutthroat is book two in Elijah Kinch Spector’s Failures of Four Kingdom series. Even though this novel is part of a series, this exciting story works well as a stand-alone novel. With Spector shifting the narrator for this tale, this book could be read before the first book without the story losing any of the meaning or punch. In this turmoil political time we find ourselves in, Spector fights back against the fear and hatred that is so common. Readers looking for a champion who will stand for the rights of those left behind will find a fighting spirit in Kalyna the Cutthroat.


Only the Guilty Survive: A Thriller

Only the Guilty Survive shifts perspectives from the main character in the past and present, Claire, to a deceased beauty queen in the past, Laurel, or Lollie. The Flock is a cult started by a man named Dominic who is both power hungry and evil. He recruits young people who want to find themselves because they either have nowhere to go or are unhappy with their family life. This book had a great premise to it with Claire encountering a podcaster who wants to figure out who killed Lollie all those years ago. The story really dragged on, though, and became boring after following Claire’s thoughts and actions. I felt there was a big build up to Claire trying to remember more about the night Lollie was taken and when she does remember, there is no real twist. Overall, the book was a big letdown and I would not recommend it to readers who like any type of suspense or twist at the end of their novels. This could have had a great ending but it fell flat.


The Super Volcano: A Hidden Hero Below Yellowstone National Park

Beneath the surface of Yellowstone National Park and a good deal of land beyond the park lies a dormant volcano. The volcano has erupted three times in the last two million years and collapsed each time, creating a large magma pool that is responsible for the amazing features of geysers, bubbling mud pots, steam vents, and colorful hot springs. All this heat and hot water creates an environment that is great for the wonderful variety of plant life that helps to support the many mammals, fish, and birds — both large and small — that populate the park. Without the underground magma lake, much of this would not exist.

Author Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw has written a compelling story about Yellowstone National Park that will inspire youngsters not only to want to visit the park but to learn much more about it. She does a good job with back matter that has more information as well as a short history of the park and an excellent glossary. Lovely illustrations by Brie Schmida will help young readers imagine the landscape and denizens of this wondrous place. Her illustrations are filled with rich colors and enough details to keep readers engaged.


After Oz: A Novel

Whatever happened to Dorothy After Oz? In this story, eleven-year-old Dorothy is found a few days after the tornado, unharmed, but full of tales of a magical land of witches, wizards, and munchkins. When the body of a local spinster is found dead with her face melted just as Dorothy described accidentally killing the Wicked Witch, suspicions mount in this small Kansas town. Dorothy is immediately convicted and sent to an insane asylum, where Dr. Evelyn Wilford meets her and starts her quest to discover what really happened.

This was a well-written tale about the realities of life in the late nineteenth century. It focuses on everyone else’s point of view except for Dorothy’s. The author did a wonderful job showing how crazy Dorothy’s tale would seem in a Bible-believing small town in Kansas in 1896. The author also made the conditions of asylums of that time clear, so that you can’t help but cheer on Dr. Wilford as she attempts to help Dorothy heal and escape that place. I highly recommend to those who love the tales of Oz, but also to those who enjoy mysteries, especially from the Victorian era.


The Girl in the Bog

If A Midsummer Night’s Dream took place in Ireland and the couples were replaced by two past middle-aged men, three teenage redheads who want to be witches and an archaeologist, then that’s what this book is like. It is a madcap romp across time, myth, and the Irish countryside as legends come to life and the time-space continuum ruptures for a while.

The Girl in the Bog book is a delight from start to finish. It starts as one thing but flawlessly transitions to something else and ends up in a surprisingly different place altogether. When sheep farmer Michael Mullaney and his friend, Tom Burke, discover and exhume a body they find in a bog, the ancient world meets the modern in surprising and life-altering ways. After a night spent ranging across the countryside, meeting all manner of specters and heroes, life will be forever changed for those left when the sun rises.

Keith Donohue creates an astounding world, carrying the reader along with him on this crazy night's adventure. No book out there is quite like this one.


To Turn the Tide (Make the Darkness Light, 1)

A gripping tale of probability meddling that is so improbable as to be heartwarming, like a children’s fable for well-read adults. A group of advanced scholastics gathering in a world of imminent chaos find themselves unexpectedly thrust though time; they must, for the survival and advancement of their new timeline, become a team.

Personality developments, speculations, and background data are largely presented via introspective narration, the point of view of the chief protagonist, Arthur Vandenburg. A battle-hardened scholar with a richly varied background, he must cope not only with their new environment but his own profound losses. There is  team-reciprocal dialogue for variety and depth.

This tale, a thinly veiled tutorial, skirts the “show, don’t tell” error. However, Mr. Stirling’s always adept mastery of sensorial immediacy, conflict, and historicity make it safely past that possibility. As usual with his intriguing plunges though time and dimensions, there is diversity galore: racial, sexual proclivities, and  bents. Of course, there is a lesbian couple, half fierce warrior and half nurturer, an artificer of eminent deftness of mind… An afterword that begins with “For Nerds Like Me” made me feel positively embraced. Any writer or reader in this genre should put cash forward… fast!


The Heir of Venus

The Heir of Venus: A Novel by Laura Shepperson is rather a slow mover. Another retelling of ancient myths from the perspectives of the women, it portrays the story of Aeneas as seen through the lens of the women who loved him.

The concept of this story is amazing. All the retellings of the heroic epics are bold and innovative, bringing fresh perspectives to centuries-old stories. This one could have used more attention to character development, as they all feel one-dimensional, the interest lying more with what the reader knows of their mythological selves than in their actual presence on the page. Issues with narrative tension are solved through artificial means, such as the character Anna, who strings things along by doling out only small amounts of information at a time. Lavinia, as a protagonist, lacks concrete goals and may irritate some readers with her modern speech patterns and mindset, more suited to a Regency romance than to a Greco-Roman tragedy.

 That being said, the novel as a whole is reasonably entertaining and by no means unreadable. It offers new perspectives of Aeneas and works as an easy weekend binge read.


No One Will Know

Eve Sylvester finds out she’s pregnant the same day her boyfriend dies in a car accident. With no family and her boyfriend’s family wanting nothing to do with her, Eve thinks she has no options. When a woman offers her the job of being a live-in nanny for the wealthy Hygates, it seems Eve’s luck has changed. As it turns out, the Hygates’ intentions aren’t what they seem and if something happens to Eve and her baby, No One Will Know.

It’s hard to imagine making the choices Eve does, but I’ve never been in her position so I can’t really fault her for it. There are a lot of twists and turns in this story. You think you have it figured it out, but the why is way different than what you think. I think the ambiguity at the end was a nice addition. If you enjoy suspense and stories where wealthy people get their comeuppances, this book is for you. A classic tale of if things sound too good to be true, they probably are.


The Blue Hour: A Novel: The Addictive New Novel of Suspense from the NYT Bestselling Author of The Girl on the Train

James Becker has been an admirer of the artistry of Vanessa Chapman for years. He works as an administrator for the Fairburn Foundation, overseeing the collection of the artists’ works. However, a recent discovery calls into question the integrity of the late artist as well as the Foundation’s association with her. A sculpture with a bone featured in it has been identified as being human and now Becker must investigate the background of his hero.

The pressure is on Becker to quell the controversy. He reaches out to Grace Haswell, a longtime friend of Chapman and guardian of her legacy. He is invited out to the remote Eris Island where he meets Grace, who is skeptical of Becker’s motives. Becker allays Grace’s initial fears and she grants him access to Vanessa’s journals. Becker is about to discover a world of love, betrayal, and darkness that lay behind Chapman’s oeuvre.

The ability to craft an unsettling yet fascinating psychological thriller is definitely in Paula Hawkins’ wheelhouse. The Blue Hour connects themes of love, friendship, obsession, and the pitfalls of hero worship into a stirring and intoxicating read that will keep you guessing until the last words. Hawkins’ solid work continues to intrigue.


A Poisonous Palate (A Key West Food Critic Mystery)

A Poisonous Palate is the latest installment in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series starring food critic Hayley Snow. When Hayley opens an email from a lady named Catherine who claims to be writing a book about Hemingway's toxic love. Catherine also tells Hayley that in 1978, her friend Veronica went missing from the Keys. Because Hayley has had some experience solving mysteries, Catherine would like to meet with Hayley. Reluctantly, Hayley agrees to meet Catherine. From the very beginning, however, Hayley is suspicious of Catherine and her story. The two go around town despite Hayley's reluctance and start talking to some of the people who were around during the late seventies. Then, a man turns up dead.

I enjoyed the premise behind the book, however, the story was a little slow, with Hayley speaking to the same people several times. Most of the characters in the book seem to be on the older side, so I would recommend the book to the older set. There isn't much excitement until the very end, which happens in the blink of an eye. This book was just an okay read.


What You Made Me Do: A Novel

Anneliese is looking for her birth mother. In the process, she meets Willem, and they start a whirlwind romance that culminates in a pregnancy and a hasty engagement. Anneliese moves into Willem’s family home along with Willem’s father and stepmother. There, she finds an interesting family dynamic that has never really been the same since the death of Willem’s mother, Louisa, some twenty years before. Things begin to come to a head as feelings are brought to the surface after so many years, and secrets start to come to light. In the end, all anyone can say is, “Look at What You Made Me Do.”

This is a surprisingly dark and twisted story I did not expect from the Netherlands. For some reason, I always thought they were kind and happy people, but I guess everyone has their demons. There are zero lovable characters in this story, and depending on your point of view, there are no happy endings either. If you enjoy horrible family dynamics and seeing how secrets tear families apart, this story is for you.


The Last Time We Met: A Novel

The Last Time We Met is a story about a group of friends—Sophie, Ava, William, Finn, Adrian, Tess, Jacob, and Charlotte. In the past, William is found dead in the bathtub. In the present-day scenario, Ava invites everyone back to her house for a reunion dinner. What the friends don't know is that Ava knows something about William's murder. At the dinner, she gives everyone a box that holds a clue to the night that he died. Told in both the third person in the past and from Sophie, William's fianceés, point of view in the present, readers learn what really happened to William and just how messed up each one of the friends is.

This book took a little while to get moving, and I became bored halfway through. The ending turned out to be quite satisfying and unexpected as the truth came out. The characters are all quirky, and it's hard to determine who to trust, which is part of the draw of this book. The book is set in Malmö, so there is a different feel to the way people do things in comparison to the States. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to fans of the mystery game Clue.


Quilty as Charged (A Measure Twice Sewing Mystery)

Quilty As Charged is a fun, exciting cozy mystery by Maggie Bailey. Lydia’s fabric store, Measure Twice, isn’t doing very well in terms of the revenue it’s bringing in. She decides to put together a fun retreat at her friend Fran’s mountain home, The Laurels. Several people including store customers attend and all of them are a bit quirky. When Fran is murdered, it is shock to them all and each character is suspicious of one another. On top of it all, the power has gone out so they can’t call the police. Enlisting the help of Auden, the caretaker at The Laurels, Lydia sets out to figure out who killed her friend.

I enjoyed reading Quilty As Charged because the storyline was simple and the characters were all well-developed. Some of the characters were annoying, but that made for an even more interesting time once the murder occurred. Through it all, Lydia seems to be calm and collected in front of the others while freaking out inside. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries and quirky characters.


The Paris Cooking School

The Paris Cooking School is a novel that centers around three women, Sylvie, Gabi, and Kate. Sylvie owns the school, and Kate and Gabi are students there. The book does a beautiful job of describing the many French dishes the students make at the cooking school. Readers will also learn about the private lives of all three women. There is also a bit of a mystery to be solved when the cooking school receives some negative reviews from an anonymous source.

Although several storylines intersect in the novel, including Sylvie's drama with the married man she sees, Gabi's possible new relationship with the cheese man, Max, Kate's love/hate relationship with Arnaud, and the mystery of the bad reviews, I found the story to move along very slowly. My favorite part of the book was the description of the foods the characters experienced. This part of the book interested me the most, from pies and tarts to wine and cheeses.

Overall, the book was engaging but I wished the pace was a little faster. It would have been nice to have less dialogue in the book.


Crypt of the Moon Spider (The Lunar Gothic Trilogy, 1)

Veronica Brinkley has mental problems, and she’s very likely depressed, but her husband just wants to pack her off somewhere as she is no longer fulfilling her “wifely duties.” It is 1923, and the book opens with Veronica being sent to the moon to become a patient of the Barrowfield Home for Treatment of the Melancholy. A renowned facility that has helped many, supposedly.

Once she is there she finds a mad doctor running the show. He identifies what’s wrong with the patient and which small part of the brain needs to be removed and replaced. Once the surgery has been performed, a stranger administers the spider silk to the brain, along with a few little spiders.

Things go from bad to worse for Veronica, as she learns more of the adherents to the former Moon Spider that live deep within the caves of the moon, and what Barrowfield Home has been doing for a long time now.

Ballingrud has an incredible skill and creating a complex and disturbing story in a short novella, and yet characters come to life as the story gets darker and darker, and readers won’t be able to tear themselves from the page.


Sharing Is UnBEARable!

Orson the bear finds a big rock just perfect for napping. Another bear, Izzy, finds the same rock. Although the rock is big enough for both of them to nap, bears don’t share! Orson and Izzy bicker, until Izzy suggests they take, turns napping. When Izzy goes first, Orson dumps a bucket of water on her because he doesn’t like taking turns. Orson brings another rock, but it’s too pointy for napping. After they break the rock into pieces while fighting and glue it back together, a bird decides to take a nap on it. Together, the bears scare the bird away but decide to share the rock with the bird after seeing the bird on the cold, wet ground.  All three take a nap together … until another critter shows up to share the rock with them!

Sharing is UnBEARable is a cute story that drives home the message that sharing is the best alternative. Along the way, Morris provides a subtle lesson in compassion and teaches a few new vocabulary words. For little readers who have difficulty sharing, this book could prove a good choice.


Birding for Boomers: And Everyone Else Brave Enough to Embrace the World’s Most Rewarding and Frustrating Activity

For all those who wonder about the magic allure that continues to attract the public to birdwatching, scientist Sneed Collard has assembled all the information that a rookie might need. Whether an aging boomer or a puzzled juvenile, the nitty gritty basics of birdwatching are plainly outlined in short informational chapters.

What kind of binoculars to use to increase vision, the clothing and snacks useful on these forays, the apps that help identify the sight and sound of birds, and of course, how to identify these elusive flying creatures. Check out the shape of the creature, size, color and other features and rely on field guides for descriptions.

All the basic information about birding is presented in a friendly conversational style, while colorful illustrations pepper the pages and highlight the text. Topics about bird feeding and feeders are addressed, along with cat predation problems, and plantings that encourage bird visits.

Find the best local sites for bird watching or try a bird-cation to faraway places while capturing these elusive birds with photographic skills. The author simplifies the mystique of this hobby and cheerfully invites the novice, no matter the age, to join in the activity.


The Ship in the Window

Mabel the mouse lives in a lake cabin with a man and boy. The man’s prized possession is a model ship that he spent months building. The man wouldn’t even let the boy help, but Mabel wants to feel the freedom of sailing it. With great effort and risk one night, Mabel moves the boat outside and sails away.

As the sun rises, she feels freedom and awe until she hears the man frantically searching for the ship’s thief. Then the man and boy see Mabel sailing the ship and begin to laugh. Mabel is so relieved that she misses a rock and sinks the boat! The boy rushes to save Mabel and the ship’s remains. That morning, the man begins the repairs, but with help from the boy and the ship’s captain.

Travis Jonkers writes with just enough tension to keep little listeners and readers wanting to turn the page to find out what happens next. Illustrator and Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell uses a style of illustration that gives this book the feel of a charming classic, especially in drawing Mabel in a darling hat and scarf. Indeed, this book may well become a favorite book with which to snuggle.


Rogue Community College: A Liberty House Novel

Isaac Frost has a unique gift. A single drop of another’s blood gives Isaac equal knowledge and power from the donor. Very useful for someone like Frost, an assassin. Isaac was raised and trained in the Graveyard by the Undertaker. His assignment is to infiltrate the institution that trains Guardians and find and destroy its heart. The Undertaker entrusted Isaac with this task, and he would not let the Old Man down. That is until he meets the rest of his classmates.

Rogue Community College, not to be confused with the small school in southern Oregon, is by award-winning author David R. Slayton. The story takes place in the same universe as the Adam Binder series. Though some characters crossover, it works as an exciting stand-alone novel. Slayton adds an interesting cast of characters to this plot-driven young adult adventure. Like his previous work, Slayton’s inclusion of social issues is current and relevant. Fans of Slayton’s previous works and readers looking for a unique bit of magic with their urban fantasies should enroll in Rogue Community College.


The Bloodless Princes (The Fireborne Blade Book 2)

They faced the White Lady. The Fireborne Blade was recovered. But is the dragon dead? None of the stories tell of a talking dragon, but Sir Maddileh hears the voice of the majestic creature in her head. The White Lady needs to be wakened. But to achieve such a feat, High Mage Saralene and her trusted champion and companion, Sir Maddileh, must travel to the underworld to ask the Bloodless Princes. But to get there, they’ll have to rely on the knowledge from the old tales. But the old tales have been wrong before.

The Bloodless Princes by Charlotte Bond is the second book in her Fireborne Blade series. The story takes place immediately following the events in the first book. The two books are linked, but this story is strong enough to work as a stand-alone novella. The world-building takes center stage, but Bond’s plot twists keep the pages turning. This is a delightful story that feels almost too short. Fans of high fantasy, myths, lore, and, of course, dragons will be delighted with this little tale. And really, who doesn’t love dragons.


Sing Her Down: A Novel

Set during the heart of COVID-19, the outside population is working to maintain safety together; the inmates in the Arizona women’s prison are also focusing on survival in similar and differing ways. Spending consistent time with others has a way of showing the true self, but sometimes people are better at hiding their secrets than others. Florida and Dios are two inmates who fit these categories, and it’s at the reader’s discretion to decide which one.

Florida is a pretty, rich, Cali girl with an ugly past that she is only partly willing to admit to or completely understand. Dios is the opposite with her income bracket, location of residence, complete comprehension, and acceptance of her deeds. Obsession, greed, envy, and all the deadly sins play a part in the saga of two deadly and determined women.

Sing Her Down is a story of women and what they do with self-given labels and assumptions. The writing is gritty and raw, painting a vivid picture throughout the story. Literature with common themes would be Orange is the New Black. Fans of Western thrillers will not be disappointed with Sing Her Down.


Mr. Smarty Pants: Aww Nuts! (Stem Graphic Novel)

Mr. Smarty Pants, aka Benjamin Carver III (yes, a descendant of THAT George Washington Carver), has a problem—he comes from this long line of Black inventors and his family owns a peanut factory, but he’s allergic to peanuts! Benjamin says he’s “basically a genius,” and on his way to discover a way to manage his peanut allergy. But in his way is his arch-nemesis—Dark Midnight (real name Dion), whose family owns the chocolate company, Dark Chocolate. When Dion steals Benjamin’s inventions book, Mr. Smarty Pants and his pals go on a mission to get it back.

Mr. Smarty Pants: Aww Nuts - A STEM graphic novel by Charity Reid was really interesting because the main character is allergic to peanuts and ironically his family owns the town’s peanut factory. He finds tech solutions (gadgets) to help manage his allergy. It was cool to see him find solutions. Reading this book was also a fun way to learn about a historical figure. It was fun, funny, and interesting, because of the peanut factory thing. I enjoy science and history, so this comic was right up my alley!


Leadership and Self-Deception, Fourth Edition: The Secret to Transforming Relationships and Unleashing Results

There are several facets of leadership, and this book explores one such facet by encouraging readers to see others as people with needs, aspirations, and perspectives. The book itself is divided into three parts, each containing about nine chapters. Each chapter is a few pages – making it an easy read. The first part focuses on the labels we give others based on our perception. This is then reinforced by our attitude towards them, which in turn provokes their reaction. This cycle is presented as a disease that spreads beyond the individuals involved.

The second part focus on helping readers be more cognizant of how we perpetuate our labels and helps to view others as people with their needs, abilities, and challenges. The analogy used here is that we need to get out of our box (which colors our perspective). The third part extends the box analogy in helping other come out of their box. This section touches on responsibility and accountability.

The conversational writing style and short chapters make the book readable. However, the situations are too simplistic – requiring a more nuanced approach than the book discusses. In addition, the text keeps repeating the same concepts. The book does present a unique perspective on leadership, but it could have been more concise.


Exit Nowhere

It all started with a research project in history class. Barret Eloise does not want to explore the creepiest place in town, known as Raithfield House, but she has a reputation to uphold as the smartest kid in school and needed a great idea. Plus she could use some friends. She’d declined her brother’s dare to go in the place for $100, but when the group decides to go in, she talks herself into believing it will be fine.

They plan to sneak in after dark, which is their first mistake. As the doors close and lock, they find there’s only one way out. There’s a dark history of sudden deaths in the family, and one victim is not willing to let go, not without a game or two in which there can only be one winner.

While similar to Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, this one has more sinister variations of traditional childhood games, where loss ends up in death (or at least disappearance). It’s dark and dismal, but strangely hopeful, and would be great for any reader who loved Nightbooks and authors Mary Downing Hahn and Dan Poblocki.


A Reason to See You Again

Jami Attenberg is one of the sharpest and most astute writers of family dynamics working today, and her latest novel, A Reason to See You Again, is no exception.

Shelly and Nancy Cohen, born to Rudy and Frieda, are polar opposites who seem only to agree on one thing as they age: their mother is too much. When Rudy dies, Frieda has no clue how to live and turns--even more--to drinking and belittling her daughters. When they're old enough, they flee as fast as they can. Nancy marries young and outwardly lives a successful and happy life in her new marriage, while Shelly, the younger child, escapes home by graduating from high school early and starting the life that she believes will lead her to happiness.

Both girls, though, find a restlessness that lives in Frieda and existed in their father. No matter where they go, they keep returning to their childhood: what they knew, what was kept hidden, and who they are now in the aftermath of it all.

Spanning over thirty years, from 1971–2007, A Reason to See You Again is about mothers, sisters, daughters, hope, grief, art, and what it means to love when it’s hard and when it’s unrequited, when it’s the wrong thing to do and when you aren’t sure it’s really love. This one is a keeper.


Against the Grain (A Detective Peter Diamond Mystery)

British author Peter Lovesey is retiring from writing books. Against the Grain closes out his brilliant Detective Peter Diamond mystery series. It’s appropriate that author Peter is retiring along with Detective Peter. The twenty-two volume series began in 1991, where Lovesey introduced his readers to Diamond, who is a modern-day detective in Bath, England.

This is not your standard British police procedural series. Author Lovesey blends all the aspects of Diamond’s life. Each novel portrays his work as he wins professional victories and endures some failures, and his personal experiences are just as compelling as his detective work.

Diamond and his life partner, Paloma, are spending a week with former colleague, Julie Hargreaves, in the charming village of Baskerville. Paloma hopes this time away from city life will offer a glimpse at Peter’s looming retirement. An old local murder case captures Diamond’s attention.

Please note that reading the series in order affords the most satisfying experience. If you choose begin reading the series with author Peter Lovesey’s gentle goodbye to Detective Peter Diamond, you will likely wonder how the saga began and who preceded his charming and talented partner Paloma.


Swan Song

When Coco takes a job as a personal concierge for a couple moving to Nantucket, she has no idea what she's getting herself into. This is the latest (and last?) installation in Elin Hildebrand's Nantucket series. The Richardsons are a couple who do what it takes to get into the most posh clubs. But they have secrets, and the people of Nantucket will soon find out that the Richardsons are not necessarily as great as they make themselves out to be.

This book is written well, just like all of the other Hildebrand novels I've read. With exemplary character development and small plots that all come together in the end, Hildebrand is a master at her craft. The books in the series can all be read as standalone novels, and readers won't feel they have to read previous books to understand what is going on, although once you read one, you will want to read the others. New characters are introduced to Nantucket in each novel, and with those characters comes a new set of mysterious happenings. As fantastic as the rest of the series, Swan Song is beautifully, written and will take readers on a trip to the beautiful island of Nantucket.


The 24th Hour: Is This The End? (A Women's Murder Club Thriller, 24)

The 24th Hour is the next installment in James Patterson and Maxine Paetro's Women's Murder Club Thriller Series. The book starts off with the women in the club at a fancy Bay Area restaurant. They hear a woman yell, "Nooooo!" from upstairs, and immediately, Officer Lindsay Boxer rushes to see what the commotion is all about. She finds a young woman who has just been raped along with her rapist, who says the woman wanted it. This is case number one in the series, and the reader follows Attorney Yuki Castellano into the courtroom. The second case occurs when a hospital is cyber-threatened by a group of hackers. The third case in the book is the murder of a wealthy man.

Although each of the cases was interesting, I felt the only storyline that had a good twist was the murder of the man. The other two cases were solved almost too easily, even though the build-up to them getting solved was exciting. The endings happened very quickly. Of course, I love all of the women in the club and look forward to many more books in the series.


Misty Mole Goes Screen-Free

Sometimes children’s books are enjoyable without a strong message, and some books hit you over the head with a message right from the beginning and never letting up. This book falls into the latter category. While the message is good – which is that children should not be spending time looking at their phone screens – the art leaves a lot to be desired as it is fairly basic with a lot of white space left on many pages.

Misty Mole is sad that none of her friends want to play, draw, or read together as they all want to play on their phones. She goes to her parents and asks for a phone, which they readily agree too. Misty Mole then no longer plays but is always looking at her phone screen. This leads her to get in trouble at school, not sleep well and ruin her vision.

She and the other children learn from Dr. Eagle is to not look at phone screens and to play outside and all of their ailments will go away.


Holly Horror: The Longest Night #2

Downsizing due to divorce, Evie’s family moves to Ravenglass to live rent free in the historic family home, Horror House, as it is known by locals. Her mom is occupied with her new hospitality job and her brother is out most days with new friends. Because she doesn’t make friends easily, Evie spends a lot of time at home, where she notices odd things: a shadow that doesn’t seem right, ice cold bath water that was just warm, a girl in the woods. She learns from a local girl that there have been not one but two disappearances from the house, both young girls. While her mom doesn’t believe in such things, Evie knows something dark calls to her. Are her nightmares about to come true?

Based on the Holly Hobbie character in the eighties, this tale takes  a decidedly darker turn. On the younger side of young adult, Evie seems younger than her high school age, and her reactions sometimes are a combination of naivete and youth. The ending’s cliffhanger should be answered in the sequel released in August. This one is perfect for readers who’ve outgrown Mary Downing Hahn but aren’t ready for Kendare Blake or Jonathan Maberry.


Broke Heart Blues: A Novel

Let’s all go back to high school and live in that four-year soap opera focusing on cool kids and their stories. This story takes place in the small town of Willowsville, a placid community of families sending their adolescents off to typical high schools with prototypical cliques. Into this town drives eleven year old John Reddy Heart in a salmon colored Cadillac. This being a law-abiding town, he is immediately pulled over by a small-town police officer who is out of his league.  For there, in the passenger’s seat, is John’s mother in all her blonde glory. Dahlia Magdalena Heart has come to town to inherit the hillside home and estate bequeathed to her in Las Vegas by a rich elderly gentleman who is suddenly deceased. Dahlia wears all white and transfixes the town, disturbing the sexual latency of the town’s good fathers. In a similar fashion, John Reddy Heart becomes the fixation and heartthrob of all teenage girls and their mothers. Strangely, such is his charisma that all the boys want to be his friend, and all the girls simply adore and stalk him. Given murder, prison, and adult life, what will their thirtieth reunion bring?


Killing Time: An Agatha Raisin Mystery (Agatha Raisin Mysteries, 35)

Agatha Raisin is looking forward to creating a fabulous event for her friend Sir Charles at his Barfield estate to celebrate the launch of his new winery. She's hired her good friend Roy to help out. But, the local area has seen a sharp increase in burglaries, and when one of them leads to an assault on a shop owner, Agatha is asked to investigate. When Agatha begins to get death threats, everyone around her encourages her to take a step back, but of course, that isn't her style at all. She begins to suspect that the threats may not be tied to the burglaries. Could it be something more sinister?

On a personal note, Agatha wants to solve the case so she can head off to see her new friend, John Glass, a retired police officer working on a cruise ship as a dance instructor. When things slow down, she decides to meet him in Spain to clear her head.  Of course, nothing goes to plan there either, and eventually, she has to return home to find out who is behind the burglaries and if the threats to her safety are personal after all. Read along and find out how it all turns out. Agatha Raisin never fails to entertain.


The Shortest History of Japan: From Mythical Origins to Pop Culture Powerhouse―The Global Drama of an Ancient Island Nation (The Shortest History Series)

This book ought to be renamed The Shortest Political History of Japan as its main focus is on the political history, wars, and quests for power by many different clans and families in the history of Japan and not really too much is covered of art, culture, and religion.

The book does lives up to its name and is a quick and digestible history of Japan, though too much focus on the emperors, for people who might be planning a trip to Japan or need a quick brush-up before a test in school. The books covers the major players and events in quick fashion, as each chapter is fairly short, so there is really no analysis of the different events which have occurred in Japan.

For those who know Japanese history will not find too much in here, as the book is geared toward people who know nothing about Japan and it works in that fashion. The pictures, and maps, scattered throughout the book, are a nice touch and help bring to life the history of the island nation.


No Special Hurry

“When his best friend is accused of murdering a young girl, an alcoholic ex-journalist finds the weight of the world on his shoulders as he attempts to prove his friend innocent. No Special Hurry will have readers cheering on its imperfect protagonist, Seamus Shea as he battles his inner demons and takes on corrupt individuals in his San Francisco neighborhood. Well-written with a solid plot and colorful characters, this book is perfect for James Patterson and David Baldacci fans.” —Kathryn Dare, San Francisco Book Review


SCHROEDER

Neal Cassidy's Schroeder is by far one of the most intense psychological horror novels released this year. A seemingly normal young man wakes up on an overcast morning, completes his daily exercise routine, and meticulously prepares to go about his day. His inner monologue veers heavily into introspection, sounding a little disappointed with himself and the life he’s led up to now, but that all changes as it becomes rapidly apparent that there is something very wrong with him and the world around him… and he intends to fix it.

With a squeaky bicycle and a notebook full of boxes to be ticked, Schroeder leaves a trail of carnage as he weaves his way from quiet suburban neighborhoods and sprawling upper class homes to derelict apartments with paper thin walls. Armed with a backpack that, like a demented Mary Poppins’ bag, continues to produce increasingly disturbing instruments of punishment, Schroeder hacks, saws, and diligently prunes the weeds of humanity that have made it into his notebook like a gardener gleefully ridding his flower beds of unwanted pests.

Cassidy’s writing style is a sensory delight; the astonishing level of gore described alongside Schroeder’s almost leisurely inner commentary creates a disturbingly visceral juxtaposition that will linger in the back of your mind long after you close the book. Schroeder himself is an incredibly captivating character. The ease with which he dissociates from the brutally concrete perception of his actions to an almost cinematic view, complete with its own soundtrack, lends a dreamlike quality to the action.

There is a duality to him that belies his violent acts; he murders his victims with a calculated curiosity reminiscent of a child pulling the legs off insects but shows an uncanny amount of empathy and appreciation for both the natural world around him and those who show him the barest amount of polite consideration as he journeys to and from abattoirs.

These violent and tender moments are interspersed with flashbacks from his past, as well as poignant social commentary and pseudo-philosophical musings on the nature of humanity; leaving readers to slowly piece together the reasons for the mayhem while adding layers of complexity that beg the question: is Schroeder a villain, or a victim?

This book is perfect for fans of Jack Ketchum and Bret Easton Ellis, with plenty of no-holds-barred gore to satisfy the most hardcore splatterpunk aficionados, and almost unbearable suspense for lovers of compelling psychological thrillers.


Black Psychedelic Revolution: From Trauma to Liberation--How to heal from racial, generational, and systemic trauma through reclaiming Black psychedelic culture

In Black Psychedelic Revolution, Dr. Nick Powers delves into the profound potential of psychedelics in healing from generational racial trauma. Mind-altering and perspective-shifting drugs offer a promising path to healing. Celebrities like Chris Rock and Will Smith have openly shared their experiences with ayahuasca and LSD.

In the Black community, ecstatic release has been documented in testimonies by Zora Neale Hurston, realizing freedom in jazz clubs through alcohol, and Malcolm X's reclamation of rhythm by way of weed and music. These moments of profound liberation serve as a powerful reminder of the potential for the Black body’s true liberation from the white gaze. Powers poses the question about the potential for psychedelics to further fuel the revolution.

It was hard to put down this book, so I tried to read it in one sitting. One needs to revisit Powers’ treatises because he takes us on a literal literary trip: merging ponderings on the history of psychoanalysis, the Black Literary Canon, the foundations of psychedelic culture in the U.S., and the racialization of the drug war.

Along the way, he grounds us in the reality of Black life in America, often over-scrutinized. His powerful prose paints a vivid picture of the elements necessary for liberation through psychedelics: set, setting, and container. As therapeutic approaches involving psychedelics gain traction, it is crucial to consider what Dr. Powers has to say about their potential impact on the liberation of Black Americans.


Ghost Camera

Jenine finds an old Polaroid camera still with film and takes a shot with it. The photo comes out with a strange bonus: a ghostly figure. The more photos she takes, the more ghosts appear in the photos. And they seem to be following her now, too, as well as her friend Bree. Then they start getting violent,t and bad things begin to happen. Is there a way to remove this curse before things get really dangerous? What will it take?

The short stories feature a woman surviving a plane crash along with another passenger, except that person starts seeming less and less human as time goes by; a creepy house stands waiting for new victims to enter its premises; and a woman finds an old shoebox of VHS tapes with the warning never to watch them.

Ghost Camera/is a perfect introduction to readers trying Darcey Coates for the first time. This is a great example of her writing ability and the great stories she comes up with. The title story draws you in, keeping you hooked to the page, and the other stories just make you want to read more of her work.


Feh: A Memoir

It's a captivating book. It's not one to read on the bus or train for reasons that become apparent right away. The ceaseless flood of cussin' and four-letter words tumbling over each other will be the envy of any kid at risk of reprimand for bad language. Far more important and memorable is Feh's humor and audacity inadequately masking his sensitivity, making for an outstanding memoir.

Feh is a page-turner no less than a high seas adventure can be. What will he say next? Can he punish himself further? And what does the title mean? It is a Yiddish word: low self-image and disgust are contenders. It's better you come up with your own definition.

Alongside the self-beatings, he confronts with grief the death of his friend, actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. Even the failed promise of a likely TV series together means less than the personal loss.

From the audacious opening, the cynical record of a destructive childhood, recurring depression, and disappointment with California after migrating from New York, the reader's shock and sympathy never wavers.

Above all, Auslander is the epitome of a loving family man. The finale is almost weepy. And it is here lies the salvation, the merit of the story.


The Frindle Files

Josh Willets is a self-described computer nerd. He loves his coding club and loves that his school makes sure every student has a laptop to use in class, but he hates that his ELA teacher, Mr. N., won’t let the kids use computers in his classroom and makes the kids write out their homework in blue or black ink on lined paper and neatness counts. Josh borrows a pen from his mom one day that has the word “frindle” written on it. When Josh does a search for that word, he discovers something pretty incredible about Mr. N. Josh tells his best friend, Vanessa, what he has found, and they come up with a plan that might free the students from Mr. N’s old-fashioned ways.

Author Andrew Clements has finally written a sequel to his very popular novel, Frindle. This fun story is completely believable and puts readers squarely in the world of fifth-graders and the issues they have to deal with. The dialogue is spot-on for the age, the story is compelling with a little mystery to drive it, and the writing is terrific. Middle-graders will be fully engaged all the way through. This is not to be missed.


The Vampire of Kings Street: A Mystery

Vampires are an ordinary occurrence, especially for those living on the upper side of New York, where they live as wardens. When a vampire named Evelyn More arrives at Radhika Dhingra’s office seeking her legal counsel to write up a will, she’s hesitant to help a vampire, but her struggling business puts her in a position where she can’t turn him away. A gorgeous star is found brutally murdered, and Mr. More is the main suspect, though he maintains his story that he’s innocent. Taking a leap of faith, Radhika decides to represent him and works to prove his story even though she’s not sure she believes it.

 This is a unique read that places a twist on vampires, and, through Mr. More, the humanity that remains in vampires is explored by presenting them as outcasts that society refuses to acknowledge as more than different. Homages to classic lore are sprinkled throughout, proving Greyling takes clear joy in poking at these tropes in original and humorous ways. The historical setting gives the writing an eloquent and charming tone, mainly seen in Radhika's brazen and clever attitude. Blending supernatural, historical, and mystery elements, The Vampire of Kings Street is a refreshing take on the vampire story with an aesthetic akin to classic mysteries that challenge society and engage in battles of wits.