Sharing the Stories

My summer was jump-packed with traveling and reading. Summer gives me the opportunity to read outside my regular genres with extra time to delve deeply into my reading and savor stories. This summer's travel included Idaho, Spain, Utah, and South Dakota. Most of my books continue to be audiobooks provided by Libro.fm, Libby, and/or Hoopla. My books came from local Indie bookstores at each location and local Free Little libraries. Reach out for extra details on any of these titles.    How to Stop Time by Matt Haig is a love story across time📚 Day Zero by Kelly deVos fast-paced moving survival story that takes step-siblings on a "save the world" type of adventure🎧 Abuela, Don't Forget Me by Rex Ogle. Heart-warming🎧 The Paris Model by Alexandra Joel on the power of taking chances📚 Happy Place by Emily Henry to survive love takes acceptance🎧 El Viento Sabe Mi Nombre (The Wind Knows My Name ) by Isabel Allende immigrant stories across time 📚 Demon Cooperhead by...

May was a month for mystery reading, unintentionally, I ended with 7 mysteries and one Greek Mythology story.   The Paris Apartment by  Lucy Foley- audiobook courtesy of Hoopla.  Jess needs her brother, Ben, the one person she can turn to when things get hard. Arriving in Paris she finds Ben gone. He seems to have just vanished leaving behind everything. Slowly Jess starts to put together that the residents of his gated apartment have the answers to his disappearance.  Great plot twists and turns, interconnected characters, and fast-paced.  The It Girl by Ruth Ware   is   a back-and-forth between present and past. College friends are turned apart when one of them is murdered. The testimony that convicts John Neville has left Hannah with more questions than answers. Could he truly have killed April? And if he didn't do it, then who?  Surprising ending. Purchased at the Literary Indie bookstore.  The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane   cou...

  April showers brought an abundance of books. The perfect balance of physical books to audiobooks, non-fiction & graphic novels to love stories, and good mysteries.  Most of my physical books were from my public and school libraries and a few Indie bookstore purchases. My audiobooks were courtesy of Sora and Libro.fm . You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith was actually an author event at Women & Children First . This rare memoir in prose from a poet proved to be insightful, and moving, with raw grief and hope for transformation.  The Lost Art of Running by Shane Benzie was another Indie bookstore purchase after completing a race. Shane's approach brings a technical/informative perspective to the art of running while incorporating a narrative of his own experiences. The Weight of Blood by Tiffany Jackson- Lincoln Award Nominee 2024- from one of my favorite authors. This mystery/horror with deadly consequences, in a town divided by a racial conflic...

I'm extra grateful this reading month for Spring Break and the chance to get lost in great stories. Lots of audiobooks thanks to libro.fm 🎧 and Libby.   Mysteries continued strong with two additional titles from the Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French . I'm loving following characters from one book to another and seeing them change, know their backstories, and figure out the mysteries together. Broken Harbor #4 The Secret Place #5 #murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil a Lincoln Nominee for 23-24 was my additional mystery. I wanted to like the story but honestly, I found it hard to follow at first, the characters were predictable, and overall the story wasn't anything new or engaging. Realistic Fiction and Romance made a comeback this month with titles I had on my TBR list and a few surprises. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt was on my TBR and a book club option. While it started to slow it quickly got a hold of my attention. With a strong resemb...

February was a month full of international mysteries. All my audiobooks, courtesy of Libro.fm and Libby were excellent mysteries. And almost by accident, all my  paper books were mysteries as well, with the exception of Kindred by Octavia E. Butler a time travel sci-fi tale that was capturing and thought-provoking.  I continued Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series with #2 The Likeness  and #3 Faithful Place . Each book gives the reader an in-depth perspective on a detective introduced in the previous books. While you could read them out of order it helps to better understand the characters to go in sequence. Each book revolves around one main mystery/murder but there are so many underlying stories to shape the main character's experiences, personalities, motives, and behaviors.   Nick Brooks's first novel Promise Boys is a mystery set in a private school run more like a military academy. Our main characters find themselves in detention with no alibi when the...

The first audiobook of February- courtesy of Libro.fm     

 And like that January is done with 9 books. A great start to this reading year with some new mysteries & thrillers, a sweet coming of age to discover who you truly are meant to be, and a solid non-fiction story.   Mystery & Thrillers: *previously reviewed. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney. A troubled marriage, isolated bed & breakfast, interconnected characters, page-turner! The House in the Pines   by Ana Reyes *  The Searcher  by Tana French. Retired police officer looking for a quiet place, a child needing help, a close community willing to keep outsiders out. In The Woods by Tana French * Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. A family reunion will expose everyone's secrets, set in a snowed-in resort, motives, and suspects abundant,  and great unexpected reveals.  Historical Fiction The House Girl   by Tara Conklin * Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid 1970's a rock band, icon...

Started the year diving into a new series  In the Woods by  Tana French  (#1 series). Audiobook.  The Dublin Murder Squad series is not going to disappoint. Detective Rob Ryan has tried to put his past away, the events of twenty years ago when he has a kid buried deep but a new case brings back all those memories. Could the two cases be connected?  Mystery Thriller Supporting my local indie bookstore Bookies   The House Girl a Novel by  Tara Conklin  connects the reader with the stories of Josephine Bell, an escaped slave house girl in 1852, and Lina Sparrow an ambitious New York city lawyer. Beautifully written each woman's story, tenacity, and passion will bring them together. A tale of redemption.  Historical Fiction The House in The Pines by  Ana Reyes . Audiobook courtesy of   libro.fm . A story of suppressed memories, murder, complicated characters, and the need for answers brings Maya back home. A unique story that keeps you ...

  November flew by with a handful of books read and many more added to the TBR list.  A good mix of audiobooks and hardcovers. A mix of sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, and strong realistic fiction. Just one non-fiction/ autobiography by Amy Roe.  All The Bad Apples by Moira Foley. Magic realism is set in Ireland. Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. Two dads coming to terms with their sons' murder seek revenge. In the process, they learn how to let go of prejudice, injustice, and racial differences. Becoming Boston Strong by Amy Roe. Inspirational as I'm getting ready to run Boston 2023. Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. Mother and son reunited under a system that punishes those that are different. The Wilderwomen by Ruth Lang. Sisters possess unique abilities, sensing and predicting past and future. Reunited to find their lost mother, they will travel far following their instincts, and meet strangers that will point them in the right direction. Sometimes not all that are wonde...

Late posting what this past reading month, October, had in the books for me. It was a month of variety with various genres, and surprisingly more actual books than audiobooks, which are my preferred option. Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry~ what could be the worst thing that happens to an atheist? For Michael that is having to attend a new school in a new town, but not just any school. A Catholic School. No friends until he meets Lucy, possibly another non-believer after she challenges a school teacher, a nun nonetheless! But Michael is in for a world of revelations.  Great humor story.  The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune. Loved this slow-building fantasy world with the most lovable characters. Linus Baker has always followed the rules until he's assigned to the Marsyas Island Orphanage where six dangerous magical youths live. His mission is to be impartial and report on his findings. But how does he that when the secrets he uncovers challenge everything he has t...

  One of my favorite Lincoln Nominees!  Del is just trying to make sure Kiera notices him and realizes what a good guy he is.  Maybe then she will decide to give him a chance. And he's willing to go all the way, he will do almost anything, including signing up for the Purity Pledge at church. What started as a deceitful way to get her attention will turn into a life-changing event for Del.  So much to unpack in this book from how we are raised to socialize differently depending on our gender, what is acceptable behavior for each gender, how old traditions are hard to change, and how to make your voices be heard it takes courage.  Highly recommend the audiobook version of this book. 

  A storm that tore their town apart will bring three troubled teenagers together.  Truths that needed to be told, a conflict that never was resolved, lives unlived looking for absolution. The ghosts from the past will guide Brenna, Joshua, and Callie if they are willing to listen.  When another tornado touches Mercer, IL on the anniversary of the tornado that killed over 50 of its residents' those left behind and three teenagers from the new generation can sense a change. The ghosts' whispers become stronger, and a few cross over to find the answers they needed years ago. However, they will help the living more than they can help those gone.  "Mistakes help us figure out who we are becoming" To move forward you have to a ccept new realities, stand strong, recognize your own worth, and know that you will be okay.  Loved this story. Each unique character, the back and forth between present and past, between the living and the dead. Each conclusion leads to a reso...

  This story will slowly capture you and grow with you.   Yadriel only has a few days before the day of the death and his chance to become a full brujo and since he wasn't given the chance to complete the ritual when he turned fifteen like others in his community he has to resort to completing the ritual on his own...what can go wrong when you summon Lady Death?   Strong characters, fast-moving plot, twists, and cliff-hanging/chapter turners. This book has it all~ family, traditions, friendships, romance, teenage angst, and hope. 

  Unforgettable. Transformative. Heartbreaking. Hopeful.  How do you move forward if you only look at the past?  A small forgotten town, a big corporation with immunity to walk away from all the damage they had caused.   Three girls with a unique bond coming of age in a town that has given them every advantage while holding them back.   Meet... Mad always doing the right thing because "it's the least she can do". Monday the analytical, questioning, by-the-rules sister. Mirabel is trapped within herself with a remarkable mind bursting to share ideas with the world. Their combined actions will forever change the future of their small town and with it their own destinies. 

Powerful. Moving. Tragic. Hopeful. Imagine navigating middle school when you already stand out because you are the poor kid in a school of wealthy kids. Imagine showing up to school with a black eye and no money for lunch. Instead, you have to tell the cashier that you are in the free lunch program, and because of that, you are made fun of endlessly.  Imagine going from a run-down apartment to living in your car to ending in housing projects. Instead, you stay behind and walk home to avoid other kids knowing where you live.  That was Rex Ogle's experience growing up in Texas, living in poverty, struggling to make friends, navigating his mom and stepdad's violent mood swings, overcoming teachers who just look at him and decide he’s trouble, to not being able to participate in sports, or having to wear handmade Halloween costumes.  Through all his experiences Rex finds moments of hope, friendship, laughter, and authenticity. Listening to the audiobook I fell in love with Re...

This collection of short stories brings together six teens under Mr. Nak's angry management group.  With a short introduction to each teen's background story, Mr. Nak sets the stage for moments in which each character shares their insecurities, their anger, and the prejudice they have lived with. But also they have the opportunity to find love, freedom, and the power of their stories.    This quick read is about surviving, hope, and the power of the human spirit. Ms. Galan

  A mystery wrapped in the past slowly unfolds the story of a "royal" heir.   What starts with the boring task of cleaning her aunt Anna's old attic will turn into an unusual discovery.  Tucked away in the attic is an old chest filled with leather-bound journals.  Could these Russian journals be the story of princess Anastasia Romanov?  In the pursuit of finding her aunt's story, Jess will travel back into a past that is hard to understand and that will challenge her desire to believe the story she wants to believe.  Beautifully written with alternating perspectives and voices. 

  “The first thing I want to say is that he, he….I can’t say his name. But, the shooter...He sat in his car before coming into the party, and he read the instructions on how to work the gun he bought the day before.” Bella has to run, she has to run because she is filled with grief and sorrow, her running is her crying and her praying and screaming. It’s her way of doing something when she doesn’t know what to do.   “I just keep running on those hot roads because I don’t know if my country will protect me and my rights, as a female, as a person who wants to be safe from violence.  It has not shown me that it will protect me, from males more powerful than me, from people who hate and intend to do harm. It has shown me that I am less than, that I am not worth being protected. It has shown recklessness with my well-being. So I run in the heat and I sweat and I push myself to persevere” Bella’s journey from Seattle to Washington D.C. is her way to deal with one evening t...