Sharing the Stories

  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...

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 ...

  When Natasha’s sister goes missing she turns her loss into anger but when no one offers any help she turns to the last resort option- magic.  Della’s family has lived in the Bend for generations creating spells for the locals desperate enough to use their magic.  When Natasha shows up for help, Della knows it won’t be as simple as creating a potion.  She starts to wonder if the beast responsible for Natasha’s sister’s disappearance is someone really close to her, someone, she has bowed to protect, but how do you protect a monster?  Falling for Natasha means deciding how far she’s willing to go. They become each other’s hope, with little to lose and more anger than the Bend can hold on to.  If you like Holly Black or series like Truly Devious this fast-paced book is for you with strong characters, an intriguing plot, symbolism, magic, and a killer cover. Ms. Galan