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Home Sweet Home
Home Sweet Home: A novel | April Smith
12 posts | 3 read | 10 to read
From the widely praised author of the FBI Special Agent Ana Grey series and A Star for Mrs. Blake, this riveting epic drama follows the Kusek family from New York City to America's heartland, where they are caught up in the panic of McCarthyism, a smear campaign, a sensational trial, and, ultimately, murder. Calvin Kusek, a WWII pilot and attorney, and his wife, Betsy, escape the 1950s conformity of New York City to relocate to a close-knit town in South Dakota. They settle on a ranch and Betsy becomes a visiting nurse, befriending a quirky assortment of rural characters. Their children, Jo and her brother Lance, grow up caring for animals and riding rodeo. Life isn't easy, but it is full and rewarding. When a seat in the State Assembly becomes available, Cal jumps at the chance to repay the community and serves three popular terms. Things change when Cal runs for the U.S. Senate. The FBI investigates Betsy, and a youthful dalliance with the Communist Party surfaces to haunt the Kuseks. Mass hysteria takes over, inflamed by Cal's political enemies. Driven by fear and hate, their neighbors turn, condemning them as enemies and spies. The American Dream falls apart overnight as the Kuseks try to protect their children from the nightmare that follows. The family is vindicated in a successful libel lawsuit, but the story doesn't end there: years later, Lance Kusek and his wife and son are brutally attacked, and the mystery then unfolds as to who committed this coldblooded murder, and are they related to the stunning events of decades earlier? From the Hardcover edition.
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Catsandbooks
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I've been having a hard time with my depression lately and it has put me in a reading slump. In more positive news though, I just fixed up my library and I'm hoping it will help with both the slump and my depression. #homelibrary

Princess-Kingofkings Looks beautiful & relaxing 📚☕️ 5y
BookwormAHN It looks fantastic 💖 5y
AkashaVampie It looks welcoming! Awww I'm sorry about ur depression! It can really suck, huh? 5y
See All 16 Comments
wanderinglynn What a lovely space! ❤️ 5y
SamanthaMarie Oh my goodness, I want to cozy up there!! ♡♡ so sorry about your depression. When it hits and sinks in... well it is just a terror. But love your willingness to try to be kind and loving to yourself ♡♡♡ 5y
Crazeedi Very lovely! Take care of yourself 💖💖 5y
rretzler I‘m sorry to hear you‘re struggling with your depression. I know first hand how hard it can be to just get out of bed in the morning let alone try to function. I hope your new space helps! Sending good thoughts your way. 5y
cobwebmoth It looks great! Sorry you've been having a hard time.❤ 5y
Megabooks Gorgeous! I hope you feel better soon! 💜 5y
Catsandbooks @AkashaVampie @SamanthaMarie @Crazeedi @rretzler @cobwebmoth @Megabooks Thank you all for the well wishes! It's not the worst my depression has ever been but still a struggle. I've been really pushing myself to stay busy. And each day is a fresh start. Thanks again for your love and support! 🥰 5y
AkashaVampie @Catsandbooks ur welcome. I understand the struggle. I've lived with depression for about half my life. Its totally sucks. I have a chronic form so it comes and goes. 5y
Catsandbooks @AkashaVampie same, I've had depression for most of my life. If you ever want to talk I'm here! 5y
AkashaVampie @Catsandbooks Thanks and same here sweetie! 5y
TK-421 Your library is beautiful! I hope it helps you get out of your slump and eases your depression. 5y
Catsandbooks @TK-421 thank you! It is definitely my favorite room in my house now! Each day I'm slowly improving 😊 5y
33 likes16 comments
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Clwojick
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Pickpick
wanderinglynn It almost makes me tired how fast you go through books! 😂😂😂 5y
Clwojick @wanderinglynn Im trying to catch up with my posts/quotes/reviews. These are all the books I‘ve read since the beginning of #BFCR2 5y
wanderinglynn Yes, but that was only a week ago! 😂 5y
See All 6 Comments
wanderinglynn You‘re my book hero. 😉 5y
Clwojick @wanderinglynn I've been averaging 2-3 audiobooks a day 😅 5y
61 likes1 stack add6 comments
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CindyMyLifeIsLit
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1. A big Victorian with lots of land.
2. Nope—I kill them all! 😁
3. Just a painting of Scarlett and Rhett.
4. Definitely read first!!
5. All of them—but especially the bathrooms! I LOATHE cleaning bathrooms! 🛀😱
#tellmetuesday

Ke633 I think most ppl have said they hate cleaning the bathroom. You are not alone! 😂 6y
27 likes1 comment
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BooksForEmpathy
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So happy to be home! I looove traveling, but am excited to spend the rest of the summer enjoying San Francisco 💕.

Leftcoastzen I wish I was in SF, but I always wish that. 6y
RealLifeReading Your place looks lovely! 6y
BarbaraBB What a great home! 6y
2BR02B You have a seriously beautiful apartment. 😍 6y
Bookzombie I love your home! 6y
89 likes5 comments
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MonicaLoves2Read

I just couldn't get into this book. May try it later, could just be me.

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TaylorMay
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I'm HOME!! from my cruise to Mexico. 💙 I had a great time but I am so happy to be home. I took a ton of books with me but there was soooo much to do I didn't even make it all the way through one! Carnival Crusie was a lot of fun though! Posting more later going to work I a few hours 😢 #SnapBackToReality #HomeAtLast

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So happy you had fun and that you are home safely!!! 😊❤️ 7y
CouronneDhiver Welcome back! I‘m glad to hear that you enjoyed it. I‘m sailing with them again in a few weeks too. ⚓️ 7y
39 likes2 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Day 36 #AfterMaria - Arrived home after an hour in traffic due to a power company crew working at an intersection nearby. First crew we see anywhere near here.

SilversReviews HUGS!! 7y
Lcsmcat Sorry about the commute, but I hope that means you‘ll get power back soon. 7y
ptkpepe98 Awesome news!!!! 7y
See All 8 Comments
Schlinkles Liked because of the hope of getting power back, sorry about the traffic! Hope things get better soon! 7y
DarcysMom Keeping my fingers crossed that the work crew means you will have electricity soon. 🤞🤞 7y
Cupofjo Guess that‘s an excusable reason to be stuck in traffic! Hope you get the power back soon! 7y
kspenmoll Hope that is a good sign! ❤️❤️ 7y
mariaku21 That's good news. fingers crossed that the more crews can get out there but I'm sorry bout the traffic. 🤞 7y
168 likes8 comments
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Lcsmcat
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1. This is our backyard, with bluebird house.
2. 5 1/2 years
3. Bacon and pancakes with berries
4. Whenever I have time
5. A tuxedo cat named Balthazar.

Reecaspieces I could read it n your backyard anytime!! I love all the green!! 7y
Lcsmcat @Reecaspieces If you can take the humidity! It's been very hot and humid this summer. 7y
Reecaspieces @Lcsmcat honey I live in Mississippi! I earned my humidity badge at birth! 😂 7y
Lcsmcat @Reecaspieces Touché! NC doesn't have anything on Mississippi. 7y
Reecaspieces @Lcsmcat ha! But you have a GORGEOUS STATE! 7y
35 likes5 comments
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MrBook
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#TBRtrmptation post! The Kusek family leaves 1950s NYC for a small South Dakota town. They get a ranch, & Betsy becomes a visiting nurse. Cal runs for State Assembly & serves 3 popular terms. Then he runs for the US Senate & the FBI notices Betsy had a dalliance with the Communist Party decades ago. Mass hysteria ensues & their community turns against them. Years later their son, Lance, & his family are murdered. Tense! #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

minkyb She is a good writer! This looks promising. 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
74 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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jlondon1963
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Pickpick

Wow!

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jlondon1963
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Today's reading space🛳