7-5-22: My 65th finished book of 2022! Book 12 in the series. Max is faced with a lot this time around. While her husband Leon and son Matthew are away, Max must deal with new adversaries in the form of bosses at St. Mary‘s. Things go horribly wrong on a jump to ancient Babylon which leads Max on a new path with an old friend. This one was highly enjoyable and fast paced. So happy there is a #13 already out! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣5️⃣

7-2-22: My 64th finished book of 2022! It‘s 1975 and Reno, a motorcycle riding artist is living in NYC. This story was a bit hard to follow and took me awhile to get through. Reno meets a group of artists, travels to Italy during a time of protests, comes back to NYC to start over after a break up and never gets her art going. The men all treat her poorly, as do most of the women. The 70s in NYC were a weird time of unrest. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣4️⃣

7-1-22: My June Book Wrap Up! It was a good month of reading! 📖⭐️

6-27-22: My 63rd finished book of 2022! Written in 1973, then 19 year old Joyce Maynard created a sharply observed coming of age during turbulent times. She discusses many topics with the voice of someone much older. She discusses many topics that interested her as she was growing up and watching the world around her especially her fellow classmates. All the topics are prevalent today. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣3️⃣

6-24-22: My 62nd finished book of 2022! Written by the amazing Gene Wilder, this slim story takes place in 1903. Jeremy Webb is a concert violinist who has a nervous breakdown during a performance. Afterwards, he is sent to a wellness spa in the outskirts of Germany to recuperate. There he meets Clara Mulpas who changes his life for the better. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣2️⃣

6-21-22: My 61st finished book of 2022! I loved Michael Cunningham‘s book-The Hours. This did not live up to that. Barrett and Tyler are brothers. Barrett, going through a breakup, sees a beautiful unexplainable light hovering over Central Park and is overcome with the question of its meaning. Meanwhile, Tyler is caring for his dying wife while trying to write her a wedding song and failing to kick a drug habit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣1️⃣

6-18-22: My 60th finished book of 2022! Lovely story about half sisters who inherit their aunt‘s house in the Hamptons. The will states they must sell and also find the thing of utmost value. While they search for it they encounter men from their pasts, a “fool” artist in residence, Jackson Pollack, The Great Gatsby and parties galore. Comical, romantic, nostalgic and moving. I enjoyed this one immensely. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣0️⃣

6-16-22: My 59th finished book of 2022! Reggie Heath and his brother Nigel, are attorneys who lease a famous address: 221b Baker Street. Upon signing the lease, they agreed to answer the many letters addressed to Sherlock Holmes. One in particular, from 20 years ago, causes such a stir that a trip to LA with murder, mystery and mayhem thrown in, will set the brothers on two different paths to the truth. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣9️⃣

6-15-22: My 58th finished book of 2022! 80 year old Alice Liddell, the muse of Alice in Wonderland, reflects on her life. From being the 7 year old Alice of the famous story, to the 11 year old who may or may not have had an emotional and possibly physical relationship with the author, Lewis Carroll, to the grown woman, married with 3 sons, trying to not be “that” Alice. Fascinating, sad, and a little uncomfortable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣8️⃣

6-12-22: My 57th finished book of 2022! Anjelica Huston tells an interesting tale of growing up in Ireland, London and New York. Her famous father, John Huston, a director of many movies and her primary ballerina mother, separated when she was a girl and she and her brother and later on her half siblings, were constantly moving. This book follows her modeling career. There is a second one which is about her movie career. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣7️⃣

6-9-22: My 56th finished book of 2022! Esme Garland is from England and living in NYC. She is getting her PhD in art history at Columbia University. In her spare time she works at a secondhand bookstore called The Owl. She befriends the kooky owner and staff and makes lasting friendships. Her life takes some turns but in the end she alway has The Owl. I love stories about bookstores. That would be the perfect job for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣6️⃣

6-7-22: My 55th finished book of 2022! Fast paced story told from the perspective of 4 people. The opening of an exclusive club on an island. The PA, the manager, the brother of the owner and the head of house keeping, take turns describing the launch weekend that will end in death and confusion. Kept me guessing until the end with lots of twists along the way. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣5️⃣

6-5-22: My 54th finished book of 2022! I‘m 1970,Bean, 12, and her sister Liz, 15, live in a small town in California. Their Mom is a singer who is always trying to find herself. One day, she doesn‘t return home and after being alone for too long, the girls decide to travel to their uncle in Virginia. Once there, they start school and get jobs and try to live a normal life. Until their employer gets out of hand. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣4️⃣

6-4-22: My 53rd finished book of 2022! Eileen, 24, is a lonely woman working in a boys prison in 1964. She lives with her father, a drunk who is slowly dying, and she dreams of leaving home to never return. Then Rebecca starts working at the prison and Eileen can‘t help but be in awe of this woman‘s style and grace. When Eileen and Rebecca become involved in a crime it takes all Eileen has not to lose herself and her dreams of escape.

6-2-22: My 52nd finished book of 2022! I absolutely love Viola Davis. I‘ve loved everything she has ever been in. This book is a harrowing journey through a devastating childhood, and on through to college and finally her career. She talks a lot about her upbringing and family. It was a tough environment to thrive in but she found a way. Very inspiring. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣2️⃣

6-2-22: My library book haul!! 📖📚

5-31-22: My May Book Wrap Up! Lots of 5 Stars this month including and especially the tagged book. ⭐️📖👍🏼

5-30-22: My 51st finished book of 2022! I LOVED this book! On the night Alice Stern turns 40, she wakes up to find she is 16 again. What I wouldn‘t give to be 16 again, just so I could see my Dad and laugh with him. Alice is able to spend time with her Dad and best friend, but does she do anything that might change her life when she is back to being 40? This book delves into the idea of fixing our pasts but at what cost? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣1️⃣

5-27-22: My 50th finished book of 2022! A true crime blogger gets the opportunity to interview the woman acquitted of two cold-case slayings that occurred in 1977 in Oregon. The story goes back and forth between the murders in 1977 and present day 2017. Beth Greer is the enigmatic possible murderess and Shea Collins is the blogger whose whole life turns upside down when she is approached to interview Beth. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣0️⃣

5-24-22: My 49th finished book of 2022! Inspired by a true story. In 1972, 3 light keepers go missing without a trace. In 1992, an author shows up to interview the significant others left behind after the disappearances, trying to come up with some answers. Told in both time periods by 6 different voices this story was actually quite sad. Loss, loneliness, neglect, are just a few of the topics touched upon. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣4️⃣9️⃣

5-23-22: My 48th finished book of 2022! This book surprised me in the best way possible. After a minor altercation with undercover cops, Pepper is brought to New Hyde Hospital‘s psychiatric ward for a 72 hour hold. While 72 hours becomes months, Pepper befriends a varying group of residents, including Dorry, Coffee and Loochie. Their friendship turns into a solidarity that helps Pepper manage his new situation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣4️⃣8️⃣

5-20-22: My 47th finished book of 2022! Beautifully written story about a small coastal California town and it‘s inhabitants. Walk, chief of police, helped to convict his best friend, Vincent, of murder when they were 15 years old. Now, it‘s 30 years later and Vincent is finally free. Duchess, a 13 year old “outlaw”, is the star of this book, the protector of her brother Robin and single mom Star. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣4️⃣7️⃣

5-18-22: My 46th finished book of 2022! Bree, a mother of 3, is happily married and living the high life. One day, her infant son is stolen from her. The thief, also a mother, contacts Bree to give her instructions on how to get the baby back. The instructions are simple but have a deadly consequence forcing Bree into a spiral of tragedy and haunting secrets that could end her happy life. Rough content. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣4️⃣6️⃣

5-15-22: My 45th finished book of 2022! This book was insane, in a good way. Oliver, a 15 year old empath, and his parents, Nate an ex Philly cop, and Maddie an artist, move out of Philly to Oliver‘s grandfathers home. What lies in wait for them is otherworldly. A dead serial killer, multiple realities and versions of themselves, ghosts, art that comes alive. The family must band together to make it through. Very fast paced and exciting!

5-11-22: My 44th finished book of 2022! What a ride! Jess, a barmaid from London, shows up at her brother, Ben‘s, apartment in Paris, to find him missing. The apartment house has a full cast of characters, an alcoholic, a nice guy, a socialite, a young girl who seems to be losing it and the concierge who knows all. As Jess ingratiates herself into their world to learn more about her brother‘s disappearance many scary facts emerge.

5-10-22: My 43rd finished book of 2022! Wow! This book was gruesome and kept me on the edge of my seat! Andrea Oliver is thrust into a terrifying situation after a trip to the mall ends in a violent act. She sees her mother, Laura, in a new light and must embark on a journey to save herself and her mom from her traumatizing past. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣4️⃣3️⃣ Can‘t wait to see the TV series on Netflix!

4-5-22: My 42nd finished book of 2022! Laguna Beach, California, 1968. 16 year old Matt Anthony lives with his stoned Mom and sister, while his brother is fighting in Vietnam. When his sister, Jasmine, goes missing Matt must figure out a way to make the cops believe she isn‘t just another hippie runaway. LSD, Timothy Leary and cast of eccentric characters play a big role in this coming of age novel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣4️⃣2️⃣

From 4-30-22: My April Book Wrap Up! 📖

5-2-22: My 41st finished book of 2022! Book 8 in the Bridgerton series. This is the final book in the series and I hate to see it end. This one is about the youngest Bridgerton, Gregory. All he wants is to fall in love. Will it be Hermione or Lucy? Also, someone is being blackmailed and forced to marry to keep their title. This one has more intrigue than others and I liked the pacing. I hope the series continues to follow the books.

4-28-22: My 40th finished book of 2022! A disgraced professor moves to San Francisco in 1974 and rents a small office to work on a lecture series. Next door is Dr. Shussler a therapist who uses a sound machine to disguise her patient‘s voices. All except one. And it is that one that the professor comes to listen to once a week and eventually help anonymously in finding her Jewish roots and her real mother. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣4️⃣0️⃣

4-24-22: My 39th finished book of 2022! Absolutely loved this! June Jones, a library assistant in Chalcot, the small village she has lived in all her life, has crippling shyness. When faced with the possibility of her library being shut down, she bands together with a misfit crew of library patrons to help save it. Along the way, she must face her fears and stand up for what she believes in. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣9️⃣

4-22-22: My 38th finished book of 2022! Book 6 in the Dexter series. When Dexter is seen during one of his “excursions” he is thrust into a world of looking over his shoulder as his witness starts to threaten him. With tables turned onto him, Dexter must handle his witness and figure out who is smashing up police officers in his unit, with the help of his sister Deb. This one was a lot better than the last 2. It kept me guessing⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣8️⃣

4-18-22: My 37th finished book of 2022! I really didn‘t enjoy this one. The subject matter is disturbing. We are in the mind of Quentin P. He is on probation for sexual misconduct with a minor. He is trying to find someone to be his “zombie”. Someone who will do his bidding without complaint. While being a caretaker for a boarding house, he comes up with deviant plans to achieve his goal. Not my favorite Oates novel. ⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣7️⃣

4-17-22: Happy Easter 🐣 My 36th finished book of 2022! When Lux and Nico decide to leave their lives in Maui to charter a boat ride to a deserted island for 2 girls named Amma and Brittany, they have no idea what the girls history together is and what it will mean for them. Upon arriving, they meet Eliza and Jake and all goes well for awhile, until it doesn‘t. I liked it but only gave it 3 stars because the ending felt rushed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣6️⃣

4-14-22: My 35th finished book of 2022! When Katy Silver loses her mother to cancer, she is left lost and bereft feeling as though not only her mom but her best friend has died. They had planned a mother-daughter trip to Poistano and Katy decides to take the trip alone. This book is a love letter to Italy and to the bond between mothers and daughters. I would have loved to travel to Italy with my Mom. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#️⃣3️⃣5️⃣

4-13-22: My 34th finished book of 2022! I feel like I read two books rolled into one. While I wanted to read about the murder of Maurizio Gucci ordered by his wife Patrizia, I got more of a story about the family business of Gucci with some murder sprinkled in. The business side of Gucci is extensive and while interesting it wasn‘t what I was looking for. I do look forward to finally seeing the movie. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣4️⃣

4-8-22: My 33rd finished book of 2022! When Georgia finds out her fiancé is keeping a secret from her one week before their wedding she flees home to her family‘s Sonoma County vineyard to figure things out. Faced with a family full of issues she wasn‘t aware of, Georgia wants to try to fix everything and everyone, but she must fix herself first. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️?#️⃣3️⃣3️⃣

4-6-22: My 32nd finished book of 2022! 2008, Obama has just won the presidency. Ruth Tuttle, an Ivy-League educated black engineer is happily married and her husband is itching to start a family. But Ruth harbors a secret. She had to give up a baby at the age of 17. She promised she would never look back but now has decided to return home to Indiana to seek her son out. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣2️⃣

4-4-22: My 31st finished book of 2022! Ward, our narrator, is being interviewed in 1988 about his time at a ranch in Reno, Nevada, called The Flying Leap in 1938. He was a ranch hand at this establishment that catered to women going through divorces. They had to reside in Reno for 6 weeks before they were allowed to divorce and Ward was there to assist. Ward tells of his time with Emily and Nina, two divorcees he became close with.

4-2-22: My 30th finished book of 2022! Molly the maid loves her cleaning position at the Regency Grand Hotel. She takes it and life very seriously. She has lost her Gran and lives alone but loves her work until one day she finds a dead body in one of the suites. From there we are thrust into a murder mystery with many players attached. Molly has to prove her innocence and help catch a killer. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣0️⃣

3-31-22: My March Book Wrap Up! 👏🏼📖⭐️

3-29-22: My 29th finished book of 2022! Travis can find people by touching objects and he has been hired to find the author, Maggie St. James. After getting his truck stuck in the snow, Travis disappears, as well. Meanwhile, out past that truck is a place called Pastoral, where people live by the land and fear going past its borders. The story comes together beautifully as we follow the lives of Calla, Theo and Bee. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣9️⃣

3-26-22: My 28th finished book of 2022! What a fantastic memoir. JR moved to Manhasset with his mom when he was 7, into the “shit house” filled with an eclectic cast of characters. The biggest character, though, was the bar down the road, Publicans, where his uncle Charlie bartended. We go through JR‘s life from 7 through to adulthood and all his trials and tribulations and Publicans is usually at the center of things. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣8️⃣

3-23-22: My 27th finished book of 2022! This book alternates between Lillian in 1919 and Veronica in 1966. Lillian, an artist‘s model who is running from a scandal gets hired to be the personal secretary of Helen Frick, whose father was the owner of the Frick mansion and museum in NYC. Veronica, a fashion model, visits the Frick and helps solve a 50 year old mystery, bringing all the characters together. Love this author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣7️⃣

3-20-22: My 26th finished book of 2022! Jane Shoringfield proposes a marriage of convenience to Dr. Augustine Lawrence. He accepts on the condition that she never enter his family home. Due to circumstances beyond their control, she enters it anyway and comes face to face with a brand new reality full of horror, mystery and magic. This book moved along very slowly for me which was frustrating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

3-15-22: My 25th finished book of 2022! Remy and Alicia are service workers who live together with their roommate, Jake. They have an obsession with Remy‘s old coworker, Jen. They follow her Instagram posts and role play with her as the lead. After running into Jen, they are invited to a surf weekend in the Hamptons. Things don‘t go well and from this a horror story unfolds. This book was bizarre. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣5️⃣

3-11-22: My 24th finished book of 2022! Book 7 in the Bridgerton series. Hyacinth, the youngest of the Bridgerton girls is on her 3rd year of making the marriage rounds when she meets Gareth the grandson of Lady Danbury, who Hyacinth reads to every Tuesday. Gareth is not looking for love or marriage but this is a romance novel so he finds it in the most unlikely place. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣4️⃣

3-8-22: My 23rd finished book of 2022! Written in the form of a true crime podcast, this is the story of Cleo Ray, a fitness influencer on Instagram/Twitter/YouTube. Cleo is accused of drowning her lover, Beck Alden. What follows is the account of the death, the police, attorneys and jurors perspectives, and the outcome of the trial. It was an interesting story but annoying to read in podcast form. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣3️⃣

3-6-22: My 22nd finished book of 2022! Elise, an 11 year old girl, literally lives inside the walls, nooks and crannies, of her old home. After the death of her parents, with nowhere to go, Elise arrives at her old home, now occupied by a new family. The teenage boys who live there are positive that something is in their house, eating their food and moving their stuff. Will they figure out who‘s there? ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣2️⃣

3-4-22: My 21st finished book of 2022! Jane is a dog walker in a gated community called Thornfield Estates when she meets Eddie Rochester. He is recently widowed, his wife Bea drowned in a boating accident with her best friend. Jane and Eddie fall for each other quickly but Jane is trying to live up to the image Bea has left behind. Fans of Jane Eyre will enjoy this retelling of the classic. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣1️⃣