I loved this. Three women find the braver, happier, stronger versions of themselves as they work through the grieving process. The neighbors, be they in London or Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, are quirky and feisty. I laughed so hard I cried.

A girl‘s gotta do what a girl‘s gotta do and Kitty Talbot needs to marry a rich man to pay off family debts and keep a roof over her sisters‘ heads. She has the ruthlessness and strategy of a General and she will get her man. This was a fun, rather tame historical romance.

A young woman wants to become a journalist and instead finds herself working as a typist for a women‘s advice column where “unpleasantness” is not discussed. In WWII London during the Blitz, there is plenty of unpleasantness to discuss. As Emmy and her friends try to navigate love, friendship, and fire brigades, life continues on. This has the perfect blend of humor and tragedy, bravery and fear. The characters are great.

This intense thriller is set in an isolated, off the grid community. Atmospheric and steeped in suspense.

This has been a very enjoyable series. Romantic suspense with puzzles and twists galore.

This WWI novel is bursting with coincidences. Even in the chaos of war, the five protagonists and their families keep running into each other. Hearts change miraculously and lucky escapes are plentiful

I thought I had read this before but I didn‘t remember it. Very sad and depressing.

This paranormal romance/mystery was light on character development and sizzle.

If you are looking for a plot, these connected stories will not be for you. However, if you are looking for an untethered timeline which allows the emphasis of the bonds between people and place and the demons hiding within, look no further. This will hit that sad, dark, tense spot in your psyche.

The atmosphere is great but the story isn‘t as complete as i would like.

Gratz‘s writing is spare. There are no poetic flourishes but he can write amazing stories of survival. Climate change and teens trying to survive make this a compelling read.

A blend of fact and fiction. I wish it had been told chronologically as it was sometimes confusing as to which hospitalization Odder was referring.

The perfect Christmas romance. Packed full of humor and great characters.

This could have been great but the plot lost momentum, the characters were ill-defined set pieces, and there were too many storylines.

Fun, heartwarming, and just lovely. The characters were all fantastic and the growth of the protagonists was exceptional.

A murder in fly-over country brings an unlikely pair of sleuths together to investigate. The midwestern atmosphere may give you the feeling you‘ve found home amidst the wheat fields but the search for a murderer will have you gritting your teeth. Looking forward to more by this author.

This story is much like the male protagonist, crude but with an underlying sweetness. This is a light pick because of the character growth. The female protagonist should have been placed up for sainthood for dealing with this guy. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for a DRC.

Better than the other Burning Cove books but not in the same league as the Victorian novels. The romance is flat but the mystery is better.

It started out intensely creepy and lost a bit of steam along the way. TW: childhood cancer. The writing was beautiful.

This engaging mystery set in a “new-to-you” store was fun and thoughtful. The characters were great, especially the ghost mouse, although I would have liked to see some growth in the adult characters. Also, I wish the author had trusted in her story to get her point across without hurling herself up on her soapbox at the end. Still, it was great fun in a unique setting. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC. This book is 175 pages worth of a few good questions and many repetitive statements, exclamation points, and generalizations.

The characters in this series are unique and lovely. This mystery was confounding between the financial and mechanical aspects. It was a bit much. However, the intrigue and adventure carried it along.#cloakanddagger22

Lots of twists and turns. I wish there would have been an epilogue.

This felt like a medication pamphlet aimed at kids. A look into the dark days of ADHD and the “miracle” drug ritalin.

Evans does a stellar job detailing the determination, intelligence, and perseverance shown by this neurosurgeon and helicopter pilot. She managed to finish her medical training in Nazi occupied France and then volunteered to serve in Vietnam during France‘s conflict there. The only question left unanswered is Andre‘s thoughts regarding working for the oppressive foreign regime instead of suffering under it. Thanks to Edelweiss & publisher for DRC.

The illustrations are fantastic. The story doesn‘t have much of a lead up but just jumps into it. The story is fast paced. The characters are fun but have no depth. The villain‘s ties to the original heroes are never divulged.

The scientific method helps a budding scientist and her friends find the “new bug” invading, and consuming, their neighborhood. The social commentary is nuanced. Every kid has felt ignored by adults at some time even these kids whose parents are very present and engaged. This was a unique , humorous , and clever story.

Just starting this one. So far, incredibly fascinating.

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this Digital advance copy. “Speculation” provides the reader with engaging characters, an intense mystery, family drama, historical insight, and fantastical elements. For kids, it might be hard to place the historic time period in which this story takes place. The ending felt a bit rushed. It was a treat to spend time in this world and with these characters. Die out: 2/14/23.

Double and triple-crossing pirates, a treasure, an isolated island, and oh so much rum. A grand adventure story.

The lack of quotation marks and an ending momentarily distracted me from this dismal story.

Finally finished my puzzle no thanks to my helper.

A beautifully woven story of two distinct yet linked realities and the dangers and joys in each. #skodenreadathon2022. Thanks to the Big Library Read for the opportunity to share in this ode to storytelling.

Wow. This was intense. A definite “must read”. This should be used in school. #nonfictionnovember22

Release date: Jan 23, 2023. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance digital copy. If you like Emily Henry, this will be your type of romance. Humor and romance bump up against realistic life issues. The side characters are wonderful in their own right and aren‘t just there to advance the plot. Check it out.

I need to further my knowledge and revisit this. It is very academic. #nonfictionnovember22 #skodenreadathon22

I needed something sweet after reading about genocide. This was perfect.

An intense account by a foreigner of the Rwandan genocide. He was a missionary and knew the people being murdered in the streets. It was a pretty short and occasionally frustrating account. He didn‘t always explain some of the basics…his wife sent him money but how did he get it when he couldn‘t leave the house. #nonfictionnovember22

This was very academic; however, it provided great information regarding disparities in reproductive healthcare. Gurr contrasts her pregnancy experiences with those available to Indigenous women. Our healthcare system tends to place profits over the health of citizens and this becomes even more evident when differences in class, race, and culture are involved. A depressing but necessary read. #nonfictionnovember22

This book made me ugly cry right before work. It is such a beautiful look at found family, friendship, acceptance, and grief.

A fun middle grade vampire story. Lots of family, friendship, and danger. Very atmospheric. I wish there were an ending.

This romance has the hopefulness and witty dialogue but it also squarely faces the racism, sexism, and xenophobia exposed when kids of color get major parts in the local theater production. #skoden

Friendship and difficult familial relationships form the plot of this middle grade story of resilience and science.

Creepy. A great Halloween read. Atmospheric and intense.

I didn‘t get much out of this book. Lots of symbolism and no ending. The first part was great but it lost me somewhere along the way.

There isn‘t a doubt, this could have been a much better book with a more traditional timeline and focused plot.

Transcendent. A story of being who you are meant to be. There is a wonderful feeling of community.

An intense tale of survival. Why these explorers trusted people with little to no experience to prepare the supplies their lives would depend on, I just can‘t fathom. I didn‘t understand where the Author obtained first hand accounts from the Amazonian tribesmen. I didn‘t see such information listed in the bibliography. I hope i just missed it.

The beginning was great with massive emotions and snappy dialogue. The ending was sweet. But there is a definite “no go” action which brought the whole tale down a notch.

Grab a great Middle-grade survival story. There are too many adventures in this babysitting gig! A quick, intense read!