Dana Stabenow has written another mystery set in the Park in Alaska. PI Kate Shugak is on the job this time trying to assist State Trooper “Chopper Jim” solve a murder. The regular characters are nice people. Mutt the half wolf dog plays an important part in entire series. Winter is cold in Alaska, bringing the residents closer. How many will die before the killer is captured? 4⭐️

A double love story in two different generations. World War II with two people very much in love. A baby boy born of the love of his parents. Born in England and then headed to Colorado. The granddaughter trying to sort through all the paperwork of her grandmother after passed away. A modern love story with the granddaughter and the author who had been hired to complete the grandmother hadn‘t finished. 4.25🌟

The intriguing story of black women who were hired to work in the 1940s in order to help the country win the space race. The was lots of discrimination during the early years. The women were referred to as “computers,” working the mathematical computations before computers (in today‘s sense.) Some were school teachers. The women were kept in lower level jobs because people didn‘t believe they could do better than men. Interesting book. 4🌟

This novel is a love story on many levels. There‘s the love of parents, love of friends, love of spouses. There are tragic moments when a man is convicted of a crime he didn‘t commit and is sentenced to prison. The novel is mostly filled with letters written while the man is in prison. There is lots of passion and pain. When the attorney finally is able to get the man‘s conviction overturned, he heads home and everything has changed. 3.75⭐️

Jack Schmidts is the owner of a seaside restaurant which has been in his family since his grandmother opened it. Jack doesn‘t have any living family and he spends most of his time at the restaurant. A large corporation wants to buy his successful restaurant. Jack thinks it might be time. His employees love him & he feels they‘re almost family. This novels well written and the author pulls you in and allows you to be part of the story. 4.5⭐️

This is a dark novel with lots of gory details. A Navajo forensic photographer finds herself wrapped up with the ghosts of those she has taken pictures of. They weigh heavily on her shoulders. She‘s also drawn in a serial killer‘s lair. These ghosts also fill Rita Todacheene‘s head. The serial killer has formed his own dangerous religion. Rita and her colleagues try to catch him before he kills again. Will they save his next victim? 4⭐️

Assistant District Attorney Nina Frost is really good at her job. She tries very hard to do the best she can to prosecute sexual predators. Then comes the day when her 5 yr old son is sexually abused. When the man, her priest, is brought into the court Nina acts in unexpectedly and shoots him at point blank range. This is all on tape. Nina has to pay for her sins. No one should be above the law. Was the outcome expected? 4⭐️

What a memoir! From extreme poverty and child abuse and eventually becoming a star. One thing for absolute certainty was her desire to make something of herself. This book had my heartfelt sympathy for any child living in a “dirt poor” situation. 4.5⭐️

This book really makes the reader think about race relations in our country. The way we look at the differences of how races interact show in our own lives. Twin sisters, one looking black and the other light enough to pass as white. The novel touches on many aspects of life. I enjoyed reading it. 4.5⭐️

A novel taking us back to 1989 and the Danvers MA field hockey team. The area was famous for the Salem Witch Trials and hangings. The girls feeling a bit of the long lasting effects of black-magic, they have decided to try magic themselves to see if it will help them win games. They have a great season. The girls head back years later to attend a wedding and have quite the reunion. This was a fun read with lots nostalgia for me. 4.75/5

In looking for a book set in Iowa, I found this one set in Nevada, Iowa. This novel‘s plot was hard to follow. It seemed to jump from one place and topic to another. The first section was quite interesting and I was left wondering about the VHS tapes and who exactly taped over the original recordings. Not a favorite of mine but I gave it 3/5

This novel was set in the mountains of the northern Appalachians. A father and his daughter are living in seclusion. The father has had a difficult time with PTSD after serving in the military. The land they live on is owned by a friend from the service. Isolation is the only life the daughter knows. The past and its challenges were easier when the girl was younger. She needs to become part of the world. 4.5/5

The scene was Glacier National Park. The story had some interesting details about black bears and grizzlies. The characters were interesting and had lots of experiences in the Park. The park ranger, Anna Pigeon is researching and trying to track the bears. The bears are substantially smaller than Alaskan bears, yet large enough to be frightening. There is a murder to solve and mysteries enough to encourage the reader. 4-5

Ms Gay bares her soul to tell us her story about her battle with her weight. She divulges how she was gang raped as at age 12 by a group of boys. She is open and honest about how she felt herself to be unworthy of being a “good girl” and therefore not worthy of being loved. It is really disappointing to know and understanding that people are very disrespectful towards morbidly obese people. It‘s hard to see anyone treated this way. 5/5

Hearts, sometimes even the best need help. A doctor who knows broken hearts steps away from his profession. A young girl with an unhealthy dying heart becomes friends with the man the doctor has become. Disastrously, the girl needs a new heart because hers is pumping towards its end. Will a donor heart arrive in order to save her life? Will the best transplant surgeon return to his profession? Grab a box of tissues as you‘ll need them. 5/5

This was a novel full of twists and unexpected turns. An ICU nurse is caring for a young woman who was severely injured when she jumped or was pushed from a bridge. There are issues of women being raped and assaulted in the neighborhoods near the hospital. Police are trying to find the rapist are also trying to determine whether the woman in the ICU was shoved off the bridge. Many angles and circumstances had me wondering…..4.25/5

The Fairytale Killer by LJ Bourne is a novel about a viscous serial killer who dresses his victims like the the princesses in fairytales. The victims are most definitely tortured. The investigators find horrific scenes when the victims are found. The monster responsible for the murders is savage. The Fairytale Killer is a standalone story. 4/5

Housekeeping is a novel by Marilynne Robinson. It is slow-paced. The characters are different and certainly were not raised in a normal household. The setting was in the far west town of Fingerbone, Idaho. The story has some tragic history with the grandfather and the mother. The sisters weren‘t especially close once they grew up. 3/5

I certainly wasn‘t sure what to expect with this novel. It found it to be an interesting and engaging story. Gus, Mac and Theo were the main characters. Gus was an attorney, Mac a PI and Theo was a budding writer. There were many twists and turns, including a trip from Lawrence Kansas to Australia and back. Murders happened and scandals were running rampant. There wasn‘t any time when things stood still. A medium paced tale. 4/5

The true story of Lauren Spierer, a young college student who seemingly disappears in early June of 2011. Lauren had been partying with several other young people. She had a history of problems with drugs and alcohol. She was most definitely drunk and had been doing drugs earlier the night she vanished. Life goes on and yet it doesn‘t for her loved ones. At least one person knows what happened. Someone knows more than they are telling. 4/5

This novel was a story of true love. The love of humanity, the love of a wife and husband, the love of parents for their children, the love of family and the love of history. It‘s hard to imagine the history showing how different races could be so ugly. The characters here are easy to love and understand. The story was similar to a jigsaw puzzle and getting all the pieces together was rewarding. 4.5/5

A simple cozy murder mystery. The novel is set in a campground in Normal, Kentucky. The characters are “cutesy” and not very complex. I read this in a bit less than five hours. Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, will find it an easy read. 3/5

This cozy mystery was enjoyable and a light read. I enjoyed the characters, especially the Standard Poodle, Captain Haviland. This novel brought up mixed feelings about development on the coastline. The writers group individuals were each in the process of trying to write a book. Cozy mysteries are what I refer to as “fluff” meaning they for fun. I gave this a 4/5 stars

Set in the Florida Everglades this thriller begins with bodies being discovered in barrels and in in many other locations. The FBI & the FDLE are on the search for the killer(s). There are layers of corruption and evil dwelling all around. The culprits are wrapped up around “the archangel.” Church leaders and politicians are entwined in the novel. Tensions are tight as the killers are identified. 4.25/5

The second novel is the Lord Peter Wimsey series. A cozy mystery written in 1926. The story takes place in the countryside estate of Lord Peter‘s brother Gerald. Gerald is hunting with his soon to be brother-in-law. Lord Peter sees the headline saying his brother has been arrested and rushes to solve the crime. The humor of the English is ever present. This novel could be read as a standalone book or part of the series. 4/5.

This thriller is book 5 in the series of 6 featuring an FBI agent Abby Kane. The setting is San Francisco‘s Chinatown. The mastermind of a killing game turns the tables and sends the killer teams out to kill Abby and her family. The family is being secluded in a secret location for their safety. The novel takes many twists and turns. This thriller keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. 4/5

This novel is set in the Canadian woodland. A family of four goes to a backwater lake for one last camping trip before winter. When Sarah Anderson awakes the next morning she discovers her husband is missing. The weather is turning harsh. Sarah & her kids are full of panic and anxiety. The area is searched and Matt isn‘t found. The family goes back to home. The mystery remains. Matt has lots of secrets. Will he be found? 3.75/5

This novel is set in upstate New York. The characters are quite interesting & mostly well liked. Holly is a struggling playwright. Holly, her girlfriend Nisa, and two other friends travel to the Mansion outside a small village. The house appears to be haunted with a reputation of someone from each group of renters going missing. The author adds an edge of fairies into the mix adding a magical element to the novel. 4/5

This novel is set in the four corners region and on the Navajo Nation. The main characters are Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee. Navajo Police Officer Delbert Nez is killed. While searching for the murderer, lots of corruption is discovered. Leaphorn & Chee won‘t stop until they solve the crime. The Navajo lifestyle is always present and explained to those who desire knowledge of life of Indigenous peoples. 4/5

DCI Evan Warlow is recruited to come back to work in order to solve the mystery of the bodies found along a walking path near the ocean. The couple had gone missing 8 years before while DCI was still on the force. This novel certainly had all the elements of a true crime with unexpected twists. The investigation uncovers details of corruption and additional deaths. A good mystery set in Great Britain. 4/5

The novel is set 15 years in the past and in the present in Vermont . The mystery surrounds the disappearance of Lisa, a 12 year old girl. The clue may come from a tale Lisa shared with her younger brother Sam. “The King of the Fairies” was going to marry Lisa & make his Queen. Sam & his girlfriend Phoebe try to solve the mystery. The twists are strange but certainly are alluring. Will Sam & Phoebe solve the mystery? 3.75/5

This is a cozy mystery. The family was to gather at the country house for the reading of Flo‘s last will and testament. A huge winter snowstorm hits and the family gets snowed in. The power goes out and the family decides to light the fireplace for warmth and comfort. The lawyer is found dead in the woodshed. It appears a family member must be the killer. Will more family members be killed before the murderer is discovered? 4/5.

If you like reading about the search for mythical creatures, you probably will enjoy this book. The search is on for a creature in Lake Michigan. The mystery was fun. I liked the characters, especially Morgan and her dog Newt. I gave it 4/5.

This was memoir written after he was attacked with a knife. I found it interesting because Mr. Rushdie telling the reader how he felt during the attack and then during his recovery. It is hard to imagine any of this ordeal. 4/5

A teacher saw outside the school with a bomb strapped to his body. The former student who had some difficulties with some teachers. He wants to get them together in one place. The teacher is able to save that situation. Deeper issues surface. Lots of trouble before the novel ends. A twist I didn‘t expect changed the ending. Well written 4.5/5

I‘m not liking this new format of posting reviews. I didn‘t pan this book. I gave it 4/5 rating

Ruth Ware had written a mystery based on a reality television show. When a strong storm hits the island in the South Pacific, the contestants begin to die. One by one, in strange ways, the death toll rises. Those on the island can‘t see a way to leave the uninhabited island. There is not a source of fresh water. Food and bottled water are having to be rationed. Each day new problems arise. Will they be rescued or all die trying? 4/5

An installation in the Millennium series. I read this as a stand alone book. Originally written in Swedish and translated into English. The characters were different from I expected. I believe I would have enjoyed the book more if I understood the background more accurately. If you‘re going to read it start at the beginning in Book one. 3/5

Sara, Will, Faith and Amanda are back in full force in this novel. The subject of rape is foremost all throughout the book. Rape is a tough topic for all, including these characters. Sara, Will and Faith try to solve the mysteries surrounding the last two incidents because of the similarities in them. The solution is inconceivable as Amanda is brought in to bring the answers forward. This could easily trigger rape victims. 4.5/5

The first novel I‘ve read by Terry Pritchett. It‘s 1916 on the Western Front where Private Percy Blackney awaken on the grass. Where he hears birds singing and the breeze stirring in the leaves. The novel has “steppers” who are able to travel from one world to others. There are lots of humorous little tales and the fiction wound up in the book. The characters are definitely different. It was a fun read. 4/5

The first novel in a series by Nancy Mehl. This fast moving story has FBI agent Kaely Quinn trying to figure out the mind of a serial killer. Kaely has an unusual way of identifying and communicating with the suspect. The killer sends a poem to a reporter and it has messages hidden within for Kaely to puzzle out in order to find connected former cases she has a connection to. 4.26/5

This book was a great read for me at this time as my mother is her her final hours or days. The suggestions from the mother are pretty good. I don‘t think many people are ready to say goodbye that final time. The feelings of loss are real. They never go away, but they get easier as we accept our new normal. Some of the suggestions actually made me chuckle. However, many of them will be used in the coming days. 4.5/5

A romance short novel with a strong physical attraction between two adults. Delilah and Cody. They try to keep their relationship secret by appearing to be just coworkers. They are not as successful as they would like. This isn‘t a stand alone novel, it‘s a prequel. I‘m more into the thriller and mystery books. I don‘t plan on delving into the series. 3/5

The ghosts are busy in London. The story has three ghost hunters who try to calm ghosts who have been trapped. Armed with all the normal ghost hunting tools and techniques Lockwood, Lucy and George are ready to help. After a bumbling case they need to redeem themselves by spending the night in the most haunted house in the city. This story is a fun read. 4/5

Freida McFadden didn‘t disappoint with this novel. There were so many twists I wasn‘t sure how it would end. Sam and Abby have been married for years and have been unsuccessful in having a baby. Monica, Abby‘s assistant volunteers to be a surrogate for them. Lots of things go wrong, of course. The characters were wrapped up some I liked and others were not good humans. 4/5

This novel has a young girl who has been kidnapped. Cady Bennett is contacted by her estranged father and asked to bring her search and rescue dogs to the Sierra Glade forest to track this child. Cady‘s son Jude, adopted daughter Kira and their neighbor Free go with their dogs. The three teenagers hope someday they will be working to find people. The book kept my attention and I liked the characters. 4.25/5

This novel had lots of challenges for the characters. Love and loss. A boy dies as a result of cancer. The mom died tragically and the dad tries unsuccessfully to commit suicide. The dad see a picture of a boy who has been kidnapped. He becomes obsessed with finding the missing boy. The father of another missing boy becomes involved. Another boy is kidnapped. Will the children be found? There are lots of layers before answers. 4/5

This fast paced novel had many flawed but interesting characters. There was sex, adultery, theft, murder and multiple twists and turns. There were a couple of sweet nieces, con men, a sexy socialite and a law professor. Most of the action takes place in Chicago with a bit of traveling. Simon and Vicky seem like a normal married couple in a stale relationship. Be prepared to ask yourself again and again if you know what is happening. 4.25/5

Another great novel by Patricia Cornwell. Autopsies often talk to the coroner and the current ones are connecting dead bodies. Kay Scarpetta is searching for the missing pieces. What do a little girl and a scientist have in common? Why? How to find answers leads Kay and her staff on quite the search. I enjoyed the mysteries and Kay‘s journey to find the truth. 4.5/5

A fast paced suspenseful novel based on a reality show. The six contestants are folks who have at least one thing in common. Some of them know another contestant and share knowledge of wrongful deeds. There are cameras everywhere on the estate where the show is “live” on television. It appears to be a huge hit with the audience. There is lots of action and interaction with each contestant. Full of action and suspense. 4.5/5