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The Personal Librarian: A Novel

July 16, 2021

personal

It’s no secret that novels about books, book stores, libraries, or librarians are my kryptonite. I love them and can’t resist them, despite the fact that my success with them is mixed at best. So, it was with some trepidation that I decided to read The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Murray. I hoped that Benedict, whom I trust for her historical fiction about ... Read More...

6 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, historical fiction, New York City, women

Razorblade Tears

July 14, 2021

razorblade

Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins are middle-aged men with only two things in common. And both are things they’d like to forget: their prison time and their gay sons. One is easier than the other because their sons, Isiah and Derek married and have a little girl. Other than that, Ike is Black and the proud owner of a flourishing landscaping business and Buddy lives in a ... Read More...

4 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: Southern life, suspense, thriller

Dear Miss Metropolitan

July 6, 2021

dear miss

I was a prisoner for so, so long. Years. How was that humanly possible? Why didn’t anyone find me? How had my page been torn out the book for so long?   Sometimes, when I finish a book, the review flies right out of my mind onto the page. Then there are the books that need to marinate, where putting words and thoughts together cohesively takes more time. This is where ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: crime, debut, literary, social issues

Summer Thrillers 2: Mini-Reviews

June 28, 2021

summer

On Friday I reviewed two summer thrillers that didn’t come through for me, but I acknowledged I’m finicky these days. Thankfully, I’m back with two more high-octane summer novels that kept me reading until the last page. Hang on.   I have to start my review of Falling with a big caveat: DO NOT read this book if you’re on a plane. Bill Hoffman is a long-time pilot ... Read More...

4 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: debut, mystery, suspense, thriller, vacation reading

Summer Thrillers: Mini-Reviews

June 25, 2021

summer

Summer is a great time for thrillers. Hot weather, vacation, and short attention spans are all made for engaging reading that moves fast. Of course, my expectations are higher, because humidity makes me cranky and we have plenty of it in Michigan. For that reason, I’m a picky reader right now so take these reviews with a grain of salt (what does that even mean?). On Monday I’ll ... Read More...

1 Comment
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Feature, Fiction Tagged: Italy, mystery, suspense, thriller

God Spare the Girls

June 23, 2021

god spare

What do you do when your entire family is perfect, but you’re 18 and confused? For Caroline Nolan, in God Spare the Girls, it’s an especially complicated question because her father is Luke Nolan, pastor of a megachurch in Texas. Her mother Ruthie is the perfect matriarch, calm and always perfectly coiffed. Worst of all, is her older sister Abigail, her father’s favorite for ... Read More...

10 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, contemporary life, debut, family, religion

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