Vicki’s Comments (group member since Sep 08, 2018)

Vicki’s comments from the Challenge Corner group.

Author: Jacqueline Kelly
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 344
Ingredient: Yukon Gold Potatoes
How it Fits: YUKON: Letters YUKN from AFN/ALN Letter O from Title GOLD "bright gold" (loc 249) POTATOES "pass the potatoes" (loc. 170)

16 chapters / 52%

(view spoiler)[I know! I knew after their landlord kicked them out and they were going to return to Stillhouse Lake that trouble was brewing! Those Belldeneses are terrible people to call in such a vile report of human trafficking!

And, yeah, I have no idea who killed Varrus either. I don't think it was Rowan though.

I wonder about Kez being 9 months pregnant and how/when her baby being delivered will come about. I worry that something terrible will happen during that time. (hide spoiler)]

Most definitely did!

Through Ch. 8

(view spoiler)[I feel for Sam, too. He's been suspect in murder and the podcasts didn't help. His losing his right to fly isn't right or fair.

Lanny is obviously smarter than heck! I wonder why she never told Gwen about all of the acceptance letters.

Connor, yeah, he's still pretty young at 15 so I feel he's still pretty vulnerable. And the Sicko Patrol

Oh...what did you make of Melvin's body being dug up and that bone shoved in someone's throat? I wonder who dug up his body.

There's so much distrust going on. It seems like nobody fully trusts anyone. (hide spoiler)]

I'm starting it now. All is well, but I had some things to deal with and it took me away from the computer. Thanks for inquiring.

Sorry I've been off GR the last couple days. I'll start this one tomorrow. How do you like it so far?

Finished

(view spoiler)[I was pretty satisfied with the ending. I like that she stayed instead of going back to NY. She's moving towards full healing. I don't think it's quite the HEA ending, but it feels realistic. She's living the life she chose. It's uncertain, imperfect, but it's still hers and I love it. (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch. 21

(view spoiler)[I feel like Ruth is now ready to begin a life of healing. After Carmen disappears and then comes back the way she did, Ruth saw that she couldn't save Carmen. This was a hard truth to face. She sensed that Carmen was unstable, but now she knows it. Even Dwain warned her. I think Carmen's falling apart was a wake-up call for Ruth. I know I've experienced moments like that where I realize that even IF I want to help someone (save them), there's no way I can and Ruth realized that about Carmen. I think this section is pivotal. (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch, 14

(view spoiler)[I love that she's volunteering at a village school and teaching English. That definitely resonates with me. lol And the nannying seems like it might give her some fulfillment caring for the boys, if she sticks with it. At least she appears to be starting to connect with the community more.

Carmen's story...ugh, no wonder she's more unstable! I can't imagine your parents doing what they did, leaving her there with Dwaine's parents. Then again, it might've been what was best for her at the time but I don't think in that way. Dwain's known her for some time and he tells Ruth that she's drawn into chaos...RED FLAG. And Ruth keeps keeps turning to her despite the red flags.

I don't like that she is becoming more distant with Emilie who is more stable for her. I think she offers Ruth more of a calm and secure structure, something Ruth needs. But she's drifting away from her.

I love the carving hobby she's trying. I think that's symbolic of her letting go by making the items and then tossing them. I wonder if her teaching experience will help her to deepen her sense of being rooted there.

I keep seeing so much of this book in a metaphorical and symbolic way. I am thinking of literary terns, ones I have used like one of my favorites being allusions. Now, the term that comes to mind is FOILS, because that's what I see Carmen and Emilie as...day and night, almost like mirrors showing Ruth two different ways of living. (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch 7

(view spoiler)[ I can see how Ruth would love the peace and tranquility of the lake. Ruth's being so introspective, so I see where this is going...I think. Carmen and Emilia couldn't be more polar opposites! Carmen is kind of charismatic but she seems unstable; whereas Emilie seems more stable and emotionally safe.

At this point I'm wondering if Ruth will actually find a sense of belonging or if she's just trying to escape herself, so to speak. She left NY to feel "real" but she still seems disconnected. I think something deeper might be going on inside her. I say that because the described herself as "fake" so I just think maybe something happened to her before the story began. (hide spoiler)]

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 256
Ingredient: Parsley
How it Fits: "bits of decorative parsley" (176)

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 414
Read: 6 Jul 2025
Ingredient: Salsa Con Queso
How it Fits: ALL letters are in the title, series title, and author's name.
KISS AND DON'T TELL (THE VANCOUVER AGITAORS, #1)
MEGHAN QUINN

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 336
Read: 3 Jul
Ingredient: Sour cream
How it Fits: "sour expression" (208); "cream color" (66)

Alaina wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I FOUND ONE!!

KISS AND DON'T TELL (THE VANCOUVER AGITAORS, #1)
MEGHAN QUINN

S A L S A C O N Q U E S O

I think I did that right. I won't be able to get to it for a couple days thoug..."

GREAT! I looked and looked and finally thought the one thing tripping me up was the Q and often the C and I thought of Quinn. lol Man, that one was hard! How about something simple like eggs or sandwich? lol

Hi, Lexi, and welcome to Team Fifty Shades of Gravy! :)

I FOUND ONE!!

KISS AND DON'T TELL (THE VANCOUVER AGITAORS, #1)
MEGHAN QUINN

S A L S A C O N Q U E S O

I think I did that right. I won't be able to get to it for a couple days though or possibly tomorrow but not tonight. So if anybody wants to read it or has another book before I get to it, feel free to remove mine to banked for when I read it.

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 383
BR: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Letter: N
How it Fits: Publisher Dutton

I won't be starting this one until tomorrow. How's it so far?

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 336
Letter: B
How it Fits: Female MCLN: Berenson

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 336
Letter: R
How it Fits: Title starts with R