Shelfari 50 Book Challenge discussion
Paula's 2022
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52. Blue Smoke - Nora Roberts4*s
Reena is 11 when her families restaurant is burned down. She is determined to become a fire inspector and accomplishes her goal. After 20 years, fires are happening and then the phone calls start, this is personal.
Good story, sometimes exciting, sometimes not but kept me turning pages. I had seen the movie version a while back and decided to read the book.
53. The Glass of Time - Michael Cox3*s
Esperanza is sent to be a lady's maid to a woman she has never met. Emily Tonsor is a wealthy woman in a lovely manor in the 1800's. She has two grown sons. Esperanza just knows that she has been sent there to fulfill a mission from the woman who raised her.
I didn't know that this was a sequel to another book, so apparently I didn't know the background. I also listened to it on audio, so this could have added to some confusion. Some parts were good but others I found I just zoned out and I don't really think I missed anything.
54. Slow to Get Up - Nate Jackson4*s
First off, I am a Bronco fan and I remember Nate Jackson when he played. When I saw the book, I was excited to read it.
I think I got a lot of enjoyment from it because of being familiar with many of the people in the book. I was pleased to see his thoughts on Mike Shanahan and others, as well as the Bronco's organization. I always suspected about how these athletes are treated, it's a business, but to hear first hand the physical abuse these players take every day is a sad and stark reality. These guys are "old" men at the age of 30, their bodies done. The mentality when they really can't play anymore. It's all very sad. They should have a program to help them have a life after football. I'm glad to see Nate is finding his way in a new career.
55. The Summons - John Grisham3*s
Ray a law professor, receives a summons from his ailing father, a retired judge. His brother Forrest has also been summoned. When Ray arrives, he finds his father dead and a new Will left on his desk. He also finds a large amount of money in the cabinets. He decides to take the money and deal with where it came from later, before Forest finds out. Forest is an addict so it's best he doesn't know. But, someone else knows and is after the money.
This was an ok read for me. I've loved Grisham's other books but this didn't grab me as much. I'll move on to the next one.
56. Where the Coyotes Howl - Sandra Dallas5*s
Ellen and Charlie meet when Ellen takes the position of school teacher in a small Wyoming town. Charlie is a cowboy on a nearby ranch and they soon fall in love.
This is my second book by Dallas and won't be my last. She has a gift for putting you right in the story and immersing you in the lives of the characters she creates. Such a dissolute landscape to try and make a living and raise a family, but many people try. Some make it, some do not and you feel the triumphs as well as failures in this incredible story. Have some tissues ready as you enter this world.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
57. Piece of Cake - Cupcake Brown4*s
Cupcake finds her mother dead when she is 11. What happens to her after this is so tragic.
Cupcake pulls no punches in the telling of her story, she makes no excuses for the things that happened to her or for the things that she did. Such a truthful and painful existence, I couldn't imagine how she survived.
It is such a hard book to read, but when she turns her life around, I was cheering for Cupcake. She had people who helped her along the way, just by not giving up on her.
This is not a book for people who can't face the reality of life for some people, there is foul language throughout and some graphic detail of drug use, but I also found it inspiring.
Many kudos to Cupcake! She is a survivor.
58. Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens5*s
Kya is the youngest of 5 children living in a shack in the marsh. One by one, everyone leaves her, including her abusive father. She is alone at 7 years old and must sell mussels and cook for herself to survive. Jumpin is a fellow she sells her mussels to and buys gas. He and his wife Mabel look out for her as they know she is alone.
This is a very touching story of a young girl who survives but learns that people can't be trusted except for Jumpin and his wife.
59. Motorhomes, Maps and Murder - Tanya Kappes4*s
A murderer has escaped jail and had said that he would return to Normal, KY and seek revenge on jury members.
After a Civil War reenactment, Mae finds some citizens dead, but among them is the escapee.
Another cute installment of the Camper and Criminals series. I love the characters and the location and look forward to the next one.
60. Trespassers - Paul Doiron4*s
Mike and Charley find a dead girl in a mansion in the woods. It resembles a murder that took place years ago, and the man that's in jail for it has supporters who say he's innocent. Mike is going to follow the evidence and see where it leads.
Another good book in this series. So far I've really enjoyed them and look forward to the next one.
61. Lethal Remedies - M. Louisa Locke4*s
Annie loves her life as wife and mother but feels like she's missing something. She is asked to look at the books at the doctors dispensary where her doctor is. The dispensary has women doctors and the consultation of a favored male doctor. He is getting up in years, but is beloved by his patients and colleagues. A wealthy woman's husband refuses to pay for his wife's treatment at the dispensary when she becomes ill again after her surgery. Her ladies maid believes she is being poisoned, so Annie uses her skills to help solve the case.
I love these books, it's always like visiting friends.
62. Borderline - Nevada Barr4*s
Anna and her husband Paul are on a vacation, rafting down a river in Big Bend. After an accident while trying to save a cow, a pregnant woman is discovered in the water and they fear she is dead. She lives long enough to save her child and Anna has maternal instincts to take care of this baby when shots are fired.
This was a little change of pace for Anna since she wasn't working as a ranger but I enjoyed it very much. I look forward to the next one.
63. The Third Gate - Lincoln Child4*s
Jeremy Logan is invited along with a group of an elite group to find and open a tomb of a long ago Pharaoh. Porter Stone has assembled the group and set up "shop" on a swamp in the middle of nowhere. Of course, there is a curse and sabotage.
I very much enjoyed this book. It's always fun to read about the Pharaoh's of the past.
64. The Last Word - Ellery Adams4*s
Good looking Nick Plumley has come to Oyster Bay to live and write a new novel. Olivia befriends him and invites him to their writing group, but he is found strangled by Olivia and the group helps Rawlings find the killer.
I always enjoy visiting my "friends" from Oyster Bay and this book did not disappoint.
65. Girls of Brackenhill - Kate Moretti4*s
Hannah receives a phone call that her beloved Aunt Fae has been killed in an auto accident. She hasn't seen her or her Uncle Stewart in 17 years and has mixed emotions about returning to Brackenhill. As she and her fiance Huck drive up from Virginia, old memories start resurfacing.
This is a modern day ghost story, with twists and turns that keep you reading. Well written and draws you into the story, written between past and present.
66. Laptop From Hell - Miranda Devine4*s
This book is quite the eye opener and a frightening read. I say frightening because seeing all that has gone on for who knows how long, we are at the mercy of these countries who hate us because of the deals being made behind the scenes. If you stop to think about this, you won't be able to sleep at night wondering what deal is being made. It's not just the Biden's, and these people should all be held accountable, not covered up, either side of the aisle.
67. Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers - Tonya Kappes4*s
Mae receives a reward for bringing a boom to the city of Normal. She gets the key to the city as well as to teach an economics class in the local high school. The teacher whose class she will teach is living in the park. Mae goes to talk to him and finds him dead, shot with an arrow.
Hank gives Mae permission along with her book club girls to find clues in the death.
Another fun installment in this series.
68. Monster - SE Green4*s
Two young girls are kidnapped, one escapes. Now years later, Caroline is a profiler and still adjusting to her life.
This was quite the psychological thriller. The author made Caroline such a likable character and some others horrible villains. You hate to put it down because you feel compelled to see where all this is leading. I will look for more books by Green.
I always love reading your list when I want to add more books to my TBR.
Thanks Tessa. If yours is like mine, it's already packed. : )
69. The Soulmate - Sally Hepworth5*s
Pippa and Gabe buy a beautiful house on a cliff overlooking the ocean. They love it except it seems to attract people who want to end their lives. Gabe seems to be able to talk them down, until one night, he doesn't.
This is quite the page turner. Hepworth writes so convincingly that you feel what the characters are feeling and it seems you are there with them. The twists were awesome and believable. The story is told from two women's point of view, and they each have a before and now which leads to the final scenes. Very well done.
70. The Exiles - Christina Baker Kline4*s
Exiles follows the lives of three young women, who have committed some crime, not necessarily horrible, to a life of exile and hardships beyond imagination. Knowing this is based on truth makes it all the more hard to absorb. Kline has done a wonderful job of putting the facts out there and bringing these characters to life.
I've only read "The Orphan Train" and now this book, but both have made me want to know more about these historical events. I learn something new everytime I read a book by Kline.
71. Look Both Ways - Carol Perry4*s
Lee buys an antique piece of furniture for her new apartment about Aunt Ibby's house. The original owner had been murdered and the dealer who sold it to Lee is also murdered. Being a scryer, Lee sees images she is trying to put together to help her detective boyfriend Pete solve the case.
Each book gets more fun and I enjoy revisiting the characters.
72. A Dog Named Slugger - Leigh Brill4*s
Such a beautiful story of a person who gets a service dog and the love and trust between them. Leigh is a young woman going to college. She was born with Cerebral Palsy and notices her gait is getting worse. Someone suggests a service dog may be the answer.
I loved this book. It explains how the service dog is a process to find the best fit for the person and their needs, then the love and trust that goes along with it. Leigh and Slugger were so in sync and their years together were magical.
73. See Me - Nicholas Sparks4*s
Colin has led a rough life. He's always just done whatever he wanted not caring what anyone thinks. He's been in trouble a lot and has had a lucky break, but if he's caught fighting one more time, he will go to prison. Now he's trying to clean up his act and wants to be a teacher. He meets Maria, a lawyer and now he has even more reason to stay clean.
I thought this was a good book, a little different than Sparks other books and I really enjoyed it. I hated to put it down. These characters will stay with me for a while.
74. Children of the Fog - Cheryl Kaye Tardif5*s
Children are disappearing. They call the person doing it "The Fog" because they disappear when the fog rolls in and no one has ever seen him. Sadie loves her son Sam, he is the highlight of her lackluster marriage. The night before his 6th birthday, he is taken. And this time, Sadie has seen him.
This is a hard read because of the child abductions but it is so well done. I hated to put this book down to see how it would end. The characters were believable and I felt the pain. I would recommend this book.
75. My Daniel - Pam Conrad4*s
80 year old Julia is visiting her son and his family. Her wish is to take her two grandchildren to the museum to see a dinosaur and tell the story behind it. This story goes between past and present to tell this touching story.
My 9 year old grandson gave me this book to read after he'd read it and loved it and wanted to share with me. I'm so glad he did, I really enjoyed it.
76. The Bridge Across the Ocean - Susan Meissner3*s
Brett can see "drifters". People who have not gone to the other side yet. When she goes aboard the Queen Mary, she finds many drifters but one very strong one urges her find out more about some war brides.
I really enjoyed the book which goes between the past and present, but the ending fell a little flat for me. Still a good read, just not what I was expecting.
77. Secluded Cabin, Sleeps Six - Lisa Unger4*s
Hannah and Mako are brother and sister. Hannah's husband has his own company but is also working for Mako.
There are a number of characters to keep up with in this book and then one storyline that doesn't seem to mesh with the others but comes together at the end.
I really enjoyed the story and it kept me reading. I thought it was an interesting twist on ancestry. The end seemed to take a little longer than necessary but I liked it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
78. Critical - Robin Cook4*s
Jack is getting ready to have knee surgery at a private hospital. These are new hospitals, one specializes in orthopedic surgeries, one for heart surgeries and one for cosmetic. Laurie has noticed an increase in MRSA cases from these hospitals in the morgue and doesn't want Jack to have his surgery. She does her best to find evidence before his surgery.
I enjoy these books, they always cover a different problem that hospitals are facing in current times.
79. Baby Teeth - Zoje Stage4*s
Hannah is a seemingly beautiful, normal 7 year old girl. Her problem is, she doesn't speak and her parents, Suzette and Alex have taken her to many doctors to find out why. No one can find any physical reason. She's been thrown out of many schools because of her behavior, but she's always good for Daddy.
I thought this was an edge of your seat book. I listened to it on audio and hated to put it aside when I couldn't listen.
80. The Devil You Know - PJ Tracy3*s
An interesting book about murders in Hollywood. Detective Nolan and her partner are trying to cut through all the lies to figure out who the murderer is.
Well written, but sooo many characters to keep track of. I found myself at times trying to remember where they fit in.
There were some twists that kept me turning pages and some insight to the life of the stars.
81. The Bodies of Others - Naomi Wolfe4*s
I thought this was a well written and informative book about Covid and the vaccines.
These are some challenging times and it helps to hear what professionals have to say.
82. Premeditated Peppermint - Amanda Flower4*s
Bailey is surprised when a TV company comes to the Amish town, and is even more surprised when she discovers her old boyfriend Eric is at the center of it. Supposedly the director, Rocky wants to film Bailey and Eric get back together but when Rocky is murdered, all plans change.
I love these books from Amanda Flower and the small Amish town. I enjoy the quirkiness of the characters.
83. The Parting - Beverly Lewis3*s
Nellie and two sisters and parents live on their farm in Ohio. They are very into the Old Ways and follow all the rules. Nellie's younger sister died a few months previously. She was running a bit wild and had not been baptized into the church yet so the family is mourning that the younger girl's soul is lost.
This book covers some of the upheaval that was going on in the Amish Church back in 1966. Some of the People wanted to have separate Bible studies after discovering passages in the Bible that went against the Old Ways. Some also wanted to have electricity and farm equipment that was not accepted by the Bishops.
I really enjoyed the book, but my copy was missing about 50 pages in the middle so I missed some of the story.
84. Light to the Hills - Bonnie Blaylock5*s
Amanda took a job with WPA to support she and her son. She travels over a specific territory delivering books, newspapers, scrapbooks etc. to people who live in the hills of the Appalachian Mountains. She meets many interesting families and makes lifelong friends.
I enjoyed this book and all it's descriptions of life in the mountains. It's such a hard life and describes how people make do with what they have. I loved the characters and getting their backstories. I didn't know about the WPA but what a wonderful idea to bring the outside world to people who didn't have the opportunity to get it any other way.
I thought Blaylock did a good job of describing the surroundings, the nature and life in the coal mines.
85. I Know Who You Are - Alice Feeney4*s
Aimee is an actress and apparently a pretty good one. She is on her way to being a star when things start happening that make her wonder if she is crazy.
I thought this was a good book, kept me listening to see where it was going. It is told from two time periods, when Aimee is a child and current day. There are many twists along the way and I didn't see the end coming.
86. Tripwire - Lee Child4*s
Reacher is digging pools in a Florida town when a private detective says he's trying to find him. Reacher doesn't find out what the man wants before he turns up dead. Now Reacher is backtracking where the guy came from to find out what he wanted.
This is my third Reacher novel and I can't seem to get enough. I'm looking forward to the next one to see where he goes from here.
87. Paris Time Capsule - Ella Carey4*s
Cat has a happy life in New York with her boyfriend Christian. One day out of the blue, Cat receives a package with a key inside and a letter that says she has inherited an apartment in Paris and must come at once to claim it.
I loved this book and was entranced by the descriptions of Paris and the apartment which apparently really happened. No one knows what happened to the "real" owner, but Carey did a good job of putting a plausible story together. I thought it was a very good read.
88. The Pioneers - David McCullough4*s
This is a book that brings to life the expansion of the West. From the initial people who fought for it, to the people who actually went and faced the dangers and actually settled it.
I found this book to be very interesting and to learn about the actual people who made this happen. It follows these Pioneers from the time they made landfall until their deaths. I have learned so much from this book and am looking forward to reading other books by this author.
89. Ghost of a Chance - Cate Dean4*s
Maggie Mulgrew has inherited a shop in England from her aunt. She spent a lot of time with her aunt growing up so is more than happy to relocate and claim her inheritance. While at an auction, an old apothecary jar is sold for a very high price and then the buyer is found dead. Maggie decides to help find the killer.
I thought this was a cute cozy. I enjoyed it enough to read the next in the series.
90. Australian Boomerang Bonanza - Josh Greenhut4*s
Arthur, Stanley's younger brother wins a trip to Australia. He decides to take Stanley with him, and so starts a great adventure.
This was a very cute and quick book.
4*s
Amelie is now orphaned at 17 and decides to move to London. She makes friends with some nice women who watch out for her. Then, everything changes.
This started out very fast paced then kind of slooowed down for me. I kept reading and was glad I did. It has some twists and surprises and picks up again. I liked the storyline, and I like BA Paris in general so am always glad to read a new one by her.