Currently Reading 2024

[Rosalyn]

My first reading experience with Ellis was The Quartet, which quickly became one of my favorite books of all time. I was eager to start on this one, however, the intent of this book is quite different, so it took some time getting used to. I'm a bit simple, I like my history told chronologically, LOL.

Ellis states in the preface that this book is not a chronological telling of a certain time but rather his analysis on it based on vignettes of key issues, relationships, events that reveal the passion, struggle and the main point, fragility of our fledgling nation and the ideals or expectations we bound ourselves too. While the Founding Fathers were knowingly mythologizing themselves, painting the success of "the cause" as a moral certainty, Ellis aims to demythologize them, revealing their doubts, fears and fierce, sincere attempts to reconcile competing values. The battle for nationhood was easy, but the effort towards national unity continues to this day.

Full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sarah]

Just finished Divine Rivals and it had received so much hype that I think I was expecting more than what I got. It was good but not what I expected—> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jenny]

Finished byKimberly McCreight

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PamG]

Here is my 4.61 rounded to 5 stars review of The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Haven's Rock series Bk 2
Highly Recommended
Well-written and entertaining with a solid mystery and complex characters.

[Christine]

I finished my 12th book

[Jenny]

Finished

Here's my 4 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jenny]

I read Caleb Crowe

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

[Christine]

The Last Tea Bowl Thief by Jonelle Patrick | review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

First time reading a novel by this author. Jonelle Patrick wrote a lovely novel set in feudal and present-day Japan.

[Rosalyn]

In the author's note, Cañas features a quote from Cheno Cortina, a paramilitary leader who defended the Mexican border against white settlers during the Texas Revolution. He used the word "vampires" to describe the invading force, and that is where Cañas got her next book idea. Obviously, the vampires in this book are supposed to be an allegory for the Yanquis. Key words: supposed to. The plot choice Cañas chose completely nips that in the bud to the point that the inclusion of the vampires, are first of all sparse, and second, irrelevant.

Full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jenny]

Finished

Absolutely amazing read, here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jenny]

Finished by Chris Panatier

Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PamG]

Here is my 3.3 rounded to 3 stars review of Such Good Friends: A Novel of Truman Capote & Lee Radziwill by Stephen Greco:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Historical fiction
Well-researched
Slow Pacing

[PattyMacDotComma]

I am a great fan of Mick Herron's Slough House series but didn't realise that The Secret Hours was so wonderfully connected to it. Loved seeing some old favourites, back in the day in Berlin.
My review of The Secret Hours

[PattyMacDotComma]

I am a great fan of Mick Herron's Slough House series but didn't realise that The Secret Hours was so wonderfully connected to it. Loved seeing some old favourites, back in the day in Berlin.
My review of The Secret Hours

[Phrynne]

My review of The Cottage at Rosella Cove by Sandie Docker

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

I finished my 13th book

[PamG]

Here is my 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review of At the River by Kendra Elliot:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Police Procedural

Great characterization
Solid mystery
Complex story blending murder, cold case disappearances, and amnesia with family, friendship, and much more.

[PamG]

Here is my 3.86 rounded to 4 stars review of Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mystery / Suspense
2nd book in the series
Diverse and memorable characters
Atmospheric mystery
Overall, this story is gripping, thought-provoking, and emotional, with great world-building.

[Jenny]

Finished by Day Leitao

Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jenny]

I finished by Irina Shapiro

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PamG]

Here is my 3.98 rounded to 4 stars review of The Spy and I by Tiana Smith:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Romantic Comedy and Suspense / Espionage
Fast-paced, great characterization, sold action and thrills, humor, twisty plot

[Christine]

I finished my 14th book

[Sarah]

Just finished Yellowface and I have to be honest I’m not so sure how I truly felt about this book. My Review —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jenny]

Finished by Stuart Turton

I loved this book! Deserved 5 stars!
Here'a my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jenny]

I read byDarcy Burke

Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PamG]

Here is my 3.23 rounded to 3 stars review of Nowhere Like Home by Sara Shepard:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Psychological Drama / Crime Novel
Thought-provoking
Plenty of angst and suspense
I wanted the main character to be stronger.
The writing style with many flashback scenes isn't my preferred style.

[Angela M]

I read Cold Crematorium: Reporting from the Land of Auschwitz . A difficult, but must read. 5 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

I finished my 15th book

[Jenny]

Finished

Here's my 4 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rosalyn]

Darker in tone than Hendrix's typical books, it reveals the complacency and fear that can cripple a community, the dismissive and gaslighting behavior from authority or power figures towards gender and racial minorities, but also the bravery of mothers who protect their young.

The most horrific scene of this novel isn't regarding the supernatural or unusual, but the...

full review HERE

[Jenny]

Finished by Tarryn Fisher

Here's my 3 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

It's the 30th anniversary of writer Anne Lamott's classic, Bird by Bird Good advice for writers, mixed with humour and entertaining anecdotes for us readers.
My review of Bird by Bird

[Phrynne]

My review of Key of Valor by Nora Roberts

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

[Sarah]

I just completed The Lost Book of Bonn which was a WWII/Holocaust novel —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

I finished my 16th book

[PamG]

Here is my 4 star review of Killing Time by Cindy Gerard:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Romantic suspense

[PamG]

Here is my 4.34 rounded to 4 stars review of Leopard's Hunt by Christine Feehan:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Overall, this action-packed paranormal romantic suspense story has great characterization and pulls on the heart strings. It looks at a variety of types of relationships.

[PamG]

Here is my 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review o f Exit Black by Joe Pitkin:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Overall, this is an action-packed science fiction thriller that is also thought-provoking with complex characters and plenty of angst and suspense.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Aussie/UK mystery writer Rachel Amphlett has a couple of stories on her website you might enjoy

Devil of a Favor is a very short story with a worrying premise and a twist.

My review of Devil of a Favor

[PattyMacDotComma]

The second story by Rachel Amphlett is A Burning Question, a longer mystery featuring Detective Kay Hunter from her well-known series, although this is a standalone. Narrowboats have become a target for arson.
My review of A Burning Question

[Angela M]

I listened to This is the Story of a Happy Marriage .4+ stars rounded up. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

I recently read T.J. Klune's quirky sci-fi adventure, In the Lives of Puppets. Known for his popular The House in the Cerulean Sea,(which I loved), here he has taken twists from "Pinocchio", "Alice in Wonderland", and "The Wizard of Oz". He even created an irrestisbly hilarious Nurse Ratched robot from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".
My review of In the Lives of Puppets

[Phrynne]

My review of The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee by Alexander McCall Smith

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Angela M]

I read Out of Ireland: A NovelOut of Ireland: A Novel. 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

I finished my 17th book

[PamG]

Here is my 4.5 rounded to 5 stars review of Leave No Trace by A.J. Landau (pseudonym for authors Jon Land and Jeff Ayers):

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Political / Action Thriller
Gritty, intense, and chilling story with non-stop action
This is the first book in a new series.

[Phrynne]

My review for The Rewilding by Donna M Cameron

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jenny]

Finished by Riley Sager

Here's my 5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...