Currently Reading 2024

[Angela M]

I read Float Up, Sing Down. 3.5 stars . My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

A tantalising read . . .
A Stranger in the Family by Jane Casey ⭐⭐⭐⭐.4 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Phrynne]

My review of My Mother and Other Wild Animals: An Essay by Andrew Sean Greer

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

[PattyMacDotComma]

Poor old Harry Bosch. Alone again in Trunk Music, but at least Michael Connelly has given him plenty of action to keep him busy. An L.A. murder leads him to Las Vegas, and you know what that means.

My review of Trunk Music-Harry Bosch #5

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

I've finally reviewed my Lost Story review.

I thought it was a wonderful reimagining of Narnia, but with a pretty abrupt ending.

[PamG]

Here is my 3.35 rounded to 3 stars review of The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton:

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

Outlier Review
Historical Fiction / Historical Mystery
Slow Pacing
Great World-building
A Couple of Surprises at the end

[Christine]

I finished my 32nd book

[PamG]

Here is my 4.09 rounded to 4 stars review of An Enchanting Case of Spirits by Melissa Holtz:

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

Paranormal Cozy Mystery with Romance and Ghosts
Funny, light, entertaining
Good characterization
Slower pace in the beginning

[Rosalyn]

The march of time cannot be halted, and its pace seems faster now with our culture today. It can be scarily easy to forget the past, the invaluable gift that is history and what it can teach us about ourselves and where we've yet to go. Reading this book made me more appreciative and aware of the sacrifices our forefathers made. David McCullough wrote a taut, nerve-wracking, inspiring account of the first fraught year of a fledgling peoples, of seemingly insurmountable odds, which through Providence and chance, were surmounted on the last day of 1776, and brought about the turning of the tide.

my full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Angela M]

I read Sisters Through The Ages: A Novella . 3.5 stars rounded up. My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

I finished my 33rd book

[Sarah]

My thoughts on Magnolia Parks—> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

The perfect blend of romance and Australian outback mystery/crime thriller!
The Grazier's Son by Cathryn Hein ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Leanne]

Perfectly Imperfect Pixie --- M.J. May 04.05

The Maid --- Nita Prose 04.09

[Christine]

I finished my 34th book

[Christine]

[PattyMacDotComma]

I haven't read everything (yet) that much-loved Aussie author Garry Disher has written, but I can recommend everything I have, and his brand new standalone novel, Sanctuary, is right up there.

Grace Latimer is a crook. Well, yes, but she has reasons - give her a break!
My review of Sanctuary

[Phrynne]

My review of Lovers at the Museum: A Short Story, by Isabel Allende

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

[PattyMacDotComma]

Everywhere You Look by Liv Constantine is the first of six Amazon Original Stories in their Never Tell collection. Secrets and lies abound. I hope I enjoy the next ones more than this.
My review of Everywhere You Look

(They're published separately, so you can take your pick.)

[John]

Interesting read.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Christine]

[Jenny]

Finished by Julie Soto

Love, love, love it!
5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

💫💫💫💫💫and if I could give it more stars, I would!
If I Should Lose You by Natasha Lester https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

An addictive read I finished in less than 24 hours!
Sanctuary by Garry Disher ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

“A lot of people who aren’t Native don’t know this story,“ said Pulitzer Prize winner Tommy Orange about his second book, Wandering Stars. Now there's no excuse for not knowing about the Florida prisons and boarding schools where the Southern Cheyenne were sent.
My review of Wandering Stars

[Christine]

I finished my 35th book

[PattyMacDotComma]

What a delightful romp Isabel Allende has written for Amazon Original Stories! Lovers at the Museum has an irritable cop, impulsive lovers, and a magical museum experience.
My review of Lovers at the Museum (with a picture of the fantastical Guggenheim Bilbao)

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson ⭐⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rosalyn]

tldr version of my review below:



Over 100 years since its publication, The Age of Innocence remains timeless in its acute and elegantly written insights on oppression reinforced by often arbritrary, pointless social rules, the power imbalance found within gender and social class dynamics, love, and the painful sacrifices that one must make in pursuit of freedom. Is living dutifully and honorably mutually exclusive with living for oneself? Wharton takes a pessimistic view on the question, as most her novels end with the characters conforming with and defeated by social pressure.

Wharton depicts people confined in a cage of their own making, whether it be remaining complacent in one's situation or choosing "right" over "good". The last two chapters perfectly summarize the central themes and motifs of the book, a pervading sense of wistfulness and what if's, a missed connection. The most romantic parts of the book are also the saddest, a hidden gaze held across the room, restrained yet revelatory fireside conversations, and OH MY GOD the gaze across the shore, the longing!! the yearning!! the pining!! give me more!!!

my full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rosalyn]

The writing is fine, it's the plot I have an issue with. It's just so...bland. The mystery is not scary or intriguing, because the stranger writing in the diary is barely mentioned. The rotating POVs don't enhance the story much, with plenty of repetition of the same scenes just with slightly differing perspectives. The identity reveal of the villain is so incredibly underwhelming, i read it and was like...them? that's who the killer is? the red herring characters also aren't scary either. The stakes of this story is low, and for how much I like murder mysteries, this was so boring.

my full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sarah]

Another book to add to my romantasy collection. Just finished Powerless. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

I finished my 36th book

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

IVF and green energy . . .
Last Best Chance by Brooke Dunnell ⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Angela M]

I read Table for Two . The latest from one of my favorite writers . 5 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rosalyn]

This is not the most plot-heavy book, but it makes up for it with expert characterization and tension-filled atmospheric writing. The visceral fear I felt reading this, OMG! It would've been even more immersive if I read this during a snowstorm to match the book's setting. I'm very impressed with how elegantly and poetically Sierra conveyed the nasty, ugly, frightful stink of fear and rage, and the uniquely female experience of navigating motherhood and womanhood in the face of society's judgement.

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

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

Happy Publication Day!
A Clock Stopped Dead by J.M. Hall ⭐⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rachelle Z]

I am thoroughly enjoying a book that I had won on Goodreads Giveaways. It’s called Champagne Widows: First woman of Champagne, Veuve Cliquot. The author is Rebecca Rosenberg. It happens during the Napoleonic era, so there’s a lot of great history mixed in with the story. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction and champagne.

[PamG]

Here is my 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review of The Infiltrator by T.R. Hendricks:

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

Military action thriller
Fantastic atmosphere and world-building
Shocking events
Suspenseful

[PamG]

Here is my 4.19 rounded to 4 stars review of Wolf Hunger by Paige Tyler:

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

Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Engaging Characters
Good World-building
Plenty of Action
Instant Attraction / Fast Romance
Lots of Danger

[Grace]

Bunny
If We Were Villains
Boy Parts
The Outsider

[Sarah]

Started off a little slow but then it really picked up. I enjoyed The Heiress—> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Angela M]

I read I Cheerfully Refuse . 4 stars .My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

Thank goodness I can count on Irish author John Boyne to write interesting, thought-provoking stories. Earth, the latest in his Elements quartet of linked novels, is up there with the best of them.
My review of Earth

[Christine]

I finished my 37th book

[PamG]

Here is my 4.39 rounded to 4 stars review of Wolf Rising by Paige Tyler:

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

Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Instant Attraction / Soul Mate / The One
Briskly Paced and Suspenseful
2 Steamy scenes
Plenty of action

[PamG]

Here is my 4.02 rounded to 4 stars review of Battle Born by Dale Brown:

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

Military Action Thriller, Techno-Thriller
Fast-Paced, Action Packed, Intense
Characters needed more depth
Excellent World-building

[Grace]

Already Read 2024:
Gathering Blue
The Bell Jar BELL JAR Paperback
Normal People
Animal Farm
The Teacher
Ethan Frome
Boy Parts

Currently Reading:
If We Were Villains

TBR 2024:
The Outsider
All of Us Villains
All of Our Demise
Conversations with Friends
The Stranger
Bunny
Where the Crawdads Sing
The Sluts

Possible Re-Reads:
Speak
Tender is the Flesh
No Longer Human

[Phrynne]

My review of Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde

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

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

A Marriage of Lies by Amanda McKinney ⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PamG]

Here is my 4.43 rounded to 4 stars review of Wolf Instinct by Paige Tyler:

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

Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Briskly paced, suspenseful
Great connection between the two main characters
Weaker than expected antagonists
Expanded world-building