Coffee & Books discussion

Death On the River of Doubt – Samantha Seiple – 3***
Subtitle: Theodore Roosevelt's Amazon Adventure. This is a children’s middle-grade book detailing the expedition to chart a previously uncharted tributary of the Amazon. To say that this journey was treacherous is an understatement. It’s a great introduction to Roosevelt for the younger set, and it piqued my interest sufficiently that I’m moving Candice Millard’s book on the same episode farther up on my tbr list.
LINK to my full review

Plantation Shudders – Ellen Byron – 3***
Book one in the Cajun Country cozy mystery series introduces the reader to Maggie Crozat and her family, who run an historic Louisiana plantation as a B&B. This has all the hallmarks of a cozy mystery. A likeable amateur sleuth, romantic tension between the leading lady and the hunky cop, a gaggle of potential suspects, secrets galore, some delicious food and a loveable Basset hound named Gopher. And a few great recipes to whet the appetite.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called The Trouble with Love and Hate by Cat Schield

The Turtle Warrior – Mary Relindes Ellis – 5*****
When James enlists at age seventeen and goes to Vietnam, his nine-year-old brother, Billy, has only the protection of a turtle-shell shield and a wooden sword to keep him from harm. It will be a long and fraught journey to manhood for the sensitive Billy. This is a marvelous debut. There are some horrific scenes in this book, and it is an emotionally difficult read. But the reader who can get through the horror will be rewarded with a hopeful ending.
LINK to my full review

My review for It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

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

I finished my book called Lost Rider by Harper Sloan

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna – Alda P Dobbs – 4****
Set during the Mexican Revolution of 1913, this novel is based on the author’s family history. Thirteen-year-old Petra is the de facto head of her household once her father is conscripted into the Mexican Army. Force to flee when their village is burned, Petra leads her grandmother, younger sister and baby brother across the desert towards freedom. A marvelous story of courage in the face of adversity.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called My Father's Son: A Memoir by John Davis

The Glass Witch by Lindsay Pucket

Inheritance: A Visual Poem – Elizabeth Acevedo – 4****
“Some people tell me to ‘fix’ my hair And by fix, they mean straighten”
A wonderful essay told in verse of the Afro-Latinidad experience, when even other Dominicans have “swallowed amnesia” because “it is easier” than living ”in this reality.” In this short work she addresses skin tone, slavery, relationships, immigration, prejudice, power and self-worth.
“all I can reply is you can’t fix what was never broken.”
LINK to my full review

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The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros – 5*****
This is the story of Esperanza Cordero who lives in a poor section of Chicago and struggles to stay in school. At the time it was published there were few coming-of-age stories that portrayed people of color and the challenges of living in an inner city. Cisneros began her writing career as a poet and those roots clearly show in the book. The short chapters are vignettes of Esperanza’s life. She is like any ‘tween’ - eager and curious and sad and confused and sassy and happy and hopeful.
LINK to my full review

The Last Midwife – Sandra Dallas – 3.5***
Good historical fiction set in 1880s Colorado mining town. I was interested in the birthing stories, and in the ways in which Gracy worked among both the men and women of the community. She’s a marvelously strong woman, and over the course of the novel we learn a few of her own heartaches and how she’s overcome and persevered. There were times when I thought the whole murder mystery was a bit too contrived, but it certainly held my attention.
LINK to my full review

as long as the lemon trees grow by zoulfa katouh

The Paris Hours – Alex George – 3.5***
Paris 1927. Home to Josephine Baker, Maurice Ravel, Gertrude Stein and Marcel Proust. But in addition to the many famous “lost generation” members, the City of Light was also home to many who led much quieter lives. George tells the story of four such souls, whose stories converge over the course of one day and night in Paris. George deftly handled these different storylines to produce a cohesive tale. Despite the constant change in point of view, I never lost interest in where it was going. The connections between the characters really didn’t gel until the last couple of chapters, and the ending was a nice surprise.
LINK to my full review

I Am the Messenger – Markus Zusak – 2**
I picked this up because I enjoyed Zusak’s The Book Thief and was hoping for … well, not more of the same, but something that would spark some of the same feelings I had reading that work. In the end, I wound up confused about what was actually going on and found the entire premise rather unbelievable. Zusak joins the likes of author John Boyne for me – an author I’ve enjoyed at least once, perhaps even loved, but who is just as likely to completely disappoint me in another work .
LINK to my full review

The Cat Who Played Post Office – Lilian Jackson Braun – 3***
Another charming episode in the life of journalist James Qwilleran (known simply as Qwill) and his precocious Siamese, Koko. I like the series because I like Qwill. His work as a journalist gives him a reason to poke his nose in where it doesn’t belong. If he doesn’t pick up on the significance of a clue, well trust that Koko will point him in the right direction with a yip, yowl or repeated scratching at a seemingly ordinary box.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called Pretty Little Killers: The Truth Behind the Savage Murder of Skylar Neese by Daleen Berry

The Cold Millions – Jess Walters – 4****
This novel focuses on the two Dolan brothers: sixteen-year-old Rye and his older brother Gig. The story is told from multiple characters’ points of view, and some scenes are related more than once, giving the reader additional insight as the point of view changes in the same scenario. Based on actual events in 1909 Spokane, Washington, at the novel’s core is a class struggle that is reminiscent of what America is undergoing now just over a hundred years later. Walter is a masterful storyteller and I was engaged and interested from beginning to end.
LINK to my full review

Enemy Women – Paulette Jiles – 4****
In the last months of 1864, the residents of Missouri are being pushed and pulled between warring factions. I found this work of historical fiction fascinating and engaging. Adair is a strong woman even though she is barely out of girlhood. She remains resolute despite hardship. No horse – no problem – she will walk. She never loses sight of her goal – to find her father, to get home, to reunite her family.
LINK to my full review

What Lies in the Woods and The Writing Retreat

I finished my book called A Merciful Truth by Kendra Elliot

These Precious Days – Ann Patchett – 5*****
This is a series of essays about Patchett’s life and her thoughts on a variety of subjects from marriage to career, to education, to family, to grief. I love Patchett’s writing. Here, she is most herself – honest, funny, empathetic, confused, angry, caring, and passionate. I greatly enjoyed reading about her own journey as a reader, writer and owner of a bookstore.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called A Merciful Secret by Kendra Elliot

The Lager Queen of Minnesota – J Ryan Stradl – 4****
Helen and Edith are estranged sisters. Helen convinced their father to leave her the farm, and she and her husband started a very successful brewery with that nest egg. Edith lives quietly, working two jobs and raising her granddaughter, Diana. Stradal reveals the intergenerational story through multiple points of view. At its core this is a story about family. About the ties that bind us whether we recognize them or not. About perseverance and strength of character. About facing our fear of failure and taking risks. It’s about love and forgiveness.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called A Merciful Silence by Kendra Elliot

Gods of Jade And Shadow – Silvia Moreno-Garcia – 3***
Digital audiobook performed by Yetta Gottesman.
Fantasy is not my thing, but this book completely captured me. I loved Casiopea, a young woman who is intelligent, curious, resourceful, and determined. She’s not about to take guff from anyone – human or demon. She’s up for every challenge she’s presented with on this crazy journey to help the Mayan god of death regain his throne. I loved the rather open-ended conclusion. Where will she go? I can only imagine, but I’d be willing to read about her further adventures.
LINK to my full review

The Porcupine Year – Louise Erdrich – 4****
Digital audiobook narrated by Christina Moore
Book three in the Birchbark House series sees Omakayas growing into young womanhood. Her leadership qualities are blossoming and becoming evident to the members of her community. The entire tribe is affected by the encroachment of white settlers who force them from their ancestral lands and send them in search of a new home. They endure a very harsh season, nearly starving, and losing a couple of valued members of the group. But always, Omakayas and her people rely on their traditions, beliefs and cooperation to survive and prosper.
LINK to my full review

The Hindi-Bindi Club – Monica Pradhan – 3.5***
This was highly reminiscent of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club . We have two generations of three immigrant families – mothers and daughters. The central plot revolves around Kiran, who, having married against her parents wishes and now divorced, has decided to ask for their help in finding a life partner. I enjoyed learning a bit more of the history of India, and of the disparate cultures within the subcontinent. Just as in real life, it’s not all drama and angst. There is plenty of humor, tenderness, laughter and tears of joy. Oh, and Prahan includes some wonderful recipes at the end of each chapter.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda

Firekeeper’s Daughter – Angeline Boulley – 4****
Book on CD narrated by Isabella Star LeBlanc
Boulley’s debut is a gripping story. Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine is a marvelous character, the daughter of an Ojibwe man and a white woman, she doesn’t quite fit in either in her hometown or on the nearby reservation. She’s on the path to success, intent on a career in medicine. But she IS a teenager, and her emotions sometimes overwhelm her. Boulley keeps the tension high with a number of twists and turns in the plot. As happens in real life, not all the bad guys get what’s coming to them, but the ending is nevertheless satisfying.
LINK to my full review

Finished Drowning this morning.

Lake Of the Ozarks – Bill Geist – 3***
Subtitle: My Surreal Summers in a Vanishing America. This is a charming memoir of the author’s teen-year summers spent working at his uncle’s resort at Lake of the Ozarks. He did any and all distasteful jobs and enjoyed the company of a bevy of lovely young women who served as housemaids and/or waitresses. The pay was abysmal, but they got free room and board and a sense of independence.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda

My review for The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

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

Icy Sparks – Gwyn Hyman Rubio – 5****
Book on CD performed by Kate Miller
We know much more about Tourette’s Syndrome today than during the timeframe of this story (1950s), and I hope even the residents of rural Appalachia would be more compassionate about a young girl so afflicted. Icy Sparks jumps off the pages of this book straight into the reader’s heart. This is a child who is curious, intelligent, kind, loving, and who learns to stand up to bullies and fight for herself. She shows empathy and compassion in her dealings with others even when they ostracize and belittle her.
LINK to my full review

Fairy tale by Stephen King. The Chateau

I finished my book called The Summer Melt: An Eternity Springs novella by Emily March

The Santa Suit – Mary Kay Andrews – 3***
This is a charming holiday rom-com with a bit of mystery. The small town is full of colorful characters, and as Ivy begins to become known around town she opens up to her new friends and to the possibility of a new romance. The ending is neatly tied up in a pretty ribbon, but hey, it’s a holiday romance, so I’m okay with that.
LINK to my full review

The Farm – Joanne Ramos – 4****
Digital audiobook narrated by Fran de Leon.
Jane, an immigrant from the Philippines, is searching for a better opportunity to secure the future for herself and her daughter. So, she agrees to be a surrogate mother for a significant payback upon delivery. While the original premise seems plausible, the reality of Jane’s situation quickly devolves into a somewhat dystopian nightmare. It certainly held my attention and I really wanted to see how Jane would fare in this scenario. I think this would be a work that book clubs would love to discuss.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts

The Last Word – Ellery Adams – 3***
This is book # 3 in the Books By the Bay cozy mystery series featuring Olivia Limoges, her dog Haviland, and a group of writers who meet regularly to discuss their works in progress. This plot involves an historical mystery of an escaped German POW during WW2, and a current-day award-winning author who is found murdered in his rental sea-side cottage. One thing I like about this series is how Adams slowly gives out the backstory of the characters, letting readers get to know Olivia, her extended family, and the residents of Oyster Bay over the course of the series.
LINK to my full review

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Marrying Winterborne – Lisa Kleypas – 3***
Book two in the Ravenels series focuses on Lady Helen Ravenel and Welsh department-store mogul Rhys Winterborne. Her family isn’t so keen on the engagement, but Lady Helen and Rhys will not be denied a wedding, even if they have to … well, if I told you that would spoil it. I certainly understand why Kleypas is so successful at the Regency romance genre. The road to happily ever after is full of bumps and detours to add tension and keep the reader turning pages, but the couple will get there.
LINK to my full review

Pray For Silence – Linda Castillo – 3.5***
This is book two in the Kate Burkholder series, set in an Ohio county with significant Amish population. This novel involves the brutal murders of a family of seven. I love murder mysteries that feature strong female leads, and I look forward to reading more of this series. But trigger warning: this is a very violent crime with some very disturbing discoveries about the victims and the perpetrators.
LINK to my full review

The Cat Who Played Brahms – Lilian Jackson Braun – 3***
Book five in the delightful cozy mystery series starring James Qwilleran, and his Siamese Koko. Qwill decides to take a sabbatical from the paper, and vacation at a remote cabin on a lake “up north.” Mooseville is certainly NOT the big city, but something mysterious is going on; several of Qwill’s cherished possessions go missing and then a neighboring cabin owner is murdered. I really enjoy this series. I like Qwill and I like Koko, and NO, the cat doesn’t talk but his meanderings and occasional reaction to a visitor frequently point Qwill in the direction of a significant clue.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called Deep Tide by Laura Griffin

A Good American – Alex George – 5***** and a ❤
Book on CD performed by Gibson Frazier
This is a family saga, covering four generations of the Meisenheimer family over a century. As happens in real life, the family intersects with many of the residents of the town, and the reader gets to view history through the lens of their experiences. It is a story of immigrants, a story of quintessential Americans, a story of struggle and triumph and defeat and unabashed joy. I absolutely loved it and as soon as I had finished it, I wanted to read it again.
LINK to my full review

I am reading , by Lisa See. I really like this book so far. Lisa See is one of my favorite authors. So, interesting reading about culture and history of these characters. Recommend 💕

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane – Kate DiCamillo – 5*****
Book on CD performed by Judith Ivey
Oh, but I loved this modern-day fairy tale! Edward is a china rabbit, hand crafted and meticulously attired. He lives with Abilene and her parents and grandmother in a house on Egypt Street. And then … Well, you’ll have to read about his journey yourself. It’s about compassion, and sorrow and joy. About patience and perseverance and never, ever giving up hope. It’s about love and home and miracles.
LINK to my full review

Dying For Chocolate – Diane Mott Davidson – 3***
This is book two in the popular Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery series. It has all the elements of a successful cozy mystery series: an amateur sleuth whose career puts her in contact with a wide range of people (whether victim or suspect), a home situation with added tension, a love interest, and some great recipes. I have to admit that Goldy is pretty resourceful when getting herself out of a jam and doesn’t always rely on the big strong detective to save her. On the other hand, if she kept her nose out of business that isn’t hers … well we wouldn’t have this series.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot