The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene

1 star. It is extremely rare that I give a book 1 star; usually I'd DNF a book before I finished a book that was headed in that direction. I got this as an audiobook and since it was only somewhat over 3 hours long, the Nancy Drew books are favorites of many and considered a classic children's novel, and that for a challenge I was doing for a Goodreads group, I needed to read a book with stairs on the book cover, as well as I was able to do various other things while listening to this, I decided to stick with the book. I listened to it less than 24 hours ago and I can honestly say that a whole lot of the book has not stuck in my memory. According to Goodreads, this is considered a young adult book, I guess since the heroine, Nancy Drew is 18 or 19, but I can not see those who are considered young adults really enjoying this book. Even those that fit in the category of middle-grade readers may not really find this that interesting. I know I read a couple books in this series when I was young, but maybe I only read a few because I did not find the books that interesting.

Unbelievable by Katy Tur

I'm giving this 2 stars, but as far as enjoyment it is closer to a 1.5 star, if even that. I think I am so sick of all the Trump books. I am just feeling Trump overload. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely no fan of the man, in the least and will be happy when his presidency is over, however that happens, but hopefully sooner rather than later. But there is no new information that is gleaned from reading this and the dual timeline, jumping back and forth in such a relatively short span of time is needlessly confusing. Had it been a straight timeline, it would have been better. As time goes on, I may change this to a 1-star review.

April Wrap Up

April was kind of a mediocre to good month.  A total of 10 books were finished, which is quite good.  8 of these were audiobooks and one was all on my Kindle and another was partly on my Kindle and partly a hardcover from the library, when the Kindle version from the library ran out.  This is a very rare occurrence, since for the most part, I can read a book a week, give or take on my Kindle or as a physical book.  I didn't DNF as many books as I did last month, but more than I would have liked to.  I just can't see the sense of forcing myself to finish a book that I'm not enjoying.  Especially when I have so many books on my TBR and WTR lists and the purpose of reading, or at least for me, is enjoyment and relaxation.

The books I DNF'd were Trail of Broken Wings by Sejal Badani
                                         Beartown by Fredrick Backman
                                         and Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard by Jamie Raintree


Of those that I read:
1 was 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 It Had to be Fate (I really wasn't expecting that this would be that highly rated).
3 were 🌟🌟🌟🌟
4 were 🌟🌟🌟 and
2 were 🌟🌟
I didn't give any 🌟, but I was debating giving  Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder 1 star, but there were parts in the book that were interesting, but for the most part I did not enjoy the book and really do not recommend the book.

I ended April reading The Book Women of Troublesome Creek,  I am still early into it, just over 50 pages or so into it.  I'm not loving it, but I'm not hating it either.  The conversation is somewhat in the dialect they use in the Appalachians, so I'm having to get used to that.  Listening to it may have been a better way to ho, but I got this as an ARC and since the book won't be out until next week, I'm hoping to get it done around then.

The Unicorn Rescue Society #2 The Basque Dragon by Adam Gidwitz

2 stars.  Personally this book was just ok! I hadn't expected much from it and the only reason I read it (on audio, actually) was that I needed a book that had a character with a :U: name or a series name that started with "U" which it had both of. It would probably be enjoyed by early middle-grade readers, probably 3rd through 5th graders.

Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis

Ugh, I just deleted my long review. Too make it more short and sweet. I didn't enjoy this one as much as Animal Magnetism. I wasn't crazy about Jade, but I did like Dillon the former foster child who made something out of himself. I found way too many sex scenes in the book, which since I listened to this, I found myself thinking not again and fast forwarding through the love scenes. I'd give this more a 2.75 or even 2.5 stats. I'll give this series another chance.

Also, another thing that really turned me off was although this book was published in 2011, the author used the term mentally retarded. By that time, that term was not politically correct and I don't think that term was used since the 80s. The story doesn't take place then and is not a reprint of a book published back then. I think that terminology should have been caught and changed during the editing process.

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

4 stars. About a year ago, I tried reading this on my Kindle, but it just didn't hold my attention and I DNF'd it for the time being. I just picked this up on audio through Overdrive and I enjoyed this very much. I found the narrator, Laura Hicks very good. She gave each character their own unique voice, making the story enjoyable. It is told in diary format and is an alternate history historical fiction novel. An Indian Chief had requested a trade of horses and 1,000 white women to be brides for the Indians, which of course, the U.S. Government refused. But this is the story of what may have happened if the trade had happened. There is a sequel, which I'd like to read eventually, especially if I can find a copy of the audio version, so far my library's Overdrive only has the e-book versions, but since I enjoyed the narrator so much and she narrates the sequel, I'd like to listen to it on audio if I can.

Homes by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah

This is a rather short book, just about 100 pages, depending on the format you read. It delivers quite a punch, though.  It is the true story of an Iraqi family, who first seeked shelter in Syria and then after sometime there seeked refugee status and gained asylum in Canada.  It is very eye-opening; how they almost normalize things that we'd consider alarming, but I think they do it as a means of survival and to maintain their sanity and to promote a sense of trying of normal family life for their children.  It is good in these times to see that the majority of Muslim families are not that different than our own.  They may have a different religion with some different beliefs, but underlying it all, they want safety and security in their lives like anyone else.  Through out history, there has always been hatred or dislike of those cultures that seem different from our own, the two examples that most come to mind are those of the Jewish faith, especially during WWII and Native American through most of American history, as well as countless other minority groups throughout the world and throughout the centuries.  Of course many of the individuals, who would most benefit from reading this or similar life stories won't but even if only a small number who read these books, change their perspectives that will help make this a better country and world.  I would love a follow up of this book, once Abu Baker and his family have been here a longer time.  I believe they moved to Canada in late 2015.4 stars.