Good News!!!!

This blog is being revived within thr next couple days!  Now that I'm home recuperating from a stroke this will  be a great way to stay busy and a fun way to work on my typing and fine motor activity in my left hand  As well as a way to share my love of reading!

Blog Tour: Jackson by Emily March

My Review:
4.5 stars raised to 5 stars. This is both Book 16 in the Eternity Springs series and the first book in The McBride's of Texas series. Even if you have never read a book in the Eternity Springs series, you can still read this its more a 1st book in a new series than one of a continuing series. Plus the Eternity Springs series books can all pretty much be stand alone books. The book may have some of the characters appear from the past books, but not in a way that makes you unsure of what is going on. I originally started reading book 7 and loved the book, so much I have read all the books in the series, except for #5 and #6, which I still plan to read.

I loved this book and am so excited to continue with another off shoot of the original series. It is pretty much a sweet romance with little sexual content, which is refreshing. There was only one area of the book that I wasn't crazy about or maybe a bit bored (and thus the deduction of half a star), but since I was not able to write my review immediately, but instead a couple days later; at this point, I can not quite remember specifics of what it was, so I probably could give it a full 5 stars. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and wonder which of the other 2 cousins will be the main feature in this book. I am guessing Boone, but it could be Tucker. I'll just have to wait until later this year or next year to find out.

The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris

I really did not know anything about Kamala Harris, other than she was one of over 20 people who were running for the Democratic nomination in order to run against Donald Trump in the 2020 Election and that she was born to parents of Jamaican and Indian ancestry. I found the book quite interesting; she starts with her early life as well as a bit about her parents before she was born and continues into her professional life, as well as her personal life. I am hoping to read or listen to many of the other nominees' biographies or autobiographies. for the Democratic party over the next year. 4 stars.

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

3 stars. I really wasn't crazy about any of the characters, especially for quite a long while into the book, even by the end I wouldn't consider him favorite characters The first part of the book, I was thinking that I might give it 3 stars, but it was near the end that made me decide it was worth 4 stars on Goodreads. The story was a little on the long side and could have been at least 50 pages shorter. There were also a few typos/mistakes that should have been caught in the editing process. There were 2 separate mysteries, 40 years or more apart from each, in one incident, one victim was given the wrong surname (that of the other victim). If I had read the ARC, I would have assumed it would be caught and not used it to judge the book, but this was a library and therefore the finished project. When I wrote this review the morning after finishing the book, I rated it 3.5 stars and was going to raise it to 4 stars on Goodreads, but now after typing it and thinking about the story more, I feel 3 stars is a better rating in my mind. I liked the book, but wasn't overly crazy about it, and I had really enjoyed the author's previous book, The High Tide Club, so I will read more by Mary Kay Andrews.

A Light in the Storm: The Civil War Diary of Amelia Martin, Fenwick Island, Delaware 1861 by Karen Hesse

2.5 stars raised to 3 stars. I'm not sure if this is middle grade or YA. The main character, Amelia Martin is 18 or 19; my library and the library's near me have this and the others in the Dear America series in the juvenile literature section (middle grade), but Goodreads has it as YA on the book'a main page. I usually enjoy books set in the Civil War era, but this book was not quite as engaging, although I am not of the age group that this book is targeted towards I did find the epilogue and author's note interesting..

Girl at War by Sara Novic

I've never read a book that takes place or is about Yugoslavia or Croatia or read anything about the war that occurred there in the 90s. This was probably a book that would have been better to read than listen to, but then the words were probably pronounced correctly and they may not have been if I read them. It was interesting, but not a great book. I feel there could have been a more about the history that led to this war. In some ways, it seemed to be directed more to young adults. Although, I enjoyed reading/listening to this that I knew little of, I do not feel I learned that much and therefore can only give this 3 stars, since it feels there was something missing in the telling of this story. I think I'd recommend reading it rather than listening to it. Maybe I missed something by reading it. I know sometimes there is an author note or further information that is provided in the book and is not included for some reason in the audio version.

Under the Banner of Heaven vy Jon Krakauer

I originally started reading this in April, but decided to wait until this book was available as an audiobook. I had hoped the book would be better on audio. I was able to get through the book much quicker this way, but of course it was still inundated with Mormon history and the actual true crime element is a relatively small part of the book. I have read many biographies of former Mormon Fundamentalists, mainly from FLDS, but this is one of the most boring I've read/listened to. There were parts that were interesting, but much of the book was the history and history of the Mormon church, including that of the Mormon Fundamentalists. 1.5 stars