Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 4/30/2024 + 2542 more book reviews

Overall, this was a good book. Jared is the result of a one-night stand; his father never knew about him. Jared wondered about him but didn't have much interest in connecting with him until he had a crisis of identity. Jared is a chef, and devastating criticism of his ethnic cooking sent him looking for his Filipino roots. He arrives in his family's town with no plan of action. The first night, he connects with a beautiful woman.

Matilda loves her job managing the B & B. The owner gave her a job and a chance after Matilda left an unhappy marriage. Her organizational skills are unparalleled, and she has a finger on every pulse of the business.

Jared chickens out of confessing who he is when he arrives in Peak. Instead, he takes a job as a fill-in chef at the family B & B, using the time to get to know his father's family. He connects easily with his half-sisters and is sweet with his nephew. He feels guilty about keeping his identity secret but can't decide the best way/time to come clean.

Meanwhile, he and Matilda continue spending time together. Matilda is wary of getting involved after losing herself in her marriage. She doesn't want to risk the same thing happening again. She tends to keep tight control of her emotions, feeling that is her only way to protect herself. She is also a bit of a control freak when running the B & B. She, too, begins to feel guilty about keeping Jared's secret and the effect it could have on her relationship with the family.

I liked the development of the relationship between Jared and Matilda. Jared is upfront about his interest in her. Matilda is more hesitant, as she is bothered by the ten-year age difference between them. I liked seeing Jared and Matilda spend time together and discover their compatibility. But when the secret comes out, the reactions are all over the place, and Matilda and Jared must deal with the fallout. I ached for them all as everyone came to terms with the revelations. The ending was emotional and well done, and the epilogue was sweet.

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Jennifer Eve S. (EveSorenson) reviewed on 4/30/2024 + 2 more book reviews

This is beautiful. If you have never perused a Nick Bantock book and appreciate beautiful pictures and quirky stories make sure to try one in real paper media form - nothing else will do!

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R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 4/30/2024 + 1438 more book reviews

Great tale about African slave trade seen through the eyes of Aminatta "Meena" Diallo. Kidnapped when she was eleven from her home in a village called Bayo in west Africa, she is taken to the new world. Arriving in the American colonies she must learn who among the tuoab, white people, she can trust.

A strong woman, she uses her wits, midwife skills, ability to internalize new skills quickly, and strength of character, to survive. Her goal is only to live with her Chekura, her husband, and their children, who are taken from her. Through a fluke of fate, when Britain is defeated by the Americans she is able to sign a certificate proving she has worked behind British lines for at least a year and is sent to Nova Scotia. Ending up in London, she finds the British no more able to understand her people than the Americans.

Written in a simple, honest style through Meena, this wonderful book showcases a woman who rarely passes judgement,yet offers her thoughts and perspective to others. It's a story of slavery from Africa where tribes enslave those from other tribes to America where slaves work on plantations and often treated brutally.

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Karen S. (BoysMom) - , reviewed on 4/30/2024 + 723 more book reviews

Some Kind of Truth by Westley Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A gripping, dark, and frightening thriller!

Some Kind of Truth is a gripping new thriller by author Westley Smith that kept me fully engaged from start to finish. With its damaged but determined to get to the truth main character and compelling plot involving unthinkable crimes against a young teenage girl, I was driven to keep reading to discover what was going on and see if justice would be served for the victims.

Steve James, a victim himself in the past, is chosen by persons unknown to get involved in a 25-year-old missing person's case when he finds a mysterious package waiting outside his apartment door, which contains shocking information never seen before. The missing girl had lived in a small town hours away from Pittsburgh where Steve works for a major newspaper. He immediately, and periodically thereafter, questions why he was pinpointed as the package's recipient. As the paper's top crime reporter, his investment in the case is guaranteed once he examines the box's contents.

Steve suffers from the memories and trauma of his past and self-medicates with copious amounts of Jameson's, feeling the need for a drink every waking moment. However, he can still control acting on his needs most of the time and retains his edge as a skilled investigative reporter. He's joined in his quest for answers by a local small-town reporter, Amy Richards, and the two deal well together as they follow the clues.

The author has great storytelling skills, and I was completely drawn into the book, lost in the story, and oblivious to how much time had passed while reading. I was reluctant to leave the story behind when everyday life eventually demanded my attention. The descriptions of secondary characters and settings were vivid and realistic, fueling my absorption with the story. Although Steve spends some time debating his initial moves, there are few pauses in the action, and a couple of more recent murders are discovered to have some possible similarities to the cold case. As the case progresses, the plot has additional twists, including a real eleventh-hour surprise. There are clues in the narrative for sharp-witted armchair detectives to find or not.

I recommend SOME KIND OF TRUTH to readers of grittier mysteries, thrillers, and crime fiction.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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Dianne (gardngal) reviewed on 4/30/2024 + 268 more book reviews

Excellent! Rich with the history of a country that we hear very little about, Burma, it's the biography of one man who worked in the teak business during the years post WWI and into the beginning and duration of WWII. You learn about the climate, the native people and especially the elephants. Their anatomy, their personalities, and their exceptional intelligence are all a large part of the story. Fascinating! I enjoyed it very much! D.

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Karen S. (BoysMom) - , reviewed on 4/30/2024 + 723 more book reviews

Just a Hat by Shanah Khubiar

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The unique coming-of-age story of a small-town, Persian-American Jewish teen in 1979 Texas.

Just A Hat by Shanah Khubiar is the vivid and evocative coming-of-age story of young Joseph Nissan, a Persian-American Jewish teen whose family had immigrated to the U.S. to escape the Shah of Iran's police. The multi-layered story features Joseph's school life, home life, and life in general in his small Texas town at the start of the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis.

The main character is Youssef (or Joseph as he is known at school) Nissan, a 13-year-old transplant from California, living in Hazel, Texas (somewhere outside Dallas) with his Baba and Maman, who had years earlier fled their home in Iran just ahead of the Shah's police. Besides navigating the emotional minefield of middle school, he's on the cusp of manhood, studying for his Bar Mitzvah and slowly changing his relationship with his parents. He's frequently mistaken for Hispanic; his best friends are Mateo and Roberto Ybarra, and there are no other ethnically Persian families (or Jews) in the entire county, so he is unique to the area's residents.

Joseph struggles with wanting to do the same things other kids do and still respect his parents' wishes, especially his father's. Still, their culture and, sometimes, religious restrictions present a conflict. He's quiet, studious, and academically adept. Joseph has a healthy temper that he must constantly work to control. His nemeses in the town are two cousins, Larry and Brian Edmondson, who are revealed later to have their own interesting backstories, who generally make Joseph's life miserable at school and in the neighborhood.

In Texas, football is a common denominator, a great equalizer that brings diverse groups of people together, creating otherwise unlikely allies (and hitting people is considered a legitimate and acceptable practice.) Joseph makes the fortuitous decision to join the football team where he shows a lot of promise. I enjoyed how Joseph observed the "tells" of the two Edmondson cousins that telegraphed their moves on the field and how he used it to even out their relationships with one another.

The story includes details of Joseph's culture and religion, with celebrations attended by extended family from across the country or Israel. The discussions of the extensive preparations for his Bar Mitzvah were eye-opening and informative, as was the talk about the political situation back in Iran that had prompted many of the characters to immigrate to the U.S.

Joseph's life is further complicated by his crush on a classmate, the daughter of a disapproving and narrow-minded Christian pastor. Baba, who knows the tough path such an alliance would pose even if the two kids were older, does not support the friendship either. The confrontation between the two fathers is frighteningly intense but Joseph sees a side to Baba that he's never seen before: one that he'd been worried was absent. It was so satisfying to see father and son open up at different times during the story and reveal their secrets to each other. And I loved when Maman revealed that she, too, had hidden depths. (I would have thrown a hissy about those apples.)

Ramiz Monsef narrates the Audible audiobook and is one of the best at this craft. His voice is warm and welcoming, using subtle changes in tone, accent, and pitch to differentiate this broad cast of characters that include male, female, young, old, and native English, Spanish, and Farsi speakers. The production is just great.

With its wonderfully relatable characters and unique coming-of-age story, I recommend JUST A HAT to readers of young adult fiction.

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Robyn H. (byrd1956) reviewed on 4/30/2024 + 24 more book reviews

This story was overall heart-warming with an interesting plot that included problems, heartbreak, and happiness. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the descriptions of the setting. I read this book aloud while my husband and I are in the car. While I liked the book, my husband really didn't and I think he would have been fine with e reading silently. He said some of the things that happened seemed far-fetched and there was not any action-packed happenings or story line that would make the reader do some problem solving. He said it was just a story about someone's life and I liked that.

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Pam M. (buttonsandbooks) reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 27 more book reviews

I throughly enjoyed this book. Nina and Ruth had a long friendship that predated Ruth's appointment to the Supreme Court. Nina shares her journey and her lifelong friendships with many individuals throughout the book, but central to the story is her friendhip with Ruth.

The book is written with honesty and beautiful touching details-a gem.

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Elizabeth R. (esjro) - , reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 904 more book reviews

This collection of essays originally published in the New York Review of Books was a mixed bag for me. It started off strong; the early pieces address topics of interest to general readers such as is it okay to not finish a book you do not like, and are ebooks killing reading or helping? The later sections are of narrower appeal since they address topics such as the struggles of authors and the challenge of translating works of literature. (The author is a published writer of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a translator). It is worth a read, though I'd suggest skimming the essays that are not of interest.

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Robert K. R. (rikker) reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 210 more book reviews

Good info about what has already happened, and may still be evolving.

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Robert K. R. (rikker) reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 210 more book reviews

A nice showing of a part of the country not many are familiar with.

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Robert K. R. (rikker) reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 210 more book reviews

Interesting story about a girl's problem, could it be real, in today's world?

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Karen S. (MKSbooklady) reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 947 more book reviews

Started out really good, fast paced, thrilling, but the second half became so draggy, couldn't finish it.

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John B. (cwousn) - , reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 89 more book reviews

This was an unusual tale. A contract killer who normally hires out to the CIA is targeted for elimination as the agency decides to clean house. While avoiding or killing those seeking him, he chances upon a ten years old killing which may hold the key to his survival. Action packed with enough twists and turns to keep one guessing. And after the apparent climax, another flourish takes us to an unexpected ending.

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Linda A. (Booksat109) reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 79 more book reviews

Speaker for the Dead is part of the Ender Series and one of my husband's very favorite books. This is a reread for him, and if he is rereading it, you know it has to be a good one!

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Donna C. (g-ma) reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 3093 more book reviews

Long drawn out story with forgettable characters
Considered Christian suspense?
Silly Holly, she's almost 30 years old and acts like 12?

Just not written very well at all but then I don't read C.C. Warren much anyway

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Debbie B. (debs) - reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 642 more book reviews

Read all of the Orphan X books, and thought that this one was not up to par. I was bored.

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Cathy C. (cathyskye) - , reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 2261 more book reviews

The pace of Death Under a Little Sky may be slow and deliberate, but I fell under the story's spell just the same. Stig Abell's tale is atmospheric, lyrical, and completely in tune with the natural world.

The land that Jake Jackson inherits is beautiful, and as he wanders the fields and bathes in the lake, he begins naming parts of it after crime writers. (There's Morse Field and Poirot Point, for example.) The house may not have a bath or shower... or a washing machine or a dryer, but its library is any crime fiction reader's idea of paradise.

Readers follow along with Jake as he becomes acquainted with his land as well as the people in the nearby village. Some of them are friendly, like Dr. Peter, who "emerges from his house, as always like an animal from a burrow," but some folks eye him with suspicion. In fact, I found that village to be rather claustrophobic. As I walked with Jake down its main street, I felt the hair stand on the back of my neck. (How's that for getting drawn into a story?)

I enjoyed getting to know the cast of characters surrounding Jake, especially Livia the veterinarian and her daughter Diana, Chief Inspector Gerald Watson, and Sarah the pub owner. However, I can see that, if you find that you don't particularly care for Jake, you're probably not going to like the book. He is center stage almost all the time.

When the identity of the killer finally dawned on me, I swear someone should have been able to see the light bulb turn on above my head. From the marvelous setting to the main character to the mystery itself, all I can say is that I'm certainly looking forward to seeing Jake again.

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Christopher M. (gilesgoatboy) reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 55 more book reviews

A surprisingly easy to read but effectively profound exposition of the alienation experienced in modern culture. Evan Hansen's years of meds and therapy sessions have failed to unlock his self-defeating personality from his stifled cocoon of unworthiness until an unexpected confrontation with another social outcast leads to a complete misunderstanding and provokes alarming changes in Evan from previously unthinkable situations that force him to behave in entirely new ways. He frantically tries to navigate new expansive circumstances and begins to lose his comfortable anonymity and familiar obscurity. The dependable crutches on which he relied for so long no longer work and he has no other ways to cope...

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Frank F. reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 348 more book reviews

Good reading. 700 pages and never got bored. A Gray Man CIA adventure. Similar to a Reacher book.

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Frank F. reviewed on 4/29/2024 + 348 more book reviews

Good book by two non scientists, so its a readable story about why there is such a large loss of birds worldwide. Sorry it doesnt give more concrete things that can be done to change this story.

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Robert K. R. (rikker) reviewed on 4/28/2024 + 210 more book reviews

Sweet story with people who are making their life, hopefully, together.

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Robert K. R. (rikker) reviewed on 4/28/2024 + 210 more book reviews

surprising action with people not knowing what will happen to them.

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Robert K. R. (rikker) reviewed on 4/28/2024 + 210 more book reviews

Nice adventure of what might be someday.

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Karen S. (CacaoBear) reviewed on 4/28/2024 + 85 more book reviews

I found this book to be very confusing. I'm still not exactly sure what the plot was. It's classified as a mystery, but the only mystery was what the H-E-double-hockey-sticks was going on?!?!?! It started out with a "before section" and then an "after" section, which ended with, "I thought you were dead!". Then it went into the "in between stuff for a couple-hundred pages. Except ... I didn't pick up on the "after" aspect of that second chapter, and I kept wondering what ever happened to the not-dead dead person ... And then ... when the creamy center of the Oreo story line was done and it flipped back to the "after" story, the characters and twists were so hopelessly convoluted that I was completely lost. None of the characters is particularly endearing, so I found I really didn't care what happened to them. The only reason I kept reading is that I couldn't figure out what the twist had to do with the story (such as it was), and I'm still not sure. The book is just under 300 pages, and I'd say a good 60% of it is "filler" - background history of San Fransisco and its politics - that just made the whole thing drag along like a kite on a windless day.

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