Book Review: "The Change" By Kirsten Miller

 

The must read book of 2023!

Three women with a mid life changes are turning into butterflies and it's one lovely adventure to behold as they spread their wings.
Each has a uniquely different background but each puts on display a life that's faith full and fancy free.

There's plenty of roller coaster moments but the surprise is with Rosalind and the life she bestows with pain killer addiction adding to the mess alongside Spencer. Was Spencer the night or was he the nightmare?

Then we have Mandy a gilr who andswered and Ad for a job but may have received far more than she could've bargained as faith is now more than just a terminology it's part of a crime scene at a locker gym in which prints were found but also pics of a shady past.

Who do these half naked pics belong too? Why aren't the cops actively engaged in finding these missing young ladies?

Was Rosalind Harding's family involved and could the word F-A-I-T-H hold more significance than merely a name?

Spencer thinks he's gotten away with murder but we all know there's more to the day his wife died in the car accident than he's telling us.
Jo's daughter has just been targeted but who would possibly want to do a 30 yo body conscious mom's daughter harm?

Will Nessa James our widow and mother of twin girls possibly stop this madness as the empty nester who hears voices from beyond the graves?

Or, will Harriet Osborne be the final of the three that we depend upon for answers as she's nearing 50 yo with a failed marriage and career?

Gagged and bound for secrecy is no way to live...

Breaking...Body found in garbage bag-possiblel prostitute-but how do the police know when they're not investing time or resources to find these women?

Could we have a serial killer on our hands? On an island? Killing young girls that are prostitutes for fun?

Rosalind Harding may have held the answers but she's gone and Spencer may now hold the key to who kidnapped Jo's daughter Lucy.
Oh, snap...He's been done in too!

Well, that leaves us with plenty of bodies but not enough answers...So what now?

Bring in Claude who is like the Epstein gal only worse....Sick pigs and pervs who feel above the law must suffer the consequences for killing and raping so many innocent lives.

A superb novel by a thriller author. I can't wait to see what's next.

Book Review: "Fields of Fire" By Ryan Steck

Ryan Steck's debut has arrived & it's full of non stop, heart pounding, action and suspense.

Fields of Fire builds slowly but once that flame rises it's hard to pound it out as family is at the heart of this battle.

It all begins with J.B. passing at his ranch but it appears it may not be an accident. We learn there's financial troubles brewing and it's going to take plenty of hands on deck to overcome the burdens.

Wyatt Gage is our man -interested in everything that ain't nailed down but why has he become invested with so much land?

Meanwhile, Matt's been arrested for suspicion of murder ...Wait, what?

Redd's in jail for the murder of two warriors and now Wyatt is gone? NO, not true...oh, but it's and it's becoming a danger zone out there.
Environmentalists are staking claim and it's about to go down with some bio weapons unless Redd can end this right here and now.

Lucky for us Redd has time on his side and Anton Gage is one guy who will not go down without a fight and it's a fight that Redd must win.

A fantastic debut that is sure to set Steck on a course of raw adrenaline rush moving forward. I'm looking forward to whatever the author's got in the works for us.

Book Review: "Wish You Were Here" By Jodi Picoult

 

This was absolutely fantastic, mind blowingly real, and chilling to the core.

Let me preface by saying as I'm typing this on 3/4/23 I myself had Covid pneumonia for the 1st time the day of my dad's passing on 2/10/23. My dad passed from end stage cancer after suffering a heart attack in FL while I was at home battling Covid pneumonia with sepsis after suffering from minor symptoms like a common cold for a week.

So, now here we are and I'm told during my dad's final memorial gathering/mass that my brother now has Covid in Fl and it scares the shitte out of me as he sounds twice as bad.

Look, what I can say is nothing in life is guaranteed and we're not promised tomorrow and that's why I loved this book by the gifted and talented Jodi Picoult as she brings us to our knees in this newest piece.

Diana is our main gal with a hero's welcome and she's determined to live a long and cushy life. Just one problem she's come down with this dreaded virus and is now fighting for her life.

I've had dreams similar to what the author notes, that were so bad that I would scratch my arms as if I'm sinking in quick sand or being buried alive but that may be due to the trauma of an abusive relationship with a malignant narcissist more than Covid pneumonia but I can't rule anything out.

The author does an incredible job bringin the Covid fog to life, the scary dreams of entrapment, and the reality to our doorstep especially in hospital and nursing home settings.

Our heroes are those who attempted to save lives while not infecting themselves as I can't imagine putting their lives on the line to save ours.

The ventilators, the dyspnea, the entire medical journals on this topic can't bring reality home like this book can with regards to Barbados, the chickadee birds, the tropical feel, the sensation that she's trapped there unable to help back home with her boyfriend Finn at the hospital and her mother's situation.

That ending....oh, hot damn! YES and all while becoming free of resentments and the past.

The work of a great author is in transporting its reader to another place and time while feeling every emotion and that's true with Jodi Picoult -a masterful storyteller!

Book Review: "3 Days To Live" By James Patterson

 

That longing for something more, something far better, something worthy of the JP title and brand is what I keep hoping for but sadly I think the rooster has flown the coop.

I honestly felt that the first two weren't anything to write home to mom about but the last almost made it.

Perhaps, it's me and you might enjoy these short novellas but for me it's just not up to the level I've been accustomed to reading from this author and from the years I've spent speed reading his material.

He's a gifted writer but lately his work just seems as though he's in it for nothing more than the money and that saddens me deeply because he's certainly capable of producing much better quality and quantity.

Book Review: "The Courage To Be Free" By Ron DeSantis

 

Whenever I read political books I hope there's less of the word, "ME" and more of the word "US."

Sadly, all too often we here the single format used in discussing everything leading up to another bid and this time for President.

The timing of this leaves much to be desired as we clearly see the writing on the walls however, with this said he does discuss a variety of topics and how great he was in achieving success.

It's not often we here about what he'd like to do for Florida, how he'd like to improve their quality of life, what he'd like to do about their concerns on how the state is handling its affairs but we do receive plenty about his career, his college degrees, his shut down of the pandemic, his inflated ego about Disney and so much more.

For me, having married a malignant narcissist and being left bankrupt, homeless, and LT unemployed in extreme poverty with three kids from the 11 yr union and as a counselor for those experiencing or have had experienced the same is that the best thing to do is not put the spotlight on them, to not allow the power/control to override the decision making processes, and to attempt to lessen contact with boundaries both professional and personal.

This to me is the best advice I can offer as it's a scary time in politics and the constant bombardment and take aways from history is not what our country needs.

I'd be thrilled if he mentioned unity, cohesion, accountability, responsibility, or even an attempt to work across the aisle but if he mentioned in audio then it must've been missed as I can't recall.

Thank you bibliotheca for another great audio.

Book Review: "Reminders of Him" By Colleen Hoover

 

Time is all we have so don't waste it!

Look blood may be thicker than water but in many cases it's still all we have to connect us and sometimes the past must be forgiven to gain traction in the present and for future purposes.

Having just laid to rest my dad on the 10th of February, having never been close as his only daughter among 3 brothers, having been the scapegoat for 49 years leads me here to today. His memorial mass is today, the gathering (cremation service) was yesterday, and later today his burial is something I never thought would happen much less never attend.

So, this book has touched numerous heart strings for me personally as I never felt loved, appreciated, nor acknowledged even as an adult mother of three with two in college and one as junior in high school.

This book is about mistakes yet it's about parental love behind bars and what all of that entails. When a stranger raises your now 4 yr old child as his/her own is breaks internally the bonds that are needed.

In fact, upon reading this yesterday afternoon I was sitting inside my car in a local park, glancing down at the cellphone clock, wondering what it must be like to be at a memorial gathering in which you're welcomed and invited. It was hard knowing I wasn't told my dad passed away nor have my three kids treated as if they're his 3 of only 7 grandkids as we lost my niece at 12yo from a car accident in Florida after a young man was drag racing on I-4 at 8am on a weekday.

Colleen Hoover manages to bring such emotional turmoil and heartfelt trepidations that it leaves one breathless. In this case we have Scotty-miracle boy-killed by a drunk driver. You can't imagine the connection to a character in this book.

Then we proceed with Ledger trying to right the wrongs and brings some sort of semblance and peace among all.

Diem the 4 yo daughter and her birth mom Kenna are forever linked biologically but she's been raised by Patrick/Grace whom filed a protection order from Kenna serving prison time.

I can't imagine writing this book much less learning that this isn't the end of Kenna's story. She's a fighter and she's determined to find a way or make a way to the path forward with her gal.

She's not going down without a fight as every mother can relate or any parent be that as it may be.

She's got Ledger in her corner and the eternal bell has just sounded off.

I love the ending and couldn't imagine a better way to provide closure.

Book Review: "Heart Bones" By Colleen Hoover

You'll never go wrong with Colleen Hoover at the wheel!

This was superb and I couldn't get enough of this romance between Samson and Beyah.
Living in a trailer park isn't for everyone but then again neither is the life of hard knocks with a mother whose an addict.

What more will Beyah have to overcome...Oh, wait...law school is on the books.

And here comes Samson with some shady things going on. That guy they located from the storm. The connections.

OMG! Breaks my heart! This is truly a story about two people with broken hearts coming together after heartbreak to find one another.

The way Colleen weaved this together with mystery and romance was unique in and of itself while uncovering the true meaning of love.

Spending time in jail. Having failed as parents. Yet, the heart wants what the heart wants.....
MAN, OH-MAN!