Marybeth Kruger has been caring for her baby half-sister since her father passed away. She will do anything to keep her two-year-old sister. Edward Vogel is a good friend who is trying to get past the death of his wife and son. Edward decides to help Marybeth by marrying her so she can legally keep her sister. Marybeth must also agree to move since Edward has accepted a job in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
The journey to Cheyenne begins and a hard life waits for them in this growing railroad town. Tracie Peterson has been one of my favorite authors since discovering her books many years ago. She is a fabulous author who can really tell a great story! This first book in “The Heart of Cheyenne ” series proves to be another fabulous historical trip into the beginnings of the American West.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah is a remarkable author that I truly respect. However, I must start out by saying that I am older than Kristin Hannah and was in high school and college during that time. I was keenly aware of many friends who served in Vietnam. It was not a popular war, filled with young men who were drafted into (what was considered) a sure step toward death. I spent hours with one friend in college who had a high draft number and tried everything he could think of to get out of being accepted into the Army.
I did enjoy this book but I felt like the author tried to develop a character who lived through just about every aspect of the war years. Those aspects included the hard life of a young person serving in the war, the extreme loss of life, mental and physical repercussions of service and the extreme division of US citizens when it came to supporting the war. These last points were the reason that I only gave the book three stars. I felt like the author tried to have one person being a part of every aspect of that period in history in a personal way. This could be possible, but highly unlikely. I also thought the character of Frankie was not very likeable. Frankie also fell in love twice in Vietnam (about a 12 month stint) Both lovers become listed as killed in action and they both end up coming back home alive! Not realistic! This was not my favorite Kristin Hannah book. The story was interesting in Vietnam but the last part could have been left out. I got bored by the ridiculous “slogging” through poor Frankie’s pitiful life. If any readers want to read about a real Vietnam era nurse, check out Home Before Morning: the Story of an Army Nurse in Vietnam by Lynda Van Devanter. This is an autobiography.
The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra
It was so nice to read a book that I just plain, ENJOYED!! This beautifully written, cozy mystery was so refreshing as well as a delight to read. Author, Harini Nagendra, has created a pair of colorful and lovable, amateur sleuths, Kaveri and her new husband, Ramu. Reading this book was like a personnel tour into high society Bangalore. I loved the descriptive language Harini used to describe dress, homes and even the landscape of 1920’s Bangalore. The minor characters also made their presence known with their intertwining lives in the adventure. Imagine being a young bride like Kaveri, married to a young doctor and you can actually feel the building love and relationship in their new union. They both were captivating characters and I loved their story! The mystery is complex, but engaging, and actually has the reader sitting at the edge of your chair at the end! If you love cozies, don’t miss this enchanting addition to the genre.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
I’m not going to give a summary of the story. It is a book that has received many awards. Unfortunately, at this stage of my life I was not enamored with the book. I actually had to force myself to read it.
When Things Went Dark by Bea Fitzgerald
This sounds like a great plot; a reality show with six people on an island, competing against each other. One is killed during the show and the killer must be found. I found the characters to be exaggerated and stereotyped. Sorry, but this book is not for me.
Daughter of Australia by Harmony Verna
The story begins in the early years of twentieth century Australia when an abandoned young girl, Leonora, is found in a hot, parched desert by an old man. He saves her life by getting help and taking her to an orphanage. She is mute, sad and despondent after getting there and eventually becomes friends with an orphan boy, James. Leonora is adopted by an affluent family in the United States and James has an aunt who comes to Australia from Ireland to claim him. Years pass and Leonora and James reunite in an emotional story that literally tears their hearts in two. The author has written an emotionally, gripping story that captures the reader and doesn’t let go until the very end. I love stories about Australia, and this is a great addition to the historical genre. Recommended to anyone who loves a good story!
Taken by the Shawnee by Sallie Bingham
This book was an instant draw for me after reading that the author had done research about a member of her family to write this book. Margaret was a young, white woman with a baby that was captured by Shawnee warriors in 1779 in Western Virginia. Her husband was an adventurer and wanted to move across the mountains with the idea that everything would be better for them there. The story revolves around her acclamation to living with the Shawnee clan and actually becoming to admire the people and love her life there. The story was not usual when she was ransomed by her family and returned to Virginia. I actually think that the author presented her story in a very open way that has the reader understand and appreciate Margaret’s feelings and actions. I didn’t feel like she was the typical “white woman captive who returned home” type of character. (And I mean that in a good way) Read it and decide for yourself!
NetGalley Reading Journal by We are Bookish
“The NetGalley Reading Journal is a free digital PDF that you can download, edit, and customize to track your reading. There are pages to write reviews, participate in reading challenges, track habits, and more!’ This is the description that NetGalley gives for it’s Reading Journal. I think that it is an excellent tool for readers to learn the workings of NetGalley and it’s requirement of writing reviews and other aspects that Netgalley has to offer it’s members.
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
A best-selling author. Carrie McClelland, moves to a beautiful village on the sea in Scotland. She is writing a new book that is part of the Scottish history in this area. She rents a place from an elderly man who is very kind and happy to help her with information in her book. She begins to research and write when she notices that her main character, named after one of her ancestors, begins to unknowingly follow the true history of the ancestor she is writing about. She also develops a relationship with her landlord’s two sons. That just makes the story more fun and endearing. I love Scotland, Scottish history and any great story about these two. This is a well-written and interesting story!
Do Newts Eat Noodles? by Cliff Beneventi
I loved this book! As a long-time educator and librarian, I recommend this book to all Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers to keep a copy of this book in your classroom. All librarians should also purchase a copy of this for a wonderful read aloud to the PreK, K and 1st grade students. I can just see in my mind a sweet group of students glued to the pictures as I read aloud to them. They would be answering each letter with a reply that would be a form of yea and nay! Such fun for students as they learn letters and other words! PS- teachers and librarians will also be smiling with the students at this one!
Loreal's Books 