The story is about forgiveness and all the complications involved with it. Sara has to decide if she can forgive the unforgivable act, of sexual assault, that resulted in the birth of her daughter, Alana. Sara is forced to return home and face ghosts of her past. A lot of emotional baggage with secrets.

This story gives a voice to all Sara’s of the world. It brings difficult things to the forefront for discussion. I am intrigued that this debut author is a rural librarian and wonder if her book will be one of the thousands being banned from libraries and schools. I enjoyed the book and look forward to more from, Terah Shelton Harris.

The Women by Kristin Hannah
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC audiobook

Narrated by: Julia Whelan and Kristin Hannah reading authors note


I’ve always enjoyed Julia Whelan’s narrations and she does another excellent read once again.

4.5 Stars rounded up to

1960’s—turbulent times, Vietnam War, a nation divided by war

Kristina Hannah knows how to pull a reader in from the beginning of a book and keeps the pace running through to the end. Frankie, a young naive unrealistic girl, joins the Army Nurse Corps shortly after her brother was killed in Vietnam.

Frankie sees what war truly is and with the comradeship she forms with other nurses is what helps her survive during her tour in Nam. Frankie becomes a rockstar in the OR in Nam, and then….

Upon coming home and having people cussing and spitting and calling you baby killers is something Frankie most definitely wasn’t prepared for. People not believing women were in Nam and dismissing her. The emotional toll of war, death, and people expecting her to be her old self upon coming home, leaves Frankie alienated and unable to cope with things. Frankie could not pull herself back from despair. The naive unrealistic girl she was before is gone.

This is the first book I’ve read about the women in Nam and what they endured during and after the war. Parts of this story resonated with me, having had family members in Nam; losing some of them to cancer that was most likely due to, Agent Orange.

Vietnam—the war no one wants to remember.

Coming-of-age story of war, death, trauma, love, friendship, PTSD, POW/MIA, Agent Orange, addictions, family, and learning to navigate life after war.

Narrated by Leslie Howard and Danny Montooth

Narration was well done, but the teachers voice was a bit cringeworthy at times.

A cat-and-mouse psychological thriller that pulls you in with the Prologue.

This tale is told from the alternating viewpoints of Eve (a teacher and wife of Nate, who is also a teacher) and Addie (student of both Eve and Nate.) Parts are so outrageous, but overall an entertaining and enjoyable read.

Mix of a crumbling marriage, affairs, questionable activities of a teacher, revenge, murder, secrets, lies and a ‘Hot Potato’ sixteen year old girl and you get—The Teacher, by Freida McFadden.

4.5 star rating

Eilish Stack is the main character and the narration in the third person is largely her perspective and her emotions that propel the story from beginning to end.

The narrative is told unconventionally, with no paragraph breaks. This book won the 2023 Booker Prize.

As extremist ideology continues to spread in our country and others, makes this a chilling and disturbing read on so many levels and it will shake you to your core. Many of us have become immune to what is happening in the world today. We have become desensitised to what we read and see on our screens,

In Prophet Song, Paul Lynch brings this horror to our doorstep as we have seen and read about in many other countries. This story takes place in Ireland, however it could be any country that doesn’t realize the ramifications of what an authoritarian regime could do to a country and its people.

Over the course of Prophet Song the tension and pace steadily increase. Eilish has tried to maintain stability and normalcy primarily for the sake of her children. The authoritarian regime has stripped her of her humanity. At one point, Aine, the sister of Eilish says, “history is a silent record of people who did not know when to leave.” Eilish corrects her and says, “is a silent record of people who could not leave, it is a record of those who did not have a choice, you cannot leave when you have nowhere to go and have not the means to go.” Aine wants Eilish and family to come to Canada, where Aine and her family live.

3.5 rounded up

$2 Billion worth of art amassed in an attic in France. Crazy, but true. Stephane Breitwieser is, “The Art Thief,” who removes artwork after artwork from various museums, galleries and churches in France and Switzerland, then stores them in an attic in his mother’s home. He falls in love with Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus and both are living rent free in his mother’s attic. She is more pragmatic and rational and Stephane’s head is in the clouds.

Breitwieser is a psychologists dream for sure. His obsession and impulsive behavior is interesting to say the least. It is hard to wrap your head around how this guy got away with stealing this much art out, without being detected.

A quote from book: “He takes only works that stir him emotionally, and seldom the most valuable piece in the place. He feels no remorse when he steals because museums, in his deviant view, are really just prisons for art. They’re often crowded and noisy, with limited visiting hours and uncomfortable seats, offering no calm place to reflect or recline.”

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar

Narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and Natalie Duke

The narration was done very well and enjoyed listening to this well written historical fiction/coming-of-age story told in flashback. We meet Zora and are introduced to her life set during height of Prohibition in 1920’s.

I like that this moves along at a nice pace and doesn’t get bogged down with lots of details, with Zora’s ups and downs in her life. I liked that Zora is a character that stays true to herself.

Has been on my TBR list for a while and glad I finally got to it. This is my first book by Noelle Salazar.

Touching upon fashion, romance, family, friendships and Prohibition.

My thanks to BookBrowse for the ARC of Mockingbird Summer.

Rated 3.5 stars
This is a coming-of-age story set in the early sixties in the segregated town of, High Cotton, Texas. Main characters are 13 year old, Corky, her older brother, Mack and America, a black girl that just moved to High Cotton.

Historical fiction, touching on civil rights, segregation and racism. It references, To Kill a Mockingbird, which is one of my all time favorites. It doesn’t say it is a YA novel, but I felt it was geared more towards YA. Even though it touches on all of the above, it’s done very simplistically. I’m fond of coming-of-age books but this one just wasn’t a good fit for me.

Narrated by Fiona Hardingham

This is a must-listen for any fan of Narnia and C. S. Lewis. Fiona does a touching performance in her narration. I absolutely loved listening to this.

An enchanting and magical read. Terminally ill George must know where Narnia comes from. George will ask his sister because he thinks Megs is brilliant. Megs, loves her little brother and will do absolutely anything for him. And so begins this exquisite “story within stories. “

A book to be cherished and for all to read. A book of love, sorrow, faith and hope. It is the perfect book to end my 2023 readings.

This is an espionage thriller that I enjoyed immensely. This is my first book by Tess Gerritsen, and I am looking forward to #2 of The Martini Club series. I found myself after each chapter thinking, I’ll just read one more chapter; this is when I know it’s a good book.

The cast in the book are Ex CIA agents that have retired to the small town of, Purity, Maine. Someone is trying to kill Maggie, one of the former CIA agents and ghosts from her past start to return. There is lots of mystery and action in, The Spy Coast. I was immersed in this story right from the start.

This is a story within a story. The author weaves back and forth from Lara’s younger years on stage and screen, to her present life of living on a cherry farm in northern Michigan, during the pandemic with her husband and three adult daughters.

The summer at Tom Lake is the heart of the story. Ann Patchett’s, Tom Lake, is a beautifully told story of love, growing up, and families. It showcases her storytelling expertise. Being from Michigan, it wasn’t difficult to picture the beauty of the cherry farms in northern Michigan.

This is a chilling and riveting read of the KKK in the 1920’s. A work of narrative nonfiction. Timothy Egan writes a compelling nonfiction excellent book that all should read. I’m sure, this book too will be banned, if not already.

The Klan was resurrected in the early 1900’s and one man in particular from Indiana becomes so powerful that he actually controls the state on all levels. D. C. Stevenson is a maniacal monster who has an evil charisma that allows for him to come in, and in a manner of short time take over the state of Indiana. Everyone from governor, police, ministers, judges and more were owned by Stevenson. He owned the state and he become a powerful Grand Dragon of all the Klan in the country. He was meticulously planning to live in the White House and this is terrifying.

One woman, Madge Oberholtzer, who was kidnapped, beaten and tortured by him was able to halt the Klan on her deathbed.

I thought I knew what the KKK is, but it is so much worse and mind boggling. There are too many parallels of this horrible time and what is presently going on in our country today. We need a wake-up call people, because there is definitely a pattern here.

This 19th century read follows soulmates John Alves and Mary Freitas, over eight decades across Portugal and the United States. Meeting at a young age and becoming friends during the blood tide of warfare between Catholics and Protestants in Portugal, their families must flee and go to the United States, where they are separated till meeting again a few years later.

Katherine Vaz's exquisitely written love story will pull you in from beginning to end. Because it is written in the the language of its time, it isn't a quick read. I found I had to slow down to savor the lyrical writing style of this beautifully told love story. An author I did not know of and look forward to reading more from her

Thank you to BookBrowse for the ARC of this delightful poetic language read.

The Partition of India is at the heart of this debut tale of love cut short by the Partition of India.

Touching on love, loss, remembrance, perfumery, calligraphy and war.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of Kerri Maher’s book, All You Have To Do Is Call.

This is a timely read given the decision of the overturn of Roe v Wade. This decision overturned the longstanding Constitutional right to abortion and eliminated federal standards on abortion access. To think we have gone back 50 years and now have to start over fighting for a God-given, free-will right for women to determine what is best for them and not the government making their decision.

Kerri Maher has written a powerful and compelling novel that is loosely based on the true story of the Jane Collective, based in Chicago, in the early 1970’s. It pays tribute to these brave women who fought for a woman’s right to choose.

This is a pre-Roe v Wade read and the author brings a group of ordinary women together to fight for the right to choose. It is illegal to provide abortions and these women have trained to do a safe abortion, if a woman decides it is best for her. The group of Jane’s lead double lives because of the secrecy of the group and their personal everyday lives. It’s a story of sisterhood and the camaraderie of women helping women; knowing that they can be arrested because of the illegality of what they are doing.

This is a first read for me by this author and I enjoyed reading the advance copy of her book.

I listened to this audiobook and the narration read by, Madeleine Maby, was good. I enjoyed, The Paris Daughter, and I like Kristin Harmel’s other book, The Book of Lost Names.

The story begins in Paris 1939 and two mothers meet and become fast friends. Soon after, the German occupation arrives in Paris and Elise, must leave Paris because she becomes a target. She leaves her daughter with, Juliette, to be safe.

This touches on the war itself, but more of a story of the after effects of what war does to people, families, communities, etc.
Two broken women; one that is stuck in the past and another drowning in regret and trying to find peace.

The story spans decades and we get to know more of the characters lives and personalities during this time. Then the story moves to New York where these two mothers meet up again.

Make sure to read the author’s note at the end.

One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris and narrated by ZuZu Robinson

The narration was a challenge because of the cadence. The reading is stilted for a few characters, but once in it, it became easier to listen to.

The story is about forgiveness and all the complications involved with it. Sara has to decide if she can forgive the unforgivable act, of sexual assault, that resulted in the birth of her daughter, Alana. Sara is forced to return home and face ghosts of her past. A lot of emotional baggage with secrets.

This story gives a voice to all Sara’s of the world. It brings difficult things to the forefront for discussion. I am intrigued that this debut author is a rural librarian and wonder if her book will be one of the thousands being banned from libraries and schools. I enjoyed the book and look forward to more from Terah Shelton Harris.

This novel portrays complexities of domestic abuse, psychological abuse, along with family relationships and the grieving. Multiple layers in this suspenseful novel are slowly peeled back, revealing more and more of the truth that has been hidden from, Ruby, since she was a small child.

Narration was very good and read by, Sophie Amoss. I liked the writing style of Una Mannion and I want to read her debut, A Crooked Tree.

Thank you to the publisher and BookBrowse for an advance copy of Kerri Maher’s book, All You Have To Do Is Call.

This is a timely read given the decision of the overturn of Roe v Wade. This decision overturned the longstanding Constitutional right to abortion and eliminated federal standards on abortion access. To think we have gone back 50 years and now have to start over fighting for a God-given, free-will right for women to determine what is best for them and not the government making their decision.

Kerri Maher has written a powerful and compelling novel that is loosely based on the true story of the Jane Collective, based in Chicago, in the early 1970’s. It pays tribute to these brave women who fought for a woman’s right to choose.

This is a pre-Roe v Wade read and the author brings a group of ordinary women together to fight for the right to choose. It is illegal to provide abortions and these women have trained to do a safe abortion, if a woman decides it is best for her. The group of Jane’s lead double lives because of the secrecy of the group and their personal everyday lives. It’s a story of sisterhood and the comaraderie of women helping women; knowing that they can be arrested because of the illegality of what they are doing.

This is a first read for me by this author and I enjoyed reading the advance copy of her book.

Take My Hand, touches on issues that I knew little about. I enjoyed reading this book although at times it was heart wrenching; especially when dealing with minor girls. Certain government agencies took advantage of underprivileged people; largely poor black families and minor children.

This book would be an excellent choice for book clubs, as it provides topics that would stimulate a lively discussion. It did remind me of the book, The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks.