January 16, 2024 DON'T LEAVE ME NOW

I've been waking up at 4:45am on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a 5:30am hot yoga class for two years. It's REALLY early BUT it's a great way to start the day. Went to bed last night wondering if we were going to have a delay------Maybe I wouldn't have to get up at 4:45am??? Go to the 7:00am class instead?? Didn't hear anything about a delay--so set my alarm for 4:45. DRAGGED myself out of bed-saw the snow--but STILL NO DELAY. Got myself ready for yoga---walking out the door when I got the notification. NO SCHOOL. What a bummer. I could have slept in a bit--had I known. UGH. Got in my car and went to class. At least that's done. Now I have time to write my blog.  It's been a long time since I read a Jodi Picoult book. They got too formulaic for me--but a friend gave me Mad Honey which is co-written by Jennifer Finney Boylan, so I thought I'd give it a try. As the story unfolds, Olivia McAfee, a single mother who survived domestic violence, has moved back home, to Adams, New Hampshire, to take over her father's beekeeping business. She and her son, Asher, have been living on the farm  for about 8 years when Lily Campanello and her mother, seeking a fresh start,  move into town. Asher and Lily, both seniors in high school, meet and eventually start dating. One day Olivia gets a call that Lily is dead and Asher is later arrested for her murder. The book flips back and forth between Olivia and Lily as the reader learns about the murder trial from Olivia, and Lily's life before her death. This book is about so many things--There's lots of information on bees and honey which I found very interesting. It's about courtroom drama. It's also about gender identity,  acceptance, and personal information versus secrets. It was a real eye opener to me to read about the life of a transgender person or child, and I have to say I learned a lot. Perhaps the authors tried to do too much in this book because it is heavy. It is a real page turner though. It was suspenseful, heartbreaking and left my head spinning. It's about 465 pages that still has me thinking.....so it was worth the read. Enjoy. 

January 9, 2024 DON'T YOU REMEMBER

Have you ever started a book--that seemed familiar--but you couldn't remember if you'd read it before? Well that's what happened to me with the book I'm going to review. It came out in 2009--so I could have read it 14 years ago. WHO KNOWS. It's part of a detective series set in Minnesota. I've read several books in the series OUT OF ORDER--so I'm trying to go back and read the ones I missed in order. I really enjoyed this book BUT still am at a loss as to whether or not I read it before.  OH WELL--- William Kent Krueger, the author of Blood Hollow, is an excellent writer. Blood Hollow is the 4th installment of the Cork O'Connor series. As the the story unfolds, it is winter in Minnesota and Cork is involved in the search for a missing teenager who is  the daughter of a wealthy resident of Aurora where Cork lives with his wife and family. The search is fruitless because of a blinding snowstorm, but as Spring arrives, her body is found. Although Cork is the former Sheriff of Aurora, he becomes involved in the investigation after Solemn Winter Moon is suspected of the crime. Solemn, a troubled native American who lives on the reservation, is the nephew of a close family friend of Cork and he feels an obligation to help the boy, who just happens to be the dead girl's ex-boyfriend. In addition, Cork's wife, a lawyer, agrees to defend Solemn against the accusations. This exciting mystery has several twists and turns with an ending I didn't see coming. There are several great characters in the book that appear in each novel--another reason to love the series. One of the most interesting "characters" happens to be the landscape and weather. Krueger's writing bring them alive as the reader feels the frozen terrain, snow and sleet like its really happening. This is a series that could get you through this LONG, COLD winter.  It's about 368 pages that you will totally enjoy. Happy Reading.

January 1, 2024 BEST BOOKS OF 2023

It's that time of year again. Looking back over the year to see which books I enjoyed the most. Ready or not here they come: My FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2023 IN ORDER:

1.  This is Happiness by Niall Williams. Reviewed 10/29/23--Blog title "Molly Malone"

2.  The Last Chairlift by John Irving. Reviewed 7/29/23--Blog title "Every Day I Write the Book"

3.  Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo. Reviewed 8/28/23--Blog title "Chain of Fools"

4. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. Reviewed 8/13/23--Blog title "Trip Around the Sun"

5. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Reviewed 9/24/23 Blog title--"Tears in Heaven"

6.  I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Reviewed 4/9/23--Blog title--"Don't Cry Out Loud"

7.  The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. Reviewed 5/13/23. Blog title--The Long and Winding 

     Road"

8.  Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Reviewed 4/30/23. Blog title "Another Day in Paradise"

9.  Racing The Rain by John L. Parker Jr. Reviewed 12/18/23. Blog title--"Born to Run"

10.  Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Reviewed 9/23/23. Blog title--"Glory Days"

Hope you've had a chance to read some of these awesome books. If not --winter is long-- so snuggle up on your coach with a cup of tea and enjoy. Looking forward to many greats books in 2024. Happy New Year.