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Showing posts from December, 2023

Book Review: The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is a historical fiction novel that spans many years and tells of the friendship between former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. I don't know if I would have picked up this book if it hadn't been the August selection for one of the book clubs I belong to in my area because I don't read a lot of historical fiction. However, I am so glad that I read it and was able to learn many things I hadn't learned about in any of my history classes.  I don't recall learning anything about Mary McLeod Bethune, and she is an important part of American history. The things she helped spearhead to provide African American people equal rights is quite impressive. One of the things I was horrified to learn about is Franklin D. Roosevelt's resistance to stop lynchings because he was afraid of losing the Southern Democrats backing for his New Deal Bill. Another thing that I fo...

Book Review: The Locked Door by Frieda McFadden

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The Locked Door by Frieda McFadden opens with surgeon Nora Davis having an old fashioned by herself at the local bar when she reconnects with an ex-boyfriend, who just happens to be the bartender.  But soon after, Nora's patients are turning up dead, and it appears to be a copycat killing.  Who knows her secret? A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of  The Locked Door by Frieda McFadden.  McFadden had become one of my favorite authors, so when my request to read this book was approved, I was absolutely ecstatic.  I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. Wow!  This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't wait to figure out who was the copycat killer.  I had it narrowed down to two different people, and it ended up not being either of the people I thought it might be.  When the killer was revealed, I was absolutely shocked!   The main character, Nora Davis, was a bit...

Book Review: Christmas Mittens Murder by Lee Hollis, Lynn Cahoon, and Maddie Day

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A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley for giving me an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Christmas Mittens Murder, which is a collection of three novellas written by Lee Hollis, Lynn Cahoon, and Maddie Day.  I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. I was excited to be approved to read this book! DEATH OF A CHRISTMAS MITTEN KNITTER (HAYLEY POWELL FOOD AND COCKTAILS MYSTERY, #16.5) by LEE HOLLIS This particular novella was a fun read, and I enjoyed reading about Haley Powell and her friends trying to solve the latest mystery, which had me guessing.  It's always great to revisit characters that are so likable.  I haven't read a lot of books in this series, but overall, I have come to enjoy the storylines a lot, and this novella did not disappoint.  It's becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I need to find more time to read more by this author.  Four out of five stars. TWO CHRISTMAS MITTENS (KITCHEN WITCH MYSTERIES, #4.5) by LYNN ...

Book Review: Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen

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Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen is about a teenager named Valdez Jones VIII, who goes by the name of Wrecker due to his heritage . . . many of his great grandfathers salvaged shipwrecks.  When Wrecker comes across a speedboat stuck on a sand flat, the men onboard pay him to keep silent about what he saw.  He's happy to oblige, but then, Wrecker keeps seeing the men all over Key West, and now, they want more than his silence. A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy of Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen.  Having heard a lot of good things about this author, I was thrilled to be approved to receive a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review and was not disappointed in the least. Although this book written for middle grade children, it seems more mature for lack of a better word.  I would have thought the target audience was young adults.  Don't get me wrong, there isn't anything that isn't appropriate for kids, it just seemed to be wr...