Evvie Drake Starts Over

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Eveleth had always hated how blushing felt. It was accompanied by such a miserable desire to cease to be, utterly, to turn into a fog that could be waved away.”

Cheesy and mediocre, I was expecting more of a light summer feel-good romcom. Perhaps it was because I didn’t like Evvie very much that this book didn’t ignite much a spark. I did love the small-town atmosphere and the story of a baseball legend trying to restart his career. Some readers might call this cute and charming. If you like that sort of thing, go for it.

We Are All the Same in the Dark

We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“In complete darkness we are all the same, it is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us, don’t let your eyes deceive you.”

I LOVED this book for so many reasons. I read this because I was captivated by a review. Thrillers have always been my guilty pleasure. But this book isn’t that. It is a slow and personal tale written in three points of view. Yes, there is twisty mystery, but that is only part of it. It is primarily story of Wyatt, Odette, and Angel and how they are are inexorably linked to one another. With stellar writing and good consistent storytelling, Julia Heaberlin sucks you in with her flawed characters and small town glory. You will love Odette and Angel. Five stars.

The Huntress

The Huntress by Kate Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Nina took the air, feeling her arms disappear into the wings, her blood into the fuel line.”

If you love historical fiction, you will love this. This is not so much a story about a search for The Huntress, but more about Nina Markova, one of the famed Russian bomber pilots known as the Night Witches. She is feral. She is strong. She is undeterred. She is kind of crazy, and I LOVED her. With great writing and a solid plot, this is a page-turner. I was less impressed with Annelise and would have loved to hear more of her back story and evil heart. The story could have also been about 100 pages shorter. Nonetheless, four stars for Nina Markova.

How to Walk Away

How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“The greater our capacity for sorrow becomes, the greater our capacity for joy.”

I freaking loved this book. For the record, I read everything except sci-fi, westerns, and romance. Most of the stuff I read is pretty dark. Horror. Thrillers. Narrative non-fiction. Dystopian. Then I ask myself….why? This is a rom-com. This is a family drama. Despite a tragic accident in the beginning, this book made me feel happy. Which is something we need in these crazy times. I look forward to reading more light-hearted novels and I can’t wait to try this author out again. Five stars.

The One

The One by John Marrs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“What if it turns out our DNA doesn’t Match?” “Then we’ll be mindful that maybe we’ll need to put more effort into our relationship. Like John Lennon said, ‘All You Need Is Love.’” “Yes, but he also said, ‘I Am The Walrus,’ so let’s not hold too much credence to his pearls of wisdom.”

Wow. I don’t even know how to describe this book. Part sci-fi, part love story, part criminal thriller. Gritty and fascinating, I’d recommend this book for someone looking for something totally different. Five stories full of twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end.