DianeKeenoy Trying to Read More of my Own Books in 2019

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DianeKeenoy Trying to Read More of my Own Books in 2019

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1Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jan 11, 2019, 6:00 pm

Happy New Year to all! I know we all say this, but I am going to make a real effort to read more of my own books this year! I've read six so far and they were all mine and so good! Already had to dump two, which I hardly ever do but decided life is just too short to struggle to read a book that just isn't working for me. Nothing personal, just not working for me at this time in my life.

Hi, I'm Diane and have been retired for 4 1/2 years from a long career in transportation. While I certainly loved my work, I absolutely love retirement even more...one of the world's best kept secrets! I know that no one ever told me how wonderful it could be. Of course, I'm starting to understand why since when I talk about the joys of being retired, I have noticed my friends and family that are still working don't seem to be as happy to hear about it so...I had to stop talking so much about how much fun I'm having! But, for the record, I really am having so much fun! I'm originally from Hickory, NC but my dad was transferred to New Jersey when I was in high school. While my family is back in NC and FL, I live in the "garden" part of New Jersey, The Garden State where we live in the woods with our three rescue pups, Amelia, Fiona and Jeffrey. Happily, both of my daughters and my two grandsons only live an hour away so we're always able to easily hang out whenever we can.

We still have our Christmas decorations up and everything is lit up so we can enjoy it one more night. We will probably start taking things down this weekend so I wanted one last night with everything in place. The pups and I are keeping the fire burning while Kevin is out picking up a pizza for dinner. Nothing like teamwork that means I get to stay inside where it's warm!

While I didn't read as many books in 2018 (113) as I did in 2017, the books I read were, for the most part, just wonderful. Looking forward to a great reading year in 2019 and keeping up with the books everyone else is reading and enjoying!

2Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jan 13, 2019, 12:49 pm

Books read in January 2019 so far...reviews to follow. All were excellent!

1. Someone like Me by M.R. Carey
2. She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge - ARC from local library book club
3. The Winter Sister by Megan Collins - ARC from Local library book club
4. Praise Song for the Butterflies by Bernice L. McFadden - Early Reviewer Book from LT
5. The Crooked Staircase by Dean Koontz
6. The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz
7. You Were Gone by Tim Weaver

Stopped reading Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli - ARC from local library book club
and Blood Communion: A Tale of Prince Lestat by Anne Rice - ARC from local library book club.

Presently reading You Were Gone by Tim Weaver, another excellent book! 2019 is off to a great start. Now, just need to start moving books around to fit in my new ones...

3Whisper1
jan 11, 2019, 10:10 pm

>2 Dianekeenoy: Dear Friend, I am so glad to see your thread. I kept looking. I smile that you are still enjoying your holiday decorations. We didn't decorate as much as usual this year, still it seemed to take longer to get it all away. Perhaps that's because I was the lone person putting it away.

Will, was the curmudgeon in the back saying "See, I told you we should not have put up a tree this year!"

Since he says that every year, I don't pay much attention.

Looking forward to seeing what you are reading, and of course getting together to talk about our books.

Much Love!

4Dianekeenoy
jan 11, 2019, 11:05 pm

>3 Whisper1: Hello, my friend! I've been reading almost non-stop since the new year started! The holidays were a lot of fun but exhausting! I spent the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve just resting! I am really loving reading my own books so far! I have so many great ones that have been staring at me for so long. While I will still go to my library book club and read and review the ARC's that I get there, I am trying very hard not to request any books for at least the month of January. I will take it a month at a time! It was taking me so long to get the new thread up because I was waiting to review the books that I've already read but then decided if I keep waiting, it would be February and I might still be waiting. So, I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't have time to review all the books I read, will just do the best I can.

Can't wait to get together and compare book notes! Very soon!

5drneutron
jan 12, 2019, 9:55 am

Welcome back!

6Crazymamie
jan 12, 2019, 10:43 am

Good to see you here, Diane! Dropping a star and looking forward to following your reading journey.

7FAMeulstee
jan 12, 2019, 3:42 pm

Happy reading in 2019, Diane!

8Dianekeenoy
jan 12, 2019, 9:31 pm

>5 drneutron: Thanks so much! And, Happy New Year!

9Dianekeenoy
jan 12, 2019, 9:33 pm

>6 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! I have already starred you since I always get more book ideas than I will ever be able to read!

10Dianekeenoy
jan 12, 2019, 9:34 pm

>7 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! Happy New Year and happy reading to you as well!

11PaulCranswick
jan 13, 2019, 6:44 am



Happy 2019
A year full of books
A year full of friends
A year full of all your wishes realised

I look forward to keeping up with you, Diane, this year.

12Dianekeenoy
jan 13, 2019, 10:21 am

>11 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! I always look forward to keeping up with you here and Hani on Facebook!!

13johnsimpson
jan 13, 2019, 4:52 pm

Hi Diane, just dropped my star off and I will be a regular visitor. I have got off to a good start with the books and have finished four and this year Karen is noting down her reading and the current score is 6 - 4 to Karen. I will publish her reads at the end of each month.

It is so lovely to converse with you and Linda (Whisper 1) and your messages mean a lot to me, one of these days we will get over there and meet-up with you both and have a rare old time.

Hope you and Kevin are having a good weekend and we send love and hugs to both of you and the dogs dear friend.

14Dianekeenoy
jan 14, 2019, 11:08 am

>13 johnsimpson: Good morning, John! Or, is it afternoon? I don't know what the time difference is between here and there, will have to Google it! I always try to keep up with your threads, I don't say much but always love hearing about your days and your books! We had a great, mostly restful weekend but now, I must get to work! Some laundry, undecorating, grocery shopping and errands must be done today! Hope you and Karen have a wonderful week!

15VicenteBorjaJimenez
jan 14, 2019, 12:35 pm

hola

16Dianekeenoy
jan 16, 2019, 10:30 pm

1.) Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey - 4 stars



When I saw that M.R. Carey had a new book out, I couldn't wait to get it! I loved his previous books, The Girl with All the Gifts and The Boy on the Bridge. While this book isn't straight horror, it's still a horrifying thriller. The story revolves around two main characters, vey different from each other: Liz Kendall is a single mother, who is trying to raise her two kids, Molly and Zac, while going through the aftermath of the divorce from her violent ex-husband. Fran is a sixteen-year old girl still suffering from being kidnapped as a small child by a lunatic who thought she was a monster. There are times when her reality seems to shift. This tends to make Fran a loner at school. She can only depend on her widowed father and her hallucination of a fox. How Liz and Fran are connected makes for a very exciting story and a story that is as unexpected as it is original. I find that it's always best to go into M.R. Carey's books knowing as little as possible so that you can enjoy the ride. Recommended!

17Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jan 16, 2019, 10:33 pm

2.) She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge - 4 stars



On a very hot night in July 1983, a group of teenagers go camping in the woods. The youngest in the group, Aurora is delighted to be included in the group. As the night progresses, some of the kids pair up and slip off into the woods, others not so lucky. But, in the morning, Aurora has disappeared. Her friends claim that she was safe the last time they saw her right before she bedded down for the night. While an intense investigation is launched, she’s never found.

Thirty years later, Aurora’s body is unearthed in a hideaway that only the six friends knew about. Jonah Sheens is put in charge of solving the long cold case. In 1983, as a young cop, he had known the teenagers, including Aurora, personally. His investigation brings the members of the camping party back to the woods where it all began. He’s surprised to discover they are still tight-knit friends but there are definitely a few cracks in the circle

An excellent thriller and police procedural, this novel is the start of a new series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens. I can’t wait to read the next one!

ARC from my local library book club.

18Dianekeenoy
jan 16, 2019, 10:35 pm

3.) The Winter Sister by Megan Collins - 4 stars



Sixteen years ago, Sylvie’s sister, Persephone, never came home. Out too late with the boyfriend she was forbidden to see, Persephone was missing for three days before her body was found. Her murder remained unsolved.

In the present day, Sylvie has returned home to care for her estranged mother, Annie, who is going through cancer treatment. Their close bond disappeared in the weeks after Persephone’s death. Taking her mother to the hospital for treatment, Sylvie finds that Ben, Persephone’s boyfriend is now a nurse at the hospital. Sylvie has always thought that Ben was responsible for her sister’s death, but she has her own guilt about that night as well that keeps her from moving forward from this tragic past.

As Sylvie starts to work around the complicated relationship with her mother, she starts to uncover secrets that still fill her old house and what really happened that night. Once you get into this book, you will continue to turn the pages until the end. Very well done!

ARC from my local library book club.

19Dianekeenoy
jan 16, 2019, 10:37 pm

4. Praise Song for the Butterflies by Bernice L. McFadden - 4.5 stars



LibraryThing Early Reviewers Copy. Nine year old Abeo Kata lives a happy life in West Africa with her family. However, when her father starts to have problems, he follows his mother's advice and takes his daughter to a religious shrine hoping this sacrifice will serve as atonement. This practice, called trokosi is still practiced in parts of Africa. This story is heartbreaking, yet still manages to leave the reader with a feeling of redemption. I had never heard of this practice of ritual servitude, trokosi, until I read this book. I spent hours looking it up and reading more about it. It's heartbreaking to read about these young girls, some as young as six, being given to these shrines to become slaves to atone for their families "crimes against their ancestors". This book will break your heart, but it needs to be read.

20Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jan 16, 2019, 10:40 pm

5.) The Crooked Staircase by Dean Koontz - 5 stars



The third installment of the Jane Hawk series does not disappoint! I raced through this book, barely pausing to catch my breath! And, after I finished, I was looking at The Forbidden Door and thinking I would start it in about a week but literally couldn't wait and dove straight into it as well!. It's just so much fun when a series grabs you and will not let you go! This book takes Jane Hawk to Lake Tahoe to confront head on the lethal forces that mean to see her dead! By the time, she makes it to The Crooked Staircase, you will literally be limp with fear and trepidation! You need to read this series, but please start with the first book, The Silent Corner and read in order!

21Dianekeenoy
jan 16, 2019, 10:41 pm

6.) The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz - 5 stars



The fourth Jane Hawk novel and I could not put it down! I couldn't even wait a day after I finished The Crooked Staircase to pick this book up and race through it. I've had this book since the day it was released but was buried in library books and library requests. I finally took my library books back and cancelled my books on hold so I could concentrate on some of my own books in January and I am so glad I did! The 7 books I've read from my own TBR pile have been excellent! In this book, Jane's enemies are about to hit back hard. If their best people can't stop her, they intend to bring her to them by using her five year old son as bait. This is a breathless, heart pounding read. I literally could not put this book down and I tried! Now, while I can catch my breath, I also have to wait until May for the fifth and, I think, final installment of the Jane Hawk series. One of Dean Koontz's best characters, ever!

22Dianekeenoy
jan 16, 2019, 10:44 pm

7.) You Were Gone by Tim Weaver - 4 stars



I love the David Raker series by Tim Weaver and pre-order the books from England as soon as allowed. I have every single book and have loved them all. That being said, this last entry took me a while to get involved in the plot. Just after Christmas, a woman walks into police headquarters with only a piece of paper with missing persons investigator, David Raker on it. She tells the officers that Raker is her husband. Well, that is a problem since Raker's wife, Derrin died eight years ago. Since Raker has never recovered from his wife's death, he starts to think that he might be delusional and with what starts happening to him, we all start to wonder if he's delusional! Well, not really since I've been so invested in this series, I didn't believe much about this stranger who looks like his wife and acts like he had a breakdown but once I got past that and just kept reading, the story became very absorbing and I read until finished. While each of his previous books earned 5 stars from me, this still was a strong 4 star read and as always, I'm glad I read it.

23Dianekeenoy
jan 16, 2019, 10:50 pm

There, I feel so much better! I've had this stack of read books towering next to my chair and I just was unable to put them away until I got them really listed! Though, finding shelf space might be a little difficult. Well, once we finally get the rest of the Christmas decorations put away, then it will be time to redo my books and shelves. The piles really need to find a home so I can easily see exactly what books I have. I'm having such a great time reading my own books, not surprising, that I love each of the ones I've read so far! Not sure what's up next, I will decide tomorrow afternoon after I get back from my book club with the new ARCs for this month. Hope everyone is staying warm and enjoying some great books!

24Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: feb 5, 2019, 8:26 pm

So, I met my youngest daughter for lunch today and had honey bell oranges for her and her sister from my brother who lives in Florida. We had a great time and since the snow hadn't started, I stopped by Barnes and Noble to poke around. I had a Christmas gift card just burning a hole in my pocket! I got 8 books and a new book bag. They are:

1. The Mandibles A Family, 2029-2047 by Lionel Shriver

2. Nest by Terry Goodkind

3. Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak - Signed

4. Sisters of Heart and Snow by Margaret Dilloway

5. Stronger, Faster, and more Beautiful by Arwen Elys Dayron

6. Enigma by Catherine Coulter

7. The Au Pair by Emma Rous

8. The Precious One by Marisa De Los Santos

It was a great day!

25PaulCranswick
jan 20, 2019, 5:08 am

Have a lovely weekend, Diane.

26Dianekeenoy
jan 20, 2019, 11:28 am

>25 PaulCranswick:. Thanks, Paul. You, too!

27DeltaQueen50
jan 22, 2019, 11:44 am

Came by to drop my star, Diane. You have certainly started the year off with lots of reading - I am the same. January seems the perfect month to simply curl up with a book. It's wet and rainy here today but I need to go out and run some errands. I will try to stay away from the book shop - but make no promises especially after seeing your great haul!

28Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: feb 5, 2019, 8:26 pm

>27 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy! I have read some great books so far this new year! I am also getting excellent ARCs from my local library Book Chatter group! We're heading down to our little condo in Cape May, NJ today, but we'll be painting so not sure how much reading time I will get!

29Dianekeenoy
feb 5, 2019, 7:52 pm

8.) The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray - 4.5 stars



This was an ARC read and reviewed by one of the members of our book club. When she read one of the blurbs that said if you liked The Mothers by Brit Bennett, you will love The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray. Well, I loved The Mothers so when she offered her copy to the club, I took it! And, I did love it!

Families can be very complex, and the family in this book has quite a few difficulties. Althea, the oldest sister and her husband are arrested for fraud. The story is how their daughters, Althea's siblings, and the community have to handle what comes next. This was a very interesting and intense read. Definitely recommended.

30Dianekeenoy
feb 5, 2019, 7:56 pm

9.) Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward - 4 stars



The main character in this story is a 13 year old boy named Jojo. His mother is a drug addict and his father is in jail. He takes care of his little sister Kayla most of the time. They live with their grandparents, who have always taken good care of them. However, as our story starts, his grandmother is dying and his grandfather is struggling with dealing with the loss of his wife. There is a lot going on in this story. It took me awhile to get completely involved in this story but I stuck with it and am glad that I did. The three readers of this audio were fantastic

31Dianekeenoy
feb 5, 2019, 7:58 pm

10.) Nest by Terry Goodkind - 3.5 stars



This was my second Terry Goodkind book. It started off like gang busters but then started to lose steam. Kate Bishop is on the phone with her brother when they are disconnected. He's been murdered by a "super predator". Kate finds out that her brother had been helping a police detective find guilty predators. He can see their crimes in their eyes. Author Jack Raines is an expert on evil, he turns up after Kate finds out that she can also see the evil in a predator's eyes. The excitement and violence is at a high level but then there comes the explanations about the "Nest" over and over. That section really slowed the action down and it was hard to get it back to high levels of before. I did like this book and I will try more of his books, but not quite up the level of his last book.

32Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: feb 11, 2019, 10:06 am

11.) Elevation by Stephen King - Audiobook - 5 stars



I recently read this book and absolutely loved it. Decided to listen to the audio which is read by Stephen King, himself and it was just wonderful! This is a very moving story which brought me to tears both times. This is from someone who never cries, and especially reading a Stephen King book! Do yourself a favor and read or listen to this little book, you won't be sorry.

33Dianekeenoy
feb 5, 2019, 8:09 pm

12.) Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts - 4 stars



This was a wonderful book about the making of the movie, The Wonderful World of Oz. The book centers on Maud Gage Baum, L. Frank Baum’s wife, and fluctuates between her life starting when she was 10 years old in 1871 and the time period when the movie with Judy Garland was being filmed in 1938. Maud is 77 years old when the movie is being filmed and 19 years after Frank has died. It’s very important to her that the movie stays true to the spirit of her husband’s book. She’s the only one left who knows its secrets.

Maud was the daughter of a well-known suffragette, Mathilda Gage, as well as being one of the first few women admitted to Cornell University. When she met Frank Baum she left college and traveled with her young actor husband. Frank was a wonderful husband and father to their four sons but he wasn’t very successful at making money. The story tells us about their hard scrabble life as Frank pursues a writing career. Some of the best parts of this book are the portions of the Baum’s real life that turn up in his book.

The sections about the making of the movie are fascinating to read and put the reader right in the middle of the excitement. You will definitely often wonder how much of Baum’s life is accurate and how much is fiction. The good news is that the author has a six page afterword which answers most of the questions about how much is fact. Don’t miss reading that! This is a wonderful, up-lifting read which shouldn’t be missed.

ARC from my local library book club. Comes out 2/12/19.

34Dianekeenoy
feb 5, 2019, 8:12 pm

13.) Shining City by Tom Rosenstiel - 3.5 stars



My January Nook Serial Read. Always fun to read a chapter or two a day with my morning tea

35Dianekeenoy
feb 5, 2019, 8:16 pm

14.) The Editor by Steven Rowley - 5 stars



How lucky am I to read another ARC right after Finding Dorothy, which I loved, which is even a little better! While it did take me a little while to finally settle down into the book’s rhythm, once I did, I read it straight through and finished it with a lump in my throat and holding back tears. This is from someone who literally never cries about anything (except dog commercials!)

Our main character, James Smale has struggled as a writer for years when he finally gets his big break with his novel. Though “fiction”, it is based on his mother and his own dysfunctional family. When Doubleday picks up his book, he goes to meet with his editor who turns out to be Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. You can be sure I went to the author’s notes immediately to make sure this was real fiction, because it felt so real!

Jackie and our young author develop an unexpected friendship and she encourages him to go back home and confront head on the truth about his relationship with his mother so that his book has a more authentic ending. The secret that his mother finally tells him and his siblings at the Thanksgiving table, no less, sends him reeling. How he handles this news makes for a great read. But, I have to be honest, the best part of this book is Jackie Onassis. A five star read for me!

ARC from my local library book club. Comes out 4/2/19

36Dianekeenoy
feb 5, 2019, 8:33 pm

Okay, a box of books came from Barnes and Noble...again but they were all on sale!

9. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang - Already started this and absolutely love it, how did I miss this one!

10. I'll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa de los Santos

11. Two Days Gone by Randall Silvis

12. I'd Rather be Reading by Anne Bogel - Such a wonderful little book for readers, loving it already!

13. Bowlaway by Elizabeth McCracken - Absolutely loved her The Giant's House and it's been a long time between books!

37Dianekeenoy
feb 5, 2019, 8:59 pm

And the books from the Bethlehem Book Sale on Saturday. The shelves were kind of bare but still we did okay.

14. The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers

15. Watching Glass Shatter by James J. Cudney - a gift from Linda (Whisper 1).

16. You Don't Own Me by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke.

17. The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright - a recommendation from Linda.

18. The Ambassador's Daughter by Pam Jenoff

19. Among the Wicked by Linda Castillo - a recommendation from Linda.

20. The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill

21. The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor

Well, I should probably take it a little easy for awhile. But, my Thingaversery is on February 16 and it would be 6 years...so, do I count these books to that? Or not?
Maybe, not!

38PaulCranswick
feb 5, 2019, 10:41 pm

I love these little spurts of activity, Diane!

Nice haul there, but I don't have a single one of 'em on my own shelves.

39Dianekeenoy
feb 6, 2019, 8:48 am

>38 PaulCranswick: That's the perfect way to put it, Paul! Little spurts of activity is how I get some things done! It has more to do with where my work space is located and if I am willing to take our 3 pups upstairs with me or drag stuff downstairs where they prefer to be! Last night, dragged my stuff downstairs. If you're thinking the household is run by our dogs, you would be right! I now have to find a home for these books...what a great problem to have!

40Dianekeenoy
feb 7, 2019, 1:33 pm

15.) The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright - 3.5 stars



A sweet love story about a long married couple who die on the same night. Jack, the husband wrote a letter every Wednesday to his wife, Laurel. These boxes of letters are found by their three children during the weekend of the funeral. This story takes place in Woodstock, Va in the beautiful Shenandoah mountains, an area that I know well and love. After reading this book, I want to move there! A very sweet book that was a comfort to read.

41karenmarie
feb 10, 2019, 10:07 pm

Hi Diane! I agree – being retired is the best!

I can’t believe it’s taken this long for me to get over here – happy new year and new thread!

>24 Dianekeenoy: I have only read 3 of Lionel Shriver’s books, but they were all exceptional. Great haul.

And look at you, two additional hauls after the first one. Congrats.

42Dianekeenoy
feb 11, 2019, 10:24 am

>41 karenmarie: Good morning, Karen! I really like Lionel Shriver's books, too. We Need to Talk About Kevin was the first one I read and I have never forgotten it! I was so happy for you when you got to retire, I knew you would love every minute! Like this morning, it's cold and snowy but I'm having my second cup of tea with two pups on my lap thinking about finishing my laundry and what book to start next...just pure joy every day!

43karenmarie
feb 14, 2019, 9:06 am

Yes! Pure joy every day. For me, the best thing about every week day of being retired is not having to get up to an alarm. I'm sitting here on my second mug of coffee. My Kitty William is snoozing on my printer (warmth - lamp), and I'll get some breakfast soon. I learned quickly to make no appointments before 10 or 10:30 a.m., and these days the only alarm I may have to wake up to is for the monthly Friends of the Library board meeting which starts at 9:15 a.m. at the Library. I usually wake up before it goes off, but it's there, lurking.

We Need to Talk About Kevin was my first Shriver, too, and it stunned me.

44Berly
feb 26, 2019, 9:12 pm

>33 Dianekeenoy: That sounds like a good one! And, even though I may be jealous of those already in retirement, feel free to share your joy. It's nice to have something to look forward to. : )

45originalslicey
mrt 4, 2019, 12:30 pm

I have a few books on my upcoming reading list that you've recently acquired or have read this year. Starred this thread to follow along. Happy reading!

46Berly
mrt 23, 2019, 2:40 am

Hello? Anyone? : )

47Dianekeenoy
apr 1, 2019, 2:39 pm

16.) A Matter of Chance by Julie Maloney - 5 stars



The best part of reading this wonderful book was that Julie Maloney came to our book club luncheon and we all talked for several hours about this book and how she made some of the decisions of what to include in this incredible story. The other reviews are very well done and I've already put my signed (!) copy in its safe place! You won't be sorry you read this book, you won't be able to put it down until you're finished!

48Dianekeenoy
apr 1, 2019, 2:43 pm

17.) Watching You by Meg Gardiner - 4.5 stars

49Dianekeenoy
apr 1, 2019, 2:45 pm

18.) The Water Cure by Sophie MacKintosh - 4.5 stars


50Dianekeenoy
apr 1, 2019, 2:47 pm

19.) Verses for the Dead by Preston and Childs - 4 stars


51Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: apr 1, 2019, 2:56 pm

20.) Golden Child by Clair Adam - 4 stars

52Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: apr 1, 2019, 4:33 pm

20.) Golden Child by Clair Adam - 4 stars



This is a book that will break your heart. The author is from Trinidad and aptly describes both the poor and the rich sides of this locale. The homes all have dogs and barred windows for protection. The wealthier neighborhoods have security guards on site. Set sometime in the 1980s’s, Clyde and his wife, Joy live a very simple life. They live near the bush and often have to deal with their water shutting off. Their happiness is wrapped up in their twin sons, Peter and Paul. Peter is the “good” baby and Paul is “fussy” and has some issues. As they grow older, Peter is extremely smart working at genius levels but Paul has a knack for getting into trouble and is considered odd. Their mother wants the boys to stay in the same schools together so that Peter can help Paul. The miracle of this story is the boys are so close and watch out for each other and don’t let the attitudes of the adults around them pull them apart.

When the boys are thirteen, Paul goes walking in the bush one afternoon and doesn’t come back. Did he wander off and get lost, did he run away or has something more dangerous happened to him?

Most of the book takes place as Clyde tries to discover what has happened to his son. As he pieces together what has happened to Paul, he is forced to make an unimaginable choice. The author has done an incredible job capturing the nature of the crime ridden Trinidad as well as the family myths that they believe which allows them to act and make decisions they feel are right but that you, as the reader, are begging them not to! This is an incredibly well written book that you can’t stop reading even as you dread reading the last chapters. It will definitely stay with you for a very long time. While I thought this was a very worthwhile book, I wouldn’t be comfortable recommending to more sensitive readers.

ARC from my local library book club.

Had to redo since other entry wouldn't take the review...

53Dianekeenoy
apr 1, 2019, 4:37 pm

21.) Listen to the Marriage by John Jay Osborn - 4 stars

54Dianekeenoy
apr 1, 2019, 4:40 pm

22.) The Things We Wish Were True by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen - 3.5 stars



A sweet story that held my attention while doing my make up.

55Dianekeenoy
apr 1, 2019, 4:42 pm

23.) As Long As We Both Shall Live by JoAnn Chaney - 4.5 stars



Very hard to put down...

56Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: apr 1, 2019, 4:46 pm

24.) Freddie Mercury by Mark Blake - 4 stars

57Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: apr 1, 2019, 4:50 pm

25.) The Lost Man by Jane Harper - 5 stars



Excellent book!

58Dianekeenoy
apr 1, 2019, 4:52 pm

26.) The Wedding Guest by Jonathon Kellerman - 4 stars



You can never go wrong with a Jonathon Kellerman book! They're always great!

59Dianekeenoy
apr 1, 2019, 5:00 pm

27.) The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See - 5 stars



Our local library has a special tree in February where you can choose a book or video and purchase for the library in a loved one's memory. You also get to read or watch the item you purchase first. March 18, 2019 was five years since I lost my mother. She loved to read as much as I do and encouraged me to read anything I wanted. She made lunch for the bookmobile ladies when I was growing up in NC so that they came and stayed in our driveway for as long as we wanted. When I saw that this book was available to request, I knew that my mother would have loved this book as much as I do. The book came in dedicated to my mother and I got to read it. It was as wonderful as I thought it would be and the thought that everyone who takes this book out will see the dedication to my mother makes me very happy.

60Dianekeenoy
apr 1, 2019, 5:04 pm

28.) The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor - 4 stars



Not sure why touchstone not working...this is an excellent book. Second book by C.J. Tudor and just as good as the first, The Chalk Man

61johnsimpson
apr 6, 2019, 4:58 pm

Hi Diane my dear, I see that you have read some really good books of late and hope you are reading some more good ones. I hope you, Kevin and the family are having a really good weekend and send love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

62Dianekeenoy
apr 6, 2019, 9:28 pm

>46 Berly: Hi Kim!!! Finally! Trying once again to get my books logged in, some more to go once we get back home on Tuesday.

63Dianekeenoy
apr 6, 2019, 9:35 pm

>61 johnsimpson: Hi John! I was just over catching up with your thread! I saw Karen's felted rabbit over on Facebook, it's so cute! We're having a great weekend although we're working. We're painting the second bedroom and new mouldings in our little condo in Cape May. I hope we can finish before we head for home on Tuesday. I will be bringing my two grandsons down for a week the end of April for their Spring break and I don't want to have to work! Hope you and Karen are having a great weekend!

64PaulCranswick
apr 7, 2019, 5:48 am

>60 Dianekeenoy: I have heard great things about CJ Tudor, Diane and I must track something down by the author soon.

Have a lovely Sunday.

65DeltaQueen50
apr 7, 2019, 1:51 pm

Hi Diane, just stop by to wish you a lovely day even if you are spending it painting. You've been reading some great books, I am looking forward to reading The Island of Sea Women in the future.

66Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 7:40 pm

>64 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, you do need to track down C.J. Tudor's books, they are so good! It was a lovely weekend, although we did have to paint! Hope you and Hanni are well!

67Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 7:41 pm

>65 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy, I'm so glad you stopped by! I have been reading some great books, although a little late in posting them! You don't want to miss The Island of Sea Women, it was wonderful!

68Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 7:44 pm

29.) The Widow's Watcher by Eliza Maxwell - 4.5 stars



Excellent audiobook!

69Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 7:46 pm

30.) My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni - 4.5 stars



Another excellent audiobook!

70Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 8:07 pm

31.) Southern Lady Code by Helen Ellis - 3.5 stars



This is one of those books that didn’t need to be written but since it was written, it certainly didn’t need to be read. That being said, sometimes it’s just fun to read a book just like this. It’s a fast reading little book of essays based on the southern saying that if you don’t have something nice to say, you say something not that nice in a nice way. And, that is what makes this little book fun. Some essays were better than others but still they’re so short, what the heck, read them anyway! Two of my favorites were “How to Be The Best Guest” and “When to Write a Thank-You Note. I was raised in North Carolina by an original Southern Lady and writing thank you notes was so ingrained in me that to this day I can’t enjoy a gift until my note has been written!

Bottom line is if you have a few minutes to spare, you will probably enjoy at least half of the essays. But, I have to say, the $22.00 they’re showing on the back of this book is way too high but I’m more than willing to share this copy!

ARC from local library book club.

71Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 8:09 pm

32.) Nanaville by Anna Quindlen - 5 stars



First, I have to say that I love Anna Quindlen so if you’re not a fan, you should remove at least 1 star from my 5 star review! Also, if you’re too young to even imagine becoming a grandparent, you should save this book until later down the road. However, if you have a grandchild or are looking forward to a grandchild in the not too distant future, then you will love this book as much as I do! Anna Quindlen completely captures the feelings that overwhelm you when your child has a child. I can honestly say that the day my first grandson was born, it completely changed my life.

But, Anna says it so much better: “All I know is: The hand. The little hand that takes yours, small and soft as feathers. I’m happy our grandson does not yet have sophisticated language or a working knowledge of personal finance, because if he took my hand and said, “Nana, can you sign your 401(K) over to me,” I can imagine myself thinking, well, I don’t really need a retirement fund, do I?”

Whatever they charge for this book is more than worth it, it’s a book that you’ll love for a very long time!

ARC from local library book club.

72Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 8:11 pm

33.) The Gardener of Eden by David Downie - 4 stars



After two short books of essays, I was ready for a normal book! This book that just came out on March 5, 2019 brings you into the story slowly but steadily until you’re caught and must keep reading until finished! I just love when that happens.

A bearded and mysterious stranger appears one day at the Eden Seaside Resort & Cottages, a motel that has seen better days. As he takes his daily walk on the beach, a tree falls on the roof of his RV. The sheriff’s surveillance camera sees it and a very hostile deputy comes out to “check on things”. As it turns out, this stranger is Carverville’s prodigal son who has returned after 40 years. He soon finds his homecoming quickly going off track when he and a local teenager make a gruesome discovery, which forces him to look closely into his past and realize the very real dangers of the present. This story is set in the not too distant future that looks like our own world if things keep going wrong. The characters in this book are so well developed, you feel like you know them and how they think. Beverley, the owner of the motel, will quickly become one of your favorite characters in a supporting role!

ARC from local library book club.

73Berly
apr 9, 2019, 8:14 pm

So nice to see you again! Wow, you've been reading tons and I have only heard of two of them! This is a dangerous thread. : )

74Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 8:19 pm

34. Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak - 4 stars



This was my first recommendation for my newest book club and as I read the first 50 pages, my first thought was that they were going to throw me out of the book club! I have to admit that in the future
I will recommend only books that I have already read! Unfortunately, in my excitement in joining my second book club, I actually recommended 5 books for this year that everyone thought were good ideas and I had only read one of them! The good news is that if you can make it through the first 50 or maybe it was 70 pages, this was a wonderful book! So, even though 2 members didn't make it that far, after our meeting, they're actually going back to finish the book! (Or at least, they said they were!) It's good and if you're patient, it's a great book. This author wrote The Book Thief

75Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 8:22 pm

35.) Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich - 4 stars



This was a fun audiobook and when I went to list it, I discovered that I had already read it awhile back! It's still fun!

76Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 8:27 pm

36.) Artificial Conditions: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells - 4.5 stars



No touchstone, not sure why! The second installment of the Murderbot Diaries and it's still fun! Going on to the third...

77Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 8:30 pm

37.) I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel



A book reader's delight! Just a perfect little book about the love of reading and books, what's not to love?

78Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 8:33 pm

38.) Two Good Dogs by Susan Wilson - 3.5 stars



What's not to love? Two good dogs and a happy ending!

79Dianekeenoy
apr 9, 2019, 8:35 pm

39.) The Forever Bridge by T. Greenwood - 4 stars



Well, I don't have time to do a review but if you come across this book, it's definitely worth the read!!!!

80Dianekeenoy
apr 10, 2019, 3:17 pm

40.) Inspection by Josh Malerman - 4 stars



This book was well on its way to being close to a 5 star read but the last third was very quick and disappointing. But, don't let that stop you from reading this book if it comes across your life! The first third deals with 26 of the Alphabet boys being raised in a tower to foster their strengths without the knowledge of the real world and the fact that there is another sex. The second third of the book is from the prospective of the 26 Letter girls being raised within a few miles in a matching tower, again fostering their strengths as well. These two parts were very interesting. As the children start to understand that something is very wrong with their upbringing, everything quickly gets out of hand and brutal. So, maybe the author wanted the shock factor and a hard and fast ending, I don't know but it didn't quite fit. Still a riveting read, though.

81Dianekeenoy
apr 29, 2019, 12:16 pm

41.) Lost and Wanted by Neil Freudenberger - 4 stars



Helen gets a phone call from her friend, Charlie. The problem is that Charlie is dead. That is what appealed to me and why I requested this book from my library. Glad I did, it was very good and I read it straight through!

82Dianekeenoy
apr 29, 2019, 12:19 pm

42.) The Liar's Child by Carla Buckley - 4 stars



This book completely held my interest. You've got an accountant that has been put into the Witness Protection Plan, dumped into a seedy apartment complex until time for the trial, a twelve year old girl and her little brother who are mostly neglected by their parents and the character of Florida, itself. Oh, and I almost forgot...a tornado coming in! This completely held my interest until the very last word. Enjoyed the ride!

83Dianekeenoy
apr 29, 2019, 12:21 pm

43.) Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline - 4 stars



Lisa Scottoline can really write a thriller and I've never been disappointed in her books whether I read the physical book or listen to them on audio! This book is no exception, I read it practically in one sitting.

84Dianekeenoy
apr 29, 2019, 12:23 pm

44.) Tell the Machine Goodnight by Katie Williams - 3.5 stars



As an audiobook, this was pretty good and it was good to listen to before going to sleep. But, it was hard to tell if this was a series of short stories that were all related or just a loosely constructed novel. I know that doesn't sound much like an endorsement but there you have it...

85Dianekeenoy
apr 29, 2019, 12:25 pm

45.) The Power by Naomi Alderman - 4 stars



While the story certainly held my interest, the narrator kept getting on my nerves. However, when I couldn't sleep the other night, I kept listening to this story for hours so I changed my rating to 4 stars instead of 3.5. When a book keeps me reading or in this case, listening for most of the night time hours, that says a lot about the writing. I probably would have enjoyed this more in book form.

86Dianekeenoy
apr 29, 2019, 12:44 pm

I have at least two shopping bags of new books to list...but, in my defense, I've have already donated 45 books to my library for the May book sale! I intend to donate more because I still don't have enough shelf room for my new books!

I just got back from a week in Cape May with my two grandsons. We had a blast. We did a giraffe encounter at the Cape May Zoo which I highly recommend to anyone close enough to go. However, after the encounter, I misjudged a step and fell hard hitting my left eye on a 6" wooden shelf. Well, it certainly got exciting after that! They put me in an ambulance after racing me in a wheelchair through the very crowded zoo, yelling at people to "move aside", and I said the words that I hope to never to say again to the boys which was, "Boys, get the in back of the police car and I'll meet you at the hospital!" A very exciting spring break for these boys! Good news was that I didn't fracture my face or anything else, the bad news is anyone glancing at me stops dead in their tracks! I've got a black eye that is truly amazing in its size and scope of covering a lot of my face! But, it didn't stop us from going back to the zoo on Saturday for the Tree to Tree Adventures and Zip lining! Needless to say, this grandmother decided to watch from the ground and take pictures!

I'm finally home until Friday, when we head back down with friends for the weekend. Then, back again for Mother's Day weekend with my daughters. And, finally for Memorial Day weekend to get our personal things packed up and the condo set up for the renters for the summer season. Then, back to NC again to bring my father up for several weeks. A lot of moving around for May and June!

87DeltaQueen50
apr 29, 2019, 5:53 pm

Hi Diane, it sounds like you have an eventful week with your grandsons. So sorry to read about your fall but you certainly didn't let it slow you down! Lots of great reading going on here as well but I am trying not to look too closely as I am a little bogged down with the number of reads I want to get to over the next few months - not such a terrible problem to have actually. :)

88Dianekeenoy
apr 29, 2019, 7:55 pm

>Hi Judy, it certainly was an exciting week! I will be happy just taking it easy for awhile now! I have so much to read since I really have gotten behind. I think I will spend a little time lining up my book club reads, library books and some of my new books and then just jump back in!

89Dianekeenoy
mei 2, 2019, 9:47 am

Another 11 books donated, still no extra shelf room!

90Dianekeenoy
mei 15, 2019, 9:35 pm

46.) Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young - 4 stars



An exciting read, couldn't put it down.

91Dianekeenoy
mei 15, 2019, 9:39 pm

47.) The Wife by Meg Wolitzer - 5 stars



It took me awhile to get to this book that has been made into a movie staring Glenn Close but worth waiting for. This was an excellent book, not very long but
very well written and impossible to put down.

92Dianekeenoy
mei 15, 2019, 9:41 pm

48.) Lessons from Lucy by Dave Barry - 5 stars



I had forgotten how funny Dave Barry can be! I loved this book, I was taking screen shots of funny passages and texting them to my friends and family! This book is probably more for us baby boomers since my 25 year old electrician gave me a polite smile when I read a particular funny part to him since I was laughing so hard I was afraid I might cause him to electrocute himself! Anyway, highly recommended! It's been a very long time since I laughed this much!

93Dianekeenoy
mei 15, 2019, 9:44 pm

49.) My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite - 4 stars



Listened to this book on audio, not a very long book but considering the title, surprisingly good!

94Dianekeenoy
mei 15, 2019, 9:47 pm

50.) The Farm by Joanne Ramos - 4 stars



While this book was kind of like The Handmaid’s Tale Lite, it’s still a very enjoyable book. A beautiful location in the Hudson Valley, The Farm provides organic meals, personal fitness trainers, daily massages, etc for free to the Hosts who are carrying the babies of the very rich. It’s big money for these women if they deliver healthy babies. However…and isn’t there always a catch, during the nine months, you are owned by the Farm. You cannot leave the grounds and your every move is monitored.

Jane, an immigrant from the Philippines is struggling to raise her own baby when she hears about the Farm. She’s thrilled to make it through the very competitive Host selection to be chosen to carry the baby of one of the very wealthy clients. Her older cousin will care for her own child while she’s at the Farm. When her cousin becomes difficult to reach and her worries about her little daughter grow, she becomes desperate to get reconnected to her outside life. Her roommate, Reagan, who is not the typical host, being white and a Duke graduate, and Lisa, the resident bad girl, carrying the third baby for the same couple, are alarmed at the growing knowledge of forced abortions, manipulations by the manager, Mae Yu, and “stand-in” clients. Their decision to help Jane get to her daughter brings everything to an exciting conclusion.

95Dianekeenoy
mei 21, 2019, 3:28 pm

Two more books read, more on those later.

17 more donated.

96karenmarie
mei 28, 2019, 8:03 am

Hi Diane!

I'm so sorry to hear about your fall and black eye. I hope it's pretty much gone.

I loved My Sister, the Serial Killer although I surprised myself by that fact.

I hope all your books have shelf space now after the recent donation of 17.

97Dianekeenoy
jun 11, 2019, 8:17 pm

51.) A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl by Jean Thompson - 4 stars


98Dianekeenoy
jun 11, 2019, 8:19 pm

52.) Her Father's Secret by Sara Blaedel - 3.5 stars

99Dianekeenoy
jun 11, 2019, 8:21 pm

53.) Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig - 4 stars



A delightful audiobook! Recommended.

100Dianekeenoy
jun 11, 2019, 8:24 pm

54.) Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman - 4.5 stars



Ann Patchett recommended We Were the Killers, which is Becky Masterman's newest book. She also said while you're waiting for her new book to come out, to start with this book and read her previous books! So, I got this book from my library as well as book 3 and the new book as well. Book 2 just came in today! Well, she was not wrong! This first book about Brigid Quinn, a retired FBI agent in Arizona was incredibly good! I just cannot wait to read the rest of them! Highly recommended!

101Dianekeenoy
jun 11, 2019, 8:26 pm

55.) Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells - 4 stars



I just love the Murderbot! This is the last installment of the Murderbot diaries and it's just as good as the first two. The other reviewers do a great job of telling what to expect in this book, so I will just say, "read all of these Murderbot diaries, you won't be sorry!

102Dianekeenoy
jun 11, 2019, 8:28 pm

56.) Queen Bee by Dorothea Benton Frank - 4.5 stars



Dorothea Benton Frank writes a summer book every year usually set in the Low Country of S.C. While I was a little disappointed in her last several books, this book is back up to her usual high standards! I loved every minute and every word of her newest book for the Summer of 2019! Be sure and treat yourself to this wonderful "beach book" this summer! Holly raises bees, Leslie, her sister comes home after a "situation" with her husband and with their mother, the Queen Bee, we have a recipe for a fun summer romp! Highly recommended!

103Dianekeenoy
jun 11, 2019, 8:31 pm

57.) The Wolf Wants In by Laura McHugh - 4.5 stars



I've read Laura McHugh's previous two books and loved them! I was very excited to win this ARC of her new book, The Wolf Wants In! And, I was not disappointed! I took a peek when the book arrived and even though I have multiple books (including other ARCs) in piles around my reading chair, I read it straight through! I love when that happens! The book is told from two POV, that of Sadie Keller who is trying to find out how her brother died and that of eighteen year old Henley Petit who knows more than she likes about the bad part of her town of Blackwater. Both women are town between family loyalties and the weight of their secrets. There is a personal element to this story which is that author, Laura McHugh's brother's mysterious sudden death sent Laura and her siblings on a year-long quest to try to find answers - a mystery that was never resolved. this devastating event inspired the writing of this novel. Highly recommended! Although, sorry, it doesn't come out until 8/6/19. Mark your calendars...

Early Reviewer Copy from Librarything

104Dianekeenoy
jun 11, 2019, 8:33 pm

58.) No One Home by Tim Weaver - 5 stars



I just don't know how Tim Weaver continues to make every David Raker book even better than the previous one(s)! I look forward every year to each of his books coming out. I pre-order them from England and then anxiously wait for them to come. I try not to open it too quick because once I do, I read it straight through and then have to wait until the next one is completed! In No One Home, the cover says it all: "Every house is empty. Everyone is missing. Where did they go? It's a very small village of nine people who love where they live, enjoy their lives together, spend a lot of time together and all get along very well. They are celebrating at a party on Halloween when they all disappear. There are pictures of all of them at the party having a great time. Then, they're all gone with only the clothes on their back, their cell phones and wallets. There are no footprints coming into the village, only the footprints of the villagers. No car tracks, plus all cars are still at each house except for the camper van belonging to one of the couples which cannot be found. David Raker is made aware of the case about two and a half years later and decides to try and find out what happened. And, so our story starts. Highly recommended! In fact, the whole series is highly recommended!

105Dianekeenoy
jun 11, 2019, 8:36 pm

Hi Karen, sorry for the delay but it's getting hectic around here...more later on down the thread! My black eye healed up pretty quick although there's still a small lump on my eyebrow and a big lump still on my arm. I did go to the eye doctor and get checked out and all was good there. I'm just waiting to see if the lump on my arm goes down since I'm not sure what a doctor could do about it anyway! Still no shelf space yet!

106Dianekeenoy
jun 11, 2019, 8:56 pm

Well, finally caught up which I just had to do since I'm starting to pack up my books for a future move! I will be listing them in their numbered box so I can find any one of them quickly if needed! We've decided that it's time to move out of New Jersey. The newest tax that was signed by the governor for a new "rain tax" is the last straw for us. Our taxes are already so high that this newest tax on long driveways (and ours is very long!) will add an extra $1,000 or so dollars to our already extraordinarily high real estate taxes which you would expect to cover your driveway! So, even though I love living here and our house is beautiful and set up perfectly for us, the state is chasing us out like many others. I did look at homes in S.C. in the spring and while they are beautiful and the taxes are almost nothing, it's just too far from our daughters and grandsons so we've decided to move to Pennsylvania. We've been out looking at homes and really love the Milford, PA area and I think we'll be happy there. It will still be the same distance from our girls and just right over the border so I can still easily get to my friends and family in NJ. We have the realtor coming over tomorrow for the second time to let us know what we can expect for our house which we're hoping will cover the cost of our new house with some left over to put into our retirement savings.

We've decided we'll put our house on the market next spring since we want to replace the carpets in two rooms, reset our front sidewalk and do a little painting to make the house perfect. Plus, we're going to need to pack most of my books and all our knick-knacks before we can show the house. Since we're having new carpets put in our family room and master bedroom, we have to move everything out so they can be put down. So, I decided to go ahead and pack up my books from these two rooms and get a head start! So two boxes packed today and a lot more to go! I'm trying not to freak out because we have a lot of stuff after 23 years here!

107johnsimpson
jun 13, 2019, 3:20 pm

>106 Dianekeenoy:, HI Diane my dear, I have never heard of such preposterous idea of a "Rain tax", do they just go into a room and think up the most stupidest things that they can tax. I can well understand that this is the straw that broke the Camels back my dear but it is such a shame that you have to move. I would imagine that after 23 years in the house you will have a lot to pack up, we have been in our present home the same length of time and I would just dread the thought of packing it all up.

I hope that when you do move it will be a nice home for you and Kevin and the Dogs and that you will have room for the kids and Grandkids and make sure you have room for us if we ever get over there (only joking my dear). At least you are giving yourselves plenty of time to get things packed up and certain things done to make the sale go through smoothly.

Sending love and hugs to you and Kevin from both of us dear friend.

108Dianekeenoy
jun 14, 2019, 10:02 pm

>107 johnsimpson: Hi John, we will definitely have room for you and Karen when you come across the pond! I just packed two more boxes and finally finished tagging them here on LT so I can find them again! After I finished emptying the one bookcase, I refilled it with the books stacked on the floor! While I will have to move those before the carpet goes down, these are the books I will be reading until the actual move! Although, I have to say I keep thinking I packed some really good books that maybe I should take back out! I will try to control myself!

109DeltaQueen50
jun 17, 2019, 2:58 am

Good luck with the move, Diane. My husband and I sold our house where we had lived for 35 plus years and moved last year. It was a major change in our lives and a lot of hard work but it was good to go through all the stuff we had accumulated and weed much of it out.

110Dianekeenoy
jun 19, 2019, 1:30 pm

>109 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy! I remember reading about your move and was so happy that your new place had so many book shelves! So far, none of the houses we've looked at have had any built in book shelves which is very disappointing. But, we're slowing down our looking at houses since we won't be putting our house on the market until next Spring. We might do an exclusive just in case the right buyer turns up while we're getting our house ready. We're just not ready for the sign to go up and people to be coming in and out while we're preparing. I really don't want to leave but the taxes here keep getting more and more crazy!

111DeltaQueen50
jun 19, 2019, 3:11 pm

>110 Dianekeenoy: Good idea to slow down on the looking cause you wouldn't want to find the perfect house now and not be ready to make the move. Best to keep a light eye on the housing market and then get really serious when you are ready to make the move.

112Dianekeenoy
jun 19, 2019, 8:02 pm

59.) The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth - 4.5 stars


113Dianekeenoy
jun 19, 2019, 8:04 pm

60.) You'll Never Know, Dear by Hallie Ephron - 3.5 stars


114Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jul 2, 2019, 4:19 pm

61.) Cari Mora by Thomas Harrs - 2.5 stars



I really cannot recommend this book at all...

115Dianekeenoy
jun 19, 2019, 8:08 pm

62.) Keep You Close by Karen Cleveland - 4 stars



I read Karen Cleveland’s first book, Need to Know so I was very excited to get the ARC of her newest book Keep You Close. Once you get started on this book, you will keep reading until the end! Stephanie Maddox is working her dream job policing power and exposing corruption within the FBI. Unfortunately, as a single parent, she has missed a lot of school events, birthdays and vacations with her son, Zachary. But, she would do anything to protect him. As he gets closer to graduating high school and waiting to hear from his chosen colleges, he also starts changing his behavior and becoming more secretive.

When Stephanie finds a loaded gun in Zachary’s closet, she is shocked when Zachary says he knows nothing about it. She’s trained to know lies when she hears them and she’s not hearing a lie from her son. When a colleague from the domestic terrorism squad shows up at her front door almost immediately after and says, “It’s about Zachary”, the race is on! Stephanie needs to clear her son’s name and while doing this exposes a conspiracy that threatens to destroy them both and…bring our country down.

The author, Karen Cleveland spent years working as a CIA terrorism analyst and is used to thinking of worst-case scenarios. She certainly does a great job of this in her new book! Her question is what lengths would you go to protect those you love most? And if forced to choose, which would you pick: Your country? Or your family?

ARC from my local library book club. Published on 5/28/19

116johnsimpson
jun 20, 2019, 2:36 pm

Happy birthday Diane my dear friend.

117Dianekeenoy
jun 23, 2019, 8:47 pm

>116 johnsimpson: Thanks John! I had a wonderful birthday!

118Dianekeenoy
jul 2, 2019, 4:24 pm

63.) Anatomy of a Miracle Jonathon Miles - 4 stars



Read for my June 2019 book club. Very good, recommended.

119Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jul 2, 2019, 4:41 pm

64.) The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson - 4.5 stars



This book is a must read for everyone who loves books and libraries! I didn’t know anything about the Pack Horse librarians who rode through the poorest areas of the Kentucky mountains to bring reading materials to the people. This was one of the work programs implemented in 1935 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It’s also a story about the blue skinned people of Kentucky. It tells us these stories through the eyes of Cussy Marie, also known as Bluet, one of the last of her kind. This is a book not to be missed. And, be sure you read the author’s notes at the end, just fascinating!

120Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jul 2, 2019, 4:47 pm

65.) The Book of Dreams by Nina George - 4 stars



Henri Malo Skinner is on his way to meet his son for the first time when he dives from a bridge to save a life, and nearly loses his own. Now he lies in a coma, caught in the Between, as his son, Sam, and the estranged love of his life, Eddie, will him to return to them. Told from the perspectives of Henri, Samuel, and Eddie, The Book of Dreams is a study of lost chances, grief, love and letting go. In the author notes at the end of the book, she explains it’s connection to the death of her father which she has spent years trying to come to terms. This is a heartfelt book that will draw you in and make you think about your choices and how they affect both you and your loved ones.

121thornton37814
jul 9, 2019, 5:51 pm

>119 Dianekeenoy: That one is on my radar. It's just checked out every time I think about pulling it! It's due July 26. Hopefully I can get it in August.

122PaulCranswick
jul 13, 2019, 9:44 pm

Dropping by to wish you a wonderful weekend, Diane.

123Dianekeenoy
jul 17, 2019, 10:30 pm

>121 thornton37814: Lori, you won't be sorry, this is a great book!

124Dianekeenoy
jul 17, 2019, 10:31 pm

>122 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! It was a great weekend! Hope you and family are all doing well!

125Dianekeenoy
jul 17, 2019, 10:38 pm

66.) Holy Ghost by John Sanford - 4.5 stars



No touchstone...I'm starting to love Virgil Flowers! I didn't think I could ever love him as much as Lucas Davenport but he's growing on me with each audiobook I listen to!
Don't miss this one, it's fun and thrilling at the same time!

126Dianekeenoy
jul 17, 2019, 10:47 pm

67.) Fear the Darkness by Becky Masterman - 4 stars



Book two of the Brigid Quinn series. Excellent!

127Dianekeenoy
jul 17, 2019, 10:51 pm

68.) A Twist of the Knife by Becky Masterman - 4 stars



Book three of the Brigid Quinn series...don't miss any of these.

128Dianekeenoy
jul 17, 2019, 10:53 pm

69.) We Were Killers Once by Becky Masterma



The latest installment of the Brigid Quinn series...excellent....

129Dianekeenoy
jul 17, 2019, 10:57 pm

70.) Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners by Gretchen Anthony - 3.5 stars



A sweet audiobook to listen to in the warm summertime while waiting to fall asleep!

130Dianekeenoy
jul 17, 2019, 11:01 pm

71.) More News Tomorrow by Susan Richards Shreve - 4 stars



“Home for the Incurables” says the sign over the door of Georgianna Grove’s home where she lives with her 14 year old grandson Thomas Davies, his mother and assorted tenants. On the morning of her 70th birthday, she receives an unexpected letter calling her back to Missing Lake, Wisconsin where her mother was murdered sixty six years ago. Her father confessed to the murder the next morning and sent to prison where he died several years later of pneumonia. But, before he died, he sent a letter stating he felt unwell but wanted an opportunity to tell her things as they were and she didn’t know the whole story. But, it was too late, he died that night. After receiving the letter, Georgianna decides that she and her entire family need to go back to Missing Lake to finally unearth the truth about the crime that caused her to lose both of her parents when she was four.

My favorite part of this book was the relationship between Georgianna and her grandson, Thomas. I also have a fourteen year old grandson who is one of the most interesting people I know which is why I really enjoyed reading about Thomas and his view of what was going on. Once they get started on this journey to the past, you’re holding your breath that nothing bad happens again…especially since Georgianna’s granddaughter who’s also going is four years old.

131Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: okt 8, 2019, 5:46 pm

72.) Save Me From Dangerous Men - S.A. Lelchuk - 4 stars



This is book 1 in a series. The main character, Nikki Griffin owns a wonderful used book store, The Brimstone Magpie, the name which is a reference to Charles Dickens’ Bleak House which is the best part of this book! But, there is more to Nikki than her bookstore. In her office above her bookstore, she takes jobs as a private investigator to pay the bills. She also tracks dangerous men, men who have hurt the women they claim to love. She likes to teach them a lesson, so whatever they’ve done to their wife/girlfriend, she does to them and then makes sure that their victims are safe from them forever.

When she’s hired for a regular PI job, the woman she’s tailing is threatened. When Nikki intervenes, she’s suddenly no longer solving a case, she’s trying to stay alive. Dangerous men are now after her…I genuinely liked this book, although to be honest, I did do a few eye rolls at some of the violence which I feel were hammering home that Nikki could kick some major butt! We get it, she’s tough! While not a perfect book, I enjoyed reading it and I would definitely try the next book in this series.



132johnsimpson
jul 20, 2019, 4:11 pm

Hi Diane my dear, it looks like you have read some good books of late, I hope that you and the family are having a good start to the weekend. Sending love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

133Dianekeenoy
jul 21, 2019, 8:58 pm

>132 johnsimpson: Hi John, having a great weekend although it's very hot, like triple digits hot! Thank goodness we have central air, but unfortunately I still have to go out to water my flowers who are gasping for air and take the pups out who are no happier than the plants! Hopefully, we get some relief tomorrow! Hope you and Karen are doing well! I believe you have a vacation coming up soon...

134johnsimpson
jul 22, 2019, 3:26 pm

>133 Dianekeenoy:, Yes my dear, we fly to Madeira on Friday morning for two weeks and on Sunday it will be our 35th wedding anniversary and I have already booked a table at the Restaurant Do Forte, we have celebrated our anniversary here before so we are looking forward to it.

Sending love and hugs to you and the family dear friend.

135Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: okt 8, 2019, 5:52 pm

73.) All My Colors by David Quantick - 3.5 stars

136Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: okt 8, 2019, 5:53 pm

74.) The Summer Country by Lauren Willig - 4 stars

137Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: okt 8, 2019, 5:55 pm

75.) The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt by Andrea Bobotis - 4 stars


138Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jul 27, 2019, 9:33 am

Well, was just trying to get my most recent reads listed so I can get my new Bethlehem book sale books listed and book 75 kind of snuck up on me! Reviews to follow in a little while.

139drneutron
jul 27, 2019, 10:29 am

Congrats!

140Dianekeenoy
jul 28, 2019, 1:23 pm

141Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: okt 8, 2019, 5:56 pm

76.) The Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman - 4 stars

142FAMeulstee
jul 28, 2019, 5:23 pm

>137 Dianekeenoy: Congratulations on reaching 75, Diane!

143Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: okt 8, 2019, 7:11 pm

>142 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! It definitely snuck up on me!

144PaulCranswick
aug 3, 2019, 11:49 pm

Belated congratulations on passing 75, Diane.

Have a great Sunday.

145karenmarie
aug 19, 2019, 7:25 am

Hi Diane!

>100 Dianekeenoy: Rage Against the Dying was excellent, I agree. I have also read the second one, Fear the Darkness and just put the third one, A Twist of the Knife on my wishlist. And, from >128 Dianekeenoy:, We Were Killers Once. Thanks for reminding me about this series.

>104 Dianekeenoy: I’ve never heard of this series and have put the first one, Chasing the Dead, on my wish list.

>106 Dianekeenoy: A rain tax. Absolutely ridiculous. I hadn’t heard of NJ’s newest folly. It sounds like you can have your cake and eat it too by moving to PA. Packing up your books early… whew. Good luck!

146Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:07 pm

77.) Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher - 4 stars

147Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:08 pm

78.) Women Talking by Miriam Toews - 3.5 stars

148Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:10 pm

79.) Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner - 3.5 stars

149Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:13 pm

80.) The Gown by Jennifer Robson - 3.5 stars

150Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:14 pm

81.) Gravity is the Thing by Jaclyn Moriarty - 3.5 stars

151Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: okt 8, 2019, 6:18 pm

82.) The Children's Home by Charles Lambert - 4 stars

152Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:20 pm

83.) Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera - 4.5 stars

153Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:22 pm

84.) This One and Magic Life by Anne C. George - 4.5 stars

154Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:24 pm

85.) The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead - 5 stars



I had put off reading this book once I understood that it was based on truth. I was afraid it would be a difficult read. But, after a month of resisting, I finally picked up this book and just jumped into it. I’m so glad that I did! It was a difficult read but it was well worth my time and feelings and I’m really happy that I read it. It’s based on real events that took place at the Dozier School for Boys, a reform school in Florida. Set in the 1960s, the main characters are Elwood Curtis and Jack Turner. Elwood is an upstanding young man destined for college but imprisoned for the very bad luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Turner is a boy that Elwood meets in prison who both admires and mocks Elwood.

Conditions at the Nickel School are horrible, the boys are beaten and abused. Food and school supplies intended for the school are stolen by the staff and sold; the “community service” the boys are supposed to be performing is instead work for the administrators and members of the board of directors.

So, while the book itself was easy to read, the subject matter was difficult. It’s a well written story and it is heartbreaking to read. So, just get a grip and read this book, you won’t be sorry!

155Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:26 pm

86.) The Whisperer by Karin Fossum - 4 stars

156Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:27 pm

87.) When All is Said by Anne Griffin - 4 stars

157Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:30 pm

88.) Queen Bee by Dorothea Benton Frank - 4.5 stars



Bought my own copy. I can't believe Dorothea Benton Frank has died. So very sad.

158Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: okt 8, 2019, 6:35 pm

89.) All the Water in the World by Karen Raney - 4 stars



From the book: Maddy is sixteen. Smart, funny, and profound, she has loyal friends, a mother with whom she’s unusually close, a father she’s never met, devoted grandparents, and a crush on a boy named Jack. Maddy also has cancer. Living in the shadow of uncertainty, she is forced to grow up fast.

All the Water in the World is the story of a family doing its best when faced with the worst. Told in the alternating voices of Maddy and her mother, Eve, the narrative moves between the family’s lake house in Pennsylvania; their home in Washington, DC; and London, where Maddy’s father, Antonio, lives. Hungry for experience, Maddy seeks out her first romantic relationship, finds solace in music and art, and tracks down her father. She continually tests the depths and limits of her closeness with her mother, while Eve has to come to terms with the daughter she only partly knows, in a world she can’t control.

The author did an excellent job of telling this story. She managed to not only get inside the head of a young girl with cancer, but also the interior life of her mother and the others around Maddy as everyone in her orbit tries on a daily basis to make some sense out of living through something seemed so profoundly unfair and unstoppable. This is a beautifully written story.

159Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:37 pm

90.) Tiny Americans by Devin Murphy - 3.5 stars

160Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:39 pm

91.) Ellie and the Harpmaker by Hazel Prior - 4 stars



This is a very sweet story and sometimes, you just need a sweet book to read and relax into. Ellie stumbles across the Harp Barn while on a walk and Dan, the harpmaker gives her a harp that he thinks is perfect for her. Ellie’s husband makes her return the harp so Dan says she can come to the barn to play her harp whenever she likes. This lovely story is a heartwarming story of friendship and music and how it can lead to more. And, then there is Phineas, the Pheasant who is an important part of the story. He’s wonderful and just adds that much more to this fairytale like story. Just a complete pleasure from the beginning to the very happy ending!

161Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:42 pm

92.) The Institute by Stephen King - 5 stars



Got this book on Tuesday, I tried so hard to make it last, so I finished it today! This is an incredible book, even if you aren't a Stephen King fan, which I most definitely am, this is still a 5 star read!

162Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:43 pm

93.) The Salt Path by Raynor Winn - 4 stars

163Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:45 pm

94.) Akin by Emma Donoghue - 5 stars

164Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:46 pm

95.) Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner - 3.5 stars

165Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:48 pm

96.) First Cosmic Velocity by Zach Powers - 4 stars

166Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:49 pm

97.) What Rose Forgot by Nevada Barr - 4 stars

167Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:51 pm

98.) The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman - 5 stars

168Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:52 pm

99.) This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger - 5 stars

169Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:56 pm

100. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - 5 stars



I wanted to reread (well, actually listen to the audio) since it's been 34 years since I read it the first time and I have The Testaments in hand! It's amazing that
this book is just as good as the first time! Will take a little break before I dive into the sequel!

170Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 6:59 pm

101.) Drunken Fireworks by Stephen King - 4.5 stars



This was only released as an audiobook since it's a novella from Stephen King's last story collection. The narrator, while hard to understand at first,
really did an excellent job! Not horror, but quite a funny story of drunken fireworks!

171Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 7:00 pm

102.) The Last by Hanna Jameson - 4 stars

172Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 7:11 pm

Wow, it's been a long time since I've been able to get my books logged in! I still have a few reviews to do but definitely won't be reviewing all of them. My last 7 books have been excellent! And, I have a stack of new books of my own that I know will be just as good and a stack of library books that I hope will be as good! Just got home from Massachusetts where we celebrated our niece's bridal shower which was so much fun. The wedding will be November 23 so we'll be going
back up next month. We're going to Milford, PA tomorrow to look at a building lot that backs up against State Game lands (which Kevin really wants) to see if we want to build instead of buying a house in the Spring.

I will be leaving on Monday for a week in NC taking my dad to Duke for his yearly checkup and then on that Saturday, I will be taking him to Ormond Beach, FL for a week with my brother and his family. We'll spend the week celebrating Dad's 91st Birthday! I'm hoping to be home in time for Halloween. Looking forward to some good reading and audiobooks on my trip.

173Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 7:12 pm

>144 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! Forgive me for my late thanks!

174Dianekeenoy
okt 8, 2019, 7:15 pm

>145 karenmarie: Hi Karen, please forgive me for responding so late! They were such good books! And, I've now packed up 19 boxes of books...unfortunately, I'm already starting filling up some of the spaces that I freed up! Yikes...but when all of my favorite authors come out with a new book at the same time, what else could I do? I have been reading some really good books recently. Now, I need to go and catch up with you!

175Berly
okt 19, 2019, 3:08 am

Wishing you a safe trip and congrats on catching up on your book logging! Have fun at the wedding and happy birthday to your Dad.

176Dianekeenoy
okt 21, 2019, 11:24 am

>175 Berly: Hi Kim, thanks! Great trip so far. My dad got a good checkup at Duke and we're now in Ormond Beach, Florida with my brother and his family. We had dinner there last night and had fresh shrimp, fresh flounder and triple tail red snapper caught by my youngest nephew and cooked by my oldest nephew! I don't normally eat seafood but I always eat whatever they catch and cook! It's always delicious! I have some good books with me but not much reading is getting done yet!

177Berly
nov 7, 2019, 9:37 pm

D---Wow, talk about fresh-caught!! Lucky you.

Welcome to November. : )

178Dianekeenoy
nov 19, 2019, 11:00 pm

Note to self - finished book 120. Need to update!

179karenmarie
nov 27, 2019, 6:39 am

Hi Diane. Congrats on finishing book 120 and surpassing the 113 read last year.

180johnsimpson
nov 28, 2019, 3:18 pm

Hi Diane my dear, hope you and the family have a really lovely Thanksgiving Day and send love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

181PaulCranswick
dec 7, 2019, 10:34 pm

Please do update soon, Diane.

Have a great weekend.

182karenmarie
dec 24, 2019, 1:04 pm

183johnsimpson
dec 24, 2019, 4:14 pm

Merry Christmas Diane, Kevin and family from both of us dear friend.

184PaulCranswick
dec 25, 2019, 8:55 pm



Thank you for keeping me company in 2019.......onward to 2020.

185Berly
dec 26, 2019, 11:36 pm

Best wishes this holiday season!! See you in 2020!


186johnsimpson
dec 31, 2019, 6:21 pm

Hi Diane my dear, wishing you and the family a very Happy New Year from both of us dear friend.

187Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 7:58 am

>179 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen! Today is the day that I plan to get everything logged in! Happy New Year to you!

188Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 7:58 am

>180 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John! I appreciate you keeping in touch even when I have been so lax!

189Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 7:59 am

>181 PaulCranswick: Today is the day, Paul! Happy New Year!

190Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:00 am

>181 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much, Karen! A belated Merry Christmas to you as well!

191Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:01 am

>183 johnsimpson: A belated Merry Christmas to you and Karen! I'm still admiring our Christmas tree as I type! It was a handful this year falling over twice but has been very well behaved since we tied it to the railing!

192Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:02 am

>184 PaulCranswick: A very belated Season's Greetings to you as well! I hope that 2020 will be a very good year for you and your family!

193Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:03 am

>185 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim! And, here we are...2020! It sounds like we're living in the future!

194Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:04 am

>186 johnsimpson: Happy New Year, John! I hope it's a great year for you and Karen!

195Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:24 am

I've decided that today is the day that I will finish logging my books for 2019. I finished my last book of the year last night and it was a very good one. It's been a difficult time for us since we lost my father-in-law the day after my niece's wedding. He had a mild stroke but was doing well and was in rehab. The day we all left to go to Massachusetts for the wedding, he was readmitted to the hospital for low blood pressure. My sister-in-law, his oldest daughter was still in town so she met him at the hospital and he asked her to stay with him. He was able to watch the wedding on Facetime and was doing better. I insisted that we stop at the hospital on our way home and I could see that he was ready to leave us. He was very happy and glowing from within, as well as talking to someone only he could see. He watched his beloved Patriots win their football game, then went to sleep. My husband and his siblings have taken his loss very hard since even at the age of 93, almost 94, he still ruled the family. He insisted on cutting our grass every week for the last 15 years or so. I am hoping to get us moved before the grass needs cutting in the spring. It's time to have new things to do and look forward to for the family.

We had the entire family here for Christmas, all 37 of them. It was sad but our first two little great nieces both under the age of two were able to bring so much joy and laughter to our gathering. Hopefully, we can take care of my father-in-law's house and belongings in the near future. It may have to be the spouses who have to deal with this since the children, including my husband can't bring themselves to even go inside the house.

I'm just glad we got these years with my father-in-law, he was just so sad after Eleanor, his bride passed away three years ago.

196Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:27 am

103.) The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - 5 stars



I absolutely loved this book! The cover is one of the most beautiful covers I've ever owned. Don't miss this one!

197Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:31 am

104.) The Midnight Witness by Sara Blaedel - 3.5 stars



Not her best book, but it still held my interest.

198Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:34 am

105.) The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfield - 4.5 stars



Another great book by the author of the The Child Finder, read them both!

199Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:37 am

106.) The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist - 3.5 stars



An audiobook that took a very long time to capture my attention! But, when it finally did, it kept me listening into the night.

200Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:40 am

107.) The Outsider by Stephen King - 5 stars



The audiobook is just as good as the book! I'm listening to more Stephen King's books even though I've read every one of them. And, I'm enjoying them just as much! Recommended, even if you're not a King fan!

201Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jan 1, 2020, 8:47 am

108.) Eva's Eye by Karin Fossum - 4 stars



I've read other books by Karin Fossum but read that this was her first one in the Sejer series. So, I grabbed it and liked it!

202Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:49 am

109.) The Boy in the Suitcase by Lena Kaaberbol - 4 stars

203Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:53 am

110.) Will and Testament by Vigdis Hjorth - 3 stars



My library was kind enough to buy this book for me when it wasn't available in our library system. So, I felt that I had to finish this, but it definitely wasn't a favorite!

204Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:55 am

111.) All This Could Be Yours by Jami Attenberg - 4 stars



205Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:59 am

112.) The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal - 4.5 stars



A wonderful book! I enjoyed it so much that I requested and have his first book ready to read, Kitchens of the Great Midwest.

206Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 9:01 am

113.) The Warehouse by Rob Hart - 4 stars



A fun, interesting read. I'm looking at you Amazon!

207Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jan 1, 2020, 9:08 am

114.) The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris - 4 stars



I decided to listen to this on audio since I had already packed up my hard copy. I bought Cilka's Journey and didn't want to start that without the background of her first book.
It was excellent. Now, to fit in Cilka's Journey!

I can't get that cover to take...

208Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jan 1, 2020, 9:56 am

115.) Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky - 3.5 stars



This book has been hyped as “vintage Stephen King” and I am definitely a Stephen King fan. Single mother, Kate Reese and her seven year old son, Christopher are running away from another abusive relationship. They drive until they find themselves in the tight-knit community of Mill Grove, Pennsylvania. It’s far off the beaten track with one road in and one road out.

At first, it feels like the perfect place to settle down…then Christopher disappears for six days. When at last, he steps out of the woods, he’s not hurt but he hears a voice in his head which is telling him that he must build a treehouse in the woods by Christmas or else.

I have to say that the first 500 pages weren’t bad, but after that, it became a real slog and I am a fan of huge books! A reviewer on LT summed it up perfectly for me when he said, “Repetitive: So much hissing, urine-stained pants, and street-blocking deer. Not to mention all those ‘mailbox people’ standing around holding string with their sewn-up mouths.” I grew to hate those mailbox people! Then, I started to count the stories that I’ve read before that I could find in this book including the last line which had me shout, “for Pete’s sake, not Rosemary’s Baby, too!”

An ARC from my local library book club.

209Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 9:18 am

116.) Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson - 4 stars



The premise of this book of children that catch on fire if they get upset sounds crazy but it actually works! I loved this book, funny and meaningful as well!

210Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jan 1, 2020, 9:56 am

117.) After the Flood by Kassandra Montag - 3.5 stars



In this dystopian world that is now covered in water except for the tallest mountains, you have a mother and her young daughter sailing alone catching fish to trade for necessities. Myra had given up looking for her older daughter, Row who was kidnapped by her husband while she was pregnant with Pearl. Years later when Myra hears that Row is still alive, she is determined to find her. Throwing her normal caution aside, they set sail to find Row and find a man floating in the wreckage of his boat. While Myra doesn’t want to pick him up, Pearl insists. Daniel is a navigator and his skills are needed to get to the encampment near the Arctic Circle where Row was last seen. When Myra’s boat is wrecked, they are picked up by a much larger ship and Myra realizes that she now has the means to make this difficult trip if she can convince the captain and crew to change their plans for sailing south to heading north.

This is really more of an adventure story. It’s filled with pirates, brave women, survival, battles and a little touch of romance. But, most of all, it’s a story of how a mother will do whatever it takes to find her missing child. While I did like this book, it was easy to put down for several days at a time (something I don’t like) but when I put in the extra effort to keep reading and not get up, I did get caught up in this great adventure

An ARC from my local library book club.

211Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 9:33 am

118.) Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister by Jung Chang - 3.5 stars



While the sisters in this book are fascinating, it's non-fiction, it just got too caught up more in their husbands' lives. That should be another book.

212Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 9:38 am

119. I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara - 4 stars



This book was chosen for my Thursday Book club choice. It is a fascinating study of how Michelle McNamara searched for years for the Golden State Killer. The fact that they found him is a testament to her hard work. Unfortunately, she died before this happened. An excellent book.

213Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jan 1, 2020, 9:41 am

120.) Anna Eva Mimi Adam by Marina Antropow Cramer - 4 stars



A short, very good book that I got through Librarythings Early Reviewer program. Review to follow...

214Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 9:49 am

(121.) The Nameless Series by Dean Koontz offered by Amazon Prime - 5 stars













These short stories are about a nameless man who is given assignments to protect innocent people from very bad
people. I loved this series and certainly hope there will be more "nameless" stories!

215Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 9:51 am

122.) The Far End of Happy by Kathryn Craft - 4 stars

216Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 9:55 am

123.) The Wives by Tarryn Fisher - 4 stars



I chose this book because I thought it would be fairly light and entertaining and it was all that, although not quite as light as I thought! Your husband has three wives and you are wife number two. You have never met the other women. Because of this arrangement, you see your husband only one day a week – you’re the Thursday wife, the best wife. Then one day, while you’re doing laundry, you find a scrap of paper in his pocket – an appointment reminder for a woman named Hannah, and you know it’s one of the other wives.

While you thought you were fine with your arrangement, you can’t help yourself, you track her down, and under false pretenses, you strike up a friendship. Hannah has no idea who you really are. Then Hannah starts showing up to your coffee dates with bruises, and you realize she’s being abused by her husband. Who, of course, is also your husband. But you’ve never known him to be violent, ever.

If you are able to suspend a little disbelief, you will enjoy this thriller. It’s definitely a wild ride and totally unpredictable. Just when you think you know what’s going on, you’ll discover that you’re wrong, repeatedly. This was my first book by Tarryn Fisher and I have to say that she has a unique style of writing that allows just enough details to be revealed along the way, until things change and then change again. It takes awhile, but then you start to have doubts about Thursday’s reliability as a narrator. I didn’t see the ending coming and am still thinking about it. So, the book wasn’t as light as I thought it would be but it definitely held my interest and I read it straight through.

An ARC from my local library book club.

217Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 9:59 am

124.) Cold Storage by David Koepp - 4 stars



At first, I thought this book about a fungus would be a dud. But, I stuck with it and it was very exciting, read it straight through one night!

218Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 10:02 am

125.) The Innocents by Michael Crummey - 3 stars



I'm not confident about recommending this book. While I understand the brother and sister in this book were definitely innocent, there were parts of it that made me queasy.

219Dianekeenoy
Bewerkt: jan 1, 2020, 10:20 am

126.) The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney - 4.5 stars



No touchstone for this book right now. I finished this book last night around 11:00 pm, my last book of 2019. It was the perfect book to finish off the old year. It's about AI which I always love, lots of twists and turns and a "read it straight through" plot!

Happy New Year!

220johnsimpson
jan 1, 2020, 4:27 pm

Hi Diane my dear, so sorry to hear about the loss of your Father-in-Law, it is never easy losing a loved one and I am not surprised that Kevin and his siblings have taken it hard. Karen still feels it on Christmas Day as this is when she lost her mum 12 years ago and tomorrow is the 6th anniversary since she lost her Dad. Going in to the property is hard for the children of the lost parent, I dealt with everything when I lost my parents and did the same for my mother and father -in-law as Karen couldn't really face it and her brother was next to useless (awful to say this, but true). We will keep you all in our thoughts dear friend and send love and special Yorkshire hugs, please pass on our condolences to Kevin dear Lady.

221Dianekeenoy
jan 1, 2020, 8:45 pm

>220 johnsimpson: Thanks so much for your kindness, John. It has been so hard, especially during the holidays as you and Karen both know. Kevin and 3 of his siblings (he's the oldest of 7) are meeting at the house tomorrow to try and get some things done. We'll see how that goes. If it's too much, then they will call in their spouses to help.

222johnsimpson
jan 2, 2020, 3:24 pm

>221 Dianekeenoy:, Hi Diane my dear, it will be hard for them and no matter what loved ones may say, things will bring back fond memories and that is hard. The only thing I would say is that if it is too much for them, they have not failed as there is no right or wrong in these situations.

Although I dealt with all the paperwork and in Karen's Dads case I was the executor of the will but Karen did help to sort things out and we took our time. When Karen's mum died, her Dad wanted everything out and we had to load our car to make sure we had time to go through things as he would have just thrown it all out.

I hope that things go ok for them all and you are all in our thoughts and prayers dear friend at this sad time, love and hugs.