Book #49 Read in 2017
Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris
This is the first book in a paranormal trilogy by Harris, known for her Sookie Stackhouse paranormal series. There is a TV show of this series starting in a few weeks so I wanted to read the first book before watching the show. Midnight, Texas is a refuge for those who are not exactly normal, but the town accepts that about them. There is a witch, a vampire, a talking cat and a psychic. This book had a murder plot that had decent twists and turns and kept me guessing. I will continue reading this series.
Book #48 Read in 2017
American Street by Ibi Zoboi
This is a gritty YA read. Fab comes to American from Haiti with her mother; she is an American citizen; her mother is not. Fab's mother is detained and sent to a holding facility in New Jersey. Fab continues to their destination--her aunt's house in Detroit. There she meets her three cousins who have all had varying street experience. This is a new world for Fab and a police detective tells her she will help her mother if Fab snitches on the drug dealers who orbit her cousin's world. This book shows inner-city life in a realistic and sometimes painful way. I borrowed this book from the public library. I would recommend it for high school and adult readers.
Book #47 Read in 2017
I See You by Clare Mackintosh
Women are being advertised in newspaper ads and then turning up dead. Turns out it is a pay website detailing women and their commuting details so that the members can "find" them. Zoe sees her own picture in an ad and contacts the police. Will they be able to find the person behind the ads in time to save Zoe from harm? This was a good mystery with twists and turns. It was my first book by this author but I will read others by her. I received this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.
Book #46 Read in 2017
Camino Island by John Grisham
This is the first by Grisham which I have read in a long time and I read it in a day. Different from his usual lawyer-focused books, this one tells the tale of manuscripts by F. Scott Fitzgerald which were stolen from the Princeton Library. The authorities are after the thieves but their main priority is to find the missing manuscripts. To that means, they contact Mercer, a young, struggling writer, and want to use her to get information on a suspect, Bruce Cable, a bookstore owner. This was a good, quick read and had an engaging storyline. I recommend it. I borrowed this book from the public library.
Book #45 Read in 2017
The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian
Lianna's mother has a history of sleepwalking when her father is out of town. It happens again but this time no one can find her mother. Did she drown? Jump off a bridge? Run away? These questions haunt the family as they wait for news--a body discovered; a letter that she has left the family; something. This book had some slow parts--I quickly tired of Lianna's self-destructive drug use--but the ending more than made up for any down spots. I borrowed this book from the public library.
Book #44 Read in 2017
Unfiltered by Lily Collins
Lily Collins has acted in such movies that I like as The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and The Blind Side. She is also the daughter of musician Phil Collins. Additionally, she is a young woman who has survived eating disorders, unhealthy relationships and self doubt. This collection of essays is a good, quick read and Lily's honesty shines through her writing. I borrowed this book from the public library.
Book #43 Read in 2017
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
I have enjoyed several others books by this author so I was excited to start reading this one. It had a very slow start and I considered giving up on it several times. I did stick with it and overall ended up liking it, but it is, in my opinion, not as good as her other works. An "accident/incident" is referred to at a barbeque but it is almost halfway through the book before readers find out what happened. The characters are somewhat unlikeable and are flawed but they are interesting. If a reader can stick with it, he/she should like it.
1. Poison's Kiss (YA) 4/5 1st in series
2. We Are Okay (YA) 4/5
3. Into the Water (3/5) library book
4. A Court of Wings and Ruin (YA) 5/5 3rd in series
5. I Hate Everyone Except You (5/5) library book
6. Swimming Lessons (4/5) library book
7. The Cellar (YA) 5/5 1st in series
42 books read in 2017
