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11/18/2019 1 Comment No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert No One Ever Asked by Katie GanshertMy rating: 5 of 5 stars Incredibly written, one of the best books I've read all year. It's the kind of book that provokes thought and encourages growth. I have so many more questions that I would love to ask and answers I am curious to hear. You will experience anxiety, disgust, and disbelief when reading this book. Only disbelief that people can act this way, not that it doesn't happen. I know it happens. Nothing encompasses the turmoil and unrest of our current social climate like this book. View all my reviews  The Witch's Kind by Louisa MorganMy rating: 4 of 5 stars This novel was not at all what I was expecting based on the title, but it was a pleasant surprise. Anticipating black magic and cauldrons, I instead got a love story of accidental loss and perseverance despite recurring tragedies. Barrie Anne was raised by her aunt after her parents die in an accident when she is a young girl. Just as she was reaching adulthood, World War II begins and she puts college on hold to marry her sweetheart before he heads to war. However, her handsome husband has a dark side and a hidden past, disappears soon after he ships off in the Navy, and Barrie Anne, left with more questions than answers, continues on with her life at home with her Aunt Charlotte. One day her husband mysteriously reappears with little explanation and buys an old farmhouse off the beaten path near the Hood Canal in Washington State. They attempt to start over as farmers but soon her husband's reconciliatory attitude turns sour and she leaves him to stay with her aunt once more. This time, though, she's pregnant with his child. When the Navy shows up at her aunt's door looking for her husband, she shows them to her house where he is no longer staying and instead of letting them take her back, she decides to stay in her farmhouse and make it on her own. Filled with grit and determination, maternal instinct and a little something else, Barrie Anne is an inspirational character and The Witch's Kind is a story that will leave you feeling warm all over. View all my reviews
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
 Harvest Home by Thomas TryonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars Timeless and creepy. I checked this out from the library as an ebook and had no idea when it was written. The only thing that alerted me that it might be written awhile back was a lack of personal electronics, but otherwise, this book could have taken place at any time, anywhere. It has all the earmarks of a creepy “moving to a small town in the country” story, but it maintained an originality that kept me steadily turning pages. You can see where many modern horror movies could have received inspiration. View all my reviews  Chaos by Patricia CornwellMy rating: 3 of 5 stars Probably the worst of the entire series. Moved slowly but still managed to lack depth. The narrative was choppy with no flow. I miss the early days of the series, there was a villain and a chase, a mystery solved, the psychology of a demented mind, the forensic anomalies. I’m tired of hearing about the angst of each individual character; it no longer gives them life but instead makes the story drag and bores the reader with extraneous drama. View all my reviews  The Perfect Child by Lucinda BerryMy rating: 4 of 5 stars Haunting and horrifying. A mystery that soon turns into a nightmare when the main characters try their best to do the right thing. View all my reviews  Little Voices by Vanessa LillieMy rating: 4 of 5 stars Interesting and twisted but the “little voice” throughout the story is annoying. It was a quick read that still managed to surprise me. View all my reviews  Mrs. Everything by Jennifer WeinerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars An enlightening period piece that details the struggles of women trying to break free of domestic roles during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Unconventional love stories and perpetual tribulations move the story along while recurring characters endear the reader and have them rooting for the underdog. View all my reviews  The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo WrightMy rating: 4 of 5 stars The twists and turns is this book will surprise even the most skeptical and prolific readers. Superb character development and perpetual events propel you through the pages. Mysterious and macabre yet spiritually fulfilling in a unique way that doesn’t stifle. With just a touch of gruff romance to round out the loneliness felt by the main character. I was pleasantly surprised by this tale. View all my reviews
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
 The Transparency Tonic by Frank L. ColeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars Great middle-grade read! Humorous and exciting, Cole accurately captures the awkwardness of eighth grade with a magical twist. You can't help but be hooked by Gordy's adventures as he meticulously balances his life between his normal middle school life and his not-so-normal life of potions and dark villains. View all my reviews
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
 Circe by Madeline MillerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars Few books in the literary fiction genre succeed in transporting you to a world that is not your own. I felt like a kid again reading about gods and goddesses, witches and monsters. Miller’s prose brings this otherworld to life so vividly that you can taste, feel, and smell all that is described. Despite being full of well-known mythology, the original storyline kept me guessing and I never knew what was happening from one event to the next. This story is transformative and unforgettable, and I wanted to read it forever. View all my reviews  Transcription by Kate AtkinsonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars This book was “meh”. Just enough in the characters and plot to keep me reading, but it suffered from an extreme case of dysthymia. There was no hope, no charm, no spark. Just doldrums until a lame climax and an ambiguous resolution. For a WWII fiction, you really need to go above and beyond to set yourself apart, and this book fell flat. View all my reviews
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