"The Violin Conspiracy" by Brendan Slocumb

In The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, Ray McMillian has a dream of becoming a world-class professional violinist against the odds which do not favor him.  He is a poor black man, but thinks he can do it even though it is a white-dominated position he seeks.  I enjoyed this book.  The characters were true-to-life and the story line kept me engaged.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars) 

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"Unmissing" by Minka Kent is a Shocker!

Unmissing by Minka Kent is a fast-moving mystery that I enjoyed.  I has two big twists I didn't see coming and my opinion of the characters changed as the book moved along.  It kept my attention from the very first page and had no boring parts.  It's about Lydia, who is kidnapped right at the beginning of the book and is declared dead.  After missing for 10 years, she returns to find her husband who has remarried, owns several restaurants and has clearly moved on.  (Karen's review 3/24/22, 5 stars)

Gerard's review:

Unmissing by Minka Kent tells the story of a woman missing for ten years and comes back.  She comes back to a married couple to settle the score with the husband.  This is good stuff!  It is told by two women and goes back and forth so you do not expect what is coming.  The ending is really, really good!  (5 stars)

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"The Night Shift" by Alex Finlay

In The Night Shift by Alex Finlay, two crimes take place 15 years apart.  Three teenagers are killed but one is able to survive.  This has a good story line that kept me turning pages.  The characters were okay, but I would have liked a bit more action.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars) 

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"Coach K--The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski" by Ian O'Connor

I thought Coach K by Ian O'Connor is really good because it includes lots of inside stuff about Coach K and the players who played for him.  I think anyone who likes college basketball would enjoy this book.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Rock Paper Scissors" by Alice Feeney

In Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney, Adam and Amelia win a weekend get-a-way in Scotland which makes them very happy!  They both need it.    I enjoyed this book a lot but the less you know about it, the better.  I don't want to spoil it for you.  The story line is great.  What I thought I knew, I really didn't!  I LOVED it and highly recommend this one!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

Karen's review:

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney was just annoying to me.  First off, it was very slow moving and although it did create suspense and was somewhat creepy, I didn't care for any of the characters except the dog, Bob.  Half of the story was in the form of letters.  It was definitely full of secrets and had an unpredictable ending.  (2 stars)  

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"A Flicker in the Dark" by Stacy Willingham

In A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham, Chloe was 12 when six teenage girls went missing in her town.  Later, her own father confessed to being a serial killer and was put in prison.  Twenty years later, it happens again!  Why and who is behind this?  

I found this book to be very good.  The story line kept me engaged all the way and was surprised by the ending.  I was surprised how good this book was by a first-time author.  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

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"It's Better to Be Feared" by Seth Wickersham (Patriots Dynasty)

It's Better to Be Feared by Seth Wickersham covers the 20-year run of the Patriots dynasty.  I really enjoyed this book!  It brought back so many great games and so many great players that made it all happen with lots of inside insights as well.  If you are a Patriots fan, this is a must read.  If you're not a fan, then you wouldn't want to read this book anyway.  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

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"Crime Scene Connection" by Deena Alexander

Crime Scene Connection by Deena Alexander is about Addison who witnessed her mother's murder as a 3-yr-old hiding in a kitchen cabinet.  She wrote a murder mystery and now is trying to figure out who is doing real murders based on those in her book before other get killed, including herself!  She thinks it might be her ex-husband who is a dirty cop and who was abusive to her.  Jace, Addison's ex-husband's ex-partner, and his dog, Phoenix, try to protect Addison and in the process fall in love.  Although the romance part between Jace and Addison was predictable, I was surprised at who the killer was.  

This was a pretty good murder mystery with the personal journey of Addison and Jace learning to forgive and being drawn to each other.  It has suspense, mystery and romance all wrapped up together.  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

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"City of Champions" by Hank Gola

I was not surprised that I enjoyed City of Champions by Hank Gola because it is a true story that I knew little or nothing about.  It is about a high school world championship football game in 1939.  Who knew?  Not me!  I liked reading about both teams and the coaches.  It shares good insights into both teams.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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Our Favorite Books We Read in 2021

I'm a bit late posting my favorites from last year, but here they are.  You can easily find our reviews by searching for the title in the upper left search box.  It was a slow reading year for me with only a total of 24 books so I only had 8 that I loved (the first four below were my husband's favorites as well):

Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction

Fantasy (part of series)

Fantasy

 

Historical Romance

Mystery

Autism & Sisters

Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction (artists during depression)

Next are my husbands favorites (he read 62 books in 2021):

Romance

Psychological Thriller

Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction

Memoir

Memoir

Mystery/Thriller

Fantasy

Middle Grade/Children's Book, survival

Family Relationships

Mystery/Thriller

Thriller

How many books did you read last year?  What were your favorites?

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"From the Ashes" by Jesse Thistle - A memoir of a life surviving the streets

From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle is a true story, and what a story it is!  Jesse tells how he grew up and it was far from the ideal childhood.  In his teen years and beyond, he made some wrong choices and suffered the consequences.  It is inspirational because he turned his life around.  This was a very honest book and I enjoyed it.  He told his story very well and I think anyone would like this book!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Heaven, My Home" by Attica Locke (a Highway 59 novel)

In Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke, Levi is a 9-yr.-old alone in the dark in a boat where the motor just died.  Not good.  Darren is called in to find out what is going on because Levi has been missing for days.  This book is okay, but needs more action.  The story line was good though.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)   

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"The Last House on the Street" by Diane Chamberlain

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is about Ellie, a teenager during the 60s when civil rights was a very hot topic and the KKK was very active.  Ellie joins SCOPE against her parents' will which is an organization the canvasses Blacks to encourage them to register to vote.  In 2010, Ellie returns home from moving to California to take care of her sick brother and mother.  She meets Kayla, Ellie's ex-boyfriend's daughter and old memories come back.  The truth of what really happened to a Black guy named Win that Ellie fell in love with while working with SCOPE comes out.

This is a heartbreaking story about racial tension in the 60s.  It starts out pretty slow and goes back in forth in time alternately focusing on Ellie and Kayla.  It certainly has some surprising turn of events and shows a very dark part of U.S. history.  I was deeply engrossed in this book, but liked others by this author better.  This is a sad read, but interesting nonetheless.  (Karen's review, 4 stars) 

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"Fox & I--An Uncommon Friendship" by Catherine Raven

Fox & I by Catherine Raven is about her friendship with a fox!  Catherine is a park ranger who begins a friendship with a red fox when their paths crossed.  I learned a lot about foxes and also some other animals when I read this book.  The best part of this book is her interactions with the red fox.  I especially enjoyed the part where she reads Dr. Suess books to the fox!  This is a good, happy non-fiction read.  (Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)  

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Top Ten Tuesday - New Authors Read in 2021

I don't usually participate in these, but this one intrigued me and I had the time so thought I'd participate with That Artsy Reader Girl.  Here are my Top Ten new authors to me with the books I read in 2021 in the order which I liked them:

(1)    William Kent Kruegar - THIS TENDER LAND:  Historical fiction about two brothers and their friends escaping from an Indian school. (Gerard & Karen 5 stars)

(2)    Sally Hepworth - THE GOOD SISTER:  Story about an autistic librarian and her sister.  (Karen 5 stars, Gerard 4.5 stars)

(3)    Matt Killeen - ORPHAN MONSTER SPY:  Historical fiction in Nazi Germany about a girl who assists a spy.  (Gerard & Karen 5 stars)

(4)    Melanie Benjamin - THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD:  Sad historical fiction about prairie school teachers and the children who got caught in a blizzard.  (Gerard 5 stars, Karen 4 stars)

(5)    Heidi Perks - HER ONE MISTAKE:  Two women and baby sitting gone wrong with twists and surprises along the way.  (Gerard 5 stars, Karen 4 stars)

(6)    Meredith May - THE HONEY BUS:  A memoir of how the author was saved by bees.  An educational read about bees.  (Gerard 5 stars, Karen 4 stars)

(7)    Phillip Margolin - A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH:  Robin, a defense attorney defends two men charged with murder who she believes to be innocent.  Lots of action and twists.  (Gerard - 5 stars, Karen 4 stars)

(8)    John Feinstein - THE WALK ON:  A good sports story about a high school freshman quarterback and his team.  (Karen 4 stars)

(9)    Fiona King Foster - THE CAPTIVE:  Adventure, suspense, survival and family secrets.  (Karen & Gerard 4 stars)

(10)    Jane Choate - THE STOLEN CHILD:  Romance between the father of a stolen child and an ex FBI agent who helps him find her.  (Gerard 4 stars, Karen 3 stars)

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"The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave

In The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, Owen and Hannah have been married for one year.  Owen has a daughter named Baily.  One day the FBI raids the place where Owen works.  He takes off and leaves Hannah a note saying "Protect her" meaning his daughter.  Where did Owen go?  Why?  Is he coming back?  Hanna and Baily are not close.  As they search for answers, their relationship is tested.

This is a good story that kept my interest.  It will be either a movie or a TV series.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Apples Never Fall" by Liane Moriarty

In Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty, Stan and Joy have had 50 years of married life.  One night, a young girl shows up at their front door.  She needs help and the couple take her in and invite her to stay for a while.  That turns out to be longer than they thought it would be.  Then one day Joy and the girl, Savannah, are gone!  They do not answer phone calls.  Where did they go and why?  

This book goes back and forth in time.  I had no problem with that though some people (my wife for one) do.  It's a good storyline and very interesting characters.  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

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"The Judge's List" by John Grisham

The Judge's List by John Grisham is the attempt to bring a serial killer to justice.  The serial killer is a judge who is out for revenge and has no problem killing off anyone who in his mind did him wrong.  He is very patient and brilliant, waiting many years before committing the murder and leaves no hard evidence!  Jeri, the daughter of a law professor, the Judge's second victim, is the only person who is not on his trail and is out to see he is brought to justice.

Although this book is about a serial killer, it is not gory.  There is only one killing that goes into any detail.  The rest are already committed and have the method and motive in common.  I admired Jeri for her persistence but was afraid for her.  This book kept my interest but can't say it was fast-paced.  If you enjoy reading about investigations, this is a good one!  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

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"The Collective" by Alison Gaylin

The Collective by Alison Gaylin centers on a woman named Camille whose daughter was killed.  The boy who killed her got away scot free!  Camille finds it hard to go on until she goes online and finds a group of women going through the same thing.  She joins their club and feels better.  She is asked to do some things which she does, but when people start dying, she wants out.  Is it too late for that?  

This book is very good!  The story line builds up as it goes along and the second part of the book is non-stop action which I loved!  You won't see the ending coming at all.  I highly recommend this one.  I LOVED IT!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review, 12/25/21:

The Collective by Alison Gaylin is about vigilante justice.  A group of women band together to seek "justice" for murderers of their children.  Camille believes her daughter was raped and killed by a wealthy boy who went on with his life.  This soon turns into a thriller that drew me in.  I kept reading to find out who the administrator of the collective was and if they would get caught.  I kept pulling for Camille to get out of it and do the right thing.  It was pretty creepy but couldn't quit on it.  (Karen's review, 5 stars)  

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"The Night She Disappeared" by Lisa Jewell

In The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell, a young unmarried couple who have a child go out on a friends night.  The baby is in good hands with the girl's mother.  The couple is not back by morning nor for days after.  Where can they be?  

This book goes back and forth in time to give the backstory of the couple.  The story line was good and kept my interest, but I wish the ending would have been better.  That being said, I still give it 5 stars for overall book value.  I'm glad I read it!  (Gerard's review)

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"The Home for Unwanted Girls" by Joanna Goodman is inspired by true events

The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman is inspired by true events and is told by Maggie and Elodie.  Maggie loves working at her father's sled store.  She loves her dad.  She gets pregnant at an early age and named her daughter Elodie.  Maggie's dad tells her to give her daughter to an orphanage run by nuns, so she does.  Elodie is mistreated and escapes.  Years later, Maggie wants to find her daughter.

I thought this book was really good!  Maggie was a great character and so was Elodie.  Loved it!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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