"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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