Friday, I'm in Love! by Camryn Garrett

 

I borrowed this book from my local library's Libby App. I was looking for a book for the Kensington Book Challenge to fit the category of LGBTQIA joy. The cover exemplifies joy to me, but it was doubly nice that the story was also joyful. 

There is one POV in this book and that is our MC Mahalia, Mahalia is a high school junior who lives with her mom, works part-time, and is stressed about the SAT, going to college, and has a crush on the new girl at school--Siobahn.  So we are along for the ride as Mahalia and Siobahn begin a friendship, Mahalia's mom has surgery, and Mahalia deals with casual racism at school. There are ups and downs in the story but all the main characters have parents, no one is sexually assaulted, or kicked out by their parents because they identify as queer. The book ends with a lovely party and the song this book is titled after is used in the story to lovely effect. 

5 start for this fun fluffy first love story. 

 

Looking for someone to listen to while you work or work around the house?

 

It was a Saturday afternoon in January, I had loads of laundry to wash and fold---a sink full of dishes and I didn't feel like listening to music or a podcast.  What to do?  I clicked on my Libby App and scrolled to find an audiobook that was available and looked decent.   

What I found was The Liar's Wife by Kiersten Modglin.  I listened at 2.0 speed and finished the book by dinnertime. It's an easy listen, there aren't a ton of characters so it's easy to keep people straight when you listen to while you work. 

A couple of things that are done in the book that I really liked. The main character Palmer has just given birth and as the book begins you aren't sure if she is dealing with normal post-pregnancy worries and attachment to her new baby or if her husband is truly up to no good. Up until a certain plot point I was not sure if she was a reliable or completely unreliable narrator.  I am not going to tell you which it is, I don't want to spoil you. 

At the very end of the book is a plot twist that you will either love or roll your eyes.  

This Thriller's Main Character has the coolest job!

 I follow this writer on Twitter and for far too long  I have been following her without having read a thing she had written.  Fortunately, I finally made a point to read one of her books, I got the audiobook for These Toxic Things and overall this is a nice thriller that really lends itself to a listening experience, enough action to keep you distracted while you are working out or cleaning or working. 

My favorite part of the book was Mickie's job, she makes interactive digital scrapbooks, she is like a 3/D documentarian. She has work troubles and then she finds herself pulled into a suspicious death investigation involving her client. She really inserts herself into the drama as only a noisy mystery MC can do. 

I had trouble when listening to realizing when the POV switched from the Mickie to the killer. If I was reading the book it would not have been an issue, this was more due to the audio reader not differentiating their voice btwn Mickie and the Killer enough for my ears. You many not have this issue-- and probably definitely won't now that you know their is more than one POV you will hear. 

Overall rating for me was 4 stars, this reminded me of a Harlan Coben book. Fast paced with a few subplots, and all is resolved in the end. 

Audio Challenge Update! Halfway to December- #AudiobookChallenge

This is a little belated, so I'm glad I've remembered to get this post up!  It's time for my midyear Audiobook Challenge check in!  The 2021 Audiobook Challenge is being run by Caffeinated Reviewer, you can check it out here and join us! 

My goal for this challenge is Marthoner level (no surprise there) and that means 50 audiobooks over 2021. Where am I at?  Great question... I went back through my posts from this year and so far I've listened to 22 audiobooks. So I'm only about 4 books behind where I should be at this point of the year. 

Lucky for me it's easier to catch up on a listening challenge than it is actual marathon training.  Lately I have not found myself absorbed by an audiobook. I have three books currently in progress.  Nothing has been catching my ear lately!  On the plus side, in a couple days I'll have 2 credits added to my Audible account and I'll be able to pick up a new release or two with those credits. 

The garden is starting to really produce zuchinni and I'm trying to get creative in ways I can shred zuchinni and add it to meals. Tonight I put a cup of shredded zucchini with a pound of ground turkey and 1/4 cup of Bacon Pepper Jam mixed that together to make burgers.  They turned out very well and now I have a new way to use up my produce.  Next up, zuchinni shredded and added to pasta sauce. 

How Do You Stop A Determined Assassin?

If you enjoy watching thrillers,  if you enjoy stories set with the backdrop of the white house, if you have seen the movie Air Force One; you'll likely find Carol Leonnig's book Zero Fail a compelling and fascinating read.

How do you keep a President safe?  Especially in this 21st century where there are drones, and Havana Syndrome, and 3-D printers able to print plastic guns. This book examines the decades-long struggle of the secret service to protect the President of the United States, their families, and candidates for office.  The push and pull of trying to protect a highly visible person, one who wants and needs to interact with the citizens of the United States as well as travel the world spending time with foreign leaders and dignitaries, is a real sticky wicket. 

I listened to the audio version of this book while I was out running over the last week or so. It was very interesting to learn about failures on the part of the Secret Service that may have played a part in the shooting of JFK, a near-miss with George HW Bush as well as the shooting of Ronald Regan.  In each case, one small slip, one lack of imagination, or too much deference to the person being protected lead to disaster.  And on the other hand, we will never know how many times people or organizations were stopped by one small thing going right. Lack of funding and resources has plagued the Secret Service--with many of those who were part of Presidential details working an untenable amount of hours on a regular basis. 

It came as no surprise to me to learn that often thanks to booze or men not being able to keep their pants on -(be that the President or secret service personnel)  Presidents have been thisclose to being assassinated or compromised by a foreign agent.  And also there is the usual BS you find in any office situation where people are trying to climb the corporate ladder.  I'd been busy with raising kids and I have to say that I completely missed the sex scandal the Secret Service was embroiled in during President Obama's second term--there was a real frat-boy culture. 

 5- stars for Zero Fail from me. This is a very comprehensive look at an incredibly important agency. 

If Culinary Cozies Are Your Coconut Jam

 Then you are going to enjoy the stuffing out of Arsenic and Adobo the first book in the new Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries series by Mia Manansala.  This is Mia's first book and it's had a great debut, popping up on a bunch of best new book lists. 

This book tells the tale of Lila Macapagal a twenty-five-year-old who has moved back home to help the family business and forget about a terrible ex-boyfriend.  She is also a first-generation Filipino American who spends her free time concocting recipes using traditional Filipino cuisine and giving it her own spin.  Not long after arriving home Lila has new ex-boyfriend problems when an old high school sweetheart keels over in Tita Rosies' restaurant!

Lila is quickly accused of killer her ex-boyfriend and the restaurant, which was already behind on the rent payments is shut down. The clock is ticking; will Lila find the killer and save her family's restaurant?  

My local coffee shop has a new seasonal drink...Ube Iced Latte!  IFYKYK!

I listened to the audio of this book which was read by Danice Cabanela who does a wonderful job of acting out the numerous characters in this first book. It was a very entertaining listen and a nice distraction while running.  I did struggle to keep track of the characters in the book because there were quite a few and it is a little harder for me to keep track when I listen instead of having a book a can flip back through easily. 

Mia Manansala really excels in her food descriptions.  My mouth was watering!  This book is a culinary delight.  I liked getting to know some of the residents of Shady Palms, IL and it was a treat to be invited into Tita Rosie's home. I enjoyed the touch of romance, the diverse cast of first-generation Asian Americans, and it did my little heart good to read about the way Lila's family expressed their love for each other through food. 

4 Stars for this cozy!  I think the second book will build upon this one and I am looking forward to seeing Lila and her friends and family again soon! 

Do You Listen To Books? Try the Audiobook Challenge 2021!

 Two weeks until the New Year. Are you planning to set goals? do resolutions? start a new eating plan?  

As a fan of planning in general, even though during the last two years most of my goals and plans have taken GIGANTIC detours, I'm still making plans and setting goals.  What can I say setting goals and making a plan to work on those goals makes me happy. 

If you are like me and you enjoy goals and plans to do things or try new things, you should consider joining me for the Audio Challenge by Caffeinated Reader & That's What I'm Talking About.   It's just for fun, and you might learn some new things or at least will have some adventures between your ears. 

Right now I'm listening to an audiobook I borrowed from my library on the Libby App. Yes that is right you can borrow books and listen to them on your phone. How cool is that? 

Right now I'm halfway through Booked For Death by Victoria Gilbert. 

I don't know how it will go, but my plan is to listen to a book a week. How about you? Do you listen to audiobooks?  If not, give it a try! 

Spooky Season is Almost Upon Us! Who's Excited for October?

 

In the fall I enjoy reading/listening to spooky/light horror/paranormal books.  I used an audible credit to listen to this book and I listen to the book at 1.3 speed.  I enjoyed this reader and would listen to other books read by her. 

This book is YA and it has some of your classic YA tropes.  Alexis Henderson does a fine job creating a creepy atmosphere and throughout the book, I was not sure who was 'bad and who was 'good'. I liked that I was constantly questioning everyone's motives.  I could not even be sure  Immanuelle was a reliable narrator.   

This isn't the sort of horror that will give you nightmares or make you freak out about a bump in the night, it is the sort of horror that really puts one in the Halloween spirit.  Oh now if you do want to take to the next level, listen to it while you walk in the woods, at night.

Four Stars!

Here is a link to the book and my other reviews! 

And in decidedly not spooky Autumn fun, I found the perfect shower curtain to hang from now until December! It's from Bed, Bath and Beyond--I finally used one of the 50,000 coupons they send me in the mail. :-) 

Just When I Thought Summer Was Ending!

I was getting hyped up for Fall, was even going to make a new soup recipe this week, and then I looked at my app and it's going to be in the 90s all week. Today it was 97. All my weeks of working hard to avoid putting on the air conditioning, down the drain!

Pretty funny actually, it's August in Chicago, why would I think we would be done having temperatures in the 90s Ha! In deference to the weather, I started off my day by having watermelon.  A very good choice.  Have you ever tried a savory watermelon salad?  I have seen variations of Watermelon/Basil/Cucumber/Feta Cheese Salads but I am not sure if I am ready to give it a try. I do like spinach salad with feta cheese and strawberries, I wonder if it is similar.

Then there is the whole cutting of the watermelon! The hubs kept buying big watermelons, but then I have to use all the plastic containers that still have lids to get the cut watermelon packaged up and then it takes up a ton of room in the fridge!

Because of the heat, I ran earlier so I didn't melt into a puddle on the sidewalk.  Today I ran with music, but often I will listen to an audiobook.  Recently I listened to one I borrowed from my public library, it was excellent!  My review is below!

Slay by Brittney Morris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to an hour of this book while running on Friday and then on Saturday I listened to it while running, doing dishes, cooking, sitting in a chair, eating, etc. etc. I had to finish it, I had to know how Kiera weathered the storm.

Brittney does such a masterful job creating Kiera's world and the world of Slay. I could picture how the game would look and sound as I read. How wonderful it would be if Slay did exist.

One of my favorite things about the book is the expanded POV chapters. Not only do we get Keira and Claires POVs but we step into the shoes of a variety of players.

I'm so happy that this book is out in the world for all those gamers who don't usually see themselves in fiction.


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Geared for the Grave- Mackinac Island Mystery!

As I continue to write and learn about writing, the advice I most often encounter from published writers is to read what you want to write.  Because my writing goal is to write something I hope other people will enjoy as an escape from everyday troubles, I get to read lots of cozy mysteries. 

Here is one I listened to for the Library Challenge last month-

Geared for the Grave by Duffy Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Duffy Brown does a wonderful job of not just introducing us to a very eclectic group of townspeople, we also get a decent mystery to solve. Just when you think you've solved the murder, a new clue is revealed that cast doubt on another person.

The book is set on Mackinac Island--now I know that vehicles aren't allowed and fudge is plentiful, but I do not know if the local residents actually call visitors 'fudgies' . Frankly, I hope they do!

Evie makes for a good main character, she isn't naive and she can mostly take care of herself. I listened to this book via the Libby app from my library. The reader for this series is fantastic! I loved her voicing of "Irish Donna," her brogue is on point!

Overall I loved the cheeky humor in the book as well as the pacing. 5 solid stars. For the cost of a library card, you can take a vacation to Mackinac Island!


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