Map of the Heart by Susan Wiggs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4+stars
This is a well written novel with a compelling storyline and mysteries to solve. It moves between present day and WWII. Dual storylines can often be bothersome and confusing but the author, Susan Wiggs, is gifted by an ability to write them so they are easy to follow, interesting, and well organized. Another of her gifts is creating believable, true-to-life characters and their relationships with each other. Kudos to her for a captivating story and respectable romance without gratuitous sex scenes and foul language. Although I am really tired of finding requisite lgbtq+ characters in nearly every novel, film, or sitcom I've experienced in recent years, Wiggs handles this tastefully. This novel is what I'd call a good beach read.

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Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.
Historical fiction, this is an account of an extraordinary woman, Australian nurse and journalist, Nancy Wake. A WWII heroine, she served in the French Resistance, and later the Special Operations Executive (SOE), and briefly pursued a post-war career as an intelligence officer in the Air Ministry. She was fierce, and she did amazing, unbelievable things, including killing a Nazi officer with her bare hands. She was irreplaceable to Britain's command and financing of the French Resistance. She operated under 4 different code names: LUCIENNE CARLIER, THE WHITE MOUSE, HÉLÈNE, and "as the deadly MADAM ANDRÉ, where she claims her place as one of the most powerful leaders in the French Resistance, armed with a ferocious wit, her signature red lipstick, and the ability to summon weapons straight from the Allied Forces." The enemy was never able to figure out that the 4 names belonged to one and the same woman. She was so successful in her missions that the Reich had a five million franc price put on her head.
It is also a story of her courtship and marriage to French industrialist, Henri Fiocca.
The story itself is fascinating but the telling of it was frustrating with too much descriptive writing and its non-chronological jumping back and forth in place and in time, from 1936 to 1944, in between, and back again. There is an abundance of profanity and graphic scenes of wartime torture. I listened to the audio book.


You can read about Nancy here:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/201...

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The Guest List by Lucy Foley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fun atmospheric thriller which takes the points of view of all the characters, interweaving them past and present, with their secrets, lies, fears, and jealousies in such a way as to make them all suspect. It could have been a 5 star rating if there had been more careful editing, but there were several plot holes and some incidents which just didn't match up in the end. Nevertheless I really enjoyed it and would not hesitate to recommend it. I listened to the the audio book which was well done.

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The Power of Stillness: Mindful Living for Latter-day Saints by Jacob Z. Hess
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This audio version of the book is an excellent example of why authors should *not* narrate their own book. There are exceptions, of course, but as one reader commented in her review, due to the male (author) narrator's monotone voice and very slow reading she would "recommend it only as a CURE FOR INSOMNIA." The female reader is much easier on the ears and on the brain, but after listening to 1/2 the book, for me that still was not enough to continue. So I did NOT finish.
The content of the book is good, and may be helpful for someone who is way-too-busy trying to be everything to everyone, or for someone whose current cup-of-tea is the very popular current trend of practicing &/or reading about the benefits of meditation, but I would not recommend it for the non-LDS reader. Your mileage may vary.

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The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book several years ago, shortly after it was published, and I loved it. Entertaining, uplifting, and incredibly inspiring, it is the true story of a remarkable mother of 10 children who held her family together financially by clipping and using coupons, entering contests, and submitting jingles for advertising contests. She is optimistic with a strong sense of humor: “Sometimes it feels like I live in a circus and all the animals are loose,” and there are some parts that are very funny. But there are also some sad ones. The book is written by one of her daughters who comments, “From then on, we knew there could never be a problem bigger than Mom's ability to solve it. . . we knew that as long as we used our brains, we were not victims. By striking out to write our own ticket, we would grow up to be like our mother, winners.” I highly recommend it.

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Insights from a Prophet’s Life: Russell M. Nelson by Sheri Dew
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my...THIS BOOK...I loved it. I don’t often read biographies, but Sheri Dew is among my favorite inspirational authors and Russell M. Nelson one of my most admired people, this biography was on my list. I appreciated the book's format: chapters are designated as episodes- short, clear, essay-like readings arranged chronologically, making it easy to read, set down, ponder upon, and pick up again. Like the prophet himself, the book is full of quotable gems. I listened to the audio version, but enjoyed it so much I just ordered the hardbound version.

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The Huntress by Kate Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is suspense-filled historical fiction with a compelling storyline told in alternating POV's by 3 intriguing characters. Like Kate Quinn's earlier novel, The Alice Network, this is not a story for the faint of heart. I was totally absorbed by both the storyline and the characters, and couldn't put it down. Also I learned a few things, which is always a plus for me. Although there is a fair amount of crude language, I applaud the author for using less in this novel than in the earlier one.

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The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

2 stars=it was ok. For a business leader, sales manager, or organization president, there may be some really valuable helps, but I suspect there is little new here for an experienced or already successful professional meeting facilitator. For a homemaker- church goer -club member- empty nester - socializer like myself, I think a great party planner or game book might be more stimulating. However I did glean a few ideas I may possibly put to use in order to increase attendance and/or involvement at the next social event I'm in charge of . . .

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One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A predictable but fun & sometimes funny escape read. Stephanie Plum finds herself in all sorts of predicaments that she can't handle yet somehow makes it out alive with her team of guardian angels. The dialogue, characters and descriptions are had me laughing all the way through to the end of book. I will definite put the author, Janet Evanovich, on my easy beach reads list.

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Serena by Ron Rash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the best mysteries I've read in years. From the very first paragraph to the end, I couldn't put it down. I "read" the audio version which was expertly narrated. Set in the western mountains and hollows of North Carolina, the novel traces the villainous couple, Serena and Pemberton, as they slash and burn their way through timbered valleys, trying to stay one step ahead of the U.S. Department of Interior's push to acquire land for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is a mythic quality to the story, especially in the superb conclusion and this is clearly intentional. It is my first reading of anything by Ron Rash and he is a skill fully storyteller.

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$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America by Kathryn Edin
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is not a book about how to live on $2.00/day, but about who is living on that amount or less. The cases cited are tragic and memorable, and at best it is disheartening to read about the poorest of the poor, but in reality the book simply exposes how little government assistance is being received and proposes it should be more. The policy recommendations are thin and are incredibly outdated. This is almost laughably out of step with current trends in policy discussion.

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Silent Souls Weeping: Depression—Sharing Stories, Finding Hope by Jane Clayson Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic book for the LDS community, whether you have depressions or not. Checkout the book from the library and after reading it I purchased my own copy, which I have twice loaned to others. I also own the audio book which I recently finished, and am now reading the hardbound book a second time. I don't have depression, but experienced it several years ago and have friends and family members who have dealt with it. This book is tremendously helpful. I can't think of a better recommendation than the fact that I am now on my 3rd reading.

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The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alice Hoffman writes beautifully, no matter the theme or subject and this is no exception. Centered around the tragedy of WWII in Germany, with Jewish characters fleeing to survive while others in the resistance fight against the Nazis, this is a novel that mixes reality with magical elements and brings unforgettable characters to life. I loved this book.

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The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

THIS BOOK.... wow!
It is fascinating and well-researched historical fiction which gives a vivid portrayal of life in the copper mining country of upper Michigan, early twentieth century. It is a compelling, entertaining, and educational read. As with Mary Doria Russell's earlier novels, the writing is excellent with a prose style full of nuance, and realistic memorable characters based on actual persons. One of these, the heroine of the story, is Annie Klobuchar Clements ("Big Annie"), dubbed America’s “Joan of Arc” for staging protest marches against the C&H Mining Company. She founded the Women’s Auxiliary No. 15 of the Western Federation of miners, which consisted of wives and widows of striking miners. Another is Mary Harris Jones, known as Mother Jones, called the Miner’s Angel by union men.

The tragic events and power displayed by the mining companies in this novel are nothing short of shocking, and the part played by the miners' courageous wives during the strike is a little known story. The novel is followed by an author's note which explains what is actual history and what is fiction. As she states regarding the strikers' wives, "the role of women...was remarkable and has been underrepresented in most historical accounts." As with other good historical fiction, I am prone to find myself on Google in order to learn more about the people, places and time period. This book was no exception, and I am a better person for having read it. though some have found fault with the less than rosy conclusion, I especially liked the honest, realistic ending.

Quotes:

“ 'This is the price of copper,' she says in that clear, quiet voice. 'A dead man. Every week. Month after month. Year after year.' ”

“Stand up, straight, Anna. Hold your head high. . . That’s your strength. You are tall for a reason. When your head is high, you can see farther than anyone else.”

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Strangers by Michaelbrent Collings
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My first horror story....and likely my last because the author, Michaelbrent Collings, is such a great suspense writer that I couldn't sleep until I finished it, and at its conclusion I had to employ all kinds of mind distractions to not dream about it. This is a gut wrenching, jarring, intense plot with believable twists and turns. I kept picturing actor James Spader (NBC's The Blacklist) as the stranger. I highly recommend this book to readers who love suspense filled thrillers.

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Say When by Elizabeth Berg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 3rd book I've read by Ms. Berg, and I've really enjoyed them all, but did not love this. Written from the betrayed husband's point of view, this novel is a tender reflection on the joys and frustrations of marriage and it rings true to what many couples experience as their relationships age. The story confronts the reader with the questions: When is love not enough? When is it not worth saving? What happens when love goes untended? Why is it so hard to let love die? These are serious questions but parts of this book made me laugh out loud. I felt the ending was underdeveloped and am not sure the resolution accords with reality. One is left wondering what will happen.

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Watching You by Lisa Jewell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a really enjoyable thriller. It is not only a whodunnit and a whydunnit, but also a who-is-the- victim and it is a smashing read. The author weaves a web of intrigue and misdirection, which plays on classic tropes and our assumptions. I loved the fact that there was such a large cast of characters, each overlapping and opening up cans of proverbial worms everywhere. Lisa Jewelli is an expert at knowing what makes us all tick and has an instinctive understanding of teenagers with the result being a consummate piece of entertainment.

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The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

arghh......I really don't care for this genre, but it IS well written and I actually stuck with it to the end so am giving it 3 instead of 2 stars, but I won't read the rest of the series....I hate it when the end of the book leaves you just hanging with no real resolution.

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Atomic Marriage by Curtis Sittenfeld
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a liberal agenda-driven 58 minute vignette about a bored wife who is ready to commit adultery with an arrogant and flirtatious yet unappealing man. Curtis Sittenfeld is capable of beautiful economic prose that immediately captures the reader's attention, but I've yet to read anything of hers that is uplifting. This is truly unfortunate because she has so much talent as a writer. This is the sort of romance story I would have expected to read 30 years ago in "Woman's Day" or "Ladies Home Journal." It was an audible freebie for January and Diane Lane, the narrator, with her gorgeous voice was fantastic.

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My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Historians know there is not much written by, or of, women at the birth of the U.S. Because of this the daughters' and wives' stories of our founding fathers have been told primarily as supporting characters which was consistent with cultural norms for almost 200 years. In the case of Mrs. Hamilton, she may not have written about, or even destroyed evidence of, her private thoughts and feelings regarding the peaks and valleys of her life story. Nevertheless, she continued to shape her city and nation long after the founding fathers were laid to rest. These authors have taken what is historically agreed upon, woven in custom and culture of the period, and used intuition and imagination to depict who Betsey, Eliza, and Mrs. Hamilton may have been and how she may have processed all to which she was a witness. Her charitable works that still continue today prove she was more than a survivor. . . she knew what it was to thrive. Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, the authors, balanced it all eloquently. I especially appreciated the notes from the authors, both prior to and following the story, separating many of the facts from the fiction. I felt it started out slow and didn't enjoy it as much as America's First Daughter but truly it is an excellent account of a woman to be admired.

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