I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists. Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.
1. After Dark by Jayne Castle - I've read the most recent few books in this series and enjoyed them so I decided to go back to the beginning. This book was exactly what I expected it to be - light and fun with some paranormal shenanigans. I liked the main characters - Lydia and Emmett. They do a good job working together even if they don't trust each other and their communication is pretty good. The story is the typical Jayne Castle story in the Harmony world. It's not the most memorable but it is a fun read. My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
2. Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts - This was a reread for me but there's been at least a decade if not more since the first time I read it so I didn't remember much about it. The main characters are likable, intelligent and both have more than enough trauma. Eli's is brought up right away as he was accused and still suspected of murdering his estranged wife but it takes a bit longer to get to know about Abra's past. The romance was believable and I really enjoyed the family elements of the story. There's a good suspense element that I really enjoyed as well. This was a fun romantic suspense with characters I found easy to root for. I'm glad I picked it up for a reread! My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
3. The Postcard by Anne Berest - I wasn't fully sure what to expect when I picked this one up but ended up really enjoying - especially the first half. The story of the Rabinovitch family pre and during WWII is heartbreaking and interesting. Ephraim's actions were not always likable and were frequently frustrating but I understood his thinking and found it to be a different perspective of a story that I've read a number of times. When the focus shifted mostly to Myriam it did lose me a bit - especially involving her post-war marriage. I would have rated the first part of the book a 5 star but the second half was more of a 3.5 stars. The last chapter did redeem it for me mostly and I'm really glad I read this. My Rating: 4.5 Stars
4. Unsolved Crimes: Infamous Cases That Have Puzzled the Greatest Minds by Sarah Herman - This was an interesting nonfiction book on unsolved mysteries. The crimes span from the early 20th century until the early 2000s and cover everything from murders and serial killers to terrorism to heists and missing people. There were a number of cases I had heard of but even more that were new to me. Each story is just a few pages long and gives a good nutshell summary. There are several cases that I'd love to look more into and plan on researching more. I could also see using this book in my homeschool curriculum for my high school student. The material is presented in an accurate but not gruesome fashion and would be an interesting addition to a modern history curriculum. I enjoyed the read myself and will look for more from this author in the future. My Rating:
5. All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani - This was the first book I've read by the author and I definitely will be reading more by her. I really liked her ability to bring characters to life. Loretta Young is an actress I know very little about. I know the name and I'm sure I've seen a few of her movies but she's just not one I know much about - other than the story of some of the events that occur in this book. I had some issues with the story and the almost hero worship of one of the characters based off what a recent interview has disclosed and just his overall actions in the book. Overall, I did enjoy the listening experience and am looking forward to reading another book by this author even though this story wasn't a home run for me. My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
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