For me a slow start, but a beautiful ending

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC from NetGalley, and sadly took my time reading this. It took a bit for me to get into it, and I kept picking up other books in my TBR pile.

Then, suddenly I was into it and ended up really enjoying it.

It's not quite the typical storyline, but the various narratives were compelling.

The ending was particularly well done, and beautiful

Beverage Pairing: I would pair this with a nice Merlot

A bit bland for a thriller

What We'll Burn Last by Heather Chavez
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Perhaps aspects of this plot were too similar to the book, Things Don't Break on Their Own (Which I rated 4 stars), but this just didn't work for me.

There were few likable or even believable characters. There were plot holes as well in terms of the investigation (or lack of at the time of the disappearances).

The story dragged a bit and even the fire chapters weren't as intense as I felt they would have been.

I did think Leyna was an ok character as was Dom, but I didn't completely love them. The others were just kind of blandly awful.

However, I didn't stop reading since I wanted to find out what exactly happened. The resolution was just ok. It was obvious from the start who Ellie was, and I wanted to see how that all played out.

Beverage pairing: Hmmm, perhaps a nice cold Pinot Grigio in case the mild fire scenes feel sweltering.

Well written fantasy

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this, and read it right after another book set at basically the same time-frame. So, that was a bit of a coinicidence.

I thought the characters were well developed, the magic was intriguing for the most part, and the love story was okay.

Bardugo's writing is what captivated me the most though.

Beverage Pairing: Water or any truly thirst quencing drink is best.

Fascinating premise

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I started this initially on a Kindle, but ended up finishing with a hardcover version.

It took me a bit to get into it, but I am very happy I read it. I enjoyed both timelines, though was at times frustrated with Melina and various decisions that were made by her.

The author's note and references etc at the end are worthy reading too.

I had not heard of Emilia Bassano prior to reading this. This whole premise is fascinating.

Beverage Pairing: Perhaps a variety of tea blends

Twists were obvious, but a fun read

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was tempted to give this a 4 since it kept me reading. But, really overall it is a 3.

The twist in the first part was rather obvious, and most readers will see the connection between Pennsylvania and Kansas fairly quickly. Another twist later on was also obvious, and really anyone would have avoided this person rather readily.

Other aspects weren't terribly believable, so it was leaning towards a 2.

However, I rooted for Ryan and Poppy and wanted to see how their respective stories turned out, so I kept readking and enjoyed their stories.

Finlay has a way of keeping you reading despite easily guessed twists.

Beverage Pairing: A nice cold Pinot Gris

Another great series by McDermid

1979 by Val McDermid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am definitely moving onto 1989. This was a very interesting story with great characters.

The character development was key, thus many might object to a somewhat slow pace of the plot. I was quite sad about the murder as both the victim and the murderer made for a very dismal story.

This novel highlighted the year 1979 beautifully, and it was interesting looking back on many aspects of that time. In many ways we have come far, but in others we haven't.

Beverage Pairing: The novel is a bit long, thus alternating with coffee for daytime reading, and a nice Malbec for the evenings.

Ugh, last Bones book for me

Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I had read this series avidly when she was first writing them. At some point I stopped (too many other books on my TBR list? I don't recall).

This book felt like just the surface of the books I remember. Tempe was pretty flat and at times clueless. Too many times someone would say something or give her a look that had her questioning her reaction, or their reaction to her, in these weird little thought "asides" she has.

It was so often that it became irritating.

And, her chapter endings had loads of foreshadowing but not much actually developed from chapter to chapter. The epilogue/update taking place a year later? Pretty ridiculous and then that was followed by another reveal dated 4 months later.

Most of my reading of this series was pre Goodreads, and certainly pre my utilizing Goodreads, but looking back I see I read the 21st book and gave it 2 stars as well.

I think it is incredible that someone could write even one book and get it published, much less 23 in this series and others that Richs has written, but sadly this will be the last Bones book read by me.

Beverage Pairing: A strong cup of coffee

Compelling

Things Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed this quite a bit. Well written, great characters, and heart-breaking.

Wonderful ending despite some unbelievable coincidences.

Beverage Pairing: A nice Merlot

2nd book by author, looking forward to the 3rd

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very enjoyable thriller/mystery. I enjoyed the writing style and the mysteries depicted. One (or more) aspects are easily figured out, but it was still quite enjoyable.

I think the supporting characters, Alex's friends at the diner specifically, really made the novel work for me.

This is the 2nd book by Maxwell, and I look forward to the third.

Beverage Pairing: A nice cup of coffee or perhaps a lemonade. Any drink you'd have at a diner works.

Just an okay plot

Not a Creature Was Purring by Krista Davis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an okay part of the series. There was one thing that I thought would be important to the overall plot or possibly solve the killing, and that was what happened to the stocking gifts from Dale?

Maybe I just missed them being passed out. Not sure why it is bugging me, but it is.

Dale's whole family didn't make a lot of sense to me, nor did Holmes being engaged to Norma Jean without her ever having visited until now, and her personality just seemed yucky.

I will read the next one, but if there isn't much character development with at least the main people who are in each of the books, then I might stop the series.

Beverage Pairing: Hot chocolate

Informative and interesting

Everest, Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World by Will Cockrell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed listening to this as it is informative and historically interesting.

I have read many books on Everest and this one intrigued me because of its central premise that guiding companies caused many of the issues.

It was explained that the guides truly enjoyed helping their clients, and weren't there "only for the money" While I totally believe that they really did enjoy assisting people who had this dream of summiting, I would have loved a focus on maybe one or two of those guide/client relationships going into a bit more depth. Did they communicate between attempts, or have a friendship outside of the summit attempts, for example.

Overall the narrator was great, the issues raised were interesting, and the politics between the companies and their approaches to summitting were pretty fascinating.

Beverage Pairing: A strong, hot cup of coffee will pair nicely with the images of peaks and snow that the book conjurs up.

Beautiful

Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Simply a beautiful story, masterfully told. I really can't add anything else.

Beverage Pairing: A nice cup of hot chocolate

Good start to a potential series

One Killer Problem by Justine Pucella Winans
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great YA mystery; fun characters that I want to read about again (and ending lends itself to a sequel).

I enjoyed the mystery club, the characters' interactions and the various relationships and crushes.

Will read the sequel.

Much of the school life was realistic, and staff was portrayed realisitically as were the students.

Beverage Pairing: A soda of your choice