I loved learning about Geddy Lee and Rush. I chose the audiobook format for this book; it‘s so cool that Geddy narrates. The book illustrates the life of Rush, including how the band was initially formed, the resignation of their first drummer, how Neil Peart joined the band, and highlights from their impressive 40-year career. I included some cool videos in my full review.

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The ending was satisfying in a way that left me wanting more. I wasn‘t ready for it to be over. There is a conclusion to what happened to the missing person. I was also left with curiosity about what happened to the characters next. This ending left room for the reader to draw their own conclusions, which I kind of like. It‘s fun to dream about what I hope happens next. 

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This book is incredibly good! I have quickly become a huge fan of Hurwitz and want to read everything he has written. The Survivor immediately surprised me with the emotional weight the story holds. I often felt physically heavy while reading this book. It might seem strange to have immensely enjoyed that feeling, but it just illustrated the talented writing of Hurwitz. I loved every minute of it!

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This is my first time reading a book by these authors, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I picked up The Getaway from one of Audible‘s amazing offers awhile ago. Kate Mara‘s narration made for a fantastic listening experience! I‘m so glad I never attended a weekend retreat like this one! The suspenseful build-up in this story was perfect. I generally have a hard time liking short stories, but I loved this one.

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I read the fourth book in the Beach House series, Beach House for Rent several years ago, and have finally made my way back to this series. I decided to read the first book, The Beach House, to see how things started. Reading a beach-themed book in July seemed like the best idea. It worked out perfectly, as The Beach House takes place over the course of one summer in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. 🏖️

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You know how books are so amazing because they can transport you to another place? That‘s what I love about the Lighthouse Library Mystery series set in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, where I love to vacation. Not only that, the heart of the story takes place at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Eva has created a fictional library inside the lighthouse with a tiny apartment. It‘s purely dreamy!

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A few months ago, I overheard a coworker say to someone that she was exhausted because she stayed up late the previous night reading a book she couldn‘t put down. Naturally, I casually inserted myself into the conversation by asking what book she had been reading. She replied that it was by Freida McFadden. It was time for me to see what all the hype was about.

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Happy Fourth of July from me and Nikolette! 🇺🇸🎆📚

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Second Skin is a short story about a widower and a 9-year-old girl who believes she is the man‘s wife reincarnated. The story was engaging and inceasingly suspenseful. There is a nod to Stephen King in the story that I enjoyed.  The listening length is about four and a half hours, perfect for this short story. 

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It‘s been a while since I‘ve read a novel by Kimberly Belle and I felt in the mood for a suspenseful thriller, so it seemed perfect timing to read Stranger in the Lake. I enjoyed this book of suspense, secrets, lies, and murder. It‘s always a pleasure to listen to an audiobook narrated by Xe Sands.

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Thanks to an incredible Audible sale, I recently purchased all of Neil Peart‘s nonfiction books. In this one, Neil joined a group through African villages for one month on his bicycle. The ride itself was physically and mentally challenging, and Neil shares the struggles of bike repairs, long rides up steep hills and treacherous terrain, and searches for food and drink.

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I found this to be different from French‘s Dublin Murder Squad books. The story didn‘t have the quick-paced, suspenseful twists and turns that are common in a lot of thrillers. I found the pace of the story smooth and engaging. The overall outcome wasn‘t surprising, but the details and people involved were unexpected. The Searcher contained more emotion than fast-paced crime-solving tactics. 

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I rarely enjoy short stories, but this one was perfect! At only 16 pages on my iPad, Hurwitz tells a suspenseful story succinctly and completely. I was not left wanting more of the story as there didn‘t need to be more. I enjoyed learning how the Nowhere Man started his work. I‘m ready for book two!

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This is an excellent book. It‘s a powerful and emotional read. Steven Hale, is a journalist who accepted an unusual invitation to witness an execution by the state of Tennessee. This is exactly the type of book that fueled my interest and subsequently guided my passion to build a career working with inmates. I share more about my professional experience in my full review.

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I became a fan of Lisa Scottoline when I met her in 2018 on her book tour for After Anna. I was immediately drawn to her warm, excitable personality. She tells great stories, in person and her writing. I love all her books I‘ve read. Sadly, Lady Killer is my least favorite. ☹️

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I decided I better get my act together and read this book before I retire in a few months! I adore Sharon Salzberg and appreciate her wisdom. In this book, she teaches readers how to incorporate meditation into their work life to better cope with stressful meetings, pressing deadlines, and difficult people. ☮️

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I love vacationing in Key West and enjoy reading cozy mysteries, so I was eager to try this series. The murder mystery was good, and the characters were likable. I appreciate that the story didn‘t have the cheesy, immature tone like some cozy mysteries. At less than five hours on audio, it‘s a pretty quick read. I liked this book, but I didn‘t love it. I‘m on the fence if I will continue to read the series.

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I have seen a lot of readers posting their praise for Sara Paretsky‘s books and decided to give her a try. She writes a series of books based on a woman private detective, V.I. Warshawki, set in Chicago. She is a tough detective and quite sharp at her detecting skills. I enjoyed Indemnity Only, but I didn‘t love it as I hoped.

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The Ink Black Heart is the sixth installment of the Cormoran Strike series. Robin and Strike investigate the death of cartoon co-creator, Edie Ledwell. This is my least favorite book in the series. I don‘t care for cartoons and there was a lot of online dialoge I find painful to listen to in an audiobook format. Fortunately, I enjoyed other aspects of the story very much. It‘s a low pick for me.

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McMurtry opens this memoir sharing about his upbringing, which contained very few books. He first opened Booked Up in Washington, DC in the 1970s. The store expanded to Houston, Dallas, and Tucson before opening the final storefronts in Archer City, Texas. This memoir contains short, quick chapters of informative and entertaining stories about McMurtry‘s experiences buying books. 📚

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This book was much more than I expected. Suzanne intelligently shares the science of how forests function, which she learned through extensive study and her own research. Her book also reads like a memoir, which really made me connect to her life-long work. 🌳

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When I purchased The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee ages ago, I somehow completely missed that this book is classified in the YA genre. (I rarely read YA.) I enjoyed it more than I expected. It‘s a good story that kept me engaged, and has a suspenseful ending. I‘m sure people who enjoy YA and science fiction would very much enjoy this book.

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This novel kept me on the edge of my seat as the story alternated between Betty‘s life in 1995 and Arlette‘s time in London in the early 1920‘s. This novel is full of secrets, romantic relationships, curiosity, and life development. There are many moments of excitement and hope while also moments of sadness and devastation. The ending was very satisfying and left me feeling sad the story was over.

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This is an investigative podcast from Audible where the author seeks to find the truth of who killed Jimmy. The murder occurred in the Australian Northern Territory during the hottest season of the year. Jimmy‘s body was discovered in a creek bed, mummified, with his genitals removed. Phillip Mather, Jimmy‘s best friend, was convicted of the crime and served 11 years in prison.

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For as long as I can remember, I have had a fascination with institutions. I suppose it‘s because I have a curiosity for places not accessible to everyone and the people who live and work in those places. I‘ve looked forward to reading this book as I had never heard of Blackwell‘s Island and the subject matter seemed a perfect fit for my interests.

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I‘m such a huge fan of Karin Slaughter. I think I‘ve rated every book of hers with five stars. Criminal is the sixth installment in the Will Trent series and it‘s DEEP! This novel tells the tale of Will Trent‘s birth and parentage in a way I never expected. This is a fascinating book!

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Intriguing and suspenseful. I enjoyed how the characters pulled at my heart strings. I appreciate the message Mitch concludes with. As expected from the book description, there is a significant God presence in the book as the survivors in the lifeboat debate their beliefs. I‘m not a religious person as I prefer Eastern philosophy and it did not hinder my ability to become fully engrossed in the story.

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I truly enjoyed my time with the Count of Monte Cristo/Edmond Dantes. I anxiously awaited the famous prison break, which was everything I hoped for. There are so many characters, at times it felt like I was reading several different stories. The book pretty much covers Dantes‘ entire life, yet at the end I wanted there to be more. I liked the ending, and yet, I feel like there is more story to be told.

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Bittersweet! I‘m so excited for today‘s book mail of Don Winslow‘s latest book, City in Ruins. I‘m also sad that Don is retiring from writing. City in Ruins is his final book and the third installment in the Danny Ryan trilogy. I received my signed copy of City in Ruins from The Poisoned Pen, an independent bookseller, in Scottsdale, Arizona. They included a collectible set of three poker chips representing each book title in the trilogy. 🌵

A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow is book two in the Fractured Fables series. I recently read the first book and decided to take the plunge into the second novella. This time, Alix has written an adult rendition of the Snow White fairytale. I liked the alternative perspective Alix told in this story. I also think she wrote an ending that is definitely more applicable to readers.

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A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Horrow is a great novella for fans of a fairytale reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. Alix takes a historic fairytale and turns it into a modern telling of the story. The conclusion of the story was terrific. A satisfying, yet unexpected ending, with a beautiful revelation. I love seeing characters grow.

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This has a lot going on! There‘s history, a love story, a death mystery, and the paranormal. Kate returns to her parents‘ home on the lake to recover from her marriage recently ending. She finds a woman‘s body that has washed upon the shore. Once the police arrive, they discover the woman is wearing a vintage nightgown and wrapped within is an infant. No one knows the identity of the woman.

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Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, Ky. hosted an author event with Steven Hale in conversation with attorney, Tom Griffiths. Steven just released his book, Death Row Welcomes You. I wrote about my experience on my blog: https://abookandadog.com/author-events

Jay Shetty shares about his upbringing to his college years. He explains why he chose to head to India to become a monk, where he devoted the next three years of his life. As Jay takes the reader through each of the concepts, he explains how he learned the concept during his time as a monk. He also makes each concept very relatable regardless of a person‘s demographics or spiritual beliefs. 🕉️

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A perfect day for book mail delivery! I purchased a signed copy of Scott Carson‘s Lost Man‘s Lane from The Poisoned Pen, an independent bookseller, in Scottsdale, Arizona. I would love to have attended the author event but I‘m grateful to have such a beautiful signed first edition.

For those of you who don‘t know, Scott Carson is a pen name for Michael Koryta.

Astor is perfectly written and excellently researched by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe. The book follows the Astor family tree, illustrating members of each generation for their contributions or strains on the family legacy. Every chapter was stimulating. Anderson writes with such authenticity and appropriately placed humor, which makes the story engaging and fascinating.

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Did I really need to add another series of books to my ever growing TBR? Of course I did! I have seen a lot of praise for Gregg Hurwitz‘s Orphan X over the years and I‘m so glad I took the plunge! I loved everything about this book! The story is fascinating! The writing is outstanding! My favorite trait of Evan‘s is that he‘s a meditating assassin!

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Lisa Jewell has become a favorite author! Adrian is at the center of what he perceives to be a very amicable, layered family in this novel. The story opens with Maya, Adrian‘s third wife, fatally stepping in front of a bus in the early morning hours. There is no clear conclusion whether Maya‘s death was an accident or suicide. As Adrian grieves the loss of his third wife, family secrets begin to emerge.

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Unsolved mysteries are always intriguing for me. The tragic disappearance of Amelia Earhart is one of those captivating mysteries. This is a short story about A. E.‘s disappearance in 1937. Portions of the story are told from A.E.‘s perspective while flying. Lizzie, age 15, hears A.E.‘s distress call. Excited to learn that A.E. is alive and asking for help when everyone else fears A.E. is lost at sea. ✈️

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Years ago, I was browsing in a used bookstore with my husband. He discovered this first edition for $5. This novel left me feeling much the same emotions as The Crossing. There are moments of heart wrenching despair and utter sadness. McCarthy knows how to build hope for the reader, but I wasn‘t fooled this time. I knew any moments of joy or excitement were going to be met with devastating grief.

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I seldom intentionally try to solve the mystery when reading a book, and try to just sit back and enjoy the ride. This is one of those books that automatically put my brain into solving mode. I didn‘t trust any of the characters and felt suspicious towards just about everyone. By the conclusion, I was right and wrong! And I loved it! There were unexpected layers and satisfying twists.

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I‘m trying to be better at bailing on books I‘m not that crazy about or are ‘just okay.‘ As Long As We Both Shall Live by Joann Chaney started out well. Two timelines and a husband likely killing his wife. The lives of the investigating detectives became part of the story, it got confusing, and less interesting for me. A little more than 25% in and I decided it was time to move on.

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Cormac McCarthy‘s scene descriptions and character development pulled me right into the emotional story of The Crossing. It‘s an emotionally heavy read, filled with tragedy and suffering. While also being a beautiful story. I suppose I have this reaction because McCarthy repeatedly offers hope in the story but doesn‘t quite deliver. There isn‘t a man on horseback riding off into the sunset in this ending.

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I finally made it to the final Jack Reacher installment in the series written solely by Lee Child. Blue Moon exceeded my expectations. Reacher continues to be an invincible character, willing to take on two villainous gangs. He also wins the affection of a waitress tired of the tension and injustice in her town. Reacher‘s brief love affairs continue to entertain.

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I am new to Edith Wharton‘s writing and wasn‘t sure where to begin. I read that Ethan Frome is a reader favorite so I decided this was a good place to start. I truly enjoyed this novella and look forward to reading more of her work. I liked her writing style: her descriptions of scenes and ability to weave an interesting, timeless tale.

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As I started reading From a Buick 8 by Stephen King, I couldn‘t keep my mind from thinking about one of his earliest novels, Christine. These novels turn out to be quite different from one another. The Buick 8 is also a creepy and bizarre piece of machinery that only King can create.

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Imagine Living (book 2), set in 1980, follows Robyn, from tagged book. She‘s 16, doing her best to navigate the cards life has dealt. Circumstances unexpectedly change for Robyn and she decides to be homeless rather than return to a toxic home environment with her mom. Once I had the opportunity to immerse myself into Robyn‘s story, I couldn‘t put the book down until I finished.

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The more I grow in age and maturity, I am gaining an understanding of my relationship with anxiety. The authors of this amazing book offer many helpful suggestions that stand apart from other resources b/c they explain how the amygdala works and how the tools will work on the amygdala. For me, understanding how the brain works makes all the difference in applying their suggestions.

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This story pulled at my deepest, strongest heart string…dogs. Watchers is an incredible story. I listened to the audiobook every chance I had. The characters are more than likable, they are lovable. The only thing more scary than the monster are the people who created it. This novel filled my heart and entertained my brain. This is not only one of my favorite Koontz books, it‘s easily an all-time favorite.

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For me, short stories are a challenge to enjoy. I‘ve analyzed my struggle and concluded that‘s because most of them are too short. For instance, with Paul Tremblay‘s short story, In Bloom, I was completely sucked into the beginning. The ending was abrupt. I wish there was about 1-2 more hours, just to expand the story a bit more. I‘ll keep trying short stories; always in hope to read a gem!

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