I was really excited to receive this book to review. I love to star gaze and I love memoirs. This book goes beyond star gazing though. The author is after all an astrophysicist, and an acclaimed astrophysicist at that. The first half of the book, the author relays in detail …more her rise in her field, which is quite an accomplishment. However, unless you are an astronomy buff, you may find this part of the book difficult to get through. After I found out what an exoplanet was and why they are important, I found myself skipping over the other parts that talked about telescopes, and shields or shades, etc. so that I could read about her relationship with her husband and sons. The second half of the book details more about how she learned to build relationships after her husband's death and was easier for the most part to read. I still sometimes found myself frustrated with her style of storytelling and felt at times that it was a little disjointed. Dr. Seager has accomplished a great deal and deserves accolades; if you are into astronomy - you will probably enjoy this book. (less)

365 Thank Yous was one of the most uplifting and inspirational books I have read in a long while. I started it one afternoon and got up early the next morning to finish it and was so disappointed when it ended! As I read the book, I began my own mental list of the thank you …more notes that I need to send. This book, though, is about more than writing the notes. It is about what we have in our lives to be grateful for and how remembering those things and people can be transformational. If you only read one inspiring book this year, this should be the one! Then go buy a box of thank you notes. (less)

I was very excited to get this book because I am a fan of Elizabeth Lowell. However, although a pleasant read for sitting by the pool, Lowell has better reads. Most of her series about St. Kilda Consulting are suspenseful but this one lacks that sense of suspense. Having …more said all this, I would recommend it for a summer read especially for someone who enjoys boating and the Pacific Northwest. (less)

This book is aptly titled. Not sure what is causing her child's odd behavior but certain that it is something out of the ordinary, Hope Edelman begins looking for an answer. Her search ends in Central America where she also finds answers to other questions in her life. Loved it!