Putting down roots, and creating a home aren't always easy to do. April Smith shows that in Home Sweet Home. The Kusek family moves from New York City to Rapid City, South Dakota in the fifties. They create a comfortable life through hard work and perseverance. However, a youthful indiscretion follows the family, and shines a light on how communities can be close minded, mean-spirited, and hateful to their own.

What if ? It's always an intriguing thought when it comes to history, and Underground Airlines gives us a glimpse of that thought. The book is set in the present day United States, and slavery was never abolished. We see what this world is like through the main character, Victor. It's world full of unease and fear for a person of color even in the "free states"
I enjoyed the book, and its intrigue. It is a combination of alternate history/ crime/mystery/suspense, and Victor must decide what he can will do to live the life he wants.

The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins is historical fiction with mystery and intrigue thrown in with equal measure. This book is the continuation of the misadventures of Mr. Thomas Hawkins, "gentleman". Tom has a knack for getting into dire straights living in 18th century London. A murder has occurred, and Tom's reputation may be the death of him.The story builds slowly, with a big satisfying payoff in the end.

I must confess, I am a fan of all of Joshilyn Jackson's work, and this novel did not disappoint.

This story is about Karen Vauss ( a character from Someone Else's Love Story. Karen has had a tough and unusual upbringing to say the least. She also has many faults, but you are rooting for her to find happiness. That's the thing about Jackson's books. All her characters have many issues, but she has you keeping your fingers crossed, that they succeed, or at least find some happiness.

Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart is a quick enjoyable read. Ms Stewart takes real people, Constance Kopp, and sisters, and creates a tale about women taking control of their lives in the early 20th century. Constance seems to be moving through life, when a chance encounter with a sociopath, changes its course. All of the characters have distinct personalities, and seem true to life. I would recommend this book to people who like historical fiction, and a mystery.

This book is categorized as a thriller, but I was not on the edge of my seat as I was reading. The main character, (also in the book Edge of Normal ), Reeve LeClaire, is a survivor of an abduction that took place when she was 12. The book is a continuance of Reeve's readjustment. It seems disjointed , and the pacing is all over the place. It's not a terrible story, it just didn't hold my interest.

Letters to the Lost shows that love can be forever. I liked the story of Dan and Stella, and of Will and Jess. From WWII to the present day, the book shifts back and forth to show how love can be lost and found in any time.

The Race to the Underground is about more than becoming the first U.S. city to create a subway system. It is part history, part biography and part travel book. 2 brothers, plus a cast load of famous and not so famous fill up the pages in this book about New York and Boston. It was interesting history about a mode of transportation that I have never thought that much about. I don't live in a city with a subway, so the next time I actually ride in one, I will be thinking about how much work and thought goes into something people take for granted. I think if you like some history with travel writing, you will enjoy this book.