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Reviews by Gary R. (Bolingbrook, IL)

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Beast of the North Woods
Beast of the North Woods: A Monster Hunter Mystery
by Annelise Ryan
Cryptozoology in wisconsin (11/6/2024)
I must admit I'm familiar with the authors other two books, having read both, so I was looking forward to Beast of the north woods, when I saw Bookbrowse and the publisher were offering this for review. Well I jumped at the chance to try for a copy and lucked out, and it did not disappoint! This one takes place in Rhinelander Wisconsin and involves the relative of an employee of Morgan's bookstore who asks her to take a look at the case. Andy is accused of murdering a once rival of his but swears it was a hodag, a fictional monster made up long before that brings in tourist dollars for the town. intrigued? It was another excellent read with hints of the supernatural, mystery, with plenty of twists and turns, and a little hint of romance. Recommended read, and while your at it give the other two a look, thanks to Bookbrowse and the publisher for the advance copy!
Help Wanted
Help Wanted: A Novel
by Adelle Waldman
Blue light special aisle six (1/18/2024)
I really enjoyed this book,it's been awhile that I've laughed while reading,great cast of characters that you can relate to,especially if you're ever worked in retail.just a real fun read,thanks bookbrowse for another author that's new to me. I've put her on my watchlist.if you want a funny,bittersweet read pick this one up!
Digging Stars
Digging Stars: A Novel
by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
All the stars in the sky (7/22/2023)
So, where do I start? I apologize for being such a slow reader, but with this book I caught myself rereading passages to savor the language, the sentences, the paragraphs, such great writing! The book itself is about Rosa and her life spent in the "program" continuing her fathers work and her dreams. Living with what she calls the terrors, and adjusting to her life in the Midwest. All in all it was a great read by a talented author.
The Montevideo Brief
The Montevideo Brief: A Thomas Grey Novel
by J. H. Gelernter
Ahoy Matey! (4/22/2023)
Shades of Patrick O'Brian, there's nothing better than a good read about the age of sail. Thomas Grey is tasked with saving the British Empire by stopping the Spanish from delivering their plunder to Madrid and declaring war on the British by allying themselves with the French. If you enjoyed O'Brien's books you will love this, great read! Don't want to give anything away,you're just going to have to read it. Thanks to bookbrowse for giving me another author to read!
Homestead
Homestead: A Novel
by Melinda Moustakis
150 acres! (1/31/2023)
I found this to be a really enjoyable read. Set in Alaska in the 1950s from an American territory to statehood, this is the story of one man, Lawrence, trying to make a home for himself, and one woman from Texas who is visiting her sister and brother-in-law and happens to fall for Lawrence. The trials and joys of living life in the wilds follows. A very good read, thanks to bookbrowse and the publisher for the copy, I'll be looking forward to more from the author.
The God of Endings
The God of Endings: A Novel
by Jacqueline Holland
Vampires! (10/25/2022)
I must say that I really enjoyed this book, quite a pleasant surprise. A new take on a vampire tale; the story of Collette, how she was turned, her life of eternity, her story unlike any vamp tale you've ever read. Take your time with this story, the author's prose is exquisite! Buy it, read it, pass it on to a friend! An author to watch, I know I will, great read!
Fruiting Bodies
Fruiting Bodies: Stories
by Kathryn Harlan
Stories to tell (6/4/2022)
I don't know if it's just me but the older I get the more I cherish short story collections. I can pick it up when I have some time and read a story in a short amount of time. The author of Fruiting Bodies has provided a great collection of stories to read, to think about, to ponder their meanings from the fantastic to the sublime! Here's an author to watch. Recommended!
Some of It Was Real
Some of It Was Real
by Nan Fischer
I can read your mind? (4/4/2022)
This was not my typical choice to read but the synopsis sounded interesting, so I took a chance and it was a very pleasant surprise. I really liked the way it was told in alternating chapters by the two main characters, Sylvie, the psychic, or is she just a scam? And Thomas,the reporter, trying to redeem himself after a disastrous article, trying to keep his job by proving that psychics are charlatans. Really liked it, get it--you won't be disappointed
Appleseed
Appleseed
by Matt Bell
The beginning,what's to come,the end! (2/26/2021)
Well this really wasn't an easy read and probably not for everyone. That said i enjoyed this book. In my opinion it was three stories in one. The beginning is about nature vs.man the what's to come is corporate greed and misguided beliefs and what they lead to,the end is just that buried beneath tons of ice. Matt Bell wrote a warning of what's to come if we continue on the track we're on! I don't want to be preach just my take. Enjoyed this book. Thanks BookBrowse, always find a new author!
Ruthie Fear
Ruthie Fear: A Novel
by Maxim Loskutoff
An ode to the Bitterroot Valley (6/12/2020)
I don't now where to start! Such a good read, the story of Ruthie Fear and also the Bitterroot Valley of Montana! We get to watch the life of Ruthie Fear and her father Rutherford as they live their lives in the shadow of the Montana mountains. A tough life for sure but somehow rewarding and simple. The ending was, in a way, fitting! But what happened? You'll just have to read it, well worth the time
Migrations
Migrations: A Novel
by Charlotte McConaghy
We are a plague on the world! (4/16/2020)
Wow! What a good read. At first I thought it would be a little bit depressing for these days: Mass extinction, climate disruption, the end of the wild. But no, not at all! The story of Franny and her search for the last of the arctic terns was engrossing. Had me hooked and wouldn't let go.Franny enlist the captain and crew of the Saghani to help her follow the migration of the last of the arctic terns. Franny has some motives of her own and a bit of a dark past, and I won't say any more you just have to read it! Another gem delivered by BookBrowse by a new author to me!
The Sun Down Motel
The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St. James
Why I love bookbrowse! (11/18/2019)
Why? Because I get to read new, to me, authors that are just so good! This is one of them. Without giving anything away, Carly moves to Fell, New York to look into her aunt Viv's disappearance while she was working the night shift at the Sun Down Hotel! A creepy mystery that's hard to put down. Get it, read it! Enjoy!
More News Tomorrow
More News Tomorrow: A Novel
by Susan Richards Shreve
The river (4/10/2019)
What a great read,having never read the author before I took a chance on reading someone new to me and very glad l did! Without giving anything away this is the story of Georgie, who at 70 years old received a letter from the only person still alive that was present when her mother was murdered, supposedly by her father. She gathers up her family to take a canoe trip back to the camp where the murder occurred. Part mystery, part adventure, part family drama, all around good read! Great characterizations, it'll keep you up to late! Get it, you'll love it, I did!
My Lovely Wife
My Lovely Wife
by Samantha Downing
So-so (10/10/2018)
I tried to like this book but been there done that, really couldn't get into the characters, even though they were well developed. A tennis instructor and his wife and their kids in a affluent community who also kill! Not for me. Really was a struggle getting to the end, although a nice twist at the end, it's just not my cup of tea, your choice!
The Devoted
The Devoted
by Blair Hurley
The price of being free (5/21/2018)
An interesting read about a woman searching for something, something maybe unattainable. The story of Nicole, raised in a catholic family in Boston and looking for something more, turning to Zen Buddhism, getting involved with her "master", and running away to start over in another city, never quite able to break away completely. Beautiful writing is what sets this apart from similar books; give it a read, it will draw you in!
The House of Broken Angels
The House of Broken Angels
by Luis Alberto Urrea
The power of family (3/1/2018)
Growing up, when I was in high school I had good friends of Hispanic descent, and this book brought back memories of the strength of their family. This is a great read about Big Angel's clan, the trials and travails they faced head on, and lives lead and lost. By the way, I never left Huante's house hungry, I can still smell the tamales cooking on the stove. Buy it, read it, pass it on!
Wonder Valley
Wonder Valley
by Ivy Pochoda
Only in California! (7/21/2017)
Quite an interesting read; follow along with the SoCal adventures of the characters as they try to survive. You can feel the heat, you can smell the desert, and it all starts with a traffic jam and a naked jogger. A good read, give it a try!
The Fifth Petal
The Fifth Petal: A Novel
by Brunonia Barry
Real good read (3/4/2017)
Salem,witches,a murder mystery, I'll admit I didn't know what to expect from this book,having not read the lace reader,and was pleasantly surprised. Kept my interest and was fun to read.The town of Salem,the characters,the mystery of the murders of the past and the present had me. Now excuse me while I head to the library to track down a copy of the Lace Reader
The Alaskan Laundry
The Alaskan Laundry
by Brendan Jones
Memories (2/17/2016)
1980ish I made my way to Seattle with a backpack and some money for a pass on the Alaska maritime ferry.I met up with a boat carpenter from Boston and a carpenter from Montana,all looking for something else.luckily we were able to get a chair under the heat lamps in the back of the boat,we didn't have to duck tape a tent to the deck,and the adventure began. This book really brought back some memories for me,really enjoyed it! The author definitely describes what life is like along this part of Alaska. If you've been there you'll say to yourself "yeah that's it" if you haven't you'll want to go! Get the book,read it and enjoy!
Broken Promise
Broken Promise: A Thriller
by Linwood Barclay
promise falls! (7/22/2015)
Since I received this advanced copy form BookBrowse, the greatest book site out there, I've survived a flood, a golf ball sized hail storm,and a partially torn retina, and I consider myself lucky, glad I don't live in Promise Falls! I've never experienced such a dysfunctional town. Secrets, kidnapping, murder, any other craziness you could think of this place has it. I'll have to hand it to the author, he really does make you want to find out what's going on.once I got into the book I couldn't put it down! all in all a pretty good read! Try it!
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