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Reviews by Sandi W.

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The Lager Queen of Minnesota
by J. Ryan Stradal

the tide has turned... (10/9/2020)

A death in the family is heartbreaking. But to make matters worse, sisters argue over the estate of their father. The youngest sister, Helen, gets 100 of the inheritance. She is determined to make her fortune in a brewery and rule the world. Edith, the older sister, makes …more

All the Broken People
by Leah Konen

these people are running... (10/9/2020)

4 stars Thank you to Cassie at G.P. Putnam for allowing me to claim this ARC through NetGalley. Publishes 6/30/2020.

Leah Konen is a new author to me, but she sure caught my attention. Her style is smooth, good writing, and moving story. Right from the first page I needed to …more

Catherine House: A Novel
by Elisabeth Thomas

Catherine House lives... (10/9/2020)

3.5 stars Thanks to Custom House for allowing me to read this ARC. Publishes May 12, 2020.

This book was different. It was the ambience, maybe, that keep pushing me on - turning pages. I did not particularly like any of the characters, but didn't dislike them either. Really …more

The Red Lotus
by Chris Bohjalian

all are always so different... (10/9/2020)

One of the things I really enjoy about Bohjalians's books is that they are always so different and all are so well researched. You are never sure what topic he will be writing about next.

Normally I am very fond of Bohjalian's topics and story lines. However in this book, …more

Darling Rose Gold
by Stephanie Wrobel

open the cover and began to read, you'll be hooked... (10/9/2020)

I enjoyed this book better than I expected. I basically read it in one sitting.

Knowing that the plot of the story was going to cover Munchhausen Syndrome, I passed over the book a number of times for something not quite so serious. But once I opened the cover and began to …more

A Burning: A novel
by Megha Majumdar

three separate story lines... (10/9/2020)

Contemporary India - three separate story lines - a debut novel.

There is Jivan a young female finding herself in jail for the terrorism act of causing a fire on a public train filled with people...

There is Lovely, a hijra, known as a 'he-she' desiring to be a famous …more

Ask Again, Yes
by Mary Beth Keane

challenges that a family can face... (10/9/2020)

Neighborhood children fall in love and end up years later married. But not before there is a shooting of one parent and one parent committed. A lot of drama and obstacles to overcome between these two families to be able to find a happy ending.

This is the first Keane book I …more

Nothing to See Here
by Kevin Wilson

laughing out loud funny... (10/9/2020)

A quirky story about a dysfunctional family and children who needed the best of care.

The twins, Bessie and Roland, tended to combust into flames when things did not go their way. Lillian was their governess and the only one who could help them and calm their fears. Set up …more

When These Mountains Burn
by David Joy

Joy is gritty and in your face... (10/9/2020)

I enjoy books by David Joy due to their grit and salt of the earth presentation. The blatant in-your-face, no-holds-barred story telling. Stories told clear and precise. Joy tells stories that other authors placate and tell through assumptions and overtures and by hinting …more

My Dark Vanessa: A Novel
by Kate Russell

from the teenagers’ point of view... (10/9/2020)

Do not be fooled - this is a book about sexual abuse. It is not about seduction, or about love. This is a story about an adult, 42-year-old, male teacher grooming his teenage students. There are parts that are hard to read after understanding the premise of the story.

With …more

Valentine
by Elizabeth Wetmore

Seven narrators sounds like a lot...but... (10/9/2020)

Originally I wanted to give this book 4 stars - I did really enjoy most of it. However this author wrote without quotation marks. WHY??!?! In my opinion, a terrible mistake for an author, especially for a new author. Usually I would have just quit the book and given it away, …more

The Reckless Oath We Made
by Bryn Greenwood

duped by the synopsis... (10/9/2020)

Basically this is the story of a Zhorzha, who is trying to find her missing sister LaReigne. Along for the ride is Gentry - described as "Gentry is an actual knight, complete with sword, armor, and a code of honor." Therein is where the problem exists...

I must admit that I …more

Such a Fun Age
by Kiley Reid

clutter of characters... (10/9/2020)

I like to change it up every once in awhile and read a contemporary cozy or fluff piece. Usually I really like them because they are of a light subject and easy read. In my literary world they are a pallet cleanser, entertaining and easy on the brain.

However... I was not a …more

Burial Rites
by Hannah Kent

will you commiserate with Agnes... (10/9/2020)

I like historical fiction in general, but I really liked this story. Add mystery on top of historical fiction and that made it all the better. This was based on a true story, and even some names and places are actual, while others were changed for privacy reasons and the …more

The Vanishing Half: A Novel
by Brit Bennett

our past helps to dictate our future... (10/9/2020)

We all know that our past helps to dictate our future. We can run from our past, turn our backs on people and places from the past, disavow our past in many ways, but still it remains. Everyday of our life stays with us, including the past.

Two girls, twins, take separate …more

Curious Toys
by Elizabeth Hand

All the elements that I like... (10/9/2020)

All the elements that I like - some characters based on real live people, takes place in the early 1900's, a little bit of a mystery, and set in an amusement park.

The protagonist is Pin, a young girl, who dresses as a boy (not a spoiler) and roams the midway while her …more

The Big Door Prize
by M.O. Walsh

enjoyable... (10/9/2020)

Swab your cheek. Read your DNA. Change your life! What could be easier?

That is the premise of the story. Small town Louisiana installs a photo booth type DNAMIX fortune teller in their local grocery store. For $2 change your life - get the readout and learn just what your …more

Ruthie Fear: A Novel
by Maxim Loskutoff

Very unusual... (7/9/2020)

2.5 stars Thank you to BookBrowse and W.W. Norton Company for allowing me to read this book. Expected publication: September 1st 2020

For me this book was very unusual. There were some beautiful descriptions of the Montana landscape and mountain ranges throughout the story, …more

The Madwoman and the Roomba: My Year of Domestic Mayhem
by SandraTsing Loh

Neurotic !! (5/4/2020)

2 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and W W Norton and Company for allowing me to read this ARC. Publishes June 2, 2020

Totally neurotic!! Throughout the whole book there was only a couple of spots that I could relate to this woman. Having been born to a hypochondriac drama queen, …more

He Started It
by Samantha Downing

Surprise... (3/25/2020)

From page one I started enjoying this book. It is a book of secrets, told through a family trip. And a trip it is, not a vacation.

A family of three sibling, plus spouses, take a cross country trip, one they took as children. Then they took the trip with their Grandfather …more

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The Lilac People
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