Summer Reading Celebration

This was a very insightful book focused on the QAnon cult and how/why people are susceptible to believing conspiracy theories. The author follows a number of individuals and their loved ones, documenting the destruction of the American family by those who've bought into QAnon and it's insane conspiracy theories.

An incredible story of survival against all odds. Watched the movie after reading the book and of course, the book is sooo much better. This is a must read!

Outlander fans will not be disappointed!! The latest installment in the series is as good as the rest.... the new characters are fully fleshed out and we fall in love again with the characters we've known for so long. I highly recommend this!!

Very compelling. I liked the will they won't they element and the questioning of truth. The book felt much shorter than anticipated. I easily got through half in my first sitting. What a great book to end pride on. Although I did guess the twist pretty early on it didn't really ruin it for me.

A modern day twist on Same Time, Next Year (which is actually referred to frequently in the book). I found this book to be amazing. I listened to it while on a long distance trip, which is my usual way to pass the time on my trips. The characters were amazing, each one was well rounded and I could relate to each of them for different reasons. I've recently found out that there is a short story that accompanies this book and will be looking for that one. I highly recommend this book in whatever form you like!!

Pirates of the Caribbean meets Chronicles of Narnia. Privateers, Navy, fauns, minotaurs, humans and elves with plenty of magic oh my! There were parts that were slow or dragged too much for my liking but, for the most part it was well placed. I did not like the MFC but she grew on me. Honor Renn, Navy blue mage, is left adrift until she is picked up by the notorious Ship of Spells. On-board is an eclectic crew of misfits amd a charismatic captain. There battles on land and sea, treachery, loathing, love and a ton of magic. Thoroughly enjoyed all of the tension on board the ship between Honor Renn, the crewand the enigmatic captain Thanavar!

This book echoes a prominent theme in current parenting: get kids outside interacting with nature. I appreciate the practical suggestions on gardening, but the chapters on hunting and fishing were unrelatable.

The Western Wind carries the changes that the Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment will bring to 15th century England through the microcosm of a small, backwater town called Oakham. The story unfolds in reverse, beginning with the last day and ending with the first which makes for a thought provoking premise from the start. But soon you realize that the narrator isn’t entirely reliable and as the storyteller he attempts to put himself in the best light. It’s a mystery but not a typical whodunnit. The small focus questions center on is it murder, a suicide, or an accident? The bigger questions grapple with the nature of sin and forgiveness, the perceived need for an intercessor between humans and God, the role of art and music in religious experiences. The motivations of the characters are as real as yours and your neighbor’s. There is much to chew on here.

As someone who has experience with dealing with people in toxic relationships, this book hit a tad harder than I expected. Freddy's situation is all too familiar. It was refreshing to see her get out of it. Relationships where the people keep breaking up and getting back together are, in my opinion, romanticized far too much, so the author treating it as a bad thing was nice to see.

A heartbreaking sorry of what happens when children don't learn how to fail. The book highlights how social media tends to exacerbate problems for young perfectionists today as opposed to those of prior generations.