Elsie Fitzpatrick finds her neighbor and nemesis dead in his kitchen one day which makes the police suspect her of murder. However the truth of who she really is and the past she’s hiding from comes out. She is Mad Mabel Waller, the youngest person convicted of murder in Australian history. Along the way Mabel makes new friends and discovers that maybe she was never mad and people should be careful who is telling the story. This book keeps you wanting more as Elsie/Mabel’s story unwinds between past and present. A must read.

This was a collection of two short stories. In Where There’s Smoke a gifted psychic obtains fame, wealth and respect from her talent. She is able to get messages from loved ones who have died and comfort the living. One day she encounters a military widow who’s husband’s death was from friendly fire, not from a heroic stand against the enemy. Serenity finds herself haunted by the dead soldier and under scrutiny of the police. From arrogance and greed she tries to clear her name and reputation by finding the missing son of a senator. Does Serenity go too far and really help the senator’s family and can she fall into the graces of the public again? Read and find out. In Larger Than Life, a woman finds an orphaned elephant and decides to take it back to her research hut and take care of it. In trying to save the baby does she actually help it or does she just do it selfishly knowing the elephant will never be able to return to the wild. Both stories deal with choices made and the consequences from them.

Another outstanding installment of the Alex Cross series. Despite this being the 33rd or 34th book in the series, the characters still work. Maybe its the familiarity with them as a reader, but you just don't want to put the book down until Alex and John Sampson solve the case.

This memoir of Jill Biden’s life as the First Lady portrays her view of her life during those years. It is informative and interesting with lots of details about her very busy every day life. In addition to Biden’s First Lady family responsibilities, she taught English classes at a junior college in Delaware. She also worked tirelessly to raise up the lives of disadvantaged and socially challenged women. I listened to the audio book which felt like a friend telling me about her life. The emphasis was always her on love for her husband, her daughter and her stepsons, who she always referred to as their sons. Of course Biden’s cherished grandchildren are included in the family story. The challenges were many but Jill Biden’s love and caring never wavered.

I loved this book and it was over 600 pages. I don't usually like long books but this one was so good I didn't want it to end. I felt like I was right there with all the characters. I read it faster than I read 300 page books that are just ok.

I listened to the audio of this amazing book. It takes place in Mississippi in 1933. Many intertwined stories - Meg, an 11 year old sent to live in an orphanage. Birdie, unmarried, travels to ask her sister for money. Lots of other characters form an unlikely bond.

One of the best books I’ve read this year with an incredible ending. The plot twist was built up throughout the novel and when finally revealed, everything made sense. The moral of the story about the dangers of technology was artfully weaved into the plot that incorporated assassins and the literal secrets of how life originated and where it’s going. Winston is one of the best characters and he was essentially an AI chatbot, the puppeteer pulling the strings behind the scenes of all the humans.

I read several books regarding the the occupation of France during Wii every book I've read I still wonder how the world let this happen. Colette was a very strong woman who never gave up, to live all those years not knowing her sister had lived? the way the author wove them in to all be related at the end. Tristen was really Daniel Rosman. and Lucus as her sisters' son. as much as I enjoyed the book I Felt the end was tied up with a ribbon.

This was a great book about 2 families in a small town in Ohio. Cal and Becky are one couple. He couldn't serve in WWI because of a leg deformity and she talks to the dead. Felix and Margaret are the other couple. They moved to the town because of a job. Then he served overseas and she is alone in the town. There's interaction between the couples, and later, their children. And of course, a big secret.

Three women: Val, Alex, and June meet at Hamilton Dog Park in Maryland, outside Washington, D.C. Two of them are not who they seem. This very well-written often funny novel satirizes the dog people and their pets. Very colorful characters. Highlights themes of friendship and secrets withheld from friends. Also emotionally abusive marriages. The ending is very cinematic.