Strange book about a supposed alien encounter meant to be a metaphor about "finding oneself." Hard to like.

Tilly Nightingale learns from Alfie Lane, the owner of Book Lane, a local independent book seller, that she has a gift from her recently deceased husband waiting at the store. Of course Tilly is not ready for the news but Alfie explains to her that the gift is actually twelve books. Deceased husband, Joe, was a less than enthusiastic reader. He stipulates in his instructions that Tilly collect one book per month from the store throughout the coming year. Each book is different and the first work is Matilda by Roald Dahl. Tilly had been named after Matilda. Tilly’s parents also named Harper, their other daughter, after author, Harper Lee. Mom and Dad seeded Tilly’s love of books and reading. The story includes not only the list of books that are from a wide variety of genres but also explains how each work spurred Tilly and her sometimes cohort, Harper, to embark on a variety of new adventures. It was an inspirational and enjoyable book for me and I am happy I found it.

At first I did not like the format of emails, texts, and transcripts. But it ended up working. There were little moments that felt tacked on but I guess we're included to deepen the story. The final reveals and subsequent ending were surprising even if they were a little empty. A different take on the crime thriller.

Intriguing story about a custody battle for frozen embryos. Keeps your interest until the end.

You would think that a book of short stories there would be more than 1 story of any redeeming value. My favorite was "The Lunar Eclipse." Clearly author Nat Cassidy wants to be Stephen King. First Mr. Cassidy needs to become a writer and leave the horror to the expert. I guess 13 is unlucky for me to have selected this book toward Tic-Tack-Toe Summer Reading challenge.

How competitive is the housing market? Well it just might make someone do desperate things!

THE CROSSING PLACES, by Elly Griffiths, is the first in a wonderful series featuring Dr. Ruth Galloway, a forensic archeologist. Set in rural current day England, bones uncovered in the marsh introduce the very well realized characters to each other and to us, the readers. The academic, the police detective, the charismatic scientist, two missing children, and a Druid combine to create a thoughtful mystery with an unexpected ending. The background of the misty, historic coast of Norfolk, adds to the charm of the story.

It's 2014 and Hannah is now in her eighties. You first meet her living in Germany when Hitler was rising in power and her family know they have to escape. How she left and where she ended up is all part of the novel. Then there is Anna, a preteen, who is excited to learn of Hannah and maybe learn the story of her family. The two meet and their stories are complete.

This is book 17 in the Detective Michael Bennett series. These books are fast-paced, engaging and never disappointing.

Usually Reese’s book club picks are great and this book did not disappoint. AJ and Noah meet when Noah comes to live with his aunt when his mother is diagnosed with Huntington Disease. As AJ and Noah get to know each other a special bond is formed between them first as friends and then as true loves. When Noah finds out that genetically he will also have the same disease that ravaged his mother, he does everything in his power to stay away from AJ so that she can have a better life without him. Can they stay apart or is the love they have strong enough to withstand a full relationship. Read and find out.