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18 November 2023

October Book Pick

 John Grisham will forever be one of my favorite authors.  I have read every book he has published,  loved most of them and hated a couple (sports ones).  The Firm was the first book of his that I read and immediately became a fan. When I read that Mr. Grisham was going to publish a sequel to The Firm I was all over it. I counted down the months til the release and was lucky enough that NetGalley let me get a copy before the release date.  I devoured it!!!  Right out of the gate, Mitch showed us that he is the same guy, just living a new life in New York. The fact that he and Abby were still together, with kids, thrilled me!!! 


If you loved The Firm, you need this book in your life.  If you didn’t read The Firm, I think you had better pass, or read it and then this one.  




04 November 2023

Review: Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots

Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots by Reba McEntire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans

Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans by Kenneth Womack
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mal’s presence is heavy in photos of The Beatles and most recently in the Get Back movie. If you have read books about The Beatles you know who Mal is and why he was important to the Liverpool lads. What you may not know until you read this book, is that life was glamorous, but not easy. This book is going to take you deep into the famous roadie’s life, deep. I 100% admit that I knew who Mal was, I could recognize him in photos, Help and knew exactly what his job for the lads was and knew about how he died, but I knew nothing about his life when he went home. Mal lived two lives, that of a guy deeply imbedded into a mayhem world and a guy married with children.

I am going to recommend this for any Beatles fan, but maybe not someone just looking for a bio to read, it is deep in the Beatles world. I very much enjoyed it.

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08 October 2023

Review: You Shouldn't Have Come Here

You Shouldn't Have Come Here You Shouldn't Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Exchange: After The Firm

The Exchange: After The Firm The Exchange: After The Firm by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had to have this book once I found out it was bringing back Mitch McDeere, The Firm is the book that made me fall in love with Grisham novels. This one did not disappoint. I read it in one day because. I could not STOP! First of all, Mitch will get into a case that he simply can't turn away from. We have Abby back as well (I am so glad of that)...She kind of surprised me a bit at first (didn't like her character's directions) and then I loved the turn her character took and how she developed. Well done Mr. Grisham. Mitch was just as great as you remember him. Writing reviews for a thriller is hard because you don't wish to spoil anything, I will just say if you like Grisham, you will love this. If you have not read The Firm, do that before you read this book. I have read it so many times that I didn't miss a beat, but you might need to at least read the synopsis if it has been a while since you visited the Memphis-based book. All in all, I would not change a thing about this one. It wasn't what I expected and I think that is what I loved most. Give this one a whirl.


Thanks to NetGalley for letting me get my hands on this one.

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Review: The Exchange: After The Firm

The Exchange: After The Firm The Exchange: After The Firm by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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19 August 2023

September Book Pick of the Month

 I really like the books that Melanie Benjamin writes, she tends to drop me, the reader, in spots that I could never find myself in and they are all very interesting.  This month's pick is one that is set on the beach, that in itself is a place I don't much care for (the sand!), but I found myself sucked into this one from the start.  It is the story of two sisters, Mindy and Ginger, that bonded in childhood simply because they were afraid social services would tear them away from their mom.  Their mom wasn't an abuser, she was just a mom. that wasn't present.  Her life revolved around surfing and doing whatever it took to keep her top surfer status.  She would cart the girls off to many different locales but would tend to ignore them so she could compete.  The system the girls put in place worked beautifully for a while and then the girls were old enough to surf with mom.  Here is where the story gets interesting, think about it, two girls about to go through puberty and trying out their talents at their mom's sport.  

Fast forward a bit and the girls are apart, they don't even know where the other one is living. You will have to read to find out what happens to cause this and how the book ends, but I think you will enjoy the ride.


Isn't the cover gorgeous? 


18 June 2023

Review: The Apartment

The Apartment The Apartment by Ana Menéndez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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July Book Pick

 The July Book Pick debuted at our Overbooked book club which meets at the McCracken County Public Library on the second Monday of each month.  If you live in Paducah, come on down next month, we would love to have you.  


Next meeting: July 10, 5:30pm in the upstairs meeting room 



I am such a fan of Kristin Harmel and her wonderful WWII books.  Her book The Book of Lost Names was simply spectacular, and I do believe I would rate this one a close second to that one.  



Here is my review of the book from when I read it last year. 


5 stars!!! Do not pass on this one!  Whew, I am going to begin by telling you a little bit about the book.  This will show you two women that are expecting babies near the same time.  WWII is about to break out and one woman is in love with a man on the wrong side of the Germans, and the other is just trying to mind her bookshop with her family.  Elise, is a hunted woman, as the Germans are seeking her and she knows that will mean death, so she makes the ultimate sacrifice to give up her child in hopes she will live.  She finds her bookshop-owning friend, Juliette, and asks her to take on her child.  Juliette has children of her own, but will gladly take a child that she views as not wanted by her mother.  


Fast forward to the end of the war and both of the women's lives have changed, but what has happened to the children?  Oh, I can't spoil this for you, but I hope you have become interested because there is most of the book left.  There are many times when my heart was on the floor with emotion.  I will also add that this book is hard to put down so plan accordingly.

Review: Following Jimmy Valentine