ReadingGrrls Paper Safari

I've had a lot of projects on my plate recently and haven't been keeping up with the book reviews on here as much as I would like. I also think I was a bit burned out. I will start this blog back up by posting reviews for a few of the books I've read recently that really moved me. Look for them in the coming days! I tore apart my garden and moved my planters to make way for a chicken coop and run - life is just getting too expensive and I think I'd rather know where some of my food comes from. Not to mention it will be nice to have some fresh eggs! My garden has been flourishing this year, and I have had to come up with some creative ideas for some of the produce I've had. (I will say that the zucchini noodle lasagna I made was fantastic!) I am also canning a bunch of stuff to use during the winter. (I have hobbies and interests outside of reading!)  I am also super excited for the Philly bookstore crawl! I can't wait to share what I found while exploring some ...

REVIEW:  A whirlwind romance between a wealthy man and a not so wealthy woman leads to him inviting her to the family cabins to meet the family. While there she is struck by a feeling of deja vu. Of feeling like she had been there before. And his family? Well most are welcoming but some are just creepy or downright rude. As memories come flooding back she has to determine if she was lured up here or if her fiancé really has no clue as to her real identity.   Fast paced this family has a lot of secrets and some strange things going on. Set in a remote camp with multiple family cabins and no cell service or wifi you aren't sure who to trust, who is hiding what and where this will all lead.   I've read books like this before and the who premise felt very a little too familiar but it was a good listen. I think I started to have deja vu feelings while listening to it. It had just the right level of suspense and believability to keep me listening and the narration was exce...

REVIEW:  This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last. After being called to an active shooter situation at the local high school, Sheriff Titus discovers that there is only 1 victim and the shooter tells him that the beloved teacher he killed is actually a monster before committing suicide by cop.   Digging deeper Titus finds a long history of racism and violence, dead bodies of young men and women of color and a ringleader still on the loose.   I really enjoyed this book with its eye on history and racism in the United States. The reasoning behind some if not all of the confederate statues and how evil hides in plain sight. Dysfunctional families and the attempt to heal them is also a key theme. Overall this police procedural mystery by a fantastic black author is worth your time. I'm glad I stumbled upon it when I fell for the cover on bookstagram. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. Any recommendations on which on to choose next? ...

REVIEW:  Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced readers copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.  What a beautiful and heart wrenching read. This book flips time frames from when the characters were young and in high school to when they are older, married and to a more current period where someone is on trial. The who is not given away until somewhere in the middle and the why as well.   There were definitely things I figured out before they were revealed to me but some that just left my jaw hitting the floor. Over the course of about a year two families lives will be shattered and a whole small rural town left reeling. Secrets are revealed, and scandal and rumors descend on the town that leave devastation and heartbreak in their wake.   There is so much loss and so much heartbreak in this book but also joy, the wonder of first love, the intimacy of a long relationship, and the sacrifices we ma...

REVIEW:  I really enjoy this light hearted cozy mystery series narrated by the author Ian Moore. As the main character stumbles his way through murder mysteries with the help of a pushy French woman who has remarkably deadly skills and an annoying yet lovable dog.   With the filming of a historical movie being filmed in his French B&B, film buff Richard Aimsworth is happy to provide catering and watch the behind the scenes production. But when one of the main actors dies under suspicious circumstances he finds himself and his friend Valerie asking questions that may get them in trouble.   This is the 3rd book in the Follet Valley Mysteries. These books are quirky, light and entertaining. I love them.   Publication Date:  May 30, 2023 Format:   Audio Genre:    Mystery Narrator:  Ian Moore Publisher:   Farrago Length:   ...

REVIEW:  This is the second book in this series. The first book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger and this one picks up where that one left off. With the Villain captured and his Assistant, Evie, struggling to come up with a plan on how to save him.   During her rescue not only is she unveiled to the entire kingdom but so is the villain. Now there are wanted posters with their faces on them throughout the kingdom.   Magic seems to be failing all across the kingdom and even the Villain's magic seems to be going haywire. They need to find Evie's mother but her location is very elusive and they have the kings guard after them.   The witty banter throughout this book and Evie continuing to deny her feelings toward the Villain and the Villain trying to stem his feelings toward Evie are incredibly entertaining. The addition of a frog who communicates by holding up cards with words on them is equally entertaining.   The narrator is brilliant in keeping each characte...