The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenje

 

The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenje 368 pages

Summary: The library is under lock and key. But its secrets can't be contained. 1896. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence's father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame—and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester.

Intercepting her father's latest commission, Florence talks her way into the remote, forbidding Rose Hall to restore its collection of rare books. Lord Francis Belfield's library is old and full of secrets—but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife.
Then one night, the library is broken into. Strangely, all the priceless tomes remain untouched. Florence is puzzled, until she discovers a half-burned book in the fireplace. She realizes with horror that someone has found and set fire to the secret diary of Lord Belfield's wife–which may hold the clue to her fate…
Evocative, arresting and tightly plotted, The Library Thief is at once a propulsive Gothic mystery and a striking exploration of race, gender and self-discovery in Victorian England.

My Thoughts: What I truly enjoyed about this book was learning about bookbinding. I enjoyed the main character being a female bookbinder in a male dominated Victorian England 1896 world. I'm not going to lie, I only gave this book 3 stars on Good Reads because when we get to the heart of the whole story, it just got to a point where it seemed too much to be true. The characters were excellent and flamboyant, but it felt like the author was trying to shove in too many things into the novel at once. I loved the fact that this book explored race, gender and self-discovery during this time period. 

Dream Girl Drama (Big Shots, #3) by Tessa Bailey

 Dream Girl Drama (Big Shots, #3) by Tessa Bailey-310 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sig Hauthier is a professional hockey player who meets his dream girl, Chloe Clifford after his beater truck breaks down in a country club parking lot in Darien, CT. They are both going to a dinner with one of their parents. It turns out that Sig's biological dad and Chloe's mom are engaged to be married and they're going to the same party. Can Sig and Chloe be platonic now that their parents are engaged? Will they get to be in a relationship eventually or will their parents go through with the impending nuptials? If Harvey and Sofia do get married, then what will happen to Chloe and Sig?

This was my first Tessa Bailey read and I enjoyed reading it. I'm getting into romance a little more. It's still not my favorite, but It's fine. 

For Lamb by Lesa Cline-Ransome

 For Lamb by Lesa Cline-Ransome -- 304 pages

An interracial friendship between two teenaged girls goes tragically wrong in this powerful historical novel set in the Jim Crow South.

For Lamb follows a family striving to better their lives in the late 1930s Jackson, Mississippi. Lamb’s mother is a hard-working, creative seamstress who cannot reveal she is a lesbian. Lamb’s brother has a brilliant mind and has even earned a college scholarship for a black college up north-- if only he could curb his impulsiveness and rebellious nature.

Lamb herself is a quiet and studious girl. She is also naive. As she tentatively accepts the friendly overtures of a white girl who loans her a book she loves, she sets a off a calamitous series of events that pulls in her mother, charming hustler uncle, estranged father, and brother, and ends in a lynching.

Told with nuance and subtlety, avoiding sensationalism and unnecessary brutality, this young adult novel from celebrated author Lesa Cline-Ransome pays homage to the female victims of white supremacy.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Thoughts: I listened to this as an audiobook. It's heavy, but I enjoyed the writing style and it was interesting, although sad. I tend to dislike POV changes in books but it worked well in this book. Had me teary eyed at times all throughout the book, including the author's note. 

The Third Parent by Elias Witherow

 

The Third Parent by Elias Witherow - 272 pages

No one knows where he came from. No one knows what he wants. No one dares ask about his strange physical abnormalities. For a quiet suburban neighborhood, things are about to change. And it starts with a knock at the door. Follow his rules. Don't call the police. Listen to his lessons. That's what Jack and his family were told. Held captive in their own house, they must face a growing storm of mental and physical trauma as they try to just stay alive. But even if Jack can survive the horror of his childhood, will his tormentor ever leave him alone? And who is he really? Who is Tommy Taffy?

This author comes up with some messed up stories; I love it!  Perfect for horror fans but not for the faint of heart.   Love the premise of this book; where Tommy Taffy comes from.  

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig

 

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig - 400 pages

Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what.

Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something a mysterious staircase to nowhere.

One friend walks up—and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears.

Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy—and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods. . . .

This was a little of a slow burn in the beginning, but it soon became unputdownable.   A creative idea and a bit creepy.  A great read for fans of horror.

From Now On by C.W. Farnsworth

From Now On by C.W. Farnsworth -- 440 pages

Spending a week as a “fifth wheel” to two happy couples isn’t the best cure for heartbreak, but Eve Driscoll’s options for spring break are limited. Either join her best friend for a group getaway or slouch on the couch reliving the unexpected end of her three-year relationship.

Time away from campus might be exactly what Eve needs to refocus on her life-long dream that’s about to become a reality—moving to New York City to become an artist. She’s spent most of college playing it safe. Maybe she should take some risks before graduating. Starting with a road trip to California…

There couldn’t have been a better ending to Hunter Morgan’s hockey career than winning a national championship. But the high of hoisting a trophy is fading, forcing him to face difficult decisions about his post-graduation plans. Spring break will be a welcome distraction, although spending the week with his two best friends sounded a lot more appealing before they both got girlfriends. Until he finds out Eve Driscoll is joining their trip too…

Timing wasn’t on Hunter’s side freshman year. He isn’t even sure if Eve remembers the night they met. And he’s certain, only two months from graduation, the timing is even worse now. But Hunter knows he’ll regret never telling Eve how much he wishes that evening had ended differently. Especially once he discovers she hasn’t forgotten him.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan (190 Pages)

Summary: Ever since Solimar was a little girl, she has gone to the ouamel forest bordering her kingdom to observe the monarch butterflies during their migration, but always from a safe distance. Now, on the brink of her quinceañera and her official coronation, Solimar crosses the dangerous creek to sit among the butterflies. There, a mysterious event gives her a gift and a burden--the responsibility to protect the young and weak butterflies with her magical rebozo, or silk shawl. Solimar is committed to fulfilling her role, and has a plan that might have worked. But when her father, the king, and her brother, the prince, leave on an expedition, a neighboring king overthrows the kingdom and holds everyone left in the village hostage. It takes all of Solimar's courage to escape and then embark on a dangerous journey to save her kingdom, but she's not alone. Her pet bird, Lázaro, the butterflies she protects, and a magical rag doll, Zarita, are with her. Then, at a precarious moment, she meets a river boy who knows the rapids. Even with help, can Solimar save her family, the kingdom, and the future of the monarchs from a greedy king?

Opinion: This is a fast paced and short fantasy read for upper elementary to middle school aged kids. This book does skip from scene to scene on occasion and very much focuses on progressing the book rather than providing detail. Even so, the characters are well developed and demonstrate positive growth. Though, there is a character named Zarita who is a doll that I found to be disturbing and she definitely took me out of the book a bit. That being said, I enjoyed this read overall especially the main two characters.