Stone Lands by Fiona Robertson

 

Stone Lands: A Journey of Darkness and Light Through Britain's Ancient Places by Fiona Robertson -390 pages

The author shares her fascination with ancient megalithic sites throughout the U.K. through visits ranging from Cornwall in the south to Orkney in the north. Along the way, the reader explores stone circles and mound tombs that are much more obscure than Stonehenge or Avebury. For the author, the visits recounted in the book also served as a way to cope with her husband's terminal illness and grasping with the realization of being a widow and single mother. The book provides details on several interesting sites and their locations and also explores their meaning to contemporary people as places of contemplation and even healing. 

Too Old For This by Samantha Downing

 

Too Old For This by Samantha Downing - 385 pages

A retired serial killer’s quiet life is upended by an unexpected visitor. To protect her secret, there’s only one option left—what’s another murder? From bestselling author Samantha Downing.

Lottie Jones thought her crimes were behind her.

Decades earlier, she changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small town. Her most exciting nights are the weekly bingo games at the local church and gossiping with her friends. 

When investigative journalist Plum Dixon shows up on her doorstep asking questions about Lottie’s past and specifically her involvement with numerous unsolved cases, well, Lottie just can’t have that.

But getting away with murder is hard enough when you’re young. And when Lottie receives another annoying knock on the door, she realizes this crime might just be the death of her…

This was a pretty good book, sometimes I found myself shaking my head but overall it was good.  I like the main character especially, she's a firecracker.

Roaming by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki

Roaming by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki

443 pages

⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Spring break, 2009. High school best friends Zoe and Dani are now freshman college students, meeting in a place they’ve wanted to visit forever: New York City. Tagging along is Dani’s classmate Fiona, a mercurial art student with an opinion on everything. Together, the three cram in as much of the city as possible, gleefully falling into tourist traps, pondering so-called great works of art, sidestepping creeps, and eating lots and lots of pizza (folded in half, of course).

This One Summer: A Graphic Novel by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki

This One Summer: A Graphic Novel by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki

324 pages

⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

Bee & Me by Alison Jay

Bee & Me by Alison Jay

32 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

In this wordless picture book, a bee and a girl become friends and go on a journey.

Opinion: Our little one (20 months) loved the illustrations, especially the double sided ones. She loved pointing out things like cars and bees and flowers. The book was a little intimidating at first because the grown-up has to do their own narrative, but our little one didn't care too much about that.  We didn't finish the book every single time, 'cause...attention span, but it was a great practice. And the last times, we read it in one session. The book has a beautiful message: don't be afraid of bees and plant more flowers in the city!

Never Lie by Freida McFadden

 Never Lie by Freida McFadden

296 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are searching for the house of their dreams.
But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate… with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end.
In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale’s mysterious disappearance.
Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s web of lies slowly unravels.
And then Tricia reaches the final cassette.
The one that reveals the entire horrifying truth.

Opinion: This was my first book by McFadden. I liked the two different narratives by Tricia and Dr. Hale, as well as the elements of transcripts.  It never got boring. Towards the end, it was hard to put the book down. I didn't like the 'horrifying truth' twist, but it didn't stop me from putting it away either. I was very glad that there were no horror elements in there - since the main character is pretty sure someone is in the house, I was afraid there's gonna be a dramatic, brutal scenario or else.

Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley

Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley

24 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Board book with rhyming text and illustrations to encourage actions like clapping, roaring, stomping, and finding objects in the room. Illustrations feature humans and animals.

Opinion: This one was a go-to with our little one (20 months). The anticipation alone - she was thrilled for the stomping part and finding things ("Find something yellow, find something red"). She was not too interested in the illustrations (for now), but the fact that she could stomp and do stuff - she was so excited. The book also features more advanced actions such as somersaults. Little one would just keep on stomping. Also a fun book for the grown-up reading out loud!