The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom

 

The Stranger in the Boat  by Mitch Albom  271 pages

Adrift in a raft after a deadly ship explosion, nine people struggle for survival at sea. Three days pass. Short on water, food and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves. They pull him in. 'Thank the Lord we found you,' a passenger says. 'I am the Lord,' the man whispers....In The Stranger in the Lifeboat, Albom keeps us guessing until the end: Is this strange and quiet man really who he claims to be? What actually happened to cause the explosion? Are the survivors already in heaven, or are they in hell? The story is narrated by Benji, one of the passengers, who recounts the events in a notebook that is later discovereda year laterwhen the empty life raft washes up on the island of Montserrat. It falls to the islands chief inspector, Jarty LeFleur, a man battling his own demons, to solve the mystery of what really happened.

I love reading Mitch Albom's books, they always inspire me.  This one took a turn I did not expect but still really enjoyed it!

Women of the Blue & Gray: True Civil War Stories of Mothers, Medics, Soldiers, and Spies by Marianne Monson

Women of the Blue & Gray: True Civil War Stories of Mothers, Medics, Soldiers, and Spies by Marianne Monson-230 pages

I read this for the Non-fiction challenge this month. I also happen to be very interested in Civil War history. I learned quite a bit about women in the Civil War. Some women disguised themselves as men and enlisted and others followed husbands or brothers into enlistment. One woman, Jennie Hodgers, took the identity of a man named Albert D. J. Cashier to enlist and went by that name and dressed as a man for nearly 50 years after the Civil War before she was discovered. Many women served as spies, nurses, and doctors during the war, also. Although, it would take many years and much cajoling for many of the women who served in these capacities to be paid for their service. Women had to volunteer (and not get paid) as nurses or doctors to start the war. Women such as Lydia Maria Child, Harriet Tubman, Susie Baker King Taylor, Clara Barton, the Grimke sisters, Mother Bickerdyke, Dr. Mary Walker, Ellen Orbison Harris, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Harriet Jacobs, Cornelia Peake McDonald, and Virginia Mason McLean (who had the distinction of witnessing both the first real battle and the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia near her house) are discussed in various detail, along with many others. I found this to be an informative, enlightening read.

What the Lady Wants by Jennifer Crusie

What the Lady Wants by Jennifer Crusie - 233 pages

Mitch envisioned the life as a private investigator with intriguing women and fascinating cases.  Instead he got divorce work . . . until Mae Belle walks into his office wanting him to find the person who murdered her uncle and stole his diary.

This is another one of Jennifer Crusie's early romance novels.  I enjoyed the characters in this book.  They are all so over-the-top. 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (#9) by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (#9) by Jeff Kinney-217 pages

I read this for the road trip challenge this month. Greg Heffley and his family (his parents and his brothers Manny and Rodrick) go on a surprise road trip and have many adventures along the way. He and his family go to a water park, stay in several motels, lose keys and other essentials (wallets, credit cards, ids), get in a car accident, and many other things. It is funny to read it from the perspective of a kid and his observations. I like Jeff Kinney's writing and his sneaky inclusion of libraries and a fake book series seemingly inspired by Captain Underpants. I enjoyed reading this short novel about a kid and his family's adventurous road trip.

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher-257 pages

I wanted to read this since Carrie Fisher just passed away and I am a fan of Star Wars. I enjoyed reading this and it was enthralling to read her candid thoughts, both at the time and now, on her affair with Harrison Ford, her becoming a celebrity/star, and being Princess Leia. Overall, I am glad that I read it. It is an easy, flowing read.

The Andy Cohen Diaries by Andy Cohen

The Andy Cohen Diaries by Andy Cohen, 343 pages

I like biographies, and I like diaries.  But, this one will not go down as one of my favorites.  I guess if I was a bigger Andy Cohen fan or a bigger fan of his talk show (I did not know WWHL stood for Watch What Happens Live).  I don't think I have ever watched an episode of his talk show nor am I big fan of the Real Housewives Franchise.  If you watch either of these shows, you will probably really love this book.  Mainly this book follows a year in the life of Andy Cohen, which includes Andy getting a dog and naming him Wacha and the St. Louis Cardinals losing the 2013 World Series. Andy is a very busy man living in New York City.  I had always thought he lived in LA.  Most people know Andy grew up in St. Louis and often comes back for extended visits. The book also follows Andy through his travel and dating adventures.  The year he kept this diary was also the year Robin Williams and Joan Rivers died, which are both mentioned in the book.  Also, if you like celebrity name dropping, you will like this book.

Diary of a Mad Diva by Joan Rivers

Diary of a Mad Diva by Joan Rivers - 289 pages

This is a mock-diary of a year in the life of Joan Rivers.  It is definitely a book for those who are fans of her comedy.  Every page is filled with her jokes and comments that are sure to offend many.  I thought the whole book was worth it just for her comments on much she hates "Flo" from the Progressive insurance commercials.  She summed up my hatred of those commercials perfectly.  The oddest part of the book was reading her thoughts on how she wanted her funeral and how she expected to ring in 2015 with her daughter.  It was very strange reading those parts knowing that she had recently passed away.

Diary of a Fairy Godmother by Esme Raji Codell

Diary of a Fairy Godmother by Esme Raji Codell, 170 pages

Hunky Dory is attending school to become the "Wickedest witch wherever the four winds blow" as her mother loves to say. She loves to eat/bake booger cookies, batwings, and other things witchy. She also follows the rules of being a "good" witch. Though she is the top of her class at her magic school, she still isn't happy being a wicked which. Why does Hunky have more fun granting wishes than turning princes into toads? Or why can't she leave her curses alone instead of removing them all the time? And what happens when she changes a spell her Aunt casts on a little girl named Aurora? Quite a lot! Hunky must choose for herself whether she wishes to be the wickedest witch ever born like her mother wants or a fairy godmother like her heart wants. But will her friends and family accept her if she doesn't follow their path? Her diary entries are fun for kids to read. There are enough illustrations and action to keep the story flowing for children.

It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn - 272 pages

Gareth St. Clair has been estranged from his father most of his life, but it took a nasty turn when his father confessed that his mother cheated and he wasn't really his father.  Gareth broke off all communication with him when his father tried to force him to marry a local woman who was mentally a small child.  Ten years later, he is still reeling from his father's confession when he is given an old family diary in Italian.  Hyacinth Bridgerton offers to translate it for him.  And thus begins a romance . . .
I enjoyed this book.  The characters were interesting as was the mysteries revealed in the diary.  My main problem is that I heard Cher singing "It's in his kiss" in my head the entire time I was reading.

The Grand Tour, or, The Purloined Coronation Regalia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

The Grand Tour, or, The Purloined Coronation Regalia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer - 469 pages

Cecelia and Kate are now happily married and on their honeymoon tour of Europe with their husbands James and Thomas, as well as Lady Sylvia.  They've just barely left when they are once again caught up in a magical mystery.  It seems antique coronation regalia is being stolen across Europe.  It is up to them to determine why and to stop the evildoers.
This is the sequel to Sorcery & Cecelia.  This time the story is told through Kate's diary entries and Cecelia's depositions.  I really enjoyed this book although I was able to determine the chief villain early on in the story.