Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs 399 pages

This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine's island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

"Child of Mine" by David & Beverly Lewis

"Child of Mine" by David & Beverly Lewis - 403 pages

Jack Livingston is a flight instructor that has been raising his 8 year old adopted niece, Natalie, since an accident that took her parents' lives.  During the day and when he is traveling, Natalie is cared for by her Amish nanny, Laura Mast.  Although he is happy as he is, others believe that he should find a wife, someone to be Natalie's mother.

Eight excruciation years ago, Kelly Maines's baby was kidnapped.  Determined to find her child, Kelly has tirelessly pursued every lead to its bitter end.  And now, withe the clock ticking, one last clue from a private investigator ignites a tiny flame of hope: just a few miles away lives a young girl who matches the profile, can Natalie be Kelly's beloved daughter?

Follow Jack and Kelly as they navigate the rough patches of getting to know each other and trust each other.

The Grilling Season by Diane Mott Davidson

The Grilling Season by Diane Mott Davidson, 259 pages

Goldy the caterer is up to her old antics. Serving food up and doling out justice.  In this episode, Goldy is catering two events for a Babsy Doll convention. Of course, in between these two events she must deal with a murder. Only this time, her abusive ex-husband is the prime suspect.

Davidson's writing keeps readers involved in the story - with not a lot of gory nor explicit details.

Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau

Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau  304 pages

She wants to put an end to the Testing
In a scarred and brutal future, The United Commonwealth teeters on the brink of all-out civil war. The rebel resistance plots against a government that rules with cruelty and cunning. Gifted student and Testing survivor, Cia Vale, vows to fight. But she can't do it alone.
This is the chance to lead that Cia has trained for - but who will follow? Plunging through layers of danger and deception, Cia must risk the lives of those she loves--and gamble on the loyalty of her lethal classmates. Who can Cia trust?
The stakes are higher than ever - lives of promise cut short or fulfilled; a future ruled by fear or hope.

Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris

Midnight Crossroad: A Novel of Midnight, Texas by Charlaine Harris --- 305 pages

Now that Charlaine Harris has wound up her Sookie Stackhouse series it looks like she's ready to move on to new series of Southern Noir adventures.

I will admit I was not a big fan of Sookie, although I liked the books much, much more than the television series. But I have always preferred both her Harper Connelly and her Lily Bard series, so I was pleased to see minor but intriguing characters from those books turn up in the kick-off novel of this projected new series about the residents of a tiny little middle-of-nowhere Texas town who prefer to keep their idiosyncrasies to themselves.

Midnight seems like just the place for folks who want to keep a very low profile. But when Bobo Winthrop's girl friend Aubrey walks out of his life without a word of explanation or farewell, breaking his heart, it starts a chain of events that brings the law down on Midnight asking questions that nobody wants to answer.

The story starts slow, as we meet the residents of Midnight, but the pace quickens when Harris begins to peel back the layers of camouflage that protect their secrets. Harris has a way of combining the ordinary and the weird in unexpected ways, and leaving you wanting to know more.  I'm looking forward to another visit to Midnight.

Click HERE to see a trailer for Midnight Crossing.

Bone Dust White by Karen Salvalaggio

Bone Dust White by Karen Salvalaggio - 289 pages

This debut novel begins with a murder that unleashes revelations that shake a Montana town to its core.  I will say nothing more so I don't spoil the plot twists.  Salvalaggio's characters are multidimensional and spring to vibrant life upon the reader first meeting them.  The descriptive writing leads to a very visual reading experience where you can almost see the story as it unfolds.  I highly recommend this book to suspense fans.      

Stronger by Jeff Bauman with Bret Witter

Stronger by Jeff Bauman with Bret Witter, 244 pages

Stronger is about Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman.  Probably the most famous photo from the day of the bombing is of Jeff being pushed in a wheelchair by Carlos Arredondo.  In the picture, on the internet, his legs are blown off from below the knees because the bomb was detonated from the ground.
April 15, 2013 changed Jeff's life forever.  Jeff went to the Boston Marathon to watch his girlfriend, Erin,  run as part of an effort to raise money for charity.  Jeff was at the finish line when the first bomb went off.  He eerily describes how he was face to face with the bomber and saw the backpack.  While Jeff was being rushed to the hospital, he was trying to let people know he saw the bomber.  This book details Jeff's life before and after the bombing and how he has to learn to live again without his legs.  Both his mom and girlfriend, as well as many other family members, and Costco played an integral part in his recovery.  Jeff describes the physical, as well as emotional pain of his ordeal.  Jeff Bauman has become an inspiration not only to Boston, but to all of America.