I mostly read advance reader copies (ARCs) that I get through Netgalley or directly from the publisher/author, but I also get books from my library. Sometimes that means my brick-and-mortar library, but most of the time it means my digital library through Libby. It is usually my 2 book club reads for the month, but I also listen to a lot of audiobooks - more than I get through Netgalley. It is a way for me to catch up on older titles and sometimes to catch up on the ARCs that I didn't get to before they were published. I don't usually review the older titles or book club reads, but I realized I'm missing out on telling you about the great reads that are probably available at your library with little to no wait. Let me know if you enjoy this feature and I'll keep doing it monthly.
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Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
I'm slowly making my way through this series. I will often read the newest book out, so eventually I will catch up to where I started this series. I think I started with book 24; this one is book 17, so I don't have too many more to go. I think this is the only one that I've read (so far) that had a cliffhanger ending. There is usually a waitlist for the books in this series, so I'm not sure when I will get to find out what happened. It is a fun series with great recipes. I've tried a few of them and have the Lake Eden cookbook. If you are into cozy mysteries and like to binge-read series, this one is perfect for you. I listened to this book (and all of the backlist) and I really like the narrator, Suzanne Toren.
Buy Blackberry Pie Murder at Amazon
Murder at 30,000 Feet by Susan Walter
This is one of the ARCs I didn't get to before the book came out in February. When my library offered the audiobook, I put my name on the list. It was a great book to listen to. The plot jumps back and forth in the timeline and with POVs but I didn't have any trouble following it. Since I had an ARC for it, I did write a longer review, if you want to check it out. It is read by one of my favorite narrators, Scott Brick.
Buy Murder at 30,000 Feet at Amazon
I Cheerfully Refuse by Lief Enger
I listened to this for my post-apocalyptic book club, which meets on Thursday. It was an okay book. I kind of wonder if it was supposed to be like Homer's Iliad, as the main character does seem to be on an odyssey. I think there was a reference to the book early on as well. In the book description, it mentions "Gulliver-like challenges", which I definitely recognized. I think the discussion will be good.
Buy I Cheerfully Refuse at Amazon
The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn
Another ARC, but it has been sitting on my eReader since last year. It is a predictable historical fiction story of a woman's journey to independence. Set in the 1920s, it involves the Titanic and a woman trapped in a loveless marriage of convenience (her husband's convenience). I liked the characters (or at least the characters you are supposed to like). I thought the beginning was a bit slow - probably because I didn't need the details of how trapped she was, as I've read plenty of books about women having few rights in the early 1900s. The second half of the book, after the sinking of the Titanic, was more enjoyable. Though even then, I knew what the eventual outcome would be. Heather Long does a great job as narrator. If you want to read more of my thoughts on the book, check out my longer review.
Buy The Lost Passenger at Amazon
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
It seemed like everyone was talking about this book. I understood why local people were reading it as Allen Levi has connections to my town (he graduated from the university here). Though his earlier books didn't seem to get the same attention locally. So it probably has more to do with the book being a Katie Couric Book Club pick and a Jen Hatmaker Book Club pick. Since Libby had the audiobook, I added my name to the list. At the time, there were only 1 or 2 copies, so I was something like 173 on the list. I'm part of a consortium, and quickly other libraries purchased it (now there are 113 copies), so my wait wasn't that long. It was a good book. I'm not sure it earned "best book of the year" status with me, but it has a good message that needs to be heard in today's world. There are a few surprises with the plot. It is kind of told in the slice-of-life vignette style that is popular in Japanese literature (kind of like Before the Coffee Gets Cold without the magical realism). David Morse reads the story.
Buy Theo of Golden at Amazon
Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman
I've been wanting to read this book since Susan reviewed it back in 2023. There was always a waitlist for it, and other books got in the way. Finally, the stars aligned, and I didn't have another audiobook, and there was no wait to borrow it. I love all the Viola Shipman books I've read and this one is really good. It made me want to visit Michigan more than any of the books. A couple of the places mentioned in the book really exists so I could go visit. It is a feel-good story. I put it on my recommendation list of 5 audiobooks for a road trip with a road trip as part of the plot. Nancy Peterson reads the story.
Buy Famous in a Small Town at Amazon
Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.
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