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bbethcasas's reviews
162 reviews
Bonding Over The Amish Baby by Pamela Desmond Wright
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Loved!!
On his way to California to report to a new job and basically a new life, Dr. Caleb Sutter wrecks his car and finds himself unexpectedly stuck in a most unlikely place - an Amish community in Texas! He expects to leave right away, but unforeseen events keep him there far longer, and lead to a complete change in his whole way of thinking!
He is given aid by an Amish woman, Rebecca Schroder. Pretty soon she is a constant companion, opening his eyes to life options he’s never even considered before.
On his way to California to report to a new job and basically a new life, Dr. Caleb Sutter wrecks his car and finds himself unexpectedly stuck in a most unlikely place - an Amish community in Texas! He expects to leave right away, but unforeseen events keep him there far longer, and lead to a complete change in his whole way of thinking!
He is given aid by an Amish woman, Rebecca Schroder. Pretty soon she is a constant companion, opening his eyes to life options he’s never even considered before.
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A heartbreaking telling of the atrocities that have occurred in Syria for so many years to a people who simply want to live their lives with the ones they love in their homeland, free to live and love in peace.
The rich language and beautiful storytelling in this book will keep your full attention. Readers will want to live within Salama and Kenan’s beautiful story, but pray for the book to end so the anguish and fear will be over.
There are so many other countries enduring these same unthinkable agonies that we know so little about because, for whatever reason, the stories aren’t newsworthy or because the rest of the world has become so complacent to what is going on outside its own borders. Pray for Syria and countries just like her where the innocent are being tortured and suffering to death for their inherent right to live a free life.
The rich language and beautiful storytelling in this book will keep your full attention. Readers will want to live within Salama and Kenan’s beautiful story, but pray for the book to end so the anguish and fear will be over.
There are so many other countries enduring these same unthinkable agonies that we know so little about because, for whatever reason, the stories aren’t newsworthy or because the rest of the world has become so complacent to what is going on outside its own borders. Pray for Syria and countries just like her where the innocent are being tortured and suffering to death for their inherent right to live a free life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
All You Have to Do Is Call by Kerri Maher
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I had a really hard time really sinking my teeth in and getting into a rhythm with this book. There were so many different characters and storylines, I struggled with getting a clear layout of who and what was going on at times.
Overall, though, this is a very good somewhat historically correctish book about the fight for female reproductive rights. (More closely based on historical events, if not the major characters) This is a very timely book due to our shocking recent step back in this fight in many states. A worthwhile read and a story that needs to be shouted from the rooftops!!
Overall, though, this is a very good somewhat historically correctish book about the fight for female reproductive rights. (More closely based on historical events, if not the major characters) This is a very timely book due to our shocking recent step back in this fight in many states. A worthwhile read and a story that needs to be shouted from the rooftops!!
Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Such a good book! Really intriguing! Julia Cates is a child psychologist who’s been left reeling after the unimaginable crime committed by one of her former patients ruins her career.
Not knowing who else to call when a seemingly “wild child” shows up in her town, unable to speak and with no identity, Sheriff Ellie Cates summons her sister Julia home to help the child and solve the mystery.
Julia must overcome her own loss of confidence to help the girl discover who she is and be able to tell her story against incredible odds.
Not knowing who else to call when a seemingly “wild child” shows up in her town, unable to speak and with no identity, Sheriff Ellie Cates summons her sister Julia home to help the child and solve the mystery.
Julia must overcome her own loss of confidence to help the girl discover who she is and be able to tell her story against incredible odds.
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
After the trauma of investigating the Andie Bell and Sal Singh murder case, Pip swears she is NOT a detective anymore! She and Ravi made a podcast out of the investigation and it went viral, but after how it consumed her life, she swears she’s DONE! That is, until her friend Connor’s brother, Jamie goes missing, and once again, the police won’t do anything! They claim he a “low risk” of being in danger because he’s disappeared before and also because he’s 24. So, Pip decides she HAS to get involved.
This second installment takes on more risks, more twists, and more danger! We get to know the characters a little better, too! I LOVED this book even better than book 1!
This second installment takes on more risks, more twists, and more danger! We get to know the characters a little better, too! I LOVED this book even better than book 1!
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Such a great series! I loved the characters that returned throughout the series - Pip’s family and friends. I REALLY enjoyed the chemistry between Pip and Ravi and the dynamic in their work relationship! They played well off each other and did the most to bring out the best in each other’s creativity and crime solving skills!
This last book was definitely the darkest and most twisted of the three in the trilogy! Pip’s life is in grave danger by someone leaving cryptic messages and she must work quickly to figure out who it is and what the messages mean before it’s too late!!
This last book was definitely the darkest and most twisted of the three in the trilogy! Pip’s life is in grave danger by someone leaving cryptic messages and she must work quickly to figure out who it is and what the messages mean before it’s too late!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
First things first, I want to go on record as saying I disagree with the age range of 12 - 15 for this book. Call me overprotective, but I wouldn’t allow my daughter to read this until she was 15, MAYBE 14. Depends.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book and I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to read the next 2 books in the trilogy right away. I purchased them all at the same time. There’s a really great deal on a boxed set on Amazon!
Pippa Fitz - Amobi, Pip to most everyone, is a senior at Fairview High School, and is doing her Capstone Project researching the 2014 Missing Persons Investigation of Andie Bell, a local high school girl. She’s granted permission and begins interviewing key players including friends and family members of Andie and Sal Singh, the boyfriend and alleged killer of Andie. She begins with Ravi Singh, Sal’s younger brother. Initially, Ravi is confused and a little suspicious of Pip and curious regarding her motivation, but she catches him completely off guard when she reveals that her goal is to prove Sal innocent! Ravi is all for proving his brother innocent because he never believed he killed Andie OR that he killed himself afterward, which is what the final story was! So he agrees to talk to Pip, provided he can work with her. She agrees.
I don’t want to include much more than that as far as the rest of the story because, honestly, the interviews, the twisty, winding lies and discoveries of the half truths and real truths are what make this book so fun! Pip and Ravi are a riot together! Love them! And I think you will, too! In fact, I think you’ll love the entire book just as much as I did!!
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book and I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to read the next 2 books in the trilogy right away. I purchased them all at the same time. There’s a really great deal on a boxed set on Amazon!
Pippa Fitz - Amobi, Pip to most everyone, is a senior at Fairview High School, and is doing her Capstone Project researching the 2014 Missing Persons Investigation of Andie Bell, a local high school girl. She’s granted permission and begins interviewing key players including friends and family members of Andie and Sal Singh, the boyfriend and alleged killer of Andie. She begins with Ravi Singh, Sal’s younger brother. Initially, Ravi is confused and a little suspicious of Pip and curious regarding her motivation, but she catches him completely off guard when she reveals that her goal is to prove Sal innocent! Ravi is all for proving his brother innocent because he never believed he killed Andie OR that he killed himself afterward, which is what the final story was! So he agrees to talk to Pip, provided he can work with her. She agrees.
I don’t want to include much more than that as far as the rest of the story because, honestly, the interviews, the twisty, winding lies and discoveries of the half truths and real truths are what make this book so fun! Pip and Ravi are a riot together! Love them! And I think you will, too! In fact, I think you’ll love the entire book just as much as I did!!
A Fire So Wild by Sarah Ruiz-Grossman
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I was completely pulled in by this book from the moment I started it and only put it down when I had to! When I read that the genre was political fiction, no joke, I drew this face in my reading journal. 😑 I quickly became invested in the characters and what happened to them. Sunny and Willow and their adorable but sad little impoverished love story. Xavier, Taylor, and Abigail’s somewhat dysfunctional family, or at least heading for impending doom. Mar and Gabriel, trying a new living arrangement, hoping for the best, but not really giving their best. Things are about to spin completely out of control for all of these characters and all of the imperfections and secrets they are keeping from one another will “add fuel to the fire”, pardon my pun, of the problems that already exist in each situation.
This story addresses a very real and relevant crisis facing our country today. Many have spoken angrily about the idea that it is a retelling of the Camp Fire from 2018. I am not an expert on that so I don’t know if that’s true, but my cousin lost his home and everything in and around it so I don’t take kindly to that if this book makes light of that. Otherwise I thought it was an excellent read.
This story addresses a very real and relevant crisis facing our country today. Many have spoken angrily about the idea that it is a retelling of the Camp Fire from 2018. I am not an expert on that so I don’t know if that’s true, but my cousin lost his home and everything in and around it so I don’t take kindly to that if this book makes light of that. Otherwise I thought it was an excellent read.
The Unwedding by Ally Condie
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Ellery was completely blindsided by her husband, Luke’s, announcement that he wanted a divorce. After almost 20 years of marriage, she still loved Luke and their family and their life together more than anything else in the world! The divorce sent her into a spiral and she was not okay. When their 20-year anniversary trip reservation came up, she contacted Luke, who suggested she should take the trip by herself, just get away from all the stress. She reluctantly agreed.
She arrives at the beautiful resort feeling lonely and sad, like a failure and seeing everyone else laughing and having a good time. She remembers Abby, her best friend, telling her to at least TRY to have a good time! To meet new people and relax, she deserves it!
Right away, she meets Ravi and Annie and learns there is a BIG wedding at the resort this weekend and crashing it is their first big act toward making this weekend full of excitement! Ellery wasn’t sure about this plan, but it seemed better than sitting in her room crying all weekend. What could go wrong?
She will soon find out that so much more than she could even imagine can and will go wrong and that not all the guests will make it out alive
She arrives at the beautiful resort feeling lonely and sad, like a failure and seeing everyone else laughing and having a good time. She remembers Abby, her best friend, telling her to at least TRY to have a good time! To meet new people and relax, she deserves it!
Right away, she meets Ravi and Annie and learns there is a BIG wedding at the resort this weekend and crashing it is their first big act toward making this weekend full of excitement! Ellery wasn’t sure about this plan, but it seemed better than sitting in her room crying all weekend. What could go wrong?
She will soon find out that so much more than she could even imagine can and will go wrong and that not all the guests will make it out alive
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As, at the persistent request of her best friend, Daisy, investigates the disappearance of billionaire Russell Pickett, mostly for the $100,000 reward, but also because she wants to help her former friend, Davis, and his little brother, Noah. She tries her best to do the right thing by everyone, her mom, her friends, even her teachers, she she is fighting a very real battle within herself that is quickly taking over her every thought and will eventually take her to an extremely dangerous place before she finally has to admit it’s out of control and she needs help.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol