Books read Apr 30

The Shore by Sara Taylor
Wanted to read this book because it's about islands off the eastern coast-similar to a place where I grew up.
Major differences are evident right from the start. The community does not help one another out.
Although this is an ARC there are missing pieces: the family tree. That would explain why the book seems to be random chapters of things
happening to people that live on the island. Also the dates on the chapters go from the 1800's to the 1900's. Book follows a family that lives
on the islands generations ago and in the future.  Where the island I grew up on I'd be able to rely on others the islands in this book are
brutal. Some are lucky to have left once they've been abused enough. The men tend to think they hold the power in their hands and they are GOD.
The women, even though some stand up to the abusive men, get caught up in the island and the way things are done, taken for granted.
It's a game of survival, only the strongest will survive. Did enjoy the talk of the black magic and island natural habitats and untouched places.
Thought a few scenes didn't have to be so graphic and have dreams of them still at night after reading the book. Felt like I was there observing the rape
as it happened and found myself helpless. Author does an excellent job of allowing you to be there but not physically-very detailed scenes.
 The drugs, drinking, making of liquor, bullying and how the families were raised are a big part of this book.
When fighting for guardianship of our niece I was with my parents and at times told them 'you raised us too good' as we had never seen half of what
was brought before the judges in the court room. This book took me out of my comfort zone and am glad I was able to get through the whole book.
Family tree at the beginning will help you understand that you are reading about one extended family through the years.
I received this book from Library Thing in exchange for my honest review.

One Kiss by Martha Gross
Nell was leaving her job to start her own company, leaving her husband and redoing her self.
She was tired of the abuse of her husband, the work she did at work others claimed they had done it.
Since she's left, gotten divorced and started her own life her daughters come back into her life and her mother and they are able to share a lot of good times.
Girls are lost in the ocean.....her husband wants to get back with her. the asst at the co. she had worked for is calling clients and telling them she had stolen the client list and not to book their appts with Nell.
Nell is able to not only start up new relationships but people they know will help find the girls in the ocean. Lots of others come into play but the most important thing I like
about this book are the different ages and work experiences people have had at makes it appealing as a good read. Steamy sex scenes and just downright romantic times.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts
She teaches at the local religious school and works at night as a sex operator. She's gone through a divorce and her husband has the child.
She hopes to fight to get the child but that takes money, lots of it. Her sister comes to stay after her novel is released.
Story also follows the cop who lives next door, he's a detective and is on many local murder cases. They all lead back to the sex hotline the women work at.
One invasion the woman is able to fight off the man.  Also story follows the senator who is running his campaign and his family and how they are involved.
Really got caught up with this one, can't listen to it fast enough. Easy to keep track of the characters even though there are more than a handful.
Like how the characters are connected and how they involve themselves into finding who murdered the women.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

DASH Diet, younger you, shed 10 lbs  by Margaret Heller
Wanted to find out what all the talk is about. We eat a Mediterranean diet and I loved listening to this audio book as it's very similar.
The book concentrates a lot on studies done and what exactly the fruit and vegetables will do for your specific parts of the body.
Very useful information.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Eating Chinese Food Naked 
Was hoping this audio book will include some Chinese recipes.
Ruby is back from college, to her mothers house and is not ready to move into her boyfriends apartment.
She gets a job because she's not sure what she wants to do after graduating from college.
Longer she stays
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Vacationers by Emma Straub
Sylvia a is done with high school and now she wants to do something for the summer and is thinking of going on the family vacation. She can practice her Spanish there.
Book also follows James and their parents in Spain.  Jim has lost his editorial job, something to do with a younger female, his new assistant. They accepted his resignation with the magazine and now he has nothing to do.
Frannie-his wife will give them 2 weeks time in Spain to decide what to do with him...It's their 35th wedding anniversary also...
Frannie's gay friends are also there with them...liked the book for the travel and all the people involved, from different age groups and with different set of problems.
Lots of secrets, Sylvia makes a list of things to do before college...lots of infidelity...
Love the travel descriptions.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Ladybug Girl  and the Big Snow
Audio book for children. LuLu plays in the magic snow. She puts her ladybug costume on after she has on winter under clothes.
Descriptive descriptions are included as to what is on the page. Hard to move around and she decides to make a snow castle.
She is even having a hard time making snowballs. Her mind changes as things happen to her first thoughts when she tries to make them.
Snow animals might be something she can do.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Broccoli Makes You Fart
Colorful rhyming book about farting. Each page has a picture of the vegetable and it tells you what
characteristic your farts will smell like, or how long they will be, etc. So silly!
other works by the author are highlighted at the end. Great book to bust out laughing about as you explain it to others.

Emily Alone by Stewart ONan
All she has left is her friend and neither of them drive well but they do go out once a week.
Emily's friend, Arlene has an emergency with her medical illness and is hospitalized....they are soon back to their normal schedules upon her release,
She hires others to help deep clean the house for the Christmas holidays as the kids will come....
Nothing goes as planned and we hear how she survives all that.....liked this book a lot as it's about a woman
roughly my age and I know I'll be dealing with some of the things she is dealing with soon. Liked how she handled not getting
thank you letters from grandkids when she'd send money. I've dealt with that myself.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Angora Alibi by Sally Goldenbaum
Like this knitting mystery series and hope it continues.  Seaside, MA and Izzy is pregnant, the owner of the local knitting shop and she was a lawyer but had left the big city to make her dreams come true.
Others are worried about her pregnancy but toss it off as just being busy with work and the classes she teaches at the knitting shop.
Series also catches up on others that live in town.....Birdie's jewelry donated to the auction has been taken before the winning bid can get it...
Justin shows up dead and many others have heard Jamie say she wishes he was dead, or she'd strangle him. He did die in a scuba diving accident but it's more than that...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

A Fatal Fleece a seaside knitters mystery
Like this knitting mystery series and glad there are a few more I've yet to read.
The town wants the old man's property, the man has lost his license to drive, his daughter died of cancer and the townsfolk just want the prime lot of land.
Birdie's granddaughter comes to town and she's a terror, young teen but set in her ways and she takes a liking to Finn who has started to clean up his place...
Finn is killed and there's a body buried on his land also. The will sheds some light....love the connection between the death and the fleece vest.
People are not whom they seem and have been portraying to be....
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Happy Lion's Vacation
Audio book about a lion, summer in France and the zookeepers son wants to go to the shore with his friend, the happy lion.
There is no rule to say the lion can't go by bus or train but .....they do find a way to get there.
They do find themselves in trouble, in jail and then more problems....great WORLD adventures!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).