Stranger Than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer


Stranger Than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer
Publisher: Little Brown & Co
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (304 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chris Colfer comes a funny, heartbreaking, unforgettable novel about friendship and fame perfect for fans of Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl and John Green.

A gonad can get bigger because of numerous reasons other than its exceptional functionality that has ensured prowess of VigRX plus over viagra sale cheap . There are people who love you, especially your significant generic levitra usa other. sildenafil 50mg price Fennel is high in potassium and in some cases they will be reduced. Our doctors are free to levitra in india price prescribe whatever drugs they like whether on or off-label. Cash Carter is the young, world famous lead actor of the hit television show Wiz Kids. When four fans jokingly invite him on a cross-country road trip, they are shocked that he actually takes them up on it. Chased by paparazzi and hounded by reporters, this unlikely crew takes off on a journey of a lifetime–but along the way they discover that the star they love has deep secrets he’s been keeping. What they come to learn about the life of the mysterious person they thought they knew will teach them about the power of empathy and the unbreakable bond of true friendship.

In this touching novel, New York Times bestselling author Chris Colfer takes us on a journey full of laughter, tears, and life-changing memories.

Four friends, a roadtrip and an interesting addition…what can go wrong?

I knew when I picked up this book I’d like it. Why? I like the writing style of Chris Colfer. It’s choppy in spots, but it’s witty and sounds like teens talking. It really does. I sped right through this book and cried at the end. It kept my attention and made me feel for the characters.

I won’t get into a lot of details, but there is a little bit for everyone. Sam is transgender and trying to sort himself out. Mo has ideas that don’t match those of her father. Topher wants to be the responsible one and is giving up on some of his dreams to help care for his brother with a handicap. Then there’s Joey. He’s gay and hasn’t come out yet. Oh, and Cash. Cash is the celebrity that just so happens to come along on the trip. I have to admit, I thought the story would go one way and the author kept up enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. I liked it. While the ending made me cry, it was exactly how the book should’ve ended. I’m glad, too.

If you want a book that’s fast-paced, fun in spots and sad in others, but worth the read, then this might be the one you’re looking for. Recommended.

Final Judgment by Marcia Clark


Final Judgment by Marcia Clark
Samantha Brinkman series, book 4
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Genre: Action/Adventure, Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (415 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When it comes to relationships and self-preservation, defense attorney Samantha Brinkman has always been cut and run. But it’s different with her new lover, Niko, an ambitious and globally famous entrepreneur. Sam is putting her faith in him. She has to. He’s also her new client—a suspect in the murder of an investor whose shady dealings turned Niko’s good life upside down.

He had the motive: revenge. As did many others who banked a fortune on the wrong man. That’s a point in Niko’s favor. So is his alibi for the day of the slaying. Until that alibi mysteriously disappears. As Sam’s feverish search for another viable killer begins, the investigation only leads deeper into Niko’s past and its secrets.
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From the darkest suspicions to final judgment, fighting for Niko is Sam’s job. To do it, she must risk everything on a man who could make all her worst fears come true.

Fast paced!

I didn’t realize Marcia Clark, yep, that Marcia Clark had written so many novels. I remember her as the prosecutor in the case of the century. So I had to pick this book up. I’m glad I did. The writing flows well and kept me interested throughout. I hadn’t read the others in this series, but Sam Brinkman is an intense character. The ending satisfied and I’m interested in reading the other books in this series.

Sam is a crack legal mind. She knows her stuff and is tenacious. Her boyfriend is in trouble, his mother’s been scammed and the world sure looks bleak–all seemingly because Sam took a vacation. Crazy, huh?

There are a couple of plot points throughout this story and the author does a good job of weaving them together. It seemed a bit odd and almost too easy when some of the pieces seemed to fall into Sam’s lap. She also has a tendency to skew the lines when it comes to staying totally legal. That said, it showed her tenacity. The author also manages to blur the lines, too. Things aren’t black and white in life and neither are they in this book. I rather liked that the author kept the plot human in that respect.

If you’re looking for something in the vein of John Grisham or Scott Turow, this might not be what you’re wanting, but if you’re willing to take this book on it’s own merits–and I highly suggest you do–then you won’t be disappointed. A gripping read. Recommended.

Reaching for the Moon by Katherine Johnson


Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson by Katherine Johnson
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Genre: Non-Fiction, Autobiography, YA
Length: Full Length (256 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11.

As a young girl, Katherine Johnson showed an exceptional aptitude for math. In school she quickly skipped ahead several grades and was soon studying complex equations with the support of a professor who saw great promise in her. But ability and opportunity did not always go hand in hand. As an African American and a girl growing up in an era of brutal racism and sexism, Katherine faced daily challenges. Still, she lived her life with her father’s words in mind: “You are no better than anyone else, and nobody else is better than you.”
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In the early 1950s, Katherine was thrilled to join the organization that would become NASA. She worked on many of NASA’s biggest projects including the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first men on the moon.

Katherine Johnson’s story was made famous in the bestselling book and Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures. Now in Reaching for the Moon she tells her own story for the first time, in a lively autobiography that will inspire young readers everywhere.

This woman got to the moon without ever leaving the ground.

I’m fascinated by those who can do math. I don’t mean the 2+2 kind. I mean the kind that sorts out how to get a rocket off the ground, geometry, high level algebra… you know, the people who can get things to the moon and back. Katherine Johnson is a bit of an unsung hero. Sure, she’s the subject of the movie Hidden Figures, but there’s a lot more to this woman and the best place to learn about her is from the woman herself.

I didn’t realize right away that this was a YA book. It’s listed in the library as YA, but it reads more like a conversation. Katherine Johnson’s autobiography talks about many parts of her life and doesn’t pull punches. She mentions her first marriage and how Jimmy passed. How it was hard to be a woman in the computing industry and how hard her family fought to get her an education. I loved how she taught her brothers to read because she thought they were behind, but it was more that she was so far ahead!

If you’re looking for a book that’s delightful and reminds the reader what’s important in life–getting an education and being happy while doing your work because you’re doing what you love, then this is the book for you.

The Guardians by John Grisham


The Guardians by John Grisham
Publisher: Doubleday Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (371 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In the small Florida town of Seabrook, a young lawyer named Keith Russo was shot dead at his desk as he worked late one night. The killer left no clues. There were no witnesses, no one with a motive. But the police soon came to suspect Quincy Miller, a young black man who was once a client of Russo’s.

Quincy was tried, convicted, and sent to prison for life. For twenty-two years he languished in prison, maintaining his innocence. But no one was listening. He had no lawyer, no advocate on the outside. In desperation, he writes a letter to Guardian Ministries, a small nonprofit run by Cullen Post, a lawyer who is also an Episcopal minister.

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They killed one lawyer twenty-two years ago, and they will kill another without a second thought.

Grisham is back to his top form.

I’m a sucker for John Grisham’s books. I admit it. I ask for his books for my birthday, for Christmas…snag them when I see them on the shelves–if I don’t already have a copy–and devour the books. For a while now, some of Grisham’s books haven’t been my cuppa. I want mystery, suspense and to turn pages needing to know what would happen next. Some of the recent books haven’t been so gripping in that respect.

This book goes back to what I want to read. It’s gripping, there are characters I worried about and I wanted to see how this would all play out. I mean, the main character is a minister-slash-attorney. I’m snagged. I liked Cullen, the minister/attorney. He’s a bit of a sleaze, but he admits it. He’s also got a big heart. When it comes to helping those who aren’t in the best shape to help themselves and get out of jail, he’s on it. I liked his Don Quixote qualities. I also liked how he devoted himself to his clients, particularly Quincy. Quincy, the lifer accused of killing another being has a gentle giant quality to him. He reminded me of the character from The Green Mile. I wanted him to get his freedom and rooted for both him and Cullen to get what they needed by the end of the book.

This is a quick read and there is one gross spot in the book. It involves alligators in the Everglades and meat. I won’t go into details, but if you’re easily nauseated, then this might be the part to skip over.

But if you’re looking for a book with redeemable characters and an intriguing plot, then this might be the book for you. Recommended.

And Then There Were Nuns by Kylie Logan


And Then There Were Nuns by Kylie Logan
League of Literary Ladies
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (306 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The national bestselling author of Gone with the Twins returns to South Bass Island, where the League of Literary Ladies has to find out who’s killing off nuns.

B and B owner Bea Cartwright has taken on the responsibility of taking meals to ten visiting nuns, who are on retreat at the Water’s Edge Center for Spirit and Renewal on picturesque South Bass Island on Lake Erie. But the peace of the retreat is shattered when one of the nuns is found at the water’s edge—murdered. And when a second nun is killed, Bea and the other members of the League of Literary Ladies—Chandra, Kate, and Luella—start to wonder about eerie parallels with the Agatha Christie mystery classic, And Then There Were None.
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Since Bea has the trust of the sisters, the local chief of police asks her and the other Literary Ladies to interview each of them. Expecting a confession may be asking for a miracle, but Bea hopes she can at least find the killer before another nun gets crossed off the guest list…

It all started with a penguin.

Let me clarify my opening statement. The book starts quite frankly with Bea seeing what she thinks is a penguin. Turns out it’s a nun.

I’m newer to the cozy mystery genre. I’ll admit, I was looking forward to something closer to Agatha Christie, but that’s on me for not knowing the genre as well as I might. I expected certain things to happen and when they didn’t, I was pleasantly surprised in some aspects and annoyed in others. It’s on me as the reader for not knowing the genre. So if you’re new to the genre of cozy mystery, let this book take you on a ride.

The writing flows well and I got right into the story. I wasn’t as invested in Bea’s character, but I did like her sometime love interest. I wanted to know who committed the murder and didn’t pick up on how it was committed, so that’s good. Plus, this book takes place in the islands off Lake Erie in the Ohio/Michigan area. If you’re fond of that area, then this book will delight you.

If you’re looking for a mystery that’s a quick read and has a bit of fun, then this is the book for you.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing


My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (378 pgs)
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting…

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We’re your neighbors, the parents of your kid’s friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

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Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.

Cute and cuddly, this book is not.

I picked up this book because it was recommended. It’s not in my natural wheelhouse of books I want to read. I’m not big on murder mystery type books. I like a straight mystery without much in the way of gory details. Then there’s this book.

The author did a great job of making me dislike the characters. Neither the hero or heroine–if you want to call them that–are nice people. They know how to put on a mask and draw people in, but being honest isn’t their forte. So in that respect, the author succeeded. I had a hard time rooting for anyone in this book. But if that’s what the author wanted, then go her. I haven’t forgotten what I read and I’m still sort of put off by it. The characters aren’t normal and the situations sure aren’t either, but again, if that was the author’s point, then point made.

These characters are killers. There is something a little off with both of them. Now I have to mention there are triggers in this book. If you’re not a fan of reading about abduction, abuse and gross abuse, then this might not be the book for you. If you’re a reader who isn’t comfortable with killing…again this might not be the book for you. There are descriptions in the story that are sure to churn the stomach.

It’s not that this is a bad book. It’s just different.

If you’re looking for a book that’s a little different and heavy on messing with your head, then this might be the book for you.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout


Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (336 pgs)
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town of Crosby, Maine, and in the world at large, but she doesn’t always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance; a former student who has lost the will to live; Olive’s own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and her husband, Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse.

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Olive isn’t an easy woman to love.

Do you know someone who is sort of tough on everything? I mean like, nothing really makes them happy and they’re about to sabotage the people around them? That’s Olive Kitteridge.

This is an award-winning book, so when I picked it up I had high hopes for it. I have to admit, this is a novel told in short stories. While this format might work for some books, this one was a tad jagged in places. The story involving Olive having to use the bathroom and ending up in the hospital comes to mind. I thought the stories would revolve around Olive more as a central character. Many times she’s a side player. Also, the writing didn’t flow as well as I might have liked and I did put this book down often.

But if you go in knowing this is a different sort of book, a novel in short stories, then it might resonate differently with you. There are characters I did worry about and some I wanted to see more of. Many of the stories were quite bittersweet in nature, too.

If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, then this might be the book for you.

The Devil and Dayna Dalton by Brit Lunden


The Devil and Dayna Dalton by Brit Lunden
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (103 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Reporter Dayna Dalton’s reputation has been ruined since birth. The daughter of wild child, Becky Dalton, is expected to follow her mother’s footsteps; never given a chance to prove she’s different. Dayna’s been in love with Clay Finnes since she was a teenager. Her unrequited love for Sheriff Finnes leaves her empty. He’s happily married and unavailable. Instead, Dayna finds herself stuck in the revolving door of bad relationships. But this is Bulwark, Georgia, a town where strange things are always happening. Dayna is doomed to this loveless life until she can find someone who will appreciate the depth of her character. Can she overcome her fears and look beyond her own perceptions to accept a greater love?

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I haven’t read anything by Brit Lunden, so this was a first for me. I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I picked up the book, but that’s a good thing. I like being surprised. This book was certainly surprising.

The writing is crisp and the story moved fast. There were times it almost moved too fast, but it’s a short story, so there isn’t much time to linger. I liked that it kept me guessing as to who the caped man might be. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming, that’s for sure.

A bit more on the editing front would’ve made this a four star read for me. But it’s such a fun and fast read that most readers will enjoy it.

If you’re interested in a paranormal story that’s a little off the beaten path, then this might be the one for you.

The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe


The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Powerful casino owner.
Ruthless mastermind.
Destroyer of men.

He lives in the shadows . . .

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She is society’s darling . . .

Florence Greene is no one’s fool. She knows Clayton Madden is using her to ruin her prestigious family . . . and she’s using him right back. She plans to learn all she can from the mysterious casino owner–then open a casino of her own just for women.

With revenge on his mind, Clay agrees to mentor Florence. However, she soon proves more adept–and more alluring–than Clay bargained for. When his plans are threatened, Clay must decide if he is willing to gamble his empire on love.

A gilded age romance for the ages.

I’ve read other books by Joanna Shupe and have never been let down. I wasn’t this time, either. This book plugs right along, the writing is well-done and kept me invested throughout. I’ll be reading more by this author.

Yes, there were times when I thought Florence was a bit above her station. Women had some freedoms and she tends to go higher than she should be. But that’s what made her fun. Okay, sometimes it made her petulant and a tad irritating, but she knew what she wanted and was not going to let anyone tell her no. I liked that. Then there’s Clayton. He’s just as much of a piece of work. He’s doing things that aren’t quite square, yet he’s not doing it for ill-gotten gain. It’s a tad trite that he’s the casino owner with the heart of gold, but he kind of is. The chemistry between him and Florence is off the charts. I liked each time they got together.

If you’re looking for a book with rich characters that might annoy you one minute, make you love them the next and ultimately stay with you, then this is the book you’re looking for. Recommended.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty


Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
Publisher: WW Norton & Co
Genre: Contemporary, Memoir, Non-Fiction
Length: Full Length (281 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

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Want to get real about death? Read this book.

I’ve read other books by Caitlin Doughty and enjoyed them quite a bit. I realize that sounds strange since this book, like her others, is about death. Most people think it’s morbid or yucky to consider death. It’s even yuckier to think about what happens to us when we die. This book treats the subject head-on and it’s rather refreshing.

This book isn’t all death, doom and gloom. There is a bit of introspection, a lot of details about her life and work at the crematorium, plus people and death. The author discusses how some people simply accept the death of loved ones, others write the loved ones off and still more can’t quite let go. The stories of the bodies coming in are somewhat gross. There are moments that made me cry, too, like with the babies. But this isn’t the story of the babies or the bodies. It’s how the author grows and changes through her work at the crematorium. From her insistent desire not to be cremated and how she’ll handle the death of her loved ones, to acceptance of the course of life.

It’s an eye-opening book, filled with anecdotes, love, trials and facts about death. If you’re interested, scared, or think this sounds like a good book, give it a try. It’s well worth the read.