Gumshoe on the Loose (Mortimer Angel, #3) by Rob Leininger (Read 5/25/18 to 5/26/18) – 3 Star

Disclaimer…I was a little critical of this book, I am an IRS Agent that lives in the Reno, and that influenced my opinion ALOT. 

Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of the US Government. None of the ideas expressed in this blog post are shared, supported, or endorsed in any manner by my employer.

So I liked the story, it was a nice easy read. The plot moved along nicely. Things seemed a bit unfinished at the end but it was an ending. I really liked the Reno details, he was spot on for directions and areas, it was great to read. In fact, I probably would have picked up his other books if he wasn’t such an asshole about the IRS. That probably won’t bother anyone else, but it really detracted from the story for me. I know the IRS has a bad reputation, and we get a lot of negative commentary from the media, congress, and just people in general. But the way he portrayed us, as heartless souls suckers was too much for me. The people I work with have some the most generous hearts, and I (and I know some of my co-workers) believe that we are providing a service for our country. We are doing our duty and providing the funding for all the things everyone love, parks, roads, clean water, and yes government functions. I don’t personally know any IRS agents that are as cold and heartless and awful as Mr. Leininger made us out to be. It was really hard to read because of that. As a result, I will not read any more in this series, and probably none of his other books. It’s bad enough I see my career, that I am very proud of, smeared in the news on regular basis, I refuse to read about it in a book I picked up for pleasure.

Why Does He Do That? Inside the minds of angry and controlling men by Lundry Bancroft (Read 2/25/18 t0 3/4/18) – 5 Star

This was an amazing book!  It made me rethink so many things.  This is one of the first books that has said that I am not a co-dependent or in some way enabled the abuse to happen.  In the introduction it said “Counseling men is difficult work.  They are usually very reluctant to face up to the damage that they have been causing women, and often children as well, and hold tightly to their excuses and victim blaming.”  I have felt that way often about my ex-husband, that it didn’t seem anything was helping him and he wasn’t taking any responsibility for HIS actions, but so many books put partial blame on me, that I enabled this behavior somehow. Near the end of the book where Bancroft is talking about abusive men changing he said “there are no shortcuts to change, no magical overnight transformations, no easy way outs.  Change is difficult, uncomfortable work.”  “The men who make significant progress in my program are the ones who know that their partners will definitely leave them unless they change, and the ones on probation who have a tough probation officer who that really demands they really confront their abusiveness.”  I hope and pray my ex’s probation officer is tough, for my children’s sake because I have left and that wasn’t motivation enough.  There were so many point made in this book that hit home with me, points that confirmed ways I already felt, and points that put words to things I had been unable to describe.  I absolutely recommend this book to anyone that has been in an abusive relationship.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (Listened to 3/1/18) - 2 Star

This was a quick audiobook filler. The story is what I remembered from high school.  It was a nice light quick story.  I didn’t like it anymore or any less this time around.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (Read 5/15/18 to 5/23/18) - 3 star

This was my BOTM book for May.  I didn’t like this book. It dragged for me, the characters fell flat and the concept was ok, I just couldn’t seem to get into it though. So my thing is that the jinni fell in love with the golem, and I think the golem fell in love with the jinni but it was all so vague. I can see the sequel set up, I’m just not sure I want to read it.

Year One by Nora Roberts (Read 4/16/18 to 4/23/18) - 5 Star

Ok so...I happen to have become a Nora Roberts fan in the last few years, of both her romance and non-romance series.  That being said, I’m loving this book! One of the things I like about her writing is what I find to be an easy storytelling style.  This isn’t her first foray into witchcraft as a theme either. I didn’t want to put it down I was hooked.  I feel like it’s a softer version of The Stand, but with a supernatural virus beginning instead of government gone wrong. Most apocalyptic books don’t do lead up to the characters, it’s boom the world is dying how do you react? I like the characters, I want to know more    Oh and did anyone but me catch the dog they went out with patient one on his walk was named Bilbo.  
In our book club, there were some comments that the characters were not well developed.  Personally, I feel that she develops her characters quite well. They are not hard core, deeper meaning literary characters. To me they are more fun, it’s a good story with good characters, there isn’t a bigger picture besides the joy of telling a story. It’s a nice change sometimes for me.  
I really liked this book, Roberts has a style, she likes to write trilogies. Each book will probably follow the perspective of a different person, but they will all intertwine. I’m really looking forward to the book coming out later this year, it will be from Fallon’s perspective as she comes into her power.
I can see the comparison to the stand and the power players being set up, even though Lana left New Hope I don’t think those characters are completely gone.

Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill (Read 2/1/118 to 2/17/18) - 5 Stars

This was recommend by my boyfriend, and it was great.  Think post-apocoplyse but we didn't make it.  It was great.  The story was engaging and interesting. I really liked the characters, the robots were funny and engaging and made you think about the world around you.  When all the humans were gone the machines gained humanity, but no necessarily the good parts of our humanity.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (Read 2/22/18 to 2/25/18) - 5 Stars

This was my February Once Upon a Book Club Book.  I loved it!

It is set in Alaska in 1974 and moves forward to the 80's.  Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.  His 13-year old daughter Leni and wife Cora must learn a whole new way of life, and learn how to truly become survivors.

It was beautifully written an a joy to read.  I got really drawn into the story, and at times couldn't put it down.  It was heartbreaking and beautiful.  I admit, I cried the entire last 30 pages.