Why did it take so long for so many of them to show up on my radar? — What to write for Pride Month? That was the question. I was originally going to write a review of one book because it happened to be the one I had read most recently (Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas, see below). I puzzled over exactly how to connect it to Pride because…

Being self-conscious makes you take yourself WAY too seriously — I am lucky to have a job that I love. I get to talk to people all day about things that are meaningful to them. And I have other opportunities too. For example, I teach an online class about one of my areas of expertise. It involves talking at a…

A look into the most heart-wrenching moments of a woman’s life — Disclaimer: Please note I received a free ARC of this book from Reedsy Discovery in exchange for my honest review. Katie and Rachel are strangers when we meet them, and they are each at a crossroads in life. Katie is single and lives alone with her cat. She has survived…

In ‘A Scenic Hills Summer’ we meet Colette, an unforgettable heroine — Disclaimer: Please note I received a free ARC of this book from Reedsy Discovery in exchange for my honest review. When we first meet Colette Birzhan, she is enjoying the oasis of her home environment, the Chelsea townhouse she shares with her best friend Jackie and their cat, Mr. Bojangles…

You’ll cheer for him as he proves his true worth in this inspiring story — Disclaimer: Please note I received a free ARC of this book from Reedsy Discovery in exchange for my honest review. In The Return of Jason Foxx by Kevin Lavey, the title character has long been the rock of his family. He plays the role well, and they are fortunate to…

What is it about channel surfing anyway? — I don’t know about where you live, but in my area, I Love Lucy reruns were on our local TV station at 9 am every weekday for as long as I can remember. Two back-to-back episodes, 9:00 and 9:30. Through my childhood, through the decades of my twenties, thirties, and…

A cut above other memoirs of self-discovery, Jen Berlingo’s journey makes a world of possibility visible — Disclaimer: Please note I received a free ARC of this book from Reedsy Discovery in exchange for my honest review. Just before I began reading this book, I remember having a nagging fear that it would be “just another self-help book.” Since I’m not a big fan of that genre…

A heroine who is stronger than she ever realized — Disclaimer: Please note I received a free ARC of this book from Reedsy Discovery in exchange for my honest review. A heroine who is stronger than she ever realized, Clay Brown’s true spirit emerges when her life is touched by others who understand. Clay Brown has managed to survive in…

1980s nostalgia enlivens this reflection on memory — the sweet, the bittersweet, and the heartbreaking — Disclaimer: Please note I received a free ARC of this book from Reedsy Discovery in exchange for my honest review. Suzy is fifty-five, divorced, and has a close relationship with her adult son. She is an artist who has put her creativity on hold for five long years to care…