Book 7 of 2025

Title: Blood Defense

Author: Marcia Clark

Published: 2016

Format: eBook

Date Started: 1/25/25

Date Finished: 1/27/25

Days to read: 3

This is a re-read for me to refresh my memory before I read the other 3 books in the series. I picked this up when it came out in 2016 and loved it. Fast moving, thrilling ending, and yes, the author is *that* Marcia Clark. I was excited for the next book in the series and then spaced out, but now I have my hands on all of them so it’s time to binge read some crime novels!!

Book 6 of 2025

Title: Onyx Storm

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Published: 2025

Format: eBook

Date Started: 1/20/2025

Date Finished: 1/24/2025

Days to read:4

I’ve been looking forward to this book for months! I had a few issues with the writing - the first seven chapters had me completely lost, and I think the text could’ve used a bit more strenuous editing, but the story was enthralling, and I loved rejoining these characters on their adventures. As I expected it would , the book had a great cliffhanger, and I can’t wait for the next one!

Book 5 of 2025

Title: The Catcher in the Rye

Author: J.D. Salinger

Published: 1951

Format: Paperback

Date Started: 1/18/2025

Date Finished: 1/19/2025

Days to read: 2

 One of my book challenge prompts this year is to read a book I’ve been avoiding… And I feel like if I’m 46 and I haven’t read this yet, I’ve definitely been avoiding it. My favorite part was definitely Holden’s clear narrative voice, but damn, what a narcissistic twit he was. It was a good book, but maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it as a teenager? Who knows. 

Book 4 of 2025

Title:Lifting as we Climb

Author: Evette Dionne

Published: 2020

Format: eBook

Pages: 170

Date Started: 1/15/25

Date Finished: 1/17/25

Days to read: 3

Ever since I saw Suffs on Broadway last summer, I’ve been eager to learn more about the US suffragist movement. This excellent book brings the stories of oft-ignored Black women to the forefront, and explains how suffrage, abolition, anti-racism, & anti-lynching movements were intertwined. Many of the women featured were authors - I’m excited to read their books!

Book 3 of 2025

Title: The Guncle Abroad

Author: Steven Rowley

Published: 2024

Format: eBook

Date Started: 1/10/2025

Date Finished: 1/15/2025

Days to read: 6

I loved The Guncle, so it was great to reconnect with the characters in the next part of their story. This wasn’t quite the emotional gut punch that the first book was, but I still really enjoyed it! 

I was so glad that it continued to address the  experience with loss - because grief never really goes away. Also I want to be friends with all these people. They’re messy but fun!

Book 2 of 2025

Title: Traces

Author: Patricia L Hudson

Published: 2022

Format: Kindle

Date Started: 01/06/2025

Date Finished: 01/09/2025

Days to read: 4

This tells the story of the women connected to  famed explorer Daniel Boone - focusing on his  wife and two eldest daughters. The stories of so many women from this time were lost, so this was  fictionalized, but it was an enthralling read. I was especially interested in this because I am descended from Boones - so the folks in this book were my cousins! 

Book 1 of 2025

Title: Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil 

Author: Ananda Lima 

Published: 2024

Format: Kindle

Date Started: 1/1/25 

Date Finished: 1/5/25 

Days to read: 5 

 I primarily read novels, so short stories often leave me wanting more. This collection, though, is woven together so expertly, and once I figured out what parts were from the writers perspective vs the short stories she was writing, l loved it (The first story confused me a lot!). I’m still thinking about it after finishing it, so I will probably re-read this!