Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Bernadette was an architect. Until she wasn't any longer. Now she is a recluse hiding in Seattle. When her daughter Bee claims her reward for good grades in school as a family trip to Antarctica, Bernadette throws herself into planning for it. Bernadette seems to be spiraling downhill as she gets in a dispute with her neighbor, rants and raves over living in Seattle, and entrusts all of her private information to her virtual assistant and then finally disappears without telling her family where she is.

WHERE'D YOU GO BERNADETTE is written from Bee's Perspective from a series of letters, e-mails, and observations she gathers or is handed about her mother. I really enjoyed the characters. Bernadette came across as a tormented/eccentric artist(architect) who was constantly being misunderstood because she didn't buckle to the norm. Bee was full of teenage angst, but yet loved her parents quirkiness and eccentricities. Elgie was a genius and in his own way loved Bernadette and Bee. I don't think he really knew how to deal with Bernadette though. He was worried about her. I was disappointed in his lack of restraint after Bernadette left. I was disappointed also in the ending. It seemed that there were still a lot of things unsettled. a lot of loose ends still to tie up. But still I enjoyed the story and I am hoping to see the movie sometime.

**Warning to my readers** This book contains vulgar language that includes the f-word.

I Ain't Doin' It: Unfiltered Thoughts From A Sarcastic Southern Sweetheart by Heather Land

I've been following Heather Land's video's for several months now and she has provided me with many laughs! So I was quite intrigued to see that she had a book coming out. I love to learn about authors that I have read or have seen on video's. I love Heather Land's sarcastic humor and her book is filled with that type of humor. Each chapter is filled with humor from her life experiences. One of my favorite things about the book though is that she ends each chapter with a faith talk filled with encouragement and spiritual truths she has gleaned through the years.

If you haven't seen Heather's video's then I suggest you watch one of those before reading the book. Because honestly y'all she is too funny and when you read the book you can just hear her voice throughout the pages! I enjoyed it very much and look forward to many more video's and maybe another book and who knows, maybe someday I might even catch one of her shows!

Impostors by Scott Westerfeld

Frey is the body double for her sister Rafi. Only a handful of their father's most trusted people know that she exists. Born 26 minutes after Rafi, Frey is the younger sister, and the one trained to protect Rafi with her life. When their father sends Frey(as Rafi) as a hostage to Victoria, Frey experiences freedom for the first time. Being out where people can see her is scary at first, but soon Frey begins to discover that she is her own person and not just an extension of her sister. She also realizes that she is expendable to their father. Meeting Col, Victoria's ruling son, Frey soon sees that they are hoping for an alliance with her city. What Frey doesn't count on is the lengths her father will go to take over Victoria and just how expendable her life is to him.

This world is set up years after the UGLIES, PRETTIES, SPECIALS etc. worlds. Tally Youngblood is a legend among the rebels and Frey and Rafi's father is bent on taking over all cities and setting up his own kingdom.

I enjoyed IMPOSTORS and am looking forward to the next book in the series SHATTER CITY. I can't wait to see what happens to Frey as we were left with quite a cliffhanger at the end of IMPOSTORS. It has been years since I read the Uglies series so it took me a bit to remember the setting etc. While I don't think it was necessary to read the Uglies series before reading IMPOSTORS I think it would help to get the background of the world setting. I would put this book in the Dystopian/YA category, so if you like that genre then I'd say give this series a try for sure. I enjoyed all of them!

Every Deadly Kiss by Steven James

I think I'm all caught up now with this series. In this 10th book of the Bowers Files(but actually book 2 or 3 if you count OPENING MOVES as book 1 in the prequel to the series), Patrick has gone to Detroit to investigate a series of murders. He and Christie are on rocky ground at the moment because Pat has issues with saying, "I love you" and is uncertain of his feelings for her. In Detroit he is working with an ex-girlfriend. When Christie finds out you can imagine how well that goes over!

Patrick's nemesis Blake is back and in the center of things it seems. Once again it seems that someone in law-enforcement is working with the bad guys. And Patrick's side-kick Ralph adds levity to the story and made me laugh several times.

EVERY DEADLY KISS was much easier to read than the last book. I liked all of the twists and turns. I liked how the two stories seemed to merge together. I even kind of like Blake and Manny's characters even though they are cold-blooded killers. They have a moral code of their own. I already know what happens in that department because I read EVERY WICKED MAN(3rd book in the prequel series) first. Now I'm thinking that I need to go read the whole series over again! Anyway, if you love a good thriller then as always this series would be perfect for you!

My Reviews of the whole series:

Opening Moves
Every Crooked Path
Every Deadly Kiss-This Review
Every Wicked Man
The Pawn
The Rook
The Knight
The Bishop
The Queen
The King
Checkmate

Every Crooked Path by Steven James

This is book 1 in the New York Years of Patrick Bowers career. He and Christie aren't married, just dating, and he's just forming his relationship with Tessa Christie's 15 year old daughter.

Patrick is working for the FBI on a case of missing children in a child pornography ring. The case takes many twists and turns and Patrick learns that he can't trust everyone. The child porn industry is very lucrative and the people exploiting and kidnapping children will stop at nothing to remain anonymous.

I have to say, this was a hard one for me to get through. I still love this author's writing and love Patrick Bowers character, but the subject matter in this book was disturbing to say the least. I hate when crimes involve children. The author did a good job of showing how disturbing and proliferate this industry is. Not over-the-top graphic, but close enough to cause discomfort for the reader while bringing awareness to this disgusting crime against children. I'm glad I finished it, but like I said, this was a hard one to get through. If you are a suspense/thriller fan then Steven James is the writer for you and Patrick Bowers is the prefect fictional FBI good-guy!

Toxic Toffee by Amanda Flower

Bailey King returns to Harvest from New York just in time to witness another murder! Harvest is preparing for Easter and the town square is once again the center of activity. When rabbit farmer Stephen Raber falls over dead as Bailey is talking with him everyone thinks that he has died from a heart attack. But this is not the case and before long Bailey learns that Stephen was poisoned. When Eli, Stephen's son asks Bailey to find out what happened to his father, and dumps Stephen's prize bunny in her lap, Bailey knows she once again has to solve this murder. Much to her sheriff deputy boyfriend Aiden's dismay Bailey once again is in danger.

First off, I love all of the characters in the Amish Candy Shop series! Even the animal characters! Juliette's pet pig, Bailey's new bunny Puff, her cat that is now the shop cat, and even the two goats of the local matchmaker. Speaking of matchmakers...I love the matchmaker in this book, and she will be featured in a new series soon! Juliette as always makes a splash across the page along with her pet pig Jethro, who manages to stay cute while getting into a lot of trouble. I did get frustrated with Bailey a few times when I thought she was poking her nose where she shouldn't. Especially after Aiden tells her to back off. I like Aiden and Bailey together and Bailey learns some things about herself which help their relationship. The who-done-it was interesting and a bit exciting at the end. Will there be anymore murders for Bailey to help solve in Harvest? I'm thinking they have had their share since Bailey arrived from New York! As always, if you are a fan of cozy mysteries be sure to pick this series up, I found it entertaining and enjoyable, and always filled with snippets of humor that bring a smile to the reader.

**Thanks to the author for my copy of the book. All opinions are my own.**
TOXIC TOFFEE will be available for purchase on June 25, 2019