darladoodles
Mid-Continent Public Library
darladoodles's Completed Shelf
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 13, 2025
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 13, 2025
Comment:
I'm giving this one all the stars. One of my favorite Christmas reads so far this year.
They had me at SNOW GLOBE! 🎅🎄⛄
⛄I have always loved snow globes. There is just something magical about the snow falling on the scene inside that globe. And if there is glitter, so much the better.
👩👩🦰👱♀️ Three friends are approaching Christmas with heavy hearts. KILEY has lost out in love to her sister -- will she meet her ONE? SUZANNE is trapped in the real estate rat race -- can she slow down enough to enjoy her family? ALLISON is missing her grandmother -- the only buffer she had in a crazy family.
😻Each of our leading ladies also has a pet connection. Kiley has a cat names Furina. Suzanne's daughter and husband want to adopt a golden retriever puppy named Happy. Allison's family has a bloodhound named Boozle.
🌐The snow globe does not show its magic to just anyone. The current owner of the snow globe will see a scene from their future. Now there is a goal to work toward. No third act breakup here. When Kiley has her wish granted, she gifts the globe to one of her other friends, and so on.
✨I am especially pleased with the cover. IRL the tree ornaments are cut our of colored metallic paper and the snow globe is a glittering wonder. Simply gorgeous.
If you are ready to get in that holiday frame of mind, this book is a great place to start. Can't wait to get our out Christmas decoration boxes and set out my holiday snow globes!I'm giving this one all the stars. One of my favorite Christmas reads so far this year.
They had me at SNOW GLOBE! 🎅🎄⛄
⛄I have always loved snow globes. There is just something magical about the snow falling on the scene inside that globe. And…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 13, 2025
Comment:
Sorry, friends. I am not as thrilled with this new Baldacci series as nearly all of you are.
Getting on my boat to Outlier Island. Tomorrow I will send out a message in a bottle giving more details. 🍾
Tomorrow has arrived and here are further thoughts on this new Baldacci series:
👨Walter Nash and family (wife Judith and daughter Kitty) have no idea what is coming for them. The company Walter has headed acquisitions for had a secret set of books and the FBI wants help cracking the case.
👨🦳Walter's father Ty Nash has just passed and their decades of estrangement add to the unsettled mood already in place. One of Ty's buddies is nicknamed Shock and he publicly calls out Walt for the years of separation.
📚As a rule I have found Baldacci's books to be compelling pageturners. This one really got off to a slow start. Things started rolling at about 50%, but then came the reveal of how Shock got his nickname. I almost DNFd as it seemed so out of sync with the rest of the book.
👋It is with regret that I wave good-bye to David Baldacci's books. Not even the cliffhanger at the end of this one could tempt me to continue. Many, many of my GR friends have absolutely gushed about this one and if you are considering this read do look at other reviews.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.Sorry, friends. I am not as thrilled with this new Baldacci series as nearly all of you are.
Getting on my boat to Outlier Island. Tomorrow I will send out a message in a bottle giving more details. 🍾
Tomorrow has arrived and here are further…
The Legend of the Christmas RoseThe Legend of the Christmas Rose, Book
by Hooks, William H.Book, 1999Book, 1999
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 12, 2025
Comment:
Four 🌹🌹🌹🌹 stars for this flowery tale from the time of the Nativity.
Dorothy is the youngest child and only girl in a family of shepherds.
When her brothers receive the news from the angels and rush off to Bethlehem, Dorothy is swept up in their excitement and follows them.🌟
Without any money, how can she bring a gift for the newborn King? Reminds me of the classic carol: 'What Can I Give Him?' by Christina Rossetti.🎁
The cover shows her sweet offering of white flowers gifted to her by an angel along the way. 🌼
In that same spot Dorothy discovers the Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) and takes it home, blessing others for centuries to come.🌹
Includes an Author's Note on the significance of the Christmas Rose in history. A wonderful Christmas read.Four 🌹🌹🌹🌹 stars for this flowery tale from the time of the Nativity.
Dorothy is the youngest child and only girl in a family of shepherds.
When her brothers receive the news from the angels and rush off to Bethlehem, Dorothy is swept up in…
A Kidnapped Santa ClausA Kidnapped Santa Claus, eAudiobook
by Baum, L. FrankeAudiobook, 2015eAudiobook, 2015
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 11, 2025
Comment:
I was in between audio books and decided to take this one out for a spin.
The narrator is Max Bollinger. While the book is read in English, words like Claus (rhymes with house) had an exotic flavor.
This is short little read --under 25 minutes, but I loved the tale of the four evil demons trying to sideline Christmas (like the Grinch). Each one has their own cave.
🎅First is the cave of SELFISHNESS. That cave leads to:
🎅ENVY. After that is the cave of:
🎅HATRED. And then onwards to:
🎅MALICE.
Each cave has a small exit leading to the fifth cave: REPENTANCE.
When the four evil demons conspire to ruin Christmas they star with Selfishness and keep ramping up to the bigger guns. Santa will not be distracted from his mission to make children happy and generous to others.
They kidnap Santa as a last resort. Then his helpers must carry on with some humorous results. Will Santa be rescued? Will the demons take advantage of the proximity of Repentance? Take a few minutes out of your holiday prep (or during if you multitask) and give this classic story a listen.I was in between audio books and decided to take this one out for a spin.
The narrator is Max Bollinger. While the book is read in English, words like Claus (rhymes with house) had an exotic flavor.
This is short little read --under 25 minutes,…
My Sister's Daughter And Silent Echo: Two ThrillersMy Sister's Daughter And Silent Echo: Two Thrillers, Book
by Constantine, LivBook, 20251111Book, 20251111
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 10, 2025
Comment:
A new title from Liv Constantine and it's a twofer.
Sign me up!
These two novellas were quite the page turners. Here's what I liked:
🌟🌟🌟My Sister's Daughter ~ The Bower family with two children of their own (Luna and Maddox) takes in an orphaned relative (Serena). Both of the Serena's parents died within the past year. Now strange things are happening to make the Bower children unhappy with their new 'sister.'
🌟🌟🌟Silent Echo ~ Charlotte is reeling from the loss of her little boy. Just when she is starting to put her life back in order, she realizes that he may not be dead. She seems to see him around every corner, which might explain why her husband does not seem interested in pursuing her doubts. Will someone listen?
📚 I really enjoyed the novella length and am glad I took the opportunity to read these right before Pub Date.
I would have happily awarded this four stars EXCEPT for the many sentences that were imcomplete. The white space was clearly supposed to have words in it. This was a frequent occurrence and not just occasional. Really frustrating!A new title from Liv Constantine and it's a twofer.
Sign me up!
These two novellas were quite the page turners. Here's what I liked:
🌟🌟🌟My Sister's Daughter ~ The Bower family with two children of their own (Luna and Maddox) takes in an…
Family of SpiesFamily of Spies, BookA World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor
by Kuehn, ChristineBook, 2025Book, 2025
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 10, 2025
Comment:
Secrets eat love like acid. But love regenerates. My father is a testament to that. ~ Christine Kuehn
In less than a month, we will commemorate the 84th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. A day that will live in infamy (FDR).
This book tells the story of the years and days and hours before that sneak attack on our military. And a bit about the aftermath.
Here are five reasons to read it:
✍Christine Kuehn is blindsided by the news that a screenwriter wants to interview her and her family about Pearl Harbor. What?! Like Jennifer Teege in My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me: A Black Woman Discovers Her Family's Nazi Past, Kuehn had absolutely no clue about her ties to Nazi spies.
🤔In the aftermath of the attack, a fervor against Germany and Japan resulted in some trumped up stories about the Kuehn children that were not true. Christine takes the time to weed through and share what stands up to scrutiny.
👩Her Aunt Ruth was in a book called 'The World's 30 Greatest Women Spies' by Kurt Singer (1951). Christine's interactions with Ruth in the present show no signs of this femme fatale. What a conundrum!
👨👧 Her father Eberhard seems to have lived two lives. Could the stories he has been telling them (which they thought were exaggerations) have been true all along? Why does he avoid talking about Pearl Harbor? And not that he has dementia, that door may be permanently closed. Or is it?
🎧 The audio book narrated by Erin Bennett is an immersive accompaniment to the digital version. I chose to take advantage of having access to both and that really elevated my reading experience. All that is missing is the possible inclusion of photos. I will look those up at my library.
As other readers have noted, this is a true story that reads like fiction. It is almost impossible to imagine what an impact such discoveries would have on a family. That makes the quote I shared above especially relevant.Secrets eat love like acid. But love regenerates. My father is a testament to that. ~ Christine Kuehn
In less than a month, we will commemorate the 84th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. A day that will live in infamy (FDR).
This book tells the story…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 09, 2025
Comment:
Gabriela Rose is back on the job with some elite treasure to recover for an old friend.
It's hard to believe it has been three years since we read The Recovery Agent. As I noted at the time, while we get Janet Evanovich's quirky style -- Gabriela is much more organized than Stephanie Plum. Gabriela Rose is able to recover valuable items and people, because she has skills.
Here is why I am giving this sequel four stars:
🌏We get to do some serious world travelling with Gabriela and her team. London, Cairo, and Milan are on the itinerary along with her NYC homebase and a trip to Florida.
👱♂️ Her ex Rafer is riding shotgun and he may not be married to Gabriela anymore, but he understands her and does a great job assisting.
👩 Gabriela is tough as nails, but she is also one put-together lady. Her fashion sense shines through as she pursues leads like a dog with a bone.
😆 The stakes are high, but Janet Evanovich's sense of humor shines through. If you like the writing in the Stephanie Plum books, you might also enjoy this series.
Speaking of Stephanie Plum, any word on Book #32?Gabriela Rose is back on the job with some elite treasure to recover for an old friend.
It's hard to believe it has been three years since we read The Recovery Agent. As I noted at the time, while we get Janet Evanovich's quirky style -- Gabriela…
The Elephant's BallThe Elephant's Ball, Book
Book, 2007Book, 2007
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 09, 2025
Comment:
"A grand rural fete I will shortly provide,
That for pomp, taste, and splendor, shall far leave behind,
All former attempts at a similar king." ~ The Elephant
So, the scene is set. A grand ball described in lyrical verse and illustrated by the talented Pauline Baynes.
Why was I set on reading this one?
📚 I recently saw a review of The Butterfly's Ball by my GR friend Thibault and that story is referenced in the Introduction to this book as it was in the same series.
🎨 Not long ago I read a picture book bio about Pauline Baynes entitled Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and decided to seek out more of her work.
🐘 Elephant and the other animal characters are illustrated in colorful detail by Pauline in all their party finery.
✍ The verse is fanciful and elaborate like the pictures. A glossary is included to help translate terms like Grimalkin (cat), Sol (the sun), and Viands (meat)
"In such good amusements the evening they past,
till Aurora appear'd to the eastward at last;
When back to their homes, they return'd one and all,
Well pleas'd with the sports at the Elephant's Ball.""A grand rural fete I will shortly provide,
That for pomp, taste, and splendor, shall far leave behind,
All former attempts at a similar king." ~ The Elephant
So, the scene is set. A grand ball described in lyrical verse and illustrated by the…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 08, 2025
Comment:
Want to challenge yourself to prepare a treat for each of the 12 Days of Christmas?
This book is just what you need! Recipes included along with a heartwarming story of second chance love and hope in the face of grief.
Here's what I liked:
🧼Squeaky clean content. Finn and Freya are attracted to each other and even share the same building, but they prioritize and save physical intimacy for later.
😋Freya misses her high-adrenaline job in the kitchen of a Parisian Michelin-star restaurant. Finn benefits from her decision to take up a 12 Days of Christmas challenge. Delicious food every day from Christmas Day through Twelfth Night.
👩🍳While pursuing her dream to be a chef, Freya left her mother Anna back in Middlemass. Freya has come back with regrets and guilt as her mother has died of cancer. Some dear friends and her godmother will support and encourage her in her grief. You might need your tissues.
🥂A toast to a cast with characters (men and women) who are relatable and likable. There was only one character who was obnoxious. The rest were people I would love getting to know.
While this holiday read had some weighty issues at its core, it was a delicious and heartwarming read. I didn't love it as much as The Littlest Library but it is set in the same part of the country.📚Want to challenge yourself to prepare a treat for each of the 12 Days of Christmas?
This book is just what you need! Recipes included along with a heartwarming story of second chance love and hope in the face of grief.
Here's what I…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 07, 2025
Comment:
Holy moly! This adrenaline rush of a read will have you holding your breath until the epic conclusion.
Why am I giving this one all the stars?
🚗 A couple takes a wrong turn in the fog.
🤔They think they are helping a couple stranded on the side of the road.
🤯This is not that!
👶Baby Lila!
👨⚖️ What happens when you do the right thing at the wrong time? How should it end?
Trying my best not to give too much away. I went into this blind, knowing there was a couple in a car. That is all you need. Jump right in and don't forget your seatbelt!Holy moly! This adrenaline rush of a read will have you holding your breath until the epic conclusion.
Why am I giving this one all the stars?
🚗 A couple takes a wrong turn in the fog.
🤔They think they are helping a couple stranded on the side…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 07, 2025
Comment:
The Balfour family is gathering in Northumberland for Christmas.
How will the changes in their lives affect the celebration?
Sarah Morgan brings this holiday narrative to life by highlighting the Balfour women:
👱♀️Becky - She thinks before speaking and processes her emotions internally. Since her twin got married on Valentine's Day, Becky has struggled with the change in their relationship. Now she will have to be in proximity to the demonstrative couple over the holidays. Sounds like torture!
👱♀️Rosie - She is the opposite of twin Becky in that her thoughts and emotions just come spilling out. Her new husband Declan is the strong, silent type and a former work colleague of Becky. Did they get it wrong and he should have actually married Becky who shares his interests and temperament?
👩🦳Jenny - She is the mother and hostess of the family festivities. Her husband Martin has just retired and seems to be depressed. Who will help her put up all the twinkle lights and decorations before the kids get home?
👩🦰 Hayley - The newest addition to the family and wife of Jamie, big brother to the twins. This will be her first family Christmas. Her life as a digital nomad is of great fascination to Jamie's grandmother who is following her posts on social media. Granny's advice to Jenny when decorating is to Just do what you always do but add more fairy lights. You can never have too many fairy lights.
What I loved most about this new holiday read was the inside look at a family who loves each other and works through their issues. They are a team. And it was great fun to have the topic of Rom-coms popping up frequently and making it quite a meta concept as they even floated the title of the book as a working title for their Christmas experience.
Besides the fact that the true meaning of Christmas is never addressed, the bedroom doors were cracked open for the three siblings and their partners. Not a good author match for me, but I did find the story entertaining.The Balfour family is gathering in Northumberland for Christmas.
How will the changes in their lives affect the celebration?
Sarah Morgan brings this holiday narrative to life by highlighting the Balfour women:
👱♀️Becky - She thinks before…
Pets and the CityPets and the City, BookTrue Tales of A Manhattan House Call Veterinarian
by Attas, AmyBook, 2024Book, 2024
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 04, 2025
Comment:
Four tail-wagging stars for this memoir by a vet who makes Manhattan housecalls.😻🐕
Such a brilliant idea. Take the care to the pets rather than have the pets come to a clinic. Did it work?
🏆Yes, it did! City Pets has been in business sinced 1992. That has given Amy Attas so many stories to share.
📚 Dr. Amy Attas was inspired to be a veterinarian after reading All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. In fact, the City Pet website calls Dr. Amy "The James Herriot of New York City.
🤩The title is a winner. Remember how popular Sex and the City was back in its heyday? Dr. Amy tells some fascinating stories about the fashion choices of her clients.
🐶 There are ever so many wonderful stories about pets (mostly dogs and cats) in this book. One of my favorites was about Dr. Amy's dog Bumper. He was blind and would bump into things to 'map' a new space.
James Herriot really set the bar high for heartwarming veterinary tales. While this collection doesn't rise quite that high, it does provide many engaging stories about pets and their owners and the adventures she has had in caring for them through the years.Four tail-wagging stars for this memoir by a vet who makes Manhattan housecalls.😻🐕
Such a brilliant idea. Take the care to the pets rather than have the pets come to a clinic. Did it work?
🏆Yes, it did! City Pets has been in business sinced…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 03, 2025
Comment:
Boy or girl? Madeline Drake is seven months pregnant and the gender reveal party is a bit OTT. Despite all the money and planning her husband Wes poured into the hoopla, things go VERY wrong.
As find out more about that night, Wes and Madeline have a couple of unplanned houseguests to deal with. Will they be THE PERFECT HOSTS?
Here is why I am giving this new release all the stars:
📚 That eye-catching cover! Madeline would have been just fine with a cake reveal. Wes just had to add explosives into the mix.
👮♂️ Jamie Soldano arrives in Wildjar, WY to investigate the incident. Little do the residents know, he lived there are a scrawny 12-year-old and needs some closure. His sister Juneau disappeared back then and is still missing decades later.
👭 Lucy, Madeline's stepsister, appears on the ranch after the party imploded. Is she conspiring with Wes? Or Madeline?
🤠 The Teton setting is just perfect for the plot. And I loved the fact that Lucy and Madeline grew up together on an Iowa horse farm. Loved having so many beautiful horses in the mix.
😎 The pacing was immaculate. Multiple POVs and plot threads blended together for a seamless and surprising read. I may have guess one or two of the twists ahead of time, but that just made me feel like I was paying attention.
Tomorrow (November 4, 2025) is Pub Day for this new release. Definitely one of my favorites from Heather Gudenkauf.Boy or girl? Madeline Drake is seven months pregnant and the gender reveal party is a bit OTT. Despite all the money and planning her husband Wes poured into the hoopla, things go VERY wrong.
As find out more about that night, Wes and Madeline have…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Nov 01, 2025
Comment:
The favorite day of the Fall season for the animals at this zoo is PUMPKIN DAY!🎃
Susan Meissner, a beloved HF author, has given us a rhyming story about this epic day at a zoo.
It begins like this:
Morning sun shines down on the zoo, on giraffes and camels and kangaroos,
All the animals inall their places, leaning and looking with eager faces.
The pages that follow depict the joy and delight the zoo animals exhibit over their pumpkin treats.
Famlies help the zoo employees unload the many-hued pumpkins from their wheelbarrows.
The colorful and at times comical illustrations by Pablo Pino are a perfect complement to the narrative.
What a morning! And what a way to spend an autumn Saturday!
P.S. A note at the end reminds parents and educators to check with the zoos and wildlife organization in their area to see if they want donations of uncarved, unpainted pumpkins. What a great way to recycle those autumn displays.The favorite day of the Fall season for the animals at this zoo is PUMPKIN DAY!🎃
Susan Meissner, a beloved HF author, has given us a rhyming story about this epic day at a zoo.
It begins like this:
Morning sun shines down on the zoo, on giraffes…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Oct 31, 2025
Comment:
"If the child gives the effect another turn of the screw, what do you say to TWO children--?"
"We say, of course," somebody exclaimed!, "that they give two turns! Also that we want to hear about them."
If you are looking for a gothic classic to include in your spooky season reads, I would recommend this Henry James tale. It really creeps up on you!
🔩The pace of this may seem glacial to some, but page by page that screw is turning. Is there really any THERE there???
🔩You could compare it to watching a pot and waiting for it to boil. What did our narrator see? Is she the only one? Will the guardian be brought in to give input on the situation? Who will protect the children from THEM?
🔩There are instances when I could distinctly imagine a jump-scare moment. Now that I have read the story I need to see what screen adaptations are available.
🔩The communication styles between the major characters lead to the lack of action and the momentous conclusion.
That screw continues to turn and the result is not pleasant. Henry James is very wordy, but his method of building suspense is strong. A satisfyingly creepy read for the season.👻🎃"If the child gives the effect another turn of the screw, what do you say to TWO children--?"
"We say, of course," somebody exclaimed!, "that they give two turns! Also that we want to hear about them."
If you are looking for a gothic classic to…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Oct 30, 2025
Comment:
That is His power and glory, to turn bad to good, hate to love, pain to joy. He is the master loomsman--the great weaver of life.
It is content like this that keeps me coming back each year to read the latest Christmas title from Richard Paul Evans.
Here are some people you will meet in this is a winner:
🧑Paul Wanless is a widower who feels like he died with his wife and son in a car accident three years ago. The Christmas holidays mark another anniversary of that tragedy and he is done with life. And he used to be a Christmasphile.
👼Gabriel appears in Paul's home just in time to prevent a catastrophic consequence. He returns from time to time and nudges our hero in one direction or another.
👱♀️Collette Hill is a widow and Paul's pharmacist. A shared experience throws them both for a loop and brings them together.
👦Ronald Grimes is nine and his mother needs him to take care of her. The family has been through too many tragic turns. How will Paul and Collette connect with Ron? It's RPE storytelling magic.
📜Wisdom is dispensed with every chapter. Here is one of my favorites:
Life can only be understood backwards;
but it must be lived forwards. ~ Soren Kierkegaard
If you are a long-time fan of the RPE books like me, you know you will love this one like I did. If you have not tried one yet, what are you waiting for? It just isn't holiday reading season without Richard Paul Evans.That is His power and glory, to turn bad to good, hate to love, pain to joy. He is the master loomsman--the great weaver of life.
It is content like this that keeps me coming back each year to read the latest Christmas title from Richard Paul…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2025
Comment:
This is not a wedding I would have wanted an invite to. That private island off the coast of Colombia sounds like a death trap. It's a hard no.😎
After giving The Clinic four stars last year, I decided to give this wedding-related mystery a try. That wedding was riddled with the trappings of living a life in the public eye.
Here are some things I liked:
👰🤵 A destination wedding sounds like such a great getaway. And taking a private jet to the location seems even better. I guess it really depends on who you are with!
🕵️♀️Holly Stone is forensic expert. The tools of the trade are always with her and she can analyze a crime scene like no one else. How does this blue-haired girl from an unpopular NYC zip code get an invite to the wedding of the century?
📚In addition to Holly's POV, we also see the events in the book through the eyes of Arianna, the bride, and Petra, one of the bridesmaids. When you get to the satisfying finish, there is a link to Cate Quinn's page offering more information on her research for the book. It was fascinating!
Two problems I had: this book was too long and that island had too many problems.This is not a wedding I would have wanted an invite to. That private island off the coast of Colombia sounds like a death trap. It's a hard no.😎
After giving The Clinic four stars last year, I decided to give this wedding-related mystery a try.…
Every Hour until ThenEvery Hour until Then, eAudiobook
by Meyer, GabrielleeAudiobook, 2025eAudiobook, 2025
darladoodles's rating:
Added Oct 28, 2025
Comment:
The Jack the Ripper case dominates this fifth Timeless installment. Kathryn Voland is the time-crossing daughter of Grace (one of the twins in Book 3), the granddaughter of Maggie from Book 2, and the great granddaughter of Libby from Book 1.
If you are a fan of this series like I am, you will want to read this one sooner than later. Book 6 is coming out next week, y'all!
Here are some of my favorite things:
📜The Timeless Family Tree at the beginning helps orient followers of the series.
📅 Kathryn's two timelines are just fifty years apart -- 1888 and 1938. The proximity of the two really adds some new possibilities. I especially loved the ending!
🔪 In 1938, Kathryn is a curator for the Smithsonian. She is invited to London in 1938 to help prepare a Jack the Ripper exhibit for the London Museum. Her research will lead her to new difficulties in 1888 and make it difficult for her to choose the timeline she will grow old in.
👭 Kathryn's love for her parents in 1938 competes with her need to help her sister in 1888. Not only that, there is also a romantic tug to one of the timelines. What a dilemma!
📚The historical context for both timelines is rich and while Jack the Ripper is the threat in 1888, Hitler is looming larger and larger in 1938. Gabrielle Meyer's theory on the identity of Jack the Ripper works out perfectly.
I listened to this one and read a digital copy -- too impatient to wait for the audio to get me across the finish line. Highly recommend this series to fans of time travel. On to Book #6.😎The Jack the Ripper case dominates this fifth Timeless installment. Kathryn Voland is the time-crossing daughter of Grace (one of the twins in Book 3), the granddaughter of Maggie from Book 2, and the great granddaughter of Libby from Book 1.
If…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Oct 28, 2025
Comment:
Take a trip with the Suitcase Sisters to see and taste the sights of Italy.
Grace and Claire had such a memorable trip together to Africa in Tea with Elephants that they are ready for another destination.
I absolutely loved the virtual travelling experience. Venice, Florence, and Bellagio came to life within these pages. While I still would love to go in real life, I was blessed by this read. Robin Jones Gunn covers the means of grace in some memorable ways:
🙏Grace and Claire are not at the same place in their faith walk and Grace struggles with how she can support and encourage her travel companion. As they pray with their Italian hosts/hostesses and individually, the answers come.
🍝Hospitality and fellowship feed body and soul. Learning about Paulina's hospitality ministry in Venice and the way Gio and Amelia met in Florence are significant experiences for both women.
🍦The search for the best gelato has them even eating it for breakfast! They end up buying out a gelatera once by mistake and that gives them GELATO AT THE VILLA and blesses all staying there.
🌊By Lake Como our ladies witness a baptism ceremony and we see how that sacrament leads to a pivotal moment in Claire's life.
🍞Eating at the table of Gio and Amelia at their Tuscany villa and in Florence leads to a discussion of the wedding supper of the Lamb and described at the end of Revelation. While Christ's bride is a work in progress, we do have the promise of that wonderful day.
Book group questions are included in this edition and it would make for a wonderful group selection with readers who love an inspirational travel read. I wonder where the Suitcase Sisters will go next and if their daughters will go along next time?Take a trip with the Suitcase Sisters to see and taste the sights of Italy.
Grace and Claire had such a memorable trip together to Africa in Tea with Elephants that they are ready for another destination.
I absolutely loved the virtual travelling…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Oct 26, 2025
Comment:
Melody and the gang are back to use their ghostbusting skills at a haunted castle. Fun, right?
Maplemead Castle was super cool with turrets and beautiful gardens --and circus performers in the ballroom. Say, what?
Here's what I liked about this second Melody Bittersweet novel:
🚌Babs, the company van, is faithfully belching and gasping her way back forth to transport the team. I love that she's a throwback to the Scooby-Doo Mystery Van and has retro artwork.
👦Artie, the assistant, is a delight. In this second book he has a crush on a girl on the kitchen staff. Will he be brave enough to invite her to the big masquerade ball? His Chewbacca mask is a great choice, too.
🐕Lestat, Melody's pug, is a delightful addition to the team. He even defends his owner from a ferocious circus lion. A ghost version!
One other fun note was the KC Chiefs sun visor that the castle owner is wearing at their initial meeting. 🏈
This one was not as entertaining as the first in the series. There was too much spice and crude innuendo for me. Not sure if I will be interested in a third book in this series. Will still be ready for a new standalone from Josie Silver, though.Melody and the gang are back to use their ghostbusting skills at a haunted castle. Fun, right?
Maplemead Castle was super cool with turrets and beautiful gardens --and circus performers in the ballroom. Say, what?
Here's what I liked about this…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Oct 25, 2025
Comment:
Can you imagine the athleticism required to jump on a moving horse at the top of a 45-foot tower and ride that horse as it dives into a tank while staying on its back until you emerge from the water to wave at the crowd?
Perhaps you, like me, vividly remember watching Sonora's story in the Disney movie "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" back in the 90's? Well, Disney pulled a few fast ones in that story. Shocker, I know.
The good news is that you can read a more factual version of Sonora's story in this new release from Jenni L. Walsh. Here are some reasons to read or listen to this riveting read:
🐎Like me, you love horses. This horse-diving act ran from the late 20's until the beginning of the US role in WW II. The Carver family only used horses in their act who loved taking the dive. You will meet some charmers like White Lightning, Jody (Judas), and Red Lips.
🏊♀️The young women who did the dives had to be good at swimming and diving before they could even train on the horses. William Carver said is was 95% horse and 5% girl.
💑Sonora Webster falls in love with Al Carver, the son of the couple who created the act. Their love story is a lovely example for all of us in supporting and caring for our partners.
🎥You might see this review and think watching the movie again will be adequate. It won't! Jenni L. Walsh has used Sonora's own memoir as a source for this read. You will get a more Sonora-approved story by reading this book.
🎧If you like to listen to your books, I highly recommend the audio version as narrated by Piper Goodeve. She brings this story to life in such a way that you can see it in your mind while she reads.Can you imagine the athleticism required to jump on a moving horse at the top of a 45-foot tower and ride that horse as it dives into a tank while staying on its back until you emerge from the water to wave at the crowd?
Perhaps you, like me,…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Oct 25, 2025
Comment:
Mildred the mild-mannered gallery cat sticks to her basket by day.
At night, she comes alive when she has the gallery all to herself.
Or does she??? 🐭
Some cool things you will find in this humorous picture book:
😻Mildred is inspired by a real gallery cat named (you guessed it) Mildred. She resides at the Tate Modern.
🐭While admiring the works of the gallery by night, fictional Mildred stumbles upon a mouse and a nearby exhibit in progress gets a new look.
🎨The bold color palette and minimal lines make for a modern look to the book. Mildred really pops off the page with her distinctive tuxedo markings.
🐕There's a new Mildred book coming out in 2026: "Mildred and the Copycat" by Jono Ganz . Is the Tate adding a dog to their acquisitions?
Galleries can be enjoyed by all ages and books like this prepare kids for the experience or help them to talk about the art at a gllery they have visited recently. If you enjoy cats and art, I also recommend "A Gallery of Cats" by Ruth Brown.Mildred the mild-mannered gallery cat sticks to her basket by day.
At night, she comes alive when she has the gallery all to herself.
Or does she??? 🐭
Some cool things you will find in this humorous picture book:
😻Mildred is inspired by a real…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Oct 24, 2025
Comment:
On a date that isn't going well? Do you feel unsafe or just a little uneasy? Ask for Andrea at the bar.
We'll make sure you get home safe.
Three girls have not gotten home safe. All three were killed by a man who hunts for prey on the dating site MatchStrike.
👩Meghan was killed in Utah and left in the brush to die. One of her coral-colored flats lays by the road not far from her body. You can see it on the cover.
👱♀️Brecia became a victim in Colorado. She may have been the first. After dating the suspect for just a few days, she broke it off. A year later he comes to her house and strangles her with an extension cord from her recycling bin.
👩🦱Skye is the Idaho barista who prepares the man's hot chocolate and draws a cute face on the cup. She never even gives him her number, but he stalks her and finds the perfect time to isolate her and leave her body in the brush.
👨👩👧👧What is really scary is that our killer has a wife and two daughters. He is able to keep them in the dark about his second life. Will his wife April find out who he is in time to save their daughters?
👻If our dead girls have any say in it, justice will be done! This unique plot has them stalking their killer and doing what they can (it's trial and error) to assist in the investigation.
And they still might find out they can ask Andrea for help.On a date that isn't going well? Do you feel unsafe or just a little uneasy? Ask for Andrea at the bar.
We'll make sure you get home safe.
Three girls have not gotten home safe. All three were killed by a man who hunts for prey on the dating site…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Oct 23, 2025
Comment:
The Timeless Series continues to fascinate readers as more Time Crossers are revealed. Things are getting complicated in Book 4!
Here are some highlights:
🏴☠ Love Pirates of the Caribbean? Our 1727 timeline has plenty of action on the high seas.
🛩 While in 1927, Charles Lindbergh completes his first Transatlantic Flight to great fanfare.
🌑 Where do we go with our sin? In both timelines there are folks who have gone down the wrong path and need a reset. Will they find forgiveness and grace?
👯 Remember Hope and Grace from Book #3? They are back in cameo appearances.
🦋 The state of Minnesota gets a chance to shine in the 1927 timeline. That is also Meyer's home.
This was a riveting read. The alternating chapters kept my attention as we pondered the dilemmas that Caroline faces in her parallel lives. The publisher was originally just planning for three books in this series. The high ratings for this fourth book shows the wisdom of adding more books.
Next up: Every Hour Until Then. ⏳The Timeless Series continues to fascinate readers as more Time Crossers are revealed. Things are getting complicated in Book 4!
Here are some highlights:
🏴☠ Love Pirates of the Caribbean? Our 1727 timeline has plenty of action on the high…
Comment: