Review: Good Morning, Midnight

Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Very disappointed in this book. The characters were oddly unlikeable, and I hated the ending. 2 stars because it was well-written. It could be the mood I am in, but probably not based on the mixed reviews.

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Review: The Orphan's Tale

The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ok, I should have known this would be a tearjerker. I was lying in bed crying in the middle of the night at the end.

I loved this book. The drama and strife of WWII takes a bit of a backseat to the circus life, but it's always there in the shadows. We have two unlikely women thrown together and a lovely story of love and loss.

I won't say much more because I think this book works best when you go in blind. 4 stars.

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Review: The Culture Code: An Ingenious Way to Understand Why People Around the World Buy and Live as They Do

The Culture Code: An Ingenious Way to Understand Why People Around the World Buy and Live as They Do by Clotaire Rapaille
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lost my review! So annoying. Back later.

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Review: Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Enjoyable end to the trilogy. Sarah MacLean writes a good historical romance.

We continue our journey with the St. John family. With Gabriel and Nicholas happily married, we can focus on their beautiful, impulsive, Italian half-sister, Juliana. She's brash, she's not accepted by the London ton, and pretty much over the whole thing. She's wildly attracted to Simon, the Duke of Leighton, after their brief encounter in the previous book. However, the heavily starched Duke can't decide if he wants happiness or honor. Spoiler, we are driving towards that HEA we all expect.

Juliana was pretty dumb in this one. For someone so confident and fiery, she disappointed me with how she chased after Simon. I would have just walked away with my head held high. But not Juliana. No, she's chasing after bonnets, falling into lakes, racing her horse, and getting snippy with his mother. Bad decision quality aside, I enjoyed the end to the series. 3 stars.

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Review: Trial Run

Trial Run by Dick Francis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another great everyman mystery by my best pal, Dick Francis. Travel back to 1978, during the Cold War with Russia. We are scared of them, they are scared of us.

Randall Drew, ex-steeplechaser and general all-around good chap, is sent over to do some spying. By the Prince, no less. How would you say no to him? The mystery is a little unclear in places, but it all comes together by the end.

If you like horses, Russian-US Cold War, mysteries, and good guy main characters, you should check this one out. 3 enjoyable stars.

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Review: You're Never Weird on the Internet

You're Never Weird on the Internet by Felicia Day
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Felicia Day is funny, and real, and weird. I think we could be real-life friends. I really enjoyed the audio with her narration. If you like gaming, comics, sci fi, strange families, or just laughing when people do cringey things (I am quite the cringey person myself), check it out.

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Review: The Secret of Red Gate Farm

The Secret of Red Gate Farm by Carolyn Keene
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nancy, Bess, and George save the day again (well, mostly Nancy). This time, they help a virtual stranger save their farm. Do you know three more "do-gooder" girls out there? Because I don't.

This time, Bess buys some perfume and it kicks off a mystery. Nancy is approached on the train based on the perfume scent, which really confused me because I would never be able to identify a perfume on someone. Oh, is that sparkling waters you are wearing? No, not me. But some random dude can? Please, Miss Keene. You are better than this plot line.

Anyway, they meet a girl who needs a ride, and a job, and Nancy is there to save the day. She really is the original Mary Sue. A guy stalks them, they go to the farm, they meet a cult (yes, a cult) and then they infiltrate it. Why would you expect anything else? Guys flirt with Nancy, as usual, and she saves the day.

And they all lived happily ever after. 3 stars.

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Review: Mindset: Changing The Way You think To Fulfil Your Potential

Mindset: Changing The Way You think To Fulfil Your Potential by Carol S. Dweck
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A bit repetitive, but it does make you stop and examine if your mindset could be holding you back. This feels a like a research paper that was optioned as a book, and she padded it out.

However, if you have a fixed mindset, you will allow your internal limiting beliefs to hold you back or derail you. If you have a growth mindset, you don't allow failure to stop you from achieving your goals. Do I believe people can do anything they set their minds to? No, and maybe that shows I have a fixed mindset, but it's true. I will never run a 5 minute mile, no matter how hard I train. Absolutely never. I will never bench press 400 pounds. I will never be an astronaut. I'm realistic in the limitations of life, and if Carol Dweck really believes she could do anything, she either has very low goals or is living a life full of disappointment.

I believe her overall message is to not let your attitude get in your way, work hard, and do better. Now you don't have to spend the money for this book. You're welcome. Thank you for attending my TED Talk. 2.5 stars, but rounding up because there are some people who REALLY need to read this book.

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Review: The Black Echo

The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book that started it all. Harry Bosch, one of LAPD's finest. A bit outside the box, runs his mouth a little too much, but almost always gets his man.

I like this grizzled Vietnam vet. I haven't let myself watch the tv series because I know they had to change too much to keep it up to date. Maybe someday.

In this one, Harry is juggling a lot. A dead body in a stormpipe that has ties to his past. A mysterious bank robbery that went unsolved. Internal Affairs meddling in his life. The FBI swooping in and messing with his case. And a huge slice of betrayal pie. Poor Harry. He's just not appreciated by his bosses. I feel you, Harry, I feel you.

3 enjoyable stars. Just read the series. It gets better with every book.

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Review: The Charm School

The Charm School by Nelson DeMille
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One of my favorite Nelson DeMille books. It's dated, for sure, but a nice romp through cold war espionage Russia. We, of course, are on the good guys side as Americans. Prepare to wrap yourself in the red, white, and blue and give a big kiss to the Statue of Liberty.

Spoiled rich kid Gregory Fisher is traveling around the USSR in his Pontiac Trans Am he had sent over from Connecticut. Let's just rub your American salute to materialism in all of the Russian faces, Greg. Anyway, he breaks the rules, gets lost, and stumbles across a downed American flyer who has been held captive in the Charm School for 30 years. Insane, right? It's a top secret installation and Fisher is about to blow the lid right off. Or will he? Time to read the Charm School and see what happens next.

Or just watch The Americans. That might be more satisfying. Up to you. It's cheesy and ridiculous, but I love it. 4 stars even though the dialogue made my eyes rolls so hard that I might have broken something.

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