Book Reviews from Deena

Heart shape filled with books on shelvesCheck out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team who recently retired.  She has generously continued to share book reviews with us.  Thank you, Deena! 

Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles now.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys  DB106794

This carefully researched historical fiction is the story of Romania’s fight for freedom, in the late 1980’s. The author interviewed many people who lived through this period.  At the time, Romania was ruled by communist leader Nicholae Ceausescu. His countrymen lacked food, electricity was intermittent and the people were cold.  To get what they needed they bartered with packages of cigarettes. They were ruled by fear. Many people were made to inform on their neighbors, friends and even their own family.  At the end of the novel, Romania follows East Germany and other countries behind the Iron Curtain and begins a revolution at the cost of many citizens lives. The incidents in this book are true.  The author created the characters for the story.

Kisses From Katie: a story of relentless love and redemption by Katie Davis  DB75591

Katie Davis convinces her parents that she wants to go volunteer in an orphanage over her Christmas break.  Katie and her mother go to Uganda and work with the babies and Katie falls in love with people and the area.  After graduating from high school Katie feels God is calling her back to Uganda.  Katie again, convinces her parents to take a year off from college to return to Uganda. In her year living in Africa, she sets up a ministry to provide food, medical care and schooling for some of the children in the villages where she lives. She also adopts several girls who have no one else to look after them. She leaves her daughters after a year, to return to the United States to keep her promise to her parents to attend college. While in the U. S. she raises money for her ministry and gets people to sponsor a child so they can go to school. After a semester of college, she drops out and returns to Uganda. She adopts more girls and expands her ability to feed additional children and provide medical care. Her most important job is being a mother to fourteen girls.

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins DB98146, Spanish title DB100709

Lydia and her husband, Sebastian live in Acapulco.  Lydia owns a bookstore and Sebastian is a journalist. Sebastian’s writings sometimes oppose the cartels in Mexico and the family has to go into hiding until things cool down. Lydia has befriended a man at the bookstore who shares her passion for good literature. Sebastian has recently written a piece about the head of one of the cartels, including a poem written by him. Lydia’s family is gathered at her mother’s house to celebrate her niece’s birthday.  The cartel that was written about in Sebastian’s article takes its revenge. Lydia, knowing the cartel will continue looking for her and her son pack to leave the country for the United States.  Lydia and Luca suffer a harrowing journey towards the United States.  They meet a lot of characters along their journey some good, some bad.  If you like action and adventure this is the read for you.

Together We Read Book Club Begins on Bridges

Image of the Together We Read logo and the cover of the book River Woman, River Demon by Jennifer Givhan.Booklovers in Iowa can now join readers from 16,000 public libraries and colleges across the United States enjoying this year’s Together We Read: US digital book club selection. From March 1 to 15, our library patrons can read award-winning Mexican-American and Indigenous author Jennifer Givhan’s book, River Woman, River Demon, as an ebook and audiobook for free. Readers can join hundreds of thousands of others accessing the digital book with no waitlists or holds by downloading the Libby app. Our library patrons with a valid library card can also borrow the book by visiting Bridges, and then participate in an online discussion.

For more information about Bridges check out our Bridges Page

The Together We Read: US digital book club connects readers through thousands of U.S. public libraries and colleges with the same ebook for two weeks and only requires a library card to get started. During the program, readers participate in engaging online discussions about the title. This free program is facilitated by the library and OverDrive.

About the Book
River Woman, River Demon tells the story of Eva Santos Moon, a burgeoning Chicana artist who practices the ancient, spiritual ways of brujería and curanderisma. She’s at one of her lowest points—suffering from disorienting blackouts, creative stagnation, and a feeling of disconnect from her magickal roots. When her husband is taken into custody for the shocking murder of their friend, Eva doesn’t know whom to trust—least of all, herself. She soon falls under suspicion as a potential suspect, and her past rises to the surface, dredging up the truth about an eerily similar death from her childhood. Struggling with fragmented memories and self-doubt, an increasingly terrified Eva fears that she might have been involved in both murders. As she fights to keep her family out of danger, Eva realizes she must use her magick as a bruja to protect herself and her loved ones, while confronting her own dark history.

River Woman, River Demon is published as an ebook and audiobook by Blackstone Publishing. The digital book can be borrowed from participating U.S. public libraries and colleges during Together We Read between March 1-15. The ebook and audiobook can be read on all major computers and devices, including iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phones and tablets and Chromebook™ without waitlists or holds. Through Libby, readers can also “send to Kindle®” [U.S. libraries only]. The title will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, and there are no late fees.
Download Libby or visit https://bridges.overdrive.com to get started.

Book Reviews From Deena

Heart shape filled with books on shelvesCheck out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team and continues to generously share book reviews with us during her retirement.  Thank you, Deena!

Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles available.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page.

The Witness by Sandra Brown  DB40616

Kendall is put in a witness protection program after witnessing a terrible crime. There is a bad storm on the way back to South Carolina and an accident happens involving the car in which Kendall is riding. One officer is dead and another, John suffers from amnesia.  At the hospital, rather than tell the doctor the truth, Kendall claims John is her husband.  Kendall plans to escape the hospital and go on the run.  John catches up to her and goes with her.  Kendall and John live together as husband and wife (John still has no memory) and a romance begins. Kendall keeps in touch with a friend back home and finds out the perpetrators of the crime, have escaped jail and are looking for her.  She has to leave John and go on the run.

If the Creek Don’t Rise by Leah Weiss  DB91901

Sadie is seventeen and pregnant, living in the hills of North Carolina.  She marries the father of her baby who is abusive. A new teacher, Kate Shaw, has come to hills, she finds the area backward and full of quirky characters such as Birdie Rocas, who has a crow for a pet. Then there is Prudence Perkins, sister to Rev. Eli Perkins, who brought Kate to the area.  Prudence is unhappy that her brother is so welcoming to Kate Shaw.  She is so much against her brother’s happiness with the schoolteacher that she steals one of Kate’s letters from the post office. She hopes to get the dirt on Miss Shaw. Join these characters as each tells the story of the Appalachian town of Baines Creek from their point of view.

The President’s Daughter by James Patterson  DB103817

President Matt Keating orders Navy SEALS to kill Asim Al-Sheed and collect evidence against him. A building explodes while the SEALS are on the mission and Asim Al-Sheed’s wife and children are killed. Asim avenges this act by kidnapping Matt Keating’s daughter. Matt Keating is no longer president, so he and several others set out to rescue his daughter.  This is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of action.

Book Reviews by Deena

Heart shape filled with books on shelvesCheck out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team and continues to generously share book reviews with us during her retirement.  Thank you, Deena!

Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles available.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page.

Unwilling by John Hart DB103829
John French is a policeman in North Carolina.  He has three sons. One son was killed in Vietnam.  Jason, also served in Vietnam, came back and went to prison. He is now out of prison and the younger son Gibson “Gibby” wants to reestablish a relationship with his brother.  Jason takes Gibby out with several women.  One of the women ends up murdered and Jason is arrested.  Gibby sets out to prove Jason had nothing to do with the murder.  Meanwhile, Jason is back in the prison where he was before and one of inmates runs the prison and is very brutal.  He has is out for Jason.

Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris DB97024
Cilka was in Auschwitz for three years. When she is released, she is told she is going to another camp for fifteen years in Siberia because of her actions in Auschwitz.  In the new camp, near the Arctic Circle, there are only two months of summer, and the rest of the time is very cold and dark. The life is harsh. Cilka’s first job is collecting coal. She later works in the hospital and eventually becomes a nurse. At the beginning, she lives in a hut with other women and the women don’t always get along. Once Cilka starts working in the hospital she receives more food which she shares with the other women in her hut. While in camp, Cilka finds the love she was longing for at the most unexpected time.

Secret School by Avi DB53789
This is a great book for kids.
1925:  The teacher Miss Fletcher leaves for a family emergency in April.  The school board says they will not replace her this late in the term. The two oldest students Ida and Tom must take exams at the end of the school year in order to go on to high school. They put their heads together and decide that since Ida is the smartest student in the class, she should take over the teaching duties.  They swear the other students to secrecy and all students continue to come to school so they won’t have to repeat the work next year. The school board eventually gets wind of the “secret school” and the children’s plan is threatened.

Book Reviews from Deena

Heart shape filled with books on shelvesCheck out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team and continues to generously share book reviews with us during her retirement.  Thank you, Deena!

Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles availalbe.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page.

Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon  CTC3778
Laurus and Sydney fall in love. Laurus is a well-known musician from Denmark. Laurus and Sydney marry, but Laurus goes off to defend Denmark in World War II staying in Europe for several years, for the duration of the war leaving Sydney pregnant During the war, Laurus’s sister, Nina joins the resistance and eventually is caught and sent to a concentration camp. Laurus returns to the U. S. and he and Sydney have several more children. Their son is a troublemaker and is kicked out of a number of boarding schools.
Sydney, like her mother, is more concerned with herself and how she looks to other people than she is her children. Each summer the family spends their time in Maine at Leeway Cottage participating in sailing, parties, and golfing. If you are interested in family sagas spanning from the 1930’s to the 1990’s this is an interesting story.

The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans DB70292
James Keir, is a ruthless businessman.  His obituary appears in the newspaper, only they have mixed-up the James Keir’s. As James reads the negative comments on “his” obituary on the Internet, he begins to think about his life and how he would like to be remembered. He decides he must change his ways and make amends to those he has hurt. He asks his secretary to make a list of those he has wronged and goes to visit each person with mixed results.

The 13th Day of Christmas by Jason F. Wright  UDBU01543
Charlee Alexander’s family is down on their luck. They move to a new town for a fresh start. Charlee makes friends with Marva, an 80-year-old widow.  They become the best of friends, talking every day. Charlee is soon diagnosed with a brain tumor just before Christmas.  Marva creates the 13 days of Christmas to give Charlee little gifts each day to lift her spirits. As Charlee gets better Marva becomes ill. When Marva’s life ends Charlee and her brother Zach take over the 13 days of Christmas tradition giving to those who need a lift.

Book Reviews From Deena

Check out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team who recently retired.  She has generously continued to share book reviews with us.  Thank you, Deena! 

Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles now.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page

The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck  DB68511
This is a good book for anyone who wants a heartwarming story. At first, I disliked 12 year old Eddie, he was such a brat,
even when those he loved reached out to him.  Once I understood where all the anger was coming from, I felt sorry for him.  It makes you think.

Murder in Little Egypt by Darcy O’Brien  DB31046
A true story about John Dale Cavaness, Dr. Dale.  He was a beloved doctor in southern Illinois, in a poor area called Little Egypt.  He often treated patients without requesting payment, but to his family and co-workers Dr. Dale was a tyrant.  He took no interest in his wife and four sons.  He threatened co-workers and forced them to sign forms saying treatment was received by patients who had never entered the office.  Dr. Dale was particularly embarrassed and upset with his oldest son, Mark and his third son, Sean whom he felt lacked direction. In 1986, Mark was found shot to death, near his truck.  Six years later, Sean was found shot to death along a road.  Investigators found shortly before Mark and Sean’s deaths Dale had taken out insurance policies on both boys.  Witnesses were able to place Dr. Dale with Sean just hours before he was shot who was accused of his own son’s murders.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware  DB85729
Laura “Lo” is on a cruise ship for her job as a travel writer.  She is awakened in the night and believes she sees a body being thrown overboard in the cabin next door. She was told that cabin was empty.  She phones security, and they do not believe there is anything to her story because she had been drinking that evening.  Lo sets out to prove what she saw was real.  She anxiously awaits the moment the ship docks, so she can tell the authorities what she saw. There are several other people on board, who want to prevent Lo from informing the police.  Lo keeps digging to find out the truth, despite the danger to herself.  This is a thriller with several twists and turns.