Tag Archive: Fiction



First Warning: Acorna's Children (Acorna, #8)First Warning: Acorna’s Children by Anne McCaffrey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Suddenly, we aren’t reading about the unicorn girl but rather her daughter. And if we thought a worldwide pandemic was difficult, imagine interplanetary illness killing many.

This book was written in 2005, only six years from the author’s passing and 17 years from our own pandemic. I have to wonder how we would have reacted if we needed the healing horn of a unicorn to cure rather than a vaccine to prevent illness. Anne did show the reluctance of those infected to need the healing. Everyone had their own idea of what was causing and how to deal with the ill.

All this, space travel, and a teen needing her parents to help as she develops new abilities.

Though I have enjoyed the series, this might be my second favorite just because of how much the author could predict human behavior.

I was lucky to find this on Libby. I do wish it were audio, but the Kindle text-to-speech seems to do a good job reading this story.

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Spelling the Tea (Vampire Tea Room Magical Mystery, #1)Spelling the Tea by Erin Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The narration of Hannah Somerville made this less fun than my previous reads of Erin Johnson’s vampire reads. Maybe it is because Hannah is missing the British accent? I don’t know. But I kept at it and made myself understand that this was a different character than the Knitting Store star. And I think that trick worked. By the end, I was enjoying this personality, her baggage, and desires almost as much as the previous series.

I have to admit that I am hooked on Ms. Johnson’s books. I just ordered the Pet Psychic series on Audible. I had a credit, after all.

This little mystery, though light, was intriguing. If you are looking for a fun read, I suggest any of Erin’s books

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Acorna's TriumphAcorna’s Triumph by Anne McCaffrey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a continuation of the last book, including lots of time travel to make and solve problems. I admit to being quite distracted as traveling to my daughter and son-in-love’s wedding took a lot of my time and energy. Still, it was fun, what I remember, and kept me in the story despite myself and packing suitcases.

This series was interesting. I have more Anne McCaffrey books to read and can’t wait to get started on my next one.

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Sense and SensibilitySense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I know others will see my rating and be quite disgusted. But I read all the Thomas Hardy books in my twenties, and I think I got this romantic type of male-dominated society books out of my system. The writing is musical, presenting a nice break in plain talk and low vocabulary flow.

I wonder if I had a more modern, popular reader, if I would have loved it more? I just didn’t enjoy Victoria McGee’s interpretation much. /

Back in the day, and we don’t have to go back as far as Jane Austin’s time, how about the era of Billie Jean King? Getting a wealthy man was the main goal for a female. Even when I read the Thomas Hardy books, I still thought that way. It was taught to me by my church, family, and society, but now, having lived 73 years, I think all of that was a waste. Women should have spent as much time growing our minds and independent abilities as menfolk.

Still, reading historical novels reminds us of a time gone by. Different thoughts, fashions, and inventions prevailed. Mostly, this book makes me thankful we live now.

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Acorna's World (Acorna, #4)Acorna’s World by Anne McCaffrey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I can’t believe it! I finally finished reading an actual hardback book. Of course, it’s Anne McCaffrey. I started it on February 13, 2020, and finished two days ago. I have tracking issues and find paper books hard to follow. I have always had this problem, but since my 60s, it has been far harder. I’m thankful to be alive when we have Kindle Text-to-Speech or Audible. And anyone who knows me, I am addicted to reading. I was the girl who had to check out 10 (the limit) books every time I went to the library. And the library and bookstores are still my favorite places. But if I take it slow, I can get through a book.

This is book 4 of the Acorna series. I love most of the characters. RK the cat is the best. I am most disappointed that the series dedicated to the Unicorn Girl seems to be far less of her than everyone else. I would love more about Granddam. But maybe as the series continues, I will find more of what I want from the Unicorn people.

I have been fortunate to have most of Anne McCaffrey’s books in the first edition. This one was not, and neither are the next couple. But I will buy the hardbacks to keep reading “real” books. Meanwhile, I did pick up the Kindle version from Libby. With a trip coming up, I have to save my pennies. But next month, I will buy hardback #5.

By the way, I think Anne McCaffrey’s writing doesn’t age. It is so current, no matter what is going on here. Try them!

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The Rabbit HutchThe Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Okay, the truth is I am only 50% finished. And that was pushing it for a couple of nights.

No. Just no. I am not in the mood for little character discoveries. I am a deep-series person. Not getting to know my imaginary people any better than a pass on the street is not something I can handle.

Please don’t get me wrong. I am not saying YOU won’t like it. You may very well love it. Check out the reviews. They are so varied. It’s just not for me.

I must admit to loving the voices of Tess Gunty (Author and narrator), Scott Brick (Narrator), Suzanne Toren (Narrator), and others. But it was not enough for me. I need more story in my books than what they offered.

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Catherine, Called BirdyCatherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I admit I wasn’t as in love with this one as Karen Cushman’s Midwife’s Apprentice. But maybe it is how that period was compared to how the main character portrayed her life. But had she not, the story would have been boring. And less educational. There was far more feminine leeway in what Catherine or Birdy did daily.

Still, as a read-aloud or read-along with middle-grade students, a teacher or parent could develop a considerable lesson plan incorporating everything from hygiene to the Crusades. In fact, as an adult, it was fascinating to learn all the crafts needed for survival that we engage in as hobbies now.

This was written diary form so that you could live the day-by-day of a young woman about to be married off. The abuses are blatant. The dangers of that time for newborns through older people are a given. That anyone lived through all this shows the human endurance of history.

So even though not as well-loved as a story, this is certainly worth the read and discussions that could develop.

I was able to read this on Libby. I will try to look up more of Karen Cushman’s work.

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The League of Gentlewomen Witches (Dangerous Damsels, #2)The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

About halfway into this book, I thought of what I wanted to say about this book. It is:

Improperly provocative done properly. Another I thought of since:  Wickedly Proper

Witches, pirates, tea parties, and subtle romance keep this story going. So funny, I nearly spit my tea, yet subtle enough not to wake my husband with my guffaws.

Elizabeth Knowelden (Narrator) gave the proper voice to read this fun book.

I think I liked this one far more than India Holton’s first book, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. The witches versus pirates made my day!

If you are looking for a fun diversion from everyday torture, this book might do the job. I was lucky to find this audio version on Libby.

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The Midwife's ApprenticeThe Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wish books didn’t need tags like ‘middle grade’ or ‘young adult’ as this book had so much depth for all ages. Maybe somewhere, we could say, middle grades could read this. Young adults can relate. But I think this would make a great read-aloud to share. A teacher or parent could do the reading. There are a lot of conversation starters built in that people should enjoy.

For someone who entertained the occupation of midwifery, this called me as much as the show, ‘Call the Midwife.’ The miracle of birth and mothering are passions of mine.

This was a Libby Kindle that I was able to use text-to-speech. I think I would have loved a narrator, but the TTS did a great job all the way through. Can anyone tell me why TTS can’t say ‘finger’ but rather says ‘finJay’? That was the only word I had to take a moment to understand. But that was okay. Your brain adjusts to small inconsistencies like that.

Apparently, there are discussion booklets and book group helps. I would love to have been a part of one of those.

I am now a fan of Karen Cushman and can’t wait to read more of her books. I hope you like her, too.

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The BreakawayThe Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From my stationary bike, I felt a part of this story. It inspired me to hope that maybe I would find my way to getting a real bicycle that would work out here in the dirt road backcountry I find myself a part of.

This seems a gentle beach story at first. But soon, a person can see there are many subjects brought up from the character’s point of view. A person needs to see all the layers of the story involved. Some may not agree with the views presented, but grab what you may and enjoy what you can. Mostly enjoy this young woman’s life and journey as she finds her way to adulthood.

I was lucky to be able to read this Kindle edition through NetGalley. Thank you.

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