River Readers

Thirteen urban and paranormal tales of strong women, armed with weapons they are not afraid to use, as well as fists and feet of fury, who face monsters and bad guys-and are not above rescuing men in the process. goodreads.com.

IT HAPPENED FAST.
THIRTY-TWO MINUTES FOR ONE WORLD TO DIE, ANOTHER TO BE BORN.

First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret U.S. government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment. Then, the unspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered. All that remains for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear--of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse.

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African-American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments.

After the terre indigene wiped out half the humans, the town of Bennett was a ghost town. However, it was also a transportation hub so the Others decide to repopulate it with a mix of Others and humans. The Sanguinati and the Wolfgard hold the dominant positions in town and another Harvester is introduced to run the saloon. Bennett is a bit of a wild west kind of town with set boundaries by the Elders. Any humans who want to live in the town have to have a purpose and be interviewed by the Others in charge.

This is the second book in the Mortal Engines books and features the further adventures of Hester and Tom. This time they find themselves on the city of Anchorage and under the power of the mayoress Freya. They are accompanied by an author who claims to have traveled to America and convinces Freya to head that way. There are also scavengers who kidnap Tom after Hester leaves in a huff due to Tom's attentions directed towards Freya. Lots happened but none of it was that interesting or memorable. I do believe I will not continue this series.

This is the story of six young people who are in a special classroom. Every Friday they go to the ARTT (A Room to Talk) and talk without supervision from a teacher. They discuss what is going on in their lives including parental incarceration, immigration, racism and so much more. It is a delightful book and the audio version was wonderful. It was a full cast recording with different actors for each of the kids and the teacher. There is also an interview after the story with jacqueline Woodson and her son.

Jimmy likes his friend Sara and is saddened when she follows her dreams of moving from Oakland to New York. He writes her a letter expressing her feelings and asks her to meet him at the top of the Empire State Building a la Sleepless in Seattle. Turns out Sara never got the letter, isn't interested in Jimmy and has a boyfriend. 

This was pretty much a dud for me. I didn't find the story nor the characters appealing and couldn't even remember their names when I went to write this review. The art did nothing to elevate the lackluster story.

Dennis loves video games but struggles with his parents' expectations of him. They want him to go to medical school and specialize in proctology. When his dad dies angels appear to him and try to guide him on that path. 

This was a bit of a miss for me. I liked Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese but this one was weird and didn't work.

A girl unravels a centuries-old mystery after moving into a haunted house in this deliciously suspenseful read that Kirkus Reviews calls "just the ticket for a cold autumn night."

Tessa Woodward isn't exactly thrilled to move to rainy, cold Chicago from her home in sunny Florida. But homesickness turns to icy fear when unexplainable things start happening in her new house. Things like flickering lights, mysterious drawings appearing out of nowhere, and a crackling noise she can feel in her bones.

For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved.

Traumatized as a child when she witnessed a grisly murder, Marilyn Ellis kept silent for fear she and her mother would become targets of a cold-blooded killer. But guilt and nightmares have plagued her ever since that stormy night. Her silence allowed a predator to go free, a predator who may have killed others.

A predator who may be on the hunt again.

As a topnotch investigative reporter, she will do anything to find the answers, including using her ruggedly sexy lover, Detective Ryker Brocket, for information.

FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dominic Sheridan is an accomplished expert in the Crisis Negotiation Unit. Practiced, professional, used to dealing with high-stake situations under tense conditions, Dominic is a master at manipulating people. Everyone, that is, but the headstrong rookie agent bent on destroying her fledgling career.

As a child, Ava Kanas put her life on the line when the mob executed her father. Now someone has killed her mentor, the man who inspired her to become an FBI agent—and she’s the only one who recognizes it was anything but a tragic accident.

Kate gets talked into taking a class on pod-casting and then to her dismay is chosen as one of the 2 talking hosts. Things get complicated when she falls for her best friend's crush and he calls in asking for advice.

This reminded me a bit of Twelfth Night, with all the confusion of who is in love with whom. Another ok book by Kasie West.

Protagonist Abby who has an unrequited crush on her best friend Cooper, has just has just had her paintings rejected for an Art Showing. The gatekeeper told her, that her paintings lacked depth and heart. So she creates a list of experiences to broaden herself, and drags best friend Cooper along.
Not as good as some of her other books, but I did like the family dynamics.

This was a good "ending" to the series. However, this book could be read as a stand-alone because Krentz is great at fleshing out her characters in each book. I liked the chemistry between Winter and Jack and Zane is even more warped than in the past. The fire theme is very strong in this story and while the ending is a little out there, it makes sense in the long run. I always enjoy her stories no matter which name she writes under and am looking forward to her next novel. This book makes you believe you're watching a movie with its details and would probably make a nice one!