Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta by Richard Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I traveled on the Viking Mississippi on one of its stops, this book was recommended by a tour guide in a quiet voice that acknowledged me as someone who might be interested in hearing more about Greenville and why all passengers were being entertained by Steve Azur and Delta hospitality. This book was written 8 years before my visit, and I am sure I missed understanding a lot of implied connections even if I was interested in the "real stories." I purchased the book in Oxford at Squarebooks.
I highly recommend this non-fiction narrative.

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Buried by C.J. Carmichael
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since July 2017.
I enjoyed the mystery the true-crime writer was researching and the mystery that was revealed at the end of this boook. There are two more stories to this trilogy.

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Game of Love by Melissa Foster
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since October 13, 2017.
This is a stand-alone romance which begins a series of 5 romances about good-looking brothers.
This contemporary romance may be just the start readers who enjoy this genre.

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Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I borrowed this one from my public library and read it on my Kindle using the Libby app.
This story reminded me of Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson and then it reminded me of gossip I heard in the village where Sherwood Anderson was born.
I highly recommend this book.

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Next To Disappear by Malcolm Richards
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since June 2017.
I am not easily entertained by thriller and suspense-filled novels. I was not comfortable with the idea of a Hospice facility and a psychiatric hospital being used for criminal activity or unauthorized experimentation so I did not enjoy this book.

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Northland: A 4,000-Mile Journey Along America's Forgotten Border by Porter Fox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I purchased this book from the Friends of my local library book sale earlier this year, and I started reading it at the end of October. It was the middle of the book that slowed my reading down. The tone of the book changed the more he stayed on land and wrote the section about Seven Fires. I hoped the tone might improve as we came to the Columbia River but it seemed he was in a hurry to finish and still he circled. I recommend this book for travelers on the Great Lakes and St, Lawrence Seaway.

Going Home (Nugget #1)

 

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since September 8, 2017.  I downloaded it when it was offered for free as a promotional #Free Friday selection.  

I like the stories of Maddy and Rhys, and the people close to them in the town of Nugget.  What I forget is that the label of contemporary romance will indicate more details than I want to read and I am uncomfortable recommending to my friends, and that is why I take a star away from my review.  

Exit Strategy by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I pre-ordered the book, and it showed up on my Kindle when it was expected.
Yes, it shows that I read it twice, but the first to read was my husband who finished it in one day. The second time I took my time.
Yes, it is something the family who reads can enjoy.
a better review than mine is on Goodreads, written by Kevin M.

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Whom the Gods Love by M.M. Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since June 12, 2017.
This is a journey story with tales told by the members on the quest. The members show growth along the way.
I recommend it.

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The Edge of Light by Ann Shorey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since July 28, 2017.
It is entertaining historical fiction set in Missouri and Illinois in 1838. I have a paternal ancestor who had a barn-frame loom she used to support herself and surviving children after her husband died in the Civil War, a generation after the timeline of this story.
It gets its fourth star because I will recommend it to a friend who enjoys Christian fiction.

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Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The person who recommended this book to me may have been Doug Neill or it was during a discussion during an Event at his Verbal to Visual curriculum.
The idea I am stealing from this book is "Keep a Log Book" because I like the style of his log book with sketched icons.

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The Sea Wolves by Jack Du Brul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

this book has been in our home library because my jusband collects book written by Clive Cussler and books about his characters.
I enjoy the historical fiction of these adventures. It can be exciting.
I recommend the book.

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Heat of the Moment by Lauren Barnholdt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This e-book was in My Digital Library since July 21, 2017.
I am no longer a target audience for teen drama, and that is likely why I cannot give it more than 3 stars.
Lyla overthinks too much, and she wears me out.

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The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I downloaded this Kindle edition when it was offered as a First Reads promotion during October 2025.
When authors write historical fiction and use dual timelines, I want the timelines to be balanced. I preferred the tension of the historical timeline to the emotional worries of Julia.

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The Distant Daughter by Lorna Cook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I downloaded this book to my Kindle library when it was offered as a First Reads from Prime in September 2025.
I chose the book because it was historical fiction, and then I was happy to read the storyline of curating the family archives because I enjoy the hobby of genealogy and family history.
The characters feel real, and I am glad to have met them.
I recommend this to all readers.

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The Secret of the Stones by Ernest Dempsey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since May 26, 2017.
It is an action-adventure story, and the protagonist kills the bad guys who shot at him first. It is entertaining. I took a star away due to the large quantity of dead bodies.

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The Chemistry Test by Georgina Frankie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I downloaded this kindle edition when it was offered as a Prime First Reads selection.
It was an entertaining read.

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The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness by Eric Jorgenson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I read this book based on the newsletter recommendation by Alex&Books.
I did not like the format of this book which is a collection of Tweets or posts.
I appreciate the book Recommendations which you can find at
https://www.navalmanack.com/navals-re...

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The Gathering Dusk by Cynthia Eden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a novella that introduces new characters for a new series.

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The Women of Arlington Hall by Jane Healey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I added this Kindle book when it was offered as a Prime First Reads book.
This is the type of historical fiction I enjoy. It is well-researched; the characters are likeable; and the historical threat is real.
I recommend this book to readers who are interested in "recent " historical events.

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The Crown in the Heather by N. Gemini Sasson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since 2017.
It is historical fiction from 1290-1306 based on the history of Robert the Bruce and Edward Longshanks.


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Racing Hearts by Melissa West


This ebook has been in My Digital Library since June 2017.
It is an entertaining romance that combines a complicated workplace romance and horses. What is not to like about that=4 stars.

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American Sky by Carolyn Dasher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I downloaded the book when it was offered as a First Reads promotion.
I enjoyed the parts of the historical fiction. I dropped the star down to 3 because I did not enjoy the parts about family and friendship as much as I did the historical fiction.

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The Player by Denise Grover Swank
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since 2017. I read romance novels for entertainment, and there were some entertaining parts with the groom's family. I found the plot too contrived and still wanted to see how the author would get to the happily-ever-after.


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Abscond by Abraham Verghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I downloaded this short story when it was offered as a selection for May 2025 First Reads.
It is beautifully written and emotional.

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Homemaker by Ruthie Knox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I downloaded this Kindle book when it was offered as a Prime First Reads in May 2025.
This is not just another woman who wants to solve a mystery; Prairie Nightengale has upset the community before when she noticed something was wrong when a doctor did not send a check into the PTO. Now she notices another Mom has an expensive bag and yet cannot have a broken taillight fixed. Then another Mom goes missing. Prairie just wants to find her so that children do not worry about their missing mother. Prairie knows that since most police officers are men, they may not understand the culture of women around them and are unlikely to ask pertinent questions. And so, she keeps asking questions and helping other women to talk about what they may know about the life of this missing woman.
I found myself asking what did I know about the women's lives about the girls with whom I went to high school. What did I know about the culture of the women in this community where I currently live?
I think this mystery might be a good Book Club selection.


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Slow Burn by E.B. Walters
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since 2017.
The mystery kept me reading to see how the author would resolve it.

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White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I downloaded this book from Amazon's "Read the World" promotion in April 2025.
I enjoyed this historical narrative that was based on the life of the author's grandmother born in Korea, lived as a young adult in Japan, and returned to Korea during WWII.
I recommend it to all readers who enjoy historical fiction.

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Amethyst by Lauren Royal
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This ebook has been in My Digital Library since 2016 or 2017.
I enjoyed the historical fiction, and the explanation in an afterword about which characters were based on real people from history.
I can't give it the fourth star because there are some of my friends who would be uncomfortable with the sensual scenes between the male and female lead characters, and I would not recommend this book to them. It is a long book which some readers may consider too many pages for an entertaining read.

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Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I encourage everyone to read the epilogue of this book.
What makes it difficult to recommend it to my friends is the complexity of family history with details about how to set up science-based experiments. Would this book appeal to a friend who reads family dramas? Would this book appeal to readers who enjoy a procedural approach to mysteries?

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The Promise of Rain by Vasundra Tailor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I downloaded this Kindle book when it was offered in the Read-The World promotion in April 2025.

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A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This mystery has been in My Digital Library since the end of 2016 or beginning of 2017, and it was originally published in 1992. This author had been recommended to me by a family friend.
The author does a great job of setting the land as a character, the culture as a character, and making the humans distinctive.
I recommend this book.


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We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something by Amie McNee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was recommended by the Your Tube channel, Kelly Kander, and I borrowed it from my local library.
Some information I needed to hear about a two-week reset, procrastination, perfectionism, and patience.
There may be something you need to hear too.

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Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer


I read this ebook on the Libby app from my local library.
I read it for Verbal to Visual book club.

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Life Derailed by Beth Merlin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I downloaded this Kindle book when it was offered as a First Read selection April 2025. I enjoyed the quirky characters and the growth they went through in this story.
I recommend it.

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The Faerie Path by Allan Frewin Jones
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since 2016 or 2017. This is a genre I do not read these days, but I read to the end just to see how the author would work this plot out.

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Heaven to Betsy by Pamela Fagan Hutchins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since September 2, 2016. It was a fast read with quirky characters.

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Loose Ends by D.D. VanDyke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since September 2, 2016.
California Corwin is a detective who has been hired to find a kidnapped girl, and that is her focus. It is a fast-moving mystery and I like this character.

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Arctic Dreams

Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I purchased this on the recommendation of Viking website before our 2025 Northwest Passage Expedition cruise. It is a book for thoughtful reading.

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Nefertiti's Heart by A.W. Exley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since 2016. This book won an award in 2014 for Sci-Fi/ Fantasy, and it is in the genre of Steam-Punk which is no longer a favorite genre of mine.

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The Witnesses by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since 2016.
The mystery is fast-paced with lots of characters.

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Shadows of the Past by Patricia Bradley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since 2016.
I enjoyed solving this mystery as the profiler did.

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The Return by Erin Knightley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This e-book was in My Digital Library since 2016.
I enjoyed this romance, it was a quick read.

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Minganie: Daughter of the Sea

9782896341047 by Paul Charest
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I made a mistake about the title and these numbers are its ISBN. The Title should be Minganie: Daughter of the Sea.
Excellent photo history book provided by our Canada Parks guide, Freddie, after a Viking excursion to Ile Niapiskau and Ile Quarry where we hiked through 5 ecosystems and on the geology of the Canadian Shield.

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Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since November 4, 2016. It is a pleasant romance with a characters who show some growth.

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Dangerous Passage by Lisa Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This ebook has been in My Digital Library since 2016, and I finally put it into Goodreads in 2025.
It is an entertaining mystery. I did get tired of our protagonist complaining about how tired she was and how difficult it is juggling a demanding job and her family relationships. It got easy to scroll those blocks because you start to recognize them.

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Hadrian: Lord of Hope by Grace Burrowes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This e-book has been in My Digital Library since September 30, 2016.
I like that the endings of the mystery and the courtship.


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Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History's Greatest Arctic Rescue by Buddy Levy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I borrowed this book from my local library.
This book is exciting! Exciting non-fiction that is well-documented.
I read it because I will be cruising in the Canadian Arctic this summer and I have visited Tromso, a city where these explorers shipped their expedition supplies.

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Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose by Martha N. Beck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this book at my local library after I listened to Podcast 310 0n the channel The Maximized Minimalist. I was interested in the curiosity and creativity sections of this book.
Hmmm, I wonder what you will think about this book.

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The Waves Take You Home by María Alejandra Barrios Vélez
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I downloaded this book when it was offered as a selection from Amazon's 2025 Read-The-World offer.
The author tells a story of a young woman who is struggling with grief and a deadline for a financial problem. I had to take a star away only because the magical-realism is too believable for some of the friends to whom I might recommend this book.

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