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1003 reviews
Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church: The Findings of the Investigation That Inspired the Major Motion Picture Spotlight by The Boston Globe
The investigative team of the Boston Globe looked into the increasing number of Catholic priests accused of the sexual assault of minors. They uncovered that priests, who had been accused of the assaults, were merely shuffled to other parishes instead of being reported to authorities. Their work led to reporting mandates and the defrocking of many Catholic clergy members.
Based on these findings, I saw the movie Spotlight and wanted to hear more about what the Globe team had discovered. The lengths the Catholic church went to to hide the bad acts of some priests were disgusting. The book was also important in releasing the same information in the Brooklyn diocese, where I attended Catholic school and church. It angered me to see my former priest on the list of accused priests. He was never defrocked but has "retired" although he was removed from service in 2002.
Based on these findings, I saw the movie Spotlight and wanted to hear more about what the Globe team had discovered. The lengths the Catholic church went to to hide the bad acts of some priests were disgusting. The book was also important in releasing the same information in the Brooklyn diocese, where I attended Catholic school and church. It angered me to see my former priest on the list of accused priests. He was never defrocked but has "retired" although he was removed from service in 2002.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault
Mistletoe Motel: A Sapphic Christmas Romance by Lise Gold
4.0
Author: Lise Gold
Started: December 19, 2024
Finished: December 20, 2024
Format: Digital
Genre: Sapphic Romance
Holly and Mack are trying to get home to their respective families for Christmas, but a blizzes has them stuck in a small town in South Dakota for Christmas Eve. With only one motel room available, the women decide to share. While enjoying the vibe of the Christmas happy town, the women quickly develop feelings for each other and watch as serendipity changes their lives.
This was a fantastic cheesy Christmas romance. The main characters are likable, but the character of the Mistletoe family added a real sense of Christmas spirit to the book. There is nothing better during the holidays than a Hallmarky book with some spice. This book is only 146 pages, so it's perfect if you're trying to reach your reading goals.
Started: December 19, 2024
Finished: December 20, 2024
Format: Digital
Genre: Sapphic Romance
Holly and Mack are trying to get home to their respective families for Christmas, but a blizzes has them stuck in a small town in South Dakota for Christmas Eve. With only one motel room available, the women decide to share. While enjoying the vibe of the Christmas happy town, the women quickly develop feelings for each other and watch as serendipity changes their lives.
This was a fantastic cheesy Christmas romance. The main characters are likable, but the character of the Mistletoe family added a real sense of Christmas spirit to the book. There is nothing better during the holidays than a Hallmarky book with some spice. This book is only 146 pages, so it's perfect if you're trying to reach your reading goals.
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
4.0
Author: Jodi Picoult
Narrator: Carol Monda
Started: December 17, 2024
Finished: December 19, 2024
Format: Audio
Genre: Literary Fiction
Sterling, New Hampshire, was a nice, quiet town where bad things didn't happen until ten of its high school students are killed by their classmate, Petere. The judge assigned to the case must recure herself because her daughter is a living witness who can not remember anything. As the questions linger, friendships and families fall apart.
This was such a hard but important read. Jodi Picoult did an amazing job of writing about a school shooting without gratuitous violence. Learning of Peter's constant bullying and how it affected him was chilling. It's horrible to believe that people could treat each other so badly, but there are real reasons behind some school shootings. Although it normally does not happen, I was glad the author allowed Peter to speak for himself. The ending was well-done realisitc. This was an extremely worthwhile read.
Narrator: Carol Monda
Started: December 17, 2024
Finished: December 19, 2024
Format: Audio
Genre: Literary Fiction
Sterling, New Hampshire, was a nice, quiet town where bad things didn't happen until ten of its high school students are killed by their classmate, Petere. The judge assigned to the case must recure herself because her daughter is a living witness who can not remember anything. As the questions linger, friendships and families fall apart.
This was such a hard but important read. Jodi Picoult did an amazing job of writing about a school shooting without gratuitous violence. Learning of Peter's constant bullying and how it affected him was chilling. It's horrible to believe that people could treat each other so badly, but there are real reasons behind some school shootings. Although it normally does not happen, I was glad the author allowed Peter to speak for himself. The ending was well-done realisitc. This was an extremely worthwhile read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Child death
Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce
4.0
Author: Daisy Pearce
Started: December 16, 2024
Finished: December 18, 2024
Format: Digital
Genre: Thriller
Mina, a freshly graduated child psychologist, meets Sam, a journalist, at a grief support group. He asks her to come along to see Alice Weber, age 13, whose family thinks she is being haunted by a witch. Once they arrive at the house, Mina knows something is wrong with Alice, who says there is a witch in her fireplace but there is also something wrong with the town too…something palpable.
I really enjoyed this book. It had just the right amount of creepy. The details in the book help you believe that poor Alice really has been dealing with a haunting. The book slows down a little in the middle but the build-up to the end is fantastic. While I wasn't a huge fan of Daisy Darker, I am so glad I gave the author another try because this one was well done.
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
3.0
Author: Tiffany D Jackson
Narrator: Marcella Cox
Started: December 16, 2024
Finished: December 16, 2024
Format: Audio
Genre: Thriller
Marigold and her family have moved to the Midwest from California to give her a fresh start. They have moved into the only renovated house on a street full of dilapidated houses. Mari starts to hear cracks and groans in the house but writes them off until things go missing and her step-sister starts to act oddly. When she finally figures out what is happening, she will never understand it.
This was my first read by this author, and I wonder what else she can do. This book handled a two-family dynamic well, and it also did a good job of dealing with a child who was addicted to drugs. The creep factor inched up bit by bit but what skeeved me out was the constant mention of bed bugs - there was just so much of it. The ending was unexpected and leaned on a fear that not many people give much thought to.
The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini
4.0
Author: Ruth Mancini
Narrator: Annabel Scholey
Started: December 13, 2024
Finished: December 14, 2024
Format: Audio
Genre: Thriller
Tate Kinsella has been arrested for murder after a woman is found dead on the ground twenty-five floors down. They believe she murdered the woman because she was obsessed with her husband. As more of the story comes to light, there are more questions than answers.
This is a whirlwind of a book and it took some time to get into. There are six parts to this story but they all depend on each other to tell the full story. By the midway point, the reader starts to get to the heart of the story and understands why things have happened as they did. There is not much more that can be said without spoiling the meat of the story. If you are looking for a story that seems basic and then takes a quick left turn into something unexpected, this is for you.
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
4.0
Author: Marie Benedict
Started: December 11, 2024
Finished: December 13, 2024
Format: Digital
Genre: Historical Fiction
Dorothy Sayer, along with other female writers of the time, including Agatha Christie, set out to solve a murder to prove themselves to the men of their detective club but the case of May Daniels soon becomes personal. As the women walk in May's steps, they realize that someone went out of their way to ensure that her death looked like an overdose. When the women uncover the secret behind May's death, they must do all they can to give her justice.
It was good to delve back into a Marie Benedict book with a group of fantastic female authors at its core. This is a story about the power of women and the strength of female friendship and the way it can help build self-confidence and awareness of self. A core concept of this book is the way women are viewed and put aside by society and how quickly they are willing to put us aside. I was aware of Dorothy Sayer and Agatha Christie but I was not aware of Ngario Marsh, Margery Allingham, or Baroness Emma Orczy but now was to read their novels. Marie Benedict writes novels that always have me researching the characters so I can imagine them as I read.
The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia
4.0
Author:Jessie Garcia
Started: December 5, 2024
Finished: December 6, 2024
Format: Digitial
Genre: Thriller
Stephanue is a news producter going on a business trip, and Jasmine is a woman escaping a relationship rife with domestic violence whose fates are sealed when they sit together on a plane. Soon after, both women are identified as having been murdered by the same man, although he swears he is innocent. What happened to the women, and where are their bodies?
What I thought was going to be a DNF ended up being a decent read with an unexpected twist at the end. The first half of the books sets a lot of background and other people's perspectives on what is happening, but stick with it - the last half makes it worth it. The book is divided into parts, which makes the storytelling easier to digest. This is going to be a hit with the thriller lovers, and I can see this being offered by the Book of the Month Club.
Started: December 5, 2024
Finished: December 6, 2024
Format: Digitial
Genre: Thriller
Stephanue is a news producter going on a business trip, and Jasmine is a woman escaping a relationship rife with domestic violence whose fates are sealed when they sit together on a plane. Soon after, both women are identified as having been murdered by the same man, although he swears he is innocent. What happened to the women, and where are their bodies?
What I thought was going to be a DNF ended up being a decent read with an unexpected twist at the end. The first half of the books sets a lot of background and other people's perspectives on what is happening, but stick with it - the last half makes it worth it. The book is divided into parts, which makes the storytelling easier to digest. This is going to be a hit with the thriller lovers, and I can see this being offered by the Book of the Month Club.
Cover Story by Rachel Lacey
4.0
Author: Rachel Lacey
Narrator: Quinn Riley
Started: December 3, 2024
Finished: December 4, 2024
Format: Audio
Genre: Sapphic Romance
Natalie Keane, a top leading lady, has had to hire extra security due to her stalker being released from jail. In order to not make the fact that she has a bodyguard known, they decide that they will say that she and Taylor, the bodyguard, are dating. As the women spend time together, they begin to have real feelings for each other. As Taylor's contract is sent to end; the women must decide if they have a future.
This was such a sweet story. Both lead characters had interesting back stories, and it was obvious that they had been through a lot in their past relationships. The way they began to slowly fall for each other was sweet and the slow way that they got closer and got to know each other was lovely to re. There was nothing I disliked or would change about the characters. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Narrator: Quinn Riley
Started: December 3, 2024
Finished: December 4, 2024
Format: Audio
Genre: Sapphic Romance
Natalie Keane, a top leading lady, has had to hire extra security due to her stalker being released from jail. In order to not make the fact that she has a bodyguard known, they decide that they will say that she and Taylor, the bodyguard, are dating. As the women spend time together, they begin to have real feelings for each other. As Taylor's contract is sent to end; the women must decide if they have a future.
This was such a sweet story. Both lead characters had interesting back stories, and it was obvious that they had been through a lot in their past relationships. The way they began to slowly fall for each other was sweet and the slow way that they got closer and got to know each other was lovely to re. There was nothing I disliked or would change about the characters. I really enjoyed reading this book.
The Passengers by John Marrs
5.0
Author: John Marrs
Narrator: Clare Corbett et al
Started: December 2, 2024
Finished: December 3, 2024
Format: Audio
Genre: Thriller
Eight self-driving cars have been hacked and the passengers are told that they are going to die. At the same time, an inquest into a car accident has started. Through the use of hidden cameras in the cars, the passengers and their fates are broadcast all over the world. The hacker is going to make those at the inquest choose who lives while the others dies. As the fateful moment occurs, all eyes are on the vehicles to see their final demise.
This was a fantastic book! The premise of AI controlling the vehicles with no way of the driver taking control if something went wrong. Add onto that the possibility that someone could hack into the car's computer and cause the vehicle to crash. The story was well-told and propulsive. I kept wanting to know more about the passengers and what secrets they each hold. As each secret was revealed, you could see as public opinion turned against them. I can't wait to read more by Marrs as he is quickly becoming an auto-read author.
Narrator: Clare Corbett et al
Started: December 2, 2024
Finished: December 3, 2024
Format: Audio
Genre: Thriller
Eight self-driving cars have been hacked and the passengers are told that they are going to die. At the same time, an inquest into a car accident has started. Through the use of hidden cameras in the cars, the passengers and their fates are broadcast all over the world. The hacker is going to make those at the inquest choose who lives while the others dies. As the fateful moment occurs, all eyes are on the vehicles to see their final demise.
This was a fantastic book! The premise of AI controlling the vehicles with no way of the driver taking control if something went wrong. Add onto that the possibility that someone could hack into the car's computer and cause the vehicle to crash. The story was well-told and propulsive. I kept wanting to know more about the passengers and what secrets they each hold. As each secret was revealed, you could see as public opinion turned against them. I can't wait to read more by Marrs as he is quickly becoming an auto-read author.