Book Review and GIVEAWAY: The Garden of Second Chances, by Mona Alvarado Frazier {ends 8/2}

Guest review by: Becki Bayley Xochitl and I finished cleaning the dayroom while the rest of the girls were locked in their cells for the night. We had five minutes alone before Ms. Montes finished her paperwork and sent us to our rooms. Eager to jot ...

Read More

Book Review and GIVEAWAY: Alchemy of a Blackbird, by Claire McMillan {ends 8/1}

Guest review by: Becki BayleyWhen they landed in Veracruz, Remedios slipped a bunch of Madame Nouget’s lavender and rosemary out of her pocket and dropped it in the dirt as she stepped off the wharf. The dried leaves mingled with the dust of a new country. She’d picked them...

Read More

Book Review: Love & Resistance, by Kara H.L. Chen

Guest review by: Becki BayleyPlainstown High was weird in many ways, but one of its strangest rituals was the lap before the morning bell. PHS was designed in a square shape, and everyone would walk the hallways before homeroom each morning, like the school was some kind of...

Read More

Book Review and GIVEAWAY: Walking on Fire, by Kathryn Crawley {ends 7/27}

Guest review by: Becki BayleyA haze of smoke filled the air. Greek folk music from the stereo could barely be heard over the din of conversation. Kate sat with Georyia the next Saturday evening in a living room filled with people. They were at the apartment of Georyia’s friend...

Read More

Book Review and GIVEAWAY: Murder Under a Red Moon, by Harini Nagendra {ends 7/23}

Guest review by: Becki BayleyBhargavi had called to say she would be spending the night at Shanthi’s home. Alone together at home for the first time in a long while, Kaveri and Ramu decided to push aside all thoughts of the case for a while over dinner. They lingered over a...

Read More

Book Review and GIVEAWAY: The Bridge on Beer River, by Terry Tierney {ends 7/20}

Guest review by: Becki BayleyWhen I push through the air-locked door, I see the back of a small woman sitting at a terminal on a wooden table lined with a keypunch machine, a card sorter, a tray of punch cards and an overflowing ashtray, all littered with cardboard chads. Next...

Read More

Quick Pick Book Review: Have You Seen Her, by Catherine McKenzie

Opening lines: "We're losing light!" Ben yells over the whir of the blades. "We need to go!"I turn to look out over the field to the tree line, taking in the scene of the crime. The dark green conifers, with their exposed lower limbs. The trampled glass. A wrapper from a...

Read More

Book Review and GIVEAWAY: A Killer's Game, by Isabella Maldonado {ends 7/10}

Guest review by: Becki BayleyDani assessed her situation, making several observations at once. Doc Tox was alone and had not fired on them despite having the perfect opportunity while she and Toro wrestled with the cobra. Clearly he wanted something from them besides what was...

Read More