Still fighting the good fight: THE PRESIDENT IS MISSING.

The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A group of terrorists decide to mess with the United States' cyber grid for their own wealth and enjoyment.

It's the plot for the wild and crazy THE PRESIDENT IS MISSING, but it's also a horrifying and rather plausible possibility, which is always in the back of your mind while reading. Said President is ex-military, anti-establishment, and suspects a leak in his inner circle. At the same time, he knows he has just days to stop a virus from shutting down the entire U.S. cyber infrastructure and sending America back to the dark ages--and into utter chaos.

This story starts out a little slow, veers into wild and fun moments, and then lags again at times. It's very uneven and makes it hard to get fully into the story, even if it is exciting. The President receives warning from some defectors from the terrorist cell, and he goes rogue (aka missing) to try to save his country. There are appearances from members of said inner circle plus leaders of other countries and then various parts of the terrorist organizations. It's up to us to puzzle it out along with the President.

This is a fun story (albeit rather sobering because it feels a little too real) but sometimes an up and down tale.

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Trouble knows where I stay and I’m living: I WILL FIND YOU.

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was wild and insane, and I could NOT put it down! At all. I had to find out what happened!

David is in prison for the murder of his three-year-old son Matthew. The child suffered a brutal death, and David--while maintaining his innocence--has basically given up. Matthew was his life. His (ex-)wife has moved on, his son is dead, he has nothing left. Five years into his sentence, David's ex-sister-in-law shows up. She brings him a photo of a child at an amusement park. A recent photo. She think it's Matthew. And now, so does David.

So (of course) David escapes maximum security prison and he and Rachel go on the hunt for Matthew, believing that David was framed for his disappearance. Murder? Do we know?

Coben has an amazingly compelling and captivating way of writing, even if the story sometimes feels fantastical or improbable. Man is breaking out of maximum security prison-sure! Man is eluding multiple captures-sure! The book has the feel of The Fugitive, which David even references at one point. And, truly, it's impossible not to root for David, which just shows the power of the writing, as you find yourself urging on a convicted murderer. Is his child truly alive? Did he truly do something wrong?

There's a pair of FBI agents on David's trail who have a special sort of banter all their own and provide an almost comic relief necessary to the story.

Overall, while this is a wild tale, it's a 4+ star read for me because of pure enjoyment. Sometimes you need a good page turner in your life!

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And regret on my mind: A VERY BAD THING.

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always look forward to a J.T. Ellison book because she's so good at suspenseful, wild stories!

A VERY BAD THING is just that. Does it get a little crazy sometimes? Sure. But it's a complete page-turner that draws you into the world of famous author Columbia Jones, adored by her fans and both revered and slightly feared by her daughter/publicist, Darian. On the final night of Columbia's most recent book tour, she collapses on stage, and Darian is sure it's because her mother spotted someone in the audience. Then, that night, after Columbia and Darian have a fight, Columbia is found dead. The local police Detective Sutcliffe suspects murder. Darian is sure it was Riley, a reporter her mother hired to follow her on tour and report on her life story.

What follows is a bit far-fetched at times and often dark and brutal. We hear from the perspective of Darian, Sutcliffe, Columbia (in the past), Riley, and others. The book is long, but it's exciting and everything flies by, as Ellison keeps you guessing the entire time. There are even some ties to some of her other works, thanks to the case taking Sutcliffe to Nashville (side note: I would totally read another book about Detective Sutcliffe--I loved him).

This is an enjoyable, dramatic thriller with lots of twists and turns! 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in return for an unbiased review.

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I pick up the broken pieces I put them back into the sky: WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

Whenever You're Ready by Rachel Runya Katz


This was an informative and interesting read, but wow, the characters drove me crazy sometimes!

Our lead characters were so juvenile and immature at times that I wanted to just shake them. Jade and Nia meet when their best friend Michal introduces them at age ten. The three girls become fast friends. However, Michal died three years ago, throwing the friend group into chaos. Michal wanted Jade and Nia to go on a Southern Jewish history road trip--one they all had planned to go on before Michal got sick. Jade, Nia, and Jade's twin brother (and Michal's boyfriend, confused yet) set out on the trip in Michal's honor.

We learn quickly that Jade and Nia have been somewhat estranged for the past three years, but, of course, we can't be told why. I am not a fan of books where there's a big past event/blowup that is alluded to but not revealed for most of the book. However, it seems par for the course for this group, who cannot communicate to save their lives.

The history part of the road trip is fascinating, as it delves into the history and intersection of anti-black racism and antisemitism in the American South. I learned a lot, honestly, and there are parts that can make you cry. It's wonderful to see queer Jewish characters of color in literature.

There's a lot of intertwined romance and drama in READY and it's difficult to keep track of, sometimes. There's Michal and Jonah's relationship; something that happened with Nia and Jade; and the background of Michal's illness and death. All the drama and sadness is overwhelming sometimes. Nia and Jade are a cute couple, but wow, it's a slooooow burn romance. Those two know how to drag things out!

This one is rather long and you have to warm up to the characters. There is, however, a delightful dog named Luna and wonderful, diverse representation.

I received a copy of this book from Negalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.

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Is there something or someone I should be: THE SUMMER PACT.

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This one was fine but not my favorite of Giffin's. Its plot centers on four best friends from college and revolves around the suicide of one of the foursome. Suicide is a tough and personal subject for me, and I had a difficult time reading some of the pieces.

Our four friends--free spirit, Lainey; uptight Tyson; group cheerleader Hannah; and their athletic leader Summer--become fast acquaintances after a shared evening at the University of Virginia as first years. But their world is rocked when the driven Summer dies by suicide when they are fourth years (right before graduation). The remaining friends make a pact that, in the future, they'll always be there for each other. Hannah invokes it when her fiance cheats on her.

Lainey, now an actress, and Tyson, a lawyer, rush to Hannah's side and they decide to take a trip together (in lieu of Hannah's honeymoon). They'll hit sites that mean something to each of them, including visiting Lainey's half sisters, hitting up Capri, which was Summer's dream, and more. Unfortunately for us, all three characters are rather insufferable and often annoying. I felt bad for Hannah, but she was often a bit of a doormat (she still had my favorite storyline). Lainey makes terrible decisions thanks to her impulsive nature and alcoholic tendencies. Tyson can't seem to let go or let his friends make their own decisions. Everything becomes quite dramatic for this trio; for Pete's sake, you're grown adults! Act like it! Most of the book is them making poor choices while not much happens.

This book tries to make some good points about friendship, especially in the wake of grief and loss. There are some emotional moments, but they are often marred by theatrics and immature characters.

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But you are like a gale wind, mad and unaware: WHAT TIME THE SEXTON'S SPADE DOTH RUST.

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's certainly nice to see young Flavia de Luce again, especially after thinking the series had ended with book #10. Flavia is dealing with the death of her father and having her younger cousin, Undine, living with her and her sister, Daffy, at Buckshaw. When a local civil servant passes away, Flavia becomes involved because, well, she's Flavia, but also because the family's beloved housekeeper, Mrs. Mullet, the man's cook, is suspected, as she was the one who served him the supposedly poisoned mushrooms with his breakfast.

For me, the best parts of the Flavia series are now her interactions with beloved butler, Dogger, and Mrs. Mullet (Mrs. M). Flavia's wisdom and sweetness shine through as she talks to these grown-ups in her life, revealing how, at age 12, she is both old beyond her years, and yet, just a kid.

Alas, Undine, while growing on me, is still a tough character to like, and the series fairly recent addition of a secret society (the Nide) that involves the entire de Luce family is tedious. I truly prefer Flavia when she's just young Flavia, solving mysteries, riding her bike Gladys across the countryside, puttering about in her chemistry lab, and chattering with Dogger and Mrs. M.

So, while this is a fun read, there are plenty of distractions that take away from its true Flavia essence. Perhaps, sometimes, series are meant to end, though I'm sure I won't give up on Flavia anytime soon.

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Seems like to me there's nothing going right since you went away: CATCH YOU LATER.

Catch You Later by Jessica Strawser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay, this one was rather captivating! Mikki and Lark are stuck in their small town, working nights at the local truck stop. They've long had plans of getting out, but those have been set aside as the years slide by. Now Lark is pregnant, and Mikki sees a claustrophobic future unfolding before her. Then a charismatic stranger in a BMW rolls up to the truck stop and invites Mikki to be his guest at a wedding in Florida. Mikki has never even seen the beach. Despite Lark's reluctance, she goes with the man, Chris. But she never comes back. Seven years later, Chris shows back up in town, and he too is looking for Mikki.

Told in a back and forth fashion that builds suspense, CATCH YOU LATER flashes back to 2014, the year Mikki disappeared with Chris and then present day, as Lark deals with Chris' return and the ramifications on her relationship with her daughter, Dove; her fiance; and Mikki's grandmother, Nini, with whom she and Dove live.

So, first off, there are a few annoying factors. Nini, while she does have the beginnings of dementia, is rather irritating and seems to exist to plague Lark and those around her. Mikki doesn't take her phone to work the day she disappears, which, c'mon! We're given a "reason," but this just seems so improbable, even in 2014. Then Lark makes a big deal of a bunch of "lies" she told the police that turn out to be incredibly silly; I hate those sort of lead ons.

But otherwise, even if some of this story seems crazy, it's quite a page-turner! I, personally, would not follow a rich man to Florida and try to wow over his wealthy and uppity family, but Mikki seemed the type (and up to the job). The book ramps up the tension, keeping you wondering what happened to Mikki. Was Chris to blame? Why on earth would she leave her beloved (and pregnant) best friend behind. Strawser does an excellent job of showing the strong bond between Mikki and Lark, even though they aren't together in present time in the story. She also explores the themes of motherhood (giving us insight of both bad and good examples).

There are lots of great twists in this story, even if it's a bit wild. The ideas of friendship, motherhood, finding yourself, and seeking happiness with what you truly have--those are universal, no matter how crazy life gets.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in return for an unbiased review.

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