The Night at the Crossroads (Inspector Maigret Book 6) by Geroges Simeone

When called to a small village at a crossroads, Maigret finds that everyone
in the vicinity has something to hide. He eventually discovers an intricate
system of thievery, which leads to murder.

160 pages

The Judge's House (Inspector Maigret Book 22) by Georges Simeon

Maigret has been exiled from Paris to a remote province, having offended his superiors. Out of his element, he finds himself utterly bored—until a murder case arrives.

He solves that murder, and in the process discovers another that happened 20 years before.



176 pages

In Her Sights (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #1). By Katie Ruggle, Narrator: Callie Beaulieu.

In Her Sights (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #1). By Katie Ruggle, Narrator: Callie Beaulieu. 2019. Tantor Audio. ISBN-13: 9781494549831 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hrs, 50 mins).

Bounty hunter Molly Pax has worked hard to turn the bail recovery business she shares with her sisters into a success. But when their suspected jewel-thief-of-a-mother jumps bail and puts the sisters’ home up as collateral, Molly is forced to take on her most dangerous assignment yet, with the hopes of a high enough payout to keep her and her sisters off the street. When rival bounty hunter, the ever-annoying (cheerful), always in the way (helpful), kinda good-looking (gorgeous) John Carmondy enters the fray, Molly finds it’s not such a hardship to keep her frenemy in her sights.

Ruggle starts off this series with a delightful jaunt into the world of bounty hunters and skip tracing. And while there are high stakes in this book, the romance is playful and the suspense element is fairly low key in regards to action. Not a bad thing, but may not appeal to some readers that are looking for more grittiness in this genre. Beaulieu’s narration does a great job of immersing you in this unique family of female bounty hunters.

336 pages

Risk It All (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #2). By Katie Ruggle.

Risk It All (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #2). By Katie Ruggle. 2019. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC eBook).

Cara Pax aspires to be a Kindergarten teacher, not a bounty hunter like the rest of her sisters. She’s uncomfortable with confrontation, so she contributes to the family business by doing behind-the-scenes computer research to help trace the skips. But ever since their own mother jumped bail and left the sisters in a jam, she has been feeling like she should do more to help. She probably shouldn’t have chosen to go after Henry Kavenski though. On paper, Kavenski would bring in the most money. Also on paper, Kavenski is a suspected murderer.

What is a man suppose to do when an earnest Cara Pax keeps interrupting his secret rendezvouses in parks and bars? As it turns out, he'll risk it all to keep her out of harm's way.

Cara is so darn nice, and Henry is a man of few words, but there is a clever charm about the pair. If you like Carol Higgins Clark’s Regan Reilly books, you’ll enjoy this series.

352 pages

Wicked Cowboy Wolf (Seven Range Shifters #3). By Kait Ballenger.

Wicked Cowboy Wolf (Seven Range Shifters #3). By Kait Ballenger. 2020. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC ebook).

Years ago a young Jared Black was cast from the Grey Wolf pack for a crime he took the fall for. Surviving the years that followed shaped the boy into a hardened criminal. As the leader of misfit wolves, he is known only as Rogue, and he is now offering a solution to the oncoming vampire threat to Maeve Gray, the sister of the Grey Wolf pack's alpha. All she has to do is ally herself with the mysterious wolf with as many scars on his soul as his body.

A new author and series for me, Ballenger delivers a story full of banter, misfits, secrets, chemistry and an ornery pet pig. I will be picking up more books in this series. Fans of paranormal romance and shifters will enjoy the protective alpha hero and feisty heroine in Wicked Cowboy Wolf.

While I think this romance can be read as a standalone, it is important to note that it is the third book in the series and involves an overall threat and story arc to the series’ plot.

352 pages

Haikyu!! Volume 11 by Haruichi Furudate

Hinata is so enthusiastic and everyone is so extra.

I love the facial expressions in this manga! 

Just Hinata, and whatever weird stuff his bodies does whenever he falls down...

I am loving this training camp, and how the teams treat each other and are trying to be helpful.

They're all making friends and I am so proud.

192 Pages

Haikyu!! Volume 12 by Haruichi Furudate

Tanaka runs on spite and sass and I love it.
Kageyama in his zone is my jam.
I am so proud of my small son.
Four eyes.
216 Pages

Middlemarch by George Eliot

This kind of has the vibe of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning and their love story, which is my favorite real life love story.
Ok so I relate to Dorothea so much... Like I have the same mentality and outlook about my goal in life in terms of love.
Fred...
I have all the heart eyes for Will.
I love doctors...they're cute. Rosamond and Lydgate... Oh gosh
SO MUCH PINING
My Catholic brain keeps forgetting that men who go into the church in England get married.
...I'm fine...
848 Pages

Haikyu!! Volume 10 by Haruichi Furudate

I LOVE sibling relationships.
I have so many ideas for where they're going to go when they are third years and are big and strong. The crows are growing and adapting and I love them. I will protect them.
192 Pages

Haikyu!! Volume 9 by Haruichi Furudate

The defibrillator...I'm wheezing.
The new manager... I love her so much. Villager B.
I love the line that says you don't have to be 100% when you start something, but that the enthusiasm can grow. It's so encouraging.
200 Pages

Earth at Night: Our Planet in Brilliant Darkness by NASA

Awesome night photography from our own satellites and astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Hurricanes, forest fires, and volcano eruptions are visible alongside highways, gas flares and holiday lights. I think it's so cool that you can watch human development overtime just from aerial and now satellite photography. NASA's satellites are so advanced they can even see a single street lamp from space!

Amazing display of technology and the natural world.

200 pages

The Trials of Apollo: Book Four: The Tyrant's Tomb by Rick Riordan

FRAAAAAAANK. I love him so much.
Oh my gosh, Tyson. I love Tyson.. and Ella.
Reyna is a queen.
I do and always will love Apollo's narrating style.
448 Pages

Haikyu!! Volume 8 by Haruichi Furudate

Character growth, y'all.They're beginning to trust each other more...and my allergies are back.
192 Pages

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Second book in the Mortal Instrument series reread. Love seeing the Jace/Simon friendship start to blossom whether the characters know it or not. Clare is still a bit choppy in the writing department at this time, but I love the characters and the action is well written.

Pages: 453

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

So some scenes were a little more graphic than I would like, but his writing is really pretty. I live for interior monologue.
256 pages

Haikyu!! Volume 7 by Haruichi Furudate

The drama of wanting to win, and people trying to outsmart and outplay each other. I love my babies.. Especially my babies on this cover.
192 Pages

From Freezer to Cooker by Polly Conner and Rachel Tiemeyer

I've been trying out so many recipes since getting my Instant Pot, but most of the cookbooks I've found so far have been pretty meh. This one is perfect! Each recipe includes instructions for slow cooker, instant pot, and freeze-ahead meals! Plenty of pictures, easy step by step instructions, and shortcut tips for when you're in a hurry. Plus, the authors live here in Columbia! I will probably purchase my own copy of this one.

This is how a cookbook should be! I'm excited to try some of these recipes.

256 pages

An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten

A collection of short stories about Maud, an 88 year old woman who lives in an awesome apartment for free (thanks dad!). She uses her age to her advantage to fool everyone around her, and if someone gets in her way? Maybe they end up dead. Maybe she's the one that kills them. Maybe this book was freaking hilarious and wonderful. :)

Pages: 173

Humanae Vitae by St. Pope Paul VI

Human dignity.. It's great. I loved finally getting to read the actual document. St. Pope Paul VI. He's great.
48 pages

Haikyu!! Volume 6 by Haruichi Furudate

My senior baby setter Koshi who really is a senior with his silver hair. I love this cutie pie. He is a rock.
200 Pages

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling, Jim Kay (ill.)

I've really been enjoying these illustrated editions by Jim Kay. They capture the magic of the books I remember from childhood, without a lot of the baggage that comes with the movies. Seriously though, this is my favorite Harry Potter book, but my least favorite movie adaptation. This edition reminded me of all the reasons I loved it in the first place! And the Voldemort artwork was perfectly creepy!

If you enjoyed the Harry Potter series before, try out these new editions. At the very least, flip through the artwork-it's gorgeous!

451 pages

Green Lantern: Legacy by Minh Le

Thirteen year old Tai Pham inherits his grandmother's jade ring and learns he is inducted into the Green Lantern Corps! What a great twist to the Green Lantern series, where we see a young Vietnamese Boy learning to use his willpower to fight fear of the other in his own community. This is a great story, for kids and adults, and I hope to see more of Tai and maybe his grandmother in the main Green Lantern series.

A superhero comic for the middle grades, with positive themes of willpower and compassion.

151 pages

An Inconvenient Duke (Lords of the Armory #1). By Anna Harrington.

An Inconvenient Duke (Lords of the Armory #1). By Anna Harrington. 2020. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC eBook).

Recently returned from war and appointed Duke of Hampton, Marcus Braddock is a man on a mission. He is still mourning the death of his sister, Elise, and believing her death was not an accident, the former general sets his sights on Elise’s best friend, Danielle, to get his answers.

Danielle has secrets of her own she must keep. She is torn between soothing Marcus’s pain over the loss of his sister and keeping her work of helping abused women secret. But once a solider, always a soldier, and Marcus is determined to unravel the secrets that span from the underbelly of London to the ton. 
As the plot thickens Marcus and Elise become loose ends to tie up.

An entertaining read that blends romance, action and mystery. Marcus is a charming hero and I especially enjoyed scenes with him and his young niece and ward, Pippa. Danielle proves to be brave for her dangerous work of helping others, and her headstrong nature is just what is needed to meet Marcus on the battlefield. Together, they share some great chemistry.

384 pages

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

The final installment of The Folk of the Air series. 

Why do series have to end?!

Cardan's letters ripped out my heart. So, that's cool.

308 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS

The Wicked King by Holly Black

Sequel to The Cruel Prince.

I can't even. 

Loved every single second!

326 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Finch has some John Green-isms...because...puff level....cardigans.
I love Melissa's writing style. It's soooooo pretty

400 Pages

Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe

So I love Fr. Jacques Philippe.
His writing and wisdom wrecks me. I may or may not have underlined, like, half the book.
134 Pages

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

....Elizabeth Gaskell killing toxic masculinity. I love a man who cries.
I relate to Margaret so much. I love her.
Mr. Thornton. Heart eyes.
Mr. Thornton. Mr. Thornton Mr. Thornton
480 Pages

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I read these in high school (can you tell I'm rereading a ton of books from high school)
I don't remember liking Isabel (so maybe I just forgot how awesome she was), but I love her so much.
Sam is such a sweetie. I'm fine. I need more fanfiction of this boy.
416 Pages

Dear Girls by Ali Wong

Ali Wong's heartfelt and hilarious letters to her daughters (the two she put to work while they were still in utero), covering everything they need to know in life, like the unpleasant details of dating, how to be a working mom in a male-dominated profession, and how she trapped their dad.

Pages: 224

The King of Crows by Libba Bray

The last book of the Diviner series. The group of 1920s teenagers from New York have to have their final battle with the King of Crows and seal the breach between the world of the living and the dead before the dead consume America and eventually the world.

Not my favorite book in the series, and honestly thought the showdown would last longer than 50 pages, but overall I'm satisfied with the end.

Pages: 560

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes: Volume 3 by Hideyuki Furuhashi; Translator Caleb Cook

I'm loving the new characters, and I'm really interested to see what their true intentions are....
I am soooooooo proud of my babies
I wasn't expecting ships...And now I have them.
"I'm not flying; I'm falling with style." Gosh
208 Pages

Haikyu!! Volume 5 by Haruichi Furudate

Ahhh the scheming smirk.
I love my babies and their growth. I'm not crying.
216 pages

The Trials of Apollo: Book Three: The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan

So I loved getting to see more of my babies...
Leo. I love him. Piper. Heart eyes. Jason. Cinnamon roll.
There's a vine "Let's go get some tater tots" which is a mood.
I didn't know Houyhnhnms were going to show up.
Apollo character growth.
464 Pages

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Twelve-year old Edward Adler is the sole survivor of a plane crash which killed his entire family. His name now known across the nation, he is left alone with his aunt and uncle to try to piece his life back together again. This is a story of grief and coping, finding the reasons for living, and the meaning of a good life. I liked learning about the other passengers on Edward's flight and how their relatives are also learning to cope. The author's writing is lovely, but I just don't think I enjoy sad books.

It's a great novel, but not really to my taste.

340 pages

I Love You Like No Otter. By Rose Rossner, Illustrator: Sydney Hanson.

I Love You Like No Otter. By Rose Rossner, Illustrator: Sydney Hanson. 2020. Sourcebooks Wonderland (ARC eBook).

My special little

SQUEAK-heart.

A Step above the rest.

An adorable children’s board book that combines purrrfect messages for parents to read to their children and beary beautifully illustrated animals.

24 pages

Wild Wild Rake (The Cavensham Heiresses #6). Janna MacGregor.

Wild Wild Rake (The Cavensham Heiresses #6). Janna MacGregor. 2020. St. Martin’s Paperbacks. (ARC paperback).

Lady Avalon, the widowed Marchioness of Warwyk, has spent the last nine years raising her son and younger sister by herself, as well as establishing a well-respected standing in the community of Thistledown; all with little interference from her son’s guardian, the Duke of Larkton. But now, as the young lord Warwyk is of age to attend Eton and Avalon is attempting to expand her charity work, she finds that the Duke has sent his brother to spy on her under the ruse of tutoring her son in Latin. Avalon has no use for Devan Farris but it proves harder than expected to send him on his way as he quickly ingratiates himself in the parish as the charming new vicar.

Both Avalon and Devan think they know who each other are; Devan is a reputed rake, untrustworthy of Avalon’s confidences, and Avalon is cold and haughty, having jilted Devan’s best friend in the past. But they will find that they could not be more wrong.

This regency romance is set in a unique countryside parish and is full of heart and intelligently-written characters. A definite read for those looking for a determined heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, and delightful banter.

352 pages

One of Us Is Next by Karen M McManus

My babies.  I love them.
Maeve is me. She's a shipper and I too am a shipper.
Knox is adorable and must be protected at all costs.
I swear I'm going to have a heart attack from reading thrillers...
Ginny Weasley vibes anyone?
384 Pages

Tithe by Holly Black

So I love Roiben and he needs to be protected.
And I love people who are schemers.
336 Pages

Roses Among Thorns: Simple Advice for Renewing Your Spiritual Journey by St. Francis De Sales; Edited by Christopher Blum S.T.J.

St. Francis de Sales in easy to read bites. I didn't underline the whole book.. That would be extra.
128 Pages

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes: Volume 2 by Hideyuki Furuhashi; Translator Caleb Cook

My babies. I can't protect them. Tenzei. Heart eyes. I think I'm getting a better idea of when this happens....Maybe
Backstories.
I love and need one of those hoodies, gosh darn it.
208 Pages

The Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen

I love Fulton Sheen's writing; it has a more artistic style, and I love that he ties Catholic teachings to the events in the scripture.
Also chronological order. I know that's a duh, but having all four Gospels together in order. And tying in the Old Testament. *Angel choir noises*
658 Pages

HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

I found this on a list of the best recent horror novels and got really excited since I've been trying to find something that could truly scare me. This fell short. It started out strong, a rural town in New York keeps itself off the radar since the whole town is cursed/haunted by a witch from the 1600s. That's right, this witch, who has her eyes and mouth sewn shut as her whispers make people want to kill themselves, walks around the town, hangs out in your house, stands at the end of your bed for days, and then poofs out of there to hang out somewhere else. The town keeps track of her movements through an app. Now the teens of the town want to out the witch to the world so they can live normal teenage lives and things go haywire. This is where things take a deep downward spiral into awfulness. Great premise, but terrible follow-through.

Pages: 384

The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

Toss a coin to your Witcher, y'all. After binging the Netflix series, this book series was brought onto my radar. Geralt of Rivia kills monsters, hunts things, you know the witcher business. This book is technically a prequel to the series, so is comprised of a lot of vignettes of some of his adventures. Some were included in the Netflix show, and some I really wish were!! It doesn't try to be more than it is, and the action scenes are written wonderfully.

Pages: 360

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

The characters from my favorite Jane Austen novel, Pride and Prejudice, come together at Pemberley for a good old fashioned murder mystery. I had actually watched the miniseries of this before coming to the book, and I found the miniseries better if just because Jenna Coleman does a great Lydia. James tries to write in the way of Austin, but I just found it more dull than witty. I also wanted Lizzie to do more, but to no avail. Ah well.

Pages: 291

The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett

Rabbit. I love bunnies.
I am feeling things. I did not sign up for these feelings.
I love Ann Patchett's writing.
357 Pages

Savor Missouri: River Hill Country Food & Wine by Nina Furstenau

So many cool places along our rivers! I definitely want to try and visit some of these wineries, orchards and restaurants in the near future. I've always wanted to visit a pick-your-own lavender farm...

This book gave me some ideas for day trips once things warm up!

175 pages

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I haven't read a lot of classics... I'm catching up. I've been trying to read The Great Gatsby for a while.. I know for a class I analyzed the first chapter as a first chapter.
So Fitzgerald has really pretty writing.
180 Pages

The Trials of Apollo: Book Two: The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan

I love Leo.
Insert "Let's go get some tater tots" vine.
HTTYD "A Chief protects his own"
So now this feels like the finale of Fullmetal Alchemist, with Apollo being Greed...
Ok but bringing back my babies. Heart eyes
Griffins are precious and deserve the world.
I love Apollo's narrative style.
464 Pages

Haunted Missouri: A Ghostly Guide to the Show-Me State's Most Spirited Spots

  Haunted Missouri: A Ghostly Guide to the Show-Me State's Most Spirited Spots

by Jason Offutt

Pages: 198

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The author covers all kinds of haunted and spooky spots around the state of Missouri. He draws from personal interviews, folklore and the history of an area to relate the tales. Then he takes the reader along as he visits these spirited spots. An entertaining read for someone looking for folklore and a travel guide for those wanting to go ghost-hunting. It is a down-side of being a library staff person that I had to wait until all the Halloween books were off our popular display. So, I end up reading spooky stories around Christmas and in January. Oh well, the nights are still long and dark and perfect to read a spooky tale or two.