Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

It's the "don't touch her" and the protector vibes for me....
I have a type...it's Des...
Also there's like....the same feel as Hades and Persephone, but not....
400 Pages

Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah

The switching narrators.
I liked how the magic of the sunflowers was brought in.
lol, we're not in Kansas anymore.
So it was dark, but I was expecting it to be more descriptive in that since, but I'm glad I was wrong, because it didn't take me out of the story.
320 Pages

Weyward by Emilia Hart

I just want to protect all of them, even tho they older than me.
To quote my friend: the worst are men.
336 Pages

TS: Dear John, WCS, No Body No Crime

Deadly Dreams by K.J. Sutton

sfjkdja;klsfdajklsfd
Kitty cat
ok ok ok.
ummmmm.....
526 Pages

Darling Girl by Liz Michalski

WHAT.
WHAT
I'm getting so many Nemo and Marlin vibes
I have so many feelings. Also we love Jack.
352 Pages

TS Song: my tears ricochet, (and a bit of All Too Well (10 minute version) (Taylor's Version))
could we also make jokes about Never Grow Up

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

So this is the second book to make me cry today..and it's the beginning of the book. 
As soon as I found out there was a school on Mars:

So like....am I the only one who's like....this has Attack on Titan training camp energy...just me...cool. I'll just listen to the soundtrack with this...
Ohhhh some of these things are sketch and problematic
Ok so more than some of these things are problematic....
Did my brain compensate for the gruesomeness and trauma by saying "God, it's brutal out here" yes.
Alexa play Teenagers.
If you can get past the violence and like...despicable things that are happening to the characters--it slaps. 
It's like Hunger Games but with less direct killing, and more violence/cruelty against women and scheming and some teamwork involved.
416 Pages

Billie Standish Was Here by Nancy Crocker

Billie Standish Was Here by Nancy Crocker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Upon rereading this, I had forgotten about the historical setting. It's not immediately evident or in your face, so I found my brain judging the actions of characters by 2019 standards, which wasn't not working out or adding up. A decade of time apparently made a big difference on some of my initial impressions about the first half of the story, but I carried on, calmed down, and remembered why characters do the things that they do, shifting myself back to a place of understanding and appreciation for this story.

Anyway, long story short, the actions of the characters make sense when you consider both the historical setting and their personal histories. It's still a beautiful story, and I'm glad that I reread it and reconsidered it with my 2019 brain. Some of the actions that take place and decisions that are made post-trauma definitely aren't okay by current standards, but they make sense in their historical context.

At its heart, this is still a story of overcoming the worst, supporting each other through the struggles, and growing into the best person that you can be.

Pages: 288

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
This is an excellent story about facing a nightmare, finding a way to keep living a normal life in spite of it, and letting others help you heal again. It also reminds people that friendships defy demographics (age, race, gender, income, education, etc.) This book deals with some serious stuff. It might make you cry, and it will definitely touch your heart.

"Salvation" by Sloane Kennedy

Book two in The Protectors Series features Seth Nichols, whose parents were murdered and he was tortured when he was 14.  Now 21, he's trying to run his father's shipping company and deal with his PTSD and self-doubt.  He once had an older brother, but he died while serving in the military.  Out of the blue, his brother's fiance, Ronan Grisham, appears and throws Seth's life into even more turmoil because he's had a crush on the man since he was a teen.  Now someone is after Seth, and Ronan will do everything he can to protect him even if it breaks both of their hearts.  Like the previous book in this series, there was a ton of angst, terrible traumas in both men's lives, guilt, and suspense.  I was annoyed at how often Seth and Ronan pushed each other away then changed their minds, but it was still an interesting story.  367 pages (Kindle edition.)

"Absolution" by Sloane Kennedy

This is book one in The Protectors Series and deals with three men who've all suffered some form of trauma.  Jonas was kicked out of his home at age 14 for being gay and spent several years as a teenage prostitute before having even more tragedy befall him.  Mace's son was kidnapped and murdered by a killer.  Cole faced the traumas of war before losing his sister, who was Jonah's best friend.  Now someone has hired Mace to kill Jonah for bogus reasons, and Cole gets involved.  This novel was full of angst and heavy and was not quite believable at times, but it was a compelling story.  356 pages (Kindle edition.)

"Out of Nowhere" by Roan Parrish

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, called "In the Middle of Somewhere," and this story focused on Colin Mulligan, one of the brothers of Daniel (the hero in the first book).  In the first book, Colin was a mean, homophobic jerk to his brother.  This story is told from Colin's point of view and explains why he was that way.  We learned at the end of book one that Colin is deeply in the closet; this book shows how that happened.  While Colin isn't nearly as likable as Daniel, the author clearly shows his mental anguish at hiding such a large part of himself from his family and friends.  Although not as good as the first book, mostly because the main characters weren't as sweet as Daniel and his boyfriend, Rex, it was still a compelling story.  300 pages (Kindle edition).

"On Solid Ground" by Melissa Collins

A vet with PTSD and a tattoo artist with a drug addicted sister try to find love in California.

I really wanted to like this book.  It had many good reviews, but it just did not live up to my expectations for several reasons.  One of the main characters jumped to conclusions and became mad very easily; he acted quite immature and did not seem to have the capability for a healthy relationship.  The story was told in the present tense, which I always find a bit odd to read.  One character had been raped, but the story did not deal with any lingering effects of the trauma.  There were also a number of inconsistencies, so it could have used better editing.  However, there was a service dog, a cute kid, and an upbeat ending, so there were some positives.  328 pages (Kindle edition).

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought it was really incredible to see a story on this topic in which the main character had so much support. I will be honest and say that I have read a lot of YA novels on this topic, and unfortunately, many of them tend to blur together for me. However, this one definitely stands out for being different in a good way.

Call it unrealistic, if you wish, but everyone's experiences are different. Also, I kind of want a lot of people to read this story (but be aware it deals with serious topics that might be upsetting to some readers), because I want everyone to know what they could be doing to be a better support network for someone who is struggling or who has experienced a trauma. Things people do and don't do afterwards can make a big difference. That's the message of this story: support matters.

Also, it's beautifully written, with many interesting characters.

Pages: 256

"Fish in a Barrel" by Grace Tower

The subtitle of this disturbing book is "A True Story of Sexual Abuse in Therapy" and is the first person account of a woman under the power of an abusive therapist for 3 1/2 years.  In October of 1992, the author's adopted sons began biofeedback sessions with a therapist named Rick because they were having behavior and psychological problems.  Three months later, she herself began psychotherapy with Rick, and soon they were in his office up to seven times a week.  Already dealing with low self esteem and the need for approval, Rick manipulated Grace and her boys in many unethical and disturbing ways all the while draining her of money.  His abuse of Grace eventually became sexual.

About half of the book covers her and the boys' experiences as Rick's patients - how he first won them over to gain their trust, then betrayed that trust and abused them.  The second half covers Grace's realization of the harm he's done and her decisions to file criminal charges and sue him in civil court.  The book is quite riveting and allows the reader to see how a smart woman could be so easily manipulated in so many ways.  The best part was seeing Grace evolve from a sad, depressed, almost hopeless person into standing up for herself and her boys against their abuser.  This book is in our collection here.  278 pages.

"Shot Through the Heart" by CJ Bishop

Although this is the first book in the Cowboy Gangster series, it is built off of a different series, which I have not read.  I figured as much while I was reading it since so many other characters who were not in the story were mentioned and played integral parts.  This book focused on Axel Anders a 22-year-old man who's suffering from PTSD after being gang raped by his brother and three other evil men.  Clint Maddox, the "cowboy gangster," feels very protective of Axel after meeting him through Axel's (good) stepbrother, Angel.  Clint is a cold-hearted enforcer for the Sanitini family and is surprised by these feelings.  The book basically deals with both men tentatively growing closer with lots of flashbacks to awful events in their lives.  It was quite a roller coaster ride.  And there was a cute puppy.  295 pages (Kindle edition).

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Posted for Andrea Dennis

#2 on the 100 books to read before you die. This was a fantastic book. I can’t believe I had never read this one before either. I love that the story is told from Scout’s point of view. Great read!  324 pages.

Shattered: Reclaiming a Life Torn Apart by Violence by Debra Puglisi Sharp

In April 1998, Debra Puglisi Sharp,  wife, nurse, and mother was in her garden when a factory worker with a cocaine habit slipped in through an open door, raped her, put her his trunk, took her home with him, hogtied her and kept her captive for five days.  He shot and killed her husband Nino before she came inside.  Debra learned of Nino's murder by hearing it on the radio. That gave her the strength to loosen her ties, find a phone and call 911.

Struggling to heal from her horrendous ordeal and the devastating loss of her husband, Debra also had to endure an agonizing court trial, her children's grief, and her own crippling fear. But through her work in hospice care and as an advocate for victims of violence and trauma, she slowly recovered and rebuilt her life.  This memoir represents her attempt to make sense of a senseless crime.


304 pages

Celia, A Slave by Melton A. McLaurin

On June 23, 1855 a 19-year-old slave named Celia was raped several times by her owner, Robert Newsom. Newsom lived in Callaway County, Missouri, and had bought Celia from a slave  owner in Audrain County in 1850. She was 14 years old, and according to some accounts, he raped her on the way back to his own farm. In the following 5 years, he moved her into a cabin not far from his house, and called her his 'concubine'. She gave birth to 2 children, at least one of them the son of Robert Newsom.

At some point, Celia became involved with another of Newsom's slaves, a man named George. In the spring of 1855, Celia discovered she was pregnant again. George insisted she put an end to the sexual exploitation she was being subjected to by her owner. She went to the Newsom's daughters to beg them to get him to stop. She also begged Newsom himself to leave her alone, at least while she was 'sick'. The result was his visit to her cabin on June 23. She tried to escape, but when he cornered her and forced himself on her, she clubbed him over the head with a large stick, killing him. She then burned his body in her fireplace.

She was eventually found out and taken to Fulton to be tried for murder. She was found guilty by an all-male jury,  and  hanged. McLaurin uses her story to focus on the role of gender, exploring how female slaves were sexually exploited as slaves, why white women couldn't stop the abuse, and male slaves couldn't defend slave women. He also looks at the way the legal system was used to justify slavery.  In the end, this is a compelling narrative of one women pushed beyond the limits of her endurance by an inhumane system.

195 pages

"A Note in the Margin" by Isabelle Rowan

John McCann has taken a one year leave of absence from his job in the Australian corporate world to manage a small bookstore called Margins to get his stress under control.  One of the store's regulars is a quiet man named David who occupies a chair all day in the used books section.  At first, John wants to get rid of him and the reading chairs, but the store's owner's son, Jamie, has befriended David and talks John into leaving him alone.  David is homeless, something John has never had to deal with, and it makes him uncomfortable.  But one very cold night, John's humanity starts to reemerge when he lets David spend the night on his couch.  John soon realizes that beneath the scruff and dirt is a talented artist and sensitive man who needs help to get his life in order.

This was a wonderful story about the power of friendship, patience, and love that wasn't always an easy read.  David's homelessness and what he does to earn money are tough to read.  He has been horribly abused on the street, and it has caused him to run away whenever he feels scared or stressed.  He trusts no one, but John and Jamie do their best to convince him that they won't hurt him.  My only complaint is that the story was told from multiple points of view, and it was not always clear whose view the author was taking which sometimes confused me.  However, it was still a compelling and well-told human drama.  276 pages (Kindle edition).

The Round House by Louise Edrich

Looking back, Joe Coutts, an Ojibwe lawyer, recalls the summer of his 13th year. He was the only child of the tribal judge and tribal clerk of the Ojibwe nation; a beloved child in a warm and happy family. Until his mother is raped, and the brutal rapist attempts to kill her. Although she escapes, she cannot recover from the experience, never leaving her bedroom. The lives of the entire family are disrupted.

Joe becomes obsessed with getting his mother "back," determined to find and punish the rapist on his own. He is scared and angry, and wants revenge. Joe and his friends start playing detective, though his father, wanting to protect him as much as possible, tries to warn him away. The rapist is identified, but the location of the rape on the reservation means that tribal courts are in charge, but Caucasians cannot be prosecuted.

Though this is a crime story, it also is a search for justice, and an examination of life on the reservation. The land can no long support them, and the culture has been compromised as they have been forced to live in the confines of the reservation .Legal jurisdiction over crimes involving Native Americans now involves tribal officials, state police, and even the FBI. It is a labyrinth of tangled laws and jurisdictions, and Joe decides to take matters into his own hands.

A powerful novel.

Billie Standish Was Here by Nancy Crocker

Billie Standish is an 11-year-old girl growing up in a small Missouri town in the 1950’s. Her parents are consumed by their work, leaving Billie alone most of the time. Her mother is abusive; her father is distant. There are only two other girls her age in town, and they don’t like her. She spends most of her time alone. She feels invisible, and has to look in the mirror to be sure she exists.

 

It takes a disaster for her to find a friend. After heavy rains, a levee is in danger of breaking, and Billie discovers that the town has been evacuated. Her parents are out on their farm, and she is terribly alone. Then she sees her elderly across-the-road neighbor Miss Lydia, who has also chosen to stay in her home. The two form a bond that sustains them through tragedy and hardship. In Miss Lydia, Billie has an advocate and a friend at last.

This is a wonderful young adult book by a Missouri author.

 

288 pages