[I received a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]

A hit in some ways, a miss in others for me.

I am technically a Gen-Xer, after all, and have been curious about what it’s like for other people—what it’s like, hitting your forties? Are their experiences the same as mine? Am I even experiencing the frightful middle-life crisis, or not yet, and how can I tell? The author worked with her own experiences, as well as those of friends, and from research, too, so the result was a good mix, I think, of personal plus scientific/psychological. And it is definitely interesting to see all these experiences, some very close to each other, others pretty varied, all the more since a lot of women I know then to bag it all and have less visibility when it comes to reaching middle-age.

That said, it was also a miss, because a lot of the aforementioned also didn’t resonate with me. (Mostly it’s about cisgender, middle/upper class women.) I identify as agender and aro-ace; I’m not nor do I want to be in a romantic relationship; I don’t have nor do I want children; my background and career path place me much more among millennials than xennials; I never felt the pressure of “having it all” (no family to take care of), I don’t particularly feel “invisible” (I probably am, but I don’t feel it since I’m not interested in romantic love, and I’m enough of a nerd, in a branch where this is desirable, for people to notice me regardless). So, this was all interesting, but in a distanced way. I didn’t relate that much. Is it because I haven’t reached that point yet? Or because my path is different enough that my experience will never be so close to what’s most often depicted here?

I guess I did enjoy this book, although it didn’t particularly “speak” to me. I’d recommend it only to someone who matches that demographic and is interested in a mirror—“I’m not alone and this comforts me”.

P.S. It's not about how to cure insomnia.

Calhoun Chronicles Books 1-4 (The Charm ...

The Horsemaster's Daughter Wiggs_ Susan
Book starts out with Hunter and he raised horses. The latest is very brutal and he knows he needs some help to tame this one.
With help from a boy they get the contained horse on a small barge and take him to where they hope the horsemaster lives. He'd be the one to tame him.
He arrives and only finds a woman-his daughter. Her father is gone.
Like learning about the wild horses and how they show up to be close to her.
He watches as the next day Hunter sees the horse catching her but she wants a chance with the horse.
She had been taught by the expert, her father and she knew she had to take her time with the horse.
Love the relationship they discover on the roof.
They see into each other's soul and she sees he needs a new wife and he sees she is simple but connected to the horses-has no idea about the outside world.
Love how Alysha trains the stallion-Finn. Hunter tends to the other animals and knows his kids are in good hands with his inlaws.
Slaves wonder to the island and she knows what she needs to do-follow in her father's footsteps so they can continue their journey.
He meets a man he thought he'd never see again, she is amazed at everything she's learning about her father's life.
She finds love and wants to explore him.
Love mysteries, treasures, different locations and all the adventure of making it all work.
Alysha realizes how damaged his family is once she lives among them. She is so perspective. She finds out why his son won't talk and she is able to bring his grief forward, releasing him from his pain. After the job of training Finn her work at the estate is done.
Sexual scenes. She is able to learn more about her father and mother. Hunter also learns of his wifes last days and her private secret past.
He keeps his promise and sets her free to go to CA, her father's real dream.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Blood of the White Bear was an entertaining enough read, but ultimately not a memorable one. The story line is a classic one. A pandemic breaks out and one doctor is driven to find the cure for it. It was fantastic that the doctor was a female, and a The Native American elements seemed somewhat forced into it, though. I never really felt like it was connected, even though I was obviously supposed to feel that way. Also, it was really easy to figure out where everything was going. That could be simply because I read a lot, but it took away a good portion of the enjoyment for me. A requirement for thrillers is, at minimum, a feeling of tenseness and intrigue. There was none of that.

With that being said, I want to emphasize that Blood of the White Bear was still a good read. I actually read it in two sittings that were almost back to back. I found myself taking it with me as I walked through the house and such. There's a lot going on in it - almost too much at times - but it still manages to draw you in. Engrosses might be a strong word, because you never really care about any of the characters, but it's not an easy book to just lay down.

Even though many of the Native American elements - specifically revolving around the Kachinas - seemed forced, other bits of it were interesting. Especially the drive to get ancestral pieces returned to the tribes via the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the sand painting (which I would love to see). The Church Rock uranium spill mentioned in the book actually happened. While I wasn't at all familiar with the event, it was horrifying to read about.

Overall, I admire the thought that the author put into the work. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a quick, easy read. Its a good 'airplane read'. You won't remember it once you get off the plane but you'll enjoy it while you're in the air.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Jack Powell never planned on leaving the Navy, but his final mission as a SEAL left him with a tremor and a bad case of nerves. He's home, taking some college classes and trying to figure out what comes next when he meets Erin Kent, a divorced college librarian with an adventurous bucket list and a mission to get her ex-husband's voice out of her head. Jack guides Erin through skydiving and buying the motorcycle of her dreams, blithely accepting Erin's promise that their relationship is purely temporary. But when Jack gets the chance to go back into the shadowy world of security contracting, can he convince Erin to break her word and join him on the adventure of a lifetime?

 

Review

 

There is a lot of good in this book. It is sexy with super hot flirting in the library between an ex-Navy SEAL and a recently divorced librarian.

 

The sorrow over the divorce or really the heartbreak of an unsupportive marriage is well done. There is a a couple of twists that are really nice in the plot.

 

What doesn't work is that everything is rushed so the emotionial connection between the leads feels off. The sex is a bit too fast and out of character as is the hero's over coming of PTSD.

 

I really like this writer but not this book so much.

 

April 28, 1956, was the day Blue Calhoun met a sixteen-year-old girl named Luna.

 

 

And for the next three decades, their love has borne consequences of the most shattering -- and ultimately, perhaps healing -- kind for everyone they know.

 

 

As Blue recounts the years and their events for us -- fervently, tenderly, knowing full well his own deep responsibility -- we are made witnesses to a story of classic dimensions, a story of love and suffering, family and friendship, death and redemption.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Calhoun is a bizarre book, its hard to say if its the readers empathy for Blues broken out look on life or the readers disgust with the fact that hes so obsessed with this young girl that makes it so.

Its his fascination with her innocence and his jaded outlook on life that draws him to Luna so much. He's tired of his life and the way his life has turned out and she feels like a fresh start for him he wants to feel alive again.

That's what she does for him regardless of the fact that he knows he has obligations to his family and responsibilities he shouldn't abandon just because he isn't happy with the way things have turned out. 

I can't really say whether Blue Calhoun is a really good book or a really bad one because there is just too much conflicting emotions I have toward Blues constant ramblings and inner dialogue trying to reason and defend his feelings for such a young girl who is around the age of fifteen and with Blue being in his forties its really inappropriate.

This issue is brought up repeatedly in the story which gets annoying but you also can see not just Blues conflict, readers can see how Luna sees him as a father figure because she's too young to understand and in his mentality he disconnects from reality, seems to mirror her mental maturity level and continuously ignores warnings from others just to be with her taking on both a father/lover/friend role. You see two sides to both Blue and Luna in this aspect. Both are childish, both are jaded by their lives.

Blue knows its wrong to want Luna so much and yet hes drawn to her and refuses to deny himself the chance of having her for himself when he has the chance to sneak in "alone" time with her. Its really infuriating and disgusting but the book is written really well. 

The authors ability to describe an emotion or a scene is really impressive. He's a talented writer but I still don't know how to rate this book so I'm gonna have to lean to the side and stand in the middle. Just as Price as done I leave it up to other readers to decide what they think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                

 

 

 

 

Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews purchased a print copy for personal collection.

All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

 

 

 

 

 

Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews purchased a print copy for my own collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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