None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

 Title: None of This is True

Author: Lisa Jewell
Did I listen or read?: libby kindle
When did I finish?: 8/9/2025
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: :Alix Summers, husband Nathan, Josie Fair, husband Walter, kids Erin and Roxy
What happens? Alix and Josie are birthday twins.  Alix has a podcast that is moderately successful, but she is looking for more.  Josie approaches her about her weird life (met Walter when she was 16) and decides to do a podcast interviewing Josie.  Josie might be a big fat liar.
How long was this? 390 pages
Did I like this? It was OK but not great.  Predictable that Josie might be lying.  Pretty good, but Josie is so unlikeable, hard to read.
Overall grade: B

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King

 Title:  A Monstrous Regiment of Women

Author: Laurie R. King
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 8/4/2025
When was the book published:  1995
Main Characters: Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes, Marjory Child
What happens?  Mary's friend Veronica from Oxford is caught up either in a great progressive movement or a cult led by Child.  People start dying.  Mary gets kidnapped and shot up w dope.
How long was this? 336 pagrd
Did I like this? The stories are long and involved with side plots, but I enjoy the Mary's character and Sherlock's mystery.  For some unknown reason, she has Mary get married to Sherlock.  Might end my interest in this series
Overall grade: B

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-WIlliams

 Title: Careless People

Author: Sarah Wynn-Williams
Did I listen or read?: library book, last book from EDC!
When did I finish?: 8/3/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Joel, Eliot
What happens? Sarah creates a job at Facebook in public policy, joining on a mission to make the world better.  The greed and stupidity of the execs leads the company into legal murky waters, while pumping out money at all costs.
How long was this? 386 pages
Did I like this? good book, yeah.  Jaw dropping
Overall grade: B+

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins

 Title: Speak to Me of Home

Author: Jeanine Cummins
Did I listen or read?: library book, one of the last from EDC
When did I finish?: 8/2/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Daisy, the daughter, Ruth the mother, Ruth's brother Benny, Rafaela the grandmother, had a sister Lola. Pappamio and Mammamio. Rafaela and Lola grew up with Candido, son of the housekeeper Priti
What happens? Daisy is taking care of Benny's properties and gets injured in a hurricane.  We go back and forth in time to hear the story of the family in Puerto Rico, in St. Louis (where Rafaela moves with husband Peter before they divorce, after they have Daisy, Vic and Carlos.)
How long was this? 363 pages
Did I like this? Great characters and learning about PR.  Not much for a plot, but I would try this author again.
Overall grade: B

The beekeeper’s apprentice by laurie r. king

 Title: The Beekeeper's Apprentice 

Author: Laurie R. King
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: July 21, 2025
When was the book published: 2015
Main Characters: Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson
What happens? Mary and Sherlock meet, and help find a kidnapped girl, but not the kidnapper.  Then, a plot (and bombs) to destroy Sherlock, Mary and Sherlock go into hiding and pretend to feud.
How long was this? 12 hours
Did I like this? good story, good writing, way too long.  Will try number 2.
Overall grade: B

Texas Ranger by James Patterson

 Title: Texas Ranger

Author: James Patterson 
Did I listen or read?: Libby audiobook
When did I finish?: July 19, 2025 Santa Barbara 2 week trip
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: Rory the ranger
What happens? Rory comes home to investigate the brutalmirder of his ex wife
How long was this? 9 hours
Did I like this? The worst.  Holes in the plot.  They never explain how the bad guy got a threatening phone call. A mess say no to James Patterson. 
Overall grade: C-

Come to Grief by Dick Francis

 Title: Come to Grief

Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 7/16/2025
When was the book published: 1995
Main Characters: Sid Halley, Ellis Quint, Gordon and Ginnie, Rachel Ferns and mother Linda, ex-father-in-law Charles Roland
What happens? Sid figures out that Ellis is committing a bizarre set of violent acts against horses, and accuses him (and has evidence.)  Sid is vilified by the media for accusing the popular media star and former jockey.  He has to investigate to get the whole story.  The first victim of this was Rachel's pony - Rachel has cancer and Sid becomes part of her life, very moving.
How long was this? 308 pages
Did I like this? Dick Francis is a great story teller and his characters are always interesting, believable, and multi-dimensioned.  Like most of his books, I loved this story.
Overall grade: A-