Such a Quiet Place is a suspenseful read that almost makes you feel like you are navigating a maze of mirrors.  Just when you think you know where the mystery is headed, it twist and turns in completely different direction.  

Hollow's Edge was a quiet community where many of the neighbors were co-workers and friends.  Until the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett, when it became apparent someone among them had done the unthinkable.  Ruby Fletcher was convicted of the murders and sent to prison.  A year and a half later, Ruby's conviction is overturned and she is released from prison, only to show back up in Hollow's Edge on the doorsteps of her former roommate Harper Nash.  Harper is torn between welcoming Ruby back into her life, and suspecting Ruby got away with murder.  It's clear Ruby has returned, but unclear whether she is hunting for revenge or the real killer.

At one point or another, I suspected each and every character of being the murderer. The author does an excellent job of making you consider what every character might be hiding.  

I enjoyed this dark twisty novel that kept me in the dark until the end.  I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.     

​The Personal Librarian is truly a magnificent piece of historical fiction!  It brings to light the story of Belle de Costa Greene, personal librarian to J.P. Morgan.  Belle was born Marion Greener, but her mother made a decision for their family to live as white and take on new identities, attributing their heritage to a Portuguese grandmother.  Belle's father was the first black graduate of Harvard and could not concede to this plan so he left.  Belle secured the position as personal librarian to J.P. Morgan and learned to navigate that male dominated world, not only as a woman, but as a woman of color all the while passing as a white person due to the racism prevalent at the time.  Belle amassed an amazing collection of books and art, traveling all over the world and reinventing the book/art buying process, but she had the added pressure of keeping her secret safe.  

This novel impressed me on so many levels.  I think having the book co-authored by both a white woman and a black woman helped to give an authentic voice to Belle de Costa Greene's situation and her emotions.  Reading about her career and all that she accomplished during her lifetime was inspiring and captivating at the same time.  I am so grateful that the authors took the time to unearth her story and give it a voice in today's world.   It was neat reading in the author notes about how the authors developed such a close bond writing this book together and that it opened up honest discussions about race between them both.  I believe that this book has the power to bring people together and is an important read for all of us.  

Good Morning America selected The Personal Librarian as their Book of the Month pick for July.  I really enjoyed the interview Deborah Roberts did with the authors.  The interview takes place at the Morgan Library and if my review hasn't peaked your interest yet, check it out:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/video/authors-personal-librarian-talk-78835572?fbclid=IwAR1YBUm0d_ecLkzrY0yoFn-2wy6EhwzDyXecUdfFi-2_1ZMpVT16_B2cD4c

The Personal Librarian was most definitely a five star read for me and I highly recommend reading it  I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Home Made is an inspirational and timely read that shows how powerful human connections can be.  

One night while Liz Hauck and her father were cooking dinner, Liz made a suggestion that they start a weekly cooking program at the residential home for boys in state care  which was a part of the human services agency her father co-directed.  Unfortunately, Liz's father passed away before they had the chance to start the cooking program together, but Liz decided to honor her father by going forward on her own.  

I was so inspired by this book and how Liz was able to impact the lives of the boys in the home by showing up for what turned out to be over 100 dinners.  This book also speaks to the influence those same boys had on Liz's life.  When you set out to make a difference in the world, sometimes the biggest difference you make is in yourself.  I think her idea to cook together with the boys for an hour and then eat dinner together was brilliant.  Coming together in that way provided an opportunity to bond over a common goal, teach life skills and have conversation as a sort of family unit.    

I hope that this book inspires people in other communities to start up their own weekly cooking programs and see what grows from that experience.  I truly feel that if we spent more time looking for what we have in common instead of looking for what divides us, a lot of healing could take place on many levels.

This book clearly was a five star read for me and I hope that you will pick up a copy today for your own dose of inspiration.  I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.