Review: Barriers to Entry

Barriers to Entry by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Frances Glessner Lee was a real person who helped come up with and furthered the idea of modern forensic science. This short story is based on her diorama "Three Room Dwelling."
Frances is teaching a class on studying and learning from crime scenes. The goal is to take in every single detail to help solve the how and possibly the who. This portrayed the disbelief the men have about a woman teaching a class (what could *she* possibly know that *we* don't?!). Then the excitement as they (slowly) got it. And the (grudging) respect that she slowly earned. Fascinating.

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Review: Fallen Grace

Fallen Grace by Sadeqa Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Takes place in segregated Virginia in the 1950s. Bubbles got pregnant as a teenager and out of wedlock. Her father is a pastor and to protect HIS reputation, she was set to a home for "wayward" girls (exactly like the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland). At the "home", they take the infants away quickly after birth. Bubbles is intent on a different path. She stuck up a friendship with another girl there and together they escaped.
Bubbles then faces betrayal by the man she loved, her parents, and the girl who was a bit of a friend. After she sees her father being a hypocrite, does she decide to stand up for herself and her newborn daughter. Powerful read.

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Review: Tune in Tomorrow

Tune in Tomorrow by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5*
This was a fictional story based on the woman who developed the soap opera (Irna Phillips).
Abby had an uphill battle from the get go because she was a woman. She was career orientated and decided to not marry (otherwise she would have had to quit or might have been fired). She did adopt a child (and I will not spoil whose child).

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Review: The Friend Zone

The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Gray and Ivy first meet over text. Gray is a college senior, football star in need of a car. His prospective agent, Sean MacKenzie offers Ivy's car since she is currently in London learning all about her mom's bakery. They become friends.
A nice friends to lovers story. The push-pull "I want you, but you probably don't want me/I shouldn't" got old real fast. Luckily they do give in just after 1/2 through. I liked how kind and empathetic Gray was. He was the primary caregiver for his mom who died of breast cancer when he was a teenager. He was the youngest of 4 boys. Things came out about his childhood that happened to him that were done to him by his brothers and dad "to toughen him up."
All-in-all I enjoyed the banter back and forth. Each had cute, unexpected nicknames for the other. And there really wasn't some big misunderstanding that occurred at the end. My only issue was the trite trope of fairly inexperienced woman (she had sex once) with a very experienced guy. That annoyed me. Enjoyed the epilogue.

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Review: Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Chloe is almost hit by a car while out on a walk. This leads her to looking at her life and her desire for some change. She wants to take some risks and comes up with a list. She is the oldest and has her own routine. She also has massive guards up because she deals with a chronic illness.
Red is the building super. He is a painter and has had something happen to him in the past. He is kind, but quiet.
Chloe and Red didn't make a good first impression. So they begin a bit like enemies and then become friends and then become lovers. There were moments of slowness and my attention lagged. And then moments where it was hard to put down. Chloe took some getting used to; she comes across as a bit rude when you first met her. But once the reader gets to "know" her, her behavior is more understandable.

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Review: Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning

Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was interesting to read about the events before, during, and after the Jan 6, 2021 insurrection.  

Politically, I disagree with Liz Cheney on most things.  However, she has the courage to stand up for what is right and true.  She stood up for democracy.  And she paid a price for it too.  I think history will see her as a hero.

It's surprising to read and listen to how the insurrectionists are viewed now.  How quickly the fear of 1/6/21 faded away.  The simple, plain fact is this:  those that participated in the insurrection (including the person who incited it & did nothing while the Capital was stormed) are TRAITORS.   

I listened to the audiobook borrowed from the library and narrated by Liz Cheney.     

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Review: Fires to Come

Fires to Come by Asha Lemmie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carlotta was adopted by an Italian family when she was found as a baby.  Her dad was also the Don of one of the local mafias.  She was her mother's baby girl.  The oldest brother hated her.  Luca, the younger (but older than her) didn't.  She also found she didn't quite fit in (she was black and the only black person in her neighborhood).  

As the family grows up, she realizes she wants to be loved and to be happy.  She learns about a speakeasy in Harlem.  There she finds people that look like her, but again she doesn't quite fit in.  She meets a guy and falls for him, but realizes it wouldn't be a good fit.  She learns what she wants and needs to be happy, safe, and content.  She then does what needs to be done.  

Amazing.    

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