After the Storm by Linda Castillo FIC Cas

It amazes me how many murders are committed in the small town of Painters Mill which is populated by a lot of Amish!  Of course if there weren't any I wouldn't be able to read Castillo's novels and I love them.

The storm referred to in the title is a tornado which rips through the community.  When a troop of Boy Scouts is taken out in the country to help do clean up they are shocked to find part of a skeleton.  Kate Burkholder, the Chief of Police, starts researching whose remains it might be since the bones have been there for decades.

Also going on in the story is the relationship between Kate and John Tomasetti (who is a state agent).  They are basically living together and things are getting very serious.  Things become complicated with a surprise complication - and then there is the problem that someone seems to want to kill Kate as the murder investigation progresses.  It's an entertaining series of novels.  If you haven't read any of them go back to the beginning to get more of the back story of Kate - how an Amish girl became the Chief of Police.

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Keeping Christmas by Dan Walsh FIC Wal

Every year at this time I keep my eyes open for Christmas stories.  I know that they are going to be sugary and often romantic - not the kind of book I generally choose.  But it is the season and it is good to read a warm fuzzy book.

This story is about Judith and Stan Winters.  For the first time since they had children Thanksgiving will be a quiet affair.  It is just the two of them - no children or grandchildren. It is also the day that the tree goes up and the decorations come down from the attic.  But this year Judith can't bring herself to do any of it.  Stan has done everything he can to encourage her but her depression is too overwhelming because she also finds out that none of their three children are going to make it home for Christmas.  This was the one part of the book that really bothered me.  In all of these years why have the kids always come home - they never had to visit with the in-laws?

This is a story of a husband who will do anything to bring back some Christmas cheer to his wife.  It is a short book and just right for providing a feel-good couple of hours during these days when the days are short and the political news can drive you crazy!

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The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes FIC Key

Stella Sweeney is a rather normal person (in her opinion).  She has been married to Ryan since a young age.  They have two teenagers - a son and a daughter.  The marriage isn't the greatest but it is okay.  Stella's life can be divided into three stages.  There is the ordinary stage when she was simple a wife, mother and beautician.  Stage two finds her confined to a bed for months because of Guillain-Barrë Syndrome which leaves her unable to move anything and she can only communicate by blinking her eyes.  Then there is the third stage.  Some time after she recovers from her illness she finds out that her neurologist, Manix Taylor, turned their blinked "conversations" into a self-published book.  That leads to a book deal and she moves for a year to New York.

As the book begins she is actually back in Ireland and the story of those stages is told in bits and pieces.  It is a story of love and loss, success and failure, and a family trying to be happy.

An entertaining book and I loved the audiobook - I just love those accents!

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How To Write A Novel by Melanie Sumner FIC Sum

This was a quirky entertaining novel.  It is narrated by a 12 1/2 years old girl named Aristotle but called Aris.  Her father is dead and she lives with her mother, Diane, and her autistic brother, Max.  Diane's life isn't always easy.  Money is always an issue.  She is an adjunct professor (which means she doesn't get paid a lot!).  She has a man in her life - well, sort of.  His name is Penn and he comes with a lot of emotional baggage - including not wanting to be touched.  Mostly he is a handyman for the family and a male role model for Max.  Aris never gives up on trying to get Penn to become her new father.

When the money issue becomes more critical Aris decides to take matters into her own hands.  How can she earn money?  Easy.  She gets a book called How to Write a Novel in 30 Days.  Aris thinks she has lots of material as she looks around at her crazy family.

During that month she finds out about a dark family secret.  She takes off some time from novel writing to take her mom's machete and go right a wrong.  The characters are all flawed but lovable!

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The Nurses by Alexandra Robbins 362.173 Rob

Having more experience in medical offices than I ever wanted during the past few years I have learned one thing - nurses are extremely important to those of us who are patients!  My experience has all been positive as far as the medical staff.  This book blew me away.  I know that nurses are underpaid but I am really shocked at what some of them go through for their salaries.

Of course the identities of these nurses and hospitals have been well-masked I am sure, but the stories are real.  We are welcomed into the subculture of the nursing world. The stories of four nurses are told.  In-between their stories we are presented with some in-depth information about the state of nursing.  All of these nurses worked in hospitals.  And all of them had issues with the working conditions.  How would you like to be told that you could no longer park close to the hospital?  Instead you have to go to a parking lot and take a shuttle - which adds another half-hour onto the beginning and the end of your day.  How would you like to work in a climate where people are bickering all the time and taking you back to those awful days of Junior High?  I could go on and on but if you are interested read the book!  It is not an easy book to read (because of the story it tells, not because of the writing!).  What I learned will stay with me forever and I will be even more appreciative of the great nurses who have taken care of me.

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The Last Midwife by Sandra Dallas FIC Dal

I enjoy reading historical novels and especially those written by Sandra Dallas.  I have read several by her that were based on real events.   This one isn't but it is obvious that she has been meticulous in her research.  It is a very entertaining book.

The story takes place in 1880 and it is centered around the life of Gracy Brookens.  Since she was a young girl she has been involved in midwifery.  Of course she has lost a few mothers and some babies over the years but the people trust her.  Gracy lives with her husband Daniel who is a miner in Colorado.  They have a son named Jeffery but he left home a few years back and they haven't heard from him.

One day the sheriff shows up at their home to arrest Gracy for the murder of a baby.  Gracy wasn't actually there for the birth of the baby boy born to Edna, the wife of an influential miner named Jonas Halleck.  No one even knew that Edna was pregnant but she had been out of circulation for a while.  Their daughter, Josie, showed up at Gracy's door and begged her to come help the baby who was struggling.  Gracy was able to remove the mucous from the baby's mouth and he was fine when she left.

The book tells the story of Gracy waiting for the trial and trying to decide if she is willing to let go of some secrets to save herself.  A good read!

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Life is Short by Jennifer Arnold and Bill Klein 791.45 Arn

One of my guilty pleasures is reality TV.  And The Little Couple is one of my favorites.  It began several years ago when Dr. Jen Arnold and Bill Klein were beginning their married life.  They are both little people who have been very successful in life.  It was interesting to watch how they cope with a big world.  The years have gone by and now they have two children they have adopted.  I pretty much know what their life has been like since their show began.

This book is the story of what happened before they became a family.  Bill and Jen take turns telling about their childhoods and the challenges they have faced.  I was amazed at all of the things they went through from an early age.

This was an easy read and a great story of love and determination.

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