Jeff Sexton

All The Feels - Including A Few Very Dusty Rooms. Payne is very much making a career out of intricate character stories that pack a lot of emotional depth and complexity in with a fair amount of drama and action, and this book is exactly in that vein. Here, we get truly visceral looks at the emotions surrounding death and abandonment, emotions which will be difficult for some and will cause the aforementioned dusty rooms for more. The way Payne can bring these things to life via her words is truly remarkable, and that she can do so in such a story without ever appearing preachy - if anything, pretty much the exact opposite - is even more remarkable.

If you're looking for a light and breezy "beach read", this isn't that. If you're looking for a "beach read" in that you can read this book while on a beach... and bawl your eyes out in the process... yeah, this is that kind of book.

Very much recommended.

Well Documented History Of The Origins Of An Acclaimed Program. Coming in at 32% documentation, this is one of the better documented nonfiction tales I've read of late. Given that it doesn't actually make many claims that require larger amounts of evidence, this is actually even more astounding - the authors documented seemingly more just to provide the data than to necessarily "prove" their claims. Which is to be commended.

The actual narrative of the tale as told though... could use some better editing, and perhaps the final version of this text - vs the Advanced Review Copy edition I read - has that better editing. But for the edition I read, the narrative could get a touch disjointed at times, often switching between authors and perspectives from paragraph to paragraph and even seemingly at times within a given paragraph. Which makes the overall reading experience a bit tougher, which is a shame given that the very story we're learning here is the creation of a program that would become truly legendary in getting kids excited about reading.

Those looking for a large presence of host LeVar Burton are going to be disappointed, as while the book discusses how his involvement came about and then references him a few times as it progresses through the timeline of the show, there are only a few scant quotes directly from him - most seeming from the very documentation the authors cite in the end.

Instead, this book focuses more on coauthor Tony Buttino's own history and efforts to get the show up and operational, including deep dives into his family and neighborhood as he grew and developed as both a person and a television professional.

Still, for anyone interested in learning the backstory of Reading Rainbow and how it came into existence, this book is a treasure trove unlike any other. Very much recommended.

Action Packed Thrill Ride For The War On Terror Era. If you're like me, you see a title like "The Paris Widow" and you're thinking this is going to be some WWII historical fiction novel that tends to blend into each other because it has both been done so much and because you've read so many of them.

Well, you'd be wrong, in this case.

Because *this* is actually one of those "who can I trust" action packed suspense thrillers where everybody has secrets and literally no one - not even the maid - can be trusted. It is one you're going to sit up reading well past bedtime because Belle has mastered the art of leaving the chapter on just enough of an edge that you *need* to read the next chapter to see what happens next... only to now find that you're a dozen chapters and a couple hours after you said "just one more chapter".

Set primarily in Paris, with some flashbacks to earlier interludes in Atlanta, Georgia (US) and others in a few different locations in and around the Mediterranean, this is one of those tales where while the settings don't become characters themselves, they are described so beautifully that you're going to wish you were there yourself.

Fans of the "ho hum this is just another story that oh fuck oh Fuck Oh FUck OH FUCK!" type of tale are going to have a particularly fun time with this one. (And let's be real here, that sentence was also fairly fun to write. :) )

So pick this book up, sit down in that beach chair right there on the pool deck, and prepare for the sunburn of your life as you get engrossed in this book for several hours until you finish it in one sitting. You've been warned. :)

Very much recommended.

Cathartic Trippiness. Imagine a Stanley Kubric type acid trip - and now imagine it in full virtual reality 8K. That is what reading one particular pivotal scene of this book is like, and it is in this sequence in particular that Lonsdale pulls out storytelling elements that even after having read literally every book she's written to date, I didn't know she had. Which is one of the reasons I love checking in every year for her annual release and seeing what she has come up with now - she is a master of evolving and expanding her skillset while still remaining true to the emotional depth and complexities of characters that she has crafted in every book, no matter the particulars or particular mechanics of the book at hand.

This is one of those books where the current fad of "magical realism" is done particularly well, even competing with one of my favorite scifi based such scenes in any medium ever, where in the movie Frequency (2000), the ending sequence features things happening in two timelines at once at a pivotal moment and the past being shown to directly impact the present in a key way. What Lonsdale manages to do is almost the opposite yet also quite the the same in a sense, and eventually we get to where we can almost *see* the character at hand's neurons re-wiring as all that has happened becomes known.

And then there is the catharsis on so many levels. As noted above, Lonsdale excels in creating particularly complex characters, and this tale is no exception. That she manages to create *so many* characters that are each equally complex shows true skill - I've read quite a few books even just when counting as starting around the same time I read my first book from Lonsdale, and rare indeed does a book have quite this level of depth and "flavor".

Overall truly an intriguing book that will likely be remembered for many years by at least some.

Very much recommended.

Sometimes One Shot Really Can Change Everything. This is one of those tales where it should have been over from the very beginning - these two people are just *so* broken by their lives to this point that it *shouldn't* work...

And yet it does, because this is a romantic comedy and that is the very *purpose* of romantic comedies, to give the rest of us hope that something like this *can* work - even in our own completely broken states. And hell, *particularly* when the book is meta enough to actively make *that very same point* within its text. (Helped by the overall plot of... actively writing a romantic comedy movie. ;) )

Yes, some of the things that both characters do are horrible. Yes, perhaps some (or even much) of this tale doesn't or even can't happen in real life. Well, again as pointed out within the text here, neither can zombies or space aliens or some such... and yet people love those movies for somewhat similar reasons as to why they love romantic comedies.

So sit back and enjoy the ride and the feels. If you have to turn your brain off and enjoy the spectacle for sheer spectacle, *do that*. But don't criticize a book that many will truly love and find catharsis in over your own hangups. Particularly don't review bomb something just because "that can't really happen". *Particularly when one of the main issues in the book is exploring how reality doesn't really apply in romantic comedies, including this one.*

Overall a strong tale with complex and complicated characters, with a lot of laughs, some smiles, and even a few dusty room scenes to boot. Come in expecting to laugh and perhaps wet your eyes a bit, and you truly won't be disappointed here.

Very much recommended.

Dense Yet Optimistic Treatise Calls For Revival Of Long-Lost Ideals. In American political discourse, the tide turned significantly towards a more Jeffersonian approach based on liberal ideals such that most all American political discourse for quite some time now is mostly based on rights - who has them, who needs them, whose should have them, who should defend them, etc.

Here, Levin argues that this focus on Jeffersonian thoughts has led us to the current divisive era, one that threatens to tear the American nation apart.

Levin, instead, has a suggestion: the revival of Madisonian thoughts regarding *republican* ideals- somewhat (but not completely) analogous to some modern foci on pluralism, but with the added focus of making pluralism work within a functioning government. After all, it was this very tension between these two competing camps that originally allowed the nation to come together under "e pluribus unum"... and Levin has some thoughts on how that can work again.

Levin does a detailed look at the ideas, how we got to where we are, how each plays out in each realm of American polity, and how a renewed focus on republicanism could heal our divided land. It is a dense look mostly written for scholars and deep thinkers, but for those that can hang with density akin to some substance just shy of lead... this promises to be quite illuminating indeed. And it is one that more Americans *should* read than likely actually *will*.

The single star deduction here is simply due to the shorter than expected bibliography, clocking in at about 13% of the Advance Review Copy of the text I was able to read, where even in a relaxed posture on that point I would still expect around 15%. Splitting hairs at that point, perhaps, but I've had these standards since I began reviewing books several years ago, and it wouldn't be fair to either this book or all the others to not hold to the same-ish standard.

Very much recommended.

Moving Thriller Set Against Family Trauma. There are times when you find a thriller tale that has genuine heart, when a book that is supposedly intended to make your heart beat faster also manages to make the room quite dusty at times. This is one of those tales.

There is quite a bit to unpack about this story, but to reveal the things that truly make it as powerful as it is could delve too far into spoiler territory. Suffice it to say that the setup itself is done well - we are many years after a massive trauma for a family and even their small community, and the trauma reverberates to this day in many different ways. Stone manages to craft a story that is pitch perfect thriller - more bodies are piling up *now*, and it seems they may be connected to the original trauma, at least if some people are to be believed. It is the way she goes about executing this story, exploring the various internal dynamics within our main character and the larger dynamics within her family and community, that give this book its heart and its soul.

Overall a strong tale, though perhaps not *so* atypical as to be heads and shoulders standing above others of its form and genre. Still, for those that enjoy this type of tale - or even those open to exploring if they like this type of tale - this is certainly a strong entry within the space, and a worthy read indeed.

Very much recommended.

Solid Susan Mallery Tale Of Finding Friends Even In Difficult Situations. I admit, I'm a bit weird here due to how my own family was as I was growing up, and even how my wife's family is to this day. You see, my grandparents divorced well before I was ever born. I never knew them married. And yet, my grandmother and step-grandfather lived on my grandfather's property, at times even inside his own house, at a few different points of my childhood. Similarly, my wife's mom's best friend... is the ex-wife of her husband (my wife's stepdad).

Thus, when I find myself reading a tale such as the one here, where a new wife suddenly finds that her only real chance at moving forward is the generosity of her husband's ex-wife (prodded on by their daughter)... it actually isn't that far out of the realm of "normal" for me. :D

So maybe I had an easier time accepting this plotline than some, but for me it absolutely worked quite well. Yes, it could get a touch repetitive at times as Mallery was driving home her major thematic elements, but... that is kinda part of Mallery's style, at least of late. Yes, her books - including this one - could easily be 20 or more pages shorter without all of the repetition, but I honestly think that many of Mallery's bigger fans appreciate this to some level.

Ultimately, this is a tale of hope and found family/ found friendship and how these can make life bearable even under difficult and somewhat unusual circumstances. This is a tale of women bonding even in situations that would likely tear many female bonds apart, and it is a tale of the power of friendship. I for one thoroughly enjoyed it, even if, yes, it did run perhaps a touch too long. But again, that is just something one comes to expect from Mallery, who I'm beginning to think has some kind of deep seated aversion to publishing a book with less than 400 pages in it.

Very much recommended.

Short Cozy Family Drama Sets Up Series Well. This is one of those barely 200 page books that packs quite a bit in it - but is also one of those books where everyone is lying to someone about something, which is where much of the drama comes in. Meant to be more of a cozy coastal foodie vibe primarily, it actually does work as that down the stretch... it just takes a bit to get there. The titular Lighthouse Cafe really comes into its own eventually - kinda sorta ala settlement building in Fallout 4. Yes, the pieces are there and broken when you first encounter them, but this is where a lot of the beauty for a lot of people comes in, seeing just how these people mend themselves as they mend the building and business.

Overall a breezy book with perhaps more drama than many would want on a "beach read", but also great for those cold winter nights when you need to be transported to a more tropical location in your mind.

Very much recommended.

Fascinating Blend Of Rare/ Unique Spin On Vampire Lore With Action. This is one of those debut books you don't get very often at all, one where very nearly everything within it works to perfection to make you want that next book... ummm... now please. We get an almost Without Remorse by Tom Clancy storyline going on... that quickly transitions to include vampires. Except when we get into the vampire lore of this particular tale... it isn't the usual stuff. Griffin has taken some usual concepts and worked them his own way, adding his own touches along the way, and produced a very different and very intriguing take on the idea.

And yes, like any book claiming to be a noir, we get the hard boiled detective and his storyline connecting pretty well everything in the book as well.

But then, surprise... *more* interesting developments of a type not often seen these days in particular, used late in perhaps a bit of a rush... but apparently meant to setup a rather explosive Book 2.

The last third of this book in particular, you're going to be racing through, breathless as you can't wait to see what happens next...

And then that tease of an ending, in the most delicious ways. Yes, this book does its primary purpose of making you want the *next* one quite well, so let's all help this debut author know that we want to get that next book ASAP... go buy the book already, read it, and help spread the word!

Very much recommended.

Solid, If A Touch Generic, Beach Read. You know those tales where you go into it knowing roughly what is going to happen from the get-go, but also knowing you're going to enjoy the experience because you know this type of tale and know nothing too shocking or controversial will be a major plot point? In other words, a somewhat Hallmark Movie type plot, but more on the women's fiction side and featuring multiple storylines in one?

Yeah, this is pretty well exactly that, in coastal Cape Cod + NYC as the "big city". Solid enough to be a solid, inoffensive choice for lounging at the pool or on a beach reading while relaxing as the kids make a fool of themselves in the water... in other words, fairly idyllic "summer read". And what do you know, positioned to release right at the beginning of the "summer season" in the US, just over a week after Memorial Day and when many - particularly more Yankee-area - schools are getting out of school for the summer later that week.

So if this is the kind of tale you're looking for - and based on the Hallmark Channel's success, clearly there is a fairly substantial market for this type of tale - then you're going to enjoy this one and it is pretty well going to be everything you expect it to be. For those looking for something with more teeth... look for some of my other reviews, wherever you may find them. :)

Very much recommended.

More Dusty Rooms Than Usual. This is one of those romcoms where guys are going to encounter more dusty rooms than usual, and women may outright cry more than usual. Because Dineen does one character in particular so unbelievably well, we truly *feel* this character's motivations - and hesitations.

Which, perhaps, makes up for what for at least some readers will be a cancellable offense for Dineen, who has this character make a joke that... well, there are many out there today who won't find the joke funny and yes, will probably/ likely call for her cancellation over it. Me, apparently I'm going to Hell right there with Dineen, because I thought it was one of the more hilarious moments of the book, and there was enough contrition later (indeed, bordering on preachiness, which is perhaps a step *too* far) that it *should* mollify most critics of it.

Overall though, another solid entry in this series that technically *can* be read as a standalone, though significant events play out in the book immediately before this one in this series that directly impact the story here, and are referenced frequently in this story. But for those who don't mind mild spoilers of other books, eh, this one could truly work standalone.

Truly a fun, shortish (at under 300 pages) romcom, perfect for a breezy summer afternoon relaxing... just watch out for the dust. Very much recommended.