Keeper of the Lost Cities: Nightfall by Shannon Messenger

This is the 6th book of this series. I think I was experiencing "series fatigue" in this book. I found myself being irritated with Sophie for focusing on her human parents after they were kidnapped by the Neverseen. Why wouldn't she be focused on them? She loved them. I found myself just wanting her to move on and focus on the "big picture" problem. Very insensitive of me. Part of the problem is waiting too long to read the next book in the series. I lose track of what the key goal is in this story. I'm glad that she finally let one of the three boys that love her go though. It's difficult to not like all the guys that are interested in her, but she needed to let someone off the hook. So Dex has finally been set free. The other two, Fitz and Keefe, are both awesome and it's difficult to decide between them. I have a tendency to favor Keefe, but to be fair, the focus was on him for this book. Fitz might take a bigger role in Book 7 and then I will switch back to him.

Anyway, Sophie's human parents are taken and being held prisoners by the Neverseen at a place called Nightfall. Keefe's mother, Lady Gisela, once a part of the Neverseen and now apparently wanting to work with the Black Swan, has knowledge of Nightfall (because she designed it - as well as the monsters that guard it.) No one trusts her (for good reason), but Sophie & gang need her and the information she is willing to give them about Nightfall if they are going to find Sophie's parents. Sophie's human sister, Amy, is brought in to the Elvin world, and she is initially kept safe in Atlantis, the infamous city sunk in the ocean. Then she is moved for her protection because the Neverseen seem to know everything about Sophie and her cohorts. Another element has been introduced into the story: Soporidine. This is a drug that has been developed by the Neverseen that will induce someone to go to "sleep" indefinitely. There is an antidote, but the Neverseen are the only ones that have it. Sophie & friends & the council are definitely behind the eight ball in this installment. 

The gang finds Alden, the betrayer and Fitz & Bianna's sibling, at Nightfall. He is severely injured and in a deep sleep caused by Soporidine. They take him back with them. They are trying to develop an antidote to the Soporidine, which they will need for him to wake up and give them information about the Neverseen and where they are holding Sophie's human parents. The only thing they find at Nightfall is Alden. Then they find out that the original Nightfall is actually in Atlantis.

The elves manage to team up with King Dimitar of the ogres. He is initially hesitant, since they are known enemies, but he comes around. He sends his daughter, Princess Ro, to be Keefe's bodyguard after he is nearly mortally wounded. She is a wonderful addition to the team!

This is a good vs. evil story and it's taking some time for good to conquer evil!

Wendy's Rating: ****

Filthy Rich The Jeffrey Epstein Story by James Patterson, John Connolly with Tim Malloy

I listened to this on audiobook. I love finding out the true story, based on actual interviews, court proceedings and documentation of an investigation. This book starts in 2004-2005, when Jeffrey Epstein is using high schoolers to recruit other high schoolers to go to his home to give him a massage. He concentrates on young girls, as young as 14 years old, who are poor and vulnerable. He offers them $200 a massage; but he will give them more money if they are willing to do other things. These "massages" are mostly done with Epstein being naked and him encouraging the girls to take off their clothes. He masturbates, uses vibrators and massagers, and touches them with his hands. He does have intercourse with some - and even rapes one of his accusers. He sex-trafficked Virginia Giuffre, and I'm sure she wasn't the only one. He only seeks/wants girls that are thin and attractive. There are beautiful women who assist him with this process. Ghislaine Maxwell, the most well-known thanks to her friendship with ex-Prince Andrew and her prison sentence for sex trafficking for Epstein, is only one woman who helps Epstein lure hundreds of minor girls to his home.

The book then explores Epstein's childhood, family life, journey to wealth through questionable means, high intelligence, connections to people in high places, etc. It's interesting that it's so difficult to track how he actually became a multi-millionaire. He was an expert at manipulating numbers and people. What's most disturbing is the number of people who still considered him a friend or had business dealings with him after his first arrest and conviction for procuring a girl for prostitution of a person under 18. (Which was a despicable plea deal.) What's most disgusting (and there are quite a lot of things to find disgusting about this story) is the attempt to set up Epstein's accusers as extortionists. One of the most difficult things to discover in the book (other than the actual sexual actions of Epstein with young, vulnerable minors), is Alan Dershowitz, the American lawyer and Harvard Law professor, who denied all involvement with Epstein and his sexual activities with minor children. Yet Virginia Giuffre accused him of participating in his own sexual activities with her. I believe Virginia. Dershowitz was on the "dream team" defending OJ Simpson, was a member of Harvey Weinstein's defense team (another scumbag), defended Trump in his impeachment trial, and helped negotiate the non-prosecution agreement on Epstein's behalf. I really despise him.

This investigation is (further) proof that there is no justice if enough money is involved. It was a difficult read in that respect, but I do like to know more of the "truth" about a situation than what we read/hear in the media. This is a man who preyed on the vulnerable. I actually don't care if he committed suicide in prison or was murdered. It's one less criminal that the tax payers have to support. Good riddance.

Wendy's Rating: ****

My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner

I listened to this on audiobook, read by Jeremy Renner. I remember hearing about his accident in the very first reports made to the public. I had no idea at the time that getting "run over by a snow plow trying to save his nephew" meant getting crushed by a 14,000 lb Snow Cat! What's most remarkable about this story is Jeremy's survival. His fortitude and strength to save himself on the ice seems unmatched. He is a tough son of a gun, to put it very mildly! Ha! It was interesting to listen to his thoughts on life, because this is ultimately what saved him. His "clarity of intention" once the Snow Cat rolled off of him was to breathe. Without breath, there is no life. So he concentrated on breathing, one painful breath at a time - for 45 minutes! He believes he died once, but came back through shear persistence and the knowledge that he would stay dead if he didn't "wake up" and take another breath. He strongly believes that "complacency is death" and one must take action because doing something screams love and shows that you care.

Jeremy's personality shines through this memoir for sure. He's tough as nails, loves deeply, speaks freely, and was The. Worst. Patient. Ever. He was honest about what a jerk he was to the hospital staff. He continually ignored doctor's advice. He persuaded his poor nephew, the actual witness to this traumatic event, to do things against his better judgement. Jeremy is a force to be reckoned with. Many of these qualities (which I would consider undesirable in a family member or friend) is what saved his life. He is a man who decided to "face his fears" years ago, one after another. According to Jeremy, fear is simply caused by a lack of information. So the way to face a fear is to arm yourself with information so that it's no long scary. He also stated that something only has value if you give it value. He gave me a lot of things to think about.

Jeremy apologizes a lot in the book to his family and friends for bringing such trauma into their lives. He is obviously very close to his sister, nephew, and daughter. There seemed to be some relationship issues between his sister & mother (since they hadn't talked for months before the accident) and I couldn't get a good read on his actual relationship with his mother and father - a part from their (separate) support after the accident. What I do know is that this traumatic event, and his survival of it, has changed him forever. He has a sense of humor, but there is one incident in the book that I laughed about, out loud, for minutes! It was toward the end of the book and Jeremy explains the process the doctor used to take the four screws out of his face. He is incredibly funny in how he describes it. And then he went to Taco Bell. Hilarious!

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

This is the true story of Stephane Breitwieser and Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus who stole over 300 pieces of art from museums and churches (mostly museums) all over Europe in the late 1990s - early 2000s. They stole for the beauty of the art, not because they wanted to try to sell it for money. They actually had very little money, living with Stephane's mother and living off the wages earned by Anne-Catherine and money given to Stephane by his mother and grandparents. This is a unique story for so many reasons. First of all, Stephane's theft of art was definitely a compulsion. Once he locked in on a piece of art, he would take any risk to get it. Secondly, Anne-Catherine was a willing participant in these thefts, usually being the "look out" for Stephane as he was figuring out how to get the art out of its box, frame, etc. Thirdly, Stephane's mother most definitely turned a blind eye to what he was doing. He and Anne-Catherine hauled these 300+ works of art into HER home and upstairs to their bedroom and the attic. She never said anything about it.

Although I personally am not over interested in art - or art museums - I still enjoyed reading how Stephane managed to take each of these pieces without being caught. There are so many small museums all over Europe that it was so easy for them to travel around taking items since these small museums don't have the money for security measures, including guards. Plus, art displayed in museums are for people to come in and enjoy looking at. Art is "for the people." Stephane didn't take the most valuable or famous pieces of art; he took what caught his interest. He loved things made out of silver or ivory, and oil-based paintings.

Eventually Stephane's compulsion got the best of him and he was caught. It also took the different counties involved to join forces to zero in on "the couple" seen in museums before things went missing. Years in fact. Once they figured it out, and arrested Stephane, he spent some time in prison while they put a case together. Anne-Catherine and Stephane's mother were also charged. The reactions of these three people, as well as Stephane's father who decided to re-enter Stephane's life at this point, was interesting and curious. Can you say deeply dysfunctional people? Anne-Catherine decided that silence was the best action; Stephane's mother went with denial and destruction; Stephane's father decided that his son was a bit too much for him after all; Stephane was simply a thief. An interesting character-study read.

Wendy's Rating: ****

Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin

The main character of this book, Joseph, reminded me of a hardened Forrest Gump. Everything he touched turned to gold, even though his life was hard. Just like Forrest, he wasn't trying to make money, it just happened. Again and again and again. Also, both Joseph and Forrest traveled extensively in an attempt to flee from their emotional pain. They both were significantly impacted by serving in a war. Finally, they both truly loved one girl from their childhood. Even though both stories included hardship and pain, they ultimately give off a "feel good vibe."

Charles Martin has a easy writing style that is engaging and entertaining. He throws a couple of curveballs at the reader, but he also leaves some hints that all is not what it seems. There was one event that I was genuinely surprised about, but other than that, I could see what was coming based on Joseph's thoughts. As for the story itself, Joseph is in his 60's and has isolated himself from the rest of the world. He lives in a cabin in the woods. He has a dog, Roscoe, that runs free, but always returns to Joseph. He is wealthy, but you wouldn't know it by his lifestyle. One night he hears someone yelling/crying/distraught. He and Roscoe check it out and find a young girl in the water while her mother and brother are standing on the ridge above in helplessness. Joseph saves the girl and brings them all back to his cabin. He finds out they are running from a Mexican drug lord they have been living with the last five years. Joseph quickly takes care of him. Then he makes the decision to help this family get to her brother's home in Florida.

Meanwhile, Joseph's childhood love, Allie, has just found out that her husband, Jake, who is an over-the-road trucker (who spends months away from her during the year) has just died in a fiery single vehicle (semi-truck) crash while coming home to her. She is distraught. Life is not going well for her. She lost her family's restaurant (due to debt) and now her husband. She has nothing left, from her perspective.

Wouldn't you know, Joseph happens to drive past Jake's accident - and he knows it was Allie's husband, even though he hadn't seem Allie in many, many years. He seeks Allie out and finds out her restaurant is closed. Joseph and Allie also re-connect with Bobby, Joseph's brother and Allie's first husband. Old home week.

While I enjoyed this book, it was a little too "pat" for me. Each character goes through adversity, pain and suffering, but you just know that it's all going to turn out fine. Secrets are revealed; love is rekindled; families are reunited; people are finally unburdened by their past and can be happy.

Wendy's Rating: ****

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

This is certainly a cautionary tale. So many people put themselves and their families, including children, out there in our social media world, and many of them seem authentic. But that doesn't mean what they are presenting is authentic. I believe that people get so wrapped up in making "content" that they lose who they are and what is important in the real world. They try to hang on to a certain persona, and it's this persona that makes them successful financially. It's like going down a rabbit hole however.

Natalie Heller Mills presents herself as a tradwife to the world. Her family lives on a farm with chickens, dairy cows and horses. She bakes her own bread and follows a traditional role of a 1950s housewife. Her social media presence hits it big when one person (a male) mentions her in one of his own videos as someone who is doing everything right in this crazy world we live in. She gets thousands of followers immediately after this - which ultimately generates a nice monthly income for her and her growing family. The problem with this is that her and her husband are not living the life they present. They have help on the farm, two nannies to take care of their children (thankfully!), and eventually a producer to help Natalie with filming her content. Their marriage is deeply unhappy; Natalie doesn't even seem to like the children; and her husband, Caleb, is certainly opposed to work! But, to keep up appearances, they keep having children (and not necessarily in the way most married people do!) and they are funded for years by Caleb's wealthy (and politically-focused) father.

One day Natalie finds herself living on the same farm but without all the hidden luxury items, different children, and a not-gentle Caleb. She doesn't know why she is there and wonders if she if being filmed (think The Truman Show). She keeps wanting to go home. Her oldest child, Mary, who is only 10 or so, takes care of her, the younger children, and the house. It's crazy. The reader doesn't really know what's going on either - and I won't spoil it here. It's certainly an interesting and unique twist though!

Natalie is not a likeable woman. From beginning to end, she is not a nice person. We know this to be true because we can "hear" what she is actually thinking - and not just what she is saying out loud to others. Even though I didn't like Natalie, I thought the book was really well-written and the plot twist is clever.

Wendy's Rating: ****

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

I really loved this story. It's the author's debut novel. It's fast-paced, mysterious, troubling, and heartwarming. The key element that ties this story together is the best-friends relationship between Benny and Joy. They have never been romantically involved, but they love each other deeply. Benny suggests that they do a podcast together called This Story Might Save Your Life. They talk about a different survival story each week, but it's not scripted. They talk off-the-cuff and they are funny and weird and charming. The podcast is highly successful and they become well-known public figures. Everyone loves them.

Because Benny and Joy are simply friends, they each marry someone else. Benny marries Luna, an attorney. Joy marries Xander, who manages Benny and Joy's "business": their episode filming, touring schedule, advertising, etc. Eventually, Xander hires his sister, Mallory, to help with the work load. Xander also manages Joy's illness. Joy has severe narcolepsy. He is kind, supportive, caring, and really caters to her every need. He organizes her medications and makes sure she takes them, is accommodating when she needs to rest, and protects her from a stalker who calls themself Joy's "Number One Fan".

Unfortunately, some significant stressors enter their lives. One of the products they support on their podcast ends up being toxic and sends people to the hospital; Joy gets pregnant, which is tricky because of her narcolepsy; Benny & Luna's marriage starts to crumble; Joy's stalker ramps up the number of pictures of Joy (some very private) that they post on social media; and there is growing friction between Benny and Xander. Then things get worse!

One morning Benny shows up to film a podcast episode and Joy & Xander are gone. There is no sign of either one of them, but there is a broken window. The police are called. Benny ends up calling Luna because even though they are divorced, she is an attorney. Benny's sister, Sarah arrives to support Benny. Mallory is joined by her wife, Quinn. Benny is arrested for murder. It's a wild ride! I honestly had no idea where is was all going to end. As much as I loved this book, I struggled a bit with a small section of the ending. That's why I have to knock down my rating by 1/2 star. Maybe other readers won't be bothered by it at all though.

Wendy's Rating: ****1/2