An Attorney Who Writes

The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham My rating: 4 of 5 stars “The Boys from Biloxi” is John Grisham’s latest effort, about Hugh and Keith, boyhood friends, whose lives are shaped by the landscape and culture of Biloxi, Mississippi. What makes this book a standpoint is how Biloxi and its criminal past becomes one of the novel’s central characters. The novel, in fact, opens with background information about Biloxi (who knew it was popular with bootleggers and the mob alike?). We then meet Hugh and Keith through their fathers-- Keith's father (Jesse) is a lawyer, Hugh's (Lance) is a casino owner. The different paths they take affect their sons and the choices Hugh and Keith make. Their journeys lead them back to one another as adults with a clear line drawn in the sand between good and evil. This book is not going to change the world but it’s an enjoyable read. Be prepared to be introduced to a lot of characters, which overwhelmed me at the first part of the book. It isn’t unti...

Community Board by Tara Conklin My rating: 4 of 5 stars “Community Board” is Tara Conklin’s third novel and an enjoyable read. Darcy returns to her hometown of Marbridge after a divorce and a series of calamities that leads to a bit of a breakdown. But her parents—who have always been her shoulder to cry on—have taken off to Arizona. Darcy stays put in the house, subsiding on canned food and talking to a fern that is no longer in the house. Yet, slowly Darcy finds herself connected to the characters of Murbridge as she slowly finds her way back into how to live outside the walls of her childhood home. This is a hilarious story, though I admit Darcy can be quite frustrating at times. Yet, we all have had those days (or months) where we’ve been swimming in sadness (or, as in Darcy’s case—locked in her parents’ house because of it). I loved the posts from the community board that are interspersed through the different scenes. Does every community have someone who complains about dog po...

Where Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dallas My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have been a fan of Sandra Dallas since finding “The Persian Pickle Club” and was thrilled to review her latest novel, “Where Coyotes Howl.” A master of her craft, Sandra Dallas will immerse her readers into a slice of history and leave them attached to unique but relatable characters. This novel is a great example of this. Wyoming at the beginning of the 20th century would not be an easy place to live. Ellen accepts her teaching job out in the West with little of the skills necessary to survive in such a rough place. There, she meets and falls in love with cowboy Charles. Yet, happily ever after is not possible when day to day survival is often dependent on factors outside your control. This is not an easy story to read, but living in the Wild West during that time period was not an easy life to live. Sandra Dallas brings plenty of heart to her characters, and it’s their perseverance that makes you want to keep reading. M...

The Real Mrs. Tobias by Sally Koslow My rating: 4 of 5 stars “The Real Mrs. Tobias” is the latest novel by Sally Koslow, author of “The Widow Waltz” and “Another Side of Paradise.” Here, we meet three generations of women, each who has had the privilege to be Mrs. Tobias. We start with the matriarch of the family, Veronika, a psychotherapist, is used to solving her patients’ problems, but the problem she cannot fix is her husband's rapid deterioration into dementia. Her daughter in law, Mel, also a psychotherapist and mother to adult twins, is facing middle-aged angst and has started to question her marriage to Jake as she reconnects with a past lover. Mel’s own daughter in law, Birdie, flees to Iowa after her husband, Micah, refuses to admit his responsibility in a hit and run that left a woman seriously injured. I love multi-generational stories that focus on the ugliness (and joy) of family. I related to all three women, even though they were quite different. So many things g...

Not That Kind of Ever After by Luci Adams My rating: 3 of 5 stars I was asked to review “Not That Kind of Ever After” by Luci Adams. Most of us growing up believing in the fairy tale. Unfortunately, for most of us, it’s a long, difficult road to “happily ever after,” and sometimes, we do not need Prince Charming to get there. Bella, an aspiring author, is watching her friends couple up. Even her best friend, Ellie, is moving on. Yet, Ellie’s brother poses the question that many of us have asked ourselves: is it possible to happy without a soulmate? Hence, Bella starts writing twists on those enchanted tales and gains plenty of readers—and a few enemies in the process. I love the concept of a writer finding her voice while rejecting societal expectations. The story did not quite head in the direction I had hoped, but Bella, though flawed, is also quite likable. This novel was not perfect. I thought it was a bit too long, but at the same time, tried to push the characters forward a bi...

The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris My rating: 4 of 5 stars “The Ways We Hide” is a great historical novel by Kristina McMorris. Thinking I was reading a typical Great Depression/WWII novel, I was in for a pleasant surprise. The focus of this novel is on Fenna, who, because she was poor, had to quickly develop street smart skills. Those skills lead to her working as a magician’s assistant (though she was the one developing the tricks behind the curtain). Yet, such expertise leads to her assisting Great Britain during the war. Feena was a delightful, spunky character, and I loved the friendship she had with her childhood best friend, Arie. This novel does more than tell a good story, but makes us fall in love with a woman who survives hardships is a very unique way. My thanks to the author, the publisher, and Net Galley for the privilege of reviewing this book. View all my reviews