I know virtually nothing (hadn't even heard of her in fact) of Dorothea Lange. But I read the book Song of the Captive Bird by this author and knew I'd love reading this one. I love the San Francisco setting, it's got to be one of my favorite places ever.

Dorothea (once contracted polio as a 7 year old that results in a limp) leaves her home of New Jersey for San Fransisco. She is immediately robbed of all her money. She meets a girl Caroline who takes her to her apartment on what's known as Monkey Block. This is a place for the Bohemians- artists of all kinds.

Dorothea convinces a gentleman to help back her in opening a portrait studio because "women don't run their own businesses around here". Caroline becomes her assistant to the taking of portraits to the elite of San Francisco.

There are prejudices against Caroline as she is part Asian (they use Oriental in the book because that's what they used back then-the derogatory name is it now). So we see a lot of how she deals with it and how Dorothea does. There is also the 2 years of Spanish Influenza that sweeps across the country. (So eerie to today's pandemic...I also thought while reading... Why haven't we learned from the past?)

This was enjoyable but hard at times to read. I think lovers of real historical figures will enjoy this look into a world renowned documentary photographer.

This book is an environmental fantasy which is not something I read a lot of. But I love the girls in here. I love the background that they come from. Especially Maia. I love learning about the spiritualness from the Native American cultures. I love that they want to take care of the Earth.

This was my first read of a translated book and it was wonderful.

I love this story about a boy Rintaro, who just lost his grandfather who gave him as an inheritance, his bookshop. A talking cat appears to Rin one day and says he needs his help to save books. So they go to 4 different labyrinths where books are not being treated as they should to help show people how they can save books.

This was a quick read at just under 200 pages. I loved all we learn about how wonderful books are. One of my favorite things that is said is "a book that has been cherished and loved, filled with human thoughts, had been endowed with a soul." In the 4th labyrinth, Rin puts into words all the things that I feel about books... They help us care about others, they are filled with human thoughts.... Of suffering, of joy, of understanding the world around us.

I love Seth and Tara!
Both burned by past relationships that made each of them give up on their dreams, they decide at Aubrey (Tara's best friend) and Landon's (Seth's brother) wedding to a Dating Dare. 4 dates and no falling in love because Seth is headed to Paris in a month for a new job.

But oh the chemistry! Swoony!!

Zara and Asher are best friends. Zara is soon to be 30 and decides she wants to get married soon. She asks Asher to be her "back up guy" ... If Zara isn't married to the love of her life by age 35, her and Asher get married.

I loved so much of this! They are such cute friends. Zara is a very strong women who knows what she does and does not want. She is disappointed that her clients keep running to a bigger design store across the way but it doesn't get her down. Even when her business partner bails, she gets down to make the business her own.

Asher is a very sweet American boy. He has a past and it's a hard thing he went through but Zara is good for him.

I love Zara's friends who stick by her side and make her happy and successful when the world tries to break her down.

And Stevie! Stevie is a dog that Zara gets to be in her shop and is such a rascal but good girl... She was sweet.

This was a good book of a missing sister, a nephew, and the aunt who was on the outs.

Bryn is living alone and working on her farm when an unexpected visitor arrives. Her nephew, Josh, who claims his mother, Del, is missing. Bryn and Del haven't talked in years and she had never met Josh untill now.

They head to Colorado to find her and under the threat of a drug dealer and ghosts from the past surfacing, I won't be easy.

This is a great example of doing whatever you can for a family member that's in trouble. I really liked how Bryn handled things. She led such a (mostly) solitary life that family stuff felt new. Josh is a great 14 year old that has had a rough life where his mom is concerned.

I love the whitewater rafting references and really enjoyed the part of the book where Bryn had to face her fears of such activities when it endangers Josh.

This was a strange little tale in a strange little town, Lotus Valley. A town full of "prophets" who can see the future and where "creatures" lurk. There is a flood set to come.... All due to Rose.

Rose lost her best friend Gaby and is diagnosed with PTSD. I actually like the imagery this book showed. PTSD can come in many, many ways and this was a neat look into the ways it is for Rose. I like the friendships she makes in this Lotus Valley and the way they help her heal a bit more.

This book is full of magical realism. It was very well done.

Deep in the bayou lies the little town of La Cachette, Louisiana. 10 babies born to 8 families during a summer of the same year. A town full of psychics and secrets.
Grey arrives back when her "twin flame" Elora went missing. She's been gone for 6 months and in this town of self proclaimed psychics, no one seems to know what happened to her.

Grey starts to slowly unravel the secrets and lies the town has buried. Those she thought she could trust, her "Summer Kids" friends may not be the ones to trust. A stranger with icy blue eyes comes to town and starts to help her uncover the mystery of Elora's disappearance.

I love the atmosphere of this book. I like Grey and her resolve to find the truth. Not only because it's her best friend, but that she's doing it when the last they saw each other...Elora pushed her away. This was fantastical at times with it's elements of magic and the supernatural.

I loved this Victorian romance mystery.

Amelie writes a local romance advice column for her Aunt's newspaper. She decides to spy on one of her advice receivers on a date and is surprised to see Mr. Radcliffe, a man she may fancy. She is caught by a local Detective, Michael.

Michael is sure that the man, Mr. Radcliffe actually killed his wife that "drowned in the Thames". As the investigation goes on, Mr. Radcliffe is fine to have more secrets he's hiding. Amelie and Michael start to become friends and become really fond of one another. The blue they became closer, the more dangerous Mr. Radcliffe becomes.

Amelie is one stubborn woman (as she puts herself into the investigation) but she knows herself and she makes up her mind and just does what she feels. Though a little reckless, she is very smart.

Michael is a great detective and really smart too. He's very protective of Amelie and others.

Smartly written and very vivid in the setting.