Left Hanging by Cindy Dorminy

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Her life as a single mom is hard. She still loves her daughter's dad, though he abandoned her at the most crucial time in her life. Or did he? Sometimes life is more complicated that we imagine.

Working side by side, Darla and Theo get to know each other all over again. A tale of exploration and discovery, of friendship, romance, and family relationships - a good read with believable (and complicated) characters and a possible happy ending. Great for summer at the beach.

The One True Love of Alice-Ann by Eva Marie Everson

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
What if your idea of the perfect spouse was keeping you from finding "the one"? This sweet and complicated story of expectations and first love takes place during WWII. It explores family life for those left to cheer on and mourn their young men at war. It captures an era when everyone knew everyone in town - and people pitched in as a community to overcome challenges.

This made me a bit nostalgic, even while it made me think about how our impulses and attractions determine how open we are to the world.

A thoughtful and appealing look at friendship, love, and family.

The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Pete Scazzero

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
This isn't the first book by Scazzero. But it follows similar themes - that a healthy ministry and life will be the result of competence and attention to the inner world of the soul: emotions, spiritual life, relationships, etc.

The first few chapters caught my attention. Designed as a workbook, the author provides insights and stories, then asks the reader to take practical steps to examine and improved areas of competency. I found myself checking in with peers and mentors to make sure I was understanding the requests - and that I was on track to improve my serve.

Well worth a read.

The Sketchnote Workbook by Mike Rohde

★★★☐☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
What a great introduction to keeping notes. Full of ideas, icons, and diagrams, Rohde takes sketching to a new level.

I felt it would take a while to remember and master the skills - most of the designs aren't intuitive to me so I'd constantly be referring back to Rohde's ways of recording meetings, appointments, and thoughts.

That was the only drawback. This is the book to buy after reading the initial Sketchnote book - otherwise, you'll constantly be re-reading and rethinking how you want to keep track of things.

A good reference book.

A Falling Friend by Sue Featherstone and Susan Pape

★★★☐☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
A slightly crazy around and around of friendship and cautions - do you live the life you want - and ignore the consequences? Or do you live cautiously and watch others dash here and there?

This was fun because I know the world of academia: there are certain expectations - and those are enforced or waived depending on who you know and who's got your back. This story of two friends with entirely different worldviews is the tale of watching a slow freefall. You warn a friend but she doesn't hear. You caution but she don't notice. Bridges burn. Fireworks explode while she sleeps. And yet you sympathize and hope it all turns out well in the end.

This made me laugh, shake my head, and worry about some of the disturbing lives that swirl around us. Worth a read.

Hello, Sunshine by Laura Davis

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review
Oh my. I loved this story. Sunshine, a TV celebrity chef, is not who she pretends to be. And someone is out to tell the world. But who can it be? 

Can she get her life back? And does she want to? What actually matters?

I got one surprise after another in this exploration of authenticity, honesty, and knowing one's self. In an era of fake news, the desire to manipulate one's image in social media, and wanna-bes, what you see is not necessarily true.

The book deals with family issues, friendships, coworkers, and close relationships of love. The characters were believable - I will be thinking about this book for a while. You'll enjoy it, too. Highly recommended.

The Sisters of Blue Mountain by Karen Katchur

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Ah. The life of sisters. I don't have one so I often watch with fascination from the sidelines at how women in a family treat each other.

At their best, sisters rely and lean on each other, are good friends, and lovingly tell each other the truth. At their worst, they remember conflicts and bear grudges, compete for parental attention, and tear each other apart.

Katchur captures the complexities of family relationships where one leaves to fulfill her dream and the other stays behind to care for the family. This satisfying read leaves you wanting to know more about the family when the last page is turned.

I enjoyed learning about the migration habits of birds and some environmental concerns as a bonus.