Review: Black Death at the Golden Gate: The Race to Save America from the Bubonic Plague

Black Death at the Golden Gate: The Race to Save America from the Bubonic Plague by David K. Randall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

I never knew the bubonic plague made it to the US until I read this book. This is not a book for germaphobes. I also found it interesting that some of the political tactics and games politicians play are still the same a century later.

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Review: City of Ghosts

City of Ghosts by J.H. Moncrieff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was suspenseful and keep me turning pages. This was a very good ghost story. If I didn't have a fear of traveling, I would visit and experience China. I would love to visit places similar to what the book describes.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2019 - A ghost story.

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Review: The Atlantis Gene

The Atlantis Gene by A.G. Riddle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a wild ride. Once I got a few chapters into the book, it was very hard to put down. I love how the story of Atlantis and theories of human origins were meshed together. I am looking forward to getting into the next book of the series.

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Review: Red Dragon

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I may be in the minority on this, but this book was not as engaging as I hoped and the movie was better than the book. I was really excited to start reading this book, but as I read I felt it was just dragging on and on. I do not mind creepy books, but after a while it lost its creep factor as boredom took over. Hoping Silence of the Lambs is better.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2019 - A book with a two-word title,

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Review: The Invited

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

I have been looking for a really good paranormal/ghost story that has nothing to do with vampires or monsters. This book was the one. I loved the historical and genealogical aspects. It had its moments of creepiness. I found myself thinking about it constantly between reading sessions.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2019 - A book told from multiple character POVs.

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Review: The Mason Jar Cookbook: 80 Healthy and Portable Meals

The Mason Jar Cookbook: 80 Healthy and Portable Meals by Amy Fazio
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I happened to stumble on this book by accident. It had some good ideas for quick grab and go lunches for work. My mother is trying to eat better, so I am going to make the overnight oats and the oatmeal jars for her and see how she likes them for work snacks.

There is a particular salad I have made (using a recipe from a different book) that I am going to try to convert to using a mason jar for so it is easier to bring to work without it getting soggy from the dressing. This book just happened to give me the idea.

It would have been nice to see some recipes that could be turned into "salad shakers." While some of the recipes can be eaten right out of the jar, most of the salad recipes require pouring the salad into a bowl which dirties another dish. With limited lunch box space, the jars would have been a nice way to save room. I may try to adapt some recipes to make them more like salad shakers, but it will be trial and error getting proportions right.

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Review: Drakon Book I: The Sieve

Drakon Book I: The Sieve by C.A. Caskabel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a Kindle edition of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

I would have to say this is more like a 3.5 star book.

The version I read is the version that has Sarah's story line woven into the book (per the author's note at the beginning of the book). For a short book (244 pages), it seems to just drag for the majority of the book. Sarah's story line and the adult line of Da-Ren were the best parts, but there was so little of it compared to Da'Ren's younger years. The story line of Da-Ren during the Seive was only good near the end of the book.

I am going to give the next book a shot. I just hope it hold my attention better than this one.

Note for sensitive readers: This book has some graphic scenes involving rape and the killing of animals and children.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2019 - Read a book during the season it is set in.

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