One year ago, I didn’t know I would never see Daddy in this life again, that I would never hear him say, “Hey girl,” on the telephone, that I would never buy flowers and tomatoes for his windowbox and garden, that he would never sit in my corner armchair drinking coffee at birthday parties.

One year ago, I fell asleep with no idea of what was coming the next day, not knowing that Daddy was already dead on his kitchen floor, the supper he had prepared still waiting on the counter.

One year ago tomorrow, Daddy didn’t answer his phone when my sister Betsy called him. He always answered, unless he was asleep, and if he was going to tak a nap he always let us know first so that we wouldn’t worry.  He didn’t call her back, or answer when she called again, or when I called, or when his kind neighbor went over and knocked on the door.

I was the one who was available. I was the one who had to go to the house, go through the garage, get the spare key from its hiding place, and open the kitchen door. I was the one who had to catch that first glimpse of him lying there.

A few years ago, my friend and I were walking in the neighborhood when we heard a terrible scream from the house of someone we knew from our daily walks. We recognized instantly that it was the cry of someone who had received the worst kind of news. And later we learned our neighbor had lost his father that day. I don’t know if my scream sounded like that, I just know I screamed. And I understood in a way I never did before what it was to lose a parent.

I couldn’t go in the house. It fell to Daddy’s kind, saintly neighbors who had accompanied me to the door to do that. They got me a chair, hugged me, went in to confirm what we all knew already, made the necessary calls, brought me water, and stayed with me until family began to arrive.

It was a beautiful Spring day, April Fool’s Day, but this was no joke. We sat outside for hours while the police, the coroner, the mortuary people, all did their thing, kindly, professionally. I don’t remember a lot of it but I recall that I felt like I was in a movie, because I knew all the lines, I’d seen it, I’d read it, the things that happen and what you do in these situations. Now it was real but also strangely unreal.

Three of my children were far away from home, and my primary concern was how to let them know about their Granddaddy’s death in the least traumatizing way possible. I really could not think about anything else until that was accomplished. And then began the business of death: collecting pictures for the video, visiting the funeral home, designing the funeral and making the programs . . . the tasks that you are grateful for because at least you are doing something when there is really nothing you can do.

Daddy spent his retirement years finding as many ways as possible to take care of his family.  Days before he died he sent us all an excessive amount of carbon monoxide detectors (because Gene Hackman had just died and at first that was what we thought had killed him). My microwave had been slowly breaking down right before he died. It was months before I could bring myself to buy another one, because what I wanted to do was to call Daddy and ask him to figure out wnat kind I needed. And that was far from the only time that I have longed for his advice about practical matters, those things I could always count on him to help me with.

Of course I always felt sorry and sad for friends and acquaintances when they lost a parent. Of course I prayed for them and said all the right things. But after Daddy died I I found myself wanting to apologize to them. Because I had NO IDEA. I had no concept at all of how terrible it would be, how unmoored I would feel without my father, not just to do all the things that he did but just to exist in the world, in relationship to me, anchoring me in time and space.

I remember when Mima died my mother kept saying things like, “How could this happen?” and I didn’t understand what she meant, but now I do. How can a person just be gone? How is it possible that I will never see Daddy again? How do people stand it (especially people with no hope of a reunion after death)? Why does this happen and how is it fair?

The worst part of it for me is that Daddy wasn’t bedridden. He wasn’t in pain. He was still having fun, living his life. He had future plans. He had a calendar and grocery lists. He didn;t want to die. And while intellectually I know that none of that matters now, that if what my faith tells me is true, he is “in a better place,” I selfishly don’t care. I wanted him in this place, enjoying the little pleasures of THIS life.

A year has gone by.  A year of birthdays and holidays, and eventually Family Game Nights, all without Daddy. Over the course of that year, I’ve written versions of this post in my head dozens of times. I don’t know why I haven’t been able to type it out until now. People who know me will be surprised to hear that I have not even been able to write all the thank you notes for the many kindnesses extended to me by friends after Daddy’s death.  I have not been myself since he died; perhaps I will never be myself in quite the same way again.

My maternal grandfather died when I was 13. It was my first encounter with death, and of course I was very sad. But I remember being unable to understand why my mother was so profoundly affected for so long (forever, of course, I realize). But now I know.

Because when a parent dies, you don’t just lose a person whom you loved, who was a part of your life, whose company you enjoyed. You also lose–to an extent–the part of your identity that depended on your relationship with them.  And you lose that sense of security that comes from knowing that there is someone out there who will always care about you, who will always be there for you, who would do anything you needed, who is endlessly fascinated by every detail of your life, who would give their life for you without question.

I hope that everyone who is reading this is fortunate enough to understand this last bit. With no disrespect meant to my husband, or my sisters, or my kids, there’s one phrase that has run on repeat through my mind all year, that really brings into focus what it means to lose a parent: No one else will ever love you the way your parents do.

The post An Anniversary first appeared on Life in Every Limb.

Fair Warning by Michael Connelly

Blood Work by Michael Connelly

I have my own sharing library in my front yard. Sometimes I pick out used books especially to put there, and I try to keep a few on hand for the kids in the neighborhood. That’s why I picked up the book below. But it sounded so interesting that I had to read it myself! It reminded me of classics like The Borrowers and The Indian in the Cupboard.

The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop

Sometimes it takes a LONG TIME for the folks at McKay’s to go through all the books I have brought for trade. So I end up aimlessly wandering the aisles and that’s how I happened upon the book below, the story of three English grad students who move in together to help one of them parent her unplanned baby boy.  The cavalier attitude of two of the characters toward abortion notwithstanding, this was a life-affirming read about the power of love and friendship, and what it means to be a mother.

The Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel

The next several books were freebies from Amazon that I read on my phone.  The first one had a lot going on–a discord server full of young teens was the framing device. There was also a mystery from the past that intersected with the present, high school drama, small-town corruption, and topical issues of sexual assault.

What Happened to Lucy Vale by Lauren Oliver

This next one is about a woman who has completely reinvented herself to escape her past. She lies constantly and yet ends up being a sympathetic character. Obviously, her past catches up with her, leading to a surprising conclusion.

Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone

Jackie is a little too obsessed with her ex-boyfriend’s new love, but not as obsessed as her ex is with Jackie, although she does not know it. Mind games and murder ensue.

Stories We Never Told by Sonya Yoerg

The next read is about a deeply creepy family dynamic, a serial killer targeting children, and the price of keeping secrets.

Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey

The next one was a fairly disturbing but intriguing apocalyptic novel, good not just because of the interesting story but because of the insights the main character gains into herself and others.

All the Little Children by Jo Furniss

Next up is a book that I had been working my way through for awhile. I actually gave this book to Daddy after he lost his wife, because he told me he was interested in books on grieving. I don’t think he read it, and I don’t think he would have found it helpful after having read it myself. It’s too funny and I don’t think that was where he was at that time. But it’s entertaining and probably helpful some people.

It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny

I have had a harder time with non-fiction lately–I’m looking to escape, I guess.  But the book below is an escape of sorts too–the story of an American family of four, who travel to England to search out the settings of all their favorite (mostly) children’s books. The title comes from an Emily Dickinson poem that has been a favorite of mine ever since it appeared in one of my Catholic school cursive workbooks. From memory: “I never saw the moor, nor visited the sea, yet I know how the heather looks and what a wave must be. . . ”

How the Heather Looks by Joan Bodger

And last, the book below is something my baby sister had to read for grad school. She was so excited about it that she wanted me to read it too. And now we found out there is a workbook and we are going to do a book club with our other sister. Because what woman is not burned out and stressed? I don’t know any.

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski

So that is a total of 12 for August!

The post What I Read in August first appeared on Life in Every Limb.

I mentioned at the end of June’s post that we would be going to the used bookstore soon. I was not wrong, and that is why I read SO MANY BOOKS.  I have told y’all before how much I like Michael Connelly books. I stumbled onto his work shortly after our house burned down and I lost all my books.  Some friends shared unwanted books with me, and I discovered several new-to-me authors this way.

Because of the way I discovered his work, I have been reading his books in no particular order, just picking up one or two along with works from other favorite authors on every visit to McKay’s. But this time I brought along a list of all his books that I had not read and bought every single one that was available. There are still a couple left to read, but I made a respectable dent.

I won’t attempt to describe all of the books that follow individually, so I will just tell you that most of them were about Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch, a Vietnam vet turned LAPD homicide detective, whose mantra is “everyone matters or nobody matters.” He’s a complicated character who you will root for despite his flaws.  Many of the books include other characters who appear on their own in other books. Most famous would be Mickey Haller, a defense attorney who is introduced in The Lincoln Lawyer, so-called because his office is in his car.  Mickey happens to be Harry’s half-brother, but they don’t meet until adulthood. Mickey defends people who are guilty, and he is not above using a trick or two, but he too is complicated and has a conscience. Other characters who appear from time to time but who also have books of their own are Jack McElvoy, a newspaper reporter; Renee Ballard, another LAPD detective; Rachel Walling, an FBI agent; and Terry McCaleb, former FBI profiler.

I thoroughly enjoyed every book in the list below. If you like police procedurals or legal thrillers, you will enjoy them too.

Echo Park by Michael Connelly

City of Bones by Michael Connelly

The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly

Black Ice by Michael Connelly

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly

The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly

Lost Light by Michael Connelly

The Wrong Side of Good-bye by Michael Connelly

Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly

The Burning Room by Michael Connelly

9 Dragons by Michael Connelly

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

When I was at McKay’s, I picked up just one book by Jonathan Kellerman. His books I have been reading much longer. Back in the day–WAY back in the day, probably 30 years ago, I was in the habit of joining as many “book clubs” as possible. Think Columbia Houser Record and Tape club but with books (I did that one too, y’all.).  Basically, they give you a bunch of free books and you have to buy a couple more before you can cancel, which I always did immediately.  And since there was a catalogue you had to choose from, I looked for the kind of books I liked, and discovered Kellerman’s work. His main character is Alex Delaware, a psychologist who consults with the LAPD, because his best friend is Milo Sturgis, an LAPD homicide detective with an exceptional solve rate. So these books add a side of psychology to the police procedural.  The one I read this month was a “murder in retrospect,” something I originally encountered in Agatha Christie’s works, and which I always find intriguing.

Serpentine by Jonathan Kellerman

The next on was a free Amazon Prime monthly read by an author whose name I recognized from A Very Bad Thing, which I also got for free.  Like so many books of this type (psychological thrillers/mysteries) it starts in the middle of the action with a woman running for her life from some terrible predator, and then we get taken back to the beginning to find out who she is and what happened to her. The plot strains credulity but there’s nothing new about that. I did enjoy it.

Last Seen by JT Ellison

Finally, we have this treasure, which was the best book I read in 2021. I read it again for my book club in 2022, and this time I read it out loud for my family. I had been dying for any of them to read it, and when they did not, I decided to take matters into my own hands. That’s how much I want people to read this book. I think everyone should read it. It’s just delightful, and uplifting, and has an important message. And if you don’t love the titular character, there is something wrong with you.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

That’s it for July. Not, GO READ PIRANESI. It’s short–you can do it!

The post What I Read in July first appeared on Life in Every Limb.

Belle-Mere by Kathleen Norris

I found this book in a bag of old books in our garage when I was maybe ten years old. I read that copy absolutely to pieces. (Have you noticed that I did that a lot?) It’s hard to imagine why I liked this book so much. It’s about a young woman whose mother-in-law is just awful and her husband doesn’t see it. It’s set in the 1930s, and all the women in the book who are past 50 seem to be considered old, and they have nothing better to do than interfere in their children’s lives, having no lives of their own. On this reread I looked at maps of San Francisco every time a street was mentioned, trying to locate the family’s home. I also reflected on the lessons I took away from the book. I believe that some of my philosophy about being a mother-in-law entered my mind from reading this so many times.

Tears of Gold by Laurie McBain

I am pretty sure this is the first romance novel I ever read, courtesy of my grandmother’s library. So it holds a special place in my heart. It is a true historical romance, large in scope, starting in London and then moving to California and New Orleans, and touching on topics like the takeover of formerly Spanish lands by Americans, the Gold Rush, the San Francisco fire of 1851, and the caste system of New Orleans and the pushing out of the Creoles by the Americans. It does not really make sense to read it because of the San Francisco parts, though, since most of what was there then burned in the fire. I still enjoyed reading it, though.

Murder Most Royal by SJ Bennett

The third in this series is set at Sandringham, where the Queen and family go for Christmas. The holidays do not go smoothly, however, since they start with the gruesome discovery of the severed hand of a man whose signet ring the Queen recognizes.

Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon

This month’s book club read is already in the running for my best book of the year. I wish I had read it with a highlighter so I could have underlined all the profound and beautiful parts. It’s a story of a year in a boy’s life, while he is hovering between boyhood and young manhood. The main takeaway is that we should hold on to the magic of childhood. But there’s also a murder mystery, and an evil gang of moonshiners/gamblers/general ne’er-do-wells that the law cannot of will not contain, rotten bullies who are in need of a comeuppance, Civil Rights, racial tension, and the KKK. Throw in a little hint of voodoo and magical realism and you’ve got a most unusual book that has no trouble bringing all those threads into a harmonious whole. It’s beautifully written, with a strong sense of place and a memorable cast of characters. It’s over 600 pages long and at first I resented the interruption in those series I am reading, but then I couldn’t put it down and was sorry to put it down. Read it–you won’t be sorry. I can’t wait to discuss it at book club next week!

A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi

This novel about an Indian-American couple who employ a surrogate in India to bear their child does not shy away from the problematic nature of the practice, while still managing to make the couple sympathetic. We get two points of view here–that of the biological mother and that of the surrogate.  The foray into Indian culture was interesting to me, and I was very invested in the story as this is a topic I have written about before. There is also some good stuff about marriage in here.

Jane and the Man of the Cloth by Stephanie Barron

Second in a series–there are 11 so far!–of mysteries not only written in the style of Austen, but actually about her as well.  It took me a little while to get into this one, but I was hooked eventually. If I have any problem with these books, it is my fear that I will get confused about what is true to life and what is made up, which I suppose is a tribute to the writing.

Six books for June is not too shabby when one was over 600 pages! We are going to the used bookstore soon, so I bet July’s count will be higher.

The post What I Read in June first appeared on Life in Every Limb.

The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett

So I went out with two of my best friends from high school this month. and we were talking about books because we all love to read. I told them about Claudia Gray’s Mr. Darcy/Miss Tilney mysteries, since they too are Jane Austen fans. That led us to talking about similar books, and I learned about two series that I am now obsessed with. The book is the first in a (so far) five book series in which Queen Elizabeth II plays detective. This one is set primarily at Windsor Castle. The fun of these books is that they are quite accurate as to setting and world affairs and the Queen’s responsibilities and her household. And the Queen’s thoughts and the way she speaks ring very true. The Queen does not want anyone to know she is investigating crimes so she has to have the help of her Assistant Private Secretary, Rozie Oshodi, who follows in a long line of APS (all women) who have been helping the Queen with this over the years. This first book was just delightful.

The Way Life Should Be by William Dameron

This is a book primarily about family, especially blended families. Thomas and Matt, both formerly married to women, are living the second halves of their lives in a new way. But they both come with baggage. Matt’s kids have run away from their mom and evil stepfather; Thomas’s daughter, who feels abandoned by him, is fleeing an at-first unspecified trauma that has caused her to drop out of college; Matt’s sister is having problems with her marriage; and Matt’s parents are getting too old to care for themselves. They all end up spending a summer in very close quarters, and problems–and healing–ensue.

Evelyn, After by Victoria Helen Stone

There is a lot of “cringe” (as the kids would say) in this book about a woman who is spiraling out of control due to her husband’s infidelity. Let’s start with stalking her husband’s affair partner, including embarking on a relationship with HER husband! This can’t end well, right?

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

This is the second series my friend introduced me too, and I am so excited because there are 11 of them! Jane Austen herself is the detective in this series. In this first book she is visiting a friend whose husband dies under mysterious circumstances, leaving her friend accused of the crime. Can Jane learn the truth in time to save her friend from hanging? I have the next one of these just waiting to be my next read and I can’t wait!

All the Queen’s Men by SJ Bennett

And finally, the second in the Queen Investigates series. There were some especially endearing aspects to this story which starts out being about a misplaced picture that is especially dear to the Queen, although you’ll have to read to the very last page to learn why. One thing leads to another, of course, and becomes about something much bigger, including murder in Buckingham Palace!

And that is it for this month. Do either of the series I am reading sound good to you?

The post What I Read in May first appeared on Life in Every Limb.

On April 1, 2025, I was the one who found him.

Maybe I will write more about that later, maybe not. But one thing is for sure, I was profoundly affected by it. And the month of April was profoundly affected too, with all the busy-ness and business that death entails.

So you might think I would not have read at all, but I did, because reading is comforting to me. I distinctly remember how important it was for me, those first few days, to escape into my book whenever I could.

The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh by Claudia Gray

And how fortunate for me that this was the book I was reading. I love the Mr. Darcy/Miss Tilney mysteries, as I have written before. And who doesn’t love to hate Lady Catherine? And Mr. Collins? She writes them both so well. Absolutely delightful, as always. And the subplot about Jonathan Darcy, who is autistic in a time when the condition was not yet named, and his attempts at “masking,” another concept that we now have a name for that he simply intuits, and Miss Tilney’s reactions to it all, are heart-wrenching and heart-warming in equal measure.

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

I was so excited about Lady Catherine that I abandoned the two books left from March’s used bookstore trip, but I eventually returned to them. Wouldn’t you just know that this book was about a girl who is faced with deciding whether to pull the plug on her possibly brain-dead father? Because of course it was. Good book, but not pleasant for me at that time.

Mortal Fear by Greg Iles

I had not read any Greg Iles for awhile, and this book was a welcome distraction, although gruesome and devastating. No happy endings here, just a decision on how to move forward through the pain, which I guess is realistic.

Three Mothers by Hannah Beckerman

This is about–you guessed it–three mothers, whose lives intersect when the child of one is tragically killed. This story explores what lengths a mother will go to for the sake of her child. It’s another that will keep you guessing.

The Fourth Girl by Wendy Corsi Staub

Four women made a pact as teenagers on the night that one disappeared forever–or did she? Now three have returned to their home town, as they promised. Predictably, all hell starts to break loose and many secrets are revealed. I figured this one out way too early. It was still good.

All the Lasting Things by David Angrim

This book made me angry. I still don’t know what meaning I am supposed to take away from it. Someone dies who just should not have died. I do not read books to have things like that happen. Real life is seriously full enough of that.

I used to have a convenient way to end these posts because I would tell you I was linking up with An Open Book. But because I have been writing these so late I have not been able to do that. We will see if I am able to catch up and stay caught up so that I can participate again.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

I’ve come back to add this, which was our book club selection for the month, because I forgot it when I wrote this post. See the first line for an explanation. Anyway, it was a very fun read and I won’t spoil it for you. I was mystified the entire time, and I want to read more by this author.

The post What I Read in April first appeared on Life in Every Limb.

In Any Lifetime by Marc Guggenheim

It’s a time travel book, which is fun. Or maybe it’s more like a parallel universe thing. Or both. But I don’t really respect the premise, which is that this one guy MUST find the one universe in which his wife did not die. I know death is a tragedy to those left behind. But what makes him so special that he will risk everything, and do some pretty bad things, actually, just so he does not have to suffer like everyone else does? The book was interesting, but it made it hard for me to root for him.

The Shire Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel

This was from my wish list and I received it as a Christmas gift. The author does Tolkien proud by presenting this cookbook not as something she made up but as something she found. Many of the dishes definitely evoke the right feel, and I hope to make some of them.

The Dark Hour by Michael Connelly

I love all this guy’s books. Enough said at this point.

Evidence by Jonathan Kellerman

Same comment here. Also, we must have gone to McKay’s this month.

The Break by Katie Sise

The protagonist–a mom who seems to have post-partum depression maybe–does not know what is going on. Neither do we, and so we kind of figure it out together. Suffice it to say that nothing is as it seems.

Pike Island by Tony Wirt

The Bad Thing that happened when he was a teenager is coming back to haunt him now that he is an adults. And it just might derail a promising political career. How far will he go to keep that from happening?

Therapy by Jonathan Kellerman

See above. Love this guy and his characters.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

I thought this was really, really good and it made me hope that the author plans to tell the stories of some of the other characters.  It is hard, though, to see Haymitch then knowing already what he becomes. On the other hand, cameos from other characters we’ve met before are fun, and it’s interesting to see the evolution of the games. (Also, I read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but I don’t know when and it is not written down anywhere. If I ever figure that out I will add it to the appropriate month.)

Intrusion by Mary McCluskey

This was the super-creepy tale of an old school friend who turns up and insinuates herself into every aspect of the life of the main character, who is struggling to go on after the death of her only child. What is the “friend” up to?

Find Me by Anne Frasier

This is the first in a series of two (so far?). which introduce Reni and Daniel as a crime-solving duo. Reni’s dad was a serial killer who offers to lead detectives to the graves of his victims if she will come along. Traumatized by her past, in which her father used her to lure his victims into playing what he told her was a game, Reni is conflicted about agreeing,

Tell Me by Anne Frasier

This one delves info Daniel’s past, with Reni determined to find out what happened to the mother who some say abandoned him but who Daniel believes was a victim of Reni’s serial killer father.

Heart in the Right Place by Carolyn Jordan

This is set in East Tennessee, which made me like it right away, and it’s a true story that reads like fiction. Carolyn’s mom has always helped her dad run his family medical practice, a storefront affair run along old-fashioned lines that is the only source of health care in their small town. When her mom falls ill, Carolyn comes for an extended visit to be the receptionist/assistant/office manager, leaving her high-powered, prestigious, lucrative legal career in
D.C. to do so.

Twelve books! Can she do it again? I am thinking not.

The post What I Read in March first appeared on Life in Every Limb.

My oldest child bought me the first two books on this list. They were old favorites that burned when our house did.

Fifteen by Beverly Cleary

You surely know the amazing Beverly Cleary. Her Ramona books are the best I’ve ever read as far as understanding what really goes on in a little girl’s head. This is a young adult book, about first love at 15, and the author’s grasp of the inner feelings of a teen girl at that time is also masterful. True, this is set many years ago and is dated in some ways, but feelings don’t change, growing up is always hard, and this is a charming and delightful read.

Many Waters by Madeleine L’Engle

This is the lesser-known book about the “normal” members of the brilliant Murry family of A Wrinkle in Time.  As I so often write in these reviews, I read this before but I was younger then, and didn’t really get it. I tried to pay closer attention this time, to understand it better. It’s still going to be a reach for some people, and the twins seem very young and innocent compared to boys their age today.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

I borrowed this one from my sister. It’s a disturbing tale of children whose home is taken over by a charismatic but evil “spiritual leader” who drains the family finances and step-by-step forces them into isolation and deprivation. That’s one half of the story. The other half is about what happened to the baby who was found alone in the house after everyone there was either killed or disappeared. These two halves eventually a collide and secrets are revealed . . . but there’s a sequel! Yes, I want to read it.)

Name Not Taken by Madeleine Henry

This is a really creepy tale that you probably should not read if you are a prospective bride and you are uneasy about your in-laws. Is the protagonist right about her fiance’s family, or is she crazy? Is she imagining things, or are they gas lighting her? And who is that mysterious woman in the picture at her fiance’s family home? Can this relationship be saved? Should it?

The Killing Plains by Sherry Rankin

This was good, but so depressing. The right folks are found and punished eventually, but not until a whole lot of other people suffer irreparable harm.

Into the Fall by Tamara L. Miller

This one kept me guessing right up to the end. A father disappears on a camping trip. Is he dead or did he run away for some reason? Does his wife know more than she is telling?

Thanks for following alone and not giving up on me. I would love to know what you are reading. Bloggers love comments!

The post What I Read in February first appeared on Life in Every Limb.

First up: three ebooks, domestic thrillers that are my favorite Amazon Prime perk. I get at least one for free every month. Sometimes if I enjoy a particular author’s style, I might even buy a couple more–which I suppose is the point. I did that two times this month, apparently.

Close Your Eyes by Teresa Driscoll

Matthew Hill is a private investigator facing his worst nightmare–his own child is missing. When I started reading this one I realized that I had read another book in which this investigator featured, so I got interested in him and that is why I read the next two books.

I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll

This is the story of a woman who witnessed something she failed to report because she did not want to get involved. When a young girl goes missing she is consumed with guilt and drawn into the mystery of the girl’s disappearance.

I Will Make You Pay by Teresa Driscoll

This one is about a woman who is being stalked by an unknown person. This one will keep you guessing and it turns out to be a really sad story. Honestly, now I feel like I want to read the rest of her books. These were all really good, and they have more to them than just the thrills.

Says Who? by Anne Curzan

I got this for Christmas upon request. The author writes about widely held grammar opinions and why they may not be as important as we think. Not my usual point of view, but perhaps good for me to read.

Light in the Darkness by Sterling Jaquith

This was the Advent devotional I fell behind on and finished in January. I always enjoy everything that Sterling puts out there.

Smoky Mountain Magic by Horace Kephardt

My daughter stumbled upon this one in the library and thought I would like it. She wasn’t wrong! First of all I learned some history about the author, who was an amazing man and great ambassador for the Great Smokies. And then the story, his only book, was so good! It’s one of those books that isn’t just one thing and is hard to explain, but it’s evocative of a certain place and time, with fascinating characters, great descriptions, a mystery, and a good story. Especially if you are familiar with the mountains, you should give it a look.

Here are three more ebooks I read because I got one for free and then really liked the author’s work.

When She Returned by Lucinda Berry

This was a fascinating and upsetting read about a girl whose mother disappeared and then reappeared many years later with the revelation that she had been indoctrinated by a cult.  Since 1) her husband is engaged and his fiancee is living in the house and 2) the mother has arrived back with a newborn bay and 3) there are things she’s not telling, things are complicated. This one stuck with me.

The Secrets of Us by Lucinda Berry

Two girls, raised together in a foster home, consider themselves sisters. Now one of them is in a psych ward, accused of attempted murder, and the other one has to figure out what really happen, while confronting the past the two of them tried to hide.

The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry

This is a rough read. A young couple adopts a traumatized child and terrible things start happening. Is it the mother? Is it the child? Will the family be torn completely apart? There are no happy endings here.

Nine books this month! I feel that I should point out that the quality of the free Amazon ebooks has steadily increased. At first it seemed like they were mostly self-published books, poorly edited, by people who were giving them away free because no one would buy them anyway. But that is definitely no longer the case.

The post What I Read in January first appeared on Life in Every Limb.

If you have read these yearly posts then you know I make my own rules. In general, I don’t count rereads–unless I read it so long ago that it feels like a new read, if that makes any sense.

I had set a goal for myself to read seven books each month in 2024. That would have been 84. I read . . . 91! I’ve been increasing my goal but I did not even set a goal for 2025.

As I went through the year, though, I was disappointed that no one book leapt out as the best book of the year, which has always happened to me before. Perhaps that’s a message to me that I need to set my standards a little higher.

Anyway, what do I mean when I say “best book” of the year? It is a combination–it has to be legitimately a Good Book, and I have to like it. I like plenty of the legal thrillers and police procedurals that I read, but to me they don’t fit into this category. To make this list, a book cannot just be entertaining and well-written–it has to leave you with something; it has to MEAN something. And to be honest, this year I could not even come up with ten that I thought deserved to be on this list, unless I broke another arbitrary rule and added some of the classics that I have read many, many times. But I did not, so what you have here is a list of the EIGHT best books I read last year, in no particular order except for the last one. They are linked to the months in which they first appeared.

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Jane in Love by Rachel Givney

The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray

The Echoes of Old Books by Barbara Davis

 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent

And finally, the best of the best:

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

As I look over this list, a couple of additional criteria for inclusion come to my mind. To make this list at all, I have to want to read it again. And to be the number one book of the year, I have to think that other people ought to read it too.

What books have you read that you think other people ought to read?

The post Favorite Books from 2024 first appeared on Life in Every Limb.