The Maid

by Nita Prose

Publication Date: January 4, 2022
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Katherine's Review:
While I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of this book, there were things that made me not like it quite as much as I wanted to. I thought some of the characters were one-dimensional but that may be because we were only getting Molly's perspective. I didn't appreciate the surprise gotcha ending which seemed like an unnecessary twist to me. Overall, an interesting twist on the classic cozy mystery and one that many will enjoy.

State Change: End Anxiety, Beat Burnout, and Ignite a New Baseline of Energy and Flow

by Robin Berzin

Release Date: January 18, 2022
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Cary's Review:
I typically hate titles like this – with their all-encompassing (impossible) promises. And “30-day” programs, forget it! But despite those reservations, the book had new information that I resonated with. You don’t have to do the 30-day program to glean positive suggestions and realistic advice from this author. It delved deeper than most of the self-help static out there. I was glad I picked it up.

How High We Go in the Dark

by Sequoia Nagamatsu

Publication Date: January 18, 2022
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Katherine's Review:
There were many things I loved about this book. The writing is fantastic, it’s very imaginative, and some of the stories will stay with me a long time. The issue I have with this book is with how the stories were interwoven. In other books in which short stories are used to tell a larger one, I feel like it wasn’t as hard to follow the thread that connects the stories. And, the final chapter for me, confused things more rather than made them clearer. I loved the concept and I would certainly pick up another book written by Sequoia Nagamatsu.

The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections

by Eva Jurczyk

Publication Date: January 25, 2022
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Joyce's Review:

An eye opening story of one academic library’s rare book acquisition process including the librarians, university administrators, and donors who make it all work. The story centers around the activities of an newly appointed acting department head and what she learns about herself and her coworkers and friends in a time of crisis. It also provides interesting stories of rare books as well as how historical and contemporary research into the books is done. The characters are presented with strengths and flaws as they interact with each other. They become real people to the reader

The Matchmaker: a Spy in Berlin

by Paul Vidich

Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Mary's Review:
I'm halfway through reading this book, but it's got me hooked! It's a Cold War spy novel set in West Berlin. Anne Simpson is an American working as an interpreter at the Joint Allied Refugee Operations Center in West Berlin, debriefing refugees from Eastern Europe. She's targeted by the Stasi and nothing seems like it is as she tries to find the truth behind her East German husband's disappearance. It's worth the read!

Free Love

by Tessa Hadley

Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Jill's Review:

The description intrigued me, but I felt like the actual story fell short. I may need to try another of Tessa Hadley’s books, because the writing was good but I was hoping for more complexity and depth in the main characters.