Dee Reads

I'm not a big proponent of star ratings for books, or ratings at all really.  Books and reading are too subjective.  What you might enjoy and feel is a superstar, no pun intended, of a book, I might think is a complete loser. Ok, now that I've admitted that, I'll also tell you that I use Goodreads to track my reading and it requires you rate books using their star system, one to five.  One being the least liked and five the tip-top.    "Here's a more detailed breakdown of the star rating system, often used on platforms like  Goodreads   and   Amazon : 1 Star:   "Didn't like it" or "Absolutely not, I didn't waste my time finishing it".   2 Stars:   "It was OK" or "Not an enjoyable read".   3 Stars:   "Liked it" or "I liked this book".   4 Stars:   "Really liked it" or "Enjoyed it a lot but one or two things were not perfect".   5 Stars:   "It was amazing" or "Absol...

Today marks two months into 2025, and like many of you I am looking back at some of the thoughts I had about making a few changes in the new year.  I don't make resolutions, strictly speaking, but I do reflect on the year past and set my sights on what I hope to accomplish in the upcoming months.  Emphasis on "hope".  One of those objectives was to clear some of the old books from my "TBR" List.  My intention was to read a book or two each month and begin to carve away some oldies, but goodies I hoped.   February should have been a banner month for me, I read three books from my back-back list.  Joan Hall Hove y's Nowhere to Hide, Anna Willett 's Lost to the Lake, and Ric Wasley 's Shadow of Innocence.  All three seemed right up my alley!  A psychological thriller, a crime thriller, and one in a detective series.  What more could I ask for?  Well, maybe a piece of historical fiction-one of my other loves.  Although these three ...

Snuggled into a small, quiet corner of First Street, Humble Texas is the independently owned bookstore, The Book Readers Venue .  I recently made the short drive from my home in Atascocita to Humble for a visit with the proud and gracious owner of this little gem of a bookstore,  Sherrele Goloversic.  Sherrele owns and operates the bookstore alongside her 8-5 job in information technology.  The focus is on romance and romantic suspense featuring African-American authors.  Don't worry though, there is a book for everyone in her small in size, but big in variety, store.  Sherrele has a little bit of biography/memoir, fantasy and even a cozy corner where children's books are shelved.  "We believe that when one book closes, another one (or 2 or 3) opens." Although only at this location since September 2024, it's evident that Sherrele and her shop are an active part of the community.  I chose a Friday morning visit which happened to coincide with a wom...

In August of 2024, I wrote a blog entitled   "The Unsung or Little Sung Heroes" in which I highlighted three of my favorite authors who fill this bill. Romance author, Katie Mettner, happened to be one of those three.  At the risk of repeating myself, here's a little more about an excellent and prolific author, who happens to be a very kind human being. "Katie Mettner wears the title of 'the only person to lose her leg after falling down the bunny hill' and loves decorating her prosthetic leg to fit the season. She lives in Northern Wisconsin with her own happily-ever-after and spends the day writing romantic stories with her sweet puppy by her side. Katie has an addiction to coffee and dachshunds and a lessening aversion to Pinterest — now that she’s quit trying to make the things she pins. Read about more of Katie's adventures as an amputee writer at http://katiemettner.com/ Come chat with Katie on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Mettner-A...

  I am a huge FAN of Robert Dugoni !  I am always enthralled by his work; his series (Tracy Crosswhite, David Sloane, Charles Jenkins and Keera Duggan) and his stand-out stand-alone novels.  He is an exceptionally talented author with such a wide-ranging talent and skillset it defies my reality.  For anyone, like me, who wishes they could write, Robert is the gold standard.  This month's review is Hold Strong written with co-authors, Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree .  To my thinking, Robert and his partners have more than reached that gold standard bar. This book is such an exceptional work, I find myself in the same position as with Robert's book, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell , I'm recommending it to every reader I know, posting it on social media, and talking about it until my friends and family are beyond tired of  hearing me gab on and on . . .  Nevertheless, I'm going to drone on a bit more in this review of what may make my Best of 2...

Never let it be said I don't follow through.  As promised, this is the first blog with new, but still book-related content.  Jumping off the new year, I contacted and was graciously granted an interview with Kimberly Darneille, the adult programming librarian at my library, Harris County Public Library, Atascocita Branch .  To say Kimberly is a librarian seems far too simple and narrow a description, she's much more.  In her own words, her job encompasses,  "helping people in so many different ways, whether it's guiding someone to the perfect book, teaching a new skill, or solving a tricky question, every interaction feels like an opportunity to make a difference."  Contrary to what is thought of as the typical route (a Master's Degree in library science) to becoming a librarian, Kimberly took a different path. She got her degree from the "school of hard knocks".  She's worked in libraries for 18 years, beginning in 2006 as a shelver and circulat...

Happy New Year - 2025! from  Dee Reads    I hope you all had a joy-filled holiday season and are ready to take on 2025 with renewed vigor and reading enthusiasm.  I know I am! I've got some exciting things already bubbling on the stovetop for you, readers. as we plunge into January.   My tech support husband is hard at work on updates to our site, which will make it easier for new friends to find Dee Reads.  I'm also working on exciting new content - interviews with authors, indie bookstore visits, and chats with library staff.  Now, don't worry, I'm not leaving all the goodies you've become accustomed to behind, simply sprinkling some spice into the soup.  I'm sure you'll enjoy our new recipe.  One more quick note, I'm changing to a bi-weekly format for 2025.  So on or about January 11th, I'll be posting a new blog for your reading enjoyment.   A small sampling of my TBR.  Just the hardbacks!  There are many mor...

Yes, just last week I said I had posted my last blog for 2024.  However, my brother, Jay, who has guest spotted here a few times, told me he didn't have anything to do. So, I picked up the ball of that challenge and asked him to give me HIS Best of 2024.  And here it is . . .  I promise this is the last blog for the year.   Happy Holidays! "First, I must thank Dianna for asking me to contribute thoughts on my favorite read this year.  Secondly, I must apologize to you for contributing my thoughts on my favorite read this year. I’m clearly not as voracious a reader as Dianna and most of you.  I had set a meager goal of 30 books for the year.  As of today, I have read 31 with 19 days remaining in the year.  Congratulations to me!  Here's a list of a few books that were part of making this goal: The Afternoon of Christianity: The Courage to Change Tomáš Halík Hold Strong Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, Chris Crabtree Ordinary Grace William Ke...

Like so many book resources; Amazon, Goodreads, and various bookstores Dee Reads is compiling a list of the best books of 2024.  That isn't to say they are new, bestsellers, book club recommendations or any particular favorite, they are just my most excellent reads of this year.   From a variety of genres, authors, and publication dates comes the Dee Reads Best of 2024. Like many of you, I'm sure, I used a reading tracker this year to tally my total books read and their "star" rating (1-5).  Of the 106 books on that list, I have selected nine to make my "Best of 2024" list.   DEE READS BEST OF 2024         The Long March Home by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee - 5 Stars         Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens - 5 Stars (Appeared in a previous blog on 08/28/2024)         Go as a River by Shelley Read - 5 Stars         Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke - 4 S...