The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha

How I Came Across It... *A book clubber I follow on Instagram picked this novel for his online book club. I decided to give it a try and listen via Audible. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *A family gathers, on a remote island they own, for a family reunion.

*The father, head of the family, is ready to announce to the family who is going to take over the million-dollar family business.

*He has a wife and three children who are all looking at the "inheritance" in different ways.

*As the family spends time together, past events keep coming to the surface and causes friction among the members.

*When a family member ends up dead on the island, everyone looks to everyone else, to see who is to blame.

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *A slow start and I wasn't sure what all the hype about the story was.

*I kept at it, and did find myself drawn into the family story, but I wasn't always that invested.

*It was interesting to learn about their personal backgrounds, but again had a bit of a hard time relating to each member of the family.

*The main "action" (murder) didn't happen until toward the end of the novel which I kept waiting for.

*It was a long read to get to the "bulk" of the story.  

Who Should Read It... *This novel published for adults, was well written, but a bit slow for my taste. Readers who enjoy family dramas, with a bit of mystery and intrigue, will be drawn into the story. Happy Reading! Rating... 3 out of 5 stars

Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni

How I Came Across It... *After reading a glowing review of this new novel published for adults, I knew I had to read it. One of my all-time favorite novels was The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell. I was excited to see what Robert Dugoni had in store for the reader this time around. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *Dugoni takes the reader back to World War II where we meet Sam and Sarah.

*They are high-school sweet hearts who plan to marry. But then war hits!

*Sam is sent to the Philippines and Sarah heads to college in Minnesota.

*After Sam is taken as POW, Sarah becomes involved in the war effort and finds herself in Washington D.C.

*Their story continue back and forth and they both continue to keep their "together" future in the forefront of their minds.

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *What an incredible story!

*It is so well written and really puts the reader smack dab in the middle of the story.

*There were several difficult scenes in that took place in the Philippines and I sure learned a lot about how our soldiers were treated by the Japanese.

*I also enjoyed learning how females were used in the government effort to crack the codes of the Japanese.

*The entire reading experience was pleasurable, heart-breaking, and full of well-researched information about the war.

Who Should Read It... *I have been telling everyone about this novel. I choose the book for our staff book club and everyone who has read it, has nothing but wonderful things to say about the story. I highly recommend it. Happy Reading! Rating... 5 out of 5 stars

Octopus Moon by Bobbie Pyron

How I Came Across It... *This middle-grade novel was shared on several occasions on social media which led me to believe it was definitely a novel I needed to read. After downloading it to my Kindle, I got busy reading.

What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *Pearl is a young girl who loves animals and feels deeply.

*As she begins fifth grade, she starts to feel different.

*After opening up to her parents and friends, she begins to see a therapist.

*Through therapy she learns she has depression and begins to learn new ways to cope.

*Taking one step at a time, Pearl learns what she is capable of and how to move forward from these negative and sad feelings.

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *Enjoyable and touching story.

*I enjoyed how the topic of depression was presented and know young readers will be able to understand what Pearl is going through.

*The connection between Pearl and animals was special and unique.

*I think the author did a tremendous job of sharing Pearl, and her surrounding characters, with the reader.

*I've read other Bobbie Byron novels, and this was a change in topic and content for her.  Well done!  

Who Should Read It... *Perfect for readers in grades four, five, and six. Middle-school readers will also enjoy the journey of Pearl and root for her the entire way. Happy Reading! Rating... 4 out of 5 stars

Land on Me by Matthew R. Corr

How I Came Across It... *I have had this title on my TBR list for quite some time. I'm not sure where I first came across the book. I finally downloaded the title to my Kindle app and read the story while on vacation in Mexico. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *Landon is a high-school senior and at the top of his "game", both on and off the football field.

*He is a football star, has a beautiful girlfriend, and a dad rising the political ladder.

*When a new "mystery man" arrives at school, something stirs inside Landon and he isn't sure what it is.

*He can't get this guy out of his mind, and becomes quite obsessed with him.

*The two meet, and after their meeting, there is no turning back for Landon.

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *This is definitely a young-adult novel.

*I enjoyed the overall story, but found it nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary.  

*The plot did move forward at a good pace and I was curious and interested to see what would happen with Landon and his situation.  

*The author did a strong job of creating characters the reader cared about and cheered for.

*I definitely learned how difficult it can be for young people to come to a place where they can truly be themselves and honest with all those around them.  

Who Should Read It... *As I stated, this is a young adult novel so geared toward the high-school and/or college reader. If you know of a young man who is struggling with his identity and wanting to be his true self, this might be the novel for them. Happy Reading! Rating... 4 out of 5 stars

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

How I Came Across It... *I came across a social media post where a reader posted they had just finished this novel published for adults and were blown away by the newest work of fiction by Fredrik Backman. The novel isn't released until May 6th, but I was able to obtain an E-Galley via NetGalley. I read the novel during my spring break vacation to Cabo and the story brought me hours of joy, and emotion. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *The story is told from two different time periods: Current day and twenty-five years earlier.

*Twenty-five years ago there were four young friends who formed a bond that couldn't be broken.

*Each friend brought something unique to the group, each with their own story and challenges.

*Twenty-five years later a young female artist stumbles across one of the "original" friends and her life is forever changed.

*As the two strangers become "friends", they share more together than two close friends.

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *This was an absolute JOY to read!

*I have enjoyed most of Backman's books, but this one goes right to the top of the list.  The story had it ALL.

*I loved the developing story between the young girl and the older gentleman and the humor the two of them shared.  I had quite a few laugh out loud moments.

*The story of the original four friends was quite special and brought an array of emotions while reading about their developing and special relationships.  

*As I neared the conclusion, I was torn between reading quickly to finish, and slowing down to savor the the final pages of what was truly an incredible story.  

Who Should Read It... *Everyone! If you are a Fredrik Backman fan, you must add this upcoming title to your TBR list. You will not be disappointed. I can wait for its release so everyone can enjoy this one of a kind novel. Happy Reading! Rating... 5+ out of 5 stars

What Happened Then by Erin Soderberg Downing

How I Came Across It... *Erin Soderberg Downing is not only an author that lives near me, but has also become a friend. She has done so much for me and my readers over the years. I downloaded her upcoming middle-grade novel on NetGalley and read it during a day while on spring break in Mexico. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *Avery is a young girl heading to spend the summer on a family island.

*Her cousin, Jax, is also heading to the same island.

*They couldn't be more different, but do find they have a similar goal they would like to reach by the end of the summer.

*There is a family mystery and none of the family members seem to want to talk about it.

*Avery and Jax join forces, bring different experiences and perspectives, and bring forth the "issue" of "What happened then".

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *This middle-grade novel brought me a complete day of reading JOY!

*I could not stop reading once I started and was completely engrossed in the story.

*I have read all of Erin's books and this is truly her best work yet.  A powerful, emotional, and heart-warming journey.  

*The characters were authentic, genuine, and wove their way into my heart.

*The writing was beautiful, the plot moved forward at a perfect pace, and the mystery kept me guessing until the very end.  

Who Should Read It... *This really is the perfect novel for readers in grades four, five, and six. I also know that all middle-school readers will enjoy it just as much. I'm looking forward to using it as a class read aloud and can't wait to see what my fourth graders think of the story, the cousins, and the island mystery. Happy Reading! Rating... 5 out of 5 stars

The Beat I Drum (Life of a Cactus #3) by Dusti Bowling

How I Came Across It... *I have been a fan of Dusti's novels since the very first one. I was excited to know she had written another story in the "Cactus" series. I was even more excited when an audio version of the story was being offered on the Libro app. I downloaded the audio version and enjoyed the story for several commutes to and from school. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *We first met Connor as Aven's best friend. This novel centers on Connor after he has moved away from Aven and the life he knew.

*Connor has Tourette Syndrome and he isn't sure how the kids will respond at his new high school as a ninth grader.

*As luck would have it, he meets a girl in his class who also deals with Tourette's.

*The two of them form a friendship based on what they have in common, what they don't have in common, and a love for performance.

*Connor not only has to adjust to a new high school, but also to his dad returning who is trying to make amends for leaving the family.

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *The audio of the story was top-notch and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the narrator while I drove to and from work.

*I thought it was awesome to be back with Connor and also get a chance to see what Aven and the other friends were up to.

*Dusti Bowling did a wonderful job of bridging Connor's story in the first book to his newest adventures in his own novel.

*Even though Connor is a freshman in high-school, the story is quite appropriate for the audience intended.

*Themes of friendship, family, and embracing your inner-self were scattered throughout the entire story.  

Who Should Read It... *The story does revolve around early high-school students, but the content is fitting for the upper elementary reader, middle-school reader, and of course high-school reader. There is a bit of "kissing" in the story, but nothing too detailed or off-putting. If you have read the first two novels, you must add this new title to your TBR list. Happy Reading! Rating... 5 out of 5 stars