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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My Murder Year is a YA LGBTQ book full of loss, grief, angst, family drama, suspense, intrigue, and ultimately love. The story centers around the character of teenager Stas who has suffered a lot at the tender age of seventeen. When she discovers her mother’s dead body her life goes into a tailspin. Stas’ father becomes the prime suspect and family members that Stas has never met are determined that she comes to live with each of them. A tug-of-war ensues and family drama escalates as the custody battle over young Stas rages on between them. Uncertain who to trust Stas turns to her new friend Zane for support and comfort as she navigates through her grief. She must also try to figure out who really killed her mother. This was a poignant and emotional tale of overcoming loss and the struggles of adolescence that will leave you reaching for the box of kleenex. The characters were relatable and Stas was someone that I immediately felt a connection to. This book took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and my heart broke for Stas. I highly recommend this book.

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Rainbow’s Red Book of Poetry by Lily Lawson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Rainbow's Red Book of PoetryRainbow’s Red Book of Poetry by Lily Lawson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A beautiful collection of poetry about life, love, hope, and never giving up. These poems were a true inspiration, and this collection is something worth reading repeatedly. These poems made me cry, made me think, and touched my soul on a deep level. Many of the poems resonated so deeply with me that it was as though I had written them myself. I especially loved the poems Game Over, and No Surrender because they reflected my thoughts on what it felt like to severe ties with toxic people in my life. I also enjoyed Hate VS Love, Recipe for Life, and Sunrise because they were gentle reminders that there is beauty to be found if we look hard enough and how important it is to be able to see the beauty in the small things. I highly recommend this beautiful written collection of poetry.

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Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Divided LivesDivided Lives by K.R. Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lottie Flannigan is a young lady living and working in New York City in the year 1912. During the day she maintains a professional appearance while working as a legal clerk for a local law firm in Midtown. Her personal life while living in Greenwich Village is very different from that of her professional life. During her time away from her Conservative job in Midtown, Lottie maintains a Bohemian lifestyle in Greenwich Village where the traditional values of Midtown are rejected.

Lottie can keep her two lives separate until they suddenly collide when she starts working on a high-profile criminal case that involves a local police officer, Charles Becker. Lottie finds herself being blackmailed and risks her personal life being exposed if she does not do what the blackmailers say. Lottie is uncertain as to who she can trust and must risk everything to expose the truth behind who is blackmailing her.

I loved how the author so seamlessly blended fact and fiction together by intertwining the character of young Lottie into a real-life high profile criminal case that occurred in New York City in the year 1912. Lottie is independent, strong, persistent, and determined to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding who is blackmailing her. Lottie as the niece of Emma from the Notebook Mystery Series, is a lot like her aunt, who makes appearances throughout the book. The author did a wonderful job of blending in topics that were taboo in that time such as exploring one’s sexuality, and the women’s suffrage movement. This book contained mystery, suspense, blackmail, romance, and some steamy sex scenes. A must read for anyone interested in historical crime.

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