Darlene's Digest

Remember Love by Mary Balogh My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Nightwork by Nora Roberts My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Judah Benjamin: Counselor to the Confederacy by James Traub My rating: 3 of 5 stars View all my reviews

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

The Hidden Order of Intimacy: Reflections on the Book of Leviticus by Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

  “You underestimate the will of the American people, Doctor,” he poked his finger in the air for emphasis. “When you push us, we push back. Hard. John Bull cannot bully America into surrendering now any more than you could 40 years ago. Have you already forgotten the lesson of Fort McHenry?” He rummaged in his desk and pulled out a tattered newspaper, much folded and creased. “My mother sent this to me with the letters, a newspaper from home. A Mr. Key wrote a poem about the battle, Doctor, titled ‘The Defence of Fort McHenry’. Look here–‘the land of the free and the home of the brave’. That’s America, Charley!" --- SEA CHANGE June 14 is #FlagDay, the day the United States honors our nation's star spangled banner.  If you've got a flag, fly it proudly!

While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams My rating: 5 of 5 stars Outstanding thriller from an author whose romance novels (writing as Selina Montgomery) I've read, but this latest work branches out into the halls of power in Washington D.C., bringing Abrams' own experience as an attorney and politician into the work. A fast-paced novel of science and law with an all too frightening premise, it kept me up late as I watched characters race against the clock to solve the mystery. I know Ms. Abrams is a busy person, but I hope there are more novels like this in the works. View all my reviews

Darlene's Digest was picked as one of the 30 Best Historical Blogs and Websites at Feedspot , and I'm honored to be in such illustrious company. I've been writing this blog for ages, and while I don't blog every day, I enjoy having a site where I can share book reviews, some conversation about the joys of research, and snippets of life in North Central Florida. These past couple of years have been difficult for all of us, but I'm hanging in there, making up stories that I hope will make you smile. And don't forget my French editions from  J'ai Lu Pour Elle ! I don't know what I would have done without all my French readers around the world lifting my spirits and helping me to practice "un peu français" as I read reviews coming in from far off lands.  So merci beaucoup and thank you very much for hanging in there with me! It's greatly appreciated!  

When I was a child, #MemorialDay meant the end of school and the start of summer. Now it means so much more to me because I know people who died in service to our country, fighting to protect our nation. Take a moment today to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day. Remember that the freedoms we enjoy this weekend, and all year long, to swim, to gather, to have outdoor concerts, to hike in the national parks, came at a cost. At the start of summer we should always recall those who gave their lives, the "last full measure of devotion" to keep us free.

Paladin's Strength by T. Kingfisher My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Archangel's Sun by Nalini Singh My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

The Match by Harlan Coben My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

The Deepest of Secrets by Kelley Armstrong My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Dark Horse by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Flying Cloud: The True Story of America's Most Famous Clipper Ship and the Woman Who Guided Her by David W. Shaw My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

The Runaway by Nick Petrie My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Florida's Negro War: Black Seminoles and the Second Seminole War 1835-1842 by Anthony E Dixon My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews