REVIEW - All In (audiobook)

 All In by Billie Jean King (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

Wow, I didn't realize how much social justice work Billie Jean King has done - LGBT+, equal pay, women's liberation, DEI, and much more. What was fun for me is that she is from Long Beach, California, and went to my alma mater, Cal State LA. 

This is not a "tell-all" but a book about a woman who got her power back at age 51. So much with regards to the power dynamic deeply resonated with me because I was almost the same age when this happened to me! 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

The writing was excellent, but Billie Jean did have an uncredited writer. However, the writing was from the heart, passionate, and raw. 

My biggest issue with this memoir was that it was long, detailed, and needed some serious editing. This is not my memoir - it is BJK's though!!!

Narration: 5.0 stars

Billie Jean King was a fantastic narrator. It was obvious that she was raised to be a good and kind person and always wanted to be the "good girl". This was the societal message that female Baby Boomers learned at a very young age. She is emotional at appropriate parts in the memoir which made me appreciate her even more. 

Character Arc: 5.0 stars

The audiobook is told chronologically which is how I prefer memoirs and autobiographies to be written. 

Memorable:  4.5 stars

The biggest takeaway for me is all the social justice that Billie Jean accomplished has almost all been overturned due to the #45 presidency. The book ended around President Biden's election. So this memoir ended on a very positive note.  

Entertaining:   4.5 stars

This memoir was entertaining per se, but it was educational as I was from a different generation than Billie Jean so I didn't know all she accomplished. I am very grateful to her and her female peers for all they did for DEI. 

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Great!  

Book title: 5.0 stars 

This is totally Billie Jean!

HIGHLY recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

All In by Billie Jean King

Random House Audio

18 hours, 6 minutes

Release date of 8/1/2021

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Billie Jean King

My Goodreads review

Random House Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 The Twilight Garden by Sara Nisha Adams (ebook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Garden of Promises and Lies (ebook)

The Garden of Promises and Lies (Found Things #3) by Paula Brackson (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is the fourth book that I have read by Paula Brackston. This is the penultimate book in the fantastic four-part series - Found Things. The plot, characters, and historical times in this series are wonderful. 

This book continues to be about a woman with psychometry who travels through time from 2019ish to 1815 The reason for the journey is a gorgeous wedding dress.

Again, please note that I am being vague with many details about this book so as not to spoil the twists in this lovely book. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

This author has a lovely way of using the language, dress, and customs to write about the older period in this book. I learned much about England in the 1800s, a time of peace after multiple wars. It made my history nerd heart so very happy!

Character development: 4.5 stars

The main characters are Xanthe (time traveler), Liam (Xanthe's friend), and Benedict (Xanthe's nemesis). 

The secondary characters are Flora (Xanthe's mother and owner of an antique shop), Harley (the local pub owner), Lydia (another time traveler), and Petronelle (the wedding dress's future bride). 

The tertiary characters are the assorted supporting characters in both times.   

Storyline:  4.5 stars

The storyline is about Xanthe traveling back in time to understand what her nemesis, Benedict, wants from her and what the wedding dress has to do with it all. 

The main location was Wiltshire, England.    

The only real issue with this book was that it took about 100 pages to set up the details for the plot. But, I couldn't put the book down once it was set up!

Memorable/Informative:  4.5 stars

I loved learning how clothing was handmade and bespoke in the early 1800s. The ability to patronize clothiers and tailors was a privilege of only the wealthy. The dresses, especially, sounded so beautiful!

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Gorgeous!!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfect!  

STRONG recommend

BOOK INFORMATION

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (ebook)

The Garden of Promises and Lies (Found Things #3) by Paula Brackson

321 pages 

St. Martin's Press

Release date of 12/15/2020

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Paula Brackston

My Goodreads review

St. Martin's Press

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 All In by Billie Jean King (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Moment of Lift (audiobook)

 The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

OMG! This audiobook was an unexpected jewel. Melinda Gate discusses her life, her work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and what she learned about women including herself along the way. 

This book was published in 2019 when she was still married to Bill Gates which dates the book a bit. Additionally, she recently resigned from the foundation in 2024. 

This is not a salacious book about Bill and Melinda Gates. It is primarily about the foundation and what Melinda learned and discovered about herself and the women the foundation assists. 

The stories of the women are amazing. Women are amazing. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

Melinda can write! She tells the stories of the women she met in her almost 25 years working for the foundation. What was so meaningful to me was that she told the stories of the women with kindness and humility. 

Narration: 5.0 stars

The author beautifully narrates her life and the foundation's story. It is read well as helping those on the margins, specifically, women, is her life's work. 

Character Arc: 5.0 stars

The audiobook is told chronologically in the chapters that discuss a specific need of women that the foundation addresses.  

Memorable:  5.0 stars

Melinda's stories about the women she has met during her travels for the foundation are powerful. She discusses everything from family planning to sex workers with great care. 

Entertaining:   5.0 stars

This book was entertaining, at times, but it was mostly educational. I learned so much about the needs of women in India, West Africa, and other places in the world where women need a hand.  

Book cover: 4.0 stars

Meh!  

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Strong and powerful!

HIGHLY recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates

Bluebird Publishing

7 hours, 56 minutes

Release date of 4/24/2019

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Melinda French Gates

My Goodreads review

Bluebird Publishing

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

The Garden of Promises and Lies (Found Things #3) by Paula Brackston (ebook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

 

REVIEW - Framed (ebook)

Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey (ebook)

OVERVIEW

I have read many of John Grisham's fiction books and this is non-fiction, a deviation from most of his best-sellers. The co-author is Jim McCloskey who is the founder of Centurion Ministries. This book is ten stories about cases where the wrong individuals were arrested, tried, and convicted for crimes they did not commit. Each chapter details the crime, who was framed, who was involved in the wrongful conviction(s), and the aftermath.

Caveat - this is a dark and graphic book. There are explicit details of murders, rapes, and assaults. If you are triggered by these stories, please do not read this book. It took me a while to read this book as I had to read it over time to allow my mind and heart to heal. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

Both John Grisham and Jim McCloskey write beautifully. But the subject matter made it difficult to really enjoy this book. It felt too graphic and gratuitous, at times. 

Character development: 4.0 stars

Each individual framed in this book including the judges, prosecutors, police, defense, snitches, and the victim is fully detailed. At times, it was overwhelming. Hundreds of people were mentioned over ten chapters which was a lot to manage and absorb.    

Storyline:  4.0 stars

The storyline is in ten chapters about individual(s) who were framed for crimes they did not commit. Each chapter includes the crime, fallout, and aftermath. 

The main location was the United States, primarily in the South.   

Memorable/Informative:  4.5 stars

Hot tip - if you are arrested, do not talk to anyone, PERIOD! Ask for an attorney and keep your mouth shut, PERIOD! Only talk to your attorney about the case, PERIOD!  

Book cover: 4.0 stars

Okay.

Book title: 4.5 stars 

Short, but appropriate.  

DEFINITE recommend

BOOK INFORMATION

NetGalley ARC (ebook)

Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey

544 pages 

Doubleday

Release date of 10/15/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

John Grisham Jim McCloskey

My Goodreads review

Doubleday

NetGalley

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Secrets Of the Chocolate House (ebook)

 Secrets of the Chocolate House (Found Things #2) by Paula Brackston (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is the third book that I have read by Paula Brackston. It is also the second in the four-part series - Found Things! I am so excited to read more about these wonderful characters!

This book continues to be about a woman with psychometry who travels through time from 2018 to 1605. The impetus for the journey is a copper chocolate pot.  

Please note that I am being vague with many details so as not to spoil the twists in this lovely book. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

The author writes beautifully in a lovely way about the two time periods in the book. I loved learning more about English history specific to the early 1600s. It was entertaining and I learned a lot of historical information.

Character development: 4.5 stars

The main character is Xanthe who is the time traveler in this novel. The two time periods collide and it all blows up at the end of this novel. 

The secondary characters are Flora (Xanthe's mother and owner of an antique shop), Liam (Xanthe's friend), Marcus (Xanthe's ex-boyfriend), Samuel (Xanthe's friend), Louise (the chocolate shop owner), and Benedict (Samuel's patron). 

The tertiary characters are the assorted supporting characters in both times.   

Storyline:  4.5 stars

The storyline is about Xanthe traveling back in time to ensure her friend Samuel's safety through psychometry with a chocolate pot. Xanthe had a mission to protect and save her friend from possible execution by King James. 

The main location was Wiltshire, England with some time spent in London.   

Memorable/Informative:  4.5 stars

I loved learning how chocolate shops were popular in England during the 1600s. They provided hot chocolate which was new and unusual as well as locations for conversation or plotting political intrigue. I wish that there were these shops all over as I love hot chocolate!

Book cover: 4.5 stars

So pretty!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

On point!  

STRONG recommend

BOOK INFORMATION

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (ebook)

Secrets of the Chocolate House (Found Things #2) by Paula Brackston

320 pages 

St. Martin's Press

Release date of 10/22/2019

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Paula Brackston

My Goodreads review

St. Martin's Press

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

The Secrets of the Chocolate House (Found Things #2) by Paula Brackston (ebook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - When We Were Friends (ebook)

 When We Were Friends by Jane Green (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This was a short story by Jane Green. I had never read anything by her before and had no expectations. Unfortunately, this short story just didn't work for me. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars

Writing: 3.0 stars

This short story fell flat to me. The writing was just okay.

Character development: 3.0 stars

The two main characters are Lucy (recent divorcee) and Elle (single) who meet in a bar bathroom. 

We only learn about the characters superficially to discover that both are very shallow. 

Storyline:  3.0 stars

Lucy and Elle meet in a bar bathroom and instantly become best friends. The story goes downhill from there. 

The main location is Fairfield, Connecticut.   

Memorable/Informative:  4.0 stars

I learned a new term - love bombing. 

Book cover: 4.0 stars

Pretty.

Book title: .0 stars 

Appropriate.  

LUKEWARM recommend

BOOK INFORMATION

Amazon First Reads Kindle short-story ebook

When We Were Friends by Jane Green

44 pages 

Amazon Original Stories

Release date of 10/01/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Jane Green

My Goodreads review

Amazon Original Stories

Amazon First Reads - September 2024

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 When We Were Friends by Jane Green (ebook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜