The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser

Amy Lennox doesn't know quite what to expect when she and her mother pick up and leave Germany for Scotland, heading to her mother's childhood home of Lennox House on the island of Stormsay.
Amy's grandmother, Lady Mairead, insists that Amy must read while she resides at Lennox House—but not in the usual way. It turns out that Amy is a book jumper, able to leap into a story and interact with the world inside. As thrilling as Amy's new power is, it also brings danger: someone is stealing from the books she visits, and that person may be after her life. Teaming up with fellow book jumper Will, Amy vows to get to the bottom of the thefts—at whatever cost.

This book has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen! It is also based on a premise that I am in love with, and what bibliophile would not be, the ability to jump into books and interact with worlds and characters sounds amazing. However, sadly this book had so much potential left untapped. The characters were not well developed and the plot never seemed to go anywhere specific. There were a few times I felt the story was gaining momentum, but then it just fizzled out. Then the ending felt unfinished, like no real final decisions were made. I had hoped for more from such a lovely book based on such a fascinating concept, but it just proves the old adage you can't judge a book by its cover. 

I give The Book Jumper 2 out of 5 Stars
I give the Audio performance 4 out of 5 stars

Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw

Meet Greta Helsing, fast-talking doctor to the undead. Keeping the supernatural community not-alive and well in London has been her family's specialty for generations. Greta Helsing inherited the family's highly specialized, and highly peculiar, medical practice. In her consulting rooms, Dr. Helsing treats the undead for a host of ills - vocal strain in banshees, arthritis in barrow-wights, and entropy in mummies. Although barely making ends meet, this is just the quiet, supernatural-adjacent life Greta's been groomed for since childhood.
Until a sect of murderous monks emerges, killing human and undead Londoners alike. As terror takes hold of the city, Greta must use her unusual skills to stop the cult if she hopes to save her practice, and her life.

This book was delightful.  It was a completely different view on the supernatural realm. Who is going to to treat sicknesses in the supernatural world? Dr. Greta Helsing, and she takes her practice very seriously. The book is charming. It is so unique! There is a mystery and even a dark cultist murder, but there is also humor and several sweet moments in the book. Romance does not really enter this book. there is a bit of a casual interest, but it is casual interest at best.  This book's characters have issues, each have things that need focusing on and none have the time to deal with romantic affairs at the moment, I mean crazy cultists are trying to kill them.  If you are looking for a twist on the normal version of the paranormal this is a great book. I highly recommend the book. The characters are endearing and you may even decide you want a ghoul family to move into your basement!

4.5 out of 5 stars for Strange Practice

5 out of 5 stars for the audio book  

Dear Papa: A letter to the man who taught me to love reading and so much more

Dear Papa,

It has been almost 3 years since I have been with you. That is a long time for us, considering you  lived next door. I always knew you were there if I needed something, a shoulder to cry on, a voice of reason, or just good, sound advice. We thought the world was bad when we last talked, but you would be so disgusted now. People are so cruel to each other. It never ceases to amaze me how many ways people find to hurt one another. What I do find is that I can muddle through each day because I have little bits of your wisdom tucked away. When I feel lost or trapped, and I just do not know what to do, I back up and look at the situation the way I know you would have. I remove the messy emotions and put on your logic and clarity. I apply the filter of Christ you used in everyday life and suddenly the impossible seems possible. You may not be with me physically, to verbally guide me, but your lessons are still hard at work and still keeping me out of trouble.
You have missed so much over the past three years. I have tried to take care of Mema like I promised, she is still stubborn as ever, and she misses you more than words can express. The kids have grown up so fast! Derrick is now a principal at his own school and I finished college, just like I promised. I am now a teacher with my own classroom. I love teaching. My plan is to go back to school to get a degree in reading specialties. I would have never been able to go to college without you, I would have never learned to love books without you, and I would not have had the courage to go back to college and fulfill my dream of teaching students with special needs, without your support. I wish you could have been there when I walked across the stage at graduation, or when I walked into my first classroom. It has not been easy, but I believe you would be proud. You taught me never to give up, to always put God first, to always respect others no matter what their walk in life, and that I will never be bored as long as there is a book around. I still remember you reading to me as a child, patiently running your finger under the words as you read them aloud, and suddenly realizing that I understood the words on the page. I would not be the person I am today without you and your lessons. What I would give to tell you "thank you" and how deeply I appreciate you one more time.
I have so many things I want to do. I want to write a book, get my doctorate, travel, and start a scholarship for students with special needs. However, all these things will take time and patience, but the one thing I strive to do every day, and will for the rest of my life, is to live every day in a way that would have made you proud of me. I love you papa and always will be your girl.

Your granddaughter,
Jennifer Thompson Boyd