Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery

by Ally Carter

Libby audiobook 8 hours

read by: Laura Knight Keating

Published: 2021

Genre: YA mystery, adventure

I didn't enjoy this quite as much as the first Winterborne book, but April, Collin, and the other orphans are firmly attached to Gabriel Winterborne and they strive to "help" him as they seek adventure. Some mysteries and loose ends from the first book are tied up. The island was interesting. The bad guys were really bad.

Not If I Save You First

by Ally Carter

Libby Audiobook 7 hours

Read by: Brittany Pressley

Published: 2018

Genre: YA mystery

This started out well, but was incredibly cringe-worthy by the end. Maddie is the daughter of the head of Secret Service. Logan is the President's son. They are best friends until Russian bad guys try to kidnap Logan's mom and Maddie's dad is shot. Maddie and her dad head to the Alaskan wilderness with no internet connection and minimal human contact for six years. 

I liked the letters from Maddie to Logan. They really helped set the scene for her changing personality and alienation from her best friend. Him going off the rails as a teenager and trying to get away from the Secret Service protection was believable.

When the story veered off into the teenage angst of longing and shallow insecurity, I was already curious to see how the story would turn out, so I listened to the end.

It wasn't very realistic to see the change in the character of Stefan, but I ended up liking him. I liked Maddie when she was tough Alaskan survival girl, but was irritated when she fretted about her hair. How interesting that I liked Carter's story for younger readers (The Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor) better than this one for older readers!

Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor

by Ally Carter

Libby audiobook 7 hours

read by: Laura Knight Keating

Published: 2020

Genre: YA mystery

 

I loved this! I was just looking for available audiobooks to listen to while working my summer job. When I looked up this author, I was so surprised to recognize her Gallagher Girls (Spy School) series. 

 

In this book, April is on a field trip to a museum with other foster kids. She sees a box with a design like the one on the key her mother left with her when she was just a baby. Gabriel Winterborne has been missing since his eleventh birthday and a five million dollar reward has been offered for information on his whereabouts. 

 

I love the characters and the unpredictable storyline (other than that good triumphs over evil, of course). I love Collin and the descriptions of the cool old house. I love the butler! I am eager to get hold of the other Winterborne books! 

<Above published 6.9.23. Below added 6.16.25.>

I wanted an audiobook to listen to while driving and was so disappointed in the Octagon Valley book that I decided to re-listen to this one. It's well-written, interesting, and has some interesting elements of identity, foster care, family, etc. Gabriel Winterborne is a swashbuckling guy for sure.

A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power

by Jimmy Carter
read by the author
Scott County Library audiobook 6 CDs
genre: non-fiction

There are things I really liked about this book for the first two CDs . . . and others I'd love to discuss with other readers. I had to stop listening, however, because as much as I typically like audiobooks read by the author, this one was too difficult to understand. I'm not sure how much of that is due to his age and how much is because of the Southern drawl, but his lack of enunciation meant that I often was not really certain of what he was saying. If I'm not sure if that was a "did" or a "didn't," the meaning is different! I've decided to pass on this book for now.

I do like and admire that Carter unabashedly proclaims Jesus as his Lord and savior. I love that he and his wife Rosalyn have spent their post White House years in service (Habitat for Humanity). I liked the parts where he shared his personal experiences and stories growing up in the South and in the governor's mansion. I just struggled to listen to his voice that much.


I found a scrap of paper with some notes.
- Jimmy Carter's voice - accent and lack of enunciation plus age - hard to understand - had to really focus on it
- like his personal stories better than legislation or U.N. policy info
- basic HUMAN rights, peace
- post WWII "growing acceptance of violence and warfare" . . . I don't remember what he was referring to . . . 

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

by Ally Carter
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 284 pages

This is another title that I enjoyed less than I expected. Callie is a student at a private spy school. While in town on a mission, she meets a regular boy and is drawn to him. He cannot know who she really is or what goes on at Gallagher Academy.

There were elements of this story that I really enjoyed, like the students have an assigned language (out of the 14 that they learn) for mealtime conversations and some of the James Bond-type gadgets that they use. But I thought the character development was stilted, especially Macey going from bad-girl to . . . just another girl.

Will I read the sequel? Not sure.