Beautiful Ruins
by Jess Walter

Coastal Italy... American movie stars.... alcoholic authors... WWII forts... this beautiful novel travels through time and place to follow its protagonists as they try and fail and sometimes succeed at doing the right thing. Funny and endearing and makes you cry in the best way. A literary beach read.
 
 

Dare to Lead
by Brene Brown

Distills Brown's previous research on vulnerability and courage into leadership skills for the business, military, church, or educational world. Easy-to-read take on the hard work of leadership.
 
 

A Trick Of The Light
by Louise Penny

Chief Inspector Gamache and Beauvoir are back at Three Pines eating delicious food and solving art-related mysteries. Diverting and digestible in more ways than one.
 
 

Magic Treehouse Merlin Missions 10: Monday With a Mad Genius
by Mary Pope Osborne

I liked that Leonardo da Vinci says that a secret to happiness is curiosity and they fly and paint Lisa (The Mona Lisa.)
 
 

The Job
by Steve Osborne

Author relates stories about his twenty year career with the NYPD. Each chapter explains an incident that he was involved in during his many shifts in different precincts. We learn how his childhood and home life influenced his decisions.
 
 

Cassandra Speaks
by Elizabeth Lesser

Starting with anecdotal stories, Lesser connects her readers with their personal encounters like hers. Lesser adds credibility to these female experiences by alluding to ancient narratives that impugn women as the corruptor and sinner, from Casandra in the Trojan war era to Eve in the creation of humankind, women were cast in roles they deserve by God’s decree. Such roles are reflected in our modern world where women are still not on par with men. When a man is firm, he is sure of himself; when a woman stands her ground, she is considered bossy. Reconciling these inconsistencies, Lesser presents us a book that both men and women can take away tips that will help us build a more congenial world. A good summer read
 
 

Dragon Masters 19: Wave of the Sea Dragon
by Tracey West

I think this book deserves 3 1/2 stars. It is interesting that the sea dragons and lava dragons are still fighting from the war long ago.
 
 

The White Road
by Edmund De Waal

A well-documented memoir that details the author's journey to the East to the origin of the pure white porcelain made in Jingdezhen. Today, Jingdezhen's teapots take on an earthen color but its influence on the European porcelain makers /artists who continue to make a contribution to this creative and artistic invention. A must-read and you will appreciate your dinner wares so much more!
 
 

The White Road Edmund De Waal
by De Waal, Edmund

A well-documented memoir with a meticulously detailed description about the author's journey to the East to find the origin of the pure white porcelain wares that travelled across mountains and the sea to arrive on the continent of Europe where further inventions developed and skills sharpened and improved. Today these pure white porcelain wares are a major part of the artistic innovation and creativity that still occupy the imaginary spheres. A must-read to learn about the comings and goings of what we take for granted on our dinner table.
 
 

Land Of Stories
by Chris Colfer

Amazing