Sweetest in the Gale (There's Something about Marysburg, #3)

by Olivia Dade

[Berls]

I really enjoyed all three of the stories in this book! I would have liked to have more of each of them - I really wish they could have been full length books. However, I respect that Olivia Dade didn't stretch them out just for the sake of making them longer. Each one told a good, complete story.

"Sweetest in the Gale"
This story let us see the soft underbelly of the hard shelled English teacher, Candy Albright, who we've gotten to know from the first book. And we have another English teacher, Griff Conover, who I don't remember from the previous book, but maybe he was in it. I don't think he was, as he's a newer addition to the Marysburg staff. I loved the way this story dealt with grief and loss, as well as the incorporation of so many quotes from both classics and more recent literature. I just want more of them! Hopefully in future books.

"Unraveled"
I started off really not liking Simon Burnham (Math Teacher). He reminded me of an administrator I once had, so quick to judge and assume the worst. But I grew to LOVE him because he also was quick to recognize his mistakes and to apologize for being an ass. And to work hard to make up for it, including calling others on their assery. Not to mention, getting to know him means understanding him and his reasons for needing so much order in his life. Poppy Wick is the new Art Teacher and loved her from the start. From playing hangman at the faculty meeting (been there, done that) to the way she is with her students, she's just lovable. Watching these opposites fall in love - along with some interesting mystery solving as a side story - was entertaining and left me hoping for more as well.

"Cover Me"
Even though this book takes us away from the staff of Marysburg high, it may have been my favorite of three. Perhaps because of the incredible Elizabeth Stone - she's brave, determined, caring. There's a scene were she's tells off a politician that had me cheering and wishing it could have been a real moment that I could have joined in on. James is also a great character, but I wish we got to know him better. In fact, this short I think had enough that it could have been a full length novel. Perhaps it would have been too emotional, with the breast cancer scare but I would have liked to have the back story and friendship decades long friendship between Elizabeth and James. This is the first relationship in the series built on a history and I would have liked to see it -- even if it was just flashbacks or something. That's my only complaint though.

The narration by Kelsey Navarro continues to be great and I would not hesitate to listen to more books she narrates. She brings the characters to life with distinct voices that convey some of their personality.