Midwestern Gems (Reads) You Don't Want to Miss!

Kathleen Rumple, a Hive Member and former school teacher is ... let's just say a bookworm, bibliophile, avid reader... you get the idea! If you saw her recent Buzz From the Hive blog post "Your Next Favorite Read," you will understand why I call her such an enthusiastic reader - she read more than 25 books in 2 months (thats about half a book Every Day)! If you need a good book recommendation, she is your gal! Kathleen is also a Midwesterner and has a few great suggestions for books by authors in the Midwest. Below are Kathleen's picks for Midwestern Gems (Reads) you don't want to miss. -Tiffany

The following two books are both written by Nancy Pickard, and the stories are set in Kansas, which I think adds a fun connection for those of us from the Midwest. They are adventurous mysteries and just really enjoyable reads.

The Virgin of Small Plains - A young woman’s frozen body is found in a corn field. No one seems to know who she is or how she got there. She is christened by the town as the Virgin of Small Plains and over the years many people flock to her grave as it is said to have healing powers. Three teenagers’ lives changed dramatically the night the girl was found. Seventeen years later all those memories and secrets are brought back to life. Who is this girl and what happened that night so many years ago?

The Scent of Rain and Lightning - (Also made into a movie) A family saga/mystery set in Western Kansas. This story has a little bit of everything you would expect in a small town, western-type mystery. A wealthy family, a poor family, a villian and a murder. Jody was orphaned at three years old. Twenty three years later she finds out the man responsible for her father’s death is being released from prison. Now as an adult, Jody faces many questions; Is her mother still alive? Did Billy Crosby really kill her father? What happened all those years ago?

Bitter Harvest - Ann Rule - This is a true crime story about an affluent family that lived in Prairie Village, KS. The mother, Dr. Debora Green, was found guilty of killing some of her family members in a house fire and currently is in prison at the Topeka, KS Correctional Facility. While the story is tragic and sad, it is interesting to read with all the connections to the Kansas City area - But it could be in any Midwestern town. If you’re a true crime junkie, this is a good book for you. There is also a Lifetime movie about this story, but the book is much better!

For another great read by a Midwestern author, check out The Hive blog post called "Reading with Readers: Marcello's Promise, by Jane Coletti Perry, is inspired by true events and tells the heartfelt story of a loving husband’s promise to his wife for the American dream.

Have you read any Midwestern Gems (Reads) we shouldn't miss? There is a lot going on here in middle America!