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July 10, 2009 - July 30, 2009

Last contest period's winners each received a copy of THE DOOMSDAY KEY by James Rollins, FINGER LICKIN’ FIFTEEN by Janet Evanovich andKILLER SUMMER by Ridley Pearson

 

Margie
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 4 Stars
A book about the rape of a young girl...a disturbing subject and presentation, but very thought provoking. Well written, and good insight into the feelings of the characters. Could not put it down.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Death Before Wicket by Kerry Greenwood
Rating: 2 Stars
#10 in the Phryne Fisher series set in Australia. This one deals with cricket, the university, black magic, and ladies of th night. I did not enjoy this story, due to the fact that I do not understand cricket. And I find Phryne's obsession with men to be a little too much, at times. I do enjoy her astute power of observation that leads to the discovery of truth.
 
Marsha
The Love of Her Life by Harriet Evans
Rating: 4 Stars
An engaging tale of a young woman who must come to grips with a past event that nearly destroyed her. I approached this book with trepidation as chick lit is not my first choice. The cover did not engage me but I was engrossed in the story. It could have used a tighter edit but the characters are believable and interesting. Guilt can destroy relationships too quickly and this novel gives you plenty to think about.
 
Maureen H
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Rating: 5 Stars
What an enjoyable book. I love the characters and what a magical story. Excellent!
 
Julie H.
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 3 Stars
Pretty much everything you've come to expect from your summer Plum novel. Lula and Grandma Mazur team up to enter a BBQ contest in an effort to find a killer. Stephanie's working for Ranger part-time, helping to find out who has hacked into his security systems. She also has her normal amount of oddball skips to trace to keep Vinnie happy. The usual chaos ensues as cars blow up and her dad retreats into his easy chair with the paper. All is well in Trenton.
 
Ann Brim
The Manning Grooms by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the Manning brothers and the guy who almost married one of the Manning sisters find love and marriage in this easy to read book. Debbie Macomber has done it again. I loved the three "Manning" books.
 
GingerL
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
Rating: 1 Stars
I don't usually write in to WOM, but I feel compelled after reading this book. At the end, Lamb wrote something about how he had a contract for a book and no idea. I guess that's why he came up with this piece of junk.

It was long, disconnected, and wordy. It challenged the best reader's comprehension. 

As I often say about books I don't like, I want not my money back, but the time I invested reading the book. That is the case with this one. Since I liked Lamb's other work, I kept reading instead of just abandoning it, thinking it would improve. It didn't. He clearly wrote this one for the money. Don't waste your time.

 
Linda C.
Run For Your Life by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
Another 'edge of the seat' read from James Patterson. Fast read that I couldn't put down.
 
Linda C.
Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 5 Stars
I always expect a great mystery from this author, and I wasn't disappointed. It kept me hooked 'til the end.
 
Jane Squires
Chasing Charity by Marcia Gruver
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is about a western town and how oil people come in and change things. Of course, there is romance; but like real life, so many things happen before you find it. There are mothers protecting daughters and a woman left at the altar during her wedding while her groom runs off with her best friend. So much to read, and so interesting.
 
Shyeyes
8th Confession by James Patterson
Rating: 3 Stars
The Women's Murder Club is back at it on another adventure in San Francisco. This book seems fairly mild and slow moving for Patterson. It's fun getting to know the characters and their relationships, but something was just not captivating about this particular book in the series. I look forward to the next murder club installment.
 
Ann Brim
The Manning Brides by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 5 Stars
This is another of Debbie Macomber's great books. This one is about two brothers of the two girls in THE MANNING SISTERS. It is about the brothers and the women they marry. I always enjoy Debbie's books.
 
Lorna
The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond
Rating: 3 Stars
The story is about a six-year-old girl who is with her dad's fiancee on the beach. She looks away for a moment to take a picture and the girl is gone. The story revolves around what happens to the couple and the woman's search for the girl. She takes things in her own hands after the dad and the police close the case. To me, it became a bit long drawn and boring during her search. In the end, it's a bit unbelievable and kind of leaves you hanging.
 
Tara Fontenot ([email protected])
Dog On It: A Chet & Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn
Rating: 5 Stars
Loved this book. It's told from the dog's point of view. It is about a private detective hired to find a missing girl --- very "edge of your seat".
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Raisins and Almonds by Kerry Greenwood
Rating: 3 Stars
This is another installment of the Phryne Fisher series set in 1920s Australia, and this story centers on Jews and Zionism. Also mentioned is alchemy and the importance of new chemical compounds. The title refers to a Yiddish lullaby and plays a part in solving the mystery. Greenwood delves a little into the embattled history of the homeless Jewish nation and their quest for a home (possibly in Palestine) and their constant misery by many countries, the newest being Hitler. The story is interesting and the thesis for murder parallels the story of Cain and Abel.
 
T. Thomas
Pursuit by Karen Robards
Rating: 3 Stars
Not one of her better efforts.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Hog Wild by Cathy Pickens
Rating: 3 Stars
In this 3rd installment of the Southern Fried series set in South Carolina, Avery has a full plate with many "would-be" clients. Following the Southern tradition of quirky characters and homespun humor, the story also highlights the plight of nature against humans. Avery and the town of Dacus reel under the discovery of three murders, and the sighting of Bambi, a pig running amok. Pickens's story is a gentle mystery, devoid of graphic corpses and graphic sex. The tale is one that could be read aloud and no one would blush. A refreshing look at life as seen in "Mayberry".
 
Hedi Hopwood
The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Rating: 3 Stars
This is nothing more than a movie script. It will sure be a good horror film; however, I would not call this a vampire-themed book, it is more like zombies and /or aliens. Vampires do not have "stingers/worms" --- a bit too many of these zombies running around to keep track of in the book, but the movie will need all these characters to make it last more than an hour.
 
Fran
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful, historical fiction novel depicting the life of Anne Boleyn, through the eyes of her sister, Mary Boleyn. The dynamic of both women being involved and competing for the love of King Henry VIII was fascinating. I love the contrast between the sisters and how they viewed things. Once again, I am enthralled by the way Philippa Gregory entwines history with some embellishments to make for a great read!
 
Hedi Hopwood ([email protected])
Fragment by Warren Lahey
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this book in one sitting on a Saturday afternoon, while relaxing on the deck in beautiful Cape Cod. After Michael Crichton died, I did not think we would see this kind of material again. It is well written, but the only thing that is the same is that it is set on an island, as was JURASSIC PARK. However, from that point on, it is its own great adventure. Far superior to THE STRAIN.
 
Stephanie
Wicked Prey by John Sandford
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the latest installment of the Lucas Davenport series. The Republican convention is in town, as is a very clever but violent gang intent on robbing the lobbyists of their "giveaway" money and the partygoers of their expensive jewelry. At the same time, Davenport's ward --- soon-to-be-adopted daughter, Letty --- has her own set of problems. An ex-con, now a paraplegic who blames Davenport for his condition, decides he will kidnap Letty to pay Davenport back. Not to mention a not-too-bright shooter is in town with a 50-caliber rifle.... 

A very good read if you are a fan of the series. Enjoy!

 
Lori L.
The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 4 Stars
This one had a lot of twists and turns and really keeps you guessing. A great read that you won't want to put down till you've read it all.
 
Louise
Twelve Across by Barbara Delinsky
Rating: 4 Stars
Haven't read Barbara Delinsky for awhile and was in the mood, so I just picked the top one off the pile, and this was it. 



While certainly not her best work, it was an easy, enjoyable, heartwarming read. I always hate to give any of the plot away, so I'll just say that this book features Leah Gates, somewhat of a lonely, tragic woman. When one more bad thing happens (losing her home), her best friend comes to her rescue with a place to stay...or is it everything it seems??

 
Marsha
In the Kitchen by Monica Ali
Rating: 3 Stars
This novel is ripe for a soap opera. While she tries to address a myriad of problems--illegal immigration, mental illness, hotel kitchen woes, etc., we sort of get lost in the mix. Lots of fodder for discussion but I wish she could have written in a more engaging fashion.
 
CK
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Rating: 5 Stars
A really good page-turner about sisters who were enjoying a good life in China right before the Japanese invaded in 1937. Their lives are drastically changed by arranged marriages, leaving home and adapting to living in the Los Angeles Chinatown.Gripping plot. Engaging characters. Picturesque settings. 
Ms See has written another good one!!!



 
Marisa
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
Rating: 5 Stars
I typically associate Daphne du Maurier with Rebecca. MY COUSIN RACHEL was equally as enjoyable and extremely well written. This is nuanced mystery writing at its best. The book, written in 1951, holds up extremely well. Philip's beloved older cousin and father-figure Ambrose travels to Italy for his health and marries Philip's distant and unknown cousin Rachel. Ambrose dies and Philip attaches mysterious connotations to the death. Cousin Rachel travels to Cornwall to meet Philip who falls in love with her, mysteries and all. Did Rachel kill Ambrose? Is Rachel merely after the money? This is a timeless classic.
 
Marisa
Pompeii by Robert Harris
Rating: 5 Stars
Young Marcus Attilias is sent from Rome to Pompeii to oversee the amazing ancient Roman aqueduct system. Strange happenings ensue: the man who used to oversee the aqueduct system has disappeared, earthquakes keep rumbling through the area, and the aqueduct has stopped running. You know what happens next: Mt. Vesuvias blows its top and Pompeii is buried. Does young Attilias survive? And does he perhaps find love along the way? This was such an interesting read that is so well written, you'll feel the temblors and smell the ash in the air. A great story of Ancient Rome.
 
Jill
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Rating: 5 Stars
What a warm and fuzzy book. Highly recommended for dog lovers, as this story is told through the eyes of Enzo, an endearing doggie companion. He relates the trials and joys of his family and ultimately, his true feelings about life and death. I can't wait to read it again with my book club.
 
Lori L.
Dead Before Dark by Wendy Corsi Staub
Rating: 4 Stars
Interesting plot line and very nice pace. It did call for quite a bit of suspension of reality as some parts of it just cry out, "Really???" "She/He would really do that????" But even with those parts, this is a fast paced, well characterized read with enough twists and turns to keep you interested.
 
Crystal
Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 5 Stars
Another winner! A good mystery with plenty of suspense thrown in for good measure.
 
Peggy
Echoes by Danielle Steel
Rating: 4 Stars
Echoes is a story about war, peace and love. The story begins with WWI and for bidden love. Continues on with the next generation and WWII. A mother's love, a daughter's courage, an unwavering faith and the fight for freedom.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Done Gone Wrong by Cathy Pickens
Rating: 3 Stars
This is the second in the Southern Fried series set in Charleston, SC. I read the first Southern Fried, many years ago, and thought the novel was too corny. This second novel is more sophisticated. All the crazy Southern characters make an appearance in the story, as well as the crazy Southern weather. This story's central theme of pharmaceutical research and testing is interesting and scary. Cathy Pickens is an entertaining writer.
 
Bonnie
At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream by Wade Rouse
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm chuckling a lot at this "memoir" of Rouse and his partner's move to Saugatuck, Michigan from St. Louis in order to try to live as Thoreau did at Walden Pond. To be sure, Saugatuck isn't cracker country...it's a major city for gays. But Rouse tells some great tales of his communing, or lack of, with nature. These are city boys used to Starbucks, facials, and Italian shoes. Living in the middle of nowhere in the midst of trees and turkeys presents some interesting conundrums and Rouse has the acerbic wit to make it fun for the reader.
 
Phyllis
Getting Out of The House by Isla Dewar
Rating: 4 Stars
English chick lit. Interesting story of Nora, her family and friends.
 
Donnita Jensen
Children of God by vardis fisher
Rating: 5 Stars
This book about the Mormon beginnings is exquisitely written. It is as timely as when it was written and was awarded the prestigious Harper Prize for literature.
 
Jan Berg ([email protected])
Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 5 Stars
One of those that before you start make sure you don't have a lot else going on because it's hard to put down. Mary Higgins Clark at her usual best.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
In the saga of 44 Scotland Street, Bertie tells of his mother and the Doctor, who his baby brother resembles. Bertie is still struggling with his mother's dominance, Love comes and goes with Matthew and Pat, as well as love for Lou, Angus, and Bruce. I enjoy the easy banter of Smith, and his belief that the past held such kind and generous times. Of course, Smith hides his preaching under the guise of a simple story. But no matter, the love of country is always part of the story. I am still waiting for Bruce to receive his due; he always seems to land on his feet.
 
T. Thomas
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
Possibly the best Stephanie Plum so far.
 
Jean M
Turning Angel by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
Very suspenseful read. Sex, murder, politics, what more could you ask for?
 
Jean M.
Cloris by Cloris Leachman
Rating: 4 Stars
Very interesting, quick read.
 
Joyce Blume ([email protected])
Fire Prayer by Deborah Turrell Atkinson
Rating: 4 Stars
Third in a mystery series featuring Storm Kayama, a lawyer in Hawaii and the best so far. The culture and the locations are very much a part of the story with some folklore and history thrown in. Handy glossary in the back of each for the Hawaiian words. My Hawaiian in-laws also like this series.
 
Linda B.
The Enemy Stalks by Betty Sullivan La Pierre
Rating: 5 Stars
Hawkman retreated to a tiny village in California after the death of his wife and an eye injury that shortened his career at the agency where he worked as a spy. Now, his cover has been blown and some one wants him dead.
 
Marsha
The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips
Rating: 5 Stars
If you are looking for a skillful blend of history and mystery, this is for you. The novel moves from the 17th century story of a women doctor struggling the practice of her craft and investigating murders to a visiting American professor at Cambridge who uncovers a mystery that sends her looking at the doctor's diary. There is a bit of romance thrown in but politics at court and on campus haven't changed much.
 
T. Thomas
Lavender Morning by Jude Deveraux
Rating: 4 Stars
Very good romance with some mystery thrown in.
 
Sharon
And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
Rating: 4 Stars
A good book for casual reading. A woman marries in order to avoid her over-bearing mother. Her husband goes to Africa to hunt and dies. Or does he? And why is she finding herself in love with her dead husband?
 
Carol
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was much better than I anticipated it to be. The characters draw you in. Very enjoyable book.
 
Margie
Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos
Rating: 4 Stars
This book got me hooked from the first page. Interesting characters, showing how a friendship can bring someone back from a tragic situation.
 
Pat ([email protected])
The Cheater by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
Rating: 4 Stars
I always enjoy her books. This is one of her best--a woman serial killer and a judge who has made poor personal choices. An excellent read!
 
Peyton
Sleeping With Schubert by Bonnie Marson
Rating: 5 Stars
I finished this book weeks ago and keep thinking about it. I love the premise - A woman gets inhabited by the spirit of the late composer Franz Schubert. The story is beautifully executed with memorable characters and surprises. It's funny and thought-provoking at the same time.
 
Ana Marie
Sole Survivor by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
Finally got around to reading this book and I am glad I did! It is about a horrific plane crash where no one could have possible survived. But someone did and now the husband and father of two little girls on that airplane believes that one of his little girls may be alive! But where is she and why is someone following his every move? It is another of Mr. Koontz's great reads.
 
Ann Brim
The Manning Sisters by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 5 Stars
Can't go wrong with a Debbie Macomber book. This is about two sisters from the city that fall in love with a rancher and sheriff from Montana. Easy to read and keeps you interested. Great!!
 
Steve Barbich IV ([email protected])
The Syndrome by John Case
Rating: 5 Stars
I just discovered John Case and after three books I'm very impressed! A lot of action, hard to put down story! If you haven't read John Case yet, pick up THE SYNDROME and you will be hooked!
 
Steve Barbich IV ([email protected])
The Lion's Game by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 5 Stars
I didn't know what to expect when I started reading DeMille. After reading THE LION'S GAME, I can honestly say I love this book! It has everything: action, lots of humor, and a great story line! (And its a long book which I like a lot!) I can't wait to get the next one!
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood
Rating: 3 Stars
In this #6 of the Phryne Fisher series set in 1920's Australia, Phryne leaves her life of comfort and luxury, to join the circus. Greenwood does an excellent job of explaining the circus hierarchy and rules. The story also deals in gang wars, as Greenwood comments on the happenings of the 1920's in Chicago. Of course, John Dellinger's reign was the 1930's. As always, Phryne-posing as Fern, a bare back horse rider, finds romance with a gypsy and a clown. Greenwood presents two striking women: Lizard Elsie and Miss Parkes; and a wet-behind the ear, novice constable named Tommy Harris. This is an interesting story of the circus, but not as detailed as WATER FOR ELEPHANTS.
 
Steve Barbich IV ([email protected])
The Sign by Raymond Khoury
Rating: 5 Stars
I liked his first two books (I'd say 4 stars for each) but this book took it to the next level! I know they always say "Hard to put down" but this book really was hard to put down! I couldn't wait to see what happens next!
 
Steve IV ([email protected])
True Detectives by Jonthan Kellerman
Rating: 3 Stars
The one thing I did not like about this book was the way Kellerman went on and on about what everyone was wearing! I don't mind a small overview but not every single detail every time someone changed. I found myself skimming (which I hate to do). Otherwise it had a good story line (still worth reading!)
 
Margie
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Rating: 5 Stars
Definitely a must-read. Amazing to see what the efforts of one person can do (Dr Paul Farmer, as he runs his clinic in Haiti)
 
Wanda J. Thomas
The Girls From Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow
Rating: 5 Stars
I enjoyed reading about the friendship of these women that lasted 40 years and could relate to this because I have three women with whom I've been friends for the last 50 years. We, too, have been through many of the issues these women went through and our friendship has lasted. Great read!
 
Andrew
The Evolutionary Glitch by Albert Garoli
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a most amazing book yet unfortunately not yet well known. The challenging self-help approach makes you really face your problems and convictions head on but going through the recommendations and exercises provides a truly enlightening experience. I recommend this to anyone!
 
Jean
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Rating: 5 Stars
A new mystery series centered around an 11 year old sleuth, Flavia, in 1950 England. Cozy, entertaining, fast moving! A Dagger Award winner.
 
Jean
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 4 Stars
As usual, a delight! It's fun to spend time with zany Stephanie Plum and the even zanier people she hangs out with. Guaranteed fun read!
 
Kellie ([email protected])
Downtown by Anne Rivers Siddons
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved the excitement Smoky felt about her first real job and the glamor of Atlanta at the beginning of this book. I could relate. I remember my first "real" job and how exciting it was to work "downtown". And that song played through my head as I read the book. Siddons has been known to add a dark side to her novels, however, this one did not have it. It is an early work. Siddons sometimes gets a little too wordy and this was no exception. So, I just skimmed through some of the detail. I think this was an exceptional work by Siddons. I felt like I went back in time and was right in the middle of the hoppin' southern city of Atlanta. She did a fantastic job describing what was happening at this time during the 60's. I was fascinated. The story was about Smoky. She gets a job in Atlanta working for a magazine called "Downtown". She is an Irish Catholic girls who was brought up with the strict rules of the Catholic Church. Her life is ahead and at first she is controlled by her upbringing. But the changing times of the 60's seem to change her and the life she is excited about living. And the magazine is a part of the change. She is right in the middle of Atlanta during one of the most radical times of the century. I remember reading some of this author's earlier works and fell in love with them. This was another great one with a somewhat surprising ending. I highly recommend this author!
 
Dusty Johnson
Black Mass by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill
Rating: 4 Stars
This book tells the true story of the alliance between the FBI and the Irish Mob in Boston. The book tells of the relationship between John Connoly and others in the Boston FBI Organized Crime Unit Whitey Bulger and Stephen Flemmi. Very interesting read.
 
Steve Barbich IV ([email protected])
Medusa by Clive Cussler
Rating: 4 Stars
I've always liked kicking back with a Cussler book! Its kind of along the lines of his other books but that's ok, its a fun read.
 
Louise
The Ugly Duckling by Iris Johansen
Rating: 5 Stars
I don't recall reading Iris Johansen before, but realizing she is a popular author, I picked this book up at a yard sale. I certainly got my dollar's worth, as I enjoyed it a lot.



The book's title fits into the plot in several ways but, primarily, because of the heroine's homeliness as she is growing up. Her mother constantly told her she would never turn into a swan. Her mother was wrong.



You'll have to read the book, though, to find out how and why it happened.

 
Marsha
Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst
Rating: 3 Stars
If you are a fan of WATERSHIP DOWN or CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR, perhaps this is the book for you. It is the first of a trilogy that takes us 14,000 years ago when wolves and the humans shared the world and vied for food. It's a mythical tale that details the relationship and bonds shared by them.
 
Kim S.
The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos
Rating: 4 Stars
Written in the language of the streets, Pelecanos relates the story of the investigation of the death of Asa Johnson. Asa's body was found in a local community garden and the crime is remarkably similar to three unsolved serial killings, from a twenty-year-old case, that detective Gus Ramone remembers all too clearly. The past becomes quickly intertwined with the future dragging the original, now retired, lead detective T. C. Cook and Ramone's ex partner "Doc" Holiday back into Ramone's life. These three vastly different men have one soul purpose, to catch the killer with or without each other.



George Pelecanos has the uncanny ability to drop the reader in the middle of a brutal crime and the stark reality of eastern Washington D.C's streets, peopled with gangs, drug dealers, and prostitutes, and humanize it; he deftly interweaves the stories of all those involved from the victims, their families, and the neighborhood kids, to the perpetrators and the investigating police officers. 



The gritty streets, violence, and stark language are what are expected but the careful construction of all of the characters, their home lives, work environments, and just the background noise of everyday life are the extras that Pelecanos delivers. It is a crime novel that becomes much larger than the crime, tackling issues of race, identity, and choice. If you are looking for a conventional crime novel, one that's neatly tied up, this isn't it. It is a compelling, very well written story that will have you tracking down more books by George Pelecanos as soon as you set this one down.

 
Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])
Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli
Rating: 3 Stars
I loved watching "One Day at a Time" and always thought Valerie Bertinelli was beautiful. I realized she wed Eddie Van Halen, a rocker, at a young age. I had no idea about the rocker and rocky life that she lead. An easy and quick read, but I wish Bertinelli had held back some. She is willing to put it ALL out there - and she did.
 
Bonnie
Lima Nights by Marie Arana
Rating: 3 Stars
A novel about sexual obsession, though, ultimately just sad.
 
Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])
East of the Sun by Julia Gregson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the story of three women who travel from England to India during the turbulent 1920s when India's and England's relations were in flux. Rose is going to get married to a soldier she met at a party in England the year before. Tor is accompanying Rose and will be Rose's maid of honor. Viva is hired as a traveling companion for Tor and Rose and also is hired just before embarking to be a traveling companion for a expelled 16-year old boy returning to his parents for the first time in 10 years. Each of the women has distinct personalities which portends the resulting relationships with men. Each woman has secrets she wishes to keep deeply buried. Well-written. Easy read. Definitely a page turner.
 
Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])
"I" is for Innocent by Sue Grafton
Rating: 3 Stars
Kinsey Milhone's ninth adventure does not disappoint. She is asked to pick up the pieces of a colleague who dies suddenly from an apparent heart attack. Millhone is puzzled by holes she discovers in the colleagues work left for her. With her usual thoroughness, Kinsey soon finds herself working on multiple crimes with a common person. Grafton always writes a good tight mystery. This does not disappoint.
 
Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])
A Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion
Rating: 3 Stars
My first Joan Didion fiction. The story is told by a friend of Charlotte. Charlotte's daughter is missing, having joined revolutionary forces in a fictional Caribbean country. Charlotte seems to be in stupor while searching for her daughter. Charlotte is harassed by her ex-husband. Didion's writing doesn't follow a chronological frame. As a result, I felt as lost as Charlotte in a foreign country. Her writing style took an adjustment on my part, but I look forward to re-reading this work or reading other novels by Ms. Didion.
 
Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])
Hands of My Father by Myron Uhlberg
Rating: 5 Stars
Children's author Myron Uhlberg recalls his childhood as the child and interpreter for his deaf parents. As any child, he did not appreciate something that made him different. As any child, when interpreting for his father meant telling on himself, he lied. With obvious love, Uhlberg tells stories about the young boy who sometimes was the adult for his parents in the hearing world, but he also was guardian and protector for his younger brother who had epilepsy. I relished the story of young Myron interpreting Jack Dempsey fights for his father (heard over the radio). Answering questions that seemingly don't have answers for his parents (what sound is blue?). A simple read that tells a story of complex people and situations.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
The Green Mill Murder by Kerry Greenwood
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a Phryne Fisher series set in 1920's Australia, about a lady detective. In this adventure, Phryne witnesses a murder at a dance contest. This leads to information about the Jazz Age, WWI, the mountains of Scotland, and airplanes. Of course, Phryne must have her lovers: one of the jazz players and a shell-shock victim of WWI. Homosexuality is also discussed and the penalties for openly admitting to be "gay". These stories are a reminder of how much social attitudes have changed. I am a little upset with Phryne's constant change of bed partners--makes her appear too fickle.
 
Rowena Cherry
Anna Mae Mysteries: The Golden Treasure by L.S. Cauldwell
Rating: 5 Stars
Parents and teachers will love THE ANNA MAE MYSTERIES: THE GOLDEN TREASURE by L.S.Cauldwell



Ms. Cauldwell writes with a voice that speaks to the rich imagination of a child. A ten year old child's mind plays tricks. She fears dark places in buildings where the grown-ups are not, because she believes in ghosts and apparitions, and squeaking, creaking things that could be a monster spider's joints. Yet, she yearns to find buried treasure, or to make headlines in a good way, or to improvise and solve a mystery. One example of masterly "childlike" problem solving is the use of coat hangers as divining rods...



Dowsing is such a cool thing for children! Vivid images strike a chord in my memory, and linger in my mind such as the phantom fist, the schoolyard bully, the horror in the air ducts, the dusty, thirsty hard work of digging in the fruit cellar... for buried gold.



It's "real", it's delightfully scary in the way of all good and gripping page-turners, but it's not frightening. Perhaps Ms. Cauldwell's writing is so believable, and so immediate because this author pays attention to details - such as the ring on fourth finger of ghostly black fist. Parents and teachers will love Cauldwell's writing, too, not only because the children will be immediately engaged by the mystery, but because of the tie-in with history, including Jefferson Davis and Georgia's exciting past.



L.S. Cauldwell is a splendid storyteller, and my child and I are eagerly looking forward to the next gripping tale in the series!


 
Kathleen ([email protected])
The Urban Hermit by Sam Macdonald
Rating: 4 Stars
This quick read came out late in 2008 but I just discovered it. The book was very engaging and funny. Anyone who has ever been broke and/or overweight should be able to relate to Sam's issues. Basically Sam becomes so mired in debt that he decides to live on $8 worth of food a week. In come the lentils and off come 160 lbs. Sam's not a saint nor a weight loss genius but he is a funny writer who tells a good story about becoming lost in the 90's and finding his way.
 
Lynn
Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
Rating: 4 Stars
TALLGRASS is a historical novel about a family in rural Colorado during World War II when a Japanese internment camp was set up down the road from them. The story is told through the eyes of the 13-year old daughter of the family. It makes you examine your prejudices and is a great coming-of-age story.
 
Sunnie
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Rating: 5 Stars
Like everyone else I know, I loved this book about the developing relationships through letters between residents of the village of Guernsey and a London author after WWII. I liked every one of them and would love to join them for tea.
 
Sunnie
Handbags and Homicide by Dorothy Howell
Rating: 1 Stars
I was so excited to receive this book from Kensington Press and so disappointed in it! I cannot enjoy a book where I don't like the main character - and I couldn't stand Haley Randolph. She is a snob, dishonest with everyone in her life, extremely materialistic and immature.



It is supposed to be a murder mystery, and indeed there IS a murder committed toward the beginning of the book, but Howell is more focused on describing Haley's shopping habits for anything Designer-Gucci, Prada, her Notorious purse, Louis Vuitton organizer...which she buys though cannot afford, and the poor guy "wearing an obvious JC Penney suit" and the poor co-worker who wore a suit she purchased off the sale rack at the store they both work in than elaborating on the circumstances of the murder. I actually found myself skimming through the last 1/3 of the book.


As for what little plot there was, there was little suspense and I found it hard to hang in there until the murderer was caught. Wait. Did I say murder? Ohhh that's right-- there WAS a murder committed. I nearly forgot.

 
Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])
The Trouble with Poetry: And Other Poems by Billy Collins
Rating: 5 Stars
I love Billy Collins. Even if you think you don't like poetry, give Billy Collins a try. His droll humor reminds me of Bob Newhart. He even looks a bit like Newhart. The poems are easy to read and understand. My favorite is about a boy who makes a lanyard as a gift for his mother feeling the lanyard's value is equal to everything the mother has given the boy throughout his life. Any parent will appreciate this poem.
 
Marcia Pullin
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 3 Stars
Wonderful author, good book, but...this particular moral issue has been so thoroughly discussed, lectured about, and just generally hashed over already that I was expecting some new angle or line of thought from the author. Instead, the thoughts and feelings of the characters seemed as familiar to me (and as well worn) as an old pair of slippers.
 
Carol
Lavender Morning by Jude Deveraux
Rating: 5 Stars
Deveraux delivers again. She writes some of the best romance stories. This one is set in contemporary times and is the start of a series. Yeah!
 
Pattie Berryhill ([email protected])
Fault Line by Barry Eisler
Rating: 4 Stars
Kept my interest throughout. Interesting dynamics between Alex and Ben.
 
Judy O. ([email protected])
Driftwood Summer by Patti Callahan Henry
Rating: 4 Stars
Riley Sheffield and her mother, Kitsy, run a book store in a small town in low-country Georgia. The book store is in financial trouble; and Driftwood Cottage, the home of the book store, is planning a 1 week celebration to commemorate its 200th year birthday. Riley's two sisters have come back to help with the festivities because Kitsy has fallen and injured herself. There follows the revealing of many lifetime secrets and loves. Very predictable story, but mostly engrossing.
 
Barbara
Life Support by Robert Whitlow
Rating: 4 Stars
A good book. Whitlow is a new author for me, but I will read more of his books.
 
Lynn
Hands of My Father by Myron Uhlberg
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful memoir of a young hearing boy, born during the Depression, and his deaf parents. He truly loved and cared for them even as he found his life quite challenging. It's a remarkable story and I will never look at the world of the deaf in quite the same way again. Very moving.
 
Debi
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
Rating: 4 Stars
Told through the point of view of a fifteen-year-old, this YA novel will keep you turning the pages! Set in Florida after WWII, Evie and her family are on vacation when she unfortunately sees her parents as the weak people they are. I highly recommend this for all readers.
 
Grace
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful, heartwarming tale of a family written from their dogs point of view. I loved it!!
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
This is #3 of the 44 Scotland Street series set in Edinburgh, Scotland. This one is hilarious--with Bertie left behind in Paris, Domenica in the Malacca Straits, Stuart and Matt asking Lard to help Lou, and many other adventures with the people from Scotland Street. As with the #1 Ladies Detective series, Smith does a gentle preaching about the woes of society, but no matter what--the bottom line is love for country. I love the mention of music, literature, and art work throughout the story. And I am dying to eat roasted tomatoes and mushrooms with olive oil. Of course, I love Bertie and his adventures.
 
Sharon Elliott-Fox
Hannah's Dream by Diane Hammond
Rating: 5 Stars
Educational-- Fun-- poignant--delightful-- just enough tension to keep one interested.
 
Christy ([email protected])
Posed For Murder by Meredith Cole
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the authors first mystery novel, and its EXCELLENT! I wish I was a writer so I could write my review as well as she wrote the book. As soon as I started to read the first chapter, I was drawn into the characters, and they came alive in my mind. The story just keeps you reading and it flows until the end, when you're sad the book is done. Looking forward to book two by Meredith!
 
Grace
Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
Rating: 4 Stars
A highly entertaining thriller!!!
 
Grace
The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 4 Stars
A father searches for his missing teenage daughter. I couldn't put it down!
 
Marcia Pullin
Wicked Prey by John Sandford
Rating: 5 Stars
I never tire of Lucas Davenport et al: Harrowing stories with a wonderfully flawed for the 21st century. The tales are gritty, with painstakingly planned plots, terrifyingly realistic.
 
Marcia Pullin
The Cheater by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
Rating: 4 Stars
Unrelenting suspense!! Rosenberg shows us at our horrifying worst without having to take a single step outside of our normal day-to-day living. This one sweeps you away on the first page, and it doesn't let go.
 
Julie
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Rating: 5 Stars
This novel brings the 1893 Chicago World's Fair to life and weaves a story of a serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. There are a great many historical facts intertwined into the story as well.
 
Lynn
The Widow's War by Sally Gunning
Rating: 4 Stars
Set in 1761, this tells the story of Lyddie Berry, a whaler's wife in Massachusetts. She is widowed when he dies at sea. She is then put at the mercy of the laws of the time as a widow - laws that she cannot abide. Under the control of her son-in-law, she challenges the laws and customs of the day.
 
Cynthia Plaza-Harney
A Time to Kill by John Grisham
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of John Grishams first books and I'm a bit behind in reading his books. I'm just so glad I read it. It is about a 10 year old black girl being raped by two white men in the state of Mississippi and how her father took the law in his hand to kill them. You take to believe that what he did is wrong but when you read the book and how people from KKK do the same, you seem to understand why the father does it. I am sure this was made into a movie. I would say read the book, you will enjoy it too.
 
Judy Wearing ([email protected])
Heaven is Small by Emily Schultz
Rating: 5 Stars
Nobody does metaphors like Emily Schultz. I still miss Heaven is Small's protagonist, Gordon Small. He's a bit like Larry (Larry's Party, Carol Shields) except more endearing...and dead. Schultz did many things with this novel: she created a quirky world of corpses that is somehow believable and intriguing, she took the brief few seconds that separate life from death/ waking from sleep and expanded them into a lifetime, she reminded me of the miracle of defecation at the same time as instilling creepy imagery of what dead employees do after hours, and she made wicked fun of romance novels and office culture (which had me laughing out loud). The only negative thing I can say about the book is that Schultz seemed to chose language sometimes purely because of its beauty or wit, with the result that it occasionally detracted from a sentence rather than adding to it. A truly entertaining read!
 
Julie H.
Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
Rating: 3 Stars
Great memoir type novel of a woman named Julie, who has spent her twenties temping through NYC. She accepts a permanent secretarial position at a government agency after 9/11, then finds out just before she's turning thirty that it will be difficult to have kids. With husband Eric on board as co-eater, she hatches a plan to write a blog about her year-long commitment to making all of Julia Child's recipes in the cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
 
Benita Glickman ([email protected])
The Cross-Country Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini
Rating: 5 Stars
This novel is about a group of women that meet at a quilting camp. It takes the reader through their different lives and shares through the relationships they formed at the club. It's easy, light reading and most interesting. A fun read!
 
T. Thomas
The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet by Reif Larsen
Rating: 3 Stars
I finally finished this book. I know it has gotten great reviews, but I don't know why.
 
Monnie Bayles ([email protected])
Trouble by Jesse Kellerman
Rating: 3 Stars
I enjoyed it.
 
Doro ([email protected])
Golden Country by Jennifer Gilmore
Rating: 2 Stars
Sounded like my type of book--saga, etc. But the people are hard to like and the story is "way out there". A major disappointment.
 
Brenda Klaassen
Mercury in Retrograde by Paula Froelich
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a delight to read. Just the right balance of fun and yet serious life.
 
Kitty Szaro ([email protected])
Kitty Raises Hell by Carrie Vaughn
Rating: 5 Stars
Part of an entertaining series that deals with werewolves and vampires in its own way. This book, like all the rest in the series, was hard to put down cause you just couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next and what was really going on. Full of interesting characters and a delightful plot, with an ending that always leaves you waiting for the next installment.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
In this newest installment, Precious and Grace have many problems. For Precious the demise of little white van, and the purchase of the automatic, used blue van is not easy medicine to swallow. Grace must deal with the "Jezebel" Violet, when Violet tries to win over Phuti. Of course, Precious discovers just how much she loves JLB when he is late one night. Besides these personal problems, the detective agency must discover why the local football team is losing. Smith does a wonderful job in his understanding of women and love of one's country, and he inserts a little preaching in every book. I like the way that Smith shows the evils, but in a gentle way, and stating that there is always temptation, and no one is excluded.
 
Kathy C
Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver
Rating: 4 Stars
A fast and scary story about identity theft. Makes you want to shred every credit card and dump your internet access.
 
Monnie Bayles
Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 5 Stars
I enjoy most anything this author writes.
 
Gina
Die For You by Lisa Unger
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a mystery, suspense and philosophy
story. A woman's husband disappears and it turns out that he was not whom he said he was. The wife is determined to find him and find out why he was living the double life. 



Lisa Unger is an amazing talent.

 
Merle
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Rating: 5 Stars
Incredible story about early onset Alzheimer's told by the person who has it.
You can't put it down.

 
Marsha
Inheritance by Natalie Danford
Rating: 5 Stars
How well do we know our parents? Do we only know what they reveal to us? This gem of a book recounts the quest of a daughter to travel to Urbino, Italy in search of her father's past. The chapters are told in alternating voices of father and daughter as the story unravels. Good choice for a book club.
 
Ann Brim
The Best is Yet to Come by Judith Gould
Rating: 5 Stars
A successful florist finds out her husband who dies from a heart attack has led a double life with another woman. Also, the ins and outs of owning and growing a business. Very good read.
 
Linda White
A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire
Rating: 3 Stars
I only give this three stars because I did not like it as much as the two earlier books in this series. I certainly did not expect him to leave the story of the family of Elphaba and turn to the cowardly lion for his next book. I think the overall problem was that the lion was not a great character, like Elphaba. We felt compassion and sympathy for the Wicked Witch, but the lion comes across as bungling and sad. I was much more interested in the story of the girl and that was far too sketchy, especially given that we find out she is a major character from the first book. The book is set up to be a story of the lion, but really is the story of the search for The Grimmerie, and finally some satisfaction was gained at that point. It's just not as good as the first two, but still a good story and deals with some items from the earlier books in an interesting way. Really seems like it was just a way to get some things wrapped up, but I still hope that Maguire comes across with a sequel that deals with the baby at the end of book two.
 
Jay F.
Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy
Rating: 3 Stars
A bit choppier than her other books, a collection of stories revolving around a new highway. Had a bit of trouble keeping it together. I listened to this on audio -- you have to love the Irish accents from the female readers.
 
Sue, Saratoga
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
Very funny rendering of the classic story with a twist! I was laughing at certain parts, even though the idea is absurd. A light read, especially for the summer.
 
Ann Brim
Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji
Rating: 4 Stars
This was about young people in Tehran, their view of the government, their families and romances. Took me awhile to get into it but really enjoyed it over all. Much to think about especially their view of America was interesting.
 
Cindy in CA
Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
Rating: 4 Stars
Thoroughly entertaining story about thirty-one-year-old, Valentine Roncalli, apprentice to her grandmother, a talented shoe maker. Grandma and Valentine leave their Greenwich Village shop/home and travel to Italy (Tuscany, Naples, & Island of Capri) to learn new techniques and find unique materials to make handmade shoes to beat their rivals. Ahhh, but some secrets are discovered along the way.
 
Linda H. ([email protected])
Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein
Rating: 3 Stars
Assistant District Attorney Alex Cooper is assisting Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace in the investigation of a break-in of a young librarian's house. When the woman disappears and is later found murdered, the investigation takes another twist. This book involves the world of priceless books and maps collected by wealthy individuals and bequeathed to the New York Public Library.
 
Linda H. ([email protected])
Breakneck by Erica Spindler
Rating: 4 Stars
Mary Catherine Riggio, better known as M.C., and her partner Kitt Lundgren are detectives with the Rockford Police Department. As they investigate the death of a murdered student, they find that he was a computer geek but there is no computer in sight. Several weeks later, M.C.'s fiance is murdered outside the apartment complex of her cousin. His death is followed by the murder of her cousin. Each of the murders was carried out in a professional manner leading the police and the F.B.I. to assume the murders were carried out by a hit man. They felt that the students were hackers and had found something they shouldn't have. As M.C. and Kitt follow through on the investigations, they are pitted against each other and Kitt believes that M.C. is too emotionally involved to carry out her duty. A good book.
 
Linda H. ([email protected])
Cross Country by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
When Alex Cross and his friend, Detective Bree Stone investigate a murder of a whole family, Alex finds that the murdered wife is a friend from college days. As they are investigating the crime scene, a boy calls out that he saw the whole thing and acted as a lookout. But he runs away before he can be apprehended. As murders of whole families continue in the D.C. area, Alex and Bree feel there is more to it that randomness. As Alex learns more and decides to apprehend the lead killer known as Tiger, he chases him across the Atlantic to Africa. But here, being a NY police officer doesn't cut it. He is on his own. You can't beat James Patterson for sheer suspense.
 
Cindy in CA
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Rating: 5 Stars
What a delightful book! The story begins in January of 1946 in London and takes you to the island of Guernsey. WWII has ended and the German occupation is over. This is the story of writer, Juliet, who sets out to write a book about the people she befriends on Guernsey.
 
Kay
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Rating: 5 Stars
Story of women in China and their place in their societal world. Very graphic descriptions of foot binding and place it has in arranged marriages. Excellent story, I couldn't put it down.
 
Renee
Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd
Rating: 5 Stars
Wonderful Historical novel of Ireland.


 
Monnie Bayles
Intent to Kill by James Grippando
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this book very much.
 
Phyllis
The Women: A Novel by T.C. Boyle
Rating: 4 Stars
The stories of the wives and lovers of Frank Lloyd Wright. The book gives an interesting view of Frank Lloyd Wright and his tumultuous relationships.
 
Phyllis
The Shimmer by David Morrell
Rating: 4 Stars
The Rostov Lights draw people to the viewing area in a small Texas town. The lights magnify people's feelings - for good or bad. Add a government conspiracy to harness the lights as a weapon and you have a good summer thriller.
 
Sue B.
Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a wonderful story about the bond between humans and the animals that depend on us. Set in 18th century England when little was known about elephants outside of their natural habitat, 12 year old Tom is given the job of caring for two young elephants purchased by Tom's wealthy employer. Tom's dedication to keeping his charges safe and healthy is admirable, and the love that he shares with these magnificent creatures, and they with him, is heartwarming.
 
Marion Miller ([email protected])
Mr. Pip by LLoyd Jones
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a most unusual book. It takes you to a remote Island in New Zealand where a resident of the Island teaches the children about Charles Dickens and Pip.
 
Barbara S.
Under the Radar by Fern Michaels
Rating: 4 Stars
UNDER THE RADAR is a new book in The Sisterhood series in which the "vigilantes" take on the leader of a polygamist group. 



In this story, the group is suddenly without Charles, their master planner who has connections all over the world, but they managed to come through with their own special brand of justice.



The Sisterhood stories are always an entertaining read.

 
Fran
Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway
Rating: 5 Stars
A young woman sets forth to Mali as part of her Peace Corps assignment and is paired with a local midwife. Through her travels and experiences with Monique, the reader is taken on a journey through the lives of Malinese women. Wonderful insight into their culture, beliefs and ability to survive despite dire poverty and limited resources. Beautifully written and an enjoyable read.
 
Wendy from West Virginia
A Place Called Here by Cecelia Ahern
Rating: 4 Stars
A delightful story about finding the missing things and people in one's life. This is my first Cecelia Ahern novel but it will not be my last. Playful, inventive and imaginative.
 
Deb Rogers
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
OK, I'm slow- this is the first Stephanie Plum I've ever read, but I intend to go back (and forward) and read them all. The family & friends are flawed just to the point of reality; I know people like Lula and Stephanie's sister Valerie, and I would LOVE to know guys like Ranger and Morelli.
 
Rebecca Cox
The Last War by Ana Menendez
Rating: 2 Stars
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads (thank you so much) and was very interested since I had been an expat myself and lived in several countries overseas. The Last War states it is "a breathtaking novel of love, war and betrayal". Flash is a photographer and is married to Wonderboy, a journalist. They both cover war stories, sometimes together and sometimes apart. At the beginning of the book, Flash is in Istanbul and Brando (wonderboy) is in Iraq. Flash is waiting for a visa to join him but really has little intention of joining him. Most of the book is Flash's thoughts, depression, street wanderings and indulgences. She receives a letter that tells her Brando has been unfaithful which feeds her depression and inward focus. 
There is some minor coverage of the wars, bombings, but it is very minor. There is some description of the towns, cities and countries they are traveling in, but again that is mostly minor. The story line reads a little like a soap opera. I felt like Flash is very self indulgent and being able to spend many months in a nice apartment in Istanbul without having to work or actually do anything seems unrealistic. 
With all my travels and time spent as an expat, none of the story line rang true to me. Granted, I was not a journalist, but I did live and work in many foreign countries. There are parts of the story line that seem to be going somewhere, and then it fizzles and never really grabs me. I see glimpses of greatness but mostly just find average writing. Maybe for someone that has never traveled the experience would be different. The Last War could have benefited from some great editing and additional details of the environment. 


This book would be a good read for someone that is interested in the subjects of depression, inner reflection and love lost. It doesn't, in my opinion, live up to its hype of "a breathtaking novel of love, war and betrayal".

 
Rebecca Cox
Testimony by Anita Shreve
Rating: 4 Stars
A sex scandal involving drinking and an underage girl at an exclusive New England boarding school unleashes repercussions on all involved, even those on the far edges of the incident including parents and the town. The ripple effect is devastating. The headmaster tries to keep the incident "in house" but someone has another idea and posts a video on You Tube. The police are called in, students are interviewed and the rest as they say is history. 


This story is told by each character either as an interview or through their personal viewpoint. The book bounces back and forth between character voices and finally builds a complete picture of their inner selves, their loves, desires, hates and how each of them went on with their lives. 


This tale could only have been told in the magnificent manner that Anita Shreve took. The depth of understanding written and read kept me engaged from the first sentence to the last. The realistic actions and consequences are a great reminder of how one moment of our lives, one bad decision, or one time of being in the wrong place can change everything. 


This is a significant book and I highly recommend it to all level of readers from high school on. This is especially important to all parents who will have to face teenage drinking and drugs at some time in their children's lives.

 
Rebecca Cox
Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah
Rating: 4 Stars
This year I decided to read mostly foreign authors and multicultural themed books and this week's selection was a fiction novel, SAFFRON DREAMS by Shaila Abdullah. This book looks at the treatment and lives of Muslims in America after 9/11. Arissa and Faizan married in Pakistan in a traditional Muslim wedding and were the love of each other's lives from the beginning. They moved to New York where Faizan worked as a waiter while secretly writing his first novel. After two years of marriage, Arissa finally became pregnant and they were both excited about their first visit to the doctor for an ultrasound. Then, 9/11 happened and Faizan never made it home. 
"That's how God made us, in pairs so we complete each other. And then he snatches one away, I thought, and makes us dispensable mortals. Alone we come, and solo our return." Pg.101
Shaila Abdullah gives us a clear picture of what it was like to be Muslim and a widow in America after 9/11 through the story of one courageous woman who faces raising a child alone and the possibility of finishing her husband's novel. She addresses the balancing of cultural traditions with American realities and her writing flows like a river from the first paragraph to the last sentence. Ms. Abdullah provides an accurate and insightful story of love, loss, fear, anger, and finding the strength to survive. This book is a must read for everyone and can provide understanding for those with little experience with other cultures. 
Luckily I have had the great pleasure to experience many different cultures, religions, foods and customs and met many wonderful people while traveling and working internationally. I have found many women indicative of the values that Arissa displays in this novel which made this book very personal and identifiable to me. I give this book a big "thumbs up" and can't wait to read the next novel by Shaila Abdullah.

 
TL Morgan
What Matters Most by Luanne Rice
Rating: 4 Stars
Follow-up to SANDCASTLES it brings closure to Sister Bernie and Tom and their families and once again proves that no matter what....love is the most powerful force out there.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Murder on the Ballarat Train by Kerry Greenwood
Rating: 3 Stars
#3 of the Phryne Fisher series set in Australia. In this tale, Phyrne sets off via train to visit relatives in Ballarat, but never reaches her destination as a murder takes place. Phryne must undercover the killer and also find a kidnapper 6-year old. In spite of all these tasks, Phryne still has time to enjoy the comforts of a new man, this time a law student. The story is great fun with the description of fashion and cars and the social atmosphere of the 1920's.
 
CK
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Rating: 5 Stars
I saved this one to read with my book club so I wouldn't have to read it twice. Ha! I loved it so much I practically read it a second time reviewing it. By now everyone knows the letters are written between residents of Guernsey and a journalist and her publisher and his sister. A great literary device. A delightful story!!!
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Death at Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood
Rating: 3 Stars
#4 of the Phryne Fisher series set in 1920's Australia. In this tale, Phryne must locate a missing girl, find the kidnapped Dot, stop a bank robbery, and avenge the death of a young anarchist. In spite of all the work, Phryne finds a new lover in Peter, an older anarchist. Greenwood themes of the plight of women, social unrest, and social consciousness are evident in this novel. The biggest delight is the verse from classics, such as Shakespeare and Alice in Wonderland, at the beginning of every chapter. Entices me to reread Alice in Wonderland and Shakespeare.
 
Marjorie Roy
Still Life by Joy Fielding
Rating: 5 Stars
Absolutely the best mystery ever, I could not put it down, you would not
believe who did it.

 
Bonnie
Between Here and April by Deborah Copaken Kogan
Rating: 4 Stars
Terrific novel that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. It's one of the most honest novels I've read in a very long time. All mothers will identify.
 
Brady ([email protected])
Riches Among the Ruins by Robert P. Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
This non-fiction book delves into some of the workings of high finance between countries of the world. It is not "heavy," and again, it is not light either, but most interesting as it shows you how bankrupt countries rebound with the help of the wealthy nations. It also shows you what is important in life and the author's personal story from rags to riches.
 
Sandra Bowman
Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels
Rating: 4 Stars
This story opened my eyes to the horrors of Nazi infiltration of other countries and the long-term effects of the war on Jews as well as those who tried to help them.
 
Julie
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
Rating: 4 Stars
A real-life account of the author's life work, trying to build schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Although this book is very well written and I was engrossed in it, I had mixed feelings about the author's efforts in these countries when the disenfranchised in this country could use his help as well.
 
Lee
Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the epic tale of Brian mac Cennedi, a 10th century warrior prince whose struggles to unite the clans of Ireland against Viking occupation made him a legend. Although there are many battles to be fought before his reign of peace as high king, the characters and their motives are well developed, making this a truly absorbing story that includes Brian's three great love affairs and insight into the contrasting cultural and religious influences that shaped this period in history. Highly recommended.
 
Lorna
The Shack by William Paul Young
Rating: 2 Stars
This book was not what I thought it was going to be.. It was too complex for me. It starts off really great and I thought it was going to be a suspense mystery about a missing girl and it turns out to be about no such thing. I won't spoil it for anyone as I was told many religious leaders and recommending the book to their parishioners. I do have one friend who loved it.. it just wasn't for me.
 
Terri B.
Wildcard by Robin Shope
Rating: 5 Stars
I highly recommend this book. It will keep you guessing until the end. BEWARE! You will not want to put it down once you start to read it.
 
Sandra F.
Lifeless by Mark Billingham
Rating: 5 Stars
A well written grim tale of a serial killer who targets the homeless. Worth a read.
 
Marisa
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Rating: 5 Stars
This non-fiction book is a must read for anyone interested in what's going on in the world today in terms of Islam. Ali was born a Muslim in Somalia. She spent time growing up there, as well as Saudia Arabia and Kenya. As a young adult she escaped an arranged marriage by fleeing to Holland and being granted asylum. She arrived in Holland feeling betrayed by her family and her religion. Within just a few years she learned Dutch well enough to attend one of the country's top universities, where she earned a degree in political science. Her activism led her into politics and she eventually won a seat in parliament. She then wrote the script to the short film made by Theo Van Gogh that got him murdered by a Muslim man. Ali was slated to be next. She ended up moving to America. Her story is remarkable and her views on Islam, and especially the way it treats women, is honest and heartbreaking and so necessary at this time. She puts her life on the line, literally, to call Islam out on the way it treats women. She also called the Dutch out for letting so many Muslims enter the country and never assimilate. This is a powerful book with a very real warning for our times. She was also named one of Time's most influential people in the world.
 
Sandra F.
The Time In Between by David Bergen
Rating: 4 Stars
A story of a Vietnam vet's return to Vietnam in search of some closure to the events that he took part in during the war. A bit slow moving, but well written.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood
Rating: 3 Stars
A Phryne Fisher mystery set in Australia, this is #2. In this escapade, Phryne moves to her new house, helps locate a kidnapped child, and solves the murder/accident of Mr. McNaughton. These are interesting novels set in the 1920's, and show fashion and an independent woman. I enjoy how well Phryne handles all problems, and still manages to have fun.
 
Sharon
The Persimmon Tree by Bryce Courtenay
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a page turner! Great character development. Don't let the size put you off, once you start reading you won't notice.
 
Kelly Kiggins-Lund
Wildcard by Robin Shope
Rating: 5 Stars
Robin Shope is a phenomenal storyteller! She has the ability to weave romance and suspense into a book that not only keeps readers enthusiastically turning pages but also cheering the characters on along the perilous journey. Wildcard has both heart-racing suspense and endearing moments of romance. It is a book worth reading!
 
Fran
Killer Instinct by Joseph Finder
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first book I've read by this author and I will certainly look for more! Kept me on the edge of my seat, compelling me to keep reading to find out what would happen next. I would recommend this book to fans of John Grisham or Jonathan Kellerman. Very good!
 
Kelly Kiggins-Lund
My Son, John by Kathi Macias
Rating: 5 Stars
MY SON, JOHN, by Kathi Macias is a remarkable tale of God's immeasurable love and limitless forgiveness. Kathi Macias captures the raw emotions of her characters and weaves them into this poignant story that shows how we can overcome tragedy with God's strength and how powerfully healing His forgiveness is for all of us.
 
Marisa
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
Rating: 4 Stars
Written during the Victorian era, this snapshot of life in a small English village is charming and sweet. Gaskell's CRANFORD is full of genteel widows and spinsters trying to get by on fixed incomes. The characters are full of character and their stories are so well told. The reader really gets an idea of what life was like for these Victorian ladies.
 
Gina
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Rating: 4 Stars
Loved it! I could hear the voices of each character in my head. It was a small window into the life of 1962 domestic help in the South. Great character development. I laughed and rooted for each character.
 
Maureen H.
Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
Rating: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this story. It was a very nice contemporary romance.
 
Maureen H.
One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake
Rating: 4 Stars
So far I am enjoying this story. This is a new author to me, which I am really enjoying. It it very sexy and funny.
 
Emry ([email protected])
Die for You by Lisa Unger
Rating: 5 Stars
This author delivers a suspenseful page turner that is often terrifying but always fascinating to read. The psychological aspects of the characters is always intriguing. I have enjoyed all her books to date.
 
Julie H.
Pictures at an Exhibition by Sara Houghteling
Rating: 3 Stars
Max Berenzon is the son of one of the great art dealers in Paris before the war and a mother who is an accomplished pianist. As a child, Max's father, Daniel, spent many hours walking Max around the gallery, memorizing the details of the Manets, Picassos, Cezannes etc that filled the walls before they were sold. Daniel's photographic mind easily remembered all the details of paintings long gone, but decided Max should pursue a career in medicine instead. Max is surprised he will not automatically inherit the gallery. An intern from the Louvre, Rose Clement becomes his father's right hand. Max is slowly, surely, trying to fail at med school when WWII hits hard. The little family hides in the country in Le Puy and Rose remains at her post at the Louvre. After the war, Max's father has lost interest in recovering his lost art. With some assistance from Rose, Max attempts to find his father's lifeworks, taken by the Germans during the war.
 
Julie H.
Handbags and Homicide by Dorothy Howell
Rating: 3 Stars
20-something Haley Randolph is at loose ends. She lands a great accounting job at a big-name lawyer's firm and decides to work part time at a nearby store, Holt's. Luck is something Haley is short of, and during one evening shift, she finds the unlikable manager Richard, dead, in the stock room. Since she's probably become a suspect, Haley decides to do some investigating on her own.
 
Jud Hanson
Plan of Attack by Dale Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
This is trademark Brown. McLanahan is back, although this time he's been demoted for an earlier decision to attack a Russian airbase that threatened US security. Disgraced and demoted, no one wants to listen he has reason to believe Russia is preparing for a full-scale nuclear attack against America. Initially ignored, when the attack does actually occur, McLanahan is called in to save the day.



Excellent book for those who like a lot of action.

 
K. Peters
The Field by Lynne McTaggart
Rating: 5 Stars
A bit heavy for summer reading but I can't get enough of this book. It makes physics and the world spirituality make sense!
 
Judy O. ([email protected])
The Wet Nurse's Tale by Erica Eisdorfer
Rating: 5 Stars
Susan Rose is a very well-endowed young woman who is just made for the job of being a wet nurse for wealthy women in Victorian England. She also has a very free and accepting attitude about sex, and so finds herself pregnant. The first baby dies, and the second one is stolen from her home by her own father. She devises a very clever plan to get the baby back from the people who were attempting to raise him. You can't help but admire Susan and her craftiness. Imagine a time in history when there were no baby bottles or rubber nipples, so feeding babies could be a problem. I read an Advanced Readers' Copy, but watch for this book's release in August.
 
Jud Hanson
Edge of Battle by Dale Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
The illegal immigrant has come to a head as mounting unrest along the Mexican border results in casualties. With smuggler promoting a revolution and a radio host encouraging US citizens to take up arms against illegals, the situation could explode any minute. Enter Major Jason Richter and his CID team as the final option to prevent a full-scale war. Great book.
 
KSzaro ([email protected])
Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
Rating: 4 Stars
Funny, interesting and entertaining. A book written from a different and new perspective. Full of humor and mystery; characters that are fun and likable as well as some that are not. A plot that turns out not as simple as you originally thought with an ending that takes a few twists and turns to get there. Leaving you wanting more.
 
Judy Hendrix
Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire
Rating: 1 Stars
This book is a National Book Award Winner, but I don't know how. We chose this book in our book club, but no one enjoyed it. I hope someone out there does
 
Lori
Judas Child by Carol O'Connell
Rating: 4 Stars
A really great mystery/suspense novel by a really good author! O'Connell really grabs you and makes her books hard to put down. I'm really glad I found her!
 
Emry
Fatal Secrets by Allison Brennan
Rating: 3 Stars
This is the second book in the author's FBI Series. I was surprised by the poor character development and choppy story lines. Having read and loved all of the author's other books I was looking forward to this one and found it quite disappointing.
 
Shirley
Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson
Rating: 3 Stars
Fun read with some memorable characters. A young woman leaves her home in Alabama because she has made a reckless promise to God and believes she must uphold it. Even though she's left the South, it hasn't left her, so she returns to face up to her past.
 
Shirley
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Rating: 4 Stars
The untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West who we only know from Dorothy's version in The Wizard of Oz. I'm about halfway through but thoroughly enchanted with all the back story that explains what made these sisters the formidable women they turned out to be! Fun.
 
Cecilia Huddleston
One Second After by William R. Forstchen
Rating: 5 Stars
This book had me riveted! A typical day starts for a man and his family until the electricity goes off all over town...and that's just the beginning. An unknown enemy has set off an Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) weapon over the United States sending all of the country back to the Dark Ages.



This book will make you want to brush up on your 'frontier survival skills' before the big event! ONE SECOND AFTER really gets one thinking how we all have become used to our 'easy lifestyles' here in America and could we survive if it were all taken away in a moment.


This book had me thinking and talking about it many days after I read the last page. Highly recommended.

 
Ali
The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
Rating: 2 Stars
Read this for my book group. I don't like the style in which it is written but the story is engaging. The book explores the relationships in Iranian/English families and ties that bind and exploit.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
Expresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
In this second installment of life in Edinburdh, Scotland, we find that many changes have taken place. Stewart, Bertie's father, has taken a stand and painted Bertie's room white, and has taken him on a train ride. Bertie is a hoot, and I wonder if Bertie is a replica of Alexander McCall Smith. We learn that Irene, Bertie's mother, is pregnant. I enjoy this series due to the fact that the people are just normal people with all the flaws that we have. I especially like Bertie. Also, in this novel, we learn about the laughable life of Ramsey. A pleasing tale.

 
Cecilia Huddleston
The Heretic's Daughter by Kent, Kathleen
Rating: 5 Stars
The most personally moving fiction book I've read concerning one family's persecution during the Salem witch trials.
 
Sandra F.
The Magician's Death by Paul Doherty
Rating: 3 Stars
A fair read as long are you are interested in the 14th century.
 
Shirley
Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos
Rating: 4 Stars
Starts off slowly but all the characters and situations are beautifully interwoven by the end. A wealthy, elderly woman living in Seattle discovers she has brain cancer and decides to live life differently by taking some risks, so she advertises for a boarder who arrives with secrets of her own. By the end of the novel, there are about eight more boarders living in the house! Surprising plot.
 
Shirley
Dewey by Vicki Myron
Rating: 4 Stars
If you love cats, you'll love this book about Dewey, the orange kitten who entered the Spencer, Iowa, Public Library via the book drop slot during a blizzard in the night and stayed on as cat-in-residence for nineteen years.
 
Shirley
Peyton Place by Grace Metalious
Rating: 4 Stars
Revisit the book that started a revolution in publishing! If you remember reading the dirty bits back in the 60's, there's more here than just the small-town scandals and secrets. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
 
Kellie ([email protected])
The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
Rating: 4 Stars
Michael Connelly-More and more authors are writing about computer terrorism. Connelly does it in this book, Deaver has written about it in one of his recent books. It's pretty scary stuff if it can become reality. This was an interesting book. I LOVE Harry Bosch. His character is very cool but he fights his own internal demons every day. On the outside, Harry comes across as a very tough, unemotional cop. On the inside, he struggles. Jack is different from Harry. I am surprised these characters come from the same author. I find it difficult to like Jack as much as Harry. This book was not a slam dunk for me. I'm upset about that because I think Connelly is one of the best. He wrote this book with a guaranteed sequel. The ending is too up in the air. In addition, Jack's relationship with Rachel portrays Jack as a little desperate. Not the same character as Bosch. Jack's just OK for me. I think Jack, however, is a character more like the author. Connelly used to be a reporter and he had the crime beat. Connelly nailed the current state of the printed word. It's a sad thing to see, but it's almost inevitable. I liked this book, but didn't love it. I need another Bosch.
 
Joan McClintick
One Drop by Bliss Broyard
Rating: 5 Stars
Bio of authors father, a NY times reporter. I've lived in 75% of cities written about and she has done incredible research...so much so I checked that out. End of book lists many researcher names. The author got her father to speak about his life when he was dying. She learned things he had NEVER told anyone before and she shares them with readers. I would give this 10 stars.
 
Barbara Simmons
The Lost City of Z by David Grann
Rating: 4 Stars
Loved this book of obsession in the Amazon. Tales of the great employer Percy Fawcett and his quest of the Lost City of the Amazon. A true mystery including the mystery of his disappearance.
 
Kaye
A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore
Rating: 4 Stars
One of the elements of the story I really enjoyed, besides the great romance plot line, was the atmosphere of the times. It gives the readers' imaginations room to soar. It was fun being immersed in a world of Dukes, Duchesses and all the accouterments of that lifestyle. Maids and butlers are certainly not part of my world but I enjoyed reading about a world where they are part of everyday life of the ton. 



There is a lot going on in this book. The re-appearance of a long- thought -dead husband Garrett wreaks havoc with Sophie's and her present husband Tristan's lives. Throw in a false friend, an avaricious actor, a simpering, silly sister-in-law who swears she is in love and a plot to drive a person mad: well, you have one intriguing book that is hard to put down. Along with all the action, there is an intense love story. Sophie is a deep character with a mind of her own. When her family is threatened she does what has to be done. She cares about her husbands and has a hard time deciding who is eventually right for her not wanting to hurt either in the process. It's a fun read seeing how Sophie, Tristan and Garret resolve all this and triumph over maliciousness. 



If you like historical romance books that are sassy, sexy, scintillating and with plenty of steamy spice and sultry sizzle, this is the book for you!

 
Kaye
Saints in Limbo by River Jordan
Rating: 5 Stars
River Jordan's book has been likened to GARDEN SPELLS by Sarah Addison Allen most likely for the element of fantasy. I have read both books, truly enjoyed GARDEN SPELLS, but I honestly think River Jordan's book has characters with much more depth and authenticity. 



Velma True is the type of character that really feels genuine. On the occasion of her birthday she has been wishing she could go back and fix some parts of her life.What she would really like is to go back when her husband Joe was still alive. Since Joe died, Velma is afraid to venture into her front yard and will only go out the back door and walk to the store. No way on earth will she get into a car. Try as they might, her son Rudy and her friend Sara cannot get Velma past her fears. Although Velma really loves her only son, Rudy, she is well aware of his faults. 



Rudy doesn't have too many expectations of life, in fact, just being able to pay his rent and have enough left over for beer, cable tv and visits to the local pizza joint is good enough for him. As long as he has a new woman on the string to keep the nightmares at bay, and his mother doesn't bother him too much, he is one contented man. 



Rose, owner of the local pizza/bar, is a single woman who secretly harbors a longing for Rudy . When a young runaway named Annie finds her way to Rose's bar, Rose takes her in and that's when things really start to kick into high gear and get very interesting. 



Fourteen year old Annie has a picture of her mother when she was very young with several others Annie does not know. The only clue on the back of the photo is Christmas in Echo, FL and this is the catalyst for Annie to leave Texas and her neglectful aunt. This picture of the past is the key to the future for Velma, Rose, Rudy and Annie. 



Sara, retired school teacher and friend to Velma, fears she is slowing losing her mental capabilities. But still, Sara is one spunky lady who finds out through several hair raising incidents that she doesn't really know Velma as well as she thought. Sara is more of a peripheral character but the story would be incomplete without her.



The story weaves around these main characters and takes the reader on an unforgettable journey. All the characters in the story are fighting some sort of personal demons and their fears and regrets are given a form that is downright scary at times. The layers of this mesmerizing and almost haunting tale are revealed slowly, layer by layer, compelling the reader forward with each new page. Once I started this book, I had a very hard time putting it down. Highly recommended

 
Kaye
Fault Line by Barry Eisler
Rating: 5 Stars
What a page turner this thriller is and right from the very beginning ! I read the book in a day, not being able to put it down. I got so engrossed in the story line and the well defined characters that the pages just flew by. There were some moments I was holding my breath for fear of what would happen next. 



It's not all intrigue and conspiracy either. There is a nice balance of family relationships in the mix. That's where the great characterizations stem from. Both brothers are so well fleshed out, it is almost hard to believe they are fictional. The peripheral characters; not as much but they are still good. It's very easy to see how they think and feel and their emotional growth throughout the story. Ben is probably the character I would most like to see in another story. He is the typical macho type but seems to have a heart, although maybe it is buried under layers of tough guy. By the end of the story, he has progressed the most emotionally.



Eisler does a fantastic job of setting up the scenarios in the well paced and believable plot. Highly recommended for those who like a little mystery, intrigue and conspiracy plots. This one really delivers without any faults! 5*****

 
Kaye
Cut Crop & DIe by Joanna Campbell Slan
Rating: 4 Stars
At the latest crop, a scrapbooking event held at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, Kiki Lowenstein and Dodie her boss from Time in a Bottle are thrown for a loop by their competitor Ellen. Ellen, owner of Memories First, takes it upon herself to usurp the privilege of starting the festivities instead of letting the hosting store do the customary welcoming speech. This pales in comparison to the brouhaha raised when Yvonne, one of the scrapbookers starts gagging and choking. Kiki yells for help as Yvonne scrambles for her epi-pen, only to find it empty. Emergency Medical Services crew arrives but it is too late. Yvonne, who just moments previously had been applauded as a scrapbooking star, is now dead from anaphalaxis.




When the police determine it is a homicide and not just an unfortunate accident, rumors abound. What could be the motive? Is it personal or professional? It seems Yvonne has left a trail of enemies in her wake over the years. Kiki also hears the rumor that Yvonne's husband may have had a gambling problem and a fling with his secretary. So, the suspects and motives are many. A perfect set up for an intriguing cozy!

 
Kaye
Cream Puff Murder by Joanna Fluke
Rating: 3 Stars
Cream Puff Murder is #11 in Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen series. Hannah, owner of the Cookie Jar in Lake Eden, MN seems to spend more time finding bodies and solving crimes than she does actually working. It's a good thing she has her partner Lisa who is a workaholic. This newest book finds Hannah needing to lose some weight to fit into a dress for her mother's book launch party. She and her sister start going to the fitness center to work out. When Hannah sees what she first thinks is an exercise suit in the jacuzzi, she decides to take a closer look. Of course it is a dead body! 



Since the victim, Ronnie, is one mean and overly flirtatious aerobics teacher, there are many suspects. It seems half the men in town had or wanted to have a close relationship with her. A lot of the women in town hated her for the same reasons. Some of these men including Mike, one of Hannah's two boyfriends, are in law enforcement. The chief, Hannah's brother in law Bill, takes them off the case as they could be suspects. It must be a small department because Hannah is asked to look into the murders. Hannah's mother, sister and her other boyfriend, Norman, help her in the investigation. 



As in any cozy, the case is solved due to the efforts of the amateur sleuth. Cozies are not hard boiled police procedures nor are they thrillers, but more entertainment and Fluke has succeeded in that goal, once again coming up with a fun mystery with equally fun characters. As usual, the reader must suspend disbelief that the police would even allow a citizen to get close to an investigation, never mind solve the case. Hannah has been stringing Mike and Norman along for quite a few books now. In this one, I think Fluke is getting closer to resolving that issue. It's about time. There are more recipes in this story too and a lot of them sounded very good. It's not a "hard to put down" mystery but it is a good enjoyable read.I never guessed who the murderer was. If you like cozies or books with some culinary info, this would be a good choice.

 
Kaye
The Captain's Bride by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Rating: 5 Stars
The story opens in Bergen, Norway in 1880 as we are introduced to the main characters: Elsa Anders and her fiance Peder Ramstadt, Elsa's younger sister Tora and Peder's best friend Karl. Along with these characters are newlyweds Kaatje and Soren. Elsa's and Peder's wedding occurs in Norway and then they are off to build a new life in Camden-by-the-Sea, Maine. Several others from Bergen are to sail with them. Peder is the Captain of the ship and he and his friend Karl will be building a new shipyard in Maine but Karl is harboring a secret that could destroy their life long friendship After settling in their new home, Elsa becomes distraught that Peder does not want her to sail with him as he thinks it is too dangerous. This becomes a bone of contention in their marriage. You can just feel Elsa's frustration and Peder's obstinacy. Even though they have differences of opinions, their deep Christian beliefs keeps their love intact and helps them to overcome many problems. Bergren does such a wonderful job with these characters that they really come to life on the page. It is so easy to feel their anguish at leaving their families but also the excitement and sense of adventure in emigrating to America. 



Some of the other Bergensers, including Kaatje and Soren travelled on to North Dakota to make a living out of farming. Unfortunately, Soren has an eye for other women. Despite his promises to Kaatje to be faithful only to her, Soren can not help dallying with others, even turning to the teenaged Tora while sailing to America. These actions are to have dire consequences to their young marriage. 



Tora, despite her young age of 16, is a woman who knows what she wants and will use any means to get it. Aspiring to marriage and family is definitely not on her agenda. She has set her sights to high society and wealth. After finally leaving Camden-by-the-Sea, she moves to Duluth to begin a career and a search for the perfect man who will keep her in style. All of the characters start out with big dreams for a new life in a new country where the possibilities seem endless. 



This book is the first in The Northern Lights trilogy. I got so engrossed in this wonderful saga that I finished it in two sittings. I had a really hard time coming out of the time frame and putting this one down. Bergren is a skilled writer who fleshes out her characters to perfection. Every nuance of the characters' emotions is clearly expressed leaving the reader to feel as if these characters are real. There are also plenty of adventures in this epic story.

 
Gail
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Rating: 5 Stars
This story is engrossing from the first page. The story begins in the Shanghai of 1937 and follows the life journey of two sisters (first in China and later in the US) against the backdrop of the Japanese invasion of China, WWII, the rise of Chairman Mao and Communist China, and the communist "witch hunts" of the 50s.
 
Kaye
Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn
Rating: 2 Stars
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I have to say honestly this book was a bit of a disappointment. The characters felt flat to me and the dialogue came across as stilted. Also, I think the absence of other minor plot lines is one of the reasons I found the book lacking. The Christian themed element in this story felt overly "preachy" to me. I would have liked to have seen more character depth. 




I had hoped for more descriptive passages about the country as this was a first visit to Holland for Summer. But, alas, that too was sparse. Although when the two friends visited the Rijksmuseum, the art descriptions really made me want to visit. This was the first real emotion I felt from Summer as the art work truly touched her. Unfortunately, this was close to the end of the book. I am not rating the book because I don't think that would be fair to the author for this one. I feel this is probably more of just a matter of personal taste as the book and I were not a perfect fit but it might just be the book for someone looking for a simple Christian themed light read.

 
Fran
Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli
Rating: 4 Stars
An interesting autobiography of Valerie Bertinelli. Traces her life from childhood through the series One Day at a Time and through her marriage to Eddie Van Halen. I loved the progression of her journey to eventually finding herself, one pound at a time!
 
Debi
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Rating: 4 Stars
The point of view of an 11-year-old girl is priceless! Even though I had figured out the murderer before the ending, the laugh-out-loud moments kept me going! Flavia de Luce's interest in chemistry adds a definite flair! I hope this is the first and not the final time we'll hear from her.
 
Audrey Anderson ([email protected])
Incubus Dreams by Laurell K. Hamilton
Rating: 3 Stars
This is #12 in a vampire series by Laurell K. Hamilton. I was reading them and sharing them with my mother in law, but starting with #10 they got a little to sexually explicit. #11 and this one might be classed in the genre of Erotica, although I have not ever bought a book in that genre, I can't imagine it would be much more explicit. Her last few books have also been much larger than the first - this one over 700 pgs. I am convinced, now, that it's all the love scenes, since her relationships - and that is plural - seem to become dominant to her job, which is raising the dead, and her other job, which is a federal marshall vampire executioner. Hamilton is an excellent writer, and I have hope that she will go back to spending more time on her cases and not so much on her love interests. I do find it amazing that Hamilton can write so many pages for each encounter. Oh, did I mention, one of her lovers is a vampire who has shared some of his powers with her by biting her and his powers are those of seduction. It causes her to need sex 3 or 4 times a day. I hope she gets this toned down. Until then, not sharing with Mother in law.
 
Sharon Elliott-Fox
Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani
Rating: 4 Stars
Oh, does she ever pinpoint the tensions between mother and pre-teen/teen daughter! And the relationships between friends is delightfully written.
 
Ed Hahn ([email protected])
Kowloon Tong by Paul Theroux
Rating: 3 Stars
Ultimately a disappointment, this novel started fast and petered out with an ending that challenged believability. 



I rated it as high as I did because the writing and descriptions were up to Theroux's standards. The plot, however, leaves a lot to be desired.



The characters are somewhat stereotyped but not as badly as some reviewers thought. They are more likely composites, created to emphasize their failings. 



I have met ex-pats who refuse to eat Chinese food, who describe the Chinese negatively and who keep to their own community of other ex-pats. They aren't all British, either. I am sometimes embarrassed at the antics of some of my fellow Americans.



The story follows the struggles of Bunt Mullard, a Hong Kong born but stereotypically British factory owner and manager, as he deals with events leading up to the 1997 hand-over of Hong Kong to Chinese or as he describes it "the Take-away". He lives with his overbearing mother, Betty, and has little social life outside of the Cricket Club and the "Girlie Bars". The story basically recounts events precipitated by the death of his Chinese business partner and the subsequent problems he must deal with.



The major issue is whether to sell out to Mr. Hung, representing the PLA (Chinese army), who wants the factory building as part of a development plan. Bunt does not handle the negotiations very well and in fact does not deal with any of the situations he finds himself in, very well. He's pretty much a wuss and is dominated by his lower middle class mother. 



The suspense aspects of the book have to do with hidden motives and missing people. I certainly would not characterize the story as a thriller. The story's conclusion is very unsatisfying, but I, perhaps, like Theroux, was happy to have the story end. 



For me, one of the highlights of the book, perhaps because I live here, was the description of various venues and situations in Hong Kong. Without that, I'm not sure I would have been as complimentary of the book as I have been.

 
Ed Hahn ([email protected])
The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the first book in the Dave Robicheaux series. I have no idea why it took me so long to get around to reading it.



I've been a fan of Burke's writing for years and have read all but two of the Dave Robicheaux series. This initial offering, while having some rough edges, sets the tone for the rest of the series and is a strong indicator of why Burke is to earn two Edgars, a CW Macallan Gold Dagger and be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in subsequent years. 



The story covers Robicheaux's last months as a New Orleans Police Detective, his stormy relationship with his partner, Cletus Purcell, his initial romance with his soon to be wife Annie Ballard, his relationship with his brother Jimmy and his ongoing feud with the "Feds", no matter what their department.



There is a lot of violence in the story, though none of it is gratuitous, in my opinion. There's a little bit of sex, none of it pornographic and some strong language that only adds to the realism of the story

.

Burke, allows us to see the constant battles Robicheaux is fighting in his own head with his alcoholism, his Vietnam experience and his sense of what is right and fair and what is wrong and needs to be fixed. He has an inner compass that he sometimes wishes would stop working but he's never able to escape its influence for long.



The plot here is not complicated but the characters are. Burke's descriptions of New Orleans are priceless, poetic and frame the plot by making it more interesting and realistic.



I highly recommend this book, the whole Robicheaux series and the other stuff Burke has written. I think once you start you'll be hooked.

 
Ed Hahn ([email protected])
Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose
Rating: 5 Stars
This biography of Meriwether Lewis must have been a daunting task and Stephen Ambrose was certainly up to it.



The sections of the book covering the Lewis and Clark Expedition are as well written as anything Ambrose has done. I felt like I was there with the "Corps of Discovery", as they were named, seeing the incredible plains and mountains of the unexplored American West for the first time.



I am familiar with some of the country and have actually stood at Three Forks in Montana where the Missouri River is first formed and I can only imagine what it must have felt like and looked like for the explorers.



The book is, of course, not only a biography of Meriwether Lewis but also a view into the thinking and attitudes of Thomas Jefferson, in particular, and other luminaries of the time vis a vis the West, American Indians, the future of the U.S. and its eventual spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific.



The story of Lewis' life is a glorious and sad chronicle as we share both his triumphs and his disappointments. The last chapter of the book, titled "Aftermath" is as beautifully written a eulogy as I have ever read. Ambrose must have taken Meriwether Lewis into his heart and shared that love with the rest of us. As he pointed out in his Introduction, he and his family fell in love with the country Lewis and Clark explored which helped provide him with the motivation to write Lewis' story. This fascination and familiarity with the geography of the plains and the mountains is obvious as Ambrose describes the land the explorers traveled through.



Some may find the detail Ambrose provides boring or unnecessary but I found that it enhanced my sense of immediacy and identification with people who had endured what they went through 200 years ago.



UNDAUNTED COURAGE is a great bit of historiography and a great bit of writing also.

 
Pam Dean ([email protected])
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Rating: 5 Stars
What an outstanding book and so well written. Get to know what its really like to be an African American domestic maid working for rich white women in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi. I was gripped from the minute I started this book. One of those books you stay up til the wee hours reading!
 
Rita B.
The 8th Confession by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Rating: 3 Stars
The latest in The Women's Murder Club mysteries. I found this one to be much better than the 7th. Lindsey Boxer is muddling through her love life and makes headway. She and her partner work to resolve the mysterious deaths of several wealthy people during business hours and the violent death of a homeless "preacher" during off hours. A murderess goes to trial, testing the energies of the the Assistant D.A. This scenario fits into the plot somewhat awkwardly. Still a good summer read for Women's Murder Club fans.
 
Marsha
Dark of the Moon by John Sandford
Rating: 5 Stars
Sandford usually writes about Lucas Davenport but if you like Lucas you'll love Virgil Flowers. He works for Davenport in the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension but is a free spirit and quite an exciting character. He is on the track of a killer whose vendetta has a town up in arms. This is quite the thriller and page turner.
 
Judy
The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the second book featuring Leo Lemidov (CHILD 44 was the first book). Stalin is dead and Khruschcev has written a secret speech to be distributed to the entire nation. Russia is still full of paranoia and instability and past sins come back to haunt Leo. The book covers an enormous amount of territory from Moscow to Siberia to Budapest, Hungry and what transpires is not pretty to read. The story is, however, is a cannot-put-it-down one and an interesting glimpse of the Russian soul and post-Stalin era. Not as good as CHILD 44, it was a great read and I'm looking forward to more books by Mr. Smith.
 
Kathie LaBombard
Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry
Rating: 4 Stars
I love a book that combines a good fast paced mystery with some history! I haven't read Steve Berry before, but will definitely look for more of his books!
 
Bonnie
A Fortunate Age by Joanna Smith Rakoff
Rating: 2 Stars
The usual coming-of-age story of a bunch of affected (in this case) Oberlin graduates and their lives. I read about a third and realized I don't care what happens to any of these characters and put the book away. It's been done by others and better.
 
Mig Archey
Life As We Knew It / The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Rating: 4 Stars
These comments are actually about two books by one author. They aren't sequels. They don't share characters. But they do share a central event upon which everything revolves. What if something struck the moon, which is actually now spiraling away from us, driving it into a much closer orbit? 



What would that do to a planet where tides and vulcanism is affected by the proximity of its satellite? Not good things, I assure you. What would happen to your family if this dire event happened in your life time? You'll have to read the books to find out. 



Each book honestly chronicles the hardships of a family in a different region of the USA, using the compelling voice of a teenage member from each family to tell their story.



And it made me wonder about the consequences of that receding moon of ours.

 
Kaye
The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha
Rating: 5 Stars
Nate and Irene Stanley and their two children, Shep and Bliss, move from Illinois to Oregon supposedly for a better work situation for Nate. One day Nate comes home to find their 15 year old son, Shep, gasping his last breath with a bullet wound in his chest. The house is trashed and some valuable items are missing. The general conclusion is Shep interrupted a random robbery. After several weeks, the killer is caught, tried and eventually sent to prison. The story follows the Stanley family and how they cope with the aftermath of such a heartbreaking tragedy. 



For a long time after the murder, Irene spirals down into an abyss of depression, finding it increasingly difficult to claw her way out. She has a hard time even dealing with everyday needs and the family dynamics seriously erode. Irene begins to use vodka as a crutch just to get through the day leaving Bliss and Nate to their own devices. Irene's intense hatred of Shep's killer was slowly killing her. She lived for the day he would be executed. 



But the wheels of justice grind slowly and after years of feeling half dead herself, on what would be Shep's 27th birthday, Irene has an emotional epiphany. She decides she cannot hold onto the hate any longer. Unbeknown to her family, she writes a letter to the killer forgiving him and setting off a chain reaction that no one could have ever imagined. When Nate finds out about the years of correspondence, he goes ballistic and he reveals some shocking truths about their son and what really happened on that fateful day. Irene is now determined on a whole new course of action. 



This is just the bare bones of the plot. Let me say right off, I could not put this book down. The numerous twists and turns in plot and depth of the characters make this a stellar read. It is so incredibly well written and flows seamlessly from numerous points of view. Every character's thoughts and emotions are perfectly executed. The raw emotion in this book will grab you by the heart.

 
Kaye
The Dixie Divas by Virginia Brown
Rating: 4 Stars
When lately divorced Trinket Truevine comes home to Cherry Hill, Mississippi to care for her aging parents, she finds a lot more than she bargained for. She pictured a peaceful and quiet life serving her parents iced tea on the veranda. Ha! Not happening!



Southerners take family history and old family grudges seriously. Very, very seriously. Sometimes there are dire consequences; like murder. Trinket's cousin, Bitty has been most vituperative about her ex husband since the divorce. Now that his death is declared a homicide, it's only logical for the police to consider Bitty as the primary suspect. Bitty introduces Trinket to her group of friends known as the Dixie Divas. The Divas are called in to assist Bitty and Trinket in proving Bitty's innocence. That's when the rollicking fun begins. 



As in any cozy, it is not as much about the mystery as it is the characters and the setting. In this fun cozy, Brown does not disappoint at all. The Dixie Divas had me laughing out loud with some of their antics. I used a paragraph from the book in a Teaser Tuesday segment just so you could get an idea of the author's terrific sense of humor. Along with a few humorous subplots and some snippets of romance, a hair raising denouement just ended this book perfectly.



Recommended for fans of cozy mysteries, southern humor and light reading.

 
Kaye
Jungle Jack's Wackiest, Wildest, and Weirdest by Jack Hanna
Rating: 4 Stars
Wow, this is such a fun and informative book! Mr. Hanna, in his years of experience documenting wild life, has chosen 30 animals that he considers to be wacky, wild and weird.



Each page features a large picture plus a smaller inset of close up features of that animal. Every page also includes what the animal eats, where they live and how big they get. Part of the page is devoted to the very facts that make the animal weird, wacky or wild. 



One of the most interesting pages to me was the emperor penguin with three good close up pictures. Did you know that the emperor penguin can stay underwater for up to 20 minutes at a time while searching for food? They can withstand temperatures of -75 degrees F. This is one aptly named penguin; emperors grow to 4 feet tall and can weigh up to 85 pounds. That is one impressive and truly magnificent animal! 



Another page I found most interesting was about the octopus. Who knew an octopus had 3 hearts? Or that an octopus can lay more than 200,000 eggs at a time? Wow, that's a lot of potential babies but in actuality, only a few survive to be adults. 



There are 28 more animals that round out this fascinating book.This one may be geared towards kids, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The pictures are extremely colorful and detailed. I just loved the close up insets. At the end of the book is a comprehensive glossary . Included with the book is a DVD of bloopers and behind the scenes shots from Mr. Hanna's TV show.

 
Kaye
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Rating: 4 Stars
Rachel and Darcy, best friends since elementary school, are always there for each other even though they seem like opposites in many way. Rachel is focused and goal oriented while Darcy likes to have a good time and luckily, things just seem to fall into place for her. Rachel felt that Darcy was always the "pretty one, the lucky one, the charmed one". You just know at some point maybe a hint of resentment will come into the picture.



Fast forward to Rachel's 30th birthday party given by Darcy. Rachel is now an associate in a Manhattan law firm which, by the way, she hates. Darcy has a glamorous, fun job in public relations and is engaged to an absolutely gorgeous guy named Dex who she met through Rachel. A few too many drinks at the festivities finds Darcy not feeling well and heading for home without Dex. Rachel and Dex stay after the party to have one final drink together and end up in Rachel's apartment for the night. Dex cannot believe he cheated on Darcy and the two of them come up with elaborate excuses for where they were. Now the unexpected happens. Rachel finds herself really in love with Dex and miraculously he returns the feelings but what will he do about it? Now only two months before the wedding, will he leave Darcy to be with Rachel or will he go through with the nuptials leaving Rachel with a broken heart?



Actually I was afraid this book would be too predictable but I was wrong, I kept wondering what was going to happen because the wedding was getting closer and closer and Dex hadn't made any moves yet. Rachel visits her old friend Ethan in London to discuss the situation. Will Ethan be a wild card in this triangle? Well, I guess you'll have to read the book and see! 


 
Brady ([email protected])
Crazy For the Storm by Norman Ollestad
Rating: 5 Stars
A true story of harrowing experiences a young boy experienced that is being touted as "heart-stopping," "thrilling," and "breathtaking" which are all true. Life lessons as taught by his father to the author is what pulled him through when all others died due to the plane crash. One chapter describes events of the plan ride and the next is a memoir of his young life; they alternate. A super book!
 
Frank Nigro
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 5 Stars
A taunt, suspenseful and romantic read that is both horror and mystery. The characters are strong and fully developed and the story is rich and exciting, keeping the reader spellbound trying to learn about the legend (and actual historical fact) of Dracula. A great book!
 
Phyllis
First Family by David Baldacci
Rating: 5 Stars
When the 12-year old niece of the President is kidnapped, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, D C private investigators are called by the First Lady to investigate. A very good summer thriller.
 
Debi
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Rating: 5 Stars
Goolrick has woven a tale that is totally different from anything I have read in a long time. A man marries a mail-order bride, only to discover that she isn't who he thought she was. There were so many twists to the plot that I was interested to the very end...and I liked the ending!
 
Audrey Anderson ([email protected])
Morality For Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the 3rd in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series. The books in this series are what some people call cozies. Normally they are not my cup of tea, but I love the main characters, their way of life that is simple, yet interesting and the logical way she solves the mysteries or problems that come to her. In this book each of the main characters get their time in the spotlight, and the mystery to solve is --- Can the sister-in-law of the client be poisoning the brother in order to inherit the land? This book was a quick, easy read.
 
Michele
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Rating: 3 Stars
It took me a little while to get used to the dog talking. Initially it felt a little hokie but he is one of the characters (Enzo) and it just takes a little time to understand any character in a book, especially a unique one. This is not a dog book, it is book about overcoming life's struggle told by a dog?! Unique concept and it kept me interested in it because it was a different approach. Throughout the book I kept comparing Enzo to my dogs. I would think that even non-dog lovers (are there really any in the world) would also enjoy this book.
 
Phyllis
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved the book. The tale of the WWII occupation of The Guernsey Islands is told through a series of letters. The characters are wonderful, it kept my interest and I hated for it to end.
 
Kathy
9 Scorpions by Paul Levine
Rating: 1 Stars
I was so excited about reading this book as I had heard such great things about Levine, and heard him speak at UCLA. Ugh, this was like the worst romance novel taken down a notch. I read the whole thing, hoping for redemption, but it never came. I will try one of his Solomon or Lassiter books some day, and hope my friends weren't all wrong.
 
Phyllis
Super In The City by Daphne Uviller
Rating: 5 Stars
A zany group of characters make this a delightful summer chick lit!
 
Ann Wright ([email protected])
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
Rating: 5 Stars
Very interesting! The book toggles between Salem of 1692 (and colonial New England in the early 18th century) and 1991, telling the story of "Connie", a PhD candidate in US Colonial History at Harvard (me, I'm green with envy). Part mystery and part historical fiction, the book really brings Colonial New England to life. Great read!

 
Annetta Stolpmann
Notoriously Neat by Suzanne Price
Rating: 4 Stars
It is a nice short summer read with helpful cleaning tips added to fun fiction.
 
Leslie
Hard Times by Studs Terkel
Rating: 4 Stars
An "oral" history of The Great Depression. Mr. Terkel interviews subjects from all walks of life who experienced the Depression. I always enjoy anything by Studs and this one was excellent as well.
 
Nan
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Rating: 5 Stars
At first I struggled with this book as it is comprised strictly of written letters and I had a hard time placing each character. But once I became familiar with who was who, I absolutely loved this book! It takes the reader back to a time when the written word was cherished and society was slower. I would highly recommend this book!
 
Nancy
Tribute by Nora Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a great summer read - engaging and light. It has romance, mystery, and interesting characters. Tribute is the story of a former child star who, striving to find some roots and stability in her life, must first untangle a mystery surrounding her famous, late grandmother.
 
Iola ([email protected])
Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle
Rating: 3 Stars
Great writing. But it is dragging a bit. These are characters that I just want to be done with. The only reason I would pick up another Boyle book is because of his writing style, but it would be the last one if the characters just make me want to scream.
 
Jean M.
Dead Sleep by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
Wonderful suspenseful story.
 
Virginia C.
Mariana by Susanna Kearsley
Rating: 5 Stars
MARIANA got better and better as the story developed. I was involved with the characters and could have continued to read more about how their lives unfolded. The strong first-person narrative propelled the reincarnated romance to a nicely twisted ending. A very good read. 

 
Christine Womack ([email protected])
Poppy and Ereth by Avi and Brian Floca
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a lovely children's book aimed at the elementary age, but one the could be enjoyed by all ages. There is danger for the characters but not enough that it would scare children. It does have a great ending and gets across the message of good things that we can teach our children.
 
Coral Harrison
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Rating: 5 Stars
Henrie is a Chinese boy in 1943. He goes to a white school as does Keioko, who is Japanese. They become good friends. The Japanese are interned as is her family. They get separated. The story then goes to 1986. It is a very good story, based on fact. I recommend it.
 
Christine Womack ([email protected])
Losing My Religion by William Lobdell
Rating: 4 Stars
This book has a tendency to drag in several places, but I still found it to be quite interesting. I love the comparisons among the various religions. My main interest was the discussion of the priest scandals in Orange County and how the Roman Catholic Church handled the situations. It really hit home as the same thing had happened at a more recent time in my own church. It was a difficult time for me as I was the one who as a teacher had to report the molestation of one of my students by my own priest. I now have a better understanding of what was happening behind the scenes and why some things happened the way that they did. This is why I gave it a higher rating as it hit very close to home for me.
 
Karen Terry ([email protected])
The Hour I First Believe by Wally Lamb
Rating: 5 Stars
It is about a teacher and his wife, who is a nurse, that both work at Columbine high school. The wife is one of the survivors of the shooting, but whose life changed forever as her husband deals with changes that are also affecting his sanity and life. It is a very good book. It has over 700 pages, but as you read it you will not notice that it is that long. It keeps you interested until the very end.
 
Christine Womack ([email protected])
Crazy For The Storm by Norman Ollestad
Rating: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed reading this "memoir of survival" written by the only survivor of the plane crash. I love the way that the author intertwines between the life of the author as he was growing up and what he does after the plane crashes. I love the vivid detail of how he survived and could actually feel myself clawing my way with him. His dad really did save him through all of the things that he had taught him over the years through competitive sports. I would highly recommend this book.
 
Debi
Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson
Rating: 3 Stars
Another food mystery! I should know better than to read these because I get so hungry! This is the first time I've read this author, and it was basically very entertaining! Set in a Colorado ski resort area, a struggling caterer becomes involved in the murder of a former boyfriend. Try a new recipe!
 
Sylvia Kriksic ([email protected])
Voya by Daniel Steele
Rating: 5 Stars
Great read.
 
Judy O. ([email protected])
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Rating: 4 Stars
Growing up in the upper class in 1937 in Shanghai was pleasant for sisters Pearl and May Chin. However, one day their father announces that they are broke and have lost everything due to his heavy gambling debts. He also tells the girls that they have been pledged to marry the two Chinese/ American sons of one of his debtors. They are to leave immediately for the US. Before they can leave, Japanese bombs fall on their city, and Pearl and May must escape from China fearing for their safety. This is the story of their lives with new husbands in a new city and country. The ending certainly leaves you ready for a sequel.
 
Barbara Broberg ([email protected])
Private Patient by P.D James
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is just as great as her first one. Can't get enough of Adam Dagliesh. She has a simplistic way of writing that grabs you from the very first page. Enough suspects to keep you guessing, and of course a surprise near the end that I doubt anyone anticipated. Because of her age, I thought the last couple of books would be her last. What an amazing author, I hope she lives many more years, and keeps writing.
 
Karen
The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow
Rating: 4 Stars
A great book on friendships that women have and hold dear. Some of the experiences of the girls/teens/women brought back so many memories of friendships that have gone by the wayside and those that are still strong.
 
Dave Siegel ([email protected])
The Pyramid by Henning Mankell
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is a collection of prequel novellas (around 100 pages each), revealing the early police career of Swedish investigator, Jurt Wallander. They are tight and revealing stories, well translated (although a bit odd in the English).
 
Dara Berryhill ([email protected])
The Birthday Present by Barbara Vine
Rating: 2 Stars
Very slow paced, not very interesting.
 
Dara Berryhill ([email protected])
Die For You by Unger
Rating: 4 Stars
Loved it.
 
Lynne Perednia
Rogue Males by Craig McDonald
Rating: 4 Stars
Writerly talk of craft and Hemingway worship usually send me running away tearing out my hair, but these thoughtful conversations with the hard-boiled world's best are fascinating. They show thoughtful men who take great care with their writing. Now I want all their books and have already obtained McDonald's two novels.
 
Betty Stern
Santa Fe Dead by Stuart Woods
Rating: 4 Stars
I am a fan of the Stone Barrington novels by Woods. The first chapter of SANTA FE DEAD was not as exciting a beginning as the Barrington books; however, I kept reading and found the successive story very exciting.. Ed Eagle's 
ex- wife is a killer who mistakenly kills another couple in Eagle's hotel. Eagle had testified against her in a sensational trial. The action that follows,i including a sub-plot in which Eagle's client's machinations have an influence on the search for ex-wife, Barbara. Everything meshes in the end.

 
booklover2
Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Rating: 4 Stars
Very interesting and insightful, especially for parents of students getting ready to apply to universities. Great story line as well.
 
Ivy
Long Lost by Harlan Coben
Rating: 5 Stars
He has done it again with another thriller, which takes place in Paris. Funny, thrilling and surprises along the way.
 
Sandy
Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews
Rating: 3 Stars
A quick read and about two TV chefs trying for the same job. The story is predictable but enjoyable.
 
Sally
The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King
Rating: 1 Stars
Do not waste your time on this book. The audiobook was given to me by a friend, so I'm glad I did not buy it. Although there were several plot strands that could have been interesting if pursued, along with a few interesting characters, the book just lets them drop. Extremely predictable with a maudlin ending. Use your time to read a book with more to it.
 
Asha Smith
World Without End by Ken Follett
Rating: 5 Stars
A great blend of characters and plots. An absorbing read
 
Asha Smith
Domestic Afairs by Eileen Goudge
Rating: 5 Stars
A test of friendship and ethics blending with a find of true love is the hallmark of this novel.
 
CC
Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant
Rating: 3 Stars
This book had some fascinating parts - - but it was too long and drawn out for my liking.
 
Jane Maritz
8 Sandpiper Way by Debbie McComber
Rating: 4 Stars
Nice read, but a bit random if you're not in the loop on her previous books...
 
Christine Zibas ([email protected])
Love and Obstacles by Aleksander Hemon
Rating: 5 Stars
Hemon has received a lot of accolades, including two National Book Award nominations. In this book of short stories, his autobiographical look at coming-of-age stories as a Bosnian living in Sarajevo (with war imminent) are laced with humor and pathos. The book starts slow, but grabs your heart by the end. Hemon is a master wordsmith!
 
Bill
Medusa by Clive Cussler
Rating: 4 Stars
MEDUSA is a Kurt Austin thriller that is topical. A pandemic starting in China threatens to spread across the world unless a vaccine can be found. Austin and his NUMA crew take on the creepy organization attempting to steal the newly created vaccine for their own profit. This is a pretty good yarn.
 
Sue Brandes
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Rating: 5 Stars
She really knows how to pull in her readers so you never want to put the book down. You really get that for each and every character. I also recommend the other two books that go with this series:
ECLIPSE and BREAKING DAWN.

 
Peggy Kincaid ([email protected])
Fragment by Warren Fahy
Rating: 4 Stars
You have to read this book to get the full effect but Mr. Fahy just might be the next Michael Crichton. Sit down and buckle up for a ride to an island isolated in time and full of the most amazing creatures you will ever see. It is a bit overly technical in spots but still a real fascinating study of evolution mixed into a real nail biter of a thriller.
 
Audrey Anderson ([email protected])
The Red Hat Club Rides Again by Haywood Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
This is by Haywood Smith. It's the second one and it is as good or better than the first. The ladies are gutsy, endearing and make you wish you were a part of their group. In this installment they guide each other through two kinds of addiction and an illness; have an adventure and a fun trip as well. It doesn't hurt that one of them has become a multi-millionaire - not having 2 cents to rub together doesn't get you many adventures or trips - so there always seems to be a moneyed person in these groups to make interesting things happen. Through their trials and tribulations there is humor and comedy as well. I think any boomer or Red Hatter would enjoy these books.
 
Sue, Saratoga
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Rating: 5 Stars
Enzo is almost human, trapped in a dog's body. This book deals with love, loss, family, having a dream & sticking with it, believing in yourself. This is not a MARLEY & ME kind of dog book. Highly recommend it.
 
Elizabeth
A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz
Rating: 5 Stars
Satisfying read in so many ways.
Humorous and almost painfully witty chronicle of madcap fun and trials of a father son trio from the view of the son in an Australian prison. I don't want to ruin how he got there, Be prepared to wince, be amazed, and want to read out loud entire sections. Dangerous to read in public.

 
Debbie ([email protected])
The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
This is an Isabel Dalhousie tale set in Edinburgh, Scotland, and I sometimes wonder why this series and the 44 Scotland series have no cross-over. In this installment, Isabel is beset with rampant jealousy and neediness over Jamie. I found this too excessive. The leisure atmosphere is endearing, and Isabel's constant probing (nosiness) into other people's life is very believable. I enjoy Isabel's thoughts to herself, and the constant battle of proper and improper conversation.
 
JoAnn
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 4 Stars
I didn't think it was one of Picoult's best, but it was a good read about a disease that scared the heck out of me.
 
Louise
Nobody's Saint by Paula Reed
Rating: 5 Stars
I intended to donate this to a benefit yard sale without reading it. I'd never heard of the author, and the book was thrown in as a freebie once on an eBay auction. Therefore, I concluded that it would be no great read.



To my surprise and delight, I really liked it. It's very Catholic (which I'm not, but it made no difference) with a female saint interfering or interceding, as she likes to think of it, in the lives of two people. 



Mary Kate O'Reilly truly has some adventures during the time her grandfather steals her away to England to find her a husband, as she ends up in the New World and several other foreign spots. You'll love her character and be pulling for her to be happy. 



I kept picturing the book as a movie.

 
Julie H.
Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single by Heather Mcelhatton
Rating: 3 Stars
Jen Johnson is still looking for a man. After hitting the milestone birthday and having to do bridesmaid duties for her younger sister's wedding, a bit of desperation has set in. She slogs away at her copywriter job at Keller's dept. store and tries her hand at online dating through ExplodingHearts.com, without much success. One cold Minnesota morning, bundled up to the extreme, Jen literally bumps into the handsome man of her dreams. The fact he turns out to be the heir apparent to the Keller Department Stores may be good or bad. Will the man of her dreams be enough to make Jennifer happy?
 
Donna P.
The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 4 Stars
I think most everyone has a neighbor that they were curious about. It also seems that every newscast has a report about a sex offender as well. Lisa Gardener's newest book keeps you guessing until the very end. I coudn't put it down.
 
Donna P.
The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore
Rating: 4 Stars
Entertaining read with likable characters. Comparisons made to a neglected English garden where a long time love blossomed. Very well written.

 
Janice G.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Rating: 5 Stars
Absolutely amazing and riveting. Did not want it to end. Mid 1960s in Jackson Mississippi, civil rights movement just getting started, much of this story told by "domestic" workers i.e. Black Maids of delicate southern women. Give it a chance and I bet you will love it too. First book by this author. I will certainly watch for more.
 
Eileen Quinn Knight
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is so outstanding on so many levels. The feeling for a person who is an immigrant without papers in the country. The compassion that LITTLE BEE shows for all those in her care and yet her tenacious understanding of what it means to have integrity in difficult situations.
 
Sheree ([email protected])
Every Man Sees You Naked by David M. Matthews
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a "An Insiders Guide to How Men Think". I just started reading this book but it is going rather fast. I learned that I really know nothing about men but this book helped me to understand them better. The author was blunt at times but always with a humorous edge. Did you know men usually only have 2 things on their mind? You will have to read the book to find out what that is.
 
Kim S.
The Fugitive by Massimo Carlotto
Rating: 3 Stars
In 1976 at the age of 19, Massimo Carlotto, a member of Lotta Continua, a far left leaning political group, found the body of a murdered acquaintance which he dutifully reported to the authorities who immediately accused him of committing the crime. Carlotto was arrested, tried, and imprisoned beginning a very complicated legal battle where he was acquitted, retried, and ultimately re-convicted. In the course of all these legal troubles Carlotto decided to flee the country to live in exile as a fugitive from the law. The fight with Italy's legal system was to eventually cover 11 trials and lasted 18 years until his Presidential pardon in 1993.



THE FUGITIVE, Carlotto's first novel (really a memoir), is about his flight abroad to avoid further imprisonment. In short chapters that jump around in chronology, Carlotto relates stories about his life on the run. These stories are told in short bursts like the fleeting memories of a bad dream with just the strongest impressions passed on to the reader. The disorientation of being an "accidental fugitive" is palpable as Carlotto is usually in the company of other exiles in Paris and South America and in constant dread of being discovered. Carlotto's obsession with food, his health problems, fragile relationships, and the characters he builds to hide his identity all figure prominently. The book reads like a work of fiction and it is this life in the underworld that has given Carlotto a solid understanding of the people who inhabit it and probably provided much of the background material for his later crime novels. THE FUGITIVE is a very good place to start to understand this Italian crime writer.

 
Lorraine M. Larose ([email protected])
The Woods Burner by John Pipkin
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful story about Henry David Thoreau when he was young. He accidentally started a fire and almost burnt down all of Concord, Massachusetts. A really good read.
 
Beverly J. Rowe ([email protected])
The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent sequel to CHILD 44, which I didn't read. This novel though is hard to put down, and some parts are difficult to read because of the torture of the Gulag environment. Even so, I don't think he made it out to be as bad as it really was. Great characters, edge of the seat plot, and finally, a satisfying ending....what more could you want?
 
Donna P.
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Rating: 5 Stars
I enjoyed the book so much that I had to see the movie as well. The characters and plot kept me glued to the page. Very different and shocking in parts.
 
Donna P.
Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C.J.Box
Rating: 4 Stars
Brings to light an adoption gone wrong. Felt so much empathy for the adopted parents that I could not put the book down. This was my first C.J. Box novel. Will definitely be checking out some of his other work.
 
Pat
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Rating: 4 Stars
An intriguing look at Muslim culture and religion. Ayaan is a determined young woman who has to make thought provoking decisions about her religion and her life.
 
Carol Grubbs
The Years of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 3 Stars
A nicely written book, but a little far fetched.
A perfect beach book.

 
JoAnn
An Inconvenient Wife by Megan Chance
Rating: 4 Stars
Interesting read about NY society during the Gilded Age. It has an unexpected twist at the end which leaves the reader with a few questions and speculations about some of the characters.
 
Carol Grubbs
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allison
Rating: 4 Stars
A well written book. Good story with a little magic thrown in. Another good beach book.
 
Lorraine M. Larose ([email protected])
The Last Queen by C. W. Gortner
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a wonderful novel for anyone who likes historical novels. A lot of very emotional twists along the way. It's a story about a very courageous Queen in the sixteenth century.
 
Kathy Vallee
Sucker Punch by Sammi Carter
Rating: 3 Stars
There is a candy shop mystery in this one (the 5th book). Abby is thrust into solving the murder of one of the cast members of the play group in town and her long time friend. In the end will Abby find out if she really loves her boyfriend or not?
 
Genie
Night and Day by Robert B. Parker
Rating: 5 Stars
For a small town, it seems that Paradise, Massachusetts has had more than its fair share of crime since Jesse Stone became the police chief. This time around, the trouble begins when a school principal, Betsy Ingersoll, does a panty check of female students in a locker room before a school dance. She says that Mrs. Ingersoll claims that checking the "suitability" of the girls underwear was done to curb their tendencies toward bad behavior. Jesse and Officer Molly Crane must contend with irate parents who want Mrs. Ingersoll charged with civil rights violations. Jesse assures them he will question the principal about her motives and decide if potential charges should be filed. The fact that Mr. Ingersoll is a partner of an influential Boston law firm is a major complication. Then there's the matter of a peeping tom who, in letters to Stone, calls himself the Night Hawk. As the tale progresses, Night Hawk goes from just looking to home invasion and photographing the victims after he forced them (at gun point)to disrobe. As it turns out, the key to the Night Hawk's identity lies within a swingers (wife swapping) club. Stone continues to struggle with his his obsession with his manipulative ex-wife and his on-again-off-again relationship with PI Sunny Randall (a main character in another Parker detective series). This is a quick, light and entertaining read.
 
Carol Grubbs
A Room With a View by E. M. Forster
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved the book. Such in-depth character studies and study in the psychology of love.
I fell asleep during the movie the first time I saw it. I saw it again last week after reading the book. The book is great, I can't say the same for the movie. Now I will try more English novels.

 
Ruth Lee
Exile by Richard North Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
The author weaves a story like no other legal story I have read. He tells the tale of a Jewish lawyer who, by circumstances he is not prepared for, is defending a Palestinian woman framed for murdering the Prime Minister of Israel. He explains both sides of the Jewish/Palestinian conflict so well I finally understood why there is no peace in that land. I couldn't put the book down and have recommended it as the best book I have read for the past ten years. Definitely one that remains in your heart and mind for a very long time.
 
Metalfiend in Rocksprings, TX ([email protected])
The Journey Of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History by Joseph M. Marshall III
Rating: 5 Stars
I picked this book up in the library because it looked interesting. What an understatement! This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The author is a historian as well as a Lakota and has a way of bringing the characters to life. I actually felt like I was there. If you enjoy Indian history, this is the book for you.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews
Rating: 3 Stars
An interesting and fun tale of the South and all the weird characters. This tale involves DC lobbying, lawyers, relatives, and love. Dempsey loses her job due to scandal, and may face prison time. She leaves DC for Guthrie, Atlanta, to heal herself. Andrews is always fun to read, and this is no exception.
 
Suzanne
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Rating: 5 Stars
A moving novel about a well regarded Harvard professor who finds herself forgetting things and not knowing where she was. The story is told by the woman who fines her life and the lives of her loved ones turned upside down by early onset Alzheimer's. Well researched, well written, devastating, but not a maudlin account of the effects of this disease.
 
Suzanne
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Rating: 5 Stars
Pulitzer Prize winner Brooks has written a fascinating story about the Sarajevo Haggadah. A rare book that has come to light and the story of it's background and the people involved is rich with imagined history and the emotional lives of those who were touched by or touched the book.
 
Genie
Burn by Sean Doolittle
Rating: 5 Stars
California hills are on fire. What better way to cover up a murder than to place the victim and leave it in a car where the flames will engulf it. Only one little problem, the car is found by some firefighters before the fire reaches it.



Andrew Kindler came from New York to get away from his past as an employee of a wise guy. He left with a sizable sum of money; not all of it his own. He's camped out in his cousin's Santa Monica beach house until he figures out what to do with his life. For a man with few contacts, he suddenly seems to have unannounced visitors. First there's the cop who thinks Andrew might know something about a murder suspect. Then there's the PI who has been hired by the suspect's suspect's sister, who is willing to pay Andrew $5,000 for information about her missing brother. After Andrew is paid a visit by a would be hit man, he decides its time to do some investigating of his own.



The murder victim turns out to be a high profile employee of an exclusive fitness industry business. In order to clear himself of any assumed connections, Andrew finds himself searching for a killer he's never met and in the process unravels a family's long kept secret. If he succeeds he will continue to live another day. If he fails?

 
Vicki Clinton
Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm into it about a third and really like it. Very informative with two alternating story lines, writing style and print style. The stories told by a young girl and a young woman about the French involvement in the roundup of Jews and the Holocaust. The two story lines will eventually connect but I'm not there yet.
 
Sandra F.
The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry
Rating: 4 Stars
Each thriller featuring Cotton Malone is better than the one before. A roller coaster of a ride for the reader.
 
Tanya
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the longest book but well worth the time. Written in the 50's but really reminds me of today's America. If you want an idea of what America will be like if the government continues to take over corporate America read this book.
 
Teresa Steinert ([email protected])
Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski
Rating: 3 Stars
Fun read! June tries to recovery emotionally from a tragic accident by doing the "20 Things to Do by My 25th Birthday" list of the passenger who died in her car accident.
 
Sandra F.
Aftershock by Quintin Jardine
Rating: 5 Stars
Every book in the Bob Skinner series is a winner.
 
S. Larson
BoneMan's Daughters by Ted Dekker
Rating: 4 Stars
This is my first Dekker novel, and must say it won't be my last. Ryan Evans is a Naval Intelligence Officer who is consumed by his job. He married Celine Evans in haste when he was younger and they adopted a little girl named Bethany. At the time Ryan was ill-equipped to handle a wife and family, he felt his sole obligation was to provide for them financially. For the most part Ryan was an absentee husband and father, who was hardly ever home as he accepted tour after tour of overseas. Celine decided to move on and made no efforts to hide that she was dating other men. Bethany resented her father and wouldn't forgive him for being a deadbeat dad of sorts.



While on tour in Iraq, Ryan is taken hostage by a terrorist, who uses copycat tactics of a convicted serial killer back in Evan's home state of Texas. Ryan is able to escape the ordeal and finds within himself a renewed sense of family. He can't wait to get back to Texas to apologize to both Celine and Bethany about his misgivings and to explain that he is a changed man and things will be different in the future.



Instead of finding the open road to forgiveness between him and his wife and child, he finds instead his wife's new boyfriend and his child who wants nothing to do with him. Ryan is stricken with grief and doesn't know what to do.




In the meantime, the supposed convicted serial killer, Boneman is about to be released from prison due new evidence brought forward. The Boneman had abducted young girls, and broken every bone in their body without breaking their skin. Shortly after his release, Ryan's daughter Bethany is abducted and evidence is pointing towards him as the new primary suspect in the Boneman killings. 



So has Ryan truly found himself; a changed man? Or has he been up to no good, when his family thought he was overseas working for the Navy? 



This was a great story with an engaging cast of characters. I look forward to reading more from this author.

 
Rita
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
I must agree with everyone who has praised this book. It is a page-turner and one that raises interesting social questions. The story of a child conceived to save a sibling's life and the subsequent events that follow are truly heart- rending and compelling. Ms. Picoult does know how to weave a story that holds you right to the very last page.
 
S. Larson
Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories by Tim Burton
Rating: 2 Stars
Ok I don't think I am going out on a limb here when I say Tim Burton is one strange dude. I am not one who is all that into poetry, probably because I typically don't understand what it is I am reading and don't care to take the time to reflect upon it. But I was interested in reading the works of Tim Burton because I do enjoy his films. I must say that the form of poetry he wrote is at my speed. Forgive me for my ignorance in not being able to identify the form. It is the rhyming type of poetry along the lines of roses are red, violets are blue, I don't care if you like me, because I don't like you variety. Burton's work is simple and a bit disturbing at the same time. The illustrations are kind of funny. In closing I will just say this, it was fine for a quick fun read, but I am glad I mooched the book and didn't shell out the $9.95 for it.
 
Jud Hanson
Judas Strain by James Rollins
Rating: 5 Stars
1293 AD: Marco Polo's contingent of men has been nearly wiped out by an unexplainable illness. Present day: A mysterious illness has struck Christmas Island, causing normally benign bacteria to become deadly. Sigma Force gets involved to prevent the Guild from using the mysterious illness for evil purposes when they hijack a research ship. 



This was a great book.

 
S. Larson
Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first book of Palahniuk's that I have read. When I picked it up I didn't know what to expect. I hadn't realized that he was the author of FIGHT CLUB (I loved the movie but have yet to read the book). 



Victor Mancini is a medical student drop-out who among other things is a sex addict. So how does he satisfy his sexual tendencies? By attending sex addict anonymous support groups, how else? Working in a colonial Williamsburg type theme park hardly pays the bills; the major one of which is paying for his mother's care in a nursing home. So to supplement his income Victor frequents high end restaurants and feigns choking episodes. The unsuspecting patrons who save his life feel tied to him for life and send him checks on his birthday and life-saving anniversary days. Throw in the fact that his mother thinks he is a different person every time he comes to visit and her attractive doctor, and Victor is in for a wonderful ride.

 
Gail ([email protected])
Dragon House by John Shors
Rating: 5 Stars
I am a book blogger, and was sent a review copy of John Shors' forthcoming novel, DRAGON HOUSE. I have heard great things about his first novel, BENEATH A MARBLE SKY, though I haven't read it (I soon will). 



DRAGON HOUSE is one of the best novels that I have read in years. Combine Three Cups of Tea with Slumdog Millionaire and you'll have a sense of what DRAGON HOUSE is about. The novel centers on two Americans, Iris and Noah, who travel to modern-day Vietnam to open a center that will house and educate Vietnamese street children. The pair runs into many problems once they arrive in Vietnam, and the book becomes a page-turner. 



Dragon House isn't really about Iris and Noah, however, but about the street children they encounter and become close to. These children steal the story, and are remarkable characters. 



DRAGON HOUSE is receiving some very favorable pre-publication buzz (glowing endorsements from NY Times bestsellers, etc.) and I can see why. I expect this novel (which moved me to tears on several occasions, but is quite uplifting) to win awards and hit all the bestseller lists. It's that good.

 
Vicki
Relentless by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this one. It has the usual likable characters and plenty of twist and turns throughout to keep the interest up. Good for a quick fun read.
 
M. Monahan
Servant of the Bones by Anne Rice
Rating: 3 Stars
This was my least favorite Anne Rice book. I found it very difficult to stay interested the first two-thirds of the book but found it more compelling toward the end.
 
Rita
Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet
Rating: 5 Stars
A non-fiction book written by an individual with Asperger's Syndrome. This book gives so much insight into the mind of such a person and, also, so much promise for how life can be fulfilling if one is unconditionally loved as he is.
 
Donna
Cross Country by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
I Love James Patterson thrillers. This was yet another one I could not put down and I look forward to trying to keep up with his books as fast as he writes them. If you have not tried one of his books and love thrillers -- I would get started now.
 
Connie R.
Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott
Rating: 4 Stars
Not quite finished with this one yet. It's a young adult book about relationships; family, friends, and boyfriends. Good so far!
 
Connie R.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Rating: 5 Stars
Young adult realistic fiction novel that was like you were there; feeling all the emotions. A teen coming to grips with life and death issues; very well written. I have passed this title on to many others to read!
 
Glenn
Slouching Towards Kalamazoo by Peter De Vries
Rating: 4 Stars
Keep a dictionary handy. This one contains smart and witty vocabulary choices - and is also a funny read.
 
Jud Hanson
Derailed by James Siegel
Rating: 4 Stars
2 strangers meet on a morning train to work. They decide to begin an affair with one another. Things go south for the man when their hotel room is broken into and they are each assaulted by an unknown assailant. The assailant threatens to go to the police unless the man pays for his silence. The man begins a downward spiral that he in trying desperately to escape.



Great book, similar tone to Hitchcok's STRANGERS ON A TRAIN.

 
Gary from Newfoundland
A Deeper Sleep by Dana Stabenow
Rating: 4 Stars
A great mystery and legal loophole read. Also describes life in Alaska in detail. I couldn't put it down.
 
Sharron
Sarah's Key by Tattiana de Rosnay
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a powerful story about an event many are not aware of--French soldiers rounding up nearly 80,000 Jews, many of whom are children, and sending them to extermination camps during WWII. The story is intertwined with a modern day journalist living in Paris trying to tell the story which links incredibly to her own life. An emotional, yet predictable story.
 
Judy
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
Rating: 4 Stars
Twenty-five years ago, Libby Day's mother and two sisters were slaughtered. Seven-year-old Libby survived and it was her testimony that sent her brother, Ben to prison for their murders.

Libby is now in her thirties, a do-nothing, a liar and a thief who is barely functioning. She desperately needs money and agrees to meeting the Kill Club, a group of murder groupies who believe her brother to be innocent. As much as Libby would like to just keep those memories out of consciousness, she is pulled to re-examine everything she knows and begins a search for the truth about what really happened that night.



The story may be disturbing but it is one you cannot put down until you, too, discover what really happened that night.

 
Debbie ([email protected])
The Phantom Pirate by David Kales
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a half/half book---majority is nonfiction and the remaining story is hearsay about the Boston harbor islands and the Irish Mafia. The historic rendering of the islands is interesting, and the fictional account of one Jim Freney, the head of the Irish Mafia, causes one to wonder at the underworld dealings. Not only that, but ones impression of police, FBI, and government turns murky. Corruption seems to be everywhere, and honor is nowhere. The biggest question is-----what happened to Jim Freney, almost like where is Jimmy Hoffa? An interesting story.

 
Cindy
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
Rating: 5 Stars
What a page-turner! Have read all in the Jack Reacher series. This one is one of the best. It's got it all. Action. Really bad guys--and gals. Timeliness in geopolitical situations. Suspense. Read it!
 
Cindy
Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy
Rating: 5 Stars
Just re-read SCARLET FEATHER for the second time because I needed an easy, comfortable summer-time read. Binchy always delivers good ones about friends and families and relationships. Also re-read THE QUENTINS by her, but SCARLET FEATHER is better.
 
Sharron
So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger
Rating: 2 Stars
A disappointing novel by the author of PEACE LIKE A RIVER, which was a 5 star read. This is a story written like the popular western paperbacks of the period (1910) about friendships, being at the wrong place, not having a chance in life, etc.
 
Kearstie
Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
Rating: 4 Stars
Fun, light, easy to read mystery, told from the point of view of the detective's dog. Good summer read.
 
Mary
Life Sentences by Laura Lippman
Rating: 4 Stars
This is another great Laura Lippman book, set in her home town of Baltimore. An author goes home to try to gather material for yet another memoir and uncovers secrets. I got up to answer the telephone and I swear I caught my dog reading this book! It is a good one.
 
Louise
The Flight Doctor's Rescue by Laura Iding
Rating: 4 Stars
I was just looking for a quick read, and this was it. Two pediatric medical personnel find themselves attracted to each other, but later learn that they have more than that in common.
 
Debi
Miss Julia Stands Her Ground by Ann B. Ross
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a charming book which is part of a series set in North Carolina. Miss Julia is determined to set straight the paternity of her unfaithful husband's son, no matter what the gossips say. Meanwhile, the preacher is worried that she will run for church deacon because he knows she'll win, and everyone knows there's no place for women to have leadership roles in the church! I enjoyed reading this book!
 
Julie H.
Killer Cuts by Elaine Viets
Rating: 3 Stars
Helen's dead end job this time is working in a swanky hair salon for the famed Miguel Angel. Along with a murder, Helen's busy planning her own wedding to Phil. (At last!) Will they really get married at the Coronado? Will Helen's mom come around?
 
Julie H.
Honestly Dearest, You're Dead by Jack Fredrickson
Rating: 3 Stars
Thus Dek Elstrom mystery still finds our down and out private eye living in and renovating his turret, while trying to outlast the Rivertown city hall on the zoning restrictions matter. Dek is called, out of the blue, by a lawyer in Michigan. He's been named executor of a will for a woman he's never heard of, one Louise Thomas. He heads to MI with thoughts of the $700 he'll make, where he discovers on site that Louise just hasn't died, but was murdered. The discovery of an old Underwood typewriter at the cabin brings up memories of the old days and winds up being an integral part of solving the mystery.
 
D. Hill
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Rating: 5 Stars
Minnesota, coming of age
 
D. Hill
Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley
Rating: 4 Stars
New mystery writer, location, Michigan, hockey ( I'm not a hockey fan, but its still a good read)
 
Julie Towson
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Rating: 5 Stars
A great saga of the author's goal to build a school in a very remote area. The book reveals all of the hardships and hurdles that must be met before this dream can be realized.
 
Kearstie
The Nightwatch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Rating: 5 Stars
The battle between supernatural agents of the dark and light fought in present day Russia. Very well told (great translation by Andrew Bromfield, I would guess) and highly imaginative. Lots of blurred morality and politics. Couldn't put it down.
 
Kearstie
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 4 Stars
Love at first sight? This is a look at just such a relationship. The twist at the end is unexpected and really redeemed the book for me.
 
Bonnie
Leaving Mother Lake by Yang Erche Namu and Christine Mathieu
Rating: 4 Stars
A fascinating true story of Namu's early life growing up in Moso country on the Chinese - Tibetan border. It's another world there, where women are the heads of households and few venture far from home, at least not permanently. Namu, with anthropologist Matthieu, writes of a lovely part of the world few have ever heard of. Her subsequent leaving to go to Shanghai to study music and adoption of the "western" world, while not severing ties to her heritage, makes for a magical memoir.
 
Marjorie Clark ([email protected])
The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton
Rating: 4 Stars
Great summer read about friendship. If you ever had good friends and still have them, this is a book about that relationship.
 
CherylS22
Matrimony by Joshua Henkin
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed reading the book. It follows the lives of two college couples after college and what happened in the relationships over time. The book was an easy read and could be enjoyed by all.
 
Maureen Hart
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Rating: 5 Stars
My book club read this as our May selection, and I am still thinking about it. I told the group that it felt like a privilege to read this book, and that I was blown away by how imaginative it was, especially because it is narrated by Death. The characters and themes have haunted me. It is about a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany and how books and words affect her life, and the lives of so many others. It's about redemption, always one of my favorite literary themes, and about good and evil. This book was so good, and left such an impression, that it was difficult for me to move on to other books for a few weeks. Nothing I picked up compared to THE BOOK THIEF. It may be a long time before something does...
 
Gwen Schatz
The Sirens of Bagdad by Yasmina Khadra and John Cullen
Rating: 5 Stars
For me, this was an amazing insight into the life of a poor 18 year old boy from a village out side of Bagdad. It gave me a new perspective as to why these young men and women are willing to give up their futile lives to become suicide bombers. To me it appears that there is no way at present to stop this demolition of young lives! It is very well written and I could not put it down until I came to the end.
 
Sharon
And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
Rating: 4 Stars
A Victorian romance with a mystery twist. Lady Ashton became a widow soon after her wedding. Did her husband really die? Are there fake pieces in the British Museum and are they there because of her dead husband? Those and more questions are explored in an interesting book that kept my interest to the very end.
 
Genie
Dirty Work by Stuart Woods
Rating: 5 Stars
Ex-cop/lawyer/PI Stone Barrington is once again caught up in the world of an international spy network thanks to his friend, British intelligence agent "Carpenter". Carpenter inadvertently draws Stone into her life-and-death struggle with a well known and highly efficient female assassins, La Biche. It all begins when a clumsy young photographer, Herbie, goes on an assignment to photograph an adulterous husband of a client of Stone's. While trying to shoot the photographs, Herbie falls through a sky light an into the middle of a murder scene. When he is arrested by the NYPD the British Intelligence connection comes into play. What started out as a simple divorce case quickly turns into an international situation of a top secret nature. Detective Dino Bacchetti, Stone's best pal and ex-partner from his NYPD days is able to Herbie released, the incriminating photographs soon have both men involved in the hunt for La Biche. La Biche has Carpenter as well as several other British agents in her sights as she sets out to avenge the deaths of her parents. No one seems to be telling the entire truth about the situation to Stone or Dino as the body count rises compliments of the female assassin. Although Woods has developed his core characters into complex and able individuals who approach complicated situations in a no nonsense manner, as always there is a touch of humor and a dose of romance.
 
Priscilla
Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoy the Jack Daniels books. I have just started Whiskey Sour and so far it is not a disappointment.
 
Judy O. ([email protected])
Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
Rating: 4 Stars
Reporter Jack McEvoy from the LA Times has been caught in a layoff. He has two weeks time to work, but he decides he is going to go out with a bang by writing a blockbuster story. He quickly gets embroiled in a serial killer's business and also manages to get his ex-girlfriend--FBI agent Rachel Walling--involved also. This is an exciting story, and Connelly never seems to disappoint his fans.
 
Debi
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
Each time I read another Precious Ramotswe book, I'm amazed at the simplicity of her wisdom! The voice, tone, and style of the writing leaves me looking at my surroundings so differently. I'm a "traditionally built" woman, too! In this one, Mma. Ramotswe is hired to find the reason a famous football team is losing. The owner thinks it's a traitor on the team. Meanwhile, her trusty twenty-something year old van finally bites the dust...maybe!
 
Loretta Sanford ([email protected])
Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi by Geoff Dyer
Rating: 2 Stars
I usually like travel books but not this one. Jeff is a writer who hates to write. He constantly says that there is nothing new to write about Venice. So he goes to parties, gets drunk, uses cocaine and tells you how empty his life is. Then he goes to India, to Varanasi, to write about the funeral pyres on the banks of the Ganges. Death is everywhere, dead people, dead animals, the air itself is clogged with the smoke of death. For some reason he decides to stay. Eventually he has a physical and mental breakdown.
 
Megan
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Rating: 4 Stars
I loved SHADOW OF THE WIND by the same author. I am only 200 pages into this one and am enjoying it, though not (yet) to the extent of his previous novel.
 
Megan
Sheer Abandon by Penny Vincenzi
Rating: 4 Stars
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the anticipation created in wanting to find out who there parents were of the abandoned child.
 
F. Tessa Bartels
Kitchen Privileges by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 3 Stars
She may be the queen of suspense but this autobiography is only okay. She's led an interesting life and she is discreet. But I thought it would be more about her childhood, and it wasn't.
 
Susan M Kovalinsky ([email protected])
The Daemon by Anthony Peake
Rating: 5 Stars
This book on the Secret Self we all contain within, and the way in which this "daemon" allows us to "cheat death" is a fascinating text on human consciousness which fuses philosophy, quantum physics, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and literature and weaves these disciplines into a stunning binary mind theory. This follows Peake's first book, IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH?: The Extraordinary Science of What Happens When We Die (2006). Peake will be appearing at a free public lecture and reception on Aug 3 at 6 pm at the Roosevelt Hotel, East 45 St, NYC.
 
Rita B.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the best book that I've read in a while. Life in Jackson, Mississippi in the
sixties from the black maids' points of view.
The author writes in several voices, both black and white, and has good character development. Its emotional, has humor and I couldn't put it down.

 
Rita B.
Good Christian Bitches by Kim Gatlin
Rating: 1 Stars
Very trite. Amanda, the main character, moves back to her wealthy Dallas suburban hometown with her two children after a divorce. What follows is poor characterization of elite snobbism at its worst. There's definitely some humor to it. Unfortunately, it builds up (sort of) to a totally thrown together, poor style ending that kind of makes one think the author got bored with her little "project."
 
Marion Miller ([email protected])
The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Rating: 3 Stars
A happy ending for all. This was a delightful read from a new talent. It gives new insight into to Japanese internment during WWII.
 
Jo Ann
Knock Out by Catherine Coulter
Rating: 5 Stars
FBI Special Agent Savich and Sherlock are at it again. This thriller has two different storylines going at the same time and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Once again I was glued to the pages waiting for the outcome of this thriller!
 
Debi
Life Sentences by Laura Lippman
Rating: 3 Stars
This is the first novel that I have read by this author. When I begin reading a new author, I always give it at least 100 pages or so before I judge it! This one was hard to get into, but once I did, I found it hard to put down! Then, I was all psyched up for a disappointing ending. Such is life!
 
Genie
Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
Rating: 5 Stars
Bon Temps, Louisiana may be a small town but its far from uneventful. This book begins on the evening of a big event. Like the vampires before them, the Weres have decided to reveal themselves to the world. Telepathic barmaid, Sookie Stackhouse, is worried about the way many people in town will react to this news. She is concerned, not only for herself but for her brother who is a were-panther and her boss, Sam, who is a shape shifter. Initially, the announcement seems to have been taken in stride by most of the townsfolk. However, tragedy strikes close to home when Sookie's werepanther sister-in-law, Crystal, is found murdered and crucified in the Merlots parking lot. Of course Sookie's brother, Jason, is the prime suspect. Before Sookie has time to prove that Jason is innocent, a bigger problem materializes. Enemies of her great grandfather are determined to kill her. Thus begins the most intense and dark plot of any book in this series.
 
Martha
The Late Homecomer by Kao Kalia Yang
Rating: 5 Stars
This memoir surprised me and engaged me faster than I expected. A young woman relates the story of the long, arduous, dangerous journey of her family, both physically and culturally. Born in a refugee camp, Lang conveys the weight of responsibility the young immigrants feel to make the efforts and sacrifices of their parents worthwhile.
 
Ann Brim
311 Pelican Court by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 5 Stars
Another of Debbie Macombers books about life in Cedar Cove. She writes about real life and I enjoy her books so much.
 
Rosalie Sambuco ([email protected])
The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar
Rating: 5 Stars
Another wonderful story by Ms. Umrigar. It centers around a couple from the USA who has gone to India to help ease the pain of the death of their young son, Benny. Their housekeeper's son, Ramesh, and Frank become inseparable. Prakash, Ramesh's father, becomes jealous of Frank and Ramesh's time spent together. It has a very unusual ending. If you enjoy reading about other cultures, this is a book you don't want to miss.
 
Michele L.
Sexiest Man Alive by Diana Holquist
Rating: 4 Stars
Diana Holquist's novel is pure enjoyment from beginning to end as Jasmine Burns, an extremely talented costume designer, is unexpectedly hired to design costumes for the very famous movie star, Josh Toby. She secretly has a crush on him. Every time she is around him though, she can't breathe, breaks out in a sweat, and practically faints.



When Jasmine's psychic sister makes a prediction of Jasmine's one true love and announces his name is Josh Toby, she can't believe it. She is so stunned that she finds out if there any other men named Josh Toby in town and finds one.



This is an enchanting story filled with a likable cast of characters that endear while they charm. It tells the complete truth about falling in love and the risks that follow. A wonderful book to take with you to the beach!

 
Michele L.
Anyplace I Hang My Hat by Susan Isaacs
Rating: 4 Stars
ANY PLACE I HANG MY HAT is a bright insightful story of fitting in, painful break-ups, and family relationships. Amy Lincoln is a smart, likable and brave woman who searches for the mother she never knew. I really like the confident, spunky, female factor she has going for her. Amy makes a name for herself by becoming a political reporter with In Depth magazine. The story of a lifetime presents itself while she is at a political campaign party. A young man declares that he is the son of the guest of honor, Senator Thom Bowles. As Amy explores the senator's past, she decides it is time to examine her own past. Amy is led on a trail of self-discovery as she uncovers details about a mother she never knew. I was reminded of how special the relationship is between parents and their children. Susan Isaac is a masterful storyteller. She unfolds the story deftly and masterfully reveals the closely guarded secret of Amy's past. This novel will no doubt satisfy Isaac's fans and new readers alike.
 
Debbie ([email protected])
44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
This is another series for Smith, this one started as a serial for a newspaper and is set in Edinburgh, Scotland. I have enjoyed the lightness of this story which centers on Pat, a 20 year old girl who is trying to embark on life. Along the way, she meets many interesting people: Bertie, a 5 year old, and his mother Irene, Bruce, Matt, Angus, and many others. As in Smith's other works, there is a car--a yellow Mercedes. And of course, is the mention of art, psychology, and wine. The stories show a life not too different than the one in the United States where parents wonder if their offspring will ever take flight.

 
Bob W. Sr.
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
Rating: 5 Stars
Unusual story line, but engrossing tale about a girl with a fairly rare endocrine problem and her relationships. I really liked the book and highly recommend it.
 
Andrea R.
Relentless by Dean Koontz
Rating: 2 Stars
I'm struggling though this book. I really love some of his work like the odd series but this is just not believable or enjoyable for me. Too bad, I had such high hopes for it!
 
Jackie Stewart ([email protected])
Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox
Rating: 3 Stars
Enjoying it, not as good as I thought it would be.
 
Louise
Shadows at the Window by Linda Hall
Rating: 4 Stars
Steeple Hill suspense novel that I enjoy so much. Parts of the plot seemed a little far-fetched to me, though. A faithful churchgoing Lilly had a past that she thought would stay hidden, especially from her youth minister fiance. However, old and potentially harmful pictures are beginning to show up in various places.
 
Jane ([email protected])
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great book it is very profound and heart rending. I highly recommend this book
 
Linda H. ([email protected])
Most Likely to Die by Lisa Jackson, Beverly Barton, and Wendy Corsi Stau
Rating: 5 Stars
As representatives from St. Elizabeth High School prepare to celebrate their 20-year reunion, they all focus on an event that happened at the Valentine's Dance their senior year. One of the boys that all the girls were madly in love with had been killed by an arrow shot through his heart. The killer was never found. Now, the girls are getting reminders that they are also going to die. As they search for the killer, a clue is given from the widow of the man who owned the weapon that killed the boy. The weapon had been reported stolen several weeks prior to the murder but his wife was now saying that her husband, now deceased, had admitted to killing the boy. Who is making the threats now? Each of the authors wrote a section of the book. They did an excellent job. A good book.
 
Sandy
Three Weeks To Say Boodbye by C.J. Box
Rating: 5 Stars
I finished this one in 2 days and got nothing done around the house or outside!



Jack and Melissa McGuane have spent years trying to have a baby. Finally their dream has come true with the adoption of their daughter, Angelina. But nine months later, they learn that Angelina's teenage birth father never signed away his parental rights. Worse, his father, a powerful Denver judge, wants him to own up to this responsibility. When Jack and Melissa attempt to handle the situation rationally by meeting with the father and son, it is immediately apparent that there's something sinister about both of them and that love for Angelina is not the motivation for their actions.



Wonderful and exciting story!

 
MJM
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Rating: 5 Stars
There are many layers to this interesting story of the intermingling of hostages with their captors.
 
Gwen Schatz
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the story of your Sarah and her cruel parting in Paris from her family during a round up of Jewish people by the French in 1942. How she survives her imprisonment in the camps and has the fortitude to keep on living. Just when you think you have read enough novels relating to the Holocaust, this remarkable, eloquently written novel is definitely worth your time.
 
Marsha
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Rating: 5 Stars
From the author of MARCH comes an intriguing story of a rare book expert who is sent to conserve the famous Sarajeva Haggadah rescued from Serb shelling during the Bosnian War. This priceless book is one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images. As she discovers tiny artifacts in the binding, stories unlock as to the origin and history of the past owners.
 
Linda H. ([email protected])
Fade to Black by Wendy Corsi Staub
Rating: 4 Stars
Actress Mallory Eden fears for her life as her stalker has killed her dog, broken into her house and shot her, and sent a bomb to her house wounding her assistant. She fakes her death and leaves Hollywood for a quiet life in rural Rhode Island under the assumed name of Elizabeth Baxter. But her peaceful life is shattered when her next door neighbor finds out that she acted in a porn movie in her early days and forces himself upon her. When the police are notified and find out her true identity, the media finds out and camps out on her doorstep. The police feel that the neighbor is the stalker who has followed her from California. But Mallory isn't so sure. Who is the locksmith that she is so attracted to? He does not want to yield any information about himself and Mallory feels that he is hiding something. A good book.
 
Linda H. ([email protected])
Being Elizabeth by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Rating: 2 Stars
Elizabeth Turner inherited a family business called Deravenels through the death of her half-sister. With three trusted employees, she brought the company into prosperity. By her side since they were eight years old is Robert Dunley. While he has loved her since childhood, she refuses to marry him based on the problems she has observed with her father and his six marriages. I loved the Emma Harte saga but this character was too out of touch with reality. There was a lot of repetition in this book regarding Elizabeth's ancestors and it was kind of difficult to follow who was married to whom. This book was not as good as other books written by Barbara Taylor Bradford.
 
Linda H. ([email protected])
The Dead Room by Heather Graham
Rating: 5 Stars
Leslie MacIntyre has survived an unexplained explosion where her beloved fiancé, Matthew Connolly, was killed. Now she is back at her regular job-an archaeologist. While working at a dig in New York City, she meets Matt's cousin, Joe Connolly, who is a dead ringer for Matt. While Joe is investigating the disappearance of a social worker, his investigation also involves the explosion that killed his cousin. Neither Joe nor Leslie believes it was an accident. Now Joe believes that Leslie was the intended target instead of Matt and that the murderer was at the house at the time of the explosion. A suspenseful book.
 
Sandy
Getting Old is Criminal by Rita Lakin
Rating: 1 Stars
One of the worst books ever. I got about a third of the way through and thought who cares!!!
 
Louise
Secrets of the Tycoon's Bride by Emilie Rose
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm just a sucker for these stories about one party bribing another one to become his or her spouse for a specified period. We know how they're going to end.



In this one, both the bride and groom had a reason to benefit from the arrangement, and neither was completely forthright with the other.



Just an easy, quick, fun read for you.

 
Louise
The Wedding Deception by Adrienne Basso
Rating: 4 Stars
Set in the London Regency period, a young woman was wed by a gallant friend who was making it possible for her to gain an inheritance as a married woman and also to thwart the advances of a lecherous pursuer. 



Good arrangement for Claire... until she learned that her groom had put his twin brother's name on the wedding paperwork. Which one is she married to?

 
Louise
The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 3 Stars
After reading the 2nd installment first, I was disappointed in this one. I believe this is the first of her Pierce Quincy (FBI profiler) books, and I am still looking forward to reading the others. 



In THE THIRD VICTIM, he is sent to a small town in Oregon to assist Officer Lorraine Conner in the case of a school shooting. Was the 13-yr-old boy caught with the guns really the killer?

 
Louise
Hiding in Plain Sight by Barbara Goodwin
Rating: 4 Stars
Maybe 4.5 on this one. While I really enjoy reading books that have to do with flights (yes, I've taken way too many, myself), some parts of the story just didn't ring quite true.



Judy Winston, flight attendant, happened to be on the wrong flight at the wrong time, as a hijack was attempted. In the process, she became sort of a heroine. But I had to wonder why they would attempt it before the plane even took off. Too much potential for failure (which is what happened, of course).

 
Fran
Moose A Memoir of Fat Camp by Stephanie Klein
Rating: 3 Stars
Stephanie Klein shares her memoirs of growing up overweight and being sent to "fat" camp. I found the book was okay, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. Parts of it were painfully slow.
 
L. Hann
The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
Jane Rizzoli is at it again. What forensic evidence does she find? What is happening in the museum? How many more victims will there be?
 
Debi
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
Rating: 4 Stars
Jack Reacher is at it again! It all starts when he witnesses, no...is involved in...the suicide of a young woman on a train. Of course, he won't let it go even though the police and the feds, not to mention a terrorist group, tell him to do so. This will keep your heart pumping to the very end!
 
L. Hann
The Front by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 4 Stars
Interesting read. Not as good as the Kay Scrapetta series but good.
 
Nan Lindssay
Sea of Poppies by Amitov Ghosh
Rating: 3 Stars
It took a long while to get into the book and get all the characters straight. However, with perseverance, I was rewarded with a good story, the first of a trilogy.
 
L. Hann
Fractured by Karin Slaughter
Rating: 5 Stars
In a gracious home in Atlanta a teenager girl is found murdered in her lavish bathroom. Who could have killed this child in her own home? This one will have you on the edge of your seat.
 
Frankie
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Rating: 5 Stars
I could not put this book down. I had to find out what would happen next. It is quite an unusual story and one that has stayed with me long after finishing the book.
 
Marjorie L.
Heartless by Diana Palmer
Rating: 4 Stars
A great addition to the Lont Tall Texans series.
 
Nan Lindsay
Serena by Ron Rash
Rating: 5 Stars
Tale of the lumber barons of the south (Smoky Mts.) and one woman's quest, some would say evil quest, for power and money.
 
Nan Lindsay
Last Night at the Red Lobster by Stewert O'Nan
Rating: 4 Stars
The restaurant is closing. Surely does affect the employees.
 
Nan Lindsay
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Rating: 4 Stars
Man needs wife. Man advertises for wife. Fine woman arrives... or is she a fine woman? And what about him?
 
Nan Lindsay
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Rating: 5 Stars
World War II German soldiers occupy one of the British Channel Island, Guernsey. The story is told in letter form. Interesting.
 
Bev Uebel ([email protected])
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Rating: 5 Stars
If I could, I would give it more than 5 stars! Absolutely, one of the best books I've ever read.
 
Tom Carrico
Down Town by Ferrol Sams
Rating: 5 Stars
Southern humor at its best.
 
L. Hann
Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
Rating: 5 Stars
Parents spying on what their children do on the internet. Is it right? What would you do to protect your child? Very suspenseful.
 
Debi
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
I just love Mma. Ramotswe's earthy wisdom! There are so many little mysteries to be solved nowadays...Who left the pumpkin on the porch in the house on Zebra Drive? Who left the string out on the tiny table? Who is returning to worry Precious? Who is Mma. Makutsi's dance partner? Read it and see!
 
Swan Bender ([email protected])
The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde
Rating: 5 Stars
I love the creativity and imagination of the author in this series.
 
Swan Bender ([email protected])
Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern
Rating: 3 Stars
This story kept me interested because it revolved around a character with autism and I was learning about the nature of this disease. However the ending was too contrived.
 
Swan Bender ([email protected])
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Rating: 5 Stars
This was my introduction to Patricia Briggs and I enjoyed her writing. It is a paranormal fantasy about werewolves, vampires, shape-shifters and witches living amongst humans. The main character is a shape-shifter and quite likable. I look forward to reading more in the series.
 
Dorothy Boyum
The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller
Rating: 3 Stars
The story line of this book was good but I thought it was a bit explicit at times.
 
Sue W.
Killer Keepsakes by Jane K. Cleland
Rating: 3 Stars
This is an easy read with not much to it. Gretchen doesn't come back to work after her vacation in Hawaii. Where is she, what has happened? Then a dead man shows up in her apartment knocked out by a blunt instrument and then shot. Who is this person, why is he there? Lives are tangled together, lots of different names of people in the plot are actually different from their real names. The owner of the antique store seems to be able to figure out what happened and who dun it using antique appraisals of a belt buckle and a vase. 



I enjoy mysteries and this was an easy no brainer read. A little on the light side of enjoyable.

 
Ron G. ([email protected])
The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved Portuguese Irregular Verbs and found this sequel to be every bit as hilarious. Professor Doctor Von Egelfeld is pompous, egotistical, a complete boob..........and lovable.
 
Swan Bender ([email protected])
Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
Rating: 5 Stars
If I were alive in the 1930s, Maisie Dobbs and I would be friends. She is a resourceful sleuth of her time and this series is wonderful to dive into. I recommend reading them all.
 
Deb
Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese
Rating: 5 Stars
This story of the unexpected arrival of twins born to a nun and a surgeon serving in an Ethiopian hospital, weaves together a generational saga with history, culture, and the juxtaposition of western and third world medicine. Feeling like I was a voyeur into something precious, I hated for this book to end and forced me back into my own world!
 
Gail H.
The Shanghai Moon by S. J. Rozan
Rating: 4 Stars
Easy to read mystery with Chinese-American protagonist. Lydia Chin. The case involves asset recovery of Jewish refugees property. Interesting historical information on life in Shanghai for Jewish refugees in 1941-42. I plan to go back and read the other Lydia Chin mysteries now.
 
Cheryl Stillwell
Obsession: An Erotic Tale by Gloria Vanderbilt
Rating: 2 Stars
Priscilla Bingham thought that she had enjoyed the charmed life with her late, talented, renowned husband, architect Talbot Bingham. Only to discover after Talbot's death that her "reality" was a mere fantasy. The joy and satisfaction that she derived from what she thought was the devotion that she and Talbot shared, was shattered when she discovered it was but a fantasy.



Priscilla discovers through erotic letters from Talbot's mistress that the perfect life that she and Talbot led on the surface was really very superficial. She learns that he shared his passion and fantasies with another: Albeit, a woman who could pass as her double.



The erotica was too fantastical for my taste. Otherwise, it was a very entertaining and thought provoking read.

 
Gail H.
The Late Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow
Rating: 4 Stars
Funny, quirky story with the protagonist's death in the first few pages. Molly watches over her young daughter, friends, and her philandering cosmetic surgeon husband from high above.
 
Julie Sorum ([email protected])
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Rating: 4 Stars
I am really enjoying this story of two sisters who make the transition from being well off, pampered, beautiful girls in China to just surviving in the United States. The relationship between Pearl and May is wonderful and I always enjoy Lisa See's books.
 
Susan L.
Comes A Horseman by Robert Liparulo
Rating: 5 Stars
I LOVE thrillers and this is a MUST READ combination of murder, occult and the FBI. This is a hard book to put down even when one is sitting on the edge of their seat holding their breathe.
 
Barbara S.
The Bride Finder by Susan Carroll
Rating: 4 Stars
This starts out as a typical story of a young woman from London who comes from a royal family that has depleted their fortune by gambling and excessive spending. 



The very wealthy Lord Anatole 
St. Leger, who is in need of a wife, pays much needed money to Madeline's family for her to marry him. Neither of them has ever seen the other.



After the marriage, the story is no longer typical and the twists in the plot are both interesting and amusing.

 
Sue W.
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
Rating: 4 Stars
Each Friday a group of women get together at a yarn shop to knit, talk, eat and discuss their inner secrets. Suddenly the daughters father shows up after many years and demands a place in the daughters life causing Georgia, the mother to reconsider her life and lost love. Unexpected things happen towards the end that are more heart wrenching than I expected. This is a comfortable read and I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
 
L. Hann
Dirty Martini by J. A. Konrath
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent. J.A. Konrath is a rising star!
 
Kasi Kirby ([email protected])
The Physick book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
Rating: 5 Stars
Connie Goodwin, a graduate student at Harvard, is asked by her Mom during summer vacation to get her grandma's Marblehead house ready to sell. While doing so, she uncovers the family bible with a key inside that has the name Deliverance Dane on a note stuffed inside the key. This sets Connie on a path to discover whether the witches in Salem were innocent or truly witches when they were executed in 1692. She is interested in this subject not only as a possibility for her thesis but because two of her relatives were among those executed.The surprises on the way will include romance, searching for a recipe book of spells and an unscrupulous professor (her mentor) who wishes the discovery for himself.
 
Ed Hahn ([email protected])
Kowloon Tong: A Novel by Paul Theroux
Rating: 3 Stars
Ultimately a disappointment, this novel started fast and petered out with an ending that challenged believability. 



I rated it as high as I did because the writing and descriptions were up to Theroux's standards. The plot, however, leaves a lot to be desired.



The characters are somewhat stereotyped but not as badly as some other reviewers thought. They are more likely composites, created to emphasize their failings. 



I have met ex-pats who refuse to eat Chinese food, who describe the Chinese negatively and who keep to their own community of other ex-pats. They aren't all British, either. I am sometimes embarrassed at the antics of some of my fellow Americans. 



The story follows the struggles of Bunt Mullard, a Hong Kong born but stereotypically British factory owner and manager, as he deals with events leading up to the 1997 hand-over of Hong Kong to Chinese or as he describes it "the Take-away". He lives with his overbearing mother, Betty, and has little social life outside of the Cricket Club and the "Girlie Bars". The story basically recounts events precipitated by the death of his Chinese business partner and the subsequent problems he must deal with.



The major issue is whether to sell out to Mr. Hung, representing the PLA (Chinese army), who wants the factory building as part of a development plan. Bunt does not handle the negotiations very well and in fact does not deal with any of the situations he finds himself in, very well. He's pretty much a wuss and is dominated by his lower middle class mother. 



The suspense aspects of the book have to do with hidden motives and missing people. I certainly would not characterize the story as a thriller. The story's conclusion is very unsatisfying, but I, perhaps, like Theroux, was happy to have the story end. 



For me, one of the highlights of the book, perhaps because I live here, was the description of various venues and situations in Hong Kong. Without that, I'm not sure I would have been as complimentary of the book as I have been.


 
Ed Hahn ([email protected])
The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the first book in the Dave Robicheaux series. I have no idea why it took me so long to get around to reading it.



I've been a fan of Burke's writing for years and have read all but two of the Dave Robicheaux series. This initial offering, while having some rough edges, sets the tone for the rest of the series and is a strong indicator of why Burke is to earn two Edgars, a CW Macallan Gold Dagger and be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in subsequent years. 



The story covers Robicheaux's last months as a New Orleans Police Detective, his stormy relationship with his partner, Cletus Purcell, his initial romance with his soon to be wife, Annie Ballard, his relationship with his brother Jimmy and his ongoing feud with the "Feds", no matter what their department.



There is a lot of violence in the story, though none of it is gratuitous, in my opinion. There's a little bit of sex, none of it pornographic and some strong language that only adds to the realism of the story.



Burke allows us to see the constant battles Robicheaux is fighting in his own head with his alcoholism, his Vietnam experience and his sense of what is right and fair and what is wrong and needs to be fixed. He has an inner compass that he sometimes wishes would stop working but he's never able to escape its influence for long.



The plot here is not complicated but the characters are. Burke's descriptions of New Orleans are priceless, poetic and frame the plot by making it more interesting and realistic.



I highly recommend this book, the whole Robicheaux series and the other stuff Burke has written. I think once you start you'll be hooked.

 
Ed Hahn ([email protected])
Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose
Rating: 5 Stars
This biography of Meriwether Lewis must have been a daunting task and Stephen Ambrose was certainly up to it.



The sections of the book covering the Lewis and Clark Expedition are as well written as anything Ambrose has done. I felt like I was there with the "Corps of Discovery", as they were named, seeing the incredible plains and mountains of the unexplored American West for the first time.



I am familiar with some of the country and have actually stood at Three Forks in Montana where the Missouri River is first formed and I can only imagine what it must have felt like and looked like for the explorers.



The book is, of course, not only a biography of Meriwether Lewis but also a view into the thinking and attitudes of Thomas Jefferson, in particular, and other luminaries of the time: the West, American Indians, the future of the U.S. and its eventual spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific.



The story of Lewis' life is a glorious and sad chronicle as we share both his triumphs and his disappointments. The last chapter of the book, titled "Aftermath" is as beautifully written a eulogy as I have ever read. Ambrose must have taken Meriwether Lewis into his heart and shared that love with the rest of us. As he pointed out in his Introduction, he and his family fell in love with the country Lewis and Clark explored which helped provide him with the motivation to write Lewis' story. This fascination and familiarity with the geography of the plains and the mountains is obvious as Ambrose describes the land the explorers traveled through.



Some may find the detail Ambrose provides boring or unnecessary but I found that it enhanced my sense of immediacy and identification with people who had endured what they went through 200 years ago.



UNDAUNTED COURAGE is a great bit of historiography and a great bit of writing also.

 
Linda
Bluegrass Courtship by Allie Pleiter
Rating: 5 Stars
Janet needed an attitude adjustment; would Drew be the one to bring it about? Does one circumstance make you bitter about all similar circumstances? You can change, but there's a big step you must make first.
 
Bonnie
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Rating: 3 Stars
An okay mystery featuring a young girl detective. But I'm not sure what the reviewers were all agog about - it's just okay. Re-read Nancy Drew if you're looking for moppet detective fiction.
 
Susan, Saratoga
The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan
Rating: 2 Stars
Even though this is a Young Adult book, I've read others in that genre that were wonderful such as THE BOOK THIEF, or entertaining like TWILIGHT. This had a great premise, so I was eager to read it. However, the plot and writing style was definitely geared toward the young set and I was disappointed. A young man wakes up in a cell, strapped to a chair, bloody and bruised. The last thing he remembered was going to sleep in his bed at home last night. What happened to bring him here? Don't bother reading it to find out the answer.
 
Sue, Saratoga
The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman
Rating: 3 Stars
Based on the real-life couple who hid and helped smuggle Jews in their zoo in Poland during WWII. I especially like listening to it on tape. The different accents interspersed with the narrator's voice add to the experience. I cannot imagine being so brave! However, it was not riveting and in some places dragged on. Poland suffered greatly during the Nazi regime and this book serves to remind us that many people helped the Jews and risked their lives in the process. Others in my book club really liked it so I would still recommend it.
 
Brady ([email protected])
Just When I Thought I'd Dropped My Last Egg by Kathie Lee Gifford
Rating: 4 Stars
I heard this book by Books on Tape read by the author and it is a hoot. I had no idea that she is a songsmith and, in fact, she sings a few of her creations on this CD and they are just great. I was most pleased with this edition and think most people, particularly women, would enjoy it also.
 
Vickie
Malice by Lisa Jackson
Rating: 5 Stars
From the beleaguered hurricane city of New Orleans to the beautiful neighborhoods of California, detective Rick Bentz is haunted by the appearance of his dead wife. He seeks the help of his old friends at the LAPD and ends up in more trouble than he knows how to deal with, as more bodies pile up and he still seeks the truth about his wife. With a breath-taking conclusion, this whodunit is also a what's happening here kind of book. You can't put it down until you read the last page!
 
Marlie Warren ([email protected])
The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan
Rating: 5 Stars
I LOOOVE memoirs anyway so, this book kept me interested for that reason first and then second *and through the whole thing* because of the author's way to keep me consumed by her story.
I hope she continues to write because she's GOT IT!!!

 
Jennifer Zacharyasz
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Rating: 5 Stars
A well written and emotional book dealing with some sensitive issues surrounding illegal immigrants, the system of deportation centers and what it means to be a family. Other themes that are intertwined in the story relate to infidelity and how far you would go to help another person-especially someone you just met. It pushes you to question your own beliefs of what you would be willing to risk; what obligation you feel towards others; even someone you just met. This questioning is the heart of the story.
 
Cynthia Plaza-Harney
More than Words: Stories of Strength by Carla Neggers, Susan Mallery & Karen Harper
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a book with 3 stories and 3 different authors. Each story was great and it makes you think to do more in life. It is not just for you but to do something for others and I love how it turns back to a blessing to you...when you lease expect it.
 
Ron G.
Hiroshima by John Hersey
Rating: 5 Stars
Heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Hersey talked to a half dozen survivors of the A-bomb shortly after it was dropped in 1945. He went back to Japan in 1985 and updates us on their lives.
 
Lynn, Camp Hill, PA
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
Rating: 5 Stars
Connie Goodwin has just passed her orals at Harvard and is deciding on a topic for her dissertation. Her mom calls her from Sante Fe and asked her to get her grandmother's house ready to sell. A key is found in a bible in the house with a note that says, THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE. The story takes the reader through history to the Salem witch trials. Were they hysteria, or were they really about witchcraft?
 
Lynn
Bone Song by John Meaney
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a pick for my science fiction book group. Great empire building. The author has created a very vivid world of dead and living, wraiths and wolves. Great value is placed on the bones of great artists, singers, musicians, painters.
 
RJ ([email protected])
Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Rating: 4 Stars
This writing duo has been entertaining readers for years and the new release, CEMETERY DANCE ranks in the top 2%. Combining voodoo, mind control and a family tree with many a crooked branch, toss in a madman with a diabolic plan and you have the makings of a chills and thrills novel - especially in the hands of Preston and Child. 
I thoroughly enjoyed the audio - the narrator utilizes inflection and emotion to keep you on the edge of your seat. CEMETERY DANCE is a good book - if you enjoy a good mystery, a chilling thriller, check it out, you won't be disappointed!

 
Swan Bender ([email protected])
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Rating: 5 Stars
Quite an ambitious undertaking and a wonderful read. This traces the journey of the sacred Sarajevo Haggadah created in fifteenth century Spain, backwards in time. The uniqueness of this story is that the journey's stopping points come from a fragment of an insect's wing; a stain of wine; salt crystals; a white hair embedded in the parchment. When each of these items is found by rare-book restorer, Hanna Heath, we learn how the fragment of the insect's wing arrived in the book through its journey in time and place. A very unique way of sharing the story of this book and easy to read and decipher the time frame shifts. As Hanna studies the book, the reader learns about Hanna's life and relationships which adds roundness to her character. I highly recommend this read, especially for a summer journey.
 
Sue
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Rating: 5 Stars
Loved it. Beautifully written, wonderful story.
 
Marlie Warren ([email protected])
Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald
Rating: 5 Stars
I would highly recommend this book. It's a shocker and every page is just good enough to keep you up and turning!! GREAT first novel! I was very impressed!
 
Vickie
Pursuit by Karen Robards
Rating: 4 Stars
Although the bedroom scenes are a little racy for my taste, the intrigue involving the President and the First Lady is mind-boggling and holds your attention to the very end. Jess, a gofer for a prestigious law firm that serves the First Lady, is caught up in a web of death, deception and unbelievable antics by the Secret Service. A must read...and a stay-up-late to finish novel!
 
CC
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Rating: 5 Stars
I was apprehensive about the "letter" format of this novel which I usually don't like but in this case it worked beautifully. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved getting to know the characters.
 
Kim
Scat by Carl Hiassen
Rating: 3 Stars
Mysteries aren't only for adults and Carl Hiaasen seems to have the uncanny ability to write great thrillers for children as well. His newest, SCAT, finds amateur student sleuths, Nick and Marta, trying to track down their unpopular biology teacher, Mrs. Bunny Starch, when she disappears during a field trip to Black Vine Swamp. A cast of wacky characters including an outlaw environmentalist, Twilly Spree, and a pencil chomping bully named Smoke, help Nick and Marta uncover the truth and save an endangered panther.



Not restricted to kids, this is tight story packed with Hiaasen's humor and over the top personalities. Escape being an adult for a while and join Nick and Marta as they skip school, get kidnapped, break into a house, fall out of tree and land in the type of trouble only Hiaasen could imagine. 


 
Loretta Sanford ([email protected])
A Homemade Life Stories and Recipes from My Kitch by Molly Wizenberg
Rating: 4 Stars
Chapters are three pages long followed by a recipe from that time in her life. If you enjoy reading about France (she visits three times) and a sweet how they met story, read this book. I enjoyed it but I doubt I will make any of her recipes!!
 
Steve Barbich IV
The Likeness by Tana French
Rating: 5 Stars
I picked up this book at the library not knowing what to expect. WOW! That was my first thought after reading it. Now I can't wait to read IN THE WOODS! The story pulls you in from the start. One of the few books that I had a hard time putting down! (Lost a lot of sleep on this one) I highly recommend this one!
 
Kathlen
Twisted by Jonathan Kellerman
Rating: 5 Stars
As always, he tells a very good suspense tale.
 
Eileen Quinn Knight
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
The entire issue of abortion is so deftly handled in this book. The complexity of life and what happens to each one of us embedded in the mystery of abortion is displayed in a raw way in this book. I recommend it for everyone who struggles with the mysteries of life.
 
Sue
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
Rating: 3 Stars
Kept my interest: hated the characters! A little slow moving at times.
 
Paula C.
About Face by Donna Leon
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the best in the series of Commissario Guido Brunetti who lives and solves crimes in Venice, Italy. Brunnetti is one of my favorite characters and I always look forward to the latest Donna Leon book.
 
Lee Mitchell
Acts of Love by Judith Michael
Rating: 5 Stars
Most intriguing love story!!
 
Rosie Sobczak
Cost by Roxana Robinson
Rating: 4 Stars
Gripping story of how one family member can change life for the whole family.
 
Ivy Pittman
The Black Girl Next Door by Jennifer Braszile
Rating: 4 Stars
Braszile may not be the first Black girl to grow up in an white upper middle class neighborhood in the '70's, but she offers a raw view of what it felt like trying to fit in and to finally be able to leave it all behind.
 
Becky ([email protected])
Long Lost by David Morrell
Rating: 3 Stars
Brad's brother, Petey, disappeared years ago when they were both children. Now a successful adult, Brad is haunted by his actions that lead to the disappearance. When Petey suddenly comes back into Brad's life and kidnaps his wife and son, Brad sets out to find them and on this journey discovers what happened to his brother.
 
Jean M
Gone For Good by Harlan Coben
Rating: 4 Stars
Good suspense. Quite a few twists and turns to keep you guessing. I liked the book but I like the Coben's Bolitar series even better.
 
Cynthia
Shade by John B. Olson
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a christian suspense that will keep you at the edge of your seat. At times it will make you wonder what is reality or just in Hailey's mind. I could not wait to finish the book.
 
Diane LaRue ([email protected])
Paul Newman: A Life by Shawn Levy
Rating: 4 Stars
A fascinating biography of one of the biggest movie stars. Levy does a thorough job here. He footnotes and end notes extensively, something not normally seen in a entertainment biography. He also quotes frequently from reviews of Newman's plays and films, and that provides context to the actor's work.



Newman was a complex man, and I was intrigued by his dedication to the craft of acting, which Levy covers completely. If you are a fan of Paul Newman, this is a must-read of a an American original, a man who wished to be called "of his time".


 
Marlie Warren ([email protected])
The Shack by William P. Young
Rating: 3 Stars
This book starts out OKAY and then progresses to GOOD and BETTER but then dropped me down to just HO-HUM.
It was good - don't get me wrong - but, it's a little UNBELIEVABLE and FORGETTABLE (as Simon Cowell would say). 
I had a hard time sticking with it.

 
P.C.
Wormwood by Susan Wittig Albert
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the latest in the series of China Bayles, ex-lawyer and herbalist. This time China visits a Shaker community to find peace but instead helps unravel a mystery.
 
Peggy Kincaid ([email protected])
Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
Rating: 4 Stars
Okay, this isn't a Harry Bosch book but it is still quite the page turner. Jack McEvoy is back and so is Rachel Walling. That combination is explosive due to their past. This book deals with layoffs, insensitivity of management, torture and of course getting the bad guy. It fits well with today's economy woes and that keeps it real but the mystery is strong enough to keep you reading even when you know who the killer is. Whether you've read a Connelly book or not before doesn't really matter. Take this to the beach or your favorite holiday getaway and enjoy the ride, you won't regret it.
 
Judy Bates
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Rating: 5 Stars
Fascinating story of sisters caught in Shanghai as the Japanese invade China at the beginning of WW ll, their escape, and lives in Los Angeles China Town.
 
Anita Nowak
The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a very disturbing book about sexual abuse and incest among young children. However at the same time it is very heartwarming! Though fiction, it is almost as if you were reading some crime from a newspaper. It tells the story of one young boy who does finally get help from strangers and that makes the story well worth reading. It is very well written and though this was the first book I read by Ms. Kittle, I look forward to reading more. She reminds me a lot of Jodi Picoult's works.
 
Mary Ann
Fire and Ice by Julie Garwood
Rating: 4 Stars
The FBI Chicago mystery/romance continues. She is a fun summer read and it takes us to Alaska in pursuit of a man that Sophie met for a newspaper story who ended up murdered. Good read.
 
Mary Ann
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophilia Kinsley
Rating: 4 Stars
Good summer read from the author of CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC. The main character is a high powered attorney in London ready to be the youngest partner in a big time Law firm. She is stressed and thrives on her 90 hour work weeks and all her electronic devises. She makes a huge mistake and flees town and ends up at a mansion in the country where the couple think she is applying to be a maid/cook. As it turns out she makes friends and a boyfriend. Then low and behold she figures out she was set up and it was all a huge mistake. She gets her job back and a bigger salary. It's what she always wanted or is it? A great read for the summer.
 
Brady ([email protected])
Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews
Rating: 5 Stars
A superb autobiography where Julie talks about her beginnings and up to the making of Mary Poppins. She mentions many British performers unfamiliar to me, but does not detract from the flow. Julie has certainly earned her place in the stars as she started performing at a very young age with her mother and step-father in English Vaudeville. There is much advice here for reaching your goals and keeping your nose to the grindstone.
 
Kathy Jund ([email protected])
Immortal Outlaw by Lisa Hendrix
Rating: 5 Stars
Since 5 is the highest that's what I'll give but it should be 10!!



I could not put this down, I do not normally read a series until all of the installments are out but I broke from my rules to read Lisa Hendrix! I read the first installment as a test and I am hooked...this one took one day and there's 7 more to go!! I'll be reading these as soon as they are released, too! I hope it doesn't take too long!!

 
Kathy C.
The Strain by Guillermo del Torro
Rating: 4 Stars
Fast moving novel set in present day New York City. To tell you the main theme would give away the whole book, suffice it to say it is "other worldly". 
This is the first book in a trilogy.

 
Bill
A Patent Lie by Paul Goldstein
Rating: 4 Stars
A much better book than Goldstein's debut legal thriller ERRORS AND OMISSIONS. Michael Seeley, a Buffalo, NY, sole practitioner, takes on a patent case in San Francisco replacing an attorney who allegedly committed suicide just as the case was going to court. The plot has a lot of twists and turns, family issues, corporate intrigue, and a surprising ending. Well worth reading.
 
Jean M.
Cloris by Cloris Leachman
Rating: 5 Stars
Autobiography from an icon of theater, television, and movies. Good read.
 
Julie H.
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Rating: 4 Stars
First, there's a dead bird on the stoop with a stamp impaled on its' beak. Then, the body of a red-haired man shows up in the cucumber patch. Eleven year old Flavia de Luce's insatiable curiosity about life doesn't let any of this rattle her, instead using her keen, chemistry-loving mind to investigate the murder, whether or not the beleaguered Inspector Hewitt wants her help. Flavia flies about Bishop's Lacey and surrounding villages on her beloved bike, finding clues and putting together pieces of the puzzle as well any professional. She would give Harriet, or any other young spy, a good run for their money.
 
Cuddy
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 4 Stars
I am not quite done with this, but I am sure I will finish it soon. I just love the way she writes...very easy to read, but difficult subjects. This is about a child with Osteogenesis Imperfecta or OI. This little girl has a disease that causes her bones to be extremely brittle and break easily. The troubles it causes expand farther than you think.

 
Jud Hanson
Without Fail by Lee Child
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent entry in the Jack Reacher series. When the Secret Service approaches Jack Reacher to help test the security around the VP-elect, he figures on an easy assignment. After enlisting an old friend for help, they run their test and find some serious flaws. When anonymous threats start showing up, it's clear that someone has a grudge against the seemingly squeaky clean future VP. Someone from the past has a grudge to settle and will stop at nothing to get a pound of flesh.



This a great read that kept my attention to the end.

 
Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])
Phantom by Susan Kay
Rating: 5 Stars
I have never read THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA by Gaston LeRoux. I have never heard of Susan Kay, prior to my book discussion's to read her book PHANTOM. I hope this will not be the last Susan Kay book I have the pleasure to read.



Kay explains the birth and formative years of the person we will eventually know as The Phantom of the Opera. The first chapter is voiced by Erik's mother. The second by Erik. The voice of each chapter is announced on a front piece. I do not recall ever having such intense feelings for or about so many characters in one book. My emotions ran the gamut from disgust to compassion to joy to sorrow. Now that I have finished the book, I feel I have separated from a dear friend. Fortunately I can visit anytime I like.