October 23, 2009 - November 5, 2009
Last contest period's winners each received a copy of 9 DRAGONS by Michael Connelly, LOCKED IN: A Sharon McCone Mystery by Marcia Muller and PURSUIT OF HONOR by Vince Flynn.
| L.Rischoni ([email protected]) |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Very disappointed in this book. For all the hype the book received, it was boring. |
| L.Rischoni ([email protected]) |
| Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Just finished reading this book and found I couldn't put it down. I don't know why but it took me awhile to get into Sarah's character but once I did, I didn't let go.I thought of her and the French family long after I finished the book. The word "guilt" was always present in this book. A very good book. |
| M. Dobson |
| A Child Called Noah: A Family Journey by Josh Greenfeld |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Told in such heartbreaking honesty, Greenfeld, a journalist, chronicles life in the 1960s with his autistic son. The reader feels Greenfeld's deep love for both his sons and his wife. What is so compelling is that the book holds such hope for AU kids in the future. And here we are today, when it IS the future, and we still haven't learned a whole lot more than we knew then. What makes a bigger statement is that just last week one of the news media said the rate of AU births is now 1 for every 100 children born in the U.S. |
| Julie H. |
| The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
A very descriptive novel set around the time of World War I at Niagara Falls. Bess Heath's family has fallen on hard times, she will have to give up her schooling at the Loretto Academy and begins sewing with her mother. Tom Cole enters their life, a riverman of sorts, who also bartends. It's in his family history to help watch the river, fish and respectfully remove bodies. Buchanan does a wonderful job describing the beauty surrounding Niagara Falls and the impact of the arrival of Hydro Electric plants |
| Judy O. ([email protected]) |
| Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
In 1919, an 8-year-old rural Chinese girl named Pei is literally sold into slavery by her father at a silk factory. Her family badly needs the money, and she is the one to provide it. At first Pei is devastated, but little by little she and other workers form a "sisterhood" of silk workers. Their combined strength and friendship helps them all achieve the freedom they so desperately want. This is their story. I really enjoyed this book and plan on reading others by this author. |
| Tanya |
| The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This is a wonderful book. A man with the same name dies and the newspaper prints the wrong obituary. This prompts a wealthy man to realize how people really feel about him. Such a touching story of making amends for the ones you hurt along the way. |
| Marsha |
| The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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This is a delicious novel delving into the lives of 12 women who get together each December to exchange cookies and update each other on the progress of their year. Besides several cookie recipes, there is an interesting history of some of the ingredients used in their baking. It is a light read --- very much in the vein of THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB. |
| Jud Hanson |
| Redemption by Laurel Dewey |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Denver Homicide cop Jane Perry has resigned, unable to put behind her the loss of a family she was protecting. She has decided to start her own detective agency and is wallowing in self-pity when fate throws her a bone. While stepping out for a smoke at her AA meeting, Jane meets Katherine "Kit" Clark, who is fighting demons of her own. She lost her granddaughter Ashlee to a brutal rapist and murderer and now, due to new evidence, he has been granted a new trial. Now a new abduction has taken place and Kit is convinced it's the same person who killed Ashlee and wants to hire Jane to find him. Desperate for money, Jane takes the case, not knowing what a strange ride it's going to be. Kit is a New Ager and all her herbs and homeopathic cures almost drive Jane over the edge; Jane's foul language and smoking habit are repulsive to Kit. In the end both women realize that they can help one another find what until now has been desperately out of reach: redemption. REDEMPTION by Laurel Dewey features the return of Jane Perry, Denver Homicide detective. It is the second entry in what I hope will be a long running series. The book focuses on the search for redemption by two women: one, a recent resigned Homicide detective and the other, a woman with a terminal illness. My favorite part of the book was the discussion between Jane and Kit concerning the beliefs of Dr. John Bartosh, psychologist turned Fundamentalist minister and the man who lobbied for the release of Kit's granddaughter's killer. There is much of what was said that I can personally relate to, having grown up with family members with these very same beliefs. Like in the book, their personal identity cannot be separated from their religion: to question one is to question the other. The author has done an excellent job of giving her characters a depth that is often missing from the typical murder mystery. I love the way that the author has brought these two individuals together to work toward a common goal. Laurel Dewey has definitely earned a place in any discussion of the top mystery authors of the present day, including such stand-outs as Michael Connelly, Jeffery Deaver and Faye Kellerman, among others. If you enjoy authors such as these, don't miss REDEMPTION. This is a five-star read. |
| Jane Squires ([email protected]) |
| A Cousin's Prayer by Wanda E. Brunstetter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Katie loses her boyfriend she was planning to marry. She finds herself having a hard time facing life after that. She returns to her hometown with her Grandmother for her cousin's wedding. She keeps having panic attacks. This book will let you know how people deal with false rumors, hurt feelings, and tragic events. It will also uplift and encourage you as the people reach out to God and find answers to their needs. |
| Michelle |
| The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Very well written --- Love the characters and the style of writing. Excellent! |
| Michelle |
| Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Terrific Story. Love, Love, Loved it. Couldn't put it down. |
| Bonnie |
| Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Deo, a native of Burundi and survivor of its genocide, ends up in New York and, through perseverance and the kindness of strangers, goes to college and medical school. He and Kidder return to Burundi and Rwanda, where he'd originally fled, to the scene of his horrific early life. Deo built a medical clinic in Burundi to serve those in most need. This is a truly remarkable story of someone with enormous courage, intelligence and perseverance. And Kidder, of course, does a wonderful job of bringing Deo to us. |
| Jo from Staten Island, NY |
| Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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I recently discovered Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries series, and MURDER ON ASTOR PLACE is the first installment. Set in New York City just before the turn of the last century, midwife Sarah Brandt provides assistance --- not always appreciated --- to NYPD Sergeant Frank Malloy as he investigates the murder of a young woman. The book kept me guessing until the surprising ending. |
| Carol |
| Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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2nd in her Beka Cooper series and hopefully she will continue the series. She has the ability to write wonderful fantasy for young adults. The characters are engaging. What's not to like? |
| Vicki Marston |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This is a wonderful book about a young Chinese boy growing up in Seattle during World War II, and his friendship with a girl of Japanese descent. He must endure anti-Chinese bigotry, witness the relocation of his friend and her family to a internment camp and struggle with a father-son relationship as he comes of age. Above all, it is about the enduring power of friendship and love. |
| Fran |
| The Geography of Love by Glenda Burgess |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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A compelling, beautifully told love story and memoir. Glenda Burgess shares the amazing love she found with a man who was 14 years her senior, their marriage, family and love. They share an idyllic romance until her husband is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Heart wrenching at times, but the author captures the love she had for her husband in an eloquent and transcendent manner. |
| Marsha |
| Heat Lightning by John Sandford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Virgil Flowers is an investigator for the Bureau of Crime in Minnesota, and what a guy! After reading this second novel featuring Virgil, you will come away realizing he is your favorite of all crime investigators. I promise! |
| Meme |
| The Postmistress by Sarah Blake |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Read an ARC copy of this title to be released in Feb. 2010. Interesting read about delivery of news via the radio and post office before the US was involved in WWII and the emotional involvement of three women --- the postmistress, the radio commentator and the doctor's wife. |
| Josie S. |
| Miss Ginny: The $50.00 Pony by Linda S. Dennison |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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It's a great book for children. My kids would laugh and could identify with children in the story. It has family values, is engaging and keeps moving, so it doesn't become boring to them. They learn how important patience and safety is around horses. A learning experience in a fun filled book. |
| Joan |
| Skeleton Hill by Peter Lovesey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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The connection between past events and not-so-past events, all on the same site, makes a very interesting mystery. |
| Kathy Vogel |
| The Associate by John Grisham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Kyle is a law graduate who is being blackmailed into joining a particular law firm and stealing confidential documents from a high-profile case. Does he compromise his values? It is an exciting roller coaster of a ride with a less-than-satisfying ending. |
| Janan Hudek Foster |
| The Sixth Form by Tom Dolby |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Tom Dolby has written a sensitive story of love and sexual identity that will appeal to many readers, straight or gay. |
| Eileen |
| Dalton Shores by Daniel Schultz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Touching, funny, and sexy too. |
| Pat Blum |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This is probably one of the best books I have ever read. The characters came to life and I loved them all. It is such a shame that Ms. Shaffer has passed away. She was a wonderful writer! |
| Ed Hahn ([email protected]) |
| Sharpe's Siege by Bernard Cornwell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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I'm sad that I am reaching the end of the Richard Sharpe's Adventure series --- three volumes to go. Next to the Patrick O'Brian authored Aubrey/Maturin series, this is the best set of stories covering the Napoleonic wars that I have read. It is also one of the best historical fiction series I've run across. This story, taking place in 1814, details an incursion into France near Bordeaux, a joint venture between the British Army and the Royal Navy. After investing a fort guarding the approaches to the Bassin d'Arachon on the Bay of Biscay, Sharpe heads inland to harass any French troops he might happen upon. He successfully ambushes a brigade of conscripts but when he arrives back at the fort he discovers that he and his troops have been betrayed by a French double agent, deserted by the Navy and left to perish at the hands of the soon to arrive French in the destroyed fort. The architect of all of this is the arch-villain Pierre Ducos, who Sharpe keeps bumping up against and who wants nothing more than to see Sharpe destroyed. The usual supporting cast is present: Patrick Harper, Sharpe's loyal side-kick; William Fredrickson, a fellow officer; Jane, Sharpe's new wife; Michael Hogan, his mentor and sometimes protector; and in the background Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington and commander of the combined British and Portuguese forces. Other characters, drawn with Cornwell's usual skill are Captain Bampfylde, an arrogant, self-serving post captain; Colonel Wigram a clueless engineer; Cornelius Killick, an American privateer; Comte de Maquerre, a spy working for the British; Andre Lassan, French commandant of the fort; and General Calvet, bloodthirsty French commander and survivor of the Russian campaign. The story unfolds quickly and is hard to put down. Once I got halfway through, I had to finish it even though it was after midnight. The battle scenes are, as always, compelling and exciting. The book is well-plotted and straightforward. Sometimes Sharpe's survival skills and luck strain credulity to the limit and this time is no exception. Nevertheless, this book, like most of the others in the series, is a delight to read. |
| Ed Hahn ([email protected]) |
| Red Azalea: A True Story of Life and Love in China by Anchee Min |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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This is not the kind of book I would ordinarily read but once I got started, it moved me greatly. It's a simple story of the life of a young person in China during the Cultural Revolution. The hardships she and her family had to endure are difficult to even imagine much less read about. Somehow, she prevails, mostly because she maintains her individuality in a society that not only valued conformity but made it a crime to be different. The big breakthrough is her falling in love with the female commander of the communal farm she was assigned to work on. Later she also has a relationship with "The Supervisor," a person so powerful no one knew his name. As a very young person, she memorized Mao's "Little Red Book" and won awards as a good proletarian. Later, she became disillusioned as she realized how much hypocrisy and self-serving behavior there was everywhere she looked. The author's writing style is very basic. Not surprising, given that English is her second language and that she didn't begin to learn it until she came to the U.S. as a young adult. Somehow, though, her passion and understanding comes through in a way that allows the reader to get totally caught up in her struggles. I learned much about the Chinese Psyche during that time by reading this book, even though I've interviewed a number of bitter veterans of the Cultural Revolution. Somehow her descriptions touched me far deeper than the stories of those I interviewed. |
| Laura Barbich |
| Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Another great book in a long line of great books! I could not wait for this book to come out. It was worth the wait. Detective Bosch is one of my favorites. This book has non-stop action! Pick this one up! |
| Steve Barbich IV |
| In The Company of Liars by David Ellis |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
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This book is told in reverse. This took a while to get use to. It was a good book and worth reading. It was just a little strange to read backwards. For something different, check this one out! |
| Doralie Meredith |
| The Longing by Beverly Lewis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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The best book today |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Reckless Abandon by Stuart Woods |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
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Sometimes, I really like Woods, and sometimes I think his writing is crass and not worth the effort. This story is a Stone Barrington story set in New York. Holly goes to New York to arrest a mass killer, Trini, who is under the protection of the FBI. Holly and Stone set out to capture Trini, and always seem to have time for a romp that points to hormone craved teenagers, not middle-aged individuals. The sex gets in the way, and the dialogue is also immature. A very disappointing story. |
| Kathy Vallee |
| A Harvest Of Bones by Yasmine Galenorn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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A very fun book about Emerald's birthday --- but will everyone make it the party? |
| Melissa |
| Reap the Wild Wind by Julie Czerneda |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This is the only sci-fi novelist that I read. She is amazing. Reading her books is like being with an old friend, and this book is no different. She does not disappoint. Her characters have depth, and the races and societies that she creates are complex and interesting. I highly recommend everything that she has written. |
| Julie H. |
| Rampant by Diane Peterfreund |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The unicorns of fairy tales are replaced by five species of killer unicorns, elephant sized on down. Astrid Llewelyn's mother has spent her life filling Astrid's head of tales of fulfilling her family destiny, being descended from one of the great unicorn huntresses. As the unicorns begin reemerging, a place called the Cloisters in Rome reopens and young girls, who will become the new hunters, come together. The story relies on myth and fantasy, and Peterfreund's amazing imagination creates a new reality for the myths of unicorns. I was surprised at how much I liked the book, even with the very grisly hunt scenes sprinkled throughout the story. |
| Ed Hahn ([email protected]) |
| A Cold Heart by Jonathan Kellerman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A few years ago, I got tired of Dr. Alex Delaware, to say nothing of author, Jonathan Kellerman and his increasingly weird plots. I must say, though, with this novel, they are both back. The story covers the pursuit of a serial killer who appears to be murdering people because he or she is jealous of their rising success. A series of supposedly unrelated killings are eventually identified as being the probable work of one person. Kellerman uses an interesting approach by following three people as they work to solve the case. There's Dr. Alex Delaware, presented in the first person and the core narrator, Petra Connor, a homicide detective and Milo Sturgis, a cold case detective and Delaware's usual sidekick. By dividing the story three ways, Kellerman is able to put aside the restrictions of Delaware's first person narration and broaden the story in interesting ways. It made the plot more enticing and kept the reader guessing as the three major characters collected information without them or us knowing how important any of it was. Kellerman brings in a cast of interesting supporting characters as usual. Using Los Angeles as a backdrop gives the author an opportunity to introduce all sorts of weirdos, particularly Detective Eric Stahl, an ex-special forces member assigned to be Connor's partner. We also get to meet a number of underground Hollywood losers, all of whom contribute to the unfolding plot. The story's ending is satisfying without being too neat. I'm glad I picked this up to read. |
| Pat Blum |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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For a first novel, it is wonderful! She really researched her subjects and told us all sorts of things. We felt we knew the characters well. My book club read it and we think it was the best discussion we ever had! |
| Bonnie ([email protected]) |
| I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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I'm a big Bryson fan and have read almost everything he's written. This was my second reading of this book of essays, originally written for a British newspaper. They're about Bryson and family's moving back to the U.S. after living many years in England. He notes with great humor, bemusement and self-deprecation the changes that have taken place, both in the U.S. and in him. Some parts are laugh-out-loud-til-you-cry funny. Some are a bit dated, but all are worth the read...or two. |
| Lita ([email protected]) |
| Jericho's Fall by Stephen Carter |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a thriller in the scary Steven King or Dean Koontz school It kept moving forward and every time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong. You can't tell a lot about the story without giving too much away. It starts with a woman on the road to Colorado after she finds out her older lover from several years ago is dying. He is also ex-CIA. After she gets close to his mountain top retreat, nothing that's written can be taken for granted. This is not my usual kind of story but it is very well written. |
| Margie T |
| Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A story about a woman who leaves her family to go on a road trip to find herself. It's written in the form of letters to her husband. Thought-provoking and well-written. |
| Sandra F. |
| Out on a Limb by Joan Hess |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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This cozy mystery is a lot of fun to read. Claire Mallory and her daughter Caron have a unique relationship and I laughed all the way through. |
| Sandra F. |
| How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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A wonderful book about a teen caught up in a war while in a foreign country. The sense of loss --- of both family and innocence --- is strongly depicted. |
| Tanya |
| Hardball by Sara Paretsky |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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This is the first book I have read by this author. The lead character is good. She is a private eye searching for a man who has been missing for 40 years. There are lots of twists and turns to keep the reader interested. I will look for more books by this author. |
| Jon |
| Dark Star by Alan Furst |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Tremendous historical fiction set in Europe right before World War II. Alan Furst is a master writer who has thoroughly researched the period he writes about. I give this my highest recommendation. |
| hedi hopwood |
| Amazonia by James Rollins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have always had an interest in South America and Mexico after visiting several Mayan Sites. I have read several books, both fiction and nonfiction, and truly believe there are vast resources in the jungle. I would also like to thank all the contributors to this site, as I have been introduced to books I might have not read. I can't wait for the two weeks to be up so I can see what everyone is reading. Thank you. |
| Linda |
| A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Moore just sucks you in with her down-home writing style. |
| Linda |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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I just couldn't put this book down, and can't wait to get my hands on the next one in the trilogy. What a fantastic read! |
| Marsha M |
| The Photographer by Emmanuel Guibert |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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THE PHOTOGRAPHER was an amazing surprise. Written in graphic novel style, this nonfiction account details the experience of a group of French doctors (from the original NGO Doctors Without Borders) who travel mostly by foot from Pakistan to Northern Afghanistan in 1986. Employing local guides, mercenaries, village representatives, horses, donkeys and animal handlers, they trudge through mountain passes, some over 16,000 feet high, to provide health care to villagers and the Mujahadim (later the Northern Alliance) fighting the Soviets. Told from the perspective of Guibert on the first of his trips through this landscape, his observations make this most uncommon journey come to life. It is moving and detailed in a way only photographs and drawings can bring to life. |
| Lita ([email protected]) |
| The Best of Times by Penny Vincenzi |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the first of the three books I received as a prize from Word of Mouth. It is a before, during and after story of a car accident on a major roadway in London, resulting in a large pile-up. It is the story of the people involved, the friends and family; and also the hospital and police. It is a page turner, and I came to care for the characters in this book. I will be on the look-out for more of Ms. Vincenzi's books. The only negative is small. This story is told with some flash back sequences, which I really don't like but would not keep me from recommending this book. |
| Jean |
| Sea of Troubles by Donna Leon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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I love Leon's mystery novels featuring Commissario Brunetti, which take place in the lovely and mysterious Venice. She establishes a wonderful sense of place. This is one of her best. |
| Jean |
| A Vineyard in Tuscany by Ferenc Mate |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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An interesting read of Mate's real-life experience of buying an old friary in Tuscany and planting a vineyard producing award-winning wines. It's very entertaining and will make you a little envious! |
| Jean |
| Hooked on Murder by Betty Hechtman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
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An okay, cozy mystery. It includes some interesting tidbits about crocheting. |
| Marsha Maramba |
| Cathedral Of The Sea by Ildefonso Falcones |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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As is my preference with books translated into English or depicting life in a non-English speaking culture, I listened to this book on CD. Hearing the story let me envision the world of 14th Century Barcelona without having to struggle with pronunciation of foreign words and names. This novel depicts the struggle for life in Medieval Spain by people shut out of the political system or on its lowest rungs. The peasants and the Jews are victimized by a parasitic nobility and a paranoid, cruel church which has unleashed terror via the Inquisition. The story covers two generations of a family of peasants working to rise above their "allotted" place in society. By our standards, the laws of the land at this time were at best barbaric and very foreign from our modern view of the rule of law. It foreshadows the attitudes and zealotry of the Spanish Inquisition unleashed on the rest of the world in following centuries. I found this historic novel fascinating and informative. It is written in what I would consider the best tradition of the genre. |
| MississippiMom |
| Suite 606 by J.D. Robb |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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I picked this one up for the J.D. Robb story "Ritual in Death," as I love the Eve Dallas series But I think my favorite turned out to be the last story in the book, "Wayward Wizard," by Mary Kay McComas. Now I'll have to see if I can find some more of her books! |
| Judy O. ([email protected]) |
| Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was really one of the weirdest books I've read in a long time. Something fascinating about it kept me reading, however. Julia and Valentina are 21-year-old identical twins who go to London to live in the apartment that they inherit from their aunt. There is a man who lives above them who has a severe case of OCD and hasn't been out of his apartment in many years. The man in the apartment below them was in love with their Aunt Elspeth, the one who died. All in all, they make quite a dysfunctional bunch. Add to this the ghost of Aunt Elspeth, who lives in her old apartment, and the creepiness mounts. I read this book from cover to cover, but the plot really did leave me shaking my head in disbelief. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| In a Strange City by Laura Lippman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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I enjoy this series set in Baltimore, Maryland, about a private detective Tess Monaghan. This book centers around Edgar Allen Poe, and his January 19th birthday tradition in Baltimore. This was fun, since I have visited Poe's grave and had an adventure myself. Lippman does extensive research for her writing, and the reader is rewarded for all the work. And I love that the mystery Visitor is profiled, but never revealed. The story makes me wants to reread and newly read more Poe. |
| Janet Stewart |
| Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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The jury is still out, as I am only halfway through, but I love his descriptions. The imagery is wonderful. |
| Rose Turner |
| Dragon Seed by Pearl S. Buck |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This is about the Japanese invasion of China and the suffering and struggles of a Chinese family. I could not put this book down. I consider it the Chinese version of the classic GONE WITH THE WIND. This book was written in 1942 and is considered one of Pearl S. Buck's best. |
| Shannon |
| The Cleanup by Sean Doolittle |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Officer Matt Worth has been busted down from patrol to working a security detail in an Omaha neighborhood grocery store. When a battered co-worker comes to him for help, he does just that. And then spends the rest of the book cleaning up the mess. This was a fast-paced crime novel where the good guys aren't necessarily good, but sometimes, the bad guys are rotten to the core. This book also had some hilarious laugh-out-loud moments. I would recommend it to fans of Elmore Leonard. |
| Jeannie |
| Change Of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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A story of a man sentenced to death for the murder of a policeman and his step-daughter. The wife and mother is being asked to accept the prisoner's heart after his death sentence for her youngest daughter. There's so much more to this story and it keeps you reading. |
| Jeannie |
| Sworn To Silence by Linda Castillo |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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A serial killer is loose in Ohio Amish Country, with a former Amish girl as the sheriff in the town. This book has a tense storyline and right up to the end, you are kept wondering who the murderer was. I look forward to the next book with the same female sheriff. |
| Jeannie |
| Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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PERFECT MATCH is a story anyone with children fears. It deals with child molestation and how the mother, an attorney, copes with it in her life. What would we do? |
| Chris N. |
| Viking Heat by Sandra Hill |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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This is a continuation of her time-travel series. I just started it, but so far, so good. These books are always good for light, fluffy, sexy reads. |
| Deidre Durance ([email protected]) |
| Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful book about a girl who lives in a family of talented witches, not having any talent herself. When an opportunity arises for her to prove herself, she jumps at the chance and causes a series of events that will change not only her life but all those close to her. I'm loving it! It's a story we can pretty much all relate to --- the feeling that we never feel happy with what we're given. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| A Christmas Grace by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is Perry's 2008 Christmas story, but I enjoyed A CHRISTMAS GUEST more than this book. This brings into play Emily Radley, sister to Charlotte Pitt (theThomas and Charlotte Pitt series). Emily must travel to Scotland during the last weeks of Christmas to tend to a dying aunt. The aunt, Susannah, needs to know the answer to the 8-year-old murder mystery that holds the village in fear. The past needs to be forgotten and the future lived, and the Christmas season provides this period of grace. |
| Linda |
| Spenser series by Robert B. Parker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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I recently got hooked on these. There are a bunch of them; they are easy and quick to read, yet very clever and well written. They are so different from my usual reading. It's a pleasure |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| A Christmas Guest by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The holiday season has begun, so I need to start reading Christmas books. I just discovered that I have missed many of the holiday books by Anne Perry --- so my goal is to complete the series. This book centers around Mariah Ellison, the grandmother of Charlotte Pitt (one of Perry's mystery series). I found this delightful, set in the 1890s England countryside and about an older woman who is still useful. Perry thrives on her older women as vital citizens, which I like. The mystery is solved, but the police are never involved, and the death is listed as "natural causes." The solving of any crime is amazing since forensic medicine was not in use yet. |
| ck |
| The Devil's Company by David Liss |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
1722 --- Weaver is an ex-boxer and a bit of a conman who is blackmailed into helping Cobb steal a secret paper at the East India Trading Company. In this very funny tale, Weaver is constantly being out-witted and manipulated as he tries to salvage his honor and save his uncle's business. |
| Anne G |
| The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm not finished yet, but this is a book I could sit and read cover to cover. I love this series, and this book is better than the first. Great characters, an exciting storyline and even some scenes with white knuckle suspense. This one has it all. |
| Fran |
| A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A young housewife and mother gets involved in a steamy affair when she takes on the role of co-host of a huge fundraiser. Good character build-up, but the end felt a little too neat for my taste. As with the other Elin Hilderbrand books I've read, I enjoyed it as a fun, light-hearted book! |
| Jud Hanson |
| Screwing the Pooch by James B. Bergstad |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
What can I say about this book? It contained seven stories, only one of which was remotely interesting. I couldn't figure out who the target demographic was, as the content didn't match the semantics. I'd say to pass this one over with no regrets. |
| Jud Hanson |
| Chosen Prey by John Sandford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another great entry in the series, this time finding Davenport tracking an artist who lets his fantasies about women go a little too far. |
| T. Thomas |
| Belle Weather by Celia Rivenbark |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is laugh-out-loud funny. |
| T. Thomas |
| Blindman's Bluff by Faye Kellerman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The latest in the series. Very good and a fast read. |
| Kaye DeMaio-Hays |
| Beach Music by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I read this book because I read on "Word of Mouth" that a lady loved it so much that she'd buy any copies she found in used bookstores and pass it to friends. While I will only pass on my copy, I will highly recommend it to my reading club. I almost put it down when Conroy digressed into the background of Max Rusoff. I thought, "What the hell does this have to do with anything?" But I read on out of sheer determination to find out what Jack's problem was and why he was so haunted by Shyla (and, of course, what on earth it had to do with Max's background). It seemed crazy to me. All these people had craziness in their lives --- all the incidents affected their lives, as their lives then affected the lives of those around them --- the great Mandela, the Holocaust, the War in Vietnam. I became so enchanted by what at first had seemed a digression that I could hardly wait for Conroy's next "insight" into one of his characters. Enough said. This is a "must read." |
| Ali Madigan |
| The Siege by Stephen White |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was a page turner. From the first page, I could not put it down, and the plot was easy to follow, yet I didn't figure out the ending until I read it. |
| Ann Laurence |
| The Wilderness Warrior by Douglas Brinkley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very long book but worth reading about this great man, Theodore Roosevelt. Somehow, this author manages to organize facts into something that is interesting to read. |
| Valerie Wiesner ([email protected]) |
| Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am not usually inclined to read books dealing with the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, Jon Krakauer is one of my favorite writers, so I made an exception. I am glad that I did. This is a very involved and sad story about the truth behind the headlines. I recommend this book to anyone. My heart goes out to the parents of Pat Tillman, and others who have lost family in these wars. |
| Pattie Berryhill ([email protected]) |
| Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The book held my interest from beginning to end. Very well written. |
| Gail |
| Weekends at Bellevue by Julie Holland |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Educational and interesting, I recommend it. Each chapter is titled with a song title, many of them Beatles' songs. The book is a memoir about the author's nine years spent as a Bellevue Hospital psychiatric physician. I couldn't put this book down, but I could have done without some of the personal situations, like her sexual escapades. This is why I didn't give it 5 stars. |
| Trudi |
| I'll Never Be French by Mark Greenside |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a very funny, light book about the author's move to Brittany. He does not speak any French, yet manages to make a life for himself. The ways he chooses are not always very conventional. I think he would be a charming, interesting neighbor. |
| Cindy |
| Lord of the Flies by William Golding |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I read along with my 16-year-old, as he had to read this for a world literature class at school. What a scary and symbolic book! It's hard rereading the classics --- things seem to move so slowly. But when done, I'm glad I took the time to reread. |
| Valerie Wiesner ([email protected]) |
| The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson and Martin Dugard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this book very much, but I am not convinced that Tut's wife and half-sister had a part in the planning of his murder. Perhaps she was forced to go along with Aye and General Horemheb's plan out of fear... |
| barbara s. |
| The Charm School by Nelson DeMille |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Unlike the title, the story is about spying, espionage, murder, terror, etc. which all takes place in Russia. I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the part leading to the ending was not so believable. All in all, it was a very interesting book. |
| Dorothy Olson |
| The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Why this book didn't make the best seller list is a mystery to me. It has everything a reader would want --- humor, pathos, wonderful characters and an enchanting story. Edgar Mint tells his life story and the reader suffers with him, laughs with him and hopes for him. Read it! |
| Barb |
| Rough Country by John Sandford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I love these Virgil Flowers books from John Sandford. Already a fan of his Preyseries, I wondered if the Flowers books would appeal to me, and they do, without a doubt. In my opinion, one of the best things in these books is the dialog. It is so true to life and I find myself nodding my head as I read it. It's probably not as meaty as the Prey books, but still satisfying. |
| Darcy |
| Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What can I say? Even better than THE GLASS CASTLE, Walls' story of her maternal grandmother's hardscrabble life is flat-out brilliant. |
| Whitney |
| Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
At close to 500 pages, the book is more than just your straightforward mystery novel. Set in Aberdeen, Scotland, the novel follows the day to day triumphs, losses and challenges of D.S. McRae. McRae's trying to find an elusive serial killer who leaves nothing behind but a horrific scene. While in one way it feels like I've been reading this book forever (it's only been a handful of days), the pace is not breakneck, but consistent enough that I do not get bored. I just keep reading! |
| Rosemary Sobczak ([email protected]) |
| Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I couldn't really like any of the characters. |
| Valerie Wiesner ([email protected]) |
| The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I liked this book even more than THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. It explained a lot as to how Lisbeth Salander became who she was. The book was a quick read and very much an edge-of-the-seat thriller! |
| Myrna Lippman |
| Labor Day by Joyce Maynard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A wonderful coming-of-age story about a 13-year-old boy, his loving but elusive mother and a stranger who spends Labor Day weekend with them. |
| Ron Roseborough |
| Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very enjoyable story of a group of ornaments, the tree dwellers, who secretly come to life each Christmas when removed from the Christmas Box and placed on the tree. The main characters are Larry, a lovable snowman; Debbie, his beautiful reindeer girlfriend; and Splint, the new ornament, who is a wooden toy soldier. The characters are quite charming, and the reader is quickly drawn into the search for Larry's missing brother. The search leads the main characters away from the safety of the Christmas tree, through the unfamiliar house and ultimately back to the Christmas Box looking for answers. This is a very engaging story and will no doubt be a Christmas staple for years to come. |
| Diane Dubay ([email protected]) |
| Undone by Karin Slaughter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Gritty, gruesome, smart and suspenseful --- Sara Linton is back! You can never go wrong with Karin Slaughter's thrillers/mysteries, but they are not for the faint of heart! |
| Fran |
| Domestic Affairs by Eileen Goudge |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An emotional tale of friendship, family and forgiveness. It was good. |
| Heather Pearson |
| February by Lisa Moore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The Ocean Ranger Oil Rig may have sunk in 1982, but the families of the victims still have to live. This story had me in tears so many times. I remember when this happened, and reading a fictional account of how a surviving spouse may have responded was very emotional. |
| Rosemary Sobczak ([email protected]) |
| 31 Hours by Masha Hamilton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Really thought-provoking. |
| Elizabeth V |
| What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
In Catherine O'Flynn's WHAT WAS LOST, a 10-year-old girl, Kate, fancies herself a detective. She watches people, makes up stories for herself about them and takes great care with her notes about following them. Then one day she disappears. The police's immediate and only suspect is a young man, Adrian, who was her neighbor and had befriended this lonely little girl. When he could bear the suspicion of neighbors and his family no longer, he, too, disappeared. Flash forward 20 years. Adrian's little sister, Lisa, now an adult, is an assistant manager at a music store in a huge mall, the largest in England. Also working at the mall is a security guard, Kurt. And now we spend the rest of the book trying to figure out what either of them has to do with Kate, who we assume is the subject of the story. But as we continue to read, we have to wonder why we keep getting off the subject, exploring Lisa's feelings of uselessness and Kurt's imaginings. Isn't this about the disappearances of Kate and Adrian? I read several good reviews of this book, so I wondered what was wrong with me. Why did I skip paragraphs because they were dull? O'Flynn does a lot of character examination in the second part of the book. It was too much for me because she doesn't point out the connection to Kate until almost the end. I guess I was supposed to trust her. |
| Julie H. |
| Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Sent by her documentary film-making parents to a boarding school in Indiana, Viola Chesterton is a budding filmmaker herself. Unhappy at being uprooted from her lively NYC life, she doesn't expect to enjoy or make friends at Prefect Academy. Fortunately for her, Trigiani weaves a sweet, slow tale of acceptance and change for Viola. Her roomies aren't so bad, there's a boys' school nearby and a film contest to enter --- Viola blooms where she's planted. |
| myrna lippman |
| Day After Night by Anita Diamant |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Set in a resettlement camp in Palestine run by the British immediately after World War II, DAY AFTER NIGHT tells the story of a group of Holocaust survivors, all young women trying to reconstruct --- and reinvent --- their lives. |
| Barb |
| The Defector by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Since I'm not usually a fan of spy books, I wasn't expecting to like this book, but when friend recommended it, I decided to give it a try. I'm definitely not sorry I did. Silva writes so concisely that you never get lost in a maze of names and subplots, and at the same time, he makes his characters so rich that you could probably pick them out of a lineup. |
| Coral Harrison |
| Vanished by Joseph Finder |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very suspenseful book with Nick Heller. This time, it is his brother that has been abducted or missing. It is a needles and pins book. |
| sal williams |
| Travels by Michael Crichton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
After a searingly honest overview of his early personal and professional life, the author treats us to views of everywhere from Bangkok to Shangri-La to New Guinea. His word pictures of these out-of-the-way world wonders will stay with you long after you finish the book, and his discussion of the astral plane is riveting. Visit a world you never dreamed existed when you read this book. Really terrific, beautifully written. |
| Karoline |
| The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This was not the greatest World War II book for me. It's more catered to romance readers. |
| Laura Barbich |
| Panic by Jeff Abbott |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was my first Abbott book. I liked it a lot. It has a lot of action, and you are not sure who to trust. I kind of guessed the end so that was a little bit of a letdown, but all in all a good read. |
| Steve Barbich IV |
| Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This is not my kind of story. It had some good parts, but for me, it was just about a man who climbed Mt. Everest. Not too exciting but that might be just me! |
| Angie B |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The plot is not nearly as astonishing as it is in the first two books, even though I'm a metro D.C. native. But, I have to admit, this was a true page turner. The short chapters, which I usually don't prefer, really worked here. I kept seeing the movie it will make with, of course, Tom Hanks. |
| Stanley Suwinski ([email protected]) |
| Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A fantastic thriller with a great heroine and a truly evil villain. Loads of plot twists and turns, with a startling end. Highly recommended. |
| Sandra Stiles ([email protected]) |
| Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a tear-jerker from the start. It's the story of a girl, who along with her mother, survives a car accident while her father and younger sister died. This is a story of working through the grief. |
| CC |
| Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm always struck by how well Jodi Picoult takes headlines from the news and makes the stories real for her readers. This was no exception. |
| Joan O. |
| Redemption by Lee Jackson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A story about Homeland Security set in the near-future that is thought-provoking and chilling. |
| rita ([email protected]) |
| Too Late to Say Goodbye by Ann Rule |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A true story of a woman, who though married, was lonesome and chose to find friendship and love over the internet and the dangers that arose from it. Her husband is also dangerous, but you should read the book to find out more. |
| Joanne Bozik |
| A Fine Passion by Stephanie Laurens |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a historical romance book, part of a series called The Bastion Club. I loved this book and all the others. This is one of the books I happened to miss, but I read all the others to the series. Great reads. |
| Jean |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best books I've read in awhile. It covers race relations between the black maids and their white employers in Jackson, Mississippi in the '60s. A great story. |
| Joline |
| The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A unique and engrossing tale that moves between the time of the Salem witch trials and modern day events. Once you start, you can't put it down! |
| Lori Z. |
| The White Queen by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If there was a 3.5 stars rating, that's what I'd rate this. It starts out slow, but Gregory, as always, does a wonderful job of making her readers empathize for the characters. These are possibly the strongest female characters she has made (I extremely dislike her vacillating and weak portrayal of Elizabeth I). |
| Kathy Vallee |
| Murder Under a Mystic Moon by Yasmine Galenorn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book takes off right where the last one ended. In this Chitz 'n China Mysterybook, Emerald helps her friend solve the murders of her friend's boyfriend's friends. Did the spirits come back to help her or are they against her? A great little fun book. |
| Elizabeth V |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
When I get another dog, I'll talk to him or her more and I'll turn on the TV whenever I leave the house so he or she can watch it. I never thought about doing these things until I read THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein. The book's title refers to the love and respect Enzo, a dog, has for his master, Denny, a race car driver. As Enzo narrates the story of his life with Denny, his wife and his child, Enzo continually speaks metaphorically about the need for someone to act in a certain way that a truly great race driver, as is his beloved Denny, knows. So, as Enzo tells of Denny's wife's death and his subsequent dealings with his in-laws, he shows over and over why he knows that Denny the race car driver is brilliant. And Denny always talks to Enzo. It's because of this and what Enzo has learned from the TV that he is sure this life of his is not the end, that he will return as a human. And he is preparing himself for that eventuality. So if you are apprehensive about reading Enzo's life story because you know that a life story must necessarily end in death, I don't think you should worry. |
| Jean M |
| Kill and Tell by Linda Howard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an older book, the first in the short John Medina set of books. |
| Michele |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
When there are a lot of characters in a book, I spend a lot of time going back to try to remember who is who. This book has an enormous number of characters but Larsson does a great job of introducing each one with intimate details, so that you know them from the start. It is mystery, with a dysfunctional family and corporate greed all woven into one nicely told tale. Unfortunately, he only wrote two other books before his passing. Those two books are on my Christmas list. |
| Debi |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Definitely a 5-plus! What can I say that hasn't been said in acclaim for this book? I understood a lot of the symbolism because my father, my brother and my husband are Freemasons, but there were definitely some new ones for me about Washington D.C. The main draw for me was the plot. It kept me turning page after page. Just when I thought the end of the book was near, another complication arose. A great book! |
| Renee |
| That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A middle-age contemplation of one's life and perceptions of a child, the people we become and the people we thought we had become. Insightful. |
| James Keith |
| The Shimmer by David Morrell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once again, David Morrell shows why his name ranks at the top of the masters of suspense. His stories are intricate, highly readable and not tricked up. If he wrote it, you should read it! |
| Sharon Haas |
| Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
After reading THE CORAL THIEF by Rebecca Stott, I sought out her first book and have been once again captured by this wonderful author. History and matters of the heart, combined with adventure and mystery, are all featured in this wonderful book that weaves this century and the seventeenth together beautifully. |
| Janey |
| Shanghai Girls by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very interesting story about a culture and time with which I was not familiar. |
| Janey |
| Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Interestingly weird. |
| Baba |
| Blue Heaven by C. J. Box |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I found it very hard to put this book down. I just had to find out what happened next. Two children witness a murder and the murderers chase them, but they manage to get away and hide. However, the murderers are retired policemen who volunteer to lead the search for the missing children. No bodies are discovered, so nobody knows a murder has taken place. Everybody thinks the children are either missing or something has happened to them. The children don't know where to go or who to trust, and the murderers want to find them first and kill them. They would like to go home and be with their mother, but one of the policemen is there too. A really chilling plot. This is first class suspense. |
| Julie |
| Cane River by Lalita Tademy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was an "Oprah's Book Club" selection. It is wonderfully written. Four generations of women fight injustice on a Creole plantation. This book takes the reader from the years of slavery, the Civil War and the early years of the twentieth century. |
| Jean M |
| Cry Wolf by Tami Hoag |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A good thriller set in Cajun country. A good read. |
| Ann Laurence |
| Westhope by Dean Hulse |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful new author who writes about the struggle of making a living from the land. He studied under Lin Enger and essays were published into this quick read that tells it like it is. |
| Jean M |
| Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A fast-paced thriller, Vince has done it again. So current --- I love it even though it scares me to death. |
| Linda Williams |
| Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The latest Gretchen Lowell/Archie Sheridan book --- it lives up to its name. |
| Martha Ann Henry |
| New Tricks by David Rosenfelt |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I've always been a fan of Rosenfelt's books. His humor mixed with the mystery makes for wonderful escapes. How many lawyers have a dog for a client? |
| Martha Ann Henry |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
At first I had my doubts, but after two pages, I was completely absorbed. I became a part of three women's lives. This is one I didn't want to end. |
| Donna P. |
| Away by Amy Bloom |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The story of Russian seamstress who escapes to the U.S. and then travels looking for her lost daughter. It may sound sappy but I actually enjoyed it. Amy Bloom has a friendly style of writing. |
| Marsha |
| Pegasus Descending by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A typical James Lee Burke story --- interesting details and asides. Great characterizations! I love Robicheaux, Burke's complex main character. |
| Maria Caxaru ([email protected]) |
| Resurrections by Henry Schembri |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An excellent read! It brought back so many memories of my visits to Malta. I particularly liked the subtle socio-cultural overtones and the historical backdrop. The story moves smoothly from a contemporary start back to the upheavals of the Napoleonic era, where the main events evolve. The brief appendices are an added bonus. I now await Schembri's second novel. I think AuthorHouse has found a writer with potential. |
| Sandra Stiles ([email protected]) |
| Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was the sequel to SKELETON CREEK. Two teens have been investigating an old dredge in their town that they believe is haunted. They know there is a secret society called the Crossbones and they snoop around trying to figure out the mystery. This was an interactive book. The chapters switch between Ryan and Sarah, and at the end of Sarah's chapters, you can go online and view her videos she is sending to Ryan |
| Angie B |
| Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This author continues to dazzle with her true-to-life and sympathetic characters. In this book, descriptions of life in New York City and a visit to Italy are right on the mark. Three generations of remarkable women leave the reader cheering them on. |
| Janey |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A beautifully written, engaging story. |
| Barb |
| The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the latest book in Penny's Three Pines Mysteries series, and it is just as satisfying as the others. Penny grabs the reader and holds him or her, both intellectually and emotionally from start to finish. Her character development is rich, and her symbolism leads to many paths to be followed. If you're not already a Penny fan, read these books --- you won't be sorry. |
| Margie B |
| The Night Monster by James Swain |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I read one of Swain's previous thrillers twice (by mistake) and enjoyed it just as much the second time around. This one is terrific, too, and it even features a cameo by Tony Valentine, protagonist of his earlier casino stories. |
| John Pratt ([email protected]) |
| Lewis Percy by Anita Brookner |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I just started reading this book, so I'm giving it an average rating. It might be great but I don't know yet. |
| Louise |
| Incendiary by Chris Cleave |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very cleverly composed letter to Osama is the the contents of this book. A woman in London loses her husband and son to a terrorist bombing and spends the next few months writing to Osama about her loss. Uneducated, she managed to put her thoughts into the composition in a manner that makes one feel like she is talking to him in person and also offers insight into the tragic effects of terrorism. You will not want to quit reading and will be disappointed when it ends. P.S. I understand that a movie has been made of the story, and while I do intend to watch it, I just can't imagine how it could do justice to the book. I'm just curious as to how a few things are portrayed. |
| Julie H. |
| Laced with Magic by Barbara Bretton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Picking up shortly after Chloe and Luke's first story, CASTING SPELLS, LACED WITH MAGIC brings more of the charm I expect from Sugar Maple, Vermont, along with some twists. Luke's ex-wife Karen arrives in town and all sorts of strange things begin to happen. Is it the arrival of another full-blood human, or Isadora playing tricks from her banishment? Another good story! |
| Julie H. |
| Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Sugar Maple, Vermont is a very special small town. Many of its inhabitants have been living there for hundreds of years, literally. Chloe Hobbs owns the town's knitting store and acts as mayor to the outside world; her status as being half-human helps with outside dealings. The town's first murder in, well, ever, brings a very human police officer, Luke Mackenzie to town. The good people of Sugar Maple are somewhat divided about Chloe's growing feelings for Luke, but she must continue the Hobbs line or the town's protective shield will eventually weaken and disappear. Bretton weaves a very nice story. I enjoyed it very much. It's a fun read for this time of year. |
| Barbara Beecher |
| There's Nothing to Be Afraid Of by Marcia Muller |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoy the Sharon McCone Mysteries very much. I think the character has been developed well over the years. The books just keep getting better and better. I now am attempting to read all of the older titles through our inter-loan program at the local library. |
| Brady ([email protected]) |
| I'm Perfect, You're Doomed by Kyria Abrahams |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This story is hilarious and is subtitled "Tales from a Jehovah's Witness Upbringing." I doubt some of the details mentioned, as you have to be quite dumb to participate in some of her nefarious activities. The nonfiction story is interesting. |
| Louise |
| Spring of Violence by Dell Shannon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Dell Shannon --- including the two other names she writes under --- is just about my favorite author ever. She's a master at the detective genre, and oh, how I mourned her death! She did, however, leave a legacy of Luis Mendoza books behind by which to remember her. I'm trying to reread them, some for the third time. Luis and his family will feel like the reader's family after reading a few, and his co-workers, like old friends. He's a lieutenant in the LAPD and, unlike most books in this genre, he is not dealing with one particular crime but a whole bunch of garden variety and not-so-garden variety offenses and mysteries. |
| Dianna ([email protected]) |
| Play Dirty by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Sandra Brown is a fabulous author, and I have read all of her books. |
| Louis |
| Fade to Black by Leslie Parrish |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A small town sheriff, an FBI agent, a slasher serial killer --- Oh, and the sheriff is a lady. It's the first of her Black CATs books. |
| John M |
| He Is Legend : An Anthology Celebrating Richard Ma by edited by Christopher Conlon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Richard Matheson, noted author of famous works turned into movies such as I Am Legend, Duel and Somewhere In Time, is honored by a blue ribbon group of authors. Such authors as Stephen King, F. Paul Wilson, Joe Lansdale and Joe Hill wrote original stories tied into Matheson's works. The quality of each story varies of course, but overall, they are all good, and some are really fun to read. You can't go wrong with this one if you have ever enjoyed one of Mr. Matheson's novels or short stories. There's even a retelling of the "Incredible Shrinking Man" --- from his wife's viewpoint! |
| Sharon |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
They met as girls, both suffering from loneliness. But they were so different. They became best friends for life, and the remainder of the book is how they spent their lives. It was a page-turner because I needed to know what happened to these two talented women whose lifestyles were so different, even as their friendship remained. |
| LINDA B |
| The Protector's Keeper by Bonnie Rose Leigh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The last of The Protector series is when Sebastian finds his mate while searching for Sam's long lost sister and twin, Samantha. Samantha was sent to Spain to avoid being killed like her parents, and her mom made her promise to cut all communication with her twin to keep him safe. Now, she had to not only cut contact with her brother, but her adopted sister as well, all while jetting across the world to stay one step ahead of her assassins. |
| Tricia Douglas |
| Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is currently at the top of my favorite book list! Here is a moving historical fiction tale of a woman in the ninth century who becomes the only female to sit on St. Peter's throne! Not only is the story fantastic, but the historical setting is described in detail and enhanced by Donna Cross's wonderful story telling. If you think being a woman today is difficult, you'd better read this book to get another perspective! This is a must read in all its glory. |
| Louise |
| Betty Crocker's Bisquick Cookbook by General Mills |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I don't recall seeing anyone review a cookbook here but I wouldn't mind seeing some. This particular one features quick and easy dishes made from Bisquick. Everything I've made has been very satisfying, and some you wouldn't believe have Bisquick in them at all. I rely on this a lot when I can't think of what to fix for dinner, and especially for pot luck dishes. Besides, the main dishes, it has snacks, breads, pies, desserts, easy favorites and a kids' section. Personally, I believe it should be in every home! |
| Linda |
| Double Cross by James David Jordan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the second book in the series, and I did not read the first one yet. The title of the book tells it all. In Double Cross, Taylor Pasbury is now a 29-year-old woman with her own private security business. One of her clients has been killed, and his personal assistant appears to have committed suicide over embezzlement charges. Taylor isn't so sure. After 20 years of not seeing or hearing from her mother, she pops back into Taylor's life. She's a quirky but lovable character. The two team up together to find the truth about what has happened, as there is a special tie amongst the characters involved. Taylor is shot at and hit at a restaurant, and later she and her mother are kidnapped. Who's behind the shooting? Who has kidnapped them and why? Is it related to the embezzlement? A harrowing story of deceit, murder and restoration. A very good read! |
| Saundra McKenzie ([email protected]) |
| Beautiful Mess: The Story of Diamond Rio by Diamond Rio |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I learned a lot about this group of singers --- things I didn't expect that were surprising. Great read! |
| Catherine G. |
| Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A Wonderful story and great character development. I had a hard time putting it down. I look forward to her next novel. |
| Ivy Pittman ([email protected]) |
| The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you have an interest in Niagara Falls from a historical perspective, wrapped up in a love story with a sprinkling of tragedies, then this is a good story. |
| BookFestival |
| Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I like it even better than GLASS CASTLE and I loved that book! |
| dara |
| The Dead Don't Dance by Charles Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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I love the way he describes the people in the book. His books are so smooth and comforting. |
| BookFestival |
| The Guinea Pig Diaries by A. J. Jacobs |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love this book. I had read parts of it online or in magazines, but it didn't bother me a bit. I enjoyed reading a few of the same chapters. My favorite chapters are "Whipped" and "Outsourced Life." I also loved MY YEAR OF LIVING BIBLICALLY and THE-KNOW-IT-ALL. |
| Kathleen Haak |
| Thriller 2 by edited by Clive Cussler |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I picked this title up this afternoon to read the Carla Neggers story. I just discovered her last week and was interested in reading more. Boy, did I get more. There are definitely some authors that I'm going to have to check out now. Among my favorite stories: "The Weapon" by Jeffery Deaver --- It could be happening right now. "Through a Veil Darkly" by Kathleen Antrim --- All I can say is that I didn't see that coming. Wow. "Can You Help Me Out Here?" by Robert Ferrigno --- How do you think these things up? Every time I drink "natural spring water," I'm going to think of this story. I still have some more to read but so far my absolute favorite is "Killing Time" by Jon Land. Weirdly enough, I have always understood THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME but stumble on some "required" reading. Overall, a very good value for $24.95 and well worth the reading time. |
| Sue, Saratoga |
| The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Just like his other book THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, this book is awesome! They're translated from Swedish to English. Great character development, great plot, great twists and turns to hold your interest --- I can't wait for the next one to be published in America. My husband loves reading this author also. |
| Reva Wamsley ([email protected]) |
| The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This isn't the type of book I normally read but I had heard so much about it, and my granddaugher offered to loan it to me. It's the story told by Susie, a 14-year-old girl who was raped and murdered. In this book, she watches from heaven as her family and friends react to her murder and adjust to living without her. Personally, I don't believe that those in heaven can watch us here on Earth but it does make for an interesting book. It's also interesting to see the writer's idea of heaven. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Fire and Ice by Julie Garwood |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
As Sophie Rose listens to William Harrington drone on about his prowess as a 5K runner, she is bored to tears. This man is so egotistical. She is supposed to snap photos of him beginning the race and his ultimate win, but she can't find him anywhere. As she tries to find out where he disappeared to, she receives a call from the police in Alaska. They have found her business card in the sock of a person killed by a polar bear. The foot and part of a leg is all that is left, but the sock is red, the color of the sock worn by William. What was he doing in Alaska? And how did he get there after disappearing from the race in Chicago? As a reporter, Sophie knows a story when she sees one and this is one. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| The Silent Man by Alex Berenson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the third book involving John Wells, a CIA operative who wants to do things his way. As he and his fiancé, Jenny, travel to work, motorcycles surround them and their bodyguards. The bodyguards and motorcyclists are killed and Jenny is seriously injured. John is left to wonder who has it in for him and feels sure that the plot was hatched by Kowalski, an international arms dealer. As the Feds investigate this, a more serious occurrence has taken place in Russia. Two of their nuclear bombs have been stolen out of the warehouse. Russia has not acknowledged this fact and is busy looking for them. John receives a call from Kowalski asking for a meeting and stating that he has vital information to trade for his life. Can John trust him? A great book that deserves more than 5 stars. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Recuperating at an Italian villa, Gabriel Allon is called upon by his Israeli intelligence supervisor to meet with a Russian journalist. The journalist has vital information important to the West and will meet only with Allon. Reluctantly, Allon agrees. Taking necessary steps to ensure that neither he nor the journalist are not being followed, he is about to reach the journalist when the man suddenly falls to the ground. Rushing to his side, Allon finds that the man has died. The Israeli group must find out what the man was trying to tell them and to do this, they must now travel to Moscow to meet with another journalist. A great novel that will be hard to put down. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Night Fall by Nelson DeMille |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What actually happened to TWA Flight 800 that fell from the sky over Long Island on the night of July 17, 1996? Jill and Bud were at the beach and were filming their rendezvous when they heard the noise and saw the fireball. As they hastily left the beach, they only thought to get away from the area. Jill thought they should turn the tape over to authorities but Bud thought otherwise. Five years later, John Corey and his wife Kate Mayfield are at the beach for a memorial held annually for the victims of the disaster. Kate had been one of the original investigators and agreed with the many people who were sure that the plane had been shot down by a missile. She talks her husband into investigating the disaster. As they get further into the investigation, they are threatened by both the FBI and CIA to let it go as a mechanical failure. But when John sees the tape kept by Jill, he knows he cannot be silent. This leaves you wondering about our government and the colossal cover-up of this incident. Why the cover-up? A great book. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Montana Creeds: Tyler by Linda Lael Miller |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The third in the series involving the Creed brothers, this book is about Tyler, the youngest brother. Like his two older brothers, Tyler was also a former rodeo star. After being contacted by his brothers, he decided to return to Stillwater Springs, Montana. When his truck broke down, he was picked up by his former girlfriend, Lily Kenyon. Lily was the daughter of the local vet and had returned to Stillwater Springs with her daughter to care for her father after a heart attack. But when she saw Tyler, she knew her feelings for him were as strong as ever. A great story. |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Two Old Women by Velma Wallis |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful story that is a quick read and appropriate for young and old alike. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Cutting Edge by Allison Brennan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Arsonists have been striking at biotech companies by destroying their buildings and leaving behind their spray-painted messages. This time, a body has been found inside a burning building, a body identified as Dr. Jonah Payne. The medical examiner has made a startling discovery --- the dead man does not have smoke in his lungs, indicating the cause of death was not related to the fire. In addition, there are numerous cuts on his arms and torso, and strange markings on his back. Since there was not a lot of blood at the fire scene, Dr. Payne was apparently murdered elsewhere and taken to the lab. As FBI Special Agent Nora English investigates the scene, she is joined by Duke Rogan, whose security firm had set up the security for the building. How did the intruders bypass the security to gain access to the building? An APB is put out for the IT person, who is ultimately found with his throat slashed. It appears that he was lured to a desolate spot where he was murdered for information to enable the killers access to the lab. Allison Brennan's novels will keep you glued to the page. |
| hedi hopwood |
| Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It was an interesting concept. I did enjoy the story of all the different characters. There was a lot going on in this book. |
| Sharon Long ([email protected]) |
| Wicked by Gregory Maguire |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very dark take on the Wizard of Oz and especially the Wicked Witch of the West. Some of the story is a little too sexual, but overall good writing. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| The Gazebo by Emily Grayson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
For those of you that are big fans of THE NOTEBOOK by Nicholas Sparks or THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY by Robert James Waller, this is a book for you. This is not a romance novel. This is just a story about two people, Clair and Martin, who fall in love as teenagers and love each other until the day they die. How they live their lives in between is the real story. I was frustrated a bit with Clair and the choices she made. She definitely sacrificed her happiness for a heartfelt obligation. I would personally struggle with her decision. The author did a great job with this story from beginning to end. It's short and sweet, with a little surprise at the end. Get ready to shed a tear or two. This is going to be another lifelong tenant of the Smith Library. I will cherish it. Here's a quick, little blurb on how I actually found this book. I was looking for the book called GRAYSON (about a whale) and did not pay any attention to the book the popped up. I requested it from Readers United without realizing it was the wrong book until it was too late. I decide to pull it off the shelf and give it a try. A true diamond in the rough. |
| Julie H. |
| The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Three Pines, a small village near Quebec, seems to be your basic rustic, perfect getaway place. However, when bistro owners Olivier and Gabriel discover a dead body inside their dining area, that peacefulness is shattered. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec is called to investigate the murder. I would call this a sort of procedural cozy, as Gamache's team can be high tech when they need to be, but Gamache certainly believes in following the clues and old fashioned footwork. I didn't realize there are other Gamache stories, and this was not his first visit to the supposedly tranquil Three Pines. The story and mystery stood alone quite well. From the townspeople's distrust of the nearby spa opening to the gradually more terrifying area legends, I found this to be a very gripping mystery. |
| Sandy |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Not the usual kind of book I like, but it was easy to read and entertaining. The ending was a bit predictable though. |
| Debi |
| Rain Gods by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
When you read James Lee Burke, try to slow down and savor the words, the language and the sheer poetry within prose. Sheriff Holland proves himself once again as he tries to find out who massacred a group of women and buried them behind the church in a mass grave. Enjoy his writing, if you can slow down enough, because this novel will keep you turning pages! |
| shelly |
| Once in a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very touching story of two sisters separated as children and sent to live in different foster homes, and how they wind up getting back together |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Cast in Stone by G.M. Ford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
CAST IN STONE The second book in the Leo Waterman Mysteries series by G.M. Ford. This is a good series. He keeps you interested, and there are some surprises. I like the main character and the "boys," his alcoholic helpers who were friends of his fathers and have fallen on hard times. He hires them to get information and do stakeouts unobtrusively. They provide a little humor and are very effective. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this series. |
| Hedi Hopwood |
| The Apostle by Brad Thor |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read several books with these characters. I found this one very well written regarding the current status of Afghanistan. |
| Hedi Hopwood |
| The Cirque Du Freak series by Darren Shan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What the The Twilight Series was for girls, this is for boys. It's written by a young man who enters into agreement with a vampire. The story also has a bit more death and deals with how this young man grows into his new position as the Vampire's Assistant. |
| Trez ([email protected]) |
| The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very good read. It took about 30 pages to get into it but once hooked, you are with it until the last page. In a way, it is a mystery, but there is so much more. The metaphors are beautiful. You will enjoy this book. |
| Fran |
| The Worst Thing I've Done by Ursula Hegi |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
After loving Ursula Hegi's book STONES FROM THE RIVER, I was excited to see that she had a new book out. Unfortunately, I just could not relate to this book. I only read it through because I kept thinking that it would get better or pull together at some point. I was sadly mistaken. It took me longer than usual to read. I'm not even sure why I finished it. |
| Cindy H |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Not as intriguing as the other two Langdon books. It didn't seem to be as believable, and it was very weak at points. Sadly, I found myself skimming through many pages that didn't really relate to the plot. I did like the location info and historical points. |
| Sharon Long ([email protected]) |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an absolutely terrific book with wonderful characters and a great story. A feel-good book which makes you think. Great writing. I loved it! A great pick for book clubs. |
| Shelly |
| The Scoop by Fern Michaels |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
When a daughter is in trouble, a mother wants to help. This mother is a rich women who has just lost her eight husbands and calls upon her dear friends to help her out. Then the fun begins. |
| Heather Pearon |
| Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit by Mercedes Lackey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Gwen is a strong woman who is following her desire and not that of her family or the destiny they want for her. |
| Deborah |
| There Went the Bride by M. C. Beaton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Agatha Raisin is still chasing James and getting herself into trouble. I've gotten a bit tired of Agatha's antics over James, but I can't help liking her, and this is a cute, quick mystery read. |
| Deborah |
| The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is actually a book for young teens, but I read it with my niece and ended up enjoying it. Four mothers form a book club with their daughters to discuss LITTLE WOMEN, and over the course of the year the girls learn a lot about themselves and friendship. Surprisingly entertaining, perhaps because the characters seemed like people you might know. |
| Jila |
| The Best of Times by Penny Vincenzi |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It was good but slow! |
| Deborah |
| Fool's Puzzle by Earlene Fowler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I just started this mystery series. Benni Harper is a widowed curator of a small museum which is hosting a quilt exhibit. Lots of characters and an interesting setting. I'm definitely going to look for the second book in this long-running series. |
| Jila |
| First Family by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I loved it. It hooked me to go buy the rest of his books. |
| Sheryl Jeffries |
| Alibi by Teri Woods |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Great read. Full of twists and turns. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another great read for 2009. This book was about the Vel' d'Hiv' round up that took place in Paris in July 1942. There are two parallel stories going on. The first one is about a writer, Julia, who lives in Paris in 2002. She is asked to write about the Vel' d'Hiv' for her magazine, since the anniversary is coming up. The other story is about a Jewish girl, Sarah, and her family, who were actually part of the roundup in 1942. The paths of these two stories cross towards the end of the book. I enjoyed both stories and I felt they were equally important. I thought the author did a fantastic job giving us some history of the actual event and then weaved a fictional story within it. Since I have spent some time visiting Paris, it was interesting reading about places I have been to. I loved the way this book was put together and I thought the ending was exceptional. I will probably purchase my own copy of this so I can read it again. I will also be looking for more books by this author. |
| Karoline |
| Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great read, especially for the spooky season. Albeit, it does have a cliche ending that I've seen repeatedly in Hollywood movies. Still, it managed to creep me out in some parts. A great novel I would recommend to anyone. |
| Jila |
| Smash Cut by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great as usual. I can't wait for her next book. |
| Louise |
| Columbella by Phyllis A. Whitney |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Phyllis Whitney appeals to all ages, and I appreciate her work, not only because she's a master of romantic suspense, but because I can feel comfortable letting my grandchildren read her books. Jessica is looking for a new life and new adventures on St. Thomas but gets more than she bargained for. |
| Jila |
| First Family by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I loved it. It got me hooked so I had to go and buy all of the Sean King and Michelle Maxwell books. |
| Louise |
| Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I feel a little guilty for not having enjoyed this more, since I had heard good things about it. The author's search for her self-identity was rather uniquely written and sometimes quite interesting But I read four other books while trying to get through this one, so I couldn't call it one that you can't put down. It started out pretty good but kind of bogged down by the time she got to India, one third through the book. The one positive thing I can say about it is that it's written in 108 sections, or tales, as Ms. Gilbert calls them. This makes for lots of places to stop. |
| Glenn |
| A Long Line of Dead Men: A Matthew Scudder Novel by Lawrence Block |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The third Matthew Scudder mystery for me --- this one had a clever twist and plot to it. I enjoyed it and will be reading other back titles from this series over time. Lawrence Block is a great writer. This series reminds me somewhat of theSpenser series from Robert Parker. |
| Margie |
| The Oxford Mysteries by Guillermo Martinez |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A quick read. A very creative murder mystery with lots of twists. Those interested in math and science will particularly like this book. |
| Angela Satalino |
| The Given Day by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What a wonderful writer. The first pages just grab you; I can't wait to continue. |
| Dorothy |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Not worth all the hype. Living close to D.C., I was anxious to read it. I enjoyed his other books but this one was completely unbelievable. Who would walk through a dark corridor to get into a lab. Someone dies and is then brought back to life. Don't waste your time. |
| Sandra F. |
| Guardian of the Flame by T. L. Higley |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I found this book very enjoyable. It has been my reading experience that there are not many writers who can write good, accurate historical fiction. Guardian of the Flame satisfies the desire for an engaging story and historical accuracy. The characters of Sofia, Cleopatra, Caesar and Bellus are wonderfully drawn, and the pace of the story never drags. All in all, an excellent read. |
| Judy O. ([email protected]) |
| Day After Night by Anita Diamant |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is based on a true story during World War II. The British military established an internment camp, Atlit, near the Mediterranean coast north of Haifa. This was a camp for Jewish immigrants who either escaped or were released from concentration camps during the war. During October of 1945, more than 200 of these immigrants escaped from Atlit. This story is told through the eyes of four of the young women at the internment camp. This was a fascinating read. |
| Bonnie |
| The Innocent by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An intriguing mystery by one of the masters. Coben's books are always sure things if you're a fan of the genre. |
| Laura Barbich |
| Death Match by Lincoln Child |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I liked this book a lot, the only thing I didn't care for was it was kind of easy to figure out who the bad guy was. Even with that I did enjoy the read. So far I have liked every book by Child when he writes by himself, I hope he keeps going for a long time! |
| Susan |
| Defense for the Devil by Kate Wilhelm |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just discovered this author and have been reading the entire series of Barbara Holloway and attorney who uses the law with great reverence but skill to get her clients off. She has a sense of right and wrong that appeals to me and she very cleverly solves the crimes as well as getting a not guilty verdict for her clinets. |
| Debi |
| The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book kept my attention until the very end! It taps into the "sixth sense" of women as the mystery of the dead neighbor girl unfolds. Even though the author explored the psychology within families, I felt the main character was not developed enough. All in all, it was a very good read! |
| Debi |
| That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
What can I say? I kept waiting for something to happen, but the whole novel was about a self-centered man. I can't decide if the characters were unlikable because they were underdeveloped or just boring. The sequence of events were unbelievable, too. |
| Jon |
| Heat by Bill Buford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful book about working in a restaurant starting at the bottom. Written by a former publisher/editor who really knows how to write. Immensely enjoyable. |
| Chris |
| After You by Julie Buxbaum |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Buxbaum takes a horrific life event-the murder of her best friend in London-and centers a story of hope around it. The main character, Ellie, rushes to England to care for her newly motherless goddaughter and in the process extracts herself from the fog she's been in since losing her almost full-term baby almost a year before. Buxbaum creates life-sized characters you will cheer for and a satisfying ending for those who don't like sickly-sweet happily-ever-after endings. |
| Louise |
| Love Overboard by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Janet could use the phone book for material and still keep her readers entertained. I kept picturing this book as a movie, some of the "scenes" were so funny. Stephanie Lowe quit her job when she came into some money and bought an old house in another city. She had the intention of starting a bed and breakfast, but everything started going wrong with the house, including a resident ghost. Yep, it would make a great comedy movie. |
| michelle ([email protected]) |
| An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love this whole series. It is a combination of paranormal romance and Scottish and early American history. It is action packed, and the characters are so intensely portrayed that you want to know more and more about them. This is the fifth in the series and I hope there are more to come. Since it involves time-travel and multi-generational families, the chances are good that there will be. One note: start at the beginning of the series, or else the book will make no sense. |
| Ana Marie |
| A Good Yarn by Debbie McComber |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I usually read mysteries, so this book is a relaxing change. The main character has won two battles against brain cancer so she decides to do something with her second chance at life. She has always loved knitting so she puts all her eggs in a basket and opens a yarn shop . She hires her sister to work with her and even though she tries she can't seem to get as close to her as she likes. In offering knitting classes, she brings women with their own stories together. It is interesting to read how we all have our own story to tell and our own crosses to bear. As women I think that at times only another woman can provide that shoulder to cry on. This is one of those books to read when you want a change of pace. I'm truly enjoying it. |
| Kathy Vallee |
| Ghost Of A Chance by Yasmine Galenorn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the number 1 in a new series by her; they are the (A Chintz'n ChinaMystery) this a great new series where Emerald owns a chins and tea shop, she also can see the dead and helps them out to move on. This time in lands her in hot water, where she try to get out safely for her and her family. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I when first published, this time is the audiobook for a boread the book ok club. The readers are fabulous, and the book comes alive. I thoroughly enjoyed the literary references and the epistolary style of the book. The story is set at an island between England and France in 1946, and the events describe the war for the island of Guernsey. I enjoy all the characters, and the two authors, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, do a wonderful job presenting all the characters. The story is akin to SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY. A delightful read. |
| Diane R |
| The Women by T.C. Boyle |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent book! Initially a little hard to follow as he jumps back and forth among the women but keep going. It is masterfully written. Great insight on Frank Lloyd Wright and his work and personal life. |
| Julie |
| Gentlement and Players by Joanne Harris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
For generations, privileged young men have attended St. Oswald's Grammar School for boys, groomed for success by the likes of Roy Straitley, the eccentric Classics teacher who has been a fixture there for more than thirty years. This year, however, Straitley is finally, reluctantly, contemplating reitrement. As the new term gets under way, a number of of incidents happen to students and faculty, beginning as small annoyances but soon escalating in both number and consequence. St. Oswald's is unraveling and only Straitley stands in the way of its ruin. But he faces a formidable opponent with a bitter grudge and a master stragegy that has been meticulously planned to the final, deadly move. |
| Marion Miller ([email protected]) |
| Homer and Langley by Doctorow |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A fascinating subject. I always remember hearing about the Collyer brothers and though this is fiction it is entirely believable. I can't wait to recommend it to my book club. |
| CMSivula |
| Burr by Gore Vidal |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was a long book that kept me coming back - even though I interspersed it with many others. I finally finished it this week. My biggest surprise was that Mr. Vidal's afterword was dated June 7, 1973, and reads "I take full responsibilty like Richard Nixon..... The "story" was actually a historic novel - with few changes. To hear that so many felt that some of our greatest leaders of the new republic were so incompetent was unusual, but reading this has provoked so many questions that I want to read further biographies of Jefferson, Hamilton, Jackson, Van Buren and Madison. They truly came to life again -as did the days of Watergate. |
| Bonnie ([email protected]) |
| Becoming Jane Eyre by Sheila Kohler |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I think you'll have to be a bigger Jane Eyre fan than I to enjoy this novel. It's about the Bronte sisters, especially Charlotte and the writing of Jane Eyre. If you're fond of English historical fiction of the 1800s, by all means pick up this book. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I have read just about everything this author has published and have really enjoyed her work. This one was pretty good. The things I liked: the humor, the character Addie and the emotional account of a heavy person dealing with addiction to sweets and how they manage to stop the binges and get their weight under control. The things I didn't like: I thought some of the story line was far-fetched, almost like a fairy tale. I thought the resolution was weak and there were some parts in the middle of the book that really dragged for me. I thought the ending was a bit unrealistic. Still, I flew through this book like I have with her others. Even if it wasn't her best, I still think Weiner is one of the best authors of Chick Lit. |
| Louise |
| Stuck in Shangri-La by Kasey Michaels |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
After starting this one, I almost didn't finish, because it appeared to have your common plot of two former lovers who now "hated" each other being placed in a position where they had to be together. I figure I have too many books in my library to get read without having to read "the same thing" over & over. However, this plot soon picked up a couple of twists, and the whole general premise of the story and writing style was just FUN. I would love to live in this particular Shangri-La, myself, and it would make for a cute movie. It's an enjoyable and easy read, and sometimes it's very refreshing to have a break from the heavier stuff. |
| sheryl Jeffries |
| The Eleventh Victim by Nancy Grace |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a great read! If you like Nancy Grace, you'll love this book. The ending caught me completely off guard. |
| Sheryl Jeffries |
| Columbine by Dave Cullen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Very informative, a bit dry and drawn out. |
| Angie |
| The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the sequel to THE SUMMONING - a YA supernatural trilogy called Darkest Powers based in the same universe as Kelley Armstrong's other novels. Just as the first book was FANTASTIC and THRILLING and AWESOME, so was The Awakening!!! I cannot wait for the final book coming out next year - THE RECKONING!!! |
| Kathleen |
| The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It took a while before the story started making sense to me. Maybe if I had been acquainted with the characters before, it would have been more intersting at first. When I finally did get to the story, I liked it. |
| Wanda Maynard |
| The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It was an incredibly heart-touching novel that will cause the eyes of the reader to well up with tears. |
| Marion Miller ([email protected]) |
| Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
What's starts out as a very good book ends as a soap opera. However, the premise of the French Police rounding up Jews during WWII is an important part of history. This is a page turner. |
| Carol Grubbs |
| The Wet Nurse's Tale by Erica Eisdorfer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great story on a working poor female without the "classic good looks" who makes it through the world by outsmarting those who would make life difficult for her. Things haven't changed much in life. |
| T. Thomas |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Actually 3 1/2 stars. This was an interesting read. However, it did not grab me and not let go. Although the ending made sense it was not one I liked. I'm still debating if I want to read the second in the series. |
| CC |
| The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Fascinating story about pologamy- -both in the past and in present day |
| Jackie Burchett ([email protected]) |
| Prof by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Entertaining, light read. |
| Julie H. |
| Air Time by Hand Phillippi Ryan |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Investigative reporter Charlotte "Charlie" McNally returns with another exciting story about one of her stories. The big wigs want a story about fake bags for sweeps, but Charlie manages to get mixed up in a whole bag trafficking fiasco. Her relationship with Josh is strained and it's never easy when there's a kid involved. Another good McNally story. |
| Judy |
| The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent book about a 14 year old Native American boy who is encouraged by his teacher to get off the reservation where his school books are 30 years old and go to a white school 22 miles away - book with great heart.. |
| Susan |
| The Spire by Richard North Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This isn't really a thriller but definitely a mystery. The plot is well constructed, and I recommend it. |
| Coral Harrison |
| True Colors by Kristan Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a story of 3 sisters whose mother died of cancer when they were very young. Their father raised them on their farm in Pacific NW. He always thought of what others would think whatever they did. Winona the eldest is fat but very smart & becomes a lawyer. Aurora married young and has 2 kids. Vivi Ann is beautiful and helps her father run the Ranch. The story is their life as a family. Anymore and I would give it away. |
| Judy |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful book with great characters, about writing, WWII, making and being friends, loyalty, helping each other. |
| Linda S. |
| The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Set in the late 1960's, this is a Young Adult coming of age story that is written with heart, humor, and tenderness, and examples of real love and friendship. Should be a must-read for everyone. I don't know a single person who didn't LOVE it. |
| Reva Wamsley ([email protected]) |
| Silence In Hanover Close by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a Victorian mystery, and it's an older book. It takes place in Victorian England. It's interesting to see how things were down back it that time. You can see that we have it a lot easier now. This series is about Charlotte, who comes from a rich family. She falls in love with Thomas Pitt, a policeman who is beneath he social station. In this one, Thomas has been asked to investigate a murder that happened 3 years before & as she always does, Charlotte gets involved & also, gets her sister Emily, who is newly widowed & wealthy, involved. Emily decides to take an undercover job as a ladies maid to try to get information. The job is more difficult than she imagined. |
| Laura Barbich ([email protected]) |
| Trust Me by Jeff Abbott |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this one! Very smart writing and a few very good twists!! Check this one out! |
| Coral Harrison |
| Blindman's Bluff by Faye Kellerman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very good mystery with Peter Decker and his wife Rina Lazurus. It keeps up with their family and also tells the story of the murders they are trying to solve. If you like mysteries you will like this. |
| Ann |
| Wicked by Gregory Maguire |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The moral complications in WICKED are intriguing. Is the Wicked Witch really wicked, are good and evil relative to each other...A great re-telling of The Wizard of Oz with both humor and pathos. |
| Judy O. ([email protected]) |
| The Last Secret by Mary McGarry Morris |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Nora Hammond seems to have a perfect life, but that changes one day when she finds out that her husband has been having a 4 year "relationship" with a family friend. Then into her life comes Eddie Haskins, a malevolent presence from her past. Nora and her family are falling apart, and she is powerless to stop it. This book was full of unrelieved angst, and it just got tiring. When two of the women in the book were being stalked, they did not act in a sensible manner. This was just an okay read for me. |
| Ed Hahn ([email protected]) |
| Hard Currency by Stuart M. Kaminsky |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The main protagonist in this story is Inspector Porfiry Rostnikov, nicknamed the Washtub, because of his physique. He reminds me of Arkady Renko of "Gorky Park," one of my favorite fictional characters. HARD CURRENCY is basically two stories, the first involving Rostnikov in an investigation of the murder of a Cuban woman supposedly committed by a Russian advisor in Havana. The second, the search for a serial killer headed up by Inspector Emil Karpo, nicknamed the Vampire. While neither story is directly connected to the other, the switching back and forth is seamless. We are able to see the great differences in the two approaches to solving a puzzle. I was most impressed with Kaminsky's ability to keep both stories moving and not have one overwhelm the other. The characters are interesting and well-drawn, Colonel Snitkonoy, the head of Rostnikov's bureau, nicknamed the Wolfhound, Major Sanchez, a Cuban police Major liaising with Rostnikov, Inspector Elena Timofeyeva, who is accompanying Rostnikov to Havana and especially Yevgeny Odom, the tortured serial killer. There are a number of equally interesting minor characters who keep popping up throughout the book. The descriptions of Moscow and Havana are very well done. I felt like I was there. I especially enjoyed the description of Rostnikov's flight to Cuba in on Aeroflot, Russia's flag carrier, or as he put it, "the most accident prone airline in the world". The comparison of newly liberated Russia with still communist Cuba was humorous and most likely very accurate. I have now added the other books in the series to my TBR list and I look forward to reading the next one. |
| Ed Hahn ([email protected]) |
| Blink by Malcolm Gladwell |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I didn't learn much from this book that I did not already know. I am beginning to suspect that Malcolm Gladwell is not writing books that uncover valuable facts that we should know, but rather is writing books that restate facts we already know but in an interesting way. I like his anecdotal stories very much which is why I finished the book - hoping for more stories. When he lays out the facts, though, his writing is no more interesting than any other scientific author. So, in summary, what we have is a talented writer making certain scientific findings available to a much wider audience than usual. Bravo! However if you want to learn something new, this book or his previous effort, "The Tipping Point", is not where to go to find it. I imagine, if I read it, I will find "The Outliers", his latest effort, to be similarly constructed. BLINK's content is easily summarized. First impressions are often more accurate than conclusions arrived at after much study and analysis. Be careful, though, because first impressions can be troublesome because of people's prejudices. Got it in 254 pages. He does come up with an interesting term, "thin slicing", to describe the process of taking in a first impression. Maybe learning that term made reading the whole book worthwhile. Maybe. |
| Elizabeth V |
| Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Because Jon Krakauer's last book, UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN, about Mormon fundamentalism, was so riveting, I preordered his latest book, WHERE MEN WIN GLORY, so I could read it soon after it came out. I expected to read details about Pat Tillman's experience and that this book would be as well written as UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN. Pat Tillman, for those who many have been living in a tunnel a couple of years after 9/11, was the NFL football player who gave up a $3 million job to join the Army Rangers not long after 9/11. He was killed in Afghanistan by what the Army claimed was enemy fire only to admit later that Tillman was killed by "friendly fire," by men from his own platoon. I thought WHERE MEN WIN GLORY dealt with this, and it does. Unfortunately, though, it also wasted a lot of time telling me things I didn't care about. Most of the first 200 pages of WHERE MEN WIN GLORY told me more than I wanted to know about Tillman. I didn't care about the high school football jock or about his scores in his college games. I also didn't need details about how the mess in Afghanistan got started; I already knew. But if you persevere and get to about page 250, Krakauer does deliver what he promised. And I can honestly say I'm glad I stuck with the book that long. It was worth it to read the details of what happened with Tillman's platoon that lead to his death in Afghanistan, to know who said what, and to discover how the Army dealt with it for years after. I recommend the book for it's later chapters but warn you that you may be in for some preliminary boredom. |
| Elizabeth V |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
When I get another dog I'll talk to him or her more and I'll turn on the TV whenever I leave the house so he or she can watch it. I never thought about doing these things until I read THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein. The book's title refers to the love and respect Enzo, a dog, has for his master, Denny, a race car driver. As Enzo narrates the story of his life with Denny and his wife and child, Enzo continually speaks metaphorically about the need for someone to act in a certain way that a truly great race driver, as is his beloved Denny, knows. So, as Enzo tells of Denny's wife's death and his subsequent dealings with his in-laws, he shows over and over why he knows that Denny the race car driver is brilliant. And Denny always talks to Enzo. It's because of this and what Enzo has learned from the TV that he is sure this life of his is not the end, that he will return as a human. And he is preparing himself for that eventuality. So if you are apprehensive about reading Enzo's life story because you know that a life story must necessarily end in death, I don't think you should worry. |
| Rosalie Sambuco ([email protected]) |
| The Girl From Junchow by Kate Furnivall |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A sequel to THE RUSSIAN CONCUBINE. The characters are the same but this time they are in Moscow. The Chinese Communists are fighting for control in China. Stalin is the ruler of Soviet Russia. This is a very grim story of the degradation and misery in Moscow during this period of time. I enjoyed this story very much and I recommend it to historical fiction readers. |
| Theresa N ([email protected]) |
| Waking Nightmare: The Mind Hunters by Kylie Brant |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A rapist who likes to torture his victims is loose in Savannah. Abbie Phillips is called in to profile the killer. A pscological thrill, the writer did a great job on her characters. The rapes and violence is suggested and not graphic, which worked out well for me. |
| David Siegel |
| The Defector by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
THE DEFECTOR is a well crafted and written spy thriller, continuing the series featuring a dedicated Israeli agent with a personal stake in things. My only complaint is the story is a rather conventional as spy novels go. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| South of Broad by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I have relished the stories of Pat Conroy, but this story is not as edible. Again, Conroy instills that sense of Southernism and lonliness. Leo "Toad" may be the glue that holds the lives of his friends together, but his own life is tragic. The book opens with the suicide of Leo's older brother, and of course, the circle is completed with the truth of the suicide in the end of the book. All the Southern characters are thrown into this story: the mountain trash, the town whore, the drunk, the murderous father, the gay musician, the aristocracy, and the priests. The language seems juvenile at times when the characters are adults and should be conversing as adults. The ending scene with Steve was more heart-breaking than the scene of Sheba. The story hints at the turmoil in the South during the 1960-1970's when integration starts, but those scenes are so candy-coated. That time was one of death and destruction, that Conroy excludes. |
| EC |
| The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This Philipa Gregory novel will hold your interest, inform you of many historical truths, and amaze you that Ann of Cleves escaped Henry the VIII's wrath. Ann is the interesting character. |
| Rosalie Sambuco ([email protected]) |
| Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very interesting story of 3 generations of Chinese women. It begins in 1920's and goes to present day. The women are caterers and restaurant owners in Hong Kong and Great Britain. Very well written and informative. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy learning about other cultures. |
| Steve Barbich IV |
| Prime Witness by Steve Martini |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the first book I've read by Martini and I liked it! Now I have to go out and hunt down some of his other stuff! I usualy don't go back so far with the books I read (1993) but I was very glad I did! |
| Kristin Johnson |
| Hurricane Season by Neal Thompson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The true story of the John Curtis Christian School's football team as they struggle to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Brilliant nonfiction writing and portrayal of a strong Christian family as well as the students they inspire. |
| Chelsea Saulpaugh |
| I'd Rather Do Chemo Than Clean Out the Garage by Fran Di Giacomo |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I did not find this as funny as I originally thought it would be. I currently volunteer with people going through chemotherapy and am always looking for new books to recommend to them. The author makes chemo sound pretty much like a cake walk and lectures the reader about how its your own fault if you are feeling crappy about it. Some people just can't be as positive about this situation as the author and I don't think that they should be told how to feel. I also disagree with how much the author takes advantage of her husband. She feels no guilt for it and doesn't seem to acknowledge how much this lifestyle affects him. It seems very self-centered about a topic that should be covered with love and appreciation. |
| Dara Hill ([email protected]) |
| Roadside Crosses by Jeffrey Deaver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Interesting story of a boy wrongly accused of a crime and the horrible odds he faces during his disappearance. Exciting ending. |
| Suzanne Knapp ([email protected]) |
| The Wild Trees by Richard preston |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I hardly ever read nonfiction, being hooked on thrillers and mysterys, but this book reads like a fiction, and the premise is definitely like fiction, A story of the great redwoods of California, some alive at the birth of Christ and still living. A story not ftom the ground view, but from the tops where wondrous things are going on. It's a delight. |
| Donna P. ([email protected]) |
| Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Niffenegger is not known by name but by the title of her previous book, THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE. SYMMETRY is a ghost story set in London. |
| Lisa |
| Blind Eye by Stuart Macbride |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A rare and winning combination of humor and gritty realism. This is the 5th entry in the excellent Scottish series featuring police detective Logan MacRae and his oddball cast of characters. |
| Donna P. |
| The Water Giver by Joan Ryan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Brand new hardback based on true story of author's son, Ryan, medical trauma. Very interesting heartfelt story and well written. I learned a lot about brain injuries from this book. |
| Donna P. |
| Sun Going Down by Jack Todd |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Found this book hard to get into. Historical journey thru 4 generations from Civil War to Great Depression. |
| Jean M |
| Kiss Me While I Sleep by Linda Howard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I usually don't care for "romance" books but I loved this romantic thriller. For me it was a page turner. The characters were well-drawn and very sympathetic. |
| B. J. Simon |
| Necessary As Blood by Deborah Crombie |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another excellent book in her series!! |
| Ed Hahn ([email protected]) |
| River of Darkness by Rennie Airth |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was quite a surprise. I read it because someone mooched it and as I paged through the book, I realized that it was a well written post WW I British mystery, which I usually like. Turns out, it's much more than that. It's a psychological thriller rather than a mystery. Early on the reader knows who the killer is. But due to the skill of the author, his personality, motivations, and actions are revealed little by little. The protagonist, Inspector John Madden, is struggling with his own demons from his time in the trenches, but is able to get past them to figure out what he and his fellow Scotland Yard detectives are facing - a terribly twisted veteran. Even though psychological profiling hadn't even been thought of, Madden consults a Freudian Psychiatrist on the sly to try to understand what he is dealing with. The characters are well drawn and believable. Madden's love interest, Dr. Helen Blackwell, in some ways represents all women who were trying to fight the prejudices of the Victorian Age. She was a delightful relief from the overall darkness of the story. Madden's boss, Chief Inspector Sinclair, is smart enough to trust Madden's insights and defend their approach to the case through the political in-fighting of Scotland Yard exacerbated by the press's wish for more and more information. The descriptions of the village Bobbies are excellent and helped me understand why police in Britain, at least in the countryside, were so admired by the populace. The entire context of the story puts the reader well into the cultural atmosphere of post WW I Britain. That aspect alone would make the book worth reading. The entire story moves swiftly but not so swiftly that we can't get caught up in the suspense of the killer targeting his next victims. The last 100 pages just flew by. I highly recommend this book and plan, personally to read more of Airth's stories. |
| Suzanne Knapp ([email protected]) |
| Firemaker by Peter May |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Set in Beijing, China, this story is a great read especially for anyone who has traveled to China. It's a murder mystery with an American forensic pathologist and a Chinese policeman the main characters. There is romance, mystery, and enough twists and turns to satisfy as these two attempt to solve the murders. |
| Ed Hahn ([email protected]) |
| Omerta by Mario Puzo |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I had originally classified this as "contemporary literature" among other things. Well, it's not literature. It is a fast moving story with a childish plot, cardboard characters and lots of bloodshed. It follows the life story of Astorre Viola, a young man programmed to be a true Sicilian. There are sub-plots galore involving his step-father/uncle Don Raymonde Aprile and his three cousins as well as a gaggle of Sicilan and American Mafia Dons and soldiers, a couple bent cops, a conflicted FBI agent, a high level prostitute with a heart of gold (grin), a South American drug lord, a couple assassins-for-hire and their broker, etc. This was the last book Puzo wrote before he died and, in my opinion, was not up to his previous efforts. This quote from Wikipedia says it better than I can, "Jules Siegel, who had worked closely with Puzo at Magazine Management Company, speculated that "Omertà" may have been completed by 'some talentless hack.' Siegel also acknowledges the temptation to 'rationalize avoiding what is probably the correct analysis -- that [Puzo:] wrote it and it is terrible.'" Maybe he was trying to emulate Hemingway with short sentences and a bare bones plot. I'm afraid it didn't work. As Hemingway would have put it in one of his six word stories, "Boy matures. Mentor murdered. Revenge accomplished." I finished it only to be disappointed at the ending. I'm going to remember Puzo as the author of "The Godfather", not this disappointing effort. |
| Anita Nowak |
| Second Opinion by Michael Palmer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once again, Michael Palmer has a written a very engrossing medical thriller. Something strange is going on: people with a deadly form of cancer are miraculously being cured. Af first we are led to believe this is wonderful, until the real plot is revealed. It is a real page turner, and will keep you up nights wondering about what really is going on in the medical field. Though fiction, who really knows. Enjoy! |
| Betty Jo ([email protected]) |
| Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I am not very far along but am giving it four stars because it has certainly grabbed my attention much like THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE. Rainy day in Louisiana and I plan on reading. |
| Carol H. |
| A Change in Altitude by Anita Schreve |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Followers of this author will not be disappointed. The author observes relationships within marriages and friendships. |
| Rosalie C. |
| South of Broad by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A book that is difficult to put down...Conroy has such a way of interweaving his characters! And I love the familiar references made about Chaleston. |
| Terry Horan |
| Rough Country by John Sandford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another great thriller by Sandford. The Virgil Flowers mysterys are some of his best. |
| Kristin Johnson |
| Spirits of Georgia's South Crescent by Christina Barber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Spooky history-based Southern folklore...including the ghost of Doc Holliday! Barber is a meticulous researcher and storyteller. |
| B.J. Simon |
| A Brutal Telling by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of my ten 5 authors. Another excellent book in her series. They just keep getting better and better. |
| Linda M. Johnson ([email protected]) |
| Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once again, Mitch Albom hits the perfect note in this memoir of two men of God he has had the fortune of meeting. The first is the Rabbi who led the Synagogue Mitch's family belonged to when he was young. Despite leaving his faith in New Jersey when he left home, Mitch is asked by the Rabbi to give his eulogy at the Rabbi's funeral. In a fashion similar to Morrie Schwartz, Mitch travels to New Jersey periodically over eight years to learn more about the Rabbi. Again, similar to Morrie, the Rabbi still has much to teach. The other minister is a man holding together a church in inner-city Detroit, on the same street as the former Tiger Stadium. This minister houses homeless people in a former Presbyterian church with a gaping hole in the roof, buckets strategically placed to catch rain, and often no heat or electricity. In addition, Albom is originally skeptical of the minister who by his own admission broke every single one of God's commandments as a former drug dealer and user. The two servants of God quietly teach by example which causes Mitch to question the role of faith in his life. I found the book to be full of wisdom and poignancy. I am going to be purchasing multiple copies to give as gifts. |
| Dave Rudy |
| The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Intgeresting concept for a story. It has taken me 1/4 of the book to get into the plot. |
| Gil |
| Where the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A compelling novel about the daughter of a Canadian Air Force officer, during the Cold War. It deals with a murder and the girl's attempt to arrive at the truth, and her hippocrit father. |
| Kristin |
| The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
WOW. The remarkable story of the most fascinating female spy since Mata Hari--a sister to Chiyo/Sayuri of MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, except Eastern Jewel's life is even darker. Brilliant historical fiction. |
| Sharon Elliott-Fox |
| The Killing Tree by Rachel Keener |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was "in" Appalachia while I was reading this book. And the characterizations were wonderful-- evoked all sorts of emotions! Interesting twists and turns to the plot that kept me reading long after I should have gone to bed. |
| Sharon Elliott-Fox |
| The Virgin's Daughters in the Court of Elizabe by Jeane Westin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Fascinating portrayal of Elizabeth I from the viewpoint of two of her Ladies-in-waiting, and most interesting descriptions of court life of the era. Loved the story of the development of the "John". |
| Margie B. |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
OK, so Dan Brown tends to write the same type of novel each time--I confess, I still enjoy it. I don't know which of the things he writes about are well researched and which he has made up, but it's still fun reading. |
| Rebecca ([email protected]) |
| The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a great read! This book is about a missing wife with a climax beyond suspense. |
| Laura Barbich |
| The Knight by Steven James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I read this book before the others, I didnt know it was a 3 part thing! But that is ok, I loved it! Now I just need to get the next one! |
| Gil |
| Shanghai Girls by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An absorbing story showing the hardships of immigrant Chinese women in the United States during the 1930's and 40's. |
| Laura Barbich |
| The Siege by Stephen White |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm not a big Stephen White fan but I tried this one because it was a "stand alone." It turned out I realy liked it. |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Dhampir by Barb & J.C. Hendee |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Magiere has been pretending to be a vampire slayer, feux slaying her partner who is a half elf pretending to be the vampire over and over as they travel from village to village. Tired of the game she purchases an inn and prepares to settle down and have a place to finally call home for both of them. But she has come to the attention of a trio of powerful vampires who recognize that she truly is a "hunter" and very dangerous to them; and, unknown to her, she's a Dhampir - a half vampire with powers of her own. Did not want to put this one down. I have already ordered the next as it is a series. |
| Donna P. |
| The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Could not get into this book. Found it terribly confusing. A skull is found in modern neighborhood that relates to happenings in 1830. |
| Steve Barbich IV |
| Cornered by Brandon Massey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
My wife read this book first and got me to read it. I wasn't sure at first, it didnt sound good to me, but it turned out to be better than I thought it would. It's a nice quick weekend read! |
| Steve Barbich IV |
| Circumference of Darkness by Jack Henderson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Wow! I picked this one up at a thrift store not knowing what to expect. I am sooooo glad I did, it was great! A lot of action, I loved it! |
| Linda M. Johnson ([email protected]) |
| Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Friedman follows THE WORLD IS FLAT by taking on environmental issues. Equally alluring and easily readable covering mind boggling topics. |
| Laura Barbich |
| The Pawn by Steven James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This was a great book! I had never heard of Steven James but thought I would try something new. I lucked out! I can't wait to read the next book THE ROOK! |
| Liz Yang |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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CHANGE OF HEART will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It forces you to think about the death penalty and to realize sometimes things are not what they appear to be. |
| Sandra ([email protected]) |
| Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
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Just starting to read this book. |
| Sandra ([email protected]) |
| Magnificent Desolation by Buzz Aldrin |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
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I am in the middle of this book. I really like it so far. I really have enjoyed reading the details about the mission and walk on the moon. |
| Kavi |
| South of Broad by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Mr. Conroy at his best. Such a wonderful mastery of writing! This is the story of friendships formed at the beginning the senior year of high school and how the characters maintained their friendships throughout good and bad times. I have not read Mr. Conroy's books in several years. After reading this one I went out and purchased 2 earlier books I had also missed. It is the greatest pleasure to re-acquaint myself with his stories again! |
| Kavi |
| Water for Elephants by Sara Geren |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a recent book club choice and I really enjoyed it. The story is told by an elderly man, now living in a nursing home, and recalling how he came to work with a small traveling circus during the depression era. The story is lightly based on some true tales of early circus life. I hope you will love the ending as much as I did! |
| Kaye DeMaio-Hays |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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After reading THE DAVINCI CODE, I had to read all of Dan Brown. None were as good until THE LAST SYMBOL. It was even better. The background in Washington was more comprehensible than Italy or France. The symbolism was fascinating as was the tie-in between Masonic beliefs and Katherine Solomon's research into the untapped powers of the human mind. |
| Gil |
| Thy Brother's Wife by Andrew M. Greeley |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
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An interesting story in which a wealthy father determines what his sons should aspire to be. One to be a priest and the other to be a politician. It showed that the politician was evil and the priest was not so priestly. |
| Donna P. |
| The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Remember all the praise over this book when it first came out. All I can say is, this book is awesome. I could not put it down. Relationship between two young men who grow up together in Afghanistan. Although some parts of the book were violent it was necessary for the story. |
| Marjorie Roy |
| Still Life by Joy Fielding |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This book is a whodoneit, that you cannot put down, it is so good, I cannot recommend it enough. Great suspense. |
| Janet |
| Love is a Four Legged Word by Kandy Shepherd |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
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It's fluff but sometimes you need fluff. |
| Joanne ([email protected]) |
| Night Country by Stewart O'Nan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Extremely heavy and intense feel. |
| Sue Brandes ([email protected]) |
| The Perfect Liar by Brenda Novak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This is book 4 from The Last Stand series. It grabs you from the beginning till the end. Perfect for us Suspense Romance readers. Brenda novak never disappoints her readers. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.5 stars Powerful and thought-provoking subject. Tries to answer "When is too much enought?" and "Can a parent love too much?" My major complaints about the book are that certain characters and plot elements seem superfluous. Jesse and Campbell's stories are incomplete, and don't add to the main plot. |
| Liz Yang |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Dan Brown does not disappoint - if you enjoyed reading ANGELS AND DEMONS and THE DA VINCI CODE - you will enjoy reading THE LAST SYMBOL. |
| Vicki Marston |
| Day After Night by Anita Diamant |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This is the story of women, survivors of the Holocaust, who have emigrated to Palestine just after the war. I had hoped to find within these pages, a book rich in language that captured the human spirit, and at times, it succeeded. Most of the time, I felt like I was reading a script for a made-for-tv movie. I expected more depth from this author and was disappointed. |
| Sue Brandes ([email protected]) |
| The Perfect Murder by Brenda Novak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This is book 6 & last from The last Stand series. It grabs you from the beginning till the end. Perfect for us Suspense Romance readers. Brenda novak never dissapoints her readers. |
| Joanne ([email protected]) |
| The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Wonderful story that connects you to 3 generations and keeps you involved. |
| Aisling |
| The Given Day by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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His very best book yet - interesting characters and a fascinating time in American history. |
| Kevin M. |
| Peter and Max by Bill Willingham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Takes the fables you heard as a child and spins them on their head by highlighting the darkness and moving them to the modern world. Absolutely brilliant. |
| Bonnie Capuano |
| Storm Cycle by Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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I love anything Iris Johansen writes. I just started this book and so far I don't want to put it down. It's about a young woman (Rachael) whose sister is dying of a rare chronic illness. Rachael is trying to find a secret that would save her sisters life. Like I said I just started it but really am enjoying it. |
| J M Armour |
| She Shoots To Conquer by Dorothy Cannell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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I have read all the books in this series. They're very entertaining. |
| Kay |
| Push by Sapphire |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
| This book stopped me in my tracks. It was nearly impossible to put down even though the profanity was everywhere and the adult themes of abuse, incest, and illiteracy were so sad, depressing, and infuriating at the same time. Tyler Perry and Oprah have co-produced the movie ("Precious") based on the life of Precious Jones, the protagonist in this book. The movie comes out early in November; be sure to read the book first! I will never forget this book! |
