June 4, 2010 - June 17, 2010

Last contest period's winners each received a copy of THE BOURNE OBJECTIVE by Eric Van Lustbader, THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST by Stieg Larsson and SEAWORTHY: A Swordboat Captain Returns to the Sea by Linda Greenlaw.

Julie H.

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Rating: 3 Stars

Almost a year after the moon has been knocked off kilter by an asteroid, Miranda, her mom and brothers are eking out a sort of existence in a very gray world. The weather becomes an issue again as summer arrives along with more mouths to feed. I enjoyed the return to Miranda's diary form and the element of hope at the end of the story.

Judy O. ([email protected])

Between Two Worlds by Roxana Saberi

Rating: 5 Stars

This is the true story of American author Roxana Saberi, who was working as a journalist in Iran. In January of 2009 she was suddenly arrested and thrown into the Evin Prison in Tehran. She was accused of spying for the US. Her account of this awful period in her life makes fascinating reading, partly because it is still fresh in the minds of Americans who heard about it on the daily news. A great read!

Gail White ([email protected])

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Rating: 5 Stars

Somehow I started reading this book before his first, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. I am so hooked and can not put it down. Of course I will go back and read TATTOO. Plus, it will be coming out on DVD in about a month. Larsson is a good writer, a plot builder, with the great ability make you want to turn the page. Just my kind of book. His characters are well defined, complex and a little scary. Looking forward already to the last of the trilogy, THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST.

Sandra Scholl

A Father's Day Fatality: Tigria's Story by Genevieve Scholl

Rating: 4 Stars

This book is a mix of action, mystery, suspense, and romance. It brings out every emotion from sadness to anger. Much better than the first one. Characters are lovable and easy to relate to.

John

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

Rating: 4 Stars

This story is fictional but based on actual events. It follows the life of a young girl kidnapped from her village in Africa and sold into slavery. She is transported to America in the early 1800s and has a difficult life. She is very smart, however, and is taught to read and write, and keep accounts. Finally she runs away from her master.

This is a wonderful book. I think anyone would be interested in reading this.

Susan J.

Privileged Information by Stephen White

Rating: 4 Stars

This first book in the popular mystery series featuring psychologist Alan Gregory is a light, quick, and entertaining read, very good for the genre. It seems Gregory is having a problem with keeping patients alive. And after he is accused of sexual misconduct, he is having a problem with keeping any patients at all. While he is trying to determine what is behind the deaths and if there is any common denominator, as well as clearing his name, his hands are tied by the ethics of his profession. On top of that, he is separated but not entirely emotionally detached from his wife and he falls for a prickly deputy district attorney, Lauren, who often treats him badly.

The setting is Boulder, Colorado, as it's fun to read books set in my neck of the woods. I fell in love with the Bouvier des Flandres, Cicero. The storyline is plausible and for a mystery, not gruesome. I did question Alan's initial failure to see an overly coincidental meeting with someone he knew as something other than coincidence. Some of my favorite quotes from early in the book are:

"I carried a bottle of red and a bottle of white, unsure which went better with brine."

"In the tropics people are evacuated when the winds hit seventy miles an hour; in Boulder, when the Chinooks gust past ninety, people compensate by talking a wee bit louder, rescheduling tennis matches and bicycle rides, and leaning a little bit when they walk."

"Her hair was the color of good topsoil...."

"Adolescence is a disease from which total recovery is rare."

Sandy

A Fortunate Age by Joanna Smith Rakoff

Rating: 1 Stars

Only read about 100 pages when I decided to give it up. Just didn't capture my attention. Too many good books out there to waste my time on this one.

Rachel D.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Rating: 5 Stars

This novel was great! It takes an old-fashioned song "The Elfin Knight" or "Scarobourgh Fair" and turns it into a tale that you can not forget. Read it!

Metalfiend11, Rocksprings, TX ([email protected])

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Rating: 4 Stars

This was a really good book! The author did a great job! The characters really draw you in and give you a glimpse of what these women must of had to endure. I love that there was one person who listened to the women's stories and saw past the issue of race.

Jeff Fitzgerald

The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni

Rating: 5 Stars

Superb early-coming-of-age story about a boy's struggles with family, friendship, conformity, independence, love and society as a whole.

Shannon

A Plague of Sinners by Paul Lawrence

Rating: 3 Stars

I think as a murder mystery, it was missing a sense of urgency and lacked momentum. Harry Lytle just didn't care. If anything, he was waiting for more to die so there could be fewer "bad guys" pursuing him. As a result, I didn't care much either. I did enjoy the author's wit and historical detail though.

Debbie ([email protected])

Burmese Lessons by Karen Connelly

Rating: 3 Stars

The plight of the Burmese garnered my attention and I felt that Karen Connelly might do the subject justice. The book started with much promise, but halfway through the book, the central theme became Maung. Karen mentions her love of Burma, and the yearning to be in Burma, but I miss the raison d'etre. The grueling conditions both in the jungle and in the city provide no clue to this love with Burma. The people and the culture are amazing, but their spirit is not fully captured. The plight of the Burmese saddens the reader, and I think of all the freedom and comforts that the majority of Americans possess. Karen Connelly shows the contrast of the haves and the have-nots, but also the spirit of the have-nots.

Eileen Elkinson ([email protected])

The Singer's Gun by Emily St. John Mandel

Rating: 5 Stars

Anton Wakers life falls apart almost overnight. A successful businessman and newly married, he finds himself harshly reeled back into his unsavory past --- a past filled with illegal activities laced tightly together between his family and himself.
A blackmailer insists he pull off one final job. Meanwhile, he is being investigated for fraud and other questionable activities by the government. Anton must make a heart wrenching decision. I flew through the pages to find out what it was and if he made it out alive.
Highly Recommend. Beautiful and intelligent writing throughout.

Marsha

Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende

Rating: 4 Stars

This is an unforgettable story of a slave and a concubine in Haiti in the 1770s. She is a woman who overcomes many challenges and ends up in New Orleans. We follow the story of her children and their dreams for a better life in a world that is so unjust to so many.

Phyllis

The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley

Rating: 5 Stars

An amazing thought provoking novel; it is especially timely considering the H1N1 scare over the past year.
Peter and Ann Brooks have two young daughters and a very unhappy marriage. Their family concerns change drastically when a virulent pandemic hits America's heartland. Trapped inside their homes, and trying to keep their family healthy, they face food and water shortages and living without power. They find themselves having to make decisions they would never have considered in their ordinary lives.
The Things That Keep Us Here is a very emotional novel; Carla Buckley grabs you at the beginning and keeps you interested until the very end.

Tanya

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

Rating: 5 Stars

I love the trilogy and wish there could be more. I would rate them 10 stars if I could. Read them in order to really understand the characters.

Beckie ([email protected])

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

Rating: 5 Stars

Another delightful read from this author as she writes the story of her grandmother. Although it reads like a novel, this family history will give wonder to your own ancestors if you do not know their stories. Delightful quotes on every page!

Kathy Vallee

Secondhand Smoke by Karen E. Olson

Rating: 5 Stars

When a body is found at a local eatery everyone thinks the owner is guilty, but is he? Furthermore, local reporter Annie is saddled with the newbie Dick who seems to be after her job, which she can not let happen. Now the MOB shows up and her Dad might be involved. But in the end it looks like she might end up with the right man, but will it be Vinney the hunky PI or Tom the police inspector?

Barbara B.

Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky

Rating: 2 Stars

A pregnancy pact among four 17-year-olds living in Maine is the subject of this book. I could not believe how narrow minded the towns people were regarding these girls. They actually blamed the teens' mothers for being poor. I find it hard to fathom people thinking this way. The girls never gave a believable reason for the pact and the ending was just too predictable.

Barbara B.

Laughed Til He Died by Carolyn Hart

Rating: 4 Stars

I love Ms Hart's cozy mysteries set on Broward's Rock, an island off of the coast of South Carolina. Annie and Max Darling can solve any murder, especially with the help of Henny, Emma, and Laurel. A great summer read to be sure!

Barbara B.

Love Is Eternal by Irving Stone

Rating: 5 Stars

Irving Stone wrote great historical fiction and this book about Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln is among his best. The book is mainly about their early years together and how they worked as a team to live in the White House. This book is unfortunately no longer in print, but I am fortunate to own my great aunt's copy.

A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson

Rating: 4 Stars

A charming little love story!

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

Rating: 4 Stars

No one tells a story better than Pat Conroy. I'll recommend this one for anyone looking for a very satisfying "beach read". Charleston, SC is one of the characters and the city plays such an integral part in the book, along with the nerd, the stuffy "old money" people, the orphans, and the movie star... Integration. AIDS. Religion. Lots of humor. My only regret is that I wasn't reading it sitting in the sand and slathered in suntan lotion.

Susan J.

John Adams by David McCullough

Rating: 5 Stars

It took me almost forever to read this 650 page book, but don't let that deter you from giving it a try if you are interested in American history or the Founding Fathers. That is more a reflection of my reading skills than it is of the book. This biography is fabulous. John and Abigail Adams are people I would have wanted to know. This book allowed me to meet them the best way possible when almost two centuries separate us.

What drives John Adams throughout his life is a very high sense of integrity. There is nothing he wouldn't do if he thought it the best thing for his country. Abigail is the perfect match for him, able to manage the household and farm during John's long absences, and never afraid to speak her mind. The relationships among Adams and Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were fascinating. All were flawed in different ways but all accomplished some remarkable things during their lifetimes. I found the portrayal of Franklin especially interesting because he seemed to live much differently than his homespun wisdom would have led me to believe.

McCullough included many excerpts from letters and speeches, and the family letters especially brought the writers to life. For me, there was occasionally a little too much quotation, and a few of the author's sentences seemed unnecessarily complex but that disappeared for me once I got used to his writing style. Numerous illustrations, especially reproductions of portraits and documents, made an enjoyable addition.

This biography won a Pulitzer Prize, and with very good reason. I highly recommend it.

Judy O. ([email protected])

61 Hours by Lee Child

Rating: 5 Stars

Hero Jack Reacher is stranded in Bolton, SD with 20 senior citizens because their bus crashes in a severe snow storm. Reacher is immediately plunged into the middle of another dangerous adventure. Janet Salter, an elderly local woman, has witnessed a drug deal and she is needed as a witness. There are people out to kill her before she can do so. There have been other murders in the town, so Reacher gets busy trying to solve them and also save Janet. This is an exciting, fast-paced, typical Jack Reacher adventure. You gotta love Jack!! I eagerly await his next adventure.

nina stafford

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Rating: 5 Stars

Great book --- she's right on about the people in the South. I hope she writes a sequel.

Linda ([email protected])

The Last Child by John Hart

Rating: 4 Stars

Very hard book to put down --- many twists and turns. Johnny is a 13-year-old boy looking for his twin sister who has disappeared. Suspenseful and a very well written book concerning loss and hope in the face of much evil.

Kellie ([email protected])

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

Rating: 4 Stars

Wow! The author's writing in this book is truly amazing. The story is about a man who is in a car accident and is burned very severely. While he recuperates, a mentally disturbed woman starts visiting and begins telling him stories of her life in the 13th century. And supposedly he was there too. These stories are just as fun as the main plot. The author's imagination is extravagant. I was in awe as I turned every page. The darkness and the depth of the book made for a slow read. And to be honest, in places, it became too deep for me. However, I do appreciate the talent of this writer and since the story is so unique, I think people will be talking about this book for a very long time.

Denée Savage

Cider House Rules by John Irving

Rating: 5 Stars

Coming-of-age and finding oneself --- a classic story that should be read again.

Tricia ([email protected])

61 Hours by Lee Child

Rating: 5 Stars

I've followed Jack Reacher from the beginning and wish I had some of his habits: not needing a watch and the ability to travel without a suitcase. I love him! I finished 61 HOURS in a blink of an eye and just about tore the book apart looking for the "last chapter." There had to be more! Lee Child, you're driving me crazy! I don't care if you have bills to pay as you mention on your website, I need to know how and where Jack is NOW! At least I know he's alive, but please hurry with your newest tale. I'll have nightmares until I can picture him alive, well and sitting on my bookshelf.

Clean Cut by Theresa Monsour

Rating: 4 Stars

Excellent thriller --- especially since this is the author's first novel.

Jane Squires ([email protected])

The Other Daughter by Miralee Ferrell

Rating: 5 Stars

This is the first time I've read this author's books. I found the book impossible to put down. One wants to know from chapter to chapter what is going to happen next. This is a story that keeps moving and doesn't grow stale. A girl appears at the door with a suitcase and says your husband is her daddy --- imagine the surprises and how it unfolds in this fabulous story.

Jean

Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

Rating: 5 Stars

Wow! A real page turner. This is a beautifully written compelling story. I hope Ms. Jordan writes another one.

Phyllis

Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick

Rating: 5 Stars

I always enjoy the Arcane Society Series and this Book Two of THE DREAMLIGHT TRILOGY didn't disappoint. BURNING LAMP takes place during the time of Queen Victoria. A notorious crime lord, Griffin Winters, needs the help of a social reformer and dreamlight reader, Adelaide Pyne and find their fates closely bound.
The books are just fun, enjoyable reads. I'm looking forward to the third in the series which will be set in Harmony.

Bonnie Waliezer ([email protected])

9 Dragons by Michael Connelly

Rating: 4 Stars

A thriller that keeps you reading long after you should have put the book down and gone on to your chores. Join a father's hectic hunt for a kidnapped daughter.

Sal Williams

Saints Rest by Thomas Gifford

Rating: 4 Stars

A poilitical thriller that keeps turning up dead bodies, this is Gifford at his best. His protagonist, Ben Driskill, plods relentlessly over the USA trying to find an evil mastermind and a "back channel" mole who can put an end to severe presidential level dirty tricks and expose the evil-doers. Great summer read.

Jeff

Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace

Rating: 4 Stars

The brilliance of his mind is absolutely dazzling. Don't know if I could make it through a door-stop like Infinite Jest, but the essays in this collection are a window into one amazing psyche.

Jeff

Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson

Rating: 2 Stars

After all the stellar reviews, I thought this was going to be a literary page-turner, but I quickly got bogged down in the pretentious style and stalled early on, never to resume. If you want an un-putdownable epic, read TROLLOPE.

Ginger

Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Rating: 5 Stars

I just discovered the Sookie Stackhouse mystery books and love them. The "True Blood" TV series is based on the novels.

Jeff

Ayn Rand and the World She Made by Anne C. Heller

Rating: 4 Stars

Well-written biography of a fascinating individual.

Elizabeth V

Solar by Ian McEwan

Rating: 3 Stars

Although the two reviews of SOLAR that I read would put off a less die-hard
McEwan fan, I found it to be, first, a comical view of the irony of
global-warming and environmental activism, later, still ironic but a more serious consideration of this subject.
The first part of SOLAR shows the ironic life of a nobel-prize-winning scientist. He is the head of a center bent on exploring some politically correct discovery involving wind turbines even if they know it is useless. But he doesn't really run the place, and he doesn't really care, anyway.
Besides, he has more urgent matters to attend to such as his fifth marriage to a gorgeous woman who is running around on him. Although he's had several affairs, he cares when the tables are turned.
Suddenly, the scientist comes home to his wife's lover, someone the scientist hadn't expected, someone who has a theory that may truly impact energy conservation and global warming. And so ends the first part of SOLAR.

The second part of SOLAR skips ahead a few years. The scientist is a convert to the environmental movement. His fifth wife is gone, he vows never to marry again, and he lives a disgusting life while he gives speeches to would-be investors in his new-found technology that will save the world.

I love Ian McEwen's writing. He writes beautiful sentences. And I'll always want to buy his books as soon as they're available as a result.

But a page turner this is not. I felt like I had to read it slowly because he was implying something. I never was sure of what it was, though. So I read more reviews of SOLAR, hoping to find a reviewer who would give me some insight. No luck.

Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D.

The Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

Rating: 5 Stars

The story in essence is about a business man who wants a reliable wife. He places an add in the newspaper and then responds to one. This woman is a very crafty person who has made up her past and has an eye on his money. It is a great story with both humor and drama.

Dave Siegel ([email protected])

Storm Prey by John Sandford

Rating: 5 Stars

Lucas Davenport is again up against the clock chasing elusive killers in Minnesota, and nobody does it better.

Jean

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

Rating: 4 Stars

Rachman is a fabulous writer. With that said, the book reads like a compilation of short stories. I could barely get involved with the life of a featured character when suddenly, the section would end and a new character is introduced, and it never returns to the first character. Hence, the book wasn't as enjoyable for me because I would have preferred he developed the characters throughout the entire book.

Susan J.

The Devil's Rooming House by M. William Phelps

Rating: 2 Stars

Sister Amy Archer-Gilligan started an early version of a private nursing home, a retirement home, in the small Connecticut town of Windsor shortly after the beginning of the 20th century. Unfortunately, too many of her "inmates" died unexpectedly and Amy began to be suspected of taking the inmates' money and possessions and then poisoning them with arsenic rather than taking care of them. The old classic play and movie, Arsenic and Old Lace, is loosely based on this story. The Devil's Rooming House is an examination of the actual events.

The story is fascinating and I expected to really enjoy the book, but I'm afraid I was disappointed. The book seems to be disjointed and disorganized, jumping around in both place and time when those shifts do not add to the story. At the beginning, there was too much description of the heat wave that took many lives in that part of the country, even including a gruesome suicide that seemed to have no relevance to the rest of the story. Then we'd be back to the main story, thinking we were done with the heat wave. No, here it comes again. Throughout the book, there was irrelevant information included, and I got the feeling that the author, in his research, found interesting tidbits that he couldn't resist sharing with the reader. There was also too much repetition. I wanted to know more about Amy but I never did get a feel for her. She was greedy and narcissistic, yes, but I don't feel like I got to know her other than superficially. More information was presented about some of the people investigating the case than there was about Amy.

The book included a section of photographs and documents that did add to the story. Mr. Phelps has written several other true-crime books and is not a novice, but this book let me down.

Reva Wamsley ([email protected])

The Patient by Michael Palmer

Rating: 4 Stars

This is a gripping book about a terrorist who has a brain tumor and needs surgery. He, his wife and crew hold an entire floor of a hospital hostage while he has the surgery. You won't want to put this one down.

Alissa

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Rating: 4 Stars

An interesting look at two women in love with the same man. Giffin does a good job of making both characters (the wife and the "other woman") pretty easy to relate to.

Tanya F

The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee

Rating: 5 Stars

I'm not done yet, but I have laughed out loud and have gained great insight into my mother-in-law a Junior Leaguer herself...Everything makes much more sense!

Sean from OHIO

The Eight by Katherine Neville

Rating: 3 Stars

I had heard so many glowing reviews about Katherine Neville's debut novel. I finally got around to reading it and was underwhelmed. Maybe you can chalk that up to me with my expectations but I thought the book relied way too heavily on coincidences and conveniences. Every person the characters ran into during the 1700s just happened to be a huge figure in world history. Also, the writing style was very thick, which made the read a bit more difficult --- especially all the technical chess talk that I didn't know much about to begin with. Overall, I thought it was a decent book but certainly not worthy of the praise it received.

Donna

Final Gifts by Maggie Callanan & Patricia Kelley

Rating: 5 Stars

If you've ever been in the position of being with a loved one when they are dying and are uncomfortable because you do not know how to act and what to say, I would highly recommend this book. It's very touching and enlightening. It gave me peace of mind and I learned a lot. I thought it to be a very good read for everyone... It's worth your time.

Sharron

View from Delphi by Jonathan Odell

Rating: 4 Stars

This is a story about two poor uneducated girls, one black and one white, and their coming-of-age in Mississippi during the struggle for civil rights. But the civil rights struggle plays a minor part in the story. The story includes shady politics, possible murders, social exclusion, mental illness and the loss of a child --- in other words, a typical southern read! It is at times moving and at other times humorous. This is one you will remember for a while.

Carolyn Griffin ([email protected])

The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

Rating: 5 Stars

This is one of the best books I have read in a while. The focus is on several women living in India. They all have connections with other, even though they are separated by age, wealth, education and class. Bhima is the primary narrator of the story and thus also gives us a glimpse into her own difficult life. The reader hopes that she will survive as she encounters what life brings her.

Marsha

Let the Dead Lie by Malla Nunn

Rating: 4 Stars

The sequel to the award winning mystery, A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO DIE takes place in the 1950s in South Africa when color mattered in every circumstance. After becoming the prime suspect in a series of murders, Detective Emmanuel Cooper must elude the police to conduct his own investigation in the underworld of Durban --- and he only has 18 hours to do so. Thrilling.

Fran

Cowboy & Wills: A Love Story by Monica Holloway

Rating: 3 Stars

An insightful memoir of a mom, her autistic son and their little furry friend, Cowboy. Anyone who has ever owned a pet or loved a child with special needs will find something compelling in this book. I loved the way Cowboy is the vehicle that helps pull Wills into the world of his peers. Ultimately, the relationship between this very special dog and her family --- a cute story.

Fran

Exposure by Brandilyn Collins

Rating: 4 Stars

A page turning suspense filled mystery that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat and the pages turning. I couldn't put this book down. Kaycee is a newspaper columnist who writes about her fears and paranoia. But when an obsessed reader begins stalking her, everything she once knew about her life is called into question. Told with two parallel story lines, the book all comes together in a stunning conclusion! A great and fun read.

Julie

A Tourist in the Yucatan by James Mcnay Brumfield

Rating: 3 Stars

A thriller set on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It's a good mystery and I enjoyed all of the descriptions of Mexico, but I thought it was a little predictable.

The Dogs and the Wolves by Irene Nemirovsky

Rating: 3 Stars

After reading Suite Francaise, this semed to be a good choice. It is and the style of writiing is concise and compact. It is a story that makes you think.

Genie

Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan

Rating: 5 Stars

In this memoir, Dylan gives his take on his artistic growth as he began composing music. He gives us more insight into the times when he was struggling to come up with material for songs than to his more successful recording sessions. Dylan recalls the times when he wanted nothing to do with his public persona. He explains what lead him to decide to make a comeback in the 1980's. He gives credit to the influences of folk and blues in his work. There are frequent references to Jack Kerouac's ONE THE ROAD.
This book gives more of an insight into his life. Details of his friendship with Woody Guthrie. References to the Blues and folk musicians who influenced his compositions. The importance of his family in his life.

Bonnie

Termite and Lark by Jayne Anne Phillips

Rating: 3 Stars

I feel bad that I couldn't get through this book. It was poetically written, but reminded me of Faulkner or Joyce..not one to read in spurts in 80 degree heat. Might have to pick it up again when I can concentrate. But for now, didn't grab my attention.

Irene - Saratoga Springs NY

My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveria

Rating: 5 Stars

For those who thought that GONE with the Wind epitomized a fictional authoritative chronicle before and during the Civil War, in this tumultuous period of our own current history, it is clear that My Name is Mary Sutter, has commendably garnered a pinnacle in what this voracious generation desires to know.

In a magnificent debut novel, Robin Oliveria offers an unsurpassed entre into one woman's unrelenting quest to ascend from mere acceptable midwifery to a 19th century avant-garde physician and surgeon.

My own personal curiosity developed from the introduction of Albany, New York as Mary's birthplace and pivotal foundation for her initial unremitting quest to Albany Medical College in pursuit of her befitting profession as a female physician and surgeon.

Immediately with excitement, the unforgettable locales presented an Albany I knew from early childhood, and the impeccable descriptive narrative tendered Mary Oliveria's impermeable research not only to locales but also to characters imbedded in this superbly written narrative.

The haunting depiction of young warriors, whose only knowledge of war was the initial exuberance of proclaiming victory yet to be won, the vivid portrayal of unrelenting suffering in needless battles, the laudable women who sacrificed decorum for indefatigable efforts to save the wounded without adequate medical supplies, and Mary Sutter, unforgettable in her unwavering courage and undoubting determination to risk all.

Love Streams ([email protected])

Influence by Maddy Dychtwald

Rating: 5 Stars

Maddy Dychtwald's INFLUENCE speaks of women's economic emancipation in three stages: survival, economic independence and economic influence. This book highlight stories from women who began at every stage and moved into the highest level of influence by leveraging economic power to make changes in their family, community and society as a whole. I believe this book is a wake call, especially to women who are stagnating at economic independence. Through facts and statistics "Influence" informs us that the world's future depends on women leveraging the finances, education, and social networks we've been amassing and developing for decades to actively take on leadership roles and participate in changing the way things are done in society. Yes, we are already doing so, but we must make more of an effort to be proactive about finances and leadership, partner more at home to allow for these outside activities, and begin to think about our own legacies outside those we will leave with our children. It's powerful stuff this book! Everyone should read it. It's not just a book for women, but for anyone who wants to learn about the demographic shift changing our society for the better.

Arch

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Rating: 5 Stars

I had read rave reviews about this book everywhere and I finally managed to get my hands on it from the library. I just finished reading this book couple of days ago and I have to admit it is indeed a very nice book and exceeded my expectations. A must read for any book lover!!

Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])

Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt

Rating: 4 Stars

The author writes a stream-of-consciousness memoir of the year after his only daughter, a doctor, wife and mother of three children under 10, dies of a heart anomaly at the age of 38. Rosenblatt and his wife move in with their son-in-law to help with the grandchildren. A study in and of grief.

Linda Bentzen

Making Rounds With Oscar by David Dosa, M.D.

Rating: 4 Stars

This is a very special book. Not only is it a great story about a cat, but it also gives valuable information about dementia. I learned so much, for instance, dementia is the main term and alzheimers is one form of dementia. I wish all nursing homes and assisted living centers had cats or a dog.

Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])

The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 4 Stars

The Baudelaire triplets continue thwarting Count Olaf's attempts to gain control of the children's fortune. This is #8 and I'm not tired of it yet. Good detox from the job since I listen to it on the ride to and from work. Tim Curry does an excellent job narrating and portraying. It would be tough to pick between him and Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) as a narrator.

Genie

Murder Plays House by Ayelet Waldman

Rating: 4 Stars

Juliet Applebaum, ex-public defender / PI, is house hunting in between sleuthing assignments. While touring "the perfect house", Juliet and her real estate agent friend, Kat, walk in to the guest house and find a murdered woman in the bathtub. It turns out that the home owner is the well known L.A. fashoin designer Murray Felix. The victim is his sister, Alicia, an unemployed actress. Initially, Juliet promises Felix to investigate this crime in the hope of gaining his favor so he will sell her the house. The more Juliet found out about Alicia's life, the more absorbed she became with the investigation. It turns out that Alicia had a severe case of anorexia and was web master of a site to encourage anorexic teens to continue this lifestyle. Soon Juliet starts to wonder if the eating disorder may be the key to Alicia's murder instead of a direct connection to the movie industry.

Genie

Maskerade by Terry Pratchett

Rating: 5 Stars

There is no doubt that the Opera House of Ankh-Morpork is known for its off-beat musicals. An added attraction to these outrageous productions is the resident ghost. Ghostly activity seems go into overtime when the famous Enrico Basilica arrives on the scene. The ghost has the entire opera company terrorized. The only hope of getting things in order is to rid the theater of this pesky ghost. What better cover could witches Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg hope for while they work to convince Agnes Nitt (aka Perdita X. Nitt) to join their coven. As everyone knows, you can't have a coven with less than three witches and Agnes has potential. Unfortunately for them, Agnes (who can sing harmony with herself) wants to be an opera singer. Murder and mayhem brings Death upon the scene and he is complaining that his scythe arm is sore from over use. There is no question that Granny and Nanny will solve the problem. While the solution is surprisingly logical, the process to the solution is laugh out loud funny.

Jean M

Prime Witness by Steve Martini

Rating: 5 Stars

Good legal thriller.

Adrienne

Kathryn: In the Court of Six Queens by Anne Merton Abbey

Rating: 5 Stars

This has to be the best FICTIONAL account of a woman living during the reign of Henry VIII. I read this about 22 years ago, and probably once a year since then. It is hard to find, but if you can, buy it. It is technically a romance novel, but the historical detail overshadows any schmaltz. If you are a fan of Showtime's The Tudors, you will love this book!

Sandy

The Last Child by John Hart

Rating: 5 Stars

This is an awesome book! I couldn't put it down. The story of Johnny's search for his missing twin sister. The twists and turns are unbelievable. You will never guess the ending.

I used to write these little reviews to try to win free books, but sometimes I write so others can enjoy a book as much as I did.

Linda Bentzen

Holes by Louis Sachar

Rating: 4 Stars

My 12-yr-old granddaughter read this and so I had to see what it was all about. I enjoyed the story and it gave me and her a chance to talk about a book. It's a good mystery as well as having lots of lessons for the young.

Tanya

The Goddess of Fried Okra by Jean Brashear

Rating: 3 Stars

Pea O'Brien starts her quest to find her sister and finds herself. She is a wacky and whimsical portrait of a woman who wants what most women want. To feel powerful amid powerlessness, to care for, and to be cared for. She has quite an adventure along the way.

Susan J.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Rating: 3 Stars

Being in the mood to read something teen or young adult, and with Mockingjay, the third book of the trilogy coming soon, I decided to find out for myself what all the fuss is about. In this first book of the trilogy, the post-United States world is divided into increasingly poor districts, starting with District 1, the gem and luxury district and ending with District 12, the coal mining district, all run from the Capitol of Panem. Every year 24 children are chosen in a lottery, a boy and a girl from each district, so that they can participate in the Hunger Games, televised and mandatory watching for all the citizens. The winner is the one child who survives the deaths of all others, living in an unfamiliar and hostile environment controlled by the Gamekeepers. Katniss, the girl from District 12 who has been keeping her mother and sister alive by illegal hunting and gathering, narrates the story.

The book is highly readable and entertaining. The plot did not have much complexity and was fairly predictable, but I couldn't help but cheer for some of the characters. There was violence, as would be expected given the subject, but it was not overly graphic. I think that older teens might find the story a bit too simplistic but it is still an entertaining tale for readers not in the mood for anything too taxing.

Margo

The Politician by Andrew Young

Rating: 5 Stars

I couldn't put this book down. This gave such a picture of John and Elizabeth Edwards, and their drive to the White House. Their selfishness and greed was unbelievable. It also gave insight to other politicians. If all our government is like this then we are in deep trouble. The book is well written and believable. What has happened to morals?

Barbara

God of the Hive by Laurie King

Rating: 4 Stars

Concludes the story begun in The Language of Bees. Holmes and Russell must find out who is behind the conspiracy to kill Holmes' son, discredit them, & murder Mycroft. The plot is much bigger and more involved than initially thought by Holmes and Russell - and the reader! Another excellent addition to this series.

Judy O. ([email protected])

The Devil's Rooming House by M. William Phelps

Rating: 4 Stars

This is true crime at its best. It is the story of Amy Archer-Gilligan, a woman in New England in the early 1900s, who boarded elderly and infirm people in her home. When the elderly people started dying in large numbers from "severe indigestion", a curious newspaper reporter started delving into the matter. What he found was a woman who had poisoned with arsenic up in 66 of her elderly inmates. It is horrifying, but the fact that it is true, makes it even worse. The play "Arsenic and Old Lace" was written with this woman as its inspiration.

Jill

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenberger

Rating: 4 Stars

While I did like the THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, this story left me with a "Huh?" feeling. Identical twins inherit their aunts flat in London, meet some colorful characters and then (SPOILER ALERT!) one decides she must DIE to get away from the other??? Didnt get it.

Jon ([email protected])

The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry

Rating: 4 Stars

A fun read, cross betwenn a detective novel and speculative fiction. Wonderful language but plot had too many twists for me.

Mel

Small Town by lawrence block

Rating: 1 Stars

I had read several of Mr Block's books which led me to but this one. The jacket mentioned acceptable perversion but that did not prepare me for the porn they were trying to put off as tasteful. I am no prud but this book left a very nasty taste in my mouth. This pun & the authors along with the photos in the in the story make this book unworthy of his reputation.

Kathy Vallee

Sacred Cow by Karen E. Olson

Rating: 4 Stars

New Haven police reported Annie Seymor finds herself responding to a jumper at least thats what it was suppose to look like. All time "great student, home town girl" is found dead early one morning and Annie's boyfriend is the lead detective on the case. As the body's pile up the strain on thier relationship goes down. Now she's rapped up in the world of call girls and money.

Carla G.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Rating: 5 Stars

An excellent story that provides insight about the devastation of Alzheimer's Disease. This book is not what I expected, and I couldn't put it down. For someone that did not know much about the disease, this book provided great facts through a fictional story.

Kathy

Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott

Rating: 2 Stars

Not one of my favorites. It was depressing throughout most of the book. I realize these are everyday problems a lot of people go through, but it didn't seem to offer any enlightenments as to how to cope with the problems. I know it isn't a self-help book, but still, I wanted something more.

Carol G

Lady of the Butterflies by Fiona Mountain

Rating: 3 Stars

A historical novel/romance set at Tickenham Court, outside of Bristol, from 1662-1700. Eleanor Goodricke-Ashfield-Glanville is now known as a distinguished pioneer entomologist with the Glanville Fritillary named after her. This is her story, a story of a woman who lives an unorthodox life and suffers the consequences. When the story related to what Eleanor was doing as a person, it was very interesting. The middle of the book seemed to be regulated to Eleanor's sex life with her two different husbands: it was soooo boring.

Kathy

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson

Rating: 5 Stars

His first book was excellent, didn't know what to expect with the second and was very happy to see it was every bit as good as the first. Can't wait to read the third and I'm so glad we didn't have to wait as long for the third book. Also, I'm eager to see the movie of the first book, hope its as good as the book (but they usually never are).

Kathy

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

Rating: 5 Stars

Loved, loved, loved this book.

Kathy

Innocent by Scott Turow

Rating: 4 Stars

I am really enjoying the book. I haven't completed it so it's still a mystery to me as to what happend to the Judge's wife. I also am anxious to see what happens then Nat realizes his Dad and girlfriend had an affair. Should be interesting.

T. Thomas

Bed of Roses and Savor the Moment by by Nora Roberts

Rating: 4 Stars

Books 2 and 3 of the Brides Quartet series. Pleaseant romances for a summer afternoon.

Celeste

Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott

Rating: 4 Stars

"I'm a good kid, Mom. Elizabeth so wanted to believe her. Rosie was her outside heart." Raising kids is never an easy job. It's even harder when you discover that your smart, athletic and beautiful daughter's life is a sham and she has a secret life that you aren't even aware of involving drugs, unprotected sex and lies. In reality, this story could happen to anybody with kids. Even though I found out afterwards that this book is the third book in a series, I really enjoyed it. It can definitely stand on it's own. I would definitely recommend this book.

Kathy

Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci

Rating: 3 Stars

I have to say I was a little dissappointed in this book. I have really enjoyed his Camel Club books, but this one got a bit too graphic for me. I found myself cringing as I read what was happening to some of the characters.

Rita P.

Every Breath You Take by Ann Rule

Rating: 5 Stars

This is the most capitivating and and best page turner I have read in years. Image knowing what horrible thing could happen to you and trying, but not succeeding to prevent it. Lock all your doors and windows and prepared to be frustrated, panicked and horrified because this is a true story.

Jean

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Patillo

Rating: 3 Stars

I really liked JANE AUSTIN RUINED MY LIFE by this author. This one entertained me, but I just didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the first book. This one is a little choppy.

Marion Miller ([email protected])

Moloka'i by brennart

Rating: 3 Stars

This book takes you to a leper colony that was disbanded when a cure for Hansen's Disease was found. It follows several inmates and workers throughout their lives. It was an interesting story, but slow at times.

Ali

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

Rating: 2 Stars

I must be the only one, but this book was a disappointment for me. The characters weren't developed and I couldn't identify or connect with them.

carol

Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan

Rating: 5 Stars

A very satisfying sequel to Sorcerer of the North, another in the Ranger's Apprentice young adult series. Flanagan continues to deliver adventures and develop characters.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

Rating: 5 Stars

After hearing Ms Howe discuss her book at a local bookstore, I really looked forward to reading about Livvy. The story weaves back and forth between the "hysteria" in Salem and a graduate student's summer cleaning her Granna's home to sell. Such a good book! Hearing Ms. Howe speak added so much to the pleasure of reading her first novel.

Joanne

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

Rating: 5 Stars

A coming of age/immigrant story that reads like a memoir with very likable characters.

Judy O. ([email protected])

Secret Son by Laila Lalami

Rating: 4 Stars

Nineteen-year-old Youssef El Mekki has been raised by his mother in the slums of Casablanca. He has always believed that his father is dead. One fateful day he discovers that his father, a successful businessman, is very much alive and living not far from the slums where Youssef lives. What happens when father and son are reunited is the basis for the compelling story. A great read.

Brady ([email protected])

This Time Together by Carol Burnett

Rating: 5 Stars

I read Carol's first book, ONE MORE TIME, about 3 weeks ago and it was very good, but this one is better. I really laughed out loud on this one.

Many show biz personalities appear in this book which is written to be homey and casual and succeeds on all bases. It is most interesting about a lady who can do no wrong as regards her talents. I have been a fan of hers for many decades and recommend this book highly.

Allie

The Condition by Jennifer Haigh

Rating: 3 Stars

Story of dysfunctional New England (Massachusetts) struggling toward normalcy.

Kellie ([email protected])

Dancing in the Lowcountry by James Villas

Rating: 3 Stars

I became caught up in this book from the beginning and was really feeling good about it. The Charlotte, Myrtle Beach setting was intriguing since I was very familiar with the places mentioned in the book. The character development was exceptional. Miss Ella reminded me a little bit of my mother in law. Spunky and very independent. The story was interesting. Miss Ella is recapping her life at her golden age and has come to a major decision that she is going to reveal something she has kept to herself for over 50 years. She decides to go to a resort in Myrtle Beach with her friend Grace where she will put her plan in motion. There she meets an older man who helps her come to terms with growing older and living too much in the past. The story progressed nicely right up until it ended. I read the last page and thought, "Is this it?" "Are their pages missing?" I totally felt ripped off. There is no climatic ending, it just ends with a thought. I guess something for us to think about and imagine how the rest of the story unfolds. I am so glad I didn't purchase this book because if I did, I would try and find a way to return it. Listen up Mr. Villas, if I'm going to invest in one of your novels, the least you can do is give us a finished product. This novel was a 5 on page 150, but went to a 3 at page 291

Julie ([email protected])

The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl

Rating: 5 Stars

Matthew Pearl is one of my favorite authors and I wasn't disappointed in this book. Story takes place in Boston 1865. A series of murders are being committed all inspired by different scenes from Dante's Inferno. Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Lowell and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow are the only ones that can solve the mystery. Great reading!

Bonnie

Lark and Termite by Jayne Ann Phillips

Rating: 4 Stars

This novel started slowly, but the more I got into it, the more I liked it. The writing is beautiful, sheer poetry. The characters and plot are believable and heart-rending. A National Book Award finalist and it's easy to understand why.

Susan

61 hours by Lee Child

Rating: 5 Stars

The end is a kind off putting as Jack Reacher's whereabouts are unknown. The last scene with Jack had him fleeing an exploding building in bitter winter weather without warm clothing. Fortunately, the next installment is due out later this year - so Jack is okay. The story was good but I figured out the bad guy fairly early on.

Debbie ([email protected])

Night of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy

Rating: 2 Stars

This is a book I was given, and the story is nice, but the setting and characters are not developed. Binchy always has a multitude of characters, but fails to enhance any of them. I thoroughly enjoyed Scarlet Feather, but the last two books have been "beach" reading. This story is set on a Greek island, where a group of tourists witness a disaster and then stay on the island and become friends. The passion and emotion are lacking in the story.

Skinny Cat ([email protected])

The Last Convertible by Anton Myrer

Rating: 4 Stars

A story of friends and coming of age during wartime. I loved this book, and recommend it to everyone who loves to read. The characters stick with you, and the story is lovely and heartbreaking all at the same time. Enjoy!

Audrey Anderson

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Rating: 5 Stars

She has the werewolf community down in detail. She has other preternatural creatures in her book as well, but her main characters are the werewolves. She's not exactly normal herself, she can switch into the form of a fox. Raised by werewolves, she left their community to find her own independence and works in her own garage as an auto mechanic. She trades car repairs to the vampires in place of chicago style protection payments to them, lives next to a werewolf who threatens to eat her cat on and off and manages to get herself in the middle of everyone's business - life would be boring otherwise. This is the first in a series and I will definitely read the rest. A very good read.

Sharon Elliott-Fox

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

Rating: 5 Stars

Narrative of Paul Farmer's work in an attempt to cure infectious diseases and take modern medicine to Haiti and other impoverished areas of the world. Fascinating story of one person making a tremendous difference!

Sharon Elliott-Fox

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Rating: 4 Stars

Interesting literary devices and approach in this book. Set in Nazi Germany, late 1930s. Liesel, orphaned, unable to read or write, steals books (and learns to read.) Not necessarily a book I liked, but found the techniques interesting.

Cheryle

The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark

Rating: 3 Stars

I have been a Mary Higgins Clark fan for many years. This latest offering is like so many of her later novels, just so so. It seems she is following the "formula" to crank out "one more". Her early works are much better quality. I will finish this one, but it is not a favorite.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Rating: 4 Stars

The best book I have read in a long time. Suspenseful and a quick read with great characters and plot development. It is set in Sweden with an odd-ball duo who join together to try to solve a decade's old murder mystery. In doing that they get entangled in things that bring danger to themselves and those around them. It is already a European movie.

Harriet Stay ([email protected])

The Pryamid by Henning Mankell

Rating: 5 Stars

If you've been reading the DI Kurt Wallander procedurals...or have seen the PBS Masterpiece Mystery series on TV, or both, you won't want to miss reading these five short stories that all take place prior to Jan 8, 1990...which is the date of the opening scene of Faceless Killers, Wallander's first appearance. It begins on Jan. 3, 1969, Wallander is 21 and a beat cop in Malmo, Sweden. The stories vary in length but progress right up to the point when Kurt receives a call about a dead person at a farm (the beginning of book one). I love the series plus Mankell's one-offs. By the fifth short story, Wallander is 42, divorced from his wife Mona, living and working in Ystad. The only quirk for me was why in thunder did Wallander ever marry Mona. She was a ... well, not a happy person from the get-go. At least I understand why they are divorced.

Fran

Love in the Driest Season by Neely Tucker

Rating: 4 Stars

A powerful family memoir of a journalist, his wife and their powerful love for an abandoned, sick child from Zimbabwe. Neely shares the long, arduous journey through the adoption process. Despite the millions of children in Zimbabwe who are orphaned due to the AIDS epidemic, adoption appeared next to impossible due to the politics of the nation which discourages foreign adoption. Fascinating!

Audrey Anderson

Beyond Sanctuary by Janet Morris

Rating: 1 Stars

This is a sci fi which is early in the Thieves World Series. I had read a book that took place in a kind of thieves world and thought it might have been part of this series so I picked it up. Then I brought it to my classroom for one of my students I thought might like it after he talked about a book he liked. I never got it to him as I found the one he liked for him to read over. I decided to start it myself and was very quickly glad I did not share with him. This books awkward sentences and antiquated words used in strange ways I've never heard of as well as all the many characters, Gods, associations, and nicknames of those had me rereading over and over to make sense of what I'd read. I know sci fi can be a hard genre, but I've been reading it since I was a child and have followed many a character through their epic adventures in worlds of politics and monarchs, but this book had me struggling to get to page 50. My rule before I abandon a book is to get to 50. It was a relief to give up and pick up something else. I was going to struggle through expectiing the next book would be a different author, but when I check she had written the next two and that made my mind up.

Dale

The Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell

Rating: 4 Stars

Wonderful read! I found it hard to put down. The author really gives you a connection with the characters. Even though fictional, it is a believable account of the life in China during 1930-1950's. How people suffered and were tortured in prison. You are later enriched by the forgiveness a daughter has with her father. I was brought to tears twice during this novel, a very unexpected emotion.

Kellie ([email protected])

This Body of Death by Elizabeth George

Rating: 5 Stars

#16 of the Havers-Lynley Series-I am always reminded, as I read these books, of how distinctly this author stands out as one of the best mystery writers of today. George has a way of writing her characters so that each of them stand out with a different voice, an unique personality. My favorite character has always been Barbara Havers and I really missed her in the last book. She is back with a vengeance in this one and I was smirking along with her idiosyncratic antics.

One of the things I admire about George is, she has shaken up this series and has taken her characters to another level after killing one of them off. I read several other mystery series and I've about stopped some of the because of the lack of creativity. George has out done herself in this book. She weaves a disturbing tale of murder by children within the main plot. I kept wondering what revelance this mini plot had but I knew I would find out eventually. And I did. And I was amazed at how well George pulled everything together at the end.

The main plot was about a woman, Jemima, who is found murdered in a cemetery. The new Superintendent in training, Isabelle, and the team, which includes Havers and Nkata, are tasked with solving the murder. Isabelle calls on Tommy Lynley to support her in order to gain respect from the others on the team. He is still recovering from the loss of Helen, but feels he is ready to come back in a supportive role.

The one thing I had a hard time with was the relationship that developed between Tommy and Isabelle. I do not like the character, Isabelle. She is aggressive, self absorbed and narrow minded. Plus, she's an alcoholic. I'm still scratching my head as to what Tommy sees in her. There is nothing positive about this woman. I am sure George has something up her sleeve that will be revealed in upcoming books about these two and I'm looking forward to finding out what it is.

One of my favorite series that I highly recommend! You will NOT be disappointed.

Dorothy

The 9th Judgment by James Patterson

Rating: 5 Stars

I have read all of James Patterson's books but this is the first in the Women's detective series. Now I'm going to start reading them all. It was excellent.

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

Rating: 4 Stars

A family dynasty story that begins in a grand country manor house of England on the eve of WWI. It is told through the eyes of the young lady's maid. If you enjoyed Remains of the Day or Penny Vincenzi's stories or The Forsythe Saga, then you'll love this story. I couldn't put it down. It would make a great movie or a BBC mini-series.

Audrey Anderson

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Rating: 5 Stars

I'll have to say, this is really a twist. How can you hate a serial killer who only kills other serial killers? In a way, he's really doing a public service.

The writing is from his point of view. Very macob and even humorous at times. I was definitely cheering him on at some points and he even has my sympathy. Who would have thought? I will definitely go on to the next one. A fast read that had some surprises that added up to a top notch story and a new premise for me.
Lindsay really does a good job. I'm wondering about Lindsay now - hmmm. I just hope he finds enough serial killers to keep him occupied.

Janet

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Rating: 5 Stars

This novel catapults Emily Giffin into the stratosphere of Jodi Picoult. She uses the same techniques of a moral dilemma presented in alternating voices and points of view. This is a very sensitive treatment of the issue of infidelity.

MJB

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

Rating: 4 Stars

For anyone who loves to read about the South, the plantations, and the life of the owners versus the field hands etc, this book is for you. Grissom did extensive research for her characters and you will be turning the pages. It is the story of eight year old Lavinia, an Irish girl, travelling with her parents and older brother by ship to America. Her parents died on board, her brother was sold, and the captain of the ship took Lavinia to his home in Virginia where she was raised and worked along side the blacks in the kitchen house. An amazing story of endurance and hardships and even though the book is fiction, you know this actually went on years ago.

Irene - Saratoga Springs NY

My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveria

Rating: 5 Stars

Jean M

Compelling Evidence by Steve Martini

Rating: 5 Stars

This is the first Martini book that I have read. Believe me, I plan to read more of his. I loved the book and wish that I had found this author earlier. Now I must make up for lost time.

Betty

Serpentine by Thomas Thompson

Rating: 5 Stars

This is my favorite book of all time. It is quite old but I think about it all the time, especially because it is a true story. It is about a good looking con artist that befriends then murders tourists.

Betty

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Rating: 4 Stars

I loved this book. It is very nicely written and takes you through history. It is also a thriller.

Reva Wamsley ([email protected])

The Last Oracle by James Rollins

Rating: 4 Stars

One of the series featuring the Sigma Force. I enjoyed this book very much as I do all of James Rollins books. In this one, a young girl is taken that shows remarkable talents. She is only one of a group of children back in Russia that are being tested for their abilities. They are decentants of a group of gypsies that came out of India.

Jim Marks

The Fingerprints of God by Barbra Bradley Haggerty

Rating: 4 Stars

Very interesting book that looks at spirituality and the positive affects of spirituality on people. It does not stake out a position but researches the diverse beliefs of others and the positive effects.

Gina

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

Rating: 3 Stars

Anna Quindlen is an excellent author but
this was a slow read. It took over 100 pages
to set up the story. I just felt impatient for
it to get moving.

Anne B

The Help by Katherine Stockett

Rating: 5 Stars

THE HELP is a true Southern gem written in the local vernacular. Delving into the beginning of a most tumultuous time -the 60's- Katherine Stockett makes a bold statement as a new author. I found her debut novel to outshine that of legendary Pat Conroy's SOUTH OF BROAD. Through the eyes of "the help" Stockett brings to life so much that was taboo of the time and releases the absurd atrocities that humans inflicted upon each other. She deserves an Oscar!

Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])

The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee

Rating: 3 Stars

I was expecting more from this book. It seemed confusing bouncing between one scenario in Hong Kong during WW II and 1953. It takes a long time to see how the two parts are related. Now that I've said that, I don't think I should say anything about the plot for fear I would spoil the read for someone else.

Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])

The Body Farm by Patricia Daniels Cornwell

Rating: 3 Stars

#5 of the Kay Scarpetta series. Kay and her niece Lucy seem to be in danger when Dr. Scarpetta is investigating the murder of a young girl with evidence that points to a serial killer.

Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Rating: 5 Stars

Second read (actually I listened this time). I like it even better. Understood more. Have more questions.

Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])

The Vile Village by Lemony Snickett

Rating: 4 Stars

The saga of the Beaudelaire orphans continues. Listened to a version which was narrated by Tim Curry. He is marvelous.

Kristie

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Rating: 4 Stars

About a married doctor who finds himself cheating. Interesting work but I would have liked chapters about/by Nick.

Linda Bentzen

7th Heaven by James Patterson

Rating: 3 Stars

This Women's Murder Club mystery gives us two cases the gals have to face. A teenage son of a former governor has disappeared and an arsonist has set several fires, one of which occurs a little too close to home. Detective Lindsay Boxer and her friends are being pressured to solve these cases asap. I enjoyed the story as I do all of Patterson's books. They are the quick read that helps my brain rest after having read nonfiction.

Julie H.

Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

Rating: 4 Stars

Friends since college, Jamie, Anna, Brooke and Cait are surprised to learn of a big inheritance to be split among them. Former English majors, they all have put their real dreams on hold while trying to make a living in the 'real' world. The money gives the women the impetus to follow some of their dreams. The story moves very smoothly between the four friends. This may be my favorite Kendrick yet.

Julie H.

Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow

Rating: 3 Stars

A great escape read for the coming summer! Veronica is struggling to make ends meet when manager Jay Sharpie realizes how much she looks like superstar Haley Rush and how much he needs a reliable stand-in.

T. Thomas

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Rating: 4 Stars

Ms. Allen's books are always a delight to read.

Glenn

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Rating: 4 Stars

A pretty funny book in the mystery/comedy genre. I've only ever read the first book in the series years ago and thought it was so-so and didn't stick with the series because of that, but this 15th in the series was recommended to me and I really enjoyed it.

Sandy

One Good Dog by Susan Wilson

Rating: 5 Stars

I just finished this one on tape and it is the best book I ever "read". Don't want to tell
you much about it because it is better for you to be surprised, but just know that even people who do not have a dog or love a dog will enjoy this one!!!

Sandy

Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott

Rating: 4 Stars

This is a book about tough love with a daughter using drugs. She is sent away to a camp in Wyoming and with great insight this book shows us how difficult these days it is to be a parent.

Susan J.

Poison by Sara Poole

Rating: 4 Stars

Francesca is the fictitious "poisoner" to the very real, ruthless Borgia family, having killed to obtain the position so that she could avenge her father's death and assume his former position. The corrupt Pope Innocent VIII is ill and Cardinal Borgia intends on being his replacement. Poison might be a handy way to accomplish the goal, but it must be done without raising any suspicion against Borgia. In addition, the Jews have been run out of Spain and are being persecuted in Rome. The Pope is rumored to have an edict ready for his signature that will eliminate all Jews. Lucrezia, who was to become famous later in the Borgia story, was still a girl of only twelve.

'"He does not fear you," the priest said. "Not as he did your father. You are only a woman."

God help me, I smiled. Innocent would have all of eternity to contemplate his error.'

This fast-moving historical fiction is well written. While it could have evolved into more historical romance than historical fiction, it did not, leaving the intrigue as the main part of the tale. The language gave the flavor of the period but did not become arcane. Told in the first person, Francesca occasionally addressed the readers directly, advising us that we already knew or did not need more information about this or that. She also alluded to happenings in years beyond the story. The copy I read was an Advance Readers' Copy, and had fewer mistakes than I expect in an ARC. This is a novel I think readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in the days of the Renaissance and the Inquisition, would enjoy.

Erin Cook ([email protected])

A Toast To Murder by Michele Scott

Rating: 4 Stars

I originally started reading Ms. Scott's Wine Lover's Mystery series because of my love of wine and mysteries, so she has a great market out there! I have enjoyed all of the books as quick, but entertaining reads. I must say that this most recent story, has been my favorite in the series. It seemed as though the characters, especially that of Derek Malveaux, had developed more depth and realness. I love a mystery that makes you laugh but isn't so fluffed up that people don't actually get hurt or worse. Can you imagine walking down the aisle with your best friend and all of sudden he is shot and bleeding next to you? Nikki is determined to find out who the shooter all while trying to figure out her jumbled emotions about her fiance and her past love. Break open the vino, add a little cheese and chocolate and enjoy.

Sue

Andrew Wyeth: A Secret Life by Meryman

Rating: 4 Stars

I love biographies plus Wyeth is one of my favorite artists, so it's a win-win situation for me. Devles into his complex relationship with his famous artist father N.C., his wife Betsy, his various friendships with towns folk who posed for him. Recommend it!

Kristie

Never Far From Home by Mary Ellis

Rating: 4 Stars

Excellent Amish fiction with characters that portray the Amish in a realisic light, not as saints. Several plots are hapenning but I'm not sure of the Emma and James ending. Is it realistic?

Jane Squires ([email protected])

Plain Pursuit by Beth Wiseman

Rating: 5 Stars

This book shows God's uncontional love and restoration to people. From the beginning you won't be able to put the book down. You will just keep reading.
Carly has problems dealing with an accident that took her Mother's life and caused it so she cannot have children. Her boyfriend dumped her and her work is affected due to all she is dealing with.
So her boss forces her to take a vacation for a month which turns into a longer period.

Carly goes to PA to visit a friend who married into the Amish Community. She is surprised by the peace she finds there and how her faith is strengthened.
An illness brings Samuel and Lillian to the hospital seeking help for their son. But Samuel is shocked to find his brother the doctor there and he is being shunned so he cannot have anything to do with him.

But Noah won't give up and uses Carly to try to reach the family to get help for their son. Now so much happens during all this that begins a restoration and healing and God's unconditional love.

It is a must read book.

Eileen Elkinson ([email protected])

The Singer's Gun by Emily St. John Mandel

Rating: 5 Stars

This is one of the most original, imaginative thrillers I've read in a long time. All of the characters are well defined and some are fascinating.

A fast enjoyable trip out of reality.

Liz

Picking Cotton by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton

Rating: 4 Stars

A true story of a rape and a false accusation. The accused spends eleven years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Upon his release he builds a close relationship with the woman who had accused him.

Donna Cruze

Madame de Stael: The First Modern Woman by Francine du Plessix Gray

Rating: 5 Stars

This is a biography of a woman who lived through the French Revolution and was a major player in Paris. I love it.

RitaB ([email protected])

The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian

Rating: 5 Stars

Oh my gosh! This is such a wonderful story about an elderly couple out for one more adventure! You will take a back seat ride with John and Ella as they travel along Route 66 meeting unforgettable characters. You will laugh and cry as you experience the tenacity and love for life Ella has and her sense of family. You'll experience John's tenderness and the love and loyalty this couple shares. It's a magnificent story not to be missed!

Carol

Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker

Rating: 4 Stars

Parker is one of my favorite authors but I couldn't get into this book as much as I usually can with his. But even an average Parker book is superior to one by most authors!

RitaB

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Rating: 5 Stars

I fell in love with Major Ernest J Pettigrew. What a wonderful and delightful book! Helen Simonson brings you right into the the quaint English village of Edgecombe St. Mary with an endearing cast of characters. It's a beautiful love story told with humor and great sensitivity. Love broke through the cultural barriers and scheming relatives and the story ending...well, you will have to read the book to find out. Every page is beautifully written and you won't want to miss this novel!

Becky Mc

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

Rating: 3 Stars

I love THE GLASS CASTLE by the same author so I thought I'd really like this one too. But it doesn't live up to the quality of THE GLASS CASTLE. This is a true-life novel about the author's grandmother. It really shows the strength of the women in the author's family. But I was over all disappointed with this story.

Sue

Things They Carried with Them by Tim O'Brien

Rating: 4 Stars

The author served in Vietnam & tells stories of the men in the platoon he served with. The title refers to things they carried on their person (photos, lucky charms) but also what they carried inside themselves. Gripping!

Erin Cook ([email protected])

Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas

Rating: 3 Stars

A beautifully written tale of two women feeding each other with strength and purpose. I was lost in the description, however, of quilting and scenery. While I know the quilting was an integral part of the way the story was told, I just wanted get to the next tale that Hennie will share. (If you are a quilter, then you will enjoy the descriptions and the depth it brings to the story.) I enjoyed listening (as I felt as I was more than just reading) to Hennie's stories of life in a mining town and the spirit of young Nit was addicting. I only finished this book for 2 reasons: to get to Hennie's secret at the end, which was well worth it and surprising and to see how Nit and her husband made it in the mining town.

Phyllis

Important Artifacts and Personal Property by Leanne Shapton

Rating: 4 Stars

I really enjoy alternative styles of writing and found this one an interesting concept. The story of a love relationship is told through a catalog of items for aution. It makes you wonder how your relationships would be shown.

Judy O. ([email protected])

Shoot to Thrill by P.J. Tracy

Rating: 3 Stars

This is the fifth book in a series by a mother/daughter pair of writers. The mysteries take place in Minneapolis and involve 4 brilliant computer whizzes who solve mysteries for the police. This was an okay story about murder and mayhem but is pretty forgettable in my opinion.

Phyllis

Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci

Rating: 5 Stars

I have long been a David Baldacci fan and always look forward to a new release by him. DEVIL US FROM EVIL didn't disappoint me. He brought back Shaw from THE WHOLE TRUTH and a new group of interesting operatives to fight a cruel, vicious Evan Waller aka Fedir Kuchin who loved to relive his glory days when he was a top Nazi. The book does have graphic torture but is action packed and fast paced. If you don't like the price, borrow it from the library or a friend; it's worth reading.

Lorna

You've Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

Rating: 4 Stars

Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. A young amateur photographer starts seeing some strange images in her photos and begins having strange dreams. She is involved with a married man and she starts seeing dead people which leads her to believe she is going crazy. I would have given it 5 stars but I wasn't to thrilled with the ending.

Edward Hahn ([email protected])

Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome by Steven Saylor

Rating: 4 Stars

Covering 1044 years of history in 550 pages is quite a feat. Saylor does it by following two families down through the ages from when Rome was a stop on a salt trading route to the ascension of Octavius to be the first Emperor, Caesar Augustus.

Each chapter is a vignette that might even stand alone but is tied to the previous story and the succeeding story by family ties and the passing down of a gold amulet, in the shape of a winged phallus, from generation to generation.

By so doing Saylor is able to highlight many of the major events in the history of Rome through the eyes of one of the descendants of either the Potitius family or the Pinarius family.

My favorite is the tale covering the occupation of Rome by the Gauls in 393-92 BC and the subsequent romance between the Vestal Pinaria and the slave Titus atop the Capitoline hill, the only part of Rome to hold out against the invaders.

I've read a number of Roman Historical Novels and aside from Colleen McCullough's 7 book series, this is as fine a job as any were able to do. The characters are believable. The behavior of the Romans were drawn most realistically. His research must have been very thorough. I had the book club edition with an interview of the author in the back. I was impressed with his list of sources.

I had a difficult time putting the book down.

Edward Hahn ([email protected])

For Love of the Game For Love of the Game by Michael Shaara

Rating: 4 Stars

This is a lovely story. Written in a Hemingway-esque style, it covers the last two days in the baseball career of a future Hall of Fame pitcher.

The characters are well drawn and believable. The inner ramblings of pitcher Billy Chapel are particularly well done. The book takes us into the heart of baseball where time is an illusion and the past and the future somehow are joined.

It's basically a one day read and yet, I suspect, it will stay in my mind for a long time. The love story is done in a totally understated manner which the plot, such as it is, requires.

The only book which comes even close to this story is BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY by Mark Harris. Like Harris' novel, even though the story is ostensibly about baseball, it is also about friendship, commitment, growing up and honoring yourself by doing the best you can no matter the circumstances.

I saw the movie based on the book years ago. It starred Kevin Costner and was an admirable attempt to capture the spirit of the book but it didn't quite make it. I would suggest strongly that you read the book before you rent or buy the movie.

Edward Hahn ([email protected])

Redcoat Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell

Rating: 4 Stars

A somewhat typical Cornwell offering: well written, well researched, well plotted and full of exciting situations. As usual, the battle scenes are very realistic and descriptive.

Cornwell's weakness, if he has one, is in his characterizations. His heroes are indefatigable. His villains often have few redeeming qualities, especially the non-coms. In this case one, Sergeant Scammel, an amoral killing machine with an ability to impress his seniors while terrorizing his subordinates. The other major villain Captain William Vane is more sensitively drawn.

The main protagonist is Sam Gilpin, a Redcoat enlistee, who at first believes in what he is doing but later realizes that the people he is fighting for are not what they seem. The other major characters, Jonathan Becket, a rebel, Martha Crowl, his older widowed sister, and Caroline Fisher, his fiancee, are all a bit stereotyped but interesting, nevertheless.

The story revolves around the British occupation of Philadelphia, a Loyalist stronghold, in the winter of 1777, with plots and counter-plots surrounded by an active social scene promoted by Sir William Howe, the British commander.

I enjoyed this stand-alone book. Most of Cornwell's offerings are series. I highly recommend it as an introduction to Cornwell's writing style.

Brady ([email protected])

Entering Hades: The Double Life of a Serial Killer by John Leake

Rating: 5 Stars

For all you true crime buffs, this is a book you should read. You know who the killer is early one, however, the makeup of that individual is something else and sooooo
shrewd.

You really don't know what is really going to happen 'til the end and you will than sigh with relief.

Marsha

The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen

Rating: 4 Stars

This story of fraternal girl twins reveals that we are led by expectations of others and envious of traits that may be deceptive. Finding ourselves and reinventing ourselves is a long journey.

Mary Santana ([email protected])

Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind

Rating: 5 Stars

You fall in love with characters in this series. It's about a man who knew nothing about the magic world that surrounds his little neck of the woods and becomes central to the survival of mankind, magic and freedom. It's a series of 11 books, but you will be glued to the pages to the end. I highly recommend this series to anyone.

Len Nowak

The Art of Racing in The Rain by Garth Stein

Rating: 5 Stars

I usually read non-fiction books, however, while browsing with my wife in a bookstore, I came across this book, and thought it might be interesting. I am an animal lover, and have always owned dogs throughout my life. This is an amazing story narrated by a dog. It is beautifully written. There is much happiness as well as sadness which makes the story so believable.

I recommend it very highly and hope to read more of Mr. Stein's future works.

Jud Hanson

Frumious Bandersnatch by Ed McBain

Rating: 4 Stars

Featuring the cops from the 87th Precinct. Carella must find a kidnapped breakout pop-star.

Jud Hanson

Malthusian Catastrophe by Ernesto Robles

Rating: 5 Stars

Excellent examination of what might happen if living forever became a reality.

T. Thomas

On Folly Beach by by Karen White

Rating: 4 Stars

The story switches back and forth from the 1940s to 2009. The parts set in the 1940s seemed to drag a bit, but overall I enjoyed the book.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Rating: 5 Stars

This is a fast paced thriller with a thrilling ending. It does not disappoint.

Crystal

Mrs. Malory and Any Man's Death by Hazel Holt

Rating: 5 Stars

Another great cozy mystery featuring Sheila Malory and her family and friends.

Debbie ([email protected])

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Rating: 3 Stars

This story centers on the family, a loving father and a cold mother. But all changes when the father dies, and requests that his two daughters care for their mother. The story of Anya's life in Russia in the 1940's unfolds. Each of the daughters, Nina and Meredith, are coping with their own problems. The novel details the horrors of Russia during this time, with hunger, sickness, and hopelessness. I cannot imagine boiling leather to make a soup. The story ends on a happy note, but the pain throughout is very vivid. Maybe, the story helps individuals to understand a mother's love.

City of Shadows by Ariana Franklin

Rating: 5 Stars

Set in Berlin in the 1920's, this thriller will definitely keep you captivated. The ending is awesome. This book is great.

Bronwen Forbes ([email protected])

Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharatt

Rating: 5 Stars

Awesome book, well researched, and the characters are real, flawed people. I can't say it's a joy to read, because of the subject matter, but definitely worth my time.

M. Archer

A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks

Rating: 3 Stars

A commentary on modern life which covers a week in modern British life. A large cast of characters from all levels of society, a hostile hedge-fund takeover and a terrorist plot keep this book moving.

Linda Bentzen

Claude & Camille by Stephanie Cowell

Rating: 4 Stars

CLAUDE AND CAMILLE is a historical novel about the painter Claude Monet and his love Camille. Claude joins his painter friends in Paris trying to get their work recognized. They have a difficult time finding buyers and so live a life of poverty. Claude and Camille fall madly in love, although their life of poverty and bitter opposition from their families tests their love. There is great success and great tragedy, camaraderie, and wonderful art. You will want to go online to see the art. I enjoyed the book very much and learned so much about the struggles of the Impressionists.

Phyllis

The Ghost's Child by Sonya Hartnett

Rating: 5 Stars

When Maddy, an old woman, returns home from a walk with her dog, Peake, she finds a young boy sitting on her floral settee. After settling in for tea with him, she begins telling him reflections of her life and her quest for answers. Sonya Hartnett has written a beautiful, lyrical fable.

Jolene Dawe

The Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt

Rating: 5 Stars

A haunting, heartbreaking, poignant tale of the intersection of lives in a dark and trying time.

Kris Waldherr

Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt

Rating: 5 Stars

One of the most stunningly written and haunting novels I've read in some time. A compelling retelling of the Pendle Witch trials from seventeenth century England.

Micke Johansson

Thinner than a Hair by Adnan Mahmutovic

Rating: 5 Stars

This book is among the best new writing in English. I couldn't put it down. Mahmutovic uses his Bosnian background as a rich source for an exploration of most basic human emotions, instincts and vices. Fatima is an incredible female character, but her lover Aziz is even more memorable with his unpredictable responses to the most excruciating circumstances. Unlike Hemon, the other big name from Bosnia, Mahmutovic avoids authorial intrusion. He does not show off, but lets his characters shine in their different peculiarities. It's a story of love and war that leaves nothing typical.

Joanne

The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker

Rating: 5 Stars

Interesting story of a farmer who never wanted to be a farmer. Dark and humorous at the same time. Translated from the Dutch.

Sally B.

Spooner by Pete Dexter

Rating: 2 Stars

Long, at times boring, and you just want it to end!

Sally B.

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

Rating: 3 Stars

An OK read. The dog was repetitive at times - too much so.

Shyeyes ([email protected])

Caught by Harlan Coben

Rating: 5 Stars

Once again H. Coben is able to grab you from the first page and not let go. I enjoyed the fast pace, and Dan, who was accused, falsely? A very intense great read.

Marilyn

Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt

Rating: 5 Stars

Great story.

Amy Bruno

Daughters of the Witching Hour by Mary Sharratt

Rating: 5 Stars

Don't you love it when you start a book and immediately get sucked in just from the first few sentences? Well, that's what happened when I began to read DAUGHTERS OF WITCHING HOUR. This book seriously had me from hello!

Mary Sharratt paints a vivid and moving story of the Pendle Witches (also known as the Lancashire Witches), a true story of a group of women and men condemned as witches and hung in Lancashire, England in 1612. DOTWH is told through the eyes of Mother Demdike (Bess Southerns) and her granddaughter Alizon. Sharratt's unique dialogue style is captivating and the character development multi-dimensional.

The reader will be entranced by these fierce, strong women who will do anything to protect their own. To me, the heart of the story of DAUGHTERS OF THE WITCHING HOUR is one of human compassion, or at times the lack of it. The men and women hung at Lancashire will never have justice, but their story deserves to be told and in my opinion, Mary Sharratt gave them that final justice.

Barb Houk

Haunt Me Still by Jennifer Lee Carrell

Rating: 3 Stars

Although I loved the author's previous book, INTERRED WITH THEIR BONES, I found this one about the witchcraft in Macbeth a little confusing. Still, lots of action kept me turning the pages!

The Help by Kathyrn Stockett

Rating: 5 Stars

This book comes highly recommended and it does not disappoint. Set in the 1960's, it is written from the viewpoints of a white, Southern would be author and two African American maids. This is a page turner.

Debbie ([email protected])

Alone by Lisa Gardner

Rating: 3 Stars

This story is set in Massachusetts about a State Trooper who also works with the SWAT team as a sniper and a domestic violence case that ruined his life. Bobby Dodge answers a call for the SWAT team and kills a husband who has a gun pointed at his wife and son. The killed husband just happens to be the son of a powerful judge, and the abused wife just happens to be a girl found 28 days after being abducted during the holidays, twenty-five years ago. The story involves the man sentenced to 25 years in prison, an incestuous marriage, a boy with a rare genetic disorder, a heartless woman, and unresolved relationship problems. The story starts slowly and then picks up speed, with a predictable ending, but the ride is worthy and exciting.

Mike Patt ([email protected])

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Rating: 5 Stars

This is one of the best books I have read. I enjoy Jodi's books and this is the best. I loved that each chapter was from each character's point of view and I did not expect to cry at the end but it was worth it!

Kathy Vallee

Cook The Books by Jessica Conant-Park & Susan Conant

Rating: 5 Stars

Chole finds herself single after her soul mate takes off for a new job in Hawaii leaving her broken hearted. As she picks up the pieces and going on she needs to find a job to help with the bills while she goes to school. Her new job finds one of her ex boyfriends best friends dead, can she find out who did it? Great book, I love this series.

Patricia C.

Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

Rating: 4 Stars

Another great book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The more I read about the brotherhood, the more I want to know. This is a wonderful book about love vampire style. The characters are wonderfully written and you fall in love with the whole extended family.

Jean Robbins

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Rating: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book, not quite as good as MY SISTER'S KEEPER, but definitely worth reading.

Kenneth.C

The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark

Rating: 3 Stars

The writing is fine however, the plot holds little suspense. The story line has very few surprises. The cast of characters that include a house a cleaner, an ill little girl, the killer, and the doctor. All make this novel a fair piece of work by this author.

Robin

Evangeline by Ben Farmer

Rating: 5 Stars

This is a great book, especially if you crave historic love stories. Wonderful, entertaining read. Thank you bookreporter.com for giving me the opportunity to read this!

Rita Powell

Split Image by Robert B. Parker

Rating: 3 Stars

Read this one because sadly he won't be writing anymore; you'll want to read all the Jesse Stone novels also.

This book made me think that maybe the mob is not so powerful except for their money which is a superpower. These twin sisters are unique in their tastes in men and their powerful family protects them. The story takes you through some of Jesse's history which makes the book all the more interesting. While not a nail biter, this book did hold by interest and curiosity.

The personalities of Jesse Stone and his lady friend Sandy offer an interesting side story. I've read a lot of Parker's books and this is a good read. But don't stop here. Read others of his also because they will hold your attention even more. Parker recently died so even though we will miss his books, there are a lot of his novels in bookstore and libraries to last a while.

Jean

Italian for Beginners by Kristen Harmel

Rating: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this breezy romance set in Italy. A light, fun read and perfect for a day at the beach. I am definitely going to read more by this author.

F Tessa Bartels

The Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch by Haywood Smith

Rating: 1 Stars

Only okay Southern chick-lit. Lin Breedlove Scott is a confused 50-something newly divorced woman forced to move back home. It would be better if the Grant relationship had just stayed friendly, but I think the author threw in the "hot romance" aspect as a way to entice readers. It doesn't. If she's supposed to be on a journey to growth as an adult, she shouldn't do half the things she does. Her moral compass is off.

F Tessa Bartels

Consigned to Death by Jane Cleland

Rating: 3 Stars

A great debut of a new cozy series. Joie Prescott is a suspect in the murder of a potential client. One or two little loose threads, but all-in-all a great first. I'll keep reading this series.

Marsha

Life Sentences by Laura Lippman

Rating: 5 Stars

An author believes she has a best-seller in mind when she revisits her childhood memories in a racially mixed school in Baltimore. Memories turn out to be somewhat contrived and she learns that secrets are kept by almost everyone and truth is what you remember it to be.

Lauri

This Body of Death by Elizabeth George

Rating: 5 Stars

The latest installment in the series featuring inspector Lynley finding him back at work - on the trail of another murderer and dealing with grief of his own. I've enjoyed these characters - Lynley and his partner Barbara Havers - for the previous books in the series, and this one is no exception. What makes it more interesting is that part of the story takes place in the New Forest area, which I've read about and wanted to learn more about.

Michael Roos

Thinner than a Hair by Adnan Mahmutovic

Rating: 5 Stars

Barbara

Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro

Rating: 5 Stars

A book of short stories that are compelling and well-written. Generated much discussion in our book club.

Debbie ([email protected])

The Death of Achilles by Boris Akunin

Rating: 2 Stars

This is another in the Erast Fandorin series set in Russia. I have lost my interest in this series, the manner of Russian names is more stimulation than I can handle. Halfway through the book, I begin to wonder which character is which, even Erast has many other names. In this story a young popular Russian general dies, and the official announcement states a heart attack, but of course, Erast does not believe the doctor's statement. The chase to find the killer and the secrecy of the death involve international espinage. This novel does not include the little story within the story as the other two novels by Akunin. Not a book that I would recommend.

Fran

Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall

Rating: 4 Stars

The autobiography of a young girl who lives in an FLDS sect. Elissa is forced into marriage with her first cousin (18 years old) when she is only 14 years old. She is repeatedly raped and manipulated in the name of her religion. Elissa meets her current husband Lamont and together they escape the FLDS and build a life outside of this community. Elissa is the girl who put Warren Jeffs behind bars as she came forward to share her story with the world.

Ian

Lay the Favorite by Beth Raymer

Rating: 5 Stars

One of the funniest books I've read in years. You don't have to be a sports fan to love this book, you just have to have a pulse. Great characters, fast paced, LAY THE FAVORITE is the perfect summer book.

LesleyB

In The Dark by Brian Freeman

Rating: 5 Stars

This is the 4th installment of Freeman's Jonathan Stride series, but if you haven't read any of his work yet, this would be a fine book with which to start. It describes a 30 year old murder that up until this point has remained unsolved and eats away at Stride for personal reasons. Freeman does an excellent job of writing strong female characters (without being churlish or false to the sarcasm that in some instances is unique to the female gender), injecting wry and at times morbid humor which rings true for the characters as they deal with the seedier side of human nature and is able to show the human flaws of all characters so there really is no black and white, right or wrong; just the gray area that is truly human nature.

Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Rating: 3 Stars

In Angelology Evangeline, who has been living in a convent along the Hudson River, battles the Nephilim who are fallen angels. These offspring of matings between humans and heavenly beings. are very attractive and it is difficult to engage in the war of their destruction. They can release vast white wings that sprout from their backs and they live for many centuries defying normal age limits. Evangeline encounters an empathetic young man who has been hired to research the connection between Abigail Rockefeller and the convent. Her grandmother also surfaces to participate in the classic battle of good vs. evil. The ending of the novel suggests there will be at least one more book about Evangeline and Verlaine.

A River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters

Rating: 3 Stars

I love the Amanda Peabody mysteries. This book is set in 1910 and fits snugly into the series coming before many of the Egyptian favorites. Emerson has been banned from the Valley of the Kings by the Antiquities Service, he and Amanda are persuaded to "dig" in Jerusalem where there is mystery and intrigue.

Bonnie

Evidence by Jonathan Kellerman

Rating: 3 Stars

Typical, interesting, light Kellerman mystery...good for what it is (fun entertainment) but in two days you'll have forgotten all about it.

Gina

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Rating: 5 Stars

Loved, loved, LOVED, the latest novel by one of my favorite authors. The relationship between the main character and her father was one of the best he's ever incorporated into a story. Highly recommend this book...keep the tissues nearby.

Mark Freeburg ([email protected])

Walking to Gatlinburg by Howard Mosher

Rating: 5 Stars

It is March 1864, the Civil War is still raging in the South and in northern Vermont, Morgan Kinneson, a strapping seventeen year old, is escorting an aging runaway slave named Jesse to an Underground Railroad station. This is the last stop before the man can be safely transported to Canada. What happens here, changes Morgan's life forever and he dedicates himself to an impossible mission, finding his older brother, a Union doctor, who disappeared at the battle of Gettysburg.

On foot, armed with his trusty musket, a few provisions and six dollars, Morgan heads on his long trek south. Complicating the journey, a group of sinister and murderous escaped convicts are on the loose and they are looking for Morgan and something Jesse may have slipped him. Besides dodging these brutal, relentless criminals, Morgan also meets an array of many other memorable characters, including an old gypsy, who entrusts the boy to an enormous gift, an Irish girl named Birdcall, a brief encounter with the President, an extended visit with a kind Amish family and eventually meeting another runaway slave, this one a young spirited girl, about his own age. Her name is Slidell and she quickly becomes his faithful traveling partner, as they realize their fates are somehow entwined.
This is a wonderful story, filled with adventure, humor, love and a dash of magic. One reviewer called his style: Cormac McCarthy meets Mark Twain. That nails it perfectly!

JoRN

Nightfall by Nelson DeMille

Rating: 5 Stars

The events of TWA crash & 9/11 meshed to make a work of fictin. I could not put this down.

Coral Harrison

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Rating: 4 Stars

A story about Pre-World War II in l940 and 41. It has 3 themes and they all come together in the end. It tells how most people in the US did not believe that the Jews were perscuted. The main story is in Franklin, Mass. It is where Iris the postmistress and the town Dr. and his wife Will and Emma Finch live. It is also about Frankie Bard who is a radio announcer who goes to Longon, France and Germany. She tries to tell what really is happening.

John L. Betcher

Two Years, No Rain by Shawn Klomparens

Rating: 5 Stars

The main characters are well-developed and likable. The writing is tight and the author's voice is palpable. I very much enjoyed TWO YEARS, NO RAIN and highly recommend it as a funny, light-hearted and enjoyable summer read!

Judy O. ([email protected])

One Good Dog by Susan Wilson

Rating: 5 Stars

Adam March is a high-powered executive with a wife and a daughter. One day, while he is in a fit of rage, he loses everything. Now Adam, who is a humbled man, has to start over. He meets Chance, a Pit Bull, who has been raised as a fighter. The two come together and both of their healings begin. This is a fantastic story whether you are a dog-lover or not. Keep the tissues handy at the end.

Julie

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Steig Larsson

Rating: 5 Stars

Just as good, if not better than the first book, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. I can't wait to read the third book in this trilogy. It's so sad there won't be any more.

Marjorie Clark ([email protected])

This Book is Overdue by Marilyn Johnson

Rating: 3 Stars

Just started this long over due tribute to Librarians and am very fasinated with all that they do. Some people take the role of the librarian for granted but, this book bring a new respect to the profession. A must read for all library patrons.

Denée

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Rating: 5 Stars

Let me better understand our internment of the Japanese during WWll.

Betty Jo ([email protected])

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

Rating: 4 Stars

This one is holding my attention, how could it not. Mail order bride with a past she does not tell the truth about who is heading to Wisconsin to meet her rich husband. I am not finished but I can't wait to see what the author does with these circumstances.

Betty Jo ([email protected])

A.D. New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld

Rating: 4 Stars

The list of Hurricane Katrina books is growing. This graphic novel captures the lives of the many unique residents of New Orleans and how they lived through the disaster. For fans of Maus or Persephone pick this one up. Along with Tin Roof Blow down by James Lee Burke these are the two best fiction accounts of those horrible days and months.

Nnolte

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson

Rating: 5 Stars

Excellent book, well written, thought provoking, one of those books that are hard to put down! Can't wait to read the other two in the series.

Coral Harrison

Brava, Valentime by Adriana Trigiani

Rating: 4 Stars

The first book was VERY VALENTINE in the series. Valentine's grandfather made hand made shoes in New York like he had learned in Italy. After he dies his widow takes over and teaches Valentine how to do that. The story is how she did after her grandmtoher married a man in Italy. She learns to bring the product into the present time. Lots of famiy and better than the first book.

JoRN

Lion's Game by Nelson Demille

Rating: 4 Stars

Started a little slow but I stuck with it & this book was very good. Can't wait for the upcoming sequel.

Dorothy Gordon

Pride and Predjudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Rating: 3 Stars

This was surprisingly entertaining. As the familiar story unfolds the addition of "unmentionables" attacking in search of fresh brains to eat was slyly interjected in the original narrative. Also references to the training the zombie killers received in the Orient. It was quite interesting (and a bit silly).

Dearest Friend by Lynne Withey

Rating: 3 Stars

Though this book which is about the life of Abigail Adams had a lot of interesting facts, I found it a difficult read as it was very dry. I felt as if I was reading it for a college course assignment.

Big Girl by Danielle Steel

Rating: 2 Stars

This was not a great book but I was curious to see how it would end. It was a very easy book to read, which was what I needed at the time!

Monika

Thinner Than a Hair by Adnan Mahmutovic

Rating: 5 Stars

I found this book by accident, but what a pearl. I usually don't like books about war but the character Fatima, whose voice tells the story, is not typical. She tells about the margins, no big political events, but the incredible everydaness and the unorthodox love relationship that takes place in chaos. I started reading it again just to enjoy the language but I keep finding new things that give it both magical and realist flavor.

Patricia B. Pott ([email protected])

Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour by Marti Rulii

Rating: 3 Stars

This book gives enlightment on the night Natalie Woods died. Answers questions most of us have/had regarding her death. It gets a bit draggy & tedious, but have to finish for the conclusion.

Marsha

Elegy for April by Benjamin Black

Rating: 4 Stars

Quirke, a Dublin pathologist, is back from alcohol rehab and determined to help his daughter find her missing friend April. The first two books in this series (CHRISTINE FALLS and THE SILVER SWAN) help to develop the characters and relationships of these people. I liked them both better.

Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky

Rating: 2 Stars

I found this book to be a boring read. I did finish it though, but found it to be very repetitive.and drawn out. This is not one of Barabara Delinsky's best books!

Dorothy

Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber

Rating: 3 Stars

This is just a good read. Doesn't require any thought. It is entertaining. Hannah dies and leaves a letter for her husband to read when she has been dead for a year. She tells him to remarry and gives him the name of three woman that she thinks he should consider. It is a fun read.

Carol

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Rating: 5 Stars

Olive is a rather unlikeable character - - but the stories are great!

Bill Salie Jr.

Hannah's Sisters by Debbie Macomber

Rating: 4 Stars

This book as well as her others follows several different people in a town which sounds very New England like to me. I never get tired of a character as there are always new ones.

Bill Salie Jr.

Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child

Rating: 5 Stars

This is a book that grabs you right at the beginning and doesn't let you go until the end.

Donna Cruze

Thaw by Fiona Robyn

Rating: 4 Stars

I just started this last night and am really enjoying it. Love the idea of the main character addressing the reader through a 100-page suicide note.

Jeff

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

Rating: 4 Stars

Has anyone recommended you read this book? Listen to them! Do you like to luxuriate in quality prose? Pick this one up. Do you like modern master storytellers like Michael Chabon? You will love this guy. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I reserve that extra star for Dostoyevsky, Austen, and Tolstoy.

Jaime

Everything Sucks by Hannah Friedman

Rating: 5 Stars

Friedman is young. Intelligent. Raised with a monkey as friend. Lived with the wealthy elite in a boarding school and lost her way. She tells her story with dignity, humor and gritty truth. An enormous talent. Read this.

Jean M.

Voodoo River by Robert Crais

Rating: 5 Stars

An older book but any book by Crais is fun to read. This one is no exception.

Jeanine

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Rating: 5 Stars

I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked it more than the first and am truly looking forward to the release of last book in the trilogy.

Susan Graben

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Rating: 4 Stars

This third book by Allen follows her previous works, all set in NC. There is romance, separation from family, more than a little ghostly happenings and characters that manage to resolve old personal wounds. An enjoying and well written read.

Elizabeth ([email protected])

The Exile of Sara Stevenson by Darci Hannah

Rating: 5 Stars

MAY BE SOME SPOILERS......

Love, mystery, secrets, betrayal, ghosts, letters, smugglers, Scottish history and life in the 1800's.....Sara Stevenson was a privileged Scottish lass who wasn't one to conform to the norms of Scottish rules for young ladies.

Her father was a famous lighthouse engineer and had Sara accompany him on a boat trip when she was 18 years old. While on the voyage, she fell in love with one of the sailors who of course was not of her social rank. Her father suspects this love affair and is completely against their relationship since he has another wealthy man in mind for Sara.

Sara gets herself pregnant by this sailor, and her father banishes her to Cape Wrath which is a remote place on the northwesterly point of Great Britain north of Edinburgh, Scotland. Cape Wrath had terrible weather no matter what season it was and is a place that had no luxuries Sara was used to. Sara, along with her maid, Katie, and the maid's husband, Robbie, endure the life at Cape Wrath. Sara has to cook and clean which is something she never had to do. Sara yearns daily for Thomas, her lost lover. She hasn't seen him since they planned a never-to-be elopement.

Sara, Katie, Robbie, and Mr. Campbell, the lighthouse keeper, are four of only a few inhabitants living there. A few cottages are also on Cape Wrath. Sara and her maid venture out one day during an awful snowstorm to find their neighbors because Sara is feeling so lonely and isolated. They take off on horseback and do meet a woman that they befriend and who will trade cooking lessons for learning how to read and write.

The woman they visited (Mrs. MacKay), her husband, and their two children appear at the lighthouse one day and Sara finds out some things about Mr. Campbell during a heated argument with Mr. MacKay. Apparently Mr. Campbell and Mr. McKay had some sort of mariner disagreement last fall and Mr. Campbell "lured" him and his family to the lighthouse to try to make amends.

Meanwhile Sara and Mr. Campbell develop some sort of trust relationship, and Mr. Campbell knows he has the responsibility to keep Sara safe and take care of her during her pregnancy. One morning a package and a letter arrive at the dock from a man named Mr. Seawell, and this brings more mystery about Thomas and why he never showed up the day they were going to run away. Afterall, Thomas said he loved her and would move heaven and earth to be with her. Sara writes back to Mr. Seawell questioning about Thomas and the watch that was in the package...the very watch that Sara had given Thomas and had inscripted a lover's message on the back. Sara asks Mr. Seawell to shed some light about Thomas and if he is alive. They began a correspondence that tells of Mr. Seawell's life and Thomas's life.

After all the tension about the package and letter and also a letter to Katie from Sara's mother, Sara takes off from the lighthouse and goes to Mary MacKay and her family because she is disgusted about what she finds out her family had written to Katie and something about Mr. Campbell. Sara stays for a week, and Mr. Campbell is fuming about this visit since he is to be taking care of Sara according to Sara's father who had made these arrangements before Sara's original arrival.

Another letter was in post at the jetty when Sara returns from the visit, and she begins to become suspicious about who is really sending her these letters. The letters, Sara, Thomas, and Mr. Seawell make the ending confusing, unbelievable, but unforgettable...terrific writer.

You will enjoy the book, and I want to end my review with this quote that is from Page 56, but rings true until the end of the book: "But all too soon it came back to me, and once again I found it hard to sleep at night knowing he was out there....somewhere."

Michele

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

Rating: 4 Stars

A quick read that you have to finish in a couple sittings because of the revelations that arise. Goolrick does a great job of describing people without revealing their true intentions. Then he slowly unweaves further details and leave with a human nature study. It is set in northern Wisconsin and as a backdrop, the book concentrates on how the long winters tend to affect people. Something I could relate to!

Michele

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Rating: 5 Stars

The second book in the trilogy that answers a lot of the questions surrounding Lisbeth's childhood. Larsson keeps the suspense and action going throughout this book and in the end makes you hunger to start the final book.

Dorothy

The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark

Rating: 4 Stars

As is usual with this author, this was a very good read. Will the real heiress ever learn her idenity and how many people will die in order to prevent this from happening? I highly recommend it.

Julie H.

Cut to the Corpse by Lucy Lawrence

Rating: 4 Stars

I enjoyed returning to Morse Point, MA and another fun cozy mystery with Brenna Miller and her friends. This time, a newcomer, Tara, is engaged to the local mechanic when his best friend turns up murdered right in Tara's presence. Brenna befriends Tara and sets out to find any other suspects before Tara is railroaded into jail. Again, Brenna's many friends make great foils for her adventure.

Jaime

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Rating: 5 Stars

Following Sookie to Dallas with Bill, Harris continues the latest Sookie Drama and doesn't let the readers down. Full of mystery, intrigue and sexiness, another one that I finished in one sitting!

Jaime

Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis

Rating: 4 Stars

The first book of the Horngate Witches series, BITTER NIGHT is full of bloody, gruesome, and high flying adventure. I can almost say, this isn't for those with weak constitutions. Some of the injuries Shadowblades and Sunspears endure are pretty gruesome and the author is very sadistic.. in a good way! LOL. For the first book right out the gate of this series, I have to say, not bad. Not bad at all. I definitely wouldn't say fantastic or anything but not bad. There were a few nuances with the changing in viewpoints I thought was odd and there was some inconsistency with the shifting of the viewpoint that caused me to backtrack a little bit to reconfirm who's view it was. Sometimes first books in a new series can be slow with attempting to build the characters, the scenery, back stories and so forth, Bitter Night definitely didn't lull. I could easily have read this in half the time it took me if I didn't have to eat, take a shower, feed the kid, shower her, put her on the potty, ya know.. all those responsibilities and believe me, breaking away was hard for me to do.

I really like Max's character. I felt we didn't get enough of the other Sunspears and Shadowblades to decide if I liked them or not. Akemi, Oz and Niko seemed cool. I am on the fence about Alexander, he was borderline weak and kind of grated my nerves. I don't see he and Max in a romantic relationship. I can't wait to find out what's next with the Horngate, the witches, the angels, and the war..

Sooo.. Diana Pharoah Francis, when's book two coming out? :D

Jaime

Death in The Stocks by Georgette Heyer

Rating: 5 Stars

I am sitting here scratching my head wondering how in the world I have missed out on such a fantastic author. I had not even HEARD of Georgette Heyer until I started blogging. How is that possible? She has obviously influenced many, many authors and yet, I am so dumbstruck on missing out on such a gem that I have now wishlisted nearly every book she has ever written!

A DEATH IN THE STOCKS in my opinion, is the epitome of a cozy mystery with eccentric, humorous characters, Scotland Yard Superintendent, and the murders of two half brothers and an inheritance being the possible motive. Antonia and Kenneth were so insanely, hysterically eccentric that I caught myself laughing out loud many times. A perfect whodunnit that kept me guessing right up to the last chapter... Who murdered Roger and Arnold Vereker? The answer just may shock you. Curl up on your couch with a cup of tea and this book for a perfect night of reading.

Jaime

The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer

Rating: 5 Stars

THE MASQUERADERS by Georgette Heyer is my first foray in to Heyer's romance writings (the second by her I have read to date) and I will say this is meant to be nibbled and each morsel to be savoured and delighted in. Each word, each scene, and each character will stay with you through the end. I definitely felt the need to take my time with this book, I think it has more to do with the fact that I haven't read a period book with the time frame's language in a while and it's easy to get carried away with the language. I loved each and ever bit of it. I can see why Heyer's popularity has maintained through the years, she is an amazing author and worthy of each and every reprint. THE MASQUERADERS is witty, sparkling, laugh-out-loud funny and romantic.

If you haven't read this, I recommend it especially if you are an Austen fan or just love period books.

Jaime

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner

Rating: 5 Stars

Look out Boston, there's a new sheriff in town. Ok, not exactly a sheriff but how about a Demon Slayer? A demon slayer straight out of the heart of Deadtown, the designated zone for all those "not human", including but not limited to zombies (or how about the politcally correct version- the Previously Deceased), Vampires, and shapeshifters. Massachusetts is in the middle of a political upheaval in which politicians are fighting for or against the rights of those "Not Human" and all the while a demon, more specifically a Hellion, has been unleashed. From demons, to questionable business men, to werewolves, to vampires, to witches, to experimentations on the unhumans, and kidnappings... pure excitement is packed in to the 326 pages that is DEADTOWN.

I found DEADTOWN to be a fast read with exciting, witty characters, a great plot and with plenty of action. Holzner has created a heroine worthy of fans. For fans of Urban Fantasy, DEADTOWN will gladly fulfill your taste buds for the genre. I, for one, can't wait until the sequel comes out. I want to know what's in store for Vicky, Alexander Kane (her werewolf/civil rights lawyer) and Tina, the zombie. Frankly, I need more of DEADTOWN.

Jaime

Fugitive by Cheryl Brooks

Rating: 1 Stars

Uh oh. Not good. This is going to be a "Did Not Finish" review. I found the idea behind the story awesome. I love off-world paranormal romances and was really, really excited for the opportunity to read FUGITIVE by Cheryl Brooks which is her latest installment of her popular Cat Star Chronicles series. This is the first time I read anything by this author, so I was pretty excited.

I am sure you are wondering why I did not finish this book. Very simple. The prologue ruined the entire book for me, enough so that I couldn't get in to it enough to put self through the hours I would need to read this. The issue I had is that Manx, the male hero, is outside somewhere near Drusilla's temporary home and is masterbating to her "scent" while he "knows" that she knows he is watching her. He doesn't even know the color of her eyes YET he "knows" they WILL become mates. I just couldn't get over that. All I could think of was those perverts in city parks masterbating in the bushes while people walk by, or the pervs who stalk outside women's homes masturbating while they watch.

I have to say, I feel like I am a prude about sex or something. I am not. I have no issues with it in books, tv, movies, music etc. I have an issue when it's distracting. This was distracting so much to the point I had no desire to read further then 50 pages in. I thought Manx was creepy just from this initial part of the book.

I don't want anybody to be deterred from this book. I am sure it's a good book but for myself personally, it was ruined right off the bat.

Jaime

Willoughby's Return by Jane Odiwe

Rating: 3 Stars

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY was such an awesome book by the fantastic Jane Austen starring the wonderful Dashwood sisters, the heartbreaking Willoughby, the brooding Colonel Brandon and an array of other wonderful characters.

I have been enjoying the selection of Jane Austen sequels, and Willoughby's Return by Jane Odiwe is right there leading the pack. Marianne,in my opinion, was spoiled, vivid and full of life and Jane Odiwe has maintained that spirit as she brings us to Marianne's life and her marriage to Colonel Brandon. I am a little saddened that Brandon didn't get a lot of scenes in this book however, I realize that Marianne is the focus and her conflicting emotions over Willoughby popping back into her life. I will admit though, I have always been partial to Brandon and always hoped that Marianne matures. Do you think she will? Read this book and find out :)

"Willoughby's Return" has maintained the spirit and life of it's predecessor, "Sense and Sensibility" and was such a strong, flowing read and I would definitely recommend this to any Sense and Sensibility fan who has wondered "well, what then?"

Julie H.

Stuck on Murder by Lucy Lawrence

Rating: 4 Stars

This is the first novel in a cozy series set in a Vintage Paper store in Morse Point, MA. Brenna Miller has left Boston behind to live in this quaint town and work for an old college friend, Tenley Morse. Before you know it, the mayor winds up dead and Brenna sets about trying to find enough evidence to point the police away from her reclusive landlord, Nate. This mystery had great characters, a good story and some interesting craft tips for decoupage sprinkled throughout the book. I will definitely follow Brenna on other adventures.

Jaime

The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox

Rating: 3 Stars

First off, KUDOS Victoria! One of my favorite kinds of books to read when I was a kid were fantasy adventures. A real fantasy book with a kid (an underdog, to be exact) as the hero/heroine with grand adventures. Well, Kristina is a true underdog and THE MAGIC WARBLE is a truly magical adventure full of fantasy. Kristina is a likable character. You just want her to succeed as the chosen one and overturn the evil queen! Ok, I am adult and I wished I was Kristina going through her adventure!

The entire story flowed smoothly from start to finish. A quick, fun and enjoyable read!

It has truly been a while since I read a book that has made me feel "excitement" and THE MAGIC WARBLE has done it. If you want to feel like a kid again, pick this up!

Ruthie Bloszinsky ([email protected])

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Rating: 3 Stars

Gogol is the first born son of Indian immigrants & desperatly tries to deny his Indian heritage throughout his life until he sadly learns the story behind his name. An easy read but told very bluntly & without a lot of emotion in the words.

Jane Squires ([email protected])

Love Finds You in Gold, New Mexico by Lena Nelson Dooley

Rating: 5 Stars

Romance, inspiration, God's plans working out and adventure all in one book. Forgiveness in so many aspects of life also. This is a book you won't be able to lay down. One can see God working all throughout the pages. He brings Maddy Mercer and Jeremiah together in a way that only he can. How God talks to Phillip and uses him as part of his plan in unique.

As a person who God brought my husband from Kansas to Illinois for me, and we've been married 30 plus years now, I loved this a lot.

I know first hand how God can work to accomplish his plan. God's protection upon Maddy is another avenue I enjoyed imensely.

The story of Lorraine and Pearl and eventually forgiveness of Lorraine's parents by Maddy is a true love story from God. One feels like they are back in the West during Gold discovery days and seeing God at work in a way one wouldn't think about.

Sometimes others can become more family than those of your immediate family - like Phillip becoming like a Grandfather to Maddy and little Pearl.
Highly recommend.

Jackie

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Rating: 4 Stars

Another great read by Kristin Hannah. You know exactly what to expect when you read one of Kristin's books and she delivers as usual in this one. Starts a bit slow, and a bit more drama than here usual books, but in the end she delivers her usual resolutions and though the endings not always happy, you're satisfied

T. Thomas

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Rating: 4 Stars

Steampunk meets romance meets mystery.

Golden Gram

Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie

Rating: 3 Stars

Interesting story - not sure if you need to read the other in the series first. Thought it would be interesting since we were in Rome last Fall.

Golden Gram

The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marion Keyes

Rating: 4 Stars

Interesting story - the author weaves an interesting story. I enjoyed the book and have read others by this author. Fun Read!!

Jaime

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Rating: 4 Stars

Following the young life of Kleopatra Selene, Michelle Moran has once again brought history and leisure reading together in a fascinating tale beginning with the death of Marc Antony and Queen Kleopatra's suicide by snake venom following Selene from age twelve to fifteen. The only ones left of the Queen's line are Kleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios and they are kept "prisoner" by the Roman Caesar.

I have always been a big fan of Cleopatra and Egyptian history. I loved the name dropping and introductions of key players in history. An easy and enjoyable read, CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER satisfies both young adults and adults alike. Not as powerful as NEFERTITI but a good book. My only disappointment is that this book ends at Selene's 15th year of life and with a small blurb on her life with Juba. For personal tastes, I would prefer to have had more of Selene's adult life but I definitely enjoyed the story of her adolescence and precociousness.

Jaime

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Rating: 5 Stars

CLUB DEAD rocked my socks. Not only do we have telepathic Sookie, Vampires Bill and Eric, we now add in a gay King, Werewolves, and you can not mention Werewolves without saying ALCIDE!

Elizabeth ([email protected])

Two Years, No Rain by Shawn Klomparens

Rating: 4 Stars

From the evening weatherman to the star of a children's show...Andy is recently divorced, loses his job as the weatherman and is chosen to be the main character in a new show called Andy's Magic Carpet. All kinds of changes for Andy, but never changing is the fact that he is still in love with a married co-worker and the feeling is mutual.

The book is fun, clever, and a feel good theme throughout. Andy Dunne's life is revealed through all the episodes in his personal and professional life. It also carries the theme of how important family is.

...AND as quoted from page 347, "But nothing is certain and there's no such thing as absolute." I believe most everyone's life really can be described by that quote.

You will like the book and the characters...ENJOY!!

Jaime

Watermark by Vanitha Sankaran

Rating: 3 Stars

In a time when women had few opportunities, let alone a young girl who is born albino and due to being albino, had her tongue cut out and rendered mute, Auda is trying to thrive. The book begins with her birth in 1300, Auda's mother dies from a rough child birth where Auda had to be birthed by a crude cesearean section and she is born a "white witch" and she was deformed due to her unfortunate birth. Then "Watermark" jumps to 1320, when Auda is a grown woman, her sister is off and married and she is at home helping her father with his papermaking business. She reads and writes and has dreams, skills that are a necessity for someone who is mute. During a time of the Inquisitions, Burnings of witches and Heretics, and the Crusades against Jews and Infidels, being something "different" is a curse.

Through Auda's trials and tribulations, the author takes you through her journey of survival, love and the art of papermaking.

I am not sure how I feel about this book. I felt absolutely ZERO connection with Auda. Generally, I fall for the underdog and cheer them on. With this story, I just didn't care as much as I would normally. I didn't want anything bad to befall her but I didn't feel that strong pull that a reader should feel. I thought the historical aspect of the story was amazing and especially the art of papermaking was extremely interesting. I felt the dialogue was underwhelming. There is definitely SOMETHING there, but I feel that something was missing. That "spark" was gone. I just wasn't wowed but I also didn't despise it. It was readable but not re-readable for me.

Jaime

Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

Rating: 5 Stars

An amazing, edge of your seat Science Fiction/Space Opera. Sirantha Jax is a phenomenal protagonist, March is lovable, sexy male lead all the while jumping through space leading the team on a series of adventures while keeping Sirantha safe. A rare entity and an enjoyable character with the J-gene.

Jaime

Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre

Rating: 5 Stars

Carrying on the story of Sirantha Jax and March through the wanders of Grimspace, Ann Aguirre takes us through a terrifying, yet heartbreaking second book in the lives of march and Sirantha. The story is bitter sweet.

Jaime

Stardoc by S.L. Viehl

Rating: 5 Stars

ER meets Babylon 5 in Viehl's high flying medical, romantic sci-fi Space Opera following Dr. Cherijo Veil Grey as she leaves Terra to get far away from her "father" after learning a scary truth about herself. She learns about alien life forms, herself and love. A very underrated, unknown and needs to be brought to the lead. Book 1 of TEN in this phenomenal series.

Jaime

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Rating: 5 Stars

Scary. Thrilling. This is a book that I looked at my clock and said OH MY GOD it's 3 am and I have to be up at 5:30 AM because I could NOT put this book down. This book was absolutely gripping and I can't wait for THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE.

Jaime

Beyond Varrallan by S.L. Viehl

Rating: 4 Stars

Cherijo has escaped K2 to run from her father and the league who want to claim HIS property as she is a genetic clone of her "father", living about the Jorenian chip and being adopted by ClanTorin. Cherijo is the center of drama with her enormous ego and loud mouth. The book irritated me as Cherijo couldn't seem to respect the Jorenians culture and pushed Terran way. Not cool. Great book outside of that!

Janice Hoaglin ([email protected])

The Tricking of Freya by Christina Sunley

Rating: 5 Stars

I loved many things about this book. Hard to believe this is the first fiction by this author, her writing skills are so wonderful. I loved the story, about the life of a young woman, Freya, who is looking back at events in her childhood, and the dynamics within her family. Freya is "stuck", nearing her thirtieth birthday, and recently reconnecting with her 100 year old grandmother. This is a story not only of one young woman, one family, but also a culture and community. This book gives such a sense of place; the geography, geology, history, and some of the cultural artifacts of Iceland are not only part of the story, but underlie much of the history of this family. I hope to read more fiction by this author soon.

Jaime

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

Rating: 5 Stars

An amazing, gritty and realistic story of Chinese poverty and the tale of two boys from privileged (dentist's son and educator's son) sent out to the poverty stricken villages to live for their "educations". The boys fall in love with The Little Chinese Seamstress. This follows their tale and their love of books.

Jaime

The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir

Rating: 4 Stars

I love the writings of Alison Weir and her historical background, THE LADY ELIZABETH is one of my favorite portrayals of Queen Elizabeth the 1st.

Jaime

House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III

Rating: 4 Stars

One family left their former wealthy Persian lives behind. Another woman fought to keep a home. Both have been duped over a house. Heart-wrenching, sad and there is no happy answer to the resolve of this book. Broke my heart.

Jaime

The Last Empress by Anchee Min

Rating: 5 Stars

So I went on this enormous Asian themed book kick and came across THE LAST EMPRESS by Anchee Min. I was BLOWN AWAY! I am not familiar with Chinese history and with Empress Cixi being the heart of this book, I had to read more. You know an author has done it's job when you find yourself googling Chinese history. Amazing.

Jaime

Doppelgangster by Laura Resnick

Rating: 5 Stars

An out of work actress, an eclectic mage, a cop and add some mafia hitmen who have had doppelganger's created of them and you have DOPPELGANGSTER, a witty, suspenseful addition to the Urban Fantasy genre. Esther's latest show has ended and as she is waiting to find another job, she takes a position as a singing waitress at Bella Stella's, a mafia hang out. While on the job, she encounter's a mafioso's hit and sees his doppelganger and gets sucked into a paranormal mystery while trying to maintain a relationship with her detective boyfriend (?), Lopez, and working with a mafia hitman, Lucky, and the eclectic mage, Max. I loved DOPPELGANGSTER from beginning to end and had me giggling out loud. Only one complaint, the references to a previous book premiering Esther Diamond left me scrambling to find out the back story of Lopez, Esther, and Max. Yes, this is a stand alone BUT with the references here and there to what happened prior to DOPPELGANGSTER, had me scratching my head. One of my pet peeves, especially when the other works listed by Laura Resnick doesn't include the previous book, DISAPPEARING NIGHTLY, which I know if by a different publisher. I did buy it so I can catch up on the history. Other than that, I loved Esther's world!

Jaime

The Spirit Lens by Carol Berg

Rating: 4 Stars

A good, old fashioned fantasy book full of magic and mystery, every chapter of which I enjoyed and read non stop from page one and had a hard time putting down. The character building, world building and plot are wound together magically and beautifully, keeping the reader engaged from page one. One thing when I am reading a book with a lot of dialogue is I like to read the conversations out loud and see if it's "realistic" (well, as realistic as in the language and back and forth, rather than the topic itself), and THE SPIRIT LENS has hit the mark. The characters and plot were amazing and definitely kept me engrossed and I escaped in to the world of Sabria.

Jaime

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay

Rating: 5 Stars

Right off the top, THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS has every single element that I love in a Fantasy. An awesome hero/heroine who is real. Charlie Madigan isn't overly badass but badass enough that she is just rocking awesome. Her partner, Hank Williams (yes, just like the singer) is a SIREN. Yes, the sirens that have the hypnotizing voice and can make you do anything. Anything.

Another element, the awesome off-worlders. Ok, not exactly awesome characters but awesome AS characters. Jinns, Goblins, Sirens, and many others make an appearance.

Another element, Charlie's rocking supporting cast from her ITF partner, to her sister, to her daughter, Aaron, Zara, etc.

Another element, action and suspense. A perfect amount that made me want to keep my eyes glued to the page for more. ASH is a drug causing trouble to the people of Atlanta and Charlie and Hank are trying to get to the bottom of this substance, which they are sure is an off-world product.

Another element, sex. No. Let me rephrase, sexual tension. Kelly Gay, the author, was smart. There are so many fantasy/urban fantasy books on the market. Good and bad. However, too many seem to think that since sex sells, why not tell a story about the protagonist having sex and lots of it to the point that it is distracting. I am not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, however, I am in it for the plot. Kelly Gay kept all sexual innuendoes/acts/etc at a minimum so as not to distract the reader but enough sexual tension to satisfy (pun intended? maybe) the reader.

If I wasn't already a fan of urban fantasy, this book would easily bring me over to the dark side. However, I am already a nut for the genre, so KUDOS Kelly Gay! Overall, this was such a thrilling and exciting book and I seriously can't wait to read the sequel, THE DARKEST EDGE OF DAWN. Two thumbs up!

Jaime

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Rating: 5 Stars

Debut book of the Sookie Stackhouse Vampires blew me away! I watched True Blood seasons 1 and 2 and decided to FINALLY pick up the series. All of them! The books BLOW the series out of the water. Give Sookie a chance!

Rachel

Burned by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Rating: 4 Stars

Awesome! This is the seventh book of The House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. Zoey Redbird's soul has shattered and all of her friends are trying to help her. I love this book! It is one of the best in the series! I would recommend this to anyone who loves reading a twisty, fun and exiting book! :D

Rachel D.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Rating: 4 Stars

THE BOOK THIEF was good. I did not give it a five because it seemed to drag on, but i gave it a four for creativity. Zusak is creative for using Death as the narrator. It was beautifully written and one of my favorites.

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