August 13, 2010 - August 26, 2010
Last contest period's winners were Michelle A., Mike, Sam, Pamela Sekula and DeAnna, who each received a copy of RICH BOY by Sharon Pomerantz, A STRANGER LIKE YOU by Elizabeth Brundage and TOUGH CUSTOMER by Sandra Brown.
| Jennifer |
| Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a thrilling story of a future society where selected teenagers are forced to participate in the Hunger Games, which is broadcast live on TV. The one drawback --- the Hunger Games can only end with one teenager alive. Explosive and thought provoking first book in a trilogy. |
| Pamela Sekula |
| Under the Dome by Stephen King |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Cannot seem to "get into" this book. King's recent two or three novels have hooked me from the "git go," but NOT this one. Wondering if anyone else has had this dilemma? It jumps around and is overly-gory (ok, that's expected), but is below standard (in my opinion). |
| Susan J. |
| Keep the Change by Steve Dublanica |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This seminary student turned waiter turned blogger turned author set out to become "the Guru of the Gratuity." I thought that his first book, WAITER RANT, was a fun, light read, better than I was expecting, so I was happy to give this one a try. I'm a self-serve kinda gal living in a self-serve kinda community so I don't have a lot of tipping angst. Still, there are those occasions when I don't know if I should tip or how much I should tip. I thought that looking through a former waiter's eyes would be a good place to find the answers. I found a good deal more than that. The book was sometimes funny, as I expected. There were tipping guidelines. But as much as anything, the book was a social commentary containing some psychology, some philosophy, a dash of religious viewpoint, and some seriously good insight. And serious research, as the several-hundred dollar tab for one evening at a strip joint in Vegas proves. Hey, I never said he did his research in a lab. The beginning was a bit dry, too much information for me on the origin of the term "tipping." and I didn't quite follow some of his logic. Any dryness disappeared in the description of the tipping habits of Lexus drivers, and of Buffy and Tyler. No offense to Lexus drivers, some of my best friends are Lexus drivers, but it was really funny. (Truth in advertising: Actually, I don't think I know anyone, other than casually, who drives a Lexus.) Mr. Dublanica doesn't cover just the professions that normally come to mind when I think of tipping: waiters, hair stylists, the obvious layer that most of us see on a regular basis. He looks at parking attendants, doormen, shoe shiners, hotel housekeepers. He also delves into tipping for the sex trade, including some information about an S/M "dungeon" that I could have gone to my grave without knowing and not felt overly ignorant. What was most important to me was not how much I should tip a dominatrix but that he gave faces to the people working in the trade. People were amazingly open with him, and he looked beyond the trade and into their hearts. Sounds cheesy, but he did. He also showed how some of the people working in the service industry see us, their customers. Not always flattering. And then there was the down-and-out couple who stopped their cab ride short of their destination and walked the rest of the way so that they could give the driver a $2 tip of the $10 total they had to their names. For those with tender sensibilities, you can skip the sex trade parts, although I found that some of the most interesting. There are some bad words sprinkled throughout, but nothing you haven't heard before. The way some of the people who work for tips are cheated should be and often is criminal. Kickbacks are rampant. So next time it comes to leaving a tip, don't be a flea or a schnorer. And read the book. A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher for review. |
| Judy O. ([email protected]) |
| A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This is the story of one faithful and loving dog who undergoes a search for his purpose over the course of several dog lives. We meet him and become acquainted with this dog during 4 very different lives. Dog lovers will be particularly moved by this dog's journey, but others should be entranced also. Great! |
| Sharron |
| Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Russo has a way with words. You really know the characters and the places he presents. This is another story of small town people trying to change location (some are happy to be there, while others wonder why) or social status, Really good read. |
| Sharron |
| The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Interesting story of struggles of a family living at Niagara Falls who questioned the power companies "using up" the river. People wanted jobs, electricity, but didn't want to sacrifice the beauty of the falls. This during the 1915 - 1930 period. |
| Pamela Sekula |
| Lit by Mary Karr |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Funny, sad and ironic --- loved it from beginning to end. Memoirs don't usually keep me interested but Karr's did. |
| Julie H. |
| Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Well, I feel somewhat rewarded for sticking with Stephanie Plum. Book 16 had more of the old feel to it! I thought it was inspired that Connie came out from behind her desk to assist Stephanie and Lulu in their pursuit of the guys that kidnapped Vinnie. Grandma Mazur is still bummed when there's a closed casket, Lulu's on another new diet and no decision on Morelli v. Ranger --- Stephanie's life just rolls along. |
| Jean M |
| Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This is a fun murder series featuring Baily Ruth who is sent down to Earth to help innocent people. It is a cute read. I enjoyed it. |
| Linda Z. Indiana |
| Bad Boy by Peter Robinson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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I was so impressed by this book that I am now reading all 19 of the previousInspector Banks series. I love the characters and the suspense. I am learning a lot about music just because Banks has such eclectic taste. I can hardly wait for #20. I have managed to find 13 and have five to go. As an anglophile, I love the North Yorkshire setting. |
| Deborah |
| Rules of Betrayal by Christopher Reich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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This is the third book in Reich's series about Dr. Jonathan Ransom and it picks up right after the last one. Ransom has gone back to work as a doctor in Afghanistan, but when he gets word his former wife, Emma, may be in danger, he reluctantly finds himself drafted back into the spy business. This one is not quite as fast-paced as the last two, but I've enjoyed reading it. |
| Deborah |
| Still Missing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
Am I the only person who didn't like this book? I usually enjoy any type of thriller or mystery but something about this one just didn't work for me. I found the heroine's detailed inventory of her abuse by her captor revolting --- and it really made me pause and think about why. Perhaps it's because I'm a woman and such a clinically dispassionate retelling seemed almost sick, or perhaps I feel there is just some line that got crossed in this book. Or perhaps I just wondered why I needed to read about this at all - there was something really voyeuristic about this that chilled me. I'll leave others to decide for themselves, but as for me, I just didn't like it. I usually like realism, I like to be entertained but this didn't cut it for me. |
| Cheryle ([email protected]) |
| 61 Hours by Lee Child |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am just getting started with this latest offering by Lee Child. So far it has me "hooked" and can hardly wait to get back to it. If it lives up to his earlier books this one should be excellent. |
| Cheryle |
| The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Set in the last 1700's and early 1800's in the south. Very interesting plot which gives insight into the relationships of blacks and whites. There have been many books written with this theme, but due to the time period this book has a slightly different slant. |
| Rita |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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This is a wonderful, thought-provoking novel set in Seattle during World War II. Isolation, friendship, prejudice, bullying and the treatment of American Japanese citizens during the war all play an essential part in this story. |
| Rita |
| Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Although there is the negative aspect of a somewhat formula style, especially in the win-lose ending, this book brings a little known condition to your attention. Reading about ostogenisis imperfecta, or a congenital problem of too-easily broken bones was a perfect way for me to keep my difficulties with my current broken ankle in perspective. |
| Erin Cook ([email protected]) |
| Miss You Most of All by Elizabeth Bass |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Endearing and tough! As you begin this book, you think you are going to get another story about a sister relationship with a lot sap. But you become pleasantly surprised about half-way through. As the characters of the "evil" ex-stepsister and spunky daughter come to the forefront, you'll be rooting for them and looking forward to how they will deal with the next situation they find themselves stuck in. By 3/4 way you are glued to the relationships of these four multi-generational girls and the farm it's played out on (the chickens and tomatoes will make you smile). Tissues randomly needed. |
| Liz Stevens |
| Shanghai Girls by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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This is a great read about immigration during WWII. |
| Michelle A. |
| The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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This book is hard to categorize. Mystery, fantasy, thriller, romance there is some of all of these in this book. The story begins with a father taking his 11 year old son, Daniel, to the Cemetery of Lost Books, an attention grabber for any avid reader. After that the author adds layer upon layer to the story as Daniel tries to find out more about the author of the book he finds there. Readers will be on the edge of their seat as they follow the twists and turns of this story to the end. You will not see this one coming. |
| Tanya |
| Fatal Loyalty by Sue Duffy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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Andie Ryborg's father is running for governor. His aggressive war on drugs has put him and his daughter's life in jeopardy. This book has secrets, love and mystery and is definitely worth a read. |
| Pat Hill ([email protected]) |
| They're Watching by Gregg Hurwitz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Scary! |
| Bett Norris |
| A Field Guide to Deception by Jill Malone |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Richard LaBonte referred to Jill Malone's first novel, "Red Audrey and the Roping", as a "nonlinear novel that jitterbugs through time and place." Malone's second novel is a smoother dance, more of a raft ride down the rapids, where your position changes with every whorl of current. The characters and the plot leave you facing one way, then whip you around like white water roiling around outcroppings, to finish the ride looking behind you in wonder. How did I come to be in this position? You may start out believing the story is going one way, but you will be spun and spit out many a time in this new novel, whipsawed between ideas and feelings and concepts. Each character in this book glows, and shifts and pulls us toward them, and at times repels us. We are drawn in and thrown out. Just when you think you are comfortable, settling in, sure of your assessment of Claire, or Liv, or even Claire's son, just when you think you know them, you don't. Nothing is as it seems to be at first. Everything changes, or our perception of things, the people, their relationships, shift, with each snappy, well-paced scene. It is complex, and fast, and deeper than you may assume when you begin reading. Like the depth of a fast-moving river, which changes when boulders rise up to make the water swirl and eddy, rush into white, and recede to allow the water to slow down after a lazy curve to almost silent running, this book speeds, then slows, catches us, then tosses the reader back, stirs emotions, causes whiplash as scenes are revisited, layers added and stripped away. You really do need a field guide for this one. Malone is a wonderful writer, and sights, smells, sounds, tastes, all the senses come into play as she takes us on a journey, and with great, deft skill leads us through the characters' misconceptions and missteps like a camp counselor leaping from stone to stone across a stream. "A Field Guide to Deception" is a rare treat. When a debut novel like "Red Audrey" shows so much skill and promise, it is a pleasure to find a second novel as delightful and engaging as this one. Jill Malone's first novel, RED AUDREY AND THE ROPING won the Bywater Prize for Fiction. Her second, A FIELD GUIDE TO DECEPTION, won the 2010 Lambda award. I can't wait to read her next novel, and see what greater honors it may garner. |
| pp9cf7 |
| Still Missing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I open to the first page on a Friday around 7pm. I didn't put this book down again until 2am the next morning and 186 pages later. This book is that good. I couldn't put it down, I just had to know what would happen next! This book had an very unpredictable ending. |
| sam |
| Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya. |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a wonderful read. Set in rural India, it starts off with the marriage of the youngest of the headman's daughters to a farmer far away. The story is of their marriage and life together. It is well written, lovely and moving. A great read, pick it up! |
| Bonnie |
| The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi Durrow |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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This is a poignant novel that touches your heart and doesn't let go. It's written about familiar ground yet in a whole new way. |
| sam |
| Blind Spot by Nancy Bush |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is not the type of book I normally read, but it is the one I won so I read it. I was surprised, it was better than what I thought it would be. There were many suspenseful twists and semi-believable characters. The romance between the hero and heroine, not so believable, but it was good for what it was. The characters became obsessively fixated with the crime that occurred and joined forces to stay away from another crime happening. Some hate each other, some love each other, some do both but I don't want to give away any "spoilers". "Sexy" things were not crass, so kudos to the author, Nancy Bush. This is one of the only genres of books I tend to shy away from, but I think this book was pretty well written and not "overdone". |
| Nikki ([email protected]) |
| Promises To Keep by Jane Green |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I'm so sorry I wasted my time reading this book when I have so many wonderful books in my "to be read" pile. I was fooled into thinking it would be good by a review I read in People and by an appearance I saw by Ms. Green on GMA. This book was so predictable and lacking in substance. The author would be writing in American English and then revert to British slang or phrases. This was very disconcerting to me but probably because I didn't like what I was reading. I would never recommend this book to anyone! |
| Ozarks Reader |
| Herb and Lorna by Eric Kraft |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
From the first chapter, Herb and Lorna are a couple not to be equaled. Each has a secret from their courtship to their old age together and it's not revealed till almost the end of the story. I learned about "coarse jewelry" --- perhaps a type of jewelry very few have ever known even existed. This book is such fun. I'd love to meet Herb and Lorna. They would be a hoot. |
| Betty Jo ([email protected]) |
| The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I had a hard time with this book. I really liked the idea of Rose's ability to taste people's feelings but I did not like her mother, father, or brother. |
| Bonnie |
| Thieves of Manhattan by Adam Langer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I think this would be a far more entertaining novel had I been an insider in the publishing world. As it is, I found the use of the author's and others' names as synonyms for more common, perfectly good and accurate words, to be annoying and cloying. It made it hard to read the book --- I kept tripping over the author's cutesy use of terminology. |
| Sandra F. |
| A Room Swept White by Sophie Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A ROOM SWEPT WHITE by Sophie Hannah is a brilliant and, sometimes, confusing book. There is so much detail both legal and medical that the book demands the reader's constant attention. The characters in the book are, for the most part, not very likable and this is the strength of the book --- the reader is forced to concentrate on the plot rather than on characters. Sophie Hannah does a wonderful job of building suspense until the final astounding conclusion. As a reader, I feel enriched for having read it. |
| Lorna |
| Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book because it's just a great summer read. Two sisters return to Nantucket (each for a different reason) to be with their younger sister and father. Lots of things happen to all of them this summer. If you have read this authors "Hot Flash Club series you would love this. I hope Nancy Thayer continues the saga of the sisters. |
| Judy O. ([email protected]) |
| Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I got this book free from the bookreporter.com folks, and I really appreciate it. I really loved the story about two sisters and a very emotionally distant mother. Mother Anya Whitson has been so closed up that her two daughters hardly know her. When their father dies, the two daughters begin to find out about their mother's life as she opens up to them in the form of "fairy tales". They soon realize that these tales are true stories of Anya's life in Russia during WWII. This is a heart-warming story about an awful period in the history of the world and about the power of love within a family. Well-worth a read. |
| Angela Satalino |
| South of Broad by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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Conroy's lyrical words are music to my eyes and ears. From the moment I begin reading I do not want to stop. His characters are so absorbing, you find yourself rooting them on. It's pure magic. |
| Nikki ([email protected]) |
| The Passage by Justin Cronin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this book and would liken it to many of Stephen King's books but without much of King's creep factor. If I didn't know that there will be a sequel, I would be very disappointed. I hope Mr. Cronin doesn't take too long to write the next book because I can't wait to visit the characters again. |
| Nikki ([email protected]) |
| Every Last One by Anna Quindlen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I have a very mixed opinion of this book. Although parts of the book demanded my attention, other parts just dragged on and on. I found myself getting angry at the main character since she just couldn't snap out of it. But then I tried to imagine myself in her situation and I didn't know how I would handle it. I'm glad I read this book because of the author, but I definitely would not consider it one of her best. |
| Julie H. |
| Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
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A great southern gothic story of a small town called Gatlin, where the War didn't happen too long ago and is re-created often. High-schooler Ethan has an odd connection to new girl Lena --- this turns out to be just the beginning of the tale. |
| S.R. |
| Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A small book that was very good with great characters. It was about the last night at the Red Lobster restaurant and how the manager and his employees dealt with it. |
| Esther Whatley |
| Blind Spot by Nancy Bush |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a good beach read. It's a little slow but has enough twists to hold your interest. Surprise ending, although in retrospect, there were some clues along the way that lead you to suspect what happens. |
| EC |
| The Silent Cry by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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This is an engaging Detective Monk mystery from Anne Perry's series. The ending is a surprise. |
| Carol G |
| A Quiet Belief in Angels by R. J. Ellory |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a remarkable story of a young boy surrounded by death as he grows up in 1930's Georgia. Young female classmates are raped and killed as he and a group of fellow male classmates try to figure out who is doing the killing and how to protect other girls. A well written story that holds one's attention throughout. Fantastic. |
| Susan J. |
| Somewhere Inside by Laura Ling, Lisa Ling |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
On a very frigid morning in March, 2009, Laura Ling, Euna Lee and Mitch Koss crossed a frozen river from China and spent a few minutes on the North Korean bank of the river before turning back to China. Their purpose was to produce a documentary about the defectors fleeing North Korea into an uncertain future in China. Before they reached the Chinese bank, they were chased by North Korean soldiers. Mitch escaped. Laura and Euna spent five months detained by the North Korean government, not knowing what would happen to them. This is Laura's story of her imprisonment alternating with sister Lisa's story of her struggles to bring the two prisoners home. Many of us know some of the story because of the media coverage. Now we can know much more of what really happened and the behind-the-scenes struggles to bring Euna and Laura home. I found the book fascinating and as entertaining (to use a word inappropriate for the gravity of the situation) as any spy novel out there, even though I knew how this one was going to end. There was little in the story about Euna because she and Laura had a few days together before they were separated. Neither knew what was happening to the other. They didn't know what would happen to themselves, whether they would be released, go to a work prison camp, or be executed. After the violence at the time of the arrest, Laura was not treated viciously or violently, but that is certainly not to say that she was treated well. Still, in some respects, they were treated better than the average citizens of the country. It seems hopeful that with the few people Laura met on a frequent basis, such as her guards and her interpreter, there was eventually a grudging kinship, person getting to know person, rather than governments with opposite agendas. There were unexpected kindnesses. I was amazed to learn of all the people who wanted to help, from bloggers to many people in government, to celebrities. Michael Jackson, just before he died, learned that North Korea's leader Kim Jon Il is a fan of Hollywood movies, and Jackson offered to go to Korea if it would help. In a rough part of Los Angeles where gang warfare is a part of life, both a "working girl" and a homeless person told Lisa that they were praying for Laura. Throughout, the strength and meaning of family was an unbreakable bond. One very minor problem in the writing for me is the use of "girls" to describe Euna and Laura. In one case, it was a strategic move, entirely appropriate, but in the others, it seemed a little flippant. There are people who given this book very low ratings because they believe that what this team did was wrong. While I respect that point of view, it does not lessen the impact the book had on me. Yes, the team broke laws. And they caused our government to be put in a very touchy situation. Crossing into North Korea was stupid, even if their guide, who apparently set them up, said it was safe. And the outcome might have been very different if the Lings didn't have friends and connections in the proverbial high places. Nevertheless, I am grateful that we have journalists who are willing to go that extra mile to report the controversial, hidden stories and I am grateful that we are able to hear and read and see those stories. |
| Lora |
| The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Seven-year-old Calli Clark hasn't spoken a word in the three years since a run-in with her violent, wife-beating father. During one of his tirades he suddenly decides to haul his mute daughter into the nearby forest, where they get lost. At the same time, Calli's best friend Petra goes missing, and a manhunt begins. Gudenkauf moves the story forward at a fast clip and I couldn't put it down till I finished it. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| This Body of Death by Elizabeth George |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
At first, I thought I might dislike the book --- too many plots and characters. Then suddenly, my opinion changed and I am thoroughly enjoying another book by Elizabeth George. Sometimes, I feel that her writing improves with each book. The two main plots involve a killing of a toddler by three teen boys and the brutal murder of a young woman. As each story unfolds, I am more engrossed in the novel. Elizabeth George brings into the story the psychological aspects of each of the crimes. The reader learns about the how and why. Elizabeth George is also a master of setting, such as the cemetery scene and the wild ponies and the art of roof thatching. George has written many novels, but she does not churn out one each year. Her novels delve into class differences such as Barbara Havers and Thomas Lynley, and of course, the new department chief Isabelle Ardery, whom I despise. Old characters are seen fleetingly, such as Deborah and Simon. An excellent novel. |
| Marjorie Clark ([email protected]) |
| Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
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Still reading this book. I remember the parts that Jane Austen wrote mixed in with Grahame-Smith's Zombies. Very funny at times. |
| Julie |
| The Island by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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A great beach read. This is the story of four women as they retreat to the family home on an island near Nantucket to sort out their personal problems. The mother, Birdie, her two daughter, Tate and Chess and their aunt India. Lots of romance and twists in the plot. It's a great escape read. |
| Connie Schmucker |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a book I am now reading and am having a hard time putting it down. I liked "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons" so I knew at once I would like this book. A great read. |
| Connie Schmucker |
| The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is an excellent read. It makes you stop and think of how your children can get lured even by someone they think they know. I enjoyed it very much. If you have not read this you cannot put it down. |
| Lora |
| The Poachers Son by Paul Doiron |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Doiron's debut crime novel is set on the coast and in the North Woods of Maine, where rookie game warden Mike Bowditch tries to unravel a murder that implicates his father. If you love C. J. Box you will love this book. |
| Dorothy |
| One Night by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was a real good light read. The ending was predictable from the first page but the twists and turns were interesting. Read it in one night. It was fun as are all her books. |
| Connie Schmucker |
| Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Went out and bought this book and it is excellent. I can't wait for the movie. I hope it is as good as the book. I like Julia Roberts and she is usually good in all her movies. I look forward to it. |
| Julie Rand |
| One Vacant Chair by Joe Coomer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This year's book club favorite! With clever wit and imagination, Joe Coomer entwines a story of the living and the dead with locations in the U.S. and Scotland. This is a beautiful story of aging and living --- based on familial and personal loyalty that underscores a story of magical delight tending to both tears and laughter! Just genuine! |
| Julie Rand |
| Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Winner of several book prizes, this story, both poignant and humorous, cleverly locks the reader into the lives of its characters, both real and imagined, so that there is no doubt as to the reality of their lives. Mister Pip, Pop Eye, Matilda, the Rambos and others provide us with an account of the daily survival of a community of war ravished islanders who live by their wit, imagination and courage. A book for the heart and intellect. Superb! |
| MJB |
| So Happy Together by Maryann McFadden |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
History teacher Claire Noble is about to pursue her dream of going to Cape Cod for photography school when her plans are put on hold when her daughter returns home after a year and a half. She returns with problems and secrets Claire would never imagine. Also, Claire's aging parents are having health problems and Claire is torn between doing the right thing, or following her dream. McFadden has done it again with a great read as her first, THE RICHEST SEASON. |
| David Rudy |
| Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Hilarious (true) story about a father and son, and the way the father deals with family and life issues. Words of wisdom (also somewhat reminds me of my fatherhood with my children, but without the cuss words). |
| L. Hann |
| Are You Afraid of the Dark by Sidney Sheldon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very suspenseful. |
| Carolyn |
| Tinkers by Paul Harding |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
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I really liked this short, beautifully written, dreamy book. |
| Jane Squires ([email protected]) |
| The Blue Enchantress by M. L. Tyndall |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Hope is an appropriate name for the heroine. The whole book offers hope to Hope and all the other characters. If you've ever known someone who has been abused as a child you can so feel for Hope. She spends her life looking for someone to truly love her. Finally she finds that God can love her like no one else can. But she gets a bonus and gets true love from a man too. This book is a true story of redemption along with adventure and pirates. I recommend you read the "Red Siren" first. |
| Jane Squires ([email protected]) |
| The Red Siren by M. L. Tyndall |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a story --- a lady pirate! I could so envision a man snared by this woman. Yet she harmed no one physically. The book is exactly what one would expect from a lady pirate. Intrigue, danger and God's protection and plan are so beautifully woven into a pirate tale. This is a book you won't be able to put down. I truly loved the ending. |
| jjn |
| One Day by David Nicholls |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Totally absorbing. I love it and look forward to the movie. Emma and Dexter officially meet on July 15, 1988. They go their separate ways but keep in touch. Each chapter takes place on July 15. We see them through 20 years of ups and downs. It was sad, funny and I could not put it down. I recommend it especially if you like Nick Hornby's books. |
| jjn |
| Stash by David Klein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fast moving and entertaining story that does not take long to read. The thing that makes it exceptional is the ethical questions it raises. It might be a "beach read" but very thought provoking as well. You see the situation from various points of view. The only reason I did not give it five stars is that it told me a little more about growing marijuana than I needed to know. That slowed the story down. |
| Brady ([email protected]) |
| Alone by Richard Logan and Tere Fassbender |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Nov. 13 and Nov 16th, 1961 are the days of events talked about in this book. It is the story of happiness gone very bad and the finding of a small child in the middle of the ocean on a flimsy contraption that was falling apart. It is the story of what happened before and then after the event and will keep you interested throughout. It is a true story, though I do not remember it. |
| Carolyn |
| The Friendship Test by Elizabeth Noble |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book was one of those so-so chick lits, easy to read but not very compelling. |
| Sandy |
| Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I expected a lot more from this book. I found it very boring. Elderly man loses job, moves into apt. and first night gets hit on the head by assailant. Can't remember anything about it and so pursues a woman he thinks can help him. Nothing important ever happened. |
| Carolyn |
| White Teeth by Zadie Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a really fun read, interesting characters, funny moments, epic feeling in scale with family histories affecting the characters into their presents lives. Really enjoyed it. |
| Mark Freeburg |
| The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The author, a Rhodes scholar, turned investment banker, spots an article in a Baltimore newspaper, detailing the criminal life of one Wes Moore, who is currently serving a life sentence for a robbery, in which a police officer was killed. Moore, the writer, is immediately intrigued. It turns out this other young man was raised in a similar inner-city neighborhood, actually just blocks away from his own. They were also both brought up by single mothers. Moore decides to contact this man in prison and find out his story. This is an excellent examination of how lives can be altered by the slightest differences; sometimes a simple choice or a chance meeting. Moore also explores these dangerous and tragic streets, where a boy has very little opportunity to succeed. A well-written memoir and one I highly recommend. |
| Carolyn |
| Still Missing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a really enjoyable thriller which hooks you from the first page and doesn't let go. Made me slightly nervous though reading it by myself in our empty apartment but I guess that's a good sign! |
| Sean from OHIO |
| Cell by Stephen King |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
One thing I have always liked about Stephen King's work is that it almost always makes you think. That is really the case here, as he takes a tired genre and gives it a modern twist and an even more meta angle. I enjoyed the character development here as everyone we meet is fleshed out. There were slow parts of the book but they fit in the story. It wasn't super action filled but atmospherically creepy. Overall, a very solid read.....again. |
| DeAnna |
| Bad Desire by Gary Devon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Really suspenseful. I like this book so far. |
| B. Klaassen |
| The Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I read this book because I was in the mood for some "Christian Chic Lit". The story was very light and moved very quickly. The story was true-to-life. The characters did not seem to be real people. I might recommend this book to a young adult. |
| B. Klaassen |
| The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O. McNees |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The story hooked me from the very beginning and I was in its grip until the end. The author did a great job of telling a believable story. Part of the story was really sad, but still believable. I did think Louisa and Joseph would get together, so I was in the camp with all of Louisa's' readers that thought romance should win out. I will recommend this book to other readers. |
| Tanya |
| The Night Villa by Carol Goodman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
In the aftermath of a terrible shooting at a college in Texas, Sophie seeks sanctuary on the Isle of Capri. Find out what secrets the Villa della Notte holds. |
| JaneAnn Railey Clear |
| Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of your reviewers said this book will ring you out and hang you to dry --- well I'm there! I just finished "Crossing Oceans". I started yesterday and never made it to bed --- well I tried once or twice but it kept calling me back. It took me longer than normal to finish because I had to stop every little bit to wipe and blow. I cried through almost the entire book. I am a voracious reader and I usually pick one book up as I'm laying one down. But I think it may take me a couple days to get this one out of my mind. I received this book in the mail, I don't know from whom, but whomever I thank you dearly it was so wonderful and I will pass it on and put in my two cents worth in all the book sites I go to that ask "what are you reading" . Please don't go back to thrillers and mysteries we have plenty of those, we need more of this genre. I will be looking for Gina's next one DRY AS RAIN in the spring, it sounds intriguing. I wish I had the words to explain how I felt after reading the book if I could find those words maybe I could write too. :) |
| Carolyn |
| The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I can't give a conclusive rating on this yet but I am more than half-way done and really enjoying it. Stieg Larson put so much energy and knowledge into his plotting, really impressive and fun for the reader because the action never stops. |
| Susan |
| The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book came out about four years ago. The author has just written a second book with some of the original characters which got a good review. I am liking the first book very much. A widower and her three son's in Montana and their housekeeper. |
| Patricia Gibby ([email protected]) |
| Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book pulled me in from the beginning and I couldn't wait to find out the big secret Hennie had. |
| Bob Hartzo ([email protected]) |
| World Without End by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent read |
| Celeste |
| Summer On Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love the Blossom Street series and I have to say that this one is definitely my favorite in the series so far. This is the perfect lighthearted book for the lazy days of summer. |
| Stavros |
| Head Games by Thomas Cavanaugh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Dealing with a brain tumor that he has named Bob our hero attempts to find a missing rock star who has skipped out on his band, deal with the tumor, keep his relationship positive with his two ex wives and build a relationship with a teen daughter who currently despises him. To make matters worse the teen daughter is kidnapped and held hostage in order to provide an incentive for him to find the rock star. |
| Sally B., San Antonio Tx |
| The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I thought this book had a lot of philosophical mumbo jumbo with a few (very few) humorous jewels thrown in. The ending is very surprising and shocking but the last 50 pages do not make a book. |
| Tina Werner |
| The Passage by Justin Cronin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was really good. It's really long, but still kept up my interest through the entire book. Justin Cronin has taken vampires to a new level and it's a scary one. This book made me think... what if? |
| Rosemary Sobczak |
| The Devil Among the Lawyers by Sharon McCrumb |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Rather disconnected and unsympathetic characters. A slow read. |
| Sonia Z |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Reading and watching the series on Starz at the same time. Both amazing. |
| Ellie |
| East of the Sun by Julia gregson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Memorable novel; emotional, unforgettable and well written. |
| Anne |
| Safe Passage by Ida Cook |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Inspiring and beautiful memoir. |
| Rosalie Sambuco ([email protected]) |
| Years of Wonder by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A wonderful story of the Plague of 1666. This book goes into great detail of the sufferings of the people from The Plague. It is based upon a true story of a small English town that handles the problems by themselves. The town is sealed off from both incoming & outgoing people to keep the germs confined to that area. |
| Pearl |
| A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Beautifully written historical fiction. |
| Frankie |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent read. I gave myself plenty of time to read this book thinking that it would take me a while. I was so wrong. Once I got going I did not want to put it down. The graphic descriptions of some of the crimes were hard to read, but still a very worthwhile book. I cannot wait to read his other books. |
| Jean M |
| The Defector by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is another in the Gabriel Allon spy series. It is a very exciting spy thriller. |
| Pat Stuckey |
| Crazy Love by Francis Chan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
As a Christian, am I REALLY on fire for Him - am I passionate for Him - am I doing all I can for Him? Extremely thought-provoking book. Chan is a dynamic speaker and his expertise and charm show through his books too. Excellent. |
| Jean M |
| The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Silva just keeps getting better and better. This is the latest in the Gabriel Allonseries and it seems like you could be reading current newspaper headlines. |
| Pat Stuckey |
| Radical by David Platt |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Quite an eye opener...all the while I think of myself as a good Christian BUT have I "really" sacrificed anything for Christ? This is a most thought-provoking book and one every Christian should read. |
| Pat Stuckey |
| 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I feel as if I've read this story before but know I have not. There are at least 2 more in this series - I will read them and will then be able to rate books more effectively. I do love Alexander McCall Smith's book though - esp. his #1 Ladies Detective Agency books. |
| Allie |
| The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great Story that takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. Deals with witches, fortune-telling, & modern day Salem |
| Ruth |
| Zoe Klein by Drawing in the Dust |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful novel with great characters, story and locale. |
| Ann B. |
| The Sight of the Stars by Fern Michaels |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this about an ambitious young man who goes west and makes it financially and personally. Family relationships play out to an interesting end. |
| Kathleen |
| In Harm's Way by Ridley Pearson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this one, it kept me guessing, even managed to get me to guess wrong. |
| Mary Q. ([email protected]) |
| Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book has been in one of my bookcases for quite a while, and I'm finally reading it. Now I'm wondering what took me so long?! For anyone who hasn't yet read WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, you're missing out on a real treat. The characters (human AND animal) are well defined, and it's a truly engrossing story that both educates and entertains. Highly recommended! |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Haunted by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As Darcy Tremayne studies the rooms in the old house called Melody House, she feels the presence of several entities, mostly non-threatening. But on her first night in the Lee Room, she is awakened by a swirling mist in the shape of a woman in a long white gown. The ghostly form is trying to tell her something but seems afraid of someone and is calling "He's coming". Who is she trying to warn Darcy about? The owner of Melody House is Matt Stone, the local sheriff, who is definitely anti-ghost or anything resembling ghost rumors. Yet he feels that Darcy is running into trouble and tries to get her to leave before she is hurt. Who is the mysterious figure and why is she appearing to Darcy? A great book. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Bone By Bone by Carol O'Connell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book keeps you in suspense until the very end. When Oren returns home from his days in the Army, he and his father are sitting talking when a human bone is tossed on the porch. Since his brother Josh mysteriously disappeared many years ago, they assumed that the bone was Josh. Lab results proved this to be true. His father says that this is not the first bone being thrown on the porch. But who killed Josh and why? |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Trust No One by Gregg Hurwitz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
When Nick Horrigan asks his stepfather about the tattoo on his arm, Frank replies that he got it while serving in Vietnam and it stands for "Trust No One". After a rocky start, Nick and his stepfather grew close. Frank worked for the Secret Service and was growing more paranoid each day. Elaborate locks and a security system were installed on the house. Guns were kept close. Nick caught Frank sneaking looks out the window. What is scaring Frank? One night after Nick sneaked out of the house, someone came in. When Nick returned, Frank was on the floor with a gunshot wound. He eventually died. Then "they" came for Nick. A great book that will be hard to put down. |
| Rosalie Sambuco ([email protected]) |
| The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The story of Catherine de Medici as told from her point of view --- very interesting and enjoyable. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| The Whisper by Carla Neggers |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Sophie Malone is an archaeologist who travels between Ireland and Boston. She is due to return to Boston but wants to see the site where Keira Sullivan saw the stone angel in ancient ruins and was almost killed. While she is at the ruins, she meets Boston police detective Cyrus Wisdom, known to his friends as Scoop. She is aware of who he is and tells him she knows that he was injured by a bomb blast that destroyed his home. This puts him on alert and he wonders just exactly who she is. How did she know all of this? She says she read the newspapers. They both return to Boston on the same flight and their paths cross many times once back in Boston. When she tells him about almost being killed in a cave in Ireland the year before after finding Celtic ruins in the cave, they link the attack to the people involved in illegal sales of ancient treasures in the Boston area. As Scoop works with fellow officers to try to find the responsible parties, the attraction between him and Sophie grows. A good book but not as good as Negger's previous ones. There are too many characters from previous books and it is confusing trying to figure out who's who. |
| Nancy154 |
| Mudbound by Hillary Jordan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is narrated by the 6 major characters. Laura, the wife, Henry, the husband, Jamie, Henry's brother, Ronsel, the son of the tenants, Florence, the wife and tenant, and Hap, Florence's husband and the tenant. The story takes place just after WWII ends in Mississippi on a farm in the Delta. The descriptions of the hardships on the farm and the racism in the Delta are unbelieveable. |
| Gil |
| The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
From the very first word, it was easy to get involved in this book. A murder took place 23 years earlier, the convicted murderer's sentence was commuted, and the story deals with finding out the truth about what really happened. Many twists and turns. Nothing is what you really think happened. |
| Joan |
| Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiana |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Valentine is enjoying with her Italian family, lots of great cooking, her career as a shoe designer and a new Italian boyfriend. Romantic, lush writing and character driven plot made this a great read! |
| Patty ([email protected]) |
| Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It is wonderful. It is everything that reviews said it would be...I am relishing every word. |
| Jen |
| The Search by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another winner by Nora Roberts. It kept my interest throughout the entire book. |
| Elizabeth V |
| The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
It bored me. |
| Renee |
| Jackdaws by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Like all Follett novels, you enter page one and can't put it down. This is a WWII novel about a team of women doing espionage work with the French resistance. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| The Map Of True Places by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Hepzibah (Zee) Finch was raised by her father Finch and his friend Melville after her mother committed suicide. Now a successful psychotherapist in Boston, Zee has lost one of her patients to suicide and is depressed. She returns to the solace of her home in Salem where she finds that Finch has kicked Melville out of his home and neither is saying why. Zee finds her father's health failing and realizes that she must now take on the task of caregiver to Finch. She realizes that that task is more important than her prior practice and her life's road map takes a sharp turn. A very good book. |
| Patricia Gibby ([email protected]) |
| Undead and Unemployed by MaryJanice Davidson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This undead series is hilariously funny. It sort of makes me want to be a vampire. |
| Gina |
| Betrayal by Clare Francis |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
English mystery about a murdered mistress. The narrator is a suspect in the murder as is his wife. He recounts the story with flashbacks and flash forwards. I enjoyed the writing style and surprise at the end. |
| Kathryn McNamara |
| One Good Dog by Susan Wilson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As a new dog owner, reading a book from the perspective of the dog is interesting to me. Unlike THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, some of the story is told from the human point of view. It's well written, easy to enjoy, and insightful to get the dog's perspective on all things human. |
| Patricia Gibby ([email protected]) |
| Tripwire by Lee Child |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is Jack Reacher #3. Child's books keep getting better and better and I cant wait to read the next in the series. |
| Ivy Pittman ([email protected]) |
| The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brad Skyhorse |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Skyhorse writes with passion and experience. Mexican stereotypes, Los Angeles and struggle all come together in a symphony of color. |
| ky2here ([email protected]) |
| The Exile by Andrew Britton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I knew this was his last book due to his unfortunate early death. Perhaps the book wasn't fully formed before publication. I love the setting - it's important to highlight the current atrocities in Darfur. My expectations were high after THE INVISIBLE. This book didn't deliver at the same level however it is still a good read. Ryan Kealey from Special Forces is a complex and intricate character. We get insight into the conflict between operating as a team and his individual drives. I got confused with the pacing and the plot. I wonder how this book may have developed if the author had more time to tweak and edit. |
| Jud Hanson |
| 9 Scorpions by Paul Levine & Gerry Gammon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
9 Scorpions is an outstanding novel, one of the best legal thrillers I've ever read. Levine demonstrates his versatility, from his more comedic Solomon and Lord novels to this much more serious novel. This is an engaging novel from the first word to the last page. |
| Jud Hanson |
| The Scouting Party by David Scott and Brendan Murphy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Should be required reading for current and former Boy Scouts. It gives a fascinating look into the origin of this movement, which has produced some of the most memorable men of the past and present. |
| Reva Wamsley ([email protected]) |
| Point Blank by Catherine Coulter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is another book in the FBI series. So far, I've loved all of them. This on features a new character, a woman FBI agent. Of course, Savich & Sherlock are there too. Ruth, the FBI agent, is exploring a cave looking for treasure & then the next thing we know, she's found in the woods by the dog of the local sheriff & she has amnesia. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the 3rd book I have read by Picoult. This author is very brave to take on such controversial and emotional issues like suicide, date rape and school shootings. I think she has a talent for this type of writing. She grabbed me from the beginning of this book and I could not put it down. The plot is riveting but her books are also character driven. I found myself pivoting between the various characters I was drawn to. NINETEEN MINUTES is about a school shooting. There are so many aspects to the plot besides just the shooting. You see all the lives that are impacted by the shooting. The victims, the victims parents, friends and family, as well as, the shooter and his family, the lawyers, the judge and the police force. Picoult doesn't miss a thing. Plus, she adds a little twist at the end that made this story even more interesting. This is not a happy book, but it made me want to keep reading until I finished. I was definitely moved at the end and I sat down with my son and had a conversation about bullying. |
| Annie |
| The Storm Chasers by Jenna Blum |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Twin connections, chasing tornadoes in the Midwest - Loved this book!! |
| Annie |
| What Remains by Carole Radziwill |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What lovely writing! Moving memoir of friendship and loss. |
| Lorna |
| Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Loved this book! This author touches on such emotional subjects. You will laugh and you will cry. I loved the way this was written, each chapter was told by a different character and their thoughts on the main character in the book - a 7 year old girl with osteogenesis imperfecta. The parents decide to bring a malpractice suit against the OB who is the best friend of the mom. The story evolves around how the law suit affects everyone related to the girl. Very emotional book. |
| Barbara S |
| The Outer Banks House by Diann Ducharme |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Story takes place during the summer of 1868 as a family resides along the Outer Banks for a vacation in a cottage built for them. Although it was not your usual style for that time, it turns out the type of summer, the acquaintances that were made along with decisions made, were also not the usual for a family of means. Very interesting storyline along with insight into the history following the civil war. Recommend it to anyone that likes to learn about people and why feeling and things are like they are. |
| Bea C. |
| The Wave by Susan Casey |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Nonfiction for those who love to read about wave data and facts, interspersed with stories of surfers and the humongous waves they search for and have ridden. Not as good as THE PERFECT STORM, but if you like to read about surfers addicted to fear and scientists talking with one another, this is for you. |
| Suzanne |
| Enchanted Evening Barbie and the Second Coming by Rheta Grimsley Johnston |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Gotta love that title! Johnston is a syndicated newspaper columnist that I've read for years, so I enjoyed this memoir. She spends a bit of time on her early years, but the focus of the book is her newspaper career across the South. Her writing has a wonderful sense of place. I am a newspaper lover, and this book made me appreciate the daily deadline of the columnist. |
| Annie |
| Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Man searches for his long, lost "schizo" twin. Three different story lines connect to solve the puzzle. |
| Gail Kolda |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book describes Alzheimer's Disease through the eyes of a women who has early-onset Alzherimer's. It has caught the downward spiral of forgetting perfectly and will haunt you for days after reading it. |
| CherylS22 |
| The Terror by Dan Simmons |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a great epic novel about the quest for the Northwest Passage across the Arctic. The book was quite long, but once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It is based on a true story & is very interesting. |
| Cindy |
| Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A quick and delightful summer read! Loved the characters and Trigiani's colorful descriptions of them. |
| Cindy |
| Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful historical fiction/travelogue of the middle east during the time of Lawrence of Arabia, Churchill, and Lady Gertrude Bell. With so much attention focused on this region today, it was especially interesting to view it during those early days of making borders. |
| Cindy |
| Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Not a new book, but one that brought back fond memories from the first time I read it. Some things never change. Marjorie is an unforgettable character, as is Noel. |
| Sandy |
| The Sisters from Hardscrabble Bay by Beverly Jensen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
These two sisters could not be any different! The story of these two siser, Idella and Avis, travels, from Canada to New England, but mostly it travels through their lives and hearts. Have to read more by this author!! |
| Sandy |
| The Beach House by Jane Green |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
As soon as I got all the characters straightened out I enjoyed this book on tape emmensely!! To the people of Nantucket, Nan is the crazy old woman who goes kinny-dipping in her neighbors' pools. Nan could care less what people think, but she does become concerned when her finanaces start to ger a little tight. She opens her home to a few boarders and that is when things become interesting. You will love it! |
| Cindy |
| Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What an interesting study of what makes people tick! How circumstances play into whether or not you are destined to be successful. Very fascinating read! |
| Donna P. |
| Strangers At the Feast by Jennifer Vanderbes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Brand new thriller by an author I had never heard of. She had previously written one other book, "Easter Island". Do not start "Strangers At the Feast" unless you have the time to read it all. Takes place on Thanksgiving Day when uninvited "guests" attend dinner as well. Just loved the suspense and family loyalty as well. A must read! |
| Donna P. |
| Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
It's a sappy and predictable story of a widow and her daughter, neither one is very likable. The plot line about a deceased husband building unknown 850K home in another state was absurd. |
| Kristie |
| The Sister Wife by Diane Noble |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Historical Mormon fiction. The first in the series was excellent. Characters and emotions seemed real and the research was accurate. What do you do when the Prophet commands your husband to take other wives? A difficult question and situation to be sure. |
| Tanya |
| Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The major characters and events are based on the 1612 Lancashire witch trials. In this documented case, seven women and two men from Pendle Forest were hanged as witches. The author brings history to life. |
| Cat |
| A Kind of Intimacy by Jenn Ashworth |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I hadn't heard of this book or author so it was an impulse buy that was well worth it. If you love psychological suspense, this is the book for you. A cross between "Misery" and "Fatal Attraction", this story about descent into madness is creepy and well written. It will have you wondering who may be be moving in next door to you. |
| a disappointed reader |
| The Island by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
What has happened to the author? Her first four books were a really good read, but her last three have been terrible. Very stupid and immature. Bad writing, and so juvenile. How can someone write really good books and then trash. Does she have a ghost writer???? |
| Donna P. |
| The 9th Judgement by James Patterson |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
Use to buy James Patterson years ago and loved his work. However, his books' quality and plot have suffered over the years. The latest Women's Murder Clubseries, co-written with Maxine Paetro was not well written at all. The plot was predictable and boring. Save your money! Thank goodness I found this at the library. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Lincoln's Hand by Joel Fox |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a Zane Rigby mystery with Zane as an older FBI agent trying to hold on to his job until retirement. In this story, set in Springfield, Illinois, Zane encounters his college sweetheart, only to lose her a second time. The story brings up many interesting facts about Abraham Lincoln's burial, and the housing of brain fragments as DNA samples. I never realized that poor Lincoln was exhumed and reburied, and many attempts have been made to steal the body. This is an easy read, and does not delve into the psychology of the crime like an Elizabeth George novel. |
| Marion Miller ([email protected]) |
| Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you can take descriptions about surgery this is a wonderful read. It held my interest from beginning to end. The story starts and ends in Ethiopia but the trip is worth it. |
| Marsha |
| Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Stephanie Plum and cohorts try to save the Bond Business and get into a mess of trouble and fun. |
| Tara |
| The Black Cat by Martha Grimes |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As usual, this entry in the series about Superintendent Richard Jury was so entertaining and hard to put down. The victims all work for escort services, but pinning down the reasons for their deaths gives Jury and his eccentric colleagues and friends a complicated puzzle to solve. It's got humor and suspense galore. |
| Kathy Vallee |
| The Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club by Susan McBride |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is another Debutante Dropout book, in this latest book Andy helps her mother find out if two of her oldest dearest friends died of old age withing days of each other or if someone had a hand in in it. And all this happens before Andy's mom is knocked off too. |
| Christine |
| The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An enjoyable and easy read about bi-polar sufferers and the bond between twins. |
| Christine |
| The Bread of Angels: A Journey to Love & Fait by Stephanie Saldana |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm enjoying this book. Ms. Saldana makes the Middle East and the Holy Land come alive. |
| Judy O. ([email protected]) |
| The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I wrote the title incorrectly on an earlier post, so I wanted to correct that. This was a fantastic book about Dr. Ben Payne and journalist Ashley Knox, who were stranded in the mountains of Utah after a plane crash. They were on a small chartered plane when the pilot suffered a heart attack and died. Of course the plane crashed in the wilds. Even though they were both seriously injured, the two of them, along with the pilot's small dog, left the crash site to try to find rescue. So follows a harrowing journey through the incessant snow and mountainous terrain. The story contains heart-pounding suspense. |
| Judy O. ([email protected]) |
| The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a fantastic story! Dr. Ben Payne and journalist Ashley Knox are onboard a small plane with a pilot who suffers a heart attack and dies. They crash in the middle of the mountains in Utah, along with the pilot's small dog. They are both seriously injured but eventually get together the supplies to make a run for freedom and rescue. Probably one of the most gripping stories I've read lately, and I was just breathless turning pages trying to help them on their journey. |
| Allie |
| Toujours Provence by Peter Mayle |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A great book about Provence, France. |
| Marjorie Clark ([email protected]) |
| Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austin and Seth Grahame-Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I just started reading but I am already getting quite a laugh out of this new take on Jane Austin's book. |
| Glenn |
| A Certain Chemistry by Mil Millington |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Funny funny book. I've really enjoyed all three of Mil's books that I've read. A great humorous Brit author. |
| Gail |
| True Colors by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I'm not finished yet. Typical summer reading fluff. I am finding it a bit sad and am hoping for a happy ending. Nice setting and interesting family/sisters dynamics. |
| Kay Myers |
| This Time Together with Carol Burnett by Carol Burnett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very interesting to see into the lives of Carol and her friends. Each chapter is about someone in her life. It is a followup to "One More Time". |
| Kay Myers |
| The Shack by William Paul Young |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It is very interesting to see the relationship between Mac and the Trinity. Makes you wonder what your relationship really is. |
| Debbie ([email protected]) |
| Julita's Sands: A Memoir by Emily Placido |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is an interesting memoir about a mother's journey and one of her daughters. Like the sand on a beach, the mom eventually succumbs to dementia. The story seems to drag at times, and many of the tales are repeats of what has happened. Emily Placido expresses her frustration that she is losing her mother before the actual death of the body. The different stages of dementia are brilliantly shown. The caregivers at the various institutions need to be applauded for their care. I cannot phantom how the other two daughters stood by and did nothing to help, but I understand that this situation happens too often. Emily was wise to shed her anger, but what a challenge. I hope that Emily and Mike weather the storm, but sometimes I felt that Emily had been cast adrift by everyone due to her mother's sickness. Emily poignantly shows the frustrations associated with slowly losing your mind and your bodily functions --- what a sad portrayal. I enjoyed the book, especially with the short chapters written or told in Julita's voice. |
| Kellie ([email protected]) |
| The Burning Wire by Jeffrey Deaver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Number Nine of the Lincoln Rhyme series, the quadriplegic criminalist. This was another great work by Deaver. The subject is electricity. Deaver obviously does a lot of research. It was interesting. I always learn something when I read a Deaver book. This is one of my favorite series. In this one, Rhyme and Sacks and their team is on a case involving someone who is diverting electricity to electrocute people in NYC. The manipulation revolves around Algonquin Electric, the major electric company in the city. In the background, Rhyme is also on the tail of another criminal. Someone who slipped through their fingers in one of the previous cases. This book is also a turning point for Rhyme's personal life. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to learn more about it. I highly recommend this series. I don't think I've rated any of these books lower than a four. |
| EC |
| Silence in Hanover Close by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is another good Victorian mystery in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. The reader wishes there was a little more interaction between the couple, but it is still a good read. |
| Elizabeth ([email protected]) |
| The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Henry Day was tired of babysitting his sisters and ran into the woods after his mother insisted that he help more with them. The changelings took him that very afternoon. The changelings steal children after watching their daily routines for about a year to see if the child is the right one for the change and if it is the life the fairy would want to live. The "stolen" child who replaces the fairy has to adapt to new surroundings, learn new things and become used to a new life without any familiar people or family. The fairy duplicate usually makes out better since he knew everything about the stolen child and his family, thus making acclamation to the new life in the human world a lot easier. The changelings that lived in the forest were scavengers, thieves and had mean dispositions. They ate bugs, berries, killed rabbits and squirrels, and stole things from the humans. They then went directly into homes and businesses. The descriptions of their antics, how they lived and what they did "grabbed" you so much that it made you afraid. The book goes back and forth describing the lives of the switched children, each telling his story, the one growing into adulthood and the other remaining a child. A childhood stolen is what I would call what happened...I felt bad for the AniDay (Henry Day), the child who was taken by the changelings and went into the fairy world. He seemed to have a difficult time with the change --- he wanted to go back, but couldn't --- he had to wait his turn. It would be difficult to forget everything from your past, but eventually they do. The book was interesting, definitely different, and also so mysterious that you couldn't stop reading, but you also kept looking over your shoulder. I give it a 4/5. I enjoyed it as the pages continued to turn. The ending was thoughtful and heartwarming. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| My Half of the Sky by Jana McBurney-Lin |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
2.5 * This is an okay novel of modern-day China. Li Hui is a college graduate with poor prospects due to her gambling father and weak-willed mother. Uneven writing. Poor editing. Weak plot. Cookie-cutter characters. I can't believe this was a BookSense pick. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Whale Season by N. M. Kelby |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A quirky novel reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen. When Jesus shows up on Christmas Eve in Whale Harbor, things start to happen. An unlikely serial killer is just the beginning. |
| Sean from OHIO |
| Hollywood Station by Joseph Wambaugh |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Joseph Wambaugh crafts an ensemble cast of cops and robbers (or rather, various criminals) that offer a new and interesting take on the police procedural. It was almost always funny stuff. There was drama and even romance. The humor was evident throughout, with my only beef being the over the top Eastern European accents and verbiage from these characters. It was a little too corny and less real. The realism is everywhere else as you can tell that the author was LAPD. Overall, really good stuff. |
| Jean |
| The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A light culinary cozy mystery. It is the first in a series. I would rate it 3.5 stars and I'll probably read the rest of the series. |
| A. Brim |
| About Face by Fern Michaels |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Casey Edwards has amnesia and has been in a mental hospital for ten years. She is released and then begins the task of remembering what happened to her. An easy read and a page turner. |
| Rosanne |
| The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a delightful romantic fantasy that will have you putting down the vampire books. I loved how whimsical this novel was. It was a charming summer read. |
| Anna |
| The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
For readers who like their thrillers graphic and gritty...this is the one! A special forces team is pitted against a serial killer who seems to enjoy pointing them towards other crimes and criminals. Filled with suspense and plenty of plot twists. |
| T. Thomas |
| Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
OK, but that was it. |
| A. Brim |
| The Real Deal by Fern Michaels |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
FBI agent Quinn Starr goes to work for the Secret Service protecting the first lady. A political novel that I enjoyed very much. |
| Julie H. |
| Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress by Kyra Davis |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Sophie Katz has been through enough murders now that you'd think she wouldn't suffer from so much tunnel vision. Then again, this time, it's her best friend Dena who's been shot and possibly maimed for life. Still an enjoyable read, Sophie just seemed a bit off in this one. |
| Sandy |
| I Know Just What You Mean by Ellen Goodman and Patricia O'Brien |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is about the power of friendship in women's lives. It tells how important our friends are to us at every point in our lives and how they are our chosen family. at the time this book was written they had been friends for 26 years. They also interviewed many other women. |
| Dara ([email protected]) |
| The Whisper by Carla Neggar |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I won this book through one of the contests on this website. I enjoyed the book. It was a little hard to get into at first, since it felt like part of a series, but I could not find out if that was true. The story was good, had so nice plot twists. So overall not a bad book. I liked that the contest gave me a chance to read a book I normally would not read. |
| Vickie |
| Supreme Justice by Phillip Margolin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Although you really need to read the book "Executive Privilege" before you read this one, you will still be absorbed into the plot of high-powered attorneys and justices in D.C. Many of the characters are from the first book, so it is like visiting old friends and finding out that they are doing just fine! Dana Cutler, the investigator from Executive Privilege, needs to find out why a justice on the Supreme Court was attacked and how a woman was sentenced to death, no body was found, and she continues to proclaim her innocence. Nevertheless, someone with a lot of power wants her death sentence carried out and will stop at nothing to see that it is. A really enjoyable read, with short chapters and enticing teasers at the end of each chapter. |
| Dave Siegel ([email protected]) |
| Frankenstein : Lost Souls by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A modern and very interesting (and disturbing) version of the Frankenstein tale. Not Koontz's best, but still a great read with philosophical implications about society and humanity. |
| Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. |
| Netherland by Joseph O'Neill |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The story, for the most part, takes place in NY. |
| Lindy |
| Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another great historical romance from this popular author. Readers met this hero in previous books, and will enjoy reading his story as a new series begins. |
| Linda |
| The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is an interesting story, but a difficult read. The characters are well-defined and the plot has some mystery worked in. |
| Lisa |
| The Singing Sands by Josephine Tey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Wonderful classic British writer of the Golden Age. |
| Joyce M. Armour |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is absolutely wonderful. But it is also sad that such segregation was still going on in the United States in the sixties. |
| Julie H. |
| Glimpse of Evil by Victoria Laurie |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I think it's great when a cozy author takes a bit of a chance and changes things up in the series. Abby Cooper is still a seer, but she has moved with her boyfriend Dutch to Texas to work in an FBI cold case office. Laurie keeps Abby's best friend Candice in the loop, because she's moved there also --- because of a certain FBI guy named Brice. It all works! |
| Richard V. Godsell-Jures |
| Star Island by Carl Hiaasen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I've read several of Carl's books, when I was a fifth grade teacher, I read "Scat", "Flush" and "Hoot" aloud to my class. They loved it, I loved it, and many kids who weren't readers wanted to read his books. So, of course, it was an easy decision to buy Carl's new book. I didn't realize that I would laugh so much but I also started laughing until I got tears and then hiccups, and then I literally had put the book down and leave the room. Yes, it's that funny. Think about Britney Spears when you read it and you'll laugh even more. |
| Judy O. ([email protected]) |
| The Devil Amongst the Lawyers by Sharyn McCrumb |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I have loved most of the other books in McCrumb's "ballad" series, but I did not like this one. A group of newspaper reporters converge on a small town in Virginia in 1935 to cover the story of a young woman named Erma Morton, who is accused of killing her father. The story of this young woman is virtually lost in the book, as the plot is centered instead on the foibles of the reporters. Not worth a read in my estimation. |
| Jean M |
| Rules of Betrayal by Christopher Reich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another in the series featuring Dr. Jonathan Ransom and his wife Emma. You will be very surprised at where this story takes us. |
| Jean M |
| Innocent by Scott Turow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very exciting book. It keeps you turning the pages fast and furiously until the very last page. Turow cannot be beat --- perhaps equaled but never beaten. |
| Celeste |
| The Last Child by John Hart |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Definitely the best book I have read this year. It just has so many layers to it. It was the first book in a long time that when it ended, I wanted to go right back to the beginning and start it all over again. |
| Coral Harrison |
| Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Anogrim |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Alison played the part of Nellie Oleson on "Little House on the Prairie" for seven years. This book is the story of her life and how this show helped her life and how people remember her from that. She also tells the story of her life. It was easy reading as well. |
| Liz E. |
| Demelza: A Novel of Cornwall 1788-1790 by Winston Graham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The second title in the Poldark series that has recently been re-released continues the story of aristocratic land and mine owner Ross Poldark and new bride Demelza, a commoner. A sweeping cast of memorable characters and a host of timeless themes make this a classic. Can't wait to watch the British TV miniseries based on the books. |
| Gil |
| The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In this thriller, a journalist and doctoral candidate are writing an expose of illegal sex trafficking. Lisabeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist return as central characters. Murders are committed in this story which has many surprising twists and turns. I could not put it down. |
| Sherrie |
| As Husbands Go by Susan Isaacs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I stayed up way too late last night reading, "As Husbands Go", to the point that I didn't even notice the time! Ms. Isaacs writes as though she is a girlfriend sitting right next to you in a gab fest! She is quite descriptive and you feel as though you have walked right into the lives of Susie, Jonah and their three triplet sons --- along with parents and in-laws and an odd but engaging best friend/work partner. Can't wait to finish this this afternoon! |
| Pattie Berryhill ([email protected]) |
| Vicious by Kevin O'Brien |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent suspense --- kept me up all night. |
| CC |
| The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A new TV series is based on the characters in this book; even though I'd seen the episode and knew how it ended, I still enjoyed the book! |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| The Second Opinion by Michael Palmer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Dr. Thea Sperelakis returns to the hospital founded by her father where he lies in a comatose state after being hit by a hit-and-run driver. As Thea tries to communicate with her father, her brother and sister insist that he would not want to live like this and try to convince her to let him go. But Thea disagrees and keeps close watch over her father. Was it an accident? When her older brother convinces her that it was not, she is more concerned than ever. Then she finds more discrepancies in the hospital, such as people being cured miraculously and their records failing to show that anything was wrong with them. Who is behind this? Is it his doctor who has been his friend for many years? Why is everyone talking badly about her father? In the age of computers, anything can be changed, even hospital records. This is a suspenseful book as you try to figure out what is going on. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Killing Kelly by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Kelly Trent plays Marla Valentine on a soap opera. Marla's role is an advice columnist. When Kelly is almost killed by an accident during filming, her manager finds Doug O'Casey, a private investigator to act as her bodyguard. Doug also acts as a dance instructor and is teaching Kelly to tango in her new assignment for a music video. Shooting is being held on a private island but Doug is concerned that someone is trying to kill Kelly. Murders have occurred at several locations where the victim is an advice columnist and Doug feels that the killer is stalking Kelly, thinking of her as Marla instead of Kelly. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Home In Time For Christmas by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As Melody Tarleton is driving home on snowy roads, she sees a dark cloud in the middle of the road. In the middle of the cloud stands a man. As Melody puts on her brakes, she hits a snowback. Jumping out of the car, she runs to the man who is dressed strangely in clothes of a bygone era. She helps him to her car and takes him to her home where she hears his amazing story. He was about to be hanged by the British as a traitor during the Revolutionary War when he saw his sister at the foot of the gallows. The next thing he remembered were rose petals blowing over the snow and he woke up in the 21st century. He has to get back to his sister, but how? A good story involving time travel that reminds me of the movie Kate and Leopold. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| The Island by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Several groups have descended on Calliope Island for a weekend getaway. Among them are Beth Anderson, her brother Ben and her niece Amber. As Beth, Amber and her friend Kim walk along a deserted stretch of beach, they find a skull partially buried in the sand. As they are looking at it, Beth hears someone coming and covers it with a palm frond. The newcomer is Keith Henson and Beth suspects him of knowing about the skull so she hurries the girls back to their tent. When her brother accompanies her back to the site, they are unable to find the skull and he thinks she just saw a conch shell. When the girls mention the skull at the campfire that evening, Beth was upset because no one believed her. After everyone was asleep, she heard rustling noises and got up to investigate. Did she really find a skull? Who was Keith Henson and why was he on the island? A good book. |
| TN Reader |
| The Lost City of Z by David Grann |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great non-fiction account of legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett who made several trips to the Amazon in the early 20th century to make an accurate map for the Royal Geographical Society. He encountered treacherous landscapes, horrible insects and diseases but he seemed mostly immune. On his last journey, he took his son and none of them ever returned creating a legend around Fawcett. Many tried to recreate his journey to find out what happened. Gann investigates and journeys to the Amazon and comes up with answers. Intriguing! |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Dark Paradise by Tami Hoag |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Marilee Jennings has had it with the court reporter profession and has headed to her friend Lucy's home in New Eden, Montana for a little R&R. As she pulls up to Lucy's home, no lights are welcoming. She enters the unlocked house and sees that the house has been ransacked. A neighboring rancher comes by to feed the stock and tells her that Lucy was accidentally killed by a hunter visiting one of the Hollywood people who are buying up the land. But Marilee doesn't believe it. When she finds that her friend has made her the beneficiary, she is at a loss. How did Lucy obtain the money to build and furnish this beautiful home on a court reporter's salary? Who killed her? Are the wealthy outsiders guilty? Although it's a long book, you won't be able to put this one down. |
| Mike |
| Naamah's Curse by Jacquline Carey |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is Book Two of the Naamah's Kiss series. It's a fast-paced and engaging tale of a woman's adventure as she journeys through many lands and at the whims of her Gods/Goddesses, as she follows the trail of her beloved. |
| Pat Miller |
| Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I was waiting patiently for this book to come out and was sorely disappointed. It was too detailed and just wouldn't catch my interest. |
| Jen |
| Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Her books are always good but this was one of the best. Rizzoli and Isles go to Wyoming where they become involved in a murder mystery involving a polygamous cult. A real page turner. |
| Phoenix |
| Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an emotionally complex love story. It alternates between the voices of a young woman and a young man. The girl's life changed when she lost her mother. The boy's life changed when he loses his hands during a chemical explosion. He wears hooks to frighten people away, but she is not afraid. This young adult novel will appeal to readers of all ages who appreciate writing that challenges you to think and feel. I believed the story, and was left wanting to know what happened after I turned the final page. |
| Linda H. ([email protected]) |
| Reckless by Andrew Gross |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
As Ty Hauck listens to the morning news, he hears of a family that was murdered in Greenwich, CT. When the family photo is shown, Ty realizes that the wife is a lady whom he knew many years ago. Ty contacts the local police who listen to him and tell him what they know even though he is no longer their police lieutenant. Ty now works for a private security firm. As Ty digs deeper into the case, he realizes that it was not a simple burglary. Agent Naomi Blum with the Dept of Treasury is investigating the many bank failings when she feels that something odd is going on. The two investigations coincide and the two work together to stop the impending collapse of America's financial institutions. A great book which will be hard to put down. |
| GladysMP |
| The Blaze Collection by Stephanie Bond, Leslie Kelly, Kate Hoffmann |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a Trilogy and contains over 550 pages. I wish the chapters were shorter, but I so far I enjoy reading it. I hate to put a book down in the middle of a chapter, but the long chapters here demand it. |
| Susan J. |
| Some Sing, Some Cry by Ntozake Shange, Ifa Bayeza |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Starting shortly after the emancipation of the slaves, this fictitious family saga begins on the Sweet Tamarind plantation on one of the Carolina islands and covers seven generations as well as a good part of the world. Mah Bette considered herself wife to her master, Julius Mayfield, even as she was his slave, and she bore his children. This is the story of her life after emancipation and the lives of the generations that followed her. It is also a story of America and the ongoing battle for race equality. If you are looking for a fast-paced action adventure, this is probably not the book for you. If you are looking for an insightful tale of family, struggles and victories, read on. The characters are very human, believable and likeable, flaws and all. The authors did a wonderful job describing the settings and the atmosphere. While the book is fiction, inclusion of historical figures and events make this a story everyone can relate to. And throughout the story, there is song, there is music, always tying the family together. Initially, the dialect was hard for me to read, but that became easier as I got used to reading it and as the dialect changed with time to something that is more familiar to me. Ifa Bayeza included an interesting note explaining why the vernacular was written as it was. There were possibly a couple of anachronisms, like the use of duct tape in the 1920s. And were records made of "plastic" in the 20s? I don't know, it wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong. The book is beautifully written. There is a quote that I found especially powerful in the Advanced Readers' Edition, but it may not be the same in the final published version: "They'd seen this look before. On the faces of Max Schmeling fans as the Brown Bomber was defeated, on the nightly news footage of Little Rock, in the press coverage of Emmett Till's mother walking passed her son's killers, alternately smiling and snarling at her. The hatred their son had just described he now wore on his own face. It was the look of hatred so deep, there is no passion, like strangling a man and not breaking a sweat." A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher for review. |
| Ivy Pittman ([email protected]) |
| Drawn in Blood by Andrea Kane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Kane knows how to build a thriller. |
| Ivy Pittman ([email protected]) |
| Eddie Songwriter by Adam Schwartzman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
While Eddie may be the main character, he does not say much. Rather, the story is built around what happens before and after Nana Oforiwaa. Schwartzman's strong command of the language and customs gives this story a satisfying ride. |
| J. Mitchell |
| The Girl Who Chased The Moon by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Over all, not that great of a story, but does have some interesting points. More for this author's fans than for just anyone. I liked her novel, "The Sugar Queen" better, but neither one is really my thing, because these tend to be too light and fluffy for my tastes. |
| Jessica Subject |
| What a Girl Wants by Selena Robins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Although I have not finished the book, I absolutely love it. Selena has kept my attention from the very beginning. It is a romantic comedy but full of suspense. |
| Nancy |
| The Passage by Justin Cronin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fascinating story about a government created epidemic that causes total destruction of the country as we know it now. I really enjoyed the book but there were a few times when I found the story confusing or a little hard to follow. Also, it was a little long and that is why I gave it four stars instead of five. Very unique viewpoint. |
| J. Mitchell |
| A Little Death In Dixie by Lisa Turner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I received a free advance copy of "A Little Death in Dixie" from the publisher in exchange for a review. The book is fast paced, a page turner with suspense that keeps the reader on the edge of his or her seat. Gotta love this book! Lisa Turner is a new to me but she may also be a new favorite of mine. |
| Bonnie |
| Stoner by John Williams |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a quiet, character-driven novel about a college professor that is exquisitely written and evocative of the writing of Willa Cather. It sneaks up on you, it's so simple yet powerful. |
| Reva Wamsley ([email protected]) |
| The Fifth Vial by Michael Palmer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great read! A medical student takes a trip to Brazil and comes home with a missing lung. A researcher in Africa gets a lung transplant. What do these cases have in common? You won't be able to put this one down. |
| Nancy |
| Rainwater by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book about a lady who runs a rooming house in TX. One of her roomers is Rainwater who is dying of cancer. The story brings in more than just a love story, it talks about the dust bowl, the way the poor were treated. It was a short book, but really good story. |
| Eileen |
| Faithful Place by Tana French |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
My son (who is a bookseller at a well known bookstore) recommended "Faithful Place" to me. He was right on. I couldn't put the book down. |
| Debbie |
| A Bad Day for Pretty by Sophie Littlefield |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I'm really torn on this one. On the one hand, the main character, Stella Hardesty, is a likeable tough chick with witty, snappy dialogue. On the other hand, I thought there was more talk than action and both the plot and the characters (especially Brandy) were unbelievable. Everyone in the book seems a little short in the intelligence department. I'll have to call this one only so-so. |
| Jessica Subject |
| Imago Book 4: The Tears of God by L. T. Suzuki |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Although I typically do not read fantasy, Lorna has kept my attention with this series. With great characters and excellent descriptions, Lorna transports the reader to Imago to experience the emotions of every character, and in this particular book, no character is safe. |
| loretta sanford ([email protected]) |
| Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This a powerful book about a Russian mom and her two American daughters. Through the telling of a fairy tale she explains to them who she is and they realize that there is no other way she could have explained her life to them. |
| Brenda Rupp ([email protected]) |
| Master Of The Muses by Amanda McIntyre |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great book about a painter of women (his muses) three in particular who are the main story of the book. The book is a little spicy! But it wasn't enough for me to find it offensive --- I loved it. This is a fascinating story about these women and the painter during the renaissance. |
| M. Parker |
| South of Broad by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I thought it was okay but a little like a soap opera to me. |
| Sue |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I read to Alzheimer's residents at a nursing home so I was looking forward to this book. However, it hit too close to home and I became anxious reading it. The character, Alice, who is a Harvard professor is my age and has early-onset Alzheimer's. It was like watching a train crash in slow motion and being unable to stop it. I couldn't finish it and found it so depressing. If the woman had been elderly, I admit it wouldn't have been quite as upsetting to me. But to have her lose her memory at such a young age was brutal. |
| Clydia DeFreese |
| Call Me Ted by Ted Turner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Seeing what makes Turner tick was fascinating to me. He's honest about his family background, and his obsession with making money to the point that he neglects his children. Seeing him do the same things to his family that his father had done to him was an eye-opener. I found it to be a honest portrayal of one of America's giants of industry. |
| Freda McNulty ([email protected]) |
| Never Wave Goodbye by Doug Magee |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I'm 1/3 way into the book and it's a slow mover. Hopefully, it will pick up speed quickly. As it is right now, I will finish it only because I purchased it. |
| Kalle LaJaune |
| Lowcountry Summer by Dorothea Benton Frank |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I so wanted to like this book because I have loved some of Frank's work. The pace was slow, the language childish, the plot weak and the outcome was way too predictable. Who took away DBF's way with a summer story? |
| Pamela Klinger-Horn |
| The Father of the Rains by Lily King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Riveting story of a daughter and her toxic relationship with her alcoholic father. |
| Anita Nowak |
| The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was the first book I have read by Ms. Chamberlain. Though I normally prefer more in depth mysteries, I must say I enjoyed this book tremendously. It starts off with a young 16-year-old girl falling for the wiles of an older young man. She gets swept up in his lies and deceit and learns much later that he isn't the person she thought he was. She makes some wrong decisions as she gets older, and though her life seems normal and fine, things start falling apart a quarter of a century later. I thought this book was written beautifully and it was a real page tuner. It is a perfect read for a summer vacation at the beach. I have since purchased another of Diane Chamberlain's books and hope it is just as good. If it is so, I will continue to read more of her novels. |
| Freda McNulty ([email protected]) |
| Still Missing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
| EXCELLENT!!! This is one of the best books I've read in a very long time. It had me from the first paragraph --- could not put it down!!! Can't wait for her next book!! |
