September 10, 2010 - September 23, 2010

Last contest period's winners were CJ'alhafiz, Raymond Palen, Jack,Elizabeth, and Lisa Kent, who each received a copy of BODY WORK: A V. I. Warshawski Novel by Sara Paretsky, THE HOLY THIEF by William Ryan and ZERO HISTORY by William Gibson.

Susanbright

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Rating: 4 Stars

THE THIRTEENTH TALE by Diane Setterfield had me hooked from page 1! I was totally captivated by this book, which is full of twists and turns! When Margaret Lea, an amateur writer working in her fathers book store is chosen by Vida Winter, "one of the world's most famous living authors" to write her life story, Margaret packs her bag and travels to Vida's home in Yorkshire. THE THIRTEENTH TALE is a mystery involving ghosts, lies and family secrets.

Susanbright

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Rating: 5 Stars

Rachel is a happy and healthy little girl living with her family in Honolulu until she begins to develop sores on her legs which will not heal. Although her mother dresses her in long skirts and is able to hide the sores for over a year, the inevitable happens and the truth leaks out. When her family is no longer able to hide her illness, 7 year old Rachel is seperated from her family and deported to the island of Moloka'i. This book is based on the history of the Kalaupapa settlement, a leper colony located on the island of Moloka'i from 1866-1873.

Susanbright

My Enemy's Cradle by Sarah Young

Rating: 4 Stars

An intriguing story about a young half Jewish girl hiding out in a Lebensborn home, a maternity home for young women carrying the babies of German soldiers. After reading this book, I was compelled to learn more about this frightening program, which I had never heard of before. Shocking!

Sherilyn Mohler

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

Rating: 5 Stars

This book is not written by a christian author, but is nonetheless an awesome story. Midway through the book, I could not put it down.
It is the story of two children growing up together as next door neighbors, and their thoughts throughout-at different ages and stages. And how their parents perceived their lives. Without giving away the storyline anymore, the main character then, Chris had to learn about love, perserverance, trust and self respect. I will read more of Jodi.

Sandy

Fragile by Lisa Unger

Rating: 5 Stars

I couldn't put it down. Sometimes if a character wasn't mentioned in a couple of chapters I would have to stop and think about who they were, but other than that I loved it.
The story hinges around a missing girl and lots of people in the town of The Hollows. Eerie parallels soon emerge between Charlene's disappearance and the abduction of another local girl that shook the community years ago when Maggie was a teenager.

T. Thomas

Spider Bones by by Kathy Reichs

Rating: 4 Stars

Well-done latest in the series.

Kellie ([email protected])

The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen

Rating: 4 Stars

#3 of the Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series- "Even then, aware of life's dark notes. Instinctively drawn to melodies in a minor key." A quote from Dr Maura Isles about herself. I like this quote. This was one of those books I could tune out the world and just devour. The plot was about a vicious murder that occurs at a convent. Two nuns are bludgeoned to death. Isles and Rizzoli are on the case. I thought the character development in this book was very good. While the focus of the previous two books were on Rizzoli, this one is told from the prospective of Isles. Gerritsen made these characters more real. You learn about their vulnerability with their love live and careers. The plot itself was gripping. The "but" I now have to toss in is about the ending and how everything wrapped up at the end. To me, it didn't. You kind of learn who the killer is but it is very anti- climatic. Plus, I thought the solution to the crime was pretty vague. It is very disappointing when you get so engrossed in a mystery and you read an ending like this one. It's almost like someone standing on a stage and telling you the conclusion of an exciting narrative in monotone. No emotion. No excitement about an end. For me, this book was a 5 until the last 2 chapters.

Debbie ([email protected])

Canaan's Gate by Kathryn R Wall

Rating: 3 Stars

Kathryn R Wall seeps her novels, the Bay Tanner series, in Southern cuisine. Bay drinks sweet tea constantly and always hungers after some fried meat or vegetable. The stories involve the importance of family and friends, and a sense of living in the past. The setting of all the books is Hilton Head, South Carolina, and the beach dominates the scenery. Bay's father died in the last novel, and Bay also discovered a half sister. Family troubles linger around the perimeter, and have given Bay insomnia. This story revolves around scams involving older people, and Bay investigating the deception. The story is fast paced, and quickly leads to a conclusion, all in a delightful tale.

Marilyn J Killilee

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Rating: 5 Stars

One of the best thrillers I have read in years. A very orginial plot that will keep you guessing and you still will be wrong.

Jane Squires ([email protected])

Dead Ringer by Sharon Dunn

Rating: 5 Stars

A mystery involving a serial killer investigation, romance, and suspense. It will hold you reading and reading until done. I read it in two days.

Eli comes to town to help the police find a serial killer. There is distrust between Lucy and the Police Force. So they send Eli out to investigate her robbery. Thus begins the flames of romance to burn between Eli and Lucy. But as all relationships go, Eli had a hard time gaining Lucy's trust. Then he becomes too protective of her and almost blows it. Just as she is beginning to trust him, everything comes apart. Everyone is looking for the serial killer on an online dating service. They are completely headed in wrong direction. Then Lucy shares about her past and a stalker and that also turns out wrong. Finally Eli begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together when another woman is murdered.

No one would have believed it could have been the person it was. I was beginning to suspect him. I won't ruin the end of the story nor give away who done what. But you will have yourself guessing all the way to the end. A very well written book.

MJB

Rich Boy by Sharon Pomerantz

Rating: 4 Stars

Robert Vishniak lives in Philadelphia in the 70's with his younger brother and parents. He is good looking and charming and uses this to climb the social ladder and take him into New York, eventually becoming a lawyer. His climb to wealth is not easy and Robert learns that no one can really have it all. RICH BOY will keep you reading to the end, a real saga.

Sally B., San Antonio TX

Bloody Mary by J. A. Konrath

Rating: 3 Stars

3.5 stars. A female detective, Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels, of the Chicago PD, tries to solve the mystery of extra body parts in the morgue. Very gross and gorey at times but also a very simple and fast read.

J. Halsall

Dexter is Delicious by Jeff Lindsay

Rating: 4 Stars

It's another mad ride with Dexter as a new father while a mysterious death draws him into what he does best. Fans of the series will love it. Perhaps new readers should star with the first book DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER.

Sally B., San Antonio TX

Bloody Mary by J. A. Konrath

Rating: 3 Stars

MJB

Rich Boy by Sharon Pomerantz

Rating: 4 Stars

Jane Squires ([email protected])

Dead Ringer by Sharon Dunn

Rating: 5 Stars

Marisa P.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Rating: 5 Stars

SPOOKY GHOST STORY. Doctor Faraday, a lonely bachelor, first visited Hundreds Hall, a crumbling mansion in the English countryside, where his mother once worked as a parlor maid, at age 10 in 1919. When Faraday returns 30 years later to treat a servant, he becomes obsessed with Hundreds's elegant owner, Mrs. Ayres; her 24-year-old son, Roderick, an RAF airman wounded during the war who now oversees the family farm; and her slightly older daughter, Caroline, considered a natural spinster by the locals, for whom the doctor develops a particular fondness. Supernatural trouble kicks in after Caroline's mild-mannered black Lab, Gyp, attacks a visiting child. A damaging fire, a suicide and worse follow. Faraday, one of literature's more unreliable narrators, carries the reader swiftly along to the devastating conclusion. While the spookiness doesn't begin until about 100 pages in, it's worth the wait.

Tanya

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

Rating: 3 Stars

Zee Finch is a respected psychotherepist. One of her patients jumps off a bridge and Zee puts her career on hold and returns home to care for her father and to find answers to her own mother's suicide.

Debbie ([email protected])

Courting Trouble by Lisa Scottoline

Rating: 3 Stars

Scottoline's writing in not the sophisticated style of PD James or Elizabeth George, Scottoline's style is more like a grown-up Nancy Drew. The lawyers, all women, at the Philadelphia law firm of Rosato and Associates run off helter-skelter attempting to solve a case. This novel heavily relies on I Love Lucy episodes for setting. The central characters are all women, and petty situations dominate the story. A stalker is killed, but he is not even responsible for the murder. Two other men are woven into the story, and either one would have been a better murder suspect, but these avenues were never developed. Scottoline is the author to read when you are looking for a quick amusement.

Terri

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Rating: 4 Stars

Takes place during the civil rights era. I am enjoying this book although because of the dialect I'm reading slower than I'd like. I've read that people from the south feel the dialect is not believable. One reason I didn't give the book a "5" was I felt many of the characters were over the top cookie cutter stereotypes. Given that I'm a 57 year old white woman I can recall the Civil Rights movement in the 60's. I was born in W.Va and can remember seperate drinking fountains and side by side churches, one for blacks, one for whites, black people at the back of the bus and a public swimming pool (Rock Lake) that allowed while people to swim on some days and blacks on others. It was interesting to me as I remember seeing all that as a child and it's a good reminder of how far we've come and how far we've yet to go.

Marsha

The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly

Rating: 5 Stars

For fans of Connelly who follow Bosch and Mickey Haller, this is by far his best. This courtroom thriller will keep you entranced to the very end. It's the best drama I've read in a long time.

S Cunningham

Little Princes by Conor Grennan

Rating: 5 Stars

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. If I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. LITTLE PRINCES was a compelling story of a man who was driven to help the orphans of Nepal no matter what obstacles stood in his way. Against all odds he was able to create a safe place and an enriching environment for these children. I highly recommend LITTLE PRINCES.

Bonnie

Fire and Ice by J. A. Jance

Rating: 3 Stars

Maybe I've read too many mysteries, but I can hardly tell one from another these days. Except for Lee Child or Harlen Coben and a few others. FIRE AND ICE was a workmanlike novel, passed the time on an airplane flight, but not memorable. If you want a book to kill time, this one will do nicely.

Bonnie

Packing for Mars by Mary Roach

Rating: 5 Stars

Loved this book. It's non-fiction and all about space travel...the nuts and bolts that we never hear about. Weightlessness, bathing and body odor, flatulence, eating and drinking, sex in a spaceship, etc. Lots of interesting information from NASA and former astronauts and cosmonauts. Had a hard time putting it down.

Crystal

Betrayers: A Nameless Detective Novel by Bill Pronzini

Rating: 5 Stars

Another wonderful installment in the Nameless Detective series featuring the San Francisco P.I. and his colleagues.

Sharron

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Rating: 4 Stars

This book is about the affects of losing a father in the 9/11 attack for a 7 year old boy. It is told in a very different style. It almost requires reading a second time to grasp it all. It is very moving, especially as we approach the anniversary of the attack.

Marsha

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly

Rating: 5 Stars

This is Connelly at his best, He is tracking a serial killer dubbed The Dollmaker. It's gritty, a bit brutal but definitely a page turner.

Mindy Kajikami

The Dresden Files - Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher

Rating: 5 Stars

A great detective series combined with some wizard magic, vampires, faeries, demons, and a whole lot more that keeps getting better and better with each book. Currently, I'm on this book, PROVEN GUILTY #8, but start with #1 STORM FRONT and keep on reading!

Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear

Rating: 4 Stars

This is a very good thriller featuring the sleuth, Masie Dobbs. This book is part of a series set in the 1930's. It is enjoyable and filled with an interesting cast of characters.

Kristie

1022 Evergreen Place by Debbie Macomber

Rating: 5 Stars

Excellent addition to this series. My only complaint was that it was over too quickly. Now I have to wait until Sept. 2011. Bummer. This book focuses mostly on Mack and Mary Jo although updates on other characters are told too. The book ends with another family in crisis so there's the cliffhanger for next time. Argh! I was satisfied with the way things happened with Mack and Mary Jo... so far.

Sharron

Bitter in the Mouth by Truong, Monique

Rating: 4 Stars

Interesting story of a very dysfunctional southern family who adopt a Vietnamese "orphan" and the affect it has on her and her family. She also has a disorder that causes her to taste certain foods with words, not necessarily what you would expect. It is very well told and this author is new and has a bright future.

Kristie

The Seeker by Ann H. Gabhart

Rating: 4 Stars

An interesting Inspirational novel. It's about the Shakers and a southern belle from Kentucky during the Civil War. It seemed like it was very well researched. The ending was predictable but I was satisfied.

Judy O. ([email protected])

The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

Rating: 5 Stars

Karena Jorge has always looked out for her twin brother, Charles. He suffers from bi-polar disorder, and it has been very debilitating to him all his life. After not having contact with him for 20 years, Karena goes off on a stormchasing expedition in the midwest to try to find Charles because he is a passionate stormchaser. What follows is a fascinating look at the science of storms and at bi-polar mental illness. Just really a compelling read.

Genie

"S" is for Silence by Sue Grafton

Rating: 5 Stars

It was the evening of July the 4th, 1953 and a big fireworks celebration was scheduled in the small town of Serena Station, California. Violet Sullivan, dressed to the nines and carrying Pomeranian dog in the straw travel bag, blew her seven-year-old daughter (Daisy) a kiss, climbed into her brand new Chevy Bel Air, backed out of the driveway and was never seen again.

Violet's husband filed a missing persons report. Local police investigated and discovered Violet had emptied a safe deposit box (rumored to contain $50,000). Since Violet was known to have flings behind her husband's back, many locals believed she left her abusive husband to run off with another man. Trouble with that concept was that she was the only missing person. Others thought her husband had killed her in a drunken rage. No body was ever found, no abandoned car was ever seen, and no sign of the dog.
As usual, with the passing of time, the scandal eventually died down and was pretty much forgotten.

Thirty-five years later, Daisy is still haunted by her mother's disappearance and the feelings of abandonment. Once and for all, she wants to know what really happened to Violet Sullivan. Daisey contacts Private Investigator Kinsey Millhone who thinks this will be a simple missing persons case. Little does she realize she will not only stir up a hornets nest among the townsfolk but will eventually uncover a murder.

Brooke

Follow the Money by Ross Cavins

Rating: 4 Stars

Ross Cavins did a great job piecing together the ten short stories that make up FOLLOW THE MONEY. I'm usually not very interested in reading short story collections, but this was so well done. It really read as a novel about the money's journey, rather than ten separate stories. The connections and transitions from story to story were always smooth, and I had fun trying to guess how each was connected. I also enjoyed that the story circled back to the beginning by the end. It was very obvious that a lot of time and thought was put into the book's construction, and I definitely appreciated it.

I would have liked Cavin's characters to be a little more diverse. I understand that the characters he did write easily played into the roles necessary for the advancement of the money from story to story. However, I feel like this could have still been accomplished as successfully with fewer characters following the same stereotypes. For example, Clint and Waylon from THE DROP were virtually synonymous and interchangeable with Nick and Wally from FOR THE ROAD and CHANNEL TEN or Calvin and Junior from SAMMY'S NIGHT and A LOADED GUN. I realize this was also probably done for comic effect. I didn't dislike it, I just wish Cavins had branched out a little more.

I thought FOLLOW THE MONEY was great and very enjoyable. It was very creative and fun while still subtly making a statement about greed, mostly through the ironic passing of the money from hand-to-hand. I enjoyed Cavins construction and style, and I'm looking forward to any possible future works.

Debbie ([email protected])

The Devil Amongst the Lawyers by Sharon McCrumb

Rating: 4 Stars

Sharon McCrumb takes an actual event and creates a retelling of the event. In this case, Sharon recreates the 1935 murder trial of a young woman in Wise County, Virginia. Sharon McCrumb weaves a tale with complicated stitches enhancing the beauty of the work. The book begins with a prologue set in 1916, about a circus elephant and the power of a newspaper. That theme, the power of the written word of a newspaper, dominates the novel. Nora Bonesteel, a constant figure in McCrumb's books, appears in this novel as a reminder that destiny cannot be altered. McCrumb's imagery in setting and characters is supurb. In this tale, she contrasts the city folk (newspaper people) and the simple mountain folk, and explores stereotypes of these two groups, as well as comparing the two lifestyles. The story exposes the feelings and beliefs of the characters in a way that the reader feels kinship to the characters. In conclusion, Sharon McCrumb utilizes her skills as a mountain storyteller to lure the reader into the book.

Sara Brown

Been There, Done That? DO THIS! by Sam Obitz

Rating: 5 Stars

This is a short and easy self-help book on overcoming anxiety caused by a dysfunctional past. It is a friendly and encouraging book and there is an exercise in it called the TEA form exercise that is extremely effective in reducing the amount of stress and anxiety you feel. I started using them for a few minutes each day and within a month or so I started to notice them having a positive effect on my life. Highly recommend for anyone inundated with stress or anxiety or who grew up in a less than ideal family situation.

Mary Ann Kalynycz ([email protected])

The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker

Rating: 4 Stars

Good books about 2 realities, or dreams, or both. There are 7 more books in this group, on to the next!

Sherilyn Mohler

At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks

Rating: 4 Stars

Not as good as the first Nicholas Sparks book I read, but I liked it alright. Jeremy Marsh falls in love, and gives up everything to follow his girl. He learns about respect, love and faith. Just when you think everything is going to turn out okay for the couple, the story line takes a turn.

You cheer for the characters, and can relate to their feelings, and in the end you feel for them.
Good book, I will continue to read Nicholas Sparks books.

Jane Squires ([email protected])

Seeds of Summer by Deborah Vogts

Rating: 5 Stars

I think the author outdone all her previous books with this one. It isn't a book you can put down.
Natalie at the start is disappointed she never made rodeo queen - only runner-up. On top of that she has lost her Dad and is taking care of her brother and sister. In the midst of this Jared, the new minister, who moved to town is fishing when her brother, Dillion, comes upon him. While Natalie is looking for her brother she comes upon Jared. Reminds me of the first time I met my husband. I was mad too. Yet something caused a spark in Jared and he wanted to get to know this family better. He thinks he is just making them his Mission project and isn't counting on falling in love with Natalie.

I had to laugh about her Dad hiding money all over the house, as growing up I knew a Pastor and his wife and the wife hid enough money all over the house, to keep her husband for 4 years after she passed away.

One thing I could definitely relate to was a teenagers rebellion. I remember well when my oldest rebelled for 3 years. At least Chelsey returned home sooner than 3 years. But they always call the one they know who loves them when they need someone.
I liked how God worked it out for Natalie to have the desire of her heart but only after she learned to turn to him. She finally got to reign as the Rodeo Queen because the Queen came down ill. The support of the family is something that is unique in spite of problems.

This book truly shows God's plans are not always what we think they are and we face disappointments in life. But he can make them a learning process.

Fran

The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti

Rating: 4 Stars

A cute story about an orphan who is missing his left hand. Always passed by for adoption due to his disability, Ren is shocked when a young man, identifying himself as his brother takes him home. Ren goes on a journey with a unique cast of thieves, robbers and scam artists which ultimately leads him to the true story of his family. Cute but also gory in parts!

Elizabeth ([email protected])

Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Rating: 5 Stars

Flying dishes, prom gowns, red high-heeled shoes, embarrassing school days....what more could a child take.

Cee Cee Honeycutt lived with her parents who consisted of a mother who thought she missed out on life since she left her home town in Georgia to marry an older man and her father, an absent traveling salesman. Life didn't really turn out very well for anyone in the family, but once Cee Cee met Great Aunt Tootie, her life was something she never would have imagined.

Here is how she happened to be with Aunt Tootie.....one day as Cee Cee's mother was coming back from the Goodwill store wearing her newest prom gown, she absentmindedly ran into the street and was hit by an ice cream truck and died. Cee Cee was then moved to Savannah, Georgia, with her Great Aunt Tootie, but not before her loving neighbor, Mrs. Odell, told her about the Life Book we all have with pages that need to be turned when the time comes.

And what a page in Cee Cee's life was turned when she arrived in Savannah....loving people to surround her and protect her, especially Oletta, Aunt Tootie's cook, and of course Aunt Tootie who showered Cee Cee with hugs and affection that had been lacking in the previous twelve years of her life. Cee Cee's unconventional neighbors and a beautiful home also helped add pages to her Life Book.
You will absolutely LOVE this book especially if you like sweet, nostalgic, heartwarming reads with a Southern charm...some of the scenes were laugh-out-loud and others brought tears to your eyes with the tenderness.

The characters were lovable and genuine. It is a beautiful, touching read...just like a BIG hug.
Going to end my review with a quote from Oletta, my favorite character: "Don't go wastin' all them bright tomorrows you ain't even seen by hangin' on to what happened yesterday. Let go, child. Just breathe out and let go." Page 290. Cee Cee definitely had "bright" tomorrows to put in her Life Book thanks to all the loving women in her life.

Thanks, Miss Hoffman. This is going to be one of my all-time favorite books.

Kellie ([email protected])

Hawaii by James Michener

Rating: 2 Stars

This book took me forever to read. The length of the book is really it's downfall. I might have liked it better if it was shorter than 900 pages and had bigger fonts. Yeah, yeah, the history of Hawaii is very interesting and I feel like I just read a textbook about some 1400 years of it. There are some likeable characters.Nyuk Tsin is probably one of my favorites. Her time spent on the island of lepers, her dedication to her family and her intelligence was very admirable. I also enjoyed the part about the Japanese brothers who fought in the 2nd world war in Europe. That was riveting. Michener goes into such detail he doesn't miss a description of a chair or a table. However, I found it hard to follow the story line because the novel didn't flow. It jumped around from family to family, drama to drama and I felt like I couldn't latch on and enjoy the plot like I wanted to. There were so many characters, it was difficult to remember who did what and how was related to who. I'm not sorry I read this book. I did learn a lot. I just don't think I'm going to read another one of Michener's works unless I have a lot of time on my hands.Like if I'm in prison or something.

Genie

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

Rating: 1 Stars

This is one of the worse books I have ever read. Its a major disappointment since I read and loved THE SECRET LIFE OF OF BEES. It consist of a well worn plot; Bored housewife/artist goes back to her old home town when her mother needs help. During her stay, she decides she needs to rediscover herself. She meets a monk who is living in the monastery near her mother's home. He is also trying to rediscover himself. They become involved. These characters are not likable. Neither of them have any real issues to resolve. This much ado about nothing is the basis of their short-lived affair. The health problems of Jesse's mother, Nell, (the reason Jesse came home) quickly becomes a sub-plot.

Genie

Double Play by Robert B. Parker

Rating: 4 Stars

This tale was set in 1947 when Joseph Burke, a WWII vet, returns home both physically and emotionally wounded in combat and on the home front. Burke comes home from the hospital to an empty house, a long period of recoperation time and no job. Using past experiences in the millitary, he begins a in boxing but discovers he's good but not good enough to last long term. Through connections in boxing, he hires on as a bodyguard. Burke signs on with Dodger owner Branch Rickey to protect Robinson from racist violence during the ballplayer's rookie season. As their relationship turns into a friendship, he comes to respect the controversial player. Parker imagines what it was like for Jackie Robinson as he contends with the color barrier he had broken in Major League baseball. Throughout the novel Parker mixes childhood memories his own (chapters titled "Bobby"). Burke's life becomes considerably more complicated when he falls for Lauren, a self-destructive society girl. Her father, a politician with mob connections, hired him as Lauren's bodyguard prior to his working for Robinson. When Burke traces the threat of violence aimed at Robinson to Lauren's father's mob connections, the novel's action begins. Burke is a tough guy, and much of the narrative takes place as Burke plays one group of gangsters against another in order to protect both Robinson and Lauren. Parker does a top notch job in recreating a tale of one of the most turbulent eras in history.

Genie

Long Time Gone by J.A. Jance

Rating: 5 Stars

J.P. Beaumont, Seattle investigator for the Washington Special Homicide Investigation Team, must solve two family tragedies. One is a cold case from 50 years ago the state attorney general assigns to Beaumont. The only witness was a five year old girl who is now a nun, Sister Mary Katherine. When she began suffering horrific dreams caused by long-repressed memories about witnessing the murder of a neighbor, she contacts law enforcement in the hope that the crime can be solved. Just as Beaumont begins to make head way with this investigation, he is distracted when the former wife of his best friend, Ron Peters, is killed and suspicion falls on Ron. Beaumont is forced to choose between friendship and duty. Although his relationship with the Peters family forbids him from working directly on their case, he offers help to the detectives in charge. Meanwhile the complex plot Sister Mary Katherine, reveals a cover up that still threatens the reputations of several parties who were involved. They continue to do anything and everything possible to keep the truth from being revealed.

Debbie ([email protected])

A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry

Rating: 3 Stars

Anne Perry does a wonderful job painting a picture of Victorian England. In this Christmas novella, the lower class of England as glimpsed though the characters of Gracie Phipps and Minnie Maude Mudway displays that the true Chrictmas spirit may be found anywhere. The story centers around the death of Minnie's uncle and the disappearance of the uncle's mule, Charlie. Minnie and Gracie search for Charlie, only to involve themselves in the opium trade. I enjoy reading these Christmas novellas to jumpstart my Christmas spirit, the stories are sugary, but always show the true character of man.

Genie

The Professional by Robert B. Parker

Rating: 4 Stars

At first, this case appears straightforward. Four wealthy women arrive in Spenser's office with their lawyer. They are are all having affairs with the same man, Gary Eisenhower. They are all married to older men in prominent positions who know nothing about their extra curricular activities. The affairs are about to be revealed because Eisenhower is blackmailing them and the huge amount of money in payoffs can not be kept secret much longer. Gary has been making audio and video tapes of their trysts and is threatening to contact their husbands if the payments stop. As Spenser begins his investigating, he soon realizes nothing is turning out to be what it initially seemed to be.

Eisenhower is not afraid of the cops since none of the alleged victims are willing to press charges. One of the women continues her affair with Eisenhower. Spenser decides the case is at a dead end, wishes everyone involved well and officially quits. Unofficially, he senses there is more than meets the eye and can't let go of this puzzling case. Besides, business was slow and nothing else is going on. First the body of one of the husbands is found murdered. This seems to trigger a chain reaction with other victims turning up dead. Soon the police pay Spenser a visit to find out what he knows. One clue leads to another and before its over, Spenser caught in the middle. As is the case in numerous Spenser novels, there are not just good guys and bad guys. We are shown an overlap where the bad guys have some redeeming qualities and the good guys are somewhat tarnished.

Marsha

Inside Out by Barry Eisler

Rating: 4 Stars

It's not a pretty picture but in this book we come to the realization that torture, cover-ups, black-ops and poltitical secrets continue to this day in hopes of keeping our illusion of national safety real. Ben Treven is brought back into this world and this thriller will give you much to ponder.

Harriet Stay ([email protected])

Bleed For Me by Michael Robotham

Rating: 4 Stars

What began as not quite a series, this is the third of Robotham's to feature clinical psychologist Joseph O'Loughlin. Like the others, this too includes Detective Inspector Vincent Ruiz except Ruiz is now retired. He felt a bit grumpy, probably comes with age, but still with a heart of gold. He's my personal favorite. To this author's credit, characters have been evolving over the years. In this Joe tries to help a teenage friend of his daughter's while the police find the fourteen-year-old's father murdered in her bedroom at home. The father is retired Police Lt. Ray Hegarty. Even if you've not read the earlier books, and I recommend them highly, Robotham weaves sufficient back-story so you won't feel lost. A constant in all his books is the quality of the writing combined with solid storytelling. Oh, I should mention the stories take place mainly near Bath, England.

Harriet Stay ([email protected])

Shoot to Thrill by P. J. Tracy

Rating: 3 Stars

3 1/2 stars. I looked back on my notes of the first four in this Minnesota series after reading Judy Oswood's comments of not being entirely pleased with SHOOT TO THRILL...and after waiting so long. Like Judy, I found those previous ones outstanding, even listing SNOW BLIND as one of my favorites of 2006 -- all part of the Monkeewrench novels. The story was intriguing and scary when you realize what the internet has facilitated and created -- a band of murderers taking live photos for YouTube of actual killings. The Monkeewrench team of high-tech computer wizardry - hackers - is "employed" by the FBI to trace the perpetrators. The local Minneapolis detectives become involved when a dead body is discovered on their turf and the photos broadcast. What I felt was missing was the usual sparkle. The Monkeewrench crew felt humdrum and they weren't near as expert as Lisbeth Salander and Kathy Mallory. If you had not read the previous four, you'd be wondering who Annie Belinsky was. She was pretty much a one dimensional afterthought. If you're already a fan, then yes, by all means, I suggest you add this to your reading list.

The Surrendered by Chang Rae-Lee

Rating: 5 Stars

Beautifully written book - - keeps the attention throughout.

Sandy

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells

Rating: 5 Stars

I guess I had to give it 5 starts since it is 4 in the afternoon and I didn't get anything done today except make some veg. soup and finish this book. In the small river town of La Luna, Calla enjoys a blissful childhood under the loving light of the Moon Lady, the feminine force that will guide her throughout her life, and her mother, M'Dear who passes on to Calla the art of healing through "fixing Hair". Not everything in Calla's life is blissful though and through heartache she learns to forgive.

I think you will all love this one.

Kathy Vallee

The Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver

Rating: 5 Stars

Lincoln is a retired police officerbut still has his hands in solving cases as a side to the police force as a criminologist even though he is a quadriplegic with the help of his longtime love Amelia Sachs, They race against time to stop a seriel killer, as well as see if the on of the police houses are corrupt.

Dena W.

When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck

Rating: 4 Stars

I really liked this book. It starts with you right in the action and the story doesn't stop. Sara Constintetine is a up and coming Prosecuting Attorney and she is picked for a promotion. A promotion to go after Shadow Creatures. Vampires, Werewolves, shapeshifters, and more. Sara hits the ground running right into a high profile case against a Vampire, Lucius Dragos. A vampire she just had a incredible night with. The boss wants results and she feels that she can deliver even with there night together. The need for justice outweighs her feelings. This paranormal romance has plenty of thrills with a lot of twists.

Kaye Moehn Shukosky

Red Sea by Emily Benedek

Rating: 4 Stars

Well written, good read, enough background to ground the novel but not too much.

Elizabeth V

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Wills

Rating: 3 Stars

It bored me.

Phyllis R

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson Liza Marklund

Rating: 5 Stars

In a nutshell you can always count on Patterson to provide a thriller that keeps your interest throughout the read and with great finishes. Love his Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club novels. Patterson and Marklund make a good team in this one.

David English ([email protected])

Starvation Lake by Brian Gruley

Rating: 5 Stars

I put off reading this one for quite a while, and the question is WHY? What a spectacular and complex book, with great characters, and ICE HOCKEY thrown in...There are 2 books in this series, and i wish there were 10....AMAZING.

GladysMP

Morning, Noon & Night by Sidney Shelton

Rating: 5 Stars

If you like suspense, this book is perfect for you. It is truly hard to put this book down. Someone thinks they have pulled off the perfect crime and there are twists and turns galore before anyone can prove he didn't.

Marsha M

Sea Escape by Lynne Griffin

Rating: 3 Stars

When Laura's mother suffers a stroke, it is unveiled through letters written by her father to her mother that their family maybe wasn't the one she recalled. Somewhat of a tear-jerker but a lesson in mother-daughter relationships.

Renee

Smash Cut by Sandra Brown

Rating: 4 Stars

Fast plot...twists and turns.
Bad guys are bad, hero's are human. Great diversionary reading.

Debbie ([email protected])

Moon Woman by Pamela Duncan

Rating: 3 Stars

This is a novel seeped in Southern writing starting with the language and ending with the Southern comfort foods. The story centers on the lives of three generations of Moon women. Moon is the last name of the start of the women, and this woman has been death many years. The torch passes to her daughter, Marvelle, a twin. An age-old secret festers under the surface waiting to appear. Marvelle has two daughters, Cassandra and Ruth Ann, opposites in appearance and manner. The final woman is Ruth Ann's pregnant unmarried nineteen year old daughter, Ashely. The men in the novel are minor characters with the exception of Dwight, the childless son of Marvelle. He seems to know the secret, but will never reveal what he knows. I especially like the wisdom and reasoning of Marvelle on the road of womanhood. An interesting novel, but at times, the banter of poor white Southern language is overwhelming.

Fran

After River by Donna Milner

Rating: 4 Stars

A family drama set on a dairy farm in Canada. The drama focuses on a young girl (Natalie) and her family who have a seemingly perfect life until a young American war resister nicknamed "River" walks into their lives. The characters lives are never the same after meeting River. Beautiful writing and engaging characters keep the pages turning. The plot was fairly predictable but still interesting.

Ron Giner

Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall-Smith

Rating: 5 Stars

This is the first of a new series of novels which follows the residents of a Hotel in London. Sound familiar? Not quite as good as the 44 Scotland Street series and if you haven't read McCall-Smith before I suggest you start with that series first. However, the author still manages to draw you into the lives of his characters and I look forward to book 2 in this new series.

Judy O. ([email protected])

Bad Boy by Peter Robinson

Rating: 5 Stars

This is the newest installment in the long series about Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks of the Eastvale Police Department in the UK. Banks' daughter Tracy has been kidnapped by a dangerous psychopath, who is on the run from the police. Tracy was originally romantically attracted to this man and initially sought to hide him from the police. Then he turned on her. What follows is an exciting police procedural. This is a great series.

Kristie

Lydia's Charm by Wanda Brunstetter

Rating: 5 Stars

This Amish fiction stand-alone novel was pretty good. The characters had real, hard decisions to make. There was tragedy but there was eventual acceptance of the new reality. Highly recommended.

Marsha

The Hanging Tree by Bryan Gruley

Rating: 3 Stars

If you love hockey and mysteries, this follow-up to STARVATION LAKE is for you. For the uninitiated in hockey, there is a bit too much detail but the story is good.

Kristie

Running Around (and Such) by Linda Byler

Rating: 5 Stars

Excellent Amish fiction. This is first in a series. 15 year-old Lizzie Glick is growing up. She is changing and her feelings are honestly portrayed on the pages. The candor and honesty are much appreciated and respected. Can't wait for the next installment.

Patricia B. ([email protected])

Her Highness' First Murder by Peg Herring

Rating: 4 Stars

Simon, a young crippled courtier, Hugh, a captain of the guard, and young Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Eliz. the first) track a serial killer across London in 1546. Fun and fast-paced.

Lin Kerns aka wiinterrr

The Tourist Trail by John Yunker

Rating: 5 Stars

I feel privileged. A while back, I became acquainted with one John Yunker through his online short story, THE TOURIST TRAIL, I was impressed with his thoughtful prose, even then. When John told me that he was expanding the short story into a novel, I became excited. Finally--someone who can write and who knows their penguins. Truly a novel mix.

A couple weeks ago, John sent me a copy of his new novel and although I had other commitments at the time, I eyed the book, trailed my hand along the cover, peeked at John's autograph on the first page... I allowed the book to tease me with anticipation. At the first opportunity, I grabbed the book, made a pot of coffee, put the computer on "sleep," and then settled in on the couch to indulge in, what I hoped, was a good read.

Consensus: I couldn't put the book down; I devoured it in two days.

The plot: The story is populated by 4 major characters--Angela, Aeneas, Robert/Jake, and Ethan. Angela studies, counts, and tags Magellanic Penguins at the Punte Verde Preserve; although she loves her profession, she doesn't realize the vastness of the void in her life until she meets a raft-wrecked Aeneas. She follows Aeneas back to his ship and learns the largest lesson of her life. Robert/Jake works for the FBI and he is hot on the trail of Aeneas, who roves the seas in order to cause havoc and mayhem to would be whalers. Robert has a past, which becomes significant as the story moves towards a convergence of all the characters. Ethan is the young man who searches for meaning and purpose in his life; what he discovers will alter his life irrevocably.

Of course, the backdrop of the main storyline is inhabited by penguins and whales. Be prepared for a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye as your read how horrible the conditions are when these creatures meet their end at the hands of fishermen and whalers. John's perspective is a personal one and you are right there with him to see it all.

Overall, THE TOURIST TRAIL is a testament to how humans and the inhabitants of the sea interact and affect one another. As the characters learn and adapt, so does the reader. I promise that you will finish the book with a different perspective regarding our responsibility to life in the sea. John's prose is effective, succinct, and definitive. You will know these characters he has created and you will live their lives until the final page.

Let us hope that John Yunker will continue to write and gift us with his thoughtful insight; he is decidedly an author to watch. I also hope that THE TOURIST TRAIL will garner the eye of a Hollywood producer. I eagerly anticipate this novel converted to the big screen. Indeed, the book would be perfect for a big budget flick and the message within would touch so many more lives.

If that happens, I'll buy the popcorn.

Glenn

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

Rating: 4 Stars

Chuck Palahniuk is not everyones cup of tea, with somewhat dark themes about the underbelly of society, but he does have a great imagination and this book kept me interested.

Ali

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

Rating: 4 Stars

I enjoyed the latest from Tess. It was typical Gerritsen. I get hooked on the characters and have to find out what is going on in their lives besides the current murder mystery.

Julie H.

Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett

Rating: 3 Stars

Stoneham, NH has come up with a unique way of renewing their mainstreet. The town has decided to cater to booksellers, creating a street filled with stores, each denoting a different genre. Still a newcomer in town, Haven't Got A Clue owner Tricia Miles becomes the number one suspect in a neighboring bookstore owner's death. Tricia, helped by her employees and sister, decides to look into things on her own. I was excited to find another good cozy series this summer and look forward to more from the "Booktown" area.

Julie H.

Licensed for Trouble by Susan May Warren

Rating: 4 Stars

This series continues to be a winner for me. I really like the main character, PJ Sugar, as she tries to muddle through life. Between her past with Boone and a possible future with Jeremy, she has her hands full on the romance end. But it's her interactions with her family and her cases that make her such a likeable character. She mysteriously inherits a house she loved as a child in this story and the discoveries she makes are truly life-changing. I certainly hope there is more to PJ's tale!

Don

The Last Detective by Robert Crais

Rating: 4 Stars

Elvis Cole and Joe Pike at it again in another enjoyable, action packed mystery with a dash of Elvis's love life thrown in for fun.

Debra K. Bullock

Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo

Rating: 5 Stars

An entertaining tale of an unlikely pair - a book editor from New York City and a Rinpoche (a spiritual guru) - on a road trip from the East Coast to North Dakota. This is much more than a travelog (though Merullo has clearly researched the road); it is the story of a transformative journey of mind and spirit - two lives forever changed.

Marsha

The Art of Devotion by Samantha Bruce-Benjamin

Rating: 4 Stars

Told in four female voices, this novel unveils destructive relationship on an island paradise---or is there such a thing. Full of twists and turns, lost souls, imperfect creatures and haunted hearts it will keep you interested.

Deborah

Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up this book as a change of pace from all the mysteries I've read this summer and found it very rewarding. In this quiet but special novel, main character Frances first visits the collection of beach houses built over the water near the Florida coast when she is 26. Over the years, she falls in love, marries, and faces all the challenges of making and keeping friends, sustaining a marriage and family, and holding onto her own place in the world. I'm about 2/3 of the way through this novel now and am finding it very moving and interesting.

Marjorie Clark ([email protected])

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larrson

Rating: 3 Stars

Half way through this book and enjoying every page of it.

Kathy W

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Rating: 5 Stars

Excellent book, even with the translation problems. Great for discussion groups.

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom

Rating: 4 Stars

A complete guide of life. How to live your life when death is at your front door and keep on knocking.

Marcia Pullin

War by Sebastion Junger

Rating: 3 Stars

The book reveals a number of things heretofore not discussed about the daily lives (and daily horrors) endured by our soldiers in Afghanistan. It does get somewhat bogged down in the details of names and descriptions of locations. The book would move forward more smoothly with less of this kind of detail and more in-depth information about the individual soldiers themselves.

alsek

Tower by Ken Bruen & Reed Farrel Coleman

Rating: 5 Stars

Fantastic pairing of two of the best authors writing today. Each author wrote a portion of the book which is set in NYC, Boston, and Philadelphia. Highly recommended.

Tanya

Dewey by Vicki Myron

Rating: 4 Stars

A great story about a small kitten dropped in the returned book slot at the Spencer Public Library in Iowa. Animals have so much love to give. Dewey's story will touch your heart. A second book by the author called DEWEY'S NINE LIVES will be released in October. It is a collection of 9 wonderful cat stories that I look forward to reading as well.

Suzanne G., Tucson

Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende

Rating: 4 Stars

Enjoy this book as I have Isabel Allende's other books. Long paragraphs. But great history.

Nikki ([email protected])

The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin

Rating: 5 Stars

I really liked this book about 3 generations of a family who own a lake resort in Maine. Mr. Cronin gave us characters who were flawed and real and very interesting. His style of writing is wonderful. I read his 3rd book THE PASSAGE earlier this summer (enjoyed it very much too but this one is nothing like it) and I have his middle book ready and waiting to be read. I've been disappointed in several books this summer but not by this one. I definitely recommend this book!

Linda M. Johnson ([email protected])

Scout, Atticus and Boo by Mary McDonagh Murphy

Rating: 3 Stars

Essays from famous people, mostly authors, who explain the first time each read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and what the books means to them and its importance 50 years after publication.

Allan Fredericks ([email protected])

Gifts of War by Mackenzie Ford

Rating: 5 Stars

This book is remarkably well written and takes place in England prior and during WWI. It is one of romance and mystery and what happens to two people who fall in love for the wrong reasons. One of the best I have read in a long time.

Kathy W

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

Rating: 4 Stars

While most people wouldn't be interested, it is a great little "extra" for Twilightfans.

Sherilyn Mohler

Director's Cut by Alton Gansky

Rating: 3 Stars

The book followed two cousins, one a political figure, on an actress and star through two murders.
Story was okay, but not the type that you can't put down.
Maddy, the politician, is a 'baby christian' in the story, and grows throughout, leading the other characters by example. Good story, I will read Alton again.

T. Thomas

Claws that Catch by by John Ringo

Rating: 4 Stars

Good science fiction. This is the latest in the series. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Debbie ([email protected])

The Whisperers by John Connolly

Rating: 3 Stars

I have never read John Connolly and this was an enjoyable pasttime. This is aCharlie Parker series set in Maine. The story centers on the military, especially the Iraq war and the aftermath. My impression of Maine as the quaint fishing village quickly disappears amid the smuggling due to the closeness to Canada and the many coastal entries. The characters are interesting, but the story lacked females, even though one of the females has a big surprise at the end. I am still unsure about certain characters, such as the Collector and the Captain. Herod-if I met him on the street, I would run the opposite direction. Connolly does a good job exposing the individual and his demons, such as Charlie's loss of wife and daughter twice.

Mary Rodriguez ([email protected])

1022 Evergreen Place by Debbie Macomber

Rating: 5 Stars

As always Debbie has written another great book for readers to enjoy.

Phoenix

Ms by Robyn Okrant

Rating: 2 Stars

Interesting idea poorly executed.
The author decided on something of a whim to spend a year living her life directed by Oprah's advice - not personal advice, but recommendations made on her talk show & her magazine. This could have been fascinating if done by someone like Barbara Ehrenreich who examined the bigger picture of who is following Oprah's advice & how their lives & American culture is being affected.

Instead the author offers a very narrow view of how she & her husband are affected by this experiment, & how much money she spends on various items simply because Oprah said so.

Given that she devoted her life to this project for a solid year, I found the book fairly lightweight & lacking in deeper meaning. I'd rather read the journal of someone who spent a year engaged in their local community or other activities that make the world better.

Lorna

Hannas List by Debbie Macomber

Rating: 3 Stars

I enjoyed this book about a women who leaves a list of 3 women that she wants her husband to meet and choose one to marry after she has died. It did become very predictable about half way through. I would give it 3.5 stars

Dara

Hang Man by Faye Kellerman

Rating: 4 Stars

Very good, lots of twists.

Sandy

This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

Rating: 4 Stars

Very very funny sometimes and sad sometimes. The death of Judd Foxman's father marks the first time that the entire Foxman family has been together in years.The Foxmans reluctantly submit to their patriarch's dying wish: to spend the seven days following the funeral together. In the same house. Like a family. Loved it!

T. Thomas

A Cottage by the Sea by Ciji Ware

Rating: 4 Stars

A touch of paranormal to a nice romance novel. I enjoyed it.

Deb G Local Bookies

32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny by Phillip Done

Rating: 5 Stars

By the time I finished reading this delightful story my cheeck were sore from smiling so much. It's a great read for recapturing your youth and remembering what is important in life has little to do with how smart you but how kind you are.

Laura Ann Adams ([email protected])

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson

Rating: 4 Stars

Great book. Great Series.

Rebecca Harrison ([email protected])

Negative Image by Vicki Delany

Rating: 4 Stars

It was good. Not an all immersing mystery. I didn't figure out the "one who done it." It was good but not a pageturner can't put down mystery.

Rebecca Harrison Lincolns Loft ([email protected])

Vermillion Drift by William Kent Krueger

Rating: 5 Stars

Awesome I think this book was a mystery with facts worthwhile learning. More than a read but also a book to make one think.

Marsha

Hollywood Savage by Kristin McCoy

Rating: 3 Stars

This is described as a "scalding exploration of love, marriage, fidelity and betrayal." It's a story of a bi-coastal marriage gone wrong. No one is happy or contented. It is written in epistolary style so we only hear one side of the story.

Sandy H.

A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James

Rating: 5 Stars

I read this regency with a smile on my face the whole time. It's a take-off on the Cinderella fairy tale, complete with wicked stepmother and of course a prince. And the names of some of the characters made me laugh out loud, they were so perfect. A good twist on a typical regency!

Laura Ann Adams ([email protected])

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Rating: 3 Stars

Nice uncomplicated read. Nothing outstanding but it was good.

Linda Smith

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

Rating: 4 Stars

Can't put down this amazing true story of one family's account of Hurricane Katrina.

Jean

Marcus of Umbria by Justine van de Leun

Rating: 5 Stars

Really loved this one! Justine gives up her hectic life in NYC to live in Italy, the Umbria region. Yes, she falls for a guy, but then for a dog. The author has a fabulous voice and this book is a favorite of my summer reads!

Marsha

The Legacy by Kirsten Tranter

Rating: 5 Stars

This is a story of Julia Alpers, her friend Ralph and their charming and wealthy friend, Ingrid. The story starts in Sydney where they are student at university. Ingrid marries a much older and handsome man and moves to New York where she becomes a major player in the art world. She disappears on 9/11 and here starts the mystery. Julie departs at Ralph's request to New York to investigate her last days. It's a story of unrequited love, deep friendship and thwarted futures.

cindyC

Unspeakable by Laura Griffin

Rating: 4 Stars

Almost done with this book, so far it keeps your interest I would recommend to anyone interested in FBI profiling, murder, mystery and a spark of romance.

Allie

The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller

Rating: 3 Stars

Thinly disguised story of Jackie Kennedy's life.

Tanya

The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley

Rating: 4 Stars

This is a book about one families survival during a flu pandemic. Lots of hard choices in this book.

Kellie ([email protected])

Little Girl Blue The Life of Karen Carpenter by Randy Schmidt

Rating: 4 Stars

I had a couple records by the Carpenters growing up. They were part of my childhood. Karen's voice is so unique. No one has come close to sounding like her. There have been other books written about the Carpenters but I don't think any of them were like this. If this book is true, it does not paint a nice picture of Karen's family. Specifically Richard and Agnes, Karen's mother. I believe they both contributed to Karen's self image which led to her Anorexia and then her death. Schmidt does not hold back in this book. I believe most of his information came from Karen's friends. They obviously were very fond of Karen and had a lot to say. I think the chronological story of the Carpenters was very interesting and I enjoyed the musical references. Karen's story is very sad and I think this book is going to leave a lasting impression on me.

Ashok Sharma ([email protected])

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Vergese

Rating: 5 Stars

Wonderful book story, character development, narrative structure, vivid imagery.

Rosalie Sambuco ([email protected])

The Overton Window by Glenn Beck

Rating: 5 Stars

Since I agree with most things Mr. Beck says, I enjoyed this book. It gave me many things to think about our country. When he begins with the ad agency selling "bottled water" he had me hooked. Very contemporary ideas and lots to think about.

Peggy Proobus ([email protected])

Night & Day by Robert Parker

Rating: 5 Stars

One of his Jesse Stone novels; I will surely miss his books now that he is gone.

Peggy Proobus ([email protected])

Shadow Zone by Iris and Roy Johansen

Rating: 4 Stars

I haven't finished reading this yet but it pulls you in from the begining so I know I will enjoy it.

Marion Miller ([email protected])

The Three Weissman's of Westport by Schine

Rating: 2 Stars

Good beach reading.

Jean

The Watchman by Robert Crais

Rating: 3 Stars

Okay read for me. Didn't seem to move along as quickly as some of Crais's previous novels.

Carol L

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Rating: 5 Stars

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is about a real estate agent that is abducted and the year she spends with her abductor.

This is a must read!!!!

Renee Howell

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Rating: 5 Stars

This was a wonderful book. I loved everything about it. The history and description of Russia was unbelievable, you
could picture everything. I have recommended this book to so many people (I work at a library). I have never had one patron that did not enjoy the book. Great book!

Renee Howell

The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard

Rating: 5 Stars

Excellent romance mystery. You feel that you know the characters in the book and I just couldn't put it down. Great read!

Michele

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Rating: 5 Stars

Moving and thought provoking. I could not put this book down.

Renee Howell

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Rating: 5 Stars

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I still can't get over how funny it is and we laugh about chocolate pie all the time here at work (library). I understand why it has been on the Best Seller's List for 72 weeks. Outstanding-can't say enough good things about this book. People are still waiting for this book to read at our library. DON'T MISS THIS BOOK!!!!!

Renee Howell

The Virgin River & Valley Series by Robyn Carr

Rating: 5 Stars

Robyn Carr is one of my favorite authors for the past year. I have printed out the list of her books in the series and recommended it to so many patrons!! I just love her and I'm so looking forward to her new books in this series in 2011. I have also read, other books not in this series and I have yet to read something that I didn't like. Keep writing and I will definitely keep reading and recommending your books.

Renee Howell

The Lakeshore Chronicles Series by Susan Wiggins

Rating: 5 Stars

This is a wonderful series. I couldn't put any of them down. The area sounds breath taking and the characters are so immersed with each other and the town. What a series!!! It is so well done.
I have a printout of the Lake Shore Chronicles that I distribute to our patrons at the library, and I always receive excellent feedback.
Susan Wiggs is a great author, and I have also enjoyed her stand alone books as well. Just finished reading PASSING THROUGH PARADISE, and it was so good. Enjoy this author so much!!!

Sally B., San Antonio TX

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

Rating: 3 Stars

3.5 stars. Defense attorney, Michael "Mick" Haller, who works from his Lincoln, is hired to defend a rich man accused of assault.

Susan

Black Hills by Dan Simmons

Rating: 5 Stars

Great Read. A book one might normally not pick up but once you start you can't stop.

Genie

Family Honor by Robert B. Parker

Rating: 5 Stars

Sunny Randall, Parker's first female PI, is a former cop with a quick wit and a sure aim with a pistol. She teams with, Spike, a restaurant owner with the build of a bodyguard and her ex-husband / son of a mob boss. Sunny is hired by a wealthy, well known family to find...their runaway daughter, Millicent. Millie has been hooking and must be rescued from life on the streets. Sunny allows Millie to stay with her while she begins to figure out the reason Millie ran away from home. While the investigation continues, Sunny begins to educate Millie in how to become responsible for her actions. Sunny finally gets Millie to tell her what happened to scare her into taking to the the street. Millie, unknown to her parents, happened to witness a conspiracy to murder arising from her ambitious father's intention to be elected governor. Now the Irish mob boss wants her dead: Sunny, too, if she gets in their way. Sunny is determined to save Millie's life and goes through a wide number of Boston's mobsters and law enforcement officials to succeed. This is a novel filled with suspense as well as the bonding between Sunny and an emotionally damaged teenager who needs a lot of help to overcome major trauma.

Janet McLeod

Lit by Mary Karr

Rating: 3 Stars

Karr taught everyone how to write a memoir. Sometimes when I read her I feel like she might be writing what's in my head.

Linda

The Fate of Katherine Carr by Thomas H. Cook

Rating: 4 Stars

This is the first I've read Thomas H. Cook and am eagerly looking forward to his other books. I thought that the story started slowly but then certainly grabbed my attention. It was hard to put it down once I got into it.

Rita Sheppard ([email protected])

Dead Guilty by Beverly Connor

Rating: 3 Stars

This is another book in Beverly's Diane Fallon forensic investigator series. Three bodies are found hanging in the woods then one of the people who found them is found hanging in his home. Diane uses her caving knowledge of rope knots leads her to the killer(s).

Coral Harrison

A Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin

Rating: 5 Stars

Dr. Ben Payson needs to catch a plane back to Salt Lake City but the airport will be closed as a storm is coming. He finds a pilot who will fly them during that space of time. He asks Ashley, a writer, if she would like to come too. She wants to get there for her wedding and rehersal dinner so comes along. The pilot has a heart attack and dies. The Dr. sets Ashley's leg and then the story tells how they got to Salt Lake City.

Genie

Breakwater by Carla Neggars

Rating: 5 Stars

Quinn Harlowe left a high-security job in the Justice Department to become an independent consultant. She thought she would have more control over her life if she was self-employed. Her hopes were dashed when Quinn found her long-time friend and former colleague, Ali...cia Morrow, dead near Quinn's bay side weekend cottage. At the scene she finds herself face to face with Huck McCabe who claims to be a bodyguard from the nearby Breakwater security compound. Quinn doesn't buy into his story any more than she does the local police report stating Alicia's death was an accident or suicide. Knowing her friend as well as she does, the police report doesn't add up and neither does Huck's claim. Quinn begins an investigation of her own and soon finds herself under surveillance by several different organizations. McCabe decides to confide to Quinn his true identity is that of an undercover agent sent to penetrate a violent group of vigilantes headquartered at Breakwater. Quinn has identified these same people and suspects they had a hand in Alicia's death. Joined by a common goal, Quinn and McCabe work toward bringing the wrong doers to justice before anyone else is murdered. Their goal may lead them into a disaster.

Genie

Cruel Intent by J.A. Jance

Rating: 4 Stars

A dating site called singleatheart caters to discontented married people who are seeking romantic encounters with other "married singles". Behind this seemingly straight forward service, is a psychopathic computer hacker who is playing games with people's lives. In several cases the scheduled encounters leave the fun seekers dead. Ali Reynolds, who is in the midst of remodeling her house, finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when the wife of her construction contractor is found savagely murdered and he is the prime suspect. Bryan swears he had nothing to do with his wife's murder and Ali seems to be the only resident of Sedona who believes him. This makes her determined to prove his innocence. As Ali begins an investigation of her own, she finds herself directly in the path of the killer.

Genie

Day of the Dead by J.A. Jance

Rating: 4 Stars

Third novel in the the ex-Sheriff Brandon Walker series, the very disturbing plot involving child molestation, sexual abuse, torture and murder make this a difficult book to read. Walker and his family live near the Tohono O'Odham Indian nation. Throughout the book, O'Odham legends and religious practices are told at the beginning of each chapter. While these legends are interesting, they have little to do with the plot except to give us a reprieve from the difficult subject matter. Walker joins The Last Chance, a volunteer investigative foundation (managed by attorney Ralph Ames from the JP Beaumont series); his first assignment is a 30-year-old cold case involving a murdered teenaged O'Odham girl. Meanwhile, the body of a Hispanic teenager is discovered out in the desert and similarities in the two cases cause the authorities to suspect a link between the two. Before the investigation is over, evidence of numerous other victims is discovered and the serial killers are making plans to escape. Its up to the local law enforcement officials to stop them before its too late. I admit, I'm partial to the JP Beaumont series. Overall I find the Walker series to be too graphic for my tastes.

Dorothy ([email protected])

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson & Liza Marklund

Rating: 4 Stars

I am 3/4 of the way through this and turning every page rapidly. It is a great read, as are all his books.

Genie

The Main Corpse by Diane Mott Davidson

Rating: 4 Stars

Its a rainy spring season in Aspen, Colorado and the catering business is in a slump. Caterer-sleuth Goldy Schulz reluctantly agreed (at the urging of her friend Maria) to cater a reception for the wealthy investors in the Prospect Financial Partners in the Eurydice Go...ld Mine. Goldy grimly hauls her equipment up into the mountains. As she is setting up for the event, she witnesses Maria engaged verbal warfare with one of the company's partners. There is a question of the validity of an assay report on the mine's prospects. The next day that partner disappears with more than $3 million in investor funds and Maria's current boyfriend (also a partner in the company) also goes missing. Maria is arrested on suspicion of murder and Goldy is determined to help prove her innocense despite the discouragement of her policeman-husband. As usual Goldy's excellent recipes are inserted throughout the novel.

Rosemary Sobczak

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Lisa Faber

Rating: 4 Stars

Not often a book brings tears to my eyes, but this one did.

Genie

Double Play by Robert B. Parker

Rating: 5 Stars

This tale was set in 1947 when Joseph Burke, a WWII vet, returns home both physically and emotionally wounded in combat and on the homefront. Burke comes home from the hospital to an empty house, a long period of recooperation time and no job. Using past experiences in...the millitary, he begins a in boxing but discovers he's good but not good enough to last long term. Through connections in boxing, he hires on as a bodyguard. Burke signs on with Dodger owner Branch Rickey to protect Robinson from racist violence during the ballplayer's rookie season. As their relationship turns into a friendship, he comes to respect the controversial player. Parker imagines what it was like for Jackie Robinson as he contends with the color barrier he had broken in Major League baseball. Throughout the novel Parker mixes childhood memories his own (chapters titled "Bobby"). Burke's life becomes considerably more complicated when he falls for Lauren, a self-destructive society girl. Her father, a politician with mob connections, hired him as Lauren's bodyguard prior to his working for Robinson. When Burke traces the threat of violence aimed at Robinson to Lauren's father's mob connections, the novel's action begins. Burke is a tough guy, and much of the narrative takes place as Burke plays one group of gangsters against another in order to protect both Robinson and Lauren. Parker does a top notch job in recreating a tale of one of the most turbulent eras in history.

Jackie Wisherd

Never Wave Goodbye by Doug Magee

Rating: 5 Stars

What if you placed your child on a bus for her first trip to sleep-away camp and fifteen minutes later a second bus, the real one, showed up? Four children are kidnapped on their way to camp and the story keeps you reading to find out who kidnapped them and why. Some twists and turns. As you read it makes you wonder if you would do the same as some of these parents if it were your child that was taken. For a first novel Mr. Magee has left me wanting to read what he has coming next.

Genie

"S " Is for Silence by Sue Grafton

Rating: 5 Stars

Genie

Sudden Mischief by Robert B. Parker

Rating: 4 Stars

Spenser's long-time girlfriend, Susan Silverman, asks Spenser to help her ex-husband, Brad Sterling. He's in trouble due to a a sexual harassment law suit filed against him by a four women who did volunteer work on a fundraiser / gala. Spenser discovers that the law suit is the least of Brad's troubles. While investigating the harassment suit, Spenser and Hawk begin to trace Brad's business dealings as a professional fund-raiser and discover his tendency to help himself to sizable amounts of the cash proceeds. Mid way through the investigation, Brad disappears and they find themselves threatened by a lawyer representing a mob boss as well as several of his henchmen. Brad is in over his head with organized crime related business. His problems finally come to the attention of law enforcement when one of the mobsters is found fatally shot in Brad's office. A second murder victim, director of a counseling service for ex-cons (and another of Brad's ex-wives) is found by Spenser and Hawk. All leads seem to point to Brad as the killer. The question is who is next on his hit list and how can he be stopped before its too late.

Dara Berry ([email protected])

Scandal on Rincon Hill by Tallman

Rating: 5 Stars

Excellent! Thanks for recommending it.

Cherry W

The Thirteenth Tale by Diana Setterfield

Rating: 4 Stars

I listened to this and was enchanted, but my favoite paragraph of the book was on page 32 when Margaret described books and what they meant to her. This struck me to my core. My mother tells the tale that I begged and cried to learn to read so hard, that they put me in a private school first grade in October when I was five. I've never looked back.

D engel

Star Island by Carl Hiaasen

Rating: 3 Stars

Not his best work, reads very easy. Story seems made up, but it could happen in todays hollywood or music business.

Reva Wamsley ([email protected])

Double Take by Catherine Coulter

Rating: 4 Stars

One of the FBI series, this takes place mostly in San Francisco. Someone is trying to kill Julie Ransome, widow of a pysic who had been murdered six months previously. Meanwhile, a family friend sees a woman at a party that looks just like his Goddaughter who vanished 3 years ago. I really enjoy these books. I'm almost caught up on the series.

Janet McLeod

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

Rating: 3 Stars

Tess always keeps the story moving. She has the background to make a story believable.

Pat Stuckey ([email protected])

Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews

Rating: 5 Stars

Hilarious - I absolutely love all her books. This one kept you interested at all times - hated to put it down.

Pat Stuckey

Fisherman's Bend by LInda Greenlaw

Rating: 3 Stars

Did not enjoy it as much as her novel SLIPKNOT. There wasn't much suspense to this one.

Pat Stuckey

Seaworthy by LInda Greenlaw

Rating: 3 Stars

Enjoyed it but it was riveting!! However, it showed the life of a fisherman (woman) of swordfish--not an easy job or one I would aspire to have...she is amazing.

Helen T

The Devil Amongst the Lawyers by Sharyn McCrumb

Rating: 3 Stars

The book is more a story of 1930s journalism with a side trip to Japan. The premise is a young woman in a small town in the Tennessee mountains accused of killing her father. The ending was not the most satisfying to me, but the journey there was interesting. The saving grace was McCrumb's ballad character Nora Bonesteel. The book is worth the read, but not my favorite of hers.

Julie

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Rating: 5 Stars

One of the best books I read in a long time. This book let me into the lives of the people in the deep south of Mississippi in l963. The author really captures the "voice" of the black maids because she was brought up in Mississippi by one that she loved dearly. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

jan K.

Father of the Rain by lily king

Rating: 5 Stars

This is a great book about a young girl growing up with an alcoholic father. We see her grow up and how her father affects her life and choices.

Eileen Quinn Knight

Juliet by Ann Fortier

Rating: 5 Stars

What a marvelous book! The characters are so well developed. The love story so intricate. The reader is able to see the comparison to Shakespeare and development of those themes of trust, guilt, redemption and most especially second chances. It is written with fluidity so it is easy to digest! This is an historical novel everyone will want to read.

Sandy

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Rating: 5 Stars

A wonderfully written story about three women and their lives during World War II.

Julie H.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvter

Rating: 3 Stars

An interesting take on the werewolf myth, taking place in Northern Minnesota. Grace has been haunted by the wolves ever since an attack as a child. Sam seems to be here protector. But the temperatures are changing everyday and his human time runs short. Really intriguing version of these shapeshifting creatures.

Janet McLeod

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

Rating: 3 Stars

I can see why this triology is so popular: good writing, great characters; a what-else-can-happen storyline. Little dark for my taste, but kept me reading.

Debbie ([email protected])

Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carre

Rating: 2 Stars

I have never read le Carre, and welcomed the opportunity to partake of his adventures into the world of intrigue. I must admit that I am disappointed and will not read le Carre again. The setting and characters are so fully developed, that you can thoroughly image both setting and characters. The plot and action are weak, and the dialogue with the British spies drones on and on. Action seems non existent. The ending is trite, and leaves one wondering what happened. I find other writers better, such as David Baldacci, Elizabeth George, John Connolly, and Michael Connelly. These writers leave me with some new information and a book that one wants to discuss with other readers. OUR KIND OF TRAITOR inspires nothing after the reading.

Dorothy

Tough Customer by Sabdra Brown

Rating: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this. It was a great mystery-romance novel.

Dorothy

Cure by Robin Cook

Rating: 1 Stars

I've enjoyed all his books but couldn't get into this one. There were too many Japanese names that I couldn't pronounce. Thus I could not keep characters straight.

Terry Dunn

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

Rating: 5 Stars

I really enjoy this book. I love to read and when they keep me on edge I love them.

Terry Dunn

Almost Dead by Lisa Jackson

Rating: 5 Stars

This book was so good I didn't want to put it down. I'd read till my eyes couldn't stay open any longer. Really good.

Terry Dunn

Finding Mary Blaine by Jodi Thomas

Rating: 5 Stars

This one also was very good in a different way. It still had me on the edge of my chair hoping she would find her way.

Julie H.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Rating: 5 Stars

Really, really well-plotted finale to the Hunger Games trilogy. Seventeen year old Katniss, her home in District 12 destroyed, must decide if she is really the sign of the rebel forces, the mockingjay.

Brenda Radder

How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway

Rating: 5 Stars

Great book. Charming charecters!!! Family relationships aren't always easy, but worth the effort!!!

Bridget

Caught by Harlan Coben

Rating: 5 Stars

Wow! The plot kept twisting and turning. There were a lot of surprises in this book...I never saw the ending coming!

Judy O. ([email protected])

How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dalloway

Rating: 4 Stars

This is an entrancing story of two women--Shoko and her daughter Sue. Shoko was a "Japanese War Bride", who now lives in San Diego with her husband; and Sue lives nearby with her teenage daughter Helena. Since Shoko is plagued with heart problems, she cannot take a planned trip back to Japan to see her extended family. Sue and Helena go instead. While they are there, they learn family secrets and surprising facts about Shoko. A really enjoyable story.

Anita Nowak

Rainwater by Sandra Brown

Rating: 5 Stars

I was lucky enough to win this in one of the many book giveaway contests I enter. I have read other Sandra Brown mysteries before, but this was an entire different genre.

From my understanding it was based on actual events and takes place in Texas in 1934. The story centers around a woman who runs a boarding house and her borders. Mr. Rainwater comes recommended to her by the local doctor, and the story goes on from there.

It depicts many emotions throughout, love bigotry and sadness.

I loved it - it is a short novel, and only took a few days to read, but it was a book I won't long forget.

Marsha

One Flight Up by Susan Fales-Hill

Rating: 3 Stars

This is a story of a group of well-educated women who find themselves looking for love in all the wrong places. Mid-life crisis just about ruins everyone's life. Those who play must pay.

Jeff

Salvation City by Sigrid Nunez

Rating: 5 Stars

Wonderful post-apocalyptic coming of age novel. Compelling and intriguing and all sorts of other good things you want from a book.

Sheila Reinhard Augustine

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Rating: 5 Stars

HOUSE RULES is about Jacob Hunt, a teenage boy with Asperger's Syndrome. HOUSE RULES is a well-researched insight into the pressures and challenges families face when a child has Aspergers. Remarkably smart, Jacob is obsessed by forensic analysis and shows up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room. He often tells the cops what they need to do.and he's usually right. When his tutor is found dead, the police question him, and his Asperger behavors - not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, inappropriate affect - make him look guilty to the police -- and suddenly, Jacob finds himself accused of murder. The book is a good treatment of how we treat those who are different, and whether we expect them to play by the same rules, when they can't.

Jane Squires ([email protected])

The New Day Dawns by Grace Anne Schaefer

Rating: 5 Stars

This book will really catch your interest and you won't be able to lay it down. If you like books about primitive times, Indians, etc. in fiction format, this is truly one.
From the time Horda becomes a woman and Mach becomes a man to the Mating Ritual will intrigue you.
The customs of the people of the frozen earth are kind and gentle toward each other and every person but sometimes there comes a time when that does not work.
Horda selects Mach as her mate but Bear Claw, chief of a tribe not theirs, insists he will have her one way or another. He captures her and several other women of the tribe. The survival of those women because they have always worked hard is an accomplishment we all could learn from. We cannot always chose what will happen to us in life but we can survive even through hard times. Once you reach the middle of the book forget sleep. You will keep pushing yourself onward. My favorite part of the book is how Horda finally makes up her own mind about a mate and not what her parents want or community want but what she knows is the right thing to do. Growing up is hard for all women even today. I highly recommend this book.

Jeff

Mr. Toppit by Charles Elton

Rating: 5 Stars

Excellent story about fame, family, literature, and death.

Jeff

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart

Rating: 5 Stars

Riveting and riotously funny.

Jean M

Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta

Rating: 5 Stars

A good book that is the first in a series about Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard, PIs in Cleveland.

GladysMP

The Bargain Bride by Barbara Metzger

Rating: 5 Stars

This book has a rather unique plot that truly keeps one hating to put the book down. It regards a couple forced to marry due to a contract made by their parents while they were youngsters. But this bride proves to have a mind of her own and a groom who appreciates that fact.

Vivian Q.

Faithful Place by Tana French

Rating: 5 Stars

Third in a series. Terrific writing and absorbing story. Loved all the characters and the Irish setting. I didin't feel "cheated" that I had not read the first two, but definitely plan to move them up on my TBR pile.

Execution Dock by Anne Perry

Rating: 4 Stars

This is the latest of Anne Perry's William Monk series. All the familiar characters are includud, and it is simply an enjoyable Victorian mystery with characters you care about and identify with.

Rachel Kennedy

Interred with their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell

Rating: 4 Stars

Action/adventure. However, intellectually stimulating and interesting, because based on Shakespeare's life/writings.

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