July 15, 2011 - August 8, 2011
Last contest period's winners were Carolyn M., MB Wall, Jean M., Toni S. and Richard N B., who each received a copy of JUSTICE by Karen Robards, PORTRAIT OF A SPY by Daniel Silva and ROBERT LUDLUM'S™ THE BOURNE DOMINION by Eric Van Lustbader.
| Gretchen |
| Before I go to sleep by Watson, S.J. |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a fascinating thriller about a woman who forgets the past 20+ years of her life every morning. As if that concept wasn't interesting enough, there are people in her life who may not be telling her the truth about who she is. A fun & thought-provoking book. |
| Aimee D. |
| Left Neglected by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Such a great book that I can relate to in my life: going, going, going nonstop! It kept me hooked and I couldn't wait to finish it! |
| Jae |
| The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I read an ARC; the book will be out on August 23. Don't hesitate to get this author's debut book. It's outstanding! Our very troubled young heroine overcomes a bitter childhood using The Language of Flowers. |
| Lorna |
| A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Story about the girl that was abducted at the age of 11 and kept by Phillip Garrido and his wife Nancy for 18 years. Very disturbing at times to learn what this young girl endured but I felt I needed to read her story. I believe that part of her therapy was to write this book so I wanted to support her by reading her story. |
| Lorna |
| Tenth Anniversary by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Interesting case about a wife accused of killing her husband and Lindsay just feels something isn't right. The problem is one of her best friends is the prosecutor. Another quick but great read by Patterson. |
| hrrm42 |
| The Renegades by T. Jefferson Parker |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This episodic cops-and-drug smugglers tale is the successor to "L.A. Outlaws" in the Charlie Hood series where Hood is now tasked with solving the murder of a corrupt cop and by occasion seeks to end the career of his even more corrupt partner. |
| Amy |
| A Good Hard Look by Ann Napolitano |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an amazing story about life in Milledgeville, GA where Flannery O'Connor lives. Cookie Himmel and her new husband Melvin Whiteson are setting up their new home but both have different ideas of what's important in life. When Melvin meets Flannery O'Connor life takes on an entirely different look and feel. But Cookie considers Flannery her nemesis. If these characters and others don't figure out how to communicate, face who they are and what they want from life and share that with the people that matter most to them, life could take a drastic turn for the worse. An amazing setting, very real and flawed characters and a rich and powerful storyline make this a book you don't want to miss. |
| Joy |
| Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I discovered Michael Connelly by being introduced to LINCOLN LAWYER. This is the follow up book in the series. My local libary had it in the e-pub for my Nook Color which, never thought I would say it, I really prefer over reading a "regular printed book". BRASS VERDICT is every bit as nail biting as LINCOLN LAWYER was. Now reading BLACK ECHO, which is first in the Harry Bosch series. Love it when I find a new author which I cannot seem to put down. BLACK ECHO was only .99 cents on B&N for the Nook. What a bargain. |
| Carol B. |
| The Devil's Light by Richard North Patterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Although I don't necessarily read books about terrorism, I cannot ignore a book by Richard North Patterson. I love his character development. Somehow he gets you hooked no matter what the subject matter. Not his best...but I cannot stop reading...go figure. |
| Amy |
| Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Simon Van Booy's prose is extraordinary. It's beautiful, elegant and lyrical and transports readers to a better time and place. Mr. Van Booy understand the circle of life and the joy and pain that coexist in life. Ruth, George and Henry are all suffering deep unimagineable pain due to some life crisis and it keeps them apart from others. Yet, in each other they recognize the pain, see themselves and are able to relate to and understand wach other. They spend a magical, wonderful days together until one of those unexpected life events occurs. Now the ones still here must learn to cope and live again. But can they? And if they can't what will happen to them? Simon Van Booy's novel will make you laugh and cry and it will help you to see life in an entirely new and beautiful way. |
| Amy |
| The Reservoir by John Milliken Thompson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A young, pregnant woman is found floating in the reservoir. An investigation has detectives believing she was murdered. As they come up with and arrest a suspect, Tommy, we are privy to the Tommy's past history and how he knew the dead young woman. But whether he did it or not is difficult to determine. It's a riveting and fascinating read trying to figure it all out! Based on a real case, Thompson has written a captivating story and provided a court case that will keep you on the edge of your seat, constantly trying to figure out what really happened. It's fantastic! |
| cc |
| A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very strange book --- but it kept my attention |
| Debbie |
| The Case of the Velvet Claw by Erle Stanley Gardner |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This is my first foray into the written work of Perry Mason. As a child, I probably saw every episode of "Perry Mason". The novel did not seem to be the Perry Mason that I remembered. The story took many turns before coming to the conclusion. The novel ran on dialogue, as opposed to lengthy description. The writing reminds me of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. This is a different style than Agatha Christie and Anne Perry, and each is interesting. I prefer the description as opposed to constant dialogue. |
| Reva W. |
| Victim Six by Gregg Olsen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
There's a seriously disturbed man kidnapping, raping and mudering young woman. Turns out his wife is helping him. Kendall and her partner are trying to find who it is. This tells the story from her side as well as the killer and his wife. |
| Elaine W. |
| The Shipping News by Annie Proulx |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
How did I miss this beautiful book when it first came out? Its characters are regular people whom you grow to love or hate, but care deeply about right off. Lovely in its execution and dialogue. Best book I've read this summer. |
| Tanya |
| Rooms by James L. Rubart |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you liked THE SHACK, you will like this one. |
| Cat |
| Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Last of the published Sookie books to date-loved it! |
| Liz |
| White Woman on a Green Bicycle by Monique Roffeey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very interesting story of a British couple's life in Trinidad from 1956--2006. |
| Dorothy |
| His Other Wife by Deborah Bedford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the first book I've read by this author and I've already reserved another one. It is the story of a young boy graduating from high school and is blamed for the death of a friend. The other wife blames the mother but they solve their differences. It is very good. |
| Jackie R. |
| Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Having a difficult time getting into the story. I just started it, so I am hoping it gets better. I would love to read more of Fitzgerald's books, but none speak to me the way THE GREAT GATSBY did. |
| Dorothy |
| Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I have read all of her books and enjoyed them but I was really disappointed in this one. It was a story within a story. |
| Jayme |
| A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD has received critical acclaim, but somewhat mixed reviews from the "everyday" reader. I understand the division. This book is difficult to pinpoint and to categorize, but I will tell you that I loved it. The writing is crisp, honest, and inventive. There are descriptions in this book that are so vivid and accurate that I had to stop and read them again and again. A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD is a remarkable, strangely moving story about the one thing we can't escape --- the impact of time. |
| Dani |
| A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Started out good, but went downhill fast. Did not like many of the characters or story lines. I lost interest halfway through and barely read the rest of the book. What a disappointment! |
| Dani |
| Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Love the Nantucket setting as well as the characters in this wonderful story. |
| Allie |
| A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Interesting saga about Jews slogging their way to Switzerland over the Italian Alps in WWII. |
| Carmen G. |
| Untold Story by Monica Ali |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I haven't finished it, but it is very well written and I can't wait to finish it! I love the mystery of this story! |
| Nedra |
| Minding Frankie by Mave Binchy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Good read --- this author is great! |
| Jayme |
| Gilead by Marilynne Robinson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
76-year-old Congregationalist Minister John Ames is dying of a heart condition. Still capable of preaching and mentally sharp he has decided to write a letter --- a journal of his thoughts --- to his young son to explain the family's history, who he is, and what he believes. Set in Gilead, Iowa in 1956 this quiet, profound book is the story of a life and a faith that can move mountains if only it can forgive. There are certain books that as soon as you read the first two or three pages you know that it is special --- that it will change you somehow --- maybe not lightning bolt jolts, but small, subtle movements near your heart. GILEAD was that book for me. In the bible Gilead means hill of testimony and that is what the book GILEAD is for John Ames --- his testimony of a well-lived life. |
| Eileen K., Ph.D. |
| Rules of Civility by Amor Towles |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderfully written debut novel that tips its hat to Edith Warton's work. The themes of class, love, luck are all embedded in this world of Katey Kontent who moves in and out of the American privilege . |
| BJ Simon |
| Shut Your Eyes Tight by John Verdon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I am only 150 pages into this 500 page sophomore effort. Love the protagonist and his internal dialogue. The mystery thus far is proving as intriguing as his first book which was a 5 star. This one could turn into a 5 star also, I'm hoping so!! |
| Judy M. |
| Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Gabriel Allon is drawn back into the world of spies after devestating bomb attacks by Islamic extremists. |
| Sandy |
| A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
All dog lovers will enjoy this one! |
| Marilyn |
| The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this novel set in colonial Mass. near Salem and England. In some ways it is a mystery novel as well. The characters are well developed and the plot very captivating. I also learned a lot about Oliver Cromwell and his battle with the King of England. |
| Judy O. |
| Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
James Witherspoon, married to Laverne, commits bigamy when he marries Gwen. He has a daughter with each wife and does a good job of keeping the families separate. However, as the girls grow up, they eventually become acquainted, and then the lie is exposed. The characters are rich and well-drawn and the story gives the reader a lot to think about. Good book. |
| Stacey K. |
| The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I had seen the movie but had never read the book because I thought it would be too cheesy. Was I wrong! This book is wonderfully written and makes me want to see the movie again! |
| Debbie |
| Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is my second journey into a Temperance Brennan novels set in Charlotte, NC, and Canada. Temperance is a busy woman with all her forensic examinations and college class schedule. Since I live in Charlotte, the setting in DEVIL BONES is interesting, as well as the many characters loosely based on true characters. My only problem is that Reichs provides too much medical data that goes over my head. Reichs's characters are real people with problems and not the glossy Hollywood images. Reichs does her research and gives a textbook commentary on the various occult religions such as Wicca worship and satanic worship. These are interesting, but detract from the story, at times. |
| Pat S. |
| In the Woods by Tana French |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Began rather slow and a little confusing but then got into the book. It was good (maybe a little too descriptive at times) but good enough that I want to read her next one, THE LIKENESS. She was a new author to me. |
| Nedra |
| Out of the Night That Covers Me by Pat Cunningham Devoto |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Set in the south in the '50s --- about one child's life in southern Alabama. |
| Sharon |
| The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Our favorite retired agent is back to work-this time in the United States. He and Cassiopeia Vitt save the President from an assassination attempt and conversations of the First Lady which may endanger the entire presidency. Sometimes Mr. Berry's style of cutting back and forth from several action scenes can be confusing and sometimes takes more effort than it is worth. This is especially true in this book where the action sequences are not connected together. It is a good summer read for someone who enjoys the spy genre. |
| Sandy |
| Resistance by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Loved it!! |
| Joan |
| The Snowman by Jo Nesbo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This thriller is a well written, gripping story of a serial killer whose "calling card" comes in the form of a snowman. Detective Hole once again is faced with putting the pieces together to solve the case, and he does so in a way that is never dull. A great read. |
| Pearl |
| The Love Goddess's Cooking School by Melissa Senate |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Lovely story that tears at the heartstrings. |
| Ellie |
| Keeping Time by Stacey McGlynn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Unforgettable novel that is heartwarming and beautiful. |
| Anne |
| Winter Bloom by Tara Heavey |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Beautiful novel that deals with individuals lives, emotions and problems. |
| Phyllis |
| Heartless by Gail Carriger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love the Parasol Protectorate series. Alexia Tarraboti Maccon doesn't let pregnancy keep her from trying to avert an attempt on the Queen --- but which Queen? Full of the usual wonderful characters and wit, HEARTLESS is a fun book to read. |
| M |
| The Postmistress by Sarah Blake |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Slow start, but stick with it. |
| Mary M. |
| Bobblehead Dad by Jim Higley |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Jim Higley was the all-American dad. He worked hard for his family, always busy, always on the go. A devastating diagnosis of prostate cancer stopped him in his tracks --- and gave him a whole new outlook on what truly matters in life. An excellent reminder for us all. |
| Mary M. |
| Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A retired surgeon suffers from the onset of Alzheimer's. Her friend mysteriously died in her home, with surgically precise removal of several fingers. There isn't enough evidence, and the alleged murderer can't remember a thing! Surprise ending. Fabulous book. |
| Mary M. |
| Won By Love by Norma McCorvey and Gary Thomas |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Jane Roe of the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion case from the 1970s speaks out about her conversion to Christianity and her new position on abortion. Her story is inspirational and honest. It took nerve to share her story and it was refreshing to read her tale. |
| Mary M. |
| Ladies First by Queen Latifah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Autobiographical account of her life, the sudden death of her brother, and how to be a strong woman in a modern world that isn't always pretty. Her honesty is almost jarring at times, but admirable and a breath of fresh air. |
| Sean from OHIO |
| Kiss The Girls by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is classic James Patterson and shows why he now sells so many books and has so many fans. Everything a good thriller needs are in here: A relatable protagonist, vile antagonists, drama, thrills, twists, gruesome scenes that will stay with you, and unpredictability. I really enjoyed this and incorrectly guessed the killer(s) multiple times. Cross is intelligent, warm, tough, and not perfect, which is a perfect blend for a main character. The evil that is in this book at times is almost too intense and also is perfect for this type of book. The only thing that keeps this book from being a five star book is Patterson’s use of extra sappy dialogue at the strangest places. Other than that, a perfect book. |
| D. Kitchell |
| Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A very easy light read, which is just what I needed right now. I'm not in to fashion and design, so a lot of the book description is beyond me, but I'm enjoying the simple easy pleasure of the book. |
| Cathy M. |
| Long Gone by Alafair Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
How did I miss this one when it first came out?? Intrigue, art, and a nice girl being framed for a crime...or did she commit it? Good read... |
| Helen T. |
| The Snowman by Jo Nesbo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
He keeps the suspense layered out over a long period of time. I'm only half way, not totally sure if it's longer than it needs to be, but I'm enjoying the story. |
| Anne |
| A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book has been highly recommended by two of my best reading buddies. I can't wait to curl up with it for an extended reading session this weekend. |
| Kathleen |
| These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was drawn in on the first page. That's always a good sign! |
| Ann |
| Veronica's Diary by Veronica Esagui DC |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
After you read a bit it, it sort of gets a bit boring but there's still always some unexpected humor throughout! |
| Shannon |
| The Guardian by Margaret Mallory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Liked: Book was researched. Depth of the characters and complexity of the plot. Occasional humor. Both the hero and heroine. I felt like I was there. The author included plenty of characters to continue the series. I will put the next book on my wishlist. |
| Diane |
| The Bird House by Kelly Simmons |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent and memorable novel that is so well written with a wonderful story and characters. |
| Janet S. |
| It Looked Better on the Model by Laurie Notaro |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Laurie Notaro never disappoints....I'm enjoying the hilarious misadventures of Ambien Laurie. |
| Kathleen |
| Labor Day by Joyce Maynard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great so far. |
| Coral H. |
| The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a remarkable nonfiction book about the cancer cells saved from Henrietta without her consent. The cells are called HeLa. She was a poor black woman who died of breast cancer. This book tells of what happened with the cells and how it affected her family. It is well written and very informative. |
| Kathleen |
| The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted by Elizabeth Berg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Berg's books are always a good read. |
| Kellie |
| Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was pleasantly surprised at how talented Rob Lowe is as a writer. One of my favorite movies is About Last Night and I’m a huge fan of St. Elmo’s Fire. These movies are what I based my impression of Rob Lowe on. The chapters Rob writes about The Outsiders are unforgettable. I was riveted. I thought Rob was gorgeous and your typical Hollywood star who worked hard and played hard in the glamorous industry of acting. But, there is so much more to Rob Lowe than meets the eye. Yes, he is famous and has made himself well known in the industry due to his talent and his notoriety. He faces up to his bad choices and indiscretions nobly. He is very smart. To me it sometimes is a waste of intelligence for an exceptionally smart person to not take advantage of his intelligence and make his living in a more productive trade or profession. To me, there is no productive service to humanity in movie making. It is pure entertainment. I admire Rob Lowe for tackling his dependancies in a mature fashion and putting his childish and distructive behavior behind him. Most of all, I found some of Rob’s stories almost unbelievable. He has befriended some of the most famous, notorious and public figures of our time…Princess Stephanie, The Sheen Family, Cary Grant and his daughter Jennifer, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, John F Kennedy Jr, to name just a few. This was a very unique memoir. Very well written, extremely interesting and full of a wisdom you don’t find much out of the Hollywood crowd. Kudos to Rob Lowe for showing he is much more than a cookie cutter actor with no substance. |
| Maxine U. |
| Coming Up for Air by Patti Callahan Henry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Nice book but does not hold me spellbound. |
| Paula B. |
| The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I love this time period and this author surely knows how to bring the characters to life. She seems to have extensive knowledge about the Kings and Queens of this era. |
| Diane R. |
| The Messenger by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another in the Gabiel Allon series --- The thriller and art aspects are compelling. |
| Rebecca S. |
| The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just started the book this morning and I can not put it down. It is a different kind of story, a dead girl telling you about her murder. It is so far the best book I have read in awhile. |
| P Bowdidge |
| Hector and the Search for Happiness by François Lelord |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Makes one think about people you have known. |
| Kathleen |
| Once Upon A Time There Was You by Elizabeth Berg |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another winner! |
| Soovie |
| The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A spiritual quest to find a treasure. Wonderful, descriptive writing. A book for everyone. |
| Veronica E. |
| Jesusalem Maiden by Talia Carner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Lots of Jewish terminology to follow. |
| Phyllis |
| The Mostly True Story Of Jack by Kelly Regan Barnhill |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Jack doesn’t know why people don’t see him. Family pictures only show his father, mother and brother; Jack has drawn pictures of himself and pasted them onto the pictures. He has no friends; he’s left by bus drivers. When his parents decide to divorce, his mother drives him to Hazelwood, Iowa to stay with his aunt and uncle, Mabel and Clive, and leaves him with these strangers at an old wooden farmhouse. Jack, at first, has no interest in his aunt and uncle, the town or the people. However, he cannot hold out when Wende, Anders and Frankie start becoming involved in his life. He finally has to admit the house he is in is very unusual, someone in the town wants to kill him, and the book his uncle gives him, The Secret of Hazelwood, can help him understand the mysterious happenings. THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK is a unique story. Kelly Barnhill has an impressive handling of details and plot twists. She opens up the puzzle of Jack bit by bit and her descriptions of the characters make them real. THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK tells of the magic of friendship and finding a place where you belong and are not invisible. It is a very good book for children who enjoy books about a mystery and that are mystical. |
| Veronica |
| Violets of March by Sarah Jio |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful story. Every page told its own tale. Loved it. |
| LeeAnn |
| The Lost Hours by Karen White |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I have read two Karen White books and loved them both. This book had romance, mystery and some good old common sense. Absolutely a book I'd recommend. A good clean book. |
| Veronica |
| Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful historial fiction. Strong characters. Every detail very descriptive you just felt you were in Puerto Rico. Highly recommend. |
| Linda B |
| Through The Rabbit Hole by Lisa Kumar |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What Does Natalie Danvers Do When Caught Up In A Rainstorm And No Umbrella, With Purple Lightening Besides Head For The Shop Across The Street? As She Ran, She Felt The Emptiness Of Space And As She Looked Down All She Saw Was A Black Void! Out Of The Corner Of Her Eye, She Saw The Purple Lightening Advance Toward Her And Suddenly She Pitched Head First Into A Black Hole And Landed In The Lap Of A Seated Man, If That Was What He Was With His Bright Purple Eyes And Pointed Ears! Lohr Had Waited For Her So Long But Feared He Would Push Her Mind Into An Overload That She Could Not Contain, But He Only Had Three Weeks To Get Her To Stay On Tiran, His Fey Home Or Send Her Back To Earth If She Did Not Want To Stay With Him And He Could Not Imagine How He Could Ever Let Her Go Again.............. Lisa Kumar Spins A Terribly Endearing Story That Just Melted My Heart. Natalie Had To Choose Between Her Lonely Life Working In Human Resources And A Life With Lohr A Man She Barely Knew But Was Instantly Attracted To When Their Hands Touched, And His Siblings Were So Adorable! |
| J |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Beautifully told story of medieval England. Philip, the Prior of Kingsbridge, is driven to build a cathedral. Tom the mason becomes his architect. It's a spellbinding epic of ambition, anarchy and power. Historical fiction at it's most engaging |
| Melissa M. |
| Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Light and fun read about a young woman who gets amnesia and has to piece her life back together, including figuring out what man she is in love with. Loved it, read it very quickly. |
| Debbie |
| Naked in Death by J.D. Robb |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
NAKED IN DEATH is a terrible book, and if this were not a book club selection, I would not have finished reading. The book is set in the future United States and I am not a lover of science fiction or futuristic writing. The main characters are flat and straight from the pages of a romance novel. The scenes are sordid sex killings and romance novel sex scenes. Nothing in the novel redeems having to read this book. |
| EC |
| Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is an entertaining sequel to VERY VALENTINE. The story is fun, although predictable. |
| Kathy V. |
| Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini by Sue Ann Jaffarian |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Emma can see ghosts, so when she "sees" Tessa --- a young starlet who is hanging out on Catalina Island, waiting for "Curtis" to come a get her --- Emma is off on an adventure for her cross over, trying to not get killed on the way. |
| Sylv |
| Dead Rules by Randy Russell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Picked this up on a whim. Really didn't know what to expect, but I loved this book. Very original idea that makes you want to keep on reading --- I didn't want to put it down. |
| Evelyn H. |
| Turn Of Mind by Alice LaPlante |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Wonderfully written debut novel about a well-respected surgeon who is suffering from dementia. |
| Sylv |
| Dead Rules by Randy Russell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Picked this up on a whim. Really didn't know what to expect, but I loved this book. Very original idea that makes you want to keep on reading -- I didn't want to put it down. |
| Sy |
| Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Let me begin by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed the first four books in the series. I did not care for this one much. The characters (at age 29 in this book) are all unlikeable and annoying. Throughout the entire book, I wanted to scream --- grow up and get a life; you're not teenagers anymore; start taking some responsibility for yourselves. How can they all be so disfunctional? |
| Lynn D. |
| The Fall Guy by Simon Wood |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
His books are great --- full of suspense, fast moving, mystery with lots of twists, turns, and always leave me thinking! |
| Nikki |
| The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I wanted to like this book so much because I received it as an ARC and the reviews on the jacket and in Bookreporter.com were so good. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy the book. In fact, I only finished the book because I needed to give my review and I thought maybe it might improve. I found the storyline so predictable and I never felt a connection with the main characters. Even though the author described some of the hardships, I just never felt that the war and German occupation affected the family other than some minor inconveniences. The only thing I enjoyed about the book were the descriptions of the island. I've visited several websites about Guernsey because it sounded so beautiful that I wanted to learn more about it. |
| Julie |
| The Dog Who Came In From the Cold by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
# 2 in Cordoroy Mansions series. Is as delightful as the first! |
| MJB |
| Burnt Mountain by Anne Rivers Siddons |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I have always enjoyed reading Siddons' books and was waiting for this release. I was disappointed in it. It took about 75 pages to get into, picked up a little but the ending was soooo ridiculous. If this is the best she can do after three years from her previous book she should put down her pen. If you don't read it you are not missing anything!! |
| Michele C. |
| Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was an amazing story and I was loving the whole thing including the ending. |
| Tanya |
| Threading the Needle by Marie Bostwick |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really liked this book. It is about friendship and starting over. A great read that I highly recommend. |
| Ginny |
| Empire of the Summer Moon: Quana Parker & Rise by S. C. Gwynne |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Many in my book club don't like it, so I didn't expect much but find I am fascinated with it as an historical account of a time and a place in our nation's history that I don't know much about. |
| Ginny |
| Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Liked it better even than THE GLASS CASTLE. I may go back to read THE GLASS CASTLE again to see if it makes a bigger impact on me now that I know the "pre-quel." |
| Ginny |
| Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
When I first began reading it (can't believe I had never read it before) I dreaded the time it would take to read with the old style rhythm and many unfamiliar words. However, even recognizing it probably set the formula for modern day romance novels, I found it to be a powerful work with carefully worked out characters and described settings in an historic time I know little about. It has stayed with me to the point that I bought my own copy to replace the library copy I had read. |
| Lynn H. |
| The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Although everyone loves this book, I only found it OK. It's a very slow starter but then picks up. I do recommend it though and will probably read the next one. |
| Nikki |
| Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I loved Ms. Stevens first book, STILL MISSING, so I was disappointed when I read her newest book. I loved the story premise of an adopted woman finding her biological father is a serial killer. But I felt the book dragged on and pushed the limits of reality too far. I also felt that this book had much the same style of ending as STILL MISSING but lacked the totally unexpected conclusion of that book. I'm glad I read this book but I certainly wouldn't recommend it as highly as I did STILL MISSING. |
| Bonnie |
| It Looked Different on the Model by Laurie Notaro |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you're looking for a light, very funny book of essays this is the book for you. Notaro never disappoints. This one's subtitled "Epic Tales of Impending Shame and Infamy." Be prepared to laugh out loud. |
| Judy O. |
| Promises to Keep by Ann Tatlock |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Two little girls struggle with "Daddy issues" in this heartwarming story of a family in the 1960s in Wisconsin. Mara, a little black girl, has a white father whom she has never met. Roz Anthony holds onto the love and trust she has for her father, even though he does not deserve it. He is abusive and alcoholic and the family has left him. Roz and Mara are both torn. This is a wonderful story of family love. |
| Marsha |
| From Barcelona With Love by Elizabeth Adler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Perfect for a romantic, decadent mystery beach read featuring luxurious scenes from Malibu to Barcelona. The rich and famous have problems, too. Private Investigator Mac Reilly and his fiance, Sunny Alvarez, are enlisted to help a girl find her mother, a famous singer, who was accused of a double murder and has disappeared, leaving the child with her aunt. |
| Michele C. |
| Quinn by Iris Johansen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love this series and this book and the prior book, EVE, really gives the in depth story of Bonnie's disappearance. I cannot wait for BONNIE to come out to tie up the loose ends! |
| Marion M. |
| The Year we Left Home by Jean Thompson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a good "coming of age" or family saga. It tells of an Iowan family's children and their leaving home and in some cases remaining at the old homestead. The characters are well developed and interesting. |
| Judy O. |
| An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is the third book in this series that I have read. It follows the career of Barry Laverty, a young assistant GP in the village of Ballybucklebo in Ireland. I found myself skimming in parts, but most of it was a great story about the villagers and their problems. Good series. |
| Bonnie W. |
| The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great mix of cultures and suspense. Great writing and I had to sit and finish it in one sitting. One not to miss. |
| Bonnie W. |
| Quinn by Iris Johansen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful, picked right up from EVE and left me hating to have to wait until Oct. for BONNIE. Hurry up October. |
| Deborah B. |
| Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a long book that was not long enough. I cannot get the characters out of my head. Beautifully written with fascinating settings and exposure to the medical world. |
| Jackie R. |
| Remind Me Again Why I Married You by Rita Ciresi |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very funny. I enjoyed reading it so much. A nice break from the serious books I've been reading. |
| Kellie |
| Dear John by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The thing I like about this author is he has an incredible way of describing emotion, thoughts and feelings. I wouldn’t call his work romance, but the emotional aspect that comes through on each page is uncanny. Especially from a male author. This story is about John and Savannah. John lives with his father in Wilmington. He is rebellious and has no direction in life and decides to go into the Army. One summer on leave, he meets Savannah on the beach. They fall in love. The struggle is the time and distance apart as John completes his military obligation. The story is told from the perspective of John. Another interesting point about Spark’s writing is his ability to express the realistic feelings and emotions of love from the male’s perspective. Sparks pulls in various subjects throughout this novel; autism, September 11th, Habitat for Humanity, coin collecting and of course, a North Carolina setting. The autism is an interesting subject because I believe the author has a son who has autism. Johns’ father is the character he uses for the Asperger’s angle. I thought that was very interesting. The ending is a bit hokie but satisfying. It is typical Sparks. This book is one of the most memorable for me. It was enjoyable I stayed up late to finish because I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend. |
| Lynn D. |
| Frill Kill by Laura Childs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I don't like scrapbooking at all but this story was clever, good characters and good plot! |
| Lynn D. |
| We All Fall Down by Simon Wood |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This guy can write, he grabs you from the first page and keeps you going through the whole book, great read! |
| Lynn D. |
| Watch Me Die by Lee Goldberg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a different type of Lee Goldberg book --- and not what I expected at all but totally capitvated me! |
| Lynn D. |
| The Big 5-OH! by Sandra D. Bricker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This one made me chuckle, laugh out loud --- great characters, good plot and waiting for next one! |
| Lynn D. |
| Mr. Monk is Cleaned Out by Lee Goldberg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A thoroughly enjoyable read, made me chuckle,laugh out loud and yeah for Mr. Monk --- better than the shows used to be! |
| MJ |
| Left Neglected by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The condition of "left neglected" is something I had never heard of and found it interesting to read about how the protagonist dealt with it. Some valuable lessons were learned about what's important in life. |
| Debbie |
| The Shifting Tide by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
So many events happen and new people are introduced in this book. Lady Callandra has decided to marry Dr. Beck and the two of them are headed to Austria. Sir Oliver Rathbone has discovered his love of Margaret and has asked her to marry him. Monk has taken a case that involves the river and a different class of people. Monk also meets and forms a friendship the Scruff and the River Police. Hester faces grim facts when she discovers that one of the woman under her care died from the Black Death. The clinic must be guarded and no one can leave, and all stand the chance of contacting the dreaded disease. As usual, Perry does an excellent job in describing the setting and the characters. The reader can feel the panic and fear. Again, Perry drives home the fact that many will willingly donate money to help the "heathens" in Africa, but will ignore the "fallen" women suffering in London. |
| Fran |
| The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Second in the D.D. Warren series. When a young mother/ schoolteacher goes missing, her husband becomes the prime suspect. However, the investigation turns up all kinds of suspects along the way. Another nailbiter from Lisa Gardner. It was hard to put this one down! |
| Susan |
| Dreams of Joy by Lisa See |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Fantastic portrayal of a mother's love and what you would do to survive. |
| Kat S. |
| No Rest for the Dead by Jeff Abbot, plus 24 contributing authors |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a serial novel written by 25 contributing authors.You will hit the ground running with the first paragraph! |
| Julie H. |
| Love Always by Harriet Evans |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a fabulous book. To just think of it as another chick lit book would be unfair. Natasha Kapoor is at a crossroads with her jewelry business and personal life. The death of her beloved granny, a famous artist, sends her to the family home in Cornwall, called Summercove. As the family gathers, it's apparent that this extended group has a lot of secrets to share. As she heads back to London, Nat is given her aunt Cecily's diary, at least the part of it her grandfather found. Nat is told she resembles her Aunt Cecily, who tragically died in the summer of '63 as a 15-year old. The vast number of characters ---cousins, in-laws, friends --- which I thought would be daunting at first, played out into their various roles very easily. Evans tells the story of Cecily's last summer eloquently via her school girl diary. The relationships of the present day are exquisitely handled as Nat begins to learn more about her mother's distance from the family and why. I will definitely pick up another one of Evans' novels again. |
| Annika |
| A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Loving this continuation of A GAME OF THRONES! |
| Susie |
| The Fund by H.T. Narea |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
For a first novel this financial thriller seemed well researched, way too real, and way too scarey. I could hardly put the book down. I had been wondering which languages my grandchildren should be learning and this book comes as close to any novel I've read to answering it. |
| Marsha |
| Still Missing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Although fast-paced, this journey of rediscovery after being kidnapped and abused is sometimes too ghoulish to read. You will be swept up into her struggle for surviva but it is disturbing. |
| V. |
| Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Couldn't put down this story of an orthopedic hand surgeon with dementia, whose best friend is murdered and her fingers severed. Did the surgeon do it? The writing style is very interesting. |
| Julie H. |
| Clutches and Curses by Dorothy Howell |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Haley has a curse put on her by an elderly customer of Holt's who doesn't think she's working hard enough. Obviously, she hasn't read any of Haley's previous adventures! Holt's is opening a new store in Henderson, Nevada and Haley decides to 'volunteer' to go as a seasoned employee to help set up the new store. Before she even punches in, Haley stumbles over a dead body. This was a easy, fun read for a summer weekend! Haley's antics coupled with Howell's smooth writing always keep me interested. |
| Lyn |
| Save Me by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Rose is the "lunch mom" when a kitchen explosion rocks the cafeteria. She has to make a choice --- save the children with her or go for her daughter in the bathroom down the hall. Her split-second decision changes her life. This is first Scottoline book I've read --- I won it from Bookreporter.com's Word of Mouth. I was impressed with the tight plot, good character development, and exploration of real moral issues. Rose's jaunt into criminal investigation stretched believability, but it leads the reader to more thrills and a satisfying ending. Lisa Scottoline is now on my radar. I'll be watching for her other books. |
| MBW |
| Faith by Jennifer Haigh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The narrator’s step-brother is a priest in Boston accused of sexual abuse. We see the effects of the accusation on the priest and his family, and we don’t find out until the end whether or not the accusations are true. |
| MBW |
| The Summer of the Bear by Bella Pollen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
When Nicky Fleming, a career diplomat, is found dead after falling from the top of the Bonn embassy building he is suspected of being a traitor. His wife and their three children move to an Island in the Outer Hebrides, where she grew up. The book traces the lives of the dutiful oldest daughter as she gets ready to go away to school, the middle daughter who reacts with anger, and the young son who believes his father is now inhabiting the bear that has escaped on the island. The ending is logical but surprising. I will read more from this author. |
| MBW |
| Among Others by Jo Walton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I usually do not read fantasy, but this was a good book. A young girl runs away from home after she and her twin sister stop her mother, a witch, from evil. The sister is killed and the girl is injured. She is sent to her father, who she has never seen, and he and his sisters send her to boarding school. She is very lonely, but does magic herself and finds friends in a Science Fiction group at the local library. She also finds a boyfriend. |
| J |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A spellbinding epic of medieval 12th century England that revolves around a devout monk driven to build a cathedral and Tom, the mason who becomes his architect. A beautifully told and fully engaging story. |
| Phyllis |
| Guardian Cats and the Lost Books of Alexandria by Rahma Krambo |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Marco, a young cat, loved to listen to his young human, Lily, read books aloud. When Lily’s grandmother gets ill suddenly and is taken to the hospital, young Marco goes out an open door into the outside world looking for food. He finds himself in a strange place which is not the safe, caring atmosphere he knows. In a search for safety and food, Marco enters the town library; there, he finds that he can read himself. He also meets Cicero who becomes his mentor. Cicero is a guardian cat --- guarding mystical books from the los Library of Alexandria. He takes Marco on a journey to the past showing him what happened to the Library of Alexandria and how the guardian cats were formed. He also introduces Marco to other cats in The Dead Cats Society; they’re not dead but they get together to befriend each other and listen to tales of guardian cats. Join Marco in an adventure where he befriends a ferret, Polo, and they, along with the Dead Cats Society members fight rogue cats and the evil Professor who is trying to steal the Book of Motion, one of the secret books of mystical powers from the Library of Alexandria and who tries to destroy the library. An enjoyable adventure formed around delightful cat, and one ferret, characters; if you like cats, all age groups will enjoy reading about Marco and his friends. Book won in a FirstReads contest. |
| Jane H. |
| Love Fraud by Donna Anderson |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I'm not sure how to categorize this book. It is a true account of how the author was duped by a con man, a sociopath, she married and how she used the pain to grow spiritually and emotionally. It's a difficult book to read because so many of her actions in dealing with this man were so emotionally immature and (let's just put it out on the table!) ridiculously stupid. But that's easy for me to say playing Monday morning quarterback on her story. I tried very hard to imagine her situation and put myself in her shoes, but I still found it hard to get past some of her own very blatant psychological shortcomings which added fuel to the fire, so to speak. I almost put this book down SEVERAL times but I am not a quitter and seldom don't finish a book. This one was like watching a train wreck happening. I did finish it although I had to skim over many of the parts of the book where the author gave lengthy details on her dates and travelogues too numerous to mention which had almost nothing to do with the story I felt she was trying to tell. I was really stumped by the fact that she seemed to have made a pretty good living as a copywriter at one point in her life. Her editing skills were not present in the final edition of THIS book. That said, this is a sad story which may help other people in similar or somewhat similar situations. The author relied heavily on spiritual and emotional advisors who called forth experiences in the author's "past lives" which lead her to her current situation. I guess it helped to have someone else to blame to be able to get past this, but harshly put, it's just another story of a woman who couldn't see the writing on the wall, "he's just not that into you". In this case, he wasn't at all into her or the other score of women he defrauded, but he was certainly into their money and did very well for himself. Very sad that women have such low self esteem that they reach a point of desperation where they would do anything, give up anything, just to be able to be married. I kept wondering if her main guiding impetus for a quick resolution of her single status was to have a family, why didn't she just adopt a child or carry her own baby without a spouse if she had not yet met Mr. Right, instead of inventing him from someone she met on the internet? This was supposedly a smart woman! If this author had spent half of her time working on her own issues prior to looking for a partner who would "make her life complete," she might have found the rest of her life a lot easier to live. Maybe that in itself is a good lesson to be learned from this book and might just be the only reason to read it. The last few chapters detailing the extraordinary measures she had to go to for justice were by far the best parts of the book. |
| Megan |
| Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Just started it and I am already hooked! |
| Sandy |
| Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a very good book for a young adult girl. I hope I can get my granddaughter to read it instead of another vampire book! |
| Diane |
| Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Beautifully written novel which tugs at the heartstrings. |
| Ellie |
| Major Pettigrew's Stand by Helen Simonson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful novel with vivid character portrayal and excellent writing. |
| Bonnie |
| The Paris Wife by Paula McLain |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Interesting enough novel about Hemingway and his first wife. But I wonder if my time wouldn't have been better served reading a nonfiction book about the same topic. It does, however, make me want to go a reread Hemingway. And Fitzgerald. And that's good. |
| Anne |
| A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Gripping and unforgettable mystery during an interesting era. |
| Pearl |
| A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Memorable historical novel that is well written and fascinating. |
| jnydegger |
| Untold Story by Monica Ali |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
What if Princess Diana did not die in the car accident in1997? What if she changed her appearance and her name and started a new life in the United States? It is an interesting idea, but I am not sure that I will love this book. I am only on page 33 so it might turn out great. |
| Stacey K. |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am not usually a fan of mystery thrillers, but this was fantastic! I put off reading it, because I thought it couldn't possibly be as good as all the hype surrounding it. I can't wait to see the movie version and read the second installment of this series! |
| Tonnie H. |
| A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am soo into this series. I go from one book to the next. I haven't been this inthralded with a series of books since Twilight and The Harry Potter. This is even better |
| Celeste |
| Love @ First Site by Jane Moore |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very funny book about finding love on the internet. The storyline, however, does have a serious note to it as well which I hadn't expected. |
| Nancy S. |
| You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What does a green housing development and a little boy abandoned at a playground years earlier have in common? Just one person... One of the best suspense books I have read in a long time. |
| Katherine S. |
| A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Heartbreaking, gut wrenching. My heart goes out to this girl. To have survived those horrific 18 years and come out of it able to start over again...God Bless you, Jaycee! |
| Betty Jo H. |
| Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I don't know why I waited so long to read this one....great story and great storyteller. Relationships between women, men, children, and the family are all part of this novel set in China in the mid 1800s. |
| Sean from OHIO |
| A Time To Kill by John Grisham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
After reading John Grisham’s first novel you can truly understand why he has become such a literary star. This book drips with emotion, tense drama, realistic characters, and soul. This is a story that you can sadly picture happening, and it is done so well. The antagonists are awful and real. The protagonists are flawed and fabulous. This is a story that so many different kind of people can learn from and relate to in some way. Overall, a fantastic novel. |
| Julie H. |
| The Bake Off by Beth Kendrick |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Sisters Amy and Linnie are brought together by their crafty Grammy Syl, in an attempt on her part for them to bury the hatchet and be a part of each others' lives. Sounds easy enough, but neither sister is a baker and Grammy has entered them in a National Baking Contest, using her Polish Apple Pie recipe. Linnie needs the prize money and Amy's time away from her family may help her see a new career path. Their situation grew from differences in their childhood and it's great to see them begin to appreciate each other as adults. What I really liked, however, was Kendrick's handling of the Baking Contest itself. From the descriptions of the rules, runners to the pantry and the mock cooking areas set up for each set of contestants, I felt I was learning a lot about this strange world. The baking world is not without its' own rivalries and scandals either and these made for some interesting parts of the story. |
| Julie H. |
| Kindred Spirits by Sarah Strohmeyer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I thought Strohmeyer did a great job in this multi-character story without being too sappy about the one that passed away. The remaining members of the Ladies Society for the Conservation of Martinis are called upon to finish Lynne's final request after her death. This sends them not only on a physical road trip but also on personal ones. The changes in the three friends are sometimes subtle, but seem very real for women close to 50 who are re-evaluating where they want to be in life. |
| Julie H. |
| Foul Play at the PTA by Laura Alden |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Alden's second novel in the PTA mystery series is a smoothly written tale. Beth Kennedy still struggles with all the hats she is juggling in life, from business owner to single mother to PTA secretary. When a local man is found strangled, the safety of her family is paramount and Beth decides to look into another homicide. Her sidekick Marina is a little much at times, in this novel, she's spouting all kinds of Shakespearean quotes, but in description, she does sound larger than life, so I guess if fits! Will enjoy another visit to Rynwood soon! |
| Julie H. |
| Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I didn't enjoy this as much as some of Andrews other fun novels. It seemed a little long and I thought the addition of the extra woman and her problems superfluous |
| Julie H. |
| Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Finally, back to the great formula that has made Stephanie's story and life so fun. This isn't Lula's newest diet book, but a look at the burg, and it's crazy inhabitants. |
| Lynn/MI |
| Passions of the Dead: A Detective Jackson Mystery by L.J. Sellers |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have just finished series and there's not a bad one in them! Every book I've read by her I can't put down until I finish it! GREAT READS! |
| J. Ross |
| Dreams of Joy by Lisa See |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Lisa See gives you a real look at Red China as well as the drama unfolding in the main characters life; from California to China, it's a good read. |
| Lynn/MI |
| Murder Bites the Bullet by Deb Baker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Her books are a pleasure to read --- the characters are just loveable and seems like you can picture them perfectly, plus she makes me chuckle! |
| D Kitchell |
| The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted by Elizabeth Berg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is a selection of short stories which is a wonderful break between novels. Berg's strength is her characters and she doesn't let you down in these stories. Some stories are funny and some are sad, but they are all very well written and full of life at it's best. |
| Lu in Holland |
| Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Really a good story. Gave me an appreciation of the fire-fighting world. BUT --- I figured out the who-dunnit midway through, and I hate when that happens. Much better to be stunned by a twist. Other than that, good characters. |
| Lu in Holland |
| The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The very best book I've read in a LONG time! Adventure, survival, romance, heart-rending, tasteful. My new favorite author! |
| Allie |
| I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Long but interesting read about coping with mental illness in one's family. |
| Susan C. |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very provocative. Strong characters. The first 35 pages were long, however, after page 100, I couldn't put the book down and read it straight through! Covered many topics that women especially are affected by. (608 pages) |
| Melydia |
| I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Dominick is angry, and has been his whole life. His identical twin brother has paranoid schizophrenia, the woman he loves divorced him, his girlfriend makes him crazy, his stepfather is abusive, and his mother died keeping the secret of his biological father’s identity. Our story begins in 1990 when Dominick’s brother Thomas cuts off his own hand in a public library, believing this sacrifice will somehow prevent the Gulf War. Believed to be a danger to himself and others, Thomas is placed in a maximum security mental institution. Thus begins Dominick’s journey to free his brother from his prison, confront his issues with his parents, and discover the truth about his family history. At first I couldn’t figure out why this book was so danged long, but I was soon drawn in by the characters and their stories. There’s a lot of drama here, a lot more than anything in my personal experience, but I never felt disconnected or disbelieving. The story-within-a-story told by Dominick’s grandfather was especially compelling, being told by such an unlikable narrator. Though it may be long and occasionally feels somewhat scattered, everything comes together in the end for a deeply satisfying conclusion. Dominick, Thomas, and the rest will stay with me for a very long time. |
| matkeltri |
| Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I like Edward, and there's not so much sex in this book, so it's pretty good. There is an actual plot, although it's not terribly compelling. I kind of miss Jean-Claude, though. I loved the earlier Anita Blake books, but the last five or six were kind of weak. |
| Lynn/MI |
| Color Me Grey by J.C. Phelps |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A truly enjoyable read! Didn't know what to expect with this book and it was about things I don't normally care for but characters were great, action great ---- will read the others also! |
| Lynn/MI |
| The Sex Club by L.J. Sellers |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Her books are just great suspense books! Will be truly sad when I finish them all up and have to wait for her to finish writing them! |
| Mary D. |
| Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another great, fast moving Gabriel Allon story that will leave you breathless and praying that it is truly a work of fiction and not based in any truths. But sadly, that's probably not possible. |
| Marsha |
| Vendetta by Michael Dibdin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Aurelio Zen is a police inspector in Rome and is chosen to solve an unsolvable case to the approval of members of parliment who are protecting the person accused of the murders. In the wilds of Sardinia, Zen is faced with a type of vendetta that may never end. |
| Kathleen K. |
| Tout Sweet by Karen Wheeler |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very interesting memoir! |
| Sagil |
| Breathless by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I would recommend this book. |
| BJ Simon |
| Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great read with an unusual protagonist. I look forward to more from this author and discovering the backstory to this character. |
| Shannon |
| Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Coorg in India. Late 1800s. The story of Devi, a strong little girl who turns into an even stronger woman through love, loss and misfortune. An amazing book. I lost track of time and couldn't put it down. Spent the last few days growling at anyone who was interrupting my book. I would love to travel back into the almost magical world the author created to visit with the characters in the book. Don't be intimidated by the long names. Some of the names of main characters get shortened into nicknames and there aren't too many characters to keep track of. There is also a short glossary in the back of the book. |
| Loretta S. |
| Faith by Jennifer Haigh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Yes we have all heard about the priest scandals in Boston...this book looks at one family when their brother is that priest...or is he innocent? I read it in two days --- there is a lot here, including the priest questioning his life in the church. Could he have had a more normal life? Is he capable of love? Was he just hiding out from life ? |
| Ann |
| Verónica's Diary-The Journey of Innocence by Veronica Esagui |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Older times Hard times Humor when least exspected All from a child's eyes as time goes by. |
| Barbara |
| State of Wonder by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I am about 3/4 of the way through the book, and I am impressed by the characters. I think the book will be one many book groups choose. |
| Rosemary S. |
| In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Well-written, but rather more about Australia than I wanted to know. |
| Sally G. |
| "There Are Things I Want You to Know" abou by Eva Gabrielsson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A true, beautiful love story with many facts and happenings not known until after Steig Larsson's death, and the injustices from his brother and father. |
| Kathleen K. |
| Killer Moves by Michael Marshall |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very suspenseful and intriguing. |
| Sally G. |
| Unraveled by Maggie Sefton |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Not much mystery and too much dialogue, with all the characters and some are immature for 30+. |
| Myrna |
| Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I am thoroughly enjoying this book, set in the 1660s, about a young white woman and the Native American young man she befriends, who will be the first of his Nation to attend Harvard University. Brooks' use of language makes us think we are actually back in that time period. Religion, cultural diversity, and the role of women are all themes explored. |
| Betty T. |
| Breaking Out of Bedlam by Leslie Larson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Entertaining. An 80+ lady keeps a journal of her stay at an assisted-living facility. She uses many sayings I have heard from people of her generation. Some parts are pretty raunchy. |
| Lu in Holland |
| The Bride's House by Sandra Dallas |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Loved the ongoing story of lives and loves of three generations and how they all tie together. Well done. |
| readingjill |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
So riveting. I can't put it down. My mother has Alzheimer's so this really rings close to home. |
| Reva W. |
| Cross Country by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Alex Cross is investigating a murder and finds out one of the victims was his girlfriend in college. He discovers that the group that killed her whole family has gone back to Africa. So he decides to go after the leader. He finds more brutality and his life in danger. |
| Cathy |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm finally getting this title read in great expectation of the movie coming out next week. |
| Linda G. |
| Map of Time by Félix J. Palma |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful story, believable characters --- couldn't put it down |
| Andrea |
| Shadow Past by Sam Eastland |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful historical fiction set in the Stalin era of Russia. |
| Lu in Holland |
| The Memory of Water by Karen White |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Good story. Love and devotion among family. How the past changes us and effects us daily. |
| Lu in Holland |
| The Island by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Broken hearts, healing, coming to terms with the past. New beginnings. The bond of family. Daughters, sisters. New love. The Nantucket setting is relaxed and all about summer. |
| Jean M. |
| Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another page-turner from a good writer. I loved it. This latest has Gabriel Allon called back for one more adventure and it is a good one. If you like the spy adventures, you'll love this one. |
| Kay |
| The Devil Colony by James Rollins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This might be my all-time favorite James Rollins novel!! No one writes better action and suspense than Rollins. This novel is set in Indian territory in Utah. Native American culture and history is tied to the founding fathers of our country by a secret find hidden underground in the Rocky Mountains. Wonderful character development and a rich plot --- very enjoyable read!! |
| Carol G. |
| A Passage to India by E. M. Forster |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A story written on many levels. So well written. Loved it. |
| Margay R. |
| Evermore: The Immortals, Book 1 by Alyson Noel |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great book! |
| Susan |
| Somebody Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderfully written book about a young girl kidnapped from Africa and sold in to slavery. Her experiences in America and the will to survivie. Really good! |
| Julie |
| A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This novel has me completely in its spell. I have read the four others in the series and will be so sad when I am done this one. Bravo to Martin for a fantastic story that I hope doesn't end anytime soon. |
| J.R. Monahan |
| The Last Letter from your Lover by Jojo Moyes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Fabulous story that leaves several questions unanswered along the way until it is all pulled together. The characters are so lifelike that you love [and hate] them with a passion!! |
| Coral H. |
| Love You More by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A good mystery that keeps you changing your mind clear to the end of the book. Tessa Leoni is state police trooper with a six-year-old daughter. Her husband is a merchant marine and is home two months and gone two months. He seems like a very nice man and is good to her daughter. Things get mixed up and makes for a good mystery. |
| Debbie L. |
| The Pawn by Steven James |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just finished THE PAWN by Steven James and absolutely could not put it down. It's the first book in his Bower Files series. He's one of the few authors I would put in the same category as Patricia Cornwell, as he develops the plots and characters as intricately as she does in herScarpetta books. Check him out at www.stevenjames.net. If you like the murder mystery genre, you will love this book. |
| Gail |
| The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved the book. Have to admit I did not like it at first. Especially when I realized it was a true story. Thought I didn't want to read about a group of girls who were so popular! But I continued and got caught up in each of the girls lives. I have recommended it to many of my pool friends! |
| Debbie |
| The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I am fascinated with the Thin Man movie series, which starred William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. I had never read the book by Dashiell Hammett, so this was a treat. Hammett presents a light and fun-loving mystery, which presents 90% of the story through dialogue. Hammett does not write lengthy descriptions, but presents everything through his dialogue The story is told from Nick's voice. After reading the book, I am anxious to see the movie again. |
| Rosalie S. |
| Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
4.5 stars. This would have been a 5 star book but the ending was not as good as the rest of the book. There are so many twists and turns; I was never sure who the "Campsite Killer" was. This was a wonderful book. |
| Kathy V. |
| Real Murders by Charlaine Harris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
First in the series Aurora Teagarden, or as she would like to be called, Roe. She belongs to a club, The Real Murders Society. They read the books and meet once a month to discuss them, till they start to hit way too close to home |
| Rosalie S. |
| Victorious Victoria by Jean Plaidy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another fine book by Ms. Plaidy. This is the first book about Queen Victoria I have read. As usual, I enjoyed it very much. Ms. Plaidy has such a wonderful skill of bringing her characters to life. She makes reading history very enjoyable. |
| Bonnie |
| The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
For fans of THE HELP, this is the book for you. Set in the 1950s and '60s south, this is a wrenching novel about equality and love. You won't soon forget it. |
| Bonnie |
| Don't Kill the Birthday Girl by Sandra Beasley |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent book for anyone interested in food allergies. Beasley is an adult who has multiple allergies and this book tells how she lives with them. It covers childhood, school days, young adulthood and beyond. Also, it covers recent research and offers helpful information for families and friends of those with these allergies. |
| Shiela |
| Quinn by Iris Johansen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I am so anxious to get the third installment in the series. I have enjoyed the first two and am anticipating the next book! |
| Erin C. |
| Room by Emma Donoghue |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.75 stars Jack knows Room, Table, Trash, Wardrobe and Ma. He knows many other things for a newly turned 5-year-old. He loves Ma and Dora and Dylan the Digger. He does not love green beans. He knows to be quiet in Wardrobe when Old Nick comes to visit. And when he was 4, all the things on TV are fake. But now that he's 5, Ma tells him about Outside and how the people on TV are real, expect his cartoons and Dora, but huh?!! That is as far as I can and want to go in the book's summary. Anything more and it will spoil Jack's story for you. I was hesitant about reading the book even with all of the rave reviews, not sure why, maybe too uncomfortable to hear a story told by a child. But I'm glad I did read Jack and Ma's story for two reasons: 1 - our children see and hear so much more than we think they do and 2 - our world is so small even if we are already on the Outside. Highly recommend but might want to be in a good, lighthearted mood when you start so you can appreciate Jack and Ma's journey. |
| Lisa P. |
| To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was the first book by Tom McNeal our book club has read. I loved the story. His writing style is different than what I normally read. I like the way he uses a character's speech, mannerisms, etc., as a description of the person rather than the obvious. Through initial character conversations, I had developed my image of the character. Being a midwestern girl and raised in a small town on a farm, I enjoyed the parts of the book that were set in Nebraska. Will definitely look for more books by this author. |
| Debbie |
| The Charlestown Connection by Tom MacDonald |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is an interesting fictional account of the 1990 art heist from Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The event did happen and has been labeled “the holy grail of art crime" due to the unsolved status of over $500 million in art. MacDonald's characters are vivid --- from the wheelchair bound African American computer geek to the half Canadian Indian ex football player. Sometimes, I felt confused with the various minor characters. The transition from chapter to chapter at the beginning of the book lacks continuity. MacDonald presents street hard characters that have seen the bad times, but are struggling to live each day. Dermot Sparhawk fights alcoholism, but underneath the gruff exterior is a heart of gold. The insertion of the Oulipo business distracted from the story. The business of art forgery was amazing in showing that some forgeries can almost pass as the original art. |
| Martha |
| The Reservoir by John M. Thompson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a fascinating mystery/courtroom drama. On an early spring morning in 1885 a young pregnant woman is found floating in a Virginia reservoir. The story of how she got there is a tight intriguing tale that kept me turning pages. Based on a real case in history this story is well worth the read. |
| Martha |
| The Paris Wife by Paula McLain |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Never a big fan of Hemingway, so I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book, but I really did. It sure did make me happy I didn't live among the "lost generation" --- they did not seem like a happy bunch. I also gained a huge respect for Hemingway's first wife. |
| Kellie |
| The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Just the idea of this book pushes it to a 3 before I even begin to rate it. It kind of reminded me of "Survivor." Except, in "Survivor" they don’t kill each other. Briefly, the story is about Katniss, who voluntarily replaces her sister when she is chosen to represent District 12 in the Hunger Games. Every year, a boy and a girl from the age 12 to 18 from each district is chosen from a lottery to participate in the games. They are put in an “area” where they hunt each other. The last one to survive, is the winner. All of this is televised throughout each division. To me, the plot was great, the characters fantastic. I liked Katniss. She is strong-willed and does whatever it takes to stay alive. Even if it means showing affection to someone she isn’t sure she really cares about. She is protecting her family and does whatever it takes to make sure they are going to be OK. Very admirable for a teenager. I liked Peeta too. He is a bit more mysterious to me because he is a guy and I’m never quite sure what his true feelings are. I do think he is loyal and genuine. really liked this book.So much so, I downloaded # 2 and #3 on my nook app. |
| Sharron |
| Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Story of two girls with different moms fathered by same man. One is his "secret" daughter, Dana, who has a hard time with his "other" family while he still visits her mom every Wed. |
| Sharron |
| Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Interesting story of a too young war bride, falling for a transient fireworks expert while preparing to welcome her soldier husband home. The story appealed to me since it was in Georgia and now I want to visit the small town!! |
| Jean |
| Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A fun cozy mystery centering around the theme of a farmer's market. I will definitely read the next in the series. |
| Bridget |
| The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Really good book about World War II as seen through Hungarian eyes. Starts in Paris, late 1930s, ends after the war. The resilience of people is seen throughout. |
| Martha |
| Bossypants by Tina Fey |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I want Tina Fey to be my best friend. I want to hang out with her telling stories (well, her telling me stories) and eat junk. If you think Liz Lemon is funny just wait til you hang with Tina Fey. Plus, you'll never look at cruise travel the same way. |
| Angie |
| Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book. It was romantic and it gave me the opportunity to learn a little bit about the Japanese and Geisha culture. |
| Martha |
| The Summer WIthout Men by Siri Hustvedt |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a wonderful, intelligent read. A great book club book with lots to talk about. A truly A+ book. |
| Martha |
| The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Sarah Addison Allen can do no wrong in my book and this outing is no exception. This tale of old secrets kept and revealed, new and old friendships being made and renewed, and the things that connect women really grabbed me from the start and held me to the very end. Another great story. |
| Judy O. |
| Betrayal of Trust: A J. P. Beaumont Novel by J.A. Jance |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a good, good, good series! J.P. Beaumont and his wife/partner Mel are homicide detectives in Seattle. When they get a call to go to the Washington governor's house, they go. The governor's grandson has gotten a cell phone video which appears to be a "snuff" film. What follows next is much mayhem and intrigue involving the highest officials in Washington and some other wealthy residents of Olympia. A compelling read and very satisfying to the last page. |
| Nanette M. |
| Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have seen the movie zillions of times but never read this classic and I am truly enjoying it. Then I just discovered that Kathryn Stockett is also reading it this summer. That was pretty cool since THE HELP is probably one of the best books I have EVER read! |
| Betty T. |
| Breaking Out of Bedlam by Leslie Larson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fun read about a lady in an assisted-living facility. She speaks her mind. Will remind you of the elderly loved ones in your life. |
| Reva W. |
| Cold River by Carla Neggers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it very much.It takes place in a small town in Vermont. Hannah Shay has finished law school and is studying for the bar while running a cafe and raising her two brothers. She ends up in the middle of a murder investigation. |
| Debbie |
| Death of a Stranger by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This novel had many plots and subplots involving Monk, Hester, and Monk's past. Each book brings Monk closer to the truth of his life before his accident. Hester, as usual, is fighting the morals battles of women and the poor. She reasons that prostitution is bad, but that women have few avenues open for earning wages. Monk investigates fraud in land deals and the operations of the railroad. Anne Perry writes in the detailed style of Elizabeth George, but provides less psychological analysis than George I enjoy reading both authors, and may venture into Perry's Thomas Pitt series. |
| Tanya |
| My Reading Life by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.5 stars. The author discusses the books he has read and describes how they influenced his writing career. So many good book recommendations by the author as well. |
| Beth C. |
| Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an amazing novel --- the story of two conjoined twins fathered by a British Surgeon and a nun. The story takes turns and another layer is developed --- each layer as interesting as the last. The entire novel is engrossing. There were so many places where I was reading and stopped to reread because the words were so vivid. |
| ASH28 |
| Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb and Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This happens to be the seventh book of the series, and I promise that they just keep getting better and better. The main character, Detective Eve Dallas, and her rich husband, Roarke, keep the reader in touch with the emotions played throughout each novel. They allow for the reader to live the actual story through the imagery and detail, primarily. The best of all is that you never seem able to correctly guess who the killer is; the novels keep your mind constantly running and trying to put the puzzle together. That's what makes for a wonderful mystery! |
| Heather |
| The Last Nude by Ellis Avery |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
probably 4 1/2 stars! I was lucky enough to win a copy from ReadingGroupGuides.com (thank you!) and am really enjoying it. I love stories about expatriots, especially when set in Paris. And I love historical fiction especially the WWI and WWII era so this book hit the mark. It's the story of a painter and her muse. |
| Marsha |
| Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the second Nick Haller book. Haller is a former intelligence operative trained in the Special Forces and with his ex-lover, an FBI special agent, he hunts down a kidnapper who is threatening to kill a friend. Powerful members of a conspiracy are tangled in the mess along with dangerous criminals. It's a fast-paced thriller. |
| Kathy V. |
| To Sketch a Thief by Sharon Pape |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Number 2 in the series --- Rory has been asked to solve a dog napping ring that is conected to a murder. Little does she know how much it is connected. |
| Lynn H |
| Every Last One by Anna Quindlen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is fabulous! You get so into the characters and story that as you see the "train wreck" coming you want to shout "Look Out!" Fair warning....you will cry a couple times during this book so have your tissues ready. |
| Santa Fe Cowgirl |
| In the Woods by Tana French |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Scary! |
| Sandy |
| Bet Me by Jennifer Cruisie |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I only read two chapters when I decided that I don't have time for this book when I have so many other good ones on my shelf!!! Sorry. |
| EC |
| The Birthday Present by Barbara Vine |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a good read. The author, who is also Ruth Rendell, is known for surprise endings or ironic conclusions. The story keeps your interest, but the ending is not the big surprise you were hoping for. |
| Gretchen |
| The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Intriguing subject that I hadn't known about --- practice babies used in home economics classes. It's a story about one of the children from when he was 'used' as a practice baby until he is grown. |
| Julie C. |
| Chalk Line by Paula LaRocque |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In brief, CHALK LINE is a murder mystery, set in two opposite ends of the country. Now, what did I think of it? Let’s start with my wish list and end with the gifts. CHALK LINE took a little longer for me connect with some of the characters than I like. Plus, my daughter saw me reading it and asked if she could read it after I finished. Due to sprinklings of strong profanity along with a paragraph or two of a sensually graphic nature (which are, admittedly, less than in most novels of this genre), I dissuaded her. This book is intended for older audiences. On the flip side, I did enjoy many of the twists and turns the story took. One of the main characters, a sweet dog named Bood, is absolutely adorable. And, honestly, I think it would make for a terrific hit on the big screen. Does she have any desire to see her work turned into a screenplay? I have no idea, but I’d love to see it happen, and think CHALK LINE marks the beginning of a great series. |
| Loretta S. |
| Sixkill by Robert B. Parker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read, and enjoyed, all the Spenser books. Picking up the newest book was like spending time with a friend. In this last book of the series (miss you RP) a new character was introduced, Zebulon Sixkill: a young man for Spenser to mentor. Seems like the author was ready to explore this relationship at length but ..... |
| Loretta S. |
| Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was worried that the Stephanie Plum character was getting a little too routine but she is back and I enjoyed this book. |
| SallyAnn |
| French Lessons by Ellen Sussman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Sometimes, I find that writing reviews is a chore even if I liked the story but in the case of FRENCH LESSONS, I want to write about this feel good book. The story starts with the three tutors: Philipe the lover, Chantal that loves Philipe ,and Nico that loves Chantal. Oh, my. It is the beginning of the week and they have received their assignments as private tutors. They sit together at the sidewalk café and speculate about their students. The chapters follow each tutor’s assignment and it starts with Josie and Nico followed by Chantal and Jeremy. We walk the streets, buildings, and parks of Paris and in doing so we learn the secrets of funny, sad, and interesting characters. The theme speaks of personal values and do we pursue new ones or live with our comfortable ones. |
| Bonnie |
| What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this intriguing novel about a woman who falls at the gym, hits her head and can't remember the last ten years of her life. This includes children, the fact that she and her husband are getting a divorce and that she does, indeed, exercise At times funny and very thought-provoking, this would be a great book group read. |
| Carroll S. |
| The Beach House by Jane Green |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Good beach read. |
| Santa Fe Cowgirl |
| Borgia Betrayal by Sara Poole |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Loved reading about the Borgias and their "poisoner." A very interesting time in history! |
| Santa Fe Cowgirl |
| Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very interesting! Especially since I have had hearing loss! |
| Santa Fe Cowgirl |
| Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best series going! |
| Lorna |
| The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I never would have read this book... but someone recomended it to me. So glad she did. A midwife commits suicide and her two closest friends search for answers. They discover more than they expected, only to find that their friend was not who they thought she was. Couldn't put it down. |
| Patricia P. |
| In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This could be a true life story!! I hated to put it down once I got started. Terri has brought the characters to life, especially Justine. You can put yourself in her place and feel like you are right there with her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes stories of family ups and downs!! Thanks Terri for a well written family drama! |
| Judy O. |
| Dreams of Joy by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a sequel to See's book, SHANGHAI GIRLS. But, if you haven't read the earlier one, your enjoyment of this novel will not suffer. Getting into the People's Republic of China proves to be easier than getting out. This fact is discovered by Pearl and her daughter Joy. Joy escapes to China after a family argument, and her mother Pearl follows her. We learn about life in a commune during the terrible three-year famine in China and how the people in Shanghai fared as well. This is a very interesting and welll-written story of life during that time. |
| Ali |
| Lavender Mornings by Jude Deveraux |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I am trying to whittle down my unread books pile and came across this title. I wanted a quick summer read and this is filling the bill. It isn't literature and it's not Harlequin romance. I am anxious to see the outcome and I only have a few pages left! |
| Ali |
| The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Interesting book about a group of women in England in a book club. Each section is named for the book they are reading and the author provides some discussion about the selected book. I thought it was great the way I could identify with one of the characters and how the women became friends over the course of the first year reading cycle, sharing each other's family issues and situations. It was definitely better than THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB. |
| Marjorie C. |
| You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Caught my attention at page one. |
| Patricia P. |
| Blood Club by Walter Schnabel |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great book!! Once you start reading, you don't want to put it down! The story is like a modern day version of THE STEPFORD WIVES! Surprise ending!! I can't wait for the sequel. |
| Lynn H. |
| The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I truly enjoyed this book. It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat. I watched the movie once I finished it and of course the book is better --- it always is. If you have already seen the movie, you can still read the book with plenty of surprises because the book has more information and a slightly different ending. |
| Sandy |
| Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a great novel and you won't want to put it down. |
| Jackie R. |
| The Whisperers by John Connolly |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Didn't like it when I started reading it but switched to audio and now I'm really enjoying it. Charlie Parker sets out to investigate the increasing number of suicides going on amongst local Iraq war vets, but something more supernatural is going on. |
| Crystal |
| Scenarios: A "Nameless Detective" Casebook by Bill Pronzini |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love the "Nameless Detective" stories in any form, short story or novel. This collection of short stories is especially fine. It spans 35 years, from his first appearance in 1968 to 2003. |
| Fran |
| Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Tatiana de Rosnay's novel was the best book I've read in a long time. I was riveted from the very first page and could not put it down. Learning about the "Vel' D'Hiv" roundup in Paris, 1942 was shocking for me as it was not included in any historical account of World War II that I've read to date. You had to keep reminding yourself that this was the French police and not the Nazi soldiers themselves. It adds yet another shocking and horrifying dimension of this period of time for European Jewish families as well as our world. Sarah and Michel's story was haunting, and Julia's parallel story line told 60 years later kept the pages turning. The suffering these people were subjected to during the war is so hard to comprehend for most of us who have been fortunate enough to have a very different experience growing up. I will definitely look for more books by this amazing writer. |
| Linda B |
| Outpost Espilon by Herbert Grosshan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
All Terrex Stonewall Wanted To Do Was Get Away From His Cheating Girlfriend And See The New Planets. He Refused To Go To The Second Planet Of Human Space As His Dad Had Wanted And Signed Up For A Year At Outpost Epsilon That Was On The Fourth Planet, But Little Did He Know Their Were Dinosaur Like Creatures That Wanted Him For A Snack, Creatures In The Huge Mushroom Forests That Spat A Red Type Of Acid In Your Face And A Race Of Giant Ants That Took Him Prison. Man, He Should Have Been A Numbers Cruncher Like His Brother As It Was Going To Be A Long Year............... Herbert Grosshans Spins A Story That Is Bound To Keep Readers In Shock And Awe! The Story Will Keep Readers So Captivated That They Will Yell For More When The Final Page Has Been Read And I Too Will Crave A Continuation! What Will Happen The Terrex, Sheer, And Does Peters Finally Go Home? |
| Fran |
| The Journal of Hélène Berr by Hélène Berr |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A young woman's diary of life during the Nazi Occupation in France. Helene and her family were considered "privileged and sophisticated" and were largely unaffected by events going on right under her families nose. Her early journal focuses on love interests, literature, music and the beauty of the city and gradually shifts to the tragedy and despair of the mass extermination of her neighbors and friends. Helene and her family were arrested in 1944 and her journal was shared with family members, who have translated it into this novel. It is a unique perspective on the story of the Holocaust. |
| Debbie |
| Funeral in Blue by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Kristian Beck, a doctor, loses his wife to murder. Everyone knows that Kristian is married, but no one has met his wife. Perry goes into the history of Kristian and Elissa Beck during the revolution in Austria in 1848. Perry also slips into the story the hatred and prejudice towards Jews. I thoroughly enjoy the glimpses of history, and the underlying currents of each period. Elissa Beck has fallen into the gambling pit, and has turned to an ex-lover to cover her losses. Krisian is arrested for the murder of his wife, but Sir Oliver Rathbone is away in Scotland and cannot defend Kristian. Kristian's father-in-law, Fuller Pendreigh, must defend him. The killer is a surprise, not who I expected. The cast of characters is impressive with the reappearance of Hester's brother and sister-in-law. |
| Stacey K. |
| Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you love stories about ancient China, like I do, then you will love this book! It is the story of two young girls, Lily and Snow Flower, who are best friends raised in a world where women are considered useless and must be kept from sight. The ancient ritual of foot-binding is very descriptive in letting the reader know how important it was that a woman have small feet, or "golden lillies," to make her more marriageable. I cannot wait to see the movie version of this book! |
| Soovie |
| How to Cook a Tart by Nina Killham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This isn't WAR AND PEACE but an easy, fun summer read that will appeal to foodies, mystery lovers and anyone with a macabre sense of humor. |
| Coral H. |
| Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Picoult knows how to write about controversal subjects very well. This one is about gay people. It is a very compelling story. No matter how you fell on this subject, you will want to read this book. |
| Sean from OHIO |
| Ford County: Stories by John Grisham |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
John Grisham has almost always delighted me with his novels’ settings. Mainly those taking place in Ford County, Mississippi. There we are treated to background and main characters that run the gamut of personality types and idiosyncrasies. Everyone wasn’t always cookie-cutter good or bad. Here, while the stories that take place are interesting, the vast majority of these people seem so terrible they are hard to care about because you hope nothing good happens to them. Each story was good just almost devoid of goodness which isn’t at all what Grisham has shown in his other works. While there might be a deplorable racist in one scene we are usually given a foil to that character that plays off it well. Here, not so much. Overall, this is a decent but depressing collection. |
| Marion M. |
| Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
l really enjoyed this memoir. Harry Bernstein wrote this book at 97. I truly think this is amazing. The memoir transports us to England prior to WWI. The families are portrayed vividly and you will definitely meet characters you love and hate. A fascinating and recommended book to read. |
| Coral H. |
| The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A good book. The main characters are sisters Emily and Jesimine Bach. It tells of Silicon Balley before 9/11. You learn a lot and it is enjoyable reading. |
| Sharon |
| No Second Chance by Harlan Coban |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was about to embark on a long plane flight without a good mystery. My sister suggested this book, which I was about to reject because I have read the flap of his books and did not find them interesting. But she was insistent and she was my sister. So I started the book on the plane without much anticipation. The book grabbed me immediately and would not let me go until I finished it. A father finds himself in a hospital bed with his wife dead and his daughter missing. He searches for his child but losses his opportunity. Then three years later he hears from the kidnappers again. Will he be successful this time. A perfect book for a long trip! |
| Gail |
| Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Well written and researched story of a remarkable man that needed to be told. |
| Wendy B. |
| The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I know probably everyone else in the world has read this book and the other two in the Millennium trilogy. I bought this book to read last summer before the movie was distributed in Canada but it got lost and I ended up going to see the movie without having read the book. Well, I finally found my copy and decided I would read it anyway. Great book. |
| Pat S. |
| Presumed Innocent & Innocent by Scott Turow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Re-read PRESUMED INNOCENT (to be up to date on book's events) then read INNOCENT. Loved them both! Good, good reads. Twists and turns in both. |
| Marsha |
| A Movable Feast by Ernest Hemingway |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
After reading THE PARIS WIFE about Hemingway's first wife, I decided to revisit Hemingway's memoirs about his early days in Paris. The short pieces are an insight into his early struggling days as an author and the people who influenced his writing. |
| Reva W. |
| Gone For Good by Harlan Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the third book I've read by this author, and the best. Lots of twists and turns, plus a surprise ending. Will's brother had been accused of murdering a girl years ago. He was either dead or he fled the country. After his mother dies, he finds proof that his brother is alive. |
| Liz D. |
| Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great summer read. I haven't read one of her books that I didn't like. Make you want to go to Nantucket. |
| Jack |
| How to Promote Your Home Business by John McLain |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent primer on how to obtain free publicity, marketing and advertising for any small business startup. Written by a former journalist and PR executive with many years of experience as a media consultant for colleges and corporations. |
| Jean M. |
| Long Gone by Alafair Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the author's first stand-alone novels. Alice Humphrey is unexpectedly given a dream job that turns into a nightmare. Managing a Manhattan art gallery in the trendy Meatpacking District, she arrives at work one morning to find the dead body of Drew Campbell, the fellow who had hired her. The place is empty otherwise. Alice soon finds herself at the center of the police investigation. When every thread of the investigation leads back to her, Alice knows she has been set up. But who is out to get her? This is a good plot that keeps you turning pages. This is a good example of the sins of fathers coming back to haunt. A good one. |
| Christina A. |
| Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Again Jodi Picoult weaves an interesting story out ethically questionable story matter. |
| Julie S. |
| State of Wonder by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Loving this book...wasn't sure I would get into it, but was I wrong! It is the story of Dr. Singh who goes to the Amazon to find out why her colleague, Dr. Eckman, passed away. It is quite interesting... |
| Linda J. |
| Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It took nine Kay Scarpetta books before I could give Cornwell more than 3 stars. I don't think it's the gruesomeness. I knew she must be getting better if she's about to come out with #19 Scarpetta. |
| Lynn |
| Still Alice by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
READ THIS BOOK! You will not forget it. |
| Freckles |
| My Name is Number 4 by Ting-Xing Ye |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A true story of a young girl who is sent to work on a peasant farm, after her family is torn apart during the Cultural Revolution. Since I did not know much about this time in China's history, the book was both informative and inspiring. |
| Veronica M. |
| Miles To Go by Richard Paul Evans |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I love his books. This is the sequel to THE WALK. It is a very good book. It tells you how people's lives touch each other in different ways to help each other. |
| Jean M. |
| River of Darkness by Rennie Airth |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Taking place in England after World War I, this book delves into the psychological aspects of soldiers as well as the physical ones. This first book in a series featuring a female doctor and her law enforcement husband. Good suspense and good characters make this a series that I want to continue to read. |
| Maxine U. |
| The Search by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
The first half of the book reads like a cross between Victoria Stilwell and Erica Jong. The second half has a decent story. |
| Anne C. |
| Nothing Daunted by Dorothy Wickenden |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Two young women teaching in Colorado in the early 1900s. |
| Jean M. |
| Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I wasn't sure that I wanted to read this one but as I really liked THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE by this same author, I decided to try it. I am so glad that I did. I could not put it down. The characters (most of them) are very sympathetic and the plot is really thought provoking. |
| David J. |
| The Last Child by John Hart |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
THE LAST CHILD is not a new book. But I picked it up in a bookstore and when I realized he was a writer from North Carolina, where I grew up, I decided to give the book a try. It was great. It was definitely a page turner, one of those books where you say to yourself that you'll stop for the night at the end of the next chapter, and then that chapter ends in such a way that you just have to keep reading. The story is about a young girl who has been missing for quite a while and the investigator who is in charge of the case. The brother of the missing girl is on a mission to find her and he will stop at nothing to do that. Personal relationships between the detective, his own son, the brother of the missing daughter, and the mother of the missing daughter are well developed. The story has many great twists and turns and the ending is great. I highly recommend this and I am ready to read his new book, IRON HOUSE, which was released on July 12, 2011. |
| Victoria Z. |
| Forever by Maggie Stiefvater |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love this series. It is really good. I am enjoying the last book. |
| Michele C. |
| The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Brilliant plot! Awesome characters! This story hooks you right from the beginning. |
| Allie |
| Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great people read! |
| Tricia D. |
| State of Wonder by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great story that carries its weight all the way to the end. Characters are strong and believable. Definitely a must-read book of the year. Patchett makes it seem almost possible for the drugs being researched in the Amazon to actually be something that could really happen if we don't destroy the area first. Love the book! |
| Debbie |
| Slaves of Obsession by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The year is 1861 and the Civil War divides the United States. The story begins with an English gun dealer that has promised to sell guns to the agent of the Confederate Army. But a representative of the Union Army, Lyman Breeland, hopes to change the mind of Daniel Alberton, the guns dealer. Breeland has won Daniel's 16-year-old daughter, Merrit, to the fight against slavery. Daniel is found murdered, the gun shipment has disappeared, and Merrit has disappeared. Daniel's widow, Judith, employs Monk and Hester to go to the United States to find and retrieve Merrit. Perry does a wonderful job showing the first battles of the war, and the utter chaos. Sir Oliver Rathbone defends Merrit and Lyman once the pair has been brought back to England. Of course the English judicial system is a little different than the American system. Rathbone struggles with his feelings for Hester and his regret concerning her marriage to Monk. The ending was not a total surprise, like in the earlier novels. |
| Marilyn P. |
| The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoy Andrew Taylor's stories but his books are difficult to find in book stores. This story moves a little more slowly than the other Taylor books I've read but his characters are well drawn and the plot keeps you going. |
| Marian F. |
| Left Neglected by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
After reading the author's first book about early-onset Alzheimer's, I was enthralled in the story of Sara, a fast-track professional/wife/mother whose life changes completely after an auto accident leaves her with left-sided deficits. She has to learn how to cope with and accept the physical and psychological changes caused by the accident. |
| Soovie |
| The Assassin's Accomplice by Kate Clifford Larson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The telling of Abraham Lincoln's assassination is historically correct, but a little dry for such a fascinating event. I learned a lot about the conspiracy that I didn't know previously. |
| Linda B. |
| The Silent Scream (Hawkman Series) by Betty Sullivan La Pierre |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Richard Clifford Motored His Bike Into The Shed And Hurried To His Small House That He His Mom Shared Since His Dad Died Of Cancer Two Years Ago. Richard And His Mom Were Deaf And He Had Been Home Schooled As He Mom Had Taught The Deaf Before She Quit And Married Hus Dad. As Richard Opened The Back Door Of The Kitchen He Was Overcome By The Metallic Smell Of Blood And There His Mom And Dog Lay In A Pool Of Blood! His Family Had Enjoyed Living Without Friends And The Only People He Sought For Help Were The Zankers And Jerome The Hermit But Neither Were Home And The Seventeen Year Old Boy Shook Off His Youth And Became A Man Hell Bent On Revenge! In The Silent Scream, Ms.La Pierre Pulls Out All The Stops When Francine Clifford Is Slit From Ear To Ear And Brutally Raped; And Since She Was Found By Her Son Who Had No Alibi He Is Accused And Hounded By Deputy Alberts. A Bigoted Lawman. When Hawkman Saw The Police At The Tiny Farm House He Pulled Over To Help But Was Surprised With The Mass Of Confusion And One Look At The Boy Told Him That He Would Do All He Could To Help Him. |
| Marilyn P. |
| Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read all of her books and all are excellent.I highly recommend her work. If you like psycological thrillers and complex characters, Jennifer McMahon is the author to read. This book has you guessing beyond the last page. Great! |
| Shirley B. |
| Original Sin: A Sally Sin Adventure by Beth McMullen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great summer fun book. |
| Julie |
| A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If I could give this book six stars I would. Martin's fabulous series of knights, kings, fantasy and intrigue continues with this book and it doesn't disappoint. |
| Gail S. |
| One Summer by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a very good novel re: family redemption and love. I read it in one day and truly loved it. |
| Rosemary S. |
| One Summer by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
While I don't begrudge his trying something new, I think he should stick to what he does best. |
| Michelle |
| A Game of Thrones by George R. R.. Martin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I had to read this one to see what all the hype was about. It does not disappoint. It is the start of an epic tale involving many characters. Each chapter is told from the POV of a different character. This keeps the reader interested in even the less likeable characters since you understand them better. |
| Susan K. |
| Left Neglected by Lisa Genoova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful book. Makes one understand that no matter what happens in life you can work though it. It made me cry and smile at the same time. One of the best. |
| Bonnie |
| The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Maybe 4 1/2 stars. Excellent novel set in the midst of the Viet Nam war and centering on the photojournalists there. Really gives a great understanding of what it was like while telling a good story. |
| Pattie B. |
| Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Tale of one woman's struggle with amnesia. |
| Barbara |
| One Summer by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoy reading books written by David Baldacci so when I heard that, like John Grisham, he stepped out of his usual writing genre and produced a romance I wanted to read it. ONE SUMMER is an easy read, suspenseful in parts and predictable in others. I think women would enjoy the story line. |
| Sissalee |
| The Confederette by Rose Stadler MSW |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a great historical novel --- it has made me aware of many issues of life in the South after the Civil War and how women were affected. I love "women revenge" books. |
| BJ Simon |
| Fallen by Karin Slaughter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another great entry from this author!! |
| Eileen K., Ph.D. |
| French Lessons by Ellen Sussman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
There are so many delightful books about France and specifically Paris and French Lessons is on the top of the list. The characters in the book come to Paris to learn to speak French better! This pivotal point creates a fascinating story of lives, loves, disappointment and joy. You will enjoy reading it. |
| Tanya |
| Kindred by Octavia Butler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a great book. The main character Dana is celebrating her 26th birthday when she is snatched from her home and transported to the antebellum south. Find out who summons Dana and why. |
| Jae |
| Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A hot read (in more ways than one) for these HOT days of summer! |
| Gina |
| Bossypants by Tina Fey |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Charming, witty, self-deprecating Tina Fey has written observations of life and SNL and Thirty Rock. |
| Melanie |
| To Defy a King by Elizabeth Chadwick |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great Historical Fiction! |
| Melanie |
| The Crown in the Heather by N. Gemini Sasson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
WOW |
| Melanie |
| Ghosts of the Soon Departed by T. A. Epley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great story ! |
| Dr Miriam K.K. |
| In The Garden of The Beasts by Erik Larson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A Must Read! Incredible book! If you ever thought you knew about Hitler's Germany in the early years of 1933-1938 --- you will be astounded with what you didn't know. Larson tells the events of those years in his usual excellent narrative story fashion so that you are reading history in the best form of "storytelling." You will not put this book down til the last page! |
| Shannon |
| Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I know this book is fiction, but the book felt "real" to me. I identified with the daughter and both sets of parents, as well as with the feeling of being ignorant in the country of my own people or feeling like an outsider in a place where I am supposed to belong. |
| Freckles |
| Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A compelling, honest young adult novel about a 12-year-old boy who is diagnosed with Autism. Told from the first person perspective, the author takes the reader into the mind of a boy with autism. The author's portrayal of his thoughts, sensory experiences, fears and worries offer the reader amazing insight into the world of this child. I've previously read books that attempt to tell a first person narrative of someone with autism, but never have a I found one that seemed so realistic and insightful. I highly recommend this book. Anyone who has ever struggled to fit in or be liked by others will have something to relate to with this adorable yet quirky character. |
| DonnaM |
| Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A grueling account of the Vietnam war that gives you the perspective from the soldiers POV --- no politics, no why we were there; just a visceral take on what the soldiers went through. |
| Melanie |
| Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great!! |
| Pearl |
| Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Heartwarming story with beautiful characters and vivid descriptions of the locale. |
| Tricia S. |
| Autumn Moon by Slade Louis Grayson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a suspense novel about a reverend who is banished to a small town after inappropriate behavior with a member of his congregation. This seemingly idyllic town is overseen by a group of elders. The elders are shapeshifters --- werewolves. The elders protect the town and its citizens, but in exchange they want to hunt a human on the first day of fall each year. AUTUMN MOON is well written and has great character development. It is full of adventure, humor, suspense and was very hard to put down. I also think it would make an awesome movie. Just saying. I haven't liked a book this much in a very long time. I would give it 4 stars. |
| Diane |
| Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Finding this very interesting. It is about a young girl during 1941 who with her family is sent to Siberia. The story tells us about how she and her brother and mother fight for survial and how she risks everything to use er art as messages. A very heart touching story. By incredible strength, love and hope helps to pull her and family through. |
| Carmen G. |
| The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just started this book and it grabbed my interest instantaneously. I felt like I was in attendance at Miss Cora's coming out party before she departs to Europe to find her "titled" husband! I hope to read major chunks of it this weekend. |
| Anne |
| Healer by Carol Cassella |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Enthralling and wonderful novel, which is unforgettable. |
| Nina P. |
| One Day by David Nicholls |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was one of those books you'll either love or hate probably. It takes you to the same date every year, to catch you up on what's happening in the lives of star-crossed lovers who happen to be best friends. I did love it and I'm looking forward to seeing this movie when it comes out in a few weeks! |
| Ivy P. |
| Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away by Christie Watson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A mother and her son and daughter are uprooted from modern living, devastated by their decline. Tragedy, dislike and misconceptions all come together spiking a sad yet satisfying ending for all. |
| Melanie |
| Worth Dying For by N. Gemini Sasson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Second book in the series only gets better. |
| Michelle @ The True Book Addict |
| Thumbing Through Thoreau by Kenny Luck |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Kenny Luck was a young man who felt such an affinity toward Thoreau that he spent months studying Thoreau's works from a devotional point of view. He began collecting Thoreau's quotes and soon found that the quotes had relevance to many aspects of life. He decided to compile the quotes into a book to share with others. The book is divided into sections. The sections are Society and Government, Spirituality and Nature, and Love. Kenny also includes an index which enables the reader to quickly locate quotes pertaining to subjects they are interested in such as: war, truth, mankind, sympathy, etc. I enjoyed this book. I have long been a fan of Thoreau's writings and I liked the way this book touched on many of his most brilliant quotes, at least in my opinion. The only downside was reading the eBook on my Sony Reader, which is not color. The book is purported to have beautiful illustrations and, unfortunately, I was unable to experience them as I was reading. In the end though, the words are what matter. |
| Ann |
| The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very good book. I would suggest anyone interested in suspense and mystery to read this book. |
| CC |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I liked this until the end --- that ruined it for me. |
| Ruth |
| Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Emotional and meaningful story which is excellent and gripping. |
| Ellie |
| The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Lovely, sweet and memorable story which tugs at the heartstrings. |
| Donna K. |
| The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm loving it and have already been to her web page and will be reading more of her books in the very near future. |
| Michele C. |
| A Bad Night's Sleep by Michael Wiley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a new author for me and so far, I am hooked! |
| Kathryn M. |
| Original Sin: A Sally Sin Adventure by Beth McMullen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What a fun book. I heard about this book some time ago and was very excited to pick it up on its release date. Lucy Hamilton, aka Sally Sin, is married, lives in San Francisco and is a stay-at-home mom to 3-year old Theo. Seems pretty normal, right? Well, there’s more to Lucy than meets the eye. Unbeknownst to her husband and friends she is a former spy for a covert group of the USAWMD (USA Weapons of Mass Destruction). I found this book kind of exciting as I learned about Sally Sin’s past and how it’s come to creep its way into her so-called normal life. The book is easy to get into and fun to read. The past and present is woven together with several of the characters. The pace keeps moving with enough information about the characters to keep you satisfied but still leaving some mystery. I’m really looking forward to this series. Her next book, TO SIN AGAIN, is due out next summer. It’s a perfect summer read. |
| Debbie |
| The Twisted Root by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
As I have mentioned, Anne Perry's books improve with each new novel. Hester and Monk are newlyweds and attempting to adjust to this new lifestyle. Hester has never been a "housewife" and dislikes the confines of cooking and cleaning, and Monk will not allow Hester to work for wages. The story centers on a young widow, Miriam Gardiner, about to remarry. At a casual party, the prospective bride runs away without telling her reason. The coachman who drives her is found murdered five days later, and Miriam Gardiner has disappeared. Monk becomes involved when the future groom, Lucius Stourbridge, needs help locating Miriam. As usual, Perry discusses the problems of the time such as the sorry state of nursing. The majority of nurses could barely read and their wages were poor and consisted of a meal and alcohol. A surgeon might save a patient, but the nursing care after surgery was deadly. Sir Oliver Rathbone appears to defend Miriam and her friend Cleo from murder and from stealing medicine. Perry inserts the dilemma of war veterans that are sick and poor and cannot afford medicine or medical attention. Cleo has been stealing medicine from the hospital to give to these veterans. And of course, the ending is a surprise. I had figured the correct murderer, but not all the issues involved. |
| Michelle @ The True Book Addict |
| Johnny One-Eye by Jerome Charyn |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
John Stocking, aka Johnny One-Eye, is an enigmatic character. Is he a loyalist or a rebel? Is he for the British or for America? Is he George Washington's son or not? None of these questions really get answered, but that's not really a problem in this novel. Charyn succeeds in bringing across the precarious nature of America during the Revolutionary War. The ins and outs of British occupied Manhattan are quite confusing. I found myself scratching my head several times wondering who was on whose side. We are introduced to famous characters such as George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and Alexander Hamilton and we are exposed to their characters and personalities from the point of view of Johnny One-Eye. Does his one eye give him a skewed view of the world? Sometimes it would seem so. Was George Washington hopelessly in love with a woman who would become a madam? Possibly true. Did Benedict Arnold turn traitor because his beautiful wife was intelligent and a British spy? That would seem true as well. All of these intrigues are portrayed nicely in the book and although they may not be altogether factual, one can't help but believe in their plausibility. I will warn you, this may not be a book to read if you have no interest in history. As a history buff myself, I found the book to be a refreshing look at the Revolutionary War. |
| Sarah |
| Vampire Kisses 8: Cryptic Cravings by Ellen Schreiber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love this series of books. They are Young Adult and they don't have smut. There is a lot of lust but all age appropriate. There are too many books out there today that don't keep it clean enough for kids. I highly recommend this book and the series to all. What a wonderful story about being who you are and not letting yourself get bullied into anything else. |
| Michelle |
| Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book --- it was well written and told a great story without becoming too "wordy." Great book! |
| Janet C. |
| The Iron House by John Hart |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the third book I've read by John Hart. Enjoyed them all. If you like mysteries, this is a good one. |
| F Tessa B |
| Hallowed Murder by Ellen Hart |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
Trite dialogue, poorly plotted, swift unrealistic ending. There's a kernel of a great buddy relationship between Jane Lawless and Cordelia Thorn but it's under developed. |
| Michelle |
| Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A little predictable, not as good as I was expecting it to be. |
| Kelley B. |
| The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I grew up reading all the Little House books and Wendy chronicles a year of doing "Laura." I found the book to be interesting and some of her "Laura moments" were very comical. |
| Francisca E B |
| The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent literary novel that deals with relationships, race, social status and sexual mores. Charles "Buzz" Drumer shows up one afternoon six years into the marriage of Perlie and Holland; Buzz knew Holland in WWII. The miscues, miscommunications, unvoiced frears and hopes of the three adults result in several surprise turns in the story. |
| Kellie |
| The Reagan Diaries by Ronald Reagan |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It took me WEEKS to read this book. That is really the only negative. It was so long, I began to lose interest. I recommend reading Reagan’s biography by Edmund Morris and then reading this. This is very personal but the most notable moments are not really emphasized in this book. For example, the day when Reagan says “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall” is briefly mentioned as a speech he gave in front of thousands of people. I feel like I was in Reagan’s head for 8 years reading this. I think he liked being President. He worked hard and seemed to want to do the right thing. I am very glad I read this. It has a tremendous amount of history which is fascinating to me. Plus, the diary like style is very unique. |
| Michelle @ The True Book Addict |
| Queen By Right by Anne Easter Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Cecily Neville, mother of kings Edward IV and Richard III, is one character that will be hard to forget. I am fond of headstrong women who bucked the conventions of their day and in this instance, Cecily did not disappoint. I have studied history and read books on English history, but seldom do we learn of seemingly minor persons as Cecily. I am glad that Ms. Smith decided to write a novel with Cecily as its central character because the woman she portrays is truly fascinating. We learn of Cecily and Richard, Duke of York, and their long betrothal and subsequent marriage and it is portrayed that they were very much in love and that Richard welcomed his wife's veracity, although he had to warn her often to be careful about which subjects she would speak her mind. Cecily has a strong sense of justice and this was played out nicely with the edition of Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc) into the story. It is not historically documented that the two of them met, but from reading interviews with Ms. Smith, I know that they were both at Rouen at the same time. I think it was a brilliant addition to the story and while some might think that Cecily was overly obsessed with Jeanne, I know that Cecily was depicted as being religious and speaks to the Lord and the Virgin Mary frequently throughout the book so it does not surprise me that Cecily would feel a connection with Jeanne. I'm ashamed to admit that I do not know very much about the War of the Roses, but this book gives an excellent depiction of how it all started. As Cecily's husband, Richard of York, has rights to the throne, he is regarded suspiciously by many and eventually raises the ire of Margaret of Anjou, wife to Henry VI. Cecily remains a staunch supporter of her husband throughout. She cuts a proud figure beside the vindictive Margaret. A new to me historical fiction author, Anne Easter Smith has written an outstanding novel. She introduces a historical figure who has not been historically explored in depth and it leaves me wanting more. I look forward to the next figure Ms. Smith takes her pen up to write about. |
| Michelle @ The True Book Addict |
| The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
CRIMSON PETALl is a magnificent portrayal of life in Victorian England. The book is so visual that the reader almost feels present in the action. And the characters! Sugar is not your typical prostitute with a heart of gold. Yes, she aspires to be good and she is good to a certain extent. Only the history of her upbringing interferes with her ever achieving true goodness. In the end, she does seem to receive some redemption, but we never really know for sure. William is a man born to privilege, but with no desire to work to keep that privilege...until he meets Sugar. An excellent display of a man who starts achieving due to the yearnings of his nether regions. This, in and of itself, gives us a true idea of the kind of person William is. And he really is not a likable person. As with most men of this nature, when your usefulness is gone, he no longer needs you. This holds true with his wife, Agnes, and with his concubine, Sugar. In all, CRIMSON PETAL gives us an excellent overview of the class structures in Victorian times and the subjugation of women that was so prevalent. A truly excellent book that I highly recommend, with one warning. There are some explicit sex scenes so if you are easily offended, you may wish to skip this one. |
| Reva W. |
| Shadow Zone by Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great book! It starts at a ancient lost city on the ocean floor. Hannah Bryson has designed some mini subs that are being used at the site. In searching for the reason the civilization colapsed, they find something very deadly. |
| EC |
| The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a suspenseful tale with yet another surprise ending. |
| Lorna |
| House Rules by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Couldn't put this book down. Jodi just writes about interesting subjects that I think other authors wouldn't touch. An 18-year-old boy with Aspergers is accused of killing his tutor. The author shows you what it is like to have Aspergers, to have a child, brother and to be a lawyer for someone with Aspergers. Loved the mystery of who killed Jessi and to learn so much about a condition that I knew somewhat about. |
| Judy O. |
| State of Wonder by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book! Dr. Marina Singh is a research scientist with a drug company in Minnesota. She is sent by her boss to Brazil to try to discover what happened to co-worker Anders Eckman. It has been reported that he is dead, but they want to find out for themselves. So, she ends up in a Lakeshi Village near a tributary of the Amazon River at a research facility maintained by the drug company. Then the search for the truth begins. This is just a riveting story. |
| Michele C. |
| Once Upon A Time There Was You by Elizabeth Berg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I definitely recommended this to all my friends. What a great story. |
| Michele C. |
| Burn by Nevada Barr |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once again, you cannot go wrong with Anna Pigeon. Love this series! |
| Emily |
| Hope Unseen by Capt. Scotty Smiley, with Doug Crandell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you are looking for an awe-inspiring read, this is the book for you. While stationed in Iraq in 2005, Smiley was rendered blind in an attack by a suicide bomber. Since that time Smiley has climbed Mt. Rainier, skydived, surfed, gotten his MBA, became a father, taught a leadership course at West Point, commanded an army company, and won the MacArthur Leadership Award. He is quite a role model for young men and women today. This is a must-read for all people, both young and old. |
| Crystal |
| The Silent Girl: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The latest Rizzoli & Isles novel is suspenseful and well-plotted. I couldn't put it down. |
| Billie D. |
| Loving the Highlander by Janet Chapman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the second time travel romance by Chapman, and it's another keeper. |
| Kaylynn |
| The Bride's House by Sandra Dallas |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Okay, 2.5 stars. Nice stories but too predictable. |
| Tillie |
| Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once again, Janet Evanovich has filled our summer with fun and laughter. Stephanie Plum and her sidekick Lula never fail to elicit an out loud laugh from me. Throw in Grandma Mazur and all the stops are pulled out for a fun-loving roller coaster ride through the neighborhoods of Trenton. |
| Marion M. |
| Sister by Rosamund Lupton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book really leaves you thinking about the bond formed by sisters. It's a psychological thriller with a surprise ending. |
| Donna D. |
| The Bells by Richard Harvell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was enthralling from beginning to end. I hope to see more from this first time author. |
| Kristie D. |
| Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent story about a family and a lifelong friendship. Birdie is unhappy and her marriage is in trouble. Can she reignite the passion in her soul? What does this mean for her family? |
| Lynn |
| Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book was written with a play within the novel, the past inside inside the present --- beautifully done. I really enjoyed the play about DuBose and Dorothy Heyward writing the musical, PORGY AND BESS, with George Gershwin. |
| Debbie |
| A Breach of Promise by Anne Perry |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a quite interesting story based on beauty and appearance. There are several stories within this book: the disfigurement and loss of an arm of an English soldier during the uprisings in India, two deaf and facially disfigured orphaned sisters, and the superb beauty of a young lady. The breach of promise begins a trial that has Sir Oliver Rathbone at a loss as to how to defend his client. The story takes many twists and turns that would ruin the fun for the next reader. The story points to the problems of women during this time in England's history. Hester Latterly defies tradition and shines as a woman dependant on no man. But this defiance carries a dear price. I am anxious to read the next novel of this series. Usually an author seems to become mundane as a series progresses, but Perry seems to improve with each story. |
| Pattie B. |
| The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Exciting story of behind-the-scenes leading up to trial. |
| Kristie D. |
| Mercy by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A man is on trial for killing his wife. He confessed and said that she asked him to kill her because she had terminal cancer. There is a trial with a surprising verdict. Also, the local police chief has some family issues. |
| Julie T. |
| A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the final book in the series so far. I've read the four before this one and find the story as engrossing and captivating as the others. A wonderful series! |
| Sandy |
| A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a book for a young teen, but it was still very entertaining. |
| Linda B |
| In Leah's Wake by Terri Guiliano Long |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
16-Yea- Old Leah Tyler Had Always Done Things Her On Way, Beginning As A Toddler When She Wanted To Play With Her Hamster Hammy Only To Choke Him To Death As She Tied A Ribbon Around His Neck. She Was Then Star On Her High School Soccer Team And Her Dad Had Big Plans For A Harvard Scholarship But She Was Not Interested In His Dreams. Once She Met Todd Corbett, A 20-Year-Old Ex-Band Member, She Fell In Love. But As Todd Introduced Her To Cigarettes, Dope, And Booze, She Cut Classes And Her Grades Dropped. When Her Coach Heard About The Wild Parties She Attended She Showed Her The Signed Pledge That She Would Not Do Drugs And Leah Quit In Hopes That She Was Begged To Come Back To The Team But The Coach Surprised Her And Let Her Go. Feeling Put Out And Sure That Her Coach Would Come To Her Senses Any Minute, She Had No Chose But To Leave Her Office And Smoke While She Waited For Her Boyfriend To Pick Her Up...... Ms. Long Spins A Very Powerful Story About A Middle Class Teenager Who Blamed Every One For Her Problems. Her Parents Were Too Strict, Her Teammates And Her Coach Used Her To Win The Tournament, Her 12-Year-Old Sister Was A Nerd, And Her Parents Would Not Let Her Breathe So She Ran Away To Live With Her True Friend Whose Mother Let Them Smoke Pot And Sometimes Joined Them! With Everything Bad Thing That Happened She Defended Todd. A Wonderful Story As Leah's Family Falls Apart!! |
| Marsha |
| The Paris Wife by Paula McLain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a remarkable novel about the marriage of Hemingway and Hadley Richardson. McLain is a first-rate writer and the story will keep you mesmerized as their days in Paris are outlined in detail. Many of the famous Lost Generation are mentioned but the real insight is into Hemingway's dark and tragic problems. |
| Michele C. |
| Cold Wind by C.J. Box |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love the whole series with another new one coming out soon!!! Yay!! |
| Kathy V. |
| Sketch Me If You Can by Sharon Pape |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Rory is a police sketch artist but getting very bored with her job just as her favorite Uncle died (or was he murdered?). He had a very large PI business and he passed everything to Rory, including his Victorian house that comes with its own ghost who was a marshal in the 1870s. He used to help her uncle but can he help Rory too? A fun read...this is my first time reading this author's work and I am now on the next book...this one is number 1 in the series A Portrait Of Crime Mystery. |
| Michele C. |
| Disturbance by Jan Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the best in the Irene Kelly series. I loved this book! |
| MJB |
| Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book grabbed me from the first page. Excellent thriller with twists and turns and lots of action. I thought I had it figured out a few times but the ending was a surprise. Gerritsen never fails to deliver. |
| Michele C. |
| Do You Remember Me Now? by Karen Hanson Stuyck |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
OK, just remember not to bully anyone in high school. It will come back to haunt you!!! |
| KG |
| The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Story of a couple who lose their only child. As a form of therapy the wife joins a knitting group, meets a new group of friends and through them, learns to cope with her loss. |
| da_morgan |
| The Essene Conspiracy by S. Eric Wachtel |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It’s a riveting thriller on the order of THE DA VINCI CODE. As the story begins, a high ranking Israeli minister is murdered in Jerusalem. Asked by Israeli Intelligence to investigate a possible American link to the crime, security consultant, Harry McClure, uncovers, a Wall-Street scheme funding an Orthodox Jewish Brotherhood’s plot to overthrow the Israeli government and retake the Temple Mount. Though I don’t typically read self-published books, the story line and structure, a blend of fact and fiction, is a cut above anything I’ve recently read --- and I read a lot of thrillers. I couldn’t put it down. Wow! |
| Fran |
| Still Missing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Chevy Stevens' debut novel, STILL MISSING, is one of the best thriller/horror genre novel books I've read in a long time. Told from the perspective of "Annie," a young realtor who is abducted during an open house, the reader is immersed from the first to the very last page. The most unique aspect of this story is that Annie is telling the story to her therapist, as she goes through sessions. The reader already knows that she gets away as she is free and able to share the gory details of her months in captivity with the therapist, who serves as a silent listener. The novel is full of unexpected twists and turns, taking the reader on a gripping ride through the fictional character's "reintegration" back into her life. Although the detailed descriptions of her ordeal could be hard to read at times, it was a gripping, captivating story overall. |
| Judith W. |
| Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
As usual, Nora Roberts is magic! |
| Michele C. |
| Left Neglected by Lisa Genova |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Finally i got to read this! And you must, too. This was above excellent! |
| Sandy |
| Live Wire by Harlen Coben |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Myron Bolitar's family takes center stage in this new Coben thriller. Myron is forced to confront deep secrets in Suzze's past, his family's mortality, and, before LIVE WIRE is over, his own. |
| Michele C. |
| Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Yes!!! Loved it! |
| Pota |
| Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very good book about a woman who wakes up every day with no memory of who she is or who the man is lying next to her. Keeps you on the edge of your seat as she slowly discover who she is and what happened for her to forget. |
| Stacey K. |
| Mansfield Park by Jane Austen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another example of the genius that Ms. Austen was! She was definitely ahead of her time. One of the most complex characters is Fanny Price. Wonderful book! |
| Evie H. |
| New York by Edward Rutherfurd |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Love this book. Starts in the 1600s and goes to September 11, 2001. Great story about families that have been in New York since the 1600s. |
| Bonnie |
| Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Beautifully written novel, a mystery really, whose central character has Alzheimers and doesn't know whether or not she's guilty of murdering her best friend. Will keep you guessing. And the honesty of living with Alzheimers is heart-breaking as well. |
| Michele C. |
| Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Whoa, this sequel was great!!! |
| Maria |
| Little Bee by Chris Cleave |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is great so far. Very well written and is more conversational, like you're right there with Little Bee as she navigates her surroundings. |
| Evie H. |
| Cypress House by Michael Koryta |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Takes place in Florida after World War I. Arlen Wagner can see death, and I love the supernatural aspect of the book. |
| Tanya |
| Restless in Carolina by Tamara leigh |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.5 stars. I won this book through Librarything. This is the story of the Pickwick family. Bridget Pickwick is trying to get over the loss of her husband and find an eco-friendly buyer for her families estate. Family, past mistakes and moving forward are just a few of the elements that make this book an enjoyable read. |
| Coral H. |
| Border Songs by Jim Lynch |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A story about people living on the border between Canada and USA in the state of Washington. The main character is Brandon Vanderkool, who is dyslexic,about 6'8" and is a Border Patrolman. He is an artist and likes nature, birds, etc. He is able to aprehend drug dealers, then quits to help his father who had a stroke run his dairy. Interesting. |
| Fran |
| Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The author's beautiful prose kept the pages turning in this complex novel about a woman in Ethiopia who teachers Qu'ran to the children. Interesting look into the lives and roles of women. The novel jumps around in time, so you to have to pay close attention to keep up with the story line. |
| Heidi D. |
| Blameless (The Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A wonderful jaunt through the alternate Victorian universe. Werewolves, vampires and souless, oh my! Sexy and funny, I could hardly put it down. |
| Ariela . |
| Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
While not as engaging as STILL ALICE, this is a book I'll never forget. |
| Ariela L. |
| In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Germany in the '30s from a completely different point of view. I thought I'd hate another book about this subject but ended reading it in three days. Highly recommended. |
| Martha |
| Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A tragedy affecting two families in a resort area on the coast of Maine is the opening event of this novel. The grief and reactions in the lives of these family are told extremely well and a great story unfolds. Nothing will ever be like it was before and each person affected is driven to examine life and how each individual wants to live it. Waldman handles the character development well and the reader can understand the damage and clarity created by the tragedy of the first chapter. A great read! |
| Robert D. |
| One Summer by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A departure from his usual fare, but gripping none the less. In true Baldacci fashion, even though the action level is not what we have come to expect, you are hooked and find it impossible to put down for long. |
| Crystal |
| Laugh 'Til He Died: A Death on Demand Mystery by Carolyn Hart |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The twentieth book in the Death on Demand series is great. It is another solid mystery with Annie and Max Darling and their wacky friends and relatives on Broward's Rock. |
| laura A. |
| Death Watch by Jim Kelly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A British police procedural about two cops --- one the rising star of the department, son of a cop who had to retire for being "bent" and the older cop who just happens to be the partner of his father. A good mystery. |
| Annette |
| The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Since the main character in this novel had many similar experiences to my husband's grandfather (WWII B-17 pilot based at Molesworth who was shot down on a bombing run), I was very eager to read this book. Marshall Stone, the main character, returns to Paris after he retires to find the Resistance members who helped him escape back to freedom. Overall a great story! The story line alternates between present day and the past, so it's a bit of work to keep the timeline straight. |
| Annette |
| The Summer Garden by Paullina Simons |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I really wanted to love this book --- a long, epic saga featuring Russian emigres to America after WWII. Unfortunately, the characters just seem to aimlessly wander through their lives arguing and then passionately making up. |
| Ron G. |
| The Mercy Rule by John Lescroart |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Well written mystery that deals primarily with the subject of whether or not a mercy killing should be regarded as murder and therefore subject to punishment, even as severe as the death penalty. The only shortcoming of this book for me was that the solving of the mystery came more as an afterthought and I felt like after 600 pages of reading that I deserved a better conclusion. |
| Johanna |
| The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Just started reading it, but it's pretty good so far |
| Phyllis |
| Blameless (The Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Alexia Tarabotti is on the run. After Lord Maccon didn’t believe the child she is carrying is his and ordered her to leave, she is attacked by mechanical ladybugs and hunted by vampires. Along with her friends Madame Lefoux and Floote, she flees the scandal and threats in England to Italy via Paris to try to find out more information about her most unusual condition from the Templars. However, the Templars have already heard about the scandal and take her prisoner to be studied by the German, Mr. Lange-Wisdorf, and to be used as a weapon against supernaturals. With the usual entertaining plots, inventions and people, BLAMELESS is a wonderful addition to The Parasol Protectorate. Now, I’m looking forward to reading HEARTLESS and waiting for TIMELESS. |
| Sabrina |
| The Year We Left Home by Jean Thompson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A humourous and touching tale about a typical mid-west (Iowa) family coming of age. The author follows the lives of two siblings as they grow and develop into adults with families of their own. Great writing style and character development! Our book club will be eating this up and recommending to others!! |
| Ruth |
| Bill Warrington's Last Chance by James King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Unforgettable book that is heartrending and special. |
| Renee |
| Sunset Bridge by Emilie Richards |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Friends whose lives are intertwined at Happiness Key. Great read. |
| D. Kitchell |
| The Matchmaker of Kenmare: A Novel of Ireland by Frank Delaney |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A great story with beautiful images of Ireland. I'm only a quarter of the way through the book, but I think I'm going to want to read another of his books. |
| Betty Jo |
| Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This historical fiction account of a native American boy's crossover to the Puritan/English life in early colonial America is a good story. In general I did not like this period of history as much as Brooks' other novels written in Medieval England and the American Civil War. |
| Amanda |
| A Holiday Yarn by Sally Goldenbaum |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Started reading this and am enjoying this cozy mystery! I love holiday fiction books. |
| Susan |
| Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, with Lynn Vincent |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book is about a poor African-American sharecropper and a rich white couple and how their lives intertwine, and the impact they have on each other. It is a great read. Very inspirational. |
| Janet |
| When She Woke by Hillary Jordan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of the new Hilary Jordan (MUDBOUND). At first, I thought the parallels to THE SCARLET LETTER were a bit overdone but now I am thoroughly entranced by this dystopian offering. Less than halfway and I can't find the book....think it's in the car! |
| Diane |
| The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Beautiful and emotional novel that resounds with me. |
| Jean M. |
| Naked Heat by Richard Castle |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a cute thriller series, a fun read. Apparently it is a spin-off from a TV program. |
| Jackie R. |
| Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting by Jenny Blake |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An informative guide on what aspects of life one must consider post-college graduation. Not exactly a how to, but more of a "things to consider." |
| Elizabeth V. |
| Coronado: Stories by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you're a Dennis Lehane fan, be sure you don't pass up CORONADO, his book of short stories and one play. These stories are not new; they have all appeared in various publications before. But you probably haven't read them. For me, these short stories were my fix to tide me over until Lehane's next full-length novel. I enjoyed them, but they weren't enough to satisfy me. |
| Diana |
| The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Well written and riveting historical fiction about American involvement in Vietnam war. From 1963 start of US involvement through 1975 fall of Saigon, the story is told through the eyes of a woman war photographer. |
| Marybelle |
| The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Set 20 years after the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy, we see Mary Bennet finally come into her own after the death of Mrs. Bennet. The story takes a weird turn and even though I am persevering, I'm not satisfied with how everything is playing out. |
| Tammy P. |
| Velva Jean Learns to Drive by Jennifer Niven |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This sequel is good but the original is better. |
| Tammy P. |
| A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very inspirational story but some graphic details regarding her captivity and sexual abuse. |
| Maxine U. |
| The Quickie by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very tense and different from usual detective novels. |
| Sharon |
| Play Dirty by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Murder, intrigue, betrayal, redemption. Sandra Brown creates an intriguing story that keep me reading far beyond bedtime. Griff Burkett, recently released from Federal prison and financially impoverished, is harassed by thugs who think he has a stash of money hidden, as vindictive detective Rodarte has his own methods of harassment. Then the Speakman's enter the picture with an offer too good to refuse. |
| Sharon |
| Death Takes Up a Collection by Sister Carol Anne O'Marie |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Published in 1998, this little mystery kills off a totally unlovable character and those associated with him seem to have a reason to be the murderer. It takes Sister Mary Helen's sleuthing skills to find the killer. |
| Allie |
| Child of the Morning by Pauline Gedge |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Slow read about life as a pharoah's daughter in Egypt. |
| Sharon |
| Mary Mehan Awake by Jennifer Armstrong |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Lyrical prose tells the story of the recovery of Mary Mehan following the horrors she endured as a nurse in a Civil War hospital. A gentle story that evokes the horror of the war, the gentleness of her employers, James and Diana Dorsett, and brings Mary to know she loves and can be loved. |
| Kathy |
| The Sherlockian by Graham Moore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Truly enjoyed the parallel between Arthur Conan Doyle's murder mystery and the murder at the Baker Street Irregulars convention in 2010. Elementary, my dear! |
| Kristen J. |
| The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book! I had a hard time putting it down. I have been recommending it to everybody. I work in a bookstore and this will be one of my top recommendations for the summer! |
| Kay |
| A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Amazing resilience to a horrific 18 years, this author is a true SURVIVOR in every sense of the word! |
| Elizabeth V. |
| The Paris Wife by Paula McLain |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Hadley Richardson Hemingway was Ernest Hemingway’s first wife. THE PARIS WIFE by Paula McLain is Hadley’s first-person account of their life together before, during, and after they were married. But this is a novel, not an autobiography. Hadley and Ernest met when her friend Kate invited Hadley to Chicago, where Kate lived. It was party, party, party all the time there. Poor little Hadley from St. Louis, where her life was dull, boring, and anything but a party, was happy to return again and again, particularly because Ernest was there. He was eight years her junior, but he was full of life, and she yearned for that now because she had missed out on so much when she was younger. So, although most 29-year-olds might have thought a 21-year-old was too immature for them, Hadley was attracted to Ernest right away. Eventually, Hadley and Ernest began writing to each other between visits. When Ernest’s letters told Hadley about his intention to go to Europe to further his career as a writer, she was disappointed. Then he told her that he wanted her to come with him as his wife, and she jumped at the chance with little thought to what she might be getting herself into. So not long after they married, they went to Paris. They met and interacted with various writers and other artists there and became friends with the likes of Gertrude Stein and her partner, and Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda. Although Hadley liked them, they bothered her, too. My opinion: they were a strange gang. They partied and drank all the time and hoped they’d sell books. How did they do it? They were either independently wealthy or, like Hemingway (“Hem”), they shared their wife’s trust fund. But Hadley had assured Ernest before they were married that she’d never stand in the way of his writing career. She told him that she would only be his partner and encourage it. So she didn’t usually complain but went along with everything. That even included threesomes for a time. No kidding. Hadley was miserable but felt one with Ernest and didn’t know how to live without him. Ernest’s actions were not a result of Hadley’s neediness, though; I think they were because of Earnest’s association with the eccentric (read self-centered and hard-drinking) writer community in Paris. Their marriage was doomed from the beginning of their lives there. McLain says that this book of fiction is mostly fact. That makes THE PARIS WIFE interesting. Still, I couldn’t take it in large doses because of my disgust with Ernest and the rest of those expatriate writers in Paris and also with Hadley. While I could understand how a wife could be a sap for her husband, I couldn’t sympathize with her plight when she was putting up with threesomes every day, even in her bed. |
| Elizabeth V. |
| The Upright Piano Player by David Abbott |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a pleasure THE UPRIGHT PIANO PLAYER by David Abbott is to read! The publisher compares this to books by Ian McEwan, which I love, but I doubted this book could be that good before I read it. I can tell you, though: yes, Abbott’s style is similar to McEwan’s. And THE UPRIGHT PIANO PLAYER is even better. Honest. THE UPRIGHT PIANO PLAYER begins with a tragedy. But, although you can then expect description of a man broken by heartache, you will want to keep reading. This is how Abbott is like McEwan. Their writing, alone, warrants the read. But beautiful writing does not necessarily make a page turner. And this book is. The second part of THE UPRIGHT PIANO PLAYER begins before the tragedy occurred, when Henry Cage, a divorced man living alone, is retiring from a company he built. He had been forced out, and now he is lonely. Through frequent flashbacks, you will learn why this is so. Then Henry is a retired man taking a long walk home from a friend’s New Year’s Eve celebration. The crowds on the streets are great, and he is accidentally shoved into a man with a violent history. The man learns who Henry is and where he lives and subsequently stalks Henry, vandalizing his home on several occasions. During this time Henry learns that his ex-wife, whom he threw out because his pride was hurt, and who still loves him, will die soon of incurable cancer. And the way he learns this is part of the story, too. Henry made his bed but now is not the same Henry and doesn’t want to sleep in it. I didn’t want him to, either; I rooted for Henry. Pay attention to the quotation that precedes the story: "The consequences of our actions take hold of us, quite indifferent to our claim that meanwhile we have improved." This is Henry’s problem. I have a short list of authors whose books I’m sure will be good enough to order even before they’re published. David Abbot has been added to my list. I hear he’s writing another, and I’ll preorder it as soon as possible. But “as soon as possible” may be when amazon.uk has it because I might not be able to wait until it is available in the United States. |
| Janet S. |
| Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Not as funny so far as past Stephanie Plum books...but I will keep reading her books! |
| Elizabeth V. |
| I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE by Laura Lippman |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE by Laura Lippman begins with Eliza living a typical housewife life. She and her husband have two kids: a little boy, who is agreeable and sweet, and his older sister, not agreeable and sweet. The story continues for another 40 or so pages with descriptions of Eliza’s interactions with her children and her remembrances of growing up with her jealous and nasty sister. But what does all this have to do with the story, you wonder. Not much. Then Eliza receives a letter. It is written by a female hand but is from her rapist. Eliza had been abducted when she was 15-years-old. Her abductor was trying to find a girlfriend. Really. He grabbed countless, but at least three, girls and killed all but one --- Eliza. He raped Eliza. Now, shortly before his scheduled execution, he wants to speak with Eliza. So he dictates a letter to a woman who is against the death penalty, who has befriended him, and she mails the letter to Eliza. Really. It’s that easy for a rapist to contact his victim from prison? Eliza, rather than contacting the authorities about this, goes through the trouble of having a separate telephone line installed in her house just for the rapist’s calls. Really. And, remember, prisoners must make their calls collect. She accepts the charges. Really. But now he says he wants to speak with her in person. So she arranges a last-minute-before-they-execute-him visit because her sister just happens to know all the right people. Really. Eliza thinks he’s going to be honest with her. Really. The story shifts its point of view periodically from Eliza to her rapist or to the woman who has befriended the rapist or to the mother of one of the murdered girls. Always, though, we shift back to Eliza. I was so disappointed in I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE! This story made me want to scream at all the characters. They all do stupid things. I list only a few here. (The least stupid is Eliza’s sister, the one who she remembers as such an awful person.) Besides, every single page of this book has something wrong with it: if a character isn’t doing something stupid, something implausible is happening or paragraphs are rambling on and on about something that has nothing to do with the story. This is an honest review of a book I won from the librarything.com Early Reviewer program. It was an early look at the paperback edition of the book. |
| F Tessa B |
| The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.5 stars Things are unsettled at the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, and at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. Employees seem dissatisfied with their current responsibilities and seek to change or even quit. But eventuallty everything works out for the best. I love these gentle mysteries set in Botswana, but I think McCall Smith has really run out of plot. The series is no longer fresh, though still enjoyable. |
| Francisca |
| Saltypie by Tim Tingle |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Beautifully illustrated, autobiographical children's book has many important messages --- respect for elders, understanding your heritage, aging with grace and dignity, overcoming life's osbstacles --- but the story bounced from present to past to present and there were no smooth transitions. Ages 5-8. |
| Kay |
| The Gap Year by Sara Bird |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's good, maybe not her best, but good. I'm enjoying the mother/daughter dynamic. If you've ever sent a kid away to college, this might be for you. |
| Judy |
| Doc by Maria Doria Russell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The story of Doc Holliday and all of the people in his life --- Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterston, etc --- is riveting. |
| Anne |
| A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful historical fiction that captures the heart and soul. |
| Pearl |
| A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Memorable novel that is enthralling and fascinating. |
| Gina |
| All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Janelle Brown |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Husband hits the IPO jackpot --- only to tell his wife electronically that he is divorcing her. His new love is his wife's former tennis partner and best friend. How the wife and two daughters cope is the gist of the story. It was OK but not gripping. |
| LeeEllen |
| Switched (Trylle Trilogy, Book 1) by Amanda Hocking |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
OK, I am a 49-year-old nurse, and my husband got me a Nook for Christmas. So I went crazy downloading and buying books. I really don't remember buying this book, but I was going through my to read list and clicked on this book, and I could not put it down. The story is great, the characters are very relatable, there was nothing about this book I did not like. Now I am going to have to read the whole series. |
| MaryJo VG |
| Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm not quite through it yet. Had to read this classic after finishing THE THIRTEENTH TALE. Am loving it so far! |
| Carol |
| Wayward Son by Tom Pollack, Jim Alves and John Loftus |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I read this on the Kindle edition --- print version comes out in September. It's hard to even describe the genre --- it's an adventure story with mystery and a touch of romance. It's a history lesson and a Bible story. It's just a really enjoyable read! |
| Karen R. |
| The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the first Kate Furnivall book I have read. I give this book two thumbs up and am so glad to have two other books written by her sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. |
| Joanne |
| In the Woods by Tana French |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I have just started this book but it has certainly grabbed my focus. It is told in the first person by a male homicide detective. His partner, Cassie Maddox, is the feature character in Tana French's second book, THE LIKENESS. I read that years ago and it left me with a spooky feeling. I have looked for IN THE WOODS in order to have some basis for the characters. I believe that Tana does not intend the books as a series but uses the same characters so that the reader has familiarity. |
| Maureen |
| The Postmistress by Sarah Blake |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great story about the women left behind in the US while their husbands/boyfriends went to fight in WWII. |
| Maureen |
| Bed and Breakfast by Lois Battle |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Beach read about a dysfunctional southern family. |
| Maureen |
| The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Beach read about a YUPPIE finding her way with love while working on Nantucket. |
| Terry P. |
| Sandprints Of Death by Nash Black |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It's a little hard to get through with it being a little in the 3rd person. A good story, but also a little strange. Some parts for me don't go along with the story. I feel like I have started it from the middle of the tale. |
| Rita S. |
| Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This newest book in the Stephanie Plum series follows in the uproariously hilarious shoes of its predecessors. The bail bonds office was fire-bombed and has moved into Mooner's bus which is parked near the office's site. A hand with an expensive ring on it is found sticking out of the ground near this area. Stephanie's mother is matchmaking for her, Grandma Mazur is her normal zany self, Lula thinks she got bit by the "vampire" she and Stephanie were trying to apprehend, and Stephanie is confused trying to decide between Joe Morelli and Ranger. I heartily recommend this book if you're looking for an entertaining read. |
| Sally G. |
| Misery Bay by Steve Hamilton |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I felt it was not up to par...perhaps lacking the love interest. |
| Leni |
| Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Characters and storyline that will keep the reader interested from start to finish. |
| Sally |
| A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book! I did listen to the audio version, but it would be just as wonderful if read. A take on THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, it is a fascinating story of revenge and redemption. As the author did spend time in prison in Britain, the prison scenes ring true, as does his knowledge of Swiss bankers. A great story. |
| Cynthia H. |
| The Civilized World: A Novel in Stories by Susi Wyss |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This story is set in Africa and I learn that some things that are in the story actually happened to the author. Like when her friend shares with her how people in Ghana name their children Nobody. I like the story because it's about women just trying to live and no matter where we live we really have the same issues. |
| Cynthia H. |
| Friendship Bread by Darien Gee |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The book is titled FRIENDSHIP BREAD but you may know it by Amish Bread. Yes, it is that bread dough that is given to you and you are to make a few loafs, share and make more and continue it. Like those chain letters you recall getting. With that is a story that is about women and how this bread chain gets them together and helps them with their problems. The extra is that at the back of the book you get the true recipe of the Amish Bread. |
| jsiemek |
| Deeper than the Dead by Tami Hoag |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of her best! |
| Kathy |
| First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Witty and humorous. I'm really enjoying it. It's fast paced and light hearted. The characters have great personalities. |
| Kathy |
| My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'Homme |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I am amazed by Julia's life. She went from a non-cook to a household name so fast. I love that she became so passionate and dedicated to learning every little thing about cookery. Julia definitely teaches that you can do anything you put your mind to and if you're going to do something, let it be something you enjoy and become passionate about it. |
| Kathy |
| The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have read other of Donnelly's books and she has not yet disappointed me. Donnelly's writing is fantastic. I am in the middle of this book and can't wait to read the rest of this trilogy. The characters are well written and strong. The story line is both heart breaking and hopeful. I'm looking forward to more of her writting. |
| Pat S. |
| Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
At first I was a little confused with the "play" and the "novel/narrative writing" but got it figured out and book was excellent. I love her books and she can't write them fast enough to suit me! |
| Laura |
| Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A very powerful second novel by my new favorite author. Exceptional read and I would recommend it highly. |
| Rosemary S. |
| One Summer by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Unsettling to get a romance from him. Rather formulaic but well-written. |
| Carole, Fearless Book Club Leader |
| Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Not finished yet, but it is definitely on my 2012 book club list. The style that LaPlante wrote the book must very closely mimic the way an Alzheimer patient's thought processes work. |
| Helen W. |
| Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This book was advertised as a summer beach read. Nothing could be further from the truth. The plot revolves around a three generational Boston Irish Catholic family and take place, mostly, in the past. The beach house in Maine is not the key point of this book. Although well written there was no character I could relate to. Very disappointing. |
| Dianna D. |
| Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book, although the ending was not what I expected. It's about a dysfunctional family getting together in the summer still trying to get it right after all these years. |
| Dianna D. |
| Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A controversial subject still today written very well into this book. Several flips in life and how it comes out in the end. |
| K. Gans |
| Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's a great beach read. But, a good story about how a recent widow with two girls survives and makes a good life for them. There is a lot of family history involved in the book. |
| Linda H. |
| American Rose by Karen Abbott |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
This is a biography of Gypsy Rose Lee. While interesting, the chapters jumped from the early years to the 1940s and 1950s and then back to the early years. This caused confusion while reading the book. |
| Sally G. |
| Shadows of a Down East Summer by Lea Wait |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I felt like I was on the cape solving the mystery, too! |
| Linda H. |
| The Camel Club by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the first of the Camel Club series and introduces John Carr, now known as Oliver Stone. Carr was trained to be a vicious killer by the CIA and tried to leave that life to retire. But the government did not want that and killed his wife and took his child away. Carr escaped and now seeks to uncover the truths behind current events along with his group of friends. The president of the United States has been kidnapped and the intelligence czar Carter Gray thinks it was an inside job. The kidnappers were Muslims but why did they shoot the police and security forces with tranquilizers instead of real bullets? They must have known they would be shot and killed. Who was behind the plot? |
| Linda H. |
| Born to Die by Lisa Jackson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Everyone comments when Jocelyn Wallis is brought into the ER after her fall down a cliff. They all believe she is their beloved Dr. Kacey Lambert. When Kacey sees the woman’s photo, she notices the strong resemblance. This resemblance was also noted with an actress who supposedly committed suicide several months ago. Is there more to this than resemblance? Were these women murdered? Then Kacey is rear-ended on an icy road and she begins to have doubts about the so-called accidents. Who is killing the women and why? This suspenseful book will keep you turning pages until the end. |
| Sheltiemama |
| If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Absolutely hilarious! The main character and her husband buy a fixer-upper that was the house used in "Sixteen Candles." |
| Akela |
| L. A. Outlaws by T. Jefferson Parker |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Did this fine writer create the plot as he wrote? Little sense of direction in the writing --- not that there is much needed in this tale in which the principals are the good (a cop), the bad (another cop) and the partly good/partly bad but doomed (the heroine). So much needs explication that a follow-up novel is clearly needed. |
| Helen W. |
| Darkness at Dawn by Elizabeth Jennings |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is an excellent romantic suspense novel. The Alpha male and the brilliant heroine are perfect for each other. Add to this an exotic setting and you have all the great reading you want. Each of her books have been wonderful, but I think that PURSUIT was a classic and a keeper. |
| EC |
| Knit Two by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is the sequel to THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB. The book features the same cast of characters. It is a fun read, but predictable and manipulated. |
| Kathy C. |
| The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi Durrow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
BEAUTIFLLY written book It show how a tragedy is handled from the point of view of each of its victims. Set in Portland, Oregon so I know where many of the places in the book are. |
| Sarah L. |
| Night Road by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is my frst time reading a book by this author and I must say that so far I am pleasantly surprised. Her characters seem to come alive on the page and you feel like you are in the story with them. I'm only about halfway through, but I have a feeling that this will not be the last book I read from this author. |
| Ann |
| A Place to Call Home by Deborah Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book. A tear jerker. I would read it again and recommend it to others to |
| Sally G. |
| The Snowman by Jo Nesbo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Enjoyed the story but it was slow-moving. |
| MJ Logan |
| Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I used to teach middle school children and enjoy reading YA books. This is an excellent book with something to say to adults as well as young people. The author makes use of Audubon's bird paintings to teach some lessons about life. |
| GladysMP |
| Montana Lawman by Allison Leigh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I haven't finished the book, but I am throughly delighted so far. Holt Tanner is a great lawman and I am sure he will win his lady. |
| Marsha |
| Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Stone Barrington becomes a partner in Strategic Services and the problems drop into his lap ranging from international financial perils and the regular clients he represents who seem to never stay out of trouble. Oh, did I forget to mention the beautiful women who flock about --- one of whom is murdered just before their dinner date? |
| Eileen K., Ph.D. |
| French Lessons by Ellen Sussman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Anyone who loves Paris will love this book! Those who love interesting and fun character development will love this book! The passion jumps right out of the page. It is a delight to read! |
| Jamie |
| The Stonewooder by CW Soldier |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
| Wonderful Read --- Amazon Kindle edition. |
