This contest period's winners were Barbara B. from Sterling Heights, MI; Christine B. from New Stanton, PA; Jan S. from Kankakee, IL; Lea Ann M. from Seattle, WA; and Phyllis R. from Rochester Hills, MI. They each received a copy of LEAN IN: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg, LIFE AFTER LIFE by Jill McCorkle, and ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger.
Lori
The Abundance by Amit Majmudar
I loved this book! It's beautifully written, very easy to relate to the characters. Although I am not Indian, I could feel the universality of family relationships portrayed in the book. Given the subject matter, it could have been a depressing book, but the author succeeded in making it a compelling read. I couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend this book, and I think it would be an excellent choice for book discussion groups.
Diane Pollock
Fitz by Mick Cochrane
Fast paced, believable and hard to put down!
Rhonda Lomazow
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
Another terrific thriller by the author of GONE GIRL.
Kristi Herbrand
Saturday Night Widows: The Adventures of Six Friends Remaking Their Lives by Becky Aikman
It was surprising to me how full of hope and optimism the book is for the subject matter. But I guess that's the point!
Sherri McMurray
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
I am about halfway through and, so far, it is an engaging story. I think we have all been in this situation: your partner is so engrossed in something else that it almost feels as though that something else is someone else. The book deals with the difficulties in relationships in a very real way, the uncertainty, the feeling of contentment, of the holding pattern. I am very curious how it will end and how the stories will mesh.
Candace Bliss
Wool by Hugh Howey
Not very far in to the book yet, but it's very captivating.
Jan Siefert
Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman
After reading a review of this book, I really thought it was going to be a real page-turner. Unfortunately, it was only a page-turner because I wanted to get done with it. It was very confusing and very slow. On the positive side, it did improve in the last 50 pages after the first 270 pages were explained. This is Jenny Milchman's first novel and I think, if she is open to readers' reviews, she could potentially be a great author.
Patricia Revzin
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
Jodi Picoult has written another gripping, thought-provoking book; this time dealing with controversial issues involving Nazis and victims of the Holocaust.
Eileen Quinn Knight,Ph.D.
Digging to America by Anne Tyler
Tyler again tells a great story. The New York Times states, "DIGGING TO AMERICA, Tyler's characters face the future, not the past, so she doesn't let the freight of personal history freeze their forward motion, although it sometimes slows them down. She starts in the present and mostly stays there, traveling backward just enough to give us clues about her characters' impulses."
Stavros
11-22-63 by Stephen King
I have always enjoyed stories and fantasy about time travel. This time travel novel has an interesting twist. I enjoyed remembering some of the events that occurred during my childhood. A lengthy but good read.
Carroll Savage
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
This book has really tugged at me emotionally! Enjoying it so much!
Allison Gardner
The Good Sister by Drusilla Campbell
Great family saga.
Mary Rodriguez
The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell
A good book by both authors; a good international adventure.
Mary West
Eighteen Acres by Nicolle Wallace
I don't give stars lightly so this book was one good read! It has been on my TBR shelf for almost two years and I loved it! Imagine how happy I am to find another has been added to the now series, so I ordered the new one right away. It delves into the world as we know with a woman president, running against another woman and having women, strong women, in her cabinet. Good strong plot, you'll not want to miss this one.
Nancy Banks
She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
Really good book. It's amazing how Wally Lamb could write about women so accurately.
Carol Bridges
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy
I am reading A WEEK IN WINTER by Maeve Binchy. I am reading it with a bit of a heavy heart since I know this will be her last novel that I will read. I've been a follower of her for years; since reading THE GLASS LAKE. This book is written as if you are part of a warm, loving family. Ms. Binchy draws you in slowly until you feel you have intimate knowledge of the hearts and minds of all her characters. That is why she carried over characters from book to book in the past. This novel deals with a woman, Chicky, who created a fictional life for herself in America, only to return to the town she was born in to open up a holiday home. You will meet a beloved cast of characters, and mourn the loss of a great writer at the end.
Melanie S.
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
This quiet and subtle piece of historical fiction is set along side the career of real-life film star Louise Brooks. Cora Carlisle, the main character, takes a fascinating and complex journey as the story progresses. At first, I found her to be stodgy and boring, but as she dealt with the difficult and unexpected circumstances in her life, she evolved into a much more interesting character to read about and one that she never imagined herself to be. She is a literary character I'm glad I got to know.
Lois Lilling
The Three Weissmanns of Westport by Cathleen Schine
Very humorous, though sometimes sad, situation of a mother and her daughters moving in together.
Joyce Clark
Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler
Finally, a book for lovers of THE HELP.
Barbara McCorkle
The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER is about enduring love. It moves between the 1960's and the present showing the changing morals of society along with how missed chances can alter our lives.
Lois Lilling
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The story of a woman who is struggling with her problems and helping other with theirs.
Sandy McCullough
Good Hope Road by Lisa Wingate
Jenilee Lane has never been much of a good Samaritan. But when a tornado sweeps through her home town, she puts her all into rummaging for people's mementos. She even rescues and befriends elderly Eudora Gibson. Brought close by tragedy, the two will learn lessons about the resilience of the human spirit and the ties that make a community strong. A good book.
Michelle James
Why Can't I Be You by Allie Larkin
This was an interesting take on what it might be like to step into someone else's shoes. Allie is a very talented author whose wonderful sense of humor is sprinkled throughout her writing. I was so engrossed in the story that when I finished reading WHY CAN’T I BE YOU, I couldn't believe I had come to the end. It had all the elements I look for when reading a book --- great character development, believable characters, a distinctive story line, humor, a happy ending and a coherent story progression. WHY CAN’T I BE YOU was funny, entertaining and a pure stroke of genius! This is definitely one book I highly recommend.
Judy Ross
Kinsey and Me by Sue Grafton
I fell in love with Grafton's character while reading the first book so long ago, A IS FOR ALIBI. She shows her talent in this book with many Kinsey "briefs." She makes us believe that Kinsey is a good friend, a great detective with her own set of rules and someone you never want to get on the bad side of. I am three-fourths of the way through the book after three days of reading. Grafton always delivers the great ones.
Sue Nuti
Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
This was our book club's selection for March. Family dynamics will tug at your heart as personalities clash and threaten to destroy the perfect home. Dad defends the tantrums thrown by his rebellious teenage daughter leaving his new wife caught in the middle. She almost loses a piece of her heart when events take a surprise turn. This is a perfect YA read or for any mother with children.
Sharon
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Fantastical, incorporating a number of supernatural creatures, such as vampires, werewolves, fairies, as well as humans, part-creature/part human and more. Love, murder and deceit are all there. Gave it a 3 because I read to the end and then, started another by the same author.
Sharon
Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
So much like the previous "Sookie Stackhouse" novel I read, that it seems like it is a "formula" novel --- perhaps not dystopian, but dealing with vampires, werewolves and the supernatural.
dennis beierbach
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
Interesting concepts.
Terri Roth
The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro
I truly enjoyed the characters, and found the plot riveting with lots of twists and turns. The whole world of art forgery was fascinating, and I'm sure it happens way more than anyone is aware. Having the story based on the real theft of art work from the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston made it seem so possible. I appreciated her details after the story letting you know where the history ended and the fiction began --- something I think you always wonder about with a historical fiction book.
Michael Gonzales
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
I am a little behind the times as this book came out about three years ago. I decided about a month or so ago to read the trilogy, and am now about a quarter way through the final book. I have enjoyed what I have read up to this point.
Anne Marie Koschnick
Never Going Back: Winning the Weight-Loss Battle For Good by Al Roker and Laura Morton
I really enjoyed the beginning of the book. It was like having a conversation with Al. His relaxed style came through and you felt like you were getting to know the person you see everyday on TV. However, around one-third of the way into the book, as he was telling us about trying to come back from his latest slip in a life long battle with weight, it started to sound like a commercial for the PhysioCleanse and Detoxification Program. This is part of his plan to not regain the weight, but devoting about 100 pages to how great it is? No thanks. There are close to 100 pages of interesting recipes. Is it worth the read? For the most part yes. The style is comfortable and the recipes good. Though the plan might be worth while, it was too much.
Bonnie Gluhanich
The Dinner by Herman Koch
Devastatingly good novel, like a punch to the solar plexus.
Betty Fitzgerald
Silenced by Kristina Ohlsson
I love mysteries! The more complicated the better! But, this one kept me confused until the very end. Several murders are connected but the detectives have a real puzzle to solve. Add the unconventional personal back stories of the detectives and it gets complicated.
Miriam downey
Saturday Night Widows: The Adventures of Six Friends Remaking Their Lives by Becky Aikman
A memoir of the widowed author and a group of other women recently widowed, who work to regain control of their lives and their futures. Currently reading. Although, I was a young widow 25 years ago with several young children, and the raw feelings are reemerging as I read Aikman's heartfelt search for renewed meaning in life.
Judy S
Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal
A great series set in World War II England.
Sylvia Costigan
The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro
Even though I'm not very informed about art, I found this book very entertaining. I didn't want to put it down. The twist at the end was somewhat surprising.
Cassandra Early
Heart Of Ice by P.J. Parrish
Since the book takes place where I live in the summer, I am a little more inclined to rave about it. But, I have always loved the P.J.Parrish books written by a great sister team. They have such research and background information on their books, whether in Michigan or Florida. In the book which takes place in late fall in Northern Michigan you can just feel that cold air blowing off the Great lakes. Louis Kincaid is his usual wonderful detective self and finally gets to spend some time with his newly discovered daughter, who unfortunately falls through a weak floor and onto a pile of bones. The book then goes on to figure who, what, where and when. Haven't finished yet but really enjoying it.
Sherry Covill
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
I don't usually read YA books, but lately I've read a few and I've been pleasantly surprised. A good YA book is far better than a crappy "adult" literature book any day. This one is well worth your time, believe me.
Kathy Vallee
Sleight of Paw by Sofie Kelly
The second in the "A Magical Cats Mystery" series. I love this series. Kathleen moves to Minnesota to set the library in order but she falls in love with the town and it's people, who she gets to be close friends with. Also, there are two kittens who follow her home after they were left to grow up feral. After she has them for a while and they grow to trust her they show her what they really can do, like walk through walls, understand what is being said to them and read. Just an great story line.
Krismar Ramker
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
An interesting character living a crazy life after witnessing a bank robbery. A quirky, feel-good story!
Joanne McIntyre
The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan
A mind-bending mystery/thriller with twist after twist right up until the ending. I had not read this author before, even though I am a prolific mystery reader; but I surely will go back and read others by her.
Deb
The Odds by Stewart O'Nan
While I wanted to like this book, I did not, despite O'Nan's previous good books. I found Marion so hypocritical that I actually felt sorry for Art and his attempts to do the right thing. The ending was weak and disappointing. Can't wait to hear what others in the book discussion group have to say about it!
Phyllis Relyea
Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe by Sandra Gulland
I love historical fiction, and I loved this historical fictional account of Josephine Bonaparte!
Mrs JaneAnn Clear
Falling Home by Karen White
Just as my mother started to read AGAINST THE RAIN, she realized it was second of Karen White's two books; the first one being FALLING HOME. It sounded familiar, but was not in my book diary so I checked my BTR and I got it and put it aside. So, when I finished another book I was into, I picked it up and that was the end of me; I barely stopped reading to eat. And towards the end took twice as long to finish because I had to stop so many times from crying. So, so glad she wrote second book; it was more uplifting and tied the story up. Both are fabulous if you like real life stories.
Diane Porter
The House Girl by Tara Conklin
This is a totally different take on the slavery and Underground Railroad story. The story alternates between a young slave girl, Josephine, and a young lawyer, Lisa. We hear the two stories told by the narrators, and get the feeling that were present. Conklin does a great job of presenting the life of a slave in Virginia prior to the Civil War as well as the life of a young lawyer struggling to make her place in a large, prestigious law firm. The uniting piece between the stories is the legal case for reparation for former slaves and their descendants. This is a well-written and carefully researched novel focusing on a different aspect of slavery in the US. I highly recommend this novel.
Julie Towson
A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
This is the very first book written about Sherlock Holmes. It introduces the characters of Dr. Watson and Holmes. I found it fascinating reading what Holmes and Watson did before they got into crime solving. You would never know that this is the first in the series. The plot is just as intricate and twisting as the rest of the books in the series. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle hit the ground running.
Juli Lear
A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin
This is the fourth book in George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. The other three were fantastic with great characters that you really come to care about. This author is a master storyteller. I am constantly amazed by these books, and although I am not very far into this one, I have no doubt it will also be among my favorite books once I've finished it.
Janet P Bedell
Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
A wonderfully told story of love, hate, denial, misunderstanding and relationships. Our book club had won copies of this book. None of us had ever read any of Jane Green's works before. For the first time in seven years, we all agreed that we loved this book; it was so poignant and realistic. It evoked a lot of discussion, and we all agree that we will be reading more of Jane Green!
Linda Reck
The Dinner by Herman Koch
The important question in this book is how far would you go to protect the life of someone you love. During dinner, the two couples skirt the issues and as the meal progresses, the discussion becomes increasingly acerbic. Finally, one of the diners takes a stand. Whether what she's done is right or wrong is for the reader to find out.
Gil Harris
Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan
A story about David Loogan, a magazine editor of crime stories, who is a suspect in a series of murders. The magazine's board is made up of four crime novelists who are also suspects. The story becomes somewhat of a guessing game as the suspects offer a smorgasbord of potential plots as fit for a novel. Difficult to predict the ending.
Ilene Harris
The Beggar's Opera by Peggy Blair
THE BEGGAR'S OPERA introduces us to a once beautiful, but crumbling, Havana and a cast of wonderful characters, including the sensitive and cunning Inspector Ricardo Ramirez and medical investigator Hector Apiro. Together they work on a case where a young boy is raped and a policeman from Canada is accused. There are many twists with surprises at the end.
Lina Johnson
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
What a fantastic read! A fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson. The author "channeled" Hadley after reading correspondence between the couple as well as any books available. I never wanted to put this book down. I was completely involved, and thrilled to come across many familiar names (Ezra Pound, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, Sherwood Anderson), delighted to discover new books to add to my TBR and sorry when the book, as well as the marriage, ended.
Diane LaRue
News From Heaven by Jennifer Haigh
Short stories are in vogue and Haigh raises the bar with her collection featuring some of the characters from a previous novel, BAKER TOWERS. Haigh writes so beautifully; you want to savor each sentence. I found myself re-reading passages because they were just so perfect. She captures the people who live in this small company town with clarity and empathy.
Wendy Catalano
Aftershock by Jill Sorenson
AFTERSHOCK by Jill Sorenson is the first book in her "Aftershock" series, and I couldn't put it down. An absolutely riveting, romantic and suspenseful story that remained intense until the very end. When a devastating earthquake rocks San Diego, paramedic Lauren Boyer is trapped in a cavern under the concrete of a collapsed freeway. While searching for survivors, she comes across Garrett Wright, a former marine, and together they form a camp with a few other survivors. Forced to ration anything they find (until they are rescued), they are confronted by three escaped convicts that are extremely dangerous, carry weapons and threaten their survival. The character development was superb, and each one grew throughout this horrific experience.
Lori Bednaz
The Accidental Caregiver: How I Met, Loved, and Lost Legendary Holocaust Refugee Maria Altmann by Gregor Collins
Great Book!
Janet Griffin
My Beloved Life by Sonya Sotomayor
A wonderful biography. This is a book which can inspire women. This woman took a bright mind and positive attitude, and with the help of mentors, built the life she always knew she wanted. There have been many imperfections in her life, but she took what came, and built her life, finally achieving her dream of being a judge. This is an easy book to read because it is so interesting you want to learn more.
Nancy Coughlin
Rose Cottage by Mary Stewart
A very nice, small English village novel with good character development, a mystery, a bit of romance and interesting historical information about life in England after the end of WWII. I thought I knew about life in England in the late 1940s, however, I certainly learned a lot. One of my book clubs had a very interesting discussion about this book, particularly about the religious/selfish aunt. I had not read Mary Stewart in many, many years and have enjoyed being re-introduced to her body of writing.
Janet Wiebe
Another Piece of my Heart by Jane Green
I very much enjoyed this book about the truths of relationships involving blended families and children of divorce. Wonderfully written and eye opening, the author Jane Green has you captivated until the very end with the dynamics of love, family and motherhood.
CHRISTEN BEZOSKI
Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley
I love this series. It features an original character whose feistiness and spunk is refreshing and fun to read. I also like the setting and time period in which these novels are set.
Marie Giongo
Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors
A wonderfully written historical fiction of twelfth century Angkor. John Shors weaves a story of war, love, religion and nature, and also does a beautiful job of bringing the people, land and majestic temples of this time to life.
Cynthia Serbent
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
As you read, you sometimes want to shake the characters and say, "Oh don't do that" or "why don't you say something." It is a book about choices and their effects on loved ones. Set in Australia.
Betsy Beyler
The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee
Goes back and forth between WWII and immediate post-war Hong Kong; great insight into that place and time. I had just watched (after many years) "Empire of the Sun", which helped me visualize the Japanese-run detention camps in the book.
Wendy Catalano
Color Her Red by Crystal L. Shaw
Crystal L. Shaw's debut novel, COLOR HER RED, is a gripping story that had me reading it from start to finish. A contemporary romance that is intense and will pull at your heart strings.
Emma Grant has the perfect life and a loving husband, until both are viciously torn from her. News of a scandalous affair begins a horrifying, yet passionate, journey that will change Emma's life forever. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys romance and suspense. A real page turner, and I look forward to future books from this author.
Marsha
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
A Russian refugee has a difficult time adjusting to her new life. She has not shown her two daughters the affection they need. As their lives unravel, their beloved father dies, and they decide to take their mother on an Alaskan cruise to perhaps help her reveal her story. We are taken back to the siege of Leningrad and the horrors that ensued. The story is interesting but the execution takes a long time to come together.
Megan
L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
It is an amazing book. Jane and Scarlet have been best friends for fourteen years. They move to L.A. so Jane can work and Scarlet can go to USC. They get picked for a TV show and their friendship is put to the test.
Ivy Pittman
The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas
Thomas tells a colorful story of World War II and Nerys' journey as the wife of a missionary in India, and weaves in the present day longings of Mair who sets out on a journey to learn about the great-grandmother who left behind a most exquisite shawl with still another story.
Barbara Boik
The Best American Short Stories 2012 by Tom Perotta & Heidi Pitlor
Highly recommended. Every story is a gem. The introduction by Tom Perotta is worth the price of the book!
Anne-Marie Chandler
Wife by Wednesday by Catherine Bybee
Great book. There were a few typos in my book (from library). I loved that the characters were given independent minds and a good relationship albeit based originally on a contract, but love prevails in the end. Blake Harrison has to marry before his 36th birthday in order to inherit his father's fortune. After contacting Samantha, a matchmaker, who provides three wonderful candidates, he choose one that was not on the list. Read it to find our who it is and how honesty kept them together even within the contract. Others want to tear them apart.
Anne-Marie Chandler
A Place in the Country by Elizabeth Adler
This is a wonderful love story between mother Caroline and her daughter, Issy, after leaving Singapore and coming to England after a divorce. Issy blames her mother for taking her away from her father, yet they'll both find that the father was living a lie that threatens both mother and daughter and prior friendships. Caroline finds a project to occupy her: restoring an old barn to open a restaurant and restoring her heart to love again. It's also a story of friendships strong enough to help a young woman and her child in desperate times. Loved it. It's written in an easy flowing prose that one can't put down (read way into the night or early morning). This is my second favorite; first is DREAM WHEN YOU'RE FEELING BLUE.
Jennifer Lehman
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
I never read this classic in school but with the movie out now, I thought it was time to tackle it. I thought it would be hard reading but I'm really enjoying it. The characters are interesting, and I find myself thoroughly immersed in their lives.
Jenn Pineo
The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy
This is not your children's fairy tale. A beautifully written and vivid description of life during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Two Jewish children are dropped off in the woods by their father and stepmother in hopes of keeping them alive. While the book does include pieces of the fairy tale, it is a brilliant and moving book of war, hope and the cost of loving someone else more than ourselves. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in WWII fiction.
Janice Hoaglin
30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans by Karl Pillemer
Those among us of the "Greatest Generation", who survived WWII, the Depression and some even the Holocaust, are quickly leaving. This author, a gerontologist, wanted to gather as much wisdom from those who survived and flourished, before all are gone. This might sound like a somewhat depressing collection, but for me it was anything but. After interviewing hundreds of people, mostly in their late 80s, up to in their 100s, Mr. Pillemer summarizes their stories, and advice, into five or six major categories with 30 key "lessons". Their stories, while not always positive, are enlightening, sometimes entertaining and may have an impact on decisions that are part of our life journey.
denise beierbach
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
Nice read.
Gayle Lin
The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski
I almost bypassed this book when I realized it was partly fantasy. I'm so glad I didn't miss it. It is now one of my all time favorites. When Bonaventure Arrow is born, he doesn't makes a sound. He is endowed with a super sense of hearing. He can hear worms tunneling through the ground and he can hear colors. His father dies, and Bonaventure is able to communicate with him. I don't want to give away spoilers, so I'll comment more on the style of this author and how different her style is from most things I read these days. No sentence fragments anywhere, and it never seems stilted. Her prose is melodious. I would love to see this book become a movie.
Jessica Roble
American Pie: Slices of Life (and Pie) from America's Back Roads by Pascale Le Draoulec
Driving from San Francisco to NYC to start a new job, Le Draoulec takes the roads less traveled (i.e. not the interstate) and samples home made pie along the way. The people who let her into their homes and lives are amazing; she even includes photos of them as well as their recipes! This definitely is a lighter read, but it restores your faith in human relations and the power of making friends just by asking a simple question: "Do you know where I can get a great piece of pie?"
Francisca E B
Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A brilliant look at the disintegration of a man and his marriage.
Tessa B
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
Dystopian sci-fi isn't my thing, but this is a really good book inspired by THE SCARLET LETTER.
Simonne Coutinho
Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
Great read told from different perspectives in a family. Step-Mom Andi takes over for alcoholic Brooke and tries to be a mom to two girls: one sweet and obedient; the other a teen rebel with drinking, drunks and sex to combat with. The marriage starts to disintegrate when Andi and Dad/Husband Ethan are unable to conceive.
Simonne Coutinho
Thursdays in the Park by Hilary Boyd
Great story about a long time married couple whose 30+ year marriage is complacent at best. Along comes a handsome single man who pays attention to the wife who is far from ready to retire and hang it up although husband George is ready to sell the city house and retire out in the country. Add in some drama with a grown daughter married to a selfish artist who does not want to see any discourse in her parents' marriage, and things roll along.
Dianne
Insane City by Dave Barry
I found myself laughing out loud as I read this book. As always, Mr. Barry's satire of Florida is right on target.
Simonne
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Psychological thriller. The author skillfully manipulates the reader into to switching alliances in a story with more than a few twists. May be the definitive story about a "psycho bitch".
Linda
Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
Mixed reactions to this book; the characters were not very likeable!
Linda
Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell
I didn't enjoyed this book very much! The two friends seemed pretty self-absorbed and made a lot of excuses for their bad choices.
Frankie
The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers
I could not put this book down. Meyers held my attention from the first sentence. She makes you think and question everything you think you understand about marriage, affairs, motherhood and adoption. We all know that there is more to every situation than we see on the outside. Meyers' characters are rich and flawed and very real. She weaves a story that pulls you in and and holds you there with every character and every choice they make. She reminds us that every choice has a consequence and there is not always a "right" answer. I expect that the lives of Savannah, Tia, Juliette, Nathan, Caroline and Peter will remain with readers long after they finish reading this book.
Joy Martineau
Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie
Very easy to read, yet full of information. Well presented; the information flows and is not fragmented.
Judy O.
Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler
Black hairdresser Dorrie Curtis grants a favor to her 89 year old client, Isabelle McAllister. Dorrie will drive Isabelle from east Texas to Cincinnati so that the older woman can attend a funeral. During the long car ride, Dorrie finds out about the long-kept secrets that Isabelle has kept in her heart for 70 years. This was a very heartfelt book, dealing not only with race relations during the 1940s, but also lost loves and regrets.
Lea Ann Morris
The Jacaranda Tree by Sahar Delijani
This is a book about life in Iran during its revolution. It begins in a prison in 1983 and ends in Turin, Italy, in 2011. Not a comfortable book to read. Filled with horrible things done to dissidents, but well worth reading. The book is based on events within the extended family of the author and gives the reader a look at Iranians as "real" people, and not simply "the enemy". This is a book to make one think, to examine old prejudices and to learn about a culture different from the American one.
Heather Bjork
The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
Interesting read about an American heiress that falls in love with a duke from England. There are many subplots at work that keep the book from becoming too predictable. The propriety of the day and the details surrounding maintaining this level of propriety in both America and in England is fascinating to read about as well given how casual our society is today.
Marsha
Black List by Brad Thor
Heart pounding adventure as counter-terrorism operative Scot Harvath seeks to unravel a secret plan that exits to spy on everyone through very secret technology. There is a secret black list that only the President and a few other people know exist. The targets on the black list are destined to die, and Scot finds out that he and his team are among the listings. They are accused of treason and it is a race to find the executioners before they kill him.
Laura Beierbach
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
Okay book.
Richard B
Identity: Lost by Pascal Marco
This is a pretty good thriller that features witness protection and gang warfare in Chicago. The conspiracy gets a little too complicated at the end, however.
Francisca E B
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Audio book performed by Jill Tanner. Excellent novel exploring issues of class, love, war, guilt and forgiveness. A complex character study. Can you ever atone for destroying someone's life?
Coral Harrison
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden
This is the story was written by the granddaughter of Dorothy Woodruff. She and Rosamond Underwood were friends all their life. They decided to go to teach at a school in Elkhead, Colorado. They had both graduated from college, made a trip to Europe, but decided to try something different. They were from Aurburn, New York so had to go by train and by spring wagon to get to Elkhead. A man named Ferry Carpenter had made contact with them and met them at the train. Their experiences are very interesting and the letters they had written to their parents were saved so the author could write a true story. I really enjoyed it and most people will find it that way also.
Susan Keene
Under the Dome by Stephen King
Had planned on reading this book as soon as I purchased it more than a year ago; now the goal is to have it completed by the time the series starts! Wish me luck!
Charles Weaver
The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend by Glenn Frankel
I just finished THE SEARCHERS by Glenn Frankel. Very interesting book. I thought I knew a lot about the Cynthia Ann Parker story and a little about "The Searchers" movie, but boy, this book had tons more to tell me. It was a little hard to read at some points but very interesting. I would recommend it.
Shirley Roseland
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
It was a little slow to catch your attention at the beginning of the book, but part way into the book, it started to get much more exciting, and harder to put down. I truly enjoyed the book. It was a look back in time, and very adventurous in a way as you really weren't quite sure what was going to happen next with the family and people in the area or what was really going on in the house. Was it haunted by the sister that had died as a young child, an employee that was let go on not such great terms or something being done by someone in the house itself. A very good book to read, and I would recommend it to other clubs. We will be discussing the book on Tuesday, March 19th, and I can't wait to see what the other club members thought.
Pat Caron
Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story by Wally Lamb
Having gone through ten years of Catholic school, I found this book laugh out loud hilarious. It brought back all sorts of fond memories and some not so fond memories. Excellent!
Michelle Ryan
Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors
TEMPLE OF A THOUSAND FACES is a wonderful, wonderful novel. My favorite works of historical fiction (PILLARS OF THE EARTH; BENEATH A MARBLE SKY; SHOGUN) take me to exotic and interesting parts of the world, and give me a thrill throughout my journey. TEMPLE OF A THOUSAND FACES does exactly that. I read it over a single weekend and was transported to the jungles and temples of ancient Cambodia. This is a big, ambitious book, but it moves swiftly. It's full of memorable characters, romance, betrayal and action. I tried to slow down at the end, as I wanted to savor the story, but doing so was impossible. By then, I was far too caught up with the characters to turn away from them. I've already recommended this splendid novel to my book club.
Elaine Beierbach
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
Interesting.
Marjorie Clark
The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø
This is Jo Nesbø's first Harry Hole book. I started with THE SNOWMAN and was hooked.
Debbie M
Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson does a wonderful job with his various characters and his description of the setting. Robinson also enjoys bringing in the social woe. Many writers have embarked on the horrors of forced slavery and forced prostitution, and Robinson has joined this bandwagon. Other writers have done better in exposing the degradation, however. Inspector Banks has no love interest in this story and many of the relationships fell flat. Parts of the story are interesting, but many are just words without meaning.
Linda Lansdell
A Dog Named Leaf: The Hero from Heaven Who Saved My Life by Allen Anderson
This is by far one of my favorite reads in a long time. A very tender, loving and, at times, humorous story of the amazing healing journey for both Allen and his dog named Leaf. It is a book with so many levels and lessons from the very practical to the spiritual. I loved it so much I gave several copies as gifts to family and friends. Allen has such a beautiful smooth and engaging writing style. It was a pleasure reading it.
Johanna Bouchard
North of Hope by Shannon Polson
I'm not quite finished with it yet, but this book has proven to be a very touching, heart-wrenching and inspiring. It really reaches out to you and makes you feel, which is something I really like in a book. The fact that it is a true story based on the author's own life makes it all the more compelling.
Dennis Beierbach
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
I would recommend it.
Joan Madden
Triumph by Carolyn Jessop
Good book, but didn't tell much more than what we already knew.
Anthony Romano
Blood Gospel by James Rollins & Rebecca Cantrell
Enjoyed reading the novel; it held my interest, short chapters, good story plot and a lot of action. However, the book had no ending, after reading the last page I was wondering if the printer left off a final chapter. What a letdown!
MsAnnie
News From Heaven by Jennifer Haigh
Jennifer Haigh is one of my favorite writers, and she revisits characters that she introduced in Baker Towers in this collection of short stories. If you grew up during a certain time (1960s) and place (anywhere that had a flourishing ethnic community), you recognize these people and their lives are more like a memory than a story. Sad, somewhat familiar and very real.
Jane Squires
Her Highness and the Bodyguard by Christine Rimmer
A book you will not be able to put down. I read it straight through. Rhia is a princess of Montedoro. Marcus gets assigned to her as a bodyguard. They have a history and there is some tension between them. While attending her sister's wedding, Rhia decides to escape Marcus' watchful eye with the help of another sister. Marcus finds her at a place dancing with cowboys and it makes him very jealous, but he stays close to keep an eye on her anyway. There is a snowstorm approaching but Rhia refuses to leave. So when they do leave, they end up in a snow storm and things happen. One thing I like about Christine's books is the unexpected. Real life happens. There are many surprises in the book.
Michael McAdam
World War Z by Max Brooks
Very intelligently written book about the aftermath of a war with zombies (called, of course, "World War Z"). Interview style; covering several different cities and what happened there. Fascinating and well written. I do miss character development; there is absolutely none as each city is an interview with a different person. But, I am enjoying it immensely nonetheless. I wanted to read it before the movie comes out. How they managed to make this into a movie has me curious since there are no characters (except the interviewer) with any kind of through-line to make a story. Fingers crossed!
Maureen Ronan
The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
I needed a dose of summer, and Nantucket was the perfect place.
Stacie Leonard
Peaches for Father Francis by Joanne Harris
Have not read any of her books before, fell in love with this one. Could relate to the charecters and they drew a person into the story. Awesome book!
Rezina Emmons
Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
I felt Ms. Green had experienced some of my life. Very engaging and emotionally charged. Hard to put down.
Lori
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
I found Z very interesting, especially having read both THE PARIS WIFE and THE AVIATOR'S WIFE and other readings from that time period, so this added to my impression of the 20's. I previously had known very little about the Fitzgeralds, so I appreciated learning about them and more about the time period.
I found the book well-written, and I think book groups will appreciate reading this book. I think there are lots of issues which could be great for discussions.
Becky Smith
The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner by Andrea Smith
This story takes place in the South, in the 1950s and the 1980s, and revolves around Bonnie, a married woman with no children of her own, who finds homes for babies that are sometimes just left on her doorstep. To keep the children from being placed in the County home, no official papers are filed. She has the help of her "sisterhood", a group of women from her church, all like-minded; only wanting good homes for these children. A tragedy in the town was the beginning of Bonnie's good works, but no good deed goes unpunished. Not everyone believes Bonnie is doing the right thing and there are consequences to her actions. A personal sorrow turns Bonnie's life upside down and she has more troubles. Moving and also funny.
Colin Beierbach
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
A so-so book for my taste.
Jean
Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford
A light and entertaining read. I was pleasantly surprised. The story surrounds the idea that maybe Jane Austen is really alive today as a vampire. Sounds weird, but it's actually a fun read!
Christine Shaffer
Defending Jacob by William Landay
Great discussion book. It makes you wonder what you are capable of doing for your children, and it makes parents realize that sometimes we can see our children with blinders on. Excellent thought provoking story. You are left to draw your own conclusions at the end of the book. Many twists, turns and surprises make it a book you can't put down!
Esther Engelhardt
Deception by Carol Ericson
Picked up a "Harlequin Intrigue" at a garage sale and read it. Seems to not have as good writing as some of the books I've read, but I give it a three star rating.
Lornas
Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill
The author was assigned to Mrs. Kennedy when JFK was elected president and stayed with her until shortly after his death. I cried and laughed. If you looking for "dirt" on Jackie this is not the book for you. What a lovely tribute by the man that probably knew her best during that time.
Rachelle Strachar
Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
I felt the plot was thin, the story predictable and the characters were weakly fleshed out. Stereotypes were set: the angry teen, mean stepmother, father stuck in the middle and annoying. Stepmother was whiny, dramatic, and self-centered; and she's the heroine? The book was set in California, with an American family, yet the British author uses her native tongue. For example 17 year-old Emily likes photography and was so excited when "my mother gave me 'proper' film." As a mom of three American children, ages 14-21, I have never heard any kid speak that way about an object. The British tone was there throughout the book, to constantly remind you that the author and editor lacked knowledge about the characters they were writing about.
Rachelle Strachar
Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck
Fun story about the beginnings of NASCAR and its first woman driver. Loved that! It's also a coming of age story with a budding romance. It was from the period shortly after WWI and the first automobiles. Great story!
Elle Boehm
Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
This was a superficial read. Characters did not have much depth and the plot was built on stereotypes. I expected more from this popular author.
Elle Boehm
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
Wow, what a great book. Characters are very well developed. Story has lots of twists and turns. Can't wait to read more by this author! Unpredictable!
Elle Boehm
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Great realistic fiction about a young girl who has cerebral palsy. I loved this book and found myself cheering for the parents, the young girl and her friends. I also felt myself feeling their pain. What a great book; written very well.
Becky C.
The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
THE ICE PRINCESS: A childhood friend found dead in her unheated house and an acquaintance of hers found hanged shortly afterward. The connection takes our investigator back to unhappy experiences kept secret for decades, and leads us to new secrets to be kept for decades more.
Becky C.
Dinosaurs in the Attic by Douglas Preston
This novel is most interesting. It chronicles the beginning of and additions to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, one of the greatest museums in the world. Douglas Preston gives us inside stories of men who were (and are) dedicated to preserving artifacts that cover the science and history of the universe, most particularly the planet earth. Discoveries have led to the "big bang" theory, the largest and most valuable gems, species of animals from insects to dinosaurs, and so much more. I would recommend this book to anyone who is curious about anything. Maybe the answer is in these pages!
Reva Wamsley
Spirits In The Trees by Morgan Hannah MacDonald
Maddy has lost her husband and daughter in a house fire. Several months later, her great aunt is going through some papers with her grandmother, and they discover that the aunt owns a house on Isabelle Island, where she lived with her first husband. Maddy decides to go there and get the house ready to sell. She meets the handsome next door neighbor, who offers to help her get the house ready to sell. Then, strange things start happening to Maddy. The house seems to be haunted by her aunt's dead husband. This book will keep you interested all the way through. I could barely put it down.
Janice Baly
Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon
FAR FROM THE TREE is one of the rare scholarly works that is also very readable for a lay person. The author challenges the reader with ideas about disability or rather the perception of what constitutes as a disability. Anyone who is a parent or is considering becoming a parent should read this book.
Christine Bair
Room by Emma Donoghue
No one in our book club gave it a 5, but we all liked this story and had a very interesting conversation about it. We liked that it was told from the point of view of Jack, the boy. It reminded us of other books we've enjoyed told from a different point of view, such as an autistic boy and a dog.
Alida Vanderhorst
Stones from the River by Ursula Heigi
This book opened my eyes to the plight of ordinary people living in Nazi Germany. The first time I finished it, I closed the book and immediately started right at the beginning. I have since read it twice and enjoyed it as much, if not more, as the first time.
B. Klaassen
The Fund by H. T. Narea
I read this book because it pulled me in from the beginning and continued to be a pageturner. The characters and plot were true-to-life. It is sad to think about how close to the edge of disaster our country is. We are almost dependent on other countries to loan us money. This author did a super job making the reader think. I will recommend this book to other readers.
Claudia Wells
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Loved this book! So many ideas and opportunities for our book group to discuss: the responsibility of drug companies, the ethics of exposing a native tribe to exploitation and possible destruction, the subject of women's fertility advancing into old age and many other topics to explore. I really enjoyed the setting in the Amazon. The author must have done a lot of research. The ending was unexpected! I did not anticipate the conclusion and that just added to my admiration of how well the author told her story. This is a book that lingers in your mind and that I will not soon forget.The characters are very well developed and by the end of the book, the reader feels as if she knows each of these people intimately. The plot was intricate.
Sharon Clark
How to Listen to God by Charles Stanley
This has a copyright date of 1985 but, of course, it is relevant today just as it was almost 30 years ago. The author's style makes the book read just like one of his informative sermons while intimately reaching his reader. I would recommend the book for anyone looking for a closer walk with God. Personally, I am facing some difficult decisions and I want to make sure I do not miss the will of God in my life. The book provides a profile of God and His character, and guides the reader into a closer walk with God.
Shelly Itkin
The Geneva Decision by Seeley James
Pia Sabel was an international soccer star and gave it all up to run the Sabel Security. On the first day she takes over, her client is killed right in front of her eyes and she vows to find the killer. Pia is new and has a lot to learn, but that won't stop her from moving ahead. She has many people who consider her nothing but a rich, spoiled brat and she is going to prove them wrong. While on a mission in Cameroon, she saves the life of one of her people on her team not once but twice. She has speed and her instincts are great so she is able to battle the obstacles that come her way. She cannot save the world, but she is going to find out the killer of her client.
Judy O.
Deadly Stakes by J.A. Jance
Another good murder mystery from a prolific writer. This one is in her "Ali Reynolds" series. I haven't found a bad J.A. Jance book yet.
Maureen O'Malley
Winter of the World by Ken Follett
What a wonderful writer Ken Follett is. Our book club can't wait to read more from him; we've read most of his books and love them all. His books always inspire a lively book discussion. His story line and characters just pull you in. We do love historical fiction.
sheryl
Insane City by Dave Barry
This book had me laughing out loud. But then how could it not, since Dave Barry wrote it. If you like Carl Hiaasen's version of Florida, you'll love this book. It was a lot of fun.
Fran O
Defending Jacob by William Landay
Wow! I will be recommending this book to my friends. It had just the right amount of suspense, courtroom drama and even wrapped up with a surprise twist at the end (never saw it coming!).
Kathy Martocci
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
Great read on the Brigham Young's 19th wife. The story moves between past and present from the beginning of the Morman religion to today's minority factions. This is a great historical fiction based on facts.
Janice Ellison
Missing Joseph by Elizabeth George
A gripping story line without too much violence. Nice escape reading.
Marsha
Stealing Athena by Karen Essex
Listed among the 300 most influential women in history are Mary Nesbit (wife of Lord Elgin known for the Elgin marbles) and Aspasia, mistress of Pericles (designer of the Parthenon). One helped build the monument to Athena and the other financed her husband's dismantling and saving of the marbles before Napoleon stole them for France. It is an intriguing window into the lives of these women as they fought for women's rights in their own time and place.
Kenna Best
Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective by Pat Summitt & Sally Jenkins
Even if you aren't a fan (although I am) of Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach Pat Summitt, this is a great autobiography.
Sally Gass
A Wanted Man by Lee Child
In previous books by this author, I have enjoyed the main character, Jack Reacher. In this novel, he did not reach his peak. The female lead, once again, gets killed, and there were too many government g-men in the picture. It proved to be too much and boring. I got tired of riding here and there in the car, going places in the Midwest!
Bonnie Gluhanich
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I loved this novel. It's well-written, entertaining, thought-provoking and is a very fast read. Recommended it to my book club because there's a lot of issues for discussion too.
Susan Johnson
The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
Great read about a real woman hero who was married to the first celebrity hero. The original "It" couple went from the heights of victory to the depths of despair. They were hounded by the press and almost moved to Hitler's Germany to escape the pressure. It is really well written and keeps you enthralled.
Cindy kness
Mudwoman by Joyce Carol Oates
This book feels like an emotional roller coaster. This is one of the saddest two lines I ever read:
"It was terror to her, this realization. That her life was passing swiftly and the time in which she might have loved and be loved in the intimate way of living with another person was passing yet more swiftly." Excellent read.
James Sperduto
Wool by Hugh Howey
Excellent fun read.
Sylvie Nickel
Canada by Richard Ford
Seems to move very slowly, but yet I pick it up at every chance. Specific details in scenes are
very evocative.
Pat Muskett
Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
An interesting read and characters who pull one in all directions. The husband...I was very angry with him, but he saved himself toward the end of book. Emily, daughter, who has a horrible situation for a teenager, pregnancy, drugs, a brat! Brook, who is the "good daughter" and the glue of the family. Stepmom who cannot win at anything but her work...she is such a good person. Mom, who is a drunk, who is redeemed and comes through for her daughter.
Judy Frasca
Dark Tide by Elizabeth Haynes
Great mystery with several twists. About a woman who leaves her job in London to live upon her boat. A woman from her past washes up beside the boat. Same author of the great Into The Darkest Corner.
Ali McDonnell
The Sanctity of Love and War by Amy Ferguson
This independently published book is available on Amazon and was written by a local author, so I was anxious to read it. It is the story of a family and residents of a small town in Maine, all of whom have been affected by World War II. The characterizations are good and you will journey with the family toward healing following the war. You will no doubt disagree with some of the decisions made by the characters, but will enjoy the story. Check it out.
Sharon Elliott-Fox
The End of Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
And I thought I was a reader! The list of books Will and Mary Ann read is amazing and I was so impressed by the comments made and insights gleaned from each book. Of course, it is also a story of courage in the face of death (Mary Ann and my friend, Ceil were two of a kind!), and the honest fears and trepidation of those who love the one who is dying. Loved Mary Ann's doctors-- oh, for more like Dr Rodgers.
Judy Ross
Ashenden by Elizabeth Wilhide
Slow starting, hard to keep interested.
Nancy Rhoades
The Storyteller by Joid Picoult
Great book, as most of Jodi's are...lots of details on the Holocaust...as expected, a twist ending.
Tessa B C
Tomorrow River by Lesley Kagen
Okay "mystery" about twin girls who try to find their missing mother in rural VA. This is an interesting premise and Kagen can write a suspenseful thriller (I really enjoyed WHISTLING IN THE DARK), but she didn’t quite pull it off in my opinion. I quickly got tired of the “Southernisms” with which Shenny expressed herself. I also grew frustrated with how unreliable she was as a narrator. Good, not great.
Betty Fitzgerald
Six Years by Harlen Coben
Suspenseful, very detailed, keeps me guessing with every turn of the page. I've enjoyed many of his previous books and hope that when finished with this one, I can add it to my "recommend List" for friends in my book club.
Diane Castiglione
Learning to Stay by Erin Celello
The author is an amazing writer. She had to have done some great research to
understand what a lot of our young men and women in service go through after coming home.
Also what families of these service men go through trying to find help to adjust and help their loved ones.
We meet Elise and Brad who have just come home from Irag and survived a blast when serving there. He has returned home a changed person. Elise is having a hard time trying to find the man she loves in this person. We watch them trying to find a way to hold their marriage together. We meet Jones, a dog who will help them both to mend what they feel is lost. Elise and Jones will find the way to fight to help bring Brad back from the nightmare of war.
Pat in MO
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
Jodi has done it again. A great contemporary and historical thriller full of suspense. And a love story too. This book has so much to it (but not confusing like some books can be) you can't put it down unless you know you can get right back to reading it. I won this book from Word Of Mouth and I am so glad since I can keep it and read it over again. This is one that you miss when you are done and keeps you thinking afterwards. Thank you Jodi.
Jayme G.
Fuse by Julianna Baggott
I read Pure the first book in the trilogy and loved it. I wasn’t sure Baggott would be able to follow it, but I was delightfully surprised. Fuse is just as good as Pure, if not better. In Pure Baggott meticulously detailed the world after the detonation and in Fuse she delves into the characters. I wish the third book was out now… 2014 seems very far away. If you love dystopian novels, you really must read this series.
Jayme G.
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
Jess Walter hits the right combination of humor, joy, and unbelievability in this wonderful and engaging story about the choices we make and the “beautiful ruins” that is life and love. Highly recommend.
Pamela Moore
Below Stairs by Margaret Powell
This short memoir written in the 60s will amuse you with the author's pithy comments and make you angry at the injustices of life in English manors below stairs. This book inspired the mini-series of Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs.
Pamela Moore
Servants' Hall by Margaret Powell
This is another book about life below the stairs in English households in the first half of the 20th Century. It is almost a sequel to BELOW STAIRS, which inspired Downton Abbey. In this one, Powell relates the story of a marriage between a maid and the son of the Lord. Very interesting & a bit surprising.
Kathy Iwasaka
Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman
Moving out of my mystery/thriller comfort zone and into the real-life mystery of a religion created by a science-fiction writer.
Paulette Brooks
Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear
Satisfying read - continuation of the Maisie Dobbs series.
Debbie
Paris Wife by Paula McClain
Great book about Hemingway.
Linda Reck
Fever by Mary Beth Keane
This is the story of "Typhoid Mary," an indomitable young woman who is a carrier of typhoid fever, but doesn't get it. She is held on an island in New York without being charged. It takes well-beyond two years for her to be released with a promise never to cook for anyone again.This is a remarkable story of survival. The book is morally provocative.
Susan Creed
Canada by Richard Ford
Books set in a part of the world that I've visited are always intriguing. This one starts in Great Falls, Montana where I lived for about 4 years. I like being able to really picture the places the characters are describing. An interesting set up about a teenager whose parents rob a bank in the 1960s and get caught. The plot is less important than the character studies.
Bonnie Gluhanich
V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton
Light, serviceable mystery. You read it for entertainment and fun, not to remember the plot six months from now...like any similar mystery.
Sara Glanz
Ordinary Grace by William Krueger
Beautifully written.
Nancy Hausladen
Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
I enjoyed this book very much. Andi did not find her perfect man until she was 39, She always wanted children and he had two daughters, however Emily does like Andi and makes life very difficult. Andi does not know if she can continue with the marriage. What happens makes for good reading.
Mary Jo Whitehead
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
My book club really liked this book.
Jan Kanowitz
Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler
In 1939 marriage between white and blacks were frowned upon. Eighty-nine year old Isabelle McAllister looks back on a early forbidden romance as she travels back to Cincinnati for a funeral. Traveling with Isabelle is her black hairdresser who has family problems of her own to deal with. This book travels back to 1939 and into the present as these two women travel to this funeral. This book is based on a fact in the author's past. It is a great debut book by an author we are sure to hear about in the future.
Cherry
Suspect by Robert Crais
LAPD cop and German Shepard military dog, both suffering from PTSD both thought unfit for duty. They are each other's last chance as they start searching for answers to the case no one wants them to touch. It's an exhilarating romp from start to finish and yet, I wanted more of Scott and Maggie.
Beth Settje
The Lost Husband by Katherine Center
A story about a woman finding herself after the unexpected death of her husband, it captures the nuances and fears a single mother and recent widow faces. As Libby is a young woman when tragedy strikes, her life truly centers on her children and herself. A sudden life decision to move in with an aunt finally allows her to begin healing and moving forward.
The book has interesting characters who seem real and are likable. The writing flows so I wanted to keep reading. Good for individuals as well as book clubs.
Sandy McCullough
Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand
One of the best books I have read in a long long time! Lots of drama going on in the town of Nantucket and the story grabs you right from the beginning. On a warm June evening, the students of Nantucket High gather for the traditional bonfire on the beach. But the celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver, Penny Alistair dead and her brother in a coma.
Penny was the only sober person in the car, but high speed was the cause of the accident, so what drove Penny to drive at such a high speed in the first place? I must say I had my suspicions about halfway through the book and they were confirmed. I want to read everything I can by this author.
Sandy McCullough
Family Album by Penelope Lively
Not one of my favorites. Small book and easy to read though. All the children of Allersmead in England have a different version of their lives there. An unsurprising secret unfolds which no one ever talks about. Fans of Penelope Lively will enjoy this book.
Francisca E B
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
Wonderful spare writing. He lets the story unfold so naturally and says so much in so few words.
Sandy McCullough
The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew
Great book! In this beautifully written debut, Anna Jean Mayhew offers a riveting depiction of Southern life in the throes of segregation, what it will mean for a young girl on her way to adulthood, and for the woman who means the world to her. In the wake of tragedy, Jubie must confront her parents' failings and limitations, decide where her own convictions lie, and make the tumultuous leap to independence. One of my favorites of this winter.
Sandra Furlotte
Gold Diggers by Charlotte Gray
This is a fantastic look at the Klondike gold rush and the larger than life characters who made their way to Dawson City seeking their fortune.
Janet Latchaw
Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
This book follows the usual Fluke formula including many fattening dessert recipes. It also brings back characters from a previous book and ties up loose ends there. Marriage is in the air but not for Hannah, the main character who goes between two possible partners in every book (ala Janet Evanovich). This book is a pleasant, quick read even as the murderer is not so easy to spot unless you disregard all the ones you'll know right off that aren't the murderer.
Aaron Polish
Peninim of the Torah by Rabbi Scheinbaum
The History of Jewish people and the meaning of the sayings.
Juanita Adamson
Above All Things by Tanis Rideout
A very interesting book - filled with lots of emotion. I just kept thinking what compels a person to leave his family and the life he has to accomplish such a feat.
Carolyn A. Milliser
The Elegance Of The Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry
Did not like the book. It was sketchy, and disconnected from a meaningful story line. I wonder if the translation caused some of the problems...many times the words were not appropriate to the context of the sentence. I am very surprised that this has had such top ratings. Out of 12 people, in our book club review, only two said it was okay, because the ending chapters were of some significance, but agreed that it was not a good read. Sorry! We had high hopes it would be a good one.
Pat S
BAD BLOOD by Dana Stabenow
Although I have enjoyed her previous books, I didn't like this one as well as others. I enjoyed 2nd half of book better than 1st half. I felt there was too much narrative and description in the beginning - wanted more dialogue. I enjoyed it but was a little disappointed.
Pat S
Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill
A very moving, very persnal account of that dreadful time in our history. He truly cared for Mrs. Kennedy (frankly I think he was i love with her just a little) and she was in excellent care and protection with him. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Pat S
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
I'm sorry - know it is on bestseller list BUT I couldn't take this book and couldn't finish it!!! I disliked the "F" words and the profanity/vulgarity and almost stopped by page 45. However, I thought it might settle down and get better - NOT. I gave up and have heard the ending and know I DIDN'T MISS A THING. I truly can't believe everyone is raving about this book. Maybe it is a generational thing - I am a Sr. Citizen and perhaps the language just doesn't bother the younger folks. It does for me!!!
Pat S
Private London by James Patterson
Always a treat to read Patterson.
Wendy Catalano
The Importance Of Being Wicked by Victoria Alexander
This novel is the second book in Victoria Alexander's "Millworth Manor" series. I was totally captivated by the first book "What Happens At Christmas" and knew I had to carry on with the series. I'm so glad I did.
This novel centers around Winfield Elliott, Viscount Stillwell, who with three broken engagements, has decided to forgo his search for a wife and focus on hiring a company to repair his family's fire-damaged country house. The firm's representative turns out to be Lady Miranda Garrett, a very desirable widow. While Miranda resides at Millworth to oversee the work, Winfield occupies most of her days and they become "friends". Is that all they are?
A light-hearted and funny historical romance!
Christine Womack
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Covering a thirty-three year period in Afghanistan through the eyes of two women, it is a book filled with the culture of the way that women are treated there interwoven with the fighting that takes place there. It is so vividly written that one can actually feel that they are there,
Dianne
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
An outstanding historical novel involving strong female characters.
Jennifer Lehman
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
I love how McCourt takes us right into his world. Very enjoyable.
Kara Holt
The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman
The moving story of a midwife in depression era Appalachia. A richly detailed celebration of the miracle of birth, combined with the inspiring stories of their families, who despite their hardships experience great joy and hope.
Jackie Ranaldo
The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
The first in a series...a well-written and intriguing mystery.
Krismar Ramker
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf
A story that weaves together the lives of 4 young women and one young boy. A heart-wrenching story of the loss of family love. A display of how one decision can alter a whole life.
Robin Fuller
Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman
This is one of my favorite authors and I was not disappointed in his new book. I highly recommend it.
Lynda Tysdal
Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina
A friend recommended this (self-published?) novel to me, knowing how much I love steampunk, and I fell in love with it. Even if you don't care for (or have never tried Steampunk), anyone who loves period/teen/adventures of a young women novels will love it, too!
Walter Kretzmann
Cloudland by Joseph Olshan
I liked this book for a number of reasons: It is a mystery that let me think I had the answers to who and why--but, then again, maybe not; it sparked my interest to read more by Wilkie Collins (I love it when one author turns me on to other writers!); the characters are engaging and well-written, especially Henrietta the pot-bellied pet pig; and the prose is much more literary than the run-of-the-mill crime novel--although, as is often my complaint when reading contemporary fiction, I don't see the need for the vulgar language.
Walter Kretzmann
Truth Like the Sun by Jim Lynch
NOTHING special. I kept waiting for a plot twist, or at the very least for something interesting to happen. I bought this book because it had a cool cover. Guess the old saying rings true: you can't judge a book by its cover.
Walter Kretzmann
The Stockholm Octavo by Karen Engelmann
This story was intriguing; loved the card interpretations and political jockeying. The significance of fans was interesting too. It got a little fanciful toward the end, but I found this book hard to put down.
Walter Kretzmann
The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison
A good read. The characters are great and all well developed. Laugh out loud funny in a few places, brought a few tears in others. The message seems a little overstated and the road trip plot line a little overdone, but genuinely happy I read it. A lesson in annica would make it more memorable, and worth recommending.
Walter Kretzmann
A Drop of Chinese Blood by James Church
It follows the previous books and adds touches of humor that I find intriguing. I hope we will find more books from this author. His style of writing has been refreshing and one hopes that though it is fiction, it gives us somewhat of a view from the other side.
Sandra Furlotte
Alys, Always by Harriet Lane
I loved this book by British author Harriet Lane. The main character, Frances, is a master manipulator and watching her insinuate herself into the grieving Kyte family is spell binding.
Judy Stein
The Last Man by Vince Flynn
Mitch Rapp's latest adventures. From Afghanistan to Pakistan to Washington, DC, Flynn's hero is at his best, even when not at his best (concussion...don't ask). Lot's of double-and triple-cross action and maybe a foreshadowing of Mitch finding love again...we'll see. I actually listened to this on CD (George Guidell, I heart you). A fun thriller!
Vicki Hancock
Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge
I loved this book. It is a refreshing change from all the same Adult Romance books out there right now. It is a poignant story of Lucie, who "wakes up" standing in the San Francisco Bay water with no idea of who or where she is. Her fiancé, who has spent 10 days looking for her finally finds her due to the media coverage. She is diagnosed of having Dissociative Fugue. It is a really haunting story of how Lucie loses her identity but finds herself. Love this book.
Vicki Hancock
Wait For You by Jennifer Armentrout writing as J. Lynn
I am liking this book, as is everyone else. I find the only issue I have is it's the same thing as about any Young Adult book out there. Gorgeous, rich, aloof college girl meets gorgeous, player college boy and they fall in love. While I do enjoy the book, they all seem to be the same idea. No offense to the author because it is a good book that is obviously hitting every best seller list there is but no originality in my opinion.
Laura Beierbach
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
My co-workers are talking about this book.
Denise Beierbach
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
I will share my copy with a friend.
Alyson Widen
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Tough journey of discovery of strengths in self while solo backpack traveling on trails wondering about next water supply and also the next drop-off for supplies. My shoulders hurt in sympathy for her heavy backpack which gradually became lighter as she became a better packer and deemed what exactly was necessary for survival besides books and a tent.
Audrey Lawrence
The Eskimo Hunts in New York by Stefan Kanfer
Just as your full book review of this book on your site noted, this is a very intriguing book with a fascinating hero in Jason Gulok. While pretending to be a discharged Navy SEAL, he is in fact on a secret mission for Admiral Klausen with the SEALs. If this doesn't give me enough problem solving abilities, he is also an Inuk from the Canadian Arctic and draws on the wisdom of the Inuit Elders and that of his grandfather.
I loved this book as Jason is such a different character than in most thriller suspense novels and draws upon his own resources to make a path for himself. He is also realistic about danger and I had trouble putting the book down as I had to see how he would solve each dilemma!
Wendy
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
"Flight Behavior" was an amazing book, one that the reader could tell required much research on the part of the author. It combined science with an emotional story that kept you reading, not being able to put the book down until you finished. The story combined science and emotional relationships beautifully.
Rebecca Webster
Sum it Up by Pat Summitt
Not really a big basketball fan, but I find this book a fascinating read. How can you not put yourself in Pat's place and wonder how I would handle a diagnosis of Alzheimers. She does it with grace.
Pearl Berger
The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani
A family saga that is captivating and special.
WALTER KRETZMANN
Force of Nature by C.J. Box
C.J. Box's new Joe Pickett novel is a winner. The story centers on the enigmatic Nate Romanowsky with Joe Pickett and his family on the outside looking in. Finally some insight on why Nate is what he is. Falconry, of course, is front and center and it was fascinating seeing Box fit all of it together into a very satisfying novel. Suspense, mystery, insight and unforgettable characters are the trademark of C.J. Box, and I believe that this is the best of them all. The novel ended and my only regret is that I will have to wait a year for the next C.J. Box adventure. Well done, Mr. Box!
Evelyn Oliveras
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
A truthful perspective on relationships, emotions and strength displayed as one goes on with life challenges. Women fulfill many roles but then, to be in the military is certainly an unimaginable strength that has to exist. Jolene’s foundation from her adolescent years was a shaky one, but yet she found the strength to carry on. It took several twists and turns, but strength prevails. This book is a tribute to our veterans and the brave men and women serving our nation.
Dani Berke
Mary Coin by Marissa Silver
Excellent book about a picture depicting the depression.
Dani Berke
The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood
The story flip flops between 1920 and the current year. It's about life, love and loss.
Melanie S.
The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
Having read so many Holocaust genre stories, this book opened my eyes to another genocide. The book indeed states,“This is the massacre you know nothing about.” This book was horrifying and instructive. A fictional story told from the points of view of a granddaughter in the present day interwoven with events of nearly 100 years ago in the Ottoman Empire (aka Turkey; not being a history buff, I admit to not knowing these were one in the same). The granddaughter is trying to learn more about her grandparents’ history and connect with her Armenian heritage. What she uncovers through her research is the story of this book. I found the transitions between present and past to be a bit choppy, but this is an engaging and well-constructed story.
Patricia Askins
Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman
I won this book from Bookreporter.com Suspense/Thriller Contest and I am so glad I won it. I would not have picked this book for myself since I normally read only a few of this type genre. I was hooked by page 31. This thriller is so hard to put down. It has so much more in it than just an investigation. It also has romance and it's a little scary. I really like the way Becky Masterman writes too. I will be looking for more of her books to come since I believe this was her debut novel. What a debut! And I'm only on page 68!!
Melissa Ferr
The Good Daughter by Jane Porter
I enjoyed Jane's first book in this series better.
Lynn W
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
I read 111 pages and thought, "I'm not going to read any more murder and mayhem because I DON'T CARE if Dracula is still alive!"
Lynn W
The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy
Beautifully written. I enjoyed reading it, and would recommend it to anyone with more interest in the German occupation of Guernsey Island.
Judy O.
The Good House by Ann Leary
I really enjoyed this book. It is set on the North Shore of Boston. Hildy Good is a successful real-estate broker and also an alcoholic. Even though she has been to rehab, she starts drinking again, and her relationships with her family and friends suffer. She becomes friends with Rebecca McCallister, a young wealthy woman who has recently moved to the area. More character driven than plot driven, but I really thought it was good.
Jane Squires
A Cold Creek Noel by RaeAnne Thayne
Caidy Bowman has a hard time moving past the tragic death of her parents she witnessed when she was 16. Christmas holds no special place for her. Yet, she pushes past it for her niece making it as happy as possible. She has helped her brother raise his niece after his wife left him. Her pup has a run in with a bull and she ends up with an emergency visit to the vet where she meets Ben. She isn't happy with Ben and his attitude toward her. He has just taken over the practice and bans her from helping him. This story unwinds as Ben and Caidy deal with their past and moving forward. Ben helps Caidy deal with her parents' death. Caidy helps Ben and his children relocate after his wife's death.
Sergio Baldassarre
The Etruscan by Linda Lappin
This literary Gothic tale transports you to Tuscany in 1922. It is an enthralling and timeless love story played out against the background of Tuscan woods and eerie Etruscan ruins. It is hard to put down with interesting characters and a fascinating setting. It is very evocative.
Carol Riley
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
I enjoyed the book. The characters were well developed, and the background story gave a glimpse into the horrific story of the Jewish holocaust victims and survivors.
Karen J Massey
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
This author captures the time period and the people who live in it. This series of mysteries is captivating and well written. The characters are realistic and charming. The story development is easy to follow yet filled with mystery and intrigue. I highly recommend these books. I met this author at the Texas Book Festival a few years ago. She is interesting, charming, intelligent and a great story teller.
Summer Grinstead
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
This book is so good. The writing is so amazing. Obviously, the topic itself is sad and depressing, but it keeps you very interested and a good surprise at the end. Great read.
Terry Miller
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
Our book club is reading this and I really enjoyed it. I cruised past the island of Moloka'i and had heard about it, but this book really gave an inside story about the island and Hanson's disease.
Lindsay Carlucci
The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
Well written; interesting characters; held my interest. Written in the perspective of three characters, which was interesting. I enjoyed it and would recommend it
Sandy McCullough
Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman
One of the best books I have read in a long time! Emma, a prima ballerina in London, is at a crossroads after an injured knee ruins her career. Forced to rest and take stock of her life, she finds that she's mistaken fame and achievement for love and fulfillment. Returning home to Australia, she learns of her grandmother's death and a strange inheritance: a sheep station in isolated rural Australia. Certain she has been saddled with an irritating burden, Emma prepares to leave for Wildflower Hill to sell the estate. I can't wait to read other books by this author.
Kathy Hansen
The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
I knew virtually nothing about this era in history. Hoffman's engrossing story was a winner for me in two ways: the characters are fascinating and it piqued my interest in this time.
Joy Ann Martineau
Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal
Interesting story about London as the blitz starts.
Fran O
Love in the Present Tense by Catherine Ryan Hyde
I enjoyed this book by this author, whose other novel, PAY IT FORWARD, I've read. Cute, quirky characters who endear themselves to the heart of the reader. The story depicts the life of three characters: a young teenage mom, her son, Leonard, and his impromptu babysitter, Mitch. Each has their own story to tell, and the story comes complete with an underlying dark side. Well written.
Linda Johnson
Murder Below Montparnasse by Cara Black
I would actually give this a 3.5 if I could. This is the second "Aimée LeDuc" mystery that I have read (the other being the very first novel). Surprisingly to me, Cara is not writing cozies. There are some gruesome depictions of murders. The story was enticing and I did not want to put the book down, but had to. If I had my druthers, I would have read this in just a day or two. The not-four-star rating has to do with what I found to be a confusing ending. I'm sure what I feel are loose ends will surface in a subsequent addition.
Sylvia Bengisoy
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
This was an incredibly suspenseful book. I enjoyed the interplay of the life's of very strong women from different time periods. The book should have been called "The Secret Garden" but that title has already been taken. The major characters were so creative: fairy tales, illustrations and gardens ---everything that I loved.
Janice Wright
The Ambassador’s Daughter by Pam Jenoff
This historical novel was very well written and kept my interest. It was set in Paris at the peace conference immediately following World War I. It's about a young woman who accompanied her German ambassador father to Paris and inadvertently became involved in espionage.
Janet P Bedell
Murder Below Montparnasse by Cara Black
Loved the plot; found the beginning a little confusing. This is her thirteenth book in the "Aimée Leduc" series. I plan to read the first one to get a bit more background on Aimée.
shelly itkin
Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline
I am a huge fan of Lisa’s. I think I read almost all of her books, but I must say this is the most fantastic, exciting and surprising of all her books. Dr. Mike Scanlon, a podiatrist, is called too active duty in Afghanistan leaving behind is wife Chloe and his newborn baby, Emily. While Mike is in the operating room someone is waiting for him, he is told his wife has died and he can go home for a very limited time. Upon Mike arrival, he finds some shocking surprises in his home and realizes that the cause of Chloe’s death might not be what it looks like. As a surgeon, Mike's medical background might help discover the cause of death.
