This contest period's winners were Diana C., Mal K., Saundra M., Sharon S. and Susan K., who each received a copy of BELOVED ENEMY: A Jack McClure Novel by Eric Van Lustbader, THE LONGEST RIDE by Nicholas Sparks and THE QUEST by Nelson DeMille.
Bonnie Gluhanich
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Super-engrossing novel. The first few chapters introduce several different sets of characters, but once you meet them, you won't want to put the book down. Everything fits together like a well-made jigsaw puzzle. The great reviews are well-deserved.
Lori
Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
This was a fun read about a man with Asperger's syndrome trying to find a wife. It was a silly but amusing story --- good escapism, a very light read. I would recommend it to people who know people like this.
Karen Stigers
The Light in the Ruins by Christopher Bohjalian
Good read that keeps you in the dark until towards the end.
Betty Fitzgerald
The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
An unusual story, beautifully written with characters you won't soon forget. A middle-aged bachelor at the turn of the century rescues two young teens who show up in his orchard dirty, hungry and pregnant. Their lives evolve slowly as the trees grow from saplings to blooming and bearing fruit. A first novel by this author that took 8 years to write! I hope I don't have to wait another 8 years for her next book.
Patricia Gallant
Stranglehold by Robert Rotenberg
Great detective/mystery story with an interesting twist.
Wendy Jensen
Sweetest Hallelujah by Elaine Hussey
I read this book in a day - just couldn't put it down. Great story flow. This novel was written in the years when blacks were not allowed to use the same doors as whites and so on - but love has no boundaries. I would recommend this book to all - very intense.
Aimee Hegedus
The Big Disconnect by Catherine Steiner-Adair
I just started the book, but so far really like the insight into adults and teens and how they use technology to stay in constant contact, but are getting farther away from personal relationships.
Lee Mitchell
The Amaranth Bloom by Deborah June Goemans
All you 'had no idea' of Apartheid in South Africa. The interesting inter-racial family believes in the Amaranth Philosophy of 'volition.' If you are not actually fighting for something, you are actively working against it.
Coral Harrison
Being George Washington by Glenn Beck
This is the amazing true story of a real-life superhero who changed the world forever. I have been a George Washington "buff" for years. This is one of the best books I have ever read of his life. This is a new way to look at history. It is also easy to read and very interesting. You owe it to yourself to read it.
Aaron
The Twelve Cities by John Gunther
A documentary of a man going through different cities in different countries in 1969... really good history.
Luanne Jeffery
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
Quite a riveting book. The author has brought all the characters to life
Gail Rubin
This Town by Mark Liebovich
This Town begins with Tim Russert's funeral in 2008, continues with Mike Wallace’s and pretty much ends at the time of Daniel Inouye’s, in December of 2012. Sandwiched between these funerals, which attract anyone who is anyone, across party lines, is an expose of Washington DC politics. The shameful behavior of politicians, journalists, lobbyists and hangers-on is humorously exploited on the pages of this book by a very apt author who knows from whence he speaks, since he, too, is actively involved in the process.
Liebovich exposes the hypocrisy in the White House today and compares it to the hypocrisy of White Houses in days gone by. He does not hold back and after reading this, the reader may never trust a politician again.
GIna
The Panther by Nelson DeMille
A page turner even though it is over 600 pages long. This is the best DeMille in years.
John Corey is our wry assassin. His travelogue is descriptive and believable. The plot
seems so straightforward. It is not.
Allison Gardner
Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs
Great, cozy mystery.
Mary Rodriguez
The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti
A young man uses his intellect to save his poor and dying family. A good first novel by the author.
Anita Hemmelgarn
Kitchen House by Katherine Girssom
This is a wonderful story of how social classes cross over in the South.
Just a very,very, good book. Our entire book club loved this one..
Lonnie Friedman
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
I absolutely loved this book. It's a book you can love, regardless of whether you're politically liberal or conservative, because it's such a human story. It's rich, funny, well-written and candid. Sotomayor is a good story-teller, and she tells a tale of attaining success at the Supreme Court level as a second generation immigrant. There were very few pages that didn't hold my attention. I loved her amazing grit and determination from such a young age. I found it fascinating that she could aspire to be a Supreme Court Justice given how few role models she had early in her life. Watching Perry Mason and joining the Forensics Club helped her along the way, as did a number of teachers and professors.
Arin Burton
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
A great story set during the civil rights fight that went on in America. If you enjoyed "The Help" you will also enjoy this coming-of age story. Highly recommend!
Elaine Beierbach
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
He always makes me cry.
Suzanne Mazzei
Inferno by Dan Brown
Not as good as some of Dan Brown's other books but still interesting at times. Felt as if I was being "preached" to by Brown about the whole population control theme that took some of the fun out of reading the book.
Nancy Bader
Mary Coin by Marisa Silver
This is the historic novel behind one of the most famous photographs associated with the Great Depression. I like books that teach me something I should know about but don't -- like the Great Depression. I just re-watched The Grapes of Wrath, and this is a perfect fit.
Tessa B C
The Bone Yard by Jefferson Bass
I really like this series. Dr Bill Brockton is a forensic anthropologist. The writing team that makes up Jefferson Bass knows forensics and does a good job of providing sufficient detail without making this a science textbook. However, I thought the double story line didn’t quite work here. One of the plot lines really suffered; the woman’s murder deserved a more thorough investigation in the book (as it would in real life). This is the sixth book in the series, and I wonder whether they were out of ideas to fully flesh out the plot. Still, the plot moves quickly and has enough twists and turns to still provide a surprise at the reveal.
Tessa B C
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson
Audio book narrated by the author. This is a modern-day Southern Gothic novel, full of wonderfully eccentric characters, as well as family secrets, dark undercurrents of poverty, alcohol abuse, and illicit sex. As is usual in Jackson’s books, there are competing motives at work. Characters behave in an apparently bad way for good reasons, or in an apparently good way for bad reasons. This keeps the reader guessing as to what is really going on. I was surprised by the way things turned out; though I did think it was a little too convenient an ending.
Ellen Beller
Margot by Jillian Cantor
A what if novel about the survival of Anne Frank's sister. Beautifully written, Margot survives the Holocaust only to watch as the world learns about her family through her sister's diary which has just been released in theaters. Frozen in the past and not able to talk about herself she watches as her sister's story is told. A great read for adults and young adults.
Izella Cadwallader
Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
I loved the book. It had such a great love story. After a long correspondence the pair finally meet and after many years of separation they find each other again.
Linda Harrison
1 Ragged Ridge Road by Leonard Foglia and David Richards
This was one of the best mysteries I've read in a while. When Carol and Blake Roblins buy a Victorian house known as the Kennedy Mansion, she is obsessed with finding out about the original owners. She learns that Veronica Kennedy was murdered and an expensive necklace stolen. Charles Kennedy threw himself in front of a train after he found her body. The murder has never been solved nor has the necklace ever been recovered. Carol is determined to find the truth even after she receives threatening phone calls and letters and feels the hostility of the townspeople.
Kelly Thomas
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
I read it in day and half. Very exciting and provoking.
Lorna
Mad Mouse by Chris Grabenstein
2nd in the John Ceepak series. Sea Haven, NJ is the setting for next mystery for John and his new partner Danny. The victims targeted seem to have a connection to Danny. Just a fun and comical read if your looking for something quick and easy. PS... Mad Mouse is an amusement ride.
Sheila Dietz
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Written from the perspectives of two women, this book gives a poignant picture of part of our history. Also provides good insight into the "tough" persona of some young people who've had a rough beginning..
Linda Harrison
The Highway by C. J. Box
Once you read this, you will never think of truck drivers the same way! Two teenagers are driving to their father's home in Nebraska for Christmas when the driver suddenly changes her mind and heads to Montana to visit her boyfriend. No one knows of the change in plans. When they disappear, no one is sure where they might be or where to start looking. The boyfriend contacts the girls' mother and tells her the girls were headed to Montana. Then the search is narrowed down but it takes a determined policewoman to get to the truth.
Helen Duncan
New York by Edward Rutherfurd
I enjoyed this book but mostly because I admired the way the author organized this project. His books are a pleasant way to learn some history, but, since this one was about a place I knew, it was a different experience than I found in his other books. Because I already had a good sense of the history I focused more on the plot. It didn't hold my interest as well but I was able to fully appreciate the difficulty of a project like this. Well worth the time to read but I liked it less than his other books.
Stavros Kellepouris
The Hit by David Baldacci
Baldacci comes up with another hit with The Hit. Nice twists and a page turner.
Linda Harrison
Evil In All Its Disguises by Hilary Davidson
As Lily Moore is checking into Hotel Ceron in Acapulco, she is greeted by a poisonous snake slithering across the floor. Lily should have taken the threat of the snake seriously and left the hotel but she stayed and now her life is in danger. One of her friends goes missing and no one seems to be concerned. Then Lily becomes ill and fears she may have been poisoned. Her cell phone and computer disappear and she has no way to contact anyone. The plot of the book is very good and the suspense keeps your interest all the way through.
Linda Harrison
Hidden Order by Brad Thor
When the Chairman of the Federal Reserves dies, there is a list of five candidates from which a new chairman will be selected. This list is closely guarded but someone found out about it and the five candidates have been kidnapped. When one turns up brutally murdered, Scot Harvath is called upon to find the other four. Meanwhile CIA case officer Lydia Ryan is accosted at the Frankfurt airport by Nafi Nasiri, head of Jordan’s intelligence department, and questioned as to whether the CIA is planning the destabilization of Jordan. Nasiri tells Lydia that Jordan has learned of a plot targeting the US but will tell her nothing further. Thor’s books are always great and full of suspense that will keep you reading till the last page.
Linda Harrison
These Granite Islands by Sarah Stonich
As an elderly lady awaits her last days, she remembers her life and relates stories to her son. Her life held many great and loving memories but she never knew what happened to her friend Cathryn. Cathryn was having an affair with a forest ranger and was distraught over the hurt she was causing her husband and her friend Isobel. They disappeared during a forest fire but no bodies were found. Isobel always wondered what happened to Cathryn. Her son found the truth and gave her the information.
Linda Harrison
The English Girl by Daniel Silva
Russia wants the drilling rights to oil in the North Sea but England refuses to grant them the rights. So an elaborate plan is set in motion by Russia which involves a woman rumored to be the mistress of the Prime Minister. When the woman disappears, England’s director of MI5 contacts Gabriel Allon for assistance in locating the woman. Gabriel’s search takes him from England to Italy and to Russia, where he previously barely escaped with his life. The book was fast-moving and full of suspense and I loved the surprise at the end.
Linda Harrison
Storm Peak by John A. Flanagan
After reading Avalanche Pass, I had to go back and read Storm Peak, the first book involving the main character Jesse Parker. The plot is great and, once you start reading the book, you can’t put it down. Jesse has returned from Denver after his partner is killed during a gun battle with drug dealers while awaiting backup. Jesse swore he would not get back into law enforcement but when murders start in Steamboat Springs, Sheriff Lee Torrens talks him into becoming her deputy. Jesse had been one of the top homicide cops in Denver and Lee needed his help. The murderer has a reason for the murders and won’t be stopped by any hick cops.
Ann Hill
The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey
A refreshing, challenging look at Jesus life, ministry, teachings and His mission here on earth. It also helped me to better understand His mission for me. The book is a more Biblical - less worldly look at Jesus teachings. Wherever you are in this life, I believe this book will help you to center on the eternal rather than the temporary.
Linda Harrison
When Lightning Strikes by Brenda Novak
I thoroughly enjoyed this refreshing book about a “faux” marriage between Hollywood hunk Simon O’Neal and his former public relations manager Gail DeMarco. The marriage was planned so that Simon’s image could be cleaned up and he could get custody of his son. Gail was attracted to Simon but this was just a business arrangement, right? And Simon swore he would never fall in love with any woman again due to how his ex-wife had cheated on him, right? Gail got Simon away from the tarnished glitter of Hollywood and he never felt better in his life. He fell in love with the small town of Whiskey Creek and with the woman who saved his life.
Linda Harrison
Worlds Apart by Marlene Dotterer
I thank Goodreads for awarding me a copy of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the love story between Tina and Clive and the ending was just perfect. Tina did not know Clive was a werewolf but saw him as a good-looking man. Tina always said “there’s no such things as werewolves” but this was not true as alternate worlds existed where there were werewolves, elves, goblins, and the like. When Tina became pregnant, another werewolf wanted the powers that Tina now possessed and it was up to Clive to fight and kill the other werewolf to save Tina and their son.
Sharon Elliott-Fox
Declan's Cross by Carla Neggers
I think this might have been a better read for me had I read the previous Sharpe and Donovan books, but nonetheless, the setting in Ireland was sufficient to make me yearn to return again. Broken hearts, foolish decisions, impulsive acts, art theft and dead bodies make for an interesting read.
Linda Harrison
Six Years by Harlan Coben
Jake Fisher has never gotten over the fact that his only love Natalie Avery married another man. She made him promise to never look for her. But he has never forgotten her and, six years later, sees that the man she married has just died. He goes to the funeral but finds that the widow is not Natalie. As he continues his search for her, he runs into the local police and FBI as well as hit men for a local crime boss. This was a good book with a twist to the ending.
Linda Harrison
The Newcomer by Robyn Carr
This is the second book in the Thunder Point series taking place on the coast of Oregon. Deputy Sheriff Mac McCain has been friends with Gina James for several years as their teenage daughters are best friends. Their friendship has grown into a love between the two but plans for marriage take a back seat to day-to-day problems with the two households. To make matters worse, Mac’s ex-wife has returned and wants to see the children after a ten-year absence. The characters in this series are just as warm and down-to-earth as those in the Virgin River series.
Susan Rizza
The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
Great work of fiction incorporating many historical facts about the life of Anne Lindbergh, the wife of Charles Lindbergh.
S ANDERSON
Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinslky
A great read so far.
Judy Quast
The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
I loved this book. The characters were so real to me. I am facing a possible transplant in my future too & it could come from someone dying, so it really hit home. I've never read a book by Nicholas Sparks that I haven't liked though.
Judith Steelhammer
The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Moore
This book was completely enjoyable from the very first page to the last. Edward Moore created such a wonderful picture of community and enduring friendship. The community gathers at Earl’s All You Can Eat. The Supremes; Odette, Barbara Jean , and Clarice have been best friends since their 1960’s high school years. There’s an even mix of tragedy and comedy at Earl’s All You Can Eat., with just a touch of magical realism provided by Odette’s communication with the dearly departed. These women came of age in the 1960’s. Naturally, there is a pivotal event that reflects the civil rights movement, the racism of the time, and its enduring repercussions.
Wendy Hampton
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Enlighting view of the Mormon faith including the fundamentalist sect and polygamy.
Sheila Bayley
The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
About a U.S. experiment that operated between the 1850s and 1920s where children were removed from orphanages and streets of the inner city and sent to the mid-West to be adopted or work on farms and small factories. Highlights the story of a young girl and her trials and tribulations to find a place in the world.
Janice King
Sweetest Hallelujah by Elaine Hussey
This book will make you laugh, cry and really think! Why can't we all live together and love each other in peace! I couldn't put the book down. It's a book you will want to keep and re-read from time to time!
Betty Chrastka
The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin
A surprisingly readable book about the Supreme Court from the Rehnquist court to the present day.
Lynn W
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
Excellent!
karen cancienne
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
This book was a great read, unable to put down. You quickly become absorbed in the story and the characters. Would recommend for a good discussion for a book club. I give it 5 stars and my personal rating. WHAT A BOOK!
Bea Ramos
A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams
Great book. Kept my interest all the way to the end. I thought I knew how it would end but I was wrong. Looking forward to reading this author again
Glenda Middleton
Presidents' Club: Inside the World's most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy
This book is a fascinating read of the interactions of past and current presidents. It provides insight into sides of the presidents you would not have known. The book looks at how they worked together and against each other. Great read.
Linda Reck
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. by Alan Bradley
At first, I didn't think I'd like reading about an 11 year old sleuth, but the more I read, the more it drew me in. Flavia is bold and precocious. She's irresistible, and I'm looking forward to reading more about her.
Melanie S.
Island Practice by Pam Belluck
This is a biography of a one-of-a-kind physician on Nantucket Island. While Dr. Lepore, who is an extremely unique and talented physician and still practices on the island, is certainly an interesting character, this book was filled with anecdote after anecdote, story after story. I wish the book was 100 pages shorter; it might have held my interest a bit better. His story would have made a great New York Times Magazine article, but not a whole book.
Richard N B
Roads by Larry McMurtry
I’ll say this for McMurtry, when he puts his mind to it he can paint a landscape as well as any author, and weave a story that will keep you riveted. I wish he’d done more of this in this memoir of a year spent traveling America’s major highways. The book is like many major interstates…miles (pages) of mind-numbing sameness, occasionally interrupted by a point of interest. There are a few memorable passages – his father’s encounter with a rattlesnake, the disappointment of what Key West has become, and the attack of the Volkswagen-Beetle-sized tumbleweeds – but mostly I was in danger of falling asleep at the wheel.
Julie Towson
Heartbroken by Lisa Unger
Birdie Heart is the matriarch of the Heart family and the owner of Heart island and the dwellings on it. She is a cold, bitter woman and has distanced herself from her family. Her daughter and grandchildren come to the island for a visit and family secrets are revealed as well as why Birdie is seemingly so unloving. The family visit and the story ends in a crescendo of page turning, gripping action. I really enjoyed this book.
gretchen kempff
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Had a lively discussion at book club on relationships, ethics, revenge and fidelity. We rate our books 1 - 10...this one got a 6.
Julie Towson
A Simple Thing by Kathleen McCleary
Suzannah is a mom who thinks her two kids are over exposed to all of the stress of being teenagers. Her daughter is running around with the wrong crowd and her son is lacking in confidence and is a loner. Suzannah upends their lives and takes them to a remote island with no electricity or cars or cell phone towers. There are a few people on the island that have been there for many years and as the novel unfolds, all of the characters face down their demons. It was a very engrossing read.
Raylene Wauda
Night Film by Marisha Pessl
Night Film is hard to put down, so there were a few 2:00 in the mornings. It's an absorbing thriller about Scott McGrath, a journalist researching the notorious film director, Stanislas Cordova, and the death of his daughter, Ashley, aged 24. Two recent acquaintances, Nora and Hopper with ties to Ashley, help him investigate if Ashley's death was a result of her father's disturbing films or a suicide.
Hoagie Klinck
Don't Go by Lisa Scottalini
Great "comeback" read.
susan Spencer
Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman
A charming book set in Charleston, Teddi Overman found her passion for restoring old furniture. Also is the story woven in about her brother Josh who mysteriously disappeared in his youth. It is a book about what is important to us and what to let go.
JaneAnn Clear
Gingerbread Man by Maggie Shayne
Anyone who likes mystery and suspense will enjoy this read and it is so real life. I called my sis still crying when I finished and told her she had to get it. She thought she had seen the movie but the story she told me of the movie was not the book so don't make that mistake. Ya gotta read it!
Donna Shaw
The Witness by Sandra Brown
A good mystery about a woman on the run with her baby and an FBI agent that has amnesia. She has witnessed crimes, including murder. The FBI is searching for her to be a witness, a pair of brothers want to avenge their brother and her husband and father-in-law want to kill her. This is a fast paced page turner.
Reva Wamsley
Gotcha by Fern Michaels
This is the latest book in the sisterhood series. If you've ever wanted to get revenge on someone, you'll love these books.
This book features the older members, Myra & Annie. Myra gets a letter from Julie Wyatt, whose daughter-in-law stood by as her son died under mysterious circumstances. She also has Julie's granddaughter & won't let her see her. The granddaughter is her son's child by his first wife, who died. Darlene, the daughter-in-law had adopted her before the son died. Darlene has also moved her boyfriend & his two grown children into the house. Julie hears that her granddaughter isn't being treated well. Myra & Annie fly down to see what can be done. They start by erasing the couple's identity.
Sally-Jo Waterfall
And the Mountain Echoed by Khalid Hosseini
Excellent Book.
Sarah Chao
The Sweetest Hallelujah by Elaine Hussey
I loved the plot, the setting and the characters. It showed the vast difference in racial and ethnic areas in this book. And I love how the author thoroughly described the change and the bond that was formed between the two women from the child. It was funny, sad, happy and satisfying. Couldn't ask for any better.
Marcia Sailer
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
This is the story of Lily Casey Smith, the author's grandmother. It's written as a novel as the author had to fill in some areas of the story. However, it is based on much research into her grandmother's life. The story is an easy read about life on a ranch in Texas, then in New Mexico in the early 1900's. Lily overcomes much diversity to eventually become a college graduate. This happens after she's taught school in small Western towns for years. Her strong character and sense of moral goodness seemed to end each job and send her on. She has a strong marriage, but a daughter who is a "half broke horse." Read the book to find out what that is.
Gail Rubin
The Hive by Gill Hornby
When the book begins, it is the first day of school for children who attend the St. Ambrose School. The mothers are gathering and chatting, coming together after the hiatus of summer vacation. They play catch up and meet to chitchat and plan fundraisers to support the needs of the school. The parent's association is like a shark tank with catty women trying to take control and others trying to one-up each other. The queen and her drones are present in full regalia.
It's a light, fun read exposing adult women who alternately behave like children. These mothers were constantly vying for position. Though disavowing the need to be included in the hierarchy of their social scene, condemning the group dynamic, they were eager to be included.
Lori
Andrew's Brain by E.L. Doctorow
I was fortunate to receive an advance reader edition of this book. It was one of the most bizarre books I've read, yet I couldn't put the book down. I'm sure I don't completely understand the book, but I found it a fascinating story. I flew through the book and found it thought-provoking. I would never have guessed that the author is in his 80s; I would have guessed that the book was written by a young man. I would recommend the book for anyone looking for a change of pace.
Diana Trabanco
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
The book quickly captures your attention from the start because curiosity about the secret draws the reader in right away. Even after it is revealed about halfway through the novel, the resolution of the problems that arise from the revelation continue to intrigue right through to the end. The characters are well fleshed out, and we are drawn into their emotions and thought processes.
CHRISTEN BEZOSKI
Syndrome E by Franck Thilliez
A great mystery/thriller that kept me guessing until the end.
David Wold
Dick Francis's Refusal by Felix Francis
Felix Francis brings back Sid Halley one of the characters that his father wrote of in several earlier novels. This effort moves along nicely as Felix has seamlessly galloped into his father's literary hoof prints. Even if you do not have an interest in horses or the horse racing world this book has many interesting characters and situations to offer.
Sherrie Lidderdale
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
Not usually a fan of dystopian fiction, but this book is so beautifully written and in a strange sense optimistic and hopeful that I just couldn't put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves beautiful prose.
Terri Semidey
Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
Excellent book to read to see what thoughts enter our minds and how to capture them before they do us harm. Feelings we all have but acting on those feelings sometimes gets us in to trouble we did not intend to happen. This book will help you to move past those feelings and learn to hear the still soft whisper of God's voice guiding us through our lives. Did you know that your decision affects a minimum of 4 other people. Reading that line so stuck with me through out this book. You will learn so much by reading it. It will help you find what your heart and mind are searching for...that peace that comes with knowing our heavenly Father - God.
Pat Lewis
The Cuckoo's Calling by J.K. Rowling
I really liked the development of characters in this book. The plot of a down-on-luck detective and temp secretary who are given a very suspicious case is not unusual but the way Rowling moves through the people abd places involved was excellent. I highly recommend it for a weekend read and discussion with your book club.
Denise Beierbach
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
I enjoy his stories.
Pat Pascale
Killer Ambition by Marcia Clark
Former Los Angeles deputy district attorney, who was the lead prosecutor on the OJ Simpson
murder case, is back. Her third novel, KILLER AMBITION, features DA Rachel Knight. Rachel is smart, funny, and fearless in her pursuit of justice. This is a shocking murder of the teen daughter, of mega director, Russell Antonovich, also a billionaire. Rachel dives into this case but
soon realizes this will bring out dark secrets of her past, and discovers the devastating lengths the rich and famous will go to protect their reputations. A page turner that will not let you put this book down until the last page.
Anne Marie Koschnick
How The Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Fantastic! The story was everything that I hoped it would be. It encompassed Penny's mystery, philosophy, history - and told a good story that kept moving. All the strings from the previous novels were joined together in a very satisfying ending. The undercurrents from the previous novels boiled to the top and the explanations all contributed to the finale. It was a book I couldn't put down, but I didn't want to finish.
Patti Post
Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay
If you love suspense, surprises and just plain fun reading a good book, then I highly suggest reading ANY book that is written by Linwood Barclay.
"Trust Your Eyes: is about 2 brothers that get thrown together again due to their father's death. But the one brother has very special needs...he's schizophrenic and has a fixation with maps and a website where he can travel the world right from his very own bedroom. It fascinates him and takes up all his waking hours. Until one day he notices something that doesn't look quite right to him on that website...could it be? Did he actually see someone being murdered from an apartment window?? He has his brother go out to see what he can find out...that's when the fun begins...
shelly itkin
Stranded: A Maggie O'Dell Novel by Alex Kava
This story takes place -- all in less than two weeks -- in Manhattan, Kansas off interstate 70 on March 18th and takes us on a journey to many areas and ends back in Manhattan, Kansas on March 26th. Noah is running for his life after he is attacked at a rest stop with his friend Ethan, who he believes might be dead. Noah must try to escape or he might be next. Who would of thought that stopping at a rest stop on your way home from college and trying to help someone could amount to murder?
FBI agent’s Maggie O’Dell and her partner Tully discover the remains of a young woman and also a clue that could help solve her murder when they find a map in her home. Maggie and Tully begin a cross county search to try and find the killer.
Phyllis
How To Be A Good Wife by Emma Chapman
Marta Bjornstad has led a very structured life, married to Hector, mother to Kylan. Her days are lived in a narrow area and follow a strict routine; in fact, she tries to follow a book her mother-in-law gave her on her wedding day - "How To Be A Good Wife". After Kylan leaves for university and then to work, Marta stops taking the medication she's been on all of her marriage. As days go by, Marta starts having flashes of a young girl causing her to question her life with Hector. Are the memories real or they delusions caused by Marta stopping her medication? Emma Chapman leads the reader through a twisting dark path to feelings of horror for Marta either way. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
Beth Shoemaker
Pieces by Chris Lynch
Eric is an 18 year old dealing with the loss of his older brother Duane. Eric meets three of the seven recipients of organ donors from his brother a year after his death.
Gail Sorum
The Whole Enchilada by Diane Mott Davidson
As always, Diane Mott Davidson had delivered with her new Goldie Schultz book.
Patricia Schultz
A Dog's Journey and A Dogs's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
I loved both of these books! Fast moving, funny, heartwarming, and touching all wrapped into one. If you are an animal lover, especially dogs you will be charmed by these 2 books. If you read and loved Garth Stein's "The Art of Racing in the Rain" you will thoroughly enjoy these....
david welch
The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny
Love Louise Penny's mysteries. The setting and the characters keep you guessing.
Marie Ledin
Gone Girl: A Novel by Gillian Flynn
First time reading Gillian Flynn. Good book. Keeps you guessing, did the husband kill his wife? Until you read the diary--it all becomes quite a tale to the very end.
Jeffrey Tretin
The Dark Path by David Schickler
Fantastic coming of age story. Helps the reader understand how choices can be so devastating for someone in their late teens or twenties.
Donna Shaw
Andrew's Brain by E. L. Doctorow
I just finished reading this book and am in wonderment. It is a conversation between a doctor and a patient. I almost set this book aside because some of the words were unfamiliar to me and wondered if it was above my understanding. I stuck with it because of the humor and touching stories. I am disappointed in myself that I didn't see the ending coming.
Kellie Smith
The Woods by Harlan Coben
This was a suspenseful, can’t put the book down kind of read. I really liked it. Four teenagers are murdered at a summer camp and their families lives are changed forever. Paul Copeland was there and survived. He is a widow with a 6 year-old and works a county prosecutor in New Jersey. When 2 cops start asking questions about the murders, Paul finds himself discovering a secret that has been hidden for years. Did things really happen the way everyone thought it did? Coben is a master of suspense and mystery. Pieces are revealed a little at a time which keeps the reader wanting more. It’s been a long time since I read a great book like this and now I don’t want to read anything else but Coben.
Linda Carlso
Fever by Mary Beth Keane
Mary Mallon was "Typhoid Mary". Someone noticed that Mary left a trail of disease wherever she cooked. This is a great read for those of us that love historical fiction.
Debbie M
Blind Justice by Anne Perry
Anne Perry does an excellent job exposing the moral dilemma of Oliver Rathbone in this latest installment of the William Monk series. Of course, Oliver acts inappropriately for a judge in a trial and must pay the consequences. I felt that Anne Perry left the resolution with Judge York unsolved. I felt that more lurched behind the story of Judge York and his wife. I love the way that Scuff is fitting into the family of William and Hester Monk. Anne Perry presents an England seeped in history and tradition, but under a beautiful coat the depravity and evilness of man hides. Perry shows characters with feelings and emotion and imperfections.
Jan Zahrly
Inferno by Dan Brown
As usual, Brown gives us a good mystery with lots of codes and hints. Robert Langdon returns and is helping the World Health Organization when he is attacked, drugged, shot in the head, rescued and is on the run with a lovely woman. The story is placed, for the most part, in Rome and Venice. The book is lengthy, where Brown keeps telling us that he knows his history and he knows where the art is. I was tired of all the description of famous places by the time I read the last page. Nonetheless, it is still a good book with fast action and a great plot.
Muriel Logan
My Three Lives by Mary Carey
I learned about Mary Carey while on a recent trip to Alaska and read her book when I returned. This lady, born in 1913, lived quite an adventurous life both before she went to Alaska to teach school and after she arrived in Talketna, Alaska. Through her efforts, prisons in Texas were reformed and a primary road was completed in Alaska. Her adventures and life are fascinating to read about.
veronica mackinnon
The Room by Emma Donoghue
It was a good book. It kept my interest very much. It was a good survival story and story of a mother's love.
Jean V.
Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple
Loved this book! I found it to be unique, quirky, and very relatable. Such an unusual writing style. I couldn't put this book down! Lots of laughable moments in the book as well.
Jean V.
The Ghost in a Polka Dot Bikini by Sue Ann Jafarian
Fun and light mystery. Ghost Granny makes for fun reading.
Patricia Hunter
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Am halfway thought this book, and can't wait to see what transpires next. Enjoying her insight.
Francisca E B
The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew
Mayhew’s debut novel is a story of racism in the 1950’s South, a coming-of-age novel, and a look at a family falling apart. There are some emotionally gut-wrenching scenes in the book, but I think Mayhew was trying to include too much and the plot got away from her. The family drama would have been plenty to handle in a novel. The growing racial tensions in this time period would also have fueled a full novel. In trying to incorporate both these significant plots, Mayhew failed to do justice to either one. There are moments of very good writing and I was interested and engaged in the novel. Karen White does a very good job on the audio book.
Francisca E B
The Island of Lost Maps by Miles Harvey
This is an absolutely fascinating true crime account of the cartomaniac who stole hundreds of priceless maps from the stacks of such illustrious libraries as The Peabody (at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore). Harvey crafts the story like the best true-crime writers. The reader knows the crime and the criminal pretty much at the outset, but it’s the hunt for why? that propels the narrative. Along the way Harvey includes considerable information about map-making and the human fascination with maps since ancient times. I was captivated from the opening lines.
Ivy Pittman
Mary Coin by Marisa Silver
A dark yet intensely interesting story about Mary Coins life as a migrant worker.
Bonnie Gluhanich
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
For fans of The Help and The Bee Season, this is the book for you. Nine-year old narrator is one-of-a-kind and you'll fall in love with her.
Kelley Tackett
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
I loved this book. I felt like I was in New York after the Great Depression, going out for gin and tonics after typing legal documents all day. Great debut novel by Amor Towles. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Hazel Lundeen
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
As an elementary school librarian, I find myself focusing almost entirely on children's and middle school books. This summer I read The Fault in Our Stars. The title attracted me as did the fact that the main character and I share the same first name, Hazel.
To say I enjoyed the book would be an understatement. Hazel was fragile, funny, and frustrating. I have recommended this book to my middle and high school librarian friends.
Robin McKay
Flashback by Ian Hocking
Saskia Brandt is magical and Ian Hocking has a mind that few of us can follow.
Flashback has to be absorbed, not just read in the lackadaisical way we read most fluffy novels. You must really pay attention to where and when you are to make sure keep up. Sketch out a timeline…write notes…whatever it takes to keep from falling way behind. If not, you are the one who becomes lost in time with no choice but to go backwards and reread it. That’s exactly how reading this book made me feel; completely lost in time. But I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
Describing this book would be as difficult as grabbing a handful of air. You know it’s there, but it’s impossible to achieve. Suffice it to say that I really, truly enjoyed the experience.
Dianne
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Excellent read.
Kerry Estrada
Save Yourself by Kelly Braffet
-Patrick Cusimano turned in his father for killing a kid in a drunk driving hit-and-run, sending him to prison. Now he, his brother Mike, and his girlfriend Caro are barely getting by in their apathetic lives.
-Layla Elshere used to be the all-american poster girl (literally) for her father's at-home church. Now, she's an angry, goth girl headed down a dangerous path.
-Justinian is Layla's boyfriend and leader of their little band of cult-following, angry, goth, wanna-be vampire kids. And the most dangerous character in the book.
When these people's lives connect on their fateful collision course they pull each other deeper down the twisted path they're on.The last 70 pages will rock your world. You will not be able to put it down.
Lynn Otoole
The Spark by Kristine Barnett
A true story about a mother's devotion to her autistic child. After the experts and teachers advised her to not expect much from her uncommunicative son, she withdrew him from school and started home education. The mind blowing results of this education which was built around her child's interests instead of trying to force the child to fit into the public educational system resulted in the miraculous unfolding of a highly gifted child whose IQ would ultimately test over that of Einstein. Couldn't put this book down!
Sandy McCullough
The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell
Rose, a police precinct typist in Prohibition New York, has seen many things. As the recorder of confessions and transgressions of all sorts, she considers herself to be an astute judge of character. So when Odalie Lazare, a new typist, arrives in the office, Rose is intrigued by her beauty, charm, and seeming wealth. Rose becomes infatuated with Odalie, who is not what she appears to be, as Odalie pulls Rose into a world filled with speakeasies, bootleggers, and elite estate parties. With hints toward The Great Gatsby, Rindell’s novel aspires to re-create Prohibition-era New York City, both its opulence and its squalid underbelly. I didn't care for this book in the first couple of chapters, but I stuck with it and loved it!!!
Judy O.
The Beast by Faye Kellerman
I enjoyed this new book about Lieutenant Peter Decker and his cohorts at the LAPD. An 89 year old man was found dead in his apartment with a raging tiger in the room with him. It is first thought that the big cat killed him; but when it was found that his skull was bashed in and a bullet wound was in his back, the police changed their minds. This was a great police procedural with just enough suspense and action to make it fun.
Diana Chick
Z: A novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
An interesting story about Zelda Fitzgerald and the life she had with F.Scott Fitzgerald. It was a good read but depressing at times.
Margie
The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti
I am just beginning this book, but it definitely has my interest. I think the characters will be well developed.
Monica Jordan
The Book of Someday by Dianne Dixon
This is an excellent book about the lives of three women and how the past shapes them. It is beautifully written and impossible to put down. It is suspenseful and keeps the reader guessing. The characters are portrayed in such a way that, even with their faults, you feel sympathetic to them.
Dennis Beierbach
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
A real tear jerker.
stephanie polonyfis
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
I would love to win a copy of this new book.
Jan Zahrly
Bad Move by Linwood Barclay
The first novel from this delightful writer. A funny mystery has an over cautious science fiction writer taking his wife's purse from the grocery cart while she is looking the other way. It is to teach her a lesson! The big chuckle is that it is someone else's purse and it is full of counterfeit money. A someone who ends up dead, the second dead person that the writer encounters. His indecision leads to the bad guy's enforcer finding him and knowing about his wife and children - who are all in danger.
What a funny read while I was still trying to figure out the bad guys. I will read more of Linwood Barclay's mystery novels.
Cynthia Parry
Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly
Great read for groups.
Linda Johnson
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
Wow, this book took me forever especially for as few pages as were in it. The writing was good, but I couldn't keep track of some of the people. Maybe at another time when my head isn't trying to juggle so many things. A couple of the characters from the retirement home were just coming into their own and hooking me when the book ended with a completely unforeseen incident.
marion miller
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
This is a little different than your usual love story. The author takes us through the life of a foster child in a badly damaged system. You learn many things about the flowers you are used to seeing and at the end there is dictionary depicting how they got their names and meanings. The love story was predictable.
Michael McAdam
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
I have to own up and stop saying that I am not a fan of dystopian YA novels. After the Hunger Games series and Divergent and this one, I have to say I enjoy them immensely. Of all of them this is the most far fetched. If you can suspend disbelief on the premise and just enjoy the story then go for it. It is VERY entertaining but if you can't get past a rather unbelievable situation, then skip this one. It is a little bit like "Lord of the Flies" in the future where the boys try to figure out how they got in this situation and how to get out. Very enjoyable.
Melanie S.
The Dinner by Herman Koch
Though disturbing, this story was well-constructed and unfolded layer by layer. I can't remember reading anything quite like it, although the issues presented reminded me a great deal of Defending Jacob. As I was reading it, I was visualizing it as a one act play with flashback scenes. I "read" some of this book on audio book, and the narrator was fabulous. I rarely say that the audio book was better than the worded book, but I think that was the case for this novel. This is a unique, quickly-paced book that I highly recommend.
Robin McKay
Rosemary Cottage by Colleen Coble
Hope Island is a place of new beginnings and that is what Amy Lange needs. Mourning the loss of her brother Ben, Amy is drawn to Rosemary Cottage and a chance to relocate her midwife practice to the island. But in addition to a fresh start, Amy is also looking for answers to her brother’s disappearance.
Curtis Ireland‘s sister Gina also died as a result of a tragic boat accident. With the death of his sister, Curtis is left to raise his little niece, Raine, who is the apple of his eye.
Curtis agrees to assist Amy as she delves into her brother’s death but he fear that the investigation will reveal Ben is Raine’s father. Curtis will do anything to keep and protect his beloved niece.
Deborah Grabeel
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
The author does an excellent job of telling a story through the eyes of a child although the "voice" is somewhat mature. She especially succeeds at pointing out the injustices of segregation without appearing to be preaching. Starla's genuine astonishment at how her black friends and rescuers are treated opens our own eyes to just what that treatment looked like back in the 1950s. Clearly many people -- even children -- perceived the wrongs being committed but were powerless to make changes on a large scale.
"Whistling Past the Graveyard" makes an excellent book club selection.
Linda
Bitter River by Julia Keller
The book had no personality.
Marie Ledin
Unsound by Toby Neal
Another great book by Toby Neal. Dr. Caprice Wilson, Lei Tex Texeura's therapist who also works for the police/FBI when needed. Someone may be stalking her; she needs more protection. Difficulty with her twin sister's previous death, her divorce, and her son going on to college, her social drinking has now escalated bringing her life down to the bottom. Will the presumed stalker be able to bring her back or....... Must read this book. Impatiently waiting for the newest books to be available--"Shattered Palms", "Wired in Paradise", and "The Waiting Room".
Melissa Monahan
Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel by Maria Semple
I really enjoyed this book and read it very quickly. We read it for our book club and not sure how thought-provoking it really is but it is very enjoyable. And it is very interesting reading it and living in Seattle.
Faith Erickson
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
His books are always great...
Sandra Furlotte
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Louise Penny is fantastic. She has written series of books that have never varied in their excellence. The Quebec village of Three Pines and the characters who inhabit it are so real that readers are tempted to take a road trip to try and find it.
Richard N B
The Poet by Michael Connelly
Audio book read by Buck Schirner. Jack McEvoy is a crime reporter used to dealing with violent death. But when he begins to research suicide among law enforcement officers he notices an unusual pattern. Connelly is a master at crafting a suspenseful thriller / mystery. There are plenty of clues -- and misclues -- to keep the reader guessing. I was surprised by the reveal. There’s the obligatory romantic tension, which I wish authors of the genre would abandon, but this doesn’t get in the way of the book.
Schirner shines in this audio version, though his voice is more gravelly than I like. He has great pacing and manages the female voices fairly well.
Jane Squires
Singing Winds by Linda Strawn
A story of God's love for both the white man and the Indians. A story history does not tell. As my Great Grandma was full blooded Indian, I was taught to love my heritage.
Katy Breyer was taken by her Mother from hr father. Her life was hard even though she was raised in a wealthy home. When she lost her Mother and step-father, she asked her Uncle to come. This was her father's brother. She moved back to live with her Uncle. There she meets Jesse, an Indian. Jack, her Uncle, adopted him.
One feels like they are living along with the Indians as they read. I could see in my mind the village life. Katy and Jesse follows God's call as he finally reunites with his family.
Vickie Keuther
The Art of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein
Enjoyed the book. Loved that the book was from a dog's point of view. The dog lovers in our group stated that they now see their dogs in a different way. Emotional story.
Tina Hobbs
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
This book offers you an array of emotions. Although it seemed to start slow and at one point I wasn't sure if I'd bother to read it, I continued and was very glad. Our book club will be discussing this book this month at our meeting and so far everyone who has finished it loved it. It's a book I'd read again at some other time.
Fran
Placebo by Stephen James
This book was just ok. It seemed to hold my interest in parts and other parts it did not. I guess it was good enough to finish, but entirely forgettable.
Tessa B C
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
This is a kid-with-cancer novel. No surprise, we’re told this on the first page. But it is not the typical K-W-C novel. There is much to like–characters that behave as one would expect real teenagers facing a terminal illness to behave, dialogue that sounds real and a plot that takes us where we’d expect but in a fresh, new way. On the other hand, I thought the plot was predictable. Also, I really did not like the whole Dutch writer subplot and thought it detracted from the book. Kate Rudd does a superb job performing the audio book. I think I would have rated it only 3*** had I read it in text version. Her facility with the various voices and accents really brought the characters to life.
Tessa B C
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
India Opal Buloni is lonely. Her mother has left. She and her father, a minister, have moved to a new town and she hasn’t made any friends yet. But a trip to the grocery store will change everything because she finds Winn-Dixie – a mutt who is afraid of thunderstorms, howls when left alone too long, but disarms everyone with his big toothy grin. Because of Winn-Dixie India Opal finds friends, love, and some help in dealing with the loss of her mother. Cherry Jones’s performance on the audio is terrific. At the end of the last disc, I wanted to just start over and listen again.
Gil
Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
A wonderful story with an unimaginable ending. Sixteen-year old Laurel witnesses a brutal murder by her mother when a stranger comes to the door, but is sworn to secrecy. Many years later when her mother is on her death bed some of the truth starts to come out. Laurel is obsessed with finding out what led to the murder.
Robin McKay
The Butterfly Sister by Amy Gail Hansen
The last thing Ruby Rousseau expected was the delivery of a suitcase belonging to her former dorm mate college. She learns that Beth, the owner of the suitcase, had gone missing. Ruby had left Tarble after an affair with a one of her professors which lead to an attempted suicide. Now she wanted nothing more than to leave the past behind. But she can't. Inside Beth's suitcase, Ruby finds a copy of "A Room of One's Own", with a note scrawled in the margin. The note brings her failed affair rushing back to her, a note about “Cassie's Cabin”. Despite being afraid that she will reawaken old ghosts, Ruby feels compelled to accept an invitation to Tarble's reunion, in hopes of making sense of the note and her friends’ disappearance.
Lynn W
Rose Harbor in Bloom by Debbie Macomber
I don't know why I bother----way too predictable, way too repetitive.
Sandy McCullough
The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane
If she'd only turned her head, she would have seen the car containing her daughter, struggling to get out. Struggling to escape her kidnapper.
Despite all her years determining the fates of families, veteran family court judge Hope Willis couldn't save her own. Now she's frantically grasping at any hope for Krissy's rescue. Her husband deadset against it, she calls Casey Woods and her team of renegade investigators, Forensic Instincts.
A behaviorist. A techno-wizard. An intuitive. A former Navy SEAL. Unconventional operatives. All with unique talents and personal reasons for being part of Casey's group, they'll do whatever it takes. Very good!!
Kathleen Carn
The Highway by C. J. Box
I didn't like the story. Very violent and too long.
Kathleen Carn
Light of the World by James Lee Burke
I like his writings, especially the ones about Dave Robicheaux and his family.
Jan Zahrly
Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales by Randy Singer
Another delightful mystery from Randy Singer. The story is complex, there are many clues and some red herrings, and a lot of people involved. Our hero, just released from prison for shaving points as a college quarterback, reunites with his highly successful wife and child, gets a law degree, gets admitted to the bar and can not get a job. A crusty old defender hires him and he works on the complex case. His mentor and two other partners in the firm are murdered, so is the girlfriend of the defendant. What a muddle. It is a great read and lengthy due to the musings of our hero as he wonders about ethics, his ability to defend, what clues are valid, why are his partners getting murdered. Is he next?
C. Cyrus
The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
This book was very interesting and had lots of discussion topics. Many people in our book group thought that many of the situations were a little contrived.
Francisca E B
The Autobiography of Mrs Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin
Lavinia Warren was only 32 inches high, but had ambitions that were not limited by her diminutive size. Benjamin does a wonderful job of bringing Vinnie to life. The novel depicts a woman of great intelligence and drive. She is shown to be cunning, witty, talented and strong-willed; also vulnerable, frightened, angry, and cold. Her partnership with Barnum is wonderfully imagined and beautifully told. Benjamin gives us a woman who is defined by her character, not her height. All this is presented against a backdrop of historical events – Civil War, the opening of the West, and life in the Gilded Age.
Kellie Smith
How to Survive Your Parents by Roy Masters
I gave this book a shot but I couldn’t take it anymore. Although this man probably has some wonderful ideas about how our parents have screwed us up so bad and therefore we are screwing up our kids, however, I decided I had enough of the preaching. This book seems to be a bunch of random disorganized thoughts. Some of his comments were a little offensive and chauvinistic. I think I gave up after the chapter called “Meddling Mother”. Maybe someone else can get something out of reading this book, it’s just not for me.
Elizabeth
Nowhere But Home by Liza Palmer
I rarely give 5 stars to books, I am a really picky reader. I really enjoyed this book. It is just fun and Liza Palmer does a great job making you really visualize the characters. The dialog was exactly what I would expect two sisters from Texas to speak like. The emotions are raw and real, and for those romantics out there the love story is just downright sweet. This is not a literary work of art, but a deeply moving read. There is the f word twice and sex but you never really read about it. I always think an author is a talented writer if they can make it through a book without elaborate sex scenes and Liz did it with this story. The story made me think about death row and the last meal.
rhonda
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Fascinating book. Beautifully written. Reminds me of an old fashioned novel.
Bonnie Gonzales
Tempt Me Cowboy by Megan Crane
Chelsea wants to meet with the new owner of the railway depot to talk him into making it into a museum, but Jasper the new owner wants to make it into a micro brewery. The book starts to sizzle at their first meeting and I loved how you knew what each was thinking. I wished the book was longer! I hated for it to end yet you have a nice warm feeling how it ends. I would love to see this book made into a movie. Montana's beauty and this story Oh Ya!
Ruth Dupchen
Crime of Privilege by Walter Walker
Loved this book from the beginning to the end.
Allison Gardner
Old Filth by Jane Gardam
Interesting story about the days of the British Raj before WWII.
Nancy Bader
Mary Coin by Marisa Silver
Photographer Dorothea Lange took a picture of a woman and her children that came to personalize the Great Depression. This book fictionalizes the story behind the picture, interweaving the stories of the photographer, the woman and her children, and a historian from the following generation. It shows that yes, a picture may be worth 1,000 words, but, without the words, you don't even begin to understand the real story.
Saundra McKenzie
Mistress of My Fate by Hallie Rubenhold
Book 1 of the confessions of Henrietta Lightfoot. Very good read!
mary sue skelton
The Returned by Hason Mott
A surprisingly engaging read, considering the subject of the dead returning to life. Mott ad\dresses the logistical problems of new members of society trying to assimilate themselves into former lives. The emotional aspect is a very real part of this, as some people are unable to even think of these new people as "people" and are convinced that a violent stance against them is the best solution. In addition, the government finds it necessary to be involved, giving themselves a title of "The Bureau", causing a Nazi-like atmosphere. The main characters are quite likeable and believeable, making this a memorable book.
Gail Sorum
Second Watch by J. A. Jance
Our old friend J. P. Beaumont is back - a little older but as good as ever. And J. A. Jance is as good as ever. I would highly recommend reading this book if only for old times sake.
Nancy Hausladen
Six Years by Harlan Coben
I love Harlan Coben books. He gets you on the first page. This book is about a man whose girl friends marries someone else and makes him promise to leave them alone. He does this for six years until he finds out her husband has died. Then, as he tries to locate her, he finds everything he thought he knew was a lie. Finding the truth takes him down a dangerous path.
Kathy Miller
The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones
This is a good murder-mystery. It was very well written and I kept thinking what an incredible piece of work for Holly Goddard Jones’ first novel. I liked the way Ms. Jones wove the backgrounds of the many different characters together: high school students and teachers, neighbors and family. A quote from the book, sums up for me, the overall theme of the story and all of the characters: “. . . this is what she had been waiting for: a conclusion so terrible that it eclipsed her everyday unhappiness.” Sadness and sad lives dominate this book. I think if I had been in the mood for a sad book, I probably would have given this four stars instead of three.
Phyllis Relyea
The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth Silver
I listened to this while driving and it really kept my interest. The readers, Rebecca Lowman and Amanda Carlin, did a fine job of sharing this haunting story of love, family, and life in prison.
Mary Hayden
War Brides by Helen Bryan
This book is a great read. I don't normally enjoy books which are flashbacks, but this one is done in a very clever way, which seems most natural. Women are returning to a small town in England for the 50th celebration of VE day. Then it tells their story--how they happened to be sent there during the war and events which happened there. Most WWII stories focus on the battles and the soldiers. I have a better understanding of life in England during the war. Then it is all wrapped up during the 50th celebration.
I hope there may be some future books from Helen Bryan (perhaps with some of these characters included)
Cookie Anderson
The Caller by Karin Fossum
Inspector Sejer is a police officer who cares not only about solving crimes but in seeing the crime from the perpetrators viewpoint. He does this so as to let go of the crime & move on. So, in this book, Fossum creates a crime where it would be easy to nail the guy, handcuff him, indict him, prove his guilt & throw away the key. The goodly inspector does not do this. The person in custody for the death of a little girl is a 54 year old man who is mostly mute. So, why did he kill her? That is the question Sejer wishes to find out. This book is so well written & leaves me thinking about it, what affect it had on all involved. Although we know what happened, it It doesn't end. That to me is superb.
Susan Kellett
W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton
Love Graftons book bought it the day it was released. Well developed and enjoyable. Kinsey Millhone like an old friend.
Donna Boulmay
Unseen by Karin Slaughter
Another great book featuring Will Trent. Sarah takes a backseat in this one while we finally get resolution on Lena.
Rosemary Sobczak
The Beast by Faye Kellerman
The Decker/Lazarus series never fails to keep my attention.
tac1948
Inferno by Dan Brown
Typical Dan Brown chase scenes; all implausible coincidences but what the heck we know that before we pick up his books. But the premise behind the story is very interesting and he kept it secret until the end [which was another typical Brown wind up].
tac1948
Truth in Advertising by John Kenney
A satire that is also a book about fully realizing ones potential to love, from a mans perspective. I enjoyed it.
Betty Chrastka
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The great American novel turned out to be -- a great American novel!
Laura McDonald
This Way Madness Comes by Robert Alan
At about 700 pages, this is no quick read. Rather, it is one to be savored and enjoyed. If you love a good thriller, you will want to pick this one up. A Russian scientist working on nuclear projects discovers what he calls the MAD principle, a source of unlimited power about which he makes a decision that will change the course of history. The characters are well written and come alive as you read. The plot-line is believable, probably due to Mr. Alan's career in the military and degree in physics. This book has been out for a few years, and I hate that it took me so long to find it!
Diana Trabanco
No One Could Have Guessed The Weather by Anne-Marie Casey
The book was entertaining and most of the characters were well developed. One character Robyn was not as cohesive as the others, and the men in the book were an after thought. You really became involved in the lives of the characters and cared about them.
Elaine Williams
Changeology: 5 Steps to Realizing Your Goals and Resolutions by John C. Norcross, PhD
Dr. Norcross is an authority on the science of personal change and cites many research studies upon which he bases his work. He has a method of helping people keep their promises to themselves (resolutions) and stick with goals until they are fully achieved. I began with a library copy and had to own this book. Helpful from anything from getting into college, to stopping harmful habits like smoking and overeating, to improving relationships.
Elaine williams
The Family Man by Elinor Lipman
Henry Archer gets drawn into the woes of his ex-wife whose wealthy husband has died. He also gets re-connected to the stepdaughter he loved from his brief marriage and their lives get intertwined in a most unusual plot. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading this one. Touches the heart and the funny bone.
Sandra Furlotte
Forevermore by Cindy Miles
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I usually find that it is difficult to connect with YA books if you are an adult reader. However, I loved this book. It is the story of teen girl from America who is transported to Scotland to live in a castle when her mother remarried. The story is a wonderful combination of young love, history and mystical adventures.
S ANDERSON
Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinslky
A great story about happens when two friends who each are kepting a secret from the other one are reunited on the island where they spent their Summers as young adults. Years after going their separate ways Nicole asks her friend Charlotte to help write a cookbook featuring recipes from the island that use the local herbs. Reluctantly Charlotte agreees but her secret is from the past and could devestate Nicole's marriage. Nicole's secret is from the present but should it be revealed, it could also ruin her marriage. As the two women interview the locals, cook their recipes, and write their book the reader learns the secrets and sees their affects.
Carolann Goslee
Frozen Heat by Richard Castle
I have been reading all of these books and I have been enjoying them immensely. Heat Wave, Naked Heat, & Heat Rises were enjoyable. But Frozen Heat is my favorite. Of course, they are not written by Richard Castle, since he is a TV character in the show Castle. But that is something that makes them fun. There are many blogs discussing who the real author is.
Lois Lilling
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
This fascinating book is mainly about an ancient Haggadah in Sarajevo and how it ended up in current time. An Australian book expert is hired to study the book and try to figure out its history.
Along with the scientific study there is some romantic and plot themes to keep the novel exciting.
Terese Tessar
Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain
I was expecting big things with this novel. I felt that the plot lines were too predictable for my liking. However, I was fascinated by the subject of mandatory sterilization that was prevalent in North Carolina.
Vicki Hancock
The Lincoln Deception by David O. Stewart
If you are a history buff, you will enjoy this book. Although it is historical fiction, there are so many facts about the Lincoln Assassination that I never knew but were in the book. The book starts with Mr. Bingham, the prosecutor for the assassination trials, is dying. He makes a comment to the doctor about Mary Surratt and a conversation he had with her regarding the conspiracy theories. He will take the conversation to his death without revealing it but says he felt 100% ok with her being hung. This is actually in some history books. The premise of the book is the then Dr. decides to find the truth out. Will Dr Frazier and his "colored" friend who is opening a newspaper find the truth behind the Lincoln Assassination? Good book.
Helen Wright
The Arrangement by Mary Balogh
Mary Balogh has, once again, written a completely satisfying book. I have always loved her characters as they seem so true to life in the Regency period. A marriage of convenience is a common enough plot device, but so beautifully done in this novel. A blind viscount and a little mouse of a girl thrown out on the street (for doing a kindness to the viscount) make a wonderful marriage and truly seem to be born to be together. Another wonderful book by an author who actually writes historical novels that are true to their time period. A lot of so called "regency authors" could learn a lot from her.
Fran
A Peculiar Grace by Jeffrey Lent
It is rare for me to give up on a book once I've invested a little time in it. This book was the exception. After one hundred pages, I felt as if I could care less what happened next. Oh well... not my cuppa tea.
Becky Haase
The Wedding Gift by Marlen Suyapa Bodden
I’m still not sure where or when the prologue was supposed to take place – perhaps it was a dream?
After some very stilted conversations and an inconsistent use of dialect, the story is interesting and holds your attention to the end. However, there are too many coincidences and the slaves are often well cared for (or allowed a lot of free time) by slave owners we are supposed to be appalled and repelled by. That is not to say slaves were not ill-treated and horribly abused, they were. Just that the depiction is as inconsistent as the dialect.
Debbie M
A Spider in the Cup by Barbara Cleverly
This Joe Sandilands novel starts very slowly, and the reading does not flow well. Towards the middle of the book, the old Barbara Cleverly glimpses through the English mist. The story hints at the building German problem, as a few powerful men attempt to manipulate the world. Cleverly has spies and counter spies everywhere, and they seem wimpy. The action does not ring true to what is actually happening during this time. Cleverly does not utilize the writing that has made her popular.
Sue Marie Rendall
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Has Armand Gamache lost the ability to lead the homicide department? Can he solve the mystery of the death of the last Quint? What destruction is being planned by the leader of the Sûreté du Québec? Will Three Pines be a haven or the end of the line?
The latest in Louise Penny's series is insightful, thrilling, horrible and altogether amazing.
Reva Wamsley
The Lost Years by Mary Higgins Clark
Mary Higgins Clark only gets better with age. Her books never disappoint. The main character of this book is Mariah. Her father is murdered & her mother, who has Alzheimers is suspected of the crime because she is found covered with blood & holding the gun. It is thought that she shot him because she found out he was having an affair with another woman. Missing is a letter that was thought to be written by Jesus. The police start questioning those close to him, including 4 friends who were frequent visitors to the house, along with the mistress. They suspect one of them has the letter but they all deny it.
Mary A
Hunger Games - Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins
Loved it and now cannot wait to see the movie.
Lois Belliveau
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
I loved this book! It was a well-written, sensitive and compelling memoir. The author, a Smith graduate, describes her year in a federal prison for a drug crime committed 10 years earlier. The subject is intriguing because it's not something with which we are familiar. She describes how seeing fellow inmates who were imprisoned drug users helped her accept responsibility for her own actions and how fortunate she was to have a strong support system behind her.
shelly itkin
Island Girls by Nancy Thayer
Rory Randall was definitely a ladies man and that would explain why he was married three times. In each of his marriage he had a daughter. When he passes away rather unexpectedly he has left one clause in his will that all three of his daughters get together and spend the summer in his Nantucket home and after the summer if they want they can then sell it.
Arden the oldest is a successful TV host in Boston, Meg a college Professor and Jenny an IT specialist. The problem is that Meg and Arden have not been to the house since they were young children and banned from coming back to spend another summer.
This is a story of remembering the good times, finding out what is happening in each of their lives presently and trying to rekind
Jan Zahrly
Dollface by Renee Rosen
A good beginning for a first-time novelist. Set in the 20s in Chicago, the protagonist is determined not to follow her mother's footsteps (and mistakes), yet does everything possible to do so. She has two love interests, each from rival gangs. There is not much character development but the entire book describes her waffling and bemoaning her fate. Her two love interests are not very well developed but a few of her gangster moll friends receive better treatment. A good first effort.
Julie Towson
The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban
This book will remind you of The Dead Poets Society. It's about a group of students at an exclusive private school and the interactions of the group with each other and the tragedy that happens.
Linda Frashure
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
This is a perfect read for a book club. There is so much to discuss. I really look forward to
reading the next book by this author. Beautifully written and complex story! Loved it!!!
Gloria Riffie
Spoken From The Heart by Laura Bush
I felt it was a very well written book, it told her whole life story, so very many events, she & George both had so many friends that it almost didn't seem possible to "keep" so many friends for your whole life. And her life in the White House was an eye opener for me. I didn't realize the first lady was so busy. She traveled to 75 countries in her time there. I was very impressed with all she did, especially concentrating on a book festival once a year & invited famous authors to many, many events & gave many, many books away. A great book. I learned a lot.
Marlene Cole
The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Cafe by Mary Simses
Very enjoyable for a first novel. Couldn't resist the hardheaded lawyer with her preconceived ideas.
Marlene Cole
Moonrise by Cassandra King
Just started listening to this and am totally involved with this story. Really does remind me of "Rebecca" but so far the housekeeper is much more interesting.
Patty Wright
The Last Patriot by Brad Thor
Excellent book!
Dian Anderson
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Amazing, beautiful, heart warming, and thought provoking.
Sharron
Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy
Vivienne de la Mare is caring for 2 daughters and her aging mother-in-law when husband is called to service during WW II. Living on the small remote Isle of Guernsey, daily survival becomes harder and harder with German occupation. Trying to keep food on the table and avoid the Germans who use prisoner slaves for harsh work, natives find themselves compromising their values. Vivienne befriends a German officer living in the house next door, and end up in a relationship with him unlike that which she had with her husband. Trying to keep the secret and pretend war and all it encompasses are not around her, becomes more and more difficult. Easy to empathize with Viv and wonder how you would survive.
Debbie M
Perfect by Rachel Joyce
This novel by Rachel Joyce evokes many emotions. The story begins with Byron Hemmings, a chubby eleven-year-old boy living on a country estate in England. Byron and his sister attend a private English school and are driven each day to school in their mother's Jaguar. The weekend father, Seymour, a London banker, is related through the words of Diana and Byron. Seymour stands as the symbol of dominance and frigidness. I thoroughly despise Beverly and her daughter Jeanie. They seem to be one of the forces that drive Diana over the edge. Joyce displays the thin line between sanity and madness with many of the characters: Diana, Beverly, Seymour, Byron, Eileen, and Jim.
Melanie Backus
Wedding Belles by Beth Albright
This Southern tale is witty, sharp, full of intrigue, and romance oozes out of this book. A great read in my opinion.
Linda Carlson
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
Summer, 1963. Mississippi. Need I say more? Starla is a nine year old spit-fire.
Mom is gone, Dad works on an oil rig, she is with Mamie, a Grandma who is a piece of work.
Starla has a summer adventure that you will not believe. I loved this book!
Linda Johnson
Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford
This book had me from page 1. And make this the second Petoskey Booktopia book that I did not want to end. Ford returns to northwest for this story which takes place around the time of the depression. The protagonist is an American of Chinese descent trying to live an honorable life despite many blows life presents. Some of the history is incredibly painful to read.
Linda Johnson
His Excellency by Joseph J. Ellis
Interesting bio of George Washington. Not one of my favorite narrators - especially when listening in the car.
Patricia Hunter
The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley
Only about 1/4 of the way into it, but it REALLY promises to be a "page-turner."
Marsha
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
Writing under the pseudonym J K Rowling, this wonderfully unexpected detective novel features a private investigator who has lost a leg in the war and is just getting by when an interesting case is presented to him. The characterization is spot on and you will be swept into the investigation into the high fashion scene in London. You can't help but hope there will be a sequel.
Jane Squires
Shock Wave by Dana Mentink
War, journalist in war area, death, danger and romance plus God's grace all in one story.
Wow!
Sage meets Trey while in Afghanistan as a journalist. Trey doesn't want her there. But God is at work. But lo and behold, they meet again in a ramshackled opera house. Sage believes her cousin is in danger and not get gone on a vacation. Danger looms at every turn. The plot thickens with an earthquake trembling and more and more people involved. Sage is again and again in danger as someone does not want her to figure out where her cousin is.
Trey and Sage both have flashbacks to Afghanistan.
The who does it will keep you guessing to the very end.
Dare you to try to lay it down very long.
God's mercy is revealed throughout the story.
Tessa B C
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Anderson crafts a very good work of historical fiction based on the actual events in 18th-century Philadelphia. As yellow fever spreads among the population, the young heroine, Mattie Cook, takes on more responsibility, and uses every ounce of her strength, intelligence and determination. I really like how Anderson has given us a strong heroine who uses her wits and hard work to survive. Matilda truly matures in the course of the novel. The audio book is capably performed by Emily Bergl, whose voice brings the work to life. An appendix outlines basic historical facts about the epidemic and history of the country in that time period.
Tessa B C
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
12-year-old Cecilia Rose Honeycutt has been the principle caretaker for her bipolar mother. When a major crisis occurs and CeeCee’s father cannot cope, her great aunt Tootie comes to the rescue, taking CeeCee back to Savannah with her. This is a lovely book dealing with a serious subject. To her credit, Hoffman does not gloss over the difficulties. Resourceful and intelligent, CeeCee still must deal with her guilt, anger and fears. Hoffman includes moments of joy and humor to ease the tension and give us hope. Jenna Lamia is an accomplished actress and does a marvelous job of this audio book. She is able to give the many female characters sufficiently distinct voices so that the listener can easily distinguish between them.
Mal Kaplan
The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan
5 stars....am looking for her new book now. wonderful absorbing suspenseful story about a reporter written by an investigative reporter who obviously knows her stuff. I really discovered a wonderful writer.
Sandy McCullough
The First Rule by Robert Crais
Frank Meyer had the American dream -- until the day a professional crew invaded his home and murdered everyone inside. The only thing out of the ordinary about Meyer was that -- before the family and the business and the normal life-a younger Frank Meyer had worked as a professional mercenary, with a man named Joe Pike. The police think Meyer was hiding something very bad, but Pike does not. With the help of Cole, he sets out on a hunt of his own -- an investigation that quickly entangles them both in a web of ancient grudges, blood ties, blackmail, vengeance, double crosses, and cutthroat criminality, and at the heart of it, an act so terrible even Pike and Cole have no way to measure it.
Lynn W
Books: A Memoir by Larry McMurtry
A very charming, humorous, and satisfying book about McMurtry's lifelong passion for the printed word.
Judy O.
The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain
A devastating hurricane hits the coast of North Carolina, and relief workers are streaming into the area. Physician sisters, Maya and Rebecca Ward, plus Maya's doctor husband Adam are 3 of the volunteers in this disaster. Maya is subsequently in a helicopter crash and goes missing. Rebecca and Adam turn to each other for comfort, and we find that Maya is trapped with some people she's not sure she can trust. This is a great, suspenseful story.
Angela Satalino
The English Girl by Dan Silva
Quick-paced politcal thriller packed with spies, killers for hire, espionage, and world travel.
Bill Hamilton
Never Go Back by Lee Child
Jack Reacher is back! The latest in the series brings us a terrific plot, lots of action, some romance this time, and a satisfying conclusion. A must read for thriller fans.
Walter Kretzmann
SUSPECT by ROBERT CRAIS
'Suspect' by Robert Crais is an outstanding book by the author of the 'Elvis Cole' series of mystery books. This book is as much about cops and villains as it is about a wonderful dog by the name of 'Maggie'. 'Maggie' is a battle-scarred German Shepard that is teamed with a battle-scarred police officer. Together they are a remarkable team and jointly share the main protagonist title. They search for the murderer of four people including the former partner of the police officer. You will learn much about dogs in this book - how they are trained and how they hunt. You will never look at your own dog the same after you learn about what makes 'Maggie' tick.
Linda Harrison
Hotshot by Julie Garwood
When Finn MacBain was 14, he saved the little girl next door from drowning and they have always had a special connection. Now they are grown and as Peyton Lockhart comes up to Finn at his brother’s wedding, he is stunned to find the beautiful woman is the little girl he saved. When Finn sees bullet holes in the back of Peyton's car and asks about it, she doesn’t tell him that her former employer sent a hit man after her to stop her from filing a harassment lawsuit. The trouble follows her to Florida and she asks for Finn’s help. He obliges and, as a confirmed bachelor, he is determined not to get involved with Peyton. When she tells him to get on with his life, he realizes that he only wants to be with her.
Linda Harrison
Declan's Cross by Carla Neggers
This book follows Heron’s Cove and centers around the main characters Emma Sharpe and Colin
Donovan, FBI agents. Both are in Ireland when an American is found dead at the bottom of a rocky ledge and it is first thought that she slipped. Emma and Colin believe that this was not a simple accident but the woman was pushed. They continue investigating and try to figure out if the murder was connected to a sensational art theft carried out ten years ago.
Linda Harrison
Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline
“Don’t go” are the words uttered by Mike Scanlon’s wife Chloe when she learns that his reserve unit has been called up to go to Afghanistan. But Mike is an orthopedist/podiatrist and is sorely needed due to lower extremity injuries incurred by the troops thanks to IED’s. When Mike’s tour is almost up, he receives word that his wife has been found dead. He goes home on emergency leave but has to return and re-enlists for another year. Then he receives the coroner’s report and learns disturbing news. When his tour is up, he heads home to find answers and to get to know the little girl that his daughter has become.
Marie Arnold
A MAN OF HIS OWN by Susan Wilson
With great simplicity and understanding, the author gives readers a heartwarming story of pain, complex relationships, and believable conflict resolutions.
This is much more than a dog story although Pax is a major force in the story and its outcomes. It is a story of WWII and how it altered the lives, personalities, attitudes, and futures of the characters. It's a story of love--rebuilding and renewing love, finding love, unrequited love, and, of course, unconditional love. It is also a story of healing and the incredible role Pax plays.
The author has a knack for storytelling, a deep understanding of the restoration of the human spirit, and a keen knowledge of the healing capabilities of a canine companion.
Linda Harrison
The Favor by Megan Hart
Janelle Decker has come to live with her grandmother in a small town. Their neighbors are the Tierneys and the oldest son is Gabriel, who is Janelle’s age. The friendship between Janelle and Gabe grows stronger and then Janelle moves away. Now, her grandmother is dying and Janelle has come back to take care of her and Gabe is still next door.
Linda Harrison
Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian
It has been almost 10 years since Mira saw a building explode right after her lover Kellan Archer ran into it. Assuming he was killed, she is stunned when she sees him again with a group of rebels. Then anger sets in as she realizes he has been alive the whole time but let her think he had died. Now he is the enemy but the problem is, she still loves him. This book was totally different from the books I usually read but I enjoyed the story.
Linda Harrison
And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
The book is divided into chapters detailing the lives of several people and how they interact with each other. The stories are heartfelt and detail the happiness as well as sorrow that the person feels whether it is in the deep poverty of Afghan villages or the calm of a Greek villa.
Walter Kretzmann
CHARM CITY by LAURA LIPPMAN
Tess is still living above her Aunt Kitty's bookshop, and the endearing musician/bookseller Crow seems to have worn down some of Tess' reservations about a possible relationship. She's even relented enough to accept a job as an apprentice investigator for the curmudgeonly lawyer/rowing instructor Tyner. But this unusually "normal" period doesn't last long, as the editors of the Beacon-Light hire Tess to investigate a case of a reporter undermining the system, publishing a controversial article that was never meant to run. In no time, the subject of the article turns up dead. An apparent suicide. Tess follows the trail through the ranks of the newspaper, convinced the suicide was, in fact, murder.
Walter Kretzmann
THE AFFAIR by LEE CHILD
For Reacher fans, this flashback novel on Reacher's last days in the Army is historically interesting because it fills gaps in his resume. It provides a different reason for why he left the Army than given in earlier novels. It also shows how Reacher's "no suitcase, will travel" ethos got started. Unfortunately, the novel is marred by excessive violence than exceeds the violence of any previous Reacher book and the aftermath is simply not credible. It's been a long series and Childs has done a good job in keeping the quality level up, but we may look at this novel as the beginning of a marked decline in the series. However, having said that, even a mediocre Reacher is still a good read.
Walter Kretzmann
A LONELY DEATH by CHARLES TODD
I enjoy this series. The mystery is engaging, the characters well rounded, and I think the time period (post World War I) is an interesting one that we don't hear much about. I have read 4 of this series so far and plan to continue to read the rest. I admire Inspector Rutledge. He has a unique ability to figure out impossible mysteries. And his constant "companion," Hamish, has his own interesting comments.
Walter Kretzmann
DEATH COMES FOR THE ARCHBISHOP by WILLA CATHER
Cather, who is famous for the lyrical quality of her sensitive writing, does not disappoint in this spectacular novel. She creates a rich and sensitive tapestry of human experience, spinning a yarn of struggle, revelation, love, cruelty, adaptation, and ultimate triumph. She never yields to the temptations of fatuous romanticism or trite platitudes. This book is an experience that transports the reader into another time in another place, but then provides the most insightful among us with the material needed to extrapolate from this experience, and apply it to other places in other times. This is a uniquely American masterpiece that will resonate with those who may have grown out of spy thrillers and whodunits.
Walter Kretzmann
MR. PENUMBRA'S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE by ROBIN SLOAN
I think this novel's description is trying very hard to sell this as a quirky mystery but the book doesn't really fit that genre. I honestly have no idea what genre this would fit into besides fiction. There is a little mystery to the book but the places where a little suspense could have been drummed up fell really flat for me. Maybe I was hoping for something a little more adventurous than what boils down to computer techies doing computer techie things. Don't get me wrong, this book was fun and there are interesting characters; I guess I was expecting more along the Dan Brown line of things with puzzles and a little action that this book didn't deliver for me. This was an easy, light, fun read, though, and I would recommend it for anyone
Walter Kretzmann
FOBBIT by DAVID ABRAMS
Reviewers have compared this book to Catch-22--as if Catch-22 is a genre. FOBBIT is its own animal. A one-of-a-kind view of our recent wars, not only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also elsewhere in the world. Like these recent wars, FOBBIT has a hollow center. The war that FOBBIT depicts is not about saving America. It is not about saving civilization. It is a hollow war. And David Abrams has done a superb job of depicting this quality. Whether or not he intended to doesn't matter. He has shown us the hole in the doughnut by writing about what surrounds the hole in the doughnut, and that's what counts. Funny, irreverent, even surly at times, at its core FOBBIT shows us that there is no escaping the essential bleakness of this kind of war.
Jeffrey Tretin
The Dark Path by David Schickler
A brilliant and eye opening coming of age story.
Summer Grinstead
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Loved the series but this was my least favorite book of the series.
Pat S.
Secrets Over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones
Her books always delight me and I really appreciated the characters in this one. It showed especially that "pastor's wives" are just normal, human beings and should be treated as such (not put in glass house). A really good book.
Pat S
Lifesavings Lessons: Notes from an Accidental Mother by Linda Greenlaw
I have fascinated with Linda Greenlaw ever since seeing the movie A PERFECT STORM (she was the female boat captain in the film). I have read all of her books thus far. This was an interesting one in that she became "a mother". It dealt with her feelings and questioned her ability to raise a "teen". Good read.
Pat S
Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice
Although I really enjoyed this book - I was also a little disappointed that it was set on the West Coast, as opposed to the NE area. I missed the location!! Even though I figured out "part" of the ending - I didn't have it all figured out and enjoyed the book a lot. The characters were very interesting.
Pat S
Face of Betrayal and Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl
I love, love, love her Triple Threat series of murder mysteries. Good, good reading!!
Melanie S.
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
This was a beautifully written but heartbreaking story. Set in Bombay, India, the novel tells the story of an upper class Parsi woman and her lower caste servant, and how their families interact and intersect, how women are regarded differently than men, how the upper classes can abuse the lower classes and how family loyalty trumps all. Highly recommended.
Muriel Logan
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
This is a book that tugs at your heart. Clark searches for a job after she loses her waitressing job and applies to become a caretaker for Will, a young man who became a quadriplegic after a car accident. Will is sarcastic and resentful because of the direction his life has taken after the accident. As time progresses a closeness develops between the two, but Will really has no desire to live life as a quadriplegic .
Michael McAdam
The Book of Someday by Dianne Dixon
What an enthralling book! It follows three different characters (that you know will somehow intertwine and I am embarrassed to say I didn't figure it out until right before the reveal.... it should have been obvious but wasn't to me... which I love). I didn't particularly like two of the three characters at first but all their story lines become riveting! This book was very hard to put down at times. I had to know what happens. This author is VERY good at keeping interest in all the story lines throughout the entire book. I am hardly the target audience for this book but I was hooked early on and read this book very quickly. Highly recommended!!!
Brenda K.
29 Gifts : How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker
I read this book for an upcoming book discussion. I found the concept of mindful giving to others very inspiring and centering. I plan to do this challenge soon. I have done something like this challenge in mini sessions a couple of times during college and through church. I am looking forward to hearing the reactions of the others in my group.
Elaine
That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson Duchess of Windsor by Anne Sebba
The novel was very well written, reading the book was second best to actually being there. The British people have to be so happy that Wallis Simpson came along when she did. Edward would have made a terrible King, he had no desire to rule. Imagine what would have happened to England during the second World War.
ELIZABETH PANIK
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Absolutely loved this book. Different perspective on slavery.
Jane Squires
Final Resort by Dana Mentink
Treasures of the heart, love, family, or worldly. Which will you chose? Hopefully the best treasure of all.
Ava returns to Whisper Mountain, a ski resort, to sell it. Her Uncle Paul tells her he can save it. But he is abducted, dies and a treasure hunt follows.
The plot thickens again and again as Luca tries to help Ava solve the mystery of her Uncle's death. But Ava questions his motives over and over gain.
Danger lies ahead for Ava and Luca. So many times their lives hang in the balance. Ava would never believe it could be some of the people for she has known them for a long time.
Finally they think they have the treasure. Lives again at stake over three romance novels. Not the treasure. Ava and Luca found best treasure.
Robin McKay
All You Could Ask For by Mike Greenberg
In “all you could ask for”, the reader meets Katherine, Samantha and Brooke. Katherine is an over-achiever who works 18 hour days to forget her broken heart. Brooke is a happily married mother who enjoys being with her family. Young Samantha is shocked to discover nude photographs on her husband’s lap top…on her honeymoon. All three women are living lives that are unlikely to intersect…until they are diagnosed with cancer.
The way each woman reacts to her diagnosis is as different as their lifestyles. The one thing they share is the cancer blog where they “meet”. This site is designed to help women share their stories and support each other in their battle with cancer. This is a story of friendship and survival.
Francisca E B
Kindred by Octavia Butler
3.5*** Dana is a young black woman living in 1976 Los Angeles who is suddenly transported in time and place to 1812 Maryland. This was an inventive and interesting plot, and I was caught up in the story of the ante-bellum Maryland plantation and those living and working on it. But I was somewhat disappointed in the execution. I did not think that Butler sufficiently developed her characters and their struggles. However, I’m glad I’ve finally read this work. Butler shines a light on a very dark period in America’s history. I can definitely see why this is frequently chosen by book clubs.
Rezina Emmons
Rose Harbor in Bloom by Debbie Macomber
Great job adding new characters that you can care about while contining to keep us in touch with past residents of Cedar Cove. You feel as if you are there and these town folks are your friends, sharing their joys and sorrows. Ms. Macomber adds new situations to each book so while being somewhat predictable, she always give us a learning opportunity to explore our feelings on different subjects, such as adoption. I also look forward to the next installment of one of my favorite towns.
Jan Zahrly
The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard
Two children, switched at birth, live most of their lives not knowing about the switch and wondering about the relationship between the two families. This is a bittersweet book about living, finding love, loss, not understanding parents and siblings. A must read for every woman who has struggles with mother-daughter relations.
Jackie Wisherd
So Close The Hand Of Death by J. T. Ellison
A well written thriller about a psychopath killer who has seen two murders being committed like those of the Boston Strangler, the Zodiac Killer and the Son of Sam in several cities across the country. It takes Nashville homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson and her FBI connection to bring him down before he succeeds in causing more deaths...even hers.
Marsha
The English Girl by Daniel Silva
If you have followed the series featuring Gabriel Allon, an Israeli master assassin, art restorer. and spy, you know what to expect. Allon is tasked to save the British Prime Minister from a scandal. Hopping from Corsica to London to Marseilles to Provence to Russia, we are taken for an excellent ride. There is plenty to learn from Silva's novels. Deceit at the highest levels of government are sad to learn, but in today's politics, we need to be aware.
Susan Kolodny
A Guide for the Perplexed by Dara Horn
This historical fiction is a real page turner, replete with sibling rivalry. The reader meets Solomon Schechter and Moses Maimonidies as the story shifts in time. Horn's newest novel demonstrates how technology changes memory and how memory shapes the soul. If you liked Geraldine Brooks' The People of the Book, you will enjoy Horn's adventure.
Barbara Strignano
Approaching the Speed of Light by Victoria Lustbader
I read this book about two weeks ago and cannot leave the story behind. This novel is almost perfect. Jody - a new name and then a new home. His life, loves, meeting the woman in the senior citizen home etc, his taking on an experience with a older woman-as though he would never reach his soul and at the end he does.
This novel speaks volumes about life, redemption and giving to someone else. Giving to someone else the home and heart you never had.
Linda Reck
The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo Moyes
This is an engrossing story about two different women - one in 1915 and the other in 2006 - each personally determined to fight for what they love most. Edouard LeFevre leaves a portrait with his wife.She will do anything to keep the painting. The German commandant is obsessed with it. Sophie will risk everything - her family, her reputation,her family and her life to see Edouard again, She never sees her husband again and the painting is gone.
Almost 100 years, Sophie's Portrait is given to Liv Halston by her husband shortly before his death.A chance encounter reveals its true worth, and a court battle ensues. Who is the legitimate owner?
Debbie M
A Question of Honor by Charles Todd
Charles Todd, the mother and son writing team, creates a well-written novel. The main emphasis of this novel dwells on WWI and the life of English children living in England, while the parents are stationed in India. The treatment and hardships of those children enlightens me to an unfamiliar aspect of life. Bess Crawford and the other nurses forsake a life of ease to handle the mass of wounded soldiers. The description of the long hours of work and unhealthy conditions of many of the aid stations leaves me to wonder that any man could survive. Bess stops at nothing to defend a soldier accused of murder in trying to uphold the honor of her father's regiment. Romance makes no appearance in A Question of Honor, a small disappointment.
Dara Montgomery
The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin
I thought I would enjoy this book, but is boring. I think I will have to find information on the internet to clarify it.
Marsha
Imperfect Bliss by Susan Fales-Hill
What happens when a family of four sisters with a mother who wishes them all well-married becomes a reality show? This is a comedy of manners in a Jane Austen style. Courtship and marriage somehow never turn out the way we expect.
Walter Kretzmann
Sutton by J. R. Moehringer
Not terribly exciting, but very well written. I suspect the author humanizes Willie more than he deserves, but the result is a better 'read' than a series of convicts and robberies would otherwise make. It would be interesting to know if there was a factual basis for the Bess character, or she was a total construct. If you liked The Tender Bar, you'll enjoy this, too; Moehringer seems to specialize in lovable reprobates.
Walter Kretzmann
In One Person by John Irving
I thought this book was boring and found the subject matter offensive . I'm very disappointed in John Irving. He is a much better writer than this piece of trash. Do not recommend.
shelly itkin
Between Heaven and Texas by Marie Bostwick
Too Much, Texas is a rather small town located abuts 95 mile south east of Dallas, but plenty of interesting things happen in this town.
Mary Dell is getting married but probably not for love or the right reasons but to do the right thing. After marrying Donny and suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage their marriage seems to grown stronger each year. Unfortunately, Mary Dell will suffer many more in the following years but her and her husbands dream will finally come true with the birth of Howard Hobart Bebee. Howard is a very “special” child and with him brings many struggles and adjustments to her and her family,
Marie Ledin
The Sherbrooke Twins by Catherine Coulter
Twin brothers fall in love, someone is attempting to kill the earl (their father), and the boys and family friends/servants try to find the criminal.
