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August 8, 2014 - August 22, 2014

This contest period's winners were Betty R., Cindy K., Debbie S., Joan D. and Susan C. W., who each received a copy of LOVE LETTERS: A Rose Harbor Novel by Debbie Macomber, MEAN STREAK by Sandra Brown, and WE ARE NOT OURSELVES by Matthew Thomas.

 

Michael McAdam
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

5
I LOVED this book. The mystery is interesting and the characters we fell in love with in the first book, THE CUCKOO'S CALLING (also fantastic) are back for another interesting, literary mystery. An interesting bunch of characters become involved with a disappearance (no spoilers) that turns even crazier than expected. VERY enjoyable book. Highly recommended.

Thomas Barrington
13 UNLUCKY by James Patterson

5
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Fast moving, the story keeps rolling.

Susie Stangland
The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin

5
Love love love and definitely fills missing Downton Abbey time.

Maureen
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

4
What a great, page-turning read. I loved it from start to finish.

Anne Frontino
Still Life With Breadcrumbs by Anna Quindlen

4
I found the characterizations, especially Rachel, to be fascinating, although I still don't understand why she couldn't tell her son about her money woes. I know I would not have been able to adapt to that remote, beyond-rural lifestyle & I certainly would not have put up with the fact that the cabin was barely habitable, as I'm sure that the cabin was not advertised to be in that condition. Overall, I enjoyed the book (at times, I found it difficult to put down), but I still like her book, BLESSINGS, better.

Diana Trabanco
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

4
This is the third book I have read by this author, and although I enjoyed them all, this one is my favorite. The book was poignant, especially in regards to the children in the story. Although you were sure that it would have a certain ending, the plot was suspenseful enough and had some interesting twists to keep you interested.

Janice Baly
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

4
ONE THOUSAND WHITE WOMEN takes a real historical event and imagines what would have happened if a different decision had been made. It follows the fictional life of May Dodd when she is part of an exchange with the Cheyenne Indians of women for horses and the life she lives as the wife of the chief.

Rena Ackley
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

4
Wonderful retelling of the Peter Pan story with Tinker Bell as the narrator and Tiger Lily as the main character. Very different version of most of the books about Peter and the Lost Boys. Interesting theme - anything or anyone different is either feared or oppressed. Characters who usually play a minor role in the tale are brought to the forefront in this version. Thoroughly enjoyable read that tugs on the heart.

Susan C Williams
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker

4
Interesting to see Americans written about from a French author's perspective. Nice twists and turns right up to the last page. Funny, clever, keeps you wondering til the end. The 31 rules for writers is where the author really shines.

Karen Stigers
Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford

4
I reallly enjoy this author's writing. Since I used to live in Seattle, its fun to remember the places he mentions.

Jan Zahrly
One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern

2
This is a cute book about a disgraced journalist, the humiliation she endures, and her struggles to complete one last assignment from her mentor. It is a feel good story. It was slow-paced.

Wendy Zuckerberg
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

3
Not as good as I expected.

michele
Sailing to Capri by Elizabeth Adler

5
I love reading her books. I can never put them down. I read one of her books last year for the first time and I went out and bought most of the others she wrote. Keeps you wanting to read!

Janet Nydegger
The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan

3
The blurb on the front of this book said "A Heartwarming Story". That is why I chose to read it. Within the first few chapters there was rape, mental illness, an abusive marriage, horse abuse , and an arsonist. But its a great story, quirky and complex characters, a sense of place... and the good thing is that it will warm your heart eventually. I am looking forward to this author's next book .

Bonnie Gluhanich
Travels With Casey by Benoit Denizet-Lewis

3
Fun, easy read for dog-lovers. Similar to Steinbeck's TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY.

MAUREEN RONAN
The Beekeeper's Ball by Susan Wiggs

4
Sequel to THE APPLE ORCHARD. Shows that love is found in all different ways.

Patti DelValle
The Witness by Nora Roberts

5
Absolutely loved this book and once again when it was ending, I savored it, and read it slowly. I always feel like I am saying goodbye to friends when I end a Nora Roberts book - her characters bring you in from page one! If I said anything about this book, it would give it all away. A must-read that has you hooked from page one and riding the roller coaster until the end - wishing there was more!

Sandy McCullough
Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

5
A wonderful love story told in letters. Absolutely loved it!!

Ann Simmons
Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

4
This is Ms Slaughter's first stand-alone novel. In 1974 Atlanta GA, the story centers around a shooter who is executing cops, and two female cops (from opposite sides of the tracks) and what they have to endure. It is like a gauntlet they had to get through just to go to work. Some the language was so racist and sexist, however, true to the times. Good description of some of the main characters who are cops, or the parents of one of the female cops. Lots of action, sarcastic co-workers and both dysfunctional and insightful families. I found it a quick read. Perhaps there will be more stories from this duo, Kate and Maggie.

Sharon Elliott-Fox
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

5
Great historical novel with interesting and believable characters. Loved the juxtapositioning of the ninety-one-year-old and 17-year-old and the way their stories were different but meshed so well.

Sandra Furlotte
Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran

4
This is the first mystery written by Sara Gran and she has gotten it exactly right. The characters are wonderful and the setting of New Orleans post-Katrina gives the book a dark and brooding feel.

Katherine Bennett
Sycamore Row by John Grisham

5
It was an interesting story that held my attention throughout. A real page-turner. Another winner for Grisham.

Catherine Acton
A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

4
Fantastic storyline, wonderful characters, superb writing! This book kept me thoroughly entertained, and the ending did not disappoint! I immediately started to search for this talented author's other titles...

Tracee Dembinski
The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

4
I really did love this book! I couldn't put it down so I read it in two days. I felt like I was right in the middle of my senior year in high school when I first fell in love and was thinking about what I would do after graduation day. The only thing that I was upset about was that the ending was not what I expected. I wanted to know more and I hope there is a sequel so I can find out what happens to the characters.

Tracee Dembinski
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

5
This is a book that I could read over and over again, and I can't wait to see the movie! I couldn't put this book down because I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. When I read this book I felt like I knew these people, and I cried and laughed along with them. I have been telling everyone I know to read this and I hope they do!

susan gannon
Cataclysm by R. J. Smith

5
I read this book in 15 hours! Exciting suspense - non-stop entertainment. Bet money this will be a future movie!

Kate Green
A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen

4
This is the 3rd in the Department Q series in Denmark, and Carl Morck has two cases which need to be solved. A letter found in a bottle in Scotland many years ago has just found its way to him, and he and his associates discern that there are still crimes being committed. Carl's personal life has become more complicated and this episode left many unanswered questions, especially about the shooting, which spared Carl but killed one colleague and paralyzed another. Onto the 4th!

Sonya Lynn Moore
The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell

5
Woodrell's plots are always riveting, but it is his lyrical prose which draws me to his books. The story is about the devastation, both physical and emotional, that a town suffers when a dance hall is blown sky high. The maid thinks she know "who done it" and tells the story to her grandson.

Phyllis Relyea
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

5
Another tearjerker, but a wonderful summer read! It can be compared to THE NOTEBOOK, which I still think is one of his best! Two love stories for the price of one, told alternately between chapters. I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it!

J.Ross
The Girls of August by Anne Rivers Siddons

5
Perfect for a nice summer weekend read. Each character has their own life that has grown with the others over the years. It is a real reflection of life as it is, and shows us that we need to listen and love all those around us with care.

Pat Pascale
31 Days: A Memoir of Seduction by Marcia Gloster

5
Marcia and Kate are traveling around Europe for the summer studying art and will attend the Oskar Kokoschka School of Vision in Saltzburg, Austria. Marcia meets instructor Bill Thomson and falls in love with him. A very passionate affair with a married man with a child, a mistress and all kinds of girlfriends does not stop Marcia in the overwhelming and very sexual attraction. A page-turner filled with interesting facts about art and Saltzburg, and best of all a truly lovely love story. Five stars easily.

Debbie Smith
Delicious! by Ruth Reichl

5
This is a fictional story about the closing of a 100-year-old magazine, Delicious. As she was the editor of Gourmet, which was shuttered overnight, this book gives you a real feel of the impact on the people who created such a long-lasting and fabulous magazine. If you love food and food magazines you will enjoy this book.

Linda Reck
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

5
BIG LITTLE LIES is a mesmerizing page-turner focused around the deceptions of domestic life. At Pirriwee Public School, petty jealousies and rumors all come to the surface. When a riot breaks out at the annual Trivia Night, one person ends up dead. In flashbacks we learn what happened in the preceding months, and we meet the divorcees, a single mom, a husband and ex-husband and a second wife. The book is abundantly entertaining and strongly observant.

Rose Turner
The Girl in the Green Sweater by Krystyna Chiger with Daniel Paisner

5
This is a book club selection for our September meeting. It is the true story of a young girl and her family. In 1943, in Lvov, Ukraine 150,000 Jews have been exiled, killed, or forced into ghettos and facing extermination. A group of Jews sought to hide in the sewers. For over fourteen months Krystyna her parents and brother hide from the Germans and face many harrowing experiences. They are helped to survive by Leopold Socha and other sewer workers who bring them food and supplies at risk of their own lives. The Chiger family survives, but even after they were liberated life was difficult for them. Their home and fortune was gone. It is a tale of survival, friendship and redemption.

Rosemary Sobczak
The Night Searchers by Marcia Muller

4
Lots of twists and turns.

Ivy Pittman
The Last Anniversary by Liane Morirty

4
Cute, funny story about the things that can happen just when you think you have it all figured out. A historical mystery is unwoven just as lives appear to be coming apart.

Anne Patrick
Coldsleep Lullaby by Andrew Brown

3
This book is being marketed as mystery novel set in South Africa, but it is really much more about the tempestuous history of the land, its people and culture. This is a beautifully written book, but one that can also be difficult to read given the savage history of the country. The story toggles back and forth between two time periods. I found that the mystery and how the stories were connected was fairly easy to figure out long before the final denouement. But even so, that did not take anything away from the story; it is still interesting to see how it plays out. While I did not particularly like the main character of Det. Februarie, I did enjoy the character of his partner, Constable Nduku immensely. A solid 3.5 stars.

Gail Spitzer
The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman

5
I am currently re-reading this book for a book club, but I read it several years ago and loved it. It is a beautifully written book re: love and loss with wonderful depictions of Australia and life as a lighthouse keeper.

Marsha
Wayfaring Stranger by James Lee Burke

5
If there is a finer writer producing novels today, I would like to read him or her. Burke paints a picture with every sentence. It is a pleasure to read them. This novel outlines a young boy's chance encounter with Bonnie and Clyde and the impression it leaves on his life. We follow him through WWII and beyond as he becomes a man who never lets life ruin him. What a delight.

Kathy Hill
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

5
My group loved this book. Such twists and turns, mystery,suspense, and OMG I can't believe what just happened! No one suspected the end. Lots of laughs in our discussion.

Kathy Hill
The Book Borrower by Alice Mattison

2
We chose to read this book, first printed in 1999, because we read that it was being re-released. It was somewhat disjointed and skipped around a lot. Some felt there was no real plot. The book is the story of two friends raising their children in the 1970s, and a book named 'Trolly Girl', about the 1920s trolly strike. In this book, the author skips from current day to 50 years earlier, bringing characters forward from a past era. It was not an easy book to read or to figure out what was going on.

B. J. Simon
The Farm by Tom Rob Smith

5
This book grabbed me from the first page; I finished it in 2 sittings. The mother's story was compelling, yet I kept wondering how could these events have been misinterpreted knowing that all is not what it seems. Daniel is the unlikely hero and it gives him a new lease on life. One of the best reads this year!

Rosemary Bednarczyk
The Heist by Daniel Silva

5
Art restorer/assassin Gabriel Allon faces his usual challenges in solving a mystery, with twists and turns throughout the story. An excellent read, as usual in a Daniel Silva mystery.

Linda Harrison
The Stories We Tell by Patti Callahan Henry

4
Novels by Patti Callahan Henry always tug at your heart. The stories are heartwarming and down to earth. Eve married into the wealthy Morrison family, aware that Mrs. Morrison thinks her son married someone beneath him. But Eve and Cooper marry and have a daughter. Cooper has a business that is on shaky ground while Eve’s printing business is thriving. Their perfect marriage falls apart after an accident that leaves unanswered questions.

Linda Harrison
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

5
This is one of the best books I have read in a while and it deserves more than 5 stars. At 607 pages, it was a long book but it kept your attention as the story grabbed you and kept you reading. Scott Murdock was retired from a shadowy organization known as The Division and just wanted to enjoy his life. But he got a call from the White House that requested his help in locating a terrorist known as the Saracen who was about to unleash terror on the United States.

Linda Harrison
Backwoods by Jill Sorenson

4
Shades of Deliverance!! After you read this book, you’ll never go camping again! When four campers meet the two strange-acting men on the trail, they continue on thinking the men had left. Before heading out for the trail, the campers had heard rumors about young women disappearing in the vicinity but did not think to connect the disappearances to the men. Then, one of the young women disappears and the others know they are in trouble.

Linda Harrison
That Night by Chevy Stevens

5
This was such a great story that once I started reading, I kept on and finished the book in one day. When Toni’s sister is found murdered, she and her boyfriend Ryan are accused of the murder. After they are convicted and sentenced to prison, both begin to live a nightmare. After they are paroled, Ryan wants to find the murderer and Toni just wants to stay out of trouble. But trouble has a way of finding her. This was an excellent book and deserves more than 5 stars.

Joanne M
How Much Did You Pay for Her?: Forgiving the Words That Hurt Adoptive Families by Christine Rhyner

5
A long awaited book on adoption and infertility. Very informative being the author went through all of the obstacles herself and she has first-hand experience with the struggles. Could not put the book down! Great for anyone dealing with adoption, infertility and the pain of it all.

Linda Harrison
Seeing Red by Jill Shalvis

5
After Summer Abrams’ father was killed in a warehouse fire, she left Ocean Beach, her family as well as her best friend Joe Walker. Now she has returned when her mother called about another warehouse fire and she finds that Joe is now the fire marshal. Gone is her pudgy friend and in his place is one sexy guy. Joe has always loved Summer but she is afraid to commit to Joe and admit that she loves him too. When Summer almost loses Joe in a cottage fire and then again in the burned-out warehouse, she is finally ready to admit the truth.

Linda Harrison
Every Crooked Nanny by Mary Kay Andrews

4
Callahan Garrity is a former Atlanta police officer and is now owner of a housecleaning service by the name of House Mouse. While cleaning the home of a wealthy housewife, she is told that the former nanny has disappeared along with jewelry and business papers. Since Callahan had been a police officer and then a private investigator, she was asked to help find the nanny and stolen valuables. She agreed and stepped into a mess. She was beaten up and her mother kidnapped, but she came through even though she was totally wrong about the murderer.

Linda Harrison
The Cabin by Carla Neggers

2
I usually love books by Carla Neggers but the characters in this book acted stupidly, which ruined the book for me. Jack Galway was a Texas Ranger. A person of interest in a murder investigation came to his house and asked his wife Susanna to intervene with her husband telling her that he did not kill his wife. This scared her so much that she left San Antonio and moved to Boston rather than tell her husband what happened. Neither she nor her husband would talk about the separation, and it went on for a year until the person of interest showed up in Boston for unfinished business.

Linda Harrison
If Wishes Were Earls by Elizabeth Boyle

4
I enjoyed the story of Harriet Hathaway and the Earl of Roxley. Growing up together, “Harry” and Roxley were close friends. Their friendship grew into much more after they were grown. Thinking that he would ask her to marry him, Harry is shocked when she learns that he is to marry a Miss Murray. Harry finds that Roxley is being blackmailed into marriage, and she teams with him to find out who is trying to ruin him and why.

Fran OH
The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand

4
As with all the books I've read by this author, I really enjoyed it. Great character development, awesome setting (could practically taste the foods in this restaurant), and a budding romance.

B. Klaassen
The Diary by Eileen Goudge

5
I finally got my hands on a copy of this book. This book has been on my "To-Be-Read" list for a few years. I really loved the flow of this story. It was a smooth sail from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the characters in this story. I read this story in less than 24 hours. The author struck a strong cord between life and love.

Sharon Oats
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

4
To the readers of Moriarty's book THE HUSBAND'S SECRET, I can say that you won't be disappointed! This book is just as much a page-turner.

Sherrie English
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

4
A beautifully written story of love, loss and the spirit world around. A young women is promised to a young man in marriage. Rivalry and wicked ways get in the way. Is moving on as a ghost the only way to have the one you love?

Jean
A Killer Read by Erika Chase

3
Though I usually love cozy mysteries, this one was somewhat of a disappointment. I felt like the story dragged and it took me forever to finish it.

Kathy Vallee
A Cookie Before Dying by Virginia Lowell

5
This is the second book in this series, and I just love it as much as the first. As Livie woke one morning she found her whole front yard covered in crunched papers, making it look like snow, with huge letters SUGAR KILL. She assumes they were put there by Charlene Critch, the uptight owner of The Vegetable Plate. Livie then stumbles over a dead man on the main green, and her brother says he did it! Now what to do in so little time.

Betty Ramsey
Small Town by Lawrence Block

2
I wish I hadn't read this. I love Mr. Block's books, especially the Burglar books, but this one was awful. I suppose the story itself was okay, but the constant dwelling on kinky and almost pornographic sex was off-putting. The story is about a so-so writer being suspected of murdering a woman and trying to cash in on the notoriety. The only reason I kept reading was to find out if he really did it. We don't expect this kind of thing from Mr. Block, and I'm sorry he felt that this stuff was okay to be a part of his body of work.

Patricia Askins
The Beekeeper's Ball by Susan Wiggs

5
I won this book from ReadingGroupGuides.com and I'm so glad I did. Great story and am looking forward to another continuation of Bella Vista. I especially liked the story within about Denmark during WWII.

Jan Zahrly
Final Curtain: An Edna Ferber Mystery by Ed Ifkovic

3
This is apparently the 5th book in the Edna Ferber mystery series. It is a cute idea to use actual literary persons such as Edna Ferber in a novel. The mystery is full, complex and believable. Unfortunately, the author took too many pages to tell the story. It is overwritten, with a strange emphasis on the rise of the Nazi party in Europe, and the coming WW II has nothing to do with the mystery. There were descriptions of meaningless dialogue, an overabundance of name dropping, and just too many words. I did read every page though.

Cindy Kremer
Cathedral by Raymond Carver

4
Our book club is called Writers are Readers (WaR). Each member selects a book to read and we read it to improve our own writing. CATHEDRAL was a book of short stories that really inspired many of us to get back to our own writing. We had not read a book of short stories before, so we are pushing ourselves to look at various authors and how they can improve our writing skills. Who knows - maybe a member of our group will be written up in this column one day!

Sean Penrose
Berlin Game by Len Deighton

2
What's billed as a classic spy novel is a letdown from multiple angles - the lack of action, intrigue, and potential antagonists. The main character of Bernard Samson is very likable. Truly, a delight to read. Sadly, he's given almost nothing to do. Boring muses as to who might be betraying him, all the while it's blatantly obvious. Overall, just a bland tale involving one very interesting character.

dennis beierbach
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown

4
Love her books.

Tessa B C
Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

3
When her parents take a year-long assignment in Afghanistan, Viola has to spend her freshman year at an all-girl boarding school. This is a nice young-adult novel about opening yourself to new possibilities and making the best of a less-than-ideal situation. Our heroine is sometimes “Princess Snark,” sometimes a homesick girl, and always a 14-year-old girl away from home for the first time and beginning to discover what she wants from life.

Richard N B
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan

3
3.5*** Audiobook performed by Jonathan Davis. This slim volume is a study in reflection. The reader witnesses Manny’s struggles, small victories, and seemingly endless defeats as he continues to put one foot in front of the other, ever hopeful that he is somehow in control of his future success. There are no pretty romantic endings here; Manny plows through his day, doing his best, even when he realizes that his best isn’t quite good enough. It is a perfect appetizer of a novel, whetting my appetite for O’Nan’s writing, and leaving me hungry for more.

Sylvia Vandertulip
Invisible by James Patterson and David Ellis

4
One of Patterson's best books in a long time. Very creepy "bad" guy and lots of interesting plot twists. True page-turner. Might give you nightmares, but worth it!

Anita Cooperman
A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith

4
This is a pick from my book club. I was prepared to not like it and boy was I surprised. Loved it! Savored the last pages so that it would not come to an end. It is about the growth of Florida and how the people lived. It traces the story of one family and their generations and interactions with other people. Definitely worth reading.

Gil Harris
Voices by Arnaldur Indridason

4
Very interesting book, concerning 'who killed the department store Santa'. Turns out that 'Santa' had a very celebrated youth, which may have contributed to his death. Chief Inspector Erlunder pursues the case, while at the same time revealing his own character flaws and problems in his own life. Good reading! Surprise ending!

Kathy Iwasaka
Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch

3
Certainly not great literature, but this was an easy read. I found it somewhat creepy, and not in a scarey way, but not so creepy that I stopped reading. This book does not have sympathetic characters, nor any that I could relate to, and I am not sure that I could recommend it.

Gil Harris
The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

2
Chris Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors, but I was disappointed in this book. A surprise ending but the writing did not lead me to the 'a-ha' moment. This book is about the search for a serial killer. The story takes place in Italy, in 1943 during World War II and in 1955 when the gruesome murders took place. The characters in the story include a wealthy Italian villa owner, Nazi occupiers, and Italian partisan fighters. In my opinion the book missed the mark.

Susan Kolodny
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

5
Amazing love story! The protagonist, Louisa, is a 26-year-old working-class girl trying to make ends meet after the cafe where she has worked closes its doors. Will is a handsome, intelligent 35-year-old who lives every day of his life to its fullest, until one day he is hit by a motorcycle and his world is shattered. He becomes a quadriplegic and does not want to live. Ms. Moyes does a beautiful job bringing together these two people from different sides of the track (actually a castle in their English town separates them), who share nothing in common. The reader will alternate between laughing out loud and needing to reach for a box of tissues. Loved this novel. I read her earlier book THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER- also great.

Marsha
Act of War by Brad Thor

5
This is another outstanding book featuring covert antiterrorism operative Scot Harvath. This time he faces a Chinese op that uses Muslim exchange students to pull a dastardly deed on American soil. It is a pulse-pounding thriller.

denise beierbach
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown

5
Love her books.

Laura Beierbach
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown

4
Sandra tells another great tale.

elaine beierbach
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown

5
I am sharing my book and raving about it.

Lynn W
The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell

3
Rose Baker is a 1920s police stenographer who falls under the spell of the new typist, Odalie. That's a true statement. The farther into the book the reader goes, veracity is difficult to gauge. This is a provocative debut novel, but be warned - the ending does not tie up all the loose threads.

Cathey Avery
Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

5
As popular as THE SHADOW OF THE WIND is, it amazes me that it took this long to get MARINA in print in English. A beautifully drawn story of mystery and fantasy - what is real, what you remember. It's sold as a young adult book, but anyone would be caught up in the story. Like all of the other books he's written, when finished, I went to the front of the book and immediately started it over.

Joan Deeley
The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi

5
The story takes place in Afghanistan. Beautifully written about the sad treatment of two women, Shekiba and Rahima, three generations apart. An amazing first novel for this author. Couldn't stop thinking about this book for days after finishing it.

Jan Zahrly
The Cold Truth by Jonathan Stone

4
This first novel is a great mystery. We spend too much time reading about the trainee's thoughts and fears but are rewarded in the end by having the entire mystery (and there are various parts to it) all tied up. The reader can breathe a sigh of relief at knowing who is the guilty one who carried out "The Perfect Murder." A good read, especially for a debut novel.

Nikki Youngren
That Night by Chevy Stevens

3
3-1/2 stars. This is the third book I've read by this author and, though it's better than her second book, it isn't as good as her first. I recommend the first to everyone! This book is about an 18- year-old girl convicted of the murder of her younger sister and sent to prison for 15 years. When finished with her prison term, the girl, now a woman, tries to find the real killer of her sister. The plot was good and it was very easy to read, but I was getting aggravated by the "bullying" that this girl endured not just in high school but throughout her life by a myriad of people. The "bad things" she endured just started to depress me. I recommend this book with reservations

Michael McAdam
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

4
Interesting story. Well worth the read for the story even though the writing style annoyed me at times (not enough for it to be an issue but enough to notice I didn't like it). Too big of a deal was made about the ending. I didn't find it earth shattering, but it was definitely interesting and unique. Thumbs up.

Bonnie
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

5
I reread this for about the sixth time and, at the age of 68, am falling in love with Holden Caulfield again just as I did when I was about 16.

Shelia
Swan Point by Sherryl Woods

3
It's quite the Norman Rockwell-esque story, not that everything is perfect. People don't always make the best or right decisions. BUT ninety percent of the women AND the MEN are communicative about their feelings to each other with no games, and insightful about themselves or others. And those ten percent who do not have it altogether are gently "tutored" by other MEN and women! So the only thing that would make it MORE perfect is for that to be in MY life ... not gonna happen. And of course, everything turns out just fine. I won an advanced uncorrected proof on Bookreporter.com.

Shelia Worthey
90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper

5
There were so many things I could relate to in this book due to being a caregiver of a survivor. Now I want to read the Tenth Anniversary update. We all just do what we gotta do.

Colin Beierbach
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown

4
My wife and I enjoy her books.

Tessa B C
Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

4
This is a fast-paced thriller with an intelligent, resourceful, courageous heroine who thinks – and acts – for herself. Yes, there is a romantic interest, but Ridley doesn’t just rely on Jake to save her. She’s strong-willed and independent, and takes matters into her own hands. Some plot points seemed to go a little overboard, but on the whole this was an entertaining read. I’d definitely read another book by Unger.

Coral Harrison
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

5
This was recommended to me, and I found it was as good as promised. It is the true story of 9 American boys and their experience at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. They went to college at University. It tells how they had to trust each other and their coaches so they could win the Olympics in Berlin. It is a very well-documented book. I recommend it.

Linda Reck
Lucky Us by Amy Bloom

3
"My father's wife died. My mother said we should drives down to his place and see what's in it for us." She leaves Eva and her suitcase on her father's porch. Now Eva has a very ambitious half-sister, Iris. Both are disappointed in their family and set off to find fame and fortune. Iris's ambition takes them to Hollywood, but she messes up by having a sordid scandal. Iris, Eva and their father go to Great Neck where she'll be a governess and he'll be a chauffeur. Then Iris takes off for England to be in a soap. Filled with unconventional characters and unanticipated events, this is a novel about success and failure. I did not like this novel. I could not relate to any of the characters; they were all self-serving, and the ending was flat.

shelly itkin
And Then I Found You by Patti Callahan Henry

5
Do you remember your first love? Kate and Jack were friends, then lovers, for as long as she can remember. It all started in grade school and continued thru college. When Jack moved away and went to a different college, they still remained close and in love. On one night when Kate surprised Jack with a visit, this event changed both of their lives forever.

Jan Zahrly
A Body to Die For by Kate White

3
This is a cute little mystery. It is well written and gives us many suspects as the murders continue. The writer's good friend owns the inn where the murders are happening, so the visiting writer decides to help her friend by gathering clues and finding the murderer. Some elements are left hanging and there are others that play no part in the mystery or the friendship. It is a quick read. Written by the former editor of Cosmopolitan.

WALTER KRETZMANN
Run by Ann Patchett

3
I really enjoyed PATRON SAINT OF LIARS and BEL CANTO. This book was interesting and I liked the potential of the characters. I found Uncle Sullivan tedious at times and Tip too, when he'd go on and on about fishes. I just don't want to read a detailed account of his obsession. I still enjoyed the book. I liked Kenya, Teddy, and Tennessee. While some coincidence is fine, this book seemed ridiculously full of them. The book was fairly fast-paced and I wouldn't rave about it, but it was still worth the time.

WALTER KRETZMANN
Stitches by Anne Lamott

3
If you like your martinis dry, this is for you. No unnecessary words, no unnecessary pages. Would have been five stars if the curtain story had been a bit less sugary. My mind is diabetic.

WALTER KRETZMANN
Berlin 1961 by Frederick Kempe

4
This is a well-written account of 1961, which most must agree was a year that Kennedy had a rough time in. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight the author indicates what he believes were errors Kennedy made, and even Kennedy's admirers, of which I confess I am one, must agree that history shows it was not a good year for Kennedy--though whether it was as dire as Kempe indicates other historians may not agree. I found the book unfailingly exciting reading and well-written, dismaying as some of it is.

WALTER KRETZMANN
Fluke by Christopher Moore

3
This time out, Moore's heros are down-at-the-heels academic researchers in Hawaii, tracking the lives of whales. One day a whale flips them a kind of whale-y bird - on his uplifted tail as he departs our team reads the words "BITE ME" on his tail. The reason for this, it turns out, has to be read to be believed. I will only say that a good number of characters live in an underground alternative universe, are the joint progeny of humans and whales, and have prehensile....well you'll have to read it to find out just which body parts qualify. Moore has a harder task before him in FLUKE than he does when he parodies well-known genres of horror (Godzilla in LUST LIZARD or vampires in BLOODSUCKING FIENDS), but he does an excellent job

WALTER KRETZMANN
The Drop by Michael Connelly

3
Another case involving Harry Bosch is always to be celebrated, and THE DROP is another fine addition to the Bosch pantheon. Is it one of the ones you'll pick up off the shelf over and over again, like THE BLACK ECHO or THE LAST COYOTE ? Probably not. As noted in the synopsis, Bosch finds himself working on two cases at once, and be warned - one takes him to very dark territory reminiscent of THE CONCRETE BLONDE. The scenes between Bosch and his daughter Maddie are wonderfully tender; I can see Maddie having her own series someday. The last 40 pages have a rushed feeling to them, as though Connelly needed to wrap it up and move on. There is also a romantic angle that gets rather perfunctory treatment.

WALTER KRETZMANN
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

3
I read STATE OF WONDER before looking at reader reviews and was surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response to a book that I found to be average. Patchett takes on the ambitious task of bringing Marina's significant ambivalent relationships ~ with her dead father, medical school professor, office mate, employer-lover ~ along with the ethical issues of pharmaceutical R&D with indigenous cultures, into a cohesive whole. While the premise was good, the turn of the phrase distinctive and the socio-economic topic timely and important, there was something off with the total picture. The characters were flat and unlikeable, transitions frequently vague and the abundance of scientific information (questionable though some might be).

Francisca E B
The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

4
What a delightful read! I just fell in love with Sookie, and enjoyed going along on her journey of self-discovery. Flagg never lets the minor characters take over the plot; rather, they add color and provide a framework for Sookie’s story, and her reactions are very real and understandable. Anyone would be thrown for a loop after receiving such a shock. What’s so fun about the book is watching her come to grips with what she has learned and growing into an even better version of the person she has always been. I also enjoyed the history on the women who flew for the Army Air Corps in WW2 with almost no recognition of their service.

Jeanette Crossett
A Night to Remember by Walter Lord

5
This classic book is about the last night of the ill-fated ship Titanic. Tells the story of the people on the ship and what they saw and felt about that night.

Paula C.
Cold Tuscan Stone by David P. Wagner

4
Rick Montoya, formerly from New Mexico, has moved to Rome, Italy to work as a translator. He is contacted by a school friend to assist in an undercover role to assist the Italian Art Squad in an investigation of burial urn trafficking. The local police consider him a hindrance and an amateur, but soon Rick develops a valuable working and personal relationship with the Commissario. The suspect list consists of a museum director, a gallery owner, and import/export business, and a private art specialist. The plot weaves in and out between these characters and their interests. The descriptions of Italian village life and specialty dishes makes for interesting reading.

Linda Johnson
Landline by Rainbow Rowell

2
I liked the concept of this book, but not the reality. I thought it too cloying, repetitive and not very cohesive (maybe that was what she was trying with the repetitiveness). Perhaps the narrator was my real issue. She changed her voice for each of the main characters, but I didn't think it was good acting as much as annoying. I couldn't wait for this short book to be done.

Melanie S.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

5
Atmospheric and intense, one of the most incredible pieces of writing I have read in a long while. Although I didn't identify with the main characters as much as I have some other holocaust-genre books, I felt for these characters. The book shed light on how there was suffering on all sides and how little choice gifted young German men had as they were swept into the maelstrom of Nazism. In the darkest of times, there was (metaphorical) light for each of the characters - though memory, learning, music, exploration of nature, rebellion, or covert activities. I would say this book is quite a masterpiece and a must-read.

Jan Zahrly
Endangered by Jean Love Cush

2
The topic of young black men being shot, arrested, harassed, and beaten by law enforcement people is important. It happens and is is unjust and it continues to happen. We all must do more to stop it. Unfortunately, this book does not add to information, awareness, or knowledge. It is overwritten; she is "shocked, overwhelmed, trembling, throwing up, horrified, etc." This is mixed with her love story - not much of a mystery, not much of a memoir. Just a lot of emotional words and phrases.

Lori Edelson
I Can't Complain by Elinor Lipman

5
This was a fun read - short, entertaining articles which I thought I'd read here and there, but I actually couldn't put it down. I'm a big fan.

Vanessa Johnston
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

5
Intense and captivating memoir about a twenty-something's time hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in California. It's extremely personal story with both tragic and inspirational elements. Fans of EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert and THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeanette Walls will love this book. Soon to be made into a movie with Reese Witherspoon.

Betty Taylor
The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

5
My book will be reading this one in September. I know they will love it.

Julie Mackey
Say It Ain't So by Josh Berk

5
OK, I'm biased...this is my brother's book. But...it's so funny, and sweet, and just a wonderful read.

Linda Rimkunos
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

5
A wonderful book that helped me realize, for the first time, the connection between the emancipation of slaves and the emancipation of women.

Vickie
Four Friends by Robin Carr

3
About four women friends who each have their own relationship problems and how they support each other. It kept me interested just to see the outcome of each situation.

Rosalie Sambuco
One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson

5
An excellent book! 1927 was an amazing year with Lindbergh, Coolidge, Hoover, Capone, and Sacco & Vanzetti. I could not stop reading. I highly recommend this book to ALL history lovers.

Cindy Warthan
Wild by Cheryl Strayed

5
Loved this book! This is a memoir about the journey of of young woman's hike (alone) along the Pacific Crest Trail. I could hardly put the book down once I started it.

Vickie N
Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans

5
This is the last in The Walk series. Such a wonderful series and I hated to see it end. He reaches his walking destination after several problems along the way. Start with book 1 and enjoy the entire series. They are all quick reads.

Cindy Warthan
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

5
Outstanding! This is the true story of a University of Washington crew team and their "unbelievable" journey to win at the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin. I knew nothing about crewing before reading this novel, and really had no interest to learn about it, but I was captivated by this book.

Harriet Pepper
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

5
I really enjoyed this book. The author brought together generations in a realistic way that made me yearn for more. It was yet another demonstration of how one person can make an enormous difference in the life of a young person at risk. This was an easy read, and so satisfying!

Raylene Wauda
Dead Run by Erica Spindler

4
A fast-reading thriller (short chapters seem to make it faster) about the Horned Flower gang, ritualistic murders, cops, and pastors.

Muriel Logan
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

5
I've read many fiction and non-fiction books about WWII, but the main thrust of those have been about the war as it related to Europe or the concentration camps. Other than the bombing of Pearl Harbor, I have to admit I haven't read much about our fighting with Japan. I never realized how truly horrible the POW camps were in Japan. Louis Zamperini's experiences as detailed in this book were certainly not pleasant to read about, and it's amazing he and other POWs were able to endure and survive all that happened to them. This is truly an amazing story of strength and courage. I hope the movie version of UNBROKEN, which is being released on Christmas day, does justice to this very fine book.

Linda Johnson
Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show by Dave Berg

3
This is an entertaining look at what happened behind the scenes of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The author was a producer for the show for 18 years who booked mostly political and journalist guests. The chapters are categories of guests (sports, political, journalists, etc.) including best guests and worst guests. I've always been a Leno person rather than either a Letterman or Conan person so Berg's views parallel mine - especially as to Leno's ascension to The Tonight Show and regaining it after his first "firing." It's always interesting to find out what goes on behind the scenes.

Kristin Fitzgerald
Carissima by Rosanna Chiofalo

4
This book kept me guessing! I thought it would be a typical predictable story, but it is not. The characters are very likable, and I found myself yelling at the main character a few times when she was being stubborn.

Mary Mahaney
The Detour by Andromeda Romano-Lax

5
In 1938, young art assistant Ernst Vogler finds himself commissioned by the Third Reich to smuggle a famous sculpture out of Italy. But the twin brothers hired to help him each have things they want to do along the way as they travel the back country roads. This book is not just about the actual physical detours that are taken along the trip, but how the lives of these three men are ultimately affected forever by the choices they make along their journey. A remarkable story interweaving history, the bond of family, and romance.

kathy brogan
The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand

5
Wonderful book. The characters were developed so well that I felt I knew them. It did help that I worked on Nantucket as a college student in the 1970s! I could relate to the places she spoke about. I cried at the ending and I never cry. I honestly hated to see the end of the book. Loved it.

Dianne MONGELLI
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

4
Best book I've read this summer. Great ending.

Kate Donnelly
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

5
Loved it so much that I recommended it to my book club. It has history, education (book restoration) and good writing. Today's books are usually only one dimensional.

Tessa B C
The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle

3
3.5*** Twelve-year-old Alice Winston has to shoulder far too much responsibility on her family’s failing horse ranch. There were times when the writing and the storyline simply took my breath away and I was left gasping. But there were times when I was left wondering “Where is this going?” Alice is clearly intelligent, but she is an unreliable narrator given her penchant for telling lies, both small and large. Alice has perfected the art of turning people away before they can reject her; she is so good at this, that she also keeps the reader at bay. Lily Rabe does a fine job performing the audio version.

Jan Hummel
Losing the Moon by Patti Callahan Henry

5
This debut novel was a joy to read. It took me back to my own first love and filled me with memories and longing. Perfect descriptions of romance, not too much and not too little. I will read more of her books for sure.

Marylyn L Gillespie
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

5
I have read this book twice -- one for each of my book discussion gatherings and enjoyed the characters and the story both times. Three very different sisters, three years apart, all adults, two of them having been away from home, are together again with all the angst and drama that brings. Their father, a Shakespearean scholar, is a true intellectual. Their memories of their mother are that she was mostly lost in a book. The book is about family placement and how it affects each sister. Oldest, youngest and of course the middle one. Fun reading for those who have sisters or who longed for them.

Ann Hill
Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

4
Great book about four families from four different countries and how their lives were impacted with World War I. The families are all connected, and their lives and fortunes are changed considerably as the war begins and progresses. It is a long book but a worthwhile read.

Linda Frashure
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway

5
Timeless story! Our book club discussed this book and all agreed that they found a whole new meaning and appreciation reading it as an adult.

Linda Reck
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

4
This book defies description. It's exquisite and quirky. Ove first appears as a grouchy old curmudgeon who you're not at all interested to know. The only person Ove wants to see is his wife who died six months ago. She added color to his black and white personality. Ove is simply not sociable. He likes things to be the way they should. Rules are rules. Each day Ove patrols the neighborhood. People call him "the bitter neighbor from Hell." Luckily for Ove, he has new neighbors who befriend him. It's a fascinating funny and heartrending story. But behind his cranky exterior there is a story and a deep sadness.

Rosemary Sobczak
Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

5
Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Rosemary C
On Sunset Beach by Mariah Stewart

4
Needed a break from all the mysteries and thrillers. This was just the book About Fred who just came back from Africa (military ops) and Carly, who owns several art galleries. Both are more or less content with small town living, involved in their careers, hers opening an art gallery and his taking over the publication of the weekly newspaper that has been in his family for years. Good story that keep your interest.

RS Rodenbach
Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

5
Any book which keeps me laughing as consistently as this book, and keeps me reading, is a well-written, funny book. Many authors' written humor feels forced, but Mr. Gaffigan's tales of his life with his wife and five children, eight and under, never feels less than honest. Although I do not have children this does not matter because anyone who has dealt with children, has friends with children, and/or finds this topic potentially amusing, will love the book!

Marcia Harrington
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

4
Interesting and intriguing all the way to the end. I read a review before picking this book and it said it touches the heart and the mind. After finishing the book, I completely agree. My heart goes out to the main character and all the tragedy he endured in his life. But I closed the last chapter wondering if he'll ever overcome all of it. Maybe we really can change.

Coral Harrison
Rose Harbor in Bloom by Debbie Macomber

5
A good love story. Jo Marie's husband is killed in an airplane accident in mountains. She decides to come to Cedar Cove and start a bed and breakfast. It is interesting how she interacts with all of them and the man who does repairs around her place. It is quite a light, romantic book but interesting to read. I have signed up to get the next book in the series.

Alyson Widen
The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman

4
Mysterious story with the lighthouse playing a role and the hopes the inhabitants of the island have for when the ferry comes.

Margaret
Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston

5
While reading this book, I realized several things. It is a small world, the love and support of strangers and your community is the strongest when you are at your weakest, and the love of family knows no limit, even when you are a monster. I also learned that the most horrific details do not need to be read to come alive in my mind. This book is a peek into a family who is trying to survive the horror of losing a son and welcoming him back after he is found only a few miles from home four years later. The emotions are palatable, the horrors live only in your imagination, and the characters become family. I LOVED this book.

Katherine Stephens
The Yankee Club by Michael Murphy

4
I enjoyed this book. A little mystery, a little romance, guest appearances by Babe Ruth, Cole Porter, a young JFK and others made for a very interesting read!

Kay Cole
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

4
This book is very long and has several generations to keep up with. However, I found it to be beautifully written and a most enjoyable read!

Jan Zahrly
Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke

4
Weird, haunting, chilling. A couple has adopted a child from Russia, and we are dropped into the story on Christmas Day when the father has left for the airport to pick up his parents. The daughter is 15 years old. An overwhelming blizzard occurs the same day leaving the mother and her adopted daughter home alone. But the reader knows there is a problem from the first page; the mother wakes thinking, "Something had followed them home from Russia." The author gives us strange bits and pieces that mislead the reader. This novel is eerie throughout. A page-turner.

Betty Chrastka
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman

4
Ove is an unrepentant curmudgeon who has appointed himself boss of all he surveys. Behind the crankiness is a story and sadness. Ove is worth getting to know.

Dianne Soehner
The Beekeeper's Ball by Susan Wiggs

5
THE BEEKEEPER'S BALL by Susan Wiggs is a fantastic read. From the very first page until the end of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The few twists and turns in the book keep it interesting, and of course the end of the book makes you want to know what actually happened to Erik. The recipes are a great addition to the book. There was also a lot of data relating to the war and things that happened during it. I would strongly recommend this book to everyone!

Linda Maxine Williams
Wayfaring Stranger by James Lee Burke

5
This is without a doubt (in my opinion) the best James Lee Burke yet. I have said that many times, but this one covers a lot of areas, each of which has been so well researched. His writing always makes me happy. I look forward to each of his books. I have read them all, and this is the most well researched and spun out for the readers.

Ellen McGrath
The Angola Horror by Charity Vogel

4
An excellent non-fiction account of a horrific train accident in western New York in 1867. We are reading it in our online book club and the author is participating in the discussion. Everyone who has spoken up so far really likes the book.

Karen Peterson
Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat

4
Well written, very engaging book. I enjoy books set in foreign countries, about lives we have not been exposed to in the U.S. Sad that Claire's father believed the only way to provide a better life for her was to give her away. Author developed, and connected, all characters expertly.

Beth Shoemaker
Random by Tom Leveen

5
Awesome book that kept me reading to find out what would happen next. Loved the suspense.

Diane Wall
Devil's Waltz by Jonathan Kellerman

3
I enjoy his writing. It kept me in suspense until the end.

Lisa Schnaidt
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

5
Well-crafted storytelling in a debut novel by this author. Great character development, and I enjoyed the Q and A with author at the end of the book.

Miriam Boots
The Steady Running of the Hour by Justin Go

4
This book was so much fun. I loved the 3 intertwined stories. Christian's odessey in search of his heritage kept you reading.

Nancy Hausladen
Missing You by Harlan Coben

4
I am a big fan of this author. In this book, he takes on a dating site that is tracking wealthy people. Kat gets involved when a teenage boy comes to her about his missing mother.

jane Kimball
Unleashed by David Rosenfelt

4
I liked this mystery. Loved the dogs in the story. I will look for more of David rosenfelt's mysteries.

Sandy McCullough
Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian

5
I love all books by Chris Bohjalian. This was a fast and easy read. It is the story of Emily Shepard, a homeless teen living in an igloo made of ice and trash bags filled with frozen leaves. When Emily befriends a young homeless boy named Cameron, she protects him with a ferocity she didn't know she had. It is the story of loss, adventure, and the search for friendship in the wake of catastrophe.

LOLA LOBEL
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker

5
This book within a book had me guessing who the murderer was until nearly the last page. An amazingly written page-turner written by a French author, translated into English. Not to be missed by anyone who truly loves a good story.

veronica Earley
Madam: A Novel of New Orleans by Cari Lynn

4
I found the story very interesting.

Jenn Pagan
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
Love this book!! If you've ever met someone who is always right, their opinion is the only opinion, and thrives on order and rules then this book is for you. Read it to the end and you'll find that everyone has a soft spot, you just have to reach out and engage to find it.

Maureen Arnold
The Art of Keeping Secrets by Patti Callahan Henry

5
Loved this one by Henry. Not sure how I missed it. It will really keep you guessing.

Gretchen Kempff
Natchez Burning by Greg Iles

5
A real page-turner based on murders of blacks in the 60s to the present day in Louisiana and Mississippi. The KKK has a spinoff group that is out of control 40 years later. There is a rich man who dictates all sorts of murders without regard to anyone, including his daughter. There are even hints to the assassinations of John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, as well as the involvement of Carlos Marcello.

Liz Pollinger
Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

4
The year is 1845 and Edgar Allen Poe's poem "The Raven" has just been published and is wildly popular. Frances Osgood is a single mother whose husband has left her to raise their two young daughters alone. She is an aspiring poet and would like nothing more than to become acquainted with Edgar Allen Poe in the hopes of getting his help with getting her poems published. They meet and even though both are married, fall in love. This was a very interesting story and well told.

Bonnie Gluhanich
Nine Stories by J. D. Salinger

4
I'm re-reading all of Salinger's published work after reading "My Salinger Year". The stories are fascinating, especially reading them from a different (60-something-year-old) perspective than when I first read them in my teens.

Monica Staton
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

5
I always enjoy a good detective story, and when I began the Cormoran Strike series last year with THE CUCKOO'S CALLING, I immediately fell in love with it. THE SILKWORM, the second book in the series, is even better than the first and is one of those books that is completely satisfying to read - not too heavy, not too light, thoroughly engaging.

sandy haber
Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen

4
Cute story. Married couple are unaware that they both are spies for same agency. Needless to say their marriage isn't great... but it all ends up well.

Jan Zahrly
Fangs Out by David Freed

5
This is the second Cordell Logan mystery and it tops the first. Freed gives us a lot of action, many suspects, deaths that are not very "gory," and a lot of other action, especially in Cordell's thinking about his former wife, Samantha. Freed is an airplane buff, and we get a lot of info about airplanes and pilots. Tight writing, excellent character development for the leads and action, action, action. This novel stands alone but is better, I think, when you have read the first, FLAT SPIN.

Lynn W
A Strong West Wind by Gail Caldwell

2
Halfway through this book I would have stopped reading it, but it's a club selection, so I stayed with it. The author is very intelligent and has a mastery of language that I've never read before. The first half was just too high-brow; the second half was more interesting--stories, especially about her father.

Brenda K.
Summer Breeze by Nancy Thayer

4
I read this book for a change of pace. This author did a wonderful job making her characters be well rounded. The pace of the story was an exercise in stretching the reader's mind, sometimes it was slow to allow the reader to think, other times it moved very quickly. I did enjoy how the ending was old fashioned. When I need another change of pace, I will pick this author again.

Francisca E B
Those We Love Most by Lee Woodruff

4
This is a character-driven novel that explores how one family deals with a devastating loss and the resultant guilt they feel. A passage from the book seems to sum it up nicely - “People kept secrets. People built walls. It didn’t mean they couldn’t and didn’t love with all their hearts. ” As they try to recover from the tragedy, they alternately turn to or reject each other in their grief and distress. The reader can only watch them stumble along, hurting one another, understanding one another, forgiving one another.

Nikki Youngren
Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian

4
4-1/2 stars. This is the 4th book by Mr. Bohjalian that I have read, and each book is completely different from the others except for the fact that the story is told by and about women. I don't know how he understands the thoughts and feelings of women so well but each of his books does a great job doing just that. This story is out of the ordinary about a 16-year-old girl and how she deals with a disaster and changes everything about her life. She has to go to extreme measures to keep herself alive, all while grieving for the life she has lost. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly.

Sandra Furlotte
The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam

4
A wonderful second book in a trilogy about Old Filth, a barrister in London courts. The first book was told from the POV of Edward Feathers (Old Filth), and this book is told from the POV of his wife, Betty. Beautifully written.

Marsha
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

4
This book is unusual as it mingles the past with the present as the author writes a historical account of the hopes of bringing James, King of Scotland, back to the old country to take his place as king.

Joan Payne
Damascena by Holly Lynn Payne

5
Rave reviews on Amazon, DAMASCENA is a stunner. Holly Payne takes us into the yearning at the heart of the mystic's search. She turns the Sufi quest for connection with God into a human drama that is both moving and soaring.

Susan Dean
The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fanny Flagg

5
I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I couldn't put it down. The characters are funny and loveable. I hadn't read a Fanny Flagg book in a while, but I always enjoy her books.

Shoshanah Hiller
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

4
This book is a whodunnit in the tradition of Agatha Christie. The detective, Cormoran Strike, is a very real and clever character with depth. The end of the story is tidy, with no loose threads left hanging. I look forward to reading another Cormoran Strike novel.

Linda Johnson
The Wife, The Maid, and the Mistress: A Novel by Ariel Lawhon

3
I would give this 3.5 stars. It was a simple read, well-written, decent and appropriate dialogue (what would happen is someone called a girl "doll face" nowadays?) I really appreciate the notes at the end of the book that explained which characters in the book were real (and what happened to them) and who was from the author's imagination. Based on the 1930 disappearance of New York Supreme Court Justice Joseph Crater.

pam padgett
The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe

5
Awesome book about bringing a family together and dealing with things of the past, all set in a healing setting of the ocean. This is part of a trilogy and got its base from a earlier book called THE BEACH HOUSE. Also, BEACH HOUSE MEMORIES is another one to read that will help tie the trilogy together. Mary Alice Monroe is awesome - you must read!

Jeanine Page
Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand

5
I have recently retired and am LOVING catching up with my favorite authors and finding a few new friends.

Annette Herbst
No River Too Wide by Emilie Richards

4
I have read every book this author has written. I am never disappointed and this book is no different. If you haven't read Emilie Richards you are missing out.

Annette Mqeyers
The Stories We Tell by Patti Callahan Henry

5
I with I could give this book more than 5 stars. I can easily say this is the best book I have read this year. The characters were so complex, some loveable and some I did not like (they were unlikable in how they were presented in the story). I had not read this author before but have since ordered every book she has written.

Debby Long
The Summer Wind by Mary Alice Monroe

5
I love everything Mary Alice Monroe writes. I love books set in "The Lowcountry ". I'm looking forward to the third book in this trilogy.

Linda Reck
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
A MAN CALLED OVE is exquisite and quirky. He first appears as a grouchy old man with a Saab. He's a typical curmudgeon who you're not at all interested in getting to know. Ove is simply not sociable. He likes things to be the way they should. Rules are rules. Each day Ove patrols the neighborhood. People call him "the neighbor from Hell." Behind his cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. Ove wants to see his wife who died six months ago. She added color to his black and white. Luckily for Ove, he has new neighbors who befriend him. This is a fascinating, funny and heartrending portrait.

Veronica Earley
Magnolia City by Duncan W. Alderson

5
The author spent ten years researching and developing this novel and it was worth the wait. I could not put this book down. The female protagonist, Hetty, was such a fascinating character. I will recommend this book to everyone. I just loved it.

Jan Mardis
Texas True (The Tylers of Texas) by Janet Dailey

4
This is classic Janet Dailey; I grew up on her books. Big as the state of Texas as with all of her westerns. Sorry she is gone...

Tessa B C
The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde

3
Audiobook performed by Elizabeth Jasicki. This was a quick, entertaining read, aimed at the YA market, but suitable for children ages 9 and up. There was at least one character that did a complete turnaround without any explanation. And I thought the ending was too fantastical. But, I liked that the heroine of this novel is a young girl who is intelligent, steadfast, caring, compassionate, strong and resourceful. I also loved the Quarkbeast, who is described as “nine-tenths velociraptor and kitchen blender and one-tenth Labrador.” For the genre and intended audience, I think it was a fine read.

Stacey K
Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

5
The second book in the Fifty Shades trilogy is just as well written as the first. I cannot wait to see the movie in February!

Karen Mikusak
Taken by Tuesday by Catherine Bybee

5
Loved it!

Brenda K.
Race Against Time by Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse

4
This was an edge of my seat adventure book. Sometimes I did not agree with the actions of the characters, but the actions were true-to-life. The authors did a good job describing the beautiful, rugged landscape of Alaska. I did not always agree with how the romance happened between some of the characters because sometimes it felt forced to me. Because the book was more positive then negative for me, if I have the chance to read other works written by these authors, I will.

Kayla Gothier
Goodnight June by Sarah Jio

5
OMG! No one told me to have tissues ready! This was a great book to read. It was a little slow in beginning but halfway through, I couldn't put it down! I stayed up late on a work night to finish it! Totally worth it! If you love Goodnight Moon, you will love Goodnight June!

Kathy Weigel
The Healing Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter

4
Sensational book! Down to earth and a story that captures things in life that truly happen and make you grateful for what you do have. Amazing how author weaves these peoples lives together and how they connect to each other. Highly recommend! The first two books of this trilogy were great as well.

Sharon Winn
Broken Harbor by Tana French

4
Very good book but not as good as FAITHFUL PLACE. Tana French is amazing. She weaves such beautiful stories with words. She has written four books and has a new one coming in September. They do not have to be read in order, but that is how I read them. Each one left me wanting more.

Dorothy Flood
The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank

5
Excellent. A real page-turner.

Dorothy Flood
A Perfect Life by Danielle Steel

2
A big disappointment. Probably the first one of her books I haven't enjoyed. It was predictable from the beginning.

Melanie S.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

3
While I found this book to be funny at times and creatively written, the main character was an antisocial, rigid, and unappealing man. Without writing a spoiler here, it is difficult for me to say what disturbed me most about the book, but let's just say I did not find his multiple and unsuccessful attempts at one of his "objectives" at all amusing or humorous. His ultimate salvation through unexpected friendships and sense of community was a point well taken, (keep going even through the hardest of times and eventually you will find joy and a purpose), but overall I did not enjoy this book.

Orsayor L. Simmons
Landline by Rainbow Rowell

4
Be prepared to cry, laugh, and reevaluate some things about yourself.

Deby Mullen
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

5
I loved this book! I wanted to find out what happened at the end, but I didn't want the story to be over. I had no expectations before I started reading, but I loved the narrator's 14-year-old voice as she learned to deal with serious issues within her family. Highly recommend!

Susan Roberts
Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian

5
This book is very different from Chris Bohjalian's previous books, but it proves to me what a fantastic author he is because he can write a fantastic book that is different every time! I thought that this was one of his best yet! Its amazing to me how well the author was able to capture the voice of this character. The book is dark but very powerful. It is a definite MUST READ!

Susan Roberts
Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal

5
This is Laura Lane McNeal's first novel and she is off to a great start. I look forward to reading her future books. DOLLBABY is a coming-of-age novel that takes place in New Orleans in the late 60s. Ibby is dropped off at her grandmother's house by her mother after her father dies. She had never met her grandmother and is terrified. She is met and immediately accepted by the maids, Dollbaby and Queenie, who are very important people in the novel, along with her grandmother, Fannie. The book is full of mystery and fun, and all the obstacles that Ibby faces as she grows up. Its a great book for people who enjoy Southern fiction and for people who just want to read a great novel.

Evie Hershkowitz
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

4
Great debut novel .

Michelle Brown
Plume by Kathleen Flenniken

5
I'm born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, only about an hour drive from the Hanford nuclear site, which the beautiful and devastating poetry in this collection is about. But with Hanford's part in the nuclear arms race of the past century, and the part it had in the only nuclear bombs to have ever been dropped, as well as in relation to current world events, I think this poetry can speak profoundly to anyone. A haunting close look at an entity and global reliance on nuclear technology, and the devastating effects it has had, and will continue to have on the human race for generations to come.

Jan Zahrly
Body of Lies by David Ignatius

5
A complex, twisting mystery about a CIA officer in the Middle East. He tries to turn others and undercuts the director of intelligence in the host country and falls in love with an American who is there on an aid mission. Then he and the US associate director of the CIA work out a secret mission, not approved by anyone, and then the woman he loves is kidnapped and his own wife back in the US betrays him. Got all that? This is my first book by the author and will not be my last. He is a wordsmith and tells a brilliant story, which gets more complex by the page. Keep a notepad handy to make notes about all the characters -- there are too many to keep in your head. Onward to more books by Ignatius!

shelly itkin
Three Days on Mimosa Lane by Anna DeStefano

5
Sam Perry was a teacher in the Ground Zero area during 9/11 and cannot stop reliving that nightmare each and every day. Her husband, Brian, an architect, agrees they have to get away from New York. They decide that along with their son, Cade, they are heading to Mimosa Lane. This move will mean leaving many friends, but they feel this is necessary in order to get some sort of a life back and try to start fresh. Mimosa Lane is a beautiful cul-de-sac located in Chandlerville, which is a suburb of Atlanta. Many families live in this section and of course each one has a story and either secrets or dreams they are hoping for. While living there they are learning about heartbreak from some never expected events, loss, love, coura

Sharon Lumb
The Golden Egg by Donna Leon

4
A deaf mute with limited mental capacity dies from an overdose of his mother's sleeping pills. He had worked at a dry cleaners frequented by the Brunetti family. Paola asks her husband, Commissioner Guido Brunetti, to look into the death, Although there are no signs of murder, he is shocked to learn that the young man does not exist according to the huge Italian bureaucracy. No birth, school, employment, medical or disability records exist. With the backdrop of Venice, Commissioner Brunetti learns the evil that can occur even in his beautiful city. A mystery which holds your attention and challenges your sensibilities.

Richard N B
Sins of the Fathers by Lawrence Block

5
A young woman is murdered; her roommate is found covered in her blood nearby. He’s arrested for the murder and commits suicide in his jail cell. Case closed. But the girl’s father wants to know more; he wants to know how she came to this end. Ex-cop and unlicensed private investigator Matthew Scudder agrees to make inquiries. Block is a master of suspense, and he writes a tight novel. There is nary a word out of place or an extraneous phrase. What I really loved about the book was Scudder himself. I’ll definitely be reading more of this series.

Agfordia Sawyerr
Summer Light by Luanne Rice

4
This book is really interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read fiction books, including realistic fictions.

Carole R.
The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe

5
Best love story I've read recently! Also, very interesting story. I also learned a lot about turtles. It was a tearjerker at the end but extremely satisfying.