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April 24, 2015 - May 8, 2015

This contest period's winners were Chuck B., Dorothy G., Linda F., Pam A. and Vikki C., who each received a copy of A GOD IN RUINS by Kate Atkinson, THE LAST BOOKANER by Matthew Pearl, and THE WRIGHT BROTHERS by David McCullough.

 

Melanie S.
A Fine Romance by Candice Bergen

5
I don't usually love memoirs but I really loved this one. I listened on audio book and would highly recommend listening to the book in this format as Candice is the narrator. Her delivery is spot-on, just as it was in one one of my favorite shows in the 90s, Murphy Brown. She is likable, honest, funny and humble. A great read/listen. Highly recommend.

Marsha
The Death of Santini by Pat Conroy

5
No one ever wrote so beautifully about the complex nature of family than Conroy. Although his upbringing a difficult journey by damaged parents, he tell the story with grace and emotion Each sentence is a jewel The sentence structure should be studied by all writers Although very touching, I laughed out loud in several places. Such is the beauty of Irish wit.

Elizabeth
The Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

5
I very seldom give five stars, but this book gripped me and I read it in a few days. Isabel McFarland has never agreed to an interview about her experience living through the evacuation of children from London and the bombing that followed, but now she has agreed to an interview with Kendra. Isabel is ready to reveal she is not who everyone thinks she is and wants to tell the story of two sisters, Emmy and Julia, who became separated when the bombing began. Emmy blames herself and does everything she can to find her sister, but she lives for a long time not knowing what really happened to her. I can't tell you much about Secrets of a Charmed Life for fear of giving too many spoilers, but I absolutely loved this book. I

Wendy Zuckerberg
Enchantress by Maggie Anton

5
Fascinating.

Oswaldo Reyes
The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor

5
This book has kept me reading nonstop.The characters are unforgettable.The plot and the storyline kept me guessing and reading till very late into the night. I could not put this book down. This book is a must read for readers who love a good book. The action and places where the story will take you are just awesome. This book will grab you and won't let go until the last page. A heck of a treat.

Muriel Logan
A Sudden Light by Garth Stein

4
There's a great deal more to this book than just a story of an old house and differing motives throughout the generations for keeping or selling the mansion and property. There are ideas of the connectivity of the human race, relationship to nature, etc. I enjoyed the book and feel a second reading would be good for me to further explore some of the ideas presented.

Julie Pierce
Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

4
Not just a police procedural-type mystery, which I was expecting, but a fascinating look into the imperfections of the Atlanta Police Department in the 1970s or maybe 1960s, complete with all kinds of discrimination, a few murders, a little sex, and more.

Liza Grigoropoulos
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

5
Loved this book of two girls living in the south during the 1800s, one the daughter of a wealthy family and the other a slave given to her as a birthday gift. The book follows them both through womanhood.

Laurie Blum
Ruby by Cynthia Bond

3
Fictional history set in the 1950s in all-black Liberty Township, east Texas and New York City. A love story between the main character Ruby and Ephram Jenning. An Oprah book club selection.

Beth O'Connor
All The Light We Cannot see by Anthony Doerr

5
Could not put the book down. The writing is beautiful!!

Janice Hoaglin
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce

5
I finished this book wishing I could know Queenie Hennessy better, imbibe more of her wisdom, and more about her life. It felt to me like this book did not tell us a great deal about Queenie in some ways, but it certainly told us how she loved, with all her heart and being. Her many years of love for Harold Frye, always on the periphery of his life, seems more steadfast and unconditional than human love very often is. Although I wasn't always happy with how Queenie's life plays out, the author gave us a beautiful picture of this particular human potential. Each of the wonderful characters Queenie encounters in the hospice where she goes to spend her final days contribute to the picture of the human capacity for compassion and acceptance.

Marcia Harrington
Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

5
Very interesting topic about women living as men during the dark ages. The whole story is still debated as to whether it's fact or fiction.

Marcia Harrington
Gray Mountain by John Grisham

4
An interesting combination of topics - financial crisis of 2008 and coal mining. Definitely made me curious about strip mining and the current state.

Judy Knorr
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

5
Wonderful read. The sisters' different outlook on the approaching war had my heart in my throat. The twists, turns and surprises made it difficult to put the book down.

Jan Clayton
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

5
I loved this book. It was a book club selection and was hesitant to read it because of its length and seemingly unpronounable names. I stated listening to it and was immediately engaged! I quickly purchased a print edition so that I could too so that I could read it more quickly. I loved the audio because because I could get a sense of the Nigerian accents and loved reading it so I didn't have too be away from it as much. I feel that I got many cultural insights into both America and Nigeria. My book club had a very good discussion about these insights, not just " "I liked this because..." I am very stingy with 5 star ratings. My last ones were THE GOLDFINCH and ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE.

Pam Adamovich
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

5
Reminiscent of GONE GIRL, kept me guessing and turning pages until the end. Beginning a bit slow.

Pat Caron
Watching You by Michael Robotham

4
Very good psychological suspense concerning stalking.

Dorothy Gordon
The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny

4
The third book in the Inspector Gamache stories this is a complex story of murder and conspiracy. In the isolated village of Three Pines in rural Quebec, the Surete is once again called in when the much beloved Maddie seemingly dies of fright at an impromptu seance at the old Hadley House. It is a place of evil, no doubt, but can a house really kill? Meanwhile, the conspiracy against Gamache gets much more intense as his enemies in the Force spread lies and rumours against him. The quirky inhabitants of Three Pines continue to prove fascinating reading as well. Definitely an absorbing read.

Izella Cadwallader
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

4
The book was very entertaining, at times cruel and other times humorous. Enjoyed reading about the monster as I visited Loch Ness several years ago and her description was very accurate. A creepy place!

norene wittlin
Mightier Than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer

5
A real page-turner -- could not put it down.

Liz Sirna
If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers by Hannah Brencher

5
College grad Hannah Brencher reaches out with her humanity to touch lives through her letters to strangers, and in turn, her gift becomes a world-wide community.

Linda Reck
A Small Indiscretion by Jan Ellison

4
Annie Black is a flawed heroine whose impulses we may distrust but whose voice is compelling, drawing us in with her self-awareness and lively observations of those around her. Ellison writes gracefully with moments of startling insight. Her first novel is an emotional thriller, skillfully plotted in taut visual scenes. A SMALL INDISCRETION is both a psychological mystery and a study of the divide between desire and duty. It is so carefully plotted, so complex and unusual that it's hard to believe that this is a debut novel.

Thomas Barrington
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

5
I enjoyed reading this book. The book was well written.

Carol Clark
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

4
After this horrible, cold, snowy winter, we selected this book to move into spring and the blooms we see around us here in Hunterdon County, NJ. The book made members of our group look at flowers entirely different. On top of this, the story of a girl who lived in foster homes added another new perspective for us to discuss. Very interesting and insiteful.

Phyllis Holt
The Whip by Karen Kondazian

3
This is a very interesting true story of a female stagecoach driver, Charley Parkhurst, who posed as a man in order to get and hold a job. She proved to be as strong and brave as any of the male drivers.

Vikki Cabral
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

5
I don't usually like war stories, but this was well written and inspiring. Frustrating that Watanabe (The Bird) was never prosecuted for his war crimes nor did he express real remorse for what he did to the POWs. He deserves to be burning in hell right now.

Veronica Earley
Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian

5
A wonderfully written novel. I loved the story about family, survival, man's inhumanity to man. I will recommend this to all.

Debbie Maskus
The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg

2
I have read and enjoyed many books by Elizabeth Berg, but this book felt like an albatross hanging around my neck. A fictional account of the life of George Sand, the scandalous writer in the 1830s, screams for romance, rebellion, and courage. Berg's novel lacks emotion and structure. Many writers jump from narrator to narrator, or from early life to later life, but Berg's writing of young and careless Aurore jerks the reader back and forth without any consistency. The first person narrative in this novel does not work, as Aurore/George seems selfish and demanding, and incapable of love and responsibility. I struggled with the book, and never gained any appreciation for the style or content.

LINDA BASS
Cursed by S. J. Harper

5
Cursed because she let Persephone get kidnapped. Emma Monroe, an FBI agent and fallen siren, was banished to earth and taunted by the gods through centuries and many names. Maybe one more rescue and she could go home again and see her sisters. Everyone she loved had been killed by the god for getting too close, and she had to atone for her sin, only it was one then two and many more until the god was appeased. Emma had been on a missing person case in South Carolina and had a one night affair with Zack Armstrong with an agreement they'd never contact each other, but now Zack was her partner. Knowing what he was, she didn't understand why he left his pack and came to San Diego. Agent Zack Armstrong had agreed to leave Emma alone.

Diane Porter
At the Water's Edge by Sarah Gruen

3
Gruen writes well, and although WWII is at the same time, it doesn't take over the story. Interesting story of class divisions on both sides of the Atlantic.

Phyllis Relyea
The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth

4
I generally enjoy historical fiction, but THE WILD GIRL was a little too heavy on the history. It is set in Cassel, Austria during the Napoleonic Wars between the French, Austrians, Prussians, and Russians. The author describes the famine, extreme poverty, and political turmoil in which the Grimm Brothers lived and worked collecting fairy tales and folklore. Henrietta Dorothea (Dortchen) Wild lived next door and eventually marries Wilhelm Grimm and "lives happily ever after." If you are interested in this time period and how the folk stories were collected, translated, and illustrated, this book is recommended.

Vicki Rich
Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler

4
Fascinated by the character development.

Thomas Barrington
World Gone By by Dennis Lehane

4
I really liked this book very much. Would recommend this book to anybody to read.

Thomas Barrington
17 Carnations by Andrew Morton

3
I thought the book was pretty good.

Brenda Klaassen
The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes

3
This book did hold my attention because I could relate to being tech challenged. Imogen had a great head on her shoulders-- she just was a very busy lady. I found the character of Eve to be evil. These strong evil thoughts towards Eve almost forced me to stop reading. I enjoyed the characters that called Imogen "friend." The story moved along at a good pace. I will seek out this author again in the future.

Kay Cole
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

4
This book is an interesting tale of the south.

Mike
Endangered by C.J. Box

5
I look forward to reading his books. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one, even though the subject isn't pleasant. I love his writing style.

Tessa B C
Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy

3
When curator and Marshfield Manor director Abe Vargas is murdered, newly hired assistant curator Grace Wheaton steps in to keep things running smoothly on the estate. She also begins investigating the murder and a finds a family secret in the bargain. This is a decent cozy mystery with a likeable heroine. I’ll continue reading this series.

Raylene Wauda
Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler

5
Excellent first novel for Nickolas Butler. All the characterizations are well written so you really feel that you know the people and their feelings. The author's descriptions of seasons, sunsets, sunrises, and a demolition are incredible; I can't recall such description in another novel. It's a joy.

Alex Rivers
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

5
I have never been a fan, until now, of dystopian YA literature, but stuck at home sick I read this book and the sequel, CATCHING FIRE. From the first few pages I was enthralled by the world in which our heroine lives. I stayed up 'til all hours reading both books and enjoyed them very much! They are well-written and do not need to be categorized as "Young Adult" or children's literature either. The world of District 12 and the Arena were imaginatively described and made me want to read the third book too.

Jani Wolstenholme
A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley

5
The main character, Sara, has adult diagnosed Asperger's Syndrome, and her inability to stay with a job because she has to work alone prompts her cousin to find the perfect position for her. Researching the Jacobites in France takes Sara to that country where she immerses herself in the diary of Mary Dundas, who wrote in code of her adventures helping the Jacobite cause. Wonderfully detailed account of the eighteenth century, and also how Sara slowly emerges from a self-imposed exile.

Trude Vandine
Liar's Lullaby by Meg Gardiner

5
I love Meg Gardiner's Jo Beckett books. This is the third in the series and I am currently reading THE NIGHTMARE THIEF, the fourth book in the series. Just the right amount of suspense and lots of action. Jo and Gabe are characters to embrace and root for.

Sandra Furlotte
Through the Glass by Shannon Moroney

4
Shannon Moroney is a teacher and newlywed with her whole life before her, or so she thinks. That dream shatters when her husband of one month is arrested for the kidnap and sexual assault of two women. Shannon's story of her five year ordeal with the Canadian justice system makes for a compelling read.

Jackie Ranaldo
The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker

4
Reading for the second time. Love it!

Gail Perryman
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

4
From the late 1800s thruough the early 1900s, thousands of orphaned or abandoned children were relocated from New York to the Midwest on "orphan trains". This novel provides a fictionalized account of one survivor, an old woman in her 90s, as she shares the story of her past with a troubled teen in foster care who comes to help her clean her attic. I found this book well-written and very interesting.

Kate Donnelly
Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

4
I had just finished CHINA DOLLS and wanted to read more about foot binding and the relationships among Chinese women. I learned an amazing amount of information. Both books were wonderful!

Elaine Baxter
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennssey by Rachel Joyce

5
This is sequel to THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY. Both books were beautifully written. The words that are attributed to the characters go directly to your head and heart. I cried and laughed through most of this book. I loved it and I will purchase so that I can read again and again. Thank you Rachel Joyce for the joy one gets from reading your books.

Linda Frashure
Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum

4
I didn't care for the main character. However, the writing was so good that I wanted to find out the ending.

Jayme Gruden
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

5
What a wonderfully creepy and sadly disturbing story that centers on the isolation and insanity of two sisters who have cut themselves off from society following the tragic deaths of their family members. Ms. Jackson has created a world that is thought-provoking and menacing. What I enjoyed most about this story was the tone that Jackson has set. There is twisted danger that builds until you are riveted in your comfy chair, frantically turning the pages of this unsettling story. Ms. Jackson has just become my favorite "new to me" author crush.

Jayme Gruden
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

4
I sat in my comfy easy chair and did not budge until I finished this raw and very sad story. On the surface it seems like the book is about the death of a teenage daughter and how it impacts each family member, but it is really about how our expectations and short-sightedness regarding those we love can have devastating consequences. Highly recommend.

Noreen Brown
Going For Kona by Pamela Fagan Hutchins

4
I wanted to keep reading to see what happened next. Despite being completely non-athletic, I was very interested in the training and participation in a triathlon. For anyone involved in running, biking and swimming, they'll enjoy it even more. This book has romance and mystery.

Dajwn Cronk
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

4
This is a novel about a dysfunctional family and how they cope with life's challenges. Abby and Red have been together for so long neither one of them remembers how they even got started as a couple. They have a beautiful home and three children and several grandchildren. One day Abby just gives up driving, then writing snippets of poems, then she seems to just give up. What to do? Her children have a family meeting and they decide that one of the sons and his family will live with the parents. What could go wrong there?

julie
Paper Towns by John Green

5
The book paper towns is very well written.

Maryjo Brown
A Curious Mind by Brian Grazer

2
This book is partly memoir and partly lecture regarding how great it is to be curious. Personally, I enjoyed the memoir parts as he has led a very interesting life. The lectures on curiosity are repetitive and tedious. Loved his experiences and interviews with Princess Diana, Oprah, Dr. Salk. Disliked all the wasted time talking about curiosity.

Maryjo Brown
The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar

3
Frank and Ellie's son Benny dies at the age of 7 of a type of meningitis. Their grief is overwhelming and Frank accepts an offer from company to move to Girbaug, India. Frank becomes very attached to their servant's son, Ramesh, and the boy's father hates Frank because he can give him things the father could not give him. A series of tragedies occur, which have a disastrous outcome. It is well-written but depressing.

Maryjo Brown
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

4
This is the story of a bookstore owner on a small island on the East Coast. His wife recently died and he is depressed. Someone leaves a 2-year-old little girl in his store. His life is changed and the book follows his life after this event. It really is a love story and was voted best fiction book of 2014 by the Librarians Association.

Brenda Klaassen
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

3
Read this book because it got good write-ups when it first was printed. The story had some dry spots for me, so there was a time I seriously thought about giving up on the book. The writing was thought out, but in spots it did not always hold my attention. There were places in the story I wanted to shake Louise and tell her, "that is part of life, grow-up and act human." I could picture the rapidly changing world the author was writing about, so on that point I liked the author. There are a few people I know who enjoy stories set in this time-frame, so I will suggest to them that they give the book a try. I don't think much of the general public would enjoy this book.

Kay
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

5
This book exquisitely details the history and story of the eight man rowing crew from Washington state who went to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The author goes into the family histories of the crew, he captures the mood of the country after the Great Depression and WWI, as well as the perception of Hitler. Edward Hermann did the audio and he was outstanding. I frequently listen to audio books and find the reader makes a huge difference in whether I stay with the book.

Lee Goyeneche
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

5
I found the audio performer to be top notch. His performance was so real that I believed it could have been Thomas Cromwell speaking. I would recommend this book and audio version. Since the book is long, about 850 pages, I was able to read it faster and keep the continuity. I also had the hard back version for character reference and history details.

Rosa
Blue Stars by Emily Gray Tedrowe

5
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about the unlikely friendship between two women whose loved ones are wounded soldiers being treated at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Ellen is a professor who is the legal guardian of Michael, a young man whose family has rejected him. Lacey is the gung-ho military wife of Eddie, though their marriage is tenuous. The first half of the story (entitled Home) sets up each woman's circumstances leading up to Michael and Eddie's injuries. The second half (entitled Away) is the eye-opening account of what military families endure. I cared about all of the characters, who were real and flawed. The writing is beautiful.

Cherry
Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

5
I didn't get around to reading STILL ALICE but was fascinated by the O'Brien family beginning with Joe, father of four adult children, devoted husband and police officer who has Huntington's Disease, or HD as it is called in the book. The children, JJ, Megan, Katie, and Patrick's journey coincides with their father's, and each reacts differently. I found myself listening with clenched stomach, feeling the emotions of each as their journey unfolded. I can't imagine being in that situation. Before this book, I knew nothing about Huntington just the name. What a horrible disease! I can only hope 'Inside The Obrians' will shed more light to the general public and hopefully, more money dedicated to research for a cure.

Lynn W
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule by Jennifer Chiaverini

4
General Grant came from an Ohio abolitionist family. He married Julia Dent from a Missouri slave-holding family. The Emancipation Proclamation did not apply to Jule, Julia's maid, owned by Mr. Dent. The tension between these three characters is only part of this very well-written story.

Michael McAdam
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

4
I enjoyed this book (do we really need another post apocalyptic novel right now?)! It is one of the more realistic portrayals of life after an epidemic that wipes out 99% of the population (with lots of flashbacks to before). Very clever premise. I liked it!

Doug Ward
Short Stories by Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine

5
This book takes a close look at several of the parables of Jesus, with interpretations based on the following guidelines: (1) When a parable is correctly understood, it will prompt us to examine our lives, assumptions, and priorities. (2) Parables lend themselves to a range of interpretations, and Jesus probably told a particular parable multiple times in multiple settings, so it is worthwhile to examine the parables independent of the contexts into which the gospel writers place them. (3) Anti-Jewish readings of the parables obscure their real meanings and misrepresent both Jesus and Judaism. Among the parables she considers are the prodigal son, good Samaritan, Pharisee and the publican, Lazarus and the rich man. Very worthwhile!

Barbara Khan
The Funeral Dress by Susan Gregg Gilmore

4
This book was recommended by a friend that likes the same type of books that I do. The book doesn't tell you the time period the action takes places, but I got the impression it was maybe in the late 1960s, early 1970s. The first part of the book was a bit depressing and I felt truly heartbroken for Emmalee, but I felt like the author was setting the stage for something better in the second half. The life as depicted here in this small Appalachian town was certainly hard, but I feel it was portrayed quite accurately. I grew up in a mid-sized factory town in the Midwest and many people had it hard. Emmalee has it harder than most. Her mother died when she was young an her father blames her for the mother's death.

Laura Gold
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

5
Excellent book and a few twists I did not see coming. I really felt for the characters and sometimes liked them and sometimes didn't. It is yet another WWII book, but worth the read.

Gail Rubin
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

5
The book is about women, brave women who were often unsung heroes. It is also a story about love, loyalty, fidelity and sacrifice in a time of war. It is not your typical WWII tale. Isabelle Rossignol was a spunky, feisty independent child and she grew into a young lady full of spirit and determination. Her older sister was the more cautious one. Each in their own way was a heroine, although one came late to that party. These women, and others like them, were called upon, by events beyond their control, to bear witness to atrocities they could or would not prevent, during WWII. They rose to the occasion and became heroines. The book is well researched and adheres to historic facts.

Arthur Harriman
The Burning Room by Michael Connelly

5
This splendid police procedural pairs Detective Harry Bosch, now at the end or (maybe) almost end of his professional career, with an award-winning female partner in reinvestigation of an attempted murder years before that became classed as murder once the victim died. The investigation becomes marvelously complex as it ties in with arson, which nearly took the life of the partner in her early life. Crooked state-level politics and rigid obstructionism within the police bureaucracy enrich the narrative but hugely complicates the work of the detectives at almost every turn. Just a marvelous novel. Fingers crossed that there will be more encounters for us with the honorable, dogged, indefatigable Harry Bosch.

Denise Westlake
Saint Odd by Dean Koontz

5
Wise and wonderful, smooth and truly blue, lovely home coming conclusion to a great series.

Brady
Beyond Belief by Jenna Miscavige Hill

5
If you wish to know the workings of Scientology you should read this book. The author is a relative of the top dog and was raised into this religion from her beginnings. What that church propounds is almost unbelievable, yet it is international. For one year Jenna went to Australia to acquire a larger church than the one in existence, yet there were only 40 members and not enough participants to get the amount of money the "mother" church wanted. The rules and regulations are in fairyland and when you work for Scientology you are NOT your own person. They dictate to you and work you 10 to 15 hours a day...every day.

Nancy Hausladen
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

4
This book caught my interest right away. A teen girl has been trying to find her mother for ten years. She finally contacts a psychic and a detective who worked on the original case. The three of them work together to find her. Jenna's mother disappeared after a death in the elephant compound she was working in. Along with a good mystery, you learn a lot about elephants.

ELIZABETH T MOORE
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

5
Hard to read and hard NOT to read. Will stick with me for a very long time. The subject matter is so disturbing and lovely at the same time.

Donna Shaw
Final Argument by Clifford Irving

3
I enjoy murder trials. This was a good story about a lawyer who put away a young man for murder who claimed to be innocent. Twelve years later, and the death penalty is about to be enforced. The lawyer believes that he is sending an innocent man to his death. He decides he has to stop this from happening.

Linda Carlson
Someone by Alice McDermott

5
Marie is a seven-year-old child growing up in pre-Depression Brooklyn. This is her story. Gabe, her brother, has the calling. However, he is a priest for only about a year. Marie wears thick glasses. As a young girl she becomes a greeter at a funeral home. She meets Tom, they marry, and eventually have four children. A quiet book, well written. I enjoyed this book about Marie's life.

Lynn W
The Beekeeper's Ball by Susan Wiggs

4
A few pages into this second book of the series, Bella Vista Chronicles, I thought I didn't have time to read a romance novel. But then Grandfather Magnus started recounting his WWII story to author, Cormac O'Neill. By the end of the book, romances are sweet, perplexing secrets have been revealed, and a photograph provides the next adventure for Isabel and Mac. Hope book #3 comes soon!

Lily
The Children's Crusade by Ann Packer

5
This novel will convince you that you are never really fooling your kids about how you're dealing with life's challenges. Communication and honesty were lacking in this family but eventually became a crusade for this family. An interesting read as each child reveals their point of view.

Marie Ledin
Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

4
Loved the Divergent series and Four is a great story about the history of who Four was and now is.

Lily
Emma by Alexander McCall Smith

4
A modern day version of the making and challenges of a matchmaker. An entertaining satire that will have you laughing out loud!

Ruth Underwood
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

5
One of the best books to come along in a long time. Very memorable.

Susan Kolodny
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

5
Beautifully written story about a blind teenage French girl and a German teenage boy during World War II. Doerr uses wonderful imagery and writes with such detail about so many topics: radios, birds, sea creatures, and diamonds, just to name a few. This is a story about love and survival that would be a great book for discussion.

Patricia Miller
Wallander's First Case by Henning Mankell

5
This is Mankell's first book that I've read and I'm loving the series so far. I absolutely LOVE the TV series that they made based on his books (starring Kenneth Branagh), so I finally decided to try the books as well. I'm excited to get further into the series.

Francisca E B
The Secret Piano by Zhu Xiao-Mei

4
Subtitled: FROM MAO'S LABOR CAMPS TO BACH'S GOLDBERG VARIATIONS, this is a memoir that speaks about the irrepressible human spirit and the power of music and art to elevate and inspire. I was completely fascinated and could not put down Zhu’s recollections of her time in China. The book did bog down somewhat for me after Zhu arrived in Paris, but it’s still a good read.

Paulette Brooks
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

4
Welcome to a delightfully intriguing cast of characters and the engaging style of storytelling that has made Sara Gruen so popular with a wide audience. The setting of her new novel is Loch Ness in Scotland where a foolish group of rich Americans arrive in search of the famous monster. The narrator, Maddie, must make sense of the circumstances that have brought her, right in the middle of World War II, to this strange and wild locale. Only then can she discover the strength she needs to make her own decisions while standing at the mysterious water's edge.

Sharon Lumb
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

4
A story of a fifteen-year-old girl coming-of-age with a twist. She and her mother's family have magical powers, again with a twist. Each power is unusual and is not shared. Things start happening to the members of the family which they know will not be resolved until the first frost. I usually do not like this type of book, but the author writing is enjoyable.

Fran OH
Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse

4
It took me a little while to get into this book, but I was so glad I persevered. I wound up really enjoying the mystery and twists of the story.

Gladys Paradowski
A Ring From A Marquess by Christine Merrill

5
This is a great book. Very well written, it keeps the reader eager to read the next chapter to see what could possibly happen next. You will feel a wide range of emotions - pity, anger, admiration, etc. I found myself thinking that the author had packed enough for three books into one. Dealing with royalty, the reader gains a depth of information regarding same, but it is covered with such casualness that it doesn't dominate the story. I definitely commend Christine Merrill for this very entertaining book.

Jane Squires
Not Quite Married by Christine Rimmer

5
A story of love that takes time because of hang-ups from Clara's parents example. A baby, a father. and mother struggle with issue of marriage. Relationships are complicated. Trust issues a problem. Misunderstandings start the relationship, but in the end a family is established.

Jayme Gruden
Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

4
If you have ever had to write a letter of recommendation for a student or colleague, you will laugh out loud at the scathing honesty that Professor Fitger uses to recommend noodle head students and psychotic colleagues. Professor Fitger writes the letters that we wish we had the guts to write. This is a very funny and touching book.

Colin Beierbach
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

3
I need more action in my books.

Denise Beierbach
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

4
It got me thinking about facts I did not know.

Laura Beierbach
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

5
I really related to this story.

Nadine Stacy
Minus 148 Degrees by Art Davidson

5
It's a classic in adventure literature of the first winter ascent of Denali. Riveting!

Marsha
Hell's Corner by David Baldacci

5
Oliver Stone and the Camel Club confront a skilled assassin with the assistance of MI6's agent Mary Chapman. It starts with a bomb detonated in Lafayette Park across from the White House and the pace never lets up. Nothing is what it seems to be and you cannot trust anyone. Quite the thriller.

Thomas Barrington
The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark

5
I really enjoyed this book. It was very good. It was easy to follow. I would highly recommend this book to anybody.

Debbie Maskus
Children of the Revolution by Peter Robinson

3
I am really enjoying audiobooks since I can knit as I listen. This story by Peter Robinson brings back memories of the 1970s. Of course, I was not a flower child or hippie. Robinson incorporates music into every story and his choices remain eclectic. This story centers on the death of a ravaged and downtrodden professor and the various people within his circle. Robinson paints a descriptive setting, along with vivid characters. The ending sends a lesson that sometimes the whole truth hurts more than a white lie, and Robinson must decide which route to follow. Many events of the story bring comic relief, as the music reminds the reader of the chorus in a Greek tragedy.

Chris Bush
A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor

4
A story of two sets of sisters, decades apart, who suffer loss and endure hardship and heartache, among the flower sellers of London. The characters are likeable, and the mystery around the sisters draws the reader in irresistibly.

Dennis Beierbach
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

4
It is a good book for anytime reading.

Francisca E B
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

4
This is a classic tale of resurrection and redemption set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. It wouldn’t be Dickens without a huge cast of supporting characters, several twists in the plot, secret identities, unexpected connections, and long discourses wherein the characters expound on various issues, while the reader is anxious for the action to continue. But don’t let that dissuade you. It’s a marvelous story and the last hundred pages just flew by for me. Frank Muller does a wonderful job performing the audio book.

Betty Ramsey
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

5
This was such a great book, I kept reading on into the night. I had to force myself to stop. So suspenseful, one had to keep going between the three women as they let us in more and more. Rachel rides the train every day, even though she no longer has a job to go to. She sees bits and pieces of others' lives as the train rumbles by their back yards. As the days go by, she realizes that the idyllic lives she has been imagining are far from the truth. I can't believe that this is Ms. Hawkins first book. You can't miss this one...a great read. s

Linda M. Williams
Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

5
A look into the lives of real cops with no holding back on their private lives as well as their work lives. This is the first book I have read by Karin Slaughter and have enjoyed it immensely. I will definitely be reading more by her. I enjoy her writing style and the flow of the book in general.

Crystal Blackburn
Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer

5
A golden age mystery (from 1932) that holds up extremely well. Siblings inherit a family estate in the English countryside. The brother, two sisters and one sister's husband along with their aunt and their two servants come down from London to spend their vacation at the house. The place is said to be haunted. This is the first Georgette Heyer book that I've read. I finished this book today and I've already been online looking up her other books. That's how good this book is.

Mary Kip
The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths by Harry Bingham

5
I love mysteries where the protagonist is just a little different but ISN'T either alcoholic, angst-ridden or a total rebel to authority. In this different but utterly compelling mystery set in Wales (with side trips to London & Manchester), DC Fiona Griffiths goes deep undercover to find the mastermind behind a cyber-theft ring. Fiona suffers from PTSD caused by childhood trauma which can, when she is under enough stress, sometimes trigger a condition known as Cotard's Syndrome, where dissociation and depression combine to make her lose touch with her physical and emotional feelings, turn the world into shades of gray and, in its worst stages, make her believe she's literally dead, but it also helps her solve mysteries when others can't.

Francisca E B
The Old Man Who Read Love Stories by Luis Sepulveda

4
This is a story of the jungle, green hell and Eden; of the Shuar Indians, who know how to live in harmony with it; of the machines and settlers and gold prospectors and gringos who have invaded it. Nature, out of balance, becomes vengeful and violent. The writing is poetic and atmospheric, with a great sense of place. I couldn’t help but think of my father – the way he knew the land and respected the animals who made it their home.

Jan Zahrly
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

5
This is my first Liane Moriarty book. I loved it. It may be chick lit but the three women who form a powerful friendship when their children start kindergarten give us a great novel -- bullying, domestic abuse, inane parents hovering over their children, senseless spending, secret lives and lies, teen-parent angst. Some accident happened at the parent trivia night fund-raiser and this runs through the novel; then we realize that it was a death. Only at the end do we see some justice. A great read.

Nicole McGuire
Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks

3
I learned much about Muslim women reading this book. I noticed that it was written in 1995 - I wonder if/how the "plight" (because women's roles there may only seem like plight to us Westerners), has changed in 20 years.

Wendy Zuckerberg
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

3
Not bad.

Nancy Parks
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ramson Riggs

4
I just finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is so imaginative and unique.

Thomas Barrington
The Burning Room by Michael Connelly

4
I thought this was a very good book. I always read the Harry Bosch books. I have read every one and really liked them all.

Eileen Palmer
On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss

5
Biss' marvelous meditation on the important of immunization and caring for the world we live in. Using gorgeous, thoughtful prose, she examines immunity from a number of different perspectives--the myths around it, the history of it, various hysterias concerning it, the importance of it, and why we have an obligation to think about how our actions affect not just our own children, but the broader community. An outstanding book.

Julie Towson
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

5
This book really left an impression on me. It is a riveting story of how the women in France survived the war with their men away fighting and the country occupied by German soldiers.

Marion Moeller
A Good Marriage by Stephen King

3
Ok. Average. Should have been longer and had more substance.

Chuck Behm
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

3
I really wanted to like this book but the plot didn't grab me.

Gladys Paradowski
He's So Fine by Jill Shalvis

3
This book has an interesting plot, but does not rate 5 stars because of the constant "damns", "hells", and other curse words. It seems that no character could make a statement without using a curse word. This wasn't necessary. I found myself wondering if the author uses that language herself.

Kay Cole
Still Life by Louise Penny

5
Outstanding, even as I read it for a second time!

Lori Barnes
A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

4
I really enjoyed this book! Got a really good visual of the setting and the characters. I felt like the flow of the story was constant and kept me engaged in my reading. I was really happy this first book in this series was so good. I have ordered the next two, wanting more of these interesting people to see where it goes.

Heather
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

4
Though I found the story to be a bit repetitive at the beginning, I ended up enjoying the book. Historical fiction with a good twist!

Heather
The Hippopotamus Pool by Elizabeth Peters

2
This is the only Elizabeth Peters' mystery I have read and I'm not a huge fan. I found the dialogue between the characters quickly became annoying.

Jan Belisle
Inside the O'Brien's by Lisa Genova

4
Genova has a knack for portraying the human faces behind diseases many of us only learn about in a textbook. In this case, she turns her attention on Huntington's Disease, which is always fatal and has a 50/50 chance of being passed down to one's children. The reader can’t fail to feel anything but the utmost sympathy for any family touched by this horrendous disease. Reading about it through the lens of the O’Brien family made it personal and heartfelt, but yet filled with love and hope. This would make a great book club choice. I’ve found myself continuing to think about the issues raised long after turning the last page.

susan gannon
Rooms by James L. Rubart

5
This is a very soul-soothing book. I was amazed with suspense, soul-searching and never will forget what is truly important in life. Please read this book.

Margaret Posteraro
You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz

3
Interesting read but not the thriller I expected from the book reviews I had read. You almost know from the start what is going to happen. I spent most of time waiting for the book to end and see if I was correct in my assumptions. Just an okay read for me.

Janet Griffin
A Good Place to Hide by Peter Grose

5
This was a fantastic book about the area in France where the inhabitants worked together to save the lives of thousands of people who were at risk of losing their lives to the German forces. Many of these were Jews, but there were others as well. It is a wonderful telling of how these dedicated humane people connected to save as many lives as they could at the risk of their own lives. I had heard about this area earlier, but have only just found this extensive telling of the story.

Tessa B C
The House Girl by Tara Conklin

3
In contemporary New York City, attorney Carolina Sparrow is working on an historic class-action lawsuit seeking reparations for the descendants of American slaves. In 1852, Josephine is a house slave who tends to the mistress of a Virginia tobacco plantation; her mistress is the artist Lu Anne Bell.I loved the sections of the book dealing with Josephine and her struggles. But Conklin alternates chapters and I thought the present-day story weakened the impact of Josephine’s story. Bahni Turpin does a fine job narrating the audio book.

Helen Duncan
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

5
An amazing story--even more relevant now than when it was first published. An "everybody should read" book!

helen brady
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

4
Great book club read.

Vivian Taylor
The Bone Tree by Greg Iles

5
Mr. Iles has taken racism, past and present, and tied it into a story that deals with racially-motivated murders from the 1960s, an off-shoot group from the KKK, the murders of JFK, MLK, and RFK, and the relationship between father and son, into an amazing story. Throw in euthanasia, adultery, abduction, and corrupt police departments and politicians and the story becomes so much more.

Judy Ringelestein
Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer

5
The story of parasites, how they influence our lives and the lives of other animals. Our bodies are 90 percent parasites!!! An absolutely fascinating read in which you audibly say WOW many times. Carl Zimmer writes many wonderful books.

Priscilla Escajeda
Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller

2
I found this book hard to follow.

Muriel Logan
A Step of Faith by Richard Paul Evans

4
This is the 4th book in the series Evan is writing about the character Alan Christoffersen, who is walking from Seattle to Key West, Florida after his wife died in a horseback riding accident. I have been enjoying the books and like the bits of history Mr. Evans includes about the places Alan travels through. I also like reading about the people Alan encounters on his journey and what he learns from his experiences. There is one more book left to be written for this series.

Linda Reck
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

4
THE KIND WORTH KILLING opens with a chance meeting between two manipulative sociopaths at an airport. Cuckolded Peter tells Lily about his unfaithful wife and she offers to help him plan the perfect murder. People in Lily's life, especially those who cross her in some way, have a way of ending up dead. To reveal more of the plot would risk giving away some of the head-spinning surprises that make THE KIND WORTH KILLING an intoxicating read. This book is riveting down to the chilling final paragraph.

Rosemary Sobczak
Cold Cold Heart by Tami Hoag

4
Enough twists and turns to keep me reading.

shelly itkin
Down From The Mountain by Courtney Allen

5
Clara and Silas lost their parents at an early age to a very unfortunate death. Uncle Troy and Aunt Bly (Jolene's sister) have taken the children in and treat them as if they were there own. Life is not easy when you are three like Silas and seven like Clara you are not prepared for the daily long activities that running a farm takes.Silas is a bright child and when he is allowed to go to school, which is only several months a year (they do not attend during planting and harvesting season), he truly enjoys it and loves to read. Although Clara is bright she does not take to reading and other activities as her brother does.

Joan Steinberg
A Sudden Light by Garth Stein

5
We liked this book as much as THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN. The technique of going back in time via the diaries and the dreams let us know ALL of the characters in more detail. We had a good time discussing the concept of ghosts vs. spirits and do we believe in them...it was about a 50/50 split!

Janet Chiero
Still Alice by Lisa Genova

5
Love this book. It really gives the reader an insight emotionally of how a person dealing with early-onset Alzheimer's handles the progression of the disease.

J. Delmore
A Fine Romance by Candice Bergen

4
A book with something for all readers - fat with gossipy tidbits, humor, fashion, reflections on aging, I loved it!

Barbara Mardones
Some Luck by Jane Smiley

4
I love her insights into being a child and reflections on the rural world. Looking forward to the other two in the trilogy.

Bill Hamilton
The Stranger by Harlan Coben

4
The author brought his "A" game to THE STRANGER. I think the book will resonate with many readers as the basic theme is that we all have secrets that we keep from loved ones. The person known as the stranger--justifying what he does as a moral imperative--ruins peoples' comfortable lives by informing one of a secret a family member has that can shatter the relationship. Lawyer Adam Price is told by the stranger to check out a credit card purchase by his wife, Corrine, that ultimately changes their seemingly perfect relationship. Life spirals out of control and the action gets heavy as Adam tries to figure out how his relationship has reached the point of no return. A highly readable thriller.

Julie Pierce
Man at the Helm by Nina Stibbe

3
Very quirky read about two sisters who have to hold their family together after their dad leaves them and their mom falls apart. They feel certain they won't be whole again until they have another "man at the helm."

Laura Hartness
Mist of Midnight by Sandra Byrd

4
I enjoyed this tale of a young heiress who returns from India to find that her identity is stolen. While fighting to clear her name, she also falls for the gentleman who would inherit her estate. Set in 1858, fans of Jane Eyre might enjoy this one. Author Sandra Byrd is a Christian, and she also works themes of faith throughout her story.

Phyllis Relyea
The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg

4
As a musician I have always heard of Liszt, Chopin, and George Sand and was glad to listen to the audiobook and learn about her eccentric lifestyle, her politics, and her work as an author. The author does a wonderful job of describing her family life and times in Paris.

Barbara Kirch
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

2
I was really disappointed with this book. I felt it was a pulp fiction murder mystery and didn't understand what all the fuss was about. Rachel was an alcoholic, and I found it very hard to feel empathy for her. I am embarrassed that I recommended this to my book club before reading it.

LaVonne Switzer
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

5
A funny, poignant tale of a little girl seeking to be heard. It will make you laugh, cry and fall in love with little Melody and her loving and quirky little family. Melody's way of seeing the world is refreshing yet yields a sadness that will remind us all of how blessed we are.

Janet P Bedell
Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline

4
The anticipation just about killed me! My imagination ran wild while trying to figure out what would happen next.

Kay O'Dell
Don't Try to Find Me by Holly Brown

5
Riveting book. I loved every single page. I was confused how the mother became the bad guy. I would think most mothers would be distraught and upset at the situation, which would account for some of her actions. The parents were a bit disconnected to each other and their daughter, so I can really see this happening. Nice story for our times.

Anne Glasgow
The Bone Tree by Greg Iles

4
Iles continues the trilogy with THE BONE TREE. This book moves a little slower than NATCHEZ BURNING but is filled with intriguing looks at alternative history including the Kennedy assassination among others. I'm never disappointed when reading Greg Iles' books; they are smart, well constructed and full of interesting (good and bad) characters.

Phyllis
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

4
I enjoyed this but not as much as I enjoyed THE ROSIE PROJECT. I would have liked to have had more of the original Rosie around rather than having the stressed doctoral student making an appearance now and then. If there is a Don and Rosie book about their experiences with the baby, I would definitely read it

Vikki Cabral
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

3
A little slow going for more than half of the book, but then it picked up when it gave the background of Junior and Linnie Mae.

Tessa B C
The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton

3
Fiona Sweeney is a librarian who accepts a job with a charitable foundation to bring books to the tiny, far-flung communities of northeastern Kenya. That clash of cultures was what was most interesting to me in the book. But Hamilton also includes a couple of relationships that become somewhat entangled in the story. This took the book in a direction I wasn’t expecting and found somewhat dissatisfying.

Vera Wilson
Broken Promise by Linwood Barclay

5
I received as a "sneak peak ARC". The author grabs your attention from the very beginning of the book until the end. It's a murder/suspense novel. There are several suspects, and it's hard to put the book down when reading. I started one evening and finished up the next day. I give it the highest rating and would recommend to others. The book is 483 pages but well worth reading. Even after some very horrible murders, I found it refreshing that some good also happens. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Gloria
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

4
It is a truly imaginative story about a female from a young girl to an older woman and how and where she travels the world in a time when it was not the easiest thing to do, especially as a single woman. She has many, many most interesting adventures.

Sharon Lumb
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

3
Combine the themes of love, hate, World War II with the Loch Ness Monster. It is as if the author picked these themes from a basket and was required to come up with a book. This author was almost successful. But not quite. On the other hand, I read the book with enjoyment and it was not until I finished the book that I considered what I had read.

Jayme Gruden
Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen

4
STILL LIFE WITH BREAD CRUMBS is a no-nonsense love story that depicts how love can sneak up on you even when you thought you were too old for all the fluff. A very enjoyable read.

Lynn W
Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris by Ann Mah

4
Living in Paris, traveling the regions, eating the food ... simply LUSCIOUS!

Lynn W
Force of Nature (Joe Pickett #12) by C. J. Box

4
Years ago, Nate's commander did something awful and now is "eliminating" everyone who knows about it. Targeting Nate's friends, especially Joe and his family, is the only way to draw Nate out of the Bighorn Mountains. Gripping, riveting, violent (I skip those parts), fast-moving, the best of the 12, and I've read every one.

JUANITA ADAMSON
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

4
Very detailed -- certainly makes you stop and think. Very close to real life.

Kathy Doyle
Butterflies Wake by Arlene Lagos

5
This book grabs you right from the first sentence! A fast-paced novel about an underground society of women that protect and defend victims of domestic violence and abuse. They right the wrongs of society by taking matters into their own hands when the justice system has failed. An excellent read!

Michelle Archer
Dead Wake by Erik Larson

4
A moving account of the sinking of the Lusitania by Erik Larson. This book really gives the reader a sense of the world at that time as well as a wealth of information about the ship and submarines during that time period.

Michelle Archer
The Dress Shop of Dreams by Meena van Praag

4
Warning: This book will make you smile. What a fun little romance. I love magical realism and it added so much to this book. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen would enjoy this book. I'll be looking for more by Menna van Praag.

Michelle Archer
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

5
An amazing book! The characters in this book are incredibly real. The book held my attention literally from the first line. A good book makes you think. A great book is a book you can't stop thinking about even when you put it down. This is a great book.

Michelle Archer
Redeployment by Phil Klay

5
Well deserved winner of the National Book Award. An excellent example of the use of fiction to relate the experiences of war to others. It reminded me of THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O'Brien and more traditionally ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT by Erich Maria Remarque. This is a well written, sometimes shocking, certainly riveting account of the Iraqi war.

Bonnie Gluhanich
The Children's Crusade by Ann Packer

3
Dysfunctional family writ large. This novel took me a while to warm up to, but packed a mighty wallop once I got into it. Lots of food for thought.

Becky
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

4
I had been reading great reviews about this book, but have been so busy. I finally kindled it and am so sorry I didn't read it months ago. Taking my time now to recommend it to others.

Richard N B
Firestorm by Nevada Barr

3
This is the 4th mystery in the series featuring U.S. Park Ranger Anna Pigeon. It’s a good, fast-paced mystery with enough twists to keep me interested.

Becky Haase
The Alpine Zen by Mary Daheim

3
This is Daheim’s 27th outing in the Emma Lord series and perhaps her last. Emma, publisher and editor of the Alpine newspaper, and her Sheriff husband, Milo Dodge, are the hero and heroine of this romp in murder and mayhem. All of the usual characters are present, which will please followers of the series, but may confuse new readers. There is so much going on in small town Alpine -- murder, wife beating, missing persons, confused identities, etc., etc. -- that even long time readers will find this outing a bit confusing and disjointed. It appears that Daheim had several “good ideas” still in her Emma Lord file and tried to use them all.

Marjorie Langohr
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

5
I really loved this book. It was so well written, and it took me back to WWII. I was 6-years-old when the war started, so I really didn't realize the horror the people in Europe went through with the Nazis.

Lily
Thunder of Giants by Joel Fishbane

5
A fascinating historical fiction novel about two women from two different centuries with two different "Giant" stories to reveal!

Becky Haase
Rescue at Los Banos by Bruce Henderson

5
Henderson has written an account of the round-up of the civilians and their experiences in the camps that focuses on several interned families and individuals, the soldiers charged with rescuing them and the cruelty of Konishi. Intimate family narratives carry along the story of courage, daring and fortitude. The fact filled book reads like a well-paced, but harrowing, novel. WWII buffs will appreciate the many notes and appendices, while ordinary readers will be caught up in the daring, and ultimately triumphant, raid.

jane Kimball
The Black House by Peter May

5
Twists and turns in this mystery on the Isle of Lewis in the outer Hebrides. Fin from Edinburgh is sent to the island to help solve a murder. Events don't happen as hoped for Fin. He has to be up to the task, but is he?

Elizabeth
Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

3
3.5 stars. The descriptions are lovely, and Grey does make Marie Antoinette and Louis Auguste surprisingly sympathetic. On the other hand, while I realize that this volume sets up the rest of the trilogy, I would have expected a lot more to happen in well over 400 pages.

Brady
Seriously Mum, What's an Alpaca? by Alan Parks

4
An easy reading story of a Britisher and his wife pulling up stakes and moving to Spain to get involved in a brand new endeavor buying and raising Alpacas. They didn't know what was involved, but you learn all about them as well as the ambiance of a small town in Spain... just what they were looking for. They wanted solitude and they surely got it.

Sean Penrose
The Hammer of Eden by Ken Follett

2
Ken Follett is an amazing author. This, however, is not what one expects to read when they read a Follett novel. HAMMER OF EDEN has a goofy plot, which isn't a huge negative. What's bad is the complete ineptitude of almost every character in the book. Chapter after chapter it seems like every situation could be solved...but stupidity trumps everything and the "drama" rolls on. Follett's normal clever dialogue and plotting are nowhere to be found. Seriously, the bad ideas by both protagonists and antagonists are amazingly absurd. Overall, just not worth the time.

Michael McAdam
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

4
I really enjoyed this book. It is a touch misleading as it starts with something along the lines of "Lydia is dead. But her family doesn't know yet" (or something to that effect), but it is not a murder mystery (though we eventually do find out what happens). I would call it a family drama - though not necessarily a family dealing with the loss of their daughter, as a good 70% of the book is a series of flashbacks. The family and their situation definitely kept my attention so the above is not necessarily a complaint. I still give it a thumbs up.

Sandra Furlotte
Punishment by Linden MacIntyre

4
The title of the book tells it all - punishment is inevitable when wrongs are done. The story of a retired corrections officer who returns to his home in Cape Breton only to find that the peace he seeks is not there. He finds that our past always come back to haunt us.

Jann Knighten
Duet for Three Hands by Tess Thompson

5
Fantastic book! A mixture of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" and THE HELP!

Elizabeth Graham
Death Wears a Beauty Mask by Mary Higgins Clark

4
Some of the stories are too similar to other works.

ck
An Invisible Thread: True Story of an 11-year-old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski

5
Maurice asked for money and Laura walked away. What made her turn back? Most of us would not dare take a child for a burger and milkshake and then meet every Monday. We would be afraid to invite him into our home. But Laura befriended Maurice, fed him, advised him, and learned to love him. He in turn kept his ugly street life away from her. Laura's life was far from perfect but she was a dynamic, successful, savy New Yorker. The story is unforgetable.

ck
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

4
Mary Anning grew up hunting fossils in Lyme Regis, England. She was able to sell them for a little bit of money to help her family. During her exploration of the beach with her brother Joe, she found an ichthyosaurus skeleton, a creature that no longer roamed the planet. This stretched the minds of scientists and clergy in the 1800s. Elizabeth Philpot was a spinster who came to live in the area when her brother took over the family home in London and banished his spinster sisters to the seaside. My book club really, really enjoyed discussing these women and their discoveries. There is an interesting webpage for the book with pictures of fossils and additional material on the two women.

ck
In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner

5
I picked up THE KILLING FIELDS movie after reading this book. The movie really helped me picture the "slave labor" and dreadful conditions the Cambodians endured after they were transported from Phnom Penh to the countryside during the reign of terror from 1975-1979. Raami was seven years old when she and family joined the exodus. Her father, who was a poet, was also minor royalty. They traveled with a favorite uncle, grandmother and several children. The author writes so beautifully. The story is tragic, of course, but I will enjoy re-reading it before an upcoming discussion. Then I can concentrate on the structure and poetry instead of speed reading to see what will happen to everyone.

gretchen kempff
The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan

5
A book club read about poor sisters struggling to achieve life in the late 19th century by trying to become ballerinas and the hard work required to attain even the smallest of roles. Degas is there painting the waifs and chooses one of the sisters as a model. Self-worth, sisterly loyalty and perseverance play a large part in this book. Based on actual characters, the book is intriguing and I found myself racing to the finish and do some research of my own.

Thomas Barrington
The Ophelia Cut by John Lescroart

4
I very much enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to anybody to read.

Jayme Gruden
The Bees by Laline Paull

4
Everything you always wanted to know about the inner workings of a bee hive with sex, drama, and violence thrown in for fun. Not usually what I read, but it kept me engaged and I liked Flora our main bee/character.

Francisca E B
Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery

4
I never read these books as a child, but I am certainly enjoying them now. Anne is a marvelously engaging character, and the interactions of the college roommates seems spot on perfect for students of that age. Susan O’Malley does a fine job performing the audio book.

Michelle B
Don't Try to Find Me by Holly Brown

3
DON'T TRY TO FIND ME is the story of Marley who runs away from home and leaves a note for her mom and dad telling them 'don't try to find me'. Rachel's husband Paul turns to social media to try to find Marley. Through the story, you find out that everyone has secrets that can be damaging. Rachel's secret causes the social media world to turn on her, and they are convinced that she is hiding something. The story is told in alternating voices of Marley, a 14-year-old 8th grade girl, and her mother Rachel. As I read the book I felt like I couldn't put it down, but that I was reading with one had covering my eyes - you just knew that some decisions were going to have grave consequences.

Judson Hanson
The Threatcon Delta by Andrew Britton

3
Though not as good as Clancy, this author does have potential. The book is about a terrorist group that uses the supposed Staff of Moses to draw people into a trap.

Betty Chrastka
Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

4
Lisa Genova makes difficult medical subjects accessible. This book, about the ravages of Huntington's Disease, takes the reader on a dreadful journey. I had no idea what Huntington's really was, and the story of how a whole family (and future generations) is affected made it a gripping read.

Shelia Worthey
Catwatching by Desmond Morris

4
Short and entertaining. Stuff you never would have thought about or did but didn't realize you did or what it meant.

Shelia Worthey
Entombed by Linda Fairstein

4
Always well written and full of interesting information. This one is based on Edgar Allan Poe's influences but in ways you wouldn't imagine.

Thomas Barrington
The Residence by Kate Andersen Brower

5
I really enjoyed reading this book. It brought back memories of things that happened in the past. I would recommend it to anybody.

Paula McCracken
Daughter of the Desert by Georgina Howell

5
This book is the "meat and potatoes" telling the life and feelings of Gertrude Bell. THE DESERT QUEEN is a fabulous book of Gertrude Bell. THE DAUGHTER OF THE DESERT expands this brilliant woman's thoughts and knowledge and takes us into the desert of the Middle East.

Darlene
The Quiet Game by Greg Iles

4
I am always thrilled to come across a new series, and THE QUIET GAME by Greg Iles is the latest for me. This legal thriller (similar to early John Grisham) takes place in Natchez, Mississippi and features retired prosecutor Penn Cage. Penn is dealing with his grief over the death of his wife and decides to take his four-year-old daughter and return to his hometown of Natchez for some peace and quiet. Unfortunately, almost as soon as he returns to Natchez, he is caught up in a 30-year-old murder, one that had been considered a racially motivated crime at the time. What Penn shockingly discovers, however, is that there are many layers to this old murder…and peeling away those layers has caused him a whole lot of trouble. Thrilling read!

Darlene
The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant

4
I listened to the audiobook version of this story, and the narration was performed by Linda Lavin. Anita Diamant is SO skilled at creating multi-dimensional female characters! They are strong, intelligent and compassionate. This is the story of Addie Baum. She is the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants and is the first in her family to be born in America. The story is a conversation between Addie and her granddaughter that is prompted by a simple question.. "How did you get to be the woman you are today?" Addie's life story is a reminder of how each ordinary person's story is actually quite extraordinary. I highly recommend the audio version. Linda Lavin does a great job in bringing Addie's story to life!

Lauren Bailey
Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

4
Another deeply moving novel by Lisa Genova that tackles a terrible disease. This novel is about Huntington's Disease and how it affects a Boston cop and his family. Very realistic.

Suzy Katz
Don't Try to Find Me by Holly Brown

3
Marley is a 14-year-old girl who meets a boy online through Facebook, corresponds with him over a period of time, and then plans to run away from home and meet him across the country to start a new life. She believes they have shared enough of themselves to each other, and a relationship with him would trump her current life at home with her parents. Marley’s disillusionment and poor choices cause her to deal with a relationship that she is really too naïve and immature to understand. This book should be targeted toward middle and high school students and perhaps used as a school assignment because the story presents a number of educational and conversation starters for kids and their parents.

Darlene
Still Alice by Lisa Genova

5
I can't believe I never read this book before now! This is the story of Alice Howland, a 50-year-old professor of cognitive psychology at Harvard University. She has a remarkable career and a wonderful family, a husband and three children. She begins to experience some forgetfulness and confusion but tries to explain the symptoms away as stress-related or lack of sleep; that is, until she goes for a run and can't remember how to get home. Alice is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, and this is her story. Alice has to learn that she is more than her career and more than just the roles she has assigned herself. This is a beautifully sad story that gave me more than a little angst while reading it. I'm still thinking about her!