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April 29, 2016 - May 13, 2016

This contest period's winners were Heidi A., Maryann S. and Nancy R., who each received a copy of EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN by Chris Cleave and REDEMPTION ROAD by John Hart.

 

Jan
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

5
This book for bibliophiles is a charming debut about a young woman from Sweden who travels to Broken Wheel, Iowa to meet her pen-pal. They love books and discuss them in their letters. When the visitor, Sara, arrives in Broken Wheel, she is just in time for the funeral of her pen-pal, Amy. This is a coming-of-age story of the visitor and the small community. There are love stories and constant mention of books, old and new. The book lover enjoys the mention of various books and authors and remembers the joy of reading the books. The romantic will love the various love efforts throughout the book, but the joy is that Sara falls in love with the town and the town falls in love with her. The author is a master of character development.

Candace
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

5
This book has so much heart. I was constantly reading it because the way the author presented the three women's stories kept you wanting to read it to the end. I was together with this book in the car, at work, in the bathroom, at the dentist, etc., and now having devoured the book I feel simply awed. Every year for Christmas I give my friends my favorite book of the year, and this book will be the one I choose.

Bonnie
Some Luck by Jane Smiley

3
I liked A THOUSAND ACRES but this one not so much. It was tough slogging through the day-to-day life of a farm family.

Peggy
The Bones of Paris by Laurie R. King

4
As a big fan of Laurie R. King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series, it's hard for me to turn to her other books. I'm really glad I did. THE BONES OF PARIS was a riveting and haunting novel. I enjoyed reading about Paris in the 1920s and all the well known figures of the era, like Cole Porter and Ernest Hemingway, who were embroiled in this intense mystery. I look forward to more Harris Stuyvesant detective novels.

Rosemary
After She's Gone by Lisa Jackson

5
The two daughters of a former movie star who had fled Hollywood become actors, one a rising star and one a bit player. When the rising star disappears after her body double is shot, the bit player becomes the main suspect. But when other people associated with the film start dying who's to blame and what really is happening? The turns and twists will keep you reading until the answers are revealed!

Jenny
Sisi: Empress On Her Own by Allison Pataki

4
I've been fascinated with the life of Sisi-Empress of Austria. This book was well documented and well written in a highly readable form. I learned how she met her demise, who the important men in her life were, and the fates of her children. If you enjoy good historical fiction and learning about royalty, you will enjoy this book.

LINDA
A World Apart: Shades Below, #1 by L. J. K. Oliva

5
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review. OMG! I must read Book 2 or go insane. Humans never believe there are things that go bump in the night as they brush it off as nightmares, but Lena Alan knows and private detective Jesper McMillian is about to learn the hard way as he fights to get to Lena in time! Investigating a missing person and learning about evil he must let go all he's learned in the past!

Karen
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

4
A really great read with a surprising twist at the end.

Jud
Radiant Angel by Nelson DeMille

4
Excellent John Corey novel, loosely based on actual events. DeMille is a talented writer with few equals.

Diane
Sex Changes by Christine Benvenuto

5
Fascinating and sad.

Barbara Mardones
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

5
An unflinching look inside the medical community by an insider who faces his mortality. It was not morbid, but rather uplifting, and one felt pressured along the way as he did, to finish the story.

Garlan
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

4
What a tragically dark and sad book! But the writing is so good, and told in such a matter of fact manner that it doesn't overwhelm you. Starting in the middle, Rosemary Cooke tells the story of her family, dysfunctional, broken apart and not very good at communicating with one another. Everything is from her POV, and as the meat of the story takes place in her childhood, it is somewhat unreliable, as is her memory of events growing up. I'd read nothing about this book going in, other than it was good, so I had no preconceptions or expectations. Not knowing what the book was about, I was blindsided about 1/3 of the way in with a "big reveal". It came from so far out in left field that I was really put off.

Garlan
Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy

4
This is my second reading of this book, the first being MANY years ago. It didn't seem to have the emotional punch that the first reading had, but I still found it be very engaging. It's violent, with sparse, terse dialogue and some beautiful imagery. That was still one of the main attractions this book held for me; the contradiction between such violent, brutal, ugly human nature, and the beautifully evocative imagery the author used in describing the setting. As usual, McCarthy is stingy with his punctuation - doesn't seem to need quotation marks or many commas for that matter. This is a great book for a McCarthy fan, especially if you're experiencing it for the first time.

Garlan
American Assassin (Mitch Rapp Prequel Series #1) by Vince Flynn

4
I'm pretty stoked by this new (to me) series by Flynn. His protagonist, Michael Rapp, is a pretty bad-ass, no holds barred kind of anti-hero. I see a little of Crais' Joe Pike influence, but at this time, Rapp isn't quite up there. The writing is taut, the action intense, and the story is mostly believable. This is the second book in this series that I've read, and I'm looking forward to getting to the remainder of them this year. If you're a fan of Lee Child, David Baldacci, Robert Crais or Harlan Coben, I think you'd like this series as well. A pretty solid looking series here.

Gladys
When She's Bad by Leanne Banks

5
This gives three friendship-shared love stories woven into one story and, as always, with Leanne Banks's talent for interesting characters, humor and intriguing plots keeps reader fascinatingly enthralled to the very end.

Shelley
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

3
Could not relate to characters.

Mary
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

5
Little Elsa, just 7 years old, listens to her grandmother's fairy tales about a faraway kingdom. But when her grandmother passes away, Elsa finds a series of letters that the elderly woman left behind. Elsa delivers them to the other people who live in the building, and learns that there is an awful lot of truth in those bedtime stories she was raised on! This fantastic author reminds readers that people are complicated and don't always make sense, but each deserve a second look.

Nissa
We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen

5
A lovely tale over 100 years long that follows several people from a small sailing town in Denmark. At times it seems like the stories aren't connected, but it really ties them all together. Follows sailors through WWI and WWII. Really beautiful tale. Slow at times but sweet and nostalgic. Tragic too.

Lucy
The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

2
This book had potential, but the main character seems to be along for the ride. The more you read, the less you like her. The ending was weak almost to the point of absurdity.

Richard N B
Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley

4
Haley’s blockbuster history of his ancestors begins with the birth of a baby boy, Kunta Kinte, in a small African village in the Spring of 1750, and ends two centuries later in Arkansas. It’s a gripping tale and Haley is a great storyteller. I was engaged from page one and found myself very interested in all aspects of the book. Haley’s narrative focuses on three of his male ancestors: Kunta Kinte, Chicken George, and Tom (Haley’s great-grandfather).

Irene
The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand

2
As the title implies, this is a novel about gossip and scandal among a tight-knit group of friends and neighbors on Nantucket. For 80% of the novel, I was repulsed by the selfish, short-sighted, immature behavior of the adults. (I could excuse the bad behavior of the teens.) When the proverbial sh-- hit the fan and the awful consequences of this behavior became apparent, the emerging of humble goodness in the main characters felt inauthentic, as if the author was grasping for an ending appropriate for the Lifetime Channel.

Susan
Three Story House by Courtney Miller Santo

4
I enjoyed this book for its characters.

Louise
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

4
A little too contrived, but good entertainment.

Linda
A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams

4
A coming into adulthood and underlying mystery, both taking place in the New York City prohibition Jazz age. A father who works as an inventor has given them new wealth. Under the critical eye of her married sister, Sophie finds herself engaged to a bachelor from the wealthy Ochsner family. Sophie must search her 19-year-old heart if she really wants to marry her betrothed or is just pleasing her father when there is so much missing from her own memory - memories of her mother, time missing from the time of where they lived before, and growing up in this house. She is told by her family that she found her murdered mother at age 2 and was found with the body; a tragedy which has blocked her memory. Did she see who the murderer was?

Maureen
The Good Wife by Stewart O'Nan

4
What a great story. What happens to you and your baby when your husband is sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. Patty's life is forever changed after this happens. A heartbreaking story. Highly recommended, especially for book clubs.

mary
Daughter of Australia by Harmony Verna

5
If you love books about Australia and history of the country as well as a love story for all time, you must read this book. I cannot wait for the author's next book

Laurice
The Secrets of Lake Road by Karen Katchur

5
Great book. Beautifully written. I loved the story and the ending was perfect!

Mary Hayden
Blood Orange by Susan Wittig Albert

4
This is the latest book in the author's China Bayles series. While I always like and enjoy all of her books and this one in particular, I was not as entranced with it as some of the others. No matter what is happening, I can read about natural plants and their uses, which she works into her stories; I learn subjects in the legal field, since the main character is an attorney (no longer in active practice, but fully involved because she always finds a crime to solve). Susan Wittig Albert has several series, other stand-alone books plus a short series she co-authored with her husband - all make good reading.

Betty
The Letter of Marque by Patrick O'Brian

5
Once again, Patrick O'Brian delivers an engrossing story with a first-rate cast of characters. Still the best historical novels ever written.

Crystal
Murder, She Wrote: Skating on Thin Ice by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain

5
Murder stalks Cabot Cove as Olympic pairs figure skating hopefuls train at the newly-renovated ice rink. Jessica dons her skates to help Mort.

Anita
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

4
This is the story of a young couple and best friend who venture from Philadelphia to Scotland to search for the Lochness Monster during WWII. Though interesting in parts, I found some of it predictable.

Donna
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

4
Beryl Markham's life was so interesting. I kept my Google search nearby so I could look up facts about her as I was reading. I recommended this book to my book club.

Debbie
When Falcons Fall by C. S. Harris

2
I have always enjoyed this series set in the 1810s in England, but this novel fell flat. The story starts with Sebastian and Hero and Simon on a journey for Sebastian to learn more about his mother and her lover. That line of inquiry comes to a halt when Sebastian aids in the investigation of a murdered young woman. Harris harps about the Enclosure Act and the Bonapartes, and many other stories remain half told. I have almost decided to forego any further novels in the Sebastian St. Cyr series.

Elizabeth
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

4
Had it not won a Great Michigan Read award, I wouldn't have read STATION ELEVEN and wouldn't have known how excellent it is. Put simply (which the book isn't), the Georgia flu eliminates just about everyone, some directly, others because the care they need for another ailment is now unavailable. We see lives before and after the Georgia flu. Throughout the book are mentions of two comic books/graphic novels about STATION ELEVEN, who created them and under what circumstances, and who possessed each over the next 20 years. It is a story within a story, each paralleling the other in several ways. It would be confusing if an author less skillful than Emily St. John Mandel had written it. I found it easy to follow. I recommend STATION ELEVEN.

Pauline
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

4
Great family saga revealing that we don't know what you don't tell us as family members.

Gail
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

4
This book was really an in-depth study of madness and brutality that was hidden in very damaged and disturbed people. They presented one face to the outside world while they lived another life in their own world. They felt nothing for those they hurt because they found reasons to justify their behavior. It was hard to find one redeeming feature in either Eileen or her friend Rebecca. It was a painful read because it felt so bleak, but it was incredibly insightful as it examined the character's thought processes. I felt the book fell short in its development of Eileen’s past and future, which I would have liked to learn more about, but the book concerned itself mainly with the week that changed her life forever, and what a week that was!

Steven
The Steel Kiss by Jeffery Deaver

4
Once again Deaver delivers an outstanding thriller with main characters from several previous books. His insight into the technical aspects of crime research as well as greatly developed characters always make me anxious for his next book. I have read everything by Jeffery Deaver.

Martha
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens

5
This story of suspense moves faster than I expected. A young man whose mother is a bipolar drunk and 18-year-old brother is autistic (father has always been missing from their lives) is determined to get a college education. An assignment in an English class to write the biography of a real person leads Joe to meeting Carl, paroled from prison after 30 years because he is dying of cancer. A 3-medal hero of Vietnam, Joe was convicted of raping and murdering a 14-year-old neighbor whose body was burned in a shed on his property. As Joe interviews Carl and examines all of the evidence from Carl's case files, he is led to search for the real truth. How could such a man commit such a crime? Maybe he didn't... A great mystery!

Susan
Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen

3
Very disappointing. The theme was worthy but the plot dragged and it lacked the humor I associate with this author.

LINDA
Secrets from a Dangerous Time by Hunter S. Jones

4
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was so wrapped up in the book I didn't see the end coming, and it ended up being a series, just when it was getting good too! Casey King drove from Atlanta to the land where a battle was fought in the Civil War in Tennessee. She got out of her car and walked to the field. It was so quiet and serene that tears lit her eyes at the senseless war that took so many lives back then. Suddenly she had a vicious headache and lightening flashed. She turned when she felt the first raindrop, she ran to her car and suddenly she flew through the air and landed in the mud. Dr. Garrett Cleighton, a traveling salesman saw a young boy on the ground near him and he towed him.

Julie
The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin

3
A trip back in time to the glitzy 1950s and 60s when Truman Capote was at the center of a group of wealth, glamorous "swans," chief among them Babe Paley, wife of CBS founder and head Bill Paley.

Gerry
Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy

4
Five stars for the information and statistics shared, three for the writing style, which I found choppy and disconnected as the author moved from one anecdote to another. But the overall impression is clear: the odds are overwhelmingly against a young black man simply surviving -- much less thriving or escaping -- life in Watts, and presumably in many other inner-city areas, and are made worse by the long history of societal indifference and inadequate law-enforcement. Very sad.

Gerry
Night by Elie Wiesel

5
Horrifying and beautiful at the same time, this book needs no review.

Lynn W
The Race for Paris by Meg Waite Clayton

4
Female journalists and photographers were forbidden the front lines during WWII. Many determined women, however, braved the danger and wrath of authority to get to the story first. This book fictionalizes such intrepid reporters as Margaret Bourke-White and Martha Gellhorn. I loved the quotes from the real women that started each chapter.

Sandy
The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley

5
Perfect book for a rainy day or any day when you don't have anything else to do but read!! All about WWII and the people of France who were spies and their descendants. It was very hard to put down.

Jud
War Hawk by James Rollins and Grant Blackwood

4
This is the second novel in the Sigma series spin-off and it doesn't disappoint. Rollins has woven a novel that could very well be in tomorrow's morning paper featuring drones, AI and the result of work by the father of computing, Alan Turing.

Marsha
Crazy Blood by T. Jefferson Parker

3
Not my favorite of this author's but a lovely description of the Mammoth Mountain area. Bad blood among two skiers who have different mothers but belong to the Carson clan who have dominated skiing in the area for generations. High stakes skiing mean everything to two of the half-brothers as we learn a bit about the ski business and the money it means to the community and to the winners.

Betty
The Cutting by James Hayman

4
A good story. A serial killer plot, which is not my favorite, but we were spared the descriptions after the first one. I almost quit reading then but I'm glad I didn't. It was an interesting police procedural and I enjoyed it.

Robin
The Poison Artist by Jonathan Moore

4
I could not put this book down...read all night. It was very atmospheric and eerie, full of suspense. I would definitely recommend it, although the ending left me hanging a little.

LINDA
Endless Worlds by Peter Koevari

4
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review. These seven short works of horror and science fiction have a little something that every reader should enjoy. I wish several stories were longer.

Bonnie
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

4
Engaging novel and characters. MAISIE DOBBS recreates Britain and France during World War I and tells a great story at the same time. Wonderful writing as well.

Claudia
Spin by Catherine McKenzie

4
I read this book for an online book club. It would not have been a book that I would normally pick up to read, but the characters were so real and the story could be something you could see in a gossip column at any time. It was also a very quick read that moved along by one of the main characters who was always thinking about what was going on. It was just part of the dialogue so the text was easily to follow. I enjoyed knowing what was going through Katie's mind; it was so true to life. I am going to read the sequel next that focuses on the other main character, Amber, in SPIN. Amber is an actor with a drug problem. Most of the story takes place in rehab, which added to the interest.

Linda
The Sunlit Night by Rebecca Dinerstein

3
Interesting and unusual format. Chapter 1 is about Frances and her combative family in New York City. Chapter 2 is about Yakov in Moscow with his family who are moving to New York where Yakov and his father run a bakery for 10 years while waiting for his mother to join them. Chapter 3, at first I was confused and was thinking that it was a book of short stories. Wrong. Eventually Frances and Yakov meet, but it's not in New York; it's at the top of the world in Scandinavia. Interesting writer and debut. I wish I could give it 3.5 stars.

Jeanette
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

5
Loved this book and will suggest it for book club discussion. Ultimately, the theme of the story is quality of life and assisted suicide, topics I find intriguing. Characters are well developed and the story moves along. This is a gentle loving story I'm glad I read.

Tawnya
The Revenant by Michael Punke

5
After hearing how good the movie is, I decided to read the book. Wow, is it good. The events that take place are almost beyond belief, but this is based on a true story. If you like adventure, betrayal and revenge, this is one for you.

Michelle
The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro

4
A fascinating story based on a true art heist. Well researched and a very entertaining read. I really enjoyed this book.

Laura
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

5
Lifetime recently aired a two-part movie version of this classic. Before watching the movie, I wanted to reread the book (which I read 30+ years ago). Other than MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, it is one of my favorite Agatha Christie books. It is the story of 10 strangers on an isolated island and one by one, they all die until there are none. It is suspenseful and I was just as surprised to find out whodunnit as the first time. P.S.: The movie was very well done too. It did not stray too far from the book.

Linda
Dusk with a Dangerous Duke by Alexandra Hawkins

5
Betrothed to Grace since childhood, Hunter never bothered to visit her, and now Grace is tired of waiting. She has to marry before her 21st birthday or her wealth and lands revert to her uncle. Grace was not aware of it but Hunter would lose what was left to him by his grandmother if the wedding did not take place. It only took one look on Hunter’s part to realize he could not let Grace go. He just has to convince her to go through with their marriage.

Linda
My Kind of Wonderful by Jill Shalvis

4
When Bailey Moore receives word from her doctor that her cancer is in remission, she decides to make a list of things she wants to do. One thing is to paint a mural on a wall and, when she is contacted about painting a mural on the wall of Cedar Ridge Resort, she heads that way. There, she meets and lusts after Hudson Kincaid. Hudson has issues and Bailey is determined to overcome them. This is the second book in the new Cedar Ridge series.

David
On Fire by John O'Leary

5
John's book outlines how a disaster as a child, and his recovery with the help of many others, changed his life for the better. He outlines seven lessons that each reader can relate to and learn from. We should choose to "really live", to value the "miracle of our lives", to know the "purpose of each individual's life", and to "give up fear and let love liberate". We all need to adopt John's lessons and values. I would love to meet John in person, and he does do talks to groups.

Linda
Second Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

5
As with many of James Patterson’s books, there are several stories that ultimately come together. A little humor never hurts either and this book has a lot of funny sidelines. The main character, John O’Hara, on suspension from the FBI, finds himself in a killer’s crossfire when several John O’Hara's across the country are killed. John is trying to solve the murder of a newlywed couple in the Turks after the groom’s father requested his help and the FBI approved it. Murders of other newlyweds brings him to FBI Agent Sarah Brubaker She has been tasked with keeping John safe but he is never one to sit back in an FBI safehouse.

Linda
Her Heart in Ruins by Else

3
This was the second book in the series and, since I had not read the first book, it was a little confusing. A group of friends headed to Peru. One woman was suspected of serial murders and, while no proof could be found, an FBI agent was sent to follow her. In Peru, they were asked to find a missing boy who some believed was being held by a tribe of Incans who practiced human sacrifice. Others thought he had been kidnapped by a guerilla group and was part of the boy soldiers. Enduring the steep climb up the mountains was only part of the struggle this group went through.

Linda
Twilight with the Infamous Earl by Alexandra Hawkins

5
While the other members of the Lords of Vice have married, Lord Chillingsworth has remained single. Known to his friends as Frost, he looked down on marriage and swore he would never marry. He kept that vow until he met Emily Cavell, a woman who spoke of closing down Nox, the gambling den operated by the Lords of Vice. She had been warned about Frost but thought she was immune to his charms. Neither was ready for the strong attraction they had for each other. This is the last book in the Lords of Vice series, and I really hate to see the series end as I thoroughly enjoyed reading every one.

Linda
Two If By Sea by Jacquelyn Mitchard

3
A family celebration turns to tragedy as a tsunami sweeps away everything in its path. Frank Mercy is helping retrieve injured people when a small child is held up to him and he is told that the boy must be saved as he is very important. Frank has just lost his wife and unborn son and, without thinking clearly, takes the boy as his. He returns to America and finds how important the boy is and why others are searching for him. They are determined to get the boy and will take out anyone who gets in their way.

Linda
If He's Noble by Hannah Howell

3
Bened Vaughn hears a distress call while riding to his home. He finds Lady Primrose Wootten wandering around calling for her horse when she should have been able to see it. When he comes to her aid, she tells him her sight is impaired due to a fall. She is on her way to find her brother and Bened accompanies her. It’s a good thing because her evil aunt has sent thugs to murder her along with her brother.

Linda
Make Me Stay by Jaci Burton

4
Reid McCormack is a successful architect with a great business in Boston. He is just home in Hope, Oklahoma to renovate a historic downtown building. Although his brothers are happily married and want him to remain in Hope, Reid says no. That is, until he met Samantha Reasor, owner of the flower shop across the street from the renovation. A cute love story.

Linda
Hard Rain by B. J. Daniels

5
Harper Hamilton has had a crush on Brody McTavish since she was nine years old. Now an adult, the attraction is still there. But the two families have been at odds since the disappearance of Maggie McTavish thirty-four years ago. At the time, she was in love with J. D. Hamilton, a married man who was warned off by Maggie’s father. Everyone thought that Maggie left town, but her body has just been discovered by Harper and Brody. Harper is interested in clearing the name of her grandfather and Brody is interested in finding the murderer. Their investigation is stirring up trouble and someone wants them stopped.

Linda
The Thomas Berryman Number by James Patterson

1
This was James Patterson’s first book and I had never read it. I was very disappointed in it as it seemed to jump around by narrators quite a bit. The gist of the story was Thomas Berryman being hired by an ex-governor to kill a black mayor. Then a professional hitman was hired to kill Thomas Berryman. I’m glad to see that Patterson's writing has drastically improved as I love most of Patterson’s books.

Linda
Nauti Seductress by Lora Leigh

4
This book was very confusing at first. Zoey Mackay was reliving a drugged nightmare and was imagining things that had been imprinted in her mind by the drug administered by a former agent of Homeland Security and now part of a plot to bring down the Mackay family. Brom Doogan with Homeland Security has been sent by the director to find the person responsible and bring him to justice. The Mackay family has worked closely with the agency and helped them flush out the drug kingpins in their area. That has put them in the crosshairs of revenge.

Linda
The Ex by Alafair Burke

4
Jack Harris’ wife Molly was the first victim of a mass shooting and seemed to be trying to talk the teen out of shooting when he pulls a gun and kills her. When facts come out that the teen’s father took him to a shooting range, a wrongful death lawsuit is filed against Malcolm Neeley. Days later, Neeley is shot and killed along with two others. The police come to arrest Harris. His daughter calls Olivia Randall, ex-fiance of Jack, to get him out of jail. At first Olivia believes he is innocent but the deeper in the investigation she gets, she changes her mind. Is he innocent or guilty? The book has a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.

Linda
My American Duchess by Eloisa James

5
An American heiress goes to London to find a husband after ending two engagements in America. While engaged to an English lord, she meets a man she is instantly attracted to. She couldn’t end another engagement as this would ruin her reputation. Yet how could she marry a man she no longer loved or respected? When she finds out who the mysterious man is, she is even more shocked.

Linda
Private India: City on Fire by James Patterson and Ashwin Sanghi

4
The Indian Mujahideen wants to expand the Islamic caliphate across Asia and smuggles the makings of a bomb into Mumbai. His aim is to destroy an international business, namely Private India. Private India head Santosh Wagh and his lead investigator Nisha Gandhe are searching for the person who is strangling women by a yellow scarf which is left at the scene. Somehow these women are connected, but how? Then it gets personal for Jack Morgan as one of his close friends is murdered.

john
100 Questions & Answers About AIDS: A Guide for Young People by Michael Thomas Ford

5
Mr. Ford provides 100 questions and answers about a disease that is now part of everyone's life, no matter their color or sexual orientation, whether they are young or old. He even interviews four people who are living with the disease. His book provides all the information you need to know about the disease. This book should be required reading for all teenagers so they will know what to do and what not to do before they start interacting with people they either love or just want to get it on with.

Fran
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

5
Very well constructed. I liked that portions of the novel were based on real people and real events. I have learned to look for an author's note at the end of historical fiction early on in my reading of the novel to find out what is true. Amazing amount of research. Liked it even though there were some especially bleak scenes, made more so as they were based on true events. I've read extensively about the Holocaust (having taught seventh grade for 30 years and it being a part of our curriculum) and this was an aspect I've never encountered before.

Donna
The Good Goodbye by Carla Buckley

4
Arden and Rory are cousins who are inseparable from the time they were children. They are roommates in college. A serious fire in their dorm room changes everything. Who started the fire, why, was it intentional and who will survive is the basis of this story.

LINDA
Salem's Revenge by Kiki Howell

5
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This the second book of Salem Series and I was so drawn into the story that I forgot I never read Book One! Denise Daniels returns to Salem one week before her best friend's wedding, and entering Noah's house she almost ran back to the airport once she saw a corpse hanging in his home! She'd always been fascinated with Wiccan and learned information through books and the internet, but she never embraced the magic. It didn't compare to what she leaned from Makayla's friend, nor did she think she was a target as no one knew her yet. She ended up fighting for her life!

Gerry
The Submission by Amy Waldman

5
Outstanding evocation of the complex and varied reactions when the designer of a proposed 9/11 monument is revealed to be a Muslim. Thought-provoking and always engaging.

Sharon
The Last Painting of Sara De Vos by Dominic Smith

4
Smith explores the world of the 17th century artist Sara de Vos giving the reader a lot of information on the difference of painting techniques of then and now as well as some historical information on the rarity of female landscape painters (most confined to still lifes) in that era. And then there is the modern story of Ellie Shipley, art historian, and painter as she makes her way through the late 1950s into the 2000s. A fascinating journey.

LINDA
Practical Magick by J. E. Taylor

5
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review and I loved Austin and Paige's story! Years ago, Austin and Paige went to York at the request of the Ryan's, and he discovered that he was a descendant of an Arch Angel and Lucifer was killing his bloodline off to drink their blood and getting stronger to take over the world. As Austin was driving back home, he thought about what Tom had told him and he resolved to get over his fear and take the plunge to propose to his longtime girlfriend and surprise her with a Vegas wedding with all the trimmings money could buy. But once they were married in the little chapel they stepped into their limo...

Norene
The Martian by Andy Weir

4
A page-turner! Very engaging.

Frank
Why We Came to the City by Kristopher Jansma

2
A disappointing second book from the author of the wonderful THE UNCHANGEABLE UNCHANGEABLE SPOTS OF LEOPARDS. Four college friends come to New York in 2008 to 'make it there'. Their fabulous life is disrupted when a tragedy to one becomes a tragedy to all. Unfortunately, both the story and the characters are all too obvious.

Karen
The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki

4
The story is about self-centered Peggy who marries Benedict Arnold and also has a lover. She makes secret plans within hearing distance of her maid, Clara. Because of Clara, those plans unravel. It is generally a good picture of the time, yet has some anachronisms.

Trude
Extreme Prey by John Sandford

5
I believe this is the 26th Prey book. I forget how much I like them until I start a new one...and then I have an "Oh yeah" moment and remember what I love about Mr. Sandford's writing. Fast-paced, exciting writing that carries the reader along at a break-neck pace. Lucas is no longer a cop and is called by Minnesota's governor to investigate a possible assassination conspiracy aimed at one of the presidential candidates visiting Iowa before the caucasus. A very timely story for this election year. I highly recommend this book.

Elizabeth
Redemption Road by John Hart

4
You can always depend on John Hart to write an outstanding literary thriller. And he's done it again with REDEMPTION ROAD. Various mysteries are going on here. Mainly, though, we're given the character Elizabeth. She's been a member of the police force for 13 years, and she's the daughter of a preacher who she hates. Why does she hate him? A former member of the police force, Adrian, is getting out of jail after 13 years. Was he guilty of the crime he was convicted of? Elizabeth didn't think so 13 years ago and did her best then to find proof of his innocence. Now the identical crime is happening again. Is Adrian guilty, or is he being set up? Those are only some of the mysteries in REDEMPTION ROAD.

Laurice
My Very Best Friend by Cathy Lamb

5
Really good. Get ready to cry!

Lynn W
S is for Silence by Sue Grafton

3
Book club choice and I surprised myself. I liked it! I may even pick up another in this series once in a while.

Lana
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

5
Excellent historical realistic fiction of France during WWII and how all individuals and families suffered during this tragic time in history. The writing is excellent and the plot was captivating! I felt like I knew all the characters personally by the end of the book.

shelly
The Greek's Nine-Month Surprise by Jennifer Faye

4
Ms. Faye has written a magical Cinderella-type story and it is truly enjoyable. Sofia and Kyra have been childhood friends who decided to move to Greece for some change of scenery and secretly to find out about Krya's ancestry. In the first book in this series, THE GREEK'S READY Made Wife, we are introduced to Cristo Kiriakas who will become Kyra's husband. We also learn that Kyra has a cousin Niko Stravos. This book introduces Sofia to Niko at there wedding and quite unexpectedly they have a "wonderful one night fling." Neither thinks much of it until Sofia finds out she is pregnant. How can she tell Niko it is his child and still remain in Greece and continue working? She has plans to go back to school and move back to New York.

Rosa
The Girls by Emma Cline

5
This is the remarkable debut novel by Emma Cline. It is an intense story that stayed with me for a long time. Set in California during the 1960s, this is the coming-of-age story of Evie Boyd, a 14-year-old girl who desperately wants to be loved and wanted. She meets Suzanne, who introduces her to her group of friends living in a ranch under the leadership of Russell, a charismatic and spiritual man. Cline has captured the angst of adolescence; so many of Evie's feelings will resonate with anyone who has felt loneliness and uncertainty.

Patricia
No One Knows by J. T. Ellison

5
I really loved this book! It kept me guessing like crazy all throughout! And I love a book that I'm not able to figure out before the 'big reveal'. It was a page-turner, for sure.

Gail
The Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton

4
I loved this book and enjoyed seeing how Kevin could relate so easily with his grandfather and how Pops helped him to mend after the tragedy he experienced. The book was well written and kept my interest all the way through. The moral dilemma of how to protect a friend but yet do the right thing was handled well.

Judy O.
Before I Go by Colleen Oakley

3
Twenty-seven-year-old Daisy Richmond is dying of cancer. She and her husband Jack are having trouble dealing with it. This is their story. The story was not really depressing as it was told with a small amount of humor. Just an okay book.

Francisca E B
The Country Under My Skin by Giaconda Belli

3
Subtitled: A Memoir of Love and War, this is Belli’s account of her decades as a high-level member of the Sandinistas fighting for reform in Nicaragua, and of the passionate love affairs she had during this time. Belli is a good writer and her storytelling is top notch. I was fascinated and I learned something about the revolution in Nicaragua. But, in the end I couldn’t reconcile my admiration for her as a writer with my dislike of her as a person. So I’m conflicted, and am taking the middle road with 3 stars.

Donna
Fatal Greed by John W. Mefford

3
A family member gets greedy and devises a plan to merge the family business with another company by any means available. This includes secrets, betrayals, seduction, intimidation and eventually murder. A love affair balances out the story.

Chris
Signal by Patrick Lee

4
Patrick Lee's second Sam Dryden novel reminds me quite a bit of his first series, The Travis Chase books, in that it involves a new technology and a thriller based on who holds control of it. Signal introduces a new character, who should show up in later Dryden novels. A very good sequel to RUNNER.

shelly
Welcome to Last Chance by Hope Ramsay

5
With a name like Last Chance, Jane definitely felt like she was making the right choice when she purchased her greyhound bus ticket. Having to run away with nothing but the clothes on her back and five dollars in her pocketbook, a zero balance in her checking account, she desperately needed was a fresh start and perhaps a miracle. Woody West was really the reason she had to leave town as she was afraid what might happen. Once she got off the bus reality hit her. She had to get herself out of this mess and start over. Something she had done before and would have to do again She needed a place to stay and a job, but at night how was this going to happen? She entered the bar, Dot's Spot, and was about to start a new chapter...

LINDA
Boyfriend Glasses by Livia Harper

5
I won this book through LibraryThing and agreed to give it an honest review, and WOW was I amazed! Book One of the series just flew past my eyes as I rapidly read it, and now I can't wait to read the next! What will Greta and Blake do as they are under suspicion of murder?

Nancy
Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams

5
An epic story about two women decades having to make similar decisions decades apart. The older woman tries to be there for the younger woman. They meet during the purchase of an old restored car. This is one of my favorite authors.

Cheryl
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

4
Love this book with all the colorful characters and scenarios they are each put into with a surprise ending I didn't see coming.

Diane
The Revolving Door of Life ( 44 Scotland Street Series) by Alexander McCall Smith

5
The wonderful thing about this series and this book are the characters, Matthew and Elspeth, Bertie and his parents, Angus and Dominica and their dog Cyril, Pat and her father, the narcissist Bruce and their humorous and soul-searching conversations and inner monologues. Set in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Scots outlook is part of the charm of this series. This particular volume is especially humorous and warm-hearted.

Hedwig
Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

4
The book starts almost comically and I was wondering just how scary the witch could be. Once that bad stuff starts it just keeps going. It was one the best books I've read. I usually give a wide berth to horror as I am a longtime Stephen King fan and find most can't keep up with his extraordinary imagination, but this comes very close.

Laurice
While You Were Mine by Ann Howard Creel

4
I enjoyed this book. Little bit of an emotional roller-coaster.

Mary
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

4
Clary, a teenager living in New York, realizes there is an underground world of paranormal creatures. She herself, it turns out, is a Shadowhunter, destined to hunt down demons and dispatch them from the mortal world. A good start to this series of novels.

Donna
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

4
A good read with lots of twists and questions regarding trust, morality and ethics.

Gail
Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline

3
This book begins with an interesting premise. What would you do if you find out the anonymous sperm donor for the baby you are carrying may be a serial killer? Scottoline explores the emotional issues related to infertility and the policies of infertility clinics while her main character tries to track down the truth about the donor in this page-turner of a thriller.

Bea
The Hours Count by Jillian Cantor

4
This is historical fiction, told through the eyes of a fictional neighbor of the Rosenburgs, who were executed in 1953 for being "atomic spies". I had to keep telling myself that she wasn't a real person. Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. It is a spy thriller with a domestic spin. We had a great discussion in our book club. Nobody had known that the co-defendants had confessed in the 90s and so much information from other countries had become available that even their sons had to admit that their father really was a spy who passed on secret info to Russia. But the mother? Nobody knows, yet.

Barbara
Hide Away by Iris Johansen

5
I love this series and these stories just keep getting better. Always a different slant on psychological reasons for why people do bad things.

Norm
The Winter Girl by Matt Marinovich

4
A weird and disturbing story. A Hitchcockian psychological thriller.

Beth
The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin

4
Great companion book with BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S.

Dorothy
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

5
Loved this book from page one on. I always try to figure out the ending, but no such luck this time! I think it's a great book for any one to read. Book clubs should have a great discussion about it.

Nancy
Elephant Company by Vicki Croke

4
At a time when elephants are so much in the news because of Ringling Bros. dropping their act, it was fascinating to read what an important role they played in World War II and in the years leading up to the war. Not only were they real workhorses, but they took on human traits. The book centers on one individual who made elephants his life work, but the creatures are as much heroes as he is.

Susan
Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink

5
Interesting and unbelievable book about five days at Memorial Hospital during Hurricane Katrina.

Cathy
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

5
Loved this book. Nora goes to a friend's hen do (pre-wedding party), and she has not seen her in several years. Wondering why she was invited, not sure if she should go, she then regretted going as soon as she arrived. Then all the weirdness starts. Suspenseful...keeps you guessing!

Shelley
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

3
Interesting.

Kay
Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen

3
Very sad story. Not an uplifting read...

Mair
She's Not There by Joy Fielding

5
The latest book by one of my favorite authors was so good that I read it in one day. Fiction based loosely on the kidnapping of Madeleine McCann, it is tense and exciting. As is her style, the author deals with a woman under extreme pressure, with a bad mother of her own. The little girl disappears; there is a bad marriage with an evil second wife married to the obnoxious ex-husband. It is an excellent summer read.

Glenna
Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams

5
It is a fascinating novel that takes place in France during World War II; also reflecting pre and post years to the war. It is the story of two sisters' war experiences and how they survived. Each sister handled the experience with amazing courage. All the characters in the story seemed real. I felt as if I were there in the daily lives of the French people and seeing what they endured. It was an eye-opening book to history in a relatable way.

Andrew
Bettyville by George Hodgman

5
Extremely funny and heartwarming memoir from a New York-based literary editor, who returns to his small Missouri hometown to help care for his elderly mother, Betty, who at 90+ remains a commanding, cold and distant figure, who along with her late husband, had difficulty accepting and acknowledging the author's homosexuality. Hodgman is a clever writer who mixes tales of caring for his mother with fascinating glimpses of his extended family and his community. This is a pleasant, intelligent read that reminds the reader of the ties that bind one to the town where one grew up and to their families despite the travails and the memories.

Pauline
Between a Book and a Hard Place by Denise Swanson

4
This book is a very well written cozy. Dev runs a "five-and-dime" store in small town Shadow Bend, Missouri. She lives with her grandmother because when she was sixteen her mother, Yvette, dropped her off there and went to California. Dev's father had wrongly been sent to prison. He was released and is working for Dev at the store. Yvette returns to town with a rich husband, Jett, who offered a lot of money re-open the library which had to close for lack of funds. He really wants to study the archives, especially the men from Shadow Bend who had served in the Civil War. But before he could he is killed. Dev and her parents are suspects. She is pursued by two likable men. A side happening of UFO sightings in the area.

Susan
Britt Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

5
Britt-Marie is an unhappy person who no one knows exists, a husband who is verbally abusive and a compulsion to clean. Then something happens and Britt-Marie takes off. She gets a job at a recreation in the dying town of Borg and meets a town full of odd people and coaches a soccer team, though she knows nothing about it. Because she has been socially isolated, she does not know how people interact and says the most startling statements. She tries to be kind but has no real idea of how to do so unless it's cleaning something. The magic in this book is how she grows and changes. It's an amazing journey and one you don't want to miss. I can't recommend this more highly. It's a book that will make you happy.

Gina
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

1
Woof! Woof! This book is a dog. Don't bother waiting - like I did - for it to be good and memorable. Neither will happen. A mother and daughter have been estranged for many years. They rehash history together.

Linda
Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit

5
Beautiful language and deeply touching characters in this debut novel that you will want to talk about with friends.

Marcia
The Center of the World by Jacqueline Sheehan

4
We've seen the storied on TV about kidnapped children from Central and South America who are brokered and sold to adoptive parents in the U.S. This is the story of a war orphan who was illegally adopted and the trauma both she and her adoptive mother have endured. For the adoptive mother, it's the secret of hiding the truth and the horrible events leading to the illegal adoption. For her daughter, it's discovering the truth and dealing with her mother's lies, albeit to save her. The storyline kept me reading and I would recommend it to others.

Judy
The Obsession by Nora Roberts

5
A great read for people who wonder what it is like to be a family member or a close friend of someone overcoming the death of a loved one and the craziness of a member of the same family. Roberts wrote it well, allowing me to read it quickly and safely in two days. Good read.

Sally
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

5
First memoir by a daughter in a polygamist family. The reader watches her grow up and survive many difficult situations and finally thrive. Her life is difficult but she always views it in a positive light. This story shows how resilience can pull you through every difficulty. I fell in love with her and her siblings.

Lisa
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
A heartwarming book that made me laugh out loud and also cry. I couldn't help reading parts of it to whoever was around because I was so tickled with some of Ove's thoughts and interactions with others. My sister died 9 months ago and it reminded me so much of what my brother-in-law is going through that I bought him a copy to read. I can't wait to read Backman's other books.

Miriam
Zero K by Don DeLillo

4
Ultimately, the novel is a meditation on life but more appropriately on death. DeLillo is 79 years old, facing, like I face, his mortality. This is what he is exploring in this novel—mortality and the meaning of life. It also plays with the ideas of the soul, of the failings of our current world, and of the role of the observer of life and death. He assumes that we, like Jeff, are primarily interested in observation, and that we float in and out of participating in life.

Debbie
I Let You Go by Clare Macintosh

5
I just want to say that this is the best book I've read all year! And the bad part is, you can't say a lot about it, because you will give something away! I just want to say how much I enjoyed this book. I'm not sure where I won the ARC from, maybe Bookreporter.com, but I'm so glad I did. I have been telling EVERYONE about it!

Jayme
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

3
I think I may be in the minority with my thoughts regarding this book. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the premise and I commend Kalanithi writing his story about his battle and ultimate loss to cancer, but somehow it just seemed a bit void of realism and passion and missed the mark for me. After I read it I wondered if it got published because of who he knew and/or the tenacity of his wife to get it published as his final wish. And I feel horrible wondering this.

Nina
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

4
The storyline of LILAC GIRLS crosses continents as it describes the lives of three women. One is a New York socialite working in the French consulate. The second is a Polish teen, while the third is a doctor for the Nazi's. The inhumanity, desperation and atrocities of World War II are woven into the storyline. Each woman examines her own contribution to the war effort and how it has affected everyone around them. Thought-provoking and sometimes difficult to read, I found the book quite intriguing.

Rosemary
East of Eden by John Steinbeck

4
A real classic page-turner.

Diana
Old Age: A Beginner's Guide by Michael Kinsley

5
Michael Kinsley, a columnist at Vanity Fair and contributor to numerous other publications, was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1993. This series of essays is not just about PD but also about the aging baby boomers and what legacy they will leave. Acquiring the most toys and debt? Changing the world for better or worse? Keeping all their marbles or living the longest? Or both? This is an upbeat, humorist look at his own generation, warts and all. Good read!

Bobbie
Miss Jane by Brad Watson

2
A girl with anatomical birth defects and how it affects her life. Interesting medical info but so slow.

Bobbie
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

4
Love story. Japanese internment camps. Relationships. Good read. Thought THE HOTEL AT THE CORNER OF BITTER SWEET was more educational.

Anne
Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler

5
This is a sad but good story about a woman who falls in love and is separated from her love by her family. The members of her family are prejudiced and feel pressure to maintain their position in society.

Muriel
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

5
This is the first of Backman's books I have read. I know I will be purchasing the other two. This book was a magical, delightful story of seven-year-old Elsa and her relationship with a very unusual grandmother. Elsa, a lonely bullied little girl, was given strength through her grandmother and the adventure she was sent on.

Noreen
All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani

4
An interesting look at Hollywood and its stars years ago. The characters are so real and believable. A perfectly enjoyable book.

shelly
Four Weddings and a Fiasco: The Wedding Do-Over by Jennifer Faye

5
Of all of the books I have read by Ms. Faye this has to be my favorite, and I could not put it down. Michael had been in a horrible accident and was lucky to be alive, only at this particular moment he did not feel that way. Jerry, his therapist had explained to him what a lucky person he was and that life had given him a second chance. The problem was the most important people in Michael's life were not around. His dad passed away, he had not spoken to his brother and he had broken up with the Olivia, the girl of his dreams. With hours of free time to think, he realized when he left the hospital he had to do some important changes. First apologize to his brother and then to try and find Olivia.

Marsha
Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear

4
Maisie Dobbs is asked to impersonate the daughter of a man held in Dachau as Hitler rises to increasing power. She will go to Germany and ask the authorities to release the man. Meanwhile, she has to find a young lady who is in Munich partying and plead with her to come home to her responsibilities. It is the beginning of a terrifying time in Munich and she is in the middle of it.

Anita
Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

4
This is a young adult book, but I'm sure adults would like it as well. It's about two longtime friends, Dave and Julia, savoring their last year in high school by trying to do cliché things they would "never" normally do! There are some surprises and heartbreak along their journey, but it is a year they will always remember.

Pauline
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

4
The reader is instantly caught up in the lives of Rachel and Megan.

Sonnia
Jump Cut by Libby Fischer Hellmann

5
New author for me, but I will definitely be reading more of her work.

Gloria
The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant

5
Set in the early 1800s in Massachusetts, the author brings to life a cast of characters - widows, prostitutes, pimps, orphans, etc. This was not a happy book but rather a very sad and dark look into this dwindling town and its occupants. Although each vignette is devoted to a main character, the author seamlessly intertwined the other characters in. I particularly liked her style of writing.

Jan
The Potter's Field by Andrea Camilleri

5
This is my first book by this Italian author and I cannot believe I have missed this charming storyteller for so long. Inspector Montalbano is faced with another dead body, hacked into pieces, with fingers carefully hacked off so no fingerprints are available. Montalbano has an interesting cast of characters to help him, including one who is acting strangely and telling his wife he is on night stakeouts when he is not. Montalbano is a smart detective but a tired one, looking forward to retirement and does not want the hassle of a long difficult investigation. I loved this book and laughed at some of the strange characters. Now I have to go back and read others in this series. This book won many awards.

Anita
Room by Emma Donoghue

4
The book was a very interesting concept, spoken from a 5-year-old. Just wish the book elaborated a little more on the outcome.

Laurice
The Imperial Wife by Irina Reyn

3
I received a proof copy. This book was somewhat good, but it didn't jump out and grab my attention so I had to concentrate to pay attention.

Sandi
Under the Harow by Flynn Berry

4
During a routine trip, Nora finds her sister Rachel brutally murdered in her Marlow country home. Having a vast distrust of the local authority, Nora remains to seek the killer. As a debut novel this one was very well written. It is easy to become involved with our protagonist and be carried away page by page. There are subtle indicators very early in the novel pointing you towards the murderer - but are you correct? You read on to find out. Then you question your murder solving abilities. More than one person could be responsible. Many are suspected - some are cleared - are you correct in your prediction? Great suspense, with a surprise ending. This is an author to watch.

Jill
Far From True by Linwood Barclay

4
Yet another riveting, suspenseful story from Barclay. This is the second of three books in the Promise Falls trilogy that began with BROKEN PROMISE and will wrap up in THE TWENTY-THREE, slated for a November 2016 publication. This book features many of the same characters in BROKEN PROMISE and introduces new ones. Subplots abound in this one, but the overall resolution as to why crazy and evil things are happening in the town isn't revealed yet. In some ways, this book almost felt like a placeholder until the final one is released. However, some peoples' stories and situations are fleshed out more and we understand them better. Barclay could've omitted some of the subplots, but most drive the storyline so it's not a big beef with me.

Donna
As the Poppies Bloomed by Moral Boyadjian

4
Armenian history and a love story that takes place in the countryside during the time of the Ottoman Empire near the beginning of WWI. You experience the culture, the suffering and horror of war.

Beatrice
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

4
An interesting book about a woman with issues in her life. She becomes involved in strangers' lives and unusual events.

Jan
All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage

1
After rave reviews from others, I did not like this book. It is a mystery (which I love) but it was lugubrious. No smiles, no pleasant passages, all sad, mournful. I knew from almost the beginning who killed her. And after 400 pages the ending was maudlin. I can not honestly recommend this book to anyone. Move on to the next book in your list.

LINDA
The Ways of Evil Men by Leighton Gage

5
I won this print through a contest site and agreed to give it an honest review. Leighton Gage was an unknown author to me and I'm glad I won his book! Strange things are going on in the remote Amazon jungle of Brazil. There are only 41 Anwa tribe left, they can't seem to grow in numbers, but as a man and his son return to the village, their tribe is all dead, but it's only the beginning of the darkest crime of the evils of man...

Nancy J
Madame Picasso by Anne Girard

4
A wonderful fictional portrayal of the 4-year love affair of Eva Gouel and Pablo Picasso that ended with her death from breast cancer. They both grew in strength and confidence for having loved each other. The author brought the sights and sounds of early 20th century Paris to life, along with all the usual suspects in the art world of that time.

Bonnie
The Muralist by B. A. Shapiro

3
Okay novel, but seems a mashup of every other other art-related/WW2 - Nazi novel written in the past decade or so. Time for some creativity in the fiction world. I read this for book club.

Bonnie
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

4
Totally charming novel -- highly recommend.

Linda
The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman

5
Excellent book that keeps you reading! For anyone who ever wanted or had a child, this heartwrenching novel will have you holding your breath and counting your blessings.

Arin
America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

5
A wonderful historical fiction book about Patsy Jefferson, daughter of Thomas Jefferson. She took care of her father after the death of her mother, and also during his time as President. Many called her the First Daughter because she took on duties that the First Lady would typically do. The fictional account includes the story about her life as a young woman, and her life married. A long book, but really well written and keeps you turning the pages.

Marilyn
Sister by Rosamund Lupton

4
A suspense-filled mystery with a surprising twist at the end -- not for the faint of heart!

Brady
Wild Life: Adventures of an Evolutionary Biologist by Robert Trivers

3
Got this thinking I would learn something about biology. I did, somewhat, as the ending chapters talked about "movers" in his industry and it was boring to me. This is an autobiography and talks a lot about his specialty, which is learning about lizards and particularly those that live in Jamaica. I did glean that his occupation does not pay well as he was eternally short of funds. He associated with some salty characters in his past and that perked up the interest at times.

Jennifer
The Atonement by Beverly Lewis

5
This is the first book I've read by Ms. Lewis. I have to ask myself... what was I thinking by not reading her books before this! I like reading Amish fiction because it is so different than what my life is like. Ms. Lewis has a knack for great storytelling. There is a flow and smoothness to her words which are almost soothing. I read this book so fast, before I knew it I was on the last chapter and not wanting it to end! I received a print copy of this book from Bethany House via Bookreporter.com for my honest review.

Jennifer
Deliver Her by Patricia Perry Donovan

5
DELIVER HER is a great book. I like books with family relationship issues and this one definitely fits the bill -- Alex, with all of her problems, which expand exponentially due to things out of her control, Meg as a mother to Alex, and of course the transporter. This was a fast read for me, and I enjoyed the areas of suspense/mystery. I definitely could see a series coming from this book from the view of the Transporter.

Jennifer
The Sparrow Sisters by Ellen Herrick

5
This was the first time I rated a book while in the midst of reading it. I love it. I'm enamored and have to keep reading. There is a flow to this story which is almost magical. And I believe if you are a reader of Sarah Addison Allen's books, then you will love this story. After finishing reading the book: I fell in love with the menagerie of characters contained in this book. This is definitely a favorite of mine now, and I will patiently wait for Sorrel's story.

Hedwig
Daughter of Albion by Ilka Tampke

4
I decided to read this after a review compared it to the Crystal Caves by Mary Stewart which is the best book written on the Merlin/King Author Legends.( written late 70's or early 80's) It is a very good attempt by a new author about ancient Britain. More to do with the Mothers (Mist of Avalon)/and Druids. It is the first book with a sequel in the works. Will definitely read when it comes out. It is a mystical story.

Thomas
NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp

5
Excellent book to read. I enjoyed it very much.

Thomas
Private Paris by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

3
I enjoyed reading the book very much.

Thomas
Corrupted by Lisa Scottoline

5
I enjoyed the book very much.

Lynn W
When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin

3
Don't you just love the title? The plot was a bit far-fetched, the characters and the ending are "perfect", but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Gerry
Descent by Tim Johnston

3
3-1/2 stars. Interesting novel about a family in the aftermath of tragedy involving both their children. While the two teens are training on a mountain road (she running, he biking) an incident occurs that leaves the boy badly injured and the girl missing. Would have been four stars but for two problems that lowered my rating: (1) overuse of he, she, the boy, the girl, in place of characters' names, so that too often it took several minutes to figure out just who was speaking or acting, (2) jarring transitions from present to past and back again which, coupled with the uncertainty about which characters were involved, made the plot challenging to follow at times.

Gerry
This Census-Taker by China Mieville

3
I'm not sure what to say about this one. I read the first chapter online, and was immediately intrigued. The rest of the book was interesting, but there was always something missing. I kept waiting for some big event, a major turning point in the child's life, and when it came, it was presented in such a vague, nondescript way -- just underwhelming. The description on the fly-leaf says, "filled with beauty, terror, and strangeness, THIS CENSUS-TAKER is a poignant and riveting exploration of memory and identity", and just reinforces my sense that I missed something.

Gerry
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

4
Volume 1 of the Southern Reach Trilogy begins the tale of events in Area X, a location where some mysterious event caused the destruction of a wide swath of land which is now cordoned off and monitored by government officials. Though I have more questions than answers about what is happening in Area X, I enjoyed this first volume of the trilogy enough that I immediately moved on to the sequel, AUTHORITY. The writing is engaging and creates a creepy atmosphere that pulled me in right away. Characters remain mysterious, as do events in this story, but the world VanderMeer has created is very interesting to explore.

Gerry
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

4
Volume Two of the Southern Reach trilogy maintained the level of intriguing mystery created in the first book. I still have more questions than answers, and am diving right in to volume three, ACCEPTANCE.

PATTY
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
Funny, delightful story of a man and his sorrows in life.

patty
Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

4
A book about Huntington's Disease and how it affects a family.

Bill
Extreme Prey by John Sandford

5
Lucas Davenport, sick of the bureaucratic baloney he dealt with while in the employ of Minnesota law enforcement, is called into action by his former boss, the governor of Minnesota now running for U.S. president. On the campaign trail in Iowa the governor encounters a citizen who cryptically suggests he move his political views more toward the middle in case "something happens" to his chief opponent. Lucas is called in to investigate the matter and the fun begins. Lucas joins forces with law enforcement and the candidates' security teams to determine if the threat is real and, if so, track down the likely assassins. John Sandford is his usual skillful self as the dialogue is outstanding, the characters realistic, and the plot is terrific.

Kimiko
Shadow Fall by Laura Griffin

5
This is Book 9 of the Tracers Series, which I just discovered. Great FBI read and inspires me to read all the other books in this series.

Michael
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

4
I enjoyed this book for the most part. There is one glaring plot hole that bothered me throughout (I can't identify it without spoilers and I don't do spoilers), but the story was pretty fun. The post-apocalyptic YA genre is getting very old and I am not sure why I chose to read this book. (Wanted to read it before the movie maybe?) Now, having said that, this story is fun with some plot twists I did not see coming. It is obviously a series as the book doesn't tie things up by the end. Not sure I am going to continue with the series...the jury is still out.

Nancy
The Visionist by Rachel Urquhart

4
A local Shaker community becomes the home of Polly and Tom Kimball after Polly sets fire to her home and her father dies in the fire. Polly had been abused by her father and has nightmares about it. These experiences become the basis for her first vision and the reason she's identified as a Visionist. Much is revealed about Shaker community life as Polly begins to adjust to her new surroundings. Told by the three main characters, the story picks up the pace and rushes toward an ending little suspected at the beginning of the book.

Phyllis
Eat Well To Be Well: Living Your Best Life Through the Power of Anti-Inflammatory Food by Jan Tilley

5
The book is very informational about eating well to manage and reduce inflammation, sleep problems, stress and other hazards of modern life. The information is based on scientific research and is easy to understand. There are lots of healthy, easy to prepare and delicious menus and several charts to help the reader on their way to a better lifestyle. This is a good book to read if you are interested in focusing on wellness in your life. I did receive a copy of the book and was requested to leave an honest review.

Kathy
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
A heartwarming and entertaining book about a lonely man (Ove) and the people that change his life. I laughed and cried reading this book, and have recommended it to all my reading friends.

Ronnie
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

4
Beautifully paced book about 1930s Texan boys, Mexico, and horses. Lots of horses. And love.

Maureen
The Martian by Andy Weir

5
For such a challenging topic as space travel and the planet of Mars, our group found this book a very entertaining as well as educational read. Several in our group, myself included, are science teachers. One of my projects with my Anatomy and Physiology class was to complete a project describing the effects of travel to Mars on the human body. My students were to take a system of the body, research and report on their findings. The work was being done as our book club was reading the novel. Excellent read -- would suggest reading first before seeing the film.

Wendy
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

5
Great.

Vikki
Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen

3
Sometimes Anna Quindlen stories are just amazing, and then there are others that I struggle to get through. There is a lot of detail, which, while I'm reading I'm hoping is leading somewhere, but this didn't happen with this MILLER'S VALLEY. ONE TRUE THING and EVERY LAST ONE are my favorite Anna Quindlen books.

Kathy Hill
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

5
Our book club originally read this book in 2012. We are currently re-reading some of our favorites. Two of our members spent a week on a small tour boat, the 'Amatistain', in the Amazon last fall. Another of our members is also a pharmacist and added much about the process of drug research and production. Their stories along with the rereading of this book made the book so much more relevant for us the 2nd time. We all loved the book!

Josie
Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen

5
This is a book that "wraps itself around you". The Miller family is fighting for its land and its soul. The story is told by Mimi Miller, a keen observationist, who tells her family's saga from her teenage years to adulthood. This is a poignant story which you will want to share with your friends.

Mary
Heart of Dixie by Tami Hoag

4
This is an older romance of Hoag's. It is a sweet story about the beauty that is within.

Sandra
Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger

4
This is the first book in this series set in Minnesota. I love the character of Cork O'Connor, ex-sheriff, and flawed human. The Minnesota winter plays a large part in the story. I have already purchased the rest of the series.

Judith
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

5
Our reading group loved this book! There were many levels of meaning to discuss lying behind the narrative. This was yet another poignant glimpse into what the last generation suffered during WWII, a popular publishing theme lately. Many of us felt bad that the story did not have a more romantic ending, but that would have been too contrived, and the reality of wartime only rarely made for storybook endings.

Elaine
The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella

5
I was hooked from the second page. The story is so true to what probably happened. The characters are rich and so is the prose. I finished the book in one day and started to read it again. The story takes place in Naples, Italy during the second WW and during the occupation of the Allied Forces. It has humor, love, a little bit of naughtiness and is sad. It depicts the inhumane treatment of the occupied territory. I have suggested it for our book club and the answer was a resounding yes.

Esther
The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne

4
I really liked this book. I enjoy books where the story moves from one time period to another. In this case from 1917 Russia to post WWI Paris to 1980s London. The author keeps you guessing and combines fiction with real life events.

Maryann
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

5
I always love books about strong, independent women. Paula McLain is one of my favorite authors. She is just an amazing storyteller.

Ruth
Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr

5
Anthony Doerr is an outstanding author. Once you read a book by him you will want to read everything he has written.

SUSAN
The Cottage by Danielle Steel

5
A classic realistic story about three men in crisis.

Kay
Infinite Home by Kathleen Alcott

4
I always enjoy books about created families and this one is no exception. Even though I was initially put off by the very short chapters, I did fall into the rhythm of the well written prose and the sharp, detailed character development.

Kelley
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

5
I loved this book. Eilis's journey to America was fascinating. Her journey from Ireland to America was fraught with uncertainty. The journey encapsulates what many others experienced when exiled from home.

Rita
The Last Child by John Hart

4
This is the first Hart book I read. I really enjoyed it. You think you're at the end of the story and something else happens, and you realize you still have another 100 pages to go.

Deb
Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom

4
A book I did not expect to be so suspenseful with unexpected twists and turns. It portrayed an entirely different Underground Railroad from what 'history' has given us.

shannon
My Name is Resolute by Nancy E. Turner

5
An incredible piece of historical fiction - both the story and the storytelling!

Joyce
Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom

4
Wonderful sequel to THE KITCHEN HOUSE. Lovely characters, engrossing storyline.

Jodie
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

4
I waited to review this book until after we discussed it at book group. It was a rough read but fascinating. I expected our discussion to be lively, but alas the violence was a bit much for a few in our group. I can respect that. It has been a while since my brain has been stimulated the way THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR asked me to use my imagination and it was a good exercise. Science fiction authors amaze me with their ability to create a story. It felt like a scary dream that I should understand but couldn't digest all that was being shared. I'll probably need to read it again.

Judy O.
Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany

5
Two little girls are given up by their young mother. Eventually the littlest one is adopted out to a good family. The older girl goes through a series of foster homes before she "ages out" and learns to fend for herself. What happens to these two girls and what becomes of the mother who left them is the crux of this story. Great book!

Elaine
Cover Her Face by P. D. James

4
This was the first book in the Adam Dalgliech series. It details the investigation of the death of a young, ambitious maid. Having read other books in the series, it was interesting to notice how both Dalgliech and James have matured since this first book. Two interesting facts about this novel are that James considers this book to be her least favorite among the series and that the character does not resemble anybody she knows but that he possess the qualities she admires in a man - sensitivity, courage, and intelligence.

Shannon
What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

5
This book was one of the most powerful books about rape culture and victim shaming I've read, and I think it should be on the to-be read list of every preteen and teenage girl AND boy.

Heidi
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
A funny and life-affirming story with characters that stay with you long after you have finished the book.

Karen
The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell

3
It took a while to catch my interest but by the end I was reading quickly toward the finish. The characters experience many hardships but survive due to resiliency.

joy
The Face by Dean Koontz

4
Loved the book. It was sort of a 3-in-1 running in same time frame, so you had to make it to the end to see where it was going. Was worth the wait.

joy
From the Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz

4
This book was worth reading a second time. The characters were great together, but I did not know where the story was going til the very end -- which I loved.

joy
One Door Away from Heaven by Dean Koontz

4
When I enjoy an author I try to read all the books they write. I loved everything about this book, even the sad parts.

joy
Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz

1
I hated this book -- so 0 stars. I always finish a book. I always try to read all the books by authors I like. I would not suggest this book to anyone. It had me going for a while because I was thinking things were going in a direction that I was hoping for, but finally at the end things went downhill and with an odd ending, almost like the author forgot where he was going.

joy
The Talking by Dean Koontz

4
I read all books listed by authors I like. I really enjoyed this book. Some of Koontz's books have a dog in them who is more than just a dog -- sort of a spiritual being. Would recommend this book to people who love Koontz. He spans from supernatural to mystery.

Carroll
Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon

4
I continue to enjoy this series! In this newest book for Jan Karon, Lace Harper and Dooley Kavenaugh are preparing to have a "simple" wedding, or so they think. Have a tissue on hand as you enjoy the preparations for the wedding and a newcomer to their family!

Maleen
Bettyville by George Hodgman

4
A memoir and first book by Hodgman - an editor in NYC who has fallen out of work. He comes home to Paris, MO, to care for his 91-year-old mother - a fiesty woman full of wit and will as well as dementia and lymphoma. The beautifully-crafted memoir is at once both funny and poignant. Hodgmen struggles with secrets around being gay, and Betty cannot reveal her feelings about her George and hopes he will "get over" being gay. Both are very lovable and deliberate characters whose different worlds collide as they both realize that their home is the "place" where they both belong. One finishes the book having experienced a story of life and love and loyalty.

Betty
Condominium by John D. MacDonald

5
WOW! What a great read! Suspense on every page, building to almost painful...will it or won't it? Greed and money-grubbing to spare. High-rises right on the ocean in hurricane country -- corners were cut -- people unaware of the consequences, silly people who refused to believe the obvious. I have read many of Mr. MacDonald's books and I hope I can read many more.

LINDA
The Bad Boy and the Billionaire by Alyse Zaftig

4
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved Ben, Sarah and Raphael's story! Sarah Castillo is one of the toughest lawyers in New York and many were fooled by her tiny size. She and Raphael had met in another country and with him being a man whore she didn't take his propositions seriously. When billionaire Ben Lavi asked her to fly across the world to get his best friend out of yet another bad situation she agreed to help her friend and give him some serious talk or a fist or two! Ben Arvil was a party animal, thanks to investing in his best friend's company, but this time he was in deep trouble as her found a blonde dead in his bed and the cop's caught him smoking a joint! Ben Lavi had a thing for Sarah.

Laurice
The Decent Proposal by Kemper Donovan

4
Funny and insightful.

Raylene
Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth

4
It's amazing that the human race has been able to survive considering all the horrors associated with childbirth. Thank goodness for midwives who, for some time, knew more than doctors and were the tough cookies who saved so many lives. They trained some GPs! Lots of interesting medical info.

Norene
Solitude Creek by Jeffery Deaver

4
I loved it. I am a new Jeffery Deaver fan.

Jud
No Shred of Evidence by Charles Todd

4
NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE by Charles Todd is a first-class British mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Set in the years following WW I, Todd has done a yeoman’s job of taking the reader back to the early 20th century, before computers and DNA, when investigating a murder mean hitting the streets instead of tapping on keys. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the 1920’s British countryside where loyalties run deep and secrets are numerous. I won’t be able to read the rest of the series fast enough.

Louise
Scandalous Behavior by Stuart Woods

4
Delightful reading.

Debbie
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

4
A World War II setting jumps into territory explored too often, but Anthony Doerr's story of France during WWII displays a different angle. Marie-Laure LeBlanc and Werner Pfenning run a parallel course throughout the siege of Saint-Malo with the reader wondering if these two lost souls will ever meet. Marie-Laure blindly faces the war's obstacles as she and her great uncle, Etienne LeBlanc, wait for the return of Daniel LeBlanc. Werner, an orphan, blunders through military training in order to utilize his mechanical skills. Doerr presents two children, forced into adulthood by the war, with compassion and simplicity. The description of Etienne's house in Saint-Malo shows a hidden world destroyed by an earlier war.

Tessa B C
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walters

4
What a delightful story! Moving back and forth in time, and with multiple styles and points of view, Walter has crafted a love story with wide appeal. The twists and turns in the story stretched the bounds of credulity, but I didn’t care. I was engaged and entertained from page one, and was so sorry to see it end.

Jud
Powerless by Tim Washburn

3
In POWERLESS, a coronal mass ejection from our sun of a size seen only once before, strikes the Earth without warning. In less than a day, virtually all technology on Earth is disabled. Satellites fail and commerce ceases. Nuclear reactors are on the verge of meltdown. At the same time, the radical government of Iran moves forward with a plan to destroy Israel once and for all. The United States government, already trying to avert a total societal collapse, must decide where to best use its limited resources, at home or abroad. The final decision lies with the President and what he decides will have far-reaching effects as the U.S. tries to rebuild. This book was well worth the read and made me think about my own dependence on technology.

Bonnie
The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

3
Entertaining enough novel, but not particularly memorable.

Emily
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

4
If you're a fan of Mindy Kaling, you'll love this look into her life. If you're not familiar with Mindy, you'll still appreciate her hilarious perspective on love, life, and her love life. A series of short essays, the book is easily digested but full of "serious" thoughts.

Debbie
The Summer's End by Mary Alice Monroe

2
The Lowcountry Summer series promised a trilogy, and now a fourth book enters the market. I only read the three books for a Southern themed book club, and haven't decided if another installation merits my time. Mary Alice Monroe writes too Southern with all the Southern platitudes falling off her characters' tongues. A few bad times enter the picture for Dora, Carson, and Harper, but redemption and forgiveness quickly follow. This story centers on Harper and her growing independence from a hateful mother and from a meek character. Monroe must constantly throw in Carson and her wayward fight with life. Maybe the author relates more with Carson, but Carson is not a character I enjoy.

Elizabeth
Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline

2
MOST WANTED is missing the thrills that Scottoline books normally begin with at the beginning. If you're looking for thrills, you can skip the couple hundred pages that describe the lean and muscular husband, the wonderful best friend, trips to the doctor's office, disagreements between husband and wife, and manipulation by an innocent or guilty man. After a couple hundred pages, although thrills begin during an investigation into that man's innocence or guilt, I was so sick of the stupid main character allowing herself to be manipulated, it was too late for me. Whether it turned out she was right or wrong, she did one stupid thing after another so I didn't even care by then.

Lynn W
My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop by Ronald Rice, Editor

4
This was a fun book to read. Some authors were serious, but others were hilarious when describing their favorite independent bookstores. The person who sent this book to me said she was going to visit all the stores in her state. What a good idea!

LINDA
Beyond the Shadows (Book 1) by Anna Hub

4
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Book One of The Shadow Series starts with Selena Parker and her family having dinner at a restaurant when she saw a man staring at her strangely. She decided that she needed to get away from the tense dinner and excused herself to go to the ladies room, but instead she went out to the patio for some air, but the man followed her. Then next thing he said was to be aware of the shadows as they were after her. She quickly left him fearing he was totally nuts, but days later she started having nightmares about running in a forest naked and afraid!

Sean
Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich

2
So, I'll start off saying that parts of this were very good. Sadly though, there were way too many parts. Constant characters' introductions all throughout the novel marred what had the possibility to be decent. The twists were obvious and the main character's reaction to them was soooo subdued it drove me nuts. Overall, the writer had a ton of good ideas but needed to be reigned in.

Melanie S.
Fever by Mary Beth Keane

4
Historical fiction novel written about the real-life "Typhoid Mary". I learned much about this person who lived in the late 1800s-early 1900s as a carrier of the typhus bacteria but was never ill herself. As a cook working in homes of the wealthy she initially unknowingly spread the illness through the food she prepared. Once she was discovered to be the link between those who became ill, she was quarantined for years in a hospital and on an island in NYC. There is much to think about the choices Mary made upon her release from quarantine. A worthwhile read and listen as I read both the print version and also listened on audiobook. Should make for a lively book discussion at the library next week!