This contest period's winners were Beatrice P., Cecile V. and Shirley M., who each received a copy of ALL THE MISSING GIRLS by Megan Miranda and FIRST COMES LOVE by Emily Giffin.
Sandra
In the Land of Dreamy Dreams by Ellen Gilchrist
A fabulous book of short stories. I wish I had discovered Ellen Gilchrist earlier in life.
Rosa
The Crooked Heart of Mercy by Billie Livingston
This book took my breath away. It is the story of Maggie and Ben, grieving parents whose 2-year-old son has just died. The story is told in alternating chapters from Maggie's and Ben's perspectives, and the writing is clever, darkly witty, and poetic. As the two work through their grief, we learn about their troubled childhoods and what led them to each other. I was completely immersed in the story and didn't want the book to end. As tragic as the story was, I was left with an immense feeling of hope in the end.
Diana
The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman
The book deals with the problems of a grandmother with cognitive impairment, her daughter with financial and work related problems, and a granddaughter planning a future she doesn't want because she feels guilty about being a financial burden. Each of the women has a charm bracelet and much of the storyline revolves about the meanings of each charm.The book is charming but not cloyingly sentimental. The plotted love story was contrived but sweet, and it is a lovely summer read.
Marsha
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
This heartwarming story just reminds us that all of us need to be needed and loved. It is never too late to make yourself useful to others. You will be reap more than the receiver.
Lori
The Queen's Accomplice by Susan Elia MacNeal
I have been reading and enjoying all of the Maggie Hope series and was pleased to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of her latest. I have to say that I think the title is a misnomer. In any event, I enjoyed the book as much as the others except for two things: I didn't like the graphic violence (which was unavoidable), and the ending wasn't conclusive. It clearly left major plot lines hanging, and I resent having to wait at least several months until the next “episode”. As always, I enjoyed MacNeal's writing and characters. I enjoyed learning more about the history of the time period. I recommend the book, but I do not consider it a stand-alone book. One must read each book of the series in order written to appreciate it.
Mary
Desperate by Daniel Palmer
My first read by this author, son of author Michael Palmer. A good thriller! I will definitely pick up another novel by D. Palmer!
Hailey
Biglaw by Lindsay Cameron
I was hesitant at first to read this book, but I'm so glad I read it. Lindsay paints a picture of a girl who just wants to get the credit she rightfully deserves after all the hard work she has had to endure as well as being verbally abused by her superiors. Reading BIGLAW reminded me of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA by Lauren Weisberger because (in my opinion) Miranda Priestly was like Saul Siever, except the fact she was female. The way Lindsay Cameron wrote, I was able to follow the story and get to experience the ins and outs of working as a lawyer and rooting for Mackenzie that she makes it to the finish line.
Ba
Bettyville by George Hodgman
Love how his life as a gay man is finally entwined with that of his aged mother when he comes home to rural MO to care for her, leaving behind his sophisticated literary world in NY.
Susan
Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin
I enjoyed the book. The author did a great job of developing the characters and the storyline. I would recommend this book if you like mystery or suspense books.
Marcy
The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela
A fascinating, hard-to-put-down book about multiculturalism, today and 100 years ago.
Jane
Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom
This sequel to THE KITCHEN HOUSE tells the story of Belle's son Jamie. Passing for white in 1830s Philadelphia, Jamie is living in fear of being caught. He is a successful silversmith and painter. His life gets increasingly complex. He gets a white woman pregnant. The boy he is raising as a free servant is taken by slavers. He goes South to rescue the boy and is forced to face the truth about his past and the mores of the time. Although the author allows more than one convenient coincidence move the story along, she shows deep insight into the times and develops the characters. I enjoyed this book.
Jayme Gruden
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
I thought the idea of the book was interesting – a humorous story about two average guys trying to hike the Appalachian Trail - but it wasn’t funny. Bryson comes across as an arrogant man who doesn’t like the South, and as a Southerner I was a bit offended by the countless references to “Deliverance” and our Southern stupidity. I did give it two stars because I did enjoy reading about the history of the Appalachian Trail and the National Park Service’s stewardship of the trail. Overall, I found myself annoyed with the whining and complaining of an author who writes a book about hiking the Appalachian Trail, but doesn’t finish half of it. The book was a disappointment.
Jayme
Girl at War by Sara Novic
This is a riveting story of war as seen through the eyes of a young girl/woman as she tries to understand and survive her past while creating her future. Highly recommend.
Nancy
The Children Return: A Bruno, Chief of Police Novel by Martin Walker
This is the best of the series so far -- and every one of them has been worth reading! (If you haven't read any of them, do start with the first, for some stories in that one continue to unfold.) Set in the enchanting village the author created in southern France, this book focuses on jihadists, an autistic child who disappears mysteriously, and the series' ongoing thread of Bruno's love interests. Bruno believes that the spirit of the law comes before the letter of the law -- and practices that with his usual compassion. True to the series, the narrative includes a couple of recipes and some wine history. Walker's background of international work serves him well as he explains and weaves in politics and culture into the story.
Susan
Constant Fear by Daniel Palmer
As always, Palmer's emphasis is on how far will we go to protect the ones we love. A single father takes a job as a custodian at an elite private school when an injury ends his pro baseball career in order to insure a safe and enriching environment for his son. As the years progress, he becomes more and more obsessed with the prepper ideology while his son becomes involved with a circle of computer whiz kids with similar ideology. Put off by the cavalier attitudes of their peers' conspicuous consumption they become computer Robin Hoods. However, when one of them picks the wrong account belonging to a drug cartel kingpin, their young lives take an unexpected turn. The hackers are hacked and it will take one prepper dad to save them.
kathleen
The Children by Ann Leary
Excellent read, local setting, realistic yet sensitive. The characters are great.
Suzanne
Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica
This one starts off rather slowly, but stick with it because the payoff is worth it.
Nina Morse
June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore
A combination of mystery, love and history make this an enjoyable read.The time frame shifts between the past and the present to make this a page-turner.
Susan
The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews
As always, a fun summer read by Mary Kay Andrews.
Bev
Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler
Butler's book is a sweet lovesong to friendship and to the Midwest. His language is lyrical, his story arc compelling and his characters believable. Read SHOTGUN LOVESONGS and you'll find yourself reaffirming who and what is important in you life and reflecting on the people and times that led you to now.
Katherine
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
This was a great read that I didn't want to put down. Lots of twists and turns in a classic who-dun-it and why?? The suspense built throughout. This is a book that I won't soon forget. I can see it as a movie someday. Great!
Penelope
The Sweetness of Tears by Nafisa Haji
An emotionally-charged novel about prejudice and forbidden love. The book is written going back and forth between characters as they tell their story. The character development was good and the story engaging.
Rosemary
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
What obstacles can be overcome!
Patricia
Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher
I am revisiting the books of Rosamunde Pilcher written mostly in the 1980s. They are set around the time of World War II in Cornwall. This book is a big family saga, a light romance. I love the descriptions of the countryside, the homes from that era, the intriguing relationships. Hard to put down once I started reading!
Judith
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
I knew the minute I opened this book that I was going to be taken on the most engaging and exciting ride that I have experienced in quite a while. In this ordinary widower's life, Arthur Pepper discovers a charm bracelet that belonged to his wife before he knew her, and he bravely sets out to learn everything about the charm bracelet, and about his wife, and along the way, discovering things about himself. It is quite beautiful in this day and time.
S
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Our book club pick for July. A man decides to hand deliver a letter by walking across England.
Helen Duncan
Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall
Understood to be a favorite with book clubs but didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to find this to be a memoir. It's quite different, touching, and a moving account of two people with little in common who find meaning and inspiration in each other's lives.
Helen Duncan
The Heartless Stone: A Journey Through the World of Diamonds, Deceit and Desire by Tom Zoellner
A very readable account of everything you ever wanted to know about diamonds. If you read this you will never think of diamonds in the same way again, and it might save you a lot of money!
Helen
The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh
A UK bestseller about an impoverished but spoiled girl who opts to marry a stranger in South Africa rather than become a nursemaid in the household of her British kin. This takes place in the late 19th century and deals with diamond mining and all the horrors due to race and money-grubbing. I can't do it justice here but it's a very worthwhile read with an interesting romance to boot.
Sandra Canales
End of Watch by Stephen King
This is the 3rd book in the exciting trilogy of Detective Bill Hodges that began with MR. MERCEDES. This concluded in a fantastic and eerily Stephen King way. I loved it. It was a good read and I couldn't put it down. Go out and read it already. You will not be disappointed.
Phyllis
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith
If you like historical fiction, Golden Age of Dutch art and forgery, this book is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed the author's style and descriptive writing of three girls on three continents, in three different centuries. The author seamlessly moved between all of their stories. Highly recommended.
Becky
Arrowood by Laura McHugh
ARROWOOD is a Gothic thriller that starts slowly with mounting eeriness as the main character, Arden Arrowood, is slowly revealed along with the tragedies in her life. Her twin sisters disappeared while she, only 8 years old, was supposed to be watching them. Arden has scars, both physical and mental, from this and other traumas in her past life.
Betty
Dancing Dogs by Jon Katz
A charming collection of dog stories. I enjoyed this book -- some stories to make you smile, some to bring a tear to you eye. Well worth reading for any dog lover like me, and perhaps you.
Bridget
Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom
The follow up to THE KITCHEN HOUSE. Tells what happened to some of the characters after. Very good, but very sad. How hard life was back then!
Cheryll Powning
The Stranger by Harlan Coben
This is one book I enjoyed reading from beginning to end!
Wanda
Flying by Paula Helfrich and Rebecca Sprecher
The novel is written by a Pan Am stewardess. It's a great history story about flying. We read this for our book club and the author was able to FaceTime with us. We were able to ask her several questions and she also emailed me photos.
Sharon
The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood
Moving between 1919 and 1961, Hood entertains the lives of Clair and Vivien, the losses, the joys, the griefs, the betrayals and the joys.
Kathy
Only in Naples: Lessons in Food and Famiglia from My Italian Mother-in-Law by Katherine Wilson
This is a book I'm sharing with my sisters. Even though none of us cook much anymore (one of the perks of aging), the author's descriptions of the meals being prepared and her growing relationship with her future husband make for a light and entertaining read. Even the recipes included in the back are filled with humorous asides.
Tessa B C
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson
The Hunt sisters couldn’t be more different. Olivia is a Hollywood producer, Maddie is happily married to her high-school sweetheart and still lives in the small town where they grew up. The novel is comprised of a series of letters, emails, faxes, and telegrams from Olivia to her sister, parents, brother, best friend, ex-boyfriend, and a variety of professionals. I was pretty irritated with Olivia through much of the first half of the novel, but over time I began to admire her spirit, her tireless efforts to rekindle her career, to try to set things right with her friends, parents, siblings, ex-boyfriend, colleagues, etc.
Becky
The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko by Scott Stambach
Did I enjoy this book? Hmmm, not so much. Was it compelling reading? Oh yes, absolutely!
Ivan is a teenage boy in a grotesquely deformed body, the result of radiation from a malfunctioning Russian nuclear plant. His mind, however, functions perfectly. Trapped in a deformed body in a rundown hospital, Ivan entertains himself by being as obnoxious as possible until he meets Polina, a recently orphaned teenage girl suffering from a rapidly advancing cancer.
We watch as Ivan and Polina react to each other, their suffocating community and their medical conditions in an unforgiving tale of self-worth, alienation, wonder, love, frustration, ineptness, caring, hope and resignation.
Mary Lou
The Last Midwife by Sandra Dallas
I finished THE LAST MIDWIFE by Sandra Dallas. I loved the setting, in what they call the Tenmile range in the Colorado Rockies. The descriptions of the sunrises and sunsets, the lovely flowers that grow in the high country, the trees and mountain sounds, all of it takes me back to my days in Georgetown, a town that even gets a mention in the book. The locale was so vividly drawn as to be one of the characters in the book. The story was intriguing, with lots of twists and turns, and surprises too, although I had figured out all but one by the end. There was one that was was a bit far-fetched, but no spoilers, so I won’t go into it. Also, the book had a strong theme of forgiveness and love, which was pleasant and comforting. Good summer read.
Debbie
Sidney Chambers and The Problem of Evil by James Runcie
This is my third Grantchester books, and the book seemed dreary and uneventful. I felt the book contained too much preaching and not enough action for a mystery. I have decided to give James Runcie a rest and not continue the Grantchester mysteries, for a while. Runcie provokes religious and life searching questions which would be better served in a different genre. In this book, Sidney seems caught up in his own problems and feelings, such as he a good pastor or a good husband or a good man. I felt cheated and wondered where did the real Sidney go. Maybe the next book will be better, but this reader will read other books before returning to Granchester.
Laurie
Gridley Girls by Meredith First
Engrossing! This book grabbed me and didn’t let me go until it was over! This author’s writing was outstanding! It was so much fun to read about these four friends, Meg, who is the main character, and her three other friends Anne, Jennifer, and Tonya, who all made these four girls also known as, ‘The Group’. This started to take place during 1978, and it also happened that I was the same ages as these friends during that same time! It was ‘my era’, too, and I think this is one of the reasons why I had so much fun while reading this! Being the same age also brought with it references to the same things I loved as much as these characters loved! If you would like to revisit the 70 and women's fiction then this is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Laurie
What We Find by Robyn Carr
Maggie, the main character in this series, comes back home to a place called Sullivan’s Crossing, a place her grandfathers and father made for hikers, campers, anyone who wanted to stay, to recharge, shower, shop, stay in a cabin for a day, or a week! Many people use this place to get on and start to hike on the Colorado Trail, or to continue their hike. This place can be used for so many things, it’s an ideal place for some rest and relaxation, and this is why Maggie came back home here to be with her father, Sully, for a while. Maggie needs a change of pace and time to reflect on her life at the moment, and perhaps even escape it a little bit. This is a very enjoyable change of pace to read about hikers and campers. HIGHLY recommended!
Laurie Carlson
Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts
I love this Guardians Trilogy! This is Book Two of the trilogy, and yes, I would suggest to read this trilogy in order so you can keep up with the way the stars are or are not found, but there are other things to read you will want to keep in order. With the first book in this series, STARS OF FORTUNE, I fell in love reading it! The same thing is true with this second book in this trilogy, BOOK OF SIGHS. You can completely lose yourself into another world and enjoy the fantasy world, even if it is dangerous at times. I loved reading the most about the mermaid who had been turned into a human being, but only for three turns of the moon before her human legs would no longer be hers. Matters of the heart arise, too! HIGHLY recommended!
Laurie Carlson
Amy Snow by Tracy Rees
This is a debut historical fiction book with a very promising storyline, if you can first get past the horrible circumstances she was born into and lived in for a short while until she was old enough to move out of the cold and uncaring home she was raised in. The only person who showed they cared for her was an 8-year-old little girl herself! Can you imagine, though, being 8 years old and finding a barely living baby outside in the snow, all blue, barely alive, bringing it indoors and showing it to your parents but having them banish this child out of their home? The rest of the story follows her through her lifetime and this is a very enjoyable read! Highly recommended.
Laurie
The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell
I happen to LOVE Lisa Jewell’s writing. While reading her books, she has a way of pulling us, the reader, into her books so easily and we just get lost inside of them, and yep, there I was! Lost inside this book, enjoying it VERY much! This book starts off with two sisters, Pip and Grace, lovely girls, and their sense of adventure really makes you just love these girls even more! You can’t help but to feel as deeply as these two sisters do, and even their mother, Clare, loves these girls so much. Take Pip, for example. All she wanted in the beginning of the book was to see her father. She remembered the good times about them growing up, unlike Grace and their mother who did not quite remember things the way Pip did. HIGHLY recommended!
Laurie Carlson
Liar, Liar (Helen Grace Thriller, #4) by M. J. Arlidge
I never would have guessed who the Arsonist was in this book! WOW! This author kept us guessing until the VERY end of this book! This end of this book had so many twists and turns.And it was long. I think it was one of the most exciting novels in this series yet! Yes, this is another outstanding thriller written by the Master of thrillers, M. J. Arlidge! It’s as if it’s nothing for this author to pen these books, they read so easily and keep us so glued to the pages! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
LINDA
Dead Running by Cami Checketts
I won this book from the author. Cassidy Christensen would never forget that night when some scary goon killed her dad as he told her to run. Instead she called the police as she rushed to help he dad, but the goon had a gun but she had to do something. Now, with both parents gone, she was running from mercenaries that wanted her dead too and she had no clue why. DEAD RUNNING is a fast-paced page-turner and a must-read!
Jan
The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
This is a cut above the usual "romance" novel. It is about a 38-year-old woman with early onset Alzheimer's Disease. There is no clear insight into AD such as we got in STILL ALICE. There is very little character development but there is romance, and a widow whose husband stole money from everyone. The hunky guy rescues the widow. The widow persuades the families to let the two young people with AD stay together. I kept reading hoping for better. It is not there.
LINDA
Drawing Amanda by Stephanie Feuer
I won this book two years ago and thought it was lost due to computer crashes. Michael "Inky" Kahn had messed up his chance to go to art school with his friends by failing his subjects at MSD, but he couldn't get over his dad's death in a plane crash and his mom's lack of caring for him. All he had was his art and his only friend, Rungs, as the other kids in school made fun of him. Rungs told him about a site to show his drawings to.
Lynn W
The Feast Nearby by Robin Mather
Loved reading how the author "lost my job, buried a marriage, and found my way by keeping chickens, foraging, preserving, bartering, and eating locally (all on forty dollars a week)."
helen brady
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
A dark, smart mystery you will not want to stop reading.
Hedwig
Extreme Prey by John Sandford
Excellent read. Good to see that we have not lost Lucas Davenport as a character - he is moving in a new direction. Mr. Sanford always writes interesting and current topic books. Looking forward to many more.
Hedwig
City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin
Great finish to the books. You need to read the first two or you will not fully enjoy how the characters have progressed. It moves in great leaps of time. However, I am really tired of sets as I am a big reader and it's becoming hard to keep all the books in order. I think I am going to stick to books that tell one story. I would rather read a thousand pages at once then have to wait three- to four years to finish a series. It has, I think, become a publishing trend to guarantee author sales.
Amy
Troublemaker by Linda Howard
Great book.
Linda
Forget Me by K. A. Harrington
A good book with a lot of suspense. After the hit-and-run death of Morgan’s boyfriend, she went to the internet to leave a memorial message to him. The online program pulled up the face of a stranger who closely resembled Flynn. Was Flynn really alive? If not, who was this stranger who was identical to Flynn? The more Morgan investigates, the more danger she runs into.
Linda
Foreign Agent (A Scot Harvath Thriller) by Brad Thor
With intel delivered via Scot Harvath’s informant in Brussels, a black ops team is sent into Syria to take out a top ISIS figure. Something went horribly wrong and the team was ambushed and killed. Scot finds his informant has been executed by a professional and realizes he has been played. He doesn’t like this, especially when fellow Americans have been killed. He gets information that Russians are involved and one in particular has masterminded hits from within the ISIS organization. Then, the unthinkable happens when a woman scales the White House fence holding an ISIS flag and she blows herself up. Scot knows that he has to find this mastermind now before the terror escalates.
Linda
Haunted Destiny: Krewe of Hunters by Heather Graham
A killer known as the Archangel kills his victims and displays them with their arms crossed and a silver saint medallion around the neck almost hiding the slash mark. The victims are left in a church or on the steps of a church. FBI agent Jude McCoy has been assigned to assist FBI agent Jackson Crow in the investigation. They follow a suspect onto a cruise ship named Destiny that is getting ready to leave the port of New Orleans and heading to the Caribbean. Jude sees the man and soon realizes he is a ghost and was a victim of the Archangel. With the help of ship pianist Alexi Cromwell, Jude and Jackson soon shorten the list of suspected killer to four individuals on the cruise. They have to find him before someone else is murdered.
Linda
His Secretary’s Surprise Fiance by Joanne Rock
Adelaide Thibodeaux had been in love with Dempsey Reynaud ever since she was eight years old and he saved her from schoolyard bullies. They lived in a poor section of town but Dempsey was taken away by his father and grew up in a wealthy family while Adelaide had to work her way through college. Now Dempsey is a coach for a pro-football team and she is his assistant. No one is more surprised than Adelaide when she hears him announce that he is engaged to her. He has always been “all business” to her and never indicated otherwise. Adelaide doesn’t know what to think but she is not pleased.
Linda
Absolute Power by David Baldacci
After working for peanuts as a public defender, Jack Graham is engaged to Jennifer Baldwin, heir to the wealthy Baldwin empire, and has been hired by a prestigious law firm due to the Baldwin name and account. But Jack is not happy. He enjoyed his earlier job and relationship with Kate Whitney, who worked for the prosecutor’s office. He has remained friends with Kate’s father Luther and when Luther calls him for help, Jack is there regardless of how the firm feels about it. Luther has been accused of murder but Jack knows he is incapable of murder. Luther is a burglar and has seen something that has totally shocked him. Hiding behind a one-way mirror during a burglary, he sees a murder being committed by the President's Secret Service.
Linda
Angel's Rest: An Eternity Springs Novel by Emily March
Gabe Callahan has come to a hilltop cabin to grieve in solitude for his wife and son. He soon meets the town veterinarian and is attracted to her. He feels guilty because he doesn’t think he should have feelings for another woman. Nicole Sullivan is attracted to him and feels his pain but knows that he has to get over the past in order to live in the here and now. Did not like the character of Nic as I thought she was too pushy.
Linda
Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon
U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor is stunned when he sees the woman he is assigned to protect. Liz Michaels, the widow of his best friend, is a federal judge whose sister has just been killed and Jake’s boss thinks that the judge was the intended target of the killer. How can Jake do his job when he feels that his friend Doug committed suicide due to problems he had in his marriage to Liz? Jake blames Liz but can’t let his personal feelings interfere with his job.
Linda
Summit Lake by Charlie Donlea
This was an excellent novel deserving of more than 5 stars. Lots of twists and turns you don’t see coming. A young law student was brutally murdered in her parent’s lake house. The case was taken away from the local police and state police have been called in. They are not really looking for the murderer as they say the crime is a burglary gone wrong. Kelsey Castle is an investigative reporter sent to cover the story and she is determined to get to the truth. Kelsey finds out that Becca had a lot of secrets. Did she know something that got her killed?
Linda
Stuck-Up Suit by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
Soraya Venedetta kept staring at the good-looking man across the aisle on the train but he was busy with his phone and did not look up. As he left the train, his phone slipped out of his pocket and she picked it up. When she returned it, she was stunned at his rudeness. But he was stunned at how she talked back to him. No one ever talked back to Graham Morgan or sassed him the way Soraya did. Their romance started from there. Lots of laughs in this book and a good romance thrown in.
Linda
Boar Island: An Anna Pigeon Novel by Nevada Barr
Anna Pigeon is sent to Acadia National Park to fill in as chief ranger. Her friend Heath follows Anna and brings her daughter Elizabeth to get away from threatening emails and texts she is receiving from anonymous persons. But Elizabeth is still receiving threats and the person knows where she is. They are staying on a private island but feel they are not the only ones on the island. In addition, one of the rangers at Acadia has been acting strangely following the murder of a local lobster-man. As Anna begins to look closely at her, this is perceived as a threat by the psychopathic woman and Anna’s life is in danger.
Linda
The Killing Forest by Sara Blaedel
When a young boy is taken to the forest for his initiation ceremony into manhood, something goes wrong and he runs for his life. Hiding out in the forest, he is found by a couple and taken to their home for safety. During the night, he is taken and the couple is targeted as is a police detective who has taken great interest in the boy’s case. She thinks this could be connected with the death of her fiance years ago but she needs proof and no one is talking.
Linda
American Wife: Love, War, Faith, and Renewal by Taya Kyle
Taya Kyle, widow of Chris Kyle, tells her story of life with and without her beloved husband. On February 2, 2013, American hero Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield were shot and killed by Eddie Routh, a troubled vet who they were trying to help. Neither was told just how troubled the man was. Taya had to deal with not only the death of her husband and the raising of their two children but also the problems relating to the company Chris had founded and a lawsuit filed by Jesse Ventura. Along with help of her famly and friends, her strong faith helped her through.
Linda
The Passenger by Lisa Lutz
The book centers around Nora Jo Glass and her use of fictitious names as she runs from town to town. She left her hometown when she was unjustly accused of causing the drowning deaths of two classmates. She left rather than face a trial where she would probably be sent to prison. In Texas, she meets a bartender known as Blue and they exchange identities. She exchanges emails with a man back in her hometown that was her first love but he lied about her driving the car. After years of hiding and using aliases, Jo finally decides to come home and give herself up. She just wants to be herself and is tired of running.
Suzy
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
In the last week we've had lots of rain and I'm unpacking boxes from my storage unit. I read Confessions of a Shopaholic and the next two books in the series in less than a week. Although the series is sort of a law of diminishing returns, the first book is the best in the series, by quite a bit. Our heroine, Becky Bloomwood, is an exasperating, interesting, all too human 20 something single Brit who wants more out of life. Lots more. Becky's more includes lots of shopping and although I'm not much of a shopper I do get a vicarious thrill from all the designer name dropping during Becky's purchases. The extraneous characters are funny and likable and the book (full disclosure) was a great reread.
Becky
What the Lady Wants: A Novel of Marshall Field and the Gilded Age by Renee Rosen
Marshall Field is not the main character, but he, his iconic store and his love affair with socialite Delia Spencer are the reason and impetus for the book. Opening with the Chicago Fire of 1871 that sets in motion the rebuilding of the city and meeting of Delia and Marshall, the novel continues through both of their marriages, the building and rebuilding of Marshall Field and Company and concludes with Delia’s death in 1937. Lovers of the social leaders, business leaders, fashions and homes of the rich and famous during the Gilded Age will love this richly detailed book. Rosen has done her research well and turned it into a fascinating portrayal of the Potters, Palmers, Fields, Pullmans and others.
Bonnie
A Manual for Cleaning Women: Selected Stories by Lucia Berlin
This is a wonderful book of short stories (my favorite is "The Friends"). Berlin has a beautiful way with language and her stories reach the heart.
Fran
Cartel: Book 1 by Lili St. Germain
This was the first in a trilogy. After reading the first one, I have no interest in reading this story line further. I hated the male lead and wasn't buying the "love story" between Mariana and Dornan. I get the whole "Stockholm" syndrome theory but this was entirely too far-fetched. I'm sorry, there is no love if someone just tried to strangle you because you didn't behave while holding you captive. I didn't buy the theory that he "saved" her from a far worse fate and didn't care that the story just stopped as a supposed cliff hanger at the end. I will not be buying the second book in this series.
Suzanne
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Started out really slow but got better...stick with it. The characters are lovable!
Suzanne
The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
Disappointing...very much like STILL ALICE but not as good. Never really felt a connection with the main character.
Susan
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
A wonderful book! Not only did I learn about the sport of rowing in 1936, the 1936 Olympics, but also felt like I personally got to know the young men o the rowing team, their families and coaches. This was a most engaging non-fiction book that read like a novel.
Sheila
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
Excellent book about 9 young men who become a team that enters the Olympics in 1936. This author has a rare ability to keep you on the edge of your seat even though you know what the outcome is!
Cynthia
Room by Emma Donoghue
Intriguing story of a woman and her son held captive in one room. The story is told by the 5-year old boy, reflecting his lack of understanding of the limitations of his captivity.
Beth
The Last Midwife by Sandra Dallas
I really enjoyed this book and the historical information that was woven into the story. It's an interesting tale, with a manslaughter court case, a lifelong love/marriage story, and more. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was that I found the frequent reminiscences of the main character into her past to be distracting from the central story.
Kathy
Thelonious Rising by Judith Richards
Interesting story that takes place during hurricane Katrina. THELONIOUS RISING helps us explore the French Quarter and the Ninth Ward. You'll love the characters!
Connie
Be Frank with Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson
This book was hard to get through because of detail and because the child was so knowledgeable that it was unbelievable. Almost like a fairy tale. Very dysfunctional family.
Lynn
The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
This is an amazing story. The author really makes the characters come alive.
Pamela
The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman
Interesting book about the Jewish population in St. Thomas during the impressionist years (and before). Plenty of twists and turns in relationships among the characters.
Linda
How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz
I was a Summer Reading contest winner and it was this book. I LOVE this book. I will read it again, which I rarely do. I recommend it but I don't want to share it for fear I won't get it back. The format, like GIRL ON A TRAIN, jumps around but Lutz brings it all nicely together. I couldn't put it down. A story of girlfriends, harsh realities of life and love. Messed up families that mostly do okay anyway and love each other. Definitely a new favorite author to add to my list. Her storytelling is intriguing and emotionally powerful. Thank you, Bookreporter.com, for sharing this gem with me.
Suzy
Dog Crazy: A Novel of Love Lost and Found by Meg Donohue
This is a quirky story that takes place in San Francisco. This was one of my favorite books I've read in the past year. It was a story I didn't want to end and could easily have a sequel in my opinion. If you love dogs as much as I do, you'll enjoy this story too. I am highly recommending this book to all my friends who love dogs.
Sheree
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
I loved this book! It was so emotional that I cried too many times to count. I loved the character and how you learned to love him too as the book progressed. I would highly recommend this book!
Linda
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
For anyone who's ever loved and lost a dog, this is a lovely story that will touch your heart.
Judy
The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin
What a fascinating end to this trilogy...leaving one with the question...what will happen next?
Joyce
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Interesting plot, characters, setting and time.
Sherree
The Reason by William Sirls
I have been a facilitator for a book club for almost 8 years. Our group recently chose THE REASON for our next meeting. Rarely do I come across a book that I believe deserves 5 stars, but THE REASON definitely does. I don't usually like the "Jesus comes to earth and hangs out" books, but this one really grabbed me from the beginning. I loved all of the characters and the way the author blends their stories. It was an awesome read and I am looking forward to reading more from this author! I cannot wait to hear what the rest of my group thinks when we get together next week.
Karen
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
Learning about the backgrounds of fellow Ohioans spurred my interest to learn even more. The book gave a comprehensive picture of Orville and Wilbur, as well as their sister, Katharine, and their father who were so influential in their lives. It also revealed the complications the two boys/men dealt with from the neighborhood bully to governments, ours and others, and competitors. It focused a lot on their diligence and determination to achieve perfection, not attention.
Sam
Mosquitoland by David Arnold
The story is told from the first person narrative of Mim (a nickname shortened from her full name; only her mother addresses her as Mary) coming-of-age as a person with emotional illness and a broken home. The first quarter of the book was a difficult to grasp as Mim is an irritating and rude young woman -- and repetitive. I am guessing the author had wanted Mim to be nauseating. What made the remaining of the novel worth continuing with are actually the other supporting characters he creates like Carl, Poncho man, Beck, Walt ( I like this one), her mother and Arlene. Not to spoil anything but midway through most readers would probably figure out some of the plot. I wouldn't put this on a must-read list.
Brady
The Girl From the Train by Irma Joubert
This is a period piece back to events happening after WWII and the effects it had on many, particularly a young girl who lost her parents and a sister. She is finally adopted and her life improves immeasurably. She still has hangups due to what happened when she was about 8 years old, yet is surrounded with loving parents and relatives. The ending is most satisfactory.
Betty
The Cherry Harvest by Lucy Sanna
Beautifully written by Ms. Sanna, the story moves quickly and smoothly taking you back in time to the Wisconsin farmlands. A couple of twists and turns left me scrambling to rethink my anticipated ending. This is a book definitely worth reading.
Dorothy Flood
All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank
I read that you should subtract your age from 100 and if you aren't enjoying the book by the time you reach that page stop reading. I'm 80 and should have taken the advice. I've always enjoyed her books and was looking forward to this one, but it was a big disappointment.
Debbie
The Ninja's Daughter by Susan Spann
I thought the this Japanese mystery book was quite well done and liked that the setting was in 1565 Japan. I have had the good fortune to live in Japan -- first two years in the northern part of Aomori prefecture at Misawa Air Force Base and our last year and a half outside Tokyo at Yokota Air Force Base. One of the reasons I liked this book was because I already knew most of the words in the glossary of Japanese terms and had a fairly good understanding of the history and the culture. On the other hand, I knew next to nothing about the criminal element of an earlier Japan. I enjoyed the characters and the plot and would be interested in reading more of Ms Spann's Shinobi's mysteries.
Terry
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Paul was chief resident of neurosurgery when he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. He was 36 years old. Paul originally set his sights on being a writer and earned his master's in English Literature. That all changed and Paul entered medical school with thoughts of becoming a psychiatrist. A love for neurosurgery developed and his fate was sealed. Until that one godforsaken moment Paul was diagnosed. Faced with imminent death, he sought out the purpose of life. He passed away before completing his book but his wife, Dr. Lucy Kalanithi, finished his memoir. The book is poetically written, absolutely beautiful despite the topic. The most difficult part was realizing he passed away before finishing it. That broke my heart.
Laurie
Since She Went Away by David Bell
When Celia didn’t show up to meet Jenna, it was all Jenna could do but to blame herself for putting Celia into whatever predicament she did that caused her to disappear; all she felt was pure guilt. She would find herself playing the ‘what if’ card, so often. If Jenna hadn’t been late that night, would Celia still be alive? What if she didn’t insist they go out that night? She put all the blame for Celia’s disappearance onto herself. We know Jenna is being irrational, and you can’t help but to feel for her. Here is her best friend since school, and now she’s gone? Jenna misses her severely and lives with what happened every day. This book is told in alternating chapters between Jenna and her teenage son, Jared, until the end.
Lynn W
The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
Fascinating look at the Hermitage immediately before and during the WWII Siege of Leningrad. Cannot imagine how 1.1 million pieces of art were packed and moved and how the cellars beneath the museum housed nearly 2,000 people the first winter of the war. Dean deftly writes a historical novel of love, survival, memories, and imagination.
LINDA
A Monstrous Place (Tales From Between, Book 1) by Matthew Stott
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review and I enjoyed how brave little Molly Brown was in saving her mom. Something is thing is taking people in the dead of night, and only after her mom goes missing does she cry in her dead Gran's bed, fall asleep, and wakes up to see her Gran's body all in dead gray. Her grandmother told her that her mom had been taken and that she must hurry before the monsters took her life also and to be brave. Easier said than done by a little girl, but she had her grandmother's spunk. Sometimes it's best not to hope for ghosts and monsters as you just might get more than you hoped for!
Kathy
Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
Very well written! You start by not understanding or sympathizing in the least with the main character...but by the end of the book you love her! Very enjoyable read.
Susan
This is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison
Very interesting character and very interesting look at how children view their aging parents. Loved Harriet!!
Lori Bednaz
Daniel Isn't Talking by Marti Leimbach
Family coming to grips with the fact that their child is autistic. Fantastic, realistic read.
shelly
Fast and Loose by Fern Michaels
If you read any of the Sisterhood Series you know the women have pulled off some amazing, frightening and scary things to get justice when needed. Now that the women are away for about a month, maybe longer, the men have to fend for themselves. Bert Navarro’s call from China brings the men together for an emergency meeting. Although he is away in China he is still running the financial end of things. He calls as he has a gut feeling something is not right. He wants Maggie and the boys to head to Vegas to see if they can straighten things out at the Babylon. The men in this book, even with Maggie’s help, do not seem to be as savvy as the women, and problems and friendships are put to the test. Secrets are revealed and many lives will change.
Jan
The Advocate's Daughter by Anthony Franze
This complex mystery is about an attorney's murdered daughter and was written by an attorney, which gives it more credibility in my mind. There are actually two different murder stories but the lead character, the attorney with the murdered daughter, does not realize it. His teenage son is also involved in the case. This is a real who-done-it and well worth reading for any mystery fan. The reader cannot even guess the true murderer until the last few pages, and even then there are many false leads.
Marsha
Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder
This is the second Nick Heller novel of his that I have read and each has been a relentless thriller. A teenage daughter of a family friend has been kidnapped and Heller, a former intelligence operative trained in the special forces, needs to find her when they learn she has been buried alive. Quite the ride.
Richard N B
Dead Wake by Erik Larson
The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania. Larson uses tidbits found in research materials from a variety of sources to flesh out a narrative tale of a great disaster. Larson shifts perspective from the Lusitania, to the German submarine U-20, to Room 40 (the British Intelligence headquarters). It’s a compelling story, which completely captured my interest despite my knowing how it would turn out.
Lynn W
The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
Good story of two young people with Alzheimer's who live and love in Rosalind House, an assisted-living facility. Family members and care givers don't have a clue...
Judy O.
Grace by T. Greenwood
This book was very well written, but it was so sad that I often was tempted to just quit reading it. It is the story of a very, very dysfunctional family in Vermont. The main character is Trevor, a 12-year-old boy who has lots of things going on that are bad in his life, and his parents do not seem to care. The ending was satisfactory, but it took a long time to get there.
michelle goedert
The Girls by Emma Cline
It was an interesting take on a fictionalized account of the Manson family and their first night of killings.
LINDA
Medicine Woman (Book 3) by Bobby Hutchinson
I received this ARC in return for and honest review, although I don't read this genre, I made an exception for my author friend. Mary Ferguson knew what to expect when she went to treat a wealthy old man that wanted no treatment from her as she was a female doctor. Since she graduated, she learned a lot through her uncle James, and knew she'd caused him to lose another patient who would go elsewhere. It was worse working at the hospital where many doctors and a few nurses regarded her with disdain. As she returned from her walk, stung with the rejection of the losd of another patient, she learned that two trains had collided and help was needed, so she ran for the office and prayed that her uncle was not on it.
Josie
The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
THE NEST is the story off four siblings who plan their adult lives around receiving their inheritance ("the nest") at age forty. Each character has an important part in the story. This is a story of family relationships, individual struggles, and love and loss. Kudos to the author for a memorable first novel.
LINDA
Kiss Me Twice by Alexa Darin
Three days ago, Bailey Ventura had planned to marry the hunky head of the casino security, Carter Davis, but Carter's come down with a convenient case of amnesia and every woman wants a piece of him! Is this the perfect escape plan? Carter Davis was found face down in the Nevada desert and he has no memory of how he got there. He doesn't even remember the woman who claimed to be his fiancee.
Margaret
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
If you occasionally enjoy a book where the protagonist is an older person, give this book a try. The author does a nice job of getting inside the head of a man, Arthur, who has lost his wife and has settled into a dull, routine life. Arthur finds a charm bracelet that she had hidden before her death. He sets out to learn about each charm. With the history of each charm, Arthur learns about the life his wife led before they met. He enjoys meeting people involved with the charms, travels to many far-away places, and learns a lot about life and himself in the process. There are some interesting characters and locations as we accompany Arthur on his journey. I found the book to be entertaining but sad. Yet it's inspiring and pleasing.
Bonnie
That Night by Chevy Stevens
Generic mystery that moves along pretty well and will keep you wondering whodunnit.
Susan
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
I really enjoyed this simple novel as it explored the many complex issues in a relationship with family/friends and community. K. Haruf did an excellent job of character development. I wasn't overly fond of the son, however, he is a very real character and his thoughts must be addressed. I would recommend this book.
Syrena
The Regional Office is Under Attack by Manuel Gonzales
Interesting story. Not my typical read, but I enjoyed it.
Shirley
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Excellent reading. Great insight on feelings of caregivers and the handicapped.
Maureen
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Best book I have read in a long time. So touching, heartwarming, funny, and sad at the same time. I grew to love Ove and the cast of characters. I cannot wait to read more by this author. Highly recommended.
Kimiko
The 15th Affair by James Patterson
15th installment in the Women's Murder Club series. Life is idyllic for Lindsey Boxer...or is it? Murder brings up some huge questions in Lindsey's personal life. Can she get the murderer and keep her marriage? Read the book and find out. Excellent read, as usual.
Izella
Doll-baby by Laura Lane McNeil
Good summer read. A cast of very funny characters. Loved the setting in New Orleans. Remember being there.
Angela
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
By far the best book I have ever read. The way the author expresses his love is amazing. Awesome book.
Bonnie
The Slave Across the Street by Theresa L. Flores
The true story of how an American teen survived the world of human trafficking. Horrible, harrowing account but a must-read. If it can happen to a 16-year-old in affluent Birmingham, MI it can happen anywhere.
Shelley Thompson
Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick
EVERY EXQUISITE THING is a quick read that I couldn't put down. A coming-of-age story from Nanette's point of view and how a book called The Bubblegum Reaper impacts her world. Covers the ups and downs of teenage love, friendship, bullies, loss, and uncertainty of future unknowns. This book has a unique tale to share with the world. And I loved the clever chapter titles.
Shelley Thompson
Devoured: From Chicken Wings to Kale Smoothies - How What We Eat Defines Who We Are by Sophie Egan
As a "fence sitter" (want to be healthy but don't have the time to figure out how), I found DEVOURED to be an interesting read. Eating habits are linked to American work culture where putting in time proves self-worth. No time to sit & eat leads to convenience foods. Other parts of the world think the opposite: "You're working late? Oh, you must be slow." Americans consider themselves unique and customizing our eating experiences is now expected. This book gives the reader lots of unique catch phrases and in-depth discussions such as Snackfest, Sad Desk Lunch, Paradox of Choice, Cheffing, Great Protein Myth, GA Brunch Bill, Blue Zones, lifehacking, critter labels, green guilt, and dip season. DEVOURED discusses packaging. Pow.
Karen
Time of Fog and Fire by Rhys Bowen
Molly Murphy and her son, Liam, travel across the country by train after she receives a letter from her husband, Daniel, who is on a mission for the U.S Secret Service with a coded message saying "come". They arrive in San Francisco in 1906, and she goes to The Palace Hotel where she has seen him on a newsreel regarding a concert by tenor, Enrico Caruso. She is told by the police that he died in an accident and has been buried. She and her son go to stay in the home where Daniel stayed so she can investigate. She discovers the owner may be involved in Daniel's "accident". She finds trunks in the basement full of money and a body. Then the Great Earthquake wreaks havoc on the city...
Karen
Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
A charming novel about Kate Battista, a preschool assistant, who states her opinions without thought for the consequences. She lives with her father, a research scientist, and her teenage sister. Her father's long term project is nearing completion, but he needs help from his assistant, Pyotr, to finish it. Pyotr's visa is expiring soon so Dr. Battista tries to convince Kate to marry Pyotr. Kate resists, but finally gives in after her father expresses how important Pyotr is to the research and that the marriage doesn't have to be forever. Kate has had a feeling of hopelessness in her current situation so she thinks it may be a new start for her. The path to the altar is fraught with complications...
Margaret
My Sunshine Away by M. O. Walsh
This is a debut novel by Walsh and he certainly captures the feeling and essence of the South in this novel. The novel opens with an awful crime and presents you with a set of suspects including the authors. Through Walsh's incredible storytelling we are able to see how a small town in Louisiana deals with the crime, a young man, the victim and the families who grow from the tragedy. Beautiful writing and storytelling.
Michelle
Room by Emma Donoghue
I could not put this book down. I read it in three nights. And I had nightmares throughout! This is a book that will haunt me forever.
Gail
Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase by Louise Walters
Parallel stories of Roberta (present time) and Dorothy, her grandmother, unfold in alternate chapters spanning a period of 80 years. The catalyst of the story is a suitcase delivered to Roberta by her father. Inside the suitcase are old books and a letter addressed to Dorothea that hints at something secretive. The readers travels between current day London and WWI era Lincolnshire, England. A book with a heart-stopping twist.
Norene
The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett
Confusing but enchanting in spots. Glad I won it because I would not have bought it.
Karen
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
I found the book very easy to read, but it left me with sadness. It is a terrible thing that there are children out there that were treated the way Lucy and her siblings were.
Jayme
Iran Awakening by Shirin Ebadi
This is a very interesting memoir about a devout woman who became a judge in Iran before the Ayatollah Khomeni revolution. She supported the revolution, but soon lost her job as cleric leaders started to take away the rights of women. Ebadi will then spend the rest of her life fighting to regain women and children’s rights in Iran. I felt that this was a good introduction to events in Iran and the role the U.S. played in bringing about the revolution. Do note that Ebadi has strong opinions of the U.S. and the book does sometimes come across as judgmental, but she lived through the events and knows first-hand the impact that political intrigue can have on innocent women and children.
Sean Penrose
Dry: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs
A "getting sober" memoir doesn't sound like riveting reading to me, but having enjoyed RUNNING WITH SCISSORS I thought I would give this a shot. I'm very glad I did. Burroughs' writing is full of wit and insight. While this subject could have been preachy or repetitive, it's entertaining and moving here. The read was a little too quick but thoroughly enjoyable. A striking tale.
Kristen
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Wonderful first novel. Powerful story, beautifully told!
Deborah
A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler
Quick beach read about a man who works for a company which helps the elderly called Rent A Back. It is the story of his relationships with his co-workers, clients, his parents, his ex-wife and daughter, and his girlfriend. I enjoyed it...poignant ending.
Phyllis
Gutenberg's Apprentice by Alix Christie
Such a lot of research went into this historical novel about the revolutionary printing press in the 15th Century. Not only the invention, but also the life and times of the period is described realistically. I liked that the current day debate about eBooks and library books bring up the same topics as then. If you are a reader and wonder about the future of books and reading, then I recommend this book!
Shirley
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Story of events following a fatal plane crash with a media mogul, his family and bodyguard, a friend in trouble with the government for money laundering and his wife, and an unsuccessful painter as well as the flight attendant, pilot and copilot. This story was a contemporary whodunit that kept me guessing almost to the last minute. Each character's back story was presented interspersed with the story of the two survivors. This fast-paced novel also brought into play the media frenzy following a disaster and the speculation that ensues. Important to the story as well, government agency involvement and analysis - this story felt ripped from the headlines. I thought that it was well constructed, tightly woven with good character development.
Shirley
Daughters of the Dragon by William Andrews
This sad but fascinating story of a Korean adoptee and her meeting with her biological grandmother in Korea was a wonderful read that should be made into a film. At the age of 14 and 16, two young farm sisters girls were shipped to a boot factory (that didn't exist) by the Japanese who were in control of Korea. They became comfort girls and carried the past with them throughout their lives. The back story was heavily researched by the author, and it was an unbelievable time for these women (and others in their situation) to exist. The comfort girl history never left their records, and the author brought the story to the present day and the continued difficulty that these women have today of being recognized and compensated.
Deborah Smith
Hide by Matthew Griffin
This book is about two men who met after World War II and fell in love. In that era, they could not be open and had to hide their relationship. They moved into the country far away from neighbors. They were careful to rarely be seen together under any circumstance. Frank had a stroke at 83, which is how the book starts, and goes back in forth in time. I felt the ending was a little too weird for my taste as I didn't care for how Frank seemed totally out of it and then not. Odd.
Ann
Still Life by Louise Penny
The first in the Inspector Gammache series. I love the town of Three Pines and its citizens. I also love Inspector Gammache and his wisdom. Friends kept recommending this series, and I'm glad I finally listened to them!
Ann
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I enjoyed the book and wanted to read it before seeing the movie (still haven't seen it yet.) I liked the characters and found myself getting involved in the storyline. This was a quick read for me, even though it was 369 pages. I recommend it. Louisa reminds me a little of Bridget Jones.
sandy haber
Starfish Moon by Donna Kauffman
Another entry in the blueberry cove series. This one is about the youngest McRae, Kerry, who is a wanderer but who came home a year ago for a sibling's wedding and hasn't quite left. Enter a striking Aussie, Cooper, from her last 'job', and the future looks very different all of a sudden.
Linda
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
This book held my interest so much that I read it way too fast! Will probably read it again. The story of college friends and band members and the lives they have after the band is done and college is done. They live near each other and are very much in each others' lives. The characters are well written and I could relate!
Sheree
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Excellent. Very emotional.
Linda
Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart
I want more! Fortunately, it's coming. This book is a novel based on real people, based on one of the first female sheriffs in the U.S. In a way this is a mystery but the reader knows "who done it" from the beginning. The mystery is more in how is the culprit going to be caught. At times, the reader wonders IF the perpetrator will be caught. Wonderful character development, a very engaging story and a marvelous narrator who, with subtle variations in her voice, made it possible to positively identify which character was speaking. I do have to admit, I wondered if there was going to be a romance developing. Not in this volume, but the next episode comes out in the fall. Who knows.
Marcia
The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
I loved this book. The story of the early dementia gal, Anna, and her experiences in a nursing facility are wonderfully told. This book is also a romance. Luke also suffers from a form of dementia which affects his speech. Then families get involved. Is their relationship consensual? Is someone with dementia able to give consent? There are many issue to consider in this book. I highly recommend it.
Jenny
Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
This psychological thriller is a true page-turner. You simply cannot stop reading it. Grace and Jack seemingly have the perfect marriage...or do they? Suddenly Grace's world becomes a nightmare of manipulation and control. Evil lurks in her home. How to survive and escape the madness becomes her obsession. Who is this man she married? A riveting tale that will keep you up late at night.
Fran
Doing Harm by Kelly Parsons
Wow! This book started out strong and kept the twists and turns coming! It's been a while since I've read a medical thriller that had me on the edge of my seat, but Kelly Parsons did it. I would recommend this book to all! Great characters and a heart-wrenching pace.
Terri
Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler
When this came up on my book club reading list, I thought not another one...we had read THE HELP, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES and others. But this one is different. From the first paragraph it had me hooked. The book centers around a road trip. An elderly white woman is being driven by her black hairdresser to a funeral. During the journey, the elderly woman recounts her young life when she fell in love with a black man and the hairdresser is dealing with problems back home. During the journey the bond between these two women change from employer/employee to one of love similar to that of mother/daughter. And all the while on the journey you wonder whose funeral are they going to...
Judy
We Are Water by Wally Lamb
Fascinating look at family life through the many eyes of its members.
Donna
The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
Willa is a 12-year-old girl living in a small town in West Virginia during the depression. She lives with her father and three aunts. Willa is inquisitive and wants to know more about her family and their secrets. A tragedy occurred many years prior that has affected her family. As the story progresses, we learn that the truths of the accident vary. Each person has their own truth of what took place and Willa forces the real truth to be known.
Sharon
The Last Time I was Me by Cathy Lamb
Couldn't quit laughing, agonizing, crying, being angry, and laughing again. Jenna Stewart has been betrayed, loses her "cool" and tells over 800 advertising execs that their work is "pointless", then packs her most cherished belongings and heads West where she finds community, hope, and more anger, only this time directed to the abuser of migrant workers, is involved in a murder, a political campaign, anger management classes, and falls in love -- with nieces, nephews, sister-in-law and a man. Really good story!
Gail
The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
The story of a Jewish girl growing up in early 1900s breaks away from her family's traditions and becomes a modern American girl. The changes that women have made in the past are explored in an interesting storyline.
Lisa Nekich
Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear
The best book of the Maisie Dobbs series so far. Not only is the personal story interesting, but the author does a commanding job of conveying the fear in Munich during the rise of Hitler. A real page-turner.
Rosemary
Well Read, Well Fed by Marcia F. Brown
Good suggestions for book discussions.
Karen Catignani
After the Storm by Linda Castillo
I have read this entire series since October 2015, and I'm anxiously waiting for Castillo's next book which comes out this month. The mysteries are interesting, and the characters are unforgettable. Also, the descriptions of the small town of Painter's Mill and its surrounding countryside are beautiful.
carol
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
While I immersed myself into this newest novel by Allende (one of my favorite authors) I found myself questioning why I felt it was not quite up to her previous novels. Perhaps the extended years of a questionable love story or the tale of Irina and her obsession about her troubled past did not capture my imagination.
Betty
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
A great book for anyone who reads a lot for all the allusions to books and authors, snarky or not.
shirley
Boar Island by Nevada Barr
The positive and the negative are the same -- it gives you everything you expect in an Anna Pigeon novel including a different national park setting.
LINDA
Meddling with Murder (Volume 3) by Ellie Campbell
I received this ARC in return for an honest review. Although the title grabbed my attention, the book started out slow due to my lack of knowledge of British slang. Cathy O'Farrell is a forty-ish mother of two who co-owns Crouch End Confidential where she finds missing pets, stolen bikes, and spies on her best friend's finance. Rosa is sure he's up to no good. With Pimple, her ex cleaning lady and now partner away, Cathy finds it hard to charge the fee as she is a softie and clients con her. Then she finds a murder weapon and her husband is intent on moving his family to safer rural Norfolk.
Betty
The Dead Cat Bounce by Sarah Graves
I really couldn't get into this book. It just didn't make me care about what happened to who. I did finish it -- due to stubbornness -- and about 2/3 of the way, it did get interesting. I think I must have missed something earlier in the book because, with 332 pages, it must have had more plot than I found.
Susan
Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
Being a Jim fan I really enjoyed this book. Yes, I know it is about him raising his 5 kids and he refers to them in every chapter but after raising 3 children to adulthood he explained parenting to a T.
Betty
Stripped to the Bone: Portraits of Syrian Women by Ghada Alatrash
This is a small (176 pages) but very powerful book that will linger in your thoughts. The beautiful poetry of Nizar Qabbani, Khalil Gibran, Mahmoud Darwish, Naomi Shibab Nye, and others are sprinkled throughout the book like fleeting scents of jasmine rose water. The poem “Um Muhannad”, an original by Ghada Alatrash is truly heartbreaking. This little book runs the gamut of emotions. I felt the nervous anticipation and rebelliousness as Zahrah prepares to meet the man her father wants her to meet. Then there’s the horror over the imprisonment of Reem and Mayyada, and Mayyada confessing that she prefers the torture and imprisonment over the life she led at the hands of her own brother. The tender love affair of Lama and Kristian.
Roe
Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
Fun interesting twist on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Quick easy read - enjoyed the modern day setting.
Mary Lou
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
Every now and then I come across a book that tells a story that makes me completely forget who I am, where I am, what I need to be doing, why I am sitting where I am sitting - this engrossing memoir did it for me. When I finished it in two sittings (two only because I had to get some sleep and go to work the next day) I was left wanting more. I wanted to know what happened after the story ended and where everyone is now and how they got there. I read every praise blurb on the back cover, the author's acknowledgments, the flyleaf synopsis, and then I went to the author's webpage and looked at all the family photos and read everything else on it. I guess I should say this was a great read, because it was. Highly recommended.
Shirley
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
This gives the reader insight into the feelings of the impaired as well as the caregivers along with family members. Highly recommended.
Anita
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
It was a very pleasant and predictable book. Not at all like ME BEFORE YOU, which was wonderful. Just a very nice read.
LINDA
Finish What You Started by Kathryn Lively
Ten years ago, Gabby Randall and Dash Gregory had wrapped up the hit television series, "Wondermancer High." Gabby's parents had planned everything in her life, paid her bills, and chose parts without her input! Now, she was twenty-one and decided to stop being a child and follow her heart and they eloped to Vegas. Unfortunately for them her parents had tracked them and the following morning stormed into their room and convinced her that Dash didn't love her.
Dash Gregory had the moon and stars until Gabby left him with just a two-word note on the hotel's stationery. He knew Marie and Walter were up to their tricks before he agreed to let Gabby handle them. As the former nerd wizard in the hit series that ended, it was a difficult time.
Jan
Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon
It is always a joy to read Jan Karon. This book is about the wedding (supposed to be simple) of Dooley and Lace. No wedding is simple and Lace and Dooley are also involved in taking over the vet practice where Dooley worked in the past. Not as much of Father Tim but a lot of gentle words and actions.
Jan
Dodgers by Bill Beverly
A dark coming-of-age story about a street kid who works for a drug lord in Los Angeles. He is sent with four others to kill a man in the Midwest who is going to testify against the drug lord. He starts out with three others but kills one, dumps another and watches the final kid take a plane back to LA. He is then alone in the Midwest with no money, no skills, but a lot of grit and determination so he survives. The book is well written but there are no major life theories to be discovered.
Joan Steinberg
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
I found the book to be difficult to put down. Some friends who had read it did not like it, saying it wasn't as good as GONE GIRL, didn't like the characters, etc. But I really liked the storyline being told from two perspectives. I liked the mystery of what happened to Lotto. I think the author did a wonderful job of creating the characters fully -- good and bad traits and that what one person sees in another isn't necessarily the whole person. That's reality. That's the way we all are -- a composite of the 'faces' we show to different people. Great book!
Linda
The Notorious RBG (The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg) by Irin Carmen and Shana Knizhnik
Interesting in the beginning, then read more like a textbook of the many cases RBG tried during her long career in the courtroom. Learned about her life at home and in the Supreme Court through photos and excellent narrative. If you have an interest in women's rights dating back to the 60s and 70s, you will enjoy this non-fiction read.
Dorothy Flood
Pretty Girls by Karen Slaughter
This really kept your attention but if it were a movie it would have been classified as horror.
Rosemary
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
After several years of correspondence with an elderly woman in Broken Wheel, Iowa, Sara travels from Sweden to visit her book loving pen pal. Unfortunately, she arrives on the day of the woman's funeral. Since Amy, the pen pal, was a beloved member of the community the towns decides to treat Sara as an honored guest. The quirky characters that inhabit the town, the things they do to make Sara feel welcome, and the way they approach any problems arising from the entire situation make for an enjoyable read that will have you laughing out loud!
Kathy
The Wedding Sisters by Jamie Brenner
If you're looking for a light beach read with shallow unlikable characters, then this could be your book. Silly situations, adequate dialogue, and yet I didn't dislike it as much as it seems. Maybe because this is just not my preferred genre I didn't appreciate it, but if you like a light romance, give it a try.
Dorothy Flood
The Last Mile by David Baldacci
Best book I've read in a long time. Couldn't put it down. Melvin Mars is just minutes away from his execution when another man confesses to the crime. Amos Decker, FBI, agent takes a special interest in the case because of the similarities to his own life. Both men were great football players and both families were murdered. After 20 years in prison, why is someone else confessing to the crime? Read it. You will enjoy.
Marsha
LaRose by Louise Erdrich
Erdrich continues her stories about the Ojibwa life in the modern days. It is a heartwarming story of a family who shares their child when the father accidentally shoots the others son.
Nancy J
Mycroft Holmes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse
While slow in starting, this turned out to be a credible, suspenseful mystery featuring Sherlock Holmes' older brother and his friend Cyrus Douglas. Set in 1870, the action shifts from London to Port-of-Spain Trinidad. An entwining mystery with history.
LINDA
Murder on the Menu by Zanna Mackenzie
I was given his ARC in exchange for an honest review and I fell in love with Book One! Taking a sabbatical from her disaster of old life in London, Lizzie Carter moves into her inherited rural farm in Cumbria and takes a job to waitress in the only restaurant for miles around to supplement her income as the farm needs work. She hates her womanizing celebrity chef boss as he hits on anything that wears a skirt. She wants nothing to do with men as she has split in a nasty way from her reporter boyfriend. Now she's the last one to see her ex-boss alive and is blamed for his murder as she lives alone and has no alibi! Special agent, Jack Smith was suspended for a breach in his duties and decides to go to Cumbria to help his brother manage.
Cheryl Olivera
The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman
A really good coming-of-age book. It will make you happy and sad, and scream out loud.
Grace
The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
We liked the basic story but most of us felt the story was drawn out way too long.
Noreen
The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible...On Schindler's List by Leon Leyson
The true story of a young Jewish boy caught up in the Holocaust. Books and movies are usually seen through adults' eyes...Leon's story is from a whole different viewpoint. A tougher experience.
Lynn
Elegy For Eddie: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear
The draw of this series is watching the maturation of Maisie. Windspear's intelligent writing is never to be hurriedly read, but to be savored.
Cecile
Virtue Falls by Christina Dodd
VIRTUE FALLS is the first full-length Christina Dodd book that I've read and I really liked it. So many characters that I enjoyed getting to know and I like a mystery that keeps me guessing between several possible killers. I'm glad Elizabeth and Garik got back together and that her dad did not kill her mom. While I thought from the beginning that he was innocent, I kept going back and forth between the possible suspects.
Cecile
Stories by Bette Lee Crosby
Bette talks about the stories behind her stories. Anything behind-the-scenes is right up my alley so this book was perfect for me. It also includes a suggested reading list which I appreciate because I read that characters cross over from one series to another. I've only read MEMORY HOUSE so now that I have the list, I know the order in which to enjoy them. I received this book for free during her recent release party.
Kat
Don't Believe A Word: A Novel of Psychological Suspense by Patricia MacDonald
I just finished reading it. It was about a woman and her son who died and her daughter thought they were murdered. Turns out she was right, but not about who did it. Surprise ending!
Brenda
The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews
What a cool, summer in the setting book. I do enjoy this author's writing style. There was enough mystery in the book to make the reader keep reading to solve the mystery. The romance was sweet and the adult relations were not graphic. This was a story that assisted me in escaping life. I will be encouraging library patrons to read this book.
Beverly
Crimson Shore: A Pendergast Novel by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The authors did a good job I writing this. They make Aloysius X. L. Pendergast and his companion Constance Greene come to life in the book. You read and really do not want to put the book down to sleep. It keeps you on your toes to see what happens next.
Linda
Reunion Pass: An Eternity Springs Novel by Emily March
Two teens madly in love drift apart when work and school interfere. Lori Murphy was determined to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian while Chase Timberlake continues as a white water rafting guide even after he obtained his business degree. When he met an outdoor photographer and became his protégé, Lori knew she had lost him. Now, several years later after a tragedy with his camera crew, he is back in Eternity Springs but has changed so much. Lori knows that she still loves him but what are his feelings for her? Lori in her role as a vet recognizes when an animal (or human) is hurting and knows how to comfort without smothering. She is there for Chase and he finally finally realizes that he has never stopped loving her.
Linda
Hard Love: The Hacker Series #5 by Meredith Wild
Since I had not read the earlier books in the series, the story was a little confusing at first. Blake and Erica have just returned from their honeymoon when a police detective and FBI agent come to the door with questions. It seems that the governor election has been rigged by a hacker and Blake is the number one suspect. He had hacked as a teen and been caught but cooperated with the FBI and his crime was exonerated. Now, he is innocent and knows who the hacker is but without proof, would the authorities believe him?
Linda
Midnight Heat by Cat Johnson
Phoenix first sees the hot cowboy at a bar when she had to pull over due to car trouble. Now she is at the home of her birth mother and so is the hottie. Justin tells her that he knows the woman she is looking for and gives her a ride to Oklahoma. The attraction between them keeps growing until they finally have a night together in Oklahoma. Justin doesn’t feel he has anything to offer Phoenix and she returns to her home in California. The memories of what they had linger and are not forgotten.
Linda
Midnight Sun by Jo Nesbo
Jon Hansen was in a position he did not want to be in. When one of his hash customers is found dead, he is called in to see The Fisherman. It turns out that the dead man worked for The Fisherman and was his collector/fixer. Although Jon did not kill the man, The Fisherman thinks he did and tells Jon that now he must become the collector. When Jon is given a job, he is unable to kill the man and lets him go. The man is later found and The Fisherman knows that Jon did not do as he was told. Jon goes on the run and hides in the northern-most part of Norway hoping that no one comes after him. But soon, he sees his killer and tries to figure a way out of the mess. I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the Harry Hole series.
Linda
Blood Flag: A Paul Madriani Novel by Steve Martini
Emma Brauer has hired Paul Madriani as her attorney when the police arrest her and accuse her of murdering her elderly father by administering a huge dose of insulin. Paul’s assistant Sofia volunteers to go to Emma’s house and get her dog. Nothing unusual until Sofia does not turn up for work nor does she answer her cell. The police find her strangled body. Talking with Emma about her father leads Paul and his partner Harry Hinds back to World War II and the father’s time in Germany at the close of the war. She gives Paul the contents of a box that her father received before his death and said that her father was terrified. The box contained a key and a slip of paper with German writing. This book has a twist you'll never see coming!
Linda
Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt
Bridget Crumb is searching the bedroom of the Duke of Montgomery for hidden compartments when she hears a throat clearing. Looking around, she sees the Duke watching her. She is searching for letters from Lady Caire, her mother, that the Duke is using to blackmail her. She stands her ground and wins his admiration for her spunk. When he is poisoned, she nurses him back to health and their relationship turns to something more than Duke and housekeeper. But it is not until Bridget is kidnapped by the Duke’s enemies that he realizes how important she has become to him. This is the tenth book in the Maiden Lane series.
Linda
The Bitter Season by Tami Hoag
Sam Kovac is gloomy with the onset of the holidays or, as he calls it, the bitter season when the dark falls early and the cold seeps into your bones. He has a new partner, a former soldier who looks like Magic Mike, and he really misses his old partner Nikki Liska. She moved to the Cold Case unit in order to spend more time with her boys and has just been assigned her first case --- a 25 year unsolved murder of a detective known for solving sex crimes. Nikki is concerned when nobody really wants this case reopened. Why? Sam has just received a call of a gruesome double murder. A college professor and his wife were beaten and slashed to death. Little did they know that these two cases would come together at the end.
Linda
Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman
The book was narrated by Luisa “Lu” Brant in her childhood years and as an adult. The daughter of a former beloved state’s attorney, Lu now occupies the same position. In preparing for a trial, the unthinkable happens and the accused lunges for Lu, knocking her down. That night he commits suicide. Further investigation finds the man is known to Lu’s brother but he does not want to talk about the man. Lu goes to her brother’s friends and questions them about the man. What she finds makes her more questionable of what her brother told her and she knows he is not telling her the truth.
Linda
Blood Always Tells by Hilary Davidson
When a fashion model and her married lover are found dead in a dilapidated house, the cause of death is carbon monoxide poisoning due to a faulty furnace. Dominique had called her brother Desmond and asked for his help. When Desmond arrives at the house, he finds Dominique and Gary dead. The police are calling it an accident but Desmond isn’t buying it. He starts investigating on this own and stirs up a hornet’s nest.
Linda
The Apartment by Danielle Steel
Four young women working in New York City become roommates and live in a loft apartment. Coming from all over the country, they become a family and are there for each other when heartache comes to several of them. Opportunities arise and they each begin to leave for the next season of their life. A very good book.
Debbie
The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper
Karen Harper writes this bittersweet novel in the words of Charlotte Bill, Mrs. Lala, an actual nanny in the household of George V of England. The story describes the royal household and the many hidden secrets of Queen Victoria's legacy. Harper freshly presents the details of running the nursery and caring for the six children of George V and his wife, Mary of Teck. The reader learns that the second child of George and Mary is the father of Queen Elizabeth, and also learns of the terrible treatment the two oldest children received during the reign of a different nanny. I found the book entertaining, and not boringly filled with facts of wars and treaties and political moves.
Beatrice
Tears of the Silenced: A True Crime and an American Tragedy; Severe Child Abuse and Leaving the Amish by Misty Griffin
Unforgettable true story that deals with sexual abuse of young Amish girls.
Donna
There Will Be Stars by Billy Coffey
Probably the most unusual book I've ever read. It was very confusing for me at the beginning. Six people are killed and seem to land in some sort of time warp called "Turn"...Heaven? Hell? They live as a family and, eventually, based on changes made by them, they go back to their previous life or die.
Martha
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
This year's Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner, THE SYMPATHIZER, is a literary masterpiece. That said, I, an inveterate reader and retired librarian, have to say that I had a hard time reading this novel. There are many statements that deserve to be quoted from this book. The structure of the book is very interesting. The perspective of the main character is that of a South Vietnamese military officer, also a secret Communist spy, and it is a perspective worth investigating. No one in my book club enjoyed this book, but we had a most interesting discussion.
Mona
Books of a Feather by Kate Carlisle
As one of Kate's raters, I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Prior to this, I had read her CROWNED AND MOLDERING. I found her writing style to be very readable and enjoyed the humor scattered throughout to lighten the mood.
In this tenth book in Carlisle's Bibliophile Mystery series, book binding/restoration expert/artist and amateur sleuth Brooklyn Wainwright returns as the narrator. She, along with her security expert fiancée, Derek, are attending an exhibit that the Covington Library is hosting. She is in high spirits, having recently been given several valuable volumes to restore.
Betty
No Safe Secret by Fern Michaels
I have read several of Fern Michaels’ books. I find that I don’t enjoy her series books. They are too “lightweight” and predictable. However, her stand-alone books seem to be much better quality. This one was really good, in fact, it was riveting.
Nicole
The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
This is a sweet, heartfelt, realistic contemporary! I loved the characters and how the story played out! It was a fun journey with the happy ending I crave in contemporaries!
LaDonna
Foreign Agent: A Thriller by Brad Thor
Another outstanding book by Brad Thor.
Chris Bush
Stones From The River by Ursula Hegi
I'm rereading this book about a dwarf named Trudi who describes her life in Europe through WWI and WWII...harrowing, touching and unforgettable!
Patricia
1984 by George Orwell
I had read this book when I was in high school, but I must admit, I really didn't remember any of it at all. I'm making an effort this year to read some of the great classics, so I decided to give this one another read. This book is so good! But I can understand why I don't remember reading it --- in my opinion, it's way too much for a high school student to comprehend. It's amazing to me how pertinent this book is to the present day!
Andra
The Last Mile by David Baldacci
Amos Decker, the protagonist of MEMORY MAN, returns to use his extraordinary memory and unfailing search for the truth to solve the complicated case of Melvin Mars. On the eve of his execution for the murder of his parents, Melvin Mars, is giving a reprieve when another death row inmate, in another state, claims that he killed Melvin's parents. The inmate has information that was never released to the public. Mars is released from prison, but not until after a severe beating.
Amos Decker, a former police officer now working with the FBI, hears Mars' story on the radio on his drive to his job. There is a connection between Decker and Mars. I recommend this book to those who enjoy a good mystery. Baldacci delivered another great read.
Francisca E B
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
What an absolute delight! Simonson’s writing reminds me of Jane Austen's novels. She sets her story in a small English village, whose residents would prefer that time stand still, notwithstanding major outside influences. The villagers are left reacting to changes that make them very uncomfortable. Against these global events, however, is the very personal story of these characters; this is where Simonson shines. She has a great gift for dialogue and for creating a social structure that draws the reader into the small dramas of life that give her work universal appeal.
Patricia
The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
This is a fantastic story based on real people. Lots of research went into this book by Ms. Kelly. It is about horrors committed in a concentration camp just for women during the Second World War. But it is about so much more: love, family, endurance and hope. This is a debut author, but I'm sure we will be seeing more great books from her. At least I sure hope so.
Kimberly
Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale
EVERYTHING WE KEEP is a phenomenal debut from Kerry Lonsdale. It is a story of love, loss, letting go and starting over. I was blown away by the author's unique storyline and ability to draw me in from the very first line. I thought it was a perfect mix of women's fiction, suspense and romance. Clear your day before you start this one, as you will not want to put it down. After reading this, I am adding Ms. Lonsdale to my list of authors whose books I automatically buy. As far as I'm concerned, she can't write fast enough.
Peg
June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore
This was a novel that started slowly for me but improved as it progressed. It was a light read, very nice for summer reading. The setting is in a small town in Ohio, and there are dual time periods: 1955, when a Hollywood movie was filmed there, and 2015, when the protagonist, Cassie, was trying to make sense of what happened in 1955 concerning her beloved grandmother, June. Even though the storylines constantly switched between the time periods, it held my interest.
The old and crumbling house, Two Oaks, was like a main character, and I liked it as much as some of the well-developed characters. There are mystery, murder, secrets, blackmail, romance, family relationships, and some twists I didn't see coming.
Lynn W
The Color of Light by Karen White
Thirty-two-year-old Jillian Parrish leaves her husband and abusive parents, and moves into her grandmother's old beach house on Pawleys Island, SC, seeking refuge and solace. Can she, daughter Grace, and unborn child find peace in a place with so many unanswered questions about Lauren, her best friend, missing for 15 years? This book started slowly, but then the suspense built. I HAD to finish it --- past my bedtime, of course.
Lynn W
North River by Pete Hamill
Dr. James Delaney is a WWI veteran with a missing wife and a missing daughter when his two-year-old grandson appears on his 1934 NYC doorstep. Carlito brings him from bare existence to joyous living. Grandchildren can do that. My description does not do justice to this nuanced, beautifully written book. I had not read Hamill before, an error that will be corrected in the next few months.
Tessa B C
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Wow. The plot is intricate and compelling, the characters are complex and interesting, and the writing is simply wonderful. And, of course, we have the marvelous Cemetery of Forgotten Books. This is a dark, Gothic novel full of mystery and intrigue. At heart, it is a story of man’s struggle against his baser instincts. Although there are many twists in the plot, Zafón keeps some major surprises for the ending.
Candace
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
This is a wonderful, epic-type historical fiction that reminded me of THE THORN BIRDS, perhaps because of the isolated setting. I truly enjoyed learning about Beryl Markham.
