Skip to main content

October 7, 2016 - October 21, 2016

This contest period's winners were Brady B., Meredith K. and Sherman H., who each received a copy of THE GIRL FROM VENICE by Martin Cruz Smith and THE OTHER EINSTEIN by Marie Benedict.

 

Cari
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

4
Great read! Love the twists and turns the story takes.

Dorothy Flood
Home by Harlan Coben

4
This didn't hold my interest at all in the beginning. In other words, it wasn't a book I couldn't put down. However, as I got into it I did enjoy it. It had a real surprise ending.

susan parks
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

5
Great read, now reading the next one.

Maureen
Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

5
Really great page-turner. I read this book in two sittings, which is fast for me. Cannot wait to discuss at book club. I hope to read more by this author.

Gail
Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory

3
The title refers to Henry VIII''s first wife, Katherine of Aragon, and Henry's two sisters, Margaret and Mary. As always, Philippa Gregory does a wonderful job of bringing these historical figures to life. The first part of the book is engaging and moves quickly. It was interesting to find out more about Henry's sisters who were married off to kings of France and Scotland in the interest of improved political alliances. Towards the middle, however, the story bogged down for me and I had to push through the second half.

Karen
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

5
So well written. I can see why this author won the Pulitzer Prize!

Pamela
Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Gray by Dorothy Love

5
Love incorporates recently found letters and historical facts in this novel detailing the fifty year friendship between the mistress of Arlington and the slave who is credited with saving the Washington artifacts. Very interesting.

Marsha
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

4
This reminded me of Agatha Christie's closed room murders. Most of it takes place on a maiden voyage of a small, classy cruise ship. Although rather preposterous it is a quick, interesting read.

Jane
The Room with the Second-Best View by Virginia Smith

4
An adventure about a wedding, chaos and living life. This is Virginia's second book in the Goose Creek. series. I hope there is more coming. One learns to laugh at situations. When one loves someone they get around hard places. Justin's rich Aunt takes over his and Susan's wedding plans, changing them. She manipulates. Chaos abounds in Goose Creek. Boys are mischievous. Susan and Justin's wedding is nothing like what they wanted, something everyone can relate to. I highly recommend. This book will lift your spirits.

Joann
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
I absolutely loved this book. It had wonderful character development and a delightful combination of humor and sadness throughout the book. The lively dialogue made characters much more credible. I am sure everyone has known at least one Ove in their lives.

Shari
The Inn at Rose Harbor series by Debbie Macomber

4
I just finished all 5 books in this series and they were charming, quick reads with some fun characters. The setting is on a cove with the mountains in the background, a small town where everyone knows everyone and everything that is going on. I find these books very relaxing and I feel like I am part of the story as it pulls me in. The characters flow through all 5 books, and it is fun to see how their lives have changed.

Nancy
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

5
What an amazing book! And well-deserving its place on the New York Times bestseller list. The book tells the story of a runaway slave, pre-Civil War, who takes an actual underground railroad on her journey. Each state represents a different state of freedom, with different dangers and degrees of hope. It is an amazing story of despair and hope, not a happy book, but an uplifting one. The author said he's been trying to write this book for 15 years, but didn't feel he was ready until now. He will be the keynote speaker at the Savannah Book Festival in February, and I can't wait to hear him.

Jayme
The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney

4
A gritty look at the underbelly of contemporary Dublin. It's all here - drug dealers, prostitution, murder. There is nothing redeeming about these characters as they claw their way through poverty, bad choices, and uterus roulette, but it made for very interesting reading.

Jayme
The Throwback Special by Chris Bachelder

1
Where do I begin...I liked the idea of the book - a bunch of middle-aged guys getting together one weekend to reenact a famous football play. I figured there would be some laughing, some sensitivity, a little sympathy, but what I ended up with was a plot-less story about some gutless men who all need to grow "a pair." I even thought that maybe because I am a middle-aged woman I was missing something, so I read passages to my husband to get his take on it. His take was basically, "WTF." If this is the state of the middle-aged American man, heaven help us.

Patricia
Sting by Sandra Brown

5
STING is typical Sandra Brown! In STING there are many times you will believe you have the ending figured out...surprise, you don't. Many twists and turns in this book.

Patricia
Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland by Dave Barry

5
Dave Barry's books are hilarious and this one won't disappoint. He tours around Florida and finds humor everywhere. His descriptions are right on the mark! Whether you presently live in Florida or have ever visited, this book is one you will enjoy!

Kelly Rodriguez
Christmas at Eden Manor by Noelle Adams

5
I love a good Christmas love story, especially when it involves a May-December romance. Brie and Cyrus are separated by a 20-year age difference, but when you’re in love age is just a number. Cyrus Damon is a man who has spent his life making money, holding himself to high standards and keeping to himself. Brie Graves has recently gone through a rough breakup with her boyfriend, is out of work and has had to move in with her brother and sister-in-law. Basically, she’s at an all-time low in her life. With the holidays approaching, she’s resolved to take some time to do nothing and just enjoy life for once. The two of them meet up in Savannah and after meeting for a few times they decide to spend a week together…no strings attached.

Tessa B C
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

4
Seven years ago Laurel survived a vicious attack in the Vermont woods. Now, in her work at a homeless shelter, she is looking through a box of photographs left by a deceased client, when she discovers a photo that convinces her they contain clues to a hidden family secret. Bohjalian crafts a compelling and intricate scenario with layer upon layer of complexity. I loved the way he drew me in, made me believe in Laurel – and Bobbie – and then forced me to reconsider the veracity of their claims. I was left breathless and drained at the end... and wanting to start over again to see what clues Bohjalian left that I missed the first time around.

Sharon
Brain Storm by Elaine Viets

5
This is the first in her new Angie Richman, death investigator, series and it is terrific. Angie suffers several strokes, which is exactly what Elaine went through a few years ago and recovered from. The story also has a death angel in a hospital as well as a famous surgeon who is murdered. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Marcia
Rise: How a House Built a Family by Cara Brookins

4
First I will disclose that I won an advance copy to review. This was a good read. It's the true story of the author and her family's struggle with abuse and then the having the crazy idea that they could build their own house. Brookins is very honest about the abuse and its effect on her and her family. She is very straight-forward in their struggles to build not only a house, but a "home".

Marilyn
A Man of His Own by Susan Wilson

5
Three who desperately need healing are drawn together by a beloved dog. The story is told in the voice of each character including that of the dog, which I found to be charming.

Jeffrey
Must You Go?: My Life with Harold Pinter by Antonia Fraser

4
I'm a big Harold Pinter fan, and I've read several of Antonia Fraser's books with great pleasure, so it's not surprising that I found MUST YOU GO? to be a treasure-trove of engrossing details about their life together. Written in the form of excerpts from Fraser's diary, the book covers the turbulent period when they left their respective spouses to be with each other up until Pinter's death soon after he won the Nobel Prize.

Nancy J
The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier

5
Chevalier's first novel about America is a well-wrought story of the Underground Railroad in Northern Ohio. Quaker Honor Bright, despite her misgivings, and a cast of very likable characters stand up to the naysayers and the less-than-reputable characters. A very fine read.

Rosemary
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

1
Sounds like what it is - a fledgling effort by a young girl too steeped in Gothic romances.

Helen Duncan
One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber

5
Quite a departure for this author but an outstanding, thought-provoking book about the power of generosity to change one's life.

shelly
The Maverick's Holiday Surprise by Karen Rose Smith

4
Hudson Jones is a handsome, thirty-year-old single, rich and very independent person. He has no real goals but yet he goes out of his way to help others. Hudson is helping to run his brother Walker's franchise of Just Us Kids in Rust Creek Falls. Bella Stockton is a very attractive woman who is much younger then Hudson. She is twenty-three years old and has a lot of issues that she has to deal with. She works and is very well liked at Just Us Kids and lives with her brother Jamie, and his triplets. Bella had been at college when Jamie's wife died and she returned to help him with the babies and to find work. Her life is nothing like Hudson's as she worries about money, Jamie and the triplets.

Kathryn Andrews
A Great Reckoning by Louise Penney

5
This book continues on with all the known characters, and I feel it is her best book yet. I read it in two afternoons as I enjoy her writing so much. It is good, literary style -- feels solid -- and the plot line keeps you moving to the next chapter. I feel I know each character from the inside, as well. We understand Armand Gemache as a flawed man who wants to right the world. As I said, her best book yet!

Wendy
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

2
Disappointing, too long, boring.

Mary
Lawyer X by Jake Banks

5
A true story of an attorney who is in the middle of an international drug trafficking ring. He is caught in the middle of the drug trafficking in Paris, France and is put in prison. A Dallas attorney works to keep him from becoming a casualty in the War on Drugs. After release from prison, the family split time living in Panama and Austin, Texas where he is a attorney and works in real estate.

Diana
Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery

4
Although this book can, on the surface, seem to be a light read about a mom and her three daughters, it actually touches on some very interesting family dynamics. Maggie was a young widow raising her three girls alone with limited financial means. How she handled the situation had repercussions for each daughter and the way they handle their relationships with men as well as each other. Now grown, the daughters help plan Maggie's wedding to a wealthy man who loves her and can fulfill her dreams for a secure future. Although the ending was a little too contrived, the development of the story leading up to it was interesting.

Myrna
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

4
This is the true story of Ruth's childhood, living in a Mormon community that still practiced plural marriage. The community where sister wives bore innumerable children to be in the graces of their husbands and of God was in Mexico. However, members maintained their ties to the U.S. with regular visits to collect welfare checks, food stamps, and temporary work for the men, in order to survive. It's a sad, sometimes painful book, but knowing from the outset that the author survives, along with some of her siblings, made it bearable.

Elizasbeth
June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

2
JUNE disappointed me. A young woman, Cassie, lives alone since the death of her grandmother, June, in the big, old home that has been in her family for years. When Cassie is told that she has inherited millions of dollars from a dead movie idol, Jack Montgomery, the mysteries begin. This book is two stories: Cassie’s is the present-day story, and the other, for the most part, is of June and Jack in 1955. Here is the first disappointment: we are to believe that Cassie dreams the story of June and Jack. Another thing: the house is alive and making Cassie dream these dreams. Really. Both stories are hard to swallow, and each has a nice, neat conclusion.

Jeanette
The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

4
Loved the way the author brought this dysfunctional family together, dealing with their issues and, in most cases, growing up. Great character development brought them to life and involved the reader in wishing them success. This story of greed has an outcome I can respect.

Trezeline
Night Fall by Nelson DeMille

4
Frightening!

Emiky
Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland by Dave Barry

5
Being a long time resident of Florida I enjoyed the humor and reading about the exotica of my State. I also learned a thing or two: The Skunk Ape; Gatorland; Weeki Wachee and Spongeorama; and other tidbits. A fun read about a wacky but wonderful state.

Coni D'Alessandro
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

5
Even though this is an older book that our book club chose for this month, I wish I had read it earlier, as I already had a copy forgotten on a bookshelf. It was captivating, well written, and shared part of its setting in Leningrad, the setting of a previous book we had read.

Bonnie
The Emerald Lie by Ken Bruen

3
Interesting noir novel about an Irish detective and a killer who chooses his victims based on their misuse of the English language.

Shirley
The Lake House by Kate Morton

5
It took a while to get into this book as the main character Alice, was a little precocious. However, Kate Morton did a wonderful job building suspense, making a surprise ending and of course character development. I think she could have done away with Sadie's unsolved case and I don't think that it added much to the book other than her reason for being in Cornwall. I went between the eBook and the audio version because I didn't want to put it down!

Peg
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

3
I love this author and have enjoyed her novels. This one wasn't as much fun even though the characters were well-developed. There are 6 flawed adults, 3 innocent children and 1 barking dog involved the day of the main event, a neighborhood barbecue. We know from the start that something terrible happened at that barbecue. It takes a long time and a lot of reading to find out what. Some reviewers have suggested patience is needed to stick with it, and I found that's true. It switches back and forth between the present time and what else? The day of the barbecue! At least there's a twist at the end, which I didn't see coming. You will read about musical ambitions, guilt, problem marriages, parenting, friends, and neighbors.

Trezeline
Home by Harlan Coben

5
A definite page-turner. I was hooked from the first page. Entertaining and fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

maureen
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

5
I found THE OTHER EINSTEIN to be a fascinating historical fiction book! Mitza Maric meets Albert when they are both students studying physics in Zurich. Intelligent, smart women face a very rough road in the late 1800s and Mitza's path is no different. Her brilliance leads her to a startling scientific discovery. Can Einstein's ego and the times they live in give her the credit she is due?

Judy O.
The House of Hawthorne by Erika Robuck

3
This is the story of Sophia Peabody in about 1833 who meets the budding writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. They fall in love and marry, and this is their story. I enjoyed it for the most part, but the last 100 pages I liberally skimmed because I just got tired of following the couple all over Europe without much happening. Our book club will be discussing this book soon.

Marilyn
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

5
I think I must be addicted to WWII books because I find each one so interesting and depicting another small effort in the big cause for freedom. Doerr writes beautifully about the small everyday things likes birds and flowers, but also the major seams of life that stitch us together such as love and fear, kindness and cruelty.

Chris Lantz
The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi

4
An intriguing story that takes a fair bit of concentration to read.

Melanie S.
Sex Object by Jessica Valenti

4
An engaging memoir written by a woman who apparently is now a feminist writer. I had a mixed reaction to her thoughts and feelings. She seemed to be appalled at the treatment she received from some men ( and some of her experiences were positively awful; I guess I've been lucky), but at the same time she seemed to use her body and her looks to get what she wanted. I guess perhaps her point is that almost all women are sexually harassed at some moment in their lives and that we all use our sexuality to get what we want at times as well. I felt like she was sending a mixed message, but the issues of sexuality and equality between the sexes have always been tricky to balance.

LINDA
The Blood of Titans by C. Michael Forsyth

5
THE BLOOD OF TITANS is set in Africa's Golden AgeHalima is a teenage princess of an advanced civilization who falls in love with king Shormari of the mountain who is a great king a warrior. When three of his enemy clans attack his followers that live at the base of the mountain and kill them all, he wages war, but his first wife is jealous of the time he spends with Halima and dissension spreads through his people. Halima must choose between her people or the the man she loves. THE BLOOD OF THE TITANS is beautifully written and it is a page-turner.

LINDA
Trails in the Sand by P. C. Zick

5
Environmental writer Caroline Carlisle loved her neighbor when he first moved across the street when he and his younger brother introduced themselves. It didn't matter that she was just a kid, he always had time for her when they played outside catching fireflies and cracking silly jokes. Her mom had always been angry with her about one thing after another and swore she'd be the death of her mom yet, but her mom and Simon had plans for him to marry Amy her older sister and before long when they grew up, they broke her heart, and married. After two failed marriages, Caroline finally married Simon when her sister died but her family didn't approve, nor did his adopted daughter.

Gail
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

4
Another story of survivors of the Holocaust and women who help them. Slow-moving at first as you meet the main characters and then as their lives begin to interweave you become interested in finding out how each woman's story ends. Some of the details of the surgeries done to women in the camps is hard to read, but we need to remember this really happened.

Phyllis
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

5
It’s easy to be prejudiced; often, we don't realize it. Told from three very different viewpoints following a small baby’s death, the question of race and everyday discrimination is front and center of the book. Turk, the baby’s father, is a leader in a white supremacy group; Ruth is a black nurse at the hospital where the baby is born; Kennedy is a white public defender attorney. Turk brings charges against Ruth and the hospital uses her as a scapegoat. Through the trial and events surrounding it, Turk, Ruth and Kennedy find their lives and views changing. Jodi Picoult has done an excellent job with her characters and with peeling away the complex layers of racial discrimination. I received an ARC from the publisher.

Bonnie
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

4
I read this for the second time for book group and it was just as good the second time around. Larson excels in making non-fiction fascinating and read like fiction. This one juxtaposes the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and a serial killer operating in the city at the same time.

Deb
June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

4
Ever been in an old house and wished the walls could talk? Well, in this well-written book, they do. At first I thought the concept was far-fetched, but it was a unique way to bridge two different generations’ stories. Small town secrets came to light in the unraveling of a well-kept family secret as colorful characters claimed their places in the history and the mystery. Once the two storylines started rolling along with its twists and turns, I could not put the book down. I loved that the house really exists and the lavish descriptions are as true as possible.

Betty
Follow You Home by Mark Edwards

4
This was a great thriller. Many twists you do not see coming.

Mary Lou
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

4
It has been over 50 years since I first read this beautiful book. It is the October selection for my book club. The writing is gorgeous, the storyline quite good. Funny how DuMaurier never gave her narrator a name. The tale begins in Monte Carlo, where Max de Winter meets the narrator, they fall in love, and marry. There is an air of mystery about de Winter, and our young narrator stumbles her way through introduction to life as the mistress of Manderley, the estate which is as much a character as any of the humans in the story. Who was the mysterious Rebecca, the first Mrs. De Winter, really? How did Rebecca die, is Max still in love with her, is our narrator in danger from Mrs Danvers, the head housekeeper? A perfect October read.

Paula
Recipes for Love and Murder by Sally Andrew

5
Sally Andrew has written an amazing first novel! The main character, Tannie Maria, a recipe columnist for the local newspaper, receives a new assignment. Through her new advice column, she not only helps solve others' problems but assigns helpful recipes to those seeking her help. Through the letters written to her, Tannie Maria becomes dangerously involved in a murder investigation, with a detective who admires her cooking and is determined to keep her safe. The chapters are not lengthy and there is a glossary of Afrikaans and South African terms at the back of the book. Also included are some of Tannie Maria's favorite recipes. The author lives on a nature preserve in South Africa and her knowledge of the wildlife is evident.

Gladys
Big Sky Christmas by C. J. Carmichael

5
Well written and truly delightful, C. J. Carmichael's Big Sky Christmas will keep you interested from first page to last. The hero had a hard time overcoming a feeling of guilt because of a car accident; but love will win out. He doesn't let having been adopted by a mother who never truly accepted him cause him to be bitter, and his kind heart and hard work earns him a promising future. You'll admire this hero. The ranch life setting of the story is a big plus, too.

Sandra
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

3
It was a good book when it first began. Then as the story progressed, readers will see that all these characters are one hot mess. Secrets and lies everywhere. I cared for the kidnapped baby being found, not the trails upon trails of backstabbing all these people did to one another. And they were suppose to be family. Don't leave your 6-month-old baby next door, in your house, with a baby monitor, and doing check ins just to go to a party. Just don't do it.

Lori
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

5
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. It reminded me a lot of other favorite books from the same time period (WWII).The book tells about life in a small village from several points of view, from a young woman reminiscent of Scarlett O'Hara to a widowed nurse with a son at war to a Czech evacuee to an unscrupulous midwife. There was humor as well as sadness, and the author did a great job describing life at that time. There were lots of twists and turns in the storylines, and it was fun reading correspondence and journal entries of the characters as in the GUERNSEY novel. I found the book well-written, and it was easy to keep track of the many characters and to become interested in their lives. I'm hoping for a sequel!

Lynn W
The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal by Lily Koppel

4
The author leaves her NY building and goes "dumpster diving", coming up with artifacts of New York City in the 20s and 30s. One item was a five-year diary, each day meticulously recorded by a 14-year-old, headstrong, but endearing girl. Koppel tracked down the owner, Florence Wolfson (now 90), and to the delight of both women, relived a glamorous and exciting era of the City.

Dorothy Flood
Rushing Waters by Danielle Steel

5
A typical Danielle Steel book. Money is never a problem. This was real good, especially now with the damages caused by hurricanes. Everyone must evacuate because a hurricane is coming but not all evacuate in time. You'll enjoy it.

susie
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

5
This was a fascinating book, and it also made me sad that this was the first I had ever heard of these ladies. Why aren’t we learning about them in school? Why did it take so long to hear about these women? I found it interesting that these women were called “computers” and the work they did sent our men to the moon. Without them we would not have had the success we had in the space race! It was also heartbreaking in that it was still a time of segregation and the Jim Crow south, and the racism these women went through daily was terrible, but they did their jobs and won small victories like the sign in the lunchroom. This is an important book for young girls of color to see what these women accomplished .

Michele
The Steel Kiss by Jeffery Deaver

5
As always, Jeffery Deaver delivers a fast-paced thriller with Lincoln Ryhme and Amelia Sachs. A timely story that makes you think about the wide-reaching effects of a computer-run world.

shelly
Seasons in Paradise by Barbara Cameron

4
Ms. Cameron has written a delightful and enjoyable story about how life can change when you least expect it. Sam and his brothers David and John were not happy and so they moved into the English world. When Sam's father got sick, David returned home and not only took care and helped his dad but married Lavina who was afraid she had lost him to the English. It had taken over a year of her hoping and praying, and miracles do happen as he returned to help his dad and then marry Lavina whom had loved him since a child. Unfortunately, Mary Elizabeth still missed Sam who had moved way and Rose Anna was missing John. It was funny how the three Stoltzfus brothers had found happiness and love with the three Zook daughters.

Francisca E B
Murder in Belleville by Cara Black

2
2.5 stars. This is the second book in the series, and I find that I like the premise of the series better than I like the books so far. Aimée Leduc is a strong, intelligent, capable woman who doesn’t rely on a convenient strong man to help her (most of the time). But Black seems to get lost in her intricate plots. There are so many threads to follow, so many suspects, so many different dangerous situations, and somehow they don’t really mesh well. Still, I see promise, and I’d be willing to read another.

Karen
Mischling by Affinity Konar

4
Emotionally difficult to read but worth the while. Very well written with an intriguing storyline revolving around the Holocaust. The hope that is infused into the characters is what allows the reader to continue. Based on a non-fiction account, at times it is difficult to remember you are reading a novel. A must-read for all.

Barbara
The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki

5
This was a very well-researched historical fiction novel about the wife of Benedict Arnold. The discussion was quite lively at our last book group and was enjoyed by all.The characters were very well drawn, and the description of the housing, foods, fashions and customs of the time period were excellent.

Marci
Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

4
Britt-Marie has left her husband and landed in a small town that is on the verge of dying. She meets and becomes friends with some unforgettable characters. I laughed and cried...a sign of a great book!

Melissa
Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew

5
She paints a descriptive picture of her life in the public eye as well as her family's private quirkiness.

Dorothy
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

4
A love lost 20 years ago and one found in Paris. A good read for book club.

Marilyn Jensen
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
A delightful story that tells us of how one man remembers his first love, deals with the ongoing changes in his world, and his insistence that he doesn't like anyone and is better off dead. I felt like it was referring to an old friend and neighbor who had trouble dealing with the loss of his wife. It made me cry, made me laugh, and made me appreciate all that there is in one's own life. I think the author really wanted the title to be, A Man Called Love. Couldn't put it down! Excellent choice for a book club - we had a great discussion about this novel.

Jan
The Fixer by Joseph Finder

4
A delightful mystery. A son discovers over three million dollars in cash in his childhood home. His father has been in a nursing home for 19 years since he had a stroke...or was he bashed in the head? The father can no longer speak or understand anything. After an attack in his home and after two guys grab him and put him in the trunk and threaten to cut off his hand, he finally realized that this might be connected to the three million dollars. He is an investigative reporter with many skills and lots of contacts so he starts speaking to his father's friends and his secretary. Some refuse to talk to him, others talk openly, but are they telling the truth? The reporter begins a cat and mouse game because people are following him.

Jan
The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

2
A love story about a woman on the run who has to keep changing identities and decide whether to trust or not trust others. This is on the level of True Romance. She runs but we don't know why. She makes weird alliances and helps a woman bury a man and then helps her kill two men. Then she kills. And on and on. Meanwhile she is running from a sheriff who loves her at first sight. But it all comes out in the end and they live happily ever after.

Frank
Chicago by Brian Doyle

4
It is rare to find a book where the location is the main character, but this is exactly what you will find in Brian Doyle's CHICAGO. On the simplest level, it is the story of a young journalist's time in Chicago during the late 1970s. Fortunately for the reader, it quickly turns into one man's love story to a city. Like other Doyle works (especially MINK RIVER), CHICAGO is filled not only with amazing people with unbelievable stories, but also with talking dogs and stuffed horses. This is a book that everyone that needs a reason to smile should read.

Gladys
Risky Business by Carol Rose

5
He was all about business. He considered her to be too frivolous, but he needed a pretty woman to accompany him on company social occasions. He was working hard to gain a promotion at work and needed to copy and impress the higher-ups. She needed him to not foreclose on the photography studio she had inherited from her grandfather. Her plans were to fix up the studio where she intended to become a photographer. So they made a bargain to help each other. She considered him a workaholic and tried to get him to relax at least a little. This was an fun read.

Allison Hoskins
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

5
Very interesting story that follows a women from Wichita, Kansas who become a chaperone for a young local girl travelling to New York City to take part in a dance group with dreams of becoming famous. Set in the 1920s the story follows both women through the unlikely events that change their lives. It is a moving story of both women during a time when there were many restrictions facing each of them and many changes in both of their futures.

Hedwig
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

4
The problem I have with historical novels such as this is that there is a lot of made up history that goes into these books. This is a very personal and derogatory book for both these characters. It is noted in history that highly intelligent people usually do not have very developed social skills. It is, in the end, an interesting book, however, one that I take as one person's opinion of the couple and not absolute fact. I sometimes think acknowledgements should be at the beginning of the book to be able to know what is fact and what is fiction.

Donna
To Parts Unknown by John Anthony Miller

5
I love this book! George, a London war correspondent, Lady Jane, an English aristocratic from India and Thomas, and a French spy are all in Singapore and running away from something. They meet during an air-raid and the adventure begins. I felt the deep emotions of the characters and the intense struggle to survive the Japanese invasion of Singapore and islands in the Pacific during WWII.

Susan
Loner by Teddy Wayne

3
Strange haunting novel. A young man attends Ivy League college where he hopes to make a new beginning, moving into a popular crowd. Despite his efforts he ends up in the same type of crowd he was part of in high school. Then he meets a young woman from the popular crowd, and as he tries to get to know her, little by little almost unnoticeable his behavior becomes stranger and stranger. An off-beat but memorable read.

Ruth
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave

5
One of the best books I have read this year, of the 55 I have read so far.

Becky
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

2
My big problem with this book is: it doesn’t know what it is. Is it historical fiction? Yes, and no. Is it science fiction? Yes, and no. Is it alternative universe/history? Yes, and no. I had the uncomfortable feeling all while reading it that I was being played by the author. And that is not a comfortable -- or desirable -- feeling. The first half of the book found me wondering why I kept reading. The last half I just wanted to know how Cora fared in this awkward world.

Monica
We Could Be Beautiful by Swan Huntley

3
Overall a beach read with a small kick. Rich and entitled woman wishing for love isn't the hottest subject, but this one includes a nice twist that keeps you waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Marilyn
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
Curmudgeon is the first impression of Ove, but at some point in the book I came to see him in a new light. He is truly an advocate for what he deems to be right and for those he sees truly in need. This is a tale of an unusual man, unlikely relationships, including one with an unkempt cat, and a reordering of first impressions.

Myrna
The Wind Is Not a River by Brian Payton

4
A journalist goes to Alaska in WWII to report on the Japanese attack on the Aleutian Islands and is not heard from again. A wife insinuates herself into the USO in hopes of finding him. This book of survival, perseverance, and love kept my interest throughout.

LINDA
The Texan's One-Night Standoff by Charlene Sands

5
Chicago real estate genius Brooks Newport drove to Cool Springs, Texas to meet the father he'd never known about as his mom had the woman that took them in promise to keep her secret of why she fled Texas and gave up the man she loved. Brooks tracked down his real father and was nervous about meeting the man that planted his seed in his mom and threw her away like garbage. He needed a drink to calm his anger and stopped in a bar for comfort. But, he couldn't keep his eyes off the woman shooting pool with an old geezer. Ruby Perez had been a barrel racer as a teenager but when her dad died she took over as a horse trainer, and there was nothing she didn't know about them since her dad died ten years ago.

Lisa
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

5
Loved the lyrical and beautifully detailed writing along with the wonderful vocabulary that Kidd used. The story captures you immediately and you become emotionally invested in both main characters. I loved the alternating chapters telling each main characters point of view and their own adventure through time. It was a remarkable story yet sometimes a painful chronicle of our country's past in the early 1800s. I would highly recommend this book.

Simonne
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

4
Terrific historical fiction with the true story of silent film star Louise Brooks as a backstory. A real poor little rich girl. The protagonist, the chaperone of the title, has her own story, including arriving in the Midwest on the orphan train. Well written and thought-provoking.

Mary Lou
The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis

5
A very good first novel, the storyline takes place with two threads: one in 1952 and one in 2016. The setting is the Barbazon Hotel for Women, a lovely old place where young ladies lived back in the day while seeking their fortunes and/or their prince charming. In modern day, the place is converted to condos, but on the fourth floor some of the early residents are living out their days in rent controlled splendor. Rose is a modern day journalist who lives in the Barbazon and discovers the ladies on the fourth floor, and a mystery involving a suspicious suicide, drugs, exotic spices, romance, betrayal, and envy. This book is so good, so well crafted, so compelling, it is difficult to believe this is a first novel. Entertaining and fun.

shelly
Madam President by William Hazelgrove

5
When Edith Galt met President Woodrow Wilson she never expected to marry him. Both of them had lost their spouses and the President had lost his less then a year ago. Dr. Grayson especially felt that President Wilson needed a wife and a stable life since his wife had passed away, although he did have two daughters. They enjoyed each others' company, had dinners together, wrote love letters and even poetry to each other and eventually did marry. Edith had been a very independent woman and loved her life and was even driving a car, which was a rarity at that time. There was a sixteen year age difference but, as noted, there was no problem with Woodrow keeping there life very satisfying.

Noreen
Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford

4
You are part of the story. The descriptions of the characters and locales is so believable. The book will make you sad and angry. You'll learn a lot you didn't know.

Sean Penrose
Japantown by Barry Lancet

1
What was billed as a sneak peek into a sliver of Japanese culture seated in the San Francisco was actually an insanely farcical tale involving comic book level bad guys. The protagonist kept telling the reader he's a novice but then proceeds to be Superman and Chuck Norris rolled into one. The book, while I'll assume is authentic to Japanese culture, also read very stereotypical to me. The likable and realistic characters were far and few between. Overall, a disappointment.

Judy
Fragile Beasts by Tawni O'Dell

5
I was not looking forward to reading our monthly book club choice, FRAGILE BEASTS, but I'm so glad I did! This was such a good story and O'Dell did a great job developing the characters. I thought the book was going to be about bull-fighting, but that was only the background. This is a moving story about a rich, old, cantankerous lady and two poor, teenage boys who help each other overcome heartbreaking losses. I recommend it highly, and I am going to look for more O'Dell books to read.

Linda
Missing: A Private Novel by James Patterson and Kathryn Fox

3
Craig Gisto is head of Private Sydney and has been asked by Private’s owner Jack Morgan to help find a missing man. Not just any man, Eric Moss is the head of a high-profile research company with government contacts in Australia and the United States. Research into the man reveals nothing -- no passport, driver’s license, or birth record. The man is a ghost. Jack is given a tip that the man might be a rogue CIA agent but where is he and why did he disappear? I loved the other Private novels but this one missed the mark.

Linda
Miracle Road by Emily March

5
Lucca Romano was an award-winning coach until a van carrying some of his players and himself went off the road killing two and paralyzing one of the boys. Blaming himself for the accident, he fled and tried to lose himself in liquor. His family never gave up on him and brought him home to Eternity Springs. He met his beautiful next door neighbor who helped bring him out of his self-pity and get on with life. But Hope Montgomery has a secret of her own.

Linda
Gone by Lisa Gardner

5
Pierce Quincy, ex-FBI profiler, and wife Rainie Conner have finished investigating a gruesome murder in Astoria. The murder of a mother and her child really got to Rainie. She started drinking again and lying about it to Pierce. Seeking solitude one night, she drives on a deserted road and pulls over only to find herself looking into a bright white light. She has been taken hostage and the nightmare really begins. When the police find her car with the engine still running and the lights on, Pierce is notified. A ransom note is received and the police find that the kidnapper is playing with them. Then a foster child Rainie has been working with is kidnapped with more demands by the kidnapper. Time is running out.

Linda
The Survivors Club by Lisa Gardner

5
Three women form the Survivors Club to deal with the trauma each had gone through at the hands of the College Hill rapist. They demand justice from the police. When DNA identifies Eddie Como as the suspected rapist, he is arrested and charged. As he exits the police van on the first day of his trial, a lone gunman shoots and kills him. The shooting on the courthouse steps brings in the state police, and Detective Sergeant Roan Griffin soon handles the investigation. He is just back at work after a medical leave imposed when he tried to kill David Price, the perpetrator known as the Candy Man for torturing and killing ten children. Price is now in prison and knows the name of the rapist but is playing with Griffin and won't tell him.

Linda
Even Now by Karen Kingsbury

5
What a great book with an even greater ending! A teenage couple find themselves about to be parents, but their parents thought they were too young and separated them. The girl had the baby and was told the baby died. The boy and girl never stopped thinking about the other and both had tried to find the other with no luck. Then, the unthinkable happened. Their daughter found her mother and then her father. Such a heartwarming story.

Linda
Riverbend Road by RaeAnne Thayne

4
Cade Emmett is the police chief in Haven Point ever since former chief John Bailey took a bullet in the line of duty and was unable to serve in that position anymore. When John died, Cade was devastated. He grew up with a father who didn’t take care of his children and Cade was the substitute father for his brothers. John found out about it and took Cade under his wing, treating him like his own sons and giving him the guidance he needed to succeed in life. John’s daughter Wyn is a police officer reporting to Cade. Cade is in love with Wyn but feels he is not good enough for her. Wyn has loved Cade ever since they were children. When Wyn is shot trying to take down a suspect, Cade realizes how much he loves her.

Linda
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

3
From reviews, it sounded like a great book but the heroine is so stupid, I found it difficult to finish reading the book. If she wasn’t taking depressant medication, she was drinking. She is supposed to be on a cruise and her job is to interview passengers and report on the cruise. She is tongue-tied and drunk and unable to interview anyone. When her cell phone and internet connection do not work, she should have checked with other passengers to determine if they had the same difficulty. She repeats her story of the missing woman to everyone who will listen but no one believes her except a former lover and she accuses him of the murder. Very disappointed in this book.

Linda
Woman of God by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

4
A devout woman is tested by God and listens to his instructions. She and a priest fall in love and marry and have a child. He is still practicing as a Catholic priest but comes under fire from the local diocese. They are concerned with the growing JMJ (Jesus, Mary, Joseph) Catholic churches rising up around the area. The priests are married and relate to the problems facing the families. The woman begins serving as a priest along with her husband. The Pope is interested and invites the woman to Rome. After he dies, her name is put in the hat as a potential papal candidate.

Linda
The Killing Game by Nancy Bush

5
A suspenseful book as you try to guess the identity of the killer. The last name of each of the dead women is some type of bird. Andi Wren has received a note where she is called “little bird” and has hired Lucas Denton to protect her, but from whom? Andi is the majority stockholder of Wren Development and the company has had bitter confrontations with the Carrera brothers who wanted to buy properties that Wren bought. Are they threatening Andi to get her to sell? Detectives are working to solve the mystery of bones discovered underneath a house and don’t have time to investigate the anonymous notes. It is up to Luke, and when Andi receives another note, he knows her life is in danger.

Linda
A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

4
After being shot through the knee while fighting Napoleon, Lieutenant Colonel Victor Bramwell has come to Spindle Cove to see Sir Lewis Finch and ask for his help in getting back to his squadron. Finch agrees to help after Bram has organized a local militia. He also gives Bram a reward for his service to the Crown -- the title of Lord Rycliff. As Bram tries to assemble the local men into some sort of militia, he butts heads with Susanna Finch, who likes her village the way it is. It caters to young women who need the restorative quality of life found in a seaside village. As they argue about the militia, they fight against their attraction to each other but lose that fight.

Vivian
The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah

5
I was totally captivated by this book. I could not put it down. The characters Kristen Hannah created in this book seemed very real to me. I could feel their pain and struggles. I was totally transported to WWII. The writing style made it easy to breeze through the book. It was very enjoyable from start to finish.

Richard N B
A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny

3
How could CC de Poitiers have been electrocuted in the midst of a curling match in Three Pines – and without anyone seeing a thing? Chief Inspector Armand Gamache has his work cut out for him solving this mystery, and I like the quiet, efficient way he investigates. I figured out the murderer pretty early, but still enjoyed watching how Gamache arrived at the conclusion. I’ll definitely keep reading this series.

Chris
Giddy Up, Eunice by Sophie Hudson

5
Wonderful book! Sophie Hunter delves into why we as women need friendships with those who are younger and those who are older, and how to find, nurture, and share those relationships with other women. She is hilarious, Southern, and self-deprecating in a way that makes you want to meet her immediately.

Judy O.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

4
This is a story about a man in Sweden who is incredibly grumpy and about the neighbors around him who won't leave him alone. They mean well, but he is having none of it. Their efforts at befriending him is the basis for this wonderful book. This was my second reading after two years.

Gail
Mothers and Daughters by Rae Meadows

4
Three generations of women discover things about themselves and their relationships to their mother and daughter. Interesting read but you need to keep three storylines straight as the author goes back and forth between the generations for her plot.

Donna
WTF?!: What the French by Olivier Magny

5
This book certainly opened my eyes in some ways and reaffirmed things I'd learned in other ways. My daughter and her family is relocating to the states after living in Paris for the past thhree years. This book touched on several of the reasons for their return. My son-in-law is French and his family live in France. I wish my daughter and her children had read this book before their move to France and I look forward to sharing it with them.

shelly
Blue by Danielle Steel

3
Although I always enjoy Ms. Steel's books I think this is just a little bit on the unbelievable side. Ginny Carter's world was shattered two days before Christmas when her son and husband died in a car accident. She still blames herself as both of them had drank some wine but she did not realize her husband might of had too much. After leaving her job and her old life in California behind she moves to New York. She works for human rights organization and travels, usually three months at a time, to dangerous locations around the world. Ginny usually comes home for a short period of time and is off again. This December, she is returning from her latest mission and realizes it is almost the anniversary of the death of her family.

LINDA
Haematemesis: How One Man Overcame a Fear of Things Medical and Learned to Navigate His Way Around a Hospital by Henry Sheppard

4
I willingly volunteered to review this book by an unknown author to me and although the title is long, I cracked up as the author told his story about his condition and tests at the hospital! Mr. Sheppard certainly kept me laughing throughout his ordeal and I highly recommend reading it, whether you are in good health or not, or facing trauma of your own as truly laughter is the best medicine!!!

LINDA
Path of the Assassin by Brad Thor

5
I willingly requested this book from my library, willingly posted my review. I can't wait to read the other ten books in the series and am glad Scot Harvath is on our side!!

Jeffrey Haddow
Barbarian Days by William Finnegan

4
I have no interest in surfing, and ostensibly, that's what this book is about, but I was totally engrossed in Finnegin's story. Full disclosure, I've always been a fan of this author's work, from CROSSING THE LINE to his many articles in the New Yorker. But this one is his best so far. Surfing as a metaphor for life has never seemed so valid.

Aimee
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

4
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book at firs due to the surliness of the main character. But, (like Shrek), once you start peeling back the layers of Ove, and discovering his true character, he is a one-of-a-kind main character, and one that I will remember for a long time.

Heather
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson

5
Best book I've read this year!! My book group, with the exception of one member who felt she couldn't relate to the story, all really enjoyed this. The story of a young girl, her family and friends, set in Brooklyn in the 1970s.

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

5
I loved this novel and wish I had a grandmother like Elsa's. Gram used "fairy tales" to explain and prepare Elsa for the reality she had to face. I recommend this book to everyone, even well-read children.

Sheryl
Is This Tomorrow by Caroline Leavitt

3
This story about a missing preteen takes place in the 1950s. I grew up in the fifties and felt the author did a great job describing that time and she brought back many memories. I wanted more insight into Ava, the main character and didn't find myself as emotionally involved as I feel the author had intended. The missing boys' friends gave me something to hang onto. I was left wanting to know what would become of those characters. A fairly interesting read.

Harriet
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

4
Very readable look at the way aging is handled by modern medicine.

Linda S Miller
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

5
Wonderful story about two very different sisters, one older and a more motherly type after their mother passed away. Their father could no longer care for them. They moved in with a distant relative in the French countryside where the older sister marries and has a child. Several years later they are faced with the invasion in Paris and eventually the countryside by the Nazis during WW II. The younger sister is sent by father, who she is back living with, back to the countryside to be safer living with older sister while her husband is off fighting the war. The sisters have very different ideas about how to handle living during the occupation, one choosing to try and do the best she can to get along, the other to join the Resistance.

Lynne
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn

4
This amazing debut novel brings to life the hopes and dreams of Jamaican women caught in the struggle to define themselves in a world of poverty, discrimination and abuse.

Jayme
The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans

4
A lovely Christmas story about how redemption and forgiveness can heal your soul.

Judy
The Inheritance by Michael Phillips

5
Scottish island and the life of a small clan are the center of this wonderful story. The "Laird" dies without leaving a will. This opens the door to controversy as there are differing opinions as to what is to happen to this wonderful island...which is the legacy to be inherited. Be prepared to love the characters!

Jeanie
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

5
Great story about friendships between women in China during the 19th century. Fascinating historical information about foot binding, marriage, and the life of women at that time.

Marjorie
Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life by Jeff Wilser

5
This is one of the best history books I have ever read. I have come to know and really appreciate Alexander Hamilton and his maxims on life. He was so brilliant, but with flaws. He pretty much made America as it is today. The author has written it with much humor.

Sharla
Still Alice by Lisa Genova

3
Alice has early onset Alzheimer's disease. The recurring motif, chapter after chapter, is a series of questions that Alice asks herself as a litmus test of how far the disease has progressed. Her idea is that when she begins to have trouble answering these questions, she will commit suicide rather than suffer any further degradation from the disease. Her plan fails, and we see her lose more and more of the thoughts and memories which made up her pre-Alzheimer's life. The reactions of her family members to her decline are, for me, the most interesting part of the story. Some seem to be in denial, some are selfish and some are selfless. One can't help but wonder: what if this happened in my family?

Jean
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

4
A wonderful read. The Count is a character who will stay with you.

Bea
The Circle by Dave Eggers

4
This seems a little over the top, but in truth, you can talk a group of young people into anything. In the book, a high tech company pretty much takes over the country by being the "in" place to work and creating innovative products, but the company believes in "no privacy" at all.

David
Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien

5
Such a thoughtful and inspiring book about how we can have a special relationship with animals. I have seen this with our pets, but how she wrote the book was special.

Jeanette
The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

4
Having read many WWII concentration camp books, THE LILAC GIRLS introduced me to the horrors of Ravensbruck and the "rabbits" that resulted from the surgeries performed on many Polish young women. Based on real people and incidents, this is a story I will not forget. Our younger generation needs this type of historical fiction to know what has and can happen.

Nina
Tamarack County by William Kent Krueger

4
Great character development makes this book intriguing. It is the continuing story Of Cork O'Connor and his family and how they are affected by his involvement as a private investigator and former sheriff of Tamarack County.

Fran
Wool by Hugh Howey

4
A unique post-apocolyptic novel where the survivors reside in silos. For the most part, it held my interest and I found myself fascinated with the characters and the outcome of the story. I would have rated it five stars if it didn't have so many slower sections.

Izella
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

5
Loved this book. I am a great reader of novels about slavery and the Underground Railroad as I live in a town that had several underground railroad connections. This is one of the best I have read. It is brutal in places and sad and it keeps you wanting to know what will happen next. I highly recommend this book!

Miriam
The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

3
An interesting story about a librarian, Simon, who comes from a family of circus performers - mermaids - who all die on July 24. He thinks there is a curse on his family and he is interested in stopping it before his sister dies.

Karen Catignani
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout

4
This is the story of a family from Maine who "come together" to help a younger member of their family who is arrested for a hate crime. It is a family of misfits who have lived their entire lives based on an incident from their youth.

Bev
Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

4
This book challenged our book group; despite that, our discussion was spirited and provocative. The story raises many ethical questions concerning individual responsibility to family, friends, community, and traditions and cultural expectations. Ritual, symbolism, magical realism, exaggeration - all well played in this artistic novel.

Rosemary
Smooth Operator by Stuart Woods and Parnell Hall

4
We all need escapist literature!

Gretchen
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

5
The author is having a Real Time Read of her first book, DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. I found it impossible to just read one chapter at a time even though this is my third time reading this book. The trilogy includes SHADOW OF NIGHT and BOOK OF LIFE, both of which are terrific. I am excited about it being made into a TV series and hope that it will stick to the story.

Susan
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
The spot-on characterization of Ove, his neighbors, and people he runs into in ordinary life is one of the main reasons I loved this book. In addition, it was humorous and emotional all at the same time. It was enjoyable to see a man carrying bitterness and sadness turn into a caring, loving person. Humanity at its best! I am also reading Fredrik Backman's other books as I like his writing style.

Melanie
You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott

4
Very engaging story about a family whose child is a gifted gymnast on track for the Olympics. The effects on each family member, the gym community as a whole and the lengths that each member of that community will go to produce an elite level gymnast was riveting. A quick read with substance. It really made me think about what our wonderful gold medal ladies gymnastic team had to go through to get to their level of performance.

Stephanie
Loose Lips by Rita Mae Briwn

4
Lighthearted funny reading!

Angelo
The Hours Count by Jillian Cantor

5
Beautiful portrait of a woman in love.

KC Davis
Fates and Traitors by Jennifer Chiaverini

4
This is the story of John Wilkes Booth and his family, his secret fiance Lucy Hale and her family, and innkeeper Mary Surratt and her family, and how their lives intertwined with President Abraham Lincoln. A wonderfully told tale of one of the most notorious and important events in our history.

Shelley K Hitt
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

2
Predictable and the main character was so weak, making such poor choices over and over, with predictable results.

Nadine
As Time Goes By by Mary Higgins Clark

4
I enjoy Mary Higgins Clark books. A quick, easy read.

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

4
The author does an outstanding job with a 7-year-old protagonist, Elsa. She's lonely, has no friends, and is bullied at school. Her 77-year-old grandmother, a retired doctor, has a very interesting past. She helps Elsa cope by telling fairytales which are so in-depth that it took me a while to catch on. Elsa is smart beyond her years and when her grandmother dies, she leaves letters for Elsa to deliver to tenants who live in their building. These tenants have problems which come to light as Elsa delivers the letters. As you spend time with Elsa, she will draw you into not only her daily world, but into her fairytale world. You will feel emotions of happiness and sadness, but most of all, you will feel like you've read a really good book.

Dee
Home by Harlan Coben

4
Pure Coben! Our hero, Myron Bolivar, is back looking for two boys who were kidnapped ten years ago. Coben keeps up a page-turning pace, as well as romance for Myron.

Betty
The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore

4
This is a part of history I was totally unaware of – the battle between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse – over the light bulb. In the late 1800s there was a major legal battle between these two powerhouses. Edison filed over 300 lawsuits against Westinghouse for the unheard of amount of $1B, yes, one billion dollars – in the late 1800s. Add to the mix Tesla, the mad scientist who came up with the idea of alternating current. And we mustn’t forget J.P. Morgan, the sly one with the money. Each with his own agenda.

frances
Spin Doctor by Randall A. Fischer

5
The plots keep rolling along with several twists and turns. Leaning on friends, Jeremy is able to exonerate himself and the truth comes out. This is the first novel by the author who is working on his trilogy. I can't wait to read the next book. Great novel by a new author.

Tessa B C
One Bad Apple by Sheila Connolly

3
This is a strong opening for a cozy mystery series. I like Meg -- she’s intelligent, relatively self-sufficient, and not easily intimidated. I figured out the culprit long before Meg or the police, and I thought the ending was a little less than satisfying. Still, I like the way Connolly is developing Meg’s relationships with the town’s residents, and there are some delicious recipes featuring apples at the end.

Mary Lou
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

5
This is a tale of two families and two cultures. Jende and Neni Jonga emigrate to NY from Camaroon in Africa, and they go to work for Clark and Cindi Edwards, a wealthy NY couple. Clark works for Lehman Brothers in 2007, when the bottom fell out of the financial world of Wall Street, and Jende is his family chauffeur. Neni works for Cindi during the summer in the Hamptons. The book is extremely compelling, and the characters well developed. It is a real page-turner. I finished it loving the characters, forgiving them, wishing them well, and really, wanting more of them. This is a first novel for Imbolo Mbue, and I so hope we will be reading much more of her work in years to come. Highly recommended.

Joanne Q. Gagliardi
LaRose by Louise Erdrich

3
Although an interesting story, Erdrich puts extraneous material that does not add to the story. The story itself was wonderful.

Helen
The Autumn Throne by Elizabeth Chadwick

4
This is the third and final book in the Eleanor of Aquitaine series. The entire trilogy has been so fascinating that I was saddened to finish. An excellent historical novel based on a real live queen who lived an amazing 84 years in a time of continuous war and strife. I like everything that Ms. Chadwick writes. Her series on William Marshall was also fabulous.

Linda
Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power by Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher

4
The book is good. Trump, not so much!

LINDA
Of Fear and Faith by N. D. Jones

5
I freely chose to review this ARC and was riveted to my seat as I rapidly read the first book of the series where gods tamper with other beings of the supernatural! Some serial killer is killing minor witches in a gruesome way and it's up to detective Assefa Berber of the FBI's secrets division of paranormal investigations and Sanura Williams, a psychology professor, to locate the killer. Not only is she a professor but unknown to humans, she is a fire witch! The pair find a spark of lust between them and have to learn to trust the other if they want to find the killer, but each is afraid that when their secrets are unveiled that the other will run! Now, I have to read Book Two!

Jan
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill

4
The first of an interesting mystery series featuring Dr. Siri, who is an MD but who is not a coroner. He has been appointed to the position in his village in Laos after all the wars involving France and the US. The communists have taken over and muddle things up, as usual. But Dr. Siri is a curious and smart man, so he continues to discover why people died. He has two delightful assistants, neither of whom have been trained to be a coroner's assistant. Life is tough but Dr. Siri continues to be cheerful and solve murders. A great read.

Anne-Marie
The Perfect Letter by Chris Harrison

4
Good love story.

Karen
Breakdown by Jonathan Kellerman

5
A missing child, Ovid Chase, is child psychologist Alex Delaware's main concern. He has helped Ovid's mother, Zelda, by getting her from a hospital to a treatment center. She was an actress who cared deeply about her son, but she has slipped into mental illness and addiction and can no longer work. She leaves the facility and is found dead in the backyard of a house where she claims her mother is. Other women associated with the house die. Alex contacts people who associated with Zelda and searches public records and databases with no luck. Investigating Zelda turns up some interesting information about her family and her death as well as the death of the other two women.

Michelle Morrill
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne

5
When I first started reading this, it took a bit for me to get used to the play format. I didn't think I would enjoy it because of the format. But before I knew it, I was engrossed in the story and the new characters. Even without all of the literary descriptions that I loved J. K. Rowling's writing for, the story and characters were enough for me to feel like I was back in the world of Harry Potter. If you've read the original series, this is a must-read.

Annika
Home by Harlan Coben

5
I missed Myron Bolitar! This was a fantastic continuation of one of my all-time favorite series.

Helen
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

4
I enjoyed reading about the life of the guitarist. Mr. Albom told the story of the greatest guitarist who disappears at the height of his popularity. Interestingly, the story is narrated by the voice of music. This was an unusual format but very enjoyable read.

Bonnie
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

4
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It gave an interesting glimpse into life in Moscow during the decades the story takes place. And the characters were well drawn and believable.

Karen
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

4
THE JAPANESE LOVER is a character-driven novel in which Alma, a war orphan raised by her wealthy uncle and aunt, meets a young, reserved Japanese gardener who is sent to a prison camp in America during WWII. They form a life-long relationship in spite of long separations, and differences in social class and ethnicity. Alma also shares her life's secrets with her cousin, Nat, who becomes her life-long friend. The novel deals with the effects of war, affluence vs. poverty, interracial issues, abuse, abortion, and sexuality.

Donna
Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

4
Three generations of Irish women share a summer beach house in Maine. They can barely stand each other and each are dysfunctional in their own way.

Lori
The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter

4
I won a copy of this book and thought it would be a great opportunity for me to try one of Slaughter's books. I usually feel compelled to read books in a series in order, but I made an exception for this one. I'm sure people who read the previous books appreciated it more, but I found it was fine to read as a stand-alone. I liked the complexity of the story as well as the switch in perspective halfway through. I was surprised that the change in perspective made me sympathetic to one of the more villainous characters. Much of the book was about abuse, rape and corruption, and I found it somewhat disturbing and depressing. I don't know if this is typical of her other books, and it would influence whether I continue reading the series.

rich bar
The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break by Steven Sherrill

4
Tender, imaginative, well written.

Meredith
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

5
I loved the book and thought it was well written with an almost lyrical tone to each word. The fifty-year span of the characters left you feeling that you really knew and understood them. I was led to believe that this book might be autobiographical and would love to speak with the author about it!

Liza
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

5
Engrossing story of slaves involved with the Underground Railroad. The brutality of some passages are hard to read, but the novel is wonderful.

Phyllis
The Tourist by Robert Dickinson

4
An intriguing plot but a complicated time travel book. In the future, tourists can go back in time to the 21st century on excursions with a travel rep; they know where they are going, how long the trip will be and if anything exceptional will happen. On one such excursion a tourist goes missing. As the rep realizes he is short one female tourist and starts searching for her, he runs into blocks from the future, people from the future who have gone off the grid staying in the past, and natives of the past. Is she involved in the catastrophe that changes the world? Will the missing tourist and the rep change the future? Interesting but I was left unsure what had happened at the end. Received an ARC from publisher.

Linda
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

5
This book hit me in such a visceral way. It drudged up so many memories that I had supressed. Oh, how naive I was/am. Surely there I wasn't alone. This book helps to prove it. Children are so gullible. A very slim volume of vignettes of a childhood. Told with a child's innocence, but read by knowing adults.

LINDA
The Second Man by Emelle Gamble

5
I volunteered to review this ARC and freely did this review on my own as I have read other books by this author. Fifteen years ago, Jill Ferrell was a twenty-one-year-old college woman who fell madly in love with Max Kallstrom, a Swedish exchange student. When Max returned home, she never heard from him and his mom said to never called there again when she called. Her cards to Max went unanswered and after two years she married Andrew Denton on the rebound. Now, she heard that Max was coming to their class reunion and didn't know how she felt about that, especially with her ex-husband begging for another chance. Max tells Jill that's she's the reason for his return to California and wants to explain the reason he never contacted her,

Becky
Caught in the Revolution by Helen Rappaport

4
The lives of the diplomats, journalists, ordinary citizens and foreign expats who lived through 1917 in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), Russia as it fell from Tsarist rule to peasant’s revolt to anarchy to Leninism is told in exacting detail by Rappaport. Her clear and compelling writing makes this journey into disaster and terror real and immediate. She is able to carry the reader into the unease that slowly begins to develop into the “practically bloodless” and often times polite early revolution and that then descends into chaos and horror as beatings, death, starvation and cold blooded murder escalate. As well written as it is researched, the book is surprisingly easy to read.

shelly
Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne

5
Christmas is supposed to be a wonderful, joyous time of year. Haven Point has some special celebrations and parties that they have during the holidays and most of the town gets involved. Andrea Montgomery is truly hoping to make this the best and most wonderful Christmas for her two children, Chloe, who is six, and Will, who is four. This past year has been a horrible one and the past few years have not been much better. Several years ago Andrea lost her husband who was in law enforcement. He died while trying to save another person. Then her husband's partner not only raped her, but held her at gunpoint in front of her children. Sheriff Marshall Bailey has been in law enforcement for years and so had his father before he passed.

Debbie
Revenge in a Cold River by Anne Perry

4
I like William Monk, but felt that Hester seems missing in action in REVENGE IN A COLD RIVER. Monk unwilling falls into a trap set by McNab when he investigates the murder of an escaped prisoner. The man first appears to have drowned, but a bullet hole in the man's back dismisses an accidental death conclusion. In the course of exploring the possibilities that McNab knows all the answers, Monk meets two men from his forgotten past. Monk learns that he lived in San Francisco during the gold rush days, and that he was not a policeman. Anne Perry describes vivid scenes of the river and the sea, and the characters show many dimensions. The plight of women darkens the pages, as women must live in the shadow of a male. Only Hester stands out.

Francisca E B
La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith

4
Alexander McCall Smith has a gentle way of introducing the reader to his characters. La and the other residents of the town go about their business in this small Suffolk village during WWII; they worry, rejoice, are fearful, find love, relish friendships, enjoy simple pleasures and take action when they can. I applauded La’s resilience and her ability to maintain her faith in the basic goodness of others. Her scope of influence may have been small, but she was a treasure to those within that circle.

Lynn W
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

4
I chose not to read this book (and series), but then book club members picked it for this month. They were smart, I was dumb...founded! Could not put in down. It is wonderfully plotted, has excellent pacing, and great characterization. Will definitely finish the series.

Lynn W
The Last Enchantments by Charles Finch

1
Finished this a couple of days ago and have already forgotten it. Not good.

Kimberly
Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris

5
Utterly creepy in the best possible way. A great, fast-paced story perfect for this time of year.

LINDA
The Corny Myers Series, Books 1 - 4 by Sharon Kleve

5
I freely chose to review this book and never laughed so hard! Corny Meyers is assistant for the CEO until he died bungy jumping at his advanced age when his much younger second wife talked him into it. His spoiled son never worked a day in his life. Unfortunately, her late boss left him only the business and the remainder to his wife. The son had no interest in running Langfield Laboratories and only wanted his check after staying less than five minutes, so unless Corny wanted to be out of a job she had to run the company. Corny had a gift that she could talk to animals as they conversed with her. She and her cousin's pet ferret certainly took delight putting his ideas to put Ralph is his place.

Sherman
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

4
Another wonderful book by Anne Tyler on a family with their trials and troubles of everyday life. The parents look back as they face old age on their children and their problems and the joys of raising them. A book you will remember for a long time. It's about life and true in so many ways.

Patricia Miller
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

3
This book was good but I guess I didn't feel it lived up to all the great hype I heard about it before reading it. It took me a while to finish it which, for me, is usually an great indicator on how much I enjoyed the book. But I do really like Hawley's writing style (I'm a huge fan of his TV work). I would definitely read another book of his.

Cindy
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks

4
My book group just finished this book. It was well received and sparked a wonderful discussion. Wow, she can tell a story that grabs the reader. Many in our group have read and loved MARCH so that is high on my TBR list!

Pauline
Manitou Canyon by William Kent Krueger

5
This was a great book for book discussion groups as the book had an interesting storyline and plenty of tension to keep you reading to the end. It gives an interesting picture of Indian culture and a great look at value systems. A provocative and thoughtful book.

Elaine Campbell
The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

5
Since I enjoy fiction set in the period of World War II, I was looking forward to reading THE PARIS ARCHITECT, and I was not disappointed. The author tells a very good story and presents to us a very good image of life during the German occupation of Paris. The main character's transition from selfishness to generosity is well done.

Becky
News of the World by Paulette Jiles

5
This is a wise book. The story of an old man who has lost all his worldly possessions in the Civil War and now reads the newspapers to folks who cannot read or have no access to papers and the 10-year-old returning Kiowa captive girl who has now lost two families in heart-wrenching circumstances. It is also a tale of love, hope and the unbreakable human spirit. Told in spare prose, the story is itself spare, and that moves the reader more than more florid words could. Doris, one of the supporting characters, says of Johanna and other returned captives, “our first creation is a turning of the soul…toward the light. To go through another, tears all the making of the first…to bits…they are forever falling.”

Brady
Ada BlackJack by Jennifer Niven

4
This book was on someone's list of best books they have read in their lifetime. It is high adventure in a forbidding area, The North Pole. The reading is very good. However, for me, the last 100 pages (400 total) was about all of the recrimination of the guilty party and all the mishaps. I skipped over that part quite fast as it got boring for me.

Lori
Home by Harlan Coben

5
I won a copy of HOME and was happy to try out one of Harlan Coben's books. Although I usually like to read books in a series in order, I was able to thoroughly enjoy this book without having read its predecessors. I liked its fast pace, and I enjoyed the characters and story. The mystery was very good, and I was surprised by the outcome. I will now go back and read the earlier books and continue with the series.

Fran
Pines by Blake Crouch

5
This was a suspenseful novel from page one. I look forward to the next novel in this series.

Marsha
Guilty Minds by Joseph Finder

5
Nick Heller is a private-eye and a high-powered spy hired by politicians, lawyers and other entities. A story about the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is destined to become an explosive situation involving a call girl. Nick has 48 hours to disprove the story and what a ride those hours become. Great fun reading.

Jan
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

4
This is a gentle story about World War II and some of the people who endured the war. All are damaged; some die. The book emphasizes that there is good everywhere and there is also evil everywhere. A blind girl is perhaps the most damaged. Her father takes her to stay with a grand-uncle who was very damaged by World War i so we see the continuing evil. There are several storylines and the time frame moves around so one must pay close attention to the time. The story is slow at first, perhaps because the author has to introduce so many characters and plots, but it is fast-paced at the end. A good read.