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August 18, 2017 - September 8, 2017

This contest period's winners were Judy W., Karen R. and Mary B., who each received a copy of STAY WITH ME by Ayobami Adebayo, SULFUR SPRINGS by William Kent Krueger and Y IS FOR YESTERDAY by Sue Grafton.

 

shelly
Sunset in Central Park by Sarah Morgan

3
Frankie Cole is happy with her life in New York and loves working with her best friends, Eva and Paige. They all live in the same building which is owned by Paige's brother, Matt. Since they all grew up on Puffin Island they have been friends for most of there entire lives. Paige is now engaged to Matt's friend and both Evan and Frankie like him. Frankie is not lucky in love and she blames most of that on her upbringing and the fact that her dad divorced her mom when she was just fourteen years old. Her mother changed and started dating many men, most of whom were younger then her. It upset Frankie as she had mixed emotions about the split and even blamed herself for it.

Wendy
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

4
Great.

Carol
The Late Show by Michael Connelly

5
Micheal Connelly has another great character. Can see a lot of Bosch in her. He truly is a great writer.

Susan
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

4
It was okay but as the novel went on it got kind of boring.

Ruth
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

5
Interesting novel about the families of the Resistance during WWII.

Sheldon
The Switch by Joseph Finder

4
Great summer read. Laptops are switched in the airport with shattering results. Slow to get started, but great summer read.

Phyllis
Summer of the Dead by Julia Keller

5
This is the third book in the series by this author about Bell Elkins of Ackers Gap, West Virginia. A wonderful mystery involving Bell, a prosecutor of law in her hometown. Rural poverty and no one is resting while a killer stalks the small town. Also of note is when Bell's sister returns home from prison. Much to keep the reader interested.

Alice
To Be Where You Are by Jan Karon

5
A wonderful addition to the Mitford Series. I have read them all and each one fills me with such a wonderful peace, and I truly feel as though Father Tim is very real and wish he could be a part of my life.

Sandra
Smile by Roddy Doyle

4
It is such a pleasure to read a new book by Man Booker winner Roddy Doyle. I found this book a bit of a change from previous books. It tells the tale of Victor, a victim of the Christian Brothers in Dublin, as he looks back upon his life.

Linda
Edgar and Lucy by Victor Lodato

4
What a journey! Victor Lodato knows both how to write and how to narrate his book. I can't imagine his characters being so well represented by any other narrator. There are so many twists and turns in the story that I never knew where the journey was going. Edgar is an 8-year-old albino son of Lucy. They don't always get along: Lucy is not the all-American mom and Edgar has trouble opening up with her. He has fewer issues with his late father's mother who Edgar and Lucy live with. Rarely a happy story, but the characters are so well defined this was a book I could not wait to get back to.

Cheryl
Finding Our Forever by Brenda Novak

5
This was a relaxing read. A very well put together story. Brenda Novak does a great job storytelling. You become very involved with the characters and the story. I recommend this as light reading. If you like a little romance and an easy moving story, this one is for you.

Suzy P
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

5
I'm giving this one star just for an original premise! It's great to discover a new writer and this is Ms. Allende's first book for me. Also, it's REALLY great to find a book that doesn't follow a format like many others. Alma lives a rather secluded life until Irina comes along and their "partnership" is a creative endeavor that provides solace and support for both women. Each has a fascinating past and the book is never predictable. Filled with details about life in Japanese internment camps, art and artistry on many levels, and relationships between family members, this is quite a unique book! I will definitely look for more of Ms. Allende's books!

Allison
His Last Letter by Jeane Westin

3
Excellent story about Elizabeth I of England.

Gerry
Nutshell by Ian McEwan

3
Written from a creative and interesting perspective and in a somewhat pretentious style, this novel started slowly, but gradually grabbed my attention enough that I wanted to see how it ended. But if you're looking for likeable characters, look elsewhere.

Gerry
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman

5
What a beautiful story! Grandpa knows he is losing his memories and is looking for a way to explain his decline to his dearly-loved grandson Noah. Read in one sitting, ending in tears and smiles.

Gerry
All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

3
Interesting tale of a time traveler, exploring the life he "should" have had and faced with a decision whether or not to "fix" the past. Not surprising to see that the author of this debut novel was first a screenwriter, as it often read more like a screenplay.

Tessa B C
Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie

3
Christie’s Belgian detective has become my go-to comfort read. I never tire of watching Poirot exercise his “little gray cells” to the amusement and astonishment of fellow investigators, suspects, innocent bystanders, and, of course, the culprit.

Laura
A Southern Girl by John Warley

4
When a southern family adopts a Korean child the institution of racism in the South strongly influences the family's decisions. This, coupled with the child's search for identity, make for an eye-opening and enjoyable read.

Judy
Swan Point by Sherryl Woods

5
How does a woman learn to trust herself to make good decisions about her love life after a divorce? Adelia has to deal with her family, who does not believe in divorce. Through the help of her new friends in Serenity, North Carolina, "The Sweet Magnolias", she learns to accept friendship as family and how to teach her family to accept her new way of life.

Nanette
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

5
A very interesting and heart-breaking story that I highly recommend.

Jud
The Kingdom by Clive Cussler

4
A quick, enjoyable read. The Fargos go in search of an ancient artifact with a connection to Shangri La.

Emily
Putin Country: A Journey into the Real Russia by Anne Garrels

4
Informative read about Putin's Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Pam
The Moth Presents All These Wonders by Catherine Burns

4
A collection of unique stories grouped so they have a common theme (Things I've Seen; To Face the Fear, etc.). A great way to spend your few minutes of reading time. Some of the stories were haunting and memorable, and many were intriguing. Though I didn't relate to or enjoy all of them, it was still a good book.

Marilyn
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

4
Our book club enjoyed the book but did not find it as compelling as TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, However, the discussion was lively as we likened the conditions in the book to the turmoil in our country today. We also enjoyed reviewing the background on whether or not the book should have been published and agreed that we were glad to have read it.

Kathy
Leaving Berlin by Joseph Kanon

3
Excellent spy novel, set in Berlin after WWII, in which world powers are jockeying for control. Alex is a Jew from Germany who emigrated to U.S.A. prior to the war. Now he is being persecuted by the McCarthy hearings and so he returns to Germany to spy for America in order to get the McCarthy committee off his back.

Sue
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

5
Monique is a young journalist who manages to snag the story of a lifetime: a no-holds-barred interview with Evelyn Hugo, bombshell actress of the 50s & 60s who captivated millions with her beauty, talent & dramatic personal life. Now 79, Hugo has outlived all seven of her husbands and wants to tell the truth about what really happened behind the scenes. But why does Evelyn insist on working with Monique, a relative newbie who has worked at a glossy magazine for less than a year? By the end of this spectacularly juicy book, all has been revealed. I loved reading about a powerful, flawed-but-fascinating woman who controlled her own destiny every step of the way, even if that meant using each of those husbands to get something she wanted.

Judy O.
The Late Show by Michael Connelly

4
Michael Connelly is back with a new lead character. Her name is Rene Ballard and she works the midnight shift at the Hollywood Police Department. Because she works at night, she is supposed to turn over everything that happens in the night to the day shift for them to solve. In this book she decides to keep a couple of these cases and work them during the day when she usually sleeps. At times the book got too technical for my taste and it became hard to follow because there were so many names to keep track of. I hung in there, though, and enjoyed the book tremendously. Connelly has written at least 35 books through the years, and he has never disappointed me.

Martha
The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs

4
Ever think back on the American history courses you've taken and wonder what could ever be so interesting about Alexander Hamilton that a Broadway musical about him is such a smash hit?? This book will help answer that question! A well-written and well-researched historical novel, author Cobbs "connects the dots" between the facts we do know about him: his humble beginnings on the island of St Croix, his rise as a orator leading up to the Revolutionary War, his successes as a military leader in the war, his innumerable contributions to our new nation, his family, his affair, and his untimely death at the hands of Aaron Burr. The characters are fully drawn, and the drama of this period in American history comes vividly to life.

Pamela
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

5
The best book I've read in a long time -- and beautiful prose. If any of us remember that never-never-land of early teens, we can relate fully to the narrator's distress. If any of us have ever experienced the death of a child, the sermon in the book is balm for the soul. If any of us have ever grown old and grown close to death, the final chapter is a blessing. It is a spiritual awakening along with the disillusionment of growing up; we need more books like this.

Jason
Every Deadly Kiss by Steven James

4
I really enjoyed this book - it was very suspenseful. However, I liked his original Patrick Bowers books better then the Bower Files.

Barb
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

5
Just finished reading BEARTOWN and absolutely loved it. There are several characters in this book and all are necessary to tell the story of a small town that is fading economically. The only thing it has going for it is the Junior level hockey team that brings the community together. Unfortunately, the hockey team is also tearing the town apart. Some of the characters hit the best years of their lives many years ago when they played at the Junior level. Other characters are now in that same position. A tragedy occurs involving one of the players but the story is in how he handles it and how the town reacts. Fredrik Backman has done a terrific job developing all the characters with their strengths and flaws. Great for discussion!

Judy
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

4
It was worth reading. It was a story of the intensity of "sports" support by a small town and the ramifications for people in the town when a rape involves one of the players on its hockey team. It was interesting but somewhat predictable. I did not enjoy it nearly as much as A MAN CALLE OVE. At times I was slogging through and never had that reaction with Ove. Perhaps true hockey fans would feel differently.

Lois
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

4
Outstanding novel about the lives of slaves during the 1800s. Interesting facts woven into a storyline that kept me reading until the end.

Becky
The Hidden Light of Northern Fires by Daren Wang

3
There are at least four stories in this one novel. Mary and Joe are the two characters that are the most clearly and realistically drawn. You may need a “cast of characters” to keep the individuals, families and alliances straight. Several plots seem a bit far-fetched. Here are three instances.– Southern Dad admitting after years and on his death bed that two of his slaves are his children and disinheriting the white brother, a slave girl in a brothel for 4 years just walking away with no residual mental damage, a Northern soldier given the option of just walking away from his unit and commission by his commanding officer. The storyline is intriguing and holds your interest.

Linda
Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren

5
Hanna Bergstrom had a crush on Will Sumner ever since she was a teen. Now she is grown and living in New York and her brother Jens has asked Will to check on her. Will remembers Hanna as a gangly teen and is stunned to find her grown up into a beautiful woman. He talks her into running with him and enters both in a 5K race. He is sexually attracted to Hanna but Will is known as a player and Hanna is the sister of his best friend. Will can’t figure her out. Does she want to be friends, friends with benefits, or something more? She keeps giving off different signals. Although the story is well written, I do not like on-again, off-again Hanna and think Will deserves a better woman than this dingbat!

Linda
The Store by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

2
When Jacob and Maggie Brandeis had their book declined after working on it for several years, they find themselves unemployed and take a job at The Store. They are relocated to Nebraska and notice cameras are everywhere, even in their home. If people don’t conform to The Store’s ideals, they are transferred. Jacob is writing an expose of The Store and is threatened to conform or else. He runs but his face is everywhere - on billboards along the highway, on posters, and on television. By now, everyone knows who he is. He prints out a hard copy of his book and is on his way to New York. He must get to Anne Gutman, his friend and the only independent publisher left. This book was too weird for me!

Linda
The End of Snow by Prudy Grimes

4
Laura Bailey is a snow scientist and has come to Squaw Valley to measure the amount of snow and repair the snow sensors in the back country. She is skiing when she comes across two women in an area where skiers don't normally go and one is injured. She leaves to get a signal on her phone to call ski patrol and when she comes back to the trees, the women are gone. No one has seen them and no one seems to care. Laura gets a call from the husband of one of the women who tells her his wife is an attorney fighting against a large mining company for its fracking violations. As Laura asks questions, she is caught in an avalanche and fears that her questions are putting her in danger.

Linda
The Confectioner's Tale by Laura Madeleine

5
Petra Stevenson finds a photograph wrapped in an envelope with the words “Forgive me” written on the front. The photograph shows her grandfather and two other individuals outside a café with a notation indicating Clermont – Paris 1910, and was found at the bottom of an old trunk. Petra’s imagination is fired up and she has to find out who the other people were and what her grandfather was doing in Paris. This leads to battles with a historian who is also researching her grandfather with uncomplimentary remarks about a scandal he was involved in. Petra travels to Paris following other leads about the Patisserie Clermont. The book is filled with mouth-watering descriptions of various pastries.

Linda
Dark Melody by Christine Feehan

3
Carpathian Dayan is lead guitarist for the Dark Troubadours and has a mesmerizing voice. Corinne Whitworth is a fan and goes to hear him play and sing. When he sees her, he knows she is his lifemate. Vampire hunters are on his trail hunting for the Carpathians as well as Cullen Tucker, a human who warned the Carpathians of the hunters and now travels with them. The hunters consider him a traitor and want him dead. Corinne’s husband was psychic and was killed by the hunters who thought he was a vampire. Corinne is unable to go through the conversion due to her heart condition as well as pregnancy. Can Gregori and other healers keep her alive until the conversion is able to take place? If not, Dayan will be lost as well.

Linda
Never Deceive a Duke by Liz Carlyle

4
Running from the pirates who had abused him on the ship, Gareth Lloyd was saved by Luke Neville. From that meeting, his new life began and he became a valued partner in Neville Shipping. One day he was visited by a barrister who had been searching for him. He is now the new Duke of Warneham and the last of the Ventnor family. The old duke had sold him to the press gang and he wants nothing to do with the Warneham name but feels he must go and look over the property at least. At the estate, he meets and is stunned by the beauty of the old duke’s widow, Antonia. Suspicious rumors about the duke’s death seem to indicate that she had something to do with the death and Gareth is determined to find out the truth.

Jill
Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher

4
This quick, short read by Pilcher features Caroline and her younger brother Jody who travel to the wilds of Scotland to find their ne're-do-well other brother Angus. They sneak away in the night from their stepmother's house for fear of getting caught. Jody doesn't want to move to Canada with their stepmom and her new husband, but would like to live with Angus instead. Caroline is set to marry Hugh, the stepmom's brother, the next week, but is feeling lukewarm about it and generally feels blah. Their car gets stuck en route and they seek shelter at a nearby house where Oliver is staying while dealing with his brother's death. Do Caroline and Oliver find love? And what happens in the search for Angus? Read and find out!!!!

Elizabeth
The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter

3
THE KEPT WOMAN is the eighth in Karin Slaughter's Will Trent series. I also read the first book (TRIPTYCH) in this series. Although I've read and enjoyed some of Slaughter's books outside this series, I won't be reading the other six books in this series. Here's the simple reason why: Will Trent and his series concentrate too much on Angie Polanski. And that aggravates me. Polanski is Trent's wife but not in the normal sense. She flits in and out of his life, and she just causes trouble. So how can such a character last? Yet seven books later, she is still here.

Rebecca
A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas

5
Someone gave me this book to read, and I wasn't too crazy about reading this memoir by a woman whose husband becomes lost mentally due to a severe traumatic brain injury. Sounded much like some of the Alzheimer's stories which can be very depressing. Instead, I found Abigail Thomas's A THREE DOG LIFE inspirational, witty, sad, loving. I definitely will recommend this book to others.

Muriel
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

5
It's hard to imagine the type of childhood and young adulthoood that Jeannette Walls experienced. She and her siblings were put into situations no young person should have to endure but survived and seemed to become stronger because of some of the suffering they endured. I think their love and support of each was a key to helping them succeed and survive. Their parents were intelligent people but very selfish and self-centered and not able to overcome their own demons such as drinking, and in Rose Mary's case, perhaps a bi-polar mental illness. They loved their children in their own way, but also had disregard for them and their well being.

WALTER
Killing Floor by Lee Child

4
Great storyteller with a classic good guy hero. Many twist and turns keeps you guessing what will happen next. Perfect story development. Cannot wait to read another episode of Jack Reacher travels. Story development is clever and suspenseful throughout the book. Try it- you'll be glad you did!!!

WALTER
Off the Grid by C. J. Box

4
Another great book by Box!! His books are pure brain candy -- easy reading, great verbiage and just a relaxing read.

WALTER
The Golden Legend by Nadeem Aslam

3
A beautiful story of some of the people affected by the transformation of Pakistan's majority religion from a sleepy mysticism to a black and white cruel hardliner's philosophy. This philosophy has no tolerance for anything and is backed by oil money. It naturally attracts the cruel and the greedy and gives a shiny clean veneer of piety and righteousness to every injustice they do. I have always loved Nadeem Aslam. His MAPS FOR LOST LOVERS and THE WASTED VIGIL are both brilliant. I believe this book will also prove to be the same.

WALTER
Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

2
Very creative, but too much fantasy for my taste.

Jean
The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson

5
Compelling story, characters with all kinds of fascinating quirks and unexpected interactions, all set in Sweden. Don't read at bedtime - you won't get much sleep.

Donna
Some Small Magic by Billy Coffey

3
Abel is a young crippled boy with bones that break easily. He is being raised by his mother in the hills of Virginia and believes his father to be dead until he finds letters to him from his father. Abel believes in magic and that when he finds his father they will be a family. Dumb Willie had a brain injury as a child and is Abel's best friend and protector. Together they go on a journey to find Abel's father. They meet up with a hobo on the train who guides them on their trip. Unknown to Abel, he's was killed on the train tracks and the hobo was there to take him home. People are changed through love.

Shelley
Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller

5
The book, CAROLINE, is an in-depth look at one year in the life of Caroline Quiner Ingalls as she moves from Wisconsin to Kansas. Right from the start, I couldn't help but picture Ma from the Little House on the Prairie television series (Karen Grassle). Caroline keeps her thoughts to herself most of the time. She is a bundle of suppressed emotion. When she does speak, she often regrets her words/actions. Charles is upbeat and humorous but also a bit clueless. It didn't occur to him that they might have broken through the ice even though they made a late season crossing. Caroline did though but did not question his decision. This was usual for the time, but reading it now is astounding.

Kara
The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell

4
Fun mystery with lots of interesting characters and plot twists.

Lori
The Child by Fiona Barton

5
A real page-turner! I enjoyed the plot twist that kept me guessing until the end.

Lisa
Ominous by Nancy Bush, Rosalind Noonan and Lisa Jackson

5
Very captivating and hard to put down. This book really makes you think of how devastating rape is to the victims. Also, how crazy some people actually are. I work with high school students everyday and the book starts out with the victims being high school age.

Margaret
A Shoe Addict's Christmas by Beth Harbison

3
This is a novella about a department store employee, Noelle, who is accidentlly locked in an up-scale store on Christmas Eve during a heavy snowstorm. As she prepares to spend the night alone, her guardian angel, an older lady named Charlie, appears. Charlie helps Noelle realize that sometimes in life it pays to take a risk, something Noelle has never done, always playing it safe. Charlie has Noelle trying on different types of shoes to trigger memories of previous Christmases when Noelle was very lonely. Charlie also helps Noelle make other decisions to help her overcome her loneliness like leave on a vacation with a friend on Christmas Day. Cute Christmas story but very predictable. I got an uncorrected proof from St. Martin's Press.

Gina
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarity

4
I thought this book dragged until about 75% through but it had a very satisfying ending. Would mostly be good for people who are parents.

Brady
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

5
One of the better autobiographies I've read in my lifetime. Filled with events of his childhood that are on the borderline of criminal where, eventually, the straight and narrow line was lived with life and its potential abundance. A deep love for his mother expressed in many ways in the narrative. Smarts that carried Trevor through many hazardous situations. You will not be bored with this story for sure.

Joy
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

5
This was one of the most beautifully-written books I have ever read. The story is exceptional, and the research that she did to put it into print was phenomenal. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories that are related to WWII and the Holocaust. What her family endured is difficult to read, but should be read about and remembered so it doesn't happen again.

Trezeline
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

5
A mystical tale of medieval Russia. Beautifully written and the language is poetic. A very easy, enjoyable read.

Linda
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

4
Part fantasy, part love story, part adventure, all a great story of a town's occupation with sighting the legendary Essex Serpent. Marvelous writing. I think I'll visit this one again when I can savor it more than I did this time.

Karen
Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris

5
A quick read because it flows so smoothly from one chapter to the next,and grabs the reader's attention so stopping at the end of a chapter isn't an option. Grace Harrington meets Jack Angel while she and her her sister, Millie, are in the park. Jack is very kind to Millie, who has Down syndrome, so they start spending time together. When he asks her to marry him a short time later, she accepts. On their wedding night, he disappears, and she doesn't understand his behavior. Then on their honeymoon in Thailand, she discovers he isn't the person she thought he was. They appear to be the perfect couple, but Jack, an attorney who champions battered women, has unkind plans for Grace and Millie, who will be living with him.

Jan
Fresh Kills by Bill Loehfelm

2
This is a mystery but a very slow one. The central character muses and thinks and struggles with his thoughts about his dead father, mother and his living sister. His father was shot gangland style in the back of the head. This type of mystery is not my style - I wanted action but all I got was him thinking about how he hated his father (with cause). It is a mystery.

John
Extreme Prey by John Sandford

3
He is true to the formula again, again, and again.

Debbie
Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent

4
Ugh, this guy, Oliver. I could not put this book down! I just had to see what made him tick and why, why, why?

Debbie
Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo

3
Such a heartbreaking story and such a great one as well. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!

Debbie
Hush Money by T. E. Woods

5
Awesome read! I love Woods' books. I don't even look at the description when I request them. I see her name and BAM!

Debbie
Fast Falls the Night by Julia Keller

5
Love this Bell Elkins series of books! This one is action packed and busy, busy, busy!

Sandy
Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown

4
It's been a year since Billie Flanagan - a beautiful, charismatic Berkeley Mom with an enviable life - went on a solo hike in Desolation Wilderness and vanished from the trail. Her body was never found, just a shattered cellphone and a single hiking boot. Her husband and teenage daughter have been coping with Billie's death the best they can: Jonathan drinks as he works on a loving memoir about his marriage; Olive grows remote from both her father and her friends at the all-girls school she attends. But, is Billie really dead? You have to read this book!!!

WALTER
iGen by Jean M. Twenge

2
Subtitled: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood--and What That Means for the Rest of Us

Judy O.
What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross

4
One day Lucy Wakefield kidnaps a 4-month-old baby who is seemingly unattended in an IKEA store. She gets away with this theft in spite of all of the publicity and investigation of such a heinous crime. Lucy is not really a bad person, but she is just desperate for a child of her own. This was a great, can't-put-down story.

Wendy
He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly

4
This is a really good book. Twists and turns that keep you guessing.

Susan
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

5
My absolute favorite book of the year. The story is told in chapters seven years apart about a young gay man in Belfast. We meet him at birth when his young unwed mother is forced to give him for adoption. The scene at the church when his mother is humiliated and abused by a priest still shakes me to the core. He is given up for adoption to indifferent but wealthy parents. His struggle is heartbreaking but the entire book is so transformative. It is still with me and makes me look at the world differently. If you only read one book this year this should be it.

Mandy
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

5
This novel is based on the true story of the author's Jewish family living in Poland during WWII. It was riveting and touching, their resilience even in the worst of circumstances. Though the book was descriptive, it wasn't overly graphic. I highly recommend it.

Lynn
Home Sweet Anywhere by Lynne Martin

4
Subtitle: How We Sold Our House, Created a New Life, and Saw the World. Thoroughly enjoyed this memoir of an older couple who followed their dream to live in countries and cultures of the world. The Martin mantra: postpone nothing!

Sherrie
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

5
This is the best book I have read in quite a while. The story is wonderful and full of adventure, the writing is divine and the footnotes - oh my the footnotes - are superb! I can't recommend this book enough. It has intrigue, a bit of love, devotion, friendships and royalty. Just lovely!

Donna
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

4
This is a difficult but important book to read. Cancer is a horrid disease and the thought of children with terminal cancer is almost unbearable. The teenagers in this story allow us some humor, but the pain is still there.

Donna
Beyond Justice by Cara Putman

4
Hayden is an up and coming attorney and in line to become a partner for the firm if she can win a against the government. Information about the case is withheld from her and soon people involved are being hurt or killed. This is a story about friendship, self preservation, trust, love and, finally, justice.

Linda
If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating by Alan Alda

4
Alan Alda isn't a scientist but does have an insatiable curiosity. I would have picked this book up for either the author or the content; the combination is perfect. Way more often than I'd be willing to acknowledge, I've watched a blank or questioning appearance appear upon the face of someone I was talking with. It soon becomes clear what I thought was a very cohesive and concise explanation flew through the ears of my companion without making a stop at the understanding part in the brain. What did I say? Or What didn't I say? Alan teams with different people to try to understand the process. I hope he does more of this type of investigation.

Sean
The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza

2
Robert Bryndza's opening book in the Erika Foster series is sadly a straight, by the numbers "thriller". I use the term loosely as it wasn't very thrilling and reads like sooooo many thrillers before it. The protagonist's tribulations are all expected. The antagonists are all cookie cutter bad guys. The mystery was easy to assume very early in the novel and the killer's actions range from evil genius to idiot in between chapters. The writing wasn't terrible - it's just completely unoriginal. Overall, nothing close to special.

Lois
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

4
A wonderful way to learn about the slave period in the USA. The book is interesting and well written.

Linda
Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage by Dani Shapiro

3
A quick listen and look into the life of the author. No monumental event, (a death or illness), just her reminisces of her life. Very open, non-chronological (sometimes I got lost) memories.

Tessa B C
Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli

4
I’m long past high school, but I still remember the “pack” mentality that required conformity. It’s painful to revisit that, but Spinelli does a great job exploring what might happen, and how the events might affect some of the students.

Lynn
A Lady, First by Letitia Baldrige

3
Wonderful book about the author's life in the Kennedy White House, the American embassies of Paris and Rome, and Letitia Baldrige Enterprises, her New York PR firm with world-wide clients.

Linda
The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson

4
Manson has a different take on how to live a good life as compared to the many self help books out there. It is an enjoyable book to read while it is very useful and thought-provoking. I highly recommend reading this book.

Kathleen
The Walls by Hollie Overton

5
What a thrill ride! I didn't want to do anything else but immerse myself. I think I would have wanted to kill Lance, too. I would have just had him thrown in jail, or got divorced or something, but that wouldn't have made a good book. Thank goodness Ms. Overton didn't follow my advice! I never read her previous novel, BABY DOLL, but I will look for it now!

Laura
The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church

4
Enjoyable read. Set in the 40s to the 70s its the story of a woman who intends to go to graduate school to study ornithology, but instead ends up falling in love and marrying a man who helped develop the bomb in Los Alamos. It think it paints a fine picture of a woman during a time, when the women's movement was just beginning.

Prudence
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

4
Science fiction for literary lovers. Perfectly plausible with well-rounded characters. Dystopian without graphic violence and beautifully described. Thought-provoking.

Geri
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

5
I found THE ALICE NETWORK a little slow in the beginning, but the growth of the characters increased my interest. It was very hard to read (but absorbing) when Eve was having her hands crushed by Rene. Her self pity was irritating. Eve's growth as a person was slower to take place, but it was the most unpredictable and enjoyable in the end.

MH
The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff

4
This book is set during WWII and, while similar to others I've read about this time period, adds a new twist to the interaction between Nazi and Jew.

LEE
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

5
A wonderful story of a family's move from Africa to the U.S. The story centers around their attempt to "make it" here (in NYC) and their struggles and reversals which result in a full-circle journey.

Ruth
Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado

5
Chilling account of survival of a plane crash in the Andes mountains.

Lucinda
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

5
A great read that engendered great discussion among friends. Whitehead's use of imagery and the use of the URR as a literary device was fascinating and kept the reader engaged. Cora's strength through all of her trials and challenges was something for the reader to admire. It was a fascinating book.

Carol R.
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

5
War is a terrible thing and reading about it is not easy, let alone living through it. This book showed the sides of many women who lived during and after WWII. I learned so much and it touched so many of my emotions. So well written and gave a tremendous amount of time to the research. I am a much better person for having read this book and I am looking forward to going up to Bethlehem, CT to see Caroline's CT home. The suffering that the women endured in the concentration camp blows my mind. I admire all who stick with the book and read it to the end. I have met several women who just cannot read about how those women suffered.

Jill
Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig

5
This pitch-perfect read is about a 14-year-old girl who has autism and of her search for belonging and a real family. Ludwig convinces me that he authentically portrays how a person with autism might think and act. I found out in his bio notes that he and his wife adopted a teenage girl with autism so that lent more credency to my feeling about this. Ginny has a strong voice and is unforgettable. At times I wanted to yell at her and say, "No, you're handling this all wrong," but I always rooted for her and felt invested in her life as I read the book. Ludwig creates a vivid portrayal of Ginny and, in so doing, makes us care about her and see the world in a refreshing way. Recommendation: a 100% must-read!!!

Toni
The Life She Was Given by Ellen Wiseman

5
From the author of THE PLUM TREE, here is another excellent read about a girl who was sold to the circus freak show because she had a condition that would not even concern us now. Wonderful plot and characters. A true future classic from an author who writes interesting stories with depth and heart.

Susan
The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport

4
Lots of history and emotion in this book. Learned a great deal about Russians during the early 1900s. Enjoyed how it read like a novel.

Michelle
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

4
A very different read than THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN. Multiple characters and the story is told by each one, chapter by chapter. A quick page-turner with an intriguing storyline but definitely far less suspenseful than THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, and the ending was unsatisfying.

rhana
Beatlebone by Kevin Barry

5
Imagine John Lennon, creatively blocked and searching (as he always did). Combine this with the fact that he once bought a remote island off the coast of Ireland. Barry takes Lennon on a trip to this island in a novel so poetic that it might have been written by Lennon himself. Marvelous book!

Elizabeth
The Han Agent by Amy Rogers

4
I’m so impressed! Amy Rogers keeps getting better. In the past I’ve likened her books to Michael Crichton’s. Now I compare THE HAN AGENT to Richard Preston’s fiction (THE COBRA EVENT), an even greater compliment. An ambitious Japanese-American scientist, Amika, is hired by a pharmaceutical company in Japan. The members of the family who own the company descend from World War II war criminals who were in the process of devising a chemical agent to obliterate the Han Chinese when the war ended and they had to pack up and leave. But Amika is sure all that is in the past, that the family should not have to pay for “the sins of the father.” The science is real and so is the history.

Linda
Devil's Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency by Joshua Green

4
Probably not much here that isn't already known except for some background of Bannon's growing up. Green gives the facts with occasional opinions proffered by people who worked with/for The Donald. Just confirms my head-shaking for the past seven months.

Sandi
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

5
I really enjoyed this book. Jeannette Walls wrote in visuals. She did not hide from the ugly or demeaning periods throughout her life. She laid it all out there, the good and the bad. Her life was not an easy one, by any measure it could be said that it was a very poor childhood - dirt poor. Thrown around the country at the whim of her parents - her very immature, self-absorbed, without a care or notion of how to raise a family, parents. Jeannette, her two sisters and her brother basically raised themselves. They were teased, they were bullied, they went without the comforts of food, heat or clothing, more than once. This is a story of perseverance, hard work, ambition and resilience.

Angie
Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

3
A psychological thriller about two girls who disappear one night and three years later one of the girls returns home with a story about an island and her sister who is still left behind on it. Cass tells a story so twisted that one almost can't believe it, but then we find the most twisted story of all is the family she was born into and raised in.

Julia
Death on Nantucket by Francine Matthews

5
This book delivered a great story and mystery. The family dynamics made for fascinating reading.

Laureen
Try Not to Breath by Holly Seddon

3
Story was good. Kept you guessing who did it. Was interesting to show how Amy followed what was happening around her even though she couldn't communicate.

Janet
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

3
When you don't particularly care for the main character, it's hard to give a book a better rating.

Joanne
The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

4
Story with dual time lines and so, of course, it's historical fiction. One girl is a society darling who is being pressured to marry into a loveless marriage. She was given a desk when she was very young by a man she thought was just a family friend. In modern times, the desk also comes into play in an intriguing manner. This author writes a whole series of historical romantic novels that are done so well you'll fall in love with historical fiction the way that I did.

Helen
The Confessor by Daniel Silva

5
THE CONFESSOR is now my favorite in Silva's series featuring assassin Gabriel Allon. Someone is murdering people who are connected to a dark secret involving The Vatican at the highest levels. It was fascinating to read about the Catholic church and the Nazis during WWII. The plot is believable, the pace quick, the suspense thick. Silva makes a point of reminding us that the events of the story are fiction, but the the historical secret that The Vatican is depicted as shielding rings true. Loved this.

Elaine
The Sunflower by Richard Paul Evans

5
We read this for our book club. Everyone of the ladies loved it, even the 2/3 who never like any book we read. The story is a love story, a story of children of the streets in Peru, and of the dangers of the Amazon, and the orphanage that cares for these children. Short book, easy reading and it is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Every one needs to read this.

Ruth
The Address by Fiona Davis

5
Loved this book - planned to read it in 5 days as I had others to read, but I read it in 2 days.. .could not put it down.

Brian
MatchUp by Lee Child

5
This is like a condensed version of all our favorite mystery writers in one place. Short stories written together by teams of one man and one woman together along with our favorite characters solving the problems that others can't. Here's one awesome example: Jack Reacher and Temperance Brennan together! Enough said?

Cindy
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyle

5
Couldn't put it down - a great story well told.

Jackie
Look Behind You by Iris Johansen

4
Another great read by Iris Johansen. Twists and turns keeping it interesting!

Judy
Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry

4
Thera, a young woman with physical problems, seems to have a key to unlocking the speech of the residents at the home in which she works. As the story unfolds, it's not just the residents who have a story, but Thera herself. Will she find her mother? Will she find help for her condition? Will those who caused it be brought to justice? All of this told through the lens of a videographer and his friend. A really good read.

Nancy
The Burial Hour by Jeffrey Deaver

5
This is another novel in the Lincoln Rhyme/Amelia Sachs forensic detective series. While some authors with repeating characters seem to become formula-like in their writing, I think Deaver gets better and better. This book is about The Composer, a mentally-ill suspect who kidnaps strangers, leaving a hangman's noose at the scene of the kidnapping, and then sending a video of his victims, slowly hanging. The book moves from the U.S. to Italy, with Rhyme and Sachs going overseas to follow the investigation. I found myself rooting not only for a happy ending for the two lead characters, but also for an endearing Italian forest ranger. Read the book and find out.

Gail
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

4
A seasoned, well-respected labor and delivery nurse in a small hospital is pulled off the care of an infant when the white supremacist parents demand that no Black staff be allowed to touch their child. When complications arise and the child dies in her care, the nurse finds her license suspended and herself on trial. The book is fast moving and seemed very timely in light of recent events in Charlottesville.

Kathy
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri

4
Two brothers in India follow very different roads, one being a revolutionary fighting for the underprivileged in India, the other continuing his education in U.S.A. The sudden death of one brother affects the other for the rest of his life.

Shirley
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

5
I enjoyed this novel of Pino Lallo and his experiences during WWII in Italy. The author used real people, Pino's experiences and situations that he encountered and combined them with his own interpretation of dialogue and thoughts. This made for a compelling read, an incredible story and a different perspective on the war.

Peg
Plainsong by Kent Haruf

5
He makes his everyday characters and their day-to-day tribulations come to life. Wonderful writing.

Lisa
Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani

4
Adriana does a marvelous job of capturing the Italian-American experience. Other than a slightly improbable, but important, middle of the book, it was hard to put down. Good characters and important life lessons pepper make this a very enjoyable read.

Susan
'Round Midnight by Laura McBride

4
This book explored the lives of four different women and how they invisibly intersect at a place in Vegas over many years. Each women has a different background and story. The book ties it together with a golden thread that is neatly spun. This is not a book I would normally read, yet I enjoyed the different stories and seeing how such different lives can share a common element. Also, I liked the power of one change or one action which can greatly impact someone's life.

Marylyn
The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares

4
It took awhile to get the family straight in my mind in this story of a bitter divorce, leaving three full siblings with a half-brother on one side and a half-sister on the other. Once into the novel it stirred thoughts and feelings about my own childhood in much the same situation. Great character development. I picked up this book on a whim and glad I found it - or it found me.

LINDA
Syndicate Wars: First Strike Book 1 by Kyle Noe, George Mahaffey, Jr. and Justin Sloan

5
WOW, What a story!! Book One just swept me off my feet, and the story is NOT over. I loved that Quinn took her duty seriously as she had a daughter and country to protect from an alien race known as The Syndicate who wanted their planet, and she was determined to not let them have her daughter nor her planet! I fell in love with the Marine squad as each member brought something new to enhance the story. I can hardly wait to read Book 2!

Jeane
Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani

3
Was so looking to love another of Trigiani's works as much as the BIG STONE GAP trilogy, but this didn't happen. Too many plots that didn't develop into something wonderful. Nicky was into everything. He was everywhere. Didn't fall for him at all. What should have been a 4-star fell to a 3- star.

ILene
Poison by Galt Niederhoffer

4
Liked it. Starts out like a perfect family, but you never know what goes on in someone else's family when the door is closed. Cass is a widow with two children, marries Ryan who seems to be 'perfect', and they have a child together. A job opportunity takes them from New York to Seattle where Cass gets ill and thinks she is being poisoned by Ryan. Nobody believes her including her friends and the police. I really liked it. Thank you Saint Martin Press for allowing me to win the book.

Rosemary
The Address by Fiona Davis

4
Two women, 100 years apart, are influenced by The Dakota apartment building in New York City. What was once considered "the Address" on the West Side of the city effects them and their futures. Both of them come from strained circumstances and the decisions they make determine their futures. Told side by side, their stories make this an intriguing book with an interesting twist in each of the endings. A must-read!

Marcile
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

5
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, written by Betty Smith in 1943, has been justly called one of the best books of the century. I knew I had read it before, but picked it up again when a friend compared it to THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeanette Walls. As I dug into the book I was once again delighted with the world of Francie Nolan and her brother Neely as they grow up in the heart of the Depression in the tenements of Brooklyn. Though there was little or no money, Francie's parents valued education and insisted their children would complete grade school, as they never had. Francie loves books and education, and in the end, this is her salvation. The book is rich in characterization - who could not enjoy Aunt Sissy? Would be a great book for groups.

Wendy
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5
Great.

Kathy
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

5
An engaging historical fiction that looks at what might have happened if the government had agreed to gift 1000 white women to Native Americans as brides. The hardships and joys of these women's lives seem all too real.

Mary
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

5
Very interesting presentation - a mystery inside a mystery. I enjoy books that take place in small English villages. This one was very intriguing.

Karen
Seeing Red by Sandra Brown

4
Excellent book!!

Marsha
The Stones in the Field by Michael Stephan Oates

4
This timely novel tells a heartbreaking story of the personal costs of kidnapping for ransom. In Mexico this is a problem. This is a terrifying world that is going on when most of us are unaware. It is disturbingly real and based on a true event.

Nancy
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

4
I liked this book. It takes place in England during WWII. It is told though letters from ladies of Chilbury to their friends. They form a ladies choir because all the men have gone to war. Good read.

Beth
The Language of Threads by Gail Tsukiyama

4
I wish I had read the first book about these characters first, but it was still a fascinating look at the fate of the Chinese and English during the Japanese in occupation during WWII.

Lori
Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franken

5
I don't usually read non-fiction but this book was fun. He has so many stories about the activities in the senate and personal anecdotes about his experiences running for senator. I learned about how bills are passed (and not passed). I felt that I really got to know Al Franken, comedian, writer, and senator.

Judy
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

5
This book definitely held my attention and was one of the best books I have read in quite sometime. I had not heard of the Osage murders and found this piece of American history interesting but also disturbing. It displays the greed and self-importance of some and is not something we, as a nation, should be proud of. If one enjoys mystery, and history, this book is for you!

Suzy Z
The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

4
Okay, I had it mostly figured out by page XX (if I told you, it would spoil it), but I still liked it a lot and didn't figure out everything, including the biggest mystery of all. Did you ever make a snap decision and it comes back to haunt you? Then something happens that compounds your decision and it's all sort of downhill from there? This book will both keep you guessing AND have you figuring out parts, but a good book makes you keep reading anyway to see if you are correct. This is my first B.A. Paris book, and I'll definitely read more of her work.

Linda
The Chickenshit Club: Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives by Jesse Eisinger

4
What do Countrywide, Washington Mutual, Lehman Brothers, Citigroup, AIG, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley have in common? Not one was indicted for the financial crisis that hit the in 2008. Why? This book has numerous reasons, not all of them palatable. I'm not sure I understood every nuance, but I certainly got the drift that the taxpayers will continue to pay the piper and the lawyers involved. The title comes from a comment of James Comey at his arrival at the Southern District of New York as the lead attorney. Upon seeing the number of hands raised of lawyers in the office who had never lost a case, he proclaimed, "You're all members of 'the chickenshit club.'"

Jan
The Crossing: A Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly

5
Connelly never disappoints. This is one of his best. Harry Bosch is in forced retirement from the LA police force, and his daughter is getting ready to go to an expensive private college. Where is the money? His half-brother, Mickey Haller, a defense attorney, asks for help. His client is accused of murder, and the evidence is pretty solid, but Haller knows that his client did not do it. He pleads with Bosch to help him gather the evidence to clear his client. Bosch has a moral conflict with helping criminals get off, but Haller convinces him to help by finding the actual killer. This is a quick read that finds Bosch and Connelly at their best.

Francisca E B
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

4
What a delightful story for middle-school readers (and adults). Inspired by Chinese folklore, Lin weaves a fantasy tale of one young woman’s quest to help her family. Minli’s courage, grace, kindness and perseverance are to be admired. I am reminded of the stories my grandparents, aunts and uncles told on many a night, as we sat on the front porch in the dark, my imagination running wild with tales of adventure.

Gina
Down a Dark Road by Linda Castillo

4
This Amish mystery is a page turner. I stayed up to 2am to finish it. The story is about an Amish father of five kids convicted of killing his wife with a gunshot in the middle of the night. The father insists that he did not do it. His little three-year-old daughter talks of another man being there that night. It is a tangled web, but our heroine, Sheriff Kate Burkholder, is on the case. Things are not what they seem to be.

LINDA
Mostly Murder: Till Death by Lawrence Block

5
OMG, here are a ton of short stories that I wished were full novels as I wanted more. Each novella was better than the next! I mostly sided with the victim and didn't want Robert's story to end. The other books made me rapidly read, and I guess it's why I never cared for anthologies.

Pamela
Do Not Go Gentle by Ann Hood

4
This is a gently written, heart-touching story of the way the death of a close family member sometimes challenges and leaves survivors searching for faith. The author explains her close relationship to her father, her struggle for a miracle during his lengthy illness, and her search for reaffirmation of faith after her world has been shaken. The book is probably not earth-shattering but is relevant to many who have been devastated by loss and question why.

Gina
The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

3
I read this book hoping for more than it gave. It made no sense that a lawyer would consider herself to be involved in a crime as a minor. The whole premise was over-the-top stupid, and that annoyed me. This book is a bestseller now, but it will have no staying power. THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 and IN A DARK, DARK WOOD were much more satisfying. THE LYING GAME was a page turner but made me wonder how it got past the editors that the premise was so false.

Susan
Sting-Ray Afternoon by Steve Rushin

5
Steve was raised in the '70s in Bloomington, MN. I was raising two sons in the '70s, so I really enjoyed this book. It was like reliving their childhood.

Bonnie
The Reserve by Russell Banks

4
This is a terrific novel. Russell Banks is one of our most underrated authors. Get to know him.

Kim
Pekoe Most Poison by Laura Childs

3
This "cozy" mystery, set in Charleston, is part of a series of mysteries solved by Theodosia, a Charleston tea shop owner. The author did a good job throwing in red herrings, so that I was never sure who the killer was, though it turned out to be who I'd initially suspected but rejected because there didn't seem to be enough motivation to commit murder. Even at the end, I never understood the character's motivation. In addition, I found Theodosia, the mystery solver, to be an annoying know-it-all character who randomly accused people with little evidence and continuously overstepped the boundaries with no repercussion from the PD. Still, it was a quick, enjoyable summer read!

Marsha
Map of the Heart by Susan Wiggs

5
I always enjoy her books, but this is one of her best. I love the pairing of present day and France at the end of WWII. There are memorable characters and a bit of mystery. I also love a satisfying ending. Very well done.

Marsha
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

5
Being adopted when I was an infant made this book close to my heart. It's hard to read some of the cruel incidents, but I could not put this book down.

Marsha
Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery

4
Fun to read and a virtual vacation from everyday life.

Marsha
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

5
I never am disappointed when I pick up a Kristin Hannah book. I am a French teacher and fascinated by history, so this was a perfect book for me. The French resistance in WWII made an interesting background to the love story.

Amy
The Store by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

4
An exciting book that makes you think.

Margaret
Beach House for Rent by Mary Alice Monroe

4
The setting is the beautiful Low Country, the coast of South Carolina, Isle of Palms. Heather has been commissioned to provide sketches of shorebirds to be used as postage stamps. She is the renter of the title's beach house, named Primrose, and the talented author provides us with an educational novel that includes the shorebirds, turtle nests, canaries and the environment. This is a novel about two women, Heather, and the beach house's owner, Cara, who are trying to find their way after each suffers a tremendous loss. Together they realize that they can help each other, bond and form a friendship through the healing power of nature. I considered this novel to be an enjoyable, light summer read with likable characters.

Linda
Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller

4
Peggy is eight years old when her survivalist father takes her from their home in London to live in the woods. Nine years go by; Peggy meets Reuben in the woods. Somehow she gets back to civilization and eventually to her mother. The ending is startling and disturbing. Was Reuben real? The story is difficult to read, but I had to finish it to see how it ended!

Susan
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

5
This is such a powerful and beautifully written book. The characters were so vivid to me --- I could picture each one and still think about them. I loved having a little closure as well. The technical parts were so interesting with their contribution to the war, but the characters stole my heart.

Donna
Dream Big by Kat Kronenberg

4
Everyone loves to wish upon a star and dream of what could be. This beautifully illustrated book is about a caterpillar, a tadpole and a flamingo who have their wishes come true. Children will learn, love and be inspired with this story.

Margaret
Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton

3
Difficult to review and rate, this is a depressing book about the author's problems and the way she dealt with them. Writing about her lifelong personal struggles, she revealed the most personal details of her life and marriage. She made a lot of bad decisions; on the other hand,she was also a victim at times. She has a way with words and is a talented writer. If you can relate to her problems, this book might be helpful. I have had problems in my life, and even though they differ from hers, we both have used our faith to help us through the difficult times.

ILene
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

4
Owen Quine, a controversial author, is brutally murdered, and his wife Leonora is the prime suspect, according to the police. Leonora hires Cormoron Strike, a private investigator, to clear her name. Prior to his disappearance, Quine had written a very vicious and uncomplimentary novel based on his many enemies of authors, editors and publishers. Strike has to investigate if this novel was a motive for murder and "whodunit." This is a very good book.

Cheryll
Ominous by Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan

3
Parts of it I loved, while other parts not so much as some of the storylines were too soap opera-ish for me.

Martha
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

5
What a clever writer! MAGPIE MURDERS is a mystery cloaked inside another mystery (with the same title but a different name for the author). This has all the great trappings of a good English mystery --- red herrings, a cast of suspects, the motivation to murder birthed in ambition, deception and greed. Surprises abound!

Martha
History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund

3
The setting of this story is a desolate woods in northern Minnesota. The main character is a girl growing up with only her parents, who stayed behind when the commune that they had begun broke apart. An intelligent misfit, she attends school in the nearby town, often walking home, alone, for miles. Intrigued by new neighbors on their lake, she becomes a frequent visitor and babysitter there. Her loneliness and that of her neighbor leads her to decisions and actions that will overshadow her life. The author creates her character well, and writes well. This is not a "feel good" book.

Martha
Crime Scene by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman

5
I've been a Jonathan Kellerman fan for many years, but this was my first time reading a collaboration with his son. With a sprinkle of Alex Delaware on the side, this story features a new detective figure, a coroner squad officer, who is enticed by the daughter of the victim to look beyond the obvious. The current death leads to the deadly fallout of a psychological experiment set up by a grad student years before. The more Clay Edison, the coroner officer, pursues the questions, the more doubtful he is of the results of the previous case. Overstepping boundaries set by his work, he approaches the truth, upsetting previous investigations and outcomes. Another Kellerman coup!

Cheryl
Cant Stop Loving You by Miranda Liasson

3
I really enjoyed this story once I got into it. In the beginning, the reader is introduced to a lot of characters, who are developed in the course of the book with good storytelling. This is a cute hometown story that I became invested in. It takes a few chapters to get going, but Liasson knows how to engage a reader at the end of the chapter and keeps you reading "just one more."

Elizabeth
Final Girls by Riley Sager

2
It could have worked well. The last few chapters of FINAL GIRLS are a surprise. Its structure --- divulging the past little by little while characters in the present deal with the aftermath, each in her own way --- has worked well in other novels. The first third of this novel is nothing but an introduction, first to Quincy’s hellish past, her run through the woods into the arms of a policeman, then to her seemingly normal present. It drags. Then Tina/Sam enters the picture. Tina/Sam comes across as a suspicious person. Now FINAL GIRLS doesn’t drag as much. But Tina/Sam and Quincy do so much, while Jeff, Quincy’s live-in boyfriend, sleeps through it all. It is so unlikely. The story progresses. But the end is too neat and improbable.

Linda
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

5
I wasn't ready to read another Holocaust book, but this book is totally different. Its story is one that should be read by all. It's a message that we all have to do our part to combat evil. I am so glad I read it and am encouraging others to read it as well.

Kathy
IQ by Joe Ide

5
Great characters and a fast-moving story. I really enjoyed it!

Francisca E B
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

3
In a future dystopian North America, 24 contestants fight to the death on live TV. Collins draws the reader in and made me care about Katniss. She’s a strong, intelligent, resourceful female heroine. The cliffhanger ending is a pet peeve, and I dropped a star for that.

Becky
And Then There Were Four by Nancy Werlin

4
Five misfit teens at a private school find each other at a “Leaders Meetings.” When one of them dies, the fun begins. Are their parents really trying to kill them all? Why? Who can they trust? Who is behind all the mysterious happenings? There is not a lot of character development except for the two characters who narrate, but the premise is intriguing. The action, after a somewhat slow start, is fast paced, and for the most part the plot hangs together well. The author shows a good understanding of teens.The tension builds to a good climax. Altogether, this is a quick, fast, engaging read that teens will love and adults will also find interesting.

Becky
Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton

5
Grafton reaches back into Kinsey’s past for this thriller, so you know she survives. Two concurrent plots make up the storyline. Ned, a serial killer who wants Kinsey dead, is one; the other is the 10-year-old death of a popular teen whose murder was solved --- or was it? The book bounces from one plot to the other, so for me the momentum was lost. But I like Grafton’s heroine, so that was okay. Grafton shows that although the end of the series and the end of the alphabet is approaching, there are still stories and plots to tell. She has lost none of her storytelling skills, and the plots are still intriguing. So for Kinsey fans, this one is win, win. What will be the “Z” title????

Charity
From a Buick 8 by Stephen King

4
The character development is amazing. The climax of the book felt super exciting, possibly because the build was so long. I literally gasped out loud at parts and had to keep my hand over my mouth so I wouldn't wake my husband (sleeping next to me at 1am!). I haven't read a book that kept me up like that in years.

Donna
The Whistler by John Grisham

3
A crooked judge is part of a scheme involving an Indian tribe that is skimming and laundering money from their casino. A whistleblower wants to see that justice is served on the judge and the operation. Things get out of hand when people are killed or disappearing. This is a well-done and complicated story.

Marcia
Until I Met Her by Natalie Barelli

5
I loved this book about Emma, who is enthralled to meet her favorite author, Beatrice. Beatrice is a mystery writer who wants to write a novel. She is afraid the critics won't like it, so she asks Emma if it can be published under Emma's name. When the book is a huge success, Beatrice wants to reveal the scam. To what lengths will Emma go to protect her newfound fame? Read the book and see!

Marcia
Faultlines by Barbara Taylor Sissel

4
FAULTLINES is about two adult sisters love each other and whose sons are great friends. Then an accident occurs that changes everything. Who is at fault? Will the truth come out? Who is manipulating the evidence? This is a thought-provoking read.

Marcia
Odd Child Out by Gilly Macmillan

4
(I'm reviewing an advance copy I received.) This book plays into today's headlines. Two teenagers who are best friends --- one the white child of wealthy parents who is dying of cancer, the other the poor son of Somali refugees. When a death occurs, race is thrown into the mix. There is also the horror of what occurs in refugee camps. The story is interesting and kept me reading.

Linda
Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions by Amy Stewart

4
The third in the Kopp Sisters series. Constance Kopp is at it again. This time, in addition to new opportunities with her job as a deputy sheriff, Constance has to deal with troubles at home --- one each from both of her sisters. Fleurette's issues parallel those in Constance's work. The series is still well written and often makes me laugh or shake my head. Reading the e-ARC did have me surprised by the ending. I thought there were going to be a few more pages. I still will look forward to a follow-up.

Liz
The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

3
During the early 1900s, Coralie is living with her sinister father who runs a Coney Island freak show. Eddie is a Russian immigrant who has run away from his community, but has now made a name for himself as a photographer. When their paths eventually cross, they both realize they are meant to be together. The first half of this book is told as two separate stories. It isn't until way past the middle that the tales converge and the story picks up. I recommend sticking with it as the ending is worth it.

Martha
The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman

5
This is great, intriguing nonfiction that is well researched and indexed. Ackerman relates the courage, resourcefulness and resistance of the Polish people of Warsaw in this story of a family who loves animals and their fellow humans. Their strength and love lead to the salvation of many people. Antonina, Jan and their son, Rhys, manage their home and the surrounding grounds of the zoo so they can enable the hiding of Polish Jews and their escape from Nazi-occupied Warsaw. The animals that live in their home after the zoo inhabitants are taken or killed enjoy an amazing status as house pets. The story of this family is one of war, but the grimness is lightened by their own story.

Trez
House of Spies by Daniel Silva

5
Very interesting and suspenseful.

Lynn W
The Address by Fiona Davis

3
Well written, but "then" story not believable and "now" story too predictable.

Shelley
Slider by Pete Hautman

5
SLIDER is a feel good middle-grade novel about family, friendship, integrity, and responsibility. David is a 9th grade boy who enjoys hanging out with his two best friends, HeyMan and Cyn, and entering eating contests. He has an older sister in college who gets perfect grades and a younger brother who has autism. As the middle child, David feel slighted. "Because Bridgette is perfect and Mal is Mal, and I will always be a disappointment." David makes a mistake involving his mom's credit card and needs to get big cash fast. He enters a pizza eating contest and is on the hook to pay back not only his mom, but his friends too. Along the way, he spends a lot of time hanging out with his brother and learning about "Mal's Rules".

WALTER
Without Fail by Lee Child

2
While I'm a huge fan of the series, WITHOUT FAIL doesn't meet the standards of previous Reacher books. What's missing? The wit, the suspense, the witty deduction, the action, the complexity, you name it. The plot is a sad, boring attempt that reads like a lame "24" episode, and while other books in the series had me itching to turn the page, this one had me itching to reach the end so I could get to the next book.

WALTER
The Dinner Party by Joshua Ferris

3
Quirky short stories on the dark side...a study in human behavior; people stuck in situations and making remarkably wrong decisions.

WALTER
The Long Drop by Denise Mina

3
I didn't much care for this book. Not because it was poorly written. Ms. Mina is one of our finest living authors, in my opinion. But this book has totally unsympathetic characters doing appalling things and mostly getting away with it. The book made me wonder if it might be a manuscript produced years ago, that she reworked and sold. END OF THE WASP SEASON was probably the best mystery l've ever read. This is definitely not.

WALTER
Running Blind by Lee Child

4
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! It has mystery, action, and suspense. Jack is always entertaining and he did not fail here! Four out of five stars.

Shelley
Human Tribe by Alison Wright

5
HUMAN TRIBE is a collection of photo portraits of people from all over the world such as Norway, Tibet, Ethiopia, Japan, Cuba, and Pakistan. Babies to the elderly gaze with piercing eyes that feel as if thy are looking out of the page directly at the viewer. The vibrant colors show unguarded moments of beauty. The author, Alison Wright, points out that humanity has the same simple needs: love, purpose, food, education, and freedom. The introduction states, "This book is a celebration of the universal human spirit within us all." It has encapsulated this thought to the fullest. Well done!

Linda
Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang

2
The writing was good, but at my age, I really don't like the language and explicit situations. Makes me blush even when I'm by myself. Eight short stories. Some more interesting to me than others.

Valerie
The Breakdown by B. A. Paris

5
The newest novel by B. A. Paris is a stunner, and a great story about wrongdoers getting their just desserts. Cass Anderson, a teacher, is married to Matthew, after she had spent a few years taking care of her mom who had early onset dementia and died at age 55. One night when Cass takes a shortcut home, forbidden by her husband, she sees a woman in a car, who is later found murdered. It turns out that Cass knew the victim, and she becomes fearful. The girl she was basically raised with, Rachel, and Matthew both try to convince Cass she is imagining the strange phone calls she keeps getting, and they do quite a bit more to point out that Cass is afraid she is developing dementia just like her mother. Things just keep getting worse for Cass.

Valerie
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

5
The latest standalone novel by Karin Slaughter is a really involved, well-written story. For those who don't like violence, this may not be their 'thing'. ( I have read some criticism of her previous books for this, but why does one read suspense/thrillers, etc. if they are unwilling to get involved in the story?) Karin S. is one of my favorite authors, and this book is a shining example of just how good she is at her craft. The story involves a defense attorney in a small town in Georgia, his brilliant wife and their two children. The story starts in 1989 when a horrible crime is committed at the attorney's house in his absence. What happens that day has ramifications for the next 28 years. In the current year, there is another tragedy.

Valerie
The Late Show by Connelly, Michael

5
Michael Connelly's latest thriller, THE LATE SHOW, introduces the reader to Renee Ballard, a tough, no-nonsense officer who doesn't take any verbal or physical abuse from anyone. Due to the fact that she filed a sexual harassment suit against her former lieutenant, she was forced to work in another unit on the graveyard shift (late show). In the beginning of the story, Renee and her partner catch calls on a credit card burglary, and an extreme assault and battery on a prostitute where the perpetrator had left her for dead. In addition, the same night, there was a nightclub shooting where five people were shot to death, including a cocktail waitress and a bouncer. Renee is sent down there to look the scene over and told not to get involved.

Darlene
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

5
True crime--terrible crime. Osage Indians had grown wealthy from oil rights on their land. Evil men, one especially, killed off more than twenty of them to inherit their rights. The FBI was just in the process of being organized. An ex-Texas Ranger and the FBI worked to put the murderers in jail.

Darlene
Artifacts by Mary Anna Evans

4
I read her RELICS a few years ago, and forgot to read more until I came across ARTIFACTS, her first novel. I was glued to it till I finished. Historical interest, geographical interest (coastal Florida), archeological lore, hurricane, mystery -- it had a lot going for it.

Tessa B C
Maurice by E. M. Forster

4
Written between 1913 and 1914, Forster’s novel of a young man’s awakening homosexuality was not published until 1971, a year after the author’s death. I loved the way that Forster developed this character, showing Maurice’s progress from a naïve student, to a young man awakening to the possibilities that a mature and loving relationship might offer him.

Lynn W
Hum If You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais

4
Robin Conrad, nine-years-old, has a secure future in apartheid South Africa. Beauty Mbali, a teacher in a rural village, struggles to raise her children after the death of her husband. These two should not have met, but the Soweto Uprising, a black student uprising, leaves Robin's parents dead and Beauty's daughter missing. Richly told in alternating voices, this novel is a complex and compelling look at loss, racism, and the creation of a family.

Debbie
Mayhem at the Orient Express by Kylie Logan

3
My reading now ventures to an island off the north of Ohio floating in Lake Erie. Kylie Logan writes a series with three feuding neighbors forced into forming a book club as punishment for their quarrelsome attitudes. The group meets and quickly jumps into a murder investigation like the book for the first meeting, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. MAYHEM AT THE ORIENT EXPRESS lumbers into a cozy mystery, but I wish that recipes followed the story. The story entertains with a cast that parallels Agatha Christie’s cast. The author shows a definite love of felines, as a cat opens and closes the story. The setting plays a huge part in the story, as a monster snowstorm plummets the island and severs all communication with the mainland.

Elizabeth
Local Girl Missing by Claire Douglas

3
LOCAL GIRL MISSING has all the right ingredients for a great mystery. More than one mystery is going on simultaneously. Each mystery presents many possibilities and keeps the reader guessing. Although the reader might guess the end before the end, it won't be a sure thing because of so many alternatives. In spite of all the right ingredients, though, it isn't a satisfying mystery for this reader. The story is questionable in several places.

Bonnie
Sophie's Choice by William Styron

5
I don't know why I waited so long to read this exceptional novel. It had me emotionally drained at the end. Beautifully written and touches the soul.

shelly
Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery

5
Kelly Murphy is pretty happy with her life as a tulip farmer living in Tulpen Crossings with her father. She was dating Sven for over five years but they split and she is not that upset as she realizes she did not love him. When Griffith returns home where he has decided to relocate his company, Kelly gets the feeling he is following her and is wondering why. Kelly remembers how he felt about her when they were in high school and is questioning why the sudden interest? As if things were not complicated enough Olivia, her younger sister whom she has not seen since she went away to boarding school, suddenly returns home. Jeff and Marliee divorced many years ago, after Kelly's mom just walked out on them.

Karen
Y Is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton

5
The action in this novel takes place in 1979 and 1989. There are a couple of unrelated plots here. One involves a cruel, cunning, psychopathic killer who Kinsey is pursuing to try to stop his murderous activities involving teenage girls and anyone who gets in his way, including Kinsey herself. The other plot involves the death of a young woman, Sloan, who attended Climping Academy. She was killed by one of her classmates, Fritz, during an end-of-school-year party. Fritz serves a 10-year sentence in a youth facility. Three other boys are involved, but only one, Troy, serves time. One of the others, Bayard, makes a deal with the D.A. and the fourth, Austin, disappears. Blackmail and a sex tape add to the mystery.

Betty
Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land

5
Be prepared --- the last half of this book will keep you reading all night. I think there are times that we all struggle with our inner demons. This is only natural. There’s the part of us that wants to please everyone, and there’s the part that wants to rebel against parents and society. But for Annie/Milly, it is a bit more than that. Since the age of five, Annie has been abused in her home. She has witnessed horrific acts done by her mother. Finally, at the age of 15, she turns her mother in to the police. Upon investigation, it is revealed that her mother has killed nine children. Now Annie is known as Milly and lives in a foster home.

Fran
102 Minutes: The Unforgettable Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Tower by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn

5
A powerful, well-written book that pieces together information from survivors, phone records and conversations of the 102 minutes between when the first plane hit and the final rescue. This is a tribute to the unsung heroes inside the buildings and many amazing tales of survival. Unfortunately, we know the harrowing ending of this story, but it gave some inside information that your average American did not know about.

Tamii
The Flapper, the Scientist, and the Saboteur by Charlene Bell Dietz

5
This book had me hooked from the first page and kept me guessing the whole time. The characters were a lot of fun, especially Aunt Kathleen, and I'm really hoping I get to read more about her soon.

Tessa B C
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

4
The book is told by the two central characters: Lotto (Fates) and Mathilde (Furies). Groff is masterful at building these characters, with qualities that draw the reader into their circle. One revelation breaks the bond, forcing first Lotto and then Mathilde to examine their relationship. By the end, I’m left feeling battered and bruised and stunned. I want to start reading it again from the beginning so I can pick up any clues Groff may have buried.

Mona
Sweet Southern Bad Boy by Michele Summers

4
Katie McKnight is a location scout for her father's company. She comes upon a remote barn house in the small southern town of Harmony, the perfect setting for their upcoming teen vampire miniseries. Her repeated knocking brings her face to face with Vance Kerner, who, to Katie, resembles a sexy pirate. "Pirate Man" immediately assumes she is the nanny sent by the agency. Although a bestselling author, he is currently responsible for, and overwhelmed by, the care of his brother's three kids. Hearing that he is running late for a meeting and hoping to win him over, Katie offers to watch his nephews. This earns her his gratitude and...a kiss.

Judy O.
Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall by Nina Willner

5
This is a nonfiction book that portrays "a family's story of courage and survival on both sides of the Berlin Wall." A family in Germany ended up in East Berlin when the Soviets took control of the eastern part of Germany and established a very brutal and repressive rule. A teenage girl ends up escaping, in spite of the Wall, and goes to the West. She does not see her family again until the early 1960s when Gorbachev tears the wall down and ends the nightmares of the German citizens. I learned a lot about this subject, and it was a terrific story.

Donna
Dreaming in Chocolate by Susan Bishop Crispell

3
A touching story about love, magic and chocolate. Penelope is attempting to fulfill Ella's (her dying daughter's) bucket list. Ella's natural father, Noah, is unaware that she exists as he left town before she was born. Ella's list includes having a dad and family. This story is about magic and believing, sweetened with marvelous chocolate.

Brady
The Operator: The Seal Team Operative and the Mission That Changed the World by Robert O'Neill

5
Extremely well written by the Seal who shot Osama bin Laden. This tells you all about the training that results in becoming a Seal and then many examples of combat in Afghanistan, and at the end the detailed events where bin Laden is killed. The details are most interesting, and how the author remembers all the details noted is a real accomplishment.

Linda
The Forgotten Path by Marci Boudreaux

4
When Annie and Marcus' work relationship progresses to something more, neither are prepared for an act of violence that changes their worlds forever. This is a well-written romance story that only proves how important a meaningful relationship and family and friends can be to help overcome a tragic event. The road to recovery is never simple, but perseverance can prove rewarding beyond one's dreams.

Linda
Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill by Candice Millard

4
I never knew that Winston Churchill had been a prisoner of war, so I did not know that he escaped. Candice Millard is one of my favorite nonfiction writers of history. She does her usual thoroughly researched and easily read (or listened to) book. Thank heavens that Churchill wrote so much for Millard to gather much of her information.

Melissa
Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

5
I completely devoured this book! A truly twisted psychological thriller that grabs you from the very first page, throwing in just enough surprises to keep your interest throughout. I won the hardcover edition through Bookreporter and loved it. Highly recommended.

Lynn W
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

3
I rarely read Nora Roberts, but this book kept getting outstanding reviews. The reviewers were right. I could not put it down!

Michele
Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capó Crucet

4
Our book club is comprised of 14 women ages 60-75. Most rated the novel 5-8 on a scale of 1-10. I personally gave it a 10. A well-written and interesting story of a teenage girl from the Cuban community in south Florida trying to better herself with much resistance from her family and friends.

Donna
The Garden House by Linda Mahkovec

4
Miranda and her husband have recently become empty nesters, and she doesn't know what she should be doing with the rest of her life. She has a beautiful garden and a garden house that's sitting empty. The decision is made to rent the house for a couple of months to the friend of a friend of her husband. Miranda begins to have disturbing dreams and hears crying from the garden house. She becomes very suspicious and discovers the secret of the tenant. This story keeps you in suspense.

Linda
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore

4
A disturbing story from the "roaring 20s" of very young women who worked painting watch faces with a radium-based paint. That in itself could have caused problems, but the technique used required putting the brush into the radium-based paint, then forming the proper point on the brush by putting the brush to the mouth to make the brushes as slim as possible. Many of the "girls" developed illnesses, growths and cancers that their employer denied had anything to do with the job or the paint. The most disturbing thought is that situations like this still occur. When will we learn? How much money does a company spend to avoid doing the right thing? How can people do this to one another? Quite gruesome in the detail of the afflictions.

Richard N B
Trophy Hunt: A Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box

3
I like this series, mostly because I really like Joe Pickett. Box gives us plenty of action, but I was dissatisfied with the ending. All the talk of “aliens,” and a too-convenient demise made me feel as if Box had run out of ideas and turned to 1950s sci-fi films for inspiration. Still, it’s a good story and a fast read.

Trez
Delicious by Ruth Reichl

5
Suspenseful, interesting, informative. What other words can I use to describe this wonderful book? A must read. It will be enjoyed.

Elizabeth
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

4
If you, like me, dislike romance novels or even romantic thrillers, I promise that THE WIFE BETWEEN US is neither. Although it does describe a love triangle, it doesn't exactly. It seems the ex-wife is stalking and terrorizing the girlfriend, but then it doesn't. No one in this book is as they first seem. It will feel like you are constantly having to revise your understanding of people and events. As a matter of fact, halfway through the book, you may want to stop and reread everything you have read so far.

Linda
Magpie Murdeers by Anthony Horowitz

4
Prior to reading this book, I had read several reviews and knew that it was two books. I thought, two books? Maybe it would be confusing and hard to follow. But I was in good hands with Anthony Horowitz, as this is a well-written book that is easy to follow and not confusing at all. Susan Ryeland is an editor, and the book opens as she is beginning to read a new book. And we read this book along with Susan, a whodunit with detective Atticus Pünd as the main character. Then it is back with Susan as she is not happy with the ending of the Atticus Pünd book. The prose is clear and crisp, the storyline is interesting, and the characters are well developed. This is one good book.