*****

Toad0212@aol.com
Shelter of Stones by Jean Auel. 4 stars.
After waiting 10 plus years for this book, I was at the bookstore on April 30 right after work for my copy. By May 5th I was done the 700 plus pages. I was worried that much of the book would be taken up with bringing the reader up to date. Pleasantly, that was not the case. Reminders were inserted here and there, but appropriately done as part of the overall story line.

Rather than spanning several years, this book only takes about a year out of the lines of the characters. I was not pleased with portions that left me hanging. One character, I won't mention who for those of you who will be reading this book, is pregnant the same time Ayla is pregnant. We learn the results of Ayla's pregnancy, but not of this other person. Yet, Auel makes a point of this pregnancy a few times in the current book. Since the book goes past the time she should have delivered... well, you get my point.

A good read. An easy read. Not as much torrid sex as in the previous books (hehe). I recommend it whether you have read the prior books or not.

*****

Whimsey03@aol.com
The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart by Lawrence Block. 4 stars.
I love the Bernie Rodenbarr series. Always a fast read, literate and light-hearted. Murder has never been so much fun.

*****

mdb123@earthlink.net
2002, The Best of the Magazine Markets, A Directory For Freelance Writers by Marni McNiff, Editor. 4 stars.
This book resembles its more famous counterpart, Writer's Market, as it covers much of the same content. This book, however, narrows its focus to about 1/3 the number of markets, many that are most appropriate for beginning and intermediate writers.

*****

Myrnapen@aol.com
Red Water by Judith Freeman. 4 stars.
What's it like to be one of a man's 19 wives? This book about a Mormon family is told by three of those wives. Very interesting.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. 5 stars.
Kingsolver at her best.

A Painted House by John Grisham. 4 stars.
Better than his legal thrillers! A classic American novel.

*****

TeaSage@aol.com
Today I Am A Boy: The Bar Mitzvah Journey of a Grown Man by David Hays. 5 stars.
Down-to-earth, well-written story of a grown man's journey to identify with his spiritual roots. Humorous, at times; thought-provoking always. People of any faith can identify with Hays' struggles to understand himself, the power beyond himself, and his place in the universe.

Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life: How to Use Feng Shui to Get Love, Money, Respect, and Happiness by Karen Rauch Carter. 5 stars.
Feng Shui explained for the Western mind and lifestyle. Good examples of what is being taught, often with humor; easy, inexpensive/free ways to implement suggestions. Should be subtitled "Fun Shui"! Although the title makes it sound like a magic formula for getting what you want, the book is more about creating balance and harmony in your life and surroundings. As Ms Carter points out in the book, Feng Shui is not a panacea for all of life's problems and challenges: you have to do your part, too.

The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change by Christiane Northrup, M.D. 5 stars.
Dr. Northrup combines alternative with traditional medicine in explaining menopause and helping women navigate this important time of life. Using her own experiences, and those of her patients, she lets us know we are not alone; and that there is more to what's going on in our bodies than what we have traditionally been told -- if told anything. Although I don't agree with everything she says, there is a wealth of information, suggestions, ideas, so women can learn and make wise decisions about their menopausal years and the years beyond.

*****

rwebster@nisource.com
The Bondwoman's Narrative by Hannah Crafts and Henry Louis Gates Jr. 4
stars.

*****

Ginger.Louden@sendit.nodak.edu
Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul.
This is the time of year when we sometimes forget how important our jobs are to the students and ourselves. I received this book for my birthday and read six or seven short stories every night before I go to bed. They are uplifting and make me smile.

*****

pfrison@pellaks.com
Perfume by Patrick Suskind.
This was recommended by Doug Glegg. It is a little different. It is about a child that is born with an acute sense of smell, but has no scent of any kind himself, born during a time when smells were everywhere. I haven't really gotten all that far into the book yet, but I have enjoyed what I have read so far.

*****

Bjglu@aol.com
The Nanny Diaries by McLaughlin & Kraus. 3 stars.
Best-selling novel about a nanny's experiences in Manhattan -- written by 2 former nannies. Fun, light reading, but nothing more.

*****

Buried in Baltimore by Louise Titchener. 4 stars.
This eppie winning mystery is tightly written with a great plot and well developed characters. Yet, the book is less than 200 pages in length. It is easy to understand why this book won the award.

I would prefer my contribution remain anonymous. Thank you.

*****

Loveajoy@aol.com
Summer Island by Kristen Hannah. 5 stars.
A wonderful books about relations gone array.

*****

Mystrytx@aol.com
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. 5 stars.
Finally, before the movie is released, I'm reading this, and am loving it!!

Life Makeovers by Cheryl Richardson. 4 stars.

*****

pistache47@yahoo.com
Cross Dressing by Bill Fitzhugh. 5 stars.
An advertising executive with legal problems decides to change places with his twin brother, who is a priest, when his twin dies suddenly. He discovers, however, that his twins life wasn't as idyllic as he'd expected. Humorous and timely, especially in light of all that's happening in the Catholic Church today.

Death of a Baritone by Karen Sturges. 4 stars.
Phoebe Mullins, widow of a world-famous conductor, takes a job as secretary for an opera colony. The tension she notices on arrival comes to a climax when one of the teachers dies of anaphylactic shock. Everyone is relieved that the promising young baritone is dead, and everyone knew he was allergic to penicillin. This is the first of a series of cozy mysteries with a musical theme.

Death on a Silver Tray by Rosemary Stevens. 4 stars.
The first in a new series of cozy historical mysteries featuring Beau Brummell as amateur sleuth. When an odious Countess is murdered, suspicion falls on her paid companion, who was recommended to the victim by the Duchess of York. The Duchess, fearful for her reputation, asks Beau Brummell to prove the young girl's innocence. An Agatha Award winner.

*****

susanrjensen@yahoo.com
The Testament by John Grisham. 4 stars.
It was well written, the characters were interesting and the plot was unpredictable enough to keep me interested. I'm currently reading Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg.

*****

sai_pushp@hotmail.com
The Wedding Dress by Virginia Ellis.
It is a poignant story of post-Civil War homecoming, an unforgettable novel of love and hope, written with the natural simplicity and beauty of a born storyteller. It is lyrical, haunting and beautiful.

*****

GinaWJax@aol.com
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. 3 stars.
Ultimately a disappointing read - although initially entertaining and humorous. The book ends on a note of sermonizing that takes away from whole experience. I expected better writing and am amazed that this book ever hit the best seller's list.

*****

EZREADER1265@aol.com
The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel. 5 stars.
Well worth waiting so many years for. Hope the next one is the series doesn't take quite as long.

The Short Forever by Stuart Woods. 4 stars.
Enjoying the story, l really like the characters.

*****

christiehaack@cox.net
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood.
This is the latest Margaret Atwood offering. Very good, one of her best, I believe.

*****

JWIsley@aol.com
The Cornbread Killer by Lou Jane Temple. 4 stars.
This is a cleverly written series of mysteries featuring unique characters.

Jackdaws by Ken Follett. 5 stars.
As always, Mr. Follett delivers a suspenseful novel of the last days of World War II. This time it involves women and the contributions they made. A keep-you-on-your-toes read

*****

mi3son@bellsouth.net
Warning Signs by Stephen White. 5 stars.
It is about psychologist Alan Gregory and his involvement with his patient Naomi Bigg. Her sessions with him test his medical oath against his moral oath to do the right thing which involves a situation like what occurred at Columbine and may affect his wife in a life and death situation. It also involves a murder of a DA Royal Peterson and the arrest of a police officer Lucy Tanner for that murder. Both of these situations are interconnected. Alan and Det. Sam Purdy try to find out who really killed Royal Peterson. The twist of the story is both shocking and unexpected. This is a very good book.

*****

JBitowt@aol.com
You Ain't Got Nothing Coming; Tales of a Prison Fish by James "Jimmy 'O.G.'" Lerner. 5 stars.
If you happen to be a fan of Oz, the HBO cable series, then this book is right up your alley. If you've happened to have read, HotHouse: Leaven-Worth Prison Stories, this will bring back memories and confirm all of the lessons learned from inside the Hothouse, and how prison etiquette is a matter of life or death. It's great, how else can a man, a Jewish New Yorker survive the prison experience in Nevada amongst, crazy Nazi-SkinHeads, forming a tight bond with the head shot-caller named Kansas, La Raza gangbanging Mexicans, and multiple gangs of black inmates. Yet Jimmy the OG survives and is still surviving as he waits to catch parole for the Voluntary Manslaughter charge he plead guilty to. It's worth the money and time. Great book, straight up and in your face holds nothing back.

*****

GandmaRI@aol.com
Midnight Runner by Jack Higgins.
I plan to start Midnight Runner this weekend. It is a sequel to his last book, Edge of Danger. In "Danger", Sean Dillon kills the Rashid brothers, but their sister Kate lives and vows revenge. I'm sure that I won't be disappointed in Midnight Runner. Jack Higgins is a favorite author!

*****

Aerobabe041@aol.com
G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton. 5 stars.
After reading a few of her newer books, I scoured bookstores, thrift stores and even ebay to get her whole collection to read. She is great!

*****

spizzyone@aol.com
Kentucky Heat by Fern Michaels. 4 stars.
Fern Michaels continues her saga of Nealy Coleman Diamond and her family. This is the second book in a series, the first being Kentucky Rich. Michaels weaves this saga around her Vegas and Texas series, and possibly even another book, too. It is always a treat to read about characters you loved in another book.

Michaels beautifully paints a passionate picture of the thoroughbred horse world, and in that respect, this book is almost a reference book!

*****

GDurisin@aol.com
The Atonement by Ian McEwan. 0 stars.
Gave up after 100+ pages. The book wasn't terrible, just not compelling enough to go on with, with an excruciatingly S-L-O-W paced plot in which little seemed to be happening. This one reminded me (and not for the first time) that the Booker Prize judges and I do not look for the same things in books!

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. 4 ½ stars.
A nine year old After running away from her cold, harsh father and rescuing her black nanny from jail, a nine-year-old Southern white girl embarks on a journey to find the mother she can barely remember -- the mother she believes she killed accidentally, five years earlier. She is taken in by a trio of black spinster sisters who have much to teach her about herself, about both of her parents, and about life.

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. 5 stars.
These two former nannies write with a great ear for dialogue and a very realistic sense of the great divide between the wealthy and the service people they hire and fire. Very enjoyable novel, with laugh-out-loud moments and a touching ending.

Sea Glass by Anita Shreve. 4 ½ stars.
This one was a little slow starting, with too many seemingly unconnected characters, so that I almost put it aside. I'm so glad I didn't, because the book as a whole was well worth reading, for a touching story set in an interesting historical period. Very well done portrayal of Depression era life in a New England mill town, with characters drawn from all layers of society.

One Door Away From Heaven by Dean R. Koontz. 3 stars.
Koontz has moved away from horror-tinged mysteries in his last few books, and is becoming more "Southern California New Age" with each new book. One Door solidifies his reputation as a creative but slightly bizarre storyteller, who just may out-do Stephen King in developing characters and plot lines that take us to entirely new worlds -- or ways of looking at this one. It took some time to develop an affinity with his characters in this novel, but eventually they did begin to seem more real than caricature, and their story began to be worth reading.

Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark. 3 stars.
A quick, enjoyable mystery set in Westchester County, NY. A young female journalist launches an investigation into her sister's murder some twenty years earlier.

*****

AUGER77777@aol.com
I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb.
Having just finished a couple suspense/crime novels, I was ready for a change of genre. I didn't choose it because it was an Oprah pick, nor would I reject it for that reason. I have liked some of her favorites. Some I didn't care for. Lamb's book is very readable, so far (I am only about one-fourth finished). The main characters are quite interesting. They are a pair of twin brothers, one of whom grew up feeling quite secure and accepted by his peers; the other has suffered from insecurity and rejection by his peers for most of his life. He is confined to a mental institution.

There are other colorful characters that add depth to the story. I imagine that every reader would find someone in Lamb's book to identify with. Having read only 200 pages of this 900 page book, I am looking forward to the remainder of the story. It promises to be quite an impressive saga.

*****

joswood@adiis.net
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
A dead baby and a young, unmarried Amish girl are the objects of a trial in a court of law. This book is set in the Amish country in Pennsylvania, and you really find out a lot about their life and beliefs. I couldn't put it down.

City of Bones by Michael Connelley. 4 stars.
Another H. Bosch mystery in a popular series. The bones of a young boy are found buried after 20 years, and they need to find out the identity of the bones and the identity of the killer. Great suspense.

*****

Flwr4343@aol.com
The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour. 5+ stars.
I love to read a good book and enjoy western, historical fiction, and science fiction. I have read hundreds of books over the past few years and I'm currently rereading The Lonesome God. I would rate it much higher if it was possible. But, alas, I can't so I will have to let it go with only a 5.

*****

jessiezt48@hotmail.com
Madam, The Grass Is High by Dennis H. Christen.
It is a beautiful, feel-good love story about a bunch of senior citizens. The writer took me to places I never dreamt of as a person in my 'senior' years. I've recommended the book all over the place. It is only out in a special hardcover edition at this time and can only be bought at one web-site ( I think). I think that is because they are donating a large part of the money to Alzheimer's, MS and Parkinson's diseases.

I highly recommend this book as several others are doing on seniornet (fiction) and other websites.

*****

Stebie2003@aol.com
The Firm by John Grisham. 5 stars.

The Street Lawyer by John Grisham. 1 star.
Not one of his best.

The Testament by John Grisham. 5 stars.
Excellent shocking and wicked plot.

DreamCatcher by Stephen King. 4 stars.
Ending is less than I expected.

From The Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz. 3 stars.
Too many deaths.

The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. 5 stars.
Can't wait to read the 5th book

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K.Rowling. 5 stars.
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets by J.K.Rowling. 5 stars.
Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K.Rowling. 5 stars.
Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K.Rowling. 5 stars.

*****

annemsnell@earthlink.net
In the Country of the Young by Lisa Carey. 5 stars.
I picked it up at the local bookstore because the cover and title looked and sounded intriguing. I'm very happy I did. I am no stranger to unusual superstitions and beliefs in an Irish family. My nana, a first generation Irish-American, often talked of strange things that growing up I would never repeat to anyone outside the family. Lisa Carey beautifully integrates the past and present in this book. Reading it, I often feel like I'm listening to Grampee or Nana telling a story at the Sunday dinner table again. Ms. Carey is a talented author that I predict will go far in her career and really make a name for herself in the fiction genre. I urge you to pick it up and remember "'Not everything follows the rules of science,' Gabe says. 'Try to have an open mind.' Deirdre smiles. 'Think like a child,' she says. 'Exactly,' Gabe replies."

*****

Szys1012@aol.com
Everything Scrabble by Joe Edley and John D. Williams, Jr. 5 stars.

*****

juliecbarnard@yahoo.com
Babycatcher by Peggy Vincent. 5 stars.
Fascinating and well-written.

*****

ReoneK@aol.com
Shelters of Stone by Jean Auel. 5 stars.
This is a wonderful continuation of the adventures of Ayla and Jondalar. I have been a true follower of these tales ever since the first book appeared. Each new addition seems better than the last, and this one is tops! Auel researches her work carefully and , though we know that this is fictional history, tells a probable tale. To be caught up in this book is wonderful--the modern world disappears and Auel's time machine is at once again at work.

*****

nct49@aol.com
The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve. 4 ½ stars.
Quite a page turner as the author takes us back and forth in time and the suspense builds around an old murder of two women on a lonely island off the Atlantic coast.

Julie and Romeo by Jeanne Ray. 4 stars.
A fun, light hearted romance that kept me laughing. A fast easy read about a second chance at love in the second have of life.

*****

ARomano895@aol.com
The Voyage of the Jerle Shanara "ANTRAX" by Terry Brooks. 5 stars.
Book 2 in a series of three.

*****

Avery85282@aol.com
The Death of God by Kavanaugh. 3 stars.

Gardens in the Dunes by Silko. 5 stars.
A dense, beautiful story, not meant to be read quickly. The plot is not too relevant; the characters, beautifully drawn, sometimes interact, but often just glance off each other, sometimes not hard enough to change trajectory. The book is wonderful.

The Fourth Hand by Irving. 2 stars.
I usually like Irving very, very much. Despite several antic episodes, this story about a one-handed newsman afflicted with satyriasis gets a bit tedious.

*****

Firstcarephcs@aol.com
Walking With the Wind by John Lewis. 5 stars.
This book talks about the force of love and how powerful it is. The author tells how his fight for civil rights was based on true love for fellow man and how he used this LOVE to in his daily ventures to fight non-violently for civil rights.

*****

exec0421@aol.com
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci. 3 stars.
The book starts out with action and the is boring until near the end.

*****

BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler. 5 stars.
Tyler makes the characters seem like people we know - - - or like us!!

*****

brady538_91208@yahoo.com
Martha Inc: The Incredible Story of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia by Christopher Byron. 5 stars.
I read this aloud to my wife and both of us had our mouths open half the time with interesting stuff. My wife adores Martha and I like her too, however, she is a most unique personality and as tough as nails. It seems a lot of her success just fell into place, but it was due to her dogged persistence and talents. She is a tempest and NOT in a teacup. A great read!

The Cat From Hue by John Laurence. 5 stars.
This is the first 848 page book I have read page by page because it was most interesting. This is about the Vietnam war and probably the best book I have read about any war (and I have read a lot) as it gives the "you are there" substance to the reader and talks about the politics, protocol, and luck of events that happens to individuals. The story of an alley cat is woven throughout the story and is interesting and a relief from the war "footage."

*****

Nhcenters@aol.com
A Painted House by John Grisham. 5 stars.
He's a really good author.

*****

NEPR@aol.com
Mossy Creek by Deborah Smith, Sandra Chastain, Donna Bell, Nancy Knight, Debra Dixon and Virginia Ellis.
These six southern writers have pooled their knowledge of the deep south to create Mossy Creek, a Georgia town filled with the kind of interesting characters we southerners grew up with. They are mostly good-hearted folks whose lives are funny, sad, and heartwarming.

When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro.
This is not light reading. For one thing, it is set in Shanghai during the Sino-Japanese War, an era I don't know much about. However, the author is a master at exploring multiple (and difficult) themes while maintaining suspense. Parts of it, particularly the man/woman relationship, reminded me of Henry James' novels.

The Corpse at the Haworth Tandoori by Robert Barnard.
A murder mystery set in Haworth, Yorkshire, home of the literary Brontes. The victim is a young Irishman who is a handyman at a nearby artists' colony made up of a once-renowned painter and his devotees. This is a page turner with interesting characters and a unique twist.

*****

PCPOLEN@kcc.usda.gov
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde.
It is very different from I normally read, but it is great!

*****

The Atonement by Ian McEwan. 5 stars.

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight (An African Childhood) by Alexandra Fuller. 5 stars.

A Walk in the Woods (Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail) by Bill Bryson. 5 stars.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. 5 stars.

Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King. 5 stars.

I prefer my contribution to remain anonymous.

*****

Vikkivand@aol.com
Househusband by Ad Hudler. 5 stars.
The story is about a family that moves from California to New York, so that the wife can accept a promotion with a large hospital. Her husband becomes a stay at home Dad with their young daughter. What follows is the day to day experiences of a stay at home parent through the eyes of a guy. It's funny and there are some great recipes.

*****

Lgluhani@aol.com
Shutterbabe by Deborah Copaken Kogan. 3 stars.
Interesting memoir of a former photojournalist who was on the front lines in Russia, Afghanistan, etc. Too much information about her sex life, however.

*****

SweetSeraph1984@aol.com
The Dark House by John Sedgwick. 5 stars.
This is an excellent book. Sure made me think of what family secrets my loved ones might be keeping from me!

*****

Cbullyrc@aol.com
Yesterdays by Fern Michaels. 5 stars.

*****

Ness32693@aol.com
Dying To Please by Linda Howard. 4 stars.

*****

FFARGT@aol.com
Track of the Cat By Nevada Barr. 4 stars.

*****

Kentsager@aol.com
Rora by James Byron Huggins.
I read all his books. Very thought provoking. I recommend this highly especially if you like the Left Behind books. It is a historical novel on dealing with Christian persecution.

*****

JustineMur@aol.com
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. 4 1/2 stars.
It's a really funny book and I just saw the movie, which was just a good if not better than the book. So I would recommend that people read and see it.

*****

Jsaofusa@aol.com
The Shelters of Stone by Jean Auel. 5 stars.
I'm currently about 2/3 of the way into The Shelters of Stone.

*****

Sesame705@aol.com
Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson. 4 stars.
Davidson has a penchant for technical detail and the recipes included sound delectable (will have to try them out when I'm not absorbed in a book!).

The Way of the Wizard: Twenty Spiritual Lessons for Creating the Life You Want by Deepak Chopra. 5 stars.
Chopra interjects the wisdom of Hinduism, Buddhism, and psychology into a dialogue between Merlin and the boy Arthur, as Merlin teaches Arthur the wizard perceives and lives life. The lessons are simply and eloquently expressed. Concepts are described in ways the reader can visualize and interpret from a personal point of view. Cover to cover, a gem worth reading and re-reading.

*****

MysteryNut19@aol.com
Joy School by Elizabeth Berg. 1 stars.
Usually I love this author, but this book is terrible. Felt like I was a kid reading Judy Blume book again.

*****

Lynners162@aol.com
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. 5 stars.
It contains the best of both worlds, comedy and drama. The book was creative definitely one of a kind. The romance captures your heart and leaves you wishing for more. I'd recommend it to anyone.

*****

SOPHIENED@aol.com
Unless by Carol Shields. 5 stars.
It is so sad that will be her last novel. She is an incredible writer.

*****

PamMacHig@aol.com
The Nanny Diaries. 3 stars.
It held my interest, broke my heart for the young boy. I did not have a lot of respect for the Nanny as she let herself be used unfairly.

*****

cfurgason@ADESA.com
City of Bones by Michael Connelly. 5+ stars.
Excellent book. Just finished it, couldn't put it down. The first of his books that I've read. Definitely won't be the last.

*****

strick@twcny.rr.com
Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox. 4 stars.

*****

libraryowen@hotmail.com
Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews.
Good romance and mystery.

*****

bluhrig@inct.net
Terminal by Robin Cook.
I enjoy medical mysteries. Cook writes medical horror stories, especially if they involve managed care. I have just started reading The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon. Solomon was interviewed on book TV. I find that a great source of information on non-fiction books.

*****

beckey_c@hotmail.com
People Of The Silence by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear.
A novel of the Anasazi. They have a whole series about various Native American tribes from different time periods. They are fiction novels based on the findings at true archeological sites around North America. Very good books for anyone interested in Native Americans.

*****

marychambers@yahoo.com
Echoes of Yesterday on Fox Island by Chauncey W. Wight. 4 stars.
A series of remembrances of growing up on a small island in Puget Sound not far from Tacoma, Washington.

Body of Evidence by Patricia D. Cornwell. 2 stars.
I had a tough time getting into this book.

A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson. 3 stars.
A very humorous look at his efforts to hike the Appalachian Trail.

*****

dbelk105@adelphia.net
Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons. 4 stars.
Four sorority sisters meet after twenty-five years. How they have changed and the direction their varied lives have taken them is the story in this very readable book.

*****

dmilburn@alltel.net
The Analyst by John Katzenbach. 5+ stars.
This one will give you a run for your money. Talk about "edge of your seat". Be sure you have some free time ahead before you read the first page. Suspense is unbelievable and plot completely unpredictable.

*****

SOPHIENED@aol.com
Word Of Mouth by Peter Cameron. 5 stars.
Mr. Cameron's first novel about a group of friends in New York in the eighties has a Armisted Maupin feel to it. The book is a very fast read and very funny.

*****

KCBinSC@aol.com
Scarlett Feather by Maeve Binchey. 3 ½ stars.
Didn't enjoy this one as much as some of her others, but still a fairly enjoyable read.

Last Man Standing by David Baldacci. 4 stars.
Very good, suspenseful thriller

*****

June528@aol.com
Violets are Blue by James Patterson. 4 stars.
I would definitely recommend this book. It is just as compelling as the prequel Roses are Red.

*****

Vikkivand@aol.com
Almost by Elizabeth Benedict. 4 stars.
Sophy, who is almost divorced, is in bed with her new lover when the police call her with the news that her soon to be ex-husband had died suddenly at their home on an island in Massachusetts. The story describes events that occur over the next few weeks as she tries to understand the cause of her husbands death and her grief and emotions about having left him and then he died.

*****

MysteryNut19@aol.com
Cloud Nine by Luanne Rice. 4 stars.
Great quick read. Set in New England, it is the story of a woman recovering from brain cancer and her struggles to renew herself and her family relationships. As with many Rice stories, the man she falls in love with is also recovering from a tragedy. Quite the tearjerker, but uplifting as well.

*****

BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
Body of Lies by Iris Johannson. 4 stars.
Good story with some familiar characters from previous books.

*****

Sesame705@aol.com
Where Are The Children? by Mary Higgins Clark. 5 stars.
I am still in the middle of it. Clark's characters are 3-dimensional and detailed. I enjoy how the story is told from various characters' points of view. The use of parents and children is central to the feeling of mounting terror and suspense...very effective

*****

Mystrytx@aol.com
Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden. 5 stars.
This is the author of Black Hawk Down. Though a nonfiction, it is an interesting and well written book which takes us into the Medellin drug cartel, seeking the drug kingpin, Pablo Escobar.

*****

mi3son@bellsouth.net
Up Country by Nelson Demille. 5 stars.
This is a great book. Paul Brenner is brought back to investigate a murder that occurred during the Vietnam War. He goes back to Vietnam to investigate the case and finds out that everything is not what it seems. He also gets involved with a woman named Susan Weber who isn`t what she seems to be. It is an interesting read and the description of North and South Vietnam is very powerful and real. It is like you are there too. I recommend it highly.

*****

GeoBarb636@aol.com
City of Bones by Michael Connelly. 5 stars.
A real easy read, I didn't want to put it down. I feel as if I know Detective Harry Bosch personally.

Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark. 5 stars.
Another great book by Clark, wish I were able to write like she does. I've read all her books, can't wait for the next one.

Also, I've read all James Patterson's books, and am waiting patiently for The Beach House to come out on June 10th.

*****

DoctorAnn@aol.com
Step Ball Change by Jeane Ray. 4 stars.
If you enjoyed Julie and Romeo this second effort by Jeane Ray is a delight. If you are tired of heavy winter reading it will lighten your spirits as well.

Tepper Isn't Going Out by Calvin Trillin. 3 stars.
Imagine a New Yorker who refuses to leave a parking space and sits in his car reading the paper - the reactions are great fun.

Fair Warning by Robert Olen Butler. 4 stars.
Great story from Pulitzer Prize author about the heroine's adventures in the auction business.

*****

DIANWILLY@aol.com
Up Country by Nelson Demille. 4 stars.
The book is difficult to put down. The story is in parts that are like short stories in themselves; yet, all tied together. You can see John Travolta as lead character in the book from a previous book/movie, The General's Daughter. For Viet Nam era people it tells flash backs that seem real of being there and of that time period, and how a country's attitude does not really change much over time. It is also part "spyish." Still have the last part to finish and can't wait. Probably another government cover up.

*****

Bklady44@aol.com
1st to Die by James Patterson. 5 stars.
I could not put this down. The characters are so vivid.

Touching Evil by Kay Hooper. 5 stars.
You should not miss this book. Her earlier "Shadows series" got me hooked on this author. She just keeps getting better with each new book. Her sequel to this is coming out in June. It is entitled Whispers of Evil. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Don't start reading it if you have something else you need to do because you won't want to put it down!

*****

shannon_scott@hotmail.com
The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era by Thomas Schatz.
I am currently engrossed in this scholarly, yet very readable text, which offers insight into the creative tension between art and commerce under the Hollywood Studio System by looking at the business side of the entertainment industry. As a film buff with and MBA, this is a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening read.

*****

Tcv40@aol.com
Southhampton Row by Anne Perry. 4 stars.
All of Perry's books are very good but this one may require the reading of her previous book for full enjoyment & understanding. She is a delightful and interesting author because she evokes so well the atmosphere of Victorian England while treating us with tales of suspense. Her novels are refreshing because they contain ordinary characters who become extraordinary as we come to know their moral codes.

Sea Glass by Anita Shreve. 5 stars.
This novel was exquisite. If you liked her book Resistance, you'll love this one too. The setting is New England during the time of the textile mills. A young couple, newly married, are beginning life together; it is 1929. Need I say more?

*****

berkheim@velocity.net
The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen. 5 stars.
I have finished all the books by this writer and have loved them all. The Surgeon is by far the most suspenseful of the bunch. Ms. Gerritsen has brought a whole new level of terror to medical thrillers!

*****

brady538_91208@yahoo.com
Your Name Is Renee by Stacy Cretzmeyer. 4 stars.
This is a true story written from the perspective of a 5 yr. old Jewish girl during the time of the German occupation of France. The drama of the story centers with the girl and her parents and friends. Her life is turned upside down, however, because she is being protected by others, you do not read about the horrors happening to the adults. How she and others were saved is a heart-lifting story and creates a lump or two in the throat toward the end of the book. For one interested in learning more about the holocaust days, this is a good book to start with.

*****

XxSuperWoman11xX@aol.com
Critical Judgement by Michael Palmer. 5 stars.
An intense and mysterious magnificent book!

*****

Geri3848@aol.com
Naked Came the Manatee by Carl Hiaasen, Dave Barry, Elmore Leonard, Edna Buchanan.
Delightful reading by 13 authors from South Florida. Each author contributed a chapter to enliven a book well worth the short time it took to read. Carl Hiassen and Elmore Leonard are probably the two best known. But I will look for the other authors in the future as well.

*****

agard85304@aol.com
Dark Passions:Love Is A Many-Splintered Thing by A.J. Ciulla. 3 stars.
This novel has two protagonists, a mother and her son. The author took the mother out of the narrative and didn't return her soon enough. Her return, however was dramatic.

*****

mnboylan@hotmail.com
On the Street Where You Live by Mary Higgins Clark. 4 ½ stars.

The Rich Part of Life by Jim Kokoris. 4 ½ stars.
Both were great, well written and quick reads.

*****

jimraywhit@msn.com
Whailing Wind by Tony Hillerman. 4 stars.
This is an extra good "who done it". Will it be the last of the series with Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee? I sure hope not. Not too long for a quick read and a real attention getter.

*****

solarbreeze2000@yahoo.com
Religion that Harms, Religion that Heals by Celia M. Murray Dunn.
I've just finished what I believe to be one of the most profound books I've read in a long time. This book, available at Amazon, can be described as an answer to why our religions have yet to solve the problems of hatred and anger. This is a must read for seekers of spiritual power.

*****

KMC84DR@aol.com
Venus & Serena, My Seven Years as Hitting Coach for the Williams Sisters by Dave Rineberg.
This chronicles author Dave Rineberg's seven years he spent training the two famous sisters and what it was like working with such phenoms. Throughout the early pivotal years the media presented many different sides to Venus and Serena's rise to fame, but there's one side no one else had access to--The Inside!

*****

TwistyLane@aol.com
Buddah by Karen Armstrong. 3 ½ stars. This life story of Buddha was written for the Penguin Lives series. It includes history, philosophy and myth of the time of Buddha and is based on writings done after the Buddha's death. Especially interesting are the references to yoga.

The Stars Dispose by Michaela Roessner. 4 stars.
This is a scrumptious historical fantasy set in Renaissance Florence. It is very clear that Roessner did extensive research into the time period. Many of the characters are actual historical personages.The Befanini and Arista families have practiced the magics of the kitchen for the Ruggiero's and Medici's for generations. All of these families are linked and threatened by war and pestilence. Readers will enjoy the period lore, historical detail, art references and the recipes. Cat lovers will also enjoy this tale. The Stars Dispose was far from perfect. This reader forgot that the children were children. The author made them sound like adults. Problems aside, I'm ready to read the next volume.

*****