ancientbeer@hotmail.com
As My Sparks Fly Upward by Matthew St. Amand. 4 stars.
A highly recommended collection of eleven short stories featuring equal doses of adventure and nostalgia. Written in a simple but powerful style and punctuated occasionally with pithy and memorable similes and images. "Hadley" evokes nicely the joys and frustrations of a youthful romance. "Continental Divide" and "Under the Bridge" both feature mystery, paranoia, and adventure, coupled with the theme of the potential tenuousness of friendship. Finally, "Where does This Evening Find You" is cleverly written with the interweaving of various characters' experiences.

*****

bookworm@shol.com
Middle of Nowhere by Ridley Pearson. 5 stars
The Lou Boldt series just keeps getting better and better. This is definitely a 5 star.

Bloodwork by Michael Connelly. 5 stars.
Very entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat. A former FBI Agent had a heart transplant and upon his recovery is confronted with the sister of the donor who asks him to help her find her sister's murderer. The main character really had "his heart" in this one.

*****

GDurisin@aol.com
An Accidental Woman by Barbara Delinsky. 4 stars.
Better than her last few books, I think. This one returns to the setting of Lake News, and picks up the stories of the characters there. Local residents are stunned and disbelieving when Heather Malian is arrested at the home she shares with Mica and his children, on charges of flight to avoid prosecution for murder -- a murder that occurred some fifteen years earlier when Heather was reportedly known as Lisa Matlock.

The Deepest Water by Kate Wilhelm. 4 stars.
When her father, a recently successful novelist, is murdered, a young woman searches his writing to find clues to identify his murderer. Though the murderer's identity came as no great surprise to me, as his guilt seemed obvious from about the middle of the book, the female characters in the book were interesting and endearing enough to make continued reading quite enjoyable even with the mystery pretty well resolved.

The Art of Deception by Ridley Pearson. 4.5 stars.
Forensic psychologist Daphne Matthews is teamed with Detective John LaMoia (both recurring characters in this series) in trying to solve the murder of a young women at first believed to have committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. Great plotting, with a complexity that keeps the reader guessing.

*****

Makkedah02@aol.com
I just finished reading Eagle's Cry by David Nevin. It was a great book of the times of our country in the making. the author brought the lives of President Jefferson, and James Madison to life in such a way you felt you knew them personally. It's a great read!! I give this book and author 5 stars and will be reading the next book called 1812 which is about Lewis and Clark's journey across America that President Jefferson sent them on.

*****

kstowe@dellepro.com
Just finished K-PAX by Gene Brewer. I picked it up in a London bookstore after seeing the movie. It is available in the US but I think the sequels K-PAX II and K-PAX III are only available in the UK. I'll definitely be looking for them. Though I don't usually enjoy a book after I've seen the movie, this one was a special treat. Brewer drags you along through the story of an alien he meets in his psychiatric practice. Without a doubt you're convinced by the end. It could have happened. 4.5 stars

Before that I read, The Monk Downstairs by Tim Farrington. It's the story of a monk who leaves the monastery and moves into the garage apartment of a single mother. Their romance is somewhat predictable but the characterizations of the monk, the single mother, her young daughter and the grandmother are impressive. The writing is very special and shows particular skill in the philosophical letters the monk writes back to another monk at his former monastery. A wonderful look not just at a second-chance romance but at the meaning of God and religion in our lives. 5 stars.

Also just finished The Wind Singer by William Nicholson. It's marketed as a juvenile fiction but I found it very enjoyable as an adult. It might appear to follow the mold of Harry Potter or the Pullman trilogy but in my opinion there was actually far more substance and entertainment. I've just picked up the sequel Slaves of the Mastery in the hope of prolonging the enjoyment. 5 stars.

*****

Yodasmommy@aol.com
Just finished True To Form by Elizabeth Berg. Easy read and enjoyable, but I'd only give this one 3 stars. She has done better.

Act of God by Susan Sloan was definitely 5 stars. I loved it. Surprise ending and short chapters, which means you can pick it up for a 5 minute reading break.

*****

EPaton@aol.com
Red Church by Scott Nicholson. 4 1/2 stars.
This is categorized as horror fiction and it is but with a religious cult twist. Basically the question is how far will the people in this town go to show devotion to the religious cult that they have joined. The leader of this cult holds meetings and services in an old abandoned church that is painted red. Who or what he is coupled with the horrific history of this church (to which he is related) make for a tense, chilling horror thriller. Excellent.

*****

shifel02@aol.com
I am reading Annapolis by William Martin and enjoying it thoroughly --- I shall make sure that I read his other books.

*****

Anonymous
1. Pompeji by Maja Lundgren (a Swedish book, don't know if there is an English translation. Very good though!)
2. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding (Finally! And what a great book! Loved it!!)
3. Under the Duvet by Marian Keyes (not as good as her other books)
4. Den lyckliga hemmafrun by Heleen Van Royen (don't know if there is an English translation to this one. I loved it though!! It was both funny and scaring.)
5. Hot Six by Janet Evanovich (another great story, I just love her books!)
6. Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie (Yuk, over 500 pages of bla bla bla. Nothing I would recommend anyone to
read, didn't like it at all. Thought it would be a bit like Evanovich, but I was so disappointed.)
7. And now I'm reading Bridget Jones - The Edge of Reason. Also have to read Angels by Marian Keyes soon!!

*****

caliauds66@aol.com
A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks. 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book, he's a great writer, a little on the romantic side, not my usual read, but excellent anyway.

*****

Marciakv@aol.com
Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen. 4 stars.
I am reading LUCKY YOU by Carl Hiaasen. It is smart and funny, like all of his books. This one is about two people who win the lottery and who ultimately gets the winnings. If you like humor mixed in with a good tale, read this one.

*****

DizeM4T@aol.com
I am currently reading 2nd Chance by James Patterson and Andrew Gross. It's a pretty fast read --- big type and short chapters; but, as always, Patterson knows how to keep the reader enthralled. His mysteries are great! This time, his main character is relatively new --- Lindsey Boxer and her Women's Murder Club. The first book with Lindsey and the drew was 1st to Die. So far, I'd rate it 4 stars!

*****

MSmith2957@aol.com
The Importance of Being Ernestine by Dorothy Cannell. 3-1/2 stars.
This is a humorous mystery novel based on the Ellie Haskell series set in England. Although it has a predictable ending, it becomes quite a page turner with plenty of British quips to giggle at.

*****

charris@pcnuthut.com
Books I have read this summer and rated:
The Wailing Wind by Tony Hillerman. Rated 5. A good continuation of this series.
Seldom Disappointed by Tony Hillerman. Rated 5. Memoirs of this man.
Courting Trouble by Lisa Scottoline Rated 4. Good murder mystery --- good writer.
Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark. Rated 5. I like George Washington so loved the book about him and Patsy (Martha).
The Fencing Master by Arturo Perez. Rated 4. Different as it was written in Spanish first and was about fencing which I knew nothing about.

*****

NIvey3289@aol.com
I am currently reading Fire Ice, by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos. This is a Kurt Austin adventure and if you are a fan of Clive Cussler you will not be disappointed. They can weave fact and fiction and come out with a very believable story.

*****

Mm2jackson@aol.com
A Painted House.

*****

Ekountrygal@aol.com
I am reading Ava's man by Rick Bragg. This is one of the most heartwarming and poignant books I have read in a long time. The story is one of happiness, sorrow, hopes and survival and all done against the backdrop of the Depression Era in the deep South. Charlie Bundrum, the main character of the story and also Bragg's never know grandfather, is a man who brought his wife and seven children through the Great Depression . What sets this story apart from others set in this era, is the way the character and his family are portrayed. They may be poor when it comes to money and possessions, but one of the richest families when it comes to the important things such as love, loyalty and character. You will quickly be pulled into Charlie Bundrums life and when you close your eyes you can hear him strumming the banjo or hear the hammering at the steel mill. You can feel the heat of a scorching summer in Alabama and lulled by the voice of Alice his wife as she reads him the paper each night or taste the sweetness of a warm Georgia peach. This book is rich in description of the era and the struggles those who lived through it had to endure just to survive. Charlie Bundrum is a man from the old school of men who did whatever they could to make sure their families had food on the table, a roof over their head, plenty of love but most of all a love of life filled with hope instead of despair and bitterness. This is a book you will enjoy from the first page to the last and when it comes to a close you will find yourself feeling as if you are saying good-bye to a friend.

*****

Fbower444@aol.com
I am presently reading Clancy's Red Rabbit.

*****

Shainow@aol.com
My recommendation would have to be The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. This is a historical fiction about Mary Boleyn, Ann Boleyn's sister. I find the story fascinating, and I'm learning a bit about the time of Henry the 8th. Also great summer reads are: The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, and a fascinating collection of 5 books called Ramses by Christian Jacq. The Ramses selections I just happened to wander upon, and found I had to continue reading the series. It is also historical fiction, about Ramses II, and the story will keep you wanting to read more. It brings into play so many aspects of early history, including Moses.

*****

Catslady5@aol.com
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel. 5 stars.
Actually I am rereading the entire series. It had been so long between books after the newest one came out I wanted to remember everything that I forgot. It is just as good the second time around and one of my all time favorite series.

*****

DIANWILLY@aol.com
The Paris Option by Robert Ludlum . 4 stars.
Suspense with a European setting and another attach on America. This time by terrorists using computer technology that "learns" to beat the safe guards. Computer technology that "learns" has been around for several years but to my knowledge not perfected. Something to think about.

*****

WRKGRK@aol.com
Just finished Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann Ross. Cute, light reading. Did it for a book group. Would not have chosen it but am glad I read it.

*****

MysteryNut19@aol.com
Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich. 3 1/2 stars,
The 8th Stephanie Plum novel as always gave me plenty of laughs as the most inept bounty hunter in New Jersey (or the world for that matter) continues upon her path chasing a motley assortment of bond breakers. Unfortunately I found this one to be a little short on real storyline. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who's looking for a light and funny read.

*****

billiegirl20@hotmail.com
I just finished "One Hit Wonder" by Lisa Jewell and have to say that I loved this book. It was laugh out loud funny in so many parts (I even had to read a couple of them to my husband). You follow Ana, the sister of one-hit wonder Bea Bearhorn, after Bea is found dead in her London flat. Ana learns a lot she didn't know about Bea from the friends she meets and the places she visits. I was sorry the story ended. Truly a great read!!

*****

swayingcedars@shaw.ca
I've read a few books this year. but choosing my favorite would be: Geraldine Brooks: A Year of Wonders and next would be Tracy Cheveliers' The Girl with the Pearl Earring. Both are an excellent read !!!

*****

cjones@lynnllp.com
The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter. 5 stars.
Written in the tradition of Scott Turow. Very literate and well crafted.

Social Crimes by Jane Stanton Hitchcock. 5 stars.
One of the best summer reads I've had in a long, long time. Decadent enjoyment.

*****

marychambers@yahoo.com
ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE. 4 stars.
First in the KINSHIP, COURAGE AND FAITH series by Jane Kirkpatrick. My book club read this and everyone liked it. It is a fictional account of an incident recorded in Ezra Meeker's diary about a wagon train group of women and children going back east. It was terrific.

THE CAT WHO SAW RED by Lilian Jackson Braun. 4 stars.
I love cats and dogs and stories about them. This one is a fictional mystery, but quite enjoyable about two Siamese cats.

WE ARE OUR MOTHERS DAUGHTERS by Cokie Roberts. 2 stars.

IT'S YOUR MISFORTUNE AND NONE OF MY OWN. 4 stars.
First in the CODE OF THE WEST series by Stephen Bly. It takes place in Montana Territory and I loved it.

A SWEETNESS TO THE SOUL. 5 stars.
First in the DREAMCATCHER series by Jane Kirkpatrick. This is the best book I've read this summer. It is a fictional account of documented events of Oregon pioneers, Jane and Joseph Sherar.

*****

paulachambers@webtv.net
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. 5 stars.
A Place of Execution by Val McDermid. 5 stars.
Killing the Shadows by Val McDermid. 5 stars.

*****

Maurizio.mass@libero.it
I have just finished to read Protect and Defend by Richard North Patterson, this is a wonderful book I have never read a book so beautiful and well complex. It merits 5 stars and more.

*****

susanrjensen@yahoo.com
The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky. 4 stars.
When a recent widow in the neighborhood becomes pregnant, the couples who live near her are instantly suspicious. Since the beautiful young woman rarely leaves her home, the women in the neighborhood can only surmise that the father must be one of their husbands. Each of the men have had an opportunity to be in the house, but each one denies involvement. As the women put their marriages under the microscope, the reader can only wonder which relationships will survive and, of course, who is the father? A light, but compelling read.

Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama
I am about halfway through this book, so I haven't decided on a rating yet. It is an interesting novel, though, about a young Chinese woman who is forced to leave her poor childhood home and labor in a silk factory to provide money for her family. The detail about the silk work in China is interesting, and the girl's tale is equally as absorbing. So far, an interesting read.

*****

svonpier@monmouth.com
Mistaken Identity by Lisa Scottoline. 5 stars.
(Actually I'm reading through the entire series...) I love books about smart women and the "all woman workforce" at the law firm.

I just completed the 5th jersey shore mystery by Beth Sherman. 5 stars.
Great beach reads. Sherman’s Dead Man’s Float is the first in a series of mysteries set on the Jersey Shore. Mysteries are my favorite genre but I enjoy it even more when the book has familiar places like Red Bank, Asbury Park and other local towns as the setting. Other Jersey Shore Mysteries: Death at Hightide, Death’s a Beach, Devil and the Deep Blue Sea and Murder Down the Shore.

Shade of the Maple by Kirk Martin. 5 stars.
Kirk Martin’s debut novel is a love story that transcends time. Its bittersweet path brought tears to my eyes. Mr. Martin writes so that you can see everything just by reading his words. The writing has a flowing dreamlike quality, almost poetic at times. His attention to detail is exquisite. Kirk places the importance on simple pleasures…running and jumping into leaf piles, dreaming out loud, holding hands, taking time to smell the flowers, see the sunsets, rocking chairs on the porch, and simply enjoying each other – this is a lesson we need to learn. “Shade of the Maple” is a book about finding the intimacy, the connection, we all long for and keeping it.

*****

joswood@adiis.net
WHISPERS AND LIES by Joy Fielding. 5 stars.
Totally unexpected plot twist near the end. Blew my mind. I hadn't picked up on the clues scattered throughout the rest of the book. A fast read, and compelling.

ART OF DECEPTION by Ridley Pearson. 4 stars.
I've been to Seattle, but never like this. We learn more than we might want to know about Seattle's underground. Now I wonder if there really is such a place in the real Seattle. Exciting plot that keeps you guessing.

*****

lgettle@iserv.net
Just finished ICE STATION by Matthew J. Reilly. This novel is perfect for those of us who enjoy nonstop action adventure. 5 stars.

*****

Vikkivand@aol.com
The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer. 5 stars.
A sad story at times, but well worth reading.

*****

UKHRH@aol.com
Aftermath by Peter Robinson. 5 stars.
English serial killer with twist and bends --- great read. An Insp. Banks novel.

*****

RJSpectrum@aol.com
Rereading A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole for the fourth time, and it just gets funnier. The mental pictures are hilarious. Also rereading Cosmic Banditos by A. Weisbecker, which will cause you to lay awake at night thinking when you've stopped laughing long enough to try and go to bed. Both get highest possible ratings.

*****

Bjglu@aol.com
Cuba Diaries by Isadora Tattlin. 4 stars.
Journal kept by Tattlin who lived in Cuba with her husband, a businessman, and children for several years. Inside view of Cuba today.

Jamaica Inn by Daphne DuMaurier. 3 stars.
Interesting period piece, though I figured out "whodunnit" early on.

*****

Lgluhani@aol.com
The Travel Detective: Flight Crew Confidential. 3 stars.
The REAL experts: pilots, flight attendants and others in the flight crew share information on shopping, restaurants, out-of-the-way treasures in airports and various cities.

The Day I Turned Uncool by Dan Zevin. 4 stars.
A fun (think Dave Barry) discussion by a reluctant grown-up.

*****

Meadowlark2@aol.com
Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. 5 stars.
Wonderful telling of the ugly little horse who became one of the most spectacular racers in horse racing history, Charles Howard, a former bicycle repairman who introduced the Buick automobile in California owned Seabiscuit, Tom Smith, who seemed to me to be the original "horse whisperer" trained him, and Red Pollard, who, against all odds, rode the ugly horse to the winners circle.

Could not put this book down. Read parts to my husband who said it had been a long time since he had seen me so excited and enthused about a book. The writing is excellent!

*****

GERBAM@AOL.com
THE EMPEROR OF OCEAN PARK BY STEPHEN L. CARTER is my favorite book so far this year. It opens a whole new world of upper middle class African Americans who have always been a big part of our culture. Carter gives us a puzzle to solve along with the protagonist and he does it with panache. The story is fascinating, the prose is perfect and the characters are people you might like to know.

The runner up favorite for the year so far is JOHN KATZENBACH'S THE ANALYST.
My first reaction to the story which takes off like a rocket on the first page was WOW! When I got to page two I knew this book was a winner ... the 'analyst' in the story is given a task to perform before his next birthday or he will die. The pace is roaring and the story is fired by intellectual provocation and asks many questions about love, betrayal, the nature of violence, and the if revenge is a means to peace.

*****

Mads1989@aol.com
True Blue by Luanne Rice. 4 stars.
It is a powerful story of staying true to whom you are, where you belong, and never forgetting your first love.

*****

TLWood61@aol.com
Her Father's House by Belva Plain. 3 stars.
Not one of her best! This book had a very slow start and was hard to get into. The main character, Donald Wolfe, was very whiny!

*****

webmaster@stephenkingnews.com
THE HOUR BEFORE DARK by Douglas Clegg. 5 stars.
An amazing novel with incredible depth; the characters just ring true and become completely real. It amazes me that more people don't read Clegg! He's a modern master who is extremely under-appreciated.

*****

Jjhamp15@aol.com
BEASTS is a recent novel by Joyce Carol Oates which is very much up to her standards of excellent writing. Written in the first person, it is the story of a college girl in the North east who gets involved with a college professor and his artist wife. Suffice it to say that they more than qualify as a "beastly couple." A very good read, a real page turner!

*****

Bossu49@aol.com
BAD BOY BRAWLY BROWN by Walter Mosley. 5 stars.
Great crime drama.

LEGAL TENDER by Lisa Scottoline. 5 stars.
Suspenseful legal thriller.

*****

diamondlightfoot@yahoo.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 5 stars.
An amazing book that will stay with you long after you've read it. Very original.

The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg. 5 stars.
One of his best and a must read for horror fans.

*****

TonyBrandin@peoplepc.com
The Tesseract by Alex Garland. Almost 4 stars.
The Tessaract tells three stories that ultimately intersect: a British seaman is lured to a decrepit hotel in Manila by a pirate and his henchmen; a wealthy (by Manila standards) doctor and her children settle into bed; and two street urchins target a distracted husband stuck in traffic. All the characters come together in an unexpected and bloody climax. Garland, in published interviews, wrote that the tragedy detailed in The Tesseract was the result of random fate, without spiritual significance. Nonetheless, like similar books (The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder being the best example), the questions that the novel raises about fate and human interaction touched me deeply.

*****

cherie@suitablewords.com
The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg. 5 stars.
There are few things better than a good psychological horror-thriller with "living, breathing" characters, and this new novel by Doug Clegg hits the mark. This is one of, if not his best novel to date in my opinion!

*****

antierob32@msn.com
I am currently reading Summer Knight by Jim Butcher. I give this one and the previous three by him, each earn five stars!

*****

Designer50@aol.com
I'm reading One Door Away from Heaven by Dean Koontz. He has mellowed since his earlier books. He is not so angry now --- marriage seems to have seasoned his anger.

*****

eric@studiosax.demon.co.uk
The Death Of Demons by Leslie Ronald Smith. 5 stars.
This is an incredible biography of a truly amazing young life. The story starts with the introduction of a half caste Scottish boy, who lives in a terrible environment with bullying adopted parents. It tells how he managed to build up inner armour and deal with the horrific violence of his surroundings (home, street and school). It then took me on a journey through his life choices and told of how he survived these choices to eventually turn his life around and become the success that he is today. It really moved me. The writer has an amazing descriptive style and has painted a vivid tapestry of characters and events that I will not forget in a hurry. An added bonus is the writers humour. I laughed out loud at some of his lighter scenes!

This is one for everybody to read. If you've been there --- it's hope; if you haven't it's insight. Go buy it.

*****

jimhatz@pinenet.com
The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg. 5 stars.

*****

BEVBOOKS@aol.com
FASHION MEANS YOUR FUR HAT IS DEAD by Mike Doogan. 3 stars
Nonfiction, tongue-in-cheek look at living in Alaska. Doogan is hilarious...and some stuff is, maybe, too true.

GOOD TIME GIRLS OF THE ALASKA-YUKON GOLD RUSH by Lael Morgan. 4 stars.
Nonfiction history of the lusty and licentious women who were pioneers of the Far North...the prostitutes who joined the mass pilgrimage to the gold camps. Great reading. Lots of photos of the girls.

THE HOUR BEFORE DARK by Douglas Clegg. 5 stars.
The latest booger book by one of my favorite authors. He can really write scary stuff. I played a version of that "Dark Game" when I was a kid....bet you did too. This one will keep you up all night!!

BREEDER by Douglas Clegg. 5 stars.
This is an older one that was just reprinted in a limited edition. I'm reading it again...and it's just as scary as the first time through. Rachel and her husband are looking for a fresh start in their new home...but the house has some dark secrets.

*****

j.carmichael@sympatico.ca
Hello,
I know I can't win because I am Canadian but I would like to share the books I have been enjoying with you. I have just read the Sandra Gulland trilogy based on the life of Josephine Bonaparte. The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, and The Last Great Dance on Earth. Good reading! I really enjoyed The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Thanks for listening.

*****

dikker-bibbe@msn.com
I just finished a hilarious and strangely touching memoir by Grant Jarrett entitled More Towels. It was a lucky accident that I found it. Not your usual whining and boasting. Very honest and incredibly funny. Five stars.

*****

webgirl227@hotmail.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 5 stars.
This was such a strange read, at first not knowing if I actually liked it or not. It is definitely a story which makes you ponder ghosts, afterlife and death. Having a daughter about the same age as our main character, I did find it a little disturbing but I know this tragic event occurs all the time in our society. This book did give me a little something more than just a good story to take with me after the story concluded. Hope.

*****

bilalibi@arkwest.com
The Ways of Grace by Linda Francis Lee.
I'm not a romance novel reader by nature. But when the publisher sent me an advance readers copy of this novel and requested that I review it, I obliged. Was I pleasantly surprised! Linda Francis Lee's writing is a far cry from the typical drama-filled romance book. Very much a contemporary romance, Lee has woven a believable story that any reader could imagine themselves playing a part in. A wonderful escape and an excellent bedtime story!

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