ppellini@mail.com
I just finished reading Hate Crime by William Bernhardt. This latest in the series about lawyer Ben Kincaid is now one of my favorite of the series. It's full of suspense, with many twists and turns, and keeps you guessing right through its surprise ending. And fans of the series will finally get some insight into Ben's romantic past. I highly recommend this lastest entry to the series.
miriama59@yahoo.com
The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr. 5 stars.
It has been out for a while but I just found it. I did not read his prequel, The Alienist, but you can believe I am going to now. This is an amazing book that combines historical figures from the past with excitement, mystery and horror. I loved this book and I enjoyed getting to know the characters.
SRHarbin@aol.com
The Coming of Conan by Robert E. Howard. 4 stars.
Originally published stories from the 1930s. More than just pulp fantasy, these are a mix of hard boiled realism and fantastic imagery. For those who like action adventure and fantasy, this is a must read.
Mythology by Edith Hamilton. 4 stars.
It was required reading when I was in high school over 30 years ago, but it still holds up well today. For anyone interested in the ancient classic myths and the worldview that chronicled them.
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich. 4 stars.
I was a little disappointed in her previous novel Hard Eight, but this humorous mystery recaptures the "can't put it down" feeling that her other books engendered.
Jitterbug by Loren D. Estleman. 4 stars.
Historical novel set in 1943 Detroit. A mystery that follows several characters. A detective squad races to find a serial killer with a thing for ration stamps, while two African American brothers move north in an attempt to find jobs and a better life during the wartime manufacturing boom.
Moody Gets the Blues by Steve Oliver. 4 stars.
Set in the 1970s, a former Vietnam vet is released from a mental hospital and takes a job driving a cab. However, he really wants to be a private investigator, based on a vision he had of talking to Humphrey Bogart before being released.
jalocke@comcast.net
Along Came a Spider by James Patterson. 5 stars.
James Patterson is again at his best. Readers who are not familiar with Patterson's work may find his short-chapter style an unattractive read and be put off by the style. New readers to Patterson's style need to give his books a chance. This reader is used to Patterson's style of writing and finds that it adds to the attraction of the read. Riveting and enjoyable for this avid reader is the shifting from Alex Cross in one chapter, with another character in the next, back and forth…
Along Came a Spider is riveting; you become glued to the story, and will read the book in a few sittings. This bestseller is written simply, with a harrowing plot. Detective Alex Cross, family man and psychologist, profoundly plays a key role in many of Patterson's novels. Cross's manner and delivery of detecting is above par with a concentrated number of detectives in novels, including Sara Paretsky's VI Warshawski and Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta. Considering it is the first Alex Cross book, Cross is a character a reader can relate to with his mild manner but hard-driving methods of investigation.
Cross's associate in the plot is Jezzie Flanagan, also a police detective with a Ph.D. in psychology connected with the Secret Service. Two crime-stoppers who work symbiotically in their efforts to apprehend a chilling psychopath --- Gary Soneji --- who commits child kidnapping, the murder of a school teacher, and other horrific acts --- all this from a man (Soneji) who can easily be labeled "a split-personality," while appearing as a mild-mannered, popular math teacher at an elite private school for children of the affluent society, and known to the students as "Mr. Chips."
Along Came a Spider is engrossing and thrilling, emitting emotions that deliver a true-to-life portrayal. Victimizer Gary Soneji resembles in some ways other perpetrators who get into your mind throughout the story, such as Hannibal Lector. Soneji with his terrifying crimes outsmarts the FBI, Secret Service, and Police Department. Detectives Cross and Flanagan face the ultimate as psychologists to outmaneuver a brilliant psychopath before his next victim ... and the next ... and the next...
larmintor@gt.rr.com
I was given Barbara Bush's Reflections for Christmas. I found many parts of it fascinating and some of it just plain boring as it was straight from her diary and read like one. She certainly leads a life that I can't relate to other than the love of a mother for her children, which is so genuine and shines throughout the book. I think she is a very real lady and does realize she leads a very privileged life.
The second book I have just finished is Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees. It is absolutely in my top five favorite books of all time. There was nothing I didn't like about the book and would recommend it for males and females of all ages. I could relate to it in some ways because my grandfather raised bees when I was a small child and I thought it fascinating. Of course, that is only a part of the story. Also, it was set in the south where all my grandparents lived, so this was something I could relate to as well.
rsaxe@utoledo.edu
The Frumious Bandersnatch by Ed McBain. 4 stars.
Not his best, but a good read.
jdwasson@iwon.com
The Codex by Douglas Preston. 3 stars.
A good read.
Tlzenk@aol.com
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. LOVED IT
Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. LOVED IT
Right now I'm reading The Movies of My Life by Alberto Fuguet. So far so good.
Vikkivand@aol.com
East of Eden by John Steinbeck. 4 stars.
I thought it was longer than it needed to be, but overall it was a pretty good story.
Something Might Happen by Julie Myerson. 5 stars.
Interesting story.
Peyton Place by Grace Metalious. 5 stars.
I can see why this was considered scandalous reading and banned by libraries in the 50s. Great book. Loved it.
Crooked Little Heart by Anne Lamott. 3 stars.
A Royal Duty by Paul Burrell. 5 stars.
Of all the things I've read about Princess Diana, I tend to believe what is written in this book.
The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler. 5 stars.
A great story.
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. 5 stars.
I can't say enough about this book. At first I wasn't quite sure where the story was going and kept reading. All I can say is that I was absolutely stunned by the ending. A must read. Excellent writing. I am now wanting to read other stories by this author.
pureevil25@yahoo.com
I'm reading The Soul Catcher by Alex Kava. I give it 4 stars. The characters in her book are really good, I almost find myself worrying about them! Her books were recommended to me because I was reading Erica Spindler thrillers. I'd read them all except for the new one, and I was looking for something similar.
MelJPrincess@aol.com
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. 5 stars.
I would read ANY book by Mr. Brown. He always aims to please. Once again, he pens another excellent novel.
Timeline by Michael Crichton. 5 stars.
No wonder they wanted to make a movie about this book! Exciting and extremely entertaining, this action-packed time travel will have you reading way into the wee hours of the morning.
KTBug931@aol.com
The book I am currently reading is Mr. Timothy by Louis Bayard. To be completely fair, I have just started the book, so I don't know how accurate my review is. From what I have read so far, I would give this book 4 stars out of 5. It's the story of Tiny Tim all grown up, and trying to solve the murder of a number of Victorian women. Bayard's view of the grown-up Tim is fascinating, as is his relationship with "Uncle N" (Ebenezer).
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
I just read the worst book --- Our Lady of the Forest by David Guterson. I give it 1 hobbled star. I had such high hopes, considering that I had loved Snow Falling on Cedars, but this novel was nothing like the quality I had expected. The story is lame: a homeless, filthy, drug-using mushroom seeker supposedly has a vision of Mary in a northwest forest. The Catholic church sends a priest to validate the claim, the hordes appear as it increases tourism to the small old logging town. Suffice to say, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY.
jupe77_2000@yahoo.com
The Writing Life: Writers on How They Think and Work - A Collection from the Washington Post Book World, edited by Marie Arana. 5 stars.
Makes me wish I were a writer.
Alaska by James A. Michener. 4 stars.
jacobson312@earthlink.net
The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder.
This new paperback has a wonderful introduction and interview section. The book is a classic (I can't believe I haven't read it before) and my mind has not been so totally absorbed with profound questions after each chapter. This slim book packs the stuff of life, loss and learning.
VickyRD@aol.com
I just finished The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I did not want it to end. The book left me thinking about so much, especially how feeling unloved by someone can be true or not depending on your perception. I cannot wait until she writes another book.
I just started Digital Fortress by Dan Brown because I loved The Da Vinci Code so much. So far I cannot put it down.
MAP5402@aol.com
The Kills by Linda Fairstein. 3 stars.
The Key Trilogy by Nora Roberts. 5 stars.
KLOZIER40@aol.com
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. 5 stars.
An unusual story of a Greek family background that reveals a gene passed down from ancestors that causes a hermaphrodite child and how he/she learns to live his/her life. A Pulitzer Prize winner.
MParloff@aol.com
I am currently reading two vastly different books: Fanny Trollope's Domestic Manners of the Americans, first published in 1832, and Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them (2003). There's no contest as to which book is better. Fanny Trollope's durable early nineteenth-century description of her four-year visit to the U.S. from England is an astute five-star effort in every way, while Franken's raucous up-to-the-minute bestseller hovers somewhere between 2 and 3 stars as it tries to expose the deception in communications from conservative journalists and politicians.
Witty, intelligent, and observant, Fanny Trollope provides a vivid and largely negative picture of the United States in the late 1820s, and her book was a bestseller soon after it was published in England, the U.S. and in Europe. The British society from which she came obviously affected and sometimes distorted her reactions, but even such skewing is illuminating. Although Franken frequently includes substantive material of considerable interest, his chaotic organization, coarse style, and uninteresting padding frequently cancel the positive aspects of his book.
kcqueenm@yahoo.com
God Still Don't Like Ugly by Mary Monroe. 5 stars.
This was a nice sequel to God Don't Like Ugly. I found this book very fast paced and give it 5 stars. It's drama at its finest level, from child abuse to prostitution --- it's all here. The book tells the continuing story of Annette, who was sexually and emotionally abused by the boarder her mother took in when Annette was seven. It begins where the first book leaves off at. Annette is in her adult years still trying to lay the ghost of the past aside and forget the trauma that she went through as a child, and find love in Jerome or Peewee, her childhood friend. Peewee is also her on again/off again lover. Not to mention her deep relationship with Rhoda, her former best friend and childhood confidant.
s.bucher@insightbb.com
Truth or Dare by Jayne Ann Krentz.
I enjoy the interaction of the three couples --- the developing relationships between the main characters. A good mystery-romance.
stevehylton@email.com
The Descent by Jeff Long.
Nightmares & Dreamscapes by Stephen King.
jackiestott@nc.rr.com
I am reading The King of Torts by John Grisham, and I just finished The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks.
onorman@arlibrary.org
I just finished Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner and give it 4 stars. It's very well written and funny, yet still poignant. Some of the things that happen were not realistic, but it is fiction, so why not let the protagonist's dreams come true?
bab@tennis.com
The Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond. 5 stars,
A concise, well written book about the evolution of human beings and their influence, impact and behavior. A brilliant treatise that discusses the extraordinary species in a novel manner. Intriguing and extremely interesting.
lindaharriet@netzero.net
"Tell me a story, even if it's a lie," is the basic theme of Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros. And there are a lot of lies in this book, about a Mexican-American family who are raucous, loud, sentimental and funny. Celaya, the storyteller, relates the life of the "Awful Grandmother" and how she became so awful. Grandmother wants her story romanticized, and soon we have a multi-generational saga that plumbs lies, truth and life. 3 stars.
zippety4@yahoo.com
The book I have just finished is The Apocalypse Troll by David Weber. This is a sci-fi technothriller mixing interstellar war with the aliens with time travel back to our time. An old-fashioned potboiler, this book is one I couldn't put down. I finished it at 3 A.M. last night. I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.
Rickimc@aol.com
Silent as the Hunter by Christopher Lane. 3 stars.
I had actually finished this book before that last Word of Mouth, but I had forgotten about it (shows how memorable it is). I did like the psychic clues to the mystery, though. I think fans of Tony Hillerman would like Lane's Inupiat Eskimo mysteries.
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire. 5 stars.
If you have not read a book by Maguire yet, you do not know what you are missing. The way he takes well-known stories and puts his own spin on them is just amazing. I have also read Wicked, and both books have changed the way I feel about the original story. Read these with friends because you will want to discuss them afterwards!
Cart and Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones. 3 stars.
A typical fantasy. The beginning was really slow, but it picked up after Moril's father died (do not worry, this is not giving away the plot).
Sweet Dreams by Karen Wiesner. 3 stars.
If it were not for the sex scenes, I would have thought I was reading one of Charles Grant's shapeshifter horror novels. An interesting story, but the ages of the characters did not make sense.
Japanese Comickers edited by DesignEXchange. 5 stars.
A collection of manga- and anime-style artwork by 14 up-and-coming Japanese artists. My favorite piece was "TeaTime" by Yu Kagei.
4sugar9@charter.net
I have recently finished The Breathtaker by Alice Blanchard and A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter. I rate both books 5 stars. They were the kinds of stories that are very hard to put down with edge of your seat suspense.
Marilguad@aol.com
I'm now reading an old Sandra Brown book called Exclusive and I'm enjoying it. I read an old Steve Martini called The Jury (it was okay), J.A. Jance's Partner in Crime, which I enjoyed, and David Baldacci's Split Second, which I loved. I'm going to start P.D. James's A Mind to Murder.
stuiiny@msn.com
I just finished Best Kept Secrets by Sandra Brown. It was just okay, not one of her best. I give it 2 stars.
I started The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson, and it is quite good. I find most of his work hard to put down. I give it 4 stars.
Catslady5@aol.com
The Way the Crow Flies by Ann Marie MacDonald. 4 stars.
Now that I am three-fourths into the book I am having a hard time putting it down. Although the subject matter is somewhat disturbing, it has become more complicated and interesting at the same time.
ImNpieces@aol.com
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling. 5 stars.
I have now read all five of the so far published books, and I must say that they are really delightful. I believe that they have been much maligned by the fundamentalists, as they are truly a great example for our young people of the battles of good against evil and show the ill effects of discrimination against those who happen to be different in many areas. The books are just good. They seem to be a very simplified type of Lord of the Rings. I would heartily recommend them for any age. I happen to be a grandmother and pastor's wife.
baydiner@hotmail.com
I've just finished Less Than a Shadow by David Chacko. It's a wonderfully written novel set in Istanbul in the present. The murder of a reporter leads Jason Ender, a State Department agent, into a labyrinth where the many turnings lead to real revelation. This is a book about the Mideast today written by someone who knows its pulse like no American writers seem capable of doing. The ending is completely logical --- but still shocking.
bradylee@myway.com
Where the Birds Never Sing: The True Story of the 92nd Signal Battalion and the Liberation of Dachau by Jack Sacco. 5 stars.
The author writes this story about his father Joe and writes in the first person very effectively. You learn of Joe's life before and after Dec. 7, 1941 and what he went through preparing to become a soldier in the Signal Corps of the U. S. Army. Then the war action begins for Joe at Normandy [1 week after the invasion] and goes through Europe to Germany and the end of WWII. You learn a lot about the times during those days, and Joe Sacco was one of the first ones to liberate the inmates of Cachau where so many Jews were put down. You learn a lot about this incident. Also, he was one of those who went to Salzburg in Bavaria and to Hitler's headquarters Berchtesgaden. He roamed about his premises and even slept in his bed. Though a short part of the book, 'twas most interesting. This is a great addition to facts about what happened in WWII !
trishlaura@careerblazerswest.com
I am presently reading The Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. As with all of Picoult's books, you are "into" the book on page one. This book deserves 5 stars! Her writing, along with her presentation of the Amish culture and the unraveling of the mystery behind it all, keeps you turning page after page. Basic premise --- teenage Amish girl gives birth, infant is found dead, city attorney brought in to defend her and hopes to find the truth. real winner for everyone.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom should be required reading for all! It might look like something you just pass by, but take a few hours and enrich your life. This book will surprise you with such a wonderful feeling, you will pass it on to everyone. 5 stars to Mitch Albom!
Auntgoogie@aol.com
Private Sector by Brian Haig.
This book is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I won this book in one of the Time Warner contests and I was pleasantly surprised to find how intriguing it was. There was never a dull moment and there were times that it scared me so much I could only read a few pages at a time. I highly recommend it. I can't wait to read his other books.
j_japhet@mac.com
I am reading:
Social Crimes: A Novel by Jane Stanton Hitchcock. 4 stars.
I thought this was a great book for a lazy Saturday. I spent a part of the book being mad at the main character for not taking charge and the second half rooting for her to get revenge.
Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter. 3 1/2 stars.
This was a recommendation from a friend. Even though it was easy to guess the killer, it was still a fun read.
lin111@juno.com
I recently finished All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve (5 stars). This is a different kind of love story, beginning in the late 1800s, written from the viewpoint of a man. The things he does in the name of love are not always honorable. I found this book to be a great companion. I also enjoyed The Summer That Never Was by Peter Robinson (3 stars) --- a fast reading English novel. I am currently reading Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton, which is lyrical, heartbreaking and uplifting, all at the same time. This is definitely a 5-star read.
kgrantdesigns@hotmail.com
The Storyteller by Arthur Reid. 3 1/2 stars.
The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman. 3 stars.
The Murder Room by P.D. James. 3 stars.
bradylee@myway.com
Man is Wolf to Man: Surviving the Gulag by Janusz Bardach and Kathleen Gleeson. 5 stars.
I discovered this book by an author's referral in another book, and Bardach's story is one all readers look for at all times. By that I mean it has interest on every page; it is filled with emotion and you wonder about the folly of some men/governments. I have read many books about the Gulag, and this is one of the best.
SalbyC@aol.com
I am currently reading The Namesake by novelist Jhumpa Lahiri. Her first book, a collection of short stories entitled Interpreter of Maladies, won her the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It was wonderful and rates 5 stars. The Namesake, her newest book, also does not disappoint and rates 5 stars. Her characters and cultural descriptions are fascinating, and the book is hard to put down.
vitale@grantsburgtelcom.net
I just finished reading The Eyre Affair and Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde. If you love literature and suspense and can suspend your disbelief for a little fantasy, these two books are terrific! I can't wait for the next one to come out sometime this spring.
vintagelace40@yahoo.com
Right now I'm reading I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But... by Simon Cowell. I would give it 4 stars. It is very enjoyable and a happy read. Of course, I'm in love with American Idol...hehehe...
BrittanyNicole17@aol.com
Lost Boy Lost Girl by Peter Straub. 5 stars.
This book was extremely well written; it was the first book by Straub I've ever read. You can get lost in this book, and imagine yourself right there with the characters. His use of flashback is really well crafted also. The mixture of issues, tones and themes is also amazing.
Night's Child: A Sweep Novel by Cate Tiernan. 5 stars!
I have read up to book 8 in her Sweep series, and all those books were extremely well written; this novel is well written also. Her metaphors and the diction she uses are amazing. All the characters have to go through inner struggles, and you feel as if you're right there. This book is for anybody who is a Wiccan; even if you're not, you'll still enjoy it. Some of Tiernan's details are sensory, and she knows how to use them really well. She makes you see, hear, taste, feel and smell everything she is describing. A very good book.
mdcarter@netidea.com
Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. 5 stars.
A great start to a three-book series. The next book is due out in spring, and the last book in the fall.
Halobear1@aol.com
I am currently reading The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard. This book is a fiction novel about a 13-year-old girl whose mother goes to work on September 11th and doesn't come home. This story particularly touches my heart because my young cousin was lost tragically in the World Trade Center and left a 5-year-old daughter. It has been a help reading it and has helped me come to terms with some of the feelings I have had. I highly recommend this book to anyone who lost someone on September 11th or who understands what a tragedy that day was for our country. 5 stars.
pureevil25@yahoo.com
This week I'm reading In Silence by Erica Spindler and I give it 5 stars! It's a really creepy story, but it's great!
GerryD8784@aol.com
The 37th Hour by Jodi Compton. 4 1/2 stars.
An impressive first novel! Det. Sarah Pribek investigates her husband's disappearance, realizing in the process how little she really knows about him.
Liars and Saints by Maile Meloy. 4 stars.
I discovered this author when her book was featured as a Chapter-A-Day selection. Meloy's portrayal of a family, through four generations and multiple life crises, is very well written, and provides a very touching look at the impact of secrets that can drive family members apart or bring them closer together.
Ironfire by David Ball. 4 stars.
The fascinating, though quite long, story of the conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the various factions of the Western "Christian" world, climaxing in the Battle of Malta in 1560. Much of the story is told from the point of view of a young Maltese boy who was kidnapped by corsairs (Ottoman pirates) at age ten and later rose to prominence in the Ottoman navy.
billiegirl20@hotmail.com
I've just finished Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (the author of The Da Vinci Code). It was a truly awesome read ... I learned a lot. Robert Langdon, the symbology instructor from TDC is in this novel, as well. Brown has made both Paris and Rome (already beautiful cities in my mind) sound so deeply interesting to me. I would have to give the book a very interesting and kept-me-captivated 5 stars!!
Catslady5@aol.com
The Way the Crow Flies by Ann Marie MacDonald. 3 1/2 stars.
Disturbing but very insightful with a slow beginning, but the momentum speeds up and it gets quite hard to put down.
ASirkin@aol.com
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. 5+ stars.
This book is thought provoking, creative and a page-turner. I rarely read a book twice. This one is even better the second time because you can see the pattern and the purpose better.
SommerSnow@aol.com
I just read Mr. Paradise by Elmore Leonard. It was a very quick and easy read. However, I have to give this book only 1 star. I was very disappointed. Mr. Leonard used too much "gang slang" for me to be able to enjoy the book.
stoneyred@comcast.net
I am currently reading Nerd in Shining Armour by Vicki Lewis Thompson.
I just finished a good, slow, layered plot novel called All She Was Worth, a Japanese novel by Miyuki Miyabe that has been translated into English.
I also highly recommend a novel by Kate Ross called The Devil in Music. Great book.
Lastly, The First Victim by Ridley Pearson was a good read.
jalocke@comcast.net
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. Definitely 5 stars.
Written in the first person as the narrative style, author Nicholas Sparks takes the reader through a story of love, joy, sadness and hope, and then love rekindled. Who but author Sparks can provide an in-depth story in a simplistic fashion with descriptive words and conversations. This reader cannot help but provide other potential readers of this tome with one of Sparks's quotes: "When the next brilliant flash illuminates the sky, I often find myself filled with longing, though I'm at a loss to tell you what it is that I feel my life is missing." WOW! This is a beautiful read and a beautiful Swan song.
AUGER77777@aol.com
I am currently reading Utopia by Lincoln Child. This is a riveting novel of techno-terrorism at a futuristic theme park set outside of Las Vegas. I have enjoyed the work of Child and his partner, Douglas Preston, in their other books, such as Relic and Riptide. The characters are interesting and the plot leaves one wondering who is terrorizing the park (with the 66,000 guests mostly unaware of the danger they are in) and what their demands will be. This book is hard to put down. 5 stars.
Tlzenk@aol.com
I just finished The Movies of My Life by Alberto Fuguet, and I liked it. It's about the immigrant experience and the many ways American pop culture sneaks into our lives.
tunaross@nc.rr.com
Shadow of Death by William Tapply. 5 stars.
Another super Brady Coyne series book. It takes place in Boston and New Hampshire, and involves an investigation into the activities of a political candidate's husband. It is a riveting story involving the complexities of personal interactions as well as professional ethics --- vintage Tapply. I look forward to the next installment.
A Fine Line by William Tapply. 4 stars.
Based in Boston, lawyer Brady Coyne inadvertently becomes caught up in a terrorist organization plot and must unravel the clues before becoming a victim himself. I enjoy Tapply's complex, struggling characters. He manages to keep you in suspense right to the very end.
GandmaRI@aol.com
I just started The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver. It captures your attention at the start and I'm hoping to find some time this weekend to read. I get the impression that it's a cover to cover read, and will be read as quickly as possible.
TeresaE104@aol.com
I'm reading The Spirit of Covington by Joan Medlicott. This is the fourth book in the ongoing Ladies of Covington series. The story is a chronicle of how these women blossom as they leave a home for senior citizens and strike out on their own. They deal with joy, tragedy, internal and external conflict and love, as they establish new lives and careers for themselves in this small town. Amelia, Grace and Hannah are rich characters and I look forward to the next two installments also. As a sidenote, I surmise that some of Joan Medlicott's life experiences are manifested in Amelia (world travels with her husband) and Hannah (career in horticulture). I have an idea about the connection with Grace. 5 stars!
Mimiklein43@aol.com
I just finished Mr. Paradise by Elmore Leonard and simply adored it!! As far as I'm concerned, he's one of the finest mystery writers.
buckeye14@ij.net
Less of a Stranger by Nora Roberts. 5 stars.
West of Glory by Judith Bowen. 5 stars.
BobandPat@sc.rr.com
I just finished Vertical Coffin by Stephen J. Cannell. I rate it as amateurish and a weak attempt at writing --- maybe 2 stars. I only read this book because some of the "professional" reviewers gave it highmarks. Unbelievable!
maestraw@msn.com
I have read 12 books since January 1st. I just "finished" The 37th Hour by Jodi Compton. I got to the final pages, and the story abruptly ended, with no loose ends tied up. I think there are several missing pages in my copy. At any rate, aside from the frustration that there is no closure, I would rate this 3 stars out of 5. I went online to e-mail the author, the publisher and people who had won the ARC copy from Word of Mouth. It appears no one has read it yet. I must run to Border's this weekend to read the last few pages.
At any rate, it is a fairly well-written book of suspense. However, the secrets we learn along the way about Mike Shiloh do not really add up to the closed and private person he has become. Mike, Sarah and Gen's characters could have been developed more.
I also just read Paranoia by Joseph Finder. I am over the top with good things to say about this novel. The tension and suspense did keep me moving quite quickly through the story. There was an element of surprise woven throughout. I read the author's notes prior to beginning the book and learned this will be made into a movie. As I read, I tried to cast the characters. I would rate this 5 stars.
I am working on Janet Evanovich's Two for the Dough. It is another easy-to-read Stephanie Plum mystery. I would rate it 4 out of 5, just for sentimental reasons. (My mom has encouraged me to read these for over a year. Mother does know best.)
ALEMESH@aol.com
I am currently in the middle of The Little Friend by Donna Tartt. If you are not into details about persons, places and things, then this is not for you. I also find books fascinating where the child protagonist is more intelligent in certain ways than the adults that inhabit the book, which is the case with Harriet, who is trying to solve the years old murder of her then older brother. Aided in her quest for the truth is her friend, Hely. It seems at every turn the adults in the story are trying to turn the two away from the truth and events of the day of the murder, but I feel sure that they will prevail. I find the book hard to put down, although I had to catch up with my book club selection.
MAP5402@aol.com
Divided in Death by J.D. Robb. 5 stars.
I really love this entire series. I do think you need to start at the beginning if you really are going to enjoy them.
Dark of the Moon by P.J. Parrish. 4 stars.
After reading this first in the series, I went out and bought the next three books.
Footprints of God by Greg Iles. 4 stars.
Lots and lots of detail in this book; it's one where you have to read "every" word.
BSmith@Townsendtree.com
I just finished two books.
Cinderella Rules by Donna Kauffman. 5 stars.
A very witty, humorous and fast paced book that gave me lots of laughs. The scene in the dressing room was worth the cost of the book. I'm eagerly awaiting the next release from this rising star of romance and women's fiction.
Dance With Me by Luanne Rice. 5 stars.
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this fabulous book. Ms. Rice has a way of drawing the reader into her stories. She also gives the reader much more than just a love story between two people. Her books always have a strong family background and some conflict thrown in. Dance With Me was no exception. This is a wonderful story about the pain of loss and the consequences of the choices we make, and finding love, peace and joy in one's life again. Ms. Rice has penned another winner. A definite addition to the keeper shelf.
Polishpen@aol.com
I am currently reading Reading Lolita in Tehran and find it fascinating. In addition to learning of the terrible social conditions in Tehran, I am also becoming reacquainted with authors like James, Nabokov, Fitzgerald and Austen. Azar Nafisi presents a very readable story filled with heartfelt emotion and insight into the deep political problems in Iran.
I have also begun to read Angels & Demons. After having read The Da Vinci Code, I fully expect to be led on a wild and exciting journey as Dan Brown involves his readers in secret societies, murder and wonderful descriptions of European architecture.
mcgillrmcgill@charter.net
The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy. 5 stars.
Every once in a while I have to re-read one of Ms. Binchy's books. They're all excellent, with true to life characters and true to life events. I find myself engrossed in the commonplace as well as the underlying drama in their lives. I know people just like them, but perhaps not as well or as compassionately as I should.
jbloom52@comcast.net
I'm finishing Elmore Leonard's Mr. Paradise. This is a good read as are most of his books. I like this one because it is set locally and has a lot of action, moving the characters in and out of the plot. The story line is about an old retired attorney with an eye for younger escorts who is murdered so his valet can collect some money. The plan doesn't go exactly as it should and that is the rest of the story. Tough street punks and soft homicide detectives work side by side trying to solve the mystery of who and why. A good read. 5 stars.
womackcm@sbcglobal.net
I just finished reading Jinxed by Carol Higgins Clark. I meant to read it on the airplane but could not put it down until I was through reading the whole book. Great reading. 4 stars.
houstonwife@hotmail.com
I just finished the Newporte 911 series. What a great series of books. Just before that I read the Dee Henderson series on the O'Malley family. Again a series of books that was hard to put down until the very last book and then you are still wishing for more. I am hoping to find more along these lines. If anyone knows some please let me know. I am addicted to reading and these are my new favorites!
TSemi@aol.com
I read The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III. The book was excellent! It is the type of book you don't want to put down. Just when you think you have figured out where the story is going, it suddenly changes into circumstances you never imagined would happen. "It's a page turner with a beating heart." I give this book 5 stars. It will keep you guessing until the very end.
ctritt@comcast.net
I'm currently reading The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier. I rate this one 5 stars because I loved reading her other books, and this one is no exception. Tracy's books are always easy to read, can be read in one sitting if you have the time and are always enjoyable.
I just finished reading The English Assassin by Daniel Silva. I would rate this one 5 stars also as I enjoyed reading the mystery and intrigue behind the murders and because I enjoy reading a book that hops from one place to another in Europe and especially to some of the places I have been honored to visit myself. This is the first book by Daniel Silva that I have read, and I plan to read more of his work.
KLOZIER40@aol.com
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier. 4 1/2 stars.
This is one of my favorite authors, not disappointing me with one of her bawdier books. The artistic, historic information is always coupled with the story of families, which tempers and explains serious artistic works. In this case, tapestries and how they are made is the primary art.
Fbower444@aol.com
I'm presently reading The King of Torts by John Grisham. The story centers on a young lawyer, Clay Carter, who moves into tort litigation (suing big companies) through a questionable route. But he becomes rich and famous. Grisham is a lawyer, and this story is really eye-opening about the greed of tort lawyers and the misuse of the legal system to line the lawyers' pockets rather than compensate victims.
Presently 60% complete and I give it a solid 5 stars. Informative and very interesting.
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
I just finished Deception Point by Dan Brown and I'll give it 3 stars. It's about a huge cover-up by NASA and intrigue within the executive and legislative branches of the government. Typical fare from this author of The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons: beautiful woman, male hero, escape from the bad guys, lots of killing.
Another recent read: Lie Still, a medical thriller by David Farris. This was a pretty good story about a resident who is dumped from his surgical program for exposing the lack of talent and skill in his supervisor, a female neurosurgeon. Although I can't imagine how the woman COULD actually become a neurosurgeon with her lack of ability to visualize the interior brain in 3-D, and the whole scenario of the exposure was stretching credulity, I did enjoy reading it. I'll give it 3 stars.
Here's a quick one: The Boy Next Door by Meggin Cabot. 3 stars for a quick, just for fun book. This is the same author who writes The Princess Diaries series for young adults (Meg Cabot).
MLewisesq@aol.com
I've just finished (at 2 a.m.) Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman. I'd give it 4 stars because it had a great enthralling start, kept up the pace but had a somewhat ludicrous climax. Almost a compulsive page-turner and I'll look forward to reading the author's next book.
I'm listening to Jim Rogers's Adventure Capitalist on CDs as I drive. The book is described as "the ultimate investor's road trip" and describes the author's travels to "116 countries in a custom-built four-wheel-drive ... Mercedes." The author is an economist and discusses the countries' economies as he describes their customs and exotic foods. I'd give this book 4 stars as well. I also just read Amazing Gracie, a book authored by the two men who co-founded Three Dog Bakery in Kansas City, Kansas. It's a short easy read about a deaf Great Dane, and it's a wonderful book for dog lovers.
NGroves@aol.com
The Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor. 5 stars.
The Star of the Sea is a ship bound from Ireland to New York in 1847 at the height of the Irish famine. Passengers include an Anglo-Irish lord and his family, hoping that a new life in America will save them from financial disaster; their children's nanny, who grew up on the lord's estate and was his first love, until class and religious differences forced them apart; an Irish convict sworn to kill Lord Meredith (he was also the nanny's fiance years ago, but disappeared when she became pregnant); and an American journalist who is having an affair with Lord Meredith's wife. And, of course, the steerage passengers, whose deaths during the passage are sadly recorded in the captain's log. An excellent examination of the personal tragedies of these characters, as well as the historical events surrounding the tragic famine.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. 4 stars.
The classic story of events in London and Paris around the time of the French Revolution, beginning with the release of Dr. Manette, unjustly imprisoned in the Bastille for 18 years and reunited with his daughter in England. Two men, the Frenchman Charles Darnay and the Englishman Sydney Carton, fall in love with her, and the lives of all three are bound together as the revolution spins out of control and threatens their happiness. With his usual sprawling cast of colorful characters, Dickens shows us both the excesses of the French aristocracy that led to their downfall and the bloodthirsty zeal that overtook the revolutionaries and cost many innocent lives.
Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. 4 stars.
A mystery set in Venice begins when a legendary German conductor is found poisoned in his dressing room during intermission at a performance of La Traviata. He's a known homophobe and womanizer, and there are hints that he was a Nazi sympathizer decades earlier, providing police commissioner Guido Brunetti with a long list of suspects and possible motives for the killing.
Reversible Errors by Scott Turow. 5 stars.
More comfortable with corporate law, Arthur Raven is nonetheless determined to do his best when he's appointed to represent a death row inmate making what is likely to be his final appeal. Although Rommy Gandolph "confessed" to the triple murder, there are questions about the case, and it's possible that a long-running affair between the policeman who secured the confession and a prosecuting attorney influenced the original case and will also play a role in the appeals process. Things get even more complicated when someone else confesses, as Arthur reopens the investigation. It's a worthy reminder that our justice system can never be perfect, since all of those involved in a case bring along their own personal and professional baggage.
The 37th Hour by Jodi Compton. 4 stars.
A bittersweet thriller about two married police officers. When her husband disappears on the eve of an FBI training course, Sarah embarks on a search of his past to seek clues that will help her in the present. As she looks for her husband, she also gets drawn into her former police partner's desire for revenge against the man who raped and murdered her daughter. A compelling story about two people whose chance for happiness appears lost, despite their best efforts.
kgrantdesigns@hotmail.com
Paranoia by Joseph Finder. 5+++ stars.
Quite a wonderfully good read! I have never read Finder before and it was a very fun ride! It reminded me of the first time I ever read a Grisham novel, The Firm. It was a wonderfully suspenseful, nail biter-stomach knotter-forget to breathe kind of story that kept you going from beginning to end. Highly, highly recommended!!!
trishajr@aol.com
I read A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. I see that another of your readers did also and, like her, I found it to be an excellent book. However, you must be prepared for the constant sorrow and bad luck that permeates this read. If a person were considering relocation to India, this book would stop them in their tracks. I kept hoping for a little happiness --- and a little is exactly what I got. I did enjoy the ending when the characters and story parts come together, not especially in a happy way but in more of a satisfying way. 4 stars.
Perfume by Patrick Suskind is an intriguing book. I love books that take you to a place you've never even imagined before and gets you under their skin and into their thoughts. I enjoyed this excursion into another existence so much that I looked for more by this author. 4 stars.
cecilia_nino@yahoo.com
The Murder Room by P.D. James. 5 stars.
Retribution by Jillian Hoffman. 1 star.
The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. 4 stars.
LisbethRBowlin@cs.com
I just finished reading The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler. This is the story of a couple over four decades (1940s-1990s) of their lives --- the happiness, sadness and struggles. It reminds me of a combination of One True Thing by Anna Quindlen and Wifey by Judy Blume --- a story of how people always think the grass is greener on the other side. I would give this book 4 stars.
aemile@sentex.ca
I have just completed Elmore Leonard's latest, Mr. Paradise. I have to rate it 5 stars. Mr. Leonard returns to Detroit as the familiar location of his earlier crime novels. This is a must read for Elmore Leonard fans. No other writer has the insight he does into what makes the criminal element tick. Great dialogue as usual.
I highly recommend the Kurt Wallander mysteries by Henning Mankell. I recently finished One Step Behind. Another 5-star rating for this mystery.
cholette@geneseo.edu
One Hit Wonder by Lisa Jewell.
One Hit Wonder was a refreshing, delightful change from other predictable modern fiction. The main character, Ana Wills, a gangly 25-year-old living with her mother in the London countryside, suddenly finds herself in London investigating the death --- and possible suicide --- of her much older half-sister, Bee Bearhorn. When Ana was only four years old, Bee went off to London to live with her own father and to pursue stardom, which came to her briefly with a hit single in the mid-1980s. Jewell's true-to-life characters react in ways that seem real rather than contrived. She keeps the reader interested with flashbacks into Bee's past, which makes for an engrossing, absorbing read with a satisfying conclusion.
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz.
This book is a bit different from much of Koontz's other works, namely because it is written in the first person (the main character, Odd, actually begins by saying that he is writing his memoirs) and because it is a shorter, quicker read. However, Koontz's usual, witty prose is evident, and this book is mostly consistent with his usual style. I did have some minor problems with the plot --- for example, some of the supernatural natural occurrences aren't fully explained, and the conclusion didn't seem to match the level of build-up. Overall, however, I enjoyed the book, and Koontz fans like myself are not likely to be disappointed.
The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman.
This book is a nice break from Kellerman's Alex Delaware series. Although the book definitely contains some similarities with these other works, Kellerman has done a nice job of creating an interesting new cast of characters. Furthermore, the use of a new protagonist has allowed him to break away from the staleness of the recent Delaware books and to return to some of the energy and intensity of his earlier works. While not as good as his best non-Delaware novel, The Butcher's Theater, The Conspiracy Club reminds the reader of Kellerman's continued potential for writing great works of suspense.
Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman.
Hoffman is known for her use of magical realism, or a tendency to weave supernatural elements into the everyday world. She does this through use of her rich, lyrical prose and fantastical, almost mythical characters. While the latter is less evident here than in some of her other works (although an angel appears several times as a minor character), this book does showcase Hoffman's detailed and descriptive writing style. Usually I don't enjoy books with as little dialogue as this one, but to compensate, Turtle Moon offers complex characters whose interwoven histories draw one into the story.
MACrumpton@aol.com
I am reading Theodore Rex by Edmond Morris and give it 5 stars so far. There are many parallels between Roosevelt's challenges upon taking office to this year's election issues.
caliauds66@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 5 stars.
It's taken me a while to buy this one, so most of you have probably already read it. If you haven't read it yet, you must. It is a wonderful book that was well worth the wait.
JDDistef@aol.com
I am finishing A Few Short Notes on Tropical Butterflies, a collection of short stories by John Murray. My book group has won a chat with him via telephone, and we can't wait to discuss the book. I give it 4 stars. I am generally not a short story fan, but these are very interesting studies of the fragile nature of our lives and what happens when we choose to take risks --- and when we choose not to.
BREEZYWRITER@aol.com
White Doves at Morning by James Lee Burke. 3 stars.
Entertaining and an easy read. Beautiful description.
yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
I just finished reading The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler. I would give it 4 stars. In the beginning I didn't think I was going to like it, but the story moved quickly through the lives of Pauline and Michael. I put a postit note in the front of the book (library book) stating that I thought it should be required reading for all newlyweds.
GeoBarb636@aol.com
The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks. 5 stars.
I love to read a book by Nicholas Sparks when I need to get away from everyday life. All his books are great reads.
bradylee@myway.com
Mayada, Daughter of Iraq: One Woman's Survival Under Saddam Hussein by Jean Sasson. 5 stars.
Iraq has been in existence since 1921 and has been full of violence since its inception. What is happening now by blowing people up every day is nothing new. If you want to read a great true story and really know how it was under Hussein's rule, this book will educate you. One could easily compare Hussein to Hitler as far as exterminating people is concerned, plus many other extreme ways. This is a heart rending book. Read it!
lindaharriet@netzero.net
The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler is exactly that --- amateur and premature. At first Pauline and Michael seemed like the perfect couple. The time is the eve of WWII, and Pauline and Michael, swept up in the times, marry, but they're completely mismatched. Tyler has such an astute eye for character that just a look or a gesture can give meaning to a person's character. Pauline is impulsive, while Michael is careful. You would think that as they grew older and the marriage matured, so too would Michael and Pauline, but they remain amateurs. I haven't finished the book yet, but I find Anne Tyler's writing so true to life that I know the outcome will be perfectly attuned to the book. 5 stars.
MELRANMI@aol.com
I just finished reading The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman. I give it 4 1/2 stars. At first I was disappointed that this was not one of Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels but was soon enthralled in this murder mystery. Dr. Jeremy Carrier, a psychologist, is still grieving the death of his girlfriend, who was a nurse at the hospital where he practices. He is one of the main suspects and now more women are turning up dead, killed in a similar manner. The police think he is also involved in the latest murders. Dr. Carrier decides to do some investigating on his own, which makes for some very suspenseful reading.
I certainly hope Kellerman continues his Alex Delaware character books but wouldn't mind reading more books about Dr. Carrier.
I just started reading Oprah's current Book Club choice, One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This is so different from the books I usually read, but it seems to have great potential as a great read. It tells of one family's life in a small town in Latin America. I'm looking forward to reading more about life in another part of the world.
hibar14@earthlink.net
I'm reading Southern Cross by Patricia Cornwell. It's hilarious! I give it 5 stars.
Stewmun@aol.com
I am reading Bob Schiefer's This Just In. It is a winner and brings back memories of a time when we all listened to the Evening News.
JAB2JR@aol.com
Havana by Stephen Hunter. 4 stars.
Earl Swagger winds up in Cuba in the early fifties and dispenses his brand of justice to the infamous (mobsters, crooked cops and secret police) as well as the famous (Castro, Hemingway). Enjoyable!
castord@woodward.k12.ok.us
I just finished The River Between Us by Richard Peck. It's set in Civil War times and has a big Surprise ending. He's my all-time favorite author and his books are funny and poignant. 4 stars!
Also The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard. It's the story of a 13-year-old girl whose mother is killed at her job in the Twin Towers on Sept. 11th. I usually don't like sad books but this one was great! 4 stars.
bab@tennis.com
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson. 5 stars.
An interesting and entertaining book about Australia, the country, the continent, the people, and the adventures that Bill Bryson encounters during this trip. Very amusing and informative as well as hilarious. What a sense of humor and a great travelogue as well.
rojosho@hotmail.com
Her Mother's Shadow by Diane Chamberlain. 5 stars.
An intriguing novel of mothers and daughters, their secrets, their lives and their legacies. A wonderful story that portrays these women in a moving, sensitive and realistic manner. We are drawn into this book and cannot let it go. The feelings are pure and deeply felt and the characterizations are totally accurate. This is beauty and truth.
realbencann@yahoo.com
The Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond. 5 stars.
An interesting and informative study that compares man's behavior and his origins with the chimpanzee; the evolution of man and his development that has led us to this time; man's rise with the multitude of discoveries in so many areas and his fall as well due to wars, etc. A fascinating and wonderful look at our genes and capabilities.
bradylee@myway.com
The 37th Hour by Jodi Compton. 4 stars.
The writing is an easy read type with pleasant meanderings in an area I know nothing about … Minneapolis/St. Paul. The premise has to do with missing persons and the main character is a lady by the name of Detective Pribek. There is nothing heavy about this story, but a little of a love interest, a best friend, and a disappearance or two. If a novel doesn't keep my interest all the way through I quit midstream; this one "worked" for me. This is a first novel also.
prznNP@bellsouth.net
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. 4 stars.
Vintage Contemporaries (Random House)
joswood@adiis.net
The Facts of Life by Graham Joyce. 5 stars.
This is a wonderful story that takes place before and during WWII in Coventry, England. It is about Frankie Vine, a young boy who is born as the result of a one-night-stand of his fey mother, Cassie, and an American soldier. Cassie almost gives Frankie away at the beginning of the book, but at the last moment she takes him home instead. Frankie is raised by Cassie and her six sisters, who impact Frankie in different ways. There are some very vivid scenes in this book. One of them is the bombing of Coventry during the war, and another is the workings of an undertaking establishment as seen through Frankie's eyes. There is also the mystery throughout concerning "The Man Behind the Glass." The resolution of that is astonishing. I really recommend this book.
The Zero Game by Brad Meltzer. 4 stars.
This is an exciting, action-packed book by an increasingly popular author. My main criticism is that the action scenes went on much too long. A little less chasing and a little more character development would have made for a 5-star book.
The Last Juror by John Grisham. 5 stars.
I loved this book, and I'm glad that Grisham is back to the kind of book that he does best. Full of rich details, wonderful characters, and a trial scene to boot. What could be better than that from John Grisham? I hope you all get a chance to read it.
EchoDesign@aol.com
The Night Listener by Armistead Maupin ended way too soon. Maupin has a way of making attachments to each character that are not easy to disconnect. Consequently, by the end of the book, the reader's imagination continues to meander, not wanting the new friends to go away, with the book, to a shelf where it will collect dust. This was a 5-star book.
ProudJan@aol.com
The Tattooed Girl by Joyce Carol Oates. 4 stars.
This is a fascinating book about inner turmoils of vastly different individuals who come to inner terms that are surprising and fulfilling to the reader. This book reminds me of American Pastoral by Philip Roth in some ways. The turbulent mind of the writer in the story is one not to be forgotten, nor is the mind of the tattooed girl one that can be forgotten.
Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros. 3 stars.
This book is not as compelling as I expected it to be. It is a sweet story of childhood reminiscences told from a child's point of view. Not knowing Spanish feels like it puts one at a disadvantage. I have not finished it yet, but hope that as it progresses I will enjoy it more.
SFitch@aol.com
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. 4 stars.
Debby236@aol.com
I just finished Guilty Pleasures by Laura Lee Guhrke. I would give it 4 stars. It was a wonderful romance. Before that I read Tinker by Wen Spencer. I would give that book 5 stars. It was a delightfully written Sci Fi/Fantasy.
jaapstienstra@hotmail.com
I just finished reading Ann Marie MacDonald's The Way the Crow Flies. What a wonderful book. It's a page-turner and you get a fascinating picture of life in the sixties. 5 stars!!!!!
Waterpam1@aol.com
I am currently reading Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz and would rate it 3 1/2 stars. It is interesting, but the story moves very slowly and I keep falling asleep!! Also, Koontz writes in an entirely new style that I don't like too much --- first person --- and it's just all around odd!
I just finished The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler and found it quite disappointing. I would rate it 2 stars. It just went on and on. Her Baltimore is getting tiring.
Now for a good read, try Cold Blooded by Lisa Jackson, another serial killer novel, but a very good one set in the steamy south on the Mississippi River. It reads fast and holds your interest, and I would give it 4 stars.
Another wonderful novel is Back Story, part of Robert Parker's Spenser series. This was a really good one after a few mediocre ones. 5 stars for this one.
And finally, another 5-star book is an interesting autobiography called My Life by the songwriter and singer Melissa Etheridge. She talks about her need to make music and her need to be true to herself and come out.
Patiencegarrett@aol.com
The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland. 5 stars.
First in a trilogy based upon Josephine Bonaparte. A fast-moving historical fiction novel written in diary format. I cannot wait to start Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, which is the second title.
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. 5 stars.
A wonderfully suspenseful mystery! I learned a lot about the Amish culture while reading this. A real page-turner!
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.
I am in the middle of reading this book, and I love it!
swl44th@hotmail.com
I am currently reading Blacklist by Sara Paretsky. It is a good read, especially because I am back with old friends in a tale of mystery, suspense and humor.
Nancy10107@aol.com
I just finished The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier. It was a wonderful book. Two stories going --- both in France and Switzerland. The first story takes place many centuries ago and involves Isabelle and her family. I found it a little difficult to get into the story at first, but once I did I loved it. Isabella marries into the Tournier family and eventually flees to Switzerland because of religious persecution. The second story involves Ella (Isabella) and her husband Rick, who move to France from the U.S. While Rick is working, Ella tries to improve her French and in the process researches her family history (the Tourniers). The two stories parallel each other and are fascinating. I would recommend it highly.
dmilburn@alltel.net
No Angel by Penny Vincenzi. 5 BIG stars.
Ms. Vincenzi has to be my new very favorite author. Again she has written such a saga, with plenty of action and surprises but always so believable. From reading her web site, I learned that No Angel has two sequels. These two books aren't published in the U.S. yet but I ordered the next one, Something Dangerous, from London. As I said about Old Sins, if you're a Rosamunde Pilcher fan, here is the author for you. The characters are so real that you truly get into their lives and share their triumphs and tragedies.
hmcobert@att.net
Don't miss The Eye of the Abyss by Marshall Browne. It takes place in pre-war Germany (that's World War II) and is both thoughtful and a true thriller. It concerns a banker slowly drawn into the Nazi web, but resists in his quiet way. My husband and I give it 5 stars!
MJesiJames@aol.com
Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy. Definitely 5 stars.
Goodnight, Irene by Jan Burke. 5 stars.
North of Montana by April Smith. 4 stars.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. 5 stars.
This may sound crazy but I also read junior fiction. I think it helps keep me in touch with my "inner child." So, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. Definitely 5 stars.
tunaross@nc.rr.com
Now May You Weep by Deborah Crombie. 4 stars.
The continuing saga of Scotland Yard detectives Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid. It features insights into the complex lives of two people balancing family and work choices. This time, however, the plot takes a more personal twist as it involves their dear friend Hazel Cavendish and her dark (previously unknown) past. It investigates crime as well as the dynamics of friendship and love. A good read.
lslott@optonline.net
The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty is a coming of age story set in a small town in Kansas. Beginning when she is ten years old until she graduates high school, we follow the story of Evelyn Bucknow through many of life's pitfalls. Evelyn lives on the very edge of poverty being raised by her young and single mother Tina. Births, deaths, unrequited love and the teachers who strive to help Evelyn achieve something better impact Evelyn's life. Great characters, believable dialogue and situations. This book reminds me of one of my favorite reads, I Capture the Castle.
Fbower444@aol.com
I just started The Set-Up by Paul Erdman. Erdman is a financial writer and international financier. He uses these experiences in the plot for his novels. I read two of his books, Zero Coupon and The Swiss Account, and found them very interesting and informative.
In The Set-Up the outgoing head of the Federal Reserve, Charles Black, is arrested in Switzerland for fraud involving a Swiss bank account and derivatives trading. Black knows he is innocent but he must find out who set him up for the fall.
I just started the book and cannot rate it yet, but based on Erdman's previous stories I expect a masterful tale of intrigue involving high finance.
Newcrain@aol.com
I just finished The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe. It follows the lives of women in their club, at their meetings and elsewhere. Each going through transitions. 4 stars.
I also read The Dynamite Road by Andrew Klavan. Action-packed with a cool hero. 4 stars.
I also read Street Dreams by Faye Kellerman. It made me go back and buy her last three in the series about the detective and his Jewish wife. 5 stars.
lowthera@swbell.net
I just finished The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I give it 2 stars. In my opinion, it was overrated and predictable. I won't read another book by this author.
I also read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. I give it 5 enthusiastic stars. It's told from the viewpoint of a teenage boy with autism. Everyone should read it. My son has a condition with autistic tendencies, and this book helps you to understand what they're feeling and thinking.
My bookclub just finished Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Another 5 stars. This a classic everyone should read about what could happen if our society had no rules.
shazam333@earthlink.net
I am currently reading The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman. Not as fast paced as I would like, but still pretty good. I will probably buy more books by this author.
lindaharriet@netzero.net
I'm reading Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. Not only am I learning about novels I've already read, I'm also learning about living under a totalitarian regime in Iran, where they confiscate your personal freedom. The book is written with warmth and keen observation. Reading Lolita in Tehran relates personal and intellectual openings of a private literature class Azar Nafisi started after she left her last teaching assignment for not wearing the veil. 5 stars.
zippety4@yahoo.com
Time's Eye by Arthur C. Clarke.
The book starts off fine and stays very intense for most of the story. The story line is that the Earth has suddenly been diced and sliced into a multitude of sections from various times and reassembled like a giant hisorical jigsaw puzzle, but with strange floating orbs in the sky.You have modern U.N. soldiers meeting the British army of the Raj, with various historical characters thrown in.
The read is intense but seems to poop out in the last 10 pages. This is supposed to be a trilogy, but the ending of the book is disappointing.
LoneyThree@aol.com
I am reading The Season of Lillian Dawes by Katherine Mosby. I have just started the book, so I can't say how I feel about it with much certainty. However, it has definitely grabbed my attention from the start. I recently finished a book by Edie Claire called Long Time Coming. This was sort of a romance/mystery wrapped into one, and it was a terrific book. I couldn't put it down and read much later into the evening than I should have just to find out the ending!
jalocke@comcast.net
To the Heart of the Nile: Lady Florence Baker and the Exploration of Central Africa by Pat Shipman. 5 stars
This avid reader is exposed for the first time to a book written by Professor Pat Shipman. It has been a pleasure to read her narrative form of biography, knowing that exchanges in conversations, emotions and thoughts between the subjects in the biography are dependent on imaging and imagination in hypothetical terms. I tackled To the Heart of the Nile not knowing what to expect and thought that I might be in for a "dry" read of history. I knew naught of the heroine, Florence Baker, but pleasurably found a brave human being from another century in the framework of the passages of this tome.
The author has brought nonfiction and fiction together in narrative style, relating Florence and Sam Baker's adventures into initially unknown territories. Nonfiction derived from research of records, journals, and generosity of Baker descendants in sharing of information. Fiction through interpretations of research as the author admits: "… I have attributed thoughts and words to Florence and the people in her life. For those who believe the best biographies contain nothing but documented facts, I beg to disagree."
This reader has found the author's admission of the latter stated eloquently and honestly, as assumptions and imagination remain endemic to many nonfiction writings.
It became obvious to this reader that Professor Shipman delicately and resourcefully researched Florence and Sam Baker, bringing them to life through the use of historical facts intermingled with conjecture in the exchanges of a woman rescued from the sale of slaves on the auction block, a woman who is educated at an early age in life, passed into adulthood quickly, and taken into the world of travel and adventure.
A delightful saga in narrative form of a very young woman's bravery, courage and stamina to visit and explore little-known territories, not just once, but returning a second time with obstacles and impediments no lighter than the first.
I recommend To the Heart of the Nile to any reader, regardless of her/his taste for nonfiction/fiction historical writings. The book is meticulously crafted LIKE FINE CHOCOLATE and researched, creating an educational, informative and enjoyable read.
lringley@tampabay.rr.com
I just finished reading Margaret Truman's The President's House. In my opinion it rates 5 stars. If you liked her book about the First Ladies, you will like this one.
Myrnapen@aol.com
I'm well into The Last Girls by Lee Smith. It's the story of four women reuniting for a cruise down the Mississippi in commemoration of a raft trip 12 of them made in 1965 while in college. There are lots of flashbacks into each of the women's lives since they were in school together, and even before that. Their ultimate goal is to scatter the ashes of one of their friends who has since died over the Mississippi. Perfect book for my age group (early 50's), who are starting to look back at our lives.
JFriday77@aol.com
I just finished Janet Dailey's Shifting Calder Wind and I give it 4 stars. This is the third in a series. I also read Calder Pride and Green Calder Grass. The series is actually a return to a family saga that Janet began several years ago. The theme is ranching in Montana and a powerful family. I kept the book close so that I could read it whenever I had a minute.
I recently read Holes by Louis Sachar. I give it 5 stars. It is definitely a book for young readers but it is excellent. The characters are vivid and the action is fast.
I plan to start The Last Juror by John Grisham tonight. I expect it to be a four-star book. The cover fly really grabs attention.
Catsownme4@aol.com
I just finished Trapped by Greg Iles. I found the tale of kidnapping and revenge to be predictable. There are some unexpected twists and turns but I think the book would make a better movie than book. It was made into a movie with Kevin Bacon, but I did not see that.
rleach3250@yahoo.com
I am reading the Three Sisters Island Trilogy by Nora Roberts. I have finished the first two books, Dance Upon the Air and Heaven and Earth, and now I am reading the third and last book called Face the Fire. All three books share three strong female characters who all have "magical" powers of witchcraft (Don't worry, they only use them to do good.) I am enjoying the books immensely!
Broadway1B@aol.com
I just started: The Face by Dean Koontz, and as usual, just as I was beginning to think this book wasn't up to par... IT GRABBED ME AND HELD ME IN SUSPENSE, AS HIS BOOKS ALWAYS DO! I could barely stand to put the book down long enough to go to work today and am looking forward to reading more tommorrow! Koontz makes me feel like I am right there inside the mind of this seriously disturbed ex-cop. I can relate to him and his apparently confused situation. Everyone should be able to find something to relate to and be drawn in by The Face. 5 stars at this point.
Quetzi@aol.com
The Annunciation of Francesca Dunn by Janis Hallowell. 5 stars.
This is about a girl, Francesca, who is a modern day Virgin. She volunteers her time feeding the homeless. Her self-appointed caretaker is Chester. He is a well-read professor who's now a homeless person. Chester claims to be able to smell the very essence of human nature on people. This book is full of quirky characters who you will be drawn to. I couldn't put it down until I finished it!
Whispers by Lisa Jackson. 5 stars.
This is a suspense romance book that I found to be a page-turner. I was up all hours of the night trying to figure out who dunnit!! I loved this book because I couldn't guess who the killer was, all the way up to the end. It's a fast and exciting read!
Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson. 5 stars.
This book had so many twists and turns that it kept me glued to the plot until the very last page!! The results were shocking, to say the least! I'm looking forward to reading many more books by this author.
Backstage Murder by Shelley Freydont. 5 stars.
This was a great read if you love the stage and dancing, along with a good mystery to boot!! I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more about these characters. It seems that everyone in this book had a motive for killing --- so it's definitely a page-turner!
Well, that's it for now. Those are just a few books that I've been reading. If I mentioned all of them, this page would go on and on!
GandmaRI@aol.com
This week I have a good start on The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver. In usual Deaver style, he starts out grabbing your attention and doesn't let go. So far I'd rate this book 5 stars.
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
Here is a very unusual book: Being Dead by Jim Crace. I hardly know how to rate it using the star method as it defies description: let's say 3 stars. Two older, married zoologists are dead on a beach, discovered at first by flies and other creatures.
Bloodline by Gerry Boyle. 2 stars.
This story of a young girl's pregnancy, the subsequent illegal adoption of her baby, and her murder is very slow. The protagonist is a reporter doing a freelance assignment. This is the second in a series.
I'm currently reading The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman.
stephejl@mail.stclair.k12.il.us
Atonement by Ian McEwan. 4 1/2 stars.
Incredibly poetic and detailed --- hard to get through in the beginning, but worth it if you're patient. You will definitely want to discuss this with someone after reading it. Was the entire event a figment of Briony's vivid imagination, did Robbie and Cecilia reunite or come to their demise during the war? This is one of those rare tales where you create your own satisfying ending.
I rate The Red Tent by Anita Diamant a reluctant 4 stars for the author's creative storytelling based on Biblical tales. It's very difficult to come to terms with the lewd sexual references in the first section (esp. the beastiality), and the inherent evilness of Dinah's brothers (yes, these are the same brothers who sold Joseph into slavery). However, every female reader can relate to the women's strength of character and their celebration of womanhood. This book resonates with lessons in friendship, jealousy, diversity, change, forgiveness/acceptance and survival.
Shastapower@aol.com
I just finished Tracy Chevalier's The Lady and the Unicorn. I really enjoyed this book and am amazed that she can take an actual piece of art and write a whole story about it. I would rate this book 4 stars.
I am currently reading One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus. It is a historical fiction book that is definitely hard to put down. I would give this book 4 stars also.
hibar14@earthlink.net
I'm reading The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. It's a wonderful story about a love of a lifetime. I definitely give it 5 stars.
storm8810@yahoo.com
I took advantage of the stormy weather here on the Jersey shore last week to read these two books:
The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson. 4 stars!!
This is another book based on Patterson's character Alex Cross. I really enjoy the Alex Cross novels due to their fast pace and excitement.
Dirty Work by Stuart Woods. 4 stars!!
Stone Barrington is at it again. He starts out trying to find a competent photographer for a simple job but, of course, it's never THAT simple!! This is a great story with a lot of twists and turns.
Halobear1@aol.com
I just finished The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard. Featured on Bookreporter, this novel was cathartic for me. I lost my cousin in the Sept. 11th tragedies and found the emotions that Wendy was feeling parallel to my own. This book is a wonderful book for anyone who lost a loved one on September 11th or for anyone who has any emotions at all. 5 stars.
I am currently reading Girls in Trouble, another book featured on Bookreporter. I am enjoying reading about how Sara, George and Eva find their way around the subject of open adoption. 4 stars so far.
VABryden@aol.com
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. 5 stars.
This was one I just had to sit down for the day and read until done --- a coming-of-age book with wonderful characters and a vivid background.
Trojan Odyssey by Clive Cussler. 4 stars.
As a long-time Dirk Pitt fan it is great fun that now the next generation is moving in and taking over the adventures, giving a new role for a more senior Dirk.
The Sight of the Stars by Belva Plain. 3 stars.
A very good story, but in the latter part of the book the time leaps in the same chapter sometimes had me feeling cheated, like I wanted to know more of the details of how they got there. Still a good ending.
bradylee@myway.com
Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman. 5 stars.
The problem with this book is that I just couldn't put it down and spent more time reading while neglecting other tasks. This story is multi-layered with tension throughout and is about finding a serial killer and then his eventual trial. All of the answers are not revealed until the last 20 pages of this 420-page novel. If you like a roller coaster read, come aboard.
lorene.barnes@redstone.army.mil
I just finished The Snowman's Children by Glen Hirshberg. I must admit the book kept me reading but it was so broken up with flashbacks that at times it was hard to follow. I also was not happy with the ending. 3 stars.
Bjglu@aol.com
An American Requiem by James Carroll. 4 stars.
Wonderful nonfiction, National Book Award winner about father-son relationships, politics, Vietnam, the Catholic Church and so much more.
In Pharaoh's Army by Tobias Wolff. 3 1/2 stars.
Wolff is such a good writer and doesn't disappoint. A memoir of his time in Vietnam --- it's intelligent, well-written, wry and lucid.
Lgluhani@aol.com
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. 4 stars.
Hard to read knowing the author's end. But it NEEDS to be read.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 3 stars.
I was underwhelmed. Clever concept, though.
askinsjp@earthlink.net
I'm reading the third in Jo-Ann Mapson's Bad Girl Creek novels, Goodbye, Earl. It's a good book and it's like meeting up with old friends to find out what they've been up to. The Bad Girl books make you think about friends and they make you cry and laugh.
PFLucas@aol.com
Old School by Tobias Wolff. 5 stars.
You would be very surprised to find out that this is the author's first novel. The narrator of the story, a young adolescent, tells about trying to fit in as an outsider (Seattle area) in a New England prep school. For those who enjoy literature and famous authors, you will enjoy reading about these boys and their discoveries with literature and writing. The students compete for the pleasure of spending an afternoon with a famous author/poet. The first famous guest to come to the school is none other than Robert Frost, in and around the time of the Kennedy inauguration. The next special guest is Ayn Rand. I recommended this book to a friend and former English teacher and was surprised to find out that she had already read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it.
tmzemke@comcast.net
Mr. Timothy by Louis Bayard. 4 stars.
Tim Cratchett, all grown up and living in a London brothel. Who knew? The author, Louis Bayard, has managed to imagine Tiny Tim at the age of 23, alone after the death of his parents and still connected to Uncle Scrooge, who by the way, is still a reformed grouch. This is a book that makes one wonder why it wasn't written before. It's not the kind of book that Dickens would have written, but that's the beauty of it --- it's an original. Go read it and recommend it to your friends.
pureevil25@yahoo.com
I just finished reading Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs! I give it 5 stars! It has got to be the funniest book I've ever read!! But it was still disturbing enough to give me nightmares! I can't wait to read the sequel!
bradylee@myway.com
The Siren's Dance: My Marriage to a Borderline: A Case Study by Anthony Walker, M.D. 4 stars.
Ever heard of a Borderline Personality Disorder? You will know a lot about it if you read this book. Dr. Walker married one, and this is his story of how he met her and what transpires day to day. This is really a memoir and holds your interest throughout in the 170 pages. This experience touched him so deeply that he is now a psychiatrist and specializes in working with Borderlines. A good read indeed.
wimer52@infonline.net
The Dogs of Babel by Caroline Parkhurst. 2 1/2 stars.
It's finely written but the plot isn't very believable. A man tries to teach his dog to talk in order to understand why his wife died. I would not recommend it.
Dana_Cherrier@commerce.state.il.us
Mortal Allies by Brian Haig. 5 stars.
Secret Sanction by Brian Haig. 5 stars.
Both of these are excellent. Brian Haig is currently my favorite author. I would recommend his books to anyone. If you like The General's Daughter by Nelson DeMille I would definitely check these books out. I have read all four of his books and am now rereading them all. I am also currently reading Stephen White's new book, Blinded. I am enjoying it very much as I always enjoy his books. So far I would give it 4 stars.
villagecrone36@hotmail.com
I just finished The Lady and the Unicorn. I would give it 3 stars. The book ended much better than it started.
yodasmommy@woh.rr.com
The Breathtaker by Alice Blanchard. 4 stars.
Very easy to read and the bad guy was a surprise.
The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III. 5 stars.
I'd really love a sequel to know more about the lives of Kathy and Lester.
rileyslemming@hotmail.com
This is what I've been reading lately:
The Princess Bride by William Goldman. 5 stars.
What a charming and witty book! I have seen the movie a dozen times as it is my husband's favorite but never considered reading the book until recently. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Goldman's style and his characters. He tells a good fairy tale! If you are looking for something light and satirical, with a mixture of romance and adventure, this is the book to read!
Jack and Jill by James Patterson. 4 stars.
A follower of Alex Cross and James Patterson, this book did not disappoint. Mr. Patterson had me hanging on for dear life until the very end. This particular book is about a couple who have the perfect murder set up until they meet their match in Alex Cross, and a child killer who preys on young children. James Patterson does it again in creating a spine tingling thriller.
Resurrection Row by Anne Perry. 4 stars.
A Thomas Pitt and Charlotte Pitt mystery set in Victorian England. Ms. Perry weaves yet another good mystery among the elite society, but unlike the previous books in the series, this one dives as well into the less popular neighborhoods. This particular book is full of political conspiracy, murder, and grave robbing. This is a great book to curl up with on a rainy day.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. 4 stars.
A surprisingly light story set during the Cultural Revolution in China in the early 1970s. Two teen boys are sent to a small mountain village for re-education. They encounter love, loyalty, the taste of forbidden books, and become great storytellers. What I found most interesting about this tale was that while the boys had gone to the village to be re-educated themselves, it appeared that they were the ones who helped "educate" the villagers, bringing the influences of the movies and books that they shared through play acting. This book also touched upon the power of the written word and how it can change lives, no matter how forbidden those words or ideas may be.
Cover Her Face by P.D. James. 4 stars.
This was my first experience with P.D. James, although I have a collection of her books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. I thought this particular mystery was very entertaining and interesting. A nice departure from Anne Perry's Victorian world, P.D. James's book is a bit more modern in setting. A maid is murdered in the home of a well-respected family. An investigation ensues that has everyone's secrets coming out of the woodwork, whether they want it to or not. An excellent mystery!
maestraw@msn.com
I have been home with the flu this week, and have gotten a lot of reading in. The following are my February books.
The Way the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald. 4 stars.
A coming-of-age book during the 50s and 60s. The subject matter is very intense, and the writing is powerful.
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson. 4 stars.
This book is written totally as letters and e-mails from Olivia Hunt to those around her, as her sister Maddie is treated for leukemia. There is humor, poignancy, laughter, and tears.
Girls in Trouble by Caroline Leavitt. 2 stars.
This was not really worth reading. It spent too much time in the past, zipped through the middle years, and did not end well --- although the loose ends were tied up.
The House of Secrets by Lowell Cauffiel. 3 1/2 stars.
A true-crime story. It is horrific and filled with a lot of detail. I was captivated and a little sickened by what I was reading, but I was compelled to complete it.
The Awakening by Donna Boyd. 3 1/2 stars.
A short ghost story. I found it easy to read, and very intriguing.
The Last Juror by John Grisham. 4 1/2 stars.
Welcome back John Grisham!! Grisham has returned to his Mississippi roots and his familiar style of writing. The book is a fast read, but not as predictable as some of his previous books. I truly enjoyed this one and hope he continues to write the good ones.
alacombe@belfastlibrary.org
I am reading Hadassah: One Night With the King by Tommy Tenney. So far, I'd give it 5 stars. It's a story based on Queen Esther of Persia, and the premise of the story is very interesting. Also, 5 stars go to The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo!!!!
megalon22@yahoo.com
I'm currently reading Mortal Prey by John Sanford. Sanford's character Lucas Davenport meets up with an old nemesis that nearly killed him during their last encounter. I'm not really sure if I'm going to like this one. I am having a hard time getting into the story. Maybe the next few chapters will prove interesting. Too soon for any rating.
The last book I read was All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell. Cornwell's character, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, becomes involved in the serial murders of couples and helps to track down the killer. This is the first of her books that I read and I really enjoyed it. I thought the ending fell kinda flat, though, with very little explanation about what drove the killer. 4 1/2 stars.
tincuphunter@msn.com
I just discovered John Katzenbach. His book The Analyst is one of the best thrillers I have ever read. There are so many twists and turns I defy you to figure it out. He takes you to the last page and then you don't want it to end. 5 stars.
tmzemke@comcast.net
I'm just finishing (devouring) the book Mr. Timothy by Louis Bayard. What a treasure. The character "Little Tim" from Dickens' The Christmas Carol is now all grown up and living alone. This novel is a mixture of Victorian thriller, moral choices and what really makes a family. Timothy befriends Philomela, an young Italian orphan who has a weird "branding" on her and attempts to come to her aid, wanted or not. It turns out that young girls are abducted by semi-royalty and sold for sordid purposes, of which I won't discuss, but that are surprising. Read it ... now. 4 stars.
© Copyright 1996-2009, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
