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Sara
Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn
Rating: 3 Stars
Not a bad book, but not a great one either. It was somewhat short on plot and resolutions, (although heavy on characters and world building), but I will nonetheless be reading the sequel.
Twila Forsyth (knighthawk@em.ca)
The Broker by John Grisham
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent! This page turner is suspenseful, and has a dash of romance! It was hard to put down!
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
The Taking by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
This was an interesting read that was much like another version of WAR OF THE WORLDS. Molly and Neil Sloan awaken to a mysterious rain. It is unlike normal rain, in that it is luminous, and has a different odor and feel to it. Soon, it is ushering in other-worldly creatures, hideous things that kill without mercy. Molly and Neil seem to be protected from this invasion, and they are given a mission to find the children of their town, who are losing their families but are being untouched themselves.
P. Corwin (PFLucas@aol.com)
Sick of Shadows by Marion Chesney
Rating: 4 Stars
An Edwardian Murder Mystery Series by the author of the Agatha Raisin Mysteries (M.C. Beaton). This series is light and entertaining with detail to the time period.
Ava
Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs
Rating: 4 Stars
This author, unlike some others, gets better with each book. I found this latest one very hard to put down. The mystery builds nicely, all the characters are interesting, and the Charleston, SC area setting is intriguing.
Judy O.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a delightful story. Christopher Boone is autistic, but he leads a good life with his father and pet rat, Toby. He has been told that his mother is dead.
Christopher decides to become a detective and try to solve the mystery of who killed the neighbor's dog with a garden fork. Along the way, he discovers other secrets and decides to go out on an adventure, which takes him to London. This tale is told by the 15-year-old autistic boy, and the author does a great job of getting into his mind and heart.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
A Matter of Honor by Eugene Izzi
Rating: 4 Stars
This is about two very savvy police offficers --- one male and black, the other female and white. Their partnership is the catalyst that breaks the case wide open when all the key bad guys fall on hard times, or even death.
Bonnie
Errors and Omissions by Paul Goldstein
Rating: 4 Stars
An entertaining, unique take on the mystery genre in that the main character is an attorney specializing in intellectual property. It's set in Hollywood with overtones of the blacklisting of the 40s and 50s. A fun, fast read.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Rating: 4 Stars
A true story mapping the fundamentalist Mormon movement that is no longer practiced by the main church, but still a menace to women and girls caught up in this world.
janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is set in the near future. If you are concerned about cloning, NEVER LET ME GO is a good read.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
Wolf Boy by Evan Kuhlman
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a sad story of a dysfunctional family trying to cope with the death of a child.
Savannah
The Falcon, The Fallon & The Theory of Everything by Grace
Rating: 5 Stars
My heart felt this novel in a way I didn't expect. The truth of the hidden story of the Bible was a great mystery to undertake, and Grace accomplished this with a wonderful sense of 'imagine that' thinking. I am now on my own hunt to 'find my eleven'.
Nancy (nancy154@centurytel.net)
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
Rating: 4 Stars
A wonderful story about a young girl who develops leprosy in Hawaii. She is taken away from her family and raised in the leper colony. The book really gives you a lot to think about --- the way the public health system worked in the early 1900s, what the Hawaiian people felt about people with leprosy (Hanson's Disease). The character development could have been a little better, but I would very much recommend this book.
Venera Martinisi
Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke
Rating: 5 Stars
I totally enjoy Ms. Fluke's series, but, this book is the best so far! From the very first page, you feel at home with old friends. Great book, I think!
Michelle Schmitt
The Fulfillment by LaVyrle Spencer
Rating: 5 Stars
After seven years of a childless marriage, a man asks his brother what he could not ask anyone else. An act of passion turns into an act of desire, as the wife gains a new understanding of what it is to love.
Bill (besmith@paulbunyan.net)
The Great War and Modern Memory by Paul Fussell
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this informative book a lot.
LaDonna Carrington (ladonnac@aol.com)
A Brief Lunacy by Cynthia Thayer
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this book very much. It was full of suspense and was very unusual.
Gayle Andrea
A Ship's Tale by N. Jay Young
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a fun adventure. It kept me laughing and turning pages as the mystery unfolds and the characters come alive. I can't wait until Mr. Young's next book. I love the way he puts a story together!!
Jodi
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
Very good book.
Carol
Invisible Girl by Tess Hudson
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the best books I have ever read. A baby brought back from Vietnam is lost and the mother is heartbroken. There are secrets and lies, but there is also a lot of truth in this book. It is sad, but it's also a beautiful love story. I recommend it highly to everyone no matter what kind of books they like to read.
T.H.
Princesses: The Six Daughters of King George III by F. Fraser
Rating: 4 Stars
It makes you happy to be alive now in a democracy! Even with all of our troubles, these women didn't have the choices we have today.
Laura of Ohio
Faithless by Karin Slaughter
Rating: 4 Stars
Another excellent crime thriller from this fantastic author. I have read all of her books and she never ceases to thrill me with her realistic characters and detailed plots. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Janet Stewart (jlcstewart@earthlink.net)
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of by Gregory Maguire
Rating: 5 Stars
The most unusual retelling of a fairy tale that I have ever seen. It's not an easy read, but it's extremely imaginative and rewarding. Learn about the politics of Oz.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a great book! The author was actually told this story by someone from her church. I can not imagine what it would be like to have this happen in my family. Edwards did a wonderful job developing the characters. Some of them made me so mad at times that I wanted to throw the book across the room. Other parts of the book brought me to tears.
Briefly, the story is about a decision made by a father/doctor in the 60s to give one of his newborn twins (his daughter, Phoebe) to his nurse to take her to a home for the mentally challenged, without his wife's knowledge. He tells her Phoebe dies. However, the nurse ends up keeping the daughter, and so the story begins. The impact of the decision on the other twin (Paul), the mother and the father is heart wrenching. Edwards is a great storyteller and I am looking forward to THE DREAM MASTER, which she is currently writing now.
Sonia (sonia.chopra@att.net)
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 5 Stars
I am so enthralled by the love the lady had to raise the child as her own, and I am amazed at how one secret affects the lives of so many people. It's a moving book, full of vivid images and strong emotions. The characters are very alive.
Curtis
Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood by Koren Zailckas
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the best book I've read so far this year. Zailckas writes with style and finesse that is sweetly poetic.
I can't help but think how interesting it would have been to have known her during those tumultuous college years. But good for her that she's kicked the habit and wriiten a fabulous memior!
Patricia Schrot
Beach Music by Pat Conroy
Rating: 5 Stars
This book has been sitting on my shelf for a long time, and I have no idea why I waited so long to read it. What a wonderful sweeping novel with a complex cast of characters, along with descriptions of their lives and families. BEACH MUSIC is a very well-written book and was very hard to put down.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Conspiracy in Death by JD Robb
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first novel by J. D. Robb that I've read. I do not like futuristic fiction, but this was not bad. She catches you, and then you must finish the book. It provides an interesting perspective about the dregs of society and the gifted surgeons.
Jane (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com)
Proof Positive by Phillip Margolin
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is very mesmerizing and engrossing. Phillip Margolin definitely knows how to pack his book with thrills. I would highly recommend this author.
Kay Keller
The King of Lies by John Hart
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is a winner!! It's hard to believe that this book is John Hart's debut novel --- a page turner if there ever was one...
Crystal F.
To the Edge by Cindy Gerard
Rating: 4 Stars
This intro book to the Bodyguard series is great romantic suspense. It took me a little while to warm to the characters, but by the end, I was loving them and looking forward to learning more about the other people mentioned in this book.
Helene Simpson
At Risk by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 5 Stars
AT RISK is one of Cornwell's best books. I can't wait for her next one to come out.
Sandra F.
The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke
Rating: 5 Stars
All of James Lee Burke's books are the best. This book is one of his early New Orleans books and should not be missed.
Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com)
Princess of Fire by Shannon Drake
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a historical romance. It started off slowly, but I'm now about 1/3 of the way through the book and it has gotten better.
Lee T.
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
Rating: 4 Stars
Very well done. The story was fast paced and entertaining. Although it was not as gripping as THE DA VINCI CODE, it was still a very good read.
Barbara G (geobarb@sccoast.net)
Sleeping with Fear by Kay Hooper
Rating: 5 Stars
Another really good one by this author. I love her Fear books.
Barb Broberg (barbbroberg@ hotmail.com)
At Risk by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 1 Stars
This may be the most ridiculous book I have ever read. Cornwell has been gettting worse and worse, and I won't even bother with any future books she writes.
Barb Broberg (barbbroberg@hotmail.com)
Vanishing Acts by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
Great book, typical Gerritsen. I like her characters, and even though some of the scenes are unreal, her books are fun to read. Actually, I got the impression that there was as much truth as fiction to this book.
Carol H.
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
A beautifully written love story, intertwined with the circus and the Great Depression.
Bonnie
Fire Sale by Sara Paretsky
Rating: 4 Stars
Another in a long line of terrific mysteries by the author.
T.J
The Last Spymaster by Gayle Lynds
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the bet espionage books I have read lately. If you're looking for an action packed page turner, this is it.
Crystal F.
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 4 Stars
I tried to read this right after it came out and couldn't get into it. Now I have the CDs from the library and I am loving it. I still have a little bit to go, but this is a captivating book. It is read very well on the cd and I am enjoying every minute spent in my car at this time. The characters seem very real and even though the subject matter is tough, it comes across like all other Jodi Picoult novels --- real and riveting.
Karen
Snow by Orhan Pamuk
Rating: 1 Stars
I really don't like this book and probably wouldn't finish it if I wasn't reading it for my book club. It's really slow and too political for my taste. At this point, I don't care what happens to the characters and just continue to plow though it.
Judy
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
I think this is the best Stephanie Plum book yet. At times it was laugh-out-loud funny, and other times, it was suspenseful. Be sure to get a load of Grandma Mazur and Lula in their rock band costumes. That was worth the price of the whole book!
Lisa J.Y.
PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful story. It's heart wrenching and heart warming with a terrific blend of humor mixed in.
Lisa J.Y.
Turning Angel by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
The latest thriller by Greg Iles is a page turner with great plot twists.
Sharon
My Father's Keeper by Kip Vander Hyde
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a fabulous historical novel set on the island of Guadalcanal during World War II. It is an incredibly entertaining read --- at times humorous, at times poignant, always thought provoking, and riveting from beginning to end. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. It is by far the best book I have read in the last year.
Linda Pinto
The Assassins Gallery by David L. Robbins
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a mystery/suspense novel that combines the idea of an Iranian assassin schooled in traditional skills of killing with the idea that FDR was poisoned by the female assassin rather than dying of a heart attack.
The novel itself was fast paced and kept the reader's interest throughout.
Barbara in Jackson
Night by Elie Wiesel
Rating: 4 Stars
Translated by the author's wife, this book reads somewhat like a very personal journal. Its facts are horrfic, but his words are moving.
Howard Itkin
Beach House by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge
Rating: 5 Stars
The ending is absolutely fantasitc, not what you would expect.
MarilynS
Sinfully Sexy by Linda Francis Lee
Rating: 5 Stars
This is part of Linda's Sexy series and another good beach read.
Lori D. Goldstein
Digging To America by Anne Tyler
Rating: 3 Stars
An offbeat, yet interesting story of cross-culture adoption, with a bit of romance thrown in.
Lori D. Goldstein
Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 5 Stars
Simply written and one of the best down-to-earth plots I've come across in awhile. The characters feel as if they're part of your family.
The ending was definitely one you wouldn't have expected.
Noreen Brown
Straight into Darkness by Faye Kellerman
Rating: 4 Stars
In addition to presenting Munich in 1929, it is also a mystery that's picked up in a future Kellerman book.
Marilyn Shoemaker
3 Brides for 3 Bad Boys by Lucy Monroe
Rating: 5 Stars
Lucy Monroe has charmed me again with these three wonderful stories about these three sexy, hot, and sensitive brothers. She weaves wonderful romantic tales that bring these incredible men to life. The women in their lives are sensitive to their needs and their love for these men goes "soul" deep.
I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, especially for Lucy Monroe fans. Again, Lucy has produced a real winner!
Marilyn Shoemaker
Notorious by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Rating: 5 Stars
Again, Vicki Lewis Thompson has penned a hot, sassy and fun love story with NOTORIOUS. This book reminded me of the saying, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." That's what most of the book is about.
After ten years, the fates decide that Keeley and Noah will again meet. Noah is in Vegas to be in his friend's wedding, and Keely is on assignment to write an article for her magazine, Allure.
Noah walks by a strip club and, immediately, his old "crush," Keeley comes to mind --- the hometown's Bad Girl. As fate would have it, they bump into each other and Noah gets the impression she is going into the strip club to apply for a job. Since her father and soon to be sister-in-law work for him and the sparks are still there, Noah feels that he must protect her and invites her to stay with him for the weekend in hopes that he can counsel her. Well, Keely has other ideas. Why? Noah rejected her 10 years ago and so did her family and hometown when her photo was featured as a centerfold in a magazine.
Well, hold on to your hats, because if you want sex, steam, sass and tears, then read this wonderful and incredible love story. You will laugh, sigh, and cry at the same time.
This book also reminded me of another five-star VLT book, LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX, featuring another "bad girl." It's also another fun book.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
The Palace Tiger by Barbara Cleverly
Rating: 3 Stars
There are many twists and multiple murderers for the three people killed in this book. I have read other Cleverly books (Joe Sandilands mysteries), and this was not as good as some of the others. I thoroughly enjoy the setting and learning about India. The characters, however, were a little flat.
Howard Itkin
Takedown by Brad Thor
Rating: 5 Stars
You won't be able to put it down, yet you will be scared to find out what happens. It is fantastic.
Julie Towson (julietowson31@yahoo.com)
The Husband by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
A real roller coaster ride! It grips you from the beginning and doesn't let go until the last page.
Marilyn Shoemaker
The Frog Prince by Jane Porter
Rating: 5 Stars
This was Jane Porter's first venture into women's fiction, and it so touched my heart.
It's a wonderful beach read, along with her July release, FLIRTING WITH FORTY.
Seattle Snoops
His Secretary Mistress by Chantelle Shaw
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a new author to Harlequin Presents, and boy, is she good.
Jill
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful story. I had a hard time putting it down.
Deborah
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
Rating: 3 Stars
I was disappointed in this one after reading and loving THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES. This read was just OK for me. I found it predictable, and kind of boring. The book got the same reaction from other members of our book club. Some did not even bother finishing the book.
Sharlynda Dehnel
One Shot by Lee Child
Rating: 5 Stars
I picked up three of Lee Child's books on a summer reading whim. Actually, my local bookstore had a sale --- buy three books and get a fourth one free. So, I picked up a copy of ONE SHOT along with two other of Child's books. I have to say that I really like this author and will go back and buy all of his books.
ONE SHOT is a semi-police procedural whose protagonist is a gritty ex-Army cop with motives that are not always pure. Jack Reacher reminds me of Michael Connelly's detective, Harry Bosch. Reacher and Bosch are certainly kindred spirits. I really like the harsh reality of Reacher's world and his attempts to do the right thing.
ONE SHOT is a great summer read, as well as a great introduction to a great writer. I can't wait to finish the book, but, at the same time, I want to savor its ending. It has many twists and turns and keeps readers guessing. I can't wait to find out who committed the crime and why the accused called for Jack Reacher, a man who knows about the dark secret that he has tried to keep buried for fourteen years.
Overall, this book is definitely a great summer read!
Pat Raines (Rainespat@aol.com)
Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg
Rating: 5 Stars
CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO HEAVEN was exceptionally written, and the character development was fantastic. This was a very enjoyable read.
Rosemary Rickett
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Rating: 3 Stars
I do not understand what all the hullabaloo with THE DA VINCI CODE was about. I have read books that have been much more exciting than this one; and, as a believer, I am not even sure if this would have that much affect on a non believer. It must have made Mr. Brown a fortune, though, with all the publicity.
MarilynS
Simply Sexy by Linda Francis Lee
Rating: 5 Stars
A great beach read!
MarilynS
Suddenly Sexy by Linda Francis Lee
Rating: 5 Stars
Part of her series and a great summer read.
Jane (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com)
Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the best book I have ever read. Tempe is great, and I was hooked to the very end. I would recommend all of Kathy Reich's books, each one is as good as the next.
Shelly Itkin (rochelle017@aol.com)
Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger
Rating: 4 Stars
In BEAUTIFUL LIES, timing is everything, and just one moment of kindness and caring turns the main character's world upside down.
It leaves you wondering who we really are, and forces you to question many things you take, or are told, for granted. This was extremely well written and fast paced.
Rosemary Rickett
Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Rating: 5 Stars
This is, without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read. It has a message of hope that is badly needed in this day and age. It has started a a real Pay It Forward movement that is continuing to grow and change people's outlooks on life in general.
Shannon Leonetti
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
A circus, an elephant named Rosie, and a gentle old man's memories.... This book is wonderful!
C Bock
Cod by Mark Kurlansky
Rating: 5 Stars
I read his books out of sequence, starting with COD first, and now I'm reading SALT. Fascinating. I'm looking forward to Daniel Silva's new work... Pick me to win his next book, or I'll be waiting at my local library to get it!!
Fran (narfinmagic@yahoo.com)
The Love Season by Elin Hilderbrand
Rating: 4 Stars
Set in beautiful Nantucket, this author tells the story of two women whose lives are changed in the course of one day. Beautifully written with a mesmerizing story that keeps the pages turning, I would recommend this book to all!
Elaine Gutenstein (EBpooh@aol.com)
A Stone for Danny Fisher by Harrold Robbins
Rating: 3 Stars
My Dad grew up in the fifties and this was a memorable book for him. It is all about a "nice Jewish boy" who turns to the grimmy side of life when his family moves from the suburbs. For me, this book has been a look into my Dad's childhood and a true trip down memory lane. Dad commented that the bok was "Racy," and I guess for the times, it was. I can see a young Brando playing the lead role. I had to find the book through the book service,ABE.com, which I would recommend for finding older books!
Liza
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book and couldn't put it down. This is the story of Anne Boleyn's rise to become the second wife of Henry VIII, as told from the viewpoint of her older sister, Mary (who had two children as Henry VIII's mistress before Anne came on the scene). You are carried along by the sisters' rivalries, the family's scheming ways to get the girls into Henry's good graces, the trecherous ways of the royal court, and the tragic helplessness Mary feels at Anne's downfall. I like to read books that are being made into movies, and I just learned that Scarlett Johansson is set to film an adaptation in September.
Madeline
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
Creepy! You know bad things are going to happen from the get-go, but it still makes you squirm when you arrive at those passages.
Linda M. Johnson
Marley & Me by John Grogan
Rating: 5 Stars
I LOVED this book. I read it in 2 days and didn't want it to end. At one point I knew where the book was going, and wasn't looking forward to THAT, but the book still had an upbeat ending.
Bonnie
Two Time by Chris Knopf
Rating: 4 Stars
A fun, entertaining mystery --- and I didn't figure out the ending ahead of time!
Linda M. Johnson
Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper
Rating: 4 Stars
This was completely different from what I expected after seeing what seemed to be endless interviews promoting the book. Cooper bares his self as he confronts some of the worst disasters our planet has seen.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
West of Kabul, East of New York by Tamin Ansary
Rating: 4 Stars
An interesting perspective of Afghan life, the sense of community, and how in America that sense of community is lost. I think of the multitude of orphans and we rest easy in our safe homes.
Joanne Welch (jkw5124@aol.com)
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
Rating: 4 Stars
Well written, fast-moving mystery/suspense novel that takes off on a theme similar to THE DA VINCI CODE.
Carol
Worth Every Risk by Dianna Love Snell
Rating: 5 Stars
An enjoyable romantic suspense with a great plot and characters that you care about!
Patricia Beaver (pabtrek@excite.com)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
It's easy to see why this is a classic. The story of Francie Nolan and her family is enchanting and gritty. This is an odd combination, but read it yourself and you'll find that it is an accurate description.
Patricia Beaver (pabtrek@excite.com)
Stamping Butterflies by Jon Courtenay Grimwood
Rating: 5 Stars
It's hard to describe this book --- labeling it as a sci-fi mystery just doesn't do it justice. There is a feel of time travel, and yet no one does. Needless to say, I could not put this book down. It drew me in and kept me guessing to the very end.
Dot L
Breath and Bones by Susann Cokal
Rating: 4 Stars
BREATH AND BONES is a little baudy, but has an intriguing premise and is a real page turner.
Sharon Rainey
Taken by Barbara Freethy
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a very good book with numerous twist and turns.
e (eqkmath@gmail.com)
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
Rating: 5 Stars
Sue Monk Kidd writes such an endearing story of love between a monk and her middle-aged protagonist. It seems so easy to say that this kind of love is forbidden, but the human heart tells a different story. It is a book that is compelling to read. The development of the characters is flawless. The mother is a wonderfully off-task person and one can only love the monks!
Crystal Johnston (ez2love_98@hotmail.com)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Rating: 3 Stars
It is quite a bit slower than the previous Harry Potter books I have read, but I'm hoping that it will catch up.
Karen
Dinner with Anna Karenina by Gloria Goldreich
Rating: 4 Stars
A delightful story about an intense group of women who meet monthly to discuss a work of literature that they have read. The book is more about what goes on in their lives during the time between their monthly meetings. Entertaining!
Nicole
Whiskey Sour by J. A. Konrath
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a breath of fresh air. WHISKEY SOUR is a great new female detective series that is very funny and very suspensful and gory. It's a cross between Carl Hiaasen and Thomas Harris. Highly reccommended!
Patricia Beaver (pabtrek@excite.com)
The Singer's Crown by Elaine Isaak
Rating: 5 Stars
For a debut novel, it's a grand slam --- a fantasy with a twist. It was hard to put down and I can't wait for her next book.
Mildred Bromberg (abromber@optonline.net)
Sweet Home Carolina by T. Lynn Ocean
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a feel-good book. It has some great characters, romance, a little mystery, and a happy ending. A nice summer read
Joan Nilson
Forced to the Altar by Susan Crosby
Rating: 4 Stars
This book leaves you breathless.
Kelli
Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury
Rating: 4 Stars
Wow! What a tearjerker! This is a quick but emotional read about a young couple who are in danger of losing custody of their 5-year-old adopted son. After the biological father is released from prison for domestic violence, he finds out his wife gave birth to a son and put him up for adoption while he was in prison. Due to a technicality in the paperwork, the adoption is nullified, leaving everyone involved in an emotional uproar. This book leaves you wondering how you would handle the threat of losing your child. How far would you go? Would you be willing to cross moral and legal boundaries in order to keep your family together? I really enjoyed this book.
Mary Angela Young (angiey1974@aol.com)
Summer At Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is so good --- a very nice romantic book.
Wendy Catalano
The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker
Rating: 5 Stars
The author's debut novel left me wanting to read her next two. A story of family, love, crisis, courage, etc. I couldn't put it down.
John M
The Husband by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
This is top-notch entertainment! I haven't finished it yet, but what an emotional roller coaster ride it is so far. Many of the plot twists are competely unexpected. I am enjoying reading it very much.
Susan Rowe
The English Passengers by Matthew Kneale
Rating: 1 Stars
My reading group read this last month. It was so boring that only one of us (of 8) finished the book. There were too many characters to keep track of, especially as the book jumped from country to country to ship, and around again. As a new club what we did learn from reading this book was what to look for when choosing our selections. If the star system allowed, this book would get a negative rating.
Joan Nilson
A Convient Proposition by Cindy Gerard
Rating: 4 Stars
Quite emotional.
Peggy from TX (user116712@aol.com)
The Crucible Trilogy by Sara Douglass
Rating: 4 Stars
I normally do not read Fantasy writers and much prefer mysteries and historical fiction. However, that being said, I stumbled upon the first of this trilogy, THE NAMELESS DAY, and was fascinated with the story as well as subject matter and time period. The book took place in Europe in the Medieval period, and featured several of my favorite historical figures --- John of Gaunt and his love, Katherine ( Katherine is the subject of a wonderful book (5 stars, at least) by the same name by Anya Seton, which I highly recommend). THE NAMELESS DAY featured Sir Thomas Nelville, who has forsaken his name and position within England's elite to become a poor priest. He is challenged to find the root of evil that is sweeping the face of Europe and changing it forever. Fantasy and history are blended for this fascinating work. The author is Australian and holds several degrees in early English history. I have just begun the 2nd in the series, THE WOUNDED HAWK. Hopefully, it --- along with the 3rd book. THE CIPPLED ANGEL --- will be as notable as the first.
Jennie
Teacher Man by Frank McCourt
Rating: 4 Stars
A good read. There were some funny spots, and some sad. You can tell Mr. McCourt loved to teach!
Cherie Krusell
Border Lair by Bianca D'Arc
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the second book in her Dragon Knights series. I have not read the first one, MAIDEN FLIGHT, but I still enjoyed the second all the same.
I loved this book and I'm waiting for the first and second book coming out together in print soon. I recomend this to anyone who loves Erotic fantasy.
Deb Mulvey (dm155@aol.com)
Beach Road by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm never disappointed in James Patterson. BEACH ROAD is a good, fast summer beach read.
Eleanor K
The Patriots Club by Christopher Reich
Rating: 5 Stars
I simply couldn't put this book down...
Truly an "edge of your seat" heart pounding tome. If you like Danielle Steele, you'll love Christopher Reich!
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Joy School by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 4 Stars
In JOY SCHOOL, one of my favorite authors conveys the way each element of Katie, the main character's life offers her more than she expected.
Marlie Warren (justme@xmission.com)
Genevieve by Jerome Eric Dickey
Rating: 5 Stars
if you are in the mood for sexy and sultry, this author is one to read! I stayed up reading all night last week to finish this one! Great book.
L. Hann
3rd Degree by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Rating: 5 Stars
The Women's Murder Club is at it again. This is probably one of the best books in the series. Lindsay Boxer is on a case that is like no other. The killer has targeted one of the Women's Murder Club members, but which one? Can they solve the murder mystery in time? This is an awesome read. I stayed up all night to finish it. It was fast paced and packed with adventure!
Rita B
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 3 Stars
This book started out with a great hook. The main character and her dog follow a lost child's scent and find him alive and healthy. This is her profession and it's ironic that next, she discovers that she was/is actually a "missing child."
Unfortunately, it's kind of downhill after that. VANISHING ACTS was not a bad book, but definitely not one of Picoult's best. She is one of my favorite authors, though!
L. Hann
To Love and To Cherish by Patricia Gaffney
Rating: 4 Stars
Nice story. Gaffney has a way of writing that just brings you right into the book. You feel like you are part of the characters. Nice summer read.
Carol
Invisible Recruit by Mary Buckham
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the best Bombshell books I've ever read!
Larena Wirum (lrwirum@cox.net)
Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great paranormal book.
Larena Wirum
Born to be Wild by Catherine Coulter
Rating: 5 Stars
It has lots of laughs, and suspense that keeps you guessing until the end.
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
Fade by Kyle Mills
Rating: 4 Stars
A very exciting terrorist book. I have just started reading it and I don't want to stop.
Mario
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco
Rating: 1 Stars
If you love minutia or if you pride yourself on being able to suspend disbelief longer than anyone else, then this may be a five-star book for you. Mr. Eco has more than 12 titles to his name. I hope to find a book by him that the likes of me will find more readable.
L. Hann
Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first book I have read by Meg Cabot. It was nice and you really feel like you are right there with the main character. This is a great read for a book club, with lots to discuss afterward.
Susan Rowe
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Rating: 5 Stars
This has GOT to be one of the best written, most beautifully worded books we ever read in or out of our book club. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The story follows the lives of four inter-connected people of India in 1975 as the politics of that country affects each. I never would have chosen this book on my own but feel so lucky to have found it through my book club!
Mario
The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
Rating: 2 Stars
The story starts out with a promise of something interesting. Then the last paragraph of the first chapter brings that fantasy to a close. The author has taught nonfiction writing and this book provides a clear and simple picture of an author constructing a timeline by place and by character, writing the key words, turning the words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, connecting the dots. That is the book's strong point --- it is a great lesson on how to write a nonfiction book. The authors weak point is, I think, his inability to create characters. Read this book and you can learn how to write nonfiction book, but not really good nonfiction.
L. Hann
Forever & Ever by Patricia Gaffney
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great summer read. If you want to be taken away to another world for a few hours, pick up this book.
Mia (CA)
Oh the Glory of it All by Sean Wilsey
Rating: 4 Stars
It was a very interesting memoir of what life was like growing up in one of the most prestigious society families in San Francisco. It is funny, shocking, sad, and intriguing.
Sandra F.
Cut to Black by Graham Hurley
Rating: 3 Stars
This is not the best of the Joe Faraday detective series, but it is still entertaining. It is set in Portsmouth in England and has the usual cop and crook characters.
Lindsey Bumpass (bsb_chick76247@yahoo.com)
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
Rating: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this book... I even read it after enjoying the movie. I think the movie is really good, and Meryl Streep did a wonderful job, but I don't think even an Academy Award winner can pull off the heinous Miranda Priestly. Read this book! It's a great beach read.
kk peters
Bones by Marion Woodman
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a biographical depiction of part of Ms. Woodman's life through which she defeated uterine cancer. It is uplifting and soul searching.
Kathleen
Delicious by Susan Mallery
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is the second in its series and is as great as the first!
Rachel Bell
Wolf's Trap by W.D. Gagliani
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the best werewolf novels I have read in a while. The intensity and suspense builds, along with the excellent and clever character developement. I wanted to read more, whether it was the hero or villian!
Carolyn
Murder on the Rocks by Karen MacInerney
Rating: 4 Stars
A fun cozy mystery set in a B&B on an island off the cost of Maine. The setting was the star of this first book in a new series, which shows a lot of promise. Breakfast recipes included.
Alabama Jack (jquick5342@aol.com)
The Night Caller by John Lutz
Rating: 5 Stars
Ezekiel "Coop" Cooper is a former NYPD detective whose cancer forced him into early retirement. After finding his daughter's dead body, his experience and instincts tell him that she is the victim of a ritual killing, likely by a serial killer. Then, he is contacted by Deni Green, a writer working on a true crime story who thinks that Coop's daughter was the victim of a killer who had struck both in Florida and the Pacific Northwest. The two form an uneasy alliance as they work to track down the killer before he claims other victims. THE NIGHT CALLER was well written and intriguing. Lutz is a master.
Judy O.
When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin
Rating: 5 Stars
A compelling story of a little girl who needs a new heart and of the doctor who gives it to her. This book is full of extremely interesting information about all aspects of the heart and about transplants. But, it's a heartwarming story of the power of love. I first read about this book on Word of Mouth.
Carla S. Roberts (croberts507@hotmail.com)
The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is current, topical and completely unforgettable. It really puts a human face on the tragic violence in the Middle East.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
Cry No More by Linda Howard
Rating: 4 Stars
Very good, suspenseful story. I couldn't put it down.
Renee (tfranzen2124@comcast.net)
The Zahir by Paul Coelho
Rating: 4 Stars
This is my first Coelho novel, recommended in the very impressive O Magazine July reading special issue. I loved it, and look forward to reading more of his work.
Patricia Hoel
The Paperwhite Narcissus by Cynthia Riggs
Rating: 4 Stars
Just finished a reader's copy of Sam Bourne's THE RIGHTEOUS MEN --- fabulous!! I love Victoria Trumbull of Riggs's latest Martha's Vineyard opus since I am also a "lady of a certain age" who loves a good mystery, and Riggs is a solid author.
Beth Mueller
A Ship's Tale by N. Jay Young
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm not a sea-faring person myself, but this book is a really fun read. It's full of adventure, feisty characters, and even a touch of romance! It drew me in and took me on a daring and delightful ride.
Diane in Boxford
Dialogues by Stephen Spignesi
Rating: 4 Stars
A book that keeps you turning the pages long into the night.
Diane in Boxford
The Men I Didn't Marry by Lynn Schnurnberger & Janice Kaplan
Rating: 3 Stars
Fun, summer chick lit with a sudden twist at the end.
Diane in Boxford
Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney and Patrick Arrasmith
Rating: 5 Stars
While you're waiting for the next Harry Potter book, try this first entry in The Wardstone Chronicles. The second book will be published this fall in the U.S. (The second book is also excellent!)
Pam Clark (PDKC123@aol.com)
Turning Angel by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
Great book! I loved every page of it. I really liked the fact that the main character was continued from a previous book.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Every Dead Thing by John Connolly
Rating: 4 Stars
This first book in the Charlie Bird Parker series wasn't bad; it wasn't great either. I found it hard to follow at the beginning, and I'm not sure why Connolly found it necessary to bounce back and forth through time without warning. Other reviewers thought there were two stories in one in this book, which may be true, but I thought it was necessary so you could you get a true picture of Bird and how he did his job --- what he felt inside. It was a true and deep development of character. This was a very good action-packed and suspenseful mystery. It tended to be a little gory, but the author is known for that. With that being said, I will definitely read the second book in the series.
April Lemesh (alemesh@aol.com)
Digging To America by Anne Tyler
Rating: 5 Stars
I am a long-time Tyler fan and this book did not disappoint. Tyler writes about families as if she is writing about your own --- that's how closely tied you feel to her characters. DIGGING TO AMERICA is a wonderful story about cross-cultural adoptions that bring two apparent disparate families together.
Helene Simpson
Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 5 Stars
This was worth waiting for, it's one of Clark's best books.
Sky Walkinstik-man-alone (skyflute@hotmail.com)
A Ship's Tale by N. Jay Young
Rating: 5 Stars
Someone should make this book into a movie ... It creates great vusuals, and I couldn't put it down. I hope the author writes more --- I will be happy to have his works in my library.
Rita Barrow Poling (rita@jamespierce.com)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 5 Stars
With the climate of the Middle East in the world today, this is a must read for anyone who enjoys a learning experience with their fictional reading.
Jodi
The Husband by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
Very good book.
Fran
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
This book grabs your attention from the first page and holds it throughout. Jodi Picoult is one of the best! I highly recommend this book to all!
Alexander Spady
Driving Destiny by Kristi Luv Wilson
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent book! Reading it made me want to go out and tackle some new ideas that I had been pondering for hours, days, months, and even years. This book will also make you re-evaluate yourself, and if you have been lying to yourself about being your best at all times, the truth will come out after reading this.
Marsha
Marked Man by William Lashner
Rating: 4 Stars
Victor Carl is a flawed lawyer with the penchant for finding himself in precarious situations. This time, he wakes up from a wild evening with a tattoo of a woman's name on his chest. He becomes involved with various characters as he tries to resolve the direction of his life.
Laura of Ohio
Have You Seen Her? by Karen Rose
Rating: 4 Stars
This author deserves more recognition. Her books are very exciting and hard to put down. Mysteries with sexy romance and a touch of humor. Check them out!
ozarks reader
The Halo Effect by M. J. Rose
Rating: 5 Stars
This book will definitely keep your attention... perhaps to the exclusion of anything else. A serial killer dresses young prostitutes in nuns' habits before murdering them. The characters are very real, so that that readers identify with them right away. I began to have a hunch about who the villain was about 3/4 of the way through the book, but I couldn't be sure till about the last 4 pages. THE HALO EFFECT is full of suspense and action. This would be a great vacation read so that you wouldn't feel guilty reading it insead of getting your work done.
Wendy Smith
Redemption by Wayne Sharrocks
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a truly wonderful and engaging psychological thriller. REDEMPTION is an excellent read that combines dark prose, a quick wit and flawless storytelling to take you on an emotional journey. I found this to be an intelligent and lucid thriller that kept me turning the pages. The author writes with such raw emotion that he lures you seductively into his world and you are soon experiencing a full range of emotions --- it's sad, happy, loving, hateful and has a superb sting in the tail. The characters and points the tale raises remain in the memory long after the story has finished, so if you like thought-provoking thrillers, then this is the one for you...
Rema
Death of a Nationalist by Rebecca Pawel
Rating: 3 Stars
This is an interesting novel set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. Sergeant Tejada Alonzo y Leon of the Guardia Civil attempts
to find the killer of his friend, another Guardia; Gonzalo Llorente, a
Republican, wants to find the Guardia who murdered his fiancee.
How the two men meet and interact is surprising. This is the first in a series and I am looking forward to reading the others.
James Smith
Bruised, Broken, & Recovered by Kristi Luv Wilson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is excellent for any person who is striving to recover from a broken relationship or illness.
Danielle
Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coehlo
Rating: 4 Stars
A hot summer read that stays true to the moving words of Paulo Coehlo. Although the protagonist, Maria, is a prostitute searching for the meaning of sex in relationship to love, it is easy to walk away from the book feeling like you learned a little more about yourself and the world around you. Certainly not for the timid!
Ann Callicrate (tweet_213@earthlink.net)
A Ship's Tale by N. Jay Young
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the best adventure stories I've ever read! The cast of characters are risking their freedom and their lives to save on old tall ship (from being scuttled by the British government), and sail her back to Scotland. The story takes place in 1946 post war England. A great read for the general public. My 13-year-old nephew loved it too!
Paula C. (PFLucas@aol.com)
Bleeding Hearts by Susan Wittig Albert
Rating: 4 Stars
Another good mystery in the series. In this installment, the reader is privy to more information about the main character, China Bayles, prior to her second career as a successful business woman. Interesting recipes are always included.
Stuart Binder
A Ship's Tale by N. J. Young
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent. A great read. This book has everything --- interesting characters, a sweeping adventure, romance, and humor.... It's hard to put down, and the ending is truly amazing.
Janet from NJ
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful book about a traveling circus during the Depression. It is told through the eyes of a 90-something-year-old man who is in a retirement home and is left with only his memories of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show On Earth Traveling Circus. Don't miss this one because books of this caliber do not come around that often.
CC
Where Serpents Lie by T. Jefferson Parker
Rating: 5 Stars
Somehow, I missed reading this when it came out a few years ago. Parker is one of my favorite authors and he certainly didn't disappoint in this mystery. The characters are well drawn, the story intense. Great read.
Meredith
London Is The Best City in America by Laura Dave
Rating: 5 Stars
If you liked BABY PROOF or SWEET RUIN, then this book will capture your heart! It is the best book I've read about love and relationships and heartbreak in a very long time. I loved it, and could not put it down. I drove two hours to see Laura Dave read the other night, and she is awesome.
Meredith
The Love Season by Elin Hilderbrand
Rating: 3 Stars
A fine summer read! It keeps you engaged and interested in what is going to happen. Definitely worth checking out.
Corky Mayo (corkymayo@gmail.com)
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
This is just hilarious. Stephanie had graduated to driving a Mini and is still uncertain as to with whom her true affections lie: Joe or Ranger. Evanovich has not yet worn out this character, her antics and those of her cohorts!
Kay
March by Geraldine Brooks
Rating: 5 Stars
It's very easy to see why this book won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for fiction!!
TereseRose
Fighting for Dear Life by David Gibbs
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is written by the lawyer who represented the family of Terri Schiavo. It is well written, logical, and clear. It also introduces the reader to Terri Schaivo as Gibbs saw her --- a beautiful and responsive young woman. In saving the weak and vulnerable, we save ourselves and those we love most.
Jenni
Silent Whispers: Poetry of the Soul by Tracy Leigh Ball
Rating: 5 Stars
This book made me laugh, cry and feel the emotions that the writer portrayed in each verse. I have never seen so much emotions wrapped up into a book such as this one. I am truly impressed and hope to see more from this author.
Dink Daille (dinkdaille@yahoo.com)
The Blue Screen by Robert B. Parker
Rating: 1 Stars
There is too much use of the "F" word; the story is shallow, Sunny and Jesse's characters were used improperly, and the ending is improbable. This was just a waste of his talent.
A. Gribbins
The Ship's Tale by N. Jay Young
Rating: 4 Stars
Great maritime story set in England. The humor and story were authentic and well written, and I loved the surprise ending.
Corky Mayo (corkymayo@gmail.com)
Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen
Rating: 5 Stars
Sophie Dunston, a top-notch sleep researcher, developed a drug to battle the insomnia from which her father and millions of others suffer. But her former boss has used it to alter the minds of ordinary people like her father, who killed his wife and attempted to kill Sophie and her young son. Now Sophie has one goal: to kill her former boss, since the authorities don't seem interested in what she has to say about him.
Mary Schreiner
Lucky Me by Debra Borden
Rating: 3 Stars
This was a good story, but it moved too slow for me.
Marsha
Ice Run by Steve Hamilton
Rating: 4 Stars
This Alex McKnight novel, taking place in the frigid cold of Upper Peninsula, MI is a roller coaster ride --- snowmobile included. The well-drawn, compelling characters continue to enchant us and their chilling tale is powerful.
Jane (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com)
Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a very good book. I've read others by this author, and I would recommend her to anyone. This book takes the reader by the hand and we witness the tenderness and cruelty of real emotion.
Mary Schreiner
The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante and Ann Goldstein
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this book in one sitting. I simply could not put it down. Out of the blue, Olga's husband announces that he is leaving her. She struggles with the fact that her life will never be the same again.
Mary Schreiner
Bucking The Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis
Rating: 5 Stars
This book made me laugh out loud. The characters in this book seem so real, you actually begin to root for the underdog.
Sharon J.
The Blackbird Papers by Ian Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
A world-renowned Nobel prize-winning African American Dartmouth College professor is brutally murdered by white supremacists on his way home after receiving his award. His FBI-agent brother arrives the following day to investigate the murder. THE BLACKBIRD PAPERS is a perfect blend of taut suspense and thrilling action!
Teresa Warner (tWarner419@aol.com)
Into The Fire by Richard Laymon
Rating: 5 Stars
When Pamela --- a young newlywed of only a couple of months --- is kidnapped by a man named Rodney, whom she went to school with, she can't believe what is in store for her. He thinks they will be alone when they drive out to the desert, but there is someone out there watching them. This someone has a gun. Pamela thinks everything is okay when Rodney gets shot, but there is something not quite right about the man who saves her and drives a bus full of mannequins. She will not be prepared for the small desert town that he takes her to. This book keeps you going all the way from beginning to end.
Mary Schreiner
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
This has to be one of the best books I have ever read. The ending shocked me so much that I actually cried.
Roxie
Broken As Things Are by Martha Witt
Rating: 2 Stars
I bought this based on rave reviews on Amazon, and I was so disappointed. The writing was awful and the story was unrealistic and hard to follow. I only finished it because I thought it MUST get better.... Wrong!
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Over The Edge by Jonathan Kellerman
Rating: 5 Stars
This is #3 in the Alex Delaware series. I am so glad I didn't give up on this author. OVER THE EDGE is the best in the series, by far. This is a story about Jamey, a very intelligent boy who calls Alex in the middle of the night, sounding psychotic and not making any sense. Alex befriended Jamey several years back, when he participated in a program for highly intelligent teens. He is far from the Jamey he knew --- that evening, Jamey escapes from the Psych hospital where he is committed and supposedly murders a friend who is a homosexual and a prominent bank owner. Jamey is also accused of being the "Lavender Slayer."
Alex is hired by the family attorney to help in the case. As he digs deeper, he hits one brick wall after another until he finally discovers Jamey's real story, his family history and what really happened to him.
The suspense in this book is awesome. I couldn't put it down. Maybe this is the book that turned the corner for Kellerman. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
Marie
Without Fail by Lee Child
Rating: 3 Stars
After reading two other of Mr Child's Jack Reacher novels, this one seem to drag out a bit. It's as if we are already anticipating some action. yet we can't seem to get to it. I'm still a fan though...
Dorothy Halligan
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
An excellent book to help us appreciate the disabled, consider the issue of adoption, and see how one event can affect a whole family very deeply. I appreciate the author's courage in taken on these sensitive issues and treating them with such great respect.
Linda T
What is Mine by Anne Holt
Rating: 5 Stars
Do not miss this first US book by Norwegian writer, Anne Holt. Sometimes you long for well-written and suspenseful mysteries and this one fits the bill. Child abductions and murders in Norway keep you reading and appreciating this great book.
Marilyn, Paw Paw IL
Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos
Rating: 5 Stars
I was enthralled with the characters and the developing sense of 'family.' I especially liked the relationship between Wanda and Troy. I read this on the train to and from Denver, and it transported me away from the delays and tedium of the ride.
Laura Croteau (laura.croteau@lycos.com)
Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone de Beauvoir
Rating: 4 Stars
I know that this isn't a new publication, but anything by Simone de Beauvoir is worth backpeddling for. This is the first volume in an autobiographical series. The author details her childhood and adolescence with an uncanny self-insight. If you are reading in English, than your impression will depend somewhat on the translator... but in my experience, S.de Beauvoir makes a beautiful transition into English.
Bonnie
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 4 Stars
This novel has gotten justifyably excellent reviews. The author speaks in the voice of a 90-something-year-old gentleman and his historical younger self with truth and humor.
Bonnie
The Hard Way by Lee Child
Rating: 5 Stars
Child is one of my new favorite mystery writers. The main character, Reacher, is fascinating, the stories are intriguing, and the writing is terrific.
Roxie
The New Girls by Beth Gutcheon
Rating: 3 Stars
This book follows the lives of five girls during their 3 years at a finishing school in the late 50's/early 60's. It is definitely not one of her best, but it's worth a read.
A Burke
1000 Places To See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great guide if you want to get ideas for places to go, or just want to daydream about future trips.
Deb Brandon
We Are All Welcome Here: A Novel by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 4 Stars
I loved the characters in her latest novel! I remember the Polio scare as a child and thought it was ingenious of her to write a lovely story about the reality of living with this illness for the rest of your life! Also loved the Elvis touch!
Can't wait for next year's novel!!!
Eric W
11 Minutes by Paulo Coelho
Rating: 5 Stars
One of Coelho's celebrated titles in which he explores human sexuality. The style is different from the rest of his novels, such as THE ALCHEMIST and VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE, but still Coelho is able to capture the reader within his vibrantly created world.
Marcia
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Rating: 5 Stars
Really enjoyed this one!! It's about Chinese women in the 19th century --- footbinding, arranged marriages. etc. It has good messages about friendship and forgiveness.
Laura of Ohio
Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
Rating: 4 Stars
This is my first time reading a Sandra Brown book and I will definitely go back and grab the others. I enjoyed it so much --- it had romance, mystery, and a little humor. My attention never strayed. It was a hard book to put down.
Heather Mineo
Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
Rating: 4 Stars
Judy Maffett (gizmomaffj@aol.com)
Until Proven Guilty by J. A. Jance
Rating: 5 Stars
An easy-to-read great mystery. The character, J. P. Beaumont, is great --- he is witty, funny, and sexy. The story is very compelling and sad, but true.
Jennifer
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful tale of a young girl struggling to grow up into a bright young woman despite her family's shortcomings.
Sharon Bryan
A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
Rating: 5 Stars
I am reading the 4th book in a series. It is not disappointing at all, and was well worth the wait. She delivered a skillful, mouth-watering, stay-up-all-night-to-read book. I loved it. Kim Harrison never disappoints her fans.
Lee T.
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
A roller coaster ride full of unstoppable suspense!
Michele
The Bachelor by Carly Phillips
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great scrumptious tale of three drop-dead gorgeous brothers who are eligible bachelors until... a desperate cry from their mom at her bedside, while ill, proclaims, "Get married already and give me some grandchildren!"
Steamy scenes and an excellent story line, combined with the excitement of what will come next, leaves readers wanting more! Yes, and there are two novels that follow this first in a series. I loved this book so much. It will be on my shelf for a long time!
Rita Powell
Blood Mask by Lauren Kelly
Rating: 2 Stars
I was disappointed in this novel, maybe because I've come to expect great things from this author (a.k.a. Joyce Carol Oates). It does have some mystery, but I had figured out the end long before I got there and was disappointed to find I was right. Please don't bother. Read something more challenging.
Jackie
Hawke by Ted Bell
Rating: 4 Stars
A contemporary James Bond for the Seven Seas, fighting drug lords and terrorists instead of pirates. Great lead in for his next book.
Jill
London Is The Best City In America by Laura Dave
Rating: 5 Stars
I love this book! I stayed up all night reading it. You can't help but root for the awesome narrator, Emmy Everett --- I heard they are making the novel into a movie, starring Reese Witherspoon. I cannot wait.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
The Vanished Man by Jeffery Deaver
Rating: 2 Stars
2.5 stars. Abridged audiobook read by Adam Grupper. Lincoln Rhyme gets involved in solving crimes committed by a magician. There were too many intentional diversions in the story, and it was not very realistic.
Tracey (over the hill) Book Club
The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
Rating: 4 Stars
Much discussion is oozing out already before we meet to discuss this book. With many comparisons to different stages in the developement of a woman's place --- in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA --- this puts it all in perspective to modern days and our struggles thru time.
Shirley Younger
Coming Out by Danielle Steel
Rating: 5 Stars
This is Danielle's latest book, and as with the others, it keeps you guessing until the end. It is a very easy read.
Judy (joswood@msn.com)
Full of Grace by Dorothea Benton Frank
Rating: 3 Stars
There was a good story here, but it was hard to find in all the extra details that almost seemed to be "filler." Grace Russo meets Michael Higgins, the man of her dreams. When he becomes ill with a life-threatening condition, she is frantic. I enjoyed meeting Grace's family, The Russos, and witnessing all their foibles and interactions with each other. Parts of that were hilarious. But, I missed the sense of being in the Lowcountry that I felt in her other books. All in all, not a bad read.
Melissa Vera (rmmmgvera@bellsouth.net)
The Assassins Gallery by David L. Robbins
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a totally awesome book. I couldn't put it down. The plot navigation was amazing.
Nancy Ross
The Husband by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
A very exciting book, it was hard to put down. I really enjoyed the characters he created. I highly recommend it.
Kam Aures
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelley
Rating: 5 Stars
An excellent, engaging law and courtroom novel! Highly recommended!
Kam Aures
Eyes of Fire by Heather Graham
Rating: 4 Stars
A great romantic suspense book! A page turner that will have you guessing until the end!
Marsha
North of Nowhere by Steve Hamilton
Rating: 4 Stars
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the setting for the fourth in the series of retired baseball player and Detroit cop, Alex McKnight. A game of cards turns into a heist with repercussions for all involved.
Maureen
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisenberg
Rating: 4 Stars
An entertaining summer read --- much different from the movie.
Marsha
Blood is the Sky by Steve Hamilton
Rating: 3 Stars
Investigator Alex McKnight continues his adventures --- this time to remote Ontario, searching for his Indian friend's brother who has disappeared on a hunt. Plenty of action and suspense abound.
Lori Lacefield (lorilacefield@hotmail.com)
Imposter by Davis Bunn
Rating: 4 Stars
Not since THE LAZARUS TRAP has Bunn been this good... I'm enjoying this summer blockbuster!
Evelyn Piechocki (ravenchamp1@sbcglobal.net)
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
Rating: 5 Stars
This book should be made into a movie. It was terrific. I laughed and cried.
Carol H.
Dispatches From The Edge by Anderson Cooper
Rating: 4 Stars
Here we have the luxury to learn about Anderson's privledged childhood, and then how terribly immportant it was for him to do good work. I think he has succeeded.
Laurie Blum (LAURIEBLUM@HOTMAIL.COM)
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a haunting family saga based around books. You will find incredible and lifelike descriptions, and unique characters. Don't miss this one!
Dani
Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst
Rating: 5 Stars
Loved this book! It takes place during an "Amazing Race" sort of reality show, but delves into each contestant. Very funny!
Maureen
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a wonderful story that I didn't want to end!!
Dani
1st to Die by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm a latecomer to The Women's Murder Club but I'm hooked now!
Nunu In Niagara Canada
The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the story of Grace Silva, who went from poverty to being a respected Judge. Her ex-husband is involved with drugs and money laundering and their young son is taken hostage. Grace relies on an old friend and lover to help her get her son back. The book is fast paced and a very interesting read.
Ray Palen (razorramon@optonline.net)
Natural Selection by David Freedman
Rating: 4 Stars
The description of "Jaws" meets "Jurassic Park" piqued my interest. I love stories involving the mysteries of the ocean --- especially in the form of quick, summer reads. Though this one starts out slow, but the characters and storyline are interesting enough to keep the pages turning. It's a nice "what if" story of underwater evolution in the form of monstrous, killer manta rays that can fly. Enjoy!
Rita B.
Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts
Rating: 3 Stars
This is truly a very interesting book. I was amazed at how independent and self-sufficient these women were at a time when (at least I thought) women were dependents.
Unfortunately, I think the book could have done with better editing --- it gets somewhat long and intricate in many spots. It could also use some kind of illustration to show who was married to whom, etc. It seemed that almost all these women were somehow related to each other!
Rita Cameron
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Rating: 4 Stars
This is, by far, my favorite book by Ian McEwan. It is a thought-provoking and first-rate novel.
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
Fraternity of Stone by David Morrell
Rating: 4 Stars
A very good book about terrorists. This was written in 1985, which makes the idea of terrorists very interesting. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys an exciting book.
Liz Saurer
Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 4 Stars
Ever wonder what happened to your high school sweetheart?
This was one of Ms. Macomber's best books. She has subplots through the book, and it ties up neatly.
Dee Harbeck (DeadlyDee@aol.com)
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
Rating: 5 Stars
A new novel of suspense in the vein of THE DA VINCI CODE. The book takes place in Washington's political arena involving everyone from the President and First Lady to the CIA, FBI and the Secret Service. There is high drama, mystery and suspense, as well as the historical edge that Meltzer does so well. A great fun read.
Dee Harbeck (DeadlyDee@aol.com)
The Hot Flash Club Chills Out by Nancy Thayer
Rating: 5 Stars
The Hot Flash Club is together again, this time summering in Nantucket. The friends go through health problems, solve a mystery, break up and begin romances, take on family troubles, all while drawing strenghth and dishing out humour. Fans of the previous Hot Flash Club books will be happy to pick up this new chapter in these women's lives.
Barbara
Peyton Place by Grace Metalious and Ardis Cameron
Rating: 5 Stars
I did not want this book to end and I savored it until the last page. A book that caused a huge scandal in the 1950s actually seems pretty tame for today. This painted a real picture of small-town life in the 30s-40s. It's full of great characterization and is a good book for reading group discussions.
Josephine Anna Kaszuba Locke, Book Hugger and Ace
Hit The Road by Caroline B. Cooney
Rating: 5 Stars
A 16-year-old granddaughter Brit commits to driving (even though her license is only eleven days new) 86-year-old Nannie to her 65th Reunion at Buttermere Dormitory For Ladies in a Maine college.
Along the way, they must pick up other dorm sisters in Long Island and kidnap Aurelia in her nursing home prison in Massachussetts put there by her devious doctor son for accumulating her wealth in the area of $1 Mil plus....
The scenes are hilarious, like Nannie's attempts to get into the driver's seat of the deluxe model SUV, where she cannot see over the steering wheel, and when she backs up over rose bushes, herbal garden, hedges, and a soft lawn. These are non-stop imagination carriers.
Cooney's latest book turns into a serious, suspenseful story as the doctor son hunts them down, and Brit and her geriatric charges are full of dodges and tricks.
A must read for young adults and grandmothers, this would make an excellent read-aloud expressive story.
Karen Hoover (cattwmn@hotmail.com)
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
Very good, very intense --- only read this book when you have NO appointments! Dan Brown is an excellent storyteller.
Gingerlola@aol.com (Gingerlola@aol.com)
Honeymoon by James Patterson & Howard Roughan
Rating: 3 Stars
A stand alone mystery that has a fun twist and a page-turning plot.
Gingerlola@aol.com (Gingerlola@aol.com)
Light On Snow by Anita Shreve
Rating: 4 Stars
Another wonderful book from Ms. Shreve.
Jud Hanson
Bad Business by Robert B. Parker
Rating: 4 Stars
This was another excellent entry in the Spenser series. Spenser is back with his typical sarcastic wit as he follows a case involving adultery and fraudulent bookkeeping. This book doesn't disappoint.
jayfr
Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie
Rating: 4 Stars
Wow, nice writing. I listened to this book on audio, and it was difficult to get into, initially, but the story of the two main characters grabbed my attention.
Linda Sheehan (linda.lsheehan@gmail.com)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Rating: 5 Stars
This book left me in tears, but it is not depressing. The writing is lyrical and I found myself jotting down too many sentences to savor for later. It's a story of survival, friendship, love for one's fellow man and so much more. These characters will remain with me for a long time and this book will rate as among the best I have ever read. Don't miss it!
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
Velocity by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
Bartender Billy Wiles has been getting messages that leave him with a real Hobson's choice: Call the police and I'll kill this person. Don't call the police and I'll kill that person. The choice is yours. Billy's nightmarish dilemma keeps getting worse, as he tries to find a way to outwit the ghostly psycopath who has entered his life.
Heather Gill
Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs
Rating: 5 Stars
This novel is outstanding, with Dr. Temperance Brennan doing her forensic work she loves, while mystery and mayhem go on around her! A brillliant novel!
Heather Gill
Judge and Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Rating: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this novel. There were so many interesting characters, and the storyline was go! go! go! all the way through. It had so many twists, turns, and surprises along the way, and then an ending you would never quess!!
Kathy (kathlau@aol.com)
Beach Road by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge
Rating: 4 Stars
Here's Patterson's summer beach read. Fast paced as usual, a small-time former NBA player-turned-lawyer hooks up with an old girlfriend who's a better lawyer to defend the next le Bron James on a multiple-murder charge. The basic story is good but the twist makes it even better.
Andrea
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
If you are in search of a fabulous literary novel, THE THIRTEENTH TALE is a must for every reader. This enchanting story entices the reader in every sense with its spellbinding writing, similar to gothic novels published long ago. This page turner leaves the reader very curious and satisfied at the same time!
Kathy (kathlau@aol.com)
Full of Grace by Dorothea Benton Frank
Rating: 2 Stars
I'm a big fan of Dorothea Benton Frank and the topics she writes about. This, however, is just too far fetched. Dad must have done REALLY WELL in his NJ business to get a big house in Hilton Head and a carriage house in downtown Charleston that he can let his travel-agent daughter live in rent free just so she'll move with them --- and her upscale travel agency just happens to have an office in Charleston (please...). It's a little out there, even for Frank... but hey, take it to the beach and read it with a grain of sand.
geniedances
Ya-Yas In Bloom by Rebecca Wells
Rating: 4 Stars
Of all the Ya-Ya books, this was the most pleasant read. The emphasis is more on relationships among the Ya -Yas themselves and their offspring. We are told stories by various family members, friends and foes. Many of these are funny, some are sad. We find out how the Ya-Yas met and the basis for their long-lasting friendships. Several stories lead to the one dramatic event in the book. Compared to the first two books in the Ya-Ya series, this is a light-hearted read.
Coral Harrison
The Ladies Auxilliary by Tova Mirvis
Rating: 5 Stars
A story of a close-knit Orthodox Jewish community when a newcomer comes to town. It tells of the struggle between mothers and their daughters and will make you think as well as enjoy reading.
Bryant
Squeeze Play by Jane Leavy
Rating: 2 Stars
Thought the subject matter was of great interest to me, I found this story to be a bit forced and way more vulgar than it needed to be. I am far from a prude, but this book was difficult to endure.
DW
Rules for Old Men Waiting by Peter Pouncey
Rating: 5 Stars
This was my choice for our book club. The writing is wonderful and descriptive, and the story invlolves characters in three wars in the last century and holds true today.
Margaret Nance (mnance3@triad.rr.com)
Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach
Rating: 5 Stars
This is about the travels of Alice Steinbach, writer and Pulitzer Prize winner of the Baltimore Sun. She travels alone in Europe and rediscovers what it means to be a woman on her own. She "jumps ship," so to speak, from the life she is living. She calls this interlude in her life "The year of living dangerously."
I loved it.
Ozarks Anne
Promise Me by Harlan Coben
Rating: 3 Stars
This was my first time reading about Myron and Win. Their relationship and dialogue are clever and amusing, but I never really felt like the story got started. I really enjoyed THE INNOCENT and TELL NO ONE and had looked so forward to Coben's latest, but I have to say I was disappointed. However, one thing that I really like about Coben's books is his short chapters, which keep you reading ... just one more...just one more....
Pat Miller
Lying With Strangers by James Grippando
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a real page turner. This is the first book by this author that I've read, but I will be looking for more books from him.
Pat Miller
Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
What can I say about Nora Roberts's books? They're always good and never a let down.
Pat Miller
Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag
Rating: 5 Stars
If I could give this book more stars, I would. I couldn't put it down, yet I didn't want to read too much at one time because I didn't want it to end. This has to be one of the best books I've ever read.
Patricia Schrot
All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve
Rating: 4 Stars
An interesting story about a man at the beginning of the 20th century who marries a woman who does not love him and keeps many secrets from him during their marriage.
Patricia Schrot
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
Another hilarious tale of Stephanie Plum's adventures. In this one, it was a toss up between who is funnier --- Lulu or Grandma Mazur. There was also more great tension between Ranger, Morelli and Stephanie.
Madeline
The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
Rating: 3 Stars
I don't read a lot of nonfiction, but I found this memoir about one man's garden to be enjoyable. Humorous and thoughtful, this is a good read for people who have that love/hate relationship with their own gardens.
David Siegel
The Last Refuge by Chris Knopf
Rating: 4 Stars
A readable mystery with interesting characters that drive the narrative. However, it ends weakly, all too common in this genre.
Margaret Nance (mnance3@triad.rr.com)
Firts Impressions by Jude Deveraux
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful summer read. FIRST IMPRESSIONS has just enough mystery and romance to make you want to read the last page to find out how it ends. Being from North Carolina, I always enjoy reading either NC authors or books set in NC. This is a delightful mystery.
LaDonna Carrington (ladonnac@aol.com)
The Husband by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
Another great novel by Koontz. I can't wait for his next release.
Jacki Sanders (j20sanders@yahoo.com)
Honeymoon by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
What can I say? I love James Patterson!!
Bryant Aldstadt
Straight Man by Richard Russo
Rating: 5 Stars
If you're in the mood for an insightful, very funny look at the life of a middle-aged college professor at a small Pennsylvania college, you'll find this book hilarious and hitting closer to home than you'll want to admit!
Brad
Business Trip by Brad Norman
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great book, especially for a first work. It's extremely fast paced and keeps you guessing until the very end.
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo by Hinrich Rink
Rating: 1 Stars
A collection of confusing Eskimo legends. A little editing would help this book a lot.
Amber Porter (amberporter@mchsi.com)
Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a great book. It was very interesting because it delves into Chinese heritage and rituals. You will learn about the role of the woman in Chinese culture and the way the author shows the relationships of these women, and how they intertwine is spellbinding. It was a great book and hard to put down. I highly recommend it.
Debbie Koenig
Copycat by Erica Spindler
Rating: 5 Stars
I finished this book in one weekend because I couldn't bear to put it down for long! It keep me guessing who the perp was until the last 20 pages. I have just passed it on to a friend and she is already hooked on page 20!
Jodi
Thriller by edited by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
A great collection of 30 different short stories by some great suspense/thriller authors.
Allan F (allanf573@yahoo.com)
1984 by George Orwell
Rating: 5 Stars
This is perhaps one of the best books written. For the author to have been able to write about the future as he did, and for us to see what has come to fruition, is totally amazing. A great read for everyone.
Jeanne Sheats (catslady5@aol.com)
Not So Snow White by Donna Kauffman
Rating: 4 Stars
For a fast-paced contemporary romance, it's quite enjoyable. If you like tennis that's an added extra.
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
Dragonwyck by Anya Seton
Rating: 4 Stars
A very good book by Anya Seton. The story takes place in America in the 1840's. It concerns manor tenants. It is a love story about a young impressionable girl and her unusual husband.
Jane (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com)
Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is a page turner and I would highly recommend it. It is a very good book that keeps you hooked till the end.
ry
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Rating: 4 Stars
Amazing science fiction.
Nikki O'Brien
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
You can't help but love Jacob Jankowski, who tells this story in the past and present about his life in the circus. It sounds odd, but it is really a captivating story.
Julie Towson
A Year In The World by Frances Mayes
Rating: 5 Stars
Another wonderful travel book about the author's adventures traveling the world. It is written in the expressive, descriptive style of UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, so if you liked that, you'll like this too.
L. Hann
Santa Fe Rules by Stuart Woods
Rating: 5 Stars
Wolf Willett's life seems to be going very well until 3 people are murdered. Wolf tries to figure out who would kill his wife, best friend and a guy who looks like Wolf himself. Wolf is pinned for these murders. Can he figure out who the real killer is before he is sentenced?
Marjorie L. Carmony
Lover's Knot by Emilie Richards
Rating: 5 Stars
This third book in the Shenandoah Album series was beautifuly written, as were the first two. Richards now tells us that we are to be rewarded with more in this series, not just these three. We want her characters to be in our own lives.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
London Bridges by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
Another great Patterson novel --- the Wolf and Weasel are back, and are giving Alex Cross a gigantic problem to resolve. The story takes Alex from the U.S. to England and to Paris in pursuit of the elusive Wolf before destruction reigns.
Sandy Benson
Break No Bones by Kathy Reich
Rating: 3 Stars
Since Reichs is a forensic expert, the book is filled with details about bodies and what a coroner does. When I say filled, I mean filled. For someone who enjoys the minute details of CSI, this is your book. I am not really into that, so I gave 3 stars, but if you enjoy that kind of thing, this is a five-star book for you.
Marjorie L. Carmony
Can't Wait To Get To Heaven by Fannie Flagg
Rating: 5 Stars
Once again, we meet some of the wonderful characters from WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BABY GIRL and STANDING IN THE RAINBOW. The influence of one person on so many others is shown in Flagg's typical humorous and poignant writing.
Peggy (cali_lb@msn.com)
Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller
Rating: 5 Stars
Sharon McCone is an original that can't be beat. She marries and continues having the most fascinating cases. Haven't we all wondered about how and why people go missing and what would happen if they were found years later? Ms. Muller always keeps the suspense right on the edge, so much that you can't put the book down until you reach the last page. She is the Mistress of Suspense.
Peggy (cali_lb@msn.com)
Gone by Jonathan Kellerman
Rating: 5 Stars
Is there another psychologist as fascinating as Alex Delaware? After so many books and so many years, watching Alex at work never dulls the senses. GONE is another great suspense thriller with all the old characters and one new little guy. Great summer reading.
Peggy (cali_lb@msn.com)
Crime Beat by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
This is where the man who created Harry Bosch found many of his ideas for his great mysteries. This is real life and reading this book is like being at a crime scene and learning how it all works from both the law enforcement side and the reporter side. If you haven't read a Bosch novel or any of Connelly's books, this one will make you sit up and realize you've been missing some of the best mystery writing in today's literary world.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 3 Stars
This was not as exciting as the prior Stephanie Plum novels ---- she seems to be slowing down, is it time for a commitment from Joe or Ranger. It will probably be Joe, but if it were me, I would choose Ranger.
Liz
The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow
Rating: 4 Stars
A tongue-in-cheek look at the characters and events of the mid-1700s (both in England and the Colonies) through the eyes of Newton's Prinicipa Mathematica, and a young woman who seeks justice for the execution of her aunt. Very creative!
Pamel Johnson (pamelj@myway.com)
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm about halfway through and it is very perceptive, well written, and detail oriented. However, it does lack a bit of luster.
L. Hann
2nd Chance by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Rating: 5 Stars
The Women's Murder Club is at it again. After several murders happen, Lindsay Boxer and her gang get together again to try and solve them. What they discover is very interesting. Lindsay's father comes into play in this book. Will she understand the struggles that her father went through when he was on the force? This murder will open her eyes to how the "brotherhood" was and how things don't change.
Eve Ferraro
Digging to America by Anne Tyler
Rating: 4 Stars
She wove a wonderful web of family.
Stefanie Wallace
The Thieves of Heaven by Richard Doetsch
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was so exciting! It keeps you in suspense, wondering what will happen next. With a lot of twists and surprises, I couldn't put it down until the end. I also thought that it would make a great movie.
Susan Jensen
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Rating: 5 Stars
I was completely taken aback by this absorbing novel. It's an exciting, richly detailed saga that will draw you in completely. It's the story of Claire Randall, a nurse in 1943, who flies back in time when she steps into an ancient Scottish stone circle. Suddenly, she finds herself swept up in a violent clash between British soldiers and Scottish clansmen. A certain clansman catches her eye and eventually, her heart, making it very difficult for her to choose between the past and the present. Great read.
Colleen Estep (cestep@infodash.com)
The Beach House by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge
Rating: 5 Stars
I absolutely love James Patterson, and this book was one of his very best. The way the "poor" folks outwit and win agaisnt the powers that be is great. I could not put it down, and read it all in one sitting.
Sue Wardrep (suewardrep@comcast.net)
Broken For You by Stephanie Kallos
Rating: 4 Stars
Really a good read. I couldn't put it down.
Sue (suewardrep@comcast.net)
Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman
Rating: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this story of the people and events over a period of time in this particular house.
E. Quinn Knight (eqkmath@gmail.com)
Veronica by Mary Gaitskill
Rating: 4 Stars
At first, it seems like a dark novel, then when you understand the relationship that is evolving, it becomes a powerful book about intimacy. It is a wonderfully written book and a delight to read.
Vickie
Proof Positive by Phillip Margolin
Rating: 5 Stars
Margolin has created believable characters that invoke sympathy because of their circumstances. Doug Weaver is an excellent attorney, who just needs to prove it. Amanda Jaffe has already proved her worth, but she is now being tested with the death of a forensic scientist. The villain excuses his behavior in a way that many of us identify with; he just wants to make sure that justice is carried out. This wonderful read is very hard to put down!
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
When The Ravens Die by Cameron Kent
Rating: 4 Stars
Very good story about the English Monarchy and intrigue in the Royal Court. It was well written and it held my interest throughout the whole story.
Vickie
Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
A good read and a taut page-turning thriller that will keep you reading long into the night. Reese Gilmore is running from the violence in her past, only to encounter it again on a hike into the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. She must prove to everyone in the town that she is not crazy, that she did see a murder, while events around her are pointing to her loss of sanity. She seems to be her own worst enemy as the plot runs in many directions until at last it climaxes in a small cabin, where Reese must confront her fears or see a loved one killed again. I figured out who the bad guy was before the end, but it was still a very satisfying read.
Anthony Romano (ARomano895@aol.com)
The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
Rating: 5 Stars
Very well written. It explaines the brief history of the 21st century, and is very educational and revealing. This is a must read for anyone currently employed in the US.
Cat
The Prey by Allison Brennon
Rating: 5 Stars
Really good thriller. Keeps you on your toes and has a few little surprises and ... of course, a love story!!
Susan Jensen
Gentlemen & Players by Joanne Harris
Rating: 5 Stars
This books starts off slowly, but don't put it down! It's an excellent thriller about a person determined to ruin a private boys' school. The ending is brilliant --- you'll never see it coming. This book is a lot different from Harris's previous work, but it's definitely worth the read.
Sherry
Sex, Murder and A Double Latte by Kyra Davis
Rating: 5 Stars
SEX, MURDER, AND A DOUBLE LATTE was so fun to read that I stayed awake until the wee hours of the night to finish it. This book is suspenseful, chic, fun and very funny. The story is also quite engaging.
Juli Wooten
Immoral by Brian Freeman
Rating: 5 Stars
I just read this book in 3 days and could not put it down! I'm a huge fan of James Patterson, John Saul, Alex Kava, Ann Rule and Jonathan Kellerman. Brian Freeman's first book, IMMORAL is definitely in their league! It was an absolute page turner that I read every spare minute I could and went to bed late, falling asleep with the book laying open. I can't wait for his next book to be released on October 3!
Barbara Cappucci (Lea140@aol.com)
Dead Simple by Peter Janes
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm not even done with this book and I can give it 5 stars!! That says a lot! I've read a few other books by this author, which have always made me want more.
How many books can be page turners before you even crack the cover? Not many, but this author does it.
Lyla D (dragonqwester@hotmail.com)
Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson
Rating: 4 Stars
Ms. Jackson has created a wonderful setting, and in this character-driven novel, we learn about the strange folks of Between, Georgia, population, 90. It opens with a 15-year-old girl arriving at Bernice's house in the midst of labor. Her sisters, Stacia and Genny, arrive from next door and assist with the delivery. The catch is that Stacia is a blind, deaf, mute and the girl is from the family on the "other" side of the tracks. The baby, named Nonny Jane, is adopted by Stacia and raised by her and Genny, who has some serious mental health problems. She is given love, security and just a touch of weirdness.
Ms. Jackson's voice is clear, humorous and loving and she has found an excellent voice in Nonny. I recommend this book, highly.
Mo (maestraw@msn.com)
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
I must say, this is the best book I have read this year. Gruen captures the sights, sounds, and smells of the Big Top during the Depression. It is a wonderful journey back through time, as Jacob Jankowski narrates the 3.5 months he spent as a circus veterinarian. I consider it a "must read" and could see it optioned as a movie.
Pattie Berryhill (pattiberr@aol.com)
Mad River Road by Joy Fielding
Rating: 4 Stars
I loved the female characters in this book. They had their faults, but they were down to earth, like people we know. I enjoyed this book very much.
Beverly Rowe (bevbooks@aol.com)
The Last Assassin by Barry Eisler
Rating: 5 Stars
I read the first four of his books about the half caucasian, half Japanese mercenary assassin, John Rain. This is the newest installment and it is impossible to put down. I read number 4 first, and then bought numbers 1, 2, 3 & 5.. .they are that good!!
Barbara Cappucci (Lea140@aol.com)
Killer Instinct by Joseph Finder
Rating: 5 Stars
Anyone can relate to this one. The workplace atmosphere grabs you right from the beginning, and the plot keeps twisting to keep you turning the pages. This is the third book I've read by this author, and I'm looking forward to the next one!
Nyla Thompson (theclan@triotel.net)
The Overland Trail by Wendi Lee
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is written based on the diaries of frontier women. A fast-paced and very good read. It's about the the women who crossed the country in the 1840s, and their true-life stories of hope, pain, love, loss and the fights with the elements and unfriendly Indians.
E. Quinn Knight (knight@sxu.edu)
Veronica by Mary Gaitskill
Rating: 4 Stars
At first, the book is very dark, but the reader is allowed to glimpse the wonderful relationship that occurs. It is well worth the read. Take time to enjoy the intimacy that the author so aptly describes to a deep degree in this text.
Donna L.
Secrets & Mysteries of the World by Sylvia Browne
Rating: 5 Stars
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