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Jud Hanson
A Case of Need by Michael Crichton
Rating: 4 Stars
This is an oldie but a goodie by Crichton, writing as Jeffery Hudson. I found it very interesting because the story centers around a girl dying as a result of an abortion, an illegal act in the time frame the book was written. The story and characters are both well developed and I can recommend this book to all who love a medical mystery.
Marilyn Shoemaker
"Come Moon Rising" from UNLEASHED by Lucy Monroe
Rating: 5 Stars
I've never read a paranormal, let alone a werewolf book, but after reading this, I realized what I've been missing. Maybe because it's by Lucy Monroe, who is an auto-buy for me, I loved it! "Loved it" doesn't describe this decadent story. This book is part of UNLEASHED, a paranormal anthology and Lucy's first contemporary werewolf story. This book takes passion to a higher level and Ty and Frankie's journey to finding love and understanding.
I found this book to be interesting as the reader learns about werewolfs, fernwolfs, the "laws of the pack", and just what mating means to a wolf, that once they mate, they mate for life and marriage must occur.
Ty and Frankie have been friends since she was twelve. There is a scene when Frankie was younger at the fishing hole and is crying, missing her parents who had perished. A wolf comes to her and licks her tears away. The wolf reminds her of her bestfriend, Ty, the love of her life. Frankie has loved Ty for years and returns home to put an end to this torture by trying to find out if they have a chance. She forces the issue, but due to pack laws, Ty wants to be with one of his own and tries to push Frankie away. They get stranded, she forces the issue by seducing him, and let me just say, their passion is so strong and forceful it will just plain take your breath away. It's their journey to finding love and is one you will long remember. I congratulate Lucy Monroe as she has again written a very powerful story with Come Moonrise.
Christina DeAngelis
The Boss & Miss Baxter by Wendy Warren
Rating: 4 Stars
Believable storyline and sweet characters...
Marilyn Shoemaker
The Substitute Millionaire by Susan Mallery
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the first book in the series THE MILLION DOLLAR CATCH and a fabulous first book in the series. It's Ryan and Julie's story and a fun, passionate and very powerful read.
Julie is the oldest of three sisters and has problems trusting men. Her father comes and goes as he pleases, which hurts her entire family; her one-time fiance was actually a married man and now her newfound Grandmother wants her to go on a blind date with her eldest millionaire nephew. The offering is $1,000,000, should they marry. However, Julie just wants to humor her Grandmother Ruth, so she agrees to go on the date.
Strong, handsome, and smart Ryan hears from his cousin Todd that their Great Aunt Ruth wants Todd to go on a blind date. Ryan has just been hurt by a recent relationship and tells Todd he'll go in his place and teach the money-grabbing woman a lesson. Ryan poses as Todd but doesn't count on Julie being so beautiful, charming, smart and witty. Their evening begins with sizzling attraction and ends in passion. However, not so the next morning when Ryan reveals who he truly is and Julie throws Ryan out on his ear.
Fate, destiny? Call it whatever you want but Julie finds out she is pregnant with Ryan's child and this takes the reader on a rollercoaster journey one to be remembered for a long time.
I honestly can say I can't wait for the next book in the series as these rich and powerful men are going to have their hands full with the two remaining sisters....Willow and Marina.
Susan Mallery has again written an incredible series and this one being full of passion, humor, and sensitivity.
Marilyn Shoemaker
Sinfully Sexy by Linda Francis Lee
Rating: 5 Stars
Just when you think it can't get any better, well it does! This second in the series, well, I couldn't put it down. The Editorial Review sums up the book but you must read to fully enjoy the author's take on the second friend, Chloe and her love, Sterling. The book was warm and I just loved Linda's take on the TV Bachelor Series, which these three friends produce in El Paso, Tx.....brilliant
Marilyn Shoemaker
Fire Still Burns by Roxanne St. Claire
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the second book in the McGrath Brothers series. It's wonderful --- a truly romantic love story about two people who met in college, and then 10 years later meet again, bidding on the same project.
It restores my faith in happy endings.
I highly recommend this book, as well as the first in the series, LIKE A HURRICANE.
These two books are St. Claire at her best!
Nyla Thompson (theclan@triotel.net)
The Viking by Margaret Moore
Rating: 5 Stars
He was a Viking, she was a Saxon.
He raided her village, and instead of killing her like the he was paid to do, he kidnapped her to sell into slavery. He took the children too, only for the ransom he could get for them.
Marsha
Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess
Rating: 4 Stars
Meredith's pedophile father is being released from prison, and she is petrified. How she handles the return will keep you glued to the book. It will tear at your heartstrings. It grabs you from the first page and you cannot leave it until you know the outcome. It is a wonderful lesson for all the young people who feel they have been abandoned by their parents and the system of child protection. Inner strength is a part of us all.
Pat Stubbs
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Rating: 5 Stars
What an excellent and emotional book. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have.
Nyla Thompson (theclan@triotel.net)
Country Kisses by Sharon Harlow
Rating: 5 Stars
What would we do if we were children and were made to leave home alone? Who would love us, how do we find enough to eat? It is three times worse if there are three of us.How many years will go by before we can learn to trust and love someone?
Trudy
Act of Treason by Vince Flynn
Rating: 5 Stars
I have enjoyed all of Vince Flynn's books. They're good enough to keep you reading into the night!
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
First Impressions by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
This book about love at first sight was a quick and fun read with likeable characters. I really enjoyed it.
Roxie
The Road by Cormac McCarty
Rating: 4 Stars
The setting is earth destroyed by fire. The 2 main characters are a man and his son who are just trying to survive. It is a heartbreaking story and quite bleak but one as well, and you will not be able to put down until the end.
Rita B.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 4 Stars
I really liked this book. The style is rather reminiscent of Jane Austen.
Timeless.
Roxie
Eden Close by Anita Shreve
Rating: 3 Stars
I love Anita Shreve, but this is not her best work. The story revolves around a man who comes back to his hometown for his mother's funeral. It was an interesting enough story, but I didn't find the ending very realistic.
Sally B., San Antonio TX`
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Rating: 3 Stars
This was our book club's "Biography/Memoir" selection.
A young girl narrates the story of growing up with an alcoholic father and a dysfunctional (bipolar?) mother. The first half of the book did not seem realistic at all. But once the main character grew up, it became somewhat more interesting.
L. Gettle (lgettle@iserv.net)
Born in Death by J.D. Robb
Rating: 5 Stars
I completely enjoy this series. The only thing the author has told us about character Eve Dallas's background is that her father was abusive, but I have a theory. I think she was kidnapped at birth and that monster wasn't her actual parent. I can only wait and see what future books have to say about that.
legbamel
Everville by Clive Barker
Rating: 5 Stars
If you like Barker's magical realism, or if you've read or even been curious about his Imajica or Weaveworld books, you should try this one. It's techinically a sequel to THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW, but it stands alone beautifully and is a strong example of the best of his work.
Nannette Croce
36C by Barbara Quinn
Rating: 5 Stars
After another day of wasting her considerable artistic talents selling lingerie in a high-end Manhattan boutique and drinking one-too-many Blow Jobs with her friend and co-worker, Carmen, Tressa Connell spies her fiancé entering the same bar, nibbling the neck of another woman --- and the woman looks eerily like her!
So begins 36C, Barbara Quinn's latest novel that grabs hold of you from the beginning and doesn't let go until you've read the last page. Being a slow reader, it is highly unusual for me to finish a book in just two nights. In fact, I probably would have finished 36C in one night if I didn't have to get up early the next day. That's how anxious I was to see how things worked out for Tressa and which guy, if any, she ended up with––the Jewish cop with qualms about dating a Catholic or the good-looking guy from "Hymnastics" who blows hot and cold.
But 36C is more than just the story of Tressa Connell. Quinn surrounds Tressa with a great cast of characters from helmet-haired boss, Bianca Turnbull, to Carmen who works the makeup counter and hides the truth of her challenging life until it becomes clear to Tressa that she needs some serious help. Even lesser characters like Andy, the cashier, Tressa's parents, and her brother who we don't actually meet until the end, are fully developed without crowding out the main theme.
This book is a must read for anyone who has ever struggled with a demanding, insensitive boss, wasted a chunk of her life in a dead-end job, or felt like love only happens with the wrong guy. In other words, just about everyone.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Rating: 3 Stars
3.5 stars. This is the abridged audiobook read by the author.
LIVING HISTORY was a pretty good political book. Hillary told it like she felt it during Bill's "exploits."
The abridged version is definitely the way to go on nonfiction. It cuts out all the "soft" words and gets to the meat of the book.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
All She Wants by Shiloh Walker, Dominque Adiar and Jaid Black
Rating: 3 Stars
This anthology from three of my favorite authors was fast-paced, wonderfully written, and an all-around good read. It was easy to fall into each of the stories, and the characters were unique and likeable.
Kimberly (kgrantdesigns@hotmail.com)
The Lost Painting by Johnathan Harr
Rating: 3 Stars
I finally finished this audio book. Although I enjoyed listening to Campbell Scott, the plot was a bit dry. There is very little dialogue and quite a bit of historical information. It was ok, but lacked a punch. It was an infomative history lesson about the painter Caravaggio.
Rose-Hulman Mom
Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Rating: 4 Stars
Written from several perspectives, WIDOW OF THE SOUTH is a Civil War novel about the Battle of Franklin. Many of the bloody battle scenes took place in the cotton and cornfields on the periphery of Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee. Carrie McGavock is the mistress of this plantation, and her home becomes a "prison" and a field hospital for the wounded and dying Confederates. The characters' perspectives of their bullet-riddled lives and futures are sometimes hopeful, sometmes bleak. The Carnton House is a mournful character that moans and cries with tales of despair, horrors of amputations, broken dreams and of desperate hopes. Carrie's passion, determination, and her life's somber purpose becomes defined through the aftermath of the Battle,
This novel certainly brings the realities of war into our homes of safe havens. Before reading page one, I would highly reccommend taking a look at the Author's Note (at the back of the book) for facts and tidbits of family history. It deepens the reader's understanding of the sorrow of Carrie McGavock's life.
L. Gettle (lgettle@iserv.net)
Act of Treason by Vince Flynn
Rating: 5 Stars
Very intense, very exciting thriller.
Marsha
Thriller by Edited by James Patterson and David Liss
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first publication of a new professional organization (International Thriller Writers, Inc.) and contains 30 top-rate stories including tales of suspense and intrigue. This is quite a treat.
Judy O.
Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 5 Stars
DeMille's books are always a treat. This one, again, has John Corey as the main protagonist, and he's still as smart-mouthed as ever. He adds some lightness to a very serious plot. A nuclear explosion is about to occur, and it's up to Corey and his wife Kate to stop it. The story is full of breath- taking suspense, and has a satisfying conclusion.
Sanda F.
The Third Secret by Steve Berry
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great book!! It is every bit as good as THE DA VINCI CODE. Anyone who likes intrigue in the Vatican will enjoy this book.
Diane
The Garden of Eden and other Criminal Delights by Faye Kellerman, Dennis Boutsikaris, Nancy McKeon,
Rating: 4 Stars
A very good collection of 17 short and exciting stories.
Diane
The Collectors by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
The Camel Club is back and I am happy....."Oliver Stone" and his men are on another mission and there are lots of twists in this one. Everyone collects something. Hopefully, we will see a third book soon.
Diane
Under Orders by Dick Francis
Rating: 4 Stars
Welcome back, Mr. Francis! UNDER ORDERS hooked me on the first page. This is a good story with interesting characters, plus I learned a bit more about horse racing.
John
A Dangerous Man by Charlie Huston
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the last book of a trilogy about a man who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and everything only goes downhill from there. Imagine finding 4 million bucks and then losing it! This provides a very noir conclusion to an even darker series. Make sure you read the first 2 books first; this one will make a lot more sense. And if this is too intense reading, then check out Mr. Huston's book starring a PI, who is also a vampire!
Marsha
What Came Before He Shot Her by Elizabeth George
Rating: 5 Stars
This novel takes us into the heart and soul of the disadvantaged and struggling Campbell Children from a rough section of London as they struggle to survive in the dangerous and threatening world in which they are thrust. It is very believable and fascinating.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Out by Natsuo Kirino
Rating: 5 Stars
This one was a mystery bookclub pick, and it was really good. It was dark and depressing, but very well written. 4 women who work the late shift at a boxed lunch factory help one of their own dispose of her husband. The aftermath of this terrible deed is very unique. These 4 women partake in the most evil of deeds and their lives have changed as a result. The book takes interesting twists and turns and the ending is not what you would expect. This is a very unique story, almost Hitchcock like. I really enjoyed it.
Maria
A French Affair by Susan Lewis
Rating: 5 Stars
This is amazing. It's full of passion, lust, and loads of twists and turns. You would never guess the ending!
Nancy Dunn
At Risk by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 5 Stars
This will hold your attention all night, so be ready for a sleepy tomorrow!!!
Ann Rumsey (annrumsey@aol.com)
The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde
Rating: 5 Stars
Fforde's sense of humor and whimsy is amazing. This second Nursery Crimes book is laugh-out-loud funny.
Kathi Book (kathibook@hotmail.com)
This Body by Tessa McWatt
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is a couple of years old (2004), but is worth the search on the shelves. The first thing it has to recommend it: McWatt is a Canadian writer. The book moves effortlessly between London (England), Toronto, and Guyana. It is the story of a Guyanese woman living in London. When her sister dies, she must raise her nephew, which is unchartered waters for her, as she's sixty-one years old. I am not very far into the book, but the writing is outstanding;it's sometimes poetic but not pretentious, sometimes unfamiliar but always strangely familiar, and always with the voice of a stroyteller.
Carolyn Burnsides
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved the book cover to cover.
Vin Costanzo
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
Rating: 4 Stars
I have only read about 50 pages so far, but it reads like a novel. In starting it, I could not put it down. However, with the recent death of famed Boston Celtic coach and guru Red Auerbach, I have taken a break to go back and read John Feinstein's great book on Red. I am now ready to go back and finish THE INNOCENT MAN.
Irene Prokop
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
An unusual topic, lots of history, and a well-conceived plot make this circus tale enjoyable and fresh.
Irene Prokop
Nail Biter by Sandra Graves
Rating: 4 Stars
Graves is writing a series of "home improvement" mysteries of which this is one of the best. Zany characters, funny dialogue, and a tight plot.
Michele L.
Match Me if you Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a rollicking good story of a shark sports agent, Heath Champion, who hires Annabelle Granger, owner of a matchmaking business, to find him the perfect wife. Annabelle finds many women, but Heath just isn't happy with any of them. Annabelle is also up against another matchmaking business whom Heath also hired. The story is hilarious, fast-paced, and sexy. Guirky, sexy, funny women and sizzling hot men are sprinkled throughout the story. Two thumbs up!
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
The Christmas List by Pete Nelson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book on the importance of kindness and appreciation is a heart-touching and heart-warming tale that you will want to read all in one sitting (with a box of tissues at hand.) Mr. Nelson has written an excellent book that, in my opinion, should be considered a holiday classic and a required must read.
Bridget
The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erikson
Rating: 5 Stars
I could not put this book down. It is the story of the wife who "survived." In this book, Henry is a real monster. The surviving wife seemed to have been cheated from real happiness throughout her life. It was very well written and I recommend it highly!
Bonnie
The Sportswriter by Richard Ford
Rating: 3 Stars
When I was much younger I felt guilty if I didn't finish reading a book. No more. I looked forward to THE SPORTSWRITER since I knew Ford to be a prestigious, acclaimed writer. The book is beautifully written, the words are lovely. But ultimately, after getting through about 2/3 of the novel, I decided I didn't care what happened to the main character. Life is too short to read, dare I say it, boring books.
Bridget
The Third Secret by Steve Berry
Rating: 3 Stars
A good, solid, entertaining read, featuring vatican intrigue about the real third secret of Fatima. Evil priests and popes are up against good priests and popes, with a little help from beautiful atheist reporter.
Midge
The United States of Arugula by David Kamp
Rating: 2 Stars
If you can get this book for free, in my opinion, that's about all it's worth.
I originally bought this book for Mom, who gave up on it after a few chapters because it is poorly written. The footnotes are so far off base from the text the you just lose the flow of the book.
It's gossipy, but maybe you like that sort of thing.
I didn't agree with his premise from the onset, so maybe I was destined to dislike this book.
Michele Risner (micheler@hotmail.com)
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 4 Stars
Another great read by a great author. FOR ONE MORE DAY was quick and hard to put down.
Jan
Marked Man by William Lashner
Rating: 4 Stars
I thoroughly enjoy William Lashner's books, and this one is no exception. I was hooked from Page 1 as Victor Carl begins to unravel the mystery of his strange new tattoo, while his life slowly unravels too. This is a humorous and thought-provoking read.
Deborah Bowers
Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto
Rating: 5 Stars
I love the graphics format, and the balance of humor with the reality of cancer in your life.
J. P. Feingold
Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen
Rating: 3 Stars
Hiaasen's anger over the over-development of Florida is most prominent here. I expected more humor and didn't find it.
Paula
S is for Silence by Sue Grafton
Rating: 3 Stars
This book is not one of the best in the series. I kept getting the male characters mixed up because their dialogue was not differentiated to fit their characters. The last 25 pages of the book were suspenseful.
Donna Lenhardt
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Rating: 4 Stars
What a fantastic book! Just picked it up in the library today and haven't been able to put it down! There are always (at least) two sides to every story. This is one side and Emily's other book, called SOMETHING BLUE, is the other side. Great writing!!
ck
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
Rating: 1 Stars
A disappointing read even if you are a fan of fictional murder and mayhem. The mental state of the protagonist, who was disfigured accidently during a fake assasination of a friend and advisor to the president, is painful for a reader to share. The killer is disgusting. The ugly details ruin what might have been an interesting plot.
J.C.
Fender Benders by Bill Fitzhugh
Rating: 4 Stars
It's very funny and has a great story line.
Wave Structure
The Lost Scroll and the Secret of Life by Tom Jankovic
Rating: 5 Stars
The best book I have seen in some time. This thrilling, exciting adventure is a must read!
Rita Cameron
Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan
Rating: 4 Stars
A fascinating message of trust and faith is learned through a courageous woman's journey with Aborigines in Australia.
J.C.
Dispatch by Bentley Little
Rating: 4 Stars
Bentley Little is great at writing horror stories that turn common, everyday experiences into creepy, twisted nightmares. In DISPATCH, a man's talent for writing letters makes him a target of an evil, supernatural organization that controls global events through letter writing. His story ideas would seem silly if not for his frighteningly believable execution of them.
Luann
Miracle in the Andes: 72 days on the mountain and by Nando Parrado and Vince Rause
Rating: 5 Stars
An amazing true story written by one of the men who experienced it, describing courage, the will to live, and the power of love against impossible odds.
Mrs. Keeva H. Smotherman
French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano
Rating: 4 Stars
What can I say? It's all common sense, but Guiliano makes it easy! Also included are incredible recipes.
Kathleen Vogel (kvsoon@aol.com)
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
Rating: 3 Stars
The secrets of a family in occupied France during World War II are revealed through flashbacks by the youngest daughter. It is an interesting read, but the book seems to drag on.
Mary Schreiner
One Mississippi by Mark Childress
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great book. If you loved Mark's book CRAZY IN ALABAMA, you are going to enjoy this one even more.
Marlys Davis
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent! I read it through for my book club, and finished early. So, to refresh my memory, I listened to the audio-book just 2 weeks later, and was just as captivated the second time around!
J.C.
The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book by Bill Watterson
Rating: 4 Stars
It's got great comic strips like any Calvin and Hobbes collection, but what makes this one special are the short comments that Watterson adds throughout. When combined with the essays at the beginning of the book, it gives some insight into the mind behind one of the best comic strips ever.
Toni Savchuck (tonisandlin@aol.com)
I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent and exciting book about Da Vinci, Savonarola, and the Medicis as Kalogridis writes about the life of the model of the best known painting in the world. This book makes you feel that you are there with romance, intrigue and thrills.
Julie Towson
Songs in Ordinary Times by Mary McGarry Morris
Rating: 5 Stars
An unforgettable epic of everyday life that tells the story of a family and the town they live in.
Margaret
Find Me by Carol O'Connell
Rating: 5 Stars
I just finished reading an ARC of the latest Mallory novel by Carol O'Connell. There's only one thing to say, "Wow." There is no other protagonist in crime fiction like New York City detective Kathy Mallory. This book takes the young detective out of New York City to the heartland and Route 66, as she tries to follow the trail of her never-seen father and also find a brutal serial killer. Fantastic storytelling!
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Not Me by Michael Lavigne
Rating: 4 Stars
An amazing adventure from the Nazi death camps to a love story during the battle for the State of Israel.
Coral Harrison
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful story of a 93-year-old man who relives his earlier days spent in a circus. It is excellent and very well written.
Coral Harrison
The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard
Rating: 5 Stars
A good mystery that is finally solved after 17 years. I can't tell too much or will give it away.
Pat Hoel
A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas
Rating: 5 Stars
Heartbreaking and real, this is about living with emotional and physical tragedy. Exceptional!
Pat Hoel
Jimmy Stewart by Marc Eliot
Rating: 5 Stars
A portrait of a complex and talented man, who was truly great star, and a detailed history of Hollywood's best years.
F Tessa Bartels
The Bone People by Keri Hulme
Rating: 3 Stars
The style is difficult to get into, but the story draws you in. Once you find the pace, it's hard to put down. (It won the Booker Prize in 1985.)
Gerry
Eleni by Nicholas Gage
Rating: 5 Stars
Gage's biography of his mother focuses on the hardships and tragedies of her life during World War II and the subsequent Greek civil war. He writes of her courage in protecting her children and helping them to escape their besieged mountain village, and the brutal torture and death she endured as a result. The suffering of these poor Greek villagers was enormous and completely unknown to me until I read this book. Gage brought home not only the pain of his little village, but of all countries overrun by war, and the suffering of innocent civilians who have no real stake in the war's outcome.
Pat Miller
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
What's not to like about his books? I purchased DEAR JOHN on the day it came out and had it read the next day. It was wonderful.
Gerry
A Place for Us: Eleni's Children in America by Nicholas Gage
Rating: 4 Stars
In a sequel to the biography of his mother Eleni, Nicholas Gage continues to tell the story of his family, from 1949 --- when he came to America as a nine-year-old boy and met his father for the first time --- until his father's death in 1983.
Gerry
I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron
Rating: 4 Stars
The earliest essays were great laugh-out-loud fun to read, and though the tone got a bit more somber toward the end, the rest of the book was equally as rewarding. Ephron has a wonderfully witty way of pointing out what all of us have thought at one time or another, but could never communicate so well.
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
Among the Impostors by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rating: 5 Stars
An exciting story for young adults and reluctant readers. Because of a famine, families are restricted to only 2 children. The third child is usually killed or kept in hiding. They are known as Shadow Children. This is an excellent series (7 books) for teenaged readers.
Eileen Q. Knight
The Sense of Paper by Taylor Holden
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a novel about the qualities and paradoxes of paper. It really appeals to those of us who love books. It is a fascinating novel that you will find informative as well as pleasureable.
Jen
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
Her previous books were page turners and this one is too. It is a story of a family torn apart by life and tragedy, and they must find a way to connect again.
Judy (AZ)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Rating: 5 Stars
I wish there were more than 5 stars, this book deserves them. Several reviews from other Word of Mouth contributers led me to read this, and although I'm just reiterating what they said, I hope even more people read this book. It is beautifully written, sad, funny, brilliant. The narrator is Death and the story takes place during Hitler's years of horror. A young foster girl is the heart of the tale, but so many others are brought into the story and your heart. It may have been written as a young adult novel, but it is one that truly haunts any human who reads it.
Kathy B
An American Requiem by James Carroll
Rating: 5 Stars
One of my all-time favorite authors!
This book is a wonderful story of family relationships/conflicts, particularly between a father and son. I gave each of my sons this book for Christmas, and they all loved it!
Kathy B
Amos: To Ride a Dead Horse by Stanley Gordon West
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent read! I laughed, I cried, I loved Amos, an elderly man who had to go to a nursing home, and his experiences there. My book club also raved about it.
Mialou Khatt
Ahab's Wife: Or, the Star-Gazer: A Novel by Sena Jeter Naslund
Rating: 5 Stars
A very well-written story about a book I have not yet read. It was really fun to discover all the famous people that were referenced in this book. Any fan of Historical Fiction should read it.
Patricia Schrot
Kisscut by Karin Slaughter
Rating: 4 Stars
This sequel to BLIGHTSIGHTED is a very shocking tale of child abuse and pedophiles. Obviously these things happen, but it is sickening to read about.
Patricia Schrot
What Came Before He Shot Her by Elizabeth George
Rating: 4 Stars
A well-written but very disturbing story about a boy trapped by circumstance who feels he has no one to turn to for help. He is misled into thinking he is getting help from his tormentors but is actually being set up and left to take the blame for a shooting.
Suzanne
Capital Crimes by Jonathan and Faye Kellerman
Rating: 5 Stars
Suspenseful! These stories are good and well written.
Nyla Thompson (theclan@triotel.net)
The Kadin by Bertrice Small
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a story of three beautiful lovely girls of royality who were sold into slavery and bought by the Kadins as a slave for his master's herem. One of the slaves becomes his favorite. This is an excellent and very well-written story.
Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com)
Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos
Rating: 3 Stars
A very good, fast read. However, there were just too many coincidences for me. I did like the idea of surrogate families and doing good deeds for others.
Book Momma
Hundred-Dollar Baby by Robert B. Parker
Rating: 3 Stars
Spenser and Hawk try to help a woman from the past keep her business from being taken over. But, all is not as it seems. Spenser puts his life in danger to solve the case.
Book Momma
Echo Park by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
Another terrific Harry Bosch police procedural. Harry fears that he failed to identify a serial killer years ago, and let more killings occur. Harry has to fight fellow police officers to solve the case.
Deborah Allen
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Rating: 4 Stars
Beautifully researched account of Chinese life in this earlier time period.
Gerry
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
An engrossing and creepy novel about four young people on vacation in the Yucatan, searching for a friend who has failed to return after visiting a nearby archaeological dig. I didn't want to put it down.
bookczuk
The Bone Vault by Linda Fairstein
Rating: 3 Stars
My first book by this author --- it's not bad, but was particularly interesting for the backstory and the information on three great museums: MOMA, The Cloisters and The Museum of Natural History.
bookczuk
Scambusters by Ron Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
I read an ARC of this book. There are good hints to help prevent the bad guys from getting your personal information or your cash. It's geared towards seniors.
Karen
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
A great romantic suspense by one of my all-time favorite authors. I had a hard time putting this book down.
Karen
Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a "can't put it down" thriller that incorporates modern technolgy, real government organizations, nuclear terrorism and DeMille's wild-fire writing.
JaneAnn
Lethal Justice by Fern Micheals
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the sixth book in Weekend Warriors Sisterhood series. The last one moved slowly, but this one has picked up and gotten me back into it. I just about finished it in one day. Do you ever get fed up with how we (women) are treated by the system? These girls do, and get even!!
Gerry
Crisis by Robin Cook
Rating: 1 Stars
What a disappointment! Though the plot wasn't bad, the writing was abysmal, and the characters more like caricatures. Cook's story of an arrogant Boston doctor faced with a malpractice suit was not even close to the quality of his previous books. A complete waste of time.
AnnieH
The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
Fast paced. I love Alex Cross novels.
Allan Fredericks (afredericks1@msn.com)
Hundred-Dollar Baby by Robert B. Parker
Rating: 5 Stars
This is another in the long line of Spenser Novels. Like all the rest, there is humor along with the the various turns the story takes. Parker is at is best.
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
Act of Treason by Vince Flynn
Rating: 4 Stars
This thriller involving Mitch Rapp was very interesting and very much in tune with today's headlines --- the election of a President and the corruption of politicians.
T. Brown (tsbrown62@aol.com)
Where You Belong by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first book I've read by this author...and it will be the last. I found this book to be quite boring. Just not my kind of reading, I guess.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry
Rating: 3 Stars
A holiday journey of forgiveness and love, but also a story for any time of the year. I thoroughly enjoy reading Anne Perry, and especially like the Monk series. I learn a little of the history through her stories.
Justine Brewer
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
Rating: 4 Stars
This book was recommended to be by a friend. It is the first in a series of at least 11 books. The main character is Anita Blake, an animator (someone who raises the dead) and vampire slayer. She is forced by the master vampire Nikolaos to find out who is murdering vampires in the community. Anita finds herself in some terrifying situations, such as being thrown into a dungeon with huge wererats (half rat, half human creatures) and a graveyard surrounded by hungry ghouls. This author has a wild imagination, to say the least. I enjoyed the book and will continue reading the series.
Joseph Gabriel
Sin, Shame & Secrets by David Yonke
Rating: 5 Stars
I couldn't put this nonfiction book down --- a Toledo Catholic priest is arrested by cold-case detectives for the murder of a nun 24 years earlier. Police say it's a ritual killing. The police and diocese are in cahoots to cover it up in 1980, but in 2006, the priest is convicted. I saw it on Court TV, and Yonke's book fills in all the missing pieces.
Caroline Ramirez (metalfiend11@yahoo.com)
The Cat Who Turned On And Off by Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: 4 Stars
The third book in the Cat Who series. I just love these cat mysteries!!! They are light and fast reads. In this installment, Jim Qwuilleran and his cats have to solve a murder mystery that takes him into the world of antiques.
Debra LeBarron
Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery
Rating: 5 Stars
It is part of the Anne of Green Gables series, and I love them all too.
Caroline Ramirez (caroline@swtexas.com)
The Mediterranean Caper by Clive Cussler
Rating: 4 Stars
The first book in the Dirk Pitt series and also the first Clive Cussler book I've ever read. I didn't think I was going to like it, but I loved it. There were lots of twists and turns. I am definitely a Dirk Pitt fan who looks forward to reading the next installment in the series.
Pat Lewis
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
A marvelous novel with wonderful character development. If you've ever been to a circus and wondered what happened behind the scenes, this is the book for you!
Dani
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 4 Stars
I liked this book more than I thought I would. Parts of it definitely stick with me after finishing it.
Dani
Summer At Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
Rating: 5 Stars
Love it! I'm reading it slowly to make it last longer. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
KelleyB
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassan
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a great book. I kind of lost interest in Hiassan for a while, but this one definitely brought me back.
Toni Giarnese
Cliffs of Despair by Tom Hunt
Rating: 5 Stars
An amazing travelogue/memoir/reportage about Beachyhead, England where 500 people go to commit suicide each year. It's not depressing, but illuminating and compelling.
Toni Giarnese
Malinche by Laura Esquivel
Rating: 4 Stars
This novel is about Cortés, through the eyes of a young girl given away by her mother to be a slave, who then rises to become Cortés's mistress.
Mark J Weinberg
Blind Submission by Debra Ginsberg
Rating: 5 Stars
A must read. I'm one of those people who doesn't want too much information about a book before I read it. Many times, just the title can convince me to give it a shot. That was what prompted me to purchase BLIND SUBMISSION. From the beginning, you are drawn into the world of publishing agents, and its pages are filled with dynanmic characters and a story that draws you quickly. I am an avid mystery reader and I can't recommend this book enough. I am anxiously awaiting Ms. Ginsberg's next endeavor.
Carol
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
Anyone who enjoys Nora's books will love this romantic suspense. It's about arson and murder, family and love. You won't be able to put it down!
Janet Best (best3sons@insightbb.com)
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a beautiful, touching, even heartwrenching story. It is easy to bond with the characters and feel the sadness and pain of their lives.
Janet Best (best3sons@insightbb.com)
The Girls' Almanac by Emily Franklin
Rating: 5 Stars
Oh my goodness...what a beautiful story! Ms. Franklin has written a lovely book about some friends whose lives are interconnected over a period of time, sometimes without their realizing it. This is a very moving novel.
Sunny
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
Rating: 3 Stars
Anna Quindlen is one of my favorite authors but this book didn't quite make it. Her two main characters, two sisters, weren't very likeable and after half the book was over. I didn't really care all that much about what happened to them. The minor characters were a lot more interesting. I gave the book 3 stars, deservedly so, but it could have been so much more, which was what I'd expect from Anna Quindlen.
J R De Wood Jr. (lotusponds@mindspring.com)
The Great Kagyu Masters by Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen
Rating: 5 Stars
An essential overview full of excellent description of a major Tibetan Buddhist lineal tradition. It includes a very fine series of biographical renderings that detail how the Drikung Kagyu sect evolved along to present day. Scholars and afficionados, as well general students of Himalayan spiritual studies, will enjoy this. It Indicates the phases of interlinking masters in chronologic sequence, and is helpful for sorting various influences in contemporary meditation practices of Vajrayana styles of Tantrik Buddhism. Highly recommended.
Nancy
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
I wasn't sure about this story, because the circus setting didn't really excite me. But, I loved the book, and especially the main character, as both as an old man and as a young man in the circus. It is one of those books you can't put down until it is finished.
Priscilla (pmflynn@webtv.net)
H.R.H. by Danielle Steel
Rating: 5 Stars
No one writes romance as well as Danielle Steele. This is one of her best books ever. If you like romance, you will love this book.
Marsha
Still Life With Rice by Helie Lee
Rating: 4 Stars
A young American woman discovers the life and legacy of her Korean Grandmother in this engrossing tale about the hardships of life in socially repressive Korea during the previous century. The spirit is an inspiration to us all.
Liza
Panic by Jeff Abbott
Rating: 4 Stars
PANIC starts out with a bang and never slows down! It reminded me of THE BOURNE IDENTITY --- the hero is being chased by people who want to kill him, while he is figuring out the reason...on the run!!
Virginia
West of Brazos by Guy Hunter
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved the book. This story from the heart makes you feel like you are there while it happens.
DC
Crisis by Robin Cook
Rating: 3 Stars
This was a disappointing outing for an author who has thrilled in the past. Jack, the main character, is past his prime. The story, about concierge medicine and a patient who dies, is pretty boring. Lawsuits are filed. Jack and Laurie are about to get married. Ho hum...
DC
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
Some college students on a Mexican holiday hook up with a Greek friend to go look at some ruins to find his missing brother. Why do the Mayans try to warn them away?
Virginia
North of Rio Bravo by Guy Hunter
Rating: 5 Stars
You just can't put down this book til you've finished it. It's the sequel to WEST OF BRAZOS. I loved it.
DC
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Rating: 4 Stars
Psycho self mutilating cutter Camilla --- a reporter for a small Chicago newspaper --- goes to Wind Gap, Missouri to investigate two child murders. Is she linked somehow to this crime? And how?
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Rating: 4 Stars
This was the historical account of the planning, building, and running of the World's Fair in Chicago in the late 19th Century. It is loaded with interesting facts and history. Parallel to the story of the fair, is one of a serial killer, who lived very close to the fair grounds, murdering young women and children. I enjoyed the history. It is fascinating. There are parts that drag and are, quite frankly, boring. This did not take away from the interesting view of the times, the people, and the atmosphere. I am glad I read this.
Joan (jscady@efieldguide.com)
The Saboteurs by W. E. B. Griffin and William Butterworth
Rating: 2 Stars
Having read almost all of W.E.B. Griffin's work, I found this one lacking in plot, characterizations and energy. Hang it up, Mr. Griffin.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Rockin' Around That Christmas Tree by Donna Hill and Francis Ray
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a fun and romantic story of a husband and wife who reconnect with one another during the holidays. The characters were likeable and Uncle Eddie and Aunt Etta were hysterical.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
The Christmas Thief by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a fun and lighthearted holiday novel with Alvirah Meehan, Regan Reilly, and a cast of quirky and wacky characters. It was a fast and enjoyable read.
legbamel
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
Rating: 4 Stars
For those with a more sardonic view of the holiday season, this book is better than all the egg nog and pine wreaths put together --- because it's snarky and slightly bitter instead of fluffy and feel-good. It's a lot of fun!
Joan (jscady@efieldguide.com)
The Conservative Soul by Andrew Sullivan
Rating: 3 Stars
A book that all who are interested in political discussion should read. As a Christian liberal, I am finding it fascinating.
Lorna
The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 4 Stars
I am about a third of the way done with this book, and I can't put it down. I have read many of Lisa Gardner's books and loved them all. If you haven't read anything by her, I suggest that you do.
Joan (jscady@efieldguide.com)
Pegasus Descending by James Lee Burke
Rating: 5 Stars
Burke's latest is also one of his best. It takes place in a growing sense of unease right before Katrina in Louisiana. His characters are full and satisfying.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Happy Birthday, Baby by Lynn LaFleur
Rating: 5 Stars
This book contains four wonderful romantic stories of birthday wishes coming true. Each story is well written, with fun and unique characters.
In "The Birthday Gift," Jake wants to give his wife Amanda something special and fulfill her fantasy --- luckily, his cousin Patrick happens to be visiting.
In "It's In The Cards," Kane is exactly that --- in the card, and he's Catherine's fantasy in the flesh.
Lindsey and Sam find they want more from one another than just one night in "One Thing To Give."
And, when Linc finds Chandra in "Unexpected" they both find more than they ever expected.
I thoroughly enjoy Ms. LaFleur and look forward to reading more of her books.
Marsha
The Sign of the Book by John Dunning
Rating: 4 Stars
This series starring Denver bookman and ex-cop Cliff Janeway continues to inform and thrill. The intricacies of book collecting is featured, as well as, legal maneuvers to save an accused mother.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
The Slayer by Stephanie Burke
Rating: 3 Stars
This was an absorbing tale of revenge and lust with strong characters who are fighting against evil, which you had to read from start to finish.
Sandra F.
The Crepes of Wrath by Tamar Myers
Rating: 4 Stars
This mystery series set in the Pennsylvania Dutch country is great entertainment. The descriptions of Amish food is a bonus.
Joan
Small Island by Andrea Levy
Rating: 4 Stars
This book was a great read. The 4 main characters are from Jamaica and England. The story starts out in 1948, but flashes back in time to tell the story of these people and how their lives are bound together. As you read, you learn of war, love, prejudice, and humour.
Richard Smith (zippernek@aol.com)
Andersonville by Mackinlay Kantor
Rating: 5 Stars
A rich tapestry of an infamous Civil War prison camp.
Deborah (interiorsbydeb2@aol.com)
Sex Wars by Marge Piercy
Rating: 5 Stars
Marge Piercy continues to give us excellent fiction with mind-expanding lessons; this one is on the women's movement and social reform with a twist! This Post-Civil War era novel is rich in interesting facts and weaves in fascinating fiction about the men and women who framed our social conscience and awareness in the 1800s. I loved reading about the lives and backgrounds of well-known leaders and thinkers of the age as they over-lapped and intertwined in each other's lives. An absorbing, great read...Marge Piercy doesn't disappoint. Highly recommended for a book group.
Other Piercy books:
Woman on the Edge of Time
Gone to Soldiers
Sandy (Yodasmommy@woh.rr.com)
Fear by Jeff Abbott
Rating: 3 Stars
The plot was a little confusing, so it took a little longer than usual to read this one.
Sherrie English (s1english@aol.com)
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Rating: 5 Stars
Great historical book in the form of an intriguing novel. You will recognize many places, people and things in this amazing story of the World Fair coming to Chicago. Get plenty of rest, you will not want to put this book down!
Janet Stewart
When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin
Rating: 4 Stars
Wonderful book! I was put off by the fact that it is characterized as "Christian' lit, but it is a great human interest medical story.
Angi H, Louisville, KY (vasthoagies@yahoo.com)
Cordina's Royal Family by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
I love Nora Roberts's books and these are no different. They're action packed and full of romance. You can't put these books down, so be sure to plan on reading for awhile!
Donna
Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser
Rating: 4 Stars
I hardly ever read non-fiction, but this was an interesting and easy read and she makes the history of Marie and Louis XVI come alive.
Barbara Duncan (barbaralynduncan@yahoo.com)
Dawn of Empire by Sam Barone
Rating: 5 Stars
They say it's the best book since THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR, and they aren't kidding! Set near Mesopotamia in the time when people lived in small villages or on the steppes, this book is full of cover-to-cover action. Following barbarians set on destructing all villages, one village tries something no one has ever done before --- stand and fight. This is an amazing book that I couldn't put down.
Kimberly (kgrantdesigns@hotmail.com)
The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
Rating: 4 Stars
I am listening to this as an audio book and find myself quite engrossed in the story. Campbell Scott is the narrator and he has a wonderful voice, good rhythm and pacing. I've only just begun and I can't wait to see where the story goes.
Kimberly (kgrantdesigns@hotmail.com)
Possible Side Effects by Augusten Burroughs
Rating: 4 Stars
Let me start out by saying that I adore Augusten Burroughs --- wholeheartedly, inappropriately adore him. With that said, I can't say I loved this book. There were some wonderful shining moments of storytelling, my favorite being "The Sacred Cow". However, POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS did not entertain me with the giddy delight that some of his past works have. It must be said though, a not-so-great Augusten Burroughs book is way better than a kick in the head any day.
Samantha Rose (appysam_@hotmail.com)
Scarlet Feather by Mauve Binchy
Rating: 4 Stars
Very inspiring book.
Judy O. (joswood@msn.com)
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 4 Stars
Chick Benetto is a mess! He drinks heavily, barely holds a job, is estranged from his only daughter, and he's miserably unhappy. One day while driving drunk, he has a bad accident, which subsequently takes him back to his childhood home. When he arrives, he finds his mother waiting for him --- only she died several years ago but now seems very much alive. What is going on? His search for answers takes him deep to the heart of the mother-child relationship. He also becomes a changed man. This is a short book, but it has an impact that will not soon be forgotten.
Christy
Bubbles All the Way by Sarah Strohymeyer
Rating: 4 Stars
I love all the Bubbles books. And I loved this one, up to the very last chapter. I just didnt like the ending. I dont think it fit into the story, and reminds me too much of THE PRINCESS DIARIES. I was disappointed.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess
Rating: 4 Stars
As a mother and grandmother, I would highly recommend that SUCH A PRETTY GIRL by Laura Wiess be required reading for both males and females of all ages; it's a compelling and one-of-a-kind read!
Judy S
The Collectors by David Baldacci
Rating: 5 Stars
The rag-tag Camel Club is back in action. The Speaker of the House is assassinated and a director in the Library of Congress dies unexpectedly and without apparent cause. Conspiracy theories fly and our old friends are out to find out just what happened to the director, a friend of one member of the Club. A concurrent con story flows throughout the early pages, and the Club finds itself with a female con artist in its midst. There is plenty of fast action, with just the right amount of tension and plot twists to keep you reading deep into the night.
Amy Honan (Amy3286@myway.com)
Naked in Death by J. D. Robb
Rating: 5 Stars
The first in a still on-going series by Nora Roberts, who is writing uder the name J. D. Robb. This book combines the right amount of romance with mystery to make it a very hard book to put down. This series is based in the year 2058 and is about a cop that is working a series of homicides and falls in love with one of the suspects.
Jennifer Buhr
Cry Into The Wind by Othello Bach
Rating: 5 Stars
What an amazing story! This is the memoir of a women who grew up so poor that she literally lived in a hole in the ground at one point in her life. She endured abuse in the foster care system and incestual sexual abuse at home. Bach tells a heart-wrenching story that will leave you inspired. When you finish, you will want to meet the author just so you can give her a hug. I strongly recommend this book!
Erin the Librarian
Hard Truth by Nevada Barr
Rating: 4 Stars
A little gruesome, but excellent anyways.
Suzi Skutley
The Blood Knight by Greg Keyes
Rating: 4 Stars
This is book three of The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone (following THE BRIAR KING and THE CHARNAL PRINCE) --- a series I find very worth the effort. The challenge lies in following various characters in parallel story lines; it's not a book you can put down for a long time and then come back and just pick up. But again, it's worth the effort and time (and I won't know 'til the end if this ends a trilogy or continues...).
B Drummond
The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great first novel. I admit that I bought it because the cover caught my eye and it turned out to be very worthwhile. The story is as funny as it is informative. I can't wait to see what he writes next.
Frances Robson
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Rating: 5 Stars
The writing blew me away, and the plot turns and twists like a maze.
Beth Boyce
Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Rating: 3 Stars
So far, it's off to a bit of a slow start, but I am intrigued. I very much enjoyed Donna Tartt's THE SECRET HISTORY, and comparisions to Tartt's book really have my hopes high for this one.
Priscilla E.
Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Rating: 3 Stars
I haven't read too much of the book yet since I just started it, but so far it has held my attention.
Karen
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen
Rating: 4 Stars
A fun mystery that moves quickly. An easy read that is hard to put down.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews
Rating: 5 Stars
Wow. What a great book. This was the kind of book that you read so fast because you can't wait to see what happens next. It has to be one of my favorites, and is the sequel to SAVANNAH BLUES. This time, the story focus is on Be Be. She meets this guy who sweeps her off her feet and then sweeps everything out from under her. The only thing she has is a bunch of little cabins on Tybee Island. The guy is a con artist who cons her out of everything --- her properties, her money, and her grandparents jewelry and bank account. When she finds an opportunity to track him down, she takes Weezie, Harry (the handyman she inherited from the cabins) and her grandfather Spencer down to Florida to swindle back her money from "Rory". What happens next is hilarious. I don't think I have read a funnier book. I am on my way to add Andrews other books on to my wish list.
Lisa R.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
A very thought-provoking read.
Rita Wray (Kit3247@aol.com)
Scent of Roses by Kat Martin
Rating: 5 Stars
Very good book, I am enjoying it.
Victoria Kennedy
Shadow Man: A Charlie Moon Mystery by James D. Doss
Rating: 5 Stars
SHADOW MAN is highly entertaining. I couldn't keep from laughing out loud at the antics of investigator Charlie Moon and his Aunt Daisy. This is Doss at his finest!
Cynthia Knisely (cynderma@aol.com)
Take Me by Lucy Monroe
Rating: 5 Stars
A keeper full of suspense and sexual tension. It was veru well written and fast paced.
Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com)
Broken For You by Kallos
Rating: 4 Stars
An interesting story about lonely people connecting. I recommended it to my book club. We shall see how they like it.
David W.
Promise Me by Harlan Coben
Rating: 4 Stars
A highly satisfying thriller laced with character-driven humor.
Becky
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 3 Stars
I enjoyed the first 80% of the book. I felt the ending was not handled well. I did enjoy the character development and the imagery within the story.
Dennis Hotetz (djhllc@aol.com)
Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag
Rating: 2 Stars
Not one of Ms. Hoag's best. The plot is convoluted and the characters are of no interest. The ending is expected without any bit of suspense. Don't bother.
Linda Bedell
Consent to Kill by Vince Flynn
Rating: 5 Stars
I have a very strong sense of right and wrong and was incredulous when I cried for the villian!
Sandra F.
Rattle His Bones by Carola Dunn
Rating: 4 Stars
A mystery set in the Roaring Twenties with an engaging heroine who is always falling into a murder mystery. An enjoyable read.
Sandra F.
Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson
Rating: 3 Stars
A so-so story of a modern day vampire --- a girl with a lust for designer shoes as well as blood.
Debi
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 5 Stars
This is just an awesome book that everyone should have the opportunity to read. It's thought provoking and extremely hard to put down.
Christy
My Secret by Frank Warren
Rating: 4 Stars
I love the website and reading all the postcards. I even went to an exhibit to see them. This book got a 4 since it was so much shorter and smaller then Warren's first book. I hope the one due out early next year is like the first one, THICK!
Marsha
The Collectors by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a thrilling encore of the Camel Club (a band of "misfits" that monitor the misdeeds of the government agencies) and it does not fail to enthrall.
Randi Odierno (rodierno@aol.com)
The House on Slocum Road by D. H. Clair
Rating: 5 Stars
I was asked to read this by the author, who claimed that I would thoroughly enjoy it. What a surprise... an author raving about his or her own work. But, truth be told, I was riveted by this volume. The occult, the romance, the adventures... the page-turning quality of this book was impressive! I read it with lightning speed and it is truly worth the effort of picking it up and reading it yourself!!!
Marsha
Hundred-Dollar Baby by Robert B. Parker
Rating: 4 Stars
Spenser fans will recognize the character of April Kyle, who was rescued by Spenser several years ago. She resurfaces and leads Spenser and pals into the high-class world of call girls. His banter is what saves this book. Parker is a master of moving the pace with conversation.
Gina
Rise and Shine by Anna Quinlen
Rating: 2 Stars
This is not her best.
Janice Kind (Kindleelf@aol.com)
Exit Wounds by J. A. Jance
Rating: 4 Stars
Cochise County, Arizona --- 105 in the shade, and an animial control employee finds a horrendous murder scene at a trailer. IMoves fast..decent read.
Janice Kind (Kindleelf@aol.com)
After This by Alice McDermott
Rating: 3 Stars
An ok read. For some reason the charactors did not get fleshed out, and it ended up rather ho-hum.
Jane (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com)
White Sister by Stephen J. Cannell
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a very good book. I am a big fan of Stephen J. Cannell and I've read all of his books. This one is highly recommended.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
The Life All Around Me by Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
Rating: 2 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed ELLEN FOSTER, but this book is dreary and slow. I was determined to finish, but did not enjoy it. She seems to have lost her voice.
Sharon J.
Any Bitter Thing by Monica Wood
Rating: 5 Stars
Beautifully written novel that tugs at the heartstrings and resounds.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Rating: 4 Stars
4.5 stars.
This was such a good and emotional story. You are taken literally into the mind of the domesticated "wolf."
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
Culture Warrior by Bill O'Reilly
Rating: 5 Stars
I found this book very informative, although I had come to many of the same conclusions the last few years. It is not new information, just stated in an organized way. A must read for all Christians.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
A very interesting story about the circus during the Great Depression. It provides an interesting look at the hardship and the despair that the circus people suffered. The heroine of the story is Rosie, the elephant, who was sometimes more human than the actual humans.
Suzanne
Capital Crimes by Jonathan & Faye Kellerman
Rating: 5 Stars
An excellent fast read. Clues are distributes in an even, thoughtful order.
Judy
Thirteen Moons: A Novel by Charles Frazier
Rating: 3 Stars
This is the epoch story of Will Cooper, an orphaned white boy who becomes the adopted son of a Cherokee Chief. Part LITTLE BIG MAN, part DANCES WITH WOLVES, the prose flows eloquently and artistically, but the great story seems to quite never fully emerge. A saving grace was that I listened to the audio format read by Will Patton and it's hard to skip passages. His voice imbued the words with life. Had I read the written pages, I may well have felt overwhelmed and skipped over many of them --- perhaps the parts I enjoyed the most.
Noreen Brown
The Covenant by Naomi Ragen
Rating: 5 Stars
WOW! Talk about being relevant. This book has current events, historical happenings, suspense, sorrow, anger, evil, and goodness. A must read for today.
Terri Dobson
Hot Night by Shannon McKenna
Rating: 4 Stars
This is great McKenna material --- It's hot and has a plot that works. Unlike many other romantic mysteries, this is plausible. The characters are fun, full of angst and baggage, trying to make a living after a lifetime of bad karma. The villain could be a bit more realistic, though --- just goes a bit overboard. I'd also like to see the brothers' stories fleshed out a bit. Maybe for another book? But, Zan and Abby are just fun . They are caught up not just in a hot affair, but a murder that's too conveniently labeled as a suicide.
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Pilate's Wife by Antoinette May
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful work of historical fiction. Surprisingly, most of the book is about Rome and Claudia's devotion to Isis --- only a small part is Christian in nature. This really gives a new look on Pilate.
Kathleen Josephson
Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a tender sweet story about love, not just between a man and a woman but also between family. Jennifer comes to be with her Grandmother, who is in a coma. She finds a pile of letters that Sam has written to her. As Sam's letters reveal secrets, Jennifer begins to heal from her own sadness over the early death of her husband.The book brought me to tears at times, but made me value the love of family and friends.
Ginny (VCHL819@aol.com)
The Last Promise by Richard Paul Evans
Rating: 3 Stars
Evans always provides an easy read. This is no exception. It was romantic, predictable, unchallenging, but relaxing.
Red Scouser (shadowalking@gmail.com)
Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
Rating: 5 Stars
Murakami is an incredible storyteller. Written in the tradition of Marquez or Calvino, he can create a world full of fable and dreams; a world where the magic is accepted as expected and the expected is never what we think. If you have never read his books, you are in for an awesome reading trip.
Ginny (vchl819@aol.com)
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
Rating: 2 Stars
I was disappointed in this latest novel by Meltzer. It's much ado about little in a confusing far-fetched political conspiracy creation. His others have been better.
J. P. Feingold
Naked Prey by John Sandford
Rating: 3 Stars
The story had many plot twists, eccentric characters, and a novel setting with dialogue-heavy writing. I didn't like it enough to seek out other books in the series.
Madeline
Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 3 Stars
I am a huge fan of Picoult's, but I didn't enjoy this one as much as I've enjoyed her others. I just didn't connect to the characters as much I usually do. Oh, well. The good news is that she has more for me to choose from!
Maxine Williams (mxwms@msn.com)
Exile (due out January 2007) by Richard North Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book, due out in January 2007, is so relevant for the time in which we are now living. The characters are Jews, Christians, Muslims as well as Israel, U. S. and Palestine. It's a love story of sorts --- I couldn't put it down even though it IS a long book. Highly recommend when it is released.
Mary Lou (mlwreader@aol.com)
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
Rating: 5 Stars
Visiting my son in Denver, I found myself wandering around the newest Tattered Cover bookstore. My son said, "C'mon Mom, pick a book and I'll buy it for you." Now that was music to my ears. Then, there sat this book in a display, ANGLE OF REPOSE, and pictured on the cover were the things I love best --- snow-covered mountains and fall-colored trees. I sat in a comfy chair while waiting for my son to finish his book shopping and started reading, and immediately became lost in the pages of this wondeful book. How could I have reached the age I am and be the lover of books that I profess to be, and have never heard of this author?
Reading his biography, I see he has written numerous fiction and nonfiction titles. In fact, the poor old guy is now deceased, and the book was written in 1970, for heaven's sake! It is not even dated like some books can be. (Ok, there is one character, a young woman who is sort of a hippy, but really, there are plenty of those types around still even today.) It is a wonderful book, a character study of a character within a character, so to speak. The protagonist is writing a book about his grandmother, and it is difficult to decide who is more interesting, the grandmother or the grandson who is writing the book. The book is set in the most wonderful places, Leadville Coloroado, Mexico, Idaho, Grass Valley. It is a treasure. Grandmother is a fascinating, irritating, lovable person.
The best part of all is that I now have a totally new author to explore, which is like a gift. I highly recommend this book for its examination of a time (19th century) and place (the mining towns of this country), as well as an interesting look at a woman who was as liberated as her times would allow, and yet who had strong beliefs in the traditional roles of wife and mother. If there is anyone out there who has never heard of or read any of Mr. Stegner's works (why do I feel like I am the only one who never heard of him before now?), do yourself a favor and give this one a try.
Brady (bradylee@myway.com)
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
Rating: 4 Stars
A very good true crime story through which you learn that you should NEVER accept questioning by policemen without your attorney...no matter what the cost! You also discover how rotten justice is in many jurisdictions throughout our country, and the best example is this story of a number of accused who got railroaded by a district attorney. Many hundreds have been exonerated due to DNA facts and let out of prison, however, mentally some have just not survived for long. THE INNOCENT MAN is a story worth reading and learning from.
Jana S.
44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
This story originally appeared as a daily novel serialized in The Scotsman. It was a fast and fun read, and I was fascinated by the writing process that produced the novel as an Edinburgh newspaper serial; realizing that there was no going back for the author was a daunting notion. It's a tribute to his inventiveness and versatility that the interwoven stories of interwoven lives hold together so beautifully even though they were written as a patchwork, so to speak.
John Maline
Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the best murder mysteries I have read in a long time, and I read a lot. I am reading the reissue that includes a new afterward to the 1987 original. Ellroy's writing is superb; to me, his strongest suit is that I can easily visualize every action and setting as the novel moves along. No wonder they are making movies out of his books!
Jen
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
I didn't think I would like this book as much as her others, but I was so wrong. The characters are great, and the writing is wonderful. A page turner from the beginning.
A. Thomas
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm still plowing through this one from last week. It's nonfiction that reads like fiction. It's very compelling and I would sit down today to read through the last hundred pages if the lawn didn't have to be mowed and fertilized!
Ruehle
Echo Park by Michael Connelly
Rating: 4 Stars
Harry Bosch is back on the job working cold cases. One of his cases, a young woman who disappeared from a supermarket parking lot, still haunts him. A seriel killer is caught and he confesses to the murder of this woman all those years ago. Was Harry wrong about his main suspect? Could he have prevented all these future killings? Nothing is ever what it appears at first blush, and Harry is soon in the midst of conspiracy theories, puzzles that fit too perfectly, puzzles with pieces missing, dirty politicians, and dirty cops. How can you not love Hieronymous Bosch?
Rachael
Not Quite a Bride by Kirsten Sawyer
Rating: 5 Stars
I had the pleasure of reading an ARC copy of this book. It is excellent! It has comedy, romance, friendship --- everything you could ask for. This is Kirsten Sawyer's first book and I think she will be having a very long career if she keeps on this path. NOT QUITE A BRIDE is about a girl who wants to get married, but doesnt have a fiance or boyfriend. So, she hires a man to pretend to be her fiance so she can throw herself a fabulous wedding. The only problem is, the girl's knight in shining armor is right under her nose and she doesn't know it. Will she go through with this sham of a wedding or will she run off with Mr. Right? Read this book to find out! Also if you enjoyed Karyn Bosnak's book 20 TIMES A LADY, I am sure you will love this one too, and find the humor similar.
Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@adelphia.net)
You Belong to Me by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 4 Stars
In this book, a radio psycologist gets interested in a case about a woman who disappeared off a cruise ship. Her mother found a ring in with her belongings with the incription, "You Belong to Me". A listener calls in and says she met a man on a cruise that gave her a ring with the same inscription. This woman is seriously injured when she either falls or is pushed in front of a bus. This book keeps you interested with plot twists up to the very end.
Carol from Cleveland
Don't Get Too Comfortable by David Rakoff
Rating: 4 Stars
I saw the author being interviewed on "The Daily Show" and he was so amusing I had to read his book. It's a collection of mostly very funny stories about his experiences as a journalist.
Carol from Clevealnd
Riding Lesson by Sara Gruen
Rating: 4 Stars
Sara Gruen is the author of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, which I loved. This book has a completely different topic, but was still very good (not as good as "Elephants," though). It's about a woman who loses her job and her marriage and takes her daughter with her to live with her parents on their horse farm. She was a champion rider, but with a sad history. Very interesting.
Carol from Clevealnd
Flying Changes by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is a sequel to the author's RIDING LESSON, and continues the story of Annemarie Zimmer and her family. This book details how she copes with the continuing changes in her life, as her daughter is expelled from school and wants to follow in her mother's footsteps with horse riding, and as her relationship with an old flame develops.
Laura McLendon
Lisey's Story by Stephen King
Rating: 5 Stars
Stephen King, enough said!
Nancy V
The Alphabet series by Sue Grafton
Rating: 4 Stars
I have just returned to the Kinsey Millhone series --- I've read the last five and am wait-listed at the Library for S IS FOR SILENCE! This series is like visiting an old friend. Kinsey get a little more settled and Henry is still baking (thank goodness!). If you haven't read Grafton, start with A IS FOR ALIBI and follow the alphabet for light, easy-reading mysteries with real people and a regular cast of characters.... Well, except for the leading man in her life!
Laura McLendon
The Holy Bible by Depends on how you look at it
Rating: 5 Stars
Seriously, I am not kidding. I challenged myself to read the entire Bible in one year, and I am well on my way.
Kay Keller
The Testament by Eric Van Lustbader
Rating: 5 Stars
This novel has all of the things I love in a good thriller: a believable plot, well-developed characters, suspense, and lots of action. This is another novel about secret societies trying to protect Christianitym but this is one of the best so far!
Diana Flanary-Bray (imluna47@yahoo.com)
Legends by Robert Littel
Rating: 4 Stars
Imagine, for just a minute, that you are a secret agent, embroiled in the world of espionage. You have had so many covers, known as "legends" and "became" so many different identities that you no longer remember who you actually are.
You are experiencing a fugue state, and you desperately want to know who you actually are....
Our agent in question finds himself in just this situation. A trauma in his background has made him forget all the details of his early life. He can't trust anyone, particularly not his handler in the CIA. The bad guys are out to kill him, and the good guys are, too! He will need every weapon in his arsenal to survive, if that is possible at all!
This book is haunting, and you won't soon forget it!
Simone
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a book club pick that I never would have read on my own. It's eerie, and painstakingly researched and told. It's just fascinating. The characterization is the best I've ever encountered. Well done! I'll have to watch Capote now.
Shirley Jones
The Island by Heather Graham
Rating: 3 Stars
It took a long time to interest me. I was more than halfway through the book and still not sure I would finish it.
Sue
The Tailor's Daughter by Janice Graham
Rating: 5 Stars
I am almost finished with this book and will be sorry to leave their world. It's historical fiction at its best, taking place in London during the l860s. The heroine loses her hearing due to a virus and she has trials and tribulations galore! The books is full of fascinating historical details and wonderful characters you will feel that you know. Highly recommended.
Coral Harrison
Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a story about a burned-out detective from Baltimore, Maryland who moves to Lunacy, Alaska to be the Chief of Police. Of course, there is romance and much mystery, but it is very well written. I do not usually like Roberts's books, but this was good.
Joanne
The Innocent Man by John Grishan
Rating: 5 Stars
Written in the Grisham style of facts sprinkled with sarcasm. THE INNOCENT MAN is a very good and a fast read. Even though you may chuckle at some of the sarcasm, it amazes me that the leagal system can be so mistreated. If you believe that every suspect is treated as innocent until proven guilty, your eyes will open at the injustice exposed here. The story is great, I just wish it were fiction.
Debbie
The Thirteenth Tale by Dianne Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a must read for anyone who truly loves books!! Setterfield's rich language and detail transport you...
Debbie
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 4 Stars
THE DA VINCE CODE meets DRACULA in this highly entertaining novel about a young woman's search for Vlad the Impaler.
April Lemesh (alemesh@aol.com)
Call It Sleep by Henry Roth
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a classic I had never heard of until I read about it in another book I was reading. The protagonist is an 8-year-old Jewish boy who has come to America with his mother to join his father, who emigrated a few years earlier. It highlights the trials and tribulations of immigrant life in the early 20th century in a family with a father who has anger management issues and a mother who coddles her son because of it. It is part Yiddish, part English, but very readable. The street English is sometimes very difficult to figure out. Reading this book is so rewarding, if only to appreciate the imagination of a young boy, new to this country, with great troubles at home and with his peers on the street.
Louise Keene
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier
Rating: 5 Stars
I have not quite finished the book, but it is excellent.
Kathy
The Power Broker by Stephen Frey
Rating: 4 Stars
A fast, thrilling, and fun series that keeps you wanting more, but doesn't leave you hanging.
Christie P. (Ginnyweasly16@aol.com)
Nora, Nora by Anne Rivers Siddons
Rating: 4 Stars
This book makes me laugh out loud. It's about a pitifully shy preteen girl coming of age in a small Southern town in the sixties.
Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com)
Wisdom of our Fathers by Tim Russert
Rating: 4 Stars
A compilation of letters received by Tim after his first book about his father, Big Russ, was printed. It's heartwarming. I love both books!
Christie P. (Ginnyweasly16@aol.com)
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
Rating: 4 Stars
It's the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty cleverly woven into a Holocaust survivor's story. The spell that puts the kingdom to sleep is the gas, the thorns around the castle are barbed wire. It really stays with you.
Curtis Martin (curtis721@yahoo.com)
Sharpe's Tiger by Bernard Cornwell
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm listening to this on tape. It is an interesting military story set in India, just before 1800. It's similar to the Patrick O'Brian naval stories, but the battles are on land.
J. J. Farris
No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 5 Stars
Having previously read some of Clark's suspenses, I think this is one of her best. It kept me reading to the end, and wanting more.
Peggy (Cali_LB@msn.com)
Twisted by Jay Bonansinga
Rating: 5 Stars
If you haven't read Bonansinga's new series which started with FROZEN, and met the elegant but rather unique lead character Ulysses Grove, then you have a great read ahead of you. It's not for the weak stomachs here, but this is a great book that brings Hurricane Katrina into the mix along with a very, very twisted killer. It is great.
Peggy (Cali_LB@msn.com)
Echo Park by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
As far as I'm concerned, the Harry Bosch books just keep getting better. You know it isn't easy to maintain the excitement year after year, but Connelly does, and Harry is the type of cop you'd want investigating your crime, dead or alive. Connelly brings a reality to the LAPD that you don't find in the papers. Don't miss this one.
Jill O
The Lizard's Bite by Davis Hewson
Rating: 3 Stars
This story --- which I haven't finished ---continues with the 3 Roman police characters from stories past, now "doing time" in Venice as a "punishment" from breaking all Roman police rules in the last book. If you love stories about Italy and Hewson's past works, you will also enjoy this one.
Donna Tanner
The Road to Jude by Michelina Pagano
Rating: 5 Stars
Set against the backdrop of 9/11.
Mary Coyley
Brazil by John Updike
Rating: 5 Stars
Updike is at his best with this rich magical tale of love and betrayal set against the culture and beauty of Brazil. I loved this inticate story.
Mary Corley
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Rating: 4 Stars
I picked this book up by accident off a sale table, and it blue me away. The modern world meets the gods from ancient cultures. It was a sureal yet genuine and thought-provoking story of how belief is not enough.
Larena Wirum
Fade the Heat by Colleen Thompson
Rating: 5 Stars
It is a great romantic suspense.
Ozarks Annie
Hit Parade by Lawrence Block
Rating: 5 Stars
You just have to love the hero, a hit man. Actually, each chapter is almost a complete new story, but all, naturally, focus on our hit man and his assignments. You'll laugh out loud at this one. A real fun read.
Eileen Quinn Knight
The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld
Rating: 5 Stars
The reason I gave this book 5 stars is somewhat personal --- first of all, I come from NY and I love to read about Manhattan. Secondly, I am a psychologist and it is about Freud and Jung! Wow! Plus, it is a murder mystery, so it is a fast and fun read.
Lea Ann (baxtergr@msn.com)
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
I've found a new favorite author. And, thankfully, she has many books from which to choose. THE PACT is about 2 teens who have been best friends since one was 6 months old and the other, newborn. The reader learns quite soon what the pact is, and the balance of the book goes back in time to explain the meaning of The Pact. A wonderful read.
Dianne (dianne@gordonn.us)
Lisey's Story by Stephen King
Rating: 3 Stars
I am but 100 pages in, and already 'living' Lisey's memories with her. I have never read a Stephen King novel before, but because of the review here at bookreporter.com, I had to pick this one up. And I am so happy I did. What beautiful, flavorful writing. His sentences are like flowers --- they blossom as they grow.
Susan Jensen
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
Like many other readers, I enjoyed this book immensely, but was disappointed with the ending. The story centers around a group of Americans who are vacationing in Mexico, when they decide to accompany a man they just met on an excursion to an archaeological site in the jungle. What is expected to be a short site-seeing trip quickly turns into a horrifying nightmare. The group finds itself stranded on a vine-covered hillside, surrounded by armed Mayans who won't let them leave. As they struggle to survive on limited food and water, it becomes increasingly obvious that lack of rations is not their only problem. The vegetation seems to have a life of its own, and it's intent on taking theirs. This is a page-turner, although it drags somewhat in the end. I was disappointed in the ending because it was depressing and the mystery of the vines is never solved, leaving the reader hanging.
Marilyn Shoemaker
The Sicilian's Christmas Bride by Sandra Marton
Rating: 5 Stars
Tally's now the mother of a lovely little girl, news which only serves to harden Dante's heart further and intensify his need to possess. Though rich and ruthless as he may be, even Dante isn't immune to the magic of Christmas and the miracles it brings.
THE SICILIAN'S CHRISTMAS BRIDE is all about the magic of Christmas, miracles and in believing. Author Sandra Marton again tells a beautiful story about two long-ago lovers finding happiness and love.
Three years ago, Dante and Taylor were lovers until Taylor realizes that Dante is about to end their relationship. She discovers she is pregnant and leaves without any word. Dante, being the strong alpha Italian, has never had a woman leave him. In fact, when he finds himself thinking about her, he plans his revenge and sets out to find her. Unknown to Dante, Taylor (Tally, known by her friends) is residing in Vermont and has a secret...a daughter named Samantha (Sam).
Dante decides to make her suffer by purchasing the bank that holds her loan --- he wants to teach her a lesson by possibly loosing her home, and forcing Tally and Sam to move back to New York to live with him.
Their journey at rediscovery is a rocky one, full of hurt, pride, passion, and most of all, secrets. However, beneath it all, they learn about each other, their pasts, and take the time to get to know each other. A man who has spent most of his life not letting people in falls hard for baby Sam and discovers he has sincere feelings for her mother as well.
This is a remarkable love story penned by a remarkable author --- a story the reader will want to read from beginning to end. It's truly a wonderful romance during a romantic time of the year. Even though emotional at times, it's a warm and powerful story to long be remembered.
Sandi
Still Life by Louise Penny
Rating: 5 Stars
Oh, I am enjoying this! I'm almost finished and will be sad, as this is the first book in a series about Canadian Chief Inspector Gamache.
Wonderful writing --- the setting is so real, I feel like I can drive to it. The characters are very interesting and well written. This takes place in a small town where Jane Neal, a much-loved former school teacher, is murdered by a bow & arrow. It could be one of many people, and everyone seems to have secrets.
Susan Jensen
Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 3 Stars
I have been a Clark fan since I was in junior high, but I have lately found her books to be predictable and not terribly well written. Still, I enjoyed the novel and the fact that her books are very clean --- no foul language, excessive gore or sex scenes. Anyway, the book is about twin girls who are kidnapped from their home. After the ransom is paid, only one of the girls is returned to her parents. The parents and police race to find the other girl through shaky clues and little evidence. Help comes in a most unlikely and unbelievable fashion --- through the twins' ESP. A good read.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
By The Rivers of Babylon by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 5 Stars
A great book that held my interest throughout, with many twists and turns.
Debbie
Two Little Girls In Blue by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 3 Stars
Always a good and fast read.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
Devil's Banker by Christopher Reich
Rating: 4 Stars
An interesting tale of financial intrigue and how terrorists finance their causes.
Lea Ann (baxtergr@msn.com)
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
Rating: 5 Stars
I'd even give this book 6 stars! This is nonfiction and published in 1996, and tells of Ms. Kidd's search for faith that is not tied up with a patriarchal mind set. Now that I have read the book once, I intend to do so again; this time, with my marking pen and sticky page markers in hand. Not only does the author explain her quest for a deeper faith, but she shows a path others may follow or adapt to their own needs. A special book.
Marilyn Shoemaker
I'll Be Home for Christmas by Linda Lael Miller, Catherine Mulvany, Roxanne St.
Rating: 5 Stars
This excellent read has also made it to the New York Times Bestseller List.
However, I purchased it because I'm a St. Claire Fan, and yes, a fan of the others, but I love St. Claire's The Bullet Catchers series.
Tami
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 4 Stars
I can't wait until the movie comes out! The book was historical fiction at its twisted best!
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Piece of Work by Laura Zigman
Rating: 3 Stars
A comical but true-to-life peek into a mixed-marriage couple, job frustrations,etc. PIECE OF WORK is a family saga with plenty of issues to discuss!
Noreen S.
Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
Rating: 4 Stars
I was looking for a heartwarming story for our December book discussion group and this one was perfect. It was a sweet story of love, friendship and hope.
Donna K
Keeper of the Keys by Perri O'Shaughnessy
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a great story, although I did miss Nina Reilly.
Midge
Seven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Perlman
Rating: 3 Stars
I liked this book at the start. I was sure it would remain one of my favorite
reads for 2006. That enthusiasm lasted
to about page 400 (of 623).
Maybe there should only be four types of ambiguity, rather than seven. There are seven different narrators who tell the same story, or what they know of it from their perspective. It sounded good in theory. And the conversational tone is very authentic. That means people repeat themselves. Often. So not only do you hear the same information seven different ways,
but over and over again. By the time the woman who is the main objectof obsession gets her say, well, I hardly cared.
This book is written to maintain an atmosphere. That's hard to do over 600+
pages. The atmosphere hampered the flow. Some slash-and-burn editing would
have helped a lot. It reminded me of Stephen King's THE TOMMYKNOCKERS: a great story drowning in too many details.
Dee Dee Vargas (DDVARGAS@HOTMAIL.COM)
TOURIST IN THE YUCATAN and ACROSS THE HIGH LONESOM by Jim McNay Brumfield
Rating: 5 Stars
I heard a lot of good things about TOURIST IN THE YUCATAN and when I went to order my copy at the Tres Picos Press site, there was a promotion where you could buy both books fo $20 with free shipping! What a deal! So, I ordered both, and I am glad I did as they were excellent.
TOURIST IN THE YUCATAN is a thriller in an exotic locale and ACROSS THE HIGH LONESOME is kind of a modern-day western (think LONESOME DOVE only with mules). I strongly recommend both books and hope this author will write more!
Jean Utley
Effigies by Mary Anna Evans
Rating: 5 Stars
The third book in the Faye Longchamp Mysteries, EFFIGIES uncovers the truth behind a long-ago hate crime in Mississippi. The first two in the series are equally as fascinating.
Julie Towson
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Rating: 5 Stars
The story of a real-life mass murderer is woven into the creating of the Chicago Worlds Fair at the end of the 19th Century.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Equinox by Annie Windsor, Vonna Harper and Katherine Kingston
Rating: 4 Stars
This anthology with three different novellas connects three women, a jeweled dagger and an ancient Spring festival.
In Katherine Kingston's "Walpurgis Night," Henrik and Fianna are drawn together by their desires and torn by their future.
"Night of Fire" by Vonna Harper is a time travel story in which Maia's native beliefs and Taron's confusion to believe his destiny are ruled by their passion for one another.
"Handle with Care" by Annie Windsor is a wonderful other-worldly read with Tia and Brok working to bring two worlds together and Tia coming to terms with her struggle to accept and feel good about herself, her body, and Brok's love for her.
Bobby Alpert
Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
Rating: 4 Stars
As with THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, Mr Larson brings us to the past with the finest sense of reality a writer can describe. I never tire of his knowledge of certain subjects: i.e. science/Marconi in THUNDERSTRUCK and Architecture/Burnham in THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY. Larson is a brilliant writer who thinks things out.
Jean Mess
Nine Lives by Sharon Sala
Rating: 4 Stars
The heroine and hero are exciting characters, and the books is full of suspense that leaves you wanting more.
Maxine
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is mesmerizing. Filled with regret and compassion, the story takes you through the lives of characters that were changed forever by a moment's decision. Powerful, touching and impossible to put down.
Brenda Snell
Can't Wait To Get To Heaven by Fannie Flagg
Rating: 5 Stars
I just finished this book, and I loved it. Elner Shimfissle is a great character. It made me smile.
Barbara Stamper
Identity: Undercover by Lois Richer
Rating: 5 Stars
Super read!
Kathy H (kahoho@aol.com)
Winterkill: A Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box
Rating: 4 Stars
WINTERKILL is third in a series about game warden Joe Pickett. It was predictably good. You can almost feel the bone-chilling cold as Pickett hunts for a killer and his kidnapped foster daughter. I plan to read all of Box's Pickett novels
Judy O.
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
Rating: 5 Stars
This memoir of Bryson's childhood in the 1950s in Des Moines, Iowa was laugh-out-lo |
