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Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
The Two Minute Rule by Robert Crais
Rating: 4 Stars
On the day Max Holman is released from prison for bank robbery, he is told thay his son, a police officer, has been gunned down with three other officers. Max wants to get anwers. Who killed his son? Why didn't any of the officers get off a single shot? Are the police holding back information, and if so, why? Since the police aren't overly anxious to help out an ex-con, he turns to an unlikely source: the FBI agent who arrested him years earlier. An excellent book by a fine author.
Sherry
Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
MOTOR MOUTH is the first book by Janet Evanovich that i've read. It one of those book you don't want to put down. It about Barney and Hooker, who team up to find evidence about NASCAR competitors who are up to no good. It also has a 150-pound St. Bernard named Beans. It keeps you guessing all the way through the book.
Laura in Ohio
Beach Road by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was excellent. A real page turner and a quick read. It held my attention from start to finish, and what a plot twist at the end!
Kimberlie Harris (benharris3@cox.net)
Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved the former three and hoped there would be more. I just started the book and from the first page, it is 5 stars.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
The Hammer of Eden by Ken Follett
Rating: 3 Stars
I listened to the unabridged audiobook read by Alexander Adams. He was a very good reader, but the story had numerous unbelievable parts.
John
The General & The Jaguar by Eileen Welsome
Rating: 5 Stars
An excellent, easy-to-read, and entertaining non-fiction book that describes a little-known event in American history --- the 1916 military expedition into Mexico by General Pershing (the "General") to capture Pancho 'Villa (the "Jaguar"). Ms. Welsome first provides a good synopsis of the events in Mexico leading up to the Villa and his revolutionaries' raid on the town of Columbus, NM, and the unsuccessful efforts by the United States to run him down deep in Mexico. If you want to better understand what is happening today on our Southern border, and some of the reasons why, I would strongly recommend this book. Ms. Welsome is a very vivid storyteller, and this book does not read like a dusty tome.
Patricia
Deep Inside LiteBlue by Ronald Williams, Jr.
Rating: 5 Stars
A dynamic story about today's Postal Service, full of real trials and tribulations. For more about it,
visit: deepinsideliteblue.com
C Patel
PARSIS: The Zoroastrians of India by Sooni Taraporevala
Rating: 5 Stars
A beautiful book on a powerful but dying religious community, India's Parsi Zoroastrians, by a photographer and the screenwriter of Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay, Mississippi Masala, and upcoming The Namesake (based on Jhumpa Lahiri's Pulitzer Prize-winning book), all directed by Mira Nair. A powerfully photographed and written sourcebook on a community that produced the late Freddie Mercury of Queen, conductor Zubin Mehta, and more.
Darryl Pool
Because They Hate by Brigitte Gabriel
Rating: 5 Stars
The Middle East conflict as seen through the eyes of a child.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Rating: 4 Stars
Whoa. This was something else. First of all, I would love to get inside this author’s head. This subject matter and story --- about clones --- was very imaginative. Humans are produced to save other humans; once they become adults, they either take care of doners or become doners themselves. The three characters, Ruth, Tommy and Kathy, are students at Hailsham, a boading school. They are very sheltered, but he secret of their lives and their purpose is slowly revealed as they get older and prepare to leave the school. They question their purpose, but seem to accept it.
This is a very disturbing and sad book. I liked it because of its distinctiveness. It's definitely not a book that gave me warm fuzzies or made me feel complete or happy at the end. This is a very thought-provoking and unnerving read. I will never forget it.
Beth McGuire
Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger
Rating: 5 Stars
Terrific characters and plenty of twists make this a wonderful first installment in a suspense series.
Amy Wachspress (amy@wozabooks.com)
The Call to Shakabaz by Amy Wachspress
Rating: 5 Stars
I am trying to get the word out about my new children’s fantasy adventure, THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ, which teaches young people the fundamental principles of nonviolence as practiced by Dr. King and Gandhi, and is a rollicking good read to boot. This book is exceptionally different because it does not depend on a gory violent battle scene for the climax. Instead, it demonstrates a peaceful resolution to conflict. In addition, all the characters in the book are Black. There are very few books for children in this genre with all Black characters. The book will be officially “launched” on January 15, 2007, in honor of Dr. King’s birthday, but copies are already in print and are selling like hotcakes in my little part of the world. Children, parents, teachers, and librarians are reading this book and loving it (Bob Spear at “Heartland Reviews” identified the book as a recommended title for reluctant readers because you can’t put it down). Customers on Amazon have rated the book 5 stars. Please help me get the word out! Visit my website at www.wozabooks.com.
Karen
Cottage for Sale, Must Be Moved by Kate Whouley
Rating: 4 Stars
I won this book in a contest and wasn't sure I would like it --- just the title threw me off --- but I was mistaken. This memoir of cottage and home renovation and all the trials that go along with that is very entertaining. It's a very light easy read with lots of sarcastic humor. The author really gets you to know and love the "Bog Boys". It's her story of creating a new living space out of an old living space and how she stayed true to her ideals and the "green" way of life.
Susie Schachte (sschachte@mail.greenwood.lib.in.us)
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful lighthearted book for the holidays. It makes me smile and just feel good.
Marilyn Shoemaker
I'll Be Home for Christmas by Roxanne St. Claire
Rating: 5 Stars
I purchaed this book specifically for "You Can Count On Me". I'm a huge fan of St. Claire's, especially her Bullet Catcher Series. The story is actually the third installment her this series.
Roxanne's characters are always full of heat, heart, spunk, and charm. Her latest bodyguard, Raquel Durand, is no exception. There is a scene in the limo with a sexy Russian and some vodka that will knock your socks off!
Lindy
Breakwater by Carla Neggers
Rating: 3 Stars
After Quinn Harlowe leaves the halls of the Justice Department to become an a self-emplyed consultant, her happiness is short lived after she finds her friend and former colleague Alicia Morrow dead beside her kayak out behind her cottage.
She starts her investigation at the neighboring Breakwater Security. Her former boss at Justice is close friends with Breakwater's chief Oillie Crawford, and Quinn feels the secret is there.
I love Neggers, each novel is so different.
Sandra F.
A Fearsome Doubt by Charles Todd
Rating: 5 Stars
Charles Todd has set his mystery series in post World War I England and they feature Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge. This is a very different kind of series dwelling on the impact of the war on the men who fought in it.
Sandra F.
Being Dead by Jim Crace
Rating: 3 Stars
This little book is not for the faint of heart. The story follows the deaths and lives of a husband and wife who are zoologists. A lot of time is spent on the decaying process of the human body.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
Rating: 5 Stars
I found this book to be funny, touching, suspenseful, and thrilling. It was a delightful journey filled with likable and memorable characters. This story shows how we do get second chances to fulfill our deepest hopes and dreams. A great read for the holiday season.
Marilyn Shoemaker
Bedded by the Desert King by Susan Stephens
Rating: 5 Stars
This is absolutely a fantastic read. It's emotional, warm, spirited, and a very sensual journey in finding love. It's a story of survival for them both with a peaceful ending full of joy!
Susan Stephen's characters Zara and Shahin sizzled, and their attraction and passion was instant. This is a story I will long remember and will enjoy reading again and again.
Karen Terry (mi3sons@mchsi.com)
Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
I really liked this book. Barney and Hooker help a friend, which leads to trouble. It involves a murder, a dog kidnapping, and Barney and Hooker's love relationship. It was a fun read and you will not want to put it down.
Karen Terry (mi3sons@mchsi.com)
Next by Michael Crichton
Rating: 5 Stars
This s classic Michael Crichton that keeps you on the edge of your seat and won't let go. It makes you afraid to give doctors permission to treat illnesses, because you don't know who will own your body. It is an excellent read.
Sandra F.
The Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankell
Rating: 4 Stars
This story by the Swedish author Henning Mankell is great, but it does take a while to get used to the slow pace and deep gloom of this author's creations. His books do repay the effort made by readers.
Marilyn Shoemaker
Nascar Holiday by Roxanne St.Claire
Rating: 5 Stars
Roxanne St. Claire, author of KILLER CURVES, certainly knows racing and Nascar. Her novella "Tis The Silly Season" --- featuring a sweet waitress, her boys, and one hot race car driver --- will entertain every reader this Holiday season!
I didn't know what to expect with this NASCAR book --- there have been all sorts of discussions about keeping the NASCAR family image and the quality of St. Claire's writing. Well, it was a good read, and more. It's about the joy and spirit of Christmas and the true meaning of love. Roxanne's two main characters, Clay and Lisa, are quite a team and the sparks fly between them immediately. Then throw in two adorable boys who have never celebrated Christmas, a family short of money, a race car driver who loves the challenge of speed and success, and oooooh what a mix! All I can say is this author has once again provided her readers with one entertaining read.
Patricia
The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman
Rating: 5 Stars
I am also reading THE RECKONING by Sharon Kay Penman, the 3rd in a historical series. It is so mind bogglingly good that I remember well the first one I read years ago! She makes you feel the story and her detail is fabulous. I am in the 1200s, in the thick of everyday life, because her descriptions are so very detailed. She is, by far, my favorite medieval historical fiction author and I can't wait to get to her book about King Henry and his Queen of Aquitaine. I still have 2 more to read, and I can only look ahead with pleasurable anticipation.
Her books can be read alone, and not in order if so desired, and you won't feel like you've missed anything. After reading one of her books, though, you will want to read the others, I guarantee. She deserves the best in rating also.
Janice kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
Dead Even by Brad Meltzer
Rating: 4 Stars
Sara Tate, a new Manhatten assistant D.A., nabs a case to solidify her position. Little does she know she has grabbed a tiger by the tail.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 4 Stars
This strange club dedicates itself to rooting out evil and destroying it.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
The Hunt for Sonya Dufrette by R T. Raichew
Rating: 4 Stars
Antonia and her friend Col. Payne pair up to solve a 20-year-old mystery of the disappearence of a young mentally challanged young girl.
Patricia
Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel
Rating: 5 Stars
I have been reading the last of Jean Auel's series about prehistoric man, THE SHELTERS OF STONE. She does so much research and travels to where she is writing about. This must help because she writes the very best novels about prehistoric life that I have read, and it is a favorite subject of mine. Auel takes you to this time and paints such pictures with her words that you see it, feel it, and almost smell it.
The book is a page turner. You don't want to put it down because you want to see what happens next. I hope she writes more! Her main character is a wonderfully written woman who is a Cro Magnon raised by Neanderthals, and that fact causes racist type reactions from either group. Fascinating!This one deserves the most stars.
WISleo
Crisis by Robin Cook
Rating: 3 Stars
I just started, and it seems like more of the same.
Sarah
Missing Mom by Joyce Carol Oates
Rating: 3 Stars
Not her best work, but still an interesting read. I'm also in the middle of SERVANTS OF THE MAP by Andrea Barrett, which is excellent!
Barbara
Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire
Rating: 2 Stars
Although some parts were interesting, I found this book like anyone's life story --- interesting to them, but not enough to others. He seemed obsessed with lizzards and long details. I will finish the book as I always do, but it's now been 3 months and I still can't get to the end.
Barbara
The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier
Rating: 5 Stars
Absolutely fabulous! A compelling must read. I like all her books.
Lindy
Short Straw by Stuart Woods
Rating: 5 Stars
I was very disappointed to find out this wasn't a Stone Barrington novel, but then I found this one to be good anyway.
Set in Sante Fe, NM, attorney Ed Eagle wakes up one morning to find out he has a terrible hangover and a missing wife. Life only gets worse when she finds that she has not only left, but has also taken $5 million of his money with her. So, he hires 2 PIs to track her down in Mexico where she has fled. They find her over and over, but she has an incredible ability to get away.
John
Lost In The City by Edward P. Jones
Rating: 3 Stars
"In the end ... she thought it was the general condition of the whole world ... and there was not very much she could do about it (pg. 201)"
This tells the story of what this book is about; characters, as seen through fragments of their lives, are just swept along. I doubt, based on this collection of fragment-stories, that one could have fortold that Mr. Jones was going to produce the exceptional novel, THE KNOWN WORLD. I continue to look forward to his second novel.
Trioworks
Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy
Rating: 3 Stars
Maeve Binchy's many stories once more intrigue us into her world.
Julie Riso
Randham Acts by Matthew St. Amand
Rating: 4 Stars
Randham is your everyday dysfunctional city, occupied by Martin the gambling addict, Bev the bipolar, Hugh the slacker uni student/aspiring writer, and special appearances from the local strippers, hired toughs, and alcoholic divorcees. When the patented BlockBuster software comes into the picture, all of these personalities collide in unexpected ways. RANDHAM ACTS is that rare novel that combines literary elements with page-turning suspense. It will keep readers guessing, and also engaged in the well-developed characters until the very end. It's so worth the effort to seek out this novel.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George
Rating: 5 Stars
I never cease to wonder how this author catches and holds my interest for hours at a time. A long, captivating read.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
All Through The Night by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 2 Stars
A holiday mystery story that appears to have been rushed by the author.
Gerry Rosen
The Physician's Tale by Ann Benson
Rating: 5 Stars
A fascinating tale told in alternating chapters of two physicians separated by six hundred years. Involving characters from her three previous novels, Benson weaves her intricate and intriguing plot, tying everything together in a believable manner.
Terry Leibel (t_leibel@hotmail.com)
Forever Odd by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
FOREVER ODD is the second book in a three-book series. I have not read the first book, but I definitely intend to after finishing this quick, yet enjoyable story.
Dianne
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Rating: 5 Stars
THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS is a compelling story about the Holocaust from the innocent eyes the a 9-year-old son of a Nazi officer.
You know how children oftentimes seem to get some words mixed up? Bruno and his family have moved from Berlin to a place called "Out-With". A little man with a tiny mustache named "The Fury" comes to his house for dinner.
Bruno befriends a boy, Shmuel, who lives on the other side of a very tall fence. They talk for hours through the barrier. Bruno even brings food to his skinny friend. Bruno wants very much to have a new best friend since he had to leave his three best friends in Berlin. Their friendship grows and soon Bruno had forgotten the names of his three friends in Berlin.
This book is NOT for 9-year old children. Information regarding the Holocaust is imperative for the reader to grasp the concepts that Bruno does not. This book does not handle the Holocaust in the manner of Lois Lowry's NUMBER THE STARS. We must never forget this horrific event in our history; this book is another reminder of this fact!
JaneAnn Railey
First Impressions by Nora Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm into all the Christmas books that get sent to me this time of year. I just finished the SUGAR AND SPICE anthology, and before that was Debbie Macomber's CHRISTMAS LETTERS. Now I'm reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS. I'm enjoying them all as they are meant to be "light reading," which a person needs this time of year.
LA (LA726west@aol.com)
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 4 Stars
A good old-fashioned page turner.
Barbara Stamper
The Danger Within by Valerie Hansen
Rating: 4 Stars
A good mystery to sit in front of the fireplace with hot chocolate and read!
F. Tessa Bartels
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
Rating: 4 Stars
This tender, autobiographical short story is a Christmas favorite. It almost makes me want to eat fruitcake.
Roe
The Thirteenth Tale by Dianne Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
Beautifully written! The story transports you to another time/place... a good read.
Lauri Wilson (ltwilson@southark.edu)
What Came Before He Shot Her by Elizabeth George
Rating: 5 Stars
The sequel to WITH NO ONE AS WITNESS, this is a different type of story for Elizabeth George. She tells the story of someone who has a major impact in her characters' lives. This novel is different, but still as good as always.
Julie Towson
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray
Rating: 3 Stars
The author uses the metaphor of the title to illustrate the differences between men and women. The book is basically a "how to" for couples on overcoming the differences between them and promote a better understanding between individual partners. It's really good advice, but not a page turner.
Roe
Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 5 Stars
Loved it!!! John Corey at his best! This quick read is fast-paced, timely, and full of great humor. I can't wait for the next one!!
Myrna
Bright Angel Time by Martha McPhee
Rating: 4 Stars
If you wonder what it was like to be the child of a nonconformist mother during the early 1970s, this book provides a credible depiction. Add a star if you remember those times.
Curt Jarrell (curt1831poe@hotmail.com)
Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury
Rating: 4 Stars
Bradbury revisits characters from his 1957 classic coming-of-age novel DANDELION WINE, as his young men struggle to hold back time, holding on to the joys of youth and the fading summer for as long as possible. Themes of aging and sexual awakening are deftly handled as the young men first battle and eventually befriend several old men who come to understand the things most important in life no matter what the age or season. This novel is a worthy companion to Bradburys earlier masterpiece.
Noreen Brown
Gangster by Lorenzo Carcaterra
Rating: 3 Stars
The book doesn't have me anxious to keep reading to see what happens next. It was not as good as SLEEPERS. I'm at the halfway point, so maybe it'll pick up steam.
Tom Slivinski
Cold Skin by Albert Sanchez Pinol
Rating: 4 Stars
The struggle for survival and sanity on a lonely desolate island.
Curt Jarrell (curt1831poe@hotmail.com)
Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
Rating: 5 Stars
Seamlessly blending history lesson and true crime once more, Larson's followup to his blockbuster THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY tells the tales of scientific exploration and ruthless murder as they converge in a transatlantic chase to capture a murderer, using the newly improved Marconi wireless device for ship-to-ship communication. Larson's smooth narrative style is easy to read, while also instructive and captivating, and full of rich historical details that enhance the action taking center stage. Don't miss it.
Lauri Wilson (ltwilson@southark.edu)
The Divide by Nicolas Evans
Rating: 5 Stars
A fan of THE HORSE WHISPERER, I was not too crazy about his later novels. However, this one is hard to put down after 100 pages in.
CC
The Tall Pine Polka by Lorna Landvik
Rating: 2 Stars
I usually love Landvik's books, but this one was a mishmash of characters and story lines.
Wendy Catalano
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Rating: 5 Stars
LAMB: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BIFF, CHRIST'S CHILDHOOD PAL is an off-the-wall account of Jesus's early years by his best friend. Although not for everyone, I found it to be hilarious!
Wendy Catalano
The Jury by Fern Michaels
Rating: 4 Stars
4th book in the Revenge of the Sisterhood Series. A great read!
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
In the Presence of the Enemy by Elizabeth George
Rating: 5 Stars
Another masterpiece by George. This was about Eve and Dennis, who met several years ago at a political convention and enjoyed a 10-day sexual romp. Their politics and views were at opposite ends of the spectrum; they weren’t in love. They just both filled a need for that short time together.
However, that short time produced a child. Now, several years later, they are brought together after this child is kidnapped and the kidnapper demands Dennis, now the editor of the Source, to reveal himself as the father of this child --- a secret that has been kept all these years. Eve is now a member of Parliament (MP) and insists this does not get reported and keeps the police out of it. She also demands the story DOES NOT get printed. Enter ST. James, Debra and Helen. They are asked to help find the child and keep the police out of it. They do unwillingly, but they participate solely for the hope of finding the child. This mystery is full of suspense, with intricate story lines that include Barbara and Tommy, who are brought into the plot later on. This series seems to get better and better from book to book. Towards the last 100 pages, I could not do a thing until I finished it. I look forward to the next one!!
Beth S.
Murder List by Julie Garwood
Rating: 4 Stars
I actually listened to this one on audio. It was fantastic.
Vicki T.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 4 Stars
I normally would not be interested in reading a book involving the circus, but this was really quite interesting. It flips back and forth between the present-day life of a man in his 90s in a nursing home and his memories of his past life in the circus. I particularly enjoyed how the tale ended for this old gentleman.
Marata
Caramba! A Tale Told In Turns of the Card by Nina Marie Martinez
Rating: 5 Stars
A Tom Robbins-type novel encorporating magical realism about 6 characters in search of a way to get by, and love in all its forms. It's filled with fun and characters we somehow recognize.
Judy O.
Nature Girl by Carl Hiaason
Rating: 2 Stars
I wanted to like this book, since I have enjoyed Hiaason's other books. I knew it would be preposterous and silly, but I just couldn't get involved with this plot line as I have with his others. In fact, I quit reading about 2/3 of the way through. Maybe in a different mood and different time, I would have enjoyed it, but not now.
Sharon Haas
The Time Ships by Stephen Baxter
Rating: 5 Stars
Published in 1995, this book is an authorized sequel to THE TIME MACHINE by H. G. Wells. While this book has had numerous, less-than-favorable reviews, I found it to be a wonderful story that takes place where the original one ended.
It is not an easy read, but it does retain the atmosphere that was so important in Wells's book. Readers who love detail and depth will love this story.
Patti D.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Rating: 5 Stars
A shocking, yet very inspiring book. What a family!
Jana S.
Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Rating: 4 Stars
Since I'm only half-way through, the jury's still out, but so far, this novel has been entertaining and engaging. I am not normally a fan of historical mysteries, but this one is so full of interesting details that it's hard to resist. The characters are both annoying and fun, which sounds contradictory, but works surprisingly well for this story.
Beth S
Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the second book in the paranormal Kitty series. She is a werewolf who has a radio show. She does her paranormal talk show from different stations all the over the country.
Mary Ellen
The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
If you haven't read a Tess Gerritsen novel, you are really missing out. This is her best one yet! You won't want to put it down!
Coral Harrison
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 5 Stars
A short, sweet book. Read it to make yourself feel better. We all goof up, but life is good in the end.
Michele Lauer-Bader
Snow Blind by P. J. Tracy
Rating: 4 Stars
SNOW BLIND had a clever plot --- murdered police officers are buried as snowmen. The story kept me guessing.
Lisa Eickler (lisae68@optonline.net)
Apex Hides the Hurt by Colson Whitehead
Rating: 5 Stars
A novel that humorously and creatively satirizes the marketing industry.
Michele Lauer-Bader
Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama
Rating: 5 Stars
I love her writing. She is excellent at drawing characters, as well as depicting the time and the setting. I have read most of her books and enjoyed them all.
Jane C. Greene
Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Rating: 5 Stars
Absolutely the best. I've read all of Adriana Trigiani's novels and have loved them all.
Hope
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Rating: 4 Stars
This memoir is a look at how people truly overcome the negatives that life hands them! It's not a long book, but it's worth the read!
Charlie Ptacek (Ptacek1@gmail.com)
American Skin by Ken Bruen
Rating: 4 Stars
An excellent thriller by Mr. Bruen. I have read several of his books, and enjoyed them all.
Jill F.
Rusty Nail by J. A. Konrath
Rating: 5 Stars
A funny, thrilling mystery all rolled into one! This book kept me on the edge of my seat! "Jack" Daniels is a Chicago police detective with style and sass and can give as good as she gets. Not for the faint of heart, this at times violent and frightening.
Lindy
The Proud Villeins by Valerie Anand
Rating: 5 Stars
Even more than mysteries, I love good historical romance, and Valerie Anand is a master at it.
This first in a series of historical novels set in the English medieval period sweeping from 1040 to 1215 when the Magna Charta was signed, and told from the perspective of a family of serfs.
It starts when a Norman knight is taken in battle and is sentenced to live as a thrall. He tries repeatedly to escape, until finally he is injured and is unable to walk well. He finally marries the woman who cared for him, and raises children, never letting them forget who he was a Norman and a knight. When William the Conqueror arrives in 1066, his family is left little better than they were to start.
This book is often likened to Nora Loft's Knight's Acre Trilogy
Lindy
October Song by Beverly Lewis
Rating: 5 Stars
Beverly Lewis is primarily a writer of books for teens, and she is also a transplant from Lancaster, PA to Colorado. Her novels that I've read so far are about the Amish, an unusual sect difficult to understand, as they do not allow electricity or automobiles to be used by their members.
OCTOBER SONG is the story of marriage, of trying to fit into the Amish world, and courtship rituals.
It is enjoyable to read a wholesome book.
Nunu In Niagara
Saffron Skies by Lesley Lokko
Rating: 5 Stars
SAFFRON SKIES is the story of 3 young girls growing up in London. It spans 5 decades through which we learn of family feuds, love affairs and sibling rivalry. The story moves from London to South Africa, New York, and Europe. This is a great read, and it would be a great movie.
Patti D.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful portrayal of love, deceit and secrets. Ms. Edwards wrote this story in beautiful detail.
Sue Spetz (suespetz@aol.com)
To The Last Man by Jeff Shaara
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the first book I have read by Jeff Shaara and I'm very impressed. What a wonderful writer. This is the story of four men fighting in World War I --- General Pershing, Baron Richthofen (the Red Baron), an American flyer, and an American Marine. This is one historical novel that is difficult to put down once you start reading it.
J Graham
Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud by Julia Navarro
Rating: 4 Stars
If you like THE DA VINCI CODE, you'll love this. Biblical and modern-day histories are paralleled chapter by chapter regarding the actual travels of the shroud of Turin.
Donna Tanner
The Photograph by Virginia Ellis
Rating: 4 Stars
4 stars so far! Reading this book is still a work in progress... this is a busy time of year, so my reading suffers. :)
Merry Christmas to all!
Kathleen Josephson
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Rating: 3 Stars
This is probably the story of Plath's life. I was not too surprised to read that she had committed suicide shortly after the book was published. It was quite disjointed, and at times, I found it hard to follow as she jumped from one thing and place to another. You could tell that she was a troubled person. The shock treatment episodes to me were inhumane, or to put it plainly, "shocking." No one should be forced to go through something like that against her will.
Margaret Ball
The Face of Innocence by Steven Cross
Rating: 5 Stars
Steven Cross has spun an exciting tale of murder and deceit. If you like well told detective stories, THE FACE OF INNOCENCE is the book for you. Ozias Williams is a struggling writer who gets sucked up into a web of child pornography and murder when his long-lost love, Cymone, re-enters his life asking for help. Cymone's adopted daughter, Sharon, has run away from home and she needs Ozias's help locating her. Each lead that Ozias gets results in a trail of dead bodies. You will wonder who is going to come up dead next as you are taken into a dark underworld of political corruption and dirty police. Ozias has just enough humanly quirks to make him real in my mind's eye.
This book is set in the 1950s and the author does a good job of sticking to the time period. The plot moves quickly and you will have a hard time putting this book down. This is the first book that I have read from this author and I believe that it is his first, and what a wonderful way to debut. I will be on the lookout for more of Mr. Cross' work.
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
The Terrible Hours by Peter Maas
Rating: 4 Stars
This is one of those nonfiction books that reads like a suspense novel. On May 23, 1939, the U.S.Navy submarine Squalus has sunk in the North Atlantic. In those days, such an event spelled certain death for the entire crew. Enter U.S. Navy officer and scientist, Charles "Swede" Momsen. Swede had made it his life's mission to develop a way to rescue submariners through the use of a diving bell and other means. First, the Squalus has to be found, then it remains to be seen if Swede's new technology will work.
Lindy
The Harbor by Carla Neggers
Rating: 4 Stars
I love Carla Neggers. Every book she writes seems so different from the ones I read before, and there has not been one I didn't think was terrific.
This one takes place on the Maine coast at Goose Harbor where a police chief is dead, and shortly after, his aunt. His daughters are devastated. Zoe West, his oldest, is a cop in town and takes off to another state to recover. The younger opens as cafe with the money her aunt has left her.
Zoe West is forced to place her trust in FBI Special Agent J. B. McGrath when her life is suddenly plunged into danger --- and a partnership that leads to undeniable passion.
John
Spy by Ted Bell
Rating: 4 Stars
Another rip-roarer by Ted Bell starring Lord Hawke, a charector even James Bond would look up to in admiration. I am in the middle of this right now, but so far it is the same kind of breakneck action thriller that makes me feel like I am watching a book-length version of The Raiders of the Lost Ark. Underwater treasure in the Keys, a hidden terrorist camp in Brazil's jungle, narco-warfare along our southern border, this book seems to cover it all. Ted Bell fans can get their fix from this one.
Jud Hanson
A Catskill Eagle by Robert B. Parker
Rating: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this book --- this is the typical Spenser novel with action and lots of great quips by Hawk. The story opens with Susan asking for Spenser's help to
leaving the man she's having an affair with. Of course, Spenser and Hawk go to her rescue and the fun begins. I highly recommend this book to those readers old enough to remember the Spenser TV series (oops, guess I've betrayed my age).
Sandy
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a memoir of Jeannette Walls's childhood. It grabbed me with the first sentence: "I was sitting in a taxi, wondering if I had overdressed for the evening, when I looked out the window and saw Mom rooting through a Dumpster."
I am 3/4 the way through this book and want to stay up all night to finish it. Then I will be sad that it is done.
Donna Volkenannt
Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Rating: 5 Stars
It was my good fortune to receive an Advance Reader’s Copy of SILENT IN THE GRAVE by Deanna Raybourn. This unusual murder mystery is set in Victorian England and told from the point of view of Lady Julia Grey. At the story’s beginning Sir Edward Gray, Julia’s husband, collapses at a dinner party and dies.
Lady Julia becomes a grieving widow who believes her husband died of natural causes because of Sir Edward’s family history and his long-standing physical infirmity. She later learns that, prior to his death, Sir Edward had hired Nicholas Brisbane to investigate death threats he had received. Lady Julia refuses to believe Mr. Brisbane’s evidence that someone wanted to kill Edward and that her husband died any other way than from natural causes. She insults Brisbane and sends him away.
A chance discovery convinces Julia that Sir Edward Gray had been receiving death threats and was, in fact, murdered; now she wants to find justice for her husband. She contacts Brisbane and enlists his help, which he, at first, refuses to give because of her past behavior and the evidence to prove Sir Edward’s death would be difficult to unearth. Eventually, Julia convinces Mr. Brisbane to help her.
Gypsies, grave robbers, and scandalous characters with deep secrets, hidden pasts, and surprising motives pepper this novel. The elements that distinguish this murder mystery from others are the sense of historical time and place and the surprising plot twists. The ending leads me to believe there will be more Victorian-era mysteries featuring Lady Julia Grey and the mysterious Nicholas Brisbane.
Sandi
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
Wow! What a great book! I couldn't put it down as it was so absorbing. I picked this up because I'd heard so many good things about it, and now I have to add my voice to this. I didn't think I'd like this book about a circus during the depression, but, boy I changed my mind quickly!
Mary Angela Young
Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Rating: 5 Stars
I know this is a real oldy, but it's great and anyone who has not read this book needs to. It gets into so much more detail than the movie does.
Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com)
The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a little slow. I find it very much like EVERYMAN by Philip Roth.
Peggy Clayton (PTCLAYTON2@AOL.COM)
The House by Danielle Steel
Rating: 4 Stars
This book keeps your attention and is very light, so you can watch all the Christmas shows and read at the same time, without missing a thing in either place.
Linda M. Johnson
Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper-Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 3 Stars
I'm still early into the book, but so far so good.
Maria
Summer Madness by Susan Lewis
Rating: 5 Stars
Magical and unbelievably entertaining, much more so than Jackie Collins!
Deb R.
One Across, Two Down by Ruth Rendell
Rating: 5 Stars
Poor Stanley --- all he wants is to complete his crossword puzzles in peace. But there's his sour, disapproving mother in-law, Maud, to contend with, as well as his overworked wife, Vera. It's been said that two's company, three's a crowd, and this little dysfunctional family is no exception. Ruth Rendell excels at probing what makes her characters tick --- and just what it takes to drive them over the edge, and sometimes into murder.
Cheryl
The Two Minute Rule by Robert Crais
Rating: 5 Stars
A great, fast-paced read about love and redemption. A man gets out of prison after 10 long years with the hopes of making amends with his son and his son's mother, only to find that she has died and their son (a cop) was murdered. The story revolves around this man's search for what truly happened to his son and the surprising person who helps him.
Lori Saporta (saportamoanah1@yahoo.com)
The Orphan's Tales: In The Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente
Rating: 4 Stars
I just finished reading an ARC of this book, and it kept me up nights!
C Crane
The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich
Rating: 4 Stars
I have yet to be disappointed by an Erdrich novel, and this was no exception. Once again, she weaves the mystical into the ordinary as she tells the story of a complicated woman who --- for reasons she is not entirely certain of --- steals a painted drum from a client. She eventually returns it to its rightful place, where we learn the tragic story of its origins.
C Crane
Lisey's Story by Steven King
Rating: 4 Stars
Everything you've heard the critics raving about is true --- this is one of King's best books. Yes, it has a scary element (we are talking Steven King here). but more than that, it is a love letter --- a profound glimpse into a complicated marriage.
Kathy Boucher (kboucher@cableone.net)
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 4 Stars
I really liked this, although at times, it was pretty far-fetched. It was a great story that kept me in suspense all the way, and a powerful tale of father-daughter love, and much more!
Kay Keller
True Evil by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is really good! I've enjoyed several of Greg Iles's books, but his new one is my favorite. The plot is fresh, and the characters are very well developed and seem so real. I've found a new favorite Southern author!!
Gayle Watkins
The Cell by Stephen King
Rating: 4 Stars
Stephen King used to be my favorite author, but after not making it through some of his later books, I went on to other reads. This book is old-school Stephen King, and I am really enjoying it.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is zany and crazy, and has some of the funniest characters around. How many cars get blown up and will Ranger have his way with Stephanie?
Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com)
The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Frank Rich
Rating: 4 Stars
THE GREATEST STORY EVER SOLD is and interesting and well-documented, but obviously biased look at the Bush administration and coverage of same by the news media. We're in a pretty sorry state when "The Daily Show" gets closer to the truth than the networks!
DC
Triptych by Karin Slaughter
Rating: 5 Stars
A great stand-alone thriller featuring a flawed investigator on the trail of a murderer who bites off his victim's tongues. The latest murder doesn't fit the typical pattern. What is going on and who is the killer?
DC
Killer Instinct by Joseph Finder
Rating: 4 Stars
A fast-paced "business thriller" about a guy whose new best buddy goes a little too far to help him close sales and get those promotions in this electronics company.
E. Quinn Knight
The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere
Rating: 5 Stars
Hope exists in the darkest places! This is the theme that Donna illustrates in her book. At a time when things seem grim, she purports that hope is right around the corner. It is a delightful read during this season.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Something Special by Joan Hohl
Rating: 1 Stars
Three romantic stories that are very dated.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Lisey's Story by Stephen King
Rating: 4 Stars
Stephen King at his best! LISEY'S STORY is an imaginative love story that I am getting ready to re-read!
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag
Rating: 4 Stars
Great read --- Tami writes another thriller that is hard to put down. This time, the serial killer burns his victims, but one is found without her head. Marvelous ending.
Martha Leverett
The Red Heart of Jade by Marjorie M. Liu
Rating: 4 Stars
After reading TIGER EYE by Marjorie M. Liu, I had to find and read the remaining books. I am on book three with one more to go.
Martha Leverett
Born In Death by J. D. Robb
Rating: 5 Stars
I love all the books featuring Eve Dallas and Roarke. I can't wait until the next one is published.
Ry
The Codex by Lev Grossman
Rating: 2 Stars
Slow reading.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
N is for Noose by Sue Grafton
Rating: 4 Stars
This was an enjoyable read, but sometimes it was hard to keep the characters straight.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Little Children by Tom Perrotta
Rating: 2 Stars
A suburban satire in which the adults act more like children than the kids.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Moonspun Magic by Catherine Coulter
Rating: 4 Stars
Set in the 1800s, it reads quickly and has a satisfying ending.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
Guilty As Sin by Tami Hoag
Rating: 4 Stars
She is the best serial killer author today. GUILTY AS SIN is a great read that holds your interest front to back. Ellen North tries to fight evil in her small town, but before she knows it, she turns quickly from hunter to prey.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Nora, Nora by Anne Rivers Siddons
Rating: 3 Stars
A coming-of-age novel set in the 1960s South. Funny and moving.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Under My Skin by Sarah Dunant
Rating: 4 Stars
A Hannah Wolfe Crime Novel that is primarily set in a spa, with some very unscrupulous characters.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
The Edge by Catherine Coulter
Rating: 4 Stars
Another really good book from Ms. Coulter.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Hemlock Bay by Catherine Coulter
Rating: 4 Stars
This is from her FBI Thriller series. It was fast paced and difficult to put down.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Earthly Joys by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 4 Stars
This book starts slowly, but picks up quite soon. It examines the lives of Kings James and Charles and the Duke of Buckingham through the eyes of their gardener, and it compares the lives of commoners and the gentry.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
The Kills by Linda Fairstein
Rating: 5 Stars
A great book. Alex Cooper is again working her best as a New York sex crimes prosecutor, but qucikly becomes embroiled in murders from Egypt to the U.S. There are many intriguing characters along the way.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens
Rating: 4 Stars
Very funny book that centers around the people who work at a cafe and the customers who visit.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Anywhere But Here by Mona Simpson
Rating: 3 Stars
Sad and sometimes funny, it is about a young girl saddled with a mother who is in search of the American dream, costing her daughter a normal life.
Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com)
Breakable You by Brian Morton
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. The characters are true to life. This is the story of a family that suffers through many things which could and do happen to us all: divorce, nervous breakdowns, affairs. A must read.
Lisa Zielke (lisazielke@sbcglobal.net)
Journal of the Angelic by Mark A. Raborn
Rating: 5 Stars
A most unusual novel that has a basis in plausible reality. It is narrated by an angel looking back across the ages --- back to the time before Lucifer's fall --- and describes (as through the eyes of an angel) what happened. Amazing, profound, life-changing.
Shelly Itkin
Short Straw by Stuart Woods
Rating: 4 Stars
A very unusual story --- imagine setting someone free and then finding out that person wants to kill you. Some people should never of gotten married, and that is the case in this story.
Brian McClafferty (BrianM8614@aol.com)
The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Frank Rich
Rating: 5 Stars
After reading STATE OF DENIAL and HUBRIS, I wasn't sure how THE GREATEST STORY EVER SOLD would stack up. Let me just say that I had a difficult time putting this book down. Its compelling narrative format is very refreshing and made the first two books mentioned above, both of which were excellent, seem dry by comparison. Don't stop now, Mr. Rich, I think you're on to something.
Brian McClafferty (BrianM8614@aol.com)
Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
Rating: 5 Stars
Like THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, THUNDERSTRUCK dances back and forth between an historical event and a prominent murder. The texture and pleasures of the first book remain throughout the second. Whoever thought history and mystery could make such appealing companions?
Jud Hanson
Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first book I've read by Reichs, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book opens with the discovery of 3 skeletons in the basement of a building that has been owned by a variety of people in recent years. From there starts a thorough investigation as to the identities of the bodies and when they died. It has a rapidly moving plot and excellent character development. I look forward to reading more by her.
Karen A.
Table For Two by Nora Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
This book contains two novellas. "Summer Desserts" wasn't one of the best Nora Roberts books that I have read, but "Lessons Learned" was a cute, romantic, comedy-style book and I enjoyed it.
Bonnie
Still Life with Husband by Lauren Fox
Rating: 5 Stars
To be published in 2007, this is a gripping novel of marriage, love and life. It's more than chick-lit, though fans of the genre will love it. The main character, Emily, dissects her marriage through a series of events at once funny, haphazard and breathtaking. The author takes you from laughter to angst and makes you truly care about the characters. It also has a highly appropriate ending, though some may disagree.
Donna Marton
The Organ Grinders by Bill Fitzhugh
Rating: 5 Stars
Imagine Michael Crichton and Bill Maher writing a book about biotechnology, hugh baboons, and greenies versus a capitalist who is very creepy...somehow it works well. This is a book I'll reread again 'cause it is that good.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
The Christmas Letters by Lee Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
This book was written in the 19th-century genre of letters to reveal a story. I adore this style of writing, especially the way the story unfolded and revealed three generations of women.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry
Rating: 3 Stars
This book had a lovely English setting at the end of the 19th century, that took a brief look at the winter-harshness of England. However, this Christmas mystery novella did not have enough time to develop the characters.
Lynn K.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Rating: 5 Stars
This book surprised me. I knew that it was the only book Plath had published, so I was a little skeptical going into it. Once I started reading, it took me through a whole gamut of emotions, from laughing to crying. I found I couldn't put the book down.
Brady Buchanan (bradylee@myway.com)
Sharon Osbourne Extreme: My Autobiography by Sharon Osbourne
Rating: 5 Stars
I am of the older generation and knew almost nothing about the Osbournes. This book is an outstanding read about a life full of challenges that are overcome in almost every instance. Why Sharon stayed married to Ozzie is beyond my understanding; however, she was brought up with violence so that was an integral part of her life and not so strange...as it is to me. I assure you, you will not be able to put this true story down!
Nyla Thompson (theclan@triotel.net)
Shaman's Daughter by Nan F. Salerno & Rosamond M. Vanderburgh
Rating: 5 Stars
Supaya found her vision when she was very young. Her Father and Grandfather before him were healers, and Supaya followed their ways. Given by her Father to pay a debt, she became the bride of someone unknown to her. This story follows Papaya during her life. It is hard to be an Indian living in a white man's world.
Indian ways are good, but white men think theirs are better.
Genie
Monkeewrench by P. J. Tracy
Rating: 5 Stars
Monkeewrench is a company of computer geeks who developed an online "whodunit" game. When a serial killer begins to duplicate the murders in the game, Minneapolis homicide detectives Magozzi and Rolseth were assigned to the investigation. As the investigation progresses, they discover a connection between the homicides in Minneapolis and one in Wisconsin. The investigation leads the detectives to Atlanta and a series of unsolved cold cases from 20 years before. Which suspect managed to be in all three locations at the right time? What will trip up the perp enough to be caught before anyone else is murdered? These questions and more will be explained at the end of MONKEEWRENCH!
Priscilla (pmflynn@webtv.net)
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
This, along with SAM'S LETTERS TO JENNIFER, are the first books I have read by this author. I thought they were excellent. You'll need a lot of tissues nearby!!
Mary Hulm
Snow Flower And the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Rating: 5 Stars
Let Lily --- the little girl who lived through the pain of footbinding in early 19th-century China, and the narrator of this book --- introduce you to what it was like growing up female in a world that revolved around men.
When you are done reading this, you will never forget it. You just might want to read it again!
V. L. Hale
The Slave by Isaac Bashevis Singer
Rating: 5 Stars
An excellent novel set in medieval Poland about a Jewish captive, survivor of a Pogrom, enslaved to a Polish peasant farmer and falling in love with the farmer's daughter. I could not put this book down! Highly recommended.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
Mr. Ives' Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos
Rating: 3 Stars
An orphaned man tells of his youth and marriage, life and the tragedy that changes his life. I didn't care much for the writing, it just didn't flow right for me.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Rating: 1 Stars
Well, I only read the first chapter, but that was enough for me. I disagreed with a lot just from that. I feel that this book is just trying to put a scientific slant to the word "intuition" (with a little knowledge/experience thrown in). I can't believe that upper management folks are recommending this book.
Shelly Itkin
Cross by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of Patterson's best books. Throughout the series, we always wondered what happend to Alex Cross's wife Maria, and in this book, we find out.
V. L. Hale
The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman
Rating: 5 Stars
The first in the Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus crime novel series. This is also the first book I have read by Faye Kellerman, and now I can't wait to read them all. I am starting on the second installment now, SACRED AND PROFANE. The characters are interesting and compelling, plots are tight, and the story is well written.
Cat
Intensity by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
Oh gosh! Talk about intense. This book grabs you from page one and NEVER lets go til the end --- it's creepy, violent, and so could-be-true that it chills you. If you haven't read it, I think it is a GREAT and very INTENSE read. If you want to keep your fingernails.... I suggest you wear gloves.
Karen Barash
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a wonderfully written book, told from the point of view of a man in his nineties. He shares his thoughts on youth and aging, and recounts his adventures as a veterinarian with a traveling circus, as well as his time in a nursing home. The chapters go back and forth and intermesh. The beginning is just as wonderful as the end. It is a must read.
Francis
Scoop by Rene Gutteridge
Rating: 5 Stars
It's a story that grips you from the start, and keeps you riveted to the end. The characters are like widgets carved in sharp angles --- very distinct and unique. However, they are very much identifiable by anyone who reads because of the emotional theme throughout. The story lines are congruently pieced together, making it an engrossing read, even in your jammies. This book is definitely a must have, because it doesn't just entertain, it SCOOPS you right to the end!
Cat
The Magdalene Cipher by Jim Hougan
Rating: 2 Stars
I thought that maybe this would pick up, but I lost interest and only read maybe a fourth of the book. I was hooked at the mention of conspiracies about UFOs, catlle mutilations, and crop circles, but I just couldn't keep interested until I got to that part.
Cat
The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
A very good novel that keeps you interested until the end. This is the first book I have read by Tess Gerritsen and I now plan to read more.
James Sperduto (james_sperduto@yahoo.com)
Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 5 Stars
I can't put the book down. It is fast paced and very interesting.
Ted_Ebaire (tdbear13@cox.net)
Just His Words by Justice Words Publishing
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm not religious, yet I find this little book to be very revealing when I compare this collection of all of Jesus's quotes with modern interpretations of "Christianity." One would assume wrongly, if one were to assume, what this book actually says. I know I made the proverbial "ass" out of "u" and "me" and learned there is a difference between Jesus's message and the message I've been getting.
Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net)
Echo Park by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
Harry Bosch is back at the LAPD in the Open-Unsolved Unit, with Kiz Rider as his partner. Harry has never lost interest in an unsolved thirteen-year-old case about a missing woman, Marie Gesto.
One day, Prosecutor Richard O'Shea asks for Gesto's file. His office has a serial killer they're prosecuting and Marie Gesto is one of the murders, in the long list, that Raynard Waits admits to. But then, everything turns haywire.
Connelly is up to his typical excellent standards. He's the best!
Cat
Kisscut by Karin Slaughter
Rating: 5 Stars
The second novel in the Grant County series. This one involves kids and leads you through an investigation that leaves you making guess about who did what. I am sure you will be surprised. Great book!
Cat
An Isolated Incident by Susan R. Sloan
Rating: 4 Stars
A very interesting novel that keeps you guessing "whodunit." It also gets you aggitated at the bigoted thoughts of some in the book, and makes you look at random happenings (isolated incidents) a bit differently. I'm looking forward to reading more of Sloan's books.
Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net)
Land of the Blind by Jess Walter
Rating: 5 Stars
My introduction to Jess Walter was in OVER TUMBLED GRAVES, featuring police detective Caroline Mabry. This is the next in the series. I have also read his one-off, CITIZEN VINCE. Wow! A powerful book.
A loon (nut case) is picked up and brought into the Spokane PD asking to talk to a homicide detective. He wants to make a confession of murder. He wants to make a written statement. That statement becomes four legal-size yellow tablets and two days.
The book had an interesting plot development where it begins with the murderer, but he won't reveal who he murdered --- or even his own name until he has completed his statement.
This is intelligent, spellbinding writing. I'm sure glad I picked up these books. What a find.
Ken Croteau
The Gettysburg Ghost by Philip N. Rogone
Rating: 5 Stars
A great romance novel set in 1863 and 1999, with so many twists and turns. A real head turner you won't want to put down.
Donna
Death Dance by Linda Fairstein
Rating: 5 Stars
I love that her extensive experience adds to the wonderful details of her books. In this Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper mystery, a world-renowned Russian ballerina is murdered, and Cooper dives into an investigation to solve the murder. It grasps you right up until the final twist.
Dottie H.
Copycat by Erica Spindler
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this 400-page book in less than 24 hours while completing some holiday baking as well. It was very hard to put down, and it kept me guessing.
Bev Uebel
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Rating: 4 Stars
A two-day read... A bizarre, disturbing, laugh-out-loud funny (though I feel badly for doing so) memoir that gives "dysfunctional" a whole new definition! How anyone could overcome such an ordeal is beyond me! I especially liked the ending; being informed of the outcome of characters! While making me physically sick, I did enjoy this book; it's my first, but not last, of this author's.
Gerry Rosen
Cross by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
A typical Patterson one-day read --- Alex Cross vs "The Butcher". This serial killer is the sickest, most brutal, cold-blooded one I have ever read about. The last sentance will definitely lead to the next Alex Cross story.
Pretty Maid
Mary, Mary by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
You won't be able to put this book down! James Patterson has created another deliciously infamous serial killer. I highly recommend this book for Patterson fans.
Lisa R.
Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
Rating: 4 Stars
A beautiful story with lots of rich language. I haven't finished it yet, but I love how it's one of those novels that instantly grabs you from the first page.
Kim Lowe
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Rating: 5 Stars
It's a fascinating, funny, and stunning tale of a band of con artists who may be either too clever for their own good, or not nearly clever enough.
Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com)
The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels by Stephen King
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a collection of stories that Stephen King published under the name of Richard Bachman. They are not classic King, but I enjoyed reading them.
Virginia Weber
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Rating: 5 Stars
This compelling memoir drew me in with its first sentence and never let up. I honestly had trouble living my regular life while this book had its bookmark in it! It called to me wherever I was, and it will remain with me for a long time too.
Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com)
The Patriots Club by Christopher Reich
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful read. It's a mixture of politics with suspense set in Washington DC.
Jane (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com)
6 Rainier Drive by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 5 Stars
This is very irresistible and addictive. Debbie is a very skilled storyteller and I would highly recommend her as an excellent author to read.
Jeff (haddow@aol.com)
Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose
Rating: 4 Stars
Francine Prose's READING LIKE A WRITER vividly evokes the joy of something that few people do nowadays: reading slowly and closely. She inspires the reader not only to savor the words, sentences, and paragraphs on the page, but also to go out and read the works she uses in her examples. This is a door that opens many other doors.
George
The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov
Rating: 5 Stars
Definitely the best psychological science fiction novel series I've ever read, and Asimov is totally the greatest sci-fi author of all time.
Try it, you can find some great reviews on www.tagabook.com
Gina
Capote: A Biography by Gerald Clarke
Rating: 5 Stars
After listening to the Director and Actor
voice over commentary on the DVD of Capote, I wanted to read Gerald Clarke's biography, which was mentioned. It is a page turner. Excellent.
Laura
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the kind of book that you can't wait to get back to. Dawkins's arguments are well reasoned, no-holds-barred, and intensely relevant to current world issues. He will make you think (hard), but he also knows when to lighten the mood with a few well-timed anecdotes that will make you laugh out loud. The narrative is a little circuitous and sometimes confusing, which is why I gave it four, rather than five, stars. I highly recommend this book!
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
What We Keep by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 5 Stars
I really liked this book. It’s a sad story about 2 sisters, Ginny and Sharla, who were abandoned by their mother when they were children. The book starts with Ginny on a plane to see their mother for the first time in 35 years. During her trip, she thinks about what happened during their childhood, and how they dealt with it. What made this interesting was the mother's reasons for leaving, and how it was perceived differently through the eyes of the sisters.
Berg has a lot of memorable quotes in here. One, in particular, “It’s funny how, oftentimes, the people you love the most are given the least margin for error. Funny, too, the places where the anger ends up surfacing.” This is a book that will stay in my memory a long time. It reminds me of why I enjoy reading books by this author.
Sandra F.
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Rating: 5 Stars
This was my introduction to the world of Thursday Next, and it was outstanding. This book is full of literary references and reading JANE EYRE is a must before you read it. A wonderful, wonderful book.
Sandra F.
Tome of Death by D. R. Meredith
Rating: 3 Stars
A rather boring book --- the characters are dull and flat, and so is the plot. Don't waste your time.
Sandra F.
Skinner's Round by Quintin Jardine
Rating: 5 Stars
Another great book featuring Big Bob Skinner of the Edinburgh police. This one dives into the world of professional golf with bodies all over the course.
C. J.
The 5th Horseman by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
Another installment in the Women's Murder Club series, this is a fast-paced mystery and an enjoyable read.
Carol M.
Murder on Nob Hill by Shirley Tallman
Rating: 5 Stars
In a time when women had almost no rights and it was considered unnatural for a them to have a career, Sarah becomes a lawyer. I so enjoyed watching her outwit a bunch of narrow-minded men, save her client and solve the murders. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
Sandra F.
Rasputin's Revenge by John Lescroart
Rating: 3 Stars
I was disappointed in this story. The setting in 1917 Russia is good, but the plot just does not live up to the setting. I think his later books are better.
Gina
All Mortal Flesh by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Rating: 4 Stars
Another in a series of excellent
character study/ murder mysteries.
Kathy C.
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka
Rating: 4 Stars
A funny, sad, and delightful story about two sisters whose father and eldery Ukrainian widower, marries a young cunning Ukranian immigrant. The story is set in England and shows how a lonley man lets himself be beguiled by a opportunistic woman because he is lonely. Funny and touching, this shows how a family struggles to keep an older member safe, honor his independence, and allow him some sense of self respect while trying to protect him.
Gerry Rosen
The Rising Tide by Jeff Shaara
Rating: 4 Stars
In keeping with his historical fiction writing about America's wars, Shaara moves to World War II. This is the first of a trilogy and deals with the war in North Africa and the invasion of Italy. Most of the characters are real people and those who aren't could very well be. Larger-than-life figures such as Eisenhower, Patton, Rommel, and Montgomery are realistically portrayed; you can't help but wonder where the line is drawn between fact and fiction. Shaara's stories are very well written and I look forward to the two succeeding volumes.
Claire O'Neil
R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoy Sue Grafton's books, as they are familiar as family. This one was more suspenseful than some others. It was a great read while waiting in the the airport to and from Florida.
Myrna Pennisi
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Rating: 4 Stars
This memoir challenges all of our sensibilities of what a parent should be. It's disturbing, yet makes a strong statement about the depth of a child's love for a parent. Thankfully, it also shows a triumph of spirit.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
The Twelve Quickies of Christmas Volume 1 by Ashleigh Raine, Lora Leigh, Shiloh Walker, Kate Do
Rating: 5 Stars
This 6 book anthology was a quick and fun read with lots of holiday romance. Ms. Leigh and Ms. Douglas are two of my favorite authors and I enjoyed both of their stories tremendously. I also enjoy the writing duo of Ashleigh Raine and their story of Lita and Ben was a fun one too. Thanks to their story of The Talisman Bay and Ms. Leigh's story of the August brothers I've added several more books to my shopping list so that I can read all the books in both of these series.
L. Hann
Dude, Where's My Country? by Michael Moore
Rating: 4 Stars
While I do not consider myself one to talk politics, I think this book will definitely give you something to think about. Michael Moore has a way of just basically telling it how it is and doesn't sugar coat anything. You take what you need to from this book and I think one thing that we should all take from it is that we all need to get involved. We all should have an opinion on things, and yes, we all should question government when something doesn't seem right. While I may not agree with all of Michael Moore's opinions, some of them are right on. This is a good read even if you aren't into politics.
Karen
Judge & Jury by James Patterson & Andrew Gross
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a quick read for me. I couldn't put the book down.
Liza
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. A veterinary student joins a traveling circus during the Depression, and immediately becomes their "official" vet. He falls in love with the beautiful acrobat who is, unfortunately, married to the violent horse trainer. This is historically accurate and fillled with fascinating details of American traveling circuses. My favorite character was Rosie, the elephant with an attitude! Recommended reading for animal lovers.
Jackie
Brother Thomas by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
Another book in the Odd Thomas series that's great, as usual. I read this in one sitting and had this one all figured out from the get go (which sometimes I don't do with Dean) but still a wonderful read.
Anna Broyles
Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams
Rating: 4 Stars
I am currently reading this book. I've always loved cats and have three right now. Williams definitely has an understanding of cats that shines brightly in this book.
Marcia
The Girls by Lori Lansens
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the story of conjoined Siamese twin sisters, with each chapter written in the voice of one of the twins. The story is humorous and poignant, and "the girls" don't realize that they are "different" from other people. It is a marvelous and heartwarming story, not at all sad or gross. I highly recommend it.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Get a Life by Nadine Gordimer
Rating: 4 Stars
GET A LIFE, set in South Africa, is a tense exploration of politics, class and race, in combunation with family life that only Gordimer does so well!
Roxie
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a nonfiction book that reads like fiction! It's based in 1893 in Chicago around The World's Fair. Fascinating read!
Roxie
When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton
Rating: 2 Stars
The story revolves around Madeline and her family. While the title makes you think the book is all about Madeline, it revolves more around the narrator of the book, a young boy who grows to adulthood. The story itself is interesting. but she rambles and shifts back and forth in time and it just gets confusing. By the end of the book you are thinking, "That's it? What was the point of writing the story?" This was definitely not her best writing.
Julie Towson
I Call the Shots by Johhny Miller
Rating: 3 Stars
Johnny Miller, the golfer, gives his take on the game of golf today, such as the way the top players think and behave under pressure. This is very insightful if you're into golf.
Patricia Reid (preid939@gmail.com)
Death Angel by Martha Powers
Rating: 5 Stars
A little girl is kidnapped and murdered. When her father comes under suspicion, her mother works to prove his innocence. The author keeps you in suspense throughout the book. Everytime I think I know who the killer is, another clue leads me in another direction. This is a book you don't want to put down.
Nonie
Sleeping With Schubert by Bonnie Marson
Rating: 5 Stars
I was swept away from the opening line, which is a classic. This is an intelligent, hilarious, fascinating novel with a completely original premise. What would happen if you got inhabited by a great musical genius ...? Wow.
imabookie
Lisey's Story by Stephen King
Rating: 3 Stars
I am a loyal fan of King's, but about 150 pages into this one, I bowed out. It just failed to pull me in. I may have quit too soon, but you know the drill: too many books, too little time.
Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net)
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent book! I think it ranks up there withThe Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc. I kept thinking I would be able to tell that a child wrote it (he was 17, I think, when he wrote this), but not so. He is a great writer, and his age did not show at all. I am looking forward to the movie, although I know it won't be as good as the book.
CJ West, author of SIN AND VENGEANCE
Blue Screen by Robert B. Parker
Rating: 4 Stars
I met Mr. Parker at a signing some time ago and I was very surprised at how personable and gracious he was. He was a pleasure to talk to and he gave me some great advice.
I am midway through BLUE SCREEN and I am thoroughly enjoying it. This is the first book by Mr. Parker that I have read and I am enjoying the breezy read and the way he communicates ideas in very few words.
Sunny Randall is an interesting character, as are many in the cast he has created. I look forward to finishing this and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries or light beach reads.
Lorna
Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly by Rob Dalby
Rating: 4 Stars
I picked this book off the new book shelf at the library. It was the title that caught me. It is a fun and heartwarming read about a small town in MIssissippi where the local Piggly Wiggly is about to close, due to the new Mega-Mart that is taking away its business. The local widows club decides to do what they can to keep the Piggly Wiggly going and talks a retired dance instructor to dance with customers in the store while the employees do their shopping. It will give you a smile and good feeling through out the book.
Sandy
On The Run by Iris Johansen
Rating: 4 Stars
An easy read with a different kind of plot. There was a little too much soap opera, but all in all, it was a pretty good story.
Madeline
Puccini's Ghosts by Morag Joss
Rating: 3 Stars
While I liked this novel, I was a bit disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed HALF BROKEN THINGS and so I had high expectations for this one. I didn't much care for the characters, and it moved a little too slowly for me. All in all, I admire Joss's writing style and I will definitely keep her on my list!
Pat in MO
Lisey's Story by Stephen King
Rating: 4 Stars
It's a big book, and I'm only a quarter of the way through. I am really enjoying it. It reminds me of the old Stephen King books (which I like better than some of his more recent works).
Grandma Librarian
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
THE PACT is about two teenagers who grew up together and love each other. Though written in 1998, I had never heard of it before. This would be great for a book club discussion. It's a page turner, as most Ms. Picoult's books are, but not "easy" reading.
Audrey Burke
Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud by Julie Navarro
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. I was lucky to get an ARC and highly recommend it if you love religious suspense novels. I can't wait until they translate Navarro's next book.
Donna Tanner
The Photograph by Virginia Ellis
Rating: 4 Stars
I haven't completed the book so can't rate it, but I'm loving it so far!
Ooops, I'm being forced to rate in order to enter, so will give 4 stars (for now)!
Brian Dunn
Lisey's Story by Stephen King
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm not terribly deep into it, but this seems to be Stephen King at the top of his game.
Nanci LaGarenne
The Sunday Philosopy Club by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm almost at the conclusion, and I'm enjoying this book so far. It's a good story and it's funny, with the possible murder/accident that happens in beginning pushing the story along. It's set in Scotland with Scottish/English humor and dialogue. The main character is a woman dealing with womanly things and life in general --- betrayal, friendship, disappointment, love. The details are charming and engrossing, making this book definitely worth a read.
Wendy Catalano
The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Rating: 4 Stars
THE BLACK ECHO is the 1st in the Harry Bosch series. It was a great read and I will now carry on with the rest of the series.
Coral Harrison
The Drowning Man by Margaret Coel
Rating: 5 Stars
This writer is similar to Tony Hillerman, but she's different enough to make it interesting. An artifact called The Drowning Man is stolen, and a woman lawyer and a Catholic Priest solve the mystery. it is a very good read.
Coral Harrison
Jimmy Stewart: A Biography by Marc Eliot
Rating: 5 Stars
A very well-told story of Stewart's life. He was a wonderful actor and man. This book tells his life from when he was a boy until his death at age 89. It is easy to read.
Jon C Iverson (joniverson@aol.com)
Mortal Stakes by Robert Parker
Rating: 4 Stars
A wonderful Spenser novel, with an inside baseball angle to please all.
Karen Terry (mi3sons@mchsi.com)
Talk Talk by T. C. Boyle
Rating: 5 Stars
TALK TALK is about identity theft and how it affects a young deaf teacher and her boyfriend's relationship. It also examines the person who stole the identity and how it pushes him over the edge after the couple begin to fight back and stalk him. It is a very interesting read.
Jackie Young (myrtleme@sbcglobal.net)
Cell by Steven King
Rating: 5 Stars
As a true Steven King fan, i'm loving this one --- the Raggedy Man haunts my dreams, and I hesitate to answer my cell phone, which is exactly what I read a Steven King book for.
Jen Wilbanks
Dead Ringer by Toni L.P. Kelner
Rating: 4 Stars
DEAD RINGER is the second book in the Laura Fleming series, which deals mainly with her "country" family and solving murders that happen in her little home town. This time, Laura (or Laurie Anne if you're family, even though she hates it!) arrives for a family reunion and winds up smack dab in the middle of blackmail and murder. Will she be able to figure out who is behind it all before it's too late?
Kate Midden (kkmaloney@bellsouth.net)
The Innocent by Harlan Coben
Rating: 5 Stars
A twisting, turning plot that you won't want to put down. This is the 4th Harlan Coben novel I've read, and they're all delicious.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry
Rating: 2 Stars
I am still scratching my head after reading this one. I read it in an evening. It is a story about a group of “high society” English people who are spending the holidays at an estate. It definitely shows the snobby side of the English back in the days when you can hear a lady coming by the sound of her skirts dragging on the floor behind her.
Vespasia, a character from one of Perry’s series, is in the midst of a tragedy at the estate when one of the women jumps off a bridge into a pond. Everyone thinks Gwendoline was driven to suicide after Isobel made a comment about her intentions towards this gentlemen she was involved with. The group of people present at the estate decide to do a pilgrimage of expatiation. If Isobel takes the suicide note that was left by Gwendoline to her mother and accompanies the mother back to the estate, then all is forgiven and not a word will be spoken about it. So, Isobel is convinced to take the trip, especially since Vespasia agrees to go with her.
This is definitely not a Christmas story. It drags out and I was left puzzled at the end. I would not recommend this and hesitate to continue to read books by Perry as a result.
Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net)
The Prestige by Christopher Priest
Rating: 5 Stars
I saw the movie first and it was great, but I like the book even more. I am a sucker for details and that's why I love books. You get all the detail and nuance that a movie doesn't always give. Definitely check this out and see the movie, too!
Pat Hoel
The Drowning Man by Margaret Coel
Rating: 5 Stars
The theft of petroglyphs and other artifacts of the Indian culture brings Vicky and Father John together again. As always, Coel gives life to her characters, and her plots can't be beat. History and mystery....what a combination!
Wendy Catalano
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this in one day and loved it! This book is comforting, and will make you appreciate those you love. A book to cherish.
Kim Numedahl
The Collectors by David Baldacci
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book, I couldn't put it down!
It gave me the goosebumps thinking about our world today!
Kim Numedahl
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great holiday read. Compared to his other work, it has a light cheery mood!
I enjoyed it very much.
Marilyn Shoemaker
Chosen As the Frenchman's Bride by Abby Green
Rating: 5 Stars
You want weepie, lust and passion, well read this book This is a Harlequin Presents debut book by a new Irish author and is absolutely a fabulous book. She has a great career ahead.
He needs an heir...She's carrying his baby.... Being swept off her feet by a tall, bronzed Frenchman isn't on Jane Vaughan's holiday list of things to do. But Xavier Salgado-Lezille isn't a man a girl can say no to easily. Especially when he comes complete with a chateau on his own island!
Jane tries to play it cool, but she's inexperienced, out of the depth, and a virgin. Falling in love isn't part of the plan...neither is discovering she's pregnant once she's home and the affair is over.
Marilyn Shoemaker
Cooking Up a Storm by Jenna Bayley-Burke
Rating: 5 Stars
Jenna Bayley-Burke has written a real winner with her COOKING UP A STORM. It's absolutely delicious and delectable, full of passion, romance and humour. I felt like I was in the middle of catering chaos. It's a wonderful story and I sincerely enjoyed every moment of Lauren and Cameron's journey in finding each other.
Cameron, an investment executive, is being transferred from his firm in New York to head up the Seattle office, and if he proves himself, he’ll run both offices. His boss is stepping down but he and his wife have definite ideas of how Cam should handle his personal life --- a serious girlfriend, then marriage! They firmly believe that because Cam must entertain both at home and the office, a wife and social hostess is the key to his success and happiness.
Lauren was just building up her career and business, “Come for Dinner” Catering. Her company was well known for catering fabulous dinner parties. For the past few years, Lauren had emersed herself in her business to forget the pain of losing her father and brother in a car accident and being hurt by a past fiancé. She is now just recovering from the hurt and looking forward to seeing Cam again and catering his business dinner. They first met a year ago at a similar function she had catered for his boss. Over the past year, Lauren had thought of him several times.
As this story begins, you feel the chemistry between Cam and Lauren immediately as they see each other again. Sparks fly, but life has a way of playing tricks on people. Cam’s boss’s wife keeps after him from the moment she arrives at his dinner party and Cam feels trapped. He talks Lauren into playing his “secret” girlfriend, and in exchange, he’ll give her his catering business for dinner parties and office lunches and functions. Their journey begins, and what a ride!
I loved Lauren’s spunk and drive, as well as.Cam’s drive to succeed, but what gave me pleasure as a reader was how they both overcame their trust issues, and in the end, found love and happiness. Sincere thanks to Jenna for this incredible sizzling and entertaining story.
Marilyn Shoemaker
Pregnancy of Passion by Lucy Monroe
Rating: 5 Stars
All of Elisa’s life she just wanted to belong and she felt she belonged to no one, not her lover nor her parents. She craved acceptance from her American mother who chose not to marry her Italian father. Throughout her life she spent time in Sicily with her father and his wife and their sweet, traditional Sicilian daughter.
However, Elisa always felt somewhat like an outsider. Her lover, Salvatore had shown her such passion but when she told him she was pregnant, he didn’t believe the baby was his and in the end left her after their child perished. She felt such pain and became a truly lost and broken woman.
Now a year later, Elisa is faced with seeing Salvatore and this is where the story takes off on a roller coaster ride, and seductive journey, one the reader will long remember. Lucy Monroe is a master at depicting strong passion between her two main characters, and again in Pregnancy of Passion she has delivered a powerful punch. Be prepared for sorrow and pain but also a passion not to be denied.
Marilyn Shoemaker
A Mistress for the Taking by Annie West
Rating: 5 Stars
All I can say is that author, Annie West, has a brilliant career ahead of her if A MISTRESS FOR THE TAKING is any indication. This is Marina and Ronan's story, set in beautiful Australia and full of passion, I guarantee!
Marina has taken care of her family for most of her life. In the past year, she and her father were in an accident, in which she injures her leg and her father dies. Marina and her brother are left to run the family business, which they stand to lose because her brother makes bad choices and gambles it away.
Marina confronts the ruthless Mr. Wakefield, the man who has stolen the company, only to be embarrassed at a cocktail party attended by the rich and famous. However, she is rescued by the tall, dark and very mysterious Ronan. He has a plan to help Marina and gain revenge on the man who has brought pain to one of his family. He is also very drawn and attracted to Marina and talks her into portraying his mistress. However, the tables are turned on both Marina and Ronan as neither of them counts on their own attraction for each other.
Their journey in finding each other and love will absolutely take your breath away. Congratulations to Ms. Annie West on her first Modern Romance, it was a fabulous read!
Kathleen Josephson
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a very powerful book. The story takes place in Afghanistan a large part of the time. It brings to life the cruelity of the Taliban, the suffering of the people, and the betrayals of family and friends. It speaks of a different culture than I know, and makes me glad that I live in North America.
Jeff
Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose
Rating: 4 Stars
I actually give this 4 1/2 stars (because no one is perfect). This inspires you to read the books it uses as examples. I can't think of a better recommendation than that.
T. Brown
Gap Creek by Robert Morgan
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. Apparently others did too. It was picked for Oprah's Book Club.
E. Q. Knight
Finding Noel by Richard Evans
Rating: 4 Stars
A wonderfully refreshing book to read at Christmas time. Evans gives us some excellent characters and has them develop into interesting folks. In the story, we find Noel!
Catherine P.
Full Moon Feast by Jessica Prentice
Rating: 5 Stars
Passionate food activist Jessica Prentice blends her love of locally grown foods with discussions of food customs and traditional old food ways. She uses the thirteen moon cycles to reconnect her readers to the rhythm of the seasons and their relationship to nourishing food. This book is easy to read with truly inspiring recipes.
Charlene A.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 5 Stars
Beautifully written novel focusing on one man's act and how it changes the course of his life and those around him. It's very rich in detai, and it pulls you in from the beginning. I loved it!
Charlene A.
Sundowners by Lesley Lokko
Rating: 4 Stars
So good! SUNDOWNERS is an epic novel spanning two decades, revolving around 4 boarding school girls.
This is a little different than your "typical" women's fiction --- it draws from political/historical issues surrounding South Africa Apartheid. But, the plot develops à la Danielle Steel. Very readable!
Kathy Boucher (kboucher@cableone.net)
Amos: To Ride a Dead Horse by Stanley Gordon West
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an extraordinary tale; Amos is an elderly man who "falls through the cracks" of society, yet manages to pull himself up and eventually triumph. I will never forget Amos; I laughed, I cried, I felt I knew him personally! A wonderful read!
Wendy Reiter
The Flamenco Academy by Sarah Bird
Rating: 5 Stars
Sarah Bird has created a story of such passion. It not only relates the history of flamenco dancing (which is fascinating), but weaves it together with an exciting narrative. When the dancing begins, you just want to tap your heels and dance right along with it!
Peggy Kincaid (cali_lb@msn.com)
Love and Louis XIV by Antonia Fraser
Rating: 5 Stars
I love history. This book takes a look at what life was like for the women in the Sun King's life. In doing so, it also tells you a great deal about the man, the era, and how women were seen. Ms. Fraser, as always, offers up a history rich in color, emotion and what it was like to love a King.
Albert Sears
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Rating: 5 Stars
I thought WICKED would be silly, but it's not nearly as silly as you'd think. The plot is engaging and complex, just as Elphaba, the main character. Really good read!
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Break, Blow, Burn by Camille Paglia
Rating: 3 Stars
Very good collection of poems, but I was disappointed that, according to the analyses, every poem had some sort of sexual theme.
Marie M. Esterline
Married to a Stranger by Patricia MacDonald
Rating: 5 Stars
It is well written, and the suspense makes it hard to put down.
Louise
Indemnity Only by Sara Paretsky
Rating: 5 Stars
As a V.I. Warshawski fan, this book was of particular interest to me, as it's Ms. Paretsky's first. A note from the author tells of her trials in getting the book published. I, for one, am glad she persevered. V.I., in case you don't know, is a Chicago P.I. who involves herself in some pretty interesting (as well as dangerous) cases.
Louise
Scrooge Wore Spurs by Janet Dailey
Rating: 5 Stars
I've read a number of holiday books in the last few weeks, and this was one of the cutest. Good family humor about a bachelor cowboy who had no interest in getting married, let alone having a family. Imagine his chagrin when three children arrived at his door one day, annoucing that they were moving in with him. Happy Christmas ending, of course!
Louise
Scrooge Wore Spurs by Janet Dailey
Rating: 5 Stars
I've read a number of holiday books in the last few weeks, and this was one of the cutest. It'a good family humor about a bachelor cowboy who has no interest in getting married, let alone having a family. Imagine his chagrin when three children arrived at his door one day, annoucing that they were moving in with him. There's a happy Christmas ending, of course!
LouBabe
Snow Baby by Brenda Novak
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the first book I've read in a long time that I absolutely could not put down without finishing. A tip though: Don't read the back cover before starting. It's much more fun to see plots and twists unravel gradually, rather than knowing ahead of time what's to come. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good love story!
Peggy Kincaid (cali_lb@msn.com)
Cross by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
I think this is one of the most emotional books with Alex Cross that Patterson has written. It is fast moving and has a surprise ending. It is perfect for a weekend read, and I didn't want to put it down until the last page.
bookczuk
Full Scoop by Janet Evanovich, Charlotte Hughes
Rating: 3 Stars
A light and fluffy romp in a mythical town in SC. I wish the "better than sex" chocolate ice cream was sold locally!
ry
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Rating: 4 Stars
Three mysteries in one --- this one you can not put down.
Christine Womack
Secrets of Mary Magdalene by Dan Burstein and Arne J. De Keijzer
Rating: 5 Stars
Very interesting and informative. It is especially nice to hear the "untold story of history's most misunderstood woman." It is truly thought-provoking.
Jane H.
Another City, Not My Own by Dominick Dunne
Rating: 4 Stars
The O.J.Simpson Trial from the view point of a fictional journalist assigned to cover it. Intriguing, but occasionally, a little slow. The main character's life closely resembles that of the author, with a twist.
Christine Womack
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful tale for students in middle school and up. It is another view of the story of ALICE IN WONDERLAND, with her named spelled correctly this time --- Alyss. Full of imagination and very well developed images of scenery, this book will keep the interest of not only students but adults as well.
Suzi Skutley
Treasure of Khan by Clive & Dirk Cussler
Rating: 4 Stars
I haven't finished this one yet, but I love they way they bring a historical mystery to the present day.
Wendy Reiter
Veronica by Mary Gaitskill
Rating: 3 Stars
Mary Gaitskill is a talented writer, as her novel demonstrates. The story was a brutal one, and even though you felt the main character's pain deeply, it was almost too painful to read.
Linda M. Johnson
What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship & Love by Carole Radziwill
Rating: 4 Stars
This memoir is by the wife of John Kennedy, Jr.'s cousin. In a matter of 3 weeks, she lost both her best friend (Caroline Bessette Kennedy) and her husband, Anthony Radziwill. Ms. Radziwill does not rely on trite phrases. She is an interesting writer.
Cindy Sheets (cindys2449@aol.com)
The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights by Faye Kellerman
Rating: 4 Stars
Ordinarily, I'm not a short story reader, but this collection of stories by Faye Kellerman |
