| LindaH |
Just One Look by Joanne Rock |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was a great read. I loved this book and I look forward to reading more by this author. I highly recommend JUST ONE LOOK.
|
| LindaH |
Skin Deep by Tori Carrington |
Rating: 5 Stars |
SKIN DEEP was the first book I have read by Tori Carrington and it won't be the last. This was an amazing story with great friends and lots of romance and hot scenes. Tori Carrington is now on my favorite/auto buy list. I look forward to reading more books by her. I highly recommend this book to those who love romance with laughter.
|
| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
Killer Instinct by Joseph Finder |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An excellent, heart-pounding book! I finished it in 2 nights! Jason Steadman is a young sales executive for an electronics company, he feels like his career is at a standstill and his wife wants him to become more aggressive. Jason then meets tow-truck driver Kurt Semko. Kurt is a real man's man, a former Special Forces agent once drafted by a major league baseball team and in great physical condition. Looking for a pitcher for the corporate softball team, Jason helps Kurt land a job in corporate security. All of a sudden good things start happening to Jason, and bad things start happening to his competiton. As Jason starts putting things together, he finds that Kurt is definitely not a man you want for an enemy. This book is highly recommended!!
|
| Wendy Catalano |
Animal. Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The true story of Barbara and her family's break from a big city to life on a farm.
Her first non-fiction narrative that opens your eyes to the idea, "You are what you eat."
|
| Wendy Catalano |
The Big Girls by Susanna Moore |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The story at the center of this novel is a crime of unfathomable horror surrounded by the horrific crimes and lives of women in prison.
A good quick read.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
The Unquiet by John Connolly |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A disturbing tale of child abuse in Maine and the history of the Gilead community. The book also offers a look at the outcasts of the world and their lives of desperation.
|
| LindaH |
Connections by Sasha White |
Rating: 5 Stars |
CONNECTIONS was a short read filled with so many hot and steamy scenes between Carter and Elise. These two wonderful characters are made for each other, and I enjoyed reading them. Sasha White is a very talented author whose books are filled with so much hot steamy passion. You will fall in love with Sasha's characters and her novels. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about hot scenes and sexy characters.
|
| LindaH |
Gypsy Heart by Sasha White |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Sasha White does it again with another *HOT* read. From the beginning to the end, this book grabs you. You would fall in love with Gage and Sable. The sexual tension between these two characters is amazing. You will not want to put this book down.
|
| Linda |
Infatuation by Allison Kent |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was an excellent read. I love Alison Kent's books. This is one of my favorites that she has written for Harlequin Blaze. This is a must read.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Marley & Me by John Grogan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a beautifully written story about a family and their dog.
|
| Lizabeth Gottermeyer |
A Miracle of Catfish by Larry Brown |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A bittersweet read (Larry died before finishing the novel). As usual, great characterizations draw you right into Larry's rough-and- tumble gritty world. Unfortunately, there is no ending, but it's a great read so far anyway!
|
| Tammy O |
Marley & Me by John Grogan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is great!. It made me laugh and it made me cry. It is for anyone who has ever loved a dog. I can see why it is on the # 1 New York Times Bestseller list.
|
| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
Spare Change by Robert B. Parker |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is one of Parker's Sonny Randall books. It's a very good book, but we can't help but wish it were a Spenser.
|
| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
Girls of Tender Age: A Memoir by Mary-Ann Tirone Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An excellent memoir of growing up in a small town where a serial rapist murderer stalks young girls. Just a super description of life at the time.
|
| Torrie Lynn |
Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher and Ruth Ross |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Empowering, yet heartbreaking, this book is a collection of a female psychologist's experiences working with adolescent girls. I will never look at our society and its view of women the same way again.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
13 Bullets by David Wellington |
Rating: 5 Stars |
For horror fans, it's a must read!
|
| Betty Jo H (harrises@bayou.com) |
The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I am about halfway through this author's second novel. I loved her first book, THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING and really like this one as well. Also, it could be a nice cross-over book for the young set.
|
| Ruth |
Dancing Bones by Patsy Clairmont |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Not as humorous as her other books, but I enjoyed the inspirational stories of people she's met throught the Women of Faith conferences.
|
| Christy (oltlfreak@aol.com) |
The Judas Strain by James Rollins |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved MAP OF BONES --- it's my favorite favorite of his. His newest doesn't disappoint, it engages you from the start. Read slowly to absorb it all; there's so much going on. This author really gives you your money's worth, so you don't mind spending the cash on a hardcover.
|
| Linda Ann (pinkheart4455@yahoo.com) |
Good Hope Road by Lisa Wingate |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I love Lisa Wingate's books. They all make me cry, but, are wonderful reads.
|
| Linda Ann (pinkheart4455@yahoo.com) |
The Year Of The Fog by Michelle Richmond |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I have never read a book by her before. It was very good, and I would recommend it.
|
| Linda Ann (pinkheart4455@yahoo.com) |
For One More Day by Mitch Albom |
Rating: 4 Stars |
As always, his books are wonderful reads.
|
| Rachael |
Slip & Fall by Nick Santora |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a fast, exciting read that I finished all in one day.
|
| Rachael |
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Very spooky and thrilling book.
|
| Jane (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com) |
The Bourne Betrayal by Eric Van Lustbader |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a great book. It keeps you hooked from the first page to the last.
|
| pigletstl (pigletstl@aol.com) |
The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I just finished this and found it stirring and captivating. It was, at once, a detailed historical account of a bloody battle and a touching love story. Very good.
|
| Ruth |
Better Single Than Sorry by Jen Schefft |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Reading this book was just like having a conversation with a group of girlfriends.
|
| pigletstl (pigletstl@aol.com) |
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
Rating: 4 Stars |
So far, this is at least 4 stars. It is more up to Ms. Picoult's previous novels than her last release, THE TENTH CIRCLE.
|
| Linda Bass (LINDARB49@HOTMAIL.COM) |
Pinky Swear by Jewel Adams |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Andrea Michaels swore to keep her best friend's infant safe from his drug-dealing father before he killed her. Now, she is on the run from his goons, who are after her. She has pinky sweared that she would get the child to his grandparents if it were the last thing she did.
|
| Jon W. |
The Overlook by Michael Connelly |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is another great one by Michael Connelly. The story has some interesting twists and turns. As always, it takes place in LA. Harry Bosch is one of the great mystery series characters. I couldn't put it down until I had finished it.
|
| Nancy Clark |
The Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a great read about the conflict between mothers and daughters and their cultures of the east and west. It also has great recipes.
|
| Nancy Clark |
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The hardships of circus life are combined with a great love story and an ending that you'll never see coming.
|
| Marsha |
Requiem for an Assassin by Barry Eisler |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This latest book featuring John Rain, an assassin with a conscience, is full of the usual excitement. In this rendering, John Rain is trying to retire, but as we learned in the Godfather, "they keep pulling you back in." This time, his partner has been kidnapped and to save him, he must get back into the "business. An electrifying novel.
|
| RossRN (editor@newsovercoffee.com) |
Killing Che by Chuck Pfarrer |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A fictional account based on Che Guevara's final revolutionary attempt in Bolivia. The book is Pfarrer's first fictional novel, and in spots, I thought the word choice wasn't exactly right, which was slightly distracting, but the story itself was good. It kept me engaged and ended well.
If 5 is the best and an all-time classic, and 4 is very good, then this one is a 3, but I'd qualify it as better than average and worth the read.
The book is set in Bolivia in 1967, at a time when the US fears a country-by-country communist revolution in South America. When a Bolivian army unit is eliminated by guerrillas, the CIA sends in a contractor to investigate. The contractor is Paul Hoyle, an ex-agent now seeking work after a divorce and early exit from the agency.
While any student of history knows the ultimate outcome of the book, it had plenty of twists and turns and great insight into both the perspective of the insurgent and counter-insurgent.
|
| Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com) |
Light on Snow by Anita Shreve |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A fast read and a good read about a father and his 12-year-old daughter who find a newborn infant abandoned in the woods in the snow to die. Lots of food for thought.
|
| Julie Elias (julbloom55@yahoo.com) |
Predator by Patricia Cornwell |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The same dynamic Kay Scarpetta and cast --- Lucy, Benton Wesley, Pete Marino --- in a mysterious plot that takes us from the heat and humidity of eastern Florida to the blizzards of Boston. There's lots of action between the characters and a surprise ending --- all the things that make this series a "got to read it."
|
| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
The Dark Streets by John Shannon |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a Jack Liffey mystery. Jack is on the trail of a Korean sixteen year old when he is snapped up by the high-powered Homeland Security. Meanwhile, his own daughter takes up with an L.A. gangbanger.
|
| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
Cherry On Top by Kathleen Long |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is definite chick-lit. The night that Cherry Harte is left at the altar, she finds out that she has won the lottery. She and her sister decide to move to Florida and start a new life. There are some funny moments as the story unfolds, and some very lively characters are introduced!
|
| Paula |
Spanish Dagger by Susan Whittig Albert |
Rating: 3 Stars |
In this latest installment, China Bayles, former attorney and now herb shop owner, helps the local police to solve a murder in Pecan Springs, TX. Included are recipes and helpful tips regarding the use of herbs for cooking and medicinal aid. This series is fast paced and easy reading. A good escape or weekend read.
|
| Jud Hanson |
The Fort at River's Bend by Jack Whyte |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the fifth part of The Camulod Chronicles. In it, Merlyn has taken Arthur to a secluded, nearly inpenetrable fort to keep him out of harm's way from those who would see him dead. Arthur receives a thorough education, militarily and otherwise, and takes further steps toward his destiny as High King of Britain.
I highly recommned this series and this book to anyone who'd like to know one way in which the Arthur legend my have been created.
|
| Barbara in Jackson |
Violets are Blue by James Patterson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Although it is fairly typical James Patterson --- with all its violence and crime scene descriptions --- it is also fast paced and has quite a twist at the end. The good Mr. Cross, who we have gotten to know quite well from previous Patterson crime adventures, is still being mentally tortured by The Mastermind; however, in this one, there is a conclusion and the identity of The Mastermind, aka, The Monster, is revealed. There also are some new love interests and I am happy to say that Nana and the kids are still present. All in all, I enjoyed VIOLETS ARE BLUE and read it quite quickly. His short chapter style makes you want to constantly 'read a little more,' and the pages do fly by.
|
| Tanya |
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I know it's been out for a while, but our book group kept shying away from reading this. Perhpas because we had so many new moms. We finally read it last month and had the best discussion. It was so interesting to hear the different views from those with kids and without and those who have experience with special-needs issues. We all loved it but debated about the choice of ending.
|
| Kathleen Garber (callista83@cogeco.ca) |
The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is an awesome novel about Changelings.
It's a longer novel at 319 pages, but you can't say the author wrote too much. Every word, every sentence and every paragraph adds to the story. At no point was I bored, not even at the beginning. This is Keith's first novel, and I can't wait to see if he writes more!
The novel switches back and forth between Henry Day's life after he's taken by the Changelings and his double who was once a changeling and has now taken the place of Henry Day and is living his life. What's interesting is that the parents never know the difference. The change is made while the child is away from the parents. They may notice a few changes in their child but assume it is from when the child was away from them.
If you like fairy tales then you should read this novel. It was very interesting and kept me entertained throughout. It also made me want to read up more on changelings.
|
| Kathy (kboucher@cableone.net) |
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Truly a deeply satisfying story, set in Biblical times....it is not an "easy" read, but it's very profound, and timeless. It offers a real insight into what it was like to be a woman during that period of history.
|
| James (james.e.bartlett@gmail.com) |
Next Stop Hollywood by Steve Cohen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
NEXT STOP HOLLYWOOD is both an interesting read and an interesting approach to the business of publishing. It is a collection of short stories compiled and published with the expressed intent of being made into movies.
I found each of the stories very entertaining. The book contains everything from horror, to comedy, to sci-fi. I could definitely see several of these stories making it to the silver screen.
There is more information about the book and the story selection process on the website, www.nextstophollywood.org
|
| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Beynon Rees |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The first in a series about an aging Christian who lives in Bethlehem, the Palistinian area. He is a teacher and one of his former star pupils is picked up by terrorists and labeled a collaborator. Many twists and turns.
|
| Noreen Brown |
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Add another star if you're from New York. The book takes place in Manhattan, the Bronx, and even City Island. This is a very good story about 2 orphaned sisters. One, a TV personality, utters a no-no on the air.
|
| Zinda Vosberg (dzvos@prtel.com) |
Peony in Love by Lisa See |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderful, just as good as SNOWFLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN. Lisa See is a very enjoyable author who keeps you turning the pages.
|
| Cindy (lgh164@copper.net) |
Disco for the Departed by Colin Cotterill |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This the 3rd in a great series featuring a 70+ year-old man that is 'appointed' coroner in the late 1970s in Laos. Communism, communicating with the dead, and murders are all woven into a witty and enjoyable story. I was transported to a time, place and culture beyond my experiences, and I loved it.
|
| Pam |
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger |
Rating: 5 Stars |
THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE has received a lot of hype, and flack due to that hype. The truth is that the book is highly entertaining and moving. It's a love story with a twist.
|
| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
The Overlook by Michael Connelly |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a very good book. LAPD detective Harry Bosch is investigating the execution-style murder of Dr. Stanley Kent. Kent had access to radioactive substances from almost all of the hospitals in LA county. Was he killed by terrorists wanting access to these substances, or is something totally different going on? I read this book in one sitting. It is one I didn't want to put down.
|
| Julie Peterson |
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I get excited every summer to have a new Stephanie Plum book to read. Of course, I enjoyed the book because I love the character; however, I'm not sure that this one was the best in the series. That said, it still was a very enjoyable summer read!
|
| Libby Davies |
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Chabon's writing is wildly imaginative and fun. You may need to read this wacky detective novel with a Yiddish dictionary at hand, but the effort will be well worth the work involved. Chabon creates an alternate reality in Canada that seems as real as this one by page ten.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Wings of Fire by Charles Todd |
Rating: 4 Stars |
An enjoyable English mystery with multiple deaths thought to be an accident or suicide, and the pagan belief in Gabriel's hounds coming for the unchristened dead. And of course, Inspector Ian Rutledge and all his war demons.
|
| Swapna Krishna (zenigma283@yahoo.com) |
The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is part family history, part general history, part memoir, and part something else altogether --- it's a very long book that takes quite the commitment, but it's worth it.
|
| Teresa Steinert (steinertt@aol.com) |
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Great book, especially when adding the back story of finding it after 60 years.
|
| Marsha |
When Darkness Falls by James Grippando |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This amazing thriller will make your heart race. There is a hostage situation, as well as much information about "The Disappeared" of Argentina. Treat yourself.
|
| Judy Goldsmith (judyjtg@sbcglobal.net) |
Holes by Louis Sachar |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I read this for the local library book club. It's good, but I don't think it merits the acclaim it has received.
|
| Swapna Krishna (zenigma283@yahoo.com) |
Body Surfing by Anita Shreve |
Rating: 3 Stars |
It's easy to read, which I like, but it just isn't very captivating --- I feel like I rushed through it because I wasn't very interested.
|
| Teresa Steinert (steinertt@aol.com) |
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Grabbed me from the beginning.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
Mother Love, Deadly Love by Andrea Peyser |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I remember hearing about this case when I was still living in New York, about 1 year before I moved to Charlotte, NC. To me, it was just another horrible story that became a media frenzy like the O. J. Simpson case. Now, 12 years later, I am a wife and a mother, and this case had more meaning to me. I cannot and will not ever understand how a normal person could ever kill their children --- Especially the way these boys were killed. I thought the author did an excellent job putting this book together. Not only did you get the facts about the case, she obviously did her research on the death penalty, race relations, and the economics and social aspects of Union, South Carolina. I believe the focal point of all of her data was to show the average person that this was just a small town filled with church-going people who did not feel threatened by the outside world. This town was not the type of town to produce a killer like Susan Smith. And yet, it did. The chapter “Who Are You Calling Crazy?” came the closest to an adequate explanation of the kind of person Susan was and why she did what she did. But, as a wife and mother of two beautiful children, it still did not satisfy me. I give kudos to Miss Peyser for her excellent journalism that I thought was non-biased and well researched. I didn’t enjoy this book but I am glad I had the opportunity to read it.
|
| Marsha |
The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This beautifully written novel is a wonderfully unexpected treat. It takes place in Iran in the aftermath of the Iranian revolution and will call to mind the treasure of family, identity and love.
|
| Lois Lilling |
The Divide by Nicholas Evans |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I couldn't stop reading. It was thoroughly enjoyable and well written. Evans is a master of the literary art.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Americans take their freedom for granted. To imagine that reading certain books must be done in secret, and that discovery could mean time in prison! What courage for these women to read and discuss the reading.
|
| Kathy Vieira |
March by Geraldine Brooks |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Beautifully written story about the "other side of the mirror" of LITTLE WOMEN'S beloved March family. It was absolutely fascinating reading about the father of the March girls being at war and the great love he had for family waiting at home.
|
| Sandy |
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I started this book yesterday morning, and I am halfway through and loving every word of it. The title says it all. Annie Freeman did not want a traditional funeral so she is sending 5 of her best friends who have never met each other on a traveling funeral.
This book sure makes me think about doing something like this!!! But which friends do I pick?
|
| Renee (tfranzen2124@comcast.net) |
The Amateur Marriage by Ann Tyler |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Everthing Tyler writes is wonderful, but this was an espeically interesting tale.
|
| dawnymae5@msn.com |
The Woods by Harlan Coben |
Rating: 5 Stars |
As per usual with this writer, he has another page-turner! It is gripping right from the first page and doesn't let up until the surprise ending! So read it and enjoy
|
| Rachel |
Wearing the Spider by Susan Schaab |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This excellent thriller-fiction novel is a great read for those of you who love twists and turns. A male law firm partner hijacks the identity of a female associate and commits fraud and murder in her name. Schaab does a good job in exposing the inner workings of the corporate legal world, as well as presenting a compelling, fast-paced, suspense thriller that I couldn't seem to put down. This book is definitely worth it.
|
| Rita |
The Woods by Harlan Coben |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is an excellent mystery book, with its share of surprises and intrigues. I definitely enjoyed this story, which concerned the fate of 4 teenagers in the woods, with the bodies of 2 found and the other 2 missing. When the body of one of the missing shows up many years later, the mystery takes a new twist.
|
| Priscilla |
The Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I have not gotten very far into the book since I just started it today. But, it looks very promising!
|
| Tim Barnes (btv01@bellsouth.net) |
A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffet |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A SALTY PIECE OF LAND is about a cowboy named Tully Mars. His adventures on a tropical island make you feel like you're in another place. A very enjoyable read!
|
| Lea Ann (baxtergr@msn.com) |
The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disa by Gary Krist |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a riveting nonfiction account of the 1910 avalanche on Stevens Pass in WA state that killed 96 persons when two trains that had been caught by heavy snows for 5 days were pushed down the mountain. Living in Seattle and traveling the pass by car from time to time and seeing where the accident happened makes it especially real. It is a still-remembered part of our state's history.
|
| Michelle (herzingm@pennfield.net) |
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Great book! The story is told through a 93-year-old man's flashbacks to when he joined the circus as a young man in the 1930s. It grabbed me from the first chapter, and read almost straight through without putting it down.
|
| Janice Gateowod (jrg0143@aol.com) |
The Manny by Holly Peterson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Really great beach book, and a fast read. It's already optioned for a movie, which should be great if cast is right.
|
| Kay Keller |
The Lady in Blue by Javier Sierra |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a great read with religious themes reminiscent of THE DA VINCI CODE. The story goes back and forth between New Mexico in the 1600s and present-day Italy and focuses on a Catholic nun, Maria Jesus de Agreda, who possessed the "divine gift" of being able to bilocate. This author knows how to tell a good story!
|
| Mo (maestraw@msn.com) |
The Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Kathryn Dance is the star of her own novel, and I have a feeling she will be back. There were the traditional twists and turns, and a visit via phone from Amelia Sachs and Lincoln Rhyme. A good summer beach read.
|
| Patti D. |
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A finding of oneself. Ms. Gilbert travels, opening her up to experience life in this unique story.
|
| Patti D. |
Red River by Lalita Tademy |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This tells the story of 3 generations of an African American family, from 1873 to the 19980s. Excellent reading! It really brings their stories to life!
|
| Mo (maestraw@msn.com) |
Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A fairly decent book about sisters and their loves during World War II.
|
| Jon Weiman (jdweiman@optonline.net) |
The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is an unusual book by A. M. Homes, as it is a memoir and she has always been rather guarded aobut her personal life. She is best known for her novels and off-beat writing, which generally explore the darker side of life and sexuality.
The memoir is a fascinating and moving account of her exploration and experiences with her natural parents. She was adopted and becomes aware of her mother and father in her early thirties. A great book.
|
| Shannon |
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
In the thirteenth book of the Stephanie Plum series, Stephanie's ex-husband Dickie Orr is missing and the bad guys are after Stephanie. Throw in some exploding rodents, the typical antics of Lula and Grandma Mazur, the sexual tension that exists between Stephanie and Joe and Stephanie and Ranger, and you've got another fun-filled --- albeit familiar --- romp with the crew from the Burg.
The only thing I don't like about this series is the wait for the next one!
|
| Barbara |
The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I have mixed feelings about this book. It is a wonderful, heartbreaking story about the blizzard of 1888. But, it is also very technical in relating the story of the part of the Army Signal Corps that eventually became the U.S. Weather Bureau. That part was dry reading, which I skimmed to read the stories of the victims. I would recommend this book to anyone, but warn them about the side story.
|
| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
The Other Boleyn Girl by Gregory |
Rating: 2 Stars |
I know many people love this author, but I am finding this a tedious read. I think it's because I am more interested in the history than the characters.
|
| Sandy |
Promise Me by Harlan Coben |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Once again, Coben keeps readers at the edge of their seats, trying to keep up with the twists and turns of this latest mystery/thriller.
|
| Caroline |
Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A complex story, mass graves, murder in Guatemala. Although the story grips you from the beginning, it loses hold with the abundance of technical jargon.
|
| Lisa |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
If you enjoyed THE KITE RUNNER, you will love this!
|
| Ginny |
Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Betrayal turns into adventure, which then turns into the bazarre as Joy Candellaro spends the week before Christmas as she has no other before. It almost makes you believe in magic!
|
| Ashley J. (ashleyjeon77@hotmail.com) |
Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A cute romance novel about a matchmaking gone wrong...then right though jealousy, love, lust, and happiness! I love this book, and I highly recommend it.
|
| Fran O. |
If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I originally bought this book because I thought it was "chick lit." It's actually more like a combination of fairy tale and magical tale with elements of chick lit. Although it took me a few chapters to get into it, I wound up loving it. It is a cute, light, and all-around fun read. I would recommend it as a fun summer book. I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would.
|
| M. Krauser |
Sicilian Sisters: Women in La Famiglia by Marianna |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Brilliantly written by the author. This book brings you back to the days of the Pirates and how they unwittingly started the Mafia on a small Sicilian island. The heroine is a protagonist and descendant of the Pirates and Sicilian sisters.
|
| jodi |
Sister Mine by Tawni O'Dell |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I picked this up to read it just by chance, and once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It's based around Jolly Mount, a mining town in Pennsylvania that's known for 5 miners that were trapped inside a mine but all survived. The main character is a feisty woman who finds herself in as much trouble as a Janet Evanovich character.
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| Jen |
Once Upon A Day by Lisa Tucker |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Two unlikely people's worlds collide to help them discover how to live their lives. It is a page turner.
|
| Jen |
The Sunday Wife by Cassandra King |
Rating: 5 Stars |
THE SUNDAY WIFE is one of those books that you just don't want to put down. It is about a preacher's wife who moves with her husband to a new church and discovers a life.
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| Sally B., San Antonio TX |
Chasing The Dime by Michael Connelly |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I listened to this abridged audiobook. The reader was very good (Alfred Molina) and the storyline was exceptional, with a fast-paced and suspenseful ending. Some of the scenes, though, seemed somewhat contrived, but this could be due to the abridgement.
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| Jud Hanson |
The 5th Horseman by James Patterson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the 5th book of the Women's Murder Club series, I believe. I've read some of the others and this is as good as those. The plot deals with what appears to be an "Angel of Death" that is causing mysterious deaths in the local hospital for patients who weren't on death's door. It's a pretty quick read.
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
Potter Springs by Britta Coleman |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a light, quick little romance. It's a story about Amanda and Mark. Mark is a Baptist minister, and he is very much in love with Amanda. So much so that they break the moral law and have to quickly get married. Unfortunately, Amanda loses the baby and neither Amanda or Mark know how to deal with their grief or how to console each other.
Potter Springs is a small little Texas town where Mark lands a job as an assistant minister of the local church. The rest of the novel takes you through how they establish their life in this new town and how they cope with their loss. The character development isn’t really deep, but the story is definitely engrossing. It's not really believable, but enjoyable.
|
| Jud Hanson |
Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the third (and final?) book in the Pendergast Trilogy --- it was excellent. It picks up right from where DANCE OF DEATH left off, with Pendergast in prison for a crime he didn't commit. This book focuses on his brother's obsession with revenge and will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. I highly recommend this novel but you should read the first two books beforehand.
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| Renee (meenmom714@aol.com) |
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a beautifully written book. I am 3/4 through it and can't imagine how it's going to turn out...that's a good thing!
|
| L. Hann |
Summer's Child by Luanne Rice |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A very good summer read. Mara Jameson went out to water her garden one day and then went missing. This is a very suspenseful book. I couldn't put it down.
|
| Lew |
Eldest by Christopher Paolini |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Not as good as ERAGON, the first book in Paolini's trilogy. There is not enough action and too much lengthy description. We will have to see if he improves with the third book.
|
| Sally C. |
On Chesil Beach by Ian Mc Ewan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ian McEwan is one of my favorite writers, and this book does not disappoint. It's a very slim volume, almost a novella, but is beautifully written. The book takes place on the wedding night in 1962 of a young couple in Britain. He tells the story of what does and doesn't happen that night, as well as the ramifications. His book ATONEMENT remains his best, in my mind, but that does not diminish his other work.
|
| Coral |
Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A nostalgic story about a family with 3 teenage girls during World War II, and how they coped with their boyfriends. The mother insisted they write every night to their boyfriends and other boys in the service. This was a good read that told how we all felt during that time.
|
| Vicki T. |
What Came Before He Shot Her by Elizabeth George |
Rating: 2 Stars |
Elizabeth George is a good author, but this book is quite a departure from her usual writing and not quite up to snuff.
|
| Danna Lambert (dannalamb@aol.com) |
The Woods by Harlan Coben |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Engrossing until the final page,
and then some.
|
| Coral |
Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Delinsky has written another good book. This is about a couple that are white and have a colored baby girl. His parents are appalled and her family accepts. It has a lot of laughs and shows how some people can be so bigoted.
|
| Christy |
Love Kills by Edna Buchanan |
Rating: 3 Stars |
It's been a while for a new book, and had a hard time getting into this one. The story with the guy who kills his wives is good and really catches you, but the other one is just stupid.
I miss Edna's early writing style!
|
| Ashley J. (ashleyjeon77@hotmail.com) |
See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Jane has to prove herself as sports journalist material when following a hockey team, but something sizzles between her and the captain, Luc. Will it stay "hate at first sight"?
I loved this book. I couldn't go to bed without finishing it. Highly recommended.
|
| Julie Towson |
Ten Days in the Hills by Jane Smiley |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a wonderfully written book fashioned after Boccaccio's DECAMERON. Only, it takes place in the Hollywood Hills with a group of people staying at an aging director's home for ten days.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
If Looks Could Kill by Kate White |
Rating: 2 Stars |
This is the first of the Bailey Weggins Mysteries. I wanted to read it before LETHALLY BLONDE, which is the latest in this series.
|
| Lindy |
Fresh Disasters by Stuart Woods |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Another Stone Barrington classic, that includes some previous characters, like Dino, and the little toad, Herbie. Unfortunately for Stone. his firm calls him to take on a case for Herbie, which takes him to the depths of the NY Mafia. He gets to meet "Datilla the Hun," and barely saves his own life. But knowing Stone, he finds time for a little romance, and of course, there is a happy ending.
|
| :omdu |
The Convenant by Beverly Lewis |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Beverly Lewis, a former resident of the Lancaster, PA, area once again
returns for a Christian novel on the Amish. The teenage daughters of Abram Ebersol begin courting, and his oldest, Sadie, gets involved with an "Englisher" named Derry who eventually abandons her. Their father finds a man for his next daughter, Leah, but she isn't interested. This is a wonderful look at the Amish and what makes them so unique.
|
| Lindy |
Twice Kissed by Lisa Jackson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Maggie Macrae and her twin, Marquise Walker, have little in common, but
when Marquise disappears without a trace, she goes to find her. Marquise and Maggie
became estranged when Marquise stole Thane Walker from Maggie on
purpose, and now Thane and Maggie are thrown together in finding her
sister.
|
| Lindy |
Chesapeake Blues by Nora Roberts |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The Quinn family of Chesapeake Bay welcomes home their son Seth, now a famous painter. Seth was adopted after his mom was unable to care for him, due to drug addition. Seth has decided to settle back at home permanently, but he has a blackmailer after him. He meets Dru, who ran away from her fiance and Washington, DC to open a flower shop in a place she loves. She has a lot of hurts that Seth needs to get around to make her his.
|
| Christy |
Scene of the Grime by Suzanne Price |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Cute little cozy I picked up and read pretty quickly. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
|
| Gerry |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Haven't posted here for a while, but a wonderful book brought me back. Like his debut novel, THE KITE RUNNER, A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS is set largely in Afghanistan, and tells the heart-breaking tale of two women whose lives intersect in a country torn by war and fundamentalist repression. Beautifully written and wonderfully evocative, this is a novel to savor and remember.
|
| Christy |
Dirty Martini by J. A. Konrath |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I could not put this book down, it's his best yet. The main plot is scary, because it's something that could really happen. I escaped from this world into Jack Daniels for a while, and it was great!
|
| Deb |
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A delightful memoir about moving to the family farm and becoming self-sufficient. This was a superb cautionary tale of the perils of our current food system in America. Grow organic. Buy local.
|
| Parker Benchley |
Confessions of The Game Doctor by Bill Kunkel |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A intriguing autobiography by a man who was in on the video-game craze since its beginning. Great writing and a totally fascinating story.
|
| Kathie |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I enjoyed THE KITE RUNNER, but I am just mesmerized by this book. The characters are so real and the writing is superb.
|
| Dale |
The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a very moving book, and Chris brings you right into the characters. I first read MIDWIVES, and now this book. He is a great author and I look forward to others.
|
| Dale |
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Leprosy is a subject I was not very well aware of 'til I read this book. It will make you cry and feel their pain! This book is one you can't put down until the end, and even then, you hate to do it. What a great writer!
|
| Sandi |
In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I've been reading all of her books since January and I absolutely love them. They are all mysteries that take place mostly in Great Britain.
This one actually has 3 mysteries in it. The main characters is 10 years old, and is abducted in a dark house.
Read these in order as relationships wit family and friends are very important. I feel like I know Duncan and Gemma, who are police inspectors.
|
| Margaret Ball |
Porch Stories by Jewell Parker Rhodes |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Jewell Parker Rhodes has delivered another winner with PORCH STORIES. She has penned a wonderful story about her relationship with her grandmother. The fact that she was deserted by her mother before she could crawl has always left her feeling insecure, but not unloved because her wonderful grandmother filled her empty spaces with a love that was rich and pure. The two of them spent time bonding while sitting on the front stoop of their house. It was then that her grandmother, Ernestine, used to tell her stories of the past. They also taught Ms. Rhodes a strong moral code, and values that she could use throughout her life. Whenever Jewell's behavior was not up to code, Grandmother Ernestine had a tale to tell that made her understand why her particular action was not wise.” “Remember your name, who you be in love with your good self” was the number one message that Ernestine wanted to make sure Jewell understood.
For a short time Jewell had to go live with her mother, who did not share the same views in life that were instilled in her daughter. This made the period of time during Jewell's parents' attempt at reconciliation very hard for her. Living with her mother made her realize just how complex the world really is. It was her grandmother' s efforts that made her into the writer that she is today. Ernestine was determined that Jewell get the education that she herself had always longed for but was not able to get.
I truly enjoyed reading this book just as I have enjoyed each book by this author. It left me feeling good.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Not a genre I usually read, but I'm so glad I did! I love this author's writing.
|
| Carol Carris (cjcwind@hotmail.com) |
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I've enjoyed reading the Stephanie Plum series several times, and I have to say, this latest installment is the best so far. It is laugh-out-loud funny. Evanovich has given us even more insight into what a jerk Stephanie's ex, Dickie Orr, really is.The tension between Ranger, Morelli, and Stephanie keeps the reader wondering if relationships may change this time. And there's a good mystery to solve in between all the fun, too.I highly recommend this fast and funny read.
|
| Ann Stone |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Afghanistan from the female perspective, the book complements THE KITE RUNNER. The book is easy to read and hard to put down, and the ending is better crafted than Hosseini's previous book.
|
| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber |
Rating: 5 Stars |
There was a lot going on in this book. I loved all the characters, you really felt like you knew these people and got a real sense of where this was all going, while also setting up for the next book and the whole community thing. I already have the next book and can't wait to get started on it. This book made me confident I would like the others. I have bought each book in the set.
|
| Deb (debmann54@yahoo.com) |
The Book of Small by Emily Carr |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The very short episodes in the artist's childhood are told in a strikingly vivid way. A fun look at being a child in the frontier town of Victoria, B.C.
|
| Noreen Brown |
The 6th Target by ames Patterson & Maxine Paetro |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Lots of doors left open for their next book....
|
| Marsha |
Up in Honey's Room by Elmore Leonard |
Rating: 5 Stars |
No one writes dialogue as well as Leonard, and he is at his best in this sequel to THE HOT KID. It takes place in Detroit during World War II, chock full of femme fatales, German conspirators, G-Men and escaped German POWs. Have fun and enjoy the tale.
|
| S. Katz |
Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved the story. I have recommended this book to everyone I know. This is the type of story that I think I will never forget.
|
| Elaine |
After Dark by Phillip Margolin |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Well-written suspense about the murder of an Oregon Supreme Court Judge and the corruption that surrounds the Court. The characters are interesting and a little strange. and the story moves along with interesting twists. Mr. Margolin is an excellent writer.
|
| Mary Jacobs (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Extremely funny essays about growing up and living life on your own.
|
| Tim Cobb (tsc1233@aol.com) |
The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Terrific read with many surprises along the way. I especially enjoyed the historical connection with Edgar Allen Poe. An historical mystery with a superb story line.
|
| Sandra Smith (ssmith0028@verizon.net) |
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 5 Stars |
One of the funniest yet, in the entire series --- you will be rolling on the floor, laughing. This is Evanovich at her best. I had to call a girlfriend so we could laugh about it together.
|
| DSGMOM |
Austenland by Shannon Hale |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A great read for Austen fans and those who, like the main character Jane, still see Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy as the ultimate man!
|
| Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com) |
The Keep by Jennifer Egan |
Rating: 3 Stars |
If you loved LOOK AT ME, don't miss Egan's THE KEEP, which is a chilling modern gothic story in Manhattan and Europe. No more hints, just prepare for a real adventure!
|
| C Simar |
The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is both informative and entertaining. A great read for those of us enthralled with World War II history.
|
| Sharon J. |
X-Rated Blood Suckers by Mario Acevedo |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a wonderful vampire novel! Felix Gomez is a vampire detective hired to find out who killed porn actress Roxy Bronze. He and his compadre Coyote set out to solve this murder mystery in Los Angeles, California.
|
| Mary Jacobs (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
The Crimson Portrait by Jody Shields |
Rating: 4 Stars |
It really give it 3.5 stars --- very descriptive book, which would probably be a hit for the person who enjoys this type of writing.
|
| Marsha |
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 5 Stars |
More fun with Stepanie Plum. Her adventures never fail to amuse. Anyone who can read this without laughing out loud isn't concentrating.
|
| Sharon J. |
After Midnight by Richard Laymon |
Rating: 5 Stars |
AFTER MIDNIGHT tells the story of Alice, who refuses to give her real name. This is a horror story, the tale of an intruder that Alice encounters while house-sitting for her vacationing best friends. This story will give you goosebumps!
|
| Judy (AZ) |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I cannot say which book I loved more, this one or THE KITE RUNNER, but I read this book in one sitting. The book transverses 30 years of Afghanistan history and tells the the story of two Afghani women who are bound together by fate. This book truly belongs on the bestseller list.
|
| Judy (AZ) |
The Chrysalis by Heather Terrell |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The Chrysalis is a painting, the ownership of which is being challenged in court. The many plot lines jumble together: the legal fight over ownership, its creation in 15th century, Nazi Germany and the stealing of objets d'art from the Jews in the 1940s, and the present-day possible conspiracy, we well as some romance. I had expected more of a Tracy Chevalier-type of book, but the painting itself is fictional. I had high hopes when I began reading the book, but became more disappointed as it progressed.
|
| Fran |
Burned Alive by Souad |
Rating: 5 Stars |
|
