| Julie |
No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I'm not much of a short-story person, but July's are quirky and very different. She's obviously some kind of savant (she's an actress, screenwriter, etc.), and these stories are just another facet of her brilliance. You'll be reading along, and all of a sudden, one small line or comment will throw you completely off-balance. Everything you thought you knew isn't what you thought at all. Love these stories!
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| Noreen Brown |
A Spot Of Bother by Mark Haddon |
Rating: 1 Stars |
What a let down. I enjoyed THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, but not this. I didn't care about the characters or the descriptive homosexual sex scenes.
|
| Maureen H |
Heartstopper by Joy Fielding |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Enjoyable read. I loved the characters. I did not pick up who the killer was until the end. I kept thinking it was some other lech in the story who gave me the creeps.
|
| Jud H. |
Code Alpha by Joseph Massucci |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A good book, but I only gave it 4 stars because it's pretty run of the mill: Uncle Sam develops very lethal bug, terrorists get it and plan to devastate the US, team of elite military personnel sent in to retrieve bug and stop terrorists. Still, it was enjoyable, but not in the same class as Clancy.
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| Christina Armieri |
The Harlequin by Laurell K. Hamilton |
Rating: 4 Stars |
THE HARLEQUIN holds true to Hamilton's writing style. It is fast paced, supernatural, and full of eroticism. The characters are life-like and, if you have followed the series, you will have already developed feelings of affection for them. Jean-Claude and Anita Blake are still treading the rocky path of their relationship and Anita is still trying to feel comfortable within her own skin. She has a lot of things to accept about herself, but will she be able to survive this encounter with the Harlequin in order to do so?
THE HARLEQUIN reads very quickly. It is one book you can not put down until you finish the last page and then you feel sad it has finished. I can not wait for A LICK OF FROST, another one of Hamilton's series.
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| F Tessa Bartels |
Them Bones by Carolyn Haines |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I thought this Mississippi Delta mystery was cute, Charming, and fun to read. I'll read more by this author.
|
| Elizabeth Giles |
Meridon by Philippa Gregory |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I am reading the third and last book in the Lacey Family trilogy written in the late 1980s. Sometimes we all come across a book we should have read long ago. This book has good descriptive narrative set in England in 1700s. This last book focuses on Meridon as she ekes out her life as a Romany girl and she feels that there is more to her life than training horses. As this is the third book, it is hard to not look at the continuing saga in the Lacey family. The characters in MERIDON are many and come alive as you get involved in each one's personality. This series is great for summer reading.
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| Marsha |
Informant by James Grippando |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Catching a serial killer is the job of FBI Agent Victoria Santos and Miami Tribune reporter Mike Poston, and it seems everyone gets involved in this heart-pounding wild read. You'll not want to put this one down.
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| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
The Indian Bride by Karin Fossum |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent story about a man from the Midwest who journeys to India to find a wife. The story is of what happens to her and how it changes the town and the husband.
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| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
The Last Nightingale by Anthony Flacco |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a suspense novel set back in the time of the San Francisco Earthquake in 1906. There is great description of what happened after. A serial killer posing as a prostitute is on a killing spree and murders all but one of the Nightingale family, and goes after him. Excellent.
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
The Time-Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I have to say, when I first heard about this book, I thought it was sci-fi and I had visions of the old movie “Time After Time” with Mary Steenburgen and Malcolm McDowell. I am happy to say I was off the mark.
I thought this idea of time travel that actually had a name “Chrono-Displacement Order” was ingenious. I also liked the fact this all occurred in the present, or at least within the last 20 years or so.
I enjoyed the love story of Clare and Henry. They truly did love each other. They struggled through all of the problems they had with Henry’s time travel the best they knew how, which sometimes led them to a state of desperation.
With that being said, I thought the book, at times, was a drag. I became a bit lost with the bouncing back and forth, not only in time but in character. You are almost forced to read this slowly or read it more than once to really follow it all.
There are several questions I had at the end of this book that I felt had not been answered. Toward the end, Henry is losing weight and is not looking well. What was happening? Is he sick with a disease? Or is this the CDO affecting his health? Or is it the mental anguish of knowing his life is coming to an end that is affecting him physically? After finishing this book, I searched the internet to see if I could find the answers, and read reviews to see if other people felt the same way I did. There were several readers who said exactly what I thought: “Hard to wrap your brain around”, “Too Long”, “A few holes left open”.
I thought the end of the book was sad, but fitting. Clare lived most of her life waiting for Henry. The fact that she just about stopped living after he died, was not out of character. And again, she knew she would see him again when she was in her eighties and managed to survive for that moment. A satisfying ending, with a few unresolved issues to ponder…
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| JaneAnn Railey (redglitter@centurytel.net) |
Virgin River by Robyn Carr |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I can't believe she has written so many books and I just found her. She is now at the top of my list. VIRGIB RIVER was a trilogy, and I read all three in 5 days. My hubby was lucky I cooked, LOL.
Carr is wonderful --- she draws you into the life of her characters from the first page. Whoever is supposed to be promoting her should be fired for NOT doing his/her job. I've even had trouble finding her books on shelves. Someone needs to put her out there. Robyn Carr is a fabulous writer and her stories are keepers!
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| Miriam |
An Invisible Woman by Anne Strieber |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I enjoyed this novel very much for an entertaining, female-oriented thriller story. Some reviews I saw on this really hinted at the main character's socialite status and how obviously it focuses the reader, yet I found that the focus was more on the love themes: avenging her husband's death, battling what she feels for her first husband when he re-enters her life, her determination to keep her children safe, her intense caring/feelings toward some of the new characters in life etc. The story keeps one guessing a bit, as a good thriller should when it comes to who should be trusted and who shouldn't.
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| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
The Cloud of Unknowing by Thomas H. Cook |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What can I say about someone who writes so brilliantly? Cook won the Best Novel Award from the Mystery Writers of America, his peers, and was nominated six times; he has won awards from readers and reviewers. This is another standout psychological mystery. You can't go wrong reading any or all of his nineteen novels.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
Dry by Augusten Burroughs |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent book from the author of RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. It takes you on a wild journey from his early childhood when, at the age of 13, his mother gives him away to her psychiatrist, introducing him to poverty, no school, free pills and sexual favors. At the age of 19, he becomes a junior copy-writer and begins his affair with alcohol.
This book gives fascinating details about his attempt to become sober and stay sober.
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| Dusty (bjohnson-att@comcast.net) |
Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very interesting Dirk Pitt mystery. This book was hard to put down, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
|
| Kay Keller |
Peony in Love by Lisa See |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Historical fiction doesn't get any better than this! Reading a Lisa See novel (and this one is as good or better than SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN) is like spending time with a real family in a faraway land. Lisa See is a wonderful storyteller!!
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| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
Anarchy and Old Dogs by Colin Cotterill |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Cotterill writes with flair and polish and humor. His mysteries, this being number four, are set in Laos in 1977, and revolve around the country's chief coroner, Dr. Siri Paiboun --- now 73 years old, who wishes to be retired. Fat chance.
Cotterill's characters are lovingly fleshed out, so much so that I've come to think of them as family. In this story all begins when a blind man is hit by a run-away truck and killed. Or, perhaps it all started with a transvestite fortuneteller. You can decide.
You should begin with his first, THE CORONER'S LUNCH --- A bit of mystery, a bit of fantasy, a lot of laughs.
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| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
Free Fire by C. J. Box |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a great mystery series and have loved them all. Set in Wyoming, they center around Game Warden Joe Pickett and his family. That's very special --- Box is the first author I've encountered to do a splendid job of incorporating the protagonist's wife and children in a meaningful way, not just as hangers on. That said, they were not in as much of this story as all the others.
This one takes place in Yellowstone National Park and Joe is re-instated from having been fired. This has to do with the environment, on many levels, as do most of the stories. Box actually set out not to write mysteries, but about the environment; but it turns out he does such an outstanding job writing mysteries. There's nothing pushy or in your face about his writing. I like that.
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| Sharron |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It's as good as everyone says!
|
| Genie |
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 5 Stars |
TWELVE SHARP is the best book in the Stephanie Plum series! I love it. It has the most complex plot of any book in this series, although it does contain some laugh-out-loud situations occasionally thrown in as little sub-plots.
This is a real page turner! Ranger is the central character. When a Ranger wannabe decides to take on Ranger's life (literally) he begins by kidnapping Ranger's daughter, Julie. It becomes obvious that this impersonator plans to kill Ranger and take on his identity. When it appears Ranger has committed a murder, the police begin looking for him. Ranger must go into hiding in order to find the killer and rescue his daughter. This time, Ranger turns to Stephanie Plum for help. He is determined to flush the guy out before anyone else is killed.
As usual, the chemistry is hot between Stephanie and Joe, and Stephanie and Ranger; Stephanie admits that she loves both men and can't make a decision about which to exclude from her attentions. Of course, this debate is not new, it's just getting more complicated as the series progresses.
A funny sub-plot unfolds as Grandma Mazur and Lula team up with Sally Sweet to form a punk rock band. They play gigs in local nursing homes and bowling allies. An impromptu appearance during the wake at the funeral parlor when the Ranger impersonator's first victim is "laid out" is particularly funny.
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| Lynn (lcdwalton@yahoo.com) |
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A well-written book that has history, romance, mystery, and a good plot line.
|
| Cerces |
Resistance by J.M. Dillard |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a great book for all Star Trek and Sci-fi lovers in general. Dillard manages to respect the Next Generation saga and incorporate new characters into a truly suspenseful page-turner. She weaves the storyline masterfully, paying close attention to the various personalities and relationships of the crew. But the most important aspect of the book is its lack of banality --- you'll never guess the ending. Sound intriguing? RESISTANCE will be available from Pocket Books in August.
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| Mary |
Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was Michael's debut mystery and he won an award for it while still a student in college. It is a well-written mystery featuring two ex-cops, Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard, who have become detectives. They are hired by the father of another detective in town who is found dead in his home and his wife and children are missing. Although the police have ruled it a suicide, the father thinks that it was murder and the result of a case his son was working on. There is lots of action with lots of twists, creating a delightful read.
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Killer Instinct by Joseph Finder |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What a book! This was a worthwhile book to invest my time in. I actually stopped breathing a few times at the end, and when interrupted, I became frantic! I wanted so badly to find out if Jason was going to get away. What an outstanding writer. The characters were so well developed that I could see them, feel what they were feeling.
I think some of scenes were a bit stretched and far fetched to believe. Normally I want believability, but I found myself not caring. Yes, it was that good.
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| Mary |
Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the first in a cozy mystery series starring Daisy Dalrymple. It is set in the 1920s, and Daisy is a journalist setting out to do some work at Wentworth Castle when one of the guests is found dead on a skating pond. Scotland yard seeks her assistance and she helps solve the mystery. A very enjoyable book with good characters (Daisy is especially charming). I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
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| Genie |
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I can't say I found this book to be an enjoyable read. Its a Depression-era tale that begins with a feeling of gloom and never takes an upturn. No doubt the description of the difficult time rings true. My parents experienced the depression era firsthand, and had tales of their own. Considering the date this book was written, I'm sure Carson McCullers based some of these events on her personal experiences.
Mick's viewpoint is a coming-of-age story. Her relationships, experiences and her obsession with music are described with the Depression-era influence as a backdrop. In the end, we are left with her realization that without a job, she will never be able to afford to continue with her music studies. With the job after school, she has needed funds but no energy to work on music studies.
Sadly, the person everyone seeks out to confide in is Mr. Singer, a deaf-mute. Townspeople confide in and admire him and communicate on a one-on-one basis only. As a group, each one is ill at ease. They each know he cannot repeat private conversations to anyone else. Ultimately, he feels hopeless and isolated and in deep depression when his best friend dies drives him to suicide.
Dr. Copeland is respected, although misunderstood, by members of the black community (including his own family). His political leanings toward the teachings of Karl Marx, combined with his lack of religious beliefs, causes feelings of isolation.
The book is well written. Unfortunately, the entire story is sad. It begins with a feeling of sadness and ends with a feeling of hopelessness. While I don't always expect happy endings, I prefer a story that gives hope that maybe there will be better times ahead.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Obsession by Karen Robards |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A wonderful tale of the informants in CIA/FBI-what really happens. Jenna/Katharine's memory and identity have been altered in order to trap a FBI bad guy, and now she is running for her life and who to trust. Robards's style compels you to turn the page.
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| Peggy |
Best Laid Plans by Anne White |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The Mayor of Emerald Point finds a body, and when she goes for help, the body disappears. Her friends and the authorities believe it is the bump on the head she received, made her imagine there was a body. However, an accidental death turns out to be suspicious and the plot thickens. A real mystery.
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| Alice McDonnell |
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is for those who love good writing, lyrical prose, and description that makes you feel like you are there. It is a story of two couples and their 30-year friendship, through good times and bad. Don't miss it.
|
| Wendy Catalano |
Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What a great beginning to this series of books. A wonderful read!
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| Kay H (heringbess@aol.com) |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A good, if sad, read.
|
| CJ Jones (ajones1021@comcast.net) |
Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Riveting from page one --- the best Jack Reacher book yet (you can tell I am a fan!). The original group has an unusual reunion, and there are in-depth characterizations of how they have changed since becoming civilians 10 years ago while still maintaining their bond, allegiance and fidelity.
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| CJ Jones (ajones1021@comcast.net) |
When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Poignant and realistic --- one of those complex, yet easy-to-read books that you dont want to end. I got it at the library and when I finished, I bought a copy for myself --- that's a 5-star book in my opinion. It should have replaced THE MEMORY KEEPER'S DAUGHTER on the bestselling list, in my humble opinion!
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| Marsha |
Turning Angel by Greg Iles |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a follow-up book featuring the lawyer hero, Penn Cage, of THE QUIET GAME. Nothing is quite as it seems in the town of Natchez, where prep school students become involved in drugs, sex and more.
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| kay (heringbess@aol.com) |
On Chesil B each by Ian McEwan |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A novel that feels like it was written from years gone by. As his other books, it is the mundane that triggers a chain of events. In this book, it is the characters' lack of action that is so sad.
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| Katharine Phenix (phenix@rangeviewld.org) |
Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I love historical fiction, and this is the story of the building of the Taj Mahal. This author comes to book clubs and is very personable. He lives nearby,
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| Dawnymae (dawnymae5@msn.com) |
The 6th Target by James Patterson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The Women's Murder Club is at it again! Nannies and their charges are being taken right from the streets, but no ransom is asked. One of the women is also being targeted for murder as well. Very fast-paced, and interesting too!
|
| Bonnie |
Black & White by Dani Shapiro |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A novel that will wake you up and have you thinking about your own family relationships.
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| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a wonderful book. It is a learning experience as well as an informative story. I was enthralled with Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney. Mamah was certainly "ahead of her time," but she stood by her convictions and lived her life as an influence to the great architect.
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| Dawdo (dawdo@aol.com) |
Das Kapital: A Novel of Love and Money Markets by Viken Berberian |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a must read for those who find the humor in capitalism gone awry. Once again (see THE CYCLIST in Past Reviews on this site), Berberian intricately weaves a story of terror and love, this time laced with greed and set in the dark underbelly of a hedge fund in Manhattan, the crowded ethnic quarters of Marseille, and eco-challenged Corsica. A fictional regeneration of Marx’s analysis of capitalism, this slim novel is charged with the author’s stubborn wit, a plethora of information on the science of moneymaking, and delicate descriptions of romantic interludes. This is an engulfing plot with endearing characters (even when they are committing international acts of crime). It’ll definitely make you long for a third novel by Berberian.
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| Kay Hering (heringbess@aol.com) |
The Cleaner by Brett Battles |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very good "light" reading, as it is suspenseful, well written, and never dull.
|
| Bonnie |
Summer Reading by Hilma Wolitzer |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Summer chick-lit, yet so much more. Well-written novel about a group of women in a reading group in a Long Island town in the summer season.
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| Katharine Phenix (phenix@rangeviewld.org) |
Once around the track by Sharyn McCrumb |
Rating: 2 Stars |
This book had some fun parts --- I liked learning about NASCAR --- but it went absolutely nowhere.
|
| Julie Peterson |
Lethally Blond by Kate White |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was the latest in Kate White's Bailey Weggins mysteries. I'm not sure that the book kept me guessing until the end, but it was still entertaining. Great book for poolside or beach reading!
|
| Bonnie |
There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to by Laurie Notaro |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a novel by Notaro, who usually writes hysterically funny memoirs/non-fiction. This time, she's written an hysterically funny novel. Enjoy.
|
| Bonnie |
MacGregor Tells the World by E. McKenzie |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A unique novel in which San Francisco is almost a character in the story. It's about a young man's search for his roots, in essence.
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| CJ Jones (ajones1021@comcast.net) |
The Other Boleyn Girl by Gregory |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was a book club selection that I put off reading until 2 days before we met. It ended up being a page turner, You can feel, smell and hear the sounds of the court of Henry VIII --- his wives, his courtesans and the merry men of the palace. It has twists and turns galore. It was a great fictional historical novel that places you in the moment. I read so much that I can't always remember 5 books back, but this one stayed wit me.
I highly recommend that you give this one a whirl. Most people, myself included, knew nothing of the "other Boleyn girl." A good read!
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| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
Corporate Cowboy by Pamela Bauer |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A pretty predictable romance. Boy meets girl, they have an immense attraction that they both deny, boy gets amnesia, boy and girl fall for each other and live happily ever after. All in all, this was not a bad way to spend a rainy afternoon.
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| Jud H. |
Guilt by John Lescroart |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Overall, this was a good book, although it took a while (about 200 pp.) to reach the heart of the plot. The story features a high-profile lawyer accused of killing his wife. He claims innocence and the evidence is questionable. The bulk of the book focuses on the trial and the aftermath of the verdict (sorry, you'll have to read it to find out).
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| Amanda Cole |
Diary of a South Beach Party Girl by Gwen Cooper |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book was so witty and so much fun! The writing is outstanding and it's a great, great story. It's also a truly fascinating look inside what *really* goes on in all those celebrity-studded South Beach nightclubs. I couldn't put this one down!
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| Pat from NJ |
The Stolen child by Keith Donohue |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A runaway child is stolen by hobgoblins and replaced with an exact duplicate who assumes his life. Told in alternating chapters by the impostor and the original, this could almost be a how-to manual on how to be a human. Each are so sympathetic it was hard to figure who to root for. I really enjoyed the book; it was a very quick read for 300+ pages.
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| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
Jack & Jill by James Patterson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is one of my favorite books. I've read it before and I enjoy it every time I read it. This is an Alex Cross novel, and for the Dr. Cross fans out there, it is also the novel in which Christine Johnson is introduced.
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| Melanie Reinbolt (melanrein@aol.com) |
Requiem for an Assassin by Barry Eisler |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I had trouble warming up to the characters at first, but I'm glad I stuck with it because this was a great read!
|
| Melanie (melanrein@aol.com) |
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I love the Stephanie Plum series and this book is no exception. A fast, funny read that kept me highly entertained.
|
| Pam C |
Persuader by Lee Child |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Jack Reacher crosses paths with a man he thought he had killed 10 years earlier. With the help of a few DEA agents, he plans and executes an elaborate scheme to get inside a so-called "rug importers" family who has business dealings with this person. If that isn't enough, a female undercover agent has gone missing. All this has to be done on the down low and off the books. Reacher has to use extreme care with this case.
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| Greg (Gregbettencourt@aol.com) |
Across the High Lonesome by James McNay Brumfield |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderful slice-of-life story set in the rugged Eastern Sierra. Think of it as LONESOME DOVE with mules. I laughed, I cried, I did not want it to end!
|
| Noreen Brown |
Snow in August by Pete Hamill |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I'm glad I belatedly discovered Pete Hamill.
This book has everything...friendship (Irish Catholic boy and a rabbi), baseball (Jackie Robinson), teenage hoodlums, love, and fantasy.
|
| Marsha |
The Pardon by James Grippando |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Wow! Hold on to your hats --- this book takes off with a bang and never relents. It's the first in the series about the brilliant Miami defense attorney, Jack Swyteck, whose estranged father just happens to be the governor.
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| Judy L. (judyal7@sbcglobal.net) |
The Dark River by John Twelve Hawks |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the 2nd book of the Fourth Realm series --- the first was THE TRAVELER. It's every bit as good as the first one, and now I can't wait for the third. If you like intelligent sci-fi with a little political commentary thrown in, I strongly recommend these books.
|
| Christy (oltlfreak@aol.com) |
The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An awesome book by Sarah! It was so good I read it in one day. Go get a copy!
|
| Kathy Kasten |
Prayers for Rain by Dennis Lehane |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Private investigators search for a sadistic stalker. A good book with a few nice twists.
|
| Jessica Anchild Farmer-Lowell |
Helix by M. N. Norton |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a very interesting book. It's Norton's first novel and it's extremely well done. Ms. Norton obviously does excellent research on her subject, plus a fine understanding of world politics. Good read!
|
| Marsha |
American Outrage by Tim Green |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A correspondent for the new TV show, American Outrage, is thrown into a wild chase when his adopted son insists he search for his biological mother. Mix in the Armenian Mafia, corrupt politicians, jealous reporters, and the cover-up just begins.
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| Bev (bev208@bellsouth.net) |
Don't Scream by Wendy Corsi Staub |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book keeps you reading, regardless of the time, as you want to see who did it. It keeps you on your toes, and interested until the very last page.
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| Bev (bev208@bellsouth.net) |
The 5th Horseman by James Patterson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I love all of James Patterson's books, even though some are co-written. The ones written about the Women's Murder Club are really great. He is such a great writer. I will read every one of his books.
|
| RitaB |
In an Instant by Bob and Lee Woodruff |
Rating: 4 Stars |
As the wife of a traumatic brain injury survivor, I read this book with great interest. I experienced so many of the same problems, fears, and decisions.
|
| ck |
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An exquisitely written young-adult book about a 7th-grade boy in 1967 who studies Shakespeare on Wednesday afternoons when other classmates go to Jewish and Catholic religious school. The author's description of November on Long Island is absolute poetry. This would be a superb book for one of those Mother/Youngster clubs that are popular with libraries and bookstores. It should be picked up for summer reading in schools.
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| D. Lohrding |
I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark |
Rating: 3 Stars |
In this book, there are several evil family members and friends, and money and greed are the root of all evil. Characters flip from good to bad quite a bit, which has you changing your mind as to "whodunit." The sleep-walking issue provided a nice twist. The ending was kind of rushed. I think the author could of drawn out the phony paintings a bit more throughout the book.
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| Linda Bass (LINDARB49@HOTMAIL.COM) |
Hiring Cupid by Jane Beckenham |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Carly Mason Bragged to her friends about the tall, dark, and handsome man who adores her. Her friends plan a 4-day getaway with their men and Carly is committed to go. But, the only thing is that Carly made her man up!
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| Jo Curran |
Butcher of Dreams by Kay Williams and Eileen Wyman |
Rating: 5 Stars |
BUTCHER OF DREAMS is original, creative, and suspenseful. The ending made me breathless and I stayed up until 3 am finishing the dramatic last third of the novel! However, it is quite amusing in places as well, creating comic relief. One of the talents of the authors is to cast suspicion on almost all the players. The insight one gains into the mind and motivations of a psychopath and the descriptions of the occult are truly captivating and gripping, a reflection of excellent research.
BUTCHER OF DREAMS is so much more than mystery. With its original metaphors, similes and lyrical descriptions, it is an enthralling and creative novel. I loved it!
|
| Phyllis |
The Warriors of Poseidon (Atlanttis Rising) by Alyssa Day |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A paranormal mixture of warriors from Atlantis, empaths, vampires and shape shifters who fight a battle of good versus evil to save humans. A larger dose of love and lust mixed in adds the romance factor.
|
| Gloria |
The Secret by Ronda Byrne |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Very interesting premise and one well worth exploring. This book basically tells you how to shape your own destiny. Hope you enjoy it. It gives one something to think about.
|
| Maggie |
The Covenant by Beverly Lewis |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This five-book series starts with THE COVENANT and chronicles the life of an Amish family in Lancaster PA. This is a wonderful look at the Amish way of life, their customs, and what happens to young people as they reach the age of decision --- will they embrace the old ways or venture into the world. Joys and heartaches in either choice make this series a good read.
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| Linda Bass (LINDARB49@HOTMAIL.COM) |
A Few Good Men by Cat Johnson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Maureen Mullens hates her editor job and secretly writes erotic romance under the name Summer Winters.
Summer is pen pals with Jassy, who is stationed in Iraq. When he gets injured, he begs his commander, John, to e-mail Summer to let her know he's in the hospital.
John writes her, thinking she is grandmotherly, but as they message back and forth, they fall in love.
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| Jo Curran |
One Last Dance by Mardo Williams, Kay Williams, and Jerri Williams |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I belong to a book discussion group and have been urging our group to make this one of our monthly selections. What a delightful read this book is! It has lots of conversation, making it very readable. I didn't want to stop reading, even to eat or to do anything else. The book gives us characters who have their faults, but are good at the core of their beings. We share in their worries and in their triumphs over those worries. We learn their innermost thoughts, making the characters feel like our dear friends. We get a glimpse of what it will feel like to be 79 or 89 years old.
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| Sandy |
The Innocent Man by John Grisham |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the first book of nonfiction by John Grisham. It is about a man who was arrested and charged for a crime he didn't commit. His case was terribly mishandled, and he was sent to Death Row. Mr. Grisham was able to interview many of the principals of the case and many townspeople. Very interesting.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
The Sonnet Lover by Carol Goodman |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Very interesting, but Goodman seems to know how to cajole the reader. This focused on Shakespeare's "Dark Lady", the Italian who influenced his sonnets. After reading, you want to learn Italian and rush to Tuscany, or at least revisit Shakespeare's writings.
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| Sandy (rd4fun@cox.net) |
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Death is the narrator in this look at World War II and how one young girl coped with the horrors of losing her family.
|
| Larry Ketchersid |
An Army At Dawn by Rick Atkinson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The first of the Liberation Trilogy about the Allies liberating Africa and Europe during World War II. This author is a Pulitzer prize winner in History, and deservedly so.
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| Judy O. |
Killer Weekend by Ridley Pearson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Attorney General Liz Shaler is announcing her candidacy for president at a big meeting in Idaho over the weekend. Evil forces are out to kill her, and it's up to Sheriff Walt Fleming to catch the culprit. What follows is a roller coaster ride of action. I was left with real questions at the end, though, mainly --- why do they want to kill her in the first place? A couple other things were questionable in my mind. Otherwise I enjoyed the "ride."
|
| Nate |
Helix by M. N. Norton |
Rating: 4 Stars |
It's a good spy novel. The intricacies of the CIA and old Russian KGB outlined here are reminiscent of the Cold War. For those who remember what went on during the Cold War --- and its modern-day legacy --- HELIX is a chilling treat.
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| Marsha |
Killer Weekend by Ridley Pearson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a first-rate thriller in the interesting locale of an Idaho-resort area. Let's hope we hear more from the main character, Walt Fleming. He's a keeper.
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| bearzwitch |
Damsels in Distress by Joan Hess |
Rating: 5 Stars |
As usual, Ms. Hess has not disappointed her fans. Her character,Claire Malloy, doesn't stay out of trouble. She is both smart and witty. Ms. Hess always makes you feel like this is someone you would find interesting to know. Even with her wedding pending, trouble still seems to follow her. I enjoyed this the best with her witty sense of humor and all-too-human qualities.I hope you'll try her books.
|
| Laura |
Stealing the Dragon by Tim Maleeny |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I really enjoyed reading this --- especially as this is not normally the type of book I pick up. It was fast paced and held my interest all the way through!
|
| Ginny |
Elizabeth Becka by Trace Evidence |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The mystery was good, but I felt the characters were a little too thin.
|
| Ginny |
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian |
Rating: 5 Stars |
F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of my favorite authors and Bhohalian's borrowing of his main characters from THE GREAT GATSBY in this novel intrigued me from the outset. What a splendid read; what an unexpected ending! Excellent.
|
| Joy I |
All Jacked Up by Penny McCall |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a romantic suspense book that I read in one sitting. It is fast paced, the dialogue between the characters is witty, and the story is believable. For a debut book, this author has a winner here.
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| Sandy |
Truth and Consequences by Alison Lurie |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I found this book to be rather boring and predictable. I'm not sure why I stuck with it.
It's about people having affairs and then getting divorced, with not a lot of story behind it.
|
| Gail Spitzer |
Hanna's Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This novel tells the stories of three generations of women --- a daughter, mother, and grandmother. How their lives link and intertwine makes for interesting reading.
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| Gail Spitzer |
Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is one of my favorite authors, and the above book is her latest. It takes place during World War II and tells the story of three sisters and the men they love.
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| Spooner (djspoon@comcast.net) |
Error of Judgement by Dexter Dias |
Rating: 5 Stars |
One of the best legal authors.
|
| Julie Towson |
The Five-Forty-Five to Cannes by Tess Uriza Holthe |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is a series of connected short stores all about the people who take the five-forty-five train to Cannes. The descriptions of the French Riviera are wonderful and the intertwining of the lives of the people on the train is an engrossing read
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| L. Hann |
I Am What I Ate... and I'm Frightened!! by Bill Cosby |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Spend an afternoon with Bill Cosby and find out what a doctor actually means when they tell you you can have something once in a while. Why do we continue to smoke when we know we shouldn't? Why does hair suddenly appear in a places it never appeared before? Bill Cosby will have you in stitches!!!
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| L. Hann |
Whiskey Island by Emilie Richards |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Once a struggling community of Irish immigrants, Lake Erie's Whiskey Island has a past as colorful as the patrons who frequent the Whisky Island Saloon. A local gathering place for generations, the saloon is now run by the Donaghue sisters, whose lives and hearts have been shaped by family tragedy and a haunting mystery.
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| L. Hann |
The Ties That Bind...And Gag! by Erma Bombeck |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I found some Erma Bombeck books on one of my garage sale treks. I haven't read her in years. I couldn't stop laughing at the funny things her family has done. It was almost like reading about my family. Great book!
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| Julie Peterson |
The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I really enjoyed it. It is the story of a young American woman who goes to Africa to "make a difference." She travels through Africa on camels, delivering books to small tribal communities. I thought this book was very well written, and it provides the reader with an insight into the culture of Africa!
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| Lynn (tfranzen2124@comcast.net) |
The Potter's Field by Ellis Peters |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the seventeenth in the series. It's best to start with #1 and #2, but once you've read those, feel free to enter in at any point. A wonderful medieval mystery!
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| Judy Goldsmith (judyjtg@sbcglobal.net) |
Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think by Brian Wansink |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Well-written and engaging information on eating habits and how to use them to our healthy advantage.
|
| Carol |
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book will keep you glued to your seat, turning pages as fast as you can. The ending will blow you away!
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| Steven Schwindt (schwindt68@hotmail.com) |
The Blackwater by Jeremy Scahill |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A little-known fact about the army in Iraq now, so many private army people paid so very much money.
|
| White |
Abiding Evil by Alison Buck |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I read Alison Buck's first novel, DEVOTED SISTERS, last year and couldn't wait for her next. She develops her characters very convincingly, to the point where you actually care about what happens to them. This is a horror chiller thriller, but there's next to no gore or gratuitous violence. The horror comes from the evil of the title, which is personified in something that she cleverly describes sparingly, allowing the reader's imagination to fill in the details. At one point, when I was stupidly reading this alone at night, I had to move seats to be against a solid wall and make sure all the lights were on (not very green, sorry). As with her previous novel, there's a twist at the end that makes sense and is consistent with eveything that precedes it, but is nonetheless a surprise. If you like horror, ghost stories, or even just good reads, then this is for you. Set aside a whole weekend, as once you've started, you'll need to keep reading to see what happens --- it's over 500 pages long. Brilliant.
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| Eileen Quinn Knight |
Uncommon Arrangements by Katie Roiphe |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What a treat! The book discusses the marriages of people we've read in high school and college. I especially liked Roiphe's story of H. G. Wells and Rebecca West! The stories of these rich relationships was outstanding!
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| Spooner (djspoon@comcast.net) |
Shock Wave by James O. Born |
Rating: 5 Stars |
If you like hard-boiled crime, you've got to read Born.
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| Susan P. |
The 6th Target by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Lindsay Boxer is solving murders again and The Women's Murder Club is involved. A good read with a twist at the end, with several sub plots within the book. I like this author's other books better than The Women's Murder Club series, but it is still good.
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| Spooner (djspoon@comcast.net) |
The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An older novel, but one of Crichton's best.
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| Spooner (djspoon@comcast.net) |
To the Last Man by Jeff Shaara |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A novel about World War I. It's realistic and informative even though it's fiction.
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| Maureen H |
Woman In Red by Eileen Goudge |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I really enjoyed this book. The story moved along very well. I had some issues with certain parts of this story, which is why I only gave it 4 stars. I would recommend reading this book if you are a fan of Eileen Goudge.
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| Sherri Reimold |
Jack and Jill by James Patterson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was one of his books I had missed somehow, so I went back and read it. I love James Patterson's short chapters. He also has a great way of staying with the plot, and not getting side tracked to fill pages. His books are always fast reads, with action and suspense.
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| Gail Perryman |
Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Detective Arkady Renko, forever the cynic and outcast in his department, returns to investigate supposed sightings of Stalin's Ghost in the Moscow subway.
As always, Martin Cruz Smith captures the gloomy Russian atmosphere and a world of conspiracy where no one can be trusted. Arkady Renko is a sympathetic hero; doggedly determined in the face of tremendous odds and complications in his personal life. This is an intriguing and compelling story.
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| Kathy |
Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille |
Rating: 4 Stars |
As always, an exciting and fast-paced read.
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| Barbara Duncan (barbaralynduncan@gmail.com) |
The Shadow Killer by Matthew Scott Hansen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Modern-day story on Bigfoot. Excellent read!!
|
| Brian Dunn |
You Can't Win by Jack Black |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The autobiography of an old hobo/thief, Jack Black who traveled the rails from Chicago to San Francisco, encountering characters like "Salt Chunk Mary" and "The Sanctimonious Kid." If you've ever wanted to see life on the seedy side of turn-of-the-century America --- or know just what a "yegg" is --- this is the book for you.
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| Susan C. Dawson |
Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A good novel. I have always enjoyed the complex character of Reacher. My late husband got me started on the series, and now I read it for my pleasure, wishing that he could be here to discuss novels with me as we used to do.
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| Lori S. (sunbug5505@yahoo.com) |
Earth Without Man by Alan Weisman |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a fascinating and frightening look at the hopefully distant future of Earth. Weisman speculates that just days after all humans disappear, floods in New York City's subways will erode the city's foundations, and asphalt jungles will become real jungles; millions of birds would flourish and cockroaches would perish, to name a few of the outcomes.
The author is relying on the expertise of scientists, zoologists, engineers and other experts to draw his conclusions in this provocative tour of the possible world of the future, and how the Earth will continue to thrive.
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| Bonnie Waliezer (Nabofrue@aol.com) |
Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the first book featuring Myron Bolitar, a sports agent who is gutsy, witty and maybe just a little bit nuts. DEAL BREAKER is a fast read, and the next one can't come too soon to suit me.
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| Eileen Quinn Knight |
Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is just a great summer read! I am from New York, so I loved it even more. It is a trip into fantasy land of the rich and famous...lots of fun. Sykes writes a good story.
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| Coral Harrison |
Spare Change by Robert B. Parker |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Parker writes at a slow pace so it is easy to read his mysteries. The main character is Sunny Randall, who is a detective and helps her father, a retired policeman, solve a 20-year-old case and a present active one.
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| Victoria Carrington |
The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center |
Rating: 5 Stars |
When I first picked this book up, I wasn't expecting to like it. It's about a pregnant woman who is left by her soon-to-be husband. But, the cover was interesting, so I checked it out for a few minutes. Wow! I couldn't put it down. Katherine Center is an amazing writer. Her cadence rolled along and her characters were people I wanted to know. This is Katherine's debut title. We will see more.
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| C. Simar |
The Road by Cormac McCarthy |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Awesome!
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Body Surfing by Anita Shreve |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Loved the book, but it left me with too many questions at the end.
|
| Mike Patt (michaelenepatt@comcast.net) |
Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I give this book an Oh My Stars 5 stars. I love the way Lorna Landvik writes. You can envision everything she is writing about --- the landscape, the people, the car they are sitting in, the apple they are eating. I loved this book.
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| Mike Patt (michaelenepatt@comcast.net) |
Praying For Sleep by Jeffery Deaver |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I love Jeffery Deaver's books starring Lincoln Rhyme so I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this one, but I was so wrong. It starts out with you thinking the story is about one thing, and at the end, it is a big surprise. I enjoyed it immensely.
|
| Lu |
The Land of Mango Sunsets by Dorothea Benton Frank |
Rating: 4 Stars |
What a nice read. I actually listened to the audio book. I love the Southern accent
|
| Carol from Cleveland |
The Book of David by David Steinberg |
Rating: 2 Stars |
I love David Steinberg, and looked forward to reading his book. Unfortunately, he chose to write it in a Biblical style, and I found it very hard to get through. I'd love to read this story of his life, but not in this format!
|
| K. Beaton |
The Big House by George Howe Colt |
Rating: 5 Stars |
George Howe Colt returns with his family for one last stay at what has been his family's much beloved summer home for a century. He proceeds to give us a family memoir, a study of the past, a history of Cape Cod, and much more. By the end of the book, like Colt, I never wanted to leave "The Big House."
|
| Phyllis |
Heartbreaker by Kim Corum |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Dumped twice, Tina Louise gets even. Through helping a friend and then word of mouth, she develops a career of getting even for women who have been dumped. A funny look at getting back at men.
|
| Debbie D. |
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A great book! It made me laugh and cry. It was a touching story about a young girl with leprosy and the ups and downs of her life on the island of Moloka'i. I did not want it to end!
|
| Jeanie |
Quickie by James Patterson |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This book was a fun, quick ride. It was very easy to read, as most of his novels are. An affair, a murder and the eventual uncovering of the crime.
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| susan dyer (susandyer1962@aol.com) |
The Night Before by Lisa Jackson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book pulled me in from page one! It's my first of many Lisa Jackson books to read! I'm almost done with it, and I just started last night! I still don't know who did it and why! This is a great beach read!! Bring extra sunblock because you won't stop reading until you run out of light!
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| Gale in Houston |
The Quickie by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge |
Rating: 2 Stars |
I've enjoyed reading James Patterson for years. It's painful to realize how much his recent, non-series writing has become a weak shadow of what his novels were. THE QUICKIE is unbelievable in relentlessly pitching plot disasters at heroine Lauren. She easily handles all with aplomb --- and she cooks, too --- but I couldn't have cared less.
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| Debra Le (deble_2000@yahoo.com) |
Town House by Tish Cohen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Jack is the son of a dead rock star, living in his father's old townhouse in Boston. Poor Jack is an agorapobic. He is raising his son. I loved this book. It describes Jack's illness, and almost losing his beloved home and his son.
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| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
the Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell by Samantha James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved all the characters and felt for the hurt Simon had lived with. I don't want to give too much away, but the characters were very easy to get to know and imagine. That always makes the book a good read.
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| Judy (Rositatwo@aol.com) |
Body Surfing by Anita Shreve |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I loved it! Not as good as my favorite Shreve tome, SEA GLASS, but it was enjoyable. As usual in a Shreve novel, you almost fell like you know the characters when you are finished.
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| Judy (Rositatwo@aol.com) |
Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Great novel! I couldn't put it down and was upset when I finished. l wanted to go to Ireland on the next plane, Ms. Binchy is a great at character development and I am so happy that she didn't retire.
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Courageous Souls by Robert Schwartz |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book explores the idea of agreements we made before birth to learn and experience certain life lessons --- and coming to know our true selves.
This was very much a cross between Betty J. Eadie's EMBRACED BY THE LIGHT and Gary Zukav's SEAT OF THE SOUL.
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| Valerie Wiesner (ackleyvalerie@yahoo.com) |
The Quest by Wilbur Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the third in the series of books Wilbur Smith has written (the others are THE RIVER GOD and WARLOCK) about the character Taita; the three volumes together are a wonderful historical narrative of ancient Egypt. I have always listed THE RIVER GOD as one of my favorite books of all time, and the other two, including the newest one, THE QUEST is no exception. I cannot give this book enough praise!
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| Marsha |
Evening by Susan Minot |
Rating: 5 Stars |
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