| Val Brice |
Sweet Serenity by Catherine Stang |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Recently orphaned heiress Serenity Springfield fled the prospect of a brutal marriage to her brother's best friend for the promise of a new life with widower Collin MacClarron and his four daughters only to find that trouble followed her. Can she protect her new family from her dark past when she doesn’t dare reveal it?
Guilt-ridden widower, Collin MacClarron blames himself for his late wife’s death. Although he knows he needs to remarry for his daughters’ sakes, he isn’t ready to open up his heart, or is he? Can he accept this second chance at happiness or will he let Serenity’s past mistakes keep them apart?
|
| Richard Bartels |
Julie & Julia by Julie Powell |
Rating: 2 Stars |
My wife suggested I read this. She really liked it. Me, not so much... although the parts that actually dealt with cooking were entertaining.
We both love to cook and I brought Julia Child's HOW TO MASTER THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING (Vol 1 & 2) to our marriage, so I guess that's why my wife thought I'd enjoy this. I think a younger reader (especially female) will be more amused.
|
| F Tessa Bartels |
One More Time by Carol Burnett |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Autobiography of the comedienne's youth and early years in the business. The writing is a bit uneven and choppy, but the story pulls you in.
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| F Tessa Bartels |
The Doctor Digs a Grave by Robin Hathaway |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Cozy mystery starring Andrew Fenimore, M. D. --- cardiologist and part-time PI. Light, fun reading.
|
| Jay Carr |
Purgatory's Gate by Raymond van Over |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Review of “Purgatory’s Gate”
Jay Carr, Boston Globe Film Critic
Raymond van Over is the real thing. Until I read his PURGATORY'S GATE, I thought I had put satanic cult thrillers behind me forever. But this book amply makes the case that there’s evil life after Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist. Like the best books in any genre, it pushes the genre. Of craft, there is plenty. Van Over knows how to make us keep turning the pages as he recounts a New Hampshire doctor’s escalating horror at being drawn into a gruesome paving of the way for the Antichrist that begins with his puzzlement over a healthy young woman’s death in childbirth.
Van Over succeeds as well as he does in drawing us into the world he specifies by making little things count for a lot. His sense of telling detail is as small as yanking us inside a hospital cafeteria by making us see and hear a tray scraping along the metal tubes on the customers’ side of the steam table. It’s also as large as a way of making bleak, harsh New England landscapes reinforce a mounting sense of dread and darkness. Incorporating nature into narrative was second nature to 19th century novelists, who were much closer to the natural world than we are. Finding a contemporary writer who does this with the immediacy and atmosphere summoned by van Over is rare.
Yet the book is at its scariest when David Monroe, van Over’s physician turned sleuth, penetrates malignant man-made environments: a mansion where we can feel the off-ness of things and want the doc to get out --- fast --- almost as much as we want him to flee a crypt he discovers beneath the ruins of an old church in the New Hampshire countryside. The fanatics he’s chasing are playing for keeps. They have the beheadings to prove it. As things rush to a blazing climax, the powerful cultists seem too much for the doc and his two confederates: an old but deceptively tough priest and a nurse who seems too good to be true, until she isn’t. In the right hands, PURGATORY'S GATE would make --- literally! --- a hell of a movie.
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| Joan B. |
The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Amy Redwing is a dog lover. After losing a child and getting a divorce, she opens Golden Heart, an animal rescue organization. After rescuing a "special" dog, Amy notices things happening around her and to people she knows. She feels she is being followed and watched, and she concludes that someone from her past is out to bring terror into her life. With the help of her boyfriend Brian, they are determined to find out what is happening and who it's caused by. This is a good book, but not as heart pounding as others by Koontz.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoi by Bill Bryson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
If you grew up in the 50's, you will absolutely love this book. Bill takes you back to life in those days, where there were no cell phones, internet, crime. Life's pleasures were simple, and people didn't worry about crime or drugs.
Relive the 50s --- laugh, cry, and for once, read a book with no guts and gore.
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| Gerald Rosen (fishrose2@optonline.net) |
The Cut by Wil Mara |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Great pro-football novel. Wil Mara (unrelated to Giants' ownership), knows his football. His characters are believable and well formed. The story focuses on training camp rather than actual season. The unexpected ending is very satisfying.
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| Gerald Rosen (fishrose2@optonline.net) |
The Chase by Clive Cussler |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is not a Dirk Pitt or NUMA story, but the action is just as relentless. Most of the story tales place in the West in 1906 and involves a cold-blooded killer/bank robber and the Federal agent who vows to apprehend him. Fact is mixed in with fiction in a typically satisfying Cussler novel.
|
| Jean |
Now and Then by Robert B. Parker |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Again, Robert B. Parker is at the top of his game. This is a fast-moving mystery infused with Parker's quick wit. It's a welcome break from the holiday madness.
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Sexiest Man Alive by Diana Holquist |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Diana Holquist’s sense of humor tops the laugh charts in this comedy romance. The giggles that started on page six turned to laugh-out-loud funny before the chapter was done. I even woke my husband from a dead sleep during my laughing jag. The prologue at the end, with the first chapter of her next book is completely priceless!
|
| Maureen H |
Virgin River by Robyn Carr |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I have really enjoyed this book. It is such a great story. It continues with SHELTER MOUNTAIN and WHISPERING ROCK. I have the other two books and cannot wait to read them. I have found a new author that I really like.
|
| Jean |
A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This Victorian Christmas mystery by Anne Perry was flat. I have really enjoyed her other Christmas mysteries, but this one was a disappointment. I found I really didn't care about the characters or the bland plot.
|
| Sally Williams |
Crime Thru Time II by Editor: Miriam Grace Monfredo & Sharan newman |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The short story is not much appreciated these days and few people realize how very difficult it is to write a compelling short story.
This collection, by writers you may recognize from other genres, deals with historical mystery ranging from the Romans and Genghis Khan to samurai detectives and Confucius in Death Valley, with a number of jolting tales along the way. My particular favorite, "Sense and Sensuality" by Robert Barnard. might have been written by Jane Austen if she'd thought of it. Another by sci-fi notable, Nancy Kress, is a far cry from her usual work and features a young scientist and a conniving woman. By all means, read that one!
|
| Genie |
Dead and Dateless by Kimberly Raye |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Book two of the Lil Marchette vampire match maker series. Lil's company, Dead End Dating, is becoming popular and new clients are signing on. The latest, her parents' were-wolf neighbor Viola Hamilton, is requesting 28 tough human guys to attend a full moon soiree. Lil's mind is calculating the massive amount of money to be made when several NYPD detectives crash into the room with a warrant to arrest Lil for murder. Now she is on the run from the law and must seek the help of bounty hunter vampire Ty Bonner in order to clear her name. Thus begins a whole new series of events that combine all of the elements that make this series so much fun --- quirky friends and relatives, romance and action.
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| Sandra |
Edge of Evil by J.A. Jance |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very easy read with a surprise ending. Not the best this author has written, but very close.
|
| Genie |
Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Lil is a vampire who runs a matchmaking service. Not the career path her family wanted for her, but she is determined to make it work. The alternative (threat) of having to work for her father serves as an inspiration to make her business a success. There are a few snags along the road to success. The biggest problem is having to cope with her interfering mom (whose intentions are honorable but irritating). In the process of building up this new business, a renegade vampire is preying upon single women who have registered with dating services. This puts Lil on alert. She realizes some of her new clients may be in danger. It turns out that she has reason to worry. How she discovers what is about to happen and to whom ... well, you will just have to read the book to find out! Very enjoyable read!
|
| Genie |
Real Vampires Have Curves by Gerry Bartlett |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Glory St Clair has decided its time for a fresh start. She packs up her car and heads out to Austin, Texas where she is the new owner of a vintage clothing store. Glory knows this is the right decision since she loves clothes and she is "an antique" herself (a couple hundred years + vampire). Initially, things go well and the shop is a success, but there is a problem. A wealthy technofreak vampire hunter is on the prowl and he has Glory in his sights. With the help of the paranormal community, Glory is going to have to turn the hunter into the hunted before its too late. Her life will depend on it!
Nice combination of paranormal romance and detective story with a lot of humor thrown in for good measure.
|
| Cynthia Baxter |
Finn by Jon Clinch |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is highly, highly recommended. It is not entirely necessary to read THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN beforehand, but it's helpful. This book created such a stir in our bookclub. We had great discussions and the highest turnout we've had.
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| Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net) |
Her Way by Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta Jr. |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a well-documented book about Hillary and her plan to be in the position she is in today. The changes are fascinating --- how she went from a conservative "Goldwater Girl" to a confused college student searching for herself, to a far-left liberal Democrat. The metamorphosis continues from her refusal to engage in political conduct that could be deemed inappropriate, to being a fairly ruthless political operative who diligently covers her tracks at all cost. To my surprise, I found striking parallels between Hillary and Richard Nixon. Though on opposite ends of the political spectrum, both have in common these traits: an intense desire to reach a goal, an aversion to meeting the press and answering personal questions, a life that is intensely private, a refusal to admit when they have done something wrong. This is a fascinating and revealing book.
|
| Marsha |
Hunter's Moon by Chuck Logan |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Prepare yourself for a gritty roller coaster ride through a tale of haunted memories, distrust, suspicion, betrayal, mystery and death. The list goes on and on. It's all here in the author's first widely acclaimed novel.
|
| Rae Doppler |
Red Sea by Emily Benedek |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A great book! It's exciting and informative! A real page turner!
|
| RAE DOPPLER |
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book was wonderful and was filled with detail. It covered the history of a country I knew little about. The plot flowed and the characters were believable.
|
| Elizabeth Stevens |
Intimate Wisdom by Karinna-Kittles-Karsten |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was a very educational and interesting book about love and intimacy, which I know I will refer to time and time again. It covers both Eastern and Western approaches to creating a great relationship, blending many cultures’ rituals and beliefs, thus showing a new paradigm for coupling in our modern age. I particularly liked some of the terms the author introduced such as Tongue Kung-Fu and I thought the use of the ancient teacher Su Nu as the wise elder added something unique and innovative to the subject matter.
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| Catherine Brown |
Atonement by Ian McEwan |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Well written, with great characters, you will not want to put it down.
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| CC |
Blood Memory by Greg Isles |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Fast-paced and fascinating mystery.
|
| Kathy |
Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Latest in the Goldy Schultz series. In the midst of the busy holiday season for the caterer, she's drawn into yet another local murder. This one takes place at the public library and brings suspects back from the dead.
|
| Kathy |
Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A lighthearted romance set in Colonial Williamsburg. Part time guide/potter has a chance meeting with the newly arrived doctor. You know the attraction is there but both are gun shy about doing anything permanent. This is very early Evanovich, but it's a fun, quick read.
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| Marie |
Helpless by Barbara Gowdy |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Gowdy presents a beautifully written story about obsession and love and how it can blind us. I truly enjoyed reading this book. While the subject matter was hard to read, at times, the characters were authentic and the story made it a fascinating read.
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| Marie |
Missing Witness by Gordon Campbell |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Campbell’s legal thriller is fantastic. I loved it! It’s faced paced and simply hard to put down. The story is finely crafted and filled with great characters and plenty of twists and turns. I was mesmerized until the very end. The story is told in the first person through the eyes of Doug McKenzie, who’s known the Eddington family since childhood. Campbell sticks to the story and doesn’t include any unnecessary tangents or flashbacks. It’s pretty straightforward; however, the story gets a little complicated at times because of the rules of law. The author does a great job in leading the reader through those parts. Even the acknowledgments at the end of the book are interesting. Loved it all!
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| Virginia Weber |
Little Children by Tom Perrotta |
Rating: 5 Stars |
While waiting for THE ABSTINENCE TEACHER to come (ordered online) I checked this book out. There is something compelling about the writing; I wanted to abandon all daily tasks to simply keep reading. The characters, the scenes, the dialogue --- all of was spot on. This is the first book by Mr. Perrotta that I have read but it will not be the last! He is a natural storyteller.
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| Stacia Helpman (freddie7713@hotmail.com) |
A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is amazing. It is the fifth book in Ms. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series and it follows a faerie princess of the Unseelie sidhe through the chaos of her life trying to become queen of the Unseelie court.
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| Juanita |
Abide With Me by Elizabeth Strout |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is our book club selection, and I think it will be a very interesting discussion.
|
| Virginia Weber |
The Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo |
Rating: 5 Stars |
From the opening page this novel drew me in. I was sorry when I reached the end. I LOVED it. I have purchased 3 copies to give as Christmas gifts this year!
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| Kathy V. |
The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a haunting, if predictable, story set in Kansas. It involves a murder and subsequent cover up. Very interesting and fun to read.
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| Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net) |
To Dance With the White Dog by Terry Kay |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a wonderful, bittersweet novel of an old man's last years. Old Sam Peek has just lost his wife, but his final years are not spent alone. He has several sons and daughters who care a great deal for him, as well as a mysterious white dog that shows up after his wife's funeral. The dog is loyal only to Sam and never permits anyone to else to touch it. I hope to see the film made from this book, starring Hume Cronyn as Sam.
|
| Jeff Haddow |
The Red and the Black by Stendhal |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Good to come back to the classics and know why they've survived so long.
|
| Juanita |
Porch Talk by PHILIP GULLEY |
Rating: 4 Stars |
What a nice, easy-to-read. interesting book. It makes me want to sit on the porch all day!
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
Where Trouble Sleeps by Clyde Edgerton |
Rating: 1 Stars |
This was a quirky book about a small southern N.C. town. They have a strange visitor (Jack Umstead) who has come to scope out the place and maybe steal something. The author introduces several people who live in the town; however, he doesn’t really develop them. They just play the parts of town folk. The stranger tries to fit in and even gets friendly with some of the people in town before he does his evil deed. The book is suppose to be funny and it is in some parts. I just didn’t think it was hilarious. I wish it was, it might have made for a better read.
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| Paula C. |
Kissing Christmas Goodbye by M.C. Beaton |
Rating: 4 Stars |
At last, the latest installment in the Agatha Raisin Mystery series! This book is just as entertaining as the previous, but with the added enjoyment of a Christmas theme. Agatha solves multiple murder mysteries while also planning the best possible Christmas dinner party ever.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson by Keith Ablow, MD |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Another incredible book by forensic psychiatrist Keith Ablow. Scott Peterson grew up in a home where he was molded into what his mother wanted --- he had no opinions or personal thoughts, nor did he know how to socialize without being told to. He grew up a young man who held rage, anger and resentment inside while still playing the nice guy on the outside.
You will love this book. it explains many things about Scott Peterson.
|
| Dorothy |
The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A delightful Christmas story. I enjoyed it.
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| Dorothy (dflood@cox.net) |
Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon |
Rating: 4 Stars |
After 38 years, Fr. Tim Kavanaugh returns to his childhood home. He has many surprises and reunites with many friends from the past. I thorougly enjoyed it but I missed the people from Mitford. I hope Jan writes another book that will involve the Mitford characters.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Saratoga Stories by Jon Bartels |
Rating: 3 Stars |
An interesting account of the New York racing community from 1860 to 1920 --- the gambling, the wealth, the horses, and the men. The horses, in those days, would run multiple times in a day, and the distances were longer.
|
| Bridget |
Double Cross by James Patterson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A page turner like all books with Alex Cross!
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| Tom Barrington |
Cross by James Patterson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This has to be one of the best books in the Alex Cross series. His books keep getting better all the time. CROSS is full of action. I plan on reading every book in the series, and I can't wait to read DOUBLE CROSS.
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| Ricki (rickimc@aol.com) |
The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Wow, this is one of the strangest books I have ever read, but the author really knows how to suck the reader in and keep him or her hanging on through all the various twists and turns.
|
| Eileen |
Leaving Home by Anita Brookner |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a story of adolescent identity: growing up and leaving home. Brookner won a Booker prize for this novel. It is delightfully written with words and phrases that make one feel like they are reading the best dessert ever. Emma leaves her comfortable flat in London to learn to grow and develop as an adult.
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| Fran |
The Girls by Lori Lansens |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Lori Lansens takes you into the world of Ruby and Rose Darlen, the worlds oldest craniopagus, conjoined twins (fictional). Through their parallel eyes, the reader is taken on a journey through their lives, hopes, fears and dreams. We experience, through them, what it is like to be different in a world that values conformity. We also experience the most incredible bond between sisters. I loved the way the story is told in alternating voices, giving two very different perspectives on the lives of "the girls." I was very impressed with this writer and will definitely look for more of her books in the future!
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| Bridget |
The Almost Moon by Alice Siebold |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very strange, yet compelling. I couldn't put it down.
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| L. Hann |
Common Non Sense by Andy Rooney |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This very funny book is a great read for the holidays. It makes you stop and think about the things we do.
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| Lindsey (lgretired@aol.com) |
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
My book club read this and all 10 of us thought it was one of the best books we have read this year. Of course, we won't attend a circus any time soon!
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| Pamela Gordon (waterpam1@comcast.net) |
Precious Blood by Jonathan Hayes |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A very good story set in post-twin tower NYC; it features a medical examiner who was burned out by 9/11 and how to go on with life.
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| kg |
Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Story of a mother who grew up in Iran, emigrated to London as a teenager, and struggles to understand the culture of her new life. I found this to be a very sad but most interesting story. I could feel the emotion felt by the characters.
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| Pattie Berryhill (pattiberr@aol.com) |
Shoot Him if He Runs by Stuart Woods |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Interesting tale set in the Caribbean islands of 4 "tourists" who are trying to catch an evasive killer, who may or may not exist. The interactions between them and the people they meet are exciting. I stayed up late to finish reading this book.
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| Lori S. |
You've Been Warned by James Patterson |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I am a huge Patterson fan, but this is the first one that disappointed me. One of the things I like about Patterson is that women in his novels --- whether they're main characters or in the background --- are always portrayed as bright and strong. But, in this case, I was very frustrated with the naivete of Kristin. This was very atypical of Patterson. The story of a gal who has dreams every night of a multiple murder that hasn't happened yet is intriguing and a bit suspenseful, but I wanted it to move along faster. Come on, already! Check it out, though. You may completely disagree.
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| kg |
Eve's Garden by Hannah Orden |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This is the story of an American woman who spends a year teaching in an Israeli kibbutz. The book borders on chick-lit at times.
|
| Julie Towson |
A Year in the World by Frances Mayes |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Those who loved UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN will love this book. Frances Mayes travels to Spain, Portugal, France, the British Isles, elsewhere in Italy, and to the Mediterranean world of Turkey, Greece and North Africa. She has a wonderfully compelling narrative style that I love.
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| Gerald Rosen (fishrose2@optonline.net) |
Can't Buy Me Love by Jonathan Gould |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A well-researched, easily readable Beatles biography that covers the time period from their Liverpool beginnings to their breakup in 1969. Reading this book with a CD player and a complete Beatles collection by your side would immeasurably add to your enjoyment.
|
| Jane |
The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Perhaps this book hit me at the right time, but I found this special holiday read just delightful. It's not as treacly as similar books in this genre, and it's a quick uplifting read so you don't feel guilty taking time to recharge before returning to holiday chores. A small cast of family members filled with individual agendas is turned around by a surprising catalyst.
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| Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com) |
A Map of the Harbor Islands by J. G. Hayes |
Rating: 1 Stars |
Terrible book. Couldn't get into it! The author's writing pattern was strange and hard to follow. It was our reading group pick this month, and they all concur. Most didn't read the book. I even tried skipping a few pages and still could find no endearing qualities. Oh well, a better book next month.
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| Louise Pledge |
He Sees You When You're Sleeping by Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Not quite what I expected from the usual Higgins Clark team, this Christmas-based story deals with an angel, trying to earn his way into Heaven. Very entertaining and a fun read for the holiday season!
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| L. Hann |
The Other Side Of Me by Sidney Sheldon |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent!! I have always loved Sidney Sheldon's writing. This book will show what his life was like, his success and failures, his own personal battles etc. It is a very inspiring story and provides a new look at the great author he was.
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| Coral Harrison |
Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A memoir about the author and her horses, particularly about her horse Lay Me Down.
It would help if you loved horses, but I think you would enjoy the book anyway. This horse showed her how to let go and love, not just horses.
|
| LouBabe |
Shudder by Brian Harper |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I enjoyed this mystery about an LAPD homicide detective, investigating a fatal kidnapping, and looked for others by Brian Harper. It seems he wrote about six of them under that name and then changed to another pen name. I would like to read the rest of the Brian Harper books, though, and recommend this one.
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| LouBabe |
The Twilight Before Christmas by Christine Feehan |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This book was a little weird. Well, it was supposed to be a little weird...but it was a little TOO weird for my tastes. Seven sisters have magical, mystical powers. They have to work together to save Christmas for the small town they grew up in.
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| Sandra Smith (ssmith0028@verizon.net) |
Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I would have given this a 5, but the dialogue between characters is sometimes off and I have to re-read paragraphs to try and get it all straight. I've never had this problem with a Patricia Cornwell novel before and I have read all of the Kay Scarpetta books.
|
| Gale |
Creation in Death by J. D. Robb |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This series by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts) always offers some great reads, with compelling characters and interesting plots. CREATION IN DEATH, the 25th installment, has NYPD Lt. Eve Dallas and her mega-bucks Irish husband, Roarke, chasing a particularly nasty killer.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Search the Darkness by Charles Todd |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An Ian Rutledge mystery set in a quiet village where everyone know everything. This is a well-written novel about the plunder and haunting of a war, and the people who live through the event; and last, but not least, the love and protectiveness of a mother.
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| Callista (calllista83@cogeco.ca) |
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A good story, full of literary devices. It was a little too wordy for me. I prefer short and concise to long and detailed. It wasn’t too bad, though, and I just skipped a paragraph or two if it was too much for me.
I’m glad I finally got around to reading this classic. I do think it’s important to read some older material to see how literature has changed. Speaking of which, I had trouble understanding some things that were said. I’m guessing it is because it was written in 1908 when people spoke differently.
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| Sandra Smith (ssmith0028@verizon.net) |
In for the Kill by John Lutz |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Really spine-tingling (double dose of creepy!) --- I love the characters of Quinn, Pearl, and Fedderman, and how they interact with one another. Can't wait for another book with them in it! Now my BF is reading IN FOR THE KILL and he can't put it down either.
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| ck |
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse |
Rating: 3 Stars |
"The sins of your father....."
In this case, the mystery and intrigue began in the 1200s in the area of Southern France near the Pyrenees. In 2007, some young people working on an architectural dig found a cave that might have a connection to the Holy Grail. The plot is a bit confusing but all the ends come together in a very satisfying book.
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| Lindsey (lgretired@aol.com) |
Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I was introduced to this author when you sent me a copy and have been trying to read all the Cork O'Connor books. They are well written, have excellent plots, likeable characters and they're hard to put down!
|
| ck |
World Without End by Ken Follett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I listened to 45 hours of tapes while knitting a Christmas stocking and at the same time my husband read the book. He finished the 1000 + pages before I finished the tapes. We both loved the book.
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| Callista (calllista83@cogeco.ca) |
Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I wasn't sure I'd like the book when I was offered a copy for review as it's Christian Fiction. Since I'm not Christian, I don't usually read this genre and so figured it wouldn't be of interest to me. I'm glad I gave it a chance!
I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only did I enjoy the book, I loved it!
I would classify this book as Christian Chick-Lit. I don't normally read Chick-Lit either but I might just start reading more. I thought reading about someone's fictional love life would be boring, but I find it interesting. I also found all the talk of preparations for the church interesting too. If I were Christian, First Grace sounds like a wonderful church to attend. The members were well treated and it sounded like they had a lot of fun. I found the tidbits of scripture interesting too since I've never read the whole Bible.
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| Callista (calllista83@cogeco.ca) |
Death in Kingsport by Curtis Parkinson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
At Neil's uncle’s cremation, he hears thumping in the coffin just as it’s put into the flames. Could Uncle Chester be alive? So, Neil starts an investigation. A disembodied voice in an old stable tells him that Chester’s passing is not the only mysterious death in town, so Neil along with his friend Graham work to get to the bottom of what’s happening.
First of all, this is a Canadian book which is nice for a change. It was cool to read about cities in my province and country and sports teams from here too. It was also refreshing to read a young adult murder mystery. Most of the children’s fiction I’ve seen is about teen life, love, family and pets. It was a good chance of pace.
I loved the storyline and in the last half of the book I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what really happened. The only thing that bothered me about it is that the truth is revealed in chapter 18, and I think it would have been better to find out in bits and pieces as the main characters found out.
It’s historical fiction in that it happens after the Great Depression, but the plot wasn’t specifically about that time period. The story could have been written during any time with a few simple changes. I don’t like historical fiction usually because they are filled with too many history facts, which bore me. This was a good way for me to read about a few history pointers without getting bored. I really enjoyed the book and would read more by the author.
|
| justin castillo |
Celebrity Detox: The Fame Game by Rosie O'Donnell |
Rating: 3 Stars |
While it's great to read the opinions of a staunch liberal who says exactly what she thinks, I wish she'd put her money where her mouth is by educating and informing herself first. I know who's out, who isn't and why. Loved her on "Nip/Tuck" this week.
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| JaneAnn Railey |
Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What else but five stars! Debbie Macomber writes so many whodunnit mystery books that this was a good change for fun. Her Christmas Angels are a delight. Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are at it again.
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| Diana Fahy (bearzwitch@gmail.com) |
An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine harris |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the second in her series, about Harper Connelly and her step-brother Tolliver. She possesses a very unique gift. She is summoned to a small town by the Sheriff to find a lost boy. On arriving, she learns, he is one of five gone missing. What she finds is beyond evil and it's coming for her. It was fast paced and very different in plot. I found after her first book that I couldn't wait for this to come out.
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| Greg (reststop@heart.com) |
Across the High Lonesome by James McNay Brumfeld |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Don't let the cover fool you, this is not a typical western. It's a modern-day story set in the high mountains of California at a pack station. The story is character driven, with a cast of great characters, yet there is plenty of action and adventure to keep the story moving. It was easy to see that author was writing from his heart....
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| Ivy (ipittman26@yahoo.com) |
The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is such a wonderfully engrossing novel about life in Jamaica, Errol Flynn's arrival there and the relationships that ensued. Cezair-Thompson has a magnificent way of weaving history and fiction into a symphonic story!
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The story started out with a bang, and then nothing --- total boredom. It took too long for the book to pick back up. Another problem I had was with the main characters, Kayla and Rand. I didn’t find them believable whatsoever. The rest, the bad guys, were perfect. In fact, so was the plot. All in all, it was a good read. I enjoy being introduced to a new author.
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| Michelle Wilson (booklover32@sbcglobal.net) |
Double Cross by James Patterson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Very good book. I love all the characters from the the other books but would make sense even if you haven't read the others.
|
| Barbara |
I'll Fly Away by Wally Lamb, et al |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Fascinating, heartbreaking writing from women in a Connecticut women's prison.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
The Long Road Home by Martha Raddatz |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An unbelievable story of our soldiers at war --- the author gives us a firsthand look at what our soldiers go through. You can almost feel you are there with them.
It will make you happy, sad and very thankful for what these young men and women are going through to give us our daily life.
A must read.
|
| RitaB |
Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I love Patricia Cornwell. As always, this book is suspenseful and a good read. So much happens to Kay Scarpetta, both professionally and personally, in each book that I find it difficult to remember who everyone is and what has happened when the new titles come out.
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| Historical fiction fan |
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I just finished rereading Gone With The Wind for the 7th time. It is one of my favorite books. (Also one of the favortite movies, but the book is so much better!) I read Scarlett (the sequel) and was really disappointed. GONE WITH THE WIND has one of the most interesting characters --- Scarlett --- living in one of the most interesting times --- the Civil War era --- and with the MOST interesting lover --- Rhett --- ever. The supporting characters are all well developed and the many plots and subplots keep moving right along. You don't even notice the book's length.
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| Vicki |
The Swamps of Bayou Teche by Kent Conwell |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I really liked this mystery, it's a great read! I enjoyed the glimpse it provided of Cajun and Creole life in Louisiana.
|
| Wendy |
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Nancy Horan has written a book that remains with you long after it has ended. Not only is the story compelling, but the issues that are raised are quite provocative.
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| Mary in HB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
My Sister is a Werewolf by Kathy Love |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very cute, romantic, paranormal story. The best in the series so far.
|
| Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com) |
Dadditude by Philip Lerman |
Rating: 3 Stars |
DADDITUDE is author Lerman's funny tender look at a full-time parenthood from the perspective of a non 20 something --- a creative, original perspective on how to survive ;-)
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| Mary Brown |
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I seldom read popular books or Oprah picks, but when I heard this was set in medieval times (my favorite), I had to read it. It's quite a read! The complex twists and turns of fate contrasted with people's taking control of their lives makes this a real page turner --- all 973 pages!
|
| Wendy |
The Gravedigger's Daughter by Joyce Carol Oates |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Another masterpiece by Oates. This story keeps you on the edge of your seat, not only because of the action, but the storyline swiftly moves from one plot to the next.
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| Cindy Sheets |
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I read this book when it was first published, and I'm now re-reading before plunging into Follett's new sequel (a long time in coming!) This saga of the building of a 12th-century cathedral was one that I kept (my original paperback) while almost all others went on to other people, trash cans, or recycled. I'm enjoying it all over again!
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| Randa |
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke |
Rating: 4 Stars |
INKHEART is the first of the Inkworld trilogy. The sequel is INKSPELL, released in 2005. It is a fascinating story about a bookbinder, Mo, and his daughter, Meggie. Mo has a unique talent to bring book characters to life (actually) when he reads aloud. This gift takes them on adventures across Europe. The story is also about reading and the love of reading. It's great for both teens and adults. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
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| Mary Brown |
Mr. Pip by Lloyd Jones |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This moving story of a lone white man who tries to teach isolated island children from his sole copy of Dickens's GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Told from the viewpoint of one of the children, we see the power of books to change people's lives.
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| Danica (drummell26@yahoo.com) |
Black Dagger Brotherhood: Lover Unshrined by J. R. Ward |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderful vampire love story of brothers, their faults, and their ways of falling in love --- love you'd never suspect or expect. This erotic vampire family and their friends keep you reading and wanting more.
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| Robin Snodgrass (RECS5664@aol.com) |
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This young adult book will appeal to readers of all ages. The characters are well written and interesting, and the plot is unusual and entertaining.
Faeries are real. Aislinn has known this her whole life. She's always avoided them the best she could --- staying below their radar, so to speak. When two of the faeries suddenly take notice of her, she knows her life will never be the same.
This is a thrilling debut novel by an author who I anticipate will be around for a long time to come. Don't miss out on this amazing modern fairy tale.
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| Sherry Hall |
Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides |
Rating: 4 Stars |
BLOOD AND THUNDER is about the American southwest in the time of Kit Carson. Before I read this book, I though Carson was simply another cowboy legend. I was enthralled with the story of his life and his unwilling role in the near eradication of the Navajo people. I lived in Santa Fe for 10 years and was fascinated at this narrative about its early times.
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| Maureen H |
Cross by James Patterson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was an easy read with quick chapters. It was hard to put down and I was up 'til 5 in the morning reading this book. A very satisfying read.
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Bone Thief by Thomas O'Callaghan |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I think Thomas O'Callaghan is an author to look out for. He has an interesting way of telling a story; so interesting, in fact, that readers overlooked his shortcomings.
|
| Christy H. |
Big Spankable Asses by Angie Daniels, Kimberly Kaye Terry, Lisa G. Riley |
Rating: 4 Stars |
With a title like this, who could resist picking up this book! All three novellas in this anthology are interconnected with three female friends and their quest for love and romance. This book has a cute plot and the stories are fun and sexy.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
The Courage to Survive by Dennis Kucinich |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This US Presidential candidate tells his story growing up in inner-city Cleveland in the 1950s. He lived through poverty, cruelty and racial times.
Finally able to be guided by nuns, a football coach and teachers, he makes a good life for himself. A must read.
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| Crystal Blackburn |
Leave The Grave Green by Deborah Crombie |
Rating: 5 Stars |
LEAVE THE GRAVE GREEN is the third in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series. The stories keep getting better and better as the relationship between Superintendent Kincaid and his Sargent Gemma James grows closer and closer.
|
| Kay Keller |
The Chase by Clive Cussler |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is a departure from the author's usual action adventure/suspense Dirk Pitt series. THE CHASE is historical fiction set in 1906 in the West. Most of the traveling in this book is done by train, and I enjoyed "the ride."
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
The Big Payback by Cederick W. Tardy II |
Rating: 5 Stars |
THE BIG PAYBACK is targeting single African-American mothers, but offers sound parenting advice for all mothers. After Mr. Tardy’s introduction, it’s his mother who opens her heart unambiguously to readers.
Self-help buffs will find many useful points including goal setting, cultural influences, and communicating with and understanding your child. The book tackles issues such as juggling work and parenting, priorities, how words can uplift as well as destroy, suicide, and other real life issues children face today from a Christian viewpoint.
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| Mary in HB |
Enslave Me Sweetly (Alien Huntress, Book 2) by Gena Showalter |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Science fiction for women! Very strong female character with lots of sex. Good, gripping read.
|
| Carol H. |
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Three women plan to spend the summer in Nantucket, and one has 2 young sons and an alarming cancer diagnosis. Her sister lost a professorship at an Ivy League school. The third young woman has just learned that she was pregnant at the same time as she was told that her "wonderful" husband is having an affair. Often, because of so many characters going in and out of their lives, names become confusing.
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| Judy O. |
Plain Secrets by Joe Mackall |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Author Joe Mackall is a neighbor to an order of Swartzentruber Amish. Since he is a writer, he decides to write an account of this very strict Amish sect. He discusses a young boy who leaves the order and tells how he fares in the "English" world. He also gives us an eye-witness look into their homes, buggies, religion, clothing, and other aspects of their extreme legalistic society. It's really interesting and informative and gives one great respect for these people and their ways.
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| Michael Frasier (mfrasier31@hotmail.com) |
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah |
Rating: 5 Stars |
These are the memoirs of a former child soldier from Sierra Leone and the story of his descent into Hell and back out again.
What struck me about this book, far more than the horrifying tales of violence that were visited upon Ishmael and worse that he was forced to visit upon others, was that he was able to claw his way out of a truly hellish childhood and into adulthood having retained his humanity.
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| Alice F |
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is such a special book. The author so cleverly plays with themes, elements and the types of characters in famous gothic novels (like WUTHERING HEIGHTS) and weaves them into a pseudo-gothic work of fiction that takes place in modern times. Very artful and satisfying.
|
| Gloria |
The Road by Cormac McCarthy |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Oddly enough, I loved this book! At first, I expected it to be overrated but it wasn't.
I found myself in the main character's shoes and wondering what I would do and if I could've survived. This is a book that you will not be able to put down!
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| Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com) |
Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was GONE WITH THE WIND from Rhett's point of view. I enjoyed this book very much. It stays with the original book and is the story of Rhett's family and how the Civil War changed their lives.
|
| Terri C. |
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This chronicles seven short but traumatic years in the life of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, written from the perspective of his feminist-leaning married lover. Set in the early 1900s, it is a story of the woman's movement, F. L. Wright's prairie period, as well as the personal struggles of the characters. It was a well-developed, absorbing read. I'll say no more as I HATE it when people divulge the plots of a novel.
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| Carey Hemond (chemond@verizon.net) |
The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I just re-read this book...I love the story and the characters, which really keep you interested. I hated to put it down. I need to get a copy of the sequel, SWIMMING LESSONS. I highly recommend this book.
|
| Janice |
The Gravedigger's Daughter by Joyce Carol Oates |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I am sorry to say I was disappointed with the book, especially since I so looked forwarded to reading it. It is almost 600 pages and a very slow read. Normally I enjoy the author, but there is so much unnecessary detail in the story and so much repetition. The story could have easily been told in fewer pages without losing its essence.
|
| Debi |
The Sculptress by Minette Walters |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a great psychological thriller that I couldn't put down! The Sculptress is in prison for killing and butchering her mother and daughter. Was she convicted because of her looks? As the story unfolds, hidden family secrets make you wonder if she is truly guilty. Or is she a master manipulator? This British author is superb!
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| Mary in HB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
The Good Ghouls' Guide to Getting Even by Julie Kenner |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This young adult paranormal story has a great positive message for girls that is written with humor. I really enjoyed this cute book.
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| Mary in HB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
Autobiography of a Fat Bride by Laurie Notaro |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Collection of articles that are laugh-out-loud funny. I could read Laurie Notaro all day and not be bored.
|
| Sharon Lumb |
Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I love to read Christmas books during the season --- you know, the kind that established authors write-slim volumes full of cheer and ho-ho-ho. They're usually filled with enough sugar to take care of your sweet tooth. Well, this fits the bill. The mystery is solved and everything is in its place for Santa. Just don't read too many of these books or you will have to join Weight Watchers after Xmas!
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| Mary in HB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A very interesting read about a typical look at a rock star and addiction. It is amazing this guy is still alive.
|
| Book Festival |
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I know this is a Young Adult book, but I'm an old adult and I'm really enjoying it. I would have given it 5 stars, but I reserve 5 stars for Harry Potter. I'm going to read the next two books of the trilogy and, of course, see the film.
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| Tim Barnes (btv01@bellsouth.net) |
Life's Golden Ticket by Brendon Burchard |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was a wonderful and inspirational novel. Anyone will walk away from this book wanting to make things right in their lives. There is something in here everyone can relate to, and when then story is over you'll say, "Yeah, I completely get it now." You can't go wrong with this one, it's a keeper.
|
| Marsha |
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Marquez |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An ageless love story told by a true master. Never give up on true love. You will be enchanted.
|
| Bookmomma (Bookmomma@aol.com) |
Chat by Archer Mayor |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Another terrific read in the long-running Joe Gunther series. Joe's brother and mother are injured in a car accident. It soon becomes clear that the accident was caused by someone who wants to punish Joe. He also begins a new romantic relationship that seems destined to be a success.
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| Book Momma (Bookmomma@aol.com) |
Paper Hearts by Debrah Williamson |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Sweet story about a runaway teen who teams up with a lonely old man. Both of them are redeemed by this relationship.
|
| Judy O. |
The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a fictionalized story of May Flynn, an illegitimate daughter of actor Errol Flynn. So, she was called "The Pirate's Daughter." She was raised by her mother and step-father on Navy Island, a small island off the cost of Port Antonio, Jamaica; but, her father was out of the picture by then. I enjoyed this romantic tale, but I found it to be about 100 pages too long. I thought that the story really dragged in the second half, and at times, I almost quit. I'm glad I kept reading, as the pace picked up and became a great story once again.
|
| Fran |
Frangipani by Celestine Vaite |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I adored this book about a Tahitian woman and her relationship with her daughter. Within this gem of a novel, the reader is given a glimpse into Tahitian folklore, customs, cultures and family life. Materena Mahi and her daughter Leilani are wonderful characters whose innocence and vitality capture the reader and lure you in to crave more. I cannot wait to get my hands on BREADFRUIT by this same author. An all-around fun read!
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Fresh Disaster by Stuart Woods |
Rating: 1 Stars |
If you want to read about a self-centered man, this is the book. All he cares about is his sex life, and frankly, at his age he must be dreaming. Stone jumps into bed with another woman hours after his lady love is beheaded. The theme of a serial killer with a younger brother is handled 100% better by John Lutz in his latest novel. I am greatly disappointed with this novel by Woods and probably will not read any more of his drivel.
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
The Savage Garden by Mark Mills |
Rating: 2 Stars |
I was so excited to read this. I had read AMAGANSETT last year and loved it. I was disappointed in this one. The idea behind this was extraordinary. An art history student is invited to Italy to figure out the meaning behind an extravagant garden, the placement of statues within the grounds, and meaning it had. What the student did not bank on was his personal involvement with the members of the family that owned the garden and the mystery involving this family, that he became obsessed in solving. I loved the idea, I just thought the writing was too deep and lacked direction and flow. It was choppy. The words were very intense and extravagant, which led me to believe that the author focused more on his writing style than on the plot itself. That is what I was most disappointed in. I have to say, though, I was pleased with the ending. It wrapped the story up in a neat little bow and completed the circle. Without it, this would have been one of my least favorite books of the year.
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| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
Darkness Falls by Kyle Mills |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a fast-paced thriller that I really enjoyed. It made me realize how fragile our environment really is and how a psychopath with a cause could cause massive, world-wide destruction.
|
| Janet |
Die For Me by Karen Rose |
Rating: 5 Stars |
i just found out about this author, and she is great. Her novels are nonstop suspense thrillers. She makes you really get into the characters. I totally enjoy her style. Keep up the good work, Karen, and keep the books coming!
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Cullotta by Dennis N. Griffin, Frank Cullotta, and Dennis Arno |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Mr. Griffin’s easy, entertaining writing style will interest readers who aren’t true crime buffs as well. By the end of the book, I had greater comprehension regarding the mob; and my question about how much of "The Sopranos" was fictionalized had been answered.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
The Tattoo by Chris McKinney |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I know that this book is about how pain and anger gets passed over from one generation to another, but I really found the book hard to read due to the "pidgen" language used.
There are some good comparisons in this book between Japanese and Hawaiians and the part of town they were born in.
There are also stories about poverty, gangs, and how many end up in prison in Hawaii.
|
| Cindy |
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book came highly recommended from everyone.
A dying author summons a women biographer to tell her story. A very eerie tale of her family, twin and ghosts. You will not be able to put this book down.
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| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This is just a good old-fashioned women's read. I adored reminiscing about New York in the 50s. It is well written.
|
| Priscilla |
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Marquez |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I am about 3/4 of the way through the book. This is a great love story...Florentino waits 51 years, 9 months, and 4 days to declare his love (again) for Fermina.
|
| Laura Guillory |
All She Ever Wanted by Lynn Austin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This intriguing book covers a woman seeking acceptance and forgiveness. It starts with her grandmother's story to her own. It's suspenseful and heart-tugging.
|
| Darlene |
Cry No More by Linda Howard |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Great book! The character development was so good that it will make you laugh and cry. This is the story of a woman who finds lost children since hers was stolen. She meets up with an unlikely hero who helps her try to find her own child. I loved this book.
|
| Mrs L A Ramsen |
Free Love by Annette Meyers |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Escapist fiction for me is a story so atmospheric that long after closing the book, I can still visualize the scenes. Ms. Meyers's debut of Greenwich Village bohemian Olivia Brown and her motley crew of characters does just that. Yes, Olivia is shallow and self-absorbed, but, hey, she's only in her 20s. If this series is ever adapted into a movie, buy stock in tobacco. In every other page someone was lighting up a cigarette to the point --- unfortunately --- that it was a distraction. Did they really smoke nonstop in the '20s? We'd have no 85 year olds alive today! That aside, this entertaining mystery has me primed for the second in the series, MURDER ME NOW.
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| Patricia (patriciart@aol.com) |
The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Terrific read. I love Roth's ability to take a "what If" thought and turn it into a whole new world that none of us want to live in. It makes you thankful for a vote.
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| Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net) |
The 6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Like the previous Women's Murder Club book, this novel has a couple of stories, apparently unconnected. Fred Brinkley, a psycho, shoots five people on a ferry boat, killing four and wounding Claire Washburn. In an unrelated case, gifted children are being kidnapped. Ransom notes don't give the parents much hope: "Don't contact the police. Even if you do, you still may not ever see your child again." Who is behind these terrible crimes? It makes for pretty interesting reading.
|
| Sharon Cerasoli |
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An excellent YA fiction novel, which was 3rd in a series of 4 books that feature Bella, who falls for Edward, who just happens to be a vampire. You won't be able to put this book down!
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| Mrs. RJ McGill (rjs_justreading@yahoo.com) |
Edgar Font's Hunt for A House To Haunt by Patrick H.T. Doyle |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An amazing youth series that's entertaining for all ages.
Combine Doyle’s unparalleled storytelling with a little guidance from the spirit world, and the result is this ingenious literary concoction second in sequence only. In the forward, readers are greeted with a letter from the author, which explains the origin of the story, and includes a special note of thanks to his ghostly housemate, thus setting the stage for a magical reading experience.
There’s a lot going on in this story, much of which has been skillfully layered, so that educational and moral lessons are brilliantly disguised as entertainment. Among the themes beautifully woven into this work are the dangers of scientific irresponsibility, unthinking conformity and the power of choice. Adding depth and realism to the adventure are a myriad of unique drawings throughout the story. The novel is populated by a cast of colorful characters that are complex, three-dimensional and well developed. There’s an almost tangible innocence in Doyle’s writing that allows him to reach across the cynicism that comes with age and transport young and old alike into the wonderful, whimsical world of Edgar Font, if only for a few hours.
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| Betty Jo (harrises@bayou.com) |
The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This important story needed to be told and Fessler did the research to give an honest look at the women who have never talked about the trauma of giving birth to unplanned babies, and how society just took care of their problems.
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| Betty Jo (harrises@bayou.com) |
Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I laughed out loud at some of Tropper's writing. He is really funny and Norm is an unforgettable character. I can't wait to read his other novels.
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| Alicia Burnette (saveypiratecat@yahoo.com) |
Causing Havoc by Lori Foster |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I did not know when I bought this book that it was about a guy boxer, or I probably would not have bought it; but, I'm glad I did. I learned a lot of info about the sport, but it was not the story. The story is about a very put-together guy named Dean Conor, who was separated from his sisters as a child. After the death of his parents, he was sent away because of a secret his aunt wanted to keep from his sisters and hoping they would never find each other. This was a very well-rounded story, which had characters with very distinguished personalities that really made you know them. I really enjoyed this book; there were no boring parts and no skipping pages. It has everything --- bonding, romance, mystery, etc., and I look forward to Foster's next book.
|
| Dorothy Flood |
The Heir by Barbara Taylor Bradford |
Rating: 2 Stars |
When I finished reading this book, I was positive that about 100 pages were missing at the end. Everyone died real fast, each time you turned a page. You had questionable death, obvious murder and kidnapping, but you never found out who did it or why. Barbara did not triumph on this one as the flap states.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry |
Rating: 3 Stars |
There is a murder for Superintendent Runcorn to solve while he is on holiday. Also, Runcorn's lady love is involved in the investigation. This is a simple story that is just as good as Perry's prior Christmas novellas.
|
| Dorothy Lechmanick |
The Innocent Man by John Grisham |
Rating: 2 Stars |
John Grisham's entry into the nonfiction genre left me cold. Too many trite details and characters to keep track of distracted me from enjoying this book.
|
| Bridget |
The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I could not put down this book. The magician's assistant was also his wife. He's died and she has discovered his family (that he told her was all dead) was alive. She meets them and goes on a journey (both physical as well as mental/emotional) of learning about him and why he was the way he was. She also learns a lot about herself.
|
| Eileen |
Away by Amy Bloom |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Sometimes we wonder how immigrants feel when they come to a new country. Bloom allows us to not only get the taste, but also the visual understanding of what this means. AWAY is a great read, and you will be sorry that you finished it! It's also great for those who like the 1920s!
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| Karen Barash |
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This a wonderfully written book about the author's year-long emotional, physical and spiritual journey to Italy, India, and Indonesia.
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| Tim Barnes (btv01@bellsouth.net) |
Christmas with Paula Deen by Paula Deen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
When I ordered this, I thought it was a standard size cookbook, but it's like a 5x7 size. There are only 2 meat recipes, but it does have little stories, reflections, and nice pictures. The recipes that are in there sound very appetizing, as long as this is not your only cookbook, or else you'll be disappointed. Otherwise, it's a nice collection of Paula Deen.
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| Myrna |
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The writer spends a year abroad finding herself in Italy, India, and Indonesia. I'm still in the Italy section. So far, the book isn't living up to my expectations.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
Darfur Diaries by Jen Marlow, Aisha Bain, Adam Shapiro |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An unforgettable story of 3 filmmakers' trip to Darfur, where innocent women, men and children were killed. their homes burned, they had no food. It is a story of inner strength and hope for millions of people forgotten by US aid.
If these people can survive the harshest circumstances, then we shouldn't be so quick to complain about what we don't have.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson |
Rating: 2 Stars |
Not worth the time to read, very corny and too predictable. This was a story about wartime romance, the Pearl Harbor separation, and an unwed mother marrying another man, only to find her lost love 20 years later in Ireland.
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| Annabelle (annabelle973@cox.net) |
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book has a unique plot and is hard to put down. It's rather complex and keeps the reader interested.
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| Annabelle (annabelle973@cox.net) |
The King of Lies by John Hart |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I checked this book out while waiting for his new one, DOWN RIVER. It's a gripping, well-written book, and now I am even more anxious to read DOWN RIVER.
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| Shelly |
Hide & Seek by Fern Michaels |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The vigilantes are at it again, and they will have you captured from the first page tol the end. A great read.
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| Shelly |
The Gift by Richard Paul Evans |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What a fantastic holiday gift of joy, caring, and sharing.
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| Coral Harrison |
How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A very interesting story of Gates' life after he was fired from a big agency. He finally gets a job at Starbucks and actually learns how to work and be kind and humble. It's a good read.
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| L. Hann |
Cancer Schmancer by Fran Drescher |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent. If you've had cancer yourself or know someone who does, you should read this. Fran takes something that is not so pretty and puts a funny spin on the things that happen to cancer patients. Uplifting and inspirational, as well.
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| Katherine (kzstephens@hotmail.com) |
Double Cross by James Patterson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Two villians united against Alex Cross --- this is James Patterson at his best.
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| Mia |
Before You Know Kindness by Christopher Bohjalian |
Rating: 4 Stars |
After a rather slow beginning, this book took off and was the interesting story of how a family deals with a personal tragedy.
A good lesson on how you can overcome things with the strength of family.
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| Debbie (deble_2000@yahoo.com) |
Too Late to Say Goodbye by Linwood Barclay |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I was gripped from the first page. A 14-year-old girl wakes up one morning after her father drags her home from a date and her entire family has disappeared. Flash to 25 years later... this one will keep you turning the pages!
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
Raised On Rock: Growing Up at Graceland by David Stanley |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a true story of David Stanley who became Elvis's stepbrother when his mother married Vernon Presley. He and his two brothers were Elvis's brothers he never had. It takes us through the good and bad times of Rock and Roll: back-lot studios, recording sessions, drugs, alcohol, women and the marriage of Elvis and Priscilla.
He was there when Elvis started going downhill and eventually died. He was one of the first to say Elvis didn't die of heart failure, but of a drug overdose.
An excellent read.
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| Paula |
Murder In Chinatown by Victoria Thompson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the ninth book in the Gas Light series, which takes place during turn-of-the century New York City. Sarah Brandt, midwife and widow, helps the police force in solving murders. Chinatown is the setting for this story. It is a good weekend read.
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| Katherine (kzstephens@hotmail.com) |
Stolen in the Night by Patricia Macdonald |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A man is executed for murdering a young girl, but DNA proves that he didn't do it.... I could not put this one down..
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| L. Hann |
I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Very funny. This is a book about feeling bad about your neck and other thoughts on being a woman. It really makes you laugh at yourself.
|
| Monica Jordan |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is even better than THE KITE RUNNER. It is hard to imagine what it would be like to live in a war zone and to have no control over what you can do, but this book brings that kind of life to reality. It is hard to put down and haunts you when you are through. A great read!
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| Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com) |
Identical Strangers: a Memoir of Twins Separated a by Paula Bernstein and Elyse Schein |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This non-fiction book is a true account of identical twins separated at birth during a secret study, then reunited when they were 35. Fascinating!
|
| Gina |
Wonderful Tonight by Pattie Boyd |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Pattie Boyd was young and beautiful, and
everyone thought she had it all when she married Beatle George Harrison and then Eric Clapton.
Think again.
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| M Monahan |
Snowflower and The Secret Fan by Lisa See |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Absolutely loved this book. While learning about China during foot-binding times, you realize the complexity of female friendships.
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| Coral Harrison |
You've Been Warned by James Patterson & Howard Roughan |
Rating: 1 Stars |
Patterson's book are much better when he writes by himself. This is gruesome and confusing.
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| Jerri Patton (kaahumanu@gmail.com) |
The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is hilarious. It would make a good book club selection as there is much to discuss. A. J. Jacobs spends a year trying to live by every rule (something like 200) in the Bible. For example, the Bible says to stone adulterers; he stones them with tiny pebbles, but they notice.
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| Jerri Patton (Kaahumanu@gmail.com) |
Soldier's Heart by Elizabeth D. Samet |
Rating: 5 Stars |
SOLDIER'S HEART is a very thoughtful book. I would recommend it for book clubs, as there is a lot to discuss. Elizabeth Samet taught Literature as a civilian at West Point for ten years. This is about her experiences, as well as what books she taught.
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| Bob Hartzo (jesus4u@bellsouth.net) |
The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A very excellent classic to read.
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
My Sergei by Ekaterina Gordeeva |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What a wonderful story this was. I love to watch skating and have not missed watching an Olympics since I was a kid. I am familiar with a lot of the skaters mentioned in this book. I thought this story was so touching and full of emotion. Katia considers her life with Sergei almost too perfect. They were so in love and their life together was, indeed, a fairy tale. I commend Katia for being able to pick herself up and go on with her life no matter how difficult after Sergei’s unexpected death in 1995. I thought the comparison between Russian and American customs was very interesting. This was an enjoyable and heartwarming read.
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| Pam C |
Snow Flower and The Secret Fan by Lisa See |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I have always wondered about Chinese women of old with their bound tiny feet and their wistful ways. While this book doesn't delve as deeply as I would like, it follows the paths of Lily and her friend, Snow Flower, through the years of their lives. There are some joys, but there is also a lot of pain and harshness in their worlds. This book is a fast and intense read. I'm glad I read it, it was very hard to put down.
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| Diane Dubay (monysmom@comcast.net) |
The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What an amazing book! I rarely cry at movies and almost never with books, but this one made me cry. it is not cheery but you can't put it down. It's a heartbreaking look at how families interact, and can one forgive (even oneself) and protect those you love when a tragedy occurs?
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| Trudy |
Scottie: the Daughter of... by Eleanor Lanahan |
Rating: 4 Stars |
SCOTTIE: THE DAUGHTER OF F. SCOTT AND ZELDA FITZGERALD is written by Scottie's daughter, Eleanor Lanahan. The story deals with the fame of her parents, and her struggles under their shadow. Scottie's success comes even as she has to learn to deal with her own issues.
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| Lea Ann in Seattle (baxtergr@msn.com) |
Afternoons with Emily by Rose MacMurray |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ms. MacMurray died in 1997 and left her finished manuscript behind. Thankfully, her family has finally had it published, and it's well worth the wait. Miranda Chase, a young girl who lives in Amherst, MA, after time spent in warmer climes, comes to spend Monday afternoons with Emily Dickinson in her secluded room. We learn much of Ms. Dickinson, her poetry, her eccentricities and the lives of those of her era. Whenever I stay at The Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, OR, where each room is decorated to honor an individual author, I choose to stay in the Emily Dickinson room. Now, I shall have new thoughts of her and her writing the next time I go there. This was a wonderful book that elicited many flights of fancy. Do read it if you love poetry, the mystery of Miss Dickinson, or just a rousing good story.
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| Jerry Johnson |
In For The Kill by John Lutz |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This starts off on a dead run and never slows down. Lutz takes you into the mind of the killer and the shoes of his victims. A real page turner.
|
| June |
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Fun female relationships! Five women gather to celebrate the life of their friend, Annie, who pre-planned this unique memorial trip to scatter her ashes at sites that were important in her life. A great story full of tons of laughter and tears.
|
| Sonia Z |
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Very good! This is about a book thief during the time when Hitler was banning books in Germany --- an ugly time with a beautiful story. Death is the narrator. The main character, Liesel, is abandoned by her mother and given to a foster family, where she --- being illiterate --- begins stealing books and is taught to read by her foster father. The characters, as well as their relationships with Leisel, are all memorable.
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| Barbara Dormer (bdorm@aol.com) |
Dark of the Moon by John Sanford |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Not as good as his Prey series
|
| Barbara Dormer (bdorm@aol.com) |
Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent study of what happens when you have to leave your birth country and live abroad.
|
| Julie Towson |
Dinner with Anna Karenina by Gloria Goldreich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a real woman's book. It delves into the lives of six women in a book club. The books they choose to read parallel their lives. Very engrossing.
|
| Joan |
The Husband by Kean Koontz |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I never wanted to read anything by Dean Koontz because I thought he wrote horror stories like Stephen King. My daughter gave me a copy of THE HUSBAND and told me to read it, and am I glad I did! It was an excellent book! Mitch gets a phone call that his wife has been kidnapped and has to get up 2 million dollars, which he does not have. The book is full of surprises and I had difficulty putting it down.
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| Ron (rgnnnr@aol.com) |
Off Mike by Michael Krasny |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This author is a real gem. I've listened to him on NPR for years, as well as seen him on tv and in person, introducing famous authors. This book combines an interesting memoir with thoughts on over 20 famous people, mostly authors like Bellow, Mailer, Hosseini, and Allende, who he's interviewed through the years. If you grew up in the '60s, as I did, you'll love this work.
|
| Kay Keller |
The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Alice Sebold is a wonderful author who knows how to tell a story. The mother-daughter relationship in the story was interesting and shocking. I really like how this author develops her characters because they really come to life. This book is definitely an original!!
|
| Debi |
On Agate Hill by Lee Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I felt obligated to read this book because the author is a relative of a friend. I checked it out and renewed it twice before I finally opened it! Once I got started, I could not put it down! It is awesome! It is a frame story, told through the diaries and letters found in an old mansion in North Carolina. The life of the main character, Molly Petree, is brilliantly recreated by various people whose paths have crossed hers. I highly recommend this book.
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| Pattie Berryhill (pattiberr@aol.com) |
Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The book of the dead is the ledger where an autopsy is recorded. This is a complicated novel that really does not describe who all these people are. It's confusing to me.
|
| Gerald Rosen |
Third Degree by Greg Iles |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a very good plot-driven thriller with some excellent characterizations. The many twists and turns will keep you on your toes.
|
| Tamara |
Ines of my Soul by Isabele Allende |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was not as fun as her other novels. The history of Chile and its conquering has its share of bloodshed, but it's not written horrifically. I haven't thought much about Chile before except when I read Allende's books, so in that way it's interesting. It is great to find out about the powerful woman,"Ines," and how she was key in shaping history.
|
| Janis |
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Reading BRIDGE OF SIGHS made me want to go back and re-read other Russo books. His character development is so amazing that I have been scanning faces at the mall or the grocery store trying to find them. This is one of those books that is so difficult to put down because you get so drawn in; it is also a bane of a speed reader because you really have to savor every word.
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| Brenda Broadway (Broadway1b@Aol.com) |
Born in Death by J. D. Robb |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I love almost all of Nora Roberts's and J. D.Robb's books. They are nice, light thrillers with just enough romance and reality to take me away from mine for a few days. Can't wait to read the end of this one, either.
|
| Gale |
Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell |
Rating: 3 Stars |
BOOK OF THE DEAD is a better read than 2005's PREDATOR, but it isn't on par with Cornwell's original Kay Scarpetta adventures. Character developments in this series continue to be painful and make us wish for a return to the stories in her earlier novels.
|
| Jeff Haddow |
God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It's a sad state of affairs to say it took courage to publish this book, but the fact is that Hitchens probably has risked fatwas from every organized religion for this eloquent and merciless exposé of the dangers of submission to the foolishness of blind faith. The best part of this diatribe is that it's so deliciously entertaining.
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| Brenda Broadway (Broadway1b@aol.com) |
The Judas Field by Howard Bahr |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a very good book on the Civil War and "real life." It definitely wove pictures in my mind of how the South looked then and how my grandparents and great grandparents lived through those times and since. I also got to discuss it with a reading group at the library! It was really neat!
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| Christy (oltlfreak@aol.com) |
Listening Is an Act of Love by Dave Isay |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Love this idea and loved the book! Everyday people tell their stories, and it's recorded onto cds, then some of the stories were picked for this book. After I was done reading it, I realized that I should never think I know something about someone else, because everyone has a story behind their lives. A must read.
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| Brenda Broadway (Broadway1b@aol.com) |
Darkness Falls by Kyle Mills |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Wow! This is the first time I've read one of Kyle's books and I can hardly put it down! I have got to go get some of his other books just as soon as I finish this one.
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