| Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net) |
| Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Guo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This book was very entertaining and quick. It's a look into a fictional Chinese girl's life in Beijing.
|
| Carol |
| Playing For Pizza by John Grisham |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Did John Grisham really write this book, or is there a ghost writer in the closet? A fun, light read that seems so far from his style. This deserved a mediocre rating, just in comparison to his other works.
|
| Maureen H. |
| Bones by Jan Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Great read --- enjoyed this book.
|
| Maureen H |
| Time is a River by Mary Alice Monroe |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a very lovely story. I am enjoying the setting and learning a lot about fly fishing. I never expected to enjoy this book as much as I am. There is also a good mystery thread throughout.
|
| James Jones |
| Motherless Child by Cliff Chandler |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A complex page turner that you will never forget.
|
| Readingrat |
| Dragon's Breath by E. D. Baker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Princess Emma and Prince Eadric are back in a humorous, fun-filled, and utterly charming adventure as they try to help Emma's aunt Grassina attempt to restore her otter beau back to human form. I enjoyed this second book of the series more than the first.
|
| Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net) |
| Kiss of Fury by Deborah Cooke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
What an awesome paranormal romance. I don't general think of dragons when I think of paranormal. To me, dragons fall more into the sci-fi or fantasy category, but Cooke does a fabulous job writing them into a romantic and paranormal world. This is book two in the series, but I didn't read book one prior to this, and I had no trouble following along with the characters or their stories.
|
| Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net) |
| To Catch a Thief by Christina Skye |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a good modern romance with plenty of action and suspense thrown in to make the story really engage the reader.
|
| Rose Ann |
| Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A love story set in the Canadian Wilderness that takes place in the early 1900s. I haven't read a book from this era before and I really enjoyed it.
Some parts were a bit slow, but overall a great story. One of my favorites!
|
| Rose Ann |
| Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
It took a little bit to get used to such a vast use of vocabulary, but I found it entertaining! And it was just as fun, at the end, trying to decipher sentences using limited letters of the alphabet. I think the whole idea was very clever.
|
| Christy |
| Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A quick, fast read with a good storyline. Of course, it's sick and demented, but yet I kept reading it :)
|
| Rose Ann |
| The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
One of my favorites!!!
I really enjoyed this book...I've never read anything like it before. The author put me right inside the mind of a 15-year-old autistic boy. The pictures and diagrams of the thoughts in his head, etc...perfect!
I was surprised of the direction that the story took. Christopher started an investigation to find out who murdered his neighbor's dog. In the end, the story of the dog is secondary to a greater mystery that he uncovers...one that changes his life, and those around him.
|
| Rupa |
| The Host by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The characters in this book were more human, more ethical, and more considerate than half the people I know. I have yet to come across a book like this and I really commend Stephenie for coming up with the idea for this book. Recommended to all!
|
| P.C. |
| Nightshade by Susan Wittig Albert |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the third book in the series that finally resolves the death of China's father. Although it wasn't as suspenseful as previous stories, it was an enjoyable read. Healthy relationships between the characters add to the story.
|
| Lisa |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is for anyone who loves reading for all the joy it can give, and all the sorrow it can take away. If you enjoy a true to life historical fiction or just a good story you will love this book.
|
| Marsha M |
| The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
At first I thought this was going to be another meditation on the travails of the British upper class. Instead, I found a fascinating character study, glimpse of society and people who could be almost any nationality, and a woman's emotional coming of age.
|
| Marsha M |
| Zorro by Isabel Allende |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The legend retold with additional historic background. When Diego is sent to Spain, he must travel overland through dangerous native lands --- there is no Panama Canal --- and then he must prove himself to the sailors who take him to Europe. Once there, he learns about the politics in a country where the French occupation is loosing its grip. Now a man, he returns to California, losing companions along the way. A wonderful tale of courage, lust and obsession.
|
| P.C. |
| The Girl With No Shadow by Joanne Harris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
By the author of CHOCOLAT, the story continues with new characters. I hope that there will be another in the series.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Rough Justice by Jack Higgins |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
An interesting portrayal of the people running the country and all the corruption. The story of "The Broker" --- a voice directing all the action. The majority of the characters are leftovers from the IRA (Ireland), and it's hard to believe that conflict is partially over.
|
| Nikki (gramanik2001@comcast.net) |
| The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I would compare this book to any of Jodi Picoult's books. The book is fast reading & catches your attention in the very first paragraphs. The characters are all interesting and she weaves the storylines so well. You want to get to the end of the book to see what happens but, at the same time, you want the book to go on because you enjoy the story and characters so much. I don't know if I can choose between CHANGE OF HEART or THE LACE READER for the best book of Summer, 2008.
|
| Judy O. |
| The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
If I would recommend a book to others, I rate it 5 stars. This is one of those books. Roughly two-thirds of the book was a story of Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of Mormon prophet, Brigham Young. She was an actual person during that time, and she wrote a book called THE 19TH WIFE. The other part of the book was a modern-day murder mystery, involving a polygamist sect of "First Latter Day Saints". A man who practiced polygamy was killed, and one of his wives was arrested for his murder. This was a fascinating piece of historical fiction, and one that took a great deal of research by this author.
|
| Christy H. |
| My Favorite Witch by Annette Blair |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This second book in Ms. Blair's Accidental Witch Trilogy is a fun and totally amusing romance that held my interest from the first page and had me laughing out loud several times. Kira and Jason are a perfect combination, and being reunited with characters Melody and Logan from the first book added to the comical story.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a cute little mystery. A land developer is murdered and Theo decides to figure out who did the deed --- especially since one of her employees is on the suspect list. What sets it apart from other mysteries is that I learned a little bit about Charleston, and a little about tea. I also loved the characters Theo, Drayton, Haley and Bethany and Earl Gray, who were very likable. The mystery, to me, plays a minor part compared to the character development. This was a light easy read, and was very enjoyable.
|
| Vicki |
| The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This has to be one of my all-time favorite books. The story is simple, a boy on a journey, but the lessons learned are true to life. Awesome!
|
| Readingrat |
| Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I really have mixed feelings about this book. Taken individually, I really enjoyed the stories of Deanna, Lusa, and Nannie Rawley. I also enjoyed how the three individual threads eventually were woven into an interrelated tapestry at the end. However, throughout the narrative, I kept getting the feeling that this book was being used by the author as simply an ecological soapbox. All three women characters, at some point in their stories, fully used their opportunity to expound at length on the evils of pesticides, killing predators, and other questionable modern-day farming/ranching techniques. While I do agree with the message, I would have preferred to have that message derived from flow of the story instead of having it forced on the reader in a series of repetitive monologues. This also tended to give all three women characters a common voice, which ultimately had the effect of blurring the uniqueness of each individual character and making them largely interchangeable.
|
| Readingrat |
| So Long at the Fair by Christina Schwarz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
The main story in SO LONG AT THE FAIR takes place over the course of one Saturday in the lives of Jon and Ginny, a married couple who had been high school sweethearts. Their relationship has stagnated and Jon is having an affair with a co-worker, which has progressed to the point where Jon must make his choice between the two women. Jon begins his day hoping to re-ignite his passion for Ginny during a day-long road trip to a nearby county fair; but, he ends up stomping off in anger to spend the day with his paramour (Freddi) instead, when he finds out that Ginny wants to re-schedule their outing because of previous business commitments.
In addition to the main story, we have the flashback story of Jon’s parents (Clark and Hattie) and Ginny’s parents (Bud and Marie) in 1963 as Clark and Marie try to force Bud into a confrontation with the local playboy (Walt) who refuses to admit that he raped Hattie.
Through the course of this single Saturday, both Ginny and Jon reminisce about their high school days and the accident that injured Ginny and brought the two of them together. Meanwhile, a second co-worker of Jon’s (whose wife previously cheated on him) conveniently sets the stage for Ginny to discover Jon’s affair with Freddi. And if that isn’t enough going on already, an old boyfriend of Freddi’s is stalking her (and now Jon) in a deluded attempt to win her back.
Obviously there is a lot going on in this book and sometimes I found it necessary to go back and re-read a chapter or two to make sure I had the story and the relationships straight. Each story ends with a subtle twist and a sense of openness that makes it seem more like the beginning of a story that is yet to come.
|
| Leah Boyer |
| The Cereal Murders; A Culinary Mystery by Diane Mott Davidson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Great mystery and great recipes! What could be better! Goldy, the main character, is a caterer who has stumbled across a murder at a preparatory school, literally, where she caters. In the wake of putting together pieces of what happened, her son Arch is threatened in hopes she will stop nosing around. Her live-in helper, Julian, becomes a prime suspect, but Goldie knows this can't be true. She finds that Keith, the corpse, was about to reveal some "school secrets". In the end, after catering several events around town and a couple of corpses later, she helps discover who the guilty party is and turn them over to the authorities. I've tried several of the recipes with great reviews from my family and friends.
|
| Christy H. |
| Sex and the Psychic Witch by Annette Blair |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I really enjoyed this entertaining and lighthearted read, which is Ms. Blair's first book in her Triplet Witch Trilogy. It had a great plot that is fun to read with plenty of sexual attraction, mystery and romance. Even though this is Harmony and King's story, sisters Destiny and Storm meet their future matches with King's friends Aiden and Morgan. The book is full of quirky and lovable characters with loads of fun and witty banter. These witchy women will put a spell on you.
|
| Christy H. |
| His Wicked Sins by Eve Silver |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
From the very first page I was drawn into this story and could NOT put it down until I had devoured every page. This Gothic Historical Romance with its fascinating plot and two different connected story lines was a nail-biting delight! Filled with mystery and suspense and a feeling of foreboding. HIS WICKED SINS was my first taste of this author and I will definitely be coming back for more.
|
| Sue B |
| City of Thieves by David Benioff |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The story of Lev and Kolya’s struggle to survive during the siege at Leningrad during World War II is at times heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. By the end of this book, I cared so much for these two characters that it made me sad to finish reading. This is truly one of the best books I’ve read all year.
|
| Christy H. |
| The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This final book in the Accidental Witch Trilogy is an enchanting, light-hearted and magical read (perfect for the upcoming Halloween season). Vickie and Rory's relationship is laugh out loud funny and the ending all comes together perfectly to create Ms. Blair's Triplet Witch Trilogy.
Even though this book could be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the previous two books in the series with Vickie's sisters, Melody and Kira's stories.
|
| Elizabeth Saurer |
| Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Wow! This book was detailed, well written, and entertaining! Her best yet --- I look forward to her next installment in this series.
|
| Readingrat |
| Peony in Love by Lisa See |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Not being familiar with the historical facts that inspired this historical fiction novel, I found myself constantly having to re-adjust my expectations of this book while I was reading it. Initially I thought it was going to simply be a sequel to SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN. By Part II, I began to realize that this is actually a modernized version of a traditional Chinese morality tale. Then reading the Author's Notes at the end (which I now wish I had read before reading the novel) brought the whole thing together by bringing the actual historical facts to light. This is the fictionalized account of a group of women who were able give themselves a voice during a tiny window of social freedom that occurred in a time of tremendous upheaval for ancient China. Once again, Lisa See has used her talents to write a wonderful tribute to the women of ancient China.
|
| Carol |
| Crime Seen by Victoria Laurie |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This is the fifth book in the Psychic Eye series featuring Abby Cooper, psychic. This book keeps all the same characters as previous books. It was not as much fun to read as others in the series. The circumstances are always unbelievable, but this book was just a stretch to even imagine. I would recommend the first 4 in the series without any hesitation.
|
| Danelle Drake (drake6jdttha@charter.net) |
| Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
What a great book? PROMISE NOT TO TELL is definitely a book worth reading. The "Potato Girl" sucks you in and you just have to know what happened. Save this one until you can curl up on the couch and have a hot toddy!
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The perfect crime committed twice. Tom Ripley kills Richard Greenleaf and assumes his identity. Then, Tom kills again, returns to his own identity, and convinces the police that Greenleaf committed suicide. The reader can feel the fear and sweat of Tom's as he tries to escape the murders.
|
| Christy H. |
| Wild Card by Lora Leigh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
WILD CARD is the first book in Ms. Leigh's Elite Ops series (which is connected to her Tempting SEALs series). Even though you don't need to have read the previous books in the Tempting SEALs series, I would recommend reading them just for the background information from the past books and the introductions to characters that are reunited and returning in this new series. That all said, I loved the series and after reading WILD CARD, I'm addicted to this new one! Filled with danger and suspense, romance and sizzling sex scenes, I can't wait for my next "fix" of these "dead men" with Travis's story, which will be released in March 2009.
|
| Susan |
| Down River by John Hart |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book was on a list of best books of 2007 and I can see why. I can't put it down. Adam Chase is banished after being acquitted of murder, and he comes back 5 years later when his friend calls in need. You assume the murderer will be revealed, but you won't guess who it is. Further intrigue is unraveled. Very fast paced.
|
| Bonnie |
| When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Mildly amusing book of essays. I'm not sure I "get" this author's appeal.
|
| Karen Haney |
| It Only Takes A Moment by Mary Jane Clark |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Eliza Blake, a reporter, finds herself involved in a breaking news story --- she is the subject of every parent's worse nightmare occurs as her daughter is kidnapped. This fast-paced, well-written exciting book reminds me of the first books of James Patterson and how I felt when I discovered his writing. Highly recommended!
|
| Karen Haney |
| Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Two sisters and their best friend spend a summer in Nantucket, with each facing their own problems: Vicki, mother of two, is battling cancer and her treatments; her sister Brenda has just lost her job, thanks to her listening to her emotions rather than common sense; and Melanie, who is finally pregnant, finds out her husband has been unfaithful. Add to the mix young college student Josh, who is home for the summer, and a whirlwind of circumstances that make for a very interesting, even humorous at times, an older-gal chick lit book!
|
| Karen Haney |
| A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Set in Nantucket as Hilderbrand's favorite setting, Claire Crispin can never say no when asked to do something. So this time, she takes on heading a large charity event only to wind up in an affair of sorts with one of the wealthy sponsors, not her husband, and also must face her high school sweetheart who is now a huge rock star. All this while she tries to rejuvenate her fading art career that was stopped due to a personal tragedy. A good book that reads fast.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This was surprisingly good. The writing style was definitely hard to get used to, but the story was very good. Dickens obviously had something to say about the revolution when he wrote this. The story was about how a family is impacted by the revolution in France. Charles Darney, who is married to Lucie, is taken prisoner in France. He is a relative of an aristocrat, and since the revolution is centered on revenge for those that “oppressed”, Charles is arrested. Dickens tells a great story with suspense and a little “shock and awe” at the end. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this great classic. It was a bit difficult to comprehend every aspect of the story, but with the help of chapter summaries on the internet, it wasn’t so bad.
|
| Fran |
| The Wild by Esther Freud |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
I didn't finish this book. I just couldn't get into it.
|
| T. Thomas |
| The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Compelling book, but the end left me with more questions than answers.
|
| Janis |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book brings the history of Frank Lloyd Wright to life! I'd never heard of his affair with a married woman before, but Horan has done her homework and woven a wonderful tale around the few facts gathered from accounts of the time period.
|
| Carole |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A philosophical old dog narrates an interesting story about his master, a semi-pro race car driver and his soap opera-like life. Denny's wife dies of brain cancer, his in-laws are suing for custody of the young granddaughter, and Denny is falsely accused of a crime. Denny's dog is very protective of his master and he yearns to be able to speak and clear up all the problems.
The story unfolds through flashbacks and the dog's amazing imagination. It's a most unusual novel, full of surprises.
|
| Fran |
| Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This book was a fun summer read! I always enjoy Elin Hilderbrand's writing and I'd recommend this book to others. She has a way of drawing you into the characters' lives and keeping you engaged through the entire story!
|
| T. Thomas |
| Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Good thriller!
|
| Rachel |
| Void Moon by Michael Connelly |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
It was a good book in general. The mystery part of the story was good. The main character, a lady who is drawn back into the world of robbing casino 'whales' is well developed. The other main character, an investigator hardly within the realm of law that is after her, is a little less well developed but enough so that the reader is cheering more for the "bad girl thief" than the "bad guy pretense of good guy" searching for her. The Las Vegas setting is always a pull for my interest in a story.
|
| Miriam |
| Northern Lights by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I'm sure there have been other recommendations on this with Nora Roberts's popularity but I've found this to be one of her most engaging books so far. I'm a Nora novice; however, I've only read maybe four or five of her books.
The lead characters are great --- both are kind of scarred, but independent, and have serious integrity. The colorful cast of other characters in the Alaska community where this is set are well developed and interesting. They are conveyed both seriously and with some humor, just like we see people. The mystery is well carried out. The love story is great, centering around two independent, casual, yet totally drawn- to-one-another lovers. And finally, the setting and environment are so well described and detailed that it makes me want to move to Alaska and live in a small town.
|
| Peter |
| Spring Training Baseball's Early Season by Dan Shaughnessy, Stan Grossfeld |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
Nice pics? This is the story of Spring Training, though it was not written all that well. As a baseball fan, I thought it would be very descriptive of the process and industry that is today's Spring Training, but this really was more of a coffee-table picture book.
|
| Clint |
| Beyond Shock and Awe: Warfare in the 21st Century by Edited by Eric L Haney, with Brian M. Thomsen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Educational and thought provoking in regards to military planning and strategy, and helping shed public stereotypes of our military actions and advancements.
|
| Nicole |
| Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I'm really enjoying this book. It really gives an inside look into the way the FLDS live. I do have to say, though, that I enjoyed ESCAPE by Carolyn Jessop more.
|
| Judy O. |
| Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a story of relationships between both friends and family members. The author digs deeply into the lives of several women, showing how important these ties can be. It was a very heartwarming story, albeit a little too wordy at times. She is a new author to me, but I plan on reading the book published before this, titled LOVE WALKED IN. Ideally, I should have read that one first.
|
| D.W. |
| Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
A contemporary fairy tale about the Waverly family set in a small town N.C. Generations of this family have lived in the same house, with a special apple tree in the back yard and a magical garden around it. Claire, who is now a caterer, lives alone in the house after her wild younger sister Sydney left town years earlier and their mother died. Their elderly cousin Evanelle lives nearby. When Sydney finally returns home, along with her young daughter, the sisters must learn to live together and work on the emotional pain from their past. All four now have the chance to reunite as a family and embrace their special legacy. New romance is also a part of the story and gives the women a chance to really enjoy relationships that they have long deserved. This was a light, pleasant summer read enjoyed in a hammock with a glass of lemonade!
|
| Sandy |
| Charley's Web by Joy Fielding |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I love this author, and this book did not disappoint! I never saw the ending coming, nor did I know who was the bad guy. It had one of those endings where you say out loud, "Oh, My God!"
|
| F Tessa Bartels |
| 740 Park by Michael Gross |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
After about 50 pages I started skimming ... I managed to get through Chapter 16 (pg 216) but then I just gave up. In general, I was bored, despite a few interesting passages.
|
| Bonnie |
| The Race by Richard North Patterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Fairly engrossing political novel, especially appropriate with the conventions and elections in play. Not the first nor best, but another tale of the Macchiavellis who run the people who run our country.
|
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Cassandra's Sister by Veronica Bennett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a young-adult book about the life of Jane Austen. Interesting, and well-written.
|
| KG |
| The Edge of Winter by Luanne Rice |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a perfect beach read, which I completed in two sittings! This story is about the emotional upheavals that take place between mothers and daughters, and fathers and sons. It combines past history with the present day, and takes place in Rhode Island. I could relate to some of the places mentioned, which made this book more enjoyable.
|
| Marlena |
| It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I would personally give this a 5, but I've considered the appeal to all type readers in offering this brief review. Obviously with Lance's success and career, a lot of this story focuses on the specifics and details of biking and the competition, particularly the Tour De France. If someone is not sports inclined, this may make the book a little less of an interesting read, but I absolutely loved that part. The book itself, though, is really much more a true description of how Lance faced and grew through taking the greatest challenge life has to offer, the potential of death. His life forever and definitively changed when he became a cancer patient and hence a cancer survivor. This is a real and gritty look at survival and competition from a survivor and a competitor.
|
| Danelle Drake (drake6jdttha@charter.net) |
| Resistance by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Beautifully written --- this one will pull at your heartstrings. During terrible times, wonderful things can happen.
|
| Amanda at Amanda's Weekly Zen |
| The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The book moved too slowly and the shifts between character and time periods were not smooth. The accents of the characters were muddled at times, especially when the lower-class character spoke.
|
| Amanda at Amanda's Weekly Zen |
| Opening the Lotus: A Woman's Guide to Buddhism by Sandy Boucher |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
It is a clearly written guide on the different types of Buddhism, but it never really asks the question that the author asks her readers: "Do women approach spirituality differently than men?"
|
| T. Thomas |
| Books by Larry McMurtry |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
I read this book, but I do not think it has major appeal. It is about his work in the bookselling world and the people he has encountered. Although I finished it, I feel as though there is something missing.
|
| Jean |
| High Heels are Murder by Elaine Veits |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
A fun, light read. Just plain escape reading!
|
| Readingrat |
| An Inconvenient Wife by Megan Chance |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
There were a lot of incongruities at the beginning of this story, which I found pretty annoying. Even so, it was nearly impossible to stop turning the pages to see just what was going to happen next. Fortunately, the plot and characters began to gel nicely as the story progressed.
|
| Cherie Krusell |
| Raven Women by pinkie paranya |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book left me in awe after reading it. It's a wonderful story about a little girl who loses her family and becomes a slave of a shaman. It also goes through her ordeals and her life, and is set in a time before Alaska. The spirit of Raven Woman comes
to her and gives her the umiak Raven power with this she finds the strength to survive.
|
| D Lynn Edwards |
| The Toss of a Lemon by Padma Viswanathan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
The strong heroine Sivakami, widowed and independent, will keep you reading to the end of this epic family treasure from India.
|
| Jon Green (Jgreen@aol.com) |
| Misfits Country by Art Knight |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a fictional look behind the scenes of the making of the classic western movie The Misfits. Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift and John Huston are all brought to life in their dysfunctional glory! Though fiction, the author has done his homework from an historical perspective. This would make a great movie (Ha! a movie about a movie).
|
| Readingrat |
| Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A sweet and touching story about finding love and family.
|
| Dorothy Minor (djcminor@cox,.net) |
| Him Her Him Again the End of Him by Patricia Marx |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Marx is funny and engaging. I wanted to finish the book to see what happened, but I wanted it to last a long time too.
|
| Danelle Drake (drake6jdttha@charter.net) |
| Lady Six Sky by Elaine Lowe |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A great work of historical fiction that will tantalize all of your senses.
|
| Genie |
| Ten Plus One by Ed McBain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
All of the detectives at the 87th Precinct are on call. They must track down a sniper and time is of the essence. Step one is to figure out the common thread that connects the victims. Initially, there seemed to be no relationship between the choice of victims. As the guys piece together evidence, cold-blooded killings continue. The question is are these killings a personal vendetta or random murders done by a deranged shooter?
|
| D. Lynn Edwards |
| The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Emotional journey of a teenager. Excellent.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| The Book of Marie by Terry Kay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A man looks back on his life and the girl who influenced him --- almost like LOVE LETTERS. The man is a professor and nearing retirement when his high school has a 50-year reunion. This book also takes a look at the changes in the South during those troubling years. A story of lost love and regrets.
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| Wendy |
| The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is destined to be a classic. It is the coming-of-age tale of a girl searching for love and truth and a mother who was taken away too soon. It is also a tale of 1964 South Carolina, race, and coming to grips with difficult realities. When Lily Owens breaks her "stand-in mother" Rosaleen out of police custody, she knows they have to leave town. A picture of a Black Madonna, found in a small box of her mother's things in the attic, leads them to Tiburon, South Carolina where they find a trio of beekeeping sisters who offer them refuge and answers.
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| Janet |
| After the Fire by Robin Gaby Fisher |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
if i could give this book 500 stars, I would. On January 19th 2000, a fire raged through a Seton Hall University dormitory. The fire killed 3 students and injured 58 others. The book focuses on 2 roommates and their story of friendship and survival. No matter how many words I write here, I could never explain the impact this book will have on you. The book jacket states, "the most incredible story of love, courage, and survival that you will read this year. Every so often a book comes along that makes us cry and makes us strong, that makes us want to hug our children and call our old friends. This is one of those rare books." Believe me, every one of those words is true. Don't miss this one!
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| Patricia A. Rush |
| The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A very interesting and compelling story. I did not expect to like it, considering the subject matter, but I was drawn into the story very quickly. Dubus is a master at creating interesting characters.
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| Helen |
| The Night Villa by Carol Goodman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A wonderful combination of mystery, thriller, and romance set in the beautiful island of Capri, Italy.
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| Readingrat |
| Plainsong by Kent Haruf |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This was a wonderful story with more than wonderful characters. The author really brings each and every one to life. I absolutely loved the McPheron brothers --- two grizzled old bachelors with soft hearts, who decide to shelter a young, pregnant, teenage girl when she has no one else to turn to.
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| janet |
| A Complaint Free World: Take the 21-Day Challenge by Will Bowen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Could you imagine going 21 days without making one single complaint? Well the author suggests that if we leave our grumbling behind, good things will happen to us in abundance. he offers a purple bracelet and a 21-day challenge. if you mess up, move the bracelet to the other wrist and start again. Sometimes that bracelet can move wrist to wrist several times a day in the beginning. The book is motivating and humorous, but it does make you want to give it a try. I figure, what do we have to lose? Could you imagine going through your whole day and never hearing a person complain? Sounds good to me! Try the book, I think you will enjoy it. You might even give the no complaining a whirl. I am.
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| Kathy V. |
| Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry by Denise Swanson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
In this book in theScumble River Mystery series, Skye gets roped into a food baking contest by her mom even though she can not cook. And of course, there's murder and kidnapping.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Killing Orders by Sara Paretsky |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
A VI Warshawski mystery set in Chicago with all the true blue elements of that city --- snow, the Catholic Church, Irish police, Mafia, and illegal bonds. VI seems to find a thrill with each encounter with death, and she always seems to have money for new abode or clothes.
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| Genie |
| Like Love by Ed McBain |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Detectives Carella and Hawes are called to a scene that appears to be a lover's pact; a double suicide. They wanted to be able to wrap it up and close the case file. After going over the case notes, it soon becomes clear that there is more involved than initially meets the eye. The investigation leads to three possible suspects. The question is how to get the killer to confess.
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| Carol from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
| The Sitting Swing by Irene Watson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Wow! Irene Watson, you must have been living in my house! A truly tremendous memoir of being raised by immigrant parents in an era where the “eye” gave you the discipline rules. Irene takes us through her life from childhood to adulthood being raised by the “old rules.” In a life that didn’t include saying “I love you” or hugs, kisses and resulted in a woman who was ruled by taking care of others.
I lived the same life, being brought up by a mother from England. My mom, as Irene’s, didn’t have to say a word --- she showed it through body language. We were to be perfect. Dad was the breadwinner and didn’t participate in parenting. Irene’s thoughts about how she would always show she was perfect led with much disappointment by her critical parents. Struggling for their lifestyle, moving around and never being able to develop those social skills --- oh, what a life we led.
As an adult, Irene struggled with who she was and whom she was going to rescue. Co-dependency in all of us. We always strive to save others before ourselves. She finally went to a treatment center, which most of us in the helping field attended. They built you up and tore you down. I had vivid memories of my own time in treatment as a developing counselor when I read this account. You think you are helping and then you ended up questioning your own existence. Unlike Irene, I wasn’t married at the time, but I have questioned my marriage as she did. How much can we do?
As a psychologist and college professor, this is a book I have recommended to all for their library. We think we are infallible, but we all have hidden ghosts --- even as therapists.
Irene, you could be my sister. You have truly given me the ability to see how my childhood not only directed my profession, but also made me really look at who I am. I have read, cried, vowed to change and feel completely at peace after reading this. You are my angel.
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| Fran |
| The Ha-Ha by Dave King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
What a great first book by this author. I loved every page, and will definitely look for more books by him! With a main character that is mute and unable to communicate, he sure had a lot to say! The book had likable characters and an interesting plot!
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| Gary |
| The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A great change of pace from the mysteries and thrillers I usually read.
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| Christy H. |
| Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
An entertaining, fast-paced, suspenseful mystery read with a valuable message of hope, forgiveness and letting go of bitterness.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this Defenders of Hope series with Clint and Sara's story.
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| Anita Nowak |
| The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a wonderful story, but sad --- even brutal --- in parts about 2 Jewish children in Poland during World War II and what their parents do to make sure they survive. They are brother and sister and are given the names Hansel and Gretel and left in the forest so that the Nazi's don't find them. They manage to find a place to stay (people who take them in and love them). It is an inspiring account in the midst of misery and the horrors of war.
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| Ana Marie |
| My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A story about a little girl who questions why she was born, and rightfully so. Ladies (and maybe gentlemen too), keep a tissue handy. I can recommend this book highly. it is well written and gives the reader a lot to think about.
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| MaryinHB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| Sucks to Be Me by Kimberly Pauley |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Really a 3.5 for me. A slow start, but I am looking forward to a sequel. Lots of normal teen angst with a vampire twist. I really enjoyed how the author had slipped in "notes" from the protagonist.
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| Julie Machtemes |
| Consumption by Kevin Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Set in the Arctic in a small inlet town, Patterson creates characters that are both real and complex. Almost every kind of life challenge is explored in this novel. You will both at times love and hate these characters as well as what happens to them. A "can't put it down" kind of read!
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| MaryinHB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| The Lost Queen: Book Two of The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Much better than the first book in this series. It has a faster pace and it left me with a need to read the next one in the series.
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| MaryinHB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| Pack Up the Moon by Anna McPartlin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Very enjoyable and lyrical Irish Chick Lit and not the typical kind at all! I am now going to have to find the author's other releases.
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| MaryinHB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| City Dog by Alison Pace |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Very cute dog story told from 3 points of view -- the owner, the dog and a character from the owner's book. This is a new twist on chick lit.
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| Cherie K |
| Keeper of the Spirit by Ruby Storm |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The books in Ruby Storm's series are some of the best in historical fiction I have read. They pull at your heart strings and make you laugh and cry. You really find your self getting lost into the book.
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| D. Lohrding |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I have not started yet, and I cannot wait until I do, considering the rave reviews this book has received, and how much Carol herself has talked about this book.
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| Genie |
| Jigsaw by Ed McBain |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Six years ago, four men robbed a bank, which results in a shootout that left them dead and $750,000 missing. At the insistence of an insurance company investigator, Detectives Carella and Brown are dragged into the investigation of this cold case. The main clue to finding the missing money is a photograph of the hiding place. While this may seem like an easy solution, the problem is the photograph has been turned into a jigsaw puzzle. It has been cut into eight sections with each section left in the hands of trusted friends of the thieves. The 87th precinct detectives know the completed photograph will lead them to the money. The problem is, several of the "trusted friends" have been murdered. The question is how many more people will have to die before the pieces of the puzzle can fall into place?
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| Genie |
| The Shaman's Game by James D. Doss |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Several healthy participants of the Sun Dance inexplicably die. The deceased showed no visible signs of injury. Ute tribal policeman Charlie Moon and his lawman Police Chief friend, Scott Paris, investigate. They soon discover that they must look beyond rational thought in order to solve the mysteries. This novel combines police procedure with the "illusory" wisdom of the tribal shamans. As usual, Daisey Perika (Charlie's elderly aunt) does her best to educate Charlie in the ways of the Shaman. This excellent series is one that fans of Tony Hillerman will enjoy.
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| MaryinHB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
| Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse: A Novel by Victor Gischler |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Definite page turner. I couldn't put this down and read it straight through. I got this mainly because it is compared to Christopher Moore's work --- the same sense of wild humor throughout.
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| Readingrat |
| City of Bones by Cassandra Clare |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I didn't really care for the first 11 chapters, but once past that point the book moved rather quickly for me. The foreshadowing was fairly heavy handed so I wasn't much surprised by the "big plot twist", but I still enjoyed the story enough to give the next installment in the series a shot.
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| Vicki |
| The Orchard Keeper by Cormac McCarthy |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This book was neither good, nor bad --- just ok. It is McCarthy's earlier work, and at times it was all over the place, leaving me thinking, ok now, have I missed something? And other parts were beautifully written.
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| Emry |
| Big Black Hole by Wilma Kahn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A very entertaining mystery featuring a female private detective investigating a locked-room suicide as murder. Suspenseful, funny and very entertaining.
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| Emry |
| Sweet Spot by Susan Mallery |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This light romance is the second book in a trilogy about the Keyes sisters. It's a fairly predictable but entertaining read with interesting lead characters and some humorous situations.
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| marion miller () |
| The Echo Maker by Richard Powers |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This book was just too wordy. I liked the storyline, especially about the cranes. I was interested in the psychological drama but the book was just too long.
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| iubookgirl |
| The Grift by Debra Ginsberg |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I'm only 100 pages in, but this book is well written and very enjoyable.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Honeymoon by James Patterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
A Patterson novel is always fun to read. This is about Nora, a woman prone to killing her rich husbands or boyfriends. She cannot stop herself. But along comes John/Craig, an FBI agent trailing her, and a delicious story unwinds. Will justice be served? Sorry, you will need to read the book.
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| Ali |
| "I Heard you Paint Houses" by Charles Brandt |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
This was a selection for our book group. I don't particularly like nonfiction, and I didn't really care to read about the mob, so this certainly affected my star rating. Brandt is a good writer and tied the actual taped interviews with Sheeran with his own research. I just didn't care much about the subject matter and whodunit.
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| Danelle Drake (drake6jdttha@charter.net) |
| The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
One of the most sensual books ever written. This has been one of my long-time favorites and is always on a nearby shelf. I have read this book so many times I don't bother to count, and every time I read it it makes me realize how wonderfully natural love can be.
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| Judy O. |
| The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
I have loved all of Kellerman's other books about Peter and Rina and their family. This police procedural was compelling for the first half because we find out about the mystery of two similar murders 15 years apart. Were they related? Then the endless discussions of all the suspects starts. I could hardly finish it. It's not worth my time.
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| Kathy Vieira |
| Keeping the House by Ellen Baker |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderful book about 3 generations of women in a small town. The story spans half a century and will keep you reading until you can't stay awake any longer.
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| Making Your Mind Up by Jill Mansell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
The thing I like about Mansell’s book is the happy endings. And I love her characters. Lottie and Freddie are my favorites in this one. Lottie is divorced with 2 kids and she is “making her mind up” between her new boss, Tyler who her kids don’t like and Seb, who her kids adore. There are sub-plots that keep it interesting, like Freddie and his search for old friends, and Cressida and her discovery of a new love. Freddie is the poster child for how to handle bad news. I adored his character. These books are fluff, but I really do enjoy them. The English setting is very intriguing.
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| Judy |
| New Moon by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The second in the series of novels by Ms. Meyer. It's better (IMO) than the first. Because I don't want to give too much away, my synopsis will be brief. Bella Swan is a young woman who falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen. Befuddling the mix is Jacob Black, a young Native American who is also in love with Bella. Ms. Meyers shakes up our current "understanding" of vampires and werewolves with a unique take on their lives. It may be a YA novel, but it certainly kept my interest and I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in this series.
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| Catie 75 |
| Two Harbors by Kate Benson |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
Very disjointed. The author took way too long to move the story forward.
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| Catie 75 |
| What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A quirky little mystery with some great characters. Loved it!
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| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I have read a lot of Dean Koontz books and this is one of the best. There are twists that will take you by surprise. It begins the night Jimmy Tocks is born. His grandfather dies at the moment of his birth and makes ten predictions. Five of them are of terrible days that he will face in the future.
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| Karen Gervasi |
| The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Set in 1930s Brazil, THE SEAMSTRESS is an incredibly richly woven story of two sisters and how their lives went in totally different directions. One sister, Luzia, throws in her lot with a band of outlaws and becomes one of Brazil's most notorious cangaceira (outlaw), while the other sister marries into a rich family and lives a life of ease. Eventually, through political causes, the sisters keep track of each other. When Luzia gives birth to a son and knows she can't keep him, she arranges for her sister to adopt him. This gave readers a wonderful look into a world and lifestyle long gone, and was an interesting novel of the social mores of the day. A must read!
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| Carol |
| Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Vreeland has created fascinating stories linking all the figures in Renoir's painting, "Luncheon of the boating party." Renoir's state of mind, his time and surroundings are all satisfyingly described in this novel. It is one of the few novelizations about an artist that was a delight to read, not a chore.
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| Sherman |
| Taps by Willie Morris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Another good book by a very good author who is no longer writing those great novels. He could really write about the South, and this book is no exception.
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| Linda H |
| Beginner's Greek: A Novel by James Collins |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
| This novel made me grimace at times and laugh out loud at others. Collins reminds me of a modern-day Jane Austen or Charles Dickens. Some of his characters are so despicable that you cheer when they get the |
