This contest period's winners were Carol B., Elizabeth P., Mary M., Robin M. and Rose F., who each received a copy of BETRAYED: A Rosato & DiNunzio Novel by Lisa Scottoline, THE CINDERELLA MURDER by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke, and DON’T GIVE UP, DON’T GIVE IN: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life by Louis Zamperini and David Rensin.
Meggan Weaver
Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline
Hard to put this down. Surprising ending!
Judy O.
The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott
Thirteen-year-old Ava lays her hands on her gravely injured friend, and he is miraculously cured. Word has gotten around in their part of North Carolina, and people come from far and near to see "The Miracle Girl". Unfortunately, the curing takes a terrible toll on Ava's body, and she cannot help them. Interesting plot and well-written story!
Gina
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
I read BIG LITTLE LIES by this author first. Reading THE HUSBAND'S SECRET made me see that the author has a formula to tell a story. First, hook in the reader with a tease, then introduce numerous characters seemingly with nothing in common, then tie it all up at the end with a twisted bow. I now realize what an impatient reader I am. I wanted to find out what the husband's secret was immediately - not a hundred pages and multiple characters later. This is chick lit and not that satisfying.
Sue Flocco
Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me: The Pursuit of Happiness, One Celebrity at a Time by Rachel Bertsche
I am fascinated by celebrity and how social media has made them a part of our lives. You can't watch a newscast or listen to the radio or open up your home page and not have some celebrity story. I really enjoyed this authors exploration of how we want to model ourselves on those that seem to have it all. Funny and thought provoking! Also a little scary that our society is so celebrity obsessed!
Izella Cadwallader
Love's Fortune by Lauren Frantz
A beautifully written book, very true to every detail. The third in a series, and I love every one of them. I have read all of her books, and this one was the last of the three series. She is excellent at writing historical fiction.
Melanie S.
A Secret Light by Garth Stein
Mysterious dreams and supernatural sightings lead 14-year-old Trevor Riddell toward understanding the complicated history of his (in)famous logging family when he visits the family mansion in Seattle with his father. Garth Stein does a masterful job writing this character-driven, dark tale. Though quite different from THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, this was a beautifully written book with interesting, quirky characters. I both read the book and listened to the audio. The narrator, Seth Numrich, did an excellent job creating voices for the characters, particularly for Aunt Serena, who was complex and creepy.
Bonnie Gluhanich
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Fascinating reading on how your initial impressions and instincts can be so right.
Lucille Iscaro
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
Just after World War I, Frances Ray and her very proper mother are forced to rent out a part of their lovely home. Mother is hopeless without the servants and Frances must take care of all the business as well as the menial chores. The "paying guests", the young Mr. and Mrs. Barber, change everything with their presence. Waters skillfully builds up to a stunning climax and then pulls the reader along with Frances as her life unravels.
Richard N B
Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong
This is the debut mystery, which introduced Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Bureau. The murder of a national model worker taxes all their resources as Chen and his deputy, Detective Yu, try to find out who killed the girl. Chen is a contrast: a man educated in literature, a published poet, and translator of mysteries, who is also a methodical investigator concerned only with bringing the perpetrator to justice. It is not the kind of mystery that relies on suspense, violent altercations and dangerous situations. Rather, the joy of this novel is watching Chen build his case. I’ll definitely read more of this series.
Muriel Logan
Unbroken: WWII Story of Survival, Resilience,and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
We will be discussing this amazing story of Louie Zamperini as our book club selection for November. I found it interesting to read about Louie's success as a long distance runner, his 47 days on a raft in the Pacific, and horrible time as a POW in a Japanese prison camp. His descent into drinking and dealing with PTSD afterwards reminded me that all soldiers returning from wars need people and resources to help them, and our country needs to provide as much support as we can. I also found it fascinating just to learn more about the B24 planes our WWII pilots had to deal with. My dad was a mechanic in the Army Air Corps and worked on planes. I'm eager to see the movie version of UNBROKEN when it is released.
Linda Reck
The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing by Mira Jacobs
Debut author Mira Jacobs has written a winning irreverent book about a family struggling with its past and its future. Jacobs takes us on a deftly plotted journey that ranges from 1970's India to 1980's New Mexico to Seattle. Renowned surgeon Thomas Eamon has been sitting on the porch at night speaking to dead relatives. That's what his wife says. Reluctantly their daughter Amina returns home and finds that it's far more complicated than her mother let on. Amina realizes that the only way she can help her father is by coming to terms with her family's painful past. Told with humor and sympathy for its characters, the book serves as a bittersweet lesson in the binding powers of family.
Jeanette Mateer
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Just reread this book for book club discussion and found it even better the second time. The story involves a pharmaceutical researcher who travels to a tributary of the Amazon in Brazil to discover what happened to a co-worker. The locale is a character in this mystery laden with wonderful characterizations. This is also a wonderful book for discussion, especially for anyone who enjoys discussing bioethics.
Elaine Beierbach
The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark
The suspense just about killed me.
Wendy Zuckerberg
Next to Love by Ellen Feldman
Loved it!
Rosemary Sobczak
The Perfect Witness by Iris Johansen
Fast-paced and interesting, although I usually don't like the paranormal.
Donna Boulmay
The Beach Trees by Karen White
Loved this. I just visited the Gulf Coast and saw the "Katrina" trees, so that added to my interest in the story. A very good mystery to go along with the character's development.
dennis beierbach
The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark
Don't read it alone.
Mary Rodriguez
Unhooking the Moon by Gregory Hughes
Orphaned brother and sister make a long journey to New York looking for their uncle; along the way they meet memorable characters. A famous rap artist helps the two by giving them shelter in his luxury apartment overlooking Central Park. Sometimes the two spend the night in Central Park camping out. Looking for their uncle turns out to be tougher then they thought it would be since they do not know much about him.
Colin Beierbach
The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark
Loved the suspense.
Susan Jacobsen
Ruth's Journrey: The Authorized Novel of Mammy from Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind by Donald McCaig
The first two thirds of the book was told in third person and was hard to relate to the original book. The last third of the book was told in first person by Mammy herself and drew in the actual characters from "Gone with the Wind".
Nancy Hausladen
Last To Know by Elizabeth Adler
Detective Harry Jordan has finished a difficult case, plus his girlfriend has left him, so he goes to relax at his lake cabin. Relaxation does not last long, however, when the house across the lake explodes and the woman living in it is found murdered. He becomes involved in solving the crime. I enjoyed reading it very much.
Thomas Barrington
I'll Be Home for Christmas by Fern Michaels
I really enjoyed this book. This time of year it is nice to read Christmas stories. It had four novellas that were very good.
shelly itkin
One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis
From the beginning we wonder why Emily runs away? To others she has a beautiful family, a lovely home and a happy marriage, but does she really? Emily Coleman has a twin sister Caroline and they could not be more different. We are taken back and forth from her birth to the present and learn the difficulties she had when they were growing up. Frances and Andrew Brown are not exactly what they appear to be, and we learn more about Andrew and the life he is leading. Frances has put up with a lot, but evidently she will see that she also must make changes. While running away, Emily meets Angel, and she takes her under her wing. She is introduced to drinking, drugs and even stealing, which is something she would never have done.
Marjorie Langohr
The Dead Will Tell by Linda Castillo
I really liked this Kate Burkholder mystery. Chief Kate Burkholder (ex-Amish) solves a decades old murder, as well as three new murders in the Ohio Amish community.
Lynn W
The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin
I very much enjoyed reading this book. I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the Author's Note first. Most of the main characters were real people. Bay Middleton, is a very distant relative of the future Queen of England. Great historical fiction!
Rochelle Stempler
The Burning Room by Michael Connelly
Have read all of Connelly and usually give him 5 stars. Thought this one left not enough closure.
Betty Ramsey
Echoes in the Darkness by Joseph Wambaugh
This was an older book, from 1987, and maybe it was me, but it seemed to move very slowly. It took a long time to get to the crime, much less the solution. We were led to believe that a woman would be killed, and then.... A study in manipulation and deception that shows how people can be made to believe anything. Not his best...
Patricia Caron
Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf
Very good book, just like her past novels.
Judith Mosconi
Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer
One of the best books I have read. The story is captivating. Told through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy surviving life in a Jappencamp on Java, one of the islands in the Dutch East Indies, during WWII. You don't see the end coming.
Judith H. Mosconi
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
As difficult and frightening as WWII was, imagine it for a young blind girl, Marie-Laure, whose father disappears one day. It is the last months of the war in France. The German army has arrived in the small town where Marie-Laure is living with her great-uncle. Werner is an orphan whose talent propels him to the attention of the Hitler Youth leaders. He and his sister are used to being abused, but still their intelligence and moral center remain intact. As he struggles with the German directives, his path crosses with that of Marie-Laure in a small french town.
Diane Pollock
The Flip by Michael Phillip Cash
Not bad, but no Stephen King either.
Lisa Nekich
Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
Fascinating account of the rise and death of President Garfield. Also, interesting historical information, including medical practices of the time, the political environment and inventions.
Rose Fortune
All Souls: A Family Story from Southie by Michael Patrick MacDonald
A memoir outlining the writer's experience in becoming part of a lost generation of teenagers who dropped out of school due to the violence and racism that became part of South Boston during forced integration through busing of students between the white neighborhood of Southie and a neighboring black neighborhood. Whitey Bulger is not a main character in the book, but he becomes a symbol of corruption and death. The author had brothers die from the violence of the neighborhood and a sister who became permanently disabled due to an accident relating to drug abuse. The author somehow escaped the fate of his siblings, and his story is told honestly without pulling any punches.
Debbie M
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen
The opening scene cascades the story into a fast-paced hilarious mystery. I had read this book before, but needed to reread for a book club. Some of the events seem surreal, but continue to emit laughs from me. I especially enjoy the cast of characters and the coastal settings. As usual, Hiaasen floats stories of man's rape of nature into the story. This story centers on the Everglades and the mass pollution of the waters by huge farming corporations, and the corruption of government and politicians. Even though this is a lengthy book, the reading flows quickly.
Debbie M
The Case of the Killer Divorce by Barbara Venkataraman
This book is the second in the Jamie Quinn series, and I have decided that I do not enjoy the audio version. The voices used for certain characters become annoying and clouds the features of the book. This story concerns a woman seeking a divorce from her husband and then receiving sole custody of two young daughters. As in the last novel, Venkataraman slips into the story a medical condition, this time a dependence on prescribed medication. Again, since the story is so short, the characters are not fully developed, and the setting is hazy. The story ends abruptly as Jamie encounters a long lost relative in a video call.
Debbie M
The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry
I have greatly enjoyed the William Monk series and felt I needed to delve into the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. Perry shows that the police department in England did not evoke respect in the 1880s. No privileged family would welcome a policeman into their family. Policemen are barely above the riffraff that they must arrest. Perry spends much time in describing the everyday life of the English, and the role of a lady in this society. That life stands as a boring march to the grave. Women have no life and have been held to strict principles. Men, in contrast, lead a different life with different principles. The killer/hangman comes as a surprise, but the story abruptly stops with the discovery of the hangman.
Kay Cole
Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck
We are trying to read some of the older books that we may not have read or may have "forgotten." This has proved enjoyable for us!
Shelia Worthey
Lawman by Diana Palmer
Read strictly as a non-complicated diversion. It was okay.
Shelia Worthey
Texas Woman by Joan Johnston
A light historical romance set in the time when Texas became a state. Sufficiently entertaining without being complicated.
Karen S. Peterson
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
The characters in this book set in post WWI England, well developed and very intricately entwined. As "oppressed" as women were back then, Lil and Frances find a way to enter into a secretive, lesbian love affair, right in the house Frances shares with her widowed mother. Their large home, now empty of servants, becomes occupied by the "paying guests," Lilian and Leonard Barber, as a means for Frances and her mother to pay off debts and maintain the home. Lil's loveless marriage makes it easy for her to become enamored with Frances, who is not new to an affair with another woman. As the book cover recites, this is a "tension-filled crime story...in a fascinating time and place."
Tessa B C
The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
Audio performed by Lorna Raver. Benjamin has mined history in her previous novels, and the life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh provides a wealth of information on which to base this work. I’ve read several nonfiction works about the Lindberghs; I’ve read Anne’s book A GIFT FROM THE SEA and several of her diaries. So, little of the information I found in this book was new to me, and maybe that’s why I cannot rate it higher. For me it was adequate but not special. The way Benjamin portrays these characters made me really dislike both of them, and I’m left feeling disappointed in them and in the book.
Denise Beierbach
The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark
Mary knows how to keep you hooked.
Deborah Ader
The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister
A historical mystery with an interesting twist that the magician was a female. It was an easy, enjoyable read.
Laura Beierbach
The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark
Scary...I needed to read it in the daytime.
Rosa
Us by David Nicholls
I loved this book, the story of Douglas, his wife Connie, and their son Albie. After almost 25 years of marriage, Connie tells Douglas that she doesn't want to be married anymore. The family goes on the already-planned Grand Tour of Europe, their last trip as a family before Albie goes to university. Douglas hopes that the tour will bring reconciliation. This story was classic David Nicholls - witty, real, sometimes sad. I'm already thinking about it as a film.
Amy Nash
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Just when you think you've had a bad day, spend a few hours whizzing through this fast-paced gem. From the awful conditions of New York City's Bowery to apathy in many mid-western homesteads, the survivors of the Orphan Trains are a remarkable lot. Count your blessings...and realize that every person has a story to tell.
Jackie Ranaldo
All That Is Solid Melts into Air by Darragh McKeon
Great book. Good for book discussions. I knew very little about the effects of Chernobyl on the daily lives of those living around the plant.
Judson Hanson
Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King
Excellent book which recounts the trial of four young black men accused of raping a white woman and how Thurgood Marshall, future Chief Justice, brought all his legal skills to bear to try and secure their freedom.
Fran OH
Hello, I Must Be Going by Christie Hodgen
An interesting book, written from the perspective of a young girl who is the first to find her father after his completed suicide. It traces her life from that event through college. Interesting characters and a flawed but likeable family.
Robin McKay
The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott
THE DARING LADIES OF LOWELL highlights the life of the mill girls who are willing to work long, grueling hours bent over looms in hopes of bettering themselves. Alice Barrow is one of these girls. She leaves behind an uncaring father and heads to Lowell, Massachusetts, to join the ranks of ‘mill girls’. But when Alice’s new-found friend Lovey Cornell is found dead under questionable circumstances, Alice puts her own safety in peril to discover what truly happened to her friend. The trial that follows is a tipping point for the unrest that has been brewing among the mill workers. While this book draws from historical events, the characters are fictional. The author reminds us of the terrible conditions that prevailed in the mills.
Francisca E B
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
5 stars and a great big heart! A yearly favorite read. The family may be poor, but Buddy finds a wealth of love and acceptance in his relationship with Miss Sook.
Vivian Taylor
That Night by Chevy Stevens
This was my first Chevy Stevens book, although I have all of them on my TBR list. I don't know why I started with her latest rather than her first, but I'm hooked. The story seems simple enough: two troubled teenaged lovers (not criminal, just behavioral issues), a group of mean girls, and a murder. The troubled lovers are arrested, accused and found guilty. Adding to the overall drama, the female is the older sister to the murder victim. Fast-forward 17 years, both are out on parole and determined to ascertain what exactly happened on "that night." A taut and emotion-filled mystery-suspense packed with teenage angst, family drama, murder, and more.
Marilyn Myers
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Quite a bewitching tale full of wonder, hope, longing and pain.
Sherri Ginsberg
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Really beautiful and sad and funny book about a 10-year-old born with facial abnormalities who has to begin "real" school. His mom had home schooled him because of all the surgeries he had to have and still his face is not normal. August has a really good heart, but even the doctor fainted when he saw him at birth.
Bonnie Gluhanich
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
I love Ove. I'm a pushover for cranky people aka curmudgeons and I love their honesty, so Ove was my kind of guy. The story is very poignant and will appeal to most people.
Sandra Sykes
Take This Cup by Brock and Bodie Thoene
This husband/wife team have many series; I have read them all. They are my favorite Christian authors! (Their sons have several series also; those books are great also!) This book is the 2nd in their newest series, Jerusalem Chronicles. As you read about Jesus' last days on earth, many of His teachings/parables come to life! Some of the characters from previous novels make a surprise visit. You may think that you've "heard all this before", but the "it" is brought to life in a new and interesting manner. It's my suggestion that you visit the Thoene's website, www.thoenebooks.com, select a series, begin with the 1st in that series and begin an exciting journey! You won't be disappointed!
Ruth Vontell
A Star for Mrs. Blake by April Smith
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel about five World War I Gold Star Mothers and recommend it to others. It makes for a great book discussion.
Deby
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I did not love this book. I never had to read it in high school (took Brit Lit instead of American Lit) and maybe it would have been better if I was dissecting each chapter, but I found it to be quite dull. I wanted to like it, but I just couldn't get into it.
Marsha
Persuader by Lee Child
Every Jack Reacher novel is a winner and this is one of the best. Reacher tries to right the past by helping a DEA agent bring down a vast criminal enterprise. He goes undercover in the organization and confronts some unfinished business from his own past.
Melanie S.
Her by Harriet Lane
2.5 stars. I enjoyed the process of reading this book, getting to know the characters, although you were never quite sure you actually were getting to know them. There was always something left to be revealed and a sinister overtone. The ending was so abrupt and dissatisfying. It was a lot of build up for an abrupt and bizarre two-page ending. I think if 220 pages were cut from this novel, it would have read better as a short story.
Melanie S.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman
4.5 stars. The title refers to the business owned by the main character's father, who hires human oddities for his "freak show". Coralie grows up in this atmosphere of exploitation. Through the tragic circumstance of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, she crosses paths with Eddie Cohen, a photographer who is trying to create a new identity for himself and distance himself from his Russian Jewish Orthodox background. This is a really fine piece of historical fiction set in the early 1900s in NYC, with true historical events mixed into this disturbing but heartfelt story. Highly recommended.
Ashley Dunivan
Such a Pretty Face by Cathy Lamb
SUCH A PRETTY FACE is a fantastic book about a women figuring out her very complicated life. It's a story of love, revenge and the power of family. Stevie shows that even though someone has had a tough life, they can still find happiness in the world. I definitely enjoyed reading about her and her family and friends. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read.
Michael McAdam
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
I enjoyed this book. It is part humor, part memoir and part how-to book and all fun. I fell like I could hear Amy's voice in my head while reading it. She is very endearing! There is no order to it - each chapter is a different subject, and it is not even remotely linear (not a complaint - it didn't bother me at all). The only thing that made me choose 4 stars instead of 5 is that the occasional chapter would stay on a topic long after I lost interest. That only happened a couple of times, so I still give it a thumbs up!
Tessa B C
Amandine by Marlena de Blasi
A baby girl conceived out of wedlock is deposited at a remote convent in the French countryside by her grandmother, a countess. Raised as an orphan, but with a young governess, Solange, devoted to her, Amandine thrives despite hardships, especially those brought on by Nazi Germany’s occupation of France in WW2. I found this novel slow to start. However, once the characters were well established and Amandine began to show her own personality as a young child, I got caught up in her story. The ending is both abrupt and inconclusive. This is the author’s only novel; her other works are nonfiction. I wonder if she is working on a sequel to this book.
Elizabeth Petrovich
The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson
Don't miss reading THE PARIS WINTER. You will be pulled in just like the flood waters of Paris pulled in its citizens. THE PARIS WINTER is an alluring, captivating historical read.
Elizabeth Petrovich
Crooked River by Valerie Geary
CROOKED RIVER just had a homey feel to it along with a storyline that had situations that could actually happen and a very suspenseful, tense ending.
Phyllis
The Two Guys Detective Ageny by Stephanie Bond
When two estranged sisters both are left destitute by their husbands, they find themselves having to work together. This leads to comedy and mystery as they learn to use their sleuthing skills.
Sean Penrose
Patriot Games by Tom Clancy
To say that I slogged through this novel would be an understatement. No matter what I did, I couldn't get my footing for this book. I enjoyed THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER but here I was so bored. The bad kept outweighing the good. A big problem was the actual lack of action. The action scenes were few and very far between and when present were too easily wrapped up. Also, I usually hate when authors use absurd sounding names for characters, but here Clancy does the opposite. It's very hard to keep track of who's who when the vast majority of the characters are named Miller, O'Donnell, Murray, and Ryan. Overall, I just expected so much more and was too often bored.
Linda McFarland
Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber
Harry Mills is a guardian angel an is sent back to Earth as human. Harry sets up as a teacher at a local college, and several students enroll and they have challenges that they need changed, but one in particular is Addie Folsom. Addie's mom and her mom's neighbor have a vacation planned and no one is available to stay with the neighbor's son, who has just had a bad accident. Addie does, and boy does her life change. The neighbor boy is a old childhood friend who Addie has had a crush on for years...and his name is Erich. Well Erich never would never give Addie the time of day. Erich and Addie find the true meaning of love and miracles.
Jane Squires
Murder on Edisto by C. Hope Clark
A great read. Russian mobster, beach house, which was where Callie grew up, a grieving widow and son trying to find a place to heal and more. I had to read over use of God's name in vain, but not often, so a head's up as I know that offends some. I had the wrong person picked out as burglar and murder. A twist to why burglaries happened and did figure it was that person, but then could be another person. But wasn't prepared for the killer. Everyone thought Callie was to be suspected because none of this happened before she came to the island.
Near the end you hold your breath hoping Callie and Jeb (her son) make it out alive.
jane Kimball
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
A novel about a dysfunctial family's Christmas. Predictablee story, but just right for the holiday.
I enjoyed it!
CAROL CUSTER
The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister
This is a story about love, self worth, and the human spirit all wrapped up in a compelling story with a very strong female character. You won't be able to put it down!
Robin McKay
He's So Fine by Jill Shalvis
Both Olivia Bentley and Cole Donovan are carrying around a lot of extra baggage. Neither wants a relationship. Neither is ready for a relationship. But the fates intervened. When Cole is working on his charter boat, an unexpected shock sends him over the edge and into the cold waters of the bay. Thinking he needs rescuing, Olivia dives in to try and save him. What began as an heroic but misguided gesture starts the slow burn of sexual attraction between these two. But how can a man who thinks he has been burned by his last girlfriend and a woman who comes from a dysfunctional family and doesn’t trust herself to love, come together??
Sherri
You Say Tomato, I Say Shut-up by Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn
He said/she said presentation of the authors' marriage. I didn't relate to their lifestyle, but found lots of things I could relate to and laugh at, especially if I could see my husband or me saying them ( or wishing we had written the book). Lots of interesting statistics, quotes and fun side notes as well. Read her most recent book (I SEE YOU MADE AN EFFORT) earlier and enjoyed it, so picked up this one as well.
Jan Zahrly
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
This is listed as fiction but it has happened over and over in the U.S. South. It is a painful story of ignorance and what happens when the young people in black and white families learn to move beyond the racial hate into which they were born. Eager young people are often not able to contain their contempt and distrust of the "old ways", and in this story two families are painfully punished for the beliefs of their young. This is a sweet story and there is a little hope at the end.
Shelia Worthey
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Yes, I know he has gotten a lot of flack from his description of symptoms of Ebola, but since this was written in 1994 and we just evidenced another outbreak, I think we can overlook those few observations at the time as being what it "seemed like" back then since we saw what happened now. There is certainly enough other description of what the scientists and governing entities go through to give you a fairly good picture of what happens today when viruses start being detected. I think they are mostly UNdetected to tell the truth. So read it and, above all, be frighteningly informed.
Karen Terry
The Flip by Michael Phillip Cash
It is about Julie and Brad who are flipping houses to make money. They buy a house called the Hemmings house that holds a few secrets that changes Julie and Brad's lives.
Mike Patt
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
I read this and the gave it to a few friends and was thrilled with their reactions as they continued to read.
Brenda Rupp
The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle by Joanne Huist Smith
Fabulous story! Makes you want to go out and make a difference in someone else's life during the holidays. It is really well written, and I laughed out loud in some places. In others I was very sad to think of the poor family who lost their father/husband just before the holidays rolled around. I couldn't wait to find out who was leaving the gifts!
Gina Wills
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
I kept seeing THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS mentioned in Word of Mouth. I finally read it and it
was well written and plotted. A childless couple who are lighthouse keepers find a
child, and the world becomes so beautiful and then so difficult. A story of love and betrayal that
was hard to put down.
Deborah Grabeel
What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman
This is my book club selection for our next get together in December. I enjoyed this novel, even though I approached it with some trepidation because of a family history of mental illness. Once I began reading, I finished it in several sittings. The two storylines were poles apart in feel, but I was drawn in to both of them. I found the book to be a quick read that kept me guessing right till the end. It was enlightening to read about insane asylums in the early 1900s, and how people and especially women were treated. I would highly recommend this as a book club read.
Fran OH
The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
I liked this book, but the first one in the series was better.
Debbie Brisbin
In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd
We wanted something lighthearted to read! Bits and pieces of the wonderful movie appear in the book. Great humorist writer. Will read some of his other books in the future. Have sent this book to my sister-in-law for Christmas!
Carol Bergstrom
The Burning Room by Michael Connelly
Connelly's Harry Bosch books just get better and better. His knowledge of journalism and police procedure, as well as his characterization, enhance the experience of reading. Harry becomes a real person and not just a part of fiction.
Anne Marie Koschnick
The Man with a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes
Back to the classics for our Mystery Book Club and rediscovering why Martha Grimes is certainly in that category. The original Richard Jury novel introduces Jury, Melrose Plant, his associate and his sergeant, Alfred Wiggins. All the characters were richly drawn, the mystery was intriguing and the historical touches certainly added to the appeal of Long Piddleton. First published in 1981, it has stood the test of time.
Rhonda
GI Brides by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi
Wartime brides who come to America.
mary moreno
Into the Grey by Celine Kiernan
An unusual take on a ghost story. Couldn't wait to reach the end and see how it turned out.
Marilyn Myers
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
This novel about early onset Alzheimer's disease is well written but heartbreaking to ponder. I have several acquaintances struggling with varying forms of this disease and found this book to give me much to ponder, words that were unhelpful to utter and a more open mind.
Sandy McCullough
No Time To Wave Goodbye by Jacquelyn Mitchard
When I heard there was a sequel to THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN I knew I had to have it!! It did not disappoint, even though I saw it coming. There were many twists and turns to keep me interested. Very emotional and full of interesting characters. It is every bit as satisfying as its predecessor.
Trude Vandine
Truth Be Told by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Latest in the Jane Ryland series, and the best so far. Ms. Ryan grabs you and takes you into the story so that you feel a part of the action.
Andrea Lapsley
Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella
Fun, fast read. Becky is back again and up to her old tricks, but this time in Hollywood where she is hoping to become a celebrity stylist.
Rosemary Bednarczyk
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
A depressed widower finds it difficult to move on from his wife's death while trying to continue to run the bookstore they had co-founded. He finds an abandoned toddler left in the store and his reaction and further actions change his life, as well as the lives of all the people around him.
Linda Reck
The Auschwitz Escape by Joel C. Rosenberg
Adolf Hitler has assumed leadership of the Nazi regime. Jacob and his family did not heed his uncle Avi's pleas to leave. Jacob's father, as well as many other Jews, refused to believe the atrocities that were taking place. Jacob becomes a resistance fighter. He and his group plan to free the people from the cattle cars on a train bound for Auschwitz, but things didn't work out and Jacob ended up being on the train. Once there, he finds himself in a living nightmare. He vows to escape. This is realistic historical fiction. It is a bleak testimony to the actual "final solution". Rosenberg's characterizations and nail-biting events enhance an era of history few have lived to tell about.
Ivy Pittman
Troika by Adam Pelzman
When three people from vastly different backgrounds come together, things are not what they seem to be in Troika. Julian, Perla and Sophie will leave you wondering if this is, in fact, how lives are meant to converge.
Donna Easley
Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain
This is a definite page-turner. It's told from two perspectives, one a social worker and the other a young girl from a very poor family. The subject is automatic sterilization by the State of North Carolina in the 60s. This was something I knew nothing about. Diane Chamberlain did extensive research and told the story in a way that kept me turning the pages. A great read that I would highly recommend,
Rosemary Sobczak
Paris Match by Stuart Woods
Perfect escape from this cold "snap".
Judy O.
Gray Mountain by John Grisham
I really enjoyed this book but not as much as some of his other ones. Grisham takes on the coal industry in VA and WVA as his focal point. There was lots of information about the strip mining damage to the ecological systems in those areas. I did learn a lot. This author has a way of explaining things in a very interesting manner.
Norm Brontman
The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Award winning novel. First of two books.
Raylene Wauda
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Kimberly Chang and her mother come to America from Hong Kong speaking almost no English, and they toil in a clothing sweatshop in Chinatown as well as live in a roach infested apartment with no heat except for the oven. Kimberly refuses to accept this life and sets about to improve their lives. She struggles with cultural and language differences and works hard in school. Being very bright, she manages to go from "eye-prezoom" to being accepted at one of the city's best schools with a full scholarship and finally Yale. This novel is semi-autobiographical and presents a special portrait of an immigrant family.
Thomas Barrington
George Washington's Secret Six by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
This book was very good reading and very informative. It talked about "The Spy Ring That Saved The American Revolution". I enjoyed reading the book very much. They helped George Washington to take back control of New York. George Washington then to become the president of the country.
Erika Loiacono
The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister
THE MAGICIAN'S LIE is one of those books that is hard to put down once you start. The life of Arden is what drew me in. I had to keep reminding myself that she might not be a very reliable narrator because her life story was so interesting, and I wanted her to be telling the truth. I enjoyed the love story between Arden and Clyde. Even though they knew so many intimate details about each other, there were still parts of themselves that were hidden. I thought that the author's mix of illusions and real magic was interesting and it brought another layer to Arden.
THE MAGICIAN'S LIE is a quick, enjoyable read. It is full of mystery, magic, love, and an ending that does not disappoint.
Sandy McCullough
A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron
I finished this book in 2 days, it was that good. If you read A DOG'S PURPOSE it is very similar to that one, but different in a lot of ways. It is wonderful to think that dogs can be reborn and remember their previous lives and the people that were in them.
Susan Spencer
Remnants of Murder by Elizabeth Lynn Casey
I love a good cozy mystery and this is a great one. The book follows the story of an ongoing list of ladies who are a part of a southern sewing circle. Very enjoyable, especially when it is so cold outside. A good book to curl up with.
Betty Chrastka
The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham
This is the third book of his that I have read, and I am always amazed at how beautiful his descriptions are. I've never read another author who is able to digress from his story completely without breaking the train of thought and the impetus of the plot. He should be resurrected.
Tanya Brown
The Edge of Town by Dorothy Garlock
I only found this author recently -- don't know how I have missed her. Her books are set in the early to mid 1900s.The description of clothing, cars, and attitudes of women in acceptance of their "place" is amazing. I have completed two of her books, THE EDGE OF TOWN and HOPE'S HIGHWAY. I believe there are 34 more and I intend to read every one of them.
Asha Smith
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Louisa Clarke has no formal medical training, all she has is the ability to listen. Will Traynor is wheelchair-bound after a motor cycle accident and, needless to say, is not sociable. Having lost the only job she had known, Louisa takes on the hardest job - caring for Will. But fate has a way of creating unforeseen havoc that breaks even the strongest barriers.
Linda Johnson
Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming
This is a heart-rendering, soul-baring memoir by Alan Cumming generated through his being asked to appear on Britain's version of the TV show "Who Do You Think You Are". He has heard stories, but never knew his maternal grandfather who had fought in WW II and after the war went to Malayasia and subsequently was killed in what the family was told was "an accident." At the same time he was filming the TV show, his cruel father tells Alan's older brother (to pass on to Alan) that Alan is not his son. Does this explain the harsh treatment of his childhood? Cumming deciding to share this part of his life appears to me to be very brave and an attempt to forgive and let go of the demons that could have haunted his life.
Geri Mitchell
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
I have read other books on the topic of slavery. This is yet another historical fiction story that is very will done. Two of the main characters are real people from the past. It is interesting and hard to put down.
Thomas Barrington
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
This was a very good book. I heard so many goods things about it, so I finally read it. I enjoyed it very much.
Thomas Barrington
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
This was a very good book. I am happy I read the book. I really liked it.
Thomas Barrington
Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly
It was very good book to read. It brought back memories from a long time ago when I was in high school. I really liked the book very much.
Mary Sue skelton
Our Picnics in the Sun by Morag Joss
I am absolutely hooked on this author's writing. This book is similar to her previous book HALF BROKEN THINGS in the emotional plane and is sort of a quiet thriller. The current book involves an aging couple living on a decrepit sheep farm, their deep secret from long ago, and their seemingly self-involved, uncaring grown son. The author's skill just begs you to "hang on" and keep reading. A very unexpected climax makes a memorable read.
Richard N B
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
This is the noir classic that introduced readers to Philip Marlowe, private detective. Chandler is a master at crafting a plot that is complicated with more twists than a mountain road. The star of the novel, in my opinion, is Chandler’s way with words. His style is often imitated, but no one uses the simile and metaphor so well. It’s a fun, fast read.
Anne
The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister
"I've amazed crowds and drunk in their applause. Not because of luck or favor or magic. Because of will. My will. I've been willing to do whatever it takes." That will and the help of Adelaide transforms Ada into the Amazing Arden. The allure of a magic show is hard to deny, and from the Amazing Arden's show we get a behind the scenes glance at several illusions. But there are mysteries of many different sorts and as we read we learn that things are not always as they seem. Who really killed the man in the Halved Man box that night? This is one for the book lover in all of us because books play a magical part too.
Cindee Schwartz
The City by Dean Koontz
Excellent suspenseful story with an interesting take on the life of a city. Classic good vs. evil!
Sandra Furlotte
The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson
In this book where steampunk meets Hogwarts, Brandon Sanderson has created a wonderful world where math stands in the way of evil. I loved it and hope that he will continue with the series.
Betty Ramsey
Cut to the Bone by Jefferson Bass
This book is about a forensic anthropologist called out a help solve the murder of a girl whose body was buried on a mountainside. It's up to Dr. Brockton and his assistant to search for the clues to find out the who and what happened of the case, using his forensic tools. It so happens that there is a serial killer at work here, a man who blames Dr. Brockton for sending him to prison. The doctor and his family are in danger, along with the girls who fall into the killer's hands. It seems that every book I read that involves a serial killer ends up with the killer going after the main character and his family -- so predictable. Don't read this one at night...really.
Debbie M
Starry Night by Debbie Macomber
My holiday fetish centers on getting into the Christmas spirit by reading and watching Christmas programs. So far, I have not encountered the complete essence of Christmas. STARRY NIGHT does incite a little of the Christmas presence, but the story is first a romance. Romance writers, like story tale writers present a happily ever after life, that wanders too far from reality. Debbie Macomber's STARRY NIGHT illustrates the romance novel theorem that romance enhances life. The afterword by Debbie Macomber provides many insights into this novel and her other works. Tradition stands as an important element in the life of many of her characters. My favorite character is Mrs. Miracle, a woman who cements relationships.
Anne Patrick
The Likeness by Tana French
What a terrific story! This story revolves around an undercover investigation into the murder of a university student in a small town in Ireland. An unsual twist is that the murdered girl is the spitting image of one of the police force detectives. She's asked to go undercover posing as the murdered girl in order to ferret out the killer. What sounds impossible, Tana French makes credible. The detective goes to live with the four other students that the victim was sharing a house with, prior to her death, in order to solve the crime. Not only a mystery but a wonderful literary character study that brought me back to my own university years (sans murder of course). This is easily the best mystery novel that I've read this year!
Diane Stout
The City by Dean Koontz
Loved this book. Have recommended it to all of my book loving friends. The first time I have ever read a book by Dean Koontz. I understand it is different than his others, but a great book!
Jan Zahrly
Dry Bones in the Valley by Tom Bouman
This first novel is interesting. It drags at times. The author uses some old ploys to get his points across -- a lot of running around the countryside. The protagonist is a law enforcement officer in a rural area, and much of the book is his mind-ramblings about his past, his losses, etc. Characters are not well developed but the authentic mountain back-woods insulated community is well portrayed. I hope this author continues and gets a good editor to clean out the chaff.
Robin McKay
Dark Spies by Matthew Dunn
Will Cochran is over qualified for the job of ‘babysitting’ deep-cover agent Ellie Hallowes, while she meets with a source. So imagine his surprise when he sees an SVR agent, code named Antaeus, observing the same meeting. The reason for his surprise is that Antaeus is dead. And Will killed him. When he informs Langley of the sighting, he is told to abort the mission, but Will is not about to let Ellie die. Disregarding those orders has Cochran the subject of a worldwide manhunt .
With his life hanging by a thread, Cochran has to make his way from Norway to the U.S. Then he has to access the files for operation ‘Project Ferryman’. Only by getting hold of these files and understanding who is behind the mission, can Will clear himself.
Marsha
Deadline by John Sandford
Not the best of the Virgil Flowers novels. Small towns in Minnesota are the usual locations for these novels, but there seems to be more morally corrupt citizens that usual. Try one of the earlier novels.
Stacey K
The Secret History: A Novel of the Empress Theodora by Stephanie Thornton
If you love historical fiction, you will love this book about the Byzantine Empire and the Empress Theodora. A motivational story about a young girl who pulled herself out of poverty to be the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire. A really great read!
Helen M Powers
Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner
Memoir of the author's growing up in Lewistown, N.Y. Very funny book. Ends way too soon. There is a sequel.
Helen M Powers
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
The story of U.S. ambassador Dodd and his family and their life in Germany during the rise of Hitler. It tells of Dodd's warnings to President Roosevelt and the many things that were happening in Germany at the time that people failed to take note of.
Helen M Powers
Wish You Well by David Baldacci
This is an extremely well written book. The character descriptions are so detailed that you can really visualize the characters in your mind as you read about them. It is set in the 1940s in the mountains of Virginia.
Natalie Jonathas
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
A thoroughly enjoyable read for fans of women's fiction. Moriarty, who has becoming increasingly popular among US audiences, has hit it out of the park with THE HUSBAND'S SECRET. I devoured it in a couple days, and reading the novel is like sitting down with your best friend over a cup of tea and hearing all the neighborhood gossip.
Lea Ann Morris
Saving Simon by Jon Katz
A gentle book. Not a big book, but full of big thoughts. Simon the donkey was about dead when he was rescued, and Jon Katz was asked he if would give him a home and restore him to health. Jon, who owns Bedlam Farm in New England, agreed and so they became soul mates, if you will. While Jon did indeed save Simon's life, Simon showed Jon that compassion is sometimes difficult to obtain, but benefits both the giver and the receiver. And if one can be compassionate to an abused donkey, an abandoned dog, a horse whose owner dies, should one not only then also find compassion for fellow humans, even those who are not so nice/good. Read this book with an open mind and an open heart, and you will be on the way to being a more compassionate person.
Renee' Booker
Everybody's Got Something by Robin Roberts
I am glad that Miss Roberts was able to come out of her illness much stronger in her faith. She was lucky to have good friends and family support. But I felt her story was no different than the average person.
Kelly thomas
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
I think everyone should read this book!
Linda Harrison
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
This was an excellent book with strong characters and a great storyline. Once I started the book, I could not put it down until I had finished it. Anna Wren lived with her mother-in-law in a small cottage. Needing to earn a livelihood, she applied for a job as secretary to the Earl of Swartingham. Surprised to find his new secretary a woman, Edward and Anna got along well. Both were attracted to each other but Anna acted upon it by acting as a courtesan with Edward at a well-known brothel in London. He was furious when he found out the truth but realized he could not lose her.
Linda Harrison
Her Last Whisper by Karen Robards
Dr. Charlie Stone is helping the FBI with a serial killer case in Las Vegas. This time, FBI agent Lena Kaminsky’s sister has disappeared and they fear that the killer has her. FBI agent Tony Bartoli as well as Charlie’s ghost lover, Michael Garland, are also on the scene. Charlie calls in her psychic friend Tam to help Michael and then her friend disappears. The team has to solve the case and find the young women before more corpses are found.
Linda Harrison
The Homecoming by Robyn Carr
Seth Sileski was the hometown football champ and was destined for a pro career when an automobile accident ended his dreams. He is now back home in Thunder Point as the town’s deputy. Now he must make peace with Iris McKinley, his best friend from childhood. Iris was hurt by Seth during senior year in high school and has never forgiven Seth. She is talking to him, but can she really trust him or will he leave her again? Seth realizes he loves Iris and probably has for a long time, but how can he make her believe him?
Linda Harrison
Irish Eyes by Mary Kay Andrews
Bucky Deavers, Callahan Garrity’s ex-partner from her days with the Atlanta police department, is shot in the head while in a liquor store. The clerk was screaming and Callahan rushed in to aid Bucky. Then the clerk disappeared. As Callahan investigated the shooting and looked for the clerk, she heard disturbing rumors about police being involved in ATM robberies. Did one of their own shoot Bucky?
Linda Harrison
Leopard's Prey by Christine Feehan
Bijou Breaux is the daughter of a famous rock star who was notorious for his use of women and drugs. One night, Bijou was saved from her father’s friends by Remy Boudreaux and always considered him her hero. Now she is a famous jazz singer and has never forgotten Remy. Remy is enchanted with the grown-up Bijou. But Remy is busy investigating gruesome murders being carried out in the bayous and feels that someone close to Bijou is the murderer.
Linda Harrison
Nauti Intentions by Lora Leigh
Alex Jansen has been in love with Janey Mackay ever since she was seventeen, but since he was fourteen years older than she, he thought he was too old for her. This all changed when he came back from an assignment in Iraq with a bullet wound to heal and saw her again. He knew he had to have her, but her brother Natches would kill him if he touched her. They didn’t count on Janey, who had been in love with Alex forever.
Linda Harrison
How the Scoundrel Seduces by Sabrina Jeffries
Lady Zoe Keane is determined to find out the truth about her parents. She hires an investigator to find her mother but the only clue is a gypsy named Drina. Tristan Bonnaud speaks Romany and will go to the gypsy camps and try to find Drina. Although at first Zoe and Tristan were at odds with each other, their animosity grew into heated attraction.
Linda Harrison
A Colder War by Charles Cumming
It took awhile to get into this book. When a British spy is killed while piloting a small airplane, disgraced agent Tom Kell is called to look into the matter and determine whether the accident was just that or whether the man was killed. Then Tom finds out that the dead agent thought there was a mole in either the British agency or the CIA who was giving the names of informants to the Soviets. Tom focuses on one CIA agent and the teams move in.
Lea Ann Morris
The Housemaid's Daughter by Barbara Mutch
It's a cliche I know, but this book is indeed a page-turner. Taking place in South Africa from 1919 until about 1985, the book gives a history lesson in apartheid in a very personal way for our two narrators, the housemaid's daughter and the Madam (owner) of the house. We see that daughter grow from a little girl to an old woman. We see her mistress grow in love and understanding of Ada, the girl who emotionally takes the place of Mrs. Cara's daughter, who is distant in miles and emotionally. We understand, but do not accept, the beginning of apartheid and how it affects Ada and her "colored" daughter (result of rape by a white man). So much history wrapped up in fascinating historical fiction.
Brenda K.
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
This author presented a true-to-life story. The characters were really down to earth. I enjoyed glimpsing into the dynamics of this family. I did not enjoy the cliffhanging ending, but I respect an author that does not wrap everything up in a tidy bow. I will seek out this author again in the future.
Susan Kolodny
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Lisa Genova's wonderfully written novel that reads like non-fiction. Fifty-year-old Harvard psychology professor, Alice Howland, has everything going for her: a great career and a loving husband and kids. One day, during her daily run, she discovers she does not know how to get home, despite this being her usual route. During a routine linguistics lecture, she pauses, unable to recall a familiar word. Alice is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers. Genova tells Alice's story through Alice's eyes, using warmth and humor, and the reader is immediately drawn in. This is a must-read and a fabulous novel for book group discussions.
Lynn W
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
Liked "catching up" with Strike and Robin. Did not like the grotesque murder.
Lynn W
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Another excellent book about lives disrupted by WWII. Blind Marie-Laure and her father flee Nazi-occupied Paris carrying a rare and dangerous jewel. In a German mining town, orphans Werner and Jutta grow up. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing the newest and crucial machines, radios. In Saint-Malo their stories intersect.
Tessa B C
'Tis the Season by Lorna Landvik
Heiress Caroline Dixon is a hot mess. Her life and alcoholic antics provide plenty of fodder for the tabloids, but also hide a troubled and vulnerable young woman. This novel is written in an epistolary format, and as a result it takes a while to figure out how the characters interact with one another. It is NOT Landvik's best work, but it IS a nice, fast, holiday read that reminds us to be kinder to one another.
Elizabeth Vollbach
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
If you haven't read this book yet because it's about teenagers, do. The teenagers are exceptionally bright, well spoken, and mature. The story (which I won't tell you about because it's a short book, and anything I say is potentially a spoiler) grabbed me from page 1. Something irritated me, though: Hazel really does seem stupid when it comes to her favorite book, which is a work of fiction. The end left her with questions about what became of three of the characters. (Yes, I consider a hamster a character.) And, boy, she really needs to know! It takes a drunk to tell her that nothing became of them because they aren't real.
Candace Stockstill
The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
This book stirs up many emotions and moral questions. So many lives were changed and ruined because of the choices made. Definitely a great read.
Sandy McCullough
He's Gone by Deb Caletti
Dani Keller wakes up on her Seattle houseboat to see that her husband, Ian, is not home. This is both their second marriage, and it is not the fairy tale they thought it would be. I wanted to skip to the end to see what happened, but I didn't and I am glad that I did not. One of the best novels I have read in a long long time.
Susie
A Deadly Wandering by Matt Richtel
This fascinating book reads mostly like a novel even though it's kept under Science and Technology. The story is throughout the book chronologically, and so is the research. The young man who causes the accident at the beginning is the featured character, and it all is reported by an award-winning news reporter/writer. A great book for young adults, their parents and grandparents.You'll want to look up videos of the main character when you finish but NOT before! How would YOU feel if YOU caused the death of two people? What would YOU do??
A definite MUST READ for all of us!
Joanne Dowson
Flee, Fly, Flown by Janet Hepburn
Loved it! Wonderfully written. Humorous and touching. I haven't read a book quite like this before. Tackling the subject of Alzheimer's disease in fiction has been, from my reading experience, treated either as a full on tragedy or as comic relief. In this book, Janet Hepburn manages to offer the humor and the tragedy of the condition but does so without minimizing the characters or their humanity and liveliness. Hepburn, without preaching, reminds us that people are people, whatever life has brought them and that life does not end with a diagnosis or a move to the home. I very much liked that the author choose to make Lillian his narrator. Her experiences and point of view made FLEE, FLY, FLOWN an intimate tale from within.
Marcia Sailer
Out of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys
I really enjoyed this book about 1950 New Orleans. Josie Moraine is the 17-year-old daughter of a prostitute aiming for a better life than her mother ever had. Her goal is to get a good education. Her mother is neglectful, to say the least. She has allies and support from an interesting cast of characters, including the madam of the brothel, Willie, and the driver, Cokie. Murder enters the story and Josie's mother and her abusive boyfriend are prime suspects. You can't help rooting for Josie.
Pam Moore
Lockdown: Escape from the Furnace 1 by Alexander Gordon Smith
Lots of action and emotion with flawed but likeable characters.
Brady
Easy Street by Ron Perlman
Saw this memoir on the shelf and checked it even though I have never heard of a Ron Perlman nor knew he was an actor. I have discovered he is a most erudite person with a fine vocabulary when he is not using much of foul language by the pages. He has earned his station in life and told us of how he has done it. The telling is instructive and interesting and lets you know of the hurdles existing in show biz.
Fran OH
This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia
I enjoyed this coming-of-age story about a family and the secrets they keep. Interesting.
Cheryl Mulholland
Thanksgiving by Sam Sifton
I love to cook and I love to read. This book satisfied both these loves.
THANKSGIVING is so much more than a cookbook. Mr. Sifton's prose is delightful and the recipes are mouthwatering. He takes the reader from planning and shopping all the way through the Thanksgiving meal to the leftovers. I am using some of these recipes this Thanksgiving and will reread this book every year.
Diane
Some Luck by Jane Smiley
I enjoyed the book, but some parts I found slow. It is the start of a trilogy, and I want to continue reading.
Dr. Judy Beckman
Lila by Marilynne Robinson
Love the GIDEON series. I am in love with the characters.
Dr. Judy Beckman
One Summer in America, 1927 by Bill Bryson
Read it before I read THE AVIATOR'S WIFE. Helped understand a larger picture of the history of the periods of both books.
Bonnie Gluhanich
Flesh and Blood by Patricia Cornwell
Average mystery.
Linda Johnsn
I Said Yes to Everything: A Memoir by Lee Grant
I've liked and missed Lee Grant as an actress for years. This book helped fill some of the holes.
Grant seems obsessed with two issues - her increasing age and her blacklisting. I can relate to the trauma of not being able to get a job and needing to support a family. The age issue doesn't sit so well with me, but I'm not trying to make my living in front of cameras or audiences. The beginning of the book seems cohesive and chronological. The last parts of the book seem more, "Oh, I have to mention this" and made me feel as if I was in an unnamed time warp ending suddenly. Told in short chapters and vignettes, this book could have used a little more fleshing out of stories and people.
Penelope Witthauer
Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah
Cheesy and predictable.
Wendy Hampton
Winter of the World by Ken Follett
If you are a novice about World War II then there is a lot to learn in this book. It is the second book in Follett's trilogy starting with FALL OF GIANTS. It follow multiple families in Europe and America during the rise of the Third Reich and the fall. I was amazed in reading the atrocities that occurred and how these families handled them. I am getting the third book from the library tomorrow!
Melanie S.
Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham
3-1/2 stars. I listened to this book on audio and enjoyed Lena Dunham's honesty in her sharing experiences, many of which were really embarrassing and probably stories we ourselves would not have the courage to tell others. The book took me back to my single days and all the bad dating experiences. That being said, I did find the chapters had no particular chronological order and were stand-alone and not cohesive as far creating a smooth flow while reading/listening to the book. It read as if it was written in a stream of consciousness format. I also got a bit bored toward the end, but it was a short book, only 5 CDs, so I knew I would finish. Definitely a different sort of read, a courageous endeavor by Ms. Dunham.
Arlene Napoleon
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
I love all of Jojo Moyes' books. My book club just finished reading ONE PLUS ONE and enjoyed it. We also read ME BEFORE YOU, which I loved, and THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND, which was excellent, too.
Jackie Ranaldo
War Brothers by Sharon McKay and Daniel Lafrance
I read the graphic novel version of this amazing story! Highly recommended.
Thomas Barrington
Moments That Made The Movies by David Thomson
I really enjoyed this book; it was very interesting. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It told a lot about all the past movies I loved seeing.
Thomas Barrington
When The Snow Falls by Fern Michaels
I enjoy reading the books that have novellas in them this time of the year. It put you in the spirit of the holidays. It was very enjoyable to read. I highly recommend this book.
Thomas Barrington
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
This was a very interesting book. It reminded me of the things I learned about computers while I was growing up.
Thomas Barrington
Our First Christmas by Lisa Jackson
I enjoyed reading this book. It puts you in the spirit of the holidays. It was a lot of fun to read.
Marilyn Myers
Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland
Interesting read about the women who did so much of the work on the beautiful Tiffany glass without any credit given. Vreeland was fortunate to have seen the 2007 Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit "Louis Comfort Tiffany and Laurelton Hall" and to have read a newspaper article about the New York Historical Society exhibit "A New Light on Tiffany; Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls" in order to give us this eye-opening bit of history.
Coral Harrison
Gray Mountain by John Grisham
I generally like his books, but this one was hard to read. I did stay with it but will think twice about the next one.
Joelle
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
564 pages-----200 too many.
Bonnie Gluhanich
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Wow. This is a short novel that packs a powerful punch. It's not often that an author gets inside a character's head so well. This is one I won't soon forget.
Thomas Barrington
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
This is the best book I have ever read. I would recommend this book to anybody. I enjoyed reading it very much. It truly a very inspiring story.
Dana Hartmann
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown
Although this book has its typical hero saving the damsel in distress theme, there is a surprise ending waiting for you when you finish the book.
Lynn W
House of Living Stones by Katie Schuermann
Bradbury, IL is a small town where change doesn't happen often. When Pastor Fletcher hires Emily Duke as choir director of Zion Lutheran Church, change comes to the lovable members of his congregation. Humorous, delightful -- I smiled through the whole book.
Susan Kolodny
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Alice Howland has it all. She is fifty years old, has a loving husband and three grown, caring children. She is well-respected in her career as a Harvard professor. On her daily run, taking her usual path, Alice does not recognize the landmarks and cannot find her way back home. She is lost. During a lecture in her field of research, Alice cannot recall a key word that is familiar to her. She is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. Told from Alice's perspective, this beautifully-written novel lets the reader feel what Alice feels, frightened as her disease progresses. Lisa Genova's debut book is terrifyingly real and will stay with you long after the last page. A must-read for book groups of all ages!
Jan Zahrly
Sylvia Rafael: The Life and Death of a Mossad Spy by Ram Oren and Moti Kfir
This is a biography of a Mossad spy, written by a retired high ranking offical in Mossad, therefore, making some of the information more interesting. This is a biased book, despite the efforts of the author to sometimes portray the Black September group, Yasser Arafat, and other terrorists in a postitive light. Rafael dedicated most of her life to serving Israel. There is a lot of overstatement and far too much landscape description to keep this book interesting. Despite their errors and arrogance, many Israeli flaws are detailed. There was not much new in this book.
Moona May
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Amazing sci-fi and dystopian-themed book with a bit of romance! Amazing! Twisted and great storyline!
Charlotte Biggers
Glittering Images by Susan Howatch
This book was a compelling novel that included a fast-moving story of theology and psychology. It was hard to put down! I wanted to read the next page to find the answer. This was the first time I have read this author; I am now reading the second book in the series.
Fran OH
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
My nephew got me hooked on science fiction, which is a genre I swore I'd never like! lol. OLD MAN'S WAR was truly a gem, and I can only thank my nephew for pushing me in this direction! Loved the idea of elderly hero's in an intergalactic outer space war. Great protagonist, with action, drama and even some humor! I'd love to get me a brain pal and some nano-bots! Great stuff! I have already ordered the second book in this series!
Debbie M
Callander Square by Anne Perry
I enjoy reading an Anne Perry novel, but I like the William Monk series better. I am surprised that Charlotte is able to hide her pregnancy from the general public, but I guess that the style of that time camouflaged her condition. I cannot believe that no one noticed a corpse at the deserted house, I guess that neighbors are not nosy. Perry does well in describing the clothes and living conditions of the middle to upper income class and hints at the problems below the surface. So many times I thought I might know the person who buried the infants, but was mildly surprised to discover the culprit. I look forward to continuing this series.
Marsha
The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand
This engrossing story is one of yearning and one of finding the right person to love. You will be touched and deeply moved by this unexpected engaging portrait of a woman who touched so many lives.
Jeri Schejbal
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
We are reading this for book club and I'm looking forward to the discussion, which will include coping mechanisms, how a self image is formed, selfishness in general. I became aware of the big difference between authors/novels that make the reader "care" about the characters. Ms. Moyes certainly made me care about her fictional characters.
Elizabeth Vollbach
The Devil in the Marshalsea by Antonia Hodgson
THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEA felt sort of like an old classic, say, a Dickens novel. Except, it's more interesting than a Dickens novel, more fun to read. This is historical fiction about a prison, the Marshalsea, and its system, and its mostly actual inmates and administrators in England in 1727. Narrated by Tom Hawkins, it is the story of his several horror-filled days there. It actually could be a Dickens story it is so filled with bad guys in authority subjecting the main character to one God-awful circumstance after another. But if you, like me, dislike reading Dickens because they are such downers, you'll want to try THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEA. Along with its multiple horrors is a great mystery; who is the devil in the Marshalsea?
MaryAnne Long
Clay's Quilt by Silas House
A good look at the lives of Kentucky "hill" people. Silas House is a great storyteller, although this is not his greatest prose. It is still so worth reading, however, as his descriptions of the beliefs, actions and mores of these kinfolk takes the reader way into their insides!!! .
Dawn Bellinger
The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers
I enjoyed this book, although a few of the characters were a little annoying! The book did hold my attention though, and I liked the details surrounding the setting of the book. I would definitely read another book by this author. The story begins with an affair between a married man and a single woman, which results in a child being born. The story develops around the life of the child and the lives of the other adults involved in the child's life. It was interesting to see the different perspectives of all six adults that have something to do with the young child.
Becky Haase
The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
If you can suspend belief and think that FBI and CIA folk actually work the way they are depicted in this book, then you will like this take down of a notorious bad guy by an FBI operative and her criminal “charge.” The authors have done a good job of explaining how the take down worked. The characters are likeable and well crafted. The “love story” element is just believable enough to be interesting. There is plenty of action. All the loose ends are neatly tied up. This is a fun and quick read, even if not very memorable.
There is one problem with the story. I cringed when I read the arrogant “ugly American” remark in reference to the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.
Francisca E B
The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande
This is a heartbreaking and heartwarming memoir of a childhood living in want, both in Mexico and in the United States. Grande writes with courage about the abject poverty of her early years, the sense of abandonment she and her siblings felt when their parents left, and how feeling abandoned affected their futures. I was appalled and distressed reading about this level of poverty. I was angry with her parents for the way they treated their children. But ultimately this is an inspiring story of courage and perseverance. I was in tears at the end of this poignant and honest memoir.
Bobbie Mohney
The Spirit Clearing by M.R. Tufo
First book I read by this author. I couldn't put the book down. I couldn't wait till I got to the end, but then didn't want it to be over. I really missed a lot of what was going on behind the scenes and looking back at it now, it all makes sense and I should have been able to catch on sooner. Very well written and very well received. I really liked the characters in this book and though confusing at times, it all wrapped up good in the end. I wish there was more information on some of the characters in the book as I really got attached to a few of them, and they just disappeared from the storyline.
Marsha
The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
The wild team of charming con man Nicolas Fox and FBI agent Kate O'Hare team up again for a sting to bring down the world's most-wanted leader of a global drug-smuggling empire. This is the third in the series of O'Hare and Fox. Start with the first two for maximum reading pleasure.
Bonnie Gluhanich
The Martian by Andy Weir
An astronaut is stranded on Mars and has to use his ingenuity and sense of humor to stay alive until a possible rescue. This is sci-fi (even for those who don't typically read sci-fi), humor, and a real page-turner. It's also totally unique. A recommended read.
Phyllis
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
I loved the main characters, Alice, Jenna, Serenity, Virgil and, of course, the elephants. Jodi Picoult did a great job of intertwining a heartbreaking mystery with intriguing information about the emotions and intelligence of elephants.
Jane Squires
A Bravo Christmas Wedding by Christine Rimmer
A story of Christmas, wedding plans, and staying in Colorado at a Ranch. Aurora had a crush on Walker for 7 years and never figured he would even notice her. Her Mom hired him to be her bodyguard, which didn't work well. Horse trail rides in early morning hours, and time with cousins. Tree trimming party event - first one held at Walker's Ranch. Aurora is a princess; Aurora comes from a large family and she is the baby. Her mother is very protective. Walker, on the other hand, had his dad walk out on his mom, leaving her with two boys to raise. She never quit loving his Dad and hoping he would return. Walker did not know how to deal with trust.
jane Kimball
The Wind Is Not a River by Brian Payton
An isolated island, Japanese soldiers, a journalist and World War ll, make this an awesome story of survival. A novel not to be forgotten.
Rosa Abraham
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
Hmmm. This book was haunting and it stayed with me for a long time. Set in early 1920s London, soon after the war, the story is about Frances, who has lost her two brothers during the war and whose father has also died recently. Frances and her mother are forced to rent out rooms in their home to bring in some income. Enter Leonard and Lilian Barber, the "paying guests" - a more genteel way of referring to the lodgers. The story takes many turns, into a love story, then a story of a crime and the ensuing trial. What struck me is how much times have changed yet not changed at all. This would be a good book club pick that is sure to lead to a lively discussion.
Sandra Furlotte
The Rope by Nevada Barr
I love this well written series set in various national parks across the U.S. The book is about the Lake Powell area and is fast-paced and informative.
Michael McAdam
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
After a bit of a slow start, the book really takes off like a shot and becomes a page-turner until the very end. I love the characters that Stephen King creates. The plot was certainly interesting too and worth a read. Thumbs up!
Cheryl Von Farra
Five Days Left by Julie Lawson Timmer
I won this book on a giveaway and enjoyed it immensely. At times it was a little difficult to read, as it is such an emotional book. I flew through it as I had to know how it would end.
Cheryl Von Farra
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
I finished this book in a couple of days. It had such an impact, very hard to put down. It went in directions I never suspected and had most everything from bullying, date rape, and violence, along with a little romance and friendship. Although the main character is a strong person, reading her story was difficult. I just felt so sad for her, and angry. A fantastic read.
Cheryl Von Farra
Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf
Every book I have read by this author has been a winner. This one is as well.
Shelia Worthey
The Faraway Nearby by Rebecca Solnit
This book was VERY original. I had trouble in some parts understanding and following what she was trying to convey, but overall it struck home on a personal level. No doubt I will eventually reread it. She winds her way around and through by telling and connecting stories, and eventually comes full circle. On the journey, you are thoroughly entertained, amazed at the depth and breadth of what she writes, and find yourself being educated or awakened on so many levels. There is also a book within a book, as there is a story written on the bottom margin throughout. So you have to read one or the other at a time, although the stories are running, in essence, parallel. I said it was unique didn't I? RECOMMEND!
Dorothy Haemer
Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison
Author story of his life with Asperger's. Provides insight into his struggle with the disease as a child and how he has learned to be a productive adult.
Jud Hanson
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Easy to see why this book netted two Dagger book awards Well worth the read.
Jud Hanson
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
Not as good as SHARP OBJECTS, but still a worthy read.
Jud Hanson
Act of God by Susan R. Sloan
This book was a roller-coaster of a ride from the first page to the last, with a twist at the end that will knock your socks off.
Jill Millovitsch
Cross My Heart by James Patterson
I have been reading James Patterson books for years. I love how quickly I read each book because I am engulfed in the details of each story. CROSS MY HEART was a great story, leaving me wanting more, and I'm thankful for the release of HOPE TO DIE (the next in the series). I do not recall any other James Patterson book ending with such an impact that I could hardly wait to start reading the next book in the series! I love how he introduces each character in every book, in case readers are not familiar, so readers can easy understand the dynamics of all of the characters! James Patterson is a great author, and I recommend all of his books, especially CROSS MY HEART and subsequently HOPE TO DIE. Happy Reading!!
Mary Hake
The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson
Medieval story filled with suspense and danger. Margaretha, a well-educated daughter of a duke, has not settled on a suitor because she seeks true love. The man she is supposed to marry may not be the type of man he presents himself as, and an injured stranger warns her to beware. Thus begins her adventures to try to save her family, castle, and village from an evil plot.
Nancy Sanders
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Really good page-turner.
Lynn W
An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear
Maisie Dobbs #5. Maisie is hired to investigate the area of a potential land and factory purchase. Why does she feel a cloak of secrecy over the entire village of Heronsdene? Maisie uncovers several mysteries in this installment, and the ending is the best of the five. Really looking forward to #6.
patty shgren
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
Story told in two time settings in Italy and the United States. Love story after the war. An actress and an Italian man that was beautifully written.
patty shgren
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
A great story told by a boy about the his life. Why people die, some murder, some suicide, some accidents. There is mystery and love of family and how they cope.
PATTY
Stella Bain by Anita Shreve
Interesting story about a woman who loses her identity after a shelling in the war.
patty
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Great story for book clubs. Story of slavery and and two sisters who grew up in the south.
Peggy Stillman
Hedy's Folly by Richard Rhodes
I thought it was going to be the biography of Hedy Lamarr. Too many pages of it was detailing other people's lives whom Hedy knew.
Darlene
The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister
If you like mystery, suspense and a narrator whose reliability seems questionable, you will love this book! This story, set in the late 19th century and early 20th century, is the story of Ada Bates, who dreams of dancing and seeing her name in lights. But Ada has a secret tormenter, and she runs away from home to escape. Ada has big dreams and the will to make those dreams come true. She learns the art of magic and illusion, and becomes the Amazing Arden. Although she realizes her dreams, her tormenter is never far behind, and Arden may have to pull off the illusion of her life! This book will be released in January 2015, and I definitely recommend it!
Kathy Vallee
Cookies and Scream by Virginia Lowell
Olivia returns home from her vacation to find out that someone had been in her store and left what looks like antique cookie cutters in her safe. Just as she is finding out what is going on, she finds herself trying to find a killer of the latest murder. Since her new boyfriend the sheriff is still out of town, it looks like her and friends as well as family are going to be doing all the work.
