This contest period's winners were Rona D., Richard B. and Kate B., who each received a copy of BAND OF SISTERS by Lauren Willig and INFINITE COUNTRY by Patricia Engel.
Jan
Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi
The narrator is an adult woman, married and spending so much time taking care of her mother and her mother's issues. The mother is senile or has Alzheimer's. While caring for her mother, who can be destructive, even as an adult, she remembers so much about her childhood. Her mother was a wild child, running with the hippies, living in an ashram with the leader of the ashram, ignoring her young daughter. After the ashram, they were homeless and her grandparents refused to take the daughter in as long as she was so irresponsible. The narrator remembers being hungry, being forced by her mother to beg on the street, being beaten by her mother -- and now she is supposed to take care of this woman? Ideal for book groups.
Kara
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
I loved the main character of this book. She was a survivor and extremely tough, and she was able to keep moving forward even when she made mistakes. There were a couple plot points that I thought were a little cliche (and too spoiler-y to mention), but overall, I was drawn into the book and it held my interest. Even though it was long, I didn't want to put it down. I also liked the ending because it wrapped up the story while pointing readers toward the sequel. I really can't wait to read Book Two!
Rose
His & Hers by Alice Feeney
Outstanding! This book will keep you guessing to the very end! Just when you think you have it all figured out, Alice Feeney surprises you again and again and again! HIS & HERS tells the story of Anna Andrews, a news correspondent, and Jack Harper, a detective. Their paths cross when a body is discovered in the woods. But, there is much more to Anna and Jack than this meeting over a case - there is a lot of history. That history plays out in this novel as Anna's past and present converge in a deadly game. I absolutely loved this book! Highly recommend!
John
Tidelands by Philippa Gregory
This book is all about the adventure lifestyle, as our heroes learn how healthy it is to be fit and energetic and go on adventure holidays through the marshlands.
Kathy
The Lake House by Kate Morton
Another great read by Kate Morton. Twists and turns, great characters, and a mystery that keeps you guessing until literally the last 10 pages of the book. Everyone loved this book and we had great discussion!
Ann Marie
The Burning Girls by C. J. Tudor
I love stories about witches. This book is about two girls burned and tortured long ago. The Sussex Martyrs they were called and this story revolves around a female vicar and her daughter who are made to move to a church sorely needing a vicar. When she gets there, strange apparitions of two of the Sussex Martyrs, an exorcism kit, and a church and cottage she lives in next door are waiting for her. The exorcism kit, bible passages, and stick dolls are being left by someone earning her trust, or is it to scare her off?
Ann Marie
Piranesi by Sussana Clarke
What a different book. Pirates lives in a huge "house" of caves, actually it's a labyrinth of caves with endless beautiful statues. He sees the sun through the cracks and every so often, the tides come in. Only one other person lives in the caves with Piranesi, who he calls "The Other". He wears seashells and other things he finds in his hair and eats whatever he catches. Basically Piranesi survives on his own, writing down his daily occurrences in his "home" of endless caves. This was a riveting story with a twist coming. Let me tell you, I am not a fan of re-reading books, but I would read PIRANESI again, that's what a joy this book was!
Gillian
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
Light, fun, humorous, full of bite and heart! Can’t put it down!!!
Sharon
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
Set in Quebec in the winter, Gamache is trying to recuperate from the disaster of losing many of his men while saving thousands of civilians. The bitter cold of the Canadian winter and chilling discoveries at the library slowly awaken him to his work once again.
Jayme
Hunted by Meagan Spooner
Heavy sigh. This haunting, brutal and tender retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" has just become my favorite. Spooner has deftly taken an old theme and made it magically new again. Loved it.
Pat
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
The story of young Cussy Mary Carter who is one of the Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky who delivers books and periodicals to the folks who live in remote hills in the nineteen thirties under a WPA project. Cussy faces many obstacles but the biggest is the color of her skin which is blue and in addition the physical challenge of traveling under dangerous conditions with her faithful mule. She is relentless in serving her readers.
Jeanne
The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child
THE SENTINEL by Lee Child and Andrew Child is another action-packed adventure in the Jack Reacher series. I enjoyed reading this, but in my opinion there was a different writing style and it didn’t “wow me” the way a Jack Reacher novel usually does. I found it to be a little slow-moving at times, thus the four star rating.
Jeanne
Love at First by Kate Clayborn
LOVE AT FIRST by Kate Clayborn is a delightful modern romance that intertwines the past, the present, second chances and fate. The storyline combines humor, romance, loyal friendships and love in such a delightful way. Without giving away any spoilers, it is the story of Will and Nora who have an undeniable attraction to each other. The author is to be commended for her creation of the quirky, charming, likable and relatable characters. I found myself smiling and laughing as I read the dialogue between the characters. I have to thank Kate Clayborn and Kensington Publishing for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy of this wonderful book. These are my opinions solely and I rated it a five.
Debbie
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
Book is well thought out. Interesting facts of former slaves either moving to Texas on their own free will or being transported there through ill gain. Does remind you of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. This seems to be a frequently used style of late.
Carly
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
I loved learning about the Dust Bowl and the migration to California. Although, heartache and trauma prevailed throughout the entire novel, you were constantly rooting for Eliza, Lareda and the rest of the characters. Hannah never disappoints!
Lisa
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
Mystery, history, books, writing, romance, family drama and a famous author all in one book! Loved reading and learning about Agatha Christie and something I’d never known about, her eleven-day disappearance. It’s launched me on to learning more about Agatha Christie and reading her books. I’ll be reading all of Marie Benedict’s books! I’m hooked!
Rona
The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin
This book transported me back to my childhood reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder book, THE LONG WINTER. I loved how the story was about two school teachers who are sisters and how they handled a surprise blizzard during school hours. You could feel their anguish as the story unfolded, and how heartbreaking those stories were for the entire community.
Maureen
The All-Gills Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg
Very funny, uplifting. It is full of humor. Has tenderness and a joy to read.
Leslie
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
Charming book about a long relationship and great restraint between two lovers.
Cecilia
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
Great description of the characters and events at the time.
Michelle
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
Dutchess cares for her 7-year-old brother Robin in heartbreaking and often times misguided ways, and many scenes between these siblings had this reader weeping. Mr. Whitaker’s other characters jump from the pages as they weave in and out of the story against the wonderfully written scenic backdrops. Quite simply, the type of storytelling that makes me passionate about reading. Equal parts police procedural drama and love story, I will be highly recommending this novel to anyone who will listen!
Karen
The Growing Season by Sarah Frey
This is a very readable book. If one liked EDUCATED they will surely like THE GROWING SEASON.
Katherine
A Time for Mercy by John Grisham
This is another winner from Grisham. His client, a young boy accused of murder, is a sympathetic victim of abuse who thought that his mother had been killed. The defense attorney goes above and beyond to defend him at personal risk of financial ruin and physical danger.
Amy
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
How have I not read this one before now? Couldn’t put it down and I’m looking forward to discussing with my book club.
Donna
The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin
This story takes place in Nebraska in the 1880s about a sudden blizzard that comes up just as children are released from school. Teachers were faced with the decision whether to keep the kids in school or let them go home. The blizzard was a true event with the fictional story revolving around it.
Sybil
Furious Hours by Casey Cep
One of the best books I have read. Interesting history for me being a Southern lady.
Lynn
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
This book was so great! I could not put it down, it only took me two days to read. What I loved most about it were the relationships between Sophie and the other women in the story, but mostly the relationship between Sophie and Kat, her stepdaughter, which was so loving and tender.
Linda
The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir
Our book club read THE BOOK OF ESSIE and had an outstanding discussion about the impact of family secrets, reality shows, and the impact of keeping secrets.
Michele
The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin
If life wasn't hard enough on the plains, mother nature dealt another cruel hand to them. The blizzard came out of nowhere and wrecked lives upon lives. Farm upon farm, town upon town. But the lives lost were mostly children. Children that you entrusted to the school for the day of learning that most needed. Did the teachers break the trust, or did Mother Nature?
Laurie
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
Creative, sometimes humorous but too much inappropriate language. I was disappointed in this novel and author.
Lorraine
Zorrie by Laird Hunt
This is a magnificent, must-read novel covering the arc of the life of an honest, hardworking woman’s life in the 20th century. It strikes a melancholy, nostalgic, and hopeful tone of finding a way to see the simple beauties in life, the lightness, amidst the darkness. Set in rural farm country Indiana, Zorrie Underwood’s story is packed with humanity in just 170+ words. Hunt deserves an award for his latest novel, destined to be a classic. Every word, sentence, chapter is written with exquisite simplicity yet deeply profound. Deserves more than 5 stars!
Barbara
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
It will be hard to top this book as my favorite of the year. A moving story with strong women and what they have to overcome to survive.
Susan
The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall
Beautifully-written book. Great character development. A story of two ministers and their wives. A great discussion book for book groups.
Sally-Jo
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
Everyone in the group loved the book. The history of Savannah was fascinating. We liked how the author interacted with the different characters. None of us were sure if Jim Williams was guilty.
Elizabeth
Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu
This was a tough read. The writing is really good, almost poetic though the earthquake theme was laid on a bit too heavily. But though the author did have some trauma in her life, I’ve read memoirs from people with far more tragic stories that didn’t feel too self-pitying like this one did. Still, the writing is strong, thus my four star rating.
Donna
Lana's War by Anita Abriel
Loved the setting, so different than other WWII books.
Linda
The Push by Ashley Audrain
This book explores motherhood through generations of women who were not maternal/nurturing. Blythe sincerely wants to break this cycle, but she worries that her daughter may be dangerous while hubby doesn't believe her concerns. Who's at fault? I anticipated a "trainwreck"- very suspenseful. I won this book from "Word of Mouth." Thanks!
Rosa
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
This book won Best Mystery and Thriller in Goodreads 2020 Best-Of list, and I understand why. The story is set during the wedding of Jules and Will, the perfect couple. Told in alternating points of view from guests in the wedding, the bride and groom, and the wedding planner, this was a twisted plot with many surprises. A great thriller.
Suzanne
Deadly Cross by James Patterson
Very typical Patterson. Really no surprises, not as action packed as some. Expected it to be better based on flap descriptor.
Nancy
The Yellow House by Patricia Falvey
It is the first time that I have read this author and really enjoyed her style of writing. It grabbed my interest from beginning to end and had a lot of twists and turns along the way so I could not fully figure out how it would end. It brought me back to some of the history of what was taking place in Northern Ireland in the beginning of the 20th century, and helped me understand how politics were being played out during that time. The author's development of the characters was done very well and kept my interest throughout the book.
MH
The Unwilling by John Hart
A riveting novel. Although a little too gory in places, it had me hooked on the first page. I especially enjoyed the young narrator who is drawn into the mystery surrounding his brother.
LouAnn
Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon
This book kept me riveted right from the beginning. Since it is based on a true story, that made it more special. The book was based on the life of Nancy Wake who worked with the French Resistance during WWII. Only in her early 30s, she was able to gain the respect of all the men fighting under her command.
Tessa
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois
This is a fantastical adventure story featuring Professor William Waterman Sherman, who leaves San Francisco on Aug 15, 1883, in a balloon, with the intention of going across the Pacific Ocean and enjoying some solitude. He wasn’t counting on Krakatoa’s explosive eruption, however. The illustrations (also by du Bois) provide a visual representation to go along with some of the detailed descriptions of the various inventions. The book was awarded the Newberry Medal.
Karel
Memory Man by David Baldacci
David has a character very different from his usual protagonist. This was a page-turner.
Jan
The Silence by Susan Allott
I received this book from a Goodreads drawing in exchange for an honest review. This debut mystery blew me away. A young Australian woman returns home from England when her father says that he has been questioned about a woman who used to babysit her 30 years ago. And that's where the tangles begin. She remembers the woman a little - she really liked her. The woman was kinder to her than her own mother. Then she remembers seeing her mother kick her father. She realizes that her father is a true falling-down alcoholic. Part of the greatness of this story is that the narrator begins to realize that she, too, is an alcoholic. Will she end up like her father? Great for book group discussion.
Mary
Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg
Actually, 3-1/2 stars for this winsome story of Katie, a pre-teen living on a Texas army base with her older sister and dad. The plot revolves around her coping with the recent death of her mom. This is not a book I would usually be drawn to, but I like Berg’s books overall and decided to take a chance. While sweet, it is not treacly - for example, the other characters in the novel confront their own weaknesses and strengths to ground the story. This is the first in a trilogy about Katie. I will follow through with them to learn more about Katie as she grows.
Sherrie
Do No Harm by Christina McDonald
This is an intense, emotional and suspenseful story of a mother who would do anything to save her young son, ill with cancer. A mothers love has no bounds and is not to be matched by dangerous people involved in the opioid business. Mom, Emma Sweeney, a doctor, will risk everything to save her son, Josh. Beautifully written with compassion and bravery, it's hard to put down.
cynthia
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
Touching and relatable.
Margaret
Child's Own Book of Great Musicians Collection by Thomas Tapper, edited by Susan Barnett Braun
Thanks to the editor, Susan Braun, of Mr. Tapper's book for sending me an e-copy in exchange for my honest review. This collection of 12 short stories on musicians/composers contains lots of interesting information making it easy for young music students to become acquainted with these masters of classical music. The stories are listed in alphabetical order starting with Bach and ending with Wagner. I loved all the photographs of the person being discussed, their family members, where they were born, the musical instruments, etc., accompanying each story. At the end of each story, highlights from each are listed and there is a question and answer section which makes for a great review. This little book speaks volumes!
Alyssa
The Future is Yours by Dan Frey
Two friends create a computer that can look one year into the future. This book was engrossing and was a well put together, a completely convincing take on the modern epistolary format. I really, really enjoyed it.
Alyssa
The Children's Train by Viola Ardone
Post-WWII historical fiction about poor children living in Southern Italy temporarily living with prosperous families in Northern Italy. The main character, Amerigo, goes and after he returns to his mother he's unable to pretend he's okay living in poverty anymore. Beautifully written story.
Lori
Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell by David Yaffe
Interesting story of her life but too much extraneous detail for me. Book could have been half as long.
Sherri
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
Interesting arguments against religion. A bit mean at times.
Margaret
High, Wide, and Handsome by Julian Bishop
Written by an English author who loves living in America, this is an absorbing and interesting book which includes personal anecdotes and nice touches of humour. The book covers different aspects of the USA, together with an enlightening trip from the east to the west coast of America during the pandemic. Each place and national park the author and his wife visited contains detailed historical facts and important events. He is particularly impressed with the opportunities this country has to offer, the friendliness of the people and the various differences in communities and states. This is an excellent, informative and detailed book to read. The icing on the cake was becoming an American citizen on the book release date.
Lurdes
The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors. Her stories are different from the mainstream and this one was no exception. The story about Rose, pregnant and married, who leaves her husband in Kentucky and ends up at an unwed mothers' home in Kentucky, is told with compassion and grace. The story held my interest until the final chapters threw me a twist ending.
Harriet
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
Carefully researched and very readable.
Thomas
Deadly Cross by James Patterson
Excellent book. Alex Cross does it again.
Dianne
The Burning Girls by C. J. Tudor
Gothic mystery set in a village in England. Jack, our heroine, and her daughter Flo encounter mystery and danger when they move to a small rural church.
Lois
The Genius of Women by Janice Kaplan
Interesting read about the power of women. What we can do and about those who did.
Debbie
The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie
Finally, a group of individuals interested in reading Agatha Christie, after I decided to take the plunge in 2021. Agatha Christie adores following Shakespeare model with the mistaken identity or multiple aliases of a character. In this novel, Anthony Cade goes through three different monikers. I fervently wish that Christie had provided a list of characters in her novels as I felt compelled to list all the name changes. The Scotland Yard officer, Superintendent Battle, enters and exits too often and does not seem to detect what is happening. Anthony Cade agrees to deliver a manuscript to England for a friend and immediately encounters problems. Politics, intrigue, and romance follow as many people meet at Chimneys, the stately home.
Debbie
You Belong Here Now by Dianna Rostad
Dianna Rostad details the life in Montana in 1925. The orphan train left New York and headed west to give orphans in New York a chance at a different life. Dianna Rostad briefly addresses the plight of these orphans as western farmers looked for strong and healthy farm laborers. Many books have detailed the orphan trains and the horrid life the orphans entered. Rostad bases her story on three children who jump the train before the last stop. These children from diverse backgrounds bond together and enter a farm and learn about life. Charles an eighteen-year-old running from the law and pretending to be sixteen protects Patrick, a small Irish lad, and Opal a tiny girl covered with burned skin.
Jill
Maigret and the Headless Corpse by Georges Simenon
I was pleased to see that Penguin is reprinting the fine Maigret series by Simenon. Maigret is a police chief working in Paris who learns that body parts have been found in a canal, but no head. Identifying the murdered man proves difficult. Maigret runs into an enigmatic cafe waitress and probes a labyrinth of passion and of an unwanted inheritance to catch the killer. Simenon's spare effective prose evocative of the American mystery writer Ed McBain, and Maigret's keen observations and deductions make for a wonderful read.
Gurasees
Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey
Rosie and Dominic Vega are the perfect couple: high school sweethearts, best friends, madly in love. Well, they used to be, anyway. Now, Rosie's lucky to get a caveman grunt from the ex-soldier every time she walks in the door. Dom is faithful and a great provider, but the man she fell in love with 10 years ago is nowhere to be found. When her girlfriends encourage Rosie to demand more out of life and pursue her dream of opening a restaurant, she decides to demand more out of love, too. Three words: marriage boot camp. I loved the book. One of my favorite books. I highly recommend it.
NIna
Keep Sharp by Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Although we all know what our brains do and how they function, after finishing this book it gave me an insight of a lot of things I probably didn't know or simply failed to look at. The pain caused if one goes into amnesia or Alzheimer's and although it cannot be prevented we can still take precautions very early on if we cultivate good habits was a eye-opener.
Nina
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
The mother/daughter relationship, a mother-in-law who is more like a mother, the Great Depression and Dust Bowl - all these factors together made me go through a box of Kleenex. I had read a few works of historical fiction in the past but Kristin Hannah's style of writing always hits me so hard. This book will stay on my mind forever, especially Elsa's journey and her determination to make her daughter so independent. One dreams to have certain kind of life for one's self and their own children and the struggle sacrifices that go into it is simply tear-jerking. I wish the story could have simply gone on and on. I hope there is a sequel.
Marsha
Blindside by James Patterson and James O. Born
I am beginning to like the Michael Bennett tales as much as those with Alex Cross. Detective Michael Bennett has a son in prison. The mayor has a missing daughter so they make a deal. There are computer nerds held captive and a powerful evil villain in Estonia. Detective Bennett does not give up. He fights as if the daughter was his own.
Rose
The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson
This is a powerful book about love, loss, looking forward, looking back, race, privilege, education, and choices. Nancy Johnson has packed a lot into this debut novel. Ruth is a successful black chemical engineer married to a successful man. Her success didn't come easily. When she was 17, she had a child, and her grandmother gave the baby away saying that this child could not get in the way of Ruth's Ivy League education. Ruth has never told her husband, Xavier, about her son. Now married four years, and on the verge of the first Obama presidency, Xavier is anxious to start their family. Powerful book!!
Francisca
The Growing Season by Sarah Frey
The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: How I Built a New Life – and Saved an American Farm. Frey grew up on the family’s Southern Illinois farmstead, where she learned the value of hard work and determination. Wanting to leave the poverty behind, she was ready to move on, until she faced the imminent foreclosure on the family land and decided she just couldn’t let it go. She’s a savvy businesswoman and a principled leader. Her story is interesting, but I found it somewhat repetitive.
Linda
Three Woman Disappear by James Patterson and Shan Serafin
When the nephew of a crime boss is killed, no one is sure who killed him. There was no evidence of a break-in and three women had access to his house and all three are missing. Could the killer be his wife Anna or the maid Serena or the chef Sarah? Or could it be the corrupt cop who was working with Anthony Costello in defrauding his uncle? Detective Sean Walsh knew it was one of the women but wasn’t sure which one. Then he is pulled in for murder.
Linda
The Girl and the Deadly End by A. J. Rivers
Emma Griffin is trying to find out who "Catch Me" is. She doesn’t think it is Lotan, head of Leviathan, so there are two unknowns out there. Lotan is Jonah, the twin of Ian, Emma’s father. He believes Emma is his daughter and wants to bring her on board as one of his chosen. She learns that Dean Steele is Jonah’s son and also her cousin. She, Dean, and Sheriff Sam Johnson work together to solve the mystery and all the deaths that follow Lotan and his group.
Linda
Christmas in Snowflake Canyon by RaeAnne Thayne
After he was injured in Afghanistan, Dylan Caine returns a bitter man and feels self-pity when he can’t do the things he used to do. Now he is forced to do community service with Genevieve Beaumont, the pampered daughter of the mayor. Both are assigned to work at “A Warrior’s Hope” to help returning veterans face and deal with their disabilities. Dylan finds she is a caring young woman he has fallen in love with. With her, he feels peace and the tension leaves him. But what would she want with a disfigured man like him? Genevieve tells him she had the "perfect man" as he appeared to everyone, but he cheated on her and was not the man for her. She tells him it is what is inside a man that is important rather than the window dressing.
Linda
When the Marquess Was Mine by Caroline Linden
The Marquess of Westmorland was a bit of a rogue and did not care whose feelings he hurt as long as he had fun with his fellow rogues. He had insulted Georgina Lucas and she hated him. but when she saw him beaten by three thugs she knew she had to help him. But how? She was staying with her friend Kitty Winston and they had just learned her husband had wagered their home in a card game and lost to Westmorland. Kitty was irate about it. Georgina lied and said Westmorland was her fiancé Sterling. Westmorland was unconscious and when he came to, he had forgotten who he was. Georgina took care of him hoping that he wouldn’t remember who he was until she could get him to London and a doctor.
Linda
A Duke Too Far by Jane Ashford
Ada Grandison had gone to school with Delia Rathbone and was the one who found her after she fell off a cliff. She had met Delia’s brother Peter, the Duke of Compton, and fantasized about being in love with him. She talks her friends and her aunt into going to the Rathbone home to pay condolences to Peter. Although he is a duke, he is impoverished and is stunned to find five extra mouths to feed standing on his doorstep. Ada's character is too pushy and ruins the story.
Linda
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
Emma Davis was thirteen the first time she attended Camp Nightingale. Since she arrived late, she was sent to a cabin with older girls and became friends with Vivian, the leader of the group. She heard the girls sneak out one night but none had returned the next morning. Emma woke everyone up screaming. The girls were never found. Now fifteen years have passed and the Camp is to be reopened. Emma agrees to return to teach painting. The nightmare reoccurs when her three camp mates disappear and the detective looks at her suspiciously. She is determined to find them and to learn what happened fifteen years ago.
Linda
Tell Me by Lisa Jackson
Twenty years ago, Nikki Gillette’s friend Amity begged her to come to the cabin as she had something important to tell her. Nikki meant to go but fell asleep. That night, Amity was shot to death and her siblings severely injured. Her mother was found guilty of the murder and sent to prison. Her son is recanting his testimony and his mother is being released from prison. Nikki wants to interview her. Nikki's fiancé detective Pierce Reed and his partner Sylvie Morrisette have been told to review all documents to find a way to keep her in prison. Nikki wants Pierce to include her in the interview, but no dice. Then someone appears to want Nikki out of the way.
Linda
A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks
When Missy Ryan was killed in a hit and run accident Miles’ life was never the same. He is determined to find who hit her and left her laying in a ditch instead of calling for help. Learning that she was killed on impact didn’t help. His son Jonah is now without his mother. He thinks troublemaker Otis Timson did it and was ready to take the law into his own hands but the guilty party admitted his guilt to Miles. He is angry and ready to do damage but stops and thinks of his son. As hard as it is, he realizes he has to let go of his pain and get on with life.
Linda
The Boyfriend Effect by Kendall Ryan
Hayes Ellison has known Maren Cox since she was eight years old and has been in love with her for years. Her brother Wolfie is Hayes’ business partner and would kill him if he knew how Hayes really felt about her. He has to act brotherly but Maren does not feel sisterly toward Hayes. They finally act on their feelings. What would Wolfie do once he finds out? When he does find out, he tells Hayes to treat her like a queen.
Lily
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
THE SILMARILLION was and still is my absolute favorite novel! The prose is absolutely spectacular and the depth of the characters and the plot is breathtaking. I had trouble reading and understanding THE SILMARILLION the first time, especially with there being so many characters, but the second time I tried tackling the book it was much better, and I'm so glad that I didn't give up on it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has read THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS and enjoyed it. If you're looking into reading this book but haven't read any of Tolkien's other works yet, I would read those first before tackling THE SILMARILLION.
Sean
Spycatcher by Matthew Dunn
Wow, a lot of words signifying nothing. Matthew Dunn, a former spy (?), delivers a ridiculous plot with nothing but holes in logic. These characters who we're supposed to believe are the best in the world all do nothing but dumb things. The protagonist is so incredibly bland while being Terminator-level indestructible. It's laughable. Everything was easy to see coming and that's unfortunate. Overall, it's a descriptive bore.
Lucy
All Girls by Emily Layden
Love this first-time author's voice and way of writing. Engaging character development and storyline. Looking forward to discussing with a group of friends who are also reading it.
Jan
1/2 Minute Meditations by Mischa V. Alyea
I received this book from a Goodreads drawing. And I expected more. The author presents a couple of basic quick meditations and the rest is built around them. I really did not learn anything new and I am no meditation guru. The flawed grammar and spelling turned me off - get a proofreader, a friend, someone to check your writing. The thing we walk down in church or a grocery store is an "aisle" - an "isle" is a tiny island. They are different.
Jan
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
This book is not quite as good as THE HATE. A seventeen-year-old boy discovers he has fathered a child, but not with his girlfriend. His own father is in prison, he is in the gang his father used to run, and his mother works two jobs. His only male direction comes from a cousin, who he loves like a brother. Like many 17 year olds, he is not very concerned about his future, his grades or growing up. During a time he and the girlfriend are on the outs, he has sex with his pal's girlfriend. It has no meaning for him - not until he finds out a year later that the child is his. How to grow up fast! Trying to stay out of the gang activity - tragedy. He meanders around, does not keep up his school work, has to care for the child. Good examples.
Rose
The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin
THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD is a heartbreaking fictional account of the actual Schoolchildren’s Blizzard that came on suddenly on January 12, 1988 in the Dakotas and Nebraska right at the time children were being released from school. Hundreds of children perished in the actual event, but this story concentrates on two sisters, Raina and Gerda Olsen, who were teachers, and for various reasons were caught in the blizzard with some of the children. These sisters were just teenagers, and one was heralded as a hero, while the other was not. It also follows the families that took these young women in as boarders, and the family dynamics between the families and the young women. It is also the story of a servant in one of the homes.
Janet
The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister
This is an adventure tale based on the lost Franklin Expedition and the Donner Party. An interesting book that moves at a brisk pace with a few surprises in the end.
Janet
The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion
Mystery of a hidden child. Where did she come from? The answer is in this exciting novel.
Martha
Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen
Thank heavens Hiaasen has returned to writing for adults. We need his humor right now and he doesn't disappoint. SQUEEZE ME involves giant pythons which find a friendly environment in the Florida swamps and green areas, a group of women, all over the age of 70 who call themselves the "Potussies" because they are avid, devoted fans of POTUS, a special club near Palm Beach called Casa Bellicosa, the First Lady, POTUS, the Secret Service. Yes, it is a take-off on the former President and his Florida environs, so you are forewarned. It is a LOL experience reading the riotous story which involves the former old governor, one-eyed and ever watchful and protective of the damaged Florida environment as related in previous Hiaasen novels.
Debbie
The Big Four by Agatha Christie
What a long list of characters and Agatha Christie gives vivid descriptions of each person. And so many stories with each of these characters. Hercule Poirot explains to Inspector Japp, “and yet you drag the red kipper across the trail,” exactly as Agatha Christie drags the red kippers in the story. The story centers on “The Big Four” which is a group of four powerful individuals: Li Chang Yen from China, a dollar sign from America, a French woman, and “The Destroyer”. Poirot races to identify and stop this deadly team. The mystery remains how Arthur Hastings spends so much time assisting Poirot in this lengthy hunt and ignoring his wife. Again, Agatha Christie explores the mistaken identity theme.
Rose
Sleep Well, My Lady by Kwei Quartey
I really enjoyed this second installment in the Emma Djan investigative series. I didn’t read the first book, but this novel can easily be read as a standalone. The novel is about Lady Araba, a beautiful fashion designer, who is murdered. Everyone suspects Augustus Seeza, a flamboyant talk show host with whom Arabs has a tumultuous relationship due to his alcoholism. An arrest has been made, but Araba’s Aunt Dele doesn’t believe the police have the right person. Therefore, she hires the investigative agency. There are many suspects, including Araba’s father.
Set in Ghana, this novel is beautifully written with an intricate mystery and an investigation that unravels the mystery. I look forward to going back and reading the first book.
Richard N B
Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles
Set in Texas at the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the reconstruction period, Jiles follows Simon Boudlin and his band of iterant musicians as they try to stay alive and out of trouble. While the plot focuses on the characters and their reactions to events happening around them, the atmosphere is enhanced by the descriptions of the landscape, the food, and culture of the times.
Suzanne
He Started It by Samantha Downing
This book pulled me in from the very beginning. It had so many twists and turns and I was surprised with the ending! Definitely a great read! I have already told several friends about it.
Mary
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
A very good book. It has been weeks since I read it and I still keep thinking about. What a hard life for so many people and how terrible they were treated when trying to make a better life for themselves. What strong women. Hard to read but loved it.
Rose
The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Romance novel about two public radio talk show hosts who don’t like each other initially, but when Shay Goldstein suggests an idea for a show where two exes talk about their relationship, “The Ex-Talk”, Shay and her nemesis, Dominic Yun, are asked to pretend that they dated and broke up. They are both hesitant, not wanting to lie to their listeners, but they want the show to succeed, so they agree to it. Since this is a romance, of course, they fall in love. But, with every romance, there are ups and downs. Smart, witty, and filled with steamy sex scenes, this was an enjoyable love story about facing your fears, and finding someone who will support your dreams.
Kimberley
A Matter of Control by J. E. Solinski
Taking place in the gang and drug city of Detroit, five main characters cross paths with one similar link: a high school teacher. They all learn that they are not in control and turn to their Christian faith to guide them and rescue them from the evil around them. It is a great length and a great recommendation for teachers and parents .
Susan
Vendetta (Sisterhood Book 3) by Fern Michaels
This is the third book in the Sisterhood Series. This is a diverse group of women from all walks of life who take it upon themselves to right a wrong for people who have been treated unjustly or are in dangerous situation they cannot get out of and need help. After the third book it becomes repetitive for these eclectic group of woman to get revenge on the people who have have gotten away with a crime or are just evil people. It is a graphic book in terms of what they do physically to the people. I will not keep reading these books - too graphic and too repetitive.
Sharon
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Fantastic historical fiction about two sisters growing up in occupied France during Hitler's reign. Lianne and her sister Isabelle have been estranged when Hitler does the unthinkable and invades France. So much to learn about the French resistance and these two sisters. Absolutely loved it.
Fran
Strongheart by Jim Fergus
This is the third installment in Mr Fergus’ trilogy that started with 1000 WHITE WOMEN, one of my all-time favorite books. STRONGHEART ties up MOST of the lose ends. A must-read for lovers of 1000 WHITE WOMEN.
Michelle
The Unwilling by John Hart
4.5 stars. John Hart doesn't disappoint. Well worth the extra year's wait. 1970s North Carolina is our backdrop for this gritty, heart-wrenching tale of family ties that bind and the horrors of war that follow you home.
Rose
Spending the Holidays With People I Want to Punch in the Throat by Jen Mann
This book tried way too hard to be funny. The author writes how she doesn’t go all out for Christmas, but her mother and daughter are huge Christmas decorating nuts. Most of the stories are over-the-top, and quite ridiculous. I understand exaggeration for comic effect, but these stories were outlandish and too far-fetched to be believable.
Teresa
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
The charming story of Natalie, who is living the secure and comfortable life that’s everything she dreamed of in her childhood - everything but truly happy. Just as she’s thinking of making some changes and wondering if she has the courage to do so, a tragedy makes the choice for her. Natalie and her friends make me want to go to San Francisco just to shop in her bookstore and see how her life is going.
Teresa
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
I’m a sucker for a book that alternates storytellers by chapter, and even more so when those chapters switch settings and time periods. Throw in Paris and a World War II theme, and then top it off with a coming-of-age story, and for me it’s a winner. Following Odile and Lily on their journeys through both World War II Paris and a country town in 1980s Montana as their stories intertwine.
Laurie
The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman
A beautiful love story/multi-generational family saga that transported me from Brooklyn, NY to Italy, blending historical fiction. Written so beautifully! The bold characters kept me turning pages well into the night. I loved it and can highly recommend to book clubs!
Pat
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
Wonderful story of a book woman on her trek to bring books to the folks in the hills of Kentucky.
Elisabeth
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
I am not usually a fan of locked room mysteries, but this book was very enjoyable, and though a chunkster, a fast read.
Lisa
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
Good thriller with interesting setting and family dynamics.
Lisa
All the Children Are Home by Patry Francis
This book will be one that will stay with me for a long time. Meet the Moscatelli family, foster parents Dahlia and Louie, Jimmy, Zaidie, Jon and then Agnes. Their love and trials will grasp your heart. You will be caring and rooting for them. I don’t often read books over again but this is one going in that category for me.
Jo'el
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier by Thad Carhart
Paris (off the beaten path) and pianos - fabulous!
Ella Jean
Under the Light of the Italian Moon by Jennifer Anton
I won this book from the Historical Fictionists giveaway. It is due out March 8th. Jennifer Anton is the author and this is her first book. It was a wonderful story based on a true story about her family before and during WWII. I did not have to write a review, but I did because I hope all historical fiction readers will read this fantastic story.
Jackie
Blink of an Eye by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen
Another Kendra Michaels story full of twists and turns.
Debra
The Great Santini by Pat Conroy
Emotional reality of a beloved author's childhood.
Diane
Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie
An impressive debut novel from this young writer. It takes you into the life of a young girl as her mother leaves her on the doorstep of her former home and tells her to be obedient.
Susan
The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
The story of Hedy Lamar's contribution to the invention of the cell phone and her life married to a weapons manufacturer in Austria in the early stages of WWII was especially engaging. My only problem was a historical fiction novel being written in the first person. I kept wondering how the novelist knew what Lamar was thinking and feeling.
Tracey
Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts
This is about the making of "The Wizard of Oz" based on the book by Frank Baum. It is fiction based on the true story of Frank and Maud Baum’s lives and then jumps back and forth to Mrs. Baum watching the film being made and her relationship with Judy Garland. Mrs. Baum is determined to have the film mimic the book.
Elly
Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer
Having lost a husband to depression and suicide, this is a tough book for me to read. It does, however, help me understand how dark and desperate his thoughts were. It is very well written.
Sally-Jo
The Likeness by Tana French
I usually like Tana's books but this one was just too far-fetched for me. The story dragged on and on. I found I didn't like any of the characters including the protagonist. I hope Book 3 is better.
sherry
The Book of V by Anna Solomon
Was not as good as I had anticipated.
Susan
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Interesting look at what lies between life and death, and what makes life worth living.
June
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
Just the kind of book we need now. The British are always a good example for having a stiff upper lip, but with a joy to life. I love the characters! It's a comforting and entertaining read.
Muriel
Two Gun Hart: Law Man, Cowboy, and Long-Lost Brother of Al Capone by Jeff McArthur
This book contained a lot of interesting information about Richard Hart, alias Vincenzo, the eldest brother of Al Capone, and also stories about the beginning of the Mafia in Italy, the rise of gang activity and crime by the mob in America (even in Sioux City, Iowa), and Prohibition among other things. I also enjoyed learning more about Homer, Nebraska back in the early 1900s, as this is where my mother grew up and they knew the Richard Hart family. The first 25 pages seemed a little dry, but after that I was intrigued by what was happening and the book moved along quickly for me. I think people with a love for history and colorful characters would enjoy this well-researched book.
Michele
The Fortunate Ones by Ed Tarkington
Great book! Didn't want to put it down, eager to see what came next. Money does not buy happiness.
Trude
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
Fascinating book told in alternate timelines and centered on Odile Souche, a young woman working at The American Library in Paris when the war hits Paris. This book grabbed me from the very first sentence and wouldn't let go. At great peril to themselves the librarians are determined to keep their library open. Wonderfully-drawn characters highlight this book and I fell in love with each of them. Fast forward to Montana in the 1980s and we get to catch up with Odile, and meet Lily. Lily is a young neighbor of Odile. She and Odile bond over French lessons and form a deep friendship as Odile helps her navigate the teen years and grow into a lovely young woman. I can't recommend this book highly enough!
Bob
The Voice Inside by Brian Freeman
A thriller that keeps you guessing, not sure where goes, then all of a sudden, it makes sense.
Madelon
Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman
Hard to put down. Timely and so well written. Hope this is the first of many more to come by this fantastic writing team.
Linda
The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin
An excellent historical novel based on the title's devastating loss of life in the Great Plains in 1888. Carol's podcast interview with the author is also excellent.
Elizabeth
The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams
An easy but delightful read that alternates between pre-WWI Germany, the Bahamas during WWII and Europe in the same time frame. Great escapism during a cold winter in a pandemic.
helen
Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
Heart-warming, wonderful characters. A feel good book to enjoy during these uncertain times.
Susan
The High-Rise Diver by Julia von Lucadou
This was a bizarre but engaging SF piece that accurately is described for readers of THE CIRCLE and BRAVE NEW WORLD. The characters seem remote, but the method of watching the diver for changes of behavior is a little too believable. Many aspects of a futuristic culture involving child rearing are also explored.
LouAnn
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Kristen Hannah is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint. I did not know very much about the Dust Bowl, even after living in Texas for 30 years. Her description of the conditions was amazing and I could imagine being there. Her characters were very engaging and I fell in love with them. A heart-wrenching novel. At times I laughed, at times I cried but I loved every minute of the ride!
Donna
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
At the age of 35 Nora decides that she hasn't done anything right in her life and decides to take an overdose. She discovers a library full of books that tell her how her life would have turned out if she had made different decisions. Enjoyable read but a bit preachy.
Michelle
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
To me, a great book is one that pulls you into the story, makes you feel like it’s real, that you are with the character, makes you keep wanting to pick the book back up and read just a few more pages, and has great, descriptive writing. THE FOUR WINDS had all of that for me. I felt like I was there. My mouth and skin felt dry, I could feel the dust in the corners of my eyes, my stomach felt empty (even though it was definitely not). I could relate to Elsa so much as a mother warrior. As a mother, I felt her burning need to just keep going for her kids, to persevere.
I also appreciated what felt like a first-hand lesson on the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. I loved that there was so much of a history lesson yet it was a great story.
Enily
Chasing My Cure by David Fajgenbaum
This is true story of the author, a medical student, who is diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening disease. He focuses his life on finding a cure for his disease and establishes a model for others to follow when searching for cures for other life-threatening diseases.
Annmarie
Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin
I really enjoyed this book, probably more than I thought I would. A light-hearted, fun read but with quite a bit of commentary going on underneath. I love how Aviva and the details of the affair are seen through the eyes of all the women (and girls) around her...and how one illicit affair impacted the lives of more than just the two involved in it. It was interesting how society's "slut-shaming" continues to haunt her for years and years. And Jane's realization in the end of what was and was not important. And not only the societal views of male/female double standards, but also the development of mother/daughter relationships. Cleverly written.
Annmarie
Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand
This book was "okay". Nothing really drew me in and it wasn't until the last 60 pages (of a 418 pager) that I started caring about the characters. Until you could see family dynamics, they all seemed very two-dimensional. I loved the setting and the historical perspective, but it just wasn't enough to keep me enticed. And the "big secret" being kept for years turned out to be much less shocking than I imagined.
Madelon
The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher
Told from two distinctive female voices, this dark and disturbing novel keeps the reader engaged through its many twists and turns.
Lois
Jacob's Oath by Martin Fletcher
A novel about two Holocaust survivors and their romance. Memories of their experiences constantly influence their lives making it difficult for them to "move on". Well written and should be read by many.
Dianne
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
Perfect read for everyone who loves their library, and all the services provided. Book tells not only the story of the fire in Central Library in Los Angeles, but the history of that library and its services.
I remain forever grateful for the services provided by my local library system during the pandemic.
sherri
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
A touching YA novel about a child with facial deformities. Spiritually uplifting.
Margaret
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Written from a woman's POV, set during Great Depression in Texas during drought of 1934, The Dust Bowl. Farms were failing because they could not produce crops with no rain. Dust storms caused "dust pneumonia" in many. Elsa came from well-to-do family who didn't love her. She longed for love and to belong. She found that in her in-laws. Since her son suffered from dust pneumonia, she moved with her two kids to California after hearing there were jobs. Migrants were treated unfairly in CA, many died from diseases. Owners of cotton fields, fruit orchards, etc. paid the workers very little & got away with it since there were more workers than jobs. Elsa was brave despite the extreme poverty. Also about union workers.
Trezeline
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Very interesting examination of depression.
Janet
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld
This was an interesting read. I had to keep reminding myself that this was a fictional memoir! I wonder if Hillary read this book? Does anyone know the answer?
Barbara
The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews
MKA's novels so often are about a woman who has been wronged. This book introduces us to Riley who has been blindsided by her husband's unfaithfulness. She flees to her family's island home in order to regather herself. Her teenage daughter predictably resents her mother's actions. Once "home," Riley also has to contend with her mother's domination, her brother's alcoholism, and an old flame. Typical, also, is the true girlfriend of longstanding who helps Riley. Complications arise when the soon-to-be ex-husband is found dead. Then there is the messy business of the treasured island's peace being destroyed by over-development, and her family's position. With much summer island scenery and a hurricane, we greatly enjoy another by Andrews.
Rose
Shakeup by Stuart Woods
Formulaic Stone Barrington book. In this volume, Holly Barker is inaugurated as president. While attending the inauguration, a woman is murdered in Stone’s hotel suite. Suspicion lands on the husband of the murderer, as well as the head of the D.C. police department. As usual, the book has Stone as a sex god, having sex with at least four women in this one. Honestly, that is getting so old.
Beth
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
Maybe my expectations were too high. Or maybe I'm tired of reading the overabundance of World War II novels. But THE LAST GREEN VALLEY bored me for the most part. This is historical fiction about the experiences of an ethnic German family in 1944 as German soldiers led them, along with many other ethnic Germans, westward from their homes in Ukraine. What a predicament they faced: were they running from Stalin just to be "protected" by Nazi wolves? I'll say this for the book: it is interesting. And that's a good reason to read it. But I want historical fiction to be more than that. A history book is interesting. I won an ARC of THE LAST GREEN VALLEY through Goodreads.com.
Harriet
The Liar's Dictionary by Eley Williams
For the love of words! A very entertaining, at times laugh-out-loud tale about the making and destruction of a dictionary. Two primary characters, one modern and one about a century ago, struggle with their work on the dictionary and the problems of their private lives. Recommend highly.
Rose
Hush-Hush by Stuart Woods
Book #56 in the Stone Barrington series. In this novel, Stone’s computers are locked by a cyber attack, demanding ransom of $1 million in Bitcoin. When Stone refuses, and the CIA’s computer expert is called in, Stone finds that the Russians still have an interest in him from something that happened years ago. As usual, there are several trips to Europe, and several names from past books make an appearance in this novel.
Madelon
Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane
Even though we are told “who did it”, the book contains surprises along the way.
Eileen
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
Wonderful tale that gives insight into the traditions and conflicts of women raised in India.
Becky
Small-time by Russell Shorto
Lots of individual vignettes are interesting in this memoir. Many individuals and their stories make for a challenging read trying to keep them all straight. Shorto has written a detailed narrative genealogy of his father’s family in an attempt to discover who murdered Pippy and to discover the “real” person who was his grandfather. I found it difficult to maintain interest in the book as Shorto leapt from person to person and time frame to time frame. A listing of the numerous characters with their relationship to Shorto would have been helpful. I did learn a great deal about small-time criminals and how the numbers racket and other “mob” games worked. I do not think my book groups would be interested in this book.
Becky
Missing and Endangered by J. A. Jance
Jance is one of my favorite authors and in this novel with Sheriff Joanna Brady as lead protagonist she does not disappoint. Brady is sheriff of a county near the Mexican border in Arizona. Murder is complicated by the retirement of her lead detective, endangered children and Joanna’s own daughter. Jance’s characters are as integral to her stories as the requisite murders and mayhem. Her characters change and adapt as their world changes just as in the real world. I read Jance as much for Brady (and Beaumont and Reynolds, et al, her other main stays) as for the intriguing plots and heart-pounding conclusions. You won’t be disappointed.
Kate
House of Trelawney by Hannah Rothschild
Author Hannah Rothschild has done a bang-up job of poking fun at the slowly decaying British aristocratic society (old money), the greed of hedge funds managers in their search for power and fame (new money), and the struggle to hold onto crumbling estates while meeting the demands of needed repairs and inheritance taxes (no money). Although much of this satirical story is sad, there is also a tremendous amount of humor and even tenderness. The depth of character writing is excellent and scene settings are richly portrayed. Ms. Rothschild's writing is well crafted, her understanding of the human condition and her knowledge of financial markets - spot-on.
Kate
Death with a Double Edge by Anne Perry
Ms. Perry's historical research is spot-on. She writes of the seediness of London's slums, the obvious differences among classes, their homes and attire. Her writing is rich in description and one is easily drawn into the scenes as though watching from the corner of the room. The dialogue is well crafted such that the reader senses the personality of the speaker, the depth of their character and their idiosyncrasies.
Kate
Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham
With meticulous historical detail and exquisite writing, author Genevieve Graham has brought forth an epic saga of steadfast love, compassion, endurance and heroism. From the anti-Semitic Christie Pits riot of 1933 to the Christmas Battle of Hong Kong of 1941 and VJ Day of1945, Ms. Graham evokes richly detailed events of Canadian history and has rescued them from obscurity. The story is on the one hand a tale of horrific events, yet also one of tender caring and tremendous loyalty. Her characters are well developed, thought-provoking and highly relatable.
Kate
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
Through this story of loss, hardship, austerity and clever pluckiness, one gains a whole new level of respect for those left at home during the war years. These folks tirelessly put their best faces on and plowed forward through each and every day's challenges. The story shares some of the clever techniques utilized to create mock foods or provide substitutes for highly limited staples rations. For the referenced food dishes, recipes have been included. Just reading the recipes alone is fascinating in and of itself.
Kate
When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson
Such a moving and informative tale of life in Iraq under the heavy fist of Saddam Hussein as told by Gina Wilkinson, a former foreign correspondent of several prominent news outlets. Having lived as a "dependent spouse" in Iraq during the "regime", she has composed a well-informed tale which draws on her Iraqi experience at a time when the country was closed off to the rest of the world. From its reading one may ask, "In a country fraught with fear, suspicion and constant betrayal, can friendship truly exist?"
Kate
Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley
As an 18th century reenactor, I was drawn to this story which is partly set in 1759 Long Island with the rest in current day. Author Susanna Kearsley has drawn upon the history and stories passed down through her family as well as upon her extensive historical research to render a compelling and mysterious story. She deftly weaves a tale of honor, duty, courage, and at its heart, a slow burn romance. Kearsley's prose is exquisitely rendered. Her settings are visually rich and atmospheric. Her historical research is Herculean and meticulous. Highly recommend to historical fiction fans.
Kate
The Adventuress by Tasha Alexander
This tenth book in the Lady Emily mystery series was a fine historical fiction mystery set in the French Riviera of the 1890s. At one point I was a bit frustrated with Lady Emily and her husband Colin as the implication of the evidence which appeared plain as day to me took five more chapters to formulate in Emily's mind. That was a brief hiccup in the overall enjoyment of the story. Ms. Alexander's writing is excellent; the character development quite good and the setting of scene - superb. Having visited Cannes and Nice some years back, it was a delight revisiting the favored tourists sites and seeing them through the eyes of these 19th century characters. All in all, a most enjoyable read.
Rose
Unparalleled by D. S. Smith
This was an interesting sci-fi novel about lives in a parallel universe. When Stuart Milton awakens disoriented and in an unfamiliar place, no one believes him when he talks about his job at the zoo, or his married life with Lauren. His brother, Dave, doesn’t support what Stu is saying.
Other strange events with people disappearing are scattered throughout the book. My biggest concern with the story is that these seemed a bit out of place. As the story progresses, more and more information is provided about experimentation and DNA regeneration. It comes to light that there is a device called The Harmoniser, which is being used to experiment with people DNA.
Rose
Adoption Stories by Janine Myung Ja
A series of stories and excerpts about various adoptions and the toll it took on the adoptees. The book begins and ends with stories about twin girls adopted from Korea. There are other stories of the orphan trains, adopted children enduring abuse, children from Haiti, as well as other countries. The author provides resources for adoptees. I know at least six children who have been adopted, and fortunately, none of them have had the experiences detailed in this book. However, I do think that the author provides valuable resources for adoptees.
Rose
Body in the Woods by Behcet Kaya
The novel opens when a woman stumbles across a dead body in the woods. The body is identified as Heinrich Hines. Jack Ludefance is a PI living in FL. He receives a call from an old acquaintance in CA, Vance McGruder. Vance was Hines’s business partner and is the number one suspect in his death. Vance hires Jack to prove his innocence. As Jack investigates, he uncovers information that Hines had invented something enabling stealth aircraft. This technology secret was sold to a foreign government. In addition to the murder, Jack has now waged into military trade secrets. This is the first Jack Ludefance novel I read, and wished I had read earlier books to provide some background about Jack. However, it can be read standalone.
Carol
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
I read this book in a weekend. I loved it. The protagonist is female with two children. If you read THE GRAPES OF WRATH, this story is similar.
Rose
Treacherous Estate by Behcet Kaya
Jack Ludefance, PI, is given information by Lillian Holler, previously Huey Nguyen, about her husband, Jonathan Holler, and then dies. What a start to a novel! As Jack investigates Holler and his company, he involves a young woman, Katy Ozener, to infiltrate the organization and gain information. They found out that Holler is involved with several military persons, as well as C130 cargo planes, drugs, and young girls being smuggled into the country. As Jack uncovers more details, things become more dangerous for him and those around him. He depends on an old army buddy, Lawson, for help. Again, Jack displays his womanizing, but also his soft side.
Glad I read this novel as it provides background.
Gerry
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
My initial reaction, when I opened this book and saw that it was poetry, was to put it aside. But instead, I decided to read just a little and see if I liked it. Within only a few pages, it had captivated me. LONG WAY DOWN is the story of a fifteen-year-old boy whose adored older brother has been shot. His brother taught him "the rules": don't cry, don't snitch, get revenge. Set on revenge, he takes his brother's gun and goes off to shoot his brother's killer. What follows is a powerful portrayal of angst and uncertainty, and the consequences of following "the rules". An amazing YA novel that should not be missed.
Gerry
Gold by Chris Cleave
GOLD is a very engaging story with well-developed characters, realistic conflict, and a satisfying resolution. Three of the main characters are competitive cyclists coping with their own ambitions and setbacks, along with real life issues and responsibilities; the fourth is coach to two of them, and often advisor to all. I did have some difficulty following the timelines of the story (probably heightened by the fact that I was listening to the audiobook) and initially found the Star Wars references annoying, but in general, this is one I liked a lot and would definitely recommend.
Gerry
Beneath the Lion's Gaze by Maaza Mengiste
BENEATH THE LION'S GAZE tells the story of one family during the Ethiopian Revolution in 1974, when Emperor Haile Selassie and his government were overthrown by members of the Ethiopian Army supported by Soviet Communist troops. Two brothers and their physician father, along with other relatives and neighbors, are divided in their views on how best to respond to events in their country, but political views become less and less important as revolutionary forces imprison their father, kidnap a neighbor's child, and commit other atrocities against members of their community. A difficult read at times, but one that brings home the suffering that so many experience during wartime.
Gerry
A Most Wanted Man by John le Carré
I've only read one LeCarré book in the past (THE ORDINARY GARDENER, which I enjoyed). With A MOST WANTED MAN I am again impressed with the intricacy of his plotting and his ability to maintain suspense right up to the end. In a special treat, LeCarré himself narrated the audiobook and was a joy to hear. The ending left me a bit uncertain about certain characters -- were they all whom they claimed to be? -- but I suspect that was not unintentional. In the "game" of spy vs. spy, no one is truly who he pretends to be.
Gerry
The Decameron Project: 29 New Stories from the Pandemic by The New York Times
29 stories, each in some way a reflection on life during the pandemic. While not every story was great, overall I very much enjoyed reading this collection, with so many varied perspectives on individual responses to the crisis, impacts on relationships, changes in lifestyles and habits, and even one fascinating look at humans from the perspective of viruses.
Gerry
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I enjoyed this novel far more than I expected to, and I think it will linger in the back of my mind for some time to come. The premise is interesting: a young woman, severely depressed, attempts suicide and finds herself in a mysterious library where she is free to select another version of her life from among infinite possibilities. It could easily have turned into a trite and saccharine story, but Haig spooled out the events of the novel skillfully, including enough twists and turns to sustain his readers' interest and prevent the plot from becoming completely predictable. The ending was not completely unexpected, but still very satisfying.
Gerry
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
4-1/2 stars for a fascinating novel of identity, race, gender, and connections both of blood and of love. Twin sisters leave their stifling small town home for the big city, and from there, their lives separate and create paths that can never fully join again. I loved the characters, with all their flaws, and every page of this hope-filled story of identities sloughed off and created.
Gerry
The September Society by Charles Finch
I suspect I would not make a very good detective. Even with Lenox's repeating his list of clues several times I had a hard time seeing how he reached his conclusions about the crime. But it was an engaging story, and I especially enjoyed the virtual tour of Oxford University, and all the background information about its founding, history, and customs.
Gerry
Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
Romance is not a genre I usually read, but I was surprised to find this novel quite enjoyable. It's a fairly quick read told in alternating chapters by Morgan, beginning when she's a seventeen-year-old girl looking out for her sixteen-year-old sister as they both learn about love and romance, and by Clara, Morgan's daughter, as she's approaching her own seventeenth birthday. Morgan put her own hopes and dreams on hold when she discovered she was pregnant with Clara, and now she's determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did, which of course only heightens Clara's teenaged rebellion.
Lynn
Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway by Michael Riedel
SINGULAR SENSATION "charts the success of Broadway in the 1990s and its remarkable comeback" after 9-11-01. Julie Taymor's creation of THE LION KING is my favorite story, just ahead of RENT and CHICAGO. But then there's TITANIC...and RAGTIME...and THE PRODUCERS...
Linda
Till Murder Do Us Part by James Patterson
“Till Murder Do Us Part” by James Patterson and Andrew Bourelle is about a man who changes his identity for a new life. He left his old crimes behind or so he thought. “Ramp Up to Murder” by James Patterson and Max DiLallo is about a champion skateboarder who aged out of his sport and his anger brought out a dark side that no one had ever seen before.
Linda
The Girl in Dangerous Waters by A. J. Rivers
This is the 8th book in the Emma Griffin series. She won a trip to an island resort and takes her pals and fellow FBI agents Bellamy and Eric with her. The resort may look like paradise but it hides evil. Drugs are available for the guests and young women hired as maids are being trafficked. Even though the resort is not on U.S. soil, they call in reinforcements and a raid is carried out. As Emma’s boyfriend Sheriff Sam Johnson helps her to a car to leave for the airport, they are watched by another known as Dragon. He wants Emma and thought this plan would work, but he is patient. There will be other opportunities. This series always has lots of questions. Some are answered and others are not.
Linda
The Girl and the Secret Society by A. J. Rivers
The ninth book in the Emma Griffin series. Emma Griffin helps her cousin Dean Steele in his case involving a missing man. When they stumble across the body of a television personality buried in a cornfield, the FBI is called in and other bodies are found in the cornfield. How did they got there and who murdered them? While checking out an abandoned building, hooded figures come and tie up Emma. Dean tells them she is promised to the Dragon and they back off. Emma says the Dragon was her first undercover assignment and she thought he was dead. Since the men were afraid of him, he is still alive and feared. Who is the Dragon?
Linda
Dreaming Death by Heather Graham
Keenan Wallace has been assigned a rookie agent, Stacey Hanson, and he’s not too pleased about it. But as the two work together investigating a murder and removal of body organs, he changes his mind. Stacey has a way of interrogating witnesses and suspects that gets answers. She has dreams where she sees the beginning of a crime. Her current dream is about the killer holding a scalpel and about to kill someone. He knows her and knows she sees him but she can’t see him clearly in the dream. They have to find the killer before he finds Stacey.
Linda
Snowfire by Heather Graham
On her way to her cousin’s house, Kristin Kennedy’s car stalls. Walking toward a nearby house, the angry owner accosts her and tells her to leave. She does and her car spins out in a snowdrift. She has no choice except to walk back to the angry homeowner and ask for assistance. He thinks she is the nosy reporter who pestered him about an interview. Five years earlier, Justin Magnasun was accused of murder but was released due to lack of evidence. Now he’s afraid fingers will start pointing again. She is a reporter but did not know who he was. How can she tell him the truth and still keep his trust?
Linda
Escanta by Brooke Sivendra
After working for the CIA and exposing some of their actions, James Thomas and Deacon Thomas are in hiding and work behind Thomas Security by providing high-end security and bodyguard services. No one knows their true names. James learns that a group known as Escanta is hunting him and wants to find out about this group. The search takes them to Eastern Europe where his contact is found murdered. James is providing security to a prosecutor who has been threatened by the Mafia. Are they behind Escanta?
Linda
On a Snowy Christmas Night by Debbi Rawlins
Shea Monroe comes to Sundance Dude Ranch during the Christmas holidays to volunteer at Safe Haven, animal rescue operation. Jesse McAllister has returned home after serving in the air force. He feels as if he doesn’t belong as his two brothers are pretty much handling things around the ranch. Shea fell in love with a rescued horse and goes to find it after it got out of the stall. A snowstorm arrives and Shea is lost. She is spotted by Jesse as he is piloting a plane back to the airport. He puts the plane down and goes to rescue Shea. Alone in the line cabin, they act on the attraction between them. Together they found what each had been looking for.
Linda
Stripped Down by Kelli Ireland
While trying to get his company in the black, Eric Reeves takes a second job as exotic dancer Dalton Chase. He is hired to appear at the bachelorette party hosted by Cass Jameson, who is going by Cass Wheeler to keep others from knowing she is related to developer David Jameson. She has an environmental engineering firm and hopes to get involved in the Chok Resort development led by Eric’s company. At the bachelorette party, Eric has eyes for Cass and they meet later at a club. That evening leads to several more, up to the day of the meeting. At the board meeting, both are shocked to find the other is not who they seemed, but is their romance doomed?
Linda
Written on Her Heart by Julie Anne Lindsey
Finding a journal left beside a tree, Emma Hastings starts reading it and falls in love with the soldier writing it. She talks to her friend Heather and they try to figure out who it could be. She has seen Nicholas Fenton around town. He is a friend of the man who is renovating her business and he tells Emma he is a botanist as well as a carpenter. They start talking to each other and attraction soon blooms. He has fallen for the beautiful red-headed woman and she is taken with him. He knows she has read his journal but how can he let her know that he is the one who wrote the entries. A heartwarming book and wonderful love story!
Linda
Cabin Fever by Jillian Burns
Firefighter Joe Tedesco is shocked when he receives a call informing him he is the Sexiest Average Joe contest winner. He tells himself he is going to kill his sisters as he knows they entered him. He receives a trip to the Caribbean where he and a model named Piper will star in a photo shoot to be included in a magazine. Carly Pendleton is the fashion blogger who is working with the magazine. She is prickly and standoffish at first but kisses exchanged with Joe change her and they are soon meeting in secluded island places.
Kay
The Exiles by Christina Baker kline
I really enjoyed the this novel based on the history of Australia and nearby islands. Convicts settling the country evokes a stereotype of men outlaws but telling the story of women sent there after being convicted of minor or trumped up crimes reveals the cruelty of the times.
Kay
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
This story of 17th century witch hunts on a Norwegian island of Vardo will haunt me for some time to come.
Liz
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
A would-be bank robber tries to rob a “cashless “ bank. Upon escaping, the thief runs into an apartment building that is holding an open house for perspective buyers. Unfortunately there are eight people in the unit. For the next several hours this unlikely group of people will share their secrets, hurts and passions. What a FABULOUS book, a story unlike any you have ever read. The reader will be hooked in the first two pages. There are many twists and turns you will never see coming. In parts it is funny, others, sad. It is a true story if forgiveness, hope and compassion.
Joyce
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
This book grabbed my interest right away! A young English girl wishing to get away from boring England where she had to knit, crochet, and embroider, meet various suitors, none of whom interested her at all! Soon she meets and falls for an American who wows her and talks her into marrying him. She is thrilled to be going to America but found Kentucky shockingly boring and soon joined the "horse pack" of women who deliver books to the many families in the mountains who have no books to read nor do their children. She finds herself a new life in this small community of women who, every day, no matter the weather, ride a horse or mule to deliver books to these bookless women and children. She loves what she's doing and finds love and purpose.
Betty
Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi
As I finished the last paragraph of this book, I sighed. I did not want to leave Hashimi’s world. She has the expertise to juxtapose the horrors of war alongside the gentleness of the Afghan people and leave the reader yearning to provide comfort to those beautiful people. Sitara Zamani returns to Kabul after decades away. She is determined to find the bodies of her family who were killed in 1978 in a bloody coup. She believes she was the single survivor of that tragic night.
Tessa
Ashfall by Mike Mullin
3.5 stars. As post-apocalyptic novels go, I found this one is pretty interesting, engaging and compelling. I was quickly drawn in by Alex and his situation. But the book really came alive when he meets up with Darla. I want to read more about HER!
Kate
The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly
This was a beautifully-rendered historical fiction read where a magnificent garden unified the story across three separate time periods. The garden tightly held precious secrets of several women over the course of a hundred years plus. Author Julia Kelly has developed well the characters across the breadth of the story. The garden, itself, is a fully developed character providing the thread tying the three stories together. Its variety of garden "rooms" and plant varieties is rich in the telling. The descriptive prose is equally rich and atmospheric. The story holds an element of mystery in its well-held secrets, which are not revealed until the stories draw to their satisfying conclusions. All in all this story was uplifting and enjoyable.
Jan
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
I won this book in a Goodreads drawing in exchange for an honest review. This is a mystery and I really liked that about it. Fans of this author will certainly like the book. I found it to be rambling - I got tired of all the backstory about the mean things one character had done. Characters don't have a lot of depth. And we get a silly infatuation (or maybe true love) along the way. The characters are image makers on the web. I know this happens and that people compete to have more followers than someone else, but it does not turn me on. I prefer to be myself and do the things that I think are correct or appropriate or what I want to do. Not many people in this book did that. If this is realistic, how shallow. Glad that I got to read this.
Jan
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
I did not realize that this is a horror book - ghosts, spirits, things that go bang in the night. This is not my favorite genre but I have to say that the book grabbed me. I dropped all other books while I read this one. Daddy is dead and never told the adult daughter the truth about the haunted house and all the stuff that happened. Now the daughter has inherited the house and has vague memories of being there for a couple of weeks when she was a child. Mother refuses to give her the information that she wants about the house. So she goes there. It is haunted - strange sounds, bells ringing, record player suddenly starting to play, lights come on by themselves. She sees figures out near the forest. Really scary. A great read.
Rose
Little Voices by Vanessa Lillie
Reading the first chapter of this book, I was immediately interested. However, the book took a turn into a financial crime story tied into a murder, which I didn’t expect. There was a lot of detail on fishing boats and licenses, and money laundering. Devon Burges has just had a baby at only 28 weeks gestation. While getting prepped for surgery for a C-section, she hears that her friend has been found dead. When Devon is home, she hears little voices in her head telling her she is a bad mother, she isn’t enough, etc. She is dealing with post-partum depression, but she feels the need to investigate her friend’s death. Another friend is arrested for murder, but Devon believes he is innocent. I wanted to like this book, but it fell flat.
Loralee
When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O'Neal
I liked the book, however, it felt repetitive at times. I felt the mansion drama could have been eliminated for more family dialogue between the mother and returning daughter. The ending was rushed and I longed for more character development. The beginning of the book was one of the best opening lines I have read in a long time.
Pam
The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns
A story about love, cultural influence, and traditional values in the late 1950s intertwining with the love between a father, mother, and daughter of then and now. Based on true facts, this story opens up a world of both past and present secrets. Be sure to read the questions for discussion at the end of the book so you don't miss any clues.
Sean
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
I love a good sarcastic leading character and Andrew Yancy is just that. In typical Hiaasen fashion, what seems like a mundane event turns into a hilarious romp through Key West. Memorable characters abound as the story progresses and each better than the last. The book isn't just funny though the story goes in directions I didn't see coming. Overall, an impressive delight.
Anita
The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham
Meghan and Agatha are two pregnant women. Told in alternate chapters, each has a different lifestyle. Meghan is married to Jack and has two other children. Agatha is a single woman whose boyfriend is in the Royal Navy. They meet at the supermarket where Agatha works. They become friendly and Meghan invites Agatha to her yoga class for pregnant ladies. Their due dates are about the same time. All seems to be going well, until it's not. There are many twists and turns which make this an excellent thriller which I found hard to put down. I loved it!
Mac
We Fed an Island by Jose Andres
After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, famous chef Jose Andres knew he had to help. He didn't have a plan but he knew he could use his connections and expertise to feed the people. This is the inspiring story of how he overcame inexperience, bureaucracy and the elements to not only feed thousands, but to found World Kitchen, which now provides food for people in disaster areas all over the world. Tip - Listen to the audio read by the author to hear how passionate he is about this cause.
Laura
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
A fabulous story of a time that I knew little about. During this time of Covid, I think we have it easy compared to what the people in this book went through. There is struggle, love, courage and growth. A great read!
Laura
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave
This has been chosen as our book club book. I would have never picked it on my own. It's a great story of grapes. But more, it's a story of the secrets that family keep, mostly from each other.
Laura
The Answer Is... by Alex Trebeck
A great read. Alex was a good man. Not perfect, but a good father and great humanitarian.
Rose
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
I am so glad that I finally read this book, as it has been a book on my radar for some time. Thankfully, I listened to the audiobook performed by Ruby Dee. Her voice brought the characters and the dialog to life. A fine performance! I enjoyed the evolution of Janie Crawford from a teenager to an older woman, through three marriages (to Mr. Killicks-farmer, Mayor Starks-businessman, and Tea Cake-gambler), and finally returning home. This was an interesting insight into the black community in the South in the 1930s. This young woman grows in some ways, becoming more independent, yet still dependent on the love of a man. She shows strength in standing up to her husbands, and standing strong in her court case.
Cris
The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost by Brad Strickland and John Bellairs
This is Book 10 of the Lew Barnavelt series by John Bellairs. After John Bellairs died, Brad Strickland continued his works, finishing some unfinished manuscripts, and also writing new ones. The books are intended for ages 10-12, but as an adult, I still enjoy them. It always surprises me how scary they are! In this installment, Lewis finds an old whistle. He accidentally discovers the whistle helps him scare away the boys who continually bully him. But at what cost?
Chris
The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey
Great story of a widow who changes her life.
Erica
The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny
The book has all the ingredients for a great read: a mythic journey to find a parent, a backdrop of Venice and points of interest throughout Europe, ruminations on mental illness from a 16th century female doctor in training. But the concept of this journey began to fall apart in places and some details were so farfetched that it was hard to go along with the author's premise that this young doctor has a worthy father to find.
Rose
Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michael Robotham
This is a psychological thriller about a young woman, Evie Cormac, who is found alone in an abandoned house, and now six years later, she wants emancipation from the system. Cyrus Haven is brought in to observe her and give recommendations. Cyrus had his own horrors in his past, when his brother murdered their parents and their twin sisters. When Cyrus is called in by the police to give insight into the murder of Jodie, a teen figure skater, Evie and Cyrus are caught in a deadly situation. When it is discovered that Jodie was pregnant and hiding money, everyone’s impression of the sweet teenager is thrown into question, wondering what she was hiding. Who is the father? I look forward to Book 2!
