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August 20, 2021 - September 10, 2021

 

This contest period's winners were Betsy B., Francisca E. and Tara R., who each received a copy of LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger and A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins.

 

Katrina
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

5
A terrific book. I gobbled this book up in only a few days. Work and sleep kept me from finishing it one day. I love his author and so far I have yet to be disappointed in her work.

John
The Stitchers by Lorien Lawrence

5
This book is about making friends with your neighbors and recognizing that we all have own individual qualities.

Emily
Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire by Lizzie Johnson

5
Intense, riveting and well written about the wildfire that destroyed Paradise, California.

Tessa
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

3
The Owens women have always been known for their beauty and have always had magical powers. Sally and Gillian, however, want nothing to do with magical powers and definitely do not want magic to dictate their love lives. I had seen the movie years ago and thought little of it, so was hesitant to read this. But it satisfied a challenge and I’m glad I read it. Hoffman is a great storyteller and, like all fairy tales, this one has some important lessons to impart.

Linda
Ocean Prey by John Sandford

5
Three Coast Guardsmen were shot and killed as they tried to board a suspicious boat off the coast of Florida. The FBI was investigating with no luck. Lucas Davenport finds out about it and wants to get involved. He talks fellow marshal Bob Matees into going to Florida with him. They know it was drug-related and start following leads developed from dealers. Lucas brings in Virgil Flowers to act as a diver for the suspected group. Drugs were dropped in the ocean and were being retrieved when brought to the attention of the Coast Guard. There are many containers still in the water and the bad guys want to get the rest of them. Although the FBI wants to get the drugs, Lucas wants to nail the kingpin and put him out of business.

Linda
House of Ashes by Loretta Marion

3
Cassie Mitchell takes in a couple who are down on their luck. In exchange for room and board, Vince and Ashley Jacobson will renovate the carriage house so Cassie can rent it out. Although she asks, Cassie cannot learn much from the couple. Renovation is almost complete when the couple disappears. She reports them missing to the local sheriff and the FBI. Investigations begin with almost no leads. Then the FBI says the case is closed. How can that be when the couple is still missing? Then the local sheriff gets a call and is told to stop investigating. Cassie seems to be the only one who is concerned about her young friends.

Linda
Almost Missed You by Jessica Strawser

3
Finn and Violet first saw each other at the beach but were separated before names were exchanged. Finn had met Maribel and they planned to marry but he often thought of the beach girl he never got to know. Maribel was killed when he fell asleep at the wheel and he blamed himself. Not only for the accident but that he was thinking of the beach girl when he was heading to the beach. He finally meets the beach girl who turns out to be Violet. Their life together is full of lies, both by Finn and his close friend Caitlin. Finn finally gets the therapy he has needed to deal with the results of that long-ago accident.

Linda
Love for Beginners by Jill Shalvis

5
Emma Harris undergoes grueling physical therapy after being hit by a car. She calls her therapist Simon Armstrong, a hard-ass PT, but he helps her regain the use of her body. He also fell in love with her but feels he has no time for a relationship when he has to care for his father and help run the family business. His cousin Alison Pratt steps in and helps as she can. She and her love Ryan Dennison have ended their relationship although both are miserable. The two couples have to find a way to regain their relationships and plan for the future.

Linda
Sweet Talking Rancher by Kate Pearce

5
Danny Miller and Faith McDonald were high school sweethearts till she left town suddenly. Seventeen years later, she returns to take over her father’s veterinary practice with her brother. Many townsfolk blame her for hurting Danny and will not talk to her but he wants answers. He and Faith have unfinished business between them. They learn that decisions were made by their parents without their input years ago when Faith almost died giving birth to their son. The baby was adopted out before Danny could even see or hold him. The chemistry between them is still there and, whether Faith’s father likes it or not, they plan to make their relationship permanent.

Dorothy
Long Bright River by Liz Moore

4
Very interesting about two sisters who have very different personalities and jobs.

Connie
The Secret Diary by Anna Stuart

4
When recovering from husband's tragic sudden death, a young mother visits her mother and stepfather's old home and discovers a diary written by a young woman during WWII. The diary belonged to the stepfather's mother.

Tiffany
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

5
This is one I’ve actually read before but I always seem to crave a book from a cold climate during the summer, so picked up THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO last week and then of course this one this week. I really love the characters. One friend made the comment that it was so dry the first time she read it, that she could barely make it through first tine and couldn’t imagine reading it again, but I really love Stieg Larson’s attention to detail in each of the books. I really love how Lisbeth changes as a character over the course of the books and Blomquist’s uncomplicated but detailed relationship to the women in his life.

Karen
Mary Coin by Marisa Silver

5
It took a little while for me to get into. Once I got into it, I was hooked. It was a very powerful story.

Melinda
Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad

5
Loved this book. What an incredible woman!

Terry
Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown

5
This story deviates a bit from the author’s norm and is her best book yet. Prohibition, murder, love and everything in between keep you intoxicated with thrills and ends leaving you highly satisfied.

Lucy
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

4
I read this book in two days! Lange does a good job of slowly revealing character's secrets to keep you reading.

Jeanne
The Gambling Man by David Baldacci

5
THE GAMBLING MAN by David Baldacci took me about 120 pages (large print) before I started to get into the book. Without giving away any spoilers, once I got into the storyline I couldn’t put it down. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat with the various twists and turns. It was well written, and the characters were cleverly developed.

Jeanne
Fortune and Glory: Tantalizing Twenty-Seven by Janet Evanovich

5
FORTUNE AND GLORY by Janet Evanovich is number 27 in the Stephanie Plum series. I found the plot to be intriguing and couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The author did a great job in developing the characters, especially Grandma Mazur and Potts. I found myself laughing hysterically at various times. I really enjoyed reading this novel!

Michelle
Haven Point by Virginia Hume

4
Read this multi-generational debut novel on a porch overlooking Blue Hill Bay, Maine. Lovely prose, which really captured the spirit of the place and the people in it.

Nancy
All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days by Rebecca Donner

5
Rebecca Donner has taken a buried life and resurrected it in a narrative nonfiction that grabbed my attention and didn’t let go. The book is the story of her great great aunt Mildred Harnack. Mildred was an American in Germany during the rise of Hitler. She and her husband were appalled by Facism and began a circle of like-minded people to work in the resistance. They were discovered, Mildred was imprisoned, and finally executed. The story of Hitler’s rise is chilling. Donner’s book is a stand-out not just for Mildred’s powerful story but also for the scholarship and research that supports it, and for being a mesmerizing tale that is as emotionally impactful as a novel while making history understandable and relevant. Highly recommended.

Nancy
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

5
Best book I read in a long time. It takes place now and in the early 1900s. It's of a woman pilot and the problems she faces because she is a woman.

Kim
All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle

4
Love this gentle and poignant story about an elderly immigrant’s struggles with loneliness, racism and aging.

Patricia
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

5
This sequel to MAGPIE MURDERS makes frequent references to it, so although not absolutely necessary, I'd recommend reading them in order. The good news is that a third book will follow. At 600+ pages, there are actually two complete mysteries in one book, but the pages flew by for me because I couldn't put it down. It begins with the MOONFLOWER MURDERS, and is then interrupted by the second book "Atticus Pund Takes the Case" in which the clues to solving the Moonflower case are supposed to be found. After that, MOONFLOWER MURDERS continues to its conclusion and the "aha" moment when you realize how close you were to solving the murders yourself. Great fun!

Donna
Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker

5
A history of schizophrenia as well as the heartrending story of a family fractured by the disease and trying to cope with 6 afflicted sons. A page-turner documentary. All my book clubs ❤️ loved it.

Michele
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz

5
Loved this story about two best friends traveling abroad when unfortunate events happen, not once but twice! The story kept me guessing who was the villain and who was the victim (keep reading to find out). Once you start reading, you won't want to stop.

Barbara
When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

5
Susan Elizabeth Phillips does not disappoint. Another great book that will keep you guessing and put a smile on your face!

Amy
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

3
I had this one on my “To Read” list for a long time with high expectations. I enjoyed it but found myself struggling to get through it at times. I would like to give it three and one half stars.

Marilyn
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

5
Four-generation saga of a Korean family, their society, culture and treatment as second class citizens when uprooted to Japan.

Merle
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

5
An incredible coming-of-age story that imbues each character with growth, understanding and finally spiritual grace. The prose is not only beautiful, but completely compelling and wraps the reader into the evolving events as though living the story themselves.

Linda
The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff

5
This story was so well written, the description of the sewer tunnels left me wondering how did these brave people get their strength to try to save themselves and others. A part of history we don’t know know enough of.

Becky
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

5
I love reading anything about books and libraries. This story takes place in Paris in the 1940s during WWII and in Montana in 1983. The characters were real and the stories riveting!

Kathy
Falling by T. J. Newman

5
Fast-paced, exciting, can't put it down from the very first page. Great book!

Rona
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

5
Every now and then I read a classic and Pearl Buck's THE GOOD EARTH is definitely a classic. Evocatively written in a lilting style I've not encountered before, I can only imagine that she incorporated speech and narrative that came close to what she heard in Chinese during her forty years in the Middle Kingdom. A very appropriate read for our time, not only for the portrait of China before it emerged as a superpower but but also for its revealing (former?) attitudes toward women. THE HANDMAID'S TALE before THE HANDMAID'S TALE.

Rose
Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown

5
BLIND TIGER is a story about Prohibition, bootlegging, corruption, and romance and murder. It takes place in 1920 when a stranger arrives in the town of Foley. Sandra Brown has woven history, suspense, and romance all in one novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The time period and the story are fascinating. You will reach a point where it is almost impossible to put down. I would highly recommend this book.

Rose
Defending Britta Stein by Ronald H. Balson

4
Britta Stein is 92 years old and is charged with defamation. The reader learns how it was to live in Denmark during Hitler's reign. Also, a reader will learn about how one can defend against a defamation lawsuit. The book was very interesting and I learned a lot about Denmark in World War II and also defamation law. It held my interest and I definitely wanted to see what was going to happen next. If you like historical fiction or legal dramas this is a book for you.

Maryanne
Twelve Mighty Orphans by Jim Dent

5
Even if you are not a football fan, this book will make you one. Great storytelling of a true story and character descriptions.

MH
Robert B. Parker’s Kickback by Ace Atkins

4
This novel is a continuation of the Spenser novels. I thought Atkins did a super job of maintaining Parker’s style and tone. The plot was okay, but not overly exciting. With this kind of mystery, you know the good guys win, so that was no surprise. I was interested in why the second boy on the island wasn’t named.

Francisca
Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery

3
Book Seven in the classic series about Anne Shirley and her family. Anne’s six children have discovered their own “magical” place where they can play and indulge their imaginations. When a new family moves into an old mansion nearby, they welcome the Meredith kids into their hideaway. These books are just delightful reads. A nice gentle escape from today’s harsher realities. Like the other books in the series, this one is full of charming characters, believably innocent fun, and a few humorous miscalculations.

Nancy
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

5
Think of a real-life ship that sank, killing most of its passengers, thanks in part to not having enough usable lifeboats. No, it's not the Titanic. It's the Pulaski, a steamship that sailed from Savannah and sank off the coast of North Carolina in the 1880s, more than 30 years before the Titanic sailed. Callahan heard the story, started to write an historical novel about it, with made-up characters based on real passengers and using real Savannah places as locations. Early on in her research, the remains of the ship were found. She had a chance to explore and study them, research that adds to her wonderful descriptive passages. Great story, great read, especially if you, like me, have ever lived in Savannah.

Betsy
Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams

5
Reading is well shared by Nicola Barber and Cassandra Campbell. An historical novel from the Cold War era that some of us remember! Back and forth between twin sisters, Ruth and Iris and an exfiltration from the USSR that puts them at high risk.

Susan
Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara

4
This was a compulsive read about the relocation of a Japanese family after confinement in Manzanar. A death in the family motivates Aki to investigate the Chicago community without assistance from the police. The corruption of the police, particularly regarding immigrants, was a new perspective on this post-war issue.

Janie
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

5
Great setting, unique plot, good character development.

karen
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

4
A beautifully-written historical fiction about the life of a woman in the New South. Lee’s style and character development made it a joy to read.

Lisa
The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery

5
I was reading this book while family was visiting and kept sneaking in reading time because I couldn't put it down. The characters are very interesting and I love all the information about wine production. This is a great summer read and escape.

Linda
The Husbands by Chandler Baker

4
Two indications that a husband who lives in an exclusive neighborhood, Dynasty Ranch, is behaving strangely are if he says, "You work so hard" to his wife and something else (which would be a spoiler.) The last sentence in this suspenseful novel is brilliant.

Muriel
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

5
Harris has written a book with characters that are believable for their time period, easy to care about, and come alive for the reader. Landry and Prentiss are two Negro brothers recently freed by the Emancipation Proclamation at the end of the Civil War. George Walker is an elderly man who hires them to work on his farm much to the unhappiness of townspeople in small town Georgia where prejudice is strong and the feeling is he should hire former Confederates. Violence occurs and Prentiss and George’s son are forced to flee, with George accompanying them partway to guide them. George’s wife Isabelle is left behind and proves to be one of the strongest characters, standing up for what is right. The good and bad of humanity are both shown.

Gail
Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar

3
In this fictionalized memoir, Akhtar wrestles with issues of identity and what it means to be an American.

Mary
Hideaway by Nora Roberts

5
Nora Roberts is a wonderful storyteller. This novel, HIDEAWAY, takes place mostly on the west coast and is about an incident that takes place during the childhood of the heroine, Cate, and how it affects her life for at least the next 20 years. Cate is part of an Irish family of four generations of actors, famous in Hollywood. Besides enjoying the story, I also enjoyed Roberts’ descriptions of the settings throughout this novel. From the Sullivan “compound” to the coastal ranch, both prominent locations in this novel, I felt as if I were there.

Joan
The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall

5
I loved this book about how faith affects peolple’s lives. I was also amazed by how complimentary the characters’ traits are; each character in the book definitely has an important role to play. My views on the main characters kept changing, until the end, when I realized I loved them all!

Elizabeth
Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

2
The protagonist in this book, Cassie, really annoyed me. I know Picoult was trying to illustrate the complicated emotions of a battered wife but the effort fell flat. I didn’t find it believable that an accomplished anthropologist would act like a doormat. Or that she could jusr disappear for months without telling the university and then just pick up where she left off when she returned to LA. And Alex was not a complex character at all. And Will coming to her rescue was every princess fairy tale that tells women they can’t make it on their own.

Myrna
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

5
I think her wording is exquisite. I am amazed I haven't known of her before.

Kimberley
The House of Dreams by Kate Lord Brown

3
Usually historical fiction details of the various events during WWII is exciting but the story itself lacked that. The revelations regarding the many volunteers who risked everything to save humanity were very interesting. Real life heroes, artists, poets and authors are included in the story. The ending is surprising but does take twists and turns to arrive there. It is a good length full of interesting facts.

Laura
The Essence of Nathan Biddle by J. William Lewis

3
I can't tell you if I liked this book or not. I can tell you that I can relate to the struggles of a teenager dealing with why he exists. Kit had more to deal with than I did. But, I'm sure if you ask 100 people if they'd like to go back to their teenage years, 90-95 would say no. It's a horrible time where you have to figure out who you are, what you believe and what you don't. It's time to rip yourself away from what you know and step into the unknown. Was the book powerful - yes.

Kathie
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

5
Throughout I'm trying to figure out who is the good guy and second guessing each characters' next move. Many exciting twists and turns and surprisingly a satisfactory compromise for all.

Barbara
Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny

5
A delightful and heartwarming read, with bursts of laugh-out-load humor. It is a look at what it means to be a “family.”

Ella
The Invisable Life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab

5
Addie makes a deal with the devil. Her life is forever changed. No one will remember her, but she will remember everything. She will have a long life. Very interesting and good. It is very long.

Marian
Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly

5
I enjoyed this book. It was a fast read and I will remember the characters for a long time.

Jan
How Lucky by Will Leitch

5
I got this book because Chris Bohjalian reviewed it and said it was good. It is beyond good. This is a wonderful book for anyone and any book group to read. The speaker is a 26-year-old man with spinal muscular atrophy - he is in a wheelchair, cannot speak, cannot feed himself, is dependent on others for everything! And yet he often says how lucky he is. Most of us would not think we were lucky if we were in his place. This is a book to learn about this disease, what it does and does not do, and how one person deals with it. It is a quick read and then a long, long time for thought and discussion. People of all ages will learn from it. An ideal YA book because he is young, yet manages to get help for an abducted woman. I rate it a 5+.

Donna
Fallen by Linda Castillo

4
I have enjoyed this entire series about Kate Burkholder, a small town police chief in the heart of Amish country in Ohio. This one is about a young woman who was banned by the Amish but killed in a very gruesome manner.

Sandy
Northern Spy by Flynn Berry

4
First time I have read a book by her. Will now read the others.

Nancy
Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey

4
I enjoyed this book. A reporter looks into what happens to frozen embryos. She finds a friend has embryos that are about to be discarded because his wife has died. She is afraid he does not know this and tells him. He wants the embryos. Amelia cannot have children so she offers to carry them for him. This is the story of Parker and Amelia who have both suffered loss and must learn to go forward again.

Trezeline
Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner

3
Exciting, interesting story.

Marylyn
A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci

4
Who among us has not "lost it" and then thought -- what have I done? Given a chance for rest, relaxation and redemption, Lee Pine goes "home" to investigate some of her past but gets embroiled in current murders. Are they or are they not connected to the abduction of her twin?

Pam
The Light Through the Leaves by Glendy Vanderah

3
Interesting plot and good character development. The problems came with the plausibility and the judgmental style of writing. Earth spirits are good, conservatives are evil...

Simonne
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penney

5
Louise Penney’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series is superb…and this is the best of the series! So deep, so troubling. It is way beyond a detective book and deals with so many relations. It starts with the murder of the last remaining Ouelette Quint (think Dionne Quintuplets), and just builds from there.

Rose
Little Pieces of Me by Alison Hammer

3
Paige is still mourning from the death of her father which happened two years earlier. She and her dad, Mark, shared a special relationship, but her relationship with her mother, Elizabeth, is not so special. Paige was born after her mother became pregnant while still in college. Paige feels her mother resents her for this. Paige is engaged to Jeff, and her best friends are Maks and Margaux. These 3 help her when she receives an email alert from Family Tree telling her they have found a parent/child match with Andrew Abrams. She can't believe it. Paige does some soul searching to understand how she can no longer be Mark's daughter. I can't understand the devastation Paige must have felt to learn this news; it could have been handled better.

Debbie
The 7-1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

2
What a terrible journey marked my passage through THE 7 ½ DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE! Forced to complete the journey since I am to be the moderator for this tome and such a long, difficult trip. I strongly dislike time travel and multiple personalities and this novel contains too many examples of each. The narrator of this voyage, Aiden Bishop, jumps in and out of different characters during a period of eight days. Of course, Agatha Christie employs changes in identity, but not to Stuart Turton’s numbers of identity alterations. The story reeks of the movie "Groundhog Day", with the same scene unfolding each day. But Stuart Turton alters many of the scenes as each character influences the outcome. Turton writes well, but the story lacks.

Debbie
An Irish Hostage by Charles Todd

3
The mother and son team that form the author Charles Todd provided two days of pleasurable reading. Bess flies off to Ireland, which is in the throes of the Irish fighting for independence from England, for a wedding of a friend. What happens is that Bess and the best man become hostages while waiting for the groom to heal from injuries at the hands of fellow Irish men. AN IRISH HOSTAGE briefly explains the Easter Rising of 1916 and the feelings in Ireland for Irish men who enlisted in WWI on the side of England. The feelings provoke visions of the American Civil War where families fought against one another. The feelings of Simon and Bess still hamper their confessing their love for one another.

Debbie
Survive the Night by Riley Sager

3
I am very surprised with SURVIVE THE NIGHT by Riley Sager. I love the use of film noir movies to advance the story. Lucky for me that I have seen all the movies mentioned, but the main movie, “Shadow of a Doubt”, remains a thriller where the killer just his reward. Is that a foreshadow of what will happen in this story? The story unfolds into scenes with each character explaining the scene. Each scene brings tension, but I had already decided on the serial killer, but not his reason for killing. Riley Sager plummets into Charlie’s narcotic behavior as she blames herself for her roommate’s death. As Charlie rides toward Ohio or her death, the reader grasps and fears for the worst outcome. Thankfully, only so many hours in the night to read.

Debbie
Dream Girl by Laura Lippman

3
There's suspense and it's a fast read. BUT - I was so disappointed in this book! The characters were awful. Maybe that's what the author intended and, if so, she did a great job with it. But I felt like I needed to take a shower because these people were all so terrible. I'm sorry I took the time to read it.

Debbie
The War Nurse: a novel by Tracy Enerson Wood

3
I really hoped to like this book, but it was just okay. I wanted more of a story of what living through World War I was like for the nurses. Mostly I felt what I got was a light romance. Not terrible, but not real memorable.

Debbie
Sleeping Bear by Connor Sullivan

4
In this debut novel, a young armed forces widow in the Alaskan wilderness is kidnapped by Russians. This is an interesting and engaging story with mystery and espionage. I can see a movie of this one.

Debbie
Hostage: A Locked-Room Thriller by Clare Mackintosh

4
A flight attendant can save her daughter's life but at the cost of the lives of others. An engaging, suspenseful read that turns creepy. The ending is a surprise that makes the book even better!

Debbie
The Unwilling: a Novel by John Hart

4
Set in the South during the Vietnam War, this is a novel of suspense, crime, and heartbreaking family drama. Hart has a strong sense of time and setting as well as characters that you like, even when you think you won't.

Debbie
Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor

5
This book was originally published in 1938, not a book I would normally pick up. I'm glad I heard of it, because I loved it. It is a short epistolary novel set during rise of Nazis after World War I. It's hard to believe some of the things that were written and known about the Nazis long before the second World War. The letters between two friends on opposite sides of the political spectrum result in an ending that is somewhat surprising and quite satisfying. There is rich material for discussion here.

Debbie
The Blue Tattoo by Margot Mifflin

4
An interesting historical read, particularly if you've ever visiting or lived near southwestern Arizona. Oatman was 13 when she travelled westward with her Mormon family. When her family was killed by Native Americans, she was taken captive. A decade later she was returned to white society. This made me think about our perceptions of Native Americans and how we grew up in the sixties watching westerns that were often inaccurate portrayals of the American West.

Debbie
The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman

3
This is a short fable about what's important in life, and what we may do that we'll later regret. It was told in an engaging fashion and leaving me satisfied at the end. However, it is not particularly memorable.

Elizabeth
How to Kill Your Best Friend by Lexie Elliott

3
How could Lissa have drowned? She was a champion swimmer and knew not to swim in Kanu Cove in the dark, but she is gone. The storyline was a little mixed up and slow, but it worked out in the end because of Ms. Elliott’s writing style and creativity.

Elizabeth
The Family Plot by Megan Collins

4
Oh to be famous, but not famous in the way everyone wants to be. THE FAMILY PLOT can definitely be classified as Gothic and odd, but it will keep your interest because you will want to see what really was going on in this household for all those years. The most unique storyline I have ever read.

Elizabeth
The Sister-in-Law by Pamela Crane

5
You can’t let the authorities know Ben killed himself. You won’t get the insurance money, Harper. Lies, lies, lies, and secrets present and past greet us as we read about the cover up as well as adding Lane’s wife of one week to the mix. Read it if you haven’t.

Elizabeth
Gone for Good by Joanna Schaffhausen

5
Annalisa Vega was assigned to The Lovelorn Killer case that re-surfaced after 20 years. GONE FOR GOOD is an excellent thriller that kept me guessing and has a satisfying, surprise ending. Thriller fans won’t want to miss this book.

Elizabeth
Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass

5
How could a writing group and an author book signing turn into an affair and then a murder? SUCH A GOOD WIFE is a tense read with twists you won't expect. If you enjoy a nail-biting read, you won’t want to miss this book.

Elizabeth
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

5
LOVED this book…..definitely a Summer of 2021 favorite! Books and libraries bring people together, and in this sweet, heartwarming read, Alisha and Mukesh bond over books and help others to do the same.

Elizabeth
Emily's House by Amy Belding Brown

5
They are selling Emily’s house? That can’t be. Emily loved The Homestead and so did Margaret. Emily Dickinson’s maid, Margaret Maher, was her confidant, best friend, and was the one who kept Emily writing her poetry and kept Emily from disposing of her work. Truly enjoyed this book.

Elizabeth
Tahoe Jade by Todd Borg

5
Have you read books by Todd Borg? If not, you need to check out his Tahoe series. He is a wealth of information, his mysteries are unique, and his characters will steal your heart. This is his 19th book!!

Elizabeth
Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens

3
One heartache after another is what Hailey had to deal with - the death of her mother, then a few years later the death of her father.

Elizabeth
Three Words for Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

5
A trip to Europe with my sister to deliver letters to people Grandmother knew? You will melt into the book with Ms. Gaynor’s and Ms. Webb’s writing and fall in love with the characters. This one is NOT to be missed if you are a fan of these authors and historical fiction. This book is a beautiful, heartwarming tale of secrets kept, forgiveness, regrets, and making choices. And that gorgeous cover has you diving right in.

Elizabeth
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber

5
This book is as sweet as the name Sugarberry Cove with characters that are just as sweet and lovable. Anyone who needs a light read that will lift your spirits will enjoy this book.

Maureen
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

5
Great story about a subject I knew nothing about. Lisa’s books are so well researched and extremely interesting! Highly recommended.

Sheree
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz

4
It was an enjoyable read. I kept wondering how so many men came up dead when they went on vacation.

Jan
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri

3
This is not my favorite author, even though she won a Pulitzer and I respect that highly. I have always found her work to be slow - and I do mean SLOW. After I finish any book, I always spend a moment and think about what I have learned from the book. I just don't get anything from her - no wise sayings, no recognition of anything that has much meaning for me. This book is one woman's ideas and recognition of her surroundings. She seems to be at peace with the world and describes it for us. The neighbors, people she knows, food, anything can be described. The only real emotion was when she discussed her mother and drawing away from her mother. I did like her words about the stationery store.

Tessa
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

5
This young adult novel tells the story of Junior Spirit, a Spokane Indian living on the reservation with his parents and older sister. I loved this book. I could not help but think of all the kids out there like Junior – kids with limited abilities in one aspect, but extraordinary abilities in other aspects. Kids who just need someone to believe in them, and for an adult to step in to stop the bullying and give them a chance to grow and excel.

Shirley
When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal

4
A heartfelt story about sisters, family, love and forgiveness, told through the viewpoints of both sisters.

Marcia
The Last Night in London by Karen White

5
I loved this book. It has mystery, history (set before & during WWII, and also in 2019), love stories, great characters. It goes back and forth between the past and the present and slowly leaves clues to finally solve the mystery by the end. It's one of my all time favorite books.

Barbara
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

3
When I think of Malibu, I think of Gidget. Fun. Flirtations. Coming-of-age. MALIBU RISING is hardly that. A brief list of the numerous fires that have occurred in the area of Malibu precedes the action. We then meet the siblings and get their backstories and relationships, as well as the backstory of their parents. Of course, the siblings - Riva, Jay, Hud, and Kit - are all extra successful, yet each is in a funk. So the story plays out as we follow their agony as they face their many issues. However, all of this "coming out" only takes one day and night. There is much drama, mixed into a bacchanalian party, and the reader knows this will not end well. Not a whole lot of substance here but some may enjoy the novel.

Trezeline
The Wife by Shalini Boland

5
Very intriguing mystery.

Liz
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

4
Beartown is a blue collar town where ice hockey is a major part of everyone’s life. When the town team is about to be disbanded and several key players have defected to the neighboring town of Hed to play on their team emotions spiral out of control. This novel teaches the town about acceptance, forgiveness, compassion and love. This book had a slow start, but picked up about 1/3 of the way through. Beautifully written with well developed characters.

Beth
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

4
THE GLASS HOTEL differs from Emily St. John Mandel's previous book, STATION ELEVEN, in its subject matter and type of story, but her writing style is the same in both books. Although both are good, I had to read a few chapters of them before I got used to her style. It came across at first as haphazard. Right from the initial chapter of THE GLASS HOTEL, you know that Vincent (female) falls overboard and is drowning. Most of the rest of the book is flashback.

Straka
Death in Brittany by Jean-Luc Bannelec

5
This mystery takes place in the beautiful province of Brittany where Commissaire Georges Dupin has been transferred as a punishment. However, despite the circumstances, he begins to love this slower-paced life after living in the hectic capital. The descriptions of the locale are lovely and make the reader want to visit this region and to taste the cuisine and to savor the many coffees that Dupin consumes as he thinks carefully to the final solution of the murder case. This is the first of several in this series. You will want to continue to read them and put yourself in this wonderful atmosphere until you are able to visit in person.

Tara
The Engineer’s Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood

3
Interesting historical fiction read about one woman’s amazing involvement in the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Kimberley
I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman

5
Laugh-out-loud fun! This author has definitely scoured the ongoing struggles between the high school teenager and the parent. Cultural assumptions, pressures on our high school children to be successful wunderkinder plus family relationships are closely examined. Jessica and her daughter, Emily, tell their own stories in this wonderful tale. It is a normal length.

Rose
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh

3
Mina and Adam are struggling in their marriage, so Mina pushes to be assigned as cabin crew on the inaugural 20 hour flight from London to Sydney. While on the flight, she is told to follow instructions or her daughter, Sophia, will be killed. Meanwhile, at home, Adam and Sophia are dealing with troubles of their own. This novel attempts to call attention to a very real and very important issue in our world, which definitely needs attention. I just didn’t enjoy the way it was done. While I have enjoyed Clare Mackintosh’s previous novels, this one was just okay for me.

Sean
Trap Line by Carl Hiaasen

4
Another one of Carl Hiassen's early books and another good read. Hiaasen tells the tale of a determined father who will do anything, even if its not exactly legal, to protect what's his. This is a short but satisfying read that holds up pretty well for coming from the early 80s. Breeze, the protagonist is likable hero. The antagonists are equally unlikable and the plot is fun. Hiaasen always is able to make Florida a character of its own. Overall, a good book that reads like a fisherman's crime noir.

Jan
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok

2
I loved the beginning of this book - headed for a 4 rating. But about halfway in the book, the writing changed. It became a bodice ripper, a true love, harlequin. "My hands are clammy. My heart is about to explode. I am gulping down breath to stop from screaming." The story has been told before. I finished the book because so many had given it great reviews. Everything is explained near the end - and everybody lived happily ever after (or those we are going to follow - not the boyfriend who writes, "I cannot speak straight that which is bent.") There is a slight mystery here. I suppose the book is worth reading for the family anguish and reasoning behind the why.

Deby
Infinite Country by Patricia Engel

4
A different voice than what we usually hear. The pain of immigration and expired statuses and separated family and redemption.

Ann Marie
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

5
What a great, unique story. I loved this book!

Rose
Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke

4
Another solid novel from Attica Locke, continuing the tale of TX Ranger Darren Matthews. In the last novel, his mother began to blackmail him, and that storyline continues. Matthews is now assigned to find the son of a white supremacist who has gone missing, and in doing so he uncovers a long history of a family tragedy in a town along Highway 59. Matthew's love life also has its ups and downs in this novel. I enjoy Locke's frank telling of racial tensions and family histories.

Francisca
America for Beginners by Leah Franqui

4
Pival Sengupta, a recently widowed Kolcatta native, books a trip to America for her first solo venture outside her home city. This went in directions I wasn’t expecting. I had read little about the book in advance, and thought it would a lighthearted, somewhat humorous look at America through the eyes of a total newcomer. But there were many deeper issues here. Characters have to deal with grief, life choices, and relationships; they must deal with their pasts, and move forward with courage. There WERE some humorous scenes, but also tender scenes that brought me to tears. This is Franqui’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Dale
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

5
Just loved this book! Jeanine's writing kept me so interested.

Anita
The Secret of Clouds by Alyson Richman

5
This is a beautifully-written novel about a student, Yuri, with a heart ailment and his teacher Maggie. Maggie has to tutor Yuri at home a few times a week since his doctor has advised that he not attend class. As she begins to teach him English, they form a wonderful friendship. Though this book had some sad moments, it was a great read!

Kathy
How Dreams Speak by Nicole Chilton

4
Easy read, interesting take on dreams and the symbols contained in dreams.

Linda
Love a Little Sideways by Shannon Stacey

4
Drew Miller wants a relationship with Liz Kowalski but her brother Mitch doesn’t approve. In fact, when Mitch catches them, he slugs Drew. Liz loves Drew but he is fixated on having a family and, although she wants children, she is not in a hurry to have them. She tells him she is unsure what she wants to do with her life and he thinks she wants to end it and walks out. He comes back to her and says he wants her to be his wife. After his ex Mallory walked out on him, he was leery of putting his faith in love. She replies she was looking for what made her happy and it is Drew. I received the book from Goodreads in exchange for a review and thought it was a cute love story.

Linda
The Big Men by Michael Shotter

2
Alan Wells is the narrator and envies the power and aura put off by strong and powerful men. He finds that he absorbs their power when he removes the shoes from the man’s feet. He calls these powerful men Big Men and, for the most part, they are good men. The more power he absorbs from these men, the more he needs and the more Big Men he needs. A really confusing book! What a crazy premise for a book! It takes more than wearing someone’s shoes for a man to project the power of a successful businessman. How about brains? Thanks for the book Goodreads but it was a weird one!

Linda
Between You and Me by Carol Mason

4
Thank you Goodreads for a great book! At first, I wanted to shake the character of Lauren and tell her to be strong and stand up for herself. Quit apologizing to the teen stepdaughter. No apology needed! She finally woke up and stood up to the former wife Meredith, a successful attorney who does not have time for her children or does not make time for them. Yet she has the nerve to tell Lauren that she is unfit. Her stepchildren continue to meet with Lauren even after their father told them not to. At the end of the book, Joe opens the car door for Lauren. Does she go with Joe and the children or does she walk back to her own car?

MARGARET
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

5
Taking place in England during WWII, three girls join the war effort by becoming code breakers. Coming from very different backgrounds, the girls form a strong bond providing for an interesting novel - you want to keep reading to see what happens next.

Kimberly
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

5
Prepare to have your mind blown. I have never read anything quite like this. I don't think there is anything I can say that won't be a spoiler so I would just suggest going in blind.

Richard N B
The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny

3
3.5 stars. Book # 5 in Louise Penny’s mystery detective series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache begins when a stranger is found murdered in the village bistro and antiques store. This is a great series. I like the way Gamache ferrets out clues and pieces together the puzzle. I enjoy the various inhabitants of the fictitious Three Pines. I particularly appreciated the references to literature and art in this episode, especially the paintings of Emily Carr.

Sherri
Nerves of Steel by Tammie Jo Shults

5
Inspirational life story of the pilot of Southwest Flight 1380. The last chapter is the best - Habits, Hope and Heroes - but don't deprive yourself of the rest of this encouraging, thought-provoking, inspirational story. You'll be glad you read it!

Elizabeth
The Riviera House by Natasha Lester

5
A building, the Jeu de Paume, filled with stolen paintings during the occupation of France during WWII and a mansion on the Riviera in present day is where we meet Eliane and Remy. Another book that MUST be added to your summer reading list.

Jan
The Turnout by Megan Abbott

5
I did not expect this much from a book. A mystery, a thriller - just when I think we are about to tie it up, something new happens. A genuine hustler, two sisters who teach ballet as their mother did, one married, one single but always wanting to leave. And old homestead and an old building for teaching ballet. Both buildings need much work, remodel, repair, and money. Then we have all the emotions and needs of the family, the contractor and the students as they prepare for the annual Nutcracker performance. I, as an experienced reader, keep having anxiety about when the ruse would be discovered but then there were so many layers - the tension continued, often between two that had been harmonious before. Characters are fully developed.

Katharine
Universe of Two by Stephen P. Kiernan

3
This is a novel based on the life of Charles Fisk who designed and built the detonator for the atomic bomb. I was somewhat disappointed with the writing and the pace of the story, but the author did convey the doubts and concerns that some of the participants in the Manhattan Project had about building something with the potential of such destruction.

Ivy
The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.

5
Jones' storytelling is one that takes its readers on a biblical journey during a time of evil. Absolutely gripping.

Tiffany
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

5
Loved this book. The storyline can be super detailed and involved but I really loved his writing.

Mary
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

5
By far, my favorite book this year. Ryland Grace is an unlikely hero but he is on his way to becoming one. Mr. Weir gives that away from the beginning of the book— Hail Mary— full of Grace. The book is full of fun facts about science and two characters that I do not want to let go of. I will re-listen and reread this over and over again.

Jennifer
The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton

5
This story follows two musical artists from their youth, through their careers, their breakup, and their final revival many years later. It is told in interview format, much like DAISY JONES AND THE SIX. This book, however, deals with issues of racism and sexism as well as all the highs and lows of the music business. I listened to the audiobook which made this story come to life.

Darlene
Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy

5
A really fast, fun read!

Linda
A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber

3
Sweet book in an easy, summer read sort of way. A love story and a story of growth and triumph through hurt, grief and fear. Not a literary piece of work, nor does it claim to be. A good read for a lazy summer weekend for anyone, adults and teens, who like a romance.

Cynthia
Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian

4
Novel about Indian American families with a touch of magical realism. Beautiful writing and character development.

Jayme
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

5
Investigative journalism at its best. The devastation and impact that the Sackler family had on the opioid crisis in the USA and the world is staggering. The information and insight regarding the role of big Pharma and its advertising on our lives should make everyone question the medications that they are currently taking. Riveting.

Jayme
The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman

4
I won this in a weekly contest - Thank you, Bookreporter! This psychological thriller is all about location – location - location. It takes place in LA during pilot season when actors from all over the world swoop in on Hollywood to compete for new TV shows and movies. It's an interesting suspenseful read about how Hollywood works and the lengths that actors will go to get that coveted part. I was hooked from the start when Mia, a British actress, goes to LA to audition for a few parts and get tangled up in another actor's disappearance. Mia is a bit naïve and some of her choices left me scratching my head, but the storyline kept moving and there were enough twists and surprises to keep me in my chair reading. Loved the ending.

Sally-Jo
Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks

5
This is my second time reading it. It's such a fascinating story of who John Brown was and what drove him to the cause to abolish slavery. Owen is a complicated character, especially with his relationship to his father. I highly recommend this book.

Pat
Kaleidoscope by Brian Selznick

5
Wow, this book draws you into the story of the narrator and his friend James through some real experiences and some mystical ones. I could not put it down. The illustrations add to the mystery.

Karen
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

4
Very different than the movie. Interesting history of brilliant Black women "computers" in the aerospace program.

Donna
When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica

4
Jessie has been living with her mother, Eden, for twenty years and her mother has been secretive about her father. Eden is dying of cancer and Jessie is preparing to go to college. She learns that she doesn't have the required Social Security card to apply for college. Her research to find her card shows that she died when she was three years old. The stress of this discovery and her mother's illness prevents her from being able to sleep. Jessie being sleep deprived for days causes weakness, confusion and questioning what is real and what is imagined. This novel is brilliant, dark and twisted.

Donna
It Happened in Silence by Karla M. Jay

5
Georgia, 1921. Willow is 15-years-old and grew up on a mountain in a closely knit family. Her mother has just lost a child in childbirth and is desperately ill. Willow is sent on horseback by her father to make a 15 mile trip to find a pastor for the burial of the baby. She has grown up knowing that mountain people help those in need. Over the next six weeks she has experiences that open her eyes to the ways of others. This novel introduces you to the south involving mountain life, hobos, chain gangs, baby farms and the WKKK (Women of the Klu Klux Klan). Much research has gone into this story and will long be remembered by me.

Donna
Lift and Separate by Marilyn Simon Rothstein

5
Marcy is blindsided when her husband wants to end their 33 year marriage, especially when she learns his girlfriend is about the ages of their three children. She struggles through the loss of her marriage and the death of her mother with the help of friends. No matter your state of mind when reading this novel, you will smile and laugh at Marcy's humorous thoughts and witty comments. You will want to read the follow up book, HUSBANDS AND OTHER SHARP OBJECTS.

Donna
Sinner, Saint or Serpent by John Anthony Miller

5
New Orleans, 1926, is the setting for this engrossing mystery. Chevalier, a very wealthy and much hated businessman for his business tactics and in his personal life, is found dead in his estate. "Justice" Harper is an investigative reporter that is known by those in New Orleans for doing things right. Justice and his coworker, Remy, are good at what they do and conduct their own investigation. The list of suspects of the murder is endless though three women are considered people of interest because of recent dealings with the victim. The three women are referred to as the Sinner, Saint and Serpent. The deeper Justice investigates, the more he believes they are innocent even though they were seen in the area of the estate near the time.

Donna
Pulse by Judy G. Walters

5
This is a marvelous book about the life of the doctors in the ER of a hospital. Dr. Jackson experiences the worse day of his life when his 10-year-old son is brought into the ER as the victim of a drowning accident. As he struggles with this loss, he is also struggling with a seriously failing marriage. This novel is about medical and domestic drama and is guaranteed to keep you hooked. ER doctors are heroes and yet they face the same tragedies and problems as everyone else.

Donna
The Last Blue by Isla Morley

5
Inspired by a true story, this marvelous novel takes you into Kentucky Appalachia country during the late 30s where blue people are living in poverty and isolation due to prejudice and fear. The novel centers on the Buford family that has two blue children. They are living a quiet life until a photographer and journalist representing a newspaper in Cincinnati, Ohio comes into their lives. Clay Havens, the photographer, falls in love with Jubilee, one of the blue daughters, and wants to protect the family from the outside world. This is a story of prejudice, persecution, family loyalty, murder and a love story. This book is an emotional roller-coaster and won't be forgotten.

Donna
This Is How Is Always Is by Laurie Frankel

5
Rosie had 4 boys and was hoping for a girl through her 5th pregnancy. She delivered another boy which she named Claude. At the age of 3 Claude enjoyed dress up and being around girls. He was 5 years old when he announced that he wanted to be girl when he grew up. His entire family supported him in every way possible. He was known as Poppy in his secret world at home. Poppy was happy and carefree, where as Claude was miserable and lonely. At the age of 10 the lines between Claude/Poppy and the outside world began to collide and the reality of the trans life became an issue. This is a brilliant, informative and eye-opening account of the complications, fears and stress of keeping secrets of gender identity and their pain.

Donna
Find You First by Linwood Barclay

5
Miles is single and extremely wealthy and has just learned that he has an incurable disease. He looks back on his life while getting his affairs in order. Twenty years ago to make money while attending college, he donated sperm to a fertility clinic. Running a tech company, he knows ways to learn things and wants to contact all offspring so he can compensate them with money and warn them of the possibility of them inheriting the disease. As he searches for these people, they are disappearing before he can get to them. Who is making this happen and why puts the reader on a roller-coaster ride with twists that are often very exciting.

Donna
The Guardians by John Grisham

3
A lawyer is murdered in a small town in Savannah, Georgia. Quincy Miller, a black man, is convicted of this murder. All the evidence is pointed to him. He has claimed his innocence for 22 years while in prison. Quincy contacts a non-profit organization called The Guardians that takes cases of prisoners they believe are innocent. They decide to represent Quincy’s case only to discover that court records and evidence have disappeared. The persons involved in the case have either died or are scattered. The characters in this story are fictional, but the story is based on a true event.

Amy
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

4
I’ve had a copy of this book for years and never managed to pick it up. I’m wondering what took me so long.

Jeanie
Inheritance by Dani Shapiro

5
After reading this one, we all thought twice about doing a DNA test!!! This is one of those rare ones the entire book club enjoyed reading. We don’t often read nonfiction as a club, and some of us never read nonfiction on our own, but this one appealed to all. The search for Dani’s biological father read like a mystery novel, and her voyage of self-discovery after was very poignant and created a lot of discussion. The ending was very satisfying. One of our members is Jewish and shared with us a lot of background history and customs, which made our discussion even more interesting. Highly recommended!

Jean
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

5
Eleanor struggles with social skills and always does and says what she thinks. She is alone in the world but falls in love with an unlikely person. Very emotional and will keep you reading.

Sandy
Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown

4
I always enjoy her books. This was a departure since it was set during Prohibition. I wasn't sure if I would like it but I loved it!!!

John
The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad by Mike Birbiglia

5
Birbiglia writes a touching memoir about the difficulty of living with a poetess.

Lana
Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth by Bryan Burrough

5
I loved this book. The author's side comments made it such an enjoyable read. I was afraid that once I got past the actual Alamo battle the book would become harder to get through, but that was not the case. The writing of the events related to the political and cultural aspects of the site was just as good as the writing of the history. This is an outstanding book.

Lisa
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

5
This nonfiction book read like a suspense novel. I couldn't put it down. Really fascinating and a bit disheartening that so many intelligent people turned a blind eye to what was going on. The company is back in the news, so if you haven't read this yet, it is timely.

Rachel
Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong

4
Nice procedural detective story with a backdrop of Shanghai a year after Tiananmen Square. The vagaries of Chinese politics is a co-star in this story. Fascinating. My son lives in Shanghai and it was interesting to see how much it has changed in 20 years. (The subway had not been finished and they're always taking buses. The subway system is now the most efficient and clean one I've ever been on.)

Linda
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

4
This book goes down easy and I was pulled in from the beginning. The main plot is about Sunday and her high school love, Kale, who is now married with a young son. When Sunday returns to her home in New York after living in Los Angeles for five years, the story unfolds as we learn the reason she left. Told from different perspectives, we also learn about other members of the family, but they all have one thing in common and that is they love and support each other. The book is well written and I cared about the characters which always makes for a good book for me.

Maryanne
Twelve Mighty Orphans by Jim Dent

5
Such an uplifting true story. Fascinating characters and events.

Chris
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

4
This is a book about books and libraries. Very interesting concept of bringing characters from other books into the storyline. I enjoyed the introduction into books I haven’t read and being taken back to those I have read. This book just warmed my heart.

Anna Lisa
Red Island House by Andrea Lee

4
Madagascar is the fascinating setting. Learned so much about this mysterious country. The story is about an international couple and their time spent at the grand vacation house in Madagascar.

Linda
One by One by Ruth Ware

4
A "thrills and chills" mystery that happens at a snowed in ski chalet in the French alps. Perfect to refresh me on these hot summer days!

Susan
Murder in Greenwich Village by Liz Freeland

3
Period setting in 1913 Greenwich Village. Interesting characters and a few plucky women.

MH
The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff

4
An intensive read, as is usual with Jenoff’s books. The story drew me in quickly, and by the end, I couldn’t put the book down. The tale of Jews hiding in sewers to escape the Nazis was based on fact. The brave Polish people who helped them, although not all known, are represented by Ella in the story and by others who aided the Jews.

Rosemary
Have You Seen Me by Kate White

5
Ally shows up, soaking wet from a downpour, at her office, only to be told that she hasn't worked there in five years. She can't remember anything and passes out. Later at the hospital she who she is, her address and her husband...but nothing else! Also, her coat pocket is full of bloody tissues but she shows no signs of injury and she's been gone for two days. Where was she and what happened? This is a book that will keep you up until the wee hours trying to find the answers to all the questions! A must-read for mystery lovers!

Joanne
The Girls of Ennismore by Patricia Falvey

3
Thought I’d have been more into this book as it has everything I love in a historical fiction book. I know that every author’s writing style doesn’t resonate with every reader, so I don’t feel so bad.

jane
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

4
This book started slowly, but built to a full crescendo. You could say it’s a mystery. I knew something bad was bound to happen, but I didn’t see it until the very end. I highly recommend this read!

Marilyn
Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson

4
Watson's debut novel writes of Christine who is the victim of amnesia, waking every morning thinking she is years younger, not recognizing the man next to her in bed, every morning the same. Without her husband's knowledge she seeks help from a doctor, keeps a diary and moves through each day, often experiencing panic over and over again. Is she making progress? Will she recover? Each page demands turning to the next.

Lori
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

4
Interesting read. Would like to have seen better development of some characters and thought some plot lines were a bit far-fetched, but overall it was a captivating read on how one decision can alter the trajectory of your life.

Betty
Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala

5
I expected this story to be overwhelmingly sad but it is more a tribute to the life the author had with her family. She lovingly describes her children, husband and parents with small detailed memories over time as she comes to terms with her grief. The writing is powerful, lyrical and very personal. She doesn’t hold back. I plan to recommend this memoir to my book club.

Betty
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

5
Loved this one from start to finish. Listened to it on Audible with a great reader. Mary Jane babysits for the summer and learns about life in 1970s Baltimore. Funny and touching.

Kathy
A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum

5
Deeply emotional story of three Palestinian women and how they are treated by ”their” men, fathers, spouses, etc. I was sickened by this, yet realize it is an important voice to give us knowledge of this culture, and what it does to women. I highly recommend!

Betty
On Juneteenth by Annette Gordan-Reed

5
This slim book won a Pulizer Prize. It is worth reading. An amazing look at the state of Texas and the slavery that was unique to that state. Great read.

Laura
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

5
This is one of the books that made me a reader. It’s been decades since I last read it and what a joy. It is so unbelievably well written and the story is amazing. Truly one of my favorite books of all time.

Beth
Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

2
Not Picoult’s best book. The protagonist is a battered wife who is also a renowned anthropologist. Her passivity was too incongruent given her professional success.

Kimberley
Milady by Laura L. Sullivan

4
This historical novel retells the story of Musketeers using the female character of Milady de Winter. Unlike the classic, it’s girl power. The reader is reminded of those barbaric times and the powerlessness of women. It is long and the writing is very descriptive.

Tessa
A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

3
Okay, I totally picked this up because I needed a pink cover for a challenge. I noticed, too, that this was a pick for “Reese’s YA Book Club” and thought it might have some meat on the bones. Some of this stretched credulity a bit far for me, but on the whole I enjoyed it. I liked that things were not all wrapped up nice and tidy in a pretty bow, albeit there is still a happy (or at least hopeful) ending. A pretty good example of the YA romance genre.

Debbie
The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny

5
THE MADNESS OF CROWDS by Louise Penny illustrates the frightening herd mentality that Hitler followed. In this story, Canada teeters on the brink of the aftermath of the coronavirus. A statistics professor, Abigail Robinson, enters the media frenzy with her belief in euthanasia. Armand Gamache must provide security for Ms. Robinson when she delivers a speech at a local university. A small venue with only capacity for 500 guests swells with people on both sides of the issue. Firecrackers and gunshots disrupt the speech, but luckily, no deaths. Professor Robinson theory and beliefs shake up Armand and Jean-Guy. Armand witnessed the depravity of Covid when he inspected nursing homes and the neglect of the inhabitants by the authorities.

Dana
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

5
This is historical fiction at its best. It is set during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the late 1920s through the mid 1930s. While the entire world was in great economic distress, the Great Plains of America were also being devastated by drought and severe dust storms. Through one woman’s eyes, we see the extreme hardships and constant struggle to survive in an America we could never imagine. This story is completely engrossing, the characters have depth and motivation and the people who lived through these times are vividly brought to life.

Laura
Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict

3
Not my favorite of Marie Benedict's novels. This one was a bit slow. The same things were said over and over again. I did enjoy just how much Clementine was involved in the history of Churchill's power. I did feel bad that her family was so negligently affected. Overall, a piece of historic fiction.

Debbie
Child of God by Cormac McCarthy

3
I had been wanting to read something by him for some time, as his reputation as a writer is stellar. This was a short story with one of the most despicable characters imaginable. I think the point was supposed to be how we are all fallen, but this guy was worse than someone I care to read about. I finished it, but felt like I really didn't get it.

Lynn
A Place Like Home by Rosamunde Pilcher

4
Lovely love stories by one of my favorite authors.

Dianne
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

4
What might have been. And you cannot go back and get a do over. This is a love story chock full of Egyptology information. Two separate digs in Egypt years apart play a significant role in Dawn's story. Win, a woman dying of cancer, also has a long lost love on her mind in her finals days. What if either woman had chosen differently. Add to this Dawn's troubled daughter and broken relationship with her husband who may have cheated on her. This book has something for everyone.

Trezeline
The Liar’s Wife by Samantha Hayes

5
I wasn’t expecting this ending. I thought I had figured the story out. Turns out I was very wrong. Very good and interesting book.

Kennedy
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

5
I really loved how well balanced the plot and the characters were in CARRY ON. I’m currently reading the sequel to it and I’m loving it so far. I love Simon and Penelope's friendship. It's wonderful. I love that the truce that brought Simon and Baz together.

Toni
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

5
I loved this steamy, sexy, fun-filled book that had a lot of heart. The two main characters, Brendan and Piper, are a couple for the ages. I fell in love with them and rooted for them.

Ann Marie
Velvet Was the Night by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia

3
This book is classic noir. It is very slow going. I was not a big fan of this one.

Ann Marie
The Husbands by Chandler Baker

4
I loved this book. This book was very, very good. Its an interesting look at working women and how they take on very busy jobs and manage home life as well. Very interesting!

Dawn
Falling by T. J. Newman

5
I could not put this book down. My heart was beating a mile a minute as I read. I loved this book!!

Fran
The Therapist by B. A. Paris

4
A circle of homes in a London suburb. A circle of nosy neighbors. A circle of mean-spirited "friends" and a lover who keeps the truth hidden from the narrator. What could go wrong? Paris is a very good writer and she kept me on edge and surprised me at the end!!!!

Beth
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

4
A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS is delightful. Dave Eggers has a writing style like I’ve never read before. What would otherwise be, for example, sad or serious, he lightens. My gosh, he even makes the copyright page enjoyable reading! And I'm glad I read a hardcover copy and could see the cover minus the dust jacket. Check it out if you can. This is a memoir. Eggers explains that he wouldn’t really call A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS a true story because he made up the dialog. And sometimes that dialog is obviously his invention, such as when a 9-year-old boy talks with the maturity of a 30-year-old man or when he begins with his MTV interview that turns into something else.

Kay
Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

4
A great coming-of-age book set in Africa in the 40s. Young boy has to grow up in boarding school at the tender age of 5 whose goal is to be the world's best welterweight boxer. Fabulous. His mentors and supporters and friends that he meets along the way up to university time. Great character and experiences.

SUSAN
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

5
Loved this book. The plot was great and the detail given to environmental issues was also very helpful. It shows both side of interfering with nature.

Patricia
Wayfaring Stranger by James Lee Burke

5
This is an extraordinary saga following sixteen-year-old Weldon Avery Holland from his very close encounters with Bonnie and Clyde, to his even closer encounter with Death in the Battle of the Bulge, and worst of all, to his very devastating encounters with some very powerful evil forces that envy his business success, his integrity, and his very admirable soul. The prose is a pleasure to read. The characters are vital and believable. The plot is complex and compelling with never a dull moment. It is a sweeping and dynamic story of America, warts and all. I can see why the author claims it as his best book. It is the first in the Holland family saga series, and I look forward to more.

Elizabeth
The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson

5
The beloved library can't be shut down. THE LAST CHANCE LIBRARY is a sweet, feel-good read and has great characters. I KNEW I was going to like this book, but I LOVED it!!

Francisca
Pride by Ibi Zoboi

4
This YA romance is set in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, and features a Dominican/Haitian family. The Benitez sisters are "fine" and everyone in the neighborhood knows it. Then the wealthy Darcy family moves into the hood, and sparks fly between the handsome brothers and the two oldest Benitez girls. All told, a totally satisfying retelling of the beloved Jane Austen classic, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

Christine
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

4
Love this historical fiction of the sinking of the Pulaski, the descriptions of Savannah in the present, how the survivors ended up surviving and living their life and how the story of the Pulaski was told from the shipwreck being dug up to the happening with the characters on the ship. It was a great character and plot-driven book and a fast read. I also liked the fact at the end of the book Patti put all the references to refer back to the research she did for the book for the reader to check the facts out.

Lisa
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

5
Was a very good book. Made you think you knew what was really happening, but then threw in a twist that was very good.

Padmini Rao
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

4
This is a quick and easy read about a tight-knit Irish American family that has a lot of secrets. The family consists of a father, Mickey and his children. The children are Denny, Jackie, Shane, and Sunday. Sunday is the only girl. The book starts off with Sunday in an LA hospital due to a drunk driving accident. Her brother, Denny, comes to LA to check on her. He convinces her to come to New York to recuperate. Sunday hesitates to go back home because she left New York under some mysterious circumstance; the reason is revealed towards the end of the book. The other family members also have secrets that are revealed. This makes for a hard to put down book.

Thomas
Falling by T. J. Newman

5
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was really good.

Lana
Unsettled Ground: The Whitman Massacre and Its Shifting Legacy in the American West by Cassandra Tate

5
This book was recommended to me by a national park ranger at the Whitman Mission National Historic Site during our visit there in June 2021. I was looking at another book and she suggested this one, although it was sold out. I requested it as an inter-library loan through my local library. The library decided instead to purchase it for their collection. After reading it, I can wholeheartedly state that the library made a wise decision. UNSETTLED GROUND was deeply researched and is well written. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the American West and its complicated history.

Jan
The Last Odyssey by James Rollins

3
I received this book through a drawing and contest by Bookreporter. I promise to provide an honest review of the book with no conditions. This is not my type of book. It is full of characters that I do not know from Sigma Force. The characters are just tokens - the old senator with lots of money, his daughter (estranged), mostly brilliant people who are experts on everything. They come upon a copy of a world map that is encased in precious jewels. And the entire area is booby-trapped. They are fast-moving, as is the enemy (unclear about their heritage) which intends to control the world and bring about a new world order. Except they take a lot of prisoners, torture everyone, kill without guilt. Fast-paced. Lot of fantasy. Based on myth.

Julie
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

4
This one is a fast read. It is a modern day story taking place in NYC. Our protagonist works in the art world while her boyfriend is a doctor. They plan to travel the world together with the first stop being the Galápagos Islands. Their world changes - the world changes - when Covid hits. If you are overwhelmed by all things Covid, this book may not be for you. However, it is a read that you may want to pick up regardless.

Shelley
This One Sky Day by Leone Ross

4
Wonderfully-written Caribbean magic realism, with strong characters and fast-moving plot.

Melinda
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

3
This is not your typical Jodi Picoult book. It is hard to get into and no surprise reveal that she is known for. Lots of cool information about Ancient Egypt and death, but otherwise not impressive.

Elizabeth
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

4
Another Lisa Jewell book you won’t want to miss. Ms. Jewell keeps her readers as curious as the characters share what happened. The house seemed to be a character in itself and definitely added to the suspense. Ms. Jewell has given us another tense read with an ending you will be talking about.

Julie
A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser

4
An engaging take on the "what if...?" and paths taken/not taken kind of storyline and how lives can be affected. The book also features organ donation, which is not a common topic and was very interesting.

Laura
The Exiles by Christine Baker Kline

4
I thank Christina for giving us a piece of the history of Australia. The false acquisitions to the slave ship to the prison to life after. I listened to it in the car and actually took rides just so I could listen and learn more.

Tessa
Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen

5
What glorious writing. I first read this in 1998, and re-read it for my book club in 2013. I revisited it again in 2017 and now, here I am again. If you're expecting the movie you'll be greatly disappointed - Denys Finch-Hatton is barely mentioned. No, the great love of her life was Africa itself. While I still love Dinesen’s writing and love the way she puts me right into early 20th century Africa, I am more attuned to social justice these days, and have to cringe a bit at some of the references to the indigenous tribes. The colonialists had such a superior attitude. But this is a product of the era and of the social status of the writer, and we must give her her due.

Jan
Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody

4
Have you ever heard of Anne Moody? Neither had I until I read a review of this book. She was subjected to all the insults possible as a young girl in Mississippi and she details them in this book, published in 1968. It is a story of a young girl, scrabbling for any money to get food or shoes. She always worked hard for good grades and for money - babysitting, housecleaning, picking cotton - her father disappeared early and her mother kept hanging with a man who kept giving her babies, lived next door to his mother (who disapproved of everything). This child eventually escaped, saved enough money to go live with a relative in Baton Rouge, working any job. Finally graduated from college. Worked with "The Movement" for many years.

Joanne
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

5
This was a very suspense-filled story.

Laura
Island Queen by Vanessa Riley

5
Wow. What a history of the islands and for Dorothy. My first thoughts when I was done: 1. Why does the woman have to be the one to become pregnant? How different our lives would be if men had to bear the children. 2. I really didn't want to read a book that was over 550 pages. Thought I would give it a try and wanted it to keep going. I knew a bit about the plight of the islands but this book brought me there.

Sean
The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd

4
I really liked this. Tons of writers give it their best shot at "supercop" and it usually falls flat. While far from perfect, I was entertained here as I thought the protagonist, even though too perfect at times, was likeable. His relationship with the women in his life were handled well and weren't cliched although they were predictable. I enjoyed the dialogue and think this could become a good series. Overall, nothing voluntary but an entertaining and fast-paced read.

Lynn
Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger

4
I have read every Cork O'Connor book and didn't think I would enjoy his boyhood adventures. I was wrong! LIGHTNING STRIKE is every bit as good as ORDINARY GRACE and THIS TENDER LAND. It is an excellent stand-alone and beginning book to the series.

Becky
Honor by Thrity Umrigar

5
India, a land of contradictions, is front and center in this novel, HONOR, and how it can be used to hurt and even kill. Two women share the spotlight, Meena, dreadfully maimed by her brothers because she has brought dishonor to their family, and Smita, an American journalist who has her own reasons for avoiding India and all it has meant to her family and who is charged to write Meena’s story. This book was difficult to read and yet necessary to understanding the conflicting and conflicted women and men is this novel. The modern India of large cities and modern conveniences is balanced by the India of small villages where tribal leaders hold sway over men and women who live in primitive conditions.

Trez
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

5
Very interesting and sad story.

Rose
The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine

3
Addison and Gabriel are very much in love and are planning to marry. But, Addison is wary because she can't remember anything prior to two years ago. Julian, along with his daughter, Valentina, are missing Cassandra, who has been missing for two years. When he finds Addison, he tells her they are married, live near Boston, and have a daughter. Addison/Cassandra goes with him, telling a heartbroken Gabriel she remembers happiness with Julian. As part of her memory returns strange things begin happening that are unexplainable, Addison/Cassandra begins to wonder what is really true. This was interesting but a bit too far-fetched for me.

Linda
Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

3
Julia Mitchell has been in love with Gabriel Emerson since she was seventeen. The adopted brother of her best friend, he brought his emotional pain with him when the Clarks took him in. He got on cocaine to ease his pain although Julia was unaware of this. He gave her her first kiss and then forgot her. Years later, she is in his class at the University of Toronto and realizes he doesn’t know who she is. He finally notices her as a woman, a woman he wants. But he knows she is not just anyone and his sister Rachel has told him she would kill him if he ever hurt Julia. He won’t hurt her but does intend to make her his.

Linda
Callie's Heart by Kathleen Ball

5
Callie Daniels has always been in love with Garrett O'Neill and is all for marriage with him if in name only. Before she died, her mother deeded the ranch over to Garrett with the stipulation he would watch over her. Returning from college after four years, Callie wants the marriage to be real but he thinks he is too old for her and wants her to fall in love with a younger man. When the sexy housekeeper is murdered, Garrett wants Callie to be with someone at all times. Threats are made against both as a conglomerate wants them to sign over their rights to the oil found on their property.

Linda
Seduced by a Billionaire by Jill Downey

5
Kyle Bennett is handsome, wealthy, and a success in his law firm and with the ladies. Driving his Ferrari, he is t-boned by a truck and wakes in the hospital with serious injuries. He is not a good patient and Ella Palmer is warned of the patient from hell when her shift starts. She is not about to put up with his shenanigans and tells him no when he wants her to come with him to be his home nurse. He uses his wealth to get his way. He thinks she is materialistic and she soon sets him straight. Their animosity soon turns to attraction. Thanks Goodreads for a great book.

Linda
Never Die Alone by Lisa Jackson

5
When Rick Bentz learns that twin girls are missing after celebrating their 21st birthday, he wonders if the 21 Killer has come to New Orleans. Although a man was arrested and sent to prison for being the 21 Killer, Bentz was never sure the man was the killer. Brianna Hayward is fighting to clear her cousin’s name as she believes he is innocent. Jason Bridges is a reporter who works with Brianna to try and find the missing girls. Little did he realize how he would be connected in the case. Bentz also learns that he did not kill Father John in the swamp as he has just made his latest kill in the French Quarter. Although Olivia Bentz wants her husband to quit his dangerous job, these two killers have to be found.

Linda
Sinister by Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush, Rosalind Noonan

5
Ira Dillinger is head of the Dillinger family and engaged to Pilar, a gold-digger despised by Ira’s grown children. Mysterious fires have been set in several Dillinger homes and an old church. Ricki Dillinger is now a deputy working with Sheriff Sam Featherstone and thinks there are two arsonists. One could be the killer who has killed and skinned two women. All police have to go on is a tall man wearing a black Stetson and wearing black crocodile boots. Someone is targeting Dillingers and Ricki’s daughter narrowly escaped from a burning house through a window. Police are questioning everyone looking for the killer before he strikes again.

Tesa
The Body at the Tower by Y. S. Lee

3
Book Two in the YA historical mystery series about “The Agency” – an organization of female detectives in Victorian London – and featuring orphan and former thief, Mary Quinn. I enjoyed this quite a bit. It was somewhat repetitious in places, but Mary is a wonderful heroine – bright, resourceful, compassionate, observant and mentally strong. I like that Lee has made Mary half-Chinese, and that her ethnicity poses additional problems (and opportunities) for her in mid-19th-century England.

Liz
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

4
Kya is living in the marshes of North Carolina and is abandoned by everyone she love, including her parents. She raises herself to become a self-sufficient young woman, however she rarely leaves her home. She falls in love with a local, only to find out he is engaged to marry a young woman from town. Shortly after the wedding he turns up dead and Kya is accused of murder. My only negative comment with this book would be that it would flow nicer if told from start to finish without going back and forth in time.

Francisca
My Invented Country by Isabel Allende

4
3.5 stars. In this memoir, Allende looks at her own family history as well as the history of her native country, Chile. She explores the social conventions, politics, natural terrain, geographical difficulties and advantages of this unique land. It’s a story full of mythology – from national legends, to her own family’s stories. Here are the roots of her ability to seamlessly weave elements of magical realism into her novels.

Wendy
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

4
I believe I heard about this book from this site and knew I wanted to read it. My library didn't get a copy until this summer so I have just now read it. Set in a small village in Kent during WWII, it it tells the story of a group of women and girls who find a new purpose to their lives when they form an all woman choir. I hadn't realized this was such an unusual thing at the time; choirs traditionally had men and women and the vicar was certain the choir could not continue after all the men went away to war.

Kimberley
There, There by Tommy Orange

5
This is a heartbreaking novel sharing the story of the America we have all forgotten. Whether the storytellers identify as Native American, Native North American, Indian, Tribal, or Redskin, their stories all share common threads. This author holds back nothing and this novel will hopefully finds its way into school curricula.

Rose
The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter

3
A photographer, Delta Dawn, grew up poor but now photographs wealthy client’s children. She experiments with light and often enhances/alters her digital pictures. In so doing, she blurs what is real with how she wants things to be. She becomes involved with the Straub family, and imagines herself to be part of their family which causes serious issues. This is a story of obsession and lies. It was a bit strange, and somewhat unbelievable. It was also quite disturbing.

Rose
The Shadow by James Patterson

3
I used to listen to "The Shadow" radio show when the Big Broadcast aired reruns on Sunday nights. I always enjoyed it so I was eager to read this novel based on the character. This novel imagines Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane in the 1930s, who are poisoned and then frozen to enable them to come to life 150 years later. Awakening in a futuristic world, they find their archenemy, Khan, has reinvented himself as World President. With the help of a teenager, Maddy Gomes, they set out to destroy Kahn and his evil followers. To me, this reads like a comic book story. I enjoyed it, but I wanted more.

Rose
Hidden by Catherine McKenzie

4
Jeff Manning works in the accounting department at Johnson Company. Tish is in the HR department. They develop an attachment to each other. When Jeff is killed in a car accident, Tish is devastated. But Tish is not his wife, Claire is, and Claire is starting to suspect that there was more than friendship between Tish and Jeff. This is an emotionally taxing story of grief and love, secrets and family. Heartbreaking. The ending is one that I will remember for a while.

Rose
Fractured by Catherine McKenzie

4
I am a fan of Catherine McKenzie and I really enjoyed FRACTURED, a story about people’s lives who are fractured by events in their neighborhood. When Julie and Daniel Prentice move to a small community in Cincinnati, Julie meets her across-the-street neighbor, John Dunbar, and the two become running buddies. But when a few things happen in their neighborhood, their friendship is tested and things take a deadly turn. Julie, a best selling author, never really fits in with the rest of the neighbors, and is subject to harassment. But, who is harassing her? Is it her old stalker, someone new, or is this just a cry for attention? McKenzie always writes novels with underlying tension and I just can’t wait to devour them. This was no exception!

Rose
Champagne Widows: First Woman of Champagne, Veuve Clicquot by Rebecca Rosenberg

5
I really enjoyed this story about Veuve Clicquot and Barbe-Nicole, the woman who made this winery into one of the world’s finest champagne houses. Barbe-Nicole has the “curse of Le Nez’” a highly sensitized sense of smell. She is able to use this to determine the best mixture of taste for her champagne. Veuve means widow, and when her husband Francois dies, Barbe-Nicole continues through various hardships to maintain and grow the winery with the help of many other women. Meanwhile it is the late 1700s/early 1800s and Napoleon is gaining power while sacrificing so many in his conquests. He forbids the sale of champagne to Russia but Barbe-Nicole defies him, and wins. This was a highly entertaining look at the history of this industry.

Rose
Six Weeks to Live by Catherine McKenzie

3
When Jennifer receives a diagnosis that she has only six weeks to live, she gathers her family together to tell them the news. But before she can, she ends up in the hospital. While reviewing her test results, she notices something unusual. She then begins to suspect that someone has been trying to kill her, but who could it be? She suspects her estranged husband, but can she prove it? When she tries to figure it out, past secrets come to light. Nothing is as it seems. Interesting story. I figured out who the culprit was that was trying to kill Jennifer, as all the clues were there. However, I didn’t like any of the characters. They were all so self-absorbed.

Rose
The Other Wife by Claire McGowan

4
3.5 stars rounded up. THE OTHER WIFE is a story of jealousy and revenge. When Suzi has an affair with a man she meets at a conference, she believes she has found her true love. Now she is pregnant, the man seems to have vanished, and Suzi’s husband, Nick, has become increasingly controlling. Stressed out, Suzi confesses everything to her new neighbor, Nora, not knowing that Nora already knows all about the affair. Told using varying timelines, this story kept my interest, but in the end, things seemed too neatly tied up, and too many unlikely things happened. Still, I look forward to the author’s next novel.

Rose
You Will Remember Me by Hannah Mary McKinnon

5
Well, I did not see that coming! I am relatively good at seeing plot twists, but this one took me by surprise! Shocking! Jack and Lily are getting along nicely in their relationship in a small beach town in Maryland. When Jack doesn’t show up one morning as expected, Lily becomes frantic. Meanwhile, Jack had awakened on the beach, but his memory is gone. Bits of it slowly come back to him, and he is reminded of Maine. When he gets there, his stepsister, Maya, finds him. His name is actually Ash, and it seems he has a mysterious past. When Lily finds him in Maine, Jack/Ash does not remember her at first. Slowly his memory returns, and it is worse than he ever expected and everyone is in danger! The ending will shock you.

Rose
One in Three by Tess Stimson

3
This novel opens with the murder and two women are with the dead man. So, we know what happened, but not why or who is responsible. The rest of the novel provides the details through various voices, starting six weeks earlier. No one is likable in this novel, and the husband, Andrew, is a creep and totally weak. I had a suspicion early on as to the murderer. When it was revealed, I was correct, but there were many red herrings, with too much obsessive behavior and strange events occurring in the novel.

Rose
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

3
While on their way to a wedding, sisters Deb and Addie‘s car is hit by Addie‘s ex Dylan and his best friend Marcus. Addie and Deb offered to let the men ride with them. Addie and Dylan had an intense relationship but broke up two years earlier, partly at Marcus‘s urging. However, neither has gotten over the other. The road trip becomes problematic with traffic, nerves, and injuries, but also some humor. Told in now and then time frames, Addie and Dylan‘s relationship is described. Some of this book made me laugh out loud, and also root for Dylan and Addie, but most of the time I was tired of Dylan’s willingness to be influenced by Marcus. While he was a good friend, it was exasperating that Dylan couldn’t see what Marcus was doing.

Rose
Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives (Second Edition) by Anne Michaud

4
Extremely well written and researched, this book tells the story of women who stay with their partners who have been unfaithful, even after the infidelities are exposed. It is interesting to examine the reasons and traits all of these women share. All of these women were successful in their own right, but due to double standards for men and women, they were considered less successful or politically viable than their husbands. Many of the women saw examples of infidelity in their parents’ relationships, and many felt they needed to stay married for the sake of the political future of their family. The women profiled along with their husbands/families include several first ladies as well as other political spouses. I enjoyed reading this.

Donna
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

2
The book focuses on Eleanor and her internal struggle with staying with her husband and children or living a new life with a childhood love who has reappeared in her life. The novel switches often from present time to flashbacks of her childhood and early adult years. At times that was confusing and I often had to go back to an earlier chapter for reference. The book has received praise and recommendations, but I grew tired of the main character and her internal struggles. I struggled to finish the book.

Lee
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

5
This wonderful story of an young Irish immigrant who takes a leap of faith by marrying someone who is looking for a “wife” and caretaker of his young daughter; a man she does not meet in person beforehand comes to realize that this man is a liar and a polygamist. The earthquake of 1916 has unintentional consequences which forever changes everyone’s fate. Susan Meissner keeps getting better and better as an amazing writer of historical fiction.

Rose
Death Leaves a Shadow by Gabriel F. W. Koch

3
I enjoy old-fashioned detective stories. In this installment of the Marlowe Black series, Marlowe's fiancée, Lois, is found dead in her apartment. As Marlowe grieves Lois's death, as well as the death of his unborn child, he vows to find her killer. The novel has all the elements of an old-fashioned detective novel, murder, private investigators, femme fatales, and seedy people. Marlowe escapes death multiple times, becomes involved with several women, and manages to find Lois's killer. However, the killer escapes, leaving the door wide open for Book 3. I enjoyed the book and will look for Book 1 so I can learn more of Marlowe's backstory.

Francisca
The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion

2
If this is Adam’s best, well…it’s definitely NOT Simsion’s best. I really enjoyed Simsion’s THE ROSIE PROJECT, but this did absolutely nothing for me. Neither Adam nor Angelina seemed at all mature enough for a real love relationship. I did enjoy all the music references, though I still wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Elizabeth
The Necklace by Matt Witten

5
Twenty years after the murder of her daughter, the man who murdered her seven-year-old daughter will be put to death, but Susan believes the real killer is still out there. Will she be able to save him? Excellent read. Great twist at the end.

Elizabeth
Defending Britta Stein by Ronald Balson

5
Britta is definitely a feisty, enjoyable character. Between her and Mr. Balson's impeccable research, DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN is another winner for him. Any fan of Mr. Balson will not want to miss his newest.

Rose
The Fiancée by Kate White

3
A family summer vacation turns deadly. Summer and her husband, Gabe, along with his son, Henry, head to PA to the sprawling estate of his parents for the annual family gathering/vacation. One of Gabe’s brothers brings his new flame and Summer takes an immediate dislike to her. When someone ends up dead, Summer is suspicious. Then more things don’t go well, and Summer and others are in danger. I listened to the book, and I didn’t like the voice of the narrator. Also, the characters aren’t likable. I was looking forward to this read, but it was just okay.

Margaret
The Unwinding by Jackie Morris

5
This small book is designed to keep on your bedside table to read after a hard day. The author says in her introduction: "....Slight of word, rich of image, its purpose is to ease the soul." And it does just that with its few words and gorgeous illustrations. The few words are lyrical and there are just fragments of a story in each small section leaving lots to your imagination, affecting your feelings and dreams. The illustrations have a cold landscape but, believe me, the words will warm your heart. What a talented writer and illustrator! So very beautifully done! I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Unbound, a crowdfunded publisher. I did not contribute to get this book published. This is my honest review.

Rose
For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

4
This was a super fast read about an elite private school, its faculty and its students. When Teddy Crutcher wins Teacher of the Year at the prestigious Belmont Academy, he is extremely proud of the honor, yet he feels he deserves a bit more attention. Suddenly, a few people who don’t get along with Teddy end up dead. Who could be harming them? Why are they dying? As some of the students and faculty become suspects, a few people try to take matters in their own hands to find out what is happening. I enjoyed this book but I wonder how easy it would be to accomplish what happened in the book. Probably not too simple.

Donna
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

4
England, 1939. Three bright young women we selected to be trained at Bletchley Park (BP) in code breaking of German communications. BP is a secret operation and the workers are sworn to never speak of it to anyone. Osla, Mab and Beth are roommates and become best friends, though they are entirely different from each other. Their friendship is shattered when there is a wartime loss. Eight years later, there is a mysterious letter that brings the three girls together to break a code in order to discover who was a traitor at BP. This is a historical fiction novel based on real people. It is a story of friendship, love, loyalty, mystery and betrayals.

Elizabeth
You Belong Here Now by Dianna Rostad

5
Only three children left on an orphan train heading west. We know we aren’t going to get picked. What should we do? What they do is jump from the train. A very touching read.

Beth
The Searcher by Tana French

4
Reviews of Tana French books never deserve fewer than four stars, and I’m usually inclined to give them five. In this case I’ll stick with four, though. THE SEARCHER is a bit of a departure for French. That is, the main character of this book isn’t Irish. Cal is American, a retired cop who has come to live in a small town in Ireland. He thought it would be a quiet place to live. A 13-year-old, who Cal mistakes for a boy, has asked, practically demanded, that he look into the disappearance of her brother. This is what Cal thought he was leaving behind when he moved to Ireland. Even so, he does get involved in this case, just like old times.

Christine
Pet Sematary by Stephen King

5
The first time I read this I was in my 20s and it was the scariest book I had ever read. Now I am significantly older, and do not scare as easily, but it remains one of the creepiest books I have ever read. For the unindoctrinated, this is a story about a very special burying ground. This is typical Stephen King slow-burn horror, or maybe terror is a better word. The scariness creeps up on you, and suddenly you're in the middle of a truly terrifying tale.

Richard N B
Say You're One Of Them by Uwem Akpan

4
This is a collection of short stories dealing with various social issues facing African people throughout numerous countries on the continent. All are beautifully written even when heart-wrenchingly difficult to read. Uwem focuses an unblinking eye on serious issues and while the reader is fortunate to not have to face such dilemmas, the reactions of the characters are totally understandable and relatable. The local English dialect used in some of the stories was sometimes difficult to get used to, but really gave a sense of place to the narrative.