This contest period's winners were Connie B., Kimberly V. and Shelly I., who each received a copy of ALL BY MYSELF, ALONE by Mary Higgins Clark and THE PERFECT STRANGER by Megan Miranda.
WALTER KRETZMANN
The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa
For a first novel, the bar has been set very high. The author was clearly meticulous in his research and it manifests itself in a gem of an historical novel. I had heard of the journey of the MS St. Louis before but knew few of the details. The author tells its tale eloquently through the eyes of four generations of Rosenthals, a fictional family who fled Germany prior to the start of the war, but after their destiny was clear. If you have an interest in German, American or Cuban history, this is a must read.
WALTER KRETZMANN
The One Man by Andrew Gross
I have liked all of the previous Andrew Gross books I have read. While this book is well written, I guess the subject matter in THE ONE MAN is not what I had been expecting from an Andrew Gross book. If I had started reading the book with more of an open mind, I may have liked it more, but as it is, I cannot recommend this book to other readers of Andrew Gross's books.
WALTER KRETZMANN
Pacific by Simon Winchester
I don't start a Winchester sea story unless I know I will be able to finish it. PACIFIC combines stories of discovery and beauty with those of war, defilement of nature, and existing and evolving threats to the world as we know it. He concludes with the question, "Why can't we all get along?" That is a good question indeed for anyone who has a few minutes to think about it on any beach in the world.
WALTER KRETZMANN
After You by Jojo Moyes
I so, so, so loved ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes, but this sequel was rather a disappointment. I was so bereft when I finished ME BEFORE YOU that I had to go straight onto this. But I think I wanted a happier Book Two. Lou was so messed up and her character seemed different. Also Lou's Mum was out of character. It was rather depressing.
WALTER KRETZMANN
Witches by Stacy Schiff
I felt like I was reading answers to high school essay questions without being able to see the question. The books jumps all over the place; there is gratuitous use of metaphors. I only finished it because I have finished every book we have read for book club in the last 10 years, otherwise I would have stopped. Ugghh!
Liz
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
This is a wonderful YA book about a fifth grader entering a mainstream school for the first time in his life. Auggie was born with a terrible facial deformity and in his short life he has had many surgeries. His mother has always homeschooled him, but now feels he is ready to go to a regular school in order to make friends. While there, he must overcome tremendous obstacles. The main storyline is that we should all be kinder than necessary. There are several segments in the book, each one told by a different character who gives their perspective on Auggie.
WALTER KRETZMANN
On Living by Kerry Egan
A good read on perspective and the preservation of mental health. Helps on understanding true thoughts of the aging and those in hospice care.
WALTER KRETZMANN
The Many Lives of John Stone by Linda Buckley-Archer
I liked the difference in how things were presented in this book and the exploration of an idea of immorality. The ending is a bit sad, but what we were expecting the entire book. Definitely read if you like emotional turmoil and sweet thoughts.
WALTER KRETZMANN
You in Five Acts by Una LaMarche
I severely disliked this book and couldn't sleep last night for stewing over it. The author is very heavy-handed with the foreshadowing, which gets annoying very quickly. The different character perspectives are an interesting idea, the character's voices are not well established. As others have pointed out, Joy and Diego are the most compelling, but all of the characters are archetypal and stereotypical. The ending was, as mentioned above, infuriating. I did enjoy the modern references and inside look at a performing arts school, but cannot recommend this book.
WALTER KRETZMANN
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Tried really hard to get into the storyline. Not my cup of tea.
WALTER KRETZMANN
God Help the Child by Toni Morrison
The book started rather slowly and I thought would be a predictable apology piece for racism. However, the plot picked up with the introduction of the male protagonist. I had not guessed the extent of the childhood experience of the book's main character on her adult life that caused her to lie about an alleged defendant in court resulting in that character's imprisonment. Characters were well drawn with and eye-opening description of how people drop out of a what would be an average American life and live on the fringes of society. Good read, end was predictable after the
hard-to-believe middle chapters. I liked it more than some of her previous books.
Alina
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Excellent suspense novel. It kept me on edge for the entire time that I was reading it.
Rosa
Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner
This is a suspenseful story with complex, layered characters. I was engaged from the start. Manon Bradshaw is a detective who is investigating the case of missing person Edith Hind, a Cambridge graduate student from a prominent, wealthy family. The investigation takes several twists and turns, leading to an unexpected conclusion. While the missing person case was interesting to me, it is the story's characters, especially Manon, that held my attention; I did not want to put down this book. Manon is single and desperately lonely, and I empathized with her as she made choices throughout the story. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
norene
Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
A great book.
Karen
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Writing was descriptive, lilting and created a visual buffet. I felt as if I too was living in the hotel!
Phyllis
Cold Betrayal by J. A. Jance
Former reporter Ali Reynolds jumps right into the middle of a couple serious problems and gets some help from her friend the nun, Sister Anselm. Working together, these two are great investigators and keep things lively.
Rebecca
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
I have enjoyed previous Patchett novels much more than this. The moving back and forth through time makes the over-abundance of characters very confusing! Which parent goes with which child...oh no, two more wives and more kids...two more husbands and his children and their wives and children. Whoa, slow down. I know this got an excellent review and was on many recommended lists, but I should have spent my time on something much more enjoyable.
Jill
Outside the Lines by Amy Hatvany
We read this in my book club. We had an interesting discussion about mental illness and how it can be devestating for both the person and family. Highly recommend.
Marcia
The Heirs by Susan Rieger
I enjoyed this book about secrets coming out after the death of the father. The author really acquaints the reader with each character -- and their secrets! My favorite character was Eleanor, the wife. Although very intelligent, she's sacrificed much to be the perfect wife and mother. Then there are the four sons, each different and with their own stories. There are other characters, one in particular, that I don't want to give away. This is a fast read and holds one's interest.
Katherine Bennett
The Girl Before by J. P. Delaney
A psychological thriller about the tenants of an architectural masterpiece with very stringent rules for its occupants.
Sheldon
Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama
Great read for a procedural police novel. 566 pages and hard to put down.
Gerriann
The Japanese Lover by Isabelle Allende
A very interesting book about family, love, heartbreak and friendship. Her characters are always well developed and fascinating to read.
Muriel
Whiskey & Charlie by Annabel Smith
The story of twin brothers Whiskey and Charlie begins in a hospital setting with Whiskey badly injured and deep in a coma. The reader learns details of their lives, growing up years, and estrangement through flashbacks. The flashbacks at first seemed disjointed to me . I didn't feel much empathy for either character. As time went on, I began caring about Charlie and hoped he could work through his feelings of guilt concerning things what went wrong in his relationship with Whiskey and the part each played in their estrangement. I would recommend the book.
Shelley
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
This book tells of the emotional and personal struggles of a Chinese girl, Li-yan, who is forced with the difficult choice to leave her daughter at an orphanage. The baby is adopted by Americans and by the time Li-yan goes to get her back, she is gone to America. Li-yan makes choices to better herself, but never forgets the baby she left. She eventually marries and travels between America and China, running a tea business. Unknown to her, the baby daughter, now named Haley, grows up with an interest in tea and its health properties. Haley comes to China for research for her graduate thesis, and the story culminates in an unlikely and emotional reunion. The book is touching and the ending is so inspiring. A really good read overall.
Tiffany
Baby Doll by Hollie Overton
Excellent read with so many twists you won't see coming! Loved it, perfect for any mystery/suspense lover.
Tiffany
All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
Not only is this a fully engaging storyline, but having the story told backwards really adds to the thrill of reading it. You second guess yourself at every turn, unable to keep your mind concentrated on just one suspect. An excellent read, guaranteed to keep you up late!
natalie
Mississippi Blood by Greg Iles
Greg Iles is one of my favorite authors and his new book, MISSISSIPPI BLOOD, although very long, did not disappoint. This is his next continuation of a series he has written for several years now. The characters are so good and so real. The story is a blend of Greg's imagination and the awful things that happened in the South. The saga of Dr. Tom Cage and his son, Penn Cage continues to hold this reader's interest.
Kelley
This Life I Live by Rory Feek
A memoir about love and loss. You will need a box of Kleenex!
Patricia
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens
This was one gripping novel! Stevens had just enough description to enhance the story. NEVER LET YOU GO is one of those stories you think you have it all figured out...but then the story goes in an entire different direction. I will be reading more books by Chevy Stevens!!!
Tessa B C
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
This reminded me so much of THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN that I’m surprised editors didn’t call Ware on certain plot points. Ware uses a mixed time frame, interspersing emails or news reports that occur AFTER the main events on board ship described by Lo’s first-person narrative. This foreshadowing should add additional suspense, but I found it confusing and not really helpful. Still, it’s a decently written thriller, with plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep the reader guessing.
Sherrie
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Once you adjust to the style of writing and learn the difference to separate the historical fiction from the fiction you're able to relax and enjoy a beatiful and sweet story.
Clarisse
The Gift by Louise Jensen
Liked the book. It was a easy read and kept my interest. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. Would recommend it to those who like psychological thrillers.
Shellymar Repollet
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
This book honestly not only touched my heart but changed my way of thinking about history in general. People cannot be categorized, we are too complex and each person has lived a completely different life. BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY covers that. I learned that life never turns out the way you want it to and you WILL get hurt, but pain comes through maturity and maturity comes through growth.
Karen
In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear
In this novel, Great Britain has just entered World War II when Private Detective Maisie Dobbs is approached by Dr Francesca Thomas, a Secret Service agent, to investigate the death of a former Belgium refugee. Maisie starts collecting information from various sources including the police. The goal is to prevent more murders, but there is another death of a former Belgium refugee as well as a refugee aid worker and her housekeeper. Robert, the blind, crippled brother of the aid worker who was in the house at the time of the murder was not harmed, but he was able to give Maisie some helpful information. Maisie sees to his care as well as that of an evacuated girl, Anna. Maisie closes the case tidily and ties up all loose ends.
Rosemary
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
A mother let's go of her 5-year-old son's hand, he dashes into the street and is killed by a hit-and-run driver. Then a woman running away from disaster gets on a bus from Bristol, England to a small town in Wales. Then...there are more twists, turns and questions than anyone could imagine! A great read, but start it in the afternoon so you don't have to stay up all night to reach the unimaginable ending!
Helene
A Matter of Honor by Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
An extremely well-researched, well-written and well-read book about the scape-goating of Admiral Husband Kimmel, who was Commander of the Pacific Fleet at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. Without a political agenda, the authors make it clear that one Army General and Kimmel were both held at fault for actions that more properly belonged at the feet of FDR.
Rosemary
I See You by Claire Mackintosh
Watch out for those cameras!
Christy
Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness by Robert Specht and Ann Purdy
This is an older book, but a great read is a great read. It was very easy to get into and keep reading. There are a couple of exciting scenes that play out very well.
Betty
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
Loved it!! Beautifully descriptive. Wonderful characters. A very satisfying ending!
WALTER KRETZMANN
Euphoria by Lily King
I found this novel badly written from the very first sentence. It failed to convince me in its details, and it failed to transport me anywhere at all. The epistolary sections read like parodies. If you're interested in the subject matter, read Catherine Bateson's WITH A DAUGHTER'S EYES, about the real-life romance of her parents, Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson. But don't read this.
Dorothy
Bellevue by David Oshinsky
The history of Bellvue Hospital New York City. Its also a history of NYC, its immigrants, medical schools, nursing schools, prejudices, politicians and disease that have stuck its people. A good read.
Betty
In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear
The best thing (for me) in the Maisie Dobbs series is how Maisie changes as time goes on. I feel like Maisie is continually growing and becoming more aware of how she has to adjust to life. This book shows that in spades.
Phyllis
Writing My Wrongs by Shaka Senghor
What a gritty memoir! A thirteen-year-old James White gets off the track and is confined for killing a man and assaulting a prison guard, but with the help of a wonderful family and finally a faithful girlfriend, he endures years of of solitary confinement in Michigan Reformatory, and repeated transfers to correctional facilities in Michigan where he finally got his life back on track and is now a free man with successful books, but most importantly a positive attitude and a loving family!
Sandy
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
We don't get HBO but I am thinking about it since I read this book! Very, very good story!!
JoAnn
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
It was a powerful book leading us to dig deep into our own prejudices and how we view others. A lively book club discussion is certainly being anticipated.
Susan
How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz
It took some time to get into this book. Three college friends with all their problems from the time they met and how they were interconnected.
Judy
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
Beautiful writing and intriguing, overlapping stories of WWII Germany.
Sally
Facials Can Be Fatal by Nancy J. Cohen
This is the 13th book in the Bad Hair Day Mystery Series. Marla Vail owns the Cut 'N Dye hair salon and day spa in Palm Haven, Florida. She is a savvy businesswoman, but somehow always gets involved in murder, this time at the day spa. It's an action-packed story with an interesting cast of characters and possible suspects: a greedy land developer, dress designer, the Asian mob, a mortician, and a missing employee. The setting is authentic and the mystery satisfactorily wrapped up at the end. The characters are not always likable but they are believable and interesting.
Kathy
Summertime by J. M. Coetzee
Interesting concept, the author writes about himself as he perceives fictional characters view him. I found this book to be a little disturbing.
Linda
Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz
A very thrilling read. The main character is a former orphan chosen to be trained as an elite assassin. Evan Smoak chooses to get out of the lifestyle and wants to live in obscurity. He wants no one and needs no one. This becomes complicated by a young boy in his building who wants to befriend him. Evan has also developed a keen need to eliminate those who feed on the helpless. Helping them, he reasons, will help him redress past wrongs. He uses his finely honed skills to eliminate such predators. Another orphan from the program targets him for "removal" and his current job of helping a young Hispanic woman is overshadowed by his need to preserve his own existence. Avoiding death and saving the lives of innocents just may consume him.
Shirley
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
This book about Koreans in Japan 1910-1989 is described as a book about family and cultural identity. It is more than that, a book about immigration and all the forms of assimilation in a hostile world. A comprehensive exploration of prejudice and discrimination within the same race with no excuses made for the oppressive Japanese.
Jud
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Good book but it could have gone a lot deeper into why the wife was disposed of at sea. This was a pretty important element that the author seemed to touch on and then simply disregard. I'll probably try her other book but if that is the same, I'll probably ignore this author in the future.
Margaret
The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel
Thanks to Crown Publishing, via LibraryThing, for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is Amy Engel's first adult novel. She is also the author of a YA series. I don't spoilers in my review so this will be focused on my feelings. Ms. Engel picked a disturbing subject which is the heart-breaking focus of the entire novel. I didn't like any of the characters but I was interested enough to keep reading to find out what happens to the protagonist, Lane. I also wanted to have the mystery solved and see just punishment for the most twisted member of this dysfunctional family. Chapters alternate between "Then" & "Now." Mostly it's Lane's viewpoint but the author did a nice job of revealing dark secrets of all the family members.
Peg
The Girl Before by J. P. Delaney
A psychological thriller that held my interest throughout. It's about two women who rented the same house. Their views are told in alternating chapters. "Then" is about Emma who rented the house first, and "Now" is about Jane who rents it next & is it just a coincidence that the 2 women look so much alike? I felt the house was the real protagonist since nearly all of the novel centers around it. It was built & owned by a famous architect & is state-of-the-art with all the latest technological devices. The rental agreement has pages of restrictions which the women agree to & then find out how difficult it is to live with the restrictions. Emma died mysteriously & Jane starts to investigate which puts Jane in danger. Lots of twists & turns.
Kathy
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
A must read!!!
Jill
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Ove is a wonderfully rich and complex character under the gruff facade he shows the world. He grieves his wife's death greatly and decides to kill himself in order to join her. Funnily enough, each suicide attempt gets interrupted by someone(s)' needing him to do something for them. Ove gradually re-engages with life, particularly as he gets to know Parvenah, an Indian woman, living across the street from him. There are missteps along the way, but Ove discovers that life is much better lived with others than by oneself.
Melanie S.
The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
Wow, what a ride! I am not a huge thriller-genre reader. I knew nothing about this book when I began to read. I thought it would be some sort of chic-lit type of read about marriages. Wrong. This was a thriller, bordering a bit on horror, at least by my tastes. However, I couldn't stop reading and found myself picking up the book to read even when I got up in the middle of the night! Much of it seemed totally unbelievable but it held me rapt nonetheless. I found it interesting how the author juxtaposed a thriller story with some statistical facts about which marriages, probability-wise, will work and which will fail. The story was quite imaginative, even if you had to suspend belief to get drawn in. I predict this book will be a huge hit.
Lori
One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood
Loved this quirky book with an unusual premise. Could have been maudlin or predictable, but it was a great handling of a unique scenario with a collection of wonderful characters. I highly recommend the book.
Betty
The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden
Beautifully written. I couldn’t help liking Harlan, even as he swaggered from bar to bar, woman to woman. His life was like a roller-coaster with its extreme highs and the rush to the extreme lows. Harlan, despite his faults, was an honorable man. My heart was wrenched each time life slapped him in the face. And I so hoped he would be able each time to shake it off and try again. I wanted life to be gentle to him. Sadly, too much has not really changed over the decades. Harlan’s life will resonate within me for some time.
Carol
Rise of the Rocket Girls by Nathalia Holt
About the women working at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, CA. It was interesting, fun, but could have been better written.
Hedwig
A Twist of the Knife by Becky Masterman
This is the second in the Brigid Quinn series. You do not have to read the first to follow. Quinn is a very different character, older, retired from the FBI, and there are times you may not like her attitude but she is enjoyable. The stories do not have that same feel that if you read one that they are all the same; they are original in their storylines. Keep you guessing about what actually took place.
Jane
Dangerous Testimony by Dana Mentink
Danger everywhere. Candace to testify about a shooting finds her life in grave danger. She also fears for her daughter's safety. March does all he can to protect them. Will the terrifying attacks on Candace ever end? Lots of prayer times and God's protection. Memories from the past keep Candace and Marco in their hold. Can they break free? I love all Dan's suspense stories and all her books. You will find encouragement in some way or other when you read them.
Francisca E B
When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning
While Nazis were burning books in Europe, Americans were trying to get more books distributed to the men fighting in the war. Manning does a wonderful job of including the history of the times and the challenges faced by the Council, including efforts to censor the books that would be included. I was completely fascinated and engaged from beginning to end.
Lynn W
Vicious Circle (Joe Pickett #17) by C. J. Box
The cover of the book says this by Lee Child: "One of today's solid-gold, A-list, must-read writers." I totally agree. Plotting and pacing are perfect, but it's the characterization of Joe, his family, and his friendship with force-of-nature Nate Romanowski that makes this series extraordinary. I always start these books with free hours in front of me. I simply cannot stop reading until I know my "loved ones" are safe and justice has prevailed.
Marilyn
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
A close look at extremist issues in our country.
Ilene
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
I liked it very much. It started with a 40-something couple living in the northwoods of Alaska during the 1920s. They wanted very much to have a baby, although nothing was happening. So one night during a bad snowstorm, they were playing in the snow and decided to make a snow girl, with Mabel's hat, gloves and scarf. Then days later a little girl comes by with all her clothes. Where did this little girl come from?
Elaine
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens
Could not put the book down. Storyline, writing, characters completely mesmerizing. Loved it and have recommended to all my friends.
Ilene
Trophy Son by Douglas Brunt
Anton is a very young man who has been training since the age of eight to become the world's number one tennis player. Although he wants it, the choice is not his, but his father's who drives him relentlessly. Anton does not have meaningful relationships, his main contacts are his coach, trainer and agent. Is it worth it, to be essentially alone with nothing else besides tennis? He also has to face whether to take performance enhancing drugs. With all of that, he wonders what he will do when he retires from tennis when he will be only in his middle 30s. I liked the book. It is the struggle of a young man trying to find out what is important to him and not his father.
Donna
Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner
Telly is 9 years old and has been caring for his younger sister, Sharlah, since the day she was born. They have been traumatized by their parents who prefer drugs and alcohol and during a violent fight their parents are killed. The children are placed in separate foster care homes. Telly's adoptive parents are murdered and he is considered to be the killer. This is a good story that proves no bond is greater than family.
Phoebe
The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell
Entertaining,funny, informative, and inspirational.
Maureen
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens
This was the first time I have read anything by this author and it will not be the last time! She captivated me from the first chapter. She skips back and forth in time to help with the background of this mystery. The main character has fled an abusive marriage and harbors a terrible secret. She and her teenage daughter are finally making a life of normalcy in a small Canadian town. One new friend, one innocent letter and their life begins to take on some sinister tones. The twists and plot turns keep you guessing right up to the last pages!
Thomas
The Girl Before by J. P. Delaney
This was an excellent book. I liked this book very much.
Thomas
Say Nothing by Brad Parks
I really enjoyed reading this book. I would highly recommend this book to anybody.
Thomas
Cross the Line by James Patterson
As usual I enjoyed this Alex Cross book. I really liked this book. It was a very good book.
Christy
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
I watched the movie (7 times) with 8th Graders who are about to start the Anne Frank unit. Movie was great, so I hunted down the book. Awesome. The movie was done well, but veered away from the book. It was great to read the author's original storyline. Recommend. Even if you have seen the movie.
rhonda
The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi
Wonderful story, rich characters. A wonderful book club choice.
Katherine Bennett
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
One family's involvement with the couple next door led to deception, lies and emotional stress when their baby disappears. It kept me guessing until the end as to what happened to the baby. It was a hard to put down read.
Diane
Every Wild Heart by Meg Donohue
Enjoyable read with well-developed characters. Story of mother/daughter relationship in teenage years. I found the plot line a bit hard to believe and the errors within the text were annoying. For example, the use of then in place of than is off-putting. No doubt I would have scored this higher if not for careless editing/writing.
Trude Vandine
On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins
Two sisters, one a recent widow, the other suffering from a recent break up. Kristan Higgins tells their story with warmth and unexpected humor. I found the characters well drawn and very likeable.
Frances
The Hue and Cry at Our House by Benjamin Taylor
I love the enduring legacy of the Kennedy years, so any memoir that includes an encounter with JFK will get my attention. This one didn't disappoint. Starting with a young boy's handshake on the president's final day, this story recalls important people and moments of growing up in Dallas in the 60s.
Judy O.
I See You by Clare Mackintosh
I loved this author's first book, I LET YOU GO. I did not like this one. Events that happened at the end were just plain ludicrous. In fact, the rest of the book suspended belief too, and parts of it were just plain boring.
Connie
To Love a Cat by Billi Tiner
This was a light romantic comedy with appearances by a character's cat throughout the story. I enjoyed the story and actually had a few moments of giggles while reading. I recommend this when a break from "serious plots" is needed.
Linda
Killing Mickey by Charlie Rehor
Billy Glover's latest project, the iRemember, out the door by Friday, the few employees he has left are near mutiny. His most efficient programmer, an artificial intelligence named Victor Varmint, has killed again, and may be plotting far worse. His only allies in this fight are a mysterious pizza girl and a long dead artificial intelligence named Mickey, which calls him "Dad." Whereas Victor is like Billy's biggest protagonist, his father. Unfortunately, Billy soon realizes that the only way he can save his career and all that matters to him is to kill Mickey, his AI "son." There are many computer references in here. I have some experience and familiarity with computer acronyms, but at times had to search for their meanings.
Sandy
The Last Breath by Kimberly Belle
Didn't particularly like this one so much. Thought the ending would be a lot better.
Lorraine
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
The unfolding of a year in young Katey Kontent's life in New York in 1937. I loved this story, just wish the end was longer.
Lynne
Never Never by James Patterson and Candice Fox
This book is not one of Patterson's best -- it is a LONG, drawn-out murder mystery -- someone is attacking mine workers and killing them, but leaving no clues. I LOVE all of his other books, but this one took me forever to finish and bounced around -- there are too many characters to keep up with and the surroundings (the mine, the dessert) just left me wanting more. I stuck with it and finished reading it because I wanted to know who the killer was.
Trezeline
The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff
A very interesting book. Sad but also uplifting.
Susan
The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper
A pleasant read about a mother and son's relationship focusing on both their individual and shared experiences over the years and how it shapes who they are today.
Elizabeth
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
What a pleasure to read! The writing in A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is delightful. This book is full of elegant language, reflecting, I assume, the language of a gentleman; stories of the count’s past and of the lives of others in the hotel. Friendships to last 30 years and plenty of sarcasm. But don’t expect that this is similar to Amor Towles’ excellent RULES OF CIVILITY. Frankly, I read A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW because I loved RULES OF CIVILITY. They aren’t alike; A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is better.
Suzy a
Lover's Leap by Emily March
This is the fourth book in Emily March's Eternity Springs. I was never much for romance novels but I won a copy of the 11th book in the series, loved it so much, and I bought every single book in the entire series! Celeste Blessing is an "angelic" woman who comes to the town of Eternity Springs, Colorado. Everywhere she goes she sprinkles her symbolic fairy dust and brings couples together, estranged relations back to conversing, and she makes me wonder how good can one person actually be? Every book in this series focuses on a couple but the best part, for me, is that we revisit everyone we've grown to love from the previous books! Each book grows in the sheer number of town characters. I love this series!
Becky
Trueluck Summer by Susan Gabriel
A white girl, a black boy and a grandmother combine to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse in 1964. Well-described characters, a haunting sense of time and place, and a writer able to convey a sense of humor make this coming-of-age novel a joy to read for both adults and middle to upper graders. The nuances of a bi-racial friendship are fully described as are the overt and concealed racist actions of the Southern adults. The statehouse escapade is told in rich and believable detail.
Becky
Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews
One of the best writers in the “women’s romantic fiction” has written another winner. Floral designer Cara has a morning full of disasters including a supposed dog-napping, and then discovers an arch-rival is opening a competing store in her small town. Interesting characters, a quickly moving and believable plot keep the action rollicking on. You will guess the ending long before you get there, but you will enjoy the book anyway.
Becky
The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green
The premise could have been turned into a great story. This isn’t it. The writing is pedestrian, the plot turns are spur of the moment and contrived, the “Christian” part seems added on to sell books to the publisher's audience. Skip this one.
Becky
Victoria by Daisy Goodwin
This book covers only Victoria’s early life and the first few years of her long reign. Goodwin is a writer of historical fiction that borders on “women’s fiction.” She has a tendency to emphasize the more salacious and gossip-laden events in the life of the person written about. That said, the book is interesting and well researched. The life of a young girl manipulated by those around her and surrounded by great wealth and all its accouterments is discussed in great detail. Victoria is saved by the one scrupulous man in her life: Lord Melbourne, her first prime minister. Early Victorian English society, and the lives of the not-so-privileged, is covered well. (The book gives much more detail than the TV series.)
Becky
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
The picture of hardships on a “dry” farm in 1909 Montana is clearly shown in this delightful story of motherless family trying to survive and the brother/sister couple who answer their ad for a housekeeper. Homesteading, social life, family life, shenanigans, love, one room schools and the teachers who make them, and secrets, especially secrets, combine to make this a delightful, well-written tale that encompasses humor, fear, sacrifice and boyhood.
Becky
The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donaghue
Two couples (one gay and one lesbian, but it is not important or dwelt upon) win the lottery – hence the name – and form a family filled with love, diverse children and pets. They use their money for good and live a “perfect” life until one of the parents’ parent needs a home. Grandpa just doesn’t fit – or does he? Lots of life lessons engagingly presented in this charming tale of family in all its permutations. Well written with real and delightful characters and situations, this “children’s book” is for adults as well. Donahue, best known for her searing tale ROOM, finds a very different voice in this book filled love, laughter and acceptance.
Becky
The Dry by Jane Harper
A tightly woven mystery that jumps back and forth from the present to the past to solve a long ago drowning and now a family murdered. Who lied and why? Agent Aaron Falk is one of those accused of lying – then and now? Did he? Why did he come back and why does he stay where he is clearly not wanted. The time jumps are clear by the use of an italic font for the past. The suspicions will keep you reading. Some of the characters are more fully developed than others. The plot is clear and the red herrings are plentiful. This is an enjoyable and clever book.
Liz
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
This is a wonderful gem of a book. Ove is 59 years old and a grouch. He lives his life by a staunch set of rules and would like everyone else to do the same. He does have an agenda but keeps getting diverted from it because of the people around him. This is a beautifully-written novel that will not only make you laugh and cry but will make you think about those things that are truly important in life.
Linda
The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak
I loved, loved, loved this book. Yes, I'd read it again. I was completely taken by Billy-Will and his friends Alf, Clark and Mary's world seem so real (and sometimes painful). I knew how some things would end, but I needed to see exactly what path would be taken to get there. There were surprises. There were "Oh, my gosh" moments. There were "no, no, no" don't go there" or "don't do that" moments. I can't wait to meet the author next month.
Ilene
The Mother's Promise by Sally Hepworth
What a wonderful book, thank you St. Martin's Press! Alice finds out she has ovarian cancer and has no family or friends to turn to for help. To make matters worse, her 15- year-old daughter is suffering from crippling social anxiety. When the prognosis for Alice becomes grim, the custody of Zoe becomes an issue. Their live-in nurse has been unable to have children and wants to adopt Zoe. Zoe's father, a man who raped Alice, also wants custody. Intense reading.
Claudia Hopkins
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
I enjoyed this book but felt like the middle of it dragged. It was written in a very interesting manner. At the end of each chapter there were bits of conversations from the people who were present at the school trivia night where a person died. The reader knows that everything is leading up to that night. The twists and turns at the end of the book are shocking and make it a page-turner.
Francisca E B
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
I had considerable difficulty getting into this novel. I did not connect to the characters at first and didn’t understand their relationships and connections. But that, I suppose, is Marra’s intention. We do not often know why someone crosses our path, what connections she or he brings, what influence he or she will have on our future. We do not know when hope and grace, courage and dignity may find their way into our lives. We can only pray that they do.
Lynn W
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
Fascinating look at doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospice for
end-of-life care, whether young or old. Gawande's writing is easy, understandable, and offers plenty of real-life problems and solutions. I won ten copies from BookReporter.com. I will be sharing them with three book clubs, family, and friends. This book will help all who face the challenges of extreme old age.
Linda
My Scandalous Duke by Theresa Romain
Lady Eleanor Palmer grew up with Nicholas Langford and has loved him all her life, but she never could get him to notice her. She married and was quickly widowed. Now Nicholas is the Duke of Hampshire and still sees Ellie as a friend. Ellie wants to be married and have her own home and family. She is still in love with Nicholas but feels it is hopeless since he is now a duke. It takes another man to express an interest in Ellie for Nicholas to wake up and see the woman who will be the perfect wife is the woman he has known all his life. A sweet romance! I want to recommend this book to all lovers of romance.
Linda
The Black Book by James Patterson and David Ellis
A raid is carried out on a brothel catering to the rich and famous and everyone is wondering where the madam keeps her black book. Billy Harney and his partner Kate Fenton led the raid but were unable to find any records. They are sure police were being paid off to look the other way and they want to find the dirty cops. State attorney Amy Lentini interviews both and is convinced one of them has the book. Everyone starts to doubt each other. Then Kate and Amy are found shot to death in Amy’s apartment. Billy has been shot but is alive. Weeks later, he awakes but remembers nothing. Rumors abound that Kate shot Amy and Billy and Kate shot each other. What really happened? Another winner by Patterson with lots of twists!
Linda
The Vanishing Year by Kate Moretti
A suspenseful book with lots of twists as a scared young girl leaves California and arrives in New York with a new name. Thinking she has left the evil behind, she meets another kind of evil when she marries wealthy Henry Whittaker because Henry is not who he seems. Behind the suave demeanor is a twisted mind and Zoe finally sees the truth behind his mask. This was a well-written book that was hard to put down.
Jan
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
This book needed an editor - to cut, cut, cut. It is by far the worst book I have ever read by Lisa See, one of my favorite writers. See should have published it with Harlequin books - it is a dreary love story - agony. He leaves to get money, her parents reject him, she is pregnant, leaves the baby on a street in a strange town, he comes back and says he has money, they sneak across the border to another country, he has no money, no skills, is cruel to her, she leaves, he follows, she cannot return home, exiles herself to the big city, is lonely. You know the rest...
Gerry
Radiance of Tomorrow by Ishmael Beah
4.5 stars for an excellent novel. Beah's first novel is just as realistic as his memoir of his time as a boy soldier in Sierra Leone, and just as powerful. Despite the horrors he lived through, and the continued struggles in his country after the war officially ended, he continues to be hopeful. In his introduction and in his commentary at the end of the novel, he stresses the importance of his community's tradition of storytelling as a means of passing on wisdom from one generation to the next. He's told a story in RADIANCE OF TOMORROW that's worthy of that oral tradition, in beautiful language that brings his country and its people to life.
Gerry
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
Laurie Frankel has written a lovely novel on a difficult subject, the challenge of raising a gender-dysphoric child. Claude's parents, an as-yet-unpublished novelist father and an ER physician mother, work hard to nurture all of their five sons' diverse interests and passions, but meet their greatest challenge when their youngest son announces that he wants to be a girl.
Gerry
Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America by Patrick Phillips
Phillips has a very important story to tell, the story of the 1912 expulsion of black citizens from Forsyth County, Georgia, and the resulting "whites-only" policies that continued to be enforced well into the 1990s. This was not an easy read, but certainly a compelling one, especially with the frightening resurgence of intolerance and hate that is occurring in our country. Highly recommended. The author, for anyone who wonders, is a white man who grew up in Forsyth County.
Gerry
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens
I won a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press (via Bookreporter.com) in return for an unbiased review. This is the first book I've read by Chevy Stevens, but it will not be the last. NEVER LET YOU GO is a well-written, very compelling suspense novel that held my interest throughout. I received it on a Friday, and read the first few chapters the same day. It's evidence of the novel's quality that I immediately continued reading the next day, and stayed up late into the night to finish it. Well before the end, it began to appear that all was resolved and the book was headed for a "happily-ever-after" ending that felt a bit disappointing. But Stevens still had a few more twists to go, and suddenly the suspense and tension ramped up again.
Gerry
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
Not quite sure what to think now that I've reached the end of this novel about an imagined future after the Allies are defeated in WWII. I was reading it as an alternative history, but combination of the novel-within-a-novel and the ambiguous ending left me a bit bemused. Interesting, puzzling, plenty to wonder about...
Gerry
Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
Interesting account of a young trainee midwife in the East End of London in the 1950s, often under conditions so poor that it was hard to imagine this didn't take place far longer ago.
Gerry
Sisters One, Two, Three by Nancy Star
This was a free offering from Amazon Prime a few months ago, and turned out to be better than I'd expected: both enjoyable and memorable. SISTERS ONE, TWO, THREE tells the story of a family in the aftermath of a tragedy that impacted all of their lives. Interesting characters, though with traits perhaps a bit over-exaggerated, and a narrative style that held my interest even as it moved back and forth in time.
Gerry
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
For this year's challenge category "a book from childhood" I returned to Nancy Drew. I devoured this series as a 9 or 10-year-old, and it was fun to reminisce with the first book in the series as an adult. I was surprised to learn that author Carolyn Keene was not a real person, but actually a syndicate, a fairly large group of writers who churned out books in this series beginning in the 1930s.
Gerry
The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan
Kiernan has obviously done a lot of research, and this book was both enjoyable and informative. The crochety hospice patient was my favorite character, and it was fascinating to see his relationship with Nurse Birch develop. The WWII storyline was completely new information to me -- who knew that a Japanese bomber had actually hit a target in Oregon?? This was a very engaging part of the novel. I found reading about the relationship between Deborah and her Iraq War veteran husband a little less satisfying because it didn't seem to ring true, though that likely reflects my own lack of exposure to the pain that veterans may bring home with them. Overall, a very worthwhile read, from an author to watch.
Gerry
Royal Panoply: Brief Lives of the English Monarchs by Carolly Erickson
After enjoying the excellent British series, "The Crown, about Queen Elizabeth II", and a few episodes of "Victoria" on PBS, I wanted to learn a bit more about the British monarch, and this book provided just enough. In short (5-10 page) essays on each of the 39 monarchs who have ruled England since 1066, Carolly Erickson provides a brief biography and an overview of the accomplishments and failures of each king and queen. She also gives reason for hope in spite of my qualms about this country's current leader; Britain has survived some fascinatingly inept and self-centered rulers, and surely America will do so as well.
Hailey
The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel
One of my all time favorite books of 2017! Amy Engel did such a fantastic job writing the story of Lane Roanoke, her cousin Allegra, their grandparents and their family and the secrets that were held in the walls of the Roanoke estate. Some parts will make you angry but other parts will make you feel as if you're living inside the story, beside Lane and Allegra.
Rachelle
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
Really enjoyed this book and the insights provided.
Rachelle
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
Not a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen, but my husband is, so I gave his book a try. Really enjoyed the insights into Bruce's early life, his extended family and his start in music. Bruce courageously speaks about fighting his demons: depression and drinking, his father's mental health and dementia, his mother's courageous spirit, loyalty and strength. I really enjoyed the book and will listen a little closer to his music from here on.
Rachelle
The Last Brother by Nathacha Appanah
A beautifully-written book about love, friendship, family and grief. It grabbed my attention and took my breath away. I didn't want to put the book down. I loved the characters and felt for them as they struggled within their world. This book and its characters will surely stay with me.
Susan
Shadowlands by Elizabeth Kostova
Run, don't walk to pick up this wonderful love story to Bulgaria. A young woman moves there to teach English and runs into a local family and a big mystery. As she tries to solve it, the history and beauty of Bulgaria is revealed. This is my favorite read of 2017.
Kimberly
The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan
This was a wonderful read for me. I really enjoyed all of the separate storylines and how the author managed to intertwine them all.
Tessa B C
Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende
This is the third book Allende has written about the Del Valle family, after THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS and DAUGHTER OF FORTUNE. I love Allende’s writing. There is a decidedly Latin beat to the flow of her sentences, and her descriptions are full of sensory highlights. The characters are larger than life and run the gamut from a wealthy Chilean grand dame to a Chinese herbalist to an English butler and a Serbian physician. I think I need to go back to "THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS and read it again.
Sharon
The Girl Before by J. P. Delaney
I absolutely loved this book, great twist at the end. It appears Ron Howard is going to make a movie.
Linda
Vicious Circle by C. J. Box
Excellent book, suspenseful, the action never ends. Can't wait for next book to see how Joe Pickett and his family make out and if Dallas Cates finally gets sent to prison.
Nancy
Goodnight from London by Jennifer Robson
Ruby is a reporter for an American magazine. She gets sent to London at the beginning of WWII to cover the people's view of the war. She is there though the bombing of London. Very interesting story.
Chris Lantz
Exogene by T.C. McCarthy
Good read, love science fiction. It makes you think about the future of humanity.
Kathy
In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear
Mystery taking place in England just as Winston Churchill declares war on Germany. Murders of Danish refugees from the First World War are unexplained.
Linda
The Nix by Nathan Hill
What a ride! There are so many stories coinciding or being reflected on that the listener could lose track of who's who. Nathan Hill's excellent writing kept me enthralled. Much is not as it seems. Much is stranger than one could have made up. Bounces between 1968 and the Chicago Democratic Convention and present time. The title refers to an ill-meaning being that one of the characters learned about in his home country of Norway.
Sandy
Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline
One of the best books by Lisa Scottoline ever!! All about sperm donors and murder. How an author can put those two in one story can only be done by Lisa. I have never read a book by her that I didn't love.
Alina
All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
An interesting story narrated backwards in time, about the disappearance of two young women from the same North Carolina town.
Marianne Houck
Everything You Want Me to Be by Mindy Mejia
Cleverly constructed plot, with very realistic main characters, this novel describes a small town in Minnesota and the interaction between a gifted high school senior and her male English teacher.
Their relationship, and the consequences that result from that relationship, makes this book a thrilling adventure for any reader. Impossible to put down!
Jane
The Breakdown by B. A. Paris
This book isn't coming out until June but I had the opportunity to read it thanks to a contest win. It was even better, if you can believe it, than BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. I didn't see what was coming and it was a wonderful follow-up. Can't wait for future books by this author.
Lynn W
The Whistler by John Grisham
Classic Grisham. I really must remember to start these books earlier in the day. Stayed up way too late...again!
Karen
Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie
Jemma James and Duncan Kincaid, Scotland Yard detectives, are both investigating complicated suspicious death cases. The investigations are putting a strain on their marriage and parenting. Jemma's victim is a young woman who works as a nanny and model who dies in a private garden in Notting Hill. The investigation seems to impossible until a child runs away. Duncan has been warned off of the case he is investigating because it is possibly dangerous to him, his family and coworkers. He must find the truth about the deaths of a group of undercover policemen who supposedly committed suicide while they were infiltrating protest groups. He doesn't know who he can trust other than his own officers.
Bonnie
Marlena by Julie Buntin
This is one of those novels that grabs you and doesn't let go until you've turned the last page. Beautifully written and the characters will stay with you long after you've finished.
Deborah
The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle
I could not put this book down! I took this book along with me to the beach and because I was so engrossed and didn't want to stop I have had my first sunburn in 40 years! This novel has more twists and turns than the Pacific Coast Highway! I usually check my books out of my local library and only purchase a book if it really "rocks me", so needless to say it is now sitting on my book shelf to be read yet again.
Margaret
A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
This novel has gotten great reviews so I am in the minority to give it only 2 stars. It's my first book in the series and my first book by Penny. The series is about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, now Commander of the Surete Academy. It's a murder mystery with a lot of dialogue as if the author was trying to make the novel longer. I thought it was boring but I hung in there hoping it would get better. It didn't. There were some interesting characters but the plot didn't cut it for me. Most of the scenes took place in a fantasy-type village, almost like being in a fairy tale. Too much of the plot was just not realistic. Believe me because I do not want to include spoilers. I do not plan to read any more of the series.
Hedwig
The Dark Room by Jonathan Moore
Half way through the book you are wondering where this is going as it seems pretty clear. However, the second half of the book really takes off to a storyline I did not expect. One of the best mysteries I have read in a very long time. Five stars!
michelle
The Mermaid's Daughter by Ann Claycomb
Despite the topic, the book is dry. The character's were not fleshed out enough -- we are not allowed into their heads enough. I felt there were also too many viewpoints.
Elizabeth
Here and Gone by Haylen Beck
HERE AND GONE is what I call a “grabber.” At about the halfway point, this book will grab your attention so tightly you will want to read late into the night.
Stephanie
The Black Book by James Patterson and David Ellis
I was actually surprised at how great a read this was. I am a big Alex Cross fan and loved the Women's Murder Club in its early books. But never cared much for the other Patterson books. This story is as the title implies and involves a black book that keeps track of illicit use of high class "escort" girls, many of which are powerful people in Chicago. Predictably, the story centers around a detective and his female partner as well as well as the detective's twin sister (also a CPD detective). The detectives are staking out this house trying to arrest a murder suspect when they realize how much more is going on with the escort service. Instead of staying focused on the murder suspect, they end up arresting many powerful people.
Linda
Gunmetal Gray by Mark Greaney
Court Gentry, known as the Gray Man, has been tasked with locating Sir Donald Fitzroy, who is being held by the Chinese. Fitzroy sent in teams looking for an escaped Chinese computer expert and bring him to safety before Chinese hit teams could kill him. Computer expert Fan Jiang tested China’s security systems and knew much that would benefit the West. Fitzroy’s teams disappeared and he was taken by Colonel Dai. Court locates Fitzroy and agrees to help Dai locate Jiang while in reality he is trying to find Jiang for the United States. As always with the CIA, there are hidden agendas which Court is unaware of.
Linda
Blackmailed into a Fake Engagement by Leanne Banks
An up-and-coming actress is arrested for drunken driving and, with her new film about to be released, the public relations people have to do something else to get the reporters’ attention. A fake engagement is to be announced. The public relations guy goes to a retired actress and tells her about his plan and that he has already told the public about their engagement. She is furious and has no intention of returning to Hollywood but this is to help her sister finish rehab so she agrees. What has she gotten herself in for? I received the book free in exchange for a review and recommend it.
Linda
Intrusion by Reece Hirsch
When an internet search engine company is hacked by the Chinese, experts are called in to determine the severity of the problem and how to recover the stolen algorithms used to make their search engine the largest in the world. China is working on its own search engine and, if they have access to the one from the United States, they could become the largest. This would give them more access to American companies and their technologies. An attorney representing the company decides to travel to China and get proof of China’s involvement in the theft. Once he gets it, what will he do with it? The State Department does not want to make waves with our biggest creditor. Novels by Hirsch are always thrilling.
Linda
Night of the Bonfire by Kevin Scott Olson
Ex-Navy SEAL Michael Quinn works independently for the CIA and has been tasked with infiltrating the art world to find out who killed undercover agent Lloyd Blackwell. He was investigating how drug money was being laundered and looking into an Italian by the name of Marco Leone. It was rumored that Leone was mixed in with the distribution of a new form of heroin called Snow White. This was already the hot drug on the East Coast and rumors are that a shipment is bound for the west coast of Mexico and an area controlled by one of the drug cartels. If this drug was available on the West Coast, it would take off the way it did in the east and Quinn must find the source and stop it.
Linda
Cross by James Patterson
Alex Cross’s wife Maria was shot in front of him and he ran to the hospital carrying her but she died. Maria was a social worker and one of her cases involved a young girl who was raped and swore not to tell but she told Maria. The rapist found out that she had told Maria and this was why she was killed. After she was shot, Michael Sullivan (known as the Butcher) bowed to Alex and left. Years went by with no closure on the case. Now the Butcher is back. He did work for a mob boss who is now dead and his son does not like the Butcher and tries to take him out. More killings as the Butcher will not be taken down easily.
Francisca E B
The Wedding Dress: Stories From the Dakota Plains by Carrie Young
This is a collection of short stories set primarily during the early part of the 20th century to 1980. Young explores the lives of the people of Little Butte, North Dakota, who are mostly Norwegian immigrants (or descended from them). All of the stories feature characters that fairly leap off the page, they are so real. The landscape is cold and bleak, especially during the Dust Bowl years, but the kitchens are warm and inviting. This is the first work by Young that I’ve read; it will not be the last.
Judy O.
Fatal by John Lescroart
I think that I've read too many police procedural suspense novels as I found this was very tedious. I didn't feel any suspense or interest.
Stephanie
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
Fascinating look at life in post-WWII Germany. Characters were well-developed and the storylines were very interesting. An important read which at the same time is extremely riveting.
helen BRADY
The Little Red Chairs by Edna O'Brien
A riveting read by one of the Ireland's best authors.
Becky
Love Let Go by Laura Sumner Truax and Amalya Campbell
In September of 2014, four churches in Chicago received a windfall -- almost two million dollars each! One of those churches was LaSalle Street Church. With just 350 members and a budget $50,000 in the red, this was a miracle. But what happened next was REALLY a miracle. Each member was given a check for $500 made out to them personally and told to “go do good”. The $160,000 represented a “tithe” or ten percent of the 1.6 million the church received. How the remainder was to be used was collectively decided in a year long process. LOVE LET GO tells the result of that step in faith and how the church as a body, and each member individually, reacted to the windfall. Told in clear prose.
Sharlene
Extra-Ordinary Adventures by Daniel Wallace
I really enjoyed the pre-release edition of this book. The main character, Edsel Bronfman, is a nerdy kind of guy like someone we've surely met. But I absolutely fell in love with Edsel and really enjoyed seeing his life unfold. This book goes on sale the end of May and I highly recommend it. I only gave it four stars because I reserve five stars for THE GRAPES OF WRATH or something similar.
Shirley
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
Loved reading about a real person, Beryl Markham, and the possible young years of this woman.
Ginny
The Girl Before by J. P. Delaney
This is a story of a woman who lives at One Folgate Street in an incredible apartment built by the architect who has set an incredible list of rules for living there. This is also the story of the woman who occupied One Folgate Street before her. The story is told from the perspective of both women, Emma (before) and Jane (now). I found it to be extremely suspenseful and was disappointed when I finished the book. I don't understand why some people rated it so low. I thought it was a fabulous book.
Linda
Eleanor Roosevelt, Vol 1, 1884-1933 by Blanche Wiesen Cook
I have loved reading about the Roosevelt family for years. Perhaps I was drawn to a woman who stepped away from the shadow of men, thought and acted for herself during a time when this was uncommon - especially for a married woman. Despite the fact that chronologies seem linear, stories often are not. I really liked this book, but occasionally was befuddled by the time. The title designates the period for the book, but that did not keep later dates from creeping in to finish a story or relationship. I look forward to reading the subsequent volumes of Eleanor's story.
Janet
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
I haven't read any other fiction books about World War I, although I have studied that period in history in college extensively. I really enjoyed the feel of this book.
Sandi
Gone Without a Trace by Mary Torjussen
Lots of twists and turns. The type story that keeps you on edge and turning pages, afraid of what comes next, but too involved not to read on. Hannah and Matt, Katie and James - friends for a long time. But how well did they really know each other? Where does the breakdown occur? Is just one person at fault? Or are there many secrets and multiple devious plans being played out?
Good psychological read - well written. Suspenseful. Moving plot and electric characters.
Becky
The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton
Sara, a successful shop owner living in New Orleans and loving it, inherits a rundown Alabama bed and breakfast inhabited by a collection of odd seniors. When her grandmother’s will requires that she live in the B and B while it is renovated, a number of problems crop up. Will she find love or disappointment –again? Will the house be the beauty she envisions? Will the unscrupulous developer derail her plans? What was her grandmother really like? All these questions and more are answered in this charming novel filled with well-developed and quirky characters. The plot meanders through several plots and subplots. While not a great novel, it is a satisfying read for a summer afternoon.
s
The Guilty One by Sophie Littlefield
Maris's world has changed forever the day her daughter Calla was murdered. When Ron, the father of the accused killer, calls and ask Maris is he should jump off the Golden Gate Bridge to kind of equal the score, she must leave. On a visit to her sister Alana's she seems to wind up in a very different direction by a sheer accident, and now she is changing her life and even her name. Jeff and Maris never had a perfect marriage but with the death of there daughter it seemed to grow further and further apart and now he wants a divorce. Although she does not arrive at her sister's as planned, she meets a new group of people, certainly not ones she would have known from her "other life." We see how Maris is now questioning everything.
john
Roanoke Island by David Stick
This book tells about the first English colony in America which was established on Roanoke Island. It talks about the daily affairs of this colony as well as the perils that the colonists experienced, including how they interacted with various Indian tribes. This colony mysteriously disappeared. The author tells much about the colony and invites the readers to conclude on their own what really happened to it. It was a very easy and interesting read.
Karen
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
This is a beautifully written historical fiction about three women in the wake of World War II. A really good read.
Cecile
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
I loved this book even more than I thought I would when I first saw the cover. Every character in this very special book is unique and wonderful in his/her own way. It's lovely how Sara and Amy connected over books, and how their friendship ended up bringing out the best in everyone in Broken Wheel and brought out the best in Sara once she found her home away from home. I don't usually read books over-and-over again because I'd rather read something new, but I know that when time goes by, I will revisit Broken Wheel! I also hope there is more story to tell!
Debbie
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
An interesting book, but at times, very slow. A love story displaying a twist. The story begins with a downtrodden middle-aged man, Jean Perdu (John Lost), who runs a floating bookshop. Just as the reader thinks the story will go nowhere, Jean breaks free from his depression and begins a boat trip through the waters of France with two cats, a challenged author, and a lovesick chef. The adventures along the way expose the personalities of the three men and show that life does not end so early. The language and characters enhance the story, and many of the scenes create vivid memories. Women play a minor role in the story, as the thrust of the story centers on men and their relationships.
Carole
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Extremely well written. Beautiful prose. A surprise and a chuckle in every chapter. Both of my book clubs loved it. Mr. Backman certainly has a way with words!
Debbie
Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
This is my first encounter with Miss Marple, and what a thrill! I adore the sense of logic and understanding of human character of Miss Marple. The story turns and twists around the suspects and the motive for the murder. Agatha Christie presents seven suspects in this busybody town where no secret may hide. The vicar, Leonard Clement narrates the story and aids Jane Marple investigating the murder of Colonel Lucius Protheroe. I enjoyed the descriptions of the village and the many inhabitants. The story comes to a delightful conclusion with all the strings neatly tied.
Betty
The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
The book is a quick read if you can stay with the silly plot. The Pact is a secret organization taking extraordinary (and outlandishly cruel) measures to ensure the marriages of their members succeed. This is an equal opportunity Stepford Wives supercharged. It could have been good but instead was “over the top” with its senseless torture of violators of its excessive rules. And the end was total nonsense.
Tessa B C
A Place Called Hope by Philip Gulley
I really like Gulley’s series; I welcome a gentle read now and again, where I can visit with old friends. He has a gift for writing humorous stories about small-town life but instilling a message of tolerance, peace and love. Here’s hoping that Sam Gardner’s adventures in Hope will continue to entertain and inspire for years to come.
Donna
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
Very real characters. I loved main character Joe Talbert and was rooting for this wise behind his years young man. I loved the plot line involving Carl Iverson at the nursing home as well. This book was an ideal first novel; I was captivated. I am a longtime reader and that praise from me says a lot. Keep up the good work, Allen Eskens.
Dorothy Flood
Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks
This book was excellent. I couldn't put it down cancelled an appointment to finish. A young couple very much in love have a beautiful baby girl whom they both love but problems arise when the husband quits his job and goes into business for himself. The wife can't give up her shopping. Read it; you will enjoy.
Janet
The Outsider by Anthony Franze
Suspenseful story of the Supreme Court and the law clerks who work there. The main characters are well developed. There is a big twist at the end, which I didn't see coming, but maybe I could have if I had read more carefully instead of moving at the fast pace of the story. Ending made sense, although a little over the top.
Janet
Bloody Moor by Rebecca Patrick-Howard
This is the 8th book in the Taryn's camera series. Taryn makes a trip to Ireland in this novel. She is ill and I thought maybe she would find a cure here, but no. There is an unusual mystery associated with the Arthurian legend. There were some unusual people in this novel, some not very believable.
Lori
Waking Lions by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
I found this book to be an interesting read. It was a nice change of pace to read a book based in Israel and to learn a little about contemporary culture there. The book had universal themes, but with an Israeli twist --- on one hand, the issue of someone hitting a pedestrian by accident and choosing not to report the incident; on the other, issues of refugees and racism. There was a lot of tension for the reader about what would happen, making the book difficult to put down. There were ethical issues galore, and plenty that could be discussed in a book discussion group. I particularly liked the twist at the end of the book. I would be happy to read another book by this author.
